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Guo L, Li B, Han P, Dong N, Zhu Y, Li F, Si H, Shi Z, Wang B, Yang X, Zhang Y. Identification of a Novel Hepacivirus in Southeast Asian Shrew ( Crocidura fuliginosa) from Yunnan Province, China. Pathogens 2023; 12:1400. [PMID: 38133285 PMCID: PMC10745850 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12121400] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The genus Hepacivirus contains single-stranded positive-sense RNA viruses belonging to the family Flaviviridae, which comprises 14 species. These 14 hepaciviruses have been found in different mammals, such as primates, dogs, bats, and rodents. To date, Hepacivirus has not been reported in the shrew genus of Crocidura. To study the prevalence and genetic evolution of Hepacivirus in small mammals in Yunnan Province, China, molecular detection of Hepacivirus in small mammals from Yunnan Province during 2016 and 2017 was performed using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Our results showed that the overall infection rate of Hepacivirus in small mammals was 0.12% (2/1602), and the host animal was the Southeast Asian shrew (Crocidura fuliginosa) (12.5%, 2/16). Quantitative real-time PCR showed that Hepacivirus had the highest viral RNA copy number in the liver. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the hepaciviruses obtained in this study does not belong to any designated species of hepaciviruses and forms an independent clade. To conclude, a novel hepacivirus was identified for the first time in C. fuliginosa specimens from Yunnan Province, China. This study expands the host range and viral diversity of hepaciviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Guo
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Pathogenic Plant Resources Screening, Yunnan Province Key University Laboratory of Zoonoses Cross-Border Prevention and Quarantine, Institute of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; (L.G.); (P.H.); (N.D.); (F.L.)
- Chongqing Jiangbei District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chongqing 400020, China
| | - Bei Li
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; (B.L.); (Y.Z.); (H.S.); (Z.S.)
| | - Peiyu Han
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Pathogenic Plant Resources Screening, Yunnan Province Key University Laboratory of Zoonoses Cross-Border Prevention and Quarantine, Institute of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; (L.G.); (P.H.); (N.D.); (F.L.)
| | - Na Dong
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Pathogenic Plant Resources Screening, Yunnan Province Key University Laboratory of Zoonoses Cross-Border Prevention and Quarantine, Institute of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; (L.G.); (P.H.); (N.D.); (F.L.)
| | - Yan Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; (B.L.); (Y.Z.); (H.S.); (Z.S.)
| | - Fuli Li
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Pathogenic Plant Resources Screening, Yunnan Province Key University Laboratory of Zoonoses Cross-Border Prevention and Quarantine, Institute of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; (L.G.); (P.H.); (N.D.); (F.L.)
| | - Haorui Si
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; (B.L.); (Y.Z.); (H.S.); (Z.S.)
| | - Zhengli Shi
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; (B.L.); (Y.Z.); (H.S.); (Z.S.)
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA;
| | - Xinglou Yang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Information, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650023, China
| | - Yunzhi Zhang
- Yunnan Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Pathogenic Plant Resources Screening, Yunnan Province Key University Laboratory of Zoonoses Cross-Border Prevention and Quarantine, Institute of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; (L.G.); (P.H.); (N.D.); (F.L.)
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Kuhn RJ, Barrett ADT, Desilva AM, Harris E, Kramer LD, Montgomery RR, Pierson TC, Sette A, Diamond MS. A Prototype-Pathogen Approach for the Development of Flavivirus Countermeasures. J Infect Dis 2023; 228:S398-S413. [PMID: 37849402 PMCID: PMC10582523 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Flaviviruses are a genus within the Flaviviridae family of positive-strand RNA viruses and are transmitted principally through mosquito and tick vectors. These viruses are responsible for hundreds of millions of human infections worldwide per year that result in a range of illnesses from self-limiting febrile syndromes to severe neurotropic and viscerotropic diseases and, in some cases, death. A vaccine against the prototype flavivirus, yellow fever virus, has been deployed for 85 years and is highly effective. While vaccines against some medically important flaviviruses are available, others have proven challenging to develop. The emergence and spread of flaviviruses, including dengue virus and Zika virus, demonstrate their pandemic potential. This review highlights the gaps in knowledge that need to be addressed to allow for the rapid development of vaccines against emerging flaviviruses in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Kuhn
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
- Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology, and Infectious Disease, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Alan D T Barrett
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Aravinda M Desilva
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Eva Harris
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Laura D Kramer
- School of Public Health, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Ruth R Montgomery
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Theodore C Pierson
- Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Alessandro Sette
- Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California in San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Michael S Diamond
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
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3
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Toon K, Kalemera MD, Palor M, Rose NJ, Takeuchi Y, Grove J, Mattiuzzo G. GB Virus B and Hepatitis C Virus, Distantly Related Hepaciviruses, Share an Entry Factor, Claudin-1. J Virol 2023; 97:e0046923. [PMID: 37310242 PMCID: PMC10373534 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00469-23] [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: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to increased and broadened screening efforts, the last decade has seen a rapid expansion in the number of viral species classified into the Hepacivirus genus. Conserved genetic features of hepaciviruses suggest that they have undergone specific adaptation and have evolved to hijack similar host proteins for efficient propagation in the liver. Here, we developed pseudotyped viruses to elucidate the entry factors of GB virus B (GBV-B), the first hepacivirus described in an animal after hepatitis C virus (HCV). GBV-B-pseudotyped viral particles (GBVBpp) were shown to be uniquely sensitive to the sera of tamarins infected with GBV-B, validating their usefulness as a surrogate for GBV-B entry studies. We screened GBVBpp infection of human hepatoma cell lines that were CRISPR/Cas9 engineered to ablate the expression of individual HCV receptors/entry factors and found that claudin-1 is essential for GBV-B infection, indicating the GBV-B and HCV share an entry factor. Our data suggest that claudin-1 facilitates HCV and GBV-B entry through distinct mechanisms since the former requires the first extracellular loop and the latter is reliant on a C-terminal region containing the second extracellular loop. The observation that claudin-1 is an entry factor shared between these two hepaciviruses suggests that the tight junction protein is of fundamental mechanistic importance during cell entry. IMPORTANCE Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health burden; approximately 58 million individuals have chronic HCV infection and are at risk of developing cirrhosis and liver cancer. To achieve the World Health Organization's target of eliminating hepatitis by 2030, new therapeutics and vaccines are needed. Understanding how HCV enters cells can inform the design of new vaccines and treatments targeting the first stage of infection. However, the HCV cell entry mechanism is complex and has been sparsely described. Studying the entry of related hepaciviruses will increase the knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of the first stages of HCV infection, such as membrane fusion, and inform structure-guided HCV vaccine design; in this work, we have identified a protein, claudin-1, that facilitates the entry of an HCV-related hepacivirus but with a mechanism not described for HCV. Similar work on other hepaciviruses may unveil a commonality of entry factors and, possibly, new mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamilla Toon
- Science Research and Innovation, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, South Mimms, United Kingdom
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mphatso D. Kalemera
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Machaela Palor
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola J. Rose
- Science Research and Innovation, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, South Mimms, United Kingdom
| | - Yasuhiro Takeuchi
- Science Research and Innovation, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, South Mimms, United Kingdom
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joe Grove
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Giada Mattiuzzo
- Science Research and Innovation, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, South Mimms, United Kingdom
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Li YQ, Ghafari M, Holbrook AJ, Boonen I, Amor N, Catalano S, Webster JP, Li YY, Li HT, Vergote V, Maes P, Chong YL, Laudisoit A, Baelo P, Ngoy S, Mbalitini SG, Gembu GC, Musaba AP, Goüy de Bellocq J, Leirs H, Verheyen E, Pybus OG, Katzourakis A, Alagaili AN, Gryseels S, Li YC, Suchard MA, Bletsa M, Lemey P. The evolutionary history of hepaciviruses. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.30.547218. [PMID: 37425679 PMCID: PMC10327235 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.30.547218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
In the search for natural reservoirs of hepatitis C virus (HCV), a broad diversity of non-human viruses within the Hepacivirus genus has been uncovered. However, the evolutionary dynamics that shaped the diversity and timescale of hepaciviruses evolution remain elusive. To gain further insights into the origins and evolution of this genus, we screened a large dataset of wild mammal samples (n = 1,672) from Africa and Asia, and generated 34 full-length hepacivirus genomes. Phylogenetic analysis of these data together with publicly available genomes emphasizes the importance of rodents as hepacivirus hosts and we identify 13 rodent species and 3 rodent genera (in Cricetidae and Muridae families) as novel hosts of hepaciviruses. Through co-phylogenetic analyses, we demonstrate that hepacivirus diversity has been affected by cross-species transmission events against the backdrop of detectable signal of virus-host co-divergence in the deep evolutionary history. Using a Bayesian phylogenetic multidimensional scaling approach, we explore the extent to which host relatedness and geographic distances have structured present-day hepacivirus diversity. Our results provide evidence for a substantial structuring of mammalian hepacivirus diversity by host as well as geography, with a somewhat more irregular diffusion process in geographic space. Finally, using a mechanistic model that accounts for substitution saturation, we provide the first formal estimates of the timescale of hepacivirus evolution and estimate the origin of the genus to be about 22 million years ago. Our results offer a comprehensive overview of the micro- and macroevolutionary processes that have shaped hepacivirus diversity and enhance our understanding of the long-term evolution of the Hepacivirus genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- YQ Li
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - M Ghafari
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1, UK
| | - AJ Holbrook
- Department of Biostatistics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - I Boonen
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - N Amor
- Laboratory of Biodiversity, Parasitology, and Ecology of Aquatic Ecosystems, Department of Biology - Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, 2092, Tunisia
| | - S Catalano
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Herts, AL9 7TA, UK
| | - JP Webster
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Herts, AL9 7TA, UK
| | - YY Li
- College of Life Sciences, Linyi University, Linyi, 276000, China
- Marine College, Shandong University (Weihai), Weihai, 264209, China
| | - HT Li
- College of Life Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, 252000, China
- Marine College, Shandong University (Weihai), Weihai, 264209, China
| | - V Vergote
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - P Maes
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - YL Chong
- Animal Resource Science and Management Group, Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), 94300, Malaysia
- Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - A Laudisoit
- EcoHealth Alliance, New York, NY 10018, USA
- Evolutionary Ecology group (EVECO), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, 2020, Belgium
| | - P Baelo
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Kisangani, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - S Ngoy
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Kisangani, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - SG Mbalitini
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Kisangani, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - GC Gembu
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Kisangani, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Akawa P Musaba
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Kisangani, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - J Goüy de Bellocq
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - H Leirs
- Evolutionary Ecology group (EVECO), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, 2020, Belgium
| | - E Verheyen
- Evolutionary Ecology group (EVECO), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, 2020, Belgium
| | - OG Pybus
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1, UK
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Herts, AL9 7TA, UK
| | - A Katzourakis
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1, UK
| | - AN Alagaili
- Laboratory of Biodiversity, Parasitology, and Ecology of Aquatic Ecosystems, Department of Biology - Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, 2092, Tunisia
| | - S Gryseels
- Evolutionary Ecology group (EVECO), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, 2020, Belgium
| | - YC Li
- Marine College, Shandong University (Weihai), Weihai, 264209, China
| | - MA Suchard
- Department of Biostatistics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - M Bletsa
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Department of Hygiene Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, 11527, Greece
| | - P Lemey
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
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5
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Vieyres G, Pietschmann T. The role of human lipoproteins for hepatitis C virus persistence. Curr Opin Virol 2023; 60:101327. [PMID: 37031484 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2023.101327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a hepatotropic virus that establishes a chronic infection in most individuals. Effective treatments are available; however, many patients are not aware of their infection. Consequently, they do not receive treatment and HCV transmission remains high, particularly among groups at high risk of exposure such as people who inject intravenous drugs. A prophylactic vaccine may reduce HCV transmission, but is currently not available. HCV has evolved immune evasion strategies, which facilitate persistence and complicate development of a protective vaccine. The peculiar association of HCV particles with human lipoproteins is thought to facilitate evasion from humoral immune response and viral homing to liver cells. A better understanding of these aspects provides the basis for development of protective vaccination strategies. Here, we review key information about the composition of HCV particles, the mechanisms mediating lipoprotein incorporation, and the functional consequences of this interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle Vieyres
- Leibniz Institute of Virology, Hamburg, Germany; Integrative Analysis of Pathogen-Induced Compartments, Leibniz ScienceCampus InterACt, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Pietschmann
- Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Medical School Hannover and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Hanover, Germany.
