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West Nile virus-induced cytoplasmic membrane structures provide partial protection against the interferon-induced antiviral MxA protein

¹ School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
² Department of Virology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany

Correspondence
Jason M. Mackenzie
j.mackenzie{at}uq.edu.au

The human MxA protein is a type I and III interferon (IFN)-induced protein with proven antiviral activity against RNA viruses. In this study, we investigated the effect of MxA expression on the replication of West Nile Virus strain Kunjin (WNV_KUN). Pretreatment of A549 cells with IFN- lead to increased expression of MxA, which contributed to inhibition of WNV_KUN replication and secretion. However, in Vero cells stably expressing the MxA protein, WNV_KUN replication, maturation and secretion was not inhibited. Biochemical and subcellular localization studies of WNV_KUN proteins and MxA suggest that the MxA activity was not compromised by a flavivirus-encoded antagonist. Instead, we show that characteristic membranous structures induced during WNV_KUN replication provide partial protection from MxA, possibly by ‘hiding’ WNV_KUN replication components. This distinct compartmentalization of viral replication and components of the cellular antiviral response may be an evolutionary mechanism by which flaviviruses can hide from host surveillance.