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Hussein M, Liu Y, Vink M, Kroon PZ, Das AT, Berkhout B, Herrera-Carrillo E. Evaluation of the effect of RNA secondary structure on Cas13d-mediated target RNA cleavage. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024; 35:102278. [PMID: 39220269 PMCID: PMC11364014 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas13d system was adapted as a powerful tool for targeting viral RNA sequences, making it a promising approach for antiviral strategies. Understanding the influence of template RNA structure on Cas13d binding and cleavage efficiency is crucial for optimizing its therapeutic potential. In this study, we investigated the effect of local RNA secondary structure on Cas13d activity. To do so, we varied the stability of a hairpin structure containing the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) target sequence, allowing us to determine the threshold RNA stability at which Cas13d activity is affected. Our results demonstrate that Cas13d possesses the ability to effectively bind and cleave highly stable RNA structures. Notably, we only observed a decrease in Cas13d activity in the case of exceptionally stable RNA hairpins with completely base-paired stems, which are rarely encountered in natural RNA molecules. A comparison of Cas13d and RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated cleavage of the same RNA targets demonstrated that RNAi is more sensitive for local target RNA structures than Cas13d. These results underscore the suitability of the CRISPR-Cas13d system for targeting viruses with highly structured RNA genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mouraya Hussein
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ye Liu
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Monique Vink
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Pascal Z. Kroon
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Atze T. Das
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ben Berkhout
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Elena Herrera-Carrillo
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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2
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Kang H, Ga YJ, Kim SH, Cho YH, Kim JW, Kim C, Yeh JY. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based therapeutic applications against viruses: principles, potential, and challenges. J Biomed Sci 2023; 30:88. [PMID: 37845731 PMCID: PMC10577957 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-023-00981-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA has emerged as a revolutionary and important tool in the battle against emerging infectious diseases, with roles extending beyond its applications in vaccines, in which it is used in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since their development in the 1990s, RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics have demonstrated potential in reducing the expression of disease-associated genes. Nucleic acid-based therapeutics, including RNAi therapies, that degrade viral genomes and rapidly adapt to viral mutations, have emerged as alternative treatments. RNAi is a robust technique frequently employed to selectively suppress gene expression in a sequence-specific manner. The swift adaptability of nucleic acid-based therapeutics such as RNAi therapies endows them with a significant advantage over other antiviral medications. For example, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are produced on the basis of sequence complementarity to target and degrade viral RNA, a novel approach to combat viral infections. The precision of siRNAs in targeting and degrading viral RNA has led to the development of siRNA-based treatments for diverse diseases. However, despite the promising therapeutic benefits of siRNAs, several problems, including impaired long-term protein expression, siRNA instability, off-target effects, immunological responses, and drug resistance, have been considerable obstacles to the use of siRNA-based antiviral therapies. This review provides an encompassing summary of the siRNA-based therapeutic approaches against viruses while also addressing the obstacles that need to be overcome for their effective application. Furthermore, we present potential solutions to mitigate major challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hara Kang
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Academy-Ro 119, Yeonsu-Gu, Incheon, 22012, South Korea
| | - Yun Ji Ga
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Academy-Ro 119, Yeonsu-Gu, Incheon, 22012, South Korea
| | - Soo Hyun Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Academy-Ro 119, Yeonsu-Gu, Incheon, 22012, South Korea
| | - Young Hoon Cho
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Academy-Ro 119, Yeonsu-Gu, Incheon, 22012, South Korea
| | - Jung Won Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Academy-Ro 119, Yeonsu-Gu, Incheon, 22012, South Korea
- Convergence Research Center for Insect Vectors, Incheon National University, Academy-Ro 119, Yeonsu-Gu, Incheon, 22012, South Korea
| | - Chaeyeon Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Academy-Ro 119, Yeonsu-Gu, Incheon, 22012, South Korea
| | - Jung-Yong Yeh
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Academy-Ro 119, Yeonsu-Gu, Incheon, 22012, South Korea.
- Research Institute for New Drug Development, Incheon National University, Academy-Ro 119, Yeonsu-Gu, Incheon, 22012, South Korea.
- Convergence Research Center for Insect Vectors, Incheon National University, Academy-Ro 119, Yeonsu-Gu, Incheon, 22012, South Korea.
- KU Center for Animal Blood Medical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-Ro, Gwangjin-Gu, Seoul, 05029, South Korea.
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Fan M, Bao Y, Berkhout B, Herrera-Carrillo E. CRISPR-Cas12b enables a highly efficient attack on HIV proviral DNA in T cell cultures. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 165:115046. [PMID: 37379644 PMCID: PMC11228593 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115046] [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: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The novel endonuclease Cas12b was engineered for targeted genome editing in mammalian cells and is a promising tool for certain applications because of its small size, high sequence specificity and ability to generate relatively large deletions. We previously reported inhibition of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in cell culture infections upon attack of the integrated viral DNA genome by spCas9 and Cas12a. METHODS We now tested the ability of the Cas12b endonuclease to suppress a spreading HIV infection in cell culture with anti-HIV gRNAs. Virus inhibition was tested in long-term HIV replication studies, which allowed us to test for viral escape and the potential for reaching a CURE of the infected T cells. FINDINGS We demonstrate that Cas12b can achieve complete HIV inactivation with only a single gRNA, a result for which Cas9 required two gRNAs. When the Cas12b system is programmed with two antiviral gRNAs, the overall anti-HIV potency is improved and more grossly mutated HIV proviruses are generated as a result of multiple cut-repair actions. Such "hypermutated" HIV proviruses are more likely to be defective due to mutation of multiple essential parts of the HIV genome. We report that the mutational profiles of the Cas9, Cas12a and Cas12b endonucleases differ significantly, which may have an impact on the level of virus inactivation. These combined results make Cas12b the preferred editing system for HIV-inactivation. INTERPRETATION These results provide in vitro "proof of concept' for CRISPR-Cas12b mediated HIV-1 inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghui Fan
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Yuanling Bao
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ben Berkhout
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Elena Herrera-Carrillo
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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4
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Petrov N, Stoyanova M, Stoyanova A, Nikolova I, Grozdanov P, Galabov A. Gene silencing of VP1 gene of coxsackievirus B3 neurotropic strain Nancy by dsRNAs and siRNAs. BIOTECHNOL BIOTEC EQ 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/13102818.2022.2082320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nikolay Petrov
- Laboratory of Virology, Department of Natural Sciences, New Bulgarian University, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Mariya Stoyanova
- Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Soil Science, Agrotechnologies and Plant Protection “N. Pushkarov”, Agricultural Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Adelina Stoyanova
- Department of Virology, The Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Ivanka Nikolova
- Department of Virology, The Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Petar Grozdanov
- Department of Virology, The Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Angel Galabov
- Department of Virology, The Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
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Fan M, Berkhout B, Herrera-Carrillo E. A combinatorial CRISPR-Cas12a attack on HIV DNA. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2022; 25:43-51. [PMID: 35356755 PMCID: PMC8933334 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2022.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas12a is an alternative class 2 gene editing tool that may cause less off-target effects than the original Cas9 system. We have previously demonstrated that Cas12a attack with a single CRISPR RNA (crRNA) can neutralize all infectious HIV in an infected T cell line in cell culture. However, we demonstrated that HIV escapes from most crRNAs by acquisition of a mutation in the crRNA target sequence, thus providing resistance against Cas12a attack. Here, we tested the antiviral activity of seven dual crRNA combinations and analyzed the HIV proviral genomes for mutations at the target sites. We demonstrated that dual crRNA combinations exhibit more robust antiviral activity than a single crRNA attack and, more important, that the dual-crRNA therapy can prevent virus escape in long-term cultures. We confirmed the absence of any replication-competent virus in these apparently cured cultures. Surprisingly, we did not detect excision of the HIV sequences located between two Cas12a cleavage sites. Instead, we observed almost exclusively HIV inactivation by "hypermutation," that is, the introduction of indel mutations at both target sites due to the error-prone cellular DNA repair machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghui Fan
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ben Berkhout
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Elena Herrera-Carrillo
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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6
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Bayoumi M, Munir M. Potential Use of CRISPR/Cas13 Machinery in Understanding Virus-Host Interaction. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:743580. [PMID: 34899631 PMCID: PMC8664230 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.743580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Prokaryotes have evolutionarily acquired an immune system to fend off invading mobile genetic elements, including viral phages and plasmids. Through recognizing specific sequences of the invading nucleic acid, prokaryotes mediate a subsequent degradation process collectively referred to as the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated (Cas) (CRISPR-Cas) system. The CRISPR-Cas systems are divided into two main classes depending on the structure of the effector Cas proteins. Class I systems have effector modules consisting of multiple proteins, while class II systems have a single multidomain effector. Additionally, the CRISPR-Cas systems can also be categorized into types depending on the spacer acquisition components and their evolutionary features, namely, types I-VI. Among CRISPR/Cas systems, Cas9 is one of the most common multidomain nucleases that identify, degrade, and modulate DNA. Importantly, variants of Cas proteins have recently been found to target RNA, especially the single-effector Cas13 nucleases. The Cas13 has revolutionized our ability to study and perturb RNAs in endogenous microenvironments. The Cas13 effectors offer an excellent candidate for developing novel research tools in virological and biotechnological fields. Herein, in this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive summary of the recent advances of Cas13s for targeting viral RNA for either RNA-mediated degradation or CRISPR-Cas13-based diagnostics. Additionally, we aim to provide an overview of the proposed applications that could revolutionize our understanding of viral-host interactions using Cas13-mediated approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud Bayoumi
- Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
- Virology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Muhammad Munir
- Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
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7
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Gao Z, Fan M, Das AT, Herrera-Carrillo E, Berkhout B. Extinction of all infectious HIV in cell culture by the CRISPR-Cas12a system with only a single crRNA. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:5527-5539. [PMID: 32282899 PMCID: PMC7261156 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 03/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The CRISPR-Cas9 system has been used for genome editing of various organisms. We reported inhibition of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in cell culture infections with a single guide RNA (gRNA) and subsequent viral escape, but complete inactivation of infectious HIV with certain combinations of two gRNAs. The new RNA-guided endonuclease system CRISPR-Cas12a (formerly Cpf1) may provide a more promising tool for genome engineering with increased activity and specificity. We compared Cas12a to the original Cas9 system for inactivation of the integrated HIV DNA genome. Superior antiviral activity is reported for Cas12a, which can achieve full HIV inactivation with only a single gRNA (called crRNA). We propose that the different architecture of Cas9 versus Cas12a endonuclease explains this effect. We also disclose that DNA cleavage by the Cas12a endonuclease and subsequent DNA repair causes mutations with a sequence profile that is distinct from that of Cas9. Both CRISPR systems can induce the typical small deletions around the site of DNA cleavage and subsequent repair, but Cas12a does not induce the pure DNA insertions that are routinely observed for Cas9. Although these typical signatures are apparent in many literature studies, this is the first report that documents these striking differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongliang Gao
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Minghui Fan
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Atze T Das
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Elena Herrera-Carrillo
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ben Berkhout
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy
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8
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Yin L, Zhao F, Sun H, Wang Z, Huang Y, Zhu W, Xu F, Mei S, Liu X, Zhang D, Wei L, Cen S, Hu S, Liang C, Guo F. CRISPR-Cas13a Inhibits HIV-1 Infection. MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS 2020; 21:147-155. [PMID: 32585623 PMCID: PMC7321785 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2020.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas provides bacteria and archaea with immunity against invading phages and foreign plasmid DNA and has been successfully adapted for gene editing in a variety of species. The class 2 type VI CRISPR-Cas effector Cas13a targets and cleaves RNA, providing protection against RNA phages. Here we report the repurposing of CRISPR-Cas13a to inhibit human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection through targeting HIV-1 RNA and diminishing viral gene expression. We observed strong inhibition of HIV-1 infection by CRISPR-Cas13a in human cells. We showed that CRISPR-Cas13a not only diminishes the level of newly synthesized viral RNA, either from the transfected plasmid DNA or from the viral DNA, which is integrated into cellular DNA, but it also targets and destroys the viral RNA that enters cells within viral capsid, leading to strong inhibition of HIV-1 infection. Together, our results suggest that CRISPR-Cas13a provides a potential novel tool to treat viral diseases in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijuan Yin
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for AIDS Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, P.R. China
| | - Fei Zhao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for AIDS Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, P.R. China
| | - Hong Sun
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for AIDS Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, P.R. China
| | - Zhen Wang
- McGill University AIDS Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Yu Huang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for AIDS Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, P.R. China
| | - Weijun Zhu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for AIDS Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, P.R. China
| | - Fengwen Xu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for AIDS Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, P.R. China
| | - Shan Mei
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for AIDS Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoman Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for AIDS Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, P.R. China
| | - Di Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for AIDS Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, P.R. China
| | - Liang Wei
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for AIDS Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, P.R. China
| | - Shan Cen
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, P.R. China
| | - Siqi Hu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for AIDS Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, P.R. China.
| | - Chen Liang
- McGill University AIDS Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada.
| | - Fei Guo
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for AIDS Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, P.R. China.
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9
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Freije CA, Myhrvold C, Boehm CK, Lin AE, Welch NL, Carter A, Metsky HC, Luo CY, Abudayyeh OO, Gootenberg JS, Yozwiak NL, Zhang F, Sabeti PC. Programmable Inhibition and Detection of RNA Viruses Using Cas13. Mol Cell 2019; 76:826-837.e11. [PMID: 31607545 PMCID: PMC7422627 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2019.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 237] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The CRISPR effector Cas13 could be an effective antiviral for single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) viruses because it programmably cleaves RNAs complementary to its CRISPR RNA (crRNA). Here, we computationally identify thousands of potential Cas13 crRNA target sites in hundreds of ssRNA viral species that can potentially infect humans. We experimentally demonstrate Cas13's potent activity against three distinct ssRNA viruses: lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV); influenza A virus (IAV); and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). Combining this antiviral activity with Cas13-based diagnostics, we develop Cas13-assisted restriction of viral expression and readout (CARVER), an end-to-end platform that uses Cas13 to detect and destroy viral RNA. We further screen hundreds of crRNAs along the LCMV genome to evaluate how conservation and target RNA nucleotide content influence Cas13's antiviral activity. Our results demonstrate that Cas13 can be harnessed to target a wide range of ssRNA viruses and CARVER's potential broad utility for rapid diagnostic and antiviral drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine A Freije
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; PhD Program in Virology, Division of Medical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Cameron Myhrvold
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
| | - Chloe K Boehm
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Aaron E Lin
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; PhD Program in Virology, Division of Medical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Nicole L Welch
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; PhD Program in Virology, Division of Medical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Amber Carter
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Hayden C Metsky
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Cynthia Y Luo
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Omar O Abudayyeh
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Health Sciences and Technology, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jonathan S Gootenberg
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Nathan L Yozwiak
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Feng Zhang
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Pardis C Sabeti
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; PhD Program in Virology, Division of Medical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA; Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, T.H. Chan Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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10
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Carbonell A, Lisón P, Daròs J. Multi-targeting of viral RNAs with synthetic trans-acting small interfering RNAs enhances plant antiviral resistance. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 100:720-737. [PMID: 31350772 PMCID: PMC6899541 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi)-based tools are used in multiple organisms to induce antiviral resistance through the sequence-specific degradation of target RNAs by complementary small RNAs. In plants, highly specific antiviral RNAi-based tools include artificial microRNAs (amiRNAs) and synthetic trans-acting small interfering RNAs (syn-tasiRNAs). syn-tasiRNAs have emerged as a promising antiviral tool allowing for the multi-targeting of viral RNAs through the simultaneous expression of several syn-tasiRNAs from a single precursor. Here, we compared in tomato plants the effects of an amiRNA construct expressing a single amiRNA and a syn-tasiRNA construct expressing four different syn-tasiRNAs against Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), an economically important pathogen affecting tomato crops worldwide. Most of the syn-tasiRNA lines were resistant to TSWV, whereas the majority of the amiRNA lines were susceptible and accumulated viral progenies with mutations in the amiRNA target site. Only the two amiRNA lines with higher amiRNA accumulation were resistant, whereas resistance in syn-tasiRNA lines was not exclusive of lines with high syn-tasiRNA accumulation. Collectively, these results suggest that syn-tasiRNAs induce enhanced antiviral resistance because of the combined silencing effect of each individual syn-tasiRNA, which minimizes the possibility that the virus simultaneously mutates all different target sites to fully escape each syn-tasiRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Carbonell
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de PlantasConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas‐Universitat Politècnica de València46022ValenciaSpain
| | - Purificación Lisón
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de PlantasConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas‐Universitat Politècnica de València46022ValenciaSpain
| | - José‐Antonio Daròs
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de PlantasConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas‐Universitat Politècnica de València46022ValenciaSpain
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11
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Elimination of infectious HIV DNA by CRISPR-Cas9. Curr Opin Virol 2019; 38:81-88. [PMID: 31450074 PMCID: PMC7050564 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2019.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Current antiretroviral drugs can efficiently block HIV replication and prevent transmission, but do not target the HIV provirus residing in cells that constitute the viral reservoir. Because drug therapy interruption will cause viral rebound from this reservoir, HIV-infected individuals face lifelong treatment. Therefore, novel therapeutic strategies are being investigated that aim to permanently inactivate the proviral DNA, which may lead to a cure. Multiple studies showed that CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing can be used to attack HIV DNA. Here, we will focus on not only how this endonuclease attack can trigger HIV provirus inactivation, but also how virus escape occurs and this can be prevented.
