scholarly journals Naturally Occurring Polymorphisms of the Mouse Gammaretrovirus Receptors CAT-1 and XPR1 Alter Virus Tropism and Pathogenicity

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine A. Kozak
Keyword(s):  
Host Range ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Endogenous Retroviruses ◽  
Laboratory Mice ◽  
Virus Binding ◽  
Virus Envelope ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Mouse Cells ◽  
Genetic Conflicts

Gammaretroviruses of several different host range subgroups have been isolated from laboratory mice. The ecotropic viruses infect mouse cells and rely on the host CAT-1 receptor. The xenotropic/polytropic viruses, and the related human-derived XMRV, can infect cells of other mammalian species and use the XPR1 receptor for entry. The coevolution of these viruses and their receptors in infected mouse populations provides a good example of how genetic conflicts can drive diversifying selection. Genetic and epigenetic variations in the virus envelope glycoproteins can result in altered host range and pathogenicity, and changes in the virus binding sites of the receptors are responsible for host restrictions that reduce virus entry or block it altogether. These battleground regions are marked by mutational changes that have produced 2 functionally distinct variants of the CAT-1 receptor and 5 variants of the XPR1 receptor in mice, as well as a diverse set of infectious viruses, and several endogenous retroviruses coopted by the host to interfere with entry.

scholarly journals Recombinant Origins of Pathogenic and Nonpathogenic Mouse Gammaretroviruses with Polytropic Host Range

2017 ◽  
Vol 91 (21) ◽  
Author(s):  
Devinka Bamunusinghe ◽  
Qingping Liu ◽  
Ronald Plishka ◽  
Michael A. Dolan ◽  
Matthew Skorski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Range ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Endogenous Retroviruses ◽  
Long Terminal Repeats ◽  
Pathogenic Potential ◽  
Mouse Leukemia ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
N Terminus ◽  
Terminal Repeats ◽  
Leukemia Viruses

ABSTRACT Ecotropic, xenotropic, and polytropic mouse leukemia viruses (E-, X-, and P-MLVs) exist in mice as infectious viruses and endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) inserted into mouse chromosomes. All three MLV subgroups are linked to leukemogenesis, which involves generation of recombinants with polytropic host range. Although P-MLVs are deemed to be the proximal agents of disease induction, few biologically characterized infectious P-MLVs have been sequenced for comparative analysis. We analyzed the complete genomes of 16 naturally occurring infectious P-MLVs, 12 of which were typed for pathogenic potential. We sought to identify ERV progenitors, recombinational hot spots, and segments that are always replaced, never replaced, or linked to pathogenesis or host range. Each P-MLV has an E-MLV backbone with P- or X-ERV replacements that together cover 100% of the recombinant genomes, with different substitution patterns for X- and P-ERVs. Two segments are always replaced, both coding for envelope (Env) protein segments: the N terminus of the surface subunit and the cytoplasmic tail R peptide. Viral gag gene replacements are influenced by host restriction genes Fv1 and Apobec3. Pathogenic potential maps to the env transmembrane subunit segment encoding the N-heptad repeat (HR1). Molecular dynamics simulations identified three novel interdomain salt bridges in the lymphomagenic virus HR1 that could affect structural stability, entry or sensitivity to host immune responses. The long terminal repeats of lymphomagenic P-MLVs are differentially altered by recombinations, duplications, or mutations. This analysis of the naturally occurring, sometimes pathogenic P-MLV recombinants defines the limits and extent of intersubgroup recombination and identifies specific sequence changes linked to pathogenesis and host interactions. IMPORTANCE During virus-induced leukemogenesis, ecotropic mouse leukemia viruses (MLVs) recombine with nonecotropic endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) to produce polytropic MLVs (P-MLVs). Analysis of 16 P-MLV genomes identified two segments consistently replaced: one at the envelope N terminus that alters receptor choice and one in the R peptide at the envelope C terminus, which is removed during virus assembly. Genome-wide analysis shows that nonecotropic replacements in the progenitor ecotropic MLV genome are more extensive than previously appreciated, covering 100% of the genome; contributions from xenotropic and polytropic ERVs differentially alter the regions responsible for receptor determination or subject to APOBEC3 and Fv1 restriction. All pathogenic viruses had modifications in the regulatory elements in their long terminal repeats and differed in a helical segment of envelope involved in entry and targeted by the host immune system. Virus-induced leukemogenesis thus involves generation of complex recombinants, and specific replacements are linked to pathogenesis and host restrictions.

