Why Some Cancer Cells Keep Newcastle Virus at Bay

You know how sometimes we get sick, but our body fights off the virus? Well, Newcastle disease virus (NDV) can kill some types of cancer cells, but some cancer cells find a way to resist it. This is called a persistent infection. Researchers wanted to find out how this happens. They used a tool called a genome-wide CRISPR screen on lung cancer cells (A549) to see which parts of the cells' DNA help NDV set up shop. Guess what they found? The body's own defense system, the type I interferon signaling pathway, was a key player in keeping the virus at bay! This pathway includes some important proteins like JAK1, STAT1, STAT2, and IRF9. When the researchers blocked this pathway, the virus could copy itself more easily, but it also caused a big reaction from the body's immune system, leading to cell death. So, this pathway not only fights the virus but also controls the immune system's response, making it tough for the virus to set up a long-term infection.