T cell-intrinsic Interferon Regulatory Factor-1 expression suppresses differentiation of CD4 + T cell populations that support chronic gammaherpesvirus infection.

Gammaherpesviruses are ubiquitous pathogens that establish life-long infection and are associated with B cell lymphomas. To establish chronic infection, these viruses usurp B cell differentiation and drive a robust germinal center response to expand the latent viral reservoir and gain access to memory B cells. Germinal center B cells, while important for the establishment of latent infection, are also thought to be the target of viral transformation. The host and viral factors that impact the gammaherpesvirus-driven germinal center response are not clearly defined. We showed that global expression of the antiviral and tumor-suppressor interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1) selectively attenuates the murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68)-driven germinal center response and restricts expansion of the latent viral reservoir. In this study we found that T cell intrinsic IRF-1 expression recapitulates some aspects of antiviral state imposed by IRF-1 during chronic MHV68 infection, including attenuation of the germinal center response and viral latency in the spleen. We also discovered that global and T cell-intrinsic IRF-1 deficiency leads to unhindered rise of IL-17A-expressing and follicular helper T cell populations, two CD4 + T cell subsets that support chronic MHV68 infection. Thus, this study unveils a novel aspect of antiviral activity of IRF-1 by demonstrating IRF-1-mediated suppression of specific CD4 + T cell subsets that support chronic gammaherpesvirus infection. Importance Gammaherpesviruses infect over 95% of the adult population, last the lifetime of the host, and are associated with multiple cancers. These viruses usurp the germinal center response to establish lifelong infection in memory B cells. This manipulation of B cell differentiation by the virus is thought to contribute to lymphomagenesis, though exactly how the virus precipitates malignant transformation in vivo is unclear. IRF-1, a host transcription factor and a known tumor suppressor, restricts the MHV68-driven germinal center response in a B cell-extrinsic manner. We found that T cell intrinsic IRF-1 expression attenuates the MHV68-driven germinal center response by restricting the CD4 + T follicular helper population. Further, our study identified IRF-1 as a novel negative regulator of IL-17-driven immune responses, highlighting the multifaceted role of IRF-1 in gammaherpesvirus infection.

CRISPR-Cas9 Potential in Eradicating HIV Latent Reservoir as The Up-to-date Therapy For HIV-1

According to the Ministry of Health in Indonesia, in 2018, there are about 640 thousand cases of people with HIV within the death rate of 38 thousand people. This number grows annually, in fact, according to WHO, there are approximately 38 million people who are diagnosed with HIV in the world in 2019. Thus, HIV-AIDS is a dangerous health problem and needs to be taken care of as soon as possible. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a retrovirus that got its name from the infecting immune cells in the human body. There are two types of HIV, named HIV-1 and HIV-2. Both have the same basic gene arrangement, transmission process, intracellular replication lane, and both cause AIDS. The differences between them are the HIV-1 spreads globally, while HIV-2 locally happens in West Africa. Currently, ART (Antiretroviral Therapy) is the most commonly used method of treatment for HIV-1. Treatment for HIV-1 with ART is effective in controlling HIV-1 virus replication but has not been able to completely eradicate the latent viral reservoir. In the past few years, it is known that there is a CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat) method that can modify genes (DNA) in the body of an organism. However, apart from its potential in handling HIV-1, there are still obstacles in the mechanism.

HIV-1 Entry and Prospects for Protecting against Infection

Human Immunodeficiency Virus type-1 (HIV-1) establishes a latent viral reservoir soon after infection, which poses a major challenge for drug treatment and curative strategies. Many efforts are therefore focused on blocking infection. To this end, both viral and host factors relevant to the onset of infection need to be considered. Given that HIV-1 is most often transmitted mucosally, strategies designed to protect against infection need to be effective at mucosal portals of entry. These strategies need to contend also with cell-free and cell-associated transmitted/founder (T/F) virus forms; both can initiate and establish infection. This review will discuss how insight from the current model of HIV-1 mucosal transmission and cell entry has highlighted challenges in developing effective strategies to prevent infection. First, we examine key viral and host factors that play a role in transmission and infection. We then discuss preventive strategies based on antibody-mediated protection, with emphasis on targeting T/F viruses and mucosal immunity. Lastly, we review treatment strategies targeting viral entry, with focus on the most clinically advanced entry inhibitors.

Interferon-responsive genes are targeted during the establishment of human cytomegalovirus latency

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) latency is an active process which remodels the latently infected cell to optimise latent carriage and reactivation. This is achieved, in part, through the expression of viral genes, including the G-protein coupled receptor US28. Here, we use an unbiased proteomic screen to assess changes in host proteins induced by US28, revealing that interferon-inducible genes are downregulated by US28. We validate that MHC Class II and two PYHIN proteins, MNDA and IFI16, are downregulated during experimental latency in primary human CD14+ monocytes. We find that IFI16 is targeted rapidly during the establishment of latency in a US28-dependent manner, but only in undifferentiated myeloid cells, a natural site of latent carriage. Finally, by overexpressing IFI16, we show that IFI16 can activate the viral major immediate early promoter and immediate early gene expression during latency via NF-κB, a function which explains why downregulation of IFI16 during latency is advantageous for the virus.ImportanceHuman cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous herpesvirus which infects 50-100% of humans worldwide. HCMV causes a lifelong subclinical infection in immunocompetent individuals, but is a serious cause of mortality and morbidity in the immunocompromised and in neonates. In particular, reactivation of HCMV in the transplant setting is a major cause of transplant failure and related disease. Therefore, a molecular understanding of HCMV latency and reactivation could provide insights into potential ways to target the latent viral reservoir in at-risk patient populations.

