V protein, the virulence factor across the family Paramyxoviridae: a review

• Main Authors: May, Ling Tham, Yusoff, Khatijah, Othman, Siti Sarah, Suet, Lin Chia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malaysian Society for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology 2019
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/82701/1/V%20protein%2C%20the%20virulence%20factor%20across%20the%20family%20Paramyxoviridae%20a%20review.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/82701/

Paramyxoviridae is a family of viruses within the order Mononegavirales and comprises 14 genera; Metaavulavirus, Orthoavulavirus, Paraavulavirus, Synodonvirus, Ferlavirus, Aquaparamyxovirus, Henipavirus, Morbillivirus, Respirovirus, Jeilongvirus, Narmovirus, Salemvirus, Pararubulavirus and Orthorubulavirus. The members within this family are negative and single-stranded RNA viruses including human and animal pathogens such as measles virus (MeV), Nipah virus (NiV), mumps virus (MuV), Sendai virus (SeV) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV). The V protein is conserved within the family and plays an essential role in viral pathogenicity. Although V proteins of many paramyxoviruses are interferon-antagonists which counteract with the host’s innate immunity, there are still differences in the mode of action of the V protein between different genera or species within the same genera. The strategies to circumvent the host interferon (IFN) pathway can be divided into three general mechanisms; degradation of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) protein, inhibition of phosphorylation of the transcription factor and, inhibition of translocation of STAT proteins into the nucleus. As a result, inhibition of IFN signalling and production promotes viral replication in the host cells. This review highlights the mechanism of the paramyxoviral V protein in evading the host IFN system.