Depletion of glycoprotein gp85 from virosomes made with Epstein-Barr virus proteins abolishes their ability to fuse with virus receptor-bearing cells

Anti-EBV antibodies: Roles in diagnosis, pathogenesis, and antiviral therapy

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is prevalent in global population and associated with multiple malignancies and autoimmune diseases. During the infection, EBV-harbored or infected cell-expressing antigen could elicit a variety of antibodies with significant role in viral host response and pathogenesis. These antibodies have been extensively evaluated and found to be valuable in predicting disease diagnosis and prognosis, exploring disease mechanisms, and developing antiviral agents. In this review, we discuss the versatile roles of EBV antibodies as important biomarkers for EBV-related diseases, potential driving factors of autoimmunity, and promising therapeutic agents for viral infection and pathogenesis.

Immunization with a self-assembling nanoparticle vaccine displaying EBV gH/gL protects humanized mice against lethal viral challenge

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a cancer-associated pathogen responsible for 165,000 deaths annually. EBV is also the etiological agent of infectious mononucleosis and is linked to multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Thus, an EBV vaccine would have a significant global health impact. EBV is orally transmitted and has tropism for epithelial and B cells. Therefore, a vaccine would need to prevent infection of both in the oral cavity. Passive transfer of monoclonal antibodies against the gH/gL glycoprotein complex prevent experimental EBV infection in humanized mice and rhesus macaques, suggesting that gH/gL is an attractive vaccine candidate. Here, we evaluate the immunogenicity of several gH/gL nanoparticle vaccines. All display superior immunogenicity relative to monomeric gH/gL. A nanoparticle displaying 60 copies of gH/gL elicits antibodies that protect against lethal EBV challenge in humanized mice, whereas antibodies elicited by monomeric gH/gL do not. These data motivate further development of gH/gL nanoparticle vaccines for EBV.

Viral-Targeted Strategies Against EBV-Associated Lymphoproliferative Diseases

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is strongly associated with a spectrum of EBV-associated lymphoproliferative diseases (EBV-LPDs) ranging from post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder, B cell lymphomas (e.g., endemic Burkitt lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, and diffuse large B cell lymphoma) to NK or T cell lymphoma (e.g., nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma). The virus expresses a number of latent viral proteins which are able to manipulate cell cycle and cell death processes to promote survival of the tumor cells. Several FDA-approved drugs or novel compounds have been shown to induce killing of some of the EBV-LPDs by inhibiting the function of latent viral proteins or activating the viral lytic cycle from latency. Here, we aim to provide an overview on the mechanisms by which EBV employs to drive the pathogenesis of various EBV-LPDs and to maintain the survival of the tumor cells followed by a discussion on the development of viral-targeted strategies based on the understanding of the patho-mechanisms.

Biophysical investigations of complement receptor 2 (CD21 and CR2)-ligand interactions reveal amino acid contacts unique to each receptor-ligand pair

Human complement receptor type 2 (CR2 and CD21) is a cell membrane receptor, with 15 or 16 extracellular short consensus repeats (SCRs), that promotes B lymphocyte responses and bridges innate and acquired immunity. The most distally located SCRs, SCR1-2, mediate the interaction of CR2 with its four known ligands (C3d, EBV gp350, IFNalpha, and CD23). To ascertain specific interacting residues on CR2, we utilized NMR studies wherein gp350 and IFNalpha were titrated into (15)N-labeled SCR1-2, and chemical shift changes indicative of specific inter-molecular interactions were identified. With backbone assignments made, the chemical shift changes were mapped onto the crystal structure of SCR1-2. With regard to gp350, the binding region of CR2 is primarily focused on SCR1 and the inter-SCR linker, specifically residues Asn(11), Arg(13), Ala(22), Arg(28), Ser(32), Arg(36), Lys(41), Lys(57), Tyr(64), Lys(67), Tyr(68), Arg(83), Gly(84), and Arg(89). With regard to IFNalpha, the binding is similar to the CR2-C3d interaction with specific residues being Arg(13), Tyr(16), Arg(28), Ser(42), Lys(48), Lys(50), Tyr(68), Arg(83), Gly(84), and Arg(89). We also report thermodynamic properties of each ligand-receptor pair determined using isothermal titration calorimetry. The CR2-C3d interaction was characterized as a two-mode binding interaction with K(d) values of 0.13 and 160 microm, whereas the CR2-gp350 and CR2-IFNalpha interactions were characterized as single site binding events with affinities of 0.014 and 0.035 microm, respectively. The compilation of chemical binding maps suggests specific residues on CR2 that are uniquely important in each of these three binding interactions.

α-Helix peptides designed from EBV-gH protein display higher antigenicity and induction of monocyte apoptosis than the native peptide

We tested the hypothesis that stabilizing α-helix of Epstein-Barr virus gH-derived peptide 11438 used for binding human cells will increase its biological activity. Non-stable α-helix of peptide 11438 was unfolded in an entropy-driven process, despite the opposing effect of the enthalpy factor. Adding and/or changing amino acids in peptide 11438 allowed the designing of peptides 33207, 33208 and 33210; peptides 33208 and 33210 displayed higher helical content due to a decreased unfolding entropy change as was determined by AGADIR, molecular dynamics and circular dichroism analysis. Peptides 33207, 33208 and 33210 inhibited EBV invasion of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and displayed epitopes more similar to native protein than peptide 11438; these peptides could be useful for detecting antibodies induced by native gH protein since they displayed high reactivity with anti-EBV antibodies. Anti-peptide 33207 antibodies showed higher reactivity with EBV than anti-peptide 11438 antibodies being useful for inducing antibodies against EBV. Anti-peptide 33210 antibodies inhibit EBV invasion of epithelial cells better than anti-peptide 11438 antibodies. Peptide 33210 bound to normal T lymphocytes and Raji cells stronger than peptide 11438 and also induced apoptosis of monocytes and Raji cells but not of normal T cells in a similar way to EBV-gH. Peptide 33210 inhibited the monocytes' development toward dendritic cells better than EBV and peptide 11438. In conclusion, stabilizing the α-helix in peptides 33208 and 33210 designed from peptide 11438 increased the antigenicity and the ability of the antibodies induced by peptides of inhibiting EBV invasion of host cells.

Anti-glycoprotein H antibody impairs the pathogenicity of varicella-zoster virus in skin xenografts in the SCID mouse model

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection is usually mild in healthy individuals but can cause severe disease in immunocompromised patients. Prophylaxis with varicella-zoster immunoglobulin can reduce the severity of VZV if given shortly after exposure. Glycoprotein H (gH) is a highly conserved herpesvirus protein with functions in virus entry and cell-cell spread and is a target of neutralizing antibodies. The anti-gH monoclonal antibody (MAb) 206 neutralizes VZV in vitro. To determine the requirement for gH in VZV pathogenesis in vivo, MAb 206 was administered to SCID mice with human skin xenografts inoculated with VZV. Anti-gH antibody given at 6 h postinfection significantly reduced the frequency of skin xenograft infection by 42%. Virus titers, genome copies, and lesion size were decreased in xenografts that became infected. In contrast, administering anti-gH antibody at 4 days postinfection suppressed VZV replication but did not reduce the frequency of infection. The neutralizing anti-gH MAb 206 blocked virus entry, cell fusion, or both in skin in vivo. In vitro, MAb 206 bound to plasma membranes and to surface virus particles. Antibody was internalized into vacuoles within infected cells, associated with intracellular virus particles, and colocalized with markers for early endosomes and multivesicular bodies but not the trans-Golgi network. MAb 206 blocked spread, altered intracellular trafficking of gH, and bound to surface VZV particles, which might facilitate their uptake and targeting for degradation. As a consequence, antibody interference with gH function would likely prevent or significantly reduce VZV replication in skin during primary or recurrent infection.

