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Gu G, Fung TS, Hung WT, Osterrieder N, Go YY. Development and characterization of reverse genetics systems of feline infectious peritonitis virus for antiviral research. Vet Res 2024; 55:124. [PMID: 39334482 PMCID: PMC11438400 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-024-01373-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/18/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a lethal, immune-mediated disease in cats caused by feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV), a biotype of feline coronavirus (FCoV). In contrast to feline enteric coronavirus (FECV), which exclusively infects enterocytes and causes diarrhea, FIPV specifically targets macrophages, resulting in the development of FIP. The transmission and infection mechanisms of this complex, invariably fatal disease remain unclear, with no effective vaccines or approved drugs for its prevention or control. In this study, a full-length infectious cDNA clone of the wild-type FIPV WSU79-1149 strain was constructed to generate recombinant FIPV (rFIPV-WT), which exhibited similar growth kinetics and produced infectious virus titres comparable to those of the parental wild-type virus. In addition, the superfold green fluorescent protein (msfGFP) and Renilla luciferase (Rluc) reporter genes were incorporated into the rFIPV-WT cDNA construct to generate reporter rFIPV-msfGFP and rFIPV-Rluc viruses. While the growth characteristics of the rFIPV-msfGFP virus were similar to those of its parental rFIPV-WT, the rFIPV-Rluc virus replicated more slowly, resulting in the formation of smaller plaques than did the rFIPV-WT and rFIPV-msfGFP viruses. In addition, by replacing the S, E, M, and ORF3abc genes with msfGFP and Rluc genes, the replicon systems repFIPV-msfGFP and repFIPV-Rluc were generated on the basis of the cDNA construct of rFIPV-WT. Last, the use of reporter recombinant viruses and replicons in antiviral screening assays demonstrated their high sensitivity for quantifying the antiviral effectiveness of the tested compounds. This integrated system promises to significantly streamline the investigation of virus replication within host cells, enabling efficient screening for anti-FIPV compounds and evaluating emerging drug-resistant mutations within the FIPV genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoqian Gu
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - To Sing Fung
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Wong Tsz Hung
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | | | - Yun Young Go
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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2
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Friedhoff R, Elfayres G, Mérindol N, Desgagné-Penix I, Berthoux L. RNA replication-independent, DNA linearization-dependent expression of reporter genes from a SARS-CoV-2 replicon-encoding DNA in human cells. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300491. [PMID: 39150942 PMCID: PMC11329111 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Replicons, derived from RNA viruses, are genetic constructs retaining essential viral enzyme genes while lacking key structural protein genes. Upon introduction into cells, the genes carried by the replicon RNA are expressed, and the RNA self-replicates, yet viral particle production does not take place. Typically, RNA replicons are transcribed in vitro and are then electroporated in cells. However, it would be advantageous for the replicon to be generated in cells following DNA transfection instead of RNA. In this study, a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) DNA encoding a SARS-CoV-2 replicon under control of a T7 promoter was transfected into HEK293T cells engineered to functionally express the T7 RNA polymerase (T7 RNAP). Upon transfection of the BAC DNA, we observed low, but reproducible expression of reporter proteins GFP and luciferase carried by this replicon. Expression of the reporter proteins required linearization of the BAC DNA prior to transfection. Moreover, expression occurred independently of T7 RNAP. Gene expression was also insensitive to remdesivir treatment, suggesting that it did not involve self-replication of replicon RNA. Similar results were obtained in highly SARS-CoV-2 infection-permissive Calu-3 cells. Strikingly, prior expression of the SARS-CoV-2 N protein boosted expression from transfected SARS-CoV-2 RNA replicon but not from the replicon BAC DNA. In conclusion, transfection of a large DNA encoding a coronaviral replicon led to reproducible replicon gene expression through an unidentified mechanism. These findings highlight a novel pathway toward replicon gene expression from transfected replicon cDNA, offering valuable insights for the development of methods for DNA-based RNA replicon applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronja Friedhoff
- Department of Medical Biology, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
| | - Ghada Elfayres
- Department of Medical Biology, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
| | - Natacha Mérindol
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
| | - Isabel Desgagné-Penix
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
| | - Lionel Berthoux
- Department of Medical Biology, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
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3
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Nguyen HT, Falzarano D, Gerdts V, Liu Q. Construction and immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particle expressed by recombinant baculovirus BacMam. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0095924. [PMID: 38916311 PMCID: PMC11302303 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00959-24] [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: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The pandemic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to evolve to give rise to variants of concern that can escape vaccine-induced immunity. As such, more effective vaccines are urgently needed. In this study, we evaluated virus-like particle (VLP) as a vaccine platform for SARS-CoV-2. The spike, envelope, and membrane proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan strain were expressed by a single recombinant baculovirus BacMam and assembled into VLPs in cell culture. The morphology and size of the SARS-CoV-2 VLP as shown by transmission electron microscopy were similar to the authentic SARS-CoV-2 virus particle. In a mouse trial, two intramuscular immunizations of the VLP BacMam with no adjuvant elicited spike-specific binding antibodies in both sera and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids. Importantly, BacMam VLP-vaccinated mouse sera showed neutralization activity against SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudotyped lentivirus. Our results indicated that the SARS-CoV-2 VLP BacMam stimulated spike-specific immune responses with neutralization activity. IMPORTANCE Although existing vaccines have significantly mitigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, none of the vaccines can induce sterilizing immunity. The spike protein is the main component of all approved vaccines for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) due primarily to its ability to induce neutralizing antibodies. The conformation of the spike protein in the vaccine formulation should be critical for the efficacy of a vaccine. By way of closely resembling the authentic virions, virus-like particles (VLPs) should render the spike protein in its natural conformation. To this end, we utilized the baculovirus vector, BacMam, to express virus-like particles consisting of the spike, membrane, and envelope proteins of SARS-CoV-2. We demonstrated the immunogenicity of our VLP vaccine with neutralizing activity. Our data warrant further evaluation of the virus-like particles as a vaccine candidate in protecting against virus challenges.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- SARS-CoV-2/immunology
- SARS-CoV-2/genetics
- Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle/immunology
- Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle/genetics
- Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle/administration & dosage
- Baculoviridae/genetics
- Baculoviridae/immunology
- Mice
- Antibodies, Viral/immunology
- Antibodies, Viral/blood
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics
- COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology
- COVID-19 Vaccines/administration & dosage
- COVID-19/prevention & control
- COVID-19/immunology
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood
- Humans
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Female
- Immunogenicity, Vaccine
- Coronavirus Envelope Proteins/immunology
- Coronavirus Envelope Proteins/genetics
- Coronavirus M Proteins
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Trong Nguyen
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Darryl Falzarano
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Volker Gerdts
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Qiang Liu
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Vaccinology and Immunotherapeutics, School of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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4
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Van Loy B, Stevaert A, Naesens L. The coronavirus nsp15 endoribonuclease: A puzzling protein and pertinent antiviral drug target. Antiviral Res 2024; 228:105921. [PMID: 38825019 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2024.105921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has bolstered unprecedented research efforts to better understand the pathogenesis of coronavirus (CoV) infections and develop effective therapeutics. We here focus on non-structural protein nsp15, a hexameric component of the viral replication-transcription complex (RTC). Nsp15 possesses uridine-specific endoribonuclease (EndoU) activity for which some specific cleavage sites were recently identified in viral RNA. By preventing accumulation of viral dsRNA, EndoU helps the virus to evade RNA sensors of the innate immune response. The immune-evading property of nsp15 was firmly established in several CoV animal models and makes it a pertinent target for antiviral therapy. The search for nsp15 inhibitors typically proceeds via compound screenings and is aided by the rapidly evolving insight in the protein structure of nsp15. In this overview, we broadly cover this fascinating protein, starting with its structure, biochemical properties and functions in CoV immune evasion. Next, we summarize the reported studies in which compound screening or a more rational method was used to identify suitable leads for nsp15 inhibitor development. In this way, we hope to raise awareness on the relevance and druggability of this unique CoV protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Van Loy
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Annelies Stevaert
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lieve Naesens
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Leuven, Belgium.
