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Zheng J, Feng H, Lin J, Zhou J, Xi Z, Zhang Y, Ling F, Liu Y, Wang J, Hou T, Xing F, Li Y. KDM3A Ablation Activates Endogenous Retrovirus Expression to Stimulate Antitumor Immunity in Gastric Cancer. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024:e2309983. [PMID: 39031630 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202309983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024]
Abstract
The success of immunotherapy for cancer treatment is limited by the presence of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME); Therefore, identifying novel targets to that can reverse this immunosuppressive TME and enhance immunotherapy efficacy is essential. In this study, enrichment analysis based on publicly available single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing data from gastric cancer patients are conducted, and found that tumor-intrinsic interferon (IFN) plays a central role in TME regulation. The results shows that KDM3A over-expression suppresses the tumor-intrinsic IFN response and inhibits KDM3A, either genomically or pharmacologically, which effectively promotes IFN responses by activating endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). KDM3A ablation reconfigures the dsRNA-MAVS-IFN axis by modulating H3K4me2, enhancing the infiltration and function of CD8 T cells, and simultaneously reducing the presence of regulatory T cells, resulting in a reshaped TME in vivo. In addition, combining anti-PD1 therapy with KDM3A inhibition effectively inhibited tumor growth. In conclusions, this study highlights KDM3A as a potential target for TME remodeling and the enhancement of antitumor immunity in gastric cancer through the regulation of the ERV-MAVS-IFN axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiabin Zheng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Huolun Feng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
| | - Jiatong Lin
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
| | - Jianlong Zhou
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Zhihui Xi
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
| | - Yucheng Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Fa Ling
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Yongfeng Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Junjiang Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Tieying Hou
- Medical Experimental Center, Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518052, China
- Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518073, China
| | - Fan Xing
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China
| | - Yong Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
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Zhang Y, Wang G, Zhu Y, Cao X, Liu F, Li H, Liu S. Exploring the role of endogenous retroviruses in seasonal reproductive cycles: a case study of the ERV-V envelope gene in mink. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1404431. [PMID: 39081866 PMCID: PMC11287128 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1404431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), which originated from exogenous retroviral infections of germline cells millions of years ago and were inherited by subsequent generations as per Mendelian inheritance patterns, predominantly comprise non-protein-coding sequences due to the accumulation of mutations, insertions, deletions, and truncations. Nevertheless, recent studies have revealed that ERVs play a crucial role in diverse biological processes by encoding various proteins. Methods In this study, we successfully identified an ERV envelope (env) gene in a mink species. A phylogenetic tree of mink ERV-V env and reference sequences was constructed using Bayesian methods and maximum-likelihood inference. Results Phylogenetic analyses indicated a significant degree of sequence conservation and positive selection within the env-surface open reading frame. Additionally, qRT-PCR revealed diverse patterns of mink ERV-V env expression in various tissues. The expression of mink ERV-V env gene in testicular tissue strongly correlated with the seasonal reproductive cycles of minks. Discussion Our study suggests that the ERV-V env gene in mink may have been repurposed for host functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufei Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Gaofeng Wang
- Ulanqab Center for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Ulanqab, China
| | - Yanzhu Zhu
- Institute of Special Animal and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Xiaodong Cao
- School of pharmacy, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
| | - Fang Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Huiping Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Shuying Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Key Laboratory of Basic Veterinary Medicine, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Technology in Animal Disease, Ministry of Agriculture, Hohhot, China
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Jarosz AS, Pendleton AL, Lashbrook MJ, Cech E, Altieri M, Kunch A, Modiano JF, Halo JV. Expression and high levels of insertional polymorphism of an endogenous gammaretrovirus lineage in dogs. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1011083. [PMID: 38055724 PMCID: PMC10727363 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011083] [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: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the absence of a confirmed exogenously replicating retrovirus in Canis lupus familiaris (C. familiaris), past retroviral infections are evident in the genomes of living animals via the presence of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). Although gammaretrovirus-like transcripts and enzyme activities were previously reported to be present in canine leukemias and lymphomas, those findings were not further explored. Initial analysis of the C. familiaris reference genome revealed a minor subset of one ERV lineage, classified as CfERV-Fc1(a), or Fc1(a) here, with features characteristic of recent integration, including the presence of ORFs and identical or nearly identical LTRs. Our previous analysis of whole genome sequence data belonging to extant Canidae revealed a burst of past infections in Canis ancestors resulting in numerous young, polymorphic, and highly intact loci now segregating in dogs. Here, we demonstrate the expression of full-length Fc1(a) proviruses in tissues collected from healthy animals and from animals with cancer. We observed significantly higher expression in samples of dogs with various cancer diagnoses when compared to samples from healthy dogs. Genotyping of insertionally polymorphic Fc1(a) loci identified candidate expressed proviruses and delineated distributions over sample groups. Collectively, the data show that Fc1(a) proviruses retain biological activity in the domestic dog and provides a means to examine potential genetic links with disease states in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail S. Jarosz
- Bowling Green State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Amanda L. Pendleton
- Purdue University, Department of Biochemistry, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
