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1.
Cell Mol Life Sci ; 80(6): 151, 2023 May 17.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37198527

RESUMO

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are major components of the innate immune defense. Accumulating evidence suggests that the antibacterial activity of many AMPs is dependent on the formation of amyloid-like fibrils. To identify novel fibril forming AMPs, we generated a spleen-derived peptide library and screened it for the presence of amyloidogenic peptides. This approach led to the identification of a C-terminal 32-mer fragment of alpha-hemoglobin, termed HBA(111-142). The non-fibrillar peptide has membranolytic activity against various bacterial species, while the HBA(111-142) fibrils aggregated bacteria to promote their phagocytotic clearance. Further, HBA(111-142) fibrils selectively inhibited measles and herpes viruses (HSV-1, HSV-2, HCMV), but not SARS-CoV-2, ZIKV and IAV. HBA(111-142) is released from its precursor by ubiquitous aspartic proteases under acidic conditions characteristic at sites of infection and inflammation. Thus, HBA(111-142) is an amyloidogenic AMP that may specifically be generated from a highly abundant precursor during bacterial or viral infection and may play an important role in innate antimicrobial immune responses.


Assuntos
COVID-19 , Infecção por Zika virus , Zika virus , Humanos , Peptídeos , Amiloide/química , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Hemoglobinas
2.
Clin Infect Dis ; 75(1): e653-e661, 2022 08 24.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35079775

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Most of the millions of people that are vaccinated against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), have previously been infected by related circulating human coronaviruses (hCoVs) causing common colds and will experience further encounters with these viruses in the future. Whether COVID-19 vaccinations impact neutralization of seasonal coronaviruses is largely unknown. METHODS: We analyzed the capacity of sera derived from 24 individuals before and after heterologous ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 BNT162b2 prime-boost vaccination to neutralize genuine OC43, NL63, and 229E hCoVs, as well as viral pseudoparticles carrying the SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)-CoV, and hCoV-OC43, hCoV-NL63, and hCoV-229E spike proteins. Genuine hCoVs or spike containing pseudovirions were incubated with different concentrations of sera and neutralization efficiencies were determined by measuring viral RNA yields, intracellular viral nucleocapsid expression, or reporter gene expression in Huh-7 cells. RESULTS: All individuals showed strong preexisting immunity against hCoV-OC43. Neutralization of hCoV-NL63 was more variable and all sera showed only modest inhibitory activity against genuine hCoV-229E. SARS-CoV-2 vaccination resulted in efficient cross-neutralization of SARS-CoV-1 but not of MERS-CoV. On average, vaccination significantly increased the neutralizing activity against genuine hCoV-OC43, hCoV-NL63, and hCoV-229E. CONCLUSIONS: Heterologous COVID-19 vaccination may confer some cross-protection against endemic seasonal coronaviruses.


Assuntos
COVID-19 , Coronavirus Humano 229E , Coronavirus Humano NL63 , Coronavirus Humano OC43 , Vacina BNT162 , COVID-19/prevenção & controle , Vacinas contra COVID-19 , ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 , Humanos , SARS-CoV-2 , Estações do Ano , Vacinação
3.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol ; 320(5): L750-L756, 2021 05 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33561380

RESUMO

Pharmaceutical interventions are urgently needed to prevent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and transmission. As SARS-CoV-2 infects and spreads via the nasopharyngeal airways, we analyzed the antiviral effect of selected nasal and oral sprays on virus infection in vitro. Two nose sprays showed virucidal activity but were cytotoxic precluding further analysis in cell culture. One nasal and one mouth spray suppressed SARS-CoV-2 infection of TMPRSS2-expressing Vero E6 cells and primary differentiated human airway epithelial cultures. The antiviral activity in both sprays could be attributed to polyanionic ι- and κ-carrageenans. Thus, application of carrageenan-containing nasal and mouth sprays may reduce the risk of acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infection and may limit viral spread, warranting further clinical evaluation.


