scholarly journals Differential Modulation of Innate Immune Responses in Human Primary Cells by Influenza A Viruses Carrying Human or Avian Nonstructural Protein 1

2019 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula L. Monteagudo ◽  
Raquel Muñoz-Moreno ◽  
Miguel Fribourg ◽  
Uma Potla ◽  
Ignacio Mena ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The influenza A virus (IAV) nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) contributes to disease pathogenesis through the inhibition of host innate immune responses. Dendritic cells (DCs) release interferons (IFNs) and proinflammatory cytokines and promote adaptive immunity upon viral infection. In order to characterize the strain-specific effects of IAV NS1 on human DC activation, we infected human DCs with a panel of recombinant viruses with the same backbone (A/Puerto Rico/08/1934) expressing different NS1 proteins from human and avian origin. We found that these viruses induced a clearly distinct phenotype in DCs. Specifically, viruses expressing NS1 from human IAV (either H1N1 or H3N2) induced higher levels of expression of type I (IFN-α and IFN-β) and type III (IFN-λ1 to IFNλ3) IFNs than viruses expressing avian IAV NS1 proteins (H5N1, H7N9, and H7N2), but the differences observed in the expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) or interleukin-6 (IL-6) were not significant. In addition, using imaging flow cytometry, we found that human and avian NS1 proteins segregate based on their subcellular trafficking dynamics, which might be associated with the different innate immune profile induced in DCs by viruses expressing those NS1 proteins. Innate immune responses induced by our panel of IAV recombinant viruses were also characterized in normal human bronchial epithelial cells, and the results were consistent with those in DCs. Altogether, our results reveal an increased ability of NS1 from avian viruses to antagonize innate immune responses in human primary cells compared to the ability of NS1 from human viruses, which could contribute to the severe disease induced by avian IAV in humans. IMPORTANCE Influenza A viruses (IAVs) cause seasonal epidemics which result in an important health and economic burden. Wild aquatic birds are the natural host of IAV. However, IAV can infect diverse hosts, including humans, domestic poultry, pigs, and others. IAVs circulating in animals occasionally cross the species barrier, infecting humans, which results in mild to very severe disease. In some cases, these viruses can acquire the ability to be transmitted among humans and initiate a pandemic. The nonstructural 1 (NS1) protein of IAV is an important antagonist of the innate immune response. In this study, using recombinant viruses and primary human cells, we show that NS1 proteins from human and avian hosts show intrinsic differences in the modulation of the innate immunity in human dendritic cells and epithelial cells, as well as different cellular localization dynamics in infected cells.

Viruses ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aitor Nogales ◽  
Luis Martinez-Sobrido ◽  
David Topham ◽  
Marta DeDiego

Influenza A viruses (IAV) can infect a broad range of animal hosts, including humans. In humans, IAV causes seasonal annual epidemics and occasional pandemics, representing a serious public health and economic problem, which is most effectively prevented through vaccination. The defense mechanisms that the host innate immune system provides restrict IAV replication and infection. Consequently, to successfully replicate in interferon (IFN)-competent systems, IAV has to counteract host antiviral activities, mainly the production of IFN and the activities of IFN-induced host proteins that inhibit virus replication. The IAV multifunctional proteins PA-X and NS1 are virulence factors that modulate the innate immune response and virus pathogenicity. Notably, these two viral proteins have synergistic effects in the inhibition of host protein synthesis in infected cells, although using different mechanisms of action. Moreover, the control of innate immune responses by the IAV NS1 and PA-X proteins is subject to a balance that can determine virus pathogenesis and fitness, and recent evidence shows co-evolution of these proteins in seasonal viruses, indicating that they should be monitored for enhanced virulence. Importantly, inhibition of host gene expression by the influenza NS1 and/or PA-X proteins could be explored to develop improved live-attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIV) by modulating the ability of the virus to counteract antiviral host responses. Likewise, both viral proteins represent a reasonable target for the development of new antivirals for the control of IAV infections. In this review, we summarize the role of IAV NS1 and PA-X in controlling the antiviral response during viral infection.


