scholarly journals The structure of the influenza A virus genome

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernadeta Dadonaite ◽  
Egle Barilaite ◽  
Ervin Fodor ◽  
Alain Laederach ◽  
David L. V. Bauer
Keyword(s):  
Virus Particle ◽  
Rna Structure ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Virus Genome ◽  
Rna Structures ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Virus Growth ◽  
Ribonucleoprotein Complexes ◽  
Different Strains

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) are segmented single-stranded negative sense RNA viruses that constitute a major threat to human health. The IAV genome consists of eight RNA segments contained in separate viral ribonucleoprotein complexes (vRNPs) that are packaged together into a single virus particle1,2. While IAVs are generally considered to have an unstructured single-stranded genome, it has also been suggested that secondary RNA structures are required for selective packaging of the eight vRNPs into each virus particle3,4. Here, we employ high-throughput sequencing approaches to map both the intra and intersegment RNA interactions inside influenza virions. Our data demonstrate that a redundant network of RNA-RNA interactions is required for vRNP packaging and virus growth. Furthermore, the data demonstrate that IAVs have a much more structured genome than previously thought and the redundancy of RNA interactions between the different vRNPs explains how IAVs maintain the potential for reassortment between different strains, while also retaining packaging selectivity. Our study establishes a framework towards further work into IAV RNA structure and vRNP packaging, which will lead to better models for predicting the emergence of new pandemic influenza strains and will facilitate the development of antivirals specifically targeting genome assembly.

scholarly journals Host factor Rab11a is critical for efficient assembly of influenza A virus genomic segments

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. e1009517
Author(s):  
Julianna Han ◽  
Ketaki Ganti ◽  
Veeresh Kumar Sali ◽  
Carly Twigg ◽  
Yifeng Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Genome Assembly ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Early Time ◽  
Virus Genome ◽  
Host Factor ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Ribonucleoprotein Complexes ◽  
Microtubule Networks ◽  
Cellular Components

It is well documented that influenza A viruses selectively package 8 distinct viral ribonucleoprotein complexes (vRNPs) into each virion; however, the role of host factors in genome assembly is not completely understood. To evaluate the significance of cellular factors in genome assembly, we generated a reporter virus carrying a tetracysteine tag in the NP gene (NP-Tc virus) and assessed the dynamics of vRNP localization with cellular components by fluorescence microscopy. At early time points, vRNP complexes were preferentially exported to the MTOC; subsequently, vRNPs associated on vesicles positive for cellular factor Rab11a and formed distinct vRNP bundles that trafficked to the plasma membrane on microtubule networks. In Rab11a deficient cells, however, vRNP bundles were smaller in the cytoplasm with less co-localization between different vRNP segments. Furthermore, Rab11a deficiency increased the production of non-infectious particles with higher RNA copy number to PFU ratios, indicative of defects in specific genome assembly. These results indicate that Rab11a+ vesicles serve as hubs for the congregation of vRNP complexes and enable specific genome assembly through vRNP:vRNP interactions, revealing the importance of Rab11a as a critical host factor for influenza A virus genome assembly.

scholarly journals Behaviour of influenza A viruses differentially expressing segment 2 gene products in vitro and in vivo

2012 ◽  
Vol 93 (4) ◽  
pp. 840-849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Tauber ◽  
Yvonne Ligertwood ◽  
Marlynne Quigg-Nicol ◽  
Bernadette M. Dutia ◽  
Richard M. Elliott
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A ◽  
Virus Genome ◽  
Genetically Engineered ◽  
Start Codon ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Virus Growth ◽  
A Subunit ◽  
Apoptosis Regulation

The influenza A virus genome comprises eight segments of negative-sense RNA that encode up to 12 proteins. RNA segment 2 encodes three proteins, PB1, PB1-F2 and N40, that are translated from the same mRNA by ribosomal leaky scanning and reinitiation. PB1 is a subunit of the trimeric viral RNA polymerase. PB1-F2 has been reported to be a potential virulence factor, and has been shown to be involved in a number of activities including induction of apoptosis, regulation of virus replication and modulation of the immune response. No function has yet been ascribed to N40, which represents an N-terminally deleted form of PB1. Previous studies on PB1-F2 function mainly used viruses genetically engineered to prevent PB1-F2 expression by mutation of the PB1-F2 start codon. However, ablation of the start codon was shown to increase the expression level of the downstream protein N40. In the present study, we generated recombinant A/WSN/33 viruses carrying different combinations of PB1-F2- and N40-knockout mutations. Overexpression of N40 in a PB1-F2-deficient background had a detrimental effect on virus growth in vitro and in vivo. However, ablation of PB1-F2 or N40 expression individually was not disadvantageous for the virus. Primer-extension analyses revealed an increase in vRNA production by viruses that overexpressed N40. Our data suggest that the observed attenuation of mutant viruses in vitro and in vivo results from these changes in transcription and replication.

