Antigenic Subversion: A Novel Mechanism of Host Immune Evasion by Ebola Virus

In addition to its surface glycoprotein (GP_1,2), Ebola virus (EBOV) directs the production of large quantities of a truncated glycoprotein isoform (sGP) that is secreted into the extracellular space. The generation of secreted antigens has been studied in several viruses and suggested as a mechanism of host immune evasion through absorption of antibodies and interference with antibody-mediated clearance. However such a role has not been conclusively determined for the Ebola virus sGP. In this study, we immunized mice with DNA constructs expressing GP_1,2 and/or sGP, and demonstrate that sGP can efficiently compete for anti-GP₁₂ antibodies, but only from mice that have been immunized by sGP. We term this phenomenon “antigenic subversion”, and propose a model whereby sGP redirects the host antibody response to focus on epitopes which it shares with membrane-bound GP_1,2, thereby allowing it to absorb anti-GP_1,2 antibodies. Unexpectedly, we found that sGP can also subvert a previously immunized host''s anti-GP_1,2 response resulting in strong cross-reactivity with sGP. This finding is particularly relevant to EBOV vaccinology since it underscores the importance of eliciting robust immunity that is sufficient to rapidly clear an infection before antigenic subversion can occur. Antigenic subversion represents a novel virus escape strategy that likely helps EBOV evade host immunity, and may represent an important obstacle to EBOV vaccine design.     

Shed GP of Ebola Virus Triggers Immune Activation and Increased Vascular Permeability

During Ebola virus (EBOV) infection a significant amount of surface glycoprotein GP is shed from infected cells in a soluble form due to cleavage by cellular metalloprotease TACE. Shed GP and non-structural secreted glycoprotein sGP, both expressed from the same GP gene, have been detected in the blood of human patients and experimentally infected animals. In this study we demonstrate that shed GP could play a particular role during EBOV infection. In effect it binds and activates non-infected dendritic cells and macrophages inducing the secretion of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL1β, IL6, IL8, IL12p40, and IL1-RA, IL10). Activation of these cells by shed GP correlates with the increase in surface expression of co-stimulatory molecules CD40, CD80, CD83 and CD86. Contrary to shed GP, secreted sGP activates neither DC nor macrophages while it could bind DCs. In this study, we show that shed GP activity is likely mediated through cellular toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and is dependent on GP glycosylation. Treatment of cells with anti-TLR4 antibody completely abolishes shed GP-induced activation of cells. We also demonstrate that shed GP activity is negated upon addition of mannose-binding sera lectin MBL, a molecule known to interact with sugar arrays present on the surface of different microorganisms. Furthermore, we highlight the ability of shed GP to affect endothelial cell function both directly and indirectly, demonstrating the interplay between shed GP, systemic cytokine release and increased vascular permeability. In conclusion, shed GP released from virus-infected cells could activate non-infected DCs and macrophages causing the massive release of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and effect vascular permeability. These activities could be at the heart of the excessive and dysregulated inflammatory host reactions to infection and thus contribute to high virus pathogenicity.     

Involvement of viral envelope GP2 in Ebola virus entry into cells expressing the macrophage galactose-type C-type lectin

Ebola virus (EBOV) infection is initiated by the interaction of the viral surface envelope glycoprotein (GP) with the binding sites on target cells. Differences in the mortality among different species of the Ebola viruses, i.e., Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV) and Reston ebolavirus (REBOV), correspond to the in vitro infectivity of the pseudo-typed virus constructed with the GPs in cells expressing macrophage galactose-type calcium-type lectin (MGL/CD301). Through mutagenesis of GP2, the transmembrane-anchored subunit of GP, we found that residues 502–527 of the GP2 sequence determined the different infectivity between VSV-ZEBOV GP and -REBOV GP in MGL/CD301-expressing cells and a histidine residue at position 516 of ZEBOV GP2 appeared essential in the differential infectivity. These findings may provide a clue to clarify a molecular basis of different pathogenicity among EBOV species.     