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12
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Abstract
The integrated proviral genome is the major barrier to a cure for HIV-1 infection. Genome editing technologies, such as CRISPR/Cas9, may disable or remove the HIV-1 provirus by introducing DNA double strand breaks at sequence specific sites in the viral genome. Host DNA repair by the error-prone non-homologous end joining pathway generates mutagenic insertions or deletions at the break. CRISPR/Cas9 editing has been shown to reduce replication competent viral genomes in cell culture, but only a minority of possible genome editing targets have been assayed. Currently there is no map of double strand break genetic fitness for HIV-1 to inform the choice of editing targets. However, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing makes it possible to target double strand breaks along the length of the provirus to generate a double strand break genetic fitness map. We identified all possible HIV-1 targets with different bacterial species of CRISPR/Cas9. This library of guide RNAs was evaluated for GC content and potential off-target sites in the human genome. Complexity of the library was reduced by eliminating duplicate guide RNA targets in the HIV-1 long terminal repeats and targets in the env gene. Although the HIV-1 genome is AT-rich, the S. pyogenes CRISPR/Cas9 with the proto-spacer adjacent motif NGG offers the most HIV-1 guide RNAs. This library of HIV-1 guide RNAs may be used to generate a double strand break genetic fragility map to be further applied to any genome editing technology designed for the HIV-1 provirus. Keywords: HIV-1; genome editing; CRISPR; genetic fitness; guide RNAs.
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13
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Herrera-Carrillo E, Gao Z, Berkhout B. Influence of a 3' Terminal Ribozyme on AgoshRNA Biogenesis and Activity. MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS 2019; 16:452-462. [PMID: 31048184 PMCID: PMC6488825 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2019.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) can induce gene silencing via the RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism. We designed an alternative shRNA molecule with a relatively short base-paired stem that bypasses Dicer and instead is processed by the Argonaute 2 (Ago2) protein into a single guide RNA strand that effectively induces RNAi. We called these molecules AgoshRNAs. Active anti-HIV AgoshRNAs were developed, but their RNAi activity was generally reduced compared with the matching shRNAs. In an attempt to further optimize the AgoshRNA design, we inserted several self-cleaving ribozymes at the 3′ terminus of the transcribed AgoshRNA and evaluated the impact on AgoshRNA processing and activity. The hepatitis delta virus (HDV) ribozyme is efficiently removed from the transcribed AgoshRNAs and generates a uniform 3′ overhang, which translates into the enhanced antiviral activity of these molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Herrera-Carrillo
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 15, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Zongliang Gao
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 15, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ben Berkhout
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 15, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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14
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Genetically modified pigs are protected from classical swine fever virus. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1007193. [PMID: 30543715 PMCID: PMC6292579 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Classical swine fever (CSF) caused by classical swine fever virus (CSFV) is one of the most detrimental diseases, and leads to significant economic losses in the swine industry. Despite efforts by many government authorities to stamp out the disease from national pig populations, the disease remains widespread. Here, antiviral small hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) were selected and then inserted at the porcine Rosa26 (pRosa26) locus via a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock-in strategy. Finally, anti-CSFV transgenic (TG) pigs were produced by somatic nuclear transfer (SCNT). Notably, in vitro and in vivo viral challenge assays further demonstrated that these TG pigs could effectively limit the replication of CSFV and reduce CSFV-associated clinical signs and mortality, and disease resistance could be stably transmitted to the F1-generation. Altogether, our work demonstrated that RNA interference (RNAi) technology combining CRISPR/Cas9 technology offered the possibility to produce TG animal with improved resistance to viral infection. The use of these TG pigs can reduce CSF-related economic losses and this antiviral strategy may be useful for future antiviral research. Classical swine fever (CSF), caused by classical swine fever virus (CSFV), and is a highly contagious, often fatal porcine disease that causes significant economic losses. Due to the economic importance of this virus to the pig industry, the biology and pathogenesis of CSFV have been investigated extensively. Despite efforts by many government authorities to stamp out the disease from national pig populations, the disease remains widespread, and it is only a matter of time before the virus is reintroduced and the next round of disease outbreaks occurs. These findings highlight the necessity and urgency for developing effective approaches to eradicate the challenging CSFV. In this study, we successfully produced anti-CSFV TG pigs by combining RNAi technology and CRISPR/Cas9 technologies, and viral challenge results confirmed that these TG pigs could effectively limit the replication of CSFV in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, we confirmed that the disease resistance traits in the TG founders were stably transmitted to their F1-generation offspring. Altogether, our work reported the combinational application of CRISPR/Cas9 and RNA interference (RNAi) technology in the generation of anti-CSFV TG pigs, it provided an alternative strategy to change the virus. The results of this study suggested that these TG pigs offered potential benefits over commercial vaccination and reduced CSFV-related economic losses.
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15
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To accelerate the Zika beat: Candidate design for RNA interference-based therapy. Virus Res 2018; 255:133-140. [DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2018.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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16
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Berkhout B. RNAi-mediated antiviral immunity in mammals. Curr Opin Virol 2018; 32:9-14. [PMID: 30015014 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2018.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Revised: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) was discovered in plants where it functions as the main antiviral pathway and this antiviral role was subsequently extended to invertebrates. But it remained hotly debated whether RNAi fulfils a similar role in mammals that already have a potent innate immune system based on interferon and an elaborate adaptive immune system. On the one hand, mammalian cells do encode most of the RNAi machinery, but this could be used exclusively to control cellular gene expression via micro RNAs (miRNAs). But on the other hand, virus-derived small interfering RNAs, the hallmark of RNAi involvement, could not be readily detected upon virus infection of mammalian cells. However, recent studies have indicated that these signature molecules are generated in virus-infected embryonic cell types of mammals and that viruses actively suppress such responses by means of potent RNAi suppressor proteins. Thus, the tide seems to be changing in favor of RNAi as accessory antiviral defense mechanism in humans. Intriguingly, recent studies indicate that insects have also developed an additional innate immune system that collaborates with the RNAi response in the fight against invading viral pathogens. Thus, the presence of multiple antiviral response mechanisms seems standard outside the plant world and we will specifically discuss the interactions between these antiviral programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Berkhout
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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17
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Sertznig H, Hillebrand F, Erkelenz S, Schaal H, Widera M. Behind the scenes of HIV-1 replication: Alternative splicing as the dependency factor on the quiet. Virology 2018; 516:176-188. [PMID: 29407375 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2018.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Alternative splicing plays a key role in the HIV-1 life cycle and is essential to maintain an equilibrium of mRNAs that encode viral proteins and polyprotein-isoforms. In particular, since all early HIV-1 proteins are expressed from spliced intronless and late enzymatic and structural proteins from intron containing, i.e. splicing repressed viral mRNAs, cellular splicing factors and splicing regulatory proteins are crucial for the replication capacity. In this review, we will describe the complex network of cis-acting splicing regulatory elements (SREs), which are mainly localized in the neighbourhoods of all HIV-1 splice sites and warrant the proper ratio of individual transcript isoforms. Since SREs represent binding sites for trans-acting cellular splicing factors interacting with the cellular spliceosomal apparatus we will review the current knowledge of interactions between viral RNA and cellular proteins as well as their impact on viral replication. Finally, we will discuss potential therapeutic approaches targeting HIV-1 alternative splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helene Sertznig
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Frank Hillebrand
- Institute of Virology, Heinrich Heine University, University Hospital, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Steffen Erkelenz
- Institute for Genetics, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Germany
| | - Heiner Schaal
- Institute of Virology, Heinrich Heine University, University Hospital, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Marek Widera
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
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18
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Wang G, Zhao N, Berkhout B, Das AT. CRISPR-Cas based antiviral strategies against HIV-1. Virus Res 2018; 244:321-332. [PMID: 28760348 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2017.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Revised: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
In bacteria and archaea, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and associated proteins (Cas) confer adaptive immunity against exogenous DNA elements. This CRISPR-Cas system has been turned into an effective tool for editing of eukaryotic DNA genomes. Pathogenic viruses that have a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genome or that replicate through a dsDNA intermediate can also be targeted with this DNA editing tool. Here, we review how CRISPR-Cas was used in novel therapeutic approaches against the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1), focusing on approaches that aim to permanently inactivate all virus genomes or to prevent viral persistence in latent reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Wang
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Na Zhao
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ben Berkhout
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Atze T Das
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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19
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Scarborough RJ, Gatignol A. RNA Interference Therapies for an HIV-1 Functional Cure. Viruses 2017; 10:E8. [PMID: 29280961 PMCID: PMC5795421 DOI: 10.3390/v10010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 drug therapies can prevent disease progression but cannot eliminate HIV-1 viruses from an infected individual. While there is hope that elimination of HIV-1 can be achieved, several approaches to reach a functional cure (control of HIV-1 replication in the absence of drug therapy) are also under investigation. One of these approaches is the transplant of HIV-1 resistant cells expressing anti-HIV-1 RNAs, proteins or peptides. Small RNAs that use RNA interference pathways to target HIV-1 replication have emerged as competitive candidates for cell transplant therapy and have been included in all gene combinations that have so far entered clinical trials. Here, we review RNA interference pathways in mammalian cells and the design of therapeutic small RNAs that use these pathways to target pathogenic RNA sequences. Studies that have been performed to identify anti-HIV-1 RNA interference therapeutics are also reviewed and perspectives on their use in combination gene therapy to functionally cure HIV-1 infection are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Scarborough
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A0G4, Canada.
| | - Anne Gatignol
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A0G4, Canada.
- Department of Medicine, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A0G4, Canada.
