Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Alphaviruses have recently re-emerged as important disease-causing agents resulting in debilitating disease in humans and animals. To develop therapeutic strategies, it is important to identify host factors co-opted by viruses during infection. Sphingosine kinases (SKs) have been identified as important host factors for viruses. In this study, we extend on our previous findings and demonstrate a pattern to re-localization of sphingosine kinases during alphavirus infection. Specifically, we observed that encephalitic alphaviruses preferentially re-localize SK1, while arthritogenic alphaviruses re-localize SK2, during infection. Inhibition of SK1 specifically resulted in decreased encephalitic alphavirus infection. Thus, sphingosine kinases are differentially recruited by alphaviruses and represent a viable therapeutic target.
Source: Preprints.org
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7140232880