scholarly journals TRiC/CCT Complex, a Binding Partner of NS1 Protein, Supports the Replication of Zika Virus in Both Mammalians and Mosquitoes

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 519
Author(s):  
Yuchen Wang ◽  
Ryuta Uraki ◽  
Jesse Hwang ◽  
Erol Fikrig

Mosquito-borne Zika virus (ZIKV) can cause congenital microcephaly and Guillain–Barré syndrome, among other symptoms. Specific treatments and vaccines for ZIKV are not currently available. To further understand the host factors that support ZIKV replication, we used mass spectrometry to characterize mammalian proteins that associate with the ZIKV NS1 protein and identified the TRiC/CCT complex as an interacting partner. Furthermore, the suppression of CCT2, one of the critical components of the TRiC/CCT complex, inhibited ZIKV replication in both mammalian cells and mosquitoes. These results highlight an important role for the TRiC/CCT complex in ZIKV infection, suggesting that the TRiC/CCT complex may be a promising therapeutic target.

Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antoni Soriano-Arandes ◽  
Marie Antoinette Frick ◽  
Milagros García López-Hortelano ◽  
Elena Sulleiro ◽  
Carlota Rodó ◽  
...  

Background: Zika virus (ZIKV) infection has been associated with congenital microcephaly and other neurodevelopmental abnormalities. There is little published research on the effect of maternal ZIKV infection in a non-endemic European region. We aimed to describe the outcomes of pregnant travelers diagnosed as ZIKV-infected in Spain, and their exposed children. Methods: This prospective observational cohort study of nine referral hospitals enrolled pregnant women (PW) who travelled to endemic areas during their pregnancy or the two previous months, or those whose sexual partners visited endemic areas in the previous 6 months. Infants of ZIKV-infected mothers were followed for about two years. Results: ZIKV infection was diagnosed in 163 PW; 112 (70%) were asymptomatic and 24 (14.7%) were confirmed cases. Among 143 infants, 14 (9.8%) had adverse outcomes during follow-up; three had a congenital Zika syndrome (CZS), and 11 other potential Zika-related outcomes. The overall incidence of CZS was 2.1% (95%CI: 0.4–6.0%), but among infants born to ZIKV-confirmed mothers, this increased to 15.8% (95%CI: 3.4–39.6%). Conclusions: A nearly 10% overall risk of neurologic and hearing adverse outcomes was found in ZIKV-exposed children born to a ZIKV-infected traveler PW. Longer-term follow-up of these children is needed to assess whether there are any later-onset manifestations.


2020 ◽  
pp. jcs.251835
Author(s):  
Azia S. Evans ◽  
Nicholas J. Lennemann ◽  
Carolyn B. Coyne

Autophagy is a degradative cellular pathway that targets cytoplasmic contents and organelles for turnover by the lysosome. Various autophagy pathways play key roles in the clearance of viral infections, and many families of viruses have developed unique methods for avoiding degradation. Some positive stranded RNA viruses, such as enteroviruses and flaviviruses, usurp the autophagic pathway to promote their own replication. We previously identified the endoplasmic reticulum-localized protein BPIFB3 as an important negative regulator of non-canonical autophagy that uniquely impacts the replication of enteroviruses and flaviviruses. Here, we find that many components of the canonical autophagy machinery are not required for BPIFB3 depletion induced autophagy and identify the host factors that facilitate its role in the replication of enteroviruses and flaviviruses. Using proximity-dependent biotinylation (BioID) followed by mass spectrometry, we identify ARFGAP1 and TMED9 as two cellular components that interact with BPIFB3 to regulate autophagy and viral replication. Importantly, our data demonstrate that non-canonical autophagy in mammalian cells can be controlled outside of the traditional pathway regulators and define the role of two proteins in BPIFB3 depletion mediated non-canonical autophagy.


