Role of microtubules in extracellular release of poliovirus

Extracellular Vesicles: A Novel Mode of Viral Propagation Exploited by Enveloped and Non-Enveloped Viruses

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small membrane-enclosed structures that have gained much attention from researchers across varying scientific fields in the past few decades. Cells secrete diverse types of EVs into the extracellular milieu which include exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies. These EVs play a crucial role in facilitating intracellular communication via the transport of proteins, lipids, DNA, rRNA, and miRNAs. It is well known that a number of viruses hijack several cellular pathways involved in EV biogenesis to aid in their replication, assembly, and egress. On the other hand, EVs can also trigger host antiviral immune responses by carrying immunomodulatory molecules and viral antigens on their surface. Owing to this intricate relationship between EVs and viruses, intriguing studies have identified various EV-mediated viral infections and interrogated how EVs can alter overall viral spread and longevity. This review provides a comprehensive overview on the EV-virus relationship, and details various modes of EV-mediated viral spread in the context of clinically relevant enveloped and non-enveloped viruses.

Enterovirus D68 capsid formation and stability requires acidic compartments

IMPORTANCE

The respiratory picornavirus enterovirus D68 is a causative agent of acute flaccid myelitis, a childhood paralysis disease identified in the last decade. Poliovirus, another picornavirus associated with paralytic disease, is a fecal-oral virus that survives acidic environments when passing from host to host. Here, we follow up on our previous work showing a requirement for acidic intracellular compartments for maturation cleavage of poliovirus particles. Enterovirus D68 requires acidic vesicles for an earlier step, assembly, and maintenance of viral particles themselves. These data have strong implications for the use of acidification blocking treatments to combat enterovirus diseases.

Immunomodulation by Enteric Viruses

Enteric viruses display intricate adaptations to the host mucosal immune system to successfully reproduce in the gastrointestinal tract and cause maladies ranging from gastroenteritis to life-threatening disease upon extraintestinal dissemination. However, many viral infections are asymptomatic, and their presence in the gut is associated with an altered immune landscape that can be beneficial or adverse in certain contexts. Genetic variation in the host and environmental factors including the bacterial microbiota influence how the immune system responds to infections in a remarkably viral strain-specific manner. This immune response, in turn, determines whether a given virus establishes acute versus chronic infection, which may have long-lasting consequences such as susceptibility to inflammatory disease. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the mechanisms involved in the interaction between enteric viruses and the immune system that underlie the impact of these ubiquitous infectious agents on our health.

Enterovirus D68 capsid formation and stability requires acidic compartments

Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68), a picornavirus traditionally associated with respiratory infections, has recently been linked to a polio-like paralytic condition known as acute flaccid myelitis (AFM). EV-D68 is understudied, and much of the field's understanding of this virus is based on studies of poliovirus. For poliovirus, we previously showed that low pH promotes virus capsid maturation, but here we show that, for EV-D68, inhibition of compartment acidification during a specific window of infection causes a defect in capsid formation and maintenance. These phenotypes are accompanied by radical changes in the infected cell, with viral replication organelles clustering in a tight juxtanuclear grouping. Organelle acidification is critical during a narrow window from 3-4hpi, which we have termed the "transition point," separating translation and peak RNA replication from capsid formation, maturation and egress. Our findings highlight that acidification is crucial only when vesicles convert from RNA factories to virion crucibles.

Microtubules and viral infection

Microtubules (MTs) form rapidly adaptable, complex intracellular networks of filaments that not only provide structural support, but also form the tracks along which motors traffic macromolecular cargos to specific sub-cellular sites. These dynamic arrays play a central role in regulating various cellular processes including cell shape and motility as well as cell division and polarization. Given their complex organization and functional importance, MT arrays are carefully controlled by many highly specialized proteins that regulate the nucleation of MT filaments at distinct sites, their dynamic growth and stability, and their engagement with other subcellular structures and cargoes destined for transport. This review focuses on recent advances in our understanding of how MTs and their regulatory proteins function, including their active targeting and exploitation, during infection by viruses that utilize a wide variety of replication strategies that occur within different cellular sub-compartments or regions of the cell.

Mechanosensitive extrusion of Enterovirus A71-infected cells from colonic organoids

Enterovirus A71 causes severe disease upon systemic infection, sometimes leading to life-threatening neurological dysfunction. However, in most cases infection is asymptomatic and limited to the gastrointestinal tract, where virus is amplified for transmission. Picornaviruses have previously been shown to exit infected cells via either cell lysis or secretion of vesicles. Here we report that entire Enterovirus A71-infected cells are specifically extruded from the apical surface of differentiated human colon organoids, as observed by confocal microscopy. Differential sensitivity to chemical and peptide inhibitors demonstrated that extrusion of virus-infected cells is dependent on force sensing via mechanosensitive ion channels rather than apoptotic cell death. When isolated and used as inoculum, intact virus-containing extruded cells can initiate new infections. In contrast, when mechanical force sensing is inhibited, large amounts of free virus are released. Thus, extrusion of live, virus-infected cells from intact epithelial tissue is likely to benefit both the integrity of host tissues and the protected spread of this faecal-oral pathogen within and between hosts.

Duck hepatitis A virus type 1 transmission by exosomes establishes a productive infection in vivo and in vitro

Duck hepatitis A virus type 1 (DHAV-1) infection causes an acute and highly fatal disease in young ducklings. Exosomes are nano-sized small extracellular vesicles secreted by various cells, which participate in intercellular communication and play a key role in the physiological and pathological processes. However, the role of exosomes in DHAV-1 transmission remains unknown. In this study, through RT-PCR, WB analysis and TEM observation, the complete DHAV-1 genomic RNA, partial viral proteins, and virions were respectively identified in the exosomes derived from DHAV-1-infected duck embryo fibroblasts (DEFs). The productive DHAV-1 infection was transmitted by exosomes in DEFs, duck embryos, and ducklings, and high titers of neutralizing antibodies completely blocked DHAV-1 infection but did not significantly neutralize exosome-mediated DHAV-1 infection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that exosome-mediated DHAV-1 infection was resistant to antibody neutralization in vivo and in vitro, which might be an immune evasion mechanism of DHAV-1.

Non-canonical roles of autophagy proteins in endocytosis and exocytosis

Autophagy, the pathways that degrade cytoplasmic constituents in lysosomes, contribute to most biological processes from aging and neurodegeneration to pathogen restriction and immunity. In recent years, it was realized that the autophagy machinery serves additional functions, primarily in endo- and exocytosis. In this review, I summarize recent advances in our understanding on how these non-canonical functions differ from canonical macroautophagy, and contribute to immune activation and viral replication. Understanding these pathways will allow us to harness them for the treatment of human diseases, as well as appreciate how cells use modules of membrane remodeling and trafficking for multiple biological functions.

