Avian Interferons and Their Antiviral Effectors.

Diwakar Santhakumar,Muhammad Munir,Dennis Rubbenstroth,Luis Martinez-Sobrido

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2017.00049

Diwakar Santhakumar, Muhammad Munir + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2017.00049

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Abstract

Interferon (IFN) responses, mediated by a myriad of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs), are the most profound innate immune responses against viruses. Cumulatively, these IFN effectors establish a multilayered antiviral state to safeguard the host against invading viral pathogens. Considerable genetic and functional characterizations of mammalian IFNs and their effectors have been made, and our understanding on the avian IFNs has started to expand. Similar to mammalian counterparts, three types of IFNs have been genetically characterized in most avian species with available annotated genomes. Intriguingly, chickens are capable of mounting potent innate immune responses upon various stimuli in the absence of essential components of IFN pathways including retinoic acid-inducible gene I, IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), and possibility IRF9. Understanding these unique properties of the chicken IFN system would propose valuable targets for the development of potential therapeutics for a broader range of viruses of both veterinary and zoonotic importance. This review outlines recent developments in the roles of avian IFNs and ISGs against viruses and highlights important areas of research toward our understanding of the antiviral functions of IFN effectors against viral infections in birds.

Highlights

For efficient replication and spread, viruses have to breach a potent and multilayered immune system in the host
The third category of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) is the family of DNA sensors, which include absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) and cyclic GMP-AMP synthetase [4]
The currently available information on the immunogenetics of avian IFNs is a basis for future research aimed to understand the molecular mechanisms of IFN induction, associated factors, and to identify uncharacterized IFNs in different avian species, which differ significantly in their IFNs pathways and harbor viruses of both veterinary and medical importance

Summary

Introduction

For efficient replication and spread, viruses have to breach a potent and multilayered immune system in the host. It has been shown recently that chicken STING can actively sense DNA and in cooperation with the mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein induces type I IFN responses independent of RIG-I, interfering with the replication of RNA viruses [23].

Results

Conclusion