bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Strong Negative Transcriptional Regulatory Region between the Human Cytomegalovirus UL127 Gene and the Major Immediate-Early Enhancer
Authors: Lundquist Christopher A. , Meier Jeffrey L. , Stinski Mark F.
Published: December 2019

The region of the human cytomegalovirus (CMV) genome between the UL127 open reading frame and the major immediate-early (MIE) enhancer is referred to as the unique region. DNase I protection analysis with human cell nuclear extracts demonstrated multiple protein binding sites in this region of the viral genome (P. Ghazal, H. Lubon, C. Reynolds-Kohler, L. Hennighausen, and J. A. Nelson, Virology 174:18–25, 1990). However, the function of this region in the context of the viral genome is not known. In wild-type human CMV-infected human fibroblasts, cells permissive for viral replication, there is little to no transcription from UL127. We determined that the unique region prevented transcription from the UL127 promoter but had no effect on the divergent MIE promoter. In transient-transfection assays, the basal level of expression from the UL127 promoter increased significantly when the wild-type unique sequences were mutated. In recombinant viruses with similar mutations in the unique region, expression from the UL127 promoter occurred only after de novo viral protein synthesis, typical of an early viral promoter. A 111-bp deletion-substitution of the unique sequence caused approximately a 20-fold increase in the steady-state level of RNA from the UL127 promoter and a 245-fold increase in the expression of a downstream indicator gene. This viral negative regulatory region was also mutated at approximately 50-bp regions proximal and distal to the UL127 promoter. Although some repressive effects were detected in the distal region, mutations of the region proximal to the UL127 promoter had the most significant effects on transcription. Within the proximal and distal regions, there are potential
cis
sites for known eucaryotic transcriptional repressor proteins. This region may also bind unknown viral proteins. We propose that the unique region upstream of the UL127 promoter and the MIE enhancer negatively regulates the expression from the UL127 promoter in permissive human fibroblast cells. This region may be a regulatory boundary preventing the effects of the very strong MIE enhancer on this promoter.
Identification and Characterization of the Functional Elements within the Tobacco Etch Virus 5′ Leader Required for Cap-Independent Translation
Authors: Niepel Mario , Gallie Daniel R.
Published: December 2019

Translation in plants is highly cap dependent, and the only plant mRNAs known to naturally lack a cap structure (m
7
GpppN) are viral in origin. The genomic RNA of tobacco etch virus (TEV), a potyvirus that belongs to the picornavirus superfamily, is a polyadenylated mRNA that is naturally uncapped and yet is a highly competitive mRNA during translation. The 143-nucleotide 5′ leader is responsible for conferring cap-independent translation even on reporter mRNAs. We have carried out a deletion analysis of the TEV 5′ leader to identify the elements responsible for its regulatory function and have identified two centrally located cap-independent regulatory elements (CIREs) that promote cap-independent translation. The introduction of a stable stem-loop structure upstream of each element demonstrated that CIRE-1 is less 5′ end dependent in function than CIRE-2. In a dicistronic mRNA, the presence of the TEV 5′ leader sequence in the intercistronic region increased expression of the second cistron, suggesting that the viral sequence can function in a 5′-distal position. Interestingly, the introduction of a stable stem-loop upstream of the TEV leader sequence or upstream of either CIRE in dicistronic constructs markedly increased their regulatory function. These data suggest that the TEV 5′ leader contains two elements that together promote internal initiation but that the function of one element, in particular, is facilitated by proximity to the 5′ end.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Induced Hematopoietic Inhibition Is Independent of Productive Infection of Progenitor Cells In Vivo
Authors: Koka Prasad S. , Jamieson Beth D. , Brooks David G. , Zack Jerome A.
Published: December 2019

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals exhibit a variety of hematopoietic dysfunctions. The SCID-hu mouse (severe combined immunodeficient mouse transplanted with human fetal thymus and liver tissues) can be used to model the loss of human hematopoietic precursor cell function following HIV infection and has a distinct advantage in that data can be obtained in the absence of confounding factors often seen in infected humans. In this study, we establish that HIV type 1 (HIV-1) bearing a reporter gene inserted into the viralvprgene is highly aggressive in depleting human myeloid and erythroid colony-forming precursor activity in vivo. Human CD34+progenitor cells can be efficiently recovered from infected implants yet do not express the viral reporter gene, despite severe functional defects. Our results indicate that HIV-1 infection alone leads to hematopoietic inhibition in vivo; however, this effect is due to indirect mechanisms rather than to direct infection of CD34+cells in vivo.
Evaluation of Novel Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Gag DNA Vaccines for Protein Expression in Mammalian Cells and Induction of Immune Responses
Authors: Qiu Jian-Tai , Song Ruijiang , Dettenhofer Markus , Tian Chunjuan , August Thomas , Felber Barbara K. , Pavlakis George N. , Yu Xiao-Fang
Published: December 2019

