Infection-induced plasmablasts are a nutrient sink that impairs humoral immunity to malaria.

Plasmodium parasite-specific antibodies are critical for protection against malaria, yet the development of long-lived and effective humoral immunity against Plasmodium takes many years and multiple rounds of infection and cure. Here, we report that the rapid development of short-lived plasmablasts during experimental malaria unexpectedly hindered parasite control by impeding germinal center responses. Metabolic hyperactivity of plasmablasts resulted in nutrient deprivation of the germinal center reaction, limiting the generation of memory B cell and long-lived plasma cell responses. Therapeutic administration of a single amino acid to experimentally infected mice was sufficient to overcome the metabolic constraints imposed by plasmablasts and enhanced parasite clearance and the formation of protective humoral immune memory responses. Thus, our studies not only challenge the current model describing the role and function of blood-stage Plasmodium-induced plasmablasts but they also reveal new targets and strategies to improve anti-Plasmodium humoral immunity.

AMP-activated protein kinase is required for the macropinocytic internalization of ebolavirus.

Identification of host factors that are needed for Zaire Ebolavirus (EBOV) entry provides insights into the mechanism(s) of filovirus uptake, and these factors may serve as potential antiviral targets. In order to identify novel host genes and pathways involved in EBOV entry, gene array findings in the National Cancer Institute's NCI-60 panel of human tumor cell lines were correlated with permissivity for EBOV glycoprotein (GP)-mediated entry. We found that the gene encoding the γ2 subunit of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) strongly correlated with EBOV transduction in the tumor panel. The AMPK inhibitor compound C inhibited infectious EBOV replication in Vero cells and diminished EBOV GP-dependent, but not Lassa fever virus GPC-dependent, entry into a variety of cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Compound C also prevented EBOV GP-mediated infection of primary human macrophages, a major target of filoviral replication in vivo. Consistent with a role for AMPK in filovirus entry, time-of-addition studies demonstrated that compound C abrogated infection when it was added at early time points but became progressively less effective when added later. Compound C prevented EBOV pseudovirion internalization at 37°C as cell-bound particles remained susceptible to trypsin digestion in the presence of the inhibitor but not in its absence. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts lacking the AMPKα1 and AMPKα2 catalytic subunits were significantly less permissive to EBOV GP-mediated infection than their wild-type counterparts, likely due to decreased macropinocytic uptake. In total, these findings implicate AMPK in macropinocytic events needed for EBOV GP-dependent entry and identify a novel cellular target for new filoviral antivirals.

Effect of Interferon Gamma on Ebola Virus Infection of Primary Kupffer Cells and a Kupffer Cell Line.

Ebola virus disease (EVD) represents a global health threat. The etiological agents of EVD are six species of Orthoebolaviruses, with Orthoebolavirus zairense (EBOV) having the greatest public health and medical significance. EVD pathogenesis occurs as a result of broad cellular tropism of the virus, robust viral replication and a potent and dysregulated production of cytokines. In vivo, tissue macrophages are some of the earliest cells infected and contribute significantly to virus load and cytokine production. While EBOV is known to infect macrophages and to generate high titer virus in the liver, EBOV infection of liver macrophages, Kupffer cells, has not previously been examined in tissue culture or experimentally manipulated in vivo. Here, we employed primary murine Kupffer cells (KC) and an immortalized murine Kupffer cell line (ImKC) to assess EBOV-eGFP replication in liver macrophages. KCs and ImKCs were highly permissive for EBOV infection and IFN-γ polarization of these cells suppressed their permissiveness to infection. The kinetics of IFN-γ-elicited antiviral responses were examined using a biologically contained model of EBOV infection termed EBOV ΔVP30. The antiviral activity of IFN-γ was transient, but a modest ~3-fold reduction of infection persisted for as long as 6 days post-treatment. To assess the interferon-stimulated gene products (ISGs) responsible for protection, the efficacy of secreted ISGs induced by IFN-γ was evaluated and secreted ISGs failed to block EBOV ΔVP30. Our studies define new cellular tools for the study of EBOV infection that can potentially aid the development of new antiviral therapies. Furthermore, our data underscore the importance of macrophages in EVD pathogenesis and those IFN-γ-elicited ISGs that help to control EBOV infection.

Manipulation of P-TEFb control machinery by HIV: recruitment of P-TEFb from the large form by Tat and binding of HEXIM1 to TAR.

Basal transcription of the HIV LTR is highly repressed and requires Tat to recruit the positive transcription elongation factor, P-TEFb, which functions to promote the transition of RNA polymerase II from abortive to productive elongation. P-TEFb is found in two forms in cells, a free, active form and a large, inactive complex that also contains 7SK RNA and HEXIM1 or HEXIM2. Here we show that HIV infection of cells led to the release of P-TEFb from the large form. Consistent with Tat being the cause of this effect, transfection of a FLAG-tagged Tat in 293T cells caused a dramatic shift of P-TEFb out of the large form to a smaller form containing Tat. In vitro, Tat competed with HEXIM1 for binding to 7SK, blocked the formation of the P-TEFb-HEXIM1-7SK complex, and caused the release P-TEFb from a pre-formed P-TEFb-HEXIM1-7SK complex. These findings indicate that Tat can acquire P-TEFb from the large form. In addition, we found that HEXIM1 binds tightly to the HIV 5' UTR containing TAR and recruits and inhibits P-TEFb activity. This suggests that in the absence of Tat, HEXIM1 may bind to TAR and repress transcription elongation of the HIV LTR.

Hypericum in infection: Identification of anti-viral and anti-inflammatory constituents.

The Iowa Center for Research on Botanical Dietary Supplements seeks to optimize Echinacea, Hypericum, and Prunella botanical supplements for human-health benefit, emphasizing antiviral, anti-inflammatory and anti-pain activities. This mini-review reports on ongoing studies on Hypericum. The Center uses the genetically diverse, well-documented Hypericum populations collected and maintained at the USDA-ARS North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station (NCRPIS), and the strength of research in synthetic chemistry at Iowa State University to tap natural diversity, to help discover key constituents and interactions among constituents that impact bioactivity and toxicity. The NCRPIS has acquired more than 180 distinct populations of Hypericum, with a focus on Hypericum perforatum L. (Hypericaceae), representing about 13% of currently recognized taxa. Center chemists have developed novel synthetic pathways for key flavones, acyl phloroglucinols, hyperolactones and a tetralin that have been found in Hypericum, and these compounds are used as standards and for bioactivity studies. Both light-dependent and light-independent anti-viral activities have been identified by using bioactivity-guided fractionation of H. perforatum and a HIV-1 infection test system. Our Center has focused on light-independent activity, potentially due to novel chemicals, and polar fractions are undergoing further fractionation. Anti-inflammatory activity has been found to be light-independent, and fractionation of a flavonoid-rich extract revealed four compounds (amentoflavone, chlorogenic acid, pseudohypericin and quercetin) that interacted in the light to inhibit lipopolysaccharide-induced prostaglandin E(2) activity. The Center continues to explore novel populations of H. perforatum and related species to identify constituents and interactions of constituents that contribute to potential health benefits related to infection.

Echinacea in infection.

Ongoing studies have developed strategies for identifying key bioactive compounds and chemical profiles in Echinacea with the goal of improving its human health benefits. Antiviral and antiinflammatory-antipain assays have targeted various classes of chemicals responsible for these activities. Analysis of polar fractions of E. purpurea extracts showed the presence of antiviral activity, with evidence suggesting that polyphenolic compounds other than the known HIV inhibitor, cichoric acid, may be involved. Antiinflammatory activity differed by species, with E. sanguinea having the greatest activity and E. angustifolia, E. pallida, and E. simulata having somewhat less. Fractionation and studies with pure compounds indicate that this activity is explained, at least in part, by the alkamide constituents. Ethanol extracts from Echinacea roots had potent activity as novel agonists of TRPV1, a mammalian pain receptor reported as an integrator of inflammatory pain and hyperalgesia and a prime therapeutic target for analgesic and antiinflammatory drugs. One fraction from E. purpurea ethanol extract was bioactive in this system. Interestingly, the antiinflammatory compounds identified to inhibit prostaglandin E(2) production differed from those involved in TRPV1 receptor activation.

Drug induced superinfection in HIV and the evolution of drug resistance.

The rapid evolution of HIV drug resistance is a major cause of AIDS treatment failure. Superinfection, the infection of an already infected cell by additional virions, can be a major factor contributing to the evolution of drug resistance. However, the pattern and consequences of superinfection in HIV populations are far from fully understood. In this paper we study the implications of the fact that superinfection is regulated by HIV. We propose that superinfection is negatively associated with the success of the virus, so that more successful viruses are less likely to allow superinfection. We use computational models to investigate the effect that regulated superinfection would have on the evolution of drug resistance in HIV population. We find that regulated, fitness-associated superinfection can provide a distinct advantage to the virus in adapting to anti-HIV drugs in comparison with unregulated superinfection. Based on the results of the computational models and on current biological evidence, we suggest that the mechanism of fitness-associated regulation of coinfection in HIV is plausible, and that its investigation can lead to new ways to fight viral drug resistance.

Ebola virus entry into host cells: identifying therapeutic strategies.

Filoviruses cause severe hemorrhagic fever in humans. The archetypal virus of this group, Ebola virus, is responsible for the current filovirus epidemic in West Africa. Filoviruses infect most mammalian cells, resulting in broad species tropism and likely contributing to rapid spread of virus throughout the body. A thorough understanding of filovirus entry events will facilitate the development of therapeutics against these critical steps in the viral life cycle. This review summarizes the current understanding of filovirus entry and discusses some of the recent advancements in therapeutic strategies that target entry.