Assuntos
Antivirais/farmacologia , Tratamento Farmacológico da COVID-19 , COVID-19/prevenção & controle , Carragenina/farmacologia , SARS-CoV-2/efeitos dos fármacos , Adulto , Animais , Linhagem Celular , Chlorocebus aethiops , Células Epiteliais/efeitos dos fármacos , Células Epiteliais/virologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Sprays Nasais , Sprays Orais , Serina Endopeptidases/metabolismo , Células Vero
4.
Haematologica ; 106(8): 2170-2179, 2021 08 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34011137

RESUMO

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. To prevent severe infection, mass COVID-19 vaccination campaigns with several vaccine types are currently underway. We report pathological and immunological findings in 8 patients who developed vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) after administration of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine ChAdOx1 nCoV-19. We analyzed patient material using enzyme immune assays, flow cytometry and heparin-induced platelet aggregation assay and performed autopsies on two fatal cases. Eight patients (5 female, 3 male) with a median age of 41.5 years (range, 24 to 53) were referred to us with suspected thrombotic complications 6 to 20 days after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination. All patients had thrombocytopenia at admission. Patients had a median platelet count of 46.5 x109/L (range, 8 to 92). Three had a fatal outcome and 5 were successfully treated. Autopsies showed arterial and venous thromboses in various organs and the occlusion of glomerular capillaries by hyaline thrombi. Sera from VITT patients contain high titer antibodies against platelet factor 4 (PF4) (OD 2.59±0.64). PF4 antibodies in VITT patients induced significant increase in procoagulant markers (P-selectin and phosphatidylserine externalization) compared to healthy volunteers and healthy vaccinated volunteers. The generation of procoagulant platelets was PF4 and heparin dependent. We demonstrate the contribution of antibody-mediated platelet activation in the pathogenesis of VITT.


Assuntos
COVID-19 , Trombocitopenia , Adulto , Autoanticorpos , Plaquetas , Vacinas contra COVID-19 , ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Pandemias , SARS-CoV-2 , Trombocitopenia/induzido quimicamente , Vacinação/efeitos adversos , Adulto Jovem
5.
J Infect Dis ; 222(8): 1289-1292, 2020 09 14.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32726430

RESUMO

The ongoing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic creates a significant threat to global health. Recent studies suggested the significance of throat and salivary glands as major sites of virus replication and transmission during early coronavirus disease 2019, thus advocating application of oral antiseptics. However, the antiviral efficacy of oral rinsing solutions against SARS-CoV-2 has not been examined. Here, we evaluated the virucidal activity of different available oral rinses against SARS-CoV-2 under conditions mimicking nasopharyngeal secretions. Several formulations with significant SARS-CoV-2 inactivating properties in vitro support the idea that oral rinsing might reduce the viral load of saliva and could thus lower the transmission of SARS-CoV-2.


Assuntos
Antivirais/farmacologia , Betacoronavirus/efeitos dos fármacos , Infecções por Coronavirus/tratamento farmacológico , Infecções por Coronavirus/virologia , Antissépticos Bucais/farmacologia , Pneumonia Viral/tratamento farmacológico , Pneumonia Viral/virologia , Animais , Betacoronavirus/fisiologia , COVID-19 , Chlorocebus aethiops , Infecções por Coronavirus/transmissão , Humanos , Pandemias , Pneumonia Viral/transmissão , SARS-CoV-2 , Saliva/virologia , Células Vero , Carga Viral/efeitos dos fármacos , Replicação Viral/efeitos dos fármacos
6.
J Am Chem Soc ; 142(40): 17024-17038, 2020 10 07.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32926779

