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Falkenhagen A, Panajotov J, Johne R. Colon-derived Caco-2 cells support replication of hepatitis E virus genotype 1 strain Sar55 generated by reverse genetics. Virus Res 2024; 347:199427. [PMID: 38917940 PMCID: PMC11261143 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is infecting over 20 million people annually with a high morbidity especially in pregnant women and immune-suppressed individuals. While HEV genotype 1 (HEV-1) infects only humans, genotype 3 (HEV-3) is zoonotic and commonly transmitted from infected animals to humans. Whereas a few reverse genetics systems enabling targeted genome manipulations exist for HEV-3, those for HEV-1 are still very limited, mainly because of inefficient cell culture replication. Here, the generation of HEV-1 strain Sar55 and HEV-3 strain 47832mc by transfecting in vitro-transcribed and capped virus genomes into different cell lines was attempted. Culture supernatants of colon-derived colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line Caco-2 contained HEV-1 and HEV-3 capable of infecting Caco-2 cells. Density gradient centrifugation analyses of culture supernatants confirmed that HEV-1 particles were quasi-enveloped in analogy to HEV-3 and that non-virion-associated capsid protein was secreted from cells. Following transfection or infection of Caco-2 cells, HEV-1 consistently reached higher titers than HEV-3 in culture supernatants, but HEV-1 generated by transfection of Caco-2 cells was unable to efficiently infect hepatoma cell lines PLC/PRF/5 or HuH7-Lunet BLR. Taken together, our results indicate that HEV-1 is able to exert a complete replication cycle in Caco-2 cells. An efficient cell culture system for this genotype will be useful for studying species tropism, but further research is required to determine the significance of HEV-1 replication in colon-derived cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Falkenhagen
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Jessica Panajotov
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - Reimar Johne
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany
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2
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Song J, Hong J, Yang C, Zhang Y, Li Z, He P, Ding Q. Recapitulation of the Powassan virus life cycle in cell culture. mBio 2024; 15:e0346823. [PMID: 38411112 PMCID: PMC11005349 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03468-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Powassan virus (POWV) is a tick-borne flavivirus known for causing fatal neuroinvasive diseases in humans. Recently, there has been a noticeable increase in POWV infections, emphasizing the urgency of understanding viral replication, pathogenesis, and developing interventions. Notably, there are no approved vaccines or therapeutics for POWV, and its classification as a biosafety level-3 (BSL-3) agent hampers research. To overcome these obstacles, we developed a replicon system, a self-replicating RNA lacking structural proteins, making it safe to operate in a BSL-2 environment. We constructed a POWV replicon carrying the Gaussia luciferase (Gluc) reporter gene and blasticidin (BSD) selectable marker. Continuous BSD selection led to obtain a stable POWV replicon-carrying Huh7 cell lines. We identified cell culture adaptive mutations G4079A, G4944T and G6256A, resulting in NS2AR195K, NS3G122G, and NS3V560M, enhancing RNA replication. We demonstrated the utility of the POWV replicon system for high-throughput screening (HTS) assay to identify promising antivirals against POWV replication. We further explored the applications of the POWV replicon system, generating single-round infectious particles (SRIPs) by transfecting Huh7-POWV replicon cells with plasmids encoding viral capsid (C), premembrane (prM), and envelope (E) proteins, and revealed the distinct antigenic profiles of POWV with ZIKV. In summary, the POWV replicon and SRIP systems represent crucial platforms for genetic and functional analysis of the POWV life cycle and facilitating the discovery of antiviral drugs.IMPORTANCEIn light of the recent surge in human infections caused by POWV, a biosafety level-3 (BSL-3) classified virus, there is a pressing need to understand the viral life cycle and the development of effective countermeasures. To address this, we have pioneered the establishment of a POWV RNA replicon system and a replicon-based POWV SRIP system. Importantly, these systems are operable in BSL-2 laboratories, enabling comprehensive investigations into the viral life cycle and facilitating antiviral screening. In summary, these useful tools are poised to advance our understanding of the POWV life cycle and expedite the development of antiviral interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwei Song
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiayao Hong
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Yang
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhuoyang Li
- SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- School of Management, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Peifeng He
- School of Management, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Qiang Ding
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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Anwar T, Ismail S, Parvaiz F, Abbasi SW, A. Al-Abbasi F, M. Alghamdi A, Al-Regaiey K, Ul-Haq A, Kaleem I, Bashir S, Waheed Y. Computational design of experimentally validated multi-epitopes vaccine against hepatitis E virus: An immunological approach. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0294663. [PMID: 38096182 PMCID: PMC10721065 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the leading acute liver infections triggered by viral hepatitis. Patients infected with HEV usually recover and the annual death rate is negligible. Currently, there is no HEV licensed vaccine available globally. This study was carried out to design a multi-epitope HEV peptide-based vaccine by retrieving already experimentally validated epitopes from ViPR database leading to epitope prioritization. Epitopes selected as potential vaccine candidates were non-allergen, immunogenic, soluble, non-toxic and IFN gamma positive. The epitopes were linked together by AAY linkers and the linker EAAAK was used to join adjuvant with epitopes. Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 agonist was used as an adjuvant to boost efficacy of the vaccine. Furthermore, codon optimization followed by disulfide engineering was performed to analyse the designed vaccine's structural stability. Computational modeling of the immune simulation was done to examine the immune response against the vaccine. The designed vaccine construct was docked with TLR-3 receptor for their interactions and then subjected to molecular dynamic simulations. The vaccine model was examined computationally towards the capability of inducing immune responses which showed the induction of both humoral and cell mediated immunity. Taken together, our study suggests an In-silico designed HEV based multi-epitope peptide-based vaccine (MEPV) that needs to be examined in the wet lab-based data that can help to develop a potential vaccine against HEV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tasneem Anwar
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Saba Ismail
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Fahed Parvaiz
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Sumra Wajid Abbasi
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Fahad A. Al-Abbasi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amira M. Alghamdi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid Al-Regaiey
- Department of Physiology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Asad Ul-Haq
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Imdad Kaleem
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Shahid Bashir
- Neuroscience Center, King Fahad Specialist Hospital Dammam, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yasir Waheed
- Office of Research, Innovation & Commercialization, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU), Islamabad, Pakistan
- Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
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4
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Kumar A, Hooda P, Puri A, Khatter R, S. Al-Dosari M, Sinha N, Parvez MK, Sehgal D. Methotrexate, an anti-inflammatory drug, inhibits Hepatitis E viral replication. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2023; 38:2280500. [PMID: 37975328 PMCID: PMC11003484 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2023.2280500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) is a positively oriented RNA virus having a 7.2 kb genome. HEV consists of three open reading frames (ORF1-3). Of these, ORF1 codes for the enzymes Methyltransferase (Mtase), Papain-like cysteine protease (PCP), RNA helicase, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Unavailability of a vaccine or effective drug against HEV and considering the side effects associated with the off-label use of ribavirin (RBV) and pegylated interferons, an alternative approach is required by the modulation of specific enzymes to prevent the infection. HEV helicase is involved in unwinding the double-stranded RNA, RNA processing, transcriptional regulation, and pre-mRNA processing. Therefore, we screened FDA-approved compounds from the ZINC15 database against the modelled 3D structure of HEV helicase and found that methotrexate and compound A (Pubchem ID BTB07890) inhibit the NTPase and dsRNA unwinding activity leading to inhibition of HEV RNA replication. This may be further authenticated by in vivo study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akash Kumar
- Department of Life Sciences, Virology lab, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, Greater Noida, India
| | - Preeti Hooda
- Department of Life Sciences, Virology lab, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, Greater Noida, India
| | - Anindita Puri
- Department of Life Sciences, Virology lab, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, Greater Noida, India
| | - Radhika Khatter
- Department of Life Sciences, Virology lab, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, Greater Noida, India
| | - Mohammed S. Al-Dosari
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Neha Sinha
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Mohammad K. Parvez
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Deepak Sehgal
- Department of Life Sciences, Virology lab, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, Greater Noida, India
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5
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Buchanan FJT, Chen S, Harris M, Herod MR. The hepatitis E virus ORF1 hypervariable region confers partial cyclophilin dependency. J Gen Virol 2023; 104:001919. [PMID: 37942835 PMCID: PMC10768694 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging pathogen responsible for more than 20 million cases of acute hepatitis globally per annum. Healthy individuals typically have a self-limiting infection, but mortality rates in some populations such as pregnant women can reach 30 %. A detailed understanding of the virus lifecycle is lacking, mainly due to limitations in experimental systems. In this regard, the cyclophilins are an important family of proteins that have peptidyl-prolyl isomerase activity and play roles in the replication of a number of positive-sense RNA viruses, including hepatotropic viruses such as hepatitis C virus (HCV). Cyclophilins A and B (CypA/B) are the two most abundant Cyps in hepatocytes and are therefore potential targets for pan-viral therapeutics. Here, we investigated the importance of CypA and CypB for HEV genome replication using sub-genomic replicons. Using a combination of pharmacological inhibition by cyclosporine A (CsA), and silencing by small hairpin RNA we find that CypA and CypB are not essential for HEV replication. However, we find that silencing of CypB reduces replication of some HEV isolates in some cells. Furthermore, sensitivity to Cyp silencing appears to be partly conferred by the sequence within the hypervariable region of the viral polyprotein. These data suggest HEV is atypical in its requirements for cyclophilin for viral genome replication and that this phenomenon could be genotype- and sequence-specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frazer J. T. Buchanan
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Shucheng Chen
- Department of Paediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mark Harris
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Morgan R. Herod
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
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6