Long Noncoding RNA uc002yug.2 Activates HIV-1 Latency through Regulation of mRNA Levels of Various RUNX1 Isoforms and Increased Tat Expression

ABSTRACT The HIV-1 reservoir is a major obstacle to complete eradication of the virus. Although many proteins and RNAs have been characterized as regulators in HIV-1/AIDS pathogenesis and latency, only a few long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to be closely associated with HIV-1 replication and latency. In this study, we demonstrated that lncRNA uc002yug.2 plays a key role in HIV-1 replication and latency. uc002yug.2 potentially enhances HIV-1 replication, long terminal repeat (LTR) activity, and the activation of latent HIV-1 in both cell lines and CD4 + T cells from patients. Further investigation revealed that uc002yug.2 activates latent HIV-1 through downregulating RUNX1b and -1c and upregulating Tat protein expression. The accumulated evidence supports our model that the Tat protein has the key role in the uc002yug.2-mediated regulatory effect on HIV-1 reactivation. Moreover, uc002yug.2 showed an ability to activate HIV-1 similar to that of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate using latently infected cell models. These findings improve our understanding of lncRNA regulation of HIV-1 replication and latency, providing new insights into potential targeted therapeutic interventions. IMPORTANCE The latent viral reservoir is the primary obstacle to curing HIV-1 disease. To date, only a few lncRNAs, which play major roles in various biological processes, including viral infection, have been identified as regulators in HIV-1 latency. In this study, we demonstrated that lncRNA uc002yug.2 is important for both HIV-1 replication and activation of latent viruses. Moreover, uc002yug.2 was shown to activate latent HIV-1 through regulating alternative splicing of RUNX1 and increasing the expression of Tat protein. These findings highlight the potential merit of targeting lncRNA uc002yug.2 as an activating agent for latent HIV-1.

Prophylactic Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2) Vaccines Adjuvanted with Stable Emulsion and Toll-Like Receptor 9 Agonist Induce a Robust HSV-2-Specific Cell-Mediated Immune Response, Protect against Symptomatic Disease, and Reduce the Latent Viral Reservoir

ABSTRACT Several prophylactic vaccines targeting herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) have failed in the clinic to demonstrate sustained depression of viral shedding or protection from recurrences. Although these vaccines have generated high titers of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs), their induction of robust CD8 T cells has largely been unreported, even though evidence for the importance of HSV-2 antigen-specific CD8 T cells is mounting in animal models and in translational studies involving subjects with active HSV-2-specific immune responses. We developed a subunit vaccine composed of the NAb targets gD and gB and the novel T cell antigen and tegument protein UL40, and we compared this vaccine to a whole-inactivated-virus vaccine (formaldehyde-inactivated HSV-2 [FI-HSV-2]). We evaluated different formulations in combination with several Th1-inducing Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists in vivo. In mice, the TLR9 agonist cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) oligodeoxynucleotide formulated in a squalene-based oil-in-water emulsion promoted most robust, functional HSV-2 antigen-specific CD8 T cell responses and high titers of neutralizing antibodies, demonstrating its superiority to vaccines adjuvanted by monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL)-alum. We further established that FI-HSV-2 alone or in combination with adjuvants as well as adjuvanted subunit vaccines were successful in the induction of NAbs and T cell responses in guinea pigs. These immunological responses were coincident with a suppression of vaginal HSV-2 shedding, low lesion scores, and a reduction in latent HSV-2 DNA in dorsal root ganglia to undetectable levels. These data support the further preclinical and clinical development of prophylactic HSV-2 vaccines that contain appropriate antigen and adjuvant components responsible for programming elevated CD8 T cell responses. IMPORTANCE Millions of people worldwide are infected with herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), and to date, an efficacious prophylactic vaccine has not met the rigors of clinical trials. Attempts to develop a vaccine have focused primarily on glycoproteins necessary for HSV-2 entry as target antigens and to which the dominant neutralizing antibody response is directed during natural infection. Individuals with asymptomatic infection have exhibited T cell responses against specific HSV-2 antigens not observed in symptomatic individuals. We describe for the first time the immunogenicity profile in animal models of UL40, a novel HSV-2 T cell antigen that has been correlated with asymptomatic HSV-2 disease. Additionally, vaccine candidates adjuvanted by a robust formulation of the CpG oligonucleotide delivered in emulsion were superior to unadjuvanted or MPL-alum-adjuvanted formulations at eliciting a robust cell-mediated immune response and blocking the establishment of a latent viral reservoir in the guinea pig challenge model of HSV-2 infection.