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Peter AS, Hoffmann DS, Klier J, Lange CM, Moeller J, Most V, Wüst CK, Beining M, Gülesen S, Junker H, Brumme B, Schiffner T, Meiler J, Schoeder CT. Strategies of rational and structure-driven vaccine design for Arenaviruses. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2024; 123:105626. [PMID: 38908736 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2024.105626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 outbreak has highlighted the importance of pandemic preparedness for the prevention of future health crises. One virus family with high pandemic potential are Arenaviruses, which have been detected almost worldwide, particularly in Africa and the Americas. These viruses are highly understudied and many questions regarding their structure, replication and tropism remain unanswered, making the design of an efficacious and molecularly-defined vaccine challenging. We propose that structure-driven computational vaccine design will contribute to overcome these challenges. Computational methods for stabilization of viral glycoproteins or epitope focusing have made progress during the last decades and particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and have proven useful for rational vaccine design and the establishment of novel diagnostic tools. In this review, we summarize gaps in our understanding of Arenavirus molecular biology, highlight challenges in vaccine design and discuss how structure-driven and computationally informed strategies will aid in overcoming these obstacles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Sophia Peter
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Dieter S Hoffmann
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Johannes Klier
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christina M Lange
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Johanna Moeller
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany; Center for Scalable Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence ScaDS.AI, Dresden/Leipzig, Germany
| | - Victoria Most
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christina K Wüst
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany; Molecular Medicine Studies, Faculty for Biology and Preclinical Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Max Beining
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany; SECAI, School of Embedded Composite Artificial Intelligence, Dresden/Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sevilay Gülesen
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hannes Junker
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Birke Brumme
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Torben Schiffner
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany; The Scripps Research Institute, Department for Immunology and Microbiology, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Jens Meiler
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany; Center for Scalable Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence ScaDS.AI, Dresden/Leipzig, Germany; Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States; Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Clara T Schoeder
- Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany; Center for Scalable Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence ScaDS.AI, Dresden/Leipzig, Germany.
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Nunberg JH, Westover JB, York J, Jung KH, Bailey KW, Boardman KM, Li M, Furnell RS, Wasson SR, Murray JS, Kaundal R, Thomas AJ, Gowen BB. Restoration of virulence in the attenuated Candid#1 vaccine virus requires reversion at both positions 168 and 427 in the envelope glycoprotein GPC. J Virol 2024; 98:e0011224. [PMID: 38506509 PMCID: PMC11019782 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00112-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Live-attenuated virus vaccines provide long-lived protection against viral disease but carry inherent risks of residual pathogenicity and genetic reversion. The live-attenuated Candid#1 vaccine was developed to protect Argentines against lethal infection by the Argentine hemorrhagic fever arenavirus, Junín virus. Despite its safety and efficacy in Phase III clinical study, the vaccine is not licensed in the US, in part due to concerns regarding the genetic stability of attenuation. Previous studies had identified a single F427I mutation in the transmembrane domain of the Candid#1 envelope glycoprotein GPC as the key determinant of attenuation, as well as the propensity of this mutation to revert upon passage in cell culture and neonatal mice. To ascertain the consequences of this reversion event, we introduced the I427F mutation into recombinant Candid#1 (I427F rCan) and investigated the effects in two validated small-animal models: in mice expressing the essential virus receptor (human transferrin receptor 1; huTfR1) and in the conventional guinea pig model. We report that I427F rCan displays only modest virulence in huTfR1 mice and appears attenuated in guinea pigs. Reversion at another attenuating locus in Candid#1 GPC (T168A) was also examined, and a similar pattern was observed. By contrast, virus bearing both revertant mutations (A168T+I427F rCan) approached the lethal virulence of the pathogenic Romero strain in huTfR1 mice. Virulence was less extreme in guinea pigs. Our findings suggest that genetic stabilization at both positions is required to minimize the likelihood of reversion to virulence in a second-generation Candid#1 vaccine.IMPORTANCELive-attenuated virus vaccines, such as measles/mumps/rubella and oral poliovirus, provide robust protection against disease but carry with them the risk of genetic reversion to the virulent form. Here, we analyze the genetics of reversion in the live-attenuated Candid#1 vaccine that is used to protect against Argentine hemorrhagic fever, an often-lethal disease caused by the Junín arenavirus. In two validated small-animal models, we find that restoration of virulence in recombinant Candid#1 viruses requires back-mutation at two positions specific to the Candid#1 envelope glycoprotein GPC, at positions 168 and 427. Viruses bearing only a single change showed only modest virulence. We discuss strategies to genetically harden Candid#1 GPC against these two reversion events in order to develop a safer second-generation Candid#1 vaccine virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack H. Nunberg
