Role of matrix protein in cytopathogenesis of vesicular stomatitis virus

Virus-mimetic systems for cancer diagnosis and therapy

Over past decades, various strategies have been developed to enhance the delivery efficiency of therapeutics and imaging agents to tumor tissues. However, the therapeutic outcome of tumors to date have not been significantly improved, which can be partly attributed to the weak targeting ability, fast elimination, and low stability of conventional delivery systems. Viruses are the most efficient agents for gene transfer, serving as a valuable source of inspiration for designing nanoparticle-based delivery systems. Based on the properties of viruses, including well-defined geometry, precise composition, easy modification, stable construction, and specific infection, researchers attempt to design biocompatible delivery vectors by mimicking virus assembly and using the vector system to selectively concentrate drugs or imaging probes in tumors with mitigated toxicity and improved efficacy. In this review, we introduce common viruses features and provide an overview of various virus-mimetic strategies for cancer therapy and diagnosis. The challenges faced by virus-mimetic systems are also discussed. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease.

Rhabdoviruses as vectors for vaccines and therapeutics

Appropriate choice of vaccine vector is crucial for effective vaccine development. Rhabdoviral vectors, such as rabies virus and vesicular stomatitis virus, have been used in a variety of vaccine strategies. These viruses have small, easily manipulated genomes that can stably express foreign glycoproteins due to a well-established reverse genetics system for virus recovery. Both viruses have well-described safety profiles and have been demonstrated to be effective vaccine vectors. This review will describe how these Rhabdoviruses can be manipulated for use as vectors, their various applications as vaccines or therapeutics, and the advantages and disadvantages of their use.

A Vesicular Stomatitis Virus-Inspired DNA Nanocomplex for Ovarian Cancer Therapy

Gene therapy provides a novel method for cancer therapy. This study shows a DNA nanocomplex that is inspired from vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) for ovarian cancer therapy. This DNA nanocomplex consists of a cationized monomethoxy poly (ethylene glycol)-poly (d,l-lactide) (MPEG-PLA) nanoparticle and a plasmid encoding the matrix protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSVMP) that plays a critical role in the VSV-induced apoptosis of cancer cells. The cationized MPEG-PLA nanoparticle that is self-assembled by MPEG-PLA copolymer and N -[1-(2,3-dioleoyloxy) propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTAP) has low cytotoxicity and high transfection efficiency (>80%). Intraperitoneal administration of the p VSVMP nanocomplex remarkably inhibits the intraperitoneal metastasis of ovarian cancer and does not cause significant systemic toxicity. The apoptosis induction and anti-angiogenesis are involved in the anticancer mechanism. This work demonstrates a VSV-inspired DNA nanocomplex that has potential application for the treatment of intraperitoneal metastasis of ovarian cancer.

Oncotargeting by Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV): Advances in Cancer Therapy

Modern oncotherapy approaches are based on inducing controlled apoptosis in tumor cells. Although a number of apoptosis-induction approaches are available, site-specific delivery of therapeutic agents still remain the biggest hurdle in achieving the desired cancer treatment benefit. Additionally, systemic treatment-induced toxicity remains a major limiting factor in chemotherapy. To specifically address drug-accessibility and chemotherapy side effects, oncolytic virotherapy (OV) has emerged as a novel cancer treatment alternative. In OV, recombinant viruses with higher replication capacity and stronger lytic properties are being considered for tumor cell-targeting and subsequent cell lysing. Successful application of OVs lies in achieving strict tumor-specific tropism called oncotropism, which is contingent upon the biophysical interactions of tumor cell surface receptors with viral receptors and subsequent replication of oncolytic viruses in cancer cells. In this direction, few viral vector platforms have been developed and some of these have entered pre-clinical/clinical trials. Among these, the Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-based platform shows high promise, as it is not pathogenic to humans. Further, modern molecular biology techniques such as reverse genetics tools have favorably advanced this field by creating efficient recombinant VSVs for OV; some have entered into clinical trials. In this review, we discuss the current status of VSV based oncotherapy, challenges, and future perspectives regarding its therapeutic applications in the cancer treatment.

EIF3i affects vesicular stomatitis virus growth by interacting with matrix protein

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VSV M protein interacts with the i subunit of eIF3.

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The region of M that interacts with eIF3i is located within the 122- to -181 amino acids.

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M–eIF3i interaction affects VSV growth.

The matrix protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) performs multiple functions during viral genome replication and virion production and is involved in modulating multiple host signaling pathways that favor virus replication. To perform numerous functions within infected cells, the M protein needs to recruit cellular partners. To better understand the role of M during VSV replication, we looked for interacting partners by using the two-hybrid system. The eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3, subunit i (eIF3i) was identified to be an M-binding partner, and this interaction was validated by GST pull-down and laser confocal assays. Through a mutagenesis analysis, we found that some mutants of M between amino acids 122 and 181 impaired but did not completely abolish the M–eIF3i interaction. Furthermore, the knockdown of eIF3i by RNA interference decreased viral replication and transcription in the early stages but led to increase in later stages. VSV transcription was increased at 4 h post-infection but was not changed at 8 and 12 h post-infection after the over-expression of eIF3i. Finally, we also demonstrated that VSV could inhibit the activity of Akt1 and that the knockdown of eIF3i inhibited the expression of the ISGs regulated by phospho-Akt1. These results indicated that eIF3i may affect VSV growth by regulating the host antiviral response in HeLa cells.

The vesicular stomatitis virus matrix protein inhibits NF-κB activation in mouse L929 cells

A previous study found that NF-κB activation is delayed in L929 cells infected with wild-type (wt) strains of VSV, while activation occurred earlier in cells infected with mutant strain T1026R1 (R1) that encodes a mutation in the cytotoxic matrix (M) protein. The integrity of the other R1 proteins is unknown; therefore our goal was to identify the viral component responsible for preventing NF-κB activation in L929 cells. We found that the M protein inhibits viral-mediated activation of NF-κB in the context of viral infection and when expressed alone via transfection, and that the M51R mutation in M abrogates this function. Addition of an IκB kinase (IKK) inhibitor blocked NF-κB activation and interferon-β mRNA expression in cells infected with viruses encoding the M51R mutation in M. These results indicate that the VSV M protein inhibits activation of NF-κB by targeting an event upstream of IKK in the canonical pathway.

Towards Gene-Inhibition Therapy: A Review of Progress and Prospects in the Field of Antiviral Antisense Nucleic Acids and Ribozymes

Antisense RNA and its derivatives may provide the basis for highly selective gene inhibition therapies of virus infections. In this review, I concentrate on advances made in the study of antisense RNA and ribozymes during the last five years and their implications for the development of such therapies. It appears that antisense RNAs synthesized at realistic levels within the cell can be much more effective inhibitors than originally supposed. Looking at those experiments that enable comparisons to be made, it seems that inhibitory antisense RNAs are not those that are complementary to particular sites within mRNAs but those that are able to make stable duplexes with their targets, perhaps by virtue of their secondary structure and length. The inclusion of ribozyme sequences within antisense RNAs confers RNA-cleaving activity upon them in vitro and possibly in cells, thereby offering the possibility of markedly increasing their therapeutic potential. The varieties of natural ribozyme and their adaptation as artificial catalysts are reviewed. The implications of these developments for antiviral therapy are discussed.