scholarly journals Host Factor Rab11a is Critical for Efficient Assembly of Influenza A Virus Genomic Segments

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julianna Han ◽  
Ketaki Ganti ◽  
Veeresh Kumar Sali ◽  
Carly Twigg ◽  
Yifeng Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Genome Assembly ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Early Time ◽  
Virus Genome ◽  
Host Factor ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Ribonucleoprotein Complexes ◽  
Microtubule Networks ◽  
Cellular Components

It is well documented that influenza A viruses selectively package 8 distinct viral ribonucleoprotein complexes (vRNPs) into each virion; however, the role of host factors in genome assembly is not completely understood. To evaluate the significance of cellular factors in genome assembly, we generated a reporter virus carrying a tetracysteine tag in the NP gene (NP-Tc virus) and assessed the dynamics of vRNP localization with cellular components by fluorescence microscopy. At early time points, vRNP complexes were preferentially exported to the MTOC; subsequently, vRNPs associated on vesicles positive for cellular factor Rab11a and formed distinct vRNP bundles that trafficked to the plasma membrane on microtubule networks. In Rab11a deficient cells, however, vRNP bundles were smaller in the cytoplasm with less co-localization between different vRNP segments. Furthermore, Rab11a deficiency increased the production of non-infectious particles with higher RNA copy number to PFU ratios, indicative of defects in specific genome assembly. These results indicate that Rab11a+ vesicles serve as hubs for the congregation of vRNP complexes and enable specific genome assembly through vRNP:vRNP interactions, revealing the importance of Rab11a as a critical host factor for influenza A virus genome assembly.

scholarly journals Improving pandemic influenza risk assessment

eLife ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin A Russell ◽  
Peter M Kasson ◽  
Ruben O Donis ◽  
Steven Riley ◽  
John Dunbar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Pandemic Influenza ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Virus Genome ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Influenza Surveillance ◽  
Human Influenza ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Virus Genotype

Assessing the pandemic risk posed by specific non-human influenza A viruses is an important goal in public health research. As influenza virus genome sequencing becomes cheaper, faster, and more readily available, the ability to predict pandemic potential from sequence data could transform pandemic influenza risk assessment capabilities. However, the complexities of the relationships between virus genotype and phenotype make such predictions extremely difficult. The integration of experimental work, computational tool development, and analysis of evolutionary pathways, together with refinements to influenza surveillance, has the potential to transform our ability to assess the risks posed to humans by non-human influenza viruses and lead to improved pandemic preparedness and response.

ViDiT–CACTUS: an inexpensive and versatile library preparation and sequence analysis method for virus discovery and other microbiology applications

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (10) ◽  
pp. 761-773 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joost T.P. Verhoeven ◽  
Marta Canuti ◽  
Hannah J. Munro ◽  
Suzanne C. Dufour ◽  
Andrew S. Lang
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Library Preparation ◽  
Virus Discovery ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Functional Profiling ◽  
Biology Laboratory

High-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies are becoming increasingly important within microbiology research, but aspects of library preparation, such as high cost per sample or strict input requirements, make HTS difficult to implement in some niche applications and for research groups on a budget. To answer these necessities, we developed ViDiT, a customizable, PCR-based, extremely low-cost (less than US$5 per sample), and versatile library preparation method, and CACTUS, an analysis pipeline designed to rely on cloud computing power to generate high-quality data from ViDiT-based experiments without the need of expensive servers. We demonstrate here the versatility and utility of these methods within three fields of microbiology: virus discovery, amplicon-based viral genome sequencing, and microbiome profiling. ViDiT–CACTUS allowed the identification of viral fragments from 25 different viral families from 36 oropharyngeal–cloacal swabs collected from wild birds, the sequencing of three almost complete genomes of avian influenza A viruses (>90% coverage), and the characterization and functional profiling of the complete microbial diversity (bacteria, archaea, viruses) within a deep-sea carnivorous sponge. ViDiT–CACTUS demonstrated its validity in a wide range of microbiology applications, and its simplicity and modularity make it easily implementable in any molecular biology laboratory, towards various research goals.

scholarly journals Analysis of Coinfections with A/H1N1 Strain Variants among Pigs in Poland by Multitemperature Single-Strand Conformational Polymorphism

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Lepek ◽  
Beata Pajak ◽  
Lukasz Rabalski ◽  
Kinga Urbaniak ◽  
Krzysztof Kucharczyk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Single Strand ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Monitoring And Control ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Single Strand Conformational Polymorphism ◽  
Conformational Polymorphism ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Different Strains

