SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk from asymptomatic carriers: Results from a mass screening programme in Luxembourg.

BACKGROUND: To accompany the lifting of COVID-19 lockdown measures, Luxembourg implemented a mass screening (MS) programme. The first phase coincided with an early summer epidemic wave in 2020. METHODS: rRT-PCR-based screening for SARS-CoV-2 was performed by pooling of samples. The infrastructure allowed the testing of the entire resident and cross-border worker populations. The strategy relied on social connectivity within different activity sectors. Invitation frequencies were tactically increased in sectors and regions with higher prevalence. The results were analysed alongside contact tracing data. FINDINGS: The voluntary programme covered 49% of the resident and 22% of the cross-border worker populations. It identified 850 index cases with an additional 249 cases from contact tracing. Over-representation was observed in the services, hospitality and construction sectors alongside regional differences. Asymptomatic cases had a significant but lower secondary attack rate when compared to symptomatic individuals. Based on simulations using an agent-based SEIR model, the total number of expected cases would have been 42·9% (90% CI [-0·3, 96·7]) higher without MS. Mandatory participation would have resulted in a further difference of 39·7% [19·6, 59·2]. INTERPRETATION: Strategic and tactical MS allows the suppression of epidemic dynamics. Asymptomatic carriers represent a significant risk for transmission. Containment of future outbreaks will depend on early testing in sectors and regions. Higher participation rates must be assured through targeted incentivisation and recurrent invitation. FUNDING: This project was funded by the Luxembourg Ministries of Higher Education and Research, and Health.

Discovery of 4H-chromeno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-one derivatives as senescence inducers and their senescence-associated antiproliferative activities on cancer cells using advanced phenotypic assay.

Current research suggests therapy-induced senescence (TIS) of cancer cells characterized by distinct morphological and biochemical phenotypic changes represent a novel functional target that may enhance the effectiveness of cancer therapy. In order to identify novel small-molecule inducers of cellular senescence and determine the potential to be used for the treatment of melanoma, a new method of high-throughput screening (HTS) and high-contents screening (HCS) based on the detection of morphological changes was designed. This image-based and whole cell-based technology was applied to screen and select a novel class of antiproliferative agents on cancer cells, 4H-chromeno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-one derivatives, which induced senescence-like phenotypic changes in human melanoma A375 cells without serious cytotoxicity against normal cells. To evaluate structure-activity relationship (SAR) study of 4H-chromeno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-one scaffold starting from hit 3, a focused library containing diversely modified analogues was constructed and which led to the identification of 38, a novel compound to have remarkable anti-melanoma activity in vitro with good metabolic stability.

Discovery of Q203, a potent clinical candidate for the treatment of tuberculosis.

New therapeutic strategies are needed to combat the tuberculosis pandemic and the spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) forms of the disease, which remain a serious public health challenge worldwide. The most urgent clinical need is to discover potent agents capable of reducing the duration of MDR and XDR tuberculosis therapy with a success rate comparable to that of current therapies for drug-susceptible tuberculosis. The last decade has seen the discovery of new agent classes for the management of tuberculosis, several of which are currently in clinical trials. However, given the high attrition rate of drug candidates during clinical development and the emergence of drug resistance, the discovery of additional clinical candidates is clearly needed. Here, we report on a promising class of imidazopyridine amide (IPA) compounds that block Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth by targeting the respiratory cytochrome bc1 complex. The optimized IPA compound Q203 inhibited the growth of MDR and XDR M. tuberculosis clinical isolates in culture broth medium in the low nanomolar range and was efficacious in a mouse model of tuberculosis at a dose less than 1 mg per kg body weight, which highlights the potency of this compound. In addition, Q203 displays pharmacokinetic and safety profiles compatible with once-daily dosing. Together, our data indicate that Q203 is a promising new clinical candidate for the treatment of tuberculosis.

Detection of melanoma using antibody-conjugated quantum dots in a coculture model for high-throughput screening system.

We proposed an effective strategy for evaluating the targeting specificity of an antibody-conjugated quantum dot (QD) nanoprobe in a coculture system mimicking an in vivo-like tumor microenvironment in which cancer cells grow with normal cells. Analysis of the images was performed with automated confocal microscopy. We have employed a melanoma-melanocyte coculture model to assess the specific binding of QDs conjugated with melanoma antibodies. Conjugation of antibodies to the QD significantly improved the melanoma specificity, while unconjugated antibody alone suffered from non-specific binding to melanocytes. Concentration-dependent binding and competitive inhibition studies with QD-antibody conjugates reproducibly proved the specificity to melanoma cells against melanocytes. The specificity and targeting efficiency of nanoprobes evaluated in a simple coculture model may provide a reasonable assessment for the in vitro diagnosis of early stage melanoma development before in vivo studies. Further, a rapid and sensitive cancer cell detection system demonstrated herein may allow for the development of high-throughput screening platforms for early cancer diagnosis and anti-cancer therapeutics.

