Host IPR channels are dispensable for rotavirus Ca signaling but critical for intercellular Ca waves that prime uninfected cells for rapid virus spread.

Many viruses exploit host Ca signaling to facilitate their replication; however, little is known about how Ca signals from different host and viral channels contribute to the overall dysregulation of Ca signaling or promote virus replication. Using cells lacking IPR, a host ER Ca channel, we delineated intracellular Ca signals within virus-infected cells and intercellular Ca waves (ICWs), which increased Ca signaling in neighboring, uninfected cells. In infected cells, IPR was dispensable for rotavirus-induced Ca signaling and replication, suggesting the rotavirus NSP4 viroporin supplies these signals.

The Inositol Trisphosphate Receptor (IP R) is Dispensable for Rotavirus-induced Ca Signaling and Replication but Critical for Paracrine Ca Signals that Prime Uninfected Cells for Rapid Virus Spread.

Unlabelled: Rotavirus is a leading cause of viral gastroenteritis. A hallmark of rotavirus infection is an increase in cytosolic Ca caused by the nonstructural protein 4 (NSP4). NSP4 is a viral ion channel that releases Ca from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the increase in Ca signaling is critical for rotavirus replication.