Lassa virus nucleoprotein mutants generated by reverse genetics induce a robust type I interferon response in human dendritic cells and macrophages

J Virol. 2011 Nov;85(22):12093-7. doi: 10.1128/JVI.00429-11. Epub 2011 Aug 31.

Abstract

Lassa virus (LASV; Arenaviridae) is responsible for severe hemorrhagic fevers in Africa. LASV nucleoprotein (NP) plays important roles in regulating viral transcription and replication and in inhibiting type I interferon (IFN) production. The NP C-terminal domain contains a 3'-to-5' exonuclease activity involved in suppressing IFN induction. We have established a murine polymerase (Pol) I reverse genetics system for LASV, showing that residues D389 and G392 of NP were critical for LASV viability, while the D389A/G392A and D389T/392A double mutants were severely altered in the ability to suppress IFN in macrophages and dendritic cells. Assessing their attenuation in vivo may open new perspectives in vaccinology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Animals
  • Capsid Proteins / genetics*
  • Capsid Proteins / immunology*
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / virology
  • Interferon Type I / metabolism*
  • Lassa virus / genetics*
  • Lassa virus / growth & development
  • Lassa virus / immunology*
  • Macrophages / immunology*
  • Macrophages / virology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutant Proteins / genetics
  • Mutant Proteins / immunology
  • Mutation, Missense
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Vero Cells
  • Viral Load
  • Viral Plaque Assay

Substances

  • Capsid Proteins
  • Interferon Type I
  • Mutant Proteins
  • nucleocapsid protein, lassa virus

Associated data

  • GENBANK/FR832710
  • GENBANK/FR832711