A critical determinant of neurological disease associated with highly pathogenic tick-borne flavivirus in mice

Epidemiology and global spread of emerging tick-borne Alongshan virus

The emergence and spread of novel viral pathogens is a major threat to human health, particularly in the context of climate and human-induced change in land use. Alongshan virus (ALSV) is a tick-borne virus associated with human disease, which was first identified in northeast China. More recently, several studies reported the emergence of ALSV in mammalian and arthropod hosts in multiple different countries outside of Asia, and the first viral genome sequencing data has become available. ALSV is a member of the Jingmenvirus group closely related to the Flaviviridae family. Unusually, the positive-sense, single-stranded RNA genome of ALSV is segmented and consists of four distinct segments, two of which show homology with the NS3 and NS5 protein encoding regions of non-segmented flaviviruses. Transmission of arthropod-borne pathogens will likely increase in the future due to environmental change mediated by a variety of environmental and ecological factors and increasing human encroachment into wild animal habitats. In this review, we present current knowledge of global ALSV distribution and emergence patterns, highlight genetic diversity, evolution and susceptible species. Finally, we discuss the role of this emerging tick-borne virus in the context of urbanization and global health.

Does the rise in cases of Kyasanur forest disease call for the implementation of One Health in India?

The viral hemorrhagic illness known as Kyasanur forest disease (KFD), also referred to as monkey fever, is transmitted by ticks. The etiological agent, which was formerly isolated from monkeys, is Kyasanur forest disease virus (KFDV), an RNA virus belonging to the family Flaviviridae. Since 1957, India has reported 400-500 cases annually, with a case fatality rate of 1-3%. Shiroma, Chikkamagalore, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, and Udupi are the five regions in Karnataka, India where KFD is highly prevalent, with around 3263 notified cases reported between 2003 and 2012, of which 823 cases were laboratory confirmed. The symptoms of monkey fever can range from mild sickness to severe neurological sequelae. Currently, prophylaxis involves administration of formalin-inactivated tissue culture vaccine. Despite the continuing vaccination programs in endemic areas for KFD, new cases are being reported. The current availability and effectiveness of the vaccine are not enough to provide protective immunity and thus prevent new outbreaks. Our study examined the known literature, knowledge gaps, and host responses associated with KFD. There is a need for robust vector control, public awareness campaigns, mass vaccination programmes, a full understanding of the eco-epidemiological elements of the disease, and implementation of a One Health program. These could all support prevention and management protocols, and thus help to address the issue.

HUMAN ADENOVIRUS TYPE 4 COMPRISES TWO MAJOR PHYLOGROUPS WITH DISTINCT REPLICATIVE FITNESS AND VIRULENCE PHENOTYPES

Human adenovirus type 4 (HAdV-E4) is the only type (and serotype) classified within species Human mastadenovirus E that has been isolated from a human host to the present. Recent phylogenetic analysis of whole genome sequences of strains representing the spectrum of intratypic genetic diversity described to date identified two major evolutionary lineages designated phylogroups (PG) I, and II, and validated the early clustering of HAdV-E4 genomic variants into two major groups by low resolution restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. In this study we expanded our original analysis of intra- and inter-PG genetic variability, and used a panel of viruses representative of the spectrum of genetic diversity described for HAdV-E4 to examine the magnitude of inter- and intra-PG phenotypic diversity using an array of cell-based assays and a cotton rat model of HAdV respiratory infection. Our proteotyping of HAdV-E strains using concatenated protein sequences in selected coding regions including E1A, E1B-19K and -55K, DNA polymerase, L4-100K, various E3 proteins, and E4-34K confirmed that the two clades encode distinct variants/proteotypes at most of these loci. Our in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that PG I and PG II differ in their growth, spread, and cell killing phenotypes in cell culture and in their pulmonary pathogenic phenotypes. Surprisingly, the differences in replicative fitness documented in vitro between PGs did not correlate with the differences in virulence observed in the cotton rat model. This body of work is the first reporting phenotypic correlates of naturally occurring intratypic genetic variability for HAdV-E4. IMPORTANCE Human adenovirus type 4 (HAdV-E4) is a prevalent causative agent of acute respiratory illness of variable severity and of conjunctivitis and comprises two major phylogroups that carry distinct coding variations in proteins involved in viral replication and modulation of host responses to infection. Our data show that PG I and PG II are intrinsically different regarding their ability to grow and spread in culture and to cause pulmonary disease in cotton rats. This is the first report of phenotypic divergence among naturally occurring known genetic variants of a HAdV type of medical importance. This research reveals readily detectable phenotypic differences between strains representing phylogroups I and II, and it introduces a unique experimental system for the elucidation of the genetic basis of adenovirus fitness and virulence and thus for increasing our understanding of the implications of intratypic genetic diversity in the presentation and course of HAdV-E4-associated disease.

