Herpesviruses and the Type Ⅲ Interferon System

Type Ⅲ interferons (IFNs) represent the most recently discovered group of IFNs.Together with type Ⅰ IFNs (e.g.IFN-α/β),type Ⅲ IFNs (IFN-λ) are produced as part of the innate immune response to virus infection,and elicit an anti-viral state by inducing expression of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs).It was initially thought that type Ⅰ IFNs and type Ⅲ IFNs perform largely redundant functions.However,it has become evident that type Ⅲ IFNs particularly play a major role in antiviral protection of mucosal epithelial barriers,thereby serving an important role in the first-line defense against virus infection and invasion at contact areas with the outside world,versus the generally more broad,potent and systemic antiviral effects of type Ⅰ IFNs.Herpesviruseses are large DNA viruses,which enter their host via mucosal surfaces and establish lifelong,latent infections.Despite the importance of mucosal epithelial cells in the pathogenesis of herpesviruses,our current knowledge on the interaction of herpesviruses with type Ⅲ IFN is limited and largely restricted to studies on the alphaherpesvirus herpes simplex virus (HSV).This review summarizes the current understanding about the role of IFN-λ in the immune response against herpesvirus infections.     

单纯疱疹病毒Ⅰ型糖蛋白D在酵母中的表达

从提取的HSV-1基因组中扩增得到编码gD蛋白胞外区1～314aa的基因gDt,将其插入毕赤酵母表达质粒pPIC9K的醇氧化酶(AOX1)启动子下游,构建携带gDt的重组载体,经电转化GS115菌株和G418筛选,得到了高效分泌表达gD蛋白的毕赤酵母菌株,表达量达到250mg/L,该目的蛋白可被gD单抗(1-I-9)特异性识别.表达产物经离子交换、金属螯合、分子筛柱层析纯化后得到纯度较高的重组蛋白.重组gD蛋白免疫BALB/c小鼠可诱生一定水平的特异性抗体,表明该蛋白具有较好的免疫原性,能够诱导小鼠产生体液免疫应答.     

单纯疱疹病毒Ⅰ型糖蛋白D在酵母中的表达

从提取的HSV-1基因组中扩增得到编码gD蛋白胞外区1～314aa的基因gDt,将其插入毕赤酵母表达质粒pPIC9K的醇氧化酶(AOX1)启动子下游,构建携带gDt的重组载体,经电转化GS115菌株和G418筛选,得到了高效分泌表达gD蛋白的毕赤酵母菌株,表达量达到250mg/L,该目的蛋白可被gD单抗(1-I-9)特异性识别。表达产物经离子交换、金属螯合、分子筛柱层析纯化后得到纯度较高的重组蛋白。重组gD蛋白免疫BALB/c小鼠可诱生一定水平的特异性抗体,表明该蛋白具有较好的免疫原性,能够诱导小鼠产生体液免疫应答。     

Herpes simplex virus type 1 dysregulates anti‐fungal defenses preventing monocyte activation and downregulating toll‐like receptor‐2

We investigated the interplay occurring between pathogens in the course of dual infections, using an in vitro model in which the THP‐1 monocytic cell line is first infected with HSV‐1 and then exposed to Ca or Cn. These three pathogens share some pathogenic features: they cause opportunistic infections, target macrophages and are neurotropic. Here, we show that HSV‐1‐infected THP‐1 cells exhibited augmented phagocytosis against the two opportunistic fungi but reduced capability to counteract fungal infection: the better ingestion by monocytes was followed by facilitated fungal survival and replication. Reduced IL‐12 production was also observed. Cytofluorimetric analysis showed that HSV‐1‐infected monocytes exhibit: (i) downregulated TLR‐2 and TLR‐4, critical structures in fungal recognition; (ii) reduced expression of CD38 and CD69, known to be important markers of monocyte activation; and (iii) enhanced expression of apoptosis and necrosis markers, in the absence of altered cell proliferation. Overall, these findings imply that HSV‐1 infection prevents monocyte activation, thus leading to a significant dysfunction of the monocyte‐mediated anti‐Candida response; HSV‐1 induced apoptosis and necrosis of monocytes further contribute to this impairment.     

