ABSTRACT
Viral infectious diseases are a devastating and continuing threat to human and animal health. Receptor binding is the key step for viral entry into host cells. Therefore, recognizing viral receptors is fundamental for understanding the potential tissue tropism or host range of these pathogens. The rapid advancement of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology has paved the way for studying the expression of viral receptors in different tissues of animal species at single-cell resolution, resulting in huge scRNA-seq datasets. However, effectively integrating or sharing these datasets among the research community is challenging, especially for laboratory scientists. In this study, we manually curated up-to-date datasets generated in animal scRNA-seq studies, analyzed them using a unified processing pipeline, and comprehensively annotated 107 viral receptors in 142 viruses and obtained accurate expression signatures in 2 100 962 cells from 47 animal species. Thus, the VThunter database provides a user-friendly interface for the research community to explore the expression signatures of viral receptors. VThunter offers an informative and convenient resource for scientists to better understand the interactions between viral receptors and animal viruses and to assess viral pathogenesis and transmission in species. Database URL: https://db.cngb.org/VThunter/.
Subject(s)
Databases, Factual , Genome, Viral , Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics , Receptors, Virus/genetics , Software , Virus Diseases/genetics , Viruses/genetics , Animals , Binding Sites , Datasets as Topic , Gene Expression Regulation , High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing , Humans , Internet , Molecular Sequence Annotation , Protein Binding , Receptors, Virus/classification , Receptors, Virus/metabolism , Signal Transduction , Single-Cell Analysis , Virus Diseases/metabolism , Virus Diseases/transmission , Virus Diseases/virology , Viruses/classification , Viruses/metabolism , Viruses/pathogenicityABSTRACT
Almost twenty years after its initial release, the Eukaryotic Linear Motif (ELM) resource remains an invaluable source of information for the study of motif-mediated protein-protein interactions. ELM provides a comprehensive, regularly updated and well-organised repository of manually curated, experimentally validated short linear motifs (SLiMs). An increasing number of SLiM-mediated interactions are discovered each year and keeping the resource up-to-date continues to be a great challenge. In the current update, 30 novel motif classes have been added and five existing classes have undergone major revisions. The update includes 411 new motif instances mostly focused on cell-cycle regulation, control of the actin cytoskeleton, membrane remodelling and vesicle trafficking pathways, liquid-liquid phase separation and integrin signalling. Many of the newly annotated motif-mediated interactions are targets of pathogenic motif mimicry by viral, bacterial or eukaryotic pathogens, providing invaluable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying infectious diseases. The current ELM release includes 317 motif classes incorporating 3934 individual motif instances manually curated from 3867 scientific publications. ELM is available at: http://elm.eu.org.
Subject(s)
Communicable Diseases/genetics , Databases, Protein , Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics , Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs , Software , Actin Cytoskeleton/chemistry , Actin Cytoskeleton/metabolism , Animals , Binding Sites , Cell Cycle/genetics , Cell Membrane/chemistry , Cell Membrane/metabolism , Communicable Diseases/metabolism , Communicable Diseases/virology , Cyclins/chemistry , Cyclins/genetics , Cyclins/metabolism , Eukaryotic Cells/cytology , Eukaryotic Cells/metabolism , Eukaryotic Cells/virology , Gene Expression Regulation , Humans , Integrins/chemistry , Integrins/genetics , Integrins/metabolism , Mice , Molecular Sequence Annotation , Protein Binding , Rats , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism , Signal Transduction , Transport Vesicles/chemistry , Transport Vesicles/metabolism , Viruses/genetics , Viruses/metabolismABSTRACT
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that has affected the lives of billions of individuals. However, the host-virus interactions still need further investigation to reveal the underling mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis. Here, transcriptomics analysis of SARS-CoV-2 infection highlighted possible correlation between host-associated signaling pathway and virus. In detail, cAMP-protein kinase (PKA) pathway has an essential role in SARS-CoV-2 infection, followed by the interaction between cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) and CREB-binding protein (CBP) could be induced and leading to the enhancement of CREB/CBP transcriptional activity. The replication of Delta and Omicron BA.5 were inhibited by about 49.4% and 44.7% after knockdown of CREB and CBP with small interfering RNAs, respectively. Furthermore, a small organic molecule naphthol AS-E (nAS-E), which targets on the interaction between CREB and CBP, potently inhibited SARS-CoV-2 wild-type (WT) infection with comparable the half-maximal effective concentration (EC50 ) 1.04 µM to Remdesivir 0.57 µM. Compared with WT virus, EC50 in Calu-3 cells against Delta, Omicron BA.2, and Omicron BA.5 were, on average, 1.5-fold, 1.1-fold, and 1.5-fold higher, respectively, nAS-E had a satisfied antiviral effect against Omicron variants. Taken together, our study demonstrated the importance of CREB/CBP induced by cAMP-PKA pathway during SARS-CoV-2 infection, and further provided a novel CREB/CBP interaction therapeutic drug targets for COVID-19.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein , Host-Pathogen Interactions , Humans , COVID-19/metabolism , Cyclic AMP/metabolism , Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein/metabolism , Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases/metabolism , SARS-CoV-2/metabolism , SARS-CoV-2/pathogenicity , CREB-Binding Protein/metabolism , Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics , Host-Pathogen Interactions/physiologyABSTRACT
