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Alkan C, Brésard G, Frézal L, Richaud A, Ruaud A, Zhang G, Félix MA. Natural variation in infection specificity of Caenorhabditis briggsae isolates by two RNA viruses. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012259. [PMID: 38861582 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Antagonistic relationships such as host-virus interactions potentially lead to rapid evolution and specificity in interactions. The Orsay virus is so far the only horizontal virus naturally infecting the nematode C. elegans. In contrast, several related RNA viruses infect its congener C. briggsae, including Santeuil (SANTV) and Le Blanc (LEBV) viruses. Here we focus on the host's intraspecific variation in sensitivity to these two intestinal viruses. Many temperate-origin C. briggsae strains, including JU1264 and JU1498, are sensitive to both, while many tropical strains, such as AF16, are resistant to both. Interestingly, some C. briggsae strains exhibit a specific resistance, such as the HK104 strain, specifically resistant to LEBV. The viral sensitivity pattern matches the strains' geographic and genomic relationships. The heavily infected strains mount a seemingly normal small RNA response that is insufficient to suppress viral infection, while the resistant strains show no small RNA response, suggesting an early block in viral entry or replication. We use a genetic approach from the host side to map genomic regions participating in viral resistance polymorphisms. Using Advanced Intercrossed Recombinant Inbred Lines (RILs) between virus-resistant AF16 and SANTV-sensitive HK104, we detect Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) on chromosomes IV and III. Building RILs between virus-sensitive JU1498 and LEBV-resistant HK104 followed by bulk segregant analysis, we identify a chromosome II QTL. In both cases, further introgressions of the regions confirmed the QTLs. This diversity provides an avenue for studying virus entry, replication, and exit mechanisms, as well as host-virus specificity and the host response to a specific virus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cigdem Alkan
- IBENS, Department of Biology, Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Inserm, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Gautier Brésard
- IBENS, Department of Biology, Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Inserm, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Lise Frézal
- IBENS, Department of Biology, Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Inserm, PSL Research University, Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Unité des Bactéries pathogènes entériques Paris, Paris, France
| | - Aurélien Richaud
- IBENS, Department of Biology, Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Inserm, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Albane Ruaud
- IBENS, Department of Biology, Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Inserm, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Gaotian Zhang
- IBENS, Department of Biology, Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Inserm, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Marie-Anne Félix
- IBENS, Department of Biology, Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Inserm, PSL Research University, Paris, France
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2
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Ma J, Cui J, Qu Y, Chen J, Zhao Y, Han Y, Liu Y, Huang B, Wang X. Molecular confirmation and functional study of signal transducer and activator of transcription genes in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2024; 149:109560. [PMID: 38615702 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2024.109560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
The JAK (Janus kinase)-STAT (Signal transducer and activator of transcription) is a well-known functional signaling pathway that plays a key role in several important biological activities such as apoptosis, cell proliferation, differentiation, and immunity. However, limited studies have explored the functions of STAT genes in invertebrates. In the present study, the gene sequences of two STAT genes from the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas), termed CgSTAT-Like-1 (CgSTAT-L1) and CgSTAT-Like-2 (CgSTAT-L2), were obtained using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and cloning. Multiple sequence comparisons revealed that the sequences of crucial domains of these proteins were conserved, and the similarity with the protein sequence of other molluscan STAT is close to 90 %. The phylogenetic analyses indicated that CgSTAT-L1 and CgSTAT-L2 are novel members of the mollusk STAT family. Quantitative real-time PCR results implied that CgSTAT-L1 and CgSTAT-L2 mRNA expression was found in all tissues, and significantly induced after challenge with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), peptidoglycan (PGN), or poly(I:C). After that, dual-luciferase reporter assays denoted that overexpression of CgSTAT-L1 and CgSTAT-L2 significantly activated the NF-κB signaling, and, interestingly, the overexpressed CgSTAT proteins potentiated LPS-induced NF-κB activation. These results contributed a preliminary analysis of the immune-related function of STAT genes in oysters, laying the foundation for deeper understanding of the function of invertebrate STAT genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jilv Ma
- School of Agriculture, Ludong University, Yantai, 264025, China
| | - Jie Cui
- School of Agriculture, Ludong University, Yantai, 264025, China
| | - Yifan Qu
- School of Agriculture, Ludong University, Yantai, 264025, China
| | - Jiwen Chen
- School of Agriculture, Ludong University, Yantai, 264025, China
| | - Yue Zhao
- School of Agriculture, Ludong University, Yantai, 264025, China
| | - Yijing Han
- School of Agriculture, Ludong University, Yantai, 264025, China
| | - Yaqiong Liu
- School of Agriculture, Ludong University, Yantai, 264025, China
| | - Baoyu Huang
- School of Agriculture, Ludong University, Yantai, 264025, China.
| | - Xiaotong Wang
- School of Agriculture, Ludong University, Yantai, 264025, China.
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3
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González R, Félix MA. Caenorhabditis elegans immune responses to microsporidia and viruses. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2024; 154:105148. [PMID: 38325500 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2024.105148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
The model organism Caenorhabditis elegans is susceptible to infection by obligate intracellular pathogens, specifically microsporidia and viruses. These intracellular pathogens infect intestinal cells, or, for some microsporidia, epidermal cells. Strikingly, intestinal cell infections by viruses or microsporidia trigger a common transcriptional response, activated in part by the ZIP-1 transcription factor. Among the strongest activated genes in this response are ubiquitin-pathway members and members of the pals family, an intriguing gene family with cross-regulations of different members of genomic clusters. Some of the induced genes participate in host defense against the pathogens, for example through ubiquitin-mediated inhibition. Other mechanisms defend the host specifically against viral infections, including antiviral RNA interference and uridylation. These various immune responses are altered by environmental factors and by intraspecific genetic variation of the host. These pathogens were first isolated 15 years ago and much remains to be discovered using C. elegans genetics; also, other intracellular pathogens of C. elegans may yet to be discovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén González
- Institut de Biologie de l'École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, 75005, Paris, France.
