Antigenic variants of herpes simplex virus selected with glycoprotein-specific monoclonal antibodies

The Tegument Protein pUL47 of Marek's Disease Virus Is Necessary for Horizontal Transmission and Is Important for Expression of Glycoprotein gC

Viral tropism and transmission of herpesviruses are best studied in their natural host for maximal biological relevance. In the case of alphaherpesviruses, few reports have focused on those aspects, primarily because of the few animal models available as natural hosts that are compatible with such studies. Here, using Marek's disease virus (MDV), a highly contagious and deadly alphaherpesvirus of chickens, we analyze the role of tegument proteins pUL47 and pUL48 in the whole life cycle of the virus. We report that a virus lacking the UL48 gene (vΔUL48) is impaired in growth in cell culture and has diminished virulence in vivo In contrast, a virus lacking UL47 (vΔUL47) is unaffected in its growth in vitro and is as virulent in vivo as the wild-type (WT) virus. Surprisingly, we observed that vΔUL47 was unable to be horizontally transmitted to naive chickens, in contrast to the WT virus. In addition, we show that pUL47 is important for the splicing of UL44 transcripts encoding glycoprotein gC, a protein known as being essential for horizontal transmission of MDV. Importantly, we observed that the levels of gC are lower in the absence of pUL47. Notably, this phenotype is similar to that of another transmission-incompetent mutant ΔUL54, which also affects the splicing of UL44 transcripts. This is the first study describing the role of pUL47 in both viral transmission and the splicing and expression of gC.IMPORTANCE Host-to-host transmission of viruses is ideally studied in vivo in the natural host. Veterinary viruses such as Marek's disease virus (MDV) are, therefore, models of choice to explore these aspects. The natural host of MDV, the chicken, is small, inexpensive, and economically important. MDV is a deadly and contagious herpesvirus that can kill infected animals in less than 4 weeks. The virus naturally infects epithelial cells of the feather follicle epithelium from where it is shed into the environment. In this study, we demonstrate that the viral protein pUL47 is an essential factor for bird-to-bird transmission of the virus. We provide some molecular basis to this function by showing that pUL47 enhances the splicing and the expression of another viral gene, UL44, which is essential for viral transmission. pUL47 may have a similar function in human herpesviruses such as varicella-zoster virus or herpes simplex viruses.

Point Mutations in Retargeted gD Eliminate the Sensitivity of EGFR/EGFRvIII-Targeted HSV to Key Neutralizing Antibodies

Effective oncolytic virotherapy may require systemic delivery, tumor targeting, and resistance to virus-neutralizing (VN) antibodies. Since herpes simplex virus (HSV) glycoprotein D (gD) is the viral attachment/entry protein and predominant VN target, we examined the impact of gD retargeting alone and in combination with alterations in dominant VN epitopes on virus susceptibility to VN antibodies. We compared the binding of a panel of anti-gD monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that mimic antibody specificities in human HSV-immune sera to the purified ectodomains of wild-type and retargeted gD, revealing the retention of two prominent epitopes. Substitution of a key residue in each epitope, separately and together, revealed that both substitutions (1) blocked retargeted gD recognition by mAbs to the respective epitopes, and, in combination, caused a global reduction in mAb binding; (2) protected against fusion inhibition by VN mAbs reactive with each epitope in virus-free cell-cell fusion assays; and (3) increased the resistance of retargeted HSV-1 to these VN mAbs. Although the combined modifications of retargeted gD allowed bona fide retargeting, incorporation into virions was partially compromised. Our results indicate that stacking of epitope mutations can additively block retargeted gD recognition by VN antibodies but also that improvements in gD incorporation into virus particles may be required.

Using Antibodies and Mutants To Localize the Presumptive gH/gL Binding Site on Herpes Simplex Virus gD

HSV virus-cell and cell-cell fusion requires multiple interactions between four essential virion envelope glycoproteins, gD, gB, gH, and gL, and between gD and a cellular receptor, nectin-1 or herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM). Current models suggest that binding of gD to receptors induces a conformational change that leads to activation of gH/gL and consequent triggering of the prefusion form of gB to promote membrane fusion. Since protein-protein interactions guide each step of fusion, identifying the sites of interaction may lead to the identification of potential therapeutic targets that block this process. We have previously identified two "faces" on gD: one for receptor binding and the other for its presumed interaction with gH/gL. We previously separated the gD monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) into five competition communities. MAbs from two communities (MC2 and MC5) neutralize virus infection and block cell-cell fusion but do not block receptor binding, suggesting that they block binding of gD to gH/gL. Using a combination of classical epitope mapping of gD mutants with fusion and entry assays, we identified two residues (R67 and P54) on the presumed gH/gL interaction face of gD that allowed for fusion and viral entry but were no longer sensitive to inhibition by MC2 or MC5, yet both were blocked by other MAbs. As neutralizing antibodies interfere with essential steps in the fusion pathway, our studies strongly suggest that these key residues block the interaction of gD with gH/gL.IMPORTANCE Virus entry and cell-cell fusion mediated by HSV require gD, gH/gL, gB, and a gD receptor. Neutralizing antibodies directed against any of these proteins bind to residues within key functional sites and interfere with an essential step in the fusion pathway. Thus, the epitopes of these MAbs identify critical, functional sites on their target proteins. Unlike many anti-gD MAbs, which block binding of gD to a cellular receptor, two, MC2 and MC5, block a separate, downstream step in the fusion pathway which is presumed to be the activation of the modulator of fusion, gH/gL. By combining epitope mapping of a panel of gD mutants with fusion and virus entry assays, we have identified residues that are critical in the binding and function of these two MAbs. This new information helps to define the site of the presumptive interaction of gD with gH/gL, of which we have limited knowledge.

Impacts of Genome-Wide Analyses on Our Understanding of Human Herpesvirus Diversity and Evolution

Until fairly recently, genome-wide evolutionary dynamics and within-host diversity were more commonly examined in the context of small viruses than in the context of large double-stranded DNA viruses such as herpesviruses. The high mutation rates and more compact genomes of RNA viruses have inspired the investigation of population dynamics for these species, and recent data now suggest that herpesviruses might also be considered candidates for population modeling. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) and bioinformatics have expanded our understanding of herpesviruses through genome-wide comparisons of sequence diversity, recombination, allele frequency, and selective pressures. Here we discuss recent data on the mechanisms that generate herpesvirus genomic diversity and underlie the evolution of these virus families. We focus on human herpesviruses, with key insights drawn from veterinary herpesviruses and other large DNA virus families. We consider the impacts of cell culture on herpesvirus genomes and how to accurately describe the viral populations under study. The need for a strong foundation of high-quality genomes is also discussed, since it underlies all secondary genomic analyses such as RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq), chromatin immunoprecipitation, and ribosome profiling. Areas where we foresee future progress, such as the linking of viral genetic differences to phenotypic or clinical outcomes, are highlighted as well.

Binding Kinetics and Lateral Mobility of HSV-1 on End-Grafted Sulfated Glycosaminoglycans

Many viruses, including herpes simplex (HSV), are recruited to their host cells via interaction between their envelope glycoproteins and cell-surface glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). This initial attachment is of a multivalent nature, i.e., it requires the establishment of multiple bonds between amino acids of viral glycoproteins and sulfated saccharides on the GAG chain. To gain understanding of how this binding process is modulated, we performed binding kinetics and mobility studies using end-grafted GAG chains that mimic the end attachment of these chains to proteoglycans. Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy was used to probe binding and release, as well as the diffusion of single HSV-1 particles. To verify the hypothesis that the degree of sulfation, but also the arrangement of sulfate groups along the GAG chain, plays a key role in HSV binding, we tested two native GAGs (chondroitin sulfate and heparan sulfate) and compared our results to chemically sulfated hyaluronan. HSV-1 recognized all sulfated GAGs, but not the nonsulfated hyaluronan, indicating that binding is specific to the presence of sulfate groups. Furthermore we observed that a notable fraction of GAG-bound virions exhibit lateral mobility, although the multivalent binding to the immobilized GAG brushes ensures firm virus attachment to the interface. Diffusion was faster on the two native GAGs, one of which, chondroitin sulfate, was also characterized by the highest association rate per GAG chain. This highlights the complexity of multivalent virus-GAG interactions and suggests that the spatial arrangement of sulfates along native GAG chains may play a role in modulating the characteristics of the HSV-GAG interaction. Altogether, these results, obtained with a minimal and well-controlled model of the cell membrane, provide, to our knowledge, new insights into the dynamics of the HSV-GAG interaction.

Viral forensic genomics reveals the relatedness of classic herpes simplex virus strains KOS, KOS63, and KOS79

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is a widespread global pathogen, of which the strain KOS is one of the most extensively studied. Previous sequence studies revealed that KOS does not cluster with other strains of North American geographic origin, but instead clustered with Asian strains. We sequenced a historical isolate of the original KOS strain, called KOS63, along with a separately isolated strain attributed to the same source individual, termed KOS79. Genomic analyses revealed that KOS63 closely resembled other recently sequenced isolates of KOS and was of Asian origin, but that KOS79 was a genetically unrelated strain that clustered in genetic distance analyses with HSV-1 strains of North American/European origin. These data suggest that the human source of KOS63 and KOS79 could have been infected with two genetically unrelated strains of disparate geographic origins. A PCR RFLP test was developed for rapid identification of these strains.