Cathepsin B & L Are Not Required for Ebola Virus Replication

Ebola virus (EBOV), family Filoviridae, emerged in 1976 on the African continent. Since then it caused several outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fever in humans with case fatality rates up to 90% and remains a serious Public Health concern and biothreat pathogen. The most pathogenic and best-studied species is Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV). EBOV encodes one viral surface glycoprotein (GP), which is essential for replication, a determinant of pathogenicity and an important immunogen. GP mediates viral entry through interaction with cellular surface molecules, which results in the uptake of virus particles via macropinocytosis. Later in this pathway endosomal acidification activates the cysteine proteases Cathepsin B and L (CatB, CatL), which have been shown to cleave ZEBOV-GP leading to subsequent exposure of the putative receptor-binding and fusion domain and productive infection. We studied the effect of CatB and CatL on in vitro and in vivo replication of EBOV. Similar to previous findings, our results show an effect of CatB, but not CatL, on ZEBOV entry into cultured cells. Interestingly, cell entry by other EBOV species (Bundibugyo, Côte d''Ivoire, Reston and Sudan ebolavirus) was independent of CatB or CatL as was EBOV replication in general. To investigate whether CatB and CatL have a role in vivo during infection, we utilized the mouse model for ZEBOV. Wild-type (control), catB^−/− and catL^−/− mice were equally susceptible to lethal challenge with mouse-adapted ZEBOV with no difference in virus replication and time to death. In conclusion, our results show that CatB and CatL activity is not required for EBOV replication. Furthermore, EBOV glycoprotein cleavage seems to be mediated by an array of proteases making targeted therapeutic approaches difficult.     

A new strategy for full-length Ebola virus glycoprotein expression in E.coli

Ebola virus(EBOV) causes severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and non-human primates with high rates of fatality. Glycoprotein(GP) is the only envelope protein of EBOV, which may play a critical role in virus attachment and entry as well as stimulating host protective immune responses.However, the lack of expression of full-length GP in Escherichia coli hinders the further study of its function in viral pathogenesis. In this study, the vp40 gene was fused to the full-length gp gene and cloned into a prokaryotic expression vector. We showed that the VP40-GP and GP-VP40 fusion proteins could be expressed in E.coli at 16 ℃. In addition, it was shown that the position of vp40 in the fusion proteins affected the yields of the fusion proteins, with a higher level of production of the fusion protein when vp40 was upstream of gp compared to when it was downstream. The results provide a strategy for the expression of a large quantity of EBOV full-length GP, which is of importance for further analyzing the relationship between the structure and function of GP and developing an antibody for the treatment of EBOV infection.     

Effects of Ebola virus glycoproteins on endothelial cell activation and barrier function

Ebola virus causes severe hemorrhagic fever with high mortality rates in humans and nonhuman primates. Vascular instability and dysregulation are disease-decisive symptoms during severe infection. While the transmembrane glycoprotein GP(1,2) has been shown to cause endothelial cell destruction, the role of the soluble glycoproteins in pathogenesis is largely unknown; however, they are hypothesized to be of biological relevance in terms of target cell activation and/or increase of endothelial permeability. Here we show that virus-like particles (VLPs) consisting of the Ebola virus matrix protein VP40 and GP(1,2) were able to activate endothelial cells and induce a decrease in barrier function as determined by impedance spectroscopy and hydraulic conductivity measurements. In contrast, the soluble glycoproteins sGP and delta-peptide did not activate endothelial cells or change the endothelial barrier function. The VLP-induced decrease in barrier function was further enhanced by the cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), which is known to induce a long-lasting decrease in endothelial cell barrier function and is hypothesized to play a key role in Ebola virus pathogenesis. Surprisingly, sGP, but not delta-peptide, induced a recovery of endothelial barrier function following treatment with TNF-alpha. Our results demonstrate that Ebola virus GP(1,2) in its particle-associated form mediates endothelial cell activation and a decrease in endothelial cell barrier function. Furthermore, sGP, the major soluble glycoprotein of Ebola virus, seems to possess an anti-inflammatory role by protecting the endothelial cell barrier function.     

