Early variations of host thyroxine and interleukin-7 favor Schistosoma mansoni development

Schistosoma mansoni induces, in the vertebrate host, cutaneous production of interleukin-7 (IL-7), which is beneficial for parasite establishment and development. Infection of mice deficient in IL-7 expression leads to parasite dwarfism. Because similar findings were previously described in hypothyroid mice, this study aimed to elucidate the potential link between IL-7 and thyroid hormones (THs), using several models including hypo- and hyperthyroid mice, modified either transiently or constitutively. Mice treated with thyroxine led to increased worm numbers and development of giant worms, whereas an iodine-deficient diet reduced parasite maturation, egg laying, and liver pathology. Conversely, mice genetically deficient for either of the nuclear TH receptors displayed normal worm development despite modifications in hormone levels, suggesting that thyroxine action is mediated through host receptors. In addition, no modification of antibody titers has been evidenced in thyroxine-treated mice, whereas antibody levels were altered in transgenic animals. These observations suggest that the immune system is not likely to be involved in the modifications of parasite development reported in this study. Interestingly, concomitant treatment with IL-7 and thyroxine had a synergistic effect, leading to recovery of very large worms, thus raising questions about the complexity of interactions between IL-7 and metabolic hormones.     

New molecular evidence that Teladorsagia circumcincta (Nematoda: Trichostrongylidea) is a species complex

In the polymorphic Teladorsagia circumcincta (morphs circumcincta and trifurcata), a sheep and goat line (SGL) and a goat line (GL) have been previously described on the basis of the malate dehydrogenase allozyme polymorphism (MDH-2) and of the morphology of the dorsal ray. The GL were never found alone in 1 host, so the status of species was not given to these 2 lines. To investigate further whether there are other genetic markers that will delineate them, we collected T. circumcincta worms from goat and sheep at 8 farms in Touraine (west-central France). The worms were identified individually as being SGL or GL on the basis of MDH-2 polymorphism. This distinctiveness was corroborated by sequences of the beta-tubulin isotype I gene, the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) of their rDNA, and the nicotinamide dehydrogenase (ND4) gene of their mDNA. The extent of the divergence in the 3 additional genetic markers was such that SGL and GL may be considered as 2 species. A third putative species was found in the SGL line based exclusively on the ND4 gene. These findings suggest that T. circumcincta is a species complex and that further investigation is required on a wider geographic scale.     

The NS2 proteins of parvovirus minute virus of mice are required for efficient nuclear egress of progeny virions in mouse cells

The small nonstructural NS2 proteins of parvovirus minute virus of mice (MVMp) were previously shown to interact with the nuclear export receptor Crm1. We report here the analysis of two MVM mutant genomic clones generating NS2 proteins that are unable to interact with Crm1 as a result of amino acid substitutions within their nuclear export signal (NES) sequences. Upon transfection of human and mouse cells, the MVM-NES21 and MVM-NES22 mutant genomic clones were proficient in synthesis of the four virus-encoded proteins. While the MVM-NES22 clone was further able to produce infectious mutant virions, no virus could be recovered from cells transfected with the MVM-NES21 clone. Whereas the defect of MVM-NES21 appeared to be complex, the phenotype of MVM-NES22 could be traced back to a novel distinct NS2 function. Infection of mouse cells with the MVM-NES22 mutant led to stronger nuclear retention not only of the NS2 proteins but also of infectious progeny MVM particles. This nuclear sequestration correlated with a severe delay in the release of mutant virions in the medium and with prolonged survival of the infected cell populations compared with wild-type virus-treated cultures. This defect could explain, at least in part, the small size of the plaques generated by the MVM-NES22 mutant when assayed on mouse indicator cells. Altogether, our data indicate that the interaction of MVMp NS2 proteins with the nuclear export receptor Crm1 plays a critical role at a late stage of the parvovirus life cycle involved in release of progeny viruses.     