History and genomic sequence analysis of the herpes simplex virus 1 KOS and KOS1.1 sub-strains

A collection of genomic DNA sequences of herpes simplex virus (HSV) strains has been defined and analyzed, and some information is available about genomic stability upon limited passage of viruses in culture. The nature of genomic change upon extensive laboratory passage remains to be determined. In this report we review the history of the HSV-1 KOS laboratory strain and the related KOS1.1 laboratory sub-strain, also called KOS (M), and determine the complete genomic sequence of an early passage stock of the KOS laboratory sub-strain and a laboratory stock of the KOS1.1 sub-strain. The genomes of the two sub-strains are highly similar with only five coding changes, 20 non-coding changes, and about twenty non-ORF sequence changes. The coding changes could potentially explain the KOS1.1 phenotypic properties of increased replication at high temperature and reduced neuroinvasiveness. The study also provides sequence markers to define the provenance of specific laboratory KOS virus stocks.

Mucin-like Region of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Attachment Protein Glycoprotein C (gC) Modulates the Virus-Glycosaminoglycan Interaction

Glycoprotein C (gC) mediates the attachment of HSV-1 to susceptible host cells by interacting with glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) on the cell surface. gC contains a mucin-like region located near the GAG-binding site, which may affect the binding activity. Here, we address this issue by studying a HSV-1 mutant lacking the mucin-like domain in gC and the corresponding purified mutant protein (gCΔmuc) in cell culture and GAG-binding assays, respectively. The mutant virus exhibited two functional alterations as compared with native HSV-1 (i.e. decreased sensitivity to GAG-based inhibitors of virus attachment to cells and reduced release of viral particles from the surface of infected cells). Kinetic and equilibrium binding characteristics of purified gC were assessed using surface plasmon resonance-based sensing together with a surface platform consisting of end-on immobilized GAGs. Both native gC and gCΔmuc bound via the expected binding region to chondroitin sulfate and sulfated hyaluronan but not to the non-sulfated hyaluronan, confirming binding specificity. In contrast to native gC, gCΔmuc exhibited a decreased affinity for GAGs and a slower dissociation, indicating that once formed, the gCΔmuc-GAG complex is more stable. It was also found that a larger number of gCΔmuc bound to a single GAG chain, compared with native gC. Taken together, our data suggest that the mucin-like region of HSV-1 gC is involved in the modulation of the GAG-binding activity, a feature of importance both for unrestricted virus entry into the cells and release of newly produced viral particles from infected cells.

Alphaherpesviruses and the cytoskeleton in neuronal infections

Following infection of exposed peripheral tissues, neurotropic alphaherpesviruses invade nerve endings and deposit their DNA genomes into the nuclei of neurons resident in ganglia of the peripheral nervous system. The end result of these events is the establishment of a life-long latent infection. Neuroinvasion typically requires efficient viral transmission through a polarized epithelium followed by long-distance transport through the viscous axoplasm. These events are mediated by the recruitment of the cellular microtubule motor proteins to the intracellular viral particle and by alterations to the cytoskeletal architecture. The focus of this review is the interplay between neurotropic herpesviruses and the cytoskeleton.

Characterisation of the epitope for a herpes simplex virus glycoprotein B-specific monoclonal antibody with high protective capacity

Monoclonal antibody (MAb) 2c, specific for glycoprotein B of herpes simplex virus (HSV), had been shown to mediate clearance of infection from the mucous membranes of mice, thereby completely inhibiting mucocutaneous inflammation and lethality, even in mice depleted of both CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells. Additionally, ganglionic infection was highly restricted. In vitro, MAb 2c exhibits a potent complement-independent neutralising activity against HSV type 1 and 2, completely inhibits the viral cell-to-cell spread as well as the syncytium formation induced by syncytial HSV strains (Eis-Hübinger et al. in Intervirology 32:351-360, 1991; Eis-Hübinger et al. in J Gen Virol 74:379-385, 1993). Here, we describe the mapping of the epitope for MAb 2c. The antibody was found to recognise a discontinuous epitope comprised of the HSV type 1 glycoprotein B residues 299 to 305 and one or more additional discontinuous regions that can be mimicked by the sequence FEDF. Identification of the epitope was confirmed by loss of antibody binding to mutated glycoprotein B with replacement of the epitopic key residues, expressed in COS-1 cells. Similarly, MAb 2c was not able to neutralise HSV mutants with altered key residues, and MAb 2c was ineffective in mice inoculated with such mutants. Interestingly, identification and fine-mapping of the discontinuous epitope was not achieved by binding studies with truncated glycoprotein B variants expressed in COS cells but by peptide scanning with synthetic overlapping peptides and peptide key motif analysis. Reactivity of MAb 2c was immensely increased towards a peptide composed of the glycoprotein B residues 299 to 305, a glycine linker, and a C-terminal FEDF motif. If it could be demonstrated that antibodies of the specificity and bioactivity of MAb 2c can be induced by the epitope or a peptide mimicking the epitope, strategies for active immunisation might be conceivable.

Human antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein C are neutralizing and target the heparan sulfate-binding domain

Human antibodies specific for glycoprotein C (gC1) of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) neutralized the virus infectivity and efficiently inhibited attachment of HSV-1 to human HaCaT keratinocytes and to murine mutant L cells expressing either heparan sulfate or chondroitin sulfate at the cell surface. Similar activities were observed with anti-gC1 monoclonal antibody B1C1. In addition to HaCaT and L cells, B1C1 antibody neutralized HSV-1 infectivity in simian GMK AH1 cells mildly pre-treated with heparinase III. Human anti-gC1 antibodies efficiently competed with the binding of gC1 to B1C1 antibody whose epitope overlaps a part of the attachment domain of gC1. Human anti-gC1 and B1C1 antibodies extended survival time of mice experimentally infected with HSV-1. We conclude that in HaCaT cells and in cell systems showing restricted expression of glycosaminoglycans, human and some monoclonal anti-gC1 antibodies can target the cell-binding domain of this protein and neutralize viral infectivity.

A highly lipophilic sulfated tetrasaccharide glycoside related to muparfostat (PI-88) exhibits virucidal activity against herpes simplex virus

Although sulfated polysaccharides potently inhibit the infectivity of herpes simplex virus (HSV) and human immunodeficiency virus in cultured cells, these compounds fail to show protective effects in humans, most likely due to their poor virucidal activity. Herein we report on sulfated oligosaccharide glycosides related to muparfostat (formerly known as PI-88) and their assessment for anti-HSV activity. Chemical modifications based on the introduction of specific hydrophobic groups at the reducing end of a sulfated oligosaccharide chain enhanced the compound's capability to inhibit the infection of cells by HSV-1 and HSV-2 and abrogated the cell-to-cell transmission of HSV-2. Furthermore, modification with a highly lipophilic cholestanyl group provided a compound with virucidal activity against HSV. This glycoside targeted the viral particle and, to a lesser degree, the cell, and exhibited an antiviral mode of action typical for sulfated polysaccharides and virucides, i.e., interference with the virus attachment to cells and irreversible inactivation of virus infectivity, respectively. The virucidal activity was decreased in the presence of human cervical secretions suggesting that higher doses of this glycoside might be needed for in vivo application. Altogether, the sulfated oligosaccharide-cholestanyl glycoside exhibits potent anti-HSV activity and is, therefore, a good candidate for development as a virucide.

Glycoprotein C of herpes simplex virus type 1 is required to cause keratitis at low infectious doses in intact rabbit corneas

PURPOSE

To determine whether the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) viral glycoprotein C (gC) plays a role in induction of keratitis in unscarified and scarified rabbit eyes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A gC deletion mutant (DeltagC) was constructed and then rescued back to wild type (wt) for use as a control. Following ocular infection with each virus in rabbit eyes, with or without prior corneal scarification, keratitis was compared.

RESULTS

At low infection doses of 2 x 10(3) and 2 x 10(4) plaque-forming units (PFU)/eye, in unscarified cornea, DeltagC produced significantly less keratitis than did wt virus (p = 0.007 and 0.03, respectively). In contrast, the keratitis induced by DeltagC was similar to that induced by the wt virus (p > 0.60) in scarified cornea. At high infection dose (2 x 10(5) PFU/eye), keratitis induced by DeltagC was similar in scarified and unscarified cornea, and the severity of disease was similar to that seen in scarified eyes at the low-dose DeltagC infections. Interestingly, although DeltagC induced keratitis with or without corneal scarification at high infection doses, the severity of disease was significantly less than that induced by wt infection. At all infection doses, keratitis induced by wt infection was similar in scarified and unscarified eyes.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that (1) at low infection doses, in unscarified corneas, gC is required for HSV-1 induced keratitis; (2) corneal scarification prior to infection can circumvent the need for gC at low doses, but (3) at higher doses, gC is required for wild-type levels of keratitis even in scarified cornea.

