Experimental adaptation of an RNA virus mimics natural evolution

Identification of virulence determinants of viruses is of critical importance in virology. In search of such determinants, virologists traditionally utilize comparative genomics between a virulent and an avirulent virus strain and construct chimeras to map their locations. Subsequent comparison reveals sequence differences, and through analyses of site-directed mutants, key residues are identified. In the absence of a naturally occurring virulent strain, an avirulent strain can be functionally converted to a virulent variant via an experimental evolutionary approach. However, the concern remains whether experimentally evolved virulence determinants mimic those that have evolved naturally. To provide a direct comparison, we exploited a plant RNA virus, soybean mosaic virus (SMV), and its natural host, soybean. Through a serial in vivo passage experiment, the molecularly cloned genome of an avirulent SMV strain was converted to virulent variants on functionally immune soybean genotypes harboring resistance factor(s) from the complex Rsv1 locus. Several of the experimentally evolved virulence determinants were identical to those discovered through a comparative genomic approach with a naturally evolved virulent strain. Thus, our observations validate an experimental evolutionary approach to identify relevant virulence determinants of an RNA virus.     

In silico characterization of the functional and structural modules of the hemagglutinin protein from the swine-origin influenza virus A (H1N1)-2009

The 2009 swine-origin influenza virus (S-OIV,H1N1 subtype) has developed into a new pandemic influenza as announced by the World Health Organization.In order to uncover clues about the determinants for virulence and pathogenicity of the virus,we characterized the functional modules of the surface glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA),the most important protein in molecular epidemiology and pathogenesis of influenza viruses.We analyzed receptor binding sites,basic patch,neutralization antibody epitopes and T cell epitopes in the HA protein of the current S-OIV according to the corresponding functional and structural modules previously characterized in other H1 HA molecules or HA molecules of other subtypes.We compared their differences and similarities systematically.Based on the amino acids defined as the functional and structural modules,the HA protein of 2009 S-OIV should specifically bind to the human 2,6-receptor.The D225G/E mutation in HA,which is found in some isolates,may confer dual binding specificity to the 2,3and 2,6-receptor based on previously reported work.This HA variant contains two basic patches,one of which results in increased basicity,suggesting enhanced membrane fusion function.The 2009 S-OIV HA also has an extra glycosylation site at position 276.Four of the five antibody neutralization epitopes identified in A/RP/8/34(H1N1) were exposed,but the other was hidden by a glycosylation site.The previously identified cytotoxic T cell epitopes in various HA molecules were summarized and their corresponding sequences in 2009 S-OIV HA were defined.These results are critical for understanding the pathogenicity of the virus and host immune response against the virus.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In silico</Emphasis> characterization of the functional and structural modules of the hemagglutinin protein from the swine-origin influenza virus A (H1N1)-2009

The 2009 swine-origin influenza virus (S-OIV, H1N1 subtype) has developed into a new pandemic influenza as announced by the World Health Organization. In order to uncover clues about the determinants for virulence and pathogenicity of the virus, we characterized the functional modules of the surface glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA), the most important protein in molecular epidemiology and pathogenesis of influenza viruses. We analyzed receptor binding sites, basic patch, neutralization antibody epitopes and T cell epitopes in the HA protein of the current S-OIV according to the corresponding functional and structural modules previously characterized in other H1 HA molecules or HA molecules of other subtypes. We compared their differences and similarities systematically. Based on the amino acids defined as the functional and structural modules, the HA protein of 2009 S-OIV should specifically bind to the human 2,6-receptor. The D225G/E mutation in HA, which is found in some isolates, may confer dual binding specificity to the 2,3- and 2,6-receptor based on previously reported work. This HA variant contains two basic patches, one of which results in increased basicity, suggesting enhanced membrane fusion function. The 2009 S-OIV HA also has an extra glycosylation site at position 276. Four of the five antibody neutralization epitopes identified in A/RP/8/34(H1N1) were exposed, but the other was hidden by a glycosylation site. The previously identified cytotoxic T cell epitopes in various HA molecules were summarized and their corresponding sequences in 2009 S-OIV HA were defined. These results are critical for understanding the pathogenicity of the virus and host immune response against the virus.     