Intranasal vaccination with a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus expressing cottontail rabbit papillomavirus L1 protein provides complete protection against papillomavirus-induced disease

Immunizations with live recombinant vesicular stomatitis viruses (rVSV) expressing foreign viral proteins have successfully protected animals from challenges with several heterologous viruses. We developed an rVSV expressing the major capsid protein (L1) of cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV) and tested the efficacy of protection following CRPV challenge. An rVSV expressing L1 of CRPV (VSV-L1) was characterized for the protective ability afforded by intranasal, intradermal, or intramuscular vaccination in rabbits subsequently challenged with CRPV. Protein expression of L1 in VSV-L1 was confirmed by radioimmunoprecipitation assays. Nuclear localization of L1 was demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence assays. Immunized rabbits elicited significant VSV neutralization and VLP-L1 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay titers. VSV-L1 vaccination was not associated with weight loss or any other adverse clinical signs in the rabbit model. VSV shedding in nasal secretions occurred in some rabbits, peaking at 4 to 6 days after intranasal vaccination, with no further shedding after day 6. Specific humoral immunity to the L1 protein was consistently seen after a single VSV-L1 vaccination when administered through an intradermal or intramuscular route or after a boost via the intranasal route. Rabbits were completely protected from CRPV-induced papillomas after VSV-L1 vaccination and boost given intranasally or intramuscularly. Vaccination with VSV-L1 is a novel approach to prevent papillomavirus-induced disease and demonstrates a potential strategy for developing a human papillomavirus vaccine that can be given without injection.     

Genetic diversity within human erythroviruses: identification of three genotypes

B19 virus is a human virus belonging to the genus Erythrovirus: The genetic diversity among B19 virus isolates has been reported to be very low, with less than 2% nucleotide divergence in the whole genome sequence. We have previously reported the isolation of a human erythrovirus isolate, termed V9, whose sequence was markedly distinct (>11% nucleotide divergence) from that of B19 virus. To date, the V9 isolate remains the unique representative of a new variant in the genus Erythrovirus, and its taxonomic position is unclear. We report here the isolation of 11 V9-related viruses. A prospective study conducted in France between 1999 and 2001 indicates that V9-related viruses actually circulate at a significant frequency (11.4%) along with B19 viruses. Analysis of the nearly full-length genome sequence of one V9-related isolate (D91.1) indicates that the D91.1 sequence clusters together with but is notably distant from the V9 sequence (5.3% divergence) and is distantly related to B19 virus sequences (13.8 to 14.2% divergence). Additional phylogenetic analysis of partial sequences from the V9-related isolates combined with erythrovirus sequences available in GenBank indicates that the erythrovirus group is more diverse than thought previously and can be divided into three well-individualized genotypes, with B19 viruses corresponding to genotype 1 and V9-related viruses being distributed into genotypes 2 and 3.     

Subcellular localization and topology of the p7 polypeptide of hepatitis C virus

Although biological and biochemical data have been accumulated on most hepatitis C virus proteins, the structure and function of the 63-amino-acid p7 polypeptide of this virus have never been investigated. In this work, sequence analyses predicted that p7 contains two transmembrane passages connected by a short hydrophilic segment. The C-terminal transmembrane domain of p7 was predicted to function as a signal sequence, which was confirmed experimentally by analyzing the translocation of a reporter glycoprotein fused at its C terminus. The p7 polypeptide was tagged either with the ectodomain of CD4 or with a Myc epitope to study its membrane integration, its subcellular localization, and its topology. Alkaline extraction studies confirmed that p7 is an integral membrane polypeptide. The CD4-p7 chimera was detected by immunofluorescence on the surface of nonpermeabilized cells, indicating that it is exported to the plasma membrane. However, pulse-chase analyses showed that only approximately 20% of endoglycosidase H-resistant CD4-p7 was detected after long chase times, suggesting that a large proportion of p7 stays in an early compartment of the secretory pathway. Finally, by inserting a Myc epitope in several positions of p7 and analyzing the accessibility of this epitope on the plasma membrane of HepG2 cells, we showed that p7 has a double membrane-spanning topology, with both its N and C termini oriented toward the extracellular environment. Altogether, these data indicate that p7 is a polytopic membrane protein that could have a functional role in several compartments of the secretory pathway.     