- Purdue University, Purdue Center for Plant Biology, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Michael J. Lashbrook
- Bowling Green State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Erica Cech
- Bowling Green State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Madison Altieri
- Bowling Green State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Austin Kunch
- Bowling Green State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Jaime F. Modiano
- Animal Cancer Care and Research Program, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
- Institute for Engineering in Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Julia V. Halo
- Bowling Green State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green, Ohio, United States of America
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Dubowsky M, Theunissen F, Carr JM, Rogers ML. The Molecular Link Between TDP-43, Endogenous Retroviruses and Inflammatory Neurodegeneration in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: a Potential Target for Triumeq, an Antiretroviral Therapy. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:6330-6345. [PMID: 37450244 PMCID: PMC10533598 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03472-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease (MND), is a progressive neurological disorder, characterised by the death of upper and lower motor neurons. The aetiology of ALS remains unknown, and treatment options are limited. Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), specifically human endogenous retrovirus type K (HERV-K), have been proposed to be involved in the propagation of neurodegeneration in ALS. ERVs are genomic remnants of ancient viral infection events, with most being inactive and not retaining the capacity to encode a fully infectious virus. However, some ERVs retain the ability to be activated and transcribed, and ERV transcripts have been found to be elevated within the brain tissue of MND patients. A hallmark of ALS pathology is altered localisation of the transactive response (TAR) DNA binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43), which is normally found within the nucleus of neuronal and glial cells and is involved in RNA regulation. In ALS, TDP-43 aggregates within the cytoplasm and facilitates neurodegeneration. The involvement of ERVs in ALS pathology is thought to occur through TDP-43 and neuroinflammatory mediators. In this review, the proposed involvement of TDP-43, HERV-K and immune regulators on the onset and progression of ALS will be discussed. Furthermore, the evidence supporting a therapy based on targeting ERVs in ALS will be reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Dubowsky
- College of Medicine and Public Health and Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.
| | - Frances Theunissen
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
| | - Jillian M Carr
- College of Medicine and Public Health and Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
| | - Mary-Louise Rogers
- College of Medicine and Public Health and Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
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5
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Gao KM, Marshak-Rothstein A, Fitzgerald KA. Type-1 interferon-dependent and -independent mechanisms in cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes-driven auto-inflammation. Curr Opin Immunol 2023; 80:102280. [PMID: 36638547 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2022.102280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The cyclic cyclic gaunosine monophosphate adenosine monophosphate (GMP-AMP) synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) pathway senses cytosolic dsDNA and initiates immune responses against pathogens. It is also implicated in several auto-inflammatory diseases known as monogenic interferonopathies, specifically Three prime repair exonuclease 1 (Trex1) loss-of-function (LOF), Dnase2 LOF, and stimulator of interferon genes-associated-vasculopathy-with-onset-in-infancy (SAVI). Although monogenic interferonopathies have diverse clinical presentations, they are distinguished by the elevation of type-1 interferons (T1IFNs). However, animal models have demonstrated that T1IFNs contribute to only some disease outcomes and that cGAS-STING activation also promotes T1IFN-independent pathology. For example, while T1IFNs drive the immunopathology associated with Trex1 LOF, disease in Dnase2 LOF is partially independent of T1IFNs, while disease in SAVI appears to occur entirely independent of T1IFNs. Additionally, while the cGAS-STING pathway is well characterized in hematopoietic cells, these animal models point to important roles for STING activity in nonhematopoietic cells in disease. Together, these models illustrate the complex role that cGAS-STING-driven responses play in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases across tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Mj Gao
- Division of Innate Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Ann Marshak-Rothstein
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Katherine A Fitzgerald
- Division of Innate Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
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Hogan V, Johnson WE. Unique Structure and Distinctive Properties of the Ancient and Ubiquitous Gamma-Type Envelope Glycoprotein. Viruses 2023; 15:v15020274. [PMID: 36851488 PMCID: PMC9967133 DOI: 10.3390/v15020274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
After the onset of the AIDS pandemic, HIV-1 (genus Lentivirus) became the predominant model for studying retrovirus Env glycoproteins and their role in entry. However, HIV Env is an inadequate model for understanding entry of viruses in the Alpharetrovirus, Gammaretrovirus and Deltaretrovirus genera. For example, oncogenic model system viruses such as Rous sarcoma virus (RSV, Alpharetrovirus), murine leukemia virus (MLV, Gammaretrovirus) and human T-cell leukemia viruses (HTLV-I and HTLV-II, Deltaretrovirus) encode Envs that are structurally and functionally distinct from HIV Env. We refer to these as Gamma-type Envs. Gamma-type Envs are probably the most widespread retroviral Envs in nature. They are found in exogenous and endogenous retroviruses representing a broad spectrum of vertebrate hosts including amphibians, birds, reptiles, mammals and fish. In endogenous form, gamma-type Envs have been evolutionarily coopted numerous times, most notably as placental syncytins (e.g., human SYNC1 and SYNC2). Remarkably, gamma-type Envs are also found outside of the Retroviridae. Gp2 proteins of filoviruses (e.g., Ebolavirus) and snake arenaviruses in the genus Reptarenavirus are gamma-type Env homologs, products of ancient recombination events involving viruses of different Baltimore classes. Distinctive hallmarks of gamma-type Envs include a labile disulfide bond linking the surface and transmembrane subunits, a multi-stage attachment and fusion mechanism, a highly conserved (but poorly understood) "immunosuppressive domain", and activation by the viral protease during virion maturation. Here, we synthesize work from diverse retrovirus model systems to illustrate these distinctive properties and to highlight avenues for further exploration of gamma-type Env structure and function.
