scholarly journals E3 Ligase ITCH Interacts with the Z Matrix Protein of Lassa and Mopeia Viruses and Is Required for the Release of Infectious Particles

Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Baillet ◽  
Sophie Krieger ◽  
Xavier Carnec ◽  
Mathieu Mateo ◽  
Alexandra Journeaux ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ubiquitin Ligase ◽  
Matrix Protein ◽  
Virus Assembly ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Lassa Fever ◽  
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis ◽  
Lassa Virus ◽  
Yeast Two Hybrid ◽  
Ubiquitin Ligase Activity ◽  
Two Hybrid

Lassa virus (LASV) and Mopeia virus (MOPV) are two closely related, rodent-born mammarenaviruses. LASV is the causative agent of Lassa fever, a deadly hemorrhagic fever endemic in West Africa, whereas MOPV is non-pathogenic in humans. The Z matrix protein of arenaviruses is essential to virus assembly and budding by recruiting host factors, a mechanism that remains partially defined. To better characterize the interactions involved, a yeast two-hybrid screen was conducted using the Z proteins from LASV and MOPV as a bait. The cellular proteins ITCH and WWP1, two members of the Nedd4 family of HECT E3 ubiquitin ligases, were found to bind the Z proteins of LASV, MOPV and other arenaviruses. The PPxY late-domain motif of the Z proteins is required for the interaction with ITCH, although the E3 ubiquitin-ligase activity of ITCH is not involved in Z ubiquitination. The silencing of ITCH was shown to affect the replication of the old-world mammarenaviruses LASV, MOPV, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and to a lesser extent Lujo virus (LUJV). More precisely, ITCH was involved in the egress of virus-like particles and the release of infectious progeny viruses. Thus, ITCH constitutes a novel interactor of LASV and MOPV Z proteins that is involved in virus assembly and release.

scholarly journals The Janus Kinase Inhibitor Ruxolitinib Prevents Terminal Shock in a Mouse Model of Arenavirus Hemorrhagic Fever

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 564
Author(s):  
Mehmet Sahin ◽  
Melissa M. Remy ◽  
Doron Merkler ◽  
Daniel D. Pinschewer
Keyword(s):  
Kinase Inhibitor ◽  
Antibody Therapy ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Lassa Fever ◽  
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis ◽  
Janus Kinase ◽  
Lassa Virus ◽  
Jak Inhibitor ◽  
Medical Needs ◽  
Ifn Γ

Arenaviruses such as Lassa virus cause arenavirus hemorrhagic fever (AVHF), but protective vaccines and effective antiviral therapy remain unmet medical needs. Our prior work has revealed that inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) induction by IFN-γ represents a key pathway to microvascular leak and terminal shock in AVHF. Here we hypothesized that Ruxolitinib, an FDA-approved JAK inhibitor known to prevent IFN-γ signaling, could be repurposed for host-directed therapy in AVHF. We tested the efficacy of Ruxolitinib in MHC-humanized (HHD) mice, which develop Lassa fever-like disease upon infection with the monkey-pathogenic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus strain WE. Anti-TNF antibody therapy was tested as an alternative strategy owing to its expected effect on macrophage activation. Ruxolitinib but not anti-TNF antibody prevented hypothermia and terminal disease as well as pleural effusions and skin edema, which served as readouts of microvascular leak. As expected, neither treatment influenced viral loads. Intriguingly, however, and despite its potent disease-modifying activity, Ruxolitinib did not measurably interfere with iNOS expression or systemic NO metabolite levels. These findings suggest that the FDA-approved JAK-inhibitor Ruxolitinib has potential in the treatment of AVHF. Moreover, our observations indicate that besides IFN-γ-induced iNOS additional druggable pathways contribute essentially to AVHF and are amenable to host-directed therapy.

scholarly journals Early Blood Profiles of Virus Infection in a Monkey Model for Lassa Fever

2007 ◽  
Vol 81 (15) ◽  
pp. 7960-7973 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahmoud M. Djavani ◽  
Oswald R. Crasta ◽  
Juan Carlos Zapata ◽  
Zhangjun Fei ◽  
Otto Folkerts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virus Infection ◽  
Rhesus Macaques ◽  
Lethal Dose ◽  
Disease Onset ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Lassa Fever ◽  
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis ◽  
Lassa Virus ◽  
Monkey Model ◽  
Lcmv Infection

