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Wongchitrat P, Chanmee T, Govitrapong P. Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Neurodegeneration of Neurotropic Viral Infection. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:2881-2903. [PMID: 37946006 PMCID: PMC11043213 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03761-6] [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: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Viral infections of the central nervous system (CNS) cause variable outcomes from acute to severe neurological sequelae with increased morbidity and mortality. Viral neuroinvasion directly or indirectly induces encephalitis via dysregulation of the immune response and contributes to the alteration of neuronal function and the degeneration of neuronal cells. This review provides an overview of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of virus-induced neurodegeneration. Neurotropic viral infections influence many aspects of neuronal dysfunction, including promoting chronic inflammation, inducing cellular oxidative stress, impairing mitophagy, encountering mitochondrial dynamics, enhancing metabolic rewiring, altering neurotransmitter systems, and inducing misfolded and aggregated pathological proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases. These pathogenetic mechanisms create a multidimensional injury of the brain that leads to specific neuronal and brain dysfunction. The understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the neurophathogenesis associated with neurodegeneration of viral infection may emphasize the strategies for prevention, protection, and treatment of virus infection of the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prapimpun Wongchitrat
- Center for Research Innovation and Biomedical Informatics, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, 999 Phutthamonthon 4 Road, Salaya, Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand.
| | - Theerawut Chanmee
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
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Hcini N, Lambert V, Picone O, Carod JF, Carles G, Pomar L, Epelboin L, Nacher M. Arboviruses and pregnancy: are the threats visible or hidden? Trop Dis Travel Med Vaccines 2024; 10:4. [PMID: 38355934 PMCID: PMC10868105 DOI: 10.1186/s40794-023-00213-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Mosquito-borne arboviral diseases are a global concern and can have severe consequences on maternal, neonatal, and child health. Their impact on pregnancy tends to be neglected in developing countries. Despite hundreds of millions of infections, 90% pregnancies being exposed, scientific data on pregnant women is poor and sometimes non-existent. Recently and since the 2016 Zika virus outbreak, there has been a newfound interest in these diseases. Through various neuropathogenic, visceral, placental, and teratogenic mechanisms, these arbovirus infections can lead to fetal losses, obstetrical complications, and a wide range of congenital abnormalities, resulting in long-term neurological and sensory impairments. Climate change, growing urbanization, worldwide interconnectivity, and ease of mobility allow arboviruses to spread to other territories and impact populations that had never been in contact with these emerging agents before. Pregnant travelers are also at risk of infection with potential subsequent complications. Beyond that, these pathologies show the inequalities of access to care on a global scale in a context of demographic growth and increasing urbanization. It is essential to promote research, diagnostic tools, treatments, and vaccine development to address this emerging threat.Background The vulnerability of pregnant women and fetuses to emergent and re-emergent pathogens has been notably illustrated by the outbreaks of Zika virus. Our comprehension of the complete scope and consequences of these infections during pregnancy remains limited, particularly among those involved in perinatal healthcare, such as obstetricians and midwives. This review aims to provide the latest information and recommendations regarding the various risks, management, and prevention for pregnant women exposed to arboviral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Najeh Hcini
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West French Guiana Hospital Center, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, French Guiana.
- CIC Inserm 1424 and DFR Santé Université Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana, France.
| | - Véronique Lambert
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West French Guiana Hospital Center, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, French Guiana
| | - Olivier Picone
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hôpital Louis Mourier, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Nord Val de Seine, Assistance Publique : Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris Diderot, CEDEX, Colombes, France
| | - Jean-Francois Carod
- Department of Biology, West French Guiana Hospital Center, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, French Guiana
| | - Gabriel Carles
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West French Guiana Hospital Center, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, French Guiana
| | - Léo Pomar
- Materno-Fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit, Department "Woman-Mother-Child", Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Loïc Epelboin
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Cayenne General Hospital, Cayenne, French Guiana, France
| | - Mathieu Nacher
- Centre d'Investigation Clinique Antilles Guyane, Inserm CIC1424, Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne, 97300, Cayenne, French Guiana
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Burke CW, Gardner CL, Goodson AI, Piper AE, Erwin-Cohen RA, White CE, Glass PJ. Defining the Cynomolgus Macaque ( Macaca fascicularis) Animal Model for Aerosolized Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis: Importance of Challenge Dose and Viral Subtype. Viruses 2023; 15:2351. [PMID: 38140592 PMCID: PMC10748030 DOI: 10.3390/v15122351] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) outbreaks occur sporadically. Additionally, VEEV has a history of development as a biothreat agent. Yet, no FDA-approved vaccine or therapeutic exists for VEEV disease. The sporadic outbreaks present a challenge for testing medical countermeasures (MCMs) in humans; therefore, well-defined animal models are needed for FDA Animal Rule licensure. The cynomolgus macaque (CM) model has been studied extensively at high challenge doses of the VEEV Trinidad donkey strain (>1.0 × 108 plaque-forming units [PFU]), doses that are too high to be a representative human dose. Based on viremia of two subtypes of VEEV, IC, and IAB, we found the CM infectious dose fifty (ID50) to be low, 12 PFU, and 6.7 PFU, respectively. Additionally, we characterized the pattern of three clinical parameters (viremia, temperature, and lymphopenia) across a range of doses to identify a challenge dose producing consistent signs of infection. Based on these studies, we propose a shift to using a lower challenge dose of 1.0 × 103 PFU in the aerosol CM model of VEEV disease. At this dose, NHPs had the highest viremia, demonstrated a fever response, and had a measurable reduction in complete lymphocyte counts-biomarkers that can demonstrate MCM efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crystal W. Burke
- Virology Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD 21702, USA (A.I.G.)
| | - Christina L. Gardner
- Virology Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD 21702, USA (A.I.G.)
| | - Aimee I. Goodson
- Virology Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD 21702, USA (A.I.G.)
| | - Ashley E. Piper
- Virology Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD 21702, USA (A.I.G.)
| | - Rebecca A. Erwin-Cohen
- Virology Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD 21702, USA (A.I.G.)
| | - Charles E. White
- Statistics Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Pamela J. Glass
- Virology Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD 21702, USA (A.I.G.)
- Risk Management Office, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
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4
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Powers AM, Williamson LE, Carnahan RH, Crowe JE, Hyde JL, Jonsson CB, Nasar F, Weaver SC. Developing a Prototype Pathogen Plan and Research Priorities for the Alphaviruses. J Infect Dis 2023; 228:S414-S426. [PMID: 37849399 PMCID: PMC11007399 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiac326] [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] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The Togaviridae family, genus, Alphavirus, includes several mosquito-borne human pathogens with the potential to spread to near pandemic proportions. Most of these are zoonotic, with spillover infections of humans and domestic animals, but a few such as chikungunya virus (CHIKV) have the ability to use humans as amplification hosts for transmission in urban settings and explosive outbreaks. Most alphaviruses cause nonspecific acute febrile illness, with pathogenesis sometimes leading to either encephalitis or arthralgic manifestations with severe and chronic morbidity and occasional mortality. The development of countermeasures, especially against CHIKV and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus that are major threats, has included vaccines and antibody-based therapeutics that are likely to also be successful for rapid responses with other members of the family. However, further work with these prototypes and other alphavirus pathogens should target better understanding of human tropism and pathogenesis, more comprehensive identification of cellular receptors and entry, and better understanding of structural mechanisms of neutralization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann M Powers
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Lauren E Williamson
- The Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Robert H Carnahan
- The Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - James E Crowe
- The Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jennifer L Hyde
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Colleen B Jonsson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Farooq Nasar
- Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch and Viral Disease Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Scott C Weaver
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
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Williams EP, Xue Y, Lee J, Fitzpatrick EA, Kong Y, Reichard W, Writt H, Jonsson CB. Deep spatial profiling of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus reveals increased genetic diversity amidst neuroinflammation and cell death during brain infection. J Virol 2023; 97:e0082723. [PMID: 37560924 PMCID: PMC10506382 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00827-23] [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: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) causes a febrile illness that can progress to neurological disease with the possibility of death in human cases. The evaluation and optimization of therapeutics that target brain infections demands knowledge of the host's response to VEEV, the dynamics of infection, and the potential for within-host evolution of the virus. We hypothesized that selective pressures during infection of the brain may differ temporally and spatially and so we investigated the dynamics of the host response, viral transcript levels, and genetic variation of VEEV TC-83 in eight areas of the brain in mice over 7 days post-infection (dpi). Viral replication increased throughout the brain until 5-6 dpi and decreased thereafter with neurons as the main site of viral replication. Low levels of genetic diversity were noted on 1 dpi and were followed by an expansion in the genetic diversity of VEEV and nonsynonymous (Ns) mutations that peaked by 5 dpi. The pro-inflammatory response and the influx of immune cells mirrored the levels of virus and correlated with substantial damage to neurons by 5 dpi and increased activation of microglial cells and astrocytes. The prevalence and dynamics of Ns mutations suggest that the VEEV is under selection within the brain and that progressive neuroinflammation may play a role in acting as a selective pressure. IMPORTANCE Treatment of encephalitis in humans caused by Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) from natural or aerosol exposure is not available, and hence, there is a great interest to address this gap. In contrast to natural infections, therapeutic treatment of infections from aerosol exposure will require fast-acting drugs that rapidly penetrate the blood-brain barrier, engage sites of infection in the brain and mitigate the emergence of drug resistance. Therefore, it is important to understand not only VEEV pathogenesis, but the trafficking of the viral population within the brain, the potential for within-host evolution of the virus, and how VEEV might evolve resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan P. Williams
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Yi Xue
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jasper Lee
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Elizabeth A. Fitzpatrick
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Institute for the Study of Host-Pathogen Systems, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Ying Kong
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Walter Reichard
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Haley Writt
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Colleen B. Jonsson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Institute for the Study of Host-Pathogen Systems, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
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Kafai NM, Janova H, Cain MD, Alippe Y, Muraro S, Sariol A, Elam-Noll M, Klein RS, Diamond MS. Entry receptor LDLRAD3 is required for Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus peripheral infection and neurotropism leading to pathogenesis in mice. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112946. [PMID: 37556325 PMCID: PMC10529316 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is an encephalitic alphavirus responsible for epidemics of neurological disease across the Americas. Low-density lipoprotein receptor class A domain-containing 3 (LDLRAD3) is a recently reported entry receptor for VEEV. Here, using wild-type and Ldlrad3-deficient mice, we define a critical role for LDLRAD3 in controlling steps in VEEV infection, pathogenesis, and neurotropism. Our analysis shows that LDLRAD3 is required for efficient VEEV infection and pathogenesis prior to and after central nervous system invasion. Ldlrad3-deficient mice survive intranasal and intracranial VEEV inoculation and show reduced infection of neurons in different brain regions. As LDLRAD3 is a determinant of pathogenesis and an entry receptor required for VEEV infection of neurons of the brain, receptor-targeted therapies may hold promise as countermeasures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha M Kafai
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Hana Janova
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Matthew D Cain
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Yael Alippe
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Stefanie Muraro
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Alan Sariol
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Michelle Elam-Noll
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Robyn S Klein
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Michael S Diamond
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; The Andrew M. and Jane M. Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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7
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Han L, Song S, Feng H, Ma J, Wei W, Si F. A roadmap for developing Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) vaccines: Lessons from the past, strategies for the future. Int J Biol Macromol 2023:125514. [PMID: 37353130 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by the Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV), which can lead to severe central nervous system infections in both humans and animals. At present, the medical community does not possess a viable means of addressing VEE, rendering the prevention of the virus a matter of paramount importance. Regarding the prevention and control of VEEV, the implementation of a vaccination program has been recognized as the most efficient strategy. Nevertheless, there are currently no licensed vaccines or drugs available for human use against VEEV. This imperative has led to a surge of interest in vaccine research, with VEEV being a prime focus for researchers in the field. In this paper, we initially present a comprehensive overview of the current taxonomic classification of VEEV and the cellular infection mechanism of the virus. Subsequently, we provide a detailed introduction of the prominent VEEV vaccine types presently available, including inactivated vaccines, live attenuated vaccines, genetic, and virus-like particle vaccines. Moreover, we emphasize the challenges that current VEEV vaccine development faces and suggest urgent measures that must be taken to overcome these obstacles. Notably, based on our latest research, we propose the feasibility of incorporation codon usage bias strategies to create the novel VEEV vaccine. Finally, we prose several areas that future VEEV vaccine development should focus on. Our objective is to encourage collaboration between the medical and veterinary communities, expedite the translation of existing vaccines from laboratory to clinical applications, while also preparing for future outbreaks of new VEEV variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Han
- Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Breeding Pig, Shanghai 201106, China; Huaihe Hospital of Henan University, Clinical Medical College of Henan University, Kai Feng 475000, China
| | - Shuai Song
- Institute of Animal Health, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Livestock Disease Prevention of Guangdong Province, Scientific Observation and Experiment Station of Veterinary Drugs and Diagnostic Techniques of Guangdong Province, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangzhou 510640, PR China
| | - Huilin Feng
- Kaifeng Key Laboratory of Infection and Biological Safety, School of Basic Medical Sciences of Henan University, Kai Feng 475000, China
| | - Jing Ma
- Huaihe Hospital of Henan University, Clinical Medical College of Henan University, Kai Feng 475000, China
| | - Wenqiang Wei
- Kaifeng Key Laboratory of Infection and Biological Safety, School of Basic Medical Sciences of Henan University, Kai Feng 475000, China.
