Phylogenetic analysis of the large family of poxvirus ankyrin-repeat proteins reveals orthologue groups within and across chordopoxvirus genera

Unique ankyrin repeat proteins in the genome of poxviruses-Boon or Wane, a critical review

Ankyrin repeat is a 33-amino acid motif commonly observed in eukaryotes and, to a lesser extent, in prokaryotes and archaea and rarely in viruses. This motif plays a crucial role in regulating various cellular processes like the cell cycle, transcription, cell signaling, and inflammatory responses through interactions between proteins. Poxviruses exhibit a distinctive feature of containing multiple ankyrin repeat proteins within their genomes. All the genera of poxviruses possess these proteins except molluscipox virus, crocodylidpox virus, and red squirrel poxvirus. An intriguing characteristic has generated notable interest in studying the functions of these proteins within poxvirus biology. Within poxviruses, ankyrin repeat proteins exhibit a distinct configuration, featuring ankyrin repeats in the N-terminal region and a cellular F-box homolog in the C-terminal region, which enables interactions with the cellular Skp, Cullin, F-box containing ubiquitin ligase complex. Through the examination of experimental evidences and discussions from current literature, this review elucidates the organization and role of ankyrin repeat proteins in poxviruses. Various research studies have highlighted the significant importance of these proteins in poxviral pathogenesis and, acting as factors that enhance virulence. Consequently, they represent viable targets for developing genetically altered viruses with decreased virulence, thus displaying potential as candidates for vaccines and antiviral therapeutic development contributing to safer and more effective strategies against poxviral infections.

Diversity and structural-functional insights of alpha-solenoid proteins

Alpha-solenoids are a significant and diverse subset of structured tandem repeat proteins (STRPs) that are important in various domains of life. This review examines their structural and functional diversity and highlights their role in critical cellular processes such as signaling, apoptosis, and transcriptional regulation. Alpha-solenoids can be classified into three geometric folds: low curvature, high curvature, and corkscrew, as well as eight subfolds: ankyrin repeats; Huntingtin, elongation factor 3, protein phosphatase 2A, and target of rapamycin; armadillo repeats; tetratricopeptide repeats; pentatricopeptide repeats; Pumilio repeats; transcription activator-like; and Sel-1 and Sel-1-like repeats. These subfolds represent distinct protein families with unique structural properties and functions, highlighting the versatility of alpha-solenoids. The review also discusses their association with disease, highlighting their potential as therapeutic targets and their role in protein design. Advances in state-of-the-art structure prediction methods provide new opportunities and challenges in the functional characterization and classification of this kind of fold, emphasizing the need for continued development of methods for their identification and proper data curation and deposition in the main databases.

Cross-species transmission and host range genes in poxviruses

The persistent epidemic of human mpox, caused by mpox virus (MPXV), raises concerns about the future spread of MPXV and other poxviruses. MPXV is a typical zoonotic virus which can infect human and cause smallpox-like symptoms. MPXV belongs to the Poxviridae family, which has a relatively broad host range from arthropods to vertebrates. Cross-species transmission of poxviruses among different hosts has been frequently reported and resulted in numerous epidemics. Poxviruses have a complex linear double-strand DNA genome that encodes hundreds of proteins. Genes related to the host range of poxvirus are called host range genes (HRGs). This review briefly introduces the taxonomy, phylogeny and hosts of poxviruses, and then comprehensively summarizes the current knowledge about the cross-species transmission of poxviruses. In particular, the HRGs of poxvirus are described and their impacts on viral host range are discussed in depth. We hope that this review will provide a comprehensive perspective about the current progress of researches on cross-species transmission and HRG variation of poxviruses, serving as a valuable reference for academic studies and disease control in the future.

Lumpy Skin Disease Virus Genome Sequence Analysis: Putative Spatio-Temporal Epidemiology, Single Gene versus Whole Genome Phylogeny and Genomic Evolution

Lumpy Skin Disease virus is a poxvirus from the genus Capripox that mainly affects bovines and it causes severe economic losses to livestock holders. The Lumpy Skin Disease virus is currently dispersing in Asia, but little is known about detailed phylogenetic relations between the strains and genome evolution. We reconstructed a whole-genome-sequence (WGS)-based phylogeny and compared it with single-gene-based phylogenies. To study population and spatiotemporal patterns in greater detail, we reconstructed networks. We determined that there are strains from multiple clades within the previously defined cluster 1.2 that correspond with recorded outbreaks across Eurasia and South Asia (Indian subcontinent), while strains from cluster 2.5 spread in Southeast Asia. We concluded that using only a single gene (cheap, fast and easy to routinely use) for sequencing lacks phylogenetic and spatiotemporal resolution and we recommend to create at least one WGS whenever possible. We also found that there are three gene regions, highly variable, across the genome of LSDV. These gene regions are located in the 5' and 3' flanking regions of the LSDV genome and they encode genes that are involved in immune evasion strategies of the virus. These may provide a starting point to further investigate the evolution of the virus.