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7
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Calero-Layana M, López-Cruz C, Ocaña A, Tejera E, Armijos-Jaramillo V. Evolutionary analysis of endogenous intronic retroviruses in primates reveals an enrichment in transcription binding sites associated with key regulatory processes. PeerJ 2022; 10:e14431. [PMID: 36575684 PMCID: PMC9790151 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are the result of the integration of retroviruses into host DNA following germline infection. Endogenous retroviruses are made up of three main genes: gag, pol, and env, each of which encodes viral proteins that can be conserved or not. ERVs have been observed in a wide range of vertebrate genomes and their functions are associated with viral silencing and gene regulation. Results In this work, we studied the evolutionary history of endogenous retroviruses associated with five human genes (INPP5B, DET1, PSMA1, USH2A, and MACROD2), which are located within intron sections. To verify the retroviral origin of the candidates, several approaches were used to detect and locate ERV elements. Both orthologous and paralogous genes were identified by Ensembl and then analyzed for ERV presence using RetroTector. A phylogenetic tree was reconstructed to identify the minimum time point of ERV acquisition. From that search, we detected ERVs throughout the primate lineage and in some other groups. Also, we identified the minimum origin of the ERVs from the parvorder Catarrhini to the Homininae subfamily. Conclusions With the data collected, and by observing the transcription factors annotated inside ERVs, we propose that these elements play a relevant role in gene expression regulation and they probably possess important features for tumorigenesis control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Calero-Layana
- Ingeniería en Biotecnología. Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad de las Americas, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Carmen López-Cruz
- Ingeniería en Biotecnología. Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad de las Americas, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Agustín Ocaña
- Ingeniería en Biotecnología. Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad de las Americas, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Eduardo Tejera
- Ingeniería en Biotecnología. Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad de las Americas, Quito, Ecuador,Grupo de Bio-Quimioinformática, Universidad de las Americas, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Vinicio Armijos-Jaramillo
- Ingeniería en Biotecnología. Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad de las Americas, Quito, Ecuador,Grupo de Bio-Quimioinformática, Universidad de las Americas, Quito, Ecuador
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Kambol R, Gatseva A, Gifford RJ. An endogenous lentivirus in the germline of a rodent. Retrovirology 2022; 19:30. [PMID: 36539757 PMCID: PMC9768972 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-022-00615-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Lentiviruses (genus Lentivirus) are complex retroviruses that infect a broad range of mammals, including humans. Unlike many other retrovirus genera, lentiviruses have only rarely been incorporated into the mammalian germline. However, a small number of endogenous retrovirus (ERV) lineages have been identified, and these rare genomic "fossils" can provide crucial insights into the long-term history of lentivirus evolution. Here, we describe a previously unreported endogenous lentivirus lineage in the genome of the South African springhare (Pedetes capensis), demonstrating that the host range of lentiviruses has historically extended to rodents (order Rodentia). Furthermore, through comparative and phylogenetic analysis of lentivirus and ERV genomes, considering the biogeographic and ecological characteristics of host species, we reveal broader insights into the long-term evolutionary history of the genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roziah Kambol
- grid.412259.90000 0001 2161 1343School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor Malaysia
| | - Anna Gatseva
- grid.301713.70000 0004 0393 3981MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, 464 Bearsden Rd, Bearsden, G61 1QH Glasgow UK
| | - Robert J. Gifford
- grid.301713.70000 0004 0393 3981MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, 464 Bearsden Rd, Bearsden, G61 1QH Glasgow UK
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Burn A, Roy F, Freeman M, Coffin JM. Widespread expression of the ancient HERV-K (HML-2) provirus group in normal human tissues. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001826. [PMID: 36256614 PMCID: PMC9578601 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) transcripts are known to be highly expressed in cancers, yet their activity in nondiseased tissue is largely unknown. Using the GTEx RNA-seq dataset from normal tissue sampled at autopsy, we characterized individual expression of the recent HERV-K (HML-2) provirus group across 13,000 different samples of 54 different tissues from 948 individuals. HML-2 transcripts could be identified in every tissue sampled and were elevated in the cerebellum, pituitary, testis, and thyroid. A total of 37 different individual proviruses were expressed in 1 or more tissues, representing all 3 LTR5 subgroups. Nine proviruses were identified as having long terminal repeat (LTR)-driven transcription, 7 of which belonged to the most recent LTR5HS subgroup. Proviruses of different subgroups displayed a bias in tissue expression, which may be associated with differences in transcription factor binding sites in their LTRs. Provirus expression was greater in evolutionarily older proviruses with an earliest shared ancestor of gorilla or older. HML-2 expression was significantly affected by biological sex in 1 tissue, while age and timing of death (Hardy score) had little effect. Proviruses containing intact gag, pro, and env open reading frames (ORFs) were expressed in the dataset, with almost every tissue measured potentially expressing at least 1 intact ORF (gag). Human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) transcripts are known to be highly expressed in cancers, but what is their activity in normal tissue? This study uses unique patterns of HERV-K RNA expression in the large GEx dataset from non-diseased tissue sites to provide new insights into both the coevolution of HERV-K with our primate ancestors and their current role in human biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aidan Burn