流感病毒识别糖链受体分子机制的研究进展

近年来,由于流感病毒(influenza virus)不可预测的局部流行和有可能引发全球大流行,其一直是研究的热点课题之一．流感病毒表面糖蛋白血凝素(hemagglutinin,HA)特异识别宿主细胞表面的糖链受体是流感病毒感染宿主、进而复制并继续传播的生物学基础．影响流感病毒宿主特异性的两个主要因素是HA自身的变化(包括基因突变、重组、糖基化位点数量和糖基化位置的变化)和宿主细胞表面糖链受体的变化(包括糖链受体的类型、分布和分子构象的改变)等．因此准确掌握这些信息有助于人们进一步加强对流感病毒的防控．本文主要从糖组学角度概述了流感病毒识别糖链受体的分子机制,重点介绍流感病毒宿主细胞表面糖链受体的研究进展．     

神经氨酸酶、碱性聚合酶2及非结构蛋白1影响A型流感病毒致病力的分子机制研究进展

随着研究的不断深入,血凝素(HA)之外的其他蛋白在影响A型流感病毒的致病力甚至宿主特异性方面的重要作用逐渐受到关注。本文对神经氨酸酶(NA)、碱性聚合酶2(PB2)及非结构蛋白1(NS1)的相关进展作了综述,以期进一步阐明流感病毒的致病分子基础,并藉此探讨可能的宿主范围限定因素。     

Host cellular signaling induced by influenza virus

A wide range of host cellular signal transduction pathways can be stimulated by influenza virus infection. Some of these signal transduction pathways induce the host cell’s innate immune response against influenza virus, while others are essential for efficient influenza virus replication. This review examines the cellular signaling induced by influenza virus infection in host cells, including host pattern recognition receptor (PRR)-related signaling, protein kinase C (PKC), Raf/MEK/ERK and phosphatidylinositol- 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling, and the corresponding effects on the host cell and/or virus, such as recognition of virus by the host cell, viral absorption and entry, viral ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) export, translation control of cellular and viral proteins, and virus-induced cell apoptosis. Research into influenza virus-induced cell signaling promotes a clearer understanding of influenza virus-host interactions and assists in the identification of novel antiviral targets and antiviral strategies.     

Proteomics search of influenza A viruses for adaptive mutations to human hosts

Evaluation of: Miotto O, Heiny AT, Albrecht R et al. Complete-proteome mapping of human influenza A adaptive mutations: implications for human transmissibility of zoonotic strains. PLoS ONE 5(2), e9025 (2010).

The emergence of an influenza pandemic is of great concern globally. It is, therefore, necessary to have a better understanding of the adaptation of influenza A viruses to humans. The mutation patterns affecting host tropism may provide information on the mechanisms and determinants of the host barrier. The work by Miotto et al. describes a catalog of mutations observed specifically in human influenza A viruses by analyzing almost 100,000 influenza A virus protein sequences. These sites may be important for host tropism and characteristic mutations of human influenza viruses may be required for efficient human-to-human transmission. The catalog can be used for genetic surveillance of zoonotic strains of the influenza A virus to determine their pandemic potential, as well as for basic research on the influenza A virus.     

Immunogenicity of loop-structured short synthetic peptides mimicking the antigenic site A of influenza virus hemagglutinin

In order to assess the relevance of conformation for the antigenic site A of the hemagglutinin of influenza virus we synthesized two peptides, comprising two variant sequences of the central part of site A (amino acids 140 - 146 of subunit HA1) inserted into an artificial peptide skeleton, which imposes a loop-like structure on the respective sequence stretch. Assuming that the loop structure in the synthetic peptides would roughly approximate to the structure of the cognate protein sequence we tried to raise protein-reactive anti-peptide antibodies. The antibodies obtained indeed showed reactivity against influenza virus, although the discriminating specificity with regard to a mutation at position 144 was lost for virus binding in contrast to the highly specific peptide binding. Considering the failures in raising anti-hemagglutinin antibodies against the site A by immunization with short flexible peptide our results support the hypothesis that conformation makes a major contribution to the immunogenic and antigenic characteristics of site A in influenza hemagglutinin.     

Genetic determinants of dengue type 4 virus neurovirulence for mice.

