Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
: 20 | 50 | 100
1 - 20 de 509
1.
J Biomed Sci ; 31(1): 60, 2024 Jun 07.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38849802

BACKGROUND: Flavivirus is a challenge all over the world. The replication of flavivirus takes place within membranous replication compartments (RCs) derived from endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Flavivirus NS1 proteins have been proven essential for the formation of viral RCs by remodeling the ER. The glycosylation of flavivirus NS1 proteins is important for viral replication, yet the underlying mechanism remains unclear. METHODS: HeLa cells were used to visualize the ER remodeling effects induced by NS1 expression. ZIKV replicon luciferase assay was performed with BHK-21 cells. rZIKV was generated from BHK-21 cells and the plaque assay was done with Vero Cells. Liposome co-floating assay was performed with purified NS1 proteins from 293T cells. RESULTS: We found that the glycosylation of flavivirus NS1 contributes to its ER remodeling activity. Glycosylation deficiency of NS1, either through N-glycosylation sites mutations or tunicamycin treatment, compromises its ER remodeling activity and interferes with viral RCs formation. Disruption of NS1 glycosylation results in abnormal aggregation of NS1, rather than reducing its membrane-binding activity. Consequently, deficiency in NS1 glycosylation impairs virus replication. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, our results highlight the significance of NS1 glycosylation in flavivirus replication and elucidate the underlying mechanism. This provides a new strategy for combating flavivirus infections.


Viral Nonstructural Proteins , Virus Replication , Viral Nonstructural Proteins/metabolism , Viral Nonstructural Proteins/genetics , Glycosylation , Humans , Animals , Viral Replication Compartments/metabolism , HeLa Cells , Chlorocebus aethiops , Flavivirus/physiology , Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism , Endoplasmic Reticulum/virology , Vero Cells
2.
J Gen Virol ; 105(5)2024 May.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38787366

Flaviviruses target their replication on membranous structures derived from the ER, where both viral and host proteins play crucial structural and functional roles. Here, we have characterized the involvement of the ER-associated degradation (ERAD) pathway core E3 ligase complex (SEL1L-HRD1) regulator proteins in the replication of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). Through high-resolution immunofluorescence imaging of JEV-infected HeLa cells, we observe that the virus replication complexes marked by NS1 strongly colocalize with the ERAD adapter SEL1L, lectin OS9, ER-membrane shuttle factor HERPUD1, E3 ubiquitin ligase HRD1 and rhomboid superfamily member DERLIN1. NS5 positive structures also show strong overlap with SEL1L. While these effectors show significant transcriptional upregulation, their protein levels remain largely stable in infected cells. siRNA mediated depletion of OS9, SEL1L, HERPUD1 and HRD1 significantly inhibit viral RNA replication and titres, with SEL1L depletion showing the maximum attenuation of replication. By performing protein translation arrest experiments, we show that SEL1L, and OS9 are stabilised upon JEV infection. Overall results from this study suggest that these ERAD effector proteins are crucial host-factors for JEV replication.


Encephalitis Virus, Japanese , Endoplasmic Reticulum-Associated Degradation , Membrane Proteins , Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases , Virus Replication , Humans , Encephalitis Virus, Japanese/physiology , Encephalitis Virus, Japanese/genetics , Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/metabolism , Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/genetics , HeLa Cells , Membrane Proteins/metabolism , Membrane Proteins/genetics , Host-Pathogen Interactions , Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism , Endoplasmic Reticulum/virology , Proteins/metabolism , Proteins/genetics , Antigens, Differentiation
3.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ; 121(21): e2401748121, 2024 May 21.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38739789

Potyviridae, the largest family of plant RNA viruses, includes many important pathogens that significantly reduce the yields of many crops worldwide. In this study, we report that the 6-kilodalton peptide 1 (6K1), one of the least characterized potyviral proteins, is an endoplasmic reticulum-localized protein. AI-assisted structure modeling and biochemical assays suggest that 6K1 forms pentamers with a central hydrophobic tunnel, can increase the cell membrane permeability of Escherichia coli and Nicotiana benthamiana, and can conduct potassium in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. An infectivity assay showed that viral proliferation is inhibited by mutations that affect 6K1 multimerization. Moreover, the 6K1 or its homologous 7K proteins from other viruses of the Potyviridae family also have the ability to increase cell membrane permeability and transmembrane potassium conductance. Taken together, these data reveal that 6K1 and its homologous 7K proteins function as viroporins in viral infected cells.