- Montana Biotechnology Center, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Jonna B. Westover
- Department of Animal Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
- Institute for Antiviral Research, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
| | - Joanne York
- Montana Biotechnology Center, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Kie Hoon Jung
- Department of Animal Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
- Institute for Antiviral Research, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
| | - Kevin W. Bailey
- Department of Animal Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
- Institute for Antiviral Research, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
| | - Kirsten M. Boardman
- Department of Animal Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
- Institute for Antiviral Research, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
| | - Minghao Li
- Department of Animal Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
- Institute for Antiviral Research, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
| | - Rachel S. Furnell
- Department of Animal Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
- Institute for Antiviral Research, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
| | - Samantha R. Wasson
- Department of Animal Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
- Institute for Antiviral Research, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
| | - Justin S. Murray
- Department of Animal Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
- Institute for Antiviral Research, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
| | - Rakesh Kaundal
- Department of Plants, Soils, and Climate, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
- Center for Integrated BioSystems, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
| | - Aaron J. Thomas
- Department of Animal Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
- Center for Integrated BioSystems, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
| | - Brian B. Gowen
- Department of Animal Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
- Institute for Antiviral Research, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
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3
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Lendino A, Castellanos AA, Pigott DM, Han BA. A review of emerging health threats from zoonotic New World mammarenaviruses. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:115. [PMID: 38575867 PMCID: PMC10993514 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03257-w] [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: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite repeated spillover transmission and their potential to cause significant morbidity and mortality in human hosts, the New World mammarenaviruses remain largely understudied. These viruses are endemic to South America, with animal reservoir hosts covering large geographic areas and whose transmission ecology and spillover potential are driven in part by land use change and agriculture that put humans in regular contact with zoonotic hosts.We compiled published studies about Guanarito virus, Junin virus, Machupo virus, Chapare virus, Sabia virus, and Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis virus to review the state of knowledge about the viral hemorrhagic fevers caused by New World mammarenaviruses. We summarize what is known about rodent reservoirs, the conditions of spillover transmission for each of these pathogens, and the characteristics of human populations at greatest risk for hemorrhagic fever diseases. We also review the implications of repeated outbreaks and biosecurity concerns where these diseases are endemic, and steps that countries can take to strengthen surveillance and increase capacity of local healthcare systems. While there are unique risks posed by each of these six viruses, their ecological and epidemiological similarities suggest common steps to mitigate spillover transmission and better contain future outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Lendino
- The George Washington University, Milken Institute for Public Health, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | | | - David M Pigott
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 2301 5th Ave, Suite 600, Seattle, WA, 98121, USA
- Department of Health Metrics Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98121, USA
| | - Barbara A Han
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY, 12545, USA.
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Hastie KM, Melnik LI, Cross RW, Klitting RM, Andersen KG, Saphire EO, Garry RF. The Arenaviridae Family: Knowledge Gaps, Animal Models, Countermeasures, and Prototype Pathogens. J Infect Dis 2023; 228:S359-S375. [PMID: 37849403 PMCID: PMC10582522 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiac266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV), Junin virus (JUNV), and several other members of the Arenaviridae family are capable of zoonotic transfer to humans and induction of severe viral hemorrhagic fevers. Despite the importance of arenaviruses as potential pandemic pathogens, numerous gaps exist in scientific knowledge pertaining to this diverse family, including gaps in understanding replication, immunosuppression, receptor usage, and elicitation of neutralizing antibody responses, that in turn complicates development of medical countermeasures. A further challenge to the development of medical countermeasures for arenaviruses is the requirement for use of animal models at high levels of biocontainment, where each model has distinct advantages and limitations depending on, availability of space, animals species-specific reagents, and most importantly the ability of the model to faithfully recapitulate human disease. Designation of LASV and JUNV as prototype pathogens can facilitate progress in addressing the public health challenges posed by members of this important virus family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn M Hastie
- Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Lilia I Melnik
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Robert W Cross
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston National Laboratory, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Raphaëlle M Klitting
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
- Scripps Research Translational Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Kristian G Andersen
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
- Scripps Research Translational Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Erica Ollmann Saphire
- Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Robert F Garry
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- Zalgen Labs LLC, Frederick, Maryland, USA
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5
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Bezerra EHS, Melo-Hanchuk TD, Marques RE. Structural and molecular biology of Sabiá virus. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2023; 248:1624-1634. [PMID: 37937408 PMCID: PMC10723027 DOI: 10.1177/15353702231199071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Brazilian mammarenavirus, or Sabiá virus (SABV), is a New World (NW) arenavirus associated with fulminant hemorrhagic disease in humans and the sole biosafety level 4 microorganism ever isolated in Brazil. Since the isolation of SABV in the 1990s, studies on viral biology have been scarce, with no available countermeasures against SABV infection or disease. Here we provide a comprehensive review of SABV biology, including key aspects of SABV replication, and comparisons with related Old World and NW arenaviruses. SABV is most likely a rodent-borne virus, transmitted to humans, through exposure to urine and feces in peri-urban areas. Using protein structure prediction methods and alignments, we analyzed shared and unique features of SABV proteins (GPC, NP, Z, and L) that could be explored in search of therapeutic strategies, including repurposing intended application against arenaviruses. Highly conserved catalytic activities present in L protein could be targeted for broad-acting antiviral activity among arenaviruses, while protein-protein interactions, such as those between L and the matrix protein Z, have evolved in NW arenaviruses and should be specific to SABV. The nucleoprotein (NP) also shares targetable interaction interfaces with L and Z and exhibits exonuclease activity in the C-terminal domain, which may be involved in multiple aspects of SABV replication. Envelope glycoproteins GP1 and GP2 have been explored in the development of promising cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies and vaccines, some of which could be repurposed for SABV. GP1 remains a challenging target in SABV as evolutive pressures render it the most variable viral protein in terms of both sequence and structure, while antiviral strategies targeting the Z protein remain to be validated. In conclusion, the prediction and analysis of protein structures should revolutionize research on viruses such as SABV by facilitating the rational design of countermeasures while reducing dependence on sophisticated laboratory infrastructure for experimental validation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rafael Elias Marques
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), São Paulo 13083-100, Brazil
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Saito T, Reyna RA, Taniguchi S, Littlefield K, Paessler S, Maruyama J. Vaccine Candidates against Arenavirus Infections. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:635. [PMID: 36992218 PMCID: PMC10057967 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11030635] [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: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The viral family Arenaviridae contains several members that cause severe, and often lethal, diseases in humans. Several highly pathogenic arenaviruses are classified as Risk Group 4 agents and must be handled in the highest biological containment facility, biosafety level-4 (BSL-4). Vaccines and treatments are very limited for these pathogens. The development of vaccines is crucial for the establishment of countermeasures against highly pathogenic arenavirus infections. While several vaccine candidates have been investigated, there are currently no approved vaccines for arenavirus infection except for Candid#1, a live-attenuated Junin virus vaccine only licensed in Argentina. Current platforms under investigation for use include live-attenuated vaccines, recombinant virus-based vaccines, and recombinant proteins. We summarize here the recent updates of vaccine candidates against arenavirus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Saito
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Rachel A. Reyna
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Satoshi Taniguchi
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Kirsten Littlefield
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Slobodan Paessler
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Junki Maruyama
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