Epstein-Barr viruses that express a CD21 antibody provide evidence that gp350's functions extend beyond B-cell surface binding

The gp350 glycoprotein encoded by BLLF1 is crucial for efficient Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection of resting B cells. Gp350 binds to CD21, but whether this interaction sums up its functions remains unknown. We generated gp350-null EBVs that display CD19-, CD21-, or CD22-specific antibodies at their surface (designated as DeltaBLLF1-Ab). Gp350-complemented (DeltaBLLF1-C) and DeltaBLLF1-Ab were found to bind equally well to B cells. Surprisingly, DeltaBLLF1 binding was reduced only 1.7-fold relative to its complemented counterparts. Furthermore, B cells exposed to DeltaBLLF1-Ab or DeltaBLLF1 viruses presented structural antigens with comparable efficiency and achieved 25 to 80% of the T-cell activation elicited by DeltaBLLF1-C. These findings show that the gp350-CD21 interaction pair plays only a modest role during virus transfer to the endosomal compartment. However, primary B cells or Raji B cells infected with DeltaBLLF1-C viruses displayed a 35- to 70-fold higher infection rates than those exposed to DeltaBLLF1, DeltaBLLF1-CD22Ab, or DeltaBLLF1-CD19Ab viruses. Complementation of the gp350 knockout phenotype with CD21Ab substantially enhanced infection rates relative to DeltaBLLF1 but remained sevenfold (Raji B-cell line) to sixfold (primary B cells) less efficient than with gp350. We therefore infer that gp350 mainly exerts its functions after the internalization step, presumably during release of the viral capsid from the endosomal compartment, and that CD21-dependent but also CD21-independent molecular mechanisms are involved in this process. The latter appear to be characteristic of B-cell infection since transfection of CD21 in 293 cells improved the infection rates with both DeltaBLLF1-CD21Ab and DeltaBLLF1-C to a similar extent.

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV): infection, propagation, quantitation, and storage

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was first reported as the etiological agent of Burkitt's lymphoma in 1964. Since then, EBV has also been associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which is highly prevalent in Southeast Asia, as well as infectious mononucleosis, complications of AIDS, and transplant-related B cell lymphomas. This virus has further been linked with T cell lymphomas and Hodgkin's disease, establishing the concept of a wide spectrum of EBV-associated malignant disorders. So far, there are a number of EBV-infected cell lines established that can be induced for production of infectious viral progeny and that facilitate the study of the mechanism of EBV-related infection, transformation, and oncogenesis. This unit describes procedures for the preparation of EBV virion particles and in vitro infection of cells with EBV. In addition, procedures for quantitation and storage of the virus are provided.

Molecular basis of the interaction between complement receptor type 2 (CR2/CD21) and Epstein-Barr virus glycoprotein gp350

The binding of the Epstein-Barr virus glycoprotein gp350 by complement receptor type 2 (CR2) is critical for viral attachment to B lymphocytes. We set out to test hypotheses regarding the molecular nature of this interaction by developing an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the efficient analysis of the gp350-CR2 interaction by utilizing wild-type and mutant forms of recombinant gp350 and also of the CR2 N-terminal domains SCR1 and SCR2 (designated CR2 SCR1-2). To delineate the CR2-binding site on gp350, we generated 17 gp350 single-site substitutions targeting an area of gp350 that has been broadly implicated in the binding of both CR2 and the major inhibitory anti-gp350 monoclonal antibody (MAb) 72A1. These site-directed mutations identified a novel negatively charged CR2-binding surface described by residues Glu-21, Asp-22, Glu-155, Asp-208, Glu-210, and Asp-296. We also identified gp350 amino acid residues involved in non-charge-dependent interactions with CR2, including Tyr-151, Ile-160, and Trp-162. These data were supported by experiments in which phycoerythrin-conjugated wild-type and mutant forms of gp350 were incubated with CR2-expressing K562 cells and binding was assessed by flow cytometry. The ELISA was further utilized to identify several positively charged residues (Arg-13, Arg-28, Arg-36, Lys-41, Lys-57, Lys-67, Arg-83, and Arg-89) within SCR1-2 of CR2 that are involved in the binding interaction with gp350. These experiments allowed a comparison of those CR2 residues that are important for binding gp350 to those that define the epitope for an effective inhibitory anti-CR2 MAb, 171 (Asn-11, Arg-13, Ser-32, Thr-34, Arg-36, and Tyr-64). The mutagenesis data were used to calculate a model of the CR2-gp350 complex using the soft-docking program HADDOCK.

Isolating the Epstein-Barr virus gp350/220 binding site on complement receptor type 2 (CR2/CD21)

Complement receptor type 2 (CR2/CD21) is essential for the attachment of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) to the surface of B-lymphocytes in an interaction mediated by the viral envelope glycoprotein gp350. The heavily glycosylated structure of EBV gp350 has recently been elucidated by x-ray crystallography, and the CR2 binding site on this protein has been characterized. To identify the corresponding gp350 binding site on CR2, we have undertaken a site-directed mutagenesis study targeting regions of CR2 that have previously been implicated in the binding of CR2 to the C3d/C3dg fragments of complement component C3. Wild-type or mutant forms of CR2 were expressed on K562 cells, and the ability of these CR2-expressing cells to bind gp350 was measured using flow cytometry. Mutations directed toward the two N-terminal extracellular domains of CR2 (SCR1-2) reveal that a large contiguous surface of CR2 SCR1-2 is involved in gp350 binding, including a number of positively charged residues (Arg-13, (Arg-28, (Arg-36, Lys-41, Lys-57, Lys-67, and Arg-83). These data appear to complement the CR2 binding site on gp350, which is characterized by a preponderance of negative charge. In addition to identifying the importance of charge in the formation of a CR2-gp350 complex, we also provide evidence that both SCR1 and SCR2 make contact with gp350. Specifically, two anti-CR2 monoclonal antibodies, designated as monoclonal antibodies 171 and 1048 whose primary epitopes are located within SCR2, inhibit binding of wild-type CR2 to EBV gp350; with regard to SCR1, both K562 cells expressing an S15P mutation and recombinant S15P CR2 proteins exhibit diminished gp350 binding.

