1
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Falkenhagen A, Panajotov J, Johne R. Colon-derived Caco-2 cells support replication of hepatitis E virus genotype 1 strain Sar55 generated by reverse genetics. Virus Res 2024; 347:199427. [PMID: 38917940 PMCID: PMC11261143 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199427] [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: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is infecting over 20 million people annually with a high morbidity especially in pregnant women and immune-suppressed individuals. While HEV genotype 1 (HEV-1) infects only humans, genotype 3 (HEV-3) is zoonotic and commonly transmitted from infected animals to humans. Whereas a few reverse genetics systems enabling targeted genome manipulations exist for HEV-3, those for HEV-1 are still very limited, mainly because of inefficient cell culture replication. Here, the generation of HEV-1 strain Sar55 and HEV-3 strain 47832mc by transfecting in vitro-transcribed and capped virus genomes into different cell lines was attempted. Culture supernatants of colon-derived colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line Caco-2 contained HEV-1 and HEV-3 capable of infecting Caco-2 cells. Density gradient centrifugation analyses of culture supernatants confirmed that HEV-1 particles were quasi-enveloped in analogy to HEV-3 and that non-virion-associated capsid protein was secreted from cells. Following transfection or infection of Caco-2 cells, HEV-1 consistently reached higher titers than HEV-3 in culture supernatants, but HEV-1 generated by transfection of Caco-2 cells was unable to efficiently infect hepatoma cell lines PLC/PRF/5 or HuH7-Lunet BLR. Taken together, our results indicate that HEV-1 is able to exert a complete replication cycle in Caco-2 cells. An efficient cell culture system for this genotype will be useful for studying species tropism, but further research is required to determine the significance of HEV-1 replication in colon-derived cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Falkenhagen
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Jessica Panajotov
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - Reimar Johne
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany
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2
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Brüggemann Y, Klöhn M, Wedemeyer H, Steinmann E. Hepatitis E virus: from innate sensing to adaptive immune responses. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024:10.1038/s41575-024-00950-z. [PMID: 39039260 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-024-00950-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections are a major cause of acute viral hepatitis in humans worldwide. In immunocompetent individuals, the majority of HEV infections remain asymptomatic and lead to spontaneous clearance of the virus, and only a minority of individuals with infection (5-16%) experience symptoms of acute viral hepatitis. However, HEV infections can cause up to 30% mortality in pregnant women, become chronic in immunocompromised patients and cause extrahepatic manifestations. A growing body of evidence suggests that the host immune response to infection with different HEV genotypes is a critical determinant of distinct HEV infection outcomes. In this Review, we summarize key components of the innate and adaptive immune responses to HEV, including the underlying immunological mechanisms of HEV associated with acute and chronic liver failure and interactions between T cell and B cell responses. In addition, we discuss the current status of vaccines against HEV and raise outstanding questions regarding the immune responses induced by HEV and treatment of the disease, highlighting areas for future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick Brüggemann
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Mara Klöhn
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Heiner Wedemeyer
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Sites Hannover-Braunschweig, Hannover, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence RESIST (EXC 2155), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Eike Steinmann
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), External Partner Site, Bochum, Germany.
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3
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Jagst M, Gömer A, Todt D, Steinmann E. Performance of sofosbuvir and NITD008 in extrahepatic neuronal cells against HEV. Antiviral Res 2024; 227:105922. [PMID: 38825018 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2024.105922] [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: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Hepatitis E is an underestimated disease, leading to estimated 20 million infections and up to 70,000 deaths annually. Infections are mostly asymptomatic, but can reach mortality rates up to 25% in pregnant women or become chronic in immunocompromised patients. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection have been associated with a range of extrahepatic manifestations, including a spectrum of neurological symptoms. Current therapy options are limited to non-specific antivirals like ribavirin, but recently, repurposed viral polymerase inhibitors like sofosbuvir and NITD008 were described to inhibit HEV replication. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of these drugs in various neuronal-derived cell lines to determine their potency outside the liver. Our findings indicate that both drugs, especially sofosbuvir, exhibited reduced efficacy in neuronal cells compared to hepatic cells. These results should be taken into account in the development of direct-acting antivirals for HEV and their potency at extrahepatic replication sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Jagst
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany; University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Institute of Virology, Hannover, Germany
| | - André Gömer
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Daniel Todt
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany; European Virus Bioinformatics Center (EVBC), Jena, Germany
| | - Eike Steinmann
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), External Partner Site, Bochum, Germany.
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4
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Wißing MH, Meister TL, Nocke MK, Gömer A, Masovic M, Knegendorf L, Brüggemann Y, Bader V, Siddharta A, Bock CT, Ploss A, Kenney SP, Winklhofer KF, Behrendt P, Wedemeyer H, Steinmann E, Todt D. Genetic determinants of host- and virus-derived insertions for hepatitis E virus replication. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4855. [PMID: 38844458 PMCID: PMC11156872 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49219-8] [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: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a long-neglected RNA virus and the major causative agent of acute viral hepatitis in humans. Recent data suggest that HEV has a very heterogeneous hypervariable region (HVR), which can tolerate major genomic rearrangements. In this study, we identify insertions of previously undescribed sequence snippets in serum samples of a ribavirin treatment failure patient. These insertions increase viral replication while not affecting sensitivity towards ribavirin in a subgenomic replicon assay. All insertions contain a predicted nuclear localization sequence and alanine scanning mutagenesis of lysine residues in the HVR influences viral replication. Sequential replacement of lysine residues additionally alters intracellular localization in a fluorescence dye-coupled construct. Furthermore, distinct sequence patterns outside the HVR are identified as viral determinants that recapitulate the enhancing effect. In conclusion, patient-derived insertions can increase HEV replication and synergistically acting viral determinants in and outside the HVR are described. These results will help to understand the underlying principles of viral adaptation by viral- and host-sequence snatching during the clinical course of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Toni Luise Meister
- Department for Molecular and Medical Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Institute for Infection Research and Vaccine Development (IIRVD), Centre for Internal Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
- Department for Clinical Immunology of Infectious Diseases, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maximilian Klaus Nocke
- Department for Molecular and Medical Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center (EVBC), Jena, Germany
| | - André Gömer
- Department for Molecular and Medical Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Mejrema Masovic
- Department for Molecular and Medical Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Leonard Knegendorf
- Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a Joint Venture between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Hannover, Germany
- Hannover Medical School, Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover, Germany
| | - Yannick Brüggemann
- Department for Molecular and Medical Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Verian Bader
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Anindya Siddharta
- Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a Joint Venture between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Hannover, Germany
| | - Claus-Thomas Bock
- Division of Viral Gastroenteritis and Hepatitis Pathogens and Enteroviruses, Department of Infectious Diseases, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Ploss
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Scott P Kenney
- Center for Food Animal Health, Departments of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Preventive Medicine, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Konstanze F Winklhofer
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence RESOLV, Bochum, Germany
| | - Patrick Behrendt
- Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a Joint Venture between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Hannover, Germany
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- German Center for Infectious Disease Research (DZIF); Partner Sites Hannover-Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Heiner Wedemeyer
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- German Center for Infectious Disease Research (DZIF); Partner Sites Hannover-Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
- Excellence Cluster 2155 RESIST, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Eike Steinmann
- Department for Molecular and Medical Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), External Partner Site, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Daniel Todt
- Department for Molecular and Medical Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center (EVBC), Jena, Germany.
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5
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Semaan D, O'Connor L, Scobie L. Evaluation of Food Homogenates on Cell Survival In Vitro. FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIROLOGY 2024; 16:253-260. [PMID: 38499912 PMCID: PMC11186945 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-024-09586-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
A critical review on the approaches to assess the infectivity of the Hepatitis E virus (HEV) in food recommended that a cell culture-based method should be developed. Due to the observations that viral loads in food may be low, it is important to maximise the potential for detection of HEV in a food source in order to fully assess infectivity. To do so, would require minimal processing of any target material. In order to proceed with the development of an infectivity culture method that is simple, robust and reproducible, there are a number of points to address; one being to assess if food homogenates are cytotoxic to HEV susceptible target cells. Food matrices previously shown to have detectable HEV nucleic acid were selected for analysis and assessed for their effect on the percentage survival of three cell lines commonly used for infectivity assays. Target cells used were A549, PLC/PRF/5 and HepG2 cells. The results showed that, as expected, various food homogenates have differing effects on cells in vitro. In this study, the most robust cell line over a time period was the A549 cell line in comparison to HepG2, with PLC/PRF/5 cells being the most sensitive. Overall, this data would suggest that FH can be left in contact with A549 cells for a period of up to 72 h to maximise the potential for testing infection. Using food homogenates directly would negate any concerns over losing virus as a result of any additional processing steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dima Semaan
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK
| | - Liam O'Connor
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK
| | - Linda Scobie
- Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
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6
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Dähnert L, Aliabadi E, Fast C, Hrabal I, Schröder C, Behrendt P, Protzer U, Groschup MH, Eiden M. Immunisation of pigs with recombinant HEV vaccines does not protect from infection with HEV genotype 3. One Health 2024; 18:100674. [PMID: 39010962 PMCID: PMC11247267 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide. Up to now, no approved treatment nor a globally licensed vaccine is available. Several recombinant HEV vaccines have been developed to protect against HEV infection in humans, including the commercially available Hecolin vaccine, which are mainly based on HEV genotype 1. However, the efficacy of these vaccines against other HEV genotypes, especially genotype 3 is unknown. In this study, we evaluated the protective efficacy of Hecolin® and a novel genotype 3-based vaccine p239(gt3) against HEV-3 in a pig infection model. Pigs were divided into three groups: one group was vaccinated with Hecolin®, the second group was vaccinated with p239(gt3), and the control group received no vaccine. All pigs were subsequently challenged with HEV genotype 3 to assess the effectiveness of the vaccines. Although all immunised animals developed a high titer of neutralizing antibodies, the results showed that both vaccine applications could not provide complete protection against HEV (gt3) infection: Two out of four animals of the Hecolin® group displayed even virus shedding, and viral RNA could be detected in bile and/or liver of three out of four animals in both vaccination groups. Only one out of four animals in each group was fully protected. Neither Hecolin® nor the novel p239(gt3) vaccine provided sufficient protection against genotype 3 infection. While Hecolin® only partial protected pigs from HEV shedding, the novel p239(gt3) vaccine was at least able to prevent infected pigs from virus shedding. The results highlight the need for further development of HEV vaccines that exhibit broad protection against multiple HEV genotypes and the use of appropriate animal infection models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Dähnert
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald - Isle of Riems, Germany
| | - Elmira Aliabadi
- TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research GmbH, Hannover, Germany
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung GmbH), Braunschweig, Germany
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Christine Fast
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald - Isle of Riems, Germany
| | - Isabella Hrabal
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald - Isle of Riems, Germany
| | - Charlotte Schröder
- Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, Greifswald-Insel Riems 17493, Germany
| | - Patrick Behrendt
- TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research GmbH, Hannover, Germany
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ulrike Protzer
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich / Helmholtz Munich, Munich, Germany
- Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems and Munich, German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Greifswald-Insel Riems 17493, Germany
| | - Martin H. Groschup
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald - Isle of Riems, Germany
- Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems and Munich, German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Greifswald-Insel Riems 17493, Germany
| | - Martin Eiden
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald - Isle of Riems, Germany
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7
