Porcine parvovirus infection induces necroptosis of porcine placental trophoblast cells via a ZBP1-mediated pathway.

Porcine parvovirus (PPV) infection induces germ cell death, leading to reproductive disorders in first-pregnant sows. Porcine placental trophoblast cells (PTCs) are the major target of PPV, and we have previously found that PPV infection leads to the death of PTCs by a non-apoptotic process, which may be related to PPV pathogenicity. The Z-nucleic acid-binding protein 1 (ZBP1) is often activated after virus invasion and mediates subsequent cell death.

Pseudorabies Virus UL4 protein promotes the ASC-dependent inflammasome activation and pyroptosis to exacerbate inflammation.

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) infection causes systemic inflammatory responses and inflammatory damages in infected animals, which are associated with the activation of inflammasome and pyroptosis in infected tissues. Here, we identified a critical function of PRV non-structural protein UL4 that enhanced ASC-dependent inflammasome activation to promote pyroptosis. Whereas, the deficiency of viral UL4 was able to reduce ASC-dependent inflammasome activation and the occurrences of pyroptosis.