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At least 631 records · Page 35Linked to original sources

AP2: an indispensable host factor in virus infection.

Adaptor protein complex 2 (AP2), a central regulator of clathrin-mediated endocytosis and intracellular cargo trafficking, is hijacked by numerous viruses to complete their infectious cycles. This review systematically synthesizes the multifaceted roles of AP2 across the entire viral life cycle, from entry and replication to assembly and release, as well as in immune evasion. By delineating how diverse viruses exploit this key host machinery, we further consolidate the rationale and current progress in developing broad-spectrum antiviral strategies that target AP2 and its regulatory pathways. This work aims to provide a unified perspective on AP2 as a critical host-pathogen interface, offering new insights into viral pathogenesis and antiviral drug discovery.

Humans↗

New quantitative assay of hepatitis B and C viruses by competitive PCR using alternative internal sequences.

A competitive PCR was developed for quantitation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA, alternatively, using only two constructions containing both priming sites. DNAs corresponding to the HBV-S gene and the HCV-5' non-coding region were introduced into distinct plasmids. HBV plasmid was used as a standard for HBV-DNA quantitation, in competition with the HCV plasmid as internal control. HBV and HCV plasmids also served as template for transcription of HBV-RNA, and HCV-RNA, which was used as internal control and standard, respectively, in competition for HCV-RNA quantitation. The analyzed samples for HBV and HCV quantitation were processed in the same way in competition with the internal controls and to the respective calibration curves obtained by serial dilutions of the mimic standard. This method showed very good specificity and sensitivity, allowing absolute quantitation in a large linear range from 5 viral genomic copies per assay up to 10(6) copies, in sera of chronically HBV and HCV infected patients, as well as in supernatants of cell cultures inoculated with these viruses.

Animals↗

An internally controlled virion PCR for the measurement of HIV-1 RNA in plasma.

We have developed an assay to measure the HIV-1 RNA in patients' plasma or sera using an infectious mutant virus as an internal control. The mutant virus VX-46 has a 25-bp insert in a conserved region between the primer-binding and major splice donor sites. To utilize this virus as an internal control, different dilutions of this virus were added to aliquots of plasma sample to be measured, RNA was isolated and reverse-transcribed to cDNA. PCR was performed with primers selected to include the sequences on either side of the insert contained in the externally added virus. The DNA product from the control virus is 25 bp longer than that from the virus present in plasma. The amount of viral RNA present in a plasma sample is calculated after the PCR-amplified products are separated by gel electrophoresis. Unlike other quantitative PCR assays, this internally controlled virion PCR (ICVPCR) assay eliminates errors introduced by variable recovery during the RNA purification step, therefore, enhancing the accuracy of the assay.

Base Sequence↗

Mechanisms of neutralization of a nairovirus (Dugbe virus) by polyclonal IgG and IgM.

Dugbe virus is a member of the nairovirus genus of the Bunyaviridae. Purified polyclonal anti-Dugbe virus IgG, which neutralized greater than 99.5% of virus, reduced attachment of virus to BSC-1 cell monolayers by only 36%. A 100-fold lower concentration neutralized virus by 88%, and had no effect upon attachment. Neutralizing IgG did not affect the ability of Dugbe virus to be internalized by or to fuse with BSC-1 cells. This suggests that IgG neutralization occurs largely at a stage subsequent to primary uncoating. Purified polyclonal anti-Dugbe virus IgM neutralized infectivity and had no effect on the attachment of virus to cells, but inhibited internalization of virus by about 50%. Thus IgM neutralizes partly by interfering with entry of virus and partly by a post-entry event. Neutralization by intermediate concentrations of IgM was enhanced 20-fold in the presence of complement. At high concentrations of IgM, complement-dependent neutralization declined. This is probably due to IgM binding in a planar rather than crab conformation, which does not expose the complement binding sites. Aggregation occurred only at relatively low concentrations of immunoglobulin. Electron microscopy and reactivation of infectivity by vortexing suggested that aggregation makes only a minor contribution to neutralization by IgG or IgM.

