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Adesola RO, Ajibade FA, Idris I, Scott GY, Agaie MI. Addressing the Dengue fever challenges in Nigeria: A narrative review and recommendations for control. LE INFEZIONI IN MEDICINA 2024; 32:157-167. [PMID: 38827833 PMCID: PMC11142414 DOI: 10.53854/liim-3202-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral infection that continues to pose a significant public health threat globally, including Nigeria. Here, we provided a review of dengue fever outbreaks in Nigeria from 1972 to 2023, examining the epidemiology, prevention strategies, challenges faced in combating the disease, and recommendations to mitigate its spread and transmission. We utilized scholarly databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar in writing this paper. The search keywords like, "dengue fever", "break-bone fever", "dengue fever virus" "outbreak", "Nigeria", "prevalence", and "epidemiology", were used to get appropriate published articles about the subject areas. Over the past five decades, Nigeria has experienced intermittent outbreaks of dengue fever, with varying degrees of severity and geographic distribution. Factors such as urbanization, climate change, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure have contributed to the resurgence and spread of the disease in the country. Despite efforts to control dengue transmission through vector control measures and public health interventions, challenges persist, including limited surveillance capacity, diagnostic delays, and gaps in vector control strategies. The emergence of new dengue virus serotypes and the potential for co-circulation with other arboviruses further complicate control efforts. This review highlights the importance of strengthening surveillance systems, enhancing vector control measures, improving diagnostic capabilities, and increasing public awareness to effectively mitigate the burden of dengue fever in Nigeria. Collaboration between government agencies, healthcare providers, researchers, and international partners is crucial in addressing the growing threat of dengue fever and reducing its impact on public health in Nigeria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ridwan Olamilekan Adesola
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan,
Nigeria
| | - Favour Akinfemi Ajibade
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan,
Nigeria
| | - Ibrahim Idris
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Dafodiyo University, Sokoto,
Nigeria
| | - Godfred Yawson Scott
- Department of Medical Diagnostics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi,
Ghana
| | - Mahmud Ibrahim Agaie
- School of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Biaka University Institute of Buea,
Cameroon
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2
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Tamura T, Yamamoto H, Ogino S, Morioka Y, Tsujino S, Suzuki R, Hiono T, Suzuki S, Isoda N, Sakoda Y, Fukuhara T. A rapid and versatile reverse genetics approach for generating recombinant positive-strand RNA viruses that use IRES-mediated translation. J Virol 2024; 98:e0163823. [PMID: 38353536 PMCID: PMC10949505 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01638-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Reverse genetics systems have played a central role in developing recombinant viruses for a wide spectrum of virus research. The circular polymerase extension reaction (CPER) method has been applied to studying positive-strand RNA viruses, allowing researchers to bypass molecular cloning of viral cDNA clones and thus leading to the rapid generation of recombinant viruses. However, thus far, the CPER protocol has only been established using cap-dependent RNA viruses. Here, we demonstrate that a modified version of the CPER method can be successfully applied to positive-strand RNA viruses that use cap-independent, internal ribosomal entry site (IRES)-mediated translation. As a proof-of-concept, we employed mammalian viruses with different types (classes I, II, and III) of IRES to optimize the CPER method. Using the hepatitis C virus (HCV, class III), we found that inclusion in the CPER assembly of an RNA polymerase I promoter and terminator, instead of those from polymerase II, allowed greater viral production. This approach was also successful in generating recombinant bovine viral diarrhea virus (class III) following transfection of MDBK/293T co-cultures to overcome low transfection efficiency. In addition, we successfully generated the recombinant viruses from clinical specimens. Our modified CPER could be used for producing hepatitis A virus (HAV, type I) as well as de novo generation of encephalomyocarditis virus (type II). Finally, we generated recombinant HCV and HAV reporter viruses that exhibited replication comparable to that of the wild-type parental viruses. The recombinant HAV reporter virus helped evaluate antivirals. Taking the findings together, this study offers methodological advances in virology. IMPORTANCE The lack of versatility of reverse genetics systems remains a bottleneck in viral research. Especially when (re-)emerging viruses reach pandemic levels, rapid characterization and establishment of effective countermeasures using recombinant viruses are beneficial in disease control. Indeed, numerous studies have attempted to establish and improve the methods. The circular polymerase extension reaction (CPER) method has overcome major obstacles in generating recombinant viruses. However, this method has not yet been examined for positive-strand RNA viruses that use cap-independent, internal ribosome entry site-mediated translation. Here, we engineered a suitable gene cassette to expand the CPER method for all positive-strand RNA viruses. Furthermore, we overcame the difficulty of generating recombinant viruses because of low transfection efficiency. Using this modified method, we also successfully generated reporter viruses and recombinant viruses from a field sample without virus isolation. Taking these findings together, our adapted methodology is an innovative technology that could help advance virologic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomokazu Tamura
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Institute for Vaccine Research and Development (IVReD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- One Health Research Center, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Yamamoto
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Saho Ogino
