In the skin, antiviral proteins and other immune molecules serve as the first line of innate antiviral defense. Here, we identify and characterize the induction of cutaneous innate antiviral proteins in response to IL-27 and its functional role during cutaneous defense against Zika virus infection. Transcriptional and phenotypic profiling of epidermal keratinocytes treated with IL-27 demonstrated activation of antiviral proteins OAS1, OAS2, OASL, and MX1 in the skin of both mice and humans. IL-27–mediated antiviral protein induction was found to occur in a STAT1- and IRF3-dependent but STAT2-independent manner. Moreover, using IL27ra mice, we demonstrate a significant role for IL-27 in inhibiting Zika virus morbidity and mortality following cutaneous, but not intravenous, inoculation. Together, our results demonstrate a critical and previously unrecognized role for IL-27 in cutaneous innate antiviral immunity against Zika virus.

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During artificial spawning of salmonids, activated sperm is allowed to remain in contact with eggs for variable durations. This study examined multiple residence times (20, 40, 60, 90, or 120 seconds) for activated sperm on landlocked fall Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) eggs during spawning. There was no significant difference in egg survival to the eyed-stage of development or to hatch among any of the treatments, with a mean (SE) percent survival to the eyed stage of 63.9 (5.8). These results indicate that only relatively short residence times of activated milt on eggs during landlocked fall Chinook salmon spawning are needed to ensure egg survival, resulting in potentially substantial reductions in production-level spawning times and associated labor costs.

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