Glu333 in rabies virus glycoprotein is involved in virus attenuation through astrocyte infection and interferon responses

• Published in: iScience Vol. 25; no. 4; p. 104122
• Main Authors: Itakura, Yukari, Tabata, Koshiro, Morimoto, Kohei, Ito, Naoto, Chambaro, Herman M., Eguchi, Ryota, Otsuguro, Ken-ichi, Hall, William W., Orba, Yasuko, Sawa, Hirofumi, Sasaki, Michihito
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 15.04.2022; Elsevier
• Subjects: Cellular neuroscience; Immunology; Virology; Cellular neuroscience; Immunology; Virology
• ISSN: 2589-0042; 2589-0042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104122

The amino acid residue at position 333 of the rabies virus (RABV) glycoprotein (G333) is a major determinant of RABV pathogenicity. Virulent RABV strains possess Arg333, whereas the attenuated strain HEP-Flury (HEP) possesses Glu333. To investigate the potential attenuation mechanism dependent on a single amino acid at G333, comparative analysis was performed between HEP and HEP333R mutant with Arg333. We examined their respective tropism for astrocytes and the subsequent immune responses in astrocytes. Virus replication and subsequent interferon (IFN) responses in astrocytes infected with HEP were increased compared with HEP333R both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, involvement of IFN in the avirulency of HEP was demonstrated in IFN-receptor knockout mice. These results indicate that Glu333 contributes to RABV attenuation by determining the ability of the virus to infect astrocytes and stimulate subsequent IFN responses. [Display omitted] •Glu333 in G protein is responsible for astrocyte infection with RABV HEP strain•Arg333 mutation in G protein decreases astrocyte tropism of RABV HEP•RABV HEP evokes higher IFN responses in astrocytes than HEP with Arg333 mutation•Glu333-dependent astrocyte infection is involved in the attenuation of RABV HEP Immunology; Cellular neuroscience; Virology