Antiviral activity of double-stranded RNA–binding protein PACT against influenza A virus mediated via suppression of viral RNA polymerase

What is it about?

Influenza A virus continues to pose a public health threat of global concern. Particularly, whether avian influenza might cause the next pandemic remains to be determined. A better understanding of how cellular antiviral proteins exert their effect on influenza A virus could reveal new strategies for design and development of specific antiviral agents. Our study demonstrates that a cellular antiviral protein named PACT and influenza A virus RNA polymerase mutually affect each other's activity to control viral gene expression and cellular antiviral response. On one hand, viral polymerase inhibits the activity of PACT to induce interferon production. On the other hand, PACT binds to viral polymerase to suppress viral gene expression. Agents that can mimic the action of PACT might have antiviral activity against influenza A virus.

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