Nicotiana , Nicotiana/virology , Nicotiana/metabolism , Potyviridae/genetics , Potyviridae/metabolism , Viral Proteins/metabolism , Viral Proteins/genetics , Cell Membrane Permeability , Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism , Endoplasmic Reticulum/virology , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism , Viroporin Proteins/metabolism , Viroporin Proteins/genetics , Escherichia coli/genetics , Escherichia coli/metabolism , Plant Viruses/genetics , Plant Viruses/physiology , Plant Diseases/virology , Potassium/metabolism
4.
Nat Commun ; 15(1): 4644, 2024 May 31.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38821943

The SARS-CoV-2 viral infection transforms host cells and produces special organelles in many ways, and we focus on the replication organelles, the sites of replication of viral genomic RNA (vgRNA). To date, the precise cellular localization of key RNA molecules and replication intermediates has been elusive in electron microscopy studies. We use super-resolution fluorescence microscopy and specific labeling to reveal the nanoscopic organization of replication organelles that contain numerous vgRNA molecules along with the replication enzymes and clusters of viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). We show that the replication organelles are organized differently at early and late stages of infection. Surprisingly, vgRNA accumulates into distinct globular clusters in the cytoplasmic perinuclear region, which grow and accommodate more vgRNA molecules as infection time increases. The localization of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) markers and nsp3 (a component of the double-membrane vesicle, DMV) at the periphery of the vgRNA clusters suggests that replication organelles are encapsulated into DMVs, which have membranes derived from the host ER. These organelles merge into larger vesicle packets as infection advances. Precise co-imaging of the nanoscale cellular organization of vgRNA, dsRNA, and viral proteins in replication organelles of SARS-CoV-2 may inform therapeutic approaches that target viral replication and associated processes.


Endoplasmic Reticulum , Organelles , RNA, Viral , SARS-CoV-2 , Virus Replication , SARS-CoV-2/physiology , SARS-CoV-2/ultrastructure , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , SARS-CoV-2/metabolism , RNA, Viral/metabolism , RNA, Viral/genetics , Virus Replication/physiology , Humans , Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism , Endoplasmic Reticulum/virology , Endoplasmic Reticulum/ultrastructure , Organelles/virology , Organelles/metabolism , Organelles/ultrastructure , Chlorocebus aethiops , Vero Cells , Animals , COVID-19/virology , COVID-19/metabolism , Viral Proteins/metabolism , Viral Proteins/genetics , Microscopy, Fluorescence , Viral Replication Compartments/metabolism , RNA, Double-Stranded/metabolism
5.
Adv Exp Med Biol ; 1451: 35-54, 2024.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38801570

Poxvirus assembly has been an intriguing area of research for several decades. While advancements in experimental techniques continue to yield fresh insights, many questions are still unresolved. Large genome sizes of up to 380 kbp, asymmetrical structure, an exterior lipid bilayer, and a cytoplasmic life cycle are some notable characteristics of these viruses. Inside the particle are two lateral bodies and a protein wall-bound-biconcave core containing the viral nucleocapsid. The assembly progresses through five major stages-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane alteration and rupture, crescent formation, immature virion formation, genome encapsidation, virion maturation and in a subset of viruses, additional envelopment of the virion prior to its dissemination. Several large dsDNA viruses have been shown to follow a comparable sequence of events. In this chapter, we recapitulate our understanding of the poxvirus morphogenesis process while reviewing the most recent advances in the field. We also briefly discuss how virion assembly aids in our knowledge of the evolutionary links between poxviruses and other Nucleocytoplasmic Large DNA Viruses (NCLDVs).


Poxviridae , Virus Assembly , Poxviridae/genetics , Poxviridae/physiology , Virus Assembly/genetics , Humans , Genome, Viral , Virion/genetics , Virion/ultrastructure , Animals , Evolution, Molecular , Endoplasmic Reticulum/virology
6.
J Virol ; 98(6): e0050724, 2024 Jun 13.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38775482

