Study of an FBXO7 patient mutation reveals Fbxo7 and PI31 co-regulate proteasomes and mitochondria.

Mutations in FBXO7 have been discovered to be associated with an atypical parkinsonism. We report here a new homozygous missense mutation in a paediatric patient that causes an L250P substitution in the dimerisation domain of Fbxo7. This alteration selectively ablates the Fbxo7-PI31 interaction and causes a significant reduction in Fbxo7 and PI31 levels in patient cells. Consistent with their association with proteasomes, patient fibroblasts have reduced proteasome activity and proteasome subunits. We also show PI31 interacts with the MiD49/51 fission adaptor proteins, and unexpectedly, PI31 acts to facilitate SCFFbxo7-mediated ubiquitination of MiD49. The L250P mutation reduces the SCFFbxo7 ligase-mediated ubiquitination of a subset of its known substrates. Although MiD49/51 expression was reduced in patient cells, there was no effect on the mitochondrial network. However, patient cells show reduced levels of mitochondrial function and mitophagy, higher levels of ROS and are less viable under stress. Our study demonstrates that Fbxo7 and PI31 regulate proteasomes and mitochondria and reveals a new function for PI31 in enhancing the SCFFbxo7 E3 ubiquitin ligase activity.

Personal resurrection: female childhood sexual abuse survivors' experience of the Wellness-Program.

BACKGROUND: Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) survivors deal with complex mental, physical and relationship problems in adulthood which negatively affects their well-being and health. The aim of the present paper was to present a description of the Wellness-Program for female CSA survivors, the participating women's evaluation of the different therapies in the program as well as a qualitative study on their experience of the program's effects on their life, health and well-being. METHOD: The Wellness-Program lasted for 10 weeks with organised schedule 20 hours per week. A team of health professionals used a holistic approach and provided traditional and complementary individual and group therapy focusing on both mind and body. In-depth phenomenological interviews with ten women, 22-53 years old, were conducted 1 week before and 1 week after the program as well as 15 months later. Data collection and data analysis were guided by the Vancouver School of doing phenomenology. RESULTS: Prior to participating in the program, the women were unable to work or attend school, were on disability allowance, were socially isolated and had complex health problems. After the Wellness-Program, all the women, except one, were back to work, school or in further rehabilitation. Furthermore, the in-depth interviews showed that their health and well-being, personal life and relationship with partners, family and friends improved. They felt empowered, more in control and had developed increased trust towards others. Six themes were constructed from the in-depth interviews. They were: feeling totally lost, releasing experiences, developing trusting relationships, gaining control, experiencing positive changes in physical and mental health and, finally, feeling of empowerment. The overriding theme of the study was personal resurrection. CONCLUSIONS: The Wellness-Program contributed considerably to improved health and well-being of the women. However, further assessment of the program is recommended before making it available within the healthcare system.

Mutational analysis of a principal neutralization domain of visna/maedi virus envelope glycoprotein.

We have shown previously that a type-specific neutralization domain is located within a 39 aa sequence in the fourth variable domain of gp135 in visna/maedi virus. We now show that neutralizing antibodies detected early in infection are directed to this epitope, suggesting an immunodominant nature of this domain. Ten antigenic variants were previously analysed for mutations in this region, and all but one were found to be mutated. To assess the importance of these mutations in replication and neutralization, we reconstructed several of the mutations in an infectious molecular clone and tested the resulting viruses for neutralization phenotype and replication. Mutation of a conserved cysteine was shown to alter the neutralization epitope, whilst the replication kinetics in macrophages were unchanged. Mutations modulating potential glycosylation sites were found in seven of the ten antigenic variants. A frequently occurring mutation, removing a potential glycosylation site, had no effect on its own on the neutralization phenotype of the virus. However, adding an extra potential glycosylation site in the region resulted in antigenic escape. The results indicate that the conserved cysteine plays a role in the structure of the epitope and that glycosylation may shield the principal neutralization site.

Duplicated sequence motif in the long terminal repeat of maedi-visna virus extends cell tropism and is associated with neurovirulence.

Maedi-visna virus (MVV) is a lentivirus of sheep causing chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs (maedi) and the nervous system (visna). We have previously shown that a duplicated sequence in the long terminal repeat (LTR) of MVV is a determinant of cell tropism. Here, we demonstrate that deletion of a CAAAT sequence from either one of the repeats resulted in poor virus growth in sheep choroid plexus cells. A duplication in the LTR encompassing the CAAAT sequence was found in four neurological field cases that were sequenced, but no duplication was present in the LTRs from seven maedi cases; one maedi isolate was mixed. These results indicate that the duplication in the LTR is associated with neurovirulence.

Simultaneous mutations in CA and Vif of Maedi-Visna virus cause attenuated replication in macrophages and reduced infectivity in vivo.