Automated genome-wide visual profiling of cellular proteins involved in HIV infection.

Recent genome-wide RNAi screens have identified >842 human genes that affect the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cycle. The list of genes implicated in infection differs between screens, and there is minimal overlap. A reason for this variance is the interdependence of HIV infection and host cell function, producing a multitude of indirect or pleiotropic cellular effects affecting the viral infection during RNAi screening. To overcome this, the authors devised a 15-dimensional phenotypic profile to define the viral infection block induced by CD4 silencing in HeLa cells. They demonstrate that this phenotypic profile excludes nonspecific, RNAi-based side effects and viral replication defects mediated by silencing of housekeeping genes. To achieve statistical robustness, the authors used automatically annotated RNAi arrays for seven independent genome-wide RNAi screens. This identified 56 host genes, which reliably reproduced CD4-like phenotypes upon HIV infection. The factors include 11 known HIV interactors and 45 factors previously not associated with HIV infection. As proof of concept, the authors confirmed that silencing of PAK1, Ku70, and RNAseH2A impaired HIV replication in Jurkat cells. In summary, multidimensional, visual profiling can identify genes required for HIV infection.

High content screening identifies decaprenyl-phosphoribose 2' epimerase as a target for intracellular antimycobacterial inhibitors.

A critical feature of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of human tuberculosis (TB), is its ability to survive and multiply within macrophages, making these host cells an ideal niche for persisting microbes. Killing the intracellular tubercle bacilli is a key requirement for efficient tuberculosis treatment, yet identifying potent inhibitors has been hampered by labor-intensive techniques and lack of validated targets. Here, we present the development of a phenotypic cell-based assay that uses automated confocal fluorescence microscopy for high throughput screening of chemicals that interfere with the replication of M. tuberculosis within macrophages. Screening a library of 57,000 small molecules led to the identification of 135 active compounds with potent intracellular anti-mycobacterial efficacy and no host cell toxicity. Among these, the dinitrobenzamide derivatives (DNB) showed high activity against M. tuberculosis, including extensively drug resistant (XDR) strains. More importantly, we demonstrate that incubation of M. tuberculosis with DNB inhibited the formation of both lipoarabinomannan and arabinogalactan, attributable to the inhibition of decaprenyl-phospho-arabinose synthesis catalyzed by the decaprenyl-phosphoribose 2' epimerase DprE1/DprE2. Inhibition of this new target will likely contribute to new therapeutic solutions against emerging XDR-TB. Beyond validating the high throughput/content screening approach, our results open new avenues for finding the next generation of antimicrobials.

In vivo colocalisation of oskar mRNA and trans-acting proteins revealed by quantitative imaging of the Drosophila oocyte.

Efficient mRNA transport in eukaryotes requires highly orchestrated relationships between nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins. For oskar mRNA, the Drosophila posterior determinant, these spatio-temporal requirements remain opaque during its multi-step transport process. By in vivo covisualization of oskar mRNA with Staufen, its putative trafficking protein, we find oskar mRNA to be present in particles distinct from Staufen for part of its transport. oskar mRNA stably associated with Staufen near the posterior pole. We observe oskar mRNA to oligomerize as hundreds of copies forming large particles which are necessary for its long range transport and localization. We show the formation of these particles occurs in the nurse cell nucleus in an Hrp48-dependent manner. We present a more refined model of oskar mRNA transport in the Drosophila oocyte.

Integrase interactor 1 (Ini1/hSNF5) is a repressor of basal human immunodeficiency virus type 1 promoter activity.

