1
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Freppel W, Silva LA, Stapleford KA, Herrero LJ. Pathogenicity and virulence of chikungunya virus. Virulence 2024; 15:2396484. [PMID: 39193780 PMCID: PMC11370967 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2024.2396484] [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: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 08/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted, RNA virus that causes an often-severe musculoskeletal illness characterized by fever, joint pain, and a range of debilitating symptoms. The virus has re-emerged as a global health threat in recent decades, spreading from its origin in Africa across Asia and the Americas, leading to widespread outbreaks impacting millions of people. Despite more than 50 years of research into the pathogenesis of CHIKV, there is still no curative treatment available. Current management of CHIKV infections primarily involves providing supportive care to alleviate symptoms and improve the patient's quality of life. Given the ongoing threat of CHIKV, there is an urgent need to better understand its pathogenesis. This understanding is crucial for deciphering the mechanisms underlying the disease and for developing effective strategies for both prevention and management. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of CHIKV and its pathogenesis, shedding light on the complex interactions of viral genetics, host factors, immune responses, and vector-related factors. By exploring these intricate connections, the review seeks to contribute to the knowledge base surrounding CHIKV, offering insights that may ultimately lead to more effective prevention and management strategies for this re-emerging global health threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wesley Freppel
- Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Southport, Australia
| | - Laurie A. Silva
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kenneth A. Stapleford
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lara J. Herrero
- Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Southport, Australia
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2
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Bardossy ES, Volpe S, Suzuki Y, Merwaiss F, Faraj S, Montes M, Saleh MC, Alvarez DE, Filomatori CV. Molecular basis of RNA recombination in the 3'UTR of chikungunya virus genome. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:9727-9744. [PMID: 39051569 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae650] [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: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a rapidly spreading re-emergent virus transmitted from mosquitoes to humans. The emergence of epidemic variants has been associated with changes in the viral genome, such as the duplication of repeated sequences in the 3' untranslated region (UTR). Indeed, blocks of repeated sequences seemingly favor RNA recombination, providing the virus with a unique ability to continuously change the 3'UTR architecture during host switching. In this work, we provide experimental data on the molecular mechanism of RNA recombination and describe specific sequence and structural elements in the viral 3'UTR that favor template switching of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase on the 3'UTR. Furthermore, we found that a 3'UTR deletion mutant that exhibits markedly delayed replication in mosquito cells and impaired transmission in vivo, recombines in reference laboratory strains of mosquitoes. Altogether, our data provide novel experimental evidence indicating that RNA recombination can act as a nucleic acid repair mechanism to add repeated sequences that are associated to high viral fitness in mosquito during chikungunya virus replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia S Bardossy
- Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnología, Universidad de San Martín - CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3569, Viruses and RNA Interference Unit, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Sebastiano Volpe
- Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnología, Universidad de San Martín - CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológicas "Prof. Alejandro C. Paladini" (IQUIFIB), Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Yasutsugu Suzuki
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3569, Viruses and RNA Interference Unit, 75015 Paris, France
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
| | - Fernando Merwaiss
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3569, Viruses and RNA Interference Unit, 75015 Paris, France
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (CSIC-Universitat Politècnica de València), 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Santiago Faraj
- Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológicas "Prof. Alejandro C. Paladini" (IQUIFIB), Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mónica Montes
- Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológicas "Prof. Alejandro C. Paladini" (IQUIFIB), Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maria-Carla Saleh
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3569, Viruses and RNA Interference Unit, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Diego E Alvarez
- Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnología, Universidad de San Martín - CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Claudia V Filomatori
- Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnología, Universidad de San Martín - CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológicas "Prof. Alejandro C. Paladini" (IQUIFIB), Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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3
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Andrzejewska-Romanowska A, Gumna J, Tykwińska E, Pachulska-Wieczorek K. Mapping the structural landscape of the yeast Ty3 retrotransposon RNA genome. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:9821-9837. [PMID: 38864374 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae494] [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: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Long terminal repeat (LTR)-retrotransposons are significant contributors to the evolution and diversity of eukaryotic genomes. Their RNA genomes (gRNA) serve as a template for protein synthesis and reverse transcription to a DNA copy, which can integrate into the host genome. Here, we used the SHAPE-MaP strategy to explore Ty3 retrotransposon gRNA structure in yeast and under cell-free conditions. Our study reveals the structural dynamics of Ty3 gRNA and the well-folded core, formed independently of the cellular environment. Based on the detailed map of Ty3 gRNA structure, we characterized the structural context of cis-acting sequences involved in reverse transcription and frameshifting. We also identified a novel functional sequence as a potential initiator for Ty3 gRNA dimerization. Our data indicate that the dimer is maintained by direct interaction between short palindromic sequences at the 5' ends of the two Ty3 gRNAs, resembling the model characteristic for other retroelements like HIV-1 and Ty1. This work points out a range of cell-dependent and -independent Ty3 gRNA structural changes that provide a solid background for studies on RNA structure-function relationships important for retroelement biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelika Andrzejewska-Romanowska
