Nonvirion protein of novirhabdovirus suppresses apoptosis at the early stage of virus infection

Phylogenetic analysis of the glycoprotein gene of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus from Iranian trout farms points towards a common European origin

Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV), a member of family Rhabdoviridae and genus Novirhabdoviridae, causes mortality in numerous marine and freshwater hosts located in northern hemisphere. To evaluate the genetic diversity of VHSV from the North and South West of Iran, the sequences of a 1483bp nt region of the glycoprotein gene were determined for four Iranian isolates. These sequences were analysed to evaluate their genetic relatedness with 86 worldwide isolates representing the four known genogroups of VHSV. Phylogenetic analysis by nucleotide sequences showed that all the VHSV isolates studied were closest related to the 19 fresh water strains from Germany grouped within the European genogroup Ia-2. This finding indicates that Iranian VHSV most likely was introduced to Iran by the movement of contaminated fish fry from a source in Europe.

Role of the IFN I system against the VHSV infection in juvenile Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis)

Senegalese sole is susceptible to marine VHSV isolates but is not affected by freshwater isolates, which may indicate differences regarding virus-host immune system interaction. IFN I induces an antiviral state in fish, stimulating the expression of genes encoding antiviral proteins (ISG). In this study, the stimulation of the Senegalese sole IFN I by VHSV infections has been evaluated by the relative quantification of the transcription of several ISG (Mx, Isg15 and Pkr) after inoculation with marine (pathogenic) and freshwater (non-pathogenic) VHSV isolates. Compared to marine VHSV, lower levels of RNA of the freshwater VHSV induced transcription of ISG to similar levels, with the Isg15 showing the highest fold induction. The protective role of the IFN I system was evaluated in poly I:C-inoculated animals subsequently challenged with VHSV isolates. The cumulative mortality caused by the marine isolate in the control group was 68%, whereas in the poly I:C-stimulated group was 5%. The freshwater VHSV isolate did not cause any mortality. Furthermore, viral RNA fold change and viral titers were lower in animals from the poly I:C + VHSV groups than in the controls. The implication of the IFN I system in the protection observed was confirmed by the transcription of the ISG in animals from the poly I:C + VHSV groups. However, the marine VHSV isolate exerts a negative effect on the ISG transcription at 3 and 6 h post-inoculation (hpi), which is not observed for the freshwater isolate. This difference might be partly responsible for the virulence shown by the marine isolate.

Stability and efficacy of the 3'-UTR A4G-G5A variant of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) as a live attenuated immersion VHSV vaccine in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) is the causative agent of viral hemorrhagic septicemia in fish, a disease that affects a number of teleost fish species including olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). In this study, we assessed the safety and efficacy of two recombinant attenuated VHSV strains, termed A4G-G5A and ΔNV, with the purpose to select the most suitable vaccine strain. The virus strains were passaged in two commercially available cell lines, EPC and RTG-2, and the strains were also tested for residual virulence in zebrafish (Danio rerio). The A4G-G5A strain showed an attenuated growth profile in both the EPC and RTG-2 cell lines compared to wild-type (WT) VHSV (JF-09, genotype IVa), whereas the growth profile of ΔNV was comparable to the WT strains in RTG-2 cells in contrast to EPC cells. Moreover, ΔNV had higher residual virulence compared to A4G-G5A and was highly pathogenic to zebrafish. The A4G-G5A strain was chosen as vaccine candidate and tested for efficacy in in vivo fish studies in the target species, olive flounder, using an immersion vaccine scheme. Groups of fish were immunized with 10(2.5), 10(3.5), 10(4.5), and 10(5.5) TCID50/ml of A4G-G5A giving 5-13.3 cumulative percent mortality (CPM) post immunization. Immunization was followed by a challenge experiment using VHSV-WT. The relative percent survival (RPS) in immunized groups ranged from 81.6% to 100%, correlating with vaccination dose. This study demonstrates that while strain A4G-G5A has retained some residual virulence it confers high level of protection in immunized olive flounder.

