bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The R33 G Protein-Coupled Receptor Gene of Rat Cytomegalovirus Plays an Essential Role in the Pathogenesis of Viral Infection
Authors: Beisser Patrick S. , Vink Cornelis , Van Dam Joanne G. , Grauls Gert , Vanherle Sabina J. V. , Bruggeman Cathrien A.
Published: December 2019

We have identified a rat cytomegalovirus (RCMV) gene that encodes a G-protein-coupled receptor (GCR) homolog. This gene (R33) belongs to a family that includes the human cytomegalovirus UL33 gene. R33 was found to be transcribed during the late phase of RCMV infection in rat embryo fibroblasts. Unlike the mRNAs from all the other members of the UL33 family that have been studied to date, the R33 mRNA is not spliced. To study the function of the R33 gene, we constructed an RCMV strain in which the R33 open reading frame is disrupted. The mutant strain (RCMVΔR33) did not show differences in replication from wild-type RCMV upon infection of several rat cell types in vitro. However, marked differences were seen between the mutant and wild-type strain in the pathogenesis of infection in immunocompromised rats. First, the mutant strain induced a significantly lower mortality than the wild-type virus did. Second, in contrast to wild-type RCMV, the mutant strain did not efficiently replicate in the salivary gland epithelial cells of immunocompromised rats. Although viral DNA was detected in salivary glands of RCMVΔR33-infected rats up to 14 days postinfection, it could not be detected at later time points. This indicates that although the strain with R33 deleted is probably transported to the salivary glands in a similar fashion to that for wild-type virus, the mutant virus is not able to either enter or replicate in salivary gland epithelial cells. We conclude that the RCMV R33 gene plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of infection.
Immune Response to Recombinant Capsid Proteins of Adenovirus in Humans: Antifiber and Anti-Penton Base Antibodies Have a Synergistic Effect on Neutralizing Activity
Authors: Gahéry-Ségard Hanne , Farace Françoise , Godfrin Dominique , Gaston Jesintha , Lengagne Renée , Tursz Thomas , Boulanger Pierre , Guillet Jean-Gérard
Published: December 2019

Replication-deficient adenovirus used in humans for gene therapy induces a strong immune response to the vector, resulting in transient recombinant protein expression and the blocking of gene transfer upon a second administration. Therefore, in this study we examined in detail the capsid-specific humoral immune response in sera of patients with lung cancer who had been given one dose of a replication-defective adenovirus. We analyzed the immune response to the three major components of the viral capsid, hexon (Hx), penton base (Pb), and fiber (Fi). A longitudinal study of the humoral response assayed on adenovirus particle-coated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay plates showed that patients had preexisting immunity to adenovirus prior to the administration of adenovirus–β-gal. The level of the response increased in three patients after adenovirus administration and remained at a maximum after three months. One patient had a strong immune response to adenovirus prior to treatment, and this response was unaffected by adenovirus administration. Sera collected from the patients were assayed for recognition of each individual viral capsid protein to determine more precisely the molecular basis of the humoral immune response. Clear differences existed in the humoral response to the three major components of the viral capsid in serum from humans. Sequential appearance of these antibodies was observed: anti-Fi antibodies appeared first, followed by anti-Pb antibodies and then by anti-Hx antibodies. Moreover, anti-Fi antibodies preferentially recognized the native trimeric form of Fi protein, suggesting that they recognized conformational epitopes. Our results showed that sera with no neutralizing activity contained only anti-Fi antibodies. In contrast, neutralizing activity was only obtained with sera containing anti-Fi and anti-Pb antibodies. More importantly, we showed that anti-native Fi and anti-Pb antibodies had a synergistic effect on neutralization. The application of these conclusions to human gene therapy with recombinant adenovirus should lead to the development of strategies to overcome the formation of such neutralization antibodies, which have been shown to limit the efficacy of gene transfer in humans.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Envelope Binds to CXCR4 Independently of CD4, and Binding Can Be Enhanced by Interaction with Soluble CD4 or by HIV Envelope Deglycosylation
Authors: Bandres Juan C. , Wang Qing F. , O’Leary Jeanne , Baleaux Françoise , Amara Ali , Hoxie James A. , Zolla-Pazner Susan , Gorny Miroslaw K.
Published: December 2019

Chemokine receptor CXCR4 (also known as LESTR and fusin) has been shown to function as a coreceptor for T-cell-tropic strains of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). We have developed a binding assay to show that HIV envelope (Env) can interact with CXCR4 independently of CD4 but that this binding is markedly enhanced by the previous interaction of Env with soluble CD4. We also show that nonglycosylated HIV-1
SF-2
gp120 or sodium metaperiodate-treated oligomeric gp160 from HIV-1
451
bound much more readily to CXCR4 than their counterparts with intact carbohydrate residues did.
Identification of Determinants on a Dualtropic Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Envelope Glycoprotein That Confer Usage of CXCR4
Authors: Cho Michael W. , Lee Myung K. , Carney Michelle C. , Berson Joanne F. , Doms Robert W. , Martin Malcolm A.
Published: December 2019

