1
|
Shedroff E, Martin ML, Whitmer SLM, Brignone J, Garcia JB, Sen C, Nazar Y, Fabbri C, Morales-Betoulle M, Mendez J, Montgomery J, Morales MA, Klena JD. Novel Oliveros-like Clade C Mammarenaviruses from Rodents in Argentina, 1990-2020. Viruses 2024; 16:340. [PMID: 38543706 PMCID: PMC10976098 DOI: 10.3390/v16030340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Following an Argentine Hemorrhagic Fever (AHF) outbreak in the early 1990s, a rodent survey for Junín virus, a New World Clade B arenavirus, in endemic areas of Argentina was conducted. Since 1990, INEVH has been developing eco-epidemiological surveillance of rodents, inside and outside the Argentine Hemorrhagic Fever endemic area. Samples from rodents captured between 1993 and 2019 that were positive for Arenavirus infection underwent Sanger and unbiased, Illumina-based high-throughput sequencing, which yielded 5 complete and 88 partial Mammarenaviruses genomes. Previously, 11 genomes representing four species of New World arenavirus Clade C existed in public records. This work has generated 13 novel genomes, expanding the New World arenavirus Clade C to 24 total genomes. Additionally, two genomes exhibit sufficient genetic diversity to be considered a new species, as per ICTV guidelines (proposed name Mammarenavirus vellosense). The 13 novel genomes exhibited reassortment between the small and large segments in New World Mammarenaviruses. This work demonstrates that Clade C Mammarenavirus infections circulate broadly among Necromys species in the Argentine Hemorrhagic Fever endemic area; however, the risk for Clade C Mammarenavirus human infection is currently unknown.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Shedroff
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; (E.S.); (S.L.M.W.); (M.M.-B.); (J.M.)
| | - Maria Laura Martin
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Virales Humanas Dr. Julio I. Maiztegui, Monteagudo 2510, Pergamino 2700, Argentina; (M.L.M.); (J.B.); (J.B.G.); (C.S.); (Y.N.); (C.F.); (M.A.M.)
| | - Shannon L. M. Whitmer
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; (E.S.); (S.L.M.W.); (M.M.-B.); (J.M.)
| | - Julia Brignone
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Virales Humanas Dr. Julio I. Maiztegui, Monteagudo 2510, Pergamino 2700, Argentina; (M.L.M.); (J.B.); (J.B.G.); (C.S.); (Y.N.); (C.F.); (M.A.M.)
| | - Jorge B. Garcia
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Virales Humanas Dr. Julio I. Maiztegui, Monteagudo 2510, Pergamino 2700, Argentina; (M.L.M.); (J.B.); (J.B.G.); (C.S.); (Y.N.); (C.F.); (M.A.M.)
| | - Carina Sen
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Virales Humanas Dr. Julio I. Maiztegui, Monteagudo 2510, Pergamino 2700, Argentina; (M.L.M.); (J.B.); (J.B.G.); (C.S.); (Y.N.); (C.F.); (M.A.M.)
| | - Yael Nazar
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Virales Humanas Dr. Julio I. Maiztegui, Monteagudo 2510, Pergamino 2700, Argentina; (M.L.M.); (J.B.); (J.B.G.); (C.S.); (Y.N.); (C.F.); (M.A.M.)
| | - Cintia Fabbri
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Virales Humanas Dr. Julio I. Maiztegui, Monteagudo 2510, Pergamino 2700, Argentina; (M.L.M.); (J.B.); (J.B.G.); (C.S.); (Y.N.); (C.F.); (M.A.M.)
| | - Maria Morales-Betoulle
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; (E.S.); (S.L.M.W.); (M.M.-B.); (J.M.)
| | - Jairo Mendez
- Pan American Health Organization, 525 23rd St. New World, Washington, DC 20037, USA;
| | - Joel Montgomery
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; (E.S.); (S.L.M.W.); (M.M.-B.); (J.M.)
| | - Maria Alejandra Morales
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Virales Humanas Dr. Julio I. Maiztegui, Monteagudo 2510, Pergamino 2700, Argentina; (M.L.M.); (J.B.); (J.B.G.); (C.S.); (Y.N.); (C.F.); (M.A.M.)
| | - John D. Klena
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; (E.S.); (S.L.M.W.); (M.M.-B.); (J.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Xie Q, Zhu C, Ai L, Nie D, Wu Y, Wang C, He J, Tan W, Zhang L. Epidemiology and Genomic characteristics of arenavirus in rodents from the southeast coast of P.R. China. BMC Vet Res 2023; 19:253. [PMID: 38031051 PMCID: PMC10685642 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-023-03798-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wenzhou virus (WENV), a member of the Mammarenavirus genus in the Arenaviridae family, has been detected in wild rodents from eight provinces in China, including Zhejiang, Shandong, Hainan, Xinjiang, Hunan, Guangdong, Yunnan, and Jiangxi provinces, and some countries from Southeast Asia. The IgG-antibodies of WENV have been detected in both healthy populations and patients with unknown fever and respiratory symptoms. However, the potential harmfulness of WENV to humans has been underestimated due to mild symptoms after infection, similar to respiratory diseases. Thus, it is imperative to enhance the surveillance of WENV in wild rodents, particularly Rattus norvegicus, and continuously monitor its prevalence. RESULTS From 2017 to 2021, a total of 390 wild rodents were collected from six provinces in the eastern and southern coastal areas, containing nine species of rats. Samples of each tissue were collected, and PCR amplified for identification. Four R. norvegicus samples were detected to be WENV-positive. No genomic sequence of WENV was detected in Rattus flavipectus, Rattus losea, Suncus murinus, Apodemus agrarius, Mus musculus, Microtus fortis, Micromys minutus, and Niviventer niviventer from Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Hainan, Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. Three genomic sequences were identified to be WENV by phylogenetic analysis. The full-length sequences of HAIKOU-40 were amplified in R. norvegicus from Hainan, which showed a close relationship to Wufeng/ WFS, sharing 84.5-89.4% homology at the nucleotide level and 91.6-98.9% homology at the amino acid level. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that HAIKOU-40 formed an Asia-specific cluster with all WENVs and Loie River mammarenavirus (LORV), provisionally named Asian ancestry. This cluster has diverged earlier from the remaining mammarenavirus. The sequences obtained in Xiamen, Fujian province showed more than 90% nucleotide identities with WENV, which may be a strain of WENV. Additionally, the sequence of Wuxi-87 which was a positive sequence detected in Wuxi, Jiangsu province exhibited 83% nucleotide identity with Lassa virus (LASV). Further efforts will be made to isolate and identify this virus strain, verify the relationship between Wuxi-87 and LASV, and confirm whether R. norvegicus is a new host of LASV. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we conducted a systematic examination of the prevalence of WENV among rodents on the southeast coast of China. Additionally, we characterized the genome of a newly discovered WENV strain, that confirmed the role of R. norvegicus in the transmission of WENV. This highlights the importance of investigating the prevalence of WENV in both wild rodents and humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qinghua Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops & Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Nanjing Bioengineering (Gene) Technology Center for Medicines, Nanjing, 210002, China
| | - Changqiang Zhu
- Nanjing Bioengineering (Gene) Technology Center for Medicines, Nanjing, 210002, China
| | - Lele Ai
- Nanjing Bioengineering (Gene) Technology Center for Medicines, Nanjing, 210002, China
| | - Danyue Nie
- Nanjing Bioengineering (Gene) Technology Center for Medicines, Nanjing, 210002, China
| | - Yifan Wu
- Nanjing Bioengineering (Gene) Technology Center for Medicines, Nanjing, 210002, China
| | - Chongcai Wang
- Hainan International Travel Healthcare Center, Haikou, 570311, China
| | - Ji He
- Xiamen International Travel Healthcare Center, (Xiamen Customs Port Outpatient Department), Xiamen, Fujian, 361012, China.
| | - Weilong Tan
- Nanjing Bioengineering (Gene) Technology Center for Medicines, Nanjing, 210002, China.