In Vitro and In Vivo Attenuation of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) by Phosphoprotein Deletion

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is highly immunogenic and able to stimulate both innate and adaptive immune responses. However, its ability to induce adverse effects has held back the use of VSV as a potential vaccine vector. In this study we developed VSV-ΔP, a safe yet potent replication-defective recombinant VSV in which the phosphoprotein (P) gene was deleted. VSV-ΔP replicated only in supporting cells expressing P (BHK-P cells) and at levels more than 2 logs lower than VSV. In vivo studies indicated that the moderate replication of VSV-ΔP in vitro was associated with the attenuation of this virus in the mouse model, whereas mice intracranially injected with VSV succumbed to neurotoxicity. Furthermore, we constructed VSV and VSV-ΔP expressing a variety of antigens including hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) from Newcastle disease virus (NDV), hemagglutinin (HA) from either a 2009 H1N1 pandemic influenza virus (pdm/09) or the avian H7N9. VSV and VSV-ΔP incorporated the foreign antigens on their surface resulting in induction of robust neutralizing antibody, serum IgG, and hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) titers against their corresponding viruses. These results indicated that VSV with P gene deletion was attenuated in vitro and in vivo, and possibly expressed the foreign antigen on its surface. Therefore, the P gene-deletion strategy may offer a potentially useful and safer approach for attenuating negative-sense RNA viruses which use phosphoprotein as a cofactor for viral replication.

Resistance to Rhabdoviridae Infection and Subversion of Antiviral Responses

Interferon (IFN) treatment induces the expression of hundreds of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs). However, only a selection of their products have been demonstrated to be responsible for the inhibition of rhabdovirus replication in cultured cells; and only a few have been shown to play a role in mediating the antiviral response in vivo using gene knockout mouse models. IFNs inhibit rhabdovirus replication at different stages via the induction of a variety of ISGs. This review will discuss how individual ISG products confer resistance to rhabdoviruses by blocking viral entry, degrading single stranded viral RNA, inhibiting viral translation or preventing release of virions from the cell. Furthermore, this review will highlight how these viruses counteract the host IFN system.

Neurovirulence and immunogenicity of attenuated recombinant vesicular stomatitis viruses in nonhuman primates

In previous work, a prototypic recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus Indiana serotype (rVSIV) vector expressing simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) gag and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) env antigens protected nonhuman primates (NHPs) from disease following challenge with an HIV-1/SIV recombinant (SHIV). However, when tested in a stringent NHP neurovirulence (NV) model, this vector was not adequately attenuated for clinical evaluation. For the work described here, the prototypic rVSIV vector was attenuated by combining specific G protein truncations with either N gene translocations or mutations (M33A and M51A) that ablate expression of subgenic M polypeptides, by incorporation of temperature-sensitive mutations in the N and L genes, and by deletion of the VSIV G gene to generate a replicon that is dependent on trans expression of G protein for in vitro propagation. When evaluated in a series of NHP NV studies, these attenuated rVSIV variants caused no clinical disease and demonstrated a very significant reduction in neuropathology compared to wild-type VSIV and the prototypic rVSIV vaccine vector. In spite of greatly increased in vivo attenuation, some of the rVSIV vectors elicited cell-mediated immune responses that were similar in magnitude to those induced by the much more virulent prototypic vector. These data demonstrate novel approaches to the rational attenuation of VSIV NV while retaining vector immunogenicity and have led to identification of an rVSIV N4CT1gag1 vaccine vector that has now successfully completed phase I clinical evaluation.

IMPORTANCE

The work described in this article demonstrates a rational approach to the attenuation of vesicular stomatitis virus neurovirulence. The major attenuation strategy described here will be most likely applicable to other members of the Rhabdoviridae and possibly other families of nonsegmented negative-strand RNA viruses. These studies have also enabled the identification of an attenuated, replication-competent rVSIV vector that has successfully undergone its first clinical evaluation in humans. Therefore, these studies represent a major milestone in the development of attenuated rVSIV, and likely other vesiculoviruses, as a new vaccine platform(s) for use in humans.

Characterization of a Slow-Migrating Component of the Rabies Virus Matrix Protein Strongly Associated with the Viral Glycoprotein

We investigated multiple forms of rabies virus matrix (M) protein. Under non-reducing electrophoretic conditions, we detected, in addition to major bands of monomer forms (23- and 24-kDa) of M protein, an M antigen-positive slow-migrating minor band (about 54 kDa) in both the virion and infected cells. Relative contents of the 54-kDa and monomer components in the virion were about 20-30% and 70-80% of the whole M protein, respectively, while the content of the 54-kDa component was smaller (about 10-20% of the total M protein) in the cell than in the virion. The 54-kDa components could be extracted from the infected cells with sodium deoxycholate, but they were quite resistant to extraction with 1% nonionic detergents by which most monomer components were solubilized. The 54-kDa component was precipitated more efficiently than the monomer by a monoclonal antibody (mAb; #3-9-16), which recognized a linear epitope located at the N-terminal of the M protein. The mAb #3-9-16 coprecipitated the viral glycoprotein (G), which was demonstrated to be due to strong association between the G and 54-kDa component of the M protein. Monomers and the 54-kDa polypeptide migrated to the same isoelectric point (pI) in twodimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis, implicating that the 54-kDa component was composed of component(s) of the same pI as that of the M protein monomers. From these results, we conclude that the M antigen-positive 54-kDa polypeptide is a homodimer of M protein, taking an N-terminal-exposed conformation, and is strongly associated with the viral glycoprotein. Possible association with a membrane microdomain of the cell will be discussed.

Matrix protein of vesicular stomatitis virus: a potent inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor and malignant ascites formation

Malignant ascites is common in various types of cancers and is difficult to manage. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has a pivotal role in malignant ascites. The matrix protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSVMP) has been shown to inhibit host gene expression and induce the apoptosis of cancer cells. The present study was designed to determine whether VSVMP suppresses the formation of ascites in ascites-producing peritoneal carcinomatosis. BALB/c female mice, 6-8 weeks old, bearing peritoneal tumors of H22 or MethA cells received an intraperitoneal administration of 50 μg VSVMP/250 μg liposome complexes, 50 μg empty plasmid/250 μg liposome complexes or 0.9% NaCl solution, respectively, every 2 days for 3 weeks. Administration of VSVMP resulted in a significant inhibition in ascites formation, improvement in health condition and prolonged survival of the treated mice. Decreased peritoneum osmolarity and reduced tumor vascularity coincided with dramatic reductions in the VEGF level in ascites fluid and plasma. Examination of floating tumor cells collected from the peritoneal wash revealed an apparently increased number of apoptotic cells and profound downregulation of VEGF mRNA in the VSVMP-treated mice. Our data indicate for the first time that in BALB/c mice bearing H22 or MethA cell peritoneal tumors, VSVMP may inhibit VEGF production and suppress angiogenesis, consequently abolishing ascites formation.

