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Yogarajah T, Chu JJH. Construction of Infectious Clones for Human Enteroviruses. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2733:155-174. [PMID: 38064032 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3533-9_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
The infectious clone has been constructed for years via various mechanisms using reverse genetics of viral RNA into cDNA. The mechanism of construction has evolved to DNA-launch plasmids which simplify infectious clone manipulation and expression in mammalian cells. Infectious clones have enormously allowed manipulation of the enterovirus genome to discover antivirals, viral replication mechanisms, and functions of essential viral proteins. Here we will be discussing methods for the production of DNA-launch human enterovirus infectious clones and viral genome engineered with a fluorescent reporter gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thinesshwary Yogarajah
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Justin Jang Hann Chu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.
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Cheong DHJ, Yogarajah T, Wong YH, Arbrandt G, Westman J, Chu JJH. CUR-N399, a PI4KB inhibitor, for the treatment of Enterovirus A71 infection. Antiviral Res 2023; 218:105713. [PMID: 37657668 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Over the years, the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) has sparked epidemics across many countries which mainly affected young children. While symptoms are usually mild, severe complications may arise, and some even lead to death. Such concerns, coupled with the lack of approved vaccines and antivirals to date, create an urgency in the identification of safe therapeutics against HFMD. The disease is mainly transmitted by enteroviruses like enterovirus A71 (EV-A71). Essential for enterovirus replication is the host protein, PI4KB. In this study, we investigate the antiviral efficacy of a novel PI4KB inhibitor, CUR-N399. We found that CUR-N399 displayed broad-spectrum antiviral activity against picornaviruses in cell culture models. Using a suckling mouse model of lethal EV-A71 infection, CUR-N399 was found to be well-tolerated, promote survival and reduce viral titre in mice organs. Together, these support the discovery of CUR-N399 as an antiviral against EV-A71 and potentially other closely related viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothy Hui Juan Cheong
- Infectious Disease Translational Research Programme and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Thinesshwary Yogarajah
- Infectious Disease Translational Research Programme and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yi Hao Wong
- Biosafety Level 3 Core Facility, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | | | | | - Justin Jang Hann Chu
- Infectious Disease Translational Research Programme and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Biosafety Level 3 Core Facility, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Collaborative and Translation Unit for Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD), Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore.
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Chin WX, Kong HY, Zhu IXY, Teo ZY, Faruk R, Lee RCH, Ho SX, Aw ZQ, Yi B, Hou XJ, Tan AKY, Yogarajah T, Huber RG, Cai Y, Wan Y, Chu JJH. Flavivirus genome recoding by codon optimisation confers genetically stable in vivo attenuation in both mice and mosquitoes. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011753. [PMID: 37883598 PMCID: PMC10629665 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Virus genome recoding is an attenuation method that confers genetically stable attenuation by rewriting a virus genome with numerous silent mutations. Prior flavivirus genome recoding attempts utilised codon deoptimisation approaches. However, these codon deoptimisation approaches act in a species dependent manner and were unable to confer flavivirus attenuation in mosquito cells or in mosquito animal models. To overcome these limitations, we performed flavivirus genome recoding using the contrary approach of codon optimisation. The genomes of flaviviruses such as dengue virus type 2 (DENV2) and Zika virus (ZIKV) contain functional RNA elements that regulate viral replication. We hypothesised that flavivirus genome recoding by codon optimisation would introduce silent mutations that disrupt these RNA elements, leading to decreased replication efficiency and attenuation. We chose DENV2 and ZIKV as representative flaviviruses and recoded them by codon optimising their genomes for human expression. Our study confirms that this recoding approach of codon optimisation does translate into reduced replication efficiency in mammalian, human, and mosquito cells as well as in vivo attenuation in both mice and mosquitoes. In silico modelling and RNA SHAPE analysis confirmed that DENV2 recoding resulted in the extensive disruption of genomic structural elements. Serial passaging of recoded DENV2 resulted in the emergence of rescue or adaptation mutations, but no reversion mutations. These rescue mutations were unable to rescue the delayed replication kinetics and in vivo attenuation of recoded DENV2, demonstrating that recoding confers genetically stable attenuation. Therefore, our recoding approach is a reliable attenuation method with potential applications for developing flavivirus vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Xin Chin
- Laboratory of Molecular RNA Virology and Antiviral Strategies, Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hao Yuin Kong
- NUSMed Biosafety Level 3 Core Facility, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Isabelle Xin Yu Zhu
