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Resistance To Poxvirus Lethality Does Not Require the Necroptosis Proteins RIPK3 or MLKL. J Virol 2023; 97:e0194522. [PMID: 36651749 PMCID: PMC9973014 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01945-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) and mixed lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase (MLKL) are proteins that are critical for necroptosis, a mechanism of programmed cell death that is both activated when apoptosis is inhibited and thought to be antiviral. Here, we investigated the role of RIPK3 and MLKL in controlling the Orthopoxvirus ectromelia virus (ECTV), a natural pathogen of the mouse. We found that C57BL/6 (B6) mice deficient in RIPK3 (Ripk3-/-) or MLKL (Mlkl-/-) were as susceptible as wild-type (WT) B6 mice to ECTV lethality after low-dose intraperitoneal infection and were as resistant as WT B6 mice after ECTV infection through the natural footpad route. Additionally, after footpad infection, Mlkl-/- mice, but not Ripk3-/- mice, endured lower viral titers than WT mice in the draining lymph node (dLN) at three days postinfection and in the spleen or in the liver at seven days postinfection. Despite the improved viral control, Mlkl-/- mice did not differ from WT mice in the expression of interferons or interferon-stimulated genes or in the recruitment of natural killer (NK) cells and inflammatory monocytes (iMOs) to the dLN. Additionally, the CD8 T-cell responses in Mlkl-/- and WT mice were similar, even though in the dLNs of Mlkl-/- mice, professional antigen-presenting cells were more heavily infected. Finally, the histopathology in the livers of Mlkl-/- and WT mice at 7 dpi did not differ. Thus, the mechanism of the increased virus control by Mlkl-/- mice remains to be defined. IMPORTANCE The molecules RIPK3 and MLKL are required for necroptotic cell death, which is widely thought of as an antiviral mechanism. Here we show that C57BL/6 (B6) mice deficient in RIPK3 or MLKL are as susceptible as WT B6 mice to ECTV lethality after a low-dose intraperitoneal infection and are as resistant as WT B6 mice after ECTV infection through the natural footpad route. Mice deficient in MLKL are more efficient than WT mice at controlling virus loads in various organs. This improved viral control is not due to enhanced interferon, natural killer cell, or CD8 T-cell responses. Overall, the data indicate that deficiencies in the molecules that are critical to necroptosis do not necessarily result in worse outcomes following viral infection and may improve virus control.
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López-Muñoz AD, Rastrojo A, Martín R, Alcami A. High-throughput engineering of cytoplasmic- and nuclear-replicating large dsDNA viruses by CRISPR/Cas9. J Gen Virol 2022; 103:001797. [PMID: 36260063 PMCID: PMC10019086 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The application of CRISPR/Cas9 to improve genome engineering efficiency for large dsDNA viruses has been extensively described, but a robust and versatile method for high-throughput generation of marker-free recombinants for a desired locus has not yet been reported. Cytoplasmic-replicating viruses use their own repair enzymes for homologous recombination, while nuclear-replicating viruses use the host repair machinery. This is translated into a wide range of Cas9-induced homologous recombination efficiencies, depending on the virus replication compartment and viral/host repair machinery characteristics and accessibility. However, the use of Cas9 as a selection agent to target parental virus genomes robustly improves the selection of desired recombinants across large dsDNA viruses. We used ectromelia virus (ECTV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 and 2 to optimize a CRISPR/Cas9 method that can be used versatilely for efficient genome editing and selection of both cytoplasmic- and nuclear-replicating viruses. We performed a genome-wide genetic variant analysis of mutations located at predicted off-target sequences for 20 different recombinants, showing off-target-free accuracy by deep sequencing. Our results support this optimized method as an efficient, accurate and versatile approach to enhance the two critical factors of high-throughput viral genome engineering: generation and colour-based selection of recombinants. This application of CRISPR/Cas9 reduces the time and labour for screening of desired recombinants, allowing for high-throughput generation of large collections of mutant dsDNA viruses for a desired locus, optimally in less than 2 weeks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Domingo López-Muñoz
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Present address: Cellular Biology Section, Laboratory of Viral Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Alberto Rastrojo
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Present address: Genetic Unit, Department of Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rocío Martín
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Alcami
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Diaz-Cánova D, Moens UL, Brinkmann A, Nitsche A, Okeke MI. Genomic Sequencing and Analysis of a Novel Human Cowpox Virus With Mosaic Sequences From North America and Old World Orthopoxvirus. