The Rabies Virus Interferon Antagonist P Protein Interacts with Activated STAT3 and Inhibits Gp130 Receptor Signaling

Immune evasion by rabies virus depends on targeting of the signal transducers and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) and STAT2 proteins by the viral interferon antagonist P protein, but targeting of other STAT proteins has not been investigated. Here, we find that P protein associates with activated STAT3 and inhibits STAT3 nuclear accumulation and Gp130-dependent signaling. This is the first report of STAT3 targeting by the interferon antagonist of a virus other than a paramyxovirus, indicating that STAT3 antagonism is important to a range of human-pathogenic viruses.