| | - Marie-Anne Félix
- Institut de Biologie de l'École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, 75005, Paris, France
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4
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Duxbury EML, Carlsson H, Kimberley A, Ridge Y, Johnson K, Maklakov AA. Reduced insulin/IGF-1 signalling upregulates two anti-viral immune pathways, decreases viral load and increases survival under viral infection in C. elegans. GeroScience 2024:10.1007/s11357-024-01147-7. [PMID: 38589671 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01147-7] [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: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Reduced insulin/IGF-1 signalling (rIIS) improves survival across diverse taxa and there is a growing interest in its role in regulating immune function. Whilst rIIS can improve anti-bacterial resistance, the consequences for anti-viral immunity are yet to be systematically examined. Here, we show that rIIS in adult Caenorhabditis elegans increases the expression of key genes in two different anti-viral immunity pathways, whilst reducing viral load in old age, increasing survival and reducing rate-of-senescence under infection by naturally occurring positive-sense single-stranded RNA Orsay virus. We found that both drh-1 in the anti-viral RNA interference (RNAi) pathway and cde-1 in the terminal uridylation-based degradation of viral RNA pathway were upregulated in early adulthood under rIIS and increased anti-viral resistance was not associated with reproductive costs. Remarkably, rIIS increased anti-viral gene expression only in infected worms, potentially to curb the costs of constitutively upregulated immunity. RNA viruses are found across taxa from plants to mammals and we demonstrate a novel role for rIIS in regulating resistance to viral infection. We therefore highlight this evolutionarily conserved signalling pathway as a promising therapeutic target to improve anti-viral immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hanne Carlsson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Annabel Kimberley
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Yvonne Ridge
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Katie Johnson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Alexei A Maklakov
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
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5
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Lažetić V, Blanchard MJ, Bui T, Troemel ER. Multiple pals gene modules control a balance between immunity and development in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011120. [PMID: 37463170 PMCID: PMC10353827 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The immune system continually battles against pathogen-induced pressures, which often leads to the evolutionary expansion of immune gene families in a species-specific manner. For example, the pals gene family expanded to 39 members in the Caenorhabditis elegans genome, in comparison to a single mammalian pals ortholog. Our previous studies have revealed that two members of this family, pals-22 and pals-25, act as antagonistic paralogs to control the Intracellular Pathogen Response (IPR). The IPR is a protective transcriptional response, which is activated upon infection by two molecularly distinct natural intracellular pathogens of C. elegans-the Orsay virus and the fungus Nematocida parisii from the microsporidia phylum. In this study, we identify a previously uncharacterized member of the pals family, pals-17, as a newly described negative regulator of the IPR. pals-17 mutants show constitutive upregulation of IPR gene expression, increased immunity against intracellular pathogens, as well as impaired development and reproduction. We also find that two other previously uncharacterized pals genes, pals-20 and pals-16, are positive regulators of the IPR, acting downstream of pals-17. These positive regulators reverse the effects caused by the loss of pals-17 on IPR gene expression, immunity, and development. We show that the negative IPR regulator protein PALS-17 and the positive IPR regulator protein PALS-20 colocalize inside and at the apical side of intestinal epithelial cells, which are the sites of infection for IPR-inducing pathogens. In summary, our study demonstrates that several pals genes from the expanded pals gene family act as ON/OFF switch modules to regulate a balance between organismal development and immunity against natural intracellular pathogens in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Lažetić
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Michael J Blanchard
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Theresa Bui
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Emily R Troemel
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
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6
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Cubillas C, Sandoval Del Prado LE, Goldacker S, Fujii C, Pinski AN, Zielke J, Wang D. The alg-1 Gene Is Necessary for Orsay Virus Replication in Caenorhabditis elegans. J Virol 2023; 97:e0006523. [PMID: 37017532 PMCID: PMC10134801 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00065-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The establishment of the Orsay virus-Caenorhabditis elegans infection model has enabled the identification of host factors essential for virus infection. Argonautes are RNA interacting proteins evolutionary conserved in the three domains of life that are key components of small RNA pathways. C. elegans encodes 27 argonautes or argonaute-like proteins. Here, we determined that mutation of the argonaute-like gene 1, alg-1, results in a greater than 10,000-fold reduction in Orsay viral RNA levels, which could be rescued by ectopic expression of alg-1. Mutation in ain-1, a known interactor of ALG-1 and component of the RNA-induced silencing complex, also resulted in a significant reduction in Orsay virus levels. Viral RNA replication from an endogenous transgene replicon system was impaired by the lack of ALG-1, suggesting that ALG-1 plays a role during the replication stage of the virus life cycle. Orsay virus RNA levels were unaffected by mutations in the ALG-1 RNase H-like motif that ablate the slicer activity of ALG-1. These findings demonstrate a novel function of ALG-1 in promoting Orsay virus replication in C. elegans. IMPORTANCE All viruses are obligate intracellular parasites that recruit the cellular machinery of the host they infect to support their own proliferation. We used Caenorhabditis elegans and its only known infecting virus, Orsay virus, to identify host proteins relevant for virus infection. We determined that ALG-1, a protein previously known to be important in influencing worm life span and the expression levels of thousands of genes, is required for Orsay virus infection of C. elegans. This is a new function attributed to ALG-1 that was not recognized before. In humans, it has been shown that AGO2, a close relative protein to ALG-1, is essential for hepatitis C virus replication. This demonstrates that through evolution from worms to humans, some proteins have maintained similar functions, and consequently, this suggests that studying virus infection in a simple worm model has the potential to provide novel insights into strategies used by viruses to proliferate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciro Cubillas
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Luis Enrique Sandoval Del Prado
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Sydney Goldacker
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Chika Fujii
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Amanda N. Pinski
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Jon Zielke
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - David Wang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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7
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Origins and diversification of animal innate immune responses against viral infections. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:182-193. [PMID: 36635343 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01951-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Immune systems are of pivotal importance to any living organism on Earth, as they protect the organism against deleterious effects of viral infections. Though the current knowledge about these systems is still biased towards the immune response in vertebrates, some studies have focused on the identification and characterization of components of invertebrate antiviral immune systems. Two classic model organisms, the insect Drosophila melanogaster and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, were instrumental in the discovery of several important components of the innate immune system, such as the Toll-like receptors and the RNA interference pathway. However, these two model organisms provide only a limited view of the evolutionary history of the immune system, as they both are ecdysozoan protostomes. Recent functional studies in non-classic models such as unicellular holozoans (for example, choanoflagellates), lophotrochozoans (for example, oysters) and cnidarians (for example, sea anemones) have added crucial information for understanding the evolution of antiviral systems, as they revealed unexpected ancestral complexity. This Review aims to summarize this information and present the ancestral nature of the antiviral immune response in animals. We also discuss lineage-specific adaptations and future perspectives for the comparative study of the innate immune system that are essential for understanding its evolution.
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8
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Lažetić V, Blanchard MJ, Bui T, Troemel ER. Multiple pals gene modules control a balance between immunity and development in Caenorhabditis elegans. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.15.524171. [PMID: 36711775 PMCID: PMC9882112 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.15.524171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The immune system continually battles against pathogen-induced pressures, which often leads to the evolutionary expansion of immune gene families in a species-specific manner. For example, the pals gene family expanded to 39 members in the Caenorhabditis elegans genome, in comparison to a single mammalian pals ortholog. Our previous studies have revealed that two members of this family, pals-22 and pals-25 , act as antagonistic paralogs to control the Intracellular Pathogen Response (IPR). The IPR is a protective transcriptional response, which is activated upon infection by two molecularly distinct natural intracellular pathogens of C. elegans - the Orsay virus and the fungus Nematocida parisii from the microsporidia phylum. In this study, we identify a previously uncharacterized member of the pals family, pals-17 , as a newly described negative regulator of the IPR. pals-17 mutants show constitutive upregulation of IPR gene expression, increased immunity against intracellular pathogens, as well as impaired development and reproduction. We also find that two other previously uncharacterized pals genes, pals-20 and pals-16 , are positive regulators of the IPR, acting downstream of pals-17 . These positive regulators reverse the effects caused by the loss of pals-17 on IPR gene expression, immunity and development. We show that the negative IPR regulator protein PALS-17 and the positive IPR regulator protein PALS-20 colocalize inside intestinal epithelial cells, which are the sites of infection for IPR-inducing pathogens. In summary, our study demonstrates that several pals genes from the expanded pals gene family act as ON/OFF switch modules to regulate a balance between organismal development and immunity against natural intracellular pathogens in C. elegans . AUTHOR SUMMARY Immune responses to pathogens induce extensive rewiring of host physiology. In the short term, these changes are generally beneficial as they can promote resistance against infection. However, prolonged activation of immune responses can have serious negative consequences on host health, including impaired organismal development and fitness. Therefore, the balance between activating the immune system and promoting development must be precisely regulated. In this study, we used genetics to identify a gene in the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans called pals-17 that acts as a repressor of the Intracellular Pathogen Response (IPR), a defense response against viral and microsporidian infections. We also found that pals-17 is required for the normal development of these animals. Furthermore, we identified two other pals genes, pals-20 and pals-16 , as suppressors of pals-17 mutant phenotypes. Finally, we found that PALS-17 and PALS-20 proteins colocalize inside intestinal cells, where viruses and microsporidia invade and replicate in the host. Taken together, our study demonstrates a balance between organismal development and immunity that is regulated by several genetic ON/OFF switch 'modules' in C. elegans .