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs that are formed via back-splicing. These circRNAs are predominantly studied for their roles as regulators of various biological processes. Notably, emerging evidence demonstrates that host circRNAs can be differentially expressed (DE) upon infection with pathogens (e.g., influenza and coronaviruses), suggesting a role for circRNAs in regulating host innate immune responses. However, investigations on the role of circRNAs during pathogenic infections are limited by the knowledge and skills required to carry out the necessary bioinformatic analysis to identify DE circRNAs from RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data. Bioinformatics prediction and identification of circRNAs is crucial before any verification, and functional studies using costly and time-consuming wet-lab techniques. To solve this issue, a step-by-step protocol of in silico prediction and characterization of circRNAs using RNA-seq data is provided in this manuscript. The protocol can be divided into four steps: 1) Prediction and quantification of DE circRNAs via the CIRIquant pipeline; 2) Annotation via circBase and characterization of DE circRNAs; 3) CircRNA-miRNA interaction prediction through Circr pipeline; 4) functional enrichment analysis of circRNA parental genes using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). This pipeline will be useful in driving future in vitro and in vivo research to further unravel the role of circRNAs in host-pathogen interactions.
Subject(s)
MicroRNAs , RNA, Circular , RNA, Circular/genetics , Sequence Analysis, RNA , MicroRNAs/genetics , Computational Biology/methods , Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics , Gene Expression Profiling/methodsABSTRACT
As the knowledge of biomolecules is increasing from the last decades, it is helping the researchers to understand the unsolved issues regarding virology. Recent technologies in high-throughput sequencing are providing the swift generation of SARS-CoV-2 genomic data with the basic inside of viral infection. Owing to various virus-host protein interactions, high-throughput technologies are unable to provide complete details of viral pathogenesis. Identifying the virus-host protein interactions using bioinformatics approaches can assist in understanding the mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 infection and pathogenesis. In this chapter, recent integrative bioinformatics approaches are discussed to help the virologists and computational biologists in the identification of structurally similar proteins of human and SARS-CoV-2 virus, and to predict the potential of virus-host interactions. Considering experimental and time limitations for effective viral drug development, computational aided drug design (CADD) can reduce the gap between drug prediction and development. More research with respect to evolutionary solutions could be helpful to make a new pipeline for virus-host protein-protein interactions and provide more understanding to disclose the cases of host switch, and also expand the virulence of the pathogen and host range in developing viral infections.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Computational Biology , Host Microbial Interactions , Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics , Humans , Proteins , SARS-CoV-2/geneticsABSTRACT
SARS-CoV-2 is a highly pathogenic virus that evades antiviral immunity by interfering with host protein synthesis, mRNA stability, and protein trafficking. The SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural protein 1 (Nsp1) uses its C-terminal domain to block the messenger RNA (mRNA) entry channel of the 40S ribosome to inhibit host protein synthesis. However, how SARS-CoV-2 circumvents Nsp1-mediated suppression for viral protein synthesis and if the mechanism can be targeted therapeutically remain unclear. Here, we show that N- and C-terminal domains of Nsp1 coordinate to drive a tuned ratio of viral to host translation, likely to maintain a certain level of host fitness while maximizing replication. We reveal that the stem-loop 1 (SL1) region of the SARS-CoV-2 5' untranslated region (5' UTR) is necessary and sufficient to evade Nsp1-mediated translational suppression. Targeting SL1 with locked nucleic acid antisense oligonucleotides inhibits viral translation and makes SARS-CoV-2 5' UTR vulnerable to Nsp1 suppression, hindering viral replication in vitro at a nanomolar concentration, as well as providing protection against SARS-CoV-2-induced lethality in transgenic mice expressing human ACE2. Thus, SL1 allows Nsp1 to switch infected cells from host to SARS-CoV-2 translation, presenting a therapeutic target against COVID-19 that is conserved among immune-evasive variants. This unique strategy of unleashing a virus' own virulence mechanism against itself could force a critical trade-off between drug resistance and pathogenicity.
Subject(s)
5' Untranslated Regions/genetics , Immune Evasion/genetics , Protein Biosynthesis , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , Viral Nonstructural Proteins/genetics , Animals , Base Sequence , Chlorocebus aethiops , HEK293 Cells , Host-Pathogen Interactions/drug effects , Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics , Humans , Immune Evasion/drug effects , Mice, Transgenic , Models, Biological , Oligonucleotides, Antisense/pharmacology , Protein Biosynthesis/drug effects , SARS-CoV-2/drug effects , Vero Cells , Virus Replication/drug effectsABSTRACT
The zinc finger antiviral protein (ZAP) is known to restrict viral replication by binding to the CpG rich regions of viral RNA, and subsequently inducing viral RNA degradation. This enzyme has recently been shown to be capable of restricting SARS-CoV-2. These data have led to the hypothesis that the low abundance of CpG in the SARS-CoV-2 genome is due to an evolutionary pressure exerted by the host ZAP. To investigate this hypothesis, we performed a detailed analysis of many coronavirus sequences and ZAP RNA binding preference data. Our analyses showed neither evidence for an evolutionary pressure acting specifically on CpG dinucleotides, nor a link between the activity of ZAP and the low CpG abundance of the SARS-CoV-2 genome.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/genetics , Dinucleoside Phosphates/genetics , Genome, Viral/genetics , RNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , Animals , Base Sequence , Binding Sites/genetics , COVID-19/virology , Dinucleoside Phosphates/metabolism , Evolution, Molecular , Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics , Humans , Nucleotide Motifs/genetics , Protein Binding , RNA, Viral/genetics , RNA, Viral/metabolism , RNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism , SARS-CoV-2/physiology , Virus Replication/geneticsSubject(s)
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/antagonists & inhibitors , Antibodies, Neutralizing/pharmacology , Antibodies, Viral/pharmacology , COVID-19 Drug Treatment , Receptors, Virus/antagonists & inhibitors , SARS-CoV-2/drug effects , Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/genetics , Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/immunology , Animals , COVID-19/immunology , COVID-19/virology , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Gene Expression , Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics , Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology , Humans , Lung/drug effects , Lung/immunology , Lung/virology , Mice , Protein Binding/drug effects , Receptors, Virus/genetics , Receptors, Virus/immunology , SARS-CoV-2/growth & development , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunologyABSTRACT
The transcriptional induction of interferon (IFN) genes is a key feature of the mammalian antiviral response that limits viral replication and dissemination. A hallmark of severe COVID-19 disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 is the low presence of IFN proteins in patient serum despite elevated levels of IFN-encoding mRNAs, indicative of post-transcriptional inhibition of IFN protein production. Here, we performed single-molecule RNA visualization to examine the expression and localization of host mRNAs during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our data show that the biogenesis of type I and type III IFN mRNAs is inhibited at multiple steps during SARS-CoV-2 infection. First, translocation of the interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) transcription factor to the nucleus is limited in response to SARS-CoV-2, indicating that SARS-CoV-2 inhibits RLR-MAVS signaling and thus weakens transcriptional induction of IFN genes. Second, we observed that IFN mRNAs primarily localize to the site of transcription in most SARS-CoV-2 infected cells, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 either inhibits the release of IFN mRNAs from their sites of transcription and/or triggers decay of IFN mRNAs in the nucleus upon exiting the site of transcription. Lastly, nuclear-cytoplasmic transport of IFN mRNAs is inhibited during SARS-CoV-2 infection, which we propose is a consequence of widespread degradation of host cytoplasmic basal mRNAs in the early stages of SARS-CoV-2 replication by the SARS-CoV-2 Nsp1 protein, as well as the host antiviral endoribonuclease, RNase L. Importantly, IFN mRNAs can escape SARS-CoV-2-mediated degradation if they reach the cytoplasm, making rescue of mRNA export a viable means for promoting the immune response to SARS-CoV-2.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/genetics , Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics , Interferons/genetics , RNA Stability , SARS-CoV-2/pathogenicity , Viral Nonstructural Proteins/genetics , A549 Cells , Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/genetics , Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/metabolism , COVID-19/virology , Cell Line , Endoribonucleases/genetics , Endoribonucleases/metabolism , Humans , In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence/methods , Interferon Regulatory Factor-3/genetics , Interferon Regulatory Factor-3/metabolism , Interferons/metabolism , RNA, Messenger/metabolism , Single Molecule ImagingABSTRACT