The Ebola Virus Glycoprotein Contributes to but Is Not Sufficient for Virulence In Vivo

Among the Ebola viruses most species cause severe hemorrhagic fever in humans; however, Reston ebolavirus (REBOV) has not been associated with human disease despite numerous documented infections. While the molecular basis for this difference remains unclear, in vitro evidence has suggested a role for the glycoprotein (GP) as a major filovirus pathogenicity factor, but direct evidence for such a role in the context of virus infection has been notably lacking. In order to assess the role of GP in EBOV virulence, we have developed a novel reverse genetics system for REBOV, which we report here. Together with a previously published full-length clone for Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV), this provides a unique possibility to directly investigate the role of an entire filovirus protein in pathogenesis. To this end we have generated recombinant ZEBOV (rZEBOV) and REBOV (rREBOV), as well as chimeric viruses in which the glycoproteins from these two virus species have been exchanged (rZEBOV-RGP and rREBOV-ZGP). All of these viruses could be rescued and the chimeras replicated with kinetics similar to their parent virus in tissue culture, indicating that the exchange of GP in these chimeric viruses is well tolerated. However, in a mouse model of infection rZEBOV-RGP demonstrated markedly decreased lethality and prolonged time to death when compared to rZEBOV, confirming that GP does indeed contribute to the full expression of virulence by ZEBOV. In contrast, rREBOV-ZGP did not show any signs of virulence, and was in fact slightly attenuated compared to rREBOV, demonstrating that GP alone is not sufficient to confer a lethal phenotype or exacerbate disease in this model. Thus, while these findings provide direct evidence that GP contributes to filovirus virulence in vivo, they also clearly indicate that other factors are needed for the acquisition of full virulence.     

Characterization of the Envelope Glycoprotein of a Novel Filovirus,Lloviu Virus

Lloviu virus (LLOV), a novel filovirus detected in bats, is phylogenetically distinct from viruses in the genera Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus in the family Filoviridae. While filoviruses are known to cause severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and/or nonhuman primates, LLOV is biologically uncharacterized, since infectious LLOV has never been isolated. To examine the properties of LLOV, we characterized its envelope glycoprotein (GP), which likely plays a key role in viral tropism and pathogenicity. We first found that LLOV GP principally has the same primary structure as the other filovirus GPs. Similar to the other filoviruses, virus-like particles (VLPs) produced by transient expression of LLOV GP, matrix protein, and nucleoprotein in 293T cells had densely arrayed GP spikes on a filamentous particle. Mouse antiserum to LLOV VLP was barely cross-reactive to viruses of the other genera, indicating that LLOV is serologically distinct from the other known filoviruses. For functional study of LLOV GP, we utilized a vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) pseudotype system and found that LLOV GP requires low endosomal pH and cathepsin L, and that human C-type lectins act as attachment factors for LLOV entry into cells. Interestingly, LLOV GP-pseudotyped VSV infected particular bat cell lines more efficiently than viruses bearing other filovirus GPs. These results suggest that LLOV GP mediates cellular entry in a manner similar to that of the other filoviruses while showing preferential tropism for some bat cells.     

Rho GTPases Modulate Entry of Ebola Virus and Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Pseudotyped Vectors

