Engineered Promoter-Switched Viruses Reveal the Role of Poxvirus Maturation Protein A26 as a Negative Regulator of Viral Spread

Abstract

Chordopoxviruses are mammalian viruses that uniquely produce a first type of virion adapted to spread within the host and a second type that enhances transmission between hosts, which can take place by multiple ways, including direct contact, respiratory droplets, oral/fecal routes, or via vectors. Both virion types are important to balance intrahost dissemination and interhost transmission, so virus maturation pathways must be tightly controlled.