The genetic make-up of an individual contributes to the susceptibility and response to viral infection. Although environmental, clinical and social factors have a role in the chance of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and the severity of COVID-191,2, host genetics may also be important. Identifying host-specific genetic factors may reveal biological mechanisms of therapeutic relevance and clarify causal relationships of modifiable environmental risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection and outcomes. We formed a global network of researchers to investigate the role of human genetics in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity. Here we describe the results of three genome-wide association meta-analyses that consist of up to 49,562 patients with COVID-19 from 46 studies across 19 countries. We report 13 genome-wide significant loci that are associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection or severe manifestations of COVID-19. Several of these loci correspond to previously documented associations to lung or autoimmune and inflammatory diseases3-7. They also represent potentially actionable mechanisms in response to infection. Mendelian randomization analyses support a causal role for smoking and body-mass index for severe COVID-19 although not for type II diabetes. The identification of novel host genetic factors associated with COVID-19 was made possible by the community of human genetics researchers coming together to prioritize the sharing of data, results, resources and analytical frameworks. This working model of international collaboration underscores what is possible for future genetic discoveries in emerging pandemics, or indeed for any complex human disease.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/genetics , Genetic Loci/genetics , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Genome-Wide Association Study , Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics , Autoimmunity/genetics , Body Mass Index , COVID-19/virology , Critical Illness , Female , Geographic Mapping , Hospitalization , Humans , Inflammation/complications , Information Dissemination , Male , Multifactorial Inheritance , Racial Groups/genetics , SARS-CoV-2/pathogenicity , SmokingABSTRACT
Currently, the novel coronavirus pneumonia has been widespread globally, and there is no specific medicine. In response to the emergency, we employed bioinformatics methods to investigate the virus's pathogenic mechanism, finding possible control methods. We speculated in previous studies that E protein was associated with viral infectivity. The present study adopted the domain search techniques to analyse the E protein. According to the results, the E protein could bind iron or haem. The iron and haem bound by the E protein came from the attacked haemoglobin and phagocytes. When E protein was attached to haem, it synthesised oxygen and water into superoxide anions, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals. When the iron-bound E protein and the haem-bound E protein worked together, they converted superoxide anions and hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water. These were the "ROS attack" and "ROS escape" of the virus. "ROS attack" damaged the tissues or cells exposed on the surface of the virus, and "ROS escape" decomposed the superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide that attacked the virus. When NK cells were exposed to infected cells, viruses that had not shed from the infected cells' surface damaged them through "ROS attack". In addition, lymphocytes such as T cells and B cells, which could be close to the antigen of the virus surface, were also easily damaged or killed by the "ROS attack", generating a decrease in lymphocytes. When memory B cells were exposed to the virus's surface antigen, they were also damaged by "ROS attack", resulting in the patient's re-infection. The virus applied the "ROS escape" to decompose hydrogen peroxide released by phagocytes into oxygen and water. The surrounding cells were replenished with oxygen, and the patient was in a "happy hypoxia" state. When the phagocytes swallowed the virus, the E protein converted superoxide anions into oxygen and water. In this way, the virus parasitized in the vesicles of the phagocyte. While virus was in the lysosome, the E protein generated ROS to damage nearby hydrolases. In this way, the virus parasitized the lysosome. Excessive hydroxyl free radicals destroyed the membrane structure of the lysosome, causing the hydrolase release from lysosome, autophagy of phagocytic cells and subsequent cell death. As a result, the colonizing phagocytes of the virus was associated with asymptomatic infection or retest-positive. Briefly, the virus inhibited the immune system through "ROS escape", and damaged the immune system by "ROS attack". The destruction instigated a strong cytokine storm, leading to organ failure and complications.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/etiology , COVID-19/metabolism , Disease Susceptibility , Host-Pathogen Interactions , Immune System/immunology , Immune System/metabolism , Iron/metabolism , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , SARS-CoV-2/physiology , Amino Acid Sequence , Catalysis , Computational Biology/methods , Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics , Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology , Humans , Immune System/pathology , Models, Molecular , Protein Conformation , Structure-Activity Relationship , Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism , Viral Envelope Proteins/chemistry , Viral Envelope Proteins/metabolismABSTRACT
