scholarly journals Replication-Competent ΔNS1 Influenza A Viruses Expressing Reporter Genes

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 698
Author(s):  
Aitor Nogales ◽  
Michael Schotsaert ◽  
Raveen Rathnasinghe ◽  
Marta L. DeDiego ◽  
Adolfo García-Sastre ◽  
...  

The influenza A virus (IAV) is able to infect multiple mammalian and avian species, and in humans IAV is responsible for annual seasonal epidemics and occasional pandemics of respiratory disease with significant health and economic impacts. Studying IAV involves laborious secondary methodologies to identify infected cells. Therefore, to circumvent this requirement, in recent years, multiple replication-competent infectious IAV expressing traceable reporter genes have been developed. These IAVs have been very useful for in vitro and/or in vivo studies of viral replication, identification of neutralizing antibodies or antivirals, and in studies to evaluate vaccine efficacy, among others. In this report, we describe, for the first time, the generation and characterization of two replication-competent influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 H1N1 (PR8) viruses where the viral non-structural protein 1 (NS1) was substituted by the monomeric (m)Cherry fluorescent or the NanoLuc luciferase (Nluc) proteins. The ΔNS1 mCherry was able to replicate in cultured cells and in Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 1 (STAT1) deficient mice, although at a lower extent than a wild-type (WT) PR8 virus expressing the same mCherry fluorescent protein (WT mCherry). Notably, expression of either reporter gene (mCherry or Nluc) was detected in infected cells by fluorescent microscopy or luciferase plate readers, respectively. ΔNS1 IAV expressing reporter genes provide a novel approach to better understand the biology and pathogenesis of IAV, and represent an excellent tool to develop new therapeutic approaches against IAV infections.

2019 ◽  
Vol 216 (2) ◽  
pp. 304-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Kosik ◽  
Davide Angeletti ◽  
James S. Gibbs ◽  
Matthew Angel ◽  
Kazuyo Takeda ◽  
...  

Broadly neutralizing antibodies (Abs) that bind the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) stem may enable universal influenza vaccination. Here, we show that anti-stem Abs sterically inhibit viral neuraminidase (NA) activity against large substrates, with activity inversely proportional to the length of the fibrous NA stalk that supports the enzymatic domain. By modulating NA stalk length in recombinant IAVs, we show that anti-stem Abs inhibit virus release from infected cells by blocking NA, accounting for their in vitro neutralization activity. NA inhibition contributes to anti-stem Ab protection in influenza-infected mice, likely due at least in part to NA-mediated inhibition of FcγR-dependent activation of innate immune cells by Ab bound to virions. Food and Drug Administration–approved NA inhibitors enhance anti-stem–based Fc-dependent immune cell activation, raising the possibility of therapeutic synergy between NA inhibitors and anti-stem mAb treatment in humans.


2013 ◽  
Vol 94 (4) ◽  
pp. 884-895 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiguang Ran ◽  
Ying Chen ◽  
Huigang Shen ◽  
Xiaoxiao Xiang ◽  
Qinfang Liu ◽  
...  

The M1 protein is a major structural protein that has multiple functions in various steps within the life cycle of the influenza A virus (IAV). However, little is currently known about the role of M1 in IAV replication in vivo and the associated pathogenesis. In this study, six isogenic H1N1 WSN33 viruses, constructed to express unique M1 proteins derived from various strains, subtypes or WSN33 itself, were tested to determine in vitro and in vivo functional exchangeability of M1 proteins in the replication and pathogenesis of the WSN33 virus. Despite five chimeric M1 viruses replicating to levels similar to those of the parental WSN33 virus in cell cultures, all M1 chimeras exhibited improved replication and enhanced virulence in mice when compared with the WSN33 virus. Interestingly, M1 proteins derived from swine viruses caused more severe clinical diseases than those from human or quail. These data indicate that the M1 protein is an important determinant of viral replication and pathogenic properties in mice, although the functions of M1 observed in vivo are not adequately reflected in simple infections of cultured cells. Chimeric M1 viruses that are variable in their clinical manifestations described here will aid future understanding of the role of M1 in IAV pathogenesis.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Kosik ◽  
Davide Angeletti ◽  
James S. Gibbs ◽  
Matthew Angel ◽  
Kazuyo Takeda ◽  
...  

SummaryBroadly neutralizing antibodies (Abs) that bind the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) stem may enable universal influenza vaccination. Here, we show that anti-stem Abs sterically inhibit viral neuraminidase activity against large substrates, with activity inversely proportional to the length of the fibrous NA stalk that supports the enzymatic domain. By modulating NA stalk length in recombinant IAVs, we show that anti-stem Abs inhibit virus release from infected cells by blocking NA, accounting for theirin vitroneutralization activity. NA inhibition contributes to anti-stem Ab protection in influenza infected mice, likely due at least in part to NA-mediated inhibition of FcγR dependent activation of innate immune cells by antibody bound to virions. FDA approved NA inhibitors enhance anti-stem based Fcγdependent immune cell activation, raising the possibility of therapeutic synergy between NA inhibitors and anti-stem mAb treatment in humans.


