Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is a human pathogen that induces hand, foot, and mouth disease and fatal neurological diseases. Immature or impaired immunity is thought to associate with increased morbidity and mortality. In a murine model, EV71 does not facilitate the production of type I interferon (IFN) that plays a critical role in the first-line defense against viral infection. Administration of a neutralizing antibody to IFN-␣/␤ exacerbates the virus-induced disease. However, the molecular events governing this process remain elusive. Here, we report that EV71 suppresses the induction of antiviral immunity by targeting the cytosolic receptor retinoid acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I). In infected cells, EV71 inhibits the expression of IFN-␤, IFN-stimulated gene 54 (ISG54), ISG56, and tumor necrosis factor alpha. Among structural and nonstructural proteins encoded by EV71, the 3C protein is capable of inhibiting IFN-␤ activation by virus and RIG-I. Nevertheless, EV71 3C exhibits no inhibitory activity on MDA5. Remarkably, when expressed in mammalian cells, EV71 3C associates with RIG-I via the caspase recruitment domain. This precludes the recruitment of an adaptor IPS-1 by RIG-I and subsequent nuclear translocation of interferon regulatory factor 3. An R84Q or V154S substitution in the RNA binding motifs has no effect. An H40D substitution is detrimental, but the protease activity associated with 3C is dispensable. Together, these results suggest that inhibition of RIG-I-mediated type I IFN responses by the 3C protein may contribute to the pathogenesis of EV71 infection.

Summary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) causes Burkitt, Hodgkin, and post-transplant B cell lymphomas. How EBV remodels metabolic pathways to support rapid B cell outgrowth remains largely unknown. To gain insights, primary human B cells were profiled by tandem-mass-tag-based proteomics at rest and at nine time points after infection; >8,000 host and 29 viral proteins were quantified, revealing mitochondrial remodeling and induction of one-carbon (1C) metabolism. EBV-encoded EBNA2 and its target MYC were required for upregulation of the central mitochondrial 1C enzyme MTHFD2, which played key roles in EBV-driven B cell growth and survival. MTHFD2 was critical for maintaining elevated NADPH levels in infected cells, and oxidation of mitochondrial NADPH diminished B cell proliferation. Tracing studies underscored contributions of 1C to nucleotide synthesis, NADPH production, and redox defense. EBV upregulated import and synthesis of serine to augment 1C flux. Our results highlight EBV-induced 1C as a potential therapeutic target and provide a new paradigm for viral onco-metabolism.

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