Cellular vimentin regulates the infectivity of Newcastle disease virus through targeting of the HN protein

The multifaceted interactions between Newcastle disease virus proteins and host proteins: a systematic review

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) typically induces severe illness in poultry and results in significant economic losses for the worldwide poultry sector. NDV, an RNA virus with a single-stranded negative-sense genome, is susceptible to mutation and immune evasion during viral transmission, thus imposing enormous challenges to avian health and poultry production. NDV is composed of six structural proteins and two nonstructural proteins that exert pivotal roles in viral infection and antiviral responses by interacting with host proteins. Nowadays, there is a particular focus on the mechanisms of virus-host protein interactions in NDV research, yet a comprehensive overview of such research is still lacking. Herein, we briefly summarize the mechanisms regarding the effects of virus-host protein interaction on viral infection, pathogenesis, and host immune responses. This review can not only enhance the present comprehension of the mechanism underlying NDV and host interplay, but also furnish a point of reference for the advancement of antiviral measures.

Cellular vimentin interacts with VP70 protein of goose astrovirus genotype 2 and acts as a structural organizer to facilitate viral replication

The fatal gouty disease caused by goose astrovirus genotype 2 (GAstV-2) still seriously endangers the goose industry in China, causing great economic losses. However, research on its infection mechanism has progressed relatively slowly. VP70 is the structural protein of GAstV-2 and is closely related to virus invasion and replication. To better understand the role of VP70 during GAstV-2 infection, we used immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry to identify host proteins that interact with VP70. Here, we report that cellular vimentin (VIM) is a host binding partner of VP70. Site-directed mutagenesis showed that amino acid residues 399 to 413 of VP70 interacted with VIM. Using reverse genetics, we found that VP70 mutation disrupts the interaction of VP70 with VIM, which is essential for viral replication. Overexpression of VIM significantly promoted GAstV-2 replication, while knockdown of VIM significantly inhibited GAstV-2 replication. Laser confocal microscopy showed that VP70 protein expression induced the rearrangement of VIM, gradually aggregating from the original uniform grid to the side of the nucleus, and aggregated the originally dispersed GAstV-2 RNA in VIM. This rearrangement was associated with increased VIM phosphorylation caused by GAstV-2. Meanwhile, blocking VIM rearrangement with acrylamide substantially inhibited viral replication. These results indicate that VIM interacts with VP70 and positively regulates GAstV-2 replication, and VIM-VP70 interaction and an intact VIM network are needed for GAstV-2 replication. This study provides a theoretical basis and novel perspective for the further characterization of the pathogenic mechanism of GAstV-2-induced gouty disease in goslings.

CDK5-mediated rearrangement of vimentin during Duck Tembusu virus infection inhibits viral replication

Duck Tembusu virus (DTMUV) is a newly emerging pathogen that causes massive economic losses to the poultry industry in China and neighbouring countries. Vimentin, an intermediate filament protein, has been demonstrated to be involved in viral replication during infection. However, the specific role of vimentin in DTMUV replication has not been determined. In this study, we found that overexpression of vimentin in BHK-21 cells can inhibit DTMUV replication. Moreover, DTMUV replication was enhanced after vimentin expression was reduced in BHK-21 cells via small interfering RNA (siRNA). Further research indicated that DTMUV infection had no effect on the transcription or expression of vimentin. However, we found that DTMUV infection induced vimentin rearrangement, and the rearrangement of vimentin was subsequently confirmed to negatively modulate viral replication through the use of a vimentin network disrupting agent. Vimentin rearrangement is closely associated with its phosphorylation. Our experiments revealed that the phosphorylation of vimentin at Ser56 was promoted in the early stage of DTMUV infection. In addition, by inhibiting the phosphorylation of vimentin at Ser56 with a CDK5 inhibitor, vimentin rearrangement was suppressed, and DTMUV replication was significantly enhanced. These results indicated that DTMUV infection induced vimentin phosphorylation and rearrangement through CDK5, resulting in the inhibition of DTMUV replication. In summary, our study reveals a role for vimentin as a negative factor in the process of DTMUV replication, which helps to elucidate the function of cellular proteins in regulating DTMUV replication.