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Buhlke EG, Hobbs AM, Rajput S, Rokusek B, Carlson DJ, Gillan C, Carlson KA. Characterization of Cross-Species Transmission of Drosophila melanogaster Nora Virus. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:1913. [PMID: 36431048 PMCID: PMC9697521 DOI: 10.3390/life12111913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster Nora virus (DmNV) is a novel picorna-like virus first characterized in 2006. Since then, Nora virus has been detected in several non-Drosophila species, including insects in the Orders Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Orthoptera. The objective of this study was to determine if DmNV could infect individuals of other species of invertebrates besides D. melanogaster. The presence of DmNV in native invertebrates and commercially available stocks was determined. Laboratory-reared D. yakuba, D. mercatorum, Gryllodes sigillatus, Tenebrio molitor, Galleria mellonella, and Musca domestica were intentionally infected with DmNV. In addition, native invertebrates were collected and D. melanogaster stocks were purchased and screened for DmNV presence using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) before being intentionally infected for study. All Drosophila species and other invertebrates, except M. domestica, that were intentionally infected with DmNV ended up scoring positive for the virus via RT-PCR. DmNV infection was also detected in three native invertebrates (Spilosoma virginica, Diplopoda, and Odontotaenius disjunctus) and all commercially available stocks tested. These findings suggest that DmNV readily infects individuals of other species of invertebrates, while also appearing to be an endemic virus in both wild and laboratory D. melanogaster populations. The detection of DmNV in commercially available stocks presents a cautionary message for scientists using these stocks in studies of virology and immunology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ella G. Buhlke
- Central City Senior High School, 1510 28th Street, Central City, NE 68826, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Kearney, 2401 11th Ave, Kearney, NE 68849, USA
| | - Alexis M. Hobbs
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Kearney, 2401 11th Ave, Kearney, NE 68849, USA
| | - Sunanda Rajput
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Kearney, 2401 11th Ave, Kearney, NE 68849, USA
| | - Blase Rokusek
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Kearney, 2401 11th Ave, Kearney, NE 68849, USA
| | - Darby J. Carlson
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Kearney, 2401 11th Ave, Kearney, NE 68849, USA
| | - Chelle Gillan
- Central City Senior High School, 1510 28th Street, Central City, NE 68826, USA
| | - Kimberly A. Carlson
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Kearney, 2401 11th Ave, Kearney, NE 68849, USA
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Laurinmäki P, Shakeel S, Ekström JO, Mohammadi P, Hultmark D, Butcher SJ. Structure of Nora virus at 2.7 Å resolution and implications for receptor binding, capsid stability and taxonomy. Sci Rep 2020; 10:19675. [PMID: 33184473 PMCID: PMC7661533 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-76613-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Nora virus, a virus of Drosophila, encapsidates one of the largest single-stranded RNA virus genomes known. Its taxonomic affinity is uncertain as it has a picornavirus-like cassette of enzymes for virus replication, but the capsid structure was at the time for genome publication unknown. By solving the structure of the virus, and through sequence comparison, we clear up this taxonomic ambiguity in the invertebrate RNA virosphere. Despite the lack of detectable similarity in the amino acid sequences, the 2.7 Å resolution cryoEM map showed Nora virus to have T = 1 symmetry with the characteristic capsid protein β-barrels found in all the viruses in the Picornavirales order. Strikingly, α-helical bundles formed from the extended C-termini of capsid protein VP4B and VP4C protrude from the capsid surface. They are similar to signalling molecule folds and implicated in virus entry. Unlike other viruses of Picornavirales, no intra-pentamer stabilizing annulus was seen, instead the intra-pentamer stability comes from the interaction of VP4C and VP4B N-termini. Finally, intertwining of the N-termini of two-fold symmetry-related VP4A capsid proteins and RNA, provides inter-pentamer stability. Based on its distinct structural elements and the genetic distance to other picorna-like viruses we propose that Nora virus, and a small group of related viruses, should have its own family within the order Picornavirales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasi Laurinmäki
- HiLIFE-Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 9, P.O. Box 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 9, P.O. Box 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Shabih Shakeel
- HiLIFE-Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 9, P.O. Box 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 9, P.O. Box 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Jens-Ola Ekström
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden
- Institute of Biosciences and Medical Technology, BioMediTech, University of Tampere, 33014, Tampere, Finland
| | - Pezhman Mohammadi
- HiLIFE-Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 9, P.O. Box 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., 02044, Espoo, Finland
| | - Dan Hultmark
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden
- Institute of Biosciences and Medical Technology, BioMediTech, University of Tampere, 33014, Tampere, Finland
| | - Sarah J Butcher
- HiLIFE-Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 9, P.O. Box 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 9, P.O. Box 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
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Lopez W, Page AM, Carlson DJ, Ericson BL, Cserhati MF, Guda C, Carlson KA. Analysis of immune-related genes during Nora virus infection of Drosophila melanogaster using next generation sequencing. AIMS Microbiol 2018; 4:123-139. [PMID: 29707694 PMCID: PMC5915338 DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2018.1.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster depends upon the innate immune system to regulate and combat viral infection. This is a complex, yet widely conserved process that involves a number of immune pathways and gene interactions. In addition, expression of genes involved in immunity are differentially regulated as the organism ages. This is particularly true for viruses that demonstrate chronic infection, as is seen with Nora virus. Nora virus is a persistent non-pathogenic virus that replicates in a horizontal manner in D. melanogaster. The genes involved in the regulation of the immune response to Nora virus infection are largely unknown. In addition, the temporal response of immune response genes as a result of infection has not been examined. In this study, D. melanogaster either infected with Nora virus or left uninfected were aged for 2, 10, 20 and 30 days. The RNA from these samples was analyzed by next generation sequencing (NGS) and the resulting immune-related genes evaluated by utilizing both the PANTHER and DAVID databases, as well as comparison to lists of immune related genes and FlyBase. The data demonstrate that Nora virus infected D. melanogaster exhibit an increase in immune related gene expression over time. In addition, at day 30, the data demonstrate that a persistent immune response may occur leading to an upregulation of specific immune response genes. These results demonstrate the utility of NGS in determining the potential immune system genes involved in Nora virus replication, chronic infection and involvement of antiviral pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilfredo Lopez
- Biology Department, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, NE 68849, USA
| | - Alexis M Page
- Biology Department, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, NE 68849, USA
| | - Darby J Carlson
- Biology Department, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, NE 68849, USA
| | - Brad L Ericson
- Biology Department, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, NE 68849, USA
| | - Matyas F Cserhati
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Chittibabu Guda
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Kimberly A Carlson
- Biology Department, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, NE 68849, USA
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