scholarly journals Xenotropic Mouse Gammaretroviruses Isolated from Pre-Leukemic Tissues Include a Recombinant

Viruses ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Devinka Bamunusinghe ◽  
Matthew Skorski ◽  
Alicia Buckler-White ◽  
Christine Kozak
Keyword(s):  
Long Terminal Repeat ◽  
Host Range ◽  
Reference Genome ◽  
Endogenous Retroviruses ◽  
Mouse Leukemia ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
Pathogenic Viruses ◽  
Leukemia Viruses ◽  
Akr Mice

Naturally-occurring lymphomagenesis is induced by mouse leukemia viruses (MLVs) carried as endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). Replicating the ecotropic MLVs recombines with polytropic (P-ERVs) and xenotropic ERVs (X-ERVs) to generate pathogenic viruses with an altered host range. While most recovered nonecotropic recombinants have a polytropic host range, the X-MLVs are also present in the pre-leukemic tissues. We analyzed two such isolates from the AKR mice to identify their ERV progenitors and to look for evidence of recombination. AKR40 resembles the active X-ERV Bxv1, while AKR6 has a Bxv1-like backbone with substitutions that alter the long terminal repeat (LTR) enhancer and the envelope (env). AKR6 has a modified xenotropic host range, and its Env residue changes all lie outside of the domain that governs the receptor choice. The AKR6 segment spanning the two substitutions, but not the entire AKR6 env-LTR, exists as an ERV, termed Xmv67, in AKR, but not in the C57BL/6 mice. This suggests that AKR6 is the product of one, not two, recombination events. Xmv67 originated in the Asian mice. These data indicate that the recombinant X-MLVs that can be generated during lymphomagenesis, describe a novel X-ERV subtype found in the AKR genome, but not in the C57BL/6 reference genome, and identify residues in the envelope C-terminus that may influence the host range.

scholarly journals The relationship between fasting-induced torpor, sleep and waking in laboratory mice

SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-Ge Huang ◽  
Sarah J Flaherty ◽  
Carina A Pothecary ◽  
Russell G Foster ◽  
Stuart N Peirson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Temperature ◽  
Rem Sleep ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Nrem Sleep ◽  
Laboratory Mice ◽  
State Classification ◽  
Metabolic Suppression ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Electroencephalogram Eeg

Abstract Study objectives Torpor is a regulated and reversible state of metabolic suppression used by many mammalian species to conserve energy. Whereas the relationship between torpor and sleep has been well-studied in seasonal hibernators, less is known about the effects of fasting-induced torpor on states of vigilance and brain activity in laboratory mice. Methods Continuous monitoring of electroencephalogram (EEG), electromyogram (EMG) and surface body temperature was undertaken in adult, male C57BL/6 mice over consecutive days of scheduled restricted feeding. Results All animals showed bouts of hypothermia that became progressively deeper and longer as fasting progressed. EEG and EMG were markedly affected by hypothermia, although the typical electrophysiological signatures of NREM sleep, REM sleep and wakefulness enabled us to perform vigilance-state classification in all cases. Consistent with previous studies, hypothermic bouts were initiated from a state indistinguishable from NREM sleep, with EEG power decreasing gradually in parallel with decreasing surface body temperature. During deep hypothermia, REM sleep was largely abolished, and we observed shivering-associated intense bursts of muscle activity. Conclusions Our study highlights important similarities between EEG signatures of fasting-induced torpor in mice, daily torpor in Djungarian hamsters and hibernation in seasonally-hibernating species. Future studies are necessary to clarify the effects on fasting-induced torpor on subsequent sleep.

