scholarly journals Drug Resistance of Clinical Varicella-Zoster Virus Strains Confirmed by Recombinant Thymidine Kinase Expression and by Targeted Resistance Mutagenesis of a Cloned Wild-Type Isolate

2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (5) ◽  
pp. 2726-2734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Kathrin Brunnemann ◽  
Kathrin Bohn-Wippert ◽  
Roland Zell ◽  
Andreas Henke ◽  
Martin Walther ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Varicella Zoster Virus ◽  
Thymidine Kinase ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Phenotypic Characterization ◽  
Antiviral Resistance ◽  
Amino Acid Substitutions ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Varicella Zoster ◽  
Virus Strains

ABSTRACTIn this study, approaches were developed to examine the phenotypes of nonviable clinical varicella-zoster virus (VZV) strains with amino acid substitutions in the thymidine kinase (TK) (open reading frame 36 [ORF36]) and/or DNA polymerase (Pol) (ORF28) suspected to cause resistance to antivirals. Initially, recombinant TK proteins containing amino acid substitutions described as known or suspected causes of antiviral resistance were analyzed by measuring the TK activity by applying a modified commercial enzyme immunoassay. To examine the effects of these TK and Pol substitutions on the replication of recombinant virus strains, the method ofen passantmutagenesis was used. Targeted mutations within ORF36 and/or ORF28 and an autonomously expressed gene of the monomeric red fluorescent protein for plaque identification were introduced into the European wild-type VZV strain HJO. Plaque reduction assays revealed that the amino acid substitutions with unknown functions in TK, Q303stop, N334stop, A163stop, and the deletion of amino acids 7 to 74 aa (Δaa 7 to 74), were associated with resistance against acyclovir (ACV), penciclovir, or brivudine, whereas the L73I substitution and the Pol substitutions T237K and A955T revealed sensitive viral phenotypes. The results were confirmed by quantitative PCR by measuring the viral load under increasing ACV concentrations. In conclusion, analyzing the enzymatic activities of recombinant TK proteins represent a useful tool for evaluating the significance of amino acid substitutions in the antiviral resistance of clinical VZV strains. However, direct testing of replication-competent viruses by the introduction of nonsynonymous mutations in a VZV bacterial artificial chromosome usingen passantmutagenesis led to reliable phenotypic characterization results.

scholarly journals Structural and Regulatory Changes in PBP4 Trigger Decreased β-Lactam Susceptibility inEnterococcus faecalis

mBio ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis B. Rice ◽  
Charlene Desbonnet ◽  
Amelia Tait-Kamradt ◽  
Monica Garcia-Solache ◽  
John Lonks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Enterococcus Faecalis ◽  
Active Site ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Joint Infection ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Promoter Sequence ◽  
Amino Acid Substitutions ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTEnterococcus faecalisstrains resistant to penicillin and ampicillin are rare and have been associated with increases in quantities of low-affinity penicillin-binding protein 4 (PBP4) or with amino acid substitutions in PBP4. We report anE. faecalisstrain (LS4828) isolated from a prosthetic knee joint that was subjected to long-term exposure to aminopenicillins. Subsequent cultures yieldedE. faecaliswith MICs of penicillins and carbapenems higher than those for wild-type strainE. faecalisJH2-2. Sequence analysis of thepbp4gene of LS4828 compared to that of JH2-2 revealed two point mutations with amino acid substitutions (V223I, A617T) and deletion of an adenine from the region upstream of the predictedpbp4−35 promoter sequence (UP region). Purified PBP4 from LS4828 exhibited less affinity for Bocillin FL than did PBP4 from JH2-2, which was recapitulated by purified PBP4 containing only the A617T mutation. Differential scanning fluorimetry studies showed that the LS4828 and A617T variants are destabilized compared to wild-type PBP4. Further, reverse transcription-PCR indicated increased transcription ofpbp4in LS4828 and Western blot analysis with polyclonal PBP4 antibody revealed greater quantities of PBP4 in LS4828 than in JH2-2 lysates and membrane preparations. Placing the promoter regions from LS4828 or JH2-2 upstream of a green fluorescent protein reporter gene confirmed that the adenine deletion was associated with increased transcription. Together, these data suggest that the reduced susceptibility to β-lactam antibiotics observed inE. faecalisLS4828 results from a combination of both increased expression and remodeling of the active site, resulting in reduced affinity for penicillins and carbapenems.IMPORTANCEEnterococcus faecalisis an important cause of community-acquired and nosocomial infections and creates therapeutic dilemmas because of its frequent resistance to several classes of antibiotics. We report anE. faecalisstrain with decreased ampicillin and imipenem susceptibility isolated after prolonged courses of aminopenicillin therapy for a prosthetic joint infection. Its reduced susceptibility is attributable to a combination of increased quantities of low-affinity PBP4 and an amino acid substitution in proximity to the active site that destabilizes the protein. Our findings provide a cautionary tale for clinicians who elect to “suppress” infections in prosthetic joints and offer novel insights into the interaction of β-lactam antibiotics with low-affinity PBP4. These insights will help inform future efforts to develop therapeutics capable of inhibiting clinical enterococcal strains.