Molecular basis for resistance of herpes simplex virus type 1 mutants to the sulfated oligosaccharide inhibitor PI-88

Herpes simplex virus type 1 variants selected by virus propagation in cultured cells in the presence of the sulfated oligosaccharide PI-88 were analyzed. Many of these variants were substantially resistant to the presence of PI-88 during their initial infection of cells and/or their cell-to-cell spread. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the deletion of amino acids 33-116 of gC but not lack of gC expression provided the virus with selective advantage to infect cells in the presence of PI-88. Purified gC (Delta33-116) was more resistant to PI-88 than unaltered protein in its binding to cells. Alterations that partly contributed to the virus resistance to PI-88 in its cell-to-cell spread activity were amino acid substitutions Q27R in gD and R770W in gB. These results suggest that PI-88 targets several distinct viral glycoproteins during the course of initial virus infection and cell-to-cell spread.

Chondroitin 4-O-sulfotransferase-1 regulates E disaccharide expression of chondroitin sulfate required for herpes simplex virus infectivity

We have demonstrated a defect in expression of chondroitin 4-O-sulfotransferase-1 (C4ST-1) in murine sog9 cells, which are poorly sensitive to infection by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Sog9 cells were previously isolated as CS-deficient cells from gro2C cells, which were partially resistant to HSV-1 infection and defective in the expression of heparan sulfate (HS) because of a splice site mutation in the EXT1 gene encoding the HS-synthesizing enzyme. Here we detected a small amount of CS chains in sog9 cells with a drastic decrease in 4-O-sulfation compared with the parental gro2C cells. RT-PCR revealed that sog9 cells had a defect in the expression of C4ST-1 in addition to EXT1. Gel filtration analysis showed that the decrease in the amount of CS in sog9 cells was the result of a reduction in the length of CS chains. Transfer of C4ST-1 cDNA into sog9 cells (sog9-C4ST-1) restored 4-O-sulfation and amount of CS, verifying that sog9 cells had a specific defect in C4ST-1. Furthermore, the expression of C4ST-1 rendered sog9 cells significantly more susceptible to HSV-1 infection, suggesting that CS modified by C4ST-1 is sufficient for the binding and infectivity of HSV-1. Analysis of CS chains of gro2C and sog9-C4ST-1 cells revealed a considerable proportion of the E disaccharide unit, consistent with our recent finding that this unit is an essential component of the HSV receptor. These results suggest that C4ST-1 regulates the expression of the E disaccharide unit and the length of CS chains, the features that facilitate infection of cells by HSV-1.

Construction and characterization of bacterial artificial chromosomes containing HSV-1 strains 17 and KOS

Bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) were constructed containing full-length, infectious DNA of HSV-1 strains 17 and KOS. To generate BACs without altering viral genes, sequences required for selection and propagation of the BAC were placed between the U(L)37 and U(L)38 genes, and flanked by LoxP sites. The system was tested by studying multiple properties of these HSV-1 BAC constructs in vitro and in vivo following propagation in bacteria, virus reconstitution from HSV-BAC DNA in eukaryotic cells, and Cre-recombinase-mediated excision of the BAC backbone. Based on in vitro growth in mouse embryo fibroblasts and in vivo growth in mouse corneas and trigeminal ganglia, the strain KOS BAC-derived virus behaved similarly to wild-type. Small changes in neurovirulence were, however, observed. The strain 17 BAC-derived virus exhibited modest decreases in growth and virulence compared to wild-type. Modest differences were observed in reactivation from latency with both strain KOS and 17 BAC-derived viruses. In addition, the system was further validated by performing mutagenesis of the BACs by allelic exchange in E. coli. These BACs are suitable for the rapid generation of recombinant viruses for pathogenesis and other studies, but as with all mutagenesis systems, care must be taken in their construction and repair.

Alanine substitution of conserved residues in the cytoplasmic tail of herpes simplex virus gB can enhance or abolish cell fusion activity and viral entry

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) glycoprotein B (gB) is one of the four viral glycoproteins required for viral entry and cell fusion and is highly conserved among herpesviruses. Mutants of HSV type 2 gB were generated by substituting conserved residues in the cytoplasmic tail with alanine or by deleting 41 amino acids from the C-terminus. Some of the mutations abolished cell fusion activity and also prevented transport of gB to the cell surface, identifying residues in the gB cytoplasmic tail that are critical for intracellular transport of this glycoprotein. These mutations also prevented production of infectious virus, possibly because the mutant forms of gB were not transported to the site of envelopment. Other mutations, particularly the deletion, significantly enhanced cell fusion activity. These mutations, as well as others described previously, identify regions of the gB cytoplasmic domain that modulate cell fusion activity.

Herpes simplex virus glycoprotein B binds to cell surfaces independently of heparan sulfate and blocks virus entry

Virion glycoproteins gB, gD, and gH/gL play essential roles for herpes simplex virus (HSV) entry. The function of gD is to interact with a cognate receptor, and soluble forms of gD block HSV entry by tying up cell surface receptors. Both gB and the nonessential gC interact with cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG), promoting viral attachment. However, cells deficient in proteoglycan synthesis can still be infected by HSV. This suggests another function for gB. We found that a soluble truncated form of gB bound saturably to the surface of Vero, A431, HeLa, and BSC-1 cells, L-cells, and a mouse melanoma cell line expressing the gD receptor nectin-1. The HSPG analog heparin completely blocked attachment of the gC ectodomain to Vero cells. In contrast, heparin only partially blocked attachment of soluble gB, leaving 20% of the input gB still bound even at high concentrations of inhibitor. Moreover, heparin treatment removed soluble gC but not gB from the cell surface. These data suggest that a portion of gB binds to cells independently of HSPG. In addition, gB bound to two HSPG-deficient cell lines derived from L-cells. Gro2C cells are deficient in HSPG, and Sog9 cells are deficient in HSPG, as well as chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG). To identify particular gB epitopes responsible for HSPG-independent binding, we used a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to gB to block gB binding. Only those gB MAbs that neutralized virus blocked binding of soluble gB to the cells. HSV entry into Gro2C and Sog9 cells was reduced but still detectable relative to the parental L-cells, as previously reported. Importantly, entry into Gro2C cells was blocked by purified forms of either the gD or gB ectodomain. On a molar basis, the extent of inhibition by gB was similar to that seen with gD. Together, these results suggest that soluble gB binds specifically to the surface of different cell types independently of HSPG and CSPG and that by doing so, the protein inhibits entry. The results provide evidence for the existence of a cellular entry receptor for gB.

Chondroitin Sulfate Characterized by the E-disaccharide Unit Is a Potent Inhibitor of Herpes Simplex Virus Infectivity and Provides the Virus Binding Sites on gro2C Cells

Although cell surface chondroitin sulfate (CS) is regarded as an auxiliary receptor for binding of herpes simplex virus to cells, and purified CS chain types A, B, and C are known to interfere poorly or not at all with the virus infection of cells, we have found that CS type E (CS-E), derived from squid cartilage, exhibited potent antiviral activity. The IC(50) values ranged from 0.06 to 0.2 mug/ml and substantially exceeded the antiviral potency of heparin, the known inhibitor of virus binding to cells. Furthermore, in mutant gro2C cells that express CS but not heparan sulfate, CS-E showed unusually high anti-herpes virus activity with IC(50) values of <1 ng/ml. Enzymatic degradation of CS-E with chondroitinase ABC abolished its antiviral activity. CS-E inhibited the binding to cells of the purified virus attachment protein gC. A direct interaction of gC with immobilized CS-E and inhibition of this binding by CS-E oligosaccharide fragments greater than octasaccharide were demonstrated. Likewise, the gro2C-specific CS chains interfered with the binding of viral gC to these cells and were found to contain a considerable proportion (13%) of the E-disaccharide unit, suggesting that this unit is an essential component of the CS receptor for herpes simplex virus on gro2C cells and that the antiviral activity of CS-E was due to interference with the binding of viral gC to a CS-E-like receptor on the cell surface. Knowledge of the determinants of antiviral properties of CS-E will help in the development of inhibitors of herpes simplex virus infections in humans.

Potential nectin-1 binding site on herpes simplex virus glycoprotein d

Four glycoproteins (gD, gB, gH, and gL) are essential for herpes simplex virus (HSV) entry into cells. An early step of fusion requires gD to bind one of several receptors, such as nectin-1 or herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM). We hypothesize that a conformational change in gD occurs upon receptor binding that triggers the other glycoproteins to mediate fusion. Comparison of the crystal structures of gD alone and gD bound to HVEM reveals that upon HVEM binding, the gD N terminus transitions from a flexible stretch of residues to a hairpin loop. To address the contribution of this transition to the ability of gD to trigger fusion, we attempted to "lock" the gD N terminus into a looped conformation by engineering a disulfide bond at its N and C termini. The resulting mutant (gD-A3C/Y38C) failed to trigger fusion in the absence of receptor, suggesting that formation of the loop is not the sole fusion trigger. Unexpectedly, although gD-A3C/Y38C bound HVEM, it failed to bind nectin-1. This was due to the key role played by Y38 in interacting with nectin-1. Since tyrosines are often "hot spot" residues at the center of protein-protein interfaces, we mutated residues that surround Y38 on the same face of gD and tested their binding and functional properties. Our results suggest that this region of gD is important for nectin-1 interaction and is distinct from but partially overlaps the site of HVEM binding. Unique gD mutants with altered receptor usage generated in this study may help dissect the roles played by various HSV receptors during infection.

