The Picornaviridae Family: Knowledge Gaps, Animal Models, Countermeasures, and Prototype Pathogens.

Picornaviruses are nonenveloped particles with a single-stranded RNA genome of positive polarity. This virus family includes poliovirus, hepatitis A virus, rhinoviruses, and Coxsackieviruses. Picornaviruses are common human pathogens, and infection can result in a spectrum of serious illnesses, including acute flaccid myelitis, severe respiratory complications, and hand-foot-mouth disease. Despite research on poliovirus establishing many fundamental principles of RNA virus biology and the first transgenic animal model of disease for infection by a human virus, picornaviruses are understudied. Existing knowledge gaps include, identification of molecules required for virus entry, understanding cellular and humoral immune responses elicited during virus infection, and establishment of immune-competent animal models of virus pathogenesis. Such knowledge is necessary for development of pan-picornavirus countermeasures. Defining enterovirus A71 and D68, human rhinovirus C, and echoviruses 29 as prototype pathogens of this virus family may provide insight into picornavirus biology needed to establish public health strategies necessary for pandemic preparedness.

Replication of early and recent Zika virus isolates throughout mouse brain development.

Fetal infection with Zika virus (ZIKV) can lead to congenital Zika virus syndrome (cZVS), which includes cortical malformations and microcephaly. The aspects of cortical development that are affected during virus infection are unknown. Using organotypic brain slice cultures generated from embryonic mice of various ages, sites of ZIKV replication including the neocortical proliferative zone and radial columns, as well as the developing midbrain, were identified. The infected radial units are surrounded by uninfected cells undergoing apoptosis, suggesting that programmed cell death may limit viral dissemination in the brain and may constrain virus-associated injury. Therefore, a critical aspect of ZIKV-induced neuropathology may be defined by death of uninfected cells. All ZIKV isolates assayed replicated efficiently in early and midgestation cultures, and two isolates examined replicated in late-gestation tissue. Alteration of neocortical cytoarchitecture, such as disruption of the highly elongated basal processes of the radial glial progenitor cells and impairment of postmitotic neuronal migration, were also observed. These data suggest that all lineages of ZIKV tested are neurotropic, and that ZIKV infection interferes with multiple aspects of neurodevelopment that contribute to the complexity of cZVS.

Cross-Reactive Antibody Responses against Nonpoliovirus Enteroviruses.

Enteroviruses are among the most common human viral pathogens. Infection with members of a subgroup of viruses within this genus, the nonpoliovirus enteroviruses (NPEVs), can result in a broad spectrum of serious illnesses, including acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a polio-like childhood paralysis; neonatal sepsis; aseptic meningitis; myocarditis; and hand-foot-mouth disease. Despite the diverse primary sites of virus infection, including the respiratory and alimentary tracts, and an array of diseases associated with these infections, there is significant genetic and antigenic similarity among NPEVs. This conservation results in the induction of cross-reactive antibodies that are either able to bind and neutralize or bind but not neutralize multiple NPEVs. Using plaque reduction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based binding assays, we define the antigenic relationship among poliovirus and NPEVs, including multiple isolates of EV-D68, EV-A71, EV-D70, EV-94, EV-111, Coxsackievirus A24v, and rhinovirus. The results reveal extensive cross-reactivity among EVs that cannot be predicted from phylogenetic analysis. Determining the immunologic relationship among EVs is critical to understanding the humoral response elicited during homologous and heterologous virus infections. IMPORTANCE Enteroviruses (EVs) are common human pathogens. Although infection with EVs leads to cross-reactive antibodies, the clinical relevance of these antibodies is unclear given the estimated incidence of EV infections in the general population of one per year. The hypothesis that anti-EV cross-reactive antibodies can bind and neutralize heterologous EVs was investigated using polyclonal sera collected from animals immunized with individual EVs. Both binding and neutralization activities against heterologous EVs was observed in these sera, and we speculate that cross-reactive antibodies may modulate infection and disease severity. Defining the antigenic relationship among EVs may provide insights into the epidemiology and pathogenesis of enterovirus infections.

Cleavage of IPS-1 in cells infected with human rhinovirus.

