scholarly journals Patterns of Autologous and Nonautologous Interactions between Core Nuclear Egress Complex (NEC) Proteins of α-, β- and γ-Herpesviruses

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sigrun Häge ◽  
Eric Sonntag ◽  
Eva Maria Borst ◽  
Pierre Tannig ◽  
Lisa Seyler ◽  
...  

Nuclear egress is a regulated process shared by α-, β- and γ-herpesviruses. The core nuclear egress complex (NEC) is composed of the membrane-anchored protein homologs of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) pUL50, murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) pM50, Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) BFRF1 or varicella zoster virus (VZV) Orf24, which interact with the autologous NEC partners pUL53, pM53, BFLF2 or Orf27, respectively. Their recruitment of additional proteins leads to the assembly of a multicomponent NEC, coordinately regulating viral nucleocytoplasmic capsid egress. Here, the functionality of VZV, HCMV, MCMV and EBV core NECs was investigated by coimmunoprecipitation and confocal imaging analyses. Furthermore, a recombinant MCMV, harboring a replacement of ORF M50 by UL50, was analyzed both in vitro and in vivo. In essence, core NEC interactions were strictly limited to autologous NEC pairs and only included one measurable nonautologous interaction between the homologs of HCMV and MCMV. A comparative analysis of MCMV-WT versus MCMV-UL50-infected murine fibroblasts revealed almost identical phenotypes on the levels of protein and genomic replication kinetics. In infected BALB/c mice, virus spread to lung and other organs was found comparable between these viruses, thus stating functional complementarity. In conclusion, our study underlines that herpesviral core NEC proteins are functionally conserved regarding complementarity of core NEC interactions, which were found either virus-specific or restricted within subfamilies.

2009 ◽  
Vol 53 (12) ◽  
pp. 5251-5258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark N. Prichard ◽  
Debra C. Quenelle ◽  
Caroll B. Hartline ◽  
Emma A. Harden ◽  
Geraldine Jefferson ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT A series of 4′-thionucleosides were synthesized and evaluated for activities against orthopoxviruses and herpesviruses. We reported previously that one analog, 5-iodo-4′-thio-2′-deoxyuridine (4′-thioIDU), exhibits good activity both in vitro and in vivo against two orthopoxviruses. This compound also has good activity in cell culture against many of the herpesviruses. It inhibited the replication of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), HSV-2, and varicella-zoster virus with 50% effective concentrations (EC50s) of 0.1, 0.5, and 2 μM, respectively. It also inhibited the replication of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) with an EC50 of 5.9 μM but did not selectively inhibit Epstein-Barr virus, human herpesvirus 6, or human herpesvirus 8. While acyclovir-resistant strains of HSV-1 and HSV-2 were comparatively resistant to 4′-thioIDU, it retained modest activity (EC50s of 4 to 12 μM) against these strains. Some ganciclovir-resistant strains of HCMV also exhibited reduced susceptibilities to the compound, which appeared to be related to the specific mutations in the DNA polymerase, consistent with the observed incorporation of the compound into viral DNA. The activity of 4′-thioIDU was also evaluated using mice infected intranasally with the MS strain of HSV-2. Although there was no decrease in final mortality rates, the mean length of survival after inoculation increased significantly (P < 0.05) for all animals receiving 4′-thioIDU. The findings from the studies presented here suggest that 4′-thioIDU is a good inhibitor of some herpesviruses, as well as orthopoxviruses, and this class of compounds warrants further study as a therapy for infections with these viruses.


2005 ◽  
Vol 49 (9) ◽  
pp. 3724-3733 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie L. Williams-Aziz ◽  
Caroll B. Hartline ◽  
Emma A. Harden ◽  
Shannon L. Daily ◽  
Mark N. Prichard ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Cidofovir (CDV) is an effective therapy for certain human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infections in immunocompromised patients that are resistant to other antiviral drugs, but the compound is not active orally. To improve oral bioavailability, a series of lipid analogs of CDV and cyclic CDV (cCDV), including hexadecyloxypropyl-CDV and -cCDV and octadecyloxyethyl-CDV and -cCDV, were synthesized and found to have multiple-log-unit enhanced activity against HCMV in vitro. On the basis of the activity observed with these analogs, additional lipid esters were synthesized and evaluated for their activity against herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2, human cytomegalovirus, murine cytomegalovirus, varicella-zoster virus (VZV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), and HHV-8. Using several different in vitro assays, concentrations of drug as low as 0.001 μM reduced herpesvirus replication by 50% (EC50) with the CDV analogs, whereas the cCDV compounds were generally less active. In most of the assays performed, the EC50 values of the lipid esters were at least 100-fold lower than the EC50 values for unmodified CDV or cCDV. The lipid analogs were also active against isolates that were resistant to CDV, ganciclovir, or foscarnet. These results indicate that the lipid ester analogs are considerably more active than CDV itself against HSV, VZV, CMV, EBV, HHV-6, and HHV-8 in vitro, suggesting that they may have potential for the treatment of infections caused by a variety of herpesviruses.


