bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rubella Virus Nonstructural Protein Protease Domains Involved in
trans
- and
cis
-Cleavage Activities
Authors: Liang Yuying , Yao Jiansheng , Gillam Shirley 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACT

Rubella virus (RV) genomic RNA contains two large open reading frames (ORFs): a 5′-proximal ORF encoding nonstructural proteins (NSPs) that function primarily in viral RNA replication and a 3′-proximal ORF encoding the viral structural proteins. Proteolytic processing of the RV NSP ORF translation product p200 is essential for viral replication. Processing of p200 to two mature products (p150 and p90) in the order NH
2
-p150-p90-COOH is carried out by an RV-encoded protease residing in the C-terminal region of p150. The RV nonstructural protease (NS-pro) belongs to a viral papain-like protease family that cleaves the polyprotein both in
trans
and in
cis
. A conserved X domain of unknown function was found from previous sequence analysis to be associated with NS-pro. To define the domains responsible for
cis
- and
trans
-cleavage activities and the function of the X domain in terms of protease activity, an in vitro translation system was employed. We demonstrated that the NSP region from residue 920 to 1296 is necessary for
trans
-cleavage activity. The domain from residue 920 to 1020 is not required for
cis
-cleavage activity. The X domain located between residues 834 and 940, outside the regions responsible for both
cis
- and
trans
-cleavage activities of NS-pro, was found to be important for NS-pro
trans
-cleavage activity but not for
cis
-cleavage activity. Analysis of sequence homology and secondary structure of the RV NS-pro catalytic region reveals a folding structure similar to that of papain.
Functional Interaction between Pleiotropic Transactivator pUL69 of Human Cytomegalovirus and the Human Homolog of Yeast Chromatin Regulatory Protein SPT6
Authors: Winkler Michael , aus dem Siepen Thomas , Stamminger Thomas 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACT

The phosphoprotein pUL69 of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), which is a herpesvirus of considerable medical importance in immunosuppressed patients and newborns, has previously been identified as an early-late viral protein that can stimulate several viral and cellular promoters and thus exerts a rather broad activation pattern. To gain insight into the mechanism of this transactivation process, we looked for cellular factors interacting with pUL69 in a yeast two-hybrid screen. Using a B-lymphocyte cDNA library fused to the GAL4 activation domain, we identified 34 clones, 11 of which comprised one distinct gene. Interaction with this gene turned out to be very strong, producing β-galactosidase levels 100-fold greater than the background as measured in an ONPG (
o
-nitrophenyl-β-
d
-galactopyranoside) assay. Sequencing identified this gene as the human homolog of the yeast factor SPT6, which is thought to be involved in the regulation of chromatin structure. A direct interaction of pUL69 and the carboxy terminus of hSPT6 could be demonstrated using in vitro pull-down experiments. After having generated a specific antiserum that is able to detect the endogenous hSPT6 protein, we were able to observe an in vivo interaction of both proteins by coimmunoprecipitation analysis. The interaction domain within pUL69 was mapped to a central domain of this viral protein that is conserved within the homologous proteins of other herpesviruses such as the ICP27 protein of herpes simplex virus. Internal deletions within this central domain, as well as a single amino acid exchange at position C495, resulted in a loss of interaction. This correlated with a loss of the transactivation potential of the respective mutants, suggesting that the hSPT6 interaction of pUL69 is essential for stimulating gene expression. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the carboxy terminus of hSPT6 also binds to histon H3 and that this interaction can be antagonized by pUL69. This allows the deduction of a model by which pUL69 acts as an antirepressor by competing for binding of histones to hSPT6, thereby antagonizing the chromatin remodeling function of this cellular protein.