Self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) is a cutting-edge platform for both nucleic acid vaccines and therapeutics. saRNA is self-adjuvanting, as it activates types I and III interferon (IFN), which enhances the immunogenicity of RNA vaccines but can also lead to inhibition of translation. In this study, we screened a library of saRNA constructs with cis-encoded innate inhibiting proteins (IIPs) and determined the effect on protein expression and immunogenicity. We observed that the PIV-5 V and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) ORF4a proteins enhance protein expression 100- to 500-fold in vitro in IFN-competent HeLa and MRC5 cells. We found that the MERS-CoV ORF4a protein partially abates dose nonlinearity in vivo, and that ruxolitinib, a potent Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) inhibitor, but not the IIPs, enhances protein expression of saRNA in vivo. Both the PIV-5 V and MERS-CoV ORF4a proteins were found to enhance the percentage of resident cells in human skin explants expressing saRNA and completely rescued dose nonlinearity of saRNA. Finally, we observed that the MERS-CoV ORF4a increased the rabies virus (RABV)-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) titer and neutralization half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) by â¼10-fold in rabbits, but not in mice or rats. These experiments provide a proof of concept that IIPs can be directly encoded into saRNA vectors and effectively abate the nonlinear dose dependency and enhance immunogenicity.
Subject(s)
Immunity, Innate/drug effects , Immunogenicity, Vaccine , Protein Biosynthesis/drug effects , Vaccines, Synthetic/pharmacology , Viral Envelope Proteins/administration & dosage , Animals , Cell Line , Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine/drug effects , Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine/immunology , Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine/pathogenicity , Fibroblasts , Gene Expression Regulation , HeLa Cells , Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics , Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology , Humans , Immunoglobulin G/biosynthesis , Interferon Regulatory Factor-3/genetics , Interferon Regulatory Factor-3/immunology , Janus Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors , Janus Kinases/genetics , Janus Kinases/immunology , Mice , Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus/drug effects , Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus/immunology , Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus/pathogenicity , NF-kappa B/genetics , NF-kappa B/immunology , Nitriles , Parainfluenza Virus 5/drug effects , Parainfluenza Virus 5/immunology , Parainfluenza Virus 5/pathogenicity , Pyrazoles/pharmacology , Pyrimidines , Rabbits , Rabies virus/drug effects , Rabies virus/immunology , Rabies virus/pathogenicity , Rats , STAT Transcription Factors/antagonists & inhibitors , STAT Transcription Factors/genetics , STAT Transcription Factors/immunology , Signal Transduction , Vaccines, Synthetic/biosynthesis , Viral Envelope Proteins/genetics , Viral Envelope Proteins/immunologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Humans and viruses have co-evolved for millennia resulting in a complex host genetic architecture. Understanding the genetic mechanisms of immune response to viral infection provides insight into disease etiology and therapeutic opportunities. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive study including genome-wide and transcriptome-wide association analyses to identify genetic loci associated with immunoglobulin G antibody response to 28 antigens for 16 viruses using serological data from 7924 European ancestry participants in the UK Biobank cohort. RESULTS: Signals in human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II region dominated the landscape of viral antibody response, with 40 independent loci and 14 independent classical alleles, 7 of which exhibited pleiotropic effects across viral families. We identified specific amino acid (AA) residues that are associated with seroreactivity, the strongest associations presented in a range of AA positions within DRß1 at positions 11, 13, 71, and 74 for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Varicella zoster virus (VZV), human herpesvirus 7, (HHV7), and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV). Genome-wide association analyses discovered 7 novel genetic loci outside the HLA associated with viral antibody response (P < 5.0 × 10-8), including FUT2 (19q13.33) for human polyomavirus BK (BKV), STING1 (5q31.2) for MCV, and CXCR5 (11q23.3) and TBKBP1 (17q21.32) for HHV7. Transcriptome-wide association analyses identified 114 genes associated with response to viral infection, 12 outside of the HLA region, including ECSCR: P = 5.0 × 10-15 (MCV), NTN5: P = 1.1 × 10-9 (BKV), and P2RY13: P = 1.1 × 10-8 EBV nuclear antigen. We also demonstrated pleiotropy between viral response genes and complex diseases, from autoimmune disorders to cancer to neurodegenerative and psychiatric conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms the importance of the HLA region in host response to viral infection and elucidates novel genetic determinants beyond the HLA that contribute to host-virus interaction.