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yuhei Morioka
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Laboratory of Virus Control, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Shuhei Tsujino
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Rigel Suzuki
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Institute for Vaccine Research and Development (IVReD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Takahiro Hiono
- Institute for Vaccine Research and Development (IVReD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- One Health Research Center, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- International Collaboration Unit, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Saori Suzuki
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Institute for Vaccine Research and Development (IVReD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Norikazu Isoda
- Institute for Vaccine Research and Development (IVReD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- One Health Research Center, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- International Collaboration Unit, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Sakoda
- Institute for Vaccine Research and Development (IVReD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- One Health Research Center, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- International Collaboration Unit, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Takasuke Fukuhara
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Institute for Vaccine Research and Development (IVReD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- One Health Research Center, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Laboratory of Virus Control, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
- AMED-CREST, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), Tokyo, Japan
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3
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Silva Júnior JVJ, da Silva ANMR, da Silva Santos JJ, Gil LHVG. Reverse Genetics of Dengue Virus. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2733:231-248. [PMID: 38064036 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3533-9_14] [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] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Dengue virus (DENV) is one of the most important and widespread arthropod-borne viruses, causing millions of infections over the years. Considering its epidemiological importance, efforts have been directed towards understanding various aspects of DENV biology, which have been facilitated by the development of different molecular strategies for engineering viral genomes, such as reverse genetics approaches. Reverse genetic systems are a powerful tool for investigating virus-host interaction, for vaccine development, and for high-throughput screening of antiviral compounds. However, stable manipulation of DENV genomes is a major molecular challenge, especially when using conventional cloning systems. To circumvent this issue, we describe a simple and efficient yeast-based reverse genetics system to recover infectious DENV clones.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Valter Joaquim Silva Júnior
- Virology Sector, Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
- Virology Sector, Laboratory of Immunopathology Keizo Asami, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | | | | | - Laura Helena Vega Gonzales Gil
- Laboratory of Virology and Experimental Therapy, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Recife, PE, Brazil.
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Kipfer ET, Hauser D, Lett MJ, Otte F, Urda L, Zhang Y, Lang CMR, Chami M, Mittelholzer C, Klimkait T. Rapid cloning-free mutagenesis of new SARS-CoV-2 variants using a novel reverse genetics platform. eLife 2023; 12:RP89035. [PMID: 37988285 PMCID: PMC10662946 DOI: 10.7554/elife.89035] [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] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Reverse genetic systems enable the engineering of RNA virus genomes and are instrumental in studying RNA virus biology. With the recent outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, already established methods were challenged by the large genome of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Herein we present an elaborated strategy for the rapid and straightforward rescue of recombinant plus-stranded RNA viruses with high sequence fidelity using the example of SARS-CoV-2. The strategy called CLEVER (CLoning-free and Exchangeable system for Virus Engineering and Rescue) is based on the intracellular recombination of transfected overlapping DNA fragments allowing the direct mutagenesis within the initial PCR-amplification step. Furthermore, by introducing a linker fragment - harboring all heterologous sequences - viral RNA can directly serve as a template for manipulating and rescuing recombinant mutant virus, without any cloning step. Overall, this strategy will facilitate recombinant SARS-CoV-2 rescue and accelerate its manipulation. Using our protocol, newly emerging variants can quickly be engineered to further elucidate their biology. To demonstrate its potential as a reverse genetics platform for plus-stranded RNA viruses, the protocol has been successfully applied for the cloning-free rescue of recombinant Chikungunya and Dengue virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enja Tatjana Kipfer
- Molecular Virology, Department of Biomedicine, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - David Hauser
- Molecular Virology, Department of Biomedicine, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Martin J Lett
- Molecular Virology, Department of Biomedicine, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Fabian Otte
- Molecular Virology, Department of Biomedicine, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Lorena Urda
- Molecular Virology, Department of Biomedicine, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Yuepeng Zhang
- Molecular Virology, Department of Biomedicine, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Christopher MR Lang
- Molecular Virology, Department of Biomedicine, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Mohamed Chami
- BioEM Lab, Biozentrum, University of Basel, MattenstrasseBaselSwitzerland
| | | | - Thomas Klimkait
- Molecular Virology, Department of Biomedicine, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
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5
