Cell surface vimentin is an attachment receptor for enterovirus 71

Enterovirus 71 infection of motor neuron-like NSC-34 cells undergoes a non-lytic exit pathway

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) causing Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease, is regarded as the most important neurotropic virus worldwide. EV71 is believed to replicate in muscles and infect motor neurons to reach the central nervous system (CNS). To further investigate the mechanisms involved, we have employed the motor neuron cell line NSC-34. NSC-34 cells were permissive to EV71 and virus production yields were strain-dependent with differential efficacy at the entry, replication and egress steps. Furthermore, unlike all the other cell lines previously reported, EV71-infected NSC-34 cells neither displayed cytopathic effect nor underwent apoptosis. Instead, autophagy was markedly up-regulated and virus-containing autophagic vacuoles were isolated from the culture supernatant, providing the first experimental evidence that EV71 can adopt a non-lytic exit pathway. Finally, the ability of EV71 to infect productively NSC-34 cells correlated with its ability to invade the CNS in vivo, supporting the relevance of NSC-34 cells to study the intrinsic neurovirulence of EV71 strains.

Enterovirus 71 2B Induces Cell Apoptosis by Directly Inducing the Conformational Activation of the Proapoptotic Protein Bax

To survive and replicate within a host, many viruses have evolved strategies that target crucial components within the apoptotic cascade, leading to either inhibition or induction of cell apoptosis. Enterovirus 71 (EV71) infections have been demonstrated to impact the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and induce apoptosis in many cell lines. However, the detailed mechanism of EV71-induced apoptosis remains to be elucidated. In this study, we report that EV71 2B protein (2B) localized to the mitochondria and induced cell apoptosis by interacting directly with and activating the proapoptotic protein Bax. 2B recruited Bax to the mitochondria and induced Bax conformational activation. In addition, mitochondria isolated from 2B-expressing cells that were treated with a recombinant Bax showed increased Bax interaction and cytochrome c (Cyt c) release. Importantly, apoptosis in cells with either EV71 infection or 2B expression was dramatically reduced in Bax knockdown cells but not in Bak knockdown cells, suggesting that Bax played a pivotal role in EV71- or 2B-induced apoptosis. Further studies indicate that a hydrophobic region of 18 amino acids (aa) in the C-terminal region of 2B (aa 63 to 80) was responsible for the location of 2B in the mitochondria. A hydrophilic region of 14 aa in the N-terminal region of 2B was functional in Bax interaction and its subsequent activation. Moreover, overexpression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-X_L abrogates 2B-induced release of Cyt c and caspase activation. Therefore, this study provides direct evidence that EV71 2B induces cell apoptosis and impacts the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway by directly modulating the redistribution and activation of proapoptotic protein Bax.

IMPORTANCE

EV71 infections are usually accompanied by severe neurological complications. It has also been postulated that the induction of cell apoptosis resulting from tissue damage is a possible process of EV71-related pathogenesis. In this study, we report that EV71 2B protein (2B) localized to the mitochondria and induced cell apoptosis by interacting directly with and activating the proapoptotic protein Bax. This study provides evidence that EV71 induces cell apoptosis by modulating Bax activation and reveals important clues regarding the mechanism of Cyt c release and mitochondrial permeabilization during EV71 infection.

Enterovirus A71 DNA-Launched Infectious Clone as a Robust Reverse Genetic Tool

Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) causes major outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease, and is occasionally associated with neurological complications and death in children. Reverse genetics is widely used in the field of virology for functional study of viral genes. For EV-A71, such tools are limited to clones that are transcriptionally controlled by T7/SP6 bacteriophage promoter. This is often time-consuming and expensive. Here, we describe the development of infectious plasmid DNA-based EV-A71 clones, for which EV-A71 genome expression is under transcriptional control by the CMV-intermediate early promoter and SV40 transcriptional-termination signal. Transfection of this EV-A71 infectious DNA produces good virus yield similar to in vitro-transcribed EV-A71 infectious RNA, 6.4 and 5.8 log₁₀PFU/ml, respectively. Infectious plasmid with enhanced green fluorescence protein and Nano luciferase reporter genes also produced good virus titers, with 4.3 and 5.0 log₁₀ PFU/ml, respectively. Another infectious plasmid with both CMV and T7 promoters was also developed for easy manipulation of in vitro transcription or direct plasmid transfection. Transfection with either dual-promoter infectious plasmid DNA or infectious RNA derived from this dual-promoter clone produced infectious viral particles. Incorporation of hepatitis delta virus ribozyme, which yields precise 3’ ends of the DNA-launched EV-A71 genomic transcripts, increased infectious viral production. In contrast, the incorporation of hammerhead ribozyme in the DNA-launched EV-A71 resulted in lower virus yield, but improved the virus titers for T7 promoter-derived infectious RNA. This study describes rapid and robust reverse genetic tools for EV-A71.

