title: The NS1 protein: a multitasking virulence factor.
abstract: The non-structural protein 1 of influenza virus (NS1) is a relatively small polypeptide with an outstanding number of ascribed functions. NS1 is the main viral antagonist of the innate immune response during influenza virus infection, chiefly by inhibiting the type I interferon system at multiple steps. As such, its role is critical to overcome the first barrier the host presents to halt the viral infection. However, the pro-viral activities of this well-studied protein go far beyond and include regulation of viral RNA and protein synthesis, and disruption of the host cell homeostasis by dramatically affecting general gene expression while tweaking the PI3K signaling network. Because of all of this, NS1 is a key virulence factor that impacts influenza pathogenesis, and adaptation to new hosts, making it an attractive target for control strategies. Here, we will overview the many roles that have been ascribed to the NS1 protein, and give insights into the sequence features and structural properties that make them possible, highlighting the need to understand how NS1 can actually perform all of these functions during viral infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ayllon
authors.forename: Adolfo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Sastre
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000071457:DEAD Box Protein 58; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C085820:INS1 protein, influenza virus; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors; C452820:RIGI protein, human; D000071457:DEAD Box Protein 58; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases