Characterization of coxsackievirus B3-caused apoptosis under in vitro conditions

Among several mechanisms of pathogenesis of the frequent and sometimes serious infections with coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3), one detail is apoptosis. Recently, a new apoptotic mechanism involving the specific interaction between the capsid protein VP2 of the highly virulent variant CVB3H3 and the proapoptotic host protein Siva was identified. The relevance of this observation for virus pathogenicity was shown in a BALB/c mouse model using CVB3H3 and the interaction-deficient mutant virus CVB3H310A1. In this study these results were verified and extended under in vitro conditions. The different apoptotic capability of CVB3H3 versus CVB3H310A1 was demonstrated by apoptotic nuclear condensation, DNA fragmentation, expression of Siva mRNA, and caspase-3 activation. The virus-specific differences were caused by the VP2 capsid proteins, which was shown by overexpression of the single VP2H3 and VP2H310A1 protein. Furthermore, the involvement of apoptosis in virus progeny production and the associated appearance of the cytopathic effect was demonstrated by application of the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK. These in vitro results indicate that the induction of apoptosis during CVB3H3 infection is based on the interaction between the capsid protein VP2 and the proapoptotic protein Siva, independently from the complex situation in vivo.     

In vitro interaction between coxsackievirus B3 VP1 protein and human pleckstrin homology domain retinal protein (PHR1)

Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infection causes central nervous system diseases including aseptic meningitis and encephalitis. To understand the mechanism of this virus, a yeast two-hybrid system was used to screen cellular proteins from a human heart cDNA library. The results revealed that the human Pleckstrin Homology Domain Retinal protein (PHR1), a PH domain-containing protein with low expression in the heart and high expression in the brain, interacts with CVB3 VP1, a major structural protein of CVB3. Yeast mating assays and in vitro coimmunoprecipitation verified the interaction between CVB3 VP1 and PHR1. An α-galactosidase assay indicated that of α-galactosidase activity was higher in positive clones than in controls suggesting a strong interaction. Furthermore, assay of deletion mutants defined the minimal region of PHR1 required for its interaction with VP1 as amino acids 95–172 and two regions of VP1 required for its interaction with PHR1 as amino acids 729–767 and 811–859. The results revealed multiple binding sites between PHR1 and CVB3 VP1 and suggested that the strong interaction between these two proteins might play an important role in central nervous system disease in the human brain.     

Attachment of coxsackievirus B3 variants to various cell lines: mapping of phenotypic differences to capsid protein VP1

The coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) strain Nancy P establishes a persistent carrier-state infection without visible cytopathic effect in primary human fibroblasts (HuFi H), whereas the derivative variant PD induces a complete lysis of the cell monolayer. To define the molecular basis of this exceptional growth property, the complete genomes of both viruses were sequenced and compared to all published sequences of CVB3. As a result, six unique amino acid substitutions in the VP1 capsid protein were observed. Via hybrid virus construction, the lytic phenotype was transferred to a nonlytic cDNA-generated CVB3. Mapping experiments indicate that the presence of amino acid residues K78, A80, A91, and I92 in VP1 is sufficient to induce "lytic" infections in HuFi H cells. Binding assays demonstrate that CVB3 Nancy P preferentially binds to the human coxsackievirus-adenovirus receptor (CAR), while PD exhibits a very weak interaction with CAR but strong binding to the decay accelerating factor (DAF). These results suggest that the mutated amino acid residues in VP1 are involved in receptor recognition/binding. Moreover, the lytic replication of CVB3 PD and the hybrid virus in various nonpermissive rodent cell lines indicates that cell surface molecules other than CAR and DAF may be involved in attachment of this variant to cell surfaces.     

Rotavirus assembly - interaction of surface protein VP7 with middle layer protein VP6

Summary.  The interaction between the rotavirus proteins viral protein 6 (VP6) and VP7 was examined in several exogenous protein expression systems. These proteins associated in the absence of other rotaviral proteins as demonstrated by a coimmunoprecipitation assay. Deletion analysis of VP7 indicated that truncations of either the mature amino or carboxyl terminus disrupted the proper folding of the protein and were not able to coimmunoprecipitate VP6. Truncation analysis of VP6 indicated that trimerization of VP6 was necessary, but not sufficient, for VP7 binding. MAb mapping and coimmunoprecipitation interference assays indicate that the VP6 amino acid residues between 271 and 342 are required for VP7 interaction. The interaction of VP6 and VP7 was also examined by the assembly of soluble VP7 onto baculovirus-expressed virus-like particles containing VP2 and VP6. Abrogation of this binding by preincubation of the particles with VP6 MAbs mapped to this same domain of VP6, validated our coimmunoprecipitation results. VP6 IgA MAbs that have been shown to be protective in vivo, but not a nonprotective IgA MAb, can interfere with VP7 binding to VP6. This suggests that these IgA MAbs may protect against rotavirus infection by blocking rotavirus assembly. Accepted November 8, 2000 Received July 31, 2000     

Exploitation of the Herpes simplex virus translocating protein VP22 to carry influenza virus proteins into cells for studies of apoptosis: direct confirmation that neuraminidase induces apoptosis and indications that other proteins may have a role

Summary.  Previously, we have shown that apoptosis induced by influenza virus was inhibited by an anti-neuraminidase compound [4-guanidino-2, 3-dehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid (GG167; Relenza; Zanamivir)], which does not enter cells, and acts at the attachment/entry phase of virus replication. Furthermore, a virulent virus, clone 7a, induced greater levels of apoptosis than the attenuated A/Fiji and had greater neuraminidase (NA) activity. To confirm more directly that NA induces apoptosis, the NA of clone 7a and A/Fiji was expressed fused to the Herpes simplex virus tegument coat protein VP22, transfected into HeLa cells and the level of apoptosis determined. VP22 translocates between cells via the medium thus allowing expressed proteins to transfer to a larger number of cells than those originally transfected. Clone 7a NA fused to VP22 induced a significant level of apoptosis whereas A/Fiji NA/VP22 did not, confirming that NA activity is an important determinant of apoptosis acting during fusion protein translocation between cells. Furthermore, the induction of apoptosis was abrogated by antibody to transforming growth factor-β, which is activated by NA. This approach also showed that VP22/NS1 proteins of both clone 7a and A/Fiji induced apoptosis when expressed alone but inhibited double stranded RNA-induced apoptosis suggesting that this protein may have a dual mode of action. Also, the M1 and M2 proteins of both viruses induced apoptosis but their NP proteins did not. Received June 27, 2001; accepted December 10, 2001     

Evolutionary relationships among the gnat-transmitted orbiviruses that cause African horse sickness, bluetongue, and epizootic hemorrhagic disease as evidenced by their capsid protein sequences.

The amino acid sequences of four major capsid proteins of African horse sickness virus (serotype 4, AHSV-4) have been compared with those of Bluetongue virus of sheep. Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus of deer, and the phylogenetic relationships established. Complete nucleotide sequence analysis of three RNA segments (L2, L3, and M6) of AHSV-4 and their encoded products, VP2, VP3, and VP5, together with previously published data for VP7 (Roy et al., 1991), have revealed that of the four capsid proteins the innermost protein, VP3, is the most conserved, and the outermost protein, VP2, is the most variable. Some 57-58% of the aligned BTV-10 and EHDV-1 VP3 amino acids are identical with those of AHSV-4. This compares to an identity of 79% between the BTV and EHDV VP3 sequences. For the VP7 proteins 64% of the aligned amino acids are identical between BTV-10 and EHDV-1, while they share 44-46% amino acid residues with the aligned VP7 protein of AHSV-4. By contrast, the VP2 proteins of the three viruses share only 19-24% identical amino acids. Various other comparative analyses of the proteins indicate that the VP2 species of the three orbiviruses are similar. Unlike VP2, the other outer capsid protein, VP5 is more conserved among the three viruses. On alignment, the VP5 of AHSV-4 has some 43-45% identical amino acids with that of BTV-10 and EHDV-1. Between BTV and EHDV, 62% of the aligned sequences are identical.     

Comparative analysis of two coxsackievirus B3 strains: putative influence of virus-receptor interactions on pathogenesis

Strain-specific differences in the interaction of coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) with the coxsackievirus-adenovirus receptor (CAR) and the decay-accelerating factor (DAF) co-receptor proteins were investigated using a non-haemagglutinating (CVB3) and a haemagglutinating (CVB3-HA) strain of CVB3. A panel of receptor-transfected hamster CHO cells, expressing either CAR (CHOCAR cells), DAF (CHODAF cells), or both receptor proteins (CHODC cells) were used to study the interplay of CAR and DAF receptor molecules with regard to binding and infection with CVB3 and CVB3-HA. Despite clear differences in their binding phenotypes, both virus strains were found to primarily depend on the CAR receptor protein for initialization of productive infections. Cytopathic effects induced by CVB3-HA were influenced by co-expression of DAF receptor proteins. The cardiotropic potential of both virus strains was investigated in A.BY/SnJ mice. Despite comparable virus replication of both CVB3 strains in individual myocytes, the number of infected heart muscle cells was significantly lower in CVB3-HA infected mice. Infections of pancreata correlated with myocardial infections. Together these data suggest that even small differences in virus-receptor interactions, influencing virus binding and virus spread, may have an impact on the pathogenesis of CVB-induced diseases.     

柯萨奇B组3型病毒中国分离株VP4、3D基因序列及系统发生树分析

目的研究柯萨奇B组3型病毒（CVB3）中国分离株结构蛋白VP4、非结构蛋白3D基因序列及变异性。方法在HeLa细胞中增殖病毒，用RT-PCR扩增目的基因片段，与pMDl8-T载体连接，PCR初步鉴定后测序，进行序列同源性及系统发生分析。结果CVB3中国分离株VP4基因含207个碱基，编码69个氨基酸，与Nancy株氨基酸同源性为97．10％；3D基因含1386个碱基，编码462个氨基酸，与Nancy株氨基酸同源性为97．62％。在系统发生中，CVB3中国株VP4基因、3D基因均与Nancy株聚簇。结论CVB3中国分离株VP4和3D基因长度与Nancy株一致，进化上属同一分支。     

A mechanism of immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM)-like sequences in the capsid protein VP2 in viral growth and pathogenesis of Coxsackievirus B3

Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is an RNA virus that mainly causes myocarditis. We have reported previously that immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM)-like sequences are contained in the capsid protein VP2 of CVB3. The substitution of two tyrosines for phenylalanines in the ITAM-like region causes attenuation of CVB3, possibly via defective viral assembly. In this study, we found that Syk, a downstream molecule of ITAM, interacts with the wild-type (WT) CVB3 VP0 protein, but not with the mutant CVB3 VP0 (called YYFF), and that an inhibitor of Syk reduced the growth of CVB3. The WT CVB3 activated nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), a protein activated by ITAM, and eventually induced the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6)—one of the proinflammatory cytokines induced by NF-κB—in macrophages. However, the YYFF form did not. In addition, viral VP2 protein may be dependent on the phosphorylation of an ITAM-like region that affected the activation of NF-κB. Taken together, these results suggest that the ITAM-like sequences in CVB3 VP2 can not only affect viral structure but also act as signals in pathogenesis.     

Genomic regions of coxsackievirus B3 associated with cardiovirulence

The molecular basis for cardiovirulence in the coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) genome was examined in a murine model of acute myocarditis. Infectious cDNAs representing a highly cardiovirulent coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3_m) and a noncardiovirulent (CVB3₀) virus were used to construct infectious chimeric cDNAs. Assays of the resulting recombinant viruses for cardiovirulence in adolescent male CD-1 mice showed that the 5′ nontranslated region (5′ NTR) of the CVB3_m genome plays the major role in determining cardiovirulence and that the genomic region encoding the capsid proteins has a minor additive effect in increasing cardiovirulence. Nucleotide sequences in the 5′ NTR of CVB3_m and CVB3₀ differ at 23 positions; 14 are located in four stemloop motifs of the secondary structure and may influence the cardiovirulent phenotype by regulating RNA or protein synthesis. A comparison of predicted amino acid sequences of capsid proteins in CVB3_m and CVB3₀ identified two amino acids as potential candidate contributors to cardiovirulence, i.e., amino acids at positions A207 (Asn-Asp) in the puff structure of the E-F loop of VP2 and A566 (Gln-Glu) in the C terminal of VP3 at the external surface. The data from this study and published literature support the conclusion that cardiovirulence of a CVB3 can depend on several regions of the genome. J. Med. Virol. 52:341–347, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Low-abundance envelope protein VP12 of white spot syndrome virus interacts with envelope protein VP150 and capsid protein VP51

VP12 and VP150 are two minor envelope proteins of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). In our previous studies, VP12 was found to co-migrate with 53-kDa form of VP150 on two-dimensional Blue Native/SDS–PAGE, suggesting that there is an interaction between them. In this study, we confirmed the interaction by co-immunoprecipitation assay and demonstrated that the binding region with VP12 is located between residues 207 and 803 of VP150. Further studies found that VP12 can be attached to WSSV capsids by interacting with capsid protein VP51. These findings suggest that VP12 may function as a linker protein participating in the linkage between VP12/VP150 complex and viral nucleocapsid.     

Cell-free expression of the coxsackievirus 3C protease using the translational initiation signal of an insect virus RNA and its characterization

We have expressed the 3C protease of coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) in a cell-free system. This expression system employs the translational initiation signal of an insect virus RNA, black beetle virus (BBV) RNA 1, to direct CVB3-specific protein synthesis. Using this expression system, we demonstrate that a biologically active 3C protease is synthesized which possesses both cis and trans processing capabilities. This in vitro-synthesized 3C protease is analogous to the native 3C, which was obtained from cytoplasmic extracts of CVB3-infected HeLa cells, in all biological parameters that were evaluated. In addition, antibody prepared against the 3C protease purified from extracts of CVB3-infected HeLa cells cross-reacts with the 3C protease produced in this cell-free system. Using the translational initiation signal from BBV RNA 1, we also have expressed the CVB3 capsid precursor and part of the P2 region in vitro, and have shown that the capsid precursor is cleaved between 1C (VP3) and ID (VP1) by the proteolytic activity of in vitro-synthesized 3C in trans. Evidence also is presented to implicate the 2A protein of CVB3 as having proteolytic function.     

The trypsin-sensitive RVER domain in the capsid proteins of minute virus of mice is required for efficient cell binding and viral infection but not for proteolytic processing in vivo.

Analysis of a series of mutations in the trypsin-sensitive RVER region of the amino terminal domain in the capsid proteins (VP1 and VP2) of the autonomous parvovirus, minute virus of mice (MVM), demonstrates that this sequence is not essential for proteolytic processing of VP2 into VP3 in vivo, but specific amino acids within this domain are important for viral infection. Analysis of the most deficient of these mutants, VP(delta 2842-2863), a 7-aa deletion of aa 159-165 in VP1 and 17-23 in VP2, has identified at least two steps in MVM infection in which this domain is important. VP(delta 2842-2863) was 3-fold defective in binding to murine A9(2L) cells and, when an equivalent amount of virus was bound to cells, additionally 10-fold deficient compared to wild-type in initiating a productive infection. However, in those cells effectively infected, VP(delta 2843-2863) replicated similar to wild-type. These results suggest that these seven amino acids constitute a region important for both binding and a subsequent step prior to the start of DNA replication such as viral uptake or transport to the nucleus.     

IPNV VP5, a novel anti-apoptosis gene of the Bcl-2 family,regulates Mcl-1 and viral protein expression

VP5, a 5'-terminal, small open reading frame in segment A of the aquatic birnavirus (infectious pancreatic necrosis virus, IPNV) genome, encodes a 17-kDa nonstructural protein. We previously reported apoptosis induced by IPNV in a fish cell line. In the present study, we cloned and identified VP5 and tested its function. Comparisons of the amino acid sequence of VP5 with well-known Bcl-2 family member proteins showed that the VP5 protein contains Bcl-2 homology (BH) domains BH1, BH2, BH3, and BH4 but without the transmembrane region. VP5-stable clones enhanced viability, prevented membrane blebbing, delayed DNA internucleosomal cleavage, and decreased virus titer during IPNV infection but, when deleted, BH domains 1 and 2 could lose the preventable ability. In addition, VP5 was demonstrated to be able to enhance or assist in maintaining the functional half-life of survival factor Mcl-1 and regulate specific viral protein expression during the early replication cycle. Finally, we found that VP5 was capable of enhancing cell viability when cells were exposed to UV irradiation. In summary, these results suggest that the aquatic birnavirus may utilize a notable strategy via VP5 to regulate the host apoptosis-off system for enhancing progeny production.     

