Interaction Between Cytomegalovirus and Newcastle Disease Virus as Mediated by Intrinsic Interference

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) was demonstrated to induce intrinsic interference to Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in human fibroblast cells under noncytopathic conditions. This interference is unique in that (i) cytomegalovirus is the first DNA virus demonstrated to have this property and (ii) the state of interference was transient and progressively lost as the condition of the cells changed with the development of cytopathic effect. These observations are consistent with the view that the newly formed protein responsible for interference with NDV has a limited half-life and is no longer made when cytopathic conditions are produced by CMV.     

Cloning and characterization of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 variants diminished in the ability to induce syncytium-independent cytolysis.

The phenomenon of interference was exploited to isolate low-abundance noncytopathic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) variants from a primary HIV-1 isolate from an asymptomatic HIV-1-seropositive hemophiliac. Successive rounds of virus infection of a cytolysis-susceptible CD4+ cell line and isolation of surviving cells resulted in selective amplification of an HIV-1 variant reduced in the ability to induce cytolysis. The presence of a PvuII polymorphism facilitated subsequent amplification and cloning of cytopathic and noncytopathic HIV-1 variants from the primary isolate. Cloned virus stocks from cytopathic and noncytopathic variants exhibited similar replication kinetics, infectivity, and syncytium induction in susceptible host cells. The noncytopathic HIV-1 variant was unable, however, to induce single-cell killing in susceptible host cells. Construction of viral hybrids in which regions of cytopathic and noncytopathic variants were exchanged indicated that determinants for the noncytopathic phenotype map to the envelope glycoprotein. Sequence analysis of the envelope coding regions indicated the absence of two highly conserved N-linked glycosylation sites in the noncytopathic HIV-1 variant, which accompanied differences in processing of precursor gp160 envelope glycoprotein. These results demonstrate that determinants for syncytium-independent single-cell killing are located within the envelope glycoprotein and suggest that single-cell killing is profoundly influenced by alterations in envelope sequence which affect posttranslational processing of HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein within the infected cell.     

Cytokine-induced viral purging--role in viral pathogenesis.

The control of viral infections was previously thought to rely exclusive ly on the antigen-specific destruction of infected cells by the antigen-specific destruction of infected cells by the immune system; however, recent studies have shown that several viral infections can be primarily controlled by noncytopathic, cytokine- dependent 'curative' mechanisms (i.e. viral purging). The relative sensitivity of viruses to such curative mechanisms depends not only on the virus but also on the capacity of the specific infected cell to produce the appropriate intracellular antiviral factors.     

Cells Persistently Infected with Newcastle Disease Virus: II. Ribonucleic Acid and Protein Synthesis in Cells Infected with Mutants Isolated from Persistently Infected L Cells

A comparison of the replication patterns in L cells and in chick embryo (CE) cell cultures was carried out with the Herts strain of Newcastle disease virus (NDV(o)) and with a mutant (NDV(pi)) isolated from persistently infected L cells. A significant amount of virus progeny, 11 plaque-forming units (PFU)/cell, was synthesized in L cells infected with NDV(o), but the infectivity remained cell-associated and disappeared without being detectable in the medium. In contrast, in L cells infected with NDV(pi), progeny virus (30 PFU/cell) was released efficiently upon maturation. It is suggested that the term "covert" rather than "abortive" be used to describe the infection of L cells with NDV(o). In both L and CE cells, the latent period of NDV(pi) was 2 to 4 hr longer than for NDV(o). The delay in synthesis of viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) in the case of NDV(pi) coincided with the delay in the inhibition of host RNA and protein synthesis. Although both NDV(o) and NDV(pi) produced more progeny and more severe cell damage in CE cells than in L cells, the shut-off of host functions was significantly less efficient in CE cells than in L cells. Paradoxically, no detectable interferon was produced in CE cells by either of the viruses, whereas in L cells most of the interferon appeared in the medium after more than 90% of host protein synthesis was inhibited. These results suggest that the absence of induction of interferon synthesis in CE cells infected with NDV is not related to the general shut-off of host cell synthetic mechanisms but rather to the failure of some more specific event to occur. In spite of the fact that NDV(pi) RNA synthesis commenced 2 to 4 hr later than that of NDV(o), interferon was first detected in the medium 8 hr after infection with both viruses. This finding suggests that there is no relation between viral RNA synthesis and the induction of interferon synthesis.     

Correlation between cell killing and massive second-round superinfection by members of some subgroups of avian leukosis virus.

