Isolation and genetic characterization of multiple genotypes of both H5 and H7 avian influenza viruses from environmental water in the Izumi plain, Kagoshima prefecture, Japan during the 2021/22 winter season.

In the 2021/22 winter, one H5N1 and nine H5N8 high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) of clade 2.3.3.4b were isolated from the water in crane roosts on the Izumi plain, Japan. Additionally, we isolated low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (LPAIVs) of five subtypes: H1N1, H4N2, H4N6, H7N7, and H10N4. H5N8 HPAIVs belonging to the G2a group were isolated throughout winter, whereas H5N1 HPAIV belonging to the G2b group were isolated only in early winter. These findings suggest co-circulation of both G2a and G2b HPAIVs in early winter. Although two H7N7 LPAIVs were isolated from cranes' roost water collected on the same day, the gene constellations of the two isolates were clearly different, indicating the contemporary invasion of at least two different genotypes of H7N7 LPAIVs in the Izumi plain. This study underscores the importance of monitoring both HPAIVs and LPAIVs to understand avian influenza virus ecology in migratory waterfowl populations.

Stability of the Virucidal Activity of Commercial Disinfectants against Avian Influenza Viruses under Different Environmental Conditions.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) have caused outbreaks in both domestic and wild birds during the winter seasons in several countries in the Northern Hemisphere, most likely because virus-infected wild ducks overwinter and serve as the primary source of infection for other birds in these countries. Several chemical disinfectants are available to deactivate these viruses outside a living organism. However, their virucidal activity is known to be compromised by various factors, including temperature and contamination with organic matter. Hence, the effectiveness of virucidal activity under winter field conditions is crucial for managing HPAIV outbreaks. To investigate the impact of the winter field conditions on the virucidal activity of disinfectants against AIVs, we assessed the stability of the virucidal activity of seven representative disinfectants that are commercially available for poultry farms in Japan against both LPAIVs and HPAIVs under cold and/or organic contamination conditions. Of the seven disinfectants examined, the ortho-dichlorobenzene/cresol-based disinfectant exhibited the most consistent virucidal activity under winter field conditions, regardless of the virus pathogenicity or subtype tested.

Surveillance, Isolation, and Genetic Characterization of Bat Herpesviruses in Zambia.

Bats are of significant interest as reservoirs for various zoonotic viruses with high diversity. During the past two decades, many herpesviruses have been identified in various bats worldwide by genetic approaches, whereas there have been few reports on the isolation of infectious herpesviruses. Herein, we report the prevalence of herpesvirus infection of bats captured in Zambia and genetic characterization of novel gammaherpesviruses isolated from striped leaf-nosed bats (Macronycteris vittatus). By our PCR screening, herpesvirus DNA polymerase (DPOL) genes were detected in 29.2% (7/24) of Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus), 78.1% (82/105) of Macronycteris vittatus, and one Sundevall's roundleaf bat (Hipposideros caffer) in Zambia. Phylogenetic analyses of the detected partial DPOL genes revealed that the Zambian bat herpesviruses were divided into seven betaherpesvirus groups and five gammaherpesvirus groups. Two infectious strains of a novel gammaherpesvirus, tentatively named Macronycteris gammaherpesvirus 1 (MaGHV1), were successfully isolated from Macronycteris vittatus bats, and their complete genomes were sequenced. The genome of MaGHV1 encoded 79 open reading frames, and phylogenic analyses of the DNA polymerase and glycoprotein B demonstrated that MaGHV1 formed an independent lineage sharing a common origin with other bat-derived gammaherpesviruses. Our findings provide new information regarding the genetic diversity of herpesviruses maintained in African bats.

Newly emerged genotypes of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza viruses in Kagoshima prefecture, Japan during winter 2020/21.