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Kang B, Zhang J, Schwoerer MP, Nelson AN, Schoeman E, Guo A, Ploss A, Myhrvold C. Highly multiplexed mRNA quantitation with CRISPR-Cas13. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.16.553527. [PMID: 37645785 PMCID: PMC10461975 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.16.553527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
RNA quantitation tools are often either high-throughput or cost-effective, but rarely are they both. Existing methods can profile the transcriptome at great expense or are limited to quantifying a handful of genes by labor constraints. A technique that permits more throughput at a reduced cost could enable multi-gene kinetic studies, gene regulatory network analysis, and combinatorial genetic screens. Here, we introduce quantitative Combinatorial Arrayed Reactions for Multiplexed Evaluation of Nucleic acids (qCARMEN): an RNA quantitation technique which leverages the programmable RNA-targeting capabilities of CRISPR-Cas13 to address this challenge by quantifying over 4,500 gene-sample pairs in a single experiment. Using qCARMEN, we studied the response profiles of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) during interferon (IFN) stimulation and flavivirus infection. Additionally, we observed isoform switching kinetics during epithelial-mesenchymal transition. qCARMEN is a simple and inexpensive technique that greatly enhances the scalability of RNA quantitation for novel applications with performance similar to gold-standard methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Kang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
| | - Jiayu Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
| | | | - Amy N. Nelson
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
| | - Emily Schoeman
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
| | - Andrew Guo
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
| | - Alexander Ploss
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
| | - Cameron Myhrvold
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
- Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
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6
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Conde JN, Himmler GE, Mladinich MC, Setoh YX, Amarilla AA, Schutt WR, Saladino N, Gorbunova EE, Salamango DJ, Benach J, Kim HK, Mackow ER. Establishment of a CPER reverse genetics system for Powassan virus defines attenuating NS1 glycosylation sites and an infectious NS1-GFP11 reporter virus. mBio 2023; 14:e0138823. [PMID: 37489888 PMCID: PMC10470542 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01388-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Powassan virus (POWV) is an emerging tick-borne Flavivirus that causes lethal encephalitis and long-term neurologic damage. Currently, there are no POWV therapeutics, licensed vaccines, or reverse genetics systems for producing infectious POWVs from recombinant DNA. Using a circular polymerase extension reaction (CPER), we generated recombinant LI9 (recLI9) POWVs with attenuating NS1 protein mutations and a recLI9-split-eGFP reporter virus. NS1 proteins are highly conserved glycoproteins that regulate replication, spread, and neurovirulence. POWV NS1 contains three putative N-linked glycosylation sites that we modified individually in infectious recLI9 mutants (N85Q, N208Q, and N224Q). NS1 glycosylation site mutations reduced replication kinetics and were attenuated, with 1-2 log decreases in titer. Severely attenuated recLI9-N224Q exhibited a 2- to 3-day delay in focal cell-to-cell spread and reduced NS1 secretion but was lethal when intracranially inoculated into suckling mice. However, footpad inoculation of recLI9-N224Q resulted in the survival of 80% of mice and demonstrated that NS1-N224Q mutations reduce POWV neuroinvasion in vivo. To monitor NS1 trafficking, we CPER fused a split GFP11-tag to the NS1 C-terminus and generated an infectious reporter virus, recLI9-NS1-GFP11. Cells infected with recLI9-NS1-GFP11 revealed NS1 trafficking in live cells and the novel formation of large NS1-lined intracellular vesicles. An infectious recLI9-NS1-GFP11 reporter virus permits real-time analysis of NS1 functions in POWV replication, assembly, and secretion and provides a platform for evaluating antiviral compounds. Collectively, our robust POWV reverse genetics system permits analysis of viral spread and neurovirulence determinants in vitro and in vivo and enables the rational genetic design of live attenuated POWV vaccines. IMPORTANCE Our findings newly establish a mechanism for genetically modifying Powassan viruses (POWVs), systematically defining pathogenic determinants and rationally designing live attenuated POWV vaccines. This initial study demonstrates that mutating POWV NS1 glycosylation sites attenuates POWV spread and neurovirulence in vitro and in vivo. Our findings validate a robust circular polymerase extension reaction approach as a mechanism for developing, and evaluating, attenuated genetically modified POWVs. We further designed an infectious GFP-tagged reporter POWV that permits us to monitor secretory trafficking of POWV in live cells, which can be applied to screen potential POWV replication inhibitors. This robust system for modifying POWVs provides the ability to define attenuating POWV mutations and create genetically attenuated recPOWV vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas N. Conde
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Grace E. Himmler
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- Molecular and Cell Biology Program, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Megan C. Mladinich
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Yin Xiang Setoh
- Microbiology and Molecular Epidemiology Division, Environmental Health Institute, National Environmental Agency, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Alberto A. Amarilla
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - William R. Schutt
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Nicholas Saladino
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Elena E. Gorbunova
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Daniel J. Salamango
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Jorge Benach
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Hwan Keun Kim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Molecular and Cell Biology Program, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Erich R. Mackow
