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Minami S, Kotaki T, Sakai Y, Okamura S, Torii S, Ono C, Motooka D, Hamajima R, Nouda R, Nurdin JA, Yamasaki M, Kanai Y, Ebina H, Maeda Y, Okamoto T, Tachibana T, Matsuura Y, Kobayashi T. Vero cell-adapted SARS-CoV-2 strain shows increased viral growth through furin-mediated efficient spike cleavage. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0285923. [PMID: 38415690 PMCID: PMC10986611 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02859-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) utilizes several host proteases to cleave the spike (S) protein to enter host cells. SARS-CoV-2 S protein is cleaved into S1 and S2 subunits by furin, which is closely involved in the pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2. However, the effects of the modulated protease cleavage activity due to S protein mutations on viral replication and pathogenesis remain unclear. Herein, we serially passaged two SARS-CoV-2 strains in Vero cells and characterized the cell-adapted SARS-CoV-2 strains in vitro and in vivo. The adapted strains showed high viral growth, effective S1/S2 cleavage of the S protein, and low pathogenicity compared with the wild-type strain. Furthermore, the viral growth and S1/S2 cleavage were enhanced by the combination of the Δ68-76 and H655Y mutations using recombinant SARS-CoV-2 strains generated by the circular polymerase extension reaction. The recombinant SARS-CoV-2 strain, which contained the mutation of the adapted strain, showed increased susceptibility to the furin inhibitor, suggesting that the adapted SARS-CoV-2 strain utilized furin more effectively than the wild-type strain. Pathogenicity was attenuated by infection with effectively cleaved recombinant SARS-CoV-2 strains, suggesting that the excessive cleavage of the S proteins decreases virulence. Finally, the high-growth-adapted SARS-CoV-2 strain could be used as the seed for a low-cost inactivated vaccine; immunization with this vaccine can effectively protect the host from SARS-CoV-2 variants. Our findings provide novel insights into the growth and pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 in the evolution of cell-cell transmission. IMPORTANCE The efficacy of the S protein cleavage generally differs among the SARS-CoV-2 variants, resulting in distinct viral characteristics. The relationship between a mutation and the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed the sequence of high-growth Vero cell-adapted SARS-CoV-2 and factors determining the enhancement of the growth of the adapted virus and confirmed the characteristics of the adapted strain by analyzing the recombinant SARS-CoV-2 strain. We successfully identified mutations Δ68-76 and H655Y, which enhance viral growth and the S protein cleavage by furin. Using recombinant viruses enabled us to conduct a virus challenge experiment in vivo. The pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 introduced with the mutations Δ68-76, H655Y, P812L, and Q853L was attenuated in hamsters, indicating the possibility of the attenuation of excessive cleaved SARS-CoV-2. These findings provide novel insights into the infectivity and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 strains, thereby significantly contributing to the field of virology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shohei Minami
- Department of Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Kotaki
- Department of Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yusuke Sakai
- Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinya Okamura
- Virus Vaccine Group, BIKEN Innovative Vaccine Research Alliance Laboratories, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- The Research Foundation for Microbial Diseases of Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shiho Torii
- Laboratory of Virus Control, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Chikako Ono
- Laboratory of Virus Control, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Daisuke Motooka
- Department of Infection Metagenomics, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Rina Hamajima
- Department of Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ryotaro Nouda
- Department of Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Jeffery A. Nurdin
- Department of Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Moeko Yamasaki
- Department of Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yuta Kanai
- Department of Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Ebina
- Virus Vaccine Group, BIKEN Innovative Vaccine Research Alliance Laboratories, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- The Research Foundation for Microbial Diseases of Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Advanced Modalities and DDS, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yusuke Maeda
- Laboratory of Viral Dynamism Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Toru Okamoto
- Institute for Advanced Co-creation Studies, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Taro Tachibana
- Cell Engineering Corporation, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshiharu Matsuura
- Laboratory of Virus Control, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Advanced Modalities and DDS, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takeshi Kobayashi
- Department of Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Center for Advanced Modalities and DDS, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
