bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antiviral defense in mice lacking both alpha/beta and gamma interferon receptors
Authors: van den Broek M F , Müller U , Huang S , Aguet M , Zinkernagel R M
Published: January 2020

Alpha/beta interferon (IFN) and gamma IFN exert widely overlapping biological effects. Still, mice with individually inactivated alpha/beta or gamma receptors exhibit variably severely reduced resistance to infection and altered immune responses. To investigate to what extent the two IFN systems are functionally redundant, we generated mice with a combined receptor defect (AG129 mice). Like mice with individual mutations, AG129 mice had no apparent anomalies, confirming that in the mouse the IFN system is not essential for normal development. These mice showed an additive phenotype with respect to antiviral defense and exhibited an increased susceptibility to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and notably vaccinia virus infection. Because of unlimited replication and subsequent rapid exhaustion of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) precursors, these mice were unable to mount a CTL response to LCMV. CD8(+)-mediated immunopathology was absent in LCMV-infected mice, and virus persisted. Vaccinia virus replicated much faster in AG129 mice, and a 10(4)-fold lower dose of vaccinia virus was sufficient to prime these mice. With the normal priming dose of 10(6) PFU, cytopathic effects and overwhelming infection possibly causing partial exhaustion of CTL interfered with the anti-vaccinia virus response. Even though global antiviral immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers were within normal ranges, the IgG subclass distribution was heavily biased toward IgG1.
Poliovirus variants selected on mutant receptor-expressing cells identify capsid residues that expand receptor recognition
Authors: Colston E M , Racaniello V R
Published: January 2020

Mutations in the predicted C'-C"-D edge of the first immunoglobulin-like domain of the poliovirus receptor were previously shown to eliminate poliovirus binding. To identify capsid residues that expand receptor recognition, 16 poliovirus suppressor mutants were selected that replicate in three different mutant receptor-expressing cell lines as well as in cells expressing the wild-type receptor. Sequence analysis of the mutant viruses revealed three capsid residues that enable poliovirus to utilize defective receptors. Two residues are in regions of the capsid that are known to regulate receptor binding and receptor-mediated conformational transitions. A third residue is located in a highly exposed loop on the virion surface that controls poliovirus host range in mice by influencing receptor recognition. One of the suppressor mutations enables the primate-restricted P1/Mahoney strain to paralyze mice by enabling the virus to recognize a receptor in the mouse central nervous system. Capsid mutations that suppress receptor defects may exert their effect at the binding site or may improve receptor binding by regulating structural transitions of the capsid.
Identification of the active-site residues of the L proteinase of foot-and-mouth disease virus
Authors: Piccone M E , Zellner M , Kumosinski T F , Mason P W , Grubman M J
Published: January 2020

The foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) leader (L) protein is involved in autocatalytic cleavage at the L/P1 junction and in the cleavage of translation initiation factor p220, a subunit of the cap-binding protein complex. It has been suggested that this proteinase has homology to the papain-like family of cysteine proteinases, and from this information, we have investigated the active-site residues by introducing specific mutations into the L gene. Mutations of Cys-23 to Ala or His-120 to Leu resulted in enzymes that lacked cis activity at the L/VP4 cleavage site, trans activity on a truncated L-P1 substrate, and p220 cleavage activity. Mutations of Cys-23 to ser or His-110 to Leu resulted in enzymes that retained some or all cis activity and had reduced p220 cleavage. These mutations were introduced separately into a full-length FMDV cDNA, and RNA transcripts derived from these cDNAs were translated in a cell-free system and transfected into cells. The C23S mutant inefficiently cleaved at the L/P1 junction and within P1, and virus obtained from transfected cells reverted to wild type. The H110L mutant cleaved the L/P1 junction almost as well as the wild-type enzyme, and virus recovered from transfected cells retained the mutation and displayed wild-type viral protein synthesis and host shut-off kinetics.
Infectious subvirion particles of reovirus type 3 Dearing exhibit a loss in infectivity and contain a cleaved sigma 1 protein
Authors: Nibert M L , Chappell J D , Dermody T S
Published: January 2020

Mammalian reoviruses exhibit differences in the capacity to grow in intestinal tissue: reovirus type 1 Lang (T1L), but not type 3 Dearing (T3D), can be recovered in high titer from intestinal tissue of newborn mice after oral inoculation. We investigated whether in vitro protease treatment of virions of T1L and T3D, using conditions to generate infectious subvirion particles (ISVPs) as occurs in the intestinal lumen of mice (D. K. Bodkin, M. L. Nibert, and B. N. Fields, J. Virol. 63:4676-4681, 1989), affects viral infectivity. Chymotrypsin treatment of T1L was associated with a 2-fold increase in viral infectivity, whereas identical treatment of T3D resulted in a 10-fold decrease in infectivity. Using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, we found that loss of T3D infectivity was correlated with cleavage of its sigma 1 protein. We used reassortant viruses to identify viral determinants of infectivity loss and sigma 1 cleavage and found that both phenotypes segregate with the sigma 1-encoding S1 gene. Comparable results were obtained when trypsin treatment of virions of T1L and T3D was used. In experiments to determine the fate of sigma 1 fragments following cleavage, the capacity of anti-sigma 1 monoclonal antibody G5 to neutralize infectivity of T3D ISVPs was significantly decreased in comparison with its capacity to neutralize infectivity of virions, suggesting that a sigma 1 domain bound by G5 is lost from viral particles after proteolytic digestion. In contrast to the decrease in infectivity, chymotrypsin treatment of T3D virions leading to generation of ISVPs resulted in a 10-fold increase in their capacity to produce hemagglutination, indicating that a domain of sigma 1 important for binding to sialic acid remains associated with viral particles after sigma 1 cleavage. Neuraminidase treatment of L cells substantially decreased the yield of T3D ISVPs in comparison with the yield of virions, indicating that a sigma 1 domain important for binding sialic acid also can mediate attachment of T3D ISVPs to L cells and lead to productive infection. These results suggest that cleavage of T3D sigma 1 protein following oral inoculation of newborn mice is at least partly responsible for the decreased growth of T3D in the intestine and provide additional evidence that T3D sigma 1 contains more than a single receptor-binding domain.
Mutations within noncoding terminal sequences of model RNAs of Sendai virus: influence on reporter gene expression
Authors: Harty R N , Palese P
Published: January 2020