ABSTRACT Acute arenavirus disease in primates, like Lassa hemorrhagic fever in humans, begins with flu-like symptoms and leads to death approximately 2 weeks after infection. Our goal was to identify molecular changes in blood that are related to disease progression. Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) infected intravenously with a lethal dose of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) provide a model for Lassa virus infection of humans. Blood samples taken before and during the course of infection were used to monitor gene expression changes that paralleled disease onset. Changes in blood showed major disruptions in eicosanoid, immune response, and hormone response pathways. Approximately 12% of host genes alter their expression after LCMV infection, and a subset of these genes can discriminate between virulent and nonvirulent LCMV infection. Major transcription changes have been given preliminary confirmation by quantitative PCR and protein studies and will be valuable candidates for future validation as biomarkers for arenavirus disease.

scholarly journals Cryptochrome 2 competes with COP1 substrates to repress COP1 ubiquitin ligase activity duringArabidopsisphotomorphogenesis

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (52) ◽  
pp. 27133-27141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jathish Ponnu ◽  
Tabea Riedel ◽  
Eva Penner ◽  
Andrea Schrader ◽  
Ute Hoecker
Keyword(s):  
Blue Light ◽  
Ubiquitin Ligase ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
In Planta ◽  
Yeast Two Hybrid ◽  
Ubiquitin Ligase Activity ◽  
Binding Pockets ◽  
Cryptochrome 2 ◽  
Two Hybrid

In plants, the cryptochrome photoreceptors suppress the activity of the COP1/SPA ubiquitin ligase to initiate photomorphogenesis in blue light. Both CRY1 and CRY2 interact with the COP1/SPA complex in a blue light-dependent manner. The mechanisms underlying the inhibition of COP1 activity through direct interactions with photoactivated CRYs are not fully understood. Here we tested the hypothesis that CRY2 inhibits COP1 by displacing the degradation substrates from COP1. To this end, we analyzed the role of a conserved valine-proline (VP) motif in the C-terminal domain of CRY2 (CCT2), which resembles the core COP1-WD40–binding sequences present in the substrates of COP1. We show that the VP motif in CRY2 is essential for the interaction of CRY2 with COP1 in yeast two-hybrid assays andin planta. Mutations in the VP motif of CRY2 abolished the CRY2 activity in photomorphogenesis, indicating the importance of VP. The interaction between COP1 and its VP-containing substrate PAP2 was prevented in the presence of coexpressed CRY2, but not in the presence of CRY2 carrying a VP mutation. Thus, since both PAP2 and CRY2 engage VP motifs to bind to COP1, these results demonstrate that CRY2 outcompetes PAP2 for binding to COP1. We further found that the previously unknown interaction between SPA1-WD and CCT2 occurs via the VP motif in CRY2, suggesting structural similarities in the VP-binding pockets of COP1-WD40 and SPA1-WD40 domains. A VP motif present in CRY1 is also essential for binding to COP1. Thus, CRY1 and CRY2 might share this mechanism of COP1 inactivation.

scholarly journals Host-Driven Phosphorylation Appears to Regulate the Budding Activity of the Lassa Virus Matrix Protein

Pathogens ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Ziegler ◽  
Philip Eisenhauer ◽  
Inessa Manuelyan ◽  
Marion Weir ◽  
Emily Bruce ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Function ◽  
Matrix Protein ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Polymerase Activity ◽  
Lassa Fever ◽  
Lassa Virus ◽  
Protein Z ◽  
Western Africa ◽  
Z Protein

Lassa mammarenavirus (LASV) is an enveloped RNA virus that can cause Lassa fever, an acute hemorrhagic fever syndrome associated with significant morbidity and high rates of fatality in endemic regions of western Africa. The arenavirus matrix protein Z has several functions during the virus life cycle, including coordinating viral assembly, driving the release of new virus particles, regulating viral polymerase activity, and antagonizing the host antiviral response. There is limited knowledge regarding how the various functions of Z are regulated. To investigate possible means of regulation, mass spectrometry was used to identify potential sites of phosphorylation in the LASV Z protein. This analysis revealed that two serines (S18, S98) and one tyrosine (Y97) are phosphorylated in the flexible N- and C-terminal regions of the protein. Notably, two of these sites, Y97 and S98, are located in (Y97) or directly adjacent to (S98) the PPXY late domain, an important motif for virus release. Studies with non-phosphorylatable and phosphomimetic Z proteins revealed that these sites are important regulators of the release of LASV particles and that host-driven, reversible phosphorylation may play an important role in the regulation of LASV Z protein function.

scholarly journals The Zn-finger of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rad18 and its adjacent region mediate interaction with Rad5

