How a Protein (WDR5) Affects the Body’s Immune Response to Measles Virus

Measles virus (MeV) remains a highly contagious disease that continues to cause distress, despite available vaccines. Understanding how MeV evades host immune defenses is critical for developing new antiviral strategies. This project investigates the role of the host protein WDR5 in modulating the innate immune response to MeV infection. During viral replication, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) activates the sensor PKR, triggering a stress response effectively inhibiting viral protein synthesis. Previous studies suggest that WDR5 is recruited to viral replication sites and suppresses PKR activation, potentially by masking viral dsRNA. We will test whether WDR5’s RNA-binding site is required for this function using mutant WDR5 lacking the binding domain. Through localization imaging and Western blot analysis of PKR pathway proteins (PKR, eIF2α, and p-eIF2α) across wild-type, knockdown, knockout, and overexpression conditions, we will determine whether this site enables immune evasion.