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Lopez-Scarim J, Nambiar SM, Billerbeck E. Studying T Cell Responses to Hepatotropic Viruses in the Liver Microenvironment. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:681. [PMID: 36992265 PMCID: PMC10056334 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11030681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
T cells play an important role in the clearance of hepatotropic viruses but may also cause liver injury and contribute to disease progression in chronic hepatitis B and C virus infections which affect millions of people worldwide. The liver provides a unique microenvironment of immunological tolerance and hepatic immune regulation can modulate the functional properties of T cell subsets and influence the outcome of a virus infection. Extensive research over the last years has advanced our understanding of hepatic conventional CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and unconventional T cell subsets and their functions in the liver environment during acute and chronic viral infections. The recent development of new small animal models and technological advances should further increase our knowledge of hepatic immunological mechanisms. Here we provide an overview of the existing models to study hepatic T cells and review the current knowledge about the distinct roles of heterogeneous T cell populations during acute and chronic viral hepatitis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Eva Billerbeck
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
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7
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Chen S, Harris M. NS5A domain I antagonises PKR to facilitate the assembly of infectious hepatitis C virus particles. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1010812. [PMID: 36795772 PMCID: PMC9977016 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus NS5A is a multifunctional phosphoprotein comprised of three domains (DI, DII and DIII). DI and DII have been shown to function in genome replication, whereas DIII has a role in virus assembly. We previously demonstrated that DI in genotype 2a (JFH1) also plays a role in virus assembly, exemplified by the P145A mutant which blocked infectious virus production. Here we extend this analysis to identify two other conserved and surface exposed residues proximal to P145 (C142 and E191) that exhibited no defect in genome replication but impaired virus production. Further analysis revealed changes in the abundance of dsRNA, the size and distribution of lipid droplets (LD) and the co-localisation between NS5A and LDs in cells infected with these mutants, compared to wildtype. In parallel, to investigate the mechanism(s) underpinning this role of DI, we assessed the involvement of the interferon-induced double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR). In PKR-silenced cells, C142A and E191A exhibited levels of infectious virus production, LD size and co-localisation between NS5A and LD that were indistinguishable from wildtype. Co-immunoprecipitation and in vitro pulldown experiments confirmed that wildtype NS5A domain I (but not C142A or E191A) interacted with PKR. We further showed that the assembly phenotype of C142A and E191A was restored by ablation of interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF1), a downstream effector of PKR. These data suggest a novel interaction between NS5A DI and PKR that functions to evade an antiviral pathway that blocks virus assembly through IRF1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shucheng Chen
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, 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
- * E-mail:
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8
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Mifsud JCO, Costa VA, Petrone ME, Marzinelli EM, Holmes EC, Harvey E. Transcriptome mining extends the host range of the Flaviviridae to non-bilaterians. Virus Evol 2022; 9:veac124. [PMID: 36694816 PMCID: PMC9854234 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veac124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The flavivirids (family Flaviviridae) are a group of positive-sense RNA viruses that include well-documented agents of human disease. Despite their importance and ubiquity, the timescale of flavivirid evolution is uncertain. An ancient origin, spanning millions of years, is supported by their presence in both vertebrates and invertebrates and by the identification of a flavivirus-derived endogenous viral element in the peach blossom jellyfish genome (Craspedacusta sowerbii, phylum Cnidaria), implying that the flaviviruses arose early in the evolution of the Metazoa. To date, however, no exogenous flavivirid sequences have been identified in these hosts. To help resolve the antiquity of the Flaviviridae, we mined publicly available transcriptome data across the Metazoa. From this, we expanded the diversity within the family through the identification of 32 novel viral sequences and extended the host range of the pestiviruses to include amphibians, reptiles, and ray-finned fish. Through co-phylogenetic analysis we found cross-species transmission to be the predominate macroevolutionary event across the non-vectored flavivirid genera (median, 68 per cent), including a cross-species transmission event between bats and rodents, although long-term virus-host co-divergence was still a regular occurrence (median, 23 per cent). Notably, we discovered flavivirus-like sequences in basal metazoan species, including the first associated with Cnidaria. This sequence formed a basal lineage to the genus Flavivirus and was closer to arthropod and crustacean flaviviruses than those in the tamanavirus group, which includes a variety of invertebrate and vertebrate viruses. Combined, these data attest to an ancient origin of the flaviviruses, likely close to the emergence of the metazoans 750-800 million years ago.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vincenzo A Costa
- Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Mary E Petrone
- Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Ezequiel M Marzinelli
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2006, Australia,Sydney Institute of Marine Science, 19 Chowder Bay Rd, Mosman, NSW 2088, Australia,Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551 Singapore
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Schwoerer MP, Ploss A. Barriers to hepatitis C virus infection in mice. Curr Opin Virol 2022; 56:101273. [PMID: 36244239 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2022.101273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is unable to infect mice, a fact that has severely limited their use as small-animal models for HCV pathogenesis and as tools for HCV vaccine development. HCV is blocked at various stages of its life cycle in mouse cells, due to incompatibility with host factors, the presence of dominant restriction factors, and effective immune responses. Molecular mechanisms for several such blocks have been characterized. The stepwise understanding of these limitations in mice will enable the development of an immunocompetent mouse that can fully support HCV infection and exhibit disease similar to that of infected humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexander Ploss
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
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10
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Pacchiarotti G, Nardini R, Scicluna MT. Equine Hepacivirus: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis of Serological and Biomolecular Prevalence and a Phylogenetic Update. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:2486. [PMID: 36230228 PMCID: PMC9558973 DOI: 10.3390/ani12192486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Viral hepatitis has recently assumed relevance for equine veterinary medicine since a variety of new viruses have been discovered. Equine Hepacivirus (EqHV) is an RNA virus belonging to the Flaviviridae family that can cause subclinical hepatitis in horses, occasionally evolving into a chronic disease. EqHV, to date, is considered the closest known relative of human HCV. EqHV has been reported worldwide therefore assessing its features is relevant, considering both the wide use of blood products and transfusions in veterinary therapies and its similitude to HCV. The present review resumes the actual knowledge on EqHV epidemiology, risk factors and immunology, together with potential diagnostics and good practices for prevention. Moreover, adhering to PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews a meta-analysis of serological and biomolecular prevalence and an updated phylogenetic description is presented as a benchmark for further studies.
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11
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Severe Acute Hepatitis Outbreaks Associated with a Novel Hepacivirus in Rhizomys pruinosus in Hainan, China. J Virol 2022; 96:e0078222. [PMID: 36005760 PMCID: PMC9472637 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00782-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the genus Hepacivirus have a broad range of hosts, with at least 14 species identified. To date, a highly pathogenic hepacivirus causing severe disease in animals has not been found. Here, by using high-throughput sequencing, a new hepacivirus was identified as the dominant and highly pathogenic virus in severe acute hepatitis outbreaks in bamboo rats (Rhizomys pruinosus), with ≈80% mortality; this virus emerged in February 2020 in two bamboo rat farms in China. Hepaciviral genome copies in bamboo rat liver were significantly higher than in other organs. Genomic sequences of hepacivirus strains from 12 sick bamboo rats were found to share 85.3 to 100% nucleotide (nt) identity and 94.9 to 100% amino acid (aa) identity and to share 79.7 to 87.8% nt and 90.4 to 97.8% aa identities with previously reported bamboo rat hepaciviruses of Vietnam and China. Sequence analysis further revealed the simultaneous circulation of genetically divergent hepacivirus variants within the two outbreaks. Phylogenetic analysis showed that hepacivirus strains from the present and previous studies formed an independent clade comprised of at least two genotypes, clearly different from all other known species, suggesting a novel species within the genus Hepacivirus. This is the first report of a non-human-infecting hepacivirus causing potentially fatal infection of bamboo rats, and the associated hepatitis in the animals potentially can be used to develop a surrogate model for the study of hepatitis C virus infection in humans and for the development of therapeutic strategies. IMPORTANCE Members of the genus Hepacivirus have a broad host range, with at least 14 species identified, but none is highly pathogenic to its host except for hepatitis C virus, which causes severe liver diseases in humans. In this study, a new liver-tropic hepacivirus species was identified by high-throughput sequencing as the pathogen associated with two outbreaks of severely acute hepatitis in hoary bamboo rats (Rhizomys pruinosus) on two farms in Hainan Province, China; this is the first reported highly pathogenic animal hepacivirus to our knowledge. Further phylogenetic analysis suggested that the hepaciviruses derived from hoary bamboo rats in either the current or previous studies represent a novel species within the genus Hepacivirus. This finding is a breakthrough that has significantly updated our understanding about the pathogenicity of animal hepaciviruses, and the hepacivirus-associated hepatitis in bamboo rats may have a use as an animal infection model to understand HCV infection and develop therapeutic strategies.
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12
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Panigrahi M, Palmer MA, Wilson JA. MicroRNA-122 Regulation of HCV Infections: Insights from Studies of miR-122-Independent Replication. Pathogens 2022; 11:1005. [PMID: 36145436 PMCID: PMC9504723 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11091005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the advancement in antiviral therapy, Hepatitis C remains a global health challenge and one of the leading causes of hepatitis related deaths worldwide. Hepatitis C virus, the causative agent, is a positive strand RNA virus that requires a liver specific microRNA called miR-122 for its replication. Unconventional to the canonical role of miRNAs in translation suppression by binding to 3'Untranslated Region (UTR) of messenger RNAs, miR-122 binds to two sites on the 5'UTR of viral genome and promotes viral propagation. In this review, we describe the unique relationship between the liver specific microRNA and HCV, the current knowledge on the mechanisms by which the virus uses miR-122 to promote the virus life cycle, and how miR-122 impacts viral tropism and pathogenesis. We will also discuss the use of anti-miR-122 therapy and its impact on viral evolution of miR-122-independent replication. This review further provides insight into how viruses manipulate host factors at the initial stage of infection to establish a successful infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Joyce A. Wilson
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada
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13
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de Souza AJS, Malheiros AP, da Silva VL, da Silva TC, Cogliati B, de Sá LRM. Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Free-Ranging Three-Toed Sloth (Bradypus variegatus). Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12151921. [PMID: 35953911 PMCID: PMC9367539 DOI: 10.3390/ani12151921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasing interest of tumors in wildlife is important for biodiversity conservation and for monitoring environmental agents and/or contaminants with potential impact on human health. Here we described the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in noncirrhotic liver of a free-ranging three-toed sloth (Bradypus variegatus) from the Atlantic Forest biome in Brazil. The HCC showed a moderate mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate within the tumor tissue but with no inflammation and fibrosis in the adjacent liver tissue. Upon immunohistochemistry, neoplastic cells were diffusely positive for HepPar-1 and glutamine-synthetase presenting an irregular and random immunostaining pattern; β-catenin was positive in the cytoplasmic membrane of malignant hepatocytes; and cytokeratin 19 immunostaining was restricted to bile duct epithelial cells. The liver tissue was negative for HBV-like and HCV-like viruses assessed by molecular tests. The potential similarity of pathogenesis may reinforce the need for research on environmental and/or infectious agents associated with HCC that may contribute to the understanding of cancer in wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Junior Souza de Souza
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil; (A.J.S.d.S.); (T.C.d.S.); (B.C.)
| | | | | | - Tereza Cristina da Silva
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil; (A.J.S.d.S.); (T.C.d.S.); (B.C.)
| | - Bruno Cogliati
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil; (A.J.S.d.S.); (T.C.d.S.); (B.C.)
| | - Lilian Rose Marques de Sá
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil; (A.J.S.d.S.); (T.C.d.S.); (B.C.)
