scholarly journals New Variants of Squash Mosaic Viruses Detected in Human Fecal Samples

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1349
Author(s):  
Fabiola Villanova ◽  
Roberta Marcatti ◽  
Mayara Bertanhe ◽  
Vanessa dos Santos Morais ◽  
Flavio Augusto de Padua Milagres ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastrointestinal Symptoms ◽  
Plant Viruses ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Virus Species ◽  
Human Feces ◽  
Fecal Samples ◽  
Dietary Consumption ◽  
Pathogenic Viruses ◽  
Human Intestinal Cells

Squash mosaic virus (SqMV) is a phytovirus that infects great diversity of plants worldwide. In Brazil, the SqMV has been identified in the states of Ceará, Maranhão, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, and Tocantins. The presence of non-pathogenic viruses in animals, such as phytoviruses, may not be completely risk-free. Similarities in gene repertories between these viruses and viruses that affect animal species have been reported. The present study describes the fully sequenced genomes of SqMV found in human feces, collected in Tocantins, and analyzes the viral profile by metagenomics in the context of diarrhea symptomatology. The complete SqMV genome was obtained in 39 of 253 analyzed samples (15.5%); 97.4% of them belonged to children under 5 years old. There was no evidence that the observed symptoms were related to the presence of SqMV. Of the different virus species detected in these fecal samples, at least 4 (rotavirus, sapovirus, norovirus, parechovirus) are widely known to cause gastrointestinal symptoms. The presence of SqMV nucleic acid in fecal samples is likely due to recent dietary consumption and it is not evidence of viral replication in the human intestinal cells. Identifying the presence of SqMV in human feces and characterization of its genome is a relevant precursor to determining whether and how plant viruses interact with host cells or microorganisms in the human gastrointestinal tract.

scholarly journals Full genome characterization of Laem Singh virus (LSNV) in shrimp Penaeus monodon

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suparat Taengchaiyaphum ◽  
Jiraporn Srisala ◽  
Piyachat Sanguanrut ◽  
Chalermporn Ongvarrasopone ◽  
Timothy W. Flegel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Penaeus Monodon ◽  
Plant Viruses ◽  
Virus Species ◽  
Full Genome ◽  
Cloning And Sequencing ◽  
Genome Characterization ◽  
Sequence Identity ◽  
The Family ◽  
Shrimp Virus

ABSTRACTLaem Singh virus (LSNV) was discovered in 2006 and proposed as a necessary but insufficient cause of retarded growth in the giant tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon. Its closest relatives were plant viruses including an unassigned Sobemovirus and viruses in the family Luteoviridae. During succeeding years, attempts to obtain the full LSNV genome sequence by genome walking failed. However, recent publication of the full sequence of Wenzhou shrimp virus 9 (WZSV 9) at GenBank revealed that LSNV sequences in our database shared 99% sequence identity with it. Thus, we hypothesized that LSNV and WZSV 9 were different isolates of the same virus species. Here we confirm that hypothesis by cloning and sequencing of the full genome of LSNV from P. monodon and by showing that it consists of two fragments each with 99% identity to the matching fragments of WZSV.

scholarly journals Targeting Viral Surface Proteins through Structure-Based Design

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1320
Author(s):  
Yogesh B Narkhede ◽  
Karen J Gonzalez ◽  
Eva-Maria Strauch
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Respiratory Viruses ◽  
Surface Proteins ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Viral Fusion ◽  
Health It ◽  
Viral Particles ◽  
Pathogenic Viruses ◽  
Viral Surface

The emergence of novel viral infections of zoonotic origin and mutations of existing human pathogenic viruses represent a serious concern for public health. It warrants the establishment of better interventions and protective therapies to combat the virus and prevent its spread. Surface glycoproteins catalyzing the fusion of viral particles and host cells have proven to be an excellent target for antivirals as well as vaccines. This review focuses on recent advances for computational structure-based design of antivirals and vaccines targeting viral fusion machinery to control seasonal and emerging respiratory viruses.

scholarly journals Molecular and biological characterization of influenza A viruses isolated from human fecal samples

