MITD1 is a brain-specific interferon-inducible factor that inhibits flavivirus replication

Significance Mosquito-borne flaviviruses are emerging worldwide, posing a major threat to public health. In this work, we have identified an antiviral protein, named MITD1, which is able to block flavivirus replication in human cells. Specifically, MITD1 was found to prevent the formation of viral replication factories that flaviviruses establish within target cells. Strikingly, the expression of MITD1 is specifically induced in microglial cells, the main immune cells of the central nervous system, and prevents their infection. Given that most pathogenic flaviviruses can infect the brain and cause severe neurological disease, our data provide a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the physiopathology of neurotropic flavivirus infections.