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At least 73 records · Page 4

Structures of diverse poxin cGAMP nucleases reveal a widespread role for cGAS-STING evasion in host–pathogen conflict

DNA viruses in the family Poxviridae encode poxin enzymes that degrade the immune second messenger 2'3'-cGAMP to inhibit cGAS-STING immunity in mammalian cells. The closest homologs of poxin exist in the genomes of insect viruses suggesting a key mechanism of cGAS-STING evasion may have evolved outside of mammalian biology. Here we use a biochemical and structural approach to discover a broad family of 369 poxins encoded in diverse viral and animal genomes and define a prominent role for 2'3'-cGAMP cleavage in metazoan host-pathogen conflict. Structures of insect poxins reveal unexpected homology to flavivirus proteases and enable identification of functional self-cleaving poxins in RNA-virus polyproteins. Our data suggest widespread 2'3'-cGAMP signaling in insect antiviral immunity and explain how a family of cGAS-STING evasion enzymes evolved from viral proteases through gain of secondary nuclease activity. Poxin acquisition by poxviruses demonstrates the importance of environmental connections in shaping evolution of mammalian pathogens.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

The International Virus Bioinformatics Meeting 2020

The International Virus Bioinformatics Meeting 2020 was originally planned to take place in Bern, Switzerland, in March 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic put a spoke in the wheel of almost all conferences to be held in 2020. After moving the conference to 8–9 October 2020, we got hit by the second wave and finally decided at short notice to go fully online. On the other hand, the pandemic has made us even more aware of the importance of accelerating research in viral bioinformatics. Advances in bioinformatics have led to improved approaches to investigate viral infections and outbreaks. The International Virus Bioinformatics Meeting 2020 has attracted approximately 120 experts in virology and bioinformatics from all over the world to join the two-day virtual meeting. Despite concerns being raised that virtual meetings lack possibilities for face-to-face discussion, the participants from this small community created a highly interactive scientific environment, engaging in lively and inspiring discussions and suggesting new research directions and questions. The meeting featured five invited and twelve contributed talks, on the four main topics: (1) proteome and RNAome of RNA viruses, (2) viral metagenomics and ecology, (3) virus evolution and classification and (4) viral infections and immunology. Further, the meeting featured 20 oral poster presentations, all of which focused on specific areas of virus bioinformatics. This report summarizes the main research findings and highlights presented at the meeting.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Heritable, multinucleotide deletions in plants using viral delivery of a repair exonuclease and guide RNAs

Abstract CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis typically results in short insertion/deletion mutations, which are often too small to disrupt the function of cis-acting regulatory elements. Here, we describe a highly efficient in planta gene editing approach called VirTREX2-HLDel that achieves heritable multinucleotide deletions in both protein-coding genes and noncoding DNA regulatory elements. VirTREX2-HLDel uses RNA viruses to deliver both the 3 prime repair exonuclease 2 (TREX2) and single-guide RNAs. Our method enables recovery of multiplexed heritable deletions and increases the heritable gene editing frequency at poorly edited sites. We identified functional conservation and divergence of MICRORNA164 (miR164) in Nicotiana benthamiana and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) using VirTREX2-HLDel and observed previously uncharacterized phenotypes in plants with large deletions at this locus. Our viral delivery method reduces the need for tissue culture and will accelerate the understanding of protein-coding and regulatory regions in plants.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

X‐ray scattering reveals disordered linkers and dynamic interfaces in complexes and mechanisms for DNA double‐strand break repair impacting cell and cancer biology

