Potent Intracellular Knock-Down of Influenza A Virus M2 Gene Transcript by DNAzymes Considerably Reduces Viral Replication in Host Cells

ABSTRACT Influenza A virus expresses three viral polymerase (P) subunits—PB1, PB2, and PA—all of which are essential for RNA and viral replication. The functions of P proteins in transcription and replication have been partially elucidated, yet some of these functions seem to be dependent on the formation of a heterotrimer for optimal viral RNA transcription and replication. Although it is conceivable that heterotrimer subunit interactions may allow a more efficient catalysis, direct evidence of their essentiality for viral replication is lacking. Biochemical studies addressing the molecular anatomy of the P complexes have revealed direct interactions between PB1 and PB2 as well as between PB1 and PA. Previous studies have shown that the N-terminal 48 amino acids of PB1, termed domain α, contain the residues required for binding PA. We report here the refined mapping of the amino acid sequences within this small region of PB1 that are indispensable for binding PA by deletion mutagenesis of PB1 in a two-hybrid assay. Subsequently, we used site-directed mutagenesis to identify the critical amino acid residues of PB1 for interaction with PA in vivo. The first 12 amino acids of PB1 were found to constitute the core of the interaction interface, thus narrowing the previous boundaries of domain α. The role of the minimal PB1 domain α in influenza virus gene expression and genome replication was subsequently analyzed by evaluating the activity of a set of PB1 mutants in a model reporter minigenome system. A strong correlation was observed between a functional PA binding site on PB1 and P activity. Influenza viruses bearing mutant PB1 genes were recovered using a plasmid-based influenza virus reverse genetics system. Interestingly, mutations that rendered PB1 unable to bind PA were either nonviable or severely growth impaired. These data are consistent with an essential role for the N terminus of PB1 in binding PA, P activity, and virus growth.

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Suppression of influenza A virus replication in human lung epithelial cells by noncytotoxic concentrations bafilomycin A1

AJP Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajplung.00011.2014 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 308 (3) ◽

pp. L270-L286 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Behzad Yeganeh ◽

Saeid Ghavami ◽

Andrea L. Kroeker ◽

Thomas H. Mahood ◽

Gerald L. Stelmack ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Epithelial Cells ◽

Host Cell ◽

Influenza A Virus ◽

Influenza A ◽

Life Cycles ◽

Host Cells ◽

Nuclear Accumulation ◽

Low Concentration ◽

High Concentrations ◽

The Impact

Subcellular trafficking within host cells plays a critical role in viral life cycles, including influenza A virus (IAV). Thus targeting relevant subcellular compartments holds promise for effective intervention to control the impact of influenza infection. Bafilomycin A1(Baf-A1), when used at relative high concentrations (≥10 nM), inhibits vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase) and reduces endosome acidification and lysosome number, thus inhibiting IAV replication but promoting host cell cytotoxicity. We tested the hypothesis that much lower doses of Baf-A1also have anti-IAV activity, but without toxic effects. Thus we assessed the antiviral activity of Baf-A1at different concentrations (0.1–100 nM) in human alveolar epithelial cells (A549) infected with IAV strain A/PR/8/34 virus (H1N1). Infected and mock-infected cells pre- and cotreated with Baf-A1were harvested 0–24 h postinfection and analyzed by immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, and confocal and electron microscopy. We found that Baf-A1had disparate concentration-dependent effects on subcellular organelles and suppressed affected IAV replication. At concentrations ≥10 nM Baf-A1inhibited acid lysosome formation, which resulted in greatly reduced IAV replication and release. Notably, at a very low concentration of 0.1 nM that is insufficient to reduce lysosome number, Baf-A1retained the capacity to significantly impair IAV nuclear accumulation as well as IAV replication and release. In contrast to the effects of high concentrations of Baf-A1, very low concentrations did not exhibit cytotoxic effects or induce apoptotic cell death, based on morphological and FACS analyses. In conclusion, our results reveal that low-concentration Baf-A1is an effective inhibitor of IAV replication, without impacting host cell viability.

