1
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Guo Y, Dong Y, Zheng R, Yan J, Li W, Xu Y, Yan X, Ke Y, Li Y, Xiang L. Correlation between viral infections in male semen and infertility: a literature review. Virol J 2024; 21:167. [PMID: 39080728 PMCID: PMC11290048 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-024-02431-w] [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: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Infertility affects approximately one-sixth of couples globally, with the incidence of male infertility steadily increasing. However, our understanding of the impact of viral infections on fertility remains limited. This review consolidates findings from previous studies, outlining 40 viruses identified in human semen and summarizing their key characteristics, modes of transmission, and their effects on both the reproductive and endocrine systems. Furthermore, it elucidates potential pathogenic mechanisms and treatment prospects of viruses strongly associated with male infertility. This synthesis will enhance our comprehension of how viral infections influence male reproductive health, offering valuable insights for future research as well as the diagnosis and treatment of infectious infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Guo
- Department of Reproductive Gynecology, NHC Key Laboratory of Healthy Birth and Birth Defect Prevention in Western China, the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yunhua Dong
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, NHC Key Laboratory of Healthy Birth and Birth Defect Prevention in Western China, the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- KUST-YPFPH Reproductive Medicine Joint Research Center, Medical school of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Runzi Zheng
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, NHC Key Laboratory of Healthy Birth and Birth Defect Prevention in Western China, the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- KUST-YPFPH Reproductive Medicine Joint Research Center, Medical school of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Jiacong Yan
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, NHC Key Laboratory of Healthy Birth and Birth Defect Prevention in Western China, the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- KUST-YPFPH Reproductive Medicine Joint Research Center, Medical school of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Weiyuan Li
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, NHC Key Laboratory of Healthy Birth and Birth Defect Prevention in Western China, the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- KUST-YPFPH Reproductive Medicine Joint Research Center, Medical school of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Ya Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Xuelan Yan
- Department of Reproductive Gynecology, NHC Key Laboratory of Healthy Birth and Birth Defect Prevention in Western China, the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yunmei Ke
- Department of Reproductive Gynecology, NHC Key Laboratory of Healthy Birth and Birth Defect Prevention in Western China, the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yantao Li
- Department of Reproductive Gynecology, NHC Key Laboratory of Healthy Birth and Birth Defect Prevention in Western China, the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Lifeng Xiang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, NHC Key Laboratory of Healthy Birth and Birth Defect Prevention in Western China, the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
- KUST-YPFPH Reproductive Medicine Joint Research Center, Medical school of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
- The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
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2
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Wang F, Shao X, Bao B, Yang Y, Wang Y, Zhang J, Wang S, Chen Y, Han D. Cytotoxic and viricidal effects of human semen on mumps virus-infected lymphocytes: In vitro studies. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29733. [PMID: 38874268 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29733] [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: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Viruses in human semen may be sexually transmitted via free and cell-mediated viral infection. The potential effects of semen on the infection and sexual transmission of most viruses in semen remain largely unclear. The present study elucidated the inhibitory effects of human seminal plasma (SP) on Jurkat cell (JC)-mediated mumps virus (MuV) infection. We demonstrated that MuV efficiently infected JCs and that the JCs infected by MuV (JC-MuV) mediated MuV infection of HeLa cells. Remarkably, SP was highly cytotoxic to JCs and inhibited JC-MuV infection of HeLa cells. The cytotoxic factor possessed a molecular weight of less than 3 kDa, whereas that of the viricidal factor was over 100 kDa. The cooperation of cytotoxic and viricidal factors was required for the SP inhibition of JC-MuV infection, and prostatic fluid (PF) was responsible for both the cytotoxic and viricidal effects of SP. The cytotoxic effects we observed were resistant to the treatment of PF with boiling water, proteinase K, RNase A, and DNase I. Our results provide novel insights into the antiviral properties of SP, which may limit cell-mediated sexual viral transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Wang
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyi Shao
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Binghao Bao
- Department of Andrology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yixuan Yang
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Siqi Wang
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yongmei Chen
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Daishu Han
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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3
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Schump MD, Bernstein DI, Bravo FJ, Neff CP. Selection, activity, and nuclease stabilization of cross-neutralizing DNA aptamers targeting HSV-1 and HSV-2. Virology 2024; 589:109916. [PMID: 37925791 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2023.109916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Cross-neutralizing aptamers targeting both HSV-1 and HSV-2 were developed by selecting against the ectodomains of glycoprotein D (gD) from both viruses in parallel as well as sequentially using the SELEX method. Since gD facilitates viral invasion, sterically blocking the host-receptor interaction prevents infection. Candidate aptamers were screened, and lead aptamers were identified that exhibited exceptional neutralizing activity against both viruses in vitro. The specificity of the aptamers was confirmed by comparing their activity to scrambled versions of themselves. Modifications of the lead compounds were tested to define critical motifs to guide development. Stability of the aptamers was increased using phosphorothioate backbone linkages, and 2' methoxy substitutions of terminal and key internal bases. Aptamers were applied in a guinea pig vaginal HSV-2 infection model and found to reduce both the viral load of infected animals and the severity of the resulting disease. These results suggest that cross-neutralizing aptamers can be developed into on-demand antiviral interventions effective against both HSV-1 and HSV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Schump
