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Hu X, Bai X, Tian F, Xing Y, Shi Y, Tong Y, Zhong J. A novel BSL-2 Lassa virus reverse genetics system modelling the complete viral life cycle. Emerg Microbes Infect 2024; 13:2356149. [PMID: 38747061 PMCID: PMC11168227 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2024.2356149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV), a risk-group 4 pathogen, must be handled in biosafety level-4 (BSL-4) conditions, thereby limiting its research and antiviral development. Here, we developed a novel LASV reverse genetics system which, to our knowledge, is the first to study the complete LASV life cycle under BSL-2 conditions. Viral particles can be produced efficiently when LASV minigenomic RNA harbouring minimal viral cis-elements and reporter genes is transfected into a helper cell line stably expressing viral NP, GP, Z and L proteins. The resulting defective virions, named LASVmg, can propagate only in the helper cell line, providing a BSL-2 model to study the complete LASV life cycle. Using this model, we found that a previously reported cellular receptor α-dystroglycan is dispensable for LASVmg infection. Furthermore, we showed that ribavirin can inhibit LASVmg infection by inducing viral mutations. This new BSL-2 system should facilitate studying the LASV life cycle and screening antivirals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyou Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xu Bai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fangling Tian
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yifan Xing
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi Shi
- Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yimin Tong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jin Zhong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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Witwit H, Khafaji R, Salaniwal A, Kim AS, Cubitt B, Jackson N, Ye C, Weiss SR, Martinez-Sobrido L, de la Torre JC. Activation of protein kinase receptor (PKR) plays a pro-viral role in mammarenavirus-infected cells. J Virol 2024; 98:e0188323. [PMID: 38376197 PMCID: PMC10949842 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01883-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Many viruses, including mammarenaviruses, have evolved mechanisms to counteract different components of the host cell innate immunity, which is required to facilitate robust virus multiplication. The double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) sensor protein kinase receptor (PKR) pathway plays a critical role in the cell anti-viral response. Whether PKR can restrict the multiplication of the Old World mammarenavirus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and the mechanisms by which LCMV may counteract the anti-viral functions of PKR have not yet been investigated. Here we present evidence that LCMV infection results in very limited levels of PKR activation, but LCMV multiplication is enhanced in the absence of PKR. In contrast, infection with a recombinant LCMV with a mutation affecting the 3'-5' exonuclease (ExoN) activity of the viral nucleoprotein resulted in robust PKR activation in the absence of detectable levels of dsRNA, which was associated with severely restricted virus multiplication that was alleviated in the absence of PKR. However, pharmacological inhibition of PKR activation resulted in reduced levels of LCMV multiplication. These findings uncovered a complex role of the PKR pathway in LCMV-infected cells involving both pro- and anti-viral activities.IMPORTANCEAs with many other viruses, the prototypic Old World mammarenavirus LCMV can interfere with the host cell innate immune response to infection, which includes the dsRNA sensor PKR pathway. A detailed understanding of LCMV-PKR interactions can provide novel insights about mammarenavirus-host cell interactions and facilitate the development of effective anti-viral strategies against human pathogenic mammarenaviruses. In the present work, we present evidence that LCMV multiplication is enhanced in PKR-deficient cells, but pharmacological inhibition of PKR activation unexpectedly resulted in severely restricted propagation of LCMV. Likewise, we document a robust PKR activation in LCMV-infected cells in the absence of detectable levels of dsRNA. Our findings have revealed a complex role of the PKR pathway during LCMV infection and uncovered the activation of PKR as a druggable target for the development of anti-viral drugs against human pathogenic mammarenaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haydar Witwit
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Roaa Khafaji
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Arul Salaniwal
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Arthur S. Kim
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Beatrice Cubitt
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | | | - Chengjin Ye
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Susan R. Weiss
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Juan Carlos de la Torre
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
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Taniguchi S, Maruyama J, Saito T, Littlefield K, Reyna RA, Manning JT, Huang C, Saijo M, Paessler S. Development of reverse genetics system for Guanarito virus: substitution of E1497K in the L protein of Guanarito virus S-26764 strain changes plaque phenotype and growth kinetics. J Virol 2024; 98:e0196423. [PMID: 38289100 PMCID: PMC10878084 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01964-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Guanarito virus (GTOV) is the causative agent of Venezuelan hemorrhagic fever. GTOV belongs to the genus Mammarenavirus, family Arenaviridae and has been classified as a Category A bioterrorism agent by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Despite being a high-priority agent, vaccines and drugs against Venezuelan hemorrhagic fever are not available. GTOV S-26764, isolated from a non-fatal human case, produces an unclear cytopathic effect (CPE) in Vero cells, posing a significant obstacle to research and countermeasure development efforts. Vero cell-adapted GTOV S-26764 generated in this study produced clear CPE and demonstrated rapid growth and high yield in Vero cells compared to the original GTOV S-26764. We developed a reverse genetics system for GTOV to study amino acid