Improved detection of flaviviruses in Australian mosquito populations via replicative intermediates

2021 ◽  
Vol 102 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitlin A. O'Brien ◽  
Jessica J. Harrison ◽  
Agathe M. G. Colmant ◽  
Renee J. Traves ◽  
Devina Paramitha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Untranslated Regions ◽  
Fixation Method ◽  
Enveloped Viruses ◽  
Double Stranded Rna ◽  
Vertebrate Cell ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Replicative Intermediates ◽  
Dsrna Viruses ◽  
Arboviral Disease

Mosquito-borne flaviviruses are significant contributors to the arboviral disease burdens both in Australia and globally. While routine arbovirus surveillance remains a vital exercise to identify known flaviviruses in mosquito populations, novel or divergent and emerging species can be missed by these traditional methods. The MAVRIC (monoclonal antibodies to viral RNA intermediates in cells) system is an ELISA-based method for broad-spectrum isolation of positive-sense and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) viruses based on detection of dsRNA in infected cells. While the MAVRIC ELISA has successfully been used to detect known and novel flaviviruses in Australian mosquitoes, we previously reported that dsRNA could not be detected in dengue virus-infected cells using this method. In this study we identified additional flaviviruses which evade detection of dsRNA by the MAVRIC ELISA. Utilising chimeric flaviviruses we demonstrated that this outcome may be dictated by the non-structural proteins and/or untranslated regions of the flaviviral genome. In addition, we report a modified fixation method that enables improved detection of flavivirus dsRNA and inactivation of non-enveloped viruses from mosquito populations using the MAVRIC system. This study demonstrates the utility of anti-dsRNA monoclonal antibodies for identifying viral replication in insect and vertebrate cell systems and highlights a unique characteristic of flavivirus replication.

scholarly journals The Leader Protein of Theiler's Virus Prevents the Activation of PKR

2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian Borghese ◽  
Frédéric Sorgeloos ◽  
Teresa Cesaro ◽  
Thomas Michiels
Keyword(s):  
Stress Granule ◽  
Translation Initiation Factor ◽  
Initiation Factor ◽  
Wild Type Virus ◽  
Granule Formation ◽  
Double Stranded Rna ◽  
Eif2α Phosphorylation ◽  
Leader Protein ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
L Proteins

ABSTRACT Leader (L) proteins encoded by cardioviruses are multifunctional proteins that contribute to innate immunity evasion. L proteins of Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV), Saffold virus (SAFV), and encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) were reported to inhibit stress granule assembly in infected cells. Here, we show that TMEV L can act at two levels in the stress granule formation pathway: on the one hand, it can inhibit sodium arsenite-induced stress granule assembly without preventing eIF2α phosphorylation and, thus, acts downstream of eIF2α; on the other hand, it can inhibit eucaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha kinase 2 (PKR) activation and the consequent PKR-mediated eIF2α phosphorylation. Interestingly, coimmunostaining experiments revealed that PKR colocalizes with viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in cells infected with L-mutant viruses but not in cells infected with the wild-type virus. Furthermore, PKR coprecipitated with dsRNA from cells infected with L-mutant viruses significantly more than from cells infected with the wild-type virus. These data strongly suggest that L blocks PKR activation by preventing the interaction between PKR and viral dsRNA. In infected cells, L also rendered PKR refractory to subsequent activation by poly(I·C). However, no interaction was observed between L and either dsRNA or PKR. Taken together, our results suggest that, unlike other viral proteins, L indirectly acts on PKR to negatively regulate its responsiveness to dsRNA. IMPORTANCE The leader (L) protein encoded by cardioviruses is a very short multifunctional protein that contributes to evasion of the host innate immune response. This protein notably prevents the formation of stress granules in infected cells. Using Theiler’s virus as a model, we show that L proteins can act at two levels in the stress response pathway leading to stress granule formation, the most striking one being the inhibition of eucaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha kinase 2 (PKR) activation. Interestingly, the leader protein appears to inhibit PKR via a novel mechanism by rendering this kinase unable to detect double-stranded RNA, its typical activator. Unlike other viral proteins, such as influenza virus NS1, the leader protein appears to interact with neither PKR nor double-stranded RNA, suggesting that it acts indirectly to trigger the inhibition of the kinase.