| | - Fusheng Si
- Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Breeding Pig, Shanghai 201106, China.
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Kim AS, Diamond MS. A molecular understanding of alphavirus entry and antibody protection. Nat Rev Microbiol 2023; 21:396-407. [PMID: 36474012 PMCID: PMC9734810 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-022-00825-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Alphaviruses are arthropod-transmitted RNA viruses that cause epidemics of human infection and disease on a global scale. These viruses are classified as either arthritogenic or encephalitic based on their genetic relatedness and the clinical syndromes they cause. Although there are currently no approved therapeutics or vaccines against alphaviruses, passive transfer of monoclonal antibodies confers protection in animal models. This Review highlights recent advances in our understanding of the host factors required for alphavirus entry, the mechanisms of action by which protective antibodies inhibit different steps in the alphavirus infection cycle and candidate alphavirus vaccines currently under clinical evaluation that focus on humoral immunity. A comprehensive understanding of alphavirus entry and antibody-mediated protection may inform the development of new classes of countermeasures for these emerging viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur S Kim
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Michael S Diamond
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
- The Andrew M. and Jane M. Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
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Nguyen LP, Aldana KS, Yang E, Yao Z, Li MMH. Alphavirus Evasion of Zinc Finger Antiviral Protein (ZAP) Correlates with CpG Suppression in a Specific Viral nsP2 Gene Sequence. Viruses 2023; 15:830. [PMID: 37112813 PMCID: PMC10145277 DOI: 10.3390/v15040830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Certain re-emerging alphaviruses, such as chikungunya virus (CHIKV), cause serious disease and widespread epidemics. To develop virus-specific therapies, it is critical to understand the determinants of alphavirus pathogenesis and virulence. One major determinant is viral evasion of the host interferon response, which upregulates antiviral effectors, including zinc finger antiviral protein (ZAP). Here, we demonstrated that Old World alphaviruses show differential sensitivity to endogenous ZAP in 293T cells: Ross River virus (RRV) and Sindbis virus (SINV) are more sensitive to ZAP than o'nyong'nyong virus (ONNV) and CHIKV. We hypothesized that the more ZAP-resistant alphaviruses evade ZAP binding to their RNA. However, we did not find a correlation between ZAP sensitivity and binding to alphavirus genomic RNA. Using a chimeric virus, we found the ZAP sensitivity determinant lies mainly within the alphavirus non-structural protein (nsP) gene region. Surprisingly, we also did not find a correlation between alphavirus ZAP sensitivity and binding to nsP RNA, suggesting ZAP targeting of specific regions in the nsP RNA. Since ZAP can preferentially bind CpG dinucleotides in viral RNA, we identified three 500-bp sequences in the nsP region where CpG content correlates with ZAP sensitivity. Interestingly, ZAP binding to one of these sequences in the nsP2 gene correlated to sensitivity, and we confirmed that this binding is CpG-dependent. Our results demonstrate a potential strategy of alphavirus virulence by localized CpG suppression to evade ZAP recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- LeAnn P. Nguyen
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Kelly S. Aldana
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Emily Yang
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Zhenlan Yao
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Melody M. H. Li
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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Gardner CL, Sun C, Dunn MD, Gilliland TC, Trobaugh DW, Terada Y, Reed DS, Hartman AL, Klimstra WB. In Vitro and In Vivo Phenotypes of Venezuelan, Eastern and Western Equine Encephalitis Viruses Derived from cDNA Clones of Human Isolates. Viruses 2022; 15:5. [PMID: 36680046 PMCID: PMC9862562 DOI: 10.3390/v15010005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The Department of Defense recently began an effort to improve and standardize virus challenge materials and efficacy determination strategies for testing therapeutics and vaccines. This includes stabilization of virus genome sequences in cDNA form where appropriate, use of human-derived virus isolates, and noninvasive strategies for determination of challenge virus replication. Eventually, it is desired that these approaches will satisfy the FDA "Animal Rule" for licensure, which substitutes animal efficacy data when human data are unlikely to be available. To this end, we created and examined the virulence phenotype of cDNA clones of prototypic human infection-derived strains of the alphaviruses, Venezuelan (VEEV INH9813), eastern (EEEV V105) and western (WEEV Fleming) equine encephalitis viruses, and created fluorescent and luminescent reporter expression vectors for evaluation of replication characteristics in vitro and in vivo. Sequences of minimally passaged isolates of each virus were used to synthesize full-length cDNA clones along with a T7 transcription promoter-based bacterial propagation vector. Viruses generated from the cDNA clones were compared with other "wild type" strains derived from cDNA clones and GenBank sequences to identify and eliminate putative tissue culture artifacts accumulated in the cell passaged biological stocks. This was followed by examination of aerosol and subcutaneous infection and disease in mouse models. A mutation that increased heparan sulfate binding was identified in the VEEV INH9813 biological isolate sequence and eliminated from the cDNA clone. Viruses derived from the new human isolate cDNA clones showed similar mouse virulence to existing clone-derived viruses after aerosol or subcutaneous inoculation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina L. Gardner
- Virology Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Chengqun Sun
- The Center for Vaccine Research and Department of Immunology, The University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Matthew D. Dunn
- The Center for Vaccine Research and Department of Immunology, The University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Theron C. Gilliland
- The Center for Vaccine Research and Department of Immunology, The University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | | | - Yutaka Terada
- The Center for Vaccine Research and Department of Immunology, The University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Douglas S. Reed
- The Center for Vaccine Research and Department of Immunology, The University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Amy L. Hartman
- The Center for Vaccine Research and Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Graduate School of Public Health, The University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - William B. Klimstra
- The Center for Vaccine Research and Department of Immunology, The University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
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11
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Silva FA, Ferreira MS, Araújo PA, Casseb SMM, Silva SP, Nunes Neto JP, Chiang JO, Rosa Junior JW, Chagas LL, Freitas MNO, Santos ÉB, Hernández L, Paz T, Vasconcelos PFC, Martins LC. Serological and Molecular Evidence of the Circulation of the Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Subtype IIIA in Humans, Wild Vertebrates and Mosquitos in the Brazilian Amazon. Viruses 2022; 14:v14112391. [PMID: 36366489 PMCID: PMC9695375 DOI: 10.3390/v14112391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the interaction between viruses and ecosystems in areas with or without anthropic interference can contribute to the organization of public health services, as well as prevention and disease control. An arbovirus survey was conducted at Caxiuanã National Forest, Pará, Brazil, where 632 local residents, 338 vertebrates and 15,774 pools of hematophagous arthropods were investigated. Neutralization antibodies of the Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus, subtype IIIA, Mucambo virus (MUCV) were detected in 57.3% and 61.5% of humans and wild vertebrates, respectively; in addition, genomic fragments of MUCV were detected in pool of Uranotaenia (Ura.) geometrica. The obtained data suggest an enzootic circulation of MUCV in the area. Understanding the circulation of endemic and neglected arboviruses, such as MUCV, represents an important health problem for the local residents and for the people living in the nearby urban centers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franko A. Silva
- Department of Arbovirology and Haemorragic Fevers, Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil
- Post-Graduation Program in Virology, Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil
- Correspondence:
| | - Milene S. Ferreira
- Department of Arbovirology and Haemorragic Fevers, Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil
| | - Pedro A. Araújo
- Department of Arbovirology and Haemorragic Fevers, Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil
| | - Samir M. M. Casseb
- Department of Arbovirology and Haemorragic Fevers, Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil
| | - Sandro P. Silva
- Department of Arbovirology and Haemorragic Fevers, Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil
| | - Joaquim P. Nunes Neto
- Department of Arbovirology and Haemorragic Fevers, Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil
| | - Jannifer O. Chiang
- Department of Arbovirology and Haemorragic Fevers, Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil
| | - José W. Rosa Junior
- Department of Arbovirology and Haemorragic Fevers, Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil
| | - Liliane L. Chagas
- Department of Arbovirology and Haemorragic Fevers, Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil
| | - Maria N. O. Freitas
- Department of Arbovirology and Haemorragic Fevers, Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil
| | - Éder B. Santos
- Department of Arbovirology and Haemorragic Fevers, Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Hernández
- Department of Arbovirology and Haemorragic Fevers, Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil
| | - Thito Paz
- Department of Arbovirology and Haemorragic Fevers, Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil
| | - Pedro F. C. Vasconcelos
- Department of Arbovirology and Haemorragic Fevers, Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil
- Department of Pathology, Pará State University, Belém 66045-315, PA, Brazil
| | - Lívia C. Martins
- Department of Arbovirology and Haemorragic Fevers, Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil
- Post-Graduation Program in Virology, Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua 67030-000, PA, Brazil