- Correspondence:
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14
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Expanded Diversity and Host Range of Bovine Hepacivirus—Genomic and Serological Evidence in Domestic and Wild Ruminant Species. Viruses 2022; 14:v14071457. [PMID: 35891438 PMCID: PMC9319978 DOI: 10.3390/v14071457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related bovine hepacivirus (BovHepV) can cause acute as well as persistent infections in cattle. The true clinical relevance of the virus is not yet known. As reliable antibody detection methods are lacking and prevalence studies have only been conducted in cattle and few countries to date, the true distribution, genetic diversity, and host range is probably greatly underestimated. In this study, we applied several RT-PCR methods and a nano-luciferase-based immunoprecipitation system (LIPS) assay to analyze bovine serum samples from Bulgaria as well as wild ruminant sera from Germany and the Czech Republic. Using these methods, BovHepV infections were confirmed in Bulgarian cattle, with viral genomes detected in 6.9% and serological reactions against the BovHepV NS3 helicase domain in 10% of bovine serum samples. Genetic analysis demonstrated co-circulation of highly diverse BovHepV strains in Bulgarian cattle, and three novel BovHepV subtypes within the genotype 1 could be defined. Furthermore, application of a nested RT-PCR led to the first description of a BovHepV variant (genotype 2) in a wild ruminant species. The results of this study significantly enhance our knowledge of BovHepV distribution, genetic diversity, and host range.
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15
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Stapleton JT. Human Pegivirus Type 1: A Common Human Virus That Is Beneficial in Immune-Mediated Disease? Front Immunol 2022; 13:887760. [PMID: 35707535 PMCID: PMC9190258 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.887760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Two groups identified a novel human flavivirus in the mid-1990s. One group named the virus hepatitis G virus (HGV) and the other named it GB Virus type C (GBV-C). Sequence analyses found these two isolates to be the same virus, and subsequent studies found that the virus does not cause hepatitis despite sharing genome organization with hepatitis C virus. Although HGV/GBV-C infection is common and may cause persistent infection in humans, the virus does not appear to directly cause any other known disease state. Thus, the virus was renamed “human pegivirus 1” (HPgV-1) for “persistent G” virus. HPgV-1 is found primarily in lymphocytes and not hepatocytes, and several studies found HPgV-1 infection associated with prolonged survival in people living with HIV. Co-infection of human lymphocytes with HPgV-1 and HIV inhibits HIV replication. Although three viral proteins directly inhibit HIV replication in vitro, the major effects of HPgV-1 leading to reduced HIV-related mortality appear to result from a global reduction in immune activation. HPgV-1 specifically interferes with T cell receptor signaling (TCR) by reducing proximal activation of the lymphocyte specific Src kinase LCK. Although TCR signaling is reduced, T cell activation is not abolished and with sufficient stimulus, T cell functions are enabled. Consequently, HPgV-1 is not associated with immune suppression. The HPgV-1 immunomodulatory effects are associated with beneficial outcomes in other diseases including Ebola virus infection and possibly graft-versus-host-disease following stem cell transplantation. Better understanding of HPgV-1 immune escape and mechanisms of inflammation may identify novel therapies for immune-based diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack T. Stapleton
- Medicine Service, Iowa City Veterans Administration Healthcare, Iowa City, IA, United States
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Microbiology & Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
- *Correspondence: Jack T. Stapleton,
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16
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Du H, Zhang L, Zhang X, Yun F, Chang Y, Tuersun A, Aisaiti K, Ma Z. Metagenome-Assembled Viral Genomes Analysis Reveals Diversity and Infectivity of the RNA Virome of Gerbillinae Species. Viruses 2022; 14:356. [PMID: 35215951 PMCID: PMC8874536 DOI: 10.3390/v14020356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodents are a known reservoir for extensive zoonotic viruses, and also possess a propensity to roost in human habitation. Therefore, it is necessary to identify and catalogue the potentially emerging zoonotic viruses that are carried by rodents. Here, viral metagenomic sequencing was used for zoonotic virus detection and virome characterization on 32 Great gerbils of Rhombomys opimus, Meriones meridianus, and Meiiones Unguiculataus species in Xinjiang, Northwest China. In total, 1848 viral genomes that are potentially pathogenic to rodents and humans, as well as to other wildlife, were identified namely Retro-, Flavi-, Pneumo-, Picobirna-, Nairo-, Arena-, Hepe-, Phenui-, Rhabdo-, Calici-, Reo-, Corona-, Orthomyxo-, Peribunya-, and Picornaviridae families. In addition, a new genotype of rodent Hepacivirus was identified in heart and lung homogenates of seven viscera pools and phylogenetic analysis revealed the closest relationship to rodent Hepacivirus isolate RtMm-HCV/IM2014 that was previously reported to infect rodents from Inner Mongolia, China. Moreover, nine new genotype viral sequences that corresponded to Picobirnaviruses (PBVs), which have a bi-segmented genome and belong to the family Picobirnaviridae, comprising of three segment I and six segment II sequences, were identified in intestines and liver of seven viscera pools. In the two phylogenetic trees that were constructed using ORF1 and ORF2 of segment I, the three segment I sequences were clustered into distinct clades. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis showed that PBV sequences were distributed in the whole tree that was constructed using the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene of segment II with high diversity, sharing 68.42-82.67% nucleotide identities with other genogroup I and genogroup II PBV strains based on the partial RdRp gene. By RNA sequencing, we found a high degree of biodiversity of Retro-, Flavi-, Pneumo-, and Picobirnaridae families and other zoonotic viruses in gerbils, indicating that zoonotic viruses are a common presence in gerbils from Xinjiang, China. Therefore, further research is needed to determine the zoonotic potential of these viruses that are carried by other rodent species from different ecosystems and wildlife in general.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Zhenghai Ma
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, China; (H.D.); (L.Z.); (X.Z.); (F.Y.); (Y.C.); (A.T.); (K.A.)
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17
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Yu Y, Wan Z, Wang JH, Yang X, Zhang C. Review of human pegivirus: Prevalence, transmission, pathogenesis, and clinical implication. Virulence 2022; 13:324-341. [PMID: 35132924 PMCID: PMC8837232 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2029328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Human pegivirus (HPgV-1), previously known as GB virus C (GBV-C) or hepatitis G virus (HGV), is a single-stranded positive RNA virus belonging to the genus Pegivirus of the Flaviviridae family. It is transmitted by percutaneous injuries (PIs), contaminated blood and/or blood products, sexual contact, and vertical mother-to-child transmission. It is widely prevalent in general population, especially in high-risk groups. HPgV-1 viremia is typically cleared within the first 1–2 years of infection in most healthy individuals, but may persist for longer periods of time in immunocompromised individuals and/or those co-infected by other viruses. A large body of evidences indicate that HPgV-1 persistent infection has a beneficial clinical effect on many infectious diseases, such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and hepatitis C. The beneficial effects seem to be related to a significant reduction of immune activation, and/or the inhabitation of co-infected viruses (e.g. HIV-1). HPgV-1 has a broad cellular tropism for lymphoid and myeloid cells, and preferentially replicates in bone marrow and spleen without cytopathic effect, implying a therapeutic potential. The paper aims to summarize the natural history, prevalence and distribution characteristics, and pathogenesis of HPgV-1, and discuss its association with other human viral diseases, and potential use in therapy as a biovaccine or viral vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqi Yu
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, China.,Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenzhou Wan
- Medical Laboratory of Taizhou Fourth People's Hospital, Taizhou, China
| | - Jian-Hua Wang
- Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xianguang Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Chiyu Zhang
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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18
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Bankwitz D, Krey T, Pietschmann T. [Development approaches for vaccines against hepatitis C virus infections]. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2022; 65:183-191. [PMID: 35015104 PMCID: PMC8749110 DOI: 10.1007/s00103-021-03477-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Mehr als 10 Jahre nach der Zulassung der ersten direkt wirkenden antiviralen Wirkstoffe zur Behandlung der Hepatitis C bleibt die Inzidenz der Hepatitis-C-Virus-(HCV-)Infektion ungebrochen hoch. In manchen Ländern stecken sich mehr Menschen neu mit dem Virus an, als Patienten durch eine erfolgreiche Therapie geheilt werden. Die Entwicklung eines prophylaktischen Impfstoffes könnte die Transmission des Virus unterbinden und dadurch einen wesentlichen Beitrag zur Kontrolle dieser weltweit verbreiteten Infektion leisten. In diesem Artikel werden die besonderen Herausforderungen und die aktuellen Ansätze der HCV-Impfstoffentwicklung dargestellt. HCV ist ein hochgradig diverses und wandlungsfähiges Virus, das zumeist dem Immunsystem entkommt und chronische Infektionen etabliert. Andererseits heilt die HCV-Infektion bei bis zu einem Drittel der exponierten Individuen aus, sodass eine schützende Immunität erreichbar ist. Zahlreiche Untersuchungen zu den Determinanten einer schützenden Immunität gegen HCV zeichnen ein immer kompletteres Bild davon, welche Ziele ein Impfstoff erreichen muss. Sehr wahrscheinlich werden sowohl starke neutralisierende Antikörper als auch wirkungsvolle zytotoxische T‑Zellen gebraucht, um sicher vor einer chronischen Infektion zu schützen. Die Schlüsselfrage ist, welche Ansätze besonders breit wirksame Antikörper und T‑Zellen heranreifen lassen. Dies wird erforderlich sein, um vor der großen Fülle unterschiedlicher HCV-Varianten zu schützen. Die jüngsten Erfolge von mRNA-Impfstoffen öffnen neue Türen auch für die HCV-Impfstoffforschung. Kombiniert mit einem tieferen Verständnis der Struktur und Funktion der viralen Hüllproteine, der Identifizierung kreuzprotektiver Antikörper- und T‑Zellepitope sowie der Nutzung standardisierter Verfahren zur Quantifizierung der Wirksamkeit von Impfkandidaten ergeben sich neue Perspektiven für die Entwicklung eines Impfstoffes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothea Bankwitz
- Twincore Zentrum für Experimentelle und Klinische Infektionsforschung, Institut für Experimentelle Virologie, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 7, 30625, Hannover, Deutschland
| | - Thomas Krey
- Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, RESIST Exzellenzcluster EXC2155, Hannover, Deutschland.,Zentrum für Strukturbiologie und Zellbiologie in der Medizin, Institut für Biochemie, Universität Lübeck, Lübeck, Deutschland.,Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (DZIF), Partnerstandort Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Braunschweig, Deutschland.,Institut für Virologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Deutschland
| | - Thomas Pietschmann
- Twincore Zentrum für Experimentelle und Klinische Infektionsforschung, Institut für Experimentelle Virologie, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 7, 30625, Hannover, Deutschland. .,Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, RESIST Exzellenzcluster EXC2155, Hannover, Deutschland. .,Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (DZIF), Partnerstandort Hannover-Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Deutschland.