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Lažetić
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States
| | - Michael J. Blanchard
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States
| | - Theresa Bui
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States
| | - Emily R. Troemel
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States,Corresponding author
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9
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Fujii C, Wang D. Novel insights into virus–host interactions using the model organism C. elegans. Adv Virus Res 2023; 115:135-158. [PMID: 37173064 DOI: 10.1016/bs.aivir.2023.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
Viruses continue to pose a public health threat raising the need for effective management strategies. Currently existing antiviral therapeutics are often specific to only a single viral species, and resistance to the therapeutic can often arise, and therefore new therapeutics are needed. The C. elegans-Orsay virus system offers a powerful platform for studying RNA virus-host interactions that could ultimately lead to novel targets for antiviral therapy. The relative simplicity of C. elegans, the well-established experimental tools, and its extensive evolutionary conservation of genes and pathways with mammals are key features of this model. Orsay virus, a bisegmented positive sense RNA virus, is a natural pathogen of C. elegans. Orsay virus infection can be studied in a multicellular organismal context, overcoming some of the limitations inherent to tissue culture-based systems. Moreover, compared to mice, the rapid generation time of C. elegans enables robust and facile forward genetics. This review aims to summarize studies that have laid the foundation for the C. elegans-Orsay virus experimental system, experimental tools, and key examples of C. elegans host factors that impact Orsay virus infection that have evolutionarily conserved function in mammalian virus infection.
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10
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Malinow RA, Zhu M, Jin Y, Kim KW. Forward genetic screening identifies novel roles for N-terminal acetyltransferase C and histone deacetylase in C. elegans development. Sci Rep 2022; 12:16438. [PMID: 36180459 PMCID: PMC9525577 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20361-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Coordinating the balance between development and stress responses is critical for organismal survival. However, the cellular signaling controlling this mechanism is not well understood. In Caenorhabditis elegans, it has been hypothesized that a genetic network regulated by NIPI-3/Tibbles may control the balance between animal development and immune response. Using a nipi-3(0) lethality suppressor screen in C. elegans, we reveal a novel role for N-terminal acetyltransferase C complex natc-1/2/3 and histone deacetylase hda-4, in the control of animal development. These signaling proteins act, at least in part, through a PMK-1 p38 MAP kinase pathway (TIR-1-NSY-1-SEK-1-PMK-1), which plays a critical role in the innate immunity against infection. Additionally, using a transcriptional reporter of SEK-1, a signaling molecule within this p38 MAP kinase system that acts directly downstream of C/EBP bZip transcription factor CEBP-1, we find unexpected positive control of sek-1 transcription by SEK-1 along with several other p38 MAP kinase pathway components. Together, these data demonstrate a role for NIPI-3 regulators in animal development, operating, at least in part through a PMK-1 p38 MAPK pathway. Because the C. elegans p38 MAP kinase pathway is well known for its role in cellular stress responses, the novel biological components and mechanisms pertaining to development identified here may also contribute to the balance between stress response and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose Aria Malinow
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Ming Zhu
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Yishi Jin
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
| | - Kyung Won Kim
- Department of Life Science, Hallym University, Chuncheon, 24252, South Korea.
- Multidisciplinary Genome Institute, Hallym University, Chuncheon, 24252, South Korea.
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11
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Bhatia S, Hunter CP. SID-4/NCK-1 is important for dsRNA import in Caenorhabditis elegans. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2022; 12:6722623. [PMID: 36165710 PMCID: PMC9635667 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
RNA interference is sequence-specific gene silencing triggered by double-stranded RNA. Systemic RNA interference is where double-stranded RNA, expressed or introduced into 1 cell, is transported to and initiates RNA interference in other cells. Systemic RNA interference is very efficient in Caenorhabditis elegans and genetic screens for systemic RNA interference-defective mutants have identified RNA transporters (SID-1, SID-2, and SID-5) and a signaling protein (SID-3). Here, we report that SID-4 is nck-1, a C. elegans NCK-like adaptor protein. sid-4 null mutations cause a weak, dose-sensitive, systemic RNA interference defect and can be effectively rescued by SID-4 expression in target tissues only, implying a role in double-stranded RNA import. SID-4 and SID-3 (ACK-1 kinase) homologs interact in mammals and insects, suggesting that they may function in a common signaling pathway; however, a sid-3; sid-4 double mutants showed additive resistance to RNA interference, suggesting that these proteins likely interact with other signaling pathways as well. A bioinformatic screen coupled to RNA interference sensitivity tests identified 23 additional signaling components with weak RNA interference-defective phenotypes. These observations suggest that environmental conditions may modulate systemic RNA interference efficacy, and indeed, sid-3 and sid-4 are required for growth temperature effects on systemic RNA interference silencing efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonya Bhatia
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge MA 02138, USA
| | - Craig P Hunter
- Corresponding author: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, 16 Divinity Avenue, Harvard University, Cambridge MA, 02138 USA.
