Identification of a novel epitope in the C terminus of hepatitis C virus-E2 protein that induces potent and cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of chronic viral hepatitis, but an effective vaccine is still not available to prevent infection. Use of neutralizing antibodies could be a potential therapeutic option. In this study, the presence of anti-HCV antibodies in HCV-infected patients was assessed from 50 patients and the presence of neutralizing antibodies was examined using 'hepatitis C virus-like particles'. Antibodies from two samples exhibited significant inhibitory activity, suggesting that these may neutralize viral infection. Antigenic determinants generating the neutralizing antibodies from these two samples were delineated by epitope mapping using the core, E1 and E2 regions and a stretch of 45 amino acid peptide (E2C45) derived from the C-terminal region of HCV-E2 protein (aa 634-679) was designed. Results suggest that this hitherto uncharacterized region has the potential to generate neutralizing antibodies against HCV and thus be effective in preventing virus entry into liver cells. Computational analysis of the structure of the modelled peptide (E2C45) suggested high conformational entropy for this region. Furthermore, E2C45 peptide-generated antibodies could block virus entry and monoclonal antibodies generated against this peptide could also significantly reduce virus replication in a cell culture system. It is possible that the inhibition could be partly due to a conformational alteration of the CD81-binding region, preventing virus attachment to liver cells. In conclusion, this work focused on the discovery of a novel epitope at the C terminus of E2 that induces potent neutralizing antibodies in HCV-infected patients.

The RNA triphosphatase domain of L protein of Rinderpest virus exhibits pyrophosphatase and tripolyphosphatase activities

L protein of the Rinderpest virus, an archetypal paramyxovirus possesses RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity which transcribes the genome into mRNAs as well as replicates the RNA genome. The protein also possesses RNA triphosphatase (RTPase), guanylyltransferase (GTase) and methyltransferase enzyme activities responsible for capping the mRNAs in a conventional pathway similar to that of the host pathway. Subsequent to the earlier characterization of the GTase activity of L protein and identification of the RTPase domain of the L protein, we report here, additional enzymatic activities associated with the RTPase domain. We have characterized the pyrophosphatase and tripolyphosphatase activities of the L-RTPase domain which are metal-dependent and proceed much faster than the RTPase activity. Interestingly, the mutant proteins E1645A and E1647A abrogated the pyrophosphatase and tripolyphosphatase significantly, indicating a strong overlap of the active sites of these activities with that of RTPase. We discuss the likely role of GTase-associated L protein pyrophosphatase in the polymerase function. We also discuss a possible biological role for the tripolyphosphatase activity hitherto considered insignificant for the viruses possessing such activity.

A carboxy terminal domain of the L protein of rinderpest virus possesses RNA triphosphatase activity - The first enzyme in the viral mRNA capping pathway

The large protein L of negative-sense RNA viruses is a multifunctional protein involved in transcription and replication of genomic RNA. It also possesses enzymatic activities involved in capping and methylation of viral mRNAs. The pathway for mRNA capping followed by the L protein of the viruses in the Morbillivirus genus has not been established, although it has been speculated that these viruses may follow the unconventional capping pathway as has been shown for some viruses of Rhabdoviridae family. We had earlier shown that the large protein L of Rinderpest virus expressed as recombinant L-P complex in insect cells as well as the ribonucleoprotein complex from purified virus possesses RNA triphosphatase (RTPase) and guanylyltransferase activities, in addition to RNA dependent RNA polymerase activity. In the present work, we demonstrate that RTPase as well as nucleoside triphosphatase (NTPase) activities are exhibited by a subdomain of the L protein in the C terminal region (a.a. 1640-1840). The RTPase activity depends absolutely on a divalent cation, either magnesium or manganese. Both the RTPase and NTPase activities of the protein show dual metal specificity. Two mutant proteins having alanine mutations in the glutamic acid residues in motif-A of the RTPase domain did not show RTPase activity, while exhibiting reduced NTPase activity suggesting overlapping active sites for the two enzymatic functions. The RTPase and NTPase activities of the L subdomain resemble those of the Vaccinia capping enzyme D1 and the baculovirus LEF4 proteins.