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:868887. [PMID: 35592007 PMCID: PMC9112427 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.868887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Orthopoxviruses (OPXVs) not only infect their natural hosts, but some OPXVs can also cause disease in humans. Previously, we partially characterized an OPXV isolated from an 18-year-old male living in Northern Norway. Restriction enzyme analysis and partial genome sequencing characterized this virus as an atypical cowpox virus (CPXV), which we named CPXV-No-H2. In this study, we determined the complete genome sequence of CPXV-No-H2 using Illumina and Nanopore sequencing. Our results showed that the whole CPXV-No-H2 genome is 220,276 base pairs (bp) in length, with inverted terminal repeat regions of approximately 7 kbp, containing 217 predicted genes. Seventeen predicted CPXV-No-H2 proteins were most similar to OPXV proteins from the Old World, including Ectromelia virus (ECTV) and Vaccinia virus, and North America, Alaskapox virus (AKPV). CPXV-No-H2 has a mosaic genome with genes most similar to other OPXV genes, and seven potential recombination events were identified. The phylogenetic analysis showed that CPXV-No-H2 formed a separate clade with the German CPXV isolates CPXV_GerMygEK938_17 and CPXV_Ger2010_MKY, sharing 96.4 and 96.3% nucleotide identity, respectively, and this clade clustered closely with the ECTV-OPXV Abatino clade. CPXV-No-H2 is a mosaic virus that may have arisen out of several recombination events between OPXVs, and its phylogenetic clustering suggests that ECTV-Abatino-like cowpox viruses form a distinct, new clade of cowpox viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Diaz-Cánova
- Molecular Inflammation Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ugo L Moens
- Molecular Inflammation Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Annika Brinkmann
- Highly Pathogenic Viruses, Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, WHO Reference Laboratory for SARS-CoV-2 and WHO Collaborating Centre for Emerging Infections and Biological Threats, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Nitsche
- Highly Pathogenic Viruses, Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, WHO Reference Laboratory for SARS-CoV-2 and WHO Collaborating Centre for Emerging Infections and Biological Threats, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Malachy Ifeanyi Okeke
- Section of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Natural and Environmental Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, American University of Nigeria, Yola, Nigeria
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4
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Pandey P, Al Rumaih Z, Kels MJT, Ng E, Kc R, Chaudhri G, Karupiah G. Targeting ectromelia virus and TNF/NF-κB or STAT3 signaling for effective treatment of viral pneumonia. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2112725119. [PMID: 35177474 PMCID: PMC8872766 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2112725119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Viral causes of pneumonia pose constant threats to global public health, but there are no specific treatments currently available for the condition. Antivirals are ineffective when administered late after the onset of symptoms. Pneumonia is caused by an exaggerated inflammatory cytokine response to infection, but tissue necrosis and damage caused by virus also contribute to lung pathology. We hypothesized that viral pneumonia can be treated effectively if both virus and inflammation are simultaneously targeted. Combined treatment with the antiviral drug cidofovir and etanercept, which targets tumor necrosis factor (TNF), down-regulated nuclear factor kappa B-signaling and effectively reduced morbidity and mortality during respiratory ectromelia virus (ECTV) infection in mice even when treatment was initiated after onset of clinical signs. Treatment with cidofovir alone reduced viral load, but animals died from severe lung pathology. Treatment with etanercept had no effect on viral load but diminished levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines including TNF, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-12p40, TGF-β, and CCL5 and dampened activation of the STAT3 cytokine-signaling pathway, which transduces signals from multiple cytokines implicated in lung pathology. Consequently, combined treatment with a STAT3 inhibitor and cidofovir was effective in improving clinical disease and lung pathology in ECTV-infected mice. Thus, the simultaneous targeting of virus and a specific inflammatory cytokine or cytokine-signaling pathway is effective in the treatment of pneumonia. This approach might be applicable to pneumonia caused by emerging and re-emerging viruses, like seasonal and pandemic influenza A virus strains and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratikshya Pandey
- Viral Immunology and Immunopathology Group, Tasmanian School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Zahrah Al Rumaih
- Department of Immunology, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Ma Junaliah Tuazon Kels
- Department of Immunology, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Esther Ng
- Department of Immunology, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Rajendra Kc
- Viral Immunology and Immunopathology Group, Tasmanian School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Geeta Chaudhri
- Department of Immunology, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Gunasegaran Karupiah
- Viral Immunology and Immunopathology Group, Tasmanian School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia;
- Department of Immunology, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
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Alvarez-de Miranda FJ, Alonso-Sánchez I, Alcamí A, Hernaez B. TNF Decoy Receptors Encoded by Poxviruses. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10081065. [PMID: 34451529 PMCID: PMC8401223 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10081065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) is an inflammatory cytokine produced in response to viral infections that promotes the recruitment and activation of leukocytes to sites of infection. This TNF-based host response is essential to limit virus spreading, thus poxviruses have evolutionarily adopted diverse molecular mechanisms to counteract TNF antiviral action. These include the expression of poxvirus-encoded soluble receptors or proteins able to bind and neutralize TNF and other members of the TNF ligand superfamily, acting as decoy receptors. This article reviews in detail the various TNF decoy receptors identified to date in the genomes from different poxvirus species, with a special focus on their impact on poxvirus pathogenesis and their potential use as therapeutic molecules.
