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Genetically engineered particulate virus-like structures and their use as vaccine delivery systems.

The Orbivirus genus within the family Reoviridae consists of nonenveloped architecturally complex viruses. The icosahedral viruses are 810 A diameter in size and are comprised of two protein shells containing seven proteins (VP1-VP7), surrounding a genome of ten double-stranded RNA segments. The prototype virus, bluetongue virus (BTV), is the etiological agent of a disease that can reach epidemic proportions among sheep and cattle. To develop highly protective virus-like particles, we have developed novel baculovirus multigene expression vector systems which have allowed us to coexpress three, four or five BTV genes from single recombinant vectors. The resultant particulate structures resemble BTV virus-like and subvirus-like particles which are structurally and immunologically indistinguishable from the BTV, and preliminary clinical trials have verified this vaccines safety and efficacy. Unlike live virus vaccines, VLPs are noninfectious and lack virus (or other) DNA/RNA required for replication. VLPs do not replicate in host cells. However, sheep trials have shown that VLPs are more immunogenic than subunit vaccines (viral proteins), or viruses killed by chemical inactivation. In addition, they are effective at eliciting humoral, cell-mediated and mucosal immunities. Virus-like particles (VLPs) are safe to produce and handle. The baculovirus vector and host cells used to make VLPs do not come from mammalian sources (hence they do not contain mammalian-derived pathogens). The multicomponent VLPs have also been utilized as vaccine delivery systems for multiple immunogens including B and T cell epitopes. The expression system described here is a tool which may have a range of applications in industries employing biotechnology to produce vaccines, insecticides, diagnostic and protein reagents.

Animals↗

[Physico-chemical properties of the RNA of Sendai virus. III. Interaction with proflavin].

The binding isotherms of the Sendai virus single- and double-stranded RNA-proflavine complexes have been studied. The existence of two regions on the binding curves, corresponding to two subtypes of the strong complex (I1 and I2) has been demonstrated. The association constants and the numbers of binding sites for both subtypes were determined as a function of ionic strength. Both of the single- and for the double-stranded RNA the association constant for I1 complex were higher than those for I2 complex under all ionic strengths conditions. For the double-stranded RNA the variation of the ionic strength is more importance in case of the I1 complex formation. The total number of binding sites increases with a decrease of ionic strength. At low ionic strength (10(-4) M NaCl) the number of binding sites for single- and double-stranded RNA is practically the same and is equal to the number of binding sites for DNA at high ionic strength (1 molecule of proflavine per 3 nucleotides pairs). The heat denaturation of the RNA-proflavine complexes under different ionic conditions has been also investigated. The melting curves for double-stranded RNA-proflavine complex had two waves at high and low ionic strengths. For the single-stranded RNA the high temperature wave occured only at the high ionic strength. The dependence of heat denaturation of single-stranded RNA on ionic strength was examined for the evaluation of RNA structure. In these experiments a significant decrease of the width of melting interval under low ionic strength conditions was observed. It may reflect the existance in the RNA molecule of long helical regions. The occurence of such structures is likely to be responsible for an increase in the number of binding sites at low ionic strength and also for the appearance of the second wave on the melting curves of the single-stranded RNA-proflavine complexes at high ionic strength.

Acridines↗

Model RNA-directed DNA synthesis by avian myeloblastosis virus DNA polymerase and its associated RNase H.

A model RNA template-primer system is described for the study of RNA-directed double-stranded DNA synthesis by purified avian myeloblastosis virus DNA polymerase and its associated RNase H. In the presence of complementary RNA primer, oligo(rI), and the deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates dGTP, dTTP, and dATP, 3'-(rC)30-40-poly(rA) directs the sequential synthesis of poly(dT) and poly(dA) from a specific site at the 3' end of the RNA template. With this model RNA template-primer, optimal conditions for double-stranded DNA synthesis are described. Analysis of the kinetics of DNA synthesis shows that initially there is rapid synthesis of poly(dT). After a brief time lag, poly(dA) synthesis and the DNA polymerase-associated RNase H activity are initiated. While poly(rA) is directing the synthesis of poly(dT), the requirements for DNA synthesis indicate that the newly synthesized poly(dT) is acting as template for poly(dA) synthesis. Furthermore, selective inhibitor studies using NaF show that activation of RNase H is not just a time-related event, but is required for synthesis of the anti-complementary strand of DNA. To determine the specific role of RNase H in this synthetic sequence, the primer for poly(dA) synthesis was investigated. By use of formamide--poly-acrylamide slab gel electrophoresis, it is shown that poly(dT) is not acting as both template and primer for poly(dA) synthesis since no poly(dT)-poly(dA) covalent linkages are observed in radioactive poly(dA) product. Identification of 2',3'-[32P]AMP on paper chromatograms of alkali-treated poly(dA) product synthesized with [alpha-32P]dATP as substrate demonstrates the presence of rAMP-dAMP phosphodiester linkages in the poly(dA) product. Therefore, a new functional role of RNase H is demonstrated in the RNA-directed synthesis of double-stranded DNA. Not only is RNase H responsible for the degradation of poly(rA) following formation of a poly(rA)-poly(dT) hybrid but also the poly(rA)fragments generated are serving as primers for initiation of synthesis of the second strand of the double-stranded DNA.