- Program in Genetics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Farrah Roy
- Immuneering Corporation, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Michael Freeman
- Program in Genetics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - John M. Coffin
- Program in Genetics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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10
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Simpson J, Kozak CA, Boso G. Cross-species transmission of an ancient endogenous retrovirus and convergent co-option of its envelope gene in two mammalian orders. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010458. [PMID: 36240227 PMCID: PMC9604959 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) found in vertebrate genomes are remnants of retroviral invasions of their ancestral species. ERVs thus represent molecular fossil records of ancient retroviruses and provide a unique opportunity to study viral-host interactions, including cross-species transmissions, in deep time. While most ERVs contain the mutated remains of the original retrovirus, on rare occasions evolutionary selection pressures lead to the co-option/exaptation of ERV genes for a host function. Here, we report the identification of two ancient related non-orthologous ERV env genes, ARTenvV and CARenvV, that are preserved with large open reading frames (ORFs) in the mammalian orders Artiodactyla and Carnivora, respectively, but are not found in other mammals. These Env proteins lack a transmembrane motif, but phylogenetic analyses show strong sequence preservation and positive selection of the env surface ORF in their respective orders, and transcriptomic analyses show a broad tissue expression pattern for both ARTenvV and CARenvV, suggesting that these genes may be exapted for a host function. Multiple lines of evidence indicate that ARTenvV and CARenvV were derived from an ancient ancestral exogenous gamma-like retrovirus that was independently endogenized in two mammalian orders more than 60 million years ago, which roughly coincides with the K-Pg mass extinction event and subsequent mammalian diversification. Thus, these findings identify the oldest known retroviral cross-ordinal transmission of a gamma-like retrovirus with no known extant infectious counterpart in mammals, and the first discovery of the convergent co-option of an ERV gene derived from the same ancestral retrovirus in two different mammalian orders.
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Affiliation(s)
- J’Zaria Simpson
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Christine A. Kozak
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Guney Boso
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
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Fischer N, Gulich B, Tönjes RR, Godehardt AW. Limited environmental stability of infectious porcine endogenous retrovirus type C; Usage of reverse transcriptase in combination with viral RNA as markers for infectious virus. Xenotransplantation 2022; 29:e12738. [DOI: 10.1111/xen.12738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Fischer
- Division of Medical Biotechnology Paul‐Ehrlich‐Institut Langen Germany
| | - Barbara Gulich
- Division of Medical Biotechnology Paul‐Ehrlich‐Institut Langen Germany
| | - Ralf R. Tönjes
- Division of Medical Biotechnology Paul‐Ehrlich‐Institut Langen Germany
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Fernandes AP, Águeda-Pinto A, Pinheiro A, Rebelo H, Esteves PJ. Evolution of TRIM5 and TRIM22 in Bats Reveals a Complex Duplication Process. Viruses 2022; 14:v14020345. [PMID: 35215944 PMCID: PMC8879501 DOI: 10.3390/v14020345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The innate immunological response in mammals involves a diverse and complex network of many proteins. Over the last years, the tripartite motif-containing protein 5 (TRIM5) and 22 (TRIM22) have shown promise as restriction factors of a plethora of viruses that infect primates. Although there have been studies describing the evolution of these proteins in a wide range of mammals, no prior studies of the TRIM6/34/5/22 gene cluster have been performed in the Chiroptera order. Here, we provide a detailed analysis of the evolution of this gene cluster in several bat genomes. Examination of different yangochiroptera and yinpterochiroptera bat species revealed a dynamic history of gene expansion occurring in TRIM5 and TRIM22 genes. Multiple copies of TRIM5 were found in the genomes of several bats, demonstrating a very low degree of conservation in the synteny of this gene among species of the Chiroptera order. Our findings also reveal that TRIM22 is often found duplicated in yangochiroptera bat species, an evolutionary phenomenon not yet observed in any other lineages of mammals. In total, we identified 31 TRIM5 and 19 TRIM22 amino acids to be evolving under positive selection, with most of the residues being placed in the PRYSPRY domain, known to be responsible for binding to the viral capsid during restriction in the primate orthologous TRIM proteins. Altogether, our results help to shed light on the distinctive role of bats in nature as reservoirs of viruses, many of which have become threatening zoonotic diseases through virus spillover in the last decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre P. Fernandes
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vila do Conde, Portugal; (A.P.F.); (A.Á.-P.); (A.P.); (H.R.)
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vila do Conde, Portugal
| | - Ana Águeda-Pinto
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vila do Conde, Portugal; (A.P.F.); (A.Á.-P.); (A.P.); (H.R.)
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vila do Conde, Portugal
| | - Ana Pinheiro
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vila do Conde, Portugal; (A.P.F.); (A.Á.-P.); (A.P.); (H.R.)
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vila do Conde, Portugal
| | - Hugo Rebelo
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vila do Conde, Portugal; (A.P.F.); (A.Á.-P.); (A.P.); (H.R.)
