NS7a of SADS-CoV promotes viral infection via inducing apoptosis to suppress Type III interferon production

ABSTRACT: SADS-CoV is a newly discovered swine coronavirus with potential cross-species transmission risk. Although SADS-CoV-induced host cell apoptosis and attenuated innate immunity has been established, the relation between apoptosis and innate immunity remain obscure. Here, we demonstrate that infection of SADS-CoV induced apoptosis in vivo and in vitro, and that viral protein NS7a is mainly responsible for SADS-CoV-induced apoptosis in host cells. Furthermore, we found that NS7a interacted with apoptosis inducing factor mitochondria associated 1 (AIFM1) to activate caspase-3 via caspase-6 in SADS-CoV-infected cells, and enhanced SADS-CoV replication. Importantly, NS7a suppressed Poly(I:C)-induced expression of Type III interferon (IFN-λ) via activation caspase-3 to cleave IRF3, and caspase-3 inhibitor protects piglets against SADS-CoV infection in vivo. These findings reveal how SADS-CoV-induced apoptosis to inhibit innate immunity and provide a valuable clue to the development of effective drugs for the clinical control of SADS-CoV infection.

INSTRUMENT(S):

ORGANISM(S): Sus Scrofa Domesticus (domestic Pig)

TISSUE(S): Epithelial Cell, Cell Culture

SUBMITTER: Xiaowei Wang  

LAB HEAD: Zhichao Xu

PROVIDER: PXD047032 | Pride | 2025-05-06

REPOSITORIES: Pride