Excessive production and extreme editing of human metapneumovirus defective interfering RNA is associated with type I IFN induction.

ABSTRACT: Type I IFN production is one of the hallmarks of host innate immune responses upon virus infection. Whilst most respiratory viruses carry IFN antagonists, reports on human metapneumovirus (HMPV) have been conflicting. Using deep sequencing, we have demonstrated that HMPV particles accumulate excessive amounts of defective interfering RNA (DIs) rapidly upon in vitro passage, and that these are associated with IFN induction. Importantly, the DIs were edited extensively; up to 70% of the original A and T residues had mutated to G or C, respectively. Such high editing rates of viral RNA have not, to our knowledge, been reported before. Bioinformatics and PCR assays indicated that adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR) was the most likely editing enzyme. HMPV thus has an unusually high propen

SUBMITTER: van den Hoogen BG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4103063 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature