Project description:Experimental V4020 is derived from VEEV TC-83, a vaccine with a long track record of use in lab and military personnel at risk. V4020 was generated from an infectious DNA clone, secured genetic stability by employing stabilizing mutation at position 120 in the E2 protein, and by rearrangement of structural genes. In this study, serial passages in brain tissues of mice were performed to compare safety and genetic stability of V4020 and TC-83 experimental vaccines. During five serial passages in brain, less severe clinical manifestations and lower viral load were observed in V4020 mice and all animals survived. In contrast, 13.3% of mice met euthanasia criteria during the passages in TC-83 group. At 2 DPI, RNA-Seq analysis of brain tissues revealed that V4020 mice had lower rates of mutations throughout five passages. Higher synonymous mutation ratio was observed in the nsP4 (RdRP) gene of TC-83 compared to V4020 mice. At 2 DPI, both viruses induced different expression profiles of host genes involved into neuro-regeneration. Taken together, these results provide evidence for the improved safety and genetic stability of the experimental V4020 VEEV vaccine in a murine model. While no single nucleotide polymorphisms that have been previously linked to virulence were identified, more neuro-virulence markers were observed in serial passaged TC-83 compared to V4020. This study suggests a complex polygenic basis for neuro-virulent reversion in VEEV live attenuated vaccines and provides evidence for the advanced safety and genetic stability of V4020.
2020-06-01 | GSE142325 | GEO
Project description:Sequencing of VEEV TC-83 genomes in the presence of BDGR-49
| PRJNA947109 | ENA
Project description:Sequencing of VEEV TC-83 genomes in the presence of BDGR-164
Project description:Alphaviruses are arthropod-borne viruses that represent a significant threat to public health at a global level. While the formation of alphaviral nucleocapsid cores, consisting of cargo nucleic acid and the viral capsid protein, is an essential molecular process of infection, the precise interactions between the two partners are ill-defined. A CLIP-seq approach was used to screen for candidate sites of interaction between the viral Capsid protein and genomic RNA of Sindbis virus (SINV), a model alphavirus. The data presented in this report indicates that the SINV capsid protein binds to specific viral RNA sequences in the cytoplasm of infected cells, but its interaction with genomic RNA in mature extracellular viral particles is largely non-specific in terms of nucleotide sequence. Mutational analyses of the cytoplasmic viral RNA-capsid interaction sites revealed a functional role for capsid binding early in infection. Interaction site mutants exhibited decreased viral growth kinetics; however, this defect was not a function of decreased particle production. Rather mutation of the cytoplasmic capsid-RNA interaction sites negatively affected the functional capacity of the incoming viral genomic RNAs leading to decreased infectivity. Furthermore, cytoplasmic capsid interaction site mutants are attenuated in a murine model of neurotropic alphavirus infection. Collectively, the findings of this study indicate that the identified cytoplasmic interactions of the viral capsid protein and genomic RNA, while not essential for particle formation, are necessary for genomic RNA function early during infection. This previously unappreciated role of capsid protein during the alphaviral replication cycle also constitutes a novel virulence determinant.
Project description:Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) causes a febrile illness that can progress to neurological disease with the possibility of death in human cases. The evaluation and optimization of therapeutics that target brain infections demands knowledge of the host’s response to VEEV, the dynamics of infection, and the potential for within-host evolution of the virus. We hypothesized that selective pressures during infection of the brain may differ temporally and spatially and so we investigated the dynamics of the host response, viral transcript levels, and genetic variation of VEEV TC-83 in eight areas of the brain in mice over 7 days post-infection (dpi). Viral replication increased throughout the brain until 5-6 dpi and decreased thereafter with neurons as the main site of viral replication. Low levels of genetic diversity were noted on 1 dpi, and was followed by an expansion in the genetic diversity of VEEV and nonsynonymous mutations (Ns) that peaked by 5 dpi. The proinflammatory response and the influx of immune cells mirrored the levels of virus and correlated with substantial damage to neurons by 5 dpi and increased activation of microglial cells and astrocytes. The prevalence and dynamics of Ns mutations suggests that the VEEV is under selection within the brain and that progressive neuroinflammation may play a role in acting as a selective pressure.
Project description:<p>Tick-borne encephalitis virus is an enveloped, pathogenic, RNA virus in the family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus. Viral particles are formed when the nucleocapsid, consisting of an RNA genome and multiple copies of the capsid protein, buds through the endoplasmic reticulum membrane and acquires the viral envelope and the associated proteins. The coordination of the nucleocapsid components to the sites of assembly and budding are poorly understood. Here, we investigate nucleocapsid assembly by characterizing the interactions of the wild-type and truncated capsid proteins with membranes by using biophysical methods and model membrane systems. We show that capsid protein initially binds membranes via electrostatic interactions with negatively-charged lipids which is followed by membrane insertion. Additionally, we show that membrane-bound capsid protein can recruit viral genomic RNA. We confirm the biological relevance of the biophysical findings by using mass spectrometry to show that purified virions contain negatively-charged lipids. Our results suggest that nucleocapsid assembly is coordinated by negatively-charged membrane patches on the endoplasmic reticulum and that the capsid protein mediates direct contacts between the nucleocapsid and the membrane.</p>