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are an important parameter of host defenses that limit viral replication after infection. Induction of effective CTL against conserved viral proteins such as Gag may be essential to the development of a safe and effective HIV type 1 (HIV-1) vaccine. DNA vaccination represents a novel strategy for inducing potent CD8+CTL responses in vivo. However, expression of HIV-1 structural proteins by DNA vectors has been hampered by a stringent requirement for coexpression with other viral components, such as Rev and RRE. Furthermore, even with Rev and RRE present, the level of expression of HIV-1 Gag, Pol, or Env is very low in murine cells. These problems have limited our ability to address the key issue of how to generate effective CTL responses to Gag in a mouse model. To overcome this problem, we compared several novel DNA expression vectors for HIV-1 Gag protein expression in primate and mouse cells and for generating immune responses in mice after DNA vaccination. A DNA vector containing wild type HIV-1gagcoding sequences did not induce detectable Gag expression in any of the cells tested. Attempts to increase nuclear export of Gag expression RNA by adding the constitutive transport element yielded only a moderate increase in Gag expression in monkey-derived COS cells and an even lower increase in Gag expression in HeLa cells or several mouse cell lines. In contrast, silent-site mutations in the HIV-1gagcoding sequences significantly increased Gag expression levels in all cells tested. Furthermore, this construct induced both Gag-specific antibody and CTL responses in mice after DNA vaccination. Using this construct, we achieved stable expression of HIV-1 Gag in the mouse cell line p815, which can now be used as a target cell for measuring HIV-1 Gag-specific CTL responses in immunized mice. The DNA vectors described in this study should make it possible to systematically evaluate the approaches for maximizing the induction of CTL responses against HIV-1 Gag in mouse and other animal systems.
Longitudinal Phenotypic Analysis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Specific Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes: Correlation with Disease Progression
Authors: Ogg Graham S. , Kostense Stefan , Klein Michel R. , Jurriaans Suzanne , Hamann Dörte , McMichael Andrew J. , Miedema Frank
Published: December 2019

Few studies have examined longitudinal changes in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). To more closely define the natural history of HIV-specific CTL, we used HLA-peptide tetrameric complexes to study the longitudinal CD8+T-cell response evolution in 16 A*0201-positive untreated individuals followed clinically for up to 14 years. As early as 1 to 2 years after seroconversion, we found a significant association between high frequencies of A*0201-restricted p17Gag/Poltetramer-binding cells and slower disease progression (P< 0.01). We observed that responses could remain stable over many months, but any longitudinal changes that occurred were typically accompanied by reciprocal changes in RNA viral load. Phenotypic analysis with markers CD45RO, CD45RA, and CD27 identified distinct subsets of antigen-specific cells and the preferential loss of CD27+CD45RO+cells during periods of rapid decline in the frequency of tetramer-binding cells. In addition we were unable to confirm previous studies showing a consistent selective loss of HIV-specific cells in the context of sustained Epstein-Barr virus-specific cell frequencies. Overall, these data support a role of HIV-specific CTL in the control of disease progression and suggest that the ultimate loss of such CTL may be preferentially from the CD27+CD45RO+subset.
Genetic Regulation of Long-Term Nonprogression in E-55+ Murine Leukemia Virus Infection in Mice
Authors: Panoutsakopoulou Vily , Hunter Kathryn , Sieck Thomas G. , Blankenhorn Elizabeth P. , Blank Kenneth J.
Published: December 2019

Certain inbred mouse strains display progression to lymphoma development after infection with E-55+ murine leukemia virus (E-55+ MuLV), while others demonstrate long-term nonprogression. This difference in disease progression occurs despite the fact that E-55+ MuLV causes persistent infection in both immunocompetent BALB/c–H-2k(BALB.K) progressor (P) and C57BL/10–H-2k(B10.BR) long-term nonprogressor (LTNP) mice. In contrast to immunocompetent mice, immunosuppressed mice from both P and LTNP strains develop lymphomas about 2 months after infection, indicating that the LTNP phenotype is determined by the immune response of the infected mouse. In this study, we used bone marrow chimeras to demonstrate that the LTNP phenotype is associated with the genotype of donor bone marrow and not the recipient microenvironment. In addition, we have mapped a genetic locus that may be responsible for the LTNP trait. Microsatellite-based linkage analysis demonstrated that a non-major histocompatibility complex gene on chromosome 15 regulates long-term survival and is located in the same region as theRfv3gene.Rfv3is involved in recovery from Friend virus-induced leukemia and has been demonstrated to regulate neutralizing virus antibody titers. In our studies, however, both P and LTNP strains produce similar titers of neutralizing and cytotoxic anti-E-55+ MuLV. Therefore, while it is possible thatRfv3influences the course of E-55+ MuLV infection, it is more likely that the LTNP phenotype in E-55+ MuLV-infected mice is regulated by a different, closely linked gene.
trans
-Complementation Analysis of the Flavivirus Kunjin ns5 Gene Reveals an Essential Role for Translation of Its N-Terminal Half in RNA Replication
Authors: Khromykh Alexander A. , Sedlak Petra L. , Westaway Edwin G.
Published: December 2019

