Abstract
The coronaviruses are a large family of enveloped RNA viruses that commonly cause gastrointestinal or respiratory illnesses in the infected host. Avian coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is a highly contagious respiratory pathogen of chickens that can affect the kidneys and reproductive systems resulting in bird mortality and decreased reproductivity. The interferon-inducible transmembrane (IFITM) proteins are activated in response to viral infections and represent a class of cellular restriction factors that restrict the replication of many viral pathogens. Here, we characterize the relative mRNA expression of the chicken IFITM genes in response to IBV infection, in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro using the pathogenic M41-CK strain, the nephropathogenic QX strain and the nonpathogenic Beaudette strain. In vivo we demonstrate a significant upregulation of chIFITM1, 2, 3 and 5 in M41-CK- and QX-infected trachea two days post-infection. In vitro infection with Beaudette, M41-CK and QX results in a significant upregulation of chIFITM1, 2 and 3 at 24 h post-infection. We confirmed a differential innate response following infection with distinct IBV strains and believe that our data provide new insights into the possible role of chIFITMs in early IBV infection.
Highlights
Coronaviruses encompass a large family of positive-stranded RNA viruses that cause a range of diseases in humans and animals [1]
Mock-infected birds and those infected with rIBV Beau-R, a molecular clone of the pathogenic Beau-CK strain [5], displayed no infectious bronchitis virus (IBV)-related clinical signs and no reduction in ciliary activity while birds infected with M41-CK displayed clinical signs from day 2 post-inoculation and had a reduced ciliary activity (
To determine whether IBV infection induces chicken IFITM (chIFITM) expression in vivo, tissues from chickens infected with three strains of IBV of different pathogenicities, were investigated; the apathogenic attenuated Beau-R strain, pathogenic laboratory M41-CK strain and the nephropathogenic QX strain were compared
Summary
Coronaviruses encompass a large family of positive-stranded RNA viruses that cause a range of diseases in humans and animals [1]. The Coronaviridae family consists of two subfamilies, the Letovirinae and Orthocoronavirinae, the latter of which is divided into four genera named, α-, β-, Delta- and Gammacoronavirus. The avian coronavirus, infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is the prototype Gammacoronavirus. Infectious bronchitis virus infects domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) and is the causative agent of a highly contagious respiratory disease, Infectious Bronchitis (IB). IBV replicates primarily in the tracheal epithelial cells of the respiratory tract, resulting in a decrease in tracheal ciliary activity and common-cold-like symptoms including snicking, tracheal rales and nasal discharge [5]. Secondary replication of IBV can occur in many non-respiratory tissues including the kidney, testes, oviduct and gastrointestinal tract [6,7]. The clinical symptoms presented by infected birds are dependent on several factors including the strain of IBV, of which there are many genetic variants and serotypes
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