scholarly journals Susceptibilities of Several Clinical Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) Isolates and Drug-Resistant VZV Strains to Bicyclic Furano Pyrimidine Nucleosides

2005 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 1081-1086 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graciela Andrei ◽  
Rebecca Sienaert ◽  
Chris McGuigan ◽  
Erik De Clercq ◽  
Jan Balzarini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Varicella Zoster Virus ◽  
Thymidine Kinase ◽  
Metabolic Activation ◽  
Drug Resistant ◽  
Kinase Gene ◽  
Varicella Zoster ◽  
Gene Mutant ◽  
Broad Variety ◽  
Inhibitory Potential ◽  
Virus Strains

ABSTRACT Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is responsible for primary infections as well as reactivations after latency in the dorsal root ganglia. The treatment of such infections is mandatory for immunocompromised patients and highly recommended for elderly patients with herpes zoster infections (also called zona or shingles). The treatment of choice is presently based on four molecules, acyclovir (ACV), valaciclovir, famciclovir, and (in Europe) brivudine (BVDU). We present here our data on the antiviral activity of a new class of potent and selective anti-VZV compounds, bicylic pyrimidine nucleoside analogues (BCNAs), against a broad variety of clinical isolates and different drug-resistant virus strains. The results show that the BCNAs are far more potent inhibitors than ACV and BVDU against clinical VZV isolates as well as the VZV reference strains Oka and YS. The BCNAs were not active against ACV- and BVDU-resistant VZV strains bearing mutations in the viral thymidine kinase gene but kept their inhibitory potential against virus strains with mutations in the VZV DNA polymerase gene. Mutant virus strains selected in the presence of the BCNAs were solely cross-resistant to drugs, such as ACV and BVDU, that depend for their antiviral action on metabolic activation by the viral thymidine kinase.

scholarly journals Analysis of phosphorylation pathways of antiherpesvirus nucleosides by varicella-zoster virus-specific enzymes.

1996 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 920-923 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Koyano ◽  
T Suzutani ◽  
I Yoshida ◽  
M Azuma
Keyword(s):  
Varicella Zoster Virus ◽  
Wild Type Strain ◽  
Nucleoside Analogs ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Varicella Zoster ◽  
Viral Protein Kinase ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Inhibitory Activities ◽  
Simplex Virus ◽  
Virus Strains

