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Hu X, Bai X, Tian F, Xing Y, Shi Y, Tong Y, Zhong J. A novel BSL-2 Lassa virus reverse genetics system modelling the complete viral life cycle. Emerg Microbes Infect 2024; 13:2356149. [PMID: 38747061 PMCID: PMC11168227 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2024.2356149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV), a risk-group 4 pathogen, must be handled in biosafety level-4 (BSL-4) conditions, thereby limiting its research and antiviral development. Here, we developed a novel LASV reverse genetics system which, to our knowledge, is the first to study the complete LASV life cycle under BSL-2 conditions. Viral particles can be produced efficiently when LASV minigenomic RNA harbouring minimal viral cis-elements and reporter genes is transfected into a helper cell line stably expressing viral NP, GP, Z and L proteins. The resulting defective virions, named LASVmg, can propagate only in the helper cell line, providing a BSL-2 model to study the complete LASV life cycle. Using this model, we found that a previously reported cellular receptor α-dystroglycan is dispensable for LASVmg infection. Furthermore, we showed that ribavirin can inhibit LASVmg infection by inducing viral mutations. This new BSL-2 system should facilitate studying the LASV life cycle and screening antivirals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyou Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xu Bai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fangling Tian
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yifan Xing
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi Shi
- Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yimin Tong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jin Zhong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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Gilbertson B, Subbarao K. What Have We Learned by Resurrecting the 1918 Influenza Virus? Annu Rev Virol 2023; 10:25-47. [PMID: 37774132 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-virology-111821-104408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
The 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic was one of the deadliest infectious disease events in recorded history, resulting in approximately 50-100 million deaths worldwide. The origins of the 1918 virus and the molecular basis for its exceptional virulence remained a mystery for much of the 20th century because the pandemic predated virologic techniques to isolate, passage, and store influenza viruses. In the late 1990s, overlapping fragments of influenza viral RNA preserved in the tissues of several 1918 victims were amplified and sequenced. The use of influenza reverse genetics then permitted scientists to reconstruct the 1918 virus entirely from cloned complementary DNA, leading to new insights into the origin of the virus and its pathogenicity. Here, we discuss some of the advances made by resurrection of the 1918 virus, including the rise of innovative molecular research, which is a topic in the dual use debate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brad Gilbertson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kanta Subbarao
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia;
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Rehman UU, Ghafoor D, Ullah A, Ahmad R, Hanif S. Epigenetics regulation during virus-host interaction and their effects on the virus and host cell. Microb Pathog 2023; 182:106271. [PMID: 37517745 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetics, a field of study focused on cellular gene regulation independent of DNA sequence alterations, encompasses DNA methylation, histone modification and microRNA modification. Epigenetics processes play a pivotal role in governing the life cycles of viruses, enabling their transmission, persistence, and maintenance with in host organisms. This review examines the epigenetics regulation of diverse virus including orthomoxyviruses, coronavirus, retroviridae, mononegavirales, and poxviruses among others. The investigation encompasses ten representative viruses from these families. Detailed exploration of the epigenetic mechanisms underlying each virus type, involving miRNA modification, histone modification and DNA methylation, sheds light on the intricate and multifaceted epigenetic interplay between viruses and their hosts. Furthermore, this review investigates the influence of these epigenetic processes on infection cycles, emphasizing the utilization of epigenetics by viruses such as Epstein-Barr virus and Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to regulate gene expression during chronic or latent infections, control latency, and transition to lytic infection. Finally, the paper explores the novel treatments possibilities stemming from this epigenetic understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ubaid Ur Rehman
- Medical Genetics Research Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan.
| | - Dawood Ghafoor
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430064, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Asad Ullah
- Medical Genetics Research Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Riaz Ahmad
- Medical Genetics Research Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Sumaira Hanif
- Department of Biological Sciences, International Islamic University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
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Vanmechelen B, Stroobants J, Chiu W, Naesens L, Schepers J, Vermeire K, Maes P. Development and optimization of biologically contained Marburg virus for high-throughput antiviral screening. Antiviral Res 2022; 207:105426. [DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Reverse genetics in virology: A double edged sword. BIOSAFETY AND HEALTH 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bsheal.2022.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Vanmechelen B, Stroobants J, Chiu W, Schepers J, Marchand A, Chaltin P, Vermeire K, Maes P. Identification of novel Ebola virus inhibitors using biologically contained virus. Antiviral Res 2022; 200:105294. [PMID: 35337896 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Despite recent advancements in the development of vaccines and monoclonal antibody therapies for Ebola virus disease, treatment options remain limited. Moreover, management and containment of Ebola virus outbreaks is often hindered by the remote nature of the locations in which the outbreaks originate. Small-molecule compounds offer the advantage of being relatively cheap and easy to produce, transport and store, making them an interesting modality for the development of novel therapeutics against Ebola virus disease. Furthermore, the repurposing of small-molecule compounds, previously developed for alternative applications, can aid in reducing the time needed to bring potential therapeutics from bench to bedside. For this purpose, the Medicines for Malaria Venture provides collections of previously developed small-molecule compounds for screening against other infectious diseases. In this study, we used biologically contained Ebola virus to screen over 4,200 small-molecule drugs and drug-like compounds provided by the Medicines for Malaria Venture (i.e., the Pandemic Response Box and the COVID Box) and the Centre for Drug Design and Discovery (CD3, KU Leuven, Belgium). In addition to confirming known Ebola virus inhibitors, illustrating the validity of our screening assays, we identified eight novel selective Ebola virus inhibitors. Although the inhibitory potential of these compounds remains to be validated in vivo, they represent interesting compounds for the study of potential interventions against Ebola virus disease and might serve as a basis for the development of new therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bert Vanmechelen
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joren Stroobants
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Winston Chiu
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joost Schepers
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Arnaud Marchand
- CISTIM Leuven vzw, Gaston Geenslaan 2, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Patrick Chaltin
- CISTIM Leuven vzw, Gaston Geenslaan 2, 3000, Leuven, Belgium; Centre for Drug Design and Discovery (CD3), KU Leuven, Gaston Geenslaan 2, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kurt Vermeire
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Piet Maes
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Leuven, Belgium.
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