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Abstract
Human MxA protein was analyzed for its ability to inhibit the replication of different
influenza C viruses. Three laboratory derivatives of viral strain C/Ann Arbor/1/50
were investigated, namely the parental wild-type virus C/AA-wt, the persistent variant
C/AA-pi and the highly cytopathogenic variant C/AA-cyt. In addition, strain C/Paris/214/91
isolated from an influenza patient was used. Multiplication of all four viruses was
suppressed in MxA-expressing Vero cells, as indicated by a decrease in viral RNA synthesis,
viral protein synthesis, virion production and induction of a cytopathic effect. Inhibition
correlated with the level of MxA expression. Furthermore, inhibition was independent
of cell clone-specific differences in expression of virus receptors, as demonstrated
by receptor reconstitution experiments. Thus, human MxA protein has antiviral activity
against influenza C viruses.