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A cDNA clone of tomato mosaic virus is infectious in plants.

A cDNA clone of tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) genomic RNA was fused to the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S RNA promoter and the nopaline synthase gene polyadenylation signal. The transcriptional initiation site of the 35S RNA promoter was altered by in vitro mutagenesis so that the resulting transcripts start at the first nucleotide of the ToMV sequence. In addition, 12 nucleotides were inserted in the 5' untranslated region of the ToMV genome. This plasmid, pSLN, was used to inoculate several host plants of ToMV. Among five plant species tested, only Chenopodium quinoa accumulated large amounts of viral particles. The infectivities and systemic movements of the resulting viruses were the same as those of virus preparations obtained from a ToMV infection of C. quinoa. Primer extension analyses revealed that the 5' end of the viral genomic RNA was identical to those of RNAs isolated from virus progeny of an infection with T7 transcripts analogous to pSLN. Moreover, the insertion in the 5' untranslated region of the viral genome was stably maintained through several systemic passages of the virus. Thus, inoculation of plants with a plasmid containing a cDNA clone of an RNA virus under the control of a eukaryotic promoter seems to be a convenient alternative to the generation of in vitro transcripts and should facilitate the analysis of viral mutants generated at the DNA level.

Base Sequence↗

Infectious RNA transcripts derived from cloned cDNA of papaya mosaic virus: effect of mutations to the capsid and polymerase proteins.

Genomic length cDNAs of papaya mosaic virus (PMV) RNA were generated utilizing reverse transcriptase (RNase H-) for first strand synthesis, Sequenase for second strand synthesis and primers specific for the 5' and 3' termini of the viral genome. These cDNAs were cloned into plasmid pUC18 and infectious RNA transcripts were synthesized in vitro from a bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase promoter incorporated into the 5' specific primer. The infectivity of transcripts was 16% that of native PMV RNA. Increasing the poly(A) tail length from A24 to A71 produced a 43% increase in infectivity. Transcripts synthesized with or without an m7GpppG cap structure were biologically active although uncapped transcripts were much less infectious. The addition of up to 2434 non-viral nucleotides at the 3' end of transcripts decreased but did not abolish infectivity. Insertions of two amino acid residues within the polymerase coding region inactivated viral transcripts. A single amino acid deletion within the capsid protein (CP) produced local lesions of a reduced size as compared to native PMV RNA. Viral particles could not be observed in crude extracts from lesions produced by this deletion mutant suggesting that it exists as a naked RNA species within the host. Mutations to the CP suggest that it is required not only for viral assembly but also for some other unidentified function(s) during the replication cycle.

Base Sequence↗

Natural HIV-1 NEF accelerates virus replication in primary human lymphocytes.

HIV-1 NEF genes were isolated directly from peripheral blood lymphocyte DNA of two HIV-1-infected individuals and cloned into an HXB-2-infectious molecular clone. The effect of NEF on virus production in T-cell lines and primary human lymphocytes was studied. Naturally occurring NEF accelerates virus production in primary human lymphocytes, but not in T-cell lines.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Genetic organization of a chimpanzee lentivirus related to HIV-1.

Simian immunodeficiency viruses have been isolated from four species of monkey, the 'captive' macaque and mangabey and the 'feral' African green monkey and mandrill. While none of these viruses is a replica of HIV-1, the macaque and mangabey viruses represent correct genetic models for HIV-2, possessing exactly the same complement of genes. Recently a lentivirus has been identified in two wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) in Gabon, west equatorial Africa, and isolated from one of them. This virus is referred to as SIVCPZ. Sera from these animals cross reacted with all the HIV-1 proteins including the envelope glycoproteins. Here, we describe the molecular cloning and sequencing of an infectious proviral clone of SIVCPZ. The overall genetic organization was the same as that of HIV-1, but phylogenetic analysis revealed that the sequence was more divergent than any HIV-1 sequence reported so far. The vpu gene product, found only in the type 1 viruses, was particularly different (64% divergent to HIV-1BRU) suggesting that the SIVCPZ represents a distinct subtype. These findings indicate that there is a larger pool of simian lentiviruses than previously suspected and revives debate as to the origins of HIV-1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Transgenic mice carrying intact HIV provirus: biological effects and organization of a transgene.