- Apspeeda Biosciences, 12635 E. Montview Blvd., Ste 100, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - David I Bernstein
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Fernando J Bravo
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Charles P Neff
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
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4
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Agrawal N, Parisini E. Investigating the Effects of the POPC-POPG Lipid Bilayer Composition on PAP248-286 Binding Using CG Molecular Dynamics Simulations. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:9095-9101. [PMID: 37843472 PMCID: PMC10614185 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c05385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
PAP248-286 is a fusogenic peptide derived from prostatic acid phosphatase, commonly found in human semen, and is known to mediate HIV fusion with cell membranes. In this study, we performed 120 independent coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the spontaneous binding of PAP248-286 monomers, considering both charged and neutral histidine (His) residues, to membrane bilayers composed of different lipid compositions: 100% POPC, 70% POPC-30% POPG, and 50% POPC-50% POPG. Our simulations revealed that PAP248-286 displayed spontaneous binding to the membrane, with increased binding observed in the presence of anionic lipid POPG. Specifically, in systems containing 30% and 50% POPG lipids, monomer residues, particularly in the systems containing charged histidine (His) residues, exhibited prolonged binding with the membrane. Furthermore, our simulations indicated that PAP248-286 adopted a parallel orientation with the membrane, exposing its positively charged residues to the lipid bilayer. Interestingly, systems containing charged His residues showed a higher lipid occupancy around the peptide. These findings are consistent with previous experimental data, suggesting that PAP248-286 binding is enhanced in membranes with charged His residues, resembling the conditions found in the acidic vaginal pH environment. The results of our study provide further insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the membrane binding of PAP248-286, contributing to our understanding of its potential role in HIV fusion and infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikhil Agrawal
- Latvian
Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, LV, Riga 1006, Latvia
- College
of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag, X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Emilio Parisini
- Latvian
Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, LV, Riga 1006, Latvia
- Department
of Chemistry “G. Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, Bologna 40126, Italy
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5
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Wang F, Zhang J, Wang Y, Chen Y, Han D. Viral tropism for the testis and sexual transmission. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1040172. [PMID: 36439102 PMCID: PMC9682072 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1040172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The mammalian testis adopts an immune privileged environment to protect male germ cells from adverse autoimmune reaction. The testicular immune privileged status can be also hijacked by various microbial pathogens as a sanctuary to escape systemic immune surveillance. In particular, several viruses have a tropism for the testis. To overcome the immune privileged status and mount an effective local defense against invading viruses, testicular cells are well equipped with innate antiviral machinery. However, several viruses may persist an elongated duration in the testis and disrupt the local immune homeostasis, thereby impairing testicular functions and male fertility. Moreover, the viruses in the testis, as well as other organs of the male reproductive system, can shed to the semen, thus allowing sexual transmission to partners. Viral infection in the testis, which can impair male fertility and lead to sexual transmission, is a serious concern in research on known and on new emerging viruses. To provide references for our scientific peers, this article reviews research achievements and suggests future research focuses in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yongmei Chen
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Daishu Han
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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6
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Chen R, Zhang W, Gong M, Wang F, Wu H, Liu W, Gao Y, Liu B, Chen S, Lu W, Yu X, Liu A, Han R, Chen Y, Han D. Characterization of an Antiviral Component in Human Seminal Plasma. Front Immunol 2021; 12:580454. [PMID: 33679733 PMCID: PMC7933687 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.580454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Numerous types of viruses have been found in human semen, which raises concerns about the sexual transmission of these viruses. The overall effect of semen on viral infection and transmission have yet to be fully investigated. In the present study, we aimed at the effect of seminal plasma (SP) on viral infection by focusing on the mumps viral (MuV) infection of HeLa cells. MuV efficiently infected HeLa cells in vitro. MuV infection was strongly inhibited by the pre-treatment of viruses with SP. SP inhibited MuV infection through the impairment of the virus's attachment to cells. The antiviral activity of SP was resistant to the treatment of SP with boiling water, Proteinase K, RNase A, and DNase I, suggesting that the antiviral factor would not be proteins and nucleic acids. PNGase or PLA2 treatments did not abrogate the antiviral effect of SP against MuV. Further, we showed that the prostatic fluid (PF) showed similar inhibition as SP, whereas the epididymal fluid and seminal vesicle extract did not inhibit MuV infection. Both SP and PF also inhibited MuV infection of other cell types, including another human cervical carcinoma cell line C33a, mouse primary epididymal epithelial cells, and Sertoli cell line 15P1. Moreover, this inhibitory effect was not specific to MuV, as the herpes simplex virus 1, dengue virus 2, and adenovirus 5 infections were also inhibited by SP and PF. Our findings suggest that SP contains a prostate-derived pan-antiviral factor that may limit the sexual transmission of various viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Chen