Gene Diversification of an Emerging Pathogen: A Decade of Mutation in a Novel Fish Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) Substrain since Its First Appearance in the Laurentian Great Lakes

Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia virus (VHSv) is an RNA rhabdovirus, which causes one of the world's most serious fish diseases, infecting >80 freshwater and marine species across the Northern Hemisphere. A new, novel, and especially virulent substrain—VHSv-IVb—first appeared in the Laurentian Great Lakes about a decade ago, resulting in massive fish kills. It rapidly spread and has genetically diversified. This study analyzes temporal and spatial mutational patterns of VHSv-IVb across the Great Lakes for the novel non-virion (Nv) gene that is unique to this group of novirhabdoviruses, in relation to its glycoprotein (G), phosphoprotein (P), and matrix (M) genes. Results show that the Nv-gene has been evolving the fastest (k = 2.0x10^-3 substitutions/site/year), with the G-gene at ~1/7 that rate (k = 2.8x10^-4). Most (all but one) of the 12 unique Nv- haplotypes identified encode different amino acids, totaling 26 changes. Among the 12 corresponding G-gene haplotypes, seven vary in amino acids with eight total changes. The P- and M- genes are more evolutionarily conserved, evolving at just ~1/15 (k = 1.2x10^-4) of the Nv-gene’s rate. The 12 isolates contained four P-gene haplotypes with two amino acid changes, and six M-gene haplotypes with three amino acid differences. Patterns of evolutionary changes coincided among the genes for some of the isolates, but appeared independent in others. New viral variants were discovered following the large 2006 outbreak; such differentiation may have been in response to fish populations developing resistance, meriting further investigation. Two 2012 variants were isolated by us from central Lake Erie fish that lacked classic VHSv symptoms, having genetically distinctive Nv-, G-, and M-gene sequences (with one of them also differing in its P-gene); they differ from each other by a G-gene amino acid change and also differ from all other isolates by a shared Nv-gene amino acid change. Such rapid evolutionary differentiation may allow new viral variants to evade fish host recognition and immune responses, facilitating long-time persistence along with expansion to new geographic areas.

Specific nucleotides at the 3'-terminal promoter of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus are important for virulence in vitro and in vivo

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV), a member of the Novirhabdovirus genus, contains an 11-nucleotide conserved sequence at the terminal 3'- and 5'-untranslated regions (UTRs) that are complementary. To study the importance of nucleotides in the 3'-UTR of VHSV for replication of novirhabdoviruses, we performed site-directed mutagenesis of selected residues at the 3'-terminus and generated mutant viruses using a reverse genetics approach. Assessment of growth kinetics and in vitro real-time cytopathogenicity studies showed that the order of two nucleotides (A4G5) of the 3'-terminus of VHSV directly affects growth kinetics in vitro. The mutant A4G-G5A virus has reduced total positive-strand RNA synthesis efficiency (51% of wild-type) at 48h post-transfection and 70h delay in causing complete cytopathic effect in susceptible fish cells, as compared to the WT-VHSV. Furthermore, when the A4G-G5A virus was used to challenge zebrafish, it exhibited reduced pathogenicity (54% lower end-point mortality) compared to the WT-VHSV. From these studies, we infer that specific residues in the 3'-UTR of VHSV have a promoter function and are essential to modulate the virulence in cells and pathogenicity in fish.

Evolution of the viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus: divergence, selection and origin

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) is an economically significant rhabdovirus that affects an increasing number of freshwater and marine fish species. Extensive studies have been conducted on the molecular epizootiology, genetic diversity, and phylogeny of VHSV. However, there are discrepancies between the reported estimates of the nucleotide substitution rate for the G gene and the divergence times for the genotypes. Herein, Bayesian coalescent analyses were conducted to the time-stamped entire coding sequences of the six VHSV genes. Rate estimates based on the G gene indicated that the marine genotypes/subtypes might not all evolve slower than their major European freshwater counterpart. Age calculations on the six genes revealed that the first bifurcation event of the analyzed isolates might have taken place within the last 300 years, which was much younger than previously thought. Selection analyses suggested that two codons of the G gene might be positively selected. Surveys of codon usage bias showed that the P, M and NV genes exhibited genotype-specific variations. Furthermore, we proposed that VHSV originated from the Pacific Northwest of North America.