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12
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Toribio RE. Arboviral Equine Encephalitides. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2022; 38:299-321. [PMID: 35953146 DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2022.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
A number of viruses transmitted by biological vectors or through direct contact, air, or ingestion cause neurologic disease in equids. Of interest are viruses of the Togaviridae, Flaviviridae, Rhabdoviridae, Herpesviridae, Bornaviridae, and Bunyaviridae families. Many are classified as arboviruses because they use arthropod vectors, whereas others are transmitted directly via ingestion, inhalation, or integument damage. The goal of this article is to provide an overview on pathophysiologic and clinical aspects of arboviruses of equine importance, including alphaviruses (Togaviridae) and flaviviruses (Flaviviridae).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramiro E Toribio
- College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 601 Vernon Tharp Street, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
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13
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Attenuation of Getah Virus by a Single Amino Acid Substitution at Residue 253 of the E2 Protein that Might Be Part of a New Heparan Sulfate Binding Site on Alphaviruses. J Virol 2022; 96:e0175121. [PMID: 34986000 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01751-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of new epidemic variants of alphaviruses poses a public health risk. It is associated with adaptive mutations that often cause increased pathogenicity. Getah virus (GETV), a neglected and re-emerging mosquito-borne alphavirus, poses threat to many domestic animals and probably even humans. At present, the underlying mechanisms of GETV pathogenesis are not well defined. We identified a residue in the E2 glycoprotein that is critical for viral adsorption to cultured cells and pathogenesis in vivo. Viruses containing an arginine instead of a lysine at residue 253 displayed enhanced infectivity in mammalian cells and diminished virulence in a mouse model of GETV disease. Experiments in cell culture show that heparan sulfate (HS) is a new attachment factor for GETV, and the exchange Lys253Arg improves virus attachment by enhancing binding to HS. The mutation also results in more effective binding to glycosaminoglycan (GAG), linked to low virulence due to rapid virus clearance from the circulation. Localization of residue 253 in the three-dimensional structure of the spike revealed several other basic residues in E2 and E1 in close vicinity that might constitute an HS-binding site different from sites previously identified in other alphaviruses. Overall, our study reveals that HS acts as the attachment factor of GETV and provides convincing evidence for an HS-binding determinant at residue 253 in the E2 glycoprotein of GETV, which contributes to infectivity and virulence. IMPORTANCE Due to decades of inadequate monitoring and lack of vaccines and specific treatment, a large number of people have been infected with alphaviruses. GETV is a re-emerging alphavirus that has the potential to infect humans. This specificity of the GETV disease, particularly its propensity for chronic musculoskeletal manifestations, underscores the need to identify the genetic determinants that govern GETV virulence in the host. Using a mouse model, we show that a single amino acid substitution at residue 253 in the E2 glycoprotein causes attenuation of the virus. Residue 253 might be part of a binding site for HS, a ubiquitous attachment factor on the cell surface. The substitution of Lys by Arg improves cell attachment of the virus in vitro and virus clearance from the blood in vivo by enhancing binding to HS. In summary, we have identified HS as a new attachment factor for GETV and the corresponding binding site in the E2 protein for the first time. Our research potentially improved understanding of the pathogenic mechanism of GETV and provided a potential target for the development of new attenuated vaccines and antiviral drugs.
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14
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Haines CA, Campos RK, Azar SR, Warmbrod KL, Kautz TF, Forrester NL, Rossi SL. Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus V3526 Vaccine RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase Mutants Increase Vaccine Safety Through Restricted Tissue Tropism in a Murine Model. ZOONOSES (BURLINGTON, MASS.) 2022; 2:2. [PMID: 35262074 PMCID: PMC8900488 DOI: 10.15212/zoonoses-2021-0016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is an arbovirus endemic to the Americas. There are no approved vaccines or antivirals. TC-83 and V3526 are the best-characterized vaccine candidates for VEEV. Both are live-attenuated vaccines and have been associated with safety concerns, albeit less so for V3526. A previous attempt to improve the TC-83 vaccine focused on further attenuating the vaccine by adding mutations that altered the error incorporation rate of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). METHODS The research presented here examines the impact of these RdRp mutations in V3526 by cloning the 3X and 4X strains, assessing vaccine efficacy against challenge in adult female CD-1 mice, examining neutralizing antibody titers, investigating vaccine tissue tropism, and testing the stability of the mutant strains. RESULTS Our results show that the V3526 RdRp mutants exhibited reduced tissue tropism in the spleen and kidney compared to wild-type V3526, while maintaining vaccine efficacy. Illumina sequencing showed that the RdRp mutations could revert to wild-type V3526. CONCLUSIONS The observed genotypic reversion is likely of limited concern because wild-type V3526 is still an effective vaccine capable of providing protection. Our results indicate that the V3526 RdRp mutants may be a safer vaccine design than the original V3526.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clint A. Haines
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Rafael K. Campos
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Sasha R. Azar
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - K. Lane Warmbrod
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Tiffany F. Kautz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Naomi L. Forrester
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Shannan L. Rossi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
- Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
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15
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Lucas CJ, Morrison TE. Animal models of alphavirus infection and human disease. Adv Virus Res 2022; 113:25-88. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.aivir.2022.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
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16
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Lundstrom K. Self-Replicating RNA Viruses for Vaccine Development against Infectious Diseases and Cancer. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:1187. [PMID: 34696295 PMCID: PMC8541504 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9101187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Alphaviruses, flaviviruses, measles viruses and rhabdoviruses are enveloped single-stranded RNA viruses, which have been engineered for recombinant protein expression and vaccine development. Due to the presence of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity, subgenomic RNA can replicate close to 106 copies per cell for translation in the cytoplasm providing extreme transgene expression levels, which is why they are named self-replicating RNA viruses. Expression of surface proteins of pathogens causing infectious disease and tumor antigens provide the basis for vaccine development against infectious diseases and cancer. Self-replicating RNA viral vectors can be administered as replicon RNA at significantly lower doses than conventional mRNA, recombinant particles, or DNA plasmids. Self-replicating RNA viral vectors have been applied for vaccine development against influenza virus, HIV, hepatitis B virus, human papilloma virus, Ebola virus, etc., showing robust immune response and protection in animal models. Recently, paramyxovirus and rhabdovirus vector-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines as well as RNA vaccines based on self-amplifying alphaviruses have been evaluated in clinical settings. Vaccines against various cancers such as brain, breast, lung, ovarian, prostate cancer and melanoma have also been developed. Clinical trials have shown good safety and target-specific immune responses. Ervebo, the VSV-based vaccine against Ebola virus disease has been approved for human use.
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17
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HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF GUANAY CORMORANT (PHALACROCORAX BOUGAINVILLII) AND PERUVIAN PELICAN (PELECANUS THAGUS) POPULATIONS AT PUNTA SAN JUAN, PERU. J Zoo Wildl Med 2021. [DOI: 10.1638/2019-0119.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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18
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Identification of Quinolinones as Antivirals against Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:e0024421. [PMID: 34152810 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00244-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is a reemerging alphavirus that can cause encephalitis resulting in severe human morbidity and mortality. Using a high-throughput cell-based screen, we identified a quinolinone compound that protected against VEEV-induced cytopathic effects. Analysis of viral replication in cells identified several quinolinone compounds with potent inhibitory activity against vaccine and virulent strains of VEEV. These quinolinones also displayed inhibitory activity against additional alphaviruses, such as Mayaro virus and Ross River virus, although the potency was greatly reduced. Time-of-addition studies indicated that these compounds inhibit the early-to-mid stage of viral replication. Deep sequencing and reverse genetics studies identified two unique resistance mutations in the nsP2 gene (Y102S/C; stalk domain) that conferred VEEV resistance on this chemical series. Moreover, introduction of a K102Y mutation into the nsP2 gene enhanced the sensitivity of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) to this chemical series. Computational modeling of CHIKV and VEEV nsP2 identified a highly probable docking alignment for the quinolinone compounds that require a tyrosine residue at position 102 within the helicase stalk domain. These studies identified a class of compounds with antiviral activity against VEEV and other alphaviruses and provide further evidence that therapeutics targeting nsP2 may be useful against alphavirus infection.