A reverse-genetics system employing the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene has been established previously for Sendai virus. We utilized PCR-directed mutagenesis to introduce nucleotide additions, deletions, and/or substitutions within terminal Sendai virus RNA sequences. The influence of these mutations on replication-transcription of these model Sendai-CAT RNAs was analyzed by assaying CAT activity. Results from these experiments indicate that (i) Sendai-CAT RNAs expressing wild-type levels of CAT activity conform to the Sendai virus rule of six, (ii) apparent exceptions to the rule of six exist in that the 5' terminus of the Sendai-CAT RNA is more tolerant than the 3' terminus of nucleotide additions or deletions, and (iii) the 3' leader region of Sendai-CAT RNA appears to be sensitive not only to mutagenesis (single-nucleotide addition or deletion) but also to changes in its total nucleotide length.
Characterization of recombinant polioviruses expressing regions of rotavirus VP4, hepatitis B surface antigen, and herpes simplex virus type 2 glycoprotein D
Authors: Mattion N M , Reilly P A , Camposano E , Wu S L , DiMichele S J , Ishizaka S T , Fantini S E , Crowley J C , Weeks-Levy C
Published: January 2020

Recombinant polioviruses expressing antigens from rotavirus, herpes simplex virus type 2, and hepatitis B virus were generated. Fusion of the heterologous polypeptides to the amino terminus of the poliovirus polyprotein did not prevent myristylation of VP0, suggesting a novel mechanism of myristylation for these recombinant viruses. The effects of the parental genetic background, different foreign sequences, and different insert sizes on growth characteristics were compared. Both the size and the nature of the heterologous sequence appeared to be factors influencing the growth and stability of recombinant polioviruses. All of the recombinants showed a temperature-sensitive phenotype, regardless of the genetic background (attenuated or wild type) from which they were derived. Preliminary studies with transgenic mice carrying the poliovirus receptor gene are discussed.
Proviral activation of the c-myb proto-oncogene is detectable in preleukemic mice infected neonatally with Moloney murine leukemia virus but not in resulting end stage T lymphomas
Authors: Belli B , Wolff L , Nazarov V , Fan H
Published: January 2020

Moloney murine leukemia virus induces myeloid leukemia when inoculated intravenously into pristane-primed adult BALB/c mice. One hundred percent of these tumors show insertional activation of the c-myb proto-oncogene, and reverse transcriptase PCR assays have shown that the c-myb activation could be detected soon after infection. We tested BALB/c and NIH Swiss mice that had been inoculated as newborns with Moloney murine leukemia virus, under which conditions they develop T lymphomas exclusively. Reverse transcriptase-PCR assays indicated that c-myb activations were detectable soon after neonatal infection. However, none of the resulting T lymphomas contained c-myb activations. The implications of these results to the timing of proto-oncogene activations in leukemogenesis and the specificity of proto-oncogene activations for different diseases are discussed.
Construction of intertypic chimeric dengue viruses exhibiting type 3 antigenicity and neurovirulence for mice
Authors: Chen W , Kawano H , Men R , Clark D , Lai C J
Published: January 2020

There are four dengue virus serotypes (DEN1 to -4), each of which causes major epidemics in tropical or subtropical areas. The current strategy for dengue virus immunization favors the use of a tetravalent vaccine preparation. We have previously employed full-length DEN4 cDNA to construct a viable intertypic dengue virus type 1 or type 2 chimera that contained the C-PreM-E or only the PreM-E genes of DEN1 or DEN2 substituting for the corresponding genes of DEN4. This success implied that it might be possible to create mutants of all four dengue virus serotypes for evaluation as candidate vaccines. In this study, we constructed DEN3-DEN4 chimeras that contained DEN3 C-PreM-E genes and expressed DEN3 antigenic specificity. Unlike our previous successes in cloning DEN1 or DEN2 chimeric cDNA, we were not able to clone the DEN3 C-PreM-E genes directly in the 5' intermediate vector or in the full-length chimeric DEN3-DEN4 plasmid in Escherichia coli. Nevertheless, a full-length DNA template of DEN3-DEN4 that could be used for transcription of infections RNAs was prepared by in vitro ligation. Progeny virus recovered from RNA-transfected C6/36 mosquito cells exhibited DEN3 antigenic specificity as determined by a reaction with monoclonal antibodies. Gel electrophoresis of virus-infected cell lysates yielded the predicted viral protein pattern, i.e., DEN3 C, PreM, and E and DEN4 nonstructural proteins. Two amino acid substitutions, Thr-435-->Leu and Glu-406-->Lys, which are analogous to mutations that, respectively, confer mouse neurovirulence on DEN4 and DEN2, were introduced into DEN3 E. A mutant chimera containing the Thr-435-->Leu substitution, which ablates the potential glycosylation site sequence, produced an E protein identical in size to that of wild-type DEN3 E, indicating that the glycosylation site is normally not used. Intracerebral inoculation of suckling mice revealed that the mutant chimera containing the Glu-406-->Lys substitution was neurovirulent, whereas its wild-type counterpart or parent DEN3 was not.
The bovine herpesvirus alpha gene trans-inducing factor activates transcription by mechanisms different from those of its herpes simplex virus type 1 counterpart VP16
Authors: Misra V , Walker S , Hayes S , O'Hare P
Published: January 2020

