bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stimulation of Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Activity and G1- to S-Phase Transition in Human Lymphocytes by the Human T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 Tax Protein
Authors: Schmitt Iris , Rosin Oliver , Rohwer Peter , Gossen Manfred , Grassmann Ralph 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACTThe human T-cell leukemia/lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) induces a malignant lymphocytic disease. The HTLV-1 transactivator protein, Tax, is believed to be crucial for the development of the disease since it is transforming in vitro and induces tumors in transgenic animals. Although the transcriptional modulation of viral and cellular gene expression by Tax has been analyzed thoroughly, it has remained unclear how the Tax functions act on the cell cycle of primary T cells. To investigate the mechanism of Tax-mediated T-cell stimulation, we transduced primary human cord blood T cells with a conditional, tetracycline repressor-basedtaxexpression system. Permanent Tax expression results in an abnormal proliferation of T cells which closely resemble HTLV-1-infected lymphocytes. Suppression of Tax synthesis stopped lymphocyte growth and caused cell cycle arrest in the G1phase. Upon reinduction oftaxexpression, the arrested cells entered the S phase. This showed that Tax has mitogenic activity, which is required for stimulating the G1- to S-phase transition of immortalized lymphocytes. In mammalian cells, the G1-phase progression is controlled by the serial activation of several cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks), starting with Cdk4 and Cdk6. In the presence of Tax, both Cdk4 and Cdk6 were activated. The suppression of Tax synthesis, however, resulted in a significant reduction of the Cdk4 and Cdk6 activities but did not influence the expression of Cdk4, Cdk6, or cognate D-type cyclin proteins. These data suggest that Tax induces Cdk4 and Cdk6 activity in primary human T lymphocytes; this Cdk activation is likely to account for the mitogenic Tax effect and for the abnormal T-cell proliferation of HTLV-1-infected lymphocytes.
Local Periocular Vaccination Protects against Eye Disease More Effectively Than Systemic Vaccination following Primary Ocular Herpes Simplex Virus Infection in Rabbits
Authors: Nesburn Anthony B. , Slanina Susan , Burke Rae Lyn , Ghiasi Homayon , Bahri S. , Wechsler Steven L. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACTVaccination of experimental animals can provide efficient protection against ocular herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) challenge. Although it is suspected that local immune responses are important in protection against ocular HSV-1 infection, no definitive studies have been done to determine if local ocular vaccination would produce more efficacious protection against HSV-1 ocular challenge than systemic vaccination. To address this question, we vaccinated groups of rabbits either systemically or periocularly with recombinant HSV-2 glycoproteins B (gB2) and D (gD2) in MF59 emulsion or with live KOS (a nonneurovirulent strain of HSV-1). Three weeks after the final vaccination, all eyes were challenged with McKrae (a virulent, eye disease-producing strain of HSV-1). Systemic vaccination with either HSV-1 KOS or gB2/gD2 in MF59 did not provide significant protection against any of the four eye disease parameters measured (conjunctivitis, iritis, epithelial keratitis, and corneal clouding). In contrast, periocular vaccination with gB2/gD2 in MF59 provided significant protection against conjunctivitis and iritis, while ocular vaccination with live HSV-1 KOS provided significant protection against all four parameters. Thus, local ocular vaccination provided better protection than systemic vaccination against eye disease following ocular HSV-1 infection. Since local vaccination should produce a stronger local immune response than systemic vaccination, these results suggest that the local ocular immune response is very important in protecting against eye disease due to primary HSV-1 infection. Thus, for clinical protection against primary HSV-1-induced corneal disease, a local ocular vaccine may prove more effective than systemic vaccination.