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Saadat A, Gouttenoire J, Ripellino P, Semela D, Amar S, Frey BM, Fontana S, Mdawar-Bailly E, Moradpour D, Fellay J, Fraga M. Inborn errors of type I interferon immunity in patients with symptomatic acute hepatitis E. Hepatology 2024; 79:1421-1431. [PMID: 38079352 PMCID: PMC11095861 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The clinical spectrum of human infection by HEV ranges from asymptomatic to severe acute hepatitis. Furthermore, HEV can cause diverse neurological manifestations, especially Parsonage-Turner syndrome. Here, we used a large-scale human genomic approach to search for genetic determinants of severe clinical presentations of HEV infection. APPROACH AND RESULTS We performed whole genome sequencing in 3 groups of study participants with PCR-proven acute HEV infection: (1) 24 patients with symptomatic acute hepatitis E; (2) 12 patients with HEV-associated Parsonage-Turner syndrome; and (3) 16 asymptomatic blood donors (controls). For variant calling and annotation, we used GATK4 best practices followed by Variant Effect Predictor (VEP) and Annovar. For variant classification, we implemented the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics/Association for Molecular Pathology Bayesian classification framework in R. Variants with a probability of pathogenicity >0.9 were considered damaging. We used all genes with at least 1 damaging variant as input for pathway enrichment analyses.We observed a significant enrichment of type I interferon response pathways in the symptomatic hepatitis group: 10 out of 24 patients carried a damaging variant in one of 9 genes encoding either intracellular viral sensors ( IFIH1 , DDX58 , TLR3 , POLR3B , POLR3C ) or other molecules involved in type I interferon response [interferon regulatory factor 7 ( IRF7 ), MYD88 , OAS3 , GAPDH ]. We did not find any enriched pathway in the Parsonage-Turner syndrome group or in the controls. CONCLUSIONS Our results highlight the essential role of type I interferon in preventing symptomatic acute hepatitis E.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Saadat
- School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jérôme Gouttenoire
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Paolo Ripellino
- Department of Neurology, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland, EOC, Lugano, Switzerland
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - David Semela
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Soraya Amar
- Swiss Transfusion, Swiss Red Cross, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Beat M. Frey
- Blood Transfusion Service SRC, Schlieren/Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Elise Mdawar-Bailly
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Darius Moradpour
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jacques Fellay
- School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Precision Medicine Unit, Biomedical Data Science Center, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Montserrat Fraga
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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8
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Schemmerer M, Bock HH, Schattenberg JM, Huber S, Polywka S, Mader M, Lohse AW, Todt D, Steinmann E, Wenzel JJ, Horvatits T, Pischke S. Proof of infectivity of hepatitis E virus particles from the ejaculate of chronically infected patients. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29735. [PMID: 38864313 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29735] [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: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Recently, hepatitis E virus (HEV, Paslahepevirus balayani) particles were detected for the first time in the ejaculate of two chronically infected patients. Since then, we have been able to detect HEV in ejaculate in five further patients, and thus in a total of seven out of nine (78%) chronically infected men (age 36-67 years, median 56 years). In five patients, the HEV RNA concentration was more than 100-fold higher compared to the serum, while in two patients, the viral load was more than 10-fold lower. However, it has remained unclear whether viral particles shed in the ejaculate were infectious, as a previous cell culture model had failed to demonstrate the infectivity. In the current study, we employed an optimized HEV cell culture system based on overconfluent PLC/PRF/5 cells to investigate the infectivity of HEV particles from ejaculate and other body fluids. With this approach, we were able to show for the first time that HEV particles in the ejaculate from several patients were infectious. HEV replicated to high viral loads of 1e9 HEV RNA copies per ml. This indicates that HEV-positive ejaculate could bear a risk of infection for sexual partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias Schemmerer
- National Consultant Laboratory for HAV and HEV, Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Hans H Bock
- Gastroenterology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jörn M Schattenberg
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany
| | - Samuel Huber
- Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Susanne Polywka
- Microbiology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maria Mader
- Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ansgar W Lohse
- Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Todt
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center (EVBC), Jena, Germany
| | - Eike Steinmann
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Jürgen J Wenzel
- National Consultant Laboratory for HAV and HEV, Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Horvatits
- Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sven Pischke
- Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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9
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Klöhn M, Burkard T, Janzen J, Haase JA, Gömer A, Fu R, Ssebyatika G, Nocke MK, Brown RJP, Krey T, Dao Thi VL, Kinast V, Brüggemann Y, Todt D, Steinmann E. Targeting cellular cathepsins inhibits hepatitis E virus entry. Hepatology 2024:01515467-990000000-00876. [PMID: 38728662 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS HEV is estimated to be responsible for 70,000 deaths annually, yet therapy options remain limited. In the pursuit of effective antiviral therapies, targeting viral entry holds promise and has proven effective for other viruses. However, the precise mechanisms and host factors required during HEV entry remain unclear. Cellular proteases have emerged as host factors required for viral surface protein activation and productive cell entry by many viruses. Hence, we investigated the functional requirement and therapeutic potential of cellular protease during HEV infection. APPROACH AND RESULTS Using our established HEV cell culture model and subgenomic HEV replicons, we found that blocking lysosomal cathepsins (CTS) with small molecule inhibitors impedes HEV infection without affecting replication. Most importantly, the pan-cathepsin inhibitor K11777 suppressed HEV infections with an EC 50 of ~0.02 nM. Inhibition by K11777, devoid of notable toxicity in hepatoma cells, was also observed in HepaRG and primary human hepatocytes. Furthermore, through time-of-addition and RNAscope experiments, we confirmed that HEV entry is blocked by inhibition of cathepsins. Cathepsin L (CTSL) knockout cells were less permissive to HEV, suggesting that CTSL is critical for HEV infection. Finally, we observed cleavage of the glycosylated ORF2 protein and virus particles by recombinant CTSL. CONCLUSIONS In summary, our study highlights the pivotal role of lysosomal cathepsins, especially CTSL, in the HEV entry process. The profound anti-HEV efficacy of the pan-cathepsin inhibitor K11777, especially with its notable safety profile in primary cells, further underscores its potential as a therapeutic candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Klöhn
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Thomas Burkard
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Juliana Janzen
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Jil A Haase
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - André Gömer
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Rebecca Fu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Biosciences International Graduate School (HBIGS), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - George Ssebyatika
- Center of Structural and Cell Biology in Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany
| | - Maximilian K Nocke
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Richard J P Brown
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Thomas Krey
- Center of Structural and Cell Biology in Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Excellence Cluster 2155 RESIST, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Viet Loan Dao Thi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Volker Kinast
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Yannick Brüggemann
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Daniel Todt
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center (EVBC), Jena, Germany
| | - Eike Steinmann
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), External Partner Site, Bochum, Germany
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10
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Liu T, He Q, Yang X, Li Y, Yuan D, Lu Q, Tang T, Guan G, Zheng L, Zhang H, Xia C, Yin X, Wei G, Chen X, Lu F, Wang L. An Immunocompetent Mongolian Gerbil Model for Hepatitis E Virus Genotype 1 Infection. Gastroenterology 2024:S0016-5085(24)00364-0. [PMID: 38582270 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2024.03.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatitis E virus (HEV), primarily genotype 1 (HEV-1), causes approximately 20.1 million infections, 44,000 deaths, and 3000 stillbirths annually. Current evidence indicates that HEV-1 is only transmitted in humans. Here, we evaluated whether Mongolian gerbils can serve as animal models for HEV-1 infection. METHODS Mongolian gerbils were used for HEV-1 and hepatitis E virus genotype 3 infection experiments. HEV infection parameters, including detection of HEV RNA and HEV antigen, liver function assessment, and histopathology, were evaluated. RESULTS We adapted a clinical isolate of HEV-1 for Mongolian gerbils by serial passaging in feces of aged male gerbils. The gerbil-adapted strain obtained at passage 3 induced a robust, acute HEV infection, characterized by stable fecal virus shedding, elevated liver enzymes, histopathologic changes in the liver, and seroconversion to anti-HEV. An infectious complementary DNA clone of the adapted virus was generated. HEV-1-infected pregnant gerbils showed a high rate of maternal mortality and vertical transmission. HEV RNA or antigens were detected in the liver, kidney, intestine, placenta, testis, and fetus liver. Liver and placental transcriptomic analyses indicated activation of host immunity. Tacrolimus prolonged HEV-1 infection, whereas ribavirin cleared infection. The protective efficacy of a licensed HEV vaccine was validated using this model. CONCLUSIONS HEV-1 efficiently infected Mongolian gerbils. This HEV-1 infection model will be valuable for investigating hepatitis E immunopathogenesis and evaluating vaccines and antivirals against HEV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianxu Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Qiyu He
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyue Yang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Yuebao Li
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Disen Yuan
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Qinghui Lu
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Tianyu Tang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Guiwen Guan
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Liwei Zheng
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - He Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Changyou Xia
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Xin Yin
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Guochao Wei
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangmei Chen
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Fengmin Lu
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
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11
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Victoria C, Schulz G, Klöhn M, Weber S, Holicki CM, Brüggemann Y, Becker M, Gerold G, Eiden M, Groschup MH, Steinmann E, Kirschning A. Halogenated Rocaglate Derivatives: Pan-antiviral Agents against Hepatitis E Virus and Emerging Viruses. J Med Chem 2024; 67:289-321. [PMID: 38127656 PMCID: PMC10788925 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01357] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The synthesis of a library of halogenated rocaglate derivatives belonging to the flavagline class of natural products, of which silvestrol is the most prominent example, is reported. Their antiviral activity and cytotoxicity profile against a wide range of pathogenic viruses, including hepatitis E, Chikungunya, Rift Valley Fever virus and SARS-CoV-2, were determined. The incorporation of halogen substituents at positions 4', 6 and 8 was shown to have a significant effect on the antiviral activity of rocaglates, some of which even showed enhanced activity compared to CR-31-B and silvestrol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Victoria
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry, Leibniz University
Hannover, Schneiderberg
1B, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Göran Schulz
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry, Leibniz University
Hannover, Schneiderberg
1B, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Mara Klöhn
- Department
of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-University
Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Saskia Weber
- Federal
Research Institute in Animal Health (FLI), Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Cora M. Holicki
- Federal
Research Institute in Animal Health (FLI), Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Yannick Brüggemann
- Department
of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-University
Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Miriam Becker
- Institute
for Biochemistry and Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses
(RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine
Hannover, Bünteweg
2, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Gisa Gerold
- Institute
for Biochemistry and Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses
(RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine
Hannover, Bünteweg
2, 30559 Hannover, Germany
- Wallenberg
Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM), Umeå
University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
- Department
of Clinical Microbiology, Virology, Umeå
University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Martin Eiden
- Federal
Research Institute in Animal Health (FLI), Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin H. Groschup
- Federal
Research Institute in Animal Health (FLI), Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Eike Steinmann
- Department
of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-University
Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Andreas Kirschning
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry, Leibniz University
Hannover, Schneiderberg
1B, 30167 Hannover, Germany
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12
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Corneillie L, Lemmens I, Weening K, De Meyer A, Van Houtte F, Tavernier J, Meuleman P. Virus-Host Protein Interaction Network of the Hepatitis E Virus ORF2-4 by Mammalian Two-Hybrid Assays. Viruses 2023; 15:2412. [PMID: 38140653 PMCID: PMC10748205 DOI: 10.3390/v15122412] [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: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Throughout their life cycle, viruses interact with cellular host factors, thereby influencing propagation, host range, cell tropism and pathogenesis. The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an underestimated RNA virus in which knowledge of the virus-host interaction network to date is limited. Here, two related high-throughput mammalian two-hybrid approaches (MAPPIT and KISS) were used to screen for HEV-interacting host proteins. Promising hits were examined on protein function, involved pathway(s), and their relation to other viruses. We identified 37 ORF2 hits, 187 for ORF3 and 91 for ORF4. Several hits had functions in the life cycle of distinct viruses. We focused on SHARPIN and RNF5 as candidate hits for ORF3, as they are involved in the RLR-MAVS pathway and interferon (IFN) induction during viral infections. Knocking out (KO) SHARPIN and RNF5 resulted in a different IFN response upon ORF3 transfection, compared to wild-type cells. Moreover, infection was increased in SHARPIN KO cells and decreased in RNF5 KO cells. In conclusion, MAPPIT and KISS are valuable tools to study virus-host interactions, providing insights into the poorly understood HEV life cycle. We further provide evidence for two identified hits as new host factors in the HEV life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Corneillie
- Laboratory of Liver Infectious Diseases, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Irma Lemmens
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Karin Weening
- Laboratory of Liver Infectious Diseases, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Amse De Meyer
- Laboratory of Liver Infectious Diseases, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Freya Van Houtte
- Laboratory of Liver Infectious Diseases, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jan Tavernier
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Philip Meuleman
- Laboratory of Liver Infectious Diseases, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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13
