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Yu R, Wang M, Liu L, Yan J, Fan J, Li X, Kang M, Xu J, Zhang X, Zhang S. The development and characterization of a stable Coxsackievirus A16 infectious clone with Nanoluc reporter gene. Front Microbiol 2023; 13:1101850. [PMID: 36704559 PMCID: PMC9871592 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1101850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Coxsackievirus A16 (CA16) belongs to the Human Enterovirus A species, which is a common pathogen causing hand, foot, and mouth disease in children. Currently, specific vaccines and drugs against CA16 are unavailable, and there is an unmet need to further understand the virus and invent effective treatment. Constructing a CA16 infectious clone with a reporter gene will greatly facilitate its virological studies. Here, we first reported the construction of a CA16 infectious clone (rCA16) whose progeny is highly replicative and virulent in suckling mice. On the basis of rCA16, we further inserted a NanoLuc (Nluc) reporter gene and made the rCA16-Nluc clone. We found that the Nluc gene in rCA16-Nluc is stable during continuous growing in Vero cells and thus allowed detection of a steady luciferase signal in rCA16-Nluc-infected Vero cells over 10 passages. Its application in antivirals characterization and high-throughput screening is exemplified by measuring IC50, CC50, and selection index of guanidine hydrochloride, ribavirin, chloroquine, and ammonium chloride against CA16. Finally, we showed that rCA16-Nluc based assay greatly simplified the CA16 neutralizing antibody tests. Thus, these two CA16 infectious clones will be robust tools for future enterovirus studies and antivirals development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Yu
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Wang
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lizhen Liu
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingjing Yan
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Fan
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaohong Li
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Miaomiao Kang
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianqing Xu
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China,Jianqing Xu, ✉
| | - Xiaoyan Zhang
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China,Xiaoyan Zhang, ✉
| | - Shuye Zhang
- Clinical Center for Biotherapy, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China,*Correspondence: Shuye Zhang, ✉
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Abstract
Ebola virus is among the most dangerous viral pathogens, with a case fatality rate of up to 90%. Since 2013, the two largest and most complex Ebola outbreaks in West Africa have revealed the lack of investigation on this notorious virus. Ebola virus (EBOV) is a highly pathogenic negative-stranded RNA virus that has caused several deadly endemics in the past decades. EBOV reverse genetics systems are available for studying live viruses under biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) or subviral particles under BSL-2 conditions. However, these systems all require cotransfection of multiple plasmids expressing viral genome and viral proteins essential for EBOV replication, which is technically challenging and unable to naturally mimic virus propagation using the subviral particle. Here, we established a new EBOV reverse genetics system only requiring transfection of a single viral RNA genome into an engineered cell line that stably expresses viral nucleoprotein (NP), viral protein 35 (VP35), VP30, and large (L) proteins and has been fine-tuned for its superior permissiveness for EBOV replication. Using this system, subviral particles expressing viral VP40, glycoprotein (GP), and VP24 could be produced and continuously propagated and eventually infect the entire cell population. We demonstrated the authentic response of the subviral system to antivirals and uncovered that the VP35 amount is critical for optimal virus replication. Furthermore, we showed that fully infectious virions can be efficiently rescued by delivering the full-length EBOV genome into the same supporting cell, and the efficiency is not affected by genome polarity or virus variant specificity. In summary, our work provides a new tool for studying EBOV under different biosafety levels. IMPORTANCE Ebola virus is among the most dangerous viral pathogens, with a case fatality rate of up to 90%. Since 2013, the two largest and most complex Ebola outbreaks in Africa have revealed the lack of investigation on this notorious virus. A reverse genetics system is an important tool for studying viruses by producing mutant viruses or generating safer and convenient model systems. Here, we developed an EBOV life cycle modeling system in which subviral particles can spontaneously propagate in cell culture. In addition, this system can be employed to rescue infectious virions of homologous or heterologous EBOV isolates using either sense or antisense viral RNA genomes. In summary, we developed a new tool for EBOV research.