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19
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Lin SC, Lehman CW, Stewart AK, Panny L, Bracci N, Wright JLC, Paige M, Strangman WK, Kehn-Hall K. Homoseongomycin, a compound isolated from marine actinomycete bacteria K3-1, is a potent inhibitor of encephalitic alphaviruses. Antiviral Res 2021; 191:105087. [PMID: 33965437 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2021.105087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Marine microorganisms have been a resource for novel therapeutic drugs for decades. In addition to anticancer drugs, the drug acyclovir, derived from a marine sponge, is FDA-approved for the treatment of human herpes simplex virus-1 infections. Most alphaviruses that are infectious to terrestrial animals and humans, such as Venezuelan and eastern equine encephalitis viruses (VEEV and EEEV), lack efficient antiviral drugs and it is imperative to develop these remedies. To push the discovery and development of anti-alphavirus compounds forward, this study aimed to isolate and screen for potential antiviral compounds from cultured marine microbes originating from the marine environment. Compounds from marine microbes were of interest as they are prolific producers of bioactive compounds across the spectrum of human diseases and infections. Homoseongomycin, an actinobacteria isolated from a marine sponge displayed impressive activity against VEEV from a total of 76 marine bioactive products. The 50% effective concentration (EC50) for homoseongomycin was 8.6 μM for suppressing VEEV TC-83 luciferase reporter virus replication. Homoseongomycin was non-toxic up to 50 μM and partially rescued cells from VEEV induced cell death. Homoseongomycin exhibited highly efficient antiviral activity with a reduction of VEEV infectious titers by 8 log10 at 50 μM. It also inhibited EEEV replication with an EC50 of 1.2 μM. Mechanism of action studies suggest that homoseongomycin affects both early and late stages of the viral life cycle. Cells treated with 25 μM of homoseongomycin had a ~90% reduction in viral entry. In comparison, later stages showed a more robust reduction in infectious titers (6 log10) and VEEV extracellular viral RNA levels (4 log10), but a lesser impact on intracellular viral RNA levels (1.5 log10). In sum, this work demonstrates that homoseongomycin is a potential anti-VEEV and anti-EEEV compound due to its low cytotoxicity and potent antiviral activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shih-Chao Lin
- National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA; Bachelor Degree in Marine Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, 202301, Taiwan
| | - Caitlin W Lehman
- National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Allison K Stewart
- Molecular Education, Technology and Research Innovation Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA
| | - Lauren Panny
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Nicole Bracci
- National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Jeffrey L C Wright
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, 28403, USA
| | - Mikell Paige
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Wendy K Strangman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, 28403, USA
| | - Kylene Kehn-Hall
- National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA; Center for Zoonotic and Arthropod-borne Pathogens, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
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20
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Cagliani R, Mozzi A, Pontremoli C, Sironi M. Evolution and Origin of Human Viruses. Virology 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/9781119818526.ch8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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21
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The Alphaviral Capsid Protein Inhibits IRAK1-Dependent TLR Signaling. Viruses 2021; 13:v13030377. [PMID: 33673546 PMCID: PMC7997285 DOI: 10.3390/v13030377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Alphaviruses are arthropod-borne RNA viruses which can cause either mild to severe febrile arthritis which may persist for months, or encephalitis which can lead to death or lifelong cognitive impairments. The non-assembly molecular role(s), functions, and protein–protein interactions of the alphavirus capsid proteins have been largely overlooked. Here we detail the use of a BioID2 biotin ligase system to identify the protein–protein interactions of the Sindbis virus capsid protein. These efforts led to the discovery of a series of novel host–pathogen interactions, including the identification of an interaction between the alphaviral capsid protein and the host IRAK1 protein. Importantly, this capsid–IRAK1 interaction is conserved across multiple alphavirus species, including arthritogenic alphaviruses SINV, Ross River virus, and Chikungunya virus; and encephalitic alphaviruses Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus, and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus. The impact of the capsid–IRAK1 interaction was evaluated using a robust set of cellular model systems, leading to the realization that the alphaviral capsid protein specifically inhibits IRAK1-dependent signaling. This inhibition represents a means by which alphaviruses may evade innate immune detection and activation prior to viral gene expression. Altogether, these data identify novel capsid protein–protein interactions, establish the capsid–IRAK1 interaction as a common alphavirus host–pathogen interface, and delineate the molecular consequences of the capsid–IRAK1 interaction on IRAK1-dependent signaling.
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22
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Carrera JP, Cucunubá ZM, Neira K, Lambert B, Pittí Y, Liscano J, Garzón JL, Beltran D, Collado-Mariscal L, Saenz L, Sosa N, Rodriguez-Guzman LD, González P, Lescano AG, Pereyra-Elías R, Valderrama A, Weaver SC, Vittor AY, Armién B, Pascale JM, Donnelly CA. Endemic and Epidemic Human Alphavirus Infections in Eastern Panama: An Analysis of Population-Based Cross-Sectional Surveys. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020; 103:2429-2437. [PMID: 33124532 PMCID: PMC7695115 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Madariaga virus (MADV) has recently been associated with severe human disease in Panama, where the closely related Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) also circulates. In June 2017, a fatal MADV infection was confirmed in a community of Darien Province. We conducted a cross-sectional outbreak investigation with human and mosquito collections in July 2017, where sera were tested for alphavirus antibodies and viral RNA. In addition, by applying a catalytic, force-of-infection (FOI) statistical model to two serosurveys from Darien Province in 2012 and 2017, we investigated whether endemic or epidemic alphavirus transmission occurred historically. In 2017, MADV and VEEV IgM seroprevalences were 1.6% and 4.4%, respectively; IgG antibody prevalences were MADV: 13.2%, VEEV: 16.8%, Una virus (UNAV): 16.0%, and Mayaro virus: 1.1%. Active viral circulation was not detected. Evidence of MADV and UNAV infection was found near households, raising questions about its vectors and enzootic transmission cycles. Insomnia was associated with MADV and VEEV infections, depression symptoms were associated with MADV, and dizziness with VEEV and UNAV. Force-of-infection analyses suggest endemic alphavirus transmission historically, with recent increased human exposure to MADV and VEEV in Aruza and Mercadeo, respectively. The lack of additional neurological cases suggests that severe MADV and VEEV infections occur only rarely. Our results indicate that over the past five decades, alphavirus infections have occurred at low levels in eastern Panama, but that MADV and VEEV infections have recently increased-potentially during the past decade. Endemic infections and outbreaks of MADV and VEEV appear to differ spatially in some locations of eastern Panama.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Paul Carrera
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom;,Department of Research in Virology and Biotechnology, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama;,Address correspondence to Jean-Paul Carrera, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3SY, United kingdom or Ave. Justo Arosemana and St. 35, Panama City, 0816-02593, Panama, E-mails: or or Christl A. Donnelly, Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, 24-29 St Giles, Oxford, OX1 3LB, United Kingdom, E-mails: or
| | - Zulma M. Cucunubá
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis (MRC-GIDA), Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Karen Neira
- Emerging Infectious Disease and Climate Change Unit, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
| | - Ben Lambert
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis (MRC-GIDA), Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yaneth Pittí
- Department of Research in Virology and Biotechnology, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
| | - Jesus Liscano
- School of Medicine, Columbus University, Panama City, Panama
| | - Jorge L. Garzón
- Department of Research in Virology and Biotechnology, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
| | - Davis Beltran
- Department of Research in Virology and Biotechnology, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
| | - Luisa Collado-Mariscal
- Department of Medical Entomology, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
| | - Lisseth Saenz
- Department of Research in Virology and Biotechnology, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
| | - Néstor Sosa
- Clinical Research Unit, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
| | | | - Publio González
- Department of Research in Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
| | - Andrés G. Lescano
- Emerging Infectious Disease and Climate Change Unit, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
| | - Reneé Pereyra-Elías
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom;,School of Medicine, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, Lima, Perú
| | - Anayansi Valderrama
- Department of Medical Entomology, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
| | - Scott C. Weaver
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas;,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | - Amy Y. Vittor
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida;,Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Blas Armién
- Department of Research in Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama;,Universidad Interamericana de Panama, Panama City, Panama
| | - Juan-Miguel Pascale
- Clinical Research Unit, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
| | - Christl A. Donnelly
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis (MRC-GIDA), Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom;,Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom,Address correspondence to Jean-Paul Carrera, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3SY, United kingdom or Ave. Justo Arosemana and St. 35, Panama City, 0816-02593, Panama, E-mails: or or Christl A. Donnelly, Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, 24-29 St Giles, Oxford, OX1 3LB, United Kingdom, E-mails: or
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23
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Lello LS, Utt A, Bartholomeeusen K, Wang S, Rausalu K, Kendall C, Coppens S, Fragkoudis R, Tuplin A, Alphey L, Ariën KK, Merits A. Cross-utilisation of template RNAs by alphavirus replicases. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008825. [PMID: 32886709 PMCID: PMC7498090 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Most alphaviruses (family Togaviridae) including Sindbis virus (SINV) and other human pathogens, are transmitted by arthropods. The first open reading frame in their positive strand RNA genome encodes for the non-structural polyprotein, a precursor to four separate subunits of the replicase. The replicase interacts with cis-acting elements located near the intergenic region and at the ends of the viral RNA genome. A trans-replication assay was developed and used to analyse the template requirements for nine alphavirus replicases. Replicases of alphaviruses of the Semliki Forest virus complex were able to cross-utilize each other’s templates as well as those of outgroup alphaviruses. Templates of outgroup alphaviruses, including SINV and the mosquito-specific Eilat virus, were promiscuous; in contrast, their replicases displayed a limited capacity to use heterologous templates, especially in mosquito cells. The determinants important for efficient replication of template RNA were mapped to the 5' region of the genome. For SINV these include the extreme 5'- end of the genome and sequences corresponding to the first stem-loop structure in the 5' untranslated region. Mutations introduced in these elements drastically reduced infectivity of recombinant SINV genomes. The trans-replicase tools and approaches developed here can be instrumental in studying alphavirus recombination and evolution, but can also be applied to study other viruses such as picornaviruses, flaviviruses and coronaviruses. Alphaviruses are positive-strand RNA viruses, most of which use mosquitoes to spread between vertebrate hosts; many are human pathogens with potentially severe medical consequences. Some alphavirus species are believed to have resulted from the recombination between different members of the genus and there is evidence of movement of alphaviruses between continents. Here, a novel assay uncoupling viral replicase and template RNA production was developed and used to analyse cross-utilization of alphavirus template RNAs. We observed that replicases of closely related alphaviruses belonging to the Semliki Forest virus complex can generally use each other’s template RNAs as well as those of distantly related outgroup viruses. In contrast, replicases of outgroup viruses clearly preferred homologous template RNAs. These trends were observed in both mammalian and mosquito cells, with template preferences generally more pronounced in mosquito cells. Interestingly, the template RNA of the mosquito-specific Eilat virus was efficiently used by other alphavirus replicases while Eilat replicase could not use heterologous templates. Determinants for template selectivity were mapped to the beginning of the RNA genome and template recognition was more likely based on the recognition of RNA sequences than recognition of structural elements formed by the RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Age Utt
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Koen Bartholomeeusen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Sainan Wang
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kai Rausalu
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Catherine Kendall
- Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural and Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Sandra Coppens
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Rennos Fragkoudis
- University of Nottingham, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Tuplin
- Faculty of Biological Sciences and Astbury Centre for Structural and Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Luke Alphey
- The Pirbright Institute, Woking, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin K. Ariën
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Andres Merits
- Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- * E-mail:
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Rossi SL, Russell-Lodrigue KE, Plante KS, Bergren NA, Gorchakov R, Roy CJ, Weaver SC. Rationally Attenuated Vaccines for Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Protect Against Epidemic Strains with a Single Dose. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:E497. [PMID: 32887313 PMCID: PMC7563393 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8030497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is a re-emerging virus of human, agriculture, and bioweapon threat importance. No FDA-approved treatment is available to combat Venezuelan equine encephalitis in humans, prompting the need to create a vaccine that is safe, efficacious, and cannot be replicated in the mosquito vector. Here we describe the use of a serotype ID VEEV (ZPC-738) vaccine with an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) to alter gene expression patterns. This ZPC/IRES vaccine was genetically engineered in two ways based on the position of the IRES insertion to create a vaccine that is safe and efficacious. After a single dose, both versions of the ZPC/IRES vaccine elicited neutralizing antibody responses in mice and non-human primates after a single dose, with more robust responses produced by version 2. Further, all mice and primates were protected from viremia following VEEV challenge. These vaccines were also safer in neonatal mice than the current investigational new drug vaccine, TC-83. These results show that IRES-based attenuation of alphavirus genomes consistently produce promising vaccine candidates, with VEEV/IRES version 2 showing promise for further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannan L. Rossi
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology and Immunology, Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | | | - Kenneth S. Plante
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA;
| | - Nicholas A. Bergren
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA;
| | - Rodion Gorchakov
- Department of Health, Safety and Environment, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Chad J. Roy
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433, USA; (K.E.R.-L.); (C.J.R.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Scott C. Weaver
- World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
- Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
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25
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Comparative analyses of alphaviral RNA:Protein complexes reveals conserved host-pathogen interactions. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0238254. [PMID: 32841293 PMCID: PMC7446964 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of host / pathogen interactions is essential to both understanding the molecular biology of infection and developing rational intervention strategies to overcome disease. Alphaviruses, such as Sindbis virus, Chikungunya virus, and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus are medically relevant positive-sense RNA viruses. As such, they must interface with the host machinery to complete their infectious lifecycles. Nonetheless, exhaustive RNA:Protein interaction discovery approaches have not been reported for any alphavirus species. Thus, the breadth and evolutionary conservation of host interactions on alphaviral RNA function remains a critical gap in the field. Herein we describe the application of the Cross-Link Assisted mRNP Purification (CLAMP) strategy to identify conserved alphaviral interactions. Through comparative analyses, conserved alphaviral host / pathogen interactions were identified. Approximately 100 unique host proteins were identified as a result of these analyses. Ontological assessments reveal enriched Molecular Functions and Biological Processes relevant to alphaviral infection. Specifically, as anticipated, Poly(A) RNA Binding proteins are significantly enriched in virus specific CLAMP data sets. Moreover, host proteins involved in the regulation of mRNA stability, proteasome mediated degradation, and a number of 14-3-3 proteins were identified. Importantly, these data expand the understanding of alphaviral host / pathogen interactions by identifying conserved interactants.
