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Rare detection of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus genomes by polymerase chain reaction in seronegative donors with elevated alanine aminotransferase.

BACKGROUND: Since screening for antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV) was introduced in 1990, posttransfusion hepatitis has been reduced to nearly background levels. This has led to reconsideration of the value of testing donated blood for elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT). The contribution of ALT testing in detecting seronegative infection was evaluated by the performance of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for hepatitis B virus (HBV) or HCV in plasma from ALT-elevated blood units. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Testing was performed on 375 units of plasma, derived from an equivalent of 47,500 blood donations, with a highly sensitive hemi-nested PCR procedure. Using a triplet of primers directed at the conserved regions of HBV DNA and 5'-noncoding regions of HCV RNA, the hemi-nested PCR assay can reliably amplify 10 viral molecules to levels detectable in ethidium bromide-stained agarose gels. Pools of plasma from groups of four donors were screened with hemi-nested PCR. For any reactive pools, the plasma from individual donors was retested twice on different aliquots. RESULTS: Two of 375 units, both with midrange ALT elevation, were repeatedly reactive in hemi-nested PCR (one each for HBV DNA and HCV RNA). However, samples from the two suspect donors tested 9 and 5 months later revealed no seroconversion, elevated ALT, or viral genomes in hemi-nested PCR. CONCLUSION: The lack of confirmed HBV or HCV infection in this study representing an estimated 47,500 voluntary blood donations suggests that routine ALT testing for further prevention of posttransfusion hepatitis after exclusion of HBV- and/or HCV-seropositive blood may be superfluous.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Viral ribonucleoprotein complex formation and nucleolar-cytoplasmic relocalization of nucleolin in poliovirus-infected cells.

The poliovirus 3' noncoding region (3'NCR) is involved in the efficient synthesis of viral negative-stranded RNA molecules. A strong interaction between a 105-kDa host protein and the wild-type 3'NCR, but not with a replication-defective mutant 3'NCR, was detected. This 105-kDa protein was identified as nucleolin which predominantly resides in the nucleolus and has been proposed to function in the folding of rRNA precursor molecules. A functional role for nucleolin in viral genome amplification was examined in a cell-free extract which has been shown to support the assembly of infectious virus from virion RNA. At early times of viral gene expression, extracts depleted of nucleolin produced less infectious virus than extracts depleted of fibrillarin, another resident of the nucleolus, indicating a functional role of nucleolin in the early stages of the viral life cycle in this in vitro system. Immunofluorescence analysis of uninfected and infected cells showed a nucleocytoplasmic relocalization of nucleolin, but not of fibrillarin, in poliovirus-infected cells. Relocalization of nucleolin was not simply a consequence of virally induced inhibition of translation or transcription, because inhibitors of translation or transcription did not induce nucleolar-cytoplasmic relocalization of nucleolin. These findings suggest a novel virus-induced mechanism by which certain nucleolar proteins are selectively redistributed in infected cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Enhanced gene silencing of HIV-1 specific siRNA using microRNA designed hairpins.

Post-transcriptional inhibition of HIV-1 replication can be achieved by RNA interference (RNAi). The cellular expression of short interfering RNA (siRNA) or short hairpin RNA (shRNA) homologous to regions of the HIV-1 genome decreases viral replication by the selective degradation of targeted RNA. Here, we demonstrate that another class of noncoding regulatory RNA, termed microRNA (miRNA), can be used to deliver antiviral RNAi. By incorporating sequences encoding siRNA targeting the HIV-1 transactivator protein tat into a human miR-30 pre-microRNA (pre-miRNA) backbone, we were able to express tat siRNA in cells. The tat siRNA delivered as pre-miRNA precursor was 80% more effective in reducing HIV-1 p24 antigen production than tat siRNA expressed as conventional shRNA. Our results confirm the utility of expressing HIV-1 specific siRNA through a miR-30 precursor stem-loop structure and suggest that this strategy can be used to increase the antiviral potency of RNAi.

