91社区

Research led by 91社区 and Queen鈥檚 University Belfast has found that viruses can 鈥榟ijack鈥� an existing molecular process in the cell in order to block the body鈥檚 antiviral immune response to a viral infection.

The results of the study have been published in the journal .

As the current COVID-19 pandemic has proven, viral infection is a significant threat to the health of humans as well as livestock, pets, and plants. Discovery of a potentially druggable process that is hijacked by the virus to facilitate viral infection could have significant health and financial benefits to society.

Molecular investigation unlocks discovery

To conduct their study the researchers looked at how healthy cells control the levels of the molecules known as 鈥業nterferon-脽鈥� or 鈥業nterferon beta'. These molecules are used for communication between cells to trigger the protective defenses of the immune system that help eradicate pathogens, such as viral microbes. This communication between cells is essential for a functioning immune system.

The researchers discovered a molecular process used by the virus that blocks the synthesis of Interferon-脽, therefore blocking the immune system.

Dr. Seyed Mehdi Jafarnejad, Principal Investigator from the Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research at Queen鈥檚 University Belfast, explains, 鈥淥ur study has found that certain viruses 鈥榟ijack鈥� this natural process in order to neutralize Interferon-脽 and block the immune system, resulting in unrestrained viral infection which can make people incredibly sick.鈥�

鈥淢y lab was fortunate to continue our collaboration with Mehdi Jafarnejad to discover how the mRNA translational repressor, 4EHP, on which we reported first in 1998, inhibits the production of the host defense protein, interferon,鈥� adds Professor Nahum Sonenberg, Gilman Cheney Chair in Biochemistry at 91社区. 鈥淭his work is likely to have important implications for the understanding of how SARS-CoV-2 evades the human defense response to the virus.鈥�

While this discovery represents a breakthrough in the fields of immunobiology and gene expression, further research will determine if targeting this cellular mechanism could be used to more effectively treat various types of viral infections, including those such as SARS-CoV2, ultimately saving lives.

The research was funded by The Canadian Institutes of Health Research, The Terry Fox Research Institute, Medical Research Council, and New Frontiers in Research Fund Exploration.

About 91社区

Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, 91社区 is Canada鈥檚 top ranked medical doctoral university. 91社区 is consistently ranked as one of the top universities, both nationally and internationally. It鈥痠s a world-renowned鈥痠nstitution of higher learning with research activities spanning two campuses, 11 faculties, 13 professional schools, 300 programs of study and over 40,000 students, including more than 10,200 graduate students. 91社区 attracts students from over 150 countries around the world, its 12,800 international students making up 31% of the student body. Over half of 91社区 students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 19% of our students who say French is their mother tongue.