- Department of RNA Structure and Function, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Julita Gumna
- Department of RNA Structure and Function, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Ewa Tykwińska
- Department of RNA Structure and Function, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Pachulska-Wieczorek
- Department of RNA Structure and Function, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
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4
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Sung PY, Phelan JE, Luo D, Kulasegaran-Shylini R, Bohn P, Smyth RP, Roy P. Recruitment of multi-segment genomic RNAs by Bluetongue virus requires a preformed RNA network. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:8500-8514. [PMID: 38769067 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae404] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
How do segmented RNA viruses correctly recruit their genome has yet to be clarified. Bluetongue virus is a double-stranded RNA virus with 10 segments of different sizes, but it assembles its genome in single-stranded form through a series of specific RNA-RNA interactions prior to packaging. In this study, we determined the structure of each BTV transcript, individually and in different combinations, using 2'-hydroxyl acylation analysed by primer extension and mutational profiling (SHAPE-MaP). SHAPE-MaP identified RNA structural changes during complex formation and putative RNA-RNA interaction sites. Our data also revealed a core RNA-complex of smaller segments which serves as the foundation ('anchor') for the assembly of a complete network composed of ten ssRNA segments. The same order of core RNA complex formation was identified in cells transfected with viral RNAs. No viral protein was required for these assembly reactions. Further, substitution mutations in the interacting bases within the core assemblies, altered subsequent segment addition and affected virus replication. These data identify a wholly RNA driven reaction that may offer novel opportunities for designed attenuation or antiviral therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Po-Yu Sung
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Jody E Phelan
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Dongsheng Luo
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Patrick Bohn
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Würzburg, Germany
| | - Redmond P Smyth
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Würzburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Polly Roy
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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5
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Huston NC, Tsao LH, Brackney DE, Pyle AM. The West Nile virus genome harbors essential riboregulatory elements with conserved and host-specific functional roles. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2312080121. [PMID: 38985757 PMCID: PMC11260092 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2312080121] [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: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is an arthropod-borne, positive-sense RNA virus that poses an increasing global threat due to warming climates and lack of effective therapeutics. Like other enzootic viruses, little is known about how host context affects the structure of the full-length RNA genome. Here, we report a complete secondary structure of the entire WNV genome within infected mammalian and arthropod cell lines. Our analysis affords structural insights into multiple, conserved aspects of flaviviral biology. We show that the WNV genome folds with minimal host dependence, and we prioritize well-folded regions for functional validation using structural homology between hosts as a guide. Using structure-disrupting, antisense locked nucleic acids, we then demonstrate that the WNV genome contains riboregulatory structures with conserved and host-specific functional roles. These results reveal promising RNA drug targets within flaviviral genomes, and they highlight the therapeutic potential of ASO-LNAs as both WNV-specific and pan-flaviviral therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas C. Huston
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT06511
| | - Lucille H. Tsao
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT06511
| | - Doug E. Brackney
- Department of Entomology, Connecticut Agricultural Experimental Station, New Haven, CT06511
| | - Anna Marie Pyle
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT06511
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT06511
- HHMI, Chevy Chase, MD20815
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6
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Ander SE, Carpentier KS, Sanders W, Lucas CJ, Jolly AJ, Johnson CN, Hawman DW, Heise MT, Moorman NJ, Morrison TE. A 44-Nucleotide Region in the Chikungunya Virus 3' UTR Dictates Viral Fitness in Disparate Host Cells. Viruses 2024; 16:861. [PMID: 38932154 PMCID: PMC11209300 DOI: 10.3390/v16060861] [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: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
We previously reported that deletion of a 44-nucleotide element in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) genome enhances the virulence of CHIKV infection in mice. Here, we find that while this 44-nucleotide deletion enhances CHIKV fitness in murine embryonic fibroblasts in a manner independent of the type I interferon response, the same mutation decreases viral fitness in C6/36 mosquito cells. Further, the fitness advantage conferred by the UTR deletion in mammalian cells is maintained in vivo in a mouse model of CHIKV dissemination. Finally, SHAPE-MaP analysis of the CHIKV 3' UTR revealed this 44-nucleotide element forms a distinctive two-stem-loop structure that is ablated in the mutant 3' UTR without altering additional 3' UTR RNA secondary structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie E. Ander
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA (A.J.J.)
| | - Kathryn S. Carpentier
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA (A.J.J.)
| | - Wes Sanders
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Cormac J. Lucas
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA (A.J.J.)
| | - Austin J. Jolly
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA (A.J.J.)
| | - Cydney N. Johnson
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA (A.J.J.)
| | - David W. Hawman
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA (A.J.J.)
| | - Mark T. Heise
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Nathaniel J. Moorman
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Thomas E. Morrison
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA (A.J.J.)