2018 ◽  
Vol 93 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina L. Prachanronarong ◽  
Aneth S. Canale ◽  
Ping Liu ◽  
Mohan Somasundaran ◽  
Shurong Hou ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTInfluenza A virus (IAV), a major cause of human morbidity and mortality, continuously evolves in response to selective pressures. Stem-directed, broadly neutralizing antibodies (sBnAbs) targeting the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) are a promising therapeutic strategy, but neutralization escape mutants can develop. We used an integrated approach combining viral passaging, deep sequencing, and protein structural analyses to define escape mutations and mechanisms of neutralization escapein vitrofor the F10 sBnAb. IAV was propagated with escalating concentrations of F10 over serial passages in cultured cells to select for escape mutations. Viral sequence analysis revealed three mutations in HA and one in neuraminidase (NA). Introduction of these specific mutations into IAV through reverse genetics confirmed their roles in resistance to F10. Structural analyses revealed that the selected HA mutations (S123G, N460S, and N203V) are away from the F10 epitope but may indirectly impact influenza virus receptor binding, endosomal fusion, or budding. The NA mutation E329K, which was previously identified to be associated with antibody escape, affects the active site of NA, highlighting the importance of the balance between HA and NA function for viral survival. Thus, whole-genome population sequencing enables the identification of viral resistance mutations responding to antibody-induced selective pressure.IMPORTANCEInfluenza A virus is a public health threat for which currently available vaccines are not always effective. Broadly neutralizing antibodies that bind to the highly conserved stem region of the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) can neutralize many influenza virus strains. To understand how influenza virus can become resistant or escape such antibodies, we propagated influenza A virusin vitrowith escalating concentrations of antibody and analyzed viral populations by whole-genome sequencing. We identified HA mutations near and distal to the antibody binding epitope that conferred resistance to antibody neutralization. Additionally, we identified a neuraminidase (NA) mutation that allowed the virus to grow in the presence of high concentrations of the antibody. Virus carrying dual mutations in HA and NA also grew under high antibody concentrations. We show that NA mutations mediate the escape of neutralization by antibodies against HA, highlighting the importance of a balance between HA and NA for optimal virus function.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Selina Traxler ◽  
Gina Barkowsky ◽  
Radost Saß ◽  
Ann-Christin Klemenz ◽  
Nadja Patenge ◽  
...  

AbstractInfluenza A is a serious pathogen itself, but often leads to dangerous co-infections in combination with bacterial species such as Streptococcus pyogenes. In comparison to classical biochemical methods, analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in headspace above cultures can enable destruction free monitoring of metabolic processes in vitro. Thus, volatile biomarkers emitted from biological cell cultures and pathogens could serve for monitoring of infection processes in vitro. In this study we analysed VOCs from headspace above (co)-infected human cells by using a customized sampling system. For investigating the influenza A mono-infection and the viral-bacterial co-infection in vitro, we analysed VOCs from Detroit cells inoculated with influenza A virus and S. pyogenes by means of needle-trap micro-extraction (NTME) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Besides the determination of microbiological data such as cell count, cytokines, virus load and bacterial load, emissions from cell medium, uninfected cells and bacteria mono-infected cells were analysed. Significant differences in emitted VOC concentrations were identified between non-infected and infected cells. After inoculation with S. pyogenes, bacterial infection was mirrored by increased emissions of acetaldehyde and propanal. N-propyl acetate was linked to viral infection. Non-destructive monitoring of infections by means of VOC analysis may open a new window for infection research and clinical applications. VOC analysis could enable early recognition of pathogen presence and in-depth understanding of their etiopathology.


Vaccines ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frumence ◽  
Viranaicken ◽  
Gadea ◽  
Desprès