RESUMO

Broad-spectrum antivirals are powerful weapons against dangerous viruses where no specific therapy exists, as in the case of the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We discovered that a lysine- and arginine-specific supramolecular ligand (CLR01) destroys enveloped viruses, including HIV, Ebola, and Zika virus, and remodels amyloid fibrils in semen that promote viral infection. Yet, it is unknown how CLR01 exerts these two distinct therapeutic activities. Here, we delineate a novel mechanism of antiviral activity by studying the activity of tweezer variants: the "phosphate tweezer" CLR01, a "carboxylate tweezer" CLR05, and a "phosphate clip" PC. Lysine complexation inside the tweezer cavity is needed to antagonize amyloidogenesis and is only achieved by CLR01. Importantly, CLR01 and CLR05 but not PC form closed inclusion complexes with lipid head groups of viral membranes, thereby altering lipid orientation and increasing surface tension. This process disrupts viral envelopes and diminishes infectivity but leaves cellular membranes intact. Consequently, CLR01 and CLR05 display broad antiviral activity against all enveloped viruses tested, including herpesviruses, Measles virus, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2. Based on our mechanistic insights, we potentiated the antiviral, membrane-disrupting activity of CLR01 by introducing aliphatic ester arms into each phosphate group to act as lipid anchors that promote membrane targeting. The most potent ester modifications harbored unbranched C4 units, which engendered tweezers that were approximately one order of magnitude more effective than CLR01 and nontoxic. Thus, we establish the mechanistic basis of viral envelope disruption by specific tweezers and establish a new class of potential broad-spectrum antivirals with enhanced activity.


Assuntos
Antivirais/química , Antivirais/farmacologia , Hidrocarbonetos Aromáticos com Pontes/farmacologia , Organofosfatos/farmacologia , Proteínas do Envelope Viral/efeitos dos fármacos , Fosfatase Ácida/química , Fosfatase Ácida/metabolismo , Amiloide/antagonistas & inibidores , Fármacos Anti-HIV/química , Fármacos Anti-HIV/farmacologia , Arginina/química , Betacoronavirus/efeitos dos fármacos , Hidrocarbonetos Aromáticos com Pontes/química , Membrana Celular/química , Membrana Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Membrana Celular/virologia , Infecções por HIV/tratamento farmacológico , HIV-1/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Lipídeos/química , Lisina/química , Espectroscopia de Ressonância Magnética , Organofosfatos/química , SARS-CoV-2 , Proteínas Secretadas pela Vesícula Seminal/química , Proteínas Secretadas pela Vesícula Seminal/metabolismo , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , Proteínas do Envelope Viral/metabolismo , Zika virus/efeitos dos fármacos
7.
J Virol ; 93(6)2019 03 15.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30626669

RESUMO

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most frequent viral cause of congenital infections that can lead to severe birth defects. Although HCMV is frequently detected in semen and thus is potentially sexually transmitted, the role of semen in HCMV transmission is largely unclear. Here we describe that human seminal plasma (SP; the cell-free supernatant of semen) inhibits HCMV infection. The inhibition of HCMV infection was dose dependent and effective for different cell types, virus strains, and semen donors. This inhibitory effect was specific for HCMV, as herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infections were enhanced by SP. Mechanistically, SP inhibited infection by interfering with the attachment of virions to cells most likely via an interaction with the trimeric glycoprotein complex gH/gL/gO. Together, our findings suggest that semen contains a factor that potentially limits sexual transmission of HCMV.IMPORTANCE The role of semen in sexual transmission of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is currently unclear. This is surprising, as HCMV is frequently detected in this body fluid and infection is of high danger for neonates and pregnant women. In this study, we found that seminal plasma (SP) dose dependently inhibited HCMV infection. The infection inhibition was specific for HCMV, as other viruses, such as human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), were not inhibited by SP. SP must contain a soluble, heat-resistant factor that limits attachment of HCMV particles to cells, probably by interaction with the trimeric glycoprotein complex gH/gL/gO. This novel virus-host interaction could possibly limit transmission of HCMV via semen during sexual intercourse.