scholarly journals EPEN-30. C11ORF95-RELA FUSION PROTEIN ENGAGES NOVEL GENOMIC LOCI TO DRIVE MURINE EPENDYMOMA GROWTH

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii314-iii314
Author(s):  
Amir Arabzade ◽  
Yanhua Zhao ◽  
Srinidhi Varadharajan ◽  
Hsiao-Chi Chen ◽  
Austin Stuckert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Molecular Targets ◽  
Lead Target ◽  
Open Chromatin ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
In Utero Electroporation ◽  
Pathway Activation ◽  
Mouse Cells ◽  
Shed Light

Abstract RATIONALE Over 70% of supratentorial (ST) ependymoma are characterized by an oncogenic fusion between C11ORF95 and RELA. C11ORF95-RELA fusion is frequently the sole genetic driver detected in ST ependymoma, thus ranking this genomic event as a lead target for therapeutic investigation. RELA is a transcription factor (TF) central to mediating NF-kB pathway activation in processes such as inflammation, cellular metabolism, and chemotaxis. HYPOTHESIS: We posited that C11ORF95-RELA acts as an oncogenic TF that aberrantly shapes the tumor epigenome to drive aberrant transcription. Approach: To this end we developed an in utero electroporation (IUE) mouse model of ependymoma to express C11ORF95-RELA during embryonic development. Our IUE approach allowed us to develop C11ORF95-RELA driven tumor models and cell lines. We comprehensively characterized the epigenome and transcriptome of C11ORF95-RELA fusion driven mouse cells by H3K27ac ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq, and RNA-seq. RESULTS This data revealed that: 1) C11ORF95-RELA directly engages ‘open’ chromatin and is enriched at regions with known RELA TF binding sites as well as novel genomic loci/motifs, 2) C11ORF95-RELA preferentially binds to both H3K27ac (active) enhancers and promoters, and 3) Bound C11ORF95-RELA promoter loci are associated with increased transcription of genes shared with human ependymoma. CONCLUSION Our findings shed light on the transcriptional mechanisms of C11ORF95-RELA, and reveal downstream targets that may represent cancer dependency genes and molecular targets.

A naturally occurring Tyr143HisαIIb mutation abolishes αIIbβ3 function for soluble ligands but retains its ability for mediating cell adhesion and clot retraction: comparison with other mutations causing ligand-binding defects

Blood ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 101 (9) ◽  
pp. 3485-3491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teruo Kiyoi ◽  
Yoshiaki Tomiyama ◽  
Shigenori Honda ◽  
Seiji Tadokoro ◽  
Morio Arai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Ligand Binding ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Clot Retraction ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Binding Function ◽  
293 Cells ◽  
Ligand Binding Sites ◽  
Functional Defect ◽  
And Function

The molecular basis for the interaction between a prototypic non–I-domain integrin, αIIbβ3, and its ligands remains to be determined. In this study, we have characterized a novel missense mutation (Tyr143His) in αIIb associated with a variant of Glanzmann thrombasthenia. Osaka-12 platelets expressed a substantial amount of αIIbβ3(36%-41% of control) but failed to bind soluble ligands, including a high-affinity αIIbβ3-specific peptidomimetic antagonist. Sequence analysis revealed that Osaka-12 is a compound heterozygote for a single 521T>C substitution leading to a Tyr143His substitution in αIIb and for the null expression of αIIb mRNA from the maternal allele. Given that Tyr143 is located in the W3 4-1 loop of the β-propeller domain of αIIb, we examined the effects of Tyr143His or Tyr143Ala substitution on the expression and function of αIIbβ3 and compared them with KO (Arg-Thr insertion between 160 and 161 residues of αIIb) and with the Asp163Ala mutation located in the same loop by using 293 cells. Each of them abolished the binding function of αIIbβ3 for soluble ligands without disturbing αIIbβ3 expression. Because immobilized fibrinogen and fibrin are higher affinity/avidity ligands for αIIbβ3, we performed cell adhesion and clot retraction assays. In sharp contrast to KO mutation and Asp163AlaαIIbβ3, Tyr143HisαIIbβ3-expressing cells still had some ability for cell adhesion and clot retraction. Thus, the functional defect induced by Tyr143HisαIIb is likely caused by its allosteric effect rather than by a defect in the ligand-binding site itself. These detailed structure–function analyses provide better understanding of the ligand-binding sites in integrins.

scholarly journals Epigenetic marking and repression of porcine endogenous retroviruses

2013 ◽  
Vol 94 (5) ◽  
pp. 960-970 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gernot Wolf ◽  
Anders Lade Nielsen ◽  
Jacob Giehm Mikkelsen ◽  
Finn Skou Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Germ Line ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Histone Deacetylation ◽  
Endogenous Retroviruses ◽  
Primer Binding Site ◽  
Retroviral Transduction ◽  
Embryonic Germ Cells ◽  
Epigenetic Repression

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are remnants of retroviral germ line infections and have been identified in all mammals investigated so far. Although the majority of ERVs are degenerated, some mammalian species, such as mice and pigs, carry replication-competent ERVs capable of forming infectious viral particles. In mice, ERVs are silenced by DNA methylation and histone modifications and some exogenous retroviruses were shown to be transcriptionally repressed after integration by a primer-binding site (PBS) targeting mechanism. However, epigenetic repression of porcine ERVs (PERVs) has remained largely unexplored so far. In this study, we screened the pig genome for PERVs using LTRharvest, a tool for de novo detection of ERVs, and investigated various aspects of epigenetic repression of three unrelated PERV families. We found that these PERV families are differentially up- or downregulated upon chemical inhibition of DNA methylation and histone deacetylation in cultured porcine cells. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis revealed repressive histone methylation marks at PERV loci in primary porcine embryonic germ cells and immortalized embryonic kidney cells. PERV elements belonging to the PERV-γ1 family, which is the only known PERV family that has remained active up to the present, were marked by significantly higher levels of histone methylations than PERV-γ2 and PERV-β3 proviruses. Finally, we tested three PERV-associated PBS sequences for repression activity in murine and porcine cells using retroviral transduction experiments and showed that none of these PBS sequences induced immediate transcriptional silencing in the tested primary porcine cells.

Design of Protein–Protein Binding Sites Suggests a Rationale for Naturally Occurring Contact Areas

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 1383-1392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Nerattini ◽  
Luca Tubiana ◽  
Chiara Cardelli ◽  
Valentino Bianco ◽  
Christoph Dellago ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Binding ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Protein Binding Sites ◽  
Contact Areas ◽  
Naturally Occurring

scholarly journals First Report of Malva vein clearing virus Naturally Occurring in Hollyhock in Germany

Plant Disease ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 276-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Menzel ◽  
S. Winter ◽  
K. R. Richert-Pöggeler
Keyword(s):  
Host Range ◽  
Direct Sequencing ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
First Report ◽  
Vein Clearing ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Potyvirus Species ◽  
Cloned Cdna