During the 2020/21 winter season, 29 and 10 H5N8 high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) were isolated from environmental water and wild birds, respectively, in Kagoshima prefecture, Japan. Furthermore, seven subtypes of low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (LPAIVs) were also isolated; H1N1, H2N9, H3N2, H3N6, H3N8, H4N6, and H6N6 subtypes. While the H5 hemagglutinin (HA) genes of the G1 cluster were isolated throughout the winter season, those of the G2 cluster were also detected in late winter, suggesting that H5 HPAIVs possessing H5 HA genes from the two different clusters were individually introduced into Kagoshima prefecture. Intriguingly, genetic constellations revealed that the H5N8 HPAIVs could be classified into six genotypes, including four previously reported genotypes (E1, E2, E3, and E7), and two new genotypes (tentatively named E8 and E9). The PB1 and PA gene segments of genotypes E8 and E9 shared high similarity with those of LPAIVs, whereas the remaining gene segments were close to those of genotype E1. Furthermore, LPAIVs whose PA gene segment was close to that of genotype E9 were isolated from the environmental water. Overall, we revealed that various HPAIV genotypes circulated in Kagoshima prefecture during the 2020/21 winter season. This study highlights the importance of monitoring both HPAIV and LPAIV to better understand AIV ecology in migratory waterfowl populations.

Avian paramyxovirus serotype-1 isolation from migratory birds and environmental water in southern Japan: An epidemiological survey during the 2018/19-2021/2022 winter seasons.

Newcastle disease caused by highly pathogenic viruses of avian paramyxovirus serotype-1 (APMV-1) is a highly contagious poultry disease. Although a large-scale epidemic of Newcastle disease had occurred in Japan between the 1950s and the 2000s, there have been no outbreaks anywhere since 2010. In addition, there are no reports of epidemiological surveys of APMV-1 in wild birds in Japan in the last 10 years. We conducted the first epidemiological survey of APMV-1 in the Izumi plain, Kagoshima prefecture of southern Japan from the winter of 2018 to 2022. A total of 15 APMV-1 strains were isolated, and isolation rates from roosting water and duck fecal samples were 2.51% and 0.10%, respectively. These results indicate that the isolation method from environmental water may be useful for efficient surveillance of APMV-1 in wild birds. Furthermore, this is the first report on the success of APMV-1 isolation from environmental water samples. Genetic analysis of the Fusion (F) gene showed that all APMV-1 isolates were closely related to virus strains circulating among waterfowl in Far East Asian countries. All isolates have avirulent motifs in their cleavage site of F genes, all of which were presumed to be low pathogenic viruses in poultry. However, pathogenicity test using embryonated chicken eggs demonstrated that some isolates killed all chicken embryos regardless of viral doses inoculated (102 -106 50% egg infectious dose). These results indicated that APMV-1 strains, which are potentially pathogenic to chickens, are continuously brought into the Izumi plain by migrating wild birds.

Genetic characterization of bovine respiratory syncytial viruses in Japan between 2017 and 2019.

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) strains that were detected in Kagoshima prefecture and isolated in Hokkaido between 2017 and 2019, together with a BRSV vaccine strain, were subjected to full-genome sequencing. The BRSV strains identified in Japan were found to be genetically close to each other but distant from the vaccine strains. The deduced amino acids at positions 206 and 208 of the glycoprotein (G protein), which form one of the major epitopes of the recent Japanese BRSV strains, were different from those of the vaccine strains. Therefore, the recent Japanese BRSV strains might be antigenically different from the BRSV vaccine strains.

Novel RT-PCR Using Sugar Chain-Immobilized Gold-Nanoparticles Correlates Patients' Symptoms: The Follow-Up Study of COVID-19 Hospitalized Patients.

Background: The transmissible capacity and toxicity of SARS-CoV-2 variants are continually changing. We report here the follow-up study of hospitalized COVID-19 patients from 2020 to 2022. It is known that the PCR diagnosis for hospitalized patients sometimes causes confusion because of the incompatibility between their diagnosis and symptoms. We applied our sugar chain-immobilized gold-nanoparticles for the extraction and partial purification of RNA from specimens for quantitative RT-PCR assay and evaluated whether the results correlate with patients' symptoms. Methods and Results: Saliva specimens were taken from hospitalized patients with mild or moderate symptoms every early morning. At the time of RT-PCR diagnosis, two methods for the extraction and partial purification of RNA from the specimen were performed: a commonly used Boom (Qiagen) method and our original sugar chain-immobilized gold nanoparticle (SGNP) method. For symptoms, body temperature and oxygen saturation (SpO2) of patients were monitored every 4 h. Conclusions: It was clear that patients infected with the Delta variant needed more time to recover than those with the Omicron variant, and that the SGNP method showed more realistic correlation with the symptoms of patients compared with the common Qiagen method.