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3
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Shu T, Gan T, Bai P, Wang X, Qian Q, Zhou H, Cheng Q, Qiu Y, Yin L, Zhong J, Zhou X. Ebola virus VP35 has novel NTPase and helicase-like activities. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:5837-5851. [PMID: 31066445 PMCID: PMC6582406 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 04/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ebola virus (EBOV) is a non-segmented, negative-sense RNA virus (NNSV) in the family Filoviridae, and is recognized as one of the most lethal pathogens in the planet. For RNA viruses, cellular or virus-encoded RNA helicases play pivotal roles in viral life cycles by remodelling viral RNA structures and/or unwinding viral dsRNA produced during replication. However, no helicase or helicase-like activity has ever been found to associate with any NNSV-encoded proteins, and it is unknown whether the replication of NNSVs requires the participation of any viral or cellular helicase. Here, we show that despite of containing no conserved NTPase/helicase motifs, EBOV VP35 possesses the NTPase and helicase-like activities that can hydrolyse all types of NTPs and unwind RNA helices in an NTP-dependent manner, respectively. Moreover, guanidine hydrochloride, an FDA-approved compound and inhibitor of certain viral helicases, inhibited the NTPase and helicase-like activities of VP35 as well as the replication/transcription of an EBOV minigenome replicon in cells, highlighting the importance of VP35 helicase-like activity during EBOV life cycle. Together, our findings provide the first demonstration of the NTPase/helicase-like activity encoded by EBOV, and would foster our understanding of EBOV and NNSVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China
| | - Tianyu Gan
- Unit of Viral Hepatitis, CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, CAS, Shanghai 200031, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Peng Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China
| | - Xiaotong Wang
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.,State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China.,Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory, Mega-Science Center for Bio-Safety Research, CAS, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
| | - Qi Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China.,State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China.,Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory, Mega-Science Center for Bio-Safety Research, CAS, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
| | - Hui Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China.,State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China.,Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory, Mega-Science Center for Bio-Safety Research, CAS, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
| | - Qi Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China
| | - Yang Qiu
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.,State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China.,Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory, Mega-Science Center for Bio-Safety Research, CAS, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
| | - Lei Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China
| | - Jin Zhong
- Unit of Viral Hepatitis, CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, CAS, Shanghai 200031, China.,Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory, Mega-Science Center for Bio-Safety Research, CAS, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
| | - Xi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.,State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China.,Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory, Mega-Science Center for Bio-Safety Research, CAS, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
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4
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Fonseca JP, Bonny AR, Kumar GR, Ng AH, Town J, Wu QC, Aslankoohi E, Chen SY, Dods G, Harrigan P, Osimiri LC, Kistler AL, El-Samad H. A Toolkit for Rapid Modular Construction of Biological Circuits in Mammalian Cells. ACS Synth Biol 2019; 8:2593-2606. [PMID: 31686495 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.9b00322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The ability to rapidly assemble and prototype cellular circuits is vital for biological research and its applications in biotechnology and medicine. Current methods for the assembly of mammalian DNA circuits are laborious, slow, and expensive. Here we present the Mammalian ToolKit (MTK), a Golden Gate-based cloning toolkit for fast, reproducible, and versatile assembly of large DNA vectors and their implementation in mammalian models. The MTK consists of a curated library of characterized, modular parts that can be assembled into transcriptional units and further weaved into complex circuits. We showcase the capabilities of the MTK by using it to generate single-integration landing pads, create and deliver libraries of protein variants and sgRNAs, and iterate through dCas9-based prototype circuits. As a biological proof of concept, we demonstrate how the MTK can speed the generation of noninfectious viral circuits to enable rapid testing of pharmacological inhibitors of emerging viruses that pose a major threat to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Pedro Fonseca
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Alain R. Bonny
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - G. Renuka Kumar
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Andrew H. Ng
- Cell Design Initiative, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Jason Town
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Qiu Chang Wu
- Harvard Systems Biology Graduate Program, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Elham Aslankoohi
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Susan Y. Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Galen Dods
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Patrick Harrigan
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Lindsey C. Osimiri
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
- The UC Berkeley−UCSF Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94132, United States
| | - Amy L. Kistler
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Hana El-Samad
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
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5
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Therapeutic strategies to target the Ebola virus life cycle. Nat Rev Microbiol 2019; 17:593-606. [DOI: 10.1038/s41579-019-0233-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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6
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The Natural Product Eugenol Is an Inhibitor of the Ebola Virus In Vitro. Pharm Res 2019; 36:104. [PMID: 31101988 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-019-2629-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Since the 2014 Ebola virus (EBOV) outbreak in West Africa there has been considerable effort towards developing drugs to treat Ebola virus disease and yet to date there is no FDA approved treatment. This is important as at the time of writing this manuscript there is an ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which has killed over 1000. METHODS We have evaluated a small number of natural products, some of which had shown antiviral activity against other pathogens. This is exemplified with eugenol, which is found in high concentrations in multiple essential oils, and has shown antiviral activity against feline calicivirus, tomato yellow leaf curl virus, Influenza A virus, Herpes Simplex virus type 1 and 2, and four airborne phages. RESULTS Four compounds possessed EC50 values less than or equal to 11 μM. Of these, eugenol, had an EC50 of 1.3 μM against EBOV and is present in several plants including clove, cinnamon, basil and bay. Eugenol is much smaller and structurally unlike any compound that has been previously identified as an inhibitor of EBOV, therefore it may provide new mechanistic insights. CONCLUSION This compound is readily accessible in bulk quantities, is inexpensive, and has a long history of human consumption, which endorses the idea for further assessment as an antiviral therapeutic. This work also suggests that a more exhaustive assessment of natural product libraries against EBOV and other viruses is warranted to improve our ability to identify compounds that are so distinct from FDA approved drugs.