2016 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aitor Nogales ◽  
Luis Martinez-Sobrido ◽  
David J. Topham ◽  
Marta L. DeDiego

ABSTRACT Influenza virus NS1 protein is a nonstructural, multifunctional protein that counteracts host innate immune responses, modulating virus pathogenesis. NS1 protein variability in subjects infected with H3N2 influenza A viruses (IAVs) during the 2010/2011 season was analyzed, and amino acid changes in residues 86, 189, and 194 were found. The consequences of these mutations for the NS1-mediated inhibition of IFN responses and the pathogenesis of the virus were evaluated, showing that NS1 mutations D189N and V194I impaired the ability of the NS1 protein to inhibit general gene expression, most probably because these mutations decreased the binding of NS1 to the cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor 30 (CPSF30). A recombinant A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (PR8) H1N1 virus encoding the H3N2 NS1-D189N protein was slightly attenuated, whereas the virus encoding the H3N2 NS1-V194I protein was further attenuated in mice. The higher attenuation of this virus could not be explained by differences in the ability of the two NS1 proteins to counteract host innate immune responses, indicating that another factor must be responsible. In fact, we showed that the virus encoding the H3N2 NS1-V194I protein demonstrated a temperature-sensitive (ts) phenotype, providing a most likely explanation for the stronger attenuation observed. As far as we know, this is the first description of a mutation in NS1 residue 194 conferring a ts phenotype. These studies are relevant in order to identify new residues important for NS1 functions and in human influenza virus surveillance to assess mutations affecting the pathogenicity of circulating viruses. IMPORTANCE Influenza viral infections represent a serious public health problem, with influenza virus causing a contagious respiratory disease that is most effectively prevented through vaccination. The multifunctional nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) is the main viral factor counteracting the host antiviral response. Therefore, influenza virus surveillance to identify new mutations in the NS1 protein affecting the pathogenicity of the circulating viruses is highly important. In this work, we evaluated amino acid variability in the NS1 proteins from H3N2 human seasonal viruses and the effect of the mutations on innate immune responses and virus pathogenesis. NS1 mutations D189N and V194I impaired the ability of the NS1 protein to inhibit general gene expression, and recombinant viruses harboring these mutations were attenuated in a mouse model of influenza infection. Interestingly, a virus encoding the H3N2 NS1-V194I protein demonstrated a temperature-sensitive phenotype, further attenuating the virus in vivo.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthieu Simeoni ◽  
Théo Cavinato ◽  
Daniel Rodriguez ◽  
David Gatfield

AbstractWhile SARS-CoV-2 is causing modern human history’s most serious health crisis and upending our way of life, clinical and basic research on the virus is advancing rapidly, leading to fascinating discoveries. Two studies have revealed how the viral virulence factor, nonstructural protein 1 (Nsp1), binds human ribosomes to inhibit host cell translation. Here, we examine the main conclusions on the molecular activity of Nsp1 and its role in suppressing innate immune responses. We discuss different scenarios potentially explaining how the viral RNA can bypass its own translation blockage and speculate on the suitability of Nsp1 as a therapeutic target.


2010 ◽  
Vol 91 (8) ◽  
pp. 1996-2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shin-Hee Kim ◽  
Siba K. Samal

The NS1 protein has been associated with the virulence of influenza A viruses. To evaluate the role of the NS1 protein in pathogenicity of pandemic H5N1 avian influenza and H1N1 2009 influenza viruses, recombinant Newcastle disease viruses (rNDVs) expressing NS1 proteins were generated. Expression of the NS1 proteins resulted in inhibition of host innate immune responses (beta interferon and protein kinase R production). In addition, the NS1 proteins were localized predominantly in the nucleus of virus-infected cells. Consequently, expression of the NS1 protein contributed to an increase in pathogenicity of rNDV in chickens. In particular, mutational analysis of H5N1 NS1 protein indicated that both the RNA-binding and effector domains affect virus pathogenicity synergistically. Our study also demonstrated that expression of H1N1/09 NS1 resulted in enhanced replication of rNDV in human cells, indicating that function of the NS1 proteins can be host-species-specific.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher M Weiss ◽  
Hongwei Liu ◽  
Erin E Ball ◽  
Samuel Lam ◽  
Tomas Hode ◽  
...  

The rapid emergence and global dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 continues to cause an unprecedented global health burden resulting in more than 4 million deaths in the 20 months since the virus was discovered. While multiple vaccine countermeasures have been approved for emergency use, additional treatments are still needed due to sluggish vaccine rollout and vaccine hesitancy. Immunoadjuvant compounds delivered intranasally can guide non-specific innate immune responses during the critical early stages of viral replication, reducing morbidity and mortality. N-dihydrogalactochitosan (GC) is a novel mucoadhesive immunostimulatory polymer of β-0-4-linked N-acetylglucosamine that is solubilized by the conjugation of galactose glycans. We tested GC as a potential countermeasure for COVID-19. GC administered intranasally before and after SARS-CoV-2 exposure diminished morbidity and mortality in humanized ACE2 receptor expressing mice by up to 75% and reduced infectious virus levels in the upper airway and lungs. Our findings demonstrate a new application for soluble immunoadjuvants like GC for preventing severe disease associated with SARS-CoV-2.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6-8) ◽  
pp. 409-419
Author(s):  
Irfan Hussain ◽  
Nashaiman Pervaiz ◽  
Abbas Khan ◽  
Shoaib Saleem ◽  
Huma Shireen ◽  
...  

