Pseudorabies Virus US3 Protein Inhibits IFN-β Production by Interacting With IRF3 to Block Its Activation

• DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.761282
• Publication Date: 2021-10-22T07:28:15Z
• Authors: Jingying Xie; Xiangbo Zhang; Lei Chen; Yingjie Bi; Adi Idris; Shujuan Xu; Xiangrong Li; Yong Zhang; Ruofei Feng
• Keywords: IRF3; Pseudorabies; Antiviral protein

Pseudorabies virus is a typical swine alphaherpesvirus, which can cause obvious neurological disorders and reproductive failure in pigs. It capable of evading host antiviral immune response. However, the mechanism by many PRV proteins assist to evade innate immunity not fully understood. This study identified US3 protein as crucial antagonistic viral factor that represses interferon beta (IFN-β) expression. A in-depth showed restricted type I IFN production targeting regulatory 3 (IRF3), key molecule required for induction. Additionally, interacted with IRF3, degraded its expression block phosphorylation IRF3. These findings suggested novel strategy utilized inhibit IFN-β escape immunity.