Experimental and natural infections of white-tailed sea eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) with high pathogenicity avian influenza virus of H5 subtype.

White-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), a regionally rare species of raptor, is threatened in several countries. To assess the risk of H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) viral infection in rare bird species, we performed experimental infections with a GS/GD96-lineage H5N6 HPAI virus of clade 2.3.4.4e in white-tailed sea eagles. Additionally, during the winter of 2020-2021 in Japan, we accidentally encountered a white-tailed sea eagle that had a fatal outcome due to natural infection with a GS/GD96-lineage H5N8 HPAI virus of clade 2.3.4.4b, allowing us to compare experimental and natural infections in the same rare raptor species. Our experiments demonstrated the susceptibility of white-tailed sea eagles to the GS/GD96-lineage H5 HPAI virus with efficient replication in systemic organs. The potential for the viruses to spread within the white-tailed sea eagle population through indirect transmission was also confirmed. Comprehensive comparisons of both viral distribution and histopathological observations between experimentally and naturally infected white-tailed sea eagles imply that viral replication in the brain is responsible for the disease severity and mortality in this species. These findings provide novel insights into the risk assessment of H5 HPAI viral infection in white-tailed sea eagles, proper diagnostic procedures, potential risks to artificially fed eagle populations and persons handling superficially healthy eagles, potential impact of intragastric infection on eagle outcomes, and possibility of severity of the disease being attributed to viral replication in the brain.

The Amino Acid at Position 95 in the Matrix Protein of Rabies Virus Is Involved in Antiviral Stress Granule Formation in Infected Cells.

Stress granules (SGs) are dynamic structures that store cytosolic messenger ribonucleoproteins. SGs have recently been shown to serve as a platform for activating antiviral innate immunity; however, several pathogenic viruses suppress SG formation to evade innate immunity. In this study, we investigated the relationship between rabies virus (RABV) virulence and SG formation, using viral strains with different levels of virulence. We found that the virulent Nishigahara strain did not induce SG formation, but its avirulent offshoot, the Ni-CE strain, strongly induced SG formation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the amino acid at position 95 in the RABV matrix protein (M95), a pathogenic determinant for the Nishigahara strain, plays a key role in inhibiting SG formation, followed by protein kinase R (PKR)-dependent phosphorylation of the α subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α). M95 was also implicated in the accumulation of RIG-I, a viral RNA sensor protein, in SGs and in the subsequent acceleration of interferon induction. Taken together, our findings strongly suggest that M95-related inhibition of SG formation contributes to the pathogenesis of RABV by allowing the virus to evade the innate immune responses of the host. IMPORTANCE Rabies virus (RABV) is a neglected zoonotic pathogen that causes lethal infections in almost all mammalian hosts, including humans. Recently, RABV has been reported to induce intracellular formation of stress granules (SGs), also known as platforms that activate innate immune responses. However, the relationship between SG formation capacity and pathogenicity of RABV has remained unclear. In this study, by comparing two RABV strains with completely different levels of virulence, we found that the amino acid mutation from valine to alanine at position 95 of matrix protein (M95), which is known to be one of the amino acid mutations that determine the difference in virulence between the strains, plays a major role in SG formation. Importantly, M95 was involved in the accumulation of RIG-I in SGs and in promoting interferon induction. These findings are the first report of the effect of a single amino acid substitution associated with SGs on viral virulence.

Genetic Characterization of Avian Influenza Viruses Isolated from the Izumi Plain, Japan in 2019/20 Winter Season.

The Izumi plain in the Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, is known as an overwintering site for more than 30,000 migratory waterfowl, including endangered crane species. We previously reported that environmental water samples, from artificial wet paddies created as crane roost sites on the Izumi plain, are useful for avian influenza virus (AIV) surveillance. During the 2019/20 winter season, we collected 238 water samples from the crane roost sites and isolated 22 AIVs of six subtypes: one H1N1, one H3N2, seven H3N8, four H4N6, nine H6N6, and one H11N2 subtypes. Genetic analyses revealed that AIVs of the same subtype isolated from the Izumi plain during a single winter season exhibited multiple genetic constellations. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses suggested that our H3N2 isolate may be a genetic reassortant between close relatives to our H3N8 and H11N2 isolates. Our study highlighted the importance of monitoring AIV circulation to better understand AIV ecology in migratory waterfowl populations.

