1
|
Bodmer BS, Hoenen T. Reverse Genetics Systems for Filoviruses. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2733:1-14. [PMID: 38064023 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3533-9_1] [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
Filoviruses are causative agents of severe hemorrhagic fevers with high case fatality rates in humans. For studies of virus biology and the subsequent development of countermeasures, reverse genetic systems, and especially those facilitating the generation of recombinant filoviruses, are indispensable. Here, we describe the generation of recombinant filoviruses from cDNA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bianca S Bodmer
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Thomas Hoenen
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Furuyama W, Sakaguchi M, Yamada K, Nanbo A. Development of an imaging system for visualization of Ebola virus glycoprotein throughout the viral lifecycle. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1026644. [PMID: 36406413 PMCID: PMC9669576 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1026644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Ebola virus (EBOV) causes severe EBOV disease (EVD) in humans and non-human primates. Currently, limited countermeasures are available, and the virus must be studied in biosafety level-4 (BSL-4) laboratories. EBOV glycoprotein (GP) is a single transmembrane protein responsible for entry into host cells and is the target of multiple approved drugs. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the intracellular dynamics of GP during EBOV lifecycle are poorly understood. In this study, we developed a novel GP monitoring system using transcription- and replication-competent virus-like particles (trVLPs) that enables the modeling of the EBOV lifecycle under BSL-2 conditions. We constructed plasmids to generate trVLPs containing the coding sequence of EBOV GP, in which the mucin-like domain (MLD) was replaced with fluorescent proteins. The generated trVLP efficiently replicated over multiple generations was similar to the wild type trVLP. Furthermore, we confirmed that the novel trVLP system enabled real-time visualization of GP throughout the trVLP replication cycle and exhibited intracellular localization similar to that of wild type GP. In summary, this novel monitoring system for GP will enable the characterization of the molecular mechanism of the EBOV lifecycle and can be applied for the development of therapeutics against EVD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wakako Furuyama
- Department of Virus Infection Dynamics, National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Miako Sakaguchi
- Central Laboratory, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Kento Yamada
- Department of Virus Infection Dynamics, National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Asuka Nanbo
- Department of Virus Infection Dynamics, National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- *Correspondence: Asuka Nanbo,
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Soltan MA, Abdulsahib WK, Amer M, Refaat AM, Bagalagel AA, Diri RM, Albogami S, Fayad E, Eid RA, Sharaf SMA, Elhady SS, Darwish KM, Eldeen MA. Mining of Marburg Virus Proteome for Designing an Epitope-Based Vaccine. Front Immunol 2022; 13:907481. [PMID: 35911751 PMCID: PMC9334820 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.907481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Marburg virus (MARV) is one of the most harmful zoonotic viruses with deadly effects on both humans and nonhuman primates. Because of its severe outbreaks with a high rate of fatality, the world health organization put it as a risk group 4 pathogen and focused on the urgent need for the development of effective solutions against that virus. However, up to date, there is no effective vaccine against MARV in the market. In the current study, the complete proteome of MARV (seven proteins) was analyzed for the antigenicity score and the virulence or physiological role of each protein where we nominated envelope glycoprotein (Gp), Transcriptional activator (VP30), and membrane-associated protein (VP24) as the candidates for epitope prediction. Following that, a vaccine construct was designed based on CTL, HTL, and BCL epitopes of the selected protein candidates and to finalize the vaccine construct, several amino acid linkers, β-defensin adjuvant, and PADRE peptides were incorporated. The generated potential vaccine was assessed computationally for several properties such as antigenicity, allergenicity, stability, and other structural features where the outcomes of these assessments nominated this potential vaccine to be validated for its binding affinity with two molecular targets TLR-8 and TLR-4. The binding score and the stability of the vaccine-receptor complex, which was deeply studied through molecular docking-coupled dynamics simulation, supported the selection of our designed vaccine as a putative solution for MARV that should be validated through future wet-lab experiments. Here, we describe the computational approach for designing and analysis of this potential vaccine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed A. Soltan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Sinai University, Ismailia, Egypt
- *Correspondence: Mohamed A. Soltan, ; Muhammad Alaa Eldeen,
| | - Waleed K. Abdulsahib
- Department of pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Al- Farahidi University, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Mahmoud Amer
- Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Ahmed M. Refaat
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, El-Minia, Egypt
| | - Alaa A. Bagalagel
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Reem M. Diri
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sarah Albogami
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eman Fayad
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Refaat A. Eid
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Sameh S. Elhady
- Department of Natural Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khaled M. Darwish
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Muhammad Alaa Eldeen
- Cell Biology, Histology and Genetics Division, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
- *Correspondence: Mohamed A. Soltan, ; Muhammad Alaa Eldeen,