| | - Lingling Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops & Key Laboratory of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Löw K, Möller R, Stegmann C, Becker M, Rehburg L, Obernolte H, Schaudien D, Oestereich L, Braun A, Kunz S, Gerold G. Luminescent reporter cells enable the identification of broad-spectrum antivirals against emerging viruses. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e29211. [PMID: 37975336 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
The emerging viruses SARS-CoV-2 and arenaviruses cause severe respiratory and hemorrhagic diseases, respectively. The production of infectious particles of both viruses and virus spread in tissues requires cleavage of surface glycoproteins (GPs) by host proprotein convertases (PCs). SARS-CoV-2 and arenaviruses rely on GP cleavage by PCs furin and subtilisin kexin isozyme-1/site-1 protease (SKI-1/S1P), respectively. We report improved luciferase-based reporter cell lines, named luminescent inducible proprotein convertase reporter cells that we employ to monitor PC activity in its authentic subcellular compartment. Using these sensor lines we screened a small compound library in high-throughput manner. We identified 23 FDA-approved small molecules, among them monensin which displayed broad activity against furin and SKI-1/S1P. Monensin inhibited arenaviruses and SARS-CoV-2 in a dose-dependent manner. We observed a strong reduction in infectious particle release upon monensin treatment with little effect on released genome copies. This was reflected by inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 spike processing suggesting the release of immature particles. In a proof of concept experiment using human precision cut lung slices, monensin potently inhibited SARS-CoV-2 infection, evidenced by reduced infectious particle release. We propose that our PC sensor pipeline is a suitable tool to identify broad-spectrum antivirals with therapeutic potential to combat current and future emerging viruses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karin Löw
- Department of Biochemistry & Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Rebecca Möller
- Department of Biochemistry & Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Cora Stegmann
- Department of Biochemistry & Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Miriam Becker
- Department of Biochemistry & Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Laura Rehburg
- Department of Biochemistry & Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Helena Obernolte
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine (ITEM), Hannover, Germany
- Fraunhofer International Consortium for Anti-Infective Research (iCAIR), Hannover, Germany
- Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Immune-Mediated Diseases, (CIMD), Hannover, Germany
- Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease (BREATH) Research Network, Hannover, Germany
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Dirk Schaudien
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine (ITEM), Hannover, Germany
- Fraunhofer International Consortium for Anti-Infective Research (iCAIR), Hannover, Germany
- Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Immune-Mediated Diseases, (CIMD), Hannover, Germany
- Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease (BREATH) Research Network, Hannover, Germany
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Lisa Oestereich
- Department of Virology, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infectious Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Hamburg
| | - Armin Braun
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine (ITEM), Hannover, Germany
- Fraunhofer International Consortium for Anti-Infective Research (iCAIR), Hannover, Germany
- Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Immune-Mediated Diseases, (CIMD), Hannover, Germany
- Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease (BREATH) Research Network, Hannover, Germany
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Stefan Kunz
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Gisa Gerold
- Department of Biochemistry & Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM), Umeå University, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zhang Y, York J, Brindley MA, Nunberg JH, Melikyan GB. Fusogenic structural changes in arenavirus glycoproteins are associated with viroporin activity. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011217. [PMID: 37494374 PMCID: PMC10406333 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Many enveloped viruses enter host cells by fusing with acidic endosomes. The fusion activity of multiple viral envelope glycoproteins does not generally affect viral membrane permeability. However, fusion induced by the Lassa virus (LASV) glycoprotein complex (GPc) is always preceded by an increase in viral membrane permeability and the ensuing acidification of the virion interior. Here, systematic investigation of this LASV fusion phenotype using single pseudovirus tracking in live cells reveals that the change in membrane barrier function is associated with the fusogenic conformational reorganization of GPc. We show that a small-molecule fusion inhibitor or mutations that impair viral fusion by interfering with GPc refolding into the post-fusion structure prevent the increase in membrane permeability. We find that the increase in virion membrane permeability occurs early during endosomal maturation and is facilitated by virus-cell contact. This increase is observed using diverse arenavirus glycoproteins, whether presented on lentivirus-based pseudoviruses or arenavirus-like particles, and in multiple different cell types. Collectively, these results suggest that conformational changes in GPc triggered by low pH and cell factor binding are responsible for virion membrane permeabilization and acidification of the virion core prior to fusion. We propose that this viroporin-like activity may augment viral fusion and/or post-fusion steps of infection, including ribonucleoprotein release into the cytoplasm.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- You Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Joanne York
- Montana Biotechnology Center, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
| | - Melinda A. Brindley
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Jack H. Nunberg
- Montana Biotechnology Center, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
| | - Gregory B. Melikyan
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bohn P, Waßmann I, Wendt L, Leske A, Hoenen T, Tews BA, Groseth A. A dsRNA-binding mutant reveals only a minor role of exonuclease activity in interferon antagonism by the arenavirus nucleoprotein. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011049. [PMID: 36603036 PMCID: PMC9815661 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The arenavirus nucleoprotein (NP) plays an important role in the virus' ability to block interferon (IFN) production, and its exonuclease function appears to contribute to this activity. However, efforts to analyze this contribution are complicated by the functional overlap between the exonuclease active site and a neighboring region involved in IKKε-binding and subsequent inhibition of IRF3 activation, which also plays an important role in IFN production. To circumvent this issue, we mutated a residue located away from the active site that is involved in binding of the dsRNA substrate being targeted for exonuclease digestion, i.e. H426A. We found that expression of Tacaribe virus (TCRV) NP containing this RNA-binding H426A mutation was still able to efficiently block IFN-β promoter activity in response to Sendai virus infection, despite being strongly impaired in its exonuclease activity. This was in contrast to a conventional exonuclease active site mutant (E388A), which was impaired with respect to both exonuclease activity and IFN antagonism. Importantly, growth of a recombinant virus encoding the RNA-binding mutation (rTCRV-H426A) was similar to wild-type in IFN-deficient cells, unlike the active site mutant (rTCRV-E388A), which was already markedly impaired in these cells. Further, in IFN-competent cells, the TCRV-H426A RNA-binding mutant showed more robust growth and delayed IFN-β mRNA upregulation compared to the TCRV-E388A active site mutant. Taken together, this novel mutational approach, which allows us to now dissect the different contributions of the NP exonuclease activity and IKKε-binding/IRF3 inhibition to IFN antagonism, clearly suggests that conventional exonuclease mutants targeting the active site overestimate the contribution of the exonuclease function, and that rather other IFN antagonistic functions of NP play the dominant role in IFN-antagonism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Bohn
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Irke Waßmann
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Lisa Wendt
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Anne Leske
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Thomas Hoenen
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Birke A. Tews
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald–Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Allison Groseth
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Bentim Góes LG, Fischer C, Almeida Campos AC, de Carvalho C, Moreira-Soto A, Ambar G, Ruckert da Rosa A, de Oliveira DC, Jo WK, Cruz-Neto AP, Pedro WA, Queiroz LH, Minoprio P, Durigon EL, Drexler JF. Highly Diverse Arenaviruses in Neotropical Bats, Brazil. Emerg Infect Dis 2022; 28:2528-2533. [PMID: 36417964 PMCID: PMC9707603 DOI: 10.3201/eid2812.220980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
We detected arenavirus RNA in 1.6% of 1,047 bats in Brazil that were sampled during 2007-2011. We identified Tacaribe virus in 2 Artibeus sp. bats and a new arenavirus species in Carollia perspicillata bats that we named Tietê mammarenavirus. Our results suggest that bats are an underrecognized arenavirus reservoir.
Collapse
|
7
|
Fénéant L, Leske A, Günther K, Groseth A. Generation of Reporter-Expressing New World Arenaviruses: A Systematic Comparison. Viruses 2022; 14:v14071563. [PMID: 35891543 PMCID: PMC9317149 DOI: 10.3390/v14071563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Replication-competent reporter-expressing viruses are crucial tools in molecular virology with applications that range from antiviral screening to live-cell imaging of protein spatiotemporal dynamics. However, there is currently little information available regarding viable strategies to develop reporter-expressing arenaviruses. To address this, we used Tacaribe virus (TCRV), an apathogenic BSL2 arenavirus, to assess the feasibility of different reporter expression approaches. We first generated trisegmented TCRV viruses with either the glycoprotein (GP) or nucleoprotein (NP) replaced by a reporter (GFP, mCherry, or nanoluciferase). These viruses were all viable, but showed marked differences in brightness and attenuation. Next, we generated terminal fusions with each of the TCRV proteins (i.e., NP, GP, polymerase (L), matrix protein (Z)) either with or without a T2A self-cleavage site. We tested both the function of the reporter-fused proteins alone, and the viability of corresponding recombinant TCRVs. We successfully rescued viruses with both direct and cleavable reporter fusions at the C-terminus of Z, as well as cleavable N-terminal fusions with NP. These viruses all displayed detectable reporter activity, but were also moderately attenuated. Finally, reporter proteins were inserted into a flexible hinge region within L. These viruses were also viable and showed moderate attenuation; however, reporter expression was only detectable for the luminescent virus. These strategies provide an exciting range of new tools for research into the molecular biology of TCRV that can likely also be adapted to other arenaviruses.
Collapse
|
8
|
Wang Q, Xin Q, Shang W, Wan W, Xiao G, Zhang LK. Activation of the STAT3 Signaling Pathway by the RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase Protein of Arenavirus. Viruses 2021; 13:v13060976. [PMID: 34070281 PMCID: PMC8225222 DOI: 10.3390/v13060976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Arenaviruses cause chronic and asymptomatic infections in their natural host, rodents, and several arenaviruses cause severe hemorrhagic fever that has a high mortality in infected humans, seriously threatening public health. There are currently no FDA-licensed drugs available against arenaviruses; therefore, it is important to develop novel antiviral strategies to combat them, which would be facilitated by a detailed understanding of the interactions between the viruses and their hosts. To this end, we performed a transcriptomic analysis on cells infected with arenavirus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), a neglected human pathogen with clinical significance, and found that the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway was activated. A further investigation indicated that STAT3 could be activated by the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase L protein (Lp) of LCMV. Our functional analysis found that STAT3 cannot affect LCMV multiplication in A549 cells. We also found that STAT3 was activated by the Lp of Mopeia virus and Junin virus, suggesting that this activation may be conserved across certain arenaviruses. Our study explored the interactions between arenaviruses and STAT3, which may help us to better understand the molecular and cell biology of arenaviruses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qingxing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China; (Q.W.); (W.S.); (W.W.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qilin Xin
- UMR754, Viral Infections and Comparative Pathology, 50 Avenue Tony Garnier, CEDEX 07, 69366 Lyon, France;
| | - Weijuan Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China; (Q.W.); (W.S.); (W.W.)
| | - Weiwei Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China; (Q.W.); (W.S.); (W.W.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Gengfu Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China; (Q.W.); (W.S.); (W.W.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Correspondence: (G.X.); (L.-K.Z.)
| | - Lei-Ke Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China; (Q.W.); (W.S.); (W.W.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Correspondence: (G.X.); (L.-K.Z.)