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Mavian C, López-Bueno A, Martín R, Nitsche A, Alcamí A. Comparative Pathogenesis, Genomics and Phylogeography of Mousepox. Viruses 2021; 13:v13061146. [PMID: 34203773 PMCID: PMC8232671 DOI: 10.3390/v13061146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Ectromelia virus (ECTV), the causative agent of mousepox, has threatened laboratory mouse colonies worldwide for almost a century. Mousepox has been valuable for the understanding of poxvirus pathogenesis and immune evasion. Here, we have monitored in parallel the pathogenesis of nine ECTVs in BALB/cJ mice and report the full-length genome sequence of eight novel ECTV isolates or strains, including the first ECTV isolated from a field mouse, ECTV-MouKre. This approach allowed us to identify several genes, absent in strains attenuated through serial passages in culture, that may play a role in virulence and a set of putative genes that may be involved in enhancing viral growth in vitro. We identified a putative strong inhibitor of the host inflammatory response in ECTV-MouKre, an isolate that did not cause local foot swelling and developed a moderate virulence. Most of the ECTVs, except ECTV-Hampstead, encode a truncated version of the P4c protein that impairs the recruitment of virions into the A-type inclusion bodies, and our data suggest that P4c may play a role in viral dissemination and transmission. This is the first comprehensive report that sheds light into the phylogenetic and geographic relationship of the worldwide outbreak dynamics for the ECTV species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Mavian
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Campus de Cantoblanco, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Nicolás Cabrera 1, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (C.M.); (A.L.-B.); (R.M.)
| | - Alberto López-Bueno
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Campus de Cantoblanco, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Nicolás Cabrera 1, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (C.M.); (A.L.-B.); (R.M.)
| | - Rocío Martín
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Campus de Cantoblanco, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Nicolás Cabrera 1, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (C.M.); (A.L.-B.); (R.M.)
| | - Andreas Nitsche
- Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Highly Pathogenic Viruses (ZBS1), Robert Koch Institute, 13353 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Antonio Alcamí
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Campus de Cantoblanco, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Nicolás Cabrera 1, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (C.M.); (A.L.-B.); (R.M.)
- Correspondence:
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Poxvirus-encoded TNF receptor homolog dampens inflammation and protects from uncontrolled lung pathology during respiratory infection. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:26885-26894. [PMID: 33046647 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2004688117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Ectromelia virus (ECTV) causes mousepox, a surrogate mouse model for smallpox caused by variola virus in humans. Both orthopoxviruses encode tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) homologs or viral TNFR (vTNFR). These homologs are termed cytokine response modifier (Crm) proteins, containing a TNF-binding domain and a chemokine-binding domain called smallpox virus-encoded chemokine receptor (SECRET) domain. ECTV encodes one vTNFR known as CrmD. Infection of ECTV-resistant C57BL/6 mice with a CrmD deletion mutant virus resulted in uniform mortality due to excessive TNF secretion and dysregulated inflammatory cytokine production. CrmD dampened pathology, leukocyte recruitment, and inflammatory cytokine production in lungs including TNF, IL-6, IL-10, and IFN-γ. Blockade of TNF, IL-6, or IL-10R function with monoclonal antibodies reduced lung pathology and provided 60 to 100% protection from otherwise lethal infection. IFN-γ caused lung pathology only when both the TNF-binding and SECRET domains were absent. Presence of the SECRET domain alone induced significantly higher levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10, likely overcoming any protective effects that might have been afforded by anti-IFN-γ treatment. The use of TNF-deficient mice and those that express only membrane-associated but not secreted TNF revealed that CrmD is critically dependent on host TNF for its function. In vitro, recombinant Crm proteins from different orthopoxviruses bound to membrane-associated TNF and dampened inflammatory gene expression through reverse signaling. CrmD does not affect virus replication; however, it provides the host advantage by enabling survival. Host survival would facilitate virus spread, which would also provide an advantage to the virus.
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Identification, Isolation, and Characterization of an Ectromelia Virus New Strain from an Experimental Mouse. Virol Sin 2020; 36:155-158. [PMID: 32696398 DOI: 10.1007/s12250-020-00263-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
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Kaszab E, Doszpoly A, Lanave G, Verma A, Bányai K, Malik YS, Marton S. Metagenomics revealing new virus species in farm and pet animals and aquaculture. GENOMICS AND BIOTECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN VETERINARY, POULTRY, AND FISHERIES 2020. [PMCID: PMC7149329 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-816352-8.00002-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Viral metagenomics is slowly taking over the traditional and widely used molecular techniques for the investigation of pathogenic viruses responsible for illness and inflicting great economic burden on the farm animal industry. Owing to the continued improvements in sequencing technologies and the dramatic reduction of per base costs of sequencing the use of next generation sequencing have been key factors in this progress. Discoveries linked to viral metagenomics are expected to be beneficial to the field of veterinary medicine starting from the development of better diagnostic assays to the design of new subunit vaccines with minimal investments. With these achievements the research has taken a giant leap even toward the better healthcare of animals and, as a result, the animal sector could be growing at an unprecedented pace.