The chemokine receptors CCR5 and CXCR4, in combination with CD4, mediate cellular entry of macrophage-tropic (M-tropic) and T-cell-tropic strains of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), respectively, while dualtropic viruses can use either receptor. We have constructed a panel of chimeric viruses and envelope glycoproteins in which various domains of the dualtropic HIV-1DH12gp160 were introduced into the genetic background of an M-tropic HIV-1 isolate, HIV-1AD8. These constructs were employed in cell fusion and virus infectivity assays using peripheral blood mononuclear cells, MT4 T cells, primary monocyte-derived macrophages, or HOS-CD4 cell lines, expressing various chemokine receptors, to assess the contributions of different gp120 subdomains in coreceptor usage and cellular tropism. As expected, the dualtropic HIV-1DH12gp120 utilized either CCR3, CCR5, or CXCR4, whereas HIV-1AD8gp120 was able to use only CCR3 or CCR5. We found that either the V1/V2 or the V3 region of HIV-1DH12gp120 individually conferred on HIV-1AD8the ability to use CXCR4, while the combination of both the V1/V2 and V3 regions increased the efficiency of CXCR4 use. In addition, while the V4 or the V5 region of HIV-1DH12gp120 failed to confer the capacity to utilize CXCR4 on HIV-1AD8, these regions were required in conjunction with regions V1 to V3 of HIV-1DH12gp120 for efficient utilization of CXCR4. Comparison of virus infectivity analyses with various cell types and cell fusion assays revealed assay-dependent discrepancies and indicated that events occurring at the cell surface during infection are complex and cannot always be predicted by any one assay.
Heterosexual Transmission of a Murine AIDS Virus
Authors: Okada Yoshiaki , Abe Eri , Komuro Katsutoshi , Mizuochi Toshiaki
Published: December 2019

Heterosexual transmission of a murine leukemia virus mixture named LP-BM5 MuLV, which is known as the murine AIDS virus, was investigated. Our results indicated that the heterosexual transmission of LP-BM5 MuLV occurs in both directions with high frequency and that the frequencies of virus transmission in the cervix and penis are higher than those in other genital organs. The results suggested that infection by LP-BM5 MuLV via heterosexual transmission may initially take place at particular retrovirus-sensitive sites (cells) in the genital organs.
Inhibition of Hepatitis B Virus Replication during Adenovirus and Cytomegalovirus Infections in Transgenic Mice
Authors: Cavanaugh Victoria J. , Guidotti Luca G. , Chisari Francis V.
Published: December 2019

We have previously demonstrated that hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and gene expression are abolished in the livers of HBV transgenic mice by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and during lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection, stimuli that trigger the production of alpha/beta interferon, gamma interferon, and tumor necrosis factor alpha in the liver. We now report that hepatic HBV replication and gene expression are inhibited by the local induction of these cytokines during adenovirus- and murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV)-induced hepatitis. Further, we show that MCMV also blocks HBV replication and gene expression in the proximal convoluted tubules of the kidney by causing interstitial nephritis and inducing the same cytokines in the renal parenchyma. These results suggest that inflammatory cytokines probably contribute to viral clearance during acute viral hepatitis in humans, and they imply that induction of these cytokines in the liver and other infected tissues of chronically infected patients might have therapeutic value.
Immune Response to Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus in Mice Lacking the Alpha/Beta Interferon or the Gamma Interferon Receptor
Authors: Maillard Ivan , Launois Pascal , Xenarios Ioannis , Louis Jacques A. , Acha-Orbea Hans , Diggelmann Heidi
Published: December 2019

Mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) is a retrovirus which induces a strong immune response and a dramatic increase in the number of infected cells through the expression of a superantigen (SAg). Many cytokines are likely to be involved in the interaction between MMTV and the immune system. In particular, alpha/beta interferon (IFN-α/β) and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) exert many antiviral and immunomodulatory activities and play a critical role in other viral infections. In this study, we have investigated the importance of interferons during MMTV infection by using mice with a disrupted IFN-α/β or IFN-γ receptor gene. We found that the SAg response to MMTV was not modified in IFN-α/βR0/0and IFN-γR0/0mice. This was true both for the early expansion of B and T cells induced by the SAg and for the deletion of SAg-reactive cells at later stages of the infection. In addition, no increase in the amount of proviral DNA was detected in tissues of IFN-α/βR0/0and IFN-γR0/0mice, suggesting that interferons are not essential antiviral defense mechanisms during MMTV infection. In contrast, IFN-γR0/0mice had increased amounts of IL-4 mRNA and an altered usage of immunoglobulin isotypes with a reduced frequency of IgG2a- and IgG3-producing cells. This was associated with lower titers of virus-specific antibodies in serum early after infection, although efficient titers were reached later.
Generation of a Mutant Infectious Bursal Disease Virus That Does Not Cause Bursal Lesions
Authors: Yao Kun , Goodwin Mark A. , Vakharia Vikram N.
Published: December 2019