Systems biology unravels interferon responses to respiratory virus infections

Interferon production is an important defence against viral replication and its activation is an attractive therapeutic target. However, it has long been known that viruses perpetually evolve a multitude of strategies to evade these host immune responses. In recent years there has been an explosion of information on virusinduced alterations of the host immune response that have resulted from data-rich omics technologies. Unravelling how these systems interact and determining the overall outcome of the host response to viral infection will play an important role in future treatment and vaccine development. In this review we focus primarily on the interferon pathway and its regulation as well as mechanisms by which respiratory RNA viruses interfere with its signalling capacity.     

Systems biology unravels interferon responses to respiratory virus infections Kroeker AL,Coombs KM简

Interferon production is an important defence against viral replication and its activation is an attractive therapeutic target. However, it has long been known that viruses perpetually evolve a multitude of strategies to evade these host immune responses. In recent years there has been an explosion of information on virus-induced alterations of the host immune response that have resulted from data-rich omics technologies. Unravelling how these systems interact and determining the overall outcome of the host response to viral infection will play an important role in future treatment and vaccine development. In this review we focus primarily on the interferon pathway and its regulation as well as mechanisms by which respiratory RNA viruses interfere with its signalling capacity.     

单纯疱疹病毒基因组的限制性核酸内切酶分析

为了获得单纯疱疹病毒(HSV)基因组的限制性核酸内切酶(RE)分析资料和选择合适的RE去研究HSV感染,用11种常用的RE对HSV两个型别的实验室标准毒株的基因组分别作了分析。比较研究的结果表明,BamHI、HpaI和PstI等RE较适于HSV的研究和分型。本研究所采用的小量提取HSV DNA的方法具有快速、简便和实用的特点,值得在HSV感染的诊断、分型和HSV分子流行病学诸研究中推广使用。     

Herpes simplex virus vectors for gene therapy

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) has a number of advantages as a vector for delivering specific genes to the nervous system. These include its large size, wide host range, and its ability to establish long-lived asymptomatic infections in neuronal cells in which a specific region of the viral genome continues to be expressed. Unfortunately, the large size of this virus and difficulty in manipulating it has led to its use as a vector lagging behind that of other, smaller viruses such as the retroviruses. In addition, the virus's ability to replicate lytically in the brain, under some circumstances, causing encephalitis, has led to fears about its potential safety for ultimate use in humans. This review will discuss a number of new approaches that are aimed at rendering simpler the insertion of foreign genes into the virus and making it as safe as possible. Ultimately, these advances offer real hope for the use of HSV vectors in gene therapy procedures.     

Herpesviruses and the Type III Interferon System

Type III interferons (IFNs) represent the most recently discovered group of IFNs. Together with type I IFNs (e.g. IFN-α/β), type III IFNs (IFN-λ) are produced as part of the innate immune response to virus infection, and elicit an anti-viral state by inducing expression of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs). It was initially thought that type I IFNs and type III IFNs perform largely redundant functions. However, it has become evident that type III IFNs particularly play a major role in antiviral protection of mucosal epithelial barriers, thereby serving an important role in the first-line defense against virus infection and invasion at contact areas with the outside world, versus the generally more broad, potent and systemic antiviral effects of type I IFNs. Herpesviruseses are large DNA viruses, which enter their host via mucosal surfaces and establish lifelong, latent infections. Despite the importance of mucosal epithelial cells in the pathogenesis of herpesviruses, our current knowledge on the interaction of herpesviruses with type III IFN is limited and largely restricted to studies on the alphaherpesvirus herpes simplex virus (HSV). This review summarizes the current understanding about the role of IFN-λ in the immune response against herpesvirus infections.     

Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 ICP27 Protein： Its Expression, Purification and Specific Antiserum Production

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is the causative agent of cold sores and other more serious diseases. HSV-1 infected-cell protein 27 (ICP27) is an immediate-early regulatory phosphoprotein homologous to gene products identified in all classes of herpesviruses so far. To raise the antiserum to ICP27 for further characterization of its biological function, the ICP27 gene was cloned into the pET-28a (+) vector, then ICP27 protein was expressed in E. Coli and purified by nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni2+-NTA) affinity resin column,finally the purified protein was used to raise antiserum. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the antiserum recognized the recombinant protein, and the antiserum was able to probe the ICP27 in HSV-1 infected cells with high specificity by immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Therefore, the specific antiserum will provide a valuable tool for further studies investigating ICP27's biological function during HSV-1 infection.     

Expression of HSV-1 ICP0 antigen peptide in prokaryotic cells and preparation of specific antibody

As an immediate-early protein of herpes simplex virus, infected-cell polypeptide 0 (ICP0) exhibits complicated interactions with host cells, and its regulatory function on gene expression is of great importance. Since the ICP0 encoding sequence contains many rare codons which are absent in E.coli, and ICP0 is highly unstable in prokaryotic cells, expression of entire ICP0 in prokaryotic cells has never been reported. In order to further investigate the function of ICP0, a recombinant plasmid was constructed by subcloning a cDNA fragment encoding an amino-terminal of 105 residues of the ICP0 protein into pGEX-5x-1 vector. The resulting GST-105 fusion antigen peptide was expressed with high efficiency in E.coli. Antibodies prepared after the immunization of mice with purified fusion protein can recognize not only the denatured ICP0 protein, but also the native ICP0 protein with normal biological conformation. Foundation items: National natural science foundation items (30570081 and 30670094)     

Expression of HSV-1 ICP0 Antigen Peptide in Prokaryotic Cells and Preparation of Specific Antibody

As an immediate-early protein of herpes simplex virus, infected-cell polypeptide 0 (ICP0) exhibits complicated interactions with host cells, and its regulatory function on gene expression is of great importance. Since the ICP0 encoding sequence contains many rare codons which are absent in E.coli, and ICP0 is highly unstable in prokaryotic cells, expression of entire ICP0 in prokaryotic cells has never been reported. In order to further investigate the function of ICP0, a recombinant plasmid was constructed by subcloning a cDNA fragment encoding an amino-terminal of 105 residues of the ICP0 protein into pGEX-5x-1 vector. The resulting GST-105 fusion antigen peptide was expressed with high efficiency in E.coli. Antibodies prepared after the immunization of mice with purified fusion protein can recognize not only the denatured ICP0 protein, but also the native ICP0 protein with normal biological conformation.     

Role of AF6 protein in cell-to-cell spread of Herpes simplex virus 1

AF6 and its rat homologue afadin are multidomain proteins localized at cell junctions and involved in intercellular adhesion. AF6 interacts via its PDZ domain with nectin-1 at epithelial adherens junctions. Nectin-1 serves as a mediator of cell-to-cell spread for Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). We analyzed the role of AF6 protein in the viral spread and nectin-1 clustering at cell-cell contacts by knockdown of AF6 in epithelial cells. AF6 knockdown reduced efficiency of HSV-1 spreading, however, the clustering of nectin-1 at cell-cell contacts was not affected. Thus, AF6 protein is important for spreading of HSV-1 in epithelial cells, independently of nectin clustering, possibly by stabilization of the E-cadherin-dependent cell adhesion.     

