Adenoviruses: the nature of the virion and of controlling factors in productive or abortive infection and tumorigenesis

Oncoviruses: How do they hijack their host and current treatment regimes

Viruses have the ability to modulate the cellular machinery of their host to ensure their survival. While humans encounter numerous viruses daily, only a select few can lead to disease progression. Some of these viruses can amplify cancer-related traits, particularly when coupled with factors like immunosuppression and co-carcinogens. The global burden of cancer development resulting from viral infections is approximately 12%, and it arises as an unfortunate consequence of persistent infections that cause chronic inflammation, genomic instability from viral genome integration, and dysregulation of tumor suppressor genes and host oncogenes involved in normal cell growth. This review provides an in-depth discussion of oncoviruses and their strategies for hijacking the host's cellular machinery to induce cancer. It delves into how viral oncogenes drive tumorigenesis by targeting key cell signaling pathways. Additionally, the review discusses current therapeutic approaches that have been approved or are undergoing clinical trials to combat malignancies induced by oncoviruses. Understanding the intricate interactions between viruses and host cells can lead to the development of more effective treatments for virus-induced cancers.

Almost famous: Human adenoviruses (and what they have taught us about cancer)

Papillomaviruses, polyomaviruses and adenoviruses are collectively categorized as the small DNA tumour viruses. Notably, human adenoviruses were the first human viruses demonstrated to be able to cause cancer, albeit in non-human animal models. Despite their long history, no human adenovirus is a known causative agent of human cancers, unlike a subset of their more famous cousins, including human papillomaviruses and human Merkel cell polyomavirus. Nevertheless, seminal research using human adenoviruses has been highly informative in understanding the basics of cell cycle control, gene expression, apoptosis and cell differentiation. This review highlights the contributions of human adenovirus research in advancing our knowledge of the molecular basis of cancer.

Human Papillomaviruses; Epithelial Tropisms, and the Development of Neoplasia

Papillomaviruses have evolved over many millions of years to propagate themselves at specific epithelial niches in a range of different host species. This has led to the great diversity of papillomaviruses that now exist, and to the appearance of distinct strategies for epithelial persistence. Many papillomaviruses minimise the risk of immune clearance by causing chronic asymptomatic infections, accompanied by long-term virion-production with only limited viral gene expression. Such lesions are typical of those caused by Beta HPV types in the general population, with viral activity being suppressed by host immunity. A second strategy requires the evolution of sophisticated immune evasion mechanisms, and allows some HPV types to cause prominent and persistent papillomas, even in immune competent individuals. Some Alphapapillomavirus types have evolved this strategy, including those that cause genital warts in young adults or common warts in children. These strategies reflect broad differences in virus protein function as well as differences in patterns of viral gene expression, with genotype-specific associations underlying the recent introduction of DNA testing, and also the introduction of vaccines to protect against cervical cancer. Interestingly, it appears that cellular environment and the site of infection affect viral pathogenicity by modulating viral gene expression. With the high-risk HPV gene products, changes in E6 and E7 expression are thought to account for the development of neoplasias at the endocervix, the anal and cervical transformation zones, and the tonsilar crypts and other oropharyngeal sites. A detailed analysis of site-specific patterns of gene expression and gene function is now prompted.

Avian adenoviruses--a review

The literature on avian adenoviruses is reviewed with particular reference to the virion, number of serotypes, epidemiology, diagnosis and association with disease. Using the serum neutralisation test there are probably at least 12 serotypes which share a common avian group antigen distinct from the mammalian group antigen. The three disease complexes most often associated with avian adenovirus infections are respiratory disease, falls in egg production and hepatitis.

Human adenovirus-host cell interactions: comparative study with members of subgroups B and C

Host cell interactions of human adenovirus serotypes belonging to subgroups B (adenovirus type 3 [Ad3] and Ad7) and C (Ad2 and Ad5) were comparatively analyzed at three levels: (i) binding of virus particles with host cell receptors; (ii) cointernalization of macromolecules with adenovirions; and (iii) adenovirus-induced cytoskeletal alterations. The association constants with human cell receptors were found to be similar for Ad2 and Ad3 (8 x 10(9) to 9 x 10(9) M-1), and the number of receptor sites per cell ranged from 5,000 (Ad2) to 7,000 (Ad3). Affinity blottings, competition experiments, and immunofluorescence stainings suggested that the receptor sites for adenovirus were distinct for members of subgroups B and C. Adenovirions increased the permeability of cells to macromolecules. We showed that this global effect could be divided into two distinct events: (i) cointernalization of macromolecules and virions into endocytotic vesicles, a phenomenon that occurred in a serotype-independent way, and (ii) release of macromolecules into the cytoplasm upon adenovirus-induced lysis of endosomal membranes. The latter process was found to be type specific and to require unaltered and infectious virus particles of serotype 2 or 5. Perinuclear condensation of the vimentin filament network was observed at early stages of infection with Ad2 or Ad5 but not with Ad3, Ad7, and noninfectious particles of Ad2 or Ad5, obtained by heat inactivation of wild-type virions or with the H2 ts1 mutant. This phenomenon appeared to be a cytological marker for cytoplasmic transit of infectious virions within adenovirus-infected cells. It could be experimentally dissociated from vimentin proteolysis, which was found to be serotype dependent, occurring only with members of subgroup C, regardless of the infectivity of the input virus.