In herpes simplex virus (HSV)-infected cells, viral gene expression is initiated when the immediate-early, or alpha, genes are transactivated by the alpha gene trans-inducing factor (alpha TIF), a component of the infecting virion. The protein binds to one or more recognition elements (TAATGARAT) in the promoters of alpha genes via interaction with the cellular proteins Oct-1 and CFF. The alpha TIF of HSV (HSV-alpha TIF) is believed to subsequently accelerate the assembly of the transcription complex by direct contact between its carboxyl-terminal acidic activation domain and at least two components of the transcription apparatus, TAFII40 and TFIIB. Like its HSV counterpart, the alpha TIF of bovine herpesvirus (BHV) (designated BHV-alpha TIF) also transactivates alpha gene promoters and for full activity exhibits a requirement for its extended carboxyl-terminal region. Despite this requirement, there is a notable lack of homology to the carboxyl-terminal acidic activation domain of HSV-alpha TIF. We swapped the amino- and carboxyl-terminal domains of HSV-alpha TIF and BHV-alpha TIF to make chimeric proteins. Using these chimeras, we show that the carboxyl terminus of BHV-alpha TIF is insufficient for transactivation, which requires cooperative determinants in both the amino-terminal and carboxyl-terminal regions of the protein. We have previously shown that the amino-terminal determinant in BHV-alpha TIF displays reduced but significant independent transactivation potential. Interestingly, this amino-terminal determinant appears not to reside in the HSV-alpha TIF, which displays no independent amino-terminal activity. Furthermore, we show that the amino-terminal activation domain of BHV-alpha TIF may be able to act synergistically with the carboxyl-terminal activation domain of HSV-alpha TIF, since a chimeric protein containing both domains appeared to be more efficient at activating transcription than either alpha TIF. In addition, the amino terminus of HSV-alpha TIF could not restore activity when linked to the carboxyl terminus of BHV-alpha TIF, while the amino terminus of BHV-alpha TIF reconstituted an intact protein with potent activation potential. We also show that in fusions with the DNA binding domain of GAL4, full activity requires the entire BHV-alpha TIF, although both amino and carboxyl termini display some activity on their own. In contrast, for HSV-alpha TIF, the carboxyl terminus is sufficient and possibly even more potent than the entire protein, while the amino-terminus is devoid of activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
The vaccinia virus D5 protein, which is required for DNA replication, is a nucleic acid-independent nucleoside triphosphatase
Authors: Evans E , Klemperer N , Ghosh R , Traktman P
Published: January 2020

The vaccinia virus D5 gene encodes a 90-kDa protein that is transiently expressed at early times after infection. Temperature-sensitive mutants with lesions in the D5 gene exhibit a fast-stop DNA- phenotype and are also impaired in homologous recombination. Here we report the overexpression of the D5 protein within the context of a vaccinia virus infection and its purification to apparent homogeneity. The purified protein has an intrinsic nucleoside triphosphatase activity which is independent of, and not stimulated by, any common nucleic acid cofactors. All eight common ribo- and deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates are hydrolyzed to the diphosphate form in the presence of a divalent cation. Implications for the role of D5 in viral DNA replication are addressed.
Transcriptional enhancer activity of hr5 requires dual-palindrome half sites that mediate binding of a dimeric form of the baculovirus transregulator IE1
Authors: Rodems S M , Friesen P D
Published: January 2020

The hr5 enhancer element stimulates early viral transcription and may function as an origin of DNA replication for Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV). The smallest functional unit of hr5 is a 28-bp repeat consisting of an imperfect palindrome (28-mer). To identify essential sequences and examine the molecular basis of hr5 activity, the effects of site-directed mutations on transcriptional enhancement by the 28-mer and binding of the AcMNPV transregulator IE1 were investigated. In transfection assays and infections with AcMNPV recombinants, activation of a basal viral promoter required sequences within both halves of the 28-mer. Basal promoter activation also required a critical spacing between these half sites. Mobility shift assays indicated that hr5 probes containing a single 28-mer were bound by in vitro-synthesized IE1. Competition assays using DNA fragments that contained mutated 28-mers demonstrated that both half sites were required for optimal binding of IE1. Similar assays using mutated 28-mer DNAs and nuclear extracts indicated that the relative affinity with which AcMNPV infection-specific proteins bound to the 28-mer was similar to that of in vitro-synthesized IE1. By using a combination of DNA binding and antibody supershift assays, it was demonstrated that IE1 binds to the 28-mer as a dimer. Collectively, these findings support a model in which symmetrical IE1 binding and simultaneous interaction with each half site are required for IE1-mediated transcriptional enhancement by hr5. Thus, sequence-specific binding may be one of the mechanisms by which IE1 directly or indirectly transregulates baculovirus gene expression.
The B-cell response in lymphoid tissue of mice immunized with various antigenic forms of the influenza virus hemagglutinin
Authors: Justewicz D M , Doherty P C , Webster R G
Published: January 2020