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vila do Conde, Portugal
- CIBIO/InBIO, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Pedro J. Esteves
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vila do Conde, Portugal; (A.P.F.); (A.Á.-P.); (A.P.); (H.R.)
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vila do Conde, Portugal
- CITS—Centro de Investigac¸ão em Tecnologias da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Saúde do Norte (IPSN), Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário (CESPU), 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
- Correspondence:
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Endogenization of a Prosimian Retrovirus during Lemur Evolution. Viruses 2021; 13:v13030383. [PMID: 33673677 PMCID: PMC7997422 DOI: 10.3390/v13030383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies of viruses that coevolved with lemurs provide an opportunity to understand the basal traits of primate viruses and provide an evolutionary context for host-virus interactions. Germline integration of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are fossil evidence of past infections. Hence, characterization of novel ERVs provides insight into the ancient precursors of extant viruses and the evolutionary history of their hosts. Here, we report the discovery of a novel endogenous retrovirus present in the genome of a lemur, Coquerel's sifaka (Propithecus coquereli). Using next-generation sequencing, we identified and characterized the complete genome sequence of a retrovirus, named prosimian retrovirus 1 (PSRV1). Phylogenetic analyses indicate that PSRV1 is a gamma-type betaretrovirus basal to the other primate betaretroviruses and most closely related to simian retroviruses. Molecular clock analysis of PSRV1 long terminal repeat (LTR) sequences estimated the time of endogenization within 4.56 MYA (± 2.4 MYA), placing it after the divergence of Propithecus species. These results indicate that PSRV1 is an important milestone of lemur evolution during the radiation of the Propithecus genus. These findings may have implications for both human and animal health in that the acquisition of a gamma-type env gene within an endogenized betaretrovirus could facilitate a cross-species jump between vertebrate class hosts.
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14
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Editorial commentary: Challenges to heart repair with pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Trends Cardiovasc Med 2020; 31:91-92. [PMID: 32276084 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcm.2020.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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Abstract
Retroviruses infect a broad range of vertebrate hosts that includes amphibians, reptiles, fish, birds and mammals. In addition, a typical vertebrate genome contains thousands of loci composed of ancient retroviral sequences known as endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). ERVs are molecular remnants of ancient retroviruses and proof that the ongoing relationship between retroviruses and their vertebrate hosts began hundreds of millions of years ago. The long-term impact of retroviruses on vertebrate evolution is twofold: first, as with other viruses, retroviruses act as agents of selection, driving the evolution of host genes that block viral infection or that mitigate pathogenesis, and second, through the phenomenon of endogenization, retroviruses contribute an abundance of genetic novelty to host genomes, including unique protein-coding genes and cis-acting regulatory elements. This Review describes ERV origins, their diversity and their relationships to retroviruses and discusses the potential for ERVs to reveal virus-host interactions on evolutionary timescales. It also describes some of the many examples of cellular functions, including protein-coding genes and regulatory elements, that have evolved from ERVs.
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Hron T, Elleder D, Gifford RJ. Deltaretroviruses have circulated since at least the Paleogene and infected a broad range of mammalian species. Retrovirology 2019; 16:33. [PMID: 31775783 PMCID: PMC6882180 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-019-0495-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The Deltaretrovirus genus of retroviruses (family Retroviridae) includes the human T cell leukemia viruses and bovine leukemia virus (BLV). Relatively little is known about the biology and evolution of these viruses, because only a few species have been identified and the genomic ‘fossil record’ is relatively sparse. Here, we report the discovery of multiple novel endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) derived from ancestral deltaretroviruses. These sequences—two of which contain complete or near complete internal coding regions—reside in genomes of several distinct mammalian orders, including bats, carnivores, cetaceans, and insectivores. We demonstrate that two of these ERVs contain unambiguous homologs of the tax gene, indicating that complex gene regulation has ancient origins within the Deltaretrovirus genus. ERVs demonstrate that the host range of the deltaretrovirus genus is much more extensive than suggested by the relatively small number of exogenous deltaretroviruses described so far, and allow the evolutionary timeline of deltaretrovirus-mammal interaction to be more accurately calibrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Hron
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Elleder
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Robert J Gifford
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, 464 Bearsden Rd, Bearsden, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK.
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17
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Halo JV, Pendleton AL, Jarosz AS, Gifford RJ, Day ML, Kidd JM. Origin and recent expansion of an endogenous gammaretroviral lineage in domestic and wild canids. Retrovirology 2019; 16:6. [PMID: 30845962 PMCID: PMC6407205 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-019-0468-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Vertebrate genomes contain a record of retroviruses that invaded the germlines of ancestral hosts and are passed to offspring as endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). ERVs can impact host function since they contain the necessary sequences for expression within the host. Dogs are an important system for the study of disease and evolution, yet no substantiated reports of infectious retroviruses in dogs exist. Here, we utilized Illumina whole genome sequence data to assess the origin and evolution of a recently active gammaretroviral lineage in domestic and wild canids. Results We identified numerous recently integrated loci of a canid-specific ERV-Fc sublineage within Canis, including 58 insertions that were absent from the reference assembly. Insertions were found throughout the dog genome including within and near gene models. By comparison of orthologous occupied sites, we characterized element prevalence across 332 genomes including all nine extant canid species, revealing evolutionary patterns of ERV-Fc segregation among species as well as subpopulations. Conclusions Sequence analysis revealed common disruptive mutations, suggesting a predominant form of ERV-Fc spread by trans complementation of defective proviruses. ERV-Fc activity included multiple circulating variants that infected canid ancestors from the last 20 million to within 1.6 million years, with recent bursts of germline invasion in the sublineage leading to wolves and dogs. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12977-019-0468-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia V Halo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, 43403, USA.