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Smith DR, Schmaljohn CS, Badger C, Ostrowski K, Zeng X, Grimes SD, Rayner JO. Comparative pathology study of Venezuelan, eastern, and western equine encephalitis viruses in non-human primates. Antiviral Res 2020; 182:104875. [PMID: 32755661 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Venezuelan, eastern, and western equine encephalitis viruses (VEEV, EEEV, and WEEV) are mosquito-borne viruses in the Americas that cause central nervous system (CNS) disease in humans and equids. In this study, we directly characterized the pathogenesis of VEEV, EEEV, and WEEV in cynomolgus macaques following subcutaneous exposure because this route more closely mimics natural infection via mosquito transmission or by an accidental needle stick. Our results highlight how EEEV is significantly more pathogenic compared to VEEV similarly to what is observed in humans. Interestingly, EEEV appears to be just as neuropathogenic by subcutaneous exposure as it was in previously completed aerosol exposure studies. In contrast, subcutaneous exposure of cynomolgus macaques with WEEV caused limited disease and is contradictory to what has been reported for aerosol exposure. Several differences in viremia, hematology, or tissue tropism were noted when animals were exposed subcutaneously compared to prior aerosol exposure studies. This study provides a more complete picture of the pathogenesis of the encephalitic alphaviruses and highlights how further defining the neuropathology of these viruses could have important implications for the development of medical countermeasures for the neurovirulent alphaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darci R Smith
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, 21702, MD, USA.
| | - Connie S Schmaljohn
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, 21702, MD, USA
| | - Catherine Badger
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, 21702, MD, USA
| | - Kristen Ostrowski
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, 21702, MD, USA
| | - Xiankun Zeng
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, 21702, MD, USA
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Azar SR, Campos RK, Bergren NA, Camargos VN, Rossi SL. Epidemic Alphaviruses: Ecology, Emergence and Outbreaks. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8081167. [PMID: 32752150 PMCID: PMC7464724 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8081167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past century, the emergence/reemergence of arthropod-borne zoonotic agents has been a growing public health concern. In particular, agents from the genus Alphavirus pose a significant risk to both animal and human health. Human alphaviral disease presents with either arthritogenic or encephalitic manifestations and is associated with significant morbidity and/or mortality. Unfortunately, there are presently no vaccines or antiviral measures approved for human use. The present review examines the ecology, epidemiology, disease, past outbreaks, and potential to cause contemporary outbreaks for several alphavirus pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasha R. Azar
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0609, USA;
| | - Rafael K. Campos
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0609, USA;
| | | | - Vidyleison N. Camargos
- Host-Microorganism Interaction Lab, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil;
| | - Shannan L. Rossi
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0609, USA;
- Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0610, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +409-772-9033
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Lundstrom K. Self-Amplifying RNA Viruses as RNA Vaccines. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21145130. [PMID: 32698494 PMCID: PMC7404065 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21145130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Single-stranded RNA viruses such as alphaviruses, flaviviruses, measles viruses and rhabdoviruses are characterized by their capacity of highly efficient self-amplification of RNA in host cells, which make them attractive vehicles for vaccine development. Particularly, alphaviruses and flaviviruses can be administered as recombinant particles, layered DNA/RNA plasmid vectors carrying the RNA replicon and even RNA replicon molecules. Self-amplifying RNA viral vectors have been used for high level expression of viral and tumor antigens, which in immunization studies have elicited strong cellular and humoral immune responses in animal models. Vaccination has provided protection against challenges with lethal doses of viral pathogens and tumor cells. Moreover, clinical trials have demonstrated safe application of RNA viral vectors and even promising results in rhabdovirus-based phase III trials on an Ebola virus vaccine. Preclinical and clinical applications of self-amplifying RNA viral vectors have proven efficient for vaccine development and due to the presence of RNA replicons, amplification of RNA in host cells will generate superior immune responses with significantly reduced amounts of RNA delivered. The need for novel and efficient vaccines has become even more evident due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, which has further highlighted the urgency in challenging emerging diseases.
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Abstract
Alphaviruses, members of the enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA Togaviridae family, represent a reemerging public health threat as mosquito vectors expand into new geographic territories. The Old World alphaviruses, which include chikungunya virus, Ross River virus, and Sindbis virus, tend to cause a clinical syndrome characterized by fever, rash, and arthritis, whereas the New World alphaviruses, which consist of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, eastern equine encephalitis virus, and western equine encephalitis virus, induce encephalomyelitis. Following recovery from the acute phase of infection, many patients are left with debilitating persistent joint and neurological complications that can last for years. Clues from human cases and studies using animal models strongly suggest that much of the disease and pathology induced by alphavirus infection, particularly atypical and chronic manifestations, is mediated by the immune system rather than directly by the virus. This review discusses the current understanding of the immunopathogenesis of the arthritogenic and neurotropic alphaviruses accumulated through both natural infection of humans and experimental infection of animals, particularly mice. As treatment following alphavirus infection is currently limited to supportive care, understanding the contribution of the immune system to the disease process is critical to developing safe and effective therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria K Baxter
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Mark T Heise
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
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Dynamics of prevalence and distribution pattern of avian Plasmodium species and its vectors in diverse zoogeographical areas - A review. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2020; 81:104244. [PMID: 32087345 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Avian Plasmodium is of special interest to health care scientists and veterinarians due to the potency of causing avian malaria in non-adapted birds and their evolutionary phylogenetic relationship with human malaria species. This article aimed to provide a comprehensive list of the common avian Plasmodium parasites in the birds and mosquitoes, to specify the common Plasmodium species and lineages in the selected regions of West of Asia, East of Europe, and North of Africa/Middle East, and to determine the contribution of generalist and host-specific Plasmodium species and lineages. The final list of published infected birds includes 146 species, among which Passer domesticus was the most prevalent in the studied areas. The species of Acrocephalus arundinaceus and Sylvia atricapilla were reported as common infected hosts in the examined regions of three continents. The highest numbers of common species of infected birds between continent pairs were from Asia and Europe, and no common record was found from Europe and Africa. The species of Milvus migrans and Upupa epops were recorded as common species from Asia and Africa. The lineage of GRW11 and species of P. relictum were the most prevalent parasites among all the infection records in birds. The most prevalent genus of vectors of avian malaria belonged to Culex and species of Cx. pipiens. The lineage SGS1 with the highest number of occurrence has been found in various vectors comprising Cx. pipiens, Cx. modestus, Cx. theileri, Cx. sasai, Cx. perexiguus, Lutzia vorax, and Culicoides alazanicus. A total of 31 Plasmodium species and 59 Plasmodium lineages were recorded from these regions. SGS1, GRW04, and GRW11, and P. relictum and P. vaughani are specified as common generalist avian malaria parasites from these three geographic areas. The presence of avian Plasmodium parasites in distant geographic areas and various hosts may be explained by the movement of the infected birds through the migration routes. Although most recorded lineages were from Asia, investigating the distribution of lineages in some of the countries has not been done. Thus, the most important outcome of this review is the determination of the distribution pattern of parasite and vector species that shed light on gaps requiring further studies on the monitoring of avian Plasmodium and common vectors extension. This task could be achieved through scientific field and laboratory networking, performing active surveillance and designing regional/continental control programs of birds' malaria and other zoonotic diseases.
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31
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Painter GR, Bowen RA, Bluemling GR, DeBergh J, Edpuganti V, Gruddanti PR, Guthrie DB, Hager M, Kuiper DL, Lockwood MA, Mitchell DG, Natchus MG, Sticher ZM, Kolykhalov AA. The prophylactic and therapeutic activity of a broadly active ribonucleoside analog in a murine model of intranasal venezuelan equine encephalitis virus infection. Antiviral Res 2019; 171:104597. [DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2019.104597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Rusnak JM, Glass PJ, Weaver SC, Sabourin CL, Glenn AM, Klimstra W, Badorrek CS, Nasar F, Ward LA. Approach to Strain Selection and the Propagation of Viral Stocks for Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Vaccine Efficacy Testing under the Animal Rule. Viruses 2019; 11:v11090807. [PMID: 31480472 PMCID: PMC6784384 DOI: 10.3390/v11090807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Licensure of a vaccine to protect against aerosolized Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) requires use of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Animal Rule to assess vaccine efficacy as human studies are not feasible or ethical. An approach to selecting VEEV challenge strains for use under the Animal Rule was developed, taking into account Department of Defense (DOD) vaccine requirements, FDA Animal Rule guidelines, strain availability, and lessons learned from the generation of filovirus challenge agents within the Filovirus Animal Nonclinical Group (FANG). Initial down-selection to VEEV IAB and IC epizootic varieties was based on the DOD objective for vaccine protection in a bioterrorism event. The subsequent down-selection of VEEV IAB and IC isolates was based on isolate availability, origin, virulence, culture and animal passage history, known disease progression in animal models, relevancy to human disease, and ability to generate sufficient challenge material. Methods for the propagation of viral stocks (use of uncloned (wild-type), plaque-cloned, versus cDNA-cloned virus) to minimize variability in the potency of the resulting challenge materials were also reviewed. The presented processes for VEEV strain selection and the propagation of viral stocks may serve as a template for animal model development product testing under the Animal Rule to other viral vaccine programs. This manuscript is based on the culmination of work presented at the “Alphavirus Workshop” organized and hosted by the Joint Vaccine Acquisition Program (JVAP) on 15 December 2014 at Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janice M Rusnak
- Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND), Joint Project Manager-Medical Countermeasure Systems (JMP-MCS), Joint Vaccine Acquisition Program (JVAP), 1564 Freedman Drive, Fort Detrick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Pamela J Glass
- Department of Virology, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Scott C Weaver
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Carol L Sabourin
- Battelle Biomedical Research Center, 1425 Plain City-Georgesville Road, West Jefferson, OH 43162, USA
| | - Andrew M Glenn
- Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND), Joint Project Manager-Medical Countermeasure Systems (JMP-MCS), Joint Vaccine Acquisition Program (JVAP), 1564 Freedman Drive, Fort Detrick, MD 21702, USA
| | - William Klimstra
- Center for Vaccine Research, University of Pittsburgh, 3501 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Christopher S Badorrek
- Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND), Joint Project Manager-Medical Countermeasure Systems (JMP-MCS), Joint Vaccine Acquisition Program (JVAP), 1564 Freedman Drive, Fort Detrick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Farooq Nasar
- Department of Virology, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Lucy A Ward
- Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND), Joint Project Manager-Medical Countermeasure Systems (JMP-MCS), Joint Vaccine Acquisition Program (JVAP), 1564 Freedman Drive, Fort Detrick, MD 21702, USA
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Juarez D, Guevara C, Wiley M, Torre A, Palacios G, Halsey ES, Ampuero S, Leguia M. Isolation of Complete Equine Encephalitis Virus Genome from Human Swab Specimen, Peru. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 24:1578-1580. [PMID: 30016240 PMCID: PMC6056129 DOI: 10.3201/eid2408.171274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
While studying respiratory infections in Peru, we identified Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) in a nasopharyngeal swab, indicating that this alphavirus can be present in human respiratory secretions. Because VEEV may be infectious when aerosolized, our finding is relevant for the management of VEEV-infected patients and for VEEV transmission studies.