Viruses employ a series of diverse translational strategies to expand their coding capacity, which produces viral proteins with common domains and entangles virus-host interactions. P3N-PIPO, which is a transcriptional slippage product from the P3 cistron, is a potyviral protein dedicated to intercellular movement. Here, we show that P3N-PIPO from watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) triggers cell death when transiently expressed in Cucumis melo accession PI 414723 carrying the Wmr resistance gene. Surprisingly, expression of the P3N domain, shared by both P3N-PIPO and P3, can alone induce cell death, whereas expression of P3 fails to activate cell death in PI 414723. Confocal microscopy analysis revealed that P3N-PIPO targets plasmodesmata (PD) and P3N associates with PD, while P3 localizes in endoplasmic reticulum in melon cells. We also found that mutations in residues L35, L38, P41, and I43 of the P3N domain individually disrupt the cell death induced by P3N-PIPO, but do not affect the PD localization of P3N-PIPO. Furthermore, WMV mutants with L35A or I43A can systemically infect PI 414723 plants. These key residues guide us to discover some WMV isolates potentially breaking the Wmr resistance. Through searching the NCBI database, we discovered some WMV isolates with variations in these key sites, and one naturally occurring I43V variation enables WMV to systemically infect PI 414723 plants. Taken together, these results demonstrate that P3N-PIPO, but not P3, is the avirulence determinant recognized by Wmr, although the shared N terminal P3N domain can alone trigger cell death.IMPORTANCEThis work reveals a novel viral avirulence (Avr) gene recognized by a resistance (R) gene. This novel viral Avr gene is special because it is a transcriptional slippage product from another virus gene, which means that their encoding proteins share the common N-terminal domain but have distinct C-terminal domains. Amazingly, we found that it is the common N-terminal domain that determines the Avr-R recognition, but only one of the viral proteins can be recognized by the R protein to induce cell death. Next, we found that these two viral proteins target different subcellular compartments. In addition, we discovered some virus isolates with variations in the common N-terminal domain and one naturally occurring variation that enables the virus to overcome the resistance. These results show how viral proteins with common domains interact with a host resistance protein and provide new evidence for the arms race between plants and viruses.


Plant Diseases , Potyvirus , Viral Proteins , Plant Diseases/virology , Potyvirus/genetics , Potyvirus/pathogenicity , Viral Proteins/genetics , Viral Proteins/metabolism , Cucumis melo/virology , Disease Resistance/genetics , Cell Death , Plasmodesmata/virology , Plasmodesmata/metabolism , Virulence , Cucurbitaceae/virology , Host-Pathogen Interactions , Endoplasmic Reticulum/virology , Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism , Mutation , Citrullus/virology
7.
J Gen Virol ; 105(4)2024 Apr.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38687323

The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) pUS2 glycoprotein exploits the host's endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation (ERAD) pathway to degrade major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) and prevent antigen presentation. Beyond MHC-I, pUS2 has been shown to target a range of cellular proteins for degradation, preventing their cell surface expression. Here we have identified a novel pUS2 target, ER-resident protein lectin mannose binding 2 like (LMAN2L). pUS2 expression was both necessary and sufficient for the downregulation of LMAN2L, which was dependent on the cellular E3 ligase TRC8. Given the hypothesized role of LMAN2L in the trafficking of glycoproteins, we employed proteomic plasma membrane profiling to measure LMAN2L-dependent changes at the cell surface. A known pUS2 target, integrin alpha-6 (ITGA6), was downregulated from the surface of LMAN2L-deficient cells, but not other integrins. Overall, these results suggest a novel strategy of pUS2-mediated protein degradation whereby pUS2 targets LMAN2L to impair trafficking of ITGA6. Given that pUS2 can directly target other integrins, we propose that this single viral protein may exhibit both direct and indirect mechanisms to downregulate key cell surface molecules.


Cytomegalovirus , Endoplasmic Reticulum , Viral Envelope Proteins , Viral Proteins , Humans , Cytomegalovirus/genetics , Cytomegalovirus/metabolism , Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism , Endoplasmic Reticulum/virology , Viral Proteins/metabolism , Viral Proteins/genetics , Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/metabolism , Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/genetics , Proteolysis , Membrane Proteins/metabolism , Membrane Proteins/genetics , Mannose-Binding Lectins/metabolism , Mannose-Binding Lectins/genetics , Endoplasmic Reticulum-Associated Degradation , Host-Pathogen Interactions , Cell Membrane/metabolism , Cell Membrane/virology
8.
mBio ; 15(1): e0303023, 2024 Jan 16.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38078754