How Viruses Hijack and Modify the Secretory Transport Pathway

Eukaryotic cells contain dynamic membrane-bound organelles that are constantly remodeled in response to physiological and environmental cues. Key organelles are the endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi apparatus and the plasma membrane, which are interconnected by vesicular traffic through the secretory transport route. Numerous viruses, especially enveloped viruses, use and modify compartments of the secretory pathway to promote their replication, assembly and cell egression by hijacking the host cell machinery. In some cases, the subversion mechanism has been uncovered. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of how the secretory pathway is subverted and exploited by viruses belonging to Picornaviridae, Coronaviridae, Flaviviridae,Poxviridae, Parvoviridae and Herpesviridae families.

Essential role of autophagy in restricting poliovirus infection revealed by identification of an ATG7 defect in a poliomyelitis patient

Paralytic poliomyelitis is a rare disease manifestation following poliovirus (PV) infection. The disease determinants remain largely unknown. We used whole exome sequencing to uncover possible contributions of host genetics to the development of disease outcome in humans with poliomyelitis. We identified a patient with a variant in ATG7, an important regulatory gene in the macroautophagy/autophagy pathway. PV infection did not induce a prominent type I interferon response, but rather activated autophagy in neuronal-like cells, and this was essential for viral control. Importantly, virus-induced autophagy was impaired in patient fibroblasts and associated with increased viral burden and enhanced cell death following infection. Lack of ATG7 prevented control of infection in neuronal-like cells, and reconstitution of patient cells with wild-type ATG7 reestablished autophagy-mediated control of infection. Collectively, these data suggest that ATG7 defect contributes to host susceptibility to PV infection and propose autophagy as an unappreciated antiviral effector in viral infection in humans.

Constitutive and latent immune mechanisms exert 'silent' control of virus infections in the central nervous system

Viral infections in the central nervous system (CNS) can lead to severe disease manifestations often mediated by a combination of viral cytopathic effects and immunopathology. Moreover, neuronal tissue and brain activities are highly sensitive to excessive inflammation that disturb homeostasis. Immune responses to virus infections in the CNS should therefore be tightly balanced and limited in magnitude and duration to avoid immunopathology and tissue damage. Recent data from genetic studies of patients with viral infections in the CNS as well as experimental cell and animal models have provided evidence of non-redundant roles for constitutive and latent immune mechanisms, which mediate a first line of antiviral control without significantly triggering inflammatory activities. Collectively, accumulating data suggest the existence of a layer of immune mechanisms in the CNS exerting immediate control of infection, hence buffering the need for activation of more potent immune reactions with inherent potential to induce immunopathology and disease.

Picornaviruses: A View from 3A

Picornaviruses are comprised of a positive-sense RNA genome surrounded by a protein shell (or capsid). They are ubiquitous in vertebrates and cause a wide range of important human and animal diseases. The genome encodes a single large polyprotein that is processed to structural (capsid) and non-structural proteins. The non-structural proteins have key functions within the viral replication complex. Some, such as 3D^pol (the RNA dependent RNA polymerase) have conserved functions and participate directly in replicating the viral genome, whereas others, such as 3A, have accessory roles. The 3A proteins are highly divergent across the Picornaviridae and have specific roles both within and outside of the replication complex, which differ between the different genera. These roles include subverting host proteins to generate replication organelles and inhibition of cellular functions (such as protein secretion) to influence virus replication efficiency and the host response to infection. In addition, 3A proteins are associated with the determination of host range. However, recent observations have challenged some of the roles assigned to 3A and suggest that other viral proteins may carry them out. In this review, we revisit the roles of 3A in the picornavirus life cycle. The 3AB precursor and mature 3A have distinct functions during viral replication and, therefore, we have also included discussion of some of the roles assigned to 3AB.

Egress of non-enveloped enteric RNA viruses

A long-standing paradigm in virology was that non-enveloped viruses induce cell lysis to release progeny virions. However, emerging evidence indicates that some non-enveloped viruses exit cells without inducing cell lysis, while others engage both lytic and non-lytic egress mechanisms. Enteric viruses are transmitted via the faecal-oral route and are important causes of a wide range of human infections, both gastrointestinal and extra-intestinal. Virus cellular egress, when fully understood, may be a relevant target for antiviral therapies, which could minimize the public health impact of these infections. In this review, we outline lytic and non-lytic cell egress mechanisms of non-enveloped enteric RNA viruses belonging to five families: Picornaviridae, Reoviridae, Caliciviridae, Astroviridae and Hepeviridae. We discuss factors that contribute to egress mechanisms and the relevance of these mechanisms to virion stability, infectivity and transmission. Since most data were obtained in traditional two-dimensional cell cultures, we will further attempt to place them into the context of polarized cultures and in vivo pathogenesis. Throughout the review, we highlight numerous knowledge gaps to stimulate future research into the egress mechanisms of these highly prevalent but largely understudied viruses.

Human enteroviral infection impairs autophagy in clonal INS(832/13) cells and human pancreatic islet cells

AIM/HYPOTHESIS

Human enteroviral infections are suggested to be associated with type 1 diabetes. However, the mechanism by which enteroviruses can trigger disease remains unknown. The present study aims to investigate the impact of enterovirus on autophagy, a cellular process that regulates beta cell homeostasis, using the clonal beta cell line INS(832/13) and human islet cells as in vitro models.

METHODS

INS(832/13) cells and human islet cells were infected with a strain of echovirus 16 (E16), originally isolated from the stool of a child who developed type 1 diabetes-associated autoantibodies. Virus production and release was determined by 50% cell culture infectious dose (CCID₅₀) assay and FACS analysis. The occurrence of autophagy, autophagosomes, lysosomes and autolysosomes was detected by western blot, baculoviral-mediated expression of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3)II-GFP and LysoTracker Red, and quantified by Cellomics ArrayScan. Autophagy was also monitored with a Cyto-ID detection kit. Nutrient deprivation (low glucose [2.8 mmol/l]), amino acid starvation (Earle's Balanced Salt Solution [EBSS]) and autophagy-modifying agents (rapamycin and chloroquine) were used in control experiments. Insulin secretion and the expression of autophagy-related (Atg) genes and genes involved in autophagosome-lysosome fusion were determined.