A reverse genetics system for birnavirus, based on synthetic transcripts of the infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) genome, was recently developed (E. Mundt and V. N. Vakharia, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:11131–11136, 1996). To study the function of the 17-kDa nonstructural (NS) protein in viral growth and pathogenesis, we constructed a cDNA clone of IBDV segment A in which the first and only initiation codon (ATG) of NS protein was mutated to a stop codon (TAG). Transfection of Vero cells with combined transcripts of either modified or unmodified segment A, and with segment B, generated viable IBDV progeny. When chicken embryo fibroblast cells infected with transfectant viruses were analyzed by immunofluorescence assays using NS-specific antiserum, the mutant virus did not yield a fluorescence signal, indicating a lack of NS protein expression. Furthermore, replication kinetics and cytotoxic effects of the mutant virus were compared with those of the parental attenuated vaccine strain of IBDV (D78) in vitro. The mutant virus grew to slightly lower titers than D78 virus and exhibited decreased cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in cell culture. To evaluate the characteristics of the recovered viruses in vivo, we inoculated 3-week-old chickens with D78 or mutant virus and analyzed their bursa for histopathological lesions. The recovered D78 virus caused microscopic lesions and atrophy of the bursa, while the mutant virus failed to induce any pathological lesions or clinical signs of disease. In both instances, the virus was recovered from the bursa, and the presence or absence of mutation in these viruses was confirmed by nucleotide sequence analysis of NS gene. Although the mutant virus exhibited a delay in replication in vivo, it induced levels of IBDV neutralizing antibodies that were similar to those of D78 virus. In addition, no reversion of mutation was detected in the mutant virus recovered from inoculated chickens. These results demonstrate that NS protein is dispensable for viral replication in vitro and in vivo and that it plays an important role in viral pathogenesis. Thus, generation of such NS protein-deficient virus will facilitate the study of immunosuppression and aid in the development of live-attenuated vaccines for IBDV.
Antirotavirus Immunoglobulin A Neutralizes Virus In Vitro after Transcytosis through Epithelial Cells and Protects Infant Mice from Diarrhea
Authors: Ruggeri Franco M. , Johansen Kari , Basile Gino , Kraehenbuhl Jean-Pierre , Svensson Lennart
Published: December 2019

Rotaviruses are the major cause of severe diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide. Due to their restricted site of replication, i.e., mature enterocytes, local intestinal antibodies have been proposed to play a major role in protective immunity. Whether secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies alone can provide protection against rotavirus diarrhea has not been fully established. To address this question, a library of IgA monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) previously developed against different proteins of rhesus rotavirus was used. A murine hybridoma “backpack tumor” model was established to examine if a single MAb secreted onto mucosal surfaces via the normal epithelial transport pathway was capable of protecting mice against diarrhea upon oral challenge with rotavirus. Of several IgA and IgG MAbs directed against VP8 and VP6 of rotavirus, only IgA VP8 MAbs (four of four) were found to protect newborn mice from diarrhea. An IgG MAb recognizing the same epitope as one of the IgA MAbs tested failed to protect mice from diarrhea. We also investigated if antibodies could be transcytosed in a biologically active form from the basolateral domain to the apical domain through filter-grown Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells expressing the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor. Only IgA antibodies with VP8 specificity (four of four) neutralized apically administered virus. The results support the hypothesis that secretory IgA antibodies play a major role in preventing rotavirus diarrhea. Furthermore, the results show that the in vivo and in vitro methods described are useful tools for exploring the mechanisms of viral mucosal immunity.
RNase L Mediates the Antiviral Effect of Interferon through a Selective Reduction in Viral RNA during Encephalomyocarditis Virus Infection
Authors: Li Xiao-Ling , Blackford John A. , Hassel Bret A.
Published: December 2019

The 2′,5′-oligoadenylate (2-5A) system is an RNA degradation pathway which plays an important role in the antipicornavirus effects of interferon (IFN). RNase L, the terminal component of the 2-5A system, is thought to mediate this antiviral activity through the degradation of viral RNA; however, the capacity of RNase L to selectively target viral RNA has not been carefully examined in intact cells. Therefore, the mechanism of RNase L-mediated antiviral activity was investigated following encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) infection of cell lines in which expression of transfected RNase L was induced or endogenous RNase L activity was inhibited. RNase L induction markedly enhanced the anti-EMCV activity of IFN via a reduction in EMCV RNA. Inhibition of endogenous RNase L activity inhibited this reduction in viral RNA. RNase L had no effect on IFN-mediated protection from vesicular stomatitis virus. RNase L induction reduced the rate of EMCV RNA synthesis, suggesting that RNase L may target viral RNAs involved in replication early in the virus life cycle. The RNase L-mediated reduction in viral RNA occurred in the absence of detectable effects on specific cellular mRNAs and without any global alteration in the cellular RNA profile. Extensive rRNA cleavage, indicative of high levels of 2-5A, was not observed in RNase L-induced, EMCV-infected cells; however, transfection of 2-5A into cells resulted in widespread degradation of cellular RNAs. These findings provide the first demonstration of the selective capacity of RNase L in intact cells and link this selective activity to cellular levels of 2-5A.
Plasma Membrane-Targeted Raf Kinase Activates NF-κB and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Replication in T Lymphocytes
Authors: Flory Egbert , Weber Christoph K. , Chen Peifeng , Hoffmeyer Angelika , Jassoy Christian , Rapp Ulf R.
Published: December 2019