Vero microcultures for adenovirus neutralization tests

A microculture neutralization test is described for measuring specific antibody levels to the 35 human adenovirus serotypes in Vero cells. The test is read at 5 days by macroscopic observation after staining the uninfected cells with crystal violet. The test is performed with a minimum of manipulations and gives serum titers comparable with those obtained in tube macrocultures of monkey kidney, human embryonic kidney, and Vero cells. The Vero microculture neutralization test measures inhibition of adenovirus toxicity, although selected human adenoviruses serially subpassaged in Vero cells were shown to successfully adapt and replicate in the absence of detectable helper viruses.

Cleavage of type 2 adenovirus DNA by HaeIII endonuclease. I. Catalog of HaeIII fragments

Tye 2 adenovirus DNA was divided into 14 fragments by sequential use of BamI, HsuI, SmaI, anc EcoRI endonuclease. Each fragment was purified by gel electrophoresis and subsequently cleaved with HaeIII endonuclease. From the number of fragments produced, we could calculate the number of HaeIII cleavage sites: there are a total of 187 sites. HaeIII sites were not randomly distributed along the adenovirus chromosome. Most sites were clustered in the G + C-rich left half of the chromosome. The sum of the molecular weights of the HaeIII fragments is 22.4 . 10(6), within 2 % of the molecular weight of adenovirus DNA (22.9 . 10(6).

Physical properties of nucleoprotein cores from adenovirus type 5

Analytical ultracentrifugation, thermal denaturation, and electron microscopy have been used to study nucleoprotein core particles, obtained from disrupted type 5 adenovirus and partially purified on glycerol density gradients. Electron microscopy at low salt concentrations has shown that the cores are homogeneous particles with characteristic structures, which vary with conditions of observation from a fairly loose network of fibers to a highly condensed, compact particle. Sedimentation measurements in the analytical ultracentrifuge, both by boundary and by band techniques, show that the cores are relatively homogeneous in solution and have sedimentation coefficients near 185 S at low salt concentrations, about 243 S in 1 or 2 M NaCl, and 376 S in 1 mM MgCl2. Correlation of sedimentation data with electron microscopic observations suggests that the 185 S particle has a loose, fibrous structure, while the faster species are more highly condensed particles. The melting temperature of the cores in 5 mM Tris/HCl is 79 degrees C, which is 10 degrees C higher than the Tm for purified, viral DNA. This indicates that the protein enhances the stability of DNA in the nucleoprotein complex.

Biochemical studies on bovine adenovirus type 3. I. Purification and properties

Bovine adenovirus type 3 (BAV3) was purified and its properties were studied. On productive infection of CKT1 cells (a cell line derived from calf kidney) with BAV3, it was observed that viral DNA synthesis was initiated after about 24 h and its rate was maximal after about 40 h. Maturation of the virus occurred several hours after this. Purified BAV3 was separated into four discrete bands by CsCl density gradient centrifugation (complete, incomplete, empty, and degraded viruses). The complete BAV3 was similar in size and structure to human and avian adenoviruses. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the complete BAV3 virion contained at least 10 polypeptides. The total structural proteins of the virion had a similar amino acid composition to those of human adenoviruses. DNA of the complete virus was a linear duplex and its contour length was 12.3 +/- 0.9 mum. The So20,w value of the DNA was 32.9S and its buoyant density in CsCl was 1.717 g/ml. There was about 25% homology between the DNAs of BAV3 and human adenovirus type 5 by filter hybridization. It was also noted that BAV3 produced incomplete virus. The incomplete virus was similar in morphology to the complete virus and contained almost all the structural polypeptides of the latter, but lacked infectivity. However, its DNA had a deletion(s) (13%) which seemed to locate near a terminal.

Complementation of human adenovirus type 5 ts mutants by human adenovirus type 12

Temperature-sensitive mutants of type 5 adenovirus belonging to eight complementation groups were complemented in mixed infection by type 12 adenovirus, whereas mutants of 7 other groups were not enhanced. In some crosses, phenotypic mixing took place. No evidence of recombination between type 5 ts mutants and type 12 was found.

