A polyomavirus peptide binds to the capsid VP1 pore and has potent antiviral activity against BK and JC polyomaviruses.

In pursuit of therapeutics for human polyomaviruses, we identified a peptide derived from the BK polyomavirus (BKV) minor structural proteins VP2/3 that is a potent inhibitor of BKV infection with no observable cellular toxicity. The thirteen-residue peptide binds to major structural protein VP1 with single-digit nanomolar affinity. Alanine-scanning of the peptide identified three key residues, substitution of each of which results in ~1000 fold loss of binding affinity with a concomitant reduction in antiviral activity. Structural studies demonstrate specific binding of the peptide to the pore of pentameric VP1. Cell-based assays demonstrate nanomolar inhibition (EC50) of BKV infection and suggest that the peptide acts early in the viral entry pathway. Homologous peptide exhibits similar binding to JC polyomavirus VP1 and inhibits infection with similar potency to BKV in a model cell line. Lastly, these studies validate targeting the VP1 pore as a novel strategy for the development of anti-polyomavirus agents.

CD8+ T-cell-Mediated Immunoediting Influences Genomic Evolution and Immune Evasion in Murine Gliomas.

PURPOSE: Cancer immunoediting shapes tumor progression by the selection of tumor cell variants that can evade immune recognition. Given the immune evasion and intratumor heterogeneity characteristic of gliomas, we hypothesized that CD8+ T cells mediate immunoediting in these tumors. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We developed retrovirus-induced PDGF+ Pten -/- murine gliomas and evaluated glioma progression and tumor immunogenicity in the absence of CD8+ T cells by depleting this immune cell population. Furthermore, we characterized the genomic alterations present in gliomas that developed in the presence and absence of CD8+ T cells. RESULTS: Upon transplantation, gliomas that developed in the absence of CD8+ T cells engrafted poorly in recipients with intact immunity but engrafted well in those with CD8+ T-cell depletion. In contrast, gliomas that developed under pressure from CD8+ T cells were able to fully engraft in both CD8+ T-cell-depleted mice and immunocompetent mice. Remarkably, gliomas developed in the absence of CD8+ T cells exhibited increased aneuploidy, MAPK pathway signaling, gene fusions, and macrophage/microglial infiltration, and showed a proinflammatory phenotype. MAPK activation correlated with macrophage/microglia recruitment in this model and in the human disease. CONCLUSIONS: Our studies indicate that, in these tumor models, CD8+ T cells influence glioma oncogenic pathways, tumor genotype, and immunogenicity. This suggests immunoediting of immunogenic tumor clones through their negative selection by CD8+ T cells during glioma formation.

Lineage-Specific Viral Hijacking of Non-canonical E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Cofactors in the Evolution of Vif Anti-APOBEC3 Activity.

HIV-1 encodes the accessory protein Vif, which hijacks a host Cullin-RING ubiquitin ligase (CRL) complex as well as the non-canonical cofactor CBFß, to antagonize APOBEC3 antiviral proteins. Non-canonical cofactor recruitment to CRL complexes by viral factors, to date, has only been attributed to HIV-1 Vif. To further study this phenomenon, we employed a comparative approach combining proteomic, biochemical, structural, and virological techniques to investigate Vif complexes across the lentivirus genus, including primate (HIV-1 and simian immunodeficiency virus macaque [SIVmac]) and non-primate (FIV, BIV, and MVV) viruses. We find that CBFß is completely dispensable for the activity of non-primate lentiviral Vif proteins. Furthermore, we find that BIV Vif requires no cofactor and that MVV Vif requires a novel cofactor, cyclophilin A (CYPA), for stable CRL complex formation and anti-APOBEC3 activity. We propose modular conservation of Vif complexes allows for potential exaptation of functions through the acquisition of non-CRL-associated host cofactors while preserving anti-APOBEC3 activity.