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20
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Liu C, Liang Z, Kong X. Efficacy Analysis of Combinatorial siRNAs against HIV Derived from One Double Hairpin RNA Precursor. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1651. [PMID: 28900421 PMCID: PMC5581867 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Combinatorial small interfering RNA duplexes (siRNAs) have the potential to be a gene therapy against HIV-1, and some studies have reported that transient combinatorial siRNA expression represses HIV replication, but the effects of long-term siRNA expression on HIV replication have not been studied in detail. In this study, HIV-1 replication under the influence of stable combinatorial siRNA expression from a single RNA transcript was analyzed. First, a series of cassettes encoding short hairpin RNA (shRNA)/long hairpin RNA (lhRNA)/double long hairpins (dlhRNA) was constructed and subjected to an analysis of inhibitory efficacy. Next, an optimized dlhRNA encoding cassette was selected and inserted into lentiviral delivery vector FG12. Transient dlhRNA expression reduced replication of HIV-1 in TZM-bl cells and CD4+ T cells successfully. HIV-1 susceptible TZM-bl cells were transducted with the dlhRNA expressing lentiviral vector and sorted by fluorescence-activated cell sorting to obtain stable dlhRNA expressing cells. The generation of four anti-HIV siRNAs in these dlhRNA expressing cells was verified by stem-loop RT-PCR assay. dlhRNA expression did not activate a non-specific interferon response. The dlhRNA expressing cells were also challenged with HIV-1 NL4-3, which revealed that stable expression of combinatorial siRNAs repressed HIV-1 replication for 8 days, after which HIV-1 overcame the inhibitory effect of siRNA expression by expressing mutant versions of RNAi targets. The results of this evaluation of the long-term inhibitory effects of combinatorial siRNAs against HIV-1 provide a reference for researchers who utilize combinatorial RNA interference against HIV-1 or other error-prone viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Liu
- Medical Molecular Virology Laboratory, School of Medicine, Nankai UniversityTianjin, China
| | - Zhipin Liang
- Medical Molecular Virology Laboratory, School of Medicine, Nankai UniversityTianjin, China
| | - Xiaohong Kong
- Medical Molecular Virology Laboratory, School of Medicine, Nankai UniversityTianjin, China
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21
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Six Highly Conserved Targets of RNAi Revealed in HIV-1-Infected Patients from Russia Are Also Present in Many HIV-1 Strains Worldwide. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2017; 8:330-344. [PMID: 28918033 PMCID: PMC5537207 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2017.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Revised: 07/10/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
RNAi has been suggested for use in gene therapy of HIV/AIDS, but the main problem is that HIV-1 is highly variable and could escape attack from the small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) due to even single nucleotide substitutions in the potential targets. To exhaustively check the variability in selected RNA targets of HIV-1, we used ultra-deep sequencing of six regions of HIV-1 from the plasma of two independent cohorts of patients from Russia. Six RNAi targets were found that are invariable in 82%-97% of viruses in both cohorts and are located inside the domains specifying reverse transcriptase (RT), integrase, vpu, gp120, and p17. The analysis of mutation frequencies and their characteristics inside the targets suggests a likely role for APOBEC3G (apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-like 3G, A3G) in G-to-A mutations and a predominant effect of RT biases in the detected variability of the virus. The lowest frequency of mutations was detected in the central part of all six targets. We also discovered that the identical RNAi targets are present in many HIV-1 strains from many countries and from all continents. The data are important for both the understanding of the patterns of HIV-1 mutability and properties of RT and for the development of gene therapy approaches using RNAi for the treatment of HIV/AIDS.
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22
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Herrera-Carrillo E, Harwig A, Berkhout B. Silencing of HIV-1 by AgoshRNA molecules. Gene Ther 2017; 24:453-461. [DOI: 10.1038/gt.2017.44] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Revised: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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23
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Lebbink RJ, de Jong DCM, Wolters F, Kruse EM, van Ham PM, Wiertz EJHJ, Nijhuis M. A combinational CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing approach can halt HIV replication and prevent viral escape. Sci Rep 2017; 7:41968. [PMID: 28176813 PMCID: PMC5296774 DOI: 10.1038/srep41968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2016] [Accepted: 12/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV presents one of the highest evolutionary rates ever detected and combination antiretroviral therapy is needed to overcome the plasticity of the virus population and control viral replication. Conventional treatments lack the ability to clear the latent reservoir, which remains the major obstacle towards a cure. Novel strategies, such as CRISPR/Cas9 gRNA-based genome-editing, can permanently disrupt the HIV genome. However, HIV genome-editing may accelerate viral escape, questioning the feasibility of the approach. Here, we demonstrate that CRISPR/Cas9 targeting of single HIV loci, only partially inhibits HIV replication and facilitates rapid viral escape at the target site. A combinatorial approach of two strong gRNAs targeting different regions of the HIV genome can completely abrogate viral replication and prevent viral escape. Our data shows that the accelerating effect of gene-editing on viral escape can be overcome and as such gene-editing may provide a future alternative for control of HIV-infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Jan Lebbink
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Dorien C. M. de Jong
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Femke Wolters
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Elisabeth M. Kruse
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Petra M. van Ham
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Emmanuel J. H. J. Wiertz
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Monique Nijhuis
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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24
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Attacking HIV-1 RNA versus DNA by sequence-specific approaches: RNAi versus CRISPR-Cas. Biochem Soc Trans 2016; 44:1355-1365. [DOI: 10.1042/bst20160060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2016] [Revised: 06/09/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection can be effectively controlled by potent antiviral drugs, but this never results in a cure. The patient should therefore take these drugs for the rest of his/her life, which can cause drug-resistance and adverse effects. Therefore, more durable therapeutic strategies should be considered, such as a stable gene therapy to protect the target T cells against HIV-1 infection. The development of potent therapeutic regimens based on the RNA interference (RNAi) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR-Cas) mechanisms will be described, which can be delivered by lentiviral vectors. These mechanisms attack different forms of the viral genome, the RNA and DNA, respectively, but both mechanisms act in a strictly sequence-specific manner. Early RNAi experiments demonstrated profound virus inhibition, but also indicated that viral escape is possible. Such therapy failure can be prevented by the design of a combinatorial RNAi attack on the virus and this gene therapy is currently being tested in a preclinical humanized mouse model. Recent CRISPR-Cas studies also document robust virus inhibition, but suggest a novel viral escape route that is induced by the cellular nonhomologous end joining DNA repair pathway, which is activated by CRISPR-Cas-induced DNA breaks. We will compare these two approaches for durable HIV-1 suppression and discuss the respective advantages and disadvantages. The potential for future clinical applications will be described.
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25
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Manzourolajdad A, Gonzalez M, Spouge JL. Changes in the Plasticity of HIV-1 Nef RNA during the Evolution of the North American Epidemic. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0163688. [PMID: 27685447 PMCID: PMC5042412 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0163688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Because of a high mutation rate, HIV exists as a viral swarm of many sequence variants evolving under various selective pressures from the human immune system. Although the Nef gene codes for the most immunogenic of HIV accessory proteins, which alone makes it of great interest to HIV research, it also encodes an RNA structure, whose contribution to HIV virulence has been largely unexplored. Nef RNA helps HIV escape RNA interference (RNAi) through nucleotide changes and alternative folding. This study examines Historic and Modern Datasets of patient HIV-1 Nef sequences during the evolution of the North American epidemic for local changes in RNA plasticity. By definition, RNA plasticity refers to an RNA molecule’s ability to take alternative folds (i.e., alternative conformations). Our most important finding is that an evolutionarily conserved region of the HIV-1 Nef gene, which we denote by R2, recently underwent a statistically significant increase in its RNA plasticity. Thus, our results indicate that Modern Nef R2 typically accommodates an alternative fold more readily than Historic Nef R2. Moreover, the increase in RNA plasticity resides mostly in synonymous nucleotide changes, which cannot be a response to selective pressures on the Nef protein. R2 may therefore be of interest in the development of antiviral RNAi therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amirhossein Manzourolajdad
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Mileidy Gonzalez
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - John L. Spouge
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
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26