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Stachura P, Stencel O, Lu Z, Borkhardt A, Pandyra AA. Arenaviruses: Old viruses present new solutions for cancer therapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1110522. [PMID: 37033933 PMCID: PMC10079900 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1110522] [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: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Viral-based cancer therapies have tremendous potential, especially in the context of treating poorly infiltrated cold tumors. However, in tumors with intact anti-viral interferon (IFN) pathways, while some oncolytic viruses induce strong innate and adaptive immune responses, they are neutralized before exerting their therapeutic effect. Arenaviruses, particularly the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is a noncytopathic virus with preferential cancer tropism and evolutionary mechanisms to escape the immune system for longer and to block early clearance. These escape mechanisms include inhibition of the MAVS dependent IFN pathway and spike protein antigen masking. Regarding its potential for cancer treatment, LCMV is therefore able to elicit long-term responses within the tumor microenvironment (TME), boost anti-tumor immune responses and polarize poorly infiltrating tumors towards a hot phenotype. Other arenaviruses including the attenuated Junin virus vaccine also have anti-tumor effects. Furthermore, the LCMV and Pichinde arenaviruses are currently being used to create vector-based vaccines with attenuated but replicating virus. This review focuses on highlighting the potential of arenaviruses as anti-cancer therapies. This includes providing a molecular understanding of its tropism as well as highlighting past and present preclinical and clinical applications of noncytophatic arenavirus therapies and their potential in bridging the gap in the treatment of cancers weakly responsive or unresponsive to oncolytic viruses. In summary, arenaviruses represent promising new therapies to broaden the arsenal of anti-tumor therapies for generating an immunogenic tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paweł Stachura
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Department of Molecular Medicine II, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Olivia Stencel
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Zhe Lu
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Arndt Borkhardt
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Aleksandra A. Pandyra
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
- *Correspondence: Aleksandra A. Pandyra,
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Abstract
Lassa Fever (LF) is a viral hemorrhagic fever endemic in West Africa. LF begins with flu-like symptoms that are difficult to distinguish from other common endemic diseases such as malaria, dengue, and yellow fever making it hard to diagnose clinically. Availability of a rapid diagnostic test and other serological and molecular assays facilitates accurate diagnosis of LF. Lassa virus therapeutics are currently in different stages of preclinical development. Arevirumab, a cocktail of monoclonal antibodies, demonstrates a great safety and efficacy profile in non-human primates. Major efforts have been made in the development of a Lassa virus vaccine. Two vaccine candidates, MeV-NP and pLASV-GPC are undergoing evaluation in phase I clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilia I Melnik
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA.
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Gallo GL, López N, Loureiro ME. The Virus–Host Interplay in Junín Mammarenavirus Infection. Viruses 2022; 14:v14061134. [PMID: 35746604 PMCID: PMC9228484 DOI: 10.3390/v14061134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Junín virus (JUNV) belongs to the Arenaviridae family and is the causative agent of Argentine hemorrhagic fever (AHF), a severe human disease endemic to agricultural areas in Argentina. At this moment, there are no effective antiviral therapeutics to battle pathogenic arenaviruses. Cumulative reports from recent years have widely provided information on cellular factors playing key roles during JUNV infection. In this review, we summarize research on host molecular determinants that intervene in the different stages of the viral life cycle: viral entry, replication, assembly and budding. Alongside, we describe JUNV tight interplay with the innate immune system. We also review the development of different reverse genetics systems and their use as tools to study JUNV biology and its close teamwork with the host. Elucidating relevant interactions of the virus with the host cell machinery is highly necessary to better understand the mechanistic basis beyond virus multiplication, disease pathogenesis and viral subversion of the immune response. Altogether, this knowledge becomes essential for identifying potential targets for the rational design of novel antiviral treatments to combat JUNV as well as other pathogenic arenaviruses.
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Mantlo EK, Maruyama J, Manning JT, Wanninger TG, Huang C, Smith JN, Patterson M, Paessler S, Koma T. Machupo Virus with Mutations in the Transmembrane Domain and Glycosylation Sites of the Glycoprotein Is Attenuated and Immunogenic in Animal Models of Bolivian Hemorrhagic Fever. J Virol 2022; 96:e0020922. [PMID: 35343792 PMCID: PMC9044957 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00209-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Several highly pathogenic mammarenaviruses cause severe hemorrhagic and neurologic disease in humans for which vaccines and antivirals are limited or unavailable. New World (NW) mammarenavirus Machupo virus (MACV) infection causes Bolivian hemorrhagic fever in humans. We previously reported that the disruption of specific N-linked glycan sites on the glycoprotein (GPC) partially attenuates MACV in an interferon alpha/beta and gamma (IFN-α/β and -γ) receptor knockout (R-/-) mouse model. However, some capability to induce neurological pathology still remained. The highly pathogenic Junin virus (JUNV) is another NW arenavirus closely related to MACV. An F427I substitution in the GPC transmembrane domain (TMD) rendered JUNV attenuated in a lethal mouse model after intracranial inoculation. In this study, we rationally designed and rescued a MACV