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wenjing Zhang
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Maolei Gong
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Han Wu
- Department of Immunology, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen, China
| | - Weihua Liu
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yunxiao Gao
- Department of Andrology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Baoxing Liu
- Department of Andrology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Song Chen
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Lu
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoqin Yu
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Aijie Liu
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ruiqin Han
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yongmei Chen
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Daishu Han
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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7
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Weil T, Groß R, Röcker A, Bravo-Rodriguez K, Heid C, Sowislok A, Le MH, Erwin N, Dwivedi M, Bart SM, Bates P, Wettstein L, Müller JA, Harms M, Sparrer K, Ruiz-Blanco YB, Stürzel CM, von Einem J, Lippold S, Read C, Walther P, Hebel M, Kreppel F, Klärner FG, Bitan G, Ehrmann M, Weil T, Winter R, Schrader T, Shorter J, Sanchez-Garcia E, Münch J. Supramolecular Mechanism of Viral Envelope Disruption by Molecular Tweezers. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 142:17024-17038. [PMID: 32926779 PMCID: PMC7523239 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c06400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Broad-spectrum
antivirals are powerful weapons against dangerous
viruses where no specific therapy exists, as in the case of the ongoing
SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We discovered that a lysine- and arginine-specific
supramolecular ligand (CLR01) destroys enveloped viruses, including
HIV, Ebola, and Zika virus, and remodels amyloid fibrils in semen
that promote viral infection. Yet, it is unknown how CLR01 exerts
these two distinct therapeutic activities. Here, we delineate a novel
mechanism of antiviral activity by studying the activity of tweezer
variants: the “phosphate tweezer” CLR01, a “carboxylate
tweezer” CLR05, and a “phosphate clip” PC. Lysine
complexation inside the tweezer cavity is needed to antagonize amyloidogenesis
and is only achieved by CLR01. Importantly, CLR01 and CLR05 but not
PC form closed inclusion complexes with lipid head groups of viral
membranes, thereby altering lipid orientation and increasing surface
tension. This process disrupts viral envelopes and diminishes infectivity
but leaves cellular membranes intact. Consequently, CLR01 and CLR05
display broad antiviral activity against all enveloped viruses tested,
including herpesviruses, Measles virus, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2.
Based on our mechanistic insights, we potentiated the antiviral, membrane-disrupting
activity of CLR01 by introducing aliphatic ester arms into each phosphate
group to act as lipid anchors that promote membrane targeting. The
most potent ester modifications harbored unbranched C4 units, which
engendered tweezers that were approximately one order of magnitude
more effective than CLR01 and nontoxic. Thus, we establish the mechanistic
basis of viral envelope disruption by specific tweezers and establish
a new class of potential broad-spectrum antivirals with enhanced activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatjana Weil
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Groß
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Annika Röcker
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Kenny Bravo-Rodriguez
- Computational Biochemistry, Center of Medical Biotechnology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Christian Heid
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Andrea Sowislok
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - My-Hue Le
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Nelli Erwin
- Physical Chemistry I-Biophysical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Mridula Dwivedi
- Physical Chemistry I-Biophysical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Stephen M Bart
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States.,Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Paul Bates
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States.,Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Lukas Wettstein
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Janis A Müller
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Mirja Harms
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Konstantin Sparrer
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Yasser B Ruiz-Blanco
- Computational Biochemistry, Center of Medical Biotechnology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Christina M Stürzel
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Jens von Einem
- Institute of Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Sina Lippold
- Institute of Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Clarissa Read
- Institute of Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081 Ulm, Germany.,Central Facility for Electron Microscopy, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Paul Walther
- Central Facility for Electron Microscopy, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Marco Hebel
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany.,Institute of Inorganic Chemistry I, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Florian Kreppel
- Center for Biomedical Education and Research, University of Witten/Herdecke, Stockumer Strasse 10, 58453 Witten, Germany
| | | | - Gal Bitan
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, Brain Research Institute, and Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Michael Ehrmann
- Microbiology II, Center of Medical Biotechnology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Tanja Weil
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany.,Institute of Inorganic Chemistry I, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Roland Winter
- Physical Chemistry I-Biophysical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Thomas Schrader
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - James Shorter
- Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States.,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Elsa Sanchez-Garcia
- Computational Biochemistry, Center of Medical Biotechnology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Jan Münch