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Nagashima S, Primadharsini PP, Nishiyama T, Takahashi M, Murata K, Okamoto H. Development of a HiBiT-tagged reporter hepatitis E virus and its utility as an antiviral drug screening platform. J Virol 2023; 97:e0050823. [PMID: 37681960 PMCID: PMC10537679 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00508-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Previously, we developed an infectious hepatitis E virus (HEV) harboring the nanoKAZ gene in the hypervariable region of the open reading frame 1 (ORF1) of the HEV3b (JE03-1760F/P10) genome and demonstrated the usefulness for screening anti-HEV drugs that inhibit the early infection process. In the present study, we constructed another reporter HEV (HEV3b-HiBiT) by placing a minimized HiBiT tag derived from NanoLuc luciferase at the 3'-end of the viral capsid (ORF2) coding sequence. It replicated efficiently in PLC/PRF/5 cells, produced membrane-associated particles identical to those of the parental virus, and was genetically stable and infectious. The HiBiT tag was fused to both secreted ORF2s (ORF2s-HiBiT) and ORF2c capsid protein (ORF2c-HiBiT). The ORF2c-HiBiT formed membrane-associated HEV particles (eHEV3b-HiBiT). By treating these particles with digitonin, we demonstrated that the HiBiT tag was expressed on the surface of capsid and was present inside the lipid membrane. To simplify the measurement of luciferase activity and provide a more convenient screening platform, we constructed an ORF2s-defective mutant (HEV3b-HiBiT/ΔORF2s) in which the secreted ORF2s are suppressed. We used this system to evaluate the effects of introducing small interfering RNAs and treatment with an inhibitor or accelerator of exosomal release on HEV egress and demonstrated that the effects on virus release can readily be analyzed. Therefore, HEV3b-HiBiT and HEV3b-HiBiT/ΔORF2s reporters may be useful for investigating the virus life cycle and can serve as a more convenient screening platform to search for candidate drugs targeting the late stage of HEV infection such as particle formation and release. IMPORTANCE The construction of recombinant infectious viruses harboring a stable luminescence reporter gene is essential for investigations of the viral life cycle, such as viral replication and pathogenesis, and the development of novel antiviral drugs. However, it is difficult to maintain the stability of a large foreign gene inserted into the viral genome. In the present study, we successfully generated a recombinant HEV harboring the 11-amino acid HiBiT tag in the ORF2 coding region and demonstrated the infectivity, efficient virus growth, particle morphology, and genetic stability, suggesting that this recombinant HEV is useful for in vitro assays. Furthermore, this system can serve as a more convenient screening platform for anti-HEV drugs. Thus, an infectious recombinant HEV is a powerful approach not only for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of the viral life cycle but also for the screening and development of novel antiviral agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeo Nagashima
- Division of Virology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Putu Prathiwi Primadharsini
- Division of Virology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Takashi Nishiyama
- Division of Virology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Masaharu Takahashi
- Division of Virology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Kazumoto Murata
- Division of Virology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Okamoto
- Division of Virology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan
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7
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Pierce DM, Buchanan FJT, Macrae FL, Mills JT, Cox A, Abualsaoud KM, Ward JC, Ariëns RAS, Harris M, Stonehouse NJ, Herod MR. Thrombin cleavage of the hepatitis E virus polyprotein at multiple conserved locations is required for genome replication. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011529. [PMID: 37478143 PMCID: PMC10395923 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The genomes of positive-sense RNA viruses encode polyproteins that are essential for mediating viral replication. These viral polyproteins must undergo proteolysis (also termed polyprotein processing) to generate functional protein units. This proteolysis can be performed by virally-encoded proteases as well as host cellular proteases, and is generally believed to be a key step in regulating viral replication. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a leading cause of acute viral hepatitis. The positive-sense RNA genome is translated to generate a polyprotein, termed pORF1, which is necessary and sufficient for viral genome replication. However, the mechanism of polyprotein processing in HEV remains to be determined. In this study, we aimed to understand processing of this polyprotein and its role in viral replication using a combination of in vitro translation experiments and HEV sub-genomic replicons. Our data suggest no evidence for a virally-encoded protease or auto-proteolytic activity, as in vitro translation predominantly generates unprocessed viral polyprotein precursors. However, seven cleavage sites within the polyprotein (suggested by bioinformatic analysis) are susceptible to the host cellular protease, thrombin. Using two sub-genomic replicon systems, we demonstrate that mutagenesis of these sites prevents replication, as does pharmacological inhibition of serine proteases including thrombin. Overall, our data supports a model where HEV uses host proteases to support replication and could have evolved to be independent of a virally-encoded protease for polyprotein processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle M Pierce
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Frazer J T Buchanan
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Fraser L Macrae
- Discovery and Translational Science Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Jake T Mills
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Abigail Cox
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Khadijah M Abualsaoud
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
- Department of Laboratory and Blood Bank, Al Mikhwah General Hospital, Al Mikhwah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Joseph C Ward
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Robert A S Ariëns
- Discovery and Translational Science Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Harris
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola J Stonehouse
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Morgan R Herod
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
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Kumar A, Subramani C, Raj S, Ranjith-Kumar CT, Surjit M. Hepatitis E Virus Protease Inhibits the Activity of Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 2-Alpha Kinase 4 and Promotes Virus Survival. J Virol 2023; 97:e0034723. [PMID: 37199644 PMCID: PMC10308950 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00347-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple mechanisms exist in a cell to cope with stress. Four independent stress-sensing kinases constitute the integrated stress response machinery of the mammalian cell, and they sense the stress signals and act by phosphorylating the eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) to arrest cellular translation. Eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha kinase 4 (eIF2AK4) is one of the four kinases and is activated under conditions of amino acid starvation, UV radiation, or RNA virus infection, resulting in shutdown of global translation. An earlier study in our laboratory constructed the protein interaction network of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) and identified eIF2AK4 as a host interaction partner of the genotype 1 (g1) HEV protease (PCP). Here, we report that PCP's association with the eIF2AK4 results in inhibition of self-association and concomitant loss of kinase activity of eIF2AK4. Site-directed mutagenesis of the 53rd phenylalanine residue of PCP abolishes its interaction with the eIF2AK4. Further, a genetically engineered HEV-expressing F53A mutant PCP shows poor replication efficiency. Collectively, these data identify an additional property of the g1-HEV PCP protein, through which it helps the virus in antagonizing eIF2AK4-mediated phosphorylation of the eIF2α, thus contributing to uninterrupted synthesis of viral proteins in the infected cells. IMPORTANCE Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of acute viral hepatitis in humans. It causes chronic infection in organ transplant patients. Although the disease is self-limiting in normal individuals, it is associated with high mortality (~30%) in pregnant women. In an earlier study, we identified the interaction between the genotype 1 HEV protease (PCP) and cellular eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha kinase 4 (eIF2AK4). Since eIF2AK4 is a sensor of the cellular integrated stress response machinery, we evaluated the significance of the interaction between PCP and eIF2AK4. Here, we show that PCP competitively associates with and interferes with self-association of the eIF2AK4, thereby inhibiting its kinase activity. Lack of eIF2AK4 activity prevents phosphorylation-mediated inactivation of the cellular eIF2α, which is essential for initiation of cap-dependent translation. Thus, PCP behaves as a proviral factor, promoting uninterrupted synthesis of viral proteins in infected cells, which is crucial for survival and proliferation of the virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kumar
- Virology Laboratory, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Chandru Subramani
- Virology Laboratory, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Shivani Raj
- University School of Biotechnology, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi, India
| | - C. T. Ranjith-Kumar
- University School of Biotechnology, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi, India
| | - Milan Surjit
- Virology Laboratory, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
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9
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Songtanin B, Molehin AJ, Brittan K, Manatsathit W, Nugent K. Hepatitis E Virus Infections: Epidemiology, Genetic Diversity, and Clinical Considerations. Viruses 2023; 15:1389. [PMID: 37376687 DOI: 10.3390/v15061389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 20 million people worldwide are infected annually with the hepatitis E virus (HEV). There are four main genotypes of HEV. Genotype 1 and genotype 2 are common in developing countries and are transmitted by contaminated water from a fecal-oral route. Genotype 3 and genotype 4 are common in developed countries and can lead to occasional transmission to humans via undercooked meat. Hepatitis E virus 1 and HEV3 can lead to fulminant hepatitis, and HEV3 can lead to chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis in immunocompromised patients. The majority of patients with HEV infection are asymptomatic and usually have spontaneous viral clearance without treatment. However, infection in immunocompromised individuals can lead to chronic HEV infection. Both acute and chronic HEV infections can have extrahepatic manifestations. No specific treatment is required for acute HEV infection, no treatment has been approved in chronic infection, and no HEV vaccine has been approved by the (United States) Food and Drug Administration. This review focuses on the molecular virology (HEV life cycle, genotypes, model systems, zoonosis), pathogenesis, clinical manifestation, and treatment of chronic HEV infection, especially in immunocompromised patients, to provide clinicians a better understanding of the global distribution of these infections and the significant effect they can have on immunocompromised patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Busara Songtanin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Adebayo J Molehin
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ 85308, USA
| | - Kevin Brittan
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Wuttiporn Manatsathit
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Kenneth Nugent
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
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10
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van der Meulen K, Smets G, Rüdelsheim P. Viral Replicon Systems and Their Biosafety Aspects. APPLIED BIOSAFETY 2023; 28:102-122. [PMID: 37342518 PMCID: PMC10278005 DOI: 10.1089/apb.2022.0037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Viral RNA replicons are self-amplifying RNA molecules generated by deleting genetic information of one or multiple structural proteins of wild-type viruses. Remaining viral RNA is used as such (naked replicon) or packaged into a viral replicon particle (VRP), whereby missing genes or proteins are supplied via production cells. Since replicons mostly originate from pathogenic wild-type viruses, careful risk consideration is crucial. Methods A literature review was performed compiling information on potential biosafety risks of replicons originating from positive- and negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses (except retroviruses). Results For naked replicons, risk considerations included genome integration, persistence in host cells, generation of virus-like vesicles, and off-target effects. For VRP, the main risk consideration was formation of primary replication competent virus (RCV) as a result of recombination or complementation. To limit the risks, mostly measures aiming at reducing the likelihood of RCV formation have been described. Also, modifying viral proteins in such a way that they do not exhibit hazardous characteristics in the unlikely event of RCV formation has been reported. Discussion and Conclusion Despite multiple approaches developed to reduce the likelihood of RCV formation, scientific uncertainty remains on the actual contribution of the measures and on limitations to test their effectiveness. In contrast, even though effectiveness of each individual measure is unclear, using multiple measures on different aspects of the system may create a solid barrier. Risk considerations identified in the current study can also be used to support risk group assignment of replicon constructs based on a purely synthetic design.
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Oechslin N, Ankavay M, Moradpour D, Gouttenoire J. Expanding the Hepatitis E Virus Toolbox: Selectable Replicons and Recombinant Reporter Genomes. Viruses 2023; 15:v15040869. [PMID: 37112849 PMCID: PMC10147066 DOI: 10.3390/v15040869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) has received relatively little attention for decades although it is now considered as one of the most frequent causes of acute hepatitis worldwide. Our knowledge of this enterically-transmitted, positive-strand RNA virus and its life cycle remains scarce but research on HEV has gained momentum more recently. Indeed, advances in the molecular virology of hepatitis E, including the establishment of subgenomic replicons and infectious molecular clones, now allow study of the entire viral life cycle and to explore host factors required for productive infection. Here, we provide an overview on currently available systems, with an emphasis on selectable replicons and recombinant reporter genomes. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges in developing new systems which should enable to further investigate this widely distributed and important pathogen.
