Antiviral immunity in marine molluscs

Type Article
Date 2015-09
Language English
Author(s) Green Timothy J.1, 2, Raftos David1, 2, Speck Peter3, Montagnani CarolineORCID4
Affiliation(s) 1 : Macquarie Univ, Dept Biol Sci, N Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia.
2 : Sydney Inst Marine Sci, Mosman, NSW 2088, Australia.
3 : Flinders Univ S Australia, Sch Biol Sci, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
4 : Univ Montpellier, CNRS, UMR 5244, IFREMER,IHPE,Univ Perpignan, F-34095 Montpellier, France.
Source Journal Of General Virology (0022-1317) (Soc General Microbiology), 2015-09 , Vol. 96 , P. 2471-2482
DOI 10.1099/jgv.0.000244
WOS© Times Cited 54
Abstract Marine molluscs, like all living organisms, are constantly exposed to viruses and have evolved efficient antiviral defences. We review here recent developments in molluscan antiviral immunity against viruses belonging to the order Herpesvirales. Emerging results suggest an interferon-like response and autophagy are involved in the antiviral defence of bivalves to viral infection. Multifunctional plasma proteins from gastropods and bivalves have been identified to have broadspectrum antiviral activity against mammalian viruses. The antiviral defences present in molluscs can be enhanced by genetic selection, as shown by the presence of oyster strains specifically resistant to ostreid herpesvirus type 1. Whether varying amounts or different isofornns of these antiviral plasma proteins contributes to genetic resistance is worthy of further research. Other evolutionarily conserved antiviral mechanisms, such as RNA interference and apoptosis, still need further characterization.
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