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081 Ulm, Germany
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8
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Vane EW, He S, Maibaum L, Nath A. Rapid Formation of Peptide/Lipid Coaggregates by the Amyloidogenic Seminal Peptide PAP 248-286. Biophys J 2020; 119:924-938. [PMID: 32814060 PMCID: PMC7474197 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2020.07.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein/lipid coassembly is an understudied phenomenon that is important to the function of antimicrobial peptides as well as the pathological effects of amyloid. Here, we study the coassembly process of PAP248-286, a seminal peptide that displays both amyloid-forming and antimicrobial activity. PAP248-286 is a peptide fragment of prostatic acid phosphatase and has been reported to form amyloid fibrils, known as semen-derived enhancer of viral infection (SEVI), that enhance the viral infectivity of human immunodeficiency virus. We find that in addition to forming amyloid, PAP248-286 much more readily assembles with lipid vesicles into peptide/lipid coaggregates that resemble amyloid fibrils in some important ways but are a distinct species. The formation of these PAP248-286/lipid coaggregates, which we term "messicles," is controlled by the peptide:lipid (P:L) ratio and by the lipid composition. The optimal P:L ratio is around 1:10, and at least 70% anionic lipid is required for coaggregate formation. Once formed, messicles are not disrupted by subsequent changes in P:L ratio. We propose that messicles form through a polyvalent assembly mechanism, in which a critical surface density of PAP248-286 on liposomes enables peptide-mediated particle bridging into larger species. Even at ∼50-fold lower PAP248-286 concentrations, messicles form at least 10-fold faster than amyloid fibrils. It is therefore possible that some or all of the biological activities assigned to SEVI, the amyloid form of PAP248-286, could instead be attributed to a PAP248-286/lipid coaggregate. More broadly speaking, this work could provide a potential framework for the discovery and characterization of nonamyloid peptide/lipid coaggregates by other amyloid-forming proteins and antimicrobial peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor W Vane
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Biological Physics, Structure and Design Program, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Shushan He
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Lutz Maibaum
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Abhinav Nath
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Biological Physics, Structure and Design Program, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
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9
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Guerrero-Beltrán C, Garcia-Heredia I, Ceña-Diez R, Rodriguez-Izquierdo I, Serramía MJ, Martinez-Hernandez F, Lluesma-Gomez M, Martinez-Garcia M, Muñoz-Fernández MÁ. Cationic Dendrimer G2-S16 Inhibits Herpes Simplex Type 2 Infection and Protects Mice Vaginal Microbiome. Pharmaceutics 2020; 12:pharmaceutics12060515. [PMID: 32512836 PMCID: PMC7356682 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12060515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The G2-S16 polyanionic carbosilane dendrimer is a promising microbicide that inhibits HSV-2 infection in vitro and in vivo in mice models. This G2-S16 dendrimer inhibits HSV-2 infection even in the presence of semen. Murine models, such as BALB/c female mice, are generally used to characterize host-pathogen interactions within the vaginal tract. However, the composition of endogenous vaginal flora remains largely undefined with modern microbiome analyses. It is important to note that the G2-S16 dendrimer does not change healthy mouse vaginal microbiome where Pseudomonas (10.2–79.1%) and Janthinobacterium (0.7–13%) are the more abundant genera. The HSV-2 vaginally infected female mice showed a significant microbiome alteration because an increase of Staphylococcus (up to 98.8%) and Escherichia (30.76%) levels were observed becoming these bacteria the predominant genera. BALB/c female mice vaginally-treated with the G2-S16 dendrimer and infected with the HSV-2 maintained a healthy vaginal microbiome similar to uninfected female mice. Summarizing, the G2-S16 polyanionic carbosilane dendrimer inhibits the HSV-2 infection in the presence of semen and prevents the alteration of mice female vaginal microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Guerrero-Beltrán
- Immunology Section, Head Inmuno-Biology Molecular Laboratoy, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Spanish HIV HGM BioBank, C/Dr. Esquerdo 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; (C.G.-B.); (R.C.-D.); (I.R.-I.); (M.J.S.)
| | - Inmaculada Garcia-Heredia
- Department of Physiology, Genetics, and Microbiology, University of Alicante, C/San Vicente s/n, 03080 Alicante, Spain; (I.G.-H.); (F.M.-H.); (M.L.-G.)
| | - Rafael Ceña-Diez
- Immunology Section, Head Inmuno-Biology Molecular Laboratoy, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Spanish HIV HGM BioBank, C/Dr. Esquerdo 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; (C.G.-B.); (R.C.-D.); (I.R.-I.); (M.J.S.)
| | - Ignacio Rodriguez-Izquierdo
- Immunology Section, Head Inmuno-Biology Molecular Laboratoy, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Spanish HIV HGM BioBank, C/Dr. Esquerdo 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; (C.G.-B.); (R.C.-D.); (I.R.-I.); (M.J.S.)
| | - María Jesús Serramía
- Immunology Section, Head Inmuno-Biology Molecular Laboratoy, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Spanish HIV HGM BioBank, C/Dr. Esquerdo 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; (C.G.-B.); (R.C.-D.); (I.R.-I.); (M.J.S.)
- Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Martinez-Hernandez
- Department of Physiology, Genetics, and Microbiology, University of Alicante, C/San Vicente s/n, 03080 Alicante, Spain; (I.G.-H.); (F.M.-H.); (M.L.-G.)
| | - Mónica Lluesma-Gomez
- Department of Physiology, Genetics, and Microbiology, University of Alicante, C/San Vicente s/n, 03080 Alicante, Spain; (I.G.-H.); (F.M.-H.); (M.L.-G.)
| | - Manuel Martinez-Garcia
- Department of Physiology, Genetics, and Microbiology, University of Alicante, C/San Vicente s/n, 03080 Alicante, Spain; (I.G.-H.); (F.M.-H.); (M.L.-G.)
- Correspondence: (M.M.-G.); or (M.Á.M.-F.); Tel.:+34-965-903-853 (M.M.-G.); +34-914-62-4684 (M.Á.M.-F.)
| | - María Ángeles Muñoz-Fernández
- Immunology Section, Head Inmuno-Biology Molecular Laboratoy, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Spanish HIV HGM BioBank, C/Dr. Esquerdo 46, 28007 Madrid, Spain; (C.G.-B.); (R.C.-D.); (I.R.-I.); (M.J.S.)
- Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (M.M.-G.); or (M.Á.M.-F.); Tel.:+34-965-903-853 (M.M.-G.); +34-914-62-4684 (M.Á.M.-F.)