[Vesicular stomatitis virus in the fight against cancer]

Cancer is a complex disease that affects more and more people around the world. Unfortunately, existing treatments are only partially efficient and often induce major side effects. Thus, the use of viruses to selectively kill cancer cells is a new promising therapeutic approach. Recently, VSV has been used in oncolytic virotherapy because of its capacity to preferentially infect most human tumor cells. However, despite the availability of good oncolytic VSV mutants, the large variability of tumor cell types and the multiple ways in which they can evade viral infection suggests that therapeutic combinations of various viruses will be necessary to efficiently treat most cancers. A better understanding of the infection mechanisms and immune system recruitment by oncolytic viruses will be of great value for the development of safe and efficient strategies for cancer treatment.

Genetically modified VSV(NJ) vector is capable of accommodating a large foreign gene insert and allows high level gene expression

It is desirable to develop a RNA virus vector capable of accommodating large foreign genes for high level gene expression. Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) has been used as a gene expression vector, especially Indiana serotype (VSV(Ind)), but less with New Jersey serotype (VSV(NJ)). Here, we report constructions of genetically modified rVSV(NJ) vector carrying various lengths of human hepatitis C virus (HCV) non-structural (NS) protein genes, level of inserted gene expression and characterization of rVSV(NJ). We modified the M gene of VSV(NJ) by changing methionine to arginine at positions 48 and 51 (rVSV(NJ)-M) (Kim and Kang, 2007) for construction of rVSV(NJ) with various lengths of HCV non-structural genes. The NS polyprotein genes of HCV were inserted between the G and L genes of the rVSV(NJ)-M vector, and recombinant VSV(NJ)-M viruses with HCV gene inserts were recovered by the reverse genetics. The recombinant VSV(NJ)-M vector with the HCV NS genes express high levels of all different forms of the NS proteins. The electron microscopic examination showed that lengths of recombinant VSV(NJ)-M without gene of interests, VSV(NJ)-M with a gene of HCV NS3 and NS4A (VSV(NJ)-M-NS3/4A), VSV(NJ)-M with a gene of HCV NS4AB plus NS5AB (VSV(NJ)-M-NS4AB/5AB), and VSV(NJ)-M carrying a gene of HCV NS3, NS4AB, and NS5AB (VSV(NJ)-M-NS3/4AB/5AB) were 172±10.5 nm, 201±12.5 nm, 226±12.9 nm, and 247±18.2 nm, respectively. The lengths of recombinant VSVs increased approximately 10nm by insertion of 1kb of foreign genes. The diameter of these recombinant viruses also increased slightly by longer HCV gene inserts. Our results showed that the recombinant VSV(NJ)-M vector can accommodate as much as 6000 bases of the foreign gene. We compared the magnitude of the IFN induction in mouse fibroblast L(Y) cells infected with rVSV(NJ) wild type and rVSV(NJ) M mutant viruses and show that the rVSV(NJ) M mutant virus infection induced a higher level of the IFN-β compare to the wild type virus. In addition, we showed that the NS protein expression level in IFN-incompetent cells (Mouse-L) infected with rVSV(NJ)-M viruses was higher than in IFN-competent L(Y) cells. In addition, we confirmed that HCV NS protein genes were expressed and properly processed. We also confirmed that NS3 protein expressed from the rVSV(NJ)-M cleaves NS polyprotein at junctions and that NS4A plays an important role as a co-factor for NS3 protease to cleave at the NS4B/5A site and at the NS5A/5B site.

Cytopathogenesis of vesicular stomatitis virus is regulated by the PSAP motif of M protein in a species-dependent manner

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is an important vector-borne pathogen of bovine and equine species, causing a reportable vesicular disease. The matrix (M) protein of VSV is multifunctional and plays a key role in cytopathogenesis, apoptosis, host protein shut-off, and virion assembly/budding. Our previous findings indicated that mutations of residues flanking the ₃₇PSAP₄₀ motif within the M protein resulted in VSV recombinants having attenuated phenotypes in mice. In this report, we characterize the phenotype of VSV recombinant PS > A4 (which harbors four alanines (AAAA) in place of the PSAP motif without disruption of flanking residues) in both mice, and in Aedes albopictus C6/36 mosquito and Culicoides sonorensis KC cell lines. The PS > A4 recombinant displayed an attenuated phenotype in infected mice as judged by weight loss, mortality, and viral titers measured from lung and brain samples of infected animals. However, unexpectedly, the PS > A4 recombinant displayed a robust cytopathic phenotype in insect C6/36 cells compared to that observed with control viruses. Notably, titers of recombinant PS > A4 were approximately 10-fold greater than those of control viruses in infected C6/36 cells and in KC cells from Culicoides sonorensis, a known VSV vector species. In addition, recombinant PS > A4 induced a 25-fold increase in the level of C3 caspase activity in infected C6/36 cells. These findings indicate that the PSAP motif plays a direct role in regulating cytopathogenicity in a species-dependent manner, and suggest that the intact PSAP motif may be important for maintaining persistence of VSV in an insect host.

The immune response to a vesicular stomatitis virus vaccine vector is independent of particulate antigen secretion and protein turnover rate

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is a highly cytopathic virus being developed as a vaccine vector due to its ability to induce strong protective T cell and antibody responses after a single dose. However, little is known regarding the mechanisms underlying the potent immune responses elicited by VSV. We previously generated a VSV vector expressing the hepatitis B virus middle envelope surface glycoprotein (MS) that induces strong MS-specific T cell and antibody responses in mice. After synthesis in the cytoplasm, the MS protein translocates to the endoplasmic reticulum, where it forms subviral particles that are secreted from the cell. To better understand the contributions of secreted and intracellular protein to the VSV-induced immune response, we produced a vector expressing a secretion-deficient MS mutant (MS(C69A)) and compared the immunogenicity of this vector to that of the wild-type VSV-MS vector in mice. As expected, the MS(C69A) protein was not secreted from VSV-infected cells and displayed enhanced proteasome-mediated degradation. Surprisingly, despite these differences in intracellular protein processing, the T cell and antibody responses generated to MS(C69A) were comparable to those elicited by virus expressing wild-type MS protein. Therefore, when it is expressed from VSV, the immune responses to MS are independent of particulate antigen secretion and the turnover rate of cytoplasmic protein. These results are consistent with a model in which the immune responses to VSV are strongly influenced by the replication cycle of the vector and demonstrate that characteristics of the vector have the capacity to affect vaccine efficacy more than do the properties of the antigen itself.

Potential of vesicular stomatitis virus as an oncolytic therapy for recurrent and drug-resistant ovarian cancer

In the last decade, we have gained significant understanding of the mechanism by which vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) specifically kills cancer cells. Dysregulation of translation and defective innate immunity are both thought to contribute to VSV oncolysis. Safety and efficacy are important objectives to consider in evaluating VSV as a therapy for malignant disease. Ongoing efforts may enable VSV virotherapy to be considered in the near future to treat drug-resistant ovarian cancer when other options have been exhausted. In this article, we review the development of VSV as a potential therapeutic approach for recurrent or drug-resistant ovarian cancer.