Human ACE2 Genetic Polymorphism Affecting SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 Entry into Cells.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and SARS-CoV-2 have a single envelope glycoprotein (S protein) that binds to human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on the host cell membrane. Previous mutational scanning studies have suggested that some substitutions corresponding to single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in human ACE2 affect the binding affinity to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein. However, the importance of these substitutions in actual virus infection is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of the reported ACE2 SNV substitutions on the entry of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 into cells, using vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus (VSIV) pseudotyped with S proteins of these coronaviruses (CoVs). HEK293T cells transfected with plasmids expressing ACE2 having each SNV substitution were infected with the pseudotyped VSIVs and relative infectivities were determined compared to the cells expressing wild-type ACE2. We found that some of the SNV substitutions positively or negatively affected the infectivities of the pseudotyped viruses. Particularly, the H505R substitution significantly enhanced the infection with the pseudotyped VSIVs, including those having the substitutions found in the S protein RBD of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. Our findings suggest that human ACE2 SNVs may potentially affect cell susceptibilities to SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. IMPORTANCE SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 are known to cause severe pneumonia in humans. The S protein of these CoVs binds to the ACE2 molecule on the plasma membrane and mediates virus entry into cells. The interaction between the S protein and ACE2 is thought to be important for host susceptibility to these CoVs. Although previous studies suggested that some SNV substitutions in ACE2 might affect the binding to the S protein, it remains elusive whether these SNV substitutions actually alter the efficiency of the entry of SARS CoVs into cells. We analyzed the impact of the ACE2 SNVs on the cellular entry of SARS CoVs using pseudotyped VSIVs having the S protein on the viral surface. We found that some of the SNV substitutions positively or negatively affected the infectivities of the viruses. Our data support the notion that genetic polymorphisms of ACE2 may potentially influence cell susceptibilities to SARS CoVs.

Improved method for avian influenza virus isolation from environmental water samples.

Environmental water-targeted surveillance of migratory aquatic birds at overwintering sites is potentially one of the most effective approaches for understanding the ecology of avian influenza viruses (AIVs). In this study, we improved the method for AIV isolation from environmental water samples by making a minor modification to our previously reported process. We experimentally demonstrated that the AIV recovery efficiency of the modified method was 10-100-fold higher than that of the original method. This improved isolation method allowed us to isolate a considerably larger number of AIV isolates from environmental water samples collected at an overwintering site for tens of thousands of migratory aquatic birds in Japan during the 2018/2019 winter season, compared with those during previous winter seasons. Genetic and phylogenetic analyses revealed that AIVs of the same subtypes with multiple genetic constellations were circulating in a single overwintering site during a single winter season. These findings indicate that our improved isolation method contributes to enhance environmental water-targeted surveillance and to a better understanding of AIV ecology in migratory aquatic bird populations by monitoring ongoing AIV circulation.

Genetically Diverse Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1/H5N8) Viruses among Wild Waterfowl and Domestic Poultry, Japan, 2021.

Genetic analyses of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 subtype viruses isolated from the Izumi Plain, Japan, revealed cocirculation of 2 genetic groups of clade 2.3.4.4b viruses among migratory waterfowl. Our findings demonstrate that both continuous surveillance and timely information sharing of avian influenza viruses are valuable for rapid risk assessment.