A single amino acid mutation (I1012F) of the RNA polymerase of marine viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus changes in vitro virulence to rainbow trout gill epithelial cells

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) is separated into four different genotypes (I to IV) with different sublineages (K. Einer-Jensen, P. Ahrens, R. Forsberg, and N. Lorenzen, J. Gen. Virol. 85:1167-1179, 2004; K. Einer-Jensen, J. Winton, and N. Lorenzen, Vet. Microbiol. 106:167-178, 2005). European marine VHSV strains (of genotypes I to III) are, in general, nonpathogenic or have very low pathogenicity to rainbow trout after a waterborne challenge, and here we also show that genotype IVa is nonpathogenic to trout. Despite several attempts, it has not been possible to link genomic variation to in vivo virulence. In vitro virulence to gill epithelial cells (GECs) has been used as a proxy for in vivo virulence, and here we extend these studies further with the purpose of identifying residues associated with in vitro virulence. Genotype Ia (DK-3592B) and III (NO/650/07) isolates, which are pathogenic to rainbow trout (O. B. Dale, I. Orpetveit, T. M. Lyngstad, S. Kahns, H. F. Skall, N. J. Olesen, and B. H. Dannevig, Dis. Aquat. Organ. 85:93-103, 2009), were compared to two marine strains that are nonpathogenic to trout, genotypes Ib (strain 1p8 [H. F. Mortensen, O. E. Heuer, N. Lorenzen, L. Otte, and N. J. Olesen, Virus Res. 63:95-106, 1999]) and IVa (JF-09). DK-3592 and NO/650/07 were pathogenic to GECs, while marine strains 1p8 and JF-09 were nonpathogenic to GECs. Eight conserved amino acid substitutions contrasting high- and low-virulence strains were identified, and reverse genetics was used in a gain-of-virulence approach based on the JF-09 backbone. Mutations were introduced into the G, NV, and L genes, and seven different virus clones were obtained. For the first time, we show that a single amino acid mutation in conserved region IV of the L protein, I1012F, rendered the virus able to replicate and induce a cytopathic effect in trout GECs. The other six mutated variants remained nonpathogenic.

IMPORTANCE

This is the first study to clearly link in vitro virulence of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) with an amino acid residue in the L protein, a site located in conserved region IV of the L protein. In vitro virulence is documented by induction of cytopathic effects and viability studies of gill epithelial cells, and the observed cellular responses to infection are associated with increased viral replication levels. There are no previous studies addressing the importance of the L protein or the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase for virus virulence in vitro or in vivo. Therefore, the findings reported here should broaden the search for pathogenicity traits in novirhabdoviruses, and there is a possibility that the polymerase participates in defining the host species virulence of various VHSV strains.

Innate immune responses of salmonid fish to viral infections

Viruses are the most serious pathogenic threat to the production of the main aquacultured salmonid species the rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and the Atlantic salmon Salmo salar. The viral diseases Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis (IPN), Pancreatic Disease (PD), Infectious Haemorrhagic Necrosis (IHN), Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (VHS), and Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA) cause massive economic losses to the global salmonid aquaculture industry every year. To date, no solution exists to treat livestock affected by a viral disease and only a small number of efficient vaccines are available to prevent infection. As a consequence, understanding the host immune response against viruses in these fish species is critical to develop prophylactic and preventive control measures. The innate immune response represents an important part of the host defence mechanism preventing viral replication after infection. It is a fast acting response designed to inhibit virus propagation immediately within the host, allowing for the adaptive specific immunity to develop. It has cellular and humoral components which act in synergy. This review will cover inflammation responses, the cell types involved, apoptosis, antimicrobial peptides. Particular attention will be given to the type I interferon system as the major player in the innate antiviral defence mechanism of salmonids. Viral evasion strategies will also be discussed.

High virulence differences among phylogenetically distinct isolates of the fish rhabdovirus viral hemorrhagic septicaemia virus are not explained by variability of the surface glycoprotein G or the non-virion protein Nv

Viral hemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) is an important viral pathogen in European rainbow trout farming. Isolates from wild marine fish and freshwater trout farms show highly different virulence profiles: isolates from marine fish species cause little or no mortality in rainbow trout following experimental waterborne challenge, whilst challenge with rainbow trout isolates results in high levels of mortality. Phylogenetic analyses have revealed that the highly virulent trout-derived isolates from freshwater farms have evolved from VHSV isolates from marine fish host species over the past 60 years. Recent isolates from rainbow trout reared in marine zones show intermediate virulence. The present study aimed to identify molecular virulence markers that could be used to classify VHSV isolates according to their ability to cause disease in rainbow trout. By a reverse genetics approach using a VHSV-related novirhabdovirus [infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV)], four chimaeric IHNV-VHSV recombinant viruses were generated. These chimaeric viruses included substitution of the IHNV glyco- (G) or non-structural (Nv) protein with their counterparts from either a trout-derived or a marine VHSV strain. Comparative challenge experiments in rainbow trout fingerlings revealed similar levels of survival induced by the recombinant (r)IHNV-VHSV chimaeric viruses regardless of whether the G or Nv genes originated from VHSV isolated from a marine fish species or from rainbow trout. Interestingly, recombinant IHNV gained higher virulence following substitution of the G gene with those of the VHSV strains, whilst the opposite was the case following substitution of the Nv genes.