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MARKETING ANALYSIS OF THE ASSORTMENT OF DRUGS FOR THE TREATMENT OF HERPES VIRAL DISEASES AT THE PHARMACEUTICAL MARKET OF UKRAINE. EUREKA: HEALTH SCIENCES 2020. [DOI: 10.21303/2504-5679.2020.001285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Nowadays there is a tendency towards the spread of viral diseases that cause significant complications to human health. Therefore, the question of creating new drugs that have a high antiviral effect is topical.
The aim. To study the range of drugs in Ukraine for the treatment of herpes viral diseases.
Materials and methods. In the work were used the list of drugs from official sources of information, which were processed by methods of generalization, systematization, graphic, comparative and structural analysis.
Results and discussion. The marketing research of drugs for the treatment of herpes viral diseases presented at the pharmaceutical market of Ukraine has been conducted. According to the results it is found that 80 drugs for the treatment of herpes viral diseases of various dosage forms are presented in the domestic market, of which 70 % – tablets; 51 % – medicines produced by the industry of Ukraine; 94 % – are monocomponent preparations.
Soft drugs play important role in the treatment of skin diseases because they provide a direct effect of the drugs on the pathogens, eliminate inflammatory phenomena and eliminate or reduce the symptoms of the disease. Soft dosage drugs have practically no contraindications, they can be used at any age, regardless of the presence of comorbidities.
Conclusions. Domestic drugs (51 % of the total range) dominate in the market structure. The main part (94 %) consist of monocomponent preparations. The results of the research prove the relevance of the development of new combined soft dosage forms for the treatment of herpes viral diseases, which should be produced by the Ukrainian industry and satisfy the medical and economical needs of patients. The results of the marketing analysis show that it is relevant and promising to create new combined the soft dosage forms for the treatment of herpes viral diseases.
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11
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Qiu M, Li Z, Chen Y, Guo J, Xu W, Qi T, Qiu Y, Pang J, Li L, Liu S, Tan S. Tolcapone Potently Inhibits Seminal Amyloid Fibrils Formation and Blocks Entry of Ebola Pseudoviruses. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:504. [PMID: 32425892 PMCID: PMC7203225 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Ebola virus (EBOV), the causative pathogen of the deadly EBOV disease (EVD), can be transmitted via sexual transmission. Seminal amyloid fibrils have been found enhancers of EBOV infection. Currently, limited preventive vaccine or therapeutic is available to block EBOV infection through sexual intercourse. In this study, we repurpose tolcapone, a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved agent for Parkinson’s disease, as a potent inhibitor of seminal amyloid fibrils, among which semen-derived enhancer of viral infection (SEVI) is the best-characterized. Tolcapone binds to the amyloidogenic region of the SEVI precursor peptide (PAP248–286) and inhibits PAP248–286 aggregation by disrupting PAP248–286 oligomerization. In addition, tolcapone interacts with preformed SEVI fibrils and influences the activity of SEVI in promoting infection of pseudovirus (PsV) carrying the envelope glycoprotein (GP) of the EBOV Zaire or Sudan species (Zaire PsV and Sudan PsV, respectively). Tolcapone significantly antagonizes SEVI-mediated enhancement of both Zaire PsV and Sudan PsV binding to and subsequent internalization in HeLa cells. Of note, tolcapone is also effective in inhibiting the entry of both Zaire PsV and Sudan PsV. Tolcapone inhibits viral entry possibly through binding with critical residues in EBOV GP. Moreover, the combination of tolcapone with two small-molecule entry inhibitors, including bepridil and sertraline, exhibited synergistic anti-EBOV effects in semen. Collectively, as a bifunctional agent targeting the viral infection-enhancing amyloid and the virus itself during sexual intercourse, tolcapone can act as either a prophylactic topical agent to prevent the sexual transmission of EBOV or a therapeutic to treat EBOV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjie Qiu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhaofeng Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuliu Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiayin Guo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tao Qi
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yurong Qiu
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianxin Pang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lin Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Shuwen Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Suiyi Tan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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12
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Le Tortorec A, Matusali G, Mahé D, Aubry F, Mazaud-Guittot S, Houzet L, Dejucq-Rainsford N. From Ancient to Emerging Infections: The Odyssey of Viruses in the Male Genital Tract. Physiol Rev 2020; 100:1349-1414. [PMID: 32031468 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00021.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The male genital tract (MGT) is the target of a number of viral infections that can have deleterious consequences at the individual, offspring, and population levels. These consequences include infertility, cancers of male organs, transmission to the embryo/fetal development abnormalities, and sexual dissemination of major viral pathogens such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus. Lately, two emerging viruses, Zika and Ebola, have additionally revealed that the human MGT can constitute a reservoir for viruses cleared from peripheral circulation by the immune system, leading to their sexual transmission by cured men. This represents a concern for future epidemics and further underlines the need for a better understanding of the interplay between viruses and the MGT. We review here how viruses, from ancient viruses that integrated the germline during evolution through old viruses (e.g., papillomaviruses originating from Neanderthals) and more modern sexually transmitted infections (e.g., simian zoonotic HIV) to emerging viruses (e.g., Ebola and Zika) take advantage of genital tract colonization for horizontal dissemination, viral persistence, vertical transmission, and endogenization. The MGT immune responses to viruses and the impact of these infections are discussed. We summarize the latest data regarding the sources of viruses in semen and the complex role of this body fluid in sexual transmission. Finally, we introduce key animal findings that are relevant for our understanding of viral infection and persistence in the human MGT and suggest future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Le Tortorec