Avian Leukosis Virus↗

Escherichia coli single-stranded DNA-binding protein is a supercoiled template-dependent transcriptional activator of N4 virion RNA polymerase.

Coliphage N4 is a double-stranded DNA virus that requires the sequential activity of three different RNA polymerases during infection. The N4 virion RNA polymerase, which is carried in the virion and is injected with the DNA at the start of infection, is responsible for the synthesis of N4 early RNAs. In vitro, the virion RNA polymerase can transcribe double-stranded N4 DNA accurately and efficiently but only when the DNA is denatured. We have shown previously that the activity of DNA gyrase is required for in vivo early N4 transcription. We report here that Escherichia coli single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB) is also required for N4 early transcription. In vitro, linear or relaxed templates cannot be activated by SSB; however, supercoiled template and SSB allow the virion polymerase to recognize its promoters on duplex DNA and activate transcription. The effects of supercoiling are limited to transcript initiation and are not required for transcript elongation. The activation is specific for SSB; no other single-stranded DNA-binding proteins can substitute. Therefore, SSB is one of a small number of proteins that function to stimulate both replication and transcription. The basis for the specificity of SSB, the mechanism of transcriptional activation by SSB and template supercoiling, and their role in the N4 transcriptional program during development are discussed.

Base Sequence↗

A RNA virus in cells from Culicoides variipennis.

A virus was detected in cells (designated CuVa) cultured from one laboratory colony of the biting midge, Culicoides variipennis. By electron microscopy (30 nm), nonenveloped, icosahedral virions arranged separately and in crystalline matrix arrays were seen in the cytoplasm but not in the nucleus of CuVa cells. Separation by 10% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed multiple bands of viral-induced double-stranded RNA. Inoculation of this virus onto different cell lines and intracranially into suckling mice revealed no detectable pathology. Immunoperoxidase staining using polyclonal antibody determined that the virus is infectious to toad cells, bovine endothelial cells, bovine kidney cells, mosquito cells, and cells (designated KC) initiated from another laboratory colony of C. variipennis. KC cells infected with this virus were coinfected with bluetongue virus with no decrease in bluetongue virus titer.

Animals↗

[Effectiveness of dsRNA as an interferon inducer in the intramuscular infection of mice with rabies street virus].

A protective effect of double-stranded RNA as interferon inducer was demonstrated in mice inoculated intramuscularly with street rabies virus. A significant degree of protection was observed when the inducer was inoculated intracerebrally and at the site of virus inoculation both 24 h before and 4 and 24 h after infection. Inoculation of the inducer into the muscle opposite to the infected leg and subcutaneously into the back proved to be ineffective. It was established that rabies infection could be arrested with the interferon inducer depending on the site of its inoculation.

Animals↗

Gene expression by a hypovirulence-associated virus of the chestnut blight fungus involves two papain-like protease activities. Essential residues and cleavage site requirements for p48 autoproteolysis.