Monoclonal antibodies against Hepatitis C genotype 3a virus like particle inhibit virus entry in cell culture system

The envelope protein (E1-E2) of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major component of the viral structure. The glycosylated envelope protein is considered to be important for initiation of infection by binding to cellular receptor(s) and also known as one of the major antigenic targets to host immune response. The present study was aimed at identifying mouse monoclonal antibodies which inhibit binding of virus like particles of HCV to target cells. The first step in this direction was to generate recombinant HCV-like particles (HCV-LPs) specific for genotypes 3a of HCV (prevalent in India) using the genes encoding core, E1 and E2 envelop proteins in a baculovirus expression system. The purified HCV-LPs were characterized by ELISA and electron microscopy and were used to generate monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in mice. Two monoclonal antibodies (E8G9 and H1H10) specific for the E2 region of envelope protein of HCV genotype 3a, were found to reduce the virus binding to Huh7 cells. However, the mAbs generated against HCV genotype 1b (D2H3, G2C7, E1B11) were not so effective. More importantly, mAb E8G9 showed significant inhibition of the virus entry in HCV JFH1 cell culture system. Finally, the epitopic regions on E2 protein which bind to the mAbs have also been identified. Results suggest a new therapeutic strategy and provide the proof of concept that mAb against HCV-LP could be effective in preventing virus entry into liver cells to block HCV replication.

Protection of rabbits against lapinized rinderpest virus with purified envelope glycoproteins of peste-des-petits-ruminants and rinderpest viruses

Haemagglutinin (HA) and fusion (F) proteins of peste-des-petits-ruminants virus (PPRV) and rinderpest virus (RPV) were purified by immunoaffinity chromatography. The purified proteins were characterized by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS-PAGE). Rabbit hyperimmune sera were raised against the purified HA and F proteins and assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), haemagglutination-inhibition (HAI) and virus neutralization (VN) tests. The immunized animals were challenged with a virulent lapinized (rabbit-adapted) strain of RPV. Both HA and F proteins of PPRV protected rabbits against a lethal challenge with lapinized RPV. As expected, RPV HA and F proteins also conferred a similar protection against the homologous challenge. The postchallenge antibody responses were of a true anamnestic type.

Detection of phocid distemper virus RNA in seal tissues using slot hybridization and the polymerase chain reaction amplification assay: genetic evidence that the virus is distinct from canine distemper virus

Slot hybridization and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) after reverse transcription (RT) were used to detect RNA extracted from tissues of seals after naturally occurring disease and experimental infection with phocid distemper virus (PDV). A phosphoprotein (P) gene-specific cDNA served as a probe for both slot hybridization and the identification of PCR-generated fragments by Southern blotting. As primers for the PCR assay PDV P gene-derived oligonucleotides were used. Hybridization, PCR and partial nucleic acid sequence analysis clearly demonstrated that PDV is a distinct virus (most closely related to canine distemper virus) within the morbillivirus group. PCR, when combined with Southern blot hybridization, was clearly superior to slot hybridization and more sensitive than cell culture isolation and immunofluorescence assays for the detection of virus in tissues. Considerable amounts of viral RNA could be demonstrated in the lungs and spleens. In experimentally infected animals a large quantity of virus-specific RNA was additionally found in colon samples. Using RT-PCR in combination with Southern blotting. PDV could be demonstrated in buffy coat cells using a simple and fast cell lysis procedure.

Immunization with a vaccinia recombinant expressing the F protein protects rabbits from challenge with a lethal dose of rinderpest virus

A cDNA clone containing the complete coding sequence of the rinderpest fusion protein (F) gene was inserted into the thymidine kinase gene of vaccinia virus (WR strain) under the control of the 7.5K early/late vaccinia virus promoter. All forms of the F protein, i.e., the glycosylated F0 precursor, the unglycosylated F1 protein, and the glycosylated F2 protein, were detected in cells infected with the recombinant virus. Vaccination of rabbits with the recombinant virus induced antibodies which reacted in an ELISA system specific for rinderpest. The rabbit sera contained neutralizing antibodies against rinderpest virus and precipitated the F protein from lysates of rinderpest infected cells. Rabbits vaccinated with the recombinant rinderpest F gene vaccinia virus were protected from a lethal challenge with the lapinized Nakamura 3 strain of rinderpest virus. Variations in the severity of clinical symptoms correlated with the level of anti-F protein antibodies produced.

Differentiation of rinderpest and peste des petits ruminants viruses using specific cDNA clones

The morbilliviruses which infect ruminants, rinderpest (RPV) and peste des petits ruminants (PPRV), are difficult to distinguish serologically. They can be distinguished by differential neutralisation tests and by the migration of the major virus structural protein, the nucleocapsid protein, on polyacrylamide gels. Both these methods are time consuming and require the isolation of live virus for identification; they are not suitable for analysis of material directly from post-mortem specimens. We describe a rapid method for differential diagnosis of infections caused by RPV or PPRV, which uses specific cDNA probes, derived from the mRNAs for the nucleocapsid protein of each virus, which can be used to distinguish unequivocally the two virus types rapidly.