Animals↗

The nucleic acid-binding zinc finger protein of potato virus M is translated by internal initiation as well as by ribosomal frameshifting involving a shifty stop codon and a novel mechanism of P-site slippage.

The genes for the capsid protein CP and the nucleic acid-binding 12K protein (pr12) of potato virus M (PVM) constitute the 3' terminal gene cluster of the PVM RNA genome. Both proteins are presumably translated from a single subgenomic RNA. We have identified two translational strategies operating in pr12 gene expression. Internal initiation at the first and the second AUG codon of the pr12 coding sequence results in the synthesis of the 12K protein. In addition the protein is produced as a CP/12K transframe protein by ribosomal frameshifting. For these studies parts of the CP and pr12 coding sequences including the putative frameshift region were introduced into an internal position of the beta-glucuronidase gene. Mutational analyses in conjunction with in vitro translation experiments identified a homopolymeric string of four adenosine nucleotides which together with a 3' flanking UGA stop codon were required for efficient frameshifting. The signal AAAAUGA is the first frameshift signal with a shifty stop codon to be analyzed in the eukaryotic system. Substitution of the four consecutive adenosine nucleotides by UUUU increased the efficiency of frameshifting, while substitution by GGGG or CCCC dramatically reduced the synthesis of the transframe protein. Also, UAA and UAG could replace the opal stop codon without effect on the frameshifting event, but mutation of UGA to the sense codon UGG inhibited transframe protein formation. These findings suggest that the mechanism of ribosomal frameshifting at the PVM signal is different from the one described by the 'simultaneous slippage' model in that only the string of four adenosine nucleotides represents the slippery sequence involved in a -1 P-site slippage.

Base Sequence↗

Herpesvirus interference with virus-specific antibodies: bridging antibodies, internalizing antibodies, and hiding from antibodies.

Herpesviruses have developed different tools to thwart efficient antibody-dependent neutralisation and lysis of virions and elimination of infected cells. This overview will briefly summarize different of these tools, including (i) viral Fc receptors and the resulting process of antibody bridging, (ii) internalization of individual viral proteins and clustered antibody-antigen complexes from the plasma membrane of infected cells, and (iii) directed egress of virus particles to sites of intimate cell-cell contact that are difficult to access for antibodies.

Animals↗

The sequence between nucleotides 161 and 512 of cowpea mosaic virus M RNA is able to support internal initiation of translation in vitro.

Cowpea mosaic virus M RNA is translated in vitro as well as in vivo into two C-coterminal polyproteins of Mr 105K and 95K. Initiation of translation of the 95K protein gene occurs at an AUG codon at position 512 of M RNA, 351 nucleotides downstream of the initiation codon of the 105K protein gene at position 161. By employing an in vitro transcription and translation system it was determined that this 351 nucleotide sequence has the capacity to direct ribosomes to initiate translation at a downstream start codon. This effect is independent of the position of this sequence in an mRNA. Furthermore, evidence has been obtained that scanning ribosomes can bypass the AUG at position 161. Thus, both leaky scanning and internal entry are mechanisms for the initiation of translation of the 95K protein gene.

Base Sequence↗

Translation of the hepatitis B virus P gene by ribosomal scanning as an alternative to internal initiation.

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) P gene which encodes the reverse transcriptase and other proteins required for replication is expressed on the bicistronic mRNA pregenome which also encodes the capsid protein in its first cistron. Recent results have suggested that the hepadnaviral P gene is translated by internal entry of ribosomes upstream from the P gene, in the overlapping C gene. Using a reporter gene fused to the HBV C or P gene, we demonstrate that the C sequence does not allow internal initiation of translation. Alternatively, our results support a model in which the HBV P gene is translated by ribosomes which scan from the capped extremity of the bicistronic mRNA pregenome. The mechanism by which the ribosomes scan past four AUGs before they initiate translation at the P AUG was analyzed. Our results show that these AUGs are skipped via two mechanisms: leaky scanning on AUGs in a weak or suboptimal initiation context and translation of an out-of-C-frame minicistron followed by reinitiation at P AUG. The minicistron translation allows ribosomes to bypass an AUG in a favorable context that would otherwise be used as a start codon for translation of a truncated capsid protein. Our results suggest that this elaborated scanning mechanism permits the coordinate expression of the HBV C and P genes on the viral bicistronic mRNA pregenome.