2021 ◽  
pp. 104972
Author(s):  
Hebah A. Al Khatib ◽  
Peter V. Coyle ◽  
Muna A. Al Maslamani ◽  
Asmaa A. Al Thani ◽  
Sameer A. Pathan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A ◽  
Biological Characterization ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Fecal Samples

scholarly journals Detection of Alpha- and Betacoronaviruses in Miniopterus fuliginosus and Rousettus leschenaultii, two species of Sri Lankan Bats

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 650
Author(s):  
Therese Muzeniek ◽  
Thejanee Perera ◽  
Sahan Siriwardana ◽  
Dilara Bas ◽  
Fatimanur Kaplan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Sanger Sequencing ◽  
Rectal Swab ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Rna Dependent Rna Polymerase ◽  
Fecal Samples ◽  
Natural Hosts ◽  
Pathogenic Viruses ◽  
Miniopterus Fuliginosus ◽  
Important Basis

Bats are known to be potential reservoirs of numerous human-pathogenic viruses. They have been identified as natural hosts for coronaviruses, causing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in humans. Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in 2019 interest in the prevalence of coronaviruses in bats was newly raised. In this study we investigated different bat species living in a sympatric colony in the Wavul Galge cave (Koslanda, Sri Lanka). In three field sessions (in 2018 and 2019), 395 bats were captured (Miniopterus, Rousettus, Hipposideros and Rhinolophus spp.) and either rectal swabs or fecal samples were collected. From these overall 396 rectal swab and fecal samples, the screening for coronaviruses with nested PCR resulted in 33 positive samples, 31 of which originated from Miniopterus fuliginosus and two from Rousettus leschenaultii. Sanger sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the obtained 384-nt fragment of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase revealed that the examined M. fuliginosus bats excrete alphacoronaviruses and the examined R. leschenaultii bats excrete betacoronaviruses. Despite the sympatric roosting habitat, the coronaviruses showed host specificity and seemed to be limited to one species. Our results represent an important basis to better understand the prevalence of coronaviruses in Sri Lankan bats and may provide a basis for pursuing studies on particular bat species of interest.

scholarly journals Reversion of Gut Microbiota during the Recovery Phase in Patients with Asymptomatic or Mild COVID-19: Longitudinal Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1237
Author(s):  
Han-Na Kim ◽  
Eun-Jeong Joo ◽  
Chil-Woo Lee ◽  
Kwang-Sung Ahn ◽  
Hyung-Lae Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Gastrointestinal Symptoms ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Recovery Phase ◽  
Fecal Samples ◽  
Intestinal Microbes ◽  
Gut Dysbiosis ◽  
16S Rrna Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Microbiome Data ◽  
Negative Conversion

Patients with COVID-19 have been reported to experience gastrointestinal symptoms as well as respiratory symptoms, but the effects of COVID-19 on the gut microbiota are poorly understood. We explored gut microbiome profiles associated with the respiratory infection of SARS-CoV-2 during the recovery phase in patients with asymptomatic or mild COVID-19. A longitudinal analysis was performed using the same patients to determine whether the gut microbiota changed after recovery from COVID-19. We applied 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to analyze two paired fecal samples from 12 patients with asymptomatic or mild COVID-19. Fecal samples were selected at two time points: during SARS-CoV-2 infection (infected state) and after negative conversion of the viral RNA (recovered state). We also compared the microbiome data with those from 36 healthy controls. Microbial evenness of the recovered state was significantly increased compared with the infected state. SARS-CoV-2 infection induced the depletion of Bacteroidetes, while an abundance was observed with a tendency to rapidly reverse in the recovered state. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio in the infected state was markedly higher than that in the recovered state. Gut dysbiosis was observed after infection even in patients with asymptomatic or mild COVID-19, while the composition of the gut microbiota was recovered after negative conversion of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Modifying intestinal microbes in response to COVID-19 might be a useful therapeutic alternative.

scholarly journals Functional Characterization of a Redundant Plasmodium TRAP Family Invasin, TRAP-Like Protein, by Aldolase Binding and a Genetic Complementation Test

2008 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 1062-1070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsten Heiss ◽  
Hui Nie ◽  
Sumit Kumar ◽  
Thomas M. Daly ◽  
Lawrence W. Bergman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Cell Entry ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Complementation Test ◽  
Type I ◽  
Cycle Progression ◽  
Targeted Gene Disruption ◽  
Specific Host ◽  
Host Cell Entry