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Nejati A, Shahmahmoodi S, Arefian E, Shoja Z, Marashi SM, Tabatabaie H, Mollaei-Kandelous Y, Soleimani M, Nategh R. Efficient inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus replication using novel modified microRNA-30a targeting 3'-untranslated region transcripts. Exp Ther Med 2016; 11:1833-1838. [PMID: 27168813 PMCID: PMC4840495 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2016.3121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi)-based gene therapy is currently considered to be a combinatorial anti-human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) therapy. Although artificial polycistronic microRNAs (miRs) can reduce HIV-1 escape mutant variants, this approach may increase the risk of side effects. The present study aimed to optimize the efficiency of anti-HIV RNAi gene therapy in order to reduce the cell toxicity induced by multi-short hairpin RNA expression. An artificial miR-30a-3'-untranslated region (miR-3-UTR) obtained from a single RNA polymerase II was used to simultaneously target all viral transcripts. The results of the present study demonstrated that HIV-1 replication was significantly inhibited in the cells with the miR-3-UTR construct, suggesting that miR-3'-UTR may serve as a promising tool for RNAi-based gene therapy in the treatment of HIV-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Nejati
- Virology Department, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14716-13151, Iran
| | - Shohreh Shahmahmoodi
- Virology Department, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14716-13151, Iran
| | - Ehsan Arefian
- Biotechnology Center, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran 14176-14411, Iran; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, Stem Cell Technology Research Center, Tehran 19977-75555, Iran
| | - Zabihollah Shoja
- Virology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran 13169-43551, Iran
| | - Sayed-Mahdi Marashi
- Virology Department, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14716-13151, Iran
| | - Hamideh Tabatabaie
- Virology Department, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14716-13151, Iran
| | | | - Masoud Soleimani
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, Stem Cell Technology Research Center, Tehran 19977-75555, Iran; Department of Medical Physics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran 14117-13116, Iran
| | - Rakhshandeh Nategh
- Virology Department, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14716-13151, Iran
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27
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Tchurikov NA, Fedoseeva DM, Gashnikova NM, Sosin DV, Gorbacheva MA, Alembekov IR, Chechetkin VR, Kravatsky YV, Kretova OV. Conserved sequences in the current strains of HIV-1 subtype A in Russia are effectively targeted by artificial RNAi in vitro. Gene 2016; 583:78-83. [PMID: 26947394 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2016.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2015] [Revised: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Highly active antiretroviral therapy has greatly reduced the morbidity and mortality of AIDS. However, many of the antiretroviral drugs are toxic with long-term use, and all currently used anti-HIV agents generate drug-resistant mutants. Therefore, there is a great need for new approaches to AIDS therapy. RNAi is a powerful means of inhibiting HIV-1 production in human cells. We propose to use RNAi for gene therapy of HIV/AIDS. Previously we identified a number of new biologically active siRNAs targeting several moderately conserved regions in HIV-1 transcripts. Here we analyze the heterogeneity of nucleotide sequences in three RNAi targets in sequences encoding the reverse transcriptase and integrase domains of current isolates of HIV-1 subtype A in Russia. These data were used to generate genetic constructs expressing short hairpin RNAs 28-30-bp in length that could be processed in cells into siRNAs. After transfection of the constructs we observed siRNAs that efficiently attacked the selected targets. We expect that targeting several viral genes important for HIV-1 reproduction will help overcome the problem of viral adaptation and will prevent the appearance of RNAi escape mutants in current virus strains, an important feature of gene therapy of HIV/AIDS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Dmitri V Sosin
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Moscow 119334, Russia
| | | | | | | | - Yuri V Kravatsky
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Moscow 119334, Russia
| | - Olga V Kretova
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Moscow 119334, Russia
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Wang G, Zhao N, Berkhout B, Das AT. CRISPR-Cas9 Can Inhibit HIV-1 Replication but NHEJ Repair Facilitates Virus Escape. Mol Ther 2016; 24:522-6. [PMID: 26796669 PMCID: PMC4786927 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2016.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 01/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Several recent studies demonstrated that the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated endonuclease Cas9 can be used for guide RNA (gRNA)-directed, sequence-specific cleavage of HIV proviral DNA in infected cells. We here demonstrate profound inhibition of HIV-1 replication by harnessing T cells with Cas9 and antiviral gRNAs. However, the virus rapidly and consistently escaped from this inhibition. Sequencing of the HIV-1 escape variants revealed nucleotide insertions, deletions, and substitutions around the Cas9/gRNA cleavage site that are typical for DNA repair by the nonhomologous end-joining pathway. We thus demonstrate the potency of CRISPR-Cas9 as an antiviral approach, but any therapeutic strategy should consider the viral escape implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Wang
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Na Zhao
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ben Berkhout
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Atze T Das
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Méndez C, Ahlenstiel CL, Kelleher AD. Post-transcriptional gene silencing, transcriptional gene silencing and human immunodeficiency virus. World J Virol 2015; 4:219-244. [PMID: 26279984 PMCID: PMC4534814 DOI: 10.5501/wjv.v4.i3.219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2014] [Revised: 01/24/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
While human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infection is controlled through continuous, life-long use of a combination of drugs targeting different steps of the virus cycle, HIV-1 is never completely eradicated from the body. Despite decades of research there is still no effective vaccine to prevent HIV-1 infection. Therefore, the possibility of an RNA interference (RNAi)-based cure has become an increasingly explored approach. Endogenous gene expression is controlled at both, transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels by non-coding RNAs, which act through diverse molecular mechanisms including RNAi. RNAi has the potential to control the turning on/off of specific genes through transcriptional gene silencing (TGS), as well as fine-tuning their expression through post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS). In this review we will describe in detail the canonical RNAi pathways for PTGS and TGS, the relationship of TGS with other silencing mechanisms and will discuss a variety of approaches developed to suppress HIV-1 via manipulation of RNAi. We will briefly compare RNAi strategies against other approaches developed to target the virus, highlighting their potential to overcome the major obstacle to finding a cure, which is the specific targeting of the HIV-1 reservoir within latently infected cells.
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Herrera-Carrillo E, Berkhout B. Bone Marrow Gene Therapy for HIV/AIDS. Viruses 2015; 7:3910-36. [PMID: 26193303 PMCID: PMC4517133 DOI: 10.3390/v7072804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2015] [Revised: 07/09/2015] [Accepted: 07/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone marrow gene therapy remains an attractive option for treating chronic immunological diseases, including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This technology combines the differentiation and expansion capacity of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) with long-term expression of therapeutic transgenes using integrating vectors. In this review we summarize the potential of bone marrow gene therapy for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. A broad range of antiviral strategies are discussed, with a particular focus on RNA-based therapies. The idea is to develop a durable gene therapy that lasts the life span of the infected individual, thus contrasting with daily drug regimens to suppress the virus. Different approaches have been proposed to target either the virus or cellular genes encoding co-factors that support virus replication. Some of these therapies have been tested in clinical trials, providing proof of principle that gene therapy is a safe option for treating HIV/AIDS. In this review several topics are discussed, ranging from the selection of the antiviral molecule and the viral target to the optimal vector system for gene delivery and the setup of appropriate preclinical test systems. The molecular mechanisms used to formulate a cure for HIV infection are described, including the latest antiviral strategies and their therapeutic applications. Finally, a potent combination of anti-HIV genes based on our own research program is described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Herrera-Carrillo
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands.
| | - Ben Berkhout
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands.
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31
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Presloid JB, Novella IS. RNA Viruses and RNAi: Quasispecies Implications for Viral Escape. Viruses 2015; 7:3226-40. [PMID: 26102581 PMCID: PMC4488735 DOI: 10.3390/v7062768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2015] [Revised: 06/04/2015] [Accepted: 06/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to high mutation rates, populations of RNA viruses exist as a collection of closely related mutants known as a quasispecies. A consequence of error-prone replication is the potential for rapid adaptation of RNA viruses when a selective pressure is applied, including host immune systems and antiviral drugs. RNA interference (RNAi) acts to inhibit protein synthesis by targeting specific mRNAs for degradation and this process has been developed to target RNA viruses, exhibiting their potential as a therapeutic against infections. However, viruses containing mutations conferring resistance to RNAi were isolated in nearly all cases, underlining the problems of rapid viral evolution. Thus, while promising, the use of RNAi in treating or preventing viral diseases remains fraught with the typical complications that result from high specificity of the target, as seen in other antiviral regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- John B Presloid
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, The University of Toledo, 3055 Arlington Avenue, Toledo, OH 43614, USA.
| | - Isabel S Novella
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, The University of Toledo, 3055 Arlington Avenue, Toledo, OH 43614, USA.