Hollyhocks are popular garden plants and selected cultivars of Alcea rosea (family Malvaceae) are widespread in Germany. In spring 2009, dozens of A. rosea plants displaying strong vein clearing and veinal yellowing symptoms were found in private gardens in Hannover, Lower Saxony. Electron microscopic examinations of negatively stained adsorption preparations of five randomly selected samples of symptomatic plants or their offshoots revealed flexuous filamentous particles resembling those of potyviruses. Sap extracts also reacted strongly positive in an antigen coated plate (ACP)-ELISA with the broad-spectrum potyvirus antiserum AS-0573/I (DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany). RNA extracts (RNeasy Kit, Qiagen, Valencia, CA) of the above mentioned leaf samples were used as templates in reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assays with potyvirus specific primers (2) that have been shown to amplify the 3′ terminus of the genome of many potyvirus species. For extracts from symptomatic samples, this resulted in a consistent amplification of an ~1.6-kbp fragment, whereas no products were obtained from RNA extracts of asymptomatic plants. From one positive sample, the amplified fragment was cloned and one clone was partially sequenced. The nucleotide (nt) and amino acid sequences showed the highest identities (81 to 83% and 87 to 90%, respectively) to GenBank sequences FJ539084, FM212972, EU884405, and FJ561293 of the potyvirus Malva vein clearing virus (MVCM). On the basis of these identity values and according to the species demarcation criteria in the genus Potyvirus, the virus can be regarded as a German isolate of the recently sequenced MVCV (3,4). Direct sequencing of the 5′-end of the amplified RT-PCR fragment revealed sequences of only one potyvirus species. The virus isolate has been submitted to the DSMZ Plant Virus Collection (Braunschweig, Germany) under accession PV-0963 and the sequence obtained from the cloned cDNA is deposited in GenBank (GQ856544). In addition, sap from affected leaves was mechanically inoculated onto sets of herbaceous indicator plants (Chenopodium quinoa, C. foliosum, C. murale, C. amaranticolor, Datura stramonium, Nicotiana benthamiana, N. hesperis, Petunia hybrida, and Solanum lycopersicum) of which only C. quinoa plants became infected. Symptoms of weak chlorosis along and beside veins of inoculated leaves, but not systemic leaves, became visible 2 weeks postinoculation. Symptomatic leaves contained flexuous filamentous particles and ACP-ELISA and RT-PCR confirmed virus presence. The partially sequenced amplicon showed 99% nt identity to the sequence from the cloned cDNA. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a MVCV isolate naturally occurring in A. rosea and C. quinoa is the first host identified that does not belong to the plant family Malvaceae. In contrast, the MVCV isolate used in the host range study of Lunello et al. (4) did not infect A. rosea and C. quinoa, confirming previous host range descriptions by Brunt et al. (1). Since MVCV infections of hollyhocks seem to cause only leaf symptoms and do not noticeably affect growth or flowering of the plants, this will hopefully not impair the usability of this popular garden plant. References: (1) A. A. Brunt et al. Descriptions and Lists from the VIDE Database. Online publication. Version: 16th January, 1997. (2) J. Chen et al. Arch. Virol. 146:757, 2001. (3) A. Hein Phytopathol. Z. 28:205, 1957. (4) P. Lunello et al. Virus Res. 140:91, 2009.

Nematodes and cestodes of rodents in South Africa: baseline data on diversity and geographic distribution

2019 ◽  
Vol 94 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Spickett ◽  
K. Junker ◽  
G. Froeschke ◽  
V. Haukisalmi ◽  
S. Matthee
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Host Range ◽  
Geographic Distribution ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Baseline Data ◽  
Helminth Species ◽  
Rodent Species ◽  
Helminth Parasites ◽  
Gastrointestinal Helminths ◽  
Naturally Occurring

Abstract Currently, descriptive information on the host range and geographic distribution of helminth parasites associated with naturally occurring rodents in South and southern Africa is scant. Therefore, we embarked on a countrywide study to: (1) identify gastrointestinal helminths and their host range, and (2) provide baseline data on the geographic distribution of helminths across the country. Altogether, 55 helminth taxa were recovered from at least 13 rodent species (n = 1030) at 26 localities across South Africa. The helminth taxa represented 25 genera (15 nematodes, nine cestodes and one acanthocephalan). Monoxenous nematodes were the most abundant and prevalent group, while the occurrence of heteroxenous nematodes and cestodes was generally lower. The study recorded several novel helminth–host associations. Single-host-species infections were common, although multiple-host-species infections by helminth species were also recorded. Monoxenous nematodes and some cestodes were recovered countrywide, whereas heteroxenous nematodes were restricted to the eastern regions of South Africa. The study highlights the as yet unexplored diversity of helminth species associated with naturally occurring rodent species and provides initial data on their geographical distribution in South Africa.

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