Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Nonstructural Protein 1 Beta Interacts with Nucleoporin 62 To Promote Viral Replication and Immune Evasion

Abstract

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) causes PRRS and is known to effectively suppress host innate immunity. The PRRSV nsp1β protein blocks host mRNA nuclear export, which has been shown to be one of the viral mechanisms for inhibition of antiviral protein production. nsp1β binds to the cellular protein nucleoporin 62 (Nup62), and as a consequence, the nuclear pore complex (NPC) is disintegrated and the nucleocytoplasmic trafficking of host mRNAs and host proteins is blocked. We show the dual benefits of Nup62 and nsp1β binding for PRRSV replication: the inhibition of host antiviral protein expression and the exclusive use of host translation machinery by the virus. Our study unveils a novel strategy of PRRSV for immune evasion and enhanced replication during infection.