Growth Factor-Independent Proliferation of Erythroid Cells Infected with Friend Spleen Focus-Forming Virus Is Protein Kinase C Dependent but Does Not Require Ras-GTP
Authors: Muszynski Karen W. , Thompson Delores , Hanson Charlotte , Lyons Rebecca , Spadaccini Angelo , Ruscetti Sandra K. 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACT
Interaction of erythropoietin (Epo) with its cell surface receptor activates signal transduction pathways which result in the proliferation and differentiation of erythroid cells. Infection of erythroid cells with the Friend spleen focus-forming virus (SFFV) leads to the interaction of the viral envelope glycoprotein with the Epo receptor and renders these cells Epo independent. We previously reported that SFFV induces Epo independence by constitutively activating components of several Epo signal transduction pathways, including the Jak-Stat and the Raf-1/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. To further evaluate the mechanism by which SFFV activates the Raf-1/MAPK pathway, we investigated the effects of SFFV on upstream components of this pathway, and our results indicate that SFFV activates Shc and Grb2 and that this leads to Ras activation. While studies with a dominant-negative Ras indicated that Ras was required for Epo-induced proliferation of normal erythroid cells, the Epo-independent growth of SFFV-infected cells can still occur in the absence of Ras, although at reduced levels. In contrast, protein kinase C (PKC) was shown to be required for the Epo-independent proliferation of SFFV-infected cells. Further studies indicated that PKC, which is thought to be involved in the activation of both Raf-1 and MAPK, was required only for the activation of MAPK, not Raf-1, in SFFV-infected cells. Our results indicate that Ras and PKC define two distinct signals converging on MAPK in both Epo-stimulated and SFFV-infected erythroid cells and that activation of only PKC is sufficient for the Epo-independent proliferation of SFFV-infected cells.
Replication of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 within Trigeminal Ganglia Is Required for High Frequency but Not High Viral Genome Copy Number Latency
Authors: Thompson Richard L. , Sawtell N. M. 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACT

The replication properties of a thymidine kinase-negative (TK
−
) mutant of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) were exploited to examine the relative contributions of replication at the body surface and within trigeminal ganglia (TG) on the establishment of latent infections. The replication of a TK
−
mutant, 17/tBTK
−
, was reduced by ∼12-fold on the mouse cornea compared to the rescued isolate 17/tBRTK
+
, and no replication of 17/tBTK
−
in the TG of these mice was detected. About 1.8% of the TG neurons of mice infected with 17/tBTK
−
harbored the latent viral genome compared to 23% of those infected with 17/tBRTK
+
. In addition, the latent sites established by the TK
−
mutant contained fewer copies of the HSV-1 genome (average, 2.3/neuron versus 28/neuron). On the snout, sustained robust replication of 17tBTK
−
in the absence of significant replication within the TG resulted in a modest increase in the number of latent sites. Importantly, these latently infected neurons displayed a wild-type latent-genome copy number profile, with some neurons containing hundreds of copies of the TK
−
mutant genome. As expected, the replication of the TK
−
mutant appeared to be blocked prior to DNA replication in most ganglionic neurons in that (i) virus replication was severely restricted in ganglia, (ii) the number of neurons expressing HSV proteins was reduced 30-fold compared to the rescued isolate, (iii) cell-to-cell spread of virus was not detected within ganglia, and (iv) the proportion of infected neurons expressing late proteins was reduced by 89% compared to the rescued strain. These results demonstrate that the viral TK gene is required for the efficient establishment of latency. This requirement appears to be primarily for efficient replication within the ganglion, which leads to a sixfold increase in the number of latent sites established. Further, latent sites with high genome copy number can be established in the absence of significant virus genome replication in neurons. This suggests that neurons can be infected by many HSV virions and still enter the latent state.