Increasing evidence points to a role of the mitogenic Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling cascade in regulation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gene expression. Stimulation of elements of this pathway leads to transactivation of the HIV-1 promoter. In particular, the NF-κB motif in the HIV long terminal repeat (LTR) represents a Raf-responsive element in fibroblasts. Regulation of the Raf kinase in T cells differs from findings with a variety of cell lines that the catalytic domain of Raf (RafΔ26–303) shows no activity. In this study, we restored the activity of the kinase in T cells by fusing its catalytic domain to the CAAX motif (-Cx) of Ras, thus targeting the enzyme to the plasma membrane. Constitutive activity of Raf was demonstrated by phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) and endogenous mitogen-activated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) in A3.01 T cells transfected with RafΔ26–303-Cx. Membrane-targeted Raf also stimulates NF-κB, as judged by κB-dependent reporter assays and enhanced NF-κB p65 binding on band shift analysis. Moreover, we found that active Raf transactivates the HIVNL4-3LTR in A3.01 T lymphocytes and that dominant negative Raf (C4) blocked 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate induced transactivation. When cotransfected with infectious HIVNL4-3DNA, membrane-targeted Raf induces viral replication up to 10-fold over basal levels, as determined by the release of newly synthesized p24gagprotein. Our study clearly demonstrates that the activity of the catalytic domain of Raf in A3.01 T cells is dependent on its cellular localization. The functional consequences of active Raf in T lymphocytes include not only NF-κB activation and transactivation of the HIVNL4-3LTR but also synthesis and release of HIV particles.
Deletion of a CD2-Like Gene,8-DR, from African Swine Fever Virus Affects Viral Infection in Domestic Swine
Authors: Borca M. V. , Carrillo C. , Zsak L. , Laegreid W. W. , Kutish G. F. , Neilan J. G. , Burrage T. G. , Rock D. L.
Published: December 2019

An African swine fever virus (ASFV) gene with similarity to the T-lymphocyte surface antigen CD2 has been found in the pathogenic African isolate Malawi Lil-20/1 (open reading frame [ORF] 8-DR) and a cell culture-adapted European virus, BA71V (ORF EP402R) and has been shown to be responsible for the hemadsorption phenomenon observed for ASFV-infected cells. The structural and functional similarities of the ASFV gene product to CD2, a cellular protein involved in cell-cell adhesion and T-cell-mediated immune responses, suggested a possible role for this gene in tissue tropism and/or immune evasion in the swine host. In this study, we constructed an ASFV8-DRgene deletion mutant (Δ8-DR) and its revertant (8-DR.R) from the Malawi Lil-20/1 isolate to examine gene function in vivo. In vitro, Δ8-DR, 8-DR.R, and the parental virus exhibited indistinguishable growth characteristics on primary porcine macrophage cell cultures. In vivo,8-DRhad no obvious effect on viral virulence in domestic pigs; disease onset, disease course, and mortality were similar for the mutant Δ8-DR, its revertant 8-DR.R, and the parental virus. Altered viral infection was, however, observed for pigs infected with Δ8-DR. A delay in spread to and/or replication of Δ8-DR in the draining lymph node, a delay in generalization of infection, and a 100- to 1,000-fold reduction in virus titers in lymphoid tissue and bone marrow were observed. Onset of viremia for Δ8-DR-infected animals was significantly delayed (by 2 to 5 days), and mean viremia titers were reduced approximately 10,000-fold at 5 days postinfection and 30- to 100-fold at later times; moreover, unlike in 8-DR.R-infected animals, the viremia was no longer predominantly erythrocyte associated but rather was equally distributed among erythrocyte, leukocyte, and plasma fractions. Mitogen-dependent lymphocyte proliferation of swine peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro was reduced by 90 to 95% following infection with 8-DR.R but remained unaltered following infection with Δ8-DR, suggesting that8-DRhas immunosuppressive activity in vitro. Together, these results suggest an immunosuppressive role for8-DRin the swine host which facilitates early events in viral infection. This may be of most significance for ASFV infection of its highly adapted natural host, the warthog.
A Single Amino Acid Change in the Hemagglutinin Protein of Measles Virus Determines Its Ability To Bind CD46 and Reveals Another Receptor on Marmoset B Cells
Authors: Hsu Eric C. , Sarangi Farida , Iorio Caterina , Sidhu Mohinderjit S. , Udem Stephen A. , Dillehay Dirck L. , Xu Wenbo , Rota Paul A. , Bellini William J. , Richardson Christopher D.
Published: December 2019

This paper provides evidence for a measles virus receptor other than CD46 on transformed marmoset and human B cells. We first showed that most tissues of marmosets are missing the SCR1 domain of CD46, which is essential for the binding of Edmonston measles virus, a laboratory strain that has been propagated in Vero monkey kidney cells. In spite of this deletion, the common marmoset was shown to be susceptible to infections by wild-type isolates of measles virus, although they did not support Edmonston measles virus production. As one would expect from these results, measles virus could not be propagated in owl monkey or marmoset kidney cell lines, but surprisingly, both a wild-type isolate (Montefiore 89) and the Edmonston laboratory strain of measles virus grew efficiently in B95-8 marmoset B cells. In addition, antibodies directed against CD46 had no effect on wild-type infections of marmoset B cells and only partially inhibited the replication of the Edmonston laboratory strain in the same cells. A direct binding assay with insect cells expressing the hemagglutinin (H) proteins of either the Edmonston or Montefiore 89 measles virus strains was used to probe the receptors on these B cells. Insect cells expressing Edmonston H but not the wild-type H bound to rodent cells with CD46 on their surface. On the other hand, both the Montefiore 89 H and Edmonston H proteins adhered to marmoset and human B cells. Most wild-type H proteins have asparagine residues at position 481 and can be converted to a CD46-binding phenotype by replacement of the residue with tyrosine. Similarly, the Edmonston H protein did not bind CD46 when its Tyr481 was converted to asparagine. However, this mutation did not affect the ability of Edmonston H to bind marmoset and human B cells. The preceding results provide evidence, through the use of a direct binding assay, that a second receptor for measles virus is present on primate B cells.
Functional Analysis of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Rev Protein Oligomerization Interface
Authors: Thomas Sarah L. , Oft Martin , Jaksche Herbert , Casari Georg , Heger Peter , Dobrovnik Marika , Bevec Dorian , Hauber Joachim
Published: December 2019