Vesicular stomatitis virus matrix protein (VSVMP) inhibits the cell growth and tumor angiogenesis in oral squamous cell carcinoma

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anticancer property of vesicular stomatitis virus matrix protein (VSVMP) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) via in vitro and in vivo approaches. In this study, we found that OSCC cells treated with VSVMP showed retarded cell growth in vitro. The percentage of apoptotic cells in VSVMP group was much higher than that of the control groups. Moreover, our in vivo experiments showed that the growth of tumor xenografts was significantly suppressed by VSVMP treatment without any obvious side effects. Further studies revealed that the suppression of tumor growth may be caused by the synergistic effect of VSVMP related cell apoptosis enhancing and tumor angiogenesis suppression, and the latter is most likely correlated with the suppression of VEGF pathway. This study indicated that VSVMP treatment can effectively inhibited the cell growth and tumor angiogenesis in OSCC without obvious adverse effects. Therefore, VSVMP might be a potential and efficient strategy for OSCC treatment.

Rhabdovirus accessory genes

The Rhabdoviridae is one of the most ecologically diverse families of RNA viruses with members infecting a wide range of organisms including placental mammals, marsupials, birds, reptiles, fish, insects and plants. The availability of complete nucleotide sequences for an increasing number of rhabdoviruses has revealed that their ecological diversity is reflected in the diversity and complexity of their genomes. The five canonical rhabdovirus structural protein genes (N, P, M, G and L) that are shared by all rhabdoviruses are overprinted, overlapped and interspersed with a multitude of novel and diverse accessory genes. Although not essential for replication in cell culture, several of these genes have been shown to have roles associated with pathogenesis and apoptosis in animals, and cell-to-cell movement in plants. Others appear to be secreted or have the characteristics of membrane-anchored glycoproteins or viroporins. However, most encode proteins of unknown function that are unrelated to any other known proteins. Understanding the roles of these accessory genes and the strategies by which rhabdoviruses use them to engage, divert and re-direct cellular processes will not only present opportunities to develop new anti-viral therapies but may also reveal aspects of cellar function that have broader significance in biology, agriculture and medicine.

Dominant inhibition of Akt/protein kinase B signaling by the matrix protein of a negative-strand RNA virus

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is a rhabdovirus that alters host nuclear and cytoplasmic function upon infection. We have investigated the effect of VSV infection on cellular signaling through the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3k)/Akt signaling pathway. Akt phosphorylation at both threonine 308 (Thr308) and serine 473 (Ser473) was inhibited in cells infected with VSV. This inhibition was rapid (beginning within the first 2 to 3 h postinfection) and correlated with the dephosphorylation of downstream effectors of Akt, such as glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). The dephosphorylation of Akt occurred in the presence of growth factor stimulation and was not overcome through constitutive membrane targeting of Akt or high levels of phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-triphosphate (PIP3) accumulation in the membrane. Akt dephosphorylation was not a result of alterations in PDK1 phosphorylation or activity, changes in phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) levels, or the downregulation of PI3k signaling. Inactivation of Akt was caused by the expression of the viral M protein in the absence of other viral components, and an M protein mutant that does not inhibit RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription and nuclear/cytoplasmic transport was also defective in inhibiting Akt phosphorylation. These data illustrate that VSV utilizes a novel mechanism to alter this central player in cell signaling and oncogenesis. It also suggests an inside-out model of signal transduction where VSV interruption of nuclear events has a rapid and significant effect on membrane signaling events.

Efficient inhibition of C-26 colon carcinoma by VSVMP gene delivered by biodegradable cationic nanogel derived from polyethyleneimine

Biodegradable cationic nanoparticles have promising application as a gene delivery system. In this article, heparin-polyethyleneimine (HPEI) nanogels were prepared, and these nanogels were developed as a nonviral gene vector. The transfection efficiency of HPEI nanogels was comparable with that of PEI25K, while the cytotoxicity was lower than that of PEI2K and much lower than that of PEI25K in vitro. These HPEI nanogels also had better blood compatibility than PEI25K. After intravenous administration, HPEI nanogels degraded, and the degradation products were excreted through urine. The plasmid expressing vesicular stomatitis virus matrix protein (pVSVMP) could be efficiently transfected into C-26 colon carcinoma cells by HPEI nanogels in vitro, inhibiting the cell proliferation through apoptosis induction. Intraperitoneal injection of pVSVMP/HPEI complexes efficiently inhibited the abdominal metastases of C-26 colon carcinoma through apoptosis induction (mean tumor weight in mice treated with pVSVMP/HPEI complex = 0.93 g and in control mice = 3.28 g, difference = 2.35 g, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.75-2.95 g, P < 0.001) and prolonged the survival of treated mice. Moreover, intravenous application of pVSVMP/HPEI complexes also inhibited the growth of pulmonary metastases of C-26 colon carcinoma through apoptosis induction. The HPEI nanogels delivering pVSVMP have promising application in treating colon carcinoma.

A spatio-temporal analysis of matrix protein and nucleocapsid trafficking during vesicular stomatitis virus uncoating

To study VSV entry and the fate of incoming matrix (M) protein during virus uncoating we used recombinant viruses encoding M proteins with a C-terminal tetracysteine tag that could be fluorescently labeled using biarsenical (Lumio) compounds. We found that uncoating occurs early in the endocytic pathway and is inhibited by expression of dominant-negative (DN) Rab5, but is not inhibited by DN-Rab7 or DN-Rab11. Uncoating, as defined by the separation of nucleocapsids from M protein, occurred between 15 and 20 minutes post-entry and did not require microtubules or an intact actin cytoskeleton. Unexpectedly, the bulk of M protein remained associated with endosomal membranes after uncoating and was eventually trafficked to recycling endosomes. Another small, but significant fraction of M distributed to nuclear pore complexes, which was also not dependent on microtubules or polymerized actin. Quantification of fluorescence from high-resolution confocal micrographs indicated that after membrane fusion, M protein diffuses across the endosomal membrane with a concomitant increase in fluorescence from the Lumio label which occurred soon after the release of RNPs into the cytoplasm. These data support a new model for VSV uncoating in which RNPs are released from M which remains bound to the endosomal membrane rather than the dissociation of M protein from RNPs after release of the complex into the cytoplasm following membrane fusion.

Rhabdovirus evasion of the interferon system

The family Rhabdoviridae contains important pathogens of humans, livestock, and crops, including the insect-transmitted vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and the neurotropic rabies virus (RV), which is directly transmitted between mammals. In spite of a highly similar organization of RNA genomes, proteins, and virus particles, cell biology of VSV and RV is divergent in several aspects, particularly with respect to their interplay with the cellular host defense. While infection with both rhabdoviruses is recognized via viral triphosphate RNAs by the cytoplasmic RNA helicase/translocase RIG-I, the viral counteractions to limit the response are contrasting. VSV infection is characterized by a rapid general shutdown of host gene expression and severe cytopathic effects, due to multiple activities of the matrix (M) protein affecting host polymerase functions and mRNA nuclear export, and by rapid and high-level virus replication. In contrast, RV spread and transmission relies on preserving the integrity of host cells, particularly of neurons. While a general cell shutdown by RV M is not observed, RV phosphoprotein (P) has developed independent functions to interfere with activation of IRFs and with STAT signaling. The molecular mechanisms employed are different from those of the paramyxovirus P gene products serving similar functions, and illustrate evolution of IFN antagonists to specifically support virus survival in the natural niches.