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19
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Zhu W, Yang J, Lu S, Huang Y, Jin D, Pu J, Liu L, Li Z, Shi M, Xu J. Novel pegiviruses infecting wild birds and rodents. Virol Sin 2022; 37:208-214. [PMID: 35234631 PMCID: PMC9170927 DOI: 10.1016/j.virs.2022.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Pegivirus (family Flaviviridae) is a genus of small enveloped RNA viruses that mainly causes blood infections in various mammals including human. Herein, we carried out an extensive survey of pegiviruses from a wide range of wild animals mainly sampled in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of China. Three novel pegiviruses, namely Passer montanus pegivirus, Leucosticte brandti pegivirus and Montifringilla taczanowskii pegivirus, were identified from different wild birds, and one new rodent pegivirus, namely Phaiomys leucurus pegivirus, was identified from Blyth's vole. Interestingly, the pegiviruses of non-mammalian origin discovered in this study substantially broaden the host range of Pegivirus to avian species. Co-evolutionary analysis showed virus-host co-divergence over long evolutionary timescales, and indicated that pegiviruses largely followed a virus-host co-divergence relationship. Overall, this work extends the biodiversity of the Pegivirus genus to those infecting wild birds and hence revises the host range and evolutionary history of genus Pegivirus. Novel pegiviruses were identified from wild-life animals in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The three divergent species of bird pegiviruses substantially broaden the host range of Pegivirus. A long-term evolutionary relationship was established between pegiviruses and their vertebrate hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wentao Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Jing Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China; Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201508, China; Research Units of Discovery of Unknown Bacteria and Function, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Shan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China; Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201508, China; Research Units of Discovery of Unknown Bacteria and Function, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Yuyuan Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Dong Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China; Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201508, China; Research Units of Discovery of Unknown Bacteria and Function, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Ji Pu
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Liyun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China; Research Units of Discovery of Unknown Bacteria and Function, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Zhenjun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Mang Shi
- School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 510006, China.
| | - Jianguo Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China; Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201508, China; Research Units of Discovery of Unknown Bacteria and Function, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, China; Research Institute of Public Heath, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.
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20
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Cebriá-Mendoza M, Bracho MA, Arbona C, Larrea L, Díaz W, Sanjuán R, Cuevas JM. Exploring the Diversity of the Human Blood Virome. Viruses 2021; 13:v13112322. [PMID: 34835128 PMCID: PMC8621239 DOI: 10.3390/v13112322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Metagenomics is greatly improving our ability to discover new viruses, as well as their possible associations with disease. However, metagenomics has also changed our understanding of viruses in general. The vast expansion of currently known viral diversity has revealed a large fraction of non-pathogenic viruses, and offers a new perspective in which viruses function as important components of many ecosystems. In this vein, studies of the human blood virome are often motivated by the search for new viral diseases, especially those associated with blood transfusions. However, these studies have revealed the common presence of apparently non-pathogenic viruses in blood, particularly human anelloviruses and, to a lower extent, human pegiviruses (HPgV). To shed light on the diversity of the human blood virome, we subjected pooled plasma samples from 587 healthy donors in Spain to a viral enrichment protocol, followed by massive parallel sequencing. This showed that anelloviruses were clearly the major component of the blood virome and showed remarkable diversity. In total, we assembled 332 complete or near-complete anellovirus genomes, 50 of which could be considered new species. HPgV was much less frequent, but we, nevertheless, recovered 17 different isolates that we subsequently used for characterizing the diversity of this virus. In-depth investigation of the human blood virome should help to elucidate the ecology of these viruses, and to unveil potentially associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Cebriá-Mendoza
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), Universitat de València-CSIC, 46980 València, Spain; (M.C.-M.); (W.D.); (R.S.)
| | - María A. Bracho
- Joint Research Unit “Infection and Public Health”, FISABIO-Universitat de València I2SysBio, 46020 València, Spain;
- CIBER in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 46020 València, Spain
| | - Cristina Arbona
- Centro de Transfusión de la Comunidad Valenciana, 46020 València, Spain; (C.A.); (L.L.)
| | - Luís Larrea
- Centro de Transfusión de la Comunidad Valenciana, 46020 València, Spain; (C.A.); (L.L.)
| | - Wladimiro Díaz
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), Universitat de València-CSIC, 46980 València, Spain; (M.C.-M.); (W.D.); (R.S.)
- Department of Informatics, Universitat de València, 46020 València, Spain
| | - Rafael Sanjuán
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), Universitat de València-CSIC, 46980 València, Spain; (M.C.-M.); (W.D.); (R.S.)
- Department of Genetics, Universitat de València, 46020 València, Spain
| | - José M. Cuevas
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), Universitat de València-CSIC, 46980 València, Spain; (M.C.-M.); (W.D.); (R.S.)
- Department of Genetics, Universitat de València, 46020 València, Spain
- Correspondence:
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21
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Nicolay W, Moeller R, Kahl S, Vondran FWR, Pietschmann T, Kunz S, Gerold G. Characterization of RNA Sensing Pathways in Hepatoma Cell Lines and Primary Human Hepatocytes. Cells 2021; 10:3019. [PMID: 34831243 PMCID: PMC8616302 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The liver is targeted by several human pathogenic RNA viruses for viral replication and dissemination; despite this, the extent of innate immune sensing of RNA viruses by human hepatocytes is insufficiently understood to date. In particular, for highly human tropic viruses such as hepatitis C virus, cell culture models are needed to study immune sensing. However, several human hepatoma cell lines have impaired RNA sensing pathways and fail to mimic innate immune responses in the human liver. Here we compare the RNA sensing properties of six human hepatoma cell lines, namely Huh-6, Huh-7, HepG2, HepG2-HFL, Hep3B, and HepaRG, with primary human hepatocytes. We show that primary liver cells sense RNA through retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) like receptor (RLR) and Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) pathways. Of the tested cell lines, Hep3B cells most closely mimicked the RLR and TLR3 mediated sensing in primary hepatocytes. This was shown by the expression of RLRs and TLR3 as well as the expression and release of bioactive interferon in primary hepatocytes and Hep3B cells. Our work shows that Hep3B cells partially mimic RNA sensing in primary hepatocytes and thus can serve as in vitro model to study innate immunity to RNA viruses in hepatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiebke Nicolay
- TWINCORE—Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Institute for Experimental Virology, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (W.N.); (R.M.); (S.K.); (T.P.)
| | - Rebecca Moeller
- TWINCORE—Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Institute for Experimental Virology, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (W.N.); (R.M.); (S.K.); (T.P.)
- Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), Institute of Biochemistry & Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Sina Kahl
- TWINCORE—Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Institute for Experimental Virology, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (W.N.); (R.M.); (S.K.); (T.P.)
| | - Florian W. R. Vondran
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany;
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), 30100 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Thomas Pietschmann
- TWINCORE—Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Institute for Experimental Virology, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (W.N.); (R.M.); (S.K.); (T.P.)
| | - Stefan Kunz
- Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland;
| | - Gisa Gerold
- TWINCORE—Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Institute for Experimental Virology, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (W.N.); (R.M.); (S.K.); (T.P.)
- Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), Institute of Biochemistry & Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Virology, Umeå University, SE-90185 Umeå, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM), Umeå University, SE-90185 Umeå, Sweden
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22
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Tirera S, de Thoisy B, Donato D, Bouchier C, Lacoste V, Franc A, Lavergne A. The Influence of Habitat on Viral Diversity in Neotropical Rodent Hosts. Viruses 2021; 13:v13091690. [PMID: 34578272 PMCID: PMC8472065 DOI: 10.3390/v13091690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodents are important reservoirs of numerous viruses, some of which have significant impacts on public health. Ecosystem disturbances and decreased host species richness have been associated with the emergence of zoonotic diseases. In this study, we aimed at (a) characterizing the viral diversity in seven neotropical rodent species living in four types of habitats and (b) exploring how the extent of environmental disturbance influences this diversity. Through a metagenomic approach, we identified 77,767 viral sequences from spleen, kidney, and serum samples. These viral sequences were attributed to 27 viral families known to infect vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, and amoeba. Viral diversities were greater in pristine habitats compared with disturbed ones, and lowest in peri-urban areas. High viral richness was observed in savannah areas. Differences in these diversities were explained by rare viruses that were generally more frequent in pristine forest and savannah habitats. Moreover, changes in the ecology and behavior of rodent hosts, in a given habitat, such as modifications to the diet in disturbed vs. pristine forests, are major determinants of viral composition. Lastly, the phylogenetic relationships of four vertebrate-related viral families (Polyomaviridae, Flaviviridae, Togaviridae, and Phenuiviridae) highlighted the wide diversity of these viral families, and in some cases, a potential risk of transmission to humans. All these findings provide significant insights into the diversity of rodent viruses in Amazonia, and emphasize that habitats and the host’s dietary ecology may drive viral diversity. Linking viral richness and abundance to the ecology of their hosts and their responses to habitat disturbance could be the starting point for a better understanding of viral emergence and for future management of ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sourakhata Tirera
- Laboratoire des Interactions Virus-Hôtes, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, BP 6010, 97306 Cayenne, France; (S.T.); (B.d.T.); (D.D.); (V.L.)
| | - Benoit de Thoisy
- Laboratoire des Interactions Virus-Hôtes, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, BP 6010, 97306 Cayenne, France; (S.T.); (B.d.T.); (D.D.); (V.L.)
| | - Damien Donato
- Laboratoire des Interactions Virus-Hôtes, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, BP 6010, 97306 Cayenne, France; (S.T.); (B.d.T.); (D.D.); (V.L.)
| | | | - Vincent Lacoste
- Laboratoire des Interactions Virus-Hôtes, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, BP 6010, 97306 Cayenne, France; (S.T.); (B.d.T.); (D.D.); (V.L.)
- Département de Virologie, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
- Arbovirus & Emerging Viral Diseases Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Laos, Vientiane 3560, Laos
| | - Alain Franc
- UMR BIOGECO, INRAE, University Bordeaux, 33612 Cestas, France;
- Pleiade, EPC INRIA-INRAE-CNRS, University Bordeaux, 33405 Talence, France
| | - Anne Lavergne
- Laboratoire des Interactions Virus-Hôtes, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, BP 6010, 97306 Cayenne, France; (S.T.); (B.d.T.); (D.D.); (V.L.)
- Correspondence:
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23
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In Vitro Comparison of the Internal Ribosomal Entry Site Activity from Rodent Hepacivirus and Pegivirus and Construction of Pseudoparticles. Adv Virol 2021; 2021:5569844. [PMID: 34422054 PMCID: PMC8376455 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5569844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The 5′ untranslated region (5′ UTR) of rodent hepacivirus (RHV) and pegivirus (RPgV) contains sequence homology to the HCV type III internal ribosome entry sites (IRES). Utilizing a monocistronic expression vector with an RNA polymerase I promoter to drive transcription, we show cell-specific IRES translation and regions within the IRES required for full functionality. Focusing on RHV, we further pseudotyped lentivirus with RHV and showed cell surface expression of the envelope proteins and transduction of murine hepatocytes and we then constructed full-length RHV and RPgV replicons with reporter genes. Using the replicon system, we show that the RHV NS3-4A protease cleaves a mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein reporter. However, liver-derived cells did not readily support the complete viral life cycle.
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Lu G, Pan J, Zhang Y, Sun X, Ou J, Ji J, Yin X, Li S. Hepatitis B virus detected in a golden monkey fatal case, China. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2021; 94:105032. [PMID: 34384935 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.105032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is distributed worldwide and poses a significant threat to human health. Cross-species transmission of HBV from human to non-human primates could occur, which has been confirmed in three individual events. In this study, HBV DNA was detected in one golden monkey fatal case in China. The following genetic sequencing and analysis demonstrated the virus had a close genetic relationship with HBV genotype C in humans. To our knowledge, this is the first report suggested that HBV is related with a non-human primate fatal case in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Lu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510642, People's Republic of China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China; Guangdong Technological Engineering Research Center for Pet, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jialiang Pan
- General Station of Forest and Grassland Pest Management, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang 110034, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Zhang
- College of animal science and technology, Guangdong polytechnic of science and trade, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingrong Sun
- Daqing Branches of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Daqing 163316, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiajun Ou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510642, People's Republic of China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China; Guangdong Technological Engineering Research Center for Pet, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinzhao Ji
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510642, People's Republic of China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China; Guangdong Technological Engineering Research Center for Pet, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150000, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China..
| | - Shoujun Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510642, People's Republic of China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China; Guangdong Technological Engineering Research Center for Pet, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.