Phylogenetic analysis of clinical herpes simplex virus type 1 isolates identified three genetic groups and recombinant viruses

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a ubiquitous human pathogen which establishes lifelong infections. In the present study, we determined the sequence diversity of the complete genes coding for glycoproteins G (gG), I (gI), and E (gE), comprising 2.3% of the HSV-1 genome and located within the unique short (US) region, for 28 clinical HSV-1 isolates inducing oral lesions, genital lesions, or encephalitis. Laboratory strains F and KOS321 were sequenced in parallel. Phylogenetic analysis, including analysis of laboratory strain 17 (GenBank), revealed that the sequences were separated into three genetic groups. The identification of different genogroups facilitated the detection of recombinant viruses by using specific nucleotide substitutions as recombination markers. Seven of the isolates and strain 17 displayed sequences consistent with intergenic recombination, and at least four isolates were intragenic recombinants. The observed frequency of recombination based on an analysis of a short stretch of the US region suggests that most full-length HSV-1 genomes consist of a mosaic of segments from different genetic groups. Polymorphic tandem repeat regions, consisting of two to eight blocks of 21 nucleotides in the gI gene and seven to eight repeats of 3 nucleotides in the gG gene, were also detected. Laboratory strain KOS321 displayed a frameshift mutation in the gI gene with a subsequent alteration of the deduced intracellular portion of the protein. The presence of polymorphic tandem repeat regions and the different genogroup identities can be used for molecular epidemiology studies and for further detection of recombination in the HSV-1 genome.

Enhanced cytoplasmic sequestration of the nuclear export receptor CRM1 by NS2 mutations developed in the host regulates parvovirus fitness

To investigate whether a DNA virus can evade passive immunotherapy with a polyclonal antiserum, we analyzed the protection of a neutralizing capsid antiserum against a lethal infection of the immunosuppressive strain of the parvovirus minute virus of mice (MVMi) in 42 immunodeficient mice over a period of 200 days. A few mice were effectively protected, but most developed a delayed lethal leukopenic syndrome during the treatment or weeks afterwards. Unexpectedly, viruses isolated from treated but also from control leukopenic mice showed no amino acid changes throughout the entire capsid coding region, although the viral populations were genetically heterogeneous, mainly in the second exon of the coding sequence of the NS2 nonstructural protein. The NS2 point amino acid changes (T88A, K96E, L103P, and L153 M) that were consistently selected in several mice clustered within the nuclear exportin CRM1 binding domain, in a reading frame that did not alter the overlapping NS1 coding region. These mutations endowed emerging viruses with an increased fitness that was demonstrable by their relative resistance to the neutralizing capsid antiserum in a postentry plaque-forming assay, the rapid overgrowth of a competing wild-type (wt) population in culture, and a larger yield of infectious particles. Mutant NS2 proteins interacted with a higher affinity and sequestered CRM1 in the perinuclear region of the cytoplasm more efficiently than the wt. Correspondingly this phenomenon, as well as the following timely ordered release of the NS1 nonstructural protein and the empty capsid from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, occurred markedly earlier in the infection cycle of the mutant viruses. We hypothesize that the enhanced cytoplasmic sequestration of CRM1 by the NS2 mutations selected in mice may trigger pleiotropic effects leading to an accelerated MVMi life cycle and thus to increased fitness. These results strengthen our earlier report on the rapid evolutionary capacity of this mammalian-specific DNA virus in vivo and indicate that the NS2-CRM1 interaction is an important determinant of parvovirus virulence that can be modulated in nature, hampering the effectiveness of passive antibody therapies in the long term.

Inhibition of herpes simplex virus infection by lactoferrin is dependent on interference with the virus binding to glycosaminoglycans

Previous reports have indicated that lactoferrin inhibits herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection during the very early phases of the viral replicative cycle. In the present work we investigated the mechanism of the antiviral activity of lactoferrin in mutant glycosaminoglycan (GAG)-deficient cells. Bovine lactoferrin (BLf) was a strong inhibitor of HSV-1 infection in cells expressing either heparan sulfate (HS) or chondroitin sulfate (CS) or both, but was ineffective or less efficient in GAG-deficient cells or in cells treated with GAG-degrading enzymes. In contrast to wild-type HSV-1, virus mutants devoid of glycoprotein C (gC) were significantly less inhibited by lactoferrin in GAG-expressing cells, indicating that lactoferrin interfered with the binding of viral gC to cell surface HS and/or CS. Finally, we demonstrated that lactoferrin bound directly to both HS and CS isolated from surfaces of the studied cells, as well as to commercial preparations of GAG chains. The results support the hypothesis that the inhibition of HSV-1 infectivity by lactoferrin is dependent on its interaction with cell surface GAG chains of HS and CS.

Strain-dependent structural variants of herpes simplex virus type 1 ICP34.5 determine viral plaque size, efficiency of glycoprotein processing, and viral release and neuroinvasive disease potential

The ability of certain strains of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) to cause encephalitis or neuroinvasive disease in the mouse upon peripheral infection is dependent on a combination of activities of specific forms of viral proteins. The importance of specific variants of ICP34.5 to neuroinvasive disease potential and its correlation with small-plaque production, inefficient glycoprotein processing, and virus release were suggested by comparison of ICP34.5 from the SP7 virus, originally obtained from the brain of a neonate with disseminated disease, and the tissue culture-passaged progeny of SP7 (SLP5 and SLP10) and the KOS321 virus. SLP5, SLP10, and KOS321 are attenuated and exhibit a large-plaque phenotype, including efficient glycoprotein processing and viral release. We show that expression of the KOS321 ICP34.5 protein in cells infected with SP7 or ICP34.5 deletion mutants promotes large plaque formation and efficient viral glycoprotein processing, while expression of the SP7 ICP34.5 protein decreases efficiency of viral glycoprotein processing. In addition, a recombinant virus, 4hS1, with the SP7 ICP34.5 gene replacing the KOS321-like ICP34.5 gene in the SLP10a background, rescues the small-plaque phenotype and neuroinvasive disease. The major difference in the ICP34.5 gene product is the number of Pro-Ala-Thr repeats in the middle region of the protein, with 18 for SP7 and 3 for KOS321. Strain-dependent differences in the ICP34.5 protein can therefore alter the tissue culture behavior and the virulence of HSV-1.

High mutant frequency in populations of a DNA virus allows evasion from antibody therapy in an immunodeficient host

The degree of genetic heterogeneity of DNA virus populations in nature and its consequences for disease control are virtually unknown. The parvovirus minute virus of mice (MVMi) was used here to investigate (i) the frequency of antibody-escape mutants in populations of a DNA virus and (ii) the ability of a DNA virus to evade in the long-term a passive monoclonal antibody (MAb) therapy in an immunodeficient natural host. Independent clonal populations of MVMi harbored a high proportion of mutants resistant to neutralizing MAb (mutant frequency = [2.8 +/- 0.5] x 10(-5)) that rapidly evolved under antibody pressure in culture to become mixtures dominated by genotypically diverse escape mutants. Immunodeficient mice naturally infected with clonal populations of MVMi and subsequently treated by intravenous injections of MAb were initially protected from the characteristic viral induced lethal leukopenia. However, some treated animals developed a delayed severe leukopenic syndrome associated with the emergence of genetically heterogeneous populations of MAb-resistant mutants in the MVMi main target organs. The 11 plaque-purified viruses analyzed from an antibody-resistant population obtained from one animal corresponded to four different mutant genotypes, although their consensus sequence remained wild type. All cloned escape mutants harbored single radical amino acid changes within a stretch of seven residues in a surface-exposed loop at the threefold axes of the capsid. This antigenic site, which can tolerate radical changes preserving MVMi pathogenic potential, may thereby allow the virus to evade the immune control. These findings indicate a high genetic heterogeneity and rapid adaptation of populations of a mammal DNA virus in vivo and provide a genetic basis for the failure of passive immunotherapy in the natural host.

Glycosaminoglycan-binding ability is a feature of wild-type strains of herpes simplex virus type 1

Adaptation of some viruses to replication in cultured cells selects variants that due to alterations in the viral attachment proteins convert to using heparan sulfate (HS) as initial receptor. We report that the nucleotide sequence of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) glycoprotein C (gC), a principal attachment component of the virus, remained unchanged during adaptation of wild-type strains to cultured cells. Likewise, amino acid residues critical for binding of gC to HS were conserved in viral strains that replicated in vivo in different human tissues. Moreover wild-type HSV-1 strains derived directly from clinical specimens were, similar to their cell culture propagated progeny viruses and common laboratory strains, sensitive to heparin and demonstrated impairment in their ability to infect HS/chondroitin sulfate deficient cells. These results demonstrate that the HS-binding ability is a feature of wild-type strains of HSV-1.