Maedi-visna virus (MVV) is a lentivirus of sheep sharing several key features with the primate lentiviruses. The virus causes slowly progressive diseases, mainly in the lungs and the central nervous system of sheep. Here, we investigate the molecular basis for the differential growth phenotypes of two MVV isolates. One of the isolates, KV1772, replicates well in a number of cell lines and is highly pathogenic in sheep. The second isolate, KS1, no longer grows on macrophages or causes disease. The two virus isolates differ by 129 nucleotide substitutions and two deletions of 3 and 15 nucleotides in the env gene. To determine the molecular nature of the lesions responsible for the restrictive growth phenotype, chimeric viruses were constructed and used to map the phenotype. An L120R mutation in the CA domain, together with a P205S mutation in Vif (but neither alone), could fully convert KV1772 to the restrictive growth phenotype. These results suggest a functional interaction between CA and Vif in MVV replication, a property that may relate to the innate antiretroviral defense mechanisms in sheep.

Mucosal vaccination with an attenuated maedi-visna virus clone.

Four sheep were infected intratracheally with an attenuated molecular clone of maedi-visna virus (MVV). All four became infected. Ten months later these sheep were challenged intratracheally with a genetically similar but pathogenic clone of MVV. Four unvaccinated sheep were infected simultaneously. All sheep became infected by the challenge virus. The vaccinated sheep were not protected against superinfection with the challenge clone. However, virus was isolated more frequently from the blood of the unvaccinated controls than of the vaccinated animals and ten times more frequently from lungs of unvaccinated sheep than from lungs of vaccinated sheep at sacrifice, indicating partial protection.

Different Nordic facilities for victims of sexual assault: a comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Open multidisciplinary centers were operated in the mid 1990s for victims of sexual assaults in Oslo and Reykjavik. However, in Copenhagen and Helsinki forensic medical examination was only available to victims who reported directly to the police. One of the main aims of this study was to compare the effect of these different service facilities in four Nordic capitals on the victims' frequency to seek help and report sexual assaults to the police. METHODS: The age and attendance profile of 380 individuals, seeking support after sexual assault, was compared for the four capitals over a period of 1 year. The circumstances and consequences of assault, frequency and time lag of reporting were also compared. RESULTS: Open centers received several times more victims, especially in younger age groups, including more reported cases, when compared with the population at risk than forensic institutes. Victims were seen earlier for examination at forensic institutes that dealt with a more limited spectrum of sexual assaults than the open centers. The proportion of rape was higher amongst victims brought to forensic institutes whereas a higher proportion of victims received at open centers had been exposed to less violent assaults. The frequency of visits was higher at weekends, between 50% and 70% of victims reported consumption of alcohol, and one-third were attacked while sleeping. In the majority of cases only one perpetrator was involved, most often unknown or peripherally known to the victim. CONCLUSION: Open multidisciplinary centers receive and assist considerably more victims, reporting and not reporting sexual assaults than forensic institutes.

Selection of antigenic variants in maedi-visna virus infection.

In order to analyse the pattern of sequence variation in maedi-visna virus (MVV) in persistently infected sheep and to answer the question of whether antigenic variants are selected in a long-term MVV infection, an 87 bp variable region in the env gene of ten antigenic variants and 24 non-variants was sequenced. Nine of the ten antigenic variants had mutations in this region, comprising 24 point mutations and a deletion of 3 bp. Twenty-three of the point mutations (96%) were non-synonymous. There was only a single mutation in this region in the 24 non-variants. A type-specific neutralizing antibody response appeared in all the sheep 2-5 months post-infection, and in most sheep more broadly reacting neutralizing antibodies appeared up to 4 years later. All the antigenic variants were neutralized by the broadly reacting sera. It is noteworthy that the antigenic variants were isolated at a time when only the type-specific antibodies were acting, before the broadly reacting antibodies appeared. The same picture emerged when molecularly cloned virus was used for infection. Three sheep were infected with a molecularly cloned virus, and of six virus isolates, one was an antigenic variant. This variant arose in the absence of broadly reacting antibodies. The results indicate that there is selection for mutants that escape neutralization.

The long terminal repeat is a determinant of cell tropism of maedi-visna virus.

Maedi-visna virus (MVV) is a lentivirus of sheep, mainly affecting the lungs and the central nervous system. Long terminal repeat (LTR) sequence variability is common in tissue culture-derived isolates of MVV as well as those of other lentiviruses. The role of this sequence variation in MVV replication has not been explored. PCR amplification of the LTRs of an MVV isolate revealed two product sizes, the larger containing a 53 bp duplication. PCR products containing the two size variants of the LTRs were cloned into an infectious molecular clone of MVV and the resulting chimeric viruses were tested for growth in various cell types. The chimeric virus containing only one copy of the 53 bp sequence was found to grow more slowly in sheep choroid plexus cells, sheep fibroblasts and sheep synovial cells than the virus with the 53 bp duplication. Both viruses grew equally well in macrophages. These results indicate that the LTRs determined the extended cell tropism of MVV.