Amphotericin B Inhibits Enterovirus 71 Replication by Impeding Viral Entry

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection causes hand-foot-and-mouth disease that leads to cardiopulmonary complications and death in young children. There is thus an urgent need to find new treatments to control EV71 infection. In this study, we report potent inhibition of EV71 by a polyene antibiotic Amphotericin B. Amphotericin B profoundly diminished the expression of EV71 RNA and viral proteins in the RD cells and the HEK293 cells. As a result, EV71 production was inhibited by Amphotericin B with an EC50 (50% effective concentration) of 1.75 μM in RD cells and 0.32 μM in 293 cells. In addition to EV71, EV68 was also strongly inhibited by Amphotericin B. Results of mechanistic studies revealed that Amphotericin B targeted the early stage of EV71 infection through impairing the attachment and internalization of EV71 by host cells. As an effective anti-fungi drug, Amphotericin B thus holds the promise of formulating a novel therapeutic to treat EV71 infection.

Suppression of Vimentin Phosphorylation by the Avian Reovirus p17 through Inhibition of CDK1 and Plk1 Impacting the G2/M Phase of the Cell Cycle

The p17 protein of avian reovirus (ARV) causes cell cycle retardation in a variety of cell lines; however, the underlying mechanism(s) by which p17 regulates the cell cycle remains largely unknown. We demonstrate for the first time that p17 interacts with CDK1 and vimentin as revealed by reciprocal co-immunoprecipitation and GST pull-down assays. Both in vitro and in vivo studies indicated that direct interaction of p17 and CDK1/vimentin was mapped within the amino terminus (aa 1-60) of p17 and central region (aa 27-118) of CDK1/vimentin. Furthermore, p17 was found to occupy the Plk1-binding site within the vimentin, thereby blocking Plk1 recruitment to CDK1-induced vimentin phosphorylation at Ser 56. Interaction of p17 to CDK1 or vimentin interferes with CDK1-catalyzed phosphorylation of vimentin at Ser 56 and subsequently vimentin phosphorylation at Ser 82 by Plk1. Furthermore, we have identified upstream signaling pathways and cellular factor(s) targeted by p17 and found that p17 regulates inhibitory phosphorylation of CDK1 and blocks vimentin phosphorylation at Ser 56 and Ser 82. The p17-mediated inactivation of CDK1 is dependent on several mechanisms, which include direct interaction with CDK1, p17-mediated suppression of Plk1 by activating the Tpr/p53 and ATM/Chk1/PP2A pathways, and p17-mediated cdc25C degradation via an ubiquitin- proteasome pathway. Additionally, depletion of p53 with a shRNA as well as inhibition of ATM and vimentin by inhibitors diminished virus yield while Tpr and CDK1 knockdown increased virus yield. Taken together, results demonstrate that p17 suppresses both CDK1 and Plk1functions, disrupts vimentin phosphorylation, causes G2/M cell cycle arrest and thus benefits virus replication.

A versatile approach towards multivalent saccharide displays on magnetic nanoparticles and phospholipid vesicles

A simple synthetic route has been devised for the production of coating agents that can give multivalent displays of saccharides on the surface of magnetite nanoparticles and phospholipid vesicles. A versatile and potentially high-throughput condensation reaction allowed the rapid synthesis of a variety of glycosylhydrazide conjugates with lipid, resorcinol or catechol termini, each in good yield and high anomeric purity. The hydrolytic stability of these adducts was assessed in D2O at different pD values using (1)H-NMR spectroscopy, whilst quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) confirmed that the saccharide functionality on bilayers and on nanoparticles was still available to lectins. These multivalent saccharide displays promoted nanoparticle interactions with cells, for example N-acetylglucosamine-coated nanoparticles interacted much more effectively with 3T3 fibroblasts than uncoated nanoparticles with these cells. Despite potential sensitivity to oxidation, catechol coatings on magnetite nanoparticles were found to be more stable and generate better nanoparticle interactions with fibroblasts than resorcinol coatings.