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12
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Gaeta AL, Nourse JB, Willicott K, McKay LE, Keogh CM, Peter K, Russell SN, Hamamichi S, Berkowitz LA, Caldwell KA, Caldwell GA. Systemic RNA Interference Defective (SID) genes modulate dopaminergic neurodegeneration in C. elegans. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010115. [PMID: 35984862 PMCID: PMC9432717 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The fine-tuning of gene expression is critical for all cellular processes; aberrations in this activity can lead to pathology, and conversely, resilience. As their role in coordinating organismal responses to both internal and external factors have increasingly come into focus, small non-coding RNAs have emerged as an essential component to disease etiology. Using Systemic RNA interference Defective (SID) mutants of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, deficient in gene silencing, we examined the potential consequences of dysfunctional epigenomic regulation in the context of Parkinson's disease (PD). Specifically, the loss of either the sid-1 or sid-3 genes, which encode a dsRNA transporter and an endocytic regulatory non-receptor tyrosine kinase, respectively, conferred neuroprotection to dopaminergic (DA) neurons in an established transgenic C. elegans strain wherein overexpression of human α-synuclein (α-syn) from a chromosomally integrated multicopy transgene causes neurodegeneration. We further show that knockout of a specific microRNA, mir-2, attenuates α-syn neurotoxicity; suggesting that the native targets of mir-2-dependent gene silencing represent putative neuroprotective modulators. In support of this, we demonstrated that RNAi knockdown of multiple mir-2 targets enhanced α-syn-induced DA neurodegeneration. Moreover, we demonstrate that mir-2 overexpression originating in the intestine can induce neurodegeneration of DA neurons, an effect that was reversed by pharmacological inhibition of SID-3 activity. Interestingly, sid-1 mutants retained mir-2-induced enhancement of neurodegeneration. Transcriptomic analysis of α-syn animals with and without a sid-1 mutation revealed 27 differentially expressed genes with human orthologs related to a variety of diseases, including PD. Among these was pgp-8, encoding a P-glycoprotein-related ABC transporter. Notably, sid-1; pgp-8 double mutants abolished the neurodegeneration resulting from intestinal mir-2 overexpression. This research positions known regulators of small RNA-dependent gene silencing within a framework that facilitates mechanistic evaluation of epigenetic responses to exogenous and endogenous factors influencing DA neurodegeneration, revealing a path toward new targets for therapeutic intervention of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony L. Gaeta
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States of America
| | - J. Brucker Nourse
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Karolina Willicott
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Luke E. McKay
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Candice M. Keogh
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Kylie Peter
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Shannon N. Russell
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Shusei Hamamichi
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Laura A. Berkowitz
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Kim A. Caldwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States of America
- Center for Convergent Bioscience and Medicine, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States of America
- Alabama Research Institute on Aging, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States of America
- Departments of Neurology and Neurobiology, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Nathan Shock Center of Excellence for Basic Research in the Biology of Aging, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Guy A. Caldwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States of America
- Center for Convergent Bioscience and Medicine, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States of America
- Departments of Neurology and Neurobiology, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Nathan Shock Center of Excellence for Basic Research in the Biology of Aging, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
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13
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Lažetić V, Wu F, Cohen LB, Reddy KC, Chang YT, Gang SS, Bhabha G, Troemel ER. The transcription factor ZIP-1 promotes resistance to intracellular infection in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nat Commun 2022; 13:17. [PMID: 35013162 PMCID: PMC8748929 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27621-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Defense against intracellular infection has been extensively studied in vertebrate hosts, but less is known about invertebrate hosts; specifically, the transcription factors that induce defense against intracellular intestinal infection in the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans remain understudied. Two different types of intracellular pathogens that naturally infect the C. elegans intestine are the Orsay virus, which is an RNA virus, and microsporidia, which comprise a phylum of fungal pathogens. Despite their molecular differences, these pathogens induce a common host transcriptional response called the intracellular pathogen response (IPR). Here we show that zip-1 is an IPR regulator that functions downstream of all known IPR-activating and regulatory pathways. zip-1 encodes a putative bZIP transcription factor, and we show that zip-1 controls induction of a subset of genes upon IPR activation. ZIP-1 protein is expressed in the nuclei of intestinal cells, and is at least partially required in the intestine to upregulate IPR gene expression. Importantly, zip-1 promotes resistance to infection by the Orsay virus and by microsporidia in intestinal cells. Altogether, our results indicate that zip-1 represents a central hub for triggers of the IPR, and that this transcription factor has a protective function against intracellular pathogen infection in C. elegans. Intestinal immune responses to intracellular infection of Caenorhabditis elegans and other Invertebrate hosts are not well understood. Here the authors show a key role for the transcription factor ZIP-1 during intestinal intracellular infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Lažetić
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, CA, USA
| | - Fengting Wu
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, CA, USA
| | - Lianne B Cohen
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, CA, USA
| | - Kirthi C Reddy
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, CA, USA
| | - Ya-Ting Chang
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Spencer S Gang
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, CA, USA
| | - Gira Bhabha
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Emily R Troemel
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, CA, USA.
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14
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van Sluijs L, Liu J, Schrama M, van Hamond S, Vromans SPJM, Scholten MH, Žibrat N, Riksen JAG, Pijlman GP, Sterken MG, Kammenga JE. Virus infection modulates male sexual behaviour in Caenorhabditis elegans. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:6776-6790. [PMID: 34534386 PMCID: PMC9291463 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Mating dynamics follow from natural selection on mate choice and individuals maximizing their reproductive success. Mate discrimination reveals itself by a plethora of behaviours and morphological characteristics, each of which can be affected by pathogens. A key question is how pathogens affect mate choice and outcrossing behaviour. Here we investigated the effect of Orsay virus on the mating dynamics of the androdiecious (male and hermaphrodite) nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We tested genetically distinct strains and found that viral susceptibility differed between sexes in a genotype-dependent manner with males of reference strain N2 being more resistant than hermaphrodites. Males displayed a constitutively higher expression of intracellular pathogen response (IPR) genes, whereas the antiviral RNAi response did not have increased activity in males. Subsequent monitoring of sex ratios over 10 generations revealed that viral presence can change mating dynamics in isogenic populations. Sexual attraction assays showed that males preferred mating with uninfected rather than infected hermaphrodites. Together our results illustrate for the first time that viral infection can significantly affect male mating choice and suggest altered mating dynamics as a novel cause benefitting outcrossing under pathogenic stress conditions in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa van Sluijs
- Laboratory of NematologyWageningen University and ResearchWageningenthe Netherlands
- Laboratory of VirologyWageningen University and ResearchWageningenthe Netherlands
| | - Jie Liu
- Laboratory of NematologyWageningen University and ResearchWageningenthe Netherlands
| | - Mels Schrama
- Laboratory of NematologyWageningen University and ResearchWageningenthe Netherlands
| | - Sanne van Hamond
- Laboratory of NematologyWageningen University and ResearchWageningenthe Netherlands
| | | | - Marèl H. Scholten
- Laboratory of NematologyWageningen University and ResearchWageningenthe Netherlands
| | - Nika Žibrat
- Laboratory of NematologyWageningen University and ResearchWageningenthe Netherlands
| | - Joost A. G. Riksen
- Laboratory of NematologyWageningen University and ResearchWageningenthe Netherlands
| | - Gorben P. Pijlman
- Laboratory of VirologyWageningen University and ResearchWageningenthe Netherlands
| | - Mark G. Sterken
- Laboratory of NematologyWageningen University and ResearchWageningenthe Netherlands
| | - Jan E. Kammenga
- Laboratory of NematologyWageningen University and ResearchWageningenthe Netherlands
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15
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Awasthi N, Liongue C, Ward AC. STAT proteins: a kaleidoscope of canonical and non-canonical functions in immunity and cancer. J Hematol Oncol 2021; 14:198. [PMID: 34809691 PMCID: PMC8607625 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-021-01214-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