scholarly journals Activation of MDA5 Requires Higher-Order RNA Structures Generated during Virus Infection

2009 ◽  
Vol 83 (20) ◽  
pp. 10761-10769 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Pichlmair ◽  
Oliver Schulz ◽  
Choon-Ping Tan ◽  
Jan Rehwinkel ◽  
Hiroki Kato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Order ◽  
Encephalomyocarditis Virus ◽  
Signaling Cascade ◽  
Rna Structures ◽  
Innate Response ◽  
Double Stranded Rna ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Alpha Beta ◽  
Complementary Rnas ◽  
Inducible Gene

ABSTRACT Recognition of virus presence via RIG-I (retinoic acid inducible gene I) and/or MDA5 (melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5) initiates a signaling cascade that culminates in transcription of innate response genes such as those encoding the alpha/beta interferon (IFN-α/β) cytokines. It is generally assumed that MDA5 is activated by long molecules of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) produced by annealing of complementary RNAs generated during viral infection. Here, we used an antibody to dsRNA to show that the presence of immunoreactivity in virus-infected cells does indeed correlate with the ability of RNA extracted from these cells to activate MDA5. Furthermore, RNA from cells infected with encephalomyocarditis virus or with vaccinia virus and precipitated with the anti-dsRNA antibody can bind to MDA5 and induce MDA5-dependent IFN-α/β production upon transfection into indicator cells. However, a prominent band of dsRNA apparent in cells infected with either virus does not stimulate IFN-α/β production. Instead, stimulatory activity resides in higher-order structured RNA that contains single-stranded RNA and dsRNA. These results suggest that MDA5 activation requires an RNA web rather than simply long molecules of dsRNA.

scholarly journals Role for nsP2 Proteins in the Cessation of Alphavirus Minus-Strand Synthesis by Host Cells

2006 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 360-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorothea L. Sawicki ◽  
Silvia Perri ◽  
John M. Polo ◽  
Stanley G. Sawicki
Keyword(s):  
Host Response ◽  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Late Phase ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Minus Strand ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Persistent Infections ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Replicative Intermediates ◽  
Transcription Complexes

ABSTRACT In order to establish nonlytic persistent infections (PI) of BHK cells, replicons derived from Sindbis (SIN) and Semliki Forest (SFV) viruses have mutations in nsP2. Five different nsP2 PI replicons were compared to wild-type (wt) SIN, SFV, and wt nsPs SIN replicons. Replicon PI BHK21 cells had viral RNA synthesis rates that were less than 5% of those of the wt virus and ∼10% or less of those of SIN wt replicon-infected cells, and, in contrast to wt virus and replicons containing wt nsP2, all showed a phenotype of continuous minus-strand synthesis and of unstable, mature replication/transcription complexes (RC+) that are active in plus-strand synthesis. Minus-strand synthesis and incorporation of [3H]uridine into replicative intermediates differed among PI replicons, depending on the location of the mutation in nsP2. Minus-strand synthesis by PI cells appeared normal; it was dependent on continuous P123 and P1234 polyprotein synthesis and ceased when protein synthesis was inhibited. The failure by the PI replicons to shut off minus-strand synthesis was not due to some defect in the PI cells but rather was due to the loss of some function in the mutated nsP2. This was demonstrated by showing that superinfection of PI cells with wt SFV triggered the shutdown of minus-strand synthesis, which we believe is a host response to infection with alphaviruses. Together, the results indicate alphavirus nsP2 functions to engage the host response to infection and activate a switch from the early-to-late phase. The loss of this function leads to continuous viral minus-strand synthesis and the production of unstable RC+.