Protection of BALB/c (H-2d) mice against secondary challenge with influenza A viruses is primarily dependent on appropriate recognition of the hemagglutinin (HA) molecule by effectors of humoral immunity, the B lymphocytes and their product the immunoglobulin molecules. The influence of the antigenic form of the HA in eliciting protective antibodies is not clearly defined. We directly monitored the kinetics, character, localization, and helper T-cell dependence of the primary antibody-forming cell (AFC) response and the development of B-cell memory in lymphoid tissues associated with the upper and lower respiratory tracts, and in the spleen and bone marrow, to three forms of HA with various degrees of antigenic organization. Our results show that the antigenic organization of HA substantially influences B-cell immunity, namely, the capacity to generate both primary AFCs and memory B cells responsive to lethal challenge. Immunization by infection is the most efficient means of generating protective memory B cells, in contrast to subunit vaccine. The data also indicate that memory AFCs are predominantly localized to the regional lymphoid tissue where challenge HA is found, unlike primary AFCs, which are restricted to the priming site and which require in vivo CD4+ T-cell help.
The leader polypeptide of Theiler's virus is essential for neurovirulence but not for virus growth in BHK cells
Authors: Calenoff M A , Badshah C S , Dal Canto M C , Lipton H L , Rundell M K
Published: January 2020

A leader polypeptide of unknown function is encoded by cardioviruses, such as Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus. Although the deletion of this polypeptide has little effect on the growth of parental GDVII virus in baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells, the mutant virus is completely attenuated and fails to kill mice receiving intracerebral inoculations of high doses of the virus.
RNA replication by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is directed by the N, P, and L proteins; transcription also occurs under these conditions but requires RSV superinfection for efficient synthesis of full-length mRNA
Authors: Grosfeld H , Hill M G , Collins P L
Published: January 2020

Previously, a cDNA was constructed so that transcription by T7 RNA polymerase yielded a approximately 1-kb negative-sense analog of genomic RNA of human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) containing the gene for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) under the control of putative RSV transcription motifs and flanked by the RSV genomic termini. When transfected into RSV-infected cells, this minigenome was "rescued," as evidenced by high levels of CAT expression and the production of transmissible particles which propagated and expressed high levels of CAT expression during serial passage (P.L. Collins, M. A. Mink, and D. S. Stec, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88:9663-9667, 1991). Here, this cDNA, together with a second one designed to yield an exact-copy positive-sense RSV-CAT RNA antigenome, were each modified to contain a self-cleaving hammerhead ribozyme for the generation of a nearly exact 3' end. Each cDNA was transfected into cells infected with a vaccinia virus recombinant expressing T7 RNA polymerase, together with plasmids encoding the RSV N, P, and L proteins, each under the control of a T7 promoter. When the plasmid-supplied template was the mini-antigenome, the minigenome was produced. When the plasmid-supplied template was the minigenome, the products were mini-antigenome, subgenomic polyadenylated mRNA and progeny minigenome. Identification of progeny minigenome made from the plasmid-supplied minigenome template indicates that the full RSV RNA replication cycle occurred. RNA synthesis required all three RSV proteins, N, P, and L, and was ablated completely by the substitution of Asn for Asp at position 989 in the L protein. Thus, the N, P, and L proteins were sufficient for the synthesis of correct minigenome and antigenome, but this was not the case for subgenomic mRNA, indicating that the requirements for RNA replication and transcription are not identical. Complementation with N, P, and L alone yielded an mRNA pattern containing a large fraction of molecules of incomplete, heterogeneous size. In contrast, complementation with RSV (supplying all of the RSV gene products) yielded a single discrete mRNA band. Superinfection with RSV of cells staging N/P/L-based RNA synthesis yielded the single discrete mRNA species. Some additional factor supplied by RSV superinfection appeared to be involved in transcription, the most obvious possibility being one or more additional RSV gene products.
Persistence of attenuated rev genes in a human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected asymptomatic individual
Authors: Iversen A K , Shpaer E G , Rodrigo A G , Hirsch M S , Walker B D , Sheppard H W , Merigan T C , Mullins J I
Published: January 2020

