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Santacroce L, Magrone T. Molluscum Contagiosum Virus: Biology and Immune Response. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1451:151-170. [PMID: 38801577 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-57165-7_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Molluscum contagiosum virus is a poxvirus belonging to the Poxviridae family, which includes Orthopoxvirus, Parapoxvirus, Yantapoxvirus, Molluscipoxvirus, Smallpox virus, Cowpox virus and Monkeypox virus. MCV belongs to the genus Molluscipoxvirus and has a tropism for skin tissue. MCV infects keratinocytes and, after an incubation period of 2 weeks to 6 weeks, causes a breakdown of the skin barrier with the development of papules of variable size depending on the proper functioning of the immune response (both adaptive and acquired). MCV only infects humans and does not cause viraemia. MCV encodes for several inhibitory proteins responsible to circumvent the immune response through different signalling pathways. Individuals who can be infected with MCV are children, immunocompromised individuals such as organ transplant recipients and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-infected individuals. Current treatments to manage MCV-induced lesions are different and include the use of immunomodulators, which, however, do not provide an effective response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Santacroce
- Section of Microbiology and Virology, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
| | - Thea Magrone
- Section of Microbiology and Virology, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
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Molluscum contagiosum virus MC80 sabotages MHC-I antigen presentation by targeting tapasin for ER-associated degradation. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1007711. [PMID: 31034515 PMCID: PMC6508746 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Revised: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The human specific poxvirus molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) produces skin lesions that can persist with minimal inflammation, suggesting that the virus has developed robust immune evasion strategies. However, investigations into the underlying mechanisms of MCV pathogenesis have been hindered by the lack of a model system to propagate the virus. Herein we demonstrate that MCV-encoded MC80 can disrupt MHC-I antigen presentation in human and mouse cells. MC80 shares moderate sequence-similarity with MHC-I and we find that it associates with components of the peptide-loading complex. Expression of MC80 results in ER-retention of host MHC-I and thereby reduced cell surface presentation. MC80 accomplishes this by engaging tapasin via its luminal domain, targeting it for ubiquitination and ER-associated degradation in a process dependent on the MC80 transmembrane region and cytoplasmic tail. Tapasin degradation is accompanied by a loss of TAP, which limits MHC-I access to cytosolic peptides. Our findings reveal a unique mechanism by which MCV undermines adaptive immune surveillance.
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Low levels of HIV-1 envelope-mediated fusion are associated with long-term survival of an infected CCR5-/- patient. AIDS 2018; 32:2269-2278. [PMID: 30005022 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000001953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study investigated whether Env-mediated fusion levels of R5X4 viruses are associated with long-term survival of an infected CCR5-/- patient. DESIGN Four R5X4 Envs were cloned from each of two infected homosexual individuals (DR and C2) homozygous for the CCR5Δ32 allele. DR is a long-term survivor chronically infected with HIV-1 and his Envs were cloned 12 years after testing HIV-infected, whereas C2 Envs were isolated 1 year after primary infection. METHODS The current study sequenced the gp41 subunits and created hybrid Envs that contained exchanged gp41 subunits or V3 loops. The Env-mediated fusion activity of Envs was examined in cell fusion and virus infection assays. RESULTS Sequence analysis indicated novel polymorphisms in the gp41 subunits of C2 and DR, and revealed sequence homology between DR and certain long-term nonprogressors. The DR Envs consistently showed lower Env-mediated fusion, smaller size, and delayed onset of syncytia formation. Envs containing swapped gp41 regions resulted in the transfer of most of the fusion phenotype and in the shift of the inhibition concentration 50 (IC50) of the inhibitory T20 peptide. In contrast, Envs with swapped V3 domains resulted in the partial transfer of the fusion phenotype and no significant change in the IC50 of T20. CONCLUSIONS Env sequence polymorphisms identified two distinct fusion phenotypes isolated from infected CCR5-/- patients. Swapping experiments confirmed DR's low fusion phenotype. Env-mediated fusion is a critical factor among others contributing to long-term survival.