The inhibitory activities of acyclovir (ACV), 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-E-5-(2-bromovinyl)uracil (BV-araU), ganciclovir (GCV), 9-(2-deoxy-2-hydroxymethyl-beta-D-erythro-oxetanosyl)guanine (OXT-G), and (+)-9-[(1R,2R,3S)-2,3-bis(hydroxymethyl)Cyclobutyl]guanine (cOXT-G) on the replication of wild-type and thymidine kinase (TK)-negative strains of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and the wild-type strain of human cytomegalovirus were tested to clarity whether the phosphorylation of these compounds is catalyzed by viral TK or other enzymes. ACV and BV-araU had little effect on the replication of TK-negative virus strains. On the other hand, GCV, OXT-G, and cOXT-G inhibited the replication of TK-negative VZV at concentrations 10 times higher than those at which they inhibited wild-type VZV, indicating that a kinase other than TK phosphorylates GCV and OXT-G in VZV-infected cells. GCV phosphorylation activity was not detected in VZV-infected cell lysates; therefore, this activity was evaluated in COS 1 cells expressing viral TK and viral protein kinase (PK). The COS 1 cells expressing VZV TK were shown to be susceptible to all compounds tested. In contrast, VZV Pk-expressing COS 1 cells were susceptible to only GCV, OXT-G, and cOXT-G. These results suggest that VZV PK phosphorylates some nucleoside analogs, for example, GCV, OXT-G, and cOXT-G. This phosphorylation pathway may be important in the anti-VZV activities of some nucleoside analogs.

Recombinant Variants of Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator Containing Amino Acid Substitutions in the Finger Domain

1992 ◽  
Vol 68 (06) ◽  
pp. 672-677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hitoshi Yahara ◽  
Keiji Matsumoto ◽  
Hiroyuki Maruyama ◽  
Tetsuya Nagaoka ◽  
Yasuhiro Ikenaka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Half Life ◽  
Tissue Type ◽  
Clot Lysis ◽  
Amino Acid Substitutions ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Plasma Clot ◽  
Tissue Type Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Type Plasminogen Activator

SummaryTissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) is a fibrin-specific agent which has been used to treat acute myocardial infarction. In an attempt to clarify the determinants for its rapid clearance in vivo and high affinity for fibrin clots, we produced five variants containing amino acid substitutions in the finger domain, at amino acid residues 7–9, 10–14, 15–19, 28–33, and 37–42. All the variants had a prolonged half-life and a decreased affinity for fibrin of various degrees. The 37–42 variant demonstrated about a 6-fold longer half-life with a lower affinity for fibrin. Human plasma clot lysis assay estimated the fibrinolytic activity of the 37–42 variant to be 1.4-fold less effective than that of the wild-type rt-PA. In a rabbit jugular vein clot lysis model, doses of 1.0 and 0.15 mg/kg were required for about 70% lysis in the wild-type and 37–42 variant, respectively. Fibrinogen was degraded only when the wild-type rt-PA was administered at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg. These findings suggest that the 37–42 variant can be employed at a lower dosage and that it is a more fibrin-specific thrombolytic agent than the wild-type rt-PA.

scholarly journals Role of the Varicella-Zoster Virus gB Cytoplasmic Domain in gB Transport and Viral Egress

2002 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 591-599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas C. Heineman ◽  
Susan L. Hall
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Varicella Zoster Virus ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Signal Sequence ◽  
Cytoplasmic Domain ◽  
Varicella Zoster ◽  
Golgi Transport ◽  
Viral Egress

ABSTRACT To study the function of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) gB cytoplasmic domain during viral infection, we produced a VZV recombinant virus that expresses a truncated form of gB lacking the C-terminal 36 amino acids of its cytoplasmic domain (VZV gB-36). VZV gB-36 replicates in noncomplementing cells and grows at a rate similar to that of native VZV. However, cells infected with VZVgB-36 form extensive syncytia compared to the relatively small syncytia formed during native VZV infection. In addition, electron microscopy shows that very little virus is present on the surfaces of cells infected with VZV gB-36, while cells infected with native VZV exhibit abundant virions on the cell surface. The C-terminal 36 amino acids of the gB cytoplasmic domain have been shown in transfection-based experiments to contain both an endoplasmic reticulum-to-Golgi transport signal (the C-terminal 17 amino acids) and a consensus YXXφ (where Y is tyrosine, X is any amino acid, and φ is any bulky hydrophobic amino acid) signal sequence (YSRV) that mediates the internalization of gB from the plasma membrane. As predicted based on these data, gB-36 expressed during the infection of cultured cells is transported inefficiently to the Golgi. Despite lacking the YSRV signal sequence, gB-36 is internalized from the plasma membrane; however, in contrast to native gB, it fails to localize to the Golgi. Therefore, the C-terminal 36 amino acids of the VZV gB cytoplasmic domain are required for normal viral egress and for both the pre- and post-Golgi transport of gB.