IMPORTANCE: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has tragically claimed millions of lives through coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and there remains a critical gap in our understanding of the precise molecular mechanisms responsible for the associated fatality. One key viral factor of interest is the SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a protein, which has been identified as a potent inducer of host cellular proinflammatory responses capable of triggering the catastrophic cytokine storm, a primary contributor to COVID-19-related deaths. Moreover, ORF3a, much like the spike protein, exhibits a propensity for frequent mutations, with certain variants linked to the severity of COVID-19. Our previous research unveiled two distinct types of ORF3a mutant proteins, categorized by their subcellular localizations, setting the stage for a comparative investigation into the functional and mechanistic disparities between these two types of ORF3a variants. Given the clinical significance and functional implications of the natural ORF3a mutations, the findings of this study promise to provide invaluable insights into the potential roles undertaken by these mutant ORF3a proteins in the pathogenesis of COVID-19.


COVID-19 , Endoplasmic Reticulum , SARS-CoV-2 , Viroporin Proteins , Humans , COVID-19/virology , Cytokine Release Syndrome/pathology , Cytokine Release Syndrome/virology , Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism , Endoplasmic Reticulum/virology , Endoplasmic Reticulum-Associated Degradation , Mutant Proteins , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , SARS-CoV-2/metabolism , Viroporin Proteins/genetics , Viroporin Proteins/metabolism
9.
J Virol ; 97(10): e0124523, 2023 10 31.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37792001

IMPORTANCE: Influenza viruses are a public health concern since they cause seasonal outbreaks and occasionally pandemics. Our study investigates the importance of a protein modification called "palmitoylation" in the replication of influenza B virus. Palmitoylation involves attaching fatty acids to the viral protein hemagglutinin and has previously been studied for influenza A virus. We found that this modification is important for the influenza B virus to replicate, as mutating the sites where palmitate is attached prevented the virus from generating viable particles. Our experiments also showed that this modification occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum. We identified the specific enzymes responsible for this modification, which are different from those involved in palmitoylation of HA of influenza A virus. Overall, our research illuminates the similarities and differences in fatty acid attachment to HA of influenza A and B viruses and identifies the responsible enzymes, which might be promising targets for anti-viral therapy.


Acyltransferases , Endoplasmic Reticulum , Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus , Influenza B virus , Lipoylation , Palmitic Acid , Virus Replication , Humans , Acyltransferases/metabolism , Endoplasmic Reticulum/enzymology , Endoplasmic Reticulum/virology , Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus/chemistry , Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus/genetics , Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus/metabolism , Influenza A virus/chemistry , Influenza A virus/metabolism , Influenza B virus/chemistry , Influenza B virus/growth & development , Influenza B virus/metabolism , Influenza, Human/drug therapy , Influenza, Human/virology , Lipoylation/genetics , Mutation , Palmitic Acid/metabolism
10.
J Biol Chem ; 299(8): 104955, 2023 08.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37354973

Recovery from COVID-19 depends on the ability of the host to effectively neutralize virions and infected cells, a process largely driven by antibody-mediated immunity. However, with the newly emerging variants that evade Spike-targeting antibodies, re-infections and breakthrough infections are increasingly common. A full characterization of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mechanisms counteracting antibody-mediated immunity is therefore needed. Here, we report that ORF8 is a virally encoded SARS-CoV-2 factor that controls cellular Spike antigen levels. We show that ORF8 limits the availability of mature Spike by inhibiting host protein synthesis and retaining Spike at the endoplasmic reticulum, reducing cell-surface Spike levels and recognition by anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. In conditions of limited Spike availability, we found ORF8 restricts Spike incorporation during viral assembly, reducing Spike levels in virions. Cell entry of these virions then leaves fewer Spike molecules at the cell surface, limiting antibody recognition of infected cells. Based on these findings, we propose that SARS-CoV-2 variants may adopt an ORF8-dependent strategy that facilitates immune evasion of infected cells for extended viral production.