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Abraham M, Wald H, Vaizel-Ohayon D, Grabovsky V, Oren Z, Karni A, Weiss L, Galun E, Peled A, Eizenberg O. Development of Novel Promiscuous Anti-Chemokine Peptibodies for Treating Autoimmunity and Inflammation. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1432. [PMID: 29218043 PMCID: PMC5703867 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemokines and their receptors play critical roles in the progression of autoimmunity and inflammation. Typically, multiple chemokines are involved in the development of these pathologies. Indeed, targeting single chemokines or chemokine receptors has failed to achieve significant clinical benefits in treating autoimmunity and inflammation. Moreover, the binding of host atypical chemokine receptors to multiple chemokines as well as the binding of chemokine-binding proteins secreted by various pathogens can serve as a strategy for controlling inflammation. In this work, promiscuous chemokine-binding peptides that could bind and inhibit multiple inflammatory chemokines, such as CCL2, CCL5, and CXCL9/10/11, were selected from phage display libraries. These peptides were cloned into human mutated immunoglobulin Fc-protein fusions (peptibodies). The peptibodies BKT120Fc and BKT130Fc inhibited the ability of inflammatory chemokines to induce the adhesion and migration of immune cells. Furthermore, BKT120Fc and BKT130Fc also showed a significant inhibition of disease progression in a variety of animal models for autoimmunity and inflammation. Developing a novel class of antagonists that can control the courses of diseases by selectively blocking multiple chemokines could be a novel way of generating effective therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hanna Wald
- Biokine Therapeutics Ltd, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | | | | | - Zohar Oren
- Biokine Therapeutics Ltd, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Arnon Karni
- Department of Neurology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Lola Weiss
- Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Eithan Galun
- Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Amnon Peled
- Biokine Therapeutics Ltd, Ness Ziona, Israel.,Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
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Jin Q, Chen H, Wang X, Zhao L, Xu Q, Wang H, Li G, Yang X, Ma H, Wu H, Ji X. The Effects of the Recombinant CCR5 T4 Lysozyme Fusion Protein on HIV-1 Infection. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0131894. [PMID: 26154172 PMCID: PMC4496087 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2014] [Accepted: 06/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Insertion of T4 lysozyme (T4L) into the GPCR successfully enhanced GPCR protein stability and solubilization. However, the biological functions of the recombinant GPCR protein have not been analyzed. Methods We engineered the CCR5-T4L mutant and expressed and purified the soluble recombinant protein using an E.coli expression system. The antiviral effects of this recombinant protein in THP-1 cell lines, primary human macrophages, and PBMCs from different donors were investigated. We also explored the possible mechanisms underlying the observed antiviral effects. Results Our data showed the biphasic inhibitory and promotion effects of different concentrations of soluble recombinant CCR5-T4L protein on R5 tropic human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection in THP-1 cell lines, human macrophages, and PBMCs from clinical isolates. We demonstrated that soluble recombinant CCR5-T4L acts as a HIV-1 co-receptor, interacts with wild type CCR5, down-regulates the surface CCR5 expression in human macrophages, and interacts with CCL5 to inhibit macrophage migration. Using binding assays, we further determined that recombinant CCR5-T4L and [125I]-CCL5 compete for the same binding site on wild type CCR5. Conclusions Our results suggest that recombinant CCR5-T4L protein marginally promotes HIV-1 infection at low concentrations and markedly inhibits infection at higher concentrations. This recombinant protein may be helpful in the future development of anti-HIV-1 therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingwen Jin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, 140 Hanzhong Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
- Department of Neurology, The People’s Hospital of Jiangsu Province, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing First Hospital, 68 Changle Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Hong Chen
- Department of Neurology, The People’s Hospital of Jiangsu Province, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xingxia Wang
- Department of Neurology, The People’s Hospital of Jiangsu Province, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Liandong Zhao
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Huaian, 62 Huaihai South Road, Huaian, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Qingchen Xu
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing First Hospital, 68 Changle Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Huijuan Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, 140 Hanzhong Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Guanyu Li
- Department of Neurology, Mingji Hospital of Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 71 Riverside West Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xiaofan Yang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, 140 Hanzhong Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Hongming Ma
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 5001 El Paso Drive, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Haoquan Wu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 5001 El Paso Drive, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Xiaohui Ji
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, 140 Hanzhong Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
- * E-mail:
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Proudfoot AEI, Bonvin P, Power CA. Targeting chemokines: Pathogens can, why can't we? Cytokine 2015; 74:259-67. [PMID: 25753743 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2015.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Accepted: 02/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Chemoattractant cytokines, or chemokines, are the largest sub-family of cytokines. About 50 distinct chemokines have been identified in humans. Their principal role is to stimulate the directional migration of leukocytes, which they achieve through activation of their receptors, following immobilization on cell surface glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Chemokine receptors belong to the G protein-coupled 7-transmembrane receptor family, and hence their identification brought great promise to the pharmaceutical industry, since this receptor class is the target for a large percentage of marketed drugs. Unfortunately, the development of potent and efficacious inhibitors of chemokine receptors has not lived up to the early expectations. Several approaches to targeting this system will be described here, which have been instrumental in establishing paradigms in chemokine biology. Whilst drug discovery programs have not yet elucidated how to make successful drugs targeting the chemokine system, it is now known that certain parasites have evolved anti-chemokine strategies in order to remain undetected by their hosts. What can we learn from them?