With the goal of examining the functional diversity of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) env genes within the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of an asymptomatic individual, we substituted four complete env genes into the replication-competent NL4-3 provirus. Despite encoding full-length open reading frames for gp120 and gp41 and the second coding exon of tat and rev, each chimera was replication defective. Site-directed mutagenesis of codon 78 in the Rev activation domain (from a hitherto unique Ile to the subtype B consensus Leu) partially restored infectivity for two of three chimeras tested. Similarly, mutagenesis of rev codon 78 of NL4-3 from Leu to Ile partially attenuated this virus. Ile-78 was found in all 13 clones examined from samples taken from this asymptomatic subject 4.5 years after infection, including 9 from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and 4 from a virus isolate, as well as 4 additional clones each from peripheral blood mononuclear cells sampled 37 and 51 months later. We next examined conservation of the Rev activation domain within and among long-term survivors (LTS) and patients with AIDS, as well as T-cell-line-adapted strains of HIV-1. Putative attenuating mutations were found in a minority of sequences from all five LTS and two of four patients with AIDS. Of the 11 T-cell-line-adapted viruses examined, none had these changes. Among and within LTS virus population had marginally higher levels of diversity in Rev than in Env; patients with AIDS had similar levels of diversity in the two reading frames; and T-cell-line-adapted viruses had higher levels of diversity in Env. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that asymptomatic individuals harbor attenuated variants of HIV-1 which correlate with and contribute to their lack of disease progression.
The 5' ends of Hantaan virus (Bunyaviridae) RNAs suggest a prime-and-realign mechanism for the initiation of RNA synthesis
Authors: Garcin D , Lezzi M , Dobbs M , Elliott R M , Schmaljohn C , Kang C Y , Kolakofsky D
Published: January 2020

We examined the 5' ends of Hantaan virus (HTN) genomes and mRNAs to gain insight into the manner in which these chains were initiated. Like those of all members of the family Bunyaviridae described so far, the HTN mRNAs contained 5' terminal extensions that were heterogeneous in both length and sequence, presumably because HTN also "cap snatches" host mRNAs to initiate the viral mRNAs. Unexpectedly, however, almost all of the mRNAs contained a G residue at position -1, and a large fraction also lacked precisely one of the three UAG repeats at the termini. The genomes, on the other hand, commenced with a U residue at position +1, but only 5' monophosphates were found here, indicating that these chains may not have initiated with UTP at this position. Taken together, these unusual findings suggest a prime-and-realign mechanism of chain initiation in which mRNAs are initiated with a G-terminated host cell primer and genomes with GTP, not at the 3' end of the genome template but internally (opposite the template C at position +3), and after extension by one or a few nucleotides, the nascent chain realigns backwards by virtue of the terminal sequence repeats, before processive elongation takes place. For genome initiation, an endonuclease, perhaps that involved in cap snatching, is postulated to remove the 5' terminal extension of the genome, leaving the 5' pU at position +1.
Gene I mutants of peanut chlorotic streak virus, a caulimovirus, replicate in plants but do not move from cell to cell
Authors: Ducasse D A , Mushegian A R , Shepherd R J
Published: January 2020

Gene I of peanut chlorotic streak virus (PCISV), a caulimovirus, is homologous to gene I of other caulimoviruses and may encode a protein for virus movement. To evaluate the function of gene I, several mutations were created in this gene of an infectious, partially redundant clone of PCISV. Constructs with an in-frame deletion and a single amino acid substitution in gene I were not infectious. To test for replication of these mutants in primarily infected cells, an immunosorbent PCR technique was devised. Virus particles formed by mutants in plants were recovered by binding to antivirus antibodies on a solid matrix and DNase treated to discriminate against residual inoculum, and DNA of trapped virions was subjected to PCR amplification. Gene I mutants were shown to direct formation of encapsidated DNA as revealed by a PCR product. Control gene V mutants (reverse transcriptase essential for replication) did not yield a PCR product. Quantitative PCR allowed estimation of the proportion of cells initially infected by gene I mutants and the amount of extractable virus per cell. It is concluded that PCISV gene I encodes a movement protein and that the immunoselection-PCR technique is useful in studying subliminal virus infection in plants.
Inhibition of protein phosphorylation modulates expression of the Jak family protein tyrosine kinases
Authors: Fiorucci G , Percario Z A , Marcolin C , Coccia E M , Affabris E , Romeo G
Published: January 2020

Treatment of murine Friend cells with a dose of the protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine, which is able to block the response of the cells to interferons, appears to inhibit phosphorylation of Jak proteins and, interestingly, to specifically reduce tyk2 and Jak1 expression and to increase Jak2 both in the presence and in the absence of interferons. Therefore, a potential role for phosphorylation events in the regulation of expression of the Jak family members is suggested.
Transcriptional regulation of human JC polyomavirus promoters by cellular proteins YB-1 and Pur alpha in glial cells
Authors: Chen N N , Khalili K
Published: January 2020

Transcription of the human polyomavirus (JCV) genome is regulated by host cell proteins and the viral early protein, T antigen. A region called the lytic control element (LCE), located within the enhancer of JCV, is important for transcription of JCV early and late promoters. Earlier studies have led to the identification of two single-stranded DNA-binding proteins, YB-1 and Pur alpha, with the ability to interact with nucleotides on the early and late strands of LCE, respectively. Of particular interest is the notion that the unique interplay between these two cellular proteins and JCVT antigen determines their binding activities with the LCE. In this study, we employed a series of cotransfection experiments to evaluate the levels of transcription from JCV early and late promoters in the presence of YB-1, Pur alpha, and T antigen. Results from these studies indicated that Pur alpha stimulates JCV early and has little effect on the late promoter. Moreover, T antigen was able to decrease the induced level of early gene transcription by Pur alpha. On the other hand, the extent of transactivation of the viral late promoter by T antigen was reduced upon overexpression of Pur alpha in the transfected cells. These observations suggest that Pur alpha and T antigen exert an antagonistic effect on each other's regulatory action upon their responsive promoters. Of particular interest was the observation that YB-1 liberated T-antigen-induced late promoter activity from repression imposed by overexpression of pur alpha. Under similar conditions, overexpression of YB-1 showed no effect on the transcriptional activity of the early promoter in cells transfected with T-antigen- and Pur alpha-producing plasmids. On the basis of the data presented here and the previous binding results, a model is proposed which describes the potential role of Pur alpha, YB-1, and T antigen in differential expression of the viral genome during the lytic cycle.
Tumor necrosis factor expression during mouse hepatitis virus-induced demyelinating encephalomyelitis
Authors: Stohlman S A , Hinton D R , Cua D , Dimacali E , Sensintaffar J , Hofman F M , Tahara S M , Yao Q
Published: January 2020