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Cruz-González A, Muñoz-Velasco I, Cottom-Salas W, Becerra A, Campillo-Balderas JA, Hernández-Morales R, Vázquez-Salazar A, Jácome R, Lazcano A. Structural analysis of viral ExoN domains reveals polyphyletic hijacking events. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0246981. [PMID: 33730017 PMCID: PMC7968707 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Nidoviruses and arenaviruses are the only known RNA viruses encoding a 3’-5’ exonuclease domain (ExoN). The proofreading activity of the ExoN domain has played a key role in the growth of nidoviral genomes, while in arenaviruses this domain partakes in the suppression of the host innate immune signaling. Sequence and structural homology analyses suggest that these proteins have been hijacked from cellular hosts many times. Analysis of the available nidoviral ExoN sequences reveals a high conservation level comparable to that of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRp), which are the most conserved viral proteins. Two highly preserved zinc fingers are present in all nidoviral exonucleases, while in the arenaviral protein only one zinc finger can be identified. This is in sharp contrast with the reported lack of zinc fingers in cellular ExoNs, and opens the possibility of therapeutic strategies in the struggle against COVID-19.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Cruz-González
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
| | - Israel Muñoz-Velasco
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
| | - Wolfgang Cottom-Salas
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
- Escuela Nacional Preparatoria, Plantel 8 Miguel E. Schulz, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
| | - Arturo Becerra
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
| | | | | | - Alberto Vázquez-Salazar
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Rodrigo Jácome
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
- * E-mail: (AL); (RJ)
| | - Antonio Lazcano
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
- El Colegio Nacional, México City, México
- * E-mail: (AL); (RJ)
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Mateer EJ, Maruyama J, Card GE, Paessler S, Huang C. Lassa Virus, but Not Highly Pathogenic New World Arenaviruses, Restricts Immunostimulatory Double-Stranded RNA Accumulation during Infection. J Virol 2020; 94:e02006-19. [PMID: 32051278 PMCID: PMC7163147 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02006-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The arenaviruses Lassa virus (LASV), Junín virus (JUNV), and Machupo virus (MACV) can cause severe and fatal diseases in humans. Although these pathogens are closely related, the host immune responses to these virus infections differ remarkably, with direct implications for viral pathogenesis. LASV infection is immunosuppressive, with a very low-level interferon response. In contrast, JUNV and MACV infections stimulate a robust interferon (IFN) response in a retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I)-dependent manner and readily activate protein kinase R (PKR), a known host double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) sensor. In response to infection with RNA viruses, host nonself RNA sensors recognize virus-derived dsRNA as danger signals and initiate innate immune responses. Arenavirus nucleoproteins (NPs) contain a highly conserved exoribonuclease (ExoN) motif, through which LASV NP has been shown to degrade virus-derived immunostimulatory dsRNA in biochemical assays. In this study, we for the first time present evidence that LASV restricts dsRNA accumulation during infection. Although JUNV and MACV NPs also have the ExoN motif, dsRNA readily accumulated in infected cells and often colocalized with dsRNA sensors. Moreover, LASV coinfection diminished the accumulation of dsRNA and the IFN response in JUNV-infected cells. The disruption of LASV NP ExoN with a mutation led to dsRNA accumulation and impaired LASV replication in minigenome systems. Importantly, both LASV NP and RNA polymerase L protein were required to diminish the accumulation of dsRNA and the IFN response in JUNV infection. For the first time, we discovered a collaboration between LASV NP ExoN and L protein in limiting dsRNA accumulation. Our new findings provide mechanistic insights into the differential host innate immune responses to highly pathogenic arenavirus infections.IMPORTANCE Arenavirus NPs contain a highly conserved DEDDh ExoN motif, through which LASV NP degrades virus-derived, immunostimulatory dsRNA in biochemical assays to eliminate the danger signal and inhibit the innate immune response. Nevertheless, the function of NP ExoN in arenavirus infection remains to be defined. In this study, we discovered that LASV potently restricts dsRNA accumulation during infection and minigenome replication. In contrast, although the NPs of JUNV and MACV also harbor the ExoN motif, dsRNA readily formed during JUNV and MACV infections, accompanied by IFN and PKR responses. Interestingly, LASV NP alone was not sufficient to limit dsRNA accumulation. Instead, both LASV NP and L protein were required to restrict immunostimulatory dsRNA accumulation. Our findings provide novel and important insights into the mechanism for the distinct innate immune response to these highly pathogenic arenaviruses and open new directions for future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth J Mateer
- Department of Pathology, Galveston National Laboratory and Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Junki Maruyama
- Department of Pathology, Galveston National Laboratory and Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Galen E Card
- Department of Pathology, Galveston National Laboratory and Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Slobodan Paessler
- Department of Pathology, Galveston National Laboratory and Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Cheng Huang
- Department of Pathology, Galveston National Laboratory and Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Mordecai GJ, Miller KM, Di Cicco E, Schulze AD, Kaukinen KH, Ming TJ, Li S, Tabata A, Teffer A, Patterson DA, Ferguson HW, Suttle CA. Endangered wild salmon infected by newly discovered viruses. eLife 2019; 8:e47615. [PMID: 31478480 PMCID: PMC6721791 DOI: 10.7554/elife.47615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The collapse of iconic, keystone populations of sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka) and Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) salmon in the Northeast Pacific is of great concern. It is thought that infectious disease may contribute to declines, but little is known about viruses endemic to Pacific salmon. Metatranscriptomic sequencing and surveillance of dead and moribund cultured Chinook salmon revealed a novel arenavirus, reovirus and nidovirus. Sequencing revealed two different arenavirus variants which each infect wild Chinook and sockeye salmon. In situ hybridisation localised arenavirus mostly to blood cells. Population surveys of >6000 wild juvenile Chinook and sockeye salmon showed divergent distributions of viruses, implying different epidemiological processes. The discovery in dead and dying farmed salmon of previously unrecognised viruses that are also widely distributed in wild salmon, emphasizes the potential role that viral disease may play in the population dynamics of wild fish stocks, and the threat that these viruses may pose to aquaculture.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gideon J Mordecai
- Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric SciencesUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
| | | | - Emiliano Di Cicco
- Pacific Biological StationFisheries and Oceans CanadaNanaimoCanada
- Pacific Salmon FoundationVancouverCanada
| | - Angela D Schulze
- Pacific Biological StationFisheries and Oceans CanadaNanaimoCanada
| | - Karia H Kaukinen
- Pacific Biological StationFisheries and Oceans CanadaNanaimoCanada
| | - Tobi J Ming
- Pacific Biological StationFisheries and Oceans CanadaNanaimoCanada
| | - Shaorong Li
- Pacific Biological StationFisheries and Oceans CanadaNanaimoCanada
| | - Amy Tabata
- Pacific Biological StationFisheries and Oceans CanadaNanaimoCanada
| | - Amy Teffer
- Department of Forest SciencesUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
| | - David A Patterson
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Science Branch, Cooperative Resource Management Institute, School of Resource and Environmental ManagementSimon Fraser UniversityBurnabyCanada
| | - Hugh W Ferguson
- School of Veterinary MedicineSt. George’s UniversityTrue BlueGrenada
| | - Curtis A Suttle
- Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric SciencesUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
- Department of BotanyUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
- Institute for the Oceans and FisheriesUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Hepojoki J, Hepojoki S, Smura T, Szirovicza L, Dervas E, Prähauser B, Nufer L, Schraner EM, Vapalahti O, Kipar A, Hetzel U. Characterization of Haartman Institute snake virus-1 (HISV-1) and HISV-like viruses-The representatives of genus Hartmanivirus, family Arenaviridae. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1007415. [PMID: 30427944 PMCID: PMC6261641 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The family Arenaviridae comprises three genera, Mammarenavirus, Reptarenavirus and the most recently added Hartmanivirus. Arenaviruses have a bisegmented genome with ambisense coding strategy. For mammarenaviruses and reptarenaviruses the L segment encodes the Z protein (ZP) and the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and the S segment encodes the glycoprotein precursor and the nucleoprotein. Herein we report the full length genome and characterization of Haartman Institute snake virus-1 (HISV-1), the putative type species of hartmaniviruses. The L segment of HISV-1 lacks an open-reading frame for ZP, and our analysis of purified HISV-1 particles by SDS-PAGE and electron microscopy further support the lack of ZP. Since we originally identified HISV-1 in co-infection with a reptarenavirus, one could hypothesize that co-infecting reptarenavirus provides the ZP to complement HISV-1. However, we observed that co-infection does not markedly affect the amount of hartmanivirus or reptarenavirus RNA released from infected cells in vitro, indicating that HISV-1 does not benefit from reptarenavirus ZP. Furthermore, we succeeded in generating a pure HISV-1 isolate showing the virus to replicate without ZP. Immunofluorescence and ultrastructural studies demonstrate that, unlike reptarenaviruses, HISV-1 does not produce the intracellular inclusion bodies typical for the reptarenavirus-induced boid inclusion body disease (BIBD). While we observed HISV-1 to be slightly cytopathic for cultured boid cells, the histological and immunohistological investigation of HISV-positive snakes showed no evidence of a pathological effect. The histological analyses also revealed that hartmaniviruses, unlike reptarenaviruses, have a limited tissue tropism. By nucleic acid sequencing, de novo genome assembly, and phylogenetic analyses we identified additional four hartmanivirus species. Finally, we screened 71 individuals from a collection of snakes with BIBD by RT-PCR and found 44 to carry hartmaniviruses. These findings suggest that harmaniviruses are common in captive snake populations, but their relevance and pathogenic potential needs yet to be revealed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jussi Hepojoki