Twelve transgenic founder animals retaining intact copies of the infectious molecular clone of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 were obtained. All the founders appeared healthy during a 9- to 12-month observation period. However, transgenic offspring of one of the founders (female #13), died within the 1st month of life while manifesting several symptoms characteristic of human AIDS. To discover why only one transgenic lineage was affected and why the founder animal in the affected lineage remained healthy while all of her transgenic offspring were diseased, we compared the organization of the transgene in the transgenic lineages. Restriction enzyme analysis showed that the founder no. 13 was a mosaic carrying in each transgenic cell four tandemly arranged copies of the infectious molecular clone. All the units of the tandem repeat appeared to be correctly preserved with the exception of the 3'-most copy, which terminated near the start of human sequences that flank the 3' long terminal repeat (LTR). The unaffected founders and their transgenic litter usually carried a high number of copies of the provirus. The 5' terminus of the transgene in the unaffected animals appeared to be deleted or rearranged. None of the 12 transgenic founders carried a single copy of integrated provirus. We conclude that infectious molecular clone of HIV-1 can be expressed in transgenic mice, and that the mode of proviral integration similar to that seen during the retroviral infectious cycle (i.e., a single-copy provirus) may be incompatible with the postnatal survival.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Use of polymerase chain reaction for efficient cloning of dsRNA segments of infectious bursal disease virus.

A method is described for efficient cloning of the large RNA segment of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) after reverse transcription and cDNA amplification. Complementary DNA segments of IBDV were prepared using reverse transcriptase and specific primers homologous to the conserved region at the 3' end of the IBDV sequence. The resulting cDNA segments were amplified using Taq DNA polymerase and a pair of specific primers. Three separate primer pairs were used for amplification, each yielding a cDNA fragment of the predicted size. The amplified products were directly used for cloning into a cloning vector, pCR1000. Three overlapping cDNA clones, containing the entire coding region of the large RNA segment of IBDV, were obtained. The identity of these clones was confirmed by hybridization with IBDV-specific probe, as well as by sequence analysis. By this method, approximately 3.2 kilobases of the large genome segments of two different strains of IBDV were cloned, and their complete nucleotide sequence was determined.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Multicomponent RNA plant virus infection derived from cloned viral cDNA.

In vitro transcripts from mixtures of appropriate brome mosaic virus (BMV) cDNA clones are infectious when inoculated onto barley plants. Infectivity depends on in vitro transcription and on the presence of transcripts from clones of all three BMV genetic components. Infectivity is destroyed by RNase after transcription, but it is insensitive to RNase before or to DNase after transcription. Virion RNAs from plants infected with cDNA transcripts hybridize to BMV-specific probes and coelectrophorese with virion RNAs propagated from conventional inoculum. Direct RNA sequencing shows that a deletion in the noncoding region of one infectious BMV clone is preserved in viral RNA from plants systemically infected with transcript mixtures representing that clone.

Journal Article↗

Transformation studies with a human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 molecular clone.

In in vitro studies human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) may be produced by stable or transient transfection of target cells with an infectious molecular clone. Studies using primary human T cells, the natural targets of HTLV-1 infection, are hampered by difficulty in achieving significant infection with cell-free virus and a poor efficiency of transfection of primary cells. A method is described for the generation of stable cell lines expressing HTLV-1 from an infectious proviral clone. The stably transfected cells can be irradiated and cocultured with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) resulting in infected primary cells. These cells become immortalized, IL-2 dependent lines, which contain integrated copies of provirus and express a full spectrum of viral proteins. Analysis of cellular markers indicates that immortalized cell lines consist of CD3+/CD4+ T cells, matching the most common adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) cell phenotype. The method described has great utility in the study of the replication and transformation capacity of HTLV and HTLV mutant viruses in their natural targets, primary human T lymphocytes.

Base Sequence↗

Generation of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus from cloned cDNA.

