Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus protein 6 is required for optimal replication.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) encodes several accessory proteins of unknown function. One of these proteins, protein 6 (p6), which is encoded by ORF6, enhances virus replication when introduced into a heterologous murine coronavirus (mouse hepatitis virus [MHV]) but is not essential for optimal SARS-CoV replication after infection at a relatively high multiplicity of infection (MOI). Here, we reconcile these apparently conflicting results by showing that p6 enhances SARS-CoV replication to nearly the same extent as when expressed in the context of MHV if cells are infected at a low MOI and accelerates disease in mice transgenic for the human SARS-CoV receptor.
Zhao
Jincun
J
Department of Microbiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
Falcón
Ana
A
Zhou
Haixia
H
Netland
Jason
J
Enjuanes
Luis
L
Pérez Breña
Pilar
P
Perlman
Stanley
S
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000378:metabolism; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000821:virology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014779:Virus Replication
D011991:Receptors, Virus; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; C494080:Stat1 protein, mouse; D014764:Viral Proteins; C507223:protein 6, SARS virus; D007371:Interferon-gamma