scholarly journals Characterization of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Pseudotypes Bearing Essential Entry Glycoproteins gB, gD, gH, and gL of Herpes Simplex Virus 1

2016 ◽  
Vol 90 (22) ◽  
pp. 10321-10328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry B. Rogalin ◽  
Ekaterina E. Heldwein

ABSTRACTHerpes simplex viruses (HSVs) are unusual in that unlike most enveloped viruses, they require at least four entry glycoproteins, gB, gD, gH, and gL, for entry into target cells in addition to a cellular receptor for gD. The dissection of the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) entry mechanism is complicated by the presence of more than a dozen proteins on the viral envelope. To investigate HSV-1 entry requirements in a simplified system, we generated vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) virions pseudotyped with HSV-1 essential entry glycoproteins gB, gD, gH, and gL but lacking the native VSV fusogen G. These virions, referred to here as VSVΔG-BHLD virions, infected a cell line expressing a gD receptor, demonstrating for the first time that the four essential entry glycoproteins of HSV-1 are not only required but also sufficient for cell entry. To our knowledge, this is the first time the VSV pseudotyping system has been successfully extended beyond two proteins. Entry of pseudotyped virions required a gD receptor and was inhibited by HSV-1 specific anti-gB or anti-gH/gL neutralizing antibodies, which suggests that membrane fusion during the entry of the pseudotyped virions shares common requirements with the membrane fusion involved in HSV-1 entry and HSV-1-mediated syncytium formation. The HSV pseudotyping system established in this study presents a novel tool for systematic exploration of the HSV entry and membrane fusion mechanisms.IMPORTANCEHerpes simplex viruses (HSVs) are human pathogens that can cause cold sores, genital herpes, and blindness. No vaccines or preventatives are available. HSV entry into cells—a prerequisite for a successful infection—is a complex process that involves multiple viral and host proteins and occurs by different routes. Detailed mechanistic knowledge of the HSV entry is important for understanding its pathogenesis and would benefit antiviral and vaccine development, yet the presence of more than a dozen proteins on the viral envelope complicates the dissection of the HSV entry mechanisms. In this study, we generated heterologous virions displaying the four essential entry proteins of HSV-1 and showed that they are capable of cell entry and, like HSV-1, require all four entry glycoproteins along with a gD receptor. This HSV pseudotyping system pioneered in this work opens doors for future systematic exploration of the herpesvirus entry mechanisms.

2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (14) ◽  
pp. 7159-7169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing Fan ◽  
Richard Longnecker ◽  
Sarah A. Connolly

ABSTRACTWhereas most viruses require only a single protein to bind to and fuse with cells, herpesviruses use multiple glycoproteins to mediate virus entry, and thus communication among these proteins is required. For most alphaherpesviruses, the minimal set of viral proteins required for fusion with the host cell includes glycoproteins gD, gB, and a gH/gL heterodimer. In the current model of entry, gD binds to a cellular receptor and transmits a signal to gH/gL. This signal then triggers gB, the conserved fusion protein, to insert into the target membrane and refold to merge the viral and cellular membranes. We previously demonstrated that gB homologs from two alphaherpesviruses, herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and saimiriine herpesvirus 1 (SaHV-1), were interchangeable. In contrast, neither gD nor gH/gL functioned with heterotypic entry glycoproteins, indicating that gD and gH/gL exhibit an essential type-specific functional interaction. To map this homotypic interaction site on gH/gL, we generated HSV-1/SaHV-1 gH and gL chimeras. The functional interaction with HSV-1 gD mapped to the N-terminal domains I and II of the HSV-1 gH ectodomain. The core of HSV-1 gL that interacts with gH also was required for functional homotypic interaction. The N-terminal gH/gL domains I and II are the least conserved and may have evolved to support species-specific glycoprotein interactions.IMPORTANCEThe first step of the herpesvirus life cycle is entry into a host cell. A coordinated interaction among multiple viral glycoproteins is required to mediate fusion of the viral envelope with the cell membrane. The details of how these glycoproteins interact to trigger fusion are unclear. By swapping the entry glycoproteins of two alphaherpesviruses (HSV-1 and SaHV-1), we previously demonstrated a functional homotypic interaction between gD and gH/gL. To define the gH and gL requirements for homotypic interaction, we evaluated the function of a panel of HSV-1/SaHV-1 gH and gL chimeras. We demonstrate that domains I and II of HSV-1 gH are sufficient to promote a functional, albeit reduced, interaction with HSV-1 gD. These findings contribute to our model of how the entry glycoproteins cooperate to mediate herpesvirus entry into the cell.


