scholarly journals Hidden Virulence Determinants in a Viral Quasispecies In Vivo

2008 ◽  
Vol 82 (21) ◽  
pp. 10465-10476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Sanz-Ramos ◽  
Fayna Díaz-San Segundo ◽  
Cristina Escarmís ◽  
Esteban Domingo ◽  
Noemí Sevilla
Keyword(s):  
Genomic Sequence ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
Nucleotide Sequences ◽  
Intermediate Phenotype ◽  
Viral Population ◽  
Virulence Determinants ◽  
Mouth Disease Virus ◽  
Mutant Spectrum

ABSTRACT The characterization of virulence determinants of pathogenic agents is of utmost relevance for the design of disease control strategies. So far, two classes of virulence determinants have been characterized for viral populations: those imprinted in the nucleotide sequence of some specific genomic regions and those that depend on the complexity of the viral population as such. Here we provide evidence of a virulence determinant that depends neither on a genomic sequence nor on detectable differences in population complexity. Foot-and-mouth disease virus is lethal for C57BL/6 mice showing the highest viral load in pancreas. Virus isolated from pancreas after one passage in mice showed an attenuated phenotype, with no lethality even at the highest dose tested. By contrast, virus from sera of the same mice displayed a virulence similar to that of the parental wild-type clone and virus isolated from spleen displayed an intermediate phenotype. However, viral populations from pancreas, spleen, and serum showed indistinguishable consensus genomic nucleotide sequences and mutant spectrum complexities, as quantified according to the mutation frequencies of both entire genomic nucleotide sequences of biological clones. The results show that the populations with differing virulences cannot be distinguished either by the consensus sequence or by the average complexity of the mutant spectrum. Differential harvesting of virus generated by cell transfection of RNA from serum and pancreas failed to reveal genetic differences between subpopulations endowed with differing virulences. In addition to providing evidence of hidden virulence determinants, this study underlines the capacity of a clone of an RNA virus to rapidly diversify phenotypically in vivo.

scholarly journals Broad and Dynamic Diversification of Infectious Hepatitis C Virus in a Cell Culture Environment

2019 ◽  
Vol 94 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Gallego ◽  
María Eugenia Soria ◽  
Carlos García-Crespo ◽  
Qian Chen ◽  
Patricia Martínez-Barragán ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Culture ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Viral Fitness ◽  
Initial Population ◽  
Constant Environment ◽  
Mouth Disease Virus ◽  
Mutant Spectrum

ABSTRACT Previous studies documented that long-term hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication in human hepatoma Huh-7.5 cells resulted in viral fitness gain, expansion of the mutant spectrum, and several phenotypic alterations. In the present work, we show that mutational waves (changes in frequency of individual mutations) occurred continuously and became more prominent as the virus gained fitness. They were accompanied by an increasing proportion of heterogeneous genomic sites that affected 1 position in the initial HCV population and 19 and 69 positions at passages 100 and 200, respectively. Analysis of biological clones of HCV showed that these dynamic events affected infectious genomes, since part of the fluctuating mutations became incorporated into viable genomes. While 17 mutations were scored in 3 biological clones isolated from the initial population, the number reached 72 in 3 biological clones from the population at passage 200. Biological clones differed in their responses to antiviral inhibitors, indicating a phenotypic impact of viral dynamics. Thus, HCV adaptation to a specific constant environment (cell culture without external influences) broadens the mutant repertoire and does not focus the population toward a limited number of dominant genomes. A retrospective examination of mutant spectra of foot-and-mouth disease virus passaged in cell cultures suggests a parallel behavior here described for HCV. We propose that virus diversification in a constant environment has its basis in the availability of multiple alternative mutational pathways for fitness gain. This mechanism of broad diversification should also apply to other replicative systems characterized by high mutation rates and large population sizes. IMPORTANCE The study shows that extensive replication of an RNA virus in a constant biological environment does not limit exploration of sequence space and adaptive options. There was no convergence toward a restricted set of adapted genomes. Mutational waves and mutant spectrum broadening affected infectious genomes. Therefore, profound modifications of mutant spectrum composition and consensus sequence diversification are not exclusively dependent on environmental alterations or the intervention of population bottlenecks.

scholarly journals Mutations that Improve the pRE Promoter of Coliphage Lambda

Genetics ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 115 (4) ◽  
pp. 591-595
Author(s):  
Michael E Mahoney ◽  
Daniel L Wulff
Keyword(s):  
Promoter Activity ◽  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
Nucleotide Sequences ◽  
Start Site ◽  
Twofold Increase ◽  
Coliphage Lambda ◽  
Complete Dependence