COVID-19 , Gene Expression Regulation, Viral , Immune Evasion , SARS-CoV-2 , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus , Humans , Antibodies, Viral , COVID-19/immunology , COVID-19/virology , Immune Evasion/genetics , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation, Viral/genetics , A549 Cells , HEK293 Cells , Endoplasmic Reticulum/virology , Host Microbial Interactions/genetics , Host Microbial Interactions/immunology
11.
J Cell Biol ; 222(7)2023 07 03.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37093123

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiologic agent for the global COVID-19 pandemic, triggers the formation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-derived replication organelles, including double-membrane vesicles (DMVs), in the host cell to support viral replication. Here, we clarify how SARS-CoV-2 hijacks host factors to construct the DMVs. We show that the ER morphogenic proteins reticulon-3 (RTN3) and RTN4 help drive DMV formation, enabling viral replication, which leads to productive infection. Different SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the delta variant, use the RTN-dependent pathway to promote infection. Mechanistically, our results reveal that the membrane-embedded reticulon homology domain (RHD) of the RTNs is sufficient to functionally support viral replication and physically engage NSP3 and NSP4, two viral non-structural membrane proteins known to induce DMV formation. Our findings thus identify the ER morphogenic RTN3 and RTN4 membrane proteins as host factors that help promote the biogenesis of SARS-CoV-2-induced DMVs, which can act as viral replication platforms.


Endoplasmic Reticulum , Membrane Proteins , Organelles , SARS-CoV-2 , Humans , COVID-19/virology , Endoplasmic Reticulum/virology , Membrane Proteins/metabolism , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2/physiology , Virus Replication , Organelles/virology , Viral Nonstructural Proteins/metabolism
12.
Nature ; 606(7915): 761-768, 2022 06.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35551511

SARS-CoV-2, like other coronaviruses, builds a membrane-bound replication organelle to enable RNA replication1. The SARS-CoV-2 replication organelle is composed of double-membrane vesicles (DMVs) that are tethered to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by thin membrane connectors2, but the viral proteins and the host factors involved remain unknown. Here we identify the viral non-structural proteins (NSPs) that generate the SARS-CoV-2 replication organelle. NSP3 and NSP4 generate the DMVs, whereas NSP6, through oligomerization and an amphipathic helix, zippers ER membranes and establishes the connectors. The NSP6(ΔSGF) mutant, which arose independently in the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Eta, Iota and Lambda variants of SARS-CoV-2, behaves as a gain-of-function mutant with a higher ER-zippering activity. We identified three main roles for NSP6: first, to act as a filter in communication between the replication organelle and the ER, by allowing lipid flow but restricting the access of ER luminal proteins to the DMVs; second, to position and organize DMV clusters; and third, to mediate contact with lipid droplets (LDs) through the LD-tethering complex DFCP1-RAB18. NSP6 thus acts as an organizer of DMV clusters and can provide a selective means of refurbishing them with LD-derived lipids. Notably, both properly formed NSP6 connectors and LDs are required for the replication of SARS-CoV-2. Our findings provide insight into the biological activity of NSP6 of SARS-CoV-2 and of other coronaviruses, and have the potential to fuel the search for broad antiviral agents.


Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins , SARS-CoV-2 , Viral Nonstructural Proteins , Virus Replication , COVID-19/virology , Carrier Proteins , Cell Line , Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins/metabolism , Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism , Endoplasmic Reticulum/virology , Humans , Lipid Droplets , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , SARS-CoV-2/growth & development , Viral Nonstructural Proteins/metabolism , rab GTP-Binding Proteins
13.
Nat Commun ; 13(1): 105, 2022 01 10.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35013224

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection can be associated with neurological pathologies, such as microcephaly in newborns and Guillain-Barre syndrome in adults. Effective therapeutics are currently not available. As such, a comprehensive understanding of virus-host interactions may guide the development of medications for ZIKV. Here we report a human genome-wide overexpression screen to identify host factors that regulate ZIKV infection and find TMEM120A as a ZIKV restriction factor. TMEM120A overexpression significantly inhibits ZIKV replication, while TMEM120A knockdown increases ZIKV infection in cell lines. Moreover, Tmem120a knockout in mice facilitates ZIKV infection in primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) cells. Mechanistically, the antiviral activity of TMEM120A is dependent on STING, as TMEM120A interacts with STING, promotes the translocation of STING from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to ER-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC) and enhances the phosphorylation of downstream TBK1 and IRF3, resulting in the expression of multiple antiviral cytokines and interferon-stimulated genes. In summary, our gain-of-function screening identifies TMEM120A as a key activator of the antiviral signaling of STING.


Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics , Ion Channels/genetics , Membrane Proteins/genetics , Zika Virus Infection/genetics , Zika Virus/genetics , Animals , Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins/genetics , Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins/immunology , Cell Line, Tumor , Endoplasmic Reticulum/genetics , Endoplasmic Reticulum/immunology , Endoplasmic Reticulum/virology , Female , Gene Expression Regulation , Golgi Apparatus/genetics , Golgi Apparatus/immunology , Golgi Apparatus/virology , Hepatocytes/immunology , Hepatocytes/virology , Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology , Humans , Interferon Regulatory Factor-3/genetics , Interferon Regulatory Factor-3/immunology , Interferon-beta/genetics , Interferon-beta/immunology , Interleukin-6/genetics , Interleukin-6/immunology , Ion Channels/deficiency , Ion Channels/immunology , Membrane Proteins/immunology , Mice , Mice, Knockout , Phosphorylation , Protein Isoforms/genetics , Protein Isoforms/immunology , Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics , Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/immunology , RNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , RNA-Binding Proteins/immunology , Signal Transduction , Viral Nonstructural Proteins/genetics , Viral Nonstructural Proteins/immunology , Zika Virus/growth & development , Zika Virus/pathogenicity , Zika Virus Infection/immunology , Zika Virus Infection/virology
14.
PLoS Pathog ; 18(1): e1010159, 2022 01.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34995322

The clinical impact of rhinovirus C (RV-C) is well-documented; yet, the viral life cycle remains poorly defined. Thus, we characterized RV-C15 replication at the single-cell level and its impact on the human airway epithelium (HAE) using a physiologically-relevant in vitro model. RV-C15 replication was restricted to ciliated cells where viral RNA levels peaked at 12 hours post-infection (hpi), correlating with elevated titers in the apical compartment at 24hpi. Notably, infection was associated with a loss of polarized expression of the RV-C receptor, cadherin-related family member 3. Visualization of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) during RV-C15 replication revealed two distinct replication complex arrangements within the cell, likely corresponding to different time points in infection. To further define RV-C15 replication sites, we analyzed the expression and colocalization of giantin, phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate, and calnexin with dsRNA. Despite observing Golgi fragmentation by immunofluorescence during RV-C15 infection as previously reported for other RVs, a high ratio of calnexin-dsRNA colocalization implicated the endoplasmic reticulum as the primary site for RV-C15 replication in HAE. RV-C15 infection was also associated with elevated stimulator of interferon genes (STING) expression and the induction of incomplete autophagy, a mechanism used by other RVs to facilitate non-lytic release of progeny virions. Notably, genetic depletion of STING in HAE attenuated RV-C15 and -A16 (but not -B14) replication, corroborating a previously proposed proviral role for STING in some RV infections. Finally, RV-C15 infection resulted in a temporary loss in epithelial barrier integrity and the translocation of tight junction proteins while a reduction in mucociliary clearance indicated cytopathic effects on epithelial function. Together, our findings identify both shared and unique features of RV-C replication compared to related rhinoviruses and define the impact of RV-C on both epithelial cell organization and tissue functionality-aspects of infection that may contribute to pathogenesis in vivo.


Endoplasmic Reticulum/virology , Enterovirus/physiology , Respiratory Mucosa/virology , Virus Replication/physiology , Cells, Cultured , Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral/physiology , Humans
15.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun ; 586: 137-142, 2022 01 01.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34844119

Nuclear pore complexes (NPC) regulate molecular traffics on nuclear envelope, which plays crucial roles during cell fate specification and diseases. The viral accessory protein NSP9 of SARS-CoV-2 is reported to interact with nucleoporin 62 (NUP62), a structural component of the NPC, but its biological impact on the host cell remain obscure. Here, we established new cell line models with ectopic NSP9 expression and determined the subcellular destination and biological functions of NSP9. Confocal imaging identified NSP9 to be largely localized in close proximity to the endoplasmic reticulum. In agreement with the subcellular distribution of NSP9, association of NSP9 with NUP62 was observed in cytoplasm. Furthermore, the overexpression of NSP9 correlated with a reduction of NUP62 expression on the nuclear envelope, suggesting that attenuating NUP62 expression might have contributed to defective NPC formation. Importantly, the loss of NUP62 impaired translocation of p65, a subunit of NF-κB, upon TNF-α stimulation. Concordantly, NSP9 over-expression blocked p65 nuclear transport. Taken together, these data shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the modulation of host cells during SARS-CoV-2 infection.