Base Sequence↗

Virus promoters determine interference by defective RNAs: selective amplification of mini-RNA vectors and rescue from cDNA by a 3' copy-back ambisense rabies virus.

Typical defective interfering (DI) RNAs are more successful in the competition for viral polymerase than the parental (helper) virus, which is mostly due to an altered DI promoter composition. Rabies virus (RV) internal deletion RNAs which possess the authentic RV terminal promoters, and which therefore are transcriptionally active and can be used as vectors for foreign gene expression, are poorly propagated in RV-infected cells and do not interfere with RV replication. To allow DI-like amplification and high-level gene expression from such mini-RNA vectors, we have used an engineered 3' copy-back (ambisense) helper RV in which the strong replication promoter of the antigenome was replaced with the 50-fold-weaker genome promoter. In cells coinfected with ambisense helper virus and mini-RNAs encoding chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) and luciferase, mini-RNAs were amplified to high levels. This was correlated with interference with helper virus replication, finally resulting in a clear predominance of mini-RNAs over helper virus. However, efficient successive passaging of mini-RNAs and high-level reporter gene activity could be achieved without adding exogenous helper virus, revealing a rather moderate degree of interference not precluding substantial HV propagation. Compared to infections with recombinant RV vectors expressing CAT, the availability of abundant mini-RNA templates led to increased levels of CAT mRNA such that CAT activities were augmented up to 250-fold, while virus gene transcription was kept to a minimum. We have also exploited the finding that internal deletion model RNAs behave like DI RNAs and are selectively amplified in the presence of ambisense helper virus to demonstrate for the first time RV-supported rescue of cDNA after transfection of mini-RNA cDNAs in ambisense RV-infected cells expressing T7 RNA polymerase.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

Understanding hepatitis B.

Advances in molecular virology and availability of new antiviral agents have made a positive impact on the treatment of hepatitis B. It is important to know the natural history of hepatitis B virus as high amount of virus may remain in the body for long periods of time without any significant liver disease. Whilst reactivation or mutation of hepatitis B virus and immune clearance may be associated with liver injury leading at times to liver failure. Serological and virological tests are routinely available to systematically evaluate a patient who is detected to have Hepatitis B virus infection. International guidelines have been formulated to suggest appropriate selection of the patient and drug for effective treatment. Therapeutic strategies for total eradication of hepatitis B virus from the liver still remain elusive. However it is now possible to ameliorate liver disease and alter the natural history with effective long-term suppression of the hepatitis B virus. New formulations of existing drugs and newer antiviral agents are constantly being looked into in clinical trials in the pursuit of an ideal therapy.

Acute Disease↗

Cap-independent translation of encephalomyocarditis virus RNA: structural elements of the internal ribosomal entry site and involvement of a cellular 57-kD RNA-binding protein.

Translation of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) mRNA occurs by ribosomal internal entry into the 5'-nontranslated region (5' NTR) rather than by ribosomal scanning. The internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) in the EMCV 5' NTR was determined by in vitro translation with RNAs that were generated by in vitro transcription of EMCV cDNAs containing serial deletions from either the 5' or 3' end of the EMCV 5' NTR. Regions downstream of nucleotide 403 and upstream of nucleotide 811 of EMCV were required for efficient translation. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that a stem-loop structure (400 nucleotides upstream of the initiation codon) was essential for IRES function. We discovered a 57-kD cellular protein whose specific interaction with this stem-loop appears to be prerequisite for IRES function. A A pyrimidine-rich stretch proximal to the initiation codon was also crucial for efficient translation of EMCV mRNA. We propose that ribosomes bind directly to the initiating AUG without scanning.