Binding-site interactions between Epstein-Barr virus fusion proteins gp42 and gH/gL reveal a peptide that inhibits both epithelial and B-cell membrane fusion

Herpesviruses require membrane-associated glycoproteins gB, gH, and gL for entry into host cells. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) gp42 is a unique protein also required for viral entry into B cells. Key interactions between EBV gp42 and the EBV gH/gL complex were investigated to further elucidate their roles in membrane fusion. Deletion and point mutants within the N-terminal region of gp42 revealed residues important for gH/gL binding and membrane fusion. Many five-residue deletion mutants in the N-terminal region of gp42 that exhibit reduced membrane fusion activity retain binding with gH/gL but map out two functional stretches between residues 36 and 96. Synthetic peptides derived from the gp42 N-terminal region were studied in in vitro binding experiments with purified gH/gL and in cell-cell fusion assays. A peptide spanning gp42 residues 36 to 81 (peptide 36-81) binds gH/gL with nanomolar affinity, comparable to full-length gp42. Peptide 36-81 efficiently inhibits epithelial cell membrane fusion and competes with soluble gp42 to inhibit B-cell fusion. Additionally, this peptide at low nanomolar concentrations inhibits epithelial cell infection by intact virus. Shorter gp42 peptides spanning the two functional regions identified by deletion mutagenesis had little or no binding to soluble gH/gL and were also unable to inhibit epithelial cell fusion, nor could they complement gp42 deletion mutants in B-cell fusion. These studies identify key residues of gp42 that are essential for gH/gL binding and membrane fusion activation, providing a nanomolar inhibitor of EBV-mediated membrane fusion.

Characterization of the Epstein–Barr virus glycoprotein BMRF-2

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) BMRF-2 protein interaction with the beta1 family of integrins plays an important role in EBV infection of polarized oral epithelial cells. In this work, we characterized BMRF-2 protein expression in EBV-infected B lymphoblastoid and polarized oral epithelial cells, and in hairy leukoplakia (HL) epithelium. BMRF-2 expression in B cells and polarized oral epithelial cells was associated with the EBV lytic infection. In these cells, BMRF-2 is efficiently transported to the cell membrane and its integrin binding Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motif is exposed on the cell surface. BMRF-2 is highly expressed in HL epithelium and accumulates at the lateral border of oral keratinocytes. In EBV-infected polarized oral epithelial cells, this protein is transported to the basolateral membranes and co-localized with beta1 integrin. These data suggest that BMRF-2 may play an important role in cell-to-cell spread of EBV within the oral epithelium. BMRF-2 is glycosylated through O-linked oligosaccharides; it forms oligomers and is associated with the virion envelope. Its C-terminal tail is localized in the cytoplasm. We found that beta1, alpha5, and alpha3 integrins are present in purified EBV virions. We show that BMRF-2 is a ligand for beta1, alpha5, alpha3, and alphav integrins and our data are consistent with a role for BMRF-2 in viral lytic infection.

Soluble Epstein-Barr virus glycoproteins gH, gL, and gp42 form a 1:1:1 stable complex that acts like soluble gp42 in B-cell fusion but not in epithelial cell fusion

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a herpesvirus that infects cells by fusing its lipid envelope with the target cell membrane. The fusion process requires the actions of viral glycoproteins gH, gL, and gB for entry into epithelial cells and additionally requires gp42 for entry into B cells. To further study the roles of these membrane-associated glycoproteins, purified soluble forms of gp42, gH, and gL were expressed that lack the membrane-spanning regions. The soluble gH/gL protein complex binds to soluble gp42 with high affinity, forming a stable heterotrimer with 1:1:1 stoichiometry, and this complex is not formed by an N-terminally truncated variant of gp42. The effects of adding soluble gp42, gH/gL, and gH/gL/gp42 were examined with a virus-free cell-cell fusion assay. The results demonstrate that, in contrast to gp42, membrane fusion does not proceed with secreted gH/gL. The addition of soluble gH/gL does not inhibit or enhance B-cell or epithelial cell fusion when membrane-bound gH/gL, gB, and gp42 are present. However, the soluble gH/gL/gp42 complex does activate membrane fusion with B cells, similarly to soluble gp42, but it does not inhibit fusion with epithelial cells, as observed for gp42 alone. A gp42 peptide, derived from an N-terminal segment involved in gH/gL interactions, binds to soluble gH/gL and inhibits EBV-mediated epithelial cell fusion, mimicking gp42. These observations reveal distinct functional requirements for gH/gL and gp42 complexes in EBV-mediated membrane fusion.

The amino terminus of Epstein-Barr virus glycoprotein gH is important for fusion with epithelial and B cells

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects B lymphocytes and epithelial cells. While the glycoproteins required for entry into these two cell types differ, the gH/gL glycoprotein complex is essential for entry into both epithelial and B cells. Analysis of gH protein sequences from three gammaherpesviruses (EBV, marmoset, and rhesus) revealed a potential coiled-coil domain in the N terminus. Four leucines located in this region in EBV gH were replaced by alanines by site-directed mutagenesis and analyzed for cell-cell membrane fusion with B cells and epithelial cells. Reduction in fusion activity was observed for mutants containing L65A and/or L69A mutations, while substitutions in L55 and L74 enhanced the fusion activity of the mutant gH/gL complexes with both cell types. All of the mutants displayed levels of cell surface expression similar to those of wild-type gH and interacted with gL and gp42. The observation that a conservative mutation of leucine to alanine in the N terminus of EBV gH results in fusion-defective mutant gH/gL complexes is striking and points to an important role for this region in EBV-mediated membrane fusion with B lymphocytes and epithelial cells.

Mutations of Epstein-Barr virus gH that are differentially able to support fusion with B cells or epithelial cells

The core fusion machinery of all herpesviruses consists of three conserved glycoproteins, gB and gHgL, suggesting a common mechanism for virus cell fusion, but fusion of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with B cells and epithelial cells is initiated differently. Fusion with B cells requires a fourth protein, gp42, which complexes with gHgL and interacts with HLA class II, the B-cell coreceptor. Fusion with an epithelial cell does not require gp42 but requires interaction of gHgL with a novel epithelial cell coreceptor. Epithelial cell fusion can be inhibited by gp42 binding to gHgL and by antibodies to gH that fail to block B-cell fusion. This suggests that regions of gHgL initiating fusion with each cell are separable from each other and from regions involved in fusion itself. To address this possibility we mapped the region of gH recognized by a monoclonal antibody to gH that blocks EBV fusion with epithelial cells but not B cells by making a series of chimeras with the gH homolog of rhesus lymphocryptovirus. Proteins with mutations engineered within this region included those that preferentially mediate fusion with B cells, those that preferentially mediate fusion with epithelial cells, and those that mediate fusion with neither cell type. These results support the hypothesis that the core fusion function of gH is the same for B cells and epithelial cells and that it differs only in the way in which it is triggered into a functionally active state.