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Src Family Kinase Inhibitors Block Translation of Alphavirus Subgenomic mRNAs. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2019; 63:AAC.02325-18. [PMID: 30917980 PMCID: PMC6496153 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02325-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Alphaviruses are arthropod-transmitted RNA viruses that can cause arthralgia, myalgia, and encephalitis in humans. Since the role of cellular kinases in alphavirus replication is unknown, we profiled kinetic changes in host kinase abundance and phosphorylation following chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection of fibroblasts. Alphaviruses are arthropod-transmitted RNA viruses that can cause arthralgia, myalgia, and encephalitis in humans. Since the role of cellular kinases in alphavirus replication is unknown, we profiled kinetic changes in host kinase abundance and phosphorylation following chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection of fibroblasts. Based upon the results of this study, we treated CHIKV-infected cells with kinase inhibitors targeting the Src family kinase (SFK)–phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)–AKT–mTORC signaling pathways. Treatment of cells with SFK inhibitors blocked the replication of CHIKV as well as multiple other alphaviruses, including Mayaro virus, O’nyong-nyong virus, Ross River virus, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus. Dissecting the effect of SFK inhibition on alphavirus replication, we found that viral structural protein levels were significantly reduced, but synthesis of viral genomic and subgenomic RNAs was unaffected. By measuring the association of viral RNA with polyribosomes, we found that the SFK inhibitor dasatinib blocks alphavirus subgenomic RNA translation. Our results demonstrate a role for SFK signaling in alphavirus subgenomic RNA translation and replication. Targeting host factors involved in alphavirus replication represents an innovative, perhaps paradigm-shifting, strategy for exploring the replication of CHIKV and other alphaviruses while promoting antiviral therapeutic development.
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35
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DeBono A, Thomas DR, Lundberg L, Pinkham C, Cao Y, Graham JD, Clarke CL, Wagstaff KM, Shechter S, Kehn-Hall K, Jans DA. Novel RU486 (mifepristone) analogues with increased activity against Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus but reduced progesterone receptor antagonistic activity. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2634. [PMID: 30796232 PMCID: PMC6385310 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-38671-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
There are currently no therapeutics to treat infection with the alphavirus Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV), which causes flu-like symptoms leading to neurological symptoms in up to 14% of cases. Large outbreaks of VEEV can result in 10,000 s of human cases and mass equine death. We previously showed that mifepristone (RU486) has anti-VEEV activity (EC50 = 20 μM) and only limited cytotoxicity (CC50 > 100 μM), but a limitation in its use is its abortifacient activity resulting from its ability to antagonize the progesterone receptor (PR). Here we generate a suite of new mifepristone analogues with enhanced antiviral properties, succeeding in achieving >11-fold improvement in anti-VEEV activity with no detectable increase in toxicity. Importantly, we were able to derive a lead compound with an EC50 of 7.2 µM and no detectable PR antagonism activity. Finally, based on our SAR analysis we propose avenues for the further development of these analogues as safe and effective anti-VEEV agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron DeBono
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - David R Thomas
- Nuclear Signaling Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Lindsay Lundberg
- National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - Chelsea Pinkham
- National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - Ying Cao
- Centre for Cancer Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - J Dinny Graham
- Centre for Cancer Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Christine L Clarke
- Centre for Cancer Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Kylie M Wagstaff
- Nuclear Signaling Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Kylene Kehn-Hall
- National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, USA
| | - David A Jans
- Nuclear Signaling Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
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Monette A, Mouland AJ. T Lymphocytes as Measurable Targets of Protection and Vaccination Against Viral Disorders. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 342:175-263. [PMID: 30635091 PMCID: PMC7104940 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2018.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Continuous epidemiological surveillance of existing and emerging viruses and their associated disorders is gaining importance in light of their abilities to cause unpredictable outbreaks as a result of increased travel and vaccination choices by steadily growing and aging populations. Close surveillance of outbreaks and herd immunity are also at the forefront, even in industrialized countries, where previously eradicated viruses are now at risk of re-emergence due to instances of strain recombination, contractions in viral vector geographies, and from their potential use as agents of bioterrorism. There is a great need for the rational design of current and future vaccines targeting viruses, with a strong focus on vaccine targeting of adaptive immune effector memory T cells as the gold standard of immunity conferring long-lived protection against a wide variety of pathogens and malignancies. Here, we review viruses that have historically caused large outbreaks and severe lethal disorders, including respiratory, gastric, skin, hepatic, neurologic, and hemorrhagic fevers. To observe trends in vaccinology against these viral disorders, we describe viral genetic, replication, transmission, and tropism, host-immune evasion strategies, and the epidemiology and health risks of their associated syndromes. We focus on immunity generated against both natural infection and vaccination, where a steady shift in conferred vaccination immunogenicity is observed from quantifying activated and proliferating, long-lived effector memory T cell subsets, as the prominent biomarkers of long-term immunity against viruses and their associated disorders causing high morbidity and mortality rates.
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Weaver SC. Prediction and prevention of urban arbovirus epidemics: A challenge for the global virology community. Antiviral Res 2018; 156:80-84. [PMID: 29906475 PMCID: PMC6082388 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2018.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 06/10/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The recent emergence and rapid spread of Zika virus in tropical regions of the Western Hemisphere took arbovirologists and public health officials by surprise, and the earlier transfers of West Nile and chikungunya viruses from the Old to the New World were also unexpected. These pandemics underscore the increasing threat of zoonotic arboviruses, especially those that are capable of entering into human-amplified, urban transmission cycles transmitted by Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti and sometimes other Aedes (Stegomyia) spp. mosquitoes. This review serves as an introduction to a World Health Organization-sponsored conference to be held on June 18-19, 2018 in Geneva, titled "From obscurity to urban epidemics: what are the next urban arboviruses?" It is intended to set the stage and fuel discussions of future urban arbovirus threats, how we can predict these risks from known and unknown viruses, and what factors may change these risks over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott C Weaver
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA.