Cooperative effect of the VP1 amino acids 98E, 145A and 169F in the productive infection of mouse cell lines by enterovirus 71 (BS strain)

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is a neurotrophic virus that causes hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) and occasional neurological infection among children. It infects primate cells but not rodent cells, primarily due to the incompatibility between the virus and the expressed form of its receptor, scavenger receptor class B member 2 (SCARB2) protein, on rodent cells (mSCARB2). We previously generated adapted strains (EV71:TLLm and EV71:TLLmv) that were shown to productively infect primate and rodent cell lines and whose genomes exhibited a multitude of non-synonymous mutations compared with the EV71:BS parental virus. In this study, we aimed to identify mutations that are necessary for productive infection of murine cells by EV71:BS. Using reverse genetics and site-directed mutagenesis, we constructed EV71 infectious clones with specific mutations that generated amino acid substitutions in the capsid VP1 and VP2 proteins. We subsequently assessed the infection induced by clone-derived viruses (CDVs) in mouse embryonic fibroblast NIH/3T3 and murine neuroblastoma Neuro-2a cell lines. We found that the CDV:BS-VP1(K98E,E145A,L169F) with three substitutions in the VP1 protein-K98E, E145A and L169F-productively infected both mouse cell lines for at least three passages of the virus in murine cells. Moreover, the virus gained the ability to utilize the mSCARB2 protein to infect murine cell lines. These results demonstrate that the three VP1 residues cooperate to effectively interact with the mSCARB2 protein on murine cells and permit the virus to infect murine cells. Gain-of-function studies similar to the present work provide valuable insight into the mutational trajectory required for EV71 to infect new host cells previously non-susceptible to infection.

Quantitative interactome reveals that porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus nonstructural protein 2 forms a complex with viral nucleocapsid protein and cellular vimentin

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is an Arterivirus that has heavily impacted the global swine industry. The PRRSV nonstructural protein 2 (nsp2) plays crucial roles in viral replication and host immune regulation, most likely by interacting with viral or cellular proteins that have not yet been identified. In this study, a quantitative interactome approach based on immunoprecipitation and stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) was performed to identify nsp2-interacting proteins in PRRSV-infected cells with an nsp2-specific monoclonal antibody. Nine viral proteins and 62 cellular proteins were identified as potential nsp2-interacting partners. Our data demonstrate that the PRRSV nsp1α, nsp1β, and nucleocapsid proteins all interact directly with nsp2. Nsp2-interacting cellular proteins were classified into different functional groups and an interactome network of nsp2 was generated. Interestingly, cellular vimentin, a known receptor for PRRSV, forms a complex with nsp2 by using viral nucleocapsid protein as an intermediate. Taken together, the nsp2 interactome under the condition of virus infection clarifies a role of nsp2 in PRRSV replication and immune evasion.

BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Viral proteins must interact with other virus-encoded proteins and/or host cellular proteins to function, and interactome analysis is an ideal approach for identifying such interacting proteins. In this study, we used the quantitative interactome methodology to identify the viral and cellular proteins that potentially interact with the nonstructural protein 2 (nsp2) of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) under virus infection conditions, thus providing a rich source of potential viral and cellular interaction partners for PRRSV nsp2. Based on the interactome data, we further demonstrated that PRRSV nsp2 and nucleocapsid protein together with cellular vimentin, form a complex that may be essential for viral attachment and replication, which partly explains the role of nsp2 in PRRSV replication and immune evasion.