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7
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Diaz J, Sears J, Chang CK, Burdick J, Law I, Sanders W, Linnertz C, Sylvester P, Moorman N, Ferris MT, Heise MT. U-CAN-seq: A Universal Competition Assay by Nanopore Sequencing. Viruses 2024; 16:636. [PMID: 38675976 PMCID: PMC11054411 DOI: 10.3390/v16040636] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
RNA viruses quickly evolve subtle genotypic changes that can have major impacts on viral fitness and host range, with potential consequences for human health. It is therefore important to understand the evolutionary fitness of novel viral variants relative to well-studied genotypes of epidemic viruses. Competition assays are an effective and rigorous system with which to assess the relative fitness of viral genotypes. However, it is challenging to quickly and cheaply distinguish and quantify fitness differences between very similar viral genotypes. Here, we describe a protocol for using reverse transcription PCR in combination with commercial nanopore sequencing services to perform competition assays on untagged RNA viruses. Our assay, called the Universal Competition Assay by Nanopore Sequencing (U-CAN-seq), is relatively cheap and highly sensitive. We used a well-studied N24A mutation in the chikungunya virus (CHIKV) nsp3 gene to confirm that we could detect a competitive disadvantage using U-CAN-seq. We also used this approach to show that mutations to the CHIKV 5' conserved sequence element that disrupt sequence but not structure did not affect the fitness of CHIKV. However, similar mutations to an adjacent CHIKV stem loop (SL3) did cause a fitness disadvantage compared to wild-type CHIKV, suggesting that structure-independent, primary sequence determinants in this loop play an important role in CHIKV biology. Our novel findings illustrate the utility of the U-CAN-seq competition assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Diaz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; (J.D.)
| | - John Sears
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; (J.D.)
| | - Che-Kang Chang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; (J.D.)
| | - Jane Burdick
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - Isabella Law
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - Wes Sanders
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; (J.D.)
| | - Colton Linnertz
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - Paul Sylvester
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - Nathaniel Moorman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; (J.D.)
- The Rapidly Emerging Antiviral Drug Development Initiative (READDI), Chapel Hill, NC 275114, USA
| | - Martin T. Ferris
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - Mark T. Heise
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA; (J.D.)
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
- The Rapidly Emerging Antiviral Drug Development Initiative (READDI), Chapel Hill, NC 275114, USA
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8
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Thompson MG, Horner SM. The Evil DExH/D: Chikungunya virus runs but cannot hide from DDX39A. Mol Cell 2023; 83:3948-3949. [PMID: 37977114 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.10.032] [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: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
In this issue, Tapescu et al.1 identify DDX39A as a novel antiviral protein that acts on conserved features of alphavirus RNA to limit infection in an IFN-independent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew G Thompson
- Department of Integrative Immunobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Stacy M Horner
- Department of Integrative Immunobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
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9
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Tapescu I, Taschuk F, Pokharel SM, Zginnyk O, Ferretti M, Bailer PF, Whig K, Madden EA, Heise MT, Schultz DC, Cherry S. The RNA helicase DDX39A binds a conserved structure in chikungunya virus RNA to control infection. Mol Cell 2023; 83:4174-4189.e7. [PMID: 37949067 PMCID: PMC10722560 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.10.008] [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: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Alphaviruses are a large group of re-emerging arthropod-borne RNA viruses. The compact viral RNA genomes harbor diverse structures that facilitate replication. These structures can be recognized by antiviral cellular RNA-binding proteins, including DExD-box (DDX) helicases, that bind viral RNAs to control infection. The full spectrum of antiviral DDXs and the structures that are recognized remain unclear. Genetic screening identified DDX39A as antiviral against the alphavirus chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and other medically relevant alphaviruses. Upon infection, the predominantly nuclear DDX39A accumulates in the cytoplasm inhibiting alphavirus replication, independent of the canonical interferon pathway. Biochemically, DDX39A binds to CHIKV genomic RNA, interacting with the 5' conserved sequence element (5'CSE), which is essential for the antiviral activity of DDX39A. Altogether, DDX39A relocalization and binding to a conserved structural element in the alphavirus genomic RNA attenuates infection, revealing a previously unknown layer to the cellular control of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iulia Tapescu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Biochemistry and Biophysics Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Frances Taschuk
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Swechha M Pokharel
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Oleksandr Zginnyk
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Max Ferretti
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Peter F Bailer
- Biochemistry and Biophysics Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kanupryia Whig
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Emily A Madden
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Mark T Heise
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Genetics, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - David C Schultz
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sara Cherry
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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10
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Li R, Sun K, Tuplin A, Harris M. A structural and functional analysis of opal stop codon translational readthrough during Chikungunya virus replication. J Gen Virol 2023; 104:10.1099/jgv.0.001909. [PMID: 37862073 PMCID: PMC7615711 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an alphavirus, transmitted by Aedes species mosquitoes. The CHIKV single-stranded positive-sense RNA genome contains two open reading frames, coding for the non-structural (nsP) and structural proteins of the virus. The non-structural polyprotein precursor is proteolytically cleaved to generate nsP1-4. Intriguingly, most isolates of CHIKV (and other alphaviruses) possess an opal stop codon close to the 3' end of the nsP3 coding sequence and translational readthrough is necessary to produce full-length nsP3 and the nsP4 RNA polymerase. Here we investigate the role of this stop codon by replacing the arginine codon with each of the three stop codons in the context of both a subgenomic replicon and infectious CHIKV. Both opal and amber stop codons were tolerated in mammalian cells, but the ochre was not. In mosquito cells all three stop codons were tolerated. Using SHAPE analysis we interrogated the structure of a putative stem loop 3' of the stop codon and used mutagenesis to probe the importance of a short base-paired region at the base of this structure. Our data reveal that this stem is not required for stop codon translational readthrough, and we conclude that other factors must facilitate this process to permit productive CHIKV replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond Li