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, Medicum, Department of Virology, Helsinki, Finland
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Boid Inclusion Body Disease Group, Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Satu Hepojoki
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, Medicum, Department of Virology, Helsinki, Finland
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Teemu Smura
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, Medicum, Department of Virology, Helsinki, Finland
- Boid Inclusion Body Disease Group, Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Leonóra Szirovicza
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, Medicum, Department of Virology, Helsinki, Finland
- Boid Inclusion Body Disease Group, Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eva Dervas
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Boid Inclusion Body Disease Group, Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Prähauser
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lisbeth Nufer
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Elisabeth M. Schraner
- Institutes of Veterinary Anatomy and Virology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Olli Vapalahti
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, Medicum, Department of Virology, Helsinki, Finland
- Boid Inclusion Body Disease Group, Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Virology and Immunology, HUSLAB, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anja Kipar
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Boid Inclusion Body Disease Group, Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Udo Hetzel
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Boid Inclusion Body Disease Group, Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Helsinki, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Gonzalez-Quintial R, Baccala R. Murine Models for Viral Hemorrhagic Fever. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1604:257-267. [PMID: 28986841 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6981-4_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Hemorrhagic fever (HF) viruses, such as Lassa, Ebola, and dengue viruses, represent major human health risks due to their highly contagious nature, the severity of the clinical manifestations induced, the lack of vaccines, and the very limited therapeutic options currently available. Appropriate animal models are obviously critical to study disease pathogenesis and develop efficient therapies. We recently reported that the clone 13 (Cl13) variant of the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV-Cl13), a prototype arenavirus closely related to Lassa virus, causes in some mouse strains endothelial damage, vascular leakage, platelet loss, and death, mimicking pathological aspects typically observed in Lassa and other HF syndromes. This model has the advantage that the mice used are fully immunocompetent, allowing studies on the contribution of the immune response to disease progression. Moreover, LCMV is very well characterized and exhibits limited pathogenicity in humans, allowing handling in convenient BSL-2 facilities. In this chapter we outline protocols for the induction and analysis of arenavirus-mediated pathogenesis in the NZB/LCMV model, including mouse infection, virus titer determination, platelet counting, phenotypic analysis of virus-specific T cells, and assessment of vascular permeability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rosana Gonzalez-Quintial
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Roberto Baccala
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Abstract
The smallest arenaviral protein is the zinc-finger protein (Z) that belongs to the RING finger protein family. Z serves as a main component required for virus budding from the membrane of the infected cells through self-oligomerization, a process that can be aided by the viral nucleoprotein (NP) to form the viral matrix of progeny virus particles. Z has also been shown to be essential for mediating viral transcriptional repression activity by locking the L polymerase onto the viral promoter in a catalytically inactive state, thus limiting viral replication. The Z protein has also recently been shown to inhibit the type I interferon-induction pathway by directly binding to the intracellular pathogen-sensor proteins RIG-I and MDA5, and thus inhibiting their normal functions. This chapter describes several assays used to examine the important roles of the arenaviral Z protein in mediating virus budding (i.e., either Z self-budding or NP-Z budding activities), viral transcriptional inhibition in a viral minigenome (MG) assay, and type I IFN suppression in an IFN-β promoter-mediated luciferase reporter assay.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Shao
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, 1988 Fitch Ave., 295 AS/VM Bldg, Saint Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Yuying Liang
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, 1988 Fitch Ave., 295 AS/VM Bldg, Saint Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Hinh Ly
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, 1988 Fitch Ave., 295 AS/VM Bldg, Saint Paul, MN, 55108, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Abstract
Independent expression of the VP40 or Z matrix proteins of filoviruses (marburgviruses and ebolaviruses) and arenaviruses (Lassa fever and Junín), respectively, gives rise to the production and release of virus-like particles (VLPs) that are morphologically identical to infectious virions. We can detect and quantify VLP production and egress in mammalian cells by transient transfection, SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, and live cell imaging techniques such as total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy. Since the VLP budding assay accurately mimics budding of infectious virus, this BSL-2 assay is safe and useful for the interrogation of both viral and host determinants required for budding and can be used as an initial screen to identify and validate small molecule inhibitors of virus release and spread.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ronald N Harty
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3800 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Abstract
The development of arenavirus reverse genetics has provided investigators with a novel and powerful approach for the investigation of the arenavirus molecular and cell biology. The use of cell-based minigenome systems has allowed examining the cis- and trans-acting factors involved in arenavirus replication and transcription, and the identification of novel anti-arenaviral drug targets without requiring the use of live forms of arenaviruses. Likewise, it is now feasible to rescue infectious arenaviruses entirely from cloned cDNAs containing predetermined mutations in their genomes to investigate virus-host interactions and mechanisms of pathogenesis. These advances in arenavirus genetics have also facilitated screens to identify anti-arenaviral drugs and the pursuit of novel strategies to generate live-attenuated arenavirus vaccine candidates. Moreover, the generation of tri-segmented (r3) arenaviruses expressing foreign genes of interest (GOI) has opened the possibility of implementing live-attenuated arenaviruses-based vaccine vector approaches. In this chapter, we will summarize the implementation of plasmid-based reverse genetics techniques for the development of r3 arenaviruses expressing foreign GOI for their implementation as vaccine vectors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luis Martínez-Sobrido
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA.
| | - Juan Carlos de la Torre
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Cheng BYH, Nogales A, de la Torre JC, Martínez-Sobrido L. Development of live-attenuated arenavirus vaccines based on codon deoptimization of the viral glycoprotein. Virology 2016; 501:35-46. [PMID: 27855284 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2016.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2016] [Revised: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 11/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Several arenaviruses, chiefly Lassa (LASV) in West Africa, cause hemorrhagic fever (HF) disease in humans and pose important public health problems in their endemic regions. To date, there are no FDA-approved arenavirus vaccines and current anti-arenaviral therapy is limited to the use of ribavirin that has very limited efficacy. In this work we document that a recombinant prototypic arenavirus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) with a codon deoptimized (CD) surface glycoprotein (GP), rLCMV/CD, exhibited wild type (WT)-like growth properties in cultured cells despite barely detectable GP expression levels in rLCMV/CD-infected cells. Importantly, rLCMV/CD was highly attenuated in vivo but able to induce complete protection against a subsequent lethal challenge with rLCMV/WT. Our findings support the feasibility of implementing an arenavirus GP CD-based approach for the development of safe and effective live-attenuated vaccines (LAVs) to combat diseases caused by human pathogenic arenaviruses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benson Y H Cheng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Aitor Nogales
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Juan Carlos de la Torre
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Luis Martínez-Sobrido
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Witkowski PT, Kallies R, Hoveka J, Auste B, Ithete NL, Šoltys K, Szemes T, Drosten C, Preiser W, Klempa B, Mfune JKE, Kruger DH. Novel Arenavirus Isolates from Namaqua Rock Mice, Namibia, Southern Africa. Emerg Infect Dis 2016; 21:1213-6. [PMID: 26079174 PMCID: PMC4480381 DOI: 10.3201/eid2107.141341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Arenaviruses are feared as agents that cause viral hemorrhagic fevers. We report the identification, isolation, and genetic characterization of 2 novel arenaviruses from Namaqua rock mice in Namibia. These findings extend knowledge of the distribution and diversity of arenaviruses in Africa.