Vimentin in Bacterial Infections

Despite well-studied bacterial strategies to target actin to subvert the host cell cytoskeleton, thus promoting bacterial survival, replication, and dissemination, relatively little is known about the bacterial interaction with other components of the host cell cytoskeleton, including intermediate filaments (IFs). IFs have not only roles in maintaining the structural integrity of the cell, but they are also involved in many cellular processes including cell adhesion, immune signaling, and autophagy, processes that are important in the context of bacterial infections. Here, we summarize the knowledge about the role of IFs in bacterial infections, focusing on the type III IF protein vimentin. Recent studies have revealed the involvement of vimentin in host cell defenses, acting as ligand for several pattern recognition receptors of the innate immune system. Two main aspects of bacteria-vimentin interactions are presented in this review: the role of vimentin in pathogen-binding on the cell surface and subsequent bacterial invasion and the interaction of cytosolic vimentin and intracellular pathogens with regards to innate immune signaling. Mechanistic insight is presented involving distinct bacterial virulence factors that target vimentin to subvert its function in order to change the host cell fate in the course of a bacterial infection.

Laminin receptor is an interacting partner for viral outer capsid protein VP5 in grass carp reovirus infection

Grass carp reovirus (GCRV) is responsible for viral hemorrhagic disease in cultured grass carp Ctenopharyngon idellus. Through yeast two-hybrid screen, laminin receptor (LamR) was identified as a potential interacting partner for the outer capsid protein VP5 of GCRV. We cloned and sequenced the gene encoding grass carp LamR. Viral attachment assay demonstrated the involvement of membrane-associated LamR in GCRV infection. Solid-phase overlay assays demonstrated that GCRV interacted with GST-tagged LamR in vitro. In contrast to VP7, GST-tagged VP5 was shown to associate with LamR in both pull-down and solid-phase blot overlay assays. With the reduction of LamR expression in CIK cells achieved by RNAi, remarkably reduced infection efficiency of GCRV was observed. CIK cells pretreated with polyclonal antibody against LamR resulted in dose-dependent inhibition of GCRV infection. These results collectively indicated that grass carp LamR was involved in GCRV infection by interacting with viral outer capsid protein VP5.

Rhinoviruses and Respiratory Enteroviruses: Not as Simple as ABC

Rhinoviruses (RVs) and respiratory enteroviruses (EVs) are leading causes of upper respiratory tract infections and among the most frequent infectious agents in humans worldwide. Both are classified in the Enterovirus genus within the Picornaviridae family and they have been assigned to seven distinct species, RV-A, B, C and EV-A, B, C, D. As viral infections of public health significance, they represent an important financial burden on health systems worldwide. However, the lack of efficient antiviral treatment or vaccines against these highly prevalent pathogens prevents an effective management of RV-related diseases. Current advances in molecular diagnostic techniques have revealed the presence of RV in the lower respiratory tract and its role in lower airway diseases is increasingly reported. In addition to an established etiological role in the common cold, these viruses demonstrate an unexpected capacity to spread to other body sites under certain conditions. Some of these viruses have received particular attention recently, such as EV-D68 that caused a large outbreak of respiratory illness in 2014, respiratory EVs from species C, or viruses within the newly-discovered RV-C species. This review provides an update of the latest findings on clinical and fundamental aspects of RV and respiratory EV, including a summary of basic knowledge of their biology.

Identification of Positively Charged Residues in Enterovirus 71 Capsid Protein VP1 Essential for Production of Infectious Particles

Enterovirus 71 (EV71), a positive-stranded RNA virus, is the major cause of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) in children, which can cause severe central nervous system disease and death. The capsids of EV71 consist of 60 copies of each of four viral structural proteins (VP1 to VP4), with VP1, VP2, and VP3 exposed on the surface and VP4 arranged internally. VP1 plays a central role in particle assembly and cell entry. To gain insight into the role of positively charged residues in VP1 function in these processes, a charged-to-alanine scanning analysis was performed using an infectious cDNA clone of EV71. Twenty-seven mutants containing single charged-to-alanine changes were tested. Sixteen of them were not viable, seven mutants were replication defective, and the remaining four mutants were replication competent. By selecting revertants, second-site mutations which could at least partially restore viral infectivity were identified within VP1 for four defective mutations and two lethal mutations. The resulting residue pairs represent a network of intra- and intermolecular interactions of the VP1 protein which could serve as a potential novel drug target. Interestingly, mutation K215A in the VP1 GH loop led to a significant increase in thermal stability, demonstrating that conditional thermostable mutants can be generated by altering the charge characteristics of VP1. Moreover, all mutants were sensitive to the EV71 entry inhibitor suramin, which binds to the virus particle via the negatively charged naphthalenetrisulfonic acid group, suggesting that single charged-to-alanine mutation is not sufficient for suramin resistance. Taken together, these data highlight the importance of positively charged residues in VP1 for production of infectious particles.