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Yao M, Cheng Z, Li X, Li Y, Ye W, Zhang H, Liu H, Zhang L, Lei Y, Zhang F, Lv X. N6-methyladenosine modification positively regulate Japanese encephalitis virus replication. Virol J 2024; 21:23. [PMID: 38243270 PMCID: PMC10799421 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-023-02275-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is present in diverse viral RNA and plays important regulatory roles in virus replication and host antiviral innate immunity. However, the role of m6A in regulating JEV replication has not been investigated. Here, we show that the JEV genome contains m6A modification upon infection of mouse neuroblast cells (neuro2a). JEV infection results in a decrease in the expression of m6A writer METTL3 in mouse brain tissue. METTL3 knockdown by siRNA leads to a substantial decrease in JEV replication and the production of progeny viruses at 48 hpi. Mechanically, JEV triggered a considerable increase in the innate immune response of METTL3 knockdown neuro2a cells compared to the control cells. Our study has revealed the distinctive m6A signatures of both the virus and host in neuro2a cells infected with JEV, illustrating the positive role of m6A modification in JEV infection. Our study further enhances understanding of the role of m6A modification in Flaviviridae viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Yao
- Department of Microbiology, Airforce Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zhirong Cheng
- Department of Microbiology, Airforce Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
- College of Life Science, Yan'an University, Yan'an, 716000, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xueyun Li
- Department of Microbiology, Airforce Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
- College of Basic Medicine, Yan'an University, Yan'an, 716000, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yuexiang Li
- Department of Microbiology, Airforce Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wei Ye
- Department of Microbiology, Airforce Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, Airforce Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - He Liu
- Department of Microbiology, Airforce Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Liang Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, Airforce Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yingfeng Lei
- Department of Microbiology, Airforce Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Fanglin Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, Airforce Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Xin Lv
- Department of Microbiology, Airforce Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China.
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Tajima S, Kataoka M, Takamatsu Y, Ebihara H, Lim CK. Mutations in the 3' non-coding region of a no-known vector flavivirus Yokose virus increased its replication ability in mosquito C6/36 cells. Virology 2024; 589:109928. [PMID: 37949004 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2023.109928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Yokose virus (YOKV) is a bat-associated no-known vector flavivirus group member. We investigated the replication ability of YOKV in mosquito-derived C6/36 cells. YOKV grew in C6/36 cells, but its kinetics of YOKV was markedly slower than those of other mosquito-borne flaviviruses. Transmission electron microscopy indicated an extremely small number of viral particles in YOKV-infected C6/36 cells. Mosquito-borne Japanese encephalitis virus prM-E-bearing chimeric YOKV failed to propagate efficiently in C6/36 cells. We isolated C6/36-adapted YOKV and identified nucleotide mutations in the adapted YOKV. Mutations detected in the 3' non-coding region of the adapted YOKV were critical for the enhanced proliferation ability of the virus. Moreover, the growth of the original and adapted YOKV in C6/36 cells was remarkably increased by shifting the culture temperature from 28 to 36 °C. Thus, our results demonstrate the potential of YOKV to propagate in mosquito cells and support its classification as a mosquito-borne flavivirus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeru Tajima
- Department of Virology 1, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama 1-23-1, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan.
| | - Michiyo Kataoka
- Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama 1-23-1, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan
| | - Yuki Takamatsu
- Department of Virology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Hideki Ebihara
- Department of Virology 1, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama 1-23-1, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan
| | - Chang-Kweng Lim
- Department of Virology 1, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama 1-23-1, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan
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Jablunovsky A, Narayanan A, Jose J. Identification of a critical role for ZIKV capsid α3 in virus assembly and its genetic interaction with M protein. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0011873. [PMID: 38166143 PMCID: PMC10786401 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Flaviviruses such as Zika and dengue viruses are persistent health concerns in endemic regions worldwide. Efforts to combat the spread of flaviviruses have been challenging, as no antivirals or optimal vaccines are available. Prevention and treatment of flavivirus-induced diseases require a comprehensive understanding of their life cycle. However, several aspects of flavivirus biogenesis, including genome packaging and virion assembly, are not well characterized. In this study, we focused on flavivirus capsid protein (C) using Zika virus (ZIKV) as a model to investigate the role of the externally oriented α3 helix (C α3) without a known or predicted function. Alanine scanning mutagenesis of surface-exposed amino acids on C α3 revealed a critical CN67 residue essential for ZIKV virion production. The CN67A mutation did not affect dimerization or RNA binding of purified C