Rate of novel host invasion affects adaptability of evolving RNA virus lineages

Although differing rates of environmental turnover should be consequential for the dynamics of adaptive change, this idea has been rarely examined outside of theory. In particular, the importance of RNA viruses in disease emergence warrants experiments testing how differing rates of novel host invasion may impact the ability of viruses to adaptively shift onto a novel host. To test whether the rate of environmental turnover influences adaptation, we experimentally evolved 144 Sindbis virus lineages in replicated tissue-culture environments, which transitioned from being dominated by a permissive host cell type to a novel host cell type. The rate at which the novel host ‘invaded’ the environment varied by treatment. The fitness (growth rate) of evolved virus populations was measured on each host type, and molecular substitutions were mapped via whole genome consensus sequencing. Results showed that virus populations more consistently reached high fitness levels on the novel host when the novel host ‘invaded’ the environment more gradually, and gradual invasion resulted in less variable genomic outcomes. Moreover, virus populations that experienced a rapid shift onto the novel host converged upon different genotypes than populations that experienced a gradual shift onto the novel host, suggesting a strong effect of historical contingency.     

我国新分离虫媒病毒的初步鉴定

1990－1994年,从新疆地区的蚊、蜱和病人血清分离了多株病毒,为了明确这些病毒的分类地位,对其中的20株病毒进行了组织培养细胞感染实验和血清学检验,对部分毒株做了动物接种实验和理化性质鉴定。结果显示：20株病毒均可使BHK－21细胞病变（1－3天）,主要表现为细胞圆宿、聚集,融合,破碎,脱落等;致Vero细胞病变为2－4天;15株病毒致C6／36细胞病变（2－4天）,5株病毒对C6／36细胞连续观察7天未见细胞病变。11株病毒对乳鼠2－4天致死,对成年鼠2－5天致死。选取6株病毒进行理化性质鉴定,4株病毒（90260、91002、91004和91028）对5－氟脱氧尿苷耐受,对乙醚和酸敏感,提示为有膜RNA病毒;一株病毒（90265）对5－氟脱氧尿苷、乙醚和酸均敏感,提示为有膜DNA病毒;另一株病毒（9059）对5－氟脱氧尿苷耐受,对乙醚和酸也耐受,提示可能为无膜RNA肠道病毒。20株病毒中,17株病毒与甲病毒、乙型脑炎病毒和布尼亚病毒的特异性免疫腹水不反应,提示这些病毒中可能不存在甲病毒、黄病毒和布尼亚病毒;3株病毒（90260、91002和91004）只与甲病毒的特异性免疫腹水反应,与乙型脑炎病毒和布尼亚病毒的不反应,提示这三株病毒为甲病毒。     

Alphavirus Restriction by IFITM Proteins

Interferon inducible transmembrane proteins (IFITMs) are broad‐spectrum antiviral factors. In cell culture the entry of many enveloped viruses, including orthomyxo‐, flavi‐, and filoviruses, is inhibited by IFITMs, though the mechanism(s) involved remain unclear and may vary between viruses. We demonstrate that Sindbis and Semliki Forest virus (SFV), which both use endocytosis and acid‐induced membrane fusion in early endosomes to infect cells, are restricted by the early endosomal IFITM3. The late endosomal IFITM2 is less restrictive and the plasma membrane IFITM1 does not inhibit normal infection by either virus. IFITM3 inhibits release of the SFV capsid into the cytosol, without inhibiting binding, internalization, trafficking to endosomes or low pH‐induced conformational changes in the envelope glycoprotein. Infection by SFV fusion at the cell surface was inhibited by IFITM1, but was equally inhibited by IFITM3. Furthermore, an IFITM3 mutant (Y20A) that is localized to the plasma membrane inhibited infection by cell surface fusion more potently than IFITM1. Together, these results indicate that IFITMs, in particular IFITM3, can restrict alphavirus infection by inhibiting viral fusion with cellular membranes. That IFITM3 can restrict SFV infection by fusion at the cell surface equivalently to IFITM1 suggests that IFITM3 has greater antiviral potency against SFV.      