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7
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Salata C, Calistri A, Alvisi G, Celestino M, Parolin C, Palù G. Ebola Virus Entry: From Molecular Characterization to Drug Discovery. Viruses 2019; 11:v11030274. [PMID: 30893774 PMCID: PMC6466262 DOI: 10.3390/v11030274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is one of the most lethal transmissible infections, characterized by a high fatality rate, and caused by a member of the Filoviridae family. The recent large outbreak of EVD in Western Africa (2013–2016) highlighted the worldwide threat represented by the disease and its impact on global public health and the economy. The development of highly needed anti-Ebola virus antivirals has been so far hampered by the shortage of tools to study their life cycle in vitro, allowing to screen for potential active compounds outside a biosafety level-4 (BSL-4) containment. Importantly, the development of surrogate models to study Ebola virus entry in a BSL-2 setting, such as viral pseudotypes and Ebola virus-like particles, tremendously boosted both our knowledge of the viral life cycle and the identification of promising antiviral compounds interfering with viral entry. In this context, the combination of such surrogate systems with large-scale small molecule compounds and haploid genetic screenings, as well as rational drug design and drug repurposing approaches will prove priceless in our quest for the development of a treatment for EVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiano Salata
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, IT-35121 Padova, Italy.
| | - Arianna Calistri
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, IT-35121 Padova, Italy.
| | - Gualtiero Alvisi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, IT-35121 Padova, Italy.
| | - Michele Celestino
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, IT-35121 Padova, Italy.
| | - Cristina Parolin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, IT-35121 Padova, Italy.
| | - Giorgio Palù
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, IT-35121 Padova, Italy.
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8
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Lee N, Shum D, König A, Kim H, Heo J, Min S, Lee J, Ko Y, Choi I, Lee H, Radu C, Hoenen T, Min JY, Windisch MP. High-throughput drug screening using the Ebola virus transcription- and replication-competent virus-like particle system. Antiviral Res 2018; 158:226-237. [DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2018.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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9
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Dunham EC, Leske A, Shifflett K, Watt A, Feldmann H, Hoenen T, Groseth A. Lifecycle modelling systems support inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) as a pro-viral factor and antiviral target for New World arenaviruses. Antiviral Res 2018; 157:140-150. [PMID: 30031760 PMCID: PMC11099991 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2018.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Revised: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Infection with Junín virus (JUNV) is currently being effectively managed in the endemic region using a combination of targeted vaccination and plasma therapy. However, the long-term sustainability of plasma therapy is unclear and similar resources are not available for other New World arenaviruses. As a result, there has been renewed interest regarding the potential of drug-based therapies. To facilitate work on this issue, we present the establishment and subsequent optimization of a JUNV minigenome system to a degree suitable for high-throughput miniaturization, thereby providing a screening platform focused solely on factors affecting RNA synthesis. Using this tool, we conducted a limited drug library screen and identified AVN-944, a non-competitive inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) inhibitor, as an inhibitor of arenavirus RNA synthesis. We further developed a transcription and replication competent virus-like particle (trVLP) system based on these minigenomes and used it to screen siRNAs against IMPDH, verifying its role in supporting arenavirus RNA synthesis. The antiviral effect of AVN-944, as well as siRNA inhibition, on JUNV RNA synthesis supports that, despite playing only a minor role in the activity of ribavirin, exclusive IMPDH inhibitors may indeed have significant therapeutic potential for use against New World arenaviruses. Finally, we confirmed that AVN-944 is also active against arenavirus infection in cell culture, supporting the suitability of arenavirus lifecycle modelling systems as tools for the screening and identification, as well as the mechanistic characterization, of novel antiviral compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric C Dunham
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Hamilton, MT, USA.
| | - Anne Leske
- Junior Research Group Arenavirus Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany.
| | - Kyle Shifflett
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Hamilton, MT, USA.
| | - Ari Watt
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Hamilton, MT, USA.
| | - Heinz Feldmann
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Hamilton, MT, USA.
| | - Thomas Hoenen
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Hamilton, MT, USA; Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany.
| | - Allison Groseth
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Hamilton, MT, USA; Junior Research Group Arenavirus Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany.