Mouse-adapted dengue type 4 virus (DEN4) strain H241 is highly neurovirulent for mice, whereas its non-mouse-adapted parent is rarely neurovirulent. The genetic basis for the neurovirulence of the mouse-adapted mutant was studied by comparing intratypic chimeric viruses that contained the three structural protein genes from the parental virus or the neurovirulent mutant in the background sequence of nonneurovirulent DEN4 strain 814669. The chimera that contained the three structural protein genes from mouse neurovirulent DEN4 strain H241 proved to be highly neurovirulent in mice, whereas the chimera that contained the corresponding genes from its non-mouse-adapted parent was not neurovirulent. This finding indicates that most of the genetic loci for the neurovirulence of the DEN4 mutant lie within the structural protein genes. A comparison of the amino acid sequences of the parent and its mouse neurovirulent mutant proteins revealed that there were only five amino acid differences in the structural protein region, and three of these were located in the envelope (E) glycoprotein. Analysis of chimeras which contained one or two of the variant amino acids of the mutant E sequence substituting for the corresponding sequence of the parental virus identified two of these amino acid changes as important determinants of mouse neurovirulence. First, the single substitution of Ile for Thr-155 which ablated one of the two conserved glycosylation sites in parental E yielded a virus that was almost as neurovirulent as the mouse-adapted mutant. Thus, the loss of an E glycosylation site appears to play a role in DEN4 neurovirulence. Second, the substitution of Leu for Phe-401 also yielded a neurovirulent virus, but it was less neurovirulent than the glycosylation mutant. These findings indicate that at least two of the genetic loci responsible for DEN4 mouse neurovirulence map within the structural protein genes.     

Two nuclear location signals in the influenza virus NS1 nonstructural protein.

The NS1 protein of influenza A virus has been shown to enter and accumulate in the nuclei of virus-infected cells independently of any other influenza viral protein. Therefore, the NS1 protein contains within its polypeptide sequence the information that codes for its nuclear localization. To define the nuclear signal of the NS1 protein, a series of recombinant simian virus 40 vectors that express deletion mutants or fusion proteins was constructed. Analysis of the proteins expressed resulted in identification of two regions of the NS1 protein which affect its cellular location. Nuclear localization signal 1 (NLS1) contains the stretch of basic amino acids Asp-Arg-Leu-Arg-Arg (codons 34 to 38). This sequence is conserved in all NS1 proteins of influenza A viruses, as well as in that of influenza B viruses. NLS2 is defined within the region between amino acids 203 and 237. This domain is present in the NS1 proteins of most influenza A virus strains. NLS1 and NLS2 contain basic amino acids and are similar to previously defined nuclear signal sequences of other proteins.     

Generation of an influenza A virus vector expressing biologically active human interleukin-2 from the NS gene segment

Engineering of the influenza A virus NS1 protein became an attractive approach to the development of influenza vaccine vectors since it can tolerate large inserts of foreign proteins. However, influenza virus vectors expressing long foreign sequences from the NS1 open reading frame (ORF) are usually replication deficient in animals due to the abrogation of their NS1 protein function. In this study, we describe a bicistronic expression strategy based on the insertion of an overlapping UAAUG stop-start codon cassette into the NS gene, allowing the reinitiation of translation of a foreign sequence. Although the expression level of green fluorescent protein (GFP) from the newly created reading frame was significantly lower than that obtained previously from an influenza virus vector expressing GFP from the NS1 ORF, the bicistronic vector appeared to be replication competent in mice and showed outstanding genetic stability. All viral isolates derived from mouse lungs at 10 days postinfection were still capable of expressing GFP in infected cells. Utilizing this bicistronic approach, we constructed another recombinant influenza virus, allowing the secretion of biologically active human interleukin-2 (IL-2). Although this virus also replicated to high titers in mouse lungs, it did not display any mortality rate in infected animals, in contrast to control viruses. Moreover, the IL-2-expressing virus showed an enhanced CD8+ response to viral antigens in mice after a single intranasal immunization. These results indicate that influenza viruses could be engineered for the expression of biologically active molecules such as cytokines for immune modulation purposes.     

Carbohydrate-functionalized chitosan fiber for influenza virus capture

The high transmissibility and genetic variability of the influenza virus have made the design of effective approaches to control the infection particularly challenging. The virus surface hemagglutinin (HA) protein is responsible for the viral attachment to the host cell surface via the binding with its glycoligands, such as sialyllactose (SL), and thereby is an attractive target for antiviral designs. Herein we present the facile construction and development of two SL-incorporated chitosan-based materials, either as a water-soluble polymer or as a functional fiber, to demonstrate their abilities for viral adhesion inhibition and decontamination. The syntheses were accomplished by grafting a lactoside bearing an aldehyde-functionalized aglycone to the amino groups of chitosan or chitosan fiber followed by the enzymatic sialylation with sialyltransferase. The obtained water-soluble SL-chitosan conjugate bound HA with high affinity and inhibited effectively the viral attachment to host erythrocytes. Moreover, the SL-functionalized chitosan fiber efficiently removed the virus from an aqueous medium. The results collectively demonstrate that these potential new materials may function as the virus adsorbents for prevention and control of influenza. Importantly, these materials represent an appealing approach for presenting a protein ligand on a chitosan backbone, which is a versatile molecular platform for biofunctionalization and, thereby, can be used for not only antiviral designs, but also extensive medical development such as diagnosis and drug delivery.     