changes acquired through Vero cell adaptation and leading to virus phenotype changes. The results demonstrated that E1497K in the L protein was responsible for the production of clear plaques as well as enhanced viral RNA replication and transcription efficiency. Vero cell-adapted GTOV S-26764, capable of generating CPE, will allow researchers to easily perform neutralization assays and anti-drug screening against GTOV. Moreover, the developed reverse genetics system will accelerate vaccine and antiviral drug development.IMPORTANCEGuanarito virus (GTOV) is a rodent-borne virus. GTOV causes fever, prostration, headache, arthralgia, cough, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, epistaxis, bleeding gums, menorrhagia, and melena in humans. The lethality rate is 23.1% or higher. Vero cell-adapted GTOV S-26764 shows a clear cytopathic effect (CPE), whereas the parental virus shows unclear CPE in Vero cells. We generated a reverse genetics system to rescue recombinant GTOVs and found that E1497K in the L protein was responsible for the formation of clear plaques as well as enhanced viral RNA replication and transcription efficiency. This reverse genetic system will accelerate vaccine and antiviral drug developments, and the findings of this study contribute to the understanding of the function of GTOV L as an RNA polymerase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Taniguchi
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Junki Maruyama
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Takeshi Saito
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Kirsten Littlefield
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Rachel A. Reyna
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - John T. Manning
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Cheng Huang
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Masayuki Saijo
- Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Slobodan Paessler
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
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4
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Witwit H, Khafaji R, Salaniwal A, Kim AS, Cubitt B, Jackson N, Ye C, Weiss SR, Martinez-Sobrido L, de la Torre JC. Activation of Protein Kinase R (PKR) Plays a Pro-Viral Role in Mammarenavirus Infected Cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.05.570143. [PMID: 38106082 PMCID: PMC10723269 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.05.570143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Many viruses, including mammarenaviruses, have evolved mechanisms to counteract different components of the host cell innate immunity, which is required to facilitate robust virus multiplication. The double strand (ds)RNA sensor protein kinase receptor (PKR) pathway plays a critical role in the cell antiviral response. Whether PKR can restrict the multiplication of the Old World mammarenavirus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and the mechanisms by which LCMV may counteract the antiviral functions of PKR have not yet been investigated. Here we present evidence that LCMV infection results in very limited levels of PKR activation, but LCMV multiplication is enhanced in the absence of PKR. In contrast, infection with a recombinant LCMV with a mutation affecting the 3'-5' exonuclease (ExoN) activity of the viral nucleoprotein (NP) resulted in robust PKR activation in the absence of detectable levels of dsRNA, which was associated with severely restricted virus multiplication that was alleviated in the absence of PKR. However, pharmacological inhibition of PKR activation resulted in reduced levels of LCMV multiplication. These findings uncovered a complex role of the PKR pathway in LCMV-infected cells involving both pro-and antiviral activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haydar Witwit
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Roaa Khafaji
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Arul Salaniwal
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Arthur S. Kim
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Beatrice Cubitt
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | | | - Chengjin Ye
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Susan R Weiss
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | | | - Juan Carlos de la Torre
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037
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5
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Fang J, Pietzsch C, Witwit H, Tsaprailis G, Crynen G, Cho KF, Ting AY, Bukreyev A, Saphire EO, de la Torre JC. Proximity interactome analysis of Lassa polymerase reveals eRF3a/GSPT1 as a druggable target for host-directed antivirals. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2201208119. [PMID: 35858434 PMCID: PMC9340056 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2201208119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Completion of the Lassa virus (LASV) life cycle critically depends on the activities of the virally encoded, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase in replication and transcription of the viral RNA genome in the cytoplasm of infected cells. The contribution of cellular proteins to these processes remains unclear. Here, we applied proximity proteomics to define the interactome of LASV polymerase in cells under conditions that recreate LASV RNA synthesis. We engineered a LASV polymerase-biotin ligase (TurboID) fusion protein that retained polymerase activity and successfully biotinylated the proximal proteome, which allowed the identification of 42 high-confidence LASV polymerase interactors. We subsequently performed a small interfering RNA (siRNA) screen to identify those interactors that have functional roles in authentic LASV infection. As proof of principle, we characterized eukaryotic peptide chain release factor subunit 3a (eRF3a/GSPT1), which we found to be a proviral factor that physically associates with LASV polymerase. Targeted degradation of GSPT1 by a small-molecule drug candidate, CC-90009, resulted in strong inhibition of LASV infection in cultured cells. Our work demonstrates the feasibility of using proximity proteomics to illuminate and characterize yet-to-be-defined host-pathogen interactome, which can reveal new biology and uncover novel targets for the development of antivirals against highly pathogenic RNA viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingru Fang