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Wong G, Qiu XG. Type I interferon receptor knockout mice as models for infection of highly pathogenic viruses with outbreak potential. Zool Res 2018; 39:3-14. [PMID: 29511140 PMCID: PMC5869239 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2017.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to their inability to generate a complete immune response, mice knockout for type I interferon (IFN) receptors (Ifnar–/–) are more susceptible to viral infections, and are thus commonly used for pathogenesis studies. This mouse model has been used to study many diseases caused by highly pathogenic viruses from many families, including the Flaviviridae, Filoviridae, Arenaviridae, Bunyaviridae, Henipaviridae, and Togaviridae. In this review, we summarize the findings from these animal studies, and discuss the pros and cons of using this model versus other known methods for studying pathogenesis in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary Wong
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Immunity, State Key Discipline of Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen Guangzhou 518020, China. .,Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.,Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3R2, Canada.,Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada
| | - Xiang-Guo Qiu
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3R2, Canada.,Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0J9, Canada
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Gall B, Pryke K, Abraham J, Mizuno N, Botto S, Sali TM, Broeckel R, Haese N, Nilsen A, Placzek A, Morrison T, Heise M, Streblow D, DeFilippis V. Emerging Alphaviruses Are Sensitive to Cellular States Induced by a Novel Small-Molecule Agonist of the STING Pathway. J Virol 2018; 92:e01913-17. [PMID: 29263267 PMCID: PMC5827377 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01913-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The type I interferon (IFN) system represents an essential innate immune response that renders cells resistant to virus growth via the molecular actions of IFN-induced effector proteins. IFN-mediated cellular states inhibit growth of numerous and diverse virus types, including those of known pathogenicity as well as potentially emerging agents. As such, targeted pharmacologic activation of the IFN response may represent a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent infection or spread of clinically impactful viruses. In light of this, we employed a high-throughput screen to identify small molecules capable of permeating the cell and of activating IFN-dependent signaling processes. Here we report the identification and characterization of N-(methylcarbamoyl)-2-{[5-(4-methylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl]sulfanyl}-2-phenylacetamide (referred to as C11), a novel compound capable of inducing IFN secretion from human cells. Using reverse genetics-based loss-of-function assays, we show that C11 activates the type I IFN response in a manner that requires the adaptor protein STING but not the alternative adaptors MAVS and TRIF. Importantly, treatment of cells with C11 generated a cellular state that potently blocked replication of multiple emerging alphavirus types, including chikungunya, Ross River, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, Mayaro, and O'nyong-nyong viruses. The antiviral effects of C11 were subsequently abrogated in cells lacking STING or the type I IFN receptor, indicating that they are mediated, at least predominantly, by way of STING-mediated IFN secretion and subsequent autocrine/paracrine signaling. This work also allowed characterization of differential antiviral roles of innate immune signaling adaptors and IFN-mediated responses and identified MAVS as being crucial to cellular resistance to alphavirus infection.IMPORTANCE Due to the increase in emerging arthropod-borne viruses, such as chikungunya virus, that lack FDA-approved therapeutics and vaccines, it is important to better understand the signaling pathways that lead to clearance of virus. Here we show that C11 treatment makes human cells refractory to replication of a number of these viruses, which supports its value in increasing our understanding of the immune response and viral pathogenesis required to establish host infection. We also show that C11 depends on signaling through STING to produce antiviral type I interferon, which further supports its potential as a therapeutic drug or research tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Gall
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Kara Pryke
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Jinu Abraham
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Nobuyo Mizuno
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Sara Botto
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Tina M Sali
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Rebecca Broeckel
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Nicole Haese
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Aaron Nilsen
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | | | - Thomas Morrison
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Mark Heise
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Daniel Streblow
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Victor DeFilippis
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
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Kautz TF, Guerbois M, Khanipov K, Patterson EI, Langsjoen RM, Yun R, Warmbrod KL, Fofanov Y, Weaver SC, Forrester NL. Low-fidelity Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus polymerase mutants to improve live-attenuated vaccine safety and efficacy. Virus Evol 2018; 4:vey004. [PMID: 29593882 PMCID: PMC5841381 DOI: 10.1093/ve/vey004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
During RNA virus replication, there is the potential to incorporate mutations that affect virulence or pathogenesis. For live-attenuated vaccines, this has implications for stability, as replication may result in mutations that either restore the wild-type phenotype via reversion or compensate for the attenuating mutations by increasing virulence (pseudoreversion). Recent studies have demonstrated that altering the mutation rate of an RNA virus is an effective attenuation tool. To validate the safety of low-fidelity mutations to increase vaccine attenuation, several mutations in the RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase (RdRp) were tested in the live-attenuated Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus vaccine strain, TC-83. Next generation sequencing after passage in the presence of mutagens revealed a mutant containing three mutations in the RdRp, TC-83 3x, to have decreased replication fidelity, while a second mutant, TC-83 4x displayed no change in fidelity, but shared many phenotypic characteristics with TC-83 3x. Both mutants exhibited increased, albeit inconsistent attenuation in an infant mouse model, as well as increased immunogenicity and complete protection against lethal challenge of an adult murine model compared with the parent TC-83. During serial passaging in a highly permissive model, the mutants increased in virulence but remained less virulent than the parent TC-83. These results suggest that the incorporation of low-fidelity mutations into the RdRp of live-attenuated vaccines for RNA viruses can confer increased immunogenicity whilst showing some evidence of increased attenuation. However, while in theory such constructs may result in more effective vaccines, the instability of the vaccine phenotype decreases the likelihood of this being an effective vaccine strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany F Kautz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Mathilde Guerbois
- Department of Pathology, Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Kamil Khanipov
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Edward I Patterson
- Department of Pathology, Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Rose M Langsjoen
- Institute for Translational Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Ruimei Yun
- Department of Pathology, Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Kelsey L Warmbrod
- Department of Pathology, Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Yuriy Fofanov
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Scott C Weaver
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.,Department of Pathology, Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Naomi L Forrester
- Department of Pathology, Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
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Smith JL, Pugh CL, Cisney ED, Keasey SL, Guevara C, Ampuero JS, Comach G, Gomez D, Ochoa-Diaz M, Hontz RD, Ulrich RG. Human Antibody Responses to Emerging Mayaro Virus and Cocirculating Alphavirus Infections Examined by Using Structural Proteins from Nine New and Old World Lineages. mSphere 2018; 3:e00003-18. [PMID: 29577083 PMCID: PMC5863033 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00003-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mayaro virus (MAYV), Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV), and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) are vector-borne alphaviruses that cocirculate in South America. Human infections by these viruses are frequently underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed, especially in areas with high dengue virus endemicity. Disease may progress to debilitating arthralgia (MAYV, CHIKV), encephalitis (VEEV), and death. Few standardized serological assays exist for specific human alphavirus infection detection, and antigen cross-reactivity can be problematic. Therefore, serological platforms that aid in the specific detection of multiple alphavirus infections will greatly expand disease surveillance for these emerging infections. In this study, serum samples from South American patients with PCR- and/or isolation-confirmed infections caused by MAYV, VEEV, and CHIKV were examined by using a protein microarray assembled with recombinant capsid, envelope protein 1 (E1), and E2 from nine New and Old World alphaviruses. Notably, specific antibody recognition of E1 was observed only with MAYV infections, whereas E2 was specifically targeted by antibodies from all of the alphavirus infections investigated, with evidence of cross-reactivity to E2 of o'nyong-nyong virus only in CHIKV-infected patient serum samples. Our findings suggest that alphavirus structural protein microarrays can distinguish infections caused by MAYV, VEEV, and CHIKV and that this multiplexed serological platform could be useful for high-throughput disease surveillance. IMPORTANCE Mayaro, chikungunya, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis viruses are closely related alphaviruses that are spread by mosquitos, causing diseases that produce similar influenza-like symptoms or more severe illnesses. Moreover, alphavirus infection symptoms can be similar to those of dengue or Zika disease, leading to underreporting of cases and potential misdiagnoses. New methods that can be used to detect antibody responses to multiple alphaviruses within the same assay would greatly aid disease surveillance efforts. However, possible antibody cross-reactivity between viruses can reduce the quality of laboratory results. Our results demonstrate that antibody responses to multiple alphaviruses can be specifically quantified within the same assay by using selected recombinant protein antigens and further show that Mayaro virus infections result in unique responses to viral envelope proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L. Smith
- Molecular and Translational Sciences Division, Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Christine L. Pugh
- Molecular and Translational Sciences Division, Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Emily D. Cisney
- Molecular and Translational Sciences Division, Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Sarah L. Keasey
- Molecular and Translational Sciences Division, Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | - Guillermo Comach
- Laboratorio Regional de Diagnostico e Investigación del Dengue y Otras Enfermedades Virales (LARDIDEV), Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas de la Universidad de Carabobo (BIOMED.UC), Maracay, Aragua, Venezuela
| | - Doris Gomez
- Universidad de Cartagena, Doctorado en Medicina Tropical, Grupo UNIMOL, Cartagena, Colombia
| | - Margarita Ochoa-Diaz
- Universidad de Cartagena, Doctorado en Medicina Tropical, Grupo UNIMOL, Cartagena, Colombia
| | - Robert D. Hontz
- U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6 (NAMRU-6), Lima, Peru
| | - Robert G. Ulrich
- Molecular and Translational Sciences Division, Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland, USA
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Agarwal A, Parida M, Dash PK. Impact of transmission cycles and vector competence on global expansion and emergence of arboviruses. Rev Med Virol 2017; 27:e1941. [PMID: 28857363 DOI: 10.1002/rmv.1941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Arboviruses are transmitted between arthropod vectors and vertebrate host. Arboviral infection in mosquitoes is initiated when a mosquito feeds on a viremic host. Following ingestion of a viremic blood meal by mosquitoes, virus enters midgut along with the blood, infects and replicates in midgut epithelial cells, and then escapes to the hemocoel, from where it disseminates to various secondary organs including salivary glands. Subsequently, when mosquito bites another host, a new transmission cycle is initiated. The midgut and salivary glands act as anatomical barriers to virus infection and escape. These complex interactions between the virus and vector dictate the vector competence. Thus, vector competence reflects the success in overcoming different barriers within the vector. Along with these, other intrinsic factors like midgut microbiota and immune responses, extrinsic factors like temperature and humidity, and genetic factors like vector genotype and viral genotype have been discussed in this review. Recent advancement on novel molecular tools to study vector competence is also included. Different modes of arboviral transmission like horizontal, vertical, and venereal and how these play role in sustenance and emergence of arboviruses in nature are also discussed. These factors can be exploited to reduce the susceptibility of vectors for the viruses, so as to control arboviral diseases to certain extent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankita Agarwal
- Division of Virology, Defence R and D Establishment, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Manmohan Parida
- Division of Virology, Defence R and D Establishment, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Paban Kumar Dash
- Division of Virology, Defence R and D Establishment, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India
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Charlier C, Beaudoin MC, Couderc T, Lortholary O, Lecuit M. Arboviruses and pregnancy: maternal, fetal, and neonatal effects. THE LANCET CHILD & ADOLESCENT HEALTH 2017; 1:134-146. [PMID: 30169203 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-4642(17)30021-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Revised: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Arboviruses are an expanding public health threat, with pregnant women facing unique complications from arbovirus infections. These infections, such as dengue and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, can be more severe in pregnant women than in the general population. Vertical transmission is reported for many arboviruses and can severely affect pregnancy outcome. Indeed, arboviruses-particularly flaviviruses and alphaviruses-are associated with increased risks of fetal loss and premature birth. Arboviruses can be teratogenic, as is the case for Zika virus and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus. Finally, intrapartum transmission can result in severe neonatal infections, as is true for chikungunya virus. Although the global burden of arboviruses is well recognised, few studies have provided data on arbovirus infection specifically in the context of maternal and child health. Epidemiological and clinical studies are therefore needed to better assess the burden of arbovirus infections during pregnancy and to improve the prevention and clinical management of these viral infections. In this Review, we analyse the information available and identify gaps in knowledge that require further assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Charlier
- Institut Pasteur, Biology of Infection Unit, Paris, France; Inserm U1117, Paris, France; Paris-Descartes University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Centre d'Infectiologie Necker-Pasteur, Necker-Enfants Malades University Hospital, Institut Imagine, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France.
| | - Marie-Claude Beaudoin
- Paris-Descartes University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Centre d'Infectiologie Necker-Pasteur, Necker-Enfants Malades University Hospital, Institut Imagine, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France; Division of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Laval University and CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Thérèse Couderc
- Institut Pasteur, Biology of Infection Unit, Paris, France; Inserm U1117, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Lortholary
- Paris-Descartes University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Centre d'Infectiologie Necker-Pasteur, Necker-Enfants Malades University Hospital, Institut Imagine, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Marc Lecuit
- Institut Pasteur, Biology of Infection Unit, Paris, France; Inserm U1117, Paris, France; Paris-Descartes University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Centre d'Infectiologie Necker-Pasteur, Necker-Enfants Malades University Hospital, Institut Imagine, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France.