IMPORTANCE

Infection with EV71 is more often associated with neurological complications in children and is responsible for the majority of fatalities. No licensed vaccines or antiviral therapies are currently available for the prevention or treatment of EV71 infection. Understanding the determinants of virion assembly and entry will facilitate vaccine development and drug discovery. Here, we identified 23 out of 27 positively charged residues in VP1 which impaired or blocked the production of infectious particles. The defect could be rescued by second-site mutations within the VP1 protein. Our findings highlight the importance of positively charged residues in VP1 during infectious particle production and reveal a potential strategy for blocking EV71 infections by inhibiting intra- or intermolecular interactions of the VP1 protein.

The Suramin Derivative NF449 Interacts with the 5-fold Vertex of the Enterovirus A71 Capsid to Prevent Virus Attachment to PSGL-1 and Heparan Sulfate

NF449, a sulfated compound derived from the antiparasitic drug suramin, was previously reported to inhibit infection by enterovirus A71 (EV-A71). In the current work, we found that NF449 inhibits virus attachment to target cells, and specifically blocks virus interaction with two identified receptors—the P-selectin ligand, PSGL-1, and heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan—with no effect on virus binding to a third receptor, the scavenger receptor SCARB2. We also examined a number of commercially available suramin analogues, and newly synthesized derivatives of NF449; among these, NF110 and NM16, like NF449, inhibited virus attachment at submicromolar concentrations. PSGL-1 and heparan sulfate, but not SCARB2, are both sulfated molecules, and their interaction with EV-A71 is thought to involve positively charged capsid residues, including a conserved lysine at VP1-244, near the icosahedral 5-fold vertex. We found that mutation of VP1-244 resulted in resistance to NF449, suggesting that this residue is involved in NF449 interaction with the virus capsid. Consistent with this idea, NF449 and NF110 prevented virus interaction with monoclonal antibody MA28-7, which specifically recognizes an epitope overlapping VP1-244 at the 5-fold vertex. Based on these observations we propose that NF449 and related compounds compete with sulfated receptor molecules for a binding site at the 5-fold vertex of the EV-A71 capsid.

Enterovirus A71 is epidemic in the Asia-Pacific region, and has been responsible for thousands of cases of fatal neurological disease in young children. There are no specific therapies available. We previously identified NF449 as a compound with anti-EV-A71 activity, although its mechanism of action was uncertain. In the current work we found that NF449 and related molecules prevent virus attachment both to PSGL-1, a receptor molecule important for virus interaction with white blood cells, and to heparan sulfate, a receptor that may be important for virus interaction with a variety of other cell types. In contrast, we found that NF449 had no effect on virus attachment to another proposed receptor, SCARB2. We also found that NF449 and related compounds interact with a specific site on the viral capsid, remote from the binding site for another major receptor, SCARB2. Our work provides information that may facilitate development of improved antiviral compounds that block the attachment of EV-A71 to cellular receptors.

Analysis of EV71 infection progression using triple-SILAC-based proteomics approach

Enterovirus 71 (EV71), a member of Picornaviridae, causes severe neurological and systemic illness in children. To better understand the virus-host cell interactions, we performed a triple-SILAC-based quantitative proteomics study monitoring host cell proteome changes after EV71 infection. Based on the quantitative data for more than 4100 proteins, ∼17% of the proteins were found as significantly changed (p<0.01) at either 8 or 20 hours post infection. Five biological processes and seven protein classes showed significant differences. Functional screening of nine regulated proteins discovered the regulatory role of CHCH2, a mitochondrial protein known as a transcriptional activator for cytochrome c oxidase, in EV71 replication. Further studies showed that CHCH2 served as a negative regulator of innate immune responses. All MS data have been deposited in the ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD002483 (http://proteomecentral.proteomexchange.org/dataset/PXD002483).

Recent advances from studies on the role of structural proteins in enterovirus infection

Enteroviruses are a large group of small nonenveloped viruses that cause common and debilitating illnesses affecting humans and animals worldwide. The capsid composed by viral structural proteins packs the RNA genome. It is becoming apparent that structural proteins of enteroviruses play versatile roles in the virus–host interaction in the viral life cycle, more than just a shell. Furthermore, structural proteins to some extent may be associated with viral virulence and pathogenesis. Better understanding the roles of structural proteins in enterovirus infection may lead to the development of potential antiviral strategies. Here, we discuss recent advances from studies on the role of structural proteins in enterovirus infection and antiviral therapeutics targeted structural proteins.

