N7-Methylation of the Coronavirus RNA Cap Is Required for Maximal Virulence by Preventing Innate Immune Recognition
Ruangang Pan, Eveline Kindler, Liu Cao, Yu Zhou, Zhen Zhang, Qianyun Liu, Nadine Ebert, Roland Züst, Yingming Sun, Alexander E. Gorbalenya, Stanley Perlman, Volker Thiel, Yu Chen, Deyin Guo
Abstract
and that attenuation is apparent at very early times after infection. Virulence is restored in mice lacking interferon signaling. Further, we show that infection with virus defective in N7-methylation protects mice from lethal SARS-CoV-2, suggesting that the N7-methylase might be a useful target in drug and vaccine development.
Topics & Concepts
BiologyCoronavirusVirologyInterferonInnate immune systemMethylationImmune systemViral replicationDownregulation and upregulationVirusMutantImmunologyGeneGeneticsDiseaseCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)MedicinePathologyInfectious disease (medical specialty)SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Researchinterferon and immune responsesImmune Cell Function and Interaction