Identifying gp85-regions involved in Epstein-Barr virus binding to B-lymphocytes

Epstein-Barr virus lacking glycoprotein gp85 cannot infect B-cells and epithelial cells. The gp85 belongs to the molecular complex required for virus invasion of B-lymphocyte or epithelial cells. Moreover, there is evidence that gp85 is necessary for virus attachment to epithelial cells. Thirty-six peptides from the entire gp85-sequence were tested in epithelial and lymphoblastoid cell line binding assays to identify gp85-regions involved in virus-cell interaction. Five of these peptides presented high binding activity to Raji, Ramos, P3HR-1, and HeLa cells, but not to erythrocytes; Raji-cell affinity constants were between 80 and 140nM. Of these five peptides, 11435 ((181)TYKRVTEKGDEHVLSLVFGK(200)), 11436 ((201)TKDLPDLRGPFSYPSLTSAQ(220)), and 11438 ((241)YFVPNLKDMFSRAVTMTAAS(260)) bound to a 65kDa protein on Raji-cell surface. These peptides and antibodies induced by them (recognising live EBV-infected cells) inhibited Epstein-Barr virus interaction with cord blood lymphocytes. It is thus probable that gp85-regions defined by peptides 11435, 11436, and 11438 are involved in EBV invasion of B-lymphocytes.

Use of gHgL for attachment of Epstein-Barr virus to epithelial cells compromises infection

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a lymphotropic herpesvirus. However, access to B lymphocytes during primary infection may be facilitated by replication in mucosal epithelial cells. Attachment and penetration of EBV into these two cell types are fundamentally different. Both the distribution of receptors and the cellular origin of the virus impact the efficiency of infection. Epithelial cells potentially offer a wide range of receptors with which virus can interact. We report here on analyses of epithelial cells expressing different combinations of receptors. We find that the stoichiometry of the virus glycoprotein complex that includes gHgL and gp42 affects the use of gHgL not just for entry into epithelial cells but also for attachment. Penetration can be mediated efficiently with either a coreceptor for gp42 or gHgL, but the use of gHgL for attachment as well as penetration greatly compromises its ability to mediate entry.

Cholesterol-dependent infection of Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines by Epstein–Barr virus

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is a multi-step process, first requiring virus binding to the host cell, followed by fusion of the viral envelope with the host cell plasma membrane. Efficient EBV entry into B cells requires, at the minimum, the interaction of the EBV-encoded glycoproteins gp350 with cellular CD21 and gp42 with MHC class II proteins. In this study, use of the cholesterol-binding drugs methyl-beta-cyclodextrin and nystatin efficiently inhibited EBV infection of target Burkitt's lymphoma B-cell lines, indicating an important role for cholesterol and suggesting the involvement of lipid rafts in EBV infection.

A functional YNKI motif in the short cytoplasmic tail of varicella-zoster virus glycoprotein gH mediates clathrin-dependent and antibody-independent endocytosis

The trafficking of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) gH was investigated under both infection and transfection conditions. In initial endocytosis assays performed in infected cells, the three glycoproteins gE, gI, and gB served as positive controls for internalization from the plasma membrane. Subsequently, we discovered that gH in VZV-infected cells was also internalized and followed a similar trafficking pattern. This observation was unexpected because all herpesvirus gH homologues have short endodomains not known to contain trafficking motifs. Further investigation demonstrated that VZV gH, when expressed alone with its chaperone gL, was capable of endocytosis in a clathrin-dependent manner, independent of gE, gI, or gB. Upon inspection of the short gH cytoplasmic tail, we discovered a putative tyrosine-based endocytosis motif (YNKI). When the tyrosine was replaced with an alanine, endocytosis of gH was blocked. Utilizing an endocytosis assay dependent on biotin labeling, we further documented that endocytosis of VZV gH was antibody independent. In control experiments, we showed that gE, gI, and gB also internalized in an antibody-independent manner. Alignment analysis of the VZV gH cytoplasmic tail to other herpesvirus gH homologues revealed two important findings: (i) herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 homologues lacked an endocytosis motif, while all other alphaherpesvirus gH homologues contained a potential motif, and (ii) the VZV gH and simian varicella virus gH cytoplasmic tails were likely longer in length (18 amino acids) than predicted in the original sequence analyses (12 and 16 amino acids, respectively). The longer tails provided the proper context for a functional endocytosis motif.

Glycoprotein gp110 of Epstein-Barr virus determines viral tropism and efficiency of infection

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome has been detected in lymphomas and in tumors of epithelial or mesenchymal origin such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma or leiomyosarcoma. Thus, there is little doubt that EBV can infect cells of numerous lineages in vivo, in contrast to its in vitro infectious spectrum, which appears restricted predominantly to B lymphocytes. We show here that the EBV BALF4 gene product, the glycoprotein gp110, dramatically enhances the ability of EBV to infect human cells. gp110(high) viruses were up to 100 times more efficient than their gp110(low) counterparts in infecting lymphoid or epithelial cells. In addition, gp110(high) viruses infected the carcinoma cell line HeLa and the T cell lymphoma cell line Molt-4, both previously thought to be refractory to EBV infection. Analysis of several virus isolates showed that the amount of BALF4 present within mature virions markedly differed among these strains. In some strains, gp110 was found expressed during lytic replication not only at the nuclear but also at the cellular membrane. Heterologous expression of gp110 during the virus lytic phase neither altered virus concentration nor affected virus binding to cells. It appears that gp110 plays a crucial role after the virus has adhered to its cellular target. gp110 constitutes an important virulence factor that determines infection of non-B cells by EBV. Therefore, the use of gp110(high) viruses will help to determine the range of the target cells of EBV beyond B lymphocytes and provide a useful in vitro model to assess the oncogenic potential of EBV in these cells.

Alternate replication in B cells and epithelial cells switches tropism of Epstein-Barr virus

Epstein-Barr virus is ubiquitous and is causally implicated in lymphoid and epithelial malignancies. Virus invades oropharyngeal mucosa and establishes latency in B lymphocytes. Reactivating lymphocytes shed virus into saliva for spread to new hosts. A complex of three virus glycoproteins, gH, gL and gp42, is essential for entry. B-cell entry requires binding of gp42 to human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II whereas entry into epithelial cells lacking HLA class II requires complexes without gp42. To accommodate infection of each, the virus carries both three-part and two-part complexes. We show here that HLA class II in the virus-producing cell alters the ratio of three-part to two-part complexes. As a consequence, virus originating in epithelial cells efficiently infects B cells whereas B-cell derived virus better infects epithelial cells. This molecular switch is a novel strategy that could alter tropism of virus from epithelium to B cells and then back to epithelium in a new host.

Different functional domains in the cytoplasmic tail of glycoprotein B are involved in Epstein-Barr virus-induced membrane fusion

A virus-free cell fusion assay relying on the transient transfection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) glycoproteins into cells provides an efficient and quantitative assay for characterizing the viral requirements necessary for fusion of the viral envelope with the B cell membrane. Extensive cellular fusion occurred when Daudi cells were layered onto Chinese hamster ovary K1 cells transiently expressing EBV glycoproteins gp42, gH, gL, and gB. This is the first direct evidence that gB is involved in the process of EBV entry. Moreover, mutational analysis of gB indicates that the cytoplasmic tail contains two distinct domains that function differentially in the process of fusion. The region from amino acids 802 to 816 is necessary for productive membrane fusion, while amino acids 817 to 841 comprise a domain that negatively regulates membrane fusion.