An N-terminal arginine-rich cluster and a proline-alanine-threonine repeat region determine the cellular localization of the herpes simplex virus type 1 ICP34.5 protein and its ligand, protein phosphatase 1

The ICP34.5 protein facilitates herpes simplex virus replication by binding and activating protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) by means of a very conserved C-terminal GADD34-like region. Natural variants of the ICP34.5 differing in the number of arginines in an Arg-rich cluster at the N terminus and the number of Pro-Ala-Thr repeats in the central bridge region of the protein were cloned as fusion proteins with a reporter peptide (c-Myc or hrGFP) at the C terminus. The natural variants were obtained from strains differing in passage history, tissue culture behavior, and neuroinvasive disease potential. In transfected cells, these variants localized to different subcellular compartments. The N-terminal Arg-rich cluster acted as a cellular localization signal for discrete regions of the nucleus and cytoplasm, but the ultimate location of ICP34.5 was determined by the number of Pro-Ala-Thr repeats in the central bridge region. PP1 colocalized with the ICP34.5 variant in cells expressing the ICP34.5. The ICP34.5-mediated, herpes simplex virus strain-dependent differences in the modulation of PP1 location and function may be responsible for the strain-associated differences in tissue culture behavior and virulence of the virus.

Monoclonal antibodies and human sera directed to the secreted glycoprotein G of herpes simplex virus type 2 recognize type-specific antigenic determinants

Glycoprotein G-2 (gG-2) of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is cleaved to a secreted amino-terminal portion (sgG-2) and to a cell-associated carboxy-terminal portion which is further O-glycosylated to constitute the mature gG-2 (mgG-2). In contrast to mgG-2, which is known to elicit a type-specific antibody response in the human host, information on the immunogenic properties of sgG-2 is lacking. Here the sgG-2 protein was purified on a heparin column and used for production of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Four anti-sgG-2 mAbs were mapped using a Pepscan technique and identified linear epitopes which localized to the carboxy-terminal part of the protein. One additional anti-sgG-2 mAb, recognizing a non-linear epitope, was reactive to three discrete peptide stretches where the most carboxy-terminally located stretch was constituted by the amino acids (320)RRAL(323). Although sgG-2 is rapidly secreted into the cell-culture medium after infection, the anti-sgG-2 mAbs identified substantial amounts of sgG-2 in the cytoplasm of HSV-2-infected cells. All of the anti-sgG-2 mAbs were HSV-2 specific showing no cross-reactivity to HSV-1 antigen or to HSV-1-infected cells. Similarly, sera from 50 HSV-2 isolation positive patients were all reactive to sgG-2 in an enzyme immunoassay whilst no reactivity was seen in 25 sera from HSV-1 isolation positive patients or in 25 serum samples from HSV-negative patients suggesting that sgG-2 is a novel antigen potentially suitable for type-discriminating serodiagnosis.

Mutational analysis of the major heparan sulfate-binding domain of herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein C

Heparan sulfate (HS) has been identified as a receptor molecule for numerous microbial pathogens, including herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). To further define the major HS-binding domain of the HSV-1 attachment protein, i.e. glycoprotein C (gC), virus mutants carrying alterations of either two neighbouring basic amino acid residues or a single hydrophobic amino acid residue within the N-terminal domain of the protein (residues 26-227) were constructed. In addition, a mutant lacking the Asn148 glycosylation site was included in the study. Binding of purified mutated gC proteins to isolated HS chains showed that viruses with mutations at residues Arg(129,130), Ile142, Arg(143,145), Arg(145,147), Arg(151,155) and Arg(155,160) had significantly impaired HS binding, in contrast to the other mutations, including Asn148. Impairment of the HS-binding activity of gC by these mutations had profound consequences for virus attachment and infection of cells in which amounts of HS exposed on the cell surface had been reduced. It is suggested that basic and hydrophobic residues localized at the Cys127-Cys144 loop of HSV-1 gC constitute a major HS-binding domain, with the most active amino acids situated near the C-terminal region of the two cysteines.

Solid matrix-antibody-antigen complexes incorporating equine herpesvirus 1 glycoproteins C and D elicit anti-viral immune responses in BALB/c (H-2K(d)) and C3H (H-2K(k)) mice

Glycoproteins C and D (gC and gD) derived from equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1)-infected cells were incorporated into individual solid matrix-antibody-antigen (SMAA) complexes and administered to BALB/c (H-2K(d)) and C3H (H-2K(k)) mice. Antibodies against each of the glycoproteins were produced that neutralised virus infectivity and mediated the lysis of EHV-1-infected target cells in the presence of complement. Immunoglobulin (Ig)G2b was the predominant antibody isotype produced in BALB/c mice against gC, while equal amounts of IgG2a/2b were found in the serum of C3H mice (indicative of a T-helper(1) response). Glycoprotein D immunisation elicited predominantly an IgG1 response in BALB/c mice (indicative of a T-helper(2) response) and an IgG2a/2b response in C3H mice. EHV-1-specific local and systemic T-cell proliferative responses were detected in vitro following administration of SMAA complexes. Suppression of the local T-cell response was seen following virus challenge of mice immunised with SMAA gC. SMAA gD provided some protection against intranasal EHV-1 challenge. These data show that the SMAA system is an effective way of presenting subviral components to the immune system and further emphasises the importance of including glycoprotein D as a component of a subunit EHV-1 vaccine.

Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 differ in their interaction with heparan sulfate

Cell surface heparan sulfate (HS) serves as an initial receptor for many different viruses, including herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and 2, respectively). Glycoproteins C and B (gC and gB) are the major components of the viral envelope that mediate binding to HS. In this study, purified gB and gC homologous proteins as well as purified HSV-1 and HSV-2 virions were compared for the ability to bind isolated HS receptor molecules. HSV-1 gC and HSV-2 gC bound comparable amounts of HS. Similarly, HSV-1 gB and its HSV-2 counterpart showed no difference in the HS-binding capabilities. Despite the similar HS-binding potentials of gB and gC homologs, HSV-1 virions bound more HS than HSV-2 particles. Purified gC and gB proteins differed with respect to sensitivity of their interaction with HS to increased concentrations of sodium chloride in the order gB-2 > gB-1 > gC-1 > gC-2. The corresponding pattern for binding of whole HSV virions to cells in the presence of increased ionic strength of the medium was HSV-2 gC-neg1 > HSV-1 gC(-)39 > HSV-1 KOS 321 > HSV-2 333. These results relate the HS-binding activities of individual glycoproteins with the cell-binding abilities of whole virus particles. In addition, these data suggest a greater contribution of electrostatic forces for binding of gB proteins and gC-negative mutants compared with binding of gC homologs and wild-type HSV strains. Binding of wild-type HSV-2 virions was the least sensitive to increased ionic strength of the medium, suggesting that the less extensive binding of HS molecules by HSV-2 than by HSV-1 can be compensated for by a relatively weak contribution of electrostatic forces to the binding. Furthermore, gB and gC homologs exhibited different patterns of sensitivity of binding to cells to inhibition with selectively N-, 2-O-, and 6-O-desulfated heparin compounds. The O-sulfate groups of heparin were found to be more important for interaction with gB-1 than gB-2. These results indicate that HSV-1 and HSV-2 differ in their interaction with HS.

The major neutralizing antigenic site on herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D overlaps a receptor-binding domain

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) entry is dependent on the interaction of virion glycoprotein D (gD) with one of several cellular receptors. We previously showed that gD binds specifically to two structurally dissimilar receptors, HveA and HveC. We have continued our studies by using (i) a panel of baculovirus-produced gD molecules with various C-terminal truncations and (ii) a series of gD mutants with nonoverlapping 3-amino-acid deletions between residues 222 and 254. Binding of the potent neutralizing monoclonal antibody (MAb) DL11 (group Ib) was unaffected in forms of gD containing residues 1 to 250 but was greatly diminished in molecules truncated at residue 240 or 234. Both receptor binding and blocking of HSV infection were also affected by these C-terminal truncations. gD-1(234t) bound weakly to both HveA and HveC as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and failed to block infection. Interestingly, gD-1(240t) bound well to both receptors but blocked infection poorly, indicating that receptor binding as measured by ELISA is not the only gD function required for blocking. Optical biosensor studies showed that while gD-1(240t) bound HveC with an affinity similar to that of gD-1(306t), the rates of complex formation and dissociation were significantly faster than for gD-1(306t). Complementation analysis showed that any 3-amino-acid deletion between residues 222 and 251 of gD resulted in a nonfunctional protein. Among this set of proteins, three had lost DL11 reactivity (those with deletions between residues 222 and 230). One of these proteins (deletion 222-224) was expressed as a soluble form in the baculovirus system. This protein did not react with DL11, bound to both HveA and HveC poorly as shown by ELISA, and failed to block HSV infection. Since this protein was bound by several other MAbs that recognize discontinuous epitopes, we conclude that residues 222 to 224 are critical for gD function. We propose that the potent virus-neutralizing activity of DL11 (and other group Ib MAbs) likely reflects an overlap between its epitope and a receptor-binding domain of gD.