- Laboratory of Molecular RNA Virology and Antiviral Strategies, Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Zi Yun Teo
- Laboratory of Molecular RNA Virology and Antiviral Strategies, Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Regina Faruk
- Laboratory of Molecular RNA Virology and Antiviral Strategies, Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Regina Ching Hua Lee
- Laboratory of Molecular RNA Virology and Antiviral Strategies, Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Si Xian Ho
- Laboratory of Molecular RNA Virology and Antiviral Strategies, Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Zhen Qin Aw
- NUSMed Biosafety Level 3 Core Facility, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Bowen Yi
- NUSMed Biosafety Level 3 Core Facility, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Xin Jun Hou
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Antson Kiat Yee Tan
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Thinesshwary Yogarajah
- Laboratory of Molecular RNA Virology and Antiviral Strategies, Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Roland G. Huber
- Bioinformatics Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Yu Cai
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yue Wan
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Justin Jang Hann Chu
- Laboratory of Molecular RNA Virology and Antiviral Strategies, Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Infectious Diseases Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- NUSMed Biosafety Level 3 Core Facility, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
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Keng CT, Yogarajah T, Lee RCH, Muhammad IBH, Chia BS, Vasandani SR, Lim DS, Guo K, Wong YH, Mok CK, Chu JJH, Chew WL. AAV-CRISPR-Cas13 eliminates human enterovirus and prevents death of infected mice. EBioMedicine 2023; 93:104682. [PMID: 37390772 PMCID: PMC10363442 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND RNA viruses account for many human diseases and pandemic events but are often not targetable by traditional therapeutics modalities. Here, we demonstrate that adeno-associated virus (AAV) -delivered CRISPR-Cas13 directly targets and eliminates the positive-strand EV-A71 RNA virus in cells and infected mice. METHODS We developed a Cas13gRNAtor bioinformatics pipeline to design CRISPR guide RNAs (gRNAs) that cleave conserved viral sequences across the virus phylogeny and developed an AAV-CRISPR-Cas13 therapeutics using in vitro viral plaque assay and in vivo EV-A71 lethally-infected mouse model. FINDINGS We show that treatment with a pool of AAV-CRISPR-Cas13-gRNAs designed using the bioinformatics pipeline effectively blocks viral replication and reduces viral titers in cells by >99.99%. We further demonstrate that AAV-CRISPR-Cas13-gRNAs prophylactically and therapeutically inhibited viral replication in infected mouse tissues and prevented death in a lethally challenged EV-A71-infected mouse model. INTERPRETATION Our results show that the bioinformatics pipeline designs efficient CRISPR-Cas13 gRNAs for direct viral RNA targeting to reduce viral loads. Additionally, this new antiviral AAV-CRISPR-Cas13 modality represents an effective direct-acting prophylactic and therapeutic agent against lethal RNA viral infections. FUNDING Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR) Assured Research Budget, A∗STAR Central Research Fund UIBR SC18/21-1089UI, A∗STAR Industrial Alignment Fund Pre-Positioning (IAF-PP) grant H17/01/a0/012, MOE Tier 2 2017 (MOE2017-T2-1-078; MOE-T2EP30221-0005), and NUHSRO/2020/050/RO5+5/NUHS-COVID/4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Choong Tat Keng
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, 60 Biopolis Street, Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Thinesshwary Yogarajah
- Laboratory of Molecular RNA Virology and Antiviral Strategies, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Infectious Disease Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117597, Singapore
| | - Regina Ching Hua Lee
- Laboratory of Molecular RNA Virology and Antiviral Strategies, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Irfan Bin Hajis Muhammad
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, 60 Biopolis Street, Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Bing Shao Chia
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, 60 Biopolis Street, Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Suraj Rajan Vasandani
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, 60 Biopolis Street, Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Daryl Shern Lim
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, 60 Biopolis Street, Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Ke Guo
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, 60 Biopolis Street, Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Yi Hao Wong
- NUSMed Biosafety Level 3 Core Facility, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 14 Medical Drive, 117599, Singapore
| | - Chee Keng Mok
- NUSMed Biosafety Level 3 Core Facility, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 14 Medical Drive, 117599, Singapore
| | - Justin Jang Hann Chu
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos #06-05, 138673, Singapore; Laboratory of Molecular RNA Virology and Antiviral Strategies, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Infectious Disease Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117597, Singapore; NUSMed Biosafety Level 3 Core Facility, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 14 Medical Drive, 117599, Singapore.
| | - Wei Leong Chew
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, 60 Biopolis Street, Singapore 138672, Singapore; Synthetic Biology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117596, Singapore.