2000 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 1506-1511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel J. Rybak ◽  
Caroll B. Hartline ◽  
Yao-Ling Qiu ◽  
Jiri Zemlicka ◽  
Emma Harden ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection does not generally cause problems in the immunocompetent adult but can result in severe clinical disease in the fetus, neonate, and immunocompromised host. Ganciclovir (GCV), the agent currently used to treat most HCMV infections, has resulted in much therapeutic success; however, efficacy remains suboptimal. Therefore, there is still a need to develop new compounds for use against HCMV infections. In the present study, severalZ- and E-series methylenecyclopropane analogues and their phosphoroalaninate prodrugs were tested initially for activity against HCMV, strain AD169, and murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) in vitro. Many were found to exhibit efficacy comparable to that of GCV against HCMV in plaque assays and were active against MCMV as well. The compounds were also tested for efficacy against herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, varicella-zoster virus, and Epstein-Barr virus, and some had levels of activity that were comparable to that of acyclovir. In addition, the compounds synguanol (QYL-438) and 2-amino-6-cyclopropylamino analogue (QYL-769) were chosen for further evaluation and were found to be effective against additional laboratory and clinical isolates of HCMV and GCV-resistant isolates. QYL-438 and QYL-769 were found to be nontoxic in human and mouse fibroblasts and were considerably less toxic than GCV in granulocyte macrophage CFUs and erythroid burst-forming units. These results provide evidence for the high activity of some of these methylenecyclopropane analogues against various herpesviruses, particularly HCMV, in tissue culture and suggest that further evaluation is warranted to determine their potential for use in future clinical studies.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 964-967
Author(s):  
THOMAS J. BOWEN ◽  
RALPH J. WEDGWOOD ◽  
HANS D. OCHS ◽  
WERNER HENLE

In vivo and in vitro humoral and cellular immune responses were studied in a 2½-year-old girl immediately before, during, and after an asymptomatic infection with Epstein-Barr virus. During the acute EBV infection, the patient's peripheral blood mononuclear cells were deficient in immunoglobulin synthesis and suppressed the in vitro immunoglobulin synthesis of normal allogeneic cells. In vitro mitogen transformation of lymphocytes was reduced. In vivo antibody responses to the T cell-dependent antigens bacteriophage φX 174 and Keyhole limpet hemocyanin were markedly depressed. These studies suggest that suppressor cells induced during acute EBV infection not only suppress immunoglobulin synthesis in vitro, but also interfere with in vivo antibody synthesis.


Blood ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 510-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
RT Schooley ◽  
BF Haynes ◽  
J Grouse ◽  
C Payling-Wright ◽  
AS Fauci ◽  
...  

Abstract A system of 3H-thymidine incorporation by lymphocytes in culture for 3 wk has been utilized for quantitative assessment of the ability of T lymphocytes to inhibit outgrowth of autologous Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transformed B lymphocytes. Lymphocytes from EBV-seronegative individuals lack the ability to suppress outgrowth of autologous EBV- transformed B lymphocytes. This capability appears during the course of primary EBV-induced infectious mononucleases (IM) as the atypical lymphocytosis is subsiding and persists for years after recovery from primary EBV infection. The ability of T lymphocytes from EBV- seropositive subjects or convalescent IM patients to inhibit B- lymphocyte outgrowth is not HLA restricted. Thus, T lymphocytes capable of inhibition of in vitro EBV-induced B-cell outgrowth emerge during the acute stage of IM and may represent an important control mechanism of EBV-induced B-lymphocyte proliferation in vivo. The system provides a highly sensitive quantitative means for in vitro assessment of cell- mediated immunity to EBV.


2006 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 1195-1208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chih-Chung Lu ◽  
Ho-Ting Huang ◽  
Jiin-Tarng Wang ◽  
Geir Slupphaug ◽  
Tsai-Kun Li ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Uracil-DNA glycosylases (UDGs) of the uracil-N-glycosylase (UNG) family are the primary DNA repair enzymes responsible for removal of inappropriate uracil from DNA. Recent studies further suggest that the nuclear human UNG2 and the UDGs of large DNA viruses may coordinate with their DNA polymerase accessory factors to enhance DNA replication. Based on its amino acid sequence, the putative UDG of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), BKRF3, belongs to the UNG family of proteins, and it was demonstrated previously to enhance oriLyt-dependent DNA replication in a cotransfection replication assay. However, the expression and enzyme activity of EBV BKRF3 have not yet been characterized. In this study, His-BKRF3 was expressed in bacteria and purified for biochemical analysis. Similar to the case for the Escherichia coli and human UNG enzymes, His-BKRF3 excised uracil from single-stranded DNA more efficiently than from double-stranded DNA and was inhibited by the purified bacteriophage PBS1 inhibitor Ugi. In addition, BKRF3 was able to complement an E. coli ung mutant in rifampin and nalidixic acid resistance mutator assays. The expression kinetics and subcellular localization of BKRF3 products were detected in EBV-positive lymphoid and epithelial cells by using BKRF3-specific mouse antibodies. Expression of BKRF3 is regulated mainly by the immediate-early transcription activator Rta. The efficiency of EBV lytic DNA replication was slightly affected by BKRF3 small interfering RNA (siRNA), whereas cellular UNG2 siRNA or inhibition of cellular and viral UNG activities by expressing Ugi repressed EBV lytic DNA replication. Taking these results together, we demonstrate the UNG activity of BKRF3 in vitro and in vivo and suggest that UNGs may participate in DNA replication or repair and thereby promote efficient production of viral DNA.