Proteolytic processing plays a fundamental role in gene expression of a recently characterized viral-like double-stranded RNA associated with biological control of the chestnut blight fungus. Polypeptide p29, a papain-like protease, was shown to autocatalytically release itself from the NH2 terminus of the polyprotein specified by the first of two encoded open reading frames, ORF A (Choi, G. H., Shapira, R., and Nuss, D. L. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88, 1167-1171; Choi, G. H., Pawlyk, D. M., and Nuss, D. L. (1991) Virology 183, 747-752). The characterization of a second autocatalytic protease, p48, which is encoded by ORF B, is the subject of this report. Deletion analysis revealed that the catalytic domain resides within the carboxyl-terminal region, while site-specific mutational analysis identified Cys-341 and His-388 as residues essential for autoproteolysis. Autoproteolytic processing by p48 was also demonstrated when expressed in Escherichia coli and microsequence analysis of the recovered COOH-terminal cleavage product indicated that cleavage occurred between Gly-418 and Ala-419. The requirements for a functional cleavage site, including confirmation of the cleavage dipeptide, were defined by amino acid substitution analysis. Similarities between p29 and p48 suggest that the respective coding domains could have arisen as a result of a gene duplication event.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of a group of cellular cofactors that stimulate the binding of RNA polymerase II and TRP-185 to human immunodeficiency virus 1 TAR RNA.

A double-stranded RNA structure transcribed from the HIV-1 long terminal repeat known as TAR is critical for increasing gene expression in response to the transactivator protein Tat. Two cellular factors, RNA polymerase II and TRP-185, bind specifically to TAR RNA, but require the presence of cellular proteins known as cofactors which by themselves are unable to bind to TAR RNA. In an attempt to determine the mechanism by which these cofactors stimulate binding to TAR RNA, we purified these factors from HeLa nuclear extract and amino acid microsequence analysis performed. Three proteins were identified in the cofactor fraction including two previously described proteins, elongation factor 1alpha (EF-1alpha) and the polypyrimidine tract-binding protein (PTB), and a novel protein designated the stimulator of TAR RNA-binding proteins (SRB). SRB has a high degree of homology with a variety of cellular proteins known as chaperonins. Recombinant EF-1alpha, PTB, and SRB produced from vaccinia expression vectors stimulated the binding of RNA polymerase II and TRP-185 to TAR RNA in gel retardation analysis. These studies define a group of cellular factors that function in concert to stimulate the binding of TRP-185 and RNA polymerase II to HIV-1 TAR RNA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Double-stranded cucumovirus associated RNA 5: experimental analysis of necrogenic and non-necrogenic variants by temperature-gradient gel electrophoresis.

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and peanut stunt virus (PSV) each contain a fifth major RNA in the size range of 334 to 393 nucleotides. This fifth RNA is a satellite capable of modulating the expression of viral disease symptoms. It is present in infected tissue in single-stranded and double-stranded form. Nucleotide sequence variants of the double-stranded CMV-associated RNA 5 (dsCARNA 5) and PSV-associated RNA 5 (dsPARNA 5) were analysed by temperature-gradient gel electrophoresis. Gels were 5% polyacrylamide, containing 8 M urea in 8.9 mM Tris-borate buffer, with temperature differences of 25-40 degrees C establishing gradients either perpendicular or parallel to the direction of the electric field. For dsCARNA 5 two characteristic transitions were detected with increasing temperature: at temperatures between 40 degrees C and 46 degrees C a drastic retardation in electrophoretic mobility induced by partial dissociation of the duplex structure from the ends and at temperatures above 52 degrees C an abrupt increase in mobility due to complete strand dissociation. dsPARNA 5 exhibited both transitions at up to 10 degrees C higher temperatures and an additional retardation between the transitions mentioned. Seven different variants of dsCARNA 5, 4 necrogenic and 3 non-necrogenic, were analysed. Some showed only one single band, others gave rise to up to six well separated bands corresponding to six molecular species. From all experimental results a correlation between the temperature of the retardation transition and the necrogenicity of CARNA 5 was derived. The diagnostic application of the temperature-gradient gel analysis in agriculture, particularly for the use of non-necrogenic variants as biological control agents to impede CMV-infections, is discussed.

Electrophoresis↗

Inhibition of hepatitis B virus in mice by RNA interference.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection substantially increases the risk of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma in humans. RNA interference (RNAi) of virus-specific genes has emerged as a potential antiviral mechanism. Here we show that RNAi can be applied to inhibit production of HBV replicative intermediates in cell culture and in immunocompetent and immunodeficient mice transfected with an HBV plasmid. Cotransfection with plasmids expressing short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) homologous to HBV mRNAs induced an RNAi response. Northern and Southern analyses of mouse liver RNA and DNA showed substantially reduced levels of HBV RNAs and replicated HBV genomes upon RNAi treatment. Secreted HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) was reduced by 94.2% in cell culture and 84.5% in mouse serum, whereas immunohistochemical detection of HBV core antigen (HBcAg) revealed >99% reduction in stained hepatocytes upon RNAi treatment. Thus, RNAi effectively inhibited replication initiation in cultured cells and mammalian liver, showing that such an approach could be useful in the treatment of viral diseases.