We developed a reverse genetics system for infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV), a prototype virus of the Birnaviridae family, with the use of plus-stranded RNA transcripts derived from cloned cDNA. Full-length cDNA clones of the IPNV genome that contained the entire coding and noncoding regions of RNA segments A and B were constructed. Segment A encodes a 106-kDa precursor protein which is cleaved to yield mature VP2, nonstructural protease, and VP3 proteins, whereas segment B encodes the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase VP1. Plus-sense RNA transcripts of both segments were prepared by in vitro transcription of linearized plasmids with T7 RNA polymerase. Transfection of chinook salmon embryo (CHSE) cells with combined transcripts of segments A and B generated infectious IPNV particles 10 days posttransfection. Furthermore, a transfectant virus containing a genetically tagged sequence was generated to confirm the feasibility of this system. The presence and specificity of the recovered virus were ascertained by immunofluorescence staining of infected CHSE cells with rabbit anti-IPNV serum and by nucleotide sequence analysis. In addition, 3'-terminal sequence analysis of RNA from the recovered virus showed that extraneous nucleotides synthesized at the 3' end during in vitro transcription were precisely trimmed or excluded during replication, and hence these were not incorporated into the genome. An attempt was made to determine if RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of IPNV and infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), another birnavirus, can support virus rescue in heterologous combinations. Thus, CHSE cells were transfected with transcripts derived from IPNV segment A and IBDV segment B and Vero cells were transfected with transcripts derived from IBDV segment A and IPNV segment B. In either case, no infectious IPNV or IBDV particles were generated even after a third passage in cell culture, suggesting that viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase is species specific. However, the reverse genetics system for IPNV that we developed will greatly facilitate studies of viral replication and pathogenesis and the design of a new generation of live attenuated vaccines.

Animals↗

A novel proviral clone of HIV-2: biological and phylogenetic relationship to other primate immunodeficiency viruses.

Infectious molecular clones of the human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) will be valuable tools for the study of regulatory gene functions and the development of an animal model for the human acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). To this end, we have cloned and sequenced a novel HIV-2 isolate, HIV-2BEN. One clone, designated MK6, is infectious for various human T-cell lines and for human and macaque peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), allowing molecular studies of HIV-2 infection and replication. Since MK6 is highly cytopathic in MT-2 and Molt-4 clone 8 cells, antiviral agents and neutralizing sera may be tested. Cluster analysis of HIV-1, HIV-2, and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) env and gag genes revealed that HIV-2BEN yielded the earliest node of phylogenetic divergence for all reported HIV-2 sequences. Noise analysis showed that, with the current data, no specification of any branching order can be made among the four groups of primate lentiviruses, HIV-1, HIV-2/SIVSMM/MAC, SIVAGM, and SIVMND.

Animals↗

Contribution of trafficking signals in the cytoplasmic tail of the infectious bronchitis virus spike protein to virus infection.

Coronavirus spike (S) proteins are responsible for binding and fusion with target cells and thus play an essential role in virus infection. Recently, we identified a dilysine endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retrieval signal and a tyrosine-based endocytosis signal in the cytoplasmic tail of the S protein of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). Here, an infectious cDNA clone of IBV was used to address the importance of the S protein trafficking signals to virus infection. We constructed infectious cDNA clones lacking the ER retrieval signal, the endocytosis signal, or both. The virus lacking the ER retrieval signal was viable. However, this virus had a growth defect at late times postinfection and produced larger plaques than IBV. Further analysis confirmed that the mutant S protein trafficked though the secretory pathway faster than wild-type S protein. A more dramatic phenotype was obtained when the endocytosis signal was mutated. Recombinant viruses lacking the endocytosis signal (in combination with a mutated dilysine signal or alone) could not be recovered, even though transient syncytia were formed in transfected cells. Our results suggest that the endocytosis signal of IBV S is essential for productive virus infection.

Animals↗

In vitro transcripts from cloned cDNAs of the lettuce infectious yellows closterovirus bipartite genomic RNAs are competent for replication in Nicotiana benthamiana protoplasts.

Full-length cloned cDNAs of lettuce infectious yellows closterovirus (LIYV) RNAs 1 and 2 were constructed and fused to the bacteriophage T3 RNA polymerase promoter. To assess RNA replication, Nicotiana benthamiana protoplasts were inoculated with LIYV virion RNAs and LIYV cDNA-derived in vitro transcripts. Analysis of protoplasts inoculated with LIYV virion RNAs or capped (m7GpppG) in vitro transcripts from LIYV RNA 1 and 2 cDNAs showed accumulation of LIYV genomic and putative subgenomic RNAs (sgRNAs), synthesis of LIYV coat protein, and formation of LIYV virions. Furthermore, protoplasts inoculated with only capped in vitro transcripts from LIYV RNA 1 cDNA showed accumulation of LIYV RNA 1 and its putative sgRNA, indicating that LIYV RNA 1 can replicate in the absence of LIYV RNA 2. Conversely, accumulation of LIYV RNA 2 was not detectable in protoplasts inoculated with only LIYV RNA 2 cDNA-derived capped in vitro transcripts. These data demonstrate that LIYV genomic RNAs are competent for replication in mesophyll protoplasts and that infectious in vitro transcripts can be derived from the cloned cDNAs of a closterovirus genome.