RESULTS

E16-infected INS(832/13) cells displayed an accumulation of autophagosomes, compared with non-treated (NT) cells (grown in complete RPMI1640 containing 11.1 mmol/l glucose) (32.1 ± 1.7 vs 21.0 ± 1.2 μm²/cell; p = 0.05). This was accompanied by increased LC3II ratio both in E16-infected cells grown in low glucose (LG) (2.8 mmol/l) (0.42 ± 0.03 vs 0.11 ± 0.04 (arbitrary units [a.u.]); p < 0.0001) and grown in media containing 11.1 mmol/l glucose (0.37 ± 0.016 vs 0.05 ± 0.02 (a.u.); p < 0.0001). Additionally, p62 accumulated in cells after E16 infection when grown in LG (1.23 ± 0.31 vs 0.36 ± 0.12 (a.u.); p = 0.012) and grown in media containing 11.1 mmol/l glucose (1.79 ± 0.39 vs 0.66 ± 0.15 (a.u.); p = 0.0078). mRNA levels of genes involved in autophagosome formation and autophagosome-lysosome fusion remained unchanged in E16-infected cells, except Atg7, which was significantly increased when autophagy was induced by E16 infection, in combination with LG (1.48 ± 0.08-fold; p = 0.02) and at 11.1 mmol/l glucose (1.26 ± 0.2-fold; p = 0.001), compared with NT controls. Moreover, autophagosomes accumulated in E16-infected cells to the same extent as when cells were treated with the lysosomal inhibitor, chloroquine, clearly indicating that autophagosome turnover was blocked. Upon infection, there was an increased viral titre in the cell culture supernatant and a marked reduction in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (112.9 ± 24.4 vs 209.8 ± 24.4 ng [mg protein]^-1 h^-1; p = 0.006), compared with uninfected controls, but cellular viability remained unaffected. Importantly, and in agreement with the observations for INS(832/13) cells, E16 infection impaired autophagic flux in primary human islet cells (46.5 ± 1.6 vs 34.4 ± 2.1 μm²/cell; p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Enteroviruses disrupt beta cell autophagy by impairing the later stages of the autophagic pathway, without influencing expression of key genes involved in core autophagy machinery. This results in increased viral replication, non-lytic viral spread and accumulation of autophagic structures, all of which may contribute to beta cell demise and type 1 diabetes. Graphical abstract.

Extracellular vesicles in virus infection and pathogenesis

Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites that usurp cellular signaling networks to promote pathogen spread and disease progression. Signaling through extracellular vesicles (EVs) is an emerging field of study in the virus-host interaction network. EVs relay information both locally and distally through incorporated contents, typically without tripping innate immune sensors. Therefore, this extracellular signaling axis presents itself as a tantalizing target for promoting a favorable niche for the pathogen(s) takeover of the host, particularly for chronic infections. From the incorporation of virus-encoded molecules such as micro RNAs and proteins/enzymes to the envelopment of entire infectious particles, evolutionary distinct viruses have shown a remarkable ability to converge on this means of communication. In this review, we will cover the recent advances in this field and explore how EV can be used as potential biomarkers for chronic, persistent, or latent virus infections.

Intercellular Transmission of Naked Viruses through Extracellular Vesicles: Focus on Polyomaviruses

Extracellular vesicles have recently emerged as a novel mode of viral transmission exploited by naked viruses to exit host cells through a nonlytic pathway. Extracellular vesicles can allow multiple viral particles to collectively traffic in and out of cells, thus enhancing the viral fitness and diversifying the transmission routes while evading the immune system. This has been shown for several RNA viruses that belong to the Picornaviridae, Hepeviridae, Reoviridae, and Caliciviridae families; however, recent studies also demonstrated that the BK and JC viruses, two DNA viruses that belong to the Polyomaviridae family, use a similar strategy. In this review, we provide an update on recent advances in understanding the mechanisms used by naked viruses to hijack extracellular vesicles, and we discuss the implications for the biology of polyomaviruses.

Extracellular Vesicles in Viral Spread and Antiviral Response

Viral spread by both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses may be mediated by extracellular vesicles (EVs), including microvesicles (MVs) and exosomes. These secreted vesicles have been demonstrated to be an efficient mechanism that viruses can use to enter host cells, enhance spread or evade the host immune response. However, the complex interplay between viruses and EVs gives rise to antagonistic biological tasks-to benefit the viruses, enhancing infection and interfering with the immune system or to benefit the host, by mediating anti-viral responses. Exosomes from cells infected with herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) may transport viral and host transcripts, proteins and innate immune components. This virus may also use MVs to expand its tropism and evade the host immune response. This review aims to describe the current knowledge about EVs and their participation in viral infection, with a specific focus on the role of exosomes and MVs in herpesvirus infections, particularly that of HSV-1.

Cloaked Viruses and Viral Factors in Cutting Edge Exosome-Based Therapies

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) constitute a heterogeneous group of vesicles released by all types of cells that play a major role in intercellular communication. The field of EVs started gaining attention since it was realized that these vesicles are not waste bags, but they carry specific cargo and they communicate specific messages to recipient cells. EVs can deliver different types of RNAs, proteins, and lipids from donor to recipient cells and they can influence recipient cell functions, despite their limited capacity for cargo. EVs have been compared to viruses because of their size, cell entry pathways, and biogenesis and to viral vectors because they can be loaded with desired cargo, modified, and re-targeted. These properties along with the fact that EVs are stable in body fluids, they can be produced and purified in large quantities, they can cross the blood-brain barrier, and autologous EVs do not appear to cause major adverse effects, have rendered them attractive for therapeutic use. Here, we discuss the potential for therapeutic use of EVs derived from virus infected cells or EVs carrying viral factors. We have focused on six major concepts: (i) the role of EVs in virus-based oncolytic therapy or virus-based gene delivery approaches; (ii) the potential use of EVs for developing viral vaccines or optimizing already existing vaccines; (iii) the role of EVs in delivering RNAs and proteins in the context of viral infections and modulating the microenvironment of infection; (iv) how to take advantage of viral features to design effective means of EV targeting, uptake, and cargo packaging; (v) the potential of EVs in antiviral drug delivery; and (vi) identification of novel antiviral targets based on EV biogenesis factors hijacked by viruses for assembly and egress. It has been less than a decade since more attention was given to EV research and some interesting concepts have already been developed. In the coming years, additional information on EV biogenesis, how they are hijacked and utilized by pathogens, and their impact on the microenvironment of infection is expected to indicate avenues to optimize existing therapeutic tools and develop novel approaches.