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Bilotti K, Keep S, Sikkema AP, Pryor JM, Kirk J, Foldes K, Doyle N, Wu G, Freimanis G, Dowgier G, Adeyemi O, Tabatabaei SK, Lohman GJS, Bickerton E. One-pot Golden Gate Assembly of an avian infectious bronchitis virus reverse genetics system. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0307655. [PMID: 39052682 PMCID: PMC11271894 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0307655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Avian infectious bronchitis is an acute respiratory disease of poultry of particular concern for global food security. Investigation of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), the causative agent of avian infectious bronchitis, via reverse genetics enables deeper understanding of virus biology and a rapid response to emerging variants. Classic methods of reverse genetics for IBV can be time consuming, rely on recombination for the introduction of mutations, and, depending on the system, can be subject to genome instability and unreliable success rates. In this study, we have applied data-optimized Golden Gate Assembly design to create a rapidly executable, flexible, and faithful reverse genetics system for IBV. The IBV genome was divided into 12 fragments at high-fidelity fusion site breakpoints. All fragments were synthetically produced and propagated in E. coli plasmids, amenable to standard molecular biology techniques for DNA manipulation. The assembly can be carried out in a single reaction, with the products used directly in subsequent viral rescue steps. We demonstrate the use of this system for generation of point mutants and gene replacements. This Golden Gate Assembly-based reverse genetics system will enable rapid response to emerging variants of IBV, particularly important to vaccine development for controlling spread within poultry populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Bilotti
- New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sarah Keep
- The Pirbright Institute, Woking, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew P. Sikkema
- New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - John M. Pryor
- New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - James Kirk
- The Pirbright Institute, Woking, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Ge Wu
- The Pirbright Institute, Woking, United Kingdom
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6
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Li Y, Tan X, Deng J, Liu X, Liu Q, Zhang Z, Huang X, Shen C, Xu K, Zhou L, Chen Y. An optimized high-throughput SARS-CoV-2 dual reporter trans-complementation system for antiviral screening in vitro and in vivo. Virol Sin 2024; 39:447-458. [PMID: 38548102 PMCID: PMC11280264 DOI: 10.1016/j.virs.2024.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is still epidemic around the world. The manipulation of SARS-CoV-2 is restricted to biosafety level 3 laboratories (BSL-3). In this study, we developed a SARS-CoV-2 ΔN-GFP-HiBiT replicon delivery particles (RDPs) encoding a dual reporter gene, GFP-HiBiT, capable of producing both GFP signal and luciferase activities. Through optimal selection of the reporter gene, GFP-HiBiT demonstrated superior stability and convenience for antiviral evaluation. Additionally, we established a RDP infection mouse model by delivering the N gene into K18-hACE2 KI mouse through lentivirus. This mouse model supports RDP replication and can be utilized for in vivo antiviral evaluations. In summary, the RDP system serves as a valuable tool for efficient antiviral screening and studying the gene function of SARS-CoV-2. Importantly, this system can be manipulated in BSL-2 laboratories, decreasing the threshold of experimental requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingjian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Xue Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Jikai Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Xuemei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Qianyun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Institute for Vaccine Research at Animal Bio-safety Level Ⅲ Laboratory, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Xiaoya Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Chao Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Ke Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Li Zhou
- Institute for Vaccine Research at Animal Bio-safety Level Ⅲ Laboratory, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Yu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, RNA Institute, College of Life Sciences and Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China.
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7
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Wang X, Zhu Y, Wu Q, Jiang N, Xie Y, Deng Q. Development of a Cell Culture Model for Inducible SARS-CoV-2 Replication. Viruses 2024; 16:708. [PMID: 38793589 PMCID: PMC11125939 DOI: 10.3390/v16050708] [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: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) induces direct cytopathic effects, complicating the establishment of low-cytotoxicity cell culture models for studying its replication. We initially developed a DNA vector-based replicon system utilizing the CMV promoter to generate a recombinant viral genome bearing reporter genes. However, this system frequently resulted in drug resistance and cytotoxicity, impeding model establishment. Herein, we present a novel cell culture model with SARS-CoV-2 replication induced by Cre/LoxP-mediated DNA recombination. An engineered SARS-CoV-2 transcription unit was subcloned into a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) vector. To enhance biosafety, the viral spike protein gene was deleted, and the nucleocapsid gene was replaced with a reporter gene. An exogenous sequence was inserted within NSP1 as a modulatory cassette that is removable after Cre/LoxP-mediated DNA recombination and subsequent RNA splicing. Using the PiggyBac transposon strategy, the transcription unit was integrated into host cell chromatin, yielding a stable cell line capable of inducing recombinant SARS-CoV-2 RNA replication. The model exhibited sensitivity to the potential antivirals forsythoside A and verteporfin. An innovative inducible SARS-CoV-2 replicon cell model was introduced to further explore the replication and pathogenesis of the virus and facilitate screening and assessment of anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; (X.W.); (Y.Z.); (Q.W.); (N.J.)
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yuanfei Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; (X.W.); (Y.Z.); (Q.W.); (N.J.)
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Qiong Wu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; (X.W.); (Y.Z.); (Q.W.); (N.J.)
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Nan Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; (X.W.); (Y.Z.); (Q.W.); (N.J.)
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Youhua Xie
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; (X.W.); (Y.Z.); (Q.W.); (N.J.)
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Qiang Deng
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; (X.W.); (Y.Z.); (Q.W.); (N.J.)