The expression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) structural proteins requires the action of the viral
trans
-regulatory protein Rev. Rev is a nuclear shuttle protein that directly binds to its
cis
-acting Rev response element (RRE) RNA target sequence. Subsequent oligomerization of Rev monomers on the RRE and interaction of Rev with a cellular cofactor(s) result in the cytoplasmic accumulation of RRE-containing viral mRNAs. Moreover, Rev by itself is exported from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Although it has been demonstrated that Rev multimerization is critically required for Rev activity and hence for HIV-1 replication, the number of Rev monomers required to form a
trans
-activation-competent complex on the RRE is unknown. Here we report a systematic analysis of the putative multimerization domains within the Rev
trans
-activator protein. We identify the amino acid residues which are part of the proposed single hydrophobic surface patch in the Rev amino terminus that mediates intermolecular interactions. Furthermore, we show that the expression of a multimerization-deficient Rev mutant blocks HIV-1 replication in a
trans
-dominant (dominant-negative) fashion.
A Leucine Zipper-Like Domain Is Essential for Dimerization and Encapsidation of Bluetongue Virus Nucleocapsid Protein VP4
Authors: Ramadevi N. , Rodriguez Javier , Roy Polly
Published: December 2019

The bluetongue virus (BTV) minor protein VP4, with molecular mass of 76 kDa, is one of the seven structural proteins and is located within the inner capsid of the virion. The protein has a putative leucine zipper near the carboxy terminus of the protein. In this study, we have investigated the functional activity of this putative leucine zipper by a number of approaches. The putative leucine zipper region (amino acids [aa] 523 to 551) was expressed initially as a fusion protein by using the pMAL vector of
Escherichia coli
, which expresses a maltose binding monomeric protein. The expressed fusion protein was purified by affinity chromatography, and its size was determined by gel filtration chromatography. Proteins of two sizes, 51 and 110 kDa, were recovered, one equivalent to the monomeric form and the other equivalent to the dimeric form of the fusion protein. To prove that the VP4-derived sequence was responsible for dimerization of this protein, a mutated fusion protein was created in which a VP4 leucine residue (at aa 537) within the zipper was replaced by a proline residue. Analyses of the mutated protein demonstrated that the single mutation indeed prevented dimerisation of the protein. The dimeric nature of VP4 was further confirmed by using purified full-length BTV-10 VP4 recovered from recombinant baculovirus-expressing BTV-10 VP4-infected insect cells. Using chemical cross-linking and gel filtration chromatography, we documented that the native VP4 indeed exists as a dimer in solution. Subsequently, Leu537 was replaced by either a proline or an alanine residue and the full-length mutated VP4 was expressed in the baculovirus system. By sucrose density gradient centrifugation and gel filtration chromatography, these mutant forms of VP4 were shown to lack the ability to form dimers. The biological significance of the dimeric forms of VP4 was examined by using a functional assay system, in which the encapsidation activity of VP4 into core-like particles (CLPs) was studied (H. LeBlois, T. French, P. P. C. Mertens, J. N. Burroughs, and P. Roy, Virology 189:757–761, 1992). We demonstrated conclusively that dimerization of VP4 was essential for encapsidation by CLPs.
Expression of Enzymatically Active Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase in
Escherichia coli
Authors: Vázquez Ana López , Martín Alonso José M. , Casais Rosa , Boga José A. , Parra Francisco
Published: December 2019

The rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) (isolate AST/89) RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase (3D
pol
) coding region was expressed in
Escherichia coli
by using a glutathione
S
-transferase-based vector, which allowed milligram purification of a homogeneous enzyme with an expected molecular mass of about 58 kDa. The recombinant polypeptide exhibited rifampin- and actinomycin D-resistant, poly(A)-dependent poly(U) polymerase. The enzyme also showed RNA polymerase activity in in vitro reactions with synthetic RHDV subgenomic RNA in the presence or absence of an oligo(U) primer. Template-size products were synthesized in the oligo(U)-primed reactions, whereas in the absence of added primer, RNA products up to twice the length of the template were made. The double-length RNA products were double stranded and hybridized to both positive- and negative-sense probes.
Hepatitis C Virus Core from Two Different Genotypes Has an Oncogenic Potential but Is Not Sufficient for Transforming Primary Rat Embryo Fibroblasts in Cooperation with the H-rasOncogene
Authors: Chang Jun , Yang Se-Hwan , Cho Young-Gyu , Hwang Soon Bong , Hahn Young Shin , Sung Young Chul
Published: December 2019