Roles of Epstein-Barr virus glycoproteins gp350 and gp25 in the infection of human epithelial cells

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with various epithelial malignancies such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma and gastric carcinoma, and causes oral hairy leukoplakia, a productive EBV infection of the differentiated epithelium of the tongue. However, it is not clear by what mechanism EBV infects epithelial cells. We generated a recombinant EBV that expresses enhanced green fluorescent protein in order to monitor EBV entrance into epithelial cells quickly and quantitatively. Using this monitoring system, we examined the roles of gp350 and gp25 in EBV infection of epithelial cells by utilizing soluble forms of the gp350 and gp25 proteins. EBV infection of three of four examined epithelial cell lines, 293, NU-GC-3 and Lovo, was almost completely blocked by pretreatment of cells with a soluble form of gp350 (designated gp350Ig), and this blockage was dependent on the CD21-binding region of gp350. On the other hand, infection of the other epithelial cell line, AGS, was not inhibited at all by pretreatment with gp350Ig. Moreover, we found that a soluble form of gp25 (designated gp25Ig) preferentially bound to epithelial cells rather than B cells, and pretreatment of cells with gp25Ig substantially blocked EBV infection of some epithelial cells. These results indicate the existence of two distinct pathways in EBV infection of epithelial cells, a gp350-dependent pathway and a gp350-independent pathway, and that gp25 can play a role in the infection of some epithelial cells.

Two influenza A virus-specific Fabs neutralize by inhibiting virus attachment to target cells, while neutralization by their IgGs is complex and occurs simultaneously through fusion inhibition and attachment inhibition

Mabs H36 (IgG2a) and H37 (IgG3) recognize epitopes in antigenic sites Sb and Ca2, respectively, in the HA1 subunit of influenza virus A/PR/8/34 (H1N1). Their neutralization was complex. Our aim here was to investigate the mechanism of neutralization by the IgGs and their Fabs. In MDCK and BHK cells, both IgGs neutralized primarily by inhibiting virus-cell fusion, although at higher IgG concentrations virus attachment to target cells was also inhibited. In contrast, the Fabs neutralized entirely by inhibiting virus attachment, although a higher concentration of Fab than IgG was required to bring this about. Both H36 and H37 exerted a concentration-dependent spectrum of neutralization activity, with virus-cell fusion inhibition and virus-cell attachment inhibition being the predominant mechanisms at low- and high-antibody concentration, respectively, and both mechanisms occurring simultaneously at intermediate concentrations. However, it may be that attachment inhibition was a secondary event, occurring to virus that had already been neutralized through inhibition of its fusion activity. Neutralization by H36 and H37 Fabs was a simple process. Both inhibited virus attachment but required much higher (>100-fold) molar concentrations for activity than did IgG. The functional affinities of the IgGs were high (0.4-0.6 nM) and differences between these and the affinity of their Fabs (H36, nil; H37, 23-fold) were not sufficient to explain the differences observed in neutralization. Similar neutralization data were obtained in two different cell lines. The dose-response curve for neutralization by H36 F(ab')(2) resembled that for IgG, although eightfold more F(ab')(2) was required for 50% neutralization. Overall, neutralization mechanisms of H36 and H37 antibodies were similar, and thus independent of antigenic site, antibody isotype, and target cell.

Epstein-Barr virus lacking glycoprotein gp85 cannot infect B cells and epithelial cells

To evaluate whether the BXLF2 gene of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which codes gp85 protein, is essential for infection of B cells and epithelial cells, we analyzed the infectivity of an EBV recombinant lacking gp85. The cells that were infected with the BXLF2-disrupted virus were unable to express gp85 proteins that could be detected by mouse monoclonal antibody E1D1, specific for gp85/gp25 complexes. The BXLF2-disrupted EBV had the ability to attach to, but not infect, B cells. On the other hand, the same virus failed to bind to and infect NU-GC-3, a human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line that is susceptible to EBV infection. The results indicate that the gp85 is used for infection of not only B cells but also epithelial cells and suggest that the gp85 is necessary for attaching the virus to epithelial cells.

Epstein-Barr virus gH is essential for penetration of B cells but also plays a role in attachment of virus to epithelial cells

Entry of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) into B cells is initiated by attachment of glycoprotein gp350 to the complement receptor type 2 (CR2). A complex of three glycoproteins, gH, gL, and gp42, is subsequently required for penetration. Gp42 binds to HLA class II, which functions as an entry mediator or coreceptor and, by analogy with other herpesviruses, gH is then thought to be involved virus-cell fusion. However, entry of virus into epithelial cells is thought to be different. It can be initiated by attachment by an unknown glycoprotein in the absence of CR2. There is no interaction between gp42 and HLA class II and instead a distinct complex of only the two glycoproteins gH and gL interacts with a novel entry mediator. Again, by analogy with other viruses gH is thought to be critical to fusion. To investigate further the different roles of gH in infection of the two cell types and to examine its influence on the assembly of the gH-gL-gp42 complex, we constructed two viruses, one in which the gH open reading frame was interrupted by a cassette expressing a neomycin resistance gene and the gene for green fluorescent protein and one as a control in which the neighboring nonessential thymidine kinase gene was interrupted with the same cassette. Virus lacking gH exited from cells normally, although loss of gH resulted in rapid turnover of gL and gp42 as well. The virus bound normally to B lymphocytes but could not infect them unless cells and bound virus were treated with polyethylene glycol to induce fusion. In contrast, virus that lacked the gH complex was impaired in attachment to epithelial cells and the effects of monoclonal antibodies to gH implied that this resulted from loss of gH rather than other members of the complex. These results suggest a role for gH in both attachment and penetration into epithelial cells.

Human herpesvirus-8 glycoprotein B interacts with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) glycoprotein 110 but fails to complement the infectivity of EBV mutants

To characterize human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) gB, the open reading frame was PCR amplified from the HHV-8-infected cell line BCBL-1 and cloned into an expression vector. To facilitate detection of expressed HHV-8 gB, the cytoplasmic tail of the glycoprotein was tagged with the influenza hemagglutinin (HA) epitope. Expression of tagged HHV-8 gB (gB-HA), as well as the untagged form, was readily detected in CHO-K1 cells and several lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). HHV-8 gB-HA was sensitive to endoglycosidase H treatment, and immunofluorescence revealed that HHV-8 gB-HA was detectable in the perinuclear region of CHO-K1 cells. These observations suggest that HHV-8 gB is not processed in the Golgi and localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum or nuclear membrane. Because both HHV-8 and EBV are gamma-herpesviruses, the ability of HHV-8 gB to interact with and functionally complement EBV gp110 was examined. HHV-8 gB-HA and EBV gp110 co-immunoprecipitated, indicating formation of hetero-oligomers. However, HHV-8 gB-HA and HHV-8 gB failed to restore the infectivity of gp110-negative EBV mutants. These findings indicate that although HHV-8 gB and EBV gp110 have similar patterns of intracellular localization and can interact, there is not sufficient functional homology to allow efficient complementation.