Visualizing the Transport of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus in Live Cells by Quantum Dots-Based Single Virus Tracking

Quantum dots (QDs)-based single particle analysis technique enables real-time tracking of the viral infection in live cells with great sensitivity over a long period of time. The porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a small virus with the virion size of 40-60 nm which causes great economic losses to the swine industry worldwide. A clear understanding of the viral infection mechanism is essential for the development of effective antiviral strategies. In this study, we labeled the PRRSV with QDs using the streptavidin-biotin labeling system and monitored the viral infection process in live cells. Our results indicated that the labeling method had negligible effect on viral infectivity. We also observed that prior to the entry, PRRSV vibrated on the plasma membrane, and entered the cells via endosome mediated cell entry pathway. Viruses moved in a slow-fast-slow oscillatory movement pattern and finally accumulated in a perinuclear region of the cell. Our results also showed that once inside the cell, PRRSV moved along the microtubule, microfilament and vimentin cytoskeletal elements. During the transport process, virus particles also made contacts with non-muscle myosin heavy chain II-A (NMHC II-A), visualized as small spheres in cytoplasm. This study can facilitate the application of QDs in virus infection imaging, especially the smaller-sized viruses and provide some novel and important insights into PRRSV infection mechanism.

Picornaviruses and RNA Metabolism: Local and Global Effects of Infection

Due to the limiting coding capacity for members of the Picornaviridae family of positive-strand RNA viruses, their successful replication cycles require complex interactions with host cell functions. These interactions span from the down-modulation of many aspects of cellular metabolism to the hijacking of specific host functions used during viral translation, RNA replication, and other steps of infection by picornaviruses, such as human rhinovirus, coxsackievirus, poliovirus, foot-and-mouth disease virus, enterovirus D-68, and a wide range of other human and nonhuman viruses. Although picornaviruses replicate exclusively in the cytoplasm of infected cells, they have extensive interactions with host cell nuclei and the proteins and RNAs that normally reside in this compartment of the cell. This review will highlight some of the more recent studies that have revealed how picornavirus infections impact the RNA metabolism of the host cell posttranscriptionally and how they usurp and modify host RNA binding proteins as well as microRNAs to potentiate viral replication.

Effect of fetal calf serum on propagation of duck hepatitis A virus genotype 3 in duck embryo fibroblast cells

Background

Duck viral hepatitis (DVH) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting ducks. It can be caused by five agents, including duck hepatitis A virus genotypes 1 (DHAV-1), 2 (DHAV-2), and 3 (DHAV-3), as well as duck hepatitis virus 2 and duck hepatitis virus 3. Since 2007, DHAV-3 has been known to be the most prevalent in East and South Asia. So far, the information regarding the propagation of DHAV-3 in cultured cells is limited. In this study, we describe the comparative studies on the growth properties of DHAV-3 in primary duck embryo fibroblast (DEF) cells using two different strains: a virulent strain C-GY and an attenuated strain YDF120. The effect of fetal calf serum (FCS) and chick serum (CS) on DHAV-3 replication and the mechanism of the inhibitory effect conferred by FCS were also investigated.

Results

Following serial passages, both C-GY and YDF120 failed to produce cytopathic effect and plaques. The combined quantitative real-time PCR and indirect immunofluorescence staining methods showed that the two viruses could be propagated productively in DEF cells. Investigation of the viral growth kinetics revealed that the two viruses replicated in DEF cells with similar efficiencies, while the viral load of the virulent C-GY strain peaked more rapidly when compared with the attenuated YDF120 strain. Neutralization assay and time-of-drug-addition study indicated that FCS displayed inhibitory effect on DHAV-3 replication. Analysis on the mechanism of action of FCS against DHAV-3 demonstrated that the inhibitory effect was reflected at three steps of the DHAV-3 life cycle including adsorption, replication, and release.

Conclusions

Both virulent and attenuated DAHV-3 strains can establish noncytocidal, productive infections in DEF cells. The virulent strain replicates more rapidly than the attenuated strain in early infection period. FCS has an inhibitory effect on DHAV-3 replication, which may be attributed to action of a non-specific inhibitory factor present in FCS directly on the virus. These findings may provide new insights into the development of potential antiviral agents.

The Intertwined Life Cycles of Enterovirus and Autophagy

Enteroviruses (EVs) are the most common human pathogens worldwide. Recent international outbreaks in North America and South East Asia have emphasized the need for more effective anti-viral therapies. As obligate parasites, EVs rely on the host cellular machinery for effective viral propagation. Accumulating evidence has indicated that EVs subvert and disrupt the cellular autophagy pathway to facilitate productive infection, and consequently leading to host pathogenesis. Given that defective autophagy is a common factor in various human diseases, including neurodegeneration, cardiomyopathy, and metabolic disorders, a clear understanding of the relationship between EV infection and autophagy is warranted. In this review, we highlight recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms by which EVs exploit the autophagy pathway during different steps of viral life cycle, from entry, replication, and maturation to release. We also provide an overview of recent progress in EV subversion of the autophagy for immune evasion.

Extracellular Vesicles in Herpes Viral Spread and Immune Evasion

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are involved in numerous processes during infections by both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. Among them, herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) modulates secretory pathways, allowing EVs to exit infected cells. Many characteristics regarding the mechanisms of viral spread are still unidentified, and as such, secreted vesicles are promising candidates due to their role in intercellular communications during viral infection. Another relevant role for EVs is to protect virions from the action of neutralizing antibodies, thus increasing their stability within the host during hematogenous spread. Recent studies have suggested the participation of EVs in HSV-1 spread, wherein virion-containing microvesicles (MVs) released by infected cells were endocytosed by naïve cells, leading to a productive infection. This suggests that HSV-1 might use MVs to expand its tropism and evade the host immune response. In this review, we briefly describe the current knowledge about the involvement of EVs in viral infections in general, with a specific focus on recent research into their role in HSV-1 spread. Implications of the autophagic pathway in the biogenesis and secretion of EVs will also be discussed.

Viral journeys on the intracellular highways

Viruses are obligate intracellular pathogens that are dependent on cellular machineries for their replication. Recent technological breakthroughs have facilitated reliable identification of host factors required for viral infections and better characterization of the virus-host interplay. While these studies have revealed cellular machineries that are uniquely required by individual viruses, accumulating data also indicate the presence of broadly required mechanisms. Among these overlapping cellular functions are components of intracellular membrane trafficking pathways. Here, we review recent discoveries focused on how viruses exploit intracellular membrane trafficking pathways to promote various stages of their life cycle, with an emphasis on cellular factors that are usurped by a broad range of viruses. We describe broadly required components of the endocytic and secretory pathways, the Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport pathway, and the autophagy pathway. Identification of such overlapping host functions offers new opportunities to develop broad-spectrum host-targeted antiviral strategies.