Capsid↗

Hepatitis C virus molecular clones: from cDNA to infectious virus particles in cell culture.

There has been major progress in our understanding of hepatitis C virus (HCV) molecular virology in recent years. An essential prerequisite for this progress was the availability of functional molecular HCV clones, that serve as a starting point in order to establish cell culture systems. The first of these was the HCV replicon system, which used self-replicating subgenomic viral RNAs. However, these replicons only recapitulated the intracellular life cycle, and did not support production of infectious virus: this became possible with the identification of an HCV isolate that, for unknown reasons, replicates to very high levels in a human hepatoma cell line. Cells containing this genome release virus particles that are infectious in cell culture and in vivo. Without doubt, this system provides new possibilities for molecular studies of the HCV life cycle and the development of novel antiviral concepts.

Animals↗

Functional characterization of the V1V2 region of human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

The level of proviral DNA sequence variation in the V1V2 region was monitored over time in six HIV-1-infected individuals. Substitutional and length variation was observed, where the majority of length changes, ranging from 28 to 49 amino acids, was located within the V1 region. Evidence for convergent evolution in the V2 region was found. The functional significance of this variation was assessed by cloning the V1V2 sequences into an infectious molecular clone, HXB2. The majority of chimeras replicated, demonstrating that the sequences, though genetically distinct, were capable of conferring a viable phenotype. Chimeras expressing closely related sequences in a constant genetic background displayed different biological phenotypes, with respect to both cytopathicity and cell tropism. However, no association between primary V1V2 amino acid sequence and viability or cytopathicity of the chimeric virus was observed, suggesting that predictions of virus phenotype based on sequences alone may be incorrect. The effect of V1V2 variation on the overall gp 120 conformation was measured by expressing the gp 20 from a number of viable and nonviable clones. No differences were observed, suggesting that misfolding of the chimeric gp 120 protein was not an explanation for the nonviability of some virus clones. Several chimeras were noncytopathic and only able to replicate in PBMC cultures, demonstrating that the V1V2 region, independent of the V3 sequence, is capable of defining both tropism and cytopathicity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mutations within the nuclear localization signal of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus nucleocapsid protein attenuate virus replication.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is an RNA virus replicating in the cytoplasm, but the nucleocapsid (N) protein is specifically localized to the nucleus and nucleolus in virus-infected cells. A 'pat7' motif of 41-PGKK(N/S)KK has previously been identified in the N protein as the functional nuclear localization signal (NLS); however, the biological consequences of N protein nuclear localization are unknown. In the present study, the role of N protein nuclear localization during infection was investigated in pigs using an NLS-null mutant virus. When two lysines at 43 and 44 at the NLS locus were substituted to glycines, the modified NLS with 41-PGGGNKK restricted the N protein to the cytoplasm. This NLS-null mutation was introduced into a full-length infectious cDNA clone of PRRSV. Upon transfection of cells, the NLS-null full-length clone induced cytopathic effects and produced infectious progeny. The NLS-null virus grew to a titer 100-fold lower than that of wild-type virus. To examine the response to NLS-null PRRSV in the natural host, three groups of pigs, consisting of seven animals per group, were intranasally inoculated with wild-type, placebo, or NLS-null virus, and the animals were maintained for 4 weeks. The NLS-null-infected pigs had a significantly shorter mean duration of viremia than wild-type-infected pigs but developed significantly higher titers of neutralizing antibodies. Mutations occurred at the NLS locus in one pig during viremia, and four types of mutations were identified: 41-PGRGNKK, 41-PGGRNKK, and 41-PGRRNKK, and 41-PGKKSKK. Both wild-type and NLS-null viruses persisted in the tonsils for at least 4 weeks, and the NLS-null virus persisting in the tonsils was found to be mutated to either 41-PGRGNKK or 41-PGGRNKK in all pigs. No other mutation was found in the N gene. All types of reversions which occurred during viremia and persistence were able to translocate the mutated N proteins to the nucleus, indicating a strong selection pressure for reversion at the NLS locus of the N protein in vivo. Reversions from NLS-null to functional NLS in the tonsils suggest a possible correlation of viral persistence with N protein nuclear localization. These results show that N protein nuclear localization is non-essential for PRRSV multiplication but may play an important role in viral attenuation and in pathogenesis in vivo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Differential response to the cytopathic effects of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) superinfection in T4+ (helper) and T8+ (suppressor) T-cell clones transformed by HTLV-I.