Base Sequence↗

Mutational analysis of the 5' noncoding region of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 genome.

Retrovirus particles are released by budding from the membranes of infected cells. In the course of virus production, particularly during the late stage, viral genomic RNA is incorporated specifically into virion particles. This specific incorporation of the genomic RNA requires a packaging signal sequence. A region that functions as the packaging signal was mapped to a location upstream of the gag open reading frame on the HIV-1 viral genome. In addition of this packaging signal, other cis-acting elements that are scattered throughout the genome are also required for efficient packaging. The region upstream of the splice donor site is probably important for dimer formation. Therefore, we focused on one region located between the 3' end of the primer binding site and the 5' splice donor site of HIV-1. Experiments were conducted to investigate how deletions or point mutations in this region affect both dimerization in vitro and the production of infectious virus particles. A series of RNAs of varying lengths containing the 5' noncoding region were generated, and genomic dimerization of the altered viral RNA was analyzed in vitro. One RNA construct which consisted of 112 nucleotides (nt) from nt 639 to nt 750 formed a heterodimeric complex with the RNA which consisted of 200 nucleotides from nt 551 to nt 750. We then constructed proviruses with mutations in the 639 to 750 nt region and assayed for virus production. Several mutants that lacked the complementarity necessary to form a possible stem-loop structure in this region showed decreased production of infectious virus particles. Moreover, both deletion of this region and randomization of its nucleotide sequence completely impaired infectious virus production. Thus, the way that this region affects infectious virus production may be through its RNA secondary structure.

Animals↗

The 5' noncoding region of grapevine chrome mosaic nepovirus RNA-2 triggers a necrotic response on three Nicotiana spp.

The 5' noncoding region (NCR) of grapevine chrome mosaic nepovirus (GCMV) was cloned in a viral vector derived from potato virus X (PVX). The recombinant virus obtained was inoculated to Nicotiana benthamiana, N. clevelandii, and N. tabacum plants. Infected plants developed necrotic symptoms in place of the vein clearing and mosaic typically observed after inoculation with PVX. Northern (RNA) blot analysis showed that the replication of PVX was not specifically altered by the presence of the GCMV 5' NCR. Inoculation of recombinant PVX harboring deleted forms of the GCMV 5' NCR showed that the three stem-loop structures at the 3' end of the 5' NCR (nucleotides 153 to 206) are dispensable for the induction of necrosis. Further deletion analysis indicated that neither the 5'-most 70 nucleotides of the 5' NCR nor the downstream region (nucleotides 71 to 217) alone is able to induce the necrotic symptoms. In the presence of both the sequence encoding the GCMV coat protein and the GCMV 3' NCR, the GCMV 5' NCR failed to induce necrosis in the PVX background. The mechanisms by which the expression of the 5' NCR might modify PVX symptoms are discussed.

Base Sequence↗

Yeast Lsm1p-7p/Pat1p deadenylation-dependent mRNA-decapping factors are required for brome mosaic virus genomic RNA translation.

Previously, we used the ability of the higher eukaryotic positive-strand RNA virus brome mosaic virus (BMV) to replicate in yeast to show that the yeast LSM1 gene is required for recruiting BMV RNA from translation to replication. Here we extend this observation to show that Lsm1p and other components of the Lsm1p-Lsm7p/Pat1p deadenylation-dependent mRNA decapping complex were also required for translating BMV RNAs. Inhibition of BMV RNA translation was selective, with no effect on general cellular translation. We show that viral genomic RNAs suitable for RNA replication were already distinguished from nonreplication templates at translation, well before RNA recruitment to replication. Among mRNA turnover pathways, only factors specific for deadenylated mRNA decapping were required for BMV RNA translation. Dependence on these factors was not only a consequence of the nonpolyadenylated nature of BMV RNAs but also involved the combined effects of the viral 5' and 3' noncoding regions and 2a polymerase open reading frame. High-resolution sucrose density gradient analysis showed that, while mutating factors in the Lsm1p-7p/Pat1p complex completely inhibited viral RNA translation, the levels of viral RNA associated with ribosomes were only slightly reduced in mutant yeast. This polysome association was further verified by using a conditional allele of essential translation initiation factor PRT1, which markedly decreased polysome association of viral genomic RNA in the presence or absence of an LSM7 mutation. Together, these results show that a defective Lsm1p-7p/Pat1p complex inhibits BMV RNA translation primarily by stalling or slowing the elongation of ribosomes along the viral open reading frame. Thus, factors in the Lsm1p-7p/Pat1p complex function not only in mRNA decapping but also in translation, and both translation and recruitment of BMV RNAs to viral RNA replication are regulated by a cell pathway that transfers mRNAs from translation to degradation.