To explore mechanisms of entry for Ebola virus (EBOV) glycoprotein (GP) pseudotyped virions, we used comparative gene analysis to identify genes whose expression correlated with viral transduction. Candidate genes were identified by using EBOV GP pseudotyped virions to transduce human tumor cell lines that had previously been characterized by cDNA microarray. Transduction profiles for each of these cell lines were generated, and a significant positive correlation was observed between RhoC expression and permissivity for EBOV vector transduction. This correlation was not specific for EBOV vector alone as RhoC also correlated highly with transduction of vesicular stomatitis virus GP (VSVG) pseudotyped vector. Levels of RhoC protein in EBOV and VSV permissive and nonpermissive cells were consistent with the cDNA gene array findings. Additionally, vector transduction was elevated in cells that expressed high levels of endogenous RhoC but not RhoA. RhoB and RhoC overexpression significantly increased EBOV GP and VSVG pseudotyped vector transduction but had minimal effect on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) GP pseudotyped HIV or adeno-associated virus 2 vector entry, indicating that not all virus uptake was enhanced by expression of these molecules. RhoB and RhoC overexpression also significantly enhanced VSV infection. Similarly, overexpression of RhoC led to a significant increase in fusion of EBOV virus-like particles. Finally, ectopic expression of RhoC resulted in increased nonspecific endocytosis of fluorescent dextran and in formation of increased actin stress fibers compared to RhoA-transfected cells, suggesting that RhoC is enhancing macropinocytosis. In total, our studies implicate RhoB and RhoC in enhanced productive entry of some pseudovirions and suggest the involvement of actin-mediated macropinocytosis as a mechanism of uptake of EBOV GP and VSVG pseudotyped viral particles.Enveloped viruses enter cells by a variety of different pathways. Productive internalization of enveloped viruses with targeted cells is mediated through interactions of the viral glycoprotein(s) (GPs) with moieties on the surface of the cell. In general, enveloped viral entry occurs through viral adherence to the cell surface, interaction with a specific plasma membrane-associated receptor that results in a series of GP conformational changes leading to fusion of viral and cellular membranes, and delivery of the viral core particle into the cytoplasm. Fusion of the two membranes can occur at the plasma membrane or by uptake of the intact virions into endosomes with subsequent membrane fusion between the viral membrane and the lipid bilayer of the endocytic vesicle. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is an example of a virus that fuses directly to the plasma membrane (5), whereas influenza virus must be internalized into acidified vesicles where the appropriate GP conformational changes can occur, mediating membrane fusion (21). Most enveloped viruses that enter through vesicles utilize a low-pH environment to mediate the necessary conformational changes in GP that induce membrane fusion (37).Ebola virus (EBOV) and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses belonging to the families Filoviridae and Rhabdoviridae, respectively. Though they share similarity in genome organization and a broad tropism for a variety of cell types, they differ greatly in their pathogenicities (29, 39). EBOV causes severe hemorrhagic fever that is frequently fatal, whereas VSV infects mainly livestock, generating fluid-filled vesicles on mucosal surfaces.Interestingly, the receptor(s) that mediate entry of these two viruses have yet to be definitively identified. C-type lectins such as DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR are thought to serve as adherence factors for EBOV (26). Other plasma membrane-associated proteins have been implicated in EBOV uptake including folate receptor alpha and the tyrosine kinase receptor Axl (6, 35, 36, 38), but the physical interaction of EBOV GP and these proteins has not been demonstrated, and cells that do not express these proteins are permissive for EBOV GP-mediated virion uptake. VSV was shown to bind ubiquitously to cells via phosphatidylserine (PS) (31). However, a more recent study reports that PS is not a receptor for VSV as no correlation was found between cell surface PS levels and VSV infection, and annexin V, which binds specifically to PS, did not inhibit infection of VSV (9).Both viruses enter cells through a low-pH-dependent, endocytosis-mediated process. A large body of evidence indicates that VSV is internalized via clathrin-coated pits, with a reduction in pH mediating reversible alterations in the GP leading to membrane fusion (40). EBOV may also enter cells by clathrin-mediated endocytosis (30), but lipid raft-associated, caveolin-mediated endocytosis has also been proposed as a mechanism of EBOV uptake (11). Low-pH events lead to cathepsin-dependent cleavage of EBOV GP that is required for productive uptake of the virus (8, 19, 33). Other low-pH-dependent events have been postulated to be required as well (33).To identify genes whose expression correlated with EBOV GP-dependent transduction, we compared the relative transduction efficiency of EBOV GP pseudotyped virions on a panel of human tumor cell lines with gene expression data from cDNA microarrays developed for the same panel of cell lines (20). The gene array data are available from the Developmental Therapeutics Program at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) website (http://dtp.nci.nih.gov/). A significant correlation was observed between expression of RhoC, a member of the small GTP-binding Rho GTPase family, and permissivity for EBOV transduction. Surprisingly, a significant correlation was also observed between VSV glycoprotein (VSVG)-mediated transduction and RhoC expression. In this study, we report that modulation of RhoC expression by transfection of expression plasmids or treatment with an inhibitor alters transduction by virions pseudotyped with either EBOV GP or VSVG and fusion of EBOV virus-like particles (VLPs). RhoC expression also significantly enhanced wild-type VSV infection. We also examine the differential effect each Rho GTPase has on nonspecific endocytotic uptake of exogenous material and on organization of the actin filament. Our findings suggest that RhoC enhances entry of EBOV GP and VSVG pseudovirions through modulation of fluid-phase endocytosis.     