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Gömer A, Klöhn M, Jagst M, Nocke MK, Pischke S, Horvatits T, Schulze zur Wiesch J, Müller T, Hardtke S, Cornberg M, Wedemeyer H, Behrendt P, Steinmann E, Todt D. Emergence of resistance-associated variants during sofosbuvir treatment in chronically infected hepatitis E patients. Hepatology 2023; 78:1882-1895. [PMID: 37334496 PMCID: PMC10653298 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Chronic HEV infections remain a serious problem in immunocompromised patients, as specifically approved antiviral drugs are unavailable. In 2020, a 24-week multicenter phase II pilot trial was carried out, evaluating the nucleotide analog sofosbuvir by treating nine chronically HEV-infected patients with sofosbuvir (Trial Number NCT03282474). During the study, antiviral therapy reduced virus RNA levels initially but did not lead to a sustained virologic response. Here, we characterize the changes in HEV intrahost populations during sofosbuvir treatment to identify the emergence of treatment-associated variants. APPROACH AND RESULTS We performed high-throughput sequencing on RNA-dependent RNA polymerase sequences to characterize viral population dynamics in study participants. Subsequently, we used an HEV-based reporter replicon system to investigate sofosbuvir sensitivity in high-frequency variants. Most patients had heterogenous HEV populations, suggesting high adaptability to treatment-related selection pressures. We identified numerous amino acid alterations emerging during treatment and found that the EC 50 of patient-derived replicon constructs was up to ~12-fold higher than the wild-type control, suggesting that variants associated with lower drug sensitivity were selected during sofosbuvir treatment. In particular, a single amino acid substitution (A1343V) in the finger domain of ORF1 could reduce susceptibility to sofosbuvir significantly in 8 of 9 patients. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, viral population dynamics played a critical role during antiviral treatment. High population diversity during sofosbuvir treatment led to the selection of variants (especially A1343V) with lower sensitivity to the drug, uncovering a novel mechanism of resistance-associated variants during sofosbuvir treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Gömer
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Mara Klöhn
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Michelle Jagst
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Maximilian K. Nocke
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Sven Pischke
- Medical Clinic and Polyclinic, University Medical Centre Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Germany
| | - Thomas Horvatits
- Medical Clinic and Polyclinic, University Medical Centre Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Germany
- Gastromedics Health Center, Eisenstadt, Austria
| | - Julian Schulze zur Wiesch
- Medical Clinic and Polyclinic, University Medical Centre Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Germany
| | - Tobias Müller
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Charité Campus Virchow-Klinikum (CVK), Berlin, Germany
| | - Svenja Hardtke
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF); HepNet Study-House/German Liver Foundation (DLS), Hannover, Germany
- Institute for Infections Research and Vaccine, University Medical Centre Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Markus Cornberg
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF); HepNet Study-House/German Liver Foundation (DLS), Hannover, Germany
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF); Partner Site Hannover Braunschweig, Germany
- Center for Individualized Infection Medicine (CiiM), Hannover, Germany
| | - Heiner Wedemeyer
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF); HepNet Study-House/German Liver Foundation (DLS), Hannover, Germany
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF); Partner Site Hannover Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Patrick Behrendt
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF); Partner Site Hannover Braunschweig, Germany
- Institute of Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Hannover, Germany
| | - Eike Steinmann
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Bochum, Germany
| | - Daniel Todt
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center (EVBC), Jena, Germany
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14
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Locus T, Lambrecht E, Lamoral S, Willems S, Van Gucht S, Vanwolleghem T, Peeters M. A Multifaceted Approach for Evaluating Hepatitis E Virus Infectivity In Vitro: Cell Culture and Innovative Molecular Methods for Integrity Assessment. Vet Sci 2023; 10:676. [PMID: 38133227 PMCID: PMC10748075 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10120676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus is a prominent cause of viral hepatitis worldwide. In Western countries, most infections are asymptomatic. However, acute self-limiting hepatitis and chronic cases in immunocompromised individuals can occur. Studying HEV is challenging due to its difficulty to grow in cell culture. Consequently, the detection of the virus mainly relies on RT-qPCR, which cannot differentiate between infectious and non-infectious particles. To overcome this problem, methods assessing viral integrity offer a possible solution to differentiate between intact and damaged viruses. This study aims at optimizing existing HEV cell culture models and RT-qPCR-based assays for selectively detecting intact virions to establish a reliable model for assessing HEV infectivity. In conclusion, these newly developed methods hold promise for enhancing food safety by identifying approaches for inactivating HEV in food processing, thereby increasing food safety measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatjana Locus
- Fisheries and Food, Technology and Food Unit, Flemish Research Institute for Agriculture (ILVO), Brusselsesteenweg 370, 9090 Melle, Belgium or (T.L.); (E.L.)
- Sciensano, Infectious Diseases in Humans, Viral Diseases, Engelandstraat 642, 1180 Ukkel, Belgium
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Viral Hepatitis Research Group, University of Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Ellen Lambrecht
- Fisheries and Food, Technology and Food Unit, Flemish Research Institute for Agriculture (ILVO), Brusselsesteenweg 370, 9090 Melle, Belgium or (T.L.); (E.L.)
| | - Sophie Lamoral
- Sciensano, Infectious Diseases in Humans, Viral Diseases, Engelandstraat 642, 1180 Ukkel, Belgium
| | - Sjarlotte Willems
- Fisheries and Food, Technology and Food Unit, Flemish Research Institute for Agriculture (ILVO), Brusselsesteenweg 370, 9090 Melle, Belgium or (T.L.); (E.L.)
| | - Steven Van Gucht
- Sciensano, Infectious Diseases in Humans, Viral Diseases, Engelandstraat 642, 1180 Ukkel, Belgium
| | - Thomas Vanwolleghem
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Viral Hepatitis Research Group, University of Antwerp, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Michael Peeters
- Sciensano, Infectious Diseases in Humans, Viral Diseases, Engelandstraat 642, 1180 Ukkel, Belgium
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15
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Gremmel N, Keuling O, Eiden M, Groschup MH, Johne R, Becher P, Baechlein C. Hepatitis E virus neutralization by porcine serum antibodies. J Clin Microbiol 2023; 61:e0037323. [PMID: 37823649 PMCID: PMC10662371 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00373-23] [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: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The consumption of raw or undercooked meat products poses a serious risk for human hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections. In many high-income countries, domestic pigs and wild boars represent the main animal reservoirs for HEV and are usually identified by reverse transcription-PCR and antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In order to characterize the humoral immune response in more detail, a cell culture-based serum neutralization assay using a culture-adapted HEV strain was established here. Measurement of neutralizing antibodies was only possible after removing the viral quasi-envelope by detergent treatment. Serum samples of 343 wild boars from Northern Germany were first analyzed for anti-HEV IgG using an in-house ELISA, resulting in 19% positive samples. Subsequently, a subset of 41 representative samples was tested with the neutralization assay, and the results correlated well with those obtained by ELISA. Not only the human HEV strain 47832c but also two porcine HEV strains were shown to be neutralized by porcine serum antibodies. Neutralizing activity was also found in samples containing both HEV-specific antibodies and HEV RNA. Testing of serum samples derived from two experimentally infected domestic pigs showed a steep increase in neutralizing activity at 24 or 51 days post infection, dependent on the used infectious dose. The developed assay can be useful for characterization of the humoral immune response after HEV infection and for assessing the efficiency of HEV vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nele Gremmel
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
| | - Oliver Keuling
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
| | - Martin Eiden
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin H. Groschup
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Reimar Johne
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Paul Becher
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
| | - Christine Baechlein
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
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16
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Meyer L, Duquénois I, Gellenoncourt S, Pellerin M, Marcadet-Hauss A, Pavio N, Doceul V. Identification of interferon-stimulated genes with modulated expression during hepatitis E virus infection in pig liver tissues and human HepaRG cells. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1291186. [PMID: 38058490 PMCID: PMC10696647 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1291186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a common cause of enterically transmitted acute hepatitis worldwide. The virus is transmitted by the fecal-oral route via the consumption of contaminated water supplies and is also a zoonotic foodborne pathogen. Swine are the main reservoir of zoonotic HEV. In humans, HEV infection is usually asymptomatic or causes acute hepatitis that is self-limited. However, fulminant hepatic failure and chronic cases of HEV infection can occur in some patients. In contrast, HEV infection in pigs remains asymptomatic, although the virus replicates efficiently, suggesting that swine are able to control the virus pathogenesis. Upon viral infection, IFN is secreted and activates cellular pathways leading to the expression of many IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs). ISGs can restrict the replication of specific viruses and establish an antiviral state within infected and neighboring cells. Methods In this study, we used PCR arrays to determine the expression level of up to 168 ISGs and other IFN-related genes in the liver tissues of pigs infected with zoonotic HEV-3c and HEV-3f and in human bipotent liver HepaRG cells persistently infected with HEV-3f. Results and discussion The expression of 12 and 25 ISGs was found to be up-regulated in infected swine livers and HepaRG cells, respectively. The expression of CXCL10, IFIT2, MX2, OASL and OAS2 was up-regulated in both species. Increased expression of IFI16 mRNA was also found in swine liver tissues. This study contributes to the identification of potential ISGs that could play a role in the control or persistence of HEV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Virginie Doceul
- Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire de l’Alimentation, de l’Environnement et du Travail (ANSES), École Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort (ENVA), UMR Virology, Maisons-Alfort, France
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17
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León-Janampa N, Caballero-Posadas I, Barc C, Darrouzain F, Moreau A, Guinoiseau T, Gatault P, Fleurot I, Riou M, Pinard A, Pezant J, Rossignol C, Gaudy-Graffin C, Brand D, Marlet J. A pig model of chronic hepatitis E displaying persistent viremia and a downregulation of innate immune responses in the liver. Hepatol Commun 2023; 7:e0274. [PMID: 37938097 PMCID: PMC10635601 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a zoonotic virus transmitted by pig meat and responsible for chronic hepatitis E in immunocompromised patients. It has proved challenging to reproduce this disease in its natural reservoir. We therefore aimed to develop a pig model of chronic hepatitis E to improve the characterization of this disease. METHODS Ten pigs were treated with a tacrolimus-based regimen and intravenously inoculated with HEV. Tacrolimus trough concentration, HEV viremia, viral diversity, innate immune responses, liver histology, clinical disease and biochemical markers were monitored for 11 weeks post-infection (p.i.). RESULTS HEV viremia persisted for 11 weeks p.i. HEV RNA was detected in the liver, small intestine, and colon at necropsy. Histological analysis revealed liver inflammation and fibrosis. Several mutations selected in the HEV genome were associated with compartmentalization in the feces and intestinal tissues, consistent with the hypothesis of extrahepatic replication in the digestive tract. Antiviral responses were characterized by a downregulation of IFN pathways in the liver, despite an upregulation of RIG-I and ISGs in the blood and liver. CONCLUSIONS We developed a pig model of chronic hepatitis E that reproduced the major hallmarks of this disease. This model revealed a compartmentalization of HEV genomes in the digestive tract and a downregulation of innate immune responses in the liver. These original features highlight the relevance of our model for studies of the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis E and for validating future treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy León-Janampa
- INSERM U1259 MAVIVH, Tours University and Tours University Hospital, Tours, France
| | | | - Céline Barc
- UE-1277 Platform for Experimentation on Infectious Diseases, INRAe, Nouzilly, France
| | - François Darrouzain
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Tours University Hospital, Tours, France
| | - Alain Moreau
- INSERM U1259 MAVIVH, Tours University and Tours University Hospital, Tours, France
| | - Thibault Guinoiseau
- Department of Bacteriology-Virology-Hygiene, Tours University Hospital, Tours, France
| | - Philippe Gatault
- Department of Nephrology and Transplantation, Tours University Hospital, Tours, France
- EA4245, University of Tours, Tours, France
| | | | - Mickaël Riou
- UE-1277 Platform for Experimentation on Infectious Diseases, INRAe, Nouzilly, France
| | - Anne Pinard
- UE-1277 Platform for Experimentation on Infectious Diseases, INRAe, Nouzilly, France
| | - Jérémy Pezant
- UE-1277 Platform for Experimentation on Infectious Diseases, INRAe, Nouzilly, France
| | | | - Catherine Gaudy-Graffin
- INSERM U1259 MAVIVH, Tours University and Tours University Hospital, Tours, France
- Department of Bacteriology-Virology-Hygiene, Tours University Hospital, Tours, France
| | - Denys Brand
- INSERM U1259 MAVIVH, Tours University and Tours University Hospital, Tours, France
- Department of Bacteriology-Virology-Hygiene, Tours University Hospital, Tours, France
| | - Julien Marlet
- INSERM U1259 MAVIVH, Tours University and Tours University Hospital, Tours, France
- Department of Bacteriology-Virology-Hygiene, Tours University Hospital, Tours, France
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18
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Primadharsini PP, Nagashima S, Nishiyama T, Okamoto H. Three Distinct Reporter Systems of Hepatitis E Virus and Their Utility as Drug Screening Platforms. Viruses 2023; 15:1989. [PMID: 37896767 PMCID: PMC10611241 DOI: 10.3390/v15101989] [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: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is increasingly acknowledged as the primary cause of acute hepatitis. While most HEV infections are self-limiting, cases of chronic infection and fulminant hepatitis necessitate the administration of anti-HEV medications. However, there is a lack of specific antiviral drugs designed for HEV, and the currently available drug (ribavirin) has been associated with significant adverse effects. The development of innovative antiviral drugs involves targeting distinct steps within the viral life cycle: the early step (attachment and internalization), middle step (translation and RNA replication), and late step (virus particle formation and virion release). We recently established three HEV reporter systems, each covering one or two of these steps. Using these reporter systems, we identified various potential drug candidates that target different steps of the HEV life cycle. Through rigorous in vitro testing using our robust cell culture system with the genotype 3 HEV strain (JE03-1760F/P10), we confirmed the efficacy of these drugs, when used alone or in combination with existing anti-HEV drugs. This underscores their significance in the quest for an effective anti-HEV treatment. In the present review, we discuss the development of the three reporter systems, their applications in drug screening, and their potential to advance our understanding of the incompletely elucidated HEV life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Putu Prathiwi Primadharsini
- Division of Virology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke 329-0498, Tochigi, Japan; (P.P.P.); (S.N.)
| | - Shigeo Nagashima
- Division of Virology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke 329-0498, Tochigi, Japan; (P.P.P.); (S.N.)
| | - Takashi Nishiyama
- Laboratory of Membrane Proteins, Research Division for Quantitative Life Sciences, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan;
| | - Hiroaki Okamoto
- Division of Virology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke 329-0498, Tochigi, Japan; (P.P.P.); (S.N.)