We isolated six human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)-transformed T-cell clones carrying the phenotypic markers of helper and suppressor T cells. Five of the transformed T-cell clones produced infectious HTLV-I, but one (clone 55) contained a defective provirus and was therefore not competent for viral replication. To test whether there is interference between HTLV-I and the cytopathic virus HTLV-III in infection and/or their biological effects, we superinfected these T-cell clones with HTLV-III. The recipient cells that we used displayed either the OKT4 or the OKT8 membrane antigens (helper or suppressor phenotype, respectively). The superinfection was successful in all cases, regardless of phenotype of the recipient cells and status of viral production. Both HTLV-III and HTLV-I were expressed by the infected cell lines containing complete HTLV-I proviruses, as demonstrated by electron microscopy and immunofluorescence. However, only HTLV-III in the virus mixture obtained from the culture supernatants was transmitted to the human neoplastic T-cell line H9. The nonproducer clone 55 did not express HTLV-I upon superinfection with HTLV-III. HTLV-III exerted its cytopathic effect on all but one of the superinfected T-cell clones 15-20 days after infection. The exception, clone 67, is also the only cell clone that expresses the phenotypic marker of suppressor T lymphocytes (OKT8); the other clones carry the OKT4 antigen, correlated with helper functions. The virus released from the superinfected clone 67 is cytopathic for fresh peripheral and umbilical-cord blood lymphocytes, suggesting that cellular factors, rather than a genetic change in the virus, may be responsible for the lack of cytopathic effect of HTLV-III on the suppressor T-cell clone 67.

Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte↗

Analysis of a tobacco mosaic virus strain capable of overcoming N gene-mediated resistance.

The genome of Ob, a tobamovirus that overcomes the N gene-mediated hypersensitive response (HR), was cloned as a cDNA, and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The genomic organization of Ob is similar to that of other tobamoviruses, consisting of 6506 nucleotides and containing at least four open reading frames. These open reading frames encode a 126-kD polypeptide with a 183-kD readthrough product, a 30.6-kD movement protein, and an 18-kD coat protein. A bacteriophage T7 promoter sequence was fused to the full-length cDNA clone to obtain infectious RNA transcripts. These transcripts, when inoculated onto tobacco plants, induced disease symptoms indistinguishable from plants inoculated with Ob viral RNA. To determine which viral factor is responsible for the resistance-breaking character of Ob, a recombinant virus was constructed in which the movement protein gene of tobacco mosaic virus was replaced with that of Ob. Cultivar Xanthi NN tobacco plants infected with this virus responded with an HR, indicating that the Ob movement protein alone does not act to overcome the N gene-mediated response. Following mutagenesis of the infectious Ob cDNA clone with hydroxylamine, populations of transcripts from the mutagenized DNA were inoculated onto Xanthi NN tobacco, and a variant that induced the HR was identified. The mutant was analyzed and found to contain a single nucleotide change in the 126-kD gene. Recreating the mutation in the Ob cDNA clone by site-directed mutagenesis resulted in a virus that caused symptoms identical to the chemically induced mutant.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Construction of rubella virus genome-length cDNA clones and synthesis of infectious RNA transcripts.

Plasmids containing a complete cDNA copy of the rubella virus (RUB) genomic RNA were constructed. Transfection into cell culture of genome-length RNA transcribed in vitro from one of these cDNA clones, Robo102, resulted in the production of virus which preserved the genetic and phenotypic characteristics of the parental virus from which the cDNA clone was derived. Prior to construction of the RUB genome-length cDNA clones, the 5'-terminal sequence of the RUB genomic RNA was determined to be 5'CAAUGG...3' following the cap structure. Analysis of the specific infectivity of RUB genomic RNA isolated from virions revealed that in Vero cells, the specific infectivity of RUB genomic RNA is roughly equivalent to that of Sindbis virus genomic RNA. In RUB virion RNA preparations, the subgenomic RNA was detected. It was demonstrated that subgenomic RNA was packaged into RUB virions; however, the presence of the subgenomic RNA was not essential for infectivity of the genomic RNA.

Animals↗