Epstein-Barr virus recombinant lacking expression of glycoprotein gp150 infects B cells normally but is enhanced for infection of epithelial cells

Glycoprotein gp150 is a highly glycosylated protein encoded by the BDLF3 open reading frame of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). It does not have a homolog in the alpha- and betaherpesviruses, and its function is not known. To determine whether the protein is essential for replication of EBV in vitro, a recombinant virus which lacked its expression was made. The recombinant virus had no defects in assembly, egress, binding, or infectivity for B cells or epithelial cells. Infection of epithelial cells was, however, enhanced. The glycoprotein was sensitive to digestion with a glycoprotease that digests sialomucins, but no adhesion to cells that express selectins that bind to sialomucin ligands could be detected.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) gN homolog BLRF1 encodes a 15-kilodalton glycoprotein that cannot be authentically processed unless it is coexpressed with the EBV gM homolog BBRF3

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) homolog of the conserved herpesvirus glycoprotein gN is predicted to be encoded by the BLRF1 open reading frame (ORF). Antipeptide antibody to a sequence corresponding to residues in the predicted BLRF1 ORF immunoprecipitated a doublet of approximately 8 kDa from cells expressing the BLRF1 ORF as a recombinant protein. In addition, four glycosylated proteins of 113, 84, 48, and 15 kDa could be immunoprecipitated from virus-producing cells by the same antibody. The 15-kDa species was the mature form of gN, which carried alpha2,6-sialic acid residues. The remaining glycoproteins which associated with gN were products of the BBRF3 ORF of EBV, which encodes the EBV gM homolog. The 8-kDa doublet seen in cells expressing recombinant gN comprised precursors of the mature 15-kDa gN. Coexpression of EBV gM with EBV gN was required for authentic processing of the 8-kDa forms to the 15-kDa form.

Epstein-Barr virus uses different complexes of glycoproteins gH and gL to infect B lymphocytes and epithelial cells

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) gH-gL complex includes a third glycoprotein, gp42. gp42 binds to HLA class II on the surfaces of B lymphocytes, and this interaction is essential for infection of the B cell. We report here that, in contrast, gp42 is dispensable for infection of epithelial cell line SVKCR2. A soluble form of gp42, gp42.Fc, can, however, inhibit infection of both cell types. Soluble gp42 can interact with EBV gH and gL and can rescue the ability of virus lacking gp42 to transform B cells, suggesting that a gH-gL-gp42.Fc complex can be formed by extrinsic addition of the soluble protein. Truncated forms of gp42.Fc that retain the ability to bind HLA class II but that cannot interact with gH and gL still inhibit B-cell infection by wild-type virus but cannot inhibit infection of SVKCR2 cells or rescue the ability of recombinant gp42-negative virus to transform B cells. An analysis of wild-type virions indicates the presence of more gH and gL than gp42. To explain these results, we describe a model in which wild-type EBV virions are proposed to contain two types of gH-gL complexes, one that includes gp42 and one that does not. We further propose that these two forms of the complex have mutually exclusive abilities to mediate the infection of B cells and epithelial cells. Conversion of one to the other concurrently alters the ability of virus to infect each cell type. The model also suggests that epithelial cells may express a molecule that serves the same cofactor function for this cell type as HLA class II does for B cells and that the gH-gL complex interacts directly with this putative epithelial cofactor.

Failure to complement infectivity of EBV and HSV-1 glycoprotein B (gB) deletion mutants with gBs from different human herpesvirus subfamilies

Glycoprotein B (gB) is conserved among the herpesvirus family which infects a broad range of species. To investigate the functional homology of human alpha-herpesviruses, beta-herpesviruses, and gamma-herpesviruses gB proteins, complementation studies were performed with gB genes from each subfamily member using EBV gp110 (EBV gB homologue) and HSV-1 gB null mutants. Neither the alpha-herpesvirus HSV-1 gB gene nor the beta-herpesvirus HCMV gB gene were able to complement the gp110 null mutant. Conversely, neither the beta-herpesvirus HCMV gB or the gamma-herpesvirus EBV gp110 gene were able to complement HSV-1 gB null mutants. To further investigate functional domains of EBV gp110 and HSV-1 gB, gB-gp110 chimeric proteins were constructed. Surprisingly, none of the chimeric proteins were able to complement either HSV-1 gB null mutants or EBV gp110 null mutants. These results demonstrate that there is not sufficient functional homology between the different gBs to allow complementation in other subfamily members of the herpesvirus family.

Pseudorabies virus glycoprotein L is necessary for virus infectivity but dispensable for virion localization of glycoprotein H

Herpesviruses contain a number of envelope glycoproteins which play important roles in the interaction between virions and target cells. Although several glycoproteins are not present in all herpesviruses, others, including glycoproteins H and L (gH and gL), are conserved throughout the Herpesviridae. To elucidate common properties and differences in herpesvirus glycoprotein function, corresponding virus mutants must be constructed and analyzed in different herpesvirus backgrounds. Analysis of gH- mutants of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and pseudorabies virus (PrV) showed that in both viruses gH is essential for penetration and cell-to-cell spread and that its presence is required for virion localization of gL. Since gH homologs are found complexed with gL, it was of interest to assess the phenotype of gL- mutant viruses. By using this approach, HSV-1 gL has been shown to be required for entry and for virion localization of gH (C. Roop, L. Hutchinson, and D. Johnson, J. Virol. 67:2285-2297, 1993). To examine whether a similar phenotype is associated with lack of gL in another alphaherpesvirus, PrV, we constructed two independent gL- PrV mutants by insertion and deletion-insertion mutagenesis. The salient findings are as follows: (i) PrV gL is required for penetration of virions and cell-to-cell spread; (ii) unlike HSV-1, PrV gH is incorporated into the virion in the absence of gL; (iii) virion localization of gH in the absence of gL is not sufficient for infectivity; (iv) in the absence of gL, N-glycans on PrV gH are processed to a greater extent than in the presence of gL, indicating masking of N-glycans by association with gL; and (v) an anti-gL polyclonal antiserum is able to neutralize virion infectivity but did not inhibit cell-to-cell spread. Thus, whereas PrV gL is essential for virus replication, as is HSV-1 gL, gL- PrV mutants exhibit properties strikingly different from those of HSV-1. In conclusion, our data show an important functional role for PrV gL in the viral entry process, which is not explained by a chaperone-type mechanism in gH maturation and processing.

Epstein-Barr virus uses HLA class II as a cofactor for infection of B lymphocytes

Infection of B lymphocytes by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) requires attachment of virus via binding of viral glycoprotein gp350 to CD21 on the cell surface. Penetration of the cell membrane additionally involves a complex of three glycoproteins, gH, gL, and gp42. Glycoprotein gp42 binds to HLA-DR. Interference with this interaction with a soluble form of gp42, with a monoclonal antibody (MAb) to gp42, or with a MAb to HLA-DR inhibited virus infection. It was not possible to superinfect cells that failed to express HLA-DR unless expression was restored by transfection or creation of hybrid cell lines with complementing deficiencies in expression of HLA class II. HLA class II molecules thus serve as cofactors for infection of human B cells.