AbstractThe outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is spreading fast worldwide. There is a pressing need to understand how the virus counteracts host innate immune responses. Deleterious clinical manifestations of coronaviruses have been associated with virus-induced direct dysregulation of innate immune responses occurring via viral macrodomains located within nonstructural protein-3 (Nsp3). However, no substantial information is available concerning the relationship of macrodomains to the unusually high pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2. Here, we show that structural evolution of macrodomains may impart a critical role to the unique pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2. Using sequence, structural, and phylogenetic analysis, we identify a specific set of historical substitutions that recapitulate the evolution of the macrodomains that counteract host immune response. These evolutionary substitutions may alter and reposition the secondary structural elements to create new intra-protein contacts and, thereby, may enhance the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to inhibit host immunity. Further, we find that the unusual virulence of this virus is potentially the consequence of Darwinian selection‐driven epistasis in protein evolution. Our findings warrant further characterization of macrodomain-specific evolutionary substitutions in in vitro and in vivo models to determine their inhibitory effects on the host immune system.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1760
Author(s):  
Aitor Nogales ◽  
Laura Villamayor ◽  
Sergio Utrilla-Trigo ◽  
Javier Ortego ◽  
Luis Martinez-Sobrido ◽  
...  

Influenza A viruses (IAV) can infect a broad range of mammalian and avian species. However, the host innate immune system provides defenses that restrict IAV replication and infection. Likewise, IAV have evolved to develop efficient mechanisms to counteract host antiviral responses to efficiently replicate in their hosts. The IAV PA-X and NS1 non-structural proteins are key virulence factors that modulate innate immune responses and virus pathogenicity during infection. To study the determinants of IAV pathogenicity and their functional co-evolution, we evaluated amino acid differences in the PA-X and NS1 proteins of early (1996–1997) and more recent (since 2016) H5N1 IAV. H5N1 IAV have zoonotic and pandemic potential and represent an important challenge both in poultry farming and human health. The results indicate that amino acid changes occurred over time, affecting the ability of these two non-structural H5N1 IAV proteins to inhibit gene expression and affecting virus pathogenicity. These results highlight the importance to monitor the evolution of these two virulence factors of IAV, which could result in enhanced viral replication and virulence.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziwei Yang ◽  
Xiaolin Zhang ◽  
Fan Wang ◽  
Peihui Wang ◽  
Ersheng Kuang ◽  
...  

AbstractMelanoma differentiation-associated gene-5 (MDA5) acts as a cytoplasmic RNA sensor to detect viral dsRNA and mediates type I interferon (IFN) signaling and antiviral innate immune responses to infection by RNA viruses. Upon recognition of viral dsRNA, MDA5 is activated with K63-linked polyubiquitination and then triggers the recruitment of MAVS and activation of TBK1 and IKK, subsequently leading to IRF3 and NF-κB phosphorylation. Great numbers of symptomatic and severe infections of SARS-CoV-2 are spreading worldwide, and the poor efficacy of treatment with type I interferon and antiviral agents indicates that SARS-CoV-2 escapes from antiviral immune responses via an unknown mechanism. Here, we report that SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural protein 8 (NSP8) acts as an innate immune suppressor and inhibits type I IFN signaling to promote infection of RNA viruses. It downregulates the expression of type I IFNs, IFN-stimulated genes and proinflammatory cytokines by binding to MDA5 and impairing its K63-linked polyubiquitination. Our findings reveal that NSP8 mediates innate immune evasion during SARS-CoV-2 infection and may serve as a potential target for future therapeutics for SARS-CoV-2 infectious diseases.ImportanceThe large-scale spread of COVID-19 is causing mass casualties worldwide, and the failure of antiviral immune treatment suggests immune evasion. It has been reported that several nonstructural proteins of severe coronaviruses suppress antiviral immune responses; however, the immune suppression mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 remains unknown. Here, we revealed that NSP8 protein of SARS-CoV-2 directly blocks the activation of the cytosolic viral dsRNA sensor MDA5 and significantly downregulates antiviral immune responses. Our study contributes to our understanding of the direct immune evasion mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 by showing that NSP8 suppresses the most upstream sensor of innate immune responses involved in the recognition of viral dsRNA.


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