containing mutations at two glycosylation sites and the corresponding F438I substitution in the GPC TMD. The MACV mutant is fully attenuated in IFN-α/β and -γ R-/- mice and outbred guinea pigs. Furthermore, inoculation with this mutant MACV completely protected guinea pigs from wild-type MACV lethal challenge. Last, we found the GPC TMD F438I substitution greatly impaired MACV growth in neuronal cell lines of mouse and human origins. Our results highlight the critical roles of the glycans and the TMD on the GPC in arenavirus virulence, which provide insight into the rational design of potential vaccine candidates for highly pathogenic arenaviruses. IMPORTANCE For arenaviruses, the only vaccine available is the live attenuated Candid#1 vaccine, a JUNV vaccine approved in Argentina. We and others have found that the glycans on GPC and the F427 residue in the GPC TMD are important for virulence of JUNV. Nevertheless, mutating either of them is not sufficient for full and stable attenuation of JUNV. Using reverse genetics, we disrupted specific glycosylation sites on MACV GPC and also introduced the corresponding F438I substitution in the GPC TMD. This MACV mutant is fully attenuated in two animal models and protects animals from lethal infection. Thus, our studies highlight the feasibility of rational attenuation of highly pathogenic arenaviruses for vaccine development. Another important finding from this study is that the F438I substitution in GPC TMD could substantially affect MACV replication in neurons. Future studies are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanism and the implication of this mutation in arenavirus neural tropism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily K. Mantlo
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Junki Maruyama
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - John T. Manning
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Timothy G. Wanninger
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Cheng Huang
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Jeanon N. Smith
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Michael Patterson
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Slobodan Paessler
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Takaaki Koma
- Department of Microbiology, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima, Japan
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Lassa virus glycoprotein complex review: insights into its unique fusion machinery. Biosci Rep 2022; 42:230708. [PMID: 35088070 PMCID: PMC8844875 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20211930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV), an arenavirus endemic to West Africa, causes Lassa fever—a lethal hemorrhagic fever. Entry of LASV into the host cell is mediated by the glycoprotein complex (GPC), which is the only protein located on the viral surface and comprises three subunits: glycoprotein 1 (GP1), glycoprotein 2 (GP2), and a stable signal peptide (SSP). The LASV GPC is a class one viral fusion protein, akin to those found in viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), influenza, Ebola virus (EBOV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). These viruses are enveloped and utilize membrane fusion to deliver their genetic material to the host cell. Like other class one fusion proteins, LASV-mediated membrane fusion occurs through an orchestrated sequence of conformational changes in its GPC. The receptor-binding subunit, GP1, first engages with a host cell receptor then undergoes a unique receptor switch upon delivery to the late endosome. The acidic pH and change in receptor result in the dissociation of GP1, exposing the fusion subunit, GP2, such that fusion can occur. These events ultimately lead to the formation of a fusion pore so that the LASV genetic material is released into the host cell. Interestingly, the mature GPC retains its SSP as a third subunit—a feature that is unique to arenaviruses. Additionally, the fusion domain contains two separate fusion peptides, instead of a standard singular fusion peptide. Here, we give a comprehensive review of the LASV GPC components and their unusual features.
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Lee M, Koma T, Iwasaki M, Urata S. [South American Hemorrhagic Fever viruses and the cutting edge of the vaccine and antiviral development]. Uirusu 2022; 72:7-18. [PMID: 37899233 DOI: 10.2222/jsv.72.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
South American Hemorrhagic Fever is caused by the Arenavirus, which belong to the Family Arenaviridae, genus mammarenavirus, infection at South America. South American Hemorrhagic Fever includes 1. Argentinian Hemorrhagic fever caused by Junin virus, 2. Brazilian hemorrhagic fever caused by Sabia virus, 3. Venezuelan Hemorrhagic fever caused by Guanarito virus, 4. Bolivian Hemorrhagic fever caused by Machupo virus, and 5. Unassigned hemorrhagic fever caused by Chapare virus. These viruses are classified in New World (NW) Arenavirus, which is different from Old World Arenavirus (ex. Lassa virus), based on phylogeny, serology, and geographic differences. In this review, the current knowledge of the biology and the development of the vaccines and antivirals of NW Arenaviruses which cause South American Hemorrhagic Fever will be described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meion Lee
- National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases (CCPID), Nagasaki University
- Department of Cell Regulation, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University
| | - Takaaki Koma
- Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokushima University
| | - Masaharu Iwasaki
- Laboratory of Emerging Viral Diseases, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University
| | - Shuzo Urata
- National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases (CCPID), Nagasaki University
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University
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