Subject(s)
Disease Susceptibility , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics , Virus Diseases/etiology , Antibody Formation/genetics , Disease Susceptibility/immunology , Gene Expression Profiling , Genome-Wide Association Study , HLA Antigens/genetics , HLA Antigens/immunology , Humans , Immunity , Immunoglobulin G/immunology , Quantitative Trait, HeritableABSTRACT
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the immediate need for the development of antiviral therapeutics targeting different stages of the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle. We developed a bioluminescence-based bioreporter to interrogate the interaction between the SARS-CoV-2 viral spike (S) protein and its host entry receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The bioreporter assay is based on a nanoluciferase complementation reporter, composed of two subunits, large BiT and small BiT, fused to the S receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein and ACE2 ectodomain, respectively. Using this bioreporter, we uncovered critical host and viral determinants of the interaction, including a role for glycosylation of asparagine residues within the RBD in mediating successful viral entry. We also demonstrate the importance of N-linked glycosylation to the RBD's antigenicity and immunogenicity. Our study demonstrates the versatility of our bioreporter in mapping key residues mediating viral entry as well as screening inhibitors of the ACE2-RBD interaction. Our findings point toward targeting RBD glycosylation for therapeutic and vaccine strategies against SARS-CoV-2.
Subject(s)
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/chemistry , Antibodies, Neutralizing/pharmacology , Biological Assay , Lectins/pharmacology , Receptors, Virus/chemistry , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry , Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/antagonists & inhibitors , Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/genetics , Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/immunology , Asparagine/chemistry , Asparagine/metabolism , Binding Sites , COVID-19/diagnosis , COVID-19/immunology , COVID-19/virology , Genes, Reporter , Glycosylation/drug effects , HEK293 Cells , Host-Pathogen Interactions/drug effects , Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics , Humans , Luciferases/genetics , Luciferases/metabolism , Luminescent Measurements , Protein Binding , Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs , Protein Structure, Secondary , Receptors, Virus/antagonists & inhibitors , Receptors, Virus/genetics , Receptors, Virus/immunology , SARS-CoV-2/drug effects , SARS-CoV-2/growth & development , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/antagonists & inhibitors , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology , Virus Internalization/drug effects , COVID-19 Drug TreatmentABSTRACT
Platelets play an essential role in maintaining vascular integrity after injury. In addition, platelets contribute to the immune response to pathogens. For instance, they express receptors that mediate binding of viruses, and toll-like receptors that activate the cell in response to pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Platelets can be beneficial and/or detrimental during viral infections. They reduce blood-borne viruses by engulfing the free virus and presenting the virus to neutrophils. However, platelets can also enhance inflammation and tissue injury during viral infections. Here, we discuss the roles of platelets in viral infection.