The Role of VP1 Amino Acid Residue 145 of Enterovirus 71 in Viral Fitness and Pathogenesis in a Cynomolgus Monkey Model

Enterovirus 71 (EV71), a major causative agent of hand, foot, and mouth disease, occasionally causes severe neurological symptoms. We identified P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) as an EV71 receptor and found that an amino acid residue 145 in the capsid protein VP1 (VP1-145) defined PSGL-1-binding (PB) and PSGL-1-nonbinding (non-PB) phenotypes of EV71. However, the role of PSGL-1-dependent EV71 replication in neuropathogenesis remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated viral replication, genetic stability, and the pathogenicity of PB and non-PB strains of EV71 in a cynomolgus monkey model. Monkeys were intravenously inoculated with cDNA-derived PB and non-PB strains of EV71, EV71-02363-EG and EV71-02363-KE strains, respectively, with two amino acid differences at VP1-98 and VP1-145. Mild neurological symptoms, transient lymphocytopenia, and inflammatory cytokine responses, were found predominantly in the 02363-KE-inoculated monkeys. During the early stage of infection, viruses were frequently detected in clinical samples from 02363-KE-inoculated monkeys but rarely in samples from 02363-EG-inoculated monkeys. Histopathological analysis of central nervous system (CNS) tissues at 10 days postinfection revealed that 02363-KE induced neuropathogenesis more efficiently than that induced by 02363-EG. After inoculation with 02363-EG, almost all EV71 variants detected in clinical samples, CNS, and non-CNS tissues, possessed a G to E amino acid substitution at VP1-145, suggesting a strong in vivo selection of VP1-145E variants and CNS spread presumably in a PSGL-1-independent manner. EV71 variants with VP1-145G were identified only in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in two out of four 02363-EG-inoculated monkeys. Thus, VP1-145E variants are mainly responsible for the development of viremia and neuropathogenesis in a non-human primate model, further suggesting the in vivo involvement of amino acid polymorphism at VP1-145 in cell-specific viral replication, in vivo fitness, and pathogenesis in EV71-infected individuals.

Recently, large outbreaks of hand, foot, and mouth disease, including fatal neurological cases in young children primarily because of enterovirus 71 (EV71) have been reported, particularly in the Asia Pacific regions where the disease poses a serious threat to public health. Based on mutational and structural analyses of EV71, we identified amino acid residue 145 of the capsid protein VP1 (VP1-145) as a critical molecular determinant for the binding of EV71 to a specific cellular receptor, human P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1). VP1-145 is highly variable among EV71 isolates and has been identified as a potential neurovirulence determinant in humans and experimental mouse models. To elucidate the in vivo involvement of PSGL-1-depentent replication and pathogenesis, we investigated viral replication, genetic stability, and the pathogenicity of the PSGL-1-binding (PB) and PSGL-1-nonbinding (non-PB) strains of EV71 in a cynomolgus monkey model. After the intravenous inoculation with the PB strain, viruses found to be highly mutated at VP1-145 with resultant VP1-145E variants (non-PB) inducing viremia and neuropathogenesis, presumably in a PSGL-1-independent manner. VP1-145G variants were identified only in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from two PB-inoculated monkeys. Our study provides new insights into the interplay between virus, receptors, and host in EV71-infected individuals.

Vimentin filament organization and stress sensing depend on its single cysteine residue and zinc binding

The vimentin filament network plays a key role in cell architecture and signalling, as well as in epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Vimentin C328 is targeted by various oxidative modifications, but its role in vimentin organization is not known. Here we show that C328 is essential for vimentin network reorganization in response to oxidants and electrophiles, and is required for optimal vimentin performance in network expansion, lysosomal distribution and aggresome formation. C328 may fulfil these roles through interaction with zinc. In vitro, micromolar zinc protects vimentin from iodoacetamide modification and elicits vimentin polymerization into optically detectable structures; in cells, zinc closely associates with vimentin and its depletion causes reversible filament disassembly. Finally, zinc transport-deficient human fibroblasts show increased vimentin solubility and susceptibility to disruption, which are restored by zinc supplementation. These results unveil a critical role of C328 in vimentin organization and open new perspectives for the regulation of intermediate filaments by zinc.