Molecular analysis of enhanced replication of UV-damaged simian virus 40 DNA in UV-treated mammalian cells

1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 2428-2434
Author(s):  
J M Treger ◽  
J Hauser ◽  
K Dixon
Keyword(s):  
Uv Radiation ◽  
Uv Irradiation ◽  
Simian Virus 40 ◽  
Simian Virus ◽  
Viral Dna ◽  
Repair Capacity ◽  
Pyrimidine Dimers ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Replicative Intermediates ◽  
Kinetics Of

Irradiation of simian virus 40 (SV40)-infected cells with low fluences of UV light (20 to 60 J/m2, inducing one to three pyrimidine dimers per SV40 genome) causes a dramatic inhibition of viral DNA replication. However, treatment of cells with UV radiation (20 J/m2) before infection with SV40 virus enhances the replication of UV-damaged viral DNA. To investigate the mechanism of this enhancement of replication, we analyzed the kinetics of synthesis and interconversion of viral replicative intermediates synthesized after UV irradiation of SV40-infected cells that had been pretreated with UV radiation. This enhancement did not appear to be due to an expansion of the size of the pool of replicative intermediates after irradiation of pretreated infected cells; the kinetics of incorporation of labeled thymidine into replicative intermediates were very similar after irradiation of infected control and pretreated cells. The major products of replication of SV40 DNA after UV irradiation at the low UV fluences used here were form II molecules with single-stranded gaps (relaxed circular intermediates). There did not appear to be a change in the proportion of these molecules synthesized when cells were pretreated with UV radiation. Thus, it is unlikely that a substantial amount of DNA synthesis occurs past pyrimidine dimers without leaving gaps. This conclusion is supported by the observation that the proportion of newly synthesized SV40 form I molecules that contain pyrimidine dimers was not increased in pretreated cells. Pulse-chase experiments suggested that there is a more efficient conversion of replicative intermediates into form I molecules in pretreated cells. This could be due to more efficient gap filling in relaxed circular intermediate molecules or to the release of blocked replication forks. Alternatively, the enhanced replication observed here may be due to an increase in the excision repair capacity of the pretreated cells.

scholarly journals Antigenic Characterization of New Lineage II Insect-Specific Flaviviruses in Australian Mosquitoes and Identification of Host Restriction Factors

mSphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica J. Harrison ◽  
Jody Hobson-Peters ◽  
Agathe M. G. Colmant ◽  
Joanna Koh ◽  
Natalee D. Newton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
West Nile Virus ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Yellow Fever Virus ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Host Restriction ◽  
Antiviral Responses ◽  
Vertebrate Cell ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Chimeric Viruses

ABSTRACT We describe two new insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFs) isolated from mosquitoes in Australia, Binjari virus (BinJV) and Hidden Valley virus (HVV), that grow efficiently in mosquito cells but fail to replicate in a range of vertebrate cell lines. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that BinJV and HVV were closely related (90% amino acid sequence identity) and clustered with lineage II (dual-host affiliated) ISFs, including the Lammi and Nounané viruses. Using a panel of monoclonal antibodies prepared to BinJV viral proteins, we confirmed a close relationship between HVV and BinJV and revealed that they were antigenically quite divergent from other lineage II ISFs. We also constructed chimeric viruses between BinJV and the vertebrate-infecting West Nile virus (WNV) by swapping the structural genes (prM and E) to produce BinJ/WNVKUN-prME and WNVKUN/BinJV-prME. This allowed us to assess the role of different regions of the BinJV genome in vertebrate host restriction and revealed that while BinJV structural proteins facilitated entry to vertebrate cells, the process was inefficient. In contrast, the BinJV replicative components in wild-type BinJV and BinJ/WNVKUN-prME failed to initiate replication in a wide range of vertebrate cell lines at 37°C, including cells lacking components of the innate immune response. However, trace levels of replication of BinJ/WNVKUN-prME could be detected in some cultures of mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) deficient in antiviral responses (IFNAR−/− MEFs or RNase L−/− MEFs) incubated at 34°C after inoculation. This suggests that BinJV replication in vertebrate cells is temperature sensitive and restricted at multiple stages of cellular infection, including inefficient cell entry and susceptibility to antiviral responses. IMPORTANCE The globally important flavivirus pathogens West Nile virus, Zika virus, dengue viruses, and yellow fever virus can infect mosquito vectors and be transmitted to humans and other vertebrate species in which they cause significant levels of disease and mortality. However, the subgroup of closely related flaviviruses, known as lineage II insect-specific flaviviruses (Lin II ISFs), only infect mosquitoes and cannot replicate in cells of vertebrate origin. Our data are the first to uncover the mechanisms that restrict the growth of Lin II ISFs in vertebrate cells and provides new insights into the evolution of these viruses and the mechanisms associated with host switching that may allow new mosquito-borne viral diseases to emerge. The new reagents generated in this study, including the first Lin II ISF-reactive monoclonal antibodies and Lin II ISF mutants and chimeric viruses, also provide new tools and approaches to enable further research advances in this field.

scholarly journals Influenza virus hemagglutinin trimers and monomers maintain distinct biochemical modifications and intracellular distribution in brefeldin A-treated cells.