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Liu YP, Karg M, Herrera-Carrillo E, Berkhout B. Towards Antiviral shRNAs Based on the AgoshRNA Design. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0128618. [PMID: 26087209 PMCID: PMC4472832 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2015] [Accepted: 04/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) can be induced by intracellular expression of a short hairpin RNA (shRNA). Processing of the shRNA requires the RNaseIII-like Dicer enzyme to remove the loop and to release the biologically active small interfering RNA (siRNA). Dicer is also involved in microRNA (miRNA) processing to liberate the mature miRNA duplex, but recent studies indicate that miR-451 is not processed by Dicer. Instead, this miRNA is processed by the Argonaute 2 (Ago2) protein, which also executes the subsequent cleavage of a complementary mRNA target. Interestingly, shRNAs that structurally resemble miR-451 can also be processed by Ago2 instead of Dicer. The key determinant of these "AgoshRNA" molecules is a relatively short basepaired stem, which avoids Dicer recognition and consequently allows alternative processing by Ago2. AgoshRNA processing yields a single active RNA strand, whereas standard shRNAs produce a duplex with guide and passenger strands and the latter may cause adverse off-target effects. In this study, we converted previously tested active anti-HIV-1 shRNA molecules into AgoshRNA. We tested several designs that could potentially improve AgoshRNA activity, including extension of the complementarity between the guide strand and the mRNA target and reduction of the thermodynamic stability of the hairpins. We demonstrate that active AgoshRNAs can be generated. However, the RNAi activity is reduced compared to the matching shRNAs. Despite reduced RNAi activity, comparison of an active AgoshRNA and the matching shRNA in a sensitive cell toxicity assay revealed that the AgoshRNA is much less toxic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Poi Liu
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 15, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Margarete Karg
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 15, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Elena Herrera-Carrillo
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 15, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ben Berkhout
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 15, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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33
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Bobbin ML, Burnett JC, Rossi JJ. RNA interference approaches for treatment of HIV-1 infection. Genome Med 2015; 7:50. [PMID: 26019725 PMCID: PMC4445287 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-015-0174-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2013] [Accepted: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV/AIDS is a chronic and debilitating disease that cannot be cured with current antiretroviral drugs. While combinatorial antiretroviral therapy (cART) can potently suppress HIV-1 replication and delay the onset of AIDS, viral mutagenesis often leads to viral escape from multiple drugs. In addition to the pharmacological agents that comprise cART drug cocktails, new biological therapeutics are reaching the clinic. These include gene-based therapies that utilize RNA interference (RNAi) to silence the expression of viral or host mRNA targets that are required for HIV-1 infection and/or replication. RNAi allows sequence-specific design to compensate for viral mutants and natural variants, thereby drastically expanding the number of therapeutic targets beyond the capabilities of cART. Recent advances in clinical and preclinical studies have demonstrated the promise of RNAi therapeutics, reinforcing the concept that RNAi-based agents might offer a safe, effective, and more durable approach for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. Nevertheless, there are challenges that must be overcome in order for RNAi therapeutics to reach their clinical potential. These include the refinement of strategies for delivery and to reduce the risk of mutational escape. In this review, we provide an overview of RNAi-based therapies for HIV-1, examine a variety of combinatorial RNAi strategies, and discuss approaches for ex vivo delivery and in vivo delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maggie L Bobbin
- Irell & Manella School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010 USA
| | - John C Burnett
- Irell & Manella School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010 USA ; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 9101 USA
| | - John J Rossi
- Irell & Manella School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010 USA ; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 9101 USA
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The impact of HIV-1 genetic diversity on the efficacy of a combinatorial RNAi-based gene therapy. Gene Ther 2015; 22:485-95. [PMID: 25716532 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2015.11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2014] [Revised: 12/13/2014] [Accepted: 01/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
A hurdle for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) therapy is the genomic diversity of circulating viruses and the possibility that drug-resistant virus variants are selected. Although RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful tool to stably inhibit HIV-1 replication by the expression of antiviral short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) in transduced T cells, this approach is also vulnerable to pre-existing genetic variation and the development of viral resistance through mutation. To prevent viral escape, we proposed to combine multiple shRNAs against important regions of the HIV-1 RNA genome, which should ideally be conserved in all HIV-1 subtypes. The vulnerability of RNAi therapy to viral escape has been studied for a single subtype B strain, but it is unclear whether the antiviral shRNAs can inhibit diverse virus isolates and subtypes, including drug-resistant variants that could be present in treated patients. To determine the breadth of the RNAi gene therapy approach, we studied the susceptibility of HIV-1 subtypes A-E and drug-resistant variants. In addition, we monitored the evolution of HIV-1 escape variants. We demonstrate that the combinatorial RNAi therapy is highly effective against most isolates, supporting the future testing of this gene therapy in appropriate in vivo models.
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35
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Cheng Q, Dong L, Zhang F, Yuan P, Li Z, Sun Y, Yin J, Peng B, He X, Liu W. Short communication: Efficiently inhibiting HIV-1 replication by a prototype foamy virus vector expressing novel H1 promoter-driven short hairpin RNAs. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2015; 31:183-8. [PMID: 25531134 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2014.0217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA interference has shown great potential for the treatment of HIV-1. Vectors derived from prototype foamy viruses (PFVs) with a nonpathogenic nature are very promising gene transfer vehicles in anti-HIV gene therapy. In this article, three short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) targeting the conserved regions of the HIV-1NL4-3 5' long terminal repeat (LTR) were first designed. We then constructed novel recombinant PFV vector plasmids, p▵Φ-H1-shRNAs, expressing these shRNAs under the control of the H1 RNA promoter. To detect the efficacy of these ▵Φ-H1-shRNAs for the inhibition of HIV-1 replication, we performed a dual-luciferase reporter assay, RT-qPCR, ELISA, western blotting, and a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay by transient transfection in 293T cells. The results suggest that these novel shRNAs driven by PFV vectors inhibit HIV-1 replication efficiently without cytotoxicity, with shRNA3 being the most effective. In addition, we analyzed the shRNA target sites in the 5' LTR of HIV-1 strains other than HIV-1NL4-3 and found that these shRNAs may possibly inhibit other HIV-1 strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingqing Cheng
- Pathogenic Organism and Infectious Diseases Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Wuhan, China
| | - Lanlan Dong
- Pathogenic Organism and Infectious Diseases Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Wuhan, China
| | - Fengfeng Zhang
- Pathogenic Organism and Infectious Diseases Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Peipei Yuan
- Pathogenic Organism and Infectious Diseases Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhi Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shanxi, China
| | - Yan Sun
- College of Life Sciences, Shanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shanxi, China
| | - Jun Yin
- Pathogenic Organism and Infectious Diseases Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Biwen Peng
- Pathogenic Organism and Infectious Diseases Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaohua He
- Pathogenic Organism and Infectious Diseases Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan, China
| | - Wanhong Liu
- Pathogenic Organism and Infectious Diseases Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Wuhan, China
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Herrera-Carrillo E, Berkhout B. Gene therapy strategies to block HIV-1 replication by RNA interference. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2015; 848:71-95. [PMID: 25757616 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2432-5_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The cellular mechanism of RNA interference (RNAi) plays an antiviral role in many organisms and can be used for the development of therapeutic strategies against viral pathogens. Persistent infections like the one caused by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) likely require a durable gene therapy approach. The continuous expression of the inhibitory RNA molecules in T cells is needed to effectively block HIV-1 replication. We discuss here several issues, ranging from the choice of RNAi inhibitor and vector system, finding the best target in the HIV-1 RNA genome, alternatively by targeting host mRNAs that encode important viral cofactors, to the setup of appropriate preclinical test systems. Finally, we briefly discuss the relevance of this topic for other viral pathogens that cause a chronic infection in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Herrera-Carrillo
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center of the University of Amsterdam, K3-110 Meibergdreef 15, Amsterdam, 1105 AS, The Netherlands
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Herrera-Carrillo E, Paxton WA, Berkhout B. The search for a T cell line for testing novel antiviral strategies against HIV-1 isolates of diverse receptor tropism and subtype origin. J Virol Methods 2014; 203:88-96. [PMID: 24698763 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2014.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2013] [Revised: 03/18/2014] [Accepted: 03/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The world-wide HIV epidemic is characterized by increasing genetic diversity with multiple viral subtypes, circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) and unique recombinant forms (URFs). Antiretroviral drug design and basic virology studies have largely focused on HIV-1 subtype B. There have been few direct comparisons by subtype, perhaps due to the lack of uniform and standardized culture systems for the in vitro propagation of diverse HIV-1 subtypes. Although peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are major targets and reservoirs of HIV, PBMCs culturing is relatively difficult and not always reproducible. In addition, long-term experiments cannot be performed because PBMCs are short-lived cells. We faced these problems during the in vitro testing of an experimental RNA interference (RNAi) based gene therapy. Therefore, many T cell lines that support HIV-1 infection were tested and compared for replication of HIV-1 isolates, including viruses that use different receptors and diverse subtypes. The PM1 T cell line was comparable to PBMCs for culturing of any of the HIV-1 strains and subtypes. The advantage of PM1 cells in long-term cultures for testing the safety and efficacy of an RNAi-based gene therapy was demonstrated. PM1 may thus provide a valuable research tool for studying new anti-HIV therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Herrera-Carrillo
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - William A Paxton
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ben Berkhout
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Herrera-Carrillo E, Liu YP, Berkhout B. The impact of unprotected T cells in RNAi-based gene therapy for HIV-AIDS. Mol Ther 2014; 22:596-606. [PMID: 24336172 PMCID: PMC3944328 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2013.280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2013] [Accepted: 12/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is highly effective in inhibiting human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication by the expression of antiviral short hairpin RNA (shRNA) in stably transduced T-cell lines. For the development of a durable gene therapy that prevents viral escape, we proposed to combine multiple shRNAs against highly conserved regions of the HIV-1 RNA genome. The future in vivo application of such a gene therapy protocol will reach only a fraction of the T cells, such that HIV-1 replication will continue in the unmodified T cells, thereby possibly frustrating the therapy by generation of HIV-1 variants that escape from the inhibition imposed by the protected cells. We studied virus inhibition and evolution in pure cultures of shRNA-expressing cells versus mixed cell cultures of protected and unprotected T cells. The addition of the unprotected T cells indeed seems to accelerate HIV-1 evolution and escape from a single shRNA inhibitor. However, expression of three antiviral shRNAs from a single lentiviral vector prevents virus escape even in the presence of unprotected cells. These results support the idea to validate the therapeutic potential of this anti-HIV approach in appropriate in vivo models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Herrera-Carrillo
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ying Poi Liu
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ben Berkhout
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Inhibition of hepatitis C virus in chimeric mice by short synthetic hairpin RNAs: sequence analysis of surviving virus shows added selective pressure of combination therapy. J Virol 2014; 88:4647-56. [PMID: 24478422 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00105-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED We have recently shown that a cocktail of two short synthetic hairpin RNAs (sshRNAs), targeting the internal ribosome entry site of hepatitis C virus (HCV) formulated with lipid nanoparticles, was able to suppress viral replication in chimeric mice infected with HCV GT1a by up to 2.5 log10 (H. Ma et al., Gastroenterology 146:63-66.e5, http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2013.09.049) Viral load remained about 1 log10 below pretreatment levels 21 days after the end of dosing. We have now sequenced the HCV viral RNA amplified from serum of treated mice after the 21-day follow-up period. Viral RNA from the HCV sshRNA-treated groups was altered in sequences complementary to the sshRNAs and nowhere else in the 500-nucleotide sequenced region, while the viruses from the control group that received an irrelevant sshRNA had no mutations in that region. The ability of the most commonly selected mutations to confer resistance to the sshRNAs was confirmed in vitro by introducing those mutations into HCV-luciferase reporters. The mutations most frequently selected by sshRNA treatment within the sshRNA target sequence occurred at the most polymorphic residues, as identified from an analysis of available clinical isolates. These results demonstrate a direct antiviral activity with effective HCV suppression, demonstrate the added selective pressure of combination therapy, and confirm an RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism of action. IMPORTANCE This study presents a detailed analysis of the impact of treating a hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected animal with synthetic hairpin-shaped RNAs that can degrade the virus's RNA genome. These RNAs can reduce the viral load in these animals by over 99% after 1 to 2 injections. The study results confirm that the viral rebound that often occurred a few weeks after treatment is due to emergence of a virus whose genome is mutated in the sequences targeted by the RNAs. The use of two RNA inhibitors, which is more effective than use of either one by itself, requires that any resistant virus have mutations in the targets sites of both agents, a higher hurdle, if the virus is to retain the ability to replicate efficiently. These results demonstrate a direct antiviral activity with effective HCV suppression, demonstrate the added selective pressure of combination therapy, and confirm an RNAi mechanism of action.