Collapse
|
19
|
Abstract
The family Arenaviridae currently comprises over 20 viral species, each of them associated with a main rodent species as the natural reservoir and in one case possibly phyllostomid bats. Moreover, recent findings have documented a divergent group of arenaviruses in captive alethinophidian snakes. Human infections occur through mucosal exposure to aerosols or by direct contact of abraded skin with infectious materials. Arenaviruses merit interest both as highly tractable experimental model systems to study acute and persistent infections and as clinically important human pathogens including Lassa (LASV) and Junin (JUNV) viruses, the causative agents of Lassa and Argentine hemorrhagic fevers (AHFs), respectively, for which there are no FDA-licensed vaccines, and current therapy is limited to an off-label use of ribavirin (Rib) that has significant limitations. Arenaviruses are enveloped viruses with a bi-segmented negative strand (NS) RNA genome. Each genome segment, L (ca 7.3 kb) and S (ca 3.5 kb), uses an ambisense coding strategy to direct the synthesis of two polypeptides in opposite orientation, separated by a noncoding intergenic region (IGR). The S genomic RNA encodes the virus nucleoprotein (NP) and the precursor (GPC) of the virus surface glycoprotein that mediates virus receptor recognition and cell entry via endocytosis. The L genome RNA encodes the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp, or L polymerase) and the small (ca 11 kDa) RING finger protein Z that has functions of a bona fide matrix protein including directing virus budding. Arenaviruses were thought to be relatively stable genetically with intra- and interspecies amino acid sequence identities of 90-95 % and 44-63 %, respectively. However, recent evidence has documented extensive arenavirus genetic variability in the field. Moreover, dramatic phenotypic differences have been documented among closely related LCMV isolates. These data provide strong evidence of viral quasispecies involvement in arenavirus adaptability and pathogenesis. Here, we will review several aspects of the molecular biology of arenaviruses, phylogeny and evolution, and quasispecies dynamics of arenavirus populations for a better understanding of arenavirus pathogenesis, as well as for the development of novel antiviral strategies to combat arenavirus infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Esteban Domingo
- Campus de Cantoblanco, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Peter Schuster
- The Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, USA and Institut f. Theoretische Chemie, Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Kronmann KC, Nimo-Paintsil S, Guirguis F, Kronmann LC, Bonney K, Obiri-Danso K, Ampofo W, Fichet-Calvet E. Two novel arenaviruses detected in pygmy mice, Ghana. Emerg Infect Dis 2014; 19:1832-5. [PMID: 24188212 PMCID: PMC3837667 DOI: 10.3201/eid1911.121491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Two arenaviruses were detected in pygmy mice (Mus spp.) by screening 764 small mammals in Ghana. The Natal multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis), the known Lassa virus reservoir, was the dominant indoor rodent species in 4 of 10 sites, and accounted for 27% of all captured rodents. No rodent captured indoors tested positive for an arenavirus.
Collapse
|
21
|
Abstract
Arenavirus particles are enveloped and contain two single-strand RNA genomic segments with ambisense coding. Genetic plasticity of the arenaviruses comes from transcription errors, segment reassortment, and permissive genomic packaging, and results in their remarkable ability, as a group, to infect a wide variety of hosts. In this review, we discuss some in vitro studies of virus genetic and phenotypic variation after exposure to selective pressures such as high viral dose, mutagens and antivirals. Additionally, we discuss the variation in vivo of selected isolates of Old World arenaviruses, particularly after infection of different animal species. We also discuss the recent emergence of new arenaviruses in the context of our observations of sequence variations that appear to be host-specific.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan C Zapata
- Institute of Human Virology-School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Droniou-Bonzom ME, Cannon PM. A systems biology starter kit for arenaviruses. Viruses 2012; 4:3625-46. [PMID: 23342371 PMCID: PMC3528283 DOI: 10.3390/v4123625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2012] [Revised: 11/28/2012] [Accepted: 12/05/2012] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Systems biology approaches in virology aim to integrate viral and host biological networks, and thus model the infection process. The growing availability of high-throughput “-omics” techniques and datasets, as well as the ever-increasing sophistication of in silico modeling tools, has resulted in a corresponding rise in the complexity of the analyses that can be performed. The present study seeks to review and organize published evidence regarding virus-host interactions for the arenaviruses, from alterations in the host proteome during infection, to reported protein-protein interactions. In this way, we hope to provide an overview of the interplay between arenaviruses and the host cell, and lay the foundations for complementing current arenavirus research with a systems-level approach.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Magali E Droniou-Bonzom
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2011 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Moreno H, Grande-Pérez A, Domingo E, Martín V. Arenaviruses and lethal mutagenesis. Prospects for new ribavirin-based interventions. Viruses 2012; 4:2786-805. [PMID: 23202505 PMCID: PMC3509673 DOI: 10.3390/v4112786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2012] [Revised: 10/17/2012] [Accepted: 10/25/2012] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) has contributed to unveil some of the molecular mechanisms of lethal mutagenesis, or loss of virus infectivity due to increased mutation rates. Here we review these developments, and provide additional evidence that ribavirin displays a dual mutagenic and inhibitory activity on LCMV that can be relevant to treatment designs. Using 5-fluorouracil as mutagenic agent and ribavirin either as inhibitor or mutagen, we document an advantage of a sequential inhibitor-mutagen administration over the corresponding combination treatment to achieve a low LCMV load in cell culture. This advantage is accentuated in the concentration range in which ribavirin acts mainly as an inhibitor, rather than as mutagen. This observation reinforces previous theoretical and experimental studies in supporting a sequential inhibitor-mutagen administration as a possible antiviral design. Given recent progress in the development of new inhibitors of arenavirus replication, our results suggest new options of ribavirin-based anti-arenavirus treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Héctor Moreno
- Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa” (CSIC-UAM), Campus de Cantoblanco 28049, Madrid, Spain; (H.M.); (E.D.)
| | - Ana Grande-Pérez
- Área de Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Campus de Teatinos, Universidad de Málaga, 29071, Málaga, Spain;
| | - Esteban Domingo
- Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa” (CSIC-UAM), Campus de Cantoblanco 28049, Madrid, Spain; (H.M.); (E.D.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Verónica Martín
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA), Carretera de Algete a El Casar s/n, 28130 Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain;
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Burri DJ, Pasqual G, Rochat C, Seidah NG, Pasquato A, Kunz S. Molecular characterization of the processing of arenavirus envelope glycoprotein precursors by subtilisin kexin isozyme-1/site-1 protease. J Virol 2012; 86:4935-46. [PMID: 22357276 PMCID: PMC3347368 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00024-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2012] [Accepted: 02/14/2012] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
A crucial step in the life cycle of arenaviruses is the biosynthesis of the mature fusion-active viral envelope glycoprotein (GP) that is essential for virus-host cell attachment and entry. The maturation of the arenavirus GP precursor (GPC) critically depends on proteolytic processing by the cellular proprotein convertase (PC) subtilisin kexin isozyme-1 (SKI-1)/site-1 protease (S1P). Here we undertook a molecular characterization of the SKI-1/S1P processing of the GPCs of the prototypic arenavirus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and the pathogenic Lassa virus (LASV). Previous studies showed that the GPC of LASV undergoes processing in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)/cis-Golgi compartment, whereas the LCMV GPC is cleaved in a late Golgi compartment. Herein we confirm these findings and provide evidence that the SKI-1/S1P recognition site RRLL, present in the SKI-1/S1P prodomain and LASV GPC, but not in the LCMV GPC, is crucial for the processing of the LASV GPC in the ER/cis-Golgi compartment. Our structure-function analysis revealed that the cleavage of arenavirus GPCs, but not cellular substrates, critically depends on the autoprocessing of SKI-1/S1P, suggesting differences in the processing of cellular and viral substrates. Deletion mutagenesis showed that the transmembrane and intracellular domains of SKI-1/S1P are dispensable for arenavirus GPC processing. The expression of a soluble form of the protease in SKI-I/S1P-deficient cells resulted in the efficient processing of arenavirus GPCs and rescued productive virus infection. However, exogenous soluble SKI-1/S1P was unable to process LCMV and LASV GPCs displayed at the surface of SKI-I/S1P-deficient cells, indicating that GPC processing occurs in an intracellular compartment. In sum, our study reveals important differences in the SKI-1/S1P processing of viral and cellular substrates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dominique J. Burri
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Giulia Pasqual
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Cylia Rochat
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nabil G. Seidah
- Laboratory of Biochemical Neuroendocrinology, Clinical Research Institute of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Antonella Pasquato
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Kunz
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Mendenhall M, Russell A, Smee DF, Hall JO, Skirpstunas R, Furuta Y, Gowen BB. Effective oral favipiravir (T-705) therapy initiated after the onset of clinical disease in a model of arenavirus hemorrhagic Fever. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2011; 5:e1342. [PMID: 22022624 PMCID: PMC3191123 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2010] [Accepted: 08/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lassa and Junín viruses are the most prominent members of the Arenaviridae family of viruses that cause viral hemorrhagic fever syndromes Lassa fever and Argentine hemorrhagic fever, respectively. At present, ribavirin is the only antiviral drug indicated for use in treatment of these diseases, but because of its limited efficacy in advanced cases of disease and its toxicity, safer and more effective antivirals are needed. Methodology/Principal Findings Here, we used a model of acute arenaviral infection in outbred guinea pigs based on challenge with an adapted strain of Pichindé virus (PICV) to further preclinical development of T-705 (Favipiravir), a promising broad-spectrum inhibitor of RNA virus infections. The guinea pig-adapted passage 19 PICV was uniformly lethal with an LD50 of ∼5 plaque-forming units and disease was associated with fever, weight loss, thrombocytopenia, coagulation defects, increases in serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) concentrations, and pantropic viral infection. Favipiravir (300 mg/kg/day, twice daily orally for 14 days) was highly effective, as all animals recovered fully from PICV-induced disease even when therapy was initiated one week after virus challenge when animals were already significantly ill with marked fevers and thrombocytopenia. Antiviral activity and reduced disease severity was evidenced by dramatic reductions in peak serum virus titers and AST concentrations in favipiravir-treated animals. Moreover, a sharp decrease in body temperature was observed shortly after the start of treatment. Oral ribavirin was also evaluated, and although effective, the slower rate of recovery may be a sign of the drug's known toxicity. Conclusions/Significance Our findings support further development of favipiravir for the treatment of severe arenaviral infections. The optimization of the experimental favipiravir treatment regimen in the PICV guinea pig model will inform critical future studies in the same species based on challenge with highly pathogenic arenaviruses such as Lassa and Junín. Several viruses in the Arenaviridae family cause severe life-threatening hemorrhagic fever syndromes, which are considered neglected tropical diseases in endemic areas of Africa and South America. Ribavirin, the only licensed antiviral indicated for use has limited efficacy when treating advanced cases of disease and is associated with toxicity. In the present study, we use a model of acute arenaviral disease in guinea pigs based on infection with an adapted strain of the Pichindé arenavirus (PICV) to further preclinical development of a promising broad-spectrum antiviral drug candidate, favipiravir. Oral favipiravir was highly effective in the treatment of sick animals with marked fevers, as all recovered fully from lethal PICV infection even when therapy was initiated one week after virus challenge. Antiviral activity and reduced disease severity was evidenced by dramatic reductions in serum virus loads and serum aspartate aminotransferase, an enzyme released into the bloodstream following tissue damage and a marker for severe arenaviral infections. Moreover, a sharp decrease in fever was observed shortly after the onset of treatment. Our findings support further development of favipiravir for the treatment of severe arenaviral infections, for which there are presently no safe and effective therapies for treating advanced cases of disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Mendenhall
- Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, United States of America
| | - Andrew Russell
- Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, United States of America
| | - Donald F. Smee
- Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, United States of America
| | - Jeffery O. Hall
- Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, United States of America
| | - Ramona Skirpstunas
- Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, United States of America
- Department of Agriculture and Food, State of Utah, Logan, Utah, United States of America
| | - Yousuke Furuta
- Research Laboratories, Toyama Chemical Company, Ltd., Toyama, Japan
| | - Brian B. Gowen
- Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Coulibaly-N'Golo D, Allali B, Kouassi SK, Fichet-Calvet E, Becker-Ziaja B, Rieger T, Ölschläger S, Dosso H, Denys C, ter Meulen J, Akoua-Koffi C, Günther S. Novel arenavirus sequences in Hylomyscus sp. and Mus (Nannomys) setulosus from Côte d'Ivoire: implications for evolution of arenaviruses in Africa. PLoS One 2011; 6:e20893. [PMID: 21695269 PMCID: PMC3111462 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0020893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2011] [Accepted: 05/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to identify new arenaviruses and gather insights in the evolution of arenaviruses in Africa. During 2003 through 2005, 1,228 small mammals representing 14 different genera were trapped in 9 villages in south, east, and middle west of Côte d'Ivoire. Specimens were screened by pan-Old World arenavirus RT-PCRs targeting S and L RNA segments as well as immunofluorescence assay. Sequences of two novel tentative species of the family Arenaviridae, Menekre and Gbagroube virus, were detected in Hylomyscus sp. and Mus (Nannomys) setulosus, respectively. Arenavirus infection of Mus (Nannomys) setulosus was also demonstrated by serological testing. Lassa virus was not found, although 60% of the captured animals were Mastomys natalensis. Complete S RNA and partial L RNA sequences of the novel viruses were recovered from the rodent specimens and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. Gbagroube virus is a closely related sister taxon of Lassa virus, while Menekre virus clusters with the Ippy/Mobala/Mopeia virus complex. Reconstruction of possible virus–host co-phylogeny scenarios suggests that, within the African continent, signatures of co-evolution might have been obliterated by multiple host-switching events.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Coulibaly-N'Golo
- Laboratoire des Arbovirus/Entérovirus, Institut Pasteur de Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
- Department of Virology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Bernard Allali
- Laboratoire des Arbovirus/Entérovirus, Institut Pasteur de Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Stéphane K. Kouassi
- Laboratoire des Arbovirus/Entérovirus, Institut Pasteur de Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | | | - Beate Becker-Ziaja
- Department of Virology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Toni Rieger
- Department of Virology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stephan Ölschläger
- Department of Virology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hernri Dosso
- Centre de Recherche en Ecologie, Universite d'Abobo-Adjame, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Christiane Denys
- Département Systématique et Evolution, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Jan ter Meulen
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany
- Merck Research Laboratories, West Point, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Chantal Akoua-Koffi
- Laboratoire des Arbovirus/Entérovirus, Institut Pasteur de Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Stephan Günther
- Department of Virology, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Charrel RN, Coutard B, Baronti C, Canard B, Nougairede A, Frangeul A, Morin B, Jamal S, Schmidt CL, Hilgenfeld R, Klempa B, de Lamballerie X. Arenaviruses and hantaviruses: from epidemiology and genomics to antivirals. Antiviral Res 2011; 90:102-14. [PMID: 21356244 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2011.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2009] [Revised: 02/16/2011] [Accepted: 02/17/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The arenaviruses and hantaviruses are segmented genome RNA viruses that are hosted by rodents. Due to their association with rodents, they are globally widespread and can infect humans via direct or indirect routes of transmission, causing considerable human morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, despite their obvious and emerging importance as pathogens, there are currently no effective antiviral drugs (except ribavirin which proved effective against Lassa virus) with which to treat humans infected by any of these viruses. The EU-funded VIZIER project (Comparative Structural Genomics of Viral Enzymes Involved in Replication) was instigated with an ultimate view of contributing to the development of antiviral therapies for RNA viruses, including the arenaviruses and bunyaviruses. This review highlights some of the major features of the arenaviruses and hantaviruses that have been investigated during recent years. After describing their classification and epidemiology, we review progress in understanding the genomics as well as the structure and function of replicative enzymes achieved under the VIZIER program and the development of new disease control strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R N Charrel
- Unité des Virus Emergents UMR190, Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Marq JB, Hausmann S, Veillard N, Kolakofsky D, Garcin D. Short double-stranded RNAs with an overhanging 5' ppp-nucleotide, as found in arenavirus genomes, act as RIG-I decoys. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:6108-16. [PMID: 21159780 PMCID: PMC3057789 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.186262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2010] [Revised: 12/14/2010] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Arenavirus RNA genomes are initiated by a "prime and realign" mechanism, such that the initiating GTP is found as a single unpaired (overhanging) nucleotide when the complementary genome ends anneal to form double-stranded (ds) RNA panhandle structures. dsRNAs modeled on these structures do not induce interferon (IFN), as opposed to blunt-ended (5' ppp)dsRNA. This study examines whether these viral structures can also act as decoys, by trapping RIG-I in inactive dsRNA complexes. We examined the ability of various dsRNAs to activate the RIG-I ATPase (presumably a measure of helicase translocation on dsRNA) relative to their ability to induce IFN. We found that there is no simple relationship between these two properties, as if RIG-I can translocate on short dsRNAs without inducing IFN. Moreover, we found that (5' ppp)dsRNAs with a single unpaired 5' ppp-nucleotide can in fact competitively inhibit the ability of blunt-ended (5' ppp)dsRNAs to induce IFN when co-transfected into cells and that this inhibition is strongly dependent on the presence of the 5' ppp. In contrast, (5' ppp)dsRNAs with a single unpaired 5' ppp-nucleotide does not inhibit poly(I-C)-induced IFN activation, which is independent of the presence of a 5' ppp group.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Baptiste Marq
- From the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva School of Medicine, CMU, 1 Rue Michel-Servet, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Stéphane Hausmann
- From the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva School of Medicine, CMU, 1 Rue Michel-Servet, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Veillard
- From the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva School of Medicine, CMU, 1 Rue Michel-Servet, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Kolakofsky
- From the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva School of Medicine, CMU, 1 Rue Michel-Servet, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Garcin
- From the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva School of Medicine, CMU, 1 Rue Michel-Servet, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Saijo M. [Arenavirus infections]. Nihon Rinsho 2010; 68 Suppl 6:431-434. [PMID: 20942096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Masayuki Saijo
- Department of Virology 1, National Institute of Infectious Diseases
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Abstract
Several arenaviruses cause hemorrhagic fever (HF) in humans, and evidence indicates that the worldwide-distributed prototypic arenavirus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is a neglected human pathogen of clinical significance. Moreover, arenaviruses pose a biodefense threat. No licensed anti-arenavirus vaccines are available, and current anti-arenavirus therapy is limited to the use of ribavirin, which is only partially effective and is associated with anemia and other side effects. Therefore, it is important to develop effective vaccines and better antiviral drugs to combat the dual threats of naturally occurring and intentionally introduced arenavirus infections. The development of arenavirus reverse genetic systems is allowing investigators to conduct a detailed molecular characterization of the viral cis-acting signals and trans-acting factors that control each of the steps of the arenavirus life cycle, including RNA synthesis, packaging and budding. Knowledge derived from these studies is uncovering potential novel targets for therapeutic intervention, as well as facilitating the establishment of assays to identify and characterize candidate antiviral drugs capable of interfering with specific steps of the virus life cycle. Likewise, the ability to generate predetermined specific mutations within the arenavirus genome and analyze their phenotypic expression would significantly contribute to the elucidation of arenavirus-host interactions, including the basis of their ability to cause severe HF. This, in turn, could lead to the development of novel, potent and safe arenavirus vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan C de la Torre
- Immunology and Microbial Science, IMM-6, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
|
32
|
|
33
|
