Ability of alphavirus replicases to synthesize non-viral type I interferon inducing RNAs

Alphavirus replicases alone can trigger type I IFN response when expressed in the absence of viral RNA templates. The study investigates to which extent replicases of multiple different alphaviruses synthesise PAMP RNA when no viral RNA templates are presented. The levels of rPAMPs generally correlate with efficiency of viral RNA synthesis and are increased by mutations slowing down processing of ns polyprotein.