Amino Acid Substitutions in NS5 Contribute Differentially to Tembusu Virus Attenuation in Ducklings and Cell Cultures

Tembusu virus (TMUV), a highly infectious pathogenic flavivirus, causes severe egg-drop and encephalitis in domestic waterfowl, while the determinants responsible for viral pathogenicity are largely unknown. In our previous studies, virulent strain JXSP_2-4 had been completely attenuated by successive passages in BHK-21 cells and the avirulent strain was designated as JXSP-310. Based on the backbone of JXSP_2-4, a series of chimeric viruses were generated according to the amino acid substitutions in NS5 and their infectivities were also analyzed in cell cultures and ducklings. The results showed that the viral titers of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) domain-swapped cheimeric mutant (JXSP-310^RdRp) in cells and ducklings were both markedly decreased compared with JXSP_2-4, indicating that mutations in the RdRp domain affected viral replication. There are R543K and V711A two amino acid substitutions in the RdRp domain. Further site-directed mutagenesis showed that single-point R543K mutant (JXSP-R543K) exhibited similar replication efficacy compared with JXSP_2-4 in cells, but the viral loads in JXSP-R543K-infected ducklings were significantly lower than that of JXSP_2-4 and higher than JXSP-310^RdRp. Surprisingly, the single-point V711A mutation we introduced rapidly reverted. In addition, qRT-PCR and Western blot confirmed that the mutations in the RdRp domain significantly affected the replication of the virus. Taken together, these results show that R543K substitution in the RdRp domain impairs the in vivo growth of TMUV, but sustaining its attenuated infectivity requires the concurrent presence of the V711A mutation.

Molecular Determinants of West Nile Virus Virulence and Pathogenesis in Vertebrate and Invertebrate Hosts

West Nile virus (WNV), like the dengue virus (DENV) and yellow fever virus (YFV), are major arboviruses belonging to the Flavivirus genus. WNV is emerging or endemic in many countries around the world, affecting humans and other vertebrates. Since 1999, it has been considered to be a major public and veterinary health problem, causing diverse pathologies, ranging from a mild febrile state to severe neurological damage and death. WNV is transmitted in a bird–mosquito–bird cycle, and can occasionally infect humans and horses, both highly susceptible to the virus but considered dead-end hosts. Many studies have investigated the molecular determinants of WNV virulence, mainly with the ultimate objective of guiding vaccine development. Several vaccines are used in horses in different parts of the world, but there are no licensed WNV vaccines for humans, suggesting the need for greater understanding of the molecular determinants of virulence and antigenicity in different hosts. Owing to technical and economic considerations, WNV virulence factors have essentially been studied in rodent models, and the results cannot always be transported to mosquito vectors or to avian hosts. In this review, the known molecular determinants of WNV virulence, according to invertebrate (mosquitoes) or vertebrate hosts (mammalian and avian), are presented and discussed. This overview will highlight the differences and similarities found between WNV hosts and models, to provide a foundation for the prediction and anticipation of WNV re-emergence and its risk of global spread.