Avian leukosis viruses of subgroups B, D, and F are cytopathic for chicken cells, whereas viruses of subgroups A, C, and E are not. The amounts of unintegrated linear viral DNA in cells at different times after infection with cytopathic or noncytopathic viruses were determined by hybridization and transfection assays. Shortly after infection, there is a transient accumulation of unintegrated linear viral DNA in cells infected with cytopathic avian leukosis viruses. By 10 days after infection, the majority of this unintegrated viral DNA is not present in the infected cells. The transient cytopathic effect seen in these infected cells also disappears by this time. Low amounts of unintegrated linear viral DNA persist in these cells. Cells infected with noncytopathic viruses do not show this transient accumulation of unintegrated viral DNA. Cells infected with cytopathic viruses and subsequently grown in the presence of neutralizing antibody do not show the transient accumulation of unintegrated viral DNA or cytopathic effects. These results demonstrate a correlation between envelope subgroup, transient accumulation of unintegrated linear viral DNA, and transient cell killing by avian leukosis viruses. The cell killing appears to be the result of massive second-round superinfection by the cytopathic avian leukosis viruses.     

Exploiting Genetic Interference for Antiviral Therapy

Rapidly evolving viruses are a major threat to human health. Such viruses are often highly pathogenic (e.g., influenza virus, HIV, Ebola virus) and routinely circumvent therapeutic intervention through mutational escape. Error-prone genome replication generates heterogeneous viral populations that rapidly adapt to new selection pressures, leading to resistance that emerges with treatment. However, population heterogeneity bears a cost: when multiple viral variants replicate within a cell, they can potentially interfere with each other, lowering viral fitness. This genetic interference can be exploited for antiviral strategies, either by taking advantage of a virus’s inherent genetic diversity or through generating de novo interference by engineering a competing genome. Here, we discuss two such antiviral strategies, dominant drug targeting and therapeutic interfering particles. Both strategies harness the power of genetic interference to surmount two particularly vexing obstacles—the evolution of drug resistance and targeting therapy to high-risk populations—both of which impede treatment in resource-poor settings.     

Induction and suppression of tick cell antiviral RNAi responses by tick-borne flaviviruses

Arboviruses are transmitted by distantly related arthropod vectors such as mosquitoes (class Insecta) and ticks (class Arachnida). RNA interference (RNAi) is the major antiviral mechanism in arthropods against arboviruses. Unlike in mosquitoes, tick antiviral RNAi is not understood, although this information is important to compare arbovirus/host interactions in different classes of arbovirus vectos. Using an Ixodes scapularis-derived cell line, key Argonaute proteins involved in RNAi and the response against tick-borne Langat virus (Flaviviridae) replication were identified and phylogenetic relationships characterized. Analysis of small RNAs in infected cells showed the production of virus-derived small interfering RNAs (viRNAs), which are key molecules of the antiviral RNAi response. Importantly, viRNAs were longer (22 nucleotides) than those from other arbovirus vectors and mapped at highest frequency to the termini of the viral genome, as opposed to mosquito-borne flaviviruses. Moreover, tick-borne flaviviruses expressed subgenomic flavivirus RNAs that interfere with tick RNAi. Our results characterize the antiviral RNAi response in tick cells including phylogenetic analysis of genes encoding antiviral proteins, and viral interference with this pathway. This shows important differences in antiviral RNAi between the two major classes of arbovirus vectors, and our data broadens our understanding of arthropod antiviral RNAi.     

Do cells treated with human interferon survive virus infection?

Abstract HeLa cells pretreated with human lympho-blastoid interferon (Hu IFN-α (Ly)), at concentrations up to 100 IU / ml and infected with moderate multiplicities of encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus (10 PFU / cell) died 1 or 2 days after infection. However, if cells were repeatedly treated with high doses of IFN (800 IU / ml) they survived infection by EMC virus for at least a month. Cells survived Semliki Forest virus (SFV) infection when even lower IFN concentrations were used. By contrast infection of IFN-treated HeLa cells with other RNA-containing viruses, such as poliovirus, vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and reovirus type 3 resulted in cell death. Similarly, infection with a number of DNA-containing viruses such as adenovirus type 5, Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) and vaccinia virus killed cells. The results are discussed in the light of different models for the molecular mechanism of action of interferon.     

A unique subgenomic species of adenovirus 2 DNA generated under high multiplicities of infection.