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies against waterfowl parvoviruses VP3 protein

Background

Ebola viruses (EBOVs) cause severe hemorrhagic fever with a high mortality rate. At present, there are no licensed vaccines or efficient therapies to combat EBOV infection. Previous studies have shown that both humoral and cellular immune responses are crucial for controlling Ebola infection. CD8⁺ T cells play an important role in mediating vaccine-induced protective immunity. The objective of this study was to identify H-2^d-specific T cell epitopes in EBOV glycoproteins (GPs).

Results

Computer-assisted algorithms were used to predict H-2^d-specific T cell epitopes in two species of EBOV (Sudan and Zaire) GP. The predicted peptides were synthesized and identified in BALB/c mice immunized with replication-deficient adenovirus vectors expressing the EBOV GP. Enzyme-linked immunospot assays and intracellular cytokine staining showed that the peptides RPHTPQFLF (Sudan EBOV), GPCAGDFAF and LYDRLASTV (Zaire EBOV) could stimulate splenoctyes in immunized mice to produce large amounts of interferon-gamma.

Conclusion

Three peptides within the GPs of two EBOV strains were identified as T cell epitopes. The identification of these epitopes should facilitate the evaluation of vaccines based on the Ebola virus glycoprotein in a BALB/c mouse model.     

Chimeric fab fragments of antibodies to recombinant Ebola virus glycoprotein

Previously, we have determined the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the variable domains of three mouse monoclonal antibodies specific to the individual epitopes of the Ebola virus glycoprotein: GPE118 (IgG), GPE325 (IgM) and GPE534 (IgG) [1]. In the present paper, chimeric Fab fragments of Fab118, Fab325, and Fab534 antibodies were obtained based on the variable domains of murine antibodies by attaching CH1 and CL constant regions of human kappa-IgG1 to them. The recombinant chimeric Fab fragments were synthesized in the heterologous expression system Escherichia coli, isolated and purified using metal chelate affinity chromatography. The immunochemical properties of the obtained Fab fragments were studied by immunoblotting techniques as well as indirect and competitive ELISA using recombinant Ebola virus proteins: EBOV rGPdTM (recombinant glycoprotein of Ebola hemorrhagic fever virus without the transmembrane domain), NP (nucleoprotein) and VP40 (structural protein). The identity of recombinant chimeric Fab fragments, as well as their specificity to the recombinant glycoprotein of Ebola hemorrhagic fever virus (EBOV GP) was proved. The results of indirect ELISA evidence the absence of immunological cross-reactivity to NP and VP40 proteins of Ebola virus. The dissociation constants of the antigen-antibody complex K _d equal to 5.0, 1.0 and 1.0 nM for Fab118, Fab325 and Fab534, respectively, were determined; they indicate high affinity of the obtained experimental samples to EBOV GP. The epitope specificity of Fab fragments was studied using a panel of commercial neutralizing antibodies. It was found that all studied antibodies to EBOV GP are targeted to different epitopes, while the epitopes of the recombinant chimeric Fab fragments and original murine monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) coincide. All the obtained and studied mAbs to EBOV GP are specific to epitopes that coincide or overlap the epitopes of three commercial neutralizing mAbs to Ebola virus: epitopes Fab118 and Fab325 overlap the epitope of the known commercial mAb h13F6; Fab325 epitope also overlaps mAb c6D8 epitope; Fab534 epitope is located near mAb KZ52 conformational epitope, in the formation of which amino acid residues of GP1 and GP2 domains of EBOV GP are involved.     

AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Is Required for the Macropinocytic Internalization of Ebolavirus