Molecular Mechanisms of Poxvirus Evolution

Poxviruses are often thought to evolve relatively slowly because they are double-stranded DNA pathogens with proofreading polymerases. However, poxviruses have highly adaptable genomes and can undergo relatively rapid genotypic and phenotypic change, as illustrated by the recent increase in human-to-human transmission of monkeypox virus. Advances in deep sequencing technologies have demonstrated standing nucleotide variation in poxvirus populations, which has been underappreciated. There is also an emerging understanding of the role genomic architectural changes play in shaping poxvirus evolution. These mechanisms include homologous and nonhomologous recombination, gene duplications, gene loss, and the acquisition of new genes through horizontal gene transfer. In this review, we discuss these evolutionary mechanisms and their potential roles for adaption to novel host species and modulating virulence.

Poxviral ANKR/F-box Proteins: Substrate Adapters for Ubiquitylation and More

Poxviruses are double-stranded DNA viruses that infect insects and a variety of vertebrate species. The large genomes of poxviruses contain numerous genes that allow these viruses to successfully establish infection, including those that help evade the host immune response and prevent cell death. Ankyrin-repeat (ANKR)/F-box proteins are almost exclusively found in poxviruses, and they function as substrate adapters for Skp1-Cullin-1-F-box protein (SCF) multi-subunit E3 ubiquitin (Ub)-ligases. In this regard, they use their C-terminal F-box domain to bind Skp1, Cullin-1, and Roc1 to recruit cellular E2 enzymes to facilitate the ubiquitylation, and subsequent proteasomal degradation, of proteins bound to their N-terminal ANKRs. However, these proteins do not just function as substrate adapters as they also have Ub-independent activities. In this review, we examine both Ub-dependent and -independent activities of ANKR/F-box proteins and discuss how poxviruses use these proteins to counteract the host innate immune response, uncoat their genome, replicate, block cell death, and influence transcription. Finally, we consider important outstanding questions that need to be answered in order to better understand the function of this versatile protein family.

Poxvirus Interactions with the Host Ubiquitin System

The ubiquitin system has emerged as a master regulator of many, if not all, cellular functions. With its large repertoire of conjugating and ligating enzymes, the ubiquitin system holds a unique mechanism to provide selectivity and specificity in manipulating protein function. As intracellular parasites viruses have evolved to modulate the cellular environment to facilitate replication and subvert antiviral responses. Poxviruses are a large family of dsDNA viruses with large coding capacity that is used to synthetise proteins and enzymes needed for replication and morphogenesis as well as suppression of host responses. This review summarises our current knowledge on how poxvirus functions rely on the cellular ubiquitin system, and how poxviruses exploit this system to their own advantage, either facilitating uncoating and genome release and replication or rewiring ubiquitin ligases to downregulate critical antiviral factors. Whilst much remains to be known about the intricate interactions established between poxviruses and the host ubiquitin system, our knowledge has revealed crucial viral processes and important restriction factors that open novel avenues for antiviral treatment and provide fundamental insights on the biology of poxviruses and other virus families.

Novel Class of Viral Ankyrin Proteins Targeting the Host E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Cullin-2

Ankyrin repeat (ANK) domains are among the most abundant motifs in eukaryotic proteins. ANK proteins are rare amongst viruses, with the exception of poxviruses, which presumably acquired them from the host via horizontal gene transfer. The architecture of poxvirus ANK proteins is, however, different from that of their cellular counterparts, and this precludes a direct acquisition event. Here we combine bioinformatics analysis and quantitative proteomics to discover a new class of viral ANK proteins with a domain organization that relates to cellular ANK proteins. These noncanonical viral ANK proteins, termed ANK/BC, interact with host Cullin-2 via a C-terminal BC box resembling that of cellular Cullin-2 substrate adaptors such as the von Hippel-Lindau protein. Mutagenesis of the BC box-like sequence abrogates binding to Cullin-2, whereas fusion of this motif to an ANK-only protein confers Cullin-2 association. We demonstrated that these viral ANK/BC proteins are potent immunomodulatory proteins suppressing the activation of the proinflammatory transcription factors NF-κB and interferon (IFN)-responsive factor 3 (IRF-3) and the production of cytokines and chemokines, including interferon, and that association with Cullin-2 is required for optimal inhibitory activity. ANK/BC proteins exist in several orthopoxviruses and cluster into 2 closely related orthologue groups in a phylogenetic lineage that is separate from that of canonical ANK/F-box proteins. Given the existence of cellular proteins with similar architecture, viral ANK/BC proteins may be closely related to the original ANK gene acquired by an ancestral orthopoxvirus. These findings uncover a novel viral strategy to antagonize innate immunity and shed light on the origin of the poxviral ANK protein family.IMPORTANCE Viruses encode multiple proteins aimed at modulating cellular homeostasis and antagonizing the host antiviral response. Most of these genes were originally acquired from the host and subsequently adapted to benefit the virus. ANK proteins are common in eukaryotes but are unusual amongst viruses, with the exception of poxviruses, where they represent one of the largest protein families. We report here the existence of a new class of viral ANK proteins, termed ANK/BC, that provide new insights into the origin of poxvirus ANK proteins. ANK/BC proteins target the host E3 ubiquitin ligase Cullin-2 via a C-terminal BC box domain and are potent suppressors of the production of inflammatory cytokines, including interferon. The existence of cellular ANK proteins whose architecture is similar suggests the acquisition of a host ANK/BC gene by an ancestral orthopoxvirus and its subsequent duplication and adaptation to widen the repertoire of immune evasion strategies.

Vaccinia Virus Encodes a Novel Inhibitor of Apoptosis That Associates with the Apoptosome

Apoptosis is an important antiviral host defense mechanism. Here we report the identification of a novel apoptosis inhibitor encoded by the vaccinia virus (VACV) M1L gene. M1L is absent in the attenuated modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) strain of VACV, a strain that stimulates apoptosis in several types of immune cells. M1 expression increased the viability of MVA-infected THP-1 and Jurkat cells and reduced several biochemical hallmarks of apoptosis, such as PARP-1 and procaspase-3 cleavage. Furthermore, ectopic M1L expression decreased staurosporine-induced (intrinsic) apoptosis in HeLa cells. We then identified the molecular basis for M1 inhibitory function. M1 allowed mitochondrial depolarization but blocked procaspase-9 processing, suggesting that M1 targeted the apoptosome. In support of this model, we found that M1 promoted survival in Saccharomyces cerevisiae overexpressing human Apaf-1 and procaspase-9, critical components of the apoptosome, or overexpressing only conformationally active caspase-9. In mammalian cells, M1 coimmunoprecipitated with Apaf-1-procaspase-9 complexes. The current model is that M1 associates with and allows the formation of the apoptosome but prevents apoptotic functions of the apoptosome. The M1 protein features 14 predicted ankyrin (ANK) repeat domains, and M1 is the first ANK-containing protein reported to use this inhibitory strategy. Since ANK-containing proteins are encoded by many large DNA viruses and found in all domains of life, studies of M1 may lead to a better understanding of the roles of ANK proteins in virus-host interactions.IMPORTANCE Apoptosis selectively eliminates dangerous cells such as virus-infected cells. Poxviruses express apoptosis antagonists to neutralize this antiviral host defense. The vaccinia virus (VACV) M1 ankyrin (ANK) protein, a protein with no previously ascribed function, inhibits apoptosis. M1 interacts with the apoptosome and prevents procaspase-9 processing as well as downstream procaspase-3 cleavage in several cell types and under multiple conditions. M1 is the first poxviral protein reported to associate with and prevent the function of the apoptosome, giving a more detailed picture of the threats VACV encounters during infection. Dysregulation of apoptosis is associated with several human diseases. One potential treatment of apoptosis-related diseases is through the use of designed ANK repeat proteins (DARPins), similar to M1, as caspase inhibitors. Thus, the study of the novel antiapoptosis effects of M1 via apoptosome association will be helpful for understanding how to control apoptosis using either natural or synthetic molecules.

Ankyrin Repeat Proteins of Orf Virus Influence the Cellular Hypoxia Response Pathway

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is a transcriptional activator with a central role in regulating cellular responses to hypoxia. It is also emerging as a major target for viral manipulation of the cellular environment. Under normoxic conditions, HIF is tightly suppressed by the activity of oxygen-dependent prolyl and asparaginyl hydroxylases. The asparaginyl hydroxylase active against HIF, factor inhibiting HIF (FIH), has also been shown to hydroxylate some ankyrin repeat (ANK) proteins. Using bioinformatic analysis, we identified the five ANK proteins of the parapoxvirus orf virus (ORFV) as potential substrates of FIH. Consistent with this prediction, coimmunoprecipitation of FIH was detected with each of the ORFV ANK proteins, and for one representative ORFV ANK protein, the interaction was shown to be dependent on the ANK domain. Immunofluorescence studies revealed colocalization of FIH and the viral ANK proteins. In addition, mass spectrometry confirmed that three of the five ORFV ANK proteins are efficiently hydroxylated by FIH in vitro While FIH levels were unaffected by ORFV infection, transient expression of each of the ORFV ANK proteins resulted in derepression of HIF-1α activity in reporter gene assays. Furthermore, ORFV-infected cells showed upregulated HIF target gene expression. Our data suggest that sequestration of FIH by ORFV ANK proteins leads to derepression of HIF activity. These findings reveal a previously unknown mechanism of viral activation of HIF that may extend to other members of the poxvirus family.

IMPORTANCE

The protein-protein binding motif formed from multiple repeats of the ankyrin motif is common among chordopoxviruses. However, information on the roles of these poxviral ankyrin repeat (ANK) proteins remains limited. Our data indicate that the parapoxvirus orf virus (ORFV) is able to upregulate hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) target gene expression. This response is mediated by the viral ANK proteins, which sequester the HIF regulator FIH (factor inhibiting HIF). This is the first demonstration of any viral protein interacting directly with FIH. Our data reveal a new mechanism by which viruses reprogram HIF, a master regulator of cellular metabolism, and also show a new role for the ANK family of poxvirus proteins.

Global analysis of dorsoventral patterning in the wasp Nasonia reveals extensive incorporation of novelty in a regulatory network

Background

Gene regulatory networks (GRNs) underlie developmental patterning and morphogenetic processes, and changes in the interactions within the underlying GRNs are a major driver of evolutionary processes. In order to make meaningful comparisons that can provide significant insights into the evolution of regulatory networks, homologous networks from multiple taxa must be deeply characterized. One of the most thoroughly characterized GRNs is the dorsoventral (DV) patterning system of the Drosophila melanogaster embryo. We have developed the wasp Nasonia as a comparative DV patterning model because it has shown the convergent evolution of a mode of early embryonic patterning very similar to that of the fly, and it is of interest to know whether the similarity at the gross level also extends to the molecular level.

Results

We used RNAi to dorsalize and ventralize Nasonia embryos, RNAseq to quantify transcriptome-wide expression levels, and differential expression analysis to identify genes whose expression levels change in either RNAi case. This led to the identification of >100 genes differentially expressed and regulated along the DV axis. Only a handful of these genes are shared DV components in both fly and wasp. Many of those unique to Nasonia are cytoskeletal and adhesion molecules, which may be related to the divergent cell and tissue behavior observed at gastrulation. In addition, many transcription factors and signaling components are only DV regulated in Nasonia, likely reflecting the divergent upstream patterning mechanisms involved in producing the conserved pattern of cell fates observed at gastrulation. Finally, several genes that lack Drosophila orthologs show robust and distinct expression patterns. These include genes with vertebrate homologs that have been lost in the fly lineage, genes that are found only among Hymenoptera, and several genes that entered the Nasonia genome through lateral transfer from endosymbiotic bacteria.