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10
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Martin S, Chiramel AI, Schmidt ML, Chen YC, Whitt N, Watt A, Dunham EC, Shifflett K, Traeger S, Leske A, Buehler E, Martellaro C, Brandt J, Wendt L, Müller A, Peitsch S, Best SM, Stech J, Finke S, Römer-Oberdörfer A, Groseth A, Feldmann H, Hoenen T. A genome-wide siRNA screen identifies a druggable host pathway essential for the Ebola virus life cycle. Genome Med 2018; 10:58. [PMID: 30081931 PMCID: PMC6090742 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-018-0570-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The 2014–2016 Ebola virus (EBOV) outbreak in West Africa highlighted the need for improved therapeutic options against this virus. Approaches targeting host factors/pathways essential for the virus are advantageous because they can potentially target a wide range of viruses, including newly emerging ones and because the development of resistance is less likely than when targeting the virus directly. However, systematic approaches for screening host factors important for EBOV have been hampered by the necessity to work with this virus at biosafety level 4 (BSL4). Methods In order to identify host factors involved in the EBOV life cycle, we performed a genome-wide siRNA screen comprising 64,755 individual siRNAs against 21,566 human genes to assess their activity in EBOV genome replication and transcription. As a screening platform, we used reverse genetics-based life cycle modelling systems that recapitulate these processes without the need for a BSL4 laboratory. Results Among others, we identified the de novo pyrimidine synthesis pathway as an essential host pathway for EBOV genome replication and transcription, and confirmed this using infectious EBOV under BSL4 conditions. An FDA-approved drug targeting this pathway showed antiviral activity against infectious EBOV, as well as other non-segmented negative-sense RNA viruses. Conclusions This study provides a minable data set for every human gene regarding its role in EBOV genome replication and transcription, shows that an FDA-approved drug targeting one of the identified pathways is highly efficacious in vitro, and demonstrates the power of life cycle modelling systems for conducting genome-wide host factor screens for BSL4 viruses. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13073-018-0570-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Martin
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 31 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.,Present address: Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Abhilash I Chiramel
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 903 S 4th St., Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
| | - Marie Luisa Schmidt
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Yu-Chi Chen
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 31 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Nadia Whitt
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 31 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Ari Watt
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 903 S 4th St., Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
| | - Eric C Dunham
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 903 S 4th St., Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
| | - Kyle Shifflett
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 903 S 4th St., Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
| | - Shelby Traeger
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 903 S 4th St., Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
| | - Anne Leske
- Junior Research Group Arenavirus Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Eugen Buehler
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 31 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Cynthia Martellaro
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 903 S 4th St., Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
| | - Janine Brandt
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Lisa Wendt
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Andreas Müller
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Stephanie Peitsch
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Sonja M Best
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 903 S 4th St., Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
| | - Jürgen Stech
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Stefan Finke
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Angela Römer-Oberdörfer
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Allison Groseth
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 903 S 4th St., Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA.,Junior Research Group Arenavirus Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Heinz Feldmann
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 903 S 4th St., Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
| | - Thomas Hoenen
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 903 S 4th St., Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA. .,Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany.
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11
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Schmidt ML, Tews BA, Groseth A, Hoenen T. Generation and Optimization of a Green Fluorescent Protein-Expressing Transcription and Replication-Competent Virus-Like Particle System for Ebola Virus. J Infect Dis 2018; 218:S360-S364. [DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiy405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Allison Groseth
- Junior Research Group Arenavirus Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald, Germany
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12
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Abstract
Filoviruses are among the most pathogenic viruses known to man, and work with live viruses is restricted to maximum containment laboratories. In order to study individual aspects of the virus life cycle outside of maximum containment laboratories, life cycle modeling systems have been established, which use reporter-encoding miniature versions of the viral genome called minigenomes. With basic minigenome systems viral genome replication and transcription can be studied, whereas more advanced systems also allow us to model other aspects of the virus life cycle outside of a maximum containment laboratory. These systems, therefore, represent powerful tools to study the biology of filoviruses, and for the screening and development of antivirals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Hoenen
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute for Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Greifswald-Isle of Riems, Germany.
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13
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Abstract
Ebolaviruses are the causative agent of a severe hemorrhagic fever with high case fatality rates, for which no approved specific therapy is available. As biosafety level 4 (BSL4) agents, work with live ebolaviruses is restricted to maximum containment laboratories. Transcription and replication-competent viruslike particle (trVLP) systems are reverse genetics-based life cycle modeling systems that allow researchers to model virtually the entire ebolavirus life cycle outside of a maximum containment laboratory. These systems can be used to dissect the virus life cycle, and thus increase our understanding of virus biology, as well as for more applied uses such as the screening and development of novel antivirals, and thus represent powerful tools for work on ebolaviruses.
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15
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Retrovirus-Based Surrogate Systems for BSL-2 High-Throughput Screening of Antivirals Targeting BSL-3/4 Hemorrhagic Fever-Causing Viruses. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1604:393-403. [PMID: 28986850 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6981-4_29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The majority of viruses causing hemorrhagic fever in humans are Risk Group 3 or 4 pathogens and, therefore, can only be handled in biosafety level 3 or 4 (BSL-3/4) containment laboratories. The restricted number of such laboratories, the substantial financial requirements to maintain them, and safety concerns for the laboratory workers pose formidable challenges for rapid medical countermeasure discovery and evaluation. BSL-2 surrogate systems are a less challenging, cheap, and fast alternative to the use of live high-consequence viruses for dissecting and targeting individual steps of viral lifecycles with a diminished threat to the laboratory worker. Typical surrogate systems are virion-like particles (VLPs), transcriptionally active ("infectious") VLPs, minigenome systems, recombinant heterotypic viruses encoding proteins of target viruses, and vesiculoviral or retroviral pseudotype systems. Here, we outline the use of retroviral pseudotypes for identification of antivirals against BSL-4 pathogens.
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Novel Stable Ebola Virus Minigenome Replicon Reveals Remarkable Stability of the Viral Genome. J Virol 2017; 91:JVI.01316-17. [PMID: 28878087 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01316-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ebola virus (EBOV) causes severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and other primates with a high case fatality rate. No approved drug or vaccine of EBOV is available, which necessitates better understanding of the virus life cycle. Studies on EBOV have been hampered because experimentations involving live virus are restricted to biosafety level 4 (BSL4) laboratories. The EBOV minigenome system has provided researchers with the opportunity to study EBOV under BSL2 conditions. Here, we developed a novel EBOV minigenome replicon which, to our knowledge, is the first EBOV cell culture system that can stably replicate and transcribe the EBOV minigenome. The minigenomic RNA harboring a Gaussia luciferase and hygromycin-resistant marker can replicate for months in a helper cell stably expressing viral nucleoprotein (NP), viral protein 35 (VP35), VP30, and L proteins. Quantification of viral RNA (vRNA), cRNA, and mRNA levels of the EBOV minigenome demonstrated that the stable EBOV replicon had much-more-active minigenome replication than previously developed transient-transfection-based EBOV minigenome systems, which recapitulate viral primary transcription more than genome replication. Interestingly, minigenome replication in the stable EBOV replicon cells was insensitive to interferon treatment or RNA interference. Moreover, RNase digestion of the replicon cell lysates revealed the remarkably stable nature of the EBOV minigenomic vRNA ribonucleoprotein complex, which may help improve understanding of EBOV persistence in convalescent patients.IMPORTANCE The scope and severity of the recent Ebola outbreak in Western Africa justified a more comprehensive investigation of the causative risk group 4 agent Ebola virus (EBOV). Study of EBOV replication and antiviral development can be facilitated by developing a cell culture system that allows experimentation under biosafety level 2 conditions. Here, we developed a novel stable EBOV minigenome replicon which, to our knowledge, is the first EBOV cell culture system that can stably replicate and transcribe the EBOV minigenome. The replicon system had more-active genome replication than previously developed transient-transfection-based EBOV minigenome systems, providing a convenient surrogate system to study EBOV replication. Furthermore, self-replicating minigenomic vRNA in the replicon cells displayed strong stability in response to interferon treatment, RNA silencing, and RNase digestion, which may provide an explanation for the persistence of EBOV in survivors.
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17
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Schmidt ML, Hoenen T. Characterization of the catalytic center of the Ebola virus L polymerase. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005996. [PMID: 28991917 PMCID: PMC5648267 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2017] [Revised: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Ebola virus (EBOV) causes a severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and non-human primates. While no licensed therapeutics are available, recently there has been tremendous progress in developing antivirals. Targeting the ribonucleoprotein complex (RNP) proteins, which facilitate genome replication and transcription, and particularly the polymerase L, is a promising antiviral approach since these processes are essential for the virus life cycle. However, until now little is known about L in terms of its structure and function, and in particular the catalytic center of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of L, which is one of the most promising molecular targets, has never been experimentally characterized. Methodology/Principal findings Using multiple sequence alignments with other negative sense single-stranded RNA viruses we identified the putative catalytic center of the EBOV RdRp. An L protein with mutations in this center was then generated and characterized using various life cycle modelling systems. These systems are based on minigenomes, i.e. miniature versions of the viral genome, in which the viral genes are exchanged against a reporter gene. When such minigenomes are coexpressed with RNP proteins in mammalian cells, the RNP proteins recognize them as authentic templates for replication and transcription, resulting in reporter activity reflecting these processes. Replication-competent minigenome systems indicated that our L catalytic domain mutant was impaired in genome replication and/or transcription, and by using replication-deficient minigenome systems, as well as a novel RT-qPCR-based genome replication assay, we showed that it indeed no longer supported either of these processes. However, it still showed similar expression to wild-type L, and retained its ability to be incorporated into inclusion bodies, which are the sites of EBOV genome replication. Conclusions/Significance We have experimentally defined the catalytic center of the EBOV RdRp, and thus a promising antiviral target regulating an essential aspect of the EBOV life cycle. Ebola viruses cause severe hemorrhagic fevers, and were responsible for the devastating Ebola virus disease epidemic in West Africa from 2013 to 2016. While a number of experimental therapeutics against these viruses target the viral polymerase, there are still significant gaps in our knowledge regarding this essential viral protein. In particular, until now no experimental evidence has been provided identifying the catalytic center of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, which is absolutely essential for the virus life cycle due to its role in replicating and transcribing the viral negative-sense RNA genome. Based on a comparison to related negative-sense RNA viruses from other virus families we identified a putative catalytic center within the Ebola virus polymerase, and provide the experimental evidence that the Ebola virus polymerase indeed utilizes a classical GDNQ motif for both genome replication and transcription. This finding not only increases our knowledge regarding the molecular biology of Ebola viruses, but also defines a molecular target for the development of antivirals against this deadly virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Luisa Schmidt
- Institute for Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald–Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Thomas Hoenen
- Institute for Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald–Insel Riems, Germany
- * E-mail:
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18
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Baseler L, Chertow DS, Johnson KM, Feldmann H, Morens DM. The Pathogenesis of Ebola Virus Disease. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PATHOLOGY-MECHANISMS OF DISEASE 2017; 12:387-418. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pathol-052016-100506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 194] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Baseler
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Daniel S. Chertow
- Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Karl M. Johnson
- Founder, Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Placitas, New Mexico 87043
| | - Heinz Feldmann
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana 59840
| | - David M. Morens
- Office of the Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892;
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Abstract
Two of the most important contemporary emerging viruses that affect human health in Africa are Ebola virus (EBOV) and Lassa virus (LASV). The 2013-2016 West African outbreak of EBOV was responsible for more than 11,000 deaths, primarily in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. LASV is constantly emerging in these and surrounding West African countries, with an estimate of more than 500,000 cases of Lassa fever, and approximately 5,000 deaths, annually. Both EBOV and LASV are zoonotic, and human infection often results in a severe haemorrhagic fever in both cases. However, the contribution of specific immune responses to disease differs between EBOV and LASV. This Review examines innate and adaptive immune responses to these viruses with the goal of delineating responses that are associated with protective versus pathogenic outcomes.
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20
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Abstract
Filoviruses are among the most pathogenic viruses known to man. Reverse genetics systems, in particular full-length clone systems, allow the generation of recombinant filoviruses, which can be used to study virus biology, but also for applied uses such as screening for countermeasures. Here we describe the generation of recombinant filoviruses from cDNA.
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Islam MK, Baudin M, Eriksson J, Öberg C, Habjan M, Weber F, Överby AK, Ahlm C, Evander M. High-Throughput Screening Using a Whole-Cell Virus Replication Reporter Gene Assay to Identify Inhibitory Compounds against Rift Valley Fever Virus Infection. JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR SCREENING 2016; 21:354-62. [PMID: 26762502 DOI: 10.1177/1087057115625184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2015] [Accepted: 12/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an emerging virus that causes serious illness in humans and livestock. There are no approved vaccines or treatments for humans. The purpose of the study was to identify inhibitory compounds of RVFV infection without any preconceived idea of the mechanism of action. A whole-cell-based high-throughput drug screening assay was developed to screen 28,437 small chemical compounds targeting RVFV infection. To accomplish both speed and robustness, a replication-competent NSs-deleted RVFV expressing a fluorescent reporter gene was developed. Inhibition of fluorescence intensity was quantified by spectrophotometry and related to virus infection in human lung epithelial cells (A549). Cell toxicity was assessed by the Resazurin cell viability assay. After primary screening, 641 compounds were identified that inhibited RVFV infection by ≥80%, with ≥50% cell viability at 50 µM concentration. These compounds were subjected to a second screening regarding dose-response profiles, and 63 compounds with ≥60% inhibition of RVFV infection at 3.12 µM compound concentration and ≥50% cell viability at 25 µM were considered hits. Of these, six compounds with high inhibitory activity were identified. In conclusion, the high-throughput assay could efficiently and safely identify several promising compounds that inhibited RVFV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Koushikul Islam
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Virology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden Department of Clinical Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Maria Baudin
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Virology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Jonas Eriksson
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden Laboratories for Chemical Biology Umeå, Chemical Biology Consortium Sweden, Solna, Sweden
| | - Christopher Öberg
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden Laboratories for Chemical Biology Umeå, Chemical Biology Consortium Sweden, Solna, Sweden
| | - Matthias Habjan
- Innate Immunity Laboratory, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Munich, Germany
| | - Friedemann Weber
- Institute for Virology, FB10-Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig University Gießen, Gießen, Germany
| | - Anna K Överby
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Virology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Clas Ahlm
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Magnus Evander
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Virology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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A Rapid Screening Assay Identifies Monotherapy with Interferon-ß and Combination Therapies with Nucleoside Analogs as Effective Inhibitors of Ebola Virus. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004364. [PMID: 26752302 PMCID: PMC4709101 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To date there are no approved antiviral drugs for the treatment of Ebola virus disease (EVD). While a number of candidate drugs have shown limited efficacy in vitro and/or in non-human primate studies, differences in experimental methodologies make it difficult to compare their therapeutic effectiveness. Using an in vitro model of Ebola Zaire replication with transcription-competent virus like particles (trVLPs), requiring only level 2 biosafety containment, we compared the activities of the type I interferons (IFNs) IFN-α and IFN-ß, a panel of viral polymerase inhibitors (lamivudine (3TC), zidovudine (AZT) tenofovir (TFV), favipiravir (FPV), the active metabolite of brincidofovir, cidofovir (CDF)), and the estrogen receptor modulator, toremifene (TOR), in inhibiting viral replication in dose-response and time course studies. We also tested 28 two- and 56 three-drug combinations against Ebola replication. IFN-α and IFN-ß inhibited viral replication 24 hours post-infection (IC50 0.038μM and 0.016μM, respectively). 3TC, AZT and TFV inhibited Ebola replication when used alone (50-62%) or in combination (87%). They exhibited lower IC50 (0.98-6.2μM) compared with FPV (36.8μM), when administered 24 hours post-infection. Unexpectedly, CDF had a narrow therapeutic window (6.25-25μM). When dosed >50μM, CDF treatment enhanced viral infection. IFN-ß exhibited strong synergy with 3TC (97.3% inhibition) or in triple combination with 3TC and AZT (95.8% inhibition). This study demonstrates that IFNs and viral polymerase inhibitors may have utility in EVD. We identified several 2 and 3 drug combinations with strong anti-Ebola activity, confirmed in studies using fully infectious ZEBOV, providing a rationale for testing combination therapies in animal models of lethal Ebola challenge. These studies open up new possibilities for novel therapeutic options, in particular combination therapies, which could prevent and treat Ebola infection and potentially reduce drug resistance.
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Miao C, Li M, Zheng YM, Cohen FS, Liu SL. Cell-cell contact promotes Ebola virus GP-mediated infection. Virology 2015; 488:202-15. [PMID: 26655238 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2015.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2015] [Revised: 11/18/2015] [Accepted: 11/19/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Ebola virus (EBOV) is a highly pathogenic filovirus that causes hemorrhagic fever in humans and animals. Here we provide evidence that cell-cell contact promotes infection mediated by the glycoprotein (GP) of EBOV. Interestingly, expression of EBOV GP alone, even in the absence of retroviral Gag-Pol, is sufficient to transfer a retroviral vector encoding Tet-off from cell to cell. Cell-to-cell infection mediated by EBOV GP is blocked by inhibitors of actin polymerization, but appears to be less sensitive to KZ52 neutralization. Treatment of co-cultured cells with cathepsin B/L inhibitors, or an entry inhibitor 3.47 that targets the receptor NPC1 for virus binding, also blocks cell-to-cell infection. Cell-cell contact also enhances spread of rVSV bearing GP in monocytes and macrophages, the primary targets of natural EBOV infection. Altogether, our study reveals that cell-cell contact promotes EBOV GP-mediated infection, and provides new insight into understanding EBOV spread and viral pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunhui Miao
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Minghua Li
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Yi-Min Zheng
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Fredric S Cohen
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Physiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Shan-Lu Liu
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
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Wang Y, Cui R, Li G, Gao Q, Yuan S, Altmeyer R, Zou G. Teicoplanin inhibits Ebola pseudovirus infection in cell culture. Antiviral Res 2015; 125:1-7. [PMID: 26585243 PMCID: PMC7113690 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2015.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Revised: 11/05/2015] [Accepted: 11/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
There is currently no approved antiviral therapy for treatment of Ebola virus disease. To discover readily available approved drugs that can be rapidly repurposed for treatment of Ebola virus infections, we screened 1280 FDA-approved drugs and identified glycopeptide antibiotic teicoplanin inhibiting Ebola pseudovirus infection by blocking virus entry in the low micromolar range. Teicoplanin could be evaluated further and incorporated into ongoing clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizhuo Wang
- Unit of Anti-infective Research, Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Rui Cui
- Unit of Anti-infective Research, Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Guiming Li
- Unit of Anti-infective Research, Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Qianqian Gao
- Unit of Anti-infective Research, Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Shilin Yuan
- Unit of Anti-infective Research, Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Ralf Altmeyer
- Unit of Anti-infective Research, Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
| | - Gang Zou
- Unit of Anti-infective Research, Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
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Development of a reverse genetics system to generate a recombinant Ebola virus Makona expressing a green fluorescent protein. Virology 2015; 484:259-264. [PMID: 26122472 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2015.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2015] [Revised: 04/21/2015] [Accepted: 06/10/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have demonstrated the potential application of reverse genetics technology in studying a broad range of aspects of viral biology, including gene regulation, protein function, cell entry, and pathogenesis. Here, we describe a highly efficient reverse genetics system used to generate recombinant Ebola virus (EBOV) based on a recent isolate from a human patient infected during the 2014-2015 outbreak in Western Africa. We also rescued a recombinant EBOV expressing a fluorescent reporter protein from a cleaved VP40 protein fusion. Using this virus and an inexpensive method to quantitate the expression of the foreign gene, we demonstrate its potential usefulness as a tool for screening antiviral compounds and measuring neutralizing antibodies.
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26
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Kilgore PE, Grabenstein JD, Salim AM, Rybak M. Treatment of Ebola Virus Disease. Pharmacotherapy 2015; 35:43-53. [DOI: 10.1002/phar.1545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paul E. Kilgore
- Department of Pharmacy Practice; Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; Wayne State University; Detroit Michigan
| | | | - Abdulbaset M. Salim
- Department of Pharmacy Practice; Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; Wayne State University; Detroit Michigan
| | - Michael Rybak
- Department of Pharmacy Practice; Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; Wayne State University; Detroit Michigan
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Li H, Ying T, Yu F, Lu L, Jiang S. Development of therapeutics for treatment of Ebola virus infection. Microbes Infect 2014; 17:109-17. [PMID: 25498866 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2014.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2014] [Revised: 11/25/2014] [Accepted: 11/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Ebola virus infection can cause Ebola virus disease (EVD). Patients usually show severe symptoms, and the fatality rate can reach up to 90%. No licensed medicine is available. In this review, development of therapeutics for treatment of Ebola virus infection and EVD will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoyang Li
- Key Lab of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 130 Dong An Rd., Xuhui District, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Tianlei Ying
- Key Lab of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 130 Dong An Rd., Xuhui District, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Fei Yu
- Key Lab of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 130 Dong An Rd., Xuhui District, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Lu Lu
- Key Lab of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 130 Dong An Rd., Xuhui District, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Shibo Jiang
- Key Lab of Medical Molecular Virology of MOE/MOH, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 130 Dong An Rd., Xuhui District, Shanghai 200032, China; Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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28
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Hoenen T, Watt A, Mora A, Feldmann H. Modeling the lifecycle of Ebola virus under biosafety level 2 conditions with virus-like particles containing tetracistronic minigenomes. J Vis Exp 2014:52381. [PMID: 25285674 DOI: 10.3791/52381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Ebola viruses cause severe hemorrhagic fevers in humans and non-human primates, with case fatality rates as high as 90%. There are no approved vaccines or specific treatments for the disease caused by these viruses, and work with infectious Ebola viruses is restricted to biosafety level 4 laboratories, significantly limiting the research on these viruses. Lifecycle modeling systems model the virus lifecycle under biosafety level 2 conditions; however, until recently such systems have been limited to either individual aspects of the virus lifecycle, or a single infectious cycle. Tetracistronic minigenomes, which consist of Ebola virus non-coding regions, a reporter gene, and three Ebola virus genes involved in morphogenesis, budding, and entry (VP40, GP1,2, and VP24), can be used to produce replication and transcription-competent virus-like particles (trVLPs) containing these minigenomes. These trVLPs can continuously infect cells expressing the Ebola virus proteins responsible for genome replication and transcription, allowing us to safely model multiple infectious cycles under biosafety level 2 conditions. Importantly, the viral components of this systems are solely derived from Ebola virus and not from other viruses (as is, for example, the case in systems using pseudotyped viruses), and VP40, GP1,2 and VP24 are not overexpressed in this system, making it ideally suited for studying morphogenesis, budding and entry, although other aspects of the virus lifecycle such as genome replication and transcription can also be modeled with this system. Therefore, the tetracistronic trVLP assay represents the most comprehensive lifecycle modeling system available for Ebola viruses, and has tremendous potential for use in investigating the biology of Ebola viruses in future. Here, we provide detailed information on the use of this system, as well as on expected results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Hoenen
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health;
| | - Ari Watt
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health
| | - Anita Mora
- Research Technology Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health
| | - Heinz Feldmann
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health
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29
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Hoenen T, Feldmann H. Ebolavirus in West Africa, and the use of experimental therapies or vaccines. BMC Biol 2014; 12:80. [PMID: 25286348 PMCID: PMC4177057 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-014-0080-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2014] [Accepted: 09/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Response to the current ebolavirus outbreak based on traditional control measures has so far been insufficient to prevent the virus from spreading rapidly. This has led to urgent discussions on the use of experimental therapies and vaccines untested in humans and existing in limited quantities, raising political, strategic, technical and ethical questions.
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