Proceedings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 149
Author(s):  
Anna Dukhovny ◽  
Kevin Lamkiewicz ◽  
Qian Chen ◽  
Markus Fricke ◽  
Nabila Jabrane-Ferrat ◽  
...  

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arthropod-borne emerging pathogen causing febrile illness. ZIKV is associated with the Guillain–Barré syndrome and other neurological complications. The vertical transmission of ZIKV can cause fetus demise, stillbirths or severe congenital abnormalities and neurological complications. There is still no vaccine or specific treatment for ZIKV infection. To identify the host factors that can rescue cells from ZIKV infection, we used a genome-scale CRISPR activation screen. Our highly ranking hits included a short list of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) previously reported to have antiviral activity. Validation of the screen results highlighted interferon lambda 2 (IFN-lamda2) and interferon alpha-inducible protein 6 (IFI6) as genes providing high levels of protection from ZIKV infection. The activation of these genes had an effect at an early stage in the viral infection. In addition, infected cells expressing single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) for both of these genes displayed lower levels of cell death than did the controls. Furthermore, the identified genes were significantly induced in ZIKV-infected placenta explants. These results highlighted a set of ISGs directly relevant for rescuing cells from ZIKV infection or its associated cell death, thus substantiating CRISPR activation screens as a valid tool for identifying host factors impeding pathogen infection.


Proceedings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
Benedita K. L. Feron ◽  
Joachim J. Bugert ◽  
Simon C. W. Richardson

Here, we present empirical data documenting the siRNA-mediated protection of cells after Zika virus (ZIKV) infection. siRNAs were designed to target well-conserved sequences across the ZIKV genome. Several delivery technologies were utilized. After the electroporation of 100 nM siRNA into human hepatocyte-derived carcinoma (Huh7) cells, the Feron Zv-2 sequence (specific to the ZIKV NS3 gene) yielded a cell viability of 150.3% ± 7.4% (SEM: n = 4) (p = 0.0004) relative to the cells treated only with the virus (33.9% ± 12%, SEM: n = 4). Furthermore, 100 nM siRNA Feron Zv-4 (specific to ZIKV 3’UTR) resulted in 119.1% ± 11.2% cell viability (SEM: n = 4) relative to the control cells treated with ZIKV (p = 0.0021). The cells were electroporated with siRNA prior to ZIKV infection and viability was monitored four days after this. Additionally, two novel siRNA delivery systems were tested. The first utilized recombinant Bacillus anthracis PA83 (octomer-forming mutants), co-incubated with the N-terminal 255 amino acids of B. anthracis lethal factor (LFn) fused in-frame with the RNA binding domain for human protein kinase R (LFn-PKR) at a concentration of 50 µg/mL (each). Here, baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells, treated with 100 nM siRNA Feron Zv-1, yielded 79.0% ± 4.0% viability relative to the control (50.2% ± 1.7%, SEM: n = 3) three days after exposure to ZIKV (p = 0.0096). Finally, HeLa exosomes loaded with siRNA Feron-Zv2 were incubated with Huh7 cells prior to ZIKV infection. For the siRNA-exosome treated cells, a viability of 123% ± 46% (SEM: n = 18), relative to 8% ± 16% (SEM: n = 18) for the same concentration of control HeLa exosomes, was recorded (p = 0.0416). In each instance, 0.3 moI was used and cell viability monitored using the PierceTM Firefly Luciferase Glow Assay Kit by Thermo ScientificTM. Here, we show for the first time that siRNA can significantly reduce ZIKV-induced cell killing. Future work will require quantitating ZIKV mRNA in relation to siRNA treatment, as well as testing the siRNAs and delivery systems within more complex models.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiago Tambonis ◽  
Vinícius G. Contessoto ◽  
Cíntia Bittar ◽  
Marília F. Calmon ◽  
Maurício L. Nogueira ◽  
...  