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25
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Abbadi I, Lkhider M, Kitab B, Jabboua K, Zaidane I, Haddaji A, Nacer S, Matsuu A, Pineau P, Tsukiyama-Kohara K, Benjelloun S, Ezzikouri S. Non-primate hepacivirus transmission and prevalence: Novel findings of virus circulation in horses and dogs in Morocco. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2021; 93:104975. [PMID: 34175479 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.104975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Non-primate hepacivirus (NPHV) is a homolog of hepatitis C virus and has been isolated from dogs and horses. Data on NPHV prevalence and distribution are not complete, and there is a particular lack of reports from the African continent. The present study represents the first investigation of NPHV prevalence in horses and dogs in North Africa. Blood was collected from 172 horses and 36 dogs at different locations in Morocco, and screened for NPHV RNA using nested PCR targeting 5'UTR and NS3 regions and analyzed for anti-NPHV NS3 antibody using a Gaussia luciferase immunoprecipitation system-to determine seroprevalence. Eight sequences of the NS3 region isolated from positive serum samples were targeted for phylogenetic analysis. Horses and dogs showed respective NPHV RNA positivity rates of 10.5% and 5.5%, and seroprevalences of 65.7% and 8.33%. Juvenile horses appeared more susceptible to infection, with a 23.5% NHPV RNA positivity rate. Seropositivity was more extensive in mares than stallions (77.14% vs. 46.27%, p < 0.0001). Phylogenetically, that NPHV NS3 genes isolated from horses and dog are clustered together. The NPHV strains we detected showed no correlation with geographic location within Morocco. In conclusion, Moroccan horses showed much evidence of previous and/or current NPHV infection, with young age and female sex as noted potential risk factors. Interestingly, NPHV is circulating in dogs as well as horses, suggesting that it has crossed species barriers and that horses and dogs are potential vectors by which an ancestor to hepatitis C virus was transmitted into human populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Islam Abbadi
- Virology Unit, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco; Laboratory of Biosciences, School of Sciences and Technology, Mohammedia, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Mustapha Lkhider
- Laboratory of Biosciences, School of Sciences and Technology, Mohammedia, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Bouchra Kitab
- Transboundary Animal Diseases Centre, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | | | - Imane Zaidane
- Virology Unit, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Asmaa Haddaji
- Virology Unit, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Sabrine Nacer
- Laboratory of Biosciences, School of Sciences and Technology, Mohammedia, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Aya Matsuu
- Transboundary Animal Diseases Centre, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Pascal Pineau
- Unité "Organisation Nucléaire et Oncogenèse", INSERM U993, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Kyoko Tsukiyama-Kohara
- Transboundary Animal Diseases Centre, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Soumaya Benjelloun
- Virology Unit, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Sayeh Ezzikouri
- Virology Unit, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco.
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26
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Zhen W, Wu Y, Zhang W, Wang M, Jia R, Zhu D, Liu M, Zhao X, Yang Q, Wu Y, Zhang S, Liu Y, Zhang L, Yu Y, Pan L, Chen S, Cheng A. Emergence of a novel pegivirus species in southwest China showing a high rate of coinfection with parvovirus and circovirus in geese. Poult Sci 2021; 100:101251. [PMID: 34175799 PMCID: PMC8254001 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2021.101251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, we isolated a novel strain of goose pegivirus (GPgV) that infects geese and shows high levels of lymphotropism. This novel pegivirus strain is phylogenetically distinct from previously known Pegivirus species, Pegivirus A-K, and qualifies as a candidate new Pegivirus species, GPgV. GPgV is tentatively named Pegivirus M. Here, to better understand the epidemic of GPgV infection and the coinfection of this virus with other viruses in Southwest China, 25 geese in poor health from Sichuan Province and 24 geese in poor health from the municipality of Chongqing were collected. The geese were tested for 9 types of goose viruses (goose hemorrhagic polyomavirus, GPgV, astrovirus, parvovirus, circovirus, reovirus, coronavirus, paramyxovirus, and avian influenza virus) by RT-PCR or nested RT-PCR. GPgV RNA was detected in 2 out of 25 monoinfections and 8 out of 25 coinfections with other viruses on Sichuan farms and 2 out of 24 monoinfections and 10 out of 24 coinfections on Chongqing farms. Overall, 22 of the 49 (44.9%) geese were positive for GPgV, which indicated a high infection rate. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of GPgV coinfection with other epidemic viruses. This study enhances our understanding of the emergence and epidemiology of Pegivirus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wu Zhen
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wu
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China
| | - Mingshu Wang
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China; Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China
| | - Renyong Jia
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China; Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China
| | - Dekang Zhu
- Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China
| | - Mafeng Liu
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China; Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China
| | - Xinxin Zhao
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China; Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China
| | - Qiao Yang
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China; Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China
| | - Ying Wu
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China; Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China
| | - ShaQiu Zhang
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China; Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China
| | - YunYa Liu
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China
| | - YanLing Yu
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China
| | - Leichang Pan
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China
| | - Shun Chen
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China; Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China.
| | - Anchun Cheng
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China; Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, 611130, China
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27
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Nishizawa T, Usui R, Narabu Y, Takahashi M, Murata K, Okamoto H. Identification of a novel pegivirus in pet cats (Felis silvestris catus) in Japan. Virus Res 2021; 301:198452. [PMID: 33971193 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2021.198452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
We report a novel pegivirus in pet cats (Felis silvestris catus) in Japan. This virus was only 44.0-49.6 % identical to the reported viruses in the 11 current Pegivirus species and an unclassified pegivirus in dolphins within the entire protein-coding nucleotide sequence and was detected in 1.6 % of pet cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsutomu Nishizawa
- Division of Virology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan
| | - Reiko Usui
- Usui Dog and Cat Hospital, Utsunomiya, Tochigi 321-0136, Japan
| | - Yoko Narabu
- Narabu Animal Hospital, Mibu-machi, Shimotsuga-gun, Tochigi 321-0227, Japan
| | - Masaharu Takahashi
- Division of Virology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan
| | - Kazumoto Murata
- Division of Virology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Okamoto
- Division of Virology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan.
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28
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Cagliani R, Mozzi A, Pontremoli C, Sironi M. Evolution and Origin of Human Viruses. Virology 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/9781119818526.ch8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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29
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Complete Genome Sequences of Two Rat Pegivirus Strains in Indonesia. Microbiol Resour Announc 2021; 10:10/11/e00049-21. [PMID: 33737352 PMCID: PMC7975870 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00049-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The entire genome sequences of two pegivirus strains recovered from serum samples of wild rats (Rattus rattus) in Indonesia were determined. They possessed 11,013 to 11,014 nucleotides and differed from the reported rodent pegivirus strains within the Pegivirus J species of the genus Pegivirus by 12.7% to 40.9% in the near-entire coding region sequences. The entire genome sequences of two pegivirus strains recovered from serum samples of wild rats (Rattus rattus) in Indonesia were determined. They possessed 11,013 to 11,014 nucleotides and differed from the reported rodent pegivirus strains within the Pegivirus J species of the genus Pegivirus by 12.7% to 40.9% in the near-entire coding region sequences.
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30
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Martinez MA, Franco S. Discovery and Development of Antiviral Therapies for Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1322:139-157. [PMID: 34258740 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-16-0267-2_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
At the beginning of this decade, an estimated 71 million people were living with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection worldwide. After the acute stage of HCV infection, 18-34% of individuals exhibit spontaneous clearance. However, the remaining 66-82% of infected individuals progress to chronic HCV infection and are at subsequent risk of progression to hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Chronic hepatitis C progression is generally slow during the first two decades of infection, but can be accelerated during this time in association with advancing age and cofactors, such as heavy alcohol intake and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection. Since acute HCV infection is generally asymptomatic, HCV goes undiagnosed in a significant percentage of infected individuals. In 2014, direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for chronic HCV was developed, which has increased the cure rates to nearly 100%. DAA therapy is among the best examples of success in the fight against viral infections. DAAs have transformed HCV management and have opened the door for the global eradication of HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Angel Martinez
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias I Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Spain.
| | - Sandra Franco
- IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias I Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Spain
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31
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Bletsa M, Vrancken B, Gryseels S, Boonen I, Fikatas A, Li Y, Laudisoit A, Lequime S, Bryja J, Makundi R, Meheretu Y, Akaibe BD, Mbalitini SG, Van de Perre F, Van Houtte N, Těšíková J, Wollants E, Van Ranst M, Pybus OG, Drexler JF, Verheyen E, Leirs H, Gouy de Bellocq J, Lemey P. Molecular detection and genomic characterization of diverse hepaciviruses in African rodents. Virus Evol 2021; 7:veab036. [PMID: 34221451 PMCID: PMC8242229 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veab036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV; genus Hepacivirus) represents a major public health problem, infecting about three per cent of the human population. Because no animal reservoir carrying closely related hepaciviruses has been identified, the zoonotic origins of HCV still remain unresolved. Motivated by recent findings of divergent hepaciviruses in rodents and a plausible African origin of HCV genotypes, we have screened a large collection of small mammals samples from seven sub-Saharan African countries. Out of 4,303 samples screened, eighty were found positive for the presence of hepaciviruses in twenty-nine different host species. We, here, report fifty-six novel genomes that considerably increase the diversity of three divergent rodent hepacivirus lineages. Furthermore, we provide strong evidence for hepacivirus co-infections in rodents, which were exclusively found in four sampled species of brush-furred mice. We also detect evidence of recombination within specific host lineages. Our study expands the available hepacivirus genomic data and contributes insights into the relatively deep evolutionary history of these pathogens in rodents. Overall, our results emphasize the importance of rodents as a potential hepacivirus reservoir and as models for investigating HCV infection dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magda Bletsa
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bram Vrancken
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sophie Gryseels
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Biology, Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ine Boonen
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Antonios Fikatas
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Yiqiao Li
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Sebastian Lequime
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Josef Bryja
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Rhodes Makundi
- Pest Management Center -Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
| | - Yonas Meheretu
- Department of Biology and Institute of Mountain Research & Development, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia
| | - Benjamin Dudu Akaibe
- Department of Ecology and Animal Resource Management, Faculty of Science, Biodiversity Monitoring Center, University of Kisangani, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Sylvestre Gambalemoke Mbalitini
- Department of Ecology and Animal Resource Management, Faculty of Science, Biodiversity Monitoring Center, University of Kisangani, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Frederik Van de Perre
- Department of Biology, Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Natalie Van Houtte
- Department of Biology, Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jana Těšíková
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Elke Wollants
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marc Van Ranst
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Oliver G Pybus
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, London, UK
| | - Jan Felix Drexler
- Charite-Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Berlin, Germany
| | - Erik Verheyen
- Department of Biology, Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- OD Taxonomy and Phylogeny-Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Herwig Leirs
- Department of Biology, Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Philippe Lemey
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Heffron AS, Lauck M, Somsen ED, Townsend EC, Bailey AL, Sosa M, Eickhoff J, Capuano III S, Newman CM, Kuhn JH, Mejia A, Simmons HA, O’Connor DH. Discovery of a Novel Simian Pegivirus in Common Marmosets ( Callithrix jacchus) with Lymphocytic Enterocolitis. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8101509. [PMID: 33007921 PMCID: PMC7599636 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8101509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
From 2010 to 2015, 73 common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) housed at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (WNPRC) were diagnosed postmortem with lymphocytic enterocolitis. We used unbiased deep-sequencing to screen the blood of deceased enterocolitis-positive marmosets for viruses. In five out of eight common marmosets with lymphocytic enterocolitis, we discovered a novel pegivirus not present in ten matched, clinically normal controls. The novel virus, which we named Southwest bike trail virus (SOBV), is most closely related (68% nucleotide identity) to a strain of simian pegivirus A isolated from a three-striped night monkey (Aotus trivirgatus). We screened 146 living WNPRC common marmosets for SOBV, finding an overall prevalence of 34% (50/146). Over four years, 85 of these 146 animals died or were euthanized. Histological examination revealed 27 SOBV-positive marmosets from this cohort had lymphocytic enterocolitis, compared to 42 SOBV-negative marmosets, indicating no association between SOBV and disease in this cohort (p = 0.0798). We also detected SOBV in two of 33 (6%) clinically normal marmosets screened during transfer from the New England Primate Research Center, suggesting SOBV could be exerting confounding influences on comparisons of common marmoset studies from multiple colonies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna S. Heffron
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53711, USA; (A.S.H.); (M.L.); (E.D.S.); (E.C.T.); (C.M.N.)