Abstract Evolutionary selection ensures specificity and efficiency in dynamic metastable macromolecular machines that repair DNA damage without releasing toxic and mutagenic intermediates. Here we examine non‐homologous end joining (NHEJ) as the primary conserved DNA double‐strand break (DSB) repair process in human cells. NHEJ has exemplary key roles in networks determining the development, outcome of cancer treatments by DSB‐inducing agents, generation of antibody and T‐cell receptor diversity, and innate immune response for RNA viruses. We determine mechanistic insights into NHEJ structural biochemistry focusing upon advanced small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) results combined with X‐ray crystallography (MX) and cryo‐electron microscopy (cryo‐EM). SAXS coupled to atomic structures enables integrated structural biology for objective quantitative assessment of conformational ensembles and assemblies in solution, intra‐molecular distances, structural similarity, functional disorder, conformational switching, and flexibility. Importantly, NHEJ complexes in solution undergo larger allosteric transitions than seen in their cryo‐EM or MX structures. In the long‐range synaptic complex, X‐ray repair cross‐complementing 4 (XRCC4) plus XRCC4‐like‐factor (XLF) form a flexible bridge and linchpin for DNA ends bound to KU heterodimer (Ku70/80) and DNA‐PKcs (DNA‐dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit). Upon binding two DNA ends, auto‐phosphorylation opens DNA‐PKcs dimer licensing NHEJ via concerted conformational transformations of XLF‐XRCC4, XLF–Ku80, and LigIV BRCT –Ku70 interfaces. Integrated structures reveal multifunctional roles for disordered linkers and modular dynamic interfaces promoting DSB end processing and alignment into the short‐range complex for ligation by LigIV. Integrated findings define dynamic assemblies fundamental to designing separation‐of‐function mutants and allosteric inhibitors targeting conformational transitions in multifunctional complexes.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Structure-based design of SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease inhibitors

The COVID-19 pandemic is caused by SARS-CoV-2, an RNA virus with high transmissibility and mutation rate. Given the paucity of orally bioavailable antiviral drugs to combat SARS-CoV-2 infection, there is a critical need for additional antivirals with alternative mechanisms of action. Papain-like protease (PL pro ) is one of the two SARS-CoV-2 encoded viral cysteine proteases essential for viral replication. PL pro cleaves at three sites of the viral polyproteins. In addition, PLpro antagonizes the host immune response upon viral infection by cleaving ISG15 and ubiquitin from host proteins. Therefore, PL pro is a validated antiviral drug target. In this study, we report the X-ray crystal structures of papain-like protease (PL pro ) with two potent inhibitors, Jun9722 and Jun9843 . Subsequently, we designed and synthesized several series of analogs to explore the structure-activity relationship, which led to the discovery of PL pro inhibitors with potent enzymatic inhibitory activity and antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. Together, the lead compounds are promising drug candidates for further development.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Structure-Based Prototyping of Allosteric Inhibitors of Human Uridine/Cytidine Kinase 2 (UCK2)

Pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis in humans is a promising chemotherapeutic target for infectious diseases caused by RNA viruses. Because mammalian cells derive pyrimidine ribonucleotides through a combination of de novo biosynthesis and salvage, combined inhibition of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH; the first committed step in de novo pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis) and uridine/cytidine kinase 2 (UCK2; the first step in salvage of exogenous nucleosides) strongly attenuates viral replication in infected cells. However, while several pharmacologically promising inhibitors of human DHODH are known, to date there are no reports of medicinally viable leads against UCK2. Here we use structure-based drug prototyping to identify two classes of promising leads that non-competitively inhibit UCK2 activity. In the process we have identified a hitherto unknown allosteric site at the inter-subunit interface of this homotetrameric enzyme. By reducing the kcat of human UCK2 without altering its KM, these new inhibitors have the potential to enable systematic dialing of the fractional inhibition of pyrimidine salvage to achieve the desired antiviral effect with minimal host toxicity.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Attaining the promise of plant gene editing at scale