ABSTRACT The dya5 mutation, a C→T change at position -43 of the λ pRE promoter, results in a twofold increase in pRE activity in vivo. Smaller increases in pRE activity are found for the dya2 mutation, a T→C change at position -1 of pRE, and the dya3 mutation, an A→G change at +5 of pRE· The mutant pRE promoters retain complete dependence on cII protein for activity. These observations argue, at least for pRE-like promoters, that promoter activities are influenced by nucleotide sequences at least eight nucleotides to the 5′-side of the conventional -35 region consensus sequence, and by nucleotide sequences near the start-site of transcription. Although Hawley and McClure (1983) found A·T pairs more frequently than G·TC pairs in the region of -40 to -45 of prokaryotic promoters, other mutations that change a G·TC pair to an A·T pair at positions -41, -44 and -45 of pRE do not result in increased promoter activity. We also found that a T→C change at position -42 results in a mild decrease in promoter activity. These observations argue that Ts at positions -42 and -43 of pRE are required for maximum promoter activity, but do not support the hypothesis that As and Ts in the -40 to -45 region generally lead to higher promoter activities.

scholarly journals Molecular intermediates of fitness gain of an RNA virus: characterization of a mutant spectrum by biological and molecular cloning

2001 ◽  
Vol 82 (5) ◽  
pp. 1049-1060 ◽  
Author(s):  
Armando Arias ◽  
Ester Lázaro ◽  
Cristina Escarmís ◽  
Esteban Domingo
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Cloning ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Foot And Mouth Disease ◽  
Nucleotide Sequencing ◽  
Coding Region ◽  
Entry Site ◽  
Mouth Disease Virus ◽  
Mutant Spectrum ◽  
Genomic Regions

The mutant spectrum of a virus quasispecies in the process of fitness gain of a debilitated foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) clone has been analysed. The mutant spectrum was characterized by nucleotide sequencing of three virus genomic regions (internal ribosome entry site; region between the two AUG initiation codons; VP1-coding region) from 70 biological clones (virus from individual plaques formed on BHK-21 cell monolayers) and 70 molecular clones (RT–PCR products cloned in E. coli). The biological and molecular clones provided statistically indistinguishable definitions of the mutant spectrum with regard to the distribution of mutations among the three genomic regions analysed and with regard to the types of mutations, mutational hot-spots and mutation frequencies. Therefore, the molecular cloning procedure employed provides a simple protocol for the characterization of mutant spectra of viruses that do not grow in cell culture. The number of mutations found repeated among the clones analysed was higher than expected from the mean mutation frequencies. Some components of the mutant spectrum reflected genomes that were dominant in the prior evolutionary history of the virus (previous passages), confirming the presence of memory genomes in virus quasispecies. Other components of the mutant spectrum were genomes that became dominant at a later stage of evolution, suggesting a predictive value of mutant spectrum analysis with regard to the outcome of virus evolution. The results underline the observation that greater insight into evolutionary processes of viruses may be gained from detailed clonal analyses of the mutant swarms at the sequence level.

scholarly journals Mutagenesis-Induced, Large Fitness Variations with an Invariant Arenavirus Consensus Genomic Nucleotide Sequence

2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (16) ◽  
pp. 10451-10459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Grande-Pérez ◽  
Gema Gómez-Mariano ◽  
Pedro R. Lowenstein ◽  
Esteban Domingo
Keyword(s):  
Nucleotide Sequence ◽  
Genomic Sequence ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis ◽  
Molecular Genetic Analysis ◽  
Viral Population ◽  
Molecular Events ◽  
Induced Mutagenesis ◽  
Genomic Nucleotide Sequence

ABSTRACT Enhanced mutagenesis may result in RNA virus extinction, but the molecular events underlying this process are not well understood. Here we show that 5-fluorouracil (FU)-induced mutagenesis of the arenavirus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) resulted in preextinction populations whose consensus genomic nucleotide sequence remained unaltered. Furthermore, fitness recovery passages in the absence of FU, or alternate virus passages in the presence and absence of FU, led to profound differences in the capacity of LCMV to produce progeny, without modification of the consensus genomic sequence. Molecular genetic analysis failed to produce evidence of hypermutated LCMV genomes. The results suggest that low-level mutagenesis to enrich the viral population with defector, interfering genomes harboring limited numbers of mutations may mediate the loss of infectivity that accompanies viral extinction.

scholarly journals In Silico Predicted Antifungal Peptides: In Vitro and In Vivo Anti-Candida Activity

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 439
Author(s):  
Tecla Ciociola ◽  
Walter Magliani ◽  
Tiziano De Simone ◽  
Thelma A. Pertinhez ◽  
Stefania Conti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
In Silico ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
In Silico Analysis ◽  
Significant Activity ◽  
Synthetic Antibody

It has been previously demonstrated that synthetic antibody-derived peptides could exert a significant activity in vitro, ex vivo, and/or in vivo against microorganisms and viruses, as well as immunomodulatory effects through the activation of immune cells. Based on the sequence of previously described antibody-derived peptides with recognized antifungal activity, an in silico analysis was conducted to identify novel antifungal candidates. The present study analyzed the candidacidal and structural properties of in silico designed peptides (ISDPs) derived by amino acid substitutions of the parent peptide KKVTMTCSAS. ISDPs proved to be more active in vitro than the parent peptide and all proved to be therapeutic in Galleria mellonella candidal infection, without showing toxic effects on mammalian cells. ISDPs were studied by circular dichroism spectroscopy, demonstrating different structural organization. These results allowed to validate a consensus sequence for the parent peptide KKVTMTCSAS that may be useful in the development of novel antimicrobial molecules.