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
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Wu G, Li Q, Dai J, Mao G, Ma Y. Design and Application of Biosafe Coronavirus Engineering Systems without Virulence. Viruses 2024; 16:659. [PMID: 38793541 PMCID: PMC11126016 DOI: 10.3390/v16050659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
In the last twenty years, three deadly zoonotic coronaviruses (CoVs)-namely, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and SARS-CoV-2-have emerged. They are considered highly pathogenic for humans, particularly SARS-CoV-2, which caused the 2019 CoV disease pandemic (COVID-19), endangering the lives and health of people globally and causing unpredictable economic losses. Experiments on wild-type viruses require biosafety level 3 or 4 laboratories (BSL-3 or BSL-4), which significantly hinders basic virological research. Therefore, the development of various biosafe CoV systems without virulence is urgently needed to meet the requirements of different research fields, such as antiviral and vaccine evaluation. This review aimed to comprehensively summarize the biosafety of CoV engineering systems. These systems combine virological foundations with synthetic genomics techniques, enabling the development of efficient tools for attenuated or non-virulent vaccines, the screening of antiviral drugs, and the investigation of the pathogenic mechanisms of novel microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoqiang Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; (G.W.); (Q.L.); (J.D.)
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau SAR 999078, China
| | - Qiaoyu Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; (G.W.); (Q.L.); (J.D.)
- College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Junbiao Dai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; (G.W.); (Q.L.); (J.D.)
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518120, China
| | - Guobin Mao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; (G.W.); (Q.L.); (J.D.)
| | - Yingxin Ma
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; (G.W.); (Q.L.); (J.D.)
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9
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Zhang H, Guo H. Optimization of a DNA-launched SARS-CoV-2 replicon with RNA splicing inhibitor Isoginkgetin. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29547. [PMID: 38511574 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29547] [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: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
We have previously developed a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC)-vectored SARS-CoV-2 replicon, namely BAC-CoV2-Rep, which, upon transfection into host cells, serves as a transcription template for SARS-CoV-2 replicon mRNA to initiate replicon replication and produce nanoluciferase (Nluc) reporter from the subgenomic viral mRNA. However, an inherent issue of such DNA-launched replicon system is that the nascent full-length replicon transcript undergoes process by host RNA splicing machinery, which reduces replicon replication and generates spliced mRNA species expressing NLuc reporter independent of replicon replication. To mitigate this problem, we employed Isoginkgetin, a universal eukaryotic host splicing inhibitor, to treat cells transfected with BAC-CoV2-Rep. Isoginkgetin effectively increased the level of full-length replicon transcripts while concurrently reducing the level of Nluc signal derived from spliced replicon mRNA, making the Nluc reporter signal more correlated with replicon replication, as evidenced by treatment with known SARS-CoV-2 replication inhibitors including Remdesivir, GC376, and EIDD-1931. Thus, our study emphasizes that host RNA splicing is a confounding factor for DNA-launched SARS-CoV-2 replicon systems, which can be mitigated by Isoginkgetin treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hu Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Cancer Virology Program, Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Haitao Guo
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Cancer Virology Program, Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Su WC, Chen ZY, Chang YS, Jeng KS, Le UNP, Chou YC, Kuo LL, Melano I, Jesse, Wang WJ, Song YC, Li SR, Hung MC, Lai MMC, Lin CW. Functional assessments of SARS-CoV-2 single-round infectious particles with variant-specific spike proteins on infectivity, drug sensitivity, and antibody neutralization. Antiviral Res 2023; 220:105744. [PMID: 37944823 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Working with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is restricted to biosafety level III (BSL-3) laboratory. The study used a trans-complementation system consisting of virus-like particles (VLPs) and DNA-launched replicons to generate SARS-CoV-2 single-round infectious particles (SRIPs) with variant-specific spike (S) proteins. S gene of Wuhan-Hu-1 strain (SWH1) or Omicron BA.1 variant (SBA.1), along with the envelope (E) and membrane (M) genes, were cloned into a tricistronic vector, co-expressed in the cells to produce variant-specific S-VLPs. Additionally, the replicon of the WH1-like strain without S, E, M and accessory genes, was engineered under the control by a CMV promoter to produce self-replicating RNAs within VLP-producing cells, led to create SWH1- and SBA.1-based SARS-CoV-2 SRIPs. The SBA.1-based SRIP showed lower virus yield, replication, N protein expression, fusogenicity, and infectivity compared to SWH1-based SRIPs. SBA.1-based SRIP also exhibited intermediate resistance to neutralizing antibodies produced by SWH1-based vaccines, but were effective at infecting cells with low ACE2 expression. Importantly, both S-based SRIPs responded similarly to remdesivir and GC376, with EC50 values ranging from 0.17 to 1.46 μM, respectively. The study demonstrated that this trans-complementation system is a reliable and efficient tool for generating SARS-CoV-2 SRIPs with variant-specific S proteins. SARS-CoV-2 SRIPs, mimicking authentic live viruses, facilitate comprehensive analysis of variant-specific virological characteristics, including antibody neutralization, and drug sensitivity in non-BSL-3 laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Chi Su
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, 404333, Taiwan; International Master's Program of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, 404333, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404327, Taiwan; Drug Development Center, China Medical University, Taichung, 404333, Taiwan
| | - Zan-Yu Chen
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, China Medical University, Taichung, 404333, Taiwan
| | - Young-Sheng Chang
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, 404333, Taiwan; Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, China Medical University, Taichung, 404333, Taiwan
| | - King-Song Jeng
- Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404327, Taiwan
| | - Uyen Nguyen Phuong Le
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, China Medical University, Taichung, 404333, Taiwan; Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung, 404333, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chi Chou
- Biomedical Translation Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115201, Taiwan
| | - Li-Lan Kuo
- International Master's Program of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, 404333, Taiwan
| | - Ivonne Melano
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, 404333, Taiwan
| | - Jesse
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, 404333, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Jan Wang
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung, 404333, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Chyi Song
- Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Sin-Rong Li
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, China Medical University, Taichung, 404333, Taiwan; Department of Laboratory Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404327, Taiwan
| | - Mien-Chie Hung
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, 404333, Taiwan; Research Center for Cancer Biology, China Medical University, Taichung, 404327, Taiwan; Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404327, Taiwan
| | - Michael M C Lai
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, 404333, Taiwan; Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115201, Taiwan.
| | - Cheng-Wen Lin
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, 404333, Taiwan; Drug Development Center, China Medical University, Taichung, 404333, Taiwan; Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, China Medical University, Taichung, 404333, Taiwan; Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung, 404333, Taiwan; Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Asia University, Wufeng, Taichung, 413305, Taiwan.
