What is it about?
Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites, meaning they must use host cells in which to replicate. Therefore, viruses are critically dependent upon cellular functions (genes and proteins) to replicate. We performed a global quantitative mass spectrometry screen and found that the levels of about 100 cellular proteins in astrocytes (supportive brain cells) were significantly affected by Zika virus infection. We then focused on some of the most significantly affected genes and used RNA interference to knock down expression of these genes. Zika virus grew better in cells in which these genes were knocked down, indicating that in normal cells these genes/proteins serve to restrict Zika virus replication.
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Why is it important?
Viruses remain significant pathogens and with climate change the geographic distribution of many mosquito-borne viruses is changing. Understanding what cellular proteins are required by any specific virus could lead to new therapeutics to affect the virus and protect us from infection.
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This page is a summary of: HLA-A, HSPA5, IGFBP5 and PSMA2 Are Restriction Factors for Zika Virus Growth in Astrocytic Cells, Viruses, December 2022, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/v15010097.
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