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19
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Das A, Rivera-Serrano EE, Yin X, Walker CM, Feng Z, Lemon SM. Cell entry and release of quasi-enveloped human hepatitis viruses. Nat Rev Microbiol 2023; 21:573-589. [PMID: 37185947 PMCID: PMC10127183 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-023-00889-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Infectious hepatitis type A and type E are caused by phylogenetically distinct single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses that were once considered to be non-enveloped. However, studies show that both are released nonlytically from hepatocytes as 'quasi-enveloped' virions cloaked in host membranes. These virion types predominate in the blood of infected individuals and mediate virus spread within the liver. They lack virally encoded proteins on their surface and are resistant to neutralizing anti-capsid antibodies induced by infection, yet they efficiently enter cells and initiate new rounds of virus replication. In this Review, we discuss the mechanisms by which specific peptide sequences in the capsids of these quasi-enveloped virions mediate their endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT)-dependent release from hepatocytes through multivesicular endosomes, what is known about how they enter cells, and the impact of capsid quasi-envelopment on host immunity and pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anshuman Das
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lentigen Technology, Inc., Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Efraín E Rivera-Serrano
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Biology, Elon University, Elon, NC, USA
| | - Xin Yin
- Center for Vaccines and Immunity, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, China
| | - Christopher M Walker
- Center for Vaccines and Immunity, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
- Department of Paediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Zongdi Feng
- Center for Vaccines and Immunity, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.
- Department of Paediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Stanley M Lemon
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Department of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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20
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Desdouits M, Reynaud Y, Philippe C, Guyader FSL. A Comprehensive Review for the Surveillance of Human Pathogenic Microorganisms in Shellfish. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2218. [PMID: 37764063 PMCID: PMC10537662 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Bivalve molluscan shellfish have been consumed for centuries. Being filter feeders, they may bioaccumulate some microorganisms present in coastal water, either naturally or through the discharge of human or animal sewage. Despite regulations set up to avoid microbiological contamination in shellfish, human outbreaks still occur. After providing an overview showing their implication in disease, this review aims to highlight the diversity of the bacteria or enteric viruses detected in shellfish species, including emerging pathogens. After a critical discussion of the available methods and their limitations, we address the interest of technological developments using genomics to anticipate the emergence of pathogens. In the coming years, further research needs to be performed and methods need to be developed in order to design the future of surveillance and to help risk assessment studies, with the ultimate objective of protecting consumers and enhancing the microbial safety of bivalve molluscan shellfish as a healthy food.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Françoise S. Le Guyader
- Ifremer, Unité Microbiologie Aliment Santé et Environnement, RBE/LSEM, 44311 Nantes, France; (M.D.); (Y.R.); (C.P.)
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21
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Schrader JA, Burkard TL, Brüggemann Y, Gömer A, Meister TL, Fu RM, Mehnert AK, Dao Thi VL, Behrendt P, Durantel D, Broering R, Vondran FWR, Todt D, Kinast V, Steinmann E. EGF receptor modulates HEV entry in human hepatocytes. Hepatology 2023; 77:2104-2117. [PMID: 36745934 PMCID: PMC10187617 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Being the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis with >20 million cases per year and 70,000 deaths annually, HEV presents a long-neglected and underinvestigated health burden. Although the entry process of viral particles is an attractive target for pharmacological intervention, druggable host factors to restrict HEV entry have not been identified so far. APPROACH AND RESULTS Here we identify the EGF receptor (EGFR) as a novel host factor for HEV and reveal the significance of EGFR for the HEV entry process. By utilizing RNAi, chemical modulation with Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs, and ectopic expression of EGFR, we revealed that EGFR is critical for HEV infection without affecting HEV RNA replication or assembly of progeny virus. We further unveiled that EGFR itself and its ligand-binding domain, rather than its signaling function, is responsible for the proviral effect. Modulation of EGF expression in HepaRG cells and primary human hepatocytes affected HEV infection. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our study provides novel insights into the life cycle of HEV and identified EGFR as a possible target for future antiviral strategies against HEV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jil A. Schrader
- Department for Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Thomas L. Burkard
- Department for Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Yannick Brüggemann
- Department for Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - André Gömer
- Department for Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Toni L. Meister
- Department for Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Rebecca M. Fu
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Cluster of Excellence CellNetworks, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Biosciences International Graduate School, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ann-Kathrin Mehnert
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Cluster of Excellence CellNetworks, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Biosciences International Graduate School, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Viet L. Dao Thi
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Cluster of Excellence CellNetworks, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Patrick Behrendt
- TWINCORE Center for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a Joint Venture between the Hannover Medical School (MHH) and the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI), Institute for Experimental Virology, Hannover, Germany
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover - Braunschweig, Hannover, Germany
| | - David Durantel
- CIRI—International Center for Infectiology Research, Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Inserm, U1111, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Ruth Broering
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Transplant Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Florian W. R. Vondran
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Daniel Todt
- Department for Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center (EVBC), Jena, Germany
| | - Volker Kinast
- Department for Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Eike Steinmann
- Department for Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), External Partner Site, Bochum, Germany
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22
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Wang B, Mahsoub HM, Li W, Heffron CL, Tian D, Hassebroek AM, LeRoith T, Meng XJ. Ribavirin Treatment Failure-Associated Mutation, Y1320H, in the RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase of Genotype 3 Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Enhances Virus Replication in a Rabbit HEV Infection Model. mBio 2023; 14:e0337222. [PMID: 36809085 PMCID: PMC10128057 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03372-22] [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: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection has become a significant clinical problem that requires treatment in immunocompromised individuals. In the absence of an HEV-specific antiviral, ribavirin (RBV) has been used off-label, but treatment failure may occur due to mutations in the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), including Y1320H, K1383N, and G1634R. Chronic hepatitis E is mostly caused by zoonotic genotype 3 HEV (HEV-3), and HEV variants from rabbits (HEV-3ra) are closely related to human HEV-3. Here, we explored whether HEV-3ra, along with its cognate host, can serve as a model to study RBV treatment failure-associated mutations observed in human HEV-3-infected patients. By utilizing the HEV-3ra infectious clone and indicator replicon, we generated multiple single mutants (Y1320H, K1383N, K1634G, and K1634R) and a double mutant (Y1320H/K1383N) and assessed the role of mutations on replication and antiviral activity of HEV-3ra in cell culture. Furthermore, we also compared the replication of the Y1320H mutant with the wild-type HEV-3ra in experimentally infected rabbits. Our in vitro analyses revealed that the effects of these mutations on rabbit HEV-3ra are altogether highly consistent with those on human HEV-3. Importantly, we found that the Y1320H enhances virus replication during the acute stage of HEV-3ra infection in rabbits, which corroborated our in vitro results showing an enhanced viral replication of Y1320H. Taken together, our data suggest that HEV-3ra and its cognate host is a useful and relevant naturally occurring homologous animal model to study the clinical relevance of antiviral-resistant mutations observed in human HEV-3 chronically-infected patients. IMPORTANCE HEV-3 causes chronic hepatitis E that requires antiviral therapy in immunosuppressed individuals. RBV is the main therapeutic option for chronic hepatitis E as an off-label use. Several amino acid changes, including Y1320H, K1383N, and G1634R, in the RdRp of human HEV-3 have reportedly been associated with RBV treatment failure in chronic hepatitis E patients. In this study, we utilized an HEV-3ra from rabbit and its cognate host to investigate the effect of these RBV treatment failure-associated HEV-3 RdRp mutations on viral replication efficiency and antiviral susceptibility. The in vitro data using rabbit HEV-3ra was highly comparable to those from human HEV-3. We demonstrated that the Y1320H mutation significantly enhanced HEV-3ra replication in cell culture and enhanced virus replication during the acute stage of HEV-3ra infection in rabbits. The rabbit HEV-3ra infection model should be useful in delineating the role of human HEV-3 RBV treatment failure-associated mutations in antiviral resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
- Center for Emerging, Zoonotic and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Hassan M. Mahsoub
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
- Center for Emerging, Zoonotic and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Wen Li
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - C. Lynn Heffron
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Debin Tian
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
- Center for Emerging, Zoonotic and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Anna M. Hassebroek
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
- Center for Emerging, Zoonotic and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Tanya LeRoith
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
- Center for Emerging, Zoonotic and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Xiang-Jin Meng
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
- Center for Emerging, Zoonotic and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
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23
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Oechslin N, Ankavay M, Moradpour D, Gouttenoire J. Expanding the Hepatitis E Virus Toolbox: Selectable Replicons and Recombinant Reporter Genomes. Viruses 2023; 15:v15040869. [PMID: 37112849 PMCID: PMC10147066 DOI: 10.3390/v15040869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) has received relatively little attention for decades although it is now considered as one of the most frequent causes of acute hepatitis worldwide. Our knowledge of this enterically-transmitted, positive-strand RNA virus and its life cycle remains scarce but research on HEV has gained momentum more recently. Indeed, advances in the molecular virology of hepatitis E, including the establishment of subgenomic replicons and infectious molecular clones, now allow study of the entire viral life cycle and to explore host factors required for productive infection. Here, we provide an overview on currently available systems, with an emphasis on selectable replicons and recombinant reporter genomes. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges in developing new systems which should enable to further investigate this widely distributed and important pathogen.
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24
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Hepatitis E virus superinfection impairs long-term outcome in hospitalized patients with hepatitis B virus-related decompensated liver cirrhosis. Ann Hepatol 2023; 28:100878. [PMID: 36417965 DOI: 10.1016/j.aohep.2022.100878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Hepatitis E virus (HEV) superinfection is a common excerbating event in patients with chronic hepatitis B, but the impact on the long-term prognosis is not clear. This study investigates the specific role of HEV superinfection in the long-term outcome of hepatitis B virus (HBV) patients with liver cirrhosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS A retrospective, observational cohort study was conducted using clinical, laboratory, and survival data collected from patients suffering from hepatitis B cirrhosis with or without HEV superinfection. Disease progression and mortality rates were analyzed. RESULTS After a two-year follow-up, HEV superinfection was identified in 27 of 811 patients. The transplantation-free mortality was significantly increased (51.9% vs. 14.3%, p< 0.001) in HEV superinfection compared to that in hepatitis B cirrhosis patients without HEV superinfection. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that elderly people were independent host risk factors for hepatitis B cirrhosis patients with HEV superinfection before and after propensity score matching (PSM). Moreover, HEV superinfection was a risk factor for patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis with new acute decompensation (AD) and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) during hospitalization. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model demonstrated that acute HEV co-infection is associated with two-year mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.49; 95% CI: 1.40-4.43; p= 0.002; and HR: 5.79; 95% CI: 1.87-17.87; p= 0.002) in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis before and after PSM. CONCLUSIONS Elder patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis are susceptible to HEV superinfection, accelerating disease progression and increasing long-term mortality in hospitalized patients with HBV-related decompensated liver cirrhosis.