The transcriptional activation domain of VP16 is required for efficient infection and establishment of latency by HSV-1 in the murine peripheral and central nervous systems

The herpes simplex virus (HSV) transactivator VP16 is a structural component of the virion that activates immediate-early viral gene expression. The HSV-1 mutant in1814, which contains a 12-bp insertion that compromises the transcriptional function of VP16, replicated to a low level if at all in the trigeminal ganglia of mice (I. Steiner, J. G. Spivack, S. L. Deshmane, C. I. Ace, C. M. Preston, and N. W. Fraser (1990). J. Virol. 64, 1630-1638; Valyi-Nagy et al., unpublished data). However, in1814 did establish a latent infection in the ganglia after corneal inoculation from which it could be reactivated. In this study, several HSV-1 strains were constructed with deletions in the VP16 transcriptional activation domain. These viruses were viable in cell culture, although some were significantly reduced in their ability to initiate infection. A deletion mutant completely lacking the activation domain of VP16 (RP5) was unable to replicate to any detectable level or to efficiently establish latent infections in the peripheral and central nervous systems of immunocompetent mice. However, similar to in1814, RP5 formed a slowly progressing persistent infection in immunocompromised nude mice. Thus RP5 is severely neuroattenuated in the murine model of HSV infection. However, the activation domain of VP16 is not essential for replication in the nervous system, since we observed a slow progressive infection persisting in the absence of an immune response.

Isolation of mutants of Aujeszky's disease virus with antigenically altered glycoprotein E by affinity chromatography using monoclonal antibodies

An efficient method for isolation of virus mutants with antigenically altered proteins is described. The method is based on the separation of viruses with wild-type and antigenically altered proteins by affinity chromatography using monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). A nonessential glycoprotein E (gE) of Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) was chosen as a model for introducing the antigenic changes. The ADV strain Ka mutagenised with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine was used for the selection of mutants that do not bind to gE-specific MAb conjugated to resin. After three rounds of isolation by affinity chromatography, the resulting viruses that escape the binding to MAb were plaque-purified by plating at limiting dilution, and virus isolates were tested by the gE-specific sandwich ELISA in which the selecting MAb was used as a capture antibody. About 70% of the ADV isolates tested were not recognised by the sandwich gE-ELISA. The analysis of some of virus isolates in indirect ELISA with a panel of 16 gE-specific MAbs revealed that at least several of the generated virus isolates were mutants expressing gE with alterations in the epitope of the selecting MAb 75/7, as well as in the majority of other conformation-dependent epitopes of gE. The method for the production of antigenically altered viruses by affinity chromatography using MAbs is simple and convenient, and can be utilised with MAbs irrespective of their virus-neutralising activity.

The product of the herpes simplex virus type 1 UL25 gene is required for encapsidation but not for cleavage of replicated viral DNA

The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) UL25 gene contains a 580-amino-acid open reading frame that codes for an essential protein. Previous studies have shown that the UL25 gene product is a virion component (M. A. Ali et al., Virology 216:278-283, 1996) involved in virus penetration and capsid assembly (C. Addison et al., Virology 138:246-259, 1984). In this study, we describe the isolation of a UL25 mutant (KUL25NS) that was constructed by insertion of an in-frame stop codon in the UL25 open reading frame and propagated on a complementing cell line. Although the mutant was capable of synthesis of viral DNA, it did not form plaques or produce infectious virus in noncomplementing cells. Antibodies specific for the UL25 protein were used to demonstrate that KUL25NS-infected Vero cells did not express the UL25 protein. Western immunoblotting showed that the UL25 protein was associated with purified, wild-type HSV A, B, and C capsids. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that the nucleus of Vero cells infected with KUL25NS contained large numbers of both A and B capsids but no C capsids. Analysis of infected cells by sucrose gradient sedimentation analysis confirmed that the ratio of A to B capsids was elevated in KUL25NS-infected Vero cells. Following restriction enzyme digestion, specific terminal fragments were observed in DNA isolated from KUL25NS-infected Vero cells, indicating that the UL25 gene was not required for cleavage of replicated viral DNA. The latter result was confirmed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), which showed the presence of genome-size viral DNA in KUL25NS-infected Vero cells. DNase I treatment prior to PFGE demonstrated that monomeric HSV DNA was not packaged in the absence of the UL25 protein. Our results indicate that the product of the UL25 gene is required for packaging but not cleavage of replicated viral DNA.

Structural requirement of heparan sulfate for interaction with herpes simplex virus type 1 virions and isolated glycoprotein C

Cell surface heparan sulfates mediate primary attachment of herpes simplex virus type 1, the first step in virus invasion of the cells. Removal of the host cell heparan sulfate results in a significantly diminished susceptibility of the cell to virus infection. On the virus envelope, glycoprotein C has been identified as the major binding site for heparan sulfate in the primary attachment of the virus to host cells. Using selectively desulfated heparins and metabolically labeled host cell heparan sulfate, we have analyzed the structural requirements of heparan sulfate to provide binding sites for glycoprotein C and the whole virus. Employing glycoprotein C affinity chromatography and a virus binding assay, we subfractionated oligosaccharides derived from heparan sulfate and partially desulfated heparin into selectively bound and unbound pools. These were chemically depolymerized and analyzed at the disaccharide level. The shortest glycoprotein C-binding fragment consisted of 10-12 monosaccharide units containing at least one 2-O- and one 6-O-sulfate group that have to be localized in a sequence-specific way, based on the finding that bound and unbound HS fragments do not differ in charge or composition. The binding sequence is found within N-sulfated blocks of heparan sulfate, although several N-acetyl groups can be tolerated within the minimal binding sequence. These minimal requirements for herpes simplex virus type 1 binding to heparan sulfate are clearly distinct from other identified protein binding sites.

Identification and analyses of glycoprotein B of human herpesvirus 7

The gene for the human herpes virus 7 (HHV-7) glycoprotein B (gB) has been identified by sequencing a molecularly cloned HHV-7 DNA fragment. A 2.5-kb open reading frame (ORF) encoded a protein of 822 amino acids with characteristics of a transmembrane glycoprotein, and showed the strongest similarity (56.5%) with the human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) gB. The genes for the transport/capsid assembly protein (tp/cap) and the DNA polymerase (pol) existed upstream and downstream of the gB gene, respectively. This arrangement was the same as that of HHV-6. Antisera were generated by immunizing mice with a glutathione S-transferase-carboxy terminal gB fusion protein. Immunofluorescent tests demonstrated that the antisera reacted specifically with HHV-7 antigens in cytoplasm of infected cells. The antisera immunoprecipitated proteins with apparent molecular masses of 51, 63 and 112 kDa from HHV-7 infected cells by pulse-chase analysis. In the presence of tunicamycin, the protein with a molecular mass of 112 kDa was replaced by a protein with a molecular mass of 88 kDa, and this size was consistent with the predicted size of the primary translation product of the HHV-7 gB gene. These results suggested that the protein with a molecular mass of 112 kDa was a glycoprotein synthesized by addition of N-linked oligosaccharides to a non-glycosylated precursor of the protein with a molecular mass of 88 kDa and then cleaved into the proteins with molecular masses of 51 and 63 kDa in HHV-7 infected cells.

A major rearrangement of the VP6 gene of a strain of rotavirus provides replication advantage

During coinfection of BSC-1 cells with bovine rotavirus B223 and human rotavirus 69M and subsequent serial passages at low multiplicity of infection (0.1 m.o.i.), a reassortant virus (BMR) with a rearranged VP6 gene became the predominant strain. At passage 24 virus extracted from 50 of 51 plaques (98%) contained the rearranged gene 6, which had been first observed in passage 19. The analyses of the clones obtained from passages before the appearance of the rearranged VP6 gene (passage 15) and after (passage 20) indicated that the B223 VP6 gene was the origin of the rearranged VP6 gene. To test whether the rearranged VP6 gene was responsible for the selection advantage observed, reassortant C11 was generated with BMR and WA rotavirus, containing the rearranged VP6 gene and the other 10 genes from WA. Coinfection of WA rotavirus and reassortant C11 and subsequent serial passages at low m.o.i. resulted in 100% of virus from clones extracted at passage 18 being identical to reassortant C11; demonstrating that the rearranged VP6 gene was once again selected over the normal VP6 gene. The selection advantage of the rearranged VP6 gene could not be explained by comparison of the growth curves of the viruses, as there was no significant difference between the growth cycles of rotavirus B223 and reassortant BMR, nor between rotavirus Wa and reassortant C11. However, the plaque and electropherotype analysis at passage 1 of Wa and C11 coinfection revealed that 85% of the progeny viruses contained the rearranged gene 6. These data show that the gene 6 rearrangement resulted in selection of the relevant reassortant, possibly by suppression of competitive strains, and may indicate a new mechanism for the evolution of rotavirus.