Persistent infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is associated with the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. To examine the oncogenic potential of the HCV core gene product, primary rat embryo fibroblasts (REFs) were transfected with the core gene in the presence or absence of the H-rasoncogene. In contrast to a previous report (R. B. Ray, L. M. Lagging, K. Meyer, and R. Ray, J. Virol. 70:4438–4443, 1996), HCV core proteins from two different genotypes (type 1a and type 1b) were not found to transform REFs to tumorigenic phenotype in cooperation with the H-rasoncogene, although the core protein was successfully expressed 20 days after transfection. In addition, REFs transfected with E1A- but not core-expressing plasmid showed the phenotype of immortalized cells when selected with G418. The biological activity was confirmed by observing the transcription activation from two viral promoters, Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat and simian virus 40 promoter, which are known to be activated by the core protein from HCV-1 isolate. In contrast to the result with primary cells, the Rat-1 cell line, stably expressing HCV core protein, exhibited focus formation, anchorage-independent growth, and tumor formation in nude mice. HCV core protein was able to induce the transformation of Rat-1 cells with various efficiencies depending on the expression level of the core protein. These results indicate that HCV core protein has an oncogenic potential to transform the Rat-1 cell line but is not sufficient to either immortalize primary REFs by itself or transform primary cells in conjunction with the H-rasoncogene.
Herpesvirus Saimiri Transforms Human T-Cell Clones to Stable Growth without Inducing Resistance to Apoptosis
Authors: Kraft Michael S. , Henning Golo , Fickenscher Helmut , Lengenfelder Doris , Tschopp Jürg , Fleckenstein Bernhard , Meinl Edgar
Published: December 2019

Herpesvirus saimiri (HVS) transforms human T cells to stable growth in vitro. Since HVS codes for two different antiapoptotic proteins, growth transformation by HVS might be expected to confer resistance to apoptosis. We found that the expression of both viral antiapoptotic genes was restricted to cultures with viral replication and absent in growth-transformed human T cells. A comparative examination of HVS-transformed T-cell clones and their native parental clones revealed that the expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, Bax, and members of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNF-R) superfamily with a death domain, namely, TNF-RI, CD95, and TRAMP, were not modulated by HVS. Expression of CD30 was induced in HVS-transformed T cells, and these cells also expressed the CD30 ligand. Uninfected and transformed T cells were sensitive to CD95 ligation but resistant to apoptosis mediated by TRAIL or soluble TNF-α. CD95 ligand was constitutively expressed on transformed but not uninfected parental T cells. Both cell types showed similar sensitivity to cell death induction or inhibition of T-cell activation mediated by irradiation, oxygen radicals, dexamethasone, cyclosporine, and prostaglandin E2. Altogether, this study strongly suggests that growth transformation by HVS is based not on resistance to apoptosis but, rather, on utilization of normal cellular activation pathways.
Inducible Gene Expression from African Swine Fever Virus Recombinants: Analysis of the Major Capsid Protein p72
Authors: García-Escudero Ramón , Andrés Germán , Almazán Fernando , Viñuela Eladio
Published: December 2019

A method to study the function of individual African swine fever virus (ASFV) gene products utilizing the
Escherichia coli lac
repressor-operator system has been developed. Recombinant viruses containing both the
lacI
gene encoding the
lac
repressor and a strong virus late promoter modified by the insertion of one or two copies of the
lac
operator sequence at various positions were constructed. The ability of each modified promoter to regulate expression of the firefly luciferase gene was assayed in the presence and in the absence of the inducer isopropyl β-
d
-thiogalactoside (IPTG). Induction and repression of gene activity were dependent on the position(s) of the operator(s) with respect to the promoter and on the number of operators inserted. The ability of this system to regulate the expression of ASFV genes was analyzed by constructing a recombinant virus inducibly expressing the major capsid protein p72. Electron microscopy analysis revealed that under nonpermissive conditions, electron-dense membrane-like structures accumulated in the viral factories and capsid formation was inhibited. Induction of p72 expression allowed the progressive building of the capsid on these structures, leading to assembly of ASFV particles. The results of this report demonstrate that the transferred inducible expression system is a powerful tool for analyzing the function of ASFV genes.
The Bovine Leukemia Virus Encapsidation Signal Is Composed of RNA Secondary Structures
Authors: Mansky Louis M. , Wisniewski Rebecca M.
Published: December 2019

The encapsidation signal of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) was previously shown by deletion analysis to be discontinuous and to extend into the 5′ end of the
gag
gene (L. Mansky et al., J. Virol. 69:3282–3289, 1995). The global minimum-energy optimal folding for the entire BLV RNA, including the previously mapped primary and secondary encapsidation signal regions, was analyzed. Two stable stem-loop structures (located just downstream of the
gag
start codon) were predicted within the primary signal region, and one stable stem-loop structure (in the
gag
gene) was predicted in the secondary signal region. Based on these predicted structures, we introduced a series of mutations into the primary and secondary encapsidation signals in order to explore the sequence and structural information contained within these regions. The replication efficiency and levels of cytoplasmic and virion RNA were analyzed for these mutants. Mutations that disrupted either or both of the predicted stem-loop structures of the primary signal reduced the replication efficiency by factors of 7 and 40, respectively; similar reductions in RNA encapsidation efficiency were observed. The mutant with both stem-loop structures disrupted had a phenotype similar to that of a mutant containing a deletion of the entire primary signal region. Mutations that disrupted the predicted stem-loop structure of the secondary signal led to similar reductions (factors of 4 to 6) in both the replication and RNA encapsidation efficiencies. The introduction of compensatory mutations into mutants from both the primary and secondary signal regions, which restored the predicted stem-loop structures, led to levels of replication and RNA encapsidation comparable to those of virus containing the wild-type encapsidation signal. Replacement of the BLV RNA region containing the primary and secondary encapsidation signals with a similar region from human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV) type 1 or type 2 led to virus replication at three-quarters or one-fifth of the level of the parental virus, respectively. The results from both the compensatory mutants and BLV-HTLV chimeras indicate that the encapsidation sequences are recognized largely by their secondary or tertiary structures.
The Receptor Binding Site of Feline Leukemia Virus Surface Glycoprotein Is Distinct from the Site Involved in Virus Neutralization
Authors: Ramsey I. K. , Spibey N. , Jarrett O.
Published: December 2019