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A virus-encoded type I interferon decoy receptor enables evasion of host immunity through cell-surface binding. Nat Commun 2018; 9:5440. [PMID: 30575728 PMCID: PMC6303335 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07772-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Soluble cytokine decoy receptors are potent immune modulatory reagents with therapeutic applications. Some virus-encoded secreted cytokine receptors interact with glycosaminoglycans expressed at the cell surface, but the biological significance of this activity in vivo is poorly understood. Here, we show the type I interferon binding protein (IFNα/βBP) encoded by vaccinia and ectromelia viruses requires of this cell binding activity to confer full virulence to these viruses and to retain immunomodulatory activity. Expression of a variant form of the IFNα/βBP that inhibits IFN activity, but does not interact with cell surface glycosaminoglycans, results in highly attenuated viruses with a virulence similar to that of the IFNα/βBP deletion mutant viruses. Transcriptomics analysis and infection of IFN receptor-deficient mice confirmed that the control of IFN activity is the main function of the IFNα/βBP in vivo. We propose that retention of secreted cytokine receptors at the cell surface may largely enhance their immunomodulatory activity.
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Wong PS, Sutejo R, Chen H, Ng SH, Sugrue RJ, Tan BH. A System Based-Approach to Examine Cytokine Response in Poxvirus-Infected Macrophages. Viruses 2018; 10:v10120692. [PMID: 30563103 PMCID: PMC6316232 DOI: 10.3390/v10120692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Revised: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The poxviruses are large, linear, double-stranded DNA viruses about 130 to 230 kbp, that have an animal origin and evolved to infect a wide host range. Variola virus (VARV), the causative agent of smallpox, is a poxvirus that infects only humans, but other poxviruses such as monkey poxvirus and cowpox virus (CPXV) have crossed over from animals to infect humans. Therefore understanding the biology of poxviruses can devise antiviral strategies to prevent these human infections. In this study we used a system-based approach to examine the host responses to three orthopoxviruses, CPXV, vaccinia virus (VACV), and ectromelia virus (ECTV) in the murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cell line. Overall, we observed a significant down-regulation of gene expressions for pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and related receptors. There were also common and virus-specific changes in the immune-regulated gene expressions for each poxvirus-infected RAW cells. Collectively our results showed that the murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cell line is a suitable cell-based model system to study poxvirus host response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pui-San Wong
- Defence Medical and Environmental Research Institute, DSO National Labs, Singapore 117510, Singapore.
| | - Richard Sutejo
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore.
| | - Hui Chen
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore.
| | - Sock-Hoon Ng
- Defence Medical and Environmental Research Institute, DSO National Labs, Singapore 117510, Singapore.
| | - Richard J Sugrue
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore.
| | - Boon-Huan Tan
- Defence Medical and Environmental Research Institute, DSO National Labs, Singapore 117510, Singapore.
- Infection and Immunity, LKC School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, Singapore.
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Novel Class of Viral Ankyrin Proteins Targeting the Host E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Cullin-2. J Virol 2018; 92:JVI.01374-18. [PMID: 30258003 PMCID: PMC6232478 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01374-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ankyrin repeat (ANK) domains are among the most abundant motifs in eukaryotic proteins. ANK proteins are rare amongst viruses, with the exception of poxviruses, which presumably acquired them from the host via horizontal gene transfer. The architecture of poxvirus ANK proteins is, however, different from that of their cellular counterparts, and this precludes a direct acquisition event. Here we combine bioinformatics analysis and quantitative proteomics to discover a new class of viral ANK proteins with a domain organization that relates to cellular ANK proteins. These noncanonical viral ANK proteins, termed ANK/BC, interact with host Cullin-2 via a C-terminal BC box resembling that of cellular Cullin-2 substrate adaptors such as the von Hippel-Lindau protein. Mutagenesis of the BC box-like sequence abrogates binding to Cullin-2, whereas fusion of this motif to an ANK-only protein confers Cullin-2 association. We demonstrated that these viral ANK/BC proteins are potent immunomodulatory proteins suppressing the activation of the proinflammatory transcription factors NF-κB and interferon (IFN)-responsive factor 3 (IRF-3) and the production of cytokines and chemokines, including interferon, and that association with Cullin-2 is required for optimal inhibitory activity. ANK/BC proteins exist in several orthopoxviruses and cluster into 2 closely related orthologue groups in a phylogenetic lineage that is separate from that of canonical ANK/F-box proteins. Given the existence of cellular proteins with similar architecture, viral ANK/BC proteins may be closely related to the original ANK gene acquired by an ancestral orthopoxvirus. These findings uncover a novel viral strategy to antagonize innate immunity and shed light on the origin of the poxviral ANK protein family.IMPORTANCE Viruses encode multiple proteins aimed at modulating cellular homeostasis and antagonizing the host antiviral response. Most of these genes were originally acquired from the host and subsequently adapted to benefit the virus. ANK proteins are common in eukaryotes but are unusual amongst viruses, with the exception of poxviruses, where they represent one of the largest protein families. We report here the existence of a new class of viral ANK proteins, termed ANK/BC, that provide new insights into the origin of poxvirus ANK proteins. ANK/BC proteins target the host E3 ubiquitin ligase Cullin-2 via a C-terminal BC box domain and are potent suppressors of the production of inflammatory cytokines, including interferon. The existence of cellular ANK proteins whose architecture is similar suggests the acquisition of a host ANK/BC gene by an ancestral orthopoxvirus and its subsequent duplication and adaptation to widen the repertoire of immune evasion strategies.