- University of Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S1085, Rennes, France
| | - Giulia Matusali
- University of Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S1085, Rennes, France
| | - Dominique Mahé
- University of Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S1085, Rennes, France
| | - Florence Aubry
- University of Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S1085, Rennes, France
| | - Séverine Mazaud-Guittot
- University of Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S1085, Rennes, France
| | - Laurent Houzet
- University of Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S1085, Rennes, France
| | - Nathalie Dejucq-Rainsford
- University of Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S1085, Rennes, France
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13
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Abstract
Seminal fluid is often assumed to have just one function in mammalian reproduction, delivering sperm to fertilize oocytes. But seminal fluid also transmits signaling agents that interact with female reproductive tissues to facilitate conception and .pregnancy. Upon seminal fluid contact, female tissues initiate a controlled inflammatory response that affects several aspects of reproductive function to ultimately maximize the chances of a male producing healthy offspring. This effect is best characterized in mice, where the female response involves several steps. Initially, seminal fluid factors cause leukocytes to infiltrate the female reproductive tract, and to selectively target and eliminate excess sperm. Other signals stimulate ovulation, induce an altered transcriptional program in female tract tissues that modulates embryo developmental programming, and initiate immune adaptations to promote receptivity to implantation and placental development. A key result is expansion of the pool of regulatory T cells that assist implantation by suppressing inflammation, mediating tolerance to male transplantation antigens, and promoting uterine vascular adaptation and placental development. Principal signaling agents in seminal fluid include prostaglandins and transforming growth factor-β. The balance of male signals affects the nature of the female response, providing a mechanism of ‟cryptic female choiceˮ that influences female reproductive investment. Male-female seminal fluid signaling is evident in all mammalian species investigated including human, and effects of seminal fluid in invertebrates indicate evolutionarily conserved mechanisms. Understanding the female response to seminal fluid will shed new light on infertility and pregnancy disorders and is critical to defining how events at conception influence offspring health.
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Affiliation(s)
- John E Schjenken
- Robinson Research Institute and Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Sarah A Robertson
- Robinson Research Institute and Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
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14
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Natural Inhibitor of Human Cytomegalovirus in Human Seminal Plasma. J Virol 2019; 93:JVI.01855-18. [PMID: 30626669 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01855-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 12/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most frequent viral cause of congenital infections that can lead to severe birth defects. Although HCMV is frequently detected in semen and thus is potentially sexually transmitted, the role of semen in HCMV transmission is largely unclear. Here we describe that human seminal plasma (SP; the cell-free supernatant of semen) inhibits HCMV infection. The inhibition of HCMV infection was dose dependent and effective for different cell types, virus strains, and semen donors. This inhibitory effect was specific for HCMV, as herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infections were enhanced by SP. Mechanistically, SP inhibited infection by interfering with the attachment of virions to cells most likely via an interaction with the trimeric glycoprotein complex gH/gL/gO. Together, our findings suggest that semen contains a factor that potentially limits sexual transmission of HCMV.IMPORTANCE The role of semen in sexual transmission of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is currently unclear. This is surprising, as HCMV is frequently detected in this body fluid and infection is of high danger for neonates and pregnant women. In this study, we found that seminal plasma (SP) dose dependently inhibited HCMV infection. The infection inhibition was specific for HCMV, as other viruses, such as human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), were not inhibited by SP. SP must contain a soluble, heat-resistant factor that limits attachment of HCMV particles to cells, probably by interaction with the trimeric glycoprotein complex gH/gL/gO. This novel virus-host interaction could possibly limit transmission of HCMV via semen during sexual intercourse.
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15
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Röcker A, Roan NR, Yadav JK, Fändrich M, Münch J. Structure, function and antagonism of semen amyloids. Chem Commun (Camb) 2018; 54:7557-7569. [PMID: 29873340 DOI: 10.1039/c8cc01491d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid fibrils are linear polypeptide aggregates with a cross-β structure. These fibrils are best known for their association with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, but they may also be used by living organisms as functional units, e.g. in the synthesis of melanin or in the formation of bacterial biofilms. About a decade ago, in a search for semen factors that modulate infection by HIV-1 (a sexually transmitted virus and the causative agent of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)), it was demonstrated that semen harbors amyloid fibrils capable of markedly increasing HIV infection rates. This discovery not only created novel opportunities to prevent sexual HIV-1 transmission but also stimulated research to unravel the natural role of these factors. We discuss here the identification of these intriguing structures, their molecular properties, and their effects on both sexually transmitted diseases and reproductive health. Moreover, we review strategies to antagonize semen amyloid to prevent sexual transmission of viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Röcker
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081 Ulm, Germany.
