Identification of host cellular factors that interact with Influenza A NS1 protein for viral replication

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Date
2017
Authors
Rahim, Md Niaz
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Abstract
Influenza A virus (IAV) is considered one of the main threats that causes contagious respiratory disease in humans. Each year it threatens the human population with epidemics and pandemics. Limited anti-Influenza drugs are available that target viral proteins. The Influenza virus can mutate rapidly and can quickly develop resistance against available drugs. Therefore, developing novel host-targeted therapeutics effective against different IAVs may be very beneficial. Influenza virus is an intracellular parasite that uses host cell system to favour its replication process and evade host cell defense system. The Influenza A viral nonstructural protein 1(NS1) is a multifunctional protein that is expressed to high levels in infected cells; thus, interacting proteins may be ideal targets for drug development. In this study nine broadly cross-reactive anti-NS1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were generated, characterized and used to co-immunoprecipitate IAV NS1 and its interacting host proteins. 183 proteins were consistently identified in this NS1 interactome study. Importantly, most proteins clustered into different cellular pathways, biological processes and molecular functions, such as mRNA splicing, gene expression, processing of capped intron-containing pre-mRNA and nucleoside, nucleotide and nucleic acid metabolism. Among these, 124 proteins detected in my study represent novel NS1-interacting targets not previously identified. RNAi screening then identified 11 NS1-interacting host factors as vital for IAV replication. From RNAi screening two NS1-interacting candidates, NUMA1 and PRPF19 were chosen for further analysis. IAV production was dramatically reduced in NUMA1 knockdown (KD) cells. Although viral transcription and translation were not inhibited, transport of viral structural proteins to the cytoplasmic membrane was obstructed during maturation steps in NUMA1 KD cells. IAV maturation was also inhibited and new virion production was significantly reduced in PRPF19 KD cells. Overall, a list of novel NS1-interacting host factors were identified utilizing some broadly cross reactive anti-NS1 mAbs in my study, and 11 of them were required for IAV replication. Further research on these new proteins may discover new targets for anti-Influenza drug development.
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Influenza, Proteomics
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