| | - Amanda L Pendleton
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Abigail S Jarosz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, 43403, USA
| | - Robert J Gifford
- Centre for Virus Research, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, Scotland, UK
| | - Malika L Day
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, 43403, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Kidd
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.,Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, 100 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
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18
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Ikeda M, Satomura K, Sekizuka T, Hanada K, Endo T, Osada N. Comprehensive phylogenomic analysis reveals a novel cluster of simian endogenous retroviral sequences in Colobinae monkeys. Am J Primatol 2018; 80:e22882. [PMID: 29896810 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Revised: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Simian retrovirus (SRV) is a type-D betaretrovirus infectious to the Old World monkeys causing a variety of symptoms. SRVs are also present in the Old World monkey genomes as endogenous forms, which are referred to as Simian endogenous retroviruses (SERVs). Although many SERV sequences have been identified in Cercopithecinae genomes, with potential of encoding all functional genes, the distribution of SERVs in genomes and evolutionary relationship between exogeneous SRVs and SERVs remains unclear. In this study, we comprehensively investigated seven draft genome sequences of the Old World monkeys, and identified a novel cluster of SERVs in the two Rhinopithecus (R. roxellana and R. bieti) genomes, which belong to the Colobinae subfamily. The Rhinopithecus genomes harbored higher copy numbers of SERVs than the Cercopithecinae genomes. A reconstructed phylogenetic tree showed that the Colobinae SERVs formed a distinct cluster from SRVs and Cercopithecinae SERVs, and more closely related to exogenous SRVs than Cercopithecinae SERVs. Three radical amino acid substitutions specific to Cercopithecinae SERVs, which potentially affect the infectious ability of SERVs, were also identified in the proviral envelope protein. In addition, we found many integration events of SERVs were genus- or species-specific, suggesting the recent activity of SERVs in the Old World monkey genomes. The results suggest that SERVs in Cercopithecinae and Colobinae monkeys were endogenized after the divergence of subfamilies and do not transmit across subfamilies. Our findings also support the hypothesis that Colobinae SERVs are direct ancestors of SRV-6, which has a different origin from the other exogenous SRVs. These findings shed novel insight into the evolutionary history of SERVs, and may help to understand the process of endogenization of SRVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Ikeda
- Department of Information Science and Technology, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Satomura
- Department of Information Science and Technology, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Sekizuka
- Pathogen Genomics Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kentaro Hanada
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshinori Endo
- Department of Information Science and Technology, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Naoki Osada
- Department of Information Science and Technology, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan.,Global Station for Bid Data and Cybersecurity, GI-CoRE, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan
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19
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Kawasaki J, Nishigaki K. Tracking the Continuous Evolutionary Processes of an Endogenous Retrovirus of the Domestic Cat: ERV-DC. Viruses 2018; 10:v10040179. [PMID: 29642384 PMCID: PMC5923473 DOI: 10.3390/v10040179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Revised: 04/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
An endogenous retrovirus (ERV) is a remnant of an ancient retroviral infection in the host genome. Although most ERVs have lost their viral productivity, a few ERVs retain their replication capacity. In addition, partially inactivated ERVs can present a potential risk to the host via their encoded virulence factors or the generation of novel viruses by viral recombination. ERVs can also eventually acquire a biological function, and this ability has been a driving force of host evolution. Therefore, the presence of an ERV can be harmful or beneficial to the host. Various reports about paleovirology have revealed each event in ERV evolution, but the continuous processes of ERV evolution over millions of years are mainly unknown. A unique ERV family, ERV-DC, is present in the domestic cat (Felis silvestriscatus) genome. ERV-DC proviruses are phylogenetically classified into three genotypes, and the specific characteristics of each genotype have been clarified: their capacity to produce infectious viruses; their recombination with other retroviruses, such as feline leukemia virus or RD-114; and their biological functions as host antiviral factors. In this review, we describe ERV-DC-related phenomena and discuss the continuous changes in the evolution of this ERV in the domestic cat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junna Kawasaki
- Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan.
| | - Kazuo Nishigaki
- Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan.