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16
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Abstract
The 2014 western Africa Ebola virus (EBOV) epidemic was unprecedented in magnitude, infecting over 28,000 and causing over 11,000 deaths. During this outbreak, multiple instances of EBOV sexual transmission were reported, including cases where the infectious individual had recovered from EBOV disease months before transmission. Potential human host factors in EBOV sexual transmission remain unstudied. Several basic seminal amyloids, most notably semen-derived enhancer of viral infection (SEVI), enhance in vitro infection by HIV and several other viruses. To test the ability of these peptides to enhance EBOV infection, viruses bearing the EBOV glycoprotein (EboGP) were preincubated with physiological concentrations of SEVI before infection of physiologically relevant cell lines and primary cells. Preincubation with SEVI significantly increased EboGP-mediated infectivity and replication in epithelium- and monocyte-derived cell lines. This enhancement was dependent upon amyloidogenesis and positive charge, and infection results were observed with both viruses carrying EboGP and authentic EBOV as well as with semen. SEVI enhanced binding of virus to cells and markedly increased its subsequent internalization. SEVI also stimulated uptake of a fluid phase marker by macropinocytosis, a critical mechanism by which cells internalize EBOV. We report a previously unrecognized ability of SEVI and semen to significantly alter viral physical properties critical for transmissibility by increasing the stability of EboGP-bearing recombinant viruses during incubation at elevated temperature and providing resistance to desiccation. Given the potential for EBOV sexual transmission to spark new transmission chains, these findings represent an important interrogation of factors potentially important for this EBOV transmission route.
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17
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Müller JA, Harms M, Krüger F, Groß R, Joas S, Hayn M, Dietz AN, Lippold S, von Einem J, Schubert A, Michel M, Mayer B, Cortese M, Jang KS, Sandi-Monroy N, Deniz M, Ebner F, Vapalahti O, Otto M, Bartenschlager R, Herbeuval JP, Schmidt-Chanasit J, Roan NR, Münch J. Semen inhibits Zika virus infection of cells and tissues from the anogenital region. Nat Commun 2018; 9:2207. [PMID: 29880824 PMCID: PMC5992203 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04442-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) causes severe birth defects and can be transmitted via sexual intercourse. Semen from ZIKV-infected individuals contains high viral loads and may therefore serve as an important vector for virus transmission. Here we analyze the effect of semen on ZIKV infection of cells and tissues derived from the anogenital region. ZIKV replicates in all analyzed cell lines, primary cells, and endometrial or vaginal tissues. However, in the presence of semen, infection by ZIKV and other flaviviruses is potently inhibited. We show that semen prevents ZIKV attachment to target cells, and that an extracellular vesicle preparation from semen is responsible for this anti-ZIKV activity. Our findings suggest that ZIKV transmission is limited by semen. As such, semen appears to serve as a protector against sexual ZIKV transmission, despite the availability of highly susceptible cells in the anogenital tract and high viral loads in this bodily fluid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janis A Müller
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Mirja Harms
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Franziska Krüger
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Groß
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Simone Joas
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Manuel Hayn
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Andrea N Dietz
- Institute of Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sina Lippold
- Institute of Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jens von Einem
- Institute of Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Axel Schubert
- Institute of Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Manuela Michel
- Institute of Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Benjamin Mayer
- Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, Ulm University, 89075, Ulm, Germany
| | - Mirko Cortese
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Karen S Jang
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | | | - Miriam Deniz
- Klinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Florian Ebner
- Klinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- Frauenklinik, Helios Amper Klinik, 85221, Dachau, Germany
| | - Olli Vapalahti
- Department of Virology and Immunology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Markus Otto
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Ralf Bartenschlager
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Heidelberg Partner Site, Heidelberg University, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jean-Philippe Herbeuval
- Chemistry, Biology, Modeling and Immunotherapy (CBMIT), CNRS, UMR8601, Laboratoire de Chimie et Biochimie Pharmacologiques et Toxicologiques, Université Paris Descartes, CICB Paris, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Luebeck-Borstel, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nadia R Roan
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Jan Münch
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
- Core Facility Functional Peptidomics, Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
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18
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Varese A, Remes Lenicov F, Gonzalez Prinz M, Paletta A, Ernst G, Maeto C, Merlotti A, Sabatte J, Símula S, Holgado MP, Dantas E, Geffner J, Ceballos A. Seminal vesicle fluid increases the efficacy of intravaginal HSV-2 vaccination. Mucosal Immunol 2018; 11:536-548. [PMID: 28745327 DOI: 10.1038/mi.2017.57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Once considered merely as a vehicle for spermatozoa, it is now clear that seminal plasma (SP) induces a variety of biological actions on the female reproductive tissues able to modulate the immune response against paternal antigens. To our knowledge, the influence of SP on the immune response against sexually transmitted pathogens has not been yet evaluated. We here analyzed whether the seminal vesicle fluid (SVF), which contributes almost 60% of the SP volume in mice, could modulate the immune response against herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). We found that SVF does not modify the course of primary infection, but markedly improved protection conferred by vaginal vaccination with inactivated HSV-2 against a lethal challenge. This protective effect was shown to be associated to a robust memory immune response mediated by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in both the lymph nodes draining the vagina and the vaginal mucosa, the site of viral replication. In contrast with the widespread notion that SP acts as an immunosuppressive agent, our results suggest that SVF might improve the female immune response against sexually transmitted pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Varese
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y SIDA (INBIRS), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - F Remes Lenicov
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y SIDA (INBIRS), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M Gonzalez Prinz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y SIDA (INBIRS), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A Paletta
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y SIDA (INBIRS), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - G Ernst
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y SIDA (INBIRS), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - C Maeto
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y SIDA (INBIRS), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A Merlotti
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y SIDA (INBIRS), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - J Sabatte