Animals↗

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 tat protein activates transcription factor NF-kappaB through the cellular interferon-inducible, double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase, PKR.

The transactivator protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) (Tat) is a powerful activator of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), acting through degradation of the inhibitor IkappaB-alpha (F. Demarchi, F. d'Adda di Fagagna, A. Falaschi, and M. Giacca, J. Virol. 70:4427-4437, 1996). Here, we show that this activity of Tat requires the function of the cellular interferon-inducible protein kinase PKR. Tat-mediated NF-kappaB activation and transcriptional induction of the HIV-1 long terminal repeat were impaired in murine cells in which the PKR gene was knocked out. Both functions were restored by cotransfection of Tat with the cDNA for PKR. Expression of a dominant-negative mutant of PKR specifically reduced the levels of Tat transactivation in different human cell types. Activation of NF-kappaB by Tat required integrity of the basic domain of Tat; previous studies have indicated that this domain is necessary for specific Tat-PKR interaction.

3T3 Cells↗

RNA polymerase activity in virions from Ustilago maydis.

RNA polymerase activity is associated with the double-stranded RNA virions of Ustilago maydis. The reaction products of the polymerase activity are single-stranded RNA molecules. The RNA molecules synthesized are homologous to the three classes of double-stranded RNA molecules that typify the viral genome. The single-stranded RNA synthesized is released from the virions. The molecular weight of the single-stranded RNA transcripts is about half the size of the double-stranded RNA segments, and thus, it appears that in the in vitro reaction, full-length transcripts can be obtained.

Basidiomycota↗

Semiconservative strand-displacement transcription of the M2 dsRNA segment of Ustilago maydis virus.

The P1 strain of the Ustilago maydis virus (UmV) is a segmented dsRNA virus with segments designated H1, H2, M1, M2, and L. Incubation of purified virus with a mixture of nucleotides containing 32P-UTP resulted in labeled dsRNA which was retained in the capsid and labeled ssRNA which was released from the capsid. This in vitro transcription reaction was dependent on Mg2+ ion and the optimum concentration for maximum incorporation was 10 mM. The pH and temperature optima were 8.0 and 30 degrees C, respectively. The ssRNA transcripts were precipitated from the supernatant solution of the reaction mixture after ultracentrifugation to separate the virus. Transcription products from supernatant solution hybridized with all five virion dsRNAs. Further studies of the M2 segment indicated that it was labeled within 2 h and the label was completely chased out in 2 h. Analysis of the labeled M2 dsRNA segment by strand-separation gel showed that only one strand (slow moving) was labeled. When both strands were tested in an in vitro translation system, only the slow-moving strand was translated to produce a 24 kDa product. Thus the M2 dsRNA segment of UmV P1 transcribes by a semiconservative strand-displacement mechanism.

Basidiomycota↗

Inheritance of Oryza sativa endornavirus in F1 and F2 hybrids between japonica and indica rice.

We have found a 14 kbp double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in many cultivars of japonica rice (Oryza sativa L.) but not in any cultivars of indica rice. This dsRNA is an RNA replicon with plasmid-like properties and is proposed to be a novel dsRNA virus, Oryza sativa endornavirus (OSV). Reciprocal crosses between the OSV-carrier japonica variety (Nipponbare) and the OSV-free indica variety (IR 26 or Kasalath) were performed to investigate whether OSV can be transmitted to F1 hybrids. When IR 26 and Nipponbare were used, efficient transmission of OSV from ova (93%) and pollen (89%) was observed. When Kasalath and Nipponbare were used, the OSV transmission efficiency to F1 progeny was 68% from ova and 20% from pollen. The transmission of OSV to F2 progeny plants was also complicated, showing non-Mendelian inheritance. These results suggest that the dsRNA replicon (OSV) is unstable in indica rice plants.