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12
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LeDesma R, Heller B, Biswas A, Maya S, Gili S, Higgins J, Ploss A. Structural features stabilized by divalent cation coordination within hepatitis E virus ORF1 are critical for viral replication. eLife 2023; 12:e80529. [PMID: 36852909 PMCID: PMC9977285 DOI: 10.7554/elife.80529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an RNA virus responsible for over 20 million infections annually. HEV's open reading frame (ORF)1 polyprotein is essential for genome replication, though it is unknown how the different subdomains function within a structural context. Our data show that ORF1 operates as a multifunctional protein, which is not subject to proteolytic processing. Supporting this model, scanning mutagenesis performed on the putative papain-like cysteine protease (pPCP) domain revealed six cysteines essential for viral replication. Our data are consistent with their role in divalent metal ion coordination, which governs local and interdomain interactions that are critical for the overall structure of ORF1; furthermore, the 'pPCP' domain can only rescue viral genome replication in trans when expressed in the context of the full-length ORF1 protein but not as an individual subdomain. Taken together, our work provides a comprehensive model of the structure and function of HEV ORF1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert LeDesma
- Department of Molecular Biology, Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Princeton UniversityPrincetonUnited States
| | - Brigitte Heller
- Department of Molecular Biology, Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Princeton UniversityPrincetonUnited States
| | - Abhishek Biswas
- Department of Molecular Biology, Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Princeton UniversityPrincetonUnited States
| | - Stephanie Maya
- Department of Molecular Biology, Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Princeton UniversityPrincetonUnited States
| | - Stefania Gili
- Department of Geosciences, Princeton UniversityPrincetonUnited States
| | - John Higgins
- Department of Geosciences, Princeton UniversityPrincetonUnited States
| | - Alexander Ploss
- Department of Molecular Biology, Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Princeton UniversityPrincetonUnited States
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13
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Cancela F, Rendon-Marin S, Quintero-Gil C, Houston DR, Gumbis G, Panzera Y, Pérez R, Arbiza J, Mirazo S. Modelling of Hepatitis E virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase genotype 3 from a chronic patient and in silico interaction analysis by molecular docking with Ribavirin. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:705-721. [PMID: 34861797 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.2011416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) infection is an emergent zoonotic disease, where chronic hepatitis E associated to solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients, related to genotype 3, is the clinical manifestation of major concern. In this setting, ribavirin (RBV) treatment is the only available therapy, though drug-resistant variants could emerge leading to a therapeutic failure. Crystallographic structures have not been reported for most of the HEV proteins, including the RNA-polymerase (RdRp). Therefore, the mechanism of action of RBV against HEV and the molecular interactions between this drug and RdRp are largely unknown. In this work, we aimed to model in silico the 3 D structure of a novel HEV3 RdRp (HEV_C1_Uy) from a chronically HEV infected-SOT recipient treated with RBV and to perform a molecular docking simulation between RBV triphosphate (RBVT), 7-methyl-guanosine-5'-triphosphate and the modelled protein. The models were generated using I-TASSER server and validated with multiple bioinformatics tools. The docking analysis were carried out with AutoDock Vina and LeDock software. We obtained a suitable model for HEV_C1_Uy (C-Score=-1.33, RMSD = 10.4 ± 4.6 Å). RBVT displayed a binding affinity of -7.6 ± 0.2 Kcal/mol by molecular docking, mediated by 6 hydrogen-bonds (Q195-O14, S198-O11, E257-O13, S260-O2, O3, S311-O11) between the finger's-palm-domains and a free binding energy of 31.26 ± 16.81 kcal/mol by molecular dynamics simulations. We identified the possible HEV RdRp interacting region for incoming nucleotides or analogs and provide novel insights that will contribute to better understand the molecular interactions of RBV and the enzyme and the mechanism of action of this antiviral drug.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florencia Cancela
- Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Santiago Rendon-Marin
- Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias Animales - GRICA, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, sede Bucaramanga, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Carolina Quintero-Gil
- Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias Animales - GRICA, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, sede Bucaramanga, Bucaramanga, Colombia
| | - Douglas R Houston
- Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Gediminas Gumbis
- Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Yanina Panzera
- Sección Genética Evolutiva, Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Ruben Pérez
- Sección Genética Evolutiva, Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Juan Arbiza
- Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Santiago Mirazo
- Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.,Departamento de Bacteriología y Virología, Instituto de Higiene, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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14
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In Vitro Replication of Swine Hepatitis E Virus (HEV): Production of Cell-Adapted Strains. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13020276. [PMID: 36670816 PMCID: PMC9854997 DOI: 10.3390/ani13020276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis E caused by the virus HEV of genotypes HEV-3 and HEV-4 is a zoonotic foodborne disease spread worldwide. HEV is currently classified into eight different genotypes (HEV-1-8). Genotypes HEV-3 and HEV-4 are zoonotic and are further divided into subtypes. Most of the information on HEV replication remains unknown due to the lack of an efficient cell cultivation system. Over the last couple of years, several protocols for HEV cultivation have been developed on different cell lines; even if they were troublesome, long, and scarcely reproducible, they offered the opportunity to study the replicative cycle of the virus. In the present study, we aimed to obtain a protocol ready to use viral stock in serum free medium that can be used with reduced time of growth and without any purification steps. The employed method allowed isolation and cell adaptation of four swine HEV-3 strains, belonging to three different subtypes. Phylogenetic analyses conducted on partial genome sequences of in vitro isolated strains did not reveal any insertion in the hypervariable region (HVR) of the genomes. A limited number of mutations was acquired in the genome during the virus growth in the partial sequences of Methyltransferase (Met) and ORF2 coding genes.
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15
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Zhang F, Wang Y. HEV Cell Culture. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1417:119-131. [PMID: 37223862 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-99-1304-6_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Cell culture is an important research method in virology. Although many attempts have been conducted to culture HEV in cells, only a few cell culture systems were considered to be efficient enough for usage. Concentration of virus stocks, host cells, and medium components affects the culture efficiency and the genetic mutations during HEV passage were found to be associated with the increased virulence in cell culture. As an alternative method for traditional cell culture, the infectious cDNA clones were constructed. The viral thermal stability, factors that impact the host range, post-translation of viral proteins, and function of different viral proteins were studied using the infectious cDNA clones. HEV cell culture studies on progeny virus showed that the viruses secreted from host cells have an envelope and its formation was associated with pORF3. This result explained the phenomenon that virus could infect host cells in the presence of anti-HEV antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zhang
- Division of Therapeutical Monoclonal Antibodies, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, China
| | - Youchun Wang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China.
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16
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Wang Y, Zhao C, Qi Y, Geng Y. Hepatitis E Virus. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1417:1-13. [PMID: 37223855 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-99-1304-6_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Since the sequence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) was determined from a patient with enterically transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis in 1989, similar sequences have been isolated from many different animals, including pigs, wild boars, deer, rabbits, bats, rats, chicken, and trout. All of these sequences have the same genomic organization, which contains open reading frames (ORFs) 1, 2, and 3, although their genomic sequences are variable. Some have proposed that they be classified as new family, Hepeviridae, which would be further divided into different genera and species according to their sequence variability. The size of these virus particles generally ranged from 27 to 34 nm. However, HEV virions produced in cell culture differ in structure from the viruses found in feces. Those from cell culture have a lipid envelope and either lack or have a little ORF3, whereas the viruses isolated from feces lack a lipid envelope but have ORF3 on their surfaces. Surprisingly, most of the secreted ORF2 proteins from both these sources are not associated with HEV RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youchun Wang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, China.
| | - Chenyan Zhao
- Division of HIV/AIDS and Sex-Transmitted Virus Vaccines, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Qi
- Division of HIV/AIDS and Sex-Transmitted Virus Vaccines, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, China
| | - Yansheng Geng
- Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Hebei Province, School of Public Health, Hebei University, Baoding, China
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17
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Shata MTM, Hetta HF, Sharma Y, Sherman KE. Viral hepatitis in pregnancy. J Viral Hepat 2022; 29:844-861. [PMID: 35748741 PMCID: PMC9541692 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Viral hepatitis is caused by a heterogenous group of viral agents representing a wide range of phylogenetic groups. Many viruses can involve the liver and cause liver injury but only a subset are delineated as 'hepatitis viruses' based upon their primary site of replication and tropism for hepatocytes which make up the bulk of the liver cell population. Since their discovery, beginning with the agent that caused serum hepatitis in the 1960s, the alphabetic designations have been utilized. To date, we have five hepatitis viruses, A through E, though it is postulated that others may exist. This chapter will focus on those viruses. Note that hepatitis D is included as a subset of hepatitis B, as it cannot exist without concurrent hepatitis B infection. Pregnancy has the potential to affect all aspects of these viral agents due to the unique immunologic and physiologic changes that occur during and after the gestational period. In this review, we will discuss the most common viral hepatitis and their effects during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Tarek M. Shata
- Division of Digestive Disease, Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of CincinnatiCincinnatiOhioUSA
| | - Helal F. Hetta
- Division of Digestive Disease, Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of CincinnatiCincinnatiOhioUSA,Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of MedicineAssiut UniversityAssiutEgypt
| | - Yeshika Sharma
- Division of Digestive Disease, Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of CincinnatiCincinnatiOhioUSA
| | - Kenneth E. Sherman
- Division of Digestive Disease, Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of CincinnatiCincinnatiOhioUSA
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18
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Herod MR, Ward JC, Tuplin A, Harris M, Stonehouse NJ, McCormick CJ. Positive strand RNA viruses differ in the constraints they place on the folding of their negative strand. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 28:1359-1376. [PMID: 35918125 PMCID: PMC9479745 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079125.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Genome replication of positive strand RNA viruses requires the production of a complementary negative strand RNA that serves as a template for synthesis of more positive strand progeny. Structural RNA elements are important for genome replication, but while they are readily observed in the positive strand, evidence of their existence in the negative strand is more limited. We hypothesized that this was due to viruses differing in their capacity to allow this latter RNA to adopt structural folds. To investigate this, ribozymes were introduced into the negative strand of different viral constructs; the expectation being that if RNA folding occurred, negative strand cleavage and suppression of replication would be seen. Indeed, this was what happened with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and feline calicivirus (FCV) constructs. However, little or no impact was observed for chikungunya virus (CHIKV), human rhinovirus (HRV), hepatitis E virus (HEV), and yellow fever virus (YFV) constructs. Reduced cleavage in the negative strand proved to be due to duplex formation with the positive strand. Interestingly, ribozyme-containing RNAs also remained intact when produced in vitro by the HCV polymerase, again due to duplex formation. Overall, our results show that there are important differences in the conformational constraints imposed on the folding of the negative strand between different positive strand RNA viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan R Herod
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph C Ward
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Tuplin
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Harris
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola J Stonehouse
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J McCormick
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Sir Henry Wellcome Laboratories, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, United Kingdom
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
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19
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Praditya DF, Klöhn M, Brüggemann Y, Brown LE, Porco JA, Zhang W, Kinast V, Kirschning A, Vondran FWR, Todt D, Steinmann E. Identification of structurally re-engineered rocaglates as inhibitors against hepatitis E virus replication. Antiviral Res 2022; 204:105359. [PMID: 35728703 PMCID: PMC9731315 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections are a leading cause of acute viral hepatitis in humans and pose a considerable threat to public health. Current standard of care treatment is limited to the off-label use of nucleoside-analog ribavirin (RBV) and PEGylated interferon-α, both of which are associated with significant side effects and provide limited efficacy. In the past few years, a promising natural product compound class of eukaryotic initiation factor 4A (eIF4A) inhibitors (translation initiation inhibitors), called rocaglates, were identified as antiviral agents against RNA virus infections. In the present study, we evaluated a total of 205 synthetic rocaglate derivatives from the BU-CMD compound library for their antiviral properties against HEV. At least eleven compounds showed inhibitory activities against the HEV genotype 3 (HEV-3) subgenomic replicon below 30 nM (EC50 value) as determined by Gaussia luciferase assay. Three amidino-rocaglates (ADRs) (CMLD012073, CMLD012118, and CMLD012612) possessed antiviral activity against HEV with EC50 values between 1 and 9 nM. In addition, these three selected compounds inhibited subgenomic replicons of different genotypes (HEV-1 [Sar55], wild boar HEV-3 [83-2] and human HEV-3 [p6]) in a dose-dependent manner and at low nanomolar concentrations. Furthermore, tested ADRs tend to be better tolerated in primary hepatocytes than hepatoma cancer cell lines and combination treatment of CMLD012118 with RBV and interferon-α (IFN-α) showed that CMLD012118 acts additive to RBV and IFN-α treatment. In conclusion, our results indicate that ADRs, especially CMLD012073, CMLD012118, and CMLD012612 may prove to be potential therapeutic candidates for the treatment of HEV infections and may contribute to the discovery of pan-genotypic inhibitors in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimas F Praditya
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; Research Center for Vaccine and Drugs, The National Research and Innovation Agency, Cibinong, Indonesia.