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda E I Proudfoot
- Geneva Research Centre, Merck Serono S.A., 9 chemin des Mines, 1202 Genève and NovImmune S.A., 14 chemin des Aulx, 1228 Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Pauline Bonvin
- Geneva Research Centre, Merck Serono S.A., 9 chemin des Mines, 1202 Genève and NovImmune S.A., 14 chemin des Aulx, 1228 Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Christine A Power
- Geneva Research Centre, Merck Serono S.A., 9 chemin des Mines, 1202 Genève, Switzerland.
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Abstract
Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) is the causative agent of molluscum contagiosum (MC), the third most common viral skin infection in children, and one of the five most prevalent skin diseases worldwide. No FDA-approved treatments, vaccines, or commercially available rapid diagnostics for MCV are available. This review discusses several aspects of this medically important virus including: physical properties of MCV, MCV pathogenesis, MCV replication, and immune responses to MCV infection. Sequencing of the MCV genome revealed novel immune evasion molecules which are highlighted here. Special attention is given to the MCV MC159 and MC160 proteins. These proteins are FLIPs with homologs in gamma herpesviruses and in the cell. They are of great interest because each protein regulates apoptosis, NF-κB, and IRF3. However, the mechanism that each protein uses to impart its effects is different. It is important to elucidate how MCV inhibits immune responses; this knowledge contributes to our understanding of viral pathogenesis and also provides new insights into how the immune system neutralizes virus infections.
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Arnolds KL, Spencer JV. CXCR4: a virus's best friend? INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2014; 25:146-56. [PMID: 24793563 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2014.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2013] [Revised: 04/21/2014] [Accepted: 04/22/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Viruses are dependent on their hosts for replication and dispersal in the environment; thus, the most successful viruses are those that co-evolve with their hosts. CXCR4 is a cellular chemokine receptor that plays central roles in development, hematopoiesis, and immune surveillance through signaling induced by its ligand, CXCL12. The CXCR4-CXCL12 axis has been besieged by many pathogens that employ a range of strategies to modify or exploit CXCR4 activity. While CXCR4 was identified as a critical co-factor for entry of HIV into CD4+ T cells early on, other viruses may utilize CXCR4 to gain cell entry as well. Moreover, several viruses have been found to modulate CXCR4 expression or alter its functional activity, with direct effects on cell trafficking, immune responses, cell proliferation, and cell survival. Because CXCR4 is targeted by a diverse group of viral pathogens, modification of host CXCR4 signaling activity is emerging as a common theme in virus persistence and is likely to be important for subversion of the host immune system. This review highlights major viral pathogens that use and abuse CXCR4 and explores the possible reasons why this chemokine receptor has become "a virus's best friend".
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen L Arnolds
- Department of Biology, University of San Francisco, 2130 Fulton Street, San Francisco, CA 94403, United States
| | - Juliet V Spencer
- Department of Biology, University of San Francisco, 2130 Fulton Street, San Francisco, CA 94403, United States.
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Abstract
The molluscum contagiosum (MC) virus (MCV) is a dermatotropic poxvirus, and the causative agent of MC. Unlike smallpox and human monkeypox diseases, MC is nonlethal, common and worldwide. Additionally, little inflammation is associated with MC papules, and MC can persist for months to years. Such a prolonged infection implies that MCV successfully manipulates the host environment. This review highlights recent findings that reveal how MCV infections manipulate localized host immune responses and which immune response are key for the eventual resolution of MC. Also highlighted here are the MCV proteins that inhibit apoptosis, inflammation and immune cell recruitment or that induce cellular proliferation, with discussion as to how these proteins dampen localized antiviral immune responses. Lastly, this review discusses how the immune evasion tactics of MCV have led to insights about specific functions of the human innate and adaptive immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crystal M H Randall
- Department of Microbiology, B103 Chemical & Life Sciences Labs, 601 S Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Joanna L Shisler
- Department of Microbiology, B103 Chemical & Life Sciences Labs, 601 S Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
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