Recently we described rescue of defective Kunjin virus (KUN) RNAs with small deletions in the methyltransferase and RNA polymerase motifs of the ns5 gene, using BHK cells stably expressing KUN replicon RNA (repBHK cells) as helper (A. A. Khromykh et al., J. Virol. 72:7270–7279, 1998). We have now extended our previous observations and report successful
trans
-complementation of defective KUN RNAs with most of the ns5 gene deleted or substituted with a heterologous (dengue virus) ns5 sequence. Replication of full-length KUN RNAs with 3′-terminal deletions of 136 (5%), 933 (34%), and 1526 (56%) nucleotides in the ns5 gene was complemented efficiently in transfected repBHK cells. RNA with a larger deletion of 2,042 nucleotides (75%) was complemented less efficiently, and RNA with an even larger deletion of 2,279 nucleotides (84%) was not complemented at all. Chimeric KUN genomic RNA containing 87% of the KUN ns5 gene replaced by the corresponding sequence of the dengue virus type 2 ns5 gene was unable to replicate in normal BHK cells but was complemented in repBHK cells. These results demonstrate for the first time complementation of flavivirus RNAs with large deletions (as much as 75%) in the RNA polymerase gene and establish that translation of most of the N-terminal half of NS5 is essential for complementation in
trans
. A model of formation of the flavivirus replication complex implicating a possible role in RNA replication of conserved coding sequences in the N-terminal half of NS5 is proposed based on the complementation and earlier results with KUN and on reported data with other flaviviruses.
Generation of Adenovirus Vectors Devoid of All Viral Genes by Recombination between Inverted Repeats
Authors: Steinwaerder Dirk S. , Carlson Cheryl A. , Lieber André
Published: December 2019

Direct or inverse repeated sequences are important functional features of prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes. Considering the unique mechanism, involving single-stranded genomic intermediates, by which adenovirus (Ad) replicates its genome, we investigated whether repetitive homologous sequences inserted into E1-deleted adenoviral vectors would affect replication of viral DNA. In these studies we found that inverted repeats (IRs) inserted into the E1 region could mediate predictable genomic rearrangements, resulting in vector genomes devoid of all viral genes. These genomes (termed ΔAd.IR) contained only the transgene cassette flanked on both sides by precisely duplicated IRs, Ad packaging signals, and Ad inverted terminal repeat sequences. Generation of ΔAd.IR genomes could also be achieved by coinfecting two viruses, each providing one inverse homology element. The formation of ΔAd.IR genomes required Ad DNA replication and appeared to involve recombination between the homologous inverted sequences. The formation of ΔAd.IR genomes did not depend on the sequence within or adjacent to the inverted repeat elements. The small ΔAd.IR vector genomes were efficiently packaged into functional Ad particles. All functions for ΔAd.IR replication and packaging were provided by the full-length genome amplified in the same cell. ΔAd.IR vectors were produced at a yield of ∼10
4
particles per cell, which could be separated from virions with full-length genomes based on their lighter buoyant density. ΔAd.IR vectors infected cultured cells with the same efficiency as first-generation vectors; however, transgene expression was only transient due to the instability of deleted genomes within transduced cells. The finding that IRs present within Ad vector genomes can mediate precise genetic rearrangements has important implications for the development of new vectors for gene therapy approaches.
The Mode and Duration of Anti-CD28 Costimulation Determine Resistance to Infection by Macrophage-Tropic Strains of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 In Vitro
Authors: Creson Jennifer R. , Lin Andy A. , Li Qun , Broad David F. , Roberts Margo R. , Anderson Stephen J.
Published: December 2019

We have investigated the ability of anti-CD28 antibody costimulation to induce resistance to macrophage (M)-tropic strains of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in vitro. Our results confirm the observations of Levine et al. (15) that stimulation of CD4 T cells with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 antibodies coimmobilized on magnetic beads renders the cells resistant to infection by M-tropic strains of HIV-1. The resistance was strongest when the beads were left in the cultures throughout the experiment. In contrast, stimulation of CD4 T cells with the same antibodies immobilized on the surface of plastic culture dishes failed to induce resistance and resulted in high levels of p24 production. This was true even if the cells were passaged continuously on freshly coated plates. If the beads were removed after initial stimulation, p24 production increased over time and produced a result intermediate to the other forms of stimulation. For beads-in, beads-out, and one-time plate stimulated cultures, resistance to infection correlated with down-regulation of CCR5 expression at the cell surface and with increased production of β-chemokines. However, cultures of CD4 T cells continuously passaged on anti-CD3/anti-CD28-coated plates produced large amounts of p24 despite decreased levels of CCR5 expression and increasing production of β-chemokines. Expression of the T-cell activation markers CD25 and CD69 and production of gamma interferon further supported the differences in plate versus bead stimulation. Our results explain the apparent contradiction between the ability of anti-CD28 antibody costimulation to induce resistance to HIV infection when presented on magnetic beads and the increased ability to recover virus from the cells of HIV-positive donors who are on highly active antiretroviral therapy when cells are stimulated by anti-CD3/anti-CD28 immobilized on plastic dishes.
Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Immediate-Early Protein Vmw110 Inhibits Progression of Cells through Mitosis and from G
1
into S Phase of the Cell Cycle
Authors: Lomonte Patrick , Everett Roger D.
Published: December 2019