Neutralizing anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) antibody treatment of mice infected with the neurotropic JHMV strain of mouse hepatitis virus showed no reduction of either virus-induced encephalomyelitis or central nervous system demyelination. TNF-alpha-positive cells were present in the central nervous system during infection; however, TNF-alpha could not be colocalized with JHMV-infected cells. In vitro, TNF-alpha mRNA rapidly accumulated following JHMV infection; however, no TNF-alpha was secreted because of inhibition of translation. Both live and UV-inactivated virus inhibited TNF-alpha secretion induced by lipopolysaccharide. These data show that TNF-alpha is not secreted from infected cells and indicate that if contributes to either JHMV-induced acute encephalomyelitis nor primary demyelination.
Sequences in the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 U3 region required for in vivo and in vitro integration
Authors: Reicin A S , Kalpana G , Paik S , Marmon S , Goff S
Published: January 2020

A series of mutants with alterations in the U3 region of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 long terminal repeat were made, and the effects of these mutations were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. When the subterminal 6 to 8 nucleotides of the U3 long terminal repeat were mutated, the resulting provirus was unable to efficiently replicate in vivo, and a mutant oligonucleotide which mimicked the mutation could not be efficiently cleaved but could be joined to target DNA by wild-type recombinant integrase protein in vitro. These results suggest that this region is important in the specific recognition of the viral DNA by the integrase protein.
In vivo activity of the hepatitis B virus core promoter: tissue specificity and temporal regulation
Authors: Billet O , Grimber G , Levrero M , Seye K A , Briand P , Joulin V
Published: January 2020

The contribution of the hepatitis B virus enhancers I and II in the regulation of the activity of the core and the X promoters was assessed in transgenic mice. Surprisingly, despite the presence of heterologous promoters linked 5' of the X gene, the transgene expression is mostly due to core promoter (Cp) activity present in the X coding sequence. Moreover, the restriction of Cp activity to hepatic tissue required the combined action of both enhancers I and II, whereas the proximity of these two enhancers was insufficient to confer tissue specificity on Xp activity. Furthermore, the liver-specific activity of the Cp was developmentally regulated in an enhancer I-independent manner.
Influence of Transformability on the Formation of Superinfection Double Lysogens in
Haemophilus influenzae
Authors: Stuy Johan H. , Hoffmann Joan F.
Published: January 2020

Superinfection of growing (nontransformable) cells of defectively lysogenic strains of
Haemophilus influenzae
with wild-type or with mutant phage HP1 resulted in a number of double lysogens and a small number of monolysogens with altered prophage. The double lysogens were identified by analysis of their monolysogenic segregants and by examining their deoxyribonucleic acid in certain test crosses. The results indicate that the majority had been formed by insertion of the infecting phage genome within the resident prophage. Superinfection of transformable bacteria gave rise to cells with altered prophages (presumably transformants) and to double lysogens which had gained or lost wild-type prophage loci.
Immunological and Biophysical Separation of Dengue-2 Antigens
Authors: Cardiff Robert D. , Brandt Walter E. , McCloud Thomas G. , Shapiro Daniel , Russell Philip K.
Published: January 2020

Antigenic compositions of slowly sedimenting dengue-2 hemagglutinin (SHA) and soluble complement-fixing antigen (SCF) were compared with the virion (rapidly sedimenting hemagglutinin, RHA) by radioimmune precipitation (RIP), RIP inhibition, kinetic neutralization, and neutralization blocking tests with the use of hyperimmune mouse ascitic fluids. RHA and SHA were unable to inhibit completely the RIP of each other by anti-RHA, and neutralization by anti-RHA was not blocked by SHA. This indicated that SHA is serologically related, but not identical, to RHA. SHA differed from RHA in that SHA lacked the “core” polypeptide but contained the two envelope polypeptides. In addition, SHA contained a polypeptide with a molecular weight of 16,500 daltons and a suggestion of several other proteins. These data, when considered with other evidence, suggest that SHA is a special form of “incomplete virus.” SCF was unable to inhibit the RIP of SHA or RHA or to block neutralizing antibodies. Further, anti-SCF did not neutralize RHA or precipitate significant levels of SHA or RHA. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis separated SCF from structural polypeptides by molecular size. This evidence suggests that SCF is a nonstructural antigen.
Isolation and Characterization of a New Generalized Transducing Bacteriophage Different from Pl in
Escherichia coli
Authors: Mise Katsutoshi
Published: January 2020