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Wu KX, Yogarajah T, Choy Loe MW, Kaur P, Hua Lee RC, Mok CK, Wong YH, Phuektes P, Yeo LS, Chow VT, Tan YW, Hann Chu JJ. The host-targeting compound peruvoside has a broad-spectrum antiviral activity against positive-sense RNA viruses. Acta Pharm Sin B 2023; 13:2039-2055. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
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Chan YF, Sam IC, Nayan E, Tan XH, Yogarajah T. Seroepidemiology of enterovirus D68 infection in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia between 2013 and 2015. J Med Virol 2021; 94:2607-2612. [PMID: 34617599 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is an emerging respiratory pathogen since the 2014 outbreak in the United States. A low level of virus circulation has been reported in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in the past. However, the extent of the infection in Malaysia is not known. In the present study, we determine the seroepidemiology of EV-D68 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, before and after the United States outbreak in August 2014. A luciferase-based seroneutralization test was developed using a clone-derived prototype Fermon strain carrying a nanoluciferase marker. We screened the neutralization capacity of 450 serum samples from children and adults (1-89 years old) collected between 2013 and 2015. EV-D68 seropositivity increased with age, with children aged 1-3 showing significantly lower seroprevalence compared to adults. Multivariate analysis showed that older age groups 13-49 years (odds ratio [OR] = 4.78; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.69-8.49; p < 0.0001) and ≥50 years (OR = 3.83; 95% CI = 2.19-6.68; p < 0.0001) were more likely to be EV-D68 seropositive than children <13 years. Sampling post-September 2014 compared to pre-Sept 2014 also predicted seropositivity (OR = 1.66; 95% CI = 1.04-2.65). The presence of neutralizing antibodies against EV-D68 in the study population suggests that EV-D68 was circulating before 2014. A higher seropositivity post-September 2014 suggests that Malaysia also experienced an upsurge in EV-D68 infections after the United States outbreaks in August 2014. A low seropositivity rate observed in children, especially those aged 1-3 years old, suggests that they are at risk and should be prioritized for future vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoke Fun Chan
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - I-Ching Sam
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Elena Nayan
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Xiu Hui Tan
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Thinesshwary Yogarajah
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Yogarajah T, Ong KC, Perera D, Wong KT. AIM2 Inflammasome-Mediated Pyroptosis in Enterovirus A71-Infected Neuronal Cells Restricts Viral Replication. Sci Rep 2017; 7:5845. [PMID: 28724943 PMCID: PMC5517550 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-05589-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Encephalomyelitis is a well-known complication of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) due to Enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection. Viral RNA/antigens could be detected in the central nervous system (CNS) neurons in fatal encephalomyelitis but the mechanisms of neuronal cell death is not clearly understood. We investigated the role of absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome in neuronal cell death, and its relationship to viral replication. Our transcriptomic analysis, RT-qPCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry studies consistently showed AIM2 gene up-regulation and protein expression in EV-A71-infected SK-N-SH cells. Downstream AIM2-induced genes, CARD16, caspase-1 and IL-1β were also up-regulated and caspase-1 was activated to form cleaved caspase-1 p20 subunits. As evidenced by 7-AAD positivity, pyroptosis was confirmed in infected cells. Overall, these findings have a strong correlation with decreases in viral titers, copy numbers and proteins, and reduced proportions of infected cells. AIM2 and viral antigens were detected by immunohistochemistry in infected neurons in inflamed areas of the CNS in EV-A71 encephalomyelitis. In infected AIM2-knockdown cells, AIM2 and related downstream gene expressions, and pyroptosis were suppressed, resulting in significantly increased virus infection. These results support the notion that AIM2 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis is an important mechanism of neuronal cell death and it could play an important role in limiting EV-A71 replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thinesshwary Yogarajah
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Kien Chai Ong
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - David Perera
- Institute of Health and Community Medicine, University Malaysia Sarawak, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Kum Thong Wong
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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