STAT proteins represent an important family of evolutionarily conserved transcription factors that play key roles in diverse biological processes, notably including blood and immune cell development and function. Classically, STAT proteins have been viewed as inducible activators of transcription that mediate cellular responses to extracellular signals, particularly cytokines. In this 'canonical' paradigm, latent STAT proteins become tyrosine phosphorylated following receptor activation, typically via downstream JAK proteins, facilitating their dimerization and translocation into the nucleus where they bind to specific sequences in the regulatory region of target genes to activate transcription. However, growing evidence has challenged this paradigm and identified alternate 'non-canonical' functions, such as transcriptional repression and roles outside the nucleus, with both phosphorylated and unphosphorylated STATs involved. This review provides a revised framework for understanding the diverse kaleidoscope of STAT protein functional modalities. It further discusses the implications of this framework for our understanding of STAT proteins in normal blood and immune cell biology and diseases such as cancer, and also provides an evolutionary context to place the origins of these alternative functional modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nagendra Awasthi
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Pigdons Road, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia.,Institue of Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Clifford Liongue
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Pigdons Road, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia.,Institue of Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Alister C Ward
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Pigdons Road, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia. .,Institue of Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
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16
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Zhang X, Harding BW, Aggad D, Courtine D, Chen JX, Pujol N, Ewbank JJ. Antagonistic fungal enterotoxins intersect at multiple levels with host innate immune defences. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009600. [PMID: 34166401 PMCID: PMC8263066 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals and plants need to defend themselves from pathogen attack. Their defences drive innovation in virulence mechanisms, leading to never-ending cycles of co-evolution in both hosts and pathogens. A full understanding of host immunity therefore requires examination of pathogen virulence strategies. Here, we take advantage of the well-studied innate immune system of Caenorhabditis elegans to dissect the action of two virulence factors from its natural fungal pathogen Drechmeria coniospora. We show that these two enterotoxins have strikingly different effects when expressed individually in the nematode epidermis. One is able to interfere with diverse aspects of host cell biology, altering vesicle trafficking and preventing the key STAT-like transcription factor STA-2 from activating defensive antimicrobial peptide gene expression. The second increases STA-2 levels in the nucleus, modifies the nucleolus, and, potentially as a consequence of a host surveillance mechanism, causes increased defence gene expression. Our results highlight the remarkably complex and potentially antagonistic mechanisms that come into play in the interaction between co-evolved hosts and pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Zhang
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Benjamin W. Harding
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Dina Aggad
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Damien Courtine
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | | | - Nathalie Pujol
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Jonathan J. Ewbank
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
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17
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Sterken MG, van Sluijs L, Wang YA, Ritmahan W, Gultom ML, Riksen JAG, Volkers RJM, Snoek LB, Pijlman GP, Kammenga JE. Punctuated Loci on Chromosome IV Determine Natural Variation in Orsay Virus Susceptibility of Caenorhabditis elegans Strains Bristol N2 and Hawaiian CB4856. J Virol 2021; 95:e02430-20. [PMID: 33827942 PMCID: PMC8315983 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02430-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Host-pathogen interactions play a major role in evolutionary selection and shape natural genetic variation. The genetically distinct Caenorhabditis elegans strains, Bristol N2 and Hawaiian CB4856, are differentially susceptible to the Orsay virus (OrV). Here, we report the dissection of the genetic architecture of susceptibility to OrV infection. We compare OrV infection in the relatively resistant wild-type CB4856 strain to the more susceptible canonical N2 strain. To gain insight into the genetic architecture of viral susceptibility, 52 fully sequenced recombinant inbred lines (CB4856 × N2 RILs) were exposed to OrV. This led to the identification of two loci on chromosome IV associated with OrV resistance. To verify the two loci and gain additional insight into the genetic architecture controlling virus infection, introgression lines (ILs) that together cover chromosome IV, were exposed to OrV. Of the 27 ILs used, 17 had an CB4856 introgression in an N2 background, and 10 had an N2 introgression in a CB4856 background. Infection of the ILs confirmed and fine-mapped the locus underlying variation in OrV susceptibility, and we found that a single nucleotide polymorphism in cul-6 may contribute to the difference in OrV susceptibility between N2 and CB4856. An allele swap experiment showed the strain CB4856 became as susceptible as the N2 strain by having an N2 cul-6 allele, although having the CB4856 cul-6 allele did not increase resistance in N2. In addition, we found that multiple strains with nonoverlapping introgressions showed a distinct infection phenotype from the parental strain, indicating that there are punctuated locations on chromosome IV determining OrV susceptibility. Thus, our findings reveal the genetic complexity of OrV susceptibility in C. elegans and suggest that viral susceptibility is governed by multiple genes.IMPORTANCE Genetic variation determines the viral susceptibility of hosts. Yet, pinpointing which genetic variants determine viral susceptibility remains challenging. Here, we have exploited the genetic tractability of the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans to dissect the genetic architecture of Orsay virus infection. Our results provide novel insight into natural determinants of Orsay virus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark G Sterken
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Lisa van Sluijs
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Yiru A Wang
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Wannisa Ritmahan
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Mitra L Gultom
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Joost A G Riksen
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rita J M Volkers
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - L Basten Snoek
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Gorben P Pijlman
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan E Kammenga
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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18
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Fabian DK, Fuentealba M, Dönertaş HM, Partridge L, Thornton JM. Functional conservation in genes and pathways linking ageing and immunity. IMMUNITY & AGEING 2021; 18:23. [PMID: 33990202 PMCID: PMC8120713 DOI: 10.1186/s12979-021-00232-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
At first glance, longevity and immunity appear to be different traits that have not much in common except the fact that the immune system promotes survival upon pathogenic infection. Substantial evidence however points to a molecularly intertwined relationship between the immune system and ageing. Although this link is well-known throughout the animal kingdom, its genetic basis is complex and still poorly understood. To address this question, we here provide a compilation of all genes concomitantly known to be involved in immunity and ageing in humans and three well-studied model organisms, the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, and the house mouse Mus musculus. By analysing human orthologs among these species, we identified 7 evolutionarily conserved signalling cascades, the insulin/TOR network, three MAPK (ERK, p38, JNK), JAK/STAT, TGF-β, and Nf-κB pathways that act pleiotropically on ageing and immunity. We review current evidence for these pathways linking immunity and lifespan, and their role in the detrimental dysregulation of the immune system with age, known as immunosenescence. We argue that the phenotypic effects of these pathways are often context-dependent and vary, for example, between tissues, sexes, and types of pathogenic infection. Future research therefore needs to explore a higher temporal, spatial and environmental resolution to fully comprehend the connection between ageing and immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel K Fabian
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK. .,Institute of Healthy Ageing, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Matías Fuentealba
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK.,Institute of Healthy Ageing, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - Handan Melike Dönertaş
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Linda Partridge
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK.,Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
| | - Janet M Thornton
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
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19
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Abstract
In its natural habitat, C. elegans encounters a wide variety of microbes, including food, commensals and pathogens. To be able to survive long enough to reproduce, C. elegans has developed a complex array of responses to pathogens. These activities are coordinated on scales that range from individual organelles to the entire organism. Often, the response is triggered within cells, by detection of infection-induced damage, mainly in the intestine or epidermis. C. elegans has, however, a capacity for cell non-autonomous regulation of these responses. This frequently involves the nervous system, integrating pathogen recognition, altering host biology and governing avoidance behavior. Although there are significant differences with the immune system of mammals, some mechanisms used to limit pathogenesis show remarkable phylogenetic conservation. The past 20 years have witnessed an explosion of host-pathogen interaction studies using C. elegans as a model. This review will discuss the broad themes that have emerged and highlight areas that remain to be fully explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline N Martineau
- Aix Marseille Université, Inserm, CNRS, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | | | - Nathalie Pujol
- Aix Marseille Université, Inserm, CNRS, CIML, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France.
