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Mihalić A, Železnjak J, Lisnić B, Jonjić S, Juranić Lisnić V, Brizić I. Immune surveillance of cytomegalovirus in tissues. Cell Mol Immunol 2024; 21:959-981. [PMID: 39134803 PMCID: PMC11364667 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-024-01186-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a representative member of the Betaherpesvirinae subfamily of herpesviruses, is common in the human population, but immunocompetent individuals are generally asymptomatic when infected with this virus. However, in immunocompromised individuals and immunologically immature fetuses and newborns, CMV can cause a wide range of often long-lasting morbidities and even death. CMV is not only widespread throughout the population but it is also widespread in its hosts, infecting and establishing latency in nearly all tissues and organs. Thus, understanding the pathogenesis of and immune responses to this virus is a prerequisite for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies. Multiple arms of the immune system are engaged to contain the infection, and general concepts of immune control of CMV are now reasonably well understood. Nonetheless, in recent years, tissue-specific immune responses have emerged as an essential factor for resolving CMV infection. As tissues differ in biology and function, so do immune responses to CMV and pathological processes during infection. This review discusses state-of-the-art knowledge of the immune response to CMV infection in tissues, with particular emphasis on several well-studied and most commonly affected organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Mihalić
- Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Jelena Železnjak
- Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Berislav Lisnić
- Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Stipan Jonjić
- Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Vanda Juranić Lisnić
- Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.
| | - Ilija Brizić
- Center for Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.
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2
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Tillmanns J, Kicuntod J, Ehring A, Elbasani E, Borst EM, Obergfäll D, Müller R, Hahn F, Marschall M. Establishment of a Luciferase-Based Reporter System to Study Aspects of Human Cytomegalovirus Infection, Replication Characteristics, and Antiviral Drug Efficacy. Pathogens 2024; 13:645. [PMID: 39204245 PMCID: PMC11356942 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13080645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) represents a highly medically important pathogen which has constantly been the subject of both molecular and clinical investigations. HCMV infections, especially those in high-risk patients, still raise many unanswered questions, so current investigations are focused on viral pathogenesis, vaccine development, and options for antiviral drug targeting. To this end, the use of suitable viral strains as well as recombinant reporter constructs in cultured cells and model systems has specific significance. We previously reported on the application of various herpesviruses that express green, red, or related fluorescent proteins, especially in the fields of virus-host interaction and antiviral research. Here, we characterized a recombinant version of the clinically relevant and cell type-adaptable HCMV strain TB40, which expresses firefly luciferase as a quantitative reporter of viral replication (TB40-FLuc). The data provide evidence for five main conclusions. First, HCMV TB40-FLuc is employable in multiple settings in primary human cells. Second, viral reporter signals are easily quantifiable, even at early time points within viral replication. Third, the FLuc reporter reflects the kinetics of viral intracellular replication, cascade-like viral IE-E-L protein production, and progeny release. Fourth, as relates to specific applications of the TB40-FLuc system, we demonstrated the reliability of quantitative antiviral compound determination in multi-well formats and its independence from fluorescence-based measurements in the case of autofluorescent inhibitors. Finally, we illustrated increased reporter sensitivity in comparison to other recombinant HCMVs. In essence, recombinant HCMV TB40-FLuc combines several molecular properties that are considered beneficial in studies on viral host tropism, replication efficiency, and antiviral drug assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Tillmanns
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (J.T.); (J.K.); (A.E.); (D.O.); (R.M.); (F.H.)
| | - Jintawee Kicuntod
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (J.T.); (J.K.); (A.E.); (D.O.); (R.M.); (F.H.)
| | - Antonia Ehring
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (J.T.); (J.K.); (A.E.); (D.O.); (R.M.); (F.H.)
| | - Endrit Elbasani
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School (MHH), 30625 Hannover, Germany; (E.E.); (E.M.B.)
| | - Eva Maria Borst
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School (MHH), 30625 Hannover, Germany; (E.E.); (E.M.B.)
| | - Debora Obergfäll
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (J.T.); (J.K.); (A.E.); (D.O.); (R.M.); (F.H.)
| | - Regina Müller
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (J.T.); (J.K.); (A.E.); (D.O.); (R.M.); (F.H.)
| | - Friedrich Hahn
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (J.T.); (J.K.); (A.E.); (D.O.); (R.M.); (F.H.)
| | - Manfred Marschall
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (J.T.); (J.K.); (A.E.); (D.O.); (R.M.); (F.H.)
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3
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Külekci B, Mollik M, Schwarz S, Perkmann-Nagele N, Geleff S, Jaksch P, Hoetzenecker K, Lambers C, Puchhammer-Stöckl E, Goerzer I. Bidirectional transfer of human cytomegalovirus strains in donor and recipient seropositive lung transplant patients. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29770. [PMID: 38949200 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29770] [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: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Donor and recipient human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) seropositive (D+R+) lung transplant recipients (LTRs) often harbor multiple strains of HCMV, likely due to transmitted donor (D) strains and reactivated recipient (R) strains. To date, the extent and timely occurrence of each likely source in shaping the post-transplantation (post-Tx) strain population is unknown. Here, we deciphered the D and R origin of the post-Tx HCMV strain composition in blood, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and CD45+ BAL cell subsets. We investigated either D and/or R formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks or fresh D lung tissue from four D+R+ LTRs obtained before transplantation. HCMV strains were characterized by short amplicon deep sequencing. In two LTRs, we show that the transplanted lung is reseeded by R strains within the first 6 months after transplantation, likely by infiltrating CD14+ CD163+/- alveolar macrophages. In three LTRs, we demonstrate both rapid D-strain dissemination and persistence in the transplanted lung for >1 year post-Tx. Broad inter-host diversity contrasts with intra-host genotype sequence stability upon transmission, during follow-up and across compartments. In D+R+ LTRs, HCMV strains of both, D and R origin can emerge first and dominate long-term in subsequent episodes of infection, indicating replication of both sources despite pre-existing immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Büsra Külekci
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Madlen Mollik
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefan Schwarz
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nicole Perkmann-Nagele
- Divison of Clinical Virology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Silvana Geleff
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Jaksch
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Konrad Hoetzenecker
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christopher Lambers
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Irene Goerzer
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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4
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Lawrence SM. Human cytomegalovirus and neonatal infection. CURRENT RESEARCH IN MICROBIAL SCIENCES 2024; 7:100257. [PMID: 39070527 PMCID: PMC11276932 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmicr.2024.100257] [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: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus is an ancient virus that has co-evolved with humans. It establishes a life-long infection in suspectable individuals for which there is no vaccination or cure. The virus can be transmitted to a developing fetus in seropositive pregnant women, and it is the leading cause of congenital infectious disease. While the majority of infected infants remain asymptomatic at birth, congenital cytomegalovirus infection can lead to substantial long-term neurodevelopmental impairments in survivors, resulting in considerable economic and social hardships. Recent discoveries regarding cytomegalovirus pathophysiology and viral replication cycles might enable the development of innovative diagnostics and therapeutics, including an effective vaccine. This Review will detail our understanding of human cytomegalovirus infection, with an in-depth discussion regarding the viral genome and transcriptome that contributes to its pathophysiology. The neonate's clinical course will also be highlighted, including maternal and neonatal testing, treatment recommendations, and long-term outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelley M. Lawrence
- University of Utah, College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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5
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Herbein G. Cellular Transformation by Human Cytomegalovirus. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1970. [PMID: 38893091 PMCID: PMC11171319 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16111970] [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: 03/16/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Kaposi sarcoma human virus (KSHV), human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV, HCV), human T-lymphotropic virus-1 (HTLV-1), and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) are the seven human oncoviruses reported so far. While traditionally viewed as a benign virus causing mild symptoms in healthy individuals, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has been recently implicated in the pathogenesis of various cancers, spanning a wide range of tissue types and malignancies. This perspective article defines the biological criteria that characterize the oncogenic role of HCMV and based on new findings underlines a critical role for HCMV in cellular transformation and modeling the tumor microenvironment as already reported for the other human oncoviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georges Herbein
- Department Pathogens & Inflammation-EPILAB EA4266, University of Franche-Comté (UFC), 25000 Besançon, France;
- Department of Virology, CHU Besançon, 25000 Besançon, France
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6
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Yang Y, Wang P, Qaidi SE, Hardwidge PR, Huang J, Zhu G. Loss to gain: pseudogenes in microorganisms, focusing on eubacteria, and their biological significance. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:328. [PMID: 38717672 PMCID: PMC11078800 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12971-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Pseudogenes are defined as "non-functional" copies of corresponding parent genes. The cognition of pseudogenes continues to be refreshed through accumulating and updating research findings. Previous studies have predominantly focused on mammals, but pseudogenes have received relatively less attention in the field of microbiology. Given the increasing recognition on the importance of pseudogenes, in this review, we focus on several aspects of microorganism pseudogenes, including their classification and characteristics, their generation and fate, their identification, their abundance and distribution, their impact on virulence, their ability to recombine with functional genes, the extent to which some pseudogenes are transcribed and translated, and the relationship between pseudogenes and viruses. By summarizing and organizing the latest research progress, this review will provide a comprehensive perspective and improved understanding on pseudogenes in microorganisms. KEY POINTS: • Concept, classification and characteristics, identification and databases, content, and distribution of microbial pseudogenes are presented. • How pseudogenization contribute to pathogen virulence is highlighted. • Pseudogenes with potential functions in microorganisms are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009, China
- Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation On Prevention and Control Technology of Important Animal Diseases and Zoonoses of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Pengzhi Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009, China
- Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation On Prevention and Control Technology of Important Animal Diseases and Zoonoses of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Samir El Qaidi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Philip R Hardwidge
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Jinlin Huang
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu, China.
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225009, China.
| | - Guoqiang Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, 12 East Wenhui Road, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu, China.
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
- Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation On Prevention and Control Technology of Important Animal Diseases and Zoonoses of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
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7
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Quek ZBR, Ng SH. Hybrid-Capture Target Enrichment in Human Pathogens: Identification, Evolution, Biosurveillance, and Genomic Epidemiology. Pathogens 2024; 13:275. [PMID: 38668230 PMCID: PMC11054155 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13040275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
High-throughput sequencing (HTS) has revolutionised the field of pathogen genomics, enabling the direct recovery of pathogen genomes from clinical and environmental samples. However, pathogen nucleic acids are often overwhelmed by those of the host, requiring deep metagenomic sequencing to recover sufficient sequences for downstream analyses (e.g., identification and genome characterisation). To circumvent this, hybrid-capture target enrichment (HC) is able to enrich pathogen nucleic acids across multiple scales of divergences and taxa, depending on the panel used. In this review, we outline the applications of HC in human pathogens-bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses-including identification, genomic epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance genotyping, and evolution. Importantly, we explored the applicability of HC to clinical metagenomics, which ultimately requires more work before it is a reliable and accurate tool for clinical diagnosis. Relatedly, the utility of HC was exemplified by COVID-19, which was used as a case study to illustrate the maturity of HC for recovering pathogen sequences. As we unravel the origins of COVID-19, zoonoses remain more relevant than ever. Therefore, the role of HC in biosurveillance studies is also highlighted in this review, which is critical in preparing us for the next pandemic. We also found that while HC is a popular tool to study viruses, it remains underutilised in parasites and fungi and, to a lesser extent, bacteria. Finally, weevaluated the future of HC with respect to bait design in the eukaryotic groups and the prospect of combining HC with long-read HTS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z. B. Randolph Quek
- Defence Medical & Environmental Research Institute, DSO National Laboratories, Singapore 117510, Singapore
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8
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Alsanea MS, Al-Qahtani AA, Almaghrabi RS, AlAbdulkareem MA, Alahideb BM, Obeid D, Alsuwairi FA, Alhamlan FS. Diagnosis of Human Cytomegalovirus Drug Resistance Mutations in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients-A Review. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:203. [PMID: 38248079 PMCID: PMC10814084 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14020203] [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: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection may be asymptomatic in healthy individuals but can cause severe complications in immunocompromised patients, including transplant recipients. Breakthrough and drug-resistant HCMV infections in such patients are major concerns. Clinicians are first challenged to accurately diagnose HCMV infection and then to identify the most effective antiviral drug and determine when to initiate therapy, alter drug dosage, or switch medication. This review critically examines HCMV diagnostics approaches, particularly for immunocompromised patients, and the development of genotypic techniques to rapidly diagnose drug resistance mutations. The current standard method to identify prevalent and well-known resistance mutations involves polymerase chain reaction amplification of UL97, UL54, and UL56 gene regions, followed by Sanger sequencing. This method can confirm clinical suspicion of drug resistance as well as determine the level of drug resistance and range of cross-resistance with other drugs. Despite the effectiveness of this approach, there remains an urgent need for more rapid and point-of-care HCMV diagnosis, allowing for timely lifesaving intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madain S. Alsanea
- Department of Infection and Immunity, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia; (M.S.A.); (A.A.A.-Q.); (M.A.A.); (B.M.A.); (D.O.); (F.A.A.)
| | - Ahmed A. Al-Qahtani
- Department of Infection and Immunity, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia; (M.S.A.); (A.A.A.-Q.); (M.A.A.); (B.M.A.); (D.O.); (F.A.A.)
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia
| | - Reem S. Almaghrabi
- Organ Transplant Center of Excellence, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Maha A. AlAbdulkareem
- Department of Infection and Immunity, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia; (M.S.A.); (A.A.A.-Q.); (M.A.A.); (B.M.A.); (D.O.); (F.A.A.)
| | - Basma M. Alahideb
- Department of Infection and Immunity, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia; (M.S.A.); (A.A.A.-Q.); (M.A.A.); (B.M.A.); (D.O.); (F.A.A.)
| | - Dalia Obeid
- Department of Infection and Immunity, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia; (M.S.A.); (A.A.A.-Q.); (M.A.A.); (B.M.A.); (D.O.); (F.A.A.)
- Organ Transplant Center of Excellence, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Feda A. Alsuwairi
- Department of Infection and Immunity, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia; (M.S.A.); (A.A.A.-Q.); (M.A.A.); (B.M.A.); (D.O.); (F.A.A.)
| | - Fatimah S. Alhamlan
- Department of Infection and Immunity, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia; (M.S.A.); (A.A.A.-Q.); (M.A.A.); (B.M.A.); (D.O.); (F.A.A.)
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia
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Isabel S, Eshaghi A, Duvvuri VR, Gubbay JB, Cronin K, Li A, Hasso M, Clark ST, Hopkins JP, Patel SN, Braukmann TWA. Targeted amplification-based whole genome sequencing of Monkeypox virus in clinical specimens. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0297923. [PMID: 38047694 PMCID: PMC10783113 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02979-23] [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: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE We present a protocol to efficiently sequence genomes of the MPXV-causing mpox. This enables researchers and public health agencies to acquire high-quality genomic data using a rapid and cost-effective approach. Genomic data can be used to conduct surveillance and investigate mpox outbreaks. We present 91 mpox genomes that show the diversity of the 2022 mpox outbreak in Ontario, Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Isabel
- Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - A. Eshaghi
- Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - V. R. Duvvuri
- Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - J. B. Gubbay
- Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - K. Cronin
- Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aimin Li
- Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - M. Hasso
- Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - S. T. Clark
- Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - J. P. Hopkins
- Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - S. N. Patel
- Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - T. W. A. Braukmann
- Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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10
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Vlachava VM, Seirafian S, Fielding CA, Kollnberger S, Aicheler RJ, Hughes J, Baker A, Weekes MP, Forbes S, Wilkinson GWG, Wang ECY, Stanton RJ. HCMV-secreted glycoprotein gpUL4 inhibits TRAIL-mediated apoptosis and NK cell activation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2309077120. [PMID: 38011551 PMCID: PMC10710050 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2309077120] [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: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a paradigm of pathogen immune evasion and sustains lifelong persistent infection in the face of exceptionally powerful host immune responses through the concerted action of multiple immune-evasins. These reduce NK cell activation by inhibiting ligands for activating receptors, expressing ligands for inhibitory receptors, or inhibiting synapse formation. However, these functions only inhibit direct interactions with the infected cell. To determine whether the virus also expresses soluble factors that could modulate NK function at a distance, we systematically screened all 170 HCMV canonical protein-coding genes. This revealed that UL4 encodes a secreted and heavily glycosylated protein (gpUL4) that is expressed with late-phase kinetics and is capable of inhibiting NK cell degranulation. Analyses of gpUL4 binding partners by mass spectrometry identified an interaction with TRAIL. gpUL4 bound TRAIL with picomolar affinity and prevented TRAIL from binding its receptor, thus acting as a TRAIL decoy receptor. TRAIL is found in both soluble and membrane-bound forms, with expression of the membrane-bound form strongly up-regulated on NK cells in response to interferon. gpUL4 inhibited apoptosis induced by soluble TRAIL, while also binding to the NK cell surface in a TRAIL-dependent manner, where it blocked NK cell degranulation and cytokine secretion. gpUL4 therefore acts as an immune-evasin by inhibiting both soluble and membrane-bound TRAIL and is a viral-encoded TRAIL decoy receptor. Interestingly, gpUL4 could also suppress NK responses to heterologous viruses, suggesting that it may act as a systemic virally encoded immunosuppressive agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia-Maria Vlachava
- Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, CardiffCF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Sepehr Seirafian
- Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, CardiffCF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Ceri A. Fielding
- Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, CardiffCF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Kollnberger
- Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, CardiffCF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca J. Aicheler
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, CardiffCF5 2YB, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph Hughes
- Centre for Virus Research, School of Infection & Immunity, Glasgow University, GlasgowG61 1QH, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander Baker
- Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, CardiffCF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Michael P. Weekes
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, CambridgeCB2 0XY, United Kingdom
| | - Simone Forbes
- Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, CardiffCF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Gavin W. G. Wilkinson
- Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, CardiffCF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Eddie C. Y. Wang
- Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, CardiffCF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Richard J. Stanton
- Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, CardiffCF14 4XN, United Kingdom
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Weiler N, Sampaio KL, Scherer M, Sinzger C. Generation of UL128-shRNA transduced fibroblasts for the release of cell-free virus from clinical human cytomegalovirus isolates. Biotechniques 2023; 75:183-194. [PMID: 37846844 DOI: 10.2144/btn-2023-0046] [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: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Working with recent isolates of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is complicated by their strictly cell-associated growth with lack of infectivity in the supernatant. Adaptation to cell-free growth is associated with disruption of the viral UL128 gene locus. The authors transduced fibroblasts with a lentiviral vector encoding UL128-specific-shRNA to allow the release of cell-free infectivity without genetic alteration. Transduced cells were cocultured with fibroblasts containing cell-associated isolates, and knockdown of the UL128 protein was validated by immunoblotting. Cell-free infectivity increased 1000-fold in isolate cocultures with UL128-shRNA compared with controls, and virions could be purified by density gradients. Transduced fibroblasts also allowed direct isolation of HCMV from a clinical specimen and cell-free transfer to other cell types. In conclusion, UL128-shRNA-transduced fibroblasts allow applications previously unsuitable for recent isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Weiler
- Institute of Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Myriam Scherer
- Institute of Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
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Colson P, Bader W, Fantini J, Dudouet P, Levasseur A, Pontarotti P, Devaux C, Raoult D. From viral democratic genomes to viral wild bunch of quasispecies. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e29209. [PMID: 37937701 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29209] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
The tremendous majority of RNA genomes from pathogenic viruses analyzed and deposited in databases are consensus or "democratic" genomes. They represent the genomes most frequently found in the clinical samples of patients but do not account for the huge genetic diversity of coexisting genomes, which is better described as quasispecies. A viral quasispecies is defined as the dynamic distribution of nonidentical but closely related mutants, variants, recombinant, or reassortant viral genomes. Viral quasispecies have collective behavior and dynamics and are the subject of internal interactions that comprise interference, complementation, or cooperation. In the setting of SARS-CoV-2 infection, intrahost SARS-CoV-2 genetic diversity was recently notably reported for immunocompromised, chronically infected patients, for patients treated with monoclonal antibodies targeting the viral spike protein, and for different body compartments of a single patient. A question that deserves attention is whether such diversity is generated postinfection from a clonal genome in response to selection pressure or is already present at the time of infection as a quasispecies. In the present review, we summarize the data supporting that hosts are infected by a "wild bunch" of viruses rather than by multiple virions sharing the same genome. Each virion in the "wild bunch" may have different virulence and tissue tropisms. As the number of viruses replicated during host infections is huge, a viral quasispecies at any time of infection is wide and is also influenced by host-specific selection pressure after infection, which accounts for the difficulty in deciphering and predicting the appearance of more fit variants and the evolution of epidemics of novel RNA viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Colson
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Aix-Marseille Université., Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infections (MEPHI), Marseille, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Marseille, France
| | - Wahiba Bader
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Aix-Marseille Université., Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infections (MEPHI), Marseille, France
| | - Jacques Fantini
- INSERM UMR_S 1072, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Pierre Dudouet
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Aix-Marseille Université., Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infections (MEPHI), Marseille, France
| | - Anthony Levasseur
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Aix-Marseille Université., Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infections (MEPHI), Marseille, France
| | - Pierre Pontarotti
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre National de la Recherche 16 Scientifique (CNRS)-SNC5039, Marseille, France
| | - Christian Devaux
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre National de la Recherche 16 Scientifique (CNRS)-SNC5039, Marseille, France
| | - Didier Raoult
- IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Aix-Marseille Université., Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infections (MEPHI), Marseille, France
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Holtappels R, Becker S, Hamdan S, Freitag K, Podlech J, Lemmermann NA, Reddehase MJ. Immunotherapy of cytomegalovirus infection by low-dose adoptive transfer of antiviral CD8 T cells relies on substantial post-transfer expansion of central memory cells but not effector-memory cells. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011643. [PMID: 37972198 PMCID: PMC10688903 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytomegaloviruses (CMVs) are host species-specific in their replication. It is a hallmark of all CMVs that productive primary infection is controlled by concerted innate and adaptive immune responses in the immunocompetent host. As a result, the infection usually passes without overt clinical symptoms and develops into latent infection, referred to as "latency". During latency, the virus is maintained in a non-replicative state from which it can reactivate to productive infection under conditions of waning immune surveillance. In contrast, infection of an immunocompromised host causes CMV disease with viral multiple-organ histopathology resulting in organ failure. Primary or reactivated CMV infection of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) recipients in a "window of risk" between therapeutic hemato-ablative leukemia therapy and immune system reconstitution remains a clinical challenge. Studies in the mouse model of experimental HCT and infection with murine CMV (mCMV), followed by clinical trials in HCT patients with human CMV (hCMV) reactivation, have revealed a protective function of virus-specific CD8 T cells upon adoptive cell transfer (AT). Memory CD8 T cells derived from latently infected hosts are a favored source for immunotherapy by AT. Strikingly low numbers of these cells were found to prevent CMV disease, suggesting either an immediate effector function of few transferred cells or a clonal expansion generating high numbers of effector cells. In the murine model, the memory population consists of resting central memory T cells (TCM), as well as of conventional effector-memory T cells (cTEM) and inflationary effector-memory T cells (iTEM). iTEM increase in numbers over time in the latently infected host, a phenomenon known as 'memory inflation' (MI). They thus appeared to be a promising source for use in immunotherapy. However, we show here that iTEM contribute little to the control of infection after AT, which relies almost entirely on superior proliferative potential of TCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaela Holtappels
- Institute for Virology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Research Center for Immunotherapy (FZI), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Sara Becker
- Institute for Virology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Institute of Virology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Sara Hamdan
- Institute for Virology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Kirsten Freitag
- Institute for Virology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Jürgen Podlech
- Institute for Virology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Niels A. Lemmermann
- Institute for Virology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Research Center for Immunotherapy (FZI), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Institute of Virology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Matthias J. Reddehase
- Institute for Virology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Research Center for Immunotherapy (FZI), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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Jagtap AD, Geraghty RJ, Wang Z. Inhibiting HCMV pUL89-C Endonuclease with Metal-Binding Compounds. J Med Chem 2023; 66:13874-13887. [PMID: 37827528 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01280] [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] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infects individuals of all ages and establishes a lifelong latency. Current antiviral drugs are suboptimal in efficacy and safety and ineffective against resistant/refractory HCMV. Therefore, there is an unmet clinical need for efficacious, safe, and mechanistically novel HCMV drugs. The recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of letermovir (LTV) validated the HCMV terminase complex as a new target for antiviral development. LTV targets terminase subunit pUL56 but not the main endonuclease enzymatic function housed in the C terminus of subunit pUL89 (pUL89-C). Structurally and mechanistically, pUL89-C is an RNase H-like viral endonuclease entailing two divalent metal ions at the active site. In recent years, numerous studies have extensively explored pUL89-C inhibition using metal-chelating chemotypes, an approach previously used for inhibiting HIV ribonuclease H (RNase H) and integrase strand transfer (INST). Collectively, the work summarized herein validates the use of metal-binding scaffolds for designing potent and specific pUL89-C inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajit Dhananjay Jagtap
- Center for Drug Design, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Robert J Geraghty
- Center for Drug Design, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Zhengqiang Wang
- Center for Drug Design, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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15
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Semmes EC, Miller IG, Rodgers N, Phan CT, Hurst JH, Walsh KM, Stanton RJ, Pollara J, Permar SR. ADCC-activating antibodies correlate with decreased risk of congenital human cytomegalovirus transmission. JCI Insight 2023; 8:e167768. [PMID: 37427588 PMCID: PMC10371338 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.167768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most common vertically transmitted infection worldwide, yet there are no vaccines or therapeutics to prevent congenital HCMV (cCMV) infection. Emerging evidence indicates that antibody Fc effector functions may be a previously underappreciated component of maternal immunity against HCMV. We recently reported that antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) and IgG activation of FcγRI/FcγRII were associated with protection against cCMV transmission, leading us to hypothesize that additional Fc-mediated antibody functions may be important. In this same cohort of HCMV-transmitting (n = 41) and nontransmitting (n = 40) mother-infant dyads, we report that higher maternal sera antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activation is also associated with lower risk of cCMV transmission. We investigated the relationship between ADCC and IgG responses against 9 viral antigens and found that ADCC activation correlated most strongly with sera IgG binding to the HCMV immunoevasin protein UL16. Moreover, we determined that higher UL16-specific IgG binding and FcγRIII/CD16 engagement were associated with the greatest risk reduction in cCMV transmission. Our findings indicate that ADCC-activating antibodies against targets such as UL16 may represent an important protective maternal immune response against cCMV infection that can guide future HCMV correlates studies and vaccine or antibody-based therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor C. Semmes
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, and
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Itzayana G. Miller
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Nicole Rodgers
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Caroline T. Phan
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jillian H. Hurst
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kyle M. Walsh
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Richard J. Stanton
- Division of Infection and Immunology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Justin Pollara
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sallie R. Permar
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, New York, USA
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16
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Li X, Liang H, Fan J. Prospects of Cytomegalovirus-Specific T-Cell Receptors in Clinical Diagnosis and Therapy. Viruses 2023; 15:1334. [PMID: 37376633 DOI: 10.3390/v15061334] [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: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is responsible for widespread infections worldwide. In immunocompetent individuals it is typically latent, while infection or reactivation in immunocompromised individuals can result in severe clinical symptoms or even death. Although there has been significant progress in the treatment and diagnosis of HCMV infection in recent years, numerous shortcomings and developmental limitations persist. There is an urgent need to develop innovative, safe, and effective treatments, as well as to explore early and timely diagnostic strategies for HCMV infection. Cell-mediated immune responses are the primary factor controlling HCMV infection and replication, but the protective role of humoral immune responses remains controversial. T-cells, key effector cells of the cellular immune system, are critical for clearing and preventing HCMV infection. The T-cell receptor (TCR) lies at the heart of T-cell immune responses, and its diversity enables the immune system to differentiate between self and non-self. Given the significant influence of cellular immunity on human health and the indispensable role of the TCR in T-cell immune responses, we posit that the impact of TCR on the development of novel diagnostic and prognostic methods, as well as on patient monitoring and management of clinical HCMV infection, will be far-reaching and profound. High-throughput and single-cell sequencing technologies have facilitated unprecedented quantitative detection of TCR diversity. With these current sequencing technologies, researchers have already obtained a vast number of TCR sequences. It is plausible that in the near future studies on TCR repertoires will be instrumental in assessing vaccine efficacy, immunotherapeutic strategies, and the early diagnosis of HCMV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejie Li
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Hanying Liang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Jun Fan
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
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17
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Li KK, Lau B, Suárez NM, Camiolo S, Gunson R, Davison AJ, Orton RJ. Direct Nanopore Sequencing of Human Cytomegalovirus Genomes from High-Viral-Load Clinical Samples. Viruses 2023; 15:1248. [PMID: 37376548 DOI: 10.3390/v15061248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Nanopore sequencing is becoming increasingly commonplace in clinical settings, particularly for diagnostic assessments and outbreak investigations, due to its portability, low cost, and ability to operate in near real-time. Although high sequencing error rates initially hampered the wider implementation of this technology, improvements have been made continually with each iteration of the sequencing hardware and base-calling software. Here, we assess the feasibility of using nanopore sequencing to determine the complete genomes of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in high-viral-load clinical samples without viral DNA enrichment, PCR amplification, or prior knowledge of the sequences. We utilised a hybrid bioinformatic approach that involved assembling the reads de novo, improving the consensus sequence by aligning reads to the best-matching genome from a collated set of published sequences, and polishing the improved consensus sequence. The final genomes from a urine sample and a lung sample, the former with an HCMV to human DNA load approximately 50 times greater than the latter, achieved 99.97 and 99.93% identity, respectively, to the benchmark genomes obtained independently by Illumina sequencing. Thus, we demonstrated that nanopore sequencing is capable of determining HCMV genomes directly from high-viral-load clinical samples with a high accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathy K Li
- Medical Research Council, University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
- Regional Virus Laboratory, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast BT12 6BA, UK
| | - Betty Lau
- Medical Research Council, University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Nicolás M Suárez
- Medical Research Council, University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Salvatore Camiolo
- Medical Research Council, University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Rory Gunson
- West of Scotland Specialist Virology Centre, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Glasgow G31 2ER, UK
| | - Andrew J Davison
- Medical Research Council, University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Richard J Orton
- Medical Research Council, University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
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Ourahmane A, Hertel L, McVoy MA. The RL13 Temperance Factor Represses Replication of the Highly Cell Culture-Adapted Towne Strain of Human Cytomegalovirus. Viruses 2023; 15:1023. [PMID: 37113003 PMCID: PMC10142520 DOI: 10.3390/v15041023] [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: 12/17/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) has evolved to replicate while causing minimal damage, maintain life-long latency, reactivate sub-clinically, and, in spite of robust host immunity, produce and shed infectious virus in order to transmit to new hosts. The CMV temperance factor RL13 may contribute to this strategy of coexistence with the host by actively restricting viral replication and spread. Viruses with an intact RL13 gene grow slowly in cell culture, release little extracellular virus, and form small foci. By contrast, viruses carrying disruptive mutations in the RL13 gene form larger foci and release higher amounts of cell-free infectious virions. Such mutations invariably arise during cell culture passage of clinical isolates and are consistently found in highly adapted strains. The potential existence in such strains of other mutations with roles in mitigating RL13's restrictive effects, however, has not been explored. To this end, a mutation that frame shifts the RL13 gene in the highly cell culture-adapted laboratory strain Towne was repaired, and a C-terminal FLAG epitope was added. Compared to the frame-shifted parental virus, viruses encoding wild-type or FLAG-tagged wild-type RL13 produced small foci and replicated poorly. Within six to ten cell culture passages, mutations emerged in RL13 that restored replication and focus size to those of the RL13-frame-shifted parental virus, implying that none of the numerous adaptive mutations acquired by strain Towne during more than 125 cell culture passages mitigate the temperance activity of RL13. Whilst RL13-FLAG expressed by passage zero stocks was localized exclusively within the virion assembly compartment, RL13-FLAG with a E208K substitution that emerged in one lineage was mostly dispersed into the cytoplasm, suggesting that localization to the virion assembly compartment is likely required for RL13 to exert its growth-restricting activities. Changes in localization also provided a convenient way to assess the emergence of RL13 mutations during serial passage, highlighting the usefulness of RL13-FLAG Towne variants for elucidating the mechanisms underlying RL13's temperance functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amine Ourahmane
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA;
| | - Laura Hertel
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, Oakland, CA 94609, USA;
| | - Michael A. McVoy
- Department of Pediatrics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
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Vankova O, Brusnigina N, Novikova N. NGS Technology in Monitoring the Genetic Diversity of Cytomegalovirus Strains. Sovrem Tekhnologii Med 2023; 15:41-46. [PMID: 37389021 PMCID: PMC10306971 DOI: 10.17691/stm2023.15.2.04] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Modern molecular genetic methods, massive parallel sequencing in particular, allow for genotyping of various pathogens with the aim of their epidemiological marking and improvement of molecular epidemiological surveillance of actual infections, including cytomegalovirus infection. The aim of the study is to evaluate the next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology for genotyping clinical isolates of cytomegalovirus (CMV). Materials and Methods The object of the study were samples of biological substrates (leukocyte mass, saliva, urine) taken from patients who underwent liver and kidney transplantation. Detection of CMV DNA was carried out by a real-time PCR using commercial diagnostic AmpliSense CMV-FL test systems (Central Research Institute for Epidemiology, Moscow, Russia). DNA extraction was performed using DNA-sorb AM and DNA-sorb V kits (Central Research Institute for Epidemiology) in accordance with manufacturer's manual. The quality of the prepared DNA library for sequencing was assessed by means of the QIAxcel Advanced System capillary gel electrophoresis system (QIAGEN, Germany). Alignment and assembly of nucleotide sequences were carried out using CLC Genomics Workbench 5.5 software (CLC bio, USA). The sequencing results were analyzed using BLAST of NCBI server. Results CMV DNA samples were selected for genotyping. The two variable genes, UL55(gB) and UL73(gN), were used for CMV genotype determination, which was performed using NGS technology MiSeq sequencer (Illumina, USA). Based on the exploratory studies and analysis of literature sources, primers for genotyping on the UL55(gB) and UL73(gN) genes have been selected and the optimal conditions for the PCR reaction have been defined. The results of sequencing the UL55(gB) and UL73(gN) gene fragments of CMV clinical isolates from recipients of solid organs made it possible to determine the virus genotypes, among which gB2, gN4c, and gN4b were dominant. In some cases, association of two and three CMV genotypes has been revealed. Conclusion The application of the NGS technology for genotyping cytomegalovirus strains can become one of the main methods of CMV infection molecular epidemiology, as it allows for obtaining reliable results with a significant reduction in research time.
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Affiliation(s)
- O.E. Vankova
- Head Researcher, Laboratory of Metagenomics and Molecular Indication of Pathogens; Academician I.N. Blokhina Nizhny Novgorod Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of Rospotrebnadzor (Russian Federal Consumer Rights Protection and Human Health Control Service), 71 Malaya Yamskaya St., Nizhny Novgorod, 603950, Russia
| | - N.F. Brusnigina
- Head of the Laboratory of Metagenomics and Molecular Indication of Pathogens; Academician I.N. Blokhina Nizhny Novgorod Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of Rospotrebnadzor (Russian Federal Consumer Rights Protection and Human Health Control Service), 71 Malaya Yamskaya St., Nizhny Novgorod, 603950, Russia
| | - N.A. Novikova
- Professor, Head of the Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology of Viral Infections Academician I.N. Blokhina Nizhny Novgorod Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of Rospotrebnadzor (Russian Federal Consumer Rights Protection and Human Health Control Service), 71 Malaya Yamskaya St., Nizhny Novgorod, 603950, Russia Modern molecular genetic methods, massive parallel sequencing in particular, allow for genotyping of various pathogens with the aim of their epidemiological marking and improvement of molecular epidemiological surveillance of actual infections, including cytomegalovirus infection
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20
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Semmes EC, Miller IG, Rodgers N, Phan CT, Hurst JH, Walsh KM, Stanton RJ, Pollara J, Permar SR. ADCC-activating antibodies correlate with protection against congenital human cytomegalovirus infection. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.03.15.23287332. [PMID: 36993668 PMCID: PMC10055595 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.15.23287332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most common vertically transmitted infection worldwide, yet there are no licensed vaccines or therapeutics to prevent congenital HCMV (cCMV) infection. Emerging evidence from studies of natural infection and HCMV vaccine trials indicates that antibody Fc effector functions may defend against HCMV infection. We previously reported that antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) and IgG activation of FcγRI/FcγRII were associated with reduced risk of cCMV transmission, leading us to hypothesize that other Fc-mediated antibody functions may also contribute to protection. In this same cohort of HCMV transmitting (n = 41) and non-transmitting (n = 40) mother-infant dyads, we found that higher maternal sera antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activation was also associated with decreased risk of cCMV infection. We determined that NK cell-mediated ADCC responses correlated strongly with anti-HCMV IgG FcγRIII/CD16 activation and IgG binding to the HCMV immunoevasin protein UL16. Notably, anti-UL16 IgG binding and engagement of FcγRIII/CD16 were higher in non-transmitting versus transmitting dyads and interacted significantly with ADCC responses. These findings indicate that ADCC-activating antibodies against novel targets such as UL16 may represent an important protective maternal immune response against cCMV infection, which can guide future HCMV correlates studies and vaccine development.
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21
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Fornara C, Schultz E, Lilleri D, Baldanti F, Ryckman B, Gerna G. Fibroblast, Epithelial and Endothelial Cell-Derived Human Cytomegalovirus Strains Display Distinct Neutralizing Antibody Responses and Varying Levels of gH/gL Complexes. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:4417. [PMID: 36901847 PMCID: PMC10003051 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In sequential sera from pregnant women with HCMV primary infection (PI), the serum neutralizing activity is higher against virions produced in epithelial and endothelial cells than in fibroblasts. Immunoblotting shows that the pentamer complex/trimer complex (PC/TC) ratio varies according to the producer cell culture type used for the virus preparation to be employed in the neutralizing antibody (NAb) assay, and is lower in fibroblasts and higher in epithelial, and especially endothelial cells. The blocking activity of TC- and PC-specific inhibitors varies according to the PC/TC ratio of virus preparations. The rapid reversion of the virus phenotype following its back passage to the original cell culture (fibroblasts) potentially argues in favor of a producer cell effect on virus phenotype. However, the role of genetic factors cannot be overlooked. In addition to the producer cell type, the PC/TC ratio may differ in single HCMV strains. In conclusion, the NAb activity not only varies with different HCMV strains, but is a dynamic parameter changing according to virus strain, type of target and producer cells, and number of cell culture passages. These findings may have some important implications for the development of both therapeutic antibodies and subunit vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Fornara
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Eric Schultz
- Center for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Daniele Lilleri
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Fausto Baldanti
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Brent Ryckman
- Center for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Giuseppe Gerna
- Laboratories of Genetics, Transplantology and Cardiovascular Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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22
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Camiolo S, Hughes J, Baldanti F, Furione M, Lilleri D, Lombardi G, Angelini M, Gerna G, Zavattoni M, Davison AJ, Suárez NM. Identifying high-confidence variants in human cytomegalovirus genomes sequenced from clinical samples. Virus Evol 2022; 8:veac114. [PMID: 37091479 PMCID: PMC10120596 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veac114] [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: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the intrahost evolution of viral populations has implications in pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment and has recently made impressive advances from developments in high-throughput sequencing. However, the underlying analyses are very sensitive to sources of bias, error, and artefact in the data, and it is important that these are addressed adequately if robust conclusions are to be drawn. The key factors include (1) determining the number of viral strains present in the sample analysed; (2) monitoring the extent to which the data represent these strains and assessing the quality of these data; (3) dealing with the effects of cross-contamination; and (4) ensuring that the results are reproducible. We investigated these factors by generating sequence datasets, including biological and technical replicates, directly from clinical samples obtained from a small cohort of patients who had been infected congenitally with the herpesvirus human cytomegalovirus, with the aim of developing a strategy for identifying high-confidence intrahost variants. We found that such variants were few in number and typically present in low proportions and concluded that human cytomegalovirus exhibits a very low level of intrahost variability. In addition to clarifying the situation regarding human cytomegalovirus, our strategy has wider applicability to understanding the intrahost variability of other viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Camiolo
- School of Infection and Immunity, MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Joseph Hughes
- School of Infection and Immunity, MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
- Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, School of Infection and Immunity, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Fausto Baldanti
- Microbiology and Virology Department, Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Milena Furione
- Microbiology and Virology Department, Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Daniele Lilleri
- Microbiology and Virology Department, Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Lombardi
- Neonatal and Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Micol Angelini
- Neonatal and Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Gerna
- Transplant Research Area and Centre for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Maurizio Zavattoni
- Microbiology and Virology Department, Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Andrew J Davison
- School of Infection and Immunity, MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Nicolás M Suárez
- School of Infection and Immunity, MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
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23
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High-Risk Oncogenic Human Cytomegalovirus. Viruses 2022; 14:v14112462. [PMID: 36366560 PMCID: PMC9695668 DOI: 10.3390/v14112462] [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: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a herpesvirus that infects between 40% and 95% of the population worldwide, usually without symptoms. The host immune response keeps the virus in a latent stage, although HCMV can reactivate in an inflammatory context, which could result in sequential lytic/latent viral cycles during the lifetime and thereby participate in HCMV genomic diversity in humans. The high level of HCMV intra-host genomic variability could participate in the oncomodulatory role of HCMV where the virus will favor the development and spread of cancerous cells. Recently, an oncogenic role of HCMV has been highlighted in which the virus will directly transform primary cells; such HCMV strains are named high-risk (HR) HCMV strains. In light of these new findings, this review defines the criteria that characterize HR-HCMV strains and their molecular as well as the phenotypic impact on the infected cell and its tumor microenvironment.
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24
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Bruce K, Ma J, Lawler C, Xie W, Stevenson PG, Farrell HE. Recent Advancements in Understanding Primary Cytomegalovirus Infection in a Mouse Model. Viruses 2022; 14:v14091934. [PMID: 36146741 PMCID: PMC9505653 DOI: 10.3390/v14091934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal models that mimic human infections provide insights in virus–host interplay; knowledge that in vitro approaches cannot readily predict, nor easily reproduce. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infections are acquired asymptomatically, and primary infections are difficult to capture. The gap in our knowledge of the early events of HCMV colonization and spread limits rational design of HCMV antivirals and vaccines. Studies of natural infection with mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) have demonstrated the olfactory epithelium as the site of natural colonization. Systemic spread from the olfactory epithelium is facilitated by infected dendritic cells (DC); tracking dissemination uncovered previously unappreciated DC trafficking pathways. The olfactory epithelium also provides a unique niche that supports efficient MCMV superinfection and virus recombination. In this review, we summarize recent advances to our understanding of MCMV infection and spread and the tissue-specific mechanisms utilized by MCMV to modulate DC trafficking. As these mechanisms are likely conserved with HCMV, they may inform new approaches for preventing HCMV infections in humans.
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25
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Külekci B, Schwarz S, Brait N, Perkmann-Nagele N, Jaksch P, Hoetzenecker K, Puchhammer-Stöckl E, Goerzer I. Human cytomegalovirus strain diversity and dynamics reveal the donor lung as a major contributor after transplantation. Virus Evol 2022; 8:veac076. [PMID: 36128049 PMCID: PMC9477073 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veac076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mixed human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) strain infections are frequent in lung transplant recipients (LTRs). To date, the influence of the donor (D) and recipient (R) HCMV serostatus on intra-host HCMV strain composition and viral population dynamics after transplantation is only poorly understood. Here, we investigated ten pre-transplant lungs from HCMV-seropositive donors and 163 sequential HCMV-DNA-positive plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage samples from fifty LTRs with multiviremic episodes post-transplantation. The study cohort included D+R+ (38 per cent), D+R- (36 per cent), and D-R+ (26 per cent) patients. All samples were subjected to quantitative genotyping by short amplicon deep sequencing, and twenty-four of them were additionally PacBio long-read sequenced for genotype linkages. We find that D+R+ patients show a significantly elevated intra-host strain diversity compared to D+R- and D-R+ patients (P = 0.0089). Both D+ patient groups display significantly higher viral population dynamics than D- patients (P = 0.0061). Five out of ten pre-transplant donor lungs were HCMV DNA positive, whereof three multiple HCMV strains were detected, indicating that multi-strain transmission via lung transplantation is likely. Using long reads, we show that intra-host haplotypes can share distinctly linked genotypes, which limits overall intra-host diversity in mixed infections. Together, our findings demonstrate donor-derived strains as the main source of increased HCMV strain diversity and dynamics post-transplantation. These results foster strategies to mitigate the potential transmission of the donor strain reservoir to the allograft, such as ex vivo delivery of HCMV-selective immunotoxins prior to transplantation to reduce latent HCMV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Büsra Külekci
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Stefan Schwarz
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Nadja Brait
- Cluster of Microbial Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands
| | - Nicole Perkmann-Nagele
- Division of Clinical Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Peter Jaksch
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Konrad Hoetzenecker
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | | | - Irene Goerzer
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, Vienna 1090, Austria
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26
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Combined knockdown of RL13 and UL128 for release of cell-free infectivity from recent HCMV isolates. J Virol Methods 2022; 305:114537. [PMID: 35526667 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2022.114537] [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: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Due to strictly cell-associated growth, experiments requiring cell-free virus are not applicable to recent clinical HCMV isolates to date. On the other hand, adaptation to cell-free growth is associated with undesirable changes in the viral gene regions RL13 and UL128. We had previously found that siRNA-mediated reduction of UL128 expression allowed transient release of cell-free virus by clinical isolates, and now hypothesized that virus yield could be further increased by additional knockdown of RL13. Despite the extensive polymorphism of RL13, effective RL13-specific siRNAs could be designed for three recent isolates and the Merlin strain. Knockdown efficiency was demonstrated at the protein level with a Merlin variant expressing V5-tagged pRL13. Knockdown of RL13 alone did not result in measurable release of cell-free virus, but combined knockdown of RL13 and UL128 increased infectivity in cell-free supernatants by a factor of 10-2000 compared to knockdown of UL128 alone. These supernatants could be used in dose-response assays to compare the effect of a neutralizing antibody on the various HCMV isolates. In summary, combined knockdown of RL13 and UL128 by specific siRNAs allows reliable release of cell-free infectivity from otherwise strictly cell-associated HCMV isolates without the need to modify the viral genome.
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27
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Waters S, Lee S, Ariyanto I, Kresoje N, Leary S, Munyard K, Gaudieri S, Irish A, Keil AD, Allcock RJN, Price P. Sequencing of the Viral UL111a Gene Directly from Clinical Specimens Reveals Variants of HCMV-Encoded IL-10 That Are Associated with Altered Immune Responses to HCMV. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:4644. [PMID: 35563032 PMCID: PMC9104433 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a beta-herpesvirus carried by ~80% of adults worldwide. Acute infections are often asymptomatic in healthy individuals but generate diverse syndromes in neonates, renal transplant recipients (RTR), and people with HIV (PWH). The HCMV gene UL111a encodes a homolog of human interleukin-10 (IL-10) that interacts with the human IL-10 receptor. Deep sequencing technologies were used to sequence UL111a directly from 59 clinical samples from Indonesian PWH and Australian RTR, healthy adults, and neonates. Overall, 93% of samples contained more than one variant of HCMV, as defined by at least one nonsynonymous variation. Carriage of these variants differed between neonates and adults, Australians and Indonesians, and between saliva and blood leukocytes. The variant alleles of N41D and S71Y occurred together in Australian RTR and were associated with higher T-cell responses to HCMV pp65. The variant P122S was associated with lower levels of antibodies reactive with a lysate of HCMV-infected fibroblasts. L174F was associated with increased levels of antibodies reactive with HCMV lysate, immediate-early 1 (IE-1), and glycoprotein B (gB) in Australian RTR and Indonesians PWH, suggesting a higher viral burden. We conclude that variants of UL111a are common in all populations and may influence systemic responses to HCMV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelley Waters
- Curtin Medical School, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Bentley 6102, Australia; (S.W.); (S.L.); (K.M.)
| | - Silvia Lee
- Curtin Medical School, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Bentley 6102, Australia; (S.W.); (S.L.); (K.M.)
- PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, Department of Microbiology, Nedlands 6009, Australia;
| | - Ibnu Ariyanto
- Virology and Cancer Pathobiology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia;
| | - Nina Kresoje
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Nedlands 6009, Australia; (N.K.); (R.J.N.A.)
| | - Shay Leary
- Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Murdoch University, Murdoch 6150, Australia; (S.L.); (S.G.)
| | - Kylie Munyard
- Curtin Medical School, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Bentley 6102, Australia; (S.W.); (S.L.); (K.M.)
| | - Silvana Gaudieri
- Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Murdoch University, Murdoch 6150, Australia; (S.L.); (S.G.)
- School of Human Sciences, University of Western Australia, Nedlands 6009, Australia
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Ashley Irish
- Department of Nephrology, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Murdoch 6150, Australia;
| | - Anthony D. Keil
- PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, Department of Microbiology, Nedlands 6009, Australia;
| | - Richard J. N. Allcock
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Nedlands 6009, Australia; (N.K.); (R.J.N.A.)
- PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, Department of Diagnostic Genomics, Nedlands 6009, Australia
| | - Patricia Price
- Curtin Medical School, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Bentley 6102, Australia; (S.W.); (S.L.); (K.M.)
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28
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Complexity of Human Cytomegalovirus Infection in South African HIV-Exposed Infants with Pneumonia. Viruses 2022; 14:v14050855. [PMID: 35632596 PMCID: PMC9147013 DOI: 10.3390/v14050855] [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: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) can cause significant end-organ diseases such as pneumonia in HIV-exposed infants. Complex viral factors may influence pathogenesis including: a large genome with a sizeable coding capacity, numerous gene regions of hypervariability, multiple-strain infections, and tissue compartmentalization of strains. We used a whole genome sequencing approach to assess the complexity of infection by comparing high-throughput sequencing data obtained from respiratory and blood specimens of HIV-exposed infants with severe HCMV pneumonia with those of lung transplant recipients and patients with hematological disorders. There were significantly more specimens from HIV-exposed infants showing multiple HCMV strain infection. Some genotypes, such as UL73 G4B and UL74 G4, were significantly more prevalent in HIV-exposed infants with severe HCMV pneumonia. Some genotypes were predominant in the respiratory specimens of several patients. However, the predominance was not statistically significant, precluding firm conclusions on anatomical compartmentalization in the lung.
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29
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Tumors and Cytomegalovirus: An Intimate Interplay. Viruses 2022; 14:v14040812. [PMID: 35458542 PMCID: PMC9028007 DOI: 10.3390/v14040812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a herpesvirus that alternates lytic and latent infection, infecting between 40 and 95% of the population worldwide, usually without symptoms. During its lytic cycle, HCMV can result in fever, asthenia, and, in some cases, can lead to severe symptoms such as hepatitis, pneumonitis, meningitis, retinitis, and severe cytomegalovirus disease, especially in immunocompromised individuals. Usually, the host immune response keeps the virus in a latent stage, although HCMV can reactivate in an inflammatory context, which could result in sequential lytic/latent viral cycles during the lifetime and thereby participate in the HCMV genomic diversity in humans and the high level of HCMV intrahost genomic variability. The oncomodulatory role of HCMV has been reported, where the virus will favor the development and spread of cancerous cells. Recently, an oncogenic role of HCMV has been highlighted in which the virus will directly transform primary cells and might therefore be defined as the eighth human oncovirus. In light of these new findings, it is critical to understand the role of the immune landscape, including the tumor microenvironment present in HCMV-harboring tumors. Finally, the oncomodulatory/oncogenic potential of HCMV could lead to the development of novel adapted therapeutic approaches against HCMV, especially since immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer therapeutic strategies and new therapeutic approaches are actively needed, particularly to fight tumors of poor prognosis.
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30
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Griffiths ME, Broos A, Bergner LM, Meza DK, Suarez NM, da Silva Filipe A, Tello C, Becker DJ, Streicker DG. Longitudinal deep sequencing informs vector selection and future deployment strategies for transmissible vaccines. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001580. [PMID: 35439242 PMCID: PMC9017877 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccination is a powerful tool in combating infectious diseases of humans and companion animals. In most wildlife, including reservoirs of emerging human diseases, achieving sufficient vaccine coverage to mitigate disease burdens remains logistically unattainable. Virally vectored "transmissible" vaccines that deliberately spread among hosts are a potentially transformative, but still theoretical, solution to the challenge of immunising inaccessible wildlife. Progress towards real-world application is frustrated by the absence of frameworks to guide vector selection and vaccine deployment prior to major in vitro and in vivo investments in vaccine engineering and testing. Here, we performed deep sequencing on field-collected samples of Desmodus rotundus betaherpesvirus (DrBHV), a candidate vector for a transmissible vaccine targeting vampire bat-transmitted rabies. We discovered 11 strains of DrBHV that varied in prevalence and geographic distribution across Peru. The phylogeographic structure of DrBHV strains was predictable from both host genetics and landscape topology, informing long-term DrBHV-vectored vaccine deployment strategies and identifying geographic areas for field trials where vaccine spread would be naturally contained. Multistrain infections were observed in 79% of infected bats. Resampling of marked individuals over 4 years showed within-host persistence kinetics characteristic of latency and reactivation, properties that might boost individual immunity and lead to sporadic vaccine transmission over the lifetime of the host. Further, strain acquisitions by already infected individuals implied that preexisting immunity and strain competition are unlikely to inhibit vaccine spread. Our results support the development of a transmissible vaccine targeting a major source of human and animal rabies in Latin America and show how genomics can enlighten vector selection and deployment strategies for transmissible vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E. Griffiths
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Alice Broos
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Laura M. Bergner
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Diana K. Meza
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Nicolas M. Suarez
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Ana da Silva Filipe
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Carlos Tello
- Association for the Conservation and Development of Natural Resources, Lima, Peru
- Yunkawasi, Lima, Peru
| | - Daniel J. Becker
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Daniel G. Streicker
- MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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31
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Berg C, Wedemeyer MJ, Melynis M, Schlimgen RR, Hansen LH, Våbenø J, Peterson FC, Volkman BF, Rosenkilde MM, Lüttichau HR. The non-ELR CXC chemokine encoded by human cytomegalovirus UL146 genotype 5 contains a C-terminal β-hairpin and induces neutrophil migration as a selective CXCR2 agonist. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010355. [PMID: 35271688 PMCID: PMC8939814 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a major pathogen in immunocompromised patients. The UL146 gene exists as 14 diverse genotypes among clinical isolates, which encode 14 different CXC chemokines. One genotype (vCXCL1GT1) is a known agonist for CXCR1 and CXCR2, while two others (vCXCL1GT5 and vCXCL1GT6) lack the ELR motif considered crucial for CXCR1 and CXCR2 binding, thus suggesting another receptor targeting profile. To determine the receptor target for vCXCL1GT5, the chemokine was probed in a G protein signaling assay on all 18 classical human chemokine receptors, where CXCR2 was the only receptor being activated. In addition, vCXCL1GT5 recruited β-arrestin in a BRET-based assay and induced migration in a chemotaxis assay through CXCR2, but not CXCR1. In contrast, vCXCL1GT1 stimulated G protein signaling, recruited β-arrestin and induced migration through both CXCR1 and CXCR2. Both vCXCL1GT1 and vCXCL1GT5 induced equally potent and efficacious migration of neutrophils, and ELR vCXCL1GT4 and non-ELR vCXCL1GT6 activated only CXCR2. In contrast to most human chemokines, the 14 UL146 genotypes have remarkably long C-termini. Comparative modeling using Rosetta showed that each genotype could adopt the classic chemokine core structure, and predicted that the extended C-terminal tail of several genotypes (including vCXCL1GT1, vCXCL1GT4, vCXCL1GT5, and vCXCL1GT6) forms a novel β-hairpin not found in human chemokines. Secondary NMR shift and TALOS+ analysis of vCXCL1GT1 supported the existence of two stable β-strands. C-terminal deletion of vCXCL1GT1 resulted in a non-functional protein and in a shift to solvent exposure for tryptophan residues likely due to destabilization of the chemokine fold. The results demonstrate that non-ELR chemokines can activate CXCR2 and suggest that the UL146 chemokines have unique C-terminal structures that stabilize the chemokine fold. Increased knowledge of the structure and interaction partners of the chemokine variants encoded by UL146 is key to understanding why circulating HCMV strains sustain 14 stable genotypes. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a prevalent herpesvirus infecting an estimated 60% of the human population worldwide. It is commonly transmitted during early childhood and leads to life-long latency, where viral reactivation can cause severe complications in case of host immune suppression. Furthermore, HCMV is the leading cause of congenital infections. Circulating HCMV strains exhibit great genetic diversity unusual for DNA viruses. One of its most diverse genes is UL146, which encodes a chemokine that facilitates viral dissemination by exploiting the human immune system through mimicry of key immunity components. In this study, we investigate how the diversity of UL146 affects its signaling and structural properties to understand why its genetic diversity is maintained across human populations. We find that certain genotypes that lack key structural domains present in the human homologs nonetheless exert similar functions in the virus-host relationship. Furthermore, many of the UL146 genotypes contain novel structural elements critical for correct protein folding and with the potential to provide HCMV with additional immune modulatory and evasive features. Together, our data highlight a considerable degree of host-adaptation by HCMV and propose novel structural interactions with implications for the virus-host interplay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Berg
- Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Unit for Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Herlev-Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Michael J. Wedemeyer
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Motiejus Melynis
- Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Roman R. Schlimgen
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Lasse H. Hansen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Copenhagen Center for Glycomics, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Jon Våbenø
- Helgeland Hospital Trust, Sandnessjøen, Norway
| | - Francis C. Peterson
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Brian F. Volkman
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Mette M. Rosenkilde
- Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- * E-mail: (MMR); (HRL)
| | - Hans R. Lüttichau
- Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Unit for Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Herlev-Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark
- * E-mail: (MMR); (HRL)
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32
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Neutralizing Antibodies Limit Cell-Associated Spread of Human Cytomegalovirus in Epithelial Cells and Fibroblasts. Viruses 2022; 14:v14020284. [PMID: 35215877 PMCID: PMC8875165 DOI: 10.3390/v14020284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) can cause severe clinical disease in immunocompromised individuals, such as allograft recipients and infants infected in utero. Neutralizing activity of antibodies, measured as the ability to prevent the entry of cell-free virus, has been correlated with the reduction in HCMV transmission and the severity of HCMV-associated disease. However, in vivo HCMV amplification may occur mainly via cell-to-cell spread. Thus, quantifying the inhibition of cell-to-cell transmission could be important in the evaluation of therapeutic antibodies and/or humoral responses to infection or immunization. Here, we established a quantitative plaque reduction assay, which allowed for the measurement of the capacity of antibodies to limit HCMV spread in vitro. Using an automated fluorescence spot reader, infection progression was assayed by the expansion of viral plaques during the course of infection with various GFP-expressing viruses. We found that in contrast to non-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), neutralizing mAbs against both glycoprotein B and H (gB and gH) could significantly inhibit viral plaque expansion of different HCMV strains and was equally efficient in fibroblasts as in epithelial cells. In contrast, an anti-pentamer mAb was active only in epithelial cells. Taken together, our data demonstrate that specific anti-HCMV mAbs can significantly limit cell-associated virus spread in vitro.