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13
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Gruber CEM, Giombini E, Selleri M, Tausch SH, Andrusch A, Tyshaieva A, Cardeti G, Lorenzetti R, De Marco L, Carletti F, Nitsche A, Capobianchi MR, Ippolito G, Autorino GL, Castilletti C. Whole Genome Characterization of Orthopoxvirus (OPV) Abatino, a Zoonotic Virus Representing a Putative Novel Clade of Old World Orthopoxviruses. Viruses 2018; 10:v10100546. [PMID: 30301229 PMCID: PMC6212904 DOI: 10.3390/v10100546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Revised: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Orthopoxviruses (OPVs) are diffused over the complete Eurasian continent, but previously described strains are mostly from northern Europe, and few infections have been reported from Italy. Here we present the extended genomic characterization of OPV Abatino, a novel OPV isolated in Italy from an infected Tonkean macaque, with zoonotic potential. Phylogenetic analysis based on 102 conserved OPV genes (core gene set) showed that OPV Abatino is most closely related to the Ectromelia virus species (ECTV), although placed on a separate branch of the phylogenetic tree, bringing substantial support to the hypothesis that this strain may be part of a novel OPV clade. Extending the analysis to the entire set of genes (coding sequences, CDS) further substantiated this hypothesis. In fact the genome of OPV Abatino included more CDS than ECTV; most of the extra genes (mainly located in the terminal genome regions), showed the highest similarity with cowpox virus (CPXV); however vaccinia virus (VACV) and monkeypox virus (MPXV) were the closest OPV for certain CDS. These findings suggest that OPV Abatino could be the result of complex evolutionary events, diverging from any other previously described OPV, and may indicate that previously reported cases in Italy could represent the tip of the iceberg yet to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesare E M Gruber
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani IRCCS, via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy.
| | - Emanuela Giombini
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani IRCCS, via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy.
| | - Marina Selleri
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani IRCCS, via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy.
| | - Simon H Tausch
- Robert Koch Institute, Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1, Seestraße 10, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Andreas Andrusch
- Robert Koch Institute, Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1, Seestraße 10, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Alona Tyshaieva
- Robert Koch Institute, Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1, Seestraße 10, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Giusy Cardeti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana M. Aleandri, via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178 Rome, Italy.
| | - Raniero Lorenzetti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana M. Aleandri, via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178 Rome, Italy.
| | - Lorenzo De Marco
- Parco Faunistico Piano dell'Abatino, via Capo Farfa 50, 02030 Poggio San Lorenzo, Italy.
| | - Fabrizio Carletti
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani IRCCS, via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy.
| | - Andreas Nitsche
- Robert Koch Institute, Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1, Seestraße 10, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Maria R Capobianchi
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani IRCCS, via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Ippolito
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani IRCCS, via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy.
| | - Gian Luca Autorino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana M. Aleandri, via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178 Rome, Italy.
| | - Concetta Castilletti
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani IRCCS, via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy.
