Project description:Primary human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF) were infected with wild-type herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) strain 17 or its vhs null mutant, or with BAC-derived viruses expressing either a wild-type or catalytically inactive vhs with the D195N mutation at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 10. Chromatin-associated RNA was prepared and subjected to RNA-seq.
Project description:Human herpesviruses are widespread human pathogens with a remarkable impact on worldwide public health. Despite intense decades of research, the molecular details in many aspects of their function remain to be fully characterized. To unravel the details of how these viruses operate a thorough understanding of the relationships between the viral protein components is key. Here, we have created HVint, a novel protein-protein intra-viral interaction database for herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which integrates data from five external sources. The coverage of the initial interactome was enlarged using evolutionary information, which integrates computational predictions for potential novel interactions in HSV-1. As an experimental validation for these predicted interactions, affinity purification mass spectrometry (AP-MS) was performed for the HSV-1 capsid protein, VP26. The VP26 interaction data provided experimental evidence supporting the interactions with pUL31 and pUL40, which were computationally predicted as direct partners. Other indirect interactions within the predicted network, such as pUL32 and pUL21, were also present in the AP-MS experiment. For access to the complete HVint network, we have developed a user-friendly and interactive web interface. Our approach demonstrates the power of computational predictions to assist in the design of targeted experiments for the discovery of novel protein-protein interactions.
Project description:For Samples 1-8 and 11-18: The innate immune sensor retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I) detects double-stranded RNA derived from RNA viruses, and recent studies have demonstrated that RIG-I also plays a role in the antiviral response to DNA viruses. To identify the physiological RNA species that are recognized by RIG-I during HSV-1 infection, we purified the RNAs that co-immunoprecipitated with FLAG-tagged RIG-I in transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T cells that had been infected with a recombinant HSV-1 (hereafter referred to as HSV-1 mut) containing a mutation (K220A) in the viral serine/threonine protein kinase US3 that abolishes its catalytic activity, as the viral kinase is known to antagonize type-I IFN responses. As controls, RNA species bound to FLAG-RIG-I in uninfected cells and RNA bound to FLAG-GFP from both HSV-1 mut-infected and uninfected cells were also purified. RIG-I-bound RNA and total RNA extracted from uninfected and HSV-1 mut-infected cells were analyzed by RNAseq, and the resulting sequences were mapped to both the HSV-1F-strain and human genome (hg38). This analysis revealed that several human transcripts were highly enriched in the RIG-I-bound fraction from infected cells; in contrast, the enrichment of viral sequences was low. The cellular transcripts that were most abundant in the RIG-I fraction were predominantly non-coding RNAs from different subclasses, as well as some coding RNAs. For Samples 9 and 10: HSV-1 infection is known to induces changes in the transcriptional profile of the infected cell. To analyze global changes in RNA transcript levels in infected cells, total RNA was extracted from HEK 293T cells that were infected with wild-type (WT) HSV-1. For comparison, total RNA was extracted from HEK 293T cells that remained uninfected. Next, RNAseq analysis was performed. The resulting sequences were mapped to the human genome, and gene inductions were calculated and normalized to uninfected samples to determine changes in gene expression upon infection.
Project description:To obtain further insights into the role of bacterial activity in BAC filter performance, the expressed proteins of the bacterial community residing in the BAC filter were identified by a metaproteomic approach.
Project description:DNA sensing is a fundamental process in the immune system, including host defence against viruses. The DNA sensor cGAS synthesises 2’3’ cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP), a second messenger that activates STING, which subsequently induces innate immunity. cGAMP not only activates STING in the cell where it is produced but also transfers to other cells. Transporters, channels and pores including SLC19A1, the SLC46A family, P2X7, ABCC1 and volume-regulated anion channels (VRACs) release cGAMP into the extracellular space and/or import cGAMP into cells. Emerging evidence suggests these proteins are important in antiviral immunity. Here, we investigated whether viruses antagonise cGAMP transporters, channels and pores. We report that infection with multiple human viruses depleted cGAMP conduits from cells. This included herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) that targeted the VRAC subunits LRRC8A and LRRC8C, as well as SLC46A2 and P2X7, for degradation. The HSV-1 protein UL56 was required and sufficient for these effects that were mediated at least partially by proteasomal turnover. UL56 thereby inhibited the cGAMP uptake via VRAC, SLC46A2 and P2X7. Taken together, we show that HSV-1 actively antagonises cGAMP transfer across the plasma membrane and propose this limits innate immunity by reducing cell-to-cell communication via the immunotransmitter cGAMP.