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a threat to humanity, and understanding its neuroinvasiveness is a major challenge. Microcephaly observed in neonates in Brazil is associated with ZIKV that belongs to the Asian lineage. What distinguishes the neuroinvasiveness between the RNA lineages from Asia and Africa is still unknown. Here we identify an aspect that may explain the different behavior between the two lineages. The distinction between the two groups is the occurrence of an alternative protein NS1’ (ZIKV-NS1’), which happens through a pseudoknot in the virus RNA that induces a ribosomal frameshift. Presence of NS1’ protein is also observed in other Flavivirus that are neuroinvasive, and when NS1’ production issuppressed, neuroinvasiveness is reduced.1 This evidence gives grounds to suggest that the ZIKV-NS1’ occurring in the Asian lineage is responsible for neuro-tropism, which causes the neuro-pathologies associated with ZIKV infection, of which microcephaly is the most dev astating. The existence of ZIKV-NS1’, which only exists in the Asian lineage, was inferred through bioinformatic methods, and it has yet to be experimentally observed. If its occurrence is confirmed, it will be a potential target in fighting the neuro-diseases associated with ZIKV.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Micaela E Martinez-Bakker

It has come to light that Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy can result in trans-placental transmission to the fetus along with fetal death, congenital microcephaly and/or Central Nervous System (CNS) malformations. There are projected to be > 9, 200, 000 births annually in countries with ongoing ZIKV transmission. In response to the ZIKV threat, the World Health Organization (WHO) is strategically targeting prevention of infection in pregnant women and funding contraception in epidemic regions. I propose that the damaging effects of ZIKV can be reduced by timing pregnancy seasonally to minimize maternal exposure. Like other acute viral infections—including the related flavivirus, dengue virus (DENV)—the transmission of ZIKV is anticipated to be seasonal. By seasonally planning pregnancy, this aspect of pathogen ecology can be leveraged to align sensitive periods of gestation with the low-transmission season.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Micaela E Martinez-Bakker

It has come to light that Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy can result in trans-placental transmission to the fetus along with fetal death, congenital microcephaly and/or Central Nervous System (CNS) malformations. There are projected to be > 9, 200, 000 births annually in countries with ongoing ZIKV transmission. In response to the ZIKV threat, the World Health Organization (WHO) is strategically targeting prevention of infection in pregnant women and funding contraception in epidemic regions. I propose that the damaging effects of ZIKV can be reduced by timing pregnancy seasonally to minimize maternal exposure. Like other acute viral infections—including the related flavivirus, dengue virus (DENV)—the transmission of ZIKV is anticipated to be seasonal. By seasonally planning pregnancy, this aspect of pathogen ecology can be leveraged to align sensitive periods of gestation with the low-transmission season.


2016 ◽  
Vol 141 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Gabriela Alvarado ◽  
David A. Schwartz

Context.—The global epidemic of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection has emerged as an important public health problem affecting pregnant women and their infants. Objectives.—To review the causal association between ZIKV infection during pregnancy and intrauterine fetal infection, microcephaly, brain damage, congenital malformation syndrome, and experimental laboratory models of fetal infection. Many questions remain regarding the risk factors, pathophysiology, epidemiology, and timing of maternal-fetal transmission and disease. These include mechanisms of fetal brain damage and microcephaly; the role of covariables, such as viral burden, duration of viremia, and host genetics, on vertical transmission; and the clinical and pathologic spectrum of congenital Zika syndrome. Additional questions include defining the potential long-term physical and neurobehavioral outcomes for infected infants, whether maternal or fetal host genetics influence the clinical outcome, and whether ZIKV infection can cause maternal morbidity. Finally, are experimental laboratory and animal models of ZIKV infection helpful in addressing maternal-fetal viral transmission and the development of congenital microcephaly? This communication provides current information and attempts to address some of these important questions. Data Sources.—Comprehensive review of published scientific literature. Conclusions.—Recent advances in epidemiology, clinical medicine, pathology, and experimental studies have provided a great amount of new information regarding vertical ZIKV transmission and the mechanisms of congenital microcephaly, brain damage, and congenital Zika syndrome in a relatively short time. However, much work still needs to be performed to more completely understand the maternal and fetal aspects of this new and emerging viral disease.