Role of Microvesicles in the Spread of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 in Oligodendrocytic Cells

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is a neurotropic pathogen that can infect many types of cells and establishes latent infections in the neurons of sensory ganglia. In some cases, the virus spreads into the central nervous system, causing encephalitis or meningitis. Cells infected with several different types of viruses may secrete microvesicles (MVs) containing viral proteins and RNAs. In some instances, extracellular microvesicles harboring infectious virus have been found. Here we describe the features of shedding microvesicles released by the human oligodendroglial HOG cell line infected with HSV-1 and their participation in the viral cycle. Using transmission electron microscopy, we detected for the first time microvesicles containing HSV-1 virions. Interestingly, the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line, which is resistant to infection by free HSV-1 virions, was susceptible to HSV-1 infection after being exposed to virus-containing microvesicles. Therefore, our results indicate for the first time that MVs released by infected cells contain virions, are endocytosed by naive cells, and lead to a productive infection. Furthermore, infection of CHO cells was not completely neutralized when virus-containing microvesicles were preincubated with neutralizing anti-HSV-1 antibodies. The lack of complete neutralization and the ability of MVs to infect nectin-1/HVEM-negative CHO-K1 cells suggest a novel way for HSV-1 to spread to and enter target cells. Taken together, our results suggest that HSV-1 could spread through microvesicles to expand its tropism and that microvesicles could shield the virus from neutralizing antibodies as a possible mechanism to escape the host immune response.IMPORTANCE Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is a neurotropic pathogen that can infect many types of cells and establishes latent infections in neurons. Extracellular vesicles are a heterogeneous group of membrane vesicles secreted by most cell types. Microvesicles, which are extracellular vesicles which derive from the shedding of the plasma membrane, isolated from the supernatant of HSV-1-infected HOG cells were analyzed to find out whether they were involved in the viral cycle. The importance of our investigation lies in the detection, for the first time, of microvesicles containing HSV-1 virions. In addition, virus-containing microvesicles were endocytosed into CHO-K1 cells and were able to actively infect these otherwise nonpermissive cells. Finally, the infection of CHO cells with these virus-containing microvesicles was not completely neutralized by anti-HSV-1 antibodies, suggesting that these extracellular vesicles might shield the virus from neutralizing antibodies as a possible mechanism of immune evasion.

Beyond self-eating: The control of nonautophagic functions and signaling pathways by autophagy-related proteins

The identification of conserved autophagy-related proteins (ATGs) that mediate bulk degradation of cytosolic material laid the foundation for breakthroughs linking autophagy to a litany of physiological processes and disease conditions. Recent discoveries are revealing that these same ATGs orchestrate processes that are related to, and yet clearly distinct from, classic autophagy. Autophagy-related functions include secretion, trafficking of phagocytosed material, replication and egress of viral particles, and regulation of inflammatory and immune signaling cascades. Here, we define common processes dependent on ATGs, and discuss the challenges in mechanistically separating autophagy from these related pathways. Elucidating the molecular events that distinguish how individual ATGs function promises to improve our understanding of the origin of diseases ranging from autoimmunity to cancer.

Recombinant oncolytic poliovirus, PVSRIPO, has potent cytotoxic and innate inflammatory effects, mediating therapy in human breast and prostate cancer xenograft models

Intratumoral inoculation of viruses with tumor-selective cytotoxicity may induce cancer cell death and, thereby, shrink neoplastic lesions. It is unlikely, however, that viral tumor cell killing alone could produce meaningful, durable clinical responses, as clinically suitable ‘oncolytic’ viruses are severely attenuated and their spread and propagation are opposed by host immunity. Thus, a more propitious event in this context is the innate antiviral response to intratumoral virus administration, in particular for recruiting durable adaptive immune effector responses. It may represent a double-edged sword, as innate immune activation may eliminate infected tumor cells early, intercept viral spread and block any meaningful therapeutic response. The innate response to viral infection of tumors may be very different from that in non-malignant target tissues, owing to the unusual composition/tissue properties of tumor stroma. In this work, we report investigations of the innate immune response to the oncolytic poliovirus recombinant, PVSRIPO, in two mouse xenotransplantation models for breast and prostate cancer. Our observations indicate short-term virus persistence in infected tumors and virus recovery indicative of modest intratumoral propagation and persistence. Yet, a powerful innate inflammatory response coincided with chemokine induction and myeloid cell infiltration into tumors that was, interestingly, dominated by neutrophils. The combined effect of PVSRIPO tumor infection and the innate response it elicits was significant tumor regression in both models.

Autophagy pathway induced by a plant virus facilitates viral spread and transmission by its insect vector

Many viral pathogens are persistently transmitted by insect vectors and cause agricultural or health problems. Generally, an insect vector can use autophagy as an intrinsic antiviral defense mechanism against viral infection. Whether viruses can evolve to exploit autophagy to promote their transmission by insect vectors is still unknown. Here, we show that the autophagic process is triggered by the persistent replication of a plant reovirus, rice gall dwarf virus (RGDV) in cultured leafhopper vector cells and in intact insects, as demonstrated by the appearance of obvious virus-containing double-membrane autophagosomes, conversion of ATG8-I to ATG8-II and increased level of autophagic flux. Such virus-containing autophagosomes seem able to mediate nonlytic viral release from cultured cells or facilitate viral spread in the leafhopper intestine. Applying the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine or silencing the expression of Atg5 significantly decrease viral spread in vitro and in vivo, whereas applying the autophagy inducer rapamycin or silencing the expression of Torc1 facilitate such viral spread. Furthermore, we find that activation of autophagy facilitates efficient viral transmission, whereas inhibiting autophagy blocks viral transmission by its insect vector. Together, these results indicate a plant virus can induce the formation of autophagosomes for carrying virions, thus facilitating viral spread and transmission by its insect vector. We believe that such a role for virus-induced autophagy is common for vector-borne persistent viruses during their transmission by insect vectors.

Autophagy Proteins in Viral Exocytosis and Anti-Viral Immune Responses

Autophagy-related (Atg) gene-encoded proteins were originally described for their crucial role in macroautophagy, a catabolic pathway for cytoplasmic constituent degradation in lysosomes. Recently it has become clear that modules of this machinery can also be used to influence endo- and exocytosis. This mini review discusses how these alternative Atg functions support virus replication and viral antigen presentation on major histocompatibility (MHC) class I and II molecules. A better understanding of the modular use of the macroautophagy machinery might enable us to manipulate these alternative functions of Atg proteins during anti-viral therapies and to attenuate virus-induced immune pathologies.