Characterization of tick-borne encephalitis virus isolated from a tick in central Hokkaido in 2017

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a zoonotic virus in the genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae. TBEV is widely distributed in northern regions of the Eurasian continent, including Japan, and causes severe encephalitis in humans. Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) was recently reported in central Hokkaido, and wild animals with anti-TBEV antibodies were detected over a wide area of Hokkaido, although TBEV was only isolated in southern Hokkaido. In this study, we conducted a survey of ticks to isolate TBEV in central Hokkaido. One strain, designated Sapporo-17-Io1, was isolated from ticks (Ixodes ovatus) collected in Sapporo city. Sequence analysis revealed that the isolated strain belonged to the Far Eastern subtype of TBEV and was classified in a different subcluster from Oshima 5-10, which had previously been isolated in southern Hokkaido. Sapporo-17-Io1 showed similar growth properties to those of Oshima 5-10 in cultured cells and mouse brains. The mortality rate of mice infected intracerebrally with each virus was similar, but the survival time of mice inoculated with Sapporo-17-Io1 was significantly longer than that of mice inoculated with Oshima 5-10. These results indicate that the neurovirulence of Sapporo-17-Io1 was lower than that of Oshima 5-10. Using an infectious cDNA clone, the replacement of genes encoding non-structural genes from Oshima 5-10 with those from Sapporo-17-Io1 attenuated the neuropathogenicity of the cloned viruses. This result indicated that the non-structural proteins determine the neurovirulence of these two strains. Our results provide important insights for evaluating epidemiological risk in TBE-endemic areas of Hokkaido.

Genotypic and Phenotypic Diversity of Herpes Simplex Virus 2 within the Infected Neonatal Population

More than 14,000 neonates are infected with herpes simplex virus (HSV) annually. Approximately half display manifestations limited to the skin, eyes, or mouth (SEM disease). The rest develop invasive infections that spread to the central nervous system (CNS disease or encephalitis) or throughout the infected neonate (disseminated disease). Invasive HSV disease is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, but the viral and host factors that predispose neonates to these forms are unknown. To define viral diversity within the infected neonatal population, we evaluated 10 HSV-2 isolates from newborns with a range of clinical presentations. To assess viral fitness independently of host immune factors, we measured viral growth characteristics in cultured cells and found diverse in vitro phenotypes. Isolates from neonates with CNS disease were associated with larger plaque size and enhanced spread, with the isolates from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) exhibiting the most robust growth. We sequenced complete viral genomes of all 10 neonatal viruses, providing new insights into HSV-2 genomic diversity in this clinical setting. We found extensive interhost and intrahost genomic diversity throughout the viral genome, including amino acid differences in more than 90% of the viral proteome. The genes encoding glycoprotein G (gG; US4), glycoprotein I (gI; US7), and glycoprotein K (gK; UL53) and viral proteins UL8, UL20, UL24, and US2 contained variants that were found in association with CNS isolates. Many of these viral proteins are known to contribute to cell spread and neurovirulence in mouse models of CNS disease. This report represents the first application of comparative pathogen genomics to neonatal HSV disease.IMPORTANCE Herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes invasive disease in half of infected neonates, resulting in significant mortality and permanent cognitive morbidity. The factors that contribute to invasive disease are not understood. This study revealed diversity among HSV isolates from infected neonates and detected the first associations between viral genetic variations and clinical disease manifestations. We found that viruses isolated from newborns with encephalitis showed enhanced spread in culture. These viruses contained protein-coding variations not found in viruses causing noninvasive disease. Many of these variations were found in proteins known to impact neurovirulence and viral spread between cells. This work advances our understanding of HSV diversity in the neonatal population and how it may impact disease outcome.