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11
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Cai HL, Huang YW. Reverse genetics systems for SARS-CoV-2: Development and applications. Virol Sin 2023; 38:837-850. [PMID: 37832720 PMCID: PMC10786661 DOI: 10.1016/j.virs.2023.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused serious harm to human health and struck a blow to global economic development. Research on SARS-CoV-2 has greatly benefited from the use of reverse genetics systems, which have been established to artificially manipulate the viral genome, generating recombinant and reporter infectious viruses or biosafety level 2 (BSL-2)-adapted non-infectious replicons with desired modifications. These tools have been instrumental in studying the molecular biological characteristics of the virus, investigating antiviral therapeutics, and facilitating the development of attenuated vaccine candidates. Here, we review the construction strategies, development, and applications of reverse genetics systems for SARS-CoV-2, which may be applied to other CoVs as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hou-Li Cai
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yao-Wei Huang
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
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12
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Huang Z, Wang W, Wang Y, Wang H, Pang Y, Yuan Q, Tan J, Tan W. Electrochemical Detection of Viral Nucleic Acids by DNA Nanolock-Based Porous Electrode Device. Anal Chem 2023; 95:16668-16676. [PMID: 37910393 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c03168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Developing rapid, sensitive, and facile nucleic acid detection technologies is of paramount importance for preventing and controlling infectious diseases. Benefiting from the advantages such as rapid response, low cost, and simple operation, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy holds great promise for point-of-care nucleic acid detection. However, the sensitivity of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for low molecular weight nucleic acids testing is still limited. This work presents a DNA nanolock-based porous electrode to improve the sensitivity of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Once the target nucleic acids are recognized by the DNA probes, the pore-attached DNA nanolock caused remarkable impedance amplification by blocking the nanopores. Taking SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid as a model analyte, the detection limit of the porous electrode was as low as 0.03 fM for both SARS-CoV-2 RNA and DNA. The integration of a porous electrode with a wireless communicating unit generates a portable detection device that could be applied to direct SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing in saliva samples. The portable device could effectively distinguish the COVID-19 positive and negative samples, showing a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 93%. Owing to its rapid, ultrasensitive, specific, and portable features, the as-designed DNA nanolock and porous electrode-based portable device holds great promise as a point-of-care platform for real-time screening of COVID-19 and other epidemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongnan Huang
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Wenjie Wang
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Yingfei Wang
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Han Wang
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Yimin Pang
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Quan Yuan
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Jie Tan
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Weihong Tan
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, China
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13
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Takazawa S, Kotaki T, Nakamura S, Utsubo C, Kameoka M. Construction of Fosmid-based SARS-CoV-2 replicons for antiviral drug screening and replication analyses in biosafety level 2 facilities. Virus Res 2023; 334:199176. [PMID: 37473963 PMCID: PMC10374963 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2023.199176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has necessitated the global development of countermeasures since its outbreak. However, current therapeutics and vaccines to stop the pandemic are insufficient and this is mainly because of the emergence of resistant variants, which requires the urgent development of new countermeasures, such as antiviral drugs. Replicons, self-replicating RNAs that do not produce virions, are a promising system for this purpose because they safely recreate viral replication, enabling antiviral screening in biosafety level (BSL)-2 facilities. We herein constructed three pCC2Fos-based RNA replicons lacking some open reading frames (ORF) of SARS-CoV-2: the Δorf2-8, Δorf2.4, and Δorf2 replicons, and validated their replication in Huh-7 cells. The functionalities of the Δorf2-8 and Δorf2.4 replicons for antiviral drug screening were also confirmed. We conducted puromycin selection following the construction of the Δorf2.4-puro replicon by inserting a puromycin-resistant gene into the Δorf2.4 replicon. We observed the more sustained replication of the Δorf2.4-puro replicon by puromycin pressure. The present results will contribute to the establishment of a safe and useful replicon system for analyzing SARS-CoV-2 replication mechanisms as well as the development of novel antiviral drugs in BSL-2 facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunta Takazawa
- Department of Public Health, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan; Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Kotaki
- Department of Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
| | - Satsuki Nakamura
- Department of Public Health, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Chie Utsubo
- Department of Public Health, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Masanori Kameoka
- Department of Public Health, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan.
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14
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Lopez-Orozco J, Fayad N, Khan JQ, Felix-Lopez A, Elaish M, Rohamare M, Sharma M, Falzarano D, Pelletier J, Wilson J, Hobman TC, Kumar A. The RNA Interference Effector Protein Argonaute 2 Functions as a Restriction Factor Against SARS-CoV-2. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:168170. [PMID: 37271493 PMCID: PMC10238125 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168170] [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: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Argonaute 2 (Ago2) is a key component of the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway, a gene-regulatory system that is present in most eukaryotes. Ago2 uses microRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) for targeting to homologous mRNAs which are then degraded or translationally suppressed. In plants and invertebrates, the RNAi pathway has well-described roles in antiviral defense, but its function in limiting viral infections in mammalian cells is less well understood. Here, we examined the role of Ago2 in replication of the betacoronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the etiologic agent of COVID-19. Microscopic analyses of infected cells revealed that a pool of Ago2 closely associates with viral replication sites and gene ablation studies showed that loss of Ago2 resulted in over 1,000-fold increase in peak viral titers. Replication of the alphacoronavirus 229E was also significantly increased in cells lacking Ago2. The antiviral activity of Ago2 was dependent on both its ability to bind small RNAs and its endonuclease function. Interestingly, in cells lacking Dicer, an upstream component of the RNAi pathway, viral replication was the same as in parental cells. This suggests that the antiviral activity of Ago2 is independent of Dicer processed miRNAs. Deep sequencing of infected cells by other groups identified several SARS-CoV-2-derived small RNAs that bind to Ago2. A mutant virus lacking the most abundant ORF7A-derived viral miRNA was found to be significantly less sensitive to Ago2-mediated restriction. This combined with our findings that endonuclease and small RNA-binding functions of Ago2 are required for its antiviral function, suggests that Ago2-small viral RNA complexes target nascent viral RNA produced at replication sites for cleavage. Further studies are required to elucidate the processing mechanism of the viral small RNAs that are used by Ago2 to limit coronavirus replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joaquin Lopez-Orozco
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Nawell Fayad
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Juveriya Qamar Khan
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Alberto Felix-Lopez
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Mohamed Elaish
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Megha Rohamare
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Maansi Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Darryl Falzarano
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Jerry Pelletier
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Joyce Wilson
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Tom C Hobman
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
| | - Anil Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
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15
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Khan JQ, Rohamare M, Rajamanickam K, Bhanumathy KK, Lew J, Kumar A, Falzarano D, Vizeacoumar FJ, Wilson JA. Generation of a SARS-CoV-2 Reverse Genetics System and Novel Human Lung Cell Lines That Exhibit High Virus-Induced Cytopathology. Viruses 2023; 15:1281. [PMID: 37376581 PMCID: PMC10301824 DOI: 10.3390/v15061281] [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: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The global COVID-19 pandemic continues with continued cases worldwide and the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants. In our study, we have developed novel tools with applications for screening antivirals, identifying virus-host dependencies, and characterizing viral variants. Using reverse genetics, we rescued SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan1 (D614G variant) wild type (WTFL) and reporter virus (NLucFL) using molecular BAC clones. The replication kinetics, plaque morphology, and titers were comparable between viruses rescued from molecular clones and a clinical isolate (VIDO-01 strain). Furthermore, the reporter SARS-CoV-2 NLucFL virus exhibited robust luciferase values over the time course of infection and was used to develop a rapid antiviral assay using remdesivir as proof-of-principle. In addition, as a tool to study lung-relevant virus-host interactions, we established novel human lung cell lines that support SARS-CoV-2 infection with high virus-induced cytopathology. Six lung cell lines (NCI-H23, A549, NCI-H1703, NCI-H520, NCI-H226, and HCC827) and HEK293T cells were transduced to stably express ACE2 and tested for their ability to support virus infection. A549ACE2 B1 and HEK293TACE2 A2 cell lines exhibited more than 70% virus-induced cell death, and a novel lung cell line, NCI-H23ACE2 A3, showed about ~99% cell death post-infection. These cell lines are ideal for assays relying on live-dead selection, such as CRISPR knockout and activation screens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juveriya Qamar Khan
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada; (J.Q.K.); (M.R.); (A.K.)