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14
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Heidarieh H, Alcamí A. Mechanism of action of the viral chemokine-binding protein E163 from ectromelia virus. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:17418-17429. [PMID: 30257868 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.004432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Revised: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemokines interact with glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) at the cellular surface and to specific cell-surface receptors to activate signaling pathways. The GAG interaction allows the formation of a chemotactic gradient of chemokine required for cell haptotaxis and chemokine oligomerization. Poxviruses encode secreted chemokine-binding proteins with no sequence similarity to their cellular counterparts to modulate the host immune system. The E163 protein from ectromelia virus, the causative agent of mousepox, binds chemokines through their GAG-binding domain. In addition, E163 interacts with GAGs to be anchored at the cell surface, but its ability to interfere with chemokine-GAG interactions has not been demonstrated. We report the identification of the GAG-binding regions in E163 and the generation of mutant forms deficient of GAG binding. Chemokine binding assays show that some of the E163 GAG-binding sites are also involved in the interaction with chemokines. By using recombinant GAG-binding mutant forms we demonstrate that E163 prevents the interaction of chemokines with cell-surface GAGs, providing mechanisms for the immunomodulatory activity of the viral chemokine-binding protein E163.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haleh Heidarieh
- From the Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Antonio Alcamí
- From the Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid 28049, Spain
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15
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Hernaez B, Alcami A. New insights into the immunomodulatory properties of poxvirus cytokine decoy receptors at the cell surface. F1000Res 2018; 7. [PMID: 29946427 PMCID: PMC5998005 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.14238.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Poxviruses encode a set of secreted proteins that bind cytokines and chemokines as a strategy to modulate host defense mechanisms. These viral proteins mimic the activity of host cytokine decoy receptors but have unique properties that may enhance their activity. Here, we describe the ability of poxvirus cytokine receptors to attach to the cell surface after secretion from infected cells, and we discuss the advantages that this property may confer to these viral immunomodulatory proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Hernaez
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Nicolás Cabrera 1, Cantoblanco, 28049 , Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Alcami
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Nicolás Cabrera 1, Cantoblanco, 28049 , Madrid, Spain
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16
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Alejo A, Ruiz-Argüello MB, Pontejo SM, Fernández de Marco MDM, Saraiva M, Hernáez B, Alcamí A. Chemokines cooperate with TNF to provide protective anti-viral immunity and to enhance inflammation. Nat Commun 2018; 9:1790. [PMID: 29724993 PMCID: PMC5934441 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04098-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of cytokines and chemokines in anti-viral defense has been demonstrated, but their relative contribution to protective anti-viral responses in vivo is not fully understood. Cytokine response modifier D (CrmD) is a secreted receptor for TNF and lymphotoxin containing the smallpox virus-encoded chemokine receptor (SECRET) domain and is expressed by ectromelia virus, the causative agent of the smallpox-like disease mousepox. Here we show that CrmD is an essential virulence factor that controls natural killer cell activation and allows progression of fatal mousepox, and demonstrate that both SECRET and TNF binding domains are required for full CrmD activity. Vaccination with recombinant CrmD protects animals from lethal mousepox. These results indicate that a specific set of chemokines enhance the inflammatory and protective anti-viral responses mediated by TNF and lymphotoxin, and illustrate how viruses optimize anti-TNF strategies with the addition of a chemokine binding domain as soluble decoy receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alí Alejo
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal; Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria, Valdeolmos, Madrid, 28130, Spain
| | - M Begoña Ruiz-Argüello
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal; Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria, Valdeolmos, Madrid, 28130, Spain.,Progenika Biopharma, 48160, Derio, Spain
| | - Sergio M Pontejo
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Cantoblanco, Madrid, 28049, Spain.,National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
| | - María Del Mar Fernández de Marco
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Cantoblanco, Madrid, 28049, Spain.,Animal & Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Margarida Saraiva
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, United Kingdom.,Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
| | - Bruno Hernáez
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Cantoblanco, Madrid, 28049, Spain
| | - Antonio Alcamí
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Cantoblanco, Madrid, 28049, Spain. .,Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, United Kingdom.
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17
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Cheng W, He X, Jia H, Chen G, Wang C, Zhang J, Jing Z. Development of a SYBR Green I real-time PCR for detection and quantitation of orthopoxvirus by using Ectromelia virus. Mol Cell Probes 2017; 38:45-50. [PMID: 29224776 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcp.2017.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2017] [Revised: 12/02/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Ectromelia virus (ECTV) is the causative agent of mousepox, which has devastating effects in laboratory-mouse colonies and causes economic loss in biomedical research. More importantly, ECTV has been extensively used as an excellent model for studies of the pathogenesis and immunobiology of human smallpox. A rapid and sensitive SYBR Green I-based real-time PCR assay was developed and used for the detection and quantitation of orthopoxvirus by using ECTV in this study. Primers targeted to the highly conserved region of major core protein P4b gene of orthopoxvirus were designed and the standard plasmid was constructed. This assay was able to detect a minimum of 10 copies of standard DNA and 5 TCID50 units of ECTV. In addition, no cross-reactions were observed with two DNA viruses, such as herpes simplex virus and swine pseudorabies virus, and one RNA virus, vesicular stomatitis virus. Furthermore, intra- and inter-assay variability data showed that this method had a highly reproducibility and reliability. Moreover, the current assay was faster and had a higher sensitivity for detection of ECTV genomic DNA in cell cultured and clinical test samples. Therefore, the high sensitivity and reproducibility of this SYBR Green real-time PCR approach is a more effective method than the conventional PCR for ECTV diagnosis and quantitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyu Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Agriculture Ministry, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China.
| | - Xiaobing He
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Agriculture Ministry, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China.
| | - Huaijie Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Agriculture Ministry, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China.
| | - Guohua Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Agriculture Ministry, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China.
| | - Cong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Agriculture Ministry, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China.
| | - Jun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Agriculture Ministry, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China.
| | - Zhizhong Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Agriculture Ministry, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China.