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 9JT, UK
| | | | - Andrew Tuplin
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Mark Harris
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 9JT, UK
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11
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Mathez G, Cagno V. Small Molecules Targeting Viral RNA. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13500. [PMID: 37686306 PMCID: PMC10487773 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713500] [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: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The majority of antivirals available target viral proteins; however, RNA is emerging as a new and promising antiviral target due to the presence of highly structured RNA in viral genomes fundamental for their replication cycle. Here, we discuss methods for the identification of RNA-targeting compounds, starting from the determination of RNA structures either from purified RNA or in living cells, followed by in silico screening on RNA and phenotypic assays to evaluate viral inhibition. Moreover, we review the small molecules known to target the programmed ribosomal frameshifting element of SARS-CoV-2, the internal ribosomal entry site of different viruses, and RNA elements of HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Valeria Cagno
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital of Lausanne, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
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12
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Henderson AN, McDonnell RT, Elcock AH. Modeling the 3D structure and conformational dynamics of very large RNAs using coarse-grained molecular simulations. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.06.543892. [PMID: 37333149 PMCID: PMC10274748 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.06.543892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
We describe a computational approach to building and simulating realistic 3D models of very large RNA molecules (>1000 nucleotides) at a resolution of one "bead" per nucleotide. The method starts with a predicted secondary structure and uses several stages of energy minimization and Brownian dynamics (BD) simulation to build 3D models. A key step in the protocol is the temporary addition of a 4 th spatial dimension that allows all predicted helical elements to become disentangled from each other in an effectively automated way. We then use the resulting 3D models as input to Brownian dynamics simulations that include hydrodynamic interactions (HIs) that allow the diffusive properties of the RNA to be modelled as well as enabling its conformational dynamics to be simulated. To validate the dynamics part of the method, we first show that when applied to small RNAs with known 3D structures the BD-HI simulation models accurately reproduce their experimental hydrodynamic radii (Rh). We then apply the modelling and simulation protocol to a variety of RNAs for which experimental Rh values have been reported ranging in size from 85 to 3569 nucleotides. We show that the 3D models, when used in BD-HI simulations, produce hydrodynamic radii that are usually in good agreement with experimental estimates for RNAs that do not contain tertiary contacts that persist even under very low salt conditions. Finally, we show that sampling of the conformational dynamics of large RNAs on timescales of 100 µs is computationally feasible with BD-HI simulations.
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13
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Mirska B, Woźniak T, Lorent D, Ruszkowska A, Peterson JM, Moss WN, Mathews DH, Kierzek R, Kierzek E. In vivo secondary structural analysis of Influenza A virus genomic RNA. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:136. [PMID: 37131079 PMCID: PMC10153785 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04764-1] [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: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Influenza A virus (IAV) is a respiratory virus that causes epidemics and pandemics. Knowledge of IAV RNA secondary structure in vivo is crucial for a better understanding of virus biology. Moreover, it is a fundament for the development of new RNA-targeting antivirals. Chemical RNA mapping using selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE) coupled with Mutational Profiling (MaP) allows for the thorough examination of secondary structures in low-abundance RNAs in their biological context. So far, the method has been used for analyzing the RNA secondary structures of several viruses including SARS-CoV-2 in virio and in cellulo. Here, we used SHAPE-MaP and dimethyl sulfate mutational profiling with sequencing (DMS-MaPseq) for genome-wide secondary structure analysis of viral RNA (vRNA) of the pandemic influenza A/California/04/2009 (H1N1) strain in both in virio and in cellulo environments. Experimental data allowed the prediction of the secondary structures of all eight vRNA segments in virio and, for the first time, the structures of vRNA5, 7, and 8 in cellulo. We conducted a comprehensive structural analysis of the proposed vRNA structures to reveal the motifs predicted with the highest accuracy. We also performed a base-pairs conservation analysis of the predicted vRNA structures and revealed many highly conserved vRNA motifs among the IAVs. The structural motifs presented herein are potential candidates for new IAV antiviral strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Mirska
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704, Poznan, Poland
| | - Tomasz Woźniak
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 32, 60-479, Poznan, Poland
| | - Dagny Lorent
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704, Poznan, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Ruszkowska
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704, Poznan, Poland
| | - Jake M Peterson
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biophysics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Walter N Moss
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biophysics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - David H Mathews
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics and Center for RNA Biology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 712, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - Ryszard Kierzek
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704, Poznan, Poland
| | - Elzbieta Kierzek
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704, Poznan, Poland.
