Group items tagged

Moreover, we demonstrate that this binding is sufficient to concentrate a recombinant toxin to selectively kill HIV-1-infected cells. Our results suggest that the gp41 C-peptide region is a viable target for development of antiviral therapeutics, neutralizing antibodies, and cytotoxic agents directed against infected cells.

Such a molecule, administered together with agents that induce the expression of dormant integrated provirus (e.g., cytokines or activators of protein kinase C), might help to reduce or possibly eliminate latent reservoirs of HIV-1

Within the VF, viral core particles transcribe and release viral mRNAs that possess a dimethylated cap 1 structure at the 5′ terminus but lack a poly(A) tail (19).

Consistent with our findings, the authors noted that the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) made numerous contacts with VF, which they suggested may indicate a role for RER in the transport of newly synthesized viral proteins to the VF, as is the case for rubella virus (64).

To address this, we monitored protein expression levels of eIF4E, eIF4A1, and eIF4G over the course of an infection. As others have found (39), we were unable to detect any difference in the levels of total protein in mock versus infected cells from 0 to 20 h p.i. (Fig. 3C and data not shown). Together, these data suggest that cellular translation proteins are redistributed to the VF.

Most reovirus strains form filamentous VF through an association with stabilized microtubules. However, the T3D strain used in these experiments contains a temperature-sensitive mutation in the viral protein μ2 that prevents this association, resulting in the production of globular VF at 37°C (27, 28). Therefore, to evaluate if PMY labeling occurs within filamentous viral factories, we infected cells with the serotype 1 Lang (T1L) strain. As we found for T3D-infected cells, the PMY labeling localized to T1L VF at 18 h postinfection

It was unclear if this was a result of increased expression levels or as a consequence of redistribution of the proteins to the factories. To address this, we monitored protein expression levels of eIF4E, eIF4A1, and eIF4G over the course of an infection. As others have found (39), we were unable to detect any difference in the levels of total protein in mock versus infected cells from 0 to 20 h p.i. (Fig. 3C and data not shown). Together, these data suggest that cellular translation proteins are redistributed to the VF.

Our finding that σNS interacts with eIF3A and pS6R suggests that translational machinery is recruited to the factory by viral proteins. This is consistent with the finding of others that σNS cosediments with 40S and 60S ribosomes (62) and suggests that σNS is directly involved in viral translation.

FIG 3  Cellular translation initiation factors colocalize to viral factories. (A, B) CV-1 cells were infected with T3D or T1L at an MOI of 1. At 18 h p.i., RPM-labeled cells were coimmunostained for μNS and eIF4E (A) or eIF3A (B). Scale bars, 10 µm. (C) CV-1 cells were infected with T3D, MOI of 3, for the times indicated. Protein levels were assessed by immunoblotting. M = mock.

its genetic material, which is made up of RNA

After several false starts, researchers at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, in collaboration with others, developed a protease inhibitor known as telaprevir, while scientists at Schering-Plough (which merged with Merck in 2009), created one called boceprevir.

The medications had harsh side effects and worked only for those patients with a particular genetic variant of the virus known as genotype 1

What scientists had learned from their earlier research, however, was that inactivating an enzyme or protein was not enough. To stop hepatitis C, any effective drug also had to incorporate itself into the virus's genetic code, where it would need to halt the virus's ability to make new copies of its genes and thus to make new virus.

Michael Sofia, then at Pharmasset, solved the problems by adding two compounds known as esters to the analogue.

During sofosbuvir's development, they had studied other drugs that inhibited different viral proteins and that might eliminate the need for continued use of interferon and ribavirin.

It is this combination, mixed in a single daily pill, that industry watchers expect the FDA to approve by October 2014. It heralds a new era of curative treatment for patients with hepatitis C. Similar drugs that work equally well for all genotypes are now in the final stages of clinical development.

Other members of the A3 family are believed to affect other exogenous viruses as well as endogenous retrovirus/retroelement movement within the genome. In particular, human A3A is a potent inhibitor of IAP and MusD and other retrotransposons such as LINE-1 and this inhibition is CDA-independent, at least in cultured cells [18]–[20]. A3A also inhibits adeno-associated virus replication, a nuclear-replicating parvovirus, via CDA-independent means [20]. In monocytes, A3A restricts HIV-1 infection and the decrease in A3A levels that occurs during monocyte-to-macrophage development is concomitant with increased susceptibility to HIV-1 infection [21]. A3A is not packaged into HIV virions and is thought to restrict infection by targeting incoming virus [22]–[24]. In contrast, A3A is packaged in human T-lymphotropic virus type-I virions and restricts infection, at least in transfected cells [25]. A3A preferentially deaminates cytidines that are in a TC motif [26].