Rhinoviruses are prevalent human pathogens that are associated with life-threatening acute asthma exacerbations. The innate immune response to rhinovirus infection, which may play an important role in virus-induced asthma induction, has not been comprehensively investigated. We examined the innate immune response in cells infected with human rhinovirus 1a (HRV1a). Beta interferon (IFN-beta) mRNA was induced in HRV1a-infected cells at levels significantly lower than in cells infected with Sendai virus. To understand the basis for this observation, we determined whether components of the pathway leading to IFN-beta induction were altered during infection. Dimerization of the transcription factor IRF-3, which is required for synthesis of IFN-beta mRNA, is not observed in cells infected with HRV1a. Beginning at 7 h postinfection, IPS-1, a protein that is essential for cytosolic sensing of viral RNA, is degraded in HRV1a-infected cells. Induction of apoptosis by puromycin led to the cleavage of IPS-1, but treatment of HRV1a-infected cells with the pan-caspase inhibitor, zVAD, did not block cleavage of IPS-1. IPS-1 is cleaved in vitro by caspase-3 and by the picornaviral proteinases 2A(pro) and 3C(pro). Expression of HRV1a and polioviral 2A(pro) and 3C(pro) led to degradation of IPS-1 in cells. These results suggest that IPS-1 is cleaved during HRV1a infection by three different proteases. Cleavage of IPS-1 may be a mechanism for evasion of the type I IFN response, leading to a more robust infection.

Proteinase 2Apro is essential for enterovirus replication in type I interferon-treated cells.

The Picornaviridae family comprises a diverse group of small RNA viruses that cause a variety of human and animal diseases. Some of these viruses are known to induce cleavage of components of the innate immune system and to inhibit steps in the interferon pathway that lead to the production of type I interferon. There has been no study of the effect of picornaviral infection on the events that occur after interferons have been produced. To determine whether members of the Enterovirus genus can antagonize the antiviral activity of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), we pretreated cells with alpha interferon (IFN-alpha) and then infected the cells with poliovirus type 1, 2, or 3; enterovirus type 70; or human rhinovirus type 16. We found that these viruses were able to replicate in IFN-alpha-pretreated cells but that replication of vesicular stomatitis virus, a Rhabdovirus, and encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), a picornavirus of the Cardiovirus genus, was completely inhibited. Although EMCV is sensitive to IFN-alpha, coinfection of cells with poliovirus and EMCV leads to EMCV replication in IFN-alpha-pretreated cells. The enteroviral 2A proteinase (2A(pro)) is essential for replication in cells pretreated with interferon, because amino acid changes in this protein render poliovirus sensitive to IFN-alpha. The addition of the poliovirus 2A(pro) gene to the EMCV genome allowed EMCV to replicate in IFN-alpha-pretreated cells. These results support an inhibitory role for 2A(pro) in the most downstream event in interferon signaling, the antiviral activities of ISGs.

Components of the multifactor complex needed for internal initiation by the IRES of hepatitis C virus in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Interaction between the 40S ribosomal subunit and the IRES of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is thought to be independent of initiation proteins, while joining of the 60S ribosomal subunit, and initiation of translation is dependent upon components of the translation machinery. An established in vivo functional assay for internal initiation mediated by the HCV IRES was used to identify proteins needed for IRES dependent translation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains possessing alterations of the translation machinery. Internal initiation dependent upon the HCV IRES was abrogated in strains lacking eIF5B, and reduced in strains with altered eIF3, either lacking the Hcr1p subunit, a component of eIF3 not previously known to interact with HCV RNA, or possessing an amino acid change in the Rpg1p subunit. The HCV RNA-induced conformational change in the 40S subunit might affect positioning of eIF3 and lead to different interactions between the ribosome, eIF3, and the multifactor complex. HCV IRES dependent initiation was unaffected in strains in which the concentration of the initiating tRNA was reduced. Alteration of the δ subunit of eIF2B, which leads to inefficient recycling, or substitution of aspartic acid for serine 51 of eIF2α had no effect on internal initiation. Production of human Pkr inhibited HCV IRES dependent initiation in yeast. The synthesis of Pkr in yeast is known to result in high levels of eIF2α phosphorylation, increased Gcn4p synthesis, and reduced ribosomal protein production. These alterations may explain the effect of Pkr synthesis on HCV IRES dependent initiation in yeast.

Neurotropism of Enterovirus D68 Isolates Is Independent of Sialic Acid and Is Not a Recently Acquired Phenotype.

Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is a rare but serious illness of the nervous system, specifically affecting the gray matter of the spinal cord, motor-controlling regions of the brain, and cranial nerves. Most cases of AFM are pathogen associated, typically with poliovirus and enterovirus infections, and occur in children under the age of 6 years. Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) was first isolated from children with pneumonia in 1962, but an association with AFM was not observed until the 2014 outbreak. Organotypic mouse brain slice cultures generated from postnatal day 1 to 10 mice and adult ifnar knockout mice were used to determine if neurotropism of EV-D68 is shared among virus isolates. All isolates replicated in organotypic mouse brain slice cultures, and three isolates replicated in primary murine astrocyte cultures. All four EV-D68 isolates examined caused paralysis and death in adult ifnar knockout mice. In contrast, no viral disease was observed after intracranial inoculation of wild-type mice. Six of the seven EV-D68 isolates, including two from 1962 and four from the 2014 outbreak, replicated in induced human neurons, and all of the isolates replicated in induced human astrocytes. Furthermore, a putative viral receptor, sialic acid, is not required for neurotropism of EV-D68, as viruses replicated within neurons and astrocytes independent of binding to sialic acid. These observations demonstrate that EV-D68 is neurotropic independent of its genetic lineage and can infect both neurons and astrocytes and that neurotropism is not a recently acquired characteristic as has been suggested. Furthermore, the results show that in mice the innate immune response is critical for restricting EV-D68 disease.IMPORTANCE Since 2014, numerous outbreaks of childhood infections with enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) have occurred worldwide. Most infections are associated with flu-like symptoms, but paralysis may develop in young children. It has been suggested that infection only with recent viral isolates can cause paralysis. To address the hypothesis that EV-D68 has recently acquired neurotropism, murine organotypic brain slice cultures, induced human motor neurons and astrocytes, and mice lacking the alpha/beta interferon receptor were infected with multiple virus isolates. All EV-D68 isolates, from 1962 to the present, can infect neural cells, astrocytes, and neurons. Furthermore, our results show that sialic acid binding does not play a role in EV-D68 neuropathogenesis. The study of EV-D68 infection in organotypic brain slice cultures, induced motor neurons, and astrocytes will allow for the elucidation of the mechanism by which the virus infection causes disease.

Cell-type specificity and functional redundancy of RIG-I-like receptors in innate immune sensing of Coxsackievirus B3 and encephalomyocarditis virus.

The contributions of RIG-I and MDA5 receptors to sensing viruses of the Picornaviridae family were investigated. The picornaviruses encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) and Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) are detected by both MDA5 and RIG-I in bone marrow derived macrophages. In macrophages from wild type mice, type I IFN is produced early after infection; IFNß synthesis is reduced in the absence of each sensor, while IFNα production is reduced in the absence of MDA5. EMCV and CVB3 do not replicate in murine macrophages, and their detection is different in murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), in which the viruses replicate to high titers. In MEFs RIG-I was essential for the expression of type I IFNs but contributes to increased yields of CVB3, while MDA5 inhibited CVB3 replication but in an IFN independent manner. These observations demonstrate functional redundancy within the innate immune response to picornaviruses.

Emerging infectious diseases.

Human population growth, technological advances, and changing social behaviors lead to the selection of new microbial pathogens. Antimicrobial drugs, vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments for emerging infectious diseases must be developed. The selective forces that drive the emergence of new infectious diseases, and the implications for our survival, are just beginning to be understood.

Poliovirus tropism and attenuation are determined after internal ribosome entry.

Poliovirus replication is limited to a few organs, including the brain and spinal cord. This restricted tropism may be a consequence of organ-specific differences in translation initiation by the poliovirus internal ribosome entry site (IRES). A C-to-U mutation at base 472 in the IRES of the Sabin type 3 poliovirus vaccine strain, known to attenuate neurovirulence, may further restrict tropism by eliminating viral replication in the CNS. To determine the relationship between IRES-mediated translation and poliovirus tropism, recombinant human adenoviruses were used to express bicistronic mRNAs in murine organs. The IRESs of poliovirus, the cardiotropic coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3), and the hepatotropic hepatitis C virus (HCV) mediate translation in many organs, including those that do not support viral replication. A translation defect associated with the Sabin type 3 IRES was observed in all organs examined. Poliovirus type 1 and recombinant polioviruses dependent on the IRES of CVB3 or HCV replicate in the CNS of mice and cause paralysis. Although the type 3 Sabin strain is an effective vaccine, polioviruses with a U at base 472 of the IRES cause paralysis in newborn mice. Tropism of wild-type and vaccine strains of poliovirus is therefore determined after internal ribosome entry.

Polioviruses that bind a chimeric Pvr-nectin-2 protein identify capsid residues involved in receptor interaction.

