Understanding Poxvirus Metabolism: The Case of Vaccinia Virus

Did you know that the vaccinia virus, part of the poxvirus family, can tweak host cells' metabolism? When it's time to replicate, this tiny invader needs certain nutrients to succeed. Scientists recently found that the vaccinia growth factor, or VGF, plays a big role in this process. VGF is like the cellular epidermal growth factor but has its unique tricks. For instance, it helps activate an enzyme called CAD, which is crucial for creating new pyrimidines—key players in making DNA and RNA. Even in tough conditions, like when nutrients are scarce, VGF can still activate CAD through a signaling pathway called mTORC1-S6K1.This is interesting because typically, these conditions would slow down mTORC1 activation. VGF needs the company of the virus to work its magic, though, as on its own, it can't activate the CAD pathway. This discovery is a step towards understanding how vaccinia virus manipulates host cell metabolism, paving the way for better antiviral treatments and the use of vaccinia virus as a cancer therapy and vaccine vector.