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18
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Farré D, Martínez-Vicente P, Engel P, Angulo A. Immunoglobulin superfamily members encoded by viruses and their multiple roles in immune evasion. Eur J Immunol 2017; 47:780-796. [PMID: 28383780 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201746984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Revised: 03/11/2017] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Pathogens have developed a plethora of strategies to undermine host immune defenses in order to guarantee their survival. For large DNA viruses, these immune evasion mechanisms frequently rely on the expression of genes acquired from host genomes. Horizontally transferred genes include members of the immunoglobulin superfamily, whose products constitute the most diverse group of proteins of vertebrate genomes. Their promiscuous immunoglobulin domains, which comprise the building blocks of these molecules, are involved in a large variety of functions mediated by ligand-binding interactions. The flexible structural nature of the immunoglobulin domains makes them appealing targets for viral capture due to their capacity to generate high functional diversity. Here, we present an up-to-date review of immunoglobulin superfamily gene homologs encoded by herpesviruses, poxviruses, and adenoviruses, that include CD200, CD47, Fc receptors, interleukin-1 receptor 2, interleukin-18 binding protein, CD80, carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecules, and signaling lymphocyte activation molecules. We discuss their distinct structural attributes, binding properties, and functions, shaped by evolutionary pressures to disarm specific immune pathways. We include several novel genes identified from extensive genome database surveys. An understanding of the properties and modes of action of these viral proteins may guide the development of novel immune-modulatory therapeutic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domènec Farré
- Immunology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pablo Martínez-Vicente
- Immunology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pablo Engel
- Immunology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Angulo
- Immunology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain
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19
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Mauldin MR, Antwerpen M, Emerson GL, Li Y, Zoeller G, Carroll DS, Meyer H. Cowpox virus: What's in a Name? Viruses 2017; 9:E101. [PMID: 28486428 PMCID: PMC5454414 DOI: 10.3390/v9050101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Revised: 05/03/2017] [Accepted: 05/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditionally, virus taxonomy relied on phenotypic properties; however, a sequence-based virus taxonomy has become essential since the recent requirement of a species to exhibit monophyly. The species Cowpox virus has failed to meet this requirement, necessitating a reexamination of this species. Here, we report the genomic sequences of nine Cowpox viruses and, by combining them with the available data of 37 additional genomes, confirm polyphyly of Cowpox viruses and find statistical support based on genetic data for more than a dozen species. These results are discussed in light of the current International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses species definition, as well as immediate and future implications for poxvirus taxonomic classification schemes. Data support the recognition of five monophyletic clades of Cowpox viruses as valid species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Mauldin
- Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, P.O. Box 117, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
| | - Markus Antwerpen
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Neuherbergstr 11, 80937 Munich, Germany.
| | - Ginny L Emerson
- Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
| | - Yu Li
- Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
| | - Gudrun Zoeller
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Neuherbergstr 11, 80937 Munich, Germany.
| | - Darin S Carroll
- Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
| | - Hermann Meyer
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Neuherbergstr 11, 80937 Munich, Germany.
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20
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Infection with diverse immune-modulating poxviruses elicits different compositional shifts in the mouse gut microbiome. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0173697. [PMID: 28282449 PMCID: PMC5345840 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 02/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
It is often not possible to demonstrate causality within the context of gut microbiota dysbiosis-linked diseases. Thus, we need a better understanding of the mechanisms whereby an altered host immunophysiology shapes its resident microbiota. In this regard, immune-modulating poxvirus strains and mutants could differentially alter gut mucosal immunity in the context of a natural immune response, providing a controlled natural in vivo setting to deepen our understanding of the immune determinants of microbiome composition. This study represents a proof-of-concept that the use of an existing collection of different immune-modulating poxviruses may represent an innovative tool in gut microbiome research. To this end, 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and RNAseq transcriptome profiling were employed as proxies for microbiota composition and gut immunophysiological status in the analysis of caecal samples from control mice and mice infected with various poxvirus types. Our results show that different poxvirus species and mutants elicit different shifts in the mice mucosa-associated microbiota and, in some instances, significant concomitant shifts in gut transcriptome profiles, thus providing an initial validation to the proposed model.