Assuntos
Infecções por Citomegalovirus/imunologia , Citomegalovirus/imunologia , Sêmen/imunologia , Sêmen/virologia , Células Cultivadas , Infecções por Citomegalovirus/virologia , Células Epiteliais/imunologia , Células Epiteliais/virologia , Fibroblastos/imunologia , Fibroblastos/virologia , Humanos , Vírion/imunologia
8.
J Virol ; 92(17)2018 09 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29925662

RESUMO

VIRIP has been identified as natural HIV-1 inhibitor targeting the gp41 fusion peptide. An optimized analogue (VIR-576) was effective in a phase I/II clinical trial and initial studies showed that HIV-1 resistance to VIRIP-based inhibitors has a high genetic barrier. Partially resistant CXCR4 (X4)-tropic HIV-1 NL4-3 variants could be obtained, however, after more than 15 months of passaging in MT-4 cells in the presence of another derivative (VIR-353). Sequence analyses identified the accumulation of seven mutations across the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein but outside the gp41 fusion peptide. The authors suggested that the three initial alterations conferred resistance, while subsequent changes restored viral fitness. Here, we introduced these mutations individually and in combination into X4- and CCR5 (R5)-tropic HIV-1 constructs and determined their impact on VIR-353 and VIR-576 susceptibility, viral infectivity, replication fitness, and fusogenicity. We found that essentially all seven mutations contribute to reduced susceptibility to VIRIP-based inhibitors. HIV-1 constructs containing ≥4 changes were substantially more resistant to both VIRIP-based inhibitors and the VRC34.01 antibody targeting the fusion peptide. However, they were also much less infectious and fusogenic than those harboring only the three initial alterations. Furthermore, the additional changes attenuated rather than rescued HIV-1 replication in primary human cells. Thus, the genetic barrier to HIV-1 resistance against VIRIP-based inhibitors is higher than previously suggested, and mutations reducing viral susceptibility come at a severe fitness cost that was not rescued during long-term cell culture passage.IMPORTANCE Many viral pathogens are critically dependent on fusion peptides (FPs) that are inserted into the cellular membrane for infection. Initially, it was thought that FPs cannot be targeted for therapy because they are hardly accessible. However, an optimized derivative (VIR-576) of an endogenous fragment of α1-antitrypsin, named VIRIP, targeting the gp41 FP reduced viral loads in HIV-1-infected individuals. Characterization of HIV-1 variants selected during long-term cell-culture passage in the presence of a VIRIP derivative suggested that just three mutations in the HIV-1 Env protein might be sufficient for VIRIP resistance and that four subsequent changes restored viral fitness. Here, we show that all seven mutations contribute to reduced viral susceptibility to VIRIP-based inhibitors and demonstrate that the additional changes strongly impair rather than rescue HIV-1 infectivity, fusogenicity, and replication fitness. High genetic barrier to resistance and severe fitness cost support further clinical development of this class of antiviral agents.


Assuntos
Aptidão Genética/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteína gp41 do Envelope de HIV/genética , Inibidores da Fusão de HIV/farmacologia , HIV-1/efeitos dos fármacos , Mutação , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/genética , alfa 1-Antitripsina/genética , Células HEK293 , Proteína gp41 do Envelope de HIV/metabolismo , Infecções por HIV/virologia , HIV-1/genética , HIV-1/fisiologia , Humanos , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/metabolismo , Receptores CCR5/metabolismo , Internalização do Vírus/efeitos dos fármacos , alfa 1-Antitripsina/metabolismo
9.
PLoS Pathog ; 13(2): e1006163, 2017 02.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28207890

RESUMO

Understanding early events of HIV transmission within mucosal tissues is vital for developing effective prevention strategies. Here, we report that primary stromal fibroblasts isolated from endometrium, cervix, foreskin, male urethra, and intestines significantly increase HIV infection of CD4+ T cells-by up to 37-fold for R5-tropic HIV and 100-fold for X4-tropic HIV-without themselves becoming infected. Fibroblasts were more efficient than dendritic cells at trans-infection and mediate this response in the absence of the DC-SIGN and Siglec-1 receptors. In comparison, mucosal epithelial cells secrete antivirals and inhibit HIV infection. These data suggest that breaches in the epithelium allow external or luminal HIV to escape an antiviral environment to access the infection-favorable environment of the stromal fibroblasts, and suggest that resident fibroblasts have a central, but previously unrecognized, role in HIV acquisition at mucosal sites. Inhibiting fibroblast-mediated enhancement of HIV infection should be considered as a novel prevention strategy.


Assuntos
Linfócitos T CD4-Positivos/virologia , Fibroblastos/citologia , Infecções por HIV/transmissão , HIV-1/patogenicidade , Mucosa/virologia , Técnicas de Cocultura , Endométrio/citologia , Endométrio/virologia , Feminino , Citometria de Fluxo , Prepúcio do Pênis/citologia , Prepúcio do Pênis/virologia , Humanos , Mucosa Intestinal/citologia , Mucosa Intestinal/virologia , Masculino , Mucosa/citologia , Análise de Sequência com Séries de Oligonucleotídeos , Uretra/citologia , Uretra/virologia
10.
J Virol ; 90(13): 6001-6013, 2016 07 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27099312

RESUMO

UNLABELLED: Although all 12 subtypes of human interferon alpha (IFN-α) bind the same receptor, recent results have demonstrated that they elicit unique host responses and display distinct efficacies in the control of different viral infections. The IFN-α2 subtype is currently in HIV-1 clinical trials, but it has not consistently reduced viral loads in HIV-1 patients and is not the most effective subtype against HIV-1 in vitro We now demonstrate in humanized mice that, when delivered at the same high clinical dose, the human IFN-α14 subtype has very potent anti-HIV-1 activity whereas IFN-α2 does not. In both postexposure prophylaxis and treatment of acute infections, IFN-α14, but not IFN-α2, significantly suppressed HIV-1 replication and proviral loads. Furthermore, HIV-1-induced immune hyperactivation, which is a prognosticator of disease progression, was reduced by IFN-α14 but not IFN-α2. Whereas ineffective IFN-α2 therapy was associated with CD8(+) T cell activation, successful IFN-α14 therapy was associated with increased intrinsic and innate immunity, including significantly higher induction of tetherin and MX2, increased APOBEC3G signature mutations in HIV-1 proviral DNA, and higher frequencies of TRAIL(+) NK cells. These results identify IFN-α14 as a potent new therapeutic that operates via mechanisms distinct from those of antiretroviral drugs. The ability of IFN-α14 to reduce both viremia and proviral loads in vivo suggests that it has strong potential as a component of a cure strategy for HIV-1 infections. The broad implication of these results is that the antiviral efficacy of each individual IFN-α subtype should be evaluated against the specific virus being treated. IMPORTANCE: The naturally occurring antiviral protein IFN-α2 is used to treat hepatitis viruses but has proven rather ineffective against HIV in comparison to triple therapy with the antiretroviral (ARV) drugs. Although ARVs suppress the replication of HIV, they fail to completely clear infections. Since IFN-α acts by different mechanism than ARVs and has been shown to reduce HIV proviral loads, clinical trials are under way to test whether IFN-α2 combined with ARVs might eradicate HIV-1 infections. IFN-α is actually a family of 12 distinct proteins, and each IFN-α subtype has different efficacies toward different viruses. Here, we use mice that contain a human immune system, so they can be infected with HIV. With this model, we demonstrate that while IFN-α2 is only weakly effective against HIV, IFN-α14 is extremely potent. This discovery identifies IFN-α14 as a more powerful IFN-α subtype for use in combination therapy trials aimed toward an HIV cure.


Assuntos
Antivirais/uso terapêutico , Infecções por HIV/tratamento farmacológico , HIV-1/efeitos dos fármacos , Interferon-alfa/uso terapêutico , Carga Viral/efeitos dos fármacos , Replicação Viral/efeitos dos fármacos , Desaminase APOBEC-3G/genética , Animais , Antígenos CD/genética , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/imunologia , Progressão da Doença , Proteínas Ligadas por GPI/genética , Infecções por HIV/imunologia , Infecções por HIV/virologia , HIV-1/fisiologia , Humanos , Imunidade Inata , Interferon-alfa/classificação , Interferon-alfa/imunologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Ativação Linfocitária , Camundongos , Camundongos Transgênicos , Proteínas de Resistência a Myxovirus/genética , Viremia/tratamento farmacológico
11.
Med Microbiol Immunol ; 206(2): 175-185, 2017 Apr.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28176006

RESUMO

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging pathogen that causes congenital infections which may result in birth defects, such as microcephaly. Currently, no approved treatment or vaccination is available. ZIKV can be readily detected in cell culture where virally infected cells are normally stained by specific antibodies. As ZIKV regularly causes a cytopathic effect, we were wondering whether this viral property can be used to quantitatively determine viral infectivity. We here describe the use of an 3-[4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl]-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide-(MTT)-based cell viability assay that allows to determine ZIKV-induced cell death. We show that this colorimetric assay quantifies ZIKV infection over a broad range of viral dilutions in both monkey and human cells. It allows to determine inhibitory activities of antivirals that block ZIKV or to define the neutralizing antibody titers of ZIKV antisera. This MTT-based ZIKV detection assay can be evaluated by naked eye or computational tools, has a broad linear range, does not require large equipment or costly reagents, and thus represents a promising alternative to antibody-based assays, in particular in resource-poor settings. We propose to use this simple, fast, and cheap method for quantification of ZIKV neutralizing antibodies and testing of antiviral compounds.


Assuntos
Colorimetria/métodos , Ensaios de Triagem em Larga Escala/métodos , Infecção por Zika virus/diagnóstico , Infecção por Zika virus/virologia , Zika virus , Animais , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/imunologia , Linhagem Celular , Sobrevivência Celular , Chlorocebus aethiops , Humanos , Soros Imunes/imunologia , Interferon-alfa/farmacologia , Testes de Neutralização/métodos , Células Vero , Zika virus/efeitos dos fármacos , Zika virus/imunologia , Infecção por Zika virus/imunologia
15.
Chembiochem ; 17(16): 1504-8, 2016 08 17.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27239020

RESUMO

Retroviral vectors are common tools for introducing genes into the genome of a cell. However, low transduction rates are a major limitation in retroviral gene transfer, especially in clinical applications. We generated cationic human serum albumin (cHSA) protected by a shell of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG); this significantly enhanced retroviral gene transduction with potentially attractive pharmacokinetics and low immunogenicity. By screening a panel of chemically optimized HSA compounds, we identified a very potent enhancer that boosted the transduction rates of viral vectors. Confocal microscopy revealed a drastically increased number of viral particles attached to the surfaces of target cells. In accordance with the positive net charge of cationic and PEGylated HSA, this suggests a mechanism of action in which the repulsion of the negatively charged cellular and viral vector membranes is neutralized, thereby promoting attachment and ultimately transduction. Importantly, the transduction-enhancing PEGylated HSA derivative evaded recognition by HSA-specific antibodies and macrophage activation. Our findings hold great promise for facilitating improved retroviral gene transfer.


Assuntos
Técnicas de Transferência de Genes , Polietilenoglicóis/química , Retroviridae/genética , Albumina Sérica/química , Animais , Cátions/química , Linhagem Celular , Humanos , Camundongos , Modelos Moleculares , Estrutura Molecular
16.
J Virol ; 88(13): 7221-34, 2014 Jul.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24741080