2017 ◽  
Vol 91 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haiyan Xu ◽  
Chenhe Su ◽  
Angela Pearson ◽  
Christopher H. Mody ◽  
Chunfu Zheng

ABSTRACT Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) is a newly identified DNA sensor that recognizes foreign DNA, including the genome of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). Upon binding of viral DNA, cGAS produces cyclic GMP-AMP, which interacts with and activates stimulator of interferon genes (STING) to trigger the transcription of antiviral genes such as type I interferons (IFNs), and the production of inflammatory cytokines. HSV-1 UL24 is widely conserved among members of the herpesviruses family and is essential for efficient viral replication. In this study, we found that ectopically expressed UL24 could inhibit cGAS-STING-mediated promoter activation of IFN-β and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and UL24 also inhibited interferon-stimulatory DNA-mediated IFN-β and IL-6 production during HSV-1 infection. Furthermore, UL24 selectively blocked nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) but not IFN-regulatory factor 3 promoter activation. Coimmunoprecipitation analysis demonstrated that UL24 bound to the endogenous NF-κB subunits p65 and p50 in HSV-1-infected cells, and UL24 was also found to bind the Rel homology domains (RHDs) of these subunits. Furthermore, UL24 reduced the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-mediated nuclear translocation of p65 and p50. Finally, mutational analysis revealed that the region spanning amino acids (aa) 74 to 134 of UL24 [UL24(74–134)] is responsible for inhibiting cGAS-STING-mediated NF-κB promoter activity. For the first time, UL24 was shown to play an important role in immune evasion during HSV-1 infection. IMPORTANCE NF-κB is a critical component of the innate immune response and is strongly induced downstream of most pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), leading to the production of IFN-β as well as a number of inflammatory chemokines and interleukins. To establish persistent infection, viruses have evolved various mechanisms to counteract the host NF-κB pathway. In the present study, for the first time, HSV-1 UL24 was demonstrated to inhibit the activation of NF-κB in the DNA sensing signal pathway via binding to the RHDs of the NF-κB subunits p65 and p50 and abolishing their nuclear translocation.


mBio ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew T. David ◽  
Ahmad Saied ◽  
Anu Charles ◽  
Ramesh Subramanian ◽  
Vladimir N. Chouljenko ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTWe have shown that the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) gK gene is essential for efficient replication and spread in the corneal epithelium and trigeminal ganglion neuroinvasion in mice (A. T. David, A. Baghian, T. P. Foster, V. N. Chouljenko, and K. G. Kousoulas, Curr. Eye Res. 33:455–467, 2008). To further investigate the role of gK in neuronal infection, we utilized a microfluidic chamber system separating neuronal cell bodies and axonal termini. HSV-1 (McKrae) engineered virus constitutively expressing enhanced green fluorescence protein (GFP) was efficiently transmitted in both a retrograde and an anterograde manner. These results were corroborated by expression of virion structural proteins in either chamber, as well as detection of viral genomes and infectious viruses. In contrast, efficient infection of either chamber with a gK-null virus did not result in infection of the apposed chamber. These results show that gK is an important determinant in virion axonal infection. Moreover, the inability of the gK-null virus to be transmitted in an anterograde manner suggests that virions acquire cytoplasmic envelopes prior to entering axons.IMPORTANCEHerpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) enters mucosal epithelial cells and neurons via fusion of the viral envelope with cellular membranes, mediated by viral glycoprotein B (gB) in cooperation with other viral glycoproteins. Retrograde transport of virions to neuronal cell bodies (somata) establishes lifelong latent infection in ganglionic neurons. We have previously reported that gK binds gB and is required for gB-mediated membrane fusion (Jambunatathan et al., J. Virol. 85:12910–12918, 2011; V. N. Chouljenko, A. V. Iyer, S. Chowdhury, J. Kim, and K. G. Kousoulas, J. Virol. 84:8596–8606, 2010). In the current study, we constructed a recombinant virus with the gK gene deleted in the highly virulent ocular HSV-1 strain McKrae. This recombinant virus failed to infect rat ganglionic neuronal axons alone or cocultured with Vero cells in microfluidic chambers. In addition, lack of gK expression prevented anterograde transmission of virions. These results suggest that gK is a critical determinant for neuronal infection and transmission.


