bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Nucleocapsid Protein of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Inhibits Cell Cytokinesis and Proliferation by Interacting with Translation Elongation Factor 1α
Authors: Zhou Bing , Liu Junli , Wang Qiuna , Liu Xuan , Li Xiaorong , Li Ping , Ma Qingjun , Cao Cheng 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is the etiological agent of SARS, an emerging disease characterized by atypical pneumonia. Using a yeast two-hybrid screen with the nucleocapsid (N) protein of SARS-CoV as a bait, the C terminus (amino acids 251 to 422) of the N protein was found to interact with human elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1α), an essential component of the translational machinery with an important role in cytokinesis, promoting the bundling of filamentous actin (F-actin). In vitro and in vivo interaction was then confirmed by immuno-coprecipitation, far-Western blotting, and surface plasmon resonance. It was demonstrated that the N protein of SARS-CoV induces aggregation of EF1α, inhibiting protein translation and cytokinesis by blocking F-actin bundling. Proliferation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes and other human cell lines was significantly inhibited by the infection of recombinant retrovirus expressing SARS-CoV N protein.
Small Interfering RNAs That Deplete the Cellular Translation Factor eIF4H Impede mRNA Degradation by the Virion Host Shutoff Protein of Herpes Simplex Virus
Authors: Sarma Nandini , Agarwal Deepali , Shiflett Lora A. , Read G. Sullivan 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACTThe herpes simplex virus (HSV) virion host shutoff (Vhs) protein is an endoribonuclease that accelerates decay of many host and viral mRNAs. Purified Vhs does not distinguish mRNAs from nonmessenger RNAs and cuts target RNAs at many sites, yet within infected cells it is targeted to mRNAs and cleaves those mRNAs at preferred sites including, for some, regions of translation initiation. This targeting may result in part from Vhs binding to the translation initiation factor eIF4H; in particular, several mutations in Vhs that abrogate its binding to eIF4H also abolish its mRNA-degradative activity, even though the mutant proteins retain endonuclease activity. To further investigate the role of eIF4H in Vhs activity, HeLa cells were depleted of eIF4H or other proteins by transfection with small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) 48 h prior to infection or mock infection in the presence of actinomycin D. Cellular mRNA levels were then assayed 5 h after infection. In cells transfected with an siRNA for the housekeeping enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, wild-type HSV infection reduced β-actin mRNA levels to between 20 and 30% of those in mock-infected cells, indicative of a normal Vhs activity. In contrast, in cells transfected with any of three eIF4H siRNAs, β-actin mRNA levels were indistinguishable in infected and mock-infected cells, suggesting that eIF4H depletion impeded Vhs-mediated degradation. Depletion of the related factor eIF4B did not affect Vhs activity. The data suggest that eIF4H binding is required for Vhs-induced degradation of many mRNAs, perhaps by targeting Vhs to mRNAs and to preferred sites within mRNAs.
Mutations in the Spacer Peptide and Adjoining Sequences in Rous Sarcoma Virus Gag Lead to Tubular Budding
Authors: Keller Paul W. , Johnson Marc C. , Vogt Volker M. 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT
All orthoretroviruses encode a single structural protein, Gag, which is necessary and sufficient for the assembly and budding of enveloped virus-like particles from the cell. The Gag proteins of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) contain a short spacer peptide (SP or SP1, respectively) separating the capsid (CA) and nucleocapsid (NC) domains. SP or SP1 and the residues immediately upstream are known to be critical for proper assembly. Using mutagenesis and electron microscopy analysis of insect cells or chicken cells overexpressing RSV Gag, we defined the SP assembly domain to include the last 8 residues of CA, all 12 residues of SP, and the first 4 residues of NC. Five- or two-amino acid glycine-rich insertions or substitutions in this critical region uniformly resulted in the budding of abnormal, long tubular particles. The equivalent SP1-containing HIV-1 Gag sequence was unable to functionally replace the RSV sequence in supporting normal RSV spherical assembly. According to secondary structure predictions, RSV and HIV-1 SP/SP1 and adjoining residues may form an alpha helix, and what is likely the functionally equivalent sequence in murine leukemia virus Gag has been inferred by mutational analysis to form an amphipathic alpha helix. However, our alanine insertion mutagenesis did not provide evidence for an amphipathic helix in RSV Gag. Taken together, these results define a short assembly domain between the folded portions of CA and NC, which is essential for formation of the immature Gag shell.
