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Efficient rescue of recombinant Lassa virus reveals the influence of S segment noncoding regions on virus replication and virulence.

ABSTRACT: Lassa virus (LASV), is a significant cause of severe, often fatal, hemorrhagic fever in humans throughout western Africa, with an estimated 100,000 infections each year. No vaccines are commercially available. We report the development of an efficient reverse genetics system to rescue recombinant LASV and to investigate the contributions of the long 5' and 3' noncoding regions (NCRs) of the S genomic segment to in vitro growth and in vivo virulence. This work demonstrates that deletions of large portions of these NCRs confer an attenuated phenotype and are a first step toward further insights into the high virulence of LASV.

SUBMITTER: Albarino CG

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3126145 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Efficient rescue of recombinant Lassa virus reveals the influence of S segment noncoding regions on virus replication and virulence.

Albariño César G CG Bird Brian H BH Chakrabarti Ayan K AK Dodd Kimberly A KA Erickson Bobbie Rae BR Nichol Stuart T ST

Journal of virology 20110209 8

Lassa virus (LASV), is a significant cause of severe, often fatal, hemorrhagic fever in humans throughout western Africa, with an estimated 100,000 infections each year. No vaccines are commercially available. We report the development of an efficient reverse genetics system to rescue recombinant LASV and to investigate the contributions of the long 5' and 3' noncoding regions (NCRs) of the S genomic segment to in vitro growth and in vivo virulence. This work demonstrates that deletions of large ...[more]

PMID: 21307206

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Project description:Lassa virus (LASV) is an enveloped RNA virus endemic to West Africa and responsible for severe cases of hemorrhagic fever. Virus entry is mediated by the glycoprotein complex consisting of a stable-signal peptide, a receptor-binding subunit, GP1, and a viral-host membrane fusion subunit, GP2. Several cellular receptors can interact with the GP1 subunit and mediate viral entry, including alpha-dystroglycan (?DG) and lysosome-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1). In order to define the regions within GP1 that interact with the cellular receptors, we implemented insertional mutagenesis, carbohydrate shielding, and alanine scanning mutagenesis. Eighty GP constructs were engineered and evaluated for GP1-GP2 processing, surface expression, and the ability to mediate cell-to-cell fusion after low-pH exposure. To examine virus-to-cell entry, 49 constructs were incorporated onto vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) pseudoparticles and transduction efficiencies were monitored in HAP1 and HAP1-?DAG1 cells that differentially produce the ?DG cell surface receptor. Seven constructs retained efficient transduction in HAP1-?DAG1 cells yet poorly transduced HAP1 cells, suggesting that they are involved in ?DG utilization. Residues H141, N146, F147, and Y150 cluster at the predicted central core of the trimeric interface and are important for GP-?DG interaction. Additionally, H92A-H93A, 150HA, 172HA, and 230HA displayed reduced transduction in both HAP1 and HAP1-?DAG1 cells, despite efficient cell-to-cell fusion activity. These mutations may interfere with interactions with the endosomal receptor LAMP1 or interfere at another stage in entry that is common to both cell lines. Insight gained from these data can aid in the development of more-effective entry inhibitors by blocking receptor interactions.IMPORTANCE Countries in which Lassa virus is endemic, such as Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia, usually experience a seasonal outbreak of the virus from December to March. Currently, there is neither a preventative vaccine nor a therapeutic available to effectively treat severe Lassa fever. One way to thwart virus infection is to inhibit interaction with cellular receptors. It is known that the GP1 subunit of the Lassa glycoprotein complex plays a critical role in receptor recognition. Our results highlight a region within the Lassa virus GP1 protein that interacts with the cellular receptor alpha-dystroglycan. This information may be used for future development of new Lassa virus antivirals.

Dataset Information

Efficient rescue of recombinant Lassa virus reveals the influence of S segment noncoding regions on virus replication and virulence.

Publications

Efficient rescue of recombinant Lassa virus reveals the influence of S segment noncoding regions on virus replication and virulence.

Similar Datasets

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