| | - Mara Klöhn
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Yannick Brüggemann
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Lauren E Brown
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA; Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - John A Porco
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA; Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Wenhan Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA; Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Volker Kinast
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; Department of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany.
| | - Andreas Kirschning
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Schneiderberg 1B, 30167, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Florian W R Vondran
- ReMediES, Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Daniel Todt
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; European Virus Bioinformatics Center (EVBC), 07743, Jena, Germany.
| | - Eike Steinmann
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), External Partner Site, Bochum, Germany.
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20
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Behrendt P, Friesland M, Wißmann JE, Kinast V, Stahl Y, Praditya D, Hueffner L, Nörenberg PM, Bremer B, Maasoumy B, Steinmann J, Becker B, Paulmann D, Brill FHH, Steinmann J, Ulrich RG, Brüggemann Y, Wedemeyer H, Todt D, Steinmann E. Hepatitis E virus is highly resistant to alcohol-based disinfectants. J Hepatol 2022; 76:1062-1069. [PMID: 35085595 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide and is mainly transmitted via the fecal-oral route or through consumption of contaminated food products. Due to the lack of efficient cell culture systems for the propagation of HEV, limited data regarding its sensitivity to chemical disinfectants are available. Consequently, preventive and evidence-based hygienic guidelines on HEV disinfection are lacking. METHODS We used a robust HEV genotype 3 cell culture model which enables quantification of viral infection of quasi-enveloped and naked HEV particles. For HEV genotype 1 infections, we used the primary isolate Sar55 in a fecal suspension. Standardized quantitative suspension tests using end point dilution and large-volume plating were performed for the determination of virucidal activity of alcohols (1-propanol, 2-propanol, ethanol), WHO disinfectant formulations and 5 different commercial hand disinfectants against HEV. Iodixanol gradients were conducted to elucidate the influence of ethanol on quasi-enveloped viral particles. RESULTS Naked and quasi-enveloped HEV was resistant to alcohols as well as alcohol-based formulations recommended by the WHO. Of the tested commercial hand disinfectants only 1 product displayed virucidal activity against HEV. This activity could be linked to phosphoric acid as an essential ingredient. Finally, we observed that ethanol and possibly non-active alcohol-based disinfectants disrupt the quasi-envelope structure of HEV particles, while leaving the highly transmissible and infectious naked virions intact. CONCLUSIONS Different alcohols and alcohol-based hand disinfectants were insufficient to eliminate HEV infectivity with the exception of 1 commercial ethanol-based product that included phosphoric acid. These findings have major implications for the development of measures to reduce viral transmission in clinical practice. LAY SUMMARY Hepatitis E virus (HEV) showed a high level of resistance to alcohols and alcohol-based hand disinfectants. The addition of phosphoric acid to alcohol was essential for virucidal activity against HEV. This information should be used to guide improved hygiene measures for the prevention of HEV transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Behrendt
- Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, A Joint Venture between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Hannover, Germany; Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany.
| | - Martina Friesland
- Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, A Joint Venture between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Hannover, Germany
| | - Jan-Erik Wißmann
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Volker Kinast
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Yannick Stahl
- Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, A Joint Venture between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Hannover, Germany
| | - Dimas Praditya
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Lucas Hueffner
- Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, A Joint Venture between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Hannover, Germany
| | - Pia Maria Nörenberg
- Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, A Joint Venture between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Hannover, Germany
| | - Birgit Bremer
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | - Benjamin Maasoumy
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany; Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CIIM), Hannover, Germany
| | - Jochen Steinmann
- Dr. Brill + Partner GmbH Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Britta Becker
- Dr. Brill + Partner GmbH Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Dajana Paulmann
- Dr. Brill + Partner GmbH Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Florian H H Brill
- Dr. Brill + Partner GmbH Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Joerg Steinmann
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany; Institute for Clinical Hygiene, Medical Microbiology and Infectiology, Clinic Nuernberg, Paracelsus Medical University, Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Rainer G Ulrich
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany and German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Yannick Brüggemann
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Heiner Wedemeyer
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Daniel Todt
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; European Virus Bioinformatics Center (EVBC), Jena, Germany
| | - Eike Steinmann
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), External Partner Site, Bochum, Germany.
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21
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Hooda P, Ishtikhar M, Saraswat S, Bhatia P, Mishra D, Trivedi A, Kulandaisamy R, Aggarwal S, Munde M, Ali N, AlAsmari AF, Rauf MA, Inampudi KK, Sehgal D. Biochemical and Biophysical Characterisation of the Hepatitis E Virus Guanine-7-Methyltransferase. Molecules 2022; 27:1505. [PMID: 35268608 PMCID: PMC8911963 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27051505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an understudied pathogen that causes infection through fecal contaminated drinking water and is prominently found in South Asian countries. The virus affects ~20 million people annually, leading to ~60,000 infections per year. The positive-stranded RNA genome of the HEV genotype 1 has four conserved open reading frames (ORFs), of which ORF1 encodes a polyprotein of 180 kDa in size, which is processed into four non-structural enzymes: methyltransferase (MTase), papain-like cysteine protease, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and RNA helicase. MTase is known to methylate guanosine triphosphate at the 5'-end of viral RNA, thereby preventing its degradation by host nucleases. In the present study, we cloned, expressed, and purified MTase spanning 33-353 amino acids of HEV genotype 1. The activity of the purified enzyme and the conformational changes were established through biochemical and biophysical studies. The binding affinity of MTase with magnesium ions (Mg2+) was studied by isothermal calorimetry (ITC), microscale thermophoresis (MST), far-UV CD analysis and, fluorescence quenching. In summary, a short stretch of nucleotides has been cloned, coding for the HEV MTase of 37 kDa, which binds Mg2+ and modulate its activity. The chelation of magnesium reversed the changes, confirming its role in enzyme activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preeti Hooda
- Virology Lab, Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida 201314, India; (P.H.); (M.I.); (S.S.); (P.B.); (D.M.); (A.T.)
| | - Mohd Ishtikhar
- Virology Lab, Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida 201314, India; (P.H.); (M.I.); (S.S.); (P.B.); (D.M.); (A.T.)
| | - Shweta Saraswat
- Virology Lab, Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida 201314, India; (P.H.); (M.I.); (S.S.); (P.B.); (D.M.); (A.T.)
| | - Pooja Bhatia
- Virology Lab, Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida 201314, India; (P.H.); (M.I.); (S.S.); (P.B.); (D.M.); (A.T.)
| | - Deepali Mishra
- Virology Lab, Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida 201314, India; (P.H.); (M.I.); (S.S.); (P.B.); (D.M.); (A.T.)
| | - Aditya Trivedi
- Virology Lab, Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida 201314, India; (P.H.); (M.I.); (S.S.); (P.B.); (D.M.); (A.T.)
| | - Rajkumar Kulandaisamy
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi 110029, India;
| | - Soumya Aggarwal
- School of Physical Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi 110067, India; (S.A.); (M.M.)
| | - Manoj Munde
- School of Physical Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi 110067, India; (S.A.); (M.M.)
| | - Nemat Ali
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 55760, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (N.A.); (A.F.A.)
| | - Abdullah F. AlAsmari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 55760, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (N.A.); (A.F.A.)
| | - Mohd A. Rauf
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA;
| | - Krishna K. Inampudi
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi 110029, India;
| | - Deepak Sehgal
- Virology Lab, Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida 201314, India; (P.H.); (M.I.); (S.S.); (P.B.); (D.M.); (A.T.)
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22
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Gupta J, Kumar A, Surjit M. Production of a Hepatitis E Vaccine Candidate Using the Pichia pastoris Expression System. METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (CLIFTON, N.J.) 2022; 2412:117-141. [PMID: 34918244 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1892-9_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is associated with acute hepatitis disease, which may lead to chronic disease in immunocompromised individuals. The disease is particularly severe among pregnant women (20-30% mortality). No vaccine is available to combat the HEV except Hecolin, which is available only in China. Virus-like particle (VLP) generated from the capsid protein (ORF2) of HEV is known to be a potent vaccine antigen against HEV. Hecolin consists of 368-606 amino acid (aa) region of the capsid protein of HEV, which forms a VLP. It is expressed and purified from the inclusion bodies of E. coli. Here, we describe a method to express the 112-608aa region of the capsid protein (ORF2) of genotype-1 HEV in Pichia pastoris (P. pastoris) and purify VLPs from the culture medium. 112-608aa ORF2 VLPs are secreted into the culture medium in a methanol inducible manner. The purified VLPs are glycosylated and induce robust immune response in Balb/c mice. Further, 112-608aa ORF2 VLPs are bigger than the 368-606 VLP present in Hecolin, which may help them in inducing a superior immune response. P. pastoris offers a robust and economical heterologous expression system to produce large quantities of glycosylated 112-608aa ORF2 VLP, which appears to be a promising vaccine candidate against the HEV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Gupta
- Virology Laboratory, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Amit Kumar
- Virology Laboratory, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Milan Surjit
- Virology Laboratory, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana, India.