COVID-19/metabolism , COVID-19/virology , Host Microbial Interactions/physiology , Membrane Glycoproteins/metabolism , Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins/metabolism , RNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism , SARS-CoV-2/metabolism , Viral Nonstructural Proteins/metabolism , Active Transport, Cell Nucleus , Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism , Endoplasmic Reticulum/virology , Gene Knockdown Techniques , HeLa Cells , Humans , Membrane Glycoproteins/antagonists & inhibitors , Membrane Glycoproteins/genetics , Models, Biological , Nuclear Envelope/metabolism , Nuclear Envelope/virology , Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors , Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins/genetics , RNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics , Recombinant Fusion Proteins/metabolism , Transcription Factor RelA/metabolism , Viral Nonstructural Proteins/genetics
16.
J Cell Biochem ; 123(2): 155-160, 2022 02.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34668225

Drug repurposing is an attractive option for identifying new treatment strategies, in particular in extraordinary situations of urgent need such as the current coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Recently, the World Health Organization announced testing of three drugs as potential Covid-19 therapeutics that are known for their dampening effect on the immune system. Thus, the underlying concept of selecting these drugs is to temper the potentially life-threatening overshooting of the immune system reacting to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. This viewpoint discusses the possibility that the impact of these and other drugs on autophagy contributes to their therapeutic effect by hampering the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle.


Antiviral Agents/pharmacology , Artesunate/pharmacology , Autophagy/drug effects , COVID-19 Drug Treatment , Drug Repositioning , Imatinib Mesylate/pharmacology , Infliximab/pharmacology , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2/drug effects , Antidepressive Agents/pharmacology , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Artesunate/therapeutic use , Chloroquine/pharmacology , Drug Development , Endoplasmic Reticulum/drug effects , Endoplasmic Reticulum/physiology , Endoplasmic Reticulum/virology , Endosomes/drug effects , Endosomes/virology , Humans , Hydroxychloroquine/pharmacology , Imatinib Mesylate/therapeutic use , Infliximab/therapeutic use , Intracellular Membranes/drug effects , Intracellular Membranes/physiology , Intracellular Membranes/virology , Ivermectin/pharmacology , Macrolides/pharmacology , Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus/drug effects , Niclosamide/pharmacology , Niclosamide/therapeutic use , RNA, Viral/metabolism , SARS-CoV-2/physiology , Virus Replication
17.
Cell Rep ; 37(10): 110077, 2021 12 07.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34879280

Viruses rearrange host membranes to support different entry steps. Polyomavirus simian virus 40 (SV40) reorganizes the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane to generate focus structures that enable virus ER-to-cytosol escape, a decisive infection step. The molecular architecture of the ER exit site that might illuminate why it is ideally suited for membrane penetration is unknown. Here 3D focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) reconstruction reveals that the ER focus structure consists of multi-tubular ER junctions where SV40 preferentially localizes, suggesting that tubular branch points are virus ER-to-cytosol penetration sites. Functional analysis demonstrates that lunapark-an ER membrane protein that typically stabilizes three-way ER junctions-relocates to the ER foci, where it supports focus formation, leading to SV40 ER escape and infection. Our results reveal how a virus repurposes the activity of an ER membrane protein to form a virus-induced ER substructure required for membrane escape and suggest that ER tubular junctions are vulnerable sites exploited by viruses for membrane penetration.


Cytosol/virology , Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism , Intracellular Membranes/metabolism , Membrane Proteins/metabolism , Simian virus 40/metabolism , Virus Internalization , Animals , Cell Line , Chlorocebus aethiops , Cytosol/metabolism , Endoplasmic Reticulum/genetics , Endoplasmic Reticulum/ultrastructure , Endoplasmic Reticulum/virology , Host-Pathogen Interactions , Intracellular Membranes/ultrastructure , Intracellular Membranes/virology , Male , Membrane Proteins/genetics , Simian virus 40/pathogenicity , Simian virus 40/ultrastructure
18.
Cells ; 10(10)2021 09 24.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34685515

Eukaryotic cells contain dynamic membrane-bound organelles that are constantly remodeled in response to physiological and environmental cues. Key organelles are the endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi apparatus and the plasma membrane, which are interconnected by vesicular traffic through the secretory transport route. Numerous viruses, especially enveloped viruses, use and modify compartments of the secretory pathway to promote their replication, assembly and cell egression by hijacking the host cell machinery. In some cases, the subversion mechanism has been uncovered. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of how the secretory pathway is subverted and exploited by viruses belonging to Picornaviridae, Coronaviridae, Flaviviridae,Poxviridae, Parvoviridae and Herpesviridae families.