A new generalized transducing bacteriophage in the
Escherichia coli
system was isolated and characterized. This phage, designated D108, makes clear plaques on
E. coli
K-10, K-12, K-12(P1kc), K-12(D6), B/r, C, and 15 T
−
, and
Shigella dysenteriae.
The plaque of phage D108 is larger in size than that of phage P1kc. Electron-microscopic observation revealed that phages D108 and P1kc are morphologically different from each other, suggesting that phage D108 belongs to a phage group different from phage P1. The fact that all of the 10 markers tested were transduced by phage D108 indicates that this phage is a generalized transducing phage in the
E. coli
system. The transduction frequency by phage D108 of chromosomal markers and of a drug resistance factor (R factor) ranged from 2 × 10
−6
to 3 × 10
−8
and 3 × 10
−9
to 6 × 10
−10
per phage, respectively. The cotransduction frequency of the
thr
and
leu
markers was 2.8% for phage P1kc and 1.5% for phage D108. The
CM
and
TC
markers (chloramphenicol-resistant and tetracycline-resistant markers, respectively) of the R factor were not cotransduced by phage D108, but the markers were generally cotransduced by phage P1kc. The results suggest that the transducing particle of phage D108 contains a smaller amount of host deoxyribonucleic acid than does phage P1kc.
Comparison of Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis and Measles Viruses: an Electron Microscope Study
Authors: Oyanagi Shinsaku , ter Meulen Volker , Katz Michael , Koprowski Hilary
Published: January 2020

The ultrastructure of CV-1 cells infected with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) viruses was compared with that of CV-1 cells infected with the wild or Edmonston strain of measles virus. Both SSPE viruses and the measles viruses produced two types of nucleocapsid structures: smooth filaments, 15 to 17 nm in diameter, and granular filaments, 22 to 25 nm. The smooth and granular filaments produced by SSPE and measles virus did not differ in appearance. In CV-1 cells infected with SSPE viruses, smooth filaments formed large intranuclear inclusions and granular filaments occupied a large area of the cytoplasm, but always spared the area under the cell membrane. Particles budding from the surface of these cells contained no nucleocapsids. In CV-1 cells infected with measles virus, only small aggregates of smooth filaments were seen in the nuclei. Granular filaments in the cytoplasm predominantly occupied the area under the cell membrane, and were aligned beneath the cell membrane in a parallel fashion and assembled into budding particles. These differences between SSPE and measles virus may be regarded as quantitative, but they do distinguish SSPE viruses from measles virus. Moreover, the formation of large nuclear inclusions filled with smooth filaments appears to be a characteristic process of SSPE, but not of measles, since this type of inclusion is invariably seen in SSPE brain tissues, brain cultures derived from them, and CV-1 cells infected with SSPE viruses.
Effect of Phleomycin on Polyoma Virus Synthesis in Mouse Embryo Cells
Authors: Iwata Akiko , Consigli R. A.
Published: January 2020

The addition of phleomycin (25 μg) to primary mouse embryo cells infected with polyoma virus was found to cause 96% inhibition of the synthesis of infectious virus. When ribonucleic acid and protein synthesis was investigated in these cells by use of isotope incorporation, it was found that neither was inhibited drastically. Immunofluorescent staining studies with the use of antibody directed to the viral structural proteins showed that proteins were synthesized in the presence of the antibiotic. However, when deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis was investigated, it was found that DNA synthesis in uninfected cells was completely inhibited within the initial 10 hr of phleomycin addition, whereas DNA synthesis in infected cells proceeded at a reduced rate. Selective DNA extraction (Hirt method) of phleomycin-treated infected cells demonstrated that synthesized viral DNA was salt-extractable, similar to that in infected control cells lacking phleomycin. This extracted DNA was further fractionated by ethidium bromide-cesium chloride density gradient equilibrium centrifugation. The phleomycin-treated preparations revealed twice as much component II (circular nicked and linear) as component I (supercoiled) DNA, whereas the DNA from normally infected control cells showed the reverse picture. It was also demonstrated that viral particles synthesized in the presence of phleomycin did not contain component I DNA. This packaged DNA was found to consist of fragments of both the host and viral types. Cells that were prelabeled with
3
H-thymidine and then treated with phleomycin demonstrated host DNA degradation. However, fragments formed from prelabeled host DNA were not encapsidated into viral particles.
Use of Antiviral-Antiferritin Hybrid Antibody for Localization of Viral Antigen in Plasma Membrane
Authors: Wagner R. R. , Heine J. W. , Goldstein G. , Schnaitman C. A.
Published: January 2020

Reduced Fab' fragments of viral antibody hybridized with reduced Fab' fragments of antiferritin immunoglobulin G bind to viral antigenic sites in the plasma membrane of L cells infected with vesicular stomatitis virus. The hybrid antibody reacts specifically with ferritin, which can be identified by electron microscopy, and with fluorescein-conjugated apoferritin, which can be identified by fluorescence microscopy.
Antigenic and Morphological Similarities of Progressive Pneumonia Virus, a Recently Isolated “Slow Virus” of Sheep, to Visna and Maedi Viruses
Authors: Takemoto K. K. , Mattern C. F. T. , Stone L. B. , Coe J. E. , Lavelle G.
Published: January 2020