RESUMO

UNLABELLED: Semen enhances HIV infection in vitro, but how long it retains this activity has not been carefully examined. Immediately postejaculation, semen exists as a semisolid coagulum, which then converts to a more liquid form in a process termed liquefaction. We demonstrate that early during liquefaction, semen exhibits maximal HIV-enhancing activity that gradually declines upon further incubation. The decline in HIV-enhancing activity parallels the degradation of peptide fragments derived from the semenogelins (SEMs), the major components of the coagulum that are cleaved in a site-specific and progressive manner upon initiation of liquefaction. Because amyloid fibrils generated from SEM fragments were recently demonstrated to enhance HIV infection, we set out to determine whether any of the liquefaction-generated SEM fragments associate with the presence of HIV-enhancing activity. We identify SEM1 from amino acids 86 to 107 [SEM1(86-107)] to be a short, cationic, amyloidogenic SEM peptide that is generated early in the process of liquefaction but that, conversely, is lost during prolonged liquefaction due to the activity of serine proteases. Synthetic SEM1(86-107) amyloids directly bind HIV-1 virions and are sufficient to enhance HIV infection of permissive cells. Furthermore, endogenous seminal levels of SEM1(86-107) correlate with donor-dependent variations in viral enhancement activity, and antibodies generated against SEM1(86-107) recognize endogenous amyloids in human semen. The amyloidogenic potential of SEM1(86-107) and its virus-enhancing properties are conserved among great apes, suggesting an evolutionarily conserved function. These studies identify SEM1(86-107) to be a key, HIV-enhancing amyloid species in human semen and underscore the dynamic nature of semen's HIV-enhancing activity. IMPORTANCE: Semen, the most common vehicle for HIV transmission, enhances HIV infection in vitro, but how long it retains this activity has not been investigated. Semen naturally undergoes physiological changes over time, whereby it converts from a gel-like consistency to a more liquid form. This process, termed liquefaction, is characterized at the molecular level by site-specific and progressive cleavage of SEMs, the major components of the coagulum, by seminal proteases. We demonstrate that the HIV-enhancing activity of semen gradually decreases over the course of extended liquefaction and identify a naturally occurring semenogelin-derived fragment, SEM1(86-107), whose levels correlate with virus-enhancing activity over the course of liquefaction. SEM1(86-107) amyloids are naturally present in semen, and synthetic SEM1(86-107) fibrils bind virions and are sufficient to enhance HIV infection. Therefore, by characterizing dynamic changes in the HIV-enhancing activity of semen during extended liquefaction, we identified SEM1(86-107) to be a key virus-enhancing component of human semen.


Assuntos
Amiloide/metabolismo , Infecções por HIV/metabolismo , Infecções por HIV/virologia , HIV-1/fisiologia , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/metabolismo , Sêmen/metabolismo , Proteínas Secretadas pela Vesícula Seminal/metabolismo , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Amiloide/química , Western Blotting , Humanos , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Filogenia , Proteólise , Sêmen/química , Homologia de Sequência de Aminoácidos , Internalização do Vírus
17.
J Extracell Vesicles ; 13(5): e12447, 2024 May.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38766978

RESUMO

The continuous emergence of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens poses a major global healthcare challenge, with Klebsiella pneumoniae being a prominent threat. We conducted a comprehensive study on K. pneumoniae's antibiotic resistance mechanisms, focusing on outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) and polymyxin, a last-resort antibiotic. Our research demonstrates that OMVs protect bacteria from polymyxins. OMVs derived from Polymyxin B (PB)-stressed K. pneumoniae exhibited heightened protective efficacy due to increased vesiculation, compared to OMVs from unstressed Klebsiella. OMVs also shield bacteria from different bacterial families. This was validated ex vivo and in vivo using precision cut lung slices (PCLS) and Galleria mellonella. In all models, OMVs protected K. pneumoniae from PB and reduced the associated stress response on protein level. We observed significant changes in the lipid composition of OMVs upon PB treatment, affecting their binding capacity to PB. The altered binding capacity of single OMVs from PB stressed K. pneumoniae could be linked to a reduction in the lipid A amount of their released vesicles. Although the amount of lipid A per vesicle is reduced, the overall increase in the number of vesicles results in an increased protection because the sum of lipid A and therefore PB binding sites have increased. This unravels the mechanism of the altered PB protective efficacy of OMVs from PB stressed K. pneumoniae compared to control OMVs. The lipid A-dependent protective effect against PB was confirmed in vitro using artificial vesicles. Moreover, artificial vesicles successfully protected Klebsiella from PB ex vivo and in vivo. The findings indicate that OMVs act as protective shields for bacteria by binding to polymyxins, effectively serving as decoys and preventing antibiotic interaction with the cell surface. Our findings provide valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying antibiotic cross-protection and offer potential avenues for the development of novel therapeutic interventions to address the escalating threat of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.