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA 92037
- La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Colette Pietzsch
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77550
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77550
| | - Haydar Witwit
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | | | - Gogce Crynen
- Bioinformatics and Statistics Core, Scripps Research, Jupiter, FL 33458
| | | | - Alice Y. Ting
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158
| | - Alexander Bukreyev
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77550
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77550
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77550
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6
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Baggio F, Hetzel U, Nufer L, Kipar A, Hepojoki J. A subpopulation of arenavirus nucleoprotein localizes to mitochondria. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21048. [PMID: 34702948 PMCID: PMC8548533 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99887-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Viruses need cells for their replication and, therefore, ways to hijack cellular functions. Mitochondria play fundamental roles within the cell in metabolism, immunity and regulation of homeostasis due to which some viruses aim to alter mitochondrial functions. Herein we show that the nucleoprotein (NP) of arenaviruses enters the mitochondria of infected cells, affecting the mitochondrial morphology. Reptarenaviruses cause boid inclusion body disease (BIBD) that is characterized, especially in boas, by the formation of cytoplasmic inclusion bodies (IBs) comprising reptarenavirus NP within the infected cells. We initiated this study after observing electron-dense material reminiscent of IBs within the mitochondria of reptarenavirus infected boid cell cultures in an ultrastructural study. We employed immuno-electron microscopy to confirm that the mitochondrial inclusions indeed contain reptarenavirus NP. Mutations to a putative N-terminal mitochondrial targeting signal (MTS), identified via software predictions in both mamm- and reptarenavirus NPs, did not affect the mitochondrial localization of NP, suggesting that it occurs independently of MTS. In support of MTS-independent translocation, we did not detect cleavage of the putative MTSs of arenavirus NPs in reptilian or mammalian cells. Furthermore, in vitro translated NPs could not enter isolated mitochondria, suggesting that the translocation requires cellular factors or conditions. Our findings suggest that MTS-independent mitochondrial translocation of NP is a shared feature among arenaviruses. We speculate that by targeting the mitochondria arenaviruses aim to alter mitochondrial metabolism and homeostasis or affect the cellular defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Baggio
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland. .,Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Udo Hetzel
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lisbeth Nufer
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anja Kipar
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jussi Hepojoki
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Virology, Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00290, Helsinki, Finland
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Development of Reverse Genetics for the Prototype New World Mammarenavirus Tacaribe Virus. J Virol 2020; 94:JVI.01014-20. [PMID: 32669332 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01014-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The New World mammarenavirus Tacaribe virus (TCRV) has been isolated from fruit bats, mosquitoes, and ticks, whereas all other known New World mammarenaviruses are maintained in rodents. TCRV has not been linked to human disease, but it has been shown to protect against Argentine hemorrhagic fever-like disease in marmosets infected with the New World mammarenavirus Junín virus (JUNV), indicating the potential of TCRV as a live-attenuated vaccine for the treatment of Argentine hemorrhagic fever. Implementation of TCRV as a live-attenuated vaccine or a vaccine vector would be facilitated by the establishment of reverse genetics systems for the genetic manipulation of the TCRV genome. In this study, we developed, for the first time, reverse genetics approaches for the generation of recombinant TCRV (rTCRV). We successfully rescued a wild-type (WT) rTCRV (a trisegmented form of TCRV expressing two reporter genes [r3TCRV]) and a bisegmented TCRV expressing a single reporter gene from a bicistronic viral mRNA (rTCRV/GFP). These reverse genetics approaches represent an excellent tool to investigate the biology of TCRV and to explore its potential use as a live-attenuated vaccine or a vaccine vector for the treatment of other viral infections. Notably, we identified a 39-nucleotide (nt) deletion (Δ39) in the noncoding intergenic region (IGR) of the viral large (L) segment that is required for optimal virus multiplication. Accordingly, an rTCRV containing this 39-nt deletion in the L-IGR (rTCRV/Δ39) exhibited decreased viral fitness in cultured cells, suggesting the feasibility of using this deletion in the L-IGR as an approach to attenuate TCRV, and potentially other mammarenaviruses, for their implementation as live-attenuated vaccines or vaccine vectors.IMPORTANCE To date, no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved vaccines are available to combat hemorrhagic fever caused by mammarenavirus infections in humans. Treatment of mammarenavirus infections is limited to the off-label use of ribavirin, which is partially effective and associated with significant side effects. Tacaribe virus (TCRV), the prototype member of the New World mammarenaviruses, is nonpathogenic in humans but able to provide protection against Junín virus (JUNV), the causative agent of Argentine hemorrhagic fever, demonstrating the feasibility of using TCRV as a live-attenuated vaccine vector for the treatment of JUNV and potentially other viral infections. Here, we describe for the first time the feasibility of generating recombinant TCRV (rTCRV) using reverse genetics approaches, which paves the way to study the biology of TCRV and also its potential use as a live-attenuated vaccine or a vaccine vector for the treatment of mammarenavirus and/or other viral infections in humans.