Integrase interactor 1 (Ini1/hSNF5/BAF47/SMARCB1), the core subunit of the ATP-dependent chromatin-remodelling complex SWI/SNF, is a cellular interaction partner of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrase. Ini1/hSNF5 is recruited to HIV-1 pre-integration complexes before nuclear migration, suggesting a function in the integration process itself or a contribution to the preferential selection of transcriptionally active genes as integration sites of HIV-1. More recent evidence indicates, however, that, whilst Ini1/hSNF5 is dispensable for HIV-1 transduction per se, it may have an inhibitory effect on the early steps of HIV-1 replication but facilitates proviral transcription by enhancing Tat function. These partially contradictory observations prompted an investigation of the immediate and long-term effects of Ini1/hSNF5 depletion on the basal transcriptional potential of the virus promoter. Using small interfering RNAs, it was shown that Ini1/hSNF5-containing SWI/SNF complexes mediate transcriptional repression of the basal activity of the integrated HIV-1 long terminal repeat. Transient depletion of Ini1/hSNF5 during integration was accompanied by an early boost of HIV-1 replication. After the reappearance of Ini1/hSNF5, expression levels decreased and this was associated with increased levels of histone methylation at the virus promoter in the long term, indicative of epigenetic gene silencing. These results demonstrate the opposing effects of Ini1/hSNF5-containing SWI/SNF complexes on basal and Tat-dependent transcriptional activity of the HIV-1 promoter. It is proposed that Ini1/hSNF5 may be recruited to the HIV-1 pre-integration complex to initiate, immediately after integration, one of two mutually exclusive transcription programmes, namely post-integration latency or high-level, Tat-dependent gene expression.

High-resolution statistical mapping reveals gene territories in live yeast.

The nonrandom positioning of genes inside eukaryotic cell nuclei is implicated in central nuclear functions. However, the spatial organization of the genome remains largely uncharted, owing to limited resolution of optical microscopy, paucity of nuclear landmarks and moderate cell sampling. We developed a computational imaging approach that creates high-resolution probabilistic maps of subnuclear domains occupied by individual loci in budding yeast through automated analysis of thousands of living cells. After validation, we applied the technique to genes involved in galactose metabolism and ribosome biogenesis. We found that genomic loci are confined to 'gene territories' much smaller than the nucleus, which can be remodeled during transcriptional activation, and that the nucleolus is an important landmark for gene positioning. The technique can be used to visualize and quantify territory positions relative to each other and to nuclear landmarks, and should advance studies of nuclear architecture and function.

Yeast Ataxin-7 links histone deubiquitination with gene gating and mRNA export.

Targeting of a gene to the nuclear pore complexes (NPCs), known as gene gating, can affect its transcriptional state. However, the mechanism underlying gene gating is poorly understood. Here, we have identified SAGA-associated Sgf73 (ref. 10), the yeast orthologue of human Ataxin-7 (ref. 11), as a regulator of histone H2B ubiquitin levels, a modification linked to both transcription initiation and elongation. Sgf73 is a key component of a minimal histone-deubiquitinating complex. Activation of the H2B deubiquitinating protease, Ubp8, is cooperative and requires complex formation with the amino-terminal zinc-finger-containing domain of Sgf73 and Sgf11-Sus1. Through a separate domain, Sgf73 mediates recruitment of the TREX-2 mRNA export factors Sac3 and Thp1 to SAGA and their stable interaction with Sus1-Cdc31. This latter step is crucial to target TREX-2 to the NPC. Loss of Sgf73 from SAGA abrogates gene gating of GAL1 and causes a GAL1 mRNA export defect. Thus, Sgf73 provides a molecular scaffold to integrate the regulation of H2B ubiquitin levels, tethering of a gene to the NPC and export of mRNA.

Cell cycle-dependent kinetochore localization of condensin complex in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In budding yeast mitosis is endonuclear and associated with a very limited condensation of the chromosomes. Despite this partial chromosomal condensation, condensin is conserved and essential for the Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitotic cycle. Here, we investigate the localization of condensin during the mitotic cycle. In addition to a constitutive association with rDNA, we have discovered that condensin is localized to the kinetochore in a cell cycle-dependent manner. Shortly after duplication of the spindle pole body, the yeast equivalent of the centrosome, we observed a local enrichment of condensin colocalizing with kinetochore components. This specific association is consistent with mutant phenotypes of chromosome loss and defective sister chromatid separation at anaphase. During a short period of the cell cycle, we observed, at the single cell level, a spatial proximity of condensin and a cohesin rosette, without colocalization. Furthermore, using a genetic screen we demonstrated that condensin localization at kinetochores is specifically impaired in a mutant for ulp2/smt4, an abundant SUMO protease. In conclusion, during chromosome segregation, we established a SUMO-dependent cell cycle-specific condensin concentration colocalizing with kinetochores.

Hmo1 is required for TOR-dependent regulation of ribosomal protein gene transcription.