Epidemiology and pathological mechanisms of tick-borne encephalitis

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), a member of the genus Flavivirus within the family Flaviviridae, causes fatal encephalitis with severe sequelae in humans. TBEV is prevalent over a wide area of the Eurasian continent including Europe, Russia, Far-Eastern Asia, and Japan. While it was previously thought that TBEV was not endemic in Japan, the first confirmed case of serologically diagnosed TBE was reported in 1993 in the southern area of Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. In addition, TBEV has been isolated from dogs, wild rodents and ticks in the area. Our epizootiological survey indicated that endemic foci of TBEV were maintained in Hokkaido and other areas of Honshu. TBEV can be divided into three subtypes based on phylogenetic analyses. The Japanese isolates were classified as the Far Eastern subtype, which causes severe neural disorders with a higher mortality rate up to 30%. However, how viral replication and pathogenicity contribute to the neurological manifestations remains unclear. Recent studies have revealed distinctive mechanisms of TBEV pathogenicity and viral genetic factors associated with virulence. This review discusses the recent findings regarding the epidemiology and pathogenesis of TBEV.

Viral Determinants of Virulence in Tick-Borne Flaviviruses

Tick-borne flaviviruses have a global distribution and cause significant human disease, including encephalitis and hemorrhagic fever, and often result in neurologic sequelae. There are two distinct properties that determine the neuropathogenesis of a virus. The ability to invade the central nervous system (CNS) is referred to as the neuroinvasiveness of the agent, while the ability to infect and damage cells within the CNS is referred to as its neurovirulence. Examination of laboratory variants, cDNA clones, natural isolates with varying pathogenicity, and virally encoded immune evasion strategies have contributed extensively to our understanding of these properties. Here we will review the major viral determinants of virulence that contribute to pathogenesis and influence both neuroinvasiveness and neurovirulence properties of tick-borne flaviviruses, focusing particularly on the envelope protein (E), nonstructural protein 5 (NS5), and the 3′ untranslated region (UTR).

Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, and Control of a Tick-Borne Disease- Kyasanur Forest Disease: Current Status and Future Directions

In South Asia, Haemaphysalis spinigera tick transmits Kyasanur Forest Disease Virus (KFDV), a flavivirus that causes severe hemorrhagic fever with neurological manifestations such as mental disturbances, severe headache, tremors, and vision deficits in infected human beings with a fatality rate of 3-10%. The disease was first reported in March 1957 from Kyasanur forest of Karnataka (India) from sick and dying monkeys. Since then, between 400 and 500 humans cases per year have been recorded; monkeys and small mammals are common hosts of this virus. KFDV can cause epizootics with high fatality in primates and is a level-4 virus according to the international biosafety rules. The density of tick vectors in a given year correlates with the incidence of human disease. The virus is a positive strand RNA virus and its genome was discovered to code for one polyprotein that is cleaved post-translationally into 3 structural proteins (Capsid protein, Envelope Glycoprotein M and Envelope Glycoprotein E) and 7 non-structural proteins (NS1, NS2A, NS2B, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, and NS5). KFDV has a high degree of sequence homology with most members of the TBEV serocomplex. Alkhurma virus is a KFDV variant sharing a sequence similarity of 97%. KFDV is classified as a NIAID Category C priority pathogen due to its extreme pathogenicity and lack of US FDA approved vaccines and therapeutics; also, the infectious dose is currently unknown for KFD. In India, formalin-inactivated KFDV vaccine produced in chick embryo fibroblast is being used. Nevertheless, further efforts are required to enhance its long-term efficacy. KFDV remains an understudied virus and there remains a lack of insight into its pathogenesis; moreover, specific treatment to the disease is not available to date. Environmental and climatic factors involved in disseminating Kyasanur Forest Disease are required to be fully explored. There should be a mapping of endemic areas and cross-border veterinary surveillance needs to be developed in high-risk regions. The involvement of both animal and health sector is pivotal for circumscribing the spread of this disease to new areas.