Microtubule Regulation and Function during Virus Infection

Microtubules (MTs) form a rapidly adaptable network of filaments that radiate throughout the cell. These dynamic arrays facilitate a wide range of cellular processes, including the capture, transport, and spatial organization of cargos and organelles, as well as changes in cell shape, polarity, and motility. Nucleating from MT-organizing centers, including but by no means limited to the centrosome, MTs undergo rapid transitions through phases of growth, pause, and catastrophe, continuously exploring and adapting to the intracellular environment. Subsets of MTs can become stabilized in response to environmental cues, acquiring distinguishing posttranslational modifications and performing discrete functions as specialized tracks for cargo trafficking. The dynamic behavior and organization of the MT array is regulated by MT-associated proteins (MAPs), which include a subset of highly specialized plus-end-tracking proteins (+TIPs) that respond to signaling cues to alter MT behavior. As pathogenic cargos, viruses require MTs to transport to and from their intracellular sites of replication. While interactions with and functions for MT motor proteins are well characterized and extensively reviewed for many viruses, this review focuses on MT filaments themselves. Changes in the spatial organization and dynamics of the MT array, mediated by virus- or host-induced changes to MT regulatory proteins, not only play a central role in the intracellular transport of virus particles but also regulate a wider range of processes critical to the outcome of infection.

Identifying novel antiviral targets against enterovirus 71: where are we?

Human enterovirus 71 (HEV71) has been considered as an essential human pathogen, which causes hand, foot and mouth disease in young children. Several HEV71 outbreaks have been observed in many Asia-Pacific countries for the past two decades with significant fatalities. However, there are no competent vaccines or antivirals against HEV71 infection to date. Thus, it is of critical priority to delve into the search for anti-HEV71 agents. Prior to this, there is a need to gain knowledge about the distinct targets of HEV71 that are available and that have been exploited for antiviral therapy. This review aims to provide a better understanding of HEV71 virology and feature potential antivirals for progressive clinical development with respect to their elucidated mechanistic actions.

Foot-and-mouth disease virus infection suppresses autophagy and NF-кB antiviral responses via degradation of ATG5-ATG12 by 3Cpro

Autophagy-related protein ATG5-ATG12 is an essential complex for the autophagophore elongation in autophagy, which has been reported to be involved in foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) replication. Previous reports show that ATG5-ATG12 positively or negatively regulates type I interferon (IFN-α/β) pathway during virus infection. In this study, we found that FMDV infection rapidly induced LC3 lipidation and GFP-LC3 subcellular redistribution at the early infection stage in PK-15 cells. Along with infection time course to 2-5 h.p.i., the levels of LC3II and ATG5-ATG12 were gradually reduced. Further study showed that ATG5-ATG12 was degraded by viral protein 3Cpro, demonstrating that FMDV suppresses autophagy along with viral protein production. Depletion of ATG5-ATG12 by siRNA knock down significantly increased the FMDV yields, whereas overexpression of ATG5-ATG12 had the opposite effects, suggesting that degradation of ATG5-ATG12 benefits virus growth. Further experiment showed that overexpression of ATG5-ATG12 positively regulated NF-кB pathway during FMDV infection, marked with promotion of IKKα/β phosphorylation and IκBα degradation, inhibition of p65 degradation, and facilitation of p65 nuclear translocation. Meanwhile, ATG5-ATG12 also promoted the phosphorylation of TBK1 and activation of IRF3 via preventing TRAF3 degradation. The positive regulation of NF-кB and IRF3 pathway by ATG5-ATG12 resulted in enhanced expression of IFN-β, chemokines/cytokines, and IFN stimulated genes, including anti-viral protein PKR. Altogether, above findings suggest that ATG5-ATG12 positively regulate anti-viral NF-κB and IRF3 signaling during FMDV infection, thereby limiting FMDV proliferation. FMDV has evolved mechanisms to counteract the antiviral function of ATG5-ATG12, via degradation of them by viral protein 3Cpro.

The Norovirus NS3 Protein Is a Dynamic Lipid- and Microtubule-Associated Protein Involved in Viral RNA Replication

Norovirus (NoV) infections are a significant health burden to society, yet the lack of reliable tissue culture systems has hampered the development of appropriate antiviral therapies. Here we show that the NoV NS3 protein, derived from murine NoV (MNV), is intimately associated with the MNV replication complex and the viral replication intermediate double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). We observed that when expressed individually, MNV NS3 and NS3 encoded by human Norwalk virus (NV) induced the formation of distinct vesicle-like structures that did not colocalize with any particular protein markers to cellular organelles but localized to cellular membranes, in particular those with a high cholesterol content. Both proteins also showed some degree of colocalization with the cytoskeleton marker β-tubulin. Although the distribution of MNV and NV NS3s were similar, NV NS3 displayed a higher level of colocalization with the Golgi apparatus and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). However, we observed that although both proteins colocalized in membranes counterstained with filipin, an indicator of cholesterol content, MNV NS3 displayed a greater association with flotillin and stomatin, proteins known to associate with sphingolipid- and cholesterol-rich microdomains. Utilizing time-lapse epifluorescence microscopy, we observed that the membrane-derived vesicular structures induced by MNV NS3 were highly motile and dynamic in nature, and their movement was dependent on intact microtubules. These results begin to interrogate the functions of NoV proteins during virus replication and highlight the conserved properties of the NoV NS3 proteins among the seven Norovirus genogroups.

IMPORTANCE

Many mechanisms involved in the replication of norovirus still remain unclear, including the role for the NS3 protein, one of seven nonstructural viral proteins, which remains to be elucidated. This study reveals that murine norovirus (MNV) NS3 is intimately associated with the viral replication complex and dsRNA. We observed that the NS3 proteins of both MNV and Norwalk virus (NV) induce prominent vesicular structures and that this formation is dependent on microtubules and cellular cholesterol. Thus, this study contributes to our understanding of protein function within different Norovirus genogroups and expands a growing knowledge base on the interaction between positive-strand RNA [(+)RNA] viruses and cellular membranes that contribute to the biogenesis of virus-induced membrane organelles. This study contributes to our understanding of viral protein function and the ability of a viral protein to recruit specific cellular organelles and lipids that enable replication.