Blotting, Northern↗

Near identity of 3- RNA secondary structure in bromoviruses and cucumber mosaic virus.

The 3- terminal sequences of RNAs 1, 2, 3 and 4 from each of the three bromoviruses (brome mosaic, cowpea chlorotic mottle and broad bean mottle viruses) and also from cucumber mosaic virus display interviral sequence similarity in addition to strong intraviral homology. Interviral similarity is much more evident when RNA secondary, rather than primary, structures are compared. The last 190 bases of the various RNAs can fold into strikingly similar, extensively base-paired secondary structures whose common features are supported by RNA structure mapping. The extreme 3' end of each viral RNA can base-pair in two distinct configurations. Bromovirus RNA 3s each contain an unusually accessible internal oligo(A) sequence which, in brome mosaic virus at least, is located in the intercistronic noncoding region. Functional implications of these structural features are discussed.

Base Sequence↗

Rift Valley fever virus noncoding regions of L, M and S segments regulate RNA synthesis.

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) (Phlebovirus, Bunyaviridae) possesses a genome composed of three negative-stranded RNA molecules. Each segment contains 3' and 5' noncoding regions with terminal complementary sequences forming a panhandle structure. We showed that transcription-replication of the L, M and S segments is regulated, and we established a minigenome rescue system expressing a CAT reporter to investigate the role of the noncoding regions in this process. The L, M and S segment-based minigenomes were shown to drive bona fide transcription and replication and to express variable levels of CAT reporter, indicating differential promoter activities within the noncoding sequences. In addition, we found a good correlation between the relative promoter strength and the abundance of viral RNA species in RVFV-infected cells. Altogether, these results show that RVFV minigenomes are powerful tools to study transcription and replication and constitute a valuable basis to rescue infectious virus from cDNAs.

Animals↗

Replication of subgenomic hepatitis A virus RNAs expressing firefly luciferase is enhanced by mutations associated with adaptation of virus to growth in cultured cells.

Replication of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in cultured cells is inefficient and difficult to study due to its protracted and generally noncytopathic cycle. To gain a better understanding of the mechanisms involved, we constructed a subgenomic HAV replicon by replacing most of the P1 capsid-coding sequence from an infectious cDNA copy of the cell culture-adapted HM175/18f virus genome with sequence encoding firefly luciferase. Replication of this RNA in transfected Huh-7 cells (derived from a human hepatocellular carcinoma) led to increased expression of luciferase relative to that in cells transfected with similar RNA transcripts containing a lethal premature termination mutation in 3D(pol) (RNA polymerase). However, replication could not be confirmed in either FrhK4 cells or BSC-1 cells, cells that are typically used for propagation of HAV. Replication was substantially slower than that observed with replicons derived from other picornaviruses, as the basal luciferase activity produced by translation of input RNA did not begin to increase until 24 to 48 h after transfection. Replication of the RNA was reversibly inhibited by guanidine. The inclusion of VP4 sequence downstream of the viral internal ribosomal entry site had no effect on the basal level of luciferase or subsequent increases in luciferase related to its amplification. Thus, in this system this sequence does not contribute to viral translation or replication, as suggested previously. Amplification of the replicon RNA was profoundly enhanced by the inclusion of P2 (but not 5' noncoding sequence or P3) segment mutations associated with adaptation of wild-type virus to growth in cell culture. These results provide a simple reporter system for monitoring the translation and replication of HAV RNA and show that critical mutations that enhance the growth of virus in cultured cells do so by promoting replication of viral RNA in the absence of encapsidation, packaging, and cellular export of the viral genome.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

Specific in vitro association between the hepatitis C viral genome and core protein.