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Suzuki K, Hattori S, Marks K, Ahlenstiel C, Maeda Y, Ishida T, Millington M, Boyd M, Symonds G, Cooper DA, Okada S, Kelleher AD. Promoter Targeting shRNA Suppresses HIV-1 Infection In vivo Through Transcriptional Gene Silencing. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2013; 2:e137. [PMID: 24301868 PMCID: PMC3894581 DOI: 10.1038/mtna.2013.64] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2013] [Accepted: 09/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Despite prolonged and intensive application, combined antiretroviral therapy cannot eradicate human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 because it is harbored as a latent infection, surviving for long periods of time. Alternative approaches are required to overcome the limitations of current therapy. We have been developing a short interfering RNA (siRNA) gene silencing approach. Certain siRNAs targeting promoter regions of genes induce transcriptional gene silencing. We previously reported substantial transcriptional gene silencing of HIV-1 replication by an siRNA targeting the HIV-1 promoter in vitro. In this study, we show that this siRNA, expressed as a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) (shPromA-JRFL) delivered by lentiviral transduction of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), which are then used to reconstitute NOJ mice, is able to inhibit HIV-1 replication in vivo, whereas a three-base mismatched variant (shPromA-M2) does not. In shPromA-JRFL–treated mice, HIV-1 RNA in serum is significantly reduced, and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T cells is significantly elevated. Expression levels of the antisense RNA strand inversely correlates with HIV-1 RNA in serum. The silenced HIV-1 can be reactivated by T-cell activation in ex vivo cultures. HIV-1 suppression is not due to offtarget effects of shPromA-JRFL. These data provide “proof-of principle” that an shRNA targeting the HIV-1 promoter is able to suppress HIV-1 replication in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuo Suzuki
- St. Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
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Centlivre M, Legrand N, Klamer S, Liu YP, Eije KJV, Bohne M, Rijnstra ESV, Weijer K, Blom B, Voermans C, Spits H, Berkhout B. Preclinical in vivo evaluation of the safety of a multi-shRNA-based gene therapy against HIV-1. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2013; 2:e120. [PMID: 24002730 PMCID: PMC3808742 DOI: 10.1038/mtna.2013.48] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2013] [Accepted: 06/24/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has significantly improved the quality of life and the life expectancy of HIV-infected individuals. Still, drug-induced side effects and emergence of drug-resistant viral variants remain important issues that justify the exploration of alternative therapeutic options. One strategy consists of a gene therapy based on RNA interference to induce the sequence-specific degradation of the HIV-1 RNA genome. We have selected four potent short hairpin RNA (shRNA) candidates targeting the viral capside, integrase, protease and tat/rev open-reading frames and screened the safety of them during human hematopoietic cell development, both in vitro and in vivo. Although the four shRNA candidates appeared to be safe in vitro, one shRNA candidate impaired the in vivo development of the human immune system in Balb/c Rag2(-/-)IL-2Rγc(-/-) (BRG) mice. The three remaining shRNA candidates were combined into one single lentiviral vector (LV), and safety of the shRNA combination during human hematopoietic cell development was confirmed. Overall, we demonstrate here the preclinical in vivo safety of a LV expressing three shRNAs against HIV-1, which is proposed for a future Phase I clinical trial.Molecular Therapy-Nucleic Acids (2013) 2, e120; doi:10.1038/mtna.2013.48; published online 3 September 2013.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mireille Centlivre
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Laboratory of Immunity and Infection, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, INSERM UMR-S 945, and Université Pierre et Marie Curie, UPMC Univ Paris 06, 91 Bld de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Legrand
- Department of Cell Biology & Histology, Center for Immunology of Amsterdam (CIA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- AXENIS, 28 rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Sofieke Klamer
- Department of Hematopoiesis, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ying Poi Liu
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Karin Jasmijn von Eije
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Martino Bohne
- Department of Cell Biology & Histology, Center for Immunology of Amsterdam (CIA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Kees Weijer
- Department of Cell Biology & Histology, Center for Immunology of Amsterdam (CIA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- HIS mouse facility, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Bianca Blom
- Department of Cell Biology & Histology, Center for Immunology of Amsterdam (CIA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Carlijn Voermans
- Department of Hematopoiesis, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hergen Spits
- Department of Cell Biology & Histology, Center for Immunology of Amsterdam (CIA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Tytgat Institute of Intestinal and Liver Research, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ben Berkhout
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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42
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Adenovirus vector-mediated RNA interference for the inhibition of human parvovirus B19 replication. Virus Res 2013; 176:155-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2013.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2013] [Revised: 05/23/2013] [Accepted: 05/26/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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43
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Boutimah F, Eekels JJM, Liu YP, Berkhout B. Antiviral strategies combining antiretroviral drugs with RNAi-mediated attack on HIV-1 and cellular co-factors. Antiviral Res 2013; 98:121-9. [PMID: 23439083 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2013.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2012] [Revised: 02/06/2013] [Accepted: 02/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
To improve the care of HIV-1/AIDS patients there is a critical need to develop tools capable of blocking viral evolution and circumventing therapy-associated problems. An emerging solution is gene therapy either as a stand-alone approach or as an adjuvant to pharmacological drug regimens. Combinatorial RNAi by multiplexing antiviral RNAi inhibitors through vector-mediated delivery has recently shown significant superiority over conventional mono-therapies. Viral as well as cellular co-factor targets have been identified, but they are generally attacked separately. Here, we hypothesized that a mixture of shRNAs directed against highly conserved viral RNA sequences and the mRNAs of cellular components that are involved in HIV replication could restrict mutational escape by enhanced synergistic inhibition. We screened for potent silencer cocktails blending inhibitors acting scattered along the viral replication cycle. The results show enhanced and extended suppression of viral replication for some combinations. To further explore the power of combinatorial approaches, we tested the influence of RNAi-mediated knockdown on the activity of conventional antiretroviral drugs (fusion, RT, integrase and protease inhibitors). We compared the fold-change in IC₅₀ (FCIC₅₀) of these drugs in cell lines stably expressing anti-HIV and anti-host shRNAs and measured increased values that are up by several logs for some combinations. We show that high levels of additivity and synergy can be obtained by combining gene therapy with conventional drugs. These results support the idea to validate the therapeutic potential of this anti-HIV approach in appropriate in vivo models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Boutimah
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam-CINIMA, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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44
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Functional in vivo delivery of multiplexed anti-HIV-1 siRNAs via a chemically synthesized aptamer with a sticky bridge. Mol Ther 2012; 21:192-200. [PMID: 23164935 PMCID: PMC3538316 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2012.226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the most formidable impediments to clinical translation of RNA interference (RNAi) is safe and effective delivery of the siRNAs to the desired target tissue at therapeutic doses. We previously described in vivo cell type-specific delivery of anti-HIV small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) through covalent conjugation to an anti-gp120 aptamer. In order to improve the utility of aptamers as siRNA delivery vehicles, we chemically synthesized the gp120 aptamer with a 3′ 7-carbon linker (7C3), which in turn is attached to a 16-nucleotide 2′ OMe/2′ Fl GC-rich bridge sequence. This bridge facilitates the noncovalent binding and interchange of various siRNAs with the same aptamer. We show here that this aptamer-bridge-construct complexed with three different Dicer substrate siRNAs (DsiRNAs) results in effective delivery of the cocktail of DsiRNAs in vivo, resulting in knockdown of target mRNAs and potent inhibition of HIV-1 replication. Following cessation of the aptamer-siRNA cocktail treatment, HIV levels rebounded facilitating a follow-up treatment with the aptamer cocktail of DsiRNAs. This follow-up injection resulted in complete suppression of HIV-1 viral loads that extended several weeks beyond the final injection. Collectively, these data demonstrate a facile, targeted approach for combinatorial delivery of antiviral and host DsiRNAs for HIV-1 therapy in vivo.