protein in vitro. The virus assembly is severely affected in cells transfected with an infectious cDNA clone of ZIKV with CN67A mutation, resulting in a highly attenuated phenotype. We isolated a revertant virus with a partially restored phenotype by continuous passage of the CN67A mutant virus in Vero E6 cells. Sequence analysis of the revertant revealed a second site mutation in the viral membrane (M) protein MF37L, indicating a genetic interaction between the C and M proteins of ZIKV. Introducing the MF37L mutation on the mutant ZIKV CN67A generated a double-mutant virus phenotypically consistent with the isolated genetic revertant. Similar results were obtained with analogous mutations on C and M proteins of dengue virus, suggesting the critical nature of C α3 and possible C and M residues contributing to virus assembly in other Aedes-transmitted flaviviruses. This study provides the first experimental evidence of a genetic interaction between the C protein and the viral envelope protein M, providing a mechanistic understanding of the molecular interactions involved in the assembly and budding of Aedes-transmitted flaviviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastazia Jablunovsky
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Anoop Narayanan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Joyce Jose
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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Sui L, Zhao Y, Wang W, Chi H, Tian T, Wu P, Zhang J, Zhao Y, Wei ZK, Hou Z, Zhou G, Wang G, Wang Z, Liu Q. Flavivirus prM interacts with MDA5 and MAVS to inhibit RLR antiviral signaling. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:9. [PMID: 36639652 PMCID: PMC9837762 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-00957-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vector-borne flaviviruses, including tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), Zika virus (ZIKV), West Nile virus (WNV), yellow fever virus (YFV), dengue virus (DENV), and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), pose a growing threat to public health worldwide, and have evolved complex mechanisms to overcome host antiviral innate immunity. However, the underlying mechanisms of flavivirus structural proteins to evade host immune response remain elusive. RESULTS We showed that TBEV structural protein, pre-membrane (prM) protein, could inhibit type I interferon (IFN-I) production. Mechanically, TBEV prM interacted with both MDA5 and MAVS and interfered with the formation of MDA5-MAVS complex, thereby impeding the nuclear translocation and dimerization of IRF3 to inhibit RLR antiviral signaling. ZIKV and WNV prM was also demonstrated to interact with both MDA5 and MAVS, while dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV2) and YFV prM associated only with MDA5 or MAVS to suppress IFN-I production. In contrast, JEV prM could not suppress IFN-I production. Overexpression of TBEV and ZIKV prM significantly promoted the replication of TBEV and Sendai virus. CONCLUSION Our findings reveal the immune evasion mechanisms of flavivirus prM, which may contribute to understanding flavivirus pathogenicity, therapeutic intervention and vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyan Sui
- grid.430605.40000 0004 1758 4110Department of Infectious Diseases and Center of Infectious diseases and Pathogen Biology, Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonotic Diseases, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yinghua Zhao
- grid.430605.40000 0004 1758 4110Department of Infectious Diseases and Center of Infectious diseases and Pathogen Biology, Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonotic Diseases, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Wenfang Wang
- grid.64924.3d0000 0004 1760 5735College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hongmiao Chi
- grid.64924.3d0000 0004 1760 5735College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Tian Tian
- grid.64924.3d0000 0004 1760 5735College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Ping Wu
- grid.412246.70000 0004 1789 9091College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Jinlong Zhang
- grid.430605.40000 0004 1758 4110Department of Infectious Diseases and Center of Infectious diseases and Pathogen Biology, Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonotic Diseases, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yicheng Zhao
- grid.430605.40000 0004 1758 4110Department of Infectious Diseases and Center of Infectious diseases and Pathogen Biology, Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonotic Diseases, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Zheng-Kai Wei
- grid.443369.f0000 0001 2331 8060School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
| | - Zhijun Hou
- grid.412246.70000 0004 1789 9091College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Guoqiang Zhou
- grid.482450.f0000 0004 8514 6702The Biological safety level-3 Laboratory, Changchun Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd, Changchun, China
| | - Guoqing Wang
- grid.64924.3d0000 0004 1760 5735College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Zedong Wang
- grid.430605.40000 0004 1758 4110Department of Infectious Diseases and Center of Infectious diseases and Pathogen Biology, Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonotic Diseases, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Quan Liu
- grid.430605.40000 0004 1758 4110Department of Infectious Diseases and Center of Infectious diseases and Pathogen Biology, Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonotic Diseases, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China ,grid.443369.f0000 0001 2331 8060School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China
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