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) immediate-early protein Vmw110 stimulates the onset of virus infection in a multiplicity-dependent manner and is required for efficient reactivation from latency. Recent work has shown that Vmw110 is able to interact with or modify the stability of several cellular proteins. In this report we analyze the ability of Vmw110 to inhibit the progression of cells through the cell cycle. We show by fluorescence-activated cell sorter and/or confocal microscopy analysis that an enhanced green fluorescent protein-tagged Vmw110 possesses the abilities both to prevent transfected cells moving from G
1
into S phase and to block infected cells at an unusual stage of mitosis defined as pseudo-prometaphase. The latter property correlates with the Vmw110-induced proteasome-dependent degradation of CENP-C, a centromeric protein component of the inner plate of human kinetochores. We also show that whereas Vmw110 is not the only viral product implicated in the block of infected cells at the G
1
/S border, the mitotic block is a specific property of Vmw110 and more particularly of its RING finger domain. These data explain the toxicity of Vmw110 when expressed alone in transfected cells and provide an explanation for the remaining toxicity of replication-defective mutants of HSV-1 expressing Vmw110. In addition to contributing to our understanding of the effects of Vmw110 on the cell, our results demonstrate that Vmw110 expression is incompatible with the proliferation of a dividing cell population. This factor is of obvious importance to the design of gene therapy vectors based on HSV-1.
Mapping of a Hypovirus p29 Protease Symptom Determinant Domain with Sequence Similarity to Potyvirus HC-Pro Protease
Authors: Suzuki Nobuhiro , Chen Baoshan , Nuss Donald L.
Published: December 2019

Hypovirus infection of the chestnut blight fungus
Cryphonectria parasitica
results in a spectrum of phenotypic changes that can include alterations in colony morphology and significant reductions in pigmentation, asexual sporulation, and virulence (hypovirulence). Deletion of 88% [Phe(25) to Pro(243)] of the virus-encoded papain-like protease, p29, in the context of an infectious cDNA clone of the prototypic hypovirus CHV1-EP713 (recombinant virus Δp29) partially relieved virus-mediated suppression of pigmentation and sporulation without altering the level of hypovirulence. We now report mapping of the p29 symptom determinant domain to a region extending from Phe(25) through Gln(73) by a gain-of-function analysis following progressive repair of the Δp29 deletion mutant. This domain was previously shown to share sequence similarity [including conserved cysteine residues Cys(38), Cys(48), Cys(70), and Cys(72)] with the N-terminal portion of the potyvirus-encoded helper component-proteinase (HC-Pro), a multifunctional protein implicated in aphid-mediated transmission, genome amplification, polyprotein processing, long-distance movement, and suppression of posttranscriptional silencing. Substitution of a glycine residue for either Cys(38) or Cys(48) resulted in no qualitative or quantitative changes in virus-mediated symptoms. Unexpectedly, mutation of Cys(70) resulted in a very severe phenotype that included significantly reduced mycelial growth and profoundly altered colony morphology. In contrast, substitution for Cys(72) resulted in a less severe symptom phenotype approaching that observed for Δp29. The finding that p29-mediated symptom expression is influenced by two cysteine residues that are conserved in the potyvirus-encoded HC-Pro raises the possibility that these related viral-papain-like proteases function in their respective fungal and plant hosts by impacting ancestrally related regulatory pathways.
Mutations in the DG Loop of Adenovirus Type 5 Fiber Knob Protein Abolish High-Affinity Binding to Its Cellular Receptor CAR
Authors: Kirby Ian , Davison Elizabeth , Beavil Andrew J. , Soh Cecilia P. C. , Wickham Thomas J. , Roelvink Peter W. , Kovesdi Imre , Sutton Brian J. , Santis George
Published: December 2019

The amino acid residues in adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) fiber that interact with its cellular receptor, the coxsackie B virus and Ad receptor (CAR), have not been defined. To investigate this, multiple mutations were constructed in the region between residues 479 and 497 in Ad5 fiber (β-strands E and F and the adjacent region of the DG loop). The effects of these mutations on binding to CAR were determined by use of cell-binding competition experiments, surface plasmon resonance, and direct binding studies. The mutation effects on the overall folding and secondary structure of the protein were assessed by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Deletions of two consecutive amino acids between residues 485 and 493 abolished high-affinity binding to CAR; the CD spectra indicated that although there was no disruption of the overall folding and secondary structure of the protein, local conformational changes did occur. Moreover, single site mutations in this region of residues with exposed, surface-accessible side chains, such as Thr492, Asn493, and Val495, had no effect on receptor binding, which demonstrates that these residues are not in contact with CAR themselves. This implies the involvement of residues in neighboring loop regions. Replacement of the segment containing the two very short β-strands E and F and the turn between them (residues 479 to 486) with the corresponding sequence from Ad3 (βEFAd3→5 mutation) resulted in the loss of receptor binding. The identical CD spectra for βEFAd3→5 and wild-type proteins suggest that these substitutions caused no conformational rearrangement and that the loss of binding may thus be due to the substitution of one or more critical contact residues. These findings have implications for our understanding of the interaction of Ad5 fiber with CAR and for the construction of targeted recombinant Ad5 vectors for gene therapy purposes.
Requirement for CD40 Ligand, CD4+T Cells, and B Cells in an Infectious Mononucleosis-Like Syndrome
Authors: Brooks James W. , Hamilton-Easton Ann Marie , Christensen Jan P. , Cardin Rhonda D. , Hardy Charles L. , Doherty Peter C.
Published: December 2019