2009 ◽  
Vol 83 (22) ◽  
pp. 11624-11634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomomi Morimoto ◽  
Jun Arii ◽  
Michiko Tanaka ◽  
Tetsutaro Sata ◽  
Hiroomi Akashi ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Us3 protein kinases encoded by herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2) are serine/threonine protein kinases and play critical roles in viral replication and pathogenicity in vivo. In the present study, we investigated differences in the biological properties of HSV-1 and HSV-2 Us3 protein kinases and demonstrated that HSV-2 Us3 did not have some of the HSV-1 Us3 kinase functions, including control of nuclear egress of nucleocapsids, localization of UL31 and UL34, and cell surface expression of viral envelope glycoprotein B. In agreement with the observations that HSV-2 Us3 was less important for these functions, the effect of HSV-2 Us3 kinase activity on virulence in mice following intracerebral inoculation was much lower than that of HSV-1 Us3. Furthermore, we showed that alanine substitution in HSV-2 Us3 at a site (aspartic acid at position 147) corresponding to one that can be autophosphorylated in HSV-1 Us3 abolished HSV-2 Us3 kinase activity. Thus, the regulatory and functional effects of Us3 kinase activity are different between HSV-1 and HSV-2.


2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel Bello-Morales ◽  
Beatriz Praena ◽  
Carmen de la Nuez ◽  
María Teresa Rejas ◽  
Milagros Guerra ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTHerpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is a neurotropic pathogen that can infect many types of cells and establishes latent infections in the neurons of sensory ganglia. In some cases, the virus spreads into the central nervous system, causing encephalitis or meningitis. Cells infected with several different types of viruses may secrete microvesicles (MVs) containing viral proteins and RNAs. In some instances, extracellular microvesicles harboring infectious virus have been found. Here we describe the features of shedding microvesicles released by the human oligodendroglial HOG cell line infected with HSV-1 and their participation in the viral cycle. Using transmission electron microscopy, we detected for the first time microvesicles containing HSV-1 virions. Interestingly, the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line, which is resistant to infection by free HSV-1 virions, was susceptible to HSV-1 infection after being exposed to virus-containing microvesicles. Therefore, our results indicate for the first time that MVs released by infected cells contain virions, are endocytosed by naive cells, and lead to a productive infection. Furthermore, infection of CHO cells was not completely neutralized when virus-containing microvesicles were preincubated with neutralizing anti-HSV-1 antibodies. The lack of complete neutralization and the ability of MVs to infect nectin-1/HVEM-negative CHO-K1 cells suggest a novel way for HSV-1 to spread to and enter target cells. Taken together, our results suggest that HSV-1 could spread through microvesicles to expand its tropism and that microvesicles could shield the virus from neutralizing antibodies as a possible mechanism to escape the host immune response.IMPORTANCEHerpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is a neurotropic pathogen that can infect many types of cells and establishes latent infections in neurons. Extracellular vesicles are a heterogeneous group of membrane vesicles secreted by most cell types. Microvesicles, which are extracellular vesicles which derive from the shedding of the plasma membrane, isolated from the supernatant of HSV-1-infected HOG cells were analyzed to find out whether they were involved in the viral cycle. The importance of our investigation lies in the detection, for the first time, of microvesicles containing HSV-1 virions. In addition, virus-containing microvesicles were endocytosed into CHO-K1 cells and were able to actively infect these otherwise nonpermissive cells. Finally, the infection of CHO cells with these virus-containing microvesicles was not completely neutralized by anti-HSV-1 antibodies, suggesting that these extracellular vesicles might shield the virus from neutralizing antibodies as a possible mechanism of immune evasion.