ABSTRACT Efficient and specific host cell entry is of exquisite importance for intracellular pathogens. Parasites of the phylum Apicomplexa are highly motile and actively enter host cells. These functions are mediated by type I transmembrane invasins of the TRAP family that link an extracellular recognition event to the parasite actin-myosin motor machinery. We systematically tested potential parasite invasins for binding to the actin bridging molecule aldolase and complementation of the vital cytoplasmic domain of the sporozoite invasin TRAP. We show that the ookinete invasin CTRP and a novel, structurally related protein, termed TRAP-like protein (TLP), are functional members of the TRAP family. Although TLP is expressed in invasive stages, targeted gene disruption revealed a nonvital role during life cycle progression. This is the first genetic analysis of TLP, encoding a redundant TRAP family invasin, in the malaria parasite.

scholarly journals Characterization of Hepatitis C Virus Interaction with Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans

2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (7) ◽  
pp. 3846-3858 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Xu ◽  
Pierre Martinez ◽  
Karin Séron ◽  
Guangxiang Luo ◽  
Fabrice Allain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Apolipoprotein E ◽  
Heparan Sulfate ◽  
Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Envelope Glycoproteins ◽  
Length Unit

ABSTRACTHepatitis C virus (HCV) entry involves binding to cell surface heparan sulfate (HS) structures. However, due to the lipoprotein-like structure of HCV, the exact contribution of virion components to this interaction remains controversial. Here, we investigated the relative contribution of HCV envelope proteins and apolipoprotein E in the HS-binding step. Deletion of hypervariable region 1, a region previously proposed to be involved in HS binding, did not alter HCV virion binding to HS, indicating that this region is not involved in this interaction in the context of a viral infection. Patient sera and monoclonal antibodies recognizing different regions of HCV envelope glycoproteins were also used in a pulldown assay with beads coated with heparin, a close HS structural homologue. Although isolated HCV envelope glycoproteins could interact with heparin, none of these antibodies was able to interfere with the virion-heparin interaction, strongly suggesting that at the virion surface, HCV envelope glycoproteins are not accessible for HS binding. In contrast, results from kinetic studies, heparin pulldown experiments, and inhibition experiments with anti-apolipoprotein E antibodies indicated that this apolipoprotein plays a major role in HCV-HS interaction. Finally, characterization of the HS structural determinants required for HCV infection by silencing of the enzymes involved in the HS biosynthesis pathway and by competition with modified heparin indicated thatN- and 6-O-sulfation but not 2-O-sulfation is required for HCV infection and that the minimum HS oligosaccharide length required for HCV infection is a decasaccharide. Together, these data indicate that HCV hijacks apolipoprotein E to initiate its interaction with specific HS structures.IMPORTANCEHepatitis C is a global health problem. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects approximately 130 million individuals worldwide, with the majority of cases remaining undiagnosed and untreated. In most infected individuals, the virus evades the immune system and establishes a chronic infection. As a consequence, hepatitis C is the leading cause of cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver transplantation. Virus infection is initiated by entry of the virus into the host cell. In this study, we provide new insights into the viral and cellular determinants involved in the first step of HCV entry, the binding of the virus to host cells. We show that apolipoprotein E is likely responsible for virus binding to heparan sulfate and thatN- and 6-O-sulfation of the heparan sulfate proteoglycans is required for HCV infection. In addition, the minimal HS length unit required for HCV infection is a decasaccharide.

scholarly journals Complete Genome Characterization of Chinese Porcine Deltacoronavirus Strain CHN/Tianjin/2016

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Zhao ◽  
Ying Sun ◽  
Bingxu Qian ◽  
Xiaorong Zhang ◽  
Yantao Wu
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Genome Sequence ◽  
Complete Genome Sequence ◽  
Complete Genome ◽  
Fecal Samples ◽  
Genome Characterization

ABSTRACT As we all know, porcine deltacoronavirus was first detected in Hong Kong, China. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of the Chinese porcine deltacoronavirus strain CHN/Tianjin/2016, which was collected and amplified from clinical fecal samples in March of 2016.

scholarly journals Characterization of a Replicating Mammalian Orthoreovirus with Tetracysteine-Tagged μNS for Live-Cell Visualization of Viral Factories