Development of a Rubella Virus Vaccine Expression Vector: Use of a Picornavirus Internal Ribosome Entry Site Increases Stability of Expression
Authors: Pugachev Konstantin V. , Tzeng Wen-Pin , Frey Teryl K. 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACT

Rubella virus
(RUB) is a small plus-strand RNA virus classified in the
Rubivirus
genus of the family
Togaviridae
. Live, attenuated RUB vaccines have been successfully used in vaccination programs for over 25 years, making RUB an attractive vaccine vector. In this study, such a vector was constructed using a recently developed RUB infectious cDNA clone (Robo). Using a standard strategy employed to produce expression and vaccine vectors with other togaviruses, the subgenomic promoter was duplicated to produce a recombinant construct (termed dsRobo) that expressed reporter genes such as chloramphenicol acetyltransferase and green fluorescent protein (GFP) under control of the second subgenomic promoter. However, expression of the reporter genes, as exemplified by GFP expression by dsRobo/GFP virus, was unstable during passaging, apparently due to homologous recombination between the subgenomic promoters leading to deletion of the GFP gene. To improve the stability of the vector, the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) of a picornavirus, encephalomyocarditis virus, was used instead of the second subgenomic promoter to eliminate homology. Construction was initiated by first replacing the subgenomic promoter in the parent Robo infectious clone with the IRES. Surprisingly, viable virus resulted; this virus did not synthesize a subgenomic RNA. The subgenomic promoter was then reintroduced in an orientation such that a single subgenomic RNA was produced, GFP was the initial gene on this RNA, while the RUB structural protein open reading frame was downstream and under control of the IRES element. GFP expression by this vector was significantly improved in comparison to dsRobo/GFP. This strategy should be applicable to increase the stability of other togavirus vectors.
Comparative Analysis of Translation Efficiencies of Hepatitis C Virus 5′ Untranslated Regions among Intraindividual Quasispecies Present in Chronic Infection: Opposite Behaviors Depending on Cell Type
Authors: Laporte Julien , Malet Isabelle , Andrieu Thibault , Thibault Vincent , Toulme Jean-Jacques , Wychowski Czeslaw , Pawlotsky Jean-Michel , Huraux Jean-Marie , Agut Henri , Cahour Annie 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACT
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA translation initiation is dependent on the presence of an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) that is found mostly in its 5′ untranslated region (5′ UTR). While exhibiting the most highly conserved sequence within the genome, the 5′ UTR accumulates small differences, which may be of biological and clinical importance. In this study, using a bicistronic dual luciferase expression system, we have examined the sequence of 5′ UTRs from quasispecies characterized in the serum of a patient chronically infected with HCV genotype 1a and its corresponding translational activity. Sequence heterogeneity between IRES elements led to important changes in their translation efficiency both in vitro and in different cell cultures lines, implying that interactions of RNA with related transacting factors may vary according to cell type. These data suggest that variants occasionally carried by the serum prior to reinfection could be selected toward different compartments of the same infected organism, thus favoring the hypothesis of HCV multiple tropism.
Proteolytic Cleavage of the Fusion Protein but Not Membrane Fusion Is Required for Measles Virus-Induced Immunosuppression In Vitro
Authors: Weidmann Armin , Maisner Andrea , Garten Wolfgang , Seufert Marion , ter Meulen Volker , Schneider-Schaulies Sibylle 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACTImmunosuppression induced by measles virus (MV) is associated with unresponsiveness of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) to mitogenic stimulation ex vivo and in vitro. In mixed lymphocyte cultures and in an experimental animal model, the expression of the MV glycoproteins on the surface of UV-inactivated MV particles, MV-infected cells, or cells transfected to coexpress the MV fusion (F) and the hemagglutinin (H) proteins was found to be necessary and sufficient for this phenomenon. We now show that MV fusion-inhibitory peptides do not interfere with the induction of immunosuppression in vitro, indicating that MV F-H-mediated fusion is essentially not involved in this process. Proteolytic cleavage of MV F0protein by cellular proteases, such as furin, into the F1-F2subunits is, however, an absolute requirement, since (i) the inhibitory activity of MV-infected BJAB cells was significantly impaired in the presence of a furin-inhibitory peptide and (ii) cells expressing or viruses containing uncleaved F0proteins revealed a strongly reduced inhibitory activity which was improved following trypsin treatment. The low inhibitory activity of effector structures containing mainly F0proteins was not due to an impaired F0-H interaction, since both surface expression and cocapping efficiencies were similar to those found with the authentic MV F and H proteins. These results indicate that the fusogenic activity of the MV F-H complexes can be uncoupled from their immunosuppressive activity and that the immunosuppressive domains of these proteins are exposed only after proteolytic activation of the MV F0protein.
Characterization and Sequencing of Prototypic Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 (HTLV-1) from an HTLV-1/2 Seroindeterminate Patient
Authors: Waziri Allen , Soldan Samantha S. , Graf Michael D. , Nagle Jim , Jacobson Steven 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACT

Serological screening for human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) parallels the standard screening process for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), in which samples found positive by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) are confirmed with a modified Western blot procedure. There are a significant number of cases in which HTLV-1/2 ELISA-positive specimens demonstrate an incomplete banding pattern on this Western blot. Individuals providing these atypical antibody responses are categorized as seroindeterminate for HTLV-1/2. Although HTLV-1 genomic sequences are readily detectable in the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of seropositive individuals, previous studies have repeatedly demonstrated that PBL from the vast majority of HTLV-1/2 seroindeterminate individuals are PCR negative for HTLV-1. As a result, identification of the agent responsible for this indeterminate reactivity has been of interest. We have generated an HTLV-1-positive B-cell line (SI-1 B) from one of these seroindeterminate individuals. Previous screening for HTLV-1 in PBL from this patient had been routinely negative by primary PCR; however, HTLV-1
tax
had been periodically detected by nested PCR. DNA sequence data generated with genomic DNA from the SI-1 B cell line and HTLV-1-specific primers demonstrated the presence of a full-length viral genome with >97% homology to the Cosmopolitan form of HTLV-1. A 12-bp deletion was identified in the 3′-
gag
/5′-
prot
region, which would predict translation of altered or nonfunctional proteins from these genes. We propose that this HTLV-1/2-seroindeterminate patient is infected with a prototypic form of HTLV-1 at an extremely low viral load and that this finding may explain HTLV-1/2 seroindeterminate reactivity in at least a subset of these individuals.
Interaction of the Adenovirus IVa2 Protein with Viral Packaging Sequences
Authors: Zhang Wei , Imperiale Michael J. 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACT
We have demonstrated previously that the adenovirus L1 52/55-kDa protein binds to the viral IVa2 protein in infected cells. The significance of this interaction was unclear, however, based on the known functions of these two proteins: the 52/55-kDa protein is required for viral DNA packaging, while the IVa2 protein is a transactivator of the major late promoter (MLP). In this report, we have attempted to elucidate a role for each of the two proteins in the other's known function. There is no apparent effect of the 52/55-kDa protein on the interaction of the IVa2 protein with the MLP. Surprisingly, however, we found that the IVa2 protein can interact with the adenoviral packaging signal and that this interaction involves DNA sequences that have previously been demonstrated to be required for packaging.
Pseudopackaging of Adenovirus Type 5 Genomes into Capsids Containing the Hexon Proteins of Adenovirus Serotypes B, D, or E
Authors: Ostapchuk Philomena , Hearing Patrick 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACTAdenoviruses (Ad) show promise as a vector system for gene delivery in vivo. However, a major challenge in the development of Ad vectors is the circumvention of the host immune responses to Ad infection, including both the host cytotoxic T-cell response and the humoral response resulting in neutralizing antibodies. One method to circumvent the effect of neutralizing antibodies against an Ad vector is to use different Ad serotypes to deliver the transgene of interest. This approach has been demonstrated with Ad genomes of highly related members of subgroup C. However, it is not known whether an Ad5-based vector DNA molecule can be packaged into capsids of evolutionarily more divergent adenoviruses. The aim of these studies was to determine if capsids containing hexon proteins from other Ad subgroups could package the Ad5 genome. A genetic approach utilizing an Ad5 temperature-sensitive (ts) mutant with a mutation in the hexon protein was used. When grown at the nonpermissive temperature, Ad5ts147 replicates normally, providing a source of Ad5 DNA for virus assembly, but does not produce virus particles due to the hexon protein mutation. Coinfection of Ad5ts147 with a wild-type virus of other Ad serotypes (Ad3, Ad4, or Ad9), which supply functional hexon proteins, resulted in the pseudopackaging of the Ad5 DNA genome. Furthermore, the pseudopackaged Ad5 DNA virions obtained in the coinfections were infectious. Therefore, switching hexons did not impair the infectivity or uncoating process of the pseudopackaged virion. Since hexon protein is a major antigenic determinant of the Ad capsid, this approach may prove useful to reduce the antigenicity of therapeutic Ad vectors and allow repeated vector administration.