Disruption of Microtubules Post-Virus Entry Enhances Adeno-Associated Virus Vector Transduction

Perinuclear retention of viral particles is a poorly understood phenomenon observed during many virus infections. In this study, we investigated whether perinuclear accumulation acts as a barrier to limit recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) transduction. After nocodazole treatment to disrupt microtubules at microtubule-organization center (MT-MTOC) after virus entry, we observed higher rAAV transduction. To elucidate the role of MT-MTOC in rAAV infection and study its underlying mechanisms, we demonstrated that rAAV's perinuclear localization was retained by MT-MTOC with fluorescent analysis, and enhanced rAAV transduction from MT-MTOC disruption was dependent on the rAAV capsid's nuclear import signals. Interestingly, after knocking down RhoA or inhibiting its downstream effectors (ROCK and Actin), MT-MTOC disruption failed to increase rAAV transduction or nuclear entry. These data suggest that enhancement of rAAV transduction is the result of increased trafficking to the nucleus via the RhoA-ROCK-Actin pathway. Ten-fold higher rAAV transduction was also observed by disrupting MT-MTOC in brain, liver, and tumor in vivo. In summary, this study indicates that virus perinuclear accumulation at MT-MTOC is a barrier-limiting parameter for effective rAAV transduction and defines a novel defense mechanism by which host cells restrain viral invasion.

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

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

Anion homeostasis is important for non-lytic release of BK polyomavirus from infected cells

BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) is a member of a family of potentially oncogenic viruses, whose reactivation can cause severe pathological conditions in transplant patients, leading to graft rejection. As with many non-enveloped viruses, it is assumed that virus release occurs through lysis of the host cell. We now show the first evidence for a non-lytic release pathway for BKPyV and that this pathway can be blocked by the anion channel inhibitor DIDS. Our data show a dose-dependent effect of DIDS on the release of BKPyV virions. We also observed an accumulation of viral capsids in large LAMP-1-positive acidic organelles within the cytoplasm of cells upon DIDS treatment, suggesting potential late endosome or lysosome-related compartments are involved in non-lytic BKPyV release. These data highlight a novel mechanism by which polyomaviruses can be released from infected cells in an active and non-lytic manner, and that anion homeostasis regulation is important in this pathway.

Viruses exploit the tissue physiology of the host to spread in vivo

Viruses are pathogens that strictly depend on their host for propagation. Over years of co-evolution viruses have become experts in exploiting the host cell biology and physiology to ensure efficient replication and spread. Here, we will first summarize the concepts that have emerged from in vitro cell culture studies to understand virus spread. We will then review the results from studies in living animals that reveal how viruses exploit the natural flow of body fluids, specific tissue architecture, and patterns of cell circulation and migration to spread within the host. Understanding tissue physiology will be critical for the design of antiviral strategies that prevent virus dissemination.

The Role of Electron Microscopy in Studying the Continuum of Changes in Membranous Structures during Poliovirus Infection

Replication of the poliovirus genome is localized to cytoplasmic replication factories that are fashioned out of a mixture of viral proteins, scavenged cellular components, and new components that are synthesized within the cell due to viral manipulation/up-regulation of protein and phospholipid synthesis. These membranous replication factories are quite complex, and include markers from multiple cytoplasmic cellular organelles. This review focuses on the role of electron microscopy in advancing our understanding of poliovirus RNA replication factories. Structural data from the literature provide the basis for interpreting a wide range of biochemical studies that have been published on virus-induced lipid biosynthesis. In combination, structural and biochemical experiments elucidate the dramatic membrane remodeling that is a hallmark of poliovirus infection. Temporal and spatial membrane modifications throughout the infection cycle are discussed. Early electron microscopy studies of morphological changes following viral infection are re-considered in light of more recent data on viral manipulation of lipid and protein biosynthesis. These data suggest the existence of distinct subcellular vesicle populations, each of which serves specialized roles in poliovirus replication processes.

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

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

Recent progress in understanding coxsackievirus replication, dissemination, and pathogenesis

Coxsackieviruses (CVs) are relatively common viruses associated with a number of serious human diseases, including myocarditis and meningo-encephalitis. These viruses are considered cytolytic yet can persist for extended periods of time within certain host tissues requiring evasion from the host immune response and a greatly reduced rate of replication. A member of Picornaviridae family, CVs have been historically considered non-enveloped viruses - although recent evidence suggest that CV and other picornaviruses hijack host membranes and acquire an envelope. Acquisition of an envelope might provide distinct benefits to CV virions, such as resistance to neutralizing antibodies and efficient nonlytic viral spread. CV exhibits a unique tropism for progenitor cells in the host which may help to explain the susceptibility of the young host to infection and the establishment of chronic disease in adults. CVs have also been shown to exploit autophagy to maximize viral replication and assist in unconventional release from target cells. In this article, we review recent progress in clarifying virus replication and dissemination within the host cell, identifying determinants of tropism, and defining strategies utilized by the virus to evade the host immune response. Also, we will highlight unanswered questions and provide future perspectives regarding the potential mechanisms of CV pathogenesis.

Viral Membrane Channels: Role and Function in the Virus Life Cycle

Viroporins are small, hydrophobic trans-membrane viral proteins that oligomerize to form hydrophilic pores in the host cell membranes. These proteins are crucial for the pathogenicity and replication of viruses as they aid in various stages of the viral life cycle, from genome uncoating to viral release. In addition, the ion channel activity of viroporin causes disruption in the cellular ion homeostasis, in particular the calcium ion. Fluctuation in the calcium level triggers the activation of the host defensive programmed cell death pathways as well as the inflammasome, which in turn are being subverted for the viruses’ replication benefits. This review article summarizes recent developments in the functional investigation of viroporins from various viruses and their contributions to viral replication and virulence.

Influence of cellular trafficking pathway on bluetongue virus infection in ovine cells

Bluetongue virus (BTV), a non-enveloped arbovirus, causes hemorrhagic disease in ruminants. However, the influence of natural host cell proteins on BTV replication process is not defined. In addition to cell lysis, BTV also exits non-ovine cultured cells by non-lytic pathways mediated by nonstructural protein NS3 that interacts with virus capsid and cellular proteins belonging to calpactin and ESCRT family. The PPXY late domain motif known to recruit NEDD4 family of HECT ubiquitin E3 ligases is also highly conserved in NS3. In this study using a mixture of molecular, biochemical and microscopic techniques we have analyzed the importance of ovine cellular proteins and vesicles in BTV infection. Electron microscopic analysis of BTV infected ovine cells demonstrated close association of mature particles with intracellular vesicles. Inhibition of Multi Vesicular Body (MVB) resident lipid phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate resulted in decreased total virus titre suggesting that the vesicles might be MVBs. Proteasome mediated inhibition of ubiquitin or modification of virus lacking the PPXY in NS3 reduced virus growth. Thus, our study demonstrated that cellular components comprising of MVB and exocytic pathways proteins are involved in BTV replication in ovine cells.