2020 ◽  
Vol 94 (17) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anzhong Li ◽  
Miaoge Xue ◽  
Zayed Attia ◽  
Jingyou Yu ◽  
Mijia Lu ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) of several flaviviruses, including West Nile, dengue, and yellow fever viruses, is capable of inducing variable degrees of protection against flavivirus infection in animal models. However, the immunogenicity of NS1 protein of Zika virus (ZIKV) is less understood. Here, we determined the efficacy of ZIKV NS1-based vaccine candidates using two delivery platforms, methyltransferase-defective recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (mtdVSV) and a DNA vaccine. We first show that expression of ZIKV NS1 could be significantly enhanced by optimizing the signal peptide. A single dose of mtdVSV-NS1-based vaccine or two doses of DNA vaccine induced high levels of NS1-specfic antibody and T cell immune responses but provided only partial protection against ZIKV viremia in BALB/c mice. In Ifnar1−/− mice, neither NS1-based vaccine provided protection against a lethal high dose (105 PFU) ZIKV challenge, but mtdVSV-NS1-based vaccine prevented deaths from a low dose (103 PFU) challenge, though they experienced viremia and body weight loss. We conclude that ZIKV NS1 alone conferred substantial, but not complete, protection against ZIKV infection. Nevertheless, these results highlight the value of ZIKV NS1 for vaccine development. IMPORTANCE Most Zika virus (ZIKV) vaccine research has focused on the E or prM-E proteins and the induction of high levels of neutralizing antibodies. However, these ZIKV neutralizing antibodies cross-react with other flaviviruses, which may aggravate the disease via an antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) mechanism. ZIKV NS1 protein may be an alternative antigen for vaccine development, since antibodies to NS1 do not bind to the virion, thereby eliminating the risk of ADE. Here, we show that recombinant VSV and DNA vaccines expressing NS1, alone, confer partial protection against ZIKV infection in both immunocompetent and immunodeficient mice, highlighting the value of NS1 as a potential vaccine candidate.


Proceedings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 112
Author(s):  
Andrii Slonchak ◽  
Leon E. Hugo ◽  
Morgan Freney ◽  
Alberto A Amarilla ◽  
Sonja Hall-Mendelin ◽  
...  

Similar to other flaviviruses, Zika virus (ZIKV) produces abundant subgenomic flavivirus RNA (sfRNA) derived from the 3’ untranslated region. The molecular mechanisms that determine the functions of sfRNA are currently not completely understood. Here, we created ZIKV mutants deficient in sfRNA production and employed them to investigate the role of this RNA in virus interactions with mammalian and insect hosts. We found that in mosquitoes, sfRNA facilitates virus replication and is required for ZIKV dissemination into saliva and virus transmission. The production of sfRNA was found to have no effect on the RNAi pathway, but instead downregulated the expression of genes involved in the regulation of apoptosis. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) of histological sections from infected mosquitoes confirmed that sfRNA prevents the apoptotic death of infected cells, thus identifying inhibition of apoptosis as a novel mechanism of sfRNA action in mosquitoes. We also found that sfRNA facilitates ZIKV replication in mammalian cells, mice, and human brain organoids. Moreover, ZIKV mutants deficient in sfRNA production were unable to form plaques, cause the death of human brain organoids, or establish infection in the mouse foetal brain. We then found that the proviral activity of sfRNA in mammalian cells relies on its ability to suppress type I interferon signalling. We showed that this is achieved via the inhibition of phosphorylation and the nuclear translocation of STAT1. In addition, we found that the production of sfRNA in the ZIKV infection of human brain organoids is associated with the suppression of multiple genes involved in brain development, indicating that sfRNA can be involved in the disruption of brain development associated with ZIKV infection.


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