Conclusions

Altogether, our results provide insights into how GRNs respond to new functional demands and how they can incorporate novel components.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12915-016-0285-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Structural Conservation and Functional Diversity of the Poxvirus Immune Evasion (PIE) Domain Superfamily

Poxviruses encode a broad array of proteins that serve to undermine host immune defenses. Structural analysis of four of these seemingly unrelated proteins revealed the recurrent use of a conserved beta-sandwich fold that has not been observed in any eukaryotic or prokaryotic protein. Herein we propose to call this unique structural scaffolding the PIE (Poxvirus Immune Evasion) domain. PIE domain containing proteins are abundant in chordopoxvirinae, with our analysis identifying 20 likely PIE subfamilies among 33 representative genomes spanning 7 genera. For example, cowpox strain Brighton Red appears to encode 10 different PIEs: vCCI, A41, C8, M2, T4 (CPVX203), and the SECRET proteins CrmB, CrmD, SCP-1, SCP-2, and SCP-3. Characterized PIE proteins all appear to be nonessential for virus replication, and all contain signal peptides for targeting to the secretory pathway. The PIE subfamilies differ primarily in the number, size, and location of structural embellishments to the beta-sandwich core that confer unique functional specificities. Reported ligands include chemokines, GM-CSF, IL-2, MHC class I, and glycosaminoglycans. We expect that the list of ligands and receptors engaged by the PIE domain will grow as we come to better understand how this versatile structural architecture can be tailored to manipulate host responses to infection.

Orientia tsutsugamushi Strain Ikeda Ankyrin Repeat-Containing Proteins Recruit SCF1 Ubiquitin Ligase Machinery via Poxvirus-Like F-Box Motifs

A rising theme among intracellular microbes is the delivery of ankyrin repeat-containing effectors (Anks) that interact with target proteins to co-opt host cell functions. Orientia tsutsugamushi, an obligate intracellular bacterium and the etiologic agent of scrub typhus, encodes one of the largest Ank repertoires of any sequenced microorganism. They have been previously identified as type 1 secretion system substrates. Here, in silico and manual sequence analyses revealed that a large proportion of O. tsutsugamushi strain Ikeda Anks bear a eukaryotic/poxvirus-like F-box motif, which is known to recruit host cell SCF1 ubiquitin ligase machinery. We assessed the Anks for the ability to serve as F-box proteins. Coimmunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that F-box-containing Anks interact with overexpressed and/or endogenous SCF1 components. When coexpressed with FLAG-Ank4_01 or FLAG-Ank9, a glutathione S-transferase (GST)-tagged version of the SCF1 component SKP1 localized to subcellular sites of FLAG-Ank accumulation. The abilities of recombinant Anks to interact and colocalize with SKP1 were F-box dependent. GST-SKP1 precipitated O. tsutsugamushi-derived Ank9 from infected host cells, verifying both that the pathogen expresses Ank9 during infection and the protein's capability to bind SKP1. Aligning O. tsutsugamushi, poxviral, and eukaryotic F-box sequences delineated three F-box residues that are highly conserved and likely to be functionally important. Substitution of these residues ablated the ability of GFP-Ank9 to interact with GST-SKP1. These results demonstrate that O. tsutsugamushi strain Ikeda Anks can co-opt host cell polyubiquitination machinery, provide the first evidence that an O. tsutsugamushi Ank does so during infection, and advance overall understanding of microbial F-box proteins.

IMPORTANCE

Ankyrin repeat-containing proteins (Anks) are important virulence factors of intracellular bacteria that mediate protein-protein interactions with host cell targets. Orientia tsutsugamushi, which causes a debilitating infection called scrub typhus in one of the most densely populated regions of the world, encodes one of the largest Ank armamentariums of any sequenced bacterium. This study demonstrates that O. tsutsugamushi strain Ikeda Anks also bear F-box motifs that interact with host cell polyubiquitination machinery. By proving that an Orientia-derived Ank interacts with SKP1 in infected cells, this evidences the first bona fide Orientia effector and the first example of an endogenous F-box-containing Ank-mammalian-host ligand interaction for any intracellular bacterium. Also, importantly, this work identifies key residues that are essential for microbial F-box function.

Poxviral ankyrin proteins

Multiple repeats of the ankyrin motif (ANK) are ubiquitous throughout the kingdoms of life but are absent from most viruses. The main exception to this is the poxvirus family, and specifically the chordopoxviruses, with ANK repeat proteins present in all but three species from separate genera. The poxviral ANK repeat proteins belong to distinct orthologue groups spread over different species, and align well with the phylogeny of their genera. This distribution throughout the chordopoxviruses indicates these proteins were present in an ancestral vertebrate poxvirus, and have since undergone numerous duplication events. Most poxviral ANK repeat proteins contain an unusual topology of multiple ANK motifs starting at the N-terminus with a C-terminal poxviral homologue of the cellular F-box enabling interaction with the cellular SCF ubiquitin ligase complex. The subtle variations between ANK repeat proteins of individual poxviruses suggest an array of different substrates may be bound by these protein-protein interaction domains and, via the F-box, potentially directed to cellular ubiquitination pathways and possible degradation. Known interaction partners of several of these proteins indicate that the NF-κB coordinated anti-viral response is a key target, whilst some poxviral ANK repeat domains also have an F-box independent affect on viral host-range.

