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Current knowledge on PB1-F2 of influenza A viruses

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Abstract

Almost 10 years ago, an eleventh protein of influenza A viruses was discovered in a search for CD8+ T-cell epitopes. This protein was named PB1-F2 since it is encoded in the +1 reading frame of the PB1 gene segment. Various studies have shown that PB1-F2 has a pleiotropic effect: (1) The protein can induce apoptosis in a cell type-dependent manner, (2) PB1-F2 is able to promote inflammation, and (3) finally it up-regulates viral polymerase activity by its interaction with the PB1 subunit. These properties could contribute to an enhanced pathogenicity. However, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood yet. New data suggest that some effects of PB1-F2 are strain-specific and host-specific.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are indebted to Professor Dr. Karl-Jürgen Halbhuber, Department of Anatomy II, for stimulating discussions and advice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Virology and Antiviral Therapy, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Hans-Knoell-Strasse 2, 07745, Jena, Germany

    Andi Krumbholz, Anja Philipps, Peter Wutzler & Roland Zell

  2. Department of Anatomy II, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Teichgraben, 07740, Jena, Germany

    Hartmut Oehring & Annett Eitner

  3. Department of Medical Microbiology, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Erlanger Allee 101, 07740, Jena, Germany

    Andi Krumbholz & Katja Schwarzer

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  1. Andi Krumbholz
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Correspondence to Andi Krumbholz.

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Krumbholz, A., Philipps, A., Oehring, H. et al. Current knowledge on PB1-F2 of influenza A viruses. Med Microbiol Immunol 200, 69–75 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00430-010-0176-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00430-010-0176-8

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