The external surface glycoprotein (SU) of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) contains sites which define the viral subgroup and induce virus-neutralizing antibodies. The subgroup phenotypic determinants have been located to a small variable region, VR1, towards the amino terminus of SU. The sites which function as neutralizing epitopes in vivo are unknown. Recombinant SU proteins were produced by using baculoviruses that contained sequences encoding the SUs of FeLV subgroup A (FeLV-A), FeLV-C, and two chimeric FeLVs (FeLV-215 and FeLV-VC) in which the VR1 domain of FeLV-A had been replaced by the corresponding regions of FeLV-C isolates. The recombinant glycoproteins, designated Bgp70-A, -C, -215, and -VC, respectively, were similar to their wild-type counterparts in several immunoblots and inhibited infection of susceptible cell lines in a subgroup-specific manner. Thus, Bgp70-A interfered with infection by FeLV-A, whereas Bgp70-C, -VC, and -215 did not. Conversely, Bgp70-C, -VC, and -215 blocked infection with FeLV-C, while Bgp70-A had no effect. These results indicate that the site on SU which binds to the FeLV cell surface receptor was preserved in the recombinant glycoproteins. It was also found that the recombinant proteins were able to bind naturally occurring neutralizing antibodies. Bgp70-A, -VC, and -215 interfered with the action of anti-FeLV-A neutralizing antibodies, whereas Bgp70-C did not. Furthermore, Bgp70-C interfered with the action of anti-FeLV-C neutralizing antibodies, while the other proteins did not. These results indicate that the neutralizing epitope(s) of FeLV SU lies outside the subgroup-determining VR1 domain.
Studies of the Nucleopolyhedrovirus Infection Process in Insects by Using the Green Fluorescence Protein as a Reporter
Authors: Barrett John W. , Brownwright Andy J. , Primavera Mark J. , Palli Subba Reddy
Published: December 2019

A recombinant
Autographa californica
multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (Ac
M
NPV) expressing the green fluorescence protein (GFP) under the control of the Ac
M
NPV polyhedrin promoter was constructed to study the spatial and temporal regulation of baculovirus infection in a permissive host. Larvae that ingested Ac
M
NPV-GFP showed localized expression of GFP in the midgut epithelial cells, as well as hemocytes, at 24 h postinfection. The presence of fluorescence in these tissues indicated not only that the virus was replicating but also that the very late viral proteins were being synthesized. Secondary infection occurred within the tracheal cells throughout the body cavity, confirming earlier reports, and these foci of infection allowed entry of the virus into other tissues, such as the epidermis and the fat body.
Mutational Analysis of the Rous Sarcoma Virus DR Posttranscriptional Control Element
Authors: Ogert Robert A. , Beemon Karen L.
Published: December 2019

The direct repeat (DR) sequences flanking the
src
gene in Rous sarcoma virus are essential posttranscriptional control elements; at least one copy of this sequence is necessary for cytoplasmic accumulation of unspliced viral RNA. These sequences promote Rev-independent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 expression, suggesting they act as constitutive transport elements (CTEs). To determine which regions of this sequence are critical for CTE function, mutations in the downstream DR were generated and tested in a viral deletion construct lacking
src
and the upstream DR. Two single-point mutations and three different clustered mutations caused substantial reductions in reverse transcriptase activity, Gag protein levels, and unspliced viral RNA in the cytoplasm. Three conserved regions of the CTE, including nucleotides 8844 to 8847, 8862 to 8864, and 8868 to 8870, were most sensitive to inactivation by mutagenesis.
Evidence for Cooperation between Murine Leukemia Virus Env Molecules in Mixed Oligomers
Authors: Rein Alan , Yang Chinglai , Haynes Jacqueline A. , Mirro Jane , Compans Richard W.
Published: December 2019