Interaction of infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus ORF119L with PINCH leads to dominant-negative inhibition of integrin-linked kinase and cardiovascular defects in zebrafish

Infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV) is the type species of the Megalocytivirus genus, Iridoviridae family, causing a severe systemic disease with high mortality in mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) in China and Southeast Asia. At present, the pathogenesis of ISKNV infection is still not fully understood. Based on a genome-wide bioinformatics analysis of ISKNV-encoded proteins, we found that ISKNV open reading frame 119L (ORF119L) is predicted to encode a three-ankyrin-repeat (3ANK)-domain-containing protein, which shows high similarity to the dominant negative form of integrin-linked kinase (ILK); i.e., viral ORF119L lacks the ILK kinase domain. Thus, we speculated that viral ORF119L might affect the host ILK complex. Here, we demonstrated that viral ORF119L directly interacts with particularly interesting Cys-His-rich protein (PINCH) and affects the host ILK-PINCH interaction in vitro in fathead minnow (FHM) cells. In vivo ORF119L overexpression in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos resulted in myocardial dysfunctions with disintegration of the sarcomeric Z disk. Importantly, ORF119L overexpression in zebrafish highly resembles the phenotype of endogenous ILK inhibition, either by overexpressing a dominant negative form of ILK or by injecting an ILK antisense morpholino oligonucleotide. Intriguingly, ISKNV-infected mandarin fish develop disorganized sarcomeric Z disks in cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, phosphorylation of AKT, a downstream effector of ILK, was remarkably decreased in ORF119L-overexpressing zebrafish embryos. With these results, we show that ISKNV ORF119L acts as a domain-negative inhibitor of the host ILK, providing a novel mechanism for the megalocytivirus pathogenesis.

IMPORTANCE

Our work is the first to show the role of a dominant negative inhibitor of the host ILK from ISKNV (an iridovirus). Mechanistically, the viral ORF119L directly binds to the host PINCH, attenuates the host PINCH-ILK interaction, and thus impairs ILK signaling. Intriguingly, ORF119L-overexpressing zebrafish embryos and ISKNV-infected mandarin fish develop similar disordered sarcomeric Z disks in cardiomyocytes. These findings provide a novel mechanism for megalocytivirus pathogenesis.

Recombinant myxoma virus lacking all poxvirus ankyrin-repeat proteins stimulates multiple cellular anti-viral pathways and exhibits a severe decrease in virulence

Although the production of single gene knockout viruses is a useful strategy to study viral gene functions, the redundancy of many host interactive genes within a complex viral genome can obscure their collective functions. In this study, a rabbit-specific poxvirus, myxoma virus (MYXV), was genetically altered to disrupt multiple members of the poxviral ankyrin-repeat (ANK-R) protein superfamily, M-T5, M148, M149 and M150. A particularly robust activation of the NF-κB pathway was observed in A549 cells following infection with the complete ANK-R knockout (vMyx-ANKsKO). Also, an increased release of IL-6 was only observed upon infection with vMyx-ANKsKO. In virus-infected rabbit studies, vMyx-ANKsKO was the most extensively attenuated and produced the smallest primary lesion of all ANK-R mutant constructs. This study provides the first insights into the shared functions of the poxviral ANK-R protein superfamily in vitro and in vivo.

Innate immune activation of NFκB and its antagonism by poxviruses

In recent years there has been an acceleration of discovery in the field of innate anti-viral immunity to the point that many of the key events in early virus sensing and the discrete anti-viral responses they trigger have been elucidated in detail. In particular, pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that detect viruses at the plasma membrane, in endosomes, and within the cytosol have been characterized. Upon stimulation by viruses, most of these PRRs trigger signal transduction pathways culminating in NFκB activation. NFκB contributes both to type I interferon induction, and to production of pro-inflammatory cytokines from infected cells. Our understanding of host anti-viral innate immunity has been greatly aided by an appreciation of the ways in which poxviruses have evolved strategies to inhibit both innate sensing and effector responses. A recurring feature of poxviral immunomodulation is the apparent necessity for poxviruses to evolve multiple, non-redundant inhibitors of NFκB activation which often appear to act on the same innate signalling pathway. The reason for such apparent over-targeting of one transcription factor is not clear. Here we describe the current understanding of how host cells sense poxvirus infection to trigger signalling pathways leading to NFκB activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine induction, and the ways in which poxviruses have evolved to concisely antagonize these systems.