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23
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Cancela F, Noceti O, Arbiza J, Mirazo S. Structural aspects of hepatitis E virus. Arch Virol 2022; 167:2457-2481. [PMID: 36098802 PMCID: PMC9469829 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-022-05575-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a leading cause of acute hepatitis worldwide. Hepatitis E is an enterically transmitted zoonotic disease that causes large waterborne epidemic outbreaks in developing countries and has become an increasing public-health concern in industrialized countries. In this setting, the infection is usually acute and self-limiting in immunocompetent individuals, although chronic cases in immunocompromised patients have been reported, frequently associated with several extrahepatic manifestations. Moreover, extrahepatic manifestations have also been reported in immunocompetent individuals with acute HEV infection. HEV belongs to the alphavirus-like supergroup III of single-stranded positive-sense RNA viruses, and its genome contains three partially overlapping open reading frames (ORFs). ORF1 encodes a nonstructural protein with eight domains, most of which have not been extensively characterized: methyltransferase, Y domain, papain-like cysteine protease, hypervariable region, proline-rich region, X domain, Hel domain, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. ORF2 and ORF3 encode the capsid protein and a multifunctional protein believed to be involved in virion release, respectively. The novel ORF4 is only expressed in HEV genotype 1 under endoplasmic reticulum stress conditions, and its exact function has not yet been elucidated. Despite important advances in recent years, the biological and molecular processes underlying HEV replication remain poorly understood, primarily due to a lack of detailed information about the functions of the viral proteins and the mechanisms involved in host-pathogen interactions. This review summarizes the current knowledge concerning HEV proteins and their biological properties, providing updated detailed data describing their function and focusing in detail on their structural characteristics. Furthermore, we review some unclear aspects of the four proteins encoded by the ORFs, highlighting the current key information gaps and discussing potential novel experimental strategies for shedding light on those issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florencia Cancela
- grid.11630.350000000121657640Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Ofelia Noceti
- grid.414402.70000 0004 0469 0889Programa Nacional de Trasplante Hepático y Unidad Docente Asistencial Centro Nacional de Tratamiento Hepatobiliopancreatico. Hospital Central de las Fuerzas Armadas, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Juan Arbiza
- grid.11630.350000000121657640Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Santiago Mirazo
- grid.11630.350000000121657640Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay ,grid.11630.350000000121657640Departamento de Bacteriología y Virología, Instituto de Higiene, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay ,Av. Alfredo Navarro 3051, PC 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay
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24
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Yadav KK, Kenney SP. Hepatitis E Virus Immunopathogenesis. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10091180. [PMID: 34578211 PMCID: PMC8465319 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10091180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus is an important emerging pathogen producing a lethal impact on the pregnant population and immunocompromised patients. Starting in 1983, it has been described as the cause for acute hepatitis transmitted via the fecal–oral route. However, zoonotic and blood transfusion transmission of HEV have been reported in the past few decades, leading to the detailed research of HEV pathogenesis. The reason behind HEV being highly virulent to the pregnant population particularly during the third trimester, leading to maternal and fetal death, remains unknown. Various host factors (immunological, nutritional, hormonal) and viral factors have been studied to define the key determinants assisting HEV to be virulent in pregnant and immunocompromised patients. Similarly, chronic hepatitis is seen particularly in solid organ transplant patients, resulting in fatal conditions. This review describes recent advances in the immunopathophysiology of HEV infections in general, pregnant, and immunocompromised populations, and further elucidates the in vitro and in vivo models utilized to understand HEV pathogenesis.
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25
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Wang B, Meng XJ. Structural and molecular biology of hepatitis E virus. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:1907-1916. [PMID: 33995894 PMCID: PMC8079827 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.03.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the most common causes of acute viral hepatitis, mainly transmitted by fecal-oral route but has also been linked to fulminant hepatic failure, chronic hepatitis, and extrahepatic neurological and renal diseases. HEV is an emerging zoonotic pathogen with a broad host range, and strains of HEV from numerous animal species are known to cross species barriers and infect humans. HEV is a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus in the family Hepeviridae. The genome typically contains three open reading frames (ORFs): ORF1 encodes a nonstructural polyprotein for virus replication and transcription, ORF2 encodes the capsid protein that elicits neutralizing antibodies, and ORF3, which partially overlaps ORF2, encodes a multifunctional protein involved in virion morphogenesis and pathogenesis. HEV virions are non-enveloped spherical particles in feces but exist as quasi-enveloped particles in circulating blood. Two types of HEV virus-like particles (VLPs), small T = 1 (270 Å) and native virion-sized T = 3 (320-340 Å) have been reported. There exist two distinct forms of capsid protein, the secreted form (ORF2S) inhibits antibody neutralization, whereas the capsid-associated form (ORF2C) self-assembles to VLPs. Four cis-reactive elements (CREs) containing stem-loops from secondary RNA structures have been identified in the non-coding regions and are critical for virus replication. This mini-review discusses the current knowledge and gaps regarding the structural and molecular biology of HEV with emphasis on the virion structure, genomic organization, secondary RNA structures, viral proteins and their functions, and life cycle of HEV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Wang
- Center for Emerging, Zoonotic and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Xiang-Jin Meng
- Center for Emerging, Zoonotic and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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26
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El-Mokhtar MA, Sayed IM. Model systems for studying extrahepatic pathogenesis of hepatitis E virus. Current knowledge and future directions. Rev Med Virol 2021; 31:e2218. [PMID: 33475223 DOI: 10.1002/rmv.2218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis E Virus is the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis globally. HEV infection is endemic in developing countries. Also, autochthonous and sporadic cases are reported in developed countries. HEV causes acute and chronic infections. Besides, extrahepatic manifestations including neurological, renal, haematological, acute pancreatitis and complications during pregnancy are associated with HEV infections. The pathogenesis of HEV in the extrahepatic tissues is either due to direct cytopathic effect mediated by the virus replication, or immunological mechanisms caused by an uncontrollable host response. Researchers have used different in vivo and in vitro models to study the pathogenesis of HEV in the extrahepatic tissues and analyse the host immune response against HEV infection. This review highlights the extrahepatic disorders associated with HEV infection. We focused on the in vivo and in vitro models as a tool for elucidating the HEV infection beyond the liver and studying the mechanisms of HEV induced tissue damages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed A El-Mokhtar
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.,Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Sphinx University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Ibrahim M Sayed
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.,Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego La Jolla, California, USA
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27
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Yadav KK, Boley PA, Fritts Z, Kenney SP. Ectopic Expression of Genotype 1 Hepatitis E Virus ORF4 Increases Genotype 3 HEV Viral Replication in Cell Culture. Viruses 2021; 13:v13010075. [PMID: 33430442 PMCID: PMC7827316 DOI: 10.3390/v13010075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) can account for up to a 30% mortality rate in pregnant women, with highest incidences reported for genotype 1 (gt1) HEV. Reasons contributing to adverse maternal-fetal outcome during pregnancy in HEV-infected pregnant women remain elusive in part due to the lack of a robust tissue culture model for some strains. Open reading frame (ORF4) was discovered overlapping ORF1 in gt1 HEV whose protein expression is regulated via an IRES-like RNA element. To experimentally determine whether gt3 HEV contains an ORF4-like gt1, gt1 and gt3 sequence comparisons were performed between the gt1 and the homologous gt3 sequence. To assess whether ORF4 protein could enhance gt3 replication, Huh7 cell lines constitutively expressing ORF4 were created and used to assess the replication of the Kernow-C1 gt3 and sar55 gt1 HEV. Virus stocks from transfected Huh7 cells with or without ORF4 were harvested and infectivity assessed via infection of HepG2/C3A cells. We also studied the replication of gt1 HEV in the ORF4-expressing tunicamycin-treated cell line. To directly show that HEV transcripts have productively replicated in the target cells, we assessed events at the single-cell level using indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. Despite not naturally encoding ORF4, replication of gt3 HEV was enhanced by the presence of gt1 ORF4 protein. These results suggest that the function of ORF4 protein from gt1 HEV is transferrable, enhancing the replication of gt3 HEV. ORF4 may be utilized to enhance replication of difficult to propagate HEV genotypes in cell culture. IMPORTANCE: HEV is a leading cause of acute viral hepatitis (AVH) around the world. The virus is a threat to pregnant women, particularly during the second and third trimester of pregnancy. The factors enhancing virulence to pregnant populations are understudied. Additionally, field strains of HEV remain difficult to culture in vitro. ORF4 was recently discovered in gt1 HEV and is purported to play a role in pregnancy related pathology and enhanced replication. We present evidence that ORF4 protein provided in trans enhances the viral replication of gt3 HEV even though it does not encode ORF4 naturally in its genome. These data will aid in the development of cell lines capable of supporting replication of non-cell culture adapted HEV field strains, allowing viral titers sufficient for studying these strains in vitro. Furthermore, development of gt1/gt3 ORF4 chimeric virus may shed light on the role that ORF4 plays during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kush K. Yadav
- Food Animal Health Research Program, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH 44691, USA; (K.K.Y.); (P.A.B.)
| | - Patricia A. Boley
- Food Animal Health Research Program, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH 44691, USA; (K.K.Y.); (P.A.B.)
| | - Zachary Fritts
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA;
| | - Scott P. Kenney
- Food Animal Health Research Program, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH 44691, USA; (K.K.Y.); (P.A.B.)