Animals↗

Retroviral vectors containing chimeric promoter/enhancer elements exhibit cell-type-specific gene expression.

Retroviral vectors were constructed in which the U3 promoter/enhancer of Moloney murine leukemia (Mo-MLV) was replaced by the corresponding region from five related murine retroviruses--AKR murine leukemia virus (AKV), Harvey murine sarcoma virus (HaMSV), myeloproliferative sarcoma virus (MPSV), SL3-3, and the NZB-xenotropic virus (Xeno). In these vectors the chimeric long terminal repeat (chLTR) drives the expression of the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) reporter gene that is followed by an internal SV40 virus early region promoter linked to the neomycin phosphotransferase II (NEO) gene. As an initial measure of the relative promoter/enhancer strength of the chLTR vectors, the murine NIH-3T3 cell line and the human JURKAT cell lines were transfected and assayed for CAT reporter activity. Relative to the MoMLV vector, the HaMSV construct was the most active in NIH-3T3 cells whereas the SL3-3 vector displayed the greatest activity in JURKAT cells. Retroviral vector producer cell populations and cell clones were established for each chLTR vector, and all were capable of yielding high vector titers (> 10(5) G418R cfu/ml on NIH-3T3). Supernatant from these cells was used to transduce both mouse and human cell lines and primary cells. In NIH-3T3 cells and two murine fibrosarcoma cell lines, the HaMSV chLTR vector was slightly more active than the MoMLV chLTR vector. In the human HepG2 and HeLa cell lines, the MPSV chLTR vector was the most active. Data from the human JURKAT T-cell line and a T cell line derived from an ADA-deficient severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) patient demonstrate that the SL3-3 chLTR is the most active in these lymphoid cell lines. The greatest difference in the comparison of the different chLTR vectors was observed in primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells, where the MoMLV vector produced up to 100 times more CAT activity than the SL3-3 vector. These data suggest that the use of specific promoter/enhancer elements may lead to higher levels of gene expression following retroviral-mediated gene transfer into specific cell types and these observations may be useful in the design of human gene therapy experiments.

Animals↗

Borna disease.

Borna disease virus, a newly classified nonsegmented negative-strand RNA virus with international distribution, infects a broad range of warm-blooded animals from birds to primates. Infection causes movement and behavioral disturbances reminiscent of some neuropsychiatric syndromes. The virus has not been clearly linked to any human disease; however, an association between infection with the virus and selected neuropsychiatric disorders has been suggested. We reviewed recent advances in Borna disease virus research, focusing on evidence of infection in humans.

Animals↗

Development and comparison of the real-time amplification based methods--NASBA-Beacon, RT-PCR taqman and RT-PCR hybridization probe assays--for the qualitative detection of sars coronavirus.

The aim of this study was to develop a rapid, sensitive and robust procedure for the qualitative detection of SARS coronavirus RNA. Three unique detection formats were developed for real-time RNA amplification assays: a post amplification detection step with a virus-specific internal capture probe based on Taqman (RT-PCR TaqMan assay), hybridization probe (RT-PCR hybridization probe assay) and a real-time assay with virus-specific molecular beacon probes (NASBA-Beacon assay). The analytical sensitivity or reproducibility of the test results among those three assays was compared. All assays yielded results by detecting SARS coronavirus targeting the BNI-1 region in less than 2 hours. RNA detection by all the formats was unaffected by the presence of human sputum. The limits of detection were at least 10 copies of input RNA for both RT-PCR formats (RT-PCR TaqMan and RT-PCR hybridization probe assays), while the NASBA-Beacon assay could detect as little as 1 copy per reaction, with high reproducibility of the coefficient of variation (CV) of <10. These results demonstrate that real-time NASBA provides a rapid and sensitive alternative to RT-PCR for the routine qualitative assay of sputum for SARS corona viral RNA detection.