We have identified a novel subgenomic viral DNA in KB cells infected with adenovirus 2 (Ad2) under high multiplicities of infection. KB cells were infected with Ad2 at multiplicities of infection greater than 100 PFU/cell. 32P-labeled viral DNA was selectively extracted by a modification of the method of Hirt (8) from the infected cells and analyzed by electrophoresis on agarose gels. In addition to full-length DNA (33 to 23 x 10(6) daltons), a unique subgenomic DNA species of about 12 to 13% (2.6 x 10(6) daltons) of full-length DNA in size was found in the infected cells. This subgenomic DNA was found to be double stranded and was not packaged inside the virus particles. This DNA could be isolated in large amounts (30 to 50% of total viral DNA) from infected cells. When cleaved with restriction endonuclease KpnI, the subgenomic DNA yielded two fragments, each corresponding to about 6% and 7% of the full-length genome in size.     

Comparative Studies on Large- and Small-Plaque-Forming Clones of Newcastle Disease Virus (Miyadera Strain)

The Miyadera strain of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) consisted predominantly of virus particles forming small plaques on monolayers of chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF), and contained small amounts of virus particles forming large plaques. These large- and small-plaque-forming clones of this virus (NDV-L and NDV-S) were isolated. The small size of the NDV-S plaques did not appear to be due to an agar inhibitor. NDV-L produced a much higher yield of infective virus particles in CEF and they were released more completely from the infected cells than were those produced by NDV-S. The yield of infective virus of NDV-L per cell from cultures of CEF was comparable to the yield from the allantoic cells. The infectivity/hemagglutinin ratio for NDV-L from CEF was as high as the ratio for virus from the allantoic cells, but the ratio for NDV-S from CEF was lower. NDV-S demonstrated an autointerference phenomenon in CEF when infected at high multiplicities, but NDV-L did not. Contrary to virus multiplication, NDV-S exhibited a more rapid and marked cytopathic effect on monolayers of CEF than NDV-L. In the allantoic cavity of eggs NDV-S produced slightly higher virus yields than NDV-L. No correlation existed between plaque size of the two viruses and the capacity to induce interferon synthesis or the susceptibility to the action of interferon. The properties of both distinctive plaque isolates were stable on egg passage.     

Viral glycoproteins synthesis in Friend cell lines producing polycythemic (FV-P) and anemic (FV-A) Friend viruses

Two tumor Friend cell lines producing anemia-inducing virus (TF-A line) or polycythemia-inducing virus (TF-P line) were compared for their viral-encoded glycoproteins. The envelope glycoproteins of the two viral populations differ by their electrophoretic mobilities. The gpr^env precursors also differ by their relative mobilities. The TF-P cells contain the typical gp50–52 molecular species, which is coded for by Spleen Focus Forming sequences (SFFV) present in the genome of the polycythemia-inducing virus. The TF-A cells do not contain the gp50–52, but express in small amounts a species with a higher apparent molecular weight. This species which has been named FV-A gp55 could be equivalent to the gp50–52 coded for by the SFFV sequences. Very similar results were obtained with leukemic cells prepared from enlarged spleens of mice infected with the anemic or polycythemic Friend viruses.     

Genetic studies of the ploidy of Moloney murine leukemia virus.

An assay for Moloney murine leukemia virus was developed that made use of the production of morphologically altered foci in nonproducer mouse cells (15F) carrying murine sarcoma virus. Wild-type (wt) virus gave a ratio of titers at 39 degrees C/34degrees C = 1.05 +/- 0.45 (standard deviation;n = 20). A spontaneous, thermosensitive (ts) mutant of Moloney murine leukemia virus, ts3, defective in a late viral function, gave 39 degrees C/34degrees C = 0. A murine cell line (TB) was mixedly infected with ts3 and wt (multiplicities of infection, 7.8:4.3), cloned after infection, and shown to be infected by both viruses. At 34 degrees C it produced wt, ts, and particles of mixed parentage. The heterozygotes (hz) had ratios of assays 39 degrees C/34 degrees C = 0.06 to 0.84 (mean, 0.36). To eliminate possible interference by multiploid particles with determination of the proportions of the three types of particles, the virus produced by the mixedly infected, cloned cell line at 34 degrees C was distributed by velocity sedimentation in a sucrose gradient, and virus was picked from the lightest part of the gradient. The proportions of ts, wt, and hz were 0.27, 0.26, and 0.47. Those particles identified as hz segreated ts, wt, and hz in the proportions 0.24, 0.27, and 0.49, respectively. These values were not significantly different from those predicted from a diploid model of the genome.     

