Mice lacking alpha/beta and gamma interferon receptors are susceptible to junin virus infection

J Virol. 2010 Dec;84(24):13063-7. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01389-10. Epub 2010 Oct 6.

Abstract

Junin virus (JUNV) causes a highly lethal human disease, Argentine hemorrhagic fever. Previous work has demonstrated the requirement for human transferrin receptor 1 for virus entry, and the absence of the receptor was proposed to be a major cause for the resistance of laboratory mice to JUNV infection. In this study, we present for the first time in vivo evidence that the disruption of interferon signaling is sufficient to generate a disease-susceptible mouse model for JUNV infection. After peripheral inoculation with virulent JUNV, adult mice lacking alpha/beta and gamma interferon receptors developed disseminated infection and severe disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arenaviridae Infections / genetics
  • Arenaviridae Infections / pathology*
  • Arenaviridae Infections / virology*
  • Disease Susceptibility*
  • Female
  • Interferon gamma Receptor
  • Junin virus / pathogenicity*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta / physiology*
  • Receptors, Interferon / physiology*
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • Receptors, Interferon
  • Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta