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Su Y, Qu Q, Li J, Han Z, Fang Y, Flavorta BL, Jia Z, Yu Q, Zhang Y, Qian P, Tang X. Perilipin1 inhibits Nosema bombycis proliferation by promoting Domeless- and Hop-mediated JAK-STAT pathway activation in Bombyx mori. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0367123. [PMID: 38690912 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03671-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Lipid droplets (LDs) are dynamic organelles that participate in the regulation of lipid metabolism and cellular homeostasis inside of cells. LD-associated proteins, also known as perilipins (PLINs), are a family of proteins found on the surface of LDs that regulate lipid metabolism, immunity, and other functions. In silkworms, pébrine disease caused by infection by the microsporidian Nosema bombycis (Nb) is a severe threat to the sericultural industry. Although we found that Nb relies on lipids from silkworms to facilitate its proliferation, the relationship between PLINs and Nb proliferation remains unknown. Here, we found Nb infection caused the accumulation of LDs in the fat bodies of silkworm larvae. The characterized perilipin1 gene (plin1) promotes the accumulation of intracellular LDs and is involved in Nb proliferation. plin1 is similar to perilipin1 in humans and is conserved in all insects. The expression of plin1 was mostly enriched in the fat body rather than in other tissues. Knockdown of plin1 enhanced Nb proliferation, whereas overexpression of plin1 inhibited its proliferation. Furthermore, we confirmed that plin1 increased the expression of the Domeless and Hop in the JAK-STAT immune pathway and inhibited Nb proliferation. Taken together, our current findings demonstrate that plin1 inhibits Nb proliferation by promoting the JAK-STAT pathway through increased expression of Domeless and Hop. This study provides new insights into the complicated connections among microsporidia pathogens, LD surface proteins, and insect immunity.IMPORTANCELipid droplets (LDs) are lipid storage sites in cells and are present in almost all animals. Many studies have found that LDs may play a role in host resistance to pathogens and are closely related to innate immunity. The present study found that a surface protein of insect lipid droplets could not only regulate the morphological changes of lipid droplets but also inhibit the proliferation of a microsporidian pathogen Nosema bombycis (Nb) by activating the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. This is the first discovery of the relationship between microsporidian pathogen and insect lipid surface protein perilipin and insect immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaping Su
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural and Animal Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Qingsheng Qu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural and Animal Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Junling Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural and Animal Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Zhenghao Han
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural and Animal Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Yujia Fang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural and Animal Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Billong Laura Flavorta
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural and Animal Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Zhenwei Jia
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural and Animal Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Qiong Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural and Animal Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Yiling Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural and Animal Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Mulberry Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Ping Qian
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural and Animal Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Mulberry Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Xudong Tang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural and Animal Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Mulberry Genetic Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang, China
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Mondal S, Ghosh S. Liposome-Mediated Anti-Viral Drug Delivery Across Blood-Brain Barrier: Can Lipid Droplet Target Be Game Changers? Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023; 44:9. [PMID: 38123863 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-023-01443-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Lipid droplets (LDs) are subcellular organelles secreted from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that play a major role in lipid homeostasis. Recent research elucidates additional roles of LDs in cellular bioenergetics and innate immunity. LDs activate signaling cascades for interferon response and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Since balanced lipid homeostasis is critical for neuronal health, LDs play a crucial role in neurodegenerative diseases. RNA viruses enhance the secretion of LDs to support various phases of their life cycle in neurons which further leads to neurodegeneration. Targeting the excess LD formation in the brain could give us a new arsenal of antiviral therapeutics against neuroviruses. Liposomes are a suitable drug delivery system that could be used for drug delivery in the brain by crossing the Blood-Brain Barrier. Utilizing this, various pharmacological inhibitors and non-coding RNAs can be delivered that could inhibit the biogenesis of LDs or reduce their sizes, reversing the excess lipid-related imbalance in neurons. Liposome-Mediated Antiviral Drug Delivery Across Blood-Brain Barrier. Developing effective antiviral drug is challenging and it doubles against neuroviruses that needs delivery across the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB). Lipid Droplets (LDs) are interesting targets for developing antivirals, hence targeting LD formation by drugs delivered using Liposomes can be game changers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sourav Mondal
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4 Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700032, India
| | - Sourish Ghosh
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4 Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700032, India.
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Martin de Fourchambault E, Callens N, Saliou JM, Fourcot M, Delos O, Barois N, Thorel Q, Ramirez S, Bukh J, Cocquerel L, Bertrand-Michel J, Marot G, Sebti Y, Dubuisson J, Rouillé Y. Hepatitis C virus alters the morphology and function of peroxisomes. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1254728. [PMID: 37808318 PMCID: PMC10551450 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1254728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the introduction of effective treatments for hepatitis C in clinics, issues remain regarding the liver disease induced by chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. HCV is known to disturb the metabolism of infected cells, especially lipid metabolism and redox balance, but the mechanisms leading to HCV-induced pathogenesis are still poorly understood. In an APEX2-based proximity biotinylation screen, we identified ACBD5, a peroxisome membrane protein, as located in the vicinity of HCV replication complexes. Confocal microscopy confirmed the relocation of peroxisomes near HCV replication complexes and indicated that their morphology and number are altered in approximately 30% of infected Huh-7 cells. Peroxisomes are small versatile organelles involved among other functions in lipid metabolism and ROS regulation. To determine their importance in the HCV life cycle, we generated Huh-7 cells devoid of peroxisomes by inactivating the PEX5 and PEX3 genes using CRISPR/Cas9 and found that the absence of peroxisomes had no impact on replication kinetics or infectious titers of HCV strains JFH1 and DBN3a. The impact of HCV on peroxisomal functions was assessed using sub-genomic replicons. An increase of ROS was measured in peroxisomes of replicon-containing cells, correlated with a significant decrease of catalase activity with the DBN3a strain. In contrast, HCV replication had little to no impact on cytoplasmic and mitochondrial ROS, suggesting that the redox balance of peroxisomes is specifically impaired in cells replicating HCV. Our study provides evidence that peroxisome function and morphology are altered in HCV-infected cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Martin de Fourchambault
- Université de Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U 1019 – UMR9017 – CIIL – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
| | - Nathalie Callens
- Université de Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U 1019 – UMR9017 – CIIL – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
| | - Jean-Michel Saliou
- Université de Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, UAR CNRS 2014 - US Inserm 41 - PLBS, Lille, France
| | - Marie Fourcot
- Université de Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, UAR CNRS 2014 - US Inserm 41 - PLBS, Lille, France
| | - Oceane Delos
- MetaToul-MetaboHUB, National Infrastructure of Metabolomics and Fluxomics, Toulouse, France
- I2MC, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Nicolas Barois
- Université de Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U 1019 – UMR9017 – CIIL – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
- Université de Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, UAR CNRS 2014 - US Inserm 41 - PLBS, Lille, France
| | - Quentin Thorel
- Université de Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1011 - EGID, Lille, France
| | - Santseharay Ramirez
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Bukh
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Laurence Cocquerel
- Université de Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U 1019 – UMR9017 – CIIL – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
| | - Justine Bertrand-Michel
- MetaToul-MetaboHUB, National Infrastructure of Metabolomics and Fluxomics, Toulouse, France
- I2MC, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Guillemette Marot
- Université de Lille, Inria, CHU Lille, ULR 2694 - METRICS: Évaluation des technologies de santé et des pratiques médicales, Lille, France
| | - Yasmine Sebti
- Université de Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1011 - EGID, Lille, France
| | - Jean Dubuisson
- Université de Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U 1019 – UMR9017 – CIIL – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
| | - Yves Rouillé
- Université de Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U 1019 – UMR9017 – CIIL – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Lille, France
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Herrera-Moro Huitron L, De Jesús-González LA, Martínez-Castillo M, Ulloa-Aguilar JM, Cabello-Gutierrez C, Helguera-Repetto C, Garcia-Cordero J, León Juárez M. Multifaceted Nature of Lipid Droplets in Viral Interactions and Pathogenesis. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1851. [PMID: 37513023 PMCID: PMC10386712 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11071851] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Once regarded as inert organelles with limited and ill-defined roles, lipid droplets (LDs) have emerged as dynamic entities with multifaceted functions within the cell. Recent research has illuminated their pivotal role as primary energy reservoirs in the form of lipids, capable of being metabolized to meet cellular energy demands. Their high dynamism is underscored by their ability to interact with numerous cellular organelles, notably the endoplasmic reticulum (the site of LD genesis) and mitochondria, which utilize small LDs for energy production. Beyond their contribution to cellular bioenergetics, LDs have been associated with viral infections. Evidence suggests that viruses can co-opt LDs to facilitate their infection cycle. Furthermore, recent discoveries highlight the role of LDs in modulating the host's immune response. Observations of altered LD levels during viral infections suggest their involvement in disease pathophysiology, potentially through production of proinflammatory mediators using LD lipids as precursors. This review explores these intriguing aspects of LDs, shedding light on their multifaceted nature and implications in viral interactions and disease development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Herrera-Moro Huitron
- Laboratorio de Virología Perinatal y Diseño Molecular de Antígenos y Biomarcadores, Departamento de Inmunobioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico City 11000, Mexico
| | | | - Macario Martínez-Castillo
- Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
| | - José Manuel Ulloa-Aguilar
- Laboratorio de Virología Perinatal y Diseño Molecular de Antígenos y Biomarcadores, Departamento de Inmunobioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico City 11000, Mexico
| | - Carlos Cabello-Gutierrez
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas (INER), Departamento de Investigación en Virología y Micología, Calzada de Tlalpan 4502, Belisario Domínguez, Tlalpan 14080, Mexico
| | - Cecilia Helguera-Repetto
- Laboratorio de Microbiología y Diagnóstico Molecular, Departamento de Inmunobioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico City 11000, Mexico
| | - Julio Garcia-Cordero
- Departamento de Biomedicina Molecular, Cinvestav, Av. IPN# 2508, Mexico City 07360, Mexico
| | - Moisés León Juárez
- Laboratorio de Virología Perinatal y Diseño Molecular de Antígenos y Biomarcadores, Departamento de Inmunobioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico City 11000, Mexico
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Awadh AA. The Role of Cytosolic Lipid Droplets in Hepatitis C Virus Replication, Assembly, and Release. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 2023:5156601. [PMID: 37090186 PMCID: PMC10121354 DOI: 10.1155/2023/5156601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes chronic hepatitis by establishing a persistent infection. Patients with chronic hepatitis frequently develop hepatic cirrhosis, which can lead to liver cancer-the progressive liver damage results from the host's immune response to the unresolved infection. The HCV replication process, including the entry, replication, assembly, and release stages, while the virus circulates in the bloodstream, it is intricately linked to the host's lipid metabolism, including the dynamic of the cytosolic lipid droplets (cLDs). This review article depicts how this interaction regulates viral cell tropism and aids immune evasion by coining viral particle characteristics. cLDs are intracellular organelles that store most of the cytoplasmic components of neutral lipids and are assumed to play an increasingly important role in the pathophysiology of lipid metabolism and host-virus interactions. cLDs are involved in the replication of several clinically significant viruses, where viruses alter the lipidomic profiles of host cells to improve viral life cycles. cLDs are involved in almost every phase of the HCV life cycle. Indeed, pharmacological modulators of cholesterol synthesis and intracellular trafficking, lipoprotein maturation, and lipid signaling molecules inhibit the assembly of HCV virions. Likewise, small-molecule inhibitors of cLD-regulating proteins inhibit HCV replication. Thus, addressing the molecular architecture of HCV replication will aid in elucidating its pathogenesis and devising preventive interventions that impede persistent infection and prevent disease progression. This is possible via repurposing the available therapeutic agents that alter cLDs metabolism. This review highlights the role of cLD in HCV replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah A. Awadh
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah 21423, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah 21423, Saudi Arabia
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Diaz O, Vidalain PO, Ramière C, Lotteau V, Perrin-Cocon L. What role for cellular metabolism in the control of hepatitis viruses? Front Immunol 2022; 13:1033314. [PMID: 36466918 PMCID: PMC9713817 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1033314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B, C and D viruses (HBV, HCV, HDV, respectively) specifically infect human hepatocytes and often establish chronic viral infections of the liver, thus escaping antiviral immunity for years. Like other viruses, hepatitis viruses rely on the cellular machinery to meet their energy and metabolite requirements for replication. Although this was initially considered passive parasitism, studies have shown that hepatitis viruses actively rewire cellular metabolism through molecular interactions with specific enzymes such as glucokinase, the first rate-limiting enzyme of glycolysis. As part of research efforts in the field of immunometabolism, it has also been shown that metabolic changes induced by viruses could have a direct impact on the innate antiviral response. Conversely, detection of viral components by innate immunity receptors not only triggers the activation of the antiviral defense but also induces in-depth metabolic reprogramming that is essential to support immunological functions. Altogether, these complex triangular interactions between viral components, innate immunity and hepatocyte metabolism may explain why chronic hepatitis infections progressively lead to liver inflammation and progression to cirrhosis, fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this manuscript, we first present a global overview of known connections between the innate antiviral response and cellular metabolism. We then report known molecular mechanisms by which hepatitis viruses interfere with cellular metabolism in hepatocytes and discuss potential consequences on the innate immune response. Finally, we present evidence that drugs targeting hepatocyte metabolism could be used as an innovative strategy not only to deprive viruses of key metabolites, but also to restore the innate antiviral response that is necessary to clear infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Diaz
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Team VIRal Infection, Metabolism and Immunity, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Pierre-Olivier Vidalain
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Team VIRal Infection, Metabolism and Immunity, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Christophe Ramière
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Team VIRal Infection, Metabolism and Immunity, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Laboratoire de Virologie, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Vincent Lotteau
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Team VIRal Infection, Metabolism and Immunity, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Laure Perrin-Cocon
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Team VIRal Infection, Metabolism and Immunity, Univ Lyon, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
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Galli A, Fahnøe U, Bukh J. High Recombination Rate of Hepatitis C Virus Revealed by a Green Fluorescent Protein Reconstitution Cell System. Virus Evol 2021; 8:veab106. [PMID: 35223082 PMCID: PMC8865082 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veab106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic recombination is an important evolutionary mechanism for RNA viruses and can facilitate escape from immune and drug pressure. Recombinant hepatitis C virus (HCV) variants have rarely been detected in patients, suggesting that HCV has intrinsic low recombination rate. Recombination of HCV has been demonstrated in vitro between non-functional genomes, but its frequency and relevance for viral evolution and life cycle has not been clarified. We developed a cell-based assay to detect and quantify recombination between fully viable HCV genomes, using the reconstitution of green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a surrogate marker for recombination. Here, two GFP-expressing HCV genomes carrying different inactivating GFP mutations can produce a virus carrying a functional GFP by recombining within the GFP region. Generated constructs allowed quantification of recombination rates between markers spaced 603 and 553 nucleotides apart by flow cytometry and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Viral constructs showed comparable spread kinetics and reached similar infectivity titers in Huh7.5 cells, allowing their use in co-transfections and co-infections. Single-cycle co-transfection experiments, performed in CD81-deficient S29 cells, showed GFP expression in double-infected cells, demonstrating genome mixing and occurrence of recombination. Quantification of recombinant genomes by NGS revealed an average rate of 6.1 per cent, corresponding to 49 per cent of maximum detectable recombination (MDR). Experiments examining recombination during the full replication cycle of HCV, performed in Huh7.5 cells, demonstrated average recombination rates of 5.0 per cent (40.0 per cent MDR) and 3.6 per cent (28.8 per cent MDR) for markers spaced by 603 and 553 nucleotides, respectively, supporting a linear relationship between marker distance and recombination rates. First passage infections using recombinant virus supernatant resulted in comparable recombination rates of 5.9 per cent (47.2 per cent MDR) and 3.5 per cent (28.0 per cent MDR), respectively, for markers spaced by 603 and 553 nucleotides. We developed a functional cell-based assay that, to the best of our knowledge, allows for the first time detailed quantification of recombination rates using fully viable HCV constructs. Our data indicate that HCV recombines at high frequency between highly similar genomes and that the frequency of recombination increases with the distance between marker sites. These results have implication for our understanding of HCV evolution and emphasize the importance of recombination in the reassortment of mutations in the HCV genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Galli
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ulrik Fahnøe
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Bukh
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre and Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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