| | - Megha Rohamare
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada; (J.Q.K.); (M.R.); (A.K.)
| | - Karthic Rajamanickam
- Division of Oncology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada; (K.R.); (K.K.B.); (F.J.V.)
| | - Kalpana K. Bhanumathy
- Division of Oncology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada; (K.R.); (K.K.B.); (F.J.V.)
| | - Jocelyne Lew
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E3, Canada; (J.L.); (D.F.)
| | - Anil Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada; (J.Q.K.); (M.R.); (A.K.)
| | - Darryl Falzarano
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E3, Canada; (J.L.); (D.F.)
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Franco J. Vizeacoumar
- Division of Oncology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada; (K.R.); (K.K.B.); (F.J.V.)
- Cancer Research Department, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Joyce A. Wilson
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada; (J.Q.K.); (M.R.); (A.K.)
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16
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Mehyar N. Coronaviruses SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 helicase inhibitors: A systematic review of in vitro studies. J Virus Erad 2023:100327. [PMID: 37363132 PMCID: PMC10214743 DOI: 10.1016/j.jve.2023.100327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The recent outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 significantly increased the need to find inhibitors that target the essential enzymes for virus replication in the host cells. This systematic review was conducted to identify potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 helicases that have been tested by in vitro methods. The inhibition mechanisms of these compounds were discussed in this review, in addition to their cytotoxic and viral infection protection properties. Methods The databases PUBMED/MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Web of Science were searched using different combinations of the keywords "helicase", "nsp13", "inhibitors", "coronaviridae", "coronaviruses", "virus replication", "replication", and "antagonists and inhibitors". Results By the end of this search, a total of 6854 articles had been identified. Thirty-one articles were included in this review. These studies reported the inhibitory effects of 309 compounds on SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 helicase activities measured by in vitro methods. Helicase inhibitors were categorized according to the type of coronavirus and the type of tested enzymatic activity, nature, approval, inhibition level, cytotoxicity, and viral infection protection effects. These inhibitors are classified according to the site of their interaction with the coronavirus helicases into four types: zinc-binding site inhibitors, nucleic acid binding site inhibitors, nucleotide-binding site inhibitors, and inhibitors with no clear interaction site. Conclusion Evidence from in vitro studies suggests that helicase inhibitors have a high potential as antiviral agents. Several helicase inhibitors tested in vitro showed good antiviral activities while maintaining moderate cytotoxicity. These inhibitors should be clinically investigated to determine their efficiency in treating different coronavirus infections, particularly COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nimer Mehyar
- King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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17
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Zhang Q, Zhu S, Zhang X, Su L, Ni J, Zhang Y, Fang L. Recent insights into reverse genetics of norovirus. Virus Res 2023; 325:199046. [PMID: 36657615 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2023.199046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Norovirus is the leading cause of viral gastroenteritis globally, and poses substantial threats to public health. Despite substantial progress made in preventing norovirus diseases, the lack of a robust virus culture system has hampered biological research and effective strategies to combat this pathogen. Reverse genetic system is the technique to generate infectious viruses from cloned genetic constructs, which is a powerful tool for the investigation of viral pathogenesis and for the development of novel drugs and vaccines. The strategies of reverse genetics include bacterial artificial chromosomes, vaccinia virus vectors, and entirely plasmid-based systems. Since each strategy has its pros and cons, choosing appropriate approaches will greatly improve the efficiency of virus rescue. Reverse genetic systems that have been employed for norovirus greatly extend its life cycle and facilitate the development of medical countermeasures. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the structure, transmission, genetic evolution and clinical manifestations of norovirus, and describe recent advances in the studies of norovirus reverse genetics as well as its future prospects for therapeutics and vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinyi Zhang
- School of Medical Technology and Information Engineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China; Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shuirong Zhu
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | | | - Lingxuan Su
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jun Ni
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yanjun Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Lei Fang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China.
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18
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Khreefa Z, Barbier MT, Koksal AR, Love G, Del Valle L. Pathogenesis and Mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in the Intestine, Liver, and Pancreas. Cells 2023; 12:cells12020262. [PMID: 36672197 PMCID: PMC9856332 DOI: 10.3390/cells12020262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, rapidly spread worldwide, causing an ongoing global pandemic. While the respiratory system is the most common site of infection, a significant number of reported cases indicate gastrointestinal (GI) involvement. GI symptoms include anorexia, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Although the mechanisms of GI pathogenesis are still being examined, viral components isolated from stool samples of infected patients suggest a potential fecal-oral transmission route. In addition, viral RNA has been detected in blood samples of infected patients, making hematologic dissemination of the virus a proposed route for GI involvement. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors serve as the cellular entry mechanism for the virus, and these receptors are particularly abundant throughout the GI tract, making the intestine, liver, and pancreas potential extrapulmonary sites for infection and reservoirs sites for developing mutations and new variants that contribute to the uncontrolled spread of the disease and resistance to treatments. This transmission mechanism and the dysregulation of the immune system play a significant role in the profound inflammatory and coagulative cascades that contribute to the increased severity and risk of death in several COVID-19 patients. This article reviews various potential mechanisms of gastrointestinal, liver, and pancreatic injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaid Khreefa
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Mallory T. Barbier
- Louisiana Cancer Research Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Ali Riza Koksal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Gordon Love
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Luis Del Valle
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
- Louisiana Cancer Research Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
- Correspondence:
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19
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Tian L, Liu Q, Pei R, Chen Y, Xu C, Tang J, Sun H, Liu K, Yang Q, Yang L, Li L, Zhang Y, Zhou Y, Shan C, Hu X, Chen X, Wang Y. Comparison of viral propagation and drug response among SARS-CoV-2 VOCs using replicons capable of recapitulating virion assembly and release. Virol Sin 2022; 37:695-703. [PMID: 35781091 PMCID: PMC9247232 DOI: 10.1016/j.virs.2022.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Several variants of concern (VOCs) have emerged since the WIV04 strain of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first isolated in January 2020. Due to mutations in the spike (S) protein, these VOCs have evolved to enhance viral infectivity and immune evasion. However, whether mutations of the other viral proteins lead to altered viral propagation and drug resistance remains obscure. The replicon is a noninfectious viral surrogate capable of recapitulating certain steps of the viral life cycle. Although several SARS-CoV-2 replicons have been developed, none of them were derived from emerging VOCs and could only recapitulate viral genome replication and subgenomic RNA (sgRNA) transcription. In this study, SARS-CoV-2 replicons derived from the WIV04 strain and two VOCs (the Beta and Delta variants) were prepared by removing the S gene from their genomes, while other structural genes remained untouched. These replicons not only recapitulate viral genome replication and sgRNA transcription but also support the assembly and release of viral-like particles, as manifested by electron microscopic assays. Thus, the S-deletion replicon could recapitulate virtually all the post-entry steps of the viral life cycle and provides a versatile tool for measuring viral intracellular propagation and screening novel antiviral drugs, including inhibitors of virion assembly and release. Through the quantification of replicon RNA released into the supernatant, we demonstrate that viral intracellular propagation and drug response to remdesivir have not yet substantially changed during the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 from the WIV04 strain to the Beta and Delta VOCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingqian Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Qiuhong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Rongjuan Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Yingshan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Chonghui Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jielin Tang
- Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Hao Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Kunpeng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Qi Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Lei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Leshan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yongli Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Yuan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Chao Shan
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Xue Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China.