Interaction of rotavirus cores with the nonstructural glycoprotein NS28

The nonstructural rotavirus receptor glycoprotein NS28 is 175 amino acids long and oriented in the RER membrane with the NH2 terminus on the luminal side and approximately 131 amino acids accessible from the cytoplasmic side. Au et al. (1988) have demonstrated that NS28 is able to interact with rotavirus single-shelled particles (cores) in a receptor:ligand interaction in which NS28 appears to act as the receptor and the rotavirus core as the ligand. This interaction appears to model the events that occur in the infected cell in which virus maturation involves budding of the core into the lumen of the RER. We have investigated the nature of the interaction between cores and NS28 in vitro using membranes derived from SA11 rotavirus-infected MA104 cells and membranes from cells where NS28 and other rotavirus proteins have been expressed using a series of recombinant vaccinia viruses that incorporate appropriate cloned rotavirus genes. The interaction between the core and the receptor is enhanced by the presence of Ca2+ and Mg2+ and Scatchard analysis yields a dissociation constant (Kd) of 5 x 10(-11) M. The major core protein VP6 is the ligand involved because (i) a monoclonal antibody specific for VP6 blocks the reaction, (ii) membranes prepared from cells infected with a double recombinant vaccinia virus which expresses both NS28 and VP6 exhibit a reduced capacity to bind cores, and (iii) VP6 prepared from virus blocks the ability of membranes to bind cores. When VP6, VP7, VP4, and NS28 are expressed singly as the sole viral proteins present in the cell, only membranes from cells expressing NS28 mediate receptor function, indicating that the presence of NS28 is sufficient to mediate the interaction between cores and the membrane and that other viral proteins probably are not involved in the initial receptor:ligand interaction.     

柯萨奇B组病毒IgM抗体特性研究

目的 研究柯萨奇B组病毒（CVB）感染后患者急性期CVB－IgM抗体的反应特性。方法 对临床确诊为CVB感染的患者急性期血清用免疫印迹法检测CVB－IgM抗体。结果 患者的急性期血清IgM抗体均仅针对CVB的VP1抗原反应。经ELISA与免疫印迹方法的比较表明：用免疫印迹法检测的CVB－IgM抗体可对CVB各型病毒抗原反应,具有CVB各型病毒之间的交 叉反应性。而同时,在16例ELISA检测反应阴性的健康人血清中未见有CVB的VP1特异性的IgM抗体存在。结论 临床感染CVB的患者急性期,其血清中的特异性的IgM抗体是针对CVB的VP1抗原,而且,此类抗体对各型的CVB抗原具有交叉反应性。     

柯萨奇B3病毒结构和非结构蛋白DNA 疫苗诱导小鼠产生免疫应答的研究

目的 制备4种柯萨奇B3病毒（CVB3）结构和非结构蛋白重组质粒DNA疫苗,并探讨其诱导机体产生体液和细胞免疫应答的效果。方法 用基因重组技术构建4种CVB3结构和非结构蛋白重组质粒,将各重组质粒体外转染真核细胞,用Western blot检测表达产物;于BALB／c小鼠后腿胫骨前肌注射免疫,于0、4、8周共免疫3次,100μg/次。免疫后不同时间检测体液和细胞免疫应答指标。结果 4种重组质粒酶切出相应大小的片段,经测序证实为CVB3序列,Western blot证实能够在体外真核细胞中表达。pcDNA3/vp2、pcDNA3/VP1、pcDNA3/2A和pcDNA3/3D均可诱导小鼠产生相应的特异性抗体、细胞毒性T淋巴细胞（CTL）和淋巴细胞增殖反应、迟发型超敏反应（DTH）,并对致死量的CVB3m、CVB5和CVB2攻击具有保护作用,表现为病毒攻击后第3天血中病毒滴度降低,第10天心肌病理变化比对照组明显减轻,且小鼠生存率显著提高。其中以pcDNA/VP1和pcDNA3／3D组保护作用最明显。结论 CVB3结构蛋白VP1和非结构蛋白3D质粒DNA有可能用作CVB DNA疫苗的候选基因,值得进一步深入研究。     

Protein-protein- and protein-RNA-binding properties of the movement protein and VP25 coat protein of Apple latent spherical virus

To elucidate the mechanism of Apple latent spherical virus (ALSV) movement, various properties of its cell-to-cell movement protein (MP) were analyzed. ELISA and blot overlay assays demonstrated that the MP bound specifically to ALSV virions and in particular to one of the three coat proteins (VP25) but not to the other two coat proteins (VP20 and VP24). Mutational analyses have revealed that the MP contains two domains with independent VP25-binding activity (amino acid residues 1-188 and 189-281). Furthermore, nucleotide-binding experiments showed that the MP and VP25 bound to single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) and ssDNA without any sequence specificity, but these two proteins did not bind to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and dsDNA. The MP contains three potentially independent single-stranded nucleic acid-binding domains between amino acid residues 95-188, 189-281 and 277-376. The MP demonstrated cooperative and VP25 demonstrated non-cooperative binding to ssRNA in gel-retardation analyses. The cooperative RNA binding of the MP became non-cooperative when MP and VP25 were tested together in competition binding experiments, even though a sufficient amount of the MP for fully cooperative RNA binding the MP was supplied. The roles of the MP and VP25 interactions and nucleic acid binding activities in ALSV movement are discussed.