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Molecular and Cell Biology Program, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Center for Infectious Disease, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
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Hu M, Li WF, Wu T, Yang Y, Chen G, Chen T, Liu Y, Mei Y, Wu D, Wei Y, Luo T, Zhang HJ, Li YP. Identification of an Arylnaphthalene Lignan Derivative as an Inhibitor against Dengue Virus Serotypes 1 to 4 (DENV-1 to -4) Using a Newly Developed DENV-3 Infectious Clone and Replicon. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0042323. [PMID: 37378517 PMCID: PMC10434217 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00423-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Dengue virus (DENV) is the most widespread arbovirus, causing symptoms ranging from dengue fever to severe dengue, including hemorrhagic fever and shock syndrome. Four serotypes of DENV (DENV-1 to -4) can infect humans; however, no anti-DENV drug is available. To facilitate the study of antivirals and viral pathogenesis, here we developed an infectious clone and a subgenomic replicon of DENV-3 strains for anti-DENV drug discovery by screening a synthetic compound library. The viral cDNA was amplified from a serum sample from a DENV-3-infected individual during the 2019 epidemic; however, fragments containing the prM-E-partial NS1 region could not be cloned until a DENV-3 consensus sequence with 19 synonymous substitutions was introduced to reduce putative Escherichia coli promoter activity. Transfection of the resulting cDNA clone, plasmid DV3syn, released an infectious virus titer of 2.2 × 102 focus-forming units (FFU)/mL. Through serial passages, four adaptive mutations (4M) were identified, and addition of 4M generated recombinant DV3syn_4M, which produced viral titers ranging from 1.5 × 104 to 6.7 × 104 FFU/mL and remained genetically stable in transformant bacteria. Additionally, we constructed a DENV-3 subgenomic replicon and screened an arylnaphthalene lignan library, from which C169-P1 was identified as exhibiting inhibitory effects on viral replicon. A time-of-drug addition assay revealed that C169-P1 also impeded the internalization process of cell entry. Furthermore, we demonstrated that C169-P1 inhibited the infectivity of DV3syn_4M, as well as DENV-1, DENV-2, and DENV-4, in a dose-dependent manner. This study provides an infectious clone and a replicon for the study of DENV-3 and a candidate compound for future development against DENV-1 to -4 infections. IMPORTANCE Dengue virus (DENV) is the most prevalent mosquito-transmitted virus, and there is no an anti-dengue drug. Reverse genetic systems representative of different serotype viruses are invaluable tools for the study of viral pathogenesis and antiviral drugs. Here, we developed an efficient infectious clone of a clinical DENV-3 genotype III isolate. We successfully overcame the instability of flavivirus genome-length cDNA in transformant bacteria, an unsolved issue for construction of cDNA clones of flaviviruses, and adapted this clone to efficiently produce infectious viruses following plasmid transfection of cell culture. Moreover, we constructed a DENV-3 subgenomic replicon and screened a compound library. An arylnaphthalene lignan, C169-P1, was identified as an inhibitor of virus replication and cell entry. Finally, we demonstrated that C169-P1 exhibited a broad-spectrum antiviral effect against the infections with DENV-1 to -4. The reverse genetic systems and the compound candidate described here facilitate the study of DENV and related RNA viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyue Hu
- Institute of Human Virology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Wan-Fei Li
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tiantian Wu
- Institute of Human Virology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Institute of Human Virology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guoquan Chen
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Tongling Chen
- Institute of Human Virology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yongchen Liu
- Institute of Human Virology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yaqing Mei
- Institute of Human Virology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - De Wu
- Institute of Pathogenic Microbiology, Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Guangdong, Guangzhou, China
| | - Youchuan Wei
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Tingrong Luo
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Hong-Jie Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yi-Ping Li
- Institute of Human Virology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
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8
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Marano JM, Cereghino C, Finkielstein CV, Weger-Lucarelli J. An in vitro workflow to create and modify infectious clones using replication cycle reaction. Virology 2023; 585:109-116. [PMID: 37331111 PMCID: PMC10528026 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2023.05.013] [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: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Reverse genetics systems are critical tools in combating emerging viruses which enable a better understanding of the genetic mechanisms by which viruses cause disease. Traditional cloning approaches using bacteria are fraught with difficulties due to the bacterial toxicity of many viral sequences, resulting in unwanted mutations within the viral genome. Here, we describe a novel in vitro workflow that leverages gene synthesis and replication cycle reaction to produce a supercoiled infectious clone plasmid that is easy to distribute and manipulate. We developed two infectious clones as proof of concept: a low passage dengue virus serotype 2 isolate (PUO-218) and the USA-WA1/2020 strain of SARS-CoV-2, which replicated similarly to their respective parental viruses. Furthermore, we generated a medically relevant mutant of SARS-CoV-2, Spike D614G. Results indicate that our workflow is a viable method to generate and manipulate infectious clones for viruses that are notoriously difficult for traditional bacterial-based cloning methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey M Marano
- Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate Program, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Tech, VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA, United States; Center for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States.