Amino acid changes in the C'C"D region in poliovirus receptor domain 1 disrupt poliovirus binding. To examine further the role of the C'C"D region in poliovirus infection, we substituted this region of Pvr into the corresponding region of a murine homolog, nectin-2. The chimeric receptor, nectin-2Pvr(c'c"d), rendered transformed L cells susceptible to infection with poliovirus P1/Mahoney, but not with polioviruses P2/Lansing and P3/Leon, due to lack of binding. Twenty-four variants of P2/Lansing were selected that replicate in nectin-2Pvr(c'c"d) producing cell lines. Sequence analysis revealed 30 amino acid changes at 28 capsid residues. One change, K1103R, is found in nearly all isolates and is located at one end of the VP1 BC loop. Other alterations are located on the canyon surface, at the protomer interface, and along the perimeter of the canyon south wall. Unlike poliovirus-Pvr binding, the VP1 BC loop is required for infection of cells producing nectin-2Pvr(c'c"d).

Scientists: Engage the Public!

Scientists must communicate about science with public audiences to promote an understanding of complex issues that we face in our technologically advanced society. Some scientists may be concerned about a social stigma or "Sagan effect" associated with participating in public communication. Recent research in the social sciences indicates that public communication by scientists is not a niche activity but is widely done and can be beneficial to a scientist's career. There are a variety of approaches that scientists can take to become active in science communication.

Major and minor group rhinoviruses elicit differential signaling and cytokine responses as a function of receptor-mediated signal transduction.

Major- and minor-group human rhinoviruses (HRV) enter their host by binding to the cell surface molecules ICAM-1 and LDL-R, respectively, which are present on both macrophages and epithelial cells. Although epithelial cells are the primary site of productive HRV infection, previous studies have implicated macrophages in establishing the cytokine dysregulation that occurs during rhinovirus-induced asthma exacerbations. Analysis of the transcriptome of primary human macrophages exposed to major- and minor-group HRV demonstrated differential gene expression. Alterations in gene expression were traced to differential mitochondrial activity and signaling pathway activation between two rhinovirus serotypes, HRV16 (major-group) and HRV1A (minor-group), upon initial HRV binding. Variances in phosphorylation of kinases (p38, JNK, ERK5) and transcription factors (ATF-2, CREB, CEBP-alpha) were observed between the major- and minor-group HRV treatments. Differential activation of signaling pathways led to changes in the production of the asthma-relevant cytokines CCL20, CCL2, and IL-10. This is the first report of genetically similar viruses eliciting dissimilar cytokine release, transcription factor phosphorylation, and MAPK activation from macrophages, suggesting that receptor use is a mechanism for establishing the inflammatory microenvironment in the human airway upon exposure to rhinovirus.

Science should be in the public domain.

Variants of avian influenza H5N1 virus that are transmitted by the airborne route among ferrets have been identified. The National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity has advised against publication of the details of the methods used to obtain these viruses and the amino acid changes that lead to transmission in ferrets. This decision is not based on sound scientific principles and risks setting a precedent that will make it easier to put in place highly restrictive regulations on scientific research and publication.

Selection of rhinovirus 1A variants adapted for growth in mouse lung epithelial cells.

Rhinoviruses (RVs) are picornaviruses that are causative agents of the majority of upper respiratory tract infections, or "common colds," in humans. RVs infect both the upper and lower respiratory tract, and in addition to the common cold may also cause pneumonia, complications in patients with chronic lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis, and asthma exacerbations. Convenient animal models are not available to study the pathogenesis of rhinovirus-induced illness. Rhinovirus RV1A replicates poorly in mouse cells; variants with improved replication were selected by serial passage through mouse embryonic fibroblasts and mouse lung epithelial cells. Adaptation for improved growth in mouse cells was mediated by amino acid changes in the RV1a non-structural protein 3A. Mouse cell-adapted RV1A was capable of productively infecting mice in which the airway was subjected to chemical permeabilization. A mouse model for RV infection will permit studies of RV pathogenesis and may identify targets for therapeutic intervention.

RIG-I is cleaved during picornavirus infection.

The innate immune system senses RNA virus infections through membrane-bound Toll-like receptors or the cytoplasmic proteins RIG-I and MDA-5. RIG-I is believed to recognize the 5'-triphosphate present on many viral RNAs, and hence is important for sensing infections by paramyxoviruses, influenza viruses, rhabdoviruses, and flaviviruses. MDA-5 recognizes dsRNA, and senses infection with picornaviruses, whose RNA 5'-ends are linked to a viral protein, VPg, not a 5'-triphosphate. We previously showed that MDA-5 is degraded in cells infected with different picornaviruses, and suggested that such cleavage might be a mechanism to antagonize production of type I IFN in response to viral infection. Here we examined the state of RIG-I during picornavirus infection. RIG-I is degraded in cells infected with poliovirus, rhinoviruses, echovirus, and encephalomyocarditis virus. In contrast to MDA-5, cleavage of RIG-I is not accomplished by cellular caspases or the proteasome. Rather, the viral proteinase 3C(pro) cleaves RIG-I, both in vitro and in cells. Cleavage of RIG-I during picornavirus infection may constitute another mechanism for attenuating the innate response to viral infection.