scholarly journals Mechanism of Darunavir (DRV)’s High Genetic Barrier to HIV-1 Resistance: A Key V32I Substitution in Protease Rarely Occurs, but Once It Occurs, It Predisposes HIV-1 To Develop DRV Resistance

mBio ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manabu Aoki ◽  
Debananda Das ◽  
Hironori Hayashi ◽  
Hiromi Aoki-Ogata ◽  
Yuki Takamatsu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Viral Fitness ◽  
Single Amino Acid ◽  
Amino Acid Substitutions ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Genetic Barrier ◽  
High Level ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACTDarunavir (DRV) has bimodal activity against HIV-1 protease, enzymatic inhibition and protease dimerization inhibition, and has an extremely high genetic barrier against development of drug resistance. We previously generated a highly DRV-resistant HIV-1 variant (HIVDRVRP51). We also reported that four amino acid substitutions (V32I, L33F, I54M, and I84V) identified in the protease of HIVDRVRP51are largely responsible for its high-level resistance to DRV. Here, we attempted to elucidate the role of each of the four amino acid substitutions in the development of DRV resistance. We found that V32I is a key substitution, which rarely occurs, but once it occurs, it predisposes HIV-1 to develop high-level DRV resistance. When two infectious recombinant HIV-1 clones carrying I54M and I84V (rHIVI54Mand rHIVI84V, respectively) were selected in the presence of DRV, V32I emerged, and the virus rapidly developed high-level DRV resistance. rHIVV32Ialso developed high-level DRV resistance. However, wild-type HIVNL4-3(rHIVWT) failed to acquire V32I and did not develop DRV resistance. Compared to rHIVWT, rHIVV32Iwas highly susceptible to DRV and had significantly reduced fitness, explaining why V32I did not emerge upon selection of rHIVWTwith DRV. When the only substitution is at residue 32, structural analysis revealed much stronger van der Waals interactions between DRV and I-32 than between DRV and V-32. These results suggest that V32I is a critical amino acid substitution in multiple pathways toward HIV-1’s DRV resistance development and elucidate, at least in part, a mechanism of DRV’s high genetic barrier to development of drug resistance. The results also show that attention should be paid to the initiation or continuation of DRV-containing regimens in people with HIV-1 containing the V32I substitution.IMPORTANCEDarunavir (DRV) is the only protease inhibitor (PI) recommended as a first-line therapeutic and represents the most widely used PI for treating HIV-1-infected individuals. DRV possesses a high genetic barrier to development of HIV-1’s drug resistance. However, the mechanism(s) of the DRV’s high genetic barrier remains unclear. Here, we show that the preexistence of certain single amino acid substitutions such as V32I, I54M, A71V, and I84V in HIV-1 protease facilitates the development of high-level DRV resistance. Interestingly, allin vitro-selected highly DRV-resistant HIV-1 variants acquired V32I but never emerged in wild-type HIV (HIVWT), and V32I itself rendered HIV-1 more sensitive to DRV and reduced viral fitness compared to HIVWT, strongly suggesting that the emergence of V32I plays a critical role in the development of HIV-1’s resistance to DRV. Our results would be of benefit in the treatment of HIV-1-infected patients receiving DRV-containing regimens.

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