The Epstein-Barr virus glycoprotein 110 carboxy-terminal tail domain is essential for lytic virus replication

To investigate the importance of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) glycoprotein 110 (gp110) tail domain in the intracellular localization of gp110 and virus lytic replication, three carboxy-terminal truncation mutants of gp110 were constructed. Deletion of 16 amino acids from the carboxyl-terminal tail resulted in gp110 intracellular localization which was indistinguishable from that of wild-type gp110, whereas deletion of either 41 or 56 amino acids from the carboxyl-terminal tail of gp110 resulted in loss of retention of gp110 in the endoplasmic reticulum and nuclear membrane. None of the gp110 truncation mutants was able to complement EBV(gp110-)+ lymphoblastoid cell lines in transformation assays, indicating the importance of the gp110 tail domain in virus lytic replication. In electron microscopy analysis, no nucleocapsids or enveloped viruses were detected in EBV(gp110-)+ lymphoblastoid cell lines induced for lytic replication.

Chaperone functions common to nonhomologous Epstein-Barr virus gL and Varicella-Zoster virus gL proteins

Herpesviruses encode the complex-forming, essential glycoproteins gH and gL. Maturation and transport of gH are dependent on coexpression of its chaperone, gL. The gL proteins of alpha herpesviruses and gamma herpesviruses do not have a significant percentage of amino acid sequence homology. Yet, as we report herein, the diverse gL glycoproteins of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) were functionally interchangeable, although membrane expression and maturation of gH were separate functions for these viruses. In VZV both functions were performed by a single protein. EBV required two separate glycoproteins, one of which can be replaced by its homologous protein from VZV, a distant relative of EBV. Collectively, these results suggested that VZV gL is a simpler form of the gL chaperone protein than EBV gL.

Glycoprotein 110, the Epstein-Barr virus homolog of herpes simplex virus glycoprotein B, is essential for Epstein-Barr virus replication in vivo

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) glycoprotein gp110 has substantial amino acid homology to gB of herpes simplex virus but localizes differently within infected cells and is essentially undetectable in virions. To investigate whether gp110, like gB, is essential for EBV infection, a selectable marker was inserted within the gp110 reading frame, BALF4, and the resulting null mutant EBV stain, B95-110HYG, was recovered in lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). While LCLs infected with the parental virus B95-8 expressed the gp110 protein product following productive cycle induction, neither full-length gp110 nor the predicted gp110 truncation product was detectable in B95-110HYG LCLs. Infectious virus could not be recovered from B95-110HYG LCLs unless gp110 was provided in trans. Rescued B95-110HYG virus latently infected and growth transformed primary B lymphocytes. Thus, gp110 is required for the production of transforming virus but not for the maintenance of transformation of primary B lymphocytes by EBV.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) BZLF2 gene product associates with the gH and gL homologs of EBV and carries an epitope critical to infection of B cells but not of epithelial cells

Glycoprotein gp85, the product of the BXLF2 open reading frame (ORF), is the gH homolog of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and has been implicated in penetration of virus into B cells. Like its counterparts in other herpesviruses, it associates with a gL homolog, gp25, which is the product of the BKRF2 ORF. Unlike the gH homologs of other herpesviruses, however, gp85 also complexes with two additional glycoproteins of 42 and 38 kDa. Glycoproteins gp42 and gp38 were determined to be alternatively processed forms of the BZLF2 gene product. Coexpression of EBV gH and gL facilitated transport of gH to the cell surface and resulted in formation of a stable complex of gH and gL. It also restored expression of an epitope recognized by monoclonal antibody E1D1, which immunoprecipitates the native gH complex but not recombinant gH expressed in isolation. Coexpression of gH, gL, and the BZLF2 ORF restored expression of an epitope recognized by a second monoclonal antibody, F-2-1, which immunoprecipitates the native gH-gL-gp42/38 complex but not the complex of recombinant gH and gL alone. The epitope recognized by antibody F-2-1 was mapped to the BZLF2 gene product itself. Antibody F-2-1 inhibited the ability of EBV to infect B lymphocytes but had no effect on the ability of the virus to infect the epithelial cell line SVK-CR2. In contrast, antibody E1D1 had no effect on infection of the B-cell line but inhibited infection of the epithelial cell line. These results indicate that penetration of the two cell types by EBV involves differential use of the gH-gL-gp42/38 complex and suggest the hypothesis that the BZLF2 gene product has evolved as a unique adaptation to infection of B lymphocytes by EBV.

Identification and characterization of a novel structural glycoprotein in pseudorabies virus, gL

Herpesvirus envelope glycoproteins play important roles in the interaction between virions and target cells. In the alphaherpesvirus pseudorabies virus (PrV), seven glycoproteins that all constitute homologs of glycoproteins found in herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) have been characterized, including a homolog of HSV-1 glycoprotein H (gH). Since HSV-1 gH is found associated with another essential glycoprotein, gL, we analyzed whether PrV also encodes a gL homolog. DNA sequence analysis of a corresponding part of the UL region adjacent to the internal inverted repeat in PrV strains Kaplan and Becker revealed the presence of two open reading frames (ORF). Deduced proteins exhibited homology to uracil-DNA glycosylase encoded by HSV-1 ORF UL2 (54% identity) and gL encoded by HSV-1 ORF UL1 (24% identity), respectively. To identify the PrV UL1 protein, rabbit antisera were prepared against two synthetic oligopeptides that were predicted by computer analysis to encompass antigenic epitopes. Sera against both peptides reacted in Western blots of purified virions with a 20-kDa protein. The specificity of the reaction was demonstrated by peptide competition. Since the PrV UL1 sequence did not reveal the presence of a consensus N-linked glycosylation site, concanavalin A affinity chromatography and enzymatic deglycosylation of virion glycoproteins were used to ascertain that the PrV UL1 product is O glycosylated. Therefore, we designated this protein PrV gL. Analysis of mutant PrV virions lacking gH showed that concomitantly with the absence of gH, gL was also missing in purified virions. In summary, we identified and characterized a novel structural PrV glycoprotein, gL, which represents the eighth PrV glycoprotein described. In addition, we show that virion location of PrV gL is dependent on the presence of PrV gH.

Identification and nucleotide sequence of a gene in feline herpesvirus type 1 homologous to the herpes simplex virus gene encoding the glycoprotein H

A gene encoding the glycoprotein H (gH) homologue of feline herpesvirus type 1 was identified and sequenced. It was located immediately downstream of the thymidine kinase gene within an EcoRI 6.6 kbp fragment. In addition, a partial UL21 homologous gene was located downstream of the gH homologous gene. The primary translation product of the gH homologous gene is predicted to consist of 821 amino acids with a molecular weight of 92.5 kDa. It possesses several characteristics typical of transmembrane glycoproteins, including a N-terminal hydrophobic signal sequence, C-terminal transmembrane domain, and putative N-linked glycosylation sites. Analysis of this protein revealed amino acid sequence homologies of 33.1% with equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) gH, 32.6% with EHV-4 gH, 29.1% with varicella-zoster virus gIII, 28.5% with pseudorabies virus gH, and 25.1% with herpes simplex virus type 1 gH. By Northern blot analysis, one of the transcripts specific for the gH homologous gene might be a mRNA of approximately 3.0 kb.