Homologous Interference Induced by Sindbis Virus

Homologous interference during Sindbis virus infection has been investigated. Prior infection of either chicken embryo fibroblast or BHK(21) cell cultures results in reduced yields of progeny virions of the superinfecting genotype. This reduction in yield results from a reduction in the number of cells in the cultures capable of producing the superinfecting genotype. The development of interference parallels the attachment kinetics of Sindbis virus. Interference requires an active viral genome since the activity is sensitive to inactivation by ultraviolet light, and an RNA(-) mutant, ts-24, fails to induce interference under nonpermissive conditions. However, ts-6, an RNA(-) mutant belonging to a different complementation group, and the RNA(+) mutants, ts-2 and ts-20, interfere at both permissive and nonpermissive temperatures.     

Vesicular stomatitis virus growth in Drosophila melanogaster cells: G protein deficiency.

In cultured Drosophila melanogaster cells, vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) established a persistent, noncytopathic infection. No inhibition of host protein synthesis occurred even though all cells were initially infected. No defective interfering particles were detected, which would explain the establishment of the carrier state. In studies of the time course of viral protein synthesis in Drosophila cells, N, NS, and M viral polypeptides were readily detected within 1 h of infection. The yield of G protein and one of its precursors; G1, was very low at any time of the virus cycle; the released viruses always contained four to five times less G than those produced by chicken embryo cells, whatever the VSV strain or serotype used for infection and whatever the Drosophila cell line used as host. Actinomycin D added to the cells before infection enhanced VSV growth up to eight times. G and G1 synthesis increased much more than that of the other viral proteins when the cells were pretreated with the drug; nevertheless, the released viruses exhibited the same deficiency in G protein as the VSV released from untreated cells. Host cell control on both G-protein maturation process and synthesis at traduction level is discussed in relation to G biological properties.     

Viral Ribonucleic Acid Synthesis by Newcastle Disease Virus Mutants Isolated from Persistently Infected L Cells: Effect of Interferon

The synthesis of different viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) species was studied in chick embryo (CE) and mouse L-cell cultures infected with the Herts strain of Newcastle disease virus (NDV(o)) and a mutant isolated from persistently infected L cells (NDV(pi)). In CE cell cultures, both viruses synthesized significant amounts of 54, 36, and 18S RNA. However, in L cells, synthesis of 54S virion RNA was markedly reduced. From these results, it seems likely that the low yield of infective virus in L cells is due to a deficient synthesis of 54S RNA in this host. On this basis, however, it is apparent that the "covert" replication of NDV(o) in L cells is due to factors other than viral RNA synthesis. When low concentrations of interferon were used to pretreat CE cells, a differential effect on the synthesis of various RNA species was observed. The 18S RNA of NDV(o) was more sensitive to interferon action than the 36 and the 54S RNA species. In contrast, the 18S RNA of NDV(pi) was less sensitive than the 36S and the 54S RNA. The inhibition of 54S RNA synthesis correlated with the reduction of viral yield and explained the greater sensitivity of NDV(pi) to interferon.     

"Self" and "nonself" manipulation of interferon defense during persistent infection: bovine viral diarrhea virus resists alpha/beta interferon without blocking antiviral activity against unrelated viruses replicating in its host cells

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), together with Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) and Border disease virus (BDV) of sheep, belongs to the genus Pestivirus of the Flaviviridae. BVDV is either cytopathic (cp) or noncytopathic (ncp), as defined by its effect on cultured cells. Infection of pregnant animals with the ncp biotype may lead to the birth of persistently infected calves that are immunotolerant to the infecting viral strain. In addition to evading the adaptive immune system, BVDV evades key mechanisms of innate immunity. Previously, we showed that ncp BVDV inhibits the induction of apoptosis and alpha/beta interferon (IFN-alpha/beta) synthesis by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Here, we report that (i) both ncp and cp BVDV block the induction by dsRNA of the Mx protein (which can also be induced in the absence of IFN signaling); (ii) neither biotype blocks the activity of IFN; and (iii) once infection is established, BVDV is largely resistant to the activity of IFN-alpha/beta but (iv) does not interfere with the establishment of an antiviral state induced by IFN-alpha/beta against unrelated viruses. The results of our study suggest that, in persistent infection, BVDV is able to evade a central element of innate immunity directed against itself without generally compromising its activity against unrelated viruses ("nonself") that may replicate in cells infected with ncp BVDV. This highly selective "self" and "nonself" model of evasion of the interferon defense system may be a key element in the success of persistent infection in addition to immunotolerance initiated by the early time point of fetal infection.