Orf virus (ORFV) ANK-1 protein mitochondrial localization is mediated by ankyrin repeat motifs

Orf virus (ORFV) strain D1701-V, a Parapoxvirus belonging to the family Poxviridae, became attractive as a novel virus vector system that we successfully used for the generation of recombinant vaccines. Therefore, the identification of viral genes involved in host tropisms or immune modulation is of great interest, as for instance the ORFV-encoded ankyrin-repeat (AR) containing proteins. The present study shows for the first time that the ANK-1 designated gene product of ORFV126 is targeted to mitochondria of ORFV-infected and in ANK-1 transiently expressing cells. Taking advantage of ANK-1 EGFP fusion proteins and confocal fluorescence microscopy mutational and deletion analyses indicated the importance of AR8 and AR9, which may contain a novel class of mitochondria-targeting sequence (MTS) in the central to C-terminal part of this AR-containing protein. The fluorescent findings were corroborated by cell fractionation and Western blotting experiments. The presented results open the avenue for more detailed investigations on cellular binding partners and the function of ANK-1 in viral replication or virulence.

Avian Immunosuppressive Diseases and Immunoevasion

Subclinical immunosuppression in chickens is an important but often underestimated factor in the subsequent development of clinical disease. Immunosuppression can be caused by pathogens such as chicken infectious anemia virus, infectious bursal disease virus, reovirus, and some retroviruses (e.g., reticuloendotheliosis virus). Mycotoxins and stress, often caused by poor management practices, can also cause immunosuppression. The effects on the innate and acquired immune responses and the mechanisms by which mycotoxins, stress and infectious agents cause immunosuppression are discussed. Immunoevasion is a common ploy by which viruses neutralize or evade immune responses. DNA viruses such as herpesvirus and poxvirus have multiple genes, some of them host-derived, which interfere with effective innate or acquired immune responses. RNA viruses may escape acquired humoral and cellular immune responses by mutations in protective antigenic epitopes (e.g., avian influenza viruses), while accessory non-structural proteins or multi-functional structural proteins interfere with the interferon system (e.g., Newcastle disease virus).

Poxviruses and the evolution of host range and virulence

Poxviruses as a group can infect a large number of animals. However, at the level of individual viruses, even closely related poxviruses display highly diverse host ranges and virulence. For example, variola virus, the causative agent of smallpox, is human-specific and highly virulent only to humans, whereas related cowpox viruses naturally infect a broad spectrum of animals and only cause relatively mild disease in humans. The successful replication of poxviruses depends on their effective manipulation of the host antiviral responses, at the cellular-, tissue- and species-specific levels, which constitutes a molecular basis for differences in poxvirus host range and virulence. A number of poxvirus genes have been identified that possess host range function in experimental settings, and many of these host range genes target specific antiviral host pathways. Herein, we review the biology of poxviruses with a focus on host range, zoonotic infections, virulence, genomics and host range genes as well as the current knowledge about the function of poxvirus host range factors and how their interaction with the host innate immune system contributes to poxvirus host range and virulence. We further discuss the evolution of host range and virulence in poxviruses as well as host switches and potential poxvirus threats for human and animal health.