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25
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Wißmann JE, Brüggemann Y, Todt D, Steinmann J, Steinmann E. Survival and inactivation of hepatitis E virus on inanimate surfaces. J Hosp Infect 2023; 134:57-62. [PMID: 36746308 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2023.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis, and mainly transmitted via faecal-oral contamination or consumption of contaminated food products. However, limited data on the surface stability and HEV sensitivity to chemical disinfectants are available. AIM To establish an HEV-based carrier assay to evaluate its surface stability and the virucidal activity of nine surface disinfectants. METHODS A recently developed robust HEV-3 cell culture system for an HEV-based carrier assay. FINDINGS Alcohol-based disinfectants were insufficient to eliminate HEV infectivity, whereas disinfectants based on aldehyde, peracetic acid, oxygen, and/or quaternary ammonium inactivated HEV. CONCLUSION These findings have strong implications for the recommendation of evidence-based hygiene guidelines to reduce HEV transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- J E Wißmann
- Department for Molecular & Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Y Brüggemann
- Department for Molecular & Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - D Todt
- Department for Molecular & Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; European Virus Bioinformatics Center (EVBC), Jena, Germany
| | - J Steinmann
- Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - E Steinmann
- Department for Molecular & Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), External Partner Site, Bochum, Germany.
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26
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Hepatitis Virus and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Recent Advances. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15020533. [PMID: 36672482 PMCID: PMC9856776 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15020533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a global health challenge, causing 600,000 deaths each year. Infectious factors, including hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis D virus (HDV), have long been considered the major risk factors for the development and progression of HCC. These pathogens induce hepatocyte transformation through a variety of mechanisms, including insertional mutations caused by viral gene integration, epigenetic changes, and the induction of long-term immune dysfunction. The discovery of these mechanisms, while advancing our understanding of the disease, also provides targets for new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. In addition, the discovery and research of chronic HEV infection over the past decade indicate that this common hepatitis virus also seems to have the potential to induce HCC. In this review, we provide an overview of recent studies on the link between hepatitis virus and HCC, as well as new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to HCC based on these findings. Finally, we also discuss the potential relationship between HEV and HCC. In conclusion, these associations will further optimize the diagnosis and treatment of infection-associated HCC and call for better management policies.
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27
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Liu T, Wang L, Wang L. Animal Models for Hepatitis E Virus. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1417:171-184. [PMID: 37223866 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-99-1304-6_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Animal models are one of the most important tools in the study of human hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection. They are particularly important in light of the major limitations of the cell culture system for HEV. Besides nonhuman primates, which are extremely valuable because of their susceptibility to HEV genotypes 1-4, animals like swine, rabbit, and humanized mice are also potential models for studies of pathogenesis, cross-species infection, and the molecular biology of HEV. Identification of a useful animal model for human HEV infection studies is crucial to further investigations into this ubiquitous yet poorly understood virus and facilitate the development of antiviral therapeutics and vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianxu Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
| | - Ling Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
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28
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Ma Z, de Man RA, Kamar N, Pan Q. Chronic hepatitis E: Advancing research and patient care. J Hepatol 2022; 77:1109-1123. [PMID: 35605741 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The hepatitis E virus (HEV) was initially thought to exclusively cause acute hepatitis. However, the first diagnosis of chronic hepatitis E in transplant recipients in 2008 profoundly changed our understanding of this pathogen. We have now begun to understand that specific HEV genotypes can cause chronic infection in certain immunocompromised populations. Over the past decade, dedicated clinical and experimental research has substantiated knowledge on the epidemiology, transmission routes, pathophysiological mechanisms, diagnosis, clinical features and treatment of chronic HEV infection. Nevertheless, many gaps and major challenges remain, particularly regarding the translation of knowledge into disease prevention and improvement of clinical outcomes. This article aims to highlight the latest developments in the understanding and management of chronic hepatitis E. More importantly, we attempt to identify major knowledge gaps and discuss strategies for further advancing both research and patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongren Ma
- Biomedical Research Center, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Robert A de Man
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Nassim Kamar
- Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Organ Transplantation, CHU Rangueil, INSERM UMR 1291, Toulouse Institute for Infectious and Inflammatory Disease (Infinity), University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Qiuwei Pan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
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29
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Kinast V, Klöhn M, Nocke MK, Todt D, Steinmann E. Hepatitis E virus species barriers: seeking viral and host determinants. Curr Opin Virol 2022; 56:101274. [PMID: 36283248 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2022.101274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The intimate relationship between virus and host cell can result in highly adapted viruses that are restricted to a single host. However, some viruses have the ability to infect multiple host species. Remarkably, hepatitis E viruses (HEV) comprise genotypes that are either 'single-host' or 'multi-host' genotypes, a trait that raises fundamental questions: Why do different genotypes differ in their host range, despite a high degree of genomic similarity? What are the underlying molecular determinants that shape species barriers? Here, we review the current knowledge of viral and host determinants that may affect the evolutionary trajectories of HEV. We also provide a perspective on techniques and methods that address open questions of HEV host range and adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volker Kinast
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; Department of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Mara Klöhn
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Maximilian K Nocke
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Daniel Todt
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; European Virus Bioinformatics Center (EVBC), 07743 Jena, Germany.
| | - Eike Steinmann
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), External Partner Site, Bochum, Germany.
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30
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Gravemann U, Engelmann M, Kinast V, Burkard T, Behrendt P, Schulze TJ, Todt D, Steinmann E. Hepatitis E virus is effectively inactivated by methylene blue plus light treatment. Transfusion 2022; 62:2200-2204. [PMID: 36125237 DOI: 10.1111/trf.17108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Photodynamic treatment with methylene blue (MB) and visible light is a well-established pathogen inactivation system for human plasma. This technique is routinely used in different countries. MB/light treatment was shown to inactivate several transfusion-transmittable viruses, but its efficiency for the inactivation of the quasi-enveloped hepatitis E virus (HEV) has not yet been investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS Plasma units were spiked with cell culture-derived HEV and treated with the THERAFLEX MB-Plasma system using various light doses (30, 60, 90, and 120 J/cm2 ). HEV titers in pre- and post-treatment samples were determined by virus titration and a large-volume plating assay to improve the detection limit of the virus assay. RESULTS THERAFLEX MB-Plasma efficiently inactivated HEV in human plasma. Even the lowest light dose of 30 J/cm2 inactivated HEV down to the limit of detection, with a mean log reduction factor of greater than 2.4 for the total process. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates that the THERAFLEX MB-Plasma system effectively inactivates HEV in human plasma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ute Gravemann
- German Red Cross Blood Service NSTOB, Springe, Germany
| | - Michael Engelmann
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Volker Kinast
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.,Department of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Burkard
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Patrick Behrendt
- Institute of Experimental Virology, Twincore, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research; a joint venture between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Hannover, Germany.,Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Daniel Todt
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.,European Virus Bioinformatics Center (EVBC), Jena, Germany
| | - Eike Steinmann
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), External Partner Site, Bochum, Germany
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31
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Two mutations in the ORF1 of genotype 1 hepatitis E virus enhance virus replication and may associate with fulminant hepatic failure. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2207503119. [PMID: 35969750 PMCID: PMC9407470 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2207503119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in pregnant women has a high incidence of developing fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) with significant mortality. Multiple amino acid changes in genotype 1 HEV (HEV-1) are reportedly linked to FHF clinical cases, but experimental confirmation of the roles of these changes in FHF is lacking. By utilizing the HEV-1 indicator replicon and infectious clone, we generated 11 HEV-1 single mutants, each with an individual mutation, and investigated the effect of these mutations on HEV replication and infection in human liver cells. We demonstrated that most of the mutations actually impaired HEV-1 replication efficiency compared with the wild type (WT), likely due to altered physicochemical properties and structural conformations. However, two mutations, A317T and V1120I, significantly increased HEV-1 replication. Notably, these two mutations simultaneously occurred in 100% of 21 HEV-1 variants from patients with FHF in Bangladesh. We further created an HEV-1 A317T/V1120I double mutant and found that it greatly enhanced HEV replication, which may explain the rapid viral replication and severe disease. Furthermore, we tested the effect of these FHF-associated mutations on genotype 3 HEV (HEV-3) replication and found that all the mutants had a reduced level of replication ability and infectivity, which is not unexpected due to distinct infection patterns between HEV-1 and HEV-3. Additionally, we demonstrated that these FHF-associated mutations do not appear to alter their sensitivity to ribavirin (RBV), suggesting that ribavirin remains a viable option for antiviral therapy for patients with FHF. The results have important implications for understanding the mechanism of HEV-1-associated FHF.
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A ribavirin-induced ORF2 single-nucleotide variant produces defective hepatitis E virus particles with immune decoy function. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2202653119. [PMID: 35969792 PMCID: PMC9407633 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2202653119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) has increasing prevalence worldwide. However, little is known about the impact of single-nucleotide variants (SNV) on the replication cycle. Here, we report a ribavirin-induced open reading frame 2 (ORF2) SNV that demonstrats reduced RNA copies released in the supernatant and an impairment in the production of infectious particles. Furthermore, the P79S variant displays an altered subcellular distribution of the ORF2 protein and is able to impair antibody-mediated neutralization of HEV in a competition assay potentially acting as an immune decoy. These findings provide insights in understanding the biology of circulating HEV variants and may guide development of personalized antiviral strategies in the future. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the causative agent of hepatitis E in humans and is the leading cause of enterically transmitted viral hepatitis worldwide. Ribavirin (RBV) is currently the only treatment option for many patients; however, cases of treatment failures or posttreatment relapses have been frequently reported. RBV therapy was shown to be associated with an increase in HEV genome heterogeneity and the emergence of distinct HEV variants. In this study, we analyzed the impact of eight patient-derived open reading frame 2 (ORF2) single-nucleotide variants (SNVs), which occurred under RBV treatment, on the replication cycle and pathogenesis of HEV. The parental HEV strain and seven ORF2 variants showed comparable levels of RNA replication in human hepatoma cells and primary human hepatocytes. However, a P79S ORF2 variant demonstrated reduced RNA copy numbers released in the supernatant and an impairment in the production of infectious particles. Biophysical and biochemical characterization revealed that this SNV caused defective, smaller HEV particles with a loss of infectiousness. Furthermore, the P79S variant displayed an altered subcellular distribution of the ORF2 protein and was able to interfere with antibody-mediated neutralization of HEV in a competition assay. In conclusion, an SNV in the HEV ORF2 could be identified that resulted in altered virus particles that were noninfectious in vitro and in vivo, but could potentially serve as immune decoys. These findings provide insights in understanding the biology of circulating HEV variants and may guide development of personalized antiviral strategies in the future.
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33
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Praditya DF, Klöhn M, Brüggemann Y, Brown LE, Porco JA, Zhang W, Kinast V, Kirschning A, Vondran FWR, Todt D, Steinmann E. Identification of structurally re-engineered rocaglates as inhibitors against hepatitis E virus replication. Antiviral Res 2022; 204:105359. [PMID: 35728703 PMCID: PMC9731315 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections are a leading cause of acute viral hepatitis in humans and pose a considerable threat to public health. Current standard of care treatment is limited to the off-label use of nucleoside-analog ribavirin (RBV) and PEGylated interferon-α, both of which are associated with significant side effects and provide limited efficacy. In the past few years, a promising natural product compound class of eukaryotic initiation factor 4A (eIF4A) inhibitors (translation initiation inhibitors), called rocaglates, were identified as antiviral agents against RNA virus infections. In the present study, we evaluated a total of 205 synthetic rocaglate derivatives from the BU-CMD compound library for their antiviral properties against HEV. At least eleven compounds showed inhibitory activities against the HEV genotype 3 (HEV-3) subgenomic replicon below 30 nM (EC50 value) as determined by Gaussia luciferase assay. Three amidino-rocaglates (ADRs) (CMLD012073, CMLD012118, and CMLD012612) possessed antiviral activity against HEV with EC50 values between 1 and 9 nM. In addition, these three selected compounds inhibited subgenomic replicons of different genotypes (HEV-1 [Sar55], wild boar HEV-3 [83-2] and human HEV-3 [p6]) in a dose-dependent manner and at low nanomolar concentrations. Furthermore, tested ADRs tend to be better tolerated in primary hepatocytes than hepatoma cancer cell lines and combination treatment of CMLD012118 with RBV and interferon-α (IFN-α) showed that CMLD012118 acts additive to RBV and IFN-α treatment. In conclusion, our results indicate that ADRs, especially CMLD012073, CMLD012118, and CMLD012612 may prove to be potential therapeutic candidates for the treatment of HEV infections and may contribute to the discovery of pan-genotypic inhibitors in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimas F Praditya
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; Research Center for Vaccine and Drugs, The National Research and Innovation Agency, Cibinong, Indonesia.
| | - Mara Klöhn
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Yannick Brüggemann
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Lauren E Brown
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA; Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - John A Porco
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA; Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Wenhan Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA; Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Volker Kinast
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; Department of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany.
| | - Andreas Kirschning
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Schneiderberg 1B, 30167, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Florian W R Vondran
- ReMediES, Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Daniel Todt
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; European Virus Bioinformatics Center (EVBC), 07743, Jena, Germany.
| | - Eike Steinmann
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), External Partner Site, Bochum, Germany.
