Characterization of host cell factors that determine the susceptibility of human and animal cells to coronavirus infection

• Main Author: Lim, Jessie Kia Hui
• Other Authors: Liu Ding Xiang
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/60611
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Perturbations of host cell cycle regulations have been shown to be a unique feature for many DNA and RNA viral infections. One of the examples would be Coronavirus which is capable of causing acute and chronic respiratory diseases in mammalian cells. Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) is a prototype of Coronavirus. In an event of IBV infection, DNA damage response was induced through the interaction of nsp13 and p125 subunit of host DNA polymerase δ. The interaction of nucleocapsid (N) and nucleolar antigens will also lead to cell cycle arrest. These strategies were exploited by IBV to induce cell cycle arrest which will in turn facilitate viral replication in the cytoplasm of the host. Many efforts were done throughout the years in sought for mammalian host factors which possess a regulatory role in IBV replication. This study identified two mammalian host factors, Cell-division cycle 5-like protein (Cdc5L) and Cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor 3 (CPSF3), as a potential regulator of IBV replication. These findings have demonstrated Cdc5L as an enhancing factor for IBV replication by acting through Ataxia-telangiectasia and Rad3- related (ATR) signalling pathway. However, more studies need to be done to conclude the functional role of CPSF3 in IBV replication.