- Correspondence:
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28
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Xu LD, Zhang F, Peng L, Luo WT, Chen C, Xu P, Huang YW. Stable Expression of a Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) RNA Replicon in Two Mammalian Cell Lines to Assess Mechanism of Innate Immunity and Antiviral Response. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:603699. [PMID: 33424806 PMCID: PMC7793998 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.603699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the major etiological agents responsible for acute hepatitis. Hepatitis E virus does not replicate efficiently in mammalian cell cultures, thus a useful model that mimics persistent HEV replication is needed to dissect the molecular mechanism of pathogenesis. Here we report a genotype-3 HEV RNA replicon expressing an EGFP-Zeocin (EZ) resistant gene (p6-EZ) that persistently self-replicated in cell lines of human (Huh-7-S10-3) or hamster (BHK-21) origin after transfection with in vitro RNA transcripts and subsequent drug screening. Two cell lines, S10-3-EZ and BHK-21-EZ, stably expressed EGFP in the presence of Zeocin during continuous passages. Both genomic and subgenomic HEV RNAs and viral replicase proteins were stably expressed in persistent HEV replicon cells. The values of the cell models in antiviral testing, innate immune RNA sensing and type I IFN in host defense were further demonstrated. We revealed a role of RIG-I like receptor-interferon regulatory factor 3 in host antiviral innate immune sensing during HEV replication. We further demonstrated that treatment with interferon (IFN-α) or ribavirin significantly reduced expression of replicon RNA in a dose-dependent manner. The availability of the models will greatly facilitate HEV-specific antiviral development, and delineate mechanisms of HEV replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Dong Xu
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Science and Key Laboratory of Animal Virology of Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fei Zhang
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lei Peng
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Science and Key Laboratory of Animal Virology of Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wen-Ting Luo
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Science and Key Laboratory of Animal Virology of Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chu Chen
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Science and Key Laboratory of Animal Virology of Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Pinglong Xu
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yao-Wei Huang
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Science and Key Laboratory of Animal Virology of Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Zhaoqing Branch Center of Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology, Zhaoqing, China
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29
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Thakur V, Ratho RK, Kumar S, Saxena SK, Bora I, Thakur P. Viral Hepatitis E and Chronicity: A Growing Public Health Concern. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:577339. [PMID: 33133046 PMCID: PMC7550462 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.577339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E viral infection recently emerges as a global health concern. Over the last decade, the understanding of hepatitis E virus (HEV) had changed with the discovery of new genotypes like genotype-7 and genotype-8 with associated host and mode of infection. Diversification in the mode of hepatitis E infection transmission through blood transfusion, and organ transplants in contrast to classical feco-oral and zoonotic mode is the recent medical concern. The wide spectrum of infection ranging from self-limiting to acute liver failure is now overpowered by HEV genotype-specific chronic infection especially in transplant patients. This concern is further escalated by the extra-hepatic manifestations of HEV targeting the central nervous system (CNS), kidney, heart, and pancreas. However, with the development of advanced efficient cell culture systems and animal models simulating the infection, much clarity toward understanding the pathogenetic mechanism of HEV has been developed. Also this facilitates the development of vaccines research or therapeutics. In this review, we highlight all the novel findings in every aspect of HEV with special emphasis on recently emerging chronic mode of infection with specific diagnosis and treatment regime with an optimistic hope to help virologists and/or liver specialists working in the field of viral hepatitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikram Thakur
- Department of Virology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Radha Kanta Ratho
- Department of Virology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Swatantra Kumar
- Centre for Advanced Research, Faculty of Medicine, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, India
| | - Shailendra K Saxena
- Centre for Advanced Research, Faculty of Medicine, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, India
| | - Ishani Bora
- Department of Virology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Pryanka Thakur
- Department of Virology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
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30
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Scholz J, Falkenhagen A, Bock CT, Johne R. Reverse genetics approaches for hepatitis E virus and related viruses. Curr Opin Virol 2020; 44:121-128. [PMID: 32818718 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2020.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the causative agent of acute and chronic hepatitis in humans. Related viruses have been found in several animal species. Reverse genetics systems (RGSs), which enable the generation of infectious virus from cloned cDNA by transfection of cultured cells or intrahepatic injection into laboratory animals, have been developed for HEV genotypes 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7 as well as for avian HEV and rat HEV. However, low virus recovery rates and slow replication in cell cultures are observed for most of the HEV types. Nevertheless, the RGSs enabled the site-directed mutagenesis of single nucleotides, deletion of genome fragments, insertion of sequence tags and a marker gene as well as the generation of chimeric viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Scholz
- Department Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Falkenhagen
- Department Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Claus-Thomas Bock
- Division of Viral Gastroenteritis and Hepatitis Pathogens and Enteroviruses, Department of Infectious Diseases, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Reimar Johne
- Department Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany.
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31
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Lhomme S, Migueres M, Abravanel F, Marion O, Kamar N, Izopet J. Hepatitis E Virus: How It Escapes Host Innate Immunity. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:E422. [PMID: 32731452 PMCID: PMC7564545 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8030422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a leading cause of viral hepatitis in the world. It is usually responsible for acute hepatitis, but can lead to a chronic infection in immunocompromised patients. The host's innate immune response is the first line of defense against a virus infection; there is growing evidence that HEV RNA is recognized by toll-like receptors (TLRs) and retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I)-like receptors (RLRs), leading to interferon (IFN) production. The IFNs activate interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) to limit HEV replication and spread. HEV has developed strategies to counteract this antiviral response, by limiting IFN induction and signaling. This review summarizes the advances in our knowledge of intracellular pathogen recognition, interferon and inflammatory response, and the role of virus protein in immune evasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Lhomme
- National Reference Center for Hepatitis E Virus, Toulouse Purpan University Hospital, 31300 Toulouse, France; (M.M.); (F.A.); (J.I.)
- INSERM UMR1043, CNRS UMR5282, Center for Pathophysiology of Toulouse Purpan, 31300 Toulouse, France; (O.M.); (N.K.)
- Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, 31330 Toulouse, France
| | - Marion Migueres
- National Reference Center for Hepatitis E Virus, Toulouse Purpan University Hospital, 31300 Toulouse, France; (M.M.); (F.A.); (J.I.)
- INSERM UMR1043, CNRS UMR5282, Center for Pathophysiology of Toulouse Purpan, 31300 Toulouse, France; (O.M.); (N.K.)
- Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, 31330 Toulouse, France
| | - Florence Abravanel
- National Reference Center for Hepatitis E Virus, Toulouse Purpan University Hospital, 31300 Toulouse, France; (M.M.); (F.A.); (J.I.)
- INSERM UMR1043, CNRS UMR5282, Center for Pathophysiology of Toulouse Purpan, 31300 Toulouse, France; (O.M.); (N.K.)
- Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, 31330 Toulouse, France
| | - Olivier Marion
- INSERM UMR1043, CNRS UMR5282, Center for Pathophysiology of Toulouse Purpan, 31300 Toulouse, France; (O.M.); (N.K.)
- Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, 31330 Toulouse, France
- Department of Nephrology and Organs Transplantation, Toulouse Rangueil University Hospital, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Nassim Kamar
- INSERM UMR1043, CNRS UMR5282, Center for Pathophysiology of Toulouse Purpan, 31300 Toulouse, France; (O.M.); (N.K.)
- Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, 31330 Toulouse, France
- Department of Nephrology and Organs Transplantation, Toulouse Rangueil University Hospital, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Jacques Izopet
- National Reference Center for Hepatitis E Virus, Toulouse Purpan University Hospital, 31300 Toulouse, France; (M.M.); (F.A.); (J.I.)
- INSERM UMR1043, CNRS UMR5282, Center for Pathophysiology of Toulouse Purpan, 31300 Toulouse, France; (O.M.); (N.K.)
- Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, 31330 Toulouse, France
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Kumar M, Hooda P, Khanna M, Patel U, Sehgal D. Development of BacMam Induced Hepatitis E Virus Replication Model in Hepatoma Cells to Study the Polyprotein Processing. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1347. [PMID: 32625196 PMCID: PMC7315041 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The processing of polyprotein(s) to form structural and non-structural components remains an enigma due to the non-existence of an efficient and robust Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) culture system. We used the BacMam approach to construct an HEV replication model in which the HEV genome was cloned in the BacMam vector under the CMV promoter. The recombinant BacMam was used to infect Huh7 cells to transfer the HEV genome. HEV replication was authenticated by the presence of RNAs of both the polarity (+) and (-) and formation of hybrid RNA, a replication intermediate. The presence of genes for Papain-like Cysteine Protease (PCP), methyltransferase (MeT), RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), and ORF2 was confirmed by PCR amplification. Further, the infectious nature of the culture system was established as evidenced by the cross-infection of uninfected cells using the cell lysate from the infected cells. The HEV replication model was validated by detection of the ORF1 (Open Reading Frame1) encoded proteins, identified by Western blotting and Immunofluorescence by using epitope-specific antibodies against each protein. Consequently, discrete bands of 18, 35, 37, and 56 kDa corresponding to PCP, MeT, RdRp, and ORF2, respectively, were seen. Besides demonstrating the presence of non-structural enzymes of HEV along with ORF2, activity of a key enzyme, HEV-methyltransferase has also been observed. A 20% decrease in the replicative forms of RNA could be seen in presence of 100 μM Ribavirin after 48 h of treatment. The inhibition gradually increased from 0 to 24 to 48 h post-treatment. Summarily, infectious HEV culture system has been established, which could demonstrate the presence of HEV replicative RNA forms, the structural and non-structural proteins and the methyltransferase in its active form. The system may also be used to study the mechanism of action of Ribavirin in inhibiting HEV replication and develop a therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manjeet Kumar
- Virology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida, India
| | - Preeti Hooda
- Virology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida, India
| | - Madhu Khanna
- Virology Lab, Department of Virology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Utkarsh Patel
- Virology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida, India
| | - Deepak Sehgal
- Virology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida, India
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Sinha A, Dutta S. Waterborne & foodborne viral hepatitis: A public health perspective. Indian J Med Res 2020; 150:432-435. [PMID: 31939386 PMCID: PMC6977369 DOI: 10.4103/ijmr.ijmr_1430_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Abhik Sinha
- Department of Clinical Medicine, ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata 700 055, West Bengal, India
| | - Shanta Dutta
- Department of Bacteriology, ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata 700 055, West Bengal, India
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Hennechart-Collette C, Martin-Latil S, Fraisse A, Niveau F, Perelle S. Virological analyses in collective catering outbreaks in France between 2012 and 2017. Food Microbiol 2020; 91:103546. [PMID: 32539952 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2020.103546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Enteric viruses cause the majority of foodborne illnesses and common symptoms of many foodborne illnesses include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. Among the enteric viruses, human Norovirus (NoV) and hepatitis virus (HAV and HEV) are the main viruses suspected to cause foodborne outbreaks and represent a serious public health. The study presents survey tools of viruses in a wide variety of foodstuffs and results obtained during 56 foodborne outbreaks investigation in France between 2012 and 2017. 246 suspected foods were examined for the presence of four human enteric viruses (NoV GI and NoV GII, HAV or HEV) either using methods described in the EN ISO 15216-1 or in house methods. All viral analysis of food samples were performed with the implementation of process control and an external amplification controls. Eighteen of 56 foodborne outbreaks investigated included at least one positive food sample (16/18 NoV, 1/18 HAV and 1/18 HEV). The genomic levels of four viruses detected ranged from < 102 to 107 genome copies per g or per L. This study showed the interest to develop methods for the extraction of viruses in different foodstuffs to increase the possibility to identify the association between viral illness and food consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sandra Martin-Latil
- Université Paris-Est, ANSES, Laboratory for food Safety, F-94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Audrey Fraisse
- Université Paris-Est, ANSES, Laboratory for food Safety, F-94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Florian Niveau
- Université Paris-Est, ANSES, Laboratory for food Safety, F-94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Sylvie Perelle
- Université Paris-Est, ANSES, Laboratory for food Safety, F-94700, Maisons-Alfort, France.
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Hannemann H. Viral replicons as valuable tools for drug discovery. Drug Discov Today 2020; 25:1026-1033. [PMID: 32272194 PMCID: PMC7136885 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2020.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
RNA viruses can cause severe diseases such as dengue, Lassa, chikungunya and Ebola. Many of these viruses can only be propagated under high containment levels, necessitating the development of low containment surrogate systems such as subgenomic replicons and minigenome systems. Replicons are self-amplifying recombinant RNA molecules expressing proteins sufficient for their own replication but which do not produce infectious virions. Replicons can persist in cells and are passed on during cell division, enabling quick, efficient and high-throughput testing of drug candidates that act on viral transcription, translation and replication. This review will explore the history and potential for drug discovery of hepatitis C virus, dengue virus, respiratory syncytial virus, Ebola virus and norovirus replicon and minigenome systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holger Hannemann
- The Native Antigen Company, Langford Locks, Kidlington OX5 1LH, UK.