The Epstein-Barr Virus Rta Protein Activates Lytic Cycle Genes and Can Disrupt Latency in B Lymphocytes
Authors: Ragoczy Tobias , Heston Lee , Miller George 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACTThe transition of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) from latency into the lytic cycle is associated with the expression of two immediate-early viral genes, BZLF1 and BRLF1. Overexpression of ZEBRA, the product of BZLF1, is sufficient to disrupt latency in B lymphocytes and epithelial cells by stimulating expression of lytic cycle genes, including BRLF1. The BRLF1 product Rta functions as a transcriptional activator in both B lymphocytes and epithelial cells. However, Rta has recently been reported to disrupt latency in an epithelial specific manner (S. Zalani, E. Holley-Guthrie, and S. Kenney, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:9194–9199, 1996). Here we demonstrate that expression of Rta is also sufficient for disruption of latency in a permissive B-cell line. In HH514-16 cells, transfection of Rta leads to synthesis of ZEBRA, viral DNA replication, and late gene expression. However, Rta by itself is less potent than ZEBRA in the ability to activate most early and late lytic cycle genes. In light of previous work implicating ZEBRA in the activation of Rta, we suggest a cooperative model for EBV entry into the lytic cycle. Expression of either BZLF1 or BRLF1 triggers expression of the other immediate-early factor, and together these activators act individually or in synergy on downstream targets to activate the viral lytic cycle.
Biochemical Activities of Minute Virus of Mice Nonstructural Protein NS1 Are Modulated In Vitro by the Phosphorylation State of the Polypeptide
Authors: Nüesch Jürg P. F. , Corbau Romuald , Tattersall Peter , Rommelaere Jean 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACTNS1, the 83-kDa major nonstructural protein of minute virus of mice (MVM), is a multifunctional nuclear phosphoprotein which is required in a variety of steps during progeny virus production, early as well as late during infection. NS1 is the initiator protein for viral DNA replication. It binds specifically to target DNA motifs; has site-specific single-strand nickase, intrinsic ATPase, and helicase activities;transregulates viral and cellular promoters; and exerts cytotoxic stress on the host cell. To investigate whether these multiple activities of NS1 depend on posttranslational modifications, in particular phosphorylation, we expressed His-tagged NS1 in HeLa cells by using recombinant vaccinia viruses, dephosphorylated it at serine and threonine residues with calf intestine alkaline phosphatase, and compared the biochemical activities of the purified un(der)phosphorylated (NS1O) and the native (NS1P) polypeptides. Biochemical analyses of replicative functions of NS1Orevealed a severe reduction of intrinsic helicase activity and, to a minor extent, of ATPase and nickase activities, whereas its affinity for the target DNA sequence [ACCA]2–3was enhanced compared to that of NS1P. In the presence of endogenous protein kinases found in replication extracts, NS1Oshowed all functions necessary for resolution and replication of the 3′ dimer bridge, indicating reactivation of NS1Oby rephosphorylation. Partial reactivation of the helicase activity was found as well when NS1Owas incubated with protein kinase C.
Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) ORF32 Encodes a Phosphoprotein That Is Posttranslationally Modified by the VZV ORF47 Protein Kinase
Authors: Reddy Sanjay M. , Cox Edward , Iofin Ilya , Soong Weily , Cohen Jeffrey I. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) encodes five gene products that do not have homologs in herpes simplex virus. One of these genes, VZV open reading frame 32 (ORF32), is predicted to encode a protein of 16 kDa. VZV ORF32 protein was shown to be phosphorylated and located in the cytosol of virus-infected cells. Antibody to ORF32 protein immunoprecipitated 16- and 18-kDa phosphoproteins from VZV-infected cells. Since VZV encodes two protein kinases that might phosphorylate ORF32 protein, immunoprecipitations were performed with cells infected with VZV mutants unable to express either of the viral protein kinases. Cells infected with VZV unable to express the ORF66 protein kinase contained both the 16- and 18-kDa ORF32 phosphoproteins; however, cells infected with the VZV ORF47 protein kinase mutant showed only the 16-kDa ORF32 phosphoprotein. Treatment of [
35
S]methionine-labeled proteins with calf intestine alkaline phosphatase resulted in a decrease in size of the ORF32 proteins from 16 and 18 kDa to 15 and 17 kDa, respectively. VZV unable to express ORF32 protein replicated in human melanoma cells to titers similar to those seen with parental virus; however, VZV unable to express ORF32 was impaired for replication in U20S osteosarcoma cells. Thus, VZV ORF32 protein is posttranslationally modified by the ORF47 protein kinase. Since the VZV ORF47 protein kinase has recently been shown to be critical for replication in human fetal skin and lymphocytes, its ability to modify the ORF32 protein suggests that the latter protein may have a role for VZV replication in human tissues.
Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Glycoprotein gC Mediates Immune Evasion In Vivo
Authors: Lubinski John M. , Wang Liyang , Soulika Athena M. , Burger Reinhard , Wetsel Rick A. , Colten Harvey , Cohen Gary H. , Eisenberg Roselyn J. , Lambris John D. , Friedman Harvey M. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACTMany microorganisms encode proteins that interact with molecules involved in host immunity; however, few of these molecules have been proven to promote immune evasion in vivo. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) glycoprotein C (gC) binds complement component C3 and inhibits complement-mediated virus neutralization and lysis of infected cells in vitro. To investigate the importance of the interaction between gC and C3 in vivo, we studied the virulence of a gC-null strain in complement-intact and C3-deficient animals. Using a vaginal infection model in complement-intact guinea pigs, we showed that gC-null virus grows to lower titers and produces less severe vaginitis than wild-type or gC rescued virus, indicating a role for gC in virulence. To determine the importance of complement, studies were performed with C3-deficient guinea pigs; the results demonstrated significant increases in vaginal titers of gC-null virus, while wild-type and gC rescued viruses showed nonsignificant changes in titers. Similar findings were observed for mice where gC null virus produced significantly less disease than gC rescued virus at the skin inoculation site. Proof that C3 is important was provided by studies of C3 knockout mice, where disease scores of gC-null virus were significantly higher than in complement-intact mice. The results indicate that gC-null virus is approximately 100-fold (2 log10) less virulent that wild-type virus in animals and that gC-C3 interactions are involved in pathogenesis.
Cell Surface Proteoglycans Are Necessary for A27L Protein-Mediated Cell Fusion: Identification of the N-Terminal Region of A27L Protein as the Glycosaminoglycan-Binding Domain
Authors: Hsiao Jye-Chian , Chung Che-Sheng , Chang Wen 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT
We previously showed that vaccinia virus infection of BSC40 cells was blocked by soluble heparin, suggesting that cell surface heparan sulfate mediates vaccinia virus binding (C.-S. Chung, J.-C. Hsiao, Y.-S. Chang, and W. Chang, J. Virol. 72:1577–1585, 1998). In this study, we extended our previous work and demonstrated that soluble A27L protein bound to heparan sulfate on cells and interfered with vaccinia virus infection at a postbinding step. In addition, we investigated the structure of A27L protein that provides for its binding to heparan sulfate on cells. A mutant of A27L protein, named D-A27L, devoid of a cluster of 12 amino acids rich in basic residues, was constructed. In contrast to the soluble A27L protein, purified D-A27L protein was inactive in all of our assays, including binding to heparin in vitro, binding to heparan sulfate on cells, and the ability to block virus infection. These data demonstrated that the N-terminal region acts as a glycosaminoglycan (GAG)-binding domain critical for A27L protein binding to cells. Previously A27L protein was thought to be involved in fusion of virus-infected cells induced by acid treatment. When we investigated whether cell surface GAGs also participate in A27L-dependent fusion, our results indicated that soluble A27L protein blocked cell fusion, whereas D-A27L protein did not. Taken together, the results therefore demonstrated that A27L-mediated cell fusion is triggered by its interaction with cell surface GAGs through the N-terminal domain.
Neuronal Death Induced by Brain-Derived Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Envelope Genes Differs between Demented and Nondemented AIDS Patients
Authors: Power C. , McArthur J. C. , Nath A. , Wehrly K. , Mayne M. , Nishio J. , Langelier T. , Johnson R. T. , Chesebro B. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection of the brain results in viral replication primarily in macrophages and microglia. Despite frequent detection of viral genome and proteins in the brains of AIDS patients with and without HIV dementia, only 20% of AIDS patients become demented. To investigate the role of viral envelope gene variation in the occurrence of dementia, we examined regions of variability in the viral envelope gene isolated from brains of AIDS patients. Brain-derived HIV-1 V1-V2 envelope sequences from seven demented and six nondemented AIDS patients displayed significant sequence differences between clinical groups, and by phylogenetic analysis, sequences from the demented group showed clustering. Infectious recombinant viruses containing brain-derived V3 sequences from both clinical groups were macrophagetropic, and viruses containing brain-derived V1, V2, and V3 sequences from both clinical groups spread efficiently in macrophages. In an indirect in vitro neurotoxicity assay using supernatant fluid from HIV-1-infected macrophages, recombinant viruses from demented patients induced greater neuronal death than viruses from nondemented patients. Thus, the HIV-1 envelope diversity observed in these patient groups appeared to influence the release of neurotoxic molecules from macrophages and might account in part for the variability in occurrence of dementia in AIDS patients.
The Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 Oncoprotein Tax Inhibits the Transcriptional Activity of c-Myb through Competition for the CREB Binding Protein
Authors: Colgin Mark A. , Nyborg Jennifer K. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACTTax, the transforming protein of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), is required for strong activation of HTLV-1 transcription. This activation is mediated through interaction with the KIX domain of the cellular coactivator CREB binding protein (CBP). In this study we examined the possibility that the Tax-KIX interaction may mediate effects on cellular gene transcription in vivo, as a growing number of cellular transcription factors have been shown to utilize CBP as a coactivator. We tested the ability of Tax to deregulate the activity of the cellular transcription factor, c-Myb, since both Tax and c-Myb interact with the KIX domain of CBP. Our results show that in vivo, Tax antagonizes the transcriptional activity of c-Myb and, reciprocally, c-Myb antagonizes the transcriptional activity of Tax. Furthermore, c-Myb competes for KIX binding to Tax in vitro, indicating that these two transcription factors bind CBP in a mutually exclusive manner. This novel mechanism of transcriptional interference by Tax may promote globally deregulated cellular gene expression in the HTLV-1-infected cell, possibly leading to leukemogenesis.
Functionality and Cell Anchorage Dependence of the African Swine Fever Virus GeneA179L, a Viralbcl-2Homolog, in Insect Cells
Authors: Brun Alejandro , Rodríguez Fernando , Escribano José M. , Alonso Covadonga 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACTThe African swine fever virus geneA179Lhas been shown to be a functional member of theced9/bcl-2family of apoptosis inhibitors in mammalian cell lines. In this work we have expressed theA179Lgene product (p21) under the control of the baculovirus polyhedrin promoter using a baculovirus system. Expression of theA179Lgene neither altered the baculovirus replication phenotype nor delayed the shutoff of cellular protein synthesis, but it extended the survival of the infected insect cells to very late times postinfection. The increase in cell survival rates correlated with a marked apoptosis reduction after baculovirus infection. Interestingly, prevention of apoptosis was observed when recombinant baculovirus infections were carried out in monolayer cell cultures but not when cells were infected in suspension, suggesting a cell anchorage dependence for p21 function in insect cells. Cell survival was enhanced under optimal conditions of cell attachment and cell-to-cell contact as provided by extracellular matrix components or poly-d-lysine. Since it was observed that cytoskeleton organization varied depending on culture conditions of insect cells (grown in monolayer versus grown in suspension), these results suggested thatA179Lmight regulate apoptosis in insect cells only when the cytoskeletal support of intracellular signaling is maintained upon cell adhesion. Thus, cell shape and cytoskeleton status might allow variations in intracellular transduction of signals related to cell survival in virus-infected cells.
A Pathogenic Threshold of Virus Load Defined in Simian Immunodeficiency Virus- or Simian-Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Macaques
Authors: Ten Haaft Peter , Verstrepen Babs , Überla Klaus , Rosenwirth Brigitte , Heeney Jonathan 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT

To determine if a specific pathogenic threshold of plasma viral RNA could be defined irrespective of virus strain, RNA levels in the plasma of more than 50 infected rhesus macaques (
Macaca mulatta
) were measured. Animals were inoculated intravenously with either simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) or simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) strains of known pathogenic potential (SIV
8980
, SIV
smm-3
, SIV
mac32H/J5
, SIV
mac32H/1XC
, reverse transcriptase-SHIV, SHIV
89.6p
) or with attenuated strains (SHIV
W6.1D
, SHIV
sf13
, SHIV
han-2
, SIV
macΔnef
, SHIV
sf33
). In animals inoculated with nonpathogenic strains, shortly after the primary peak of viremia viral RNA levels declined and remained below 10
4
RNA equivalents/ml of plasma between 6 and 12 weeks postinoculation. Animals infected with documented pathogenic strains maintained viral RNA levels higher than 10
5
RNA equivalents/ml of plasma. In animals infected with strains with low virulence, a decline in plasma RNA levels was observed, but with notable individual variation. Our results demonstrate that the disease-causing potential was predicted and determined by a threshold plasma virus load which remained greater than 10
5
RNA equivalents/ml of plasma 6 to 12 weeks after inoculation. A threshold virus load value which remained below 10
4
RNA equivalents/ml of plasma was indicative of a nonpathogenic course of infection.