The antiviral innate immune response in fish: evolution and conservation of the IFN system

Innate immunity constitutes the first line of the host defense after pathogen invasion. Viruses trigger the expression of interferons (IFNs). These master antiviral cytokines induce in turn a large number of interferon-stimulated genes, which possess diverse effector and regulatory functions. The IFN system is conserved in all tetrapods as well as in fishes, but not in tunicates or in the lancelet, suggesting that it originated in early vertebrates. Viral diseases are an important concern of fish aquaculture, which is why fish viruses and antiviral responses have been studied mostly in species of commercial value, such as salmonids. More recently, there has been an interest in the use of more tractable model fish species, notably the zebrafish. Progress in genomics now makes it possible to get a relatively complete image of the genes involved in innate antiviral responses in fish. In this review, by comparing the IFN system between teleosts and mammals, we will focus on its evolution in vertebrates.

Lack of correlation between the resistances to two rhabdovirus infections in rainbow trout

The Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus (VHSV) and the Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHNV) are two rhabdoviruses responsible for serious outbreaks in salmonid farms. To date, little is known about the variability of host response to these viruses. Using gynogenetic clonal lines of rainbow trout exhibiting a wide range of resistance to viral infections, we showed that there was no correlation between the resistance to VHSV and IHNV. We also confirmed the importance of fish weight for its susceptibility to IHNV infection. Finally, using a chimeric recombinant IHNV expressing the VHSV glycoprotein, we showed that the glycoprotein plays a key role in the virulence and in the level of resistance observed in different genetic backgrounds. Taken together, our results provide new prospects for a better understanding of host responses to rhabdovirus infections in salmonids.

The role of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) NV gene in TNF-α- and VHSV infection-mediated NF-κB activation

The role of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) NV gene in nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation was investigated. Epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cells pre-treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α showed a strong resistance against VHSV infection, but cells treated with TNF-α after VHSV infection showed no resistance, suggesting that immediate early TNF-α-mediated responses inhibit VHSV replication. Activation of NF-κB is a key step in TNF-α-mediated immunomodulatory pathways. In this study, activation of NF-κB by TNF-α exposure was inhibited in EPC cells harboring NV gene expressing vectors, indicating that the NV gene of VHSV can suppress TNF-α-mediated NF-κB activation. Furthermore, the NV gene knock-out recombinant VHSV (rVHSV-ΔNV-EGFP) induced significantly higher NF-κB activity in EPC cells than wild-type VHSV, suggesting that VHSV adopted a strategy to suppress early activation of NF-κB in host cells through and NV gene.

Temperature-dependent viral replication and antiviral apoptotic response in viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV)-infected olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

The olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) shows a high rate of mortality to viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) in the winter and spring but has zero mortality over 20 °C. In this experiment, we studied the effect of rearing temperature on viral replication, viral transcription and antiviral apoptotic immune response in VHSV-infected olive flounder by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Olive flounder were given intra-peritoneal injections of VHSV (10(7.8) TCID(50)/ml) and were reared at 15 °C or 20 °C. Five fish were randomly sampled for head kidney at 3, 6 and 12 h post-infection (hpi) and 1, 2, 4 and 7 days post-infection (dpi). Total RNA extracted from the tissue was reverse transcribed and used as template for real-time PCR. In the 15 °C group, the number of viral gRNA copies peaked after 2 dpi and remained high through 7 dpi, while in the 20 °C group, the copy number was at the highest at 1 dpi but drastically declined at later stages. Viral mRNA levels in the 15 °C group gradually increased starting at 3 hpi to reach their maximum value at 12 hpi and remained high until 2 dpi, whereas the other group showed much lower copy numbers that were undetectably low at 4 and 7 dpi. Type II IFN expression increased as the viral copies increased and the 20 °C group showed quicker and stronger expression than the 15 °C group. The MHC class I and CD8 expression was high in both the groups at early stage of infection (3-6 hpi) but at later stages (2-7 dpi) in 15 °C group expression reduced below control levels, while they expressed higher to control in 20 °C group. The expression of granzyme in 15 °C fish showed a single peak at 2 dpi, but was consistently expressing in 20 °C fish. Individuals expressed very high levels of perforin expressed very high levels of caspase 3. In 15 °C fish, TNFα, FasL and p53 expressed significantly higher than 20 °C only at initial stages of infection (3-6 hpi). Caspase 3 expression found to be low in 15 °C fish whereas it was significantly elevated in 20 °C group. Interestingly individual fish with high caspase 3 expression contained very low viral RNA. Thus, from our experiment, we can conclude that an effective apoptotic immune response in VHSV-infected olive flounder plays a crucial role in the survival of the host at higher temperatures.