Translation of Sindbis virus 26S mRNA does not require intact eukariotic initiation factor 4G

The infection of baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells by Sindbis virus gives rise to a drastic inhibition of cellular translation, while under these conditions the synthesis of viral structural proteins directed by the subgenomic 26S mRNA takes place efficiently. Here, the requirement for intact initiation factor eIF4G for the translation of this subgenomic mRNA has been examined. To this end, SV replicons that contain the protease of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) or the poliovirus 2A(pro) replacing the sequences of SV glycoproteins have been constructed. BHK cells electroporated with the different RNAs synthesize protein C and the corresponding protease at late times. Notably, the proteolysis of eIF4G by both proteases has little effect on the translation of the 26S mRNA. In addition, recombinant viable SVs were engineered that encode HIV-1 PR or poliovirus 2A protease under the control of a duplicated late promoter. Viral protein synthesis at late times of infection by the recombinant viruses is slightly affected in BHK cells that contain proteolysed eIF4G. The translatability of SV genomic 49S mRNA was assayed in BHK cells infected with a recombinant virus that synthesizes luciferase and transfected with a replicon that expresses poliovirus 2Apro. Under conditions where eIF4G has been hydrolysed significantly the translation of genomic SV RNA was deeply inhibited. These findings indicate a different requirement for intact eIF4G in the translation of genomic and subgenomic SV mRNAs. Finally, the translation of the reporter gene that encodes green fluorescent protein, placed under the control of a second duplicate late promoter, is also resistant to the cleavage of eIF4G. In conclusion, despite the presence of a cap structure in the 5' end of the subgenomic SV mRNA, intact eIF4G is not necessary for its translation.     

4.4 Å cryo-EM structure of an enveloped alphavirus Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus

Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV), a member of the membrane‐containing Alphavirus genus, is a human and equine pathogen, and has been developed as a biological weapon. Using electron cryo‐microscopy (cryo‐EM), we determined the structure of an attenuated vaccine strain, TC‐83, of VEEV to 4.4 Å resolution. Our density map clearly resolves regions (including E1, E2 transmembrane helices and cytoplasmic tails) that were missing in the crystal structures of domains of alphavirus subunits. These new features are implicated in the fusion, assembly and budding processes of alphaviruses. Furthermore, our map reveals the unexpected E3 protein, which is cleaved and generally thought to be absent in the mature VEEV. Our structural results suggest a mechanism for the initial stage of nucleocapsid core formation, and shed light on the virulence attenuation, host recognition and neutralizing activities of VEEV and other alphavirus pathogens.     

硫酸肝素与甲病毒感染

硫酸肝素存在于细胞膜表面、基底膜及细胞外基质,是一种高度硫酸化的、带负电荷的多糖结构。研究表明辛德毕斯病毒等甲病毒可通过与细胞表面的硫酸肝素结合进入宿主细胞,完成对细胞的感染。提示细胞表面的硫酸肝素是甲病毒感染细胞的受体或共受体。     

RNA复制子疫苗研究进展

最近兴起的RNA复制子疫苗,利用源自病毒的能够自主复制的RNA,其结构蛋白基因由外源抗原基因取代,保留了非结构蛋白(RNA复制酶)基因。RNA复制酶可使RNA载体在细胞质中高水平复制,并实现外源抗原基因的高水平表达,可同时诱导细胞免疫和体液免疫应答。大量双链RNA可诱导被感染细胞凋亡,宿主细胞的凋亡有利于免疫系统识别外源抗原。RNA复制子疫苗克服了传统疫苗和普通DNA疫苗存在的缺点,具有抗原表达效率高、安全性好、应用范围广等优点,因而被视为一种发展前景很好的疫苗形式。目前已对一些疾病模型基于复制子的治疗性和预防性疫苗进行了研究(涉及的对象包括病毒、肿瘤以及细菌毒素等),并对某些不足之处进行了改进。     

Host and vector movement affects genetic diversity and spatial structure of Buggy Creek virus (Togaviridae)

Determining the degree of genetic variability and spatial structure of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) may help in identifying where strains that potentially cause epidemics or epizootics occur. Genetic diversity in arboviruses is assumed to reflect relative mobility of their vertebrate hosts (and invertebrate vectors), with highly mobile hosts such as birds leading to genetic similarity of viruses over large areas. There are no empirical studies that have directly related host or vector movement to virus genetic diversity and spatial structure. Using the entire E2 glycoprotein-coding region of 377 Buggy Creek virus isolates taken from cimicid swallow bugs (Oeciacus vicarius), the principal invertebrate vector for this virus, we show that genetic diversity between sampling sites could be predicted by the extent of movement by transient cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) between nesting colonies where the virus and vectors occur. Pairwise F(ST) values between colony sites declined significantly with increasing likelihood of a swallow moving between those sites per 2-day interval during the summer nesting season. Sites with more bird movement between them had virus more similar genetically than did pairs of sites with limited or no bird movement. For one virus lineage, Buggy Creek virus showed greater haplotype and nucleotide diversity at sites that had high probabilities of birds moving into or through them during the summer; these sites likely accumulated haplotypes by virtue of frequent virus introductions by birds. Cliff swallows probably move Buggy Creek virus by transporting infected bugs on their feet. The results provide the first empirical demonstration that genetic structure of an arbovirus is strongly associated with host/vector movement, and suggest caution in assuming that bird-dispersed arboviruses always have low genetic differentiation across different sites.