Progressive pneumonia virus, the causative agent of a slow, pulmonary disease of Montana sheep, was shown to be antigenically related to two other slow viruses of sheep, visna and maedi. Electron microscopic examination of infected cells revealed that the virus matures by a budding process and that the budding particles as well as the mature, extracellular virions bear striking resemblances to the oncogenic ribonucleic acid (RNA) viruses. Recent findings of an RNA-dependent deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase associated with the virions of this group of slow viruses lend further support to the notion that they may tentatively be classified with the oncogenic RNA tumor viruses.
Effect of Elevated Temperature on Extended Enzyme Synthesis Induced by Bacteriophage T4
Amber
Mutants Unable to Synthesize Deoxyribonucleic Acid
Authors: Goz Barry
Published: January 2020

The extended synthesis of early enzymes by the deoxyribonucleic acid-negative
amber
mutants of bacteriophage T4 after infection of the nonpermissive host
Escherichia coli
B was prevented by incubating the infected cells at 44 C. This effect did not occur if the incubation temperature was 43 C or less or if the cells were grown and infected in broth rather than minimal medium (C medium). Once early enzyme synthesis had ceased at 44 C, lowering the incubation temperature to 37 C did not occasion resumption of synthesis. Experiments with chloramphenicol at 44 C indicated that increased degradation of early enzymes is an unlikely explanation for the effect. Examination of pulse-labeled ribonucleic acid and polysomes made at 37 and 44 C in infected cells revealed some differences, but at present there is no obvious way in which these differences may be related to the effect on enzyme formation. There was no discernible difference between the ribosomal ribonucleic acid and ribosomes at the two temperatures, nor was there a difference in the cell-free amino acid-incorporating systems isolated from cells infected at the two temperatures as judged by polyuridylic stimulation of phenylalanine incorporation. Incubation of cells infected with T4
am
N82 at 44 C with protein synthesis blocked by 5-methyltryptophan for 15 min did not prevent the typical pattern of enzyme synthesis at 44 C when the block was reversed by excess
l
-tryptophan. The relation of this and other observations relative to the effect at 44 C on the synthesis of early enzymes is discussed.
Ribonucleic Acud Polymerase in Virions of Newcastle Disease Virus: Comparison with the Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Polymerase
Authors: Huang Alice S. , Baltimore David , Bratt Michael A.
Published: January 2020

The virions of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) contained an enzyme that catalyzed the incorporation of ribonucleotides into ribonucleic acid (RNA). Optimal conditions for this polymerase activity were identical to the conditions for the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) polymerase, and both enzymes were active for longer times at 32 C than at 37 C. However, the specific activity of the NDV polymerase was less than 3% that of the VSV polymerase. Product RNA species from the NDV and VSV polymerase reactions annealed specifically to the homologous virion RNA species. Transcriptive intermediates containing product RNA attached to the respective virion RNA could be identified in both systems.
Glycolipid Content of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Grown in Baby Hamster Kidney Cells
Authors: Klenk Hans-Dieter , Choppin Purnell W.
Published: January 2020

Vesicular stomatitis virions grown in baby hamster kidney (BHK-21-F) cells were found to contain hematoside (neuraminosyl-galactosyl-glucosyl-ceramide). This ganglioside, which was the only detectable glycolipid in the virion, is also the only glycolipid found in significant amount in BHK-21-F cells. Approximately 87% of the total neuraminic acid in the virion was found to be linked to protein and 13% to lipid.
Partial Suppression of Bacteriophage T4 Ligase Mutations by T4 Endonuclease II Deficiency: Role of Host Ligase
Authors: Warner Huber R.
Published: January 2020

Endonuclease II-deficient, ligase-deficient double mutants of phage T4 induce considerably more deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis after infection of
Escherichia coli
B than does the ligase-deficient single mutant. Furthermore, the double mutant can replicate 10 to 15% as well as wild-type T4, whereas the single mutant fails to replicate. When the
E. coli
host is also deficient in ligase, the double mutant resembles the single mutant. The results indicate that host ligase can substitute for phage ligase when the host DNA is not attacked by the phage-induced endonuclease II.
Effects of Poly-
l
-Lysine on Infectious Viral Nucleic Acid
Authors: Idoine Jane B. , Wachter Ralph F. , Costlow Richard D.
Published: January 2020

Infectious ribonucleic acids (IRNA) of Venezuelan equine encephalitis and Eastern equine encephalitis viruses were observed to form noninfectious complexes with a basic polyamino acid, poly-
l
-lysine. Original infectivity was recovered from the complexes by digestion of the polylysine with Pronase, and partial recovery was effected by treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate. Infectivity could not be recovered from the complexes containing polylysine of 100,000 molecular weight by changes in ionic strength,
p
H, or by treatment with phenol, deoxycholate, or digitonin. Masking of infectivity by polylysine was demonstrated in vivo as well as by plaque assay in tissue culture. Poly-
l
-lysine preparations of high molecular weight (44,000 to 100,000) were more effective than low molecular weight (3,000) materials in masking infectivity of IRNA. When complexes, in which infectivity had been masked by low molecular weight polylysine, were suspended in 1
m
NaCl, some infectivity was recovered. Complexes of polylysine-IRNA differed from control IRNA alone in (i) resistance to inactivation by ribonuclease, (ii) sedimentation patterns in sucrose gradient centrifugation, and (iii) stability of recoverable infectivity during different physical treatments.