Following viral detection and
interferons (IFNs) production, several hundreds of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) are subsequently induced to act as direct
antiviral effectors or regulators of the IFN signaling. The guanylate-
binding protein (GBP) family belongs to IFN-inducible
GTPases defending the host against a diverse group of invading pathogens such as parasites, bacteria and viruses. The Chinese tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinese) has been increasingly used as an alternative experimental animal to primates in studying viral
infectious diseases. Hitherto, the tree shrew GBP family has not been characterized. In this study, we identified five tree shrew GBP genes (tGBP1, tGBP2, tGBP4, tGBP5 and tGBP7) and characterized their
antiviral activities. All these tGBPs were ubiquitously expressed in heart, spleen, intestines, kidney, liver, lung and brain tissues of the tree shrew. IFN-γ treatment of tree shrew primary renal cells (TSPRCs) significantly induced the
mRNA expression of tGBPs.
Infections with Newcastle disease virus (NDV), encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) and type 1 herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) enhanced tGBPs
mRNA expression in TSPRCs, but had no effect on the localization of tGBP
proteins in the cytoplasm. tGBP1, but not the other four tGBPs, showed
antiviral activity against
vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and HSV-1
infections. Taken together, this study provided the first-hand information of the GBP family members in the Chinese tree shrew, which might assist the development of tree shrew animal model for
infectious diseases.