Properties of HIV membrane reconstituted from its recombinant gp160 envelope glycoprotein

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) membrane has been reconstituted from the recombinant envelope glycoprotein precursor (gp160) by a detergent dialysis technique. Electron microscopy shows that gp160-virosomes are spherical vesicles with a mean diameter identical to that of viral particles. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunogold labeling demonstrate efficient association of gp160 with lipid vesicles and proteolysis treatment reveals an asymmetric insertion with about 90% of glycoproteins having their gp120-moiety pointing outside. Glycoproteins are organized as dimers and tetramers and gp160 retains its ability to specifically bind CD4 receptor after reconstitution into virosome.

Protection of mice and swine from pseudorabies virus conferred by vaccinia virus-based recombinants

Glycoproteins gp50, gII, and gIII of pseudorabies virus (PRV) were expressed either individually or in combination by vaccinia virus recombinants. In vitro analysis by immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence demonstrated the expression of a gII protein of approximately 120 kDa that was proteolytically processed to the gIIb (67- to 74-kDa) and gIIc (58-kDa) mature protein species similar to those observed in PRV-infected cells. Additionally, the proper expression of the 90-kDa gIII and 50-kDa gp50 was observed. All three of these PRV-derived glycoproteins were detectable on the surface of vaccinia virus-PRV recombinant-infected cells. In vivo, mice were protected against a virulent PRV challenge after immunization with the PRV glycoprotein-expressing vaccinia virus recombinants. The coexpression of gII and gIII by a single vaccinia virus recombinant resulted in a significantly reduced vaccination dose required to protect mice against PRV challenge. Inoculation of piglets with the various vaccinia virus-PRV glycoprotein recombinants also resulted in protection against virulent PRV challenge as measured by weight gain. The simultaneous expression of gII and gp50 in swine resulted in a significantly enhanced level of protection as evaluated by weight evolution following challenge with live PRV.

Epstein-Barr virus enters B cells and epithelial cells by different routes

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects two cell types, B lymphocytes and epithelial cells. Electron microscopic studies have shown that the virus fuses with the lymphoblastoid cell line Raji but is endocytosed into thin-walled non-clathrin-coated vesicles in normal B cells before fusion takes place. To compare early interactions of EBV with epithelial cells and B cells, a fluorescence dequenching assay of fusion was employed, using virus labeled either with the pH-insensitive probe octadecyl rhodamine B chloride (R18) or with 5(N-octadecanoyl) aminofluorescein (AF), which loses emission intensity at a pH below 7.4. Fusion of virus labeled with R18 could be monitored with B cells, Raji cells, and epithelial cells. Lowering the extracellular pH or pretreatment of cells with ammonium chloride or methylamine had no effect on these measurements. In contrast, fusion of virus labeled with AF could be measured with Raji cells and epithelial cells, but not with normal B cells unless cells were previously treated with ammonium chloride. Fusion of virus with normal B cells was inhibited with chlorpromazine, chloroquine, and sodium azide, but none of these reagents had any effect on fusion with Raji or epithelial cells. These results suggest that entry of EBV into nonpolarized suspensions of epithelial cells occurs by fusion at the cell surface, that EBV may be incapable of fusing with normal B cells unless it has first been endocytosed, and that pH appears to be irrelevant to either event. A combination of the two probes, R18 and AF, may have general use for determining the sites of entry of enveloped viruses that fuse in a pH-independent manner.

Identification and characterization of pseudorabies virus glycoprotein H

On the basis of DNA sequence analysis, it has recently been shown that the pseudorabies virus (PrV) genome encodes a protein homologous to glycoprotein H (gH) of other herpesviruses (B. Klupp and T.C. Mettenleiter, Virology 182:732-741, 1991). To obtain antibodies specific for gH(PrV), rabbits were immunized with synthetic peptides representing two potential epitopes on gH(PrV) as predicted by computer analysis. The antipeptide sera recognized the gH precursor polypeptide pgH translated in vitro from an in vitro-transcribed mRNA. Western blot (immunoblot) analyses of purified pseudorabies virions using these antisera revealed specific reactivity with a protein with an apparent molecular mass of 95 kDa. Specificity of the reaction could be demonstrated by competition experiments with respective peptides. Analysis of PrV deletion mutants defective in genes encoding known glycoproteins proved that gH(PrV) constitutes a novel PrV glycoprotein not previously found. Treatment of purified virion preparations with endoglycosidase H reduced the apparent molecular mass of gH(PrV) to 90 kDa, indicating the presence of N-linked high-mannose (or hybrid) carbohydrates in mature virions. Removal of all N-linked carbohydrates by N-glycosidase F resulted in a product of 76 kDa. In summary, our results demonstrate the existence of gH in PrV as a structural component of the virion.

The dominant linear neutralizing antibody-binding site of glycoprotein gp86 of human cytomegalovirus is strain specific

Bacterial fusion proteins, constructed from overlapping fragments of the open reading frame coding for gp86 of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) strain AD169, were used to localize antigenic regions recognized by antibodies from human convalescent sera. A major domain for binding of conformation-independent antibodies was localized on fusion protein AP86, containing amino acids 15 to 142 of gp86. Human antibodies, affinity purified on AP86, neutralized infectious virus in tissue culture. In addition, a mouse monoclonal antibody (AP86-SA4), raised against AP86, also neutralized HCMV. AP86-SA4 was reactive with viral gp86 in immunoblot assays and showed a plasma membrane staining on intact HCMV-infected fibroblasts late in infection. After exonuclease III deletions of the viral gene, the binding site of neutralizing human as well as mouse antibodies was localized between amino acid residues 34 and 43. The domain has sequence variation between laboratory strains AD169 and Towne, and binding of the antibodies was strain specific. To our knowledge, this is the first characterization of a strain-specific neutralizing epitope on HCMV.

Artificial viral envelopes containing recombinant Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) gp160

An artificial viral envelope was constructed, resembling the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) envelope with respect to ultrastructure, size, phospholipid profile and lipid:cholesterol ratio. Recombinant HIV surface protein gp160 was anchored in the outer surface of the envelope membrane using a double detergent dialysis. The envelopes remained physically stable for several months. Immunolabeling with anti-gp160/41 monoclonal antibody revealed surface insertion and availability of gp160 for binding. Cell fusion and cytosolic transfer of the encapsulated fluorescent marker FITC-dextran was demonstrated. Flow cytometry indicated more efficient transfer of the fluorescent marker to cells which were approximately 60% CD4+ (REX-1B), relative to cells which were only approximately 18% CD4+ (KG-1). However, plain lipid envelopes without gp160 fused very efficiently with both cell types, indicating their potential usefulness as "fusogenic liposomes". Complete artificial viral envelopes may serve as subunit vaccines, and receptor-targeted delivery systems for drugs, toxins and genetic constructs.