To determine the level of transgene expression, we first isolated RNA from different tissues, including peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and performed reverse-transcribed real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). RNA from human H9 cultured cells and human and C57BL/6 mouse PBMCs served as controls. For each transgene, there was one high- (A3Ghigh, A3Ahigh) and one low- (A3Glow, A3Alow) expressing strain, defined by their relative expression in lymphoid tissues. The A3Ghigh strain expressed higher levels of the transgene than the endogenous mouse gene in spleen and thymus, but similar A3G levels in mouse and human PBMCs, while the A3Glow strain expressed approximately 10-fold lower levels in these tissues (Figure 1A). In contrast, the A3Ahigh strain expressed similar or lower levels than mouse A3; there was also about 2-fold lower expression of A3A in mouse PBMCs than in human PBMCs (Figure 1B). The A3Alow strain had very low but detectable levels of expression in several tissues. Since the β-actin regulatory region was used, transgene expression was seen in many tissues and in several at levels higher than endogenous mouse A3 (e.g. heart, brain and liver) (Figure 1A and 1B). We also performed western blots on different tissues from the 4 different mouse strains, using antiserum that detects both A3A and A3G. The relative protein expression levels were similar to that seen at the RNA level (Figure S1A and S1B).

We next determined if the in vivo-produced A3A and A3G proteins were functionally active. Extracts were prepared from primary splenocyte cultures and equal amounts (total protein concentration/volume) were incubated with FAM-labeled substrates containing the A3A- or A3G-preferred target sequence (S50-TTC and S50-CCC, respectively). As controls, we also performed these assays with extracts prepared from 293T cell lines transfected with A3A or A3G. Activity could be readily detected in transgenic mice expressing high levels of A3A or A3G. Further, in accord with the known specificity of the cytidine deaminases, extracts from the A3Ahigh mice deaminated the TTC- more efficiently than CCC-containing substrates, while those from A3Ghigh mice more efficiently deaminated the CCC substrate (Figure 2). For both A3Alow and A3G low, trace amounts of activity were detectable with the preferred substrates, while no activity was detectable with either endogenous mA3 or from mA3 knockout splenocytes. No deaminase activity was detected with WT mouse extracts, perhaps because the mouse protein has lower overall activity or expression. These data show that the transgenic mice expressed catalytically active human deaminases in these heterologous cells.

Humans have 7 APOBEC3 genes and determining how each specifically functions to inhibit retroviruses like HIV is complicated, because all 7 can be produced in a given cell type or tissue.

To overcome this limitation, we made transgenic mice that express two of the human proteins, APOBEC3A and APOBEC3G in mice that do not express their own APOBEC3. These mice were able to effectively block infection by several mouse retroviruses

We were unable to perform similar assays with in vivo produced MMTV, because the only cell-free virus in mice is found in milk and mammary tumors and we have not yet established breeding colonies of virus-infected human A3 transgenic mice.

A3G and A3A inhibit retrovirus infection by different means.

Two A3A and A3G mouse strains each were generated, expressing levels of these proteins within the range or at levels lower than that seen in human cells. This likely has relevance to what occurs in individual humans, where non-coding region polymorphisms in A3 genes alter expression levels and may influence progression to HIV-induced disease

An additional limitation of previous studies done on human A3 proteins is the reliance on transfecting constructs expressing A3 proteins, which may not reflect the endogenous levels of a protein expression found in vivo

Although variation in the entire HLA protein is involved in the differential response to HIV across HLA allotypes, the major genetic effects are condensed to the positions highlighted in this study, indicating a structural basis for the HLA association with disease progression that is probably mediated by the conformation of the peptide within the class I binding groove.

HSV takes advantage of the neuronal stress response to enter into a silent, latent state. To assist in the execution of this plan, HSV evolved a DNA sequence that allows itself to be suppressed in neurons and a mechanism to maintain an equilibrium between total suppression and potential to exit from the latent state.

translocated from satellite cells

The fundamental question is the identity of the mechanism by which a vigorously replicating virus, on entry into the body, is silenced in neurons harboring latent virus.

Thus, VP16, a virion protein brought into the cells during infection, recruits several cellular proteins, including LSD1, to derepress α gene promoters

In some neurons, the virus establishes a latent, silent state. In other neurons, the virus replicates, and it is most likely that the virus in these neurons is transmitted and replicates in other ganglionic cells.

Finally, in contrast to the events following entry of virus after retrograde transport from the periphery, the data suggest that reactivation does not trigger a stress response that leads to activation of REST

Thus, VP16, a virion protein brought into the cells during infection, recruits several cellular proteins, including LSD1, to derepress α gene promoters. One α gene product, infected cell protein 0 (ICP0), derepresses β and γ1 genes. Ultimately, the onset of viral DNA synthesis enables the expression of very late, or γ2, genes (4).

In contrast, simultaneous expression of all viral genes during reactivation from latency is likely to minimize yield, but the mission of the virus is to assemble enough viruses to reach the portal of egress from the body (e.g., mouth, genitals) rather than to overwhelm the host with infectious virus.

Between 5 and 24 h after excision, mRNAs representative of all viral gene kinetic groups increase 100-fold in amount. Viral DNA also increases in amount, indicating that viral proteins are made. At the same time, viral LAT and miRNA concentrations decrease at least 10-fold (34). It is convenient to define the initial phase lasting no more than 5 h as the preactivation phase and the remaining time interval as the activation phase.

The same concentration of HDAC inhibitor was ineffective in inducing the reactivation of R111 recombinant virus in ganglionic organ cultures maintained in medium containing anti-NGF antibody.