2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (23) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wangheng Hou ◽  
Ruth Cruz-Cosme ◽  
Fayuan Wen ◽  
Jin-Hyun Ahn ◽  
Inez Reeves ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTTo countermeasure the host cellular intrinsic defense, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and herpes simplex viruses (HSV) have evolved the ability to disperse nuclear domain 10 (ND10, aka PML body). However, mechanisms underlying their action on ND10 differ. HSV infection produces ICP0, which degrades the ND10-forming protein PML. Human CMV (HCMV) infection expresses IE1 that deSUMOylates PML to result in dispersion of ND10. It has been demonstrated that HSV ICP0 degraded only the SUMOylated PML, so we hypothesized that HCMV IE1 can protect PML from degradation by ICP0. HCMV IE1-expressing cell lines (U-251 MG-IE1 and HELF-IE1) were used for infection of HSV-1 or transfection of ICP0-expressing plasmid. Multilabeling by immunocytochemistry assay and protein examination by Western blot assay were performed to determine the resultant fate of PML caused by ICP0 in the presence or absence of HCMV IE1. Here, we report that deSUMOylation of human PML (hPML) by HCMV IE1 was incomplete, as mono-SUMOylated PML remained in the IE1-expressing cells, which is consistent with the report by E. M. Schilling, M. Scherer, N. Reuter, J. Schweininger, et al. (J Virol 91:e02049-16, 2017,https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.02049-16). As expected, we found that IE1 protected PML from degradation by ICP0 or HSV-1 infection. Anin vitrostudy found that IE1 with mutation of L174P failed to deSUMOylate PML and did not protect PML from degradation by ICP0; hence, we conclude that the deSUMOylation of PML is important for IE1 to protect PML from degradation by ICP0. In addition, we revealed that murine CMV failed to deSUMOylate and to protect the HSV-mediated degradation of hPML, and that HCMV failed to deSUMOylate and protect the HSV-mediated degradation of mouse PML. However, IE1-expressing cells did not enhance wild-type HSV-1 replication but significantly increased ICP0-defective HSV-1 replication at a low multiplicity of infection. Therefore, our results uncovered a host-virus functional interaction at the posttranslational level.IMPORTANCEOur finding that HCMV IE1 protected hPML from degradation by HSV ICP0 is important, because the PML body (aka ND10) is believed to be the first line of host intrinsic defense against herpesviral infection. How the infected viruses overcome the nuclear defensive structure (PML body) has not been fully understood. Herpesviral proteins, ICP0 of HSV and IE1 of CMV, have been identified to interact with PML. Here, we report that HCMV IE1 incompletely deSUMOylated PML, resulting in the mono-SUMOylated PML, which is consistent with the report of Schilling et al. (J Virol 91:e02049-16, 2017,https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.02049-16). The mono-SUMOylated PML was subjected to degradation by HSV ICP0. However, it was protected by IE1 from degradation by ICP0 or HSV-1 infection. In contrast, IE1 with L174P mutation lost the function of deSUMOylating PML and failed to protect the degradation of the mono-SUMOylated PML. Whether the mono-SUMOylated PML has any defensive function against viral infection will be further investigated.


