What is it about?

As part of vertebrates' innate immune response to various viral pathogens, interferons play a central role. There has been renewed interest in novel IFN classes with antiviral properties, particularly against highly pathogenic zoonotic animal viruses. A new group of antiviral type I interferons, IFNdelta, has been reported from dromedary camels. Seven functional IFN delta genes (CdIFN-δ1 to δ7) and one pseudogene were isolated and cloned. Recombinant camel interferon-1, expressed in prokaryotic system, stimulates IFN-stimulated gene expression and also exerts antiviral effects against camelpox virus. . Pretreatment of camel kidney cells with recombinant camel IFN-1 improved cell survival and reduced the amount of camelpox virus. Novel IFNs from zoonotic spillover risk animals such as camels will be used to improve immunotherapies against viruses and expand the arsenal against emerging zoonotic pathogens.

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Why is it important?

Novel IFNs from zoonotic spillover risk animals such as camels will be used to improve immunotherapies against viruses and expand the arsenal against emerging zoonotic pathogens.

Perspectives

Increasing camel husbandry in the Middle East has led to an increase in interactions between camels and humans, resulting in the emergence of potentially zoonotic viruses like MERS-CoV and camelpox. This novel class of interferons has not yet been functionally characterized in mammals apart from pigs, horses, and sheep. Recombinant interferon delta derived from camels will enhance our knowledge of delta IFNs in mammals and help us develop antivirals that can be used to combat emerging zoonotic diseases.

Avinash Premraj
Camel Biotechology Center, Presidential Camels & Camel Racing Affairs Center

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This page is a summary of: Novel type-I interferons from the dromedary camel: Molecular identification, prokaryotic expression and functional characterization of camelid interferon-delta, Molecular Immunology, January 2023, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2022.12.003.
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