2017 ◽  
Vol 91 (22) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke D. Bussiere ◽  
Promisree Choudhury ◽  
Bryan Bellaire ◽  
Cathy L. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Viral Proteins ◽  
Live Cell ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Live Cells ◽  
Virus Protein ◽  
Mammalian Orthoreovirus ◽  
Virus Proteins

ABSTRACT Within infected host cells, mammalian orthoreovirus (MRV) forms viral factories (VFs), which are sites of viral transcription, translation, assembly, and replication. The MRV nonstructural protein μNS comprises the structural matrix of VFs and is involved in recruiting other viral proteins to VF structures. Previous attempts have been made to visualize VF dynamics in live cells, but due to current limitations in recovery of replicating reoviruses carrying large fluorescent protein tags, researchers have been unable to directly assess VF dynamics from virus-produced μNS. We set out to develop a method to overcome this obstacle by utilizing the 6-amino-acid (CCPGCC) tetracysteine (TC) tag and FlAsH-EDT2 reagent. The TC tag was introduced into eight sites throughout μNS, and the capacity of the TC-μNS fusion proteins to form virus factory-like (VFL) structures and colocalize with virus proteins was characterized. Insertion of the TC tag interfered with recombinant virus rescue in six of the eight mutants, likely as a result of loss of VF formation or important virus protein interactions. However, two recombinant (r)TC-μNS viruses were rescued and VF formation, colocalization with associating virus proteins, and characterization of virus replication were subsequently examined. Furthermore, the rTC-μNS viruses were utilized to infect cells and examine VF dynamics using live-cell microscopy. These experiments demonstrate active VF movement with fusion events as well as transient interactions between individual VFs and demonstrate the importance of microtubule stability for VF fusion during MRV infection. This work provides important groundwork for future in-depth studies of VF dynamics and host cell interactions. IMPORTANCE MRV has historically been used as a model to study the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) Reoviridae family, the members of which infect and cause disease in humans, animals, and plants. During infection, MRV forms VFs that play a critical role in virus infection but remain to be fully characterized. To study VFs, researchers have focused on visualizing the nonstructural protein μNS, which forms the VF matrix. This work provides the first evidence of recovery of replicating reoviruses in which VFs can be labeled in live cells via introduction of a TC tag into the μNS open reading frame. Characterization of each recombinant reovirus sheds light on μNS interactions with viral proteins. Moreover, utilizing the TC-labeling FlAsH-EDT2 biarsenical reagent to visualize VFs, evidence is provided of dynamic VF movement and interactions at least partially dependent on intact microtubules.

scholarly journals Factors Determining Transmission of Persistent Viruses by Bemisia tabaci and Emergence of New Virus–Vector Relationships

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1808
Author(s):  
Saptarshi Ghosh ◽  
Murad Ghanim
Keyword(s):  
Bemisia Tabaci ◽  
Plant Viruses ◽  
Tomato Yellow Leaf ◽  
Tissue Tropism ◽  
Insect Vectors ◽  
Virus Species ◽  
Yellow Leaf ◽  
Virus Diseases ◽  
Persistent Viruses ◽  
Leaf Curl Virus

Many plant viruses depend on insect vectors for their transmission and dissemination. The whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is one of the most important virus vectors, transmitting more than four hundred virus species, the majority belonging to begomoviruses (Geminiviridae), with their ssDNA genomes. Begomoviruses are transmitted by B. tabaci in a persistent, circulative manner, during which the virus breaches barriers in the digestive, hemolymph, and salivary systems, and interacts with insect proteins along the transmission pathway. These interactions and the tissue tropism in the vector body determine the efficiency and specificity of the transmission. This review describes the mechanisms involved in circulative begomovirus transmission by B. tabaci, focusing on the most studied virus in this regard, namely the tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) and its closely related isolates. Additionally, the review aims at drawing attention to the recent knowhow of unorthodox virus—B. tabaci interactions. The recent knowledge of whitefly-mediated transmission of two recombinant poleroviruses (Luteoviridae), a virus group with an ssRNA genome and known to be strictly transmitted with aphids, is discussed with its broader context in the emergence of new whitefly-driven virus diseases.

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