2016 ◽  
Vol 90 (22) ◽  
pp. 10379-10389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte L. Sayers ◽  
Gillian Elliott

ABSTRACTHerpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infects humans through stratified epithelia that are composed primarily of keratinocytes. The route of HSV-1 entry into keratinocytes has been the subject of limited investigation, but it is proposed to involve pH-dependent endocytosis, requiring the gD-binding receptor nectin-1. Here, we have utilized the nTERT human keratinocyte cell line as a new model for dissecting the mechanism of HSV-1 entry into the host. Although immortalized, these cells nonetheless retain normal growth and differentiation properties of primary cells. Using short interfering RNA (siRNA) depletion studies, we confirm that, despite nTERT cells expressing high levels of the alternative gD receptor HVEM, HSV-1 requires nectin-1, not HVEM, to enter these cells. Strikingly, virus entry into nTERT cells occurred with unusual rapidity, such that maximum penetration was achieved within 5 min. Moreover, HSV-1 was able to enter keratinocytes but not other cell types at temperatures as low as 7°C, conditions where endocytosis was shown to be completely inhibited. Transmission electron microscopy of early entry events at both 37°C and 7°C identified numerous examples of naked virus capsids located immediately beneath the plasma membrane, with no evidence of virions in cytoplasmic vesicles. Taken together, these results imply that HSV-1 uses the nectin-1 receptor to enter human keratinocyte cells via a previously uncharacterized rapid plasma membrane fusion pathway that functions at low temperature. These studies have important implications for current understanding of the relationship between HSV-1 and its relevantin vivotarget cell.IMPORTANCEThe gold standard of antiviral treatment for any human virus infection is the prevention of virus entry into the host cell. In the case of HSV-1, primary infection in the human begins in the epidermis of the skin or the oral mucosa, where the virus infects keratinocytes, and it is therefore important to understand the molecular events involved in HSV-1 entry into this cell type. Nonetheless, few studies have looked specifically at entry into these relevant human cells. Our results reveal a new route for virus entry that is specific to keratinocytes, involves rapid entry, and functions at low temperatures. This may reflect the environmental conditions encountered by HSV-1 when entering its host through the skin and emphasizes the importance of studying virus-host interactions in physiologically relevant cells.


2016 ◽  
Vol 90 (24) ◽  
pp. 11056-11061 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhangtao Jiang ◽  
Chenhe Su ◽  
Chunfu Zheng

ABSTRACTThe interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeat 3 (IFIT3 or ISG60) is a host-intrinsic antiviral factor that restricts many instances of DNA and RNA virus replication. Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), a DNA virus bearing a large genome, can encode many viral proteins to counteract the host immune responses. However, whether IFIT3 plays a role upon HSV-1 infection is little known. In this study, we show for the first time that HSV-1 tegument protein UL41, a viral endoribonuclease, plays an important role in inhibiting the antiviral activity of IFIT3. Here, we demonstrated that ectopically expressed IFIT3 could restrict the replication of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) but had little effect on the replication of wild-type (WT) HSV-1. Further study showed that WT HSV-1 infection downregulated the expression of IFIT3, and ectopic expression of UL41, but not the immediate-early protein ICP0, notably reduced the expression of IFIT3. The underlying molecular mechanism was that UL41 diminished the accumulation of IFIT3 mRNA to abrogate its antiviral activity. In addition, our results illustrated that ectopic expression of IFIT3 inhibited the replication of UL41-null mutant virus (R2621), and stable knockdown of IFIT3 facilitated its replication. Taking these findings together, HSV-1 was shown for the first time to evade the antiviral function of IFIT3 via UL41.IMPORTANCEThe tegument protein UL41 of HSV-1 is an endoribonuclease with the substrate specificity of RNase A, which plays an important role in viral infection. Upon HSV-1 infection, interferons are critical cytokines that regulate immune responses against viral infection. Host antiviral responses are significantly boosted or crippled in the presence or absence of IFIT3; however, whether IFIT3 plays a role during HSV-1 infection is still unknown. Our data show for the first time that IFIT3 has little effect on HSV-1 replication, as UL41 decreases the accumulation of IFIT3 mRNA and subverts its antiviral activity. This study identifies IFIT3 as a novel target of the tegument protein UL41 and provides new insight into HSV-1-mediated immune evasion.


