Gene Expression Timecourse of WT, DUBmut, and EndoUmut Mouse Hepatitis Virus Strain A59 infected C57bl/6 Bone Marrow derived macrophages

We report the differences in innate immune activation in the comparison of wild type and mutant Mouse Hepatitis Virus Strain A59 infection of bone marrow derived macrophages. We infected BMDMs and harvested RNA at 3, 6, 9, and 12 hpi while comparing changes in host gene expression compared to mock infected cells. Here, using a transcriptomics approach, we compared the scope and kinetics of the host response to the wild type, DUBmut, and EndoUmut viruses in infected macrophages. We found that the EndoUmut virus activates a focused response, predominantly involving type I interferons and a subset of interferon-responsive genes, within 12 hours after infection. In contrast, the wild type and DUBmut viruses stimulate the upregulation of over 2,800 genes, including the activation of unfolded protein response (UPR) pathways and a proinflammatory response associated with viral pathogenesis. This study highlights the role of viral interferon antagonists in modulating the kinetics and magnitude of the host response during virus infection and demonstrates that inactivation of a dominant viral antagonist, the coronavirus endoribonuclease, dramatically alters the host response in macrophages and the disease process. Examination of 3 different Mouse Hepatitis Virus Strain A59 infecting C57bl6 BMDMs at 4 different timepoints. Each sample was done in triplicate with a mock infected control.