1991 ◽  
Vol 2 (7) ◽  
pp. 549-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Russ ◽  
J R Bennink ◽  
T Bächi ◽  
J W Yewdell
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Golgi Complex ◽  
Brefeldin A ◽  
Retrograde Transport ◽  
Cell Fractionation ◽  
Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Vesicular Compartment

Brefeldin A (BFA) induces the retrograde transport of proteins from the Golgi complex (GC) to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). It is uncertain, however, whether the drug completely merges the ER with post-ER compartments, or whether some of their elements remain physically and functionally distinct. We investigated this question by the use of monoclonal antibodies specific for monomers and trimers of the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA). In untreated influenza virus-infected cells, monomers and trimers almost exclusively partition into the ER and GC, respectively. In BFA-treated cells, both monomers and trimers are detected in the ER by immunofluorescence. Cell fractionation experiments indicate, however, that whereas HA monomers synthesized in the presence of BFA reside predominantly in vesicles with a characteristic density of the ER, HA trimers are primarily located in lighter vesicles characteristic of post-ER compartments. Biochemical experiments confirm that in BFA-treated cells, trimers are more extensively modified than monomers by GC-associated enzymes. Additional immunofluorescence experiments reveal that in BFA-treated cells, HA monomers can exist in an ER subcompartment less accessible to trimers and, conversely, that trimers are present in a vesicular compartment less accessible to monomers. These findings favor the existence of a post-ER compartment for which communication with the ER is maintained in the presence of BFA and suggest that trimers cycle between this compartment and the ER, but have access to only a portion of the ER.

scholarly journals Complement-Dependent Lysis of Influenza A Virus-Infected Cells by Broadly Cross-Reactive Human Monoclonal Antibodies

2011 ◽  
Vol 85 (24) ◽  
pp. 13463-13467 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Terajima ◽  
J. Cruz ◽  
M. D. T. Co ◽  
J.-H. Lee ◽  
K. Kaur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Human Monoclonal Antibodies ◽  
Infected Cells

scholarly journals Probing the Transcription Mechanisms of Reovirus Cores with Molecules That Alter RNA Duplex Stability

2009 ◽  
Vol 83 (11) ◽  
pp. 5659-5670 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander A. Demidenko ◽  
Max L. Nibert
Keyword(s):  
Small Molecules ◽  
Dimethyl Sulfoxide ◽  
Active Fraction ◽  
Core Particle ◽  
Double Stranded Rna ◽  
Promoter Escape ◽  
Duplex Stability ◽  
Rna Duplexes ◽  
Dsrna Viruses ◽  
Transcript Initiation

ABSTRACT The mammalian reovirus (MRV) genome comprises 10 double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) segments, packaged along with transcriptase complexes inside each core particle. Effects of four small molecules on transcription by MRV cores were studied for this report, chosen for their known capacities to alter RNA duplex stability. Spermidine and spermine, which enhance duplex stability, inhibited transcription, whereas dimethyl sulfoxide and trimethylglycine, which attenuate duplex stability, stimulated transcription. Different mechanisms were identified for inhibition or activation by these molecules. With spermidine, one round of transcription occurred normally, but subsequent rounds were inhibited. Thus, inhibition occurred at the transition between the end of elongation in one round and initiation in the next round of transcription. Dimethyl sulfoxide or trimethylglycine, on the other hand, had no effect on transcription by a constitutively active fraction of cores in each preparation but activated transcription in another fraction that was otherwise silent for the production of elongated transcripts. Activation of this other fraction occurred at the transition between transcript initiation and elongation, i.e., at promoter escape. These results suggest that the relative stability of RNA duplexes is most important for certain steps in the particle-associated transcription cycles of dsRNA viruses and that small molecules are useful tools for probing these and probably other steps.

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