Chimera↗

Molecular characterization of double-stranded RNA segments encoding the major capsid proteins of a Palyam serogroup orbivirus that caused an epizootic of congenital abnormalities in cattle.

cDNA cloning of the double-stranded RNA genome of Chuzan virus, a member of the Palyam serogroup orbiviruses, was carried out and the complete nucleotide sequences of RNA segments 2, 3, 6 and 7, encoding the major capsid proteins VP2, VP3, VP5 and VP7, respectively, were determined. The individual segments had single open reading frames and short inverted repeats adjacent to the conserved terminal sequences. Comparative sequence analysis with other serogroups of the genus Orbivirus suggested that VP2 is the principal determinant of serotype specificity and the neutralizing antigen of the Palyam serogroup. VP5 is also considered to be associated with antigenic variability. Both VP3 and VP7 probably contain serogroup-specific epitopes. Phylogenetic profiles demonstrated that the Palyam serogroup virus is more closely related to African horsesickness virus than to bluetongue virus and epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus.

Animals↗

Inverse interference: how viruses fight the interferon system.

Viruses need to multiply extensively in the infected host in order to ensure transmission to new hosts and survival as a population. This is a formidable task, given the powerful innate and adaptive immune responses of the host. In particular, the interferon (IFN) system plays an important role in limiting virus spread at an early stage of infection. It has become increasingly clear that viruses have evolved multiple strategies to escape the IFN system. They either inhibit IFN synthesis, bind and inactivate secreted IFN molecules, block IFN-activated signaling, or disturb the action of IFN-induced antiviral proteins. The molecular mechanisms involved range from a broad shut-off of the host cell metabolism to fine-tuned elimination of key components of the IFN system. Type I (alpha/beta) IFNs are produced in direct response to virus infection and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules that are sensed as a danger signal by infected cells. IFNs induce the expression of a number of antiviral proteins, some of which are again activated by dsRNA. Therefore, many viruses produce dsRNA-binding proteins to sequester the danger signal or express virulence genes that target specific components of the IFN system, such as members of the IFN regulatory factor (IRF) family or components of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Finally, some viruses have adopted means to directly suppress the very antiviral effector proteins of the IFN-induced antiviral state directed against them. Evidently, viruses and their host's innate immune responses have coevolved, leading to a subtle balance between virus-promoting and virus-inhibiting factors. A better understanding of virus-host interactions is now emerging with great implications for vaccine development and drug design.

Gene Expression Regulation↗

Electrophoresis of the complementary strands of the double-stranded Kemerovo virus RNAs in agarose-urea gel.

Single-stranded (ss)RNAs derived from 10 double-stranded (ds)RNA segments of Kemerovo virus (KV) were separated into 13 RNA bands by agarose-urea gel electrophoresis. The complementary strands of the dsRNA segments 1, 9 and 10 displayed different electrophoretic mobility. An attempt was made to determine the origin of the ssRNA bands. The ssRNA bands originating from the dsRNA segments 1, 2, 3, 9 and 10 were identified unequivocally, while those originating from the dsRNA segments 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 were characterized partially. The minus RNA strands of the dsRNA segments 9 and 10 exhibited higher electrophoretic mobilities as their complementary plus RNA strands.

Electrophoresis, Agar Gel↗

A double-stranded RNA from a Phytophthora species is related to the plant endornaviruses and contains a putative UDP glycosyltransferase gene.

A new dsRNA was isolated from a Phytophthora isolate from Douglas fir. Sequence analysis showed the dsRNA to consist of 13 883 bp and to contain a single open reading frame with the potential to encode a polyprotein of 4548 aa. This polyprotein contained amino acid sequence motifs characteristic of virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRps) in its C-terminal region and motifs characteristic of RNA helicases in its N-terminal region. These sequence motifs were related to corresponding motifs in plant viruses in the genus Endornavirus. In phylogenetic trees constructed from the RdRp and helicase motifs of a range of ssRNA and dsRNA viruses, the Phytophthora RdRp and helicase sequences clustered with those of the plant endornaviruses with good bootstrap support. The properties of the Phytophthora dsRNA are consistent with its being classified as the first non-plant member of the genus Endornavirus, for which we propose the name phytophthora endornavirus 1 (PEV1). A region between the RdRp and helicase domains of the PEV1 protein had significant amino acid sequence similarity to UDP glycosyltransferases (UGTs). Two sequence motifs were identified, one characteristic of all UGTs and the other characteristic of sterol UGTs. The PEV1 UGT would be the first for an RNA virus, although ecdysteroid UGT genes have been found in many baculoviruses. The PEV1 UGT was only distantly related to baculovirus ecdysteroid UGTs, which belong to a family distinct from the sterol UGTs.

Amino Acid Motifs↗