Assuntos
Antibacterianos , Klebsiella pneumoniae , Polimixina B , Klebsiella pneumoniae/metabolismo , Klebsiella pneumoniae/efeitos dos fármacos , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Animais , Polimixina B/farmacologia , Membrana Externa Bacteriana/metabolismo , Polimixinas/farmacologia , Vesículas Extracelulares/metabolismo , Infecções por Klebsiella/microbiologia , Infecções por Klebsiella/metabolismo , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Farmacorresistência Bacteriana Múltipla/efeitos dos fármacos
18.
Nat Microbiol ; 9(4): 905-921, 2024 Apr.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38528146

RESUMO

Some viruses are rarely transmitted orally or sexually despite their presence in saliva, breast milk, or semen. We previously identified that extracellular vesicles (EVs) in semen and saliva inhibit Zika virus infection. However, the antiviral spectrum and underlying mechanism remained unclear. Here we applied lipidomics and flow cytometry to show that these EVs expose phosphatidylserine (PS). By blocking PS receptors, targeted by Zika virus in the process of apoptotic mimicry, they interfere with viral attachment and entry. Consequently, physiological concentrations of EVs applied in vitro efficiently inhibited infection by apoptotic mimicry dengue, West Nile, Chikungunya, Ebola and vesicular stomatitis viruses, but not severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, human immunodeficiency virus 1, hepatitis C virus and herpesviruses that use other entry receptors. Our results identify the role of PS-rich EVs in body fluids in innate defence against infection via viral apoptotic mimicries, explaining why these viruses are primarily transmitted via PS-EV-deficient blood or blood-ingesting arthropods rather than direct human-to-human contact.


Assuntos
Líquidos Corporais , Vesículas Extracelulares , Vírus , Infecção por Zika virus , Zika virus , Feminino , Humanos , Fosfatidilserinas , Ligação Viral
19.
Methods Mol Biol ; 2610: 129-135, 2023.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36534287

RESUMO

Certain viral pathogens can be shed into the human breast milk and cause infections in the infant upon breastfeeding. Thus, it is important to clarify whether viral RNA as well as infectious virus can be found in breast milk. The complexity of this body fluid poses several challenges for viral RNA isolation and detection of infectious virus. We here provide a protocol that allowed the identification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in breast milk and the isolation of infectious virus after the virus has been artificially spiked into milk samples.


Assuntos
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Lactente , Feminino , Humanos , Leite Humano , RNA Viral , Aleitamento Materno
20.
Viruses ; 15(11)2023 Oct 30.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38005856

RESUMO

Viral disinfection is important for medical facilities, the food industry, and the veterinary field, especially in terms of controlling virus outbreaks. Therefore, standardized methods and activity levels are available for these areas. Usually, disinfectants used in these areas are characterized by their activity against test organisms (i.e., viruses, bacteria, and/or yeasts). This activity is usually determined using a suspension test in which the test organism is incubated with the respective disinfectant in solution to assess its bactericidal, yeasticidal, or virucidal activity. In addition, carrier methods that more closely reflect real-world applications have been developed, in which microorganisms are applied to the surface of a carrier (e.g., stainless steel frosted glass, or polyvinyl chloride (PVC)) and then dried. However, to date, no standardized methods have become available for addressing genetically modified vectors or disinfection-resistant oncolytic viruses such as the H1-parvovirus. Particularly, such non-enveloped viruses, which are highly resistant to disinfectants, are not taken into account in European standards. This article proposes a new activity claim known as "virucidal activity PLUS", summarizes the available methods for evaluating the virucidal activity of chemical disinfectants against genetically modified organisms (GMOs) using current European standards, including the activity against highly resistant parvoviridae such as the adeno-associated virus (AAV), and provides guidance on the selection of disinfectants for pharmaceutical manufacturers, laboratories, and clinical users.


Assuntos
Desinfetantes , Infecções por Parvoviridae , Parvovirus , Vírus , Humanos , Desinfetantes/farmacologia , Desinfecção/métodos , Vírus/genética
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