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Brait N, Külekçi B, Goerzer I. Long range PCR-based deep sequencing for haplotype determination in mixed HCMV infections. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:31. [PMID: 34991471 PMCID: PMC8735729 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-08272-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Short read sequencing has been used extensively to decipher the genome diversity of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) strains, but falls short to reveal individual genomes in mixed HCMV strain populations. Novel third-generation sequencing platforms offer an extended read length and promise to resolve how distant polymorphic sites along individual genomes are linked. In the present study, we established a long amplicon PacBio sequencing workflow to identify the absolute and relative quantities of unique HCMV haplotypes spanning over multiple hypervariable sites in mixtures. Initial validation of this approach was performed with defined HCMV DNA templates derived from cell-culture enriched viruses and was further tested for its suitability on patient samples carrying mixed HCMV infections. RESULTS Total substitution and indel error rate of mapped reads ranged from 0.17 to 0.43% depending on the stringency of quality trimming. Artificial HCMV DNA mixtures were correctly determined down to 1% abundance of the minor DNA source when the total HCMV DNA input was 4 × 104 copies/ml. PCR products of up to 7.7 kb and a GC content < 55% were efficiently generated when DNA was directly isolated from patient samples. In a single sample, up to three distinct haplotypes were identified showing varying relative frequencies. Alignments of distinct haplotype sequences within patient samples showed uneven distribution of sequence diversity, interspersed by long identical stretches. Moreover, diversity estimation at single polymorphic regions as assessed by short amplicon sequencing may markedly underestimate the overall diversity of mixed haplotype populations. CONCLUSIONS Quantitative haplotype determination by long amplicon sequencing provides a novel approach for HCMV strain characterisation in mixed infected samples which can be scaled up to cover the majority of the genome by multi-amplicon panels. This will substantially improve our understanding of intra-host HCMV strain diversity and its dynamic behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadja Brait
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Büşra Külekçi
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Irene Goerzer
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Olfactory Entry Promotes Herpesvirus Recombination. J Virol 2021; 95:e0155521. [PMID: 34523965 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01555-21] [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: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Herpesvirus genomes show abundant evidence of past recombination. Its functional importance is unknown. A key question is whether recombinant viruses can outpace the immunity induced by their parents to reach higher loads. We tested this by coinfecting mice with attenuated mutants of murid herpesvirus 4 (MuHV-4). Infection by the natural olfactory route routinely allowed mutant viruses to reconstitute wild-type genotypes and reach normal viral loads. Lung coinfections rescued much less well. Attenuated murine cytomegalovirus mutants similarly showed recombinational rescue via the nose but not the lungs. These infections spread similarly, so route-specific rescue implied that recombination occurred close to the olfactory entry site. Rescue of replication-deficient MuHV-4 confirmed this, showing that coinfection occurred in the first encountered olfactory cells. This worked even with asynchronous inoculation, implying that a defective virus can wait here for later rescue. Virions entering the nose get caught on respiratory mucus, which the respiratory epithelial cilia push back toward the olfactory surface. Early infection was correspondingly focused on the anterior olfactory edge. Thus, by concentrating incoming infection into a small area, olfactory entry seems to promote functionally significant recombination. IMPORTANCE All organisms depend on genetic diversity to cope with environmental change. Small viruses rely on frequent point mutations. This is harder for herpesviruses because they have larger genomes. Recombination provides another means of genetic optimization. Human herpesviruses often coinfect, and they show evidence of past recombination, but whether this is rare and incidental or functionally important is unknown. We showed that herpesviruses entering mice via the natural olfactory route meet reliably enough for recombination routinely to repair crippling mutations and restore normal viral loads. It appeared to occur in the first encountered olfactory cells and reflected a concentration of infection at the anterior olfactory edge. Thus, natural host entry incorporates a significant capacity for herpesvirus recombination.
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Sequencing Directly from Clinical Specimens Reveals Genetic Variations in HCMV-Encoded Chemokine Receptor US28 That May Influence Antibody Levels and Interactions with Human Chemokines. Microbiol Spectr 2021; 9:e0002021. [PMID: 34704798 PMCID: PMC8549752 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00020-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a beta-herpesvirus carried by ∼80% of the world’s population. Acute infections are asymptomatic in healthy individuals but generate diverse syndromes in neonates, solid organ transplant recipients, and HIV-infected individuals. The HCMV gene US28 encodes a homolog of a human chemokine receptor that is able to bind several chemokines and HIV gp120. Deep sequencing technologies were used to sequence US28 directly from 60 clinical samples from Indonesian HIV patients and Australian renal transplant recipients, healthy adults, and neonates. Molecular modeling approaches were used to predict whether nine nonsynonymous mutations in US28 may alter protein binding to a panel of six chemokines and two variants of HIV gp120. Ninety-two percent of samples contained more than one variant of HCMV, as defined by at least one nonsynonymous mutation. Carriage of these variants differed between neonates and adults, Australian and Indonesian samples, and saliva samples and blood leukocytes. Two nonsynonymous mutations (N170D and R267K) were associated with increased levels of immediate early protein 1 (IE-1) and glycoprotein B (gB) HCMV-reactive antibodies, suggesting a higher viral burden. Seven of the nine mutations were predicted to alter binding of at least one ligand. Overall, HCMV variants are common in all populations and have the potential to affect US28 interactions with human chemokines and/or gp120 and alter responses to the virus. The findings relied on deep sequencing technologies applied directly to clinical samples, so the variants exist in vivo. IMPORTANCE Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a common viral pathogen of solid organ transplant recipients, neonates, and HIV-infected individuals. HCMV encodes homologs of several host genes with the potential to influence viral persistence and/or pathogenesis. Here, we present deep sequencing of an HCMV chemokine receptor homolog, US28, acquired directly from clinical specimens. Carriage of these variants differed between patient groups and was associated with different levels of circulating HCMV-reactive antibodies. These features are consistent with a role for US28 in HCMV persistence and pathogenesis. This was supported by in silico analyses of the variant sequences demonstrating altered ligand-binding profiles. The data delineate a novel approach to understanding the pathogenesis of HCMV and may impact the development of an effective vaccine.
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Optimization of a Lambda-RED Recombination Method for Rapid Gene Deletion in Human Cytomegalovirus. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910558. [PMID: 34638896 PMCID: PMC8508972 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910558] [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: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) continues to be a major cause of morbidity in transplant patients and newborns. However, the functions of many of the more than 282 genes encoded in the HCMV genome remain unknown. The development of bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) technology contributes to the genetic manipulation of several organisms including HCMV. The maintenance of the HCMV BAC in E. coli cells permits the rapid generation of recombinant viral genomes that can be used to produce viral progeny in cell cultures for the study of gene function. We optimized the Lambda-Red Recombination system to construct HCMV gene deletion mutants rapidly in the complete set of tested genes. This method constitutes a useful tool that allows for the quick generation of a high number of gene deletion mutants, allowing for the analysis of the whole genome to improve our understanding of HCMV gene function. This may also facilitate the development of novel vaccines and therapeutics.
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Schultz EP, Yu Q, Stegmann C, Day LZ, Lanchy JM, Ryckman BJ. Mutagenesis of Human Cytomegalovirus Glycoprotein L Disproportionately Disrupts gH/gL/gO over gH/gL/pUL128-131. J Virol 2021; 95:e0061221. [PMID: 34132577 PMCID: PMC8354327 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00612-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell-free and cell-to-cell spread of herpesviruses involves a core fusion apparatus comprised of the fusion protein glycoprotein B (gB) and the regulatory factor gH/gL. The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) gH/gL/gO and gH/gL/pUL128-131 facilitate spread in different cell types. The gO and pUL128-131 components bind distinct receptors, but how the gH/gL portions of the complexes functionally compare is not understood. We previously characterized a panel of gL mutants by transient expression and showed that many were impaired for gH/gL-gB-dependent cell-cell fusion but were still able to form gH/gL/pUL128-131 and induce receptor interference. Here, the gL mutants were engineered into the HCMV BAC clones TB40/e-BAC4 (TB), TR, and Merlin (ME), which differ in their utilization of the two complexes for entry and spread. Several of the gL mutations disproportionately impacted gH/gL/gO-dependent entry and spread over gH/gL/pUL128-131 processes. The effects of some mutants could be explained by impaired gH/gL/gO assembly, but other mutants impacted gH/gL/gO function. Soluble gH/gL/gO containing the L201 mutant failed to block HCMV infection despite unimpaired binding to PDGFRα, indicating the existence of other important gH/gL/gO receptors. Another mutant (L139) enhanced the gH/gL/gO-dependent cell-free spread of TR, suggesting a "hyperactive" gH/gL/gO. Recently published crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy studies suggest structural conservation of the gH/gL underlying gH/gL/gO and gH/gL/pUL128-131. However, our data suggest important differences in the gH/gL of the two complexes and support a model in which gH/gL/gO can provide an activation signal for gB. IMPORTANCE The endemic betaherpesvirus HCMV circulates in human populations as a complex mixture of genetically distinct variants, establishes lifelong persistent infections, and causes significant disease in neonates and immunocompromised adults. This study capitalizes on our recent characterizations of three genetically distinct HCMV BAC clones to discern the functions of the envelope glycoprotein complexes gH/gL/gO and gH/gL/pUL128-13, which are promising vaccine targets that share the herpesvirus core fusion apparatus component, gH/gL. Mutations in the shared gL subunit disproportionally affected gH/gL/gO, demonstrating mechanistic differences between the two complexes, and may provide a basis for more refined evaluations of neutralizing antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric P. Schultz
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
- Center for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Qin Yu
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Cora Stegmann
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Le Zhang Day
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
- Biochemistry and Biophysics Program, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Jean-Marc Lanchy
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Brent J. Ryckman
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
- Center for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
- Biochemistry and Biophysics Program, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
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Viral and Prion Infections Associated with Central Nervous System Syndromes in Brazil. Viruses 2021; 13:v13071370. [PMID: 34372576 PMCID: PMC8310075 DOI: 10.3390/v13071370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Virus-induced infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are among the most serious problems in public health and can be associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality, mainly in low- and middle-income countries, where these manifestations have been neglected. Typically, herpes simplex virus 1 and 2, varicella-zoster, and enterovirus are responsible for a high number of cases in immunocompetent hosts, whereas other herpesviruses (for example, cytomegalovirus) are the most common in immunocompromised individuals. Arboviruses have also been associated with outbreaks with a high burden of neurological disorders, such as the Zika virus epidemic in Brazil. There is a current lack of understanding in Brazil about the most common viruses involved in CNS infections. In this review, we briefly summarize the most recent studies and findings associated with the CNS, in addition to epidemiological data that provide extensive information on the circulation and diversity of the most common neuro-invasive viruses in Brazil. We also highlight important aspects of the prion-associated diseases. This review provides readers with better knowledge of virus-associated CNS infections. A deeper understanding of these infections will support the improvement of the current surveillance strategies to allow the timely monitoring of the emergence/re-emergence of neurotropic viruses.