Predicting host tropism of influenza A virus proteins using random forest

Background

Majority of influenza A viruses reside and circulate among animal populations, seldom infecting humans due to host range restriction. Yet when some avian strains do acquire the ability to overcome species barrier, they might become adapted to humans, replicating efficiently and causing diseases, leading to potential pandemic. With the huge influenza A virus reservoir in wild birds, it is a cause for concern when a new influenza strain emerges with the ability to cross host species barrier, as shown in light of the recent H7N9 outbreak in China. Several influenza proteins have been shown to be major determinants in host tropism. Further understanding and determining host tropism would be important in identifying zoonotic influenza virus strains capable of crossing species barrier and infecting humans.

Results

In this study, computational models for 11 influenza proteins have been constructed using the machine learning algorithm random forest for prediction of host tropism. The prediction models were trained on influenza protein sequences isolated from both avian and human samples, which were transformed into amino acid physicochemical properties feature vectors. The results were highly accurate prediction models (ACC>96.57; AUC>0.980; MCC>0.916) capable of determining host tropism of individual influenza proteins. In addition, features from all 11 proteins were used to construct a combined model to predict host tropism of influenza virus strains. This would help assess a novel influenza strain's host range capability.

Conclusions

From the prediction models constructed, all achieved high prediction performance, indicating clear distinctions in both avian and human proteins. When used together as a host tropism prediction system, zoonotic strains could potentially be identified based on different protein prediction results. Understanding and predicting host tropism of influenza proteins lay an important foundation for future work in constructing computation models capable of directly predicting interspecies transmission of influenza viruses. The models are available for prediction at http://fluleap.bic.nus.edu.sg.

     

携带TAP标签的重组甲型流感病毒的构建与鉴定

【目的】将TAP标签构建到WSN病毒基因组上,得到含有TAP标签的重组流感病毒,以便进行后续的病毒追踪。【方法】利用反向遗传学技术,对甲型流感病毒A/WSN/33(H1N1)的PA片段进行改造来插入TAP(tandemaffinitypurification)标签序列。通过病毒拯救得到表达外源标签TAP的重组流感病毒WSNPA-TAP,并对拯救出的重组病毒进行生物学鉴定。【结果】成功拯救出重组流感病毒并命名为WSN PA-TAP。重组病毒基因组测序表明重组病毒的序列正确,利用RNA银染技术观察到重组病毒的全基因组片段。重组流感病毒WSN PA-TAP在MDCK细胞上测定生长曲线,发现该重组病毒的复制能力比野生型WSN弱;Westernblotting检测到PA-TAP融合蛋白的表达,其分子质量为96 kDa。【结论】成功拯救出能够表达外源标签TAP的重组流感病毒WSN PA-TAP,为筛选与甲型流感病毒聚合酶有关的宿主蛋白的研究提供了新思路,同时也为以甲型流感病毒为载体携带外源基因的探索提供了重要依据。     

A single amino acid in the PB2 gene of influenza A virus is a determinant of host range.

The single gene reassortant virus that derives its PB2 gene from the avian influenza A/Mallard/NY/78 virus and remaining genes from the human influenza A/Los Angeles/2/87 virus exhibits a host range restriction (hr) phenotype characterized by efficient replication in avian tissue and failure to produce plaques in mammalian Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. The hr phenotype is associated with restriction of viral replication in the respiratory tract of squirrel monkeys and humans. To identify the genetic basis of the hr phenotype, we isolated four phenotypic hr mutant viruses that acquired the ability to replicate efficiently in mammalian tissue. Segregational analysis indicated that the loss of the hr phenotype was due to a mutation in the PB2 gene itself. The nucleotide sequences of the PB2 gene of each of the four hr mutants revealed that a single amino acid substitution at position 627 (Glu-->Lys) was responsible for the restoration of the ability of the PB2 single gene reassortant to replicate in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. Interestingly, the amino acid at position 627 in every avian influenza A virus PB2 protein analyzed to date is glutamic acid, and in every human influenza A virus PB2 protein, it is lysine. Thus, the amino acid at residue 627 of PB2 is an important determinant of host range of influenza A viruses.     