Endoplasmic Reticulum/virology , Golgi Apparatus/virology , Secretory Pathway/physiology , Viruses/isolation & purification , Biological Transport/physiology , Cell Membrane/metabolism , Cell Membrane/virology , Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism , Golgi Apparatus/metabolism , Humans
19.
Viruses ; 13(10)2021 10 18.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34696522

The dengue virus (DENV) causes the most prevalent arthropod-borne viral disease worldwide. While its incidence is increasing in many countries, there is no approved antiviral therapy currently available. In infected cells, the DENV induces extensive morphological alterations of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to generate viral replication organelles (vRO), which include convoluted membranes (CM) and vesicle packets (VP) hosting viral RNA replication. The viral non-structural protein NS4B localizes to vROs and is absolutely required for viral replication through poorly defined mechanisms, which might involve cellular protein partners. Previous interactomic studies identified the ATPase valosin-containing protein (VCP) as a DENV NS4B-interacting host factor in infected cells. Using both pharmacological and dominant-negative inhibition approaches, we show, in this study, that VCP ATPase activity is required for efficient DENV replication. VCP associates with NS4B when expressed in the absence of other viral proteins while in infected cells, both proteins colocalize within large DENV-induced cytoplasmic structures previously demonstrated to be CMs. Consistently, VCP inhibition dramatically reduces the abundance of DENV CMs in infected cells. Most importantly, using a recently reported replication-independent plasmid-based vRO induction system, we show that de novo VP biogenesis is dependent on VCP ATPase activity. Overall, our data demonstrate that VCP ATPase activity is required for vRO morphogenesis and/or stability. Considering that VCP was shown to be required for the replication of other flaviviruses, our results argue that VCP is a pan-flaviviral host dependency factor. Given that new generation VCP-targeting drugs are currently evaluated in clinical trials for cancer treatment, VCP may constitute an attractive broad-spectrum antiviral target in drug repurposing approaches.


Dengue Virus/metabolism , Valosin Containing Protein/metabolism , Viral Replication Compartments/physiology , Adenosine Triphosphatases/genetics , Cell Line , Dengue/virology , Dengue Virus/genetics , Dengue Virus/pathogenicity , Endoplasmic Reticulum/virology , Humans , RNA, Viral/genetics , Valosin Containing Protein/genetics , Viral Nonstructural Proteins/genetics , Virus Replication/physiology
20.
Viruses ; 13(9)2021 09 09.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34578379

A variety of immunolabeling procedures for both light and electron microscopy were used to examine the cellular origins of the host membranes supporting the SARS-CoV-2 replication complex. The endoplasmic reticulum has long been implicated as a source of membrane for the coronavirus replication organelle. Using dsRNA as a marker for sites of viral RNA synthesis, we provide additional evidence supporting ER as a prominent source of membrane. In addition, we observed a rapid fragmentation of the Golgi apparatus which is visible by 6 h and complete by 12 h post-infection. Golgi derived lipid appears to be incorporated into the replication organelle although protein markers are dispersed throughout the infected cell. The mechanism of Golgi disruption is undefined, but chemical disruption of the Golgi apparatus by brefeldin A is inhibitory to viral replication. A search for an individual SARS-CoV-2 protein responsible for this activity identified at least five viral proteins, M, S, E, Orf6, and nsp3, that induced Golgi fragmentation when expressed in eukaryotic cells. Each of these proteins, as well as nsp4, also caused visible changes to ER structure as shown by correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM). Collectively, these results imply that specific disruption of the Golgi apparatus is a critical component of coronavirus replication.


Endoplasmic Reticulum/virology , Golgi Apparatus/virology , SARS-CoV-2/physiology , Virus Replication , Animals , Chlorocebus aethiops , Coronavirus M Proteins/physiology , Coronavirus M Proteins/ultrastructure , Endoplasmic Reticulum/ultrastructure , Golgi Apparatus/ultrastructure , Humans , Intracellular Membranes/ultrastructure , Intracellular Membranes/virology , Microscopy, Electron , SARS-CoV-2/ultrastructure , Vero Cells , Viral Structural Proteins/physiology , Viral Structural Proteins/ultrastructure
...