甲型流感病毒非结构蛋白NS1功能研究进展

甲型流感病毒(influenza A virus,IAV)是每年季节性流感的主要病原体,也是全球儿童急性呼吸道感染的重要病毒性病原。非结构蛋白1(nonstructural protein 1,NS1)是由病毒基因组编码的蛋白,表达于被感染的细胞中,但不存在于病毒颗粒中。近年来,大量研究表明NS1是IAV的重要毒力因素,通过NS1-RNA之间、NS1-蛋白之间的相互作用,在拮抗宿主抗病毒反应、抑制宿主细胞凋亡、调节宿主及自身基因表达等多方面发挥作用。深入研究NS1与宿主细胞的相互作用,不仅可加深对IAV致病机制的理解,还可为预防和控制IAV的传播甚至暴发奠定理论基础,在新型抗病毒药物及疫苗研制中有着重要的应用价值。     

Beyond autophagy: New roles for ULK1 in immune signaling and interferon responses

The human serine/threonine kinase ULK1 is the human homolog of the Caenorhabditis elegans Unc-51 kinase and of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae autophagy-related protein kinase Atg1. As Unc-51 and Atg1, ULK1 regulates both axon growth and autophagy, respectively, in mammalian cells. However, a novel immunoregulatory role of ULK1 has been recently described. This kinase was shown to be required for regulation of both type I interferon (IFN) production and induction of type I IFN signaling. Optimal regulation of IFN production is crucial for generation of effective IFN-immune responses, and defects in such networks can be detrimental for the host leading to uncontrolled pathogen infection, tumor growth, or autoimmune diseases. Thus, ULK1 plays a central role in IFN-dependent immunity. Here we review the diverse roles of ULK1, with special focus on its importance to type I IFN signaling, and highlight important future study questions.     

Synthesis and anti-HSV activity of tricyclic penciclovir and hydroxybutylguanine derivatives

A series of tricyclic penciclovir (PCV) and hydroxybutylguanine (HBG) derivatives have been prepared with enhanced lipophilicity following an efficient synthetic route. All the novel tricyclic derivatives were evaluated for inhibitory activity against herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 (HSV-1, HSV-2) and thymidine kinase deficient (ACV resistant) HSV-1. The tricyclic HBG derivatives were devoid of inhibitory activity however several of the tricyclic PCV derivatives showed promising antiviral activity, in particular 9g (R?=?4-MeO-C₆H₄) displayed good inhibitory activity (HSV-1 EC₅₀ 1.5?μM, HSV-2 EC₅₀ 0.8?μM) and retained inhibitory activity in HSV-1 TK^? cells (EC₅₀ 0.8?μM). Computational docking experiments supported the biological data observed and this preliminary study provides useful data for further development of tricyclic acyclic nucleoside derivatives with improved lipophilicity and retention of activity in HSV-1 TK deficient strains. Also, the new tricyclic derivatives were evaluated against a broad range of other DNA and RNA viruses, but were found to be inactive at subtoxic concentrations. In addition, weak to moderate cytostatic effect was observed for the new compounds.     

Mechanism of resistance to acyclovir in thymidine kinase mutants from Herpes simplex virus type 1: a computational approach

Abstract

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infections affect about two-thirds of the world population, and the standard treatment consists of acyclovir (ACV) and its analogs, which interact with thymidine kinase (TK) blocking viral replication. Lately, the emergence of ACV-resistant strains has been reported, especially associated with TK mutations. In this context, ACV therapy fails against isolates encoding Y172C and Y53H/R163H TK mutants, but the molecular mechanism of drug resistance remains unclear. Thus, we examined the effects of these mutations on ACV and the cofactor ATP binding through molecular modeling approaches. We showed that Y172C prevents the anchoring of the aromatic ring of ACV through π–π stacking interactions, leading to an inversed binding mode and different interactions. On the other hand, Y53H/R163H remarkably affected the cofactor binding mode which shifted away from its binding site and also influenced the interaction network of ACV. This is likely due to the loss of polar interactions with R163 residue. Unlike what was observed in the wild-type complex, both drug and cofactor binding poses were not well positioned to allow the phosphorylation reaction which explains the resistance observed. Moreover, energy analysis corroborated the experimental data and showed lower theoretical affinity of ACV with mutant enzymes resulted from energetic loss in polar solvation in Y172C and electrostatic terms in Y53H/R163H mutant enzyme. Therefore, our study shed light on the resistance mechanism toward ACV of two mutant TKs identified in clinical HSV-1 strains and may further support the development of new anti-herpetic drugs to treat resistant infections.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma