A Cell-Cell Fusion Assay to Assess Arenavirus Envelope Glycoprotein Membrane-Fusion Activity

Nanoluciferase-based cell fusion assay for rapid and high-throughput assessment of SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing antibodies in patient samples

After more than two years, COVID-19 still represents a global health burden of unprecedented extent and assessing the degree of immunity of individuals against SARS-CoV-2 remains a challenge. Virus neutralization assays represent the gold standard for assessing antibody-mediated protection against SARS-CoV-2 in sera from recovered and/or vaccinated individuals. Neutralizing antibodies block the interaction of viral spike protein with human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor in vitro and prevent viral entry into host cells. Classical viral neutralization assays using full replication-competent viruses are restricted to specific biosafety level 3-certified laboratories, limiting their utility for routine and large-scale applications. We developed therefore a cell-fusion-based assay building on the interaction between viral spike and ACE2 receptor expressed on two different cell lines, substantially reducing biosafety risks associated with classical viral neutralization assays. This chapter describes this simple, sensitive, safe and cost-effective approach for rapid and high-throughput evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies relying on high-affinity NanoLuc® luciferase complementation technology (HiBiT). When applied to a variety of standards and patient samples, this method yields highly reproducible results in 96-well, as well as in 384-well format. The use of novel NanoLuc® substrates with increased signal stability like Nano-Glo® Endurazine™ furthermore allows for high flexibility in assay set-up and full automatization of all reading processes. Lastly, the assay is suitable to evaluate the neutralizing capacity of sera against the existing spike variants, and potentially variants that will emerge in the future.

Broadly Applicable, Virus-Free Dual Reporter Assay to Identify Compounds Interfering with Membrane Fusion: Performance for HSV-1 and SARS-CoV-2

Membrane fusion constitutes an essential step in the replication cycle of numerous viral pathogens, hence it represents an important druggable target. In the present study, we established a virus-free, stable reporter fusion inhibition assay (SRFIA) specifically designed to identify compounds interfering with virus-induced membrane fusion. The dual reporter assay is based on two stable Vero cell lines harboring the third-generation tetracycline (Tet3G) transactivator and a bicistronic reporter gene cassette under the control of the tetracycline responsive element (TRE3G), respectively. Cell–cell fusion by the transient transfection of viral fusogens in the presence of doxycycline results in the expression of the reporter enzyme secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) and the fluorescent nuclear localization marker EYFPNuc. A constitutively expressed, secreted form of nanoluciferase (secNLuc) functioned as the internal control. The performance of the SRFIA was tested for the quantification of SARS-CoV-2- and HSV-1-induced cell–cell fusion, respectively, showing high sensitivity and specificity, as well as the reliable identification of known fusion inhibitors. Parallel quantification of secNLuc enabled the detection of cytotoxic compounds or insufficient transfection efficacy. In conclusion, the SRFIA reported here is well suited for high-throughput screening for new antiviral agents and essentially will be applicable to all viral fusogens causing cell–cell fusion in Vero cells.

Micro-fusion inhibition tests: quantifying antibody neutralization of virus-mediated cell-cell fusion

Although enveloped viruses canonically mediate particle entry through virus-cell fusion, certain viruses can spread by cell-cell fusion, brought about by receptor engagement and triggering of membrane-bound, viral-encoded fusion proteins on the surface of cells. The formation of pathogenic syncytia or multinucleated cells is seen in vivo, but their contribution to viral pathogenesis is poorly understood. For the negative-strand paramyxoviruses respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Nipah virus (NiV), cell-cell spread is highly efficient because their oligomeric fusion protein complexes are active at neutral pH. The recently emerged severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has also been reported to induce syncytia formation in infected cells, with the spike protein initiating cell-cell fusion. Whilst it is well established that fusion protein-specific antibodies can block particle attachment and/or entry into the cell (canonical virus neutralization), their capacity to inhibit cell-cell fusion and the consequences of this neutralization for the control of infection are not well characterized, in part because of the lack of specific tools to assay and quantify this activity. Using an adapted bimolecular fluorescence complementation assay, based on a split GFP-Renilla luciferase reporter, we have established a micro-fusion inhibition test (mFIT) that allows the identification and quantification of these neutralizing antibodies. This assay has been optimized for high-throughput use and its applicability has been demonstrated by screening monoclonal antibody (mAb)-mediated inhibition of RSV and NiV fusion and, separately, the development of fusion-inhibitory antibodies following NiV vaccine immunization in pigs. In light of the recent emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a similar assay was developed for SARS-CoV-2 and used to screen mAbs and convalescent patient plasma for fusion-inhibitory antibodies. Using mFITs to assess antibody responses following natural infection or vaccination is favourable, as this assay can be performed entirely at low biocontainment, without the need for live virus. In addition, the repertoire of antibodies that inhibit cell-cell fusion may be different to those that inhibit particle entry, shedding light on the mechanisms underpinning antibody-mediated neutralization of viral spread.

Role of the head-stalk linker region (aa115-122) of Newcastle disease virus haemagglutinin-neuraminidase in regulating fusion triggering

To gain insights into the role of the head-stalk linker region in the fusion triggering, we constructed mutants by deleting or substituting the linker region (115-NGAANNSG-122) of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) haemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) with the corresponding sequences of other paramyxoviruses. The results showed that these HN mutants exhibited different levels of fusion-triggering activity, but most of them maintained comparable levels with wide-type HN in both receptor recognition and neuraminidase activity. We tried to figure out reasons for fusion alteration through assessing the expression and the oligomeric state of HN mutants. Moreover, four mutants with significant fusion changes were introduced into the headless HN stem (HN1-123) to intensively investigate the role of the linker region in fusion triggering. Consequently, the stability of HN oligomers and the structural integrity of the 4 helical-bundle of stalk have complicated influences on the alteration of fusion-triggering activities for different mutants. These data suggested that the head-stalk linker could regulate the fusion triggering at both full-length and headless HN levels.

50 Years of Lassa Fever Research

Lassa fever was first described as a clinical entity fifty years ago. The causative agent Lassa virus was isolated from these first known cases. This chapter reviews the key publications on Lassa fever research that appeared in the scientific literature at that time and over the ensuing decades.