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Hepatitis E virus infects brain microvascular endothelial cells, crosses the blood-brain barrier, and invades the central nervous system. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2201862119. [PMID: 35671427 PMCID: PMC9214495 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2201862119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes not only acute and chronic hepatitis but also neurological disorders. To delineate the mechanism of HEV-associated neurological diseases, we showed that both quasi-enveloped and nonenveloped HEVs can cross the blood–brain barrier model in a tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-independent manner and productively infect brain microvascular endothelial cells in vitro. Furthermore, we showed that HEV was detected in brain and spinal cord from HEV-infected pigs and that pigs with detectable HEV in central nervous system (CNS) tissues had histological lesions in brain and spinal cord and significantly higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and interleukin 18 than pigs without detectable HEV in CNS tissues. The results shed light on a potential mechanism of HEV-associated neuroinvasion. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important but understudied zoonotic virus causing both acute and chronic viral hepatitis. A proportion of HEV-infected individuals also developed neurological diseases such as Guillain–Barré syndrome, neuralgic amyotrophy, encephalitis, and myelitis, although the mechanism remains unknown. In this study, by using an in vitro blood–brain barrier (BBB) model, we first investigated whether HEV can cross the BBB and whether the quasi-enveloped HEV virions are more permissible to the BBB than the nonenveloped virions. We found that both quasi-enveloped and nonenveloped HEVs can similarly cross the BBB and that addition of proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) has no significant effect on the ability of HEV to cross the BBB in vitro. To explore the possible mechanism of HEV entry across the BBB, we tested the susceptibility of human brain microvascular endothelial cells lining the BBB to HEV infection and showed that brain microvascular endothelial cells support productive HEV infection. To further confirm the in vitro observation, we conducted an experimental HEV infection study in pigs and showed that both quasi-enveloped and nonenveloped HEVs invade the central nervous system (CNS) in pigs, as HEV RNA was detected in the brain and spinal cord of infected pigs. The HEV-infected pigs with detectable viral RNA in CNS tissues had histological lesions in brain and spinal cord and significantly higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and interleukin 18 than the HEV-infected pigs without detectable viral RNA in CNS tissues. The findings suggest a potential mechanism of HEV-associated neuroinvasion.
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35
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Chew N, Situ J, Wu S, Yao W, Sridhar S. Independent Evaluation of Cell Culture Systems for Hepatitis E Virus. Viruses 2022; 14:v14061254. [PMID: 35746725 PMCID: PMC9227121 DOI: 10.3390/v14061254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in humans is primarily caused by genotypes within Paslahepevirus species balayani (HEV-A). Rocahepevirus species ratti (HEV-C1, otherwise known as rat HEV) can also infect humans. HEV grows poorly in cell culture. Recent studies have reported that hyper-confluent cell layers, amphotericin B, MgCl2, progesterone, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) increase HEV yield in vitro. Here, we describe an independent evaluation of the effectiveness of these modifications in improving the yield of HEV-A genotype 4 (HEV-A4) and HEV-C1 from clinical samples in PLC/PRF/5 cells. We found that amphotericin B, MgCl2, and DMSO increased HEV yield from high-viral-load patient stool samples, while progesterone was not effective. Yield of HEV-C1 was lower than HEV-A4 across all medium conditions, but was boosted by DMSO. HEV-A4 could be maintained for over 18 months in amphotericin B- and MgCl2-containing medium, with the demonstration of viral antigen in supernatants and infected cells. We also evaluated various protocols to remove pseudo-envelopes from cell culture-derived HEV. Treating cell culture supernatant with NP-40 was the most effective. Our findings identify key modifications that boost HEV growth in vitro and illustrate the importance of independent verification of such studies using diverse HEV variants and cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Chew
- Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (N.C.); (J.S.); (S.W.); (W.Y.)
| | - Jianwen Situ
- Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (N.C.); (J.S.); (S.W.); (W.Y.)
| | - Shusheng Wu
- Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (N.C.); (J.S.); (S.W.); (W.Y.)
| | - Weiming Yao
- Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (N.C.); (J.S.); (S.W.); (W.Y.)
| | - Siddharth Sridhar
- Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (N.C.); (J.S.); (S.W.); (W.Y.)
- State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Carol Yu Centre for Infection, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +852-22552408
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Gremmel N, Keuling O, Becher P, Baechlein C. Isolation of 15 hepatitis E virus strains lacking ORF1 rearrangements from wild boar and pig organ samples and efficient replication in cell culture. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022; 69:e2617-e2628. [PMID: 35678772 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
As a zoonotic pathogen, the hepatitis E virus (HEV) leads to numerous infections in humans with different clinical manifestations. Especially genotype 3, as causative agent of a foodborne zoonosis, is transmitted to humans by ingestion of undercooked or raw meat containing liver from HEV-infected animals. Although the virus' prevalence and dissemination in hosts like wild boar and pig have been well characterized, HEV is greatly understudied on a molecular level and reliable cell culture models are lacking. For this reason, the present study concentrated on the isolation and subsequent characterization of porcine HEV from tissue samples derived from wild boar and domestic pigs: 222 wild boars hunted in Northern Germany were investigated for the presence of HEV RNA with a detection rate of 5.9%. Three additional HEV-positive wild boar liver samples as well as an HEV-positive spleen and a positive kidney from domestic pigs were included. After inoculation of positive samples onto the human hepatoma cell line PLC/PRF/5, cells were grown for several weeks. Successful isolation was confirmed by RT-qPCR, virus passage, immunofluorescence staining and titration. Overall, 15 strains from a total of 18 RNA-positive organ samples could be obtained and viral loads >109 RNA copies/ml were measured in cell culture supernatants. Accordingly, 83.3% of the HEV RNA-positive samples contained infectious hepatitis E viral particles and therefore must be considered as a potential source for human infections. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that all isolated strains belong to genotype 3. Further genetic characterization showed a high degree of sequence variability, but no sequence insertions, in the hypervariable region within the open reading frame 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nele Gremmel
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
| | - Oliver Keuling
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
| | - Paul Becher
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
| | - Christine Baechlein
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.,Present address: Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety, Food and Veterinary Institute Braunschweig/Hannover, Hannover, Germany
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Wolff A, Günther T, Johne R. Stability of Hepatitis E Virus After Drying on Different Surfaces. FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIROLOGY 2022; 14:138-148. [PMID: 35084668 PMCID: PMC8793819 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-022-09510-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes acute and chronic hepatitis in humans. The zoonotic HEV genotype 3 is mainly transmitted by consumption of contaminated food produced from infected animals. However, transmission via contaminated surfaces has also to be considered. Here, the genotype 3c strain 47832c was dried on steel, wood, plastics and ceramics, stored at 23 °C or 3 °C for up to 8 weeks and remaining infectivity was titrated on cell culture. During the drying process, only a mean 0.2 log10 decrease of HEV infectivity was observed. At 23 °C, remaining infectious virus was detected until week 4 on most surfaces, but HEV was completely inactivated (> 4 log10 decrease) after 8 weeks. At 3 °C, HEV was detectable up to 8 weeks on most surfaces, with an average 2.3 log10 decrease. HEV showed the highest stability on plastics, which was lower on ceramics and steel, and lowest on wood. The addition of bovine serum albumin mimicking high protein load had only a slight stabilizing effect. In conclusion, HEV shows a high stability against drying and subsequent storage on different surfaces. Strict application of hygienic measures during food production is therefore crucial in order to prevent HEV persistence on surfaces and subsequent cross-contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Wolff
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Taras Günther
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Reimar Johne
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany.
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Behrendt P, Friesland M, Wißmann JE, Kinast V, Stahl Y, Praditya D, Hueffner L, Nörenberg PM, Bremer B, Maasoumy B, Steinmann J, Becker B, Paulmann D, Brill FHH, Steinmann J, Ulrich RG, Brüggemann Y, Wedemeyer H, Todt D, Steinmann E. Hepatitis E virus is highly resistant to alcohol-based disinfectants. J Hepatol 2022; 76:1062-1069. [PMID: 35085595 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide and is mainly transmitted via the fecal-oral route or through consumption of contaminated food products. Due to the lack of efficient cell culture systems for the propagation of HEV, limited data regarding its sensitivity to chemical disinfectants are available. Consequently, preventive and evidence-based hygienic guidelines on HEV disinfection are lacking. METHODS We used a robust HEV genotype 3 cell culture model which enables quantification of viral infection of quasi-enveloped and naked HEV particles. For HEV genotype 1 infections, we used the primary isolate Sar55 in a fecal suspension. Standardized quantitative suspension tests using end point dilution and large-volume plating were performed for the determination of virucidal activity of alcohols (1-propanol, 2-propanol, ethanol), WHO disinfectant formulations and 5 different commercial hand disinfectants against HEV. Iodixanol gradients were conducted to elucidate the influence of ethanol on quasi-enveloped viral particles. RESULTS Naked and quasi-enveloped HEV was resistant to alcohols as well as alcohol-based formulations recommended by the WHO. Of the tested commercial hand disinfectants only 1 product displayed virucidal activity against HEV. This activity could be linked to phosphoric acid as an essential ingredient. Finally, we observed that ethanol and possibly non-active alcohol-based disinfectants disrupt the quasi-envelope structure of HEV particles, while leaving the highly transmissible and infectious naked virions intact. CONCLUSIONS Different alcohols and alcohol-based hand disinfectants were insufficient to eliminate HEV infectivity with the exception of 1 commercial ethanol-based product that included phosphoric acid. These findings have major implications for the development of measures to reduce viral transmission in clinical practice. LAY SUMMARY Hepatitis E virus (HEV) showed a high level of resistance to alcohols and alcohol-based hand disinfectants. The addition of phosphoric acid to alcohol was essential for virucidal activity against HEV. This information should be used to guide improved hygiene measures for the prevention of HEV transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Behrendt
- Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, A Joint Venture between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Hannover, Germany; Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany.
| | - Martina Friesland
- Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, A Joint Venture between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Hannover, Germany
| | - Jan-Erik Wißmann
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Volker Kinast
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Yannick Stahl
- Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, A Joint Venture between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Hannover, Germany
| | - Dimas Praditya
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Lucas Hueffner
- Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, A Joint Venture between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Hannover, Germany
| | - Pia Maria Nörenberg
- Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, A Joint Venture between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Hannover, Germany
| | - Birgit Bremer
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | - Benjamin Maasoumy
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany; Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CIIM), Hannover, Germany
| | - Jochen Steinmann
- Dr. Brill + Partner GmbH Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Britta Becker
- Dr. Brill + Partner GmbH Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Dajana Paulmann
- Dr. Brill + Partner GmbH Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Florian H H Brill
- Dr. Brill + Partner GmbH Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Joerg Steinmann
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany; Institute for Clinical Hygiene, Medical Microbiology and Infectiology, Clinic Nuernberg, Paracelsus Medical University, Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Rainer G Ulrich
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany and German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Yannick Brüggemann
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Heiner Wedemeyer
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Daniel Todt
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; European Virus Bioinformatics Center (EVBC), Jena, Germany
| | - Eike Steinmann
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), External Partner Site, Bochum, Germany.