Crop improvement relies heavily on genetic variation that arises spontaneously through mutation. Modern breeding methods are very adept at combining this genetic variation in ways that achieve remarkable improvements in plant performance. Novel traits have also been created through mutation breeding and transgenesis. The advent of gene editing, however, marks a turning point: With gene editing, synthetic variation will increasingly supplement and, in some cases, supplant the genetic variation that occurs naturally. We are still in the very early stages of realizing the opportunity provided by plant gene editing. At present, typically only one or a few genes are targeted for mutation at a time, and most mutations result in loss of gene function. New technological developments, however, promise to make it possible to perform gene editing at scale. RNA virus vectors, for example, can deliver gene-editing reagents to the germ line through infection and create hundreds to thousands of diverse mutations in the progeny of infected plants. With developmental regulators, edited somatic cells can be induced to form meristems that yield seed-producing shoots, thereby increasing throughput and shrinking timescales for creating edited plants. As these approaches are refined and others developed, they will allow for accelerated breeding, the domestication of orphan crops and the reengineering of metabolism in a more directed manner than has ever previously been possible.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Data for "Viral-mediated Delivery of Morphogenic Regulators Enables Leaf Transformation in Sorghum bicolor (L.)"

Recent advancements in monocot transformation, using leaf tissue as explant material, have expanded the number of grass species capable of transgenesis. However, the complexity of vectors and reliance on inducible excision of essential morphogenic regulators have so far limited widespread application. Plant RNA viruses, such as Foxtail Mosaic Virus (FoMV), present a unique opportunity to express morphogenic regulator genes, such as Babyboom ( Bbm ), Wuschel2 ( Wus2 ), Wuschel-like homeobox protein 2a ( Wox2a ) and the GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR 4 (GRF4) GRF-INTERACTING FACTOR 1 (GIF1) fusion protein transiently in leaf explant tissues. Furthermore, altruistic delivery of conventional and viral vectors could provide opportunities to simplify vectors used for leaf transformation—facilitating vector optimization and reducing reliance on morphogenic regulator gene integration. In this study, both viral and conventional T-DNA vectors were tested for their ability to promote the formation of embryonic calli, a critical step in leaf transformation protocols, using Sorghum bicolor leaf explants. Although conventional leaf transformation vectors yielded viable embryonic calli (43.2 ± 2.9%: GRF4-GIF1, 50.2 ± 3%: Bbm/Wus2), altruistic conventional vectors employing the GRF4-GIF1 morphogenic regulator resulted in improved efficiencies (61.3 ± 4.7%). Altruistic delivery was further enhanced with the use of viral vectors employing both GRF4-GIF1 and Bbm/Wus2 regulators, resulting in 75.1 ± 2.3% and 79.2 ± 2.5% embryonic calli formation, respectively. Embryonic calli generated from both conventional and viral vectors produced shoots expressing fluorescent reporters, which were confirmed using molecular analysis. This work provides an important proof-of-concept for the use of both altruistic vectors and viral-expressed morphogenic regulators for improving plant transformation.

gene editing↗

Fast Evaluation of Viral Emerging Risks (FEVER): A computational tool for biosurveillance, diagnostics, and mutation typing of emerging viral pathogens

Viral pathogens can rapidly evolve, adapt to novel hosts, and evade human immunity. The early detection of emerging viral pathogens through biosurveillance coupled with rapid and accurate diagnostics are required to mitigate global pandemics. However, RNA viruses can mutate rapidly, hampering biosurveillance and diagnostic efforts. Here, we present a novel computational approach called FEVER (Fast Evaluation of Viral Emerging Risks) to design assays that simultaneously accomplish: 1) broad-coverage biosurveillance of an entire group of viruses, 2) accurate diagnosis of an outbreak strain, and 3) mutation typing to detect variants of public health importance. We demonstrate the application of FEVER to generate assays to simultaneously 1) detect sarbecoviruses for biosurveillance; 2) diagnose infections specifically caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); and 3) perform rapid mutation typing of the D614G SARS-CoV-2 spike variant associated with increased pathogen transmissibility. These FEVER assays had a high in silico recall (predicted positive) up to 99.7% of 525,708 SARS-CoV-2 sequences analyzed and displayed sensitivities and specificities as high as 92.4% and 100% respectively when validated in 100 clinical samples. The D614G SARS-CoV-2 spike mutation PCR test was able to identify the single nucleotide identity at position 23,403 in the viral genome of 96.6% SARS-CoV-2 positive samples without the need for sequencing. This study demonstrates the utility of FEVER to design assays for biosurveillance, diagnostics, and mutation typing to rapidly detect, track, and mitigate future outbreaks and pandemics caused by emerging viruses.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