Ribosome biogenesis requires equimolar amounts of four rRNAs and all 79 ribosomal proteins (RP). Coordinated regulation of rRNA and RP synthesis by eukaryotic RNA polymerases (Pol) I, III, and II is a key requirement for growth control. Using a novel global genetic approach, we showed that the absence of Hmo1 becomes lethal when combined with mutations of components of either the RNA Pol II or Pol I transcription machineries, of specific RP, or of the TOR pathway. Hmo1 directly interacts with both the region transcribed by Pol I and a subset of RP gene promoters. Down-regulation of Hmo1 expression affects RP gene expression. Upon TORC1 inhibition, Hmo1 dissociates from ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and some RP gene promoters simultaneously. Finally, in the absence of Hmo1, TOR-dependent repression of RP genes is alleviated. Therefore, we show here that Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hmo1 is directly involved in coordinating rDNA transcription by Pol I and RP gene expression by Pol II under the control of the TOR pathway.

High-content classification of nucleocytoplasmic import or export inhibitors.

Transcription factors of the nuclear factor kappa B family are the paradigm for signaling dependent nuclear translocation and are ideally suited to analysis through image-based chemical genetic screening. The authors describe combining high-content image analysis with a compound screen to identify compounds affecting either nuclear import or export. Validation in silico and in vitro determined an EC(50) for the nuclear export blocker leptomycin B of 2.4 ng/mL (4.4 nM). The method demonstrated high selectivity (Z' >0.95), speed, and robustness in a screen of a compound collection. It identified the IkappaB protein kinase inhibitor BAY 11 7082 as an import inhibitor, the p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitor PD98509 as an import enhancer, and phorbol ester as an export inhibitor. The results establish a robust method for identifying compounds regulating nucleocytoplasmic import or export and also implicate MAP kinases in nuclear import of nuclear factor kappa B.

SAGA interacting factors confine sub-diffusion of transcribed genes to the nuclear envelope.

Changes in the transcriptional state of genes have been correlated with their repositioning within the nuclear space. Tethering reporter genes to the nuclear envelope alone can impose repression and recent reports have shown that, after activation, certain genes can also be found closer to the nuclear periphery. The molecular mechanisms underlying these phenomena have remained elusive. Here, with the use of dynamic three-dimensional tracking of a single locus in live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) cells, we show that the activation of GAL genes (GAL7, GAL10 and GAL1) leads to a confinement in dynamic motility. We demonstrate that the GAL locus is subject to sub-diffusive movement, which after activation can become constrained to a two-dimensional sliding motion along the nuclear envelope. RNA-fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis after activation reveals a higher transcriptional activity for the peripherally constrained GAL genes than for loci remaining intranuclear. This confinement was mediated by Sus1 and Ada2, members of the SAGA histone acetyltransferase complex, and Sac3, a messenger RNA export factor, physically linking the activated GAL genes to the nuclear-pore-complex component Nup1. Deleting ADA2 or NUP1 abrogates perinuclear GAL confinement without affecting GAL1 transcription. Accordingly, transcriptional activation is necessary but not sufficient for the confinement of GAL genes at the nuclear periphery. The observed real-time dynamic mooring of active GAL genes to the inner side of the nuclear pore complex is in accordance with the 'gene gating' hypothesis.

Actin polymerisation at the cytoplasmic face of eukaryotic nuclei.

BACKGROUND: There exists abundant molecular and ultra-structural evidence to suggest that cytoplasmic actin can physically interact with the nuclear envelope (NE) membrane system. However, this interaction has yet to be characterised in living interphase cells. RESULTS: Using a fluorescent conjugate of the actin binding drug cytochalasin D (CD-BODIPY) we provide evidence that polymerising actin accumulates in vicinity to the NE. In addition, both transiently expressed fluorescent actin and cytoplasmic micro-injection of fluorescent actin resulted in accumulation of actin at the NE-membrane. Consistent with the idea that the cytoplasmic phase of NE-membranes can support this novel pool of perinuclear actin polymerisation we show that isolated, intact, differentiated primary hepatocyte nuclei support actin polymerisation in vitro. Further this phenomenon was inhibited by treatments hindering steric access to outer-nuclear-membrane proteins (e.g. wheat germ agglutinin, anti-nesprin and anti-nucleoporin antibodies). CONCLUSION: We conclude that actin polymerisation occurs around interphase nuclei of living cells at the cytoplasmic phase of NE-membranes.

Quality control of messenger ribonucleoprotein particles in the nucleus and at the pore.