Respiratory challenge with the murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (γHV-68) results in productive infection of the lung, the establishment of latency in B lymphocytes and other cell types, transient splenomegaly, and prolonged clonal expansion of activated CD8+CD62LloT cells, particularly a Vβ4+CD8+population that is found in mice with different major histocompatibility complex (MHC) haplotypes. Aspects of the CD8+-T-cell response are substantially modified in mice that lack B cells, CD4+T cells, or the CD40 ligand (CD40L). The B-cell-deficient mice show no increase in Vβ4+CD8+T cells. Similar abrogation of the Vβ4+CD8+response is seen following antibody-mediated depletion of the CD4+subset, through the numbers of CD8+CD62Llocells are still significantly elevated. Virus-specific CD4+-T-cell frequencies are minimal in the CD40L−/−mice, and the Vβ4+CD8+population remains unexpanded. Apparently B-cell–CD4+-T-cell interactions play a part in the γHV-68 induction of both splenomegaly and non-MHC-restricted Vβ4+CD8+-T-cell expansion.
The Trophoblastic Epithelial Barrier Is Not Infected in Full-Term Placentae of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Seropositive Mothers Undergoing Antiretroviral Therapy
Authors: Tscherning-Casper Charlotte , Papadogiannakis Nikos , Anvret Maria , Stolpe Lisa , Lindgren Susanne , Bohlin Ann Britt , Albert Jan , Fenyö Eva Maria
Published: December 2019

To study the mechanism of the placental barrier function, we examined 10 matched samples of term placentae, cord blood, and maternal blood obtained at delivery from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected mothers with children diagnosed as HIV negative in Sweden. All placentae were histologically normal, and immunochemistry for HIV type 1 p24 and gp120 antigens was negative. Highly purified trophoblasts (93 to 99% purity) were negative for HIV DNA and RNA, indicating that the trophoblasts were uninfected. Although HIV DNA was detected in placenta-derived T lymphocytes and monocytes, microsatellite analysis showed that these cells were a mixture of maternal and fetal cells. Our study indicates that the placental barrier, i.e., the trophoblastic layer, is not HIV infected and, consequently, HIV infection of the fetus is likely to occur through other routes, such as breaks in the placental barrier.
An Epitope of the Semliki Forest Virus Fusion Protein Exposed during Virus-Membrane Fusion
Authors: Ahn Anna , Klimjack Matthew R. , Chatterjee Prodyot K. , Kielian Margaret
Published: December 2019

Semliki Forest virus (SFV) is an enveloped alphavirus that infects cells via a membrane fusion reaction triggered by acidic pH in the endocytic pathway. Fusion is mediated by the spike protein E1 subunit, an integral membrane protein that contains the viral fusion peptide and forms a stable homotrimer during fusion. We have characterized four monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific for the acid conformation of E1. These MAbs did not inhibit fusion, suggesting that they bind to an E1 region different from the fusion peptide. Competition analyses demonstrated that all four MAbs bound to spatially related sites on acid-treated virions or isolated spike proteins. To map the binding site, we selected for virus mutants resistant to one of the MAbs, E1a-1. One virus isolate, SFV 4-2, showed reduced binding of three acid-specific MAbs including E1a-1, while its binding of one acid-specific MAb as well as non-acid-specific MAbs to E1 and E2 was unchanged. The SFV 4-2 mutant was fully infectious, formed the E1 homotrimer, and had the wild-type pH dependence of infection. Sequence analysis demonstrated that the relevant mutation in SFV 4-2 was a change of E1 glycine 157 to arginine (G157R). Decreased binding of MAb E1a-1 was observed under a wide range of assay conditions, strongly suggesting that the E1 G157R mutation directly affects the MAb binding site. These data thus localize an E1 region that is normally hidden in the neutral pH structure and becomes exposed as part of the reorganization of the spike protein to its fusion-active conformation.
A Polymorphism in the Regulatory Region of the CC-Chemokine Receptor 5 Gene Influences Perinatal Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 to African-American Infants
Authors: Kostrikis Leondios G. , Neumann Avidan U. , Thomson Bruce , Korber Bette T. , McHardy Paul , Karanicolas Rose , Deutsch Lisa , Huang Yaoxing , Lew Judy F. , McIntosh Kenneth , Pollack Henry , Borkowsky William , Spiegel Hans M. L. , Palumbo Paul , Oleske James , Bardeguez Arlene , Luzuriaga Katherine , Sullivan John , Wolinsky Steven M. , Koup Richard A. , Ho David D. , Moore John P.
Published: December 2019

There are natural mutations in the coding and noncoding regions of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) CC-chemokine coreceptor 5 (CCR5) and in the related CCR2 protein (the CCR2-64I mutation). Individuals homozygous for the CCR5-Δ32 allele, which prevents CCR5 expression, strongly resist HIV-1 infection. Several genetic polymorphisms have been identified within the CCR5 5′ regulatory region, some of which influence the rate of disease progression in adult AIDS study cohorts. We genotyped 1,442 infants (1,235 uninfected and 207 HIV-1 infected) for five CCR5 and CCR2 polymorphisms: CCR5-59353-T/C, CCR5-59356-C/T CCR5-59402-A/G, CCR5-Δ32, and CCR2-64I. The clinical significance of each genotype was assessed by measuring whether it influenced the rate of perinatal HIV-1 transmission among 667 AZT-untreated mother-infant pairs (554 uninfected and 113 HIV-1 infected). We found that the mutant CCR5-59356-T allele is relatively common in African-Americans (20.6% allele frequency among 552 infants) and rare in Caucasians and Hispanics (3.4 and 5.6% of 174 and 458 infants, respectively;
P
< 0.001). There were 38 infants homozygous for CCR5-59356-T, of whom 35 were African-Americans. Among the African-American infants in the AZT-untreated group, there was a highly significant increase in HIV-1 transmission to infants with two mutant CCR5-59356-T alleles (47.6% of 21), compared to those with no or one mutant allele (13.4 to 14.1% of 187 and 71, respectively;
P
< 0.001). The increased relative risk was 5.9 (95% confidence interval, 2.3 to 15.3;
P
< 0.001). The frequency of the CCR5-59356-T mutation varies between population groups in the United States, a low frequency occurring in Caucasians and a higher frequency occurring in African-Americans. Homozygosity for CCR5-59356-T is strongly associated with an increased rate of perinatal HIV-1 transmission.
Efficient
trans
-Complementation of the Flavivirus Kunjin NS5 Protein but Not of the NS1 Protein Requires Its Coexpression with Other Components of the Viral Replicase
Authors: Khromykh Alexander A. , Sedlak Petra L. , Guyatt Kimberley J. , Hall Roy A. , Westaway Edwin G.
Published: December 2019