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Flaviviruses

Flaviviruses, such as dengue, Japanese encephalitis, tick-borne encephalitis, West Nile, yellow fever, and Zika viruses, are critically important human pathogens that sicken a staggeringly high number of humans every year. Most of these pathogens are transmitted by mosquitos, and not surprisingly, as the earth warms and human populations grow and move, their geographic reach is increasing. Flaviviruses are simple RNA-protein machines that carry out protein synthesis, genome replication, and virion packaging in close association with cellular lipid membranes. In this review, we examine the molecular biology of flaviviruses touching on the structure and function of viral components and how these interact with host factors. The latter are functionally divided into pro-viral and antiviral factors, both of which, not surprisingly, include many RNA binding proteins. In the interface between the virus and the hosts we highlight the role of a noncoding RNA produced by flaviviruses to impair antiviral host immune responses. Throughout the review, we highlight areas of intense investigation, or a need for it, and potential targets and tools to consider in the important battle against pathogenic flaviviruses.

Identification and analysis of host proteins that interact with the 3'-untranslated region of tick-borne encephalitis virus genomic RNA

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) causes severe neurological disease, but the pathogenetic mechanism is unclear. The conformational structure of the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of TBEV is associated with its virulence. We tried to identify host proteins interacting with the 3'-UTR of TBEV. Cellular proteins of HEK293T cells were co-precipitated with biotinylated RNAs of the 3'-UTR of low- and high-virulence TBEV strains and subjected to mass spectrometry analysis. Fifteen host proteins were found to bind to the 3'-UTR of TBEV, four of which-cold shock domain containing-E1 (CSDE1), spermatid perinuclear RNA binding protein (STRBP), fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), and interleukin enhancer binding factor 3 (ILF3)-bound specifically to that of the low-virulence strain. An RNA immunoprecipitation and pull-down assay confirmed the interactions of the complete 3'-UTRs of TBEV genomic RNA with CSDE1, FMRP, and ILF3. Partial deletion of the stem loop (SL) 3 to SL 5 structure of the variable region of the 3'-UTR did not affect interactions with the host proteins, but the interactions were markedly suppressed by deletion of the complete SL 3, 4, and 5 structures, as in the high-virulence TBEV strain. Further analysis of the roles of host proteins in the neurologic pathogenicity of TBEV is warranted.

A Simple Mechanism Based on Amino Acid Substitutions is not a Critical Determinant of High Mortality of Japanese Encephalitis Virus Infection in Mice

For the development of effective treatment strategies for Japanese encephalitis (JE), it is important to identify the viral factors causing severe disease during JE virus (JEV) infection. In this study, we assessed whether amino acid substitutions are critical factors for higher mortality of JaTH160 compared with JaOArS982 in mice using the technique of infectious cDNA clones. We raised the possibility that two amino acids of C₁₂₄ and NS3₄₈₂ of JaTH160 may contribute to increased mortality in mice. However, simultaneous substitutions of these amino acids did not significantly increase the virulence of JaOArS982, suggesting that high mortality due to JaTH160 viral infection cannot be simply attributed to the specific amino acids. Multiple and complex, but not simple, mechanisms may induce the high mortality of JaTH160 infection in mice.

[Pathogenic mechanisms of Tick-borne Flaviviruses]

Many tick-borne flaviviruses causes fatal encephalitis in humans and animals with severe sequelae. However, it remains unclear how viral replication and pathogenicity contribute to the neurologic manifestations. In this paper, I summarized the specific replication mechanism of tick-borne flaviviruses in neurons and their effect on the pathogenicity of neurological disease. Our findings of the unique virus-host interaction in central nerve system will improve further understanding of the molecular mechanisms of viral replication and the pathogenicity of neurotropic viruses.