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14
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Bardossy ES, Volpe S, Alvarez DE, Filomatori CV. A conserved Y-shaped RNA structure in the 3'UTR of chikungunya virus genome as a host-specialized element that modulates viral replication and evolution. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011352. [PMID: 37126493 PMCID: PMC10174580 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA viral genomes compact information into functional RNA structures. Here, using chikungunya virus as a model, we investigated the structural requirements of conserved RNA elements in the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) for viral replication in mosquito and mammalian cells. Using structural predictions and co-variation analysis, we identified a highly stable and conserved Y-shaped structure (SLY) at the end of the 3'UTR that is duplicated in the Asian lineage. Functional studies with mutant viruses showed that the SLY has host-specific functions during viral replication and evolution. The SLY positively modulates viral replication in mosquito cells but has the opposite effect in mammalian cells. Additional structural/functional analyses showed that maintaining the Y-shaped fold and specific nucleotides in the loop are critical for full SLY functionality and optimal viral replication in mosquito cells. Experimental adaptation of viruses with duplicated SLYs to mammalian cells resulted in the generation of heterogeneous viral populations comprising variants with diverse 3'UTRs, contrasting with the homogeneous populations from viruses without SLY copies. Altogether, our findings constitute the first evidence of an RNA secondary structure in the 3'UTR of chikungunya virus genome that plays host-dependent functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Soledad Bardossy
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnología, Universidad de San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sebastiano Volpe
- Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnología, Universidad de San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Diego Ezequiel Alvarez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnología, Universidad de San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Claudia Verónica Filomatori
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnología, Universidad de San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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15
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Anderson EJ, Knight AC, Heise MT, Baxter VK. Effect of Viral Strain and Host Age on Clinical Disease and Viral Replication in Immunocompetent Mouse Models of Chikungunya Encephalomyelitis. Viruses 2023; 15:1057. [PMID: 37243143 PMCID: PMC10220978 DOI: 10.3390/v15051057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The alphavirus chikungunya virus (CHIKV) represents a reemerging public health threat as mosquito vectors spread and viruses acquire advantageous mutations. Although primarily arthritogenic in nature, CHIKV can produce neurological disease with long-lasting sequelae that are difficult to study in humans. We therefore evaluated immunocompetent mouse strains/stocks for their susceptibility to intracranial infection with three different CHIKV strains, the East/Central/South African (ECSA) lineage strain SL15649 and Asian lineage strains AF15561 and SM2013. In CD-1 mice, neurovirulence was age- and CHIKV strain-specific, with SM2013 inducing less severe disease than SL15649 and AF15561. In 4-6-week-old C57BL/6J mice, SL15649 induced more severe disease and increased viral brain and spinal cord titers compared to Asian lineage strains, further indicating that neurological disease severity is CHIKV-strain-dependent. Proinflammatory cytokine gene expression and CD4+ T cell infiltration in the brain were also increased with SL15649 infection, suggesting that like other encephalitic alphaviruses and with CHIKV-induced arthritis, the immune response contributes to CHIKV-induced neurological disease. Finally, this study helps overcome a current barrier in the alphavirus field by identifying both 4-6-week-old CD-1 and C57BL/6J mice as immunocompetent, neurodevelopmentally appropriate mouse models that can be used to examine CHIKV neuropathogenesis and immunopathogenesis following direct brain infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth J. Anderson
- Division of Comparative Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Audrey C. Knight
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Mark T. Heise
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Victoria K. Baxter
- Division of Comparative Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX 78227, USA
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16
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Nguyen LP, Aldana KS, Yang E, Yao Z, Li MMH. Alphavirus Evasion of Zinc Finger Antiviral Protein (ZAP) Correlates with CpG Suppression in a Specific Viral nsP2 Gene Sequence. Viruses 2023; 15:830. [PMID: 37112813 PMCID: PMC10145277 DOI: 10.3390/v15040830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Certain re-emerging alphaviruses, such as chikungunya virus (CHIKV), cause serious disease and widespread epidemics. To develop virus-specific therapies, it is critical to understand the determinants of alphavirus pathogenesis and virulence. One major determinant is viral evasion of the host interferon response, which upregulates antiviral effectors, including zinc finger antiviral protein (ZAP). Here, we demonstrated that Old World alphaviruses show differential sensitivity to endogenous ZAP in 293T cells: Ross River virus (RRV) and Sindbis virus (SINV) are more sensitive to ZAP than o'nyong'nyong virus (ONNV) and CHIKV. We hypothesized that the more ZAP-resistant alphaviruses evade ZAP binding to their RNA. However, we did not find a correlation between ZAP sensitivity and binding to alphavirus genomic RNA. Using a chimeric virus, we found the ZAP sensitivity determinant lies mainly within the alphavirus non-structural protein (nsP) gene region. Surprisingly, we also did not find a correlation between alphavirus ZAP sensitivity and binding to nsP RNA, suggesting ZAP targeting of specific regions in the nsP RNA. Since ZAP can preferentially bind CpG dinucleotides in viral RNA, we identified three 500-bp sequences in the nsP region where CpG content correlates with ZAP sensitivity. Interestingly, ZAP binding to one of these sequences in the nsP2 gene correlated to sensitivity, and we confirmed that this binding is CpG-dependent. Our results demonstrate a potential strategy of alphavirus virulence by localized CpG suppression to evade ZAP recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- LeAnn P. Nguyen
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Kelly S. Aldana
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Emily Yang
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Zhenlan Yao
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Melody M. H. Li
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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17
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Skidmore AM, Bradfute SB. The life cycle of the alphaviruses: From an antiviral perspective. Antiviral Res 2023; 209:105476. [PMID: 36436722 PMCID: PMC9840710 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105476] [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: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The alphaviruses are a widely distributed group of positive-sense, single stranded, RNA viruses. These viruses are largely arthropod-borne and can be found on all populated continents. These viruses cause significant human disease, and recently have begun to spread into new populations, such as the expansion of Chikungunya virus into southern Europe and the Caribbean, where it has established itself as endemic. The study of alphaviruses is an active and expanding field, due to their impacts on human health, their effects on agriculture, and the threat that some pose as potential agents of biological warfare and terrorism. In this systematic review we will summarize both historic knowledge in the field as well as recently published data that has potential to shift current theories in how alphaviruses are able to function. This review is comprehensive, covering all parts of the alphaviral life cycle as well as a brief overview of their pathology and the current state of research in regards to vaccines and therapeutics for alphaviral disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Skidmore
- Center for Global Health, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 915 Camino de Salud, IDTC Room 3245, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA.
| | - Steven B Bradfute
- Center for Global Health, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, 915 Camino de Salud, IDTC Room 3330A, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA.
