Amphibian IFN responses to the ranavirus FV3

What is it about?

This work is the first to demonstrate the roles of the amphibian type I interferon in immunity against the etiologically relevant ranavirus Frog Virus 3 (FV3).

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Why is it important?

Amphibians such as Xenopus represent a key stage in the evolution of vertebrate antiviral defenses and as such the findings of this study have fundamental relevance. Our findings also indicate a critical protective role for the amphibian type I IFN response during ranaviral infections and suggest that these viruses are more pathogenic to tadpole hosts than previously believed, causing extensive and fatal damage to multiple organs, even at very low titers.