The Many Faces of the Flavivirus NS5 Protein in Antagonism of Type I Interferon Signaling

The vector-borne flaviviruses cause severe disease in humans on every inhabited continent on earth. Their transmission by arthropods, particularly mosquitoes, facilitates large emergence events such as witnessed with Zika virus (ZIKV) or West Nile virus in the Americas. Every vector-borne flavivirus examined thus far that causes disease in humans, from dengue virus to ZIKV, antagonizes the host type I interferon (IFN-I) response by preventing JAK-STAT signaling, suggesting that suppression of this pathway is an important determinant of infection. The most direct and potent viral inhibitor of this pathway is the nonstructural protein NS5. However, the mechanisms utilized by NS5 from different flaviviruses are often quite different, sometimes despite close evolutionary relationships between viruses. The varied mechanisms of NS5 as an IFN-I antagonist are also surprising given that the evolution of NS5 is restrained by the requirement to maintain function of two enzymatic activities critical for virus replication, the methyltransferase and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. This review discusses the different strategies used by flavivirus NS5 to evade the antiviral effects of IFN-I and how this information can be used to better model disease and develop antiviral countermeasures.

Preventative Vaccines for Zika Virus Outbreak: Preliminary Evaluation

Since it emerged in Brazil in May 2015, the mosquito-borne Zika virus (ZIKV) has raised global concern due to its association with a significant rise in the number of infants born with microcephaly and neurological disorders such as Guillain-Barré syndrome. We developed prototype subunit and adenoviral-based Zika vaccines encoding the extracellular portion of the ZIKV envelope gene (E) fused to the T4 fibritin foldon trimerization domain (Efl). The subunit vaccine was delivered intradermally through carboxymethyl cellulose microneedle array (MNA). The immunogenicity of these two vaccines, named Ad5.ZIKV-Efl and ZIKV-rEfl, was tested in C57BL/6 mice. Prime/boost immunization regimen was associated with induction of a ZIKV-specific antibody response, which provided neutralizing immunity. Moreover, protection was evaluated in seven-day-old pups after virulent ZIKV intraperitoneal challenge. Pups born to mice immunized with Ad5.ZIKV-Efl were all protected against lethal challenge infection without weight loss or neurological signs, while pups born to dams immunized with MNA-ZIKV-rEfl were partially protected (50%). No protection was seen in pups born to phosphate buffered saline-immunized mice. This study illustrates the preliminary efficacy of the E ZIKV antigen vaccination in controlling ZIKV infectivity, providing a promising candidate vaccine and antigen format for the prevention of Zika virus disease.

In vitro and in vivo characterization of chimeric duck Tembusu virus based on Japanese encephalitis live vaccine strain SA14-14-2

Duck Tembusu virus (DTMUV), a newly identified flavivirus, has rapidly spread to China, Malaysia and Thailand. The potential threats to public health have been well-highlighted; however its virulence and pathogenesis remain largely unknown. Here, by using reverse genetics, a recombinant chimeric DTMUV based on Japanese encephalitis live vaccine strain SA14-14-2 was obtained by substituting the corresponding prM and E genes (named ChinDTMUV). In vitro characterization demonstrated that ChinDTMUV replicated efficiently in mammalian cells with small-plaque phenotype in comparison with its parental viruses. Mouse tests showed ChinDTMUV exhibited avirulent phenotype in terms of neuroinvasiveness, while it retained neurovirulence from its parental virus DTMUV. Furthermore, immunization with ChinDTMUV was evidenced to elicit robust IgG and neutralizing antibody responses in mice. Overall, we successfully developed a viable chimeric DTMUV, and these results provide a useful platform for further investigation of the pathogenesis of DTMUV and development of a live attenuated DTMUV vaccine candidate.

Recovery of West Nile Virus Envelope Protein Domain III Chimeras with Altered Antigenicity and Mouse Virulence

Flaviviruses are positive-sense, single-stranded RNA viruses responsible for millions of human infections annually. The envelope (E) protein of flaviviruses comprises three structural domains, of which domain III (EIII) represents a discrete subunit. The EIII gene sequence typically encodes epitopes recognized by virus-specific, potently neutralizing antibodies, and EIII is believed to play a major role in receptor binding. In order to assess potential interactions between EIII and the remainder of the E protein and to assess the effects of EIII sequence substitutions on the antigenicity, growth, and virulence of a representative flavivirus, chimeric viruses were generated using the West Nile virus (WNV) infectious clone, into which EIIIs from nine flaviviruses with various levels of genetic diversity from WNV were substituted. Of the constructs tested, chimeras containing EIIIs from Koutango virus (KOUV), Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV), and Bagaza virus (BAGV) were successfully recovered. Characterization of the chimeras in vitro and in vivo revealed differences in growth and virulence between the viruses, within vivo pathogenesis often not being correlated within vitro growth. Taken together, the data demonstrate that substitutions of EIII can allow the generation of viable chimeric viruses with significantly altered antigenicity and virulence.