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21
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McAfee MS, Huynh TP, Johnson JL, Jacobs BL, Blattman JN. Interaction between unrelated viruses during in vivo co-infection to limit pathology and immunity. Virology 2015; 484:153-162. [PMID: 26099694 PMCID: PMC4567517 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2015.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Revised: 03/26/2015] [Accepted: 05/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Great progress has been made in understanding immunity to viral infection. However, infection can occur in the context of co-infection by unrelated pathogens that modulate immune responses and/or disease. We have studied immunity and disease during co-infection with two unrelated viruses: Ectromelia virus (ECTV) and Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). ECTV infection can be a lethal in mice due in part to the blockade of Type I Interferons (IFN-I). We show that ECTV/LCMV co-infection results in decreased ECTV viral load and amelioration of ECTV-induced disease, likely due to IFN-I induction by LCMV, as rescue is not observed in IFN-I receptor deficient mice. However, immune responses to LCMV in ECTV co-infected mice were also lower compared to mice infected with LCMV alone and potentially biased toward effector-memory cell generation. Thus, we provide evidence for bi-directional effects of viral co-infection that modulate disease and immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan S McAfee
- Molecular & Cellular Biology Graduate Program & Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Trung P Huynh
- Molecular & Cellular Biology Graduate Program & Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - John L Johnson
- Molecular & Cellular Biology Graduate Program & Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Bertram L Jacobs
- Molecular & Cellular Biology Graduate Program & Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Joseph N Blattman
- Molecular & Cellular Biology Graduate Program & Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
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22
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Pontejo SM, Alejo A, Alcami A. Poxvirus-encoded TNF decoy receptors inhibit the biological activity of transmembrane TNF. J Gen Virol 2015; 96:3118-3123. [PMID: 26242179 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Poxviruses encode up to four different soluble TNF receptors, named cytokine response modifier B (CrmB), CrmC, CrmD and CrmE. These proteins mimic the extracellular domain of the cellular TNF receptors to bind and inhibit the activity of TNF and, in some cases, other TNF superfamily ligands. Most of these ligands are released after the enzymic cleavage of a membrane precursor. However, transmembrane TNF (tmTNF) is not only a precursor of soluble TNF but also exerts specific pro-inflammatory and immunological activities. Here, we report that viral TNF receptors bound and inhibited tmTNF and describe some interesting differences in their activity against the soluble cytokine. Thus, CrmE, which does not inhibit mouse soluble TNF, could block murine tmTNF-induced cytotoxicity. We propose that this anti-tmTNF effect should be taken into consideration when assessing the role of viral TNF decoy receptors in the pathogenesis of poxvirus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio M Pontejo
- Centro de Biologia Molecular Severo Ochoa (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Autonoma de Madrid), 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ali Alejo
- Centro de Investigacion en Sanidad Animal (Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria), 28130 Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Alcami
- Centro de Biologia Molecular Severo Ochoa (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Autonoma de Madrid), 28049 Madrid, Spain
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23
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Pontejo SM, Alejo A, Alcami A. Comparative Biochemical and Functional Analysis of Viral and Human Secreted Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Decoy Receptors. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:15973-84. [PMID: 25940088 PMCID: PMC4481203 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.650119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2015] [Revised: 04/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The blockade of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) by etanercept, a soluble version of the human TNF receptor 2 (hTNFR2), is a well established strategy to inhibit adverse TNF-mediated inflammatory responses in the clinic. A similar strategy is employed by poxviruses, encoding four viral TNF decoy receptor homologues (vTNFRs) named cytokine response modifier B (CrmB), CrmC, CrmD, and CrmE. These vTNFRs are differentially expressed by poxviral species, suggesting distinct immunomodulatory properties. Whereas the human variola virus and mouse ectromelia virus encode one vTNFR, the broad host range cowpox virus encodes all vTNFRs. We report the first comprehensive study of the functional and binding properties of these four vTNFRs, providing an explanation for their expression profile among different poxviruses. In addition, the vTNFRs activities were compared with the hTNFR2 used in the clinic. Interestingly, CrmB from variola virus, the causative agent of smallpox, is the most potent TNFR of those tested here including hTNFR2. Furthermore, we demonstrate a new immunomodulatory activity of vTNFRs, showing that CrmB and CrmD also inhibit the activity of lymphotoxin β. Similarly, we report for the first time that the hTNFR2 blocks the biological activity of lymphotoxin β. The characterization of vTNFRs optimized during virus-host evolution to modulate the host immune response provides relevant information about their potential role in pathogenesis and may be used to improve anti-inflammatory therapies based on soluble decoy TNFRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio M Pontejo
- From the Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain and
| | - Ali Alejo
- Centro de Investigacion en Sanidad Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria, Valdeolmos, 28130 Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Alcami
- From the Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain and
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