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Epitope specificity plays a critical role in regulating antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity against influenza A virus

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.1609316113 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 113 (42) ◽

pp. 11931-11936 ◽

Cited By ~ 88

Author(s):

Wenqian He ◽

Gene S. Tan ◽

Caitlin E. Mullarkey ◽

Amanda J. Lee ◽

Mannie Man Wai Lam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza Virus ◽

Influenza A Virus ◽

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Influenza A ◽

Critical Role ◽

Host Cells ◽

Viral Glycoprotein ◽

Effector Functions ◽

Dependent Cell

The generation of strain-specific neutralizing antibodies against influenza A virus is known to confer potent protection against homologous infections. The majority of these antibodies bind to the hemagglutinin (HA) head domain and function by blocking the receptor binding site, preventing infection of host cells. Recently, elicitation of broadly neutralizing antibodies which target the conserved HA stalk domain has become a promising “universal” influenza virus vaccine strategy. The ability of these antibodies to elicit Fc-dependent effector functions has emerged as an important mechanism through which protection is achieved in vivo. However, the way in which Fc-dependent effector functions are regulated by polyclonal influenza virus-binding antibody mixtures in vivo has never been defined. Here, we demonstrate that interactions among viral glycoprotein-binding antibodies of varying specificities regulate the magnitude of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity induction. We show that the mechanism responsible for this phenotype relies upon competition for binding to HA on the surface of infected cells and virus particles. Nonneutralizing antibodies were poor inducers and did not inhibit antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Interestingly, anti-neuraminidase antibodies weakly induced antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and enhanced induction in the presence of HA stalk-binding antibodies in an additive manner. Our data demonstrate that antibody specificity plays an important role in the regulation of ADCC, and that cross-talk among antibodies of varying specificities determines the magnitude of Fc receptor-mediated effector functions.

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Low-Fidelity Assembly of Influenza A Virus Promotes Escape from Host Cells

Cell ◽

10.1016/j.cell.2019.12.028 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 180 (1) ◽

pp. 205

Author(s):

Michael D. Vahey ◽

Daniel A. Fletcher

Keyword(s):

Influenza A Virus ◽

Influenza A ◽

Host Cells

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Organization of the Influenza A Virus Genomic RNA in the Viral Replication Cycle—Structure, Interactions, and Implications for the Emergence of New Strains

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens9110951 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 951

Author(s):

Julita Piasecka ◽

Aleksandra Jarmolowicz ◽

Elzbieta Kierzek

Keyword(s):

Viral Replication ◽

Influenza A Virus ◽

Rna Structure ◽

Influenza A ◽

Respiratory Infections ◽

Specific Interaction ◽

Replication Cycle ◽

Genome Packaging ◽

Functional Roles ◽

Interaction Sites

The influenza A virus is a human pathogen causing respiratory infections. The ability of this virus to trigger seasonal epidemics and sporadic pandemics is a result of its high genetic variability, leading to the ineffectiveness of vaccinations and current therapies. The source of this variability is the accumulation of mutations in viral genes and reassortment enabled by its segmented genome. The latter process can induce major changes and the production of new strains with pandemic potential. However, not all genetic combinations are tolerated and lead to the assembly of complete infectious virions. Reports have shown that viral RNA segments co-segregate in particular circumstances. This tendency is a consequence of the complex and selective genome packaging process, which takes place in the final stages of the viral replication cycle. It has been shown that genome packaging is governed by RNA–RNA interactions. Intersegment contacts create a network, characterized by the presence of common and strain-specific interaction sites. Recent studies have revealed certain RNA regions, and conserved secondary structure motifs within them, which may play functional roles in virion assembly. Growing knowledge on RNA structure and interactions facilitates our understanding of the appearance of new genome variants, and may allow for the prediction of potential reassortment outcomes and the emergence of new strains in the future.

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Hemagglutinin of Influenza A Virus Antagonizes Type I Interferon (IFN) Responses by Inducing Degradation of Type I IFN Receptor 1

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.02749-15 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 90 (5) ◽

pp. 2403-2417 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Chuan Xia ◽

Madhuvanthi Vijayan ◽

Curtis J. Pritzl ◽

Serge Y. Fuchs ◽

Adrian B. McDermott ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Signaling Pathway ◽