| | - Michael Lauck
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53711, USA; (A.S.H.); (M.L.); (E.D.S.); (E.C.T.); (C.M.N.)
| | - Elizabeth D. Somsen
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53711, USA; (A.S.H.); (M.L.); (E.D.S.); (E.C.T.); (C.M.N.)
| | - Elizabeth C. Townsend
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53711, USA; (A.S.H.); (M.L.); (E.D.S.); (E.C.T.); (C.M.N.)
| | - Adam L. Bailey
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA;
| | - Megan Sosa
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA; (M.S.); (S.C.III); (A.M.); (H.A.S.)
| | - Jens Eickhoff
- Department of Biostatistics & Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA;
| | - Saverio Capuano III
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA; (M.S.); (S.C.III); (A.M.); (H.A.S.)
| | - Christina M. Newman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53711, USA; (A.S.H.); (M.L.); (E.D.S.); (E.C.T.); (C.M.N.)
| | - Jens H. Kuhn
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA;
| | - Andres Mejia
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA; (M.S.); (S.C.III); (A.M.); (H.A.S.)
| | - Heather A. Simmons
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA; (M.S.); (S.C.III); (A.M.); (H.A.S.)
| | - David H. O’Connor
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53711, USA; (A.S.H.); (M.L.); (E.D.S.); (E.C.T.); (C.M.N.)
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715, USA; (M.S.); (S.C.III); (A.M.); (H.A.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-608-890-0845
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The First Nonmammalian Pegivirus Demonstrates Efficient In Vitro Replication and High Lymphotropism. J Virol 2020; 94:JVI.01150-20. [PMID: 32759314 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01150-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the Pegivirus genus, family Flaviviridae, widely infect humans and other mammals, including nonhuman primates, bats, horses, pigs, and rodents, but are not associated with disease. Here, we report a new, genetically distinct pegivirus in goose (Anser cygnoides), the first identified in a nonmammalian host species. Goose pegivirus (GPgV) can be propagated in goslings, embryonated goose eggs, and primary goose embryo fibroblasts, and is thus the first pegivirus that can be efficiently cultured in vitro Experimental infection of GPgV in goslings via intravenous injection revealed robust replication and high lymphotropism. Analysis of the tissue tropism of GPgV revealed that the spleen and thymus were the organs bearing the highest viral loads. Importantly, GPgV could promote clinical manifestations of goose parvovirus infection, including reduced weight gain and 7% mortality. This finding contrasts with the lack of pathogenicity that is characteristic of previously reported pegiviruses.IMPORTANCE Members of the Pegivirus genus, family Flaviviridae, widely infect humans and other mammals, but are described as causing persistent infection and lacking pathogenicity. The efficiency of in vitro replication systems for pegivirus is poor, thus limiting investigation into viral replication steps. Because of that, the pathogenesis, cellular tropism, route of transmission, biology, and epidemiology of pegiviruses remain largely uncovered. Here, we report a phylogenetically distinct goose pegivirus (GPgV) that should be classified as a new species. GPgV proliferated in cell culture in a species- and cell-type-specific manner. Animal experiments show GPgV lymphotropism and promote goose parvovirus clinical manifestations. This study provides the first cell culture model for pegivirus, opening new possibilities for studies of pegivirus molecular biology. More importantly, our findings stand in contrast to the lack of identified pathogenicity of previously reported pegiviruses, which sheds lights on the pathobiology of pegivirus.
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Wu L, Ou J, Cai S, Ji J, Ren Z, Shao R, Li S. First identification and genomic characterization of equine hepacivirus sub-type 3 strain in China. Virus Genes 2020; 56:777-780. [PMID: 32964346 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-020-01792-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Equine Hepacivirus (EqHV) is a newly discovered equine virus that is classified under the Hepacivirus genus of the Flaviviridae family. There are three sub-types of EqHV worldwide namely; sub-types 1-3. The majority of EqHV sub-type 1 strains were found in China. While different sub-types have been found in Japan and USA, therefore, to investigate whether the other sub-types of EqHV strains were present in China, a total of 60 horse serum samples were collected and screened for EqHV RNA through RT-PCR. The results revealed that 19 serum samples were RNA-positive (19/60) and the EqHV detection rate was 31.67%. One EqHV strain named GD23 was obtained and its near-complete genome sequence was acquired. Analysis of nucleotide p-distance with reference to the entire polyprotein gene revealed that GD23 was classified into sub-type 3. In addition, the phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that GD23 was clustered together with EqHV strains of sub-type 3 in other countries. The present study is the first to identify an EqHV sub-type 3 strain in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyan Wu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Technological Engineering Research Center for Pet Guangzhou, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiajun Ou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Technological Engineering Research Center for Pet Guangzhou, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Siqi Cai
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Technological Engineering Research Center for Pet Guangzhou, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinzhao Ji
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Technological Engineering Research Center for Pet Guangzhou, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Zixin Ren
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Technological Engineering Research Center for Pet Guangzhou, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Ran Shao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Technological Engineering Research Center for Pet Guangzhou, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Shoujun Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. .,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. .,Guangdong Technological Engineering Research Center for Pet Guangzhou, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
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35
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Porter AF, Pettersson JHO, Chang WS, Harvey E, Rose K, Shi M, Eden JS, Buchmann J, Moritz C, Holmes EC. Novel hepaci- and pegi-like viruses in native Australian wildlife and non-human primates. Virus Evol 2020; 6:veaa064. [PMID: 33240526 PMCID: PMC7673076 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veaa064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Flaviviridae family of positive-sense RNA viruses contains important pathogens of humans and other animals, including Zika virus, dengue virus, and hepatitis C virus. The Flaviviridae are currently divided into four genera-Hepacivirus, Pegivirus, Pestivirus, and Flavivirus-each with a diverse host range. Members of the genus Hepacivirus are associated with an array of animal species, including humans, non-human primates, other mammalian species, as well as birds and fish, while the closely related pegiviruses have been identified in a variety of mammalian taxa, also including humans. Using a combination of total RNA and whole-genome sequencing we identified four novel hepaci-like viruses and one novel variant of a known hepacivirus in five species of Australian wildlife. The hosts infected comprised native Australian marsupials and birds, as well as a native gecko (Gehyra lauta). From these data we identified a distinct marsupial clade of hepaci-like viruses that also included an engorged Ixodes holocyclus tick collected while feeding on Australian long-nosed bandicoots (Perameles nasuta). Distinct lineages of hepaci-like viruses associated with geckos and birds were also identified. By mining the SRA database we similarly identified three new hepaci-like viruses from avian and primate hosts, as well as two novel pegi-like viruses associated with primates. The phylogenetic history of the hepaci- and pegi-like viruses as a whole, combined with co-phylogenetic analysis, provided support for virus-host co-divergence over the course of vertebrate evolution, although with frequent cross-species virus transmission. Overall, our work highlights the diversity of the Hepacivirus and Pegivirus genera as well as the uncertain phylogenetic distinction between.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashleigh F Porter
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences and School of Medical Sciences, Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
| | - John H-O Pettersson
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences and School of Medical Sciences, Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
| | - Wei-Shan Chang
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences and School of Medical Sciences, Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
| | - Erin Harvey
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences and School of Medical Sciences, Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
| | - Karrie Rose
- Australian Registry of Wildlife Health, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Mosman 2088, Australia
| | - Mang Shi
- School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - John-Sebastian Eden
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences and School of Medical Sciences, Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
| | - Jan Buchmann
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences and School of Medical Sciences, Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
| | - Craig Moritz
- Research School of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Analysis, Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - Edward C Holmes
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences and School of Medical Sciences, Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
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Vandegrift KJ, Kumar A, Sharma H, Murthy S, Kramer LD, Ostfeld R, Hudson PJ, Kapoor A. Presence of Segmented Flavivirus Infections in North America. Emerg Infect Dis 2020; 26:1810-1817. [PMID: 32687041 PMCID: PMC7392405 DOI: 10.3201/eid2608.190986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying viruses in synanthropic animals is necessary for understanding the origin of many viruses that can infect humans and developing strategies to prevent new zoonotic infections. The white-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus, is one of the most abundant rodent species in the northeastern United States. We characterized the serum virome of 978 free-ranging P. leucopus mice caught in Pennsylvania. We identified many new viruses belonging to 26 different virus families. Among these viruses was a highly divergent segmented flavivirus whose genetic relatives were recently identified in ticks, mosquitoes, and vertebrates, including febrile humans. This novel flavi-like segmented virus was found in rodents and shares ≤70% aa identity with known viruses in the highly conserved region of the viral polymerase. Our data will enable researchers to develop molecular reagents to further characterize this virus and its relatives infecting other hosts and to curtail their spread, if necessary.