Functions of the cytoplasmic RNA sensors RIG-I and MDA-5: key regulators of innate immunity.

The innate immune system responds within minutes of infection to produce type I interferons and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Interferons induce the synthesis of cell proteins with antiviral activity, and also shape the adaptive immune response by priming T cells. Despite the discovery of interferons over 50 years ago, only recently have we begun to understand how cells sense the presence of a virus infection. Two families of pattern recognition receptors have been shown to distinguish unique molecules present in pathogens, such as bacterial and fungal cell wall components, viral RNA and DNA, and lipoproteins. The first family includes the membrane-bound toll-like receptors (TLRs). Studies of the signaling pathways that lead from pattern recognition to cytokine induction have revealed extensive and overlapping cascades that involve protein-protein interactions and phosphorylation, and culminate in activation of transcription proteins that control the transcription of genes encoding interferons and other cytokines. A second family of pattern recognition receptors has recently been identified, which comprises the cytoplasmic sensors of viral nucleic acids, including MDA-5, RIG-I, and LGP2. In this review we summarize the discovery of these cytoplasmic sensors, how they recognize nucleic acids, the signaling pathways leading to cytokine synthesis, and viral countermeasures that have evolved to antagonize the functions of these proteins. We also consider the function of these cytoplasmic sensors in apoptosis, development and differentiation, and diabetes.

Enterovirus 70 receptor utilization is controlled by capsid residues that also regulate host range and cytopathogenicity.

Enterovirus type 70, an etiologic agent of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, may bind different cellular receptors depending on cell type. To understand how EV70-receptor interaction is controlled, we studied two variants of the virus with distinct receptor utilization. EV70-Rmk, derived by passage in rhesus monkey kidney cells, replicates poorly in HeLa cells and does not cause cytopathic effects. Decay accelerating factor (DAF) is not a cell receptor for EV70-Rmk. Passage of EV70-Rmk in HeLa cells lead to isolation of EV70-Dne, which does not replicate in rhesus monkey kidney cells but grows to high titers in HeLa cells and causes cytopathic effects. DAF is sufficient for cell entry of EV70-Dne. EV70-Rmk replicates in human eye and brain-derived cell lines, whereas the Dne strain replicates only in HeLa cells and in conjunctiva-derived 15C4 cells. The two EV70 strains differ by five amino acid changes in the viral capsid. Single substitution of four of the five EV70-Rmk amino acids with the residue from EV70-Dne leads to lytic replication in HeLa cells. Conversely, substitution of any of the five EV70-Dne amino acids with the EV70-Rmk amino acid does not alter replication in HeLa cells. Three of these capsid amino acids are predicted to be located in the canyon encircling the fivefold axis of symmetry, one amino acid is found at the fivefold axis of symmetry, and one is located the interior of the capsid. The five EV70 residues define a region of the capsid that controls viral host range, DAF utilization, and cytopathogenicity.

MDA-5 is cleaved in poliovirus-infected cells.

Infections with RNA viruses are sensed by the innate immune system through membrane-bound Toll-like receptors or the cytoplasmic RNA helicases RIG-I and MDA-5. It is believed that MDA-5 is crucial for sensing infections by picornaviruses, but there have been no studies on the role of this protein during infection with poliovirus, the prototypic picornavirus. Beginning at 4 h postinfection, MDA-5 protein is degraded in poliovirus-infected cells. Levels of MDA-5 declined beginning at 6 h after infection with rhinovirus type 1a or encephalomyocarditis virus, but the protein was stable in cells infected with rhinovirus type 16 or echovirus type 1. Cleavage of MDA-5 is not carried out by either poliovirus proteinase 2Apro or 3Cpro. Instead, degradation of MDA-5 in poliovirus-infected cells occurs in a proteasome- and caspase-dependent manner. Degradation of MDA-5 during poliovirus infection correlates with cleavage of poly(ADP) ribose polymerase (PARP), a hallmark of apoptosis. Induction of apoptosis by puromycin leads to cleavage of both PARP and MDA-5. The MDA-5 cleavage product observed in cells treated with puromycin is approximately 90 kDa, similar in size to the putative cleavage product observed in poliovirus-infected cells. Poliovirus-induced cleavage of MDA-5 may be a mechanism to antagonize production of type I interferon in response to viral infection.