Genetic screen of a library of chimeric poxviruses identifies an ankyrin repeat protein involved in resistance to the avian type I interferon response

Viruses must be able to resist host innate responses, especially the type I interferon (IFN) response. They do so by preventing the induction or activity of IFN and/or by resisting the antiviral effectors that it induces. Poxviruses are no exception, with many mechanisms identified whereby mammalian poxviruses, notably, vaccinia virus (VACV), but also cowpox and myxoma viruses, are able to evade host IFN responses. Similar mechanisms have not been described for avian poxviruses (avipoxviruses). Restricted for permissive replication to avian hosts, they have received less attention; moreover, the avian host responses are less well characterized. We show that the prototypic avipoxvirus, fowlpox virus (FWPV), is highly resistant to the antiviral effects of avian IFN. A gain-of-function genetic screen identified fpv014 to contribute to increased resistance to exogenous recombinant chicken alpha IFN (ChIFN1). fpv014 is a member of the large family of poxvirus (especially avipoxvirus) genes that encode proteins containing N-terminal ankyrin repeats (ANKs) and C-terminal F-box-like motifs. By binding the Skp1/cullin-1 complex, the F box in such proteins appears to target ligands bound by the ANKs for ubiquitination. Mass spectrometry and immunoblotting demonstrated that tandem affinity-purified, tagged fpv014 was complexed with chicken cullin-1 and Skp1. Prior infection with an fpv014-knockout mutant of FWPV still blocked transfected poly(I·C)-mediated induction of the beta IFN (ChIFN2) promoter as effectively as parental FWPV, but the mutant was more sensitive to exogenous ChIFN1. Therefore, unlike the related protein fpv012, fpv014 does not contribute to the FWPV block to induction of ChIFN2 but does confer resistance to an established antiviral state.

Genetic screen of a mutant poxvirus library identifies an ankyrin repeat protein involved in blocking induction of avian type I interferon

Mammalian poxviruses, including vaccinia virus (VACV), have evolved multiple mechanisms to evade the host type I interferon (IFN) responses at different levels, with viral proteins targeting IFN induction, signaling, and antiviral effector functions. Avian poxviruses (avipoxviruses), which have been developed as recombinant vaccine vectors for permissive (i.e., poultry) and nonpermissive (i.e., mammals, including humans) species, encode no obvious equivalents of any of these proteins. We show that fowlpox virus (FWPV) fails to induce chicken beta IFN (ChIFN2) and is able to block its induction by transfected poly(I·C), an analog of cytoplasmic double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). A broad-scale loss-of-function genetic screen was used to find FWPV-encoded modulators of poly(I·C)-mediated ChIFN2 induction. It identified fpv012, a member of a family of poxvirus genes highly expanded in the avipoxviruses (31 in FWPV; 51 in canarypox virus [CNPV], representing 15% of the total gene complement), encoding proteins containing N-terminal ankyrin repeats (ANKs) and C-terminal F-box-like motifs. Under ectopic expression, the first ANK of fpv012 is dispensable for inhibitory activity and the CNPV ortholog is also able to inhibit induction of ChIFN2. FWPV defective in fpv012 replicates well in culture and barely induces ChIFN2 during infection, suggesting that other factors are involved in blocking IFN induction and resisting the antiviral effectors. Nevertheless, unlike parental and revertant viruses, the mutants induce moderate levels of expression of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), suggesting either that there is sufficient ChIFN2 expression to partially induce the ISGs or the involvement of alternative, IFN-independent pathways that are also normally blocked by fpv012.

A survey of host range genes in poxvirus genomes

Poxviruses are widespread pathogens, which display extremely different host ranges. Whereas some poxviruses, including variola virus, display narrow host ranges, others such as cowpox viruses naturally infect a wide range of mammals. The molecular basis for differences in host range are poorly understood but apparently depend on the successful manipulation of the host antiviral response. Some poxvirus genes have been shown to confer host tropism in experimental settings and are thus called host range factors. Identified host range genes include vaccinia virus K1L, K3L, E3L, B5R, C7L and SPI-1, cowpox virus CP77/CHOhr, ectromelia virus p28 and 022, and myxoma virus T2, T4, T5, 11L, 13L, 062R and 063R. These genes encode for ankyrin repeat-containing proteins, tumor necrosis factor receptor II homologs, apoptosis inhibitor T4-related proteins, Bcl-2-related proteins, pyrin domain-containing proteins, cellular serine protease inhibitors (serpins), short complement-like repeats containing proteins, KilA-N/RING domain-containing proteins, as well as inhibitors of the double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase PKR. We conducted a systematic survey for the presence of known host range genes and closely related family members in poxvirus genomes, classified them into subgroups based on their phylogenetic relationship and correlated their presence with the poxvirus phylogeny. Common themes in the evolution of poxvirus host range genes are lineage-specific duplications and multiple independent inactivation events. Our analyses yield new insights into the evolution of poxvirus host range genes. Implications of our findings for poxvirus host range and virulence are discussed.