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Orsolya Frittmann ◽  
Vamsi K Gali ◽  
Miklos Halmai ◽  
Robert Toth ◽  
Zsuzsanna Gyorfy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Dna Damage ◽  
Ubiquitin Ligase ◽  
Dna Lesions ◽  
Template Switching ◽  
Adjacent Region ◽  
Yeast Two Hybrid ◽  
Replication Complex ◽  
Two Hybrid

Abstract DNA damages that hinder the movement of the replication complex can ultimately lead to cell death. To avoid that, cells possess several DNA damage bypass mechanisms. The Rad18 ubiquitin ligase controls error-free and mutagenic pathways that help the replication complex to bypass DNA lesions by monoubiquitylating PCNA at stalled replication forks. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, two of the Rad18 governed pathways are activated by monoubiquitylated PCNA and they involve translesion synthesis polymerases, whereas a third pathway needs subsequent polyubiquitylation of the same PCNA residue by another ubiquitin ligase the Rad5 protein, and it employs template switching. The goal of this study was to dissect the regulatory role of the multidomain Rad18 in DNA damage bypass using a structure-function based approach. Investigating deletion and point mutant RAD18 variants in yeast genetic and yeast two-hybrid assays we show that the Zn-finger of Rad18 mediates its interaction with Rad5, and the N-terminal adjacent region is also necessary for Rad5 binding. Moreover, results of the yeast two-hybrid and in vivo ubiquitylation experiments raise the possibility that direct interaction between Rad18 and Rad5 might not be necessary for the function of the Rad5 dependent pathway. The presented data also reveal that yeast Rad18 uses different domains to mediate its association with itself and with Rad5. Our results contribute to better understanding of the complex machinery of DNA damage bypass pathways.

scholarly journals Lassa Virus Circulation in Small Mammal Populations in Bo District, Sierra Leone

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 28
Author(s):  
Umaru Bangura ◽  
Jacob Buanie ◽  
Joyce Lamin ◽  
Christopher Davis ◽  
Gédéon Ngiala Bongo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Lassa Fever ◽  
Lassa Virus ◽  
Sierra Leonean ◽  
Bayesian Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Prevalent Species ◽  
Lineage Iv

Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus LASV, which was first isolated in the rodent Mastomys natalensis in 1974 in Kenema, Sierra Leone. As little is known about the abundance and the presence of LASV in rodents living in the Bo area, we carried out a small mammal longitudinal population survey. A standardized trapping session was performed in various habitats and seasons in six villages over two years (2014–2016) and samples collected were tested for arenavirus IgG and LASV. A Bayesian phylogenetic analysis was performed on sequences identified by PCR. A total of 1490 small mammals were collected, and 16 rodent species were identified, with M. natalensis (355, 24%) found to be the most prevalent species. Forty-one (2.8%) samples were IgG positive, and 31 of these were trapped in homes and 10 in surrounding vegetation. Twenty-nine of 41 seropositive rodents were M. natalensis. We detected four LASV by PCR in two villages, all found in M. natalensis. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the sequences were distributed within the Sierra Leonean clade within lineage IV, distinguishing a Bo sub-clade older than a Kenema sub-clade. Compared to other settings, we found a low abundance of M. natalensis and a low circulation of LASV in rodents in villages around Bo district.

scholarly journals Differential Immune Responses to Hemorrhagic Fever-Causing Arenaviruses

Vaccines ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mantlo ◽  
Paessler ◽  
Huang
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Importance ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Lassa Fever ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Host Immune System ◽  
Lassa Virus ◽  
Type I ◽  
Highly Pathogenic ◽  
The Family ◽  
Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

The family Arenaviridae contains several pathogens of major clinical importance. The Old World (OW) arenavirus Lassa virus is endemic in West Africa and is estimated to cause up to 300,000 infections each year. The New World (NW) arenaviruses Junín and Machupo periodically cause hemorrhagic fever outbreaks in South America. While these arenaviruses are highly pathogenic in humans, recent evidence indicates that pathogenic OW and NW arenaviruses interact with the host immune system differently, which may have differential impacts on viral pathogenesis. Severe Lassa fever cases are characterized by profound immunosuppression. In contrast, pathogenic NW arenavirus infections are accompanied by elevated levels of Type I interferon and pro-inflammatory cytokines. This review aims to summarize recent findings about interactions of these pathogenic arenaviruses with the innate immune machinery and the subsequent effects on adaptive immunity, which may inform the development of vaccines and therapeutics against arenavirus infections.

scholarly journals Proteasomal degradation of JAZ9 by SALT- AND DROUGHT-INDUCED RING FINGER1 during pathogen infection