Computer Systems↗

Endothelial cell-mediated uptake of a hepatitis B virus: a new concept of liver targeting of hepatotropic microorganisms.

The liver is a target for many infectious agents, most notably hepatitis viruses. However, several receptor molecules identified so far for hepatitis viruses were found to be ubiquitously expressed and can thus not account for efficient liver targeting. Using a model hepatitis B virus, the duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV), we have obtained data indicating that scavenging liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC), rather than hepatocytes themselves, play the key role in the initial uptake of viral pathogens into the liver. Experiments with fluorescent viral particles and coated gold particles in test animals, as well as in primary liver cell culture, demonstrated a preferential uptake of the viral substrates into LSEC. Intracellularly, fluorescent virus particles internalized by LSEC colocalized with the DHBV receptor, carboxypeptidase D, suggesting receptor-mediated rescue from lysosomal degradation. To comply with the high efficiency by which hepatitis B viruses infect hepatocytes in vivo, we propose that viruses initially scavenged by LSEC are thereafter released to infect adjacent hepatocytes, the only cells capable of replicating these viruses. Such a model of primary uptake into LSEC may illustrate a general mechanism by which blood-borne hepatotropic agents are targeted to the hepatocytes in the liver.

Animals↗

A snapshot of viral evolution from genome analysis of the tectiviridae family.

The origin, evolution and relationships of viruses are all fascinating topics. Current thinking in these areas is strongly influenced by the tailed double-stranded (ds) DNA bacteriophages. These viruses have mosaic genomes produced by genetic exchange and so new natural isolates are quite dissimilar to each other, and to laboratory strains. Consequently, they are not amenable to study by current tools for phylogenetic analysis. Less attention has been paid to the Tectiviridae family, which embraces icosahedral dsDNA bacterial viruses with an internal lipid membrane. It includes viruses, such as PRD1, that infect Gram-negative bacteria, as well as viruses like Bam35 with Gram-positive hosts. Although PRD1 and Bam35 have closely related virion morphology and genome organization, they have no detectable sequence similarity. There is strong evidence that the Bam35 coat protein has the "double-barrel trimer" arrangement of PRD1 that was first observed in adenovirus and is predicted to occur in other viruses with large facets. It is very likely that a single ancestral virus gave rise to this very large group of viruses. The unprecedented degree of conservation recently observed for two Bam35-like tectiviruses made it important to investigate those infecting Gram-negative bacteria. The DNA sequences for six PRD1-like isolates (PRD1, PR3, PR4, PR5, L17, PR772) have now been determined. Remarkably, these bacteriophages, isolated at distinctly different dates and global locations, have almost identical genomes. The discovery of almost invariant genomes for the two main Tectiviridae groups contrasts sharply with the situation in the tailed dsDNA bacteriophages. Notably, it permits a sequence analysis of the isolates revealing that the tectiviral proteins can be dissected into a slowly evolving group descended from the ancestor, the viral self, and a more rapidly changing group reflecting interactions with the host.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Replication and transmission of influenza viruses in Japanese quail.

Quail have emerged as a potential intermediate host in the spread of avian influenza A viruses in poultry in Hong Kong. To better understand this possible role, we tested the replication and transmission in quail of influenza A viruses of all 15 HA subtypes. Quail supported the replication of at least 14 subtypes. Influenza A viruses replicated predominantly in the respiratory tract. Transmission experiments suggested that perpetuation of avian influenza viruses in quail requires adaptation. Swine influenza viruses were isolated from the respiratory tract of quail at low levels. There was no evidence of human influenza A or B virus replication. Interestingly, a human-avian recombinant containing the surface glycoprotein genes of a quail virus and the internal genes of a human virus replicated and transmitted readily in quail; therefore, quail could function as amplifiers of influenza virus reassortants that have the potential to infect humans and/or other mammalian species.

Animals↗