Han Xiao PhD thesis - Research@StAndrews:FullText - University of ...

HIV (Chebath et al., 1987; Coccia et al., 1990; Maitra and Silverman, 1998; Williams
and Kerr, 1978). Despite the fact that RNase L could degrade cellular mRNA, it
preferentially targets viral mRNA as a result of local activation of 2’-5’OAS by viral
replication and transcription (Nilsen and Baglioni, 1979).
1.1.3.3 Mx GTPases
Mx proteins are key components of the antiviral state induced by type I IFN [reviewed in
(Haller, Staeheli, and Kochs, 2007)]. In 1962, Lindenmann discovered that the inbred
mouse strain A2G showed an unusually high degree of resistance towards infection with
influenza A virus (FLUAV) (Lindenmann, 1962). Later on, it was found that the innate
resistance depends on a single gene, named Mx1 (for orthomyxovirus resistance gene 1),
which was the major mediator of innate immunity against influenza A virus in mice
(Arnheiter et al., 1990; Horisberger, Staeheli, and Haller, 1983; Staeheli et al., 1986),
whilst most inbred strains of mice carry defective Mx1 alleles and are highly susceptible
to pathogenic influenza A virus strains (Staeheli et al., 1988). It was intriguing for the
existence of an influenza virus resistance gene in mice because mice are not natural hosts
for influenza viruses. However, subsequently it became clear that Mx1 is the first
member of Mx gene family which exist in a variety of organisms, including yeast, fish,
chicken, ducks, dogs, pigs, cows, sheep, horses, and humans (Horisberger, 1992;
Horisberger and Gunst, 1991; Nakayama and Ishihama, 1992; Nakayama et al., 1991;
Pitossi et al., 1993; Samuel, 1991; Staeheli, 1990), and inhibit a broad spectrum of
viruses from different taxonomic groups [reviewed by (Haller, Staeheli, and Kochs,
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