Inefficient splicing of segment 7 and 8 mRNAs is an inherent property of influenza virus A/Brevig Mission/1918/1 (H1N1) that causes elevated expression of NS1 protein.

Summary, in English

Influenza A virus encodes two segments (7 and 8) that produce mRNAs that can be spliced. We have investigated if naturally occurring sequence polymorphisms in the influenza A virus family affects splicing of these viral mRNAs, as that could potentially alter the NS1/NS2- and/or M1/M2-protein ratios. We compared splicing efficiency of segment 7 and 8 mRNAs of A/Brevig Mission/1918/1 (H1N1) and A/Netherlands/178/95 (H3N2), as well as various H5N1 avian strains. Results revealed that both segment 7 and 8 mRNAs of A/Brevig Mission/1918/1 (H1N1) were inefficiently spliced compared to other influenza virus segment 7 and 8 mRNAs. This resulted in production of higher levels of functional NS1 protein, which could potentially contribute to the pathogenic properties of the A/Brevig Mission/1918/1 (H1N1). We also show that A/Brevig Mission/1918/1 (H1N1) segment 8 mRNAs responded differently to overexpression of SR proteins than A/Netherlands/178/95 (H3N2).

• Author: Ellenor Winquist; Samir Abdurahman; Anna Tranell; Sofia Lindström; Susanne Tingsborg; Stefan Schwartz
• Department/s: Division of Medical Microbiology; Molecular virology
• Publishing year: 2012
• Language: English
• Pages: 46-58
• Publication/Series: Virology
• Volume: 422
• Links: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22036312?dopt=Abstract; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2011.10.004
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Topic: Microbiology in the medical area
• Status: Published
• Research group: Molecular virology
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 1096-0341