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18
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Nalewaj M, Szabat M. Examples of Structural Motifs in Viral Genomes and Approaches for RNA Structure Characterization. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415917. [PMID: 36555559 PMCID: PMC9784701 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The relationship between conserved structural motifs and their biological function in the virus replication cycle is the interest of many researchers around the world. RNA structure is closely related to RNA function. Therefore, technological progress in high-throughput approaches for RNA structure analysis and the development of new ones are very important. In this mini review, we discuss a few perspectives on the structural elements of viral genomes and some methods used for RNA structure prediction and characterization. Based on the recent literature, we describe several examples of studies concerning the viral genomes, especially severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and influenza A virus (IAV). Herein, we emphasize that a better understanding of viral genome architecture allows for the discovery of the structure-function relationship, and as a result, the discovery of new potential antiviral therapeutics.
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19
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Basavappa MG, Ferretti M, Dittmar M, Stoute J, Sullivan MC, Whig K, Shen H, Liu KF, Schultz DC, Beiting DP, Lynch KW, Henao-Mejia J, Cherry S. The lncRNA ALPHA specifically targets chikungunya virus to control infection. Mol Cell 2022; 82:3729-3744.e10. [PMID: 36167073 PMCID: PMC10464526 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.08.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Arthropod-borne viruses, including the alphavirus chikungunya virus (CHIKV), cause acute disease in millions of people and utilize potent mechanisms to antagonize and circumvent innate immune pathways including the type I interferon (IFN) pathway. In response, hosts have evolved antiviral counterdefense strategies that remain incompletely understood. Recent studies have found that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate classical innate immune pathways; how lncRNAs contribute to additional antiviral counterdefenses remains unclear. Using high-throughput genetic screening, we identified a cytoplasmic antiviral lncRNA that we named antiviral lncRNA prohibiting human alphaviruses (ALPHA), which is transcriptionally induced by alphaviruses and functions independently of IFN to inhibit the replication of CHIKV and its closest relative, O'nyong'nyong virus (ONNV), but not other viruses. Furthermore, we showed that ALPHA interacts with CHIKV genomic RNA and restrains viral RNA replication. Together, our findings reveal that ALPHA and potentially other lncRNAs can mediate non-canonical antiviral immune responses against specific viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megha G Basavappa
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Institute for Immunology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Max Ferretti
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Mark Dittmar
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Institute for Immunology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Julian Stoute
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Megan C Sullivan
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Kanupriya Whig
- Institute for Immunology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; High-Throughput Screening Core, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Hui Shen
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Kathy Fange Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - David C Schultz
- Institute for Immunology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; High-Throughput Screening Core, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Daniel P Beiting
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Kristen W Lynch
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jorge Henao-Mejia
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Institute for Immunology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Division of Protective Immunity, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Sara Cherry
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Institute for Immunology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; High-Throughput Screening Core, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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20
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Coria A, Wienecke A, Knight ML, Desirò D, Laederach A, Borodavka A. Rotavirus RNA chaperone mediates global transcriptome-wide increase in RNA backbone flexibility. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:10078-10092. [PMID: 36062555 PMCID: PMC9508848 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to genome segmentation, rotaviruses must co-package eleven distinct genomic RNAs. The packaging is mediated by virus-encoded RNA chaperones, such as the rotavirus NSP2 protein. While the activities of distinct RNA chaperones are well studied on smaller RNAs, little is known about their global effect on the entire viral transcriptome. Here, we used Selective 2'-hydroxyl Acylation Analyzed by Primer Extension and Mutational Profiling (SHAPE-MaP) to examine the secondary structure of the rotavirus transcriptome in the presence of increasing amounts of NSP2. SHAPE-MaP data reveals that despite the well-documented helix-unwinding activity of NSP2 in vitro, its incubation with cognate rotavirus transcripts does not induce a significant change in the SHAPE reactivities. However, a quantitative analysis of mutation rates measured by mutational profiling reveals a global 5-fold rate increase in the presence of NSP2. We demonstrate that the normalization procedure used in deriving SHAPE reactivities from mutation rates can mask an important global effect of an RNA chaperone. Analysis of the mutation rates reveals a larger effect on stems rather than loops. Together, these data provide the first experimentally derived secondary structure model of the rotavirus transcriptome and reveal that NSP2 acts by globally increasing RNA backbone flexibility in a concentration-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaztli Coria
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Anastacia Wienecke
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Curriculum in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Michael L Knight
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Daniel Desirò
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alain Laederach
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Curriculum in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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21
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Abstract