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vemanna Ramu ◽  
Garima Pal ◽  
Sunhee Oh ◽  
Kirankumar S Mysore
Keyword(s):  
Ubiquitin Ligase ◽  
Disease Susceptibility ◽  
Plant Immunity ◽  
E3 Ubiquitin Ligase ◽  
In Planta ◽  
Yeast Two Hybrid ◽  
Pathogen Infection ◽  
Jaz Proteins ◽  
Molecular Fluorescence ◽  
Two Hybrid

E3 ubiquitin ligase SALT- AND DROUGHT-INDUCED RING FINGER1 (SDIR1) plays a novel role in modulating plant immunity against pathogens. The molecular interactors of SDIR1 during pathogen infection are not known. SDIR1 interacting Jasmonate ZIM-domain (JAZ) proteins were identified through a yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) screen. Full length JAZ9 interacts with SDIR1 only in the presence of coronatine, a bacteria secreted toxin, or jasmonic acid (JA) in Y2H assay. The bi-molecular fluorescence complementation and pull-down assays confirm the in planta interaction of these proteins. JAZ9 proteins, negative regulators of JA-mediated plant defense, were degraded during the pathogen infection by SDIR1 through a proteasomal pathway causing disease susceptibility against hemibiotrophic pathogens.

scholarly journals Screening of Botanical Drugs against Lassa Virus Entry

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Liu ◽  
Jiao Guo ◽  
Junyuan Cao ◽  
Guangshun Zhang ◽  
Xiaoying Jia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Fusion ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Transmembrane Domain ◽  
Lassa Fever ◽  
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis ◽  
Mechanistic Study ◽  
Lassa Virus ◽  
Potential Candidate ◽  
Botanical Drug ◽  
Approved Drugs

Lassa virus (LASV) belongs to the Old World Mammarenavirus genus (family Arenaviridae). At present, there are no approved drugs or vaccines specific for LASV. In this study, high-throughput screening of a botanical drug library was performed against LASV entry using a pseudotype virus bearing the LASV envelope glycoprotein complex (GPC). Two hit compounds, bergamottin and casticin, were identified as micromolar range inhibitors of LASV entry. A mechanistic study revealed that casticin inhibited LASV entry by blocking low pH-induced membrane fusion. Analysis of adaptive mutants demonstrated that the F446L mutation, located in the transmembrane domain of GP2, conferred resistance to casticin. Furthermore, casticin antiviral activity extends to the New World (NW) pathogenic mammarenaviruses, and mutation of the conserved F446 also conferred resistance to casticin in these viruses. Unlike casticin, bergamottin showed little effect on LASV GPC-mediated membrane fusion, instead inhibiting LASV entry by blocking endocytic trafficking. Notably, both compounds showed inhibitory effects on authentic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. Our study shows that both casticin and bergamottin are candidates for LASV therapy and that the conserved F446 in LASV GPC is important in drug resistance in mammarenaviruses. IMPORTANCE: Currently, there is no approved therapy to treat Lassa fever (LASF). Our goal was to identify potential candidate molecules for LASF therapy. Herein, we screened a botanical drug library and identified two compounds, casticin and bergamottin, that inhibited LASV entry via different mechanisms.

scholarly journals Autophagy Promotes Infectious Particle Production of Mopeia and Lassa Viruses

Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Baillet ◽  
Sophie Krieger ◽  
Alexandra Journeaux ◽  
Valérie Caro ◽  
Frédéric Tangy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Matrix Protein ◽  
Particle Production ◽  
Defense Mechanism ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Hybrid Approach ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Lassa Virus ◽  
Infectious Particle ◽  
Cellular Defense ◽  
Infected Cells

Lassa virus (LASV) and Mopeia virus (MOPV) are two closely related Old-World mammarenaviruses. LASV causes severe hemorrhagic fever with high mortality in humans, whereas no case of MOPV infection has been reported. Comparing MOPV and LASV is a powerful strategy to unravel pathogenic mechanisms that occur during the course of pathogenic arenavirus infection. We used a yeast two-hybrid approach to identify cell partners of MOPV and LASV Z matrix protein in which two autophagy adaptors were identified, NDP52 and TAX1BP1. Autophagy has emerged as an important cellular defense mechanism against viral infections but its role during arenavirus infection has not been shown. Here, we demonstrate that autophagy is transiently induced by MOPV, but not LASV, in infected cells two days after infection. Impairment of the early steps of autophagy significantly decreased the production of MOPV and LASV infectious particles, whereas a blockade of the degradative steps impaired only MOPV infectious particle production. Our study provides insights into the role played by autophagy during MOPV and LASV infection and suggests that this process could partially explain their different pathogenicity.

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