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Wang HY, Valencia SM, Pfeifer SP, Jensen JD, Kowalik TF, Permar SR. Common Polymorphisms in the Glycoproteins of Human Cytomegalovirus and Associated Strain-Specific Immunity. Viruses 2021; 13:v13061106. [PMID: 34207868 PMCID: PMC8227702 DOI: 10.3390/v13061106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), one of the most prevalent viruses across the globe, is a common cause of morbidity and mortality for immunocompromised individuals. Recent clinical observations have demonstrated that mixed strain infections are common and may lead to more severe disease progression. This clinical observation illustrates the complexity of the HCMV genome and emphasizes the importance of taking a population-level view of genotypic evolution. Here we review frequently sampled polymorphisms in the glycoproteins of HCMV, comparing the variable regions, and summarizing their corresponding geographic distributions observed to date. The related strain-specific immunity, including neutralization activity and antigen-specific cellular immunity, is also discussed. Given that these glycoproteins are common targets for vaccine design and anti-viral therapies, this observed genetic variation represents an important resource for future efforts to combat HCMV infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsuan-Yuan Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA;
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA;
| | - Sarah M. Valencia
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA;
| | - Susanne P. Pfeifer
- Center for Evolution & Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA; (S.P.P.); (J.D.J.)
| | - Jeffrey D. Jensen
- Center for Evolution & Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA; (S.P.P.); (J.D.J.)
| | - Timothy F. Kowalik
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA;
| | - Sallie R. Permar
- Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-212-746-4111
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The frequency of cytomegalovirus non-ELR UL146 genotypes in neonates with congenital CMV disease is comparable to strains in the background population. BMC Infect Dis 2021; 21:386. [PMID: 33902487 PMCID: PMC8077815 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06076-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Congenital cytomegalovirus disease (cCMV) is common and can be fatal or cause severe sequelae. Circulating strains of cytomegalovirus carry a high number of variable or disrupted genes. One of these is UL146, a highly diverse gene with 14 distinct genotypes encoding a CXC-chemokine involved in viral dissemination. UL146 genotypes 5 and 6 lack the conserved ELR motif, potentially affecting strain virulence. Here, we investigate whether UL146 genotypes 5 and 6 were associated with congenital CMV infection. Methods Viral DNA was extracted and UL146 sequenced from 116 neonatal dried blood spots (DBS) stored in the Danish National Biobank since 1982 and linked to registered cCMV cases through a personal identifier. These sequences were compared to UL146 control sequences obtained from CMV DNA extracted from 83 urine samples from children with suspected bacterial urinary tract infections. Results Three non-ELR UL146 genotypes (5 and 6) were observed among the cases (2.6%) and two were observed among the controls (2.4%; P > 0.99). Additionally, no significant association with cCMV was found for the other 12 genotypes in a post-hoc analysis, although genotype 8 showed a tendency to be more frequent among cases with 12 observations against three (P = 0.10). All fourteen genotypes were found to have little intra-genotype variation. Viral load, gender, and sample age were not found to be associated with any particular UL146 genotype. Conclusions No particular UL146 genotype was associated with cCMV in this nationwide retrospective case-control study. Associations between CMV disease and disrupted or polymorph CMV genes among immunosuppressed people living with HIV/AIDS and transplant recipients should be investigated in future studies. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12879-021-06076-w.
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Al Qaffas A, Nichols J, Davison AJ, Ourahmane A, Hertel L, McVoy MA, Camiolo S. LoReTTA, a user-friendly tool for assembling viral genomes from PacBio sequence data. Virus Evol 2021; 7:veab042. [PMID: 33996146 PMCID: PMC8111061 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veab042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-read, single-molecule DNA sequencing technologies have triggered a revolution in genomics by enabling the determination of large, reference-quality genomes in ways that overcome some of the limitations of short-read sequencing. However, the greater length and higher error rate of the reads generated on long-read platforms make the tools used for assembling short reads unsuitable for use in data assembly and motivate the development of new approaches. We present LoReTTA (Long Read Template-Targeted Assembler), a tool designed for performing de novo assembly of long reads generated from viral genomes on the PacBio platform. LoReTTA exploits a reference genome to guide the assembly process, an approach that has been successful with short reads. The tool was designed to deal with reads originating from viral genomes, which feature high genetic variability, possible multiple isoforms, and the dominant presence of additional organisms in clinical or environmental samples. LoReTTA was tested on a range of simulated and experimental datasets and outperformed established long-read assemblers in terms of assembly contiguity and accuracy. The software runs under the Linux operating system, is designed for easy adaptation to alternative systems, and features an automatic installation pipeline that takes care of the required dependencies. A command-line version and a user-friendly graphical interface version are available under a GPLv3 license at https://bioinformatics.cvr.ac.uk/software/ with the manual and a test dataset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Al Qaffas
- Department of Pediatrics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Jenna Nichols
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | - Andrew J Davison
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | - Amine Ourahmane
- Department of Pediatrics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Laura Hertel
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Michael A McVoy
- Department of Pediatrics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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Götting J, Lazar K, Suárez NM, Steinbrück L, Rabe T, Goelz R, Schulz TF, Davison AJ, Hamprecht K, Ganzenmueller T. Human Cytomegalovirus Genome Diversity in Longitudinally Collected Breast Milk Samples. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:664247. [PMID: 33937103 PMCID: PMC8085339 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.664247] [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: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Reactivation and shedding of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in breast milk during lactation is highly frequent in HCMV-seropositive mothers. This represents a key transmission route for postnatal HCMV infection and can lead to severe disease in preterm neonates. Little is known about HCMV strain composition or longitudinal intrahost viral population dynamics in breast milk from immunocompetent women. We performed HCMV-specific target enrichment and high-throughput sequencing of 38 breast milk samples obtained in Germany between days 10 and 60 postpartum from 15 mothers with HCMV DNA lactia, and assembled HCMV consensus sequences de novo. The genotype distribution and number of HCMV strains present in each sample were determined by quantifying genotype-specific sequence motifs in 12 hypervariable viral genes, revealing a wide range of genotypes (82/109) for these genes in the cohort and a unique, longitudinally stable strain composition in each mother. Reactivation of up to three distinct HCMV strains was detected in 8/15 of mothers, indicating that a representative subset of the woman’s HCMV reservoir might be locally reactivated early during lactation. As described previously, nucleotide diversity of samples with multiple strains was much higher than that of samples with single strains. Breast milk as a main source of postnatal mother-to-infant transmission may serve as a repository for viral diversity and thus play an essential role in the natural epidemiology of HCMV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasper Götting
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Katrin Lazar
- Institute for Medical Virology and Epidemiology of Viral Diseases, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Nicolás M Suárez
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Lars Steinbrück
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Tabea Rabe
- Institute for Medical Virology and Epidemiology of Viral Diseases, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Rangmar Goelz
- Department of Neonatology, University Children's Hospital, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Thomas F Schulz
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Andrew J Davison
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Klaus Hamprecht
- Institute for Medical Virology and Epidemiology of Viral Diseases, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Tina Ganzenmueller
- Institute for Medical Virology and Epidemiology of Viral Diseases, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
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Galitska G, Coscia A, Forni D, Steinbrueck L, De Meo S, Biolatti M, De Andrea M, Cagliani R, Leone A, Bertino E, Schulz T, Santoni A, Landolfo S, Sironi M, Cerboni C, Dell'Oste V. Genetic Variability of Human Cytomegalovirus Clinical Isolates Correlates With Altered Expression of Natural Killer Cell-Activating Ligands and IFN-γ. Front Immunol 2021; 12:532484. [PMID: 33897679 PMCID: PMC8062705 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.532484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection often leads to systemic disease in immunodeficient patients and congenitally infected children. Despite its clinical significance, the exact mechanisms contributing to HCMV pathogenesis and clinical outcomes have yet to be determined. One of such mechanisms involves HCMV-mediated NK cell immune response, which favors viral immune evasion by hindering NK cell-mediated cytolysis. This process appears to be dependent on the extent of HCMV genetic variation as high levels of variability in viral genes involved in immune escape have an impact on viral pathogenesis. However, the link between viral genome variations and their functional effects has so far remained elusive. Thus, here we sought to determine whether inter-host genetic variability of HCMV influences its ability to modulate NK cell responses to infection. For this purpose, five HCMV clinical isolates from a previously characterized cohort of pediatric patients with confirmed HCMV congenital infection were evaluated by next-generation sequencing (NGS) for genetic polymorphisms, phylogenetic relationships, and multiple-strain infection. We report variable levels of genetic characteristics among the selected clinical strains, with moderate variations in genome regions associated with modulation of NK cell functions. Remarkably, we show that different HCMV clinical strains differentially modulate the expression of several ligands for the NK cell-activating receptors NKG2D, DNAM-1/CD226, and NKp30. Specifically, the DNAM-1/CD226 ligand PVR/CD155 appears to be predominantly upregulated by fast-replicating (“aggressive”) HCMV isolates. On the other hand, the NGK2D ligands ULBP2/5/6 are downregulated regardless of the strain used, while other NK cell ligands (i.e., MICA, MICB, ULBP3, Nectin-2/CD112, and B7-H6) are not significantly modulated. Furthermore, we show that IFN-γ; production by NK cells co-cultured with HCMV-infected fibroblasts is directly proportional to the aggressiveness of the HCMV clinical isolates employed. Interestingly, loss of NK cell-modulating genes directed against NK cell ligands appears to be a common feature among the “aggressive” HCMV strains, which also share several gene variants across their genomes. Overall, even though further studies based on a higher number of patients would offer a more definitive scenario, our findings provide novel mechanistic insights into the impact of HCMV genetic variability on NK cell-mediated immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganna Galitska
- Laboratory of Pathogenesis of Viral Infections, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Alessandra Coscia
- Neonatal Unit, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Diego Forni
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Lars Steinbrueck
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Simone De Meo
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Immunopathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Biolatti
- Laboratory of Pathogenesis of Viral Infections, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Marco De Andrea
- Laboratory of Pathogenesis of Viral Infections, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Center for Translational Research on Autoimmune and Allergic Disease - CAAD, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Rachele Cagliani
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Agata Leone
- Neonatal Unit, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Enrico Bertino
- Neonatal Unit, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Thomas Schulz
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Angela Santoni
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Immunopathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Santo Landolfo
- Laboratory of Pathogenesis of Viral Infections, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Manuela Sironi
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Cristina Cerboni
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Immunopathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Dell'Oste
- Laboratory of Pathogenesis of Viral Infections, Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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Zavaglio F, Fiorina L, Suárez NM, Fornara C, De Cicco M, Cirasola D, Davison AJ, Gerna G, Lilleri D. Detection of Genotype-Specific Antibody Responses to Glycoproteins B and H in Primary and Non-Primary Human Cytomegalovirus Infections by Peptide-Based ELISA. Viruses 2021; 13:v13030399. [PMID: 33802390 PMCID: PMC7998382 DOI: 10.3390/v13030399] [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: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Strain-specific antibodies to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) glycoproteins B and H (gB and gH) have been proposed as a potential diagnostic tool for identifying reinfection. We investigated genotype-specific IgG antibody responses in parallel with defining the gB and gH genotypes of the infecting viral strains. METHODS Subjects with primary (n = 20) or non-primary (n = 25) HCMV infection were studied. The seven gB (gB1-7) and two gH (gH1-2) genotypes were determined by real-time PCR and whole viral genome sequencing, and genotype-specific IgG antibodies were measured by a peptide-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS Among subjects with primary infection, 73% (n = 8) infected by gB1-HCMV and 63% (n = 5) infected by gB2/3-HCMV had genotype-specific IgG antibodies to gB (gB2 and gB3 are similar in the region tested). Peptides from the rarer gB4-gB7 genotypes had nonspecific antibody responses. All subjects infected by gH1-HCMV and 86% (n = 6) infected by gH2-HCMV developed genotype-specific responses. Among women with non-primary infection, gB and gH genotype-specific IgG antibodies were detected in 40% (n = 10) and 80% (n = 20) of subjects, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Peptide-based ELISA is capable of detecting primary genotype-specific IgG responses to HCMV gB and gH, and could be adopted for identifying reinfections. However, about half of the subjects did not have genotype-specific IgG antibodies to gB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Zavaglio
- Laboratorio Genetica—Trapiantologia e Malattie Cardiovascolari, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (F.Z.); (L.F.); (C.F.); (M.D.C.); (D.C.); (G.G.)
- Microbiologia e Virologia, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Laboratorio Biochimica-Biotecnologie e Diagnostica Avanzata, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Loretta Fiorina
- Laboratorio Genetica—Trapiantologia e Malattie Cardiovascolari, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (F.Z.); (L.F.); (C.F.); (M.D.C.); (D.C.); (G.G.)
- Microbiologia e Virologia, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Nicolás M. Suárez
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1AF, UK; (N.M.S.); (A.J.D.)
| | - Chiara Fornara
- Laboratorio Genetica—Trapiantologia e Malattie Cardiovascolari, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (F.Z.); (L.F.); (C.F.); (M.D.C.); (D.C.); (G.G.)
- Microbiologia e Virologia, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Laboratorio Biochimica-Biotecnologie e Diagnostica Avanzata, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Marica De Cicco
- Laboratorio Genetica—Trapiantologia e Malattie Cardiovascolari, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (F.Z.); (L.F.); (C.F.); (M.D.C.); (D.C.); (G.G.)
| | - Daniela Cirasola
- Laboratorio Genetica—Trapiantologia e Malattie Cardiovascolari, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (F.Z.); (L.F.); (C.F.); (M.D.C.); (D.C.); (G.G.)
| | - Andrew J. Davison
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1AF, UK; (N.M.S.); (A.J.D.)
| | - Giuseppe Gerna
- Laboratorio Genetica—Trapiantologia e Malattie Cardiovascolari, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (F.Z.); (L.F.); (C.F.); (M.D.C.); (D.C.); (G.G.)
| | - Daniele Lilleri
- Laboratorio Genetica—Trapiantologia e Malattie Cardiovascolari, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (F.Z.); (L.F.); (C.F.); (M.D.C.); (D.C.); (G.G.)