Two herpes simplex virus type 1 latency-active promoters differ in their contributions to latency-associated transcript expression during lytic and latent infections

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) establishes latency in human sensory ganglia, during which time the viral genome is transcriptionally silent with the exception of the latency-associated transcripts (LATs). The most abundant LAT is a 2-kb RNA whose biosynthesis is poorly characterized. The 2-kb LAT may be a primary transcript, or its synthesis may involve splicing and/or other forms of processing. Two potential RNA polymerase II promoters (LAP1 and LAP2) upstream of the 2-kb LAT 5' end have been identified. To investigate the role played by LAP1 and LAP2 in the synthesis of the 2-kb LAT under lytic and latent conditions, we analyzed HSV-1 mutants which contain deletions of one or both of these promoters. During lytic infection in cell culture, the cis elements critical for the normal accumulation of the 2-kb LAT were mapped to LAP2, while LAP1 sequences were largely dispensable. The 5' ends of the major 2-kb LATs produced by the wild-type and LAP deletion viruses were examined by primer extension analysis and were all found to be identical (+/- 2 bp). The accumulation of the 2-kb LAT during latent infections of murine trigeminal ganglia was examined by Northern (RNA) blot and by reverse transcription-PCR. In contrast to the results found in lytic infections, the critical cis elements needed for 2-kb LAT accumulation during latency were mapped to LAP1. Deletion of LAP1 resulted in a 500-fold reduction in 2-kb LAT accumulation, whereas deletion of LAP2 resulted in only a 2- to 3-fold reduction. Deletion of both LAP1 and LAP2 resulted in undetectable levels of the 2-kb LAT. Our results indicate that both LAP1 and LAP2 are critical for 2-kb LAT expression but under different conditions. LAP1 is essential for LAT expression during latency, while LAP2 is primarily responsible for LAT expression in lytic infections in cell culture. LAP1 and LAP2 may prove to be functionally independent promoter elements that control 2-kb LAT expression during different stages of HSV-1 infections.

Interaction of herpes simplex virus glycoprotein gC with mammalian cell surface molecules

The entry of herpes simplex virus (HSV) into mammalian cells is a multistep process beginning with an attachment step involving glycoproteins gC and gB. A second step requires the interaction of glycoprotein gD with a cell surface molecule. We explored the interaction between gC and the cell surface by using purified proteins in the absence of detergent. Truncated forms of gC and gD, gC1(457t), gC2(426t), and gD1(306t), lacking the transmembrane and carboxyl regions were expressed in the baculovirus system. We studied the ability of these proteins to bind to mammalian cells, to bind to immobilized heparin, to block HSV type 1 (HSV-1) attachment to cells, and to inhibit plaque formation by HSV-1. Each of these gC proteins bound to conformation-dependent monoclonal antibodies and to human complement component C3b, indicating that they maintained the same conformation of gC proteins expressed in mammalian cells. Biotinylated gC1(457t) and gC2(426t) each bind to several cell lines. Binding was inhibited by an excess of unlabeled gC but not by gD, indicating specificity. The attachment of gC to cells involves primarily heparan sulfate proteoglycans, since heparitinase treatment of cells reduced gC binding by 50% but had no effect on gD binding. Moreover, binding of gC to two heparan sulfate-deficient L-cell lines, gro2C and sog9, both of which are mostly resistant to HSV infection, was markedly reduced. Purified gD1 (306t), however, bound equally well to the two mutant cell lines. In contrast, saturating amounts of gC1(457t) interfered with HSV-1 attachment to cells but failed to block plaque formation, suggesting a role for gC in attachment but not penetration. A mutant form of gC lacking residues 33 to 123, gC1(delta 33-123t), expressed in the baculovirus system, bound significantly less well to cells than did gC1(457t) and competed poorly with biotinylated gC1(457t) for binding. These results suggest that residues 33 to 123 are important for gC attachment to cells. In contrast, both the mutant and wild-type forms of gC bound to immobilized heparin, indicating that binding of these proteins to the cell surface involves more than a simple interaction with heparin. To determine that the contribution of the N-terminal region of gC is important for HSV attachment, we compared several properties of a mutant HSV-1 which contains gC lacking amino acids 33 to 123 to those of its parental virus, which contains full-length gC. The mutant bound less well to cells than the parental virus but exhibited normal growth properties.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Assembly of the herpes simplex virus capsid: requirement for the carboxyl-terminal twenty-five amino acids of the proteins encoded by the UL26 and UL26.5 genes

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) intermediate capsids are composed of seven proteins, VP5, VP19C, VP21, VP22a, VP23, VP24, and VP26, and the genes that encode these proteins, UL19, UL38, UL26, UL26.5, UL18, UL26, and UL35, respectively. The UL26 gene encodes a protease that cleaves itself and the product of the UL26.5 gene at a site (M site) 25 amino acids from the C terminus of these two proteins. In addition, the protease cleaves itself at a second site (R site) between amino acids 247 and 248. Cleavage of the UL26 protein gives rise to the capsid proteins VP21 and VP24, and cleavage of the UL26.5 protein gives rise to the capsid protein VP22a. Previously we described the production of HSV-1 capsids in insect cells by infecting the cells with recombinant baculoviruses expressing the six capsid genes (D. R. Thomsen, L. L. Roof, and F. L. Homa, J. Virol. 68:2442-2457, 1994). Using this system, we demonstrated that the products of the UL26 and/or UL26.5 genes are required as scaffolds for assembly of HSV-1 capsids. To better understand the functions of the UL26 and UL26.5 proteins in capsid assembly, we constructed baculoviruses that expressed altered UL26 and UL26.5 proteins. The ability of the altered UL26 and UL26.5 proteins to support HSV-1 capsid assembly was then tested in insect cells. Among the specific mutations tested were (i) deletion of the C-terminal 25 amino acids from the proteins coded for by the UL26 and UL26.5 genes; (ii) mutation of His-61 of the UL26 protein, an amino acid required for protease activity; and (iii) mutation of the R cleavage site of the UL26 protein. Analysis of the capsids formed with wild-type and mutant proteins supports the following conclusions: (i) the C-terminal 25 amino acids of the UL26 and UL26.5 proteins are required for capsid assembly; (ii) the protease activity associated with the UL26 protein is not required for assembly of morphologically normal capsids; and (iii) the uncleaved forms of the UL26 and UL26.5 proteins are employed in assembly of 125-nm-diameter capsids; cleavage of these proteins occurs during or subsequent to capsid assembly. Finally, we carried out in vitro experiments in which the major capsid protein VP5 was mixed with wild-type or truncated UL26.5 protein and then precipitated with a VP5-specific monoclonal antibody.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Sequential isolation of proteoglycan synthesis mutants by using herpes simplex virus as a selective agent: evidence for a proteoglycan-independent virus entry pathway

A novel mouse L-cell mutant cell line defective in the biosynthesis of glycosaminoglycans was isolated by selection for cells resistant to herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection. These cells, termed sog9, were derived from mutant parental gro2C cells, which are themselves defective in heparan sulfate biosynthesis and 90% resistant to HSV type 1 (HSV-1) infection compared with control L cells (S. Gruenheid, L. Gatzke, H. Meadows, and F. Tufaro, J. Virol. 67:93-100, 1993). In this report, we show that sog9 cells exhibit a 3-order-of-magnitude reduction in susceptibility to HSV-1 compared with control L cells. In steady-state labeling experiments, sog9 cells accumulated almost no [35S]sulfate-labeled or [6-3H]glucosamine-labeled glycosaminoglycans, suggesting that the initiation of glycosaminoglycan assembly was specifically reduced in these cells. Despite these defects, sog9 cells were fully susceptible to vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and permissive for both VSV and HSV replication, assembly, and egress. HSV plaques formed in the sog9 monolayers in proportion to the amount of input virus, suggesting the block to infection was in the virus entry pathway. More importantly, HSV-1 infection of sog9 cells was not significantly reduced by soluble heparan sulfate, indicating that infection was glycosaminoglycan independent. Infection was inhibited by soluble gD-1, however, which suggests that glycoprotein gD plays a role in the infection of this cell line. The block to sog9 cell infection by HSV-1 could be eliminated by adding soluble dextran sulfate to the inoculum, which may act by stabilizing the virus at the sog9 cell surface. Thus, sog9 cells provide direct genetic evidence for a proteoglycan-independent entry pathway for HSV-1, and results with these cells suggest that HSV-1 is a useful reagent for the direct selection of novel animal cell mutants defective in the synthesis of cell surface proteoglycans.

An evaluation of a hemagglutination-inhibition test for the detection of antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 1

BACKGROUND

We have recently demonstrated the ability of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) to agglutinate mouse red blood cells, and identified glycoprotein C (gC-1) as a major virus hemagglutinin. Based on this a classical hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) assay was developed.

OBJECTIVES

Regarding significant structural differences between HSV-1 gC-1 and its herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) counterpart, gC-2, the possibility of application of a classical HI assay for the detection of HSV-1-specific antibodies was explored.

STUDY DESIGN

HI antibody titers were compared with those of gC-1-specific enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA), and with the results of the standard gG-1- and gG-2-specific immunodot enzymatic assays for the detection of type-specific antibodies to HSV-1 and HSV-2 respectively.

RESULTS

The sensitivity of HI test was 89% and 97% of that gC-1-ELISA and gG-1-immunodot respectively. Approximately 21% of serum specimens, defined as containing antibodies specific for only HSV-2, showed low HI titers. Heterotypic reactivity with purified gC-1 antigen was also observed in both ELISA and immunoblot assays.

CONCLUSION

Antibodies detectable in HI assay were mainly HSV-1-specific; however, a limited degree of serologic reactivity between HSV-2-specific sera and HSV-1 hemagglutinin also occurred. Thus, our results confirmed prevalent opinion about the presence of a limited number of antigenic determinants shared by HSV-1 gC-1 and HSV-2 gC-2.

Syncytial mutations in the herpes simplex virus type 1 gK (UL53) gene occur in two distinct domains

Syncytial (syn) mutants of herpes simplex virus cause cell fusion. Many syn mutations map to the syn1 locus, which has been identified with the gK (UL53) gene. In this work, the gK genes of eight syn mutants derived from the KOS strain were sequenced to identify residues and, possibly, domains important for the fusion activity of mutant gK. DNA sequencing showed that six mutants (syn30, syn31, syn32, syn102, syn103, and syn105) had single missense mutations in the gK gene. Two of these, syn31 and syn32, had identical mutations that caused the introduction of a potential site for N-linked glycosylation. syn31 gK was analyzed by in vitro translation and found to utilize the novel glycosylation site. Two other mutants, syn8 and syn33, had three mutations each, resulting in three amino acid substitutions in syn8 and two substitutions in syn33. Of the 10 gK syn mutant sequences known, 8 have mutations in the N-terminal domain of gK, suggesting that this domain, which is likely to be an ectodomain, is important for the function of the protein. The other two mutants, syn30 and syn103, have mutations near the C terminus of gK.

Spontaneous fusions to prv43 can suppress the export defect of pseudorabies virus gIII signal peptide mutants

We have devised an enrichment scheme for the isolation of export-competent derivatives of pseudorabies virus glycoprotein gIII signal peptide mutants. Enrichment is based upon a growth advantage imparted upon gIII-containing virions compared with virions lacking the glycoprotein. Each of identified derivatives suppressed the gIII signal peptide defect by fusing the gIII gene in frame to the prv43 gene that lay immediately upstream; the result was the synthesis of a Prv43-gIII hybrid protein. The deduced Prv43 protein is predicted to span a membrane multiple times, and it appeared that the gIII portion of each hybrid used a hydrophobic domain of Prv43 protein to initiate its export. For at least two of the isolates, the hybrid protein was efficiently translocated across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane but appeared to be poorly exported out of the endoplasmic reticulum. Nonetheless, the prv43-gIII fusions encoded a gIII species that was localized to the virus envelope. Because the gIII portion of each hybrid protein must be exposed on the virion surface to provide a growth advantage, our results also suggest a preliminary membrane topology for wild-type Prv43 protein.

Assembly of herpes simplex virus (HSV) intermediate capsids in insect cells infected with recombinant baculoviruses expressing HSV capsid proteins

The capsid of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is composed of seven proteins, VP5, VP19C, VP21, VP22a, VP23, VP24, and VP26, which are the products of six HSV-1 genes. Recombinant baculoviruses were used to express the six capsid genes (UL18, UL19, UL26, UL26.5, UL35, and UL38) in insect cells. All constructs expressed the appropriate-size HSV proteins, and insect cells infected with a mixture of the six recombinant baculoviruses contained large numbers of HSV-like capsids. Capsids were purified by sucrose gradient centrifugation, and electron microscopy showed that the capsids made in Sf9 cells had the same size and appearance as authentic HSV B capsids. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis demonstrated that the protein composition of these capsids was nearly identical to that of B capsids isolated from HSV-infected Vero cells. Electron microscopy of thin sections clearly demonstrated that the capsids made in insect cells contained the inner electron-translucent core associated with HSV B capsids. In infections in which single capsid genes were left out, it was found that the UL18 (VP23), UL19 (VP5), UL38 (VP19C), and either the UL26 (VP21 and VP24) or the UL26.5 (VP22a) genes were required for assembly of 100-nm capsids. VP22a was shown to form the inner core of the B capsid, since in infections in which the UL26.5 gene was omitted the 100-nm capsids that formed lacked the inner core. The UL35 (VP26) gene was not required for assembly of 100-nm capsids, although assembly of B capsids was more efficient when it was present. These and other observations indicate that (i) the products of the UL18, UL19, UL35, and UL38 genes self-assemble into structures that form the outer surface (icosahedral shell) of the capsid, (ii) the products of the UL26 and/or UL26.5 genes are required (as scaffolds) for assembly of 100-nm capsids, and (iii) the interaction of the outer surface of the capsid with the scaffolding proteins requires the product of the UL18 gene (VP23).

A novel latency-active promoter is contained within the herpes simplex virus type 1 UL flanking repeats

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) expresses a unique series of RNA molecules, the latency-associated transcripts or LATs, during latent infection of neuronal tissues. Previous studies by others have described a TATA box-containing latency-active promoter, referred to here as LAP1, located approximately 700 bp upstream of the 5' end of the major 2.0-kb LAT. In this report, transient gene expression assays were employed to identify a second, novel latency-active promoter (LAP2) present within a region downstream of LAP1 and 5' proximal to the major 2.0-kb LAT. In contrast to LAP1, this promoter lacks a TATA box but possesses cis-acting regulatory elements and other features frequently observed within eukaryotic housekeeping gene promoters. Unlike most other HSV promoters, LAP2 was down-regulated by the viral transcriptional activators ICP4 and ICP0. The majority of LAP2-positive regulatory elements were located within sequences from -257 to -58 relative to the 5' end of the 2.0-kb LAT, and the basal promoter mapped within sequences from -14 to +28. RNase protection experiments demonstrated that chimeric LAT-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase transcripts produced in the transient assays initiated at or near the 5' end of the major 2-kb LAT. Tn5 insertional mutagenesis of the ICP4 regulatory gene determined that down-regulation of LAP2 required the ICP4 transactivating domain and targeted the minimal promoter region as the site of action by ICP4. Replicating recombinant viruses containing a LAP2-lacZ reporter gene cassette in an ectopic site (glycoprotein C locus) were shown to be active in mouse trigeminal ganglia. Taken together, these experiments suggest that the LAT region of the HSV-1 genome contains at least two latency-active promoters which may play different roles in expressing the various LATs. Alternatively, these promoters may comprise a larger promoter-regulatory complex which may influence transcription during latency.

The herpes simplex virus type 1 regulatory protein ICP0 enhances virus replication during acute infection and reactivation from latency

ICP0 is a potent activator of herpes simplex virus type 1 gene expression in transient assays and in productive infection. A role for ICP0 in reactivation from latency in vivo has also been suggested on the basis of the observation that viruses with mutations in both copies of the diploid gene for ICP0 reactivate less efficiently than wild-type virus. Because the ICP0 gene is contained entirely within the coding sequences for the latency-associated transcripts (LATs), ICP0 mutants also contain mutations in LAT coding sequences. This overlap raises the question of whether mutations in ICP0 or the LATs, which have also been implicated in reactivation, are responsible for the reduced reactivation frequencies characteristic of ICP0 mutants. Two approaches were taken to examine more definitively the role of ICP0 in the establishment and reactivation of latency. First, a series of ICP0 nonsense, insertion, and deletion mutant viruses that exhibit graded levels of ICP0-specific transactivating activity were tested for parameters of the establishment and reactivation of latency in a mouse ocular model. Although these mutants are ICP0 LAT double mutants, all nonsense mutants induced the synthesis of near-wild-type levels of the 2-kb LAT, demonstrating that the nonsense linker did not disrupt the synthesis of this LAT species. All mutants replicated less efficiently than the wild-type virus in mouse eyes and ganglia during the acute phase of infection. The replication efficiencies of the mutants at these sites corresponded well with the ICP0 transactivating activities of individual mutant peptides in transient expression assays. All mutants exhibited reduced reactivation frequencies relative to those of wild-type virus, and reactivation frequencies, like replication efficiencies in eyes and ganglia, correlated well with the level of ICP0 transactivating activity exhibited by individual mutant peptides. The amount of DNA of the different mutants varied in latently infected ganglia, as demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction analysis. No correlation was evident between reactivation frequencies and the levels of viral DNA in latently infected ganglia. Thus, replication and reactivation efficiencies of ICP0 mutant viruses correlated well with the transactivating efficiency of the corresponding mutant peptides. In a second approach to examining the role of ICP0 in latency, a single copy of the wild-type gene for ICP0 was inserted into the genome of an ICP0- LAT- double mutant, 7134, which exhibits a marked impairment in its ability to replicate in the mouse eye and reactivate from latency.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)