Identification of host factors that are needed for Zaire Ebolavirus (EBOV) entry provides insights into the mechanism(s) of filovirus uptake, and these factors may serve as potential antiviral targets. In order to identify novel host genes and pathways involved in EBOV entry, gene array findings in the National Cancer Institute''s NCI-60 panel of human tumor cell lines were correlated with permissivity for EBOV glycoprotein (GP)-mediated entry. We found that the gene encoding the γ2 subunit of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) strongly correlated with EBOV transduction in the tumor panel. The AMPK inhibitor compound C inhibited infectious EBOV replication in Vero cells and diminished EBOV GP-dependent, but not Lassa fever virus GPC-dependent, entry into a variety of cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Compound C also prevented EBOV GP-mediated infection of primary human macrophages, a major target of filoviral replication in vivo. Consistent with a role for AMPK in filovirus entry, time-of-addition studies demonstrated that compound C abrogated infection when it was added at early time points but became progressively less effective when added later. Compound C prevented EBOV pseudovirion internalization at 37°C as cell-bound particles remained susceptible to trypsin digestion in the presence of the inhibitor but not in its absence. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts lacking the AMPKα1 and AMPKα2 catalytic subunits were significantly less permissive to EBOV GP-mediated infection than their wild-type counterparts, likely due to decreased macropinocytic uptake. In total, these findings implicate AMPK in macropinocytic events needed for EBOV GP-dependent entry and identify a novel cellular target for new filoviral antivirals.     

Induction of Cell-Cell Fusion by Ebola Virus Glycoprotein: Low pH Is Not a Trigger

Ebola virus (EBOV) is a highly pathogenic filovirus that causes hemorrhagic fever in humans and animals. Currently, how EBOV fuses its envelope membrane within an endosomal membrane to cause infection is poorly understood. We successfully measure cell-cell fusion mediated by the EBOV fusion protein, GP, assayed by the transfer of both cytoplasmic and membrane dyes. A small molecule fusion inhibitor, a neutralizing antibody, as well as mutations in EBOV GP known to reduce viral infection, all greatly reduce fusion. By monitoring redistribution of small aqueous dyes between cells and by electrical capacitance measurements, we discovered that EBOV GP-mediated fusion pores do not readily enlarge—a marked difference from the behavior of other viral fusion proteins. EBOV GP must be cleaved by late endosome-resident cathepsins B or L in order to become fusion-competent. Cleavage of cell surface-expressed GP appears to occur in endosomes, as evidenced by the fusion block imposed by cathepsin inhibitors, agents that raise endosomal pH, or an inhibitor of anterograde trafficking. Treating effector cells with a recombinant soluble cathepsin B or thermolysin, which cleaves GP into an active form, increases the extent of fusion, suggesting that a fraction of surface-expressed GP is not cleaved. Whereas the rate of fusion is increased by a brief exposure to acidic pH, fusion does occur at neutral pH. Importantly, the extent of fusion is independent of external pH in experiments in which cathepsin activity is blocked and EBOV GP is cleaved by thermolysin. These results imply that low pH promotes fusion through the well-known pH-dependent activity of cathepsins; fusion induced by cleaved EBOV GP is a process that is fundamentally independent of pH. The cell-cell fusion system has revealed some previously unappreciated features of EBOV entry, which could not be readily elucidated in the context of endosomal entry.     

Role of Ebola virus secreted glycoproteins and virus-like particles in activation of human macrophages

Ebola virus, a member of the family Filoviridae, causes one of the most severe forms of viral hemorrhagic fever. In the terminal stages of disease, symptoms progress to hypotension, coagulation disorders, and hemorrhages, and there is prominent involvement of the mononuclear phagocytic and reticuloendothelial systems. Cells of the mononuclear phagocytic system are primary target cells and producers of inflammatory mediators. Ebola virus efficiently produces four soluble glycoproteins during infection: sGP, delta peptide (Delta-peptide), GP(1), and GP(1,2Delta). While the presence of these glycoproteins has been confirmed in blood (sGP) and in vitro systems, it is hypothesized that they are of biological relevance in pathogenesis, particularly target cell activation. To gain insight into their function, we expressed the four soluble glycoproteins in mammalian cells and purified and characterized them. The role of the transmembrane glycoprotein in the context of virus-like particles was also investigated. Primary human macrophages were treated with glycoproteins and virus-like particles and subsequently tested for activation by detection of several critical proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6 [IL-6], and IL-1 beta) and the chemokine IL-8. The presentation of the glycoprotein was determined to be critical since virus-like particles, but not soluble glycoproteins, induced high levels of activation. We propose that the presentation of GP(1,2) in the rigid form such as that observed on the surface of particles is critical for initiating a sufficient signal for the activation of primary target cells. The secreted glycoproteins do not appear to play any role in exogenous activation of these cells during Ebola virus infection.     