The spatial separation of nuclear transcription and cytoplasmic translation in eukaryotic cells implies that mRNAs have to travel. On their journey, proteins involved in the various steps of transcript formation, processing and transport dynamically interact with mRNAs to form diverse messenger ribonucleoprotein complexes (mRNPs). Increasing evidence indicates that the protein complexes involved in distinct phases of manufacturing a bona fide mRNA in the nucleus are tightly coupled. Moreover, the recent demonstration that active genes migrate into preassembled, shared nuclear sub-compartments suggests that mRNAs are churned out in large 'transcription factories' with distinct but interconnected divisions. Nuclear factors have now been identified that specifically control the quality of mRNAs without affecting mRNP biogenesis or export.

Ini1/hSNF5 is dispensable for retrovirus-induced cytoplasmic accumulation of PML and does not interfere with integration.

Retroviral infection triggers the cytoplasmic translocation of two Crm1-dependent shuttle factors, namely the Ini1 (integrase interactor 1, hSNF5) and the promyelocytic leukemia (PML) protein. Blocking nuclear export of shuttle factors by leptomycin B increases the efficiency of retroviral integration, suggesting that some may mediate antiviral activity. While PML was shown to counteract proviral establishment, it remained unclear whether Ini1, a protein implicated in various processes during human immunodeficiency virus replication, has the same potential. Employing RNA interference-mediated knock-down of Ini1, we show here that the simultaneous accumulation of both proteins in the cytoplasm likely reflects two non-interdependent phenomena. Furthermore, Ini1 does not interfere with retroviral integration, as cells lacking Ini1 show no increased infection susceptibility.

Nuclear retention of unspliced mRNAs in yeast is mediated by perinuclear Mlp1.

The molecular mechanism underlying the retention of intron-containing mRNAs in the nucleus is not understood. Here, we show that retention of intron-containing mRNAs in yeast is mediated by perinuclearly located Mlp1. Deletion of MLP1 impairs retention while having no effect on mRNA splicing. The Mlp1-dependent leakage of intron-containing RNAs is increased in presence of ts-prp18 delta, a splicing mutant. When overall pre-mRNA levels are increased by deletion of RRP6, a nuclear exosome component, MLP1 deletion augments leakage of only the intron-containing portion of mRNAs. Our data suggest, moreover, that Mlp1-dependent retention is mediated via the 5' splice site. Intriguingly, we found Mlp-proteins to be present only on sections of the NE adjacent to chromatin. We propose that at this confined site the perinuclear Mlp1 implements a quality control step prior to export, physically retaining faulty pre-mRNAs.

Borna disease virus glycoprotein is required for viral dissemination in neurons.

Borna disease virus (BDV) is a nonsegmented negative-strand RNA virus with a tropism for neurons. Infection with BDV causes neurological diseases in a wide variety of animal species. Although it is known that the virus spreads from neuron to neuron, assembled viral particles have never been visualized in the brains of infected animals. This has led to the hypothesis that BDV spreads as nonenveloped ribonucleoproteins (RNP) rather than as enveloped viral particles. We assessed whether the viral envelope glycoprotein (GP) is required for neuronal dissemination of BDV by using primary cultures of rat hippocampal neurons. We show that upon in vitro infection, BDV replicated and spread efficiently in this system. Despite rapid virus dissemination, very few infectious viral particles were detectable in the culture. However, neutralizing antibodies directed against BDV-GP inhibited BDV spread. In addition, interference with BDV-GP processing by inhibiting furin-mediated cleavage of the glycoprotein blocked virus spread. Finally, antisense treatment with peptide nucleic acids directed against BDV-GP mRNA inhibited BDV dissemination, marking BDV-GP as an attractive target for antiviral therapy against BDV. Together, our results demonstrate that the expression and correct processing of BDV-GP are necessary for BDV dissemination in primary cultures of rat hippocampal neurons, arguing against the hypothesis that the virus spreads from neuron to neuron in the form of nonenveloped RNP.

Nuclear structure and intranuclear retention of premature RNAs.

Eukaryotic cells are highly compartmentalized, each compartment being surrounded by a lipid bilayer. This membrane-based organization allows cells to use their volumes to encode information. The lack of intranuclear membranes suggested that the nucleus was largely devoid of structural organization. However, recent work has defined numerous specialized nuclear subdomains. Importantly, RNA processing factors do not display random distribution but cluster in defined nuclear bodies. Although these structures are well characterized morphologically, their function in relation to RNA metabolism remains elusive. In this review, we will discuss the putative participation of nuclear substructures in a quality control step of RNA biogenesis, the nuclear retention of premature RNA.