Annexin II Incorporated into Influenza Virus Particles Supports Virus Replication by Converting Plasminogen into Plasmin
Authors: LeBouder Fanny , Morello Eric , Rimmelzwaan Guus F. , Bosse Françoise , Péchoux Christine , Delmas Bernard , Riteau Béatrice 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT
For influenza viruses to become infectious, the proteolytic cleavage of hemagglutinin (HA) is essential. This usually is mediated by trypsin-like proteases in the respiratory tract. The binding of plasminogen to influenza virus A/WSN/33 leads to the cleavage of HA, a feature determining its pathogenicity and neurotropism in mice. Here, we demonstrate that plasminogen also promotes the replication of other influenza virus strains. The inhibition of the conversion of plasminogen into plasmin blocked influenza virus replication. Evidence is provided that the activation of plasminogen is mediated by the host cellular protein annexin II, which is incorporated into the virus particles. Indeed, the inhibition of plasminogen binding to annexin II by using a competitive inhibitor inhibits plasminogen activation into plasmin. Collectively, these results indicate that the annexin II-mediated activation of plasminogen supports the replication of influenza viruses, which may contribute to their pathogenicity.
The UL25 Gene Product of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Is Involved in Uncoating of the Viral Genome
Authors: Preston Valerie G. , Murray Jill , Preston Christopher M. , McDougall Iris M. , Stow Nigel D. 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT

Studies on the herpes simplex virus type 1 UL25-null mutant KUL25NS have shown that the capsid-associated UL25 protein is required at a late stage in the encapsidation of viral DNA. Our previous work on UL25 with the UL25 temperature-sensitive (
ts
) mutant
ts
1204 also implicated UL25 in a role at very early times in the virus growth cycle, possibly at the stage of penetration of the host cell. We have reexamined this mutant and discovered that it had an additional
ts
mutation elsewhere in the genome. The
ts
1204 UL25 mutation was transferred into wild-type (wt) virus DNA, and the UL25 mutant
ts
1249 was isolated and characterized to clarify the function of UL25 at the initial stages of virus infection. Indirect immunofluorescence assays and in situ hybridization analysis of virus-infected cells revealed that the mutant
ts
1249 was not impaired in penetration of the host cell but had an uncoating defect at the nonpermissive temperature. When
ts
1249-infected cells were incubated initially at the permissive temperature to allow uncoating of the viral genome and subsequently transferred to the restrictive temperature, a DNA-packaging defect was evident. The results suggested that
ts
1249, like KUL25NS, had a block at a late stage of DNA packaging and that the packaged genome was shorter than the full-length genome. Examination of
ts
1249 capsids produced at the nonpermissive temperature revealed that, in comparison with wt capsids, they contained reduced amounts of UL25 protein, thereby providing a possible explanation for the failure of
ts
1249 to package full-length viral DNA.
Antibodies to Envelope Glycoprotein of Dengue Virus during the Natural Course of Infection Are Predominantly Cross-Reactive and Recognize Epitopes Containing Highly Conserved Residues at the Fusion Loop of Domain II
Authors: Lai Chih-Yun , Tsai Wen-Yang , Lin Su-Ru , Kao Chuan-Liang , Hu Hsien-Ping , King Chwan-Chuen , Wu Han-Chung , Chang Gwong-Jen , Wang Wei-Kung 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT
The antibody response to the envelope (E) glycoprotein of dengue virus (DENV) is known to play a critical role in both protection from and enhancement of disease, especially after primary infection. However, the relative amounts of homologous and heterologous anti-E antibodies and their epitopes remain unclear. In this study, we examined the antibody responses to E protein as well as to precursor membrane (PrM), capsid, and nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) of four serotypes of DENV by Western blot analysis of DENV serotype 2-infected patients with different disease severity and immune status during an outbreak in southern Taiwan in 2002. Based on the early-convalescent-phase sera tested, the rates of antibody responses to PrM and NS1 proteins were significantly higher in patients with secondary infection than in those with primary infection. A blocking experiment and neutralization assay showed that more than 90% of anti-E antibodies after primary infection were cross-reactive and nonneutralizing against heterologous serotypes and that only a minor proportion were type specific, which may account for the type-specific neutralization activity. Moreover, the E-binding activity in sera of 10 patients with primary infection was greatly reduced by amino acid replacements of three fusion loop residues, tryptophan at position 101, leucine at position 107, and phenylalanine at position 108, but not by replacements of those outside the fusion loop of domain II, suggesting that the predominantly cross-reactive anti-E antibodies recognized epitopes involving the highly conserved residues at the fusion loop of domain II. These findings have implications for our understanding of the pathogenesis of dengue and for the future design of subunit vaccine against DENV as well.
Differential Antigen Requirements for Protection against Systemic and Intranasal Vaccinia Virus Challenges in Mice
Authors: Kaufman David R. , Goudsmit Jaap , Holterman Lennart , Ewald Bonnie A. , Denholtz Matthew , Devoy Colleen , Giri Ayush , Grandpre Lauren E. , Heraud Jean-Michel , Franchini Genoveffa , Seaman Michael S. , Havenga Menzo J. E. , Barouch Dan H. 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT
The development of a subunit vaccine for smallpox represents a potential strategy to avoid the safety concerns associated with replication-competent vaccinia virus. Preclinical studies to date with subunit smallpox vaccine candidates, however, have been limited by incomplete information regarding protective antigens and the requirement for multiple boost immunizations to afford protective immunity. Here we explore the protective efficacy of replication-incompetent, recombinant adenovirus serotype 35 (rAd35) vectors expressing the vaccinia virus intracellular mature virion (IMV) antigens A27L and L1R and extracellular enveloped virion (EEV) antigens A33R and B5R in a murine vaccinia virus challenge model. A single immunization with the rAd35-L1R vector effectively protected mice against a lethal systemic vaccinia virus challenge. The rAd35-L1R vector also proved more efficacious than the combination of four rAd35 vectors expressing A27L, L1R, A33R, and B5R. Moreover, serum containing L1R-specific neutralizing antibodies afforded postexposure prophylaxis after systemic vaccinia virus infection. In contrast, the combination of rAd35-L1R and rAd35-B5R vectors was required to protect mice against a lethal intranasal vaccinia virus challenge, suggesting that both IMV- and EEV-specific immune responses are important following intranasal infection. Taken together, these data demonstrate that different protective antigens are required based on the route of vaccinia virus challenge. These studies also suggest that rAd vectors warrant further assessment as candidate subunit smallpox vaccines.
Structural Analysis of Major Species Barriers between Humans and Palm Civets for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infections
Authors: Li Fang 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT
It is believed that a novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), was passed from palm civets to humans and caused the epidemic of SARS in 2002 to 2003. The major species barriers between humans and civets for SARS-CoV infections are the specific interactions between a defined receptor-binding domain (RBD) on a viral spike protein and its host receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). In this study a chimeric ACE2 bearing the critical N-terminal helix from civet and the remaining peptidase domain from human was constructed, and it was shown that this construct has the same receptor activity as civet ACE2. In addition, crystal structures of the chimeric ACE2 complexed with RBDs from various human and civet SARS-CoV strains were determined. These structures, combined with a previously determined structure of human ACE2 complexed with the RBD from a human SARS-CoV strain, have revealed a structural basis for understanding the major species barriers between humans and civets for SARS-CoV infections. They show that the major species barriers are determined by interactions between four ACE2 residues (residues 31, 35, 38, and 353) and two RBD residues (residues 479 and 487), that early civet SARS-CoV isolates were prevented from infecting human cells due to imbalanced salt bridges at the hydrophobic virus/receptor interface, and that SARS-CoV has evolved to gain sustained infectivity for human cells by eliminating unfavorable free charges at the interface through stepwise mutations at positions 479 and 487. These results enhance our understanding of host adaptations and cross-species infections of SARS-CoV and other emerging animal viruses.
Comparison of G-to-A Mutation Frequencies Induced by APOBEC3 Proteins in H9 Cells and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in the Context of Impaired Processivities of Drug-Resistant Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Reverse Transcriptase Variants
Authors: Knoepfel Stefanie Andrea , Salisch Nadine Christina , Huelsmann Peter Michael , Rauch Pia , Walter Hauke , Metzner Karin Jutta 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT

APOBEC3 proteins can inhibit human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication by inducing G-to-A mutations in newly synthesized viral DNA. However, HIV-1 is able to overcome the antiretroviral activity of some of those enzymes by the viral protein Vif. We investigated the impact of different processivities of HIV-1 reverse transcriptases (RT) on the frequencies of G-to-A mutations introduced by APOBEC3 proteins. Wild-type RT or the M184V, M184I, and K65R+M184V RT variants, which are increasingly impaired in their processivities, were used in the context of a
vif
-deficient molecular HIV-1 clone to infect H9 cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). After two rounds of infection, a part of the HIV-1
env
gene was amplified, cloned, and sequenced. The M184V mutation led to G-to-A mutation frequencies that were similar to those of the wild-type RT in H9 cells and PBMCs. The frequencies of G-to-A mutations were increased after infection with the M184I virus variant. This effect was augmented when using the K65R+M184V virus variant (
P
< 0.001). Overall, the G-to-A mutation frequencies were lower in PBMCs than in H9 cells. Remarkably, 38% ± 18% (mean ± standard deviation) of the
env
clones derived from PBMCs did not harbor any G-to-A mutation. This was rarely observed in H9 cells (3% ± 3%). Our data imply that the frequency of G-to-A mutations induced by APOBEC3 proteins can be influenced by the processivities of HIV-1 RT variants. The high number of nonmutated clones derived from PBMCs leads to several hypotheses, including that additional antiretroviral mechanisms of APOBEC3 proteins other than their deamination activity might be involved in the inhibition of
vif
-deficient viruses.
Interactions of Murine APOBEC3 and Human APOBEC3G with Murine Leukemia Viruses
Authors: Rulli Samuel J. , Mirro Jane , Hill Shawn A. , Lloyd Patricia , Gorelick Robert J. , Coffin John M. , Derse David , Rein Alan 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT
APOBEC3 proteins are cytidine deaminases which help defend cells against retroviral infections. One antiviral mechanism involves deaminating dC residues in minus-strand DNA during reverse transcription, resulting in G-to-A mutations in the coding strand. We investigated the effects of mouse APOBEC3 (mA3) and human APOBEC3G (hA3G) upon Moloney murine leukemia virus (MLV). We find that mA3 inactivates MLV but is significantly less effective against MLV than is hA3G. In contrast, mA3 is as potent against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1, lacking the protective Vif protein) as is hA3G. The two APOBEC3 proteins are packaged to similar extents in MLV particles. Dose-response profiles imply that a single APOBEC3 molecule (or oligomer) is sufficient to inactivate an MLV particle. The inactivation of MLV by mA3 and hA3G is accompanied by relatively small reductions in the amount of viral DNA in infected cells. Although hA3G induces significant levels of G-to-A mutations in both MLV and HIV DNAs, and mA3 induces these mutations in HIV DNA, no such mutations were detected in DNA synthesized by MLV inactivated by mA3. Thus, MLV has apparently evolved to partially resist the antiviral effects of mA3 and to totally resist the ability of mA3 to induce G-to-A mutation in viral DNA. Unlike the resistance of HIV-1 and human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 to hA3G, the resistance of MLV to mA3 is not mediated by the exclusion of APOBEC from the virus particle. The nature of its resistance and the mechanism of inactivation of MLV by mA3 are completely unknown.
Interaction between Polypeptide 3ABC and the 5′-Terminal Structural Elements of the Genome of Aichi Virus: Implication for Negative-Strand RNA Synthesis
Authors: Nagashima Shigeo , Sasaki Jun , Taniguchi Koki 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT

Secondary structural elements at the 5′ end of picornavirus genomic RNA function as
cis
-acting replication elements and are known to interact specifically with viral P3 proteins in several picornaviruses. In poliovirus, ribonucleoprotein complex formation at the 5′ end of the genome is required for negative-strand synthesis. We have previously shown that the 5′-end 115 nucleotides of the Aichi virus genome, which are predicted to fold into two stem-loops (SL-A and SL-C) and one pseudoknot (PK-B), act as a
cis
-acting replication element and that correct folding of these structures is required for negative-strand synthesis. In this study, we investigated the interaction between the 5′-terminal 120 nucleotides of the genome and the P3 proteins, 3AB, 3ABC, 3C, and 3CD, by gel shift assay and Northwestern analysis. The results showed that 3ABC and 3CD bound to the 5′-terminal region specifically. The binding of 3ABC was observed on both assays, while that of 3CD was detected only on Northwestern analysis. No binding of 3AB or 3C was observed. Binding assays using mutant RNAs demonstrated that disruption of the base pairings of the stem of SL-A and one of the two stem segments of PK-B (stem-B1) abolished the 3ABC binding. In addition, the specific nucleotide sequence of stem-B1 was responsible for the efficient 3ABC binding. These results suggest that the interaction of 3ABC with the 5′-terminal region of the genome is involved in negative-strand synthesis. On the other hand, the ability of 3CD to interact with the 5′-terminal region did not correlate with the RNA replication ability.
Functional Domains and the Antiviral Effect of the Double-Stranded RNA-Dependent Protein Kinase PKR from
Paralichthys olivaceus
Authors: Zhu Rong , Zhang Yi-Bing , Zhang Qi-Ya , Gui Jian-Fang 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT

The double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-dependent protein kinase PKR is thought to mediate a conserved antiviral pathway by inhibiting viral protein synthesis via the phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2α). However, little is known about the data related to the lower vertebrates, including fish. Recently, the identification of PKR-like, or PKZ, has addressed the question of whether there is an orthologous PKR in fish. Here, we identify the first fish
PKR
gene from the Japanese flounder
Paralichthys olivaceus
(
PoPKR
).
PoPKR
encodes a protein that shows a conserved structure that is characteristic of mammalian PKRs, having both the N-terminal region for dsRNA binding and the C-terminal region for the inhibition of protein translation. The catalytic activity of
PoPKR
is further evidence that it is required for protein translation inhibition in vitro.
PoPKR
is constitutively transcribed at low levels and is highly induced after virus infection. Strikingly,
PoPKR
overexpression increases eIF2α phosphorylation and inhibits the replication of
Scophthalmus maximus
rhabdovirus (SMRV) in flounder embryonic cells, whereas phosphorylation and antiviral effects are impaired in transfected cells expressing the catalytically inactive PKR-K421R variant, indicating that
PoPKR
inhibits virus replication by phosphorylating substrate eIF2α. The interaction between
PoPKR
and eIF2α is demonstrated by coimmunoprecipitation assays, and the transfection of
PoPKR
-specific short interfering RNA further reveals that the enhanced eIF2α phosphorylation is catalyzed by
PoPKR
during SMRV infection. The current data provide significant evidence for the existence of a PKR-mediated antiviral pathway in fish and reveal considerable conservation in the functional domains and the antiviral effect of PKR proteins between fish and mammals.
Hypovirus Papain-Like Protease p48 Is Required for Initiation but Not for Maintenance of Virus RNA Propagation in the Chestnut Blight Fungus
Cryphonectria parasitica
Authors: Deng Fuyou , Nuss Donald L. 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT

The prototypic hypovirus CHV1-EP713, responsible for virulence attenuation (hypovirulence) of the chestnut blight fungus
Cryphonectria parasitica
, encodes two papain-like proteases, p29 and p48. Protein p29 has been shown to be dispensable for hypovirus RNA replication and to act as a suppressor of RNA silencing. Here we describe a role for p48 in hypovirus RNA propagation. CHV1-EP713 infectious cDNA clones in which the p48 coding region was deleted, Δp48, were unable to establish infection in
C. parasitica
when introduced as a DNA form by transformation or as a coding strand transcript by electroporation. However, the Δp48 mutant virus RNA was rescued when p48 was provided in
trans
. Surprisingly, the Δp48 mutant viruses retained replication competence in the apparent absence of p48 following transmission to wild-type
C. parasitica
and successive subculturing. The replicating Δp48 mutant virus was reduced in RNA accumulation by 60% both in the absence and presence of p48 provided in
trans
and was transmitted through asexual spores (conidia) at a rate 3 to 8% of that for full-length CHV1-EP713. Complementary analysis of strains expressing p48 or containing the replicating Δp48 mutant virus showed that like p29, p48 contributes to virus-mediated suppression of host pigmentation and conidiation, although to a lesser extent, and is dispensable for hypovirus-mediated hypovirulence. The combined results suggest that papain-like protease p48 plays an essential role in the initiation but not the maintenance of virus RNA propagation and also contributes to the regulation of viral RNA accumulation and vertical transmission.