- Microbiologia e Virologia, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Laboratorio Biochimica-Biotecnologie e Diagnostica Avanzata, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Correspondence:
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45
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Vlahava VM, Murrell I, Zhuang L, Aicheler RJ, Lim E, Miners KL, Ladell K, Suárez NM, Price DA, Davison AJ, Wilkinson GW, Wills MR, Weekes MP, Wang EC, Stanton RJ. Monoclonal antibodies targeting nonstructural viral antigens can activate ADCC against human cytomegalovirus. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:139296. [PMID: 33586678 PMCID: PMC7880312 DOI: 10.1172/jci139296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous pathogen that causes severe disease following congenital infection and in immunocompromised individuals. No vaccines are licensed, and there are limited treatment options. We now show that the addition of anti-HCMV antibodies (Abs) can activate NK cells prior to the production of new virions, through Ab-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), overcoming viral immune evasins. Quantitative proteomics defined the most abundant HCMV proteins on the cell surface, and we screened these targets to identify the viral antigens responsible for activating ADCC. Surprisingly, these were not structural glycoproteins; instead, the immune evasins US28, RL11, UL5, UL141, and UL16 each individually primed ADCC. We isolated human monoclonal Abs (mAbs) specific for UL16 or UL141 from a seropositive donor and optimized them for ADCC. Cloned Abs targeting a single antigen (UL141) were sufficient to mediate ADCC against HCMV-infected cells, even at low concentrations. Collectively, these findings validated an unbiased methodological approach to the identification of immunodominant viral antigens, providing a pathway toward an immunotherapeutic strategy against HCMV and potentially other pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia-Maria Vlahava
- Division of Infection and Immunology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Isa Murrell
- Division of Infection and Immunology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Lihui Zhuang
- Division of Infection and Immunology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | | | - Eleanor Lim
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Kelly L. Miners
- Division of Infection and Immunology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Kristin Ladell
- Division of Infection and Immunology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Nicolás M. Suárez
- University of Glasgow-MRC Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - David A. Price
- Division of Infection and Immunology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew J. Davison
- University of Glasgow-MRC Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Gavin W.G. Wilkinson
- Division of Infection and Immunology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Mark R. Wills
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Michael P. Weekes
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Eddie C.Y. Wang
- Division of Infection and Immunology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Richard J. Stanton
- Division of Infection and Immunology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
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46
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Baldo F, Suárez NM, Davison AJ, Zanon D, Barbi E, Maximova N. Post-HSCT graft failure due to refractory human cytomegalovirus successfully treated with haploidentical donor-derived immunoglobulins and stem cell graft infusion: A case report. Antiviral Res 2021; 188:105024. [PMID: 33577809 PMCID: PMC9188265 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2021.105024] [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: 12/12/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Background Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) remains an important cause of transplant-related morbidity and mortality. The incidence of HCMV recurrence in the donor seronegative (D-)/recipient seropositive (R+) group is significantly higher than in other serostatus combinations as a result of a lack of pre-existing HCMV-specific memory T-lymphocytes in the donor, coupled with the eradication of the recipient's cellular immunity due to the conditioning regimen. Case presentation We describe the case of an 8-year-old βE-thalassemic girl from Bangladesh who was seropositive for human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from a HLA-matched, unrelated, HCMV-seronegative donor. Despite administering antiviral prophylaxis with commercial pooled anti-HCMV immunoglobulin (Ig) from day +1, the post-transplant course was complicated by prompt viral reactivation, and foscarnet therapy was initiated. The virus was refractory to treatment, leading rapidly to complete bone marrow failure, and targeted immunotherapy was proposed as a second-line therapy. Hypothesizing that the patient and her relatives may have been exposed to similar HCMV strains, we selected the patient's mother, who presented a high HCMV antibody titer, as the donor of virus strain-specific anti-HCMV Ig and T-lymphocytes. Complete viral clearance was achieved after two transfusions of the mother's plasma. Subsequently, the patient underwent a haploidentical rescue transplant, promptly reaching full hematological recovery. Conclusion These findings suggest that treatment with virus strain-specific Ig may offer a new therapeutic option for critically ill patients. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) remains an important cause of transplant-related morbidity and mortality. Reactivation of multiple viral strains is particularly challenging to eradicate. . Virus strain-specific Ig is an inexpensive, non-toxic therapy to treat HCMV reactivation and improve transplant outcomes. . The efficacy of this approach as a means of prevention has only been demonstrated previously in mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Baldo
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Nicolás M Suárez
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
| | - Andrew J Davison
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
| | - Davide Zanon
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Egidio Barbi
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy; Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Natalia Maximova
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy.
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Abstract
Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection is a leading cause of hearing loss and neurological disabilities in children, with the disease burden and disabilities due to cCMV greater than many other well recognized childhood conditions. A minority of infants with cCMV will have symptoms at birth. Infants with symptomatic cCMV are at higher risk for sequelae than those born without symptoms. The majority of infants with cCMV are asymptomatic at birth, but 10%-15% will develop hearing loss. Although clinical symptoms can help predict which infants will have sensorineural hearing loss, among asymptomatic cCMV there are currently no predictors of adverse outcome. The identification of a biomarker to identify those at highest risk of sequelae is highly desirable to target interventions to those who could potentially benefit. Because there is increasing rationale for establishing both targeted and universal screening programs for cCMV in the United States and worldwide, this is an urgent priority.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazia Kabani
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Shannon A Ross
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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48
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Fritz A, Bremges A, Deng ZL, Lesker TR, Götting J, Ganzenmüller T, Sczyrba A, Dilthey A, Klawonn F, McHardy A. Haploflow: Strain-resolved de novo assembly of viral genomes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2021:2021.01.25.428049. [PMID: 33532769 PMCID: PMC7852260 DOI: 10.1101/2021.01.25.428049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
In viral infections often multiple related viral strains are present, due to coinfection or within-host evolution. We describe Haploflow, a de Bruijn graph-based assembler for de novo genome assembly of viral strains from mixed sequence samples using a novel flow algorithm. We assessed Haploflow across multiple benchmark data sets of increasing complexity, showing that Haploflow is faster and more accurate than viral haplotype assemblers and generic metagenome assemblers not aiming to reconstruct strains. Haplotype reconstructed high-quality strain-resolved assemblies from clinical HCMV samples and SARS-CoV-2 genomes from wastewater metagenomes identical to genomes from clinical isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Fritz
- BIFO, Department of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- DZIF, German Centre for Infection Research
| | - A. Bremges
- BIFO, Department of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- DZIF, German Centre for Infection Research
| | - Z.-L. Deng
- BIFO, Department of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - T.-R. Lesker
- BIFO, Department of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - J. Götting
- DZIF, German Centre for Infection Research
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - T. Ganzenmüller
- DZIF, German Centre for Infection Research
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Institute for Medical Virology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - A. Sczyrba
- BIFO, Department of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- Faculty of Technology and Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - A. Dilthey
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, University Hospital, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Genome Informatics Section, Computational and Statistical Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - F. Klawonn
- Department of Computer Science, Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences, Wolfenbuettel, Germany
- Biostatistics Group, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - A.C. McHardy
- BIFO, Department of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- DZIF, German Centre for Infection Research
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49
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Griffiths P, Reeves M. Pathogenesis of human cytomegalovirus in the immunocompromised host. Nat Rev Microbiol 2021; 19:759-773. [PMID: 34168328 PMCID: PMC8223196 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-021-00582-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 242] [Impact Index Per Article: 80.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a herpesvirus that infects ~60% of adults in developed countries and more than 90% in developing countries. Usually, it is controlled by a vigorous immune response so that infections are asymptomatic or symptoms are mild. However, if the immune system is compromised, HCMV can replicate to high levels and cause serious end organ disease. Substantial progress is being made in understanding the natural history and pathogenesis of HCMV infection and disease in the immunocompromised host. Serial measures of viral load defined the dynamics of HCMV replication and are now used routinely to allow intervention with antiviral drugs in individual patients. They are also used as pharmacodynamic read-outs to evaluate prototype vaccines that may protect against HCMV replication and to define immune correlates of this protection. This novel information is informing the design of randomized controlled trials of new antiviral drugs and vaccines currently under evaluation. In this Review, we discuss immune responses to HCMV and countermeasures deployed by the virus, the establishment of latency and reactivation from it, exogenous reinfection with additional strains, pathogenesis, development of end organ disease, indirect effects of infection, immune correlates of control of replication, current treatment strategies and the evaluation of novel vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Griffiths
- Institute for Immunity and Transplantation, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Matthew Reeves
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Institute for Immunity and Transplantation, University College London, London, UK
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50
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Dhingra A, Götting J, Varanasi PR, Steinbrueck L, Camiolo S, Zischke J, Heim A, Schulz TF, Weissinger EM, Kay-Fedorov PC, Davison AJ, Suárez NM, Ganzenmueller T. Human cytomegalovirus multiple-strain infections and viral population diversity in haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients analysed by high-throughput sequencing. Med Microbiol Immunol 2021; 210:291-304. [PMID: 34611744 PMCID: PMC8541999 DOI: 10.1007/s00430-021-00722-5] [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: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is an important opportunistic pathogen in allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. High-throughput sequencing of target-enriched libraries was performed to characterise the diversity of HCMV strains present in this high-risk group. Forty-four HCMV-DNA-positive plasma specimens (median viral input load 321 IU per library) collected at defined time points from 23 HSCT recipients within 80 days of transplantation were sequenced. The genotype distribution for 12 hypervariable HCMV genes and the number of HCMV strains present (i.e. single- vs. multiple-strain infection) were determined for 29 samples from 16 recipients. Multiple-strain infection was observed in seven of these 16 recipients, and five of these seven recipients had the donor (D)/recipient (R) HCMV-serostatus combination D + R + . A very broad range of genotypes was detected, with an intrahost composition that was generally stable over time. Multiple-strain infection was not associated with particular virological or clinical features, such as altered levels or duration of antigenaemia, development of acute graft-versus-host disease or increased mortality. In conclusion, despite relatively low viral plasma loads, a high frequency of multiple-strain HCMV infection and a high strain complexity were demonstrated in systematically collected clinical samples from this cohort early after HSCT. However, robust evaluation of the pathogenic role of intrahost viral diversity and multiple-strain infection will require studies enrolling larger numbers of recipients.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Dhingra
- Hannover Medical School, Institute of Virology, Hannover, Germany ,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Hannover, Germany
| | - J. Götting
- Hannover Medical School, Institute of Virology, Hannover, Germany ,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Hannover, Germany
| | - P. R. Varanasi
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Hannover, Germany ,Department of Haematology, Haemostasis and Oncology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany ,Present Address: National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, India
| | - L. Steinbrueck
- Hannover Medical School, Institute of Virology, Hannover, Germany ,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Hannover, Germany
| | - S. Camiolo
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | - J. Zischke
- Hannover Medical School, Institute of Virology, Hannover, Germany ,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Hannover, Germany
| | - A. Heim
- Hannover Medical School, Institute of Virology, Hannover, Germany ,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Hannover, Germany
| | - T. F. Schulz
- Hannover Medical School, Institute of Virology, Hannover, Germany ,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Hannover, Germany
| | - E. M. Weissinger
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Hannover, Germany ,Department of Haematology, Haemostasis and Oncology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - P. C. Kay-Fedorov
- Hannover Medical School, Institute of Virology, Hannover, Germany ,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Hannover, Germany
| | - A. J. Davison
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | - N. M. Suárez
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | - T. Ganzenmueller
- Hannover Medical School, Institute of Virology, Hannover, Germany ,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Hannover, Germany ,Institute for Medical Virology and Epidemiology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str. 6, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
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