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y SIDA (INBIRS), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - S Símula
- Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M P Holgado
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y SIDA (INBIRS), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - E Dantas
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y SIDA (INBIRS), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - J Geffner
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y SIDA (INBIRS), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A Ceballos
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y SIDA (INBIRS), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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19
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Roan NR, Sandi-Monroy N, Kohgadai N, Usmani SM, Hamil KG, Neidleman J, Montano M, Ständker L, Röcker A, Cavrois M, Rosen J, Marson K, Smith JF, Pilcher CD, Gagsteiger F, Sakk O, O'Rand M, Lishko PV, Kirchhoff F, Münch J, Greene WC. Semen amyloids participate in spermatozoa selection and clearance. eLife 2017; 6. [PMID: 28653619 PMCID: PMC5487211 DOI: 10.7554/elife.24888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Unlike other human biological fluids, semen contains multiple types of amyloid fibrils in the absence of disease. These fibrils enhance HIV infection by promoting viral fusion to cellular targets, but their natural function remained unknown. The similarities shared between HIV fusion to host cell and sperm fusion to oocyte led us to examine whether these fibrils promote fertilization. Surprisingly, the fibrils inhibited fertilization by immobilizing sperm. Interestingly, however, this immobilization facilitated uptake and clearance of sperm by macrophages, which are known to infiltrate the female reproductive tract (FRT) following semen exposure. In the presence of semen fibrils, damaged and apoptotic sperm were more rapidly phagocytosed than healthy ones, suggesting that deposition of semen fibrils in the lower FRT facilitates clearance of poor-quality sperm. Our findings suggest that amyloid fibrils in semen may play a role in reproduction by participating in sperm selection and facilitating the rapid removal of sperm antigens. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.24888.001 Seminal plasma, the fluid portion of semen, helps to transport sperm cells to the egg during sexual reproduction. Seminal plasma contains numerous proteins that help the sperm to survive and, in recent years, researchers discovered that it also harbours protein deposits known as amyloid fibrils. Such protein deposits are generally associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s disease, where a build-up of fibrils can damage the nervous system. Semen amyloids, however, are present in the absence of disease, but can boost infection by HIV and other sexually transmitted viruses, by shuttling virus particles to their target cells. Despite these damaging effects, some researchers had suggested that amyloids in semen could be beneficial for humans, though it was unclear what these benefits might be. Roan et al. now set out to assess how semen amyloids affect human sperm activity. The results show that semen amyloids bind to damaged sperm cells and immobilize them, which are then quickly cleared away by immune cells. This could ensure that only the fittest sperm cells reach the egg. These findings suggest that amyloids can potentially serve beneficial roles for reproduction. A next step will be to investigate how semen amyloids trap unwanted sperm and how immune cells know when to remove it. More research is needed to investigate if problems in these processes could lead to infertility in men. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.24888.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia R Roan
- Department or Urology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, United States.,Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Nathallie Sandi-Monroy
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany.,Kinderwunsch-Zentrum, Ulm, Germany
| | - Nargis Kohgadai
- Department or Urology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, United States.,Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Shariq M Usmani
- The Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Katherine G Hamil
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, United States
| | - Jason Neidleman
- Department or Urology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, United States.,Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Mauricio Montano
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Ludger Ständker
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany.,Core Facility Functional Peptidomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Annika Röcker
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Marielle Cavrois
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, United States.,Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Jared Rosen
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
| | - Kara Marson
- HIV / AIDS Division, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - James F Smith
- Department or Urology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Christopher D Pilcher
- HIV / AIDS Division, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | | | - Olena Sakk
- Core Facility Transgenic Mice, Medical Faculty, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Michael O'Rand
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, United States
| | - Polina V Lishko
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
| | - Frank Kirchhoff
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jan Münch
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Warner C Greene
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, United States.,Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, United States
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Abstract
Amyloid formation has been most studied in the context of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, as well as in amyloidosis. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that amyloid is also present in the healthy setting; for example nontoxic amyloid formation is important for melanin synthesis and in innate immunity. Furthermore, bacteria have mechanisms to produce functional amyloid structures with important roles in bacterial physiology and interaction with host cells. Here, we will discuss some novel aspects of fibril-forming proteins in humans and bacteria. First, the amyloid-forming properties of the antimicrobial peptide human defensin 6 (HD6) will be considered. Intriguingly, unlike other antimicrobial peptides, HD6 does not kill bacteria. However, recent data show that HD6 can form amyloid structures at the gut mucosa with strong affinity for bacterial surfaces. These so-called nanonets block bacterial invasion by entangling the bacteria in net-like structures. Next, the role of functional amyloid fibrils in human semen will be discussed. These fibrils were discovered through their property to enhance HIV infection but they may also have other yet unknown functions. Finally, the role of amyloid formation in bacteria will be reviewed. The recent finding that bacteria can make amyloid in a controlled fashion without toxic effects is of particular interest and may have implications for human disease. The role of amyloid in health and disease is beginning to be unravelled, and here, we will review some of the most recent findings in this exciting area.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Bergman
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - N R Roan
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,The J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - U Römling
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cellbiology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - C L Bevins
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - J Münch
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Centre, Ulm, Germany.,Ulm Peptide Pharmaceuticals, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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