Influenza A Virus ◽

Influenza A ◽

Type I Interferon ◽

Innate Immune ◽

Host Cells ◽

Type I ◽

Type I Ifn ◽

Type I Ifns ◽

Ha Protein

ABSTRACTInfluenza A virus (IAV) employs diverse strategies to circumvent type I interferon (IFN) responses, particularly by inhibiting the synthesis of type I IFNs. However, it is poorly understood if and how IAV regulates the type I IFN receptor (IFNAR)-mediated signaling mode. In this study, we demonstrate that IAV induces the degradation of IFNAR subunit 1 (IFNAR1) to attenuate the type I IFN-induced antiviral signaling pathway. Following infection, the level of IFNAR1 protein, but not mRNA, decreased. Indeed, IFNAR1 was phosphorylated and ubiquitinated by IAV infection, which resulted in IFNAR1 elimination. The transiently overexpressed IFNAR1 displayed antiviral activity by inhibiting virus replication. Importantly, the hemagglutinin (HA) protein of IAV was proved to trigger the ubiquitination of IFNAR1, diminishing the levels of IFNAR1. Further, influenza A viral HA1 subunit, but not HA2 subunit, downregulated IFNAR1. However, viral HA-mediated degradation of IFNAR1 was not caused by the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response. IAV HA robustly reduced cellular sensitivity to type I IFNs, suppressing the activation of STAT1/STAT2 and induction of IFN-stimulated antiviral proteins. Taken together, our findings suggest that IAV HA causes IFNAR1 degradation, which in turn helps the virus escape the powerful innate immune system. Thus, the research elucidated an influenza viral mechanism for eluding the IFNAR signaling pathway, which could provide new insights into the interplay between influenza virus and host innate immunity.IMPORTANCEInfluenza A virus (IAV) infection causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide and remains a major health concern. When triggered by influenza viral infection, host cells produce type I interferon (IFN) to block viral replication. Although IAV was shown to have diverse strategies to evade this powerful, IFN-mediated antiviral response, it is not well-defined if IAV manipulates the IFN receptor-mediated signaling pathway. Here, we uncovered that influenza viral hemagglutinin (HA) protein causes the degradation of type I IFN receptor subunit 1 (IFNAR1). HA promoted phosphorylation and polyubiquitination of IFNAR1, which facilitated the degradation of this receptor. The HA-mediated elimination of IFNAR1 notably decreased the cells' sensitivities to type I IFNs, as demonstrated by the diminished expression of IFN-induced antiviral genes. This discovery could help us understand how IAV regulates the host innate immune response to create an environment optimized for viral survival in host cells.

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Deep Mutational Scan of the Highly Conserved Influenza A Virus M1 Matrix Protein Reveals Substantial Intrinsic Mutational Tolerance

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.00161-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 93 (13) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Nancy Hom ◽

Lauren Gentles ◽

Jesse D. Bloom ◽

Kelly K. Lee

Keyword(s):

Cell Culture ◽

Influenza Virus ◽

Amino Acid ◽

Viral Replication ◽

Influenza A Virus ◽

Influenza A ◽

Matrix Protein ◽

Influenza Virus Infection ◽

Sequence Diversity ◽

Virus Protein

ABSTRACTInfluenza A virus matrix protein M1 is involved in multiple stages of the viral infectious cycle. Despite its functional importance, our present understanding of this essential viral protein is limited. The roles of a small subset of specific amino acids have been reported, but a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between M1 sequence, structure, and virus fitness remains elusive. In this study, we used deep mutational scanning to measure the effect of every amino acid substitution in M1 on viral replication in cell culture. The map of amino acid mutational tolerance we have generated allows us to identify sites that are functionally constrained in cell culture as well as sites that are less constrained. Several sites that exhibit low tolerance to mutation have been found to be critical for M1 function and production of viable virions. Surprisingly, significant portions of the M1 sequence, especially in the C-terminal domain, whose structure is undetermined, were found to be highly tolerant of amino acid variation, despite having extremely low levels of sequence diversity among natural influenza virus strains. This unexpected discrepancy indicates that not all sites in M1 that exhibit high sequence conservation in nature are under strong constraint during selection for viral replication in cell culture.IMPORTANCEThe M1 matrix protein is critical for many stages of the influenza virus infection cycle. Currently, we have an incomplete understanding of this highly conserved protein’s function and structure. Key regions of M1, particularly in the C terminus of the protein, remain poorly characterized. In this study, we used deep mutational scanning to determine the extent of M1’s tolerance to mutation. Surprisingly, nearly two-thirds of the M1 sequence exhibits a high tolerance for substitutions, contrary to the extremely low sequence diversity observed across naturally occurring M1 isolates. Sites with low mutational tolerance were also identified, suggesting that they likely play critical functional roles and are under selective pressure. These results reveal the intrinsic mutational tolerance throughout M1 and shape future inquiries probing the functions of this essential influenza A virus protein.

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