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Assessment of Life Cycle Modeling Systems as Prediction Tools for a Possible Attenuation of Recombinant Ebola Viruses. Viruses 2022; 14:v14051044. [PMID: 35632785 PMCID: PMC9147524 DOI: 10.3390/v14051044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Ebola virus (EBOV) causes hemorrhagic fever in humans with high case fatality rates. In the past, a number of recombinant EBOVs expressing different reporters from additional transcription units or as fusion proteins have been rescued. These viruses are important tools for the study of EBOV, and their uses include high throughput screening approaches, the analysis of intercellular localization of viral proteins and of tissue distribution of viruses, and the study of pathogenesis in vivo. However, they all show, at least in vivo, attenuation compared to wild type virus, and the basis of this attenuation is only poorly understood. Unfortunately, rescue of these viruses is a lengthy and not always successful process, and working with them is restricted to biosafety level (BSL)-4 laboratories, so that the search for non-attenuated reporter-expressing EBOVs remains challenging. However, several life cycle modeling systems have been developed to mimic different aspects of the filovirus life cycle under BSL-1 or -2 conditions, but it remains unclear whether these systems can be used to predict the viability and possible attenuation of recombinant EBOVs. To address this question, we systematically fused N- or C-terminally either a flag-HA tag or a green fluorescent protein (GFP) to different EBOV proteins, and analyzed the impact of these additions with respect to protein function in life cycle modeling systems. Based on these results, selected recombinant EBOVs encoding these tags/proteins were then rescued and characterized for a possible attenuation in vitro, and results compared with data from the life cycle modeling systems. While the results for the small molecular tags showed mostly good concordance, GFP-expressing viruses were more attenuated than expected based on the results from the life cycle modeling system, demonstrating a limitation of these systems and emphasizing the importance of work with infectious virus. Nevertheless, life cycle modeling system remain useful tools to exclude non-viable tagging strategies.
Collapse
|
5
|
Volkova NV, Pyankov OV, Ivanova AV, Isaeva AA, Zybkina AV, Kazachinskaya EI, Shcherbakov DN. Prototype of a DNA Vaccine against Marburg Virus. Bull Exp Biol Med 2021; 170:475-478. [PMID: 33713231 DOI: 10.1007/s10517-021-05091-w] [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: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The preparation and study of the biological properties of the pVAKS-GPVM DNA immunogen containing a gene encoding Marburgvirus glycoprotein are described. The specificity of blood serum antibodies of guinea pigs immunized with DNA immunogen was analyzed by ELISA. Inactivated viral preparation, recombinant glycoprotein (GP) obtained in the prokaryotic system and virus-like particles based on the recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus exhibiting Marburgvirus GP were used as the antigens. The neutralizing activity of antibodies of immunized animals was tested in vitro using a pseudovirus system. It was demonstrated that the developed immunogen administered to guinea pigs induced the production of specific antibodies that neutralize virus-like particles and Marburgvirus in cultured Vero cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N V Volkova
- State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk region, Russia.
| | - O V Pyankov
- State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk region, Russia
| | - A V Ivanova
- State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk region, Russia
| | - A A Isaeva
- State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk region, Russia
| | - A V Zybkina
- State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk region, Russia
| | - E I Kazachinskaya
- State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk region, Russia
| | - D N Shcherbakov
- State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk region, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Grikscheit K, Dolnik O, Takamatsu Y, Pereira AR, Becker S. Ebola Virus Nucleocapsid-Like Structures Utilize Arp2/3 Signaling for Intracellular Long-Distance Transport. Cells 2020; 9:cells9071728. [PMID: 32707734 PMCID: PMC7407605 DOI: 10.3390/cells9071728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The intracellular transport of nucleocapsids of the highly pathogenic Marburg, as well as Ebola virus (MARV, EBOV), represents a critical step during the viral life cycle. Intriguingly, a population of these nucleocapsids is distributed over long distances in a directed and polar fashion. Recently, it has been demonstrated that the intracellular transport of filoviral nucleocapsids depends on actin polymerization. While it was shown that EBOV requires Arp2/3-dependent actin dynamics, the details of how the virus exploits host actin signaling during intracellular transport are largely unknown. Here, we apply a minimalistic transfection system to follow the nucleocapsid-like structures (NCLS) in living cells, which can be used to robustly quantify NCLS transport in live cell imaging experiments. Furthermore, in cells co-expressing LifeAct, a marker for actin dynamics, NCLS transport is accompanied by pulsative actin tails appearing on the rear end of NCLS. These actin tails can also be preserved in fixed cells, and can be visualized via high resolution imaging using STORM in transfected, as well as EBOV infected, cells. The application of inhibitory drugs and siRNA depletion against actin regulators indicated that EBOV NCLS utilize the canonical Arp2/3-Wave1-Rac1 pathway for long-distance transport in cells. These findings highlight the relevance of the regulation of actin polymerization during directed EBOV nucleocapsid transport in human cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Grikscheit
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 2, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (K.G.); (O.D.); (Y.T.)
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site: Giessen-Marburg-Langen, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 2, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Olga Dolnik
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 2, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (K.G.); (O.D.); (Y.T.)
| | - Yuki Takamatsu
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 2, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (K.G.); (O.D.); (Y.T.)
- Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo 208-0011, Japan
| | | | - Stephan Becker
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 2, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (K.G.); (O.D.); (Y.T.)
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site: Giessen-Marburg-Langen, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 2, 35043 Marburg, Germany
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Cohen-Dvashi H, Zehner M, Ehrhardt S, Katz M, Elad N, Klein F, Diskin R. Structural Basis for a Convergent Immune Response against Ebola Virus. Cell Host Microbe 2020; 27:418-427.e4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2020.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Revised: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
8
|
In Vivo Bioluminescent Imaging of Marburg Virus in a Rodent Model. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 2081:177-190. [PMID: 31721125 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9940-8_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Pseudoviruses are useful tools because of their safety and versatility compared to wild type viruses. Optical imaging of reporter gene labeled pseudoviruses in small animal models can allow for real-time analysis of the infection process without sacrificing the host, which has proven invaluable in the longitudinal study of disease events and testing the antiviral efficiencies of vaccine candidates, monoclonal antibodies and small molecule compounds. Here, we describe the generation of Marburg pseudovirus (pMARV) and establishment of imaging mouse model by using a deep-cooled CCD camera imager. We also describe the widespread organ distribution of pMARV during infection by ex vivo imaging of necropsied tissues. This system can significantly facilitate Marburg virus studies and enable the evaluation of treatments against MARV in BSL-2 containments.
Collapse
|
9
|
Polyclonal and convergent antibody response to Ebola virus vaccine rVSV-ZEBOV. Nat Med 2019; 25:1589-1600. [PMID: 31591605 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-019-0602-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus-Zaire Ebola virus (rVSV-ZEBOV) is the most advanced Ebola virus vaccine candidate and is currently being used to combat the outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Here we examine the humoral immune response in a subset of human volunteers enrolled in a phase 1 rVSV-ZEBOV vaccination trial by performing comprehensive single B cell and electron microscopy structure analyses. Four studied vaccinees show polyclonal, yet reproducible and convergent B cell responses with shared sequence characteristics. EBOV-targeting antibodies cross-react with other Ebolavirus species, and detailed epitope mapping revealed overlapping target epitopes with antibodies isolated from EVD survivors. Moreover, in all vaccinees, we detected highly potent EBOV-neutralizing antibodies with activities comparable or superior to the monoclonal antibodies currently used in clinical trials. These include antibodies combining the IGHV3-15/IGLV1-40 immunoglobulin gene segments that were identified in all investigated individuals. Our findings will help to evaluate and direct current and future vaccination strategies and offer opportunities for novel EVD therapies.
Collapse
|
10
|
Wendt L, Bostedt L, Hoenen T, Groseth A. High-throughput screening for negative-stranded hemorrhagic fever viruses using reverse genetics. Antiviral Res 2019; 170:104569. [PMID: 31356830 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2019.104569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Revised: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) cause thousands of fatalities every year, but the treatment options for their management remain very limited. In particular, the development of therapeutic interventions is restricted by the lack of commercial viability of drugs targeting individual VHF agents. This makes approaches like drug repurposing and/or the identification of broad range therapies (i.e. those directed at host responses or common proviral factors) highly attractive. However, the identification of candidates for such antiviral repurposing or of host factors/pathways important for the virus life cycle is reliant on high-throughput screening (HTS). Recently, such screening work has been increasingly facilitated by the availability of reverse genetics-based approaches, including tools such as full-length clone (FLC) systems to generate reporter-expressing viruses or various life cycle modelling (LCM) systems, many of which have been developed and/or greatly improved during the last years. In particular, since LCM systems are capable of modelling specific steps in the life cycle, they are a valuable tool for both targeted screening (i.e. for inhibitors of a specific pathway) and mechanism of action studies. This review seeks to summarize the currently available reverse genetics systems for negative-sense VHF causing viruses (i.e. arenaviruses, bunyaviruses and filoviruses), and to highlight the recent advancements made in applying these systems for HTS to identify either antivirals or new virus-host interactions that might hold promise for the development of future treatments for the infections caused by these deadly but neglected virus groups.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Wendt
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Linus Bostedt
- Junior Research Group - Arenavirus Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Thomas Hoenen
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany.
| | - Allison Groseth
- Junior Research Group - Arenavirus Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Abstract
Marburgviruses are closely related to ebolaviruses and cause a devastating disease in humans. In 2012, we published a comprehensive review of the first 45 years of research on marburgviruses and the disease they cause, ranging from molecular biology to ecology. Spurred in part by the deadly Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa in 2013-2016, research on all filoviruses has intensified. Not meant as an introduction to marburgviruses, this article instead provides a synopsis of recent progress in marburgvirus research with a particular focus on molecular biology, advances in animal modeling, and the use of Egyptian fruit bats in infection experiments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Judith Olejnik
- Department of Microbiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, USA.,National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, USA
| | - Elke Mühlberger
- Department of Microbiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, USA.,National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, USA
| | - Adam J Hume
- Department of Microbiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, USA.,National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, USA
| |
Collapse
|