| | - Xinwen Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China; Innovation Center for Pathogen Research, Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, 510320, China.
| | - Yun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China.
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20
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Mechanisms of host type I interferon response modulation by the nucleocapsid proteins of alpha- and betacoronaviruses. Arch Virol 2022; 167:1925-1930. [PMID: 35763067 PMCID: PMC9244355 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-022-05513-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Coronaviruses can have a devastating impact on the health of humans and animals. Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) causes extremely high fatality rates in neonatal piglets, whereas severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the current COVID-19 pandemic in humans. As a critical component of the host antiviral innate immune response, type I interferon production and signaling play a very important role, especially in the initial phase of the antiviral responses. Coronaviruses have evolved multiple ways to counteract type I interferon responses. Although the primary functions of the nucleocapsid protein are to facilitate viral RNA replication and package viral genomic RNA into virions, recent studies have shown that the nucleocapsid protein is also involved in virus-host interactions. The aim of this review is to summarize our current understanding of how the nucleocapsid proteins of PEDV and SARS-CoV-2 modulate type I interferon responses. This knowledge will be useful for developing strategies to combat coronavirus infections.
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21
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Jin Y, Ouyang M, Yu T, Zhuang J, Wang W, Liu X, Duan F, Guo D, Peng X, Pan JA. Genome-Wide Analysis of the Indispensable Role of Non-structural Proteins in the Replication of SARS-CoV-2. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:907422. [PMID: 35722274 PMCID: PMC9198553 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.907422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the process of replication and transcription of SARS-CoV-2 is essential for antiviral strategy development. The replicase polyprotein is indispensable for viral replication. However, whether all nsps derived from the replicase polyprotein of SARS-CoV-2 are indispensable is not fully understood. In this study, we utilized the SARS-CoV-2 replicon as the system to investigate the role of each nsp in viral replication. We found that except for nsp16, all the nsp deletions drastically impair the replication of the replicon, and nsp14 could recover the replication deficiency caused by its deletion in the viral replicon. Due to the unsuccessful expressions of nsp1, nsp3, and nsp16, we could not draw a conclusion about their in trans-rescue functions. Our study provided a new angle to understand the role of each nsp in viral replication and transcription, helping the evaluation of nsps as the target for antiviral drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunyun Jin
- The Center for Infection and Immunity Study and Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Muzi Ouyang
- The Center for Infection and Immunity Study and Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ting Yu
- The Center for Infection and Immunity Study and Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jiaxin Zhuang
- The Center for Infection and Immunity Study and Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wenhao Wang
- The Center for Infection and Immunity Study and Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xue Liu
- The Center for Infection and Immunity Study and Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Fangfang Duan
- The Center for Infection and Immunity Study and Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Deyin Guo
- The Center for Infection and Immunity Study and Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaoxue Peng
- The Center for Infection and Immunity Study and Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ji-An Pan
- The Center for Infection and Immunity Study and Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
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22
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Liu Y, Li L, Timani KA, He JJ. A Unique Robust Dual-Promoter-Driven and Dual-Reporter-Expressing SARS-CoV-2 Replicon: Construction and Characterization. Viruses 2022; 14:974. [PMID: 35632716 PMCID: PMC9143625 DOI: 10.3390/v14050974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2, SARS2) remains a great global health threat and demands identification of more effective and SARS2-targeted antiviral drugs, even with successful development of anti-SARS2 vaccines. Viral replicons have proven to be a rapid, safe, and readily scalable platform for high-throughput screening, identification, and evaluation of antiviral drugs against positive-stranded RNA viruses. In the study, we report a unique robust HIV long terminal repeat (LTR)/T7 dual-promoter-driven and dual-reporter firefly luciferase (fLuc) and green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing SARS2 replicon. The genomic organization of the replicon was designed with quite a few features that were to ensure the replication fidelity of the replicon, to maximize the expression of the full-length replicon, and to offer the monitoring flexibility of the replicon replication. We showed the success of the construction of the replicon and expression of reporter genes fLuc and GFP and SARS structural N from the replicon DNA or the RNA that was in vitro transcribed from the replicon DNA. We also showed detection of the negative-stranded genomic RNA (gRNA) and subgenomic RNA (sgRNA) intermediates, a hallmark of replication of positive-stranded RNA viruses from the replicon. Lastly, we showed that expression of the reporter genes, N gene, gRNA, and sgRNA from the replicon was sensitive to inhibition by Remdesivir. Taken together, our results support use of the replicon for identification of anti-SARS2 drugs and development of new anti-SARS strategies targeted at the step of virus replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA; (Y.L.); (L.L.); (K.A.T.)
- Center for Cancer Cell Biology, Immunology and Infection, Rosalind Franklin University, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
- School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Rosalind Franklin University, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
| | - Lu Li
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA; (Y.L.); (L.L.); (K.A.T.)
- Center for Cancer Cell Biology, Immunology and Infection, Rosalind Franklin University, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
- School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Rosalind Franklin University, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
| | - Khalid A. Timani
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA; (Y.L.); (L.L.); (K.A.T.)
- Center for Cancer Cell Biology, Immunology and Infection, Rosalind Franklin University, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
- School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Rosalind Franklin University, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
| | - Johnny J. He
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA; (Y.L.); (L.L.); (K.A.T.)
