Seneca Valley virus 3C ^pro antagonizes type I interferon response by targeting STAT1-STAT2-IRF9 and KPNA1 signals

Abstract

Type I interferon (IFN) signaling plays a principal role in host innate immune responses against invading viruses. Viruses have evolved diverse mechanisms that target the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway to modulate IFN response negatively. Seneca Valley virus (SVV), an emerging porcine picornavirus, has received great interest recently because it poses a great threat to the global pork industry. However, the molecular mechanism by which SVV evades host innate immunity remains incompletely clear. Our results revealed that SVV proteinase (3C^pro) antagonizes IFN signaling by degrading STAT1, STAT2, and IRF9, and cleaving STAT2 to escape host immunity. SVV 3C^pro also degrades karyopherin 1 to block IFN-stimulated gene factor 3 nuclear translocation. Our results reveal a novel molecular mechanism by which SVV 3C^pro antagonizes the type I IFN response pathway by targeting STAT1-STAT2-IRF9 and karyopherin α1 signals, which has important implications for our understanding of SVV-evaded host innate immune responses.