Serological evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among white-tailed deer has been reported from Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New York. This study was conducted to determine whether deer in Texas also had evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Archived sera samples collected from deer in Travis County, Texas, during 2018, before and during the pandemic in 2021 were tested for neutralizing antibody to this virus by a standard plaque reduction neutralization assay. SARS-CoV-2 antibody was not detected in 40 deer sera samples collected during 2018, but 37% (20/54) samples collected in 2021 were positive for antibody. The seroprevalence rate between males and females differed significantly ( p < 0.05) and the highest rate (82%) was detected in the 1.5-year-old animals. These findings extended the geographical range of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection among white-tailed deer in the United States and further confirm that infection was common among this species.

Schlafen 11 (Slfn11) is an interferon-stimulated gene that controls the synthesis of proteins by regulating tRNA abundance. Likely through this mechanism, Slfn11 has previously been shown to impair human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection and the expression of codon-biased open reading frames. Because replication of positive-sense single-stranded RNA [(ϩ)ssRNA] viruses requires the immediate translation of the incoming viral genome, whereas negative-sense singlestranded RNA [(Ϫ)ssRNA] viruses carry at infection an RNA replicase that makes multiple translation-competent copies of the incoming viral genome, we reasoned that (ϩ)ssRNA viruses will be more sensitive to the effect of Slfn11 on protein synthesis than (Ϫ)ssRNA viruses. To evaluate this hypothesis, we tested the effects of Slfn11 on the replication of a panel of ssRNA viruses in the human glioblastoma cell line A172, which naturally expresses Slfn11. Depletion of Slfn11 significantly increased the replication of (ϩ)ssRNA viruses from the Flavivirus genus, including West Nile virus (WNV), dengue virus (DENV), and Zika virus (ZIKV), but had no significant effect on the replication of the (Ϫ)ssRNA viruses vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) (Rhabdoviridae family) and Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) (Phenuiviridae family). Quantification of the ratio of genome-containing viral particles to PFU indicated that Slfn11 impairs WNV infectivity. Intriguingly, Slfn11 prevented WNV-induced downregulation of a subset of tRNAs implicated in the translation of 11.8% of the viral polyprotein. Lowabundance tRNAs might promote optimal protein folding and enhance viral infectivity, as previously reported. In summary, this study demonstrates that Slfn11 restricts flavivirus replication by impairing viral infectivity. IMPORTANCE We provide evidence that the cellular protein Schlafen 11 (Slfn11) impairs replication of flaviviruses, including West Nile virus (WNV), dengue virus (DENV), and Zika virus (ZIKV). However, replication of single-stranded negative RNA viruses was not affected. Specifically, Slfn11 decreases the infectivity of WNV potentially by preventing virus-induced modifications of the host tRNA repertoire that could lead to enhanced viral protein folding. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Slfn11 is not the limiting factor of this novel broad antiviral pathway. KEYWORDS Schlafen 11, virus restriction factors, flavivirusS uccessful viral replication depends on the ability of the virus to appropriate the host translational machinery. The innate immune response exploits this dependency to control viral replication. Many interferon (IFN)-stimulated genes (ISGs) that regulate protein translation are well known to restrict virus replication, including protein kinase R, the interferon-induced proteins with tetratricopeptide repeats family of proteins, zinc finger antiviral protein, and the 2=,5=-oligoadenylate/RNase L pathway. The Schlafen (Slfn) proteins, another family of ISGs, were first identified as being important regulators of T cell differentiation and gr...