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Evolution and spread of Venezuelan equine encephalitis complex alphavirus in the Americas. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005693. [PMID: 28771475 PMCID: PMC5557581 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Revised: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 06/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) complex alphaviruses are important re-emerging arboviruses that cause life-threatening disease in equids during epizootics as well as spillover human infections. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of VEE complex alphaviruses by sequencing the genomes of 94 strains and performing phylogenetic analyses of 130 isolates using complete open reading frames for the nonstructural and structural polyproteins. Our analyses confirmed purifying selection as a major mechanism influencing the evolution of these viruses as well as a confounding factor in molecular clock dating of ancestors. Times to most recent common ancestors (tMRCAs) could be robustly estimated only for the more recently diverged subtypes; the tMRCA of the ID/IAB/IC/II and IE clades of VEE virus (VEEV) were estimated at ca. 149–973 years ago. Evolution of the IE subtype has been characterized by a significant evolutionary shift from the rest of the VEEV complex, with an increase in structural protein substitutions that are unique to this group, possibly reflecting adaptation to its unique enzootic mosquito vector Culex (Melanoconion) taeniopus. Our inferred tree topologies suggest that VEEV is maintained primarily in situ, with only occasional spread to neighboring countries, probably reflecting the limited mobility of rodent hosts and mosquito vectors. The Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) complex comprises a broadly distributed group of alphaviruses in the Americas that have the potential to emerge and cause severe disease. Historically, VEE complex viruses have caused recurring outbreaks of human and equine encephalitis in Central and South America as well as Mexico, with at least one outbreak resulting in movement of the virus to the southern United States. We present the most comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of complete genomic sequences of the most prominent member of the VEE complex, VEE virus (VEEV). We were able to identify the major forces influencing VEEV evolution, and using the inferred phylogenies we determined that VEEV evolves in geographically segregated lineages with enzootic transmission between rodents and mosquitoes apparently limiting its spread.
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More S, Bøtner A, Butterworth A, Calistri P, Depner K, Edwards S, Garin‐Bastuji B, Good M, Gortázar Schmidt C, Michel V, Miranda MA, Nielsen SS, Raj M, Sihvonen L, Spoolder H, Stegeman JA, Thulke H, Velarde A, Willeberg P, Winckler C, Baldinelli F, Broglia A, Dhollander S, Beltrán‐Beck B, Kohnle L, Morgado J, Bicout D. Assessment of listing and categorisation of animal diseases within the framework of the Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) No 2016/429): Venezuelan equine encephalitis. EFSA J 2017; 15:e04950. [PMID: 32625617 PMCID: PMC7010095 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2017.4950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
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Blancett CD, Fetterer DP, Koistinen KA, Morazzani EM, Monninger MK, Piper AE, Kuehl KA, Kearney BJ, Norris SL, Rossi CA, Glass PJ, Sun MG. Accurate virus quantitation using a Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM) detector in a scanning electron microscope. J Virol Methods 2017; 248:136-144. [PMID: 28668710 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2017.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Revised: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A method for accurate quantitation of virus particles has long been sought, but a perfect method still eludes the scientific community. Electron Microscopy (EM) quantitation is a valuable technique because it provides direct morphology information and counts of all viral particles, whether or not they are infectious. In the past, EM negative stain quantitation methods have been cited as inaccurate, non-reproducible, and with detection limits that were too high to be useful. To improve accuracy and reproducibility, we have developed a method termed Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy - Virus Quantitation (STEM-VQ), which simplifies sample preparation and uses a high throughput STEM detector in a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) coupled with commercially available software. In this paper, we demonstrate STEM-VQ with an alphavirus stock preparation to present the method's accuracy and reproducibility, including a comparison of STEM-VQ to viral plaque assay and the ViroCyt Virus Counter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candace D Blancett
- Pathology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702, United States
| | - David P Fetterer
- Biostatistics Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702, United States
| | - Keith A Koistinen
- Pathology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702, United States
| | - Elaine M Morazzani
- Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702, United States
| | - Mitchell K Monninger
- Pathology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702, United States
| | - Ashley E Piper
- Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702, United States
| | - Kathleen A Kuehl
- Pathology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702, United States
| | - Brian J Kearney
- Diagnostics Systems Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702, United States
| | - Sarah L Norris
- Biostatistics Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702, United States
| | - Cynthia A Rossi
- Diagnostics Systems Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702, United States
| | - Pamela J Glass
- Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702, United States
| | - Mei G Sun
- Pathology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702, United States.
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Gayen M, Gupta P, Morazzani EM, Gaidamakova EK, Knollmann-Ritschel B, Daly MJ, Glass PJ, Maheshwari RK. Deinococcus Mn 2+-peptide complex: A novel approach to alphavirus vaccine development. Vaccine 2017; 35:3672-3681. [PMID: 28576570 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2016] [Revised: 04/17/2017] [Accepted: 05/04/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Over the last ten years, Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an Old World alphavirus has caused numerous outbreaks in Asian and European countries and the Americas, making it an emerging pathogen of great global health importance. Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV), a New World alphavirus, on the other hand, has been developed as a bioweapon in the past due to its ease of preparation, aerosol dispersion and high lethality in aerosolized form. Currently, there are no FDA approved vaccines against these viruses. In this study, we used a novel approach to develop inactivated vaccines for VEEV and CHIKV by applying gamma-radiation together with a synthetic Mn-decapeptide-phosphate complex (MnDpPi), based on manganous-peptide-orthophosphate antioxidants accumulated in the extremely radiation-resistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans. Classical gamma-irradiated vaccine development approaches are limited by immunogenicity-loss due to oxidative damage to the surface proteins at the high doses of radiation required for complete virus-inactivation. However, addition of MnDpPi during irradiation process selectively protects proteins, but not the nucleic acids, from the radiation-induced oxidative damage, as required for safe and efficacious vaccine development. Previously, this approach was used to develop a bacterial vaccine. In the present study, we show that this approach can successfully be applied to protecting mice against viral infections. Irradiation of VEEV and CHIKV in the presence of MnDpPi resulted in substantial epitope preservation even at supra-lethal doses of gamma-rays (50,000Gy). Irradiated viruses were found to be completely inactivated and safe in vivo (neonatal mice). Upon immunization, VEEV inactivated in the presence of MnDpPi resulted in drastically improved protective efficacy. Thus, the MnDpPi-based gamma-inactivation approach described here can readily be applied to developing vaccines against any pathogen of interest in a fast and cost-effective manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoshi Gayen
- Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA; Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
| | - Paridhi Gupta
- Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA; Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA.
| | - Elaine M Morazzani
- Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Elena K Gaidamakova
- Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA; Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
| | | | - Michael J Daly
- Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
| | - Pamela J Glass
- Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Radha K Maheshwari
- Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
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48
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Baxter VK, Glowinski R, Braxton AM, Potter MC, Slusher BS, Griffin DE. Glutamine antagonist-mediated immune suppression decreases pathology but delays virus clearance in mice during nonfatal alphavirus encephalomyelitis. Virology 2017; 508:134-149. [PMID: 28531865 PMCID: PMC5510753 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2017.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Revised: 05/14/2017] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Infection of weanling C57BL/6 mice with the TE strain of Sindbis virus (SINV) causes nonfatal encephalomyelitis associated with hippocampal-based memory impairment that is partially prevented by treatment with 6-diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine (DON), a glutamine antagonist (Potter et al., J Neurovirol 21:159, 2015). To determine the mechanism(s) of protection, lymph node and central nervous system (CNS) tissues from SINV-infected mice treated daily for 1 week with low (0.3mg/kg) or high (0.6mg/kg) dose DON were examined. DON treatment suppressed lymphocyte proliferation in cervical lymph nodes resulting in reduced CNS immune cell infiltration, inflammation, and cell death compared to untreated SINV-infected mice. Production of SINV-specific antibody and interferon-gamma were also impaired by DON treatment with a delay in virus clearance. Cessation of treatment allowed activation of the antiviral immune response and viral clearance, but revived CNS pathology, demonstrating the ability of the immune response to mediate both CNS damage and virus clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria K Baxter
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Rebecca Glowinski
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Alicia M Braxton
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Michelle C Potter
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery and Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Barbara S Slusher
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery and Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Diane E Griffin
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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Cain MD, Salimi H, Gong Y, Yang L, Hamilton SL, Heffernan JR, Hou J, Miller MJ, Klein RS. Virus entry and replication in the brain precedes blood-brain barrier disruption during intranasal alphavirus infection. J Neuroimmunol 2017; 308:118-130. [PMID: 28501330 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2017.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2016] [Revised: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Viral infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are often associated with blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, yet the impact of virus replication and immune cell recruitment on BBB integrity are incompletely understood. Using two-photon microscopy, we demonstrate that Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) strain TC83-GFP, a GFP expressing, attenuated strain with a G3A mutation within the 5' UTR that is associated with increased sensitivity to type I interferons (IFNs), does not directly impact BBB permeability. Following intranasal infection of both wild-type and IFN-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 1 (IFIT1)-deficient mice, which fail to block TC83-specific RNA translation, virus spreads to the olfactory bulb and cortex via migration along axonal tracts of neurons originating from the olfactory neuroepithelium. Global dissemination of virus in the CNS by 2days post-infection (dpi) was associated with increased BBB permeability in the olfactory bulb, but not in the cortex or hindbrain, where permeability only increased after the recruitment of CX3CR1+ and CCR2+ mononuclear cells on 6 dpi, which corresponded with tight junction loss and claudin 5 redistribution. Importantly, despite higher levels of viral replication, similar results were obtained in IFIT1-deficient mice. These findings indicate that TC83 gains CNS access via anterograde axonal migration without directly altering BBB function and that mononuclear and endothelial cell interactions may underlie BBB disruption during alphavirus encephalitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Cain
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, United States
| | - Hamid Salimi
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, United States
| | - Yongfeng Gong
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, United States
| | - Lihua Yang
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, United States
| | - Samantha L Hamilton
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, United States
| | - James R Heffernan
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, United States
| | - Jianghui Hou
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, United States
| | - Mark J Miller
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, United States.
| | - Robyn S Klein
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, United States; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, United States; Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, United States.
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50
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Taylor K, Kolokoltsova O, Ronca SE, Estes M, Paessler S. Live, Attenuated Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Vaccine (TC83) Causes Persistent Brain Infection in Mice with Non-functional αβ T-Cells. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:81. [PMID: 28184218 PMCID: PMC5266681 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Intranasal infection with vaccine strain of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (TC83) caused persistent viral infection in the brains of mice without functional αβ T-cells (αβ-TCR -/-). Remarkably, viral kinetics, host response gene transcripts and symptomatic disease are similar between αβ-TCR -/- and wild-type C57BL/6 (WT) mice during acute phase of infection [0-13 days post-infection (dpi)]. While WT mice clear infectious virus in the brain by 13 dpi, αβ-TCR -/- maintain infectious virus in the brain to 92 dpi. Persistent brain infection in αβ-TCR -/- correlated with inflammatory infiltrates and elevated cytokine protein levels in the brain at later time points. Persistent brain infection of αβ-TCR -/- mice provides a novel model to study prolonged alphaviral infection as well as the effects and biomarkers of long-term viral inflammation in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Taylor
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston TX, USA
| | - Olga Kolokoltsova
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston TX, USA
| | - Shannon E Ronca
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston TX, USA
| | - Mark Estes
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston TX, USA
| | - Slobodan Paessler
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston TX, USA
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