The pattern of influenza virus attachment varies among wild bird species

The ability to attach to host cells is one of the main determinants of the host range of influenza A viruses. By using virus histochemistry, we investigate the pattern of virus attachment of both a human and an avian influenza virus in colon and trachea sections from 12 wild bird species. We show that significant variations exist, even between closely related avian species, which suggests that the ability of wild birds to serve as hosts for influenza viruses strongly varies among species. These results will prove valuable to assess the possibilities of interspecies transmission of influenza viruses in natural environments and better understand the ecology of influenza.     

The avian influenza virus nucleoprotein gene and a specific constellation of avian and human virus polymerase genes each specify attenuation of avian-human influenza A/Pintail/79 reassortant viruses for monkeys.

Reassortant viruses which possessed the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes of wild-type human influenza A viruses and the remaining six RNA segments (internal genes) of the avian A/Pintail/Alberta/119/79 (H4N6) virus were previously found to be attenuated in humans. To study the genetic basis of this attenuation, we isolated influenza A/Pintail/79 X A/Washington/897/80 reassortant viruses which contained human influenza virus H3N2 surface glycoprotein genes and various combinations of avian or human influenza virus internal genes. Twenty-four reassortant viruses were isolated and first evaluated for infectivity in avian (primary chick kidney [PCK]) and mammalian (Madin-Darby canine kidney [MDCK]) tissue culture lines. Reassortant viruses with two specific constellations of viral polymerase genes exhibited a significant host range restriction of replication in mammalian (MDCK) tissue culture compared with that in avian (PCK) tissue culture. The viral polymerase genotype PB2-avian (A) virus, PB1-A virus, and PA-human (H) virus was associated with a 900-fold restriction, while the viral polymerase genotype PB2-H, PB1-A, and PA-H was associated with an 80,000-fold restriction of replication in MDCK compared with that in PCK. Fifteen reassortant viruses were subsequently evaluated for their level of replication in the respiratory tract of squirrel monkeys, and two genetic determinants of attenuation were identified. First, reassortant viruses which possessed the avian influenza virus nucleoprotein gene were as restricted in replication as a virus which possessed all six internal genes of the avian influenza A virus parent, indicating that the nucleoprotein gene is the major determinant of attenuation of avian-human A/Pintail/79 reassortant viruses for monkeys. Second, reassortant viruses which possessed the viral polymerase gene constellation of PB2-H, PB1-A, and PA-H, which was associated with the greater degree of host range restriction in vitro, were highly restricted in replication in monkeys. Since the avian-human influenza reassortant viruses which expressed either mode of attenuation in monkeys replicated to high titer in eggs and in PCK tissue culture, their failure to replicate efficiently in the respiratory epithelium of primates must be due to the failure of viral factors to interact with primate host cell factors. The implications of these findings for the development of live-virus vaccines and for the evolution of influenza A viruses in nature are discussed.     

Residue Y161 of influenza virus hemagglutinin is involved in viral recognition of sialylated complexes from different hosts

Influenza A virus glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA) binds to host cell surface sialic acid (SA)-terminated sugars in glycoproteins to initiate viral entry. It is thought that avian influenza viruses preferentially bind to N-acetylneuraminic acid α3 (NeuAcα3) sugars, while human influenza viruses exhibit a preference for NeuAcα6-containing sugars. Thus, species-specific SA(s) is one of the determinants in viral host tropism. The SA binding pocket of the HA1 subunit has been extensively studied, and a number of residues important for receptor binding have been identified. In this study, we examined the potential roles of seven highly conserved HA surface-located amino acid residues in receptor binding and viral entry using an H5 subtype. Among them, mutant Y161A showed cell-type-dependent viral entry without obvious defects in HA protein expression or viral incorporation. This mutant also displayed dramatically different ability in agglutinating different animal erythrocytes. Oligosaccharide binding analysis showed that substituting alanine at Y161 of HA changed the SA binding preference from NeuAc to N-glycolylneuraminic acid (NeuGc). Rescued mutant Y161A viruses demonstrated a 5- to 10-fold growth defect, but they were robust in viral replication and plaque forming ability. Our results demonstrate that Y161 is a critical residue involved in recognition of different SA species. This residue may play a role in determining influenza virus host tropism.