High-resolution RNA tertiary structures in Zika virus stem-loop A for the development of inhibitory small molecules

Flaviviruses such as Zika (ZIKV) and dengue virus (DENV) are positive-sense RNA viruses belonging to Flaviviridae. The flavivirus genome contains a 5’ end stem-loop promoter sequence known as stem-loop A (SLA) that is recognized by the flavivirus polymerase NS5 during viral RNA synthesis and 5’ guanosine cap methylation. The crystal structures of ZIKV and DENV SLAs show a well-defined fold, consisting of a bottom stem, side loop, and top stem-loop, providing unique interaction sites for small-molecule inhibitors to disrupt the promoter function. To facilitate identification of small molecule binding sites in flavivirus SLA, we determined high-resolution structures of bottom and top stems of ZIKV SLA, which contain a single U- or G-bulge, respectively. Both bulge nucleotides exhibit multiple orientations, from folded back on the adjacent nucleotide to flipped out of the helix, and are stabilized by stacking or base triple interactions. These structures suggest that even a single unpaired nucleotide can provide flexibility to RNA structures and its conformation is mainly determined by the stabilizing chemical environment. To facilitate discovery of small molecule inhibitors that interfere with the functions of ZIKV SLA, we screened and identified compounds that bind to the bottom and top stems of ZIKV SLA.

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology↗

Structure of an RNA G-quadruplex from the West Nile virus genome

Potential G-quadruplex sites have been identified in the genomes of DNA and RNA viruses and proposed as regulatory elements. The genus Orthoflavivirus contains arthropod-transmitted, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA viruses that cause significant human disease globally. Computational studies have identified multiple potential G-quadruplex sites that are conserved across members of this genus. Subsequent biophysical studies established that some G-quadruplexes predicted in Zika and tickborne encephalitis virus genomes can form and known quadruplex binders reduced viral yields from cells infected with these viruses. The susceptibility of RNA to degradation and the variability of loop regions have made structure determination challenging. Despite these difficulties, we report a high-resolution structure of the NS5-B quadruplex from the West Nile virus genome. Analysis reveals two stacked tetrads that are further stabilized by a stacked triad and transient noncanonical base pairing. This structure expands the landscape of solved RNA quadruplex structures and demonstrates the diversity and complexity of biological quadruplexes. We anticipate that the availability of this structure will assist in solving further viral RNA quadruplexes and provides a model for a conserved antiviral target in Orthoflavivirus genomes.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Structure of saguaro cactus virus 3′ translational enhancer mimics 5′ cap for eIF4E binding

The genomes of several plant viruses contain RNA structures at their 3' ends called cap-independent translation enhancers (CITEs) that bind the host protein factors such as mRNA 5' cap-binding protein eIF4E for promoting cap-independent genome translation. However, the structural basis of such 5' cap-binding protein recognition by the uncapped RNA remains largely unknown. Here, we have determined the crystal structure of a 3' CITE, panicum mosaic virus-like translation enhancer (PTE) from the saguaro cactus virus (SCV), using a Fab crystallization chaperone. The PTE RNA folds into a three-way junction architecture with a pseudoknot between the purine-rich R domain and pyrimidine-rich Y domain, which organizes the overall structure to protrude out a specific guanine nucleotide, G18, from the R domain that comprises a major interaction site for the eIF4E binding. The superimposable crystal structures of the wild-type, G18A, G18C, and G18U mutants suggest that the PTE scaffold is preorganized with the flipped-out G18 ready to dock into the eIF4E 5' cap-binding pocket. The binding studies with wheat and human eIF4Es using gel electrophoresis and isothermal titration calorimetry, and molecular docking computation for the PTE–eIF4E complex demonstrated that the PTE structure essentially mimics the mRNA 5' cap for eIF4E binding. Such 5' cap mimicry by the uncapped and structured viral RNA highlights how viruses can exploit RNA structures to mimic the host protein-binding partners and bypass the canonical mechanisms for their genome translation, providing opportunities for a better understanding of virus-host interactions and non-canonical translation mechanisms found in many pathogenic RNA viruses.