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36
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Evaluation of methods for elution of HEV particles in naturally contaminated sausage, figatellu and pig liver. Food Microbiol 2019; 84:103235. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2019.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Revised: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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Hepatitis E Virus Shows More Genomic Alterations in Cell Culture than In Vivo. Pathogens 2019; 8:pathogens8040255. [PMID: 31766624 PMCID: PMC6963849 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens8040255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) mutations following ribavirin treatment have been associated with treatment non-response and viral persistence, but spontaneous occurring genomic variations have been less well characterized. We here set out to study the HEV genome composition in 2 patient sample types and 2 infection models. Near full HEV genome Sanger sequences of serum- and feces-derived HEV from two chronic HEV genotype 3 (gt3) patients were obtained. In addition, viruses were sequenced after in vitro or in vivo expansion on A549 cells or a humanized mouse model, respectively. We show that HEV acquired 19 nucleotide mutations, of which 7 nonsynonymous amino acids changes located in Open Reading Frame 1 (ORF1), ORF2, and ORF3 coding regions, after prolonged in vitro culture. In vivo passage resulted in selection of 8 nucleotide mutations with 2 altered amino acids in the X domain and Poly-proline region of ORF1. Intra-patient comparison of feces- and serum-derived HEV gt3 of two patients showed 7 and 2 nucleotide mutations with 2 and 0 amino acid changes, respectively. Overall, the number of genomic alterations was up to 1.25× per 1000 nucleotides or amino acids in in vivo samples, and up to 2.84× after in vitro expansion of the same clinical HEV strain. In vitro replication of a clinical HEV strain is therefore associated with more mutations, compared to the minor HEV genomic alterations seen after passage of the same strain in an immune deficient humanized mouse; as well as in feces and blood of 2 immunosuppressed chronically infected HEV patients. These data suggest that HEV infected humanized mice more closely reflect the HEV biology seen in solid organ transplant recipients.
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Fu RM, Decker CC, Dao Thi VL. Cell Culture Models for Hepatitis E Virus. Viruses 2019; 11:E608. [PMID: 31277308 PMCID: PMC6669563 DOI: 10.3390/v11070608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite a growing awareness, hepatitis E virus (HEV) remains understudied and investigations have been historically hampered by the absence of efficient cell culture systems. As a result, the pathogenesis of HEV infection and basic steps of the HEV life cycle are poorly understood. Major efforts have recently been made through the development of HEV infectious clones and cellular systems that significantly advanced HEV research. Here, we summarize these systems, discussing their advantages and disadvantages for HEV studies. We further capitalize on the need for HEV-permissive polarized cell models to better recapitulate the entire HEV life cycle and transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Menhua Fu
- Schaller Research Group at Department of Infectious Diseases and Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Cluster of Excellence CellNetworks, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Biosciences International Graduate School, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Charlotte Caroline Decker
- Schaller Research Group at Department of Infectious Diseases and Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Cluster of Excellence CellNetworks, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Biosciences International Graduate School, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Viet Loan Dao Thi
- Schaller Research Group at Department of Infectious Diseases and Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Cluster of Excellence CellNetworks, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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First Crystal Structure of a Nonstructural Hepatitis E Viral Protein Identifies a Putative Novel Zinc-Binding Protein. J Virol 2019; 93:JVI.00170-19. [PMID: 31019049 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00170-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a 7.2-kb positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus containing three partially overlapping reading frames, ORF1 to ORF3. All nonstructural proteins required for viral replication are encoded by ORF1 and are transcribed as a single transcript. Computational analysis of the complete ORF1 polyprotein identified a previously uncharacterized region of predicted secondary structure bordered by two disordered regions coinciding partially with a region predicted as a putative cysteine protease. Following successful cloning, expression, and purification of this region, the crystal structure of the identified protein was determined and identified to have considerable structural homology to a fatty acid binding domain. Further analysis of the structure revealed a metal binding site, shown unambiguously to specifically bind zinc via a nonclassical, potentially catalytic zinc-binding motif. Based on the structural homology of the HEV protein with known structures, along with the presence of a catalytic zinc-binding motif, it is possible that the identified protein corresponds to the HEV protease, which could require activation or repression through the binding of a fatty acid. This represents a significant step forward in the characterization and the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the HEV genome. We present analysis for the first time of this identified nonstructural protein, expanding the knowledge and understanding of the complex mechanisms of HEV biology.IMPORTANCE Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging virus found predominately in developing countries; it causes an estimated 20 million infections, which result in approximately 57,000 deaths a year. Although it is known that the nonstructural proteins of HEV ORF1 are expressed as a single transcript, there is debate as to whether ORF1 functions as a single polyprotein or if it is processed into separate domains via a viral or endogenous cellular protease. Here we present the first structural and biophysical characterization of an HEV nonstructural protein using a construct that has partially overlapping boundaries with the predicted putative cysteine protease.
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Sridhar S, Yip CCY, Wu S, Cai J, Zhang AJX, Leung KH, Chung TWH, Chan JFW, Chan WM, Teng JLL, Au-Yeung RKH, Cheng VCC, Chen H, Lau SKP, Woo PCY, Xia NS, Lo CM, Yuen KY. Rat Hepatitis E Virus as Cause of Persistent Hepatitis after Liver Transplant. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 24:2241-2250. [PMID: 30457530 PMCID: PMC6256372 DOI: 10.3201/eid2412.180937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
All hepatitis E virus (HEV) variants reported to infect humans belong to the species OrthohepevirusA (HEV-A). The zoonotic potential of the species OrthohepevirusC (HEV-C), which circulates in rats and is highly divergent from HEV-A, is unknown. We report a liver transplant recipient with hepatitis caused by HEV-C infection. We detected HEV-C RNA in multiple clinical samples and HEV-C antigen in the liver. The complete genome of the HEV-C isolate had 93.7% nt similarity to an HEV-C strain from Vietnam. The patient had preexisting HEV antibodies, which were not protective against HEV-C infection. Ribavirin was an effective treatment, resulting in resolution of hepatitis and clearance of HEV-C viremia. Testing for this zoonotic virus should be performed for immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients with unexplained hepatitis because routine hepatitis E diagnostic tests may miss HEV-C infection. HEV-C is also a potential threat to the blood product supply.
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41
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Netzler NE, Enosi Tuipulotu D, Vasudevan SG, Mackenzie JM, White PA. Antiviral Candidates for Treating Hepatitis E Virus Infection. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2019; 63:e00003-19. [PMID: 30885901 PMCID: PMC6535575 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00003-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally, hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes significant morbidity and mortality each year. Despite this burden, there are no specific antivirals available to treat HEV patients, and the only licensed vaccine is not available outside China. Ribavirin and alpha interferon are used to treat chronic HEV infections; however, severe side effects and treatment failure are commonly reported. Therefore, this study aimed to identify potential antivirals for further development to combat HEV infection. We selected 16 compounds from the nucleoside and nonnucleoside antiviral classes that range in developmental status from late preclinical to FDA approved and evaluated them as potential antivirals for HEV infection, using genotype 1 replicon luminescence studies and replicon RNA quantification. Two potent inhibitors of HEV replication included NITD008 (half-maximal effective concentration [EC50], 0.03 μM; half-maximal cytotoxic concentration [CC50], >100 μM) and GPC-N114 (EC50, 1.07 μM, CC50, >100 μM), and both drugs reduced replicon RNA levels in cell culture (>50% reduction with either 10 μM GPC-N114 or 2.50 μM NITD008). Furthermore, GPC-N114 and NITD008 were synergistic in combinational treatment (combination index, 0.4) against HEV replication, allowing for dose reduction indices of 20.42 and 8.82 at 50% inhibition, respectively. Sofosbuvir has previously exhibited mixed results against HEV as an antiviral, both in vitro and in a few clinical applications; however, in this study it was effective against the HEV genotype 1 replicon (EC50, 1.97 μM; CC50, >100 μM) and reduced replicon RNA levels (47.2% reduction at 10 μM). Together these studies indicate drug repurposing may be a promising pathway for development of antivirals against HEV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie E Netzler
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Daniel Enosi Tuipulotu
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Jason M Mackenzie
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Peter A White
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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42
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Meister TL, Bruening J, Todt D, Steinmann E. Cell culture systems for the study of hepatitis E virus. Antiviral Res 2019; 163:34-49. [PMID: 30653997 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2019.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the causative agent of hepatitis E in humans and is the leading cause of enterically-transmitted viral hepatitis worldwide. Increasing numbers of HEV infections, together with no available specific anti-HEV treatment, contributes to the pathogen's major health burden. A robust cell culture system is required for virologic studies and the development of new antiviral drugs. Unfortunately, like other hepatitis viruses, HEV is difficult to propagate in conventional cell lines. Many different cell culture systems have been tested using various HEV strains, but viral replication usually progresses very slowly, and infection with low virion counts results in non-productive HEV replication. However, recent progress involving generation of cDNA clones and passaging primary patient isolates in distinct cell lines has improved in vitro HEV propagation. This review describes various approaches to cultivate HEV in cellular and animal models and how these systems are used to study HEV infections and evaluate anti-HEV drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toni L Meister
- Ruhr-University Bochum, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Bochum, Germany
| | - Janina Bruening
- Ruhr-University Bochum, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Bochum, Germany
| | - Daniel Todt
- Ruhr-University Bochum, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Eike Steinmann
- Ruhr-University Bochum, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Bochum, Germany.
