Key result
A Thogoto virus mutant lacking the interferon-antagonistic ML protein was strongly attenuated in newborn mice carrying the Mx1 gene, but remained highly pathogenic in Mx1-negative mice.
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The virulence-enhancing effects of some viral interferon antagonists may escape detection in conventional animal models lacking appropriate antiviral effector molecules.
The Thogoto virus ML protein suppresses interferon synthesis in infected cells. Nevertheless, a virus mutant lacking ML remained highly pathogenic in standard laboratory mice. It was strongly attenuated, however, in mice carrying the interferon-responsive Mx1 gene found in wild mice, demonstrating that enhanced interferon synthesis is protective only if appropriate antiviral effector molecules are present. Our study shows that the virulence-enhancing effects of some viral interferon antagonists may escape detection in conventional animal models.
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Pichlmair et al. (2004) studied Thogoto virus infection. Thogoto virus mutant lacking ML protein vs. Standard laboratory mice (Mx1-negative) was evaluated on Pathogenicity / attenuation. A Thogoto virus mutant lacking the interferon-antagonistic ML protein was strongly attenuated in newborn mice carrying the Mx1 gene, but remained highly pathogenic in Mx1-negative mice.
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