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20
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Cai H, Holleufer A, Simonsen B, Schneider J, Lemoine A, Gad HH, Huang J, Huang J, Chen D, Peng T, Marques JT, Hartmann R, Martins NE, Imler JL. 2'3'-cGAMP triggers a STING- and NF-κB-dependent broad antiviral response in Drosophila. Sci Signal 2020; 13:13/660/eabc4537. [PMID: 33262294 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abc4537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
We previously reported that an ortholog of STING regulates infection by picorna-like viruses in Drosophila In mammals, STING is activated by the cyclic dinucleotide 2'3'-cGAMP produced by cGAS, which acts as a receptor for cytosolic DNA. Here, we showed that injection of flies with 2'3'-cGAMP induced the expression of dSTING-regulated genes. Coinjection of 2'3'-cGAMP with a panel of RNA or DNA viruses resulted in substantially reduced viral replication. This 2'3'-cGAMP-mediated protection was still observed in flies with mutations in Atg7 and AGO2, genes that encode key components of the autophagy and small interfering RNA pathways, respectively. By contrast, this protection was abrogated in flies with mutations in the gene encoding the NF-κB transcription factor Relish. Transcriptomic analysis of 2'3'-cGAMP-injected flies revealed a complex response pattern in which genes were rapidly induced, induced after a delay, or induced in a sustained manner. Our results reveal that dSTING regulates an NF-κB-dependent antiviral program that predates the emergence of interferons in vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Cai
- Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Basic Medical Science, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China.,Université de Strasbourg, CNRS UPR 9022, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Andreas Holleufer
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Bine Simonsen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | | | - Aurélie Lemoine
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS UPR 9022, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Hans Henrik Gad
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Jingxian Huang
- Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Basic Medical Science, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China
| | - Jieqing Huang
- Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Basic Medical Science, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China
| | - Di Chen
- Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Basic Medical Science, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China
| | - Tao Peng
- Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Basic Medical Science, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China
| | - João T Marques
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS UPR 9022, INSERM U1257, 67084 Strasbourg, France.,Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais CEP 31270901, Brazil
| | - Rune Hartmann
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
| | - Nelson E Martins
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS UPR 9022, 67084 Strasbourg, France.
| | - Jean-Luc Imler
- Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Basic Medical Science, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China.,Université de Strasbourg, CNRS UPR 9022, 67084 Strasbourg, France
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21
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The Caenorhabditis elegans RIG-I Homolog DRH-1 Mediates the Intracellular Pathogen Response upon Viral Infection. J Virol 2020; 94:JVI.01173-19. [PMID: 31619561 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01173-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I)-like receptors detect viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and 5'-triphosphorylated RNA to activate the transcription of interferon genes and promote antiviral defense. The Caenorhabditis elegans RIG-I-like receptor DRH-1 promotes defense through antiviral RNA interference (RNAi), but less is known about its role in regulating transcription. Here, we describe a role for DRH-1 in directing a transcriptional response in C. elegans called the intracellular pathogen response (IPR), which is associated with increased pathogen resistance. The IPR includes a set of genes induced by diverse stimuli, including intracellular infection and proteotoxic stress. Previous work suggested that the proteotoxic stress caused by intracellular infections might be the common trigger of the IPR, but here, we demonstrate that different stimuli act through distinct pathways. Specifically, we demonstrate that DRH-1/RIG-I is required for inducing the IPR in response to Orsay virus infection but not in response to other triggers like microsporidian infection or proteotoxic stress. Furthermore, DRH-1 appears to be acting independently of its known role in RNAi. Interestingly, expression of the replication-competent Orsay virus RNA1 segment alone is sufficient to induce most of the IPR genes in a manner dependent on RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity and on DRH-1. Altogether, these results suggest that DRH-1 is a pattern recognition receptor that detects viral replication products to activate the IPR stress/immune program in C. elegans IMPORTANCE C. elegans lacks homologs of most mammalian pattern recognition receptors, and how nematodes detect pathogens is poorly understood. We show that the C. elegans RIG-I homolog DRH-1 mediates the induction of the intracellular pathogen response (IPR), a novel transcriptional defense program, in response to infection by the natural C. elegans viral pathogen Orsay virus. DRH-1 appears to act as a pattern recognition receptor to induce the IPR transcriptional defense program by sensing the products of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity. Interestingly, this signaling role of DRH-1 is separable from its previously known role in antiviral RNAi. In addition, we show that there are multiple host pathways for inducing the IPR, shedding light on the regulation of this novel transcriptional immune response.
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22
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Nehammer C, Ejlerskov P, Gopal S, Handley A, Ng L, Moreira P, Lee H, Issazadeh-Navikas S, Rubinsztein DC, Pocock R. Interferon-β-induced miR-1 alleviates toxic protein accumulation by controlling autophagy. eLife 2019; 8:49930. [PMID: 31799933 PMCID: PMC6914338 DOI: 10.7554/elife.49930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Appropriate regulation of autophagy is crucial for clearing toxic proteins from cells. Defective autophagy results in accumulation of toxic protein aggregates that detrimentally affect cellular function and organismal survival. Here, we report that the microRNA miR-1 regulates the autophagy pathway through conserved targeting of the orthologous Tre-2/Bub2/CDC16 (TBC) Rab GTPase-activating proteins TBC-7 and TBC1D15 in Caenorhabditis elegans and mammalian cells, respectively. Loss of miR-1 causes TBC-7/TBC1D15 overexpression, leading to a block on autophagy. Further, we found that the cytokine interferon-β (IFN-β) can induce miR-1 expression in mammalian cells, reducing TBC1D15 levels, and safeguarding against proteotoxic challenges. Therefore, this work provides a potential therapeutic strategy for protein aggregation disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Nehammer
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Patrick Ejlerskov
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Cambridge Institute for Medical Research (CIMR), University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sandeep Gopal
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ava Handley
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Leelee Ng
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Pedro Moreira
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Huikyong Lee
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research (CIMR), University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Shohreh Issazadeh-Navikas
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - David C Rubinsztein
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research (CIMR), University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Roger Pocock
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.,Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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23
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Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans has long been a laboratory model organism with no known natural pathogens. In the past ten years, however, natural viruses have been isolated from wild-caught C. elegans (Orsay virus) and its relative Caenorhabditis briggsae (Santeuil virus, Le Blanc virus, and Melnik virus). All are RNA positive-sense viruses related to Nodaviridae; they infect intestinal cells and are horizontally transmitted. The Orsay virus capsid structure has been determined and the virus can be reconstituted by transgenesis of the host. Recent use of the Orsay virus has enabled researchers to identify evolutionarily conserved proviral and antiviral genes that function in nematodes and mammals. These pathways include endocytosis through SID-3 and WASP; a uridylyltransferase that destabilizes viral RNAs by uridylation of their 3′ end; ubiquitin protein modifications and turnover; and the RNA interference pathway, which recognizes and degrades viral RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Anne Félix
- Institute of Biology of the École Normale Supérieure, CNRS UMR8197, INSERM U1024, 75230 Paris CEDEX 05, France
| | - David Wang
- Departments of Molecular Microbiology and Pathology & Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
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24
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Noda-Like RNA Viruses Infecting Caenorhabditis Nematodes: Sympatry, Diversity, and Reassortment. J Virol 2019; 93:JVI.01170-19. [PMID: 31434736 PMCID: PMC6803290 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01170-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans is a laboratory model organism in biology. We study natural populations of this small animal and its relative, C. briggsae, and the viruses that infect them. We previously discovered three RNA viruses related to nodaviruses and here describe a fourth one, called the Mělník virus. These viruses have a genome composed of two RNA molecules. We find that two viruses may infect the same animal and the same cell. The two RNA molecules may be exchanged between variants of a given viral species. We study the diversity of each viral species and devise an assay of their infectivity and competitive ability. Using this assay, we show that the outcome of the competition also depends on the host. Three RNA viruses related to nodaviruses were previously described to naturally infect the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and its relative, Caenorhabditis briggsae. Here, we report on a collection of more than 50 viral variants from wild-caught Caenorhabditis. We describe the discovery of a new related virus, the Mělník virus, infecting C. briggsae, which similarly infects intestinal cells. In France, a frequent pattern of coinfection of C. briggsae by the Santeuil virus and Le Blanc virus was observed at the level of an individual nematode and even a single cell. We do not find evidence of reassortment between the RNA1 and RNA2 molecules of Santeuil and Le Blanc viruses. However, by studying patterns of evolution of each virus, reassortments of RNA1 and RNA2 among variants of each virus were identified. We develop assays to test the relative infectivity and competitive ability of the viral variants and detect an interaction between host genotype and Santeuil virus genotype, such that the result depends on the host strain. IMPORTANCE The roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans is a laboratory model organism in biology. We study natural populations of this small animal and its relative, C. briggsae, and the viruses that infect them. We previously discovered three RNA viruses related to nodaviruses and here describe a fourth one, called the Mělník virus. These viruses have a genome composed of two RNA molecules. We find that two viruses may infect the same animal and the same cell. The two RNA molecules may be exchanged between variants of a given viral species. We study the diversity of each viral species and devise an assay of their infectivity and competitive ability. Using this assay, we show that the outcome of the competition also depends on the host.
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25
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Huang AG, Tan XP, Qu SY, Wang GX, Zhu B. Evaluation on the antiviral activity of genipin against white spot syndrome virus in crayfish. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 93:380-386. [PMID: 31374312 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2019.07.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a serious epidemic pathogen of crustaceans and cause severe economic losses to aquaculture. However, no commercial drugs presently available to control WSSV infection. Genipin (GN) is a bioactive compound extracted from the fruit of Gardenia jasminoides and exhibits potential antiviral activity. In the study, the antiviral activity of GN against WSSV was investigated in crayfish Procambarus clarkii and in shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. In vitro antiviral test showed that GN could inhibit WSSV replication in crayfish and in shrimp, and the highest inhibition on WSSV was over 99% when treatment with 50 mg/kg of GN for 24 h. In vivo antiviral test proved that GN could be used to treat and prevent WSSV infection. GN could also effectively protect crayfish from WSSV infection by reducing the mortality rate of WSSV-infected crayfish. Moreover, GN attenuated the WSSV-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory by upregulation the expression of antioxidant-related genes and downregulation the expression of inflammatory-related genes, respectively. Mechanically, GN inhibited WSSV replication at least via decreasing STAT (signal transducer and activator of transcription) gene expression to block WSSV immediate-early gene ie1 transcription. Additionally, the inhibition of BI-1 (Bax inhibitor-1) gene expression also played an important role in the suppression of WSSV infection. In conclusion, GN represented a potential therapeutic and preventive agent to block WSSV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ai-Guo Huang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xinong Road 22nd, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Xiao-Ping Tan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xinong Road 22nd, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Shen-Ye Qu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xinong Road 22nd, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Gao-Xue Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xinong Road 22nd, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.
| | - Bin Zhu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xinong Road 22nd, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.
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26
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Kerry RG, Malik S, Redda YT, Sahoo S, Patra JK, Majhi S. Nano-based approach to combat emerging viral (NIPAH virus) infection. NANOMEDICINE : NANOTECHNOLOGY, BIOLOGY, AND MEDICINE 2019; 18:196-220. [PMID: 30904587 PMCID: PMC7106268 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Revised: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Emergence of new virus and their heterogeneity are growing at an alarming rate. Sudden outburst of Nipah virus (NiV) has raised serious question about their instant management using conventional medication and diagnostic measures. A coherent strategy with versatility and comprehensive perspective to confront the rising distress could perhaps be effectuated by implementation of nanotechnology. But in concurrent to resourceful and precise execution of nano-based medication, there is an ultimate need of concrete understanding of the NIV pathogenesis. Moreover, to amplify the effectiveness of nano-based approach in a conquest against NiV, a list of developed nanosystem with antiviral activity is also a prerequisite. Therefore the present review provides a meticulous cognizance of cellular and molecular pathogenesis of NiV. Conventional as well several nano-based diagnosis experimentations against viruses have been discussed. Lastly, potential efficacy of different forms of nano-based systems as convenient means to shield mankind against NiV has also been introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rout George Kerry
- Post Graduate Department of Biotechnology, Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Santosh Malik
- Departmentof Life Science, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha, India
| | | | - Sabuj Sahoo
- Post Graduate Department of Biotechnology, Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Jayanta Kumar Patra
- Research Institute of Biotechnology & Medical Converged Science, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyangsi, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sanatan Majhi
- Post Graduate Department of Biotechnology, Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
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27
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The Dietary Restriction-Like Gene drl-1, Which Encodes a Putative Serine/Threonine Kinase, Is Essential for Orsay Virus Infection in Caenorhabditis elegans. J Virol 2019; 93:JVI.01400-18. [PMID: 30429346 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01400-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Orsay virus is the only known natural virus pathogen of Caenorhabditis elegans, and its discovery has enabled virus-host interaction studies in this model organism. Host genes required for viral infection remain understudied. We previously established a forward genetic screen based on a virus-inducible green fluorescent protein transcriptional reporter to identify novel host factors essential for virus infection. Here, we report the essential role in Orsay virus infection of the dietary restriction-like (drl-1) gene, which encodes a serine/threonine kinase similar to the mammalian MEKK3 kinase. Ablation of drl-1 led to a >10,000-fold reduction in Orsay virus RNA levels, which could be rescued by ectopic expression of DRL-1. DRL-1 was dispensable for Orsay replication from an endogenous transgene replicon, suggesting that DRL-1 affects a prereplication stage of the Orsay life cycle. Thus, this study demonstrates the power of C. elegans as a model to identify novel virus-host interactions essential for virus infection.IMPORTANCE The recent discovery of Orsay virus, the only known natural virus of Caenorhabditis elegans, provides a unique opportunity to study virus-host interactions that mediate infection in a genetically tractable multicellular model organism. As viruses remain a global threat to human health, better insights into cellular components that enable virus infection and replication can ultimately lead to the development of new targets for antiviral therapeutics.
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28
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Le Pen J, Jiang H, Di Domenico T, Kneuss E, Kosałka J, Leung C, Morgan M, Much C, Rudolph KLM, Enright AJ, O'Carroll D, Wang D, Miska EA. Terminal uridylyltransferases target RNA viruses as part of the innate immune system. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2018; 25:778-786. [PMID: 30104661 PMCID: PMC6130846 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-018-0106-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
RNA viruses are a major threat to animals and plants. RNA interference (RNAi) and the interferon response provide innate antiviral defense against RNA viruses. Here, we performed a large-scale screen using Caenorhabditis elegans and its natural pathogen the Orsay virus (OrV), and we identified cde-1 as important for antiviral defense. CDE-1 is a homolog of the mammalian TUT4 and TUT7 terminal uridylyltransferases (collectively called TUT4(7)); its catalytic activity is required for its antiviral function. CDE-1 uridylates the 3' end of the OrV RNA genome and promotes its degradation in a manner independent of the RNAi pathway. Likewise, TUT4(7) enzymes uridylate influenza A virus (IAV) mRNAs in mammalian cells. Deletion of TUT4(7) leads to increased IAV mRNA and protein levels. Collectively, these data implicate 3'-terminal uridylation of viral RNAs as a conserved antiviral defense mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérémie Le Pen
- Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hongbing Jiang
- Departments of Molecular Microbiology and Pathology & Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Tomás Di Domenico
- Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Emma Kneuss
- Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cancer Research UK, Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Joanna Kosałka
- Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Christian Leung
- Departments of Molecular Microbiology and Pathology & Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Marcos Morgan
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Mouse Biology Unit, Monterotondo Scalo, Italy
| | - Christian Much
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Mouse Biology Unit, Monterotondo Scalo, Italy
| | - Konrad L M Rudolph
- Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Dónal O'Carroll
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Mouse Biology Unit, Monterotondo Scalo, Italy
| | - David Wang
- Departments of Molecular Microbiology and Pathology & Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Eric A Miska
- Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK.
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29
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Polanowska J, Chen JX, Soulé J, Omi S, Belougne J, Taffoni C, Pujol N, Selbach M, Zugasti O, Ewbank JJ. Evolutionary plasticity in the innate immune function of Akirin. PLoS Genet 2018; 14:e1007494. [PMID: 30036395 PMCID: PMC6072134 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 06/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic gene expression requires the coordinated action of transcription factors, chromatin remodelling complexes and RNA polymerase. The conserved nuclear protein Akirin plays a central role in immune gene expression in insects and mammals, linking the SWI/SNF chromatin-remodelling complex with the transcription factor NFκB. Although nematodes lack NFκB, Akirin is also indispensable for the expression of defence genes in the epidermis of Caenorhabditis elegans following natural fungal infection. Through a combination of reverse genetics and biochemistry, we discovered that in C. elegans Akirin has conserved its role of bridging chromatin-remodellers and transcription factors, but that the identity of its functional partners is different since it forms a physical complex with NuRD proteins and the POU-class transcription factor CEH-18. In addition to providing a substantial step forward in our understanding of innate immune gene regulation in C. elegans, our results give insight into the molecular evolution of lineage-specific signalling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jia-Xuan Chen
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julien Soulé
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Marseille, France
| | - Shizue Omi
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Marseille, France
| | | | - Clara Taffoni
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Marseille, France
| | - Nathalie Pujol
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Marseille, France
| | - Matthias Selbach
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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30
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Immune Ecosystem of Virus-Infected Host Tissues. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19051379. [PMID: 29734779 PMCID: PMC5983771 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19051379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2018] [Revised: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Virus infected host cells serve as a central immune ecological niche during viral infection and replication and stimulate the host immune response via molecular signaling. The viral infection and multiplication process involves complex intracellular molecular interactions between viral components and the host factors. Various types of host cells are also involved to modulate immune factors in delicate and dynamic equilibrium to maintain a balanced immune ecosystem in an infected host tissue. Antiviral host arsenals are equipped to combat or eliminate viral invasion. However, viruses have evolved with strategies to counter against antiviral immunity or hijack cellular machinery to survive inside host tissue for their multiplication. However, host immune systems have also evolved to neutralize the infection; which, in turn, either clears the virus from the infected host or causes immune-mediated host tissue injury. A complex relationship between viral pathogenesis and host antiviral defense could define the immune ecosystem of virus-infected host tissues. Understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying this ecosystem would uncover strategies to modulate host immune function for antiviral therapeutics. This review presents past and present updates of immune-ecological components of virus infected host tissue and explains how viruses subvert the host immune surveillances.
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31
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The Microbial Zoo in the C. elegans Intestine: Bacteria, Fungi and Viruses. Viruses 2018; 10:v10020085. [PMID: 29443938 PMCID: PMC5850392 DOI: 10.3390/v10020085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2018] [Revised: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
C. elegans is an invaluable model organism that has been a driving force in many fundamental biological discoveries. However, it is only in the past two decades that it has been applied to host–pathogen interaction studies. These studies have been facilitated by the discoveries of natural microbes that infect C. elegans, including bacteria, fungi and viruses. Notably, many of these microbes share a common site of infection, the C. elegans intestine. Furthermore, the recent descriptions of a natural gut microbiota in C. elegans raise the possibility that this could be a novel model system for microbiome and trans-kingdom interaction studies. Here we review studies of C. elegans host–microbe interactions with a particular focus on the intestine.
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32
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Abstract
Many fundamental biological discoveries have been made in Caenorhabditis elegans. The discovery of Orsay virus has enabled studies of host-virus interactions in this model organism. To identify host factors critical for Orsay virus infection, we designed a forward genetic screen that utilizes a virally induced green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter. Following chemical mutagenesis, two Viro (virus induced reporter off) mutants that failed to express GFP were mapped to sid-3, a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase, and B0280.13 (renamed viro-2), an ortholog of human Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP). Both mutants yielded Orsay virus RNA levels comparable to that of the residual input virus, suggesting that they are not permissive for Orsay virus replication. In addition, we demonstrated that both genes affect an early prereplication stage of Orsay virus infection. Furthermore, it is known that the human ortholog of SID-3, activated CDC42-associated kinase (ACK1/TNK2), is capable of phosphorylating human WASP, suggesting that VIRO-2 may be a substrate for SID-3 in C. elegans. A targeted RNA interference (RNAi) knockdown screen further identified the C. elegans gene nck-1, which has a human ortholog that interacts with TNK2 and WASP, as required for Orsay virus infection. Thus, genetic screening in C. elegans identified critical roles in virus infection for evolutionarily conserved genes in a known human pathway. Orsay virus is the only known virus capable of naturally infecting the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, which shares many evolutionarily conserved genes with humans. We exploited the robust genetic tractability of C. elegans to identify three host genes, sid-3, viro-2, and nck-1, which are essential for Orsay virus infection. Mutant animals that lack these three genes are highly defective in viral replication. Strikingly, the human orthologs of these three genes, activated CDC42-associated kinase (TNK2), Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP), and noncatalytic region of tyrosine kinase adaptor protein 1 (NCK1) are part of a known signaling pathway in mammals. These results suggest that TNK2, WASP, and NCK1 may play important roles in mammalian virus infection.
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