Subject(s)
Blood Platelets/immunology , COVID-19/immunology , Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology , Neutrophils/immunology , Receptors, Virus/immunology , Viral Proteins/immunology , Viruses/immunology , Animals , Blood Platelets/pathology , Blood Platelets/virology , COVID-19/genetics , COVID-19/pathology , COVID-19/virology , Cell Communication/genetics , Cell Communication/immunology , Dendritic Cells/immunology , Dendritic Cells/pathology , Dendritic Cells/virology , Gene Expression Regulation , Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics , Humans , Immunity, Innate , Lymphocytes/immunology , Lymphocytes/pathology , Lymphocytes/virology , Neutrophils/pathology , Neutrophils/virology , Platelet Activation/immunology , Protein Binding , Receptors, Virus/genetics , Toll-Like Receptors/genetics , Toll-Like Receptors/immunology , Viral Proteins/genetics , Viruses/pathogenicityABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a pandemic as of early 2020. Upon infection, SARS-CoV-2 attaches to its receptor, that is, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), on the surface of host cells and is then internalized into host cells via enzymatic machineries. This subsequently stimulates immune response factors. Since the host immune response and severity of COVID-19 vary among individuals, genetic risk factors for severe COVID-19 cases have been investigated. Our research group recently conducted a survey of genetic variants among SARS-CoV-2-interacting molecules across populations, noting near absence of difference in allele frequency spectrum between populations in these genes. Recent genome-wide association studies have identified genetic risk factors for severe COVID-19 cases in a segment of chromosome 3 that involves six genes encoding three immune-regulatory chemokine receptors and another three molecules. The risk haplotype seemed to be inherited from Neanderthals, suggesting genetic adaptation against pathogens in modern human evolution. Therefore, SARS-CoV-2 uses highly conserved molecules as its virion interaction, whereas its immune response appears to be genetically biased in individuals to some extent. We herein review the molecular process of SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as our further survey of genetic variants of its related immune effectors. We also discuss aspects of modern human evolution.
Subject(s)
Adaptive Immunity , COVID-19 , Evolution, Molecular , Genetic Variation , Host-Pathogen Interactions , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , Adaptive Immunity/genetics , Adaptive Immunity/immunology , Animals , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/genetics , COVID-19/immunology , Conserved Sequence , Genome-Wide Association Study , Host Adaptation/genetics , Host Adaptation/immunology , Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics , Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology , Humans , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , Sequence Analysis, RNAABSTRACT
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a ß-coronavirus, is the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like for other coronaviruses, its particles are composed of four structural proteins: spike (S), envelope (E), membrane (M), and nucleoprotein (N) proteins. The involvement of each of these proteins and their interactions are critical for assembly and production of ß-coronavirus particles. Here, we sought to characterize the interplay of SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins during the viral assembly process. By combining biochemical and imaging assays in infected versus transfected cells, we show that E and M regulate intracellular trafficking of S as well as its intracellular processing. Indeed, the imaging data reveal that S is relocalized at endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC) or Golgi compartments upon coexpression of E or M, as observed in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells, which prevents syncytia formation. We show that a C-terminal retrieval motif in the cytoplasmic tail of S is required for its M-mediated retention in the ERGIC, whereas E induces S retention by modulating the cell secretory pathway. We also highlight that E and M induce a specific maturation of N-glycosylation of S, independently of the regulation of its localization, with a profile that is observed both in infected cells and in purified viral particles. Finally, we show that E, M, and N are required for optimal production of virus-like-particles. Altogether, these results highlight how E and M proteins may influence the properties of S proteins and promote the assembly of SARS-CoV-2 viral particles.
Subject(s)
Coronavirus Envelope Proteins/genetics , Nucleocapsid Proteins/genetics , SARS-CoV-2/growth & development , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics , Viral Matrix Proteins/genetics , Virion/growth & development , Virus Assembly/physiology , Animals , Biomimetic Materials/chemistry , Biomimetic Materials/metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor , Chlorocebus aethiops , Coronavirus Envelope Proteins/metabolism , Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism , Endoplasmic Reticulum/ultrastructure , Endoplasmic Reticulum/virology , Gene Expression , Golgi Apparatus/metabolism , Golgi Apparatus/ultrastructure , Golgi Apparatus/virology , HEK293 Cells , Hepatocytes/metabolism , Hepatocytes/ultrastructure , Hepatocytes/virology , Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics , Humans , Nucleocapsid Proteins/metabolism , Recombinant Proteins/genetics , Recombinant Proteins/metabolism , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , SARS-CoV-2/metabolism , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/metabolism , Vero Cells , Viral Matrix Proteins/metabolism , Virion/genetics , Virion/metabolism , Virus Internalization , Virus Release/physiologyABSTRACT
Members of Coronaviridae family have been the source of respiratory illnesses. The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 that produced a severe lung disease in afflicted patients in China and other countries was the reason for the incredible attention paid toward this viral infection. It is known that SARS-CoV-2 is dependent on TMPRSS2 activity for entrance and subsequent infection of the host cells and TMPRSS2 is a host cell molecule that is important for the spread of viruses such as coronaviruses. Different factors can increase the risk of prostate cancer, including older age, a family history of the disease. Androgen receptor (AR) initiates a transcriptional cascade which plays a serious role in both normal and malignant prostate tissues. TMPRSS2 protein is highly expressed in prostate secretory epithelial cells, and its expression is dependent on androgen signals. One of the molecular signs of prostate cancer is TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion. In TMPRSS2-ERG-positive prostate cancers different patterns of changed gene expression can be detected. The possible molecular relation between fusion positive prostate cancer patients and the increased risk of lethal respiratory viral infections especially SARS-CoV-2 can candidate TMPRSS2 as an attractive drug target. The studies show that some molecules such as nicotinamide, PARP1, ETS and IL-1R can be studied deeper in order to control SARS-CoV-2 infection especially in prostate cancer patients. This review attempts to investigate the possible relation between the gene expression pattern that is produced through TMPRSS2-ERG fusion positive prostate cancer and the possible influence of these fluctuations on the pathogenesis and development of viral infections such as SARS-CoV-2.