Successful
trans
-complementation of the defective Kunjin virus (KUN) RNA FLd
GDD
with a deletion of the RNA polymerase motif
GDD
in the NS5 gene by using a BHK cell line, repBHK, that continuously produced a functionally active KUN replication complex (RC) from replicon RNA was recently reported (A. A. Khromykh, M. T. Kenney, and E. G. Westaway, J. Virol. 72:7270–7279, 1998). In order to identify whether this complementation of FLd
GDD
RNA was provided by the wild-type NS5 protein alone or with the help of other nonstructural (NS) proteins also expressed in repBHK cells, we generated BHK cell lines stably producing the individual NS5 protein (SRns5BHK) or the NS1-NS5 polyprotein (SRns1-5BHK) by using a heterologous expression vector based on a modified noncytopathic Sindbis replicon. Western blot analysis with anti-NS5 antibodies showed that the level of production of NS5 was significantly higher in SRns5BHK cells than in SRns1-5BHK cells. Despite the higher level of expressed NS5,
trans
-complementation of FLd
GDD
RNA was much less efficient in SRns5BHK cells than in SRns1-5BHK cells and produced at least 100-fold less of the secreted complemented virus. In contrast, efficient complementation of KUN RNA with lethal cysteine-to-alanine mutations in the NS1 gene was achieved both in BHK cells producing the individual KUN NS1 protein from the Sindbis replicon vector and in repBHK cells, with both cell lines expressing similar amounts of NS1 protein. These results clearly demonstrate that flavivirus NS5 coexpressed with other components of the viral replicase possesses much higher functional (
trans
-complementing) activity than individually expressed NS5 and that efficient
trans
-complementation of mutated flavivirus NS1 and NS5 proteins occurs by different mechanisms. The results are interpreted and discussed in relation to our proposed model of formation of the flavivirus RC largely based on previous ultrastructural and biochemical analyses of KUN replication.
Effect of Lamivudine on Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 (HTLV-1) DNA Copy Number, T-Cell Phenotype, and Anti-Tax Cytotoxic T-Cell Frequency in Patients with HTLV-1-Associated Myelopathy
Authors: Taylor G. P. , Hall S. E. , Navarrete S. , Michie C. A. , Davis R. , Witkover A. D. , Rossor M. , Nowak M. A. , Rudge P. , Matutes E. , Bangham C. R. M. , Weber J. N.
Published: December 2019

Patients with human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) typically have a high HTLV-1 proviral load in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and abundant, activated HTLV-1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). No effective treatment for HAM/TSP has been described so far. We report a 10-fold reduction in viral DNA for five patients with HAM/TSP during treatment with the reverse transcriptase inhibitor lamivudine. In one patient with recent-onset HAM/TSP, the reduction in viral DNA was associated with a fall in the frequency of CTLs specific to two peptides in the immunodominant viral antigen Tax. The half-life of peripheral blood mononuclear cell populations was estimated from changes in viral DNA copy number, CTL frequency, reduction in CD25 expression, and the loss of dicentric chromosomes following radiation-induced damage. Each of these four different techniques indicated a cellular half-life of approximately 3 days consistent with continuous lymphocyte replication and destruction. These results indicate that viral replication through reverse transcription significantly contributes to the maintenance of HTLV-1 viral DNA load. The relative contribution of proliferation versus replication may vary between infected people.
Induction of Apoptosis by Sindbis Virus Occurs at Cell Entry and Does Not Require Virus Replication
Authors: Jan Jia-Tsrong , Griffin Diane E.
Published: December 2019

Sindbis virus (SV) is an alphavirus that causes encephalitis in mice and can lead to the apoptotic death of infected cells. To determine the step in virus replication during which apoptosis is triggered, we used UV-inactivated SV, chemicals that block virus fusion or protein synthesis, and cells that do and do not express heparan sulfate, the initial binding molecule for SV infection of many cells. In initial experiments, UV-inactivated neuroadapted SV (NSV) induced apoptosis in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells lacking heparan sulfate in the presence of cycloheximide. When fusion of prebound UV-inactivated NSV was rapidly induced at the plasma membrane by exposure to acidic pH, apoptosis was induced in CHO cells with or without heparan sulfate in the presence or absence of cycloheximide in a virus dose-dependent manner. In N18 neuroblastoma cells, the relative virulence of the virus strain was an important determinant of apoptosis induced by UV-inactivated SV. Treatment of N18 cells with monensin to prevent endosomal acidification an hour before, but not 2 h after, exposure to live NSV blocked the induction of cell death, as did treatment with NH4Cl or bafilomycin A1. These studies indicate that SV can induce apoptosis at the time of fusion with the cell membrane and that virus replication is not required.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Replication in a Primary Effusion Lymphoma Cell Line Stimulates Lytic-Phase Replication of Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus
Authors: Varthakavi Vasundhara , Browning Philip J. , Spearman Paul
Published: December 2019