The Glycoproteins of All Filovirus Species Use the Same Host Factors for Entry into Bat and Human Cells but Entry Efficiency Is Species Dependent

Ebola and marburgviruses, members of the family Filoviridae, can cause severe hemorrhagic fever in humans. The ongoing Ebola virus (EBOV) disease epidemic in Western Africa claimed more than 11,300 lives and was associated with secondary cases outside Africa, demonstrating that filoviruses pose a global health threat. Bats constitute an important natural reservoir of filoviruses, including viruses of the recently identified Cuevavirus genus within the Filoviridae family. However, the interactions of filoviruses with bat cells are incompletely understood. Here, we investigated whether filoviruses employ different strategies to enter human and bat cells. For this, we examined host cell entry driven by glycoproteins (GP) from all filovirus species into cell lines of human and fruit bat origin. We show that all GPs were able to mediate entry into human and most fruit bat cell lines with roughly comparable efficiency. In contrast, the efficiency of entry into the cell line EidNi/41 derived from a straw-colored fruit bat varied markedly between the GPs of different filovirus species. Furthermore, inhibition studies demonstrated that filoviruses employ the same host cell factors for entry into human, non-human primate and fruit bat cell lines, including cysteine proteases, two pore channels and NPC1 (Niemann-Pick C1 molecule). Finally, processing of GP by furin and the presence of the mucin-like domain in GP were dispensable for entry into both human and bat cell lines. Collectively, these results show that filoviruses rely on the same host cell factors for entry into human and fruit bat cells, although the efficiency of the usage of these factors might differ between filovirus species.     

Biochemical and Structural Characterization of Cathepsin L-Processed Ebola Virus Glycoprotein: Implications for Viral Entry and Immunogenicity

Ebola virus (EBOV) cellular attachment and entry is initiated by the envelope glycoprotein (GP) on the virion surface. Entry of this virus is pH dependent and associated with the cleavage of GP by proteases, including cathepsin L (CatL) and/or CatB, in the endosome or cell membrane. Here, we characterize the product of CatL cleavage of Zaire EBOV GP (ZEBOV-GP) and evaluate its relevance to entry. A stabilized recombinant form of the EBOV GP trimer was generated using a trimerization domain linked to a cleavable histidine tag. This trimer was purified to homogeneity and cleaved with CatL. Characterization of the trimeric product by N-terminal sequencing and mass spectrometry revealed three cleavage fragments, with masses of 23, 19, and 4 kDa. Structure-assisted modeling of the cathepsin L-cleaved ZEBOV-GP revealed that cleavage removes a glycosylated glycan cap and mucin-like domain (MUC domain) and exposes the conserved core residues implicated in receptor binding. The CatL-cleaved ZEBOV-GP intermediate bound with high affinity to a neutralizing antibody, KZ52, and also elicited neutralizing antibodies, supporting the notion that the processed intermediate is required for viral entry. Together, these data suggest that CatL cleavage of EBOV GP exposes its receptor-binding domain, thereby facilitating access to a putative cellular receptor in steps that lead to membrane fusion.Ebola virus (EBOV) is a member of the Filoviridae family and causes severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and nonhuman primates, with case fatality rates of up to 90%. Virus entry and attachment is mediated by a single envelope glycoprotein (GP) as a class I fusion protein, which is proteolytically processed during maturation into two subunits, GP1 and GP2. The GP1 N terminus contains a putative receptor-binding domain (RBD) (2, 9, 11, 12), and the GP2 C terminus contains a fusion peptide, two heptad-repeat regions, and a transmembrane domain. GP1 and GP2 are linked by a disulfide bond (Cys⁵³-Cys⁶⁰⁹) and form trimers of heterodimers on the surface of virions. EBOV GP is also extensively glycosylated, especially within a region of GP1 termed the mucin-like domain (MUC domain), which contains multiple N- and O-linked glycans. We and others have previously shown the MUC domain of GP1 to be cytotoxic and to induce cell rounding (17, 21), and deletion of this region increases pseudovirus infectivity compared to that of full-length GP (11). The MUC domain, however, is also known to enhance cell binding through the human macrophage C-type lectin specific for galactose and N-acetylglucosamine (hMGL) (18), suggesting that glycans in this domain may be involved in the initial cellular attachment. Several other studies have identified factors that enhance cell binding and/or infectivity, including folate receptor α (4), β integrins (19), C-type lectins DC-SIGN and L-SIGN (1), and Tyro3 family members (16). However, the critical cellular receptor(s) thought to interact directly with the GP1 RBD have yet to be identified.Following virus uptake into host cells, which is presumed to occur via receptor-mediated endocytosis (13), the virion is transported to acidified endosomes where GP is exposed to a low pH and enzymatic processing. EBOV entry is pH dependent (19); however, unlike influenza virus, for which a low pH alone induces the conformational changes that lead to membrane fusion (20), recent studies indicate that proteolysis by endosomal cathepsin L (CatL) and CatB (active only at pH 5 to 6) is a dependent step for EBOV entry (5, 14). Although the intermediate EBOV GP generated by CatL cleavage is known to have increased binding and infectivity to target cells (7), little else is known about the cleavage product, specifically where the proteolytic sites are within GP and whether the cleaved product is immunogenic. Recently, Dube and colleagues have proposed a model for CatL cleavage based on thermolysin cleavage (6). However, thermolysin is nonphysiological in this setting and is a member of the metalloenzyme-protease family, whereas CatL is a member of the cysteine-protease family and essential for EBOV entry. In this study, we have characterized the physiological CatL cleavage of the Zaire EBOV GP (ZEBOV-GP) trimer and explored the effect of cleavage on the immunological properties of the GP trimer. To generate this intermediate, we expressed and purified a recombinant form of the Ebola GP trimer ectodomain that had been stabilized with a trimerization motif derived from T4 fibritin (foldon) and purified to homogeneity. The recombinant protein was cleaved with CatL, and the stable cleavage intermediate was characterized biochemically and immunologically. We identified several sites of CatL cleavage within the ZEBOV-GP ectodomain which are different than those observed with thermolysin. The cleaved intermediate product retained binding to the EBOV-neutralizing antibody KZ52 and elicited EBOV-neutralizing antibodies in vaccinated mice. Our data, in conjunction with the recently determined structure of the ZEBOV-GP ectodomain (10), shed light on the critical role of CatL processing in GP structure and function.     