2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (12) ◽  
pp. 7355-7362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle A. Swanson-Mungerson ◽  
Robert G. Caldwell ◽  
Rebecca Bultema ◽  
Richard Longnecker

ABSTRACT A significant percentage of the population latently harbors Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in B cells. One EBV-encoded protein, latent membrane protein 2A (LMP2A), is expressed in tissue culture models of EBV latent infection, in human infections, and in many of the EBV-associated proliferative disorders. LMP2A constitutively activates proteins involved in the B-cell receptor (BCR) signal transduction cascade and inhibits the antigen-induced activation of these proteins. In the present study, we investigated whether LMP2A alters B-cell receptor signaling in primary B cells in vivo and in vitro. LMP2A does not inhibit antigen-induced tolerance in response to strong stimuli in an in vivo tolerance model in which B cells are reactive to self-antigen. In contrast, LMP2A bypasses anergy induction in response to low levels of soluble hen egg lysozyme (HEL) both in vivo and in vitro as determined by the ability of LMP2A-expressing HEL-specific B cells to proliferate and induce NF-κB nuclear translocation after exposure to low levels of antigen. Furthermore, LMP2A induces NF-κB nuclear translocation independent of BCR cross-linking. Since NF-κB is required to bypass tolerance induction, this LMP2A-dependent NF-κB activation may complete the tolerogenic signal induced by low levels of soluble HEL. Overall, the findings suggest that LMP2A may not inhibit BCR-induced signals under all conditions as previously suggested by studies with EBV immortalized B cells.


2001 ◽  
Vol 75 (6) ◽  
pp. 2584-2596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Salamon ◽  
Maria Takacs ◽  
Dorina Ujvari ◽  
Jörg Uhlig ◽  
Hans Wolf ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Epstein-Barr viral (EBV) latency-associated promoters Qp, Cp, and LMP1p are crucial for the regulated expression of the EBNA and LMP transcripts in dependence of the latency type. By transient transfection and in vitro binding analyses, many promoter elements and transcription factors have previously been shown to be involved in the activities of these promoters. However, the latency promoters have only partially been examined at the nucleotide level in vivo. Therefore, we undertook a comprehensive analysis of in vivo protein binding and CpG methylation patterns at these promoters in five representative cell lines and correlated the results with the known in vitro binding data and activities of these promoters from previous transfection experiments. Promoter activity inversely correlated with the methylation state of promoters, although Qp was a remarkable exception. Novel protein binding data were obtained for all promoters. For Cp, binding correlated well with promoter activity; for LMP1p and Qp, binding patterns looked similar regardless of promoter activity.


2008 ◽  
Vol 52 (8) ◽  
pp. 2727-2733 ◽  
Author(s):  
David I. Bernstein ◽  
Nathalie Goyette ◽  
Rhonda Cardin ◽  
Earl R. Kern ◽  
Guy Boivin ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Phosphorothioated oligonucleotides have a sequence-independent antiviral activity as amphipathic polymers (APs). The activity of these agents against herpesvirus infections in vitro and in vivo was investigated. The previously established sequence-independent, phosphorothioation-dependent antiviral activity of APs was confirmed in vitro by showing that a variety of equivalently sized homo- and heteropolymeric AP sequences were similarly active against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection in vitro compared to the 40mer degenerate parent compound (REP 9), while the absence of phosphorothioation resulted in the loss of antiviral activity. In addition, REP 9 demonstrated in vitro activity against a broad spectrum of other herpesviruses: HSV-2 (50% effective concentration [EC50], 0.02 to 0.06 μM), human cytomegalovirus (EC50, 0.02 to 0.13 μM), varicella zoster virus (EC50, <0.02 μM), Epstein-Barr virus (EC50, 14.7 μM) and human herpesvirus types 6A/B (EC50, 2.9 to 10.2 μM). The murine microbicide model of genital HSV-2 was then used to evaluate in vivo activity. REP 9 (275 mg/ml) protected 75% of animals from disease and infection when provided 5 or 30 min prior to vaginal challenge. When an acid-stable analog (REP 9C) was used, 75% of mice were protected when treated with 240 mg/ml 5 min prior to infection (P < 0.001), while a lower dose (100 mg/ml) protected 100% of the mice (P < 0.001). The acid stable REP 9C formulation also provided protection at 30 min (83%, P < 0.001) and 60 min (50%, P = 0.07) against disease. These observations suggest that APs may have microbicidal activity and potential as broad-spectrum antiherpetic agents and represent a novel class of agents that should be studied further.


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