A confocal and electron microscopic comparison of interferon beta-induced changes in vesicular stomatitis virus infection of neuroblastoma and nonneuronal cells

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) replication is highly sensitive to interferon (IFN)-induced antiviral responses. Pretreatment of sensitive cultured cells with IFNbeta results in a 10(4)-fold reduction in the release of infectious VSV particles. However, differences exist between the mechanisms of reduced infectious particle titers in cell lines of neuroblastoma and nonneuronal lineage. In L929-fibroblast-derived cells, using immunofluorescence confocal microscopy, infection under control conditions reveals the accumulation of VSV matrix, phosphoprotein (P), and nucleocapsid (N) proteins over time, with induced cellular morphological changes indicative of cytopathic effects (CPEs). Upon observing L929 cells that had been pretreated with IFNbeta, neither detectable VSV proteins nor CPEs were seen, consistent with type I IFN antiviral protection. When using the same techniques to observe VSV infections of NB41A3 cells, a neuroblastoma cell line, aside from similar viral progression in the untreated control cells, IFNbeta-treated cells illustrated a severely attenuated VSV infection. Attenuated VSV progression was observed through detection of VSV matrix, P, and N proteins in isolated cells during the first 8 h of infection. However, by 18-24 h postinfection all neuroblastomas had succumbed to the viral infection. Finally, upon closer inspection of IFNbeta-treated NB41A3 cells, no detectable changes in VSV protein localization were identified compared with untreated, virally infected neuroblastomas. Next, to extend our study to test our hypothesis that virion assembly is compromised within type I IFN-treated neuroblastoma cells, we employed electron microscopy to examine our experimental conditions at the ultrastructural level. Using VSV-specific antibodies in conjunction with immuno-gold reagents, we observed several similarities between the two cell lines, such as identification of viroplasmic regions containing VSV N and P proteins and signs of stress-induced CPEs of VSV-infected cells, which had either been mock-treated or pretreated with interferon-beta (IFNbeta). One difference we observed between nonneuronal and neuroblastoma cells was more numerous actively budding VSV virions across untreated L929 plasma membranes compared with untreated NB41A3 cells. Additionally, IFNbeta-treated, VSV-infected L929 cells exhibited neither cytoplasmic viroplasm nor viral protein expression. In contrast, IFNbeta-treated, VSV-infected NB41A3 cells showed evidence of VSV infection at a very low frequency as well as small-scale viroplasmic regions that colocalized with viral N and P proteins. Finally, we observed that VSV viral particles harvested from untreated VSV-infected L929 and NB41A3 cells were statistically similar in size and shape. A portion of VSV virions from IFNbeta-treated, virally infected NB41A3 cells were similar in size and shape to virus from both untreated cell types. However, among the sampling of virions, pleomorphic viral particles that were identified from IFNbeta-treated, VSV-infected NB41A3 cells were different enough to suggest a misassembly mechanism as part of the IFNbeta antiviral state in neuroblastoma cells.

Interferon response and viral evasion by members of the family rhabdoviridae

Like many animal viruses, those of the Rhabdoviridae family, are able to antagonize the type I interferon response and cause disease in mammalian hosts. Though these negative-stranded RNA viruses are very simple and code for as few as five proteins, they have been seen to completely abrogate the type I interferon response early in infection. In this review, we will discuss the viral organization and type I interferon evasion of rhabdoviruses, focusing on vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and rabies virus (RABV). Despite their structural similarities, VSV and RABV have completely different mechanisms by which they avert the host immune response. VSV relies on the matrix protein to interfere with host gene transcription and nuclear export of anti-viral mRNAs. Alternatively, RABV uses its phosphoprotein to interfere with IRF-3 phosphorylation and STAT1 signaling. Understanding the virus-cell interactions and viral proteins necessary to evade the immune response is important in developing effective vaccines and therapeutics for this viral family.

Peptides that mimic the amino-terminal end of the rabies virus phosphoprotein have antiviral activity

We wanted to develop a therapeutic approach against rabies disease by targeting the lyssavirus transcription/replication complex. Because this complex (nucleoprotein N-RNA template processed by the L polymerase and its cofactor, the phosphoprotein P) is similar to that of other negative-strand RNA viruses, we aimed to design broad-spectrum antiviral drugs that could be used as a complement to postexposure vaccination and immunotherapy. Recent progress in understanding the structure/function of the rabies virus P, N, and L proteins predicts that the amino-terminal end of P is an excellent target for destabilizing the replication complex because it interacts with both L (for positioning onto the N-RNA template) and N (for keeping N soluble, as needed for viral RNA encapsidation). Thus, peptides mimicking various lengths of the amino-terminal end of P have been evaluated, as follows: (i) for binding properties to the N-P-L partners by the two-hybrid method; (ii) for their capacity to inhibit the transcription/replication of a rabies virus minigenome encoding luciferase in BHK-21-T7 cells; and (iii) for their capacity to inhibit rabies virus infection of BHK-21-T7 cells and of two derivatives of the neuronal SK-N-SH cell line. Peptides P60 and P57 (the first 60 and first 57 NH2 residues of P, respectively) exhibited a rapid, strong, and long-lasting inhibitory potential on luciferase expression (>95% from 24 h to 55 h). P42 was less efficient in its inhibition level (75% for 18 to 30 h) and duration (40% after 48 h). The most promising peptides were synthesized in tandem with the Tat sequence, allowing cell penetration. Their inhibitory effects were observed on BHK-21-T7 cells infected with rabies virus and Lagos bat virus but not with vesicular stomatitis virus. In neuronal cells, a significant inhibition of both nucleocapsid inclusions and rabies virus release was observed.

Expression and processing of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp160 using the vesicular stomatitis virus New Jersey serotype vector system

The Indiana serotype of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSVIND), but not the New Jersey serotype (VSVNJ), has been widely used as a gene expression vector. In terms of prime–boost-based vaccine strategies, it would be desirable to use two different VSV serotypes to avoid immunity against the priming viral vector. Here, we report that we have applied the VSVNJ vector system for expression of the env gene of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The HIV-1 env gene was inserted into the VSVNJ vector system at two different sites: between the P and M genes (NP-gp160-MGL) and between the G and L genes (NPMG-gp160-L). The HIV-1 env gene product, gp160, was efficiently expressed and processed in cells infected with either of these two recombinant VSV–HIV-1gp160 viruses. In this study, we have investigated the applicability of the VSVNJ vector system for foreign gene expression.