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37
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Gao YW, Wan ZW, Wu Y, Li XF, Tang SX. PCR-based screening and phylogenetic analysis of rat pegivirus (RPgV) carried by rodents in China. J Vet Med Sci 2020; 82:1464-1471. [PMID: 32713889 PMCID: PMC7653312 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.19-0530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodent-borne pegiviruses were initially identified in serum samples from desert wood-rats in 2013, and subsequently in serum samples from commensal rats in 2014. However, the prevalence and phylogenetic characteristics of rodent pegiviruses in China are poorly understood. In this study, we screened serum samples collected from wild rats in southern China between 2015 and 2016 for the presence of rat pegivirus (RPgV) by PCR. Among the 314 serum samples from murine rodents (Rattus norvegicus, Rattus tanezumi, and Rattus losea) and house shrews (Suncus murinus), 21.66% (68/314) tested positive for RPgV. Out of these, 23.81% (62/219) of samples from R. norvegicus tested positive, which was significantly higher than that for the other species: 7.69% (1/13), 5.88% (2/34), and 6.25% (3/48) for R. tanezumi, R. losea, and S. murinus, respectively (χ2=18.91, P<0.001). Phylogenetic analysis revealed clustering of viral sequences in the main rodent clade. Analysis of the 3 near-full-length genome sequences of RPgV obtained in this study showed that these viruses exhibited mean nucleic acid and amino acid identities of 94.1% and 98.5% with Chinese RPgV strains, and 90.3 and 97.1% with an RPgV strain from the USA, respectively. This study provides novel insights into the geographic distribution of rodent pegiviruses in China, and identifies potential animal hosts for future studies of these pegiviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- You-Wen Gao
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou North Road Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Zheng-Wei Wan
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou North Road Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yue Wu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou North Road Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xiu-Fen Li
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou North Road Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Shing-Xing Tang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou North Road Guangzhou 510515, China
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Tomlinson JE, Wolfisberg R, Fahnøe U, Sharma H, Renshaw RW, Nielsen L, Nishiuchi E, Holm C, Dubovi E, Rosenberg BR, Tennant BC, Bukh J, Kapoor A, Divers TJ, Rice CM, Van de Walle GR, Scheel TKH. Equine pegiviruses cause persistent infection of bone marrow and are not associated with hepatitis. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008677. [PMID: 32649726 PMCID: PMC7375656 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pegiviruses frequently cause persistent infection (as defined by >6 months), but unlike most other Flaviviridae members, no apparent clinical disease. Human pegivirus (HPgV, previously GBV-C) is detectable in 1–4% of healthy individuals and another 5–13% are seropositive. Some evidence for infection of bone marrow and spleen exists. Equine pegivirus 1 (EPgV-1) is not linked to disease, whereas another pegivirus, Theiler’s disease-associated virus (TDAV), was identified in an outbreak of acute serum hepatitis (Theiler’s disease) in horses. Although no subsequent reports link TDAV to disease, any association with hepatitis has not been formally examined. Here, we characterized EPgV-1 and TDAV tropism, sequence diversity, persistence and association with liver disease in horses. Among more than 20 tissue types, we consistently detected high viral loads only in serum, bone marrow and spleen, and viral RNA replication was consistently identified in bone marrow. PBMCs and lymph nodes, but not liver, were sporadically positive. To exclude potential effects of co-infecting agents in experimental infections, we constructed full-length consensus cDNA clones; this was enabled by determination of the complete viral genomes, including a novel TDAV 3’ terminus. Clone derived RNA transcripts were used for direct intrasplenic inoculation of healthy horses. This led to productive infection detectable from week 2–3 and persisting beyond the 28 weeks of study. We did not observe any clinical signs of illness or elevation of circulating liver enzymes. The polyprotein consensus sequences did not change, suggesting that both clones were fully functional. To our knowledge, this is the first successful extrahepatic viral RNA launch and the first robust reverse genetics system for a pegivirus. In conclusion, equine pegiviruses are bone marrow tropic, cause persistent infection in horses, and are not associated with hepatitis. Based on these findings, it may be appropriate to rename the group of TDAV and related viruses as EPgV-2. Transmissible hepatitis in horses (Theiler’s disease) has been known for 100 years without knowledge of causative infectious agents. Recently, two novel equine pegiviruses (EPgV) were discovered. Whereas EPgV-1 was not associated to disease, the other was identified in an outbreak of acute serum hepatitis and therefore named Theiler’s disease-associated virus (TDAV). This finding was surprising since human and monkey pegiviruses typically cause long-term infection without associated clinical disease. Whereas no subsequent reports link TDAV to disease, the original association to hepatitis has not been formally examined. Here, we studied EPgV-1 and TDAV and found that their natural history of infection in horses were remarkably similar. Examination of various tissues identified the bone marrow as the primary site of replication for both viruses with no evidence of replication in the liver. To exclude potential effects of other infectious agents, we developed molecular full-length clones for EPgV-1 and TDAV and were able to initiate infection in horses using derived synthetic viral genetic material. This demonstrated long-term infection, but no association with hepatitis. These findings call into question the connection between TDAV, liver infection, and hepatitis in horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy E. Tomlinson
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Raphael Wolfisberg
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ulrik Fahnøe
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Himanshu Sharma
- Center for Vaccines and Immunity, Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Randall W. Renshaw
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Louise Nielsen
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Eiko Nishiuchi
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Christina Holm
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Edward Dubovi
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Brad R. Rosenberg
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Bud C. Tennant
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Jens Bukh
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Amit Kapoor
- Center for Vaccines and Immunity, Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Thomas J. Divers
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Charles M. Rice
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Gerlinde R. Van de Walle
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Troels K. H. Scheel
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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The Prevalence, Genetic Characterization, and Evolutionary Analysis of Porcine Pegivirus in Guangdong, China. Virol Sin 2020; 36:52-60. [PMID: 32643050 DOI: 10.1007/s12250-020-00240-3] [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: 12/07/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Porcine pegivirus (PPgV) is a member of the Pegivirus genus in the Flaviviridae family. PPgV is an emerging virus that has been discovered in swine herds in Germany, the United States, China, Poland, Italy, and the United Kingdom, indicating a wide geographical distribution. In this retrospective study, 339 pig serum samples were collected from 20 different commercial swine farms located in nine cities in Guangdong Province, China, from 2016 to 2018, to investigate the prevalence and genetic diversity of PPgV in this geographical region. PPgV was detected in 55% (11/20) of the farms using nested reverse transcription PCR, with 6.2% (21/339) of pigs testing positive for PPgV. The yearly PPgV-positive rate increased from 2.6% to 7.5% between 2016 and 2018. Sequencing of PPgV-positive samples identified two complete polyprotein genes and seven partial NS5B genes from different farms. Comparative analysis of the polyprotein genes revealed that PPgV sequences obtained in this study showed 87.4%-97.2% similarity at the nucleotide level and 96.5%-99.4% similarity at the amino acid level with the reference sequences. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis of the complete polyprotein gene and partial NS5B and NS3 genes demonstrated a high genetic similarity with the samples from the USA. The finding of the wide distribution of PPgV in swine herds in Guangdong Province will contribute to the understanding of the epidemiological characteristics and genetic evolution of PPgV in China.
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Pathogen-associated selection on innate immunity genes (TLR4, TLR7) in a neotropical rodent in landscapes differing in anthropogenic disturbance. Heredity (Edinb) 2020; 125:184-199. [PMID: 32616896 PMCID: PMC7490709 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-020-0331-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) form part of the innate immune system and can recognize structurally conserved pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) molecules. Their functional importance in the resistance to pathogens has been documented in laboratory experimental settings and in humans. TLR diversity, however, has been rarely investigated in wildlife species. How the genetic diversity of TLRs is associated with various pathogens and how it is shaped by habitat disturbance are understudied. Therefore, we investigated the role of genetic diversity in the functionally important parts of TLR4 and TLR7 genes in resistance towards gastrointestinal nematodes and Hepacivirus infection. We chose a generalist study species, the rodent Proechimys semispinosus, because it is highly abundant in three Panamanian landscapes that differ in their degree of anthropogenic modification. We detected only two TLR7 haplotypes that differed by one synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) position. The TLR4 variability was higher, and we detected four TLR4 haplotypes that differed at one synonymous SNP and at three amino acid positions within the leucine-rich repeat region. Only TLR4 haplotypes had different frequencies in each landscape. Using generalized linear models, we found evidence that nematode loads and virus prevalence were influenced by both specific TLR4 haplotypes and landscape. Here, the variable “landscape” served as a surrogate for the important influential ecological factors distinguishing landscapes in our study, i.e. species diversity and host population density. Individuals carrying the common TLR4_Ht1 haplotype were less intensely infected by the most abundant strongyle nematode. Individuals carrying the rare TLR4_Ht3 haplotype were all Hepacivirus-positive, where those carrying the rare haplotype TLR4_Ht4 were less often infected by Hepacivirus than individuals with other haplotypes. Our study highlights the role of TLR diversity in pathogen resistance and the importance of considering immune genetic as well as ecological factors in order to understand the effects of anthropogenic changes on wildlife health.
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Arhab Y, Bulakhov AG, Pestova TV, Hellen CU. Dissemination of Internal Ribosomal Entry Sites (IRES) Between Viruses by Horizontal Gene Transfer. Viruses 2020; 12:E612. [PMID: 32512856 PMCID: PMC7354566 DOI: 10.3390/v12060612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of Picornaviridae and of the Hepacivirus, Pegivirus and Pestivirus genera of Flaviviridae all contain an internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) in the 5'-untranslated region (5'UTR) of their genomes. Each class of IRES has a conserved structure and promotes 5'-end-independent initiation of translation by a different mechanism. Picornavirus 5'UTRs, including the IRES, evolve independently of other parts of the genome and can move between genomes, most commonly by intratypic recombination. We review accumulating evidence that IRESs are genetic entities that can also move between members of different genera and even between families. Type IV IRESs, first identified in the Hepacivirus genus, have subsequently been identified in over 25 genera of Picornaviridae, juxtaposed against diverse coding sequences. In several genera, members have either type IV IRES or an IRES of type I, II or III. Similarly, in the genus Pegivirus, members contain either a type IV IRES or an unrelated type; both classes of IRES also occur in members of the genus Hepacivirus. IRESs utilize different mechanisms, have different factor requirements and contain determinants of viral growth, pathogenesis and cell type specificity. Their dissemination between viruses by horizontal gene transfer has unexpectedly emerged as an important facet of viral evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Christopher U.T. Hellen
- Department of Cell Biology, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA; (Y.A.); (A.G.B.); (T.V.P.)
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Animal Models Used in Hepatitis C Virus Research. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21113869. [PMID: 32485887 PMCID: PMC7312079 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21113869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The narrow range of species permissive to infection by hepatitis C virus (HCV) presents a unique challenge to the development of useful animal models for studying HCV, as well as host immune responses and development of chronic infection and disease. Following earlier studies in chimpanzees, several unique approaches have been pursued to develop useful animal models for research while avoiding the important ethical concerns and costs inherent in research with chimpanzees. Genetically related hepatotropic viruses that infect animals are being used as surrogates for HCV in research studies; chimeras of these surrogate viruses harboring specific regions of the HCV genome are being developed to improve their utility for vaccine testing. Concurrently, genetically humanized mice are being developed and continually advanced using human factors known to be involved in virus entry and replication. Further, xenotransplantation of human hepatocytes into mice allows for the direct study of HCV infection in human liver tissue in a small animal model. The current advances in each of these approaches are discussed in the present review.
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Ploss A, Kapoor A. Animal Models of Hepatitis C Virus Infection. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2020; 10:cshperspect.a036970. [PMID: 31843875 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a036970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important and underreported infectious disease, causing chronic infection in ∼71 million people worldwide. The limited host range of HCV, which robustly infects only humans and chimpanzees, has made studying this virus in vivo challenging and hampered the development of a desperately needed vaccine. The restrictions and ethical concerns surrounding biomedical research in chimpanzees has made the search for an animal model all the more important. In this review, we discuss different approaches that are being pursued toward creating small animal models for HCV infection. Although efforts to use a nonhuman primate species besides chimpanzees have proven challenging, important advances have been achieved in a variety of humanized mouse models. However, such models still fall short of the overarching goal to have an immunocompetent, inheritably susceptible in vivo platform in which the immunopathology of HCV could be studied and putative vaccines development. Alternatives to overcome this include virus adaptation, such as murine-tropic HCV strains, or the use of related hepaciviruses, of which many have been recently identified. Of the latter, the rodent/rat hepacivirus from Rattus norvegicus species-1 (RHV-rn1) holds promise as a surrogate virus in fully immunocompetent rats that can inform our understanding of the interaction between the immune response and viral outcomes (i.e., clearance vs. persistence). However, further characterization of these animal models is necessary before their use for gaining new insights into the immunopathogenesis of HCV and for conceptualizing HCV vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Ploss
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA
| | - Amit Kapoor
- Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio 43205, USA
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Qiang X, Shen X, Peng H, Guo X, He Z, Yao M, Fu G, Cui Y, Zhang X, Huang Y, Fan H, Du C, Tong Y, Mi Z. Complete genome sequence of a novel bovine hepacivirus from Yunnan, China. Arch Virol 2020; 165:1489-1494. [PMID: 32266550 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-020-04611-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
We detected a novel bovine hepacivirus N (HNV) subtype, IME_BovHep_01, in the serum of cattle in Tengchong, Yunnan, China, by high-throughput sequencing. The complete genome of IME_BovHep_01, was sequenced using an Illumina MiSeq sequencer and found to be 8850 nt in length, encoding one hypothetical protein. BLASTn analysis showed that the genome sequence shared similarity with the bovine hepacivirus isolate BovHepV_209/Ger/2014, with 88% query coverage and 70.8% identity. However, the highest similarity was to bovine hepacivirus N strain BRBovHep_RS963, for which only a partial genome sequence is available, with 68% query coverage and 81.5% identity. Sequence comparisons and phylogenetic analysis suggested that IME_BovHep_01 is a novel HNV subtype. Importantly, IME_BovHep_01 is the first member of this new genotype for which the complete genome sequence was determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Qiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, People's Republic of China
| | - Xueying Shen
- Tengchong Center for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Tengchong, 679100, Yunnan, People's Republic of China
| | - Honghong Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, People's Republic of China
- Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230000, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaofang Guo
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Vector-borne Diseases Control and Research, Yunnan Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Pu'er, 665000, Yunnan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhihai He
- Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Dali, 671000, Yunnan, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingguo Yao
- Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Dali, 671000, Yunnan, People's Republic of China
| | - Guozhang Fu
- Tengchong Center for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Tengchong, 679100, Yunnan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yujun Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianglilan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, People's Republic of China
| | - Hang Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, People's Republic of China.
| | - Chunhong Du
- Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Dali, 671000, Yunnan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yigang Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, People's Republic of China.