During Readaptation In Vivo, a Tissue Culture-Adapted Strain of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Reverts to Broad Neutralization Resistance at Different Times in Individual Hosts but through Changes at the Same Position of the Surface Glycoprotein
Authors: Bendinelli Mauro , Pistello Mauro , Del Mauro Daniela , Cammarota Giancarlo , Maggi Fabrizio , Leonildi Alessandro , Giannecchini Simone , Bergamini Carlo , Matteucci Donatella 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACT
The broad resistance to antibody-mediated neutralization of lentiviruses recently isolated from infected hosts is a poorly understood feature which might contribute to the ability of these viruses to persist and to the failure of experimental vaccines to protect against virulent viruses. We studied the underlying molecular mechanisms by examining the evolution of a neutralization-sensitive, tissue culture-adapted strain of feline immunodeficiency virus upon reinoculation into specific-pathogen-free cats. Reversion to broad neutralization resistance was observed in seven of seven inoculated animals and, in individual hosts, started to develop between less than 4 and more than 15 months from infection. After comparison of the envelope sequences of the inoculum virus, of an additional 4 neutralization-sensitive in vitro variants, and of 14 ex vivo-derived variants (6 neutralization sensitive, 5 resistant, and 3 with intermediate phenotype), a Lys→Asn or →Glu change at position 481 in the V4 region of the surface glycoprotein appeared as a key player in the reversion. This conclusion was confirmed by mutagenesis of molecularly cloned virus. Analysis of viral quasispecies and biological clones showed that the intermediate phenotype was due to transient coexistence of neutralization-sensitive and -resistant variants. Since the amino acid position involved was the same in four of four recent revertants, it is suggested that the number of residues that control reversion to broad neutralization resistance in FIV might be very limited. Amino acid 481 was found to be changed only in one of three putative long-term revertants. These variants shared a Ser→Asn change at position 557 in region V5, which probably collaborated with other mutations in long-term maintenance of neutralization resistance, as suggested by the study of mutagenized virus.
Analysis of a Novel Strain of Murine Gammaherpesvirus Reveals a Genomic Locus Important for Acute Pathogenesis
Authors: Macrae Alastair I. , Dutia Bernadette M. , Milligan Steven , Brownstein David G. , Allen Deborah J. , Mistrikova Jela , Davison Andrew J. , Nash Anthony A. , Stewart James P. 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACT

Infection of mice by murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68) is an excellent small-animal model of gammaherpesvirus pathogenesis in a natural host. We have carried out comparative studies of another herpesvirus, murine herpesvirus 76 (MHV-76), which was isolated at the same time as MHV-68 but from a different murid host, the yellow-necked mouse (
Apodemus flavicollis)
. Molecular analyses revealed that the MHV-76 genome is essentially identical to that of MHV-68, except for deletion of 9,538 bp at the left end of the unique region. MHV-76 is therefore a deletion mutant that lacks four genes unique to MHV-68 (
M1
,
M2
,
M3,
and
M4
) as well as the eight viral tRNA-like genes. Replication of MHV-76 in cell culture was identical to that of MHV-68. However, following infection of mice, MHV-76 was cleared more rapidly from the lungs. In line with this, there was an increased inflammatory response in lungs with MHV-76. Splenomegaly was also significantly reduced following MHV-76 infection, and much less latent MHV-76 was detected in the spleen. Nevertheless, MHV-76 maintained long-term latency in the lungs and spleen. We utilized a cosmid containing the left end of the MHV-68 genome to reinsert the deleted sequence into MHV-76 by recombination in infected cells, and we isolated a rescuant virus designated MHV-76(cA8+)4 which was ostensibly genetically identical to MHV-68. The growth properties of the rescuant in infected mice were identical to those of MHV-68. These results demonstrate that genetic elements at the left end of the unique region of the MHV-68 genome play vital roles in host evasion and are critical to the development of splenic pathology.