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43
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Ankavay M, Dubuisson J, Cocquerel L. [The hepatitis E virus, an unknown virus that reveals itself]. Med Sci (Paris) 2019; 34:1071-1078. [PMID: 30623765 DOI: 10.1051/medsci/2018299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The first cause of acute hepatitis in the world is due to the hepatitis E virus (HEV). This infection has long been considered as a problem only affecting developing countries. However, since the identification of zoonotic forms at the end of the last century, it has become clear that this infection also affects industrialized countries. The recent renewed interest in HEV has revealed some particularities in this virus. Indeed, although considered as a non-enveloped virus, the HEV viral particle is surrounded by a lipid membrane in the bloodstream. In addition, HEV secretes abundantly into the bloodstream non-infectious forms of its capsid protein that could serve as an immunological bait. This review summarizes recent advances on this virus for which the number of diagnosed cases increases every year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maliki Ankavay
- Université de Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR8204-CIIL- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille 1, rue du Professeur Calmette, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Jean Dubuisson
- Université de Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR8204-CIIL- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille 1, rue du Professeur Calmette, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Laurence Cocquerel
- Université de Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR8204-CIIL- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille 1, rue du Professeur Calmette, F-59000 Lille, France
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Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) possesses many of the features of other positive-stranded RNA viruses but also adds HEV-specific nuances, making its virus-host interactions unique. Slow virus replication kinetics and fastidious growth conditions, coupled with the historical lack of an efficient cell culture system to propagate the virus, have left many gaps in our understanding of its structure and replication cycle. Recent advances in culturing selected strains of HEV and resolving the 3D structure of the viral capsid are filling in knowledge gaps, but HEV remains an extremely understudied pathogen. Many steps in the HEV life cycle and many aspects of HEV pathogenesis remain unknown, such as the host and viral factors that determine cross-species infection, the HEV-specific receptor(s) on host cells, what determines HEV chronicity and the ability to replicate in extrahepatic sites, and what regulates processing of the open reading frame 1 (ORF1) nonstructural polyprotein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott P Kenney
- Food Animal Health Research Program, The Ohio State University, Wooster, Ohio 44691
| | - Xiang-Jin Meng
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
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45
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Life cycle and morphogenesis of the hepatitis E virus. Emerg Microbes Infect 2018; 7:196. [PMID: 30498191 PMCID: PMC6265337 DOI: 10.1038/s41426-018-0198-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Revised: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is transmitted primarily via contaminated water and food by the fecal oral route and causes epidemics in developing countries. In industrialized countries, zoonotic transmission of HEV is prevalent. In addition, HEV is the major cause of acute hepatitis in healthy adults and can cause chronic hepatitis in immunocompromised patients, with pregnant HEV-infected women having increased mortality rates of approximately 25%. HEV was once an understudied and neglected virus. However, in recent years, the safety of blood products with respect to HEV has increasingly been considered to be a public health problem. The establishment of HEV infection models has enabled significant progress to be made in understanding its life cycle. HEV infects cells via a receptor (complex) that has yet to be identified. The HEV replication cycle is initiated immediately after the (+) stranded RNA genome is released into the cell cytosol. Subsequently, infectious viral particles are released by the ESCRT complex as quasi-enveloped viruses (eHEVs) into the serum, whereas feces and urine contain only nonenveloped infectious viral progeny. The uncoating of the viral envelope takes place in the biliary tract, resulting in the generation of a nonenveloped virus that is more resistant to environmental stress and possesses a higher infectivity than that of eHEV. This review summarizes the current knowledge regarding the HEV life cycle, viral morphogenesis, established model systems and vaccine development.
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Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important human pathogen that historically has been difficult to study. Limited levels of replication in vitro hindered our understanding of the viral life cycle. Sporadic and low-level virus shedding, lack of standardized detection methods, and subclinical infections made the development of animal models difficult. Better diagnostic techniques and understanding of the virus increased our ability to identify and characterize animal strains and animals that are amenable to model human-relevant infection. These advances are translating into the development of useful HEV animal models so that some of the greatest concerns associated with HEV infection, including host immunology, chronic infection, severe pregnancy mortality, and extrahepatic manifestations, can now be studied. Continued development of these animal models will be instrumental in understanding the many complex questions associated with HEV infection and for assessing therapeutics and prevention strategies to minimize HEV becoming a greater risk to the human population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott P Kenney
- Food Animal Health Research Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ohio State University, Wooster, Ohio 44691, USA;
| | - Xiang-Jin Meng
- Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, USA;
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Anang S, Kaushik N, Surjit M. Recent Advances Towards the Development of a Potent Antiviral Against the Hepatitis E Virus. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2018; 6:310-316. [PMID: 30271744 PMCID: PMC6160310 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2018.00005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Revised: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the leading causes of acute viral hepatitis. It also causes acute liver failure and acute-on-chronic liver failure in many patients, such as those suffering from other infections/liver injuries or organ transplant/chemotherapy recipients. Despite widespread sporadic and epidemic incidents, there is no specific treatment against HEV, justifying an urgent need for developing a potent antiviral against it. This review summarizes the known antiviral candidates and provides an overview of the potential targets for the development of specific antivirals against HEV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saumya Anang
- Virology Laboratory, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Research Centre, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Nidhi Kaushik
- Virology Laboratory, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Research Centre, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Milan Surjit
- Virology Laboratory, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Research Centre, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad, Haryana, India
- *Correspondence to: Milan Surjit, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Research Centre, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, PO Box No. 04, Faridabad-121001, Haryana, India. Tel: +91-129-2876-318, Fax: +91-129-2876400, E-mail:
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Molecular Analysis and Modeling of Hepatitis E Virus Helicase and Identification of Novel Inhibitors by Virtual Screening. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 2018:5753804. [PMID: 30246023 PMCID: PMC6136533 DOI: 10.1155/2018/5753804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The hepatitis E virus- (HEV-) helicase as a novel drug-target was evaluated. While cell culture model was used for mutational characterization of helicase, in silico protein modeling and virtual screening were employed to identify helicase inhibitors. None of the saturation mutant replicons significantly affected RNA replication. Notably, mutants encompassing the Walker motifs replicated as wild-type, showing indispensability of nucleotides conservation in viability compared to known criticality of amino acids. A 3D modeling of HEV-helicase and screening of a compound dataset identified ten most promising inhibitors with drug likeness, notably, JFD02650, RDR03130, and HTS11136 that interacted with Walker A residues Gly975, Gly978, Ser979, and Gly980. Our model building and virtual identification of novel helicase inhibitors warrant further studies towards developing anti-HEV drugs.
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Todt D, Moeller N, Praditya D, Kinast V, Friesland M, Engelmann M, Verhoye L, Sayed IM, Behrendt P, Dao Thi VL, Meuleman P, Steinmann E. The natural compound silvestrol inhibits hepatitis E virus (HEV) replication in vitro and in vivo. Antiviral Res 2018; 157:151-158. [PMID: 30036559 PMCID: PMC7113770 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2018.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the causative agent of hepatitis E in humans and a member of the genus Orthohepevirus in the family Hepeviridae. HEV infections are the common cause of acute hepatitis but can also take chronic courses. Ribavirin is the treatment of choice for most patients and type I interferon (IFN) has been evaluated in a few infected transplantation patients in vivo. However, no effective and specific treatments against HEV infections are currently available. In this study, we evaluated the natural compound silvestrol, isolated from the plant Aglaia foveolata, and known for its specific inhibition of the DEAD-box RNA helicase eIF4A in state-of-the-art HEV experimental model systems. Silvestrol blocked HEV replication of different subgenomic replicons in a dose-dependent manner at low nanomolar concentrations and acted additive to ribavirin (RBV). In addition, HEV p6-based full length replication and production of infectious particles was reduced in the presence of silvestrol. A pangenotypic effect of the compound was further demonstrated with primary isolates from four different human genotypes in HEV infection experiments of hepatocyte-like cells derived from human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells. In vivo, HEV RNA levels rapidly declined in the feces of treated mice while no effect was observed in the vehicle treated control animals. In conclusion, silvestrol could be identified as pangenotypic HEV replication inhibitor in vitro with additive effect to RBV and further demonstrated high potency in vivo. The compound therefore may be considered in future treatment strategies of chronic hepatitis E in immunocompromised patients. The natural compound silvestrol is a potent inhibitor of HEV replication. HEV infection of laboratory and primary isolates could be inhibited by silvestrol. Silvestrol demonstrated high potency in human liver chimeric mice. Targeting translation initiation could be a novel antiviral strategy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis E.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Todt
- Ruhr-University Bochum, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Germany; Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a Joint Venture Between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Feodor-Lynen-Str. 7, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Nora Moeller
- Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a Joint Venture Between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Feodor-Lynen-Str. 7, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Dimas Praditya
- Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a Joint Venture Between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Feodor-Lynen-Str. 7, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Volker Kinast
- Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a Joint Venture Between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Feodor-Lynen-Str. 7, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Martina Friesland
- Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a Joint Venture Between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Feodor-Lynen-Str. 7, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Michael Engelmann
- Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a Joint Venture Between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Feodor-Lynen-Str. 7, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Lieven Verhoye
- Laboratory of Liver Infectious Diseases, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Vaccinology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ibrahim M Sayed
- Laboratory of Liver Infectious Diseases, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Vaccinology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assuit University, Assuit, Egypt
| | - Patrick Behrendt
- Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a Joint Venture Between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Feodor-Lynen-Str. 7, 30625, Hannover, Germany; Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | - Viet Loan Dao Thi
- Department of Virology, University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany; Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Philip Meuleman
- Laboratory of Liver Infectious Diseases, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Vaccinology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Eike Steinmann
- Ruhr-University Bochum, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Germany; Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a Joint Venture Between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Feodor-Lynen-Str. 7, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
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50
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Wang W, Wang Y, Qu C, Wang S, Zhou J, Cao W, Xu L, Ma B, Hakim MS, Yin Y, Li T, Peppelenbosch MP, Zhao J, Pan Q. The RNA genome of hepatitis E virus robustly triggers an antiviral interferon response. Hepatology 2018; 67:2096-2112. [PMID: 29194722 DOI: 10.1002/hep.29702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 11/22/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The outcomes of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection are diverse, ranging from asymptomatic carrier, self-limiting acute infection, and fulminant hepatitis to persistent infection. This is closely associated with the immunological status of the host. This study aimed to understand the innate cellular immunity as the first-line defense mechanism in response to HEV infection. Phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1, a hallmark of the activation of antiviral interferon (IFN) response, was observed in the liver tissues of the majority of HEV-infected patients but not in the liver of uninfected individuals. In cultured cell lines and primary liver organoids, we found that HEV RNA genome potently induced IFN production and antiviral response. This mechanism is conserved among different HEV strains, including genotypes 1, 3, and 7 as tested. Interestingly, single-stranded HEV RNA is sufficient to trigger the antiviral response, without the requirement of viral RNA synthesis and the generation of an RNA replicative form or replicative intermediate. Surprisingly, the m7 G cap and poly A tail are not required, although both are key features of the HEV genome. Mechanistically, this antiviral response occurs in a retinoic acid-inducible gene-I-independent, melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5-independent, mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein-independent, and β-catenin-independent but IRF3-dependent and IRF7-dependent manner. Furthermore, the integrity of the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway is essentially required. CONCLUSION HEV infection elicits an active IFN-related antiviral response in vitro and in patients, triggered by the viral RNA and mediated by IFN regulatory factors 3 and 7 and the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription cascade; these findings have revealed new insights into HEV-host interactions and provided the basis for understanding the pathogenesis and outcome of HEV infection. (Hepatology 2018;67:2096-2112).
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenshi Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yijin Wang
- Department of Pathology and Hepatology, Beijing 302 Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Changbo Qu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Shan Wang
- Department of Pathology and Hepatology, Beijing 302 Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianhua Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu, People's Republic of China
| | - Wanlu Cao
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lei Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Buyun Ma
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mohamad S Hakim
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Yuebang Yin
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tiancheng Li
- Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Gakuen 4-7-1 Musashi-murayama, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Maikel P Peppelenbosch
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jingmin Zhao
- Department of Pathology and Hepatology, Beijing 302 Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiuwei Pan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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