ResumenEl presente trabajo documenta la diversidad de los mamíferos de la cuenca del río Apurímac, uno de los vacíos de información más importantes del Perú, en base a una evaluación de cinco lugares de muestreo en los departamentos de Apurímac (Cconoc, Velavelayoc), Ayacucho (Yanamonte, Ccentabamba) y Cusco (Catarata). El esfuerzo de captura fue de 1280 trampas noche y 41 redes noche. Se registraron 60 especies en el área de estudio; incluyendo 15 especies bajo alguna categoría de conservación y cuatro endémicas a nivel del país. Como era de esperarse, los murciélagos y los roedores fueron los órdenes más diversos (66,7 %). La diversidad de especies en los sitios de muestreo decrece signifi cativamente con la elevación desde los puntos de muestreo más bajos (Ccentabamba y Catarata) hasta el más alto (Velavelayoc). El marsupial Monodelphis peruviana y el venado enano Mazama chunyi son primeros registros para el departamento de Ayacucho.Mazama chunyi son primeros registros para el departamento de Ayacucho. Mazama chunyi Los murciélagos Artibeus planirostris yArtibeus planirostris y Artibeus planirostris Myotis keaysi así como la nutria Myotis keaysi así como la nutria Myotis keaysi Lontra longicaudis son primeros registros para el departamento de Apurímac. La abundancia relativa presentó una correlación negativa signifi cativa con la elevación para los murciélagos pero no fue signifi cativa para los mamíferos pequeños terrestres. Las especies de Sturnira, Akodon y Thomasomys fueron las Thomasomys fueron las Thomasomys que obtuvieron una mayor abundancia relativa. Los índices de diversidad de Shannon-Wiener y Simpson mostraron también una correlación negativa signifi cativa con la elevación. Se estima que la cuenca del río Apurímac alberga al menos 97 especies de mamíferos lo que resulta de compilar nuestros resultados con publicaciones previas. Se recomienda establecer áreas de conservación en Huanipaca, Yanamonte y Catarata e incrementar el área del Santuario Histórico Machu Picchu hasta incluir la zona del complejo arqueológico Choquequirao.Palabras clave: Mamíferos, Perú, río Apurímac, diversidad, conservación, bosques montanos, VRAE. AbstractThe present work documents the diversity of mammals in the headwaters of the Apurímac river, one of the most important information gaps in Peru, based on an evaluation of fi ve sampling areas in the departments of Apurímac (Cconoc, Velavelayoc), Ayacucho (Yanamonte, Ccentabamba) and Cuzco (Catarata). Capture's effort was 1280 trap-nights and 41 mistnet-nights. Sixty species were recorded in the study area and included 15 threatened species and four species endemic to Perú. As expected, bats and rodents were the most diverse orders (66,7 %). The species diversity in the sites sampled declines signifi cantly with elevation from the lowest elevation sites (Ccentabamba and Catarata) to the highest (Velavelayoc). The marsupial Monodelphis peruviana and the Dwarf Brocket deer Mazama chunyi are fi rst records Mazama chunyi are fi rst records Mazama chunyi for the department of A...

21Schlafen 11 (Slfn11) is a ubiquitously expressed interferon stimulating gene (ISG) that 22 controls synthesis of proteins by regulating tRNA abundance. Likely through this 23 mechanism, Slfn11 has previously been shown to impair human immunodeficiency virus 24 1 (HIV-1) infection and the expression of codon-biased open reading frames. Because 25 replication of positive-sense single-stranded RNA [(+)ssRNA viruses] requires the 26 immediate translation of the incoming viral genome whereas negative sense, single 27 stranded [(-)ssRNA] viruses carry at infection an RNA replicase that makes multiple 28 translation competent copies of the incoming viral genome, we reasoned that (+)ssRNA 29 viruses will be more sensitive to the effect of Slfn11 on protein synthesis than (-)ssRNA 30 viruses. To evaluate this hypothesis, we tested the effects of Slfn11 on the replication of 31 a panel of ssRNA viruses in the human glioblastoma cell line A172, which naturally 32 expresses Slfn11. Depletion of Slfn11 in this cell line significantly increased the 33 replication of (+)ssRNA viruses from the Flavivirus family, including West Nile (WNV), 34 dengue (DENV), and Zika virus (ZIKV) but had no significant effect on the replication of 35 the (-)ssRNA viruses vesicular stomatitis (VSV, Rhabdoviridae family) and Rift Valley 36 fever (RVFV, Phenuiviridae family). Despite that WNV titers in Slfn11-deficient cells were 37 almost 100-fold higher than in cells expressing this protein; they produced approximately 38 two-fold less viral particles, as determined by PCR-based quantification of virion-39 associated WNV RNA in the cell culture supernatant. These data indicated that Slfn11 40 impairs WNV fitness but does not affect other steps of the viral life cycle including entry, 41 viral RNA replication and translation, and budding. Similarly to the proposed anti-HIV-1 42 mechanism of Slfn11, this protein prevented WNV-induced down-regulation of a subset 43 of tRNAs implicated in the translation of 19% of the viral polyprotein. Importantly, we 44 provided evidence suggesting that the broad anti-viral activity of Slfn11 requires other 3 45 cellular proteins, since overexpression of Slfn11 in cells that naturally lack the 46 expression of this protein, did not impair WNV or HIV-1 infection. In summary, this study 47 4 49 AUTHOR SUMMARY 50The host targets mechanisms that viruses have evolved to optimize replication. We 51 provide evidence that the cellular protein Schlafen 11 (Slf11) impairs replication of 52 flaviviruses, including West Nile (WNV), dengue (DENV), and Zika virus (ZIKV). 53However, replication of single-stranded, negative RNA viruses was not affected. 54Specifically, Slf11 decreases the fitness of WNV potentially by preventing virus-induced 55 modifications of the host tRNA repertoire that could lead to enhanced viral protein 56 folding. Furthermore, we demonstrated that Slf11 is not the limiting factor of this novel 57 broad anti-viral pathway. 5 59 6 84HIV-1 activity of Slf13 is specific since this protein did not affect re...

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