scholarly journals Essential role of IPS-1 in innate immune responses against RNA viruses

2006 ◽  
Vol 203 (7) ◽  
pp. 1795-1803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Himanshu Kumar ◽  
Taro Kawai ◽  
Hiroki Kato ◽  
Shintaro Sato ◽  
Ken Takahashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Viruses ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Nuclear Factor Κb ◽  
Type I ◽  
Innate Immune Responses ◽  
Antiviral Responses ◽  
Deficient Mice

IFN-β promoter stimulator (IPS)-1 was recently identified as an adapter for retinoic acid–inducible gene I (RIG-I) and melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (Mda5), which recognize distinct RNA viruses. Here we show the critical role of IPS-1 in antiviral responses in vivo. IPS-1–deficient mice showed severe defects in both RIG-I– and Mda5-mediated induction of type I interferon and inflammatory cytokines and were susceptible to RNA virus infection. RNA virus–induced interferon regulatory factor-3 and nuclear factor κB activation was also impaired in IPS-1–deficient cells. IPS-1, however, was not essential for the responses to either DNA virus or double-stranded B-DNA. Thus, IPS-1 is the sole adapter in both RIG-I and Mda5 signaling that mediates effective responses against a variety of RNA viruses.

scholarly journals Genomic Sequence of Rhesus Cytomegalovirus 180.92: Insights into the Coding Potential of Rhesus Cytomegalovirus

2006 ◽  
Vol 80 (8) ◽  
pp. 4179-4182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Rivailler ◽  
Amitinder Kaur ◽  
R. Paul Johnson ◽  
Fred Wang
Keyword(s):  
Genomic Sequence ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Rhesus Cytomegalovirus ◽  
Human Cmv ◽  
Coding Capacity ◽  
Coding Potential ◽  
Reading Frames ◽  
Genetic Rearrangements

ABSTRACT A pathogenic isolate of rhesus cytomegalovirus (rhCMV 180.92) was cloned, sequenced, and annotated. Comparisons with the published rhCMV 68.1 genome revealed 8 open reading frames (ORFs) in isolate 180.92 that are absent in 68.1, 10 ORFs in 68.1 that are absent in 180.92, and 34 additional ORFs that were not previously annotated. Most of the differences appear to be due to genetic rearrangements in both isolates from a region that is frequently altered in human CMV (hCMV) during in vitro passage. These results indicate that the rhCMV ORF repertoire is larger than previously recognized. Like hCMV, understanding of the complete coding capacity of rhCMV is complicated by genomic instability and may require comparisons with additional isolates in vitro and in vivo.

scholarly journals Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of p53 In Vitro and In Vivo Modulates Binding to its DNA Consensus Sequence

Neoplasia ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 179-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia M. Simbulan-Rosenthal ◽  
Dean S. Rosenthal ◽  
RuiBai Luo ◽  
Raed Samara ◽  
Mira Jung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Consensus Sequence

scholarly journals Context effects and inefficient initiation at non-AUG codons in eucaryotic cell-free translation systems.

1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 5073-5080 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Kozak
Keyword(s):  
Context Effects ◽  
Consensus Sequence ◽  
Negative Regulator ◽  
Late Event ◽  
Free Translation ◽  
Initiator Codon ◽  
Translation Systems ◽  
Short Versions

The context requirements for recognition of an initiator codon were evaluated in vitro by monitoring the relative use of two AUG codons that were strategically positioned to produce long (pre-chloramphenicol acetyl transferase [CAT]) and short versions of CAT protein. The yield of pre-CAT initiated from the 5'-proximal AUG codon increased, and synthesis of CAT from the second AUG codon decreased, as sequences flanking the first AUG codon increasingly resembled the eucaryotic consensus sequence. Thus, under prescribed conditions, the fidelity of initiation in extracts from animal as well as plant cells closely mimics what has been observed in vivo. Unexpectedly, recognition of an AUG codon in a suboptimal context was higher when the adjacent downstream sequence was capable of assuming a hairpin structure than when the downstream region was unstructured. This finding adds a new, positive dimension to regulation by mRNA secondary structure, which has been recognized previously as a negative regulator of initiation. Translation of pre-CAT from an AUG codon in a weak context was not preferentially inhibited under conditions of mRNA competition. That result is consistent with the scanning model, which predicts that recognition of the AUG codon is a late event that occurs after the competition-sensitive binding of a 40S ribosome-factor complex to the 5' end of mRNA. Initiation at non-AUG codons was evaluated in vitro and in vivo by introducing appropriate mutations in the CAT and preproinsulin genes. GUG was the most efficient of the six alternative initiator codons tested, but GUG in the optimal context for initiation functioned only 3 to 5% as efficiently as AUG. Initiation at non-AUG codons was artifactually enhanced in vitro at supraoptimal concentrations of magnesium.

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