Little is known about the molecular interactions required for hepatitis C virion assembly. The 5' noncoding region (5'NCR) of the RNA genome is highly conserved and has extensive secondary structure. The highly basic core protein is rich in arginine and lysine residues. We postulate that a specific interaction between these structures may be important for virion assembly. Using an RNA gel mobility shift assay, a specific interaction has been demonstrated between the RNA of the 5'NCR and recombinant core protein. Proteins from other regions of the virus do not interact with the viral RNA. The interaction is inhibited competitively by unlabelled sense polarity RNA, but antisense 5'NCR RNA and nonspecific RNAs compete only at much higher concentrations. These data suggest that there is a specific interaction between the 5'NCR of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome and HCV core protein. This interaction may be important for the specific encapsidation of the viral genome during HCV replication.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

Complete nucleotide sequences of 5'- and 3'-noncoding regions of both genome segments of different strains of infectious bursal disease virus.

The terminal sequences of both genomic dsRNA segments of different strains of infectious bursal disease virus were determined. Analysis of the linear sequences revealed in the 5'-noncoding region of both segments the presence of a 32-nucleotide sequence with motifs conserved between segments and serotypes. The 3'-noncoding regions showed a high degree of conservation within segment A or B, but differed between segments. Different inverted terminal repeats were detected in both segments. A sequence of 13 nucleotides found in the 5'-noncoding regions of both segments could function as a binding site for chicken 18 S rRNA. Secondary structure prediction of the different noncoding regions showed a high degree of similarity. Surprisingly, the predicted secondary structure of the 5'-noncoding region of segment A differed between serotypes. A possible influence of these different RNA structures on viral replication is discussed.

Animals↗

Role of the region 3' to Xist exon 6 in the counting process of X-chromosome inactivation.

During early embryogenesis of female mammals, one of the two X chromosomes is randomly chosen to be inactivated in each cell, leading to the transcriptional silencing of thousands of genes on this chromosome. This random X-inactivation process also occurs during in vitro differentiation of female embryonic stem (ES) cells. A locus on the X chromosome, the X inactivation centre (Xic) is initially 'counted', given that at least two copies of Xic must be present per diploid genome in order for inactivation to occur. The counting process ensures that one X chromosome remains active in diploid cells. In the mouse, the essential functions of Xic can be assured by a 450-kb region containing the Xist gene. Xist maps within Xic (refs 7-10) and is necessary in cis for inactivation. The Xist transcript is a 15-kb RNA which is confined within the nucleus and coats the inactive X chromosome. In order to characterize functional elements within Xic and the Xist gene, we created a 65-kb cre/loxP deletion extending 3' to Xist exon 6. In undifferentiated ES cells, Xist expression from the deleted X chromosome was markedly reduced. In differentiated XX ES cells containing one deleted X chromosome, the X inactivation process still occurred but was never initiated from the unmutated X chromosome. In differentiated ES cells that were essentially XO, the mutated Xic was capable of initiating X inactivation, even in the absence of another Xic. These results demonstrate a role for the region 3' to Xist exon 6 in the counting process and suggest that counting is mediated by a repressive mechanism which prevents inactivation of a single X chromosome in diploid cells.