Monitoring and control of infections are key parts of surveillance systems and epidemiological risk prevention. In the case of influenza A viruses (IAVs), which show high variability, a wide range of hosts, and a potential of reassortment between different strains, it is essential to study not only people, but also animals living in the immediate surroundings. If understated, the animals might become a source of newly formed infectious strains with a pandemic potential. Special attention should be focused on pigs, because of the receptors specific for virus strains originating from different species, localized in their respiratory tract. Pigs are prone to mixed infections and may constitute a reservoir of potentially dangerous IAV strains resulting from genetic reassortment. It has been reported that a quadruple reassortant, A(H1N1)pdm09, can be easily transmitted from humans to pigs and serve as a donor of genetic segments for new strains capable of infecting humans. Therefore, it is highly desirable to develop a simple, cost-effective, and rapid method for evaluation of IAV genetic variability. We describe a method based on multitemperature single-strand conformational polymorphism (MSSCP), using a fragment of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene, for detection of coinfections and differentiation of genetic variants of the virus, difficult to identify by conventional diagnostic.

scholarly journals Identification and targeting of a pan-genotypic influenza A virus RNA structure that mediates packaging and disease.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel J. Hagey ◽  
Menashe Elazar ◽  
Siqi Tian ◽  
Edward A. Pham ◽  
Wipapat Kladwang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Rna Structure ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Locked Nucleic Acid ◽  
Antiviral Resistance ◽  
Packaging Signal ◽  
Oseltamivir Carboxylate ◽  
Virus Rna ◽  
Different Strains

Currently approved anti-influenza drugs target viral proteins, are subtype limited, and are challenged by rising antiviral resistance. To overcome these limitations, we sought to identify a conserved essential RNA secondary structure within the genomic RNA predicted to have greater constraints on mutation in response to therapeutics targeting this structure. Here, we identified and genetically validated an RNA stemloop structure we termed PSL2, which serves as a packaging signal for genome segment PB2 and is highly conserved across influenza A virus (IAV) isolates. RNA structural modeling rationalized known packaging-defective mutations and allowed for predictive mutagenesis tests. Disrupting and compensating mutations of PSL2's structure give striking attenuation and restoration, respectively, of in vitro virus packaging and mortality in mice. Antisense Locked Nucleic Acid oligonucleotides (LNAs) designed against PSL2 dramatically inhibit IAV in vitro against viruses of different strains and subtypes, possess a high barrier to the development of antiviral resistance, and are equally effective against oseltamivir carboxylate-resistant virus. A single dose of LNA administered 3 days after, or 14 days before, a lethal IAV inoculum provides 100% survival. Moreover, such treatment led to the development of strong immunity to rechallenge with a ten-fold lethal inoculum. Together, these results have exciting implications for the development of a versatile novel class of antiviral therapeutics capable of prophylaxis, post-exposure treatment, and 'just-in-time' universal vaccination against all IAV strains, including drug-resistant pandemics.

scholarly journals The host factor ANP32A is required for influenza A virus vRNA and cRNA synthesis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin E Nilsson-Payant ◽  
Benjamin R. tenOever ◽  
Aartjan J.W. te Velthuis
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Viral Replication ◽  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Host Factor ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Molecular Evidence ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Ribonucleoprotein Complexes ◽  
Rna Genome

Influenza A viruses are negative-sense RNA viruses that rely on their own viral replication machinery to replicate and transcribe their segmented single-stranded RNA genome. The viral ribonucleoprotein complexes in which viral RNA is replicated consist of a nucleoprotein scaffold around which the RNA genome is bound, and a heterotrimeric RNA-dependent RNA polymerase that catalyzes viral replication. The RNA polymerase copies the viral RNA (vRNA) via a replicative intermediate, called the complementary RNA (cRNA), and subsequently uses this cRNA to make more vRNA copies. To ensure that new cRNA and vRNA molecules are associated with ribonucleoproteins in which they can be amplified, the active RNA polymerase recruits a second polymerase to encapsidate the cRNA or vRNA. Host factor ANP32A has been shown to be essential for viral replication and to facilitate the formation of a dimer between viral RNA polymerases and differences between mammalian and avian ANP32A proteins are sufficient to restrict viral replication. It has been proposed that ANP32A is only required for the synthesis of vRNA molecules from a cRNA, but not vice versa. However, this view does not match recent molecular evidence. Here we use minigenome assays, virus infections, and viral promoter mutations to demonstrate that ANP32A is essential for both vRNA and cRNA synthesis. Moreover, we show that ANP32 is not only needed for the actively replicating polymerase, but also for the polymerase that is encapsidating nascent viral RNA products. Overall, these results provide new insights into influenza A virus replication and host adaptation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document