Multiple Routes of Antibody-Dependent Enhancement of SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of infection is generally known for many viruses. A potential risk of ADE in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has also been discussed since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; however, clinical evidence of the presence of antibodies with ADE potential is limited. Here, we show that ADE antibodies are produced by SARS-CoV-2 infection and the ADE process can be mediated by at least two different host factors, Fcγ receptor (FcγR) and complement component C1q. Of 89 serum samples collected from acute or convalescent COVID-19 patients, 62.9% were found to be positive for SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG. FcγR- and/or C1q-mediated ADE were detected in 50% of the IgG-positive sera, whereas most of them showed neutralizing activity in the absence of FcγR and C1q. Importantly, ADE antibodies were found in 41.4% of the acute COVID-19 patients. Neutralizing activity was also detected in most of the IgG-positive sera, but it was counteracted by ADE in subneutralizing conditions in the presence of FcγR or C1q. Although the clinical importance of ADE needs to be further investigated with larger numbers of COVID-19 patient samples, our data suggest that SARS-CoV-2 utilizes multiple mechanisms of ADE. C1q-mediated ADE may particularly have a clinical impact since C1q is present at high concentrations in plasma and its receptors are ubiquitously expressed on the surfaces of many types of cells, including respiratory epithelial cells, which SARS-CoV-2 primarily infects. IMPORTANCE Potential risks of antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has been discussed and the proposed mechanism mostly depends on the Fc gamma receptor (FcγR). However, since FcγRs are exclusively expressed on immune cells, which are not primary targets of SARS-CoV-2, the clinical importance of ADE of SARS-CoV-2 infection remains controversial. Our study demonstrates that SARS-CoV-2 infection induces antibodies that increase SARS-CoV-2 infection through another ADE mechanism in which complement component C1q mediates the enhancement. Although neutralizing activity was also detected in the serum samples, it was counteracted by ADE in the presence of FcγR or C1q. Considering the ubiquity of C1q and its cellular receptors, C1q-mediated ADE may more likely occur in respiratory epithelial cells, which SARS-CoV-2 primarily infects. Our data highlight the importance of careful monitoring of the antibody properties in COVID-19 convalescent and vaccinated individuals.

Serological and molecular epidemiological study on swine influenza in Zambia.

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) cause highly contagious respiratory diseases in humans and animals. In 2009, a swine-origin pandemic H1N1 IAV, designated A(H1N1)pdm09 virus, spread worldwide, and has since frequently been introduced into pig populations. Since novel reassortant IAVs with pandemic potential may emerge in pigs, surveillance for IAV in pigs is therefore necessary not only for the pig industry but also for public health. However, epidemiological information on IAV infection of pigs in Africa remains sparse. In this study, we collected 246 serum and 605 nasal swab samples from pigs in Zambia during the years 2011-2018. Serological analyses revealed that 49% and 32% of the sera collected in 2011 were positive for hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) and neutralizing antibodies against A(H1N1)pdm09 virus, respectively, whereas less than 5.3% of sera collected during the following period (2012-2018) were positive in both serological tests. The positive rate and the neutralization titres to A(H1N1)pdm09 virus were higher than those to classical swine H1N1 and H1N2 IAVs. On the other hand, the positive rate for swine H3N2 IAV was very low in the pig population in Zambia in 2011-2018 (5.3% and 0% in HI and neutralization tests, respectively). From nasal swab samples, we isolated one H3N2 and eight H1N1 IAV strains with an isolation rate of 1.5%. Phylogenetic analyses of all eight gene segments revealed that the isolated IAVs were closely related to human IAV strains belonging to A(H1N1)pdm09 and seasonal H3N2 lineages. Our findings indicate that reverse zoonotic transmission from humans to pigs occurred during the study period in Zambia and highlight the need for continued surveillance to monitor the status of IAVs circulating in swine populations in Africa.

Structural Requirements in the Hemagglutinin Cleavage Site-Coding RNA Region for the Generation of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) with H5 and H7 hemagglutinin (HA) subtypes are derived from their low pathogenic counterparts following the acquisition of multiple basic amino acids in their HA cleavage site. It has been suggested that consecutive adenine residues and a stem-loop structure in the viral RNA region that encodes the cleavage site are essential for the acquisition of the polybasic cleavage site. By using a reporter assay to detect non-templated nucleotide insertions, we found that insertions more frequently occurred in the RNA region (29 nucleotide-length) encoding the cleavage site of an H5 HA gene that was predicted to have a stem-loop structure containing consecutive adenines than in a mutated corresponding RNA region that had a disrupted loop structure with fewer adenines. In virus particles generated by using reverse genetics, nucleotide insertions that created additional codons for basic amino acids were found in the RNA region encoding the cleavage site of an H5 HA gene but not in the mutated RNA region. We confirmed the presence of virus clones with the ability to replicate without trypsin in a plaque assay and to cause lethal infection in chicks. These results demonstrate that the stem-loop structure containing consecutive adenines in HA genes is a key molecular determinant for the emergence of H5 HPAIVs.