3' cap-independent translation enhancers↗

Deletion of an African Swine Fever Virus ATP-Dependent RNA Helicase QP509L from the Highly Virulent Georgia 2010 Strain Does Not Affect Replication or Virulence

African swine fever virus (ASFV) produces a lethal disease (ASF) in domestic pigs, which is currently causing a pandemic deteriorating pig production across Eurasia. ASFV is a large and structurally complex virus with a large genome harboring more than 150 genes. ASFV gene QP509L has been shown to encode for an ATP-dependent RNA helicase, which appears to be important for efficient virus replication. Here, we report the development of a recombinant virus, ASFV-G-ΔQP509L, having deleted the QP509L gene in the highly virulent field isolate ASFV Georgia 2010 (ASFV-G). It is shown that ASFV-G-ΔQP509L replicates in primary swine macrophage cultures as efficiently as the parental virus ASFV-G. In addition, the experimental inoculation of pigs with 10 2 HAD 50 by the intramuscular route produced a slightly protracted but lethal clinical disease when compared to that of animals inoculated with virulent parental ASFV-G. Viremia titers in animals infected with ASFV-G-ΔQP509L also had slightly protracted kinetics of presentation. Therefore, ASFV gene QP509L is not critical for the processes of virus replication in swine macrophages, nor is it clearly involved in virus replication and virulence in domestic pigs.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Viral RNA and Infectious Influenza Virus on Mobile Phones of Patients With Influenza in Hong Kong and the United States

Abstract Mobile phones are among the most highly touched personal objects. As part of a broader study on the contribution of fomites to influenza transmission, between 2017 and 2019, we swabbed mobile phones from 138 patients with influenza in 2 locations. Influenza viral RNA detection rates were 23% (23 of 99 phones) and 36% (14 of 39) in Hong Kong and Maryland, respectively. In Hong Kong, infectious influenza virus was recovered from 3 of 23 mobile phones which had influenza viral RNA detected. Mobile phone influenza contamination was positively associated with upper respiratory tract viral load and negatively associated with age. Cleaning personal objects of patients with influenza should be recommended, and individuals should avoid sharing objects with these patients.

Xiao, Jingyi↗

Lassa virus protein–protein interactions as mediators of Lassa fever pathogenesis

Viral hemorrhagic Lassa fever (LF), caused by Lassa virus (LASV), is a significant public health concern endemic in West Africa with high morbidity and mortality rates, limited treatment options, and potential for international spread. Despite advances in interrogating its epidemiology and clinical manifestations, the molecular mechanisms driving pathogenesis of LASV and other arenaviruses remain incompletely understood. This review synthesizes current knowledge regarding the role of LASV host-virus interactions in mediating the pathogenesis of LF, with emphasis on interactions between viral and host proteins. Through investigation of these critical protein–protein interactions, we identify potential therapeutic targets and discuss their implications for development of medical countermeasures including antiviral drugs. This review provides an update in recent literature of significant LASV host-virus interactions important in informing the development of targeted therapies and improving clinical outcomes for LF patients. Knowledge gaps are highlighted as opportunities for future research efforts that would advance the field of LASV and arenavirus pathogenesis.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Mathematical modeling of hepatitis C RNA replication, exosome secretion and virus release