| | - Chelsea Cereghino
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Tech, VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA, United States; Center for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States.
| | - Carla V Finkielstein
- Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA, USA; Integrated Cellular Responses Laboratory, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Roanoke, VA, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - James Weger-Lucarelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Tech, VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA, United States; Center for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States.
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Chen DY, Kenney D, Chin CV, Tavares AH, Khan N, Conway HL, Liu G, Choudhary MC, Gertje HP, O'Connell AK, Kotton DN, Herrmann A, Ensser A, Connor JH, Bosmann M, Li JZ, Gack MU, Baker SC, Kirchdoerfer RN, Kataria Y, Crossland NA, Douam F, Saeed M. Role of spike in the pathogenic and antigenic behavior of SARS-CoV-2 BA.1 Omicron. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2022.10.13.512134. [PMID: 36263066 PMCID: PMC9580375 DOI: 10.1101/2022.10.13.512134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The recently identified, globally predominant SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (BA.1) is highly transmissible, even in fully vaccinated individuals, and causes attenuated disease compared with other major viral variants recognized to date. The Omicron spike (S) protein, with an unusually large number of mutations, is considered the major driver of these phenotypes. We generated chimeric recombinant SARS-CoV-2 encoding the S gene of Omicron in the backbone of an ancestral SARS-CoV-2 isolate and compared this virus with the naturally circulating Omicron variant. The Omicron S-bearing virus robustly escapes vaccine-induced humoral immunity, mainly due to mutations in the receptor binding motif (RBM), yet unlike naturally occurring Omicron, efficiently replicates in cell lines and primary-like distal lung cells. In K18-hACE2 mice, while Omicron causes mild, non-fatal infection, the Omicron S-carrying virus inflicts severe disease with a mortality rate of 80%. This indicates that while the vaccine escape of Omicron is defined by mutations in S, major determinants of viral pathogenicity reside outside of S.
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Development and Characterization of a Genetically Stable Infectious Clone for a Genotype I Isolate of Dengue Virus Serotype 1. Viruses 2022; 14:v14092073. [PMID: 36146879 PMCID: PMC9501529 DOI: 10.3390/v14092073] [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] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Dengue virus (DENV) is primarily transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, and symptoms caused may range from mild dengue fever to severe dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. Reverse genetic system represents a valuable tool for the study of DENV virology, infection, pathogenesis, etc. Here, we generated and characterized an eukaryotic-activated full-length infectious cDNA clone for a DENV serotype 1 (DENV-1) isolate, D19044, collected in 2019. Initially, nearly the full genome was determined by sequencing overlapping RT-PCR products, and was classified to be genotype I DENV-1. D19044 wild-type cDNA clone (D19044_WT) was assembled by four subgenomic fragments, in a specific order, into a low-copy vector downstream the CMV promoter. D19044_WT released the infectious virus at a low level (1.26 × 103 focus forming units per milliliter [FFU/mL]) following plasmid transfection of BHK-21 cells. Further adaptation by consecutive virus passages up to passage 37, and seven amino acid substitutions (7M) were identified from passage-recovered viruses. The addition of 7M (D19044_7M) greatly improved viral titer (7.5 × 104 FFU/mL) in transfected BHK-21 culture, and virus infections in 293T, Huh7.5.1, and C6/36 cells were also efficient. D19044_7M plasmid was genetically stable in transformant bacteria after five transformation-purification cycles, which did not change the capacity of producing infectious virus. Moreover, the D19044_7M virus was inhibited by mycophenolic acid in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, we have developed a DNA-launched full-length infectious clone for a genotype I isolate of DENV-1, with genetic stability in transformant bacteria, thus providing a useful tool for the study of DENV-1.
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