Attenuated infection by a Pteropine orthoreovirus isolated from an Egyptian fruit bat in Zambia.

BACKGROUND: Pteropine orthoreovirus (PRV) is an emerging bat-borne zoonotic virus that causes severe respiratory illness in humans. Although PRVs have been identified in fruit bats and humans in Australia and Asia, little is known about the prevalence of PRV infection in Africa. Therefore, this study performed an PRV surveillance in fruit bats in Zambia. METHODS: Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus, n = 47) and straw-colored fruit bats (Eidolon helvum, n = 33) captured in Zambia in 2017-2018 were screened for PRV infection using RT-PCR and serum neutralization tests. The complete genome sequence of an isolated PRV strain was determined by next generation sequencing and subjected to BLAST and phylogenetic analyses. Replication capacity and pathogenicity of the strain were investigated using Vero E6 cell cultures and BALB/c mice, respectively. RESULTS: An PRV strain, tentatively named Nachunsulwe-57, was isolated from one Egyptian fruit bat. Serological assays demonstrated that 98% of sera (69/70) collected from Egyptian fruit bats (n = 37) and straw-colored fruit bats (n = 33) had neutralizing antibodies against PRV. Genetic analyses revealed that all 10 genome segments of Nachunsulwe-57 were closely related to a bat-derived Kasama strain found in Uganda. Nachunsulwe-57 showed less efficiency in viral growth and lower pathogenicity in mice than another PRV strain, Miyazaki-Bali/2007, isolated from a patient. CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion of Egyptian fruit bats and straw-colored fruit bats were found to be seropositive to PRV in Zambia. Importantly, a new PRV strain (Nachunsulwe-57) was isolated from an Egyptian fruit bat in Zambia, which had relatively weak pathogenicity in mice. Taken together, our findings provide new epidemiological insights about PRV infection in bats and indicate the first isolation of an PRV strain that may have low pathogenicity to humans.

Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Cellular Entry and Host Range Restriction of Lujo Virus.

Like other human-pathogenic arenaviruses, Lujo virus (LUJV) is a causative agent of viral hemorrhagic fever in humans. LUJV infects humans with high mortality rates, but the susceptibilities of other animal species and the molecular determinants of its host specificity remain unknown. We found that mouse- and hamster-derived cell lines (NIH 3T3 and BHK, respectively) were less susceptible to a replication-incompetent recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (Indiana) pseudotyped with the LUJV glycoprotein (GP) (VSVΔG*-LUJV/GP) than were human-derived cell lines (HEK293T and Huh7). To determine the cellular factors involved in the differential susceptibilities between the human and mouse cell lines, we focused on the CD63 molecule, which is required for pH-activated GP-mediated membrane fusion during LUJV entry into host cells. The exogenous introduction of human CD63, but not mouse or hamster CD63, into BHK cells significantly increased susceptibility to VSVΔG*-LUJV/GP. Using chimeric human-mouse CD63 proteins, we found that the amino acid residues at positions 141 to 150 in the large extracellular loop (LEL) region of CD63 were important for the cellular entry of VSVΔG*-LUJV/GP. By site-directed mutagenesis, we further determined that a phenylalanine at position 143 in human CD63 was the key residue for efficient membrane fusion and VSVΔG*-LUJV/GP infection. Our data suggest that the interaction of LUJV GP with the LEL region of CD63 is essential for cell susceptibility to LUJV, thus providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the cellular entry of LUJV and the host range restriction of this virus. IMPORTANCE Lujo virus (LUJV) infects humans with high mortality rates, but the host range of LUJV remains unknown. We found that rodent-derived cell lines were less susceptible to LUJV infection than were human-derived cell lines, and the differential susceptibilities were determined by the difference of CD63, the intercellular receptor of LUJV. We further identified an amino acid residue on human CD63 important for efficient LUJV infection. These results suggest that the interaction between LUJV glycoprotein and CD63 is one of the important factors determining the host range of LUJV. Our findings on the CD63-regulated susceptibilities of the cell lines to LUJV infection provide important information for the development of anti-LUJV drugs as well as the identification of natural hosts of LUJV. Importantly, our data support a concept explaining the molecular mechanism underlying viral tropisms controlled by endosomal receptors.

