The removal of one gene could potentially render poxviruses harmless, according to a new study published in Science Advances today.
Researchers from the Spanish National Research Council and the University of Surrey specifically studied ectromelia virus (ECTV), a member of the poxvirus family that causes mousepox. ECTV spreads through the lymphatic system of mice to vital organs, where massive replication of the virus takes place, resulting in the rapid death of the animal. During their investigations, they identified a gene, viral Schlafen (vSLFN), which was found to block the cell response to the virus genome making the infection silent to the immune system. They found that disabling this one gene made the infection detectable, triggering a potent immune response that protected animals against doses one million times higher than the regular lethal quantity.
Following the removal of vSLFN, it was found that animals with the modified virus were protected from subcutaneous, respiratory, and intravenous infection and all survived. Scientists also found that the protection was mediated by interferon and natural killer cells.
According to author Carlos Maluquer de Motes,"Our findings reveal the importance of activating the molecules responsible for the detection of the genetic material of microbes in the fight against viruses. In addition, they also suggest that mimicking the action of vSLFN may be a valid strategy to prevent auto inflammatory and autoimmune diseases that are caused when the genetic material of cells is sensed by the immune system, promoting a reaction."