Subject(s)
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/genetics , COVID-19/genetics , Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics , Prostatic Neoplasms/genetics , Serine Endopeptidases/genetics , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics , Aged , Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/metabolism , COVID-19/complications , COVID-19/pathology , COVID-19/virology , Dihydrotestosterone/metabolism , Gene Expression Regulation , Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics , Humans , Male , Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/metabolism , Prostatic Neoplasms/complications , Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology , Prostatic Neoplasms/virology , Receptors, Androgen/genetics , Receptors, Androgen/metabolism , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , SARS-CoV-2/metabolism , SARS-CoV-2/pathogenicity , Serine Endopeptidases/metabolism , Signal Transduction , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/metabolism , Transcription, Genetic , Virus InternalizationABSTRACT
Effective countermeasures against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) demand a better understanding of the pathogen-host interactions. However, such information about the targets, responses, and effects in the host due to the virus is limited, especially so in the case of newly emerged pathogens. The peptide domains that form the interfaces of host and pathogen interacting proteins being evolutionarily conserved, it may be hypothesized that such interactions can be inferred from the similarities in the nucleotide sequences between the host and the pathogen. This communication reports the results of a study based on a parsimonious approach for the identification of the host-virus interactions, where sequence complementarity between the human and SARS-Cov-2 genomes was used to predict several interactions between the host and SARS-CoV-2 at different levels of biological organization. In particular, the findings are suggestive of a direct effect of SARS-CoV-2 on cardiac health. The existing literature on host responses to SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses attest to many of these predicted interactions, supporting the utility of the proposed approach for the identification of host interactions with other novel pathogens.
Subject(s)
Genome, Human/genetics , Genome, Viral/genetics , Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics , SARS-CoV-2/metabolism , Viral Proteins/metabolism , Amino Acid Sequence/genetics , COVID-19/diagnosis , Cardiomyopathies/virology , Computational Biology/methods , Humans , SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purification , Viral Proteins/geneticsABSTRACT
The pandemic due to novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 is a serious global concern now. More than thousand new COVID-19 infections are getting reported daily for this virus across the globe. Thus, the medical research communities are trying to find the remedy to restrict the spreading of this virus, while the vaccine development work is still under research in parallel. In such critical situation, not only the medical research community, but also the scientists in different fields like microbiology, pharmacy, bioinformatics and data science are also sharing effort to accelerate the process of vaccine development, virus prediction, forecasting the transmissible probability and reproduction cases of virus for social awareness. With the similar context, in this article, we have studied sequence variability of the virus primarily focusing on three aspects: (a) sequence variability among SARS-CoV-1, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 in human host, which are in the same coronavirus family, (b) sequence variability of SARS-CoV-2 in human host for 54 different countries and (c) sequence variability between coronavirus family and country specific SARS-CoV-2 sequences in human host. For this purpose, as a case study, we have performed topological analysis of 2391 global genomic sequences of SARS-CoV-2 in association with SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV using an integrated semi-alignment based computational technique. The results of the semi-alignment based technique are experimentally and statistically found similar to alignment based technique and computationally faster. Moreover, the outcome of this analysis can help to identify the nations with homogeneous SARS-CoV-2 sequences, so that same vaccine can be applied to their heterogeneous human population.