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Abstract
C-type lectin domain-containing proteins (CTLDcps) shape host responses to pathogens and infectious disease outcomes. Previously, we identified the murine CTLDcp Cd302 as restriction factor, limiting hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection of murine hepatocytes. In this study, we investigated in detail the human orthologue's ability to restrict HCV infection in human liver cells. CD302 overexpression in Huh-7.5 cells potently inhibited infection of diverse HCV chimeras representing seven genotypes. Transcriptional profiling revealed abundant CD302 mRNA expression in human hepatocytes, the natural cellular target of HCV. Knockdown of endogenously expressed CD302 modestly enhanced HCV infection of Huh-7.5 cells and primary human hepatocytes. Functional analysis of naturally occurring CD302 transcript variants and engineered CD302 mutants showed that the C-type lectin-like domain (CTLD) is essential for HCV restriction, whereas the cytoplasmic domain (CPD) is dispensable. Coding single nucleotide polymorphisms occurring in human populations and mapping to different domains of CD302 did not influence the capacity of CD302 to restrict HCV. Assessment of the anti-HCV phenotype at different life cycle stages indicated that CD302 preferentially targets the viral entry step. In contrast to the murine orthologue, overexpression of human CD302 did not modulate downstream expression of nuclear receptor-controlled genes. Ectopic CD302 expression restricted infection of liver tropic hepatitis E virus (HEV), while it did not affect infection rates of two respiratory viruses, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and the alpha coronavirus HVCoV-229E. Together, these findings suggest that CD302 contributes to liver cell-intrinsic defense against HCV and might mediate broader antiviral defenses against additional hepatotropic viruses. IMPORTANCE The liver represents an immunoprivileged organ characterized by enhanced resistance to immune responses. However, the importance of liver cell-endogenous, noncytolytic innate immune responses in pathogen control is not well defined. Although the role of myeloid cell-expressed CTLDcps in host responses to viruses has been characterized in detail, we have little information about their potential functions in the liver and their relevance for immune responses in this organ. Human hepatocytes endogenously express the CTLDcp CD302. Here, we provide evidence that CD302 limits HCV infection of human liver cells, likely by inhibiting a viral cell entry step. We confirm that the dominant liver-expressed transcript variant, as well as naturally occurring coding variants of CD302, maintain the capacity to restrict HCV. We further show that the CTLD of the protein is critical for the anti-HCV activity and that overexpressed CD302 limits HEV infection. Thus, CD302 likely contributes to human liver-intrinsic antiviral defenses.
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Viral Interference of Hepatitis C and E Virus Replication in Novel Experimental Co-Infection Systems. Cells 2022; 11:cells11060927. [PMID: 35326378 PMCID: PMC8946046 DOI: 10.3390/cells11060927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) constitutes a global health problem, while hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the major cause of acute viral hepatitis globally. HCV/HEV co-infections have been poorly characterized, as they are hampered by the lack of robust HEV cell culture systems. This study developed experimental models to study HCV/HEV co-infections and investigate viral interference in cells and humanized mice. Methods: We used state-of-the art human hepatocytes tissue culture models to assess HEV and HCV replication in co- or super-transfection settings. Findings were confirmed by co- and super-infection experiments in human hepatocytes and in vivo in human liver chimeric mice. Results: HEV was inhibited by concurrent HCV replication in human hepatocytes. This exclusion phenotype was linked to the protease activity of HCV. These findings were corroborated by the fact that in HEV on HCV super-infected mice, HEV viral loads were reduced in individual mice. Similarly, HCV on HEV super-infected mice showed reduced HCV viral loads. Conclusion: Direct interference of both viruses with HCV NS3/4A as the determinant was observed. In vivo, we detected reduced replication of both viruses after super-infection in individual mice. These findings provide new insights into the pathogenesis of HCV-HEV co-infections and should contribute to its clinical management in the future.
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Li P, Li Y, Wang Y, Liu J, Lavrijsen M, Li Y, Zhang R, Verstegen MMA, Wang Y, Li TC, Ma Z, Kainov DE, Bruno MJ, de Man RA, van der Laan LJW, Peppelenbosch MP, Pan Q. Recapitulating hepatitis E virus-host interactions and facilitating antiviral drug discovery in human liver-derived organoids. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabj5908. [PMID: 35044825 PMCID: PMC8769558 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj5908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Hepatotropic viruses naturally have narrow host and tissue tropisms, challenging the development of robust experimental models. The advent of organoid technology provides a unique opportunity for moving the field forward. Here, we demonstrate that three-dimensional cultured organoids from fetal and adult human liver with cholangiocyte or hepatocyte phenotype support hepatitis E virus (HEV) replication. Inoculation with infectious HEV particles demonstrates that human liver–derived organoids support the full life cycle of HEV infection. By directing organoids toward polarized monolayers in a transwell system, we observed predominantly apical secretion of HEV particles. Genome-wide transcriptomic and tRNAome analyses revealed robust host responses triggered by viral replication. Drug screening in organoids identified brequinar and homoharringtonine as potent HEV inhibitors, which are also effective against the ribavirin resistance variant harboring G1634R mutation. Thus, successful recapitulation of HEV infection in liver-derived organoids shall facilitate the study of virus-host interactions and development of antiviral therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Li
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Yunlong Li
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Yijin Wang
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Corresponding author. (Q.P.); (Y.W.)
| | - Jiaye Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Marla Lavrijsen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ruyi Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Monique M. A. Verstegen
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Yining Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Tian-Cheng Li
- Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo 208-0011, Japan
| | - Zhongren Ma
- Biomedical Research Center, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, PR China
| | - Denis E. Kainov
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim 7028, Norway
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu 50090, Estonia
| | - Marco J. Bruno
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Robert A. de Man
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Luc J. W. van der Laan
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Maikel P. Peppelenbosch
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Qiuwei Pan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Corresponding author. (Q.P.); (Y.W.)
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Gordeychuk I, Kyuregyan K, Kondrashova A, Bayurova E, Gulyaev S, Gulyaeva T, Potemkin I, Karlsen A, Isaeva O, Belyakova A, Lyashenko A, Sorokin A, Chumakov A, Morozov I, Isaguliants M, Ishmukhametov A, Mikhailov M. Immunization with recombinant ORF2 p551 protein protects common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) against homologous and heterologous hepatitis E virus challenge. Vaccine 2022; 40:89-99. [PMID: 34836660 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.11.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major causative agent of acute hepatitis worldwide, prompting continuous HEV vaccine efforts. Vaccine development is hampered by the lack of convenient animal models susceptible to infection with different HEV genotypes. We produced recombinant open reading frame 2 protein (pORF2; p551) of HEV genotype (GT) 3 and assessed its immunogenicity and protectivity against HEV challenge in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus, CM). METHODS p551 with consensus sequence corresponding to amino acid residues 110-660 of HEV GT3 pORF2 was expressed in E. coli and purified by affinity chromatography. CMs were immunized intramuscularly with 20 μg of p551 VLPs with alum adjuvant (n = 4) or adjuvant alone (n = 2) at weeks 0, 3, 7 and 19. At week 27, p551-immunized and control animals were challenged with HEV GT1 or GT3 and thereafter longitudinally screened for markers of liver function, anti-HEV IgG and HEV RNA in feces and sera. RESULTS Purified p551 formed VLPs with particle size of 27.71 ± 2.42 nm. Two immunizations with p551 induced anti-HEV IgG mean titer of 1:1810. Immunized CMs challenged with homologous and heterologous HEV genotype did not develop HEV infection during the follow-up. Control CMs infected with both HEV GT1 and GT3 demonstrated signs of HEV infection with virus shedding and elevation of the levels of liver enzymes. High levels of anti-HEV IgG persisted in vaccinated CMs and control CMs that resolved HEV infection, for up to two years post challenge. CONCLUSIONS CMs are shown to be a convenient laboratory animal model susceptible to infection with HEV GT1 and GT3. Immunization with HEV GT3 ORF2/p551 triggers potent anti-HEV antibody response protecting CMs from homologous and heterologous HEV challenge. This advances p551 in VLPs as a prototype vaccine against HEV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilya Gordeychuk
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 108819, Russia; Institute for Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 127994, Russia.
| | - Karen Kyuregyan
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 108819, Russia; I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, Moscow 105064, Russia; Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Moscow 125993, Russia.
| | - Alla Kondrashova
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 108819, Russia; Institute for Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 127994, Russia
| | - Ekaterina Bayurova
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 108819, Russia.
| | - Stanislav Gulyaev
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 108819, Russia.
| | - Tatiana Gulyaeva
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 108819, Russia.
| | - Ilya Potemkin
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 108819, Russia; I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, Moscow 105064, Russia; Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Moscow 125993, Russia.
| | - Anastasia Karlsen
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 108819, Russia; I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, Moscow 105064, Russia; Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Moscow 125993, Russia; N.F. Gamaleya Federal Research Center for Epidemiology & Microbiology, Moscow 123098, Russia
| | - Olga Isaeva
- I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, Moscow 105064, Russia; Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Moscow 125993, Russia.
| | - Alla Belyakova
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 108819, Russia.
| | - Anna Lyashenko
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 108819, Russia.
| | - Alexey Sorokin
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 108819, Russia
| | - Alexey Chumakov
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 108819, Russia; Institute for Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 127994, Russia
| | - Igor Morozov
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 108819, Russia.
| | - Maria Isaguliants
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 108819, Russia; N.F. Gamaleya Federal Research Center for Epidemiology & Microbiology, Moscow 123098, Russia; Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Aydar Ishmukhametov
- Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 108819, Russia; Institute for Translational Medicine and Biotechnology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 127994, Russia.
| | - Mikhail Mikhailov
- I.I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, Moscow 105064, Russia; Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Moscow 125993, Russia.
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Cancela F, Noceti O, Arbiza J, Mirazo S. Structural aspects of hepatitis E virus. Arch Virol 2022; 167:2457-2481. [PMID: 36098802 PMCID: PMC9469829 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-022-05575-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a leading cause of acute hepatitis worldwide. Hepatitis E is an enterically transmitted zoonotic disease that causes large waterborne epidemic outbreaks in developing countries and has become an increasing public-health concern in industrialized countries. In this setting, the infection is usually acute and self-limiting in immunocompetent individuals, although chronic cases in immunocompromised patients have been reported, frequently associated with several extrahepatic manifestations. Moreover, extrahepatic manifestations have also been reported in immunocompetent individuals with acute HEV infection. HEV belongs to the alphavirus-like supergroup III of single-stranded positive-sense RNA viruses, and its genome contains three partially overlapping open reading frames (ORFs). ORF1 encodes a nonstructural protein with eight domains, most of which have not been extensively characterized: methyltransferase, Y domain, papain-like cysteine protease, hypervariable region, proline-rich region, X domain, Hel domain, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. ORF2 and ORF3 encode the capsid protein and a multifunctional protein believed to be involved in virion release, respectively. The novel ORF4 is only expressed in HEV genotype 1 under endoplasmic reticulum stress conditions, and its exact function has not yet been elucidated. Despite important advances in recent years, the biological and molecular processes underlying HEV replication remain poorly understood, primarily due to a lack of detailed information about the functions of the viral proteins and the mechanisms involved in host-pathogen interactions. This review summarizes the current knowledge concerning HEV proteins and their biological properties, providing updated detailed data describing their function and focusing in detail on their structural characteristics. Furthermore, we review some unclear aspects of the four proteins encoded by the ORFs, highlighting the current key information gaps and discussing potential novel experimental strategies for shedding light on those issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florencia Cancela
- grid.11630.350000000121657640Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Ofelia Noceti
- grid.414402.70000 0004 0469 0889Programa Nacional de Trasplante Hepático y Unidad Docente Asistencial Centro Nacional de Tratamiento Hepatobiliopancreatico. Hospital Central de las Fuerzas Armadas, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Juan Arbiza
- grid.11630.350000000121657640Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Santiago Mirazo
- grid.11630.350000000121657640Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay ,grid.11630.350000000121657640Departamento de Bacteriología y Virología, Instituto de Higiene, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay ,Av. Alfredo Navarro 3051, PC 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay
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Oechslin N, Da Silva N, Szkolnicka D, Cantrelle F, Hanoulle X, Moradpour D, Gouttenoire J. Hepatitis E virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase is involved in RNA replication and infectious particle production. Hepatology 2022; 75:170-181. [PMID: 34387882 PMCID: PMC9300124 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the most common causes of acute hepatitis worldwide. Its positive-strand RNA genome encodes three open reading frames (ORF). ORF1 is translated into a large protein composed of multiple domains and is known as the viral replicase. The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDRP) domain is responsible for the synthesis of viral RNA. APPROACH AND RESULTS Here, we identified a highly conserved α-helix located in the RDRP thumb subdomain. Nuclear magnetic resonance demonstrated an amphipathic α-helix extending from amino acids 1628 to 1644 of the ORF1 protein. Functional analyses revealed a dual role of this helix in HEV RNA replication and virus production, including assembly and release. Mutations on the hydrophobic side of the amphipathic α-helix impaired RNA replication and resulted in the selection of a second-site compensatory change in the RDRP palm subdomain. Other mutations enhanced RNA replication but impaired virus assembly and/or release. CONCLUSIONS Structure-function analyses identified a conserved amphipathic α-helix in the thumb subdomain of the HEV RDRP with a dual role in viral RNA replication and infectious particle production. This study provides structural insights into a key segment of the ORF1 protein and describes the successful use of reverse genetics in HEV, revealing functional interactions between the RDRP thumb and palm subdomains. On a broader scale, it demonstrates that the HEV replicase, similar to those of other positive-strand RNA viruses, is also involved in virus production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noémie Oechslin