A Kinase Anchor Proteins↗

Laboratory diagnosis and molecular epidemiology of an outbreak of hepatitis C virus infection among recipients of human intravenous immunoglobulin in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Passive transfer of antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been thought to occur after infusion of human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), as anti-HCV and/or HCV RNA was commonly found in that product. Recently, however, HCV RNA was detected in the serum of recipients of IVIG. Establishment of a causal relationship between IVIG therapy and HCV infection in recipients was attempted. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Anti-HCV and HCV RNA sequences were investigated in serum samples from 39 persons who received a human IVIG product in seven different hospitals in Spain. HCV RNA was also investigated in two batches of the IVIG shared by some recipients. All the viral RNA detected were characterized with a line probe assay, restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the 5'-noncoding and core regions, and sequencing of the nonstructural 5 region. RESULTS: On the basis of both clinical and laboratory data, a relationship could be established between the IVIG therapy and the acquisition of the HCV infection by the recipients. Several HCV strains were detected among the recipients, with most of the recipients coming from the same hospital presenting with closely related strains. Moreover, an HCV strain almost identical to the main strain detected among the recipients was found in one batch of the IVIG that probably was shared by most of them. Follow-up studies and evaluation of low-avidity anti-HCV IgG suggested that both acute primary infections and reinfections were produced. In one case, direct evidence of reinfection by a different HCV strain was obtained. CONCLUSION: The results did not exclude the possibility that a second HCV strain associated with a further, unidentified batch of the IVIG could have contributed to this outbreak.

Adolescent↗

Mutational analysis of upstream AUG codons of poliovirus RNA.

The 5' untranslated region of poliovirus type 2 Lansing RNA consists of 744 nucleotides containing seven AUG codons which are followed by in-frame termination codons, thus forming short open reading frames (ORFs). To determine the biological significance of these small ORFs, all of the upstream AUG codons were mutated to UUG. The point mutations were introduced into an infectious poliovirus cDNA clone, and RNA transcribed in vitro from the altered cDNA was transfected into HeLa cells to recover the virus. Mutation of AUG 7 resulted in a virus (called R2-5NC-14) with a small-plaque phenotype, whereas mutation of the other six AUG codons produced virus with a wild-type plaque morphology. To determine whether the small-plaque phenotype of R2-5NC-14 was due to altered translational efficiency of the viral mRNA, we constructed chimeric mRNAs containing the 5' noncoding region of poliovirus mRNA fused to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) coding sequence. mRNA containing a mutated AUG 7 codon showed decreased translational efficiency in vitro. The results indicate that the upstream ORFs of poliovirus RNA are not essential for viral replication and do not act as barriers to the translation of poliovirus mRNA. AUG 7 and flanking sequences may play a positive acting role in poliovirus RNA translation.

Codon↗

Convergence of natural and artificial evolution on an RNA loop-loop interaction: the HIV-1 dimerization initiation site.

Loop-loop interactions among nucleic acids constitute an important form of molecular recognition in a variety of biological systems. In HIV-1, genomic dimerization involves an intermolecular RNA loop-loop interaction at the dimerization initiation site (DIS), a hairpin located in the 5' noncoding region that contains an autocomplementary sequence in the loop. Only two major DIS loop sequence variants are observed among natural viral isolates. To investigate sequence and structural constraints on genomic RNA dimerization as well as loop-loop interactions in general, we randomized several or all of the nucleotides in the DIS loop and selected in vitro for dimerization-competent sequences. Surprisingly, increasing interloop complementarity above a threshold of 6 bp did not enhance dimerization, although the combinations of nucleotides forming the theoretically most stable hexanucleotide duplexes were selected. Noncanonical interactions contributed significantly to the stability and/or specificity of the dimeric complexes as demonstrated by the overwhelming bias for noncanonical base pairs closing the loop and covariations between flanking and central loop nucleotides. Degeneration of the entire loop yielded a complex population of dimerization-competent sequences whose consensus sequence resembles that of wild-type HIV-1. We conclude from these findings that the DIS has evolved to satisfy simultaneous constraints for optimal dimerization affinity and the capacity for homodimerization. Furthermore, the most constrained features of the DIS identified by our experiments could be the basis for the rational design of DIS-targeted antiviral compounds.