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging arthropod-borne virus of major public health concern. ZIKV infection is responsible for congenital Zika disease and other neurological defects. Antibody-mediated virus neutralization is an essential component of protective antiviral immunity against ZIKV. In the present study, we assessed whether our GFP reporter ZIKV derived from African viral strain MR766 could be useful for the development of a flow cytometry neutralization test (FNT), as an alternative to the conventional plaque-reduction neutralization test (PRNT). To improve the efficacy of GFP-expressing MR766, we selected virus variant MR766GFP showing a high level of GFP signal in infected cells. A MR766GFP-based FNT was assayed with immune sera from adult mice that received ZIKBeHMR-2. The chimeric ZIKV clone ZIKBeHMR-2 comprises the structural protein region of epidemic strain BeH819015 into MR766 backbone. We reported that adult mice inoculated with ZIKBeHMR-2 developed high levels of neutralizing anti-ZIKV antibodies. Comparative analysis between MR766GFP-based FNT and conventional PRNT was performed using mouse anti-ZIKBeHMR-2 immune sera. Indistinguishable neutralization patterns were observed when compared with PRNT50 and FNT50. We consider that the newly developed MR766GFP-based FNT is a valid format for measuring ZIKV-neutralizing antibodies in serum specimens.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chengjin Ye ◽  
Kevin Chiem ◽  
Jun-Gyu Park ◽  
Jesus Silvas ◽  
Desarey Morales Vasquez ◽  
...  

Replication-competent recombinant viruses expressing reporter genes provide valuable tools to investigate viral infection. Low levels of reporter gene expressed from previous reporter-expressing rSARS-CoV-2 have jeopardized their use to monitor the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro or in vivo. Here, we report an alternative strategy where reporter genes were placed upstream of the viral nucleocapsid gene followed by a 2A cleavage peptide. The higher levels of reporter expression using this strategy resulted in efficient visualization of rSARS-CoV-2 in infected cultured cells and K18 hACE2 transgenic mice. Importantly, real-time viral infection was readily tracked using a non-invasive in vivo imaging system and allowed us to rapidly identify antibodies which are able to neutralize SARS-CoV-2 infection in vivo. Notably, these reporter-expressing rSARS-CoV-2 retained wild-type virus like pathogenicity in vivo, supporting their use to investigate viral infection, dissemination, pathogenesis and therapeutic interventions for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 in vivo.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergej Franz ◽  
Thomas Zillinger ◽  
Fabian Pott ◽  
Christiane Schüler ◽  
Sandra Dapa ◽  
...  

AbstractInterferon-induced transmembrane (IFITM) proteins restrict infection by enveloped viruses through interfering with membrane fusion and virion internalisation. The role of IFITM proteins during alphaviral infection of human cells and viral counteraction strategies remain largely unexplored. Here, we characterized the impact of IFITM proteins and variants on entry and spread of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and Mayaro virus (MAYV) in human cells, and provide first evidence for a CHIKV-mediated antagonism of IFITM proteins. IFITM1, 2 and 3 restricted infection at the level of alphavirus glycoprotein-mediated entry, both in the context of direct infection and during cell-to-cell transmission. Relocalization of normally endosomal IFITM3 to the plasma membrane resulted in the loss of its antiviral activity. rs12252-C, a naturally occurring variant of IFITM3 that has been proposed to associate with severe influenza in humans, restricted CHIKV, MAYV and influenza A virus infection as efficiently as wild-type IFITM3. Finally, all antivirally active IFITM variants displayed reduced cell surface levels in CHIKV-infected cells involving a posttranscriptional process mediated by one or several non-structural protein(s) of CHIKV.


Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Augustino Alfred Chengula ◽  
Stephen Mutoloki ◽  
Øystein Evensen ◽  
Hetron Mweemba Munang’andu

Tilapia lake virus (TiLV) is a negative-sense single-stranded RNA (-ssRNA) icosahedral virus classified to be the only member in the family Amnoonviridae. Although TiLV segment-1 shares homology with the influenza C virus PB1 and has four conserved motifs similar to influenza A, B, and C polymerases, it is unknown whether there are other properties shared between TiLV and orthomyxovirus. In the present study, we wanted to determine whether TiLV agglutinated avian and piscine erythrocytes, and whether its replication was inhibited by lysosomotropic agents, such as ammonium chloride (NH4Cl), as seen for orthomyxoviruses. Our findings showed that influenza virus strain A/Puerto Rico/8 (PR8) was able to hemagglutinate turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L), and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) red blood cells (RBCs), while infectious salmon anemia virus (ISAV) only agglutinated Atlantic salmon, but not turkey or tilapia, RBCs. In contrast to PR8 and ISAV, TiLV did not agglutinate turkey, Atlantic salmon, or tilapia RBCs. qRT-PCR analysis showed that 30 mM NH4Cl, a basic lysosomotropic agent, neither inhibited nor enhanced TiLV replication in E-11 cells. There was no difference in viral quantities in the infected cells with or without NH4Cl treatment during virus adsorption or at 1, 2, and 3 h post-infection. Given that hemagglutinin proteins that bind RBCs also serve as ligands that bind host cells during virus entry leading to endocytosis in orthomyxoviruses, the data presented here suggest that TiLV may use mechanisms that are different from orthomyxoviruses for entry and replication in host cells. Therefore, future studies should seek to elucidate the mechanisms used by TiLV for entry into host cells and to determine its mode of replication in infected cells.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document