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Martínez F, Lafforgue G, Morelli MJ, González-Candelas F, Chua NH, Daròs JA, Elena SF. Ultradeep sequencing analysis of population dynamics of virus escape mutants in RNAi-mediated resistant plants. Mol Biol Evol 2012; 29:3297-307. [PMID: 22593223 PMCID: PMC7187544 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/mss135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant artificial micro-RNAs (amiRs) have been engineered to target viral genomes and induce their degradation. However, the exceptional evolutionary plasticity of RNA viruses threatens the durability of the resistance conferred by these amiRs. It has recently been shown that viral populations not experiencing strong selective pressure from an antiviral amiR may already contain enough genetic variability in the target sequence to escape plant resistance in an almost deterministic manner. Furthermore, it has also been shown that viral populations exposed to subinhibitory concentrations of the antiviral amiR speed up this process. In this article, we have characterized the molecular evolutionary dynamics of an amiR target sequence in a viral genome under both conditions. The use of Illumina ultradeep sequencing has allowed us to identify virus sequence variants at frequencies as low as 2 × 10(-6) and to track their variation in time before and after the viral population was able of successfully infecting plants fully resistant to the ancestral virus. We found that every site in the amiR-target sequence of the viral genome presented variation and that the variant that eventually broke resistance was sampled among the many coexisting ones. In this system, viral evolution in fully susceptible plants results from an equilibrium between mutation and genetic drift, whereas evolution in partially resistant plants originates from more complex dynamics involving mutation, selection, and drift.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Martínez
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Guillaume Lafforgue
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Marco J. Morelli
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Fernando González-Candelas
- Unidad Mixta Genómica y Salud, Centro Superior de Investigación en Salud Pública-Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva, Universitat de València, València, Spain
| | - Nam-Hai Chua
- Laboratory of Plant Biology, Rockefeller University
| | - José-Antonio Daròs
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Santiago F. Elena
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- The Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico
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Chandra PK, Kundu AK, Hazari S, Chandra S, Bao L, Ooms T, Morris GF, Wu T, Mandal TK, Dash S. Inhibition of hepatitis C virus replication by intracellular delivery of multiple siRNAs by nanosomes. Mol Ther 2012; 20:1724-36. [PMID: 22617108 PMCID: PMC3437587 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2012.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2011] [Accepted: 04/23/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Sustained antiviral responses of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have improved recently by the use of direct-acting antiviral agents along with interferon (IFN)-α and ribavirin. However, the emergence of drug-resistant variants is expected to be a major problem. We describe here a novel combinatorial small interfering RNA (siRNA) nanosome-based antiviral approach to clear HCV infection. Multiple siRNAs targeted to the highly conserved 5'-untranslated region (UTR) of the HCV genome were synthesized and encapsulated into lipid nanoparticles called nanosomes. We show that siRNA can be repeatedly delivered to 100% of cells in culture using nanosomes without toxicity. Six siRNAs dramatically reduced HCV replication in both the replicon and infectious cell culture model. Repeated treatments with two siRNAs were better than a single siRNA treatment in minimizing the development of an escape mutant, resulting in rapid inhibition of viral replication. Systemic administration of combinatorial siRNA-nanosomes is well tolerated in BALB/c mice without liver injury or histological toxicity. As a proof-of-principle, we showed that systemic injections of siRNA nanosomes significantly reduced HCV replication in a liver tumor-xenotransplant mouse model of HCV. Our results indicate that systemic delivery of combinatorial siRNA nanosomes can be used to minimize the development of escape mutants and inhibition of HCV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Partha K Chandra
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Anup K Kundu
- Center for Nanomedicine and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Sidhartha Hazari
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Sruti Chandra
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Lili Bao
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Tara Ooms
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Gilbert F Morris
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Tong Wu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Tarun K Mandal
- Center for Nanomedicine and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Srikanta Dash
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
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47
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Berkhout B, Das AT. HIV-1 Escape From RNAi Antivirals: Yet Another Houdini Action? MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS 2012; 1:e26. [PMID: 23344078 PMCID: PMC3390223 DOI: 10.1038/mtna.2012.22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ben Berkhout
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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48
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Knoepfel SA, Centlivre M, Liu YP, Boutimah F, Berkhout B. Selection of RNAi-based inhibitors for anti-HIV gene therapy. World J Virol 2012; 1:79-90. [PMID: 24175213 PMCID: PMC3782270 DOI: 10.5501/wjv.v1.i3.79] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2011] [Revised: 02/16/2012] [Accepted: 05/20/2012] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last decade, RNA interference (RNAi) advanced to one of the most widely applied techniques in the biomedical research field and several RNAi therapeutic clinical trials have been launched. We focus on RNAi-based inhibitors against the chronic infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). A lentiviral gene therapy is proposed for HIV-infected patients that will protect and reconstitute the vital immune cell pool. The RNAi-based inhibitors that have been developed are short hairpin RNA molecules (shRNAs), of which multiple are needed to prevent viral escape. In ten distinct steps, we describe the selection process that started with 135 shRNA candidates, from the initial design criteria, via testing of the in vitro and in vivo antiviral activity and cytotoxicity to the final design of a combinatorial therapy with three shRNAs. These shRNAs satisfied all 10 selection criteria such as targeting conserved regions of the HIV-1 RNA genome, exhibiting robust inhibition of HIV-1 replication and having no impact on cell physiology. This combinatorial shRNA vector will soon move forward to the first clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie A Knoepfel
- Stefanie A Knoepfel, Mireille Centlivre, Ying Poi Liu, Fatima Boutimah, Ben Berkhout, Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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49
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MicroRNA targeting of neurotropic flavivirus: effective control of virus escape and reversion to neurovirulent phenotype. J Virol 2012; 86:5647-59. [PMID: 22419812 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.07125-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurotropic flaviviruses can efficiently replicate in the developing and mature central nervous systems (CNS) of mice causing lethal encephalitis. Insertion of a single copy of a target for brain-expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in the 3' noncoding region (3'NCR) of the flavivirus genome (chimeric tick-borne encephalitis virus/dengue virus) abolished virus neurovirulence in the mature mouse CNS. However, in the developing CNS of highly permissive suckling mice, the miRNA-targeted viruses can revert to a neurovirulent phenotype by accumulating deletions or mutations within the miRNA target sequence. Virus escape from miRNA-mediated suppression in the developing CNS was markedly diminished by increasing the number of miRNA target sites and by extending the distance between these sites in the virus genome. Insertion of multiple miRNA targets into the 3'NCR altered virus neuroinvasiveness, decreased neurovirulence and neuroinflammatory responses, and prevented neurodegeneration without loss of immunogenicity. Although the onset of encephalitis was delayed, a small number of suckling mice still succumbed to lethal intracerebral infection with the miRNA-targeted viruses. Sequence analysis of brain isolates from moribund mice revealed that the viruses escaped from miRNA-mediated suppression exclusively through the deletion of miRNA targets and viral genome sequence located between the two miRNA targets separated by the greatest distance. These findings offer a general strategy to control the reversion of virus to a virulent phenotype: a simultaneous miRNA targeting of the viral genome at many different functionally important regions could prevent virus escape from miRNA-based attenuation, since a deletion of the targeted genomic sequences located between the inserted miRNA binding sites would be lethal for the virus.
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50
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Low JT, Knoepfel SA, Watts JM, ter Brake O, Berkhout B, Weeks KM. SHAPE-directed discovery of potent shRNA inhibitors of HIV-1. Mol Ther 2012; 20:820-8. [PMID: 22314289 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2011.299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The RNA interference (RNAi) pathway can be exploited using short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) to durably inactivate pathogenic genes. Prediction of optimal target sites is notoriously inaccurate and current approaches applied to HIV-1 show weak correlations with virus inhibition. In contrast, using a high-content model for disrupting pre-existing intramolecular structure in the HIV-1 RNA, as achievable using high-resolution SHAPE (selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension) chemical probing information, we discovered strong correlations between inhibition of HIV-1 production in a quantitative cell-based assay and very simple thermodynamic features in the target RNA. Strongest inhibition occurs at RNA target sites that both have an accessible "seed region" and, unexpectedly, are structurally accessible in a newly identified downstream flanking sequence. We then used these simple rules to create a new set of shRNAs and achieved inhibition of HIV-1 production of 90% or greater for up to 82% of designed shRNAs. These shRNAs inhibit HIV-1 replication in therapy-relevant T cells and show no or low cytotoxicity. The remarkable success of this straightforward SHAPE-based approach emphasizes that RNAi is governed, in significant part, by very simple, predictable rules reflecting the underlying RNA structure and illustrates principles likely to prove broadly useful in understanding transcriptome-scale biological recognition and therapeutics involving RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin T Low
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3290, USA
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