2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 2140-2149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Ireland ◽  
John E. Tavis ◽  
Michael P. D'Erasmo ◽  
Danielle R. Hirsch ◽  
Ryan P. Murelli ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTHerpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 remain major human pathogens despite the development of anti-HSV therapeutics as some of the first antiviral drugs. Current therapies are incompletely effective and frequently drive the evolution of drug-resistant mutants. We recently determined that certain natural troponoid compounds such as β-thujaplicinol readily suppress HSV-1 and HSV-2 replication. Here, we screened 26 synthetic α-hydroxytropolones with the goals of determining a preliminary structure-activity relationship for the α-hydroxytropolone pharmacophore and providing a starting point for future optimization studies. Twenty-five compounds inhibited HSV-1 and HSV-2 replication at 50 μM, and 10 compounds inhibited HSV-1 and HSV-2 at 5 μM, with similar inhibition patterns and potencies against both viruses being observed. The two most powerful inhibitors shared a common biphenyl side chain, were capable of inhibiting HSV-1 and HSV-2 with a 50% effective concentration (EC50) of 81 to 210 nM, and also strongly inhibited acyclovir-resistant mutants. Moderate to low cytotoxicity was observed for all compounds (50% cytotoxic concentration [CC50] of 50 to >100 μM). Therapeutic indexes ranged from >170 to >1,200. These data indicate that troponoids and specifically α-hydroxytropolones are a promising lead scaffold for development as anti-HSV drugs provided that toxicity can be further minimized. Troponoid drugs are envisioned to be employed alone or in combination with existing nucleos(t)ide analogs to suppress HSV replication far enough to prevent viral shedding and to limit the development of or treat nucleos(t)ide analog-resistant mutants.


2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (21) ◽  
pp. 11046-11055 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christiane S. Heilingloh ◽  
Mirko Kummer ◽  
Petra Mühl-Zürbes ◽  
Christina Drassner ◽  
Christoph Daniel ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTMature dendritic cells (mDCs) are known as the most potent antigen-presenting cells (APCs) since they are also able to prime/induce naive T cells. Thus, mDCs play a pivotal role during the induction of antiviral immune responses. Remarkably, the cell surface molecule CD83, which was shown to have costimulatory properties, is targeted by herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) for viral immune escape. Infection of mDCs with HSV-1 results in downmodulation of CD83, resulting in reduced T cell stimulation. In this study, we report that not only infected mDCs but also uninfected bystander cells in an infected culture show a significant CD83 reduction. We demonstrate that this effect is independent of phagocytosis and transmissible from infected to uninfected mDCs. The presence of specific viral proteins found in these uninfected bystander cells led to the hypothesis that viral proteins are transferred from infected to uninfected cells via L particles. These L particles are generated during lytic replication in parallel with full virions, called H particles. L particles contain viral proteins but lack the viral capsid and DNA. Therefore, these particles are not infectious but are able to transfer several viral proteins. Incubation of mDCs with L particles indeed reduced CD83 expression on uninfected bystander DCs, providing for the first time evidence that functional viral proteins are transmitted via L particles from infected mDCs to uninfected bystander cells, thereby inducing CD83 downmodulation.IMPORTANCEHSV-1 has evolved a number of strategies to evade the host's immune system. Among others, HSV-1 infection of mDCs results in an inhibited T cell activation caused by degradation of CD83. Interestingly, CD83 is lost not only from HSV-1-infected mDCs but also from uninfected bystander cells. The release of so-called L particles, which contain several viral proteins but lack capsid and DNA, during infection is a common phenomenon observed among several viruses, such as human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), Epstein-Barr virus, and HSV-1. However, the detailed function of these particles is poorly understood. Here, we provide for the first time evidence that functional viral proteins can be transferred to uninfected bystander mDCs via L particles, revealing important biological functions of these particles during lytic replication. Therefore, the transfer of viral proteins by L particles to modulate uninfected bystander cells may represent an additional strategy for viral immune escape.


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