IMPORTANCE

The envelope (E) glycoprotein is the major protein present on the surface of flavivirus virions and is responsible for mediating virus binding and entry into target cells. Several viable West Nile virus (WNV) variants with chimeric E proteins in which the putative receptor-binding domain (EIII) sequences of other mosquito-borne flaviviruses were substituted in place of the WNV EIII were recovered, although the substitution of several more divergent EIII sequences was not tolerated. The differences in virulence and tissue tropism observed with the chimeric viruses indicate a significant role for this sequence in determining the pathogenesis of the virus within the mammalian host. Our studies demonstrate that these chimeras are viable and suggest that such recombinant viruses may be useful for investigation of domain-specific antibody responses and the more extensive definition of the contributions of EIII to the tropism and pathogenesis of WNV or other flaviviruses.

Isolation and characterization of tick-borne encephalitis virus from Ixodes persulcatus in Mongolia in 2012

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a zoonotic virus belonging to the genus Flavivirus, in the family Flaviviridae. The virus, which is endemic in Europe and northern parts of Asia, causes severe encephalitis. Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) has been reported in Mongolia since the 1980s, but details about the biological characteristics of the endemic virus are lacking. In this study, 680 ticks (Ixodes persulcatus) were collected in Selenge aimag, northern Mongolia, in 2012. Nine Mongolian TBEV strains were isolated from tick homogenates. A sequence analysis of the envelope protein gene revealed that all isolates belonged to the Siberian subtype of TBEV. Two strains showed similar growth properties in cultured cells, but their virulence in mice differed. Whole genome sequencing revealed only thirteen amino acid differences between these Mongolian TBEV strains. Our results suggest that these naturally occurring amino acid mutations affected the pathogenicity of Mongolian TBEV. Our results may be an important platform for monitoring TBEV to evaluate the epidemiological risk in TBE endemic areas of Mongolia.

The relationship between the structure of the tick-borne encephalitis virus strains and their pathogenic properties

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is transmitted to vertebrates by taiga or forest ticks through bites, inducing disease of variable severity. The reasons underlying these differences in the severity of the disease are unknown. In order to identify genetic factors affecting the pathogenicity of virus strains, we have sequenced and compared the complete genomes of 34 Far-Eastern subtype (FE) TBEV strains isolated from patients with different disease severity (Primorye, the Russian Far East). We analyzed the complete genomes of 11 human pathogenic strains isolated from the brains of dead patients with the encephalitic form of the disease (Efd), 4 strains from the blood of patients with the febrile form of TBE (Ffd), and 19 strains from patients with the subclinical form of TBE (Sfd). On the phylogenetic tree, pathogenic Efd strains formed two clusters containing the prototype strains, Senzhang and Sofjin, respectively. Sfd strains formed a third separate cluster, including the Oshima strain. The strains that caused the febrile form of the disease did not form a separate cluster. In the viral proteins, we found 198 positions with at least one amino acid residue substitution, of which only 17 amino acid residue substitutions were correlated with the variable pathogenicity of these strains in humans and they authentically differed between the groups. We considered the role of each amino acid substitution and assumed that the deletion of 111 amino acids in the capsid protein in combination with the amino acid substitutions R16K and S45F in the NS3 protease may affect the budding process of viral particles. These changes may be the major reason for the diminished pathogenicity of TBEV strains. We recommend Sfd strains for testing as attenuation vaccine candidates.