Palacios G, Druce J, Du L, Tran T, Birch C, Briese T, Conlan S, Quan PL, Hui J, Marshall J, Simons JF, Egholm M, Paddock CD, Shieh WJ, Goldsmith CS, Zaki SR, Catton M, Lipkin WI. A new arenavirus in a cluster of fatal transplant-associated diseases. N Engl J Med 2008; 358:991-8. [PMID: 18256387 DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa073785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 473] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Three patients who received visceral-organ transplants from a single donor on the same day died of a febrile illness 4 to 6 weeks after transplantation. Culture, polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) and serologic assays, and oligonucleotide microarray analysis for a wide range of infectious agents were not informative. METHODS We evaluated RNA obtained from the liver and kidney transplant recipients. Unbiased high-throughput sequencing was used to identify microbial sequences not found by means of other methods. The specificity of sequences for a new candidate pathogen was confirmed by means of culture and by means of PCR, immunohistochemical, and serologic analyses. RESULTS High-throughput sequencing yielded 103,632 sequences, of which 14 represented an Old World arenavirus. Additional sequence analysis showed that this new arenavirus was related to lymphocytic choriomeningitis viruses. Specific PCR assays based on a unique sequence confirmed the presence of the virus in the kidneys, liver, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid of the recipients. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed arenavirus antigen in the liver and kidney transplants in the recipients. IgM and IgG antiviral antibodies were detected in the serum of the donor. Seroconversion was evident in serum specimens obtained from one recipient at two time points. CONCLUSIONS Unbiased high-throughput sequencing is a powerful tool for the discovery of pathogens. The use of this method during an outbreak of disease facilitated the identification of a new arenavirus transmitted through solid-organ transplantation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Palacios
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Cajimat MN, Milazzo ML, Hess BD, Rood MP, Fulhorst CF. Principal host relationships and evolutionary history of the North American arenaviruses. Virology 2007; 367:235-43. [PMID: 17624390 PMCID: PMC2323605 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2007.05.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2006] [Revised: 03/20/2007] [Accepted: 05/25/2007] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
A previous study suggested that the genomes of the arenaviruses native to North America are a product of genetic recombination between New World arenaviruses with significantly different phylogenetic histories. The purpose of this study was to extend our knowledge of the principal host relationships and evolutionary history of the North American arenaviruses. The results of this study suggest that the large-eared woodrat (Neotoma macrotis) is a principal host of Bear Canyon virus and that the present-day association of Bear Canyon virus with the California mouse (Peromyscus californicus) in southern California represents a successful host-jumping event from the large-eared woodrat to the California mouse. Together, the results of analyses of viral gene sequence data in this study and our knowledge of the phylogeography of the rodents that serve as principal hosts of the New World arenaviruses suggest that genetic recombination between arenaviruses with significantly different phylogenetic histories did not play a role in the evolution of the North American arenaviruses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria N.B. Cajimat
- University of Texas Medical Branch, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Microbiology and Immunology Graduate Program, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, Texas 77555-1019
- Current affiliation: University of Michigan, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, 109 South Observatory, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109,
| | - Mary Louise Milazzo
- University of Texas Medical Branch, Department of Pathology, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, Texas 77555-0609,
| | - Barry D. Hess
- County of Riverside, Department of Environmental Health, Vector Control Program, 800 South Sanderson Avenue, Hemet, California 92545,
| | - Michael P. Rood
- County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Health, Vector-borne Disease Surveillance Unit, 5050 Commerce Drive, Baldwin Park, California 91706,
| | - Charles F. Fulhorst
- University of Texas Medical Branch, Department of Pathology, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, Texas 77555-0609,
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Abstract
The Arenaviridae family contains 22 recognized virus species, each of them strongly associated with a rodent species (except Tacaribe virus which is associated with a species of bat), suggesting an ancient co-evolutionary process. Although the concept of co-evolution between rodents and arenaviruses is now largely accepted, little has been uncovered in terms of dating the phenomenon and the mechanisms of evolution, including speciation and pathogenicity. These questions are targeted in the present chapter. Old World arenaviruses are associated with the Eurasian rodents in the family Muridae. New World arenaviruses are associated with American rodents in the subfamily Sigmodontinae. The correlation between the rodent host phylogeny and the viruses suggests a long association and a co-evolutionary process. Furthermore, three distinct New World arenaviruses share a common ancestor, demonstrating a unique recombination event that probably occurred in that ancestor. This shows that recombination among arenaviruses of different lineages might occur in nature. Recombination and co-evolutionary adaptation appear as the main mechanisms of arenavirus evolution, generating a high degree of diversity. The diversity among rodent host reservoir and virus species and the potential to exchange genomic material provide a basis for the emergence of new viruses and the risk of these becoming pathogenic for humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James E. Childs
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health and Center for Eco-Epidemiolog, Yale University School of Medicine, 60 College St, 208034, 06520-8034 New Haven, CT USA
| | - John S. Mackenzie
- Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Australian Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre, Curtin University of Technology, U1987, 6845 Perth, WA Australia
| | - Jürgen A. Richt
- Virus and Prion Diseases of Livestock Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center USDA, 2300 Dayton Ave Ames, 50010 IA USA
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
López N, Franze-Fernández MT. A single stem-loop structure in Tacaribe arenavirus intergenic region is essential for transcription termination but is not required for a correct initiation of transcription and replication. Virus Res 2006; 124:237-44. [PMID: 17125871 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2006.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2006] [Revised: 08/17/2006] [Accepted: 10/20/2006] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The genome of Tacaribe virus (TV), prototype of the New World arenaviruses, comprises two RNA segments each encoding two proteins in an ambisense orientation separated by an intergenic region (IGR). We used a TV minireplicon system to investigate the nature of the IGR structures required for transcription termination. We show that efficient generation of subgenomic (SG) RNAs is related to a single hairpin structure comprising a stem with variable numbers of uninterrupted base pairs and stabilized by high DeltaG values. The low ability of highly stable hairpin structures comprising bulged stems to support SG RNA synthesis suggested the importance of hairpin configuration for transcription termination. Neither the sequences downstream nor those upstream from the hairpin played a role in SG RNA accumulation. We also show that independently of the IGR structure the unencapsidated mRNAs contained short stretches of nontemplated bases at their 5' ends which are capped, whereas the 5' ends of the nucleocapsid-associated antiminigenomes contained an uncapped extra residue. The results support the conclusions that: (i) transcription termination in TV is related to a structural element that is independent of sequence and (ii) the transcription termination signal is not required for a correct initiation of transcription and replication.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nora López
- Centro de Virología Animal (CEVAN), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas (CONICET), Serrano 669, C1414DEM Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Abstract
Arenaviruses exist as viral quasispecies due to the high mutation rates of the low-fidelity viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). This genomic heterogeneity is advantageous to the population, allowing for adaptation to rapidly changing environments that present varying types and degrees of selective pressure. The significant variation in biological properties observed among lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) strains, the prototypic arenavirus, indicates to what extent a quasispecies dynamics may play a role in arenavirus adaptability and pathogenesis. Several aspects of arenavirus variability and its contribution to pathogenesis will be discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N Sevilla
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
| | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Eichler R, Strecker T, Kolesnikova L, ter Meulen J, Weissenhorn W, Becker S, Klenk HD, Garten W, Lenz O. Characterization of the Lassa virus matrix protein Z: electron microscopic study of virus-like particles and interaction with the nucleoprotein (NP). Virus Res 2004; 100:249-55. [PMID: 15019244 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2003.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2003] [Revised: 11/25/2003] [Accepted: 11/28/2003] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Lassa virus is the causative agent of a hemorrhagic fever endemic in west Africa. The RNA genome of Lassa virus encodes the glycoprotein precursor GP-C, a nucleoprotein (NP), the viral polymerase L and a small protein Z (11 kDa). Here, we analyze the role of Z protein for virus maturation. We have recently shown that expression of Z protein in the absence of other viral proteins is sufficient for the release of enveloped Z-containing particles. In this study, we examined particles secreted into the supernatant of a stably Z protein-expressing CHO cell line by electron microscopy. The observed Z-induced virus-like particles did not significantly differ in their morphology and size from Lassa virus particles. Mutation of two proline-rich domains within Z which are known to drastically reduce the release of virus-like particles, had no effect on the cellular localization of the protein nor on its membrane-association. Furthermore, we present evidence that Z interacts with the NP. We assume that Z recruits NP to cellular membranes where virus assembly takes place. We conclude from our data that Lassa virus Z protein plays an essential role in Lassa virus maturation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Eichler
- Institut für Virologie der Philipps-Universität Marburg, Robert-Koch-Strasse 17, D-35037 Marburg, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Abstract
Hemophilia A is an inheritable X-linked bleeding disorder most frequently occurring as a consequence of genetic alterations within the factor VIII (FVIII) gene. In the present study, pseudotyped human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-derived lentivectors expressing hFVIII were assessed for the ability to correct the hemophilia A phenotype in FVIII knockout mice. Therapeutic levels of plasma hFVIII (1-7 ng/mL) were detected in C57B1/6 mice (4-5 weeks old) after portal vein administration of hFVIII-expressing lentivectors pseudotyped with the rhabdoviral vesicular stomatitis viral G protein (VSV-G). More importantly, transduction of hemophilia A mice with FVIII expressing lentivectors resulted in transient correction of the bleeding diathesis phenotype. Moreover, the use of alternate viral pseudotypes based on the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) resulted in similar circulating levels of FVIII. Interestingly, similar doses of LCMV-pseudotyped lentiviral vectors resulted in minimal systemic or hepatic injury as measured by plasma alanine transferase (ALT), aspartate transferase (AST), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha compared to the more commonly used envelope, VSV-G. In summary, these studies demonstrated both the potential merit of lentivectors in terms of correcting monogenic inherited disorders, and also the importance of using alternate pseudotypes, such as LCMV, to safely transfer therapeutic genes in vivo without producing adverse effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frank Park
