A viral gene that counteracts the bodys defenses.

Although our immune system has a number of mechanisms to combat the virus, they have offset them, and thus ensure the survival of the virus. Knowing them is an essential step to move forward in the fight against disease-causing viruses.

To study how to cause disease, in the laboratory of Louis Enjuanes [see] the national centre of biotechnology of the CSIC work with a family of viruses that cause colds and pneumonia in people from diarrhea in pigs. The genome of these viruses are three genes are not essential for their survival. The 7 “can counteract the antiviral response of the host,” according to Enjuanes. Something that has never before had described in this group of viruses.

Interestingly, decrease the mechanisms of defense against the virus causes a survival of the cells of the host. Defenses stop the replication of the virus by interfering with their genetic information causing the death of the cell infected by the virus.

Researchers at the CNB genetically modified virus that do not have this gene 7. Thus, they noted that the absence of the protein producing gene causes an increase in the death of cells infected with mutated coronavirus. Although it is striking that there is a gene that makes the virus is less virulent, should take into account that the virus needs that the cell is alive in order to take advantage of its features and generate more virus.

Protein 7, whose role was unknown until now, binds within cells to one of the key factors in the antiviral response, the so-called protein phosphatase 1. The Group of Enjuanes proposed that protein 7 “reduces the disease caused by the virus but increases the time that the microorganism spreads and spread to other cells.”

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Referencia:

Cruz, j., Sola, i., Becares, M., pool, B., flat, j., Enjuanes, l., & Zhang, S. (2011) CoronavirusGene 7 Counteracts Host proactive and Modulates Virus Virulence [see]. PLoS HIV, 7 (6), e1002090. DOI:. 1371/journal.ppat.1002090.