Antiviral activities of flavonoids isolated from the bark of Rhus verniciflua stokes against fish pathogenic viruses In Vitro

An 80% methanolic extract of Rhus verniciflua Stokes bark showed significant anti-viral activity against fish pathogenic infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) and viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) in a cell-based assay measuring virus-induced cytopathic effect (CPE). Activity-guided fractionation and isolation for the 80% methanolic extract of R. verniciflua yielded the most active ethyl acetate fraction, and methyl gallate (1) and four flavonoids: fustin (2), fisetin (3), butin (4) and sulfuretin (5). Among them, fisetin (3) exhibited high antiviral activities against both IHNV and VHSV showing EC(50) values of 27.1 and 33.3 μM with selective indices (SI = CC(50)/EC(50)) more than 15, respectively. Fustin (2) and sulfuretin (5) displayed significant antiviral activities showing EC50 values of 91.2-197.3 μM against IHNV and VHSV. In addition, the antiviral activity of fisetin against IHNV and VHSV occurred up to 5 hr post-infection and was not associated with direct virucidal effects in a timed addition study using a plaque reduction assay. These results suggested that the bark of R. verniciflua and isolated flavonoids have significant anti-viral activity against IHNV and VHSV, and also have potential to be used as anti-viral therapeutics against fish viral diseases.

Immunity to fish rhabdoviruses

Members of the family Rhabdoviridae are single-stranded RNA viruses and globally important pathogens of wild and cultured fish and thus relatively well studied in their respective hosts or other model systems. Here, we review the protective immune mechanisms that fish mount in response to rhabdovirus infections. Teleost fish possess the principal components of innate and adaptive immunity found in other vertebrates. Neutralizing antibodies are critical for long-term protection from fish rhabdoviruses, but several studies also indicate a role for cell-mediated immunity. Survival of acute rhabdoviral infection is also dependent on innate immunity, particularly the interferon (IFN) system that is rapidly induced in response to infection. Paradoxically, rhabdoviruses are sensitive to the effects of IFN but virulent rhabdoviruses can continue to replicate owing to the abilities of the matrix (M) protein to mediate host-cell shutoff and the non‑virion (NV) protein to subvert programmed cell death and suppress functional IFN. While many basic features of the fish immune response to rhabdovirus infections are becoming better understood, much less is known about how factors in the environment affect the ecology of rhabdovirus infections in natural populations of aquatic animals.

Rhabdovirus accessory genes

The Rhabdoviridae is one of the most ecologically diverse families of RNA viruses with members infecting a wide range of organisms including placental mammals, marsupials, birds, reptiles, fish, insects and plants. The availability of complete nucleotide sequences for an increasing number of rhabdoviruses has revealed that their ecological diversity is reflected in the diversity and complexity of their genomes. The five canonical rhabdovirus structural protein genes (N, P, M, G and L) that are shared by all rhabdoviruses are overprinted, overlapped and interspersed with a multitude of novel and diverse accessory genes. Although not essential for replication in cell culture, several of these genes have been shown to have roles associated with pathogenesis and apoptosis in animals, and cell-to-cell movement in plants. Others appear to be secreted or have the characteristics of membrane-anchored glycoproteins or viroporins. However, most encode proteins of unknown function that are unrelated to any other known proteins. Understanding the roles of these accessory genes and the strategies by which rhabdoviruses use them to engage, divert and re-direct cellular processes will not only present opportunities to develop new anti-viral therapies but may also reveal aspects of cellar function that have broader significance in biology, agriculture and medicine.