- Center for Cancer Cell Biology, Immunology and Infection, Rosalind Franklin University, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
- School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Rosalind Franklin University, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
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23
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Wang W, Peng X, Jin Y, Pan JA, Guo D. Reverse genetics systems for SARS-CoV-2. J Med Virol 2022; 94:3017-3031. [PMID: 35324008 PMCID: PMC9088479 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has caused severe public health crises and heavy economic losses. Limited knowledge about this deadly virus impairs our capacity to set up a toolkit against it. Thus, more studies on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) biology are urgently needed. Reverse genetics systems, including viral infectious clones and replicons, are powerful platforms for viral research projects, spanning many aspects such as the rescues of wild‐type or mutant viral particles, the investigation of viral replication mechanism, the characterization of viral protein functions, and the studies on viral pathogenesis and antiviral drug development. The operations on viral infectious clones are strictly limited in the Biosafety Level 3 (BSL3) facilities, which are insufficient, especially during the pandemic. In contrast, the operation on the noninfectious replicon can be performed in Biosafety Level 2 (BSL2) facilities, which are widely available. After the outbreak of COVID‐19, many reverse genetics systems for SARS‐CoV‐2, including infectious clones and replicons are developed and given plenty of options for researchers to pick up according to the requirement of their research works. In this review, we summarize the available reverse genetics systems for SARS‐CoV‐2, by highlighting the features of these systems, and provide a quick guide for researchers, especially those without ample experience in operating viral reverse genetics systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhao Wang
- The Center for Infection and Immunity Study and Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 66, Gongchang Road, Guangming District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
| | - Xiaoxue Peng
- The Center for Infection and Immunity Study and Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 66, Gongchang Road, Guangming District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
| | - Yunyun Jin
- The Center for Infection and Immunity Study and Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 66, Gongchang Road, Guangming District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
| | - Ji-An Pan
- The Center for Infection and Immunity Study and Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 66, Gongchang Road, Guangming District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
| | - Deyin Guo
- The Center for Infection and Immunity Study and Molecular Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 66, Gongchang Road, Guangming District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
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24
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Tay DJW, Lew ZZR, Chu JJH, Tan KS. Uncovering Novel Viral Innate Immune Evasion Strategies: What Has SARS-CoV-2 Taught Us? Front Microbiol 2022; 13:844447. [PMID: 35401477 PMCID: PMC8984613 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.844447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has tested the capabilities of public health and scientific community. Since the dawn of the twenty-first century, viruses have caused several outbreaks, with coronaviruses being responsible for 2: SARS-CoV in 2007 and MERS-CoV in 2013. As the border between wildlife and the urban population continue to shrink, it is highly likely that zoonotic viruses may emerge more frequently. Furthermore, it has been shown repeatedly that these viruses are able to efficiently evade the innate immune system through various strategies. The strong and abundant antiviral innate immunity evasion strategies shown by SARS-CoV-2 has laid out shortcomings in our approach to quickly identify and modulate these mechanisms. It is thus imperative that there be a systematic framework for the study of the immune evasion strategies of these viruses, to guide development of therapeutics and curtail transmission. In this review, we first provide a brief overview of general viral evasion strategies against the innate immune system. Then, we utilize SARS-CoV-2 as a case study to highlight the methods used to identify the mechanisms of innate immune evasion, and pinpoint the shortcomings in the current paradigm with its focus on overexpression and protein-protein interactions. Finally, we provide a recommendation for future work to unravel viral innate immune evasion strategies and suitable methods to aid in the study of virus-host interactions. The insights provided from this review may then be applied to other viruses with outbreak potential to remain ahead in the arms race against viral diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Jie Wen Tay
- Biosafety Level 3 Core Facility, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Infectious Disease Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Zhe Zhang Ryan Lew
- Infectious Disease Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Otolaryngology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Justin Jang Hann Chu
- Biosafety Level 3 Core Facility, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Infectious Disease Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Collaborative and Translation Unit for Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD), Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kai Sen Tan
- Biosafety Level 3 Core Facility, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Infectious Disease Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Otolaryngology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- *Correspondence: Kai Sen Tan,
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25
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Tanaka T, Saito A, Suzuki T, Miyamoto Y, Takayama K, Okamoto T, Moriishi K. Establishment of a stable SARS-CoV-2 replicon system for application in high-throughput screening. Antiviral Res 2022; 199:105268. [PMID: 35271914 PMCID: PMC8900913 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105268] [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: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Experiments with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are limited by the need for biosafety level 3 (BSL3) conditions. A SARS-CoV-2 replicon system rather than an in vitro infection system is suitable for antiviral screening since it can be handled under BSL2 conditions and does not produce infectious particles. However, the reported replicon systems are cumbersome because of the need for transient transfection in each assay. In this study, we constructed a bacterial artificial chromosome vector (the replicon-BAC vector) including the SARS-CoV-2 replicon and a fusion gene encoding Renilla luciferase and neomycin phosphotransferase II, examined the antiviral effects of several known compounds, and then established a cell line stably harboring the replicon-BAC vector. Several cell lines transiently transfected with the replicon-BAC vector produced subgenomic replicon RNAs (sgRNAs) and viral proteins, and exhibited luciferase activity. In the transient replicon system, treatment with remdesivir or interferon-β but not with camostat or favipiravir suppressed the production of viral agents and luciferase, indicating that luciferase activity corresponds to viral replication. VeroE6/Rep3, a stable replicon cell line based on VeroE6 cells, was successfully established and continuously produced viral proteins, sgRNAs and luciferase, and their production was suppressed by treatment with remdesivir or interferon-β. Molnupiravir, a novel coronavirus RdRp inhibitor, inhibited viral replication more potently in VeroE6/Rep3 cells than in VeroE6-based transient replicon cells. In summary, our stable replicon system will be a powerful tool for the identification of SARS-CoV-2 antivirals through high-throughput screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomohisa Tanaka
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Graduate Faculty of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, 409-3898, Japan
| | - Akatsuki Saito
- Department of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, 889-2192, Japan; Center for Animal Disease Control, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, 889-2192, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Suzuki
- Institute for Advanced Co-Creation Studies, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yoichi Miyamoto
- Laboratory of Nuclear Transport Dynamics, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition (NIBIOHN), Osaka, 567-0085, Japan
| | - Kazuo Takayama
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Toru Okamoto
- Institute for Advanced Co-Creation Studies, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Kohji Moriishi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Graduate Faculty of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, 409-3898, Japan; Center for Life Science Research, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, 409-3898, Japan; Division of Hepatitis Virology, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, 060-0808, Japan.