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20
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Steele EJ, Al-Mufti S, Augustyn KA, Chandrajith R, Coghlan JP, Coulson SG, Ghosh S, Gillman M, Gorczynski RM, Klyce B, Louis G, Mahanama K, Oliver KR, Padron J, Qu J, Schuster JA, Smith WE, Snyder DP, Steele JA, Stewart BJ, Temple R, Tokoro G, Tout CA, Unzicker A, Wainwright M, Wallis J, Wallis DH, Wallis MK, Wetherall J, Wickramasinghe DT, Wickramasinghe JT, Wickramasinghe NC, Liu Y. Cause of Cambrian Explosion - Terrestrial or Cosmic? PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2018; 136:3-23. [PMID: 29544820 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2018.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
We review the salient evidence consistent with or predicted by the Hoyle-Wickramasinghe (H-W) thesis of Cometary (Cosmic) Biology. Much of this physical and biological evidence is multifactorial. One particular focus are the recent studies which date the emergence of the complex retroviruses of vertebrate lines at or just before the Cambrian Explosion of ∼500 Ma. Such viruses are known to be plausibly associated with major evolutionary genomic processes. We believe this coincidence is not fortuitous but is consistent with a key prediction of H-W theory whereby major extinction-diversification evolutionary boundaries coincide with virus-bearing cometary-bolide bombardment events. A second focus is the remarkable evolution of intelligent complexity (Cephalopods) culminating in the emergence of the Octopus. A third focus concerns the micro-organism fossil evidence contained within meteorites as well as the detection in the upper atmosphere of apparent incoming life-bearing particles from space. In our view the totality of the multifactorial data and critical analyses assembled by Fred Hoyle, Chandra Wickramasinghe and their many colleagues since the 1960s leads to a very plausible conclusion - life may have been seeded here on Earth by life-bearing comets as soon as conditions on Earth allowed it to flourish (about or just before 4.1 Billion years ago); and living organisms such as space-resistant and space-hardy bacteria, viruses, more complex eukaryotic cells, fertilised ova and seeds have been continuously delivered ever since to Earth so being one important driver of further terrestrial evolution which has resulted in considerable genetic diversity and which has led to the emergence of mankind.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward J Steele
- CY O'Connor ERADE Village Foundation, Piara Waters, WA, Australia; Centre for Astrobiology, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka.
| | - Shirwan Al-Mufti
- Buckingham Centre for Astrobiology, University of Buckingham, UK
| | - Kenneth A Augustyn
- Center for the Physics of Living Organisms, Department of Physics, Michigan Technological University, Michigan, United States
| | | | - John P Coghlan
- University of Melbourne, Office of the Dean, Faculty Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, 3rd Level, Alan Gilbert Building, Australia
| | - S G Coulson
- Buckingham Centre for Astrobiology, University of Buckingham, UK
| | - Sudipto Ghosh
- Metallurgical & Materials Engineering IIT, Kanpur, India
| | - Mark Gillman
- South African Brain Research Institute, 6 Campbell Street, Waverly, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Reginald M Gorczynski
- University Toronto Health Network, Toronto General Hospital, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Brig Klyce
- Buckingham Centre for Astrobiology, University of Buckingham, UK
| | - Godfrey Louis
- Department of Physics, Cochin University of Science and Technology Cochin, India
| | | | - Keith R Oliver
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Julio Padron
- Studio Eutropi, Clinical Pathology and Nutrition, Via Pompei 46, Ardea, 00040, Rome, Italy
| | - Jiangwen Qu
- Department of Infectious Disease Control, Tianjin Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China
| | - John A Schuster
- School of History and Philosophy of Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - W E Smith
- Institute for the Study of Panspermia and Astrobiology, Gifu, Japan
| | - Duane P Snyder
- Buckingham Centre for Astrobiology, University of Buckingham, UK
| | - Julian A Steele
- Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Brent J Stewart
- CY O'Connor ERADE Village Foundation, Piara Waters, WA, Australia
| | - Robert Temple
- The History of Chinese Culture Foundation, Conway Hall, London, UK
| | - Gensuke Tokoro
- Institute for the Study of Panspermia and Astrobiology, Gifu, Japan
| | - Christopher A Tout
- Institute of Astronomy, The Observatories, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0HA, UK
| | | | - Milton Wainwright
- Buckingham Centre for Astrobiology, University of Buckingham, UK; Centre for Astrobiology, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka
| | - Jamie Wallis
- Buckingham Centre for Astrobiology, University of Buckingham, UK
| | - Daryl H Wallis
- Buckingham Centre for Astrobiology, University of Buckingham, UK
| | - Max K Wallis
- Buckingham Centre for Astrobiology, University of Buckingham, UK
| | - John Wetherall
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Perth, Curtin University, WA, Australia
| | - D T Wickramasinghe
- College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | | | - N Chandra Wickramasinghe
- Buckingham Centre for Astrobiology, University of Buckingham, UK; Centre for Astrobiology, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka; Institute for the Study of Panspermia and Astrobiology, Gifu, Japan
| | - Yongsheng Liu
- Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Biological Breeding, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, 453003, China; Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
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21
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Presence of a Shared 5'-Leader Sequence in Ancestral Human and Mammalian Retroviruses and Its Transduction into Feline Leukemia Virus. J Virol 2017; 91:JVI.00829-17. [PMID: 28768854 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00829-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombination events induce significant genetic changes, and this process can result in virus genetic diversity or in the generation of novel pathogenicity. We discovered a new recombinant feline leukemia virus (FeLV) gag gene harboring an unrelated insertion, termed the X region, which was derived from Felis catus endogenous gammaretrovirus 4 (FcERV-gamma4). The identified FcERV-gamma4 proviruses have lost their coding capabilities, but some can express their viral RNA in feline tissues. Although the X-region-carrying recombinant FeLVs appeared to be replication-defective viruses, they were detected in 6.4% of tested FeLV-infected cats. All isolated recombinant FeLV clones commonly incorporated a middle part of the