Neutralizing Antibodies from the Sera of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Infected Individuals Bind to Monomeric gp120 and Oligomeric gp140
Authors: Stamatos Nicholas M. , Mascola John R. , Kalyanaraman Vaniambadi S. , Louder Mark K. , Frampton Lynn M. , Birx Deborah L. , VanCott Thomas C. 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACTAntibodies that neutralize primary isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) appear during HIV-1 infection but are difficult to elicit by immunization with current vaccine products comprised of monomeric forms of HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120. The limited neutralizing antibody response generated by gp120 vaccine products could be due to the absence or inaccessibility of the relevant epitopes. To determine whether neutralizing antibodies from HIV-1-infected patients bind to epitopes accessible on monomeric gp120 and/or oligomeric gp140 (ogp140), purified total immunoglobulin from the sera of two HIV-1-infected patients as well as pooled HIV immune globulin were selectively depleted of antibodies which bound to immobilized gp120 or ogp140. After passage of each immunoglobulin preparation through the respective columns, antibody titers against gp120 and ogp140 were specifically reduced at least 128-fold. The gp120- and gp140-depleted antibody fraction from each serum displayed reduced neutralization activity against three primary and two T-cell line-adapted (TCLA) HIV-1 isolates. Significant residual neutralizing activity, however, persisted in the depleted sera, indicating additional neutralizing antibody specificities. gp120- and ogp140-specific antibodies eluted from each column neutralized both primary and TCLA viruses. These data demonstrate the presence and accessibility of epitopes on both monomeric gp120 and ogp140 that are specific for antibodies that are capable of neutralizing primary isolates of HIV-1. Thus, the difficulties associated with eliciting neutralizing antibodies by using current monomeric gp120 subunit vaccines may be related less to improper protein structure and more to ineffective immunogen formulation and/or presentation.
Activation of Antiviral Protein Kinase Leads to Immunoglobulin E Class Switching in Human B Cells
Authors: Rager Kelly J. , Langland Jeffrey O. , Jacobs Bertram L. , Proud David , Marsh David G. , Imani Farhad 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACTAn epidemiologic association between viral infections and the onset of asthma and allergy has been documented. Also, evidence from animal and human studies has suggested an increase in antigen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) production during viral infections, and elevated levels of IgE are characteristic of human asthma and allergy. Here, we provide molecular evidence for the roles of viral infection and of activation of the antiviral protein kinase (PKR) (double-stranded-RNA [dsRNA]-activated protein kinase) in the induction of IgE class switching. The presence of dsRNA, a known component of viral infection and an activator of PKR, induced IgE class switching as detected by the expression of germ line ɛ in the human Ramos B-cell line. Furthermore, dsRNA treatment of Ramos cells resulted in the activation of PKR and in vivo activation of the NF-κB complex. Interestingly, infection of Ramos cells with rhinovirus (common cold virus) serotypes 14 and 16 resulted in the induction of germ line ɛ expression. To further evaluate the role of PKR in the viral induction of IgE class switching, we infected Ramos cells with two different vaccinia virus (cowpox virus) strains. Infection with wild-type vaccinia virus failed to induce germ line ɛ expression; however, a deletion mutant of vaccinia virus (VP1080) lacking the PKR-inhibitory polypeptide E3L induced the expression of germ line ɛ. Collectively, the results of our study define a common molecular mechanism underlying the role of viral infections in IgE class switching and subsequent induction of IgE-mediated disorders such as allergy and asthma.