Our understanding of the still unfolding severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic would have been extremely limited without the study of the genetics and evolution of this new human coronavirus. Large-scale genome-sequencing efforts have provided close to real-time tracking of the global spread and diversification of SARS-CoV-2 since its entry into the human population in late 2019. These data have underpinned analysis of its origins, epidemiology, and adaptations to the human population: principally immune evasion and increasing transmissibility. SARS-CoV-2, despite being a new human pathogen, was highly capable of human-to-human transmission. During its rapid spread in humans, SARS-CoV-2 has evolved independent new forms, the so-called "variants of concern," that are better optimized for human-to-human transmission. The most important adaptation of the bat coronavirus progenitor of both SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 for human infection (and other mammals) is the use of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. Relaxed structural constraints provide plasticity to SARS-related coronavirus spike protein permitting it to accommodate significant amino acid replacements of antigenic consequence without compromising the ability to bind to ACE2. Although the bulk of research has justifiably concentrated on the viral spike protein as the main determinant of antigenic evolution and changes in transmissibility, there is accumulating evidence for the contribution of other regions of the viral proteome to virus-host interaction. Whereas levels of community transmission of recombinants compromising genetically distinct variants are at present low, when divergent variants cocirculate, recombination between SARS-CoV-2 clades is being detected, increasing the risk that viruses with new properties emerge. Applying computational and machine learning methods to genome sequence data sets to generate experimentally verifiable predictions will serve as an early warning system for novel variant surveillance and will be important in future vaccine planning. Omicron, the latest SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern, has focused attention on step change antigenic events, "shift," as opposed to incremental "drift" changes in antigenicity. Both an increase in transmissibility and antigenic shift in Omicron led to it readily causing infections in the fully vaccinated and/or previously infected. Omicron's virulence, while reduced relative to the variant of concern it replaced, Delta, is very much premised on the past immune exposure of individuals with a clear signal that boosted vaccination protects from severe disease. Currently, SARS-CoV-2 has proven itself to be a dangerous new human respiratory pathogen with an unpredictable evolutionary capacity, leading to a risk of future variants too great not to ensure all regions of the world are screened by viral genome sequencing, protected through available and affordable vaccines, and have non-punitive strategies in place for detecting and responding to novel variants of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amalio Telenti
- Vir Biotechnology, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
| | - Emma B Hodcroft
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - David L Robertson
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
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22
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Abstract
Alphaviruses are positive-strand RNA viruses, typically transmitted by mosquitoes between vertebrate hosts. They encode four essential replication proteins, the non-structural proteins nsP1-4, which possess the enzymatic activities of RNA capping, RNA helicase, site-specific protease, ADP-ribosyl removal and RNA polymerase. Alphaviruses have been key models in the study of membrane-associated RNA replication, which is a conserved feature among the positive-strand RNA viruses of animals and plants. We review new structural and functional information on the nsPs and their interaction with host proteins and membranes, as well as with viral RNA sequences. The dodecameric ring structure of nsP1 is likely to be one of the evolutionary innovations that facilitated the success of the progenitors of current positive-strand RNA viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tero Ahola
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Gerald McInerney
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andres Merits
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
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23
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Abstract
Alphaviruses have positive-strand RNA genomes containing two open reading frames (ORFs). The first ORF encodes the nonstructural (ns) polyproteins P123 and P1234 that act as precursors for the subunits of the viral RNA replicase (nsP1 to nsP4). Processing of P1234 leads to the formation of a negative-strand replicase consisting of nsP4 (RNA polymerase) and P123 components. Subsequent processing of P123 results in a positive-strand replicase. The second ORF encoding the structural proteins is expressed via the synthesis of a subgenomic RNA. Alphavirus replicase is capable of using template RNAs that contain essential cis-active sequences. Here, we demonstrate that the replicases of nine alphaviruses, expressed in the form of separate P123 and nsP4 components, are active. Their activity depends on the abundance of nsP4. The match of nsP4 to its template strongly influences efficient subgenomic RNA synthesis. nsP4 of Barmah Forest virus (BFV) formed a functional replicase only with matching P123, while nsP4s of other alphaviruses were compatible also with several heterologous P123s. The P123 components of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus and Sindbis virus (SINV) required matching nsP4s, while P123 of other viruses could form active replicases with different nsP4s. Chimeras of Semliki Forest virus, harboring the nsP4 of chikungunya virus, Ross River virus, BFV, or SINV were viable. In contrast, chimeras of SINV, harboring an nsP4 from different alphaviruses, exhibited a temperature-sensitive phenotype. These findings highlight the possibility for formation of new alphaviruses via recombination events and provide a novel approach for the development of attenuated chimeric viruses for vaccination strategies. IMPORTANCE A key element of every virus with an RNA genome is the RNA replicase. Understanding the principles of RNA replicase formation and functioning is therefore crucial for understanding and responding to the emergence of new viruses. Reconstruction of the replicases of nine alphaviruses from nsP4 and P123 polyproteins revealed that the nsP4 of the majority of alphaviruses, including the mosquito-specific Eilat virus, could form a functional replicase with P123 originating from a different virus, and the corresponding chimeric viruses were replication-competent. nsP4 also had an evident role in determining the template RNA preference and the efficiency of RNA synthesis. The revealed broad picture of the compatibility of the replicase components of alphaviruses is important for understanding the formation and functioning of the alphavirus RNA replicase and highlights the possibilities for recombination between different alphavirus species.