Molecular analysis of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) regulatory subunit 1A (PRKAR1A) gene in patients with Carney complex and primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease (PPNAD) reveals novel mutations and clues for pathophysiology: augmented PKA signaling is associated with adrenal tumorigenesis in PPNAD

We studied 11 new kindreds with primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease (PPNAD) or Carney complex (CNC) and found that 82% of the kindreds had PRKAR1A gene defects (including seven novel inactivating mutations), most of which led to nonsense mRNA and, thus, were not expressed in patients' cells. However, a previously undescribed base substitution in intron 6 (exon 6 IVS +1G-->T) led to exon 6 skipping and an expressed shorter PRKAR1A protein. The mutant protein was present in patients' leukocytes and tumors, and in vitro studies indicated that the mutant PRKAR1A activated cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) signaling at the nuclear level. This is the first demonstration of an inactivating PRKAR1A mutation being expressed at the protein level and leading to stimulation of the PKA pathway in CNC patients. Along with the lack of allelic loss at the PRKAR1A locus in most of the tumors from this kindred, these data suggest that alteration of PRKAR1A function (not only its complete loss) is sufficient for augmenting PKA activity leading to tumorigenesis in tissues affected by CNC.     

In vitro phosphorylation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase from the green alga Selenastrum minutum

Previously, we described two distinct classes of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) isoforms in the green alga Selenastrum minutum. Class 1 PEPC (PEPC1) is a homotetramer composed of 102 kDa subunits (p102), whereas Class 2 PEPCs exist as three large protein complexes (PEPC2-PEPC4) containing varying proportions of structurally dissimilar p102 and 130 kDa (p130) PEPC catalytic subunits. In the current study, a p102 calcium-independent protein kinase was shown to co-purify with PEPC1, but not PEPC2. However, the p130 subunit of PEPC2 was phosphorylated in vitro during its incubation in the presence of [gamma-(32)P]ATP and a clarified algal extract. Treatment of purified PEPC2 with protein phosphatase 2A(2) increased its apparent M(r) as judged by Superose 6 gel filtration chromatography. The presence of the protein phosphatase inhibitors NaF and microcystin-LR throughout PEPC purification significantly influenced the activity and structural organization of Class 2, but not Class 1, PEPC isoforms. The results are consistent with the notion that under the culture conditions employed: (i) Class 1 and Class 2 PEPC isoforms exist in vivo mainly in their dephosphorylated and phosphorylated forms, respectively, and (ii) phosphorylation of Class 2 PEPCs leads to a significant reduction in their activity and native M(r). We propose that protein kinase-mediated phosphorylation is involved in the control and structural organization of green algal PEPC.     

FGFR1 is required for the development of the auditory sensory epithelium

The mammalian auditory sensory epithelium, the organ of Corti, comprises the hair cells and supporting cells that are pivotal for hearing function. The origin and development of their precursors are poorly understood. Here we show that loss-of-function mutations in mouse fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (Fgfr1) cause a dose-dependent disruption of the organ of Corti. Full inactivation of Fgfr1 in the inner ear epithelium by Foxg1-Cre-mediated deletion leads to an 85% reduction in the number of auditory hair cells. The primary cause appears to be reduced precursor cell proliferation in the early cochlear duct. Thus, during development, FGFR1 is required for the generation of the precursor pool, which gives rise to the auditory sensory epithelium. Our data also suggest that FGFR1 might have a distinct later role in intercellular signaling within the differentiating auditory sensory epithelium.