VSV virotherapy improves chemotherapy by triggering apoptosis due to proteasomal degradation of Mcl-1

Overexpression of myeloid cell leukemia 1 protein (Mcl-1), an anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family member, contributes to chemotherapy resistance of tumors. The short half-life of Mcl-1 makes it an interesting target for therapeutic agents that negatively interfere with cellular protein biosynthesis, such as oncolytic viruses. Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) has been established as the oncolytic virus that efficiently disrupts de novo protein biosynthesis of infected cells. Here, we show that after VSV infection, Mcl-1 protein levels rapidly declined, whereas the expression of other members of the Bcl-2 family remained unchanged. Mcl-1 elimination was a consequence of proteasomal degradation, as overexpression of a degradation-resistant Mcl-1 mutant restored Mcl-1 levels. Mcl-1 rescue inhibited apoptosis and thereby confirmed that Mcl-1 downregulation contributes to VSV-induced apoptosis. In vitro, VSV virotherapy in combination with chemotherapy revealed an enhanced therapeutic effect compared with the single treatments, which could be reverted by Mcl-1 rescue or RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knockdown of pro-apoptotic Bax and Bak proteins. Finally, in a tumor mouse model, combinations of doxorubicin and VSV showed a superior therapeutic efficacy compared with VSV or doxorubicin alone. In summary, our data indicate that VSV virotherapy is an attractive strategy to overcome tumor resistance against conventional chemotherapy by elimination of Mcl-1.

Biarsenical labeling of vesicular stomatitis virus encoding tetracysteine-tagged m protein allows dynamic imaging of m protein and virus uncoating in infected cells

A recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV-PeGFP-M-MmRFP) encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein fused in frame with P (PeGFP) in place of P and a fusion matrix protein (monomeric red fluorescent protein fused in frame at the carboxy terminus of M [MmRFP]) at the G-L gene junction, in addition to wild-type (wt) M protein in its normal location, was recovered, but the MmRFP was not incorporated into the virions. Subsequently, we generated recombinant viruses (VSV-PeGFP-DeltaM-Mtc and VSV-DeltaM-Mtc) encoding M protein with a carboxy-terminal tetracysteine tag (Mtc) in place of the M protein. These recombinant viruses incorporated Mtc at levels similar to M in wt VSV, demonstrating recovery of infectious rhabdoviruses encoding and incorporating a tagged M protein. Virions released from cells infected with VSV-PeGFP-DeltaM-Mtc and labeled with the biarsenical red dye (ReAsH) were dually fluorescent, fluorescing green due to incorporation of PeGFP in the nucleocapsids and red due to incorporation of ReAsH-labeled Mtc in the viral envelope. Transport and subsequent association of M protein with the plasma membrane were shown to be independent of microtubules. Sequential labeling of VSV-DeltaM-Mtc-infected cells with the biarsenical dyes ReAsH and FlAsH (green) revealed that newly synthesized M protein reaches the plasma membrane in less than 30 min and continues to accumulate there for up to 2 1/2 hours. Using dually fluorescent VSV, we determined that following adsorption at the plasma membrane, the time taken by one-half of the virus particles to enter cells and to uncoat their nucleocapsids in the cytoplasm is approximately 28 min.

Growth of an RNA virus in single cells reveals a broad fitness distribution

Genetic and environmental factors will influence the growth of an RNA virus, but their relative contributions are challenging to resolve because standard culture methods mask how virus particles interact with individual host cells. Here, single particles of vesicular stomatitis virus, a prototype RNA virus, were used to infect individual BHK cells. Infected cells produced 50 to 8000 progeny virus particles, but these differences were lost upon subsequent culture, suggesting the diversity of yields reflected cell-to-cell differences rather than viral genetic variation. Cells infected at different phases of their cell cycle produced from 1400 (early S) to 8700 (G₂M) infectious virus particles, coinciding with the middle-to-upper range of the observed distribution. Fluctuations in virus and cell compositions and noisy gene expression may also contribute to the broad distribution of virus yields. These findings take a step toward quantifying how environmental variation can impact the fitness distribution of an RNA virus.

Vesicular stomatitis virus: re-inventing the bullet

As our understanding of the molecular aspects of human disease increases, it is becoming possible to create designer therapeutics that are exquisitely targeted and have greater efficacy and fewer side effects. One class of targeted biological agents that has benefited from recent advances in molecular biology is designer viruses. Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is normally relatively innocuous but can be engineered to target cancer cells or to stimulate immunity against diseases such as AIDS or influenza. Strains of VSV that induce or direct the production of interferon are superior to wild-type strains of the virus for inducing oncolysis. These strains might also make better vaccine vectors. In this review, some of the features that make VSV an excellent platform for the development of a range of viral therapeutics are discussed.

Genomic characterisation of Wongabel virus reveals novel genes within the Rhabdoviridae

Viruses belonging to the family Rhabdoviridae infect a variety of different hosts, including insects, vertebrates and plants. Currently, there are approximately 200 ICTV-recognised rhabdoviruses isolated around the world. However, the majority remain poorly characterised and only a fraction have been definitively assigned to genera. The genomic and transcriptional complexity displayed by several of the characterised rhabdoviruses indicates large diversity and complexity within this family. To enable an improved taxonomic understanding of this family, it is necessary to gain further information about the poorly characterised members of this family. Here we present the complete genome sequence and predicted transcription strategy of Wongabel virus (WONV), a previously uncharacterised rhabdovirus isolated from biting midges (Culicoides austropalpalis) collected in northern Queensland, Australia. The 13,196 nucleotide genome of WONV encodes five typical rhabdovirus genes N, P, M, G and L. In addition, the WONV genome contains three genes located between the P and M genes (U1, U2, U3) and two open reading frames overlapping with the N and G genes (U4, U5). These five additional genes and their putative protein products appear to be novel, and their functions are unknown. Predictive analysis of the U5 gene product revealed characteristics typical of viroporins, and indicated structural similarities with the alpha-1 protein (putative viroporin) of viruses in the genus Ephemerovirus. Phylogenetic analyses of the N and G proteins of WONV indicated closest similarity with the avian-associated Flanders virus; however, the genomes of these two viruses are significantly diverged. WONV displays a novel and unique genome structure that has not previously been described for any animal rhabdovirus.

Efficient inhibition of intraperitoneal human ovarian cancer growth and prolonged survival by gene transfer of vesicular stomatitis virus matrix protein in nude mice

OBJECTIVE

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) matrix protein (MP) has been reported to be capable of inducing apoptosis in vitro in the absence of other viral components. In the present study, the antitumor effect of a recombinant plasmid encoding VSVMP on human ovarian cancer and its apoptosis-inducing efficacy in vivo were further investigated.

METHODS

The recombinant plasmid DNA carrying VSVMP-cDNA (VSVMP-p) was constructed. SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells were transfected with VSVMP-p and examined for apoptosis by Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometric analysis. For in vivo study, intraperitoneal ovarian carcinomatosis models in nude mice were established and randomly assigned into four groups to receive six twice-weekly i.p. administrations of VSVMP-p/liposome complexes, empty plasmid/liposome complexes, liposome alone or 0.9% NaCl solution, respectively. The weight of intraperitoneal carcinomatosis and the survival were monitored. Tumor tissues were inspected for apoptosis by TUNEL and Hoechst-33258 assay.

RESULTS

Plentiful apoptosis were observed in SKOV3 cells transfected with VSVMP-p. VSVMP-p reduced intraperitoneal tumor weight by about approximately 90% compared with control agents (p<0.01) and significantly prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice (p<0.05), with in vivo apoptosis index of 12.6+/-2.7% which was much higher than that of control groups (<4%) (p<0.05). Interestingly, this antitumor effect was accompanied by a noticeable NK cell accumulation. The treatment with VSVMP-p was devoid of any conspicuous toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

These observations suggest that VSVMP-p have strong antitumor effects by inducing apoptosis and possibly NK cell-mediated tumor resistance mechanisms, and it may be a potentially effective novel therapy against human ovarian cancer.

Matrix protein of Vesicular stomatitis virus harbours a cryptic mitochondrial-targeting motif

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is a rhabdovirus that has attracted attention of late as an oncolytic virus and as a vaccine vector. Mutations in the matrix (M) gene of VSV yield attenuated strains that may be very useful in both settings. As a result of this interest in the M protein, this study analysed various M-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion constructs. Remarkably, fusion of the N terminus of the M protein to GFP targeted the fluorescent protein to the surface of mitochondria. Mutational analysis indicated that a mitochondrial-targeting motif exists within aa 33-67. Expression of these fusion proteins led to loss of mitochondrial membrane permeability and to an alteration in mitochondrial organization mirroring that seen during viral infection. In addition, a portion of the M protein present in infected cells co-purified with mitochondria. This work may indicate a novel function for this multifunctional viral protein.

Matrix protein of VSV New Jersey serotype containing methionine to arginine substitutions at positions 48 and 51 allows near-normal host cell gene expression

The matrix (M) protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) plays significant roles in the replication of VSV through its involvement in the assembly of virus particles as well as by facilitating the evasion of innate host cell defense mechanisms. The presence of methionine at position 51 (M51) of the matrix (M) protein of the VSV Indiana serotype (VSV(Ind)) has been proven to be crucial for cell rounding and inhibition of host cell gene expression. The M protein of VSV(Ind) with the substitution of M51 with arginine (R:M51R) results in the loss of inhibitory effects on host cell gene expression. The VSV(Ind) expressing the M(M51R) protein became the attractive oncolytic virus which is safer and more tumor-specific because the normal cells can clear the mutant VSV(Ind) easily but tumor cells are susceptible to the virus because a variety of tumor cells lack innate antiviral activities. We have studied the role of the methionines at positions 48 and 51 of the M protein of the New Jersey serotype of VSV (VSV(NJ)) in the induction of cytopathic effects (CPE) and host cell gene expression. We have generated human embryonic kidney 293 cell lines inducibly expressing M proteins with M to R mutations at positions 48 and 51, either separately or together as a double mutant, and examined expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) as an indicator of host cell gene expression. We have also generated recombinant VSV(NJ) encoding the mutant M proteins M(M48R) or M(M48R+M51R) for the first time and tested for the expression of HSP70 in infected cells. Our results demonstrated that the M51 of VSV(NJ) M proteins has a major role in cell rounding and in suppressing the host cell gene expression either when the M protein was expressed alone in inducible cell lines or when expressed together with other VSV proteins by the recombinant VSV(NJ). Amino acid residue M48 may also have some role in cell rounding and in the inhibitory effects of VSV(NJ) M, which was demonstrated by the fact that the cell line expressing the double substitution mutant M(M48R+M51R) exhibited the least cytopathic effects and the least inhibitory effect on host cell gene expression.

Immunogenicity of cytopathic and noncytopathic viral vectors

The impact of cytolytic versus noncytolytic viral infections on host responses is not well understood, due to limitations of the systems that have been used to address this issue. Using paired cytopathic and noncytopathic rabies viruses that differ by only two amino acids, we investigated several fundamental aspects of the immune response to these viral vectors. Greater cytopathic capacity translated into a greater degree of cross-priming to CD8(+) T cells (T(CD8)(+)) and more-robust short-term humoral and cellular responses. However, long-term responses to the two viruses were similar, suggesting that direct priming drives the bulk of the T(CD8)(+) antirabies response and that enhanced acute responses associated with greater virally mediated cellular destruction were balanced by other factors, such as prolonged antigen expression associated with noncytopathic virus. Such compensatory mechanisms may be in place to ensure comparable immunologic memories to various pathogens.

Rhabdovirus assembly and budding

Rhabdoviruses are a diverse, widely-distributed group of enveloped viruses that assemble and bud from the plasma membrane of host cells. Recent advances in the identification of domains on both the envelope glycoprotein and the matrix protein of rhabdoviruses that contribute to virus assembly and release have allowed us to refine current models of rhabdovirus budding and to describe in better detail the interplay between both viral and cellular components involved in the budding process. In this review we discuss the steps involved in rhabdovirus assembly beginning with genome encapsidation and the association of nucleocapsid-matrix protein pre-assembly complexes with the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane, how condensation of these complexes may occur, how microdomains containing the envelope glycoprotein facilitate bud site formation, and how multiple forms of the matrix protein may participate in virion extrusion and release.

Phosphorylation of vesicular stomatitis virus phosphoprotein P is indispensable for virus growth

The phosphoprotein (P) of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is an essential subunit of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) complex. It is phosphorylated at two different domains. Using defective interfering (DI) RNA or minigenomic RNA templates, we previously demonstrated that phosphorylation within the amino-terminal domain I is essential for transcription, whereas phosphorylation within the carboxy-terminal domain II is necessary for replication. For the present study, we examined the role of the phosphorylation of residues in these domains in the life cycle of VSV. Various mutant P coding sequences were inserted into a full-length cDNA clone of VSV, and the virus recovery, kinetics of growth, and mRNA and protein synthesis were examined. We observed that virus recovery was completely abolished when all three phosphate acceptor sites in domain I or both sites in domain II were replaced with alanine. Single or double mutations in domain I (with the exception of P60/64) or single mutations in domain II had no adverse effect on virus recovery. VSVP227, carrying alanine at position 227, showed reduced kinetics of virus growth but increased kinetics of viral mRNA synthesis in infected cells. More interestingly, this particular virus exhibited a significantly reduced cytopathic effects and apoptosis in infected cells, implying that P may be involved in these processes. Furthermore, we found that DI RNAs of different sizes were generated by high-multiplicity passaging of various mutant VSVs, indicating that the viral RdRp may play a significant role in the process of DI particle generation. Taken together, our results suggest that the phosphorylation of residues in domains I and II of VSV P is indispensable for virus growth.

