title: Vaccinia virus B18R gene encodes a type I interferon-binding protein that blocks interferon alpha transmembrane signaling.
abstract: Poxviruses encode a large number of proteins that attenuate the inflammatory and immune responses to infection. In this report we demonstrate that a number of orthopoxviruses express a type I interferon (IFN)-binding protein, which is encoded by the B18R open reading frame in the WR strain of vaccinia virus. The B18R protein has significant regions of homology with the alpha subunits of the mouse, human, and bovine type I IFN receptors, bound human IFN alpha 2 with high affinity, and inhibited transmembrane signaling as demonstrated by inhibition of Fc receptor factor gamma 1/gamma 2 and interferon-stimulated gene factor-3 formation as well as inhibition of the IFN alpha antiviral response. Among viral host response modifiers, the B18R protein is unique inasmuch as it exists as a soluble extracellular as well as a cell surface protein and thus should effectively block both autocrine and paracrine functions of IFN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Tennessee, Memphis 38163, USA.
authors.forename: O R
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Colamonici
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Domanski
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sweitzer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Larner
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Buller
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005814:Genes, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018155:Orthopoxvirus / Q000235:genetics*; D017471:Receptors, Interferon / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D050795:STAT2 Transcription Factor; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000235:genetics; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D017471:Receptors, Interferon; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D050795:STAT2 Transcription Factor; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014764:Viral Proteins; C067853:B18R protein, Vaccinia virus