Replication defective viral genomes (DVGs) generated during virus replication are the primary triggers of antiviral immunity in many infections. However, DVGs also provide viruses with an evolutionary advantage by facilitating virus persistence. Why and how DVGs and the host interact to achieve these two divergent functions remains unknown. We report that DVGs engage a MAVS-mediated antiviral response that promotes apoptosis on highly infected cells while protecting cells dominated by DVGs from death. We find that MAVS signaling leads to the expression of TNF and of the pro-survival TNFR2/TRAF1 proteins. TNF induces apoptosis of infected cells lacking DVGs, while its signaling in cells enriched in DVGs promotes their survival. These results identify DVGs as pivotal for virus-host co-existence and reveal a MAVS-mediated axis that while promoting the death of infected cells, protects those cells producing toxic cytokines from apoptosis, thereby facilitating viral persistence. SOURCE: Carolina,B,Lopez (lopezca@upenn.edu) -  University of Pennsylvania

Pluto Bioinformatics

GSE96774: Replication defective viral products exploit a cellular pro-survival mechanism to establish persistent infections