APOBEC3A cytidine deaminase induces RNA editing in monocytes and macrophages

The extent, regulation and enzymatic basis of RNA editing by cytidine deamination are incompletely understood. Here we show that transcripts of hundreds of genes undergo site-specific C>U RNA editing in macrophages during M1 polarization and in monocytes in response to hypoxia and interferons. This editing alters the amino acid sequences for scores of proteins, including many that are involved in pathogenesis of viral diseases. APOBEC3A, which is known to deaminate cytidines of single-stranded DNA and to inhibit viruses and retrotransposons, mediates this RNA editing. Amino acid residues of APOBEC3A that are known to be required for its DNA deamination and anti-retrotransposition activities were also found to affect its RNA deamination activity. Our study demonstrates the cellular RNA editing activity of a member of the APOBEC3 family of innate restriction factors and expands the understanding of C>U RNA editing in mammals.

Aberrant RNA editing is linked to a range of neuropsychiatric and chronic diseases. Here Sharma et al. show that APOBEC3A can function as an RNA editing protein in response to physiological stimuli, significantly expanding our understanding of RNA editing and the role this may play in diseases.

Cell surface nucleolin facilitates enterovirus 71 binding and infection

Because the pathogenesis of enterovirus 71 (EV71) remains mostly ambiguous, identifying the factors that mediate viral binding and entry to host cells is indispensable to ultimately uncover the mechanisms that underlie virus infection and pathogenesis. Despite the identification of several receptors/attachment molecules for EV71, the binding, entry, and infection mechanisms of EV71 remain unclear. Herein, we employed glycoproteomic approaches to identify human nucleolin as a novel binding receptor for EV71. Glycoproteins purified by lectin chromatography from the membrane extraction of human cells were treated with sialidase, followed by immunoprecipitation with EV71 particles. Among the 16 proteins identified by tandem mass spectrometry analysis, cell surface nucleolin attracted our attention. We found that EV71 interacted directly with nucleolin via the VP1 capsid protein and that an antinucleolin antibody reduced the binding of EV71 to human cells. In addition, the knockdown of cell surface nucleolin decreased EV71 binding, infection, and production in human cells. Furthermore, the expression of human nucleolin on the cell surface of a mouse cell line increased EV71 binding and conferred EV71 infection and production in the cells. These results strongly indicate that human nucleolin can mediate EV71 binding to and infection of cells. Our findings also demonstrate that the use of glycoproteomic approaches is a reliable methodology to discover novel receptors for pathogens.

IMPORTANCE

Outbreaks of EV71 have been reported in Asia-Pacific countries and have caused thousands of deaths in young children during the last 2 decades. The discovery of new EV71-interacting molecules to understand the infection mechanism has become an emergent issue. Hence, this study uses glycoproteomic approaches to comprehensively investigate the EV71-interacting glycoproteins. Several EV71-interacting glycoproteins are identified, and the role of cell surface nucleolin in mediating the attachment and entry of EV71 is characterized and validated. Our findings not only indicate a novel target for uncovering the EV71 infection mechanism and anti-EV71 drug discovery but also provide a new strategy for virus receptor identification.

Proteomic analysis of human brain microvascular endothelial cells reveals differential protein expression in response to enterovirus 71 infection

2D DIGE technology was employed on proteins prepared from human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC), to study the differentially expressed proteins in cells at 0 h, 1 h, 16 h, and 24 h after infection. Proteins found to be differentially expressed were identified with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDITOF/TOF MS) analysis. We identified 43 spots showing changes of at least 2.5 fold up- or downregulated expressions in EV71-infected cells at different time when comparing to control, and 28 proteins could be successfully identified by MALDI TOF/TOF mass spectrometry analysis. 4 proteins were significantly upregulated, and 6 proteins were downregulated, another 18 proteins were different expression at different incubation time. We identified changes in the expression of 12 cellular metabolism-related proteins, 5 molecules involved in cytoskeleton, 3 molecules involved in energy metabolism, 2 molecules involved in signal transduction, 1 molecule involved in the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, 1 molecule involved in cell cycle, 1 molecule involved in apoptosis-related protein, 1 molecular chaperone, and 2 unknown proteins. These findings build up a comprehensive profile of the HBMEC proteome and provide a useful basis for further analysis of the pathogenic mechanism that underlies EV71 infections to induce severe neural complications.