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24
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Gilmer O, Quignon E, Jousset AC, Paillart JC, Marquet R, Vivet-Boudou V. Chemical and Enzymatic Probing of Viral RNAs: From Infancy to Maturity and Beyond. Viruses 2021; 13:1894. [PMID: 34696322 PMCID: PMC8537439 DOI: 10.3390/v13101894] [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: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA molecules are key players in a variety of biological events, and this is particularly true for viral RNAs. To better understand the replication of those pathogens and try to block them, special attention has been paid to the structure of their RNAs. Methods to probe RNA structures have been developed since the 1960s; even if they have evolved over the years, they are still in use today and provide useful information on the folding of RNA molecules, including viral RNAs. The aim of this review is to offer a historical perspective on the structural probing methods used to decipher RNA structures before the development of the selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE) methodology and to show how they have influenced the current probing techniques. Actually, these technological breakthroughs, which involved advanced detection methods, were made possible thanks to the development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) but also to the previous works accumulated in the field of structural RNA biology. Finally, we will also discuss how high-throughput SHAPE (hSHAPE) paved the way for the development of sophisticated RNA structural techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Roland Marquet
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, UPR9002, F-67000 Strasbourg, France; (O.G.); (E.Q.); (A.-C.J.); (J.-C.P.)
| | - Valérie Vivet-Boudou
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, UPR9002, F-67000 Strasbourg, France; (O.G.); (E.Q.); (A.-C.J.); (J.-C.P.)
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Brown RS, Kim L, Kielian M. Specific Recognition of a Stem-Loop RNA Structure by the Alphavirus Capsid Protein. Viruses 2021; 13:v13081517. [PMID: 34452382 PMCID: PMC8402798 DOI: 10.3390/v13081517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Alphaviruses are small enveloped viruses with positive-sense RNA genomes. During infection, the alphavirus capsid protein (Cp) selectively packages and assembles with the viral genomic RNA to form the nucleocapsid core, a process critical to the production of infectious virus. Prior studies of the alphavirus Semliki Forest virus (SFV) showed that packaging and assembly are promoted by Cp binding to multiple high affinity sites on the genomic RNA. Here, we developed an in vitro Cp binding assay based on fluorescently labeled RNA oligos. We used this assay to explore the RNA sequence and structure requirements for Cp binding to site #1, the top binding site identified on the genomic RNA during all stages of virus assembly. Our results identify a stem-loop structure that promotes specific binding of the SFV Cp to site #1 RNA. This structure is also recognized by the Cps of the related alphaviruses chikungunya virus and Ross River virus.
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Targeting the DEAD-Box RNA Helicase eIF4A with Rocaglates-A Pan-Antiviral Strategy for Minimizing the Impact of Future RNA Virus Pandemics. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9030540. [PMID: 33807988 PMCID: PMC8001013 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9030540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The increase in pandemics caused by RNA viruses of zoonotic origin highlights the urgent need for broad-spectrum antivirals against novel and re-emerging RNA viruses. Broad-spectrum antivirals could be deployed as first-line interventions during an outbreak while virus-specific drugs and vaccines are developed and rolled out. Viruses depend on the host’s protein synthesis machinery for replication. Several natural compounds that target the cellular DEAD-box RNA helicase eIF4A, a key component of the eukaryotic translation initiation complex eIF4F, have emerged as potential broad-spectrum antivirals. Rocaglates, a group of flavaglines of plant origin that clamp mRNAs with highly structured 5′ untranslated regions (5′UTRs) onto the surface of eIF4A through specific stacking interactions, exhibit the largest selectivity and potential therapeutic indices among all known eIF4A inhibitors. Their unique mechanism of action limits the inhibitory effect of rocaglates to the translation of eIF4A-dependent viral mRNAs and a minor fraction of host mRNAs exhibiting stable RNA secondary structures and/or polypurine sequence stretches in their 5′UTRs, resulting in minimal potential toxic side effects. Maintaining a favorable safety profile while inducing efficient inhibition of a broad spectrum of RNA viruses makes rocaglates into primary candidates for further development as pan-antiviral therapeutics.
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Dynamic Molecular Epidemiology Reveals Lineage-Associated Single-Nucleotide Variants That Alter RNA Structure in Chikungunya Virus. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12020239. [PMID: 33567556 PMCID: PMC7914560 DOI: 10.3390/genes12020239] [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: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an emerging Alphavirus which causes millions of human infections every year. Outbreaks have been reported in Africa and Asia since the early 1950s, from three CHIKV lineages: West African, East Central South African, and Asian Urban. As new outbreaks occurred in the Americas, individual strains from the known lineages have evolved, creating new monophyletic groups that generated novel geographic-based lineages. Building on a recently updated phylogeny of CHIKV, we report here the availability of an interactive CHIKV phylodynamics dataset, which is based on more than 900 publicly available CHIKV genomes. We provide an interactive view of CHIKV molecular epidemiology built on Nextstrain, a web-based visualization framework for real-time tracking of pathogen evolution. CHIKV molecular epidemiology reveals single nucleotide variants that change the stability and fold of locally stable RNA structures. We propose alternative RNA structure formation in different CHIKV lineages by predicting more than a dozen RNA elements that are subject to perturbation of the structure ensemble upon variation of a single nucleotide.
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