Hepatitis C virus-like particle budding: role of the core protein and importance of its Asp111.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Blanchard E
PROVIDER: S-EPMC224611 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Sep
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Hepatitis C virus-like particle budding: role of the core protein and importance of its Asp111.
Blanchard Emmanuelle E Hourioux Christophe C Brand Denys D Ait-Goughoulte Malika M Moreau Alain A Trassard Sylvie S Sizaret Pierre-Yves PY Dubois Frederic F Roingeard Philippe P
Journal of virology 20030901 18
In the absence of a hepatitis C virus (HCV) culture system, the use of a Semliki Forest virus replicon expressing genes encoding HCV structural proteins that assemble into HCV-like particles provides an opportunity to study HCV morphogenesis. Using this system, we showed that the HCV core protein constitutes the budding apparatus of the virus and that its targeting to the endoplasmic reticulum by means of the signal sequence of E1 protein is essential for budding. In addition, the aspartic acid ...[more]
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Project description:UNLABELLED:The objectives of this non-randomized, non-blinded, dose-escalating Phase I clinical trial were to assess the safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity of ICC-1132 formulated with Alhydrogel (aluminum hydroxide) in 51 healthy, malaria-naive adults aged 18 to 45 years. ICC-1132 (Malariavax) is a recombinant, virus-like particle malaria vaccine comprised of hepatitis core antigen engineered to express the central repeat regions from Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein containing an immunodominant B [(NANP)(3)] epitope, an HLA-restricted CD4 (NANPNVDPNANP) epitope and a universal T cell epitope (T*) (amino acids 326-345, NF54 isolate). We assessed an Alhydrogel (aluminum hydroxide)-adjuvanted vaccine formulation at three ICC-1132 dose levels, each injected intramuscularly (1.0 mL) on study days 0, 56 and 168. A saline vaccine formulation was found to be unstable after prolonged storage and this formulation was subsequently removed from the study. Thirty-two volunteers were followed for one year. Local and systemic adverse clinical events were measured and immune responses to P. falciparum and hepatitis B virus core antigens were determined utilizing the following assays: IgG and IgM ELISA, indirect immunofluorescence against P. falciparum sporozoites, circumsporozoite precipitin (CSP) and transgenic sporozoite neutralization assays. Cellular responses were measured by proliferation and IL-2 assays. Local and systemic reactions were similarly mild and well tolerated between dose cohorts. Depending on the ICC-1132 vaccine concentration, 95 to 100% of volunteers developed antibody responses to the ICC-1132 immunogen and HBc after two injections; however, only 29-75% and 29-63% of volunteers, respectively, developed malaria-specific responses measured by the malaria repeat synthetic peptide ELISA and IFA; 2 of 8 volunteers had positive reactions in the CSP assay. Maximal transgenic sporozoite neutralization assay inhibition was 54%. Forty-seven to seventy-five percent demonstrated T cell proliferation in response to ICC-1132 or to recombinant circumsporozoite protein (rCS) NF-54 isolate. This candidate malaria vaccine was well tolerated, but the vaccine formulation was poorly immunogenic. The vaccine may benefit from a more powerful adjuvant to improve immunogenicity. TRIAL REGISTRATION:ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00587249.
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Project description:Background & Aims: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major health burden worldwide and currently there is no cure. The persistence of HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) is the major obstacle for antiviral treatment. HBV core protein (HBc) has merged as a promising antiviral target, as it plays important roles in critical steps of viral life cycle. However, whether HBc could regulate HBV cccDNA transcription remains to be illustrated. Methods: Synthesized HBV cccDNA and HBVcircle with or without HBc deficiency were transfected into hepatocytes. A recently reported Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) mediated HBV cccDNA mouse model was employed. Two capsid assembly modulators (CAMs) were used. HBV replication markers were evaluated. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) or ChIP sequencing assays were conducted with different transcription factors, histones and RNA polymerase 2. Results: In HBV cccDNA and HBVcircle transfection assays, lack of HBc showed no effect on transcription of HBV RNA as well as HBV surface antigen production. Reconstitution of HBc did not change cccDNA derived HBV markers. Similar results were obtained in vivo, from mouse cccDNA model. ChIP data revealed similar transcription regulation of HBc deficient cccDNA chromatin with wide type cccDNA. Furthermore, CAMs treatment could not alter cccDNA transcription. Conclusions: Our results indicate that HBc neither affects histone modifications and transcription factors binding of cccDNA, nor influences cccDNA transcription. Although CAMs could reduce HBc binding to cccDNA, it does not suppress cccDNA transcriptional activity. Thus, therapeutic targeting capsid or HBc is not sufficient to reduce cccDNA transcription.
2022-04-01 | GSE199653 | GEO