FcERV-gamma4 5'-leader region as an X region. Surprisingly, a sequence corresponding to the portion contained in all X regions is also present in at least 13 endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) observed in the cat, human, primate, and pig genomes. We termed this shared genetic feature the commonly shared (CS) sequence. Despite our phylogenetic analysis indicating that all CS-sequence-carrying ERVs are classified as gammaretroviruses, no obvious closeness was revealed among these ERVs. However, the Shannon entropy in the CS sequence was lower than that in other parts of the provirus genome. Notably, the CS sequence of human endogenous retrovirus T had 73.8% similarity with that of FcERV-gamma4, and specific signals were detected in the human genome by Southern blot analysis using a probe for the FcERV-gamma4 CS sequence. Our results provide an interesting evolutionary history for CS-sequence circulation among several distinct ancestral viruses and a novel recombined virus over a prolonged period.IMPORTANCE Recombination among ERVs or modern viral genomes causes a rapid evolution of retroviruses, and this phenomenon can result in the serious situation of viral disease reemergence. We identified a novel recombinant FeLV gag gene that contains an unrelated sequence, termed the X region. This region originated from the 5' leader of FcERV-gamma4, a replication-incompetent feline ERV. Surprisingly, a sequence corresponding to the X region is also present in the 5' portion of other ERVs, including human endogenous retroviruses. Scattered copies of the ERVs carrying the unique genetic feature, here named the commonly shared (CS) sequence, were found in each host genome, suggesting that ancestral viruses may have captured and maintained the CS sequence. More recently, a novel recombinant FeLV hijacked the CS sequence from inactivated FcERV-gamma4 as the X region. Therefore, tracing the CS sequences can provide unique models for not only the modern reservoir of new recombinant viruses but also the genetic features shared among ancient retroviruses.
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22
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Sinha A, Johnson WE. Retroviruses of the RDR superinfection interference group: ancient origins and broad host distribution of a promiscuous Env gene. Curr Opin Virol 2017; 25:105-112. [PMID: 28837888 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2017.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Revised: 07/08/2017] [Accepted: 07/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Due to recombination, different regions of a retrovirus genome can have distinct phylogenetic histories. The RD114-and-D-type-retrovirus (RDR) interference group provides an extreme example: the RDR group comprises a variety of taxonomically distinct retroviruses, isolated from diverse mammalian and avian hosts, that share a homologous env gene and use the same cell-surface entry receptor. RDR env homologs are also found among ancient endogenous retrovirus (ERV) sequences, including the syncytin genes of humans and rabbits, indicating that RDR Env glycoproteins have likely mediated endogenization on multiple occasions in diverse vertebrate lineages. The distribution of RDR env among exogenous and endogenous retroviruses indicates that it has been swapped between viruses many times, and that it likely facilitated multiple cross-species transmission events spanning millions of years of vertebrate evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anindita Sinha
- Biology Department, Boston College, 355 Higgins Hall, 140 Commonwealth Ave., Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
| | - Welkin E Johnson
- Biology Department, Boston College, 355 Higgins Hall, 140 Commonwealth Ave., Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA.
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23
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Frank JA, Feschotte C. Co-option of endogenous viral sequences for host cell function. Curr Opin Virol 2017; 25:81-89. [PMID: 28818736 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2017.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Revised: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 07/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Eukaryotic genomes are littered with sequences of diverse viral origins, termed endogenous viral elements (EVEs). Here we used examples primarily drawn from mammalian endogenous retroviruses to document how the influx of EVEs has provided a source of prefabricated coding and regulatory sequences that were formerly utilized for viral infection and replication, but have been occasionally repurposed for cellular function. While EVE co-option has benefited a variety of host biological functions, there appears to be a disproportionate contribution to immunity and antiviral defense. The mammalian embryo and placenta offer opportunistic routes of viral transmission to the next host generation and as such they represent hotbeds for EVE cooption. Based on these observations, we propose that EVE cooption is initially driven as a mean to mitigate conflicts between host and viruses, which in turn acts as a stepping-stone toward the evolution of cellular innovations serving host physiology and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- John A Frank
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Cédric Feschotte
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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Disentangling the origins of virophages and polintons. Curr Opin Virol 2017; 25:59-65. [PMID: 28802203 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2017.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2017] [Revised: 07/10/2017] [Accepted: 07/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Virophages and polintons are part of a complex system that also involves eukaryotes, giant viruses, as well as other viruses and transposable elements. Virophages are cosmopolitan, being found in environments ranging from the Amazon River to Antarctic hypersaline lakes, while polintons are found in many single celled and multicellular eukaryotes. Virophages and polintons have a shared ancestry, but their exact origins are unknown and obscured by antiquity and extensive horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Paleovirology can help disentangle the complicated gene flow between these two, as well as their giant viral and eukaryotic hosts. We outline the evidence and theoretical support for polintons being descended from viruses and not vice versa. In order to disentangle the natural history of polintons and virophages, we suggest that there is much to be gained by embracing rigorous metagenomics and evolutionary analyses. Methods from paleovirology will play a pivotal role in unravelling ancient relationships, HGT and patterns of cross-species transmission.
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