Structural studies on the Ebola virus matrix protein VP40 indicate that matrix proteins of enveloped RNA viruses are analogues but not homologues

Matrix proteins are the driving force of assembly of enveloped viruses. Their main function is to interact with and polymerize at cellular membranes and link other viral components to the matrix–membrane complex resulting in individual particle shapes and ensuring the integrity of the viral particle. Although matrix proteins of different virus families show functional analogy, they share no sequence or structural homology. Their diversity is also evident in that they use a variety of late domain motifs to commit the cellular vacuolar protein sorting machinery to virus budding. Here, we discuss the structural and functional aspects of the filovirus matrix protein VP40 and compare them to other known matrix protein structures from vesicular stomatitis virus, influenza virus and retroviral matrix proteins.

Density-dependent selection in vesicular stomatitis virus

We used vesicular stomatitis virus to test the effect of complementation on the relative fitness of a deleterious mutant, monoclonal antibody-resistant mutant (MARM) N, in competition with its wild-type ancestor. We carried out competitions of MARM N and wild-type populations at different multiplicities of infection (MOIs) and initial ratios of the wild type to the mutant and found that the fitness of MARM N relative to that of the wild type is very sensitive to changes in the MOI (i.e., the degree of complementation) but depends little, if at all, on the initial frequencies of MARM N and the wild type. Further, we developed a mathematical model under the assumption that during coinfection both viruses contribute to a common pool of protein products in the infected cell and that they both exploit this common pool equally. Under such conditions, the fitness of all virions that coinfect a cell is the average fitness in the absence of coinfection of that group of virions. In the absence of coinfection, complementation cannot take place and the relative fitness of each competitor is only determined by the selective value of its own products. We found good agreement between our experimental results and the model predictions, which suggests that the wild type and MARM N freely share all of their gene products under coinfection.

Structural studies on the Ebola virus matrix protein VP40 indicate that matrix proteins of enveloped RNA viruses are analogues but not homologues

Matrix proteins are the driving force of assembly of enveloped viruses. Their main function is to interact with and polymerize at cellular membranes and link other viral components to the matrix-membrane complex resulting in individual particle shapes and ensuring the integrity of the viral particle. Although matrix proteins of different virus families show functional analogy, they share no sequence or structural homology, Their diversity is also evident in that they use a variety of late domain motifs to commit the cellular vacuolar protein sorting machinery to virus budding. Here, we discuss the structural and functional aspects of teh filovirus matrix protein VP40 and compare them to other known matrix protein structures from vesicular stomatitis virus adn retroviral matrix protein.

Glycoprotein of nonpathogenic rabies viruses is a key determinant of human cell apoptosis

We showed that, unlike pathogenic rabies virus (RV) strain CVS, attenuated RV strain ERA triggers the caspase-dependent apoptosis of human cells. Furthermore, we observed that the induction of apoptosis is correlated with a particular virus antigen distribution: the overexpression of the viral G protein on the cell surface, with continuous localization on the cytoplasmic membrane, and large cytoplasmic inclusions of the N protein. To determine whether one of these two major RV proteins (G and N proteins) triggers apoptosis, we constructed transgenic Jurkat T-cell lines that drive tetracycline-inducible gene expression to produce the G and N proteins of ERA and CVS individually. The induction of ERA G protein (G-ERA) expression but not of ERA N protein expression resulted in apoptosis, and G-ERA was more efficient at triggering apoptosis than was CVS G protein. To test whether other viral proteins participated in the induction of apoptosis, human cells were infected with recombinant RV in which the G protein gene from the attenuated strain had been replaced by its virulent strain counterpart (CVS). Only RV containing the G protein from the nonpathogenic RV strain was able to trigger the apoptosis of human cells. Thus, the ability of RV strains to induce apoptosis is largely determined by the viral G protein.

VSV strains with defects in their ability to shutdown innate immunity are potent systemic anti-cancer agents

Ideally, an oncolytic virus will replicate preferentially in malignant cells, have the ability to treat disseminated metastases, and ultimately be cleared by the patient. Here we present evidence that the attenuated vesicular stomatitis strains, AV1 and AV2, embody all of these traits. We uncover the mechanism by which these mutants are selectively attenuated in interferon-responsive cells while remaining highly lytic in 80% of human tumor cell lines tested. AV1 and AV2 were tested in a xenograft model of human ovarian cancer and in an immune competent mouse model of metastatic colon cancer. While highly attenuated for growth in normal mice, both AV1 and AV2 effected complete and durable cures in the majority of treated animals when delivered systemically.

Inhibition of nucleo-cytoplasmic trafficking by RNA viruses: targeting the nuclear pore complex

Analysis of virus-host interactions has revealed a variety of ways in which viruses utilize and/or alter host functions in an effort to facilitate efficient replication. Recent work has suggested that certain RNA viruses that replicate in the cytoplasm disrupt the normal trafficking of cellular RNAs and proteins within the host cell. This review will examine the recent evidence showing that poliovirus and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) can inhibit nucleo-cytoplasmic transport within cells. Interestingly, the data indicate that inhibition by both viruses involves targeting components of the nuclear pore complex (NPC). Following this, several possible explanations for why viruses might disrupt nucleo-cytoplasmic transport are discussed. Finally, the possibility that disruption of nucleo-cytoplasmic trafficking may be a more common feature of RNA virus-host interactions than previously thought is examined.

Rhabdoviruses and apoptosis

Viral-induced apoptosis is recognized as a common method utilized by viruses to overcome the host. Recent evidence indicates that infection by rhabdoviruses such as vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV), and rabies virus results in apoptotic cell death. Similar morphological changes and host cell proteins are induced in cells infected with these different viruses; however, the viral proteins responsible for these changes vary. In addition, the molecular mechanism(s) utilized by these viruses to induce apoptosis are on the brink of discovery. This article serves to summarize our current understanding of the apoptotic process during rhabdovirus infection and to illustrate forthcoming areas of study in the field

ISG20, a new interferon-induced RNase specific for single-stranded RNA, defines an alternative antiviral pathway against RNA genomic viruses

Interferons (IFNs) encode a family of secreted proteins that provide the front-line defense against viral infections. Their diverse biological actions are thought to be mediated by the products of specific but usually overlapping sets of cellular genes induced in the target cells. We have recently isolated a new human IFN-induced gene that we have termed ISG20, which codes for a 3' to 5' exonuclease with specificity for single-stranded RNA and, to a lesser extent, for DNA. In this report, we demonstrate that ISG20 is involved in the antiviral functions of IFN. In the absence of IFN treatment, ISG20-overexpressing HeLa cells showed resistance to infections by vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), influenza virus, and encephalomyocarditis virus (three RNA genomic viruses) but not to the DNA genomic adenovirus. ISG20 specifically interfered with VSV mRNA synthesis and protein production while leaving the expression of cellular control genes unaffected. No antiviral effect was observed in cells overexpressing a mutated ISG20 protein defective in exonuclease activity, demonstrating that the antiviral effects were due to the exonuclease activity of ISG20. In addition, the inactive mutant ISG20 protein, which is able to inhibit ISG20 exonuclease activity in vitro, significantly reduced the ability of IFN to block VSV development. Taken together, these data suggested that the antiviral activity of IFN against VSV is partly mediated by ISG20. We thus show that, besides RNase L, ISG20 has an antiviral activity, supporting the idea that it might represent a novel antiviral pathway in the mechanism of IFN action.