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) coinfect many individuals in North America and in parts of Africa. Infection with HIV is a leading risk factor for the development of Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that HIV infection of common or adjacent cells would stimulate replication and spread of KSHV. Infection of a primary effusion lymphoma cell line by vesicular stomatitis virus type G-pseudotyped HIV type 1 led to a rapid induction of lytic-phase KSHV replication. Induction of lytic KSHV replication by HIV required active replication of HIV. The addition of the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor azidothymidine or the protease inhibitor indinavir to the culture prevented HIV spread and inhibited the associated induction of KSHV lytic replication. Lytic replication occurred in both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected cells within the culture, and could be induced in uninfected cells via a soluble factor released from the HIV-infected cells. Transmission of infectious KSHV to an uninfected target cell was enhanced by HIV replication and was inhibited by antiretroviral drugs. These results may have implications for the pathogenesis and treatment of KS in individuals coinfected with KSHV and HIV.
Characterization of Baculovirus Repeated Open Reading Frames (
bro
) in
Bombyx mori
Nucleopolyhedrovirus
Authors: Kang Wonkyung , Suzuki Masataka , Zemskov Evgueni , Okano Keiju , Maeda Susumu
Published: December 2019

The baculovirus
Bombyx mori
nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) contains five related open reading frames (ORFs). Recent sequence analyses of several other baculovirus genomes reveal that these ORFs belong to a unique multigene family called the baculovirus repeated ORFs (
bro
) family. Here we have characterized these five genes from BmNPV at the transcriptional and translational levels. Reverse transcription-PCR and primer extension analyses indicated that transcription of all
bro
genes occurs by 2 to 4 h postinfection (p.i.) and reaches maximal levels between at 8 and 12 h p.i. Transcription of all genes is initiated between 50 and 70 nucleotides upstream of the start codon, at a characteristic C(T)AGT motif. Expression of a
cat
reporter gene under the control of each
bro
promoter provides evidence that a viral factor(s) is required for the transcription of all
bro
genes. Immunoblot analysis indicated that a population of BRO proteins is produced vigorously between at 8 and 14 h p.i. Immunohistochemical analysis by confocal microscopy showed that BRO proteins are localized in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm at 8 h p.i. Four BmNPV mutants, in which the
bro-a
,
bro-b
,
bro-c
, and
bro-e
genes were individually inactivated, were successfully isolated. However, exhaustive efforts failed to isolate a
bro-d
-deficient mutant. Similarly, it was not possible to isolate a double-deletion
bro-a bro-c
mutant. The
bro-d
gene may play an irreplaceable functional role(s) during viral infection, while
bro-a
and
bro-c
may functionally complement each other.
Induction and Prevention of Apoptosis in Human HEp-2 Cells by Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1
Authors: Aubert Martine , O’Toole Jennifer , Blaho John A.
Published: December 2019

Cultured human epithelial cells infected with an ICP27 deletion strain of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) show characteristic features of apoptotic cells including cell shrinkage, nuclear condensation, and DNA fragmentation. These cells do not show such apoptotic features when infected with a wild-type virus unless the infections are performed in the presence of a protein synthesis inhibitor. Thus, both types of virus induce apoptosis, but the ICP27-null virus is unable to prevent this process from killing the cells. In this report, we show that this ICP27-deficient virus induced apoptosis in human HEp-2 cells through a pathway which involved the activation of caspase-3 and the processing of the death substrates DNA fragmentation factor and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. The induction of apoptosis by wild-type HSV-1 occurred prior to 6 h postinfection (hpi), and de novo viral protein synthesis was not required to induce the process. The ability of the virus to inhibit apoptosis was shown to be effective between 3 to 6 hpi. Wild-type HSV-1 infection was also able to block the apoptosis induced in cells by the addition of cycloheximide, staurosporine, and sorbitol. While U
S
3- and ICP22-deficient viruses showed a partial prevention of apoptosis, deletion of either the U
L
13 or
vhs
gene products did not affect the ability of HSV-1 to prevent apoptosis in infected cells. Finally, we demonstrate that in UV-inactivated viruses, viral binding and entry were not sufficient to induce apoptosis. Taken together, these results suggest that either gene expression or another RNA metabolic event likely plays a role in the induction of apoptosis in HSV-1-infected human cells.
Vesicular Stomatitis Virus G Protein Acquires pH-Independent Fusion Activity during Transport in a Polarized Endometrial Cell Line
Authors: Roberts Paul C. , Kipperman Todd , Compans Richard W.
Published: December 2019