A Novel Mechanism Underlying Antiviral Activity of an Influenza Virus M2-Specific Antibody.

Protective immunity against influenza A viruses (IAVs) generally depends on antibodies to the major envelope glycoprotein, hemagglutinin (HA), whose antigenicity is distinctive among IAV subtypes. On the other hand, the matrix 2 (M2) protein is antigenically highly conserved and has been studied as an attractive vaccine antigen to confer cross-protective immunity against multiple subtypes of IAVs. However, antiviral mechanisms of M2-specific antibodies are not fully understood. Here, we report the molecular basis of antiviral activity of an M2-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb), rM2ss23. We first found that rM2ss23 inhibited A/Aichi/2/1968 (H3N2) (Aichi) but not A/PR/8/1934 (H1N1) (PR8) replication. rM2ss23 altered the cell surface distribution of M2, likely by cross-linking the molecules, and interfered with the colocalization of HA and M2, resulting in reduced budding of progeny viruses. However, these effects were not observed for another strain, PR8, despite the binding capacity of rM2ss23 to PR8 M2. Interestingly, HA was also involved in the resistance of PR8 to rM2ss23. We also found that two amino acid residues at positions 54 and 57 in the M2 cytoplasmic tail were critical for the insensitivity of PR8 to rM2ss2. These findings suggest that the disruption of the M2-HA colocalization on infected cells and subsequent reduction of virus budding is one of the principal mechanisms of antiviral activity of M2-specific antibodies and that anti-M2 antibody-sensitive and -resistant IAVs have different properties in the interaction between M2 and HA.IMPORTANCE Although the IAV HA is the major target of neutralizing antibodies, most of the antibodies are HA subtype specific, restricting the potential of HA-based vaccines. On the contrary, the IAV M2 protein has been studied as a vaccine antigen to confer cross-protective immunity against IAVs with multiple HA subtypes, since M2 is antigenically conserved. Although a number of studies highlight the protective role of anti-HA neutralizing and nonneutralizing antibodies, precise information on the molecular mechanism of action of M2-specific antibodies is still obscure. In this study, we found that an anti-M2 antibody interfered with the HA-M2 association, which is important for efficient budding of progeny virus particles from infected cells. The antiviral activity was IAV strain dependent despite the similar binding capacity of the antibody to M2, and, interestingly, HA was involved in susceptibility to the antibody. Our data provide a novel mechanism underlying antiviral activity of M2-specific antibodies.

A biaryl sulfonamide derivative as a novel inhibitor of filovirus infection.

Ebolaviruses and marburgviruses, members of the family Filoviridae, are known to cause fatal diseases often associated with hemorrhagic fever. Recent outbreaks of Ebola virus disease in West African countries and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have made clear the urgent need for the development of therapeutics and vaccines against filoviruses. Using replication-incompetent vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) pseudotyped with the Ebola virus (EBOV) envelope glycoprotein (GP), we screened a chemical compound library to obtain new drug candidates that inhibit filoviral entry into target cells. We discovered a biaryl sulfonamide derivative that suppressed in vitro infection mediated by GPs derived from all known human-pathogenic filoviruses. To determine the inhibitory mechanism of the compound, we monitored each entry step (attachment, internalization, and membrane fusion) using lipophilic tracer-labeled ebolavirus-like particles and found that the compound efficiently blocked fusion between the viral envelope and the endosomal membrane during cellular entry. However, the compound did not block the interaction of GP with the Niemann-Pick C1 protein, which is believed to be the receptor of filoviruses. Using replication-competent VSVs pseudotyped with EBOV GP, we selected escape mutants and identified two EBOV GP amino acid residues (positions 47 and 66) important for the interaction with this compound. Interestingly, these amino acid residues were located at the base region of the GP trimer, suggesting that the compound might interfere with the GP conformational change required for membrane fusion. These results suggest that this biaryl sulfonamide derivative is a novel fusion inhibitor and a possible drug candidate for the development of a pan-filovirus therapeutic.