Differential Recruitment of Sphingosine Kinases by Old World and New World Alphaviruses
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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.