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26
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Zhang H, Fischer DK, Shuda M, Moore PS, Gao SJ, Ambrose Z, Guo H. Construction and characterization of two SARS-CoV-2 minigenome replicon systems. J Med Virol 2022; 94:2438-2452. [PMID: 35137972 PMCID: PMC9088700 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic severely impacts global public health and economies. In order to facilitate research on SARS-CoV-2 virology and antiviral discovery, a non-infectious viral replicon system operating under biosafety level 2 containment is warranted. We report herein the construction and characterization of two SARS-CoV-2 minigenome replicon systems. First, we constructed the IVT-CoV2-Rep cDNA template to generate a replicon mRNA with nanoluciferase (NLuc) reporter via in vitro transcription (IVT). The replicon mRNA transfection assay demonstrated a rapid and transient replication of IVT-CoV2-Rep in a variety of cell lines, which could be completely abolished by known SARS-CoV-2 replication inhibitors. Our data also suggests that the transient phenotype of IVT-CoV2-Rep is not due to host innate antiviral responses. In addition, we have developed a DNA-launched replicon BAC-CoV2-Rep, which supports the in-cell transcription of a replicon mRNA as initial replication template. The BAC-CoV2-Rep transient transfection system exhibited a much stronger and longer replicon signal compared to the IVT-CoV2-Rep version. We also found that a portion of the NLuc reporter signal was derived from the spliced BAC-CoV2-Rep mRNA and was resistant to antiviral treatment, especially during the early phase after transfection. In summary, the established SARS-CoV-2 transient replicon systems are suitable for basic and antiviral research, and hold promise for stable replicon cell line development with further optimization. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hu Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.,Cancer Virology Program, Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
| | - Douglas K Fischer
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.,Cancer Virology Program, Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
| | - Masahiro Shuda
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.,Cancer Virology Program, Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
| | - Patrick S Moore
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.,Cancer Virology Program, Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
| | - Shou-Jiang Gao
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.,Cancer Virology Program, Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
| | - Zandrea Ambrose
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.,Cancer Virology Program, Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
| | - Haitao Guo
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.,Cancer Virology Program, Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
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27
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Malicoat J, Manivasagam S, Zuñiga S, Sola I, McCabe D, Rong L, Perlman S, Enjuanes L, Manicassamy B. Development of a Single-Cycle Infectious SARS-CoV-2 Virus Replicon Particle System for Use in Biosafety Level 2 Laboratories. J Virol 2022; 96:e0183721. [PMID: 34851142 PMCID: PMC8826801 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01837-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Research activities with infectious severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are currently permitted only under biosafety level 3 (BSL3) containment. Here, we report the development of a single-cycle infectious SARS-CoV-2 virus replicon particle (VRP) system with a luciferase and green fluorescent protein (GFP) dual reporter that can be safely handled in BSL2 laboratories to study SARS-CoV-2 biology. The spike (S) gene of SARS-CoV-2 encodes the envelope glycoprotein, which is essential for mediating infection of new host cells. Through deletion and replacement of this essential S gene with a luciferase and GFP dual reporter, we have generated a conditional SARS-CoV-2 mutant (ΔS-VRP) that produces infectious particles only in cells expressing a viral envelope glycoprotein of choice. Interestingly, we observed more efficient production of infectious particles in cells expressing vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) glycoprotein G [ΔS-VRP(G)] than in cells expressing other viral glycoproteins, including S. We confirmed that infection from ΔS-VRP(G) is limited to a single round and can be neutralized by anti-VSV serum. In our studies with ΔS-VRP(G), we observed robust expression of both luciferase and GFP reporters in various human and murine cell types, demonstrating that a broad variety of cells can support intracellular replication of SARS-CoV-2. In addition, treatment of ΔS-VRP(G)-infected cells with either of the anti-CoV drugs remdesivir (nucleoside analog) and GC376 (CoV 3CL protease inhibitor) resulted in a robust decrease in both luciferase and GFP expression in a drug dose- and cell-type-dependent manner. Taken together, our findings show that we have developed a single-cycle infectious SARS-CoV-2 VRP system that serves as a versatile platform to study SARS-CoV-2 intracellular biology and to perform high-throughput screening of antiviral drugs under BSL2 containment. IMPORTANCE Due to the highly contagious nature of SARS-CoV-2 and the lack of immunity in the human population, research on SARS-CoV-2 has been restricted to biosafety level 3 laboratories. This has greatly limited participation of the broader scientific community in SARS-CoV-2 research and thus has hindered the development of vaccines and antiviral drugs. By deleting the essential spike gene in the viral genome, we have developed a conditional mutant of SARS-CoV-2 with luciferase and fluorescent reporters, which can be safely used under biosafety level 2 conditions. Our single-cycle infectious SARS-CoV-2 virus replicon system can serve as a versatile platform to study SARS-CoV-2 intracellular biology and to perform high-throughput screening of antiviral drugs under BSL2 containment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johnny Malicoat
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | | | - Sonia Zuñiga
- Coronavirus Laboratory, Departamento Biologia Molecular y Celular, Centro Nacional de Biotecnologia (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Sola
- Coronavirus Laboratory, Departamento Biologia Molecular y Celular, Centro Nacional de Biotecnologia (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Dianne McCabe
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Lijun Rong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Stanley Perlman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Luis Enjuanes
- Coronavirus Laboratory, Departamento Biologia Molecular y Celular, Centro Nacional de Biotecnologia (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Balaji Manicassamy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
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The nsp15 Nuclease as a Good Target to Combat SARS-CoV-2: Mechanism of Action and Its Inactivation with FDA-Approved Drugs. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10020342. [PMID: 35208797 PMCID: PMC8880170 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10020342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 is not over yet, despite all the efforts from the scientific community. Vaccination is a crucial weapon to fight this virus; however, we still urge the development of antivirals to reduce the severity and progression of the COVID-19 disease. For that, a deep understanding of the mechanisms involved in viral replication is necessary. nsp15 is an endoribonuclease critical for the degradation of viral polyuridine sequences that activate host immune sensors. This enzyme is known as one of the major interferon antagonists from SARS-CoV-2. In this work, a biochemical characterization of SARS-CoV-2 nsp15 was performed. We saw that nsp15 is active as a hexamer, and zinc can block its activity. The role of conserved residues from SARS-CoV-2 nsp15 was investigated, and N164 was found to be important for protein hexamerization and to contribute to the specificity to degrade uridines. Several chemical groups that impact the activity of this ribonuclease were also identified. Additionally, FDA-approved drugs with the capacity to inhibit the in vitro activity of nsp15 are reported in this work. This study is of utmost importance by adding highly valuable information that can be used for the development and rational design of therapeutic strategies.
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Establishment of a Rapid Detection System for ISG20-Dependent SARS-CoV-2 Subreplicon RNA Degradation Induced by Interferon-α. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111641. [PMID: 34769072 PMCID: PMC8583800 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhaled nebulized interferon (IFN)-α and IFN-β have been shown to be effective in the management of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to construct a virus-free rapid detection system for high-throughput screening of IFN-like compounds that induce viral RNA degradation and suppress the replication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We prepared a SARS-CoV-2 subreplicon RNA expression vector which contained the SARS-CoV-2 5′-UTR, the partial sequence of ORF1a, luciferase, nucleocapsid, ORF10, and 3′-UTR under the control of the cytomegalovirus promoter. The expression vector was transfected into Calu-3 cells and treated with IFN-α and the IFNAR2 agonist CDM-3008 (RO8191) for 3 days. SARS-CoV-2 subreplicon RNA degradation was subsequently evaluated based on luciferase levels. IFN-α and CDM-3008 suppressed SARS-CoV-2 subreplicon RNA in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 values of 193 IU/mL and 2.54 μM, respectively. HeLa cells stably expressing SARS-CoV-2 subreplicon RNA were prepared and treated with the IFN-α and pan-JAK inhibitor Pyridone 6 or siRNA-targeting ISG20. IFN-α activity was canceled with Pyridone 6. The knockdown of ISG20 partially canceled IFN-α activity. Collectively, we constructed a virus-free rapid detection system to measure SARS-CoV-2 RNA suppression. Our data suggest that the SARS-CoV-2 subreplicon RNA was degraded by IFN-α-induced ISG20 exonuclease activity.
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