Escape of non-enveloped virus from intact cells

How do viruses spread from cell to cell? Enveloped viruses acquire their surrounding membranes by budding. If a newly enveloped virus has budded through the plasma membrane, it finds itself outside the cell immediately. If it has budded through the bounding membrane of an internal compartment such as the ER, the virus finds itself in the lumen, from which it can exit the cell via the conventional secretion pathway. Thus, although some enveloped viruses destroy the cells they infect, there is no topological need to do so. On the other hand, naked viruses such as poliovirus lack an external membrane. They are protein-nucleic acid complexes within the cytoplasm or nucleus of the infected cell, like a ribosome, a spliceosome or an aggregate of Huntingtin protein. The simplest way for such a particle to pass through the single lipid bilayer that separates it from the outside of the cell would be to violate the integrity of that bilayer. Thus, it is not surprising that the primary mode of exit for non-enveloped viruses is cell lysis. However, more complex exit strategies are possible, such as the creation of new compartments whose complex topologies allow the exit of cytoplasm and its contents without violating the integrity of the cell. Here we will discuss the non-lytic spread of poliovirus and recent observations of such compartments during viral infection with several different picornaviruses.

Phosphatidylserine vesicles enable efficient en bloc transmission of enteroviruses

A central paradigm within virology is that each viral particle largely behaves as an independent infectious unit. Here, we demonstrate that clusters of enteroviral particles are packaged within phosphatidylserine (PS) lipid-enriched vesicles that are non-lytically released from cells and provide greater infection efficiency than free single viral particles. We show that vesicular PS lipids are co-factors to the relevant enterovirus receptors in mediating subsequent infectivity and transmission, in particular to primary human macrophages. We demonstrate that clustered packaging of viral particles within vesicles enables multiple viral RNA genomes to be collectively transferred into single cells. This study reveals a novel mode of viral transmission, where enteroviral genomes are transmitted from cell-to-cell en bloc in membrane-bound PS vesicles instead of as single independent genomes. This has implications for facilitating genetic cooperativity among viral quasispecies as well as enhancing viral replication.

Rab33B and its autophagic Atg5/12/16L1 effector assist in hepatitis B virus naked capsid formation and release

Hepatitis B virus morphogenesis is accompanied by the production and release of non-enveloped capsids/nucleocapsids. Capsid particles are formed inside the cell cytosol by multimerization of core protein subunits and ultimately exported in an uncommon coatless state. Here, we investigated potential roles of Rab GTPases in capsid formation and trafficking by using RNA interference and overexpression studies. Naked capsid release does not require functions of the endosome-associated Rab5, Rab7 and Rab27 proteins, but depends on functional Rab33B, a GTPase participating in autophagosome formation via interaction with the Atg5-Atg12/Atg16L1 complex. During capsid formation, Rab33B acts in conjunction with its effector, as silencing of Atg5, Atg12 and Atg16L1 also impaired capsid egress. Analysis of capsid maturation steps revealed that Rab33B and Atg5/12/16L1 are required for proper particle assembly and/or stability. In support, the capsid protein was found to interact with Atg5 and colocalize with Atg5/12/16L1, implicating that autophagy pathway functions are involved in capsid biogenesis. However, a complete and functional autophagy pathway is dispensable for capsid release, as judged by knockdown analysis of Atg8/LC3 family members and pharmaceutical ablation of canonical autophagy. Experiments aimed at analysing the capsid release-stimulating activity of the Alix protein provide further evidence for a link between capsid formation and autophagy.

Poliovirus-induced changes in cellular membranes throughout infection

The membrane landscape of a cell often changes drastically upon infection by a virus. In the case of the well-studied positive strand RNA virus poliovirus, the short infection cycle induces vesicles and tubular structures early in infection, and double-membraned vesicles late in infection. In this review, the current understanding of membrane changes in a PV-infected cell, the host and viral factors that facilitate these changes, and how these changes may promote virus replication will be discussed. Host factors involved in membrane rearrangement during infection include components of the COPI and COPII secretory pathways, lipid kinases, and the autophagy pathway. The roles of cellular membranes include acting as a scaffold for the RNA replication complex and roles in exit of mature virus. Finally, recent studies suggesting that not all picornaviruses are truly 'non-enveloped' are discussed in the context of the field, raising the possibility that cell-derived membranes play a role in delivering poliovirus particles to the extracellular space.

Degradation mechanisms of the Tomato yellow leaf curl virus coat protein following inoculation of tomato plants by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci

BACKGROUND

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) is a begomovirus infecting tomato cultures worldwide. TYLCV is transmitted to plants by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Once in the plant, the virus is subjected to attack by the host-plant defences, which may include sequestration in aggregates, proteolysis, ubiquitination, 26S proteasome degradation and autophagy. Elucidating how the virus avoids destruction will make it possible to understand infection and possibly devise countermeasures.

RESULTS

The accumulation of viral coat protein (CP) and of viral DNA in plants is a marker of a successful virus transmission by B. tabaci. In response to infection, tomato tissues display multiple ways of degrading TYLCV proteins and DNA. In this study it is shown that CP (in soluble and insoluble states) is the target of protease digestion, 26S proteasome degradation and autophagy. The highest degradation capacity was detected among soluble proteins and proteins in large aggregates/inclusion bodies; cytoplasmic extracts displayed higher activity than nuclear fractions. The very same fractions possessed the highest capacity to degrade viral genomic DNA. Separately, 26S proteasome degradation was associated with large aggregates (more pronounced in the nuclear than in the cytoplasmic fractions), which are indicators of a successful abduction of plants by viruses. Autophagy/lysosome/vacuole degradation was a characteristic of intermediate aggregates, sequestering the CP in the cytoplasm and retarding the development of large aggregates. Chloroplast proteases were active in soluble as well as in insoluble protein extracts.

CONCLUSIONS

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first attempt to identify elements of the virus-targeted degradation machinery, which is a part of the plant response to virus invasion.

Topology and biological function of enterovirus non-structural protein 2B as a member of the viroporin family

Viroporins are a group of transmembrane proteins with low molecular weight that are encoded by many animal viruses. Generally, viroporins are composed of 50–120 amino acid residues and possess a minimum of one hydrophobic region that interacts with the lipid bilayer and leads to dispersion. Viroporins are involved in destroying the morphology of host cells and disturbing their biological functions to complete the life cycle of the virus. The 2B proteins encoded by enteroviruses, which belong to the family Picornaviridae, can form transmembrane pores by oligomerization, increase the permeability of plasma membranes, disturb the homeostasis of calcium in cells, induce apoptosis, and cause autophagy; these abilities are shared among viroporins. The present paper introduces the structure and biological characteristics of various 2B proteins encoded by enteroviruses of the family Picornaviridae and may provide a novel idea for developing antiviral drugs.