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8
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Reverse genetics approaches for the development of bunyavirus vaccines. Curr Opin Virol 2020; 44:16-25. [PMID: 32619950 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2020.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The Bunyavirales order is the largest group of RNA viruses, which includes important human and animal pathogens, that cause serious diseases. Licensed vaccines are often not available for many of these pathogens. The establishment of bunyavirus reverse genetics systems has facilitated the generation of recombinant infectious viruses, which have been employed as powerful tools for understanding bunyavirus biology and identifying important virulence factors. Technological advances in this area have enabled the development of novel strategies, including codon-deoptimization, viral genome rearrangement and single-cycle replicable viruses, for the generation of live-attenuated vaccine candidates. In this review, we have summarized the current knowledge of the bunyavirus reverse genetics approaches for the generation of live-attenuated vaccine candidates and their evaluation in animal models.
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9
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Tang-Huau TL, Feldmann H, Rosenke K. Animal models for Lassa virus infection. Curr Opin Virol 2019; 37:112-117. [PMID: 31442921 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2019.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
In humans, Lassa virus infection can result in disease with hemorrhagic manifestations and high fatality rates. There are no approved treatments or vaccines available and the inherent danger of studying Lassa virus means it can only be studied in high containment labs (BSL4). Under these conditions, mouse models are becoming an important instrument in the study of Lassa virus infection, disease and host responses. While guinea pigs and non-human primates are the critical components in assessing treatments and vaccines and have recently been used with great affect in this capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsing-Lee Tang-Huau
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - H Feldmann
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT, USA; Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
| | - K Rosenke
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT, USA.
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10
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Caì Y, Iwasaki M, Beitzel BF, Yú S, Postnikova EN, Cubitt B, DeWald LE, Radoshitzky SR, Bollinger L, Jahrling PB, Palacios GF, de la Torre JC, Kuhn JH. Recombinant Lassa Virus Expressing Green Fluorescent Protein as a Tool for High-Throughput Drug Screens and Neutralizing Antibody Assays. Viruses 2018; 10:v10110655. [PMID: 30463334 PMCID: PMC6266387 DOI: 10.3390/v10110655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Revised: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus (LASV), a mammarenavirus, infects an estimated 100,000–300,000 individuals yearly in western Africa and frequently causes lethal disease. Currently, no LASV-specific antivirals or vaccines are commercially available for prevention or treatment of Lassa fever, the disease caused by LASV. The development of medical countermeasure screening platforms is a crucial step to yield licensable products. Using reverse genetics, we generated a recombinant wild-type LASV (rLASV-WT) and a modified version thereof encoding a cleavable green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a reporter for rapid and quantitative detection of infection (rLASV-GFP). Both rLASV-WT and wild-type LASV exhibited similar growth kinetics in cultured cells, whereas growth of rLASV-GFP was slightly impaired. GFP reporter expression by rLASV-GFP remained stable over several serial passages in Vero cells. Using two well-characterized broad-spectrum antivirals known to inhibit LASV infection, favipiravir and ribavirin, we demonstrate that rLASV-GFP is a suitable screening tool for the identification of LASV infection inhibitors. Building on these findings, we established a rLASV-GFP-based high-throughput drug discovery screen and an rLASV-GFP-based antibody neutralization assay. Both platforms, now available as a standard tool at the IRF-Frederick (an international resource), will accelerate anti-LASV medical countermeasure discovery and reduce costs of antiviral screens in maximum containment laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yíngyún Caì
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), B-8200 Research Plaza, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Masaharu Iwasaki
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), 10550 North Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
| | - Brett F Beitzel
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Shuīqìng Yú
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), B-8200 Research Plaza, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Elena N Postnikova
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), B-8200 Research Plaza, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Beatrice Cubitt
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), 10550 North Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
| | - Lisa Evans DeWald
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), B-8200 Research Plaza, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Sheli R Radoshitzky
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Laura Bollinger
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), B-8200 Research Plaza, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Peter B Jahrling
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), B-8200 Research Plaza, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Gustavo F Palacios
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Juan C de la Torre
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), 10550 North Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
| | - Jens H Kuhn
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), B-8200 Research Plaza, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
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