A retroviral Env molecule consists of a surface glycoprotein (SU) complexed with a transmembrane protein (TM). In turn, these complexes are grouped into oligomers on the surfaces of the cell and of the virion. In the case of murine leukemia viruses (MuLVs), the SU moieties are polymorphic, with SU proteins of different viral isolates directed towards different cell surface receptors. During maturation of the released virus particle, the 16 C-terminal residues of TM (the R peptide or p2E) are removed from the protein by the viral protease; this cleavage is believed to activate the membrane-fusing potential of MuLV Env. We have tested the possibility that different MuLV Env proteins in the same cell can interact with each other, both physically and functionally, in mixed oligomers. We found that coexpressed Env molecules can be precipitated out of cell lysates by antiserum which reacts with only one of them. Furthermore, they can evidently cooperate with each other: if one Env species lacks the R peptide, then it can apparently induce fusion if the SU protein of the other Env species encounters its cognate receptor on the surface of another cell. This functional interaction between different Env molecules has a number of implications with respect to the mechanism of induction of membrane fusion, for the genetic analysis of Env function, and for the design of targeted retroviral vectors for gene therapy.
Persistent Antibody Responses but Declining Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Responses to Multiple Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Antigens in a Long-Term Nonprogressing Individual with a Defective p17 Proviral Sequence and No Detectable Viral RNA Expression
Authors: Binley James M. , Jin Xia , Huang Yaoxing , Zhang Linqi , Cao Yunzhen , Ho David D. , Moore John P.
Published: December 2019

Long-term nonprogressor AD-18 has been infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) for at least 16 years. During the past 5 years, he has had undetectable levels of plasma viremia, and HIV-1 cannot be isolated from him. Sequencing of proviral DNA indicates that the only HIV-1 sequences that can be identified in AD-18 have gross defects in the p17-encoding regions of thegaggene (Y. Huang, L. Zhang, and D. D. Ho, Virology 240:36–49, 1998). However, AD-18 has strong, sustained antibody responses to several HIV-1 antigens, including p17. Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses to Env and Gag antigens have gradually diminished over the past 4 years, at a time when the titers of antibodies to the same proteins have remained stable. We discuss what these observations might mean for the generation and maintenance of immunological memory.
CD4-Immunoglobulin G2 Protects Hu-PBL-SCID Mice against Challenge by Primary Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Isolates
Authors: Gauduin Marie-Claire , Allaway Graham P. , Olson William C. , Weir Raymond , Maddon Paul J. , Koup Richard A.
Published: December 2019

CD4-immunoglobulin G2 (IgG2) is a fusion protein comprising human IgG2 in which the Fv portions of both heavy and light chains have been replaced by the V1 and V2 domains of human CD4. Previous studies found that CD4-IgG2 potently neutralizes a broad range of primary human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolates in vitro and ex vivo. The current report demonstrates that CD4-IgG2 protects against infection by primary isolates of HIV-1 in vivo, using the hu-PBL-SCID mouse model. Passive administration of 10 mg of CD4-IgG2 per kg of body weight protected all animals against subsequent challenge with 10 mouse infectious doses of the laboratory-adapted T-cell-tropic isolate HIV-1
LAI
, while 50 mg of CD4-IgG2 per kg protected four of five mice against the primary isolates HIV-1
JR-CSF
and HIV-1
AD6
. In contrast, a polyclonal HIV-1 Ig fraction exhibited partial protection against HIV-1
LAI
at 150 mg/kg but no significant protection against the primary HIV-1 isolates. The results demonstrate that CD4-IgG2 effectively neutralizes primary HIV-1 isolates in vivo and can prevent the initiation of infection by these viruses.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Virulent for Cattle Utilizes the Integrin α
v
β
3
as Its Receptor
Authors: Neff Sherry , Sá-Carvalho Daniel , Rieder Elizabeth , Mason Peter W. , Blystone Scott D. , Brown Eric J. , Baxt Barry
Published: December 2019

Adsorption and plaque formation of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) serotype A
12
are inhibited by antibodies to the integrin α
v
β
3
(A. Berinstein et al., J. Virol. 69:2664–2666, 1995). A human cell line, K562, which does not normally express α
v
β
3
cannot replicate this serotype unless cells are transfected with cDNAs encoding this integrin (K562-α
v
β
3
cells). In contrast, we found that a tissue culture-propagated FMDV, type O
1
BFS, was able to replicate in nontransfected K562 cells, and replication was not inhibited by antibodies to the endogenously expressed integrin α
5
β
1
. A recent report indicating that cell surface heparan sulfate (HS) was required for efficient infection of type O
1
(T. Jackson et al., J. Virol. 70:5282–5287, 1996) led us to examine the role of HS and α
v
β
3
in FMDV infection. We transfected normal CHO cells, which express HS but not α
v
β
3
, and two HS-deficient CHO cell lines with cDNAs encoding human α
v
β
3
, producing a panel of cells that expressed one or both receptors. In these cells, type A
12
replication was dependent on expression of α
v
β
3
, whereas type O
1
BFS replicated to high titer in normal CHO cells but could not replicate in HS-deficient cells even when they expressed α
v
β
3
. We have also analyzed two genetically engineered variants of type O
1
Campos, vCRM4, which has greatly reduced virulence in cattle and can bind to heparin-Sepharose columns, and vCRM8, which is highly virulent in cattle and cannot bind to heparin-Sepharose. vCRM4 replicated in wild-type K562 cells and normal, nontransfected CHO (HS
+
α
v
β

3
−

) cells, whereas vCRM8 replicated only in K562 and CHO cells transfected with α
v
β
3
cDNAs. A similar result was also obtained in assays using a vCRM4 virus with an engineered RGD→KGE mutation. These results indicate that virulent FMDV utilizes the α
v
β
3
integrin as a primary receptor for infection and that adaptation of type O
1
virus to cell culture results in the ability of the virus to utilize HS as a receptor and a concomitant loss of virulence.