Temperature-sensitive cell mutations that inhibit adenovirus 2 replication

Five temperature-sensitive growth mutants of the hamster cell line BHK-21 were tested for the ability to support adenovirus 2 multiplication at 39 degrees and 33 degrees. Wild-type BHK-21 and mutants ts 422E and ts BCH yielded comparable amounts of virus at 33 degrees and 39 degrees, whereas in three other mutants, ts T22, ts T23, and ts AF8, virus production at 39 degrees was reduced to about 1% of that at 33 degrees. Virus yield in the three mutants was not reduced because of a delay in virus production; for all cells tested maximal virus yield at 39 degrees was obtained by 40-50 hr after infection. Normal yields of infectious virus were not obtained from ts AF8 even with a very high multiplicity of infection. In contrast, the virus yield from ts T22 and ts T23 was multiplicity-dependent. Shiftup experiments demonstrated that in ts AF8, a cell cycle mutant which at 39 degrees becomes arrested in G1, virus multiplication was thermosensitive for the first 40 hr of infection. In ts T22 and ts T23, the thermosensitivity was only for the first 3-4 hr of the infection. In all three mutants viral DNA synthesis was reduced by at least 95% at the higher temperature. The cell function specified by the ts AF8 mutation seems to be required for the early period of adenovirus 2 replication, after virus entry into the cell but before the onset of viral DNA replication.

The use of human adenovirus 2 in the study of the xeroderma DNA-repair defect

Ultraviolet-irradiated adenovirus 2 assayed by counting plaques on monolayers of human fibroblast strains is up to 30-fold more sensitive than normal if the strains used as viral hosts are prepared from persons having xeroderma pigmentosum. This plaque assay has been used as an extremely discriminating technique in the study of the xeroderma repair defect. With this assay, every xeroderma fibroblast strain tested has been found to exhibit a DNA-repair defect, including those previously judged by other methods to have normal DNA repair.

Transformation potentials of the noninfectious (defective) component in pools of adenoviruses type 12 and simian adenovirus 7

Pools of adenovirus 12 and simian adenovirus 7 were separated into four or five fractions by density gradient centrifugation in cesium chloride. Each fraction was analyzed for total in vitro infectivity units, total transformation activity, and for total virus particle (VP) content. Two major subpopulations were separated with mean densities of 1.30 +/- 0.02 and 1.34 +/- 0.02 g/ml, respectively. Virions in the 1.34 g/ml range were highly infectious (10(2) to 10(3) VP per infectivity unit) in contrast to virions at 1.30 g/ml density (10(4) to 10(5) VP per infectivity units). Transformation capacity was evenly distributed throughout fractions of both viruses, indicating that genetically incomplete or defective virus particles were not deficient in their ability to induce transformation. The average VP per transformation unit for adenovirus 12 (2.85 x 10(6)) and for simian adenovirus 7 (4.00 x 10(6)) did not vary significantly from fraction to fraction. These values were obtained with optimal input multiplicities of 16 to 64 VP per cell. At higher multiplicities the apparent increase in VP per transformation unit was attributable to the viral cytocidal effect on hamster cells. These studies revealed that quantitation of in vitro transformation based on VP multiplicities was more reliable than on the basis of infectious units. These estimates were independent of method of virus production, extraction, and purification.

Adenovirus-2 DNA contains an inverted terminal repetition

Denaturation and renaturation of the adenovirus-2 chromosome (a duplex rod) generates single-stranded circles of unit length. These circles can be opened into linear DNA molecules by digestion with exonuclease III, indicating that hydrogen bonding between the two ends of an adenovirus strand is responsible for maintaining the rod in a circular state.The formation of adenovirus single-stranded circles, and their sensitivity to exonuclease III, indicate that the mature adenovirus-2 DNA molecule contains an inverted terminal repetition. That is, the base sequence at one end of the molecule is inverted and appears again at the other end of the molecule. This is the first example of such a structure, and its function is unknown.

Mechanism of the arginine requirement for adenovirus synthesis. I. Synthesis of structural proteins

The mechanism of the arginine requirement for adenovirus was studied in cultures of KB cells infected with adenovirus type 2. Macromolecular synthesis was found to be severely impaired in uninfected cells under complete arginine deprivation, whereas an arginine concentration of 50 mum yielded a moderate and reversible inhibition of growth and nucleic acid synthesis. At this concentration, viral structural proteins were accumulated in excess although the virus yield was reduced more than 1,000-fold. The arginine-sensitive step appeared to occur early during the first 15 hr postinfection in the virus growth cycle. Virus-infected cells deprived of arginine to 50 mum showed, when reversed, a 4- to 5-hr lag period before the increase in virus growth was observed. Analysis of the radioactive pattern of labeled virions synthesized after reversion showed that all polypeptides were synthesized after addition of arginine to the medium, and none of the virion-polypeptides which are revealed by gel electrophoresis appeared to be preferentially synthesized after arginine reversion. The excess pool of structural proteins formed during depletion appeared to a large extent to be unavailable for virus assembly.