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyLausanne University Hospital and University of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Nathalie Da Silva
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyLausanne University Hospital and University of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Dagmara Szkolnicka
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyLausanne University Hospital and University of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - François‐Xavier Cantrelle
- UMR1167University of LilleINSERMLille University HospitalInstitut Pasteur de LilleLilleFrance,CNRS, ERL9002 ‐ Integrative Structural BiologyLilleFrance
| | - Xavier Hanoulle
- UMR1167University of LilleINSERMLille University HospitalInstitut Pasteur de LilleLilleFrance,CNRS, ERL9002 ‐ Integrative Structural BiologyLilleFrance
| | - Darius Moradpour
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyLausanne University Hospital and University of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Jérôme Gouttenoire
- Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyLausanne University Hospital and University of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
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45
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Descoeudres N, Jouneau L, Henry C, Gorrichon K, Derré-Bobillot A, Serror P, Gillespie LL, Archambaud C, Pagliuso A, Bierne H. An Immunomodulatory Transcriptional Signature Associated With Persistent Listeria Infection in Hepatocytes. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:761945. [PMID: 34858876 PMCID: PMC8631403 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.761945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes causes severe foodborne illness in pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals. After the intestinal phase of infection, the liver plays a central role in the clearance of this pathogen through its important functions in immunity. However, recent evidence suggests that during long-term infection of hepatocytes, a subpopulation of Listeria may escape eradication by entering a persistence phase in intracellular vacuoles. Here, we examine whether this long-term infection alters hepatocyte defense pathways, which may be instrumental for bacterial persistence. We first optimized cell models of persistent infection in human hepatocyte cell lines HepG2 and Huh7 and primary mouse hepatocytes (PMH). In these cells, Listeria efficiently entered the persistence phase after three days of infection, while inducing a potent interferon response, of type I in PMH and type III in HepG2, while Huh7 remained unresponsive. RNA-sequencing analysis identified a common signature of long-term Listeria infection characterized by the overexpression of a set of genes involved in antiviral immunity and the under-expression of many acute phase protein (APP) genes, particularly involved in the complement and coagulation systems. Infection also altered the expression of cholesterol metabolism-associated genes in HepG2 and Huh7 cells. The decrease in APP transcripts was correlated with lower protein abundance in the secretome of infected cells, as shown by proteomics, and also occurred in the presence of APP inducers (IL-6 or IL-1β). Collectively, these results reveal that long-term infection with Listeria profoundly deregulates the innate immune functions of hepatocytes, which could generate an environment favorable to the establishment of persistent infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Descoeudres
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Luc Jouneau
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Céline Henry
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Kevin Gorrichon
- Université Paris-Saclay, Institut de Biologie Intégrative de la Cellule, CEA, CNRS UMR 9198, Université Paris-Sud, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | | | - Pascale Serror
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Laura Lee Gillespie
- Terry Fox Cancer Research Laboratories, Division of BioMedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - Cristel Archambaud
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Alessandro Pagliuso
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Hélène Bierne
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
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Sari G, Mulders CE, Zhu J, van Oord GW, Feng Z, Kreeft‐Voermans JJ, Boonstra A, Vanwolleghem T. Treatment induced clearance of hepatitis E viruses by interferon-lambda in liver-humanized mice. Liver Int 2021; 41:2866-2873. [PMID: 34392598 PMCID: PMC9291846 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis E viruses (HEV) are an underestimated global cause of enterically transmitted viral hepatitis, which may persist in immunocompromised hosts, posing a risk for progressive liver fibrosis with limited treatment options. We previously established liver-humanized mice as a model for chronic HEV infections, which can be cleared by a 2-week pegylated (peg)-Interferon(IFN)α treatment course. However, severe side effects may hamper the use of IFNα in immunocompromised transplant recipient patients. IFNλ may be a valuable alternative, as its receptor is less ubiquitously expressed. AIMS In this study, we assess the in vitro and in vivo potency of pegIFNλ to induce innate immune signalling in liver cells and to clear a persistent HEV infection in liver-humanized mice. METHODS & RESULTS We found that human liver cells expressed the IFNλ receptor (IFNLR1) and are responsive to pegIFNλ. Treatment with pegIFNλ of liver-humanized mice persistently infected with HEV genotype 3 showed that pegIFNλ was well tolerated. Dose escalation studies showed that although HEV was not cleared at pegIFNλ doses up to 0.12 mg/kg for a maximum of 8 weeks, a dose of 0.3 mg/kg pegIFNλ treatment resulted in complete clearance of HEV antigen and HEV RNA from the liver in 8 out of 9 liver-humanized mice. CONCLUSIONS PegIFNλ is well tolerated in mice and leads to clearance of a persistent HEV infection in liver-humanized mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulce Sari
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyErasmus University Medical CenterRotterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Claudia E. Mulders
- Department of ViroscienceErasmus University Medical CenterRotterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Jingting Zhu
- Center for Vaccines and ImmunityThe Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s HospitalColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Gertine W. van Oord
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyErasmus University Medical CenterRotterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Zongdi Feng
- Center for Vaccines and ImmunityThe Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s HospitalColumbusOhioUSA,Department of PediatricsThe Ohio State University College of MedicineColumbusOhioUSA
| | | | - Andre Boonstra
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyErasmus University Medical CenterRotterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Thomas Vanwolleghem
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyErasmus University Medical CenterRotterdamThe Netherlands,Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and PediatricsFaculty of Medicine and Health SciencesUniversity of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium,Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyAntwerp University HospitalAntwerpBelgium
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47
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Klöhn M, Schrader JA, Brüggemann Y, Todt D, Steinmann E. Beyond the Usual Suspects: Hepatitis E Virus and Its Implications in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:5867. [PMID: 34831021 PMCID: PMC8616277 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13225867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus infections are the leading cause of viral hepatitis in humans, contributing to an estimated 3.3 million symptomatic cases and almost 44,000 deaths annually. Recently, HEV infections have been found to result in chronic liver infection and cirrhosis in severely immunocompromised patients, suggesting the possibility of HEV-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. While HEV-associated formation of HCC has rarely been reported, the expansion of HEV's clinical spectrum and the increasing evidence of chronic HEV infections raise questions about the connection between HEV and HCC. The present review summarizes current clinical evidence of the relationship between HEV and HCC and discusses mechanisms of virus-induced HCC development with regard to HEV pathogenesis. We further elucidate why the development of HEV-induced hepatocellular carcinoma has so rarely been observed and provide an outlook on possible experimental set-ups to study the relationship between HEV and HCC formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Klöhn
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany; (M.K.); (J.A.S.); (Y.B.); (D.T.)
| | - Jil Alexandra Schrader
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany; (M.K.); (J.A.S.); (Y.B.); (D.T.)
| | - Yannick Brüggemann
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany; (M.K.); (J.A.S.); (Y.B.); (D.T.)
| | - Daniel Todt
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany; (M.K.); (J.A.S.); (Y.B.); (D.T.)
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center (EVBC), 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Eike Steinmann
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany; (M.K.); (J.A.S.); (Y.B.); (D.T.)
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), External Partner Site, 44801 Bochum, Germany
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48
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Kamani L, Padhani ZA, Das JK. Hepatitis E: Genotypes, strategies to prevent and manage, and the existing knowledge gaps. JGH Open 2021; 5:1127-1134. [PMID: 34621997 PMCID: PMC8485408 DOI: 10.1002/jgh3.12646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is considered an emergent source of viral hepatitis worldwide, with an increasing burden of jaundice, liver failure, extrahepatic illnesses, and deaths in developed countries. With the scarcity of data from efficient animal models, there are still open-ended questions about designing new models to study pathogenesis, types, virology, and evolution of these viruses. With an emphasis on available data and updates, there is still enough information to understand the HEV life cycle, pathogen interaction with the host, and the valuation of the role of vaccine and new anti-HEV therapies. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) preferred to stress prevention and control measures of HEV infections in animals, zoonotic transmission, and foodborne transmission. It is being reviewed that with current knowledge on HEV and existing prevention tools, there is an excellent room for in-depth information about the virus strains, their replication, pathogenicity, and virulence. The current knowledge set also has gaps regarding standardized and validated diagnostic tools, efficacy and safety of the vaccine, and extrahepatic manifestations specifically in pregnant females, immunocompromised patients, and others. This review highlights the areas for more research exploration, focusing on enlisted research questions based on HEV infection to endorse the need for significant improvement in the current set of knowledge for this public health problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lubna Kamani
- Associate Professor & Director, GI Residency Program, Department of GastroenterologyLiaquat National Hospital and Medical CollegeKarachiPakistan
- ConsultantAga Khan University HospitalKarachiPakistan
| | - Zahra Ali Padhani
- Health Policy and Management, Manager (Research)Aga Khan University HospitalKarachiPakistan
| | - Jai K Das
- Assistant Professor and Head, Section of Public Health and EpidemiologyAga Khan University HospitalKarachiPakistan
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49
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Interplay between Hepatitis E Virus and Host Cell Pattern Recognition Receptors. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22179259. [PMID: 34502167 PMCID: PMC8431321 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) usually causes self-limiting acute hepatitis, but the disease can become chronic in immunocompromised individuals. HEV infection in pregnant women is reported to cause up to 30% mortality, especially in the third trimester. Additionally, extrahepatic manifestations like neuronal and renal diseases and pancreatitis are also reported during the course of HEV infection. The mechanism of HEV pathogenesis remains poorly understood. Innate immunity is the first line of defense triggered within minutes to hours after the first pathogenic insult. Growing evidence based on reverse genetics systems, in vitro cell culture models, and representative studies in animal models including non-human primates, has implicated the role of the host’s innate immune response during HEV infection. HEV persists in presence of interferons (IFNs) plausibly by evading cellular antiviral defense. This review summarizes our current understanding of recognizing HEV-associated molecular patterns by host cell Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs) in eliciting innate immune response during HEV infection as well as mechanisms of virus-mediated immune evasion.
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50
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Khoshdel-Rad N, Zahmatkesh E, Bikmulina P, Peshkova M, Kosheleva N, Bezrukov EA, Sukhanov RB, Solovieva A, Shpichka A, Timashev P, Vosough M. Modeling Hepatotropic Viral Infections: Cells vs. Animals. Cells 2021; 10:1726. [PMID: 34359899 PMCID: PMC8305759 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The lack of an appropriate platform for a better understanding of the molecular basis of hepatitis viruses and the absence of reliable models to identify novel therapeutic agents for a targeted treatment are the two major obstacles for launching efficient clinical protocols in different types of viral hepatitis. Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites, and the development of model systems for efficient viral replication is necessary for basic and applied studies. Viral hepatitis is a major health issue and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Despite the extensive efforts that have been made on fundamental and translational research, traditional models are not effective in representing this viral infection in a laboratory. In this review, we discuss in vitro cell-based models and in vivo animal models, with their strengths and weaknesses. In addition, the most important findings that have been retrieved from each model are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niloofar Khoshdel-Rad
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran 1665659911, Iran; (N.K.-R.); (E.Z.)
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran 1665659911, Iran
| | - Ensieh Zahmatkesh
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran 1665659911, Iran; (N.K.-R.); (E.Z.)
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran 1665659911, Iran
| | - Polina Bikmulina
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (P.B.); (M.P.); (A.S.)
- World-Class Research Center “Digital biodesign and personalized healthcare”, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Maria Peshkova
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (P.B.); (M.P.); (A.S.)
- World-Class Research Center “Digital biodesign and personalized healthcare”, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Nastasia Kosheleva
- World-Class Research Center “Digital biodesign and personalized healthcare”, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia;
- FSBSI ‘Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, 125315 Moscow, Russia
| | - Evgeny A. Bezrukov
- Department of Urology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (E.A.B.); (R.B.S.)
| | - Roman B. Sukhanov
- Department of Urology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (E.A.B.); (R.B.S.)
| | - Anna Solovieva
- Department of Polymers and Composites, N.N. Semenov Federal Research Center for Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Anastasia Shpichka
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (P.B.); (M.P.); (A.S.)
- World-Class Research Center “Digital biodesign and personalized healthcare”, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia;
- Chemistry Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Peter Timashev
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (P.B.); (M.P.); (A.S.)
- World-Class Research Center “Digital biodesign and personalized healthcare”, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia;
- Department of Polymers and Composites, N.N. Semenov Federal Research Center for Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia;
- Chemistry Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Massoud Vosough
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran 1665659911, Iran; (N.K.-R.); (E.Z.)
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran 1665659911, Iran
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