Enterovirus 71 virion-associated galectin-1 facilitates viral replication and stability

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection causes a myriad of diseases from mild hand-foot-and-mouth disease or herpangina to fatal brain stem encephalitis complicated with pulmonary edema. Several severe EV71 endemics have occurred in Asia-Pacific region, including Taiwan, and have become a serious threat to children’s health. EV71 infection is initiated by the attachment of the virion to the target cell surface. Although this process relies primarily upon interaction between viruses and cell surface receptors, soluble factors may also influence the binding of EV71 to host cells.Galectin-1 has been reported to participate in several virus infections, but is not addressed in EV71. In this study, we found that the serum levels of galectin-1 in EV71-infected children were higher than those in non-infected people. In EV71 infected cells, galectin-1 was found to be associated with the EV71 VP1 and VP3 via carbohydrate residues and subsequently released and bound to another cell surface along with the virus. EV71 propagated from galectin-1 knockdown SK-N-SH cells exhibited lower infectivity in cultured cells and less pathogenicity in mice than the virus propagated from parental cells. In addition, this galectin-1-free EV71 virus was sensitive to high temperature and lost its viability after long-term storage, which could be restored following supplement of recombinant galectin-1. Taken together, our findings uncover a new role of galectin-1 in facilitating EV71 virus infection.

The enterovirus 71 procapsid binds neutralizing antibodies and rescues virus infection in vitro

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is responsible for seasonal outbreaks of hand, foot, and mouth disease in the Asia-Pacific region. The virus has the capability to cause severe disease and death, especially in young children. Although several vaccines are currently in clinical trials, no vaccines or therapeutics have been approved for use. Previous structural studies have revealed that two antigenically distinct capsid forms are produced in EV71-infected cells: an expanded empty capsid, sometimes called a procapsid, and the infectious virus. Specifically, an immunodominant epitope of EV71 that maps to the virus canyon is structurally different in the procapsid and virus. This structure-function study shows that the procapsid can sequester antibodies, thus enhancing EV71 infection in vitro. The results presented here suggest that, due to conformational differences between the EV71 procapsid and virus, the presence of the procapsid in natural virus infections should be considered in the future design of vaccines or therapeutics.

IMPORTANCE

In a picornavirus infection, both an infectious and a noninfectious empty capsid, sometimes referred to as a procapsid, are produced. It was novel to discover that the procapsid form of EV71 was expanded and antigenically distinct from the infectious virus. Previously, it had been supposed that this empty capsid was an off-pathway dead end or at best served for storage of pentameric subunits, which was later shown to be unlikely. It remains unexplained why picornaviruses evolutionarily conserve the wasteful production of so much noninfectious capsid. Here, we demonstrate that the EV71 procapsid has different antigenic properties than the infectious virus. Thus, the procapsid has the capacity to sequester neutralizing antibody and protect the virus, promoting or restoring a successful infection in vitro. This important observation should be considered in the future design and development of vaccines and therapeutics.

The approved pediatric drug suramin identified as a clinical candidate for the treatment of EV71 infection-suramin inhibits EV71 infection in vitro and in vivo

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) causes severe central nervous system infections, leading to cardiopulmonary complications and death in young children. There is an urgent unmet medical need for new pharmaceutical agents to control EV71 infections. Using a multidisciplinary approach, we found that the approved pediatric antiparasitic drug suramin blocked EV71 infectivity by a novel mechanism of action that involves binding of the naphtalentrisulonic acid group of suramin to the viral capsid. Moreover, we demonstrate that when suramin is used in vivo at doses equivalent to or lower than the highest dose already used in humans, it significantly decreased mortality in mice challenged with a lethal dose of EV71 and peak viral load in adult rhesus monkeys. Thus, suramin inhibits EV71 infection by neutralizing virus particles prior to cell attachment. Consequently, these findings identify suramin as a clinical candidate for further development as a therapeutic or prophylactic treatment for severe EV71 infection.