Entry of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), the prototype member of the rhabdovirus family, occurs by receptor-mediated endocytosis. Subsequently, during traversal through the endosomal compartments, the VSV G protein acquires a low-pH-induced fusion-competent form, allowing for fusion of the viral membrane with endosomal and lysosomal membranes. This fusion event releases genomic RNA into the cytoplasm of the cell. Here we provide evidence that the VSV G protein acquires a fusion-competent form during exocytosis in a polarized endometrial cell line, HEC-1A. VSV infection of HEC-1A cells results in high viral yields and giant cell formation. Syncytium formation is blocked in a concentration-dependent manner by treatment with the lysosomotropic weak base ammonium chloride, which raises intravesicular pH. Virus release is somewhat delayed by treatment with ammonium chloride, but virus yields gradually reach those of control cells. In addition, inhibition of vacuolar H
+
-ATPases by treatment with bafilomycin A1 also inhibited cell to cell fusion without altering virus yields. Virions released from infected HEC cells were themselves not fusion competent, since viral entry required an active H
+
-ATPase and a low-pH-induced conformational change in the viral G protein. Thus, the conformation change leading to fusion competence during exocytotic transport is reversible and reverts during or after release of the virion from the infected cell.
Glycoproteins gM and gN of Pseudorabies Virus Are Dispensable for Viral Penetration and Propagation in the Nervous Systems of Adult Mice
Authors: Masse Marie Jo , Jöns Alice , Dijkstra Johannes M. , Mettenleiter Thomas C. , Flamand Anne
Published: December 2019

Glycoproteins gM and gN are conserved throughout the herpesviruses but are dispensable for viral replication in cell cultures. To assay for a function of these proteins in infection of an animal, deletion mutants of pseudorabies virus lacking gM or gN and corresponding revertants were analyzed for the ability to penetrate and propagate in the nervous systems of adult mice after intranasal inoculation. We demonstrate that neither of the two glycoproteins is required for infection of the nervous systems of mice by pseudorabies virus.
The Open Reading Frame 57 Gene Product of Herpesvirus Saimiri Shuttles between the Nucleus and Cytoplasm and Is Involved in Viral RNA Nuclear Export
Authors: Goodwin Delyth J. , Hall Kersten T. , Stevenson Alex J. , Markham Alex F. , Whitehouse Adrian
Published: December 2019

The herpesvirus saimiri open reading frame (ORF) 57 is homologous to genes identified in all classes of herpesviruses. It has previously been shown to regulate gene expression through a posttranscriptional mechanism. We demonstrate in this report that the expression of the ORF 57 protein leads to the cytoplasmic accumulation of glycoprotein B and capsid mRNAs. We also demonstrate that ORF 57 has the ability to specifically bind viral RNA transcripts. Utilizing an interspecies heterokaryon assay, we show that ORF 57 has the ability to shuttle between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Furthermore, we show that ORF 57 contains a relatively leucine-rich sequence which shares some homology with nuclear export signals (NES) found in a number of proteins with the ability to shuttle between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Moreover, we demonstrate that the ORF 57 NES enables the nuclear export of a heterologous protein and that mutation of the conserved leucine residues contained within the ORF 57 NES signal abrogates the ability of the ORF 57 protein to shuttle between the nucleus and cytoplasm. These results suggest that ORF 57 is involved in mediating the nuclear export of viral transcripts.
The Latency-Related Gene of Bovine Herpesvirus 1 Inhibits Programmed Cell Death
Authors: Ciacci-Zanella Janice , Stone Melissa , Henderson Gail , Jones Clinton
Published: December 2019

Although viral gene expression occurs in the peripheral nervous system during acute infection, bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) gene expression is extinguished, many neurons survive, and latency ensues. The only abundant viral transcript expressed during latency is the latency-related (LR) RNA, which is alternatively spliced in trigeminal ganglia during acute infection (L. Devireddy and C. Jones, J. Virol. 72:7294–7301, 1998). A subset of neurons express a protein encoded by the LR gene and the LR protein (LRP) is associated with cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2)/cyclin complexes during productive infection (Y. Jiang, A. Hossain, M. T. Winkler, T. Holt, A. Doster, and C. Jones, J. Virol. 72:8133–8142, 1998). LR gene products inhibit cell cycle progression, perhaps as a result of LRP interacting with Cdk2/cyclin complexes. During acute infection, expression of cyclin A occurs in trigeminal ganglionic neurons (L. M. Schang, A. Hossain, and C. Jones, J. Virol. 70:3807–3814, 1996). Inappropriate expression of G
1
- and S-phase cyclins can initiate programmed cell death (PCD), apoptosis, in neurons, suggesting that LR gene products inhibit PCD. To test this hypothesis, we modified an assay to measure PCD frequency in transiently transfected cells. C
6
-ceramide, fumonisin B
1
(FB
1
), or etoposide was used to initiate PCD following transfection of cells with plasmids expressing LR gene products and the β-galactosidase gene. Transfected cells that survived were quantified by counting β-galactosidase-positive cells. Plasmids that expressed LR gene products promoted survival of monkey kidney (CV-1), human lung (IMR-90), or mouse neuroblastoma (neuro-2A) cells after induction of PCD. Plasmids with termination codons at the beginning of LR open reading frames or deletion of sequences that mediate splicing of LR RNA did not promote cell survival following PCD induction. We hypothesize that LR gene products play a role in promoting survival of postmitotic neurons during acute infection or reactivation.