Risk Factors Associated with Ebola and Marburg Viruses Seroprevalence in Blood Donors in the Republic of Congo

BackgroundEbola and Marburg viruses (family Filoviridae, genera Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus) cause haemorrhagic fevers in humans, often associated with high mortality rates. The presence of antibodies to Ebola virus (EBOV) and Marburg virus (MARV) has been reported in some African countries in individuals without a history of haemorrhagic fever. In this study, we present a MARV and EBOV seroprevalence study conducted amongst blood donors in the Republic of Congo and the analysis of risk factors for contact with EBOV.Conclusions/SignificanceThis MARV and EBOV serological survey performed in the Republic of Congo identifies a probable role for environmental determinants of exposure to EBOV. It highlights the requirement for extending our understanding of the ecological and epidemiological risk of bats (previously identified as a potential ecological reservoir) and birds as vectors of EBOV to humans, and characterising the protection potentially afforded by EBOV-specific antibodies as detected in blood donors.     

Ectodomain shedding of the glycoprotein GP of Ebola virus

In this study, release of abundant amounts of the Ebola virus (EBOV) surface glycoprotein GP in a soluble form from virus-infected cells was investigated. We demonstrate that the mechanism responsible for the release of GP is ectodomain shedding mediated by cellular sheddases. Proteolytic cleavage taking place at amino-acid position D637 removes the transmembrane anchor and liberates complexes consisting of GP1 and truncated GP2 (GP(2delta)) subunits from the cell surface. We show that tumor necrosis factor alpha-converting enzyme (TACE), a member of the ADAM family of zinc-dependent metalloproteases, is involved in EBOV GP shedding. This finding shows for the first time that virus-encoded surface glycoproteins are substrates for ADAMs. Furthermore, we provide evidence that shed GP is present in significant amounts in the blood of virus-infected animals and that it may play an important role in the pathogenesis of infection by efficiently blocking the activity of virus-neutralizing antibodies.