How coronaviruses exploit the host's antiviral defenses to replicate efficiently

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After the ribonucleic acid (RNA) of the coronavirus enters the host cell, it triggers the infected cell to secrete interferon, which inhibits the replication of the virus in the infected cell and reduces the risk of infection among other uninfected cell.

Apoptosis is performed in human and animal cells by cysteine-aspartic proteases that clear infected cells to inhibit viral replicatio.

Research Methods and Results

In a mouse model, chemical inhibitors of caspase-6 greatly restricted the replication of mouse-adapted MERS-CoV (MERS-CoVMA) and significantly increased mouse survival from 33% to 80.

But how does the coronavirus use caspase-6 for its own benefit? Note that the interferon response is the most important and direct antiviral defense of the host cel.

Significance

This research shows how coronaviruses have evolved into highly successful pathogen.

Hin Chu, Yuxin Hou, Dong Yang, Lei Wen, Huiping Shuai, Chaemin Yoon, Jialu Shi, Yue Chai, Terrence Tsz-Tai Yuen, Bingjie Hu, Cun Li, Xiaoyu Zhao, Yixin Wang, Xiner Huang, Kin Shing Lee, Luo Cuiting, Jian-Piao Cai, Vincent Kwok-Man Poon, Chris Chung-Sing Chan, Anna Jinxia Zhang, Shuofeng Yuan, Ko-Yung Sit, Dominic Chi-Chung Foo, Wing-Kuk Au, Kenneth Kak-Yuen Wong, Jie Zhou , Kin-Hang Kok, Dong-Yan Jin, Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan, Kwok-Yung Yue.