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering (BAIC-SM), College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhiqiang Mi
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, 100071, People's Republic of China.
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Williams SH, Levy A, Yates RA, Somaweera N, Neville PJ, Nicholson J, Lindsay MDA, Mackenzie JS, Jain K, Imrie A, Smith DW, Lipkin WI. Discovery of Jogalong virus, a novel hepacivirus identified in a Culex annulirostris (Skuse) mosquito from the Kimberley region of Western Australia. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0227114. [PMID: 31899786 PMCID: PMC6941808 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of hepaciviruses in non-human hosts has accelerated following the advancement of high-throughput sequencing technology. Hepaciviruses have now been described in reptiles, fish, birds, and an extensive array of mammals. Using metagenomic sequencing on pooled samples of field-collected Culex annulirostris mosquitoes, we discovered a divergent hepacivirus-like sequence, named Jogalong virus, from the Kimberley region in northern Western Australia. Using PCR, we screened the same 300 individual mosquitoes and found just a single positive sample (1/300, 0.33%). Phylogenetic analysis of the hepacivirus NS5B protein places Jogalong virus within the genus Hepacivirus but on a distinct and deeply rooted monophyletic branch shared with duck hepacivirus, suggesting a notably different evolutionary history. Vertebrate barcoding PCR targeting two mitochondrial genes, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and cytochrome b, indicated that the Jogalong virus-positive mosquito had recently fed on the tawny frogmouth (Podargus strigoides), although it is currently unknown whether this bird species contributes to the natural ecology of this virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon H. Williams
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health of Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Avram Levy
- PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Rachel A. Yates
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health of Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Nilusha Somaweera
- Environmental Health Directorate, Public and Aboriginal Health Division, Department of Health, Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Peter J. Neville
- Environmental Health Directorate, Public and Aboriginal Health Division, Department of Health, Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jay Nicholson
- Environmental Health Directorate, Public and Aboriginal Health Division, Department of Health, Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Michael D. A. Lindsay
- Environmental Health Directorate, Public and Aboriginal Health Division, Department of Health, Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - John S. Mackenzie
- PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Komal Jain
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health of Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Allison Imrie
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - David W. Smith
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
- PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - W. Ian Lipkin
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health of Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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46
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Human pegivirus 2 exhibits minimal geographic and temporal genetic diversity. Virology 2019; 539:69-79. [PMID: 31689572 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2019.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
We applied an NGS based target capture approach to amplify HPgV-2 sequences from metagenomic libraries and enable full genome characterization. Despite expanded geographical sampling, sequence variability remains low, with diversity concentrated in approximately 3.3% of all amino acids. Serial samples from one HPgV-2 positive individual co-infected with comparable titers of HIV, HCV, and GBV-C showed that HPgV-2 remains highly stable over several weeks compared to other RNA viruses, despite a similarly error-prone polymerase. The consistent epidemiological association with and structural similarities to HCV, and the weak positive correlation of HCV and HPgV-2 titers shown here, suggests it may benefit from co-infection. While minimal selective pressure on HPgV-2 to evolve could suggest fitness, the rarity of HPgV-2 and the tight phylogenetic clustering of global strains likely indicates origination from a common source and a virus that is ill-suited to its host. Sporadic infections may explain the limited genetic diversity observed worldwide.
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47
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Cagliani R, Forni D, Sironi M. Mode and tempo of human hepatitis virus evolution. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2019; 17:1384-1395. [PMID: 31768229 PMCID: PMC6872792 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2019.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Human viral hepatitis, a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, is caused by highly diverse viruses with different genetic, ecological, and pathogenetic features. Technological advances that allow throughput sequencing of viral genomes, as well as the development of computational tools to analyze such genome data, have largely expanded our knowledge on the host range and evolutionary history of human hepatitis viruses. Thus, with the exclusion of hepatitis D virus, close or distant relatives of these human pathogens were identified in a number of domestic and wild mammals. Also, sequences of human viral strains isolated from different geographic locations and over different time-spans have allowed the application of phylogeographic and molecular dating approaches to large viral phylogenies. In this review, we summarize the most recent insights into our understanding of the evolutionary events and ecological contexts that determined the origin and spread of human hepatitis viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachele Cagliani
- Bioinformatics, Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. MEDEA, 23842 Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Diego Forni
- Bioinformatics, Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. MEDEA, 23842 Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Manuela Sironi
- Bioinformatics, Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. MEDEA, 23842 Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
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48
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Multidecade Mortality and a Homolog of Hepatitis C Virus in Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), the National Bird of the USA. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14953. [PMID: 31628350 PMCID: PMC6802099 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50580-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) once experienced near-extinction but has since rebounded. For decades, bald eagles near the Wisconsin River, USA, have experienced a lethal syndrome with characteristic clinical and pathological features but unknown etiology. Here, we describe a novel hepacivirus-like virus (Flaviviridae: Hepacivirus) identified during an investigation of Wisconsin River eagle syndrome (WRES). Bald eagle hepacivirus (BeHV) belongs to a divergent clade of avian viruses that share features with members of the genera Hepacivirus and Pegivirus. BeHV infected 31.9% of eagles spanning 4,254 km of the coterminous USA, with negative strand viral RNA demonstrating active replication in liver tissues. Eagles from Wisconsin were approximately 10-fold more likely to be infected than eagles from elsewhere. Eagle mitochondrial DNA sequences were homogeneous and geographically unstructured, likely reflecting a recent population bottleneck, whereas BeHV envelope gene sequences showed strong population genetic substructure and isolation by distance, suggesting localized transmission. Cophylogenetic analyses showed no congruity between eagles and their viruses, supporting horizontal rather than vertical transmission. These results expand our knowledge of the Flaviviridae, reveal a striking pattern of decoupled host/virus coevolution on a continental scale, and highlight knowledge gaps about health and conservation in even the most iconic of wildlife species.
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49
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Da Silva MS, Weber MN, Baumbach LF, Cibulski SP, Budaszewski RF, Mósena ACS, Canova R, Varela APM, Mayer FQ, Canal CW. Highly divergent cattle hepacivirus N in Southern Brazil. Arch Virol 2019; 164:3133-3136. [PMID: 31563979 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-019-04419-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The genus Hepacivirus includes 14 species (Hepacivirus A-N). In this study, we determined a partial genome sequence of a highly divergent bovine hepacivirus (hepacivirus N, HNV) isolate from cattle in Southern Brazil. Previously described HNV isolates have shared 80-99.7% nucleotide sequence identity in the NS3 coding region. However, the sequence determined in this study had 72.6% to 73.8% nucleotide sequence identity to known HNV NS3 sequences. This high divergence could be seen in a phylogenetic tree, suggesting that it represents a new genotype of HNV. These data expand our knowledge concerning the genetic variability and evolution of hepaciviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- M S Da Silva
- Laboratório de Virologia, Faculdade de Veterinária (FAVET), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - M N Weber
- Laboratório de Virologia, Faculdade de Veterinária (FAVET), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - L F Baumbach
- Laboratório de Virologia, Faculdade de Veterinária (FAVET), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - S P Cibulski
- Departamento de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
| | - R F Budaszewski
- Laboratório de Virologia, Faculdade de Veterinária (FAVET), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - A C S Mósena
- Laboratório de Virologia, Faculdade de Veterinária (FAVET), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - R Canova
- Laboratório de Virologia, Faculdade de Veterinária (FAVET), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - A P M Varela
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular-Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Fundação Estadual de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - F Q Mayer
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular-Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Fundação Estadual de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Cláudio W Canal
- Laboratório de Virologia, Faculdade de Veterinária (FAVET), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
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50
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Replicons of a Rodent Hepatitis C Model Virus Permit Selection of Highly Permissive Cells. J Virol 2019; 93:JVI.00733-19. [PMID: 31292246 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00733-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal hepaciviruses represent promising surrogate models for hepatitis C virus (HCV), for which there are no efficient immunocompetent animal models. Experimental infection of laboratory rats with rodent hepacivirus isolated from feral Rattus norvegicus (RHV-rn1) mirrors key aspects of HCV infection in humans, including chronicity, hepatitis, and steatosis. Moreover, RHV has been adapted to infect immunocompetent laboratory mice. RHV in vitro systems have not been developed but would enable detailed studies of the virus life cycle crucial for designing animal experiments to model HCV infection. Here, we established efficient RHV-rn1 selectable subgenomic replicons with and without reporter genes. Rat and mouse liver-derived cells did not readily support the complete RHV life cycle, but replicon-containing cell clones could be selected with and without acquired mutations. Replication was significantly enhanced by mutations in NS4B and NS5A and in cell clones cured of replicon RNA. These mutations increased RHV replication of both mono- and bicistronic constructs, and CpG/UpA-dinucleotide optimization of reporter genes allowed replication. Using the replicon system, we show that the RHV-rn1 NS3-4A protease cleaves a human mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein reporter, providing a sensitive readout for virus replication. RHV-rn1 replication was inhibited by the HCV polymerase inhibitor sofosbuvir and high concentrations of HCV NS5A antivirals but not by NS3 protease inhibitors. The microRNA-122 antagonist miravirsen inhibited RHV-rn1 replication, demonstrating the importance of this HCV host factor for RHV. These novel RHV in vitro systems will be useful for studies of tropism, molecular virology, and characterization of virus-host interactions, thereby providing important complements to in vivo systems.IMPORTANCE A vaccine against hepatitis C virus (HCV) is crucial for global control of this important pathogen, which induces fatal human liver diseases. Vaccine development has been hampered by the lack of immunocompetent animal models. Discovery of rodent hepacivirus (RHV) enabled establishment of novel surrogate animal models. These allow robust infection and reverse genetic and immunization studies of laboratory animals, which develop HCV-like chronicity. Currently, there are no RHV in vitro systems available to study tropism and molecular virology. Here, we established the first culture systems for RHV, recapitulating the intracellular phase of the virus life cycle in vitro These replicon systems enabled identification of replication-enhancing mutations and selection of cells highly permissive to RHV replication, which allow study of virus-host interactions. HCV antivirals targeting NS5A, NS5B, and microRNA-122 efficiently inhibited RHV replication. Hence, several important aspects of HCV replication are shared by the rodent virus system, reinforcing its utility as an HCV model.
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