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes acute hepatitis C and can lead to life-threatening complications if it becomes chronic. The HCV genome is a single plus strand of RNA. Its intracellular replication is a spatiotemporally coordinated process of RNA translation upon cell infection, RNA synthesis within a replication compartment, and virus particle production. While HCV is mainly transmitted via mature infectious virus particles, it has also been suggested that HCV-infected cells can secrete HCV RNA carrying exosomes that can infect cells in a receptor independent manner. In order to gain insight into these two routes of transmission, we developed a series of intracellular HCV replication models that include HCV RNA secretion and/or virus assembly and release. Fitting our models to in vitro data, in which cells were infected with HCV, suggests that initially most secreted HCV RNA derives from intracellular cytosolic plus-strand RNA, but subsequently secreted HCV RNA derives equally from the cytoplasm and the replication compartments. Furthermore, our model fits to the data suggest that the rate of virus assembly and release is limited by host cell resources. Including the effects of direct acting antivirals in our models, we found that in spite of decreasing intracellular HCV RNA and extracellular virus concentration, low level HCV RNA secretion may continue as long as intracellular RNA is available. This may possibly explain the presence of detectable levels of plasma HCV RNA at the end of treatment even in patients that ultimately attain a sustained virologic response.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

The protein structurome of Orthornavirae and its dark matter

Metatranscriptomics is uncovering more and more diverse families of viruses with RNA genomes comprising the viral kingdom Orthornavirae in the realm Riboviria. Thorough protein annotation and comparison are essential to get insights into the functions of viral proteins and virus evolution. In addition to sequence- and hmm profile-based methods, protein structure comparison adds a powerful tool to uncover protein functions and relationships. We constructed an Orthornavirae “structurome” consisting of already annotated as well as unannotated (“dark matter”) proteins and domains encoded in viral genomes. We used protein structure modeling and similarity searches to illuminate the remaining dark matter in hundreds of thousands of orthornavirus genomes. The vast majority of the dark matter domains showed either “generic” folds, such as single α-helices, or no high confidence structure predictions. Nevertheless, a variety of lineage-specific globular domains that were new either to orthornaviruses in general or to particular virus families were identified within the proteomic dark matter of orthornaviruses, including several predicted nucleic acid-binding domains and nucleases. In addition, we identified a case of exaptation of a cellular nucleoside monophosphate kinase as an RNA-binding protein in several virus families. Notwithstanding the continuing discovery of numerous orthornaviruses, it appears that all the protein domains conserved in large groups of viruses have already been identified. The rest of the viral proteome seems to be dominated by poorly structured domains including intrinsically disordered ones that likely mediate specific virus-host interactions.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Decay of enveloped SARS-CoV-2 and non-enveloped PMMoV RNA in raw sewage from university dormitories

Although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA has been frequently detected in sewage from many university dormitories to inform public health decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic, a clear understanding of SARS-CoV-2 RNA persistence in site-specific raw sewage is still lacking. To investigate the SARS-CoV-2 RNA persistence, a field trial was conducted in the University of Tennessee dormitories raw sewage, similar to municipal wastewater. The decay of enveloped SARS-CoV-2 RNA and non-enveloped Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) RNA was investigated by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in raw sewage at 4°C and 20°C. Temperature, followed by the concentration level of SARS-CoV-2 RNA, was the most significant factors that influenced the first-order decay rate constants (k) of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. The mean k values of SARS-CoV-2 RNA were 0.094 day –1 at 4°C and 0.261 day –1 at 20°C. At high-, medium-, and low-concentration levels of SARS-CoV-2 RNA, the mean k values were 0.367, 0.169, and 0.091 day –1 , respectively. Furthermore, there was a statistical difference between the decay of enveloped SARS-CoV-2 and non-enveloped PMMoV RNA at different temperature conditions. The first decay rates for both temperatures were statistically comparable for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, which showed sensitivity to elevated temperatures but not for PMMoV RNA. This study provides evidence for the persistence of viral RNA in site-specific raw sewage at different temperature conditions and concentration levels.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