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Department of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Meulen JT, Badusche M, Satoguina J, Strecker T, Lenz O, Loeliger C, Sakho M, Koulemou K, Koivogui L, Hoerauf A. Old and New World arenaviruses share a highly conserved epitope in the fusion domain of the glycoprotein 2, which is recognized by Lassa virus-specific human CD4+ T-cell clones. Virology 2004; 321:134-43. [PMID: 15033572 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2003.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2003] [Revised: 11/12/2003] [Accepted: 12/04/2003] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Data from human studies and animal experiments indicate a dominant role of T-cells over antibodies in controlling acute Lassa virus infection and providing immunity to reinfection. Knowledge of the epitopes recognized by T-cells may therefore be crucial to the development of a recombinant Lassa virus vaccine. In order to study human T-cell reactivity to the most conserved structural protein of Lassa virus, the glycoprotein 2 (GP2), seven GP2-specific CD4+ T-cell clones (TCCs) were generated from the lymphocytes of a Lassa antibody positive individual. All TCC displayed high specific proliferation, showed DR-restriction, and produced IFN-gamma upon stimulation with recombinant GP2. The epitope of four of the clones was localized to a short stretch of 13 amino acids located in the N-terminal part of GP2 (aa 289-301, numbering according to sequence of GPC). This epitope is conserved in all strains of Lassa virus and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), shows >90% similarity in all New World arenaviruses of clade B, and overlaps with the proposed fusion domain of GP2. Peptides with conservative aa exchanges, as they naturally occur in the epitope 289-301 of the Old World arenavirus Mopeia and some New World arenaviruses, continued to effectively stimulate the Lassa-GP2-specific T-cell clones tested. The finding of a human T-helper cell epitope, which is highly conserved between Old and New World arenaviruses, is of importance for the design of arenavirus vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jan ter Meulen
- Institute of Virology, Philipps University, 35037 Marburg, Germany.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Perez M, Craven RC, de la Torre JC. The small RING finger protein Z drives arenavirus budding: implications for antiviral strategies. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2003; 100:12978-83. [PMID: 14563923 PMCID: PMC240730 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2133782100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 266] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
By using a reverse genetics system that is based on the prototypic arenavirus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), we have identified the arenavirus small RING finger Z protein as the main driving force of virus budding. Both LCMV and Lassa fever virus (LFV) Z proteins exhibited self-budding activity, and both substituted efficiently for the late domain that is present in the Gag protein of Rous sarcoma virus. LCMV and LFV Z proteins contain proline-rich motifs that are characteristic of late domains. Mutations in the PPPY motif of LCMV Z severely impaired the formation of virus-like particles. LFV Z contains two different proline-rich motifs, PPPY and PTAP, which are separated by eight amino acids. Mutational analysis revealed that both motifs are required for efficient LFV Z-mediated budding. Both LCMV and LFV Z proteins recruited to the plasma membrane Tsg101, which is a component of the class E vacuolar protein sorting machinery that has been implicated in budding of HIV and Ebola virus. Targeting of Tsg101 by RNA interference caused a strong reduction in Z-mediated budding. These results indicate that Z is the arenavirus functional counterpart of the matrix proteins found in other negative strand enveloped RNA viruses. Moreover, members of the vacuolar protein sorting pathway appear to play an important role in arena-virus budding. These findings open possibilities for antiviral strategies to combat LFV and other hemorrhagic fever arenaviruses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mar Perez
- Department of Neuropharmacology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037; and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, P.O. Box 850, MBH107, Hershey, PA 17033
| | - Rebecca C. Craven
- Department of Neuropharmacology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037; and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, P.O. Box 850, MBH107, Hershey, PA 17033
| | - Juan C. de la Torre
- Department of Neuropharmacology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037; and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, P.O. Box 850, MBH107, Hershey, PA 17033
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Affiliation(s)
- Elsa B Damonte
- Laboratorio de Virología, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argenting
| | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Abstract
The rodent-borne Arenaviruses are divided into two major antigenic groups: the Old World and New World complexes. Of the 15 known New World arenaviruses, four (Junin, Machupo, Sabia, and Guanarito) have been associated with hemorrhagic fever in humans. It has been difficult to assess the pathogenic or epidemic potential of the remaining viruses and the threat of emerging disease. We obtained full-length small (S) segment sequence data, encoding the nucleoprotein (NP) and glycoprotein precursor (GPC), from all American arenaviruses to predict their evolutionary and functional relationships. Phylogenetic analysis of NP or GPC amino acid sequences from all New World arenaviruses revealed three lineages and that Tamiami and Whitewater Arroyo viruses were probably derived from a single recombinant progenitor. The results imply that arenaviruses have been evolving independently for a very long time, leading to very diverse groupings that do not correlate with geography, rodent host, or human epidemic potential.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angela M. Archer
- Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas 78284
| | - Rebeca Rico-Hesse
- Department of Virology and Immunology, Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, San Antonio, Texas 78227
- To whom correspondence and reprint requests should be addressed at Department of Virology and Immunology, Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, 7620 NW Loop 410@Military Drive, San Antonio, TX 78227. Fax: (210) 258-9776.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Grande-Pérez A, Sierra S, Castro MG, Domingo E, Lowenstein PR. Molecular indetermination in the transition to error catastrophe: systematic elimination of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus through mutagenesis does not correlate linearly with large increases in mutant spectrum complexity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2002; 99:12938-43. [PMID: 12215495 PMCID: PMC130564 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.182426999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies with several RNA viruses have shown that enhanced mutagenesis resulted in decreases of infectivity or virus extinction, as predicted from virus entry into error catastrophe. Here we report that lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, the prototype arenavirus, is extremely susceptible to extinction mutagenesis by the base analog 5-fluorouracil. Virus elimination was preceded by increases in complexity of the mutant spectra of treated populations. However, careful molecular comparison of the mutant spectra of several genomic segments suggests that the largest increases in mutation frequency do not predict virus extinction. Highly mutated viral genomes have escaped detection presumably because lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus replicates at or near the error threshold, and genomes in the transition toward error catastrophe may have an extremely short half-life and escape detection with state-of-the-art cloning and sequencing technologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Grande-Pérez
- Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Oldstone MBA. Arenaviruses. II. The molecular pathogenesis of arenavirus infections. Introduction. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2002; 263:V-XII. [PMID: 11987823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
|
46
|
Fulhorst CF, Milazzo ML, Carroll DS, Charrel RN, Bradley RD. Natural host relationships and genetic diversity of Whitewater Arroyo virus in southern Texas. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2002; 67:114-8. [PMID: 12363054 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2002.67.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to refine our knowledge of the natural host relationships of Whitewater Arroyo (WWA) virus. Two hundred eight rodents, representing nine species, were captured in July 1999 on the Chaparral Wildlife Management Area in southern Texas and tested for evidence of arenavirus infection. Antibody to an arenavirus was found in seven (21.9%) of 32 southern plains woodrats (Neotoma micropus) and none of 168 other rodents. Infectious WWA virus was isolated from four antibody-positive southern plains woodrats, one of 25 antibody-negative southern plains woodrats, and none of 176 other rodents. Collectively, the results indicate that the southern plains woodrat is a principal host of WWA virus in southern Texas. Analyses of viral gene sequence data revealed substantial genetic diversity among WWA virus strains isolated from the woodrats, suggesting that multiple variants of the virus can coexist in a single woodrat species in a small geographic area.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charles F Fulhorst
- Department of Pathology and Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555-0609, USA.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
Fulhorst CF, Bennett SG, Milazzo ML, Murray HL, Webb JP, Cajimat MNB, Bradley RD. Bear Canyon virus: an arenavirus naturally associated with the California mouse (Peromyscus californicus). Emerg Infect Dis 2002; 8:717-21. [PMID: 12095441 PMCID: PMC2730321 DOI: 10.3201/eid0807.010281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Thirty-four rodents captured in southern California were studied to increase our knowledge of the arenaviruses indigenous to the western United States. An infectious arenavirus was isolated from 5 of 27 California mice but none of the 7 other rodents. Analyses of viral nucleocapsid protein gene sequence data indicated that the isolates from the California mice are strains of a novel Tacaribe serocomplex virus (proposed name "Bear Canyon") that is phylogenetically most closely related to Whitewater Arroyo and Tamiami viruses, the only other Tacaribe serocomplex viruses known to occur in North America. The discovery of Bear Canyon virus is the first unequivocal evidence that the virus family Arenaviridae is naturally associated with the rodent genus Peromyscus and that a Tacaribe serocomplex virus occurs in California.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charles F Fulhorst
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, 77888-0609, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
48
|
Affiliation(s)
- J C S Clegg
- Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JG, UK
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Affiliation(s)
- B J Meyer
- Air Force Technical Applications Center, Patrick Air Force Base, FL 32925, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
50
|
Oldstone MBA. Arenaviruses. I. The epidemiology molecular and cell biology of arenaviruses. Introduction. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2002; 262:V-XII. [PMID: 11987810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
|