Codon, Initiator↗

Mutational events in consecutive passages of hepatitis A virus strain GBM during cell culture adaptation.

In order to study the adaptation of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in cell culture, we examined the mutational events of the genome in early passages of HAV strain GBM propagated either in FRhK-4 cells (fetal rhesus monkey kidney-derived) or in human embryonic kidney (HEK) and human embryonic fibroblast cells (HFS) in relation to their growth characteristics. Sequence analysis of the nucleotide region encoding 2B, 2C, and the beginning of 3A as well as the nucleotide region encompassing the 5' noncoding region (5'NCR) of the genome was performed on consecutive virus passages after amplification of the viral RNA from the cell culture supernatant by antigen-capture PCR. By the 2nd passage of the GBM variants cultured in FRhK-4 or in HEK cells we found a mutation at nucleotide position 3889 (2B coding region) which results in an amino acid substitution from alanine to valine. Further mutations present in the 2B/2C region of the cell culture-adapted GBM variants differ from each other and occur after the 10th or even the 40th virus passage. Another early change, an in frame deletion of nine nucleotides in the 3A region, appeared in the 5th virus passage only in GBM cultured on FRhK-4 cells. This genome region showed different mutations in the virus passages on HEK and HFS cells. The 5'NCR of the cell culture-adapted GBM variants, in contrast, did not show any mutations before the 8th virus passage. The faster and more efficient growth of the HAV strain GBM during successive propagation on cell cultures seems to correlate with the appearance of mutations in the investigated genome regions.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Interaction of hepatitis A virus (HAV) precursor proteins 3AB and 3ABC with the 5' and 3' termini of the HAV RNA.

RNA secondary structures within the terminal nontranslated regions of entero- and rhinoviral genomes interact specifically with viral nonstructural proteins and are required in cis for viral RNA replication. Here we show that recombinant hepatitis A virus (HAV) polypeptide 3ABC specifically interacts in vitro with secondary RNA structures formed at both the 5' and 3' terminus of the viral genome. Similar to protein 3AB, HAV 3ABC bound to the 3' terminal RNA structure which did not interact with the mature proteinase 3C. In contrast to 3AB, 3ABC interacted with RNA stem-loop IIa and combinations of individual secondary structure elements of the 5' noncoding region. RNA binding of the precursor polypeptide 3ABC was 50 times stronger than that of 3AB and 3C, implicating a specific role of this stable processing intermediate in viral genome replication.

3C Viral Proteases↗

Participation of 5'-terminal leader sequences in in vitro translation of Rous sarcoma virus RNA.

The cell-free translation of genome RNA from Rous sarcoma virus was examined following hybridization to selected fragments of viral DNA. Single-stranded fragments, generated by t-RNATrp primed transcription of 70 S RNA from the Schmidt-Ruppin D strain, were isolated and purified by electrophoresis. These included DNA complementary to the 5'-terminal 101 nucleotides (DNA100) of virion 38 S RNA and a collection of prematurely terminated transcripts which lack the complement to the extreme 5'-terminal 7-20 nucleotides (DNA less than 100). In addition, DNA encompassing the viral leader sequences was purified from a cloned copy of proviral DNA. Under hybrid-arrested translation conditions, the leader DNA as well as DNA100 inhibited translation of all protein products generated from the 70 S RNA, while hybridization to the shorter transcripts (DNA less than 100) did not affect in vitro protein synthesis. All single-stranded DNAs were shown to hybridize with equal efficiency to viral RNA under hybrid-arrested translation conditions and inhibition of protein synthesis by DNA100 was concentration-dependent. These results document the participation of noncoding leader RNA in Rous sarcoma virus protein synthesis and demonstrate that a free, single-stranded 5' terminus is necessary for cell free translation of 70 S RNA.

Animals↗