Ethanol Inactivation of Enveloped Viruses: Structural and Surface Chemistry Insights into Phi6.

Lipid-enveloped viruses, such as Ebola, influenza, or coronaviruses, are a major threat to human health. Ethanol is an efficient disinfectant that is widely used to inactivate these viruses and prevent their transmission. However, the interactions between ethanol and enveloped viruses leading to their inactivation are not yet fully understood. This study demonstrates the link between ethanol-induced viral inactivation and the nanostructural and chemical transformations of the model virus Phi6, an 85 nm diameter lipid-enveloped bacterial virus that is commonly used as surrogate for human pathogenic viruses. The virus morphology was investigated using small-angle X-ray scattering and dynamic light scattering and was related to its infectivity. The Phi6's surface chemistry was characterized by cryogenic X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the modifications in protein structure were assessed by circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy. Ethanol-triggered structural modifications were found in the lipid envelope, detaching from the protein capsid and forming coexisting nanostructures.

Transfer Rate of Enveloped and Nonenveloped Viruses between Fingerpads and Surfaces.

Fomites can represent a reservoir for pathogens, which may be subsequently transferred from surfaces to skin. In this study, we aim to understand how different factors (including virus type, surface type, time since last hand wash, and direction of transfer) affect virus transfer rates, defined as the fraction of virus transferred, between fingerpads and fomites. To determine this, 360 transfer events were performed with 20 volunteers using Phi6 (a surrogate for enveloped viruses), MS2 (a surrogate for nonenveloped viruses), and three clean surfaces (stainless steel, painted wood, and plastic). Considering all transfer events (all surfaces and both transfer directions combined), the mean transfer rates of Phi6 and MS2 were 0.17 and 0.26, respectively. Transfer of MS2 was significantly higher than that of Phi6 (P < 0.05). Surface type was a significant factor that affected the transfer rate of Phi6: Phi6 is more easily transferred to and from stainless steel and plastic than to and from painted wood. Direction of transfer was a significant factor affecting MS2 transfer rates: MS2 is more easily transferred from surfaces to fingerpads than from fingerpads to surfaces. Data from these virus transfer events, and subsequent transfer rate distributions, provide information that can be used to refine quantitative microbial risk assessments. This study provides a large-scale data set of transfer events with a surrogate for enveloped viruses, which extends the reach of the study to the role of fomites in the transmission of human enveloped viruses like influenza and SARS-CoV-2. IMPORTANCE This study created a large-scale data set for the transfer of enveloped viruses between skin and surfaces. The data set produced by this study provides information on modeling the distribution of enveloped and nonenveloped virus transfer rates, which can aid in the implementation of risk assessment models in the future. Additionally, enveloped and nonenveloped viruses were applied to experimental surfaces in an equivalent matrix to avoid matrix effects, so results between different viral species can be directly compared without confounding effects of different matrices. Our results indicating how virus type, surface type, time since last hand wash, and direction of transfer affect virus transfer rates can be used in decision-making processes to lower the risk of viral infection from transmission through fomites.

Multiple liquid crystalline geometries of highly compacted nucleic acid in a dsRNA virus.

Characterizing the genome of mature virions is pivotal to understanding the highly dynamic processes of virus assembly and infection. Owing to the different cellular fates of DNA and RNA, the life cycles of double-stranded (ds)DNA and dsRNA viruses are dissimilar. In terms of nucleic acid packing, dsDNA viruses, which lack genome segmentation and intra-capsid transcriptional machinery, predominantly display single-spooled genome organizations1-8. Because the release of dsRNA into the cytoplasm triggers host defence mechanisms9, dsRNA viruses retain their genomes within a core particle that contains the enzymes required for RNA replication and transcription10-12. The genomes of dsRNA viruses vary greatly in the degree of segmentation. In members of the Reoviridae family, genomes consist of 10-12 segments and exhibit a non-spooled arrangement mediated by RNA-dependent RNA polymerases11-14. However, whether this arrangement is a general feature of dsRNA viruses remains unknown. Here, using cryo-electron microscopy to resolve the dsRNA genome structure of the tri-segmented bacteriophage ɸ6 of the Cystoviridae family, we show that dsRNA viruses can adopt a dsDNA-like single-spooled genome organization. We find that in this group of viruses, RNA-dependent RNA polymerases do not direct genome ordering, and the dsRNA can adopt multiple conformations. We build a model that encompasses 90% of the genome, and use this to quantify variation in the packing density and to characterize the different liquid crystalline geometries that are exhibited by the tightly compacted nucleic acid. Our results demonstrate that the canonical model for the packing of dsDNA can be extended to dsRNA viruses.

Double-stranded RNA virus outer shell assembly by bona fide domain-swapping.

Correct outer protein shell assembly is a prerequisite for virion infectivity in many multi-shelled dsRNA viruses. In the prototypic dsRNA bacteriophage φ6, the assembly reaction is promoted by calcium ions but its biomechanics remain poorly understood. Here, we describe the near-atomic resolution structure of the φ6 double-shelled particle. The outer T=13 shell protein P8 consists of two alpha-helical domains joined by a linker, which allows the trimer to adopt either a closed or an open conformation. The trimers in an open conformation swap domains with each other. Our observations allow us to propose a mechanistic model for calcium concentration regulated outer shell assembly. Furthermore, the structure provides a prime exemplar of bona fide domain-swapping. This leads us to extend the theory of domain-swapping from the level of monomeric subunits and multimers to closed spherical shells, and to hypothesize a mechanism by which closed protein shells may arise in evolution.

Rescue of maturation off-pathway products in the assembly of Pseudomonas phage φ 6.

Many complex viruses use an assembly pathway in which their genome is packaged into an empty procapsid which subsequently matures into its final expanded form. We utilized Pseudomonas phage 6, a well-established virus assembly model, to probe the plasticity of the procapsid maturation pathway. The 6 packaging nucleoside triphosphatase (NTPase), which powers sequential translocation of the three viral genomic single-stranded RNA molecules to the procapsid during capsid maturation, is part of the mature 6 virion but may spontaneously be dissociated from the procapsid shell. We demonstrate that the dissociation of NTPase subunits results in premature capsid expansion, which is detected as a change in the sedimentation velocity and as defects in RNA packaging and transcription activity. However, this dead-end conformation of the procapsids was rescued by the addition of purified NTPase hexamers, which efficiently associated on the NTPase-deficient particles and subsequently drove their contraction to the compact naive conformation. The resulting particles regained their biological and enzymatic activities, directing them into a productive maturation pathway. These observations imply that the maturation pathways of complex viruses may contain reversible steps that allow the rescue of the off-pathway conformation in an overall unidirectional virion assembly pathway. Furthermore, we provide direct experimental evidence that particles which have different physical properties (distinct sedimentation velocities and conformations) display different stages of the genome packaging program and show that the transcriptional activity of the 6 procapsids correlates with the number of associated NTPase subunits.

Subunit folds and maturation pathway of a dsRNA virus capsid.

The cystovirus ϕ6 shares several distinct features with other double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) viruses, including the human pathogen, rotavirus: segmented genomes, nonequivalent packing of 120 subunits in its icosahedral capsid, and capsids as compartments for transcription and replication. ϕ6 assembles as a dodecahedral procapsid that undergoes major conformational changes as it matures into the spherical capsid. We determined the crystal structure of the capsid protein, P1, revealing a flattened trapezoid subunit with an α-helical fold. We also solved the procapsid with cryo-electron microscopy to comparable resolution. Fitting the crystal structure into the procapsid disclosed substantial conformational differences between the two P1 conformers. Maturation via two intermediate states involves remodeling on a similar scale, besides huge rigid-body rotations. The capsid structure and its stepwise maturation that is coupled to sequential packaging of three RNA segments sets the cystoviruses apart from other dsRNA viruses as a dynamic molecular machine.

Protein P7 of the cystovirus φ6 is located at the three-fold axis of the unexpanded procapsid.

The objective of this study was to determine the location of protein P7, the RNA packaging factor, in the procapsid of the φ6 cystovirus. A comparison of cryo-electron microscopy high-resolution single particle reconstructions of the φ6 complete unexpanded procapsid, the protein P2-minus procapsid (P2 is the RNA directed RNA-polymerase), and the P7-minus procapsid, show that prior to RNA packaging the P7 protein is located near the three-fold axis of symmetry. Difference maps highlight the precise position of P7 and demonstrate that in P7-minus particles the P2 proteins are less localized with reduced densities at the three-fold axes. We propose that P7 performs the mechanical function of stabilizing P2 on the inner protein P1 shell which ensures that entering viral single-stranded RNA is replicated.

Packaging accessory protein P7 and polymerase P2 have mutually occluding binding sites inside the bacteriophage 6 procapsid.

Bacteriophage 6 is a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) virus whose genome is packaged sequentially as three single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) segments into an icosahedral procapsid which serves as a compartment for genome replication and transcription. The procapsid shell consists of 60 copies each of P1(A) and P1(B), two nonequivalent conformers of the P1 protein. Hexamers of the packaging ATPase P4 are mounted over the 5-fold vertices, and monomers of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (P2) attach to the inner surface, near the 3-fold axes. A fourth protein, P7, is needed for packaging and also promotes assembly. We used cryo-electron microscopy to localize P7 by difference mapping of procapsids with different protein compositions. We found that P7 resides on the interior surface of the P1 shell and appears to be monomeric. Its binding sites are arranged around the 3-fold axes, straddling the interface between two P1(A) subunits. Thus, P7 may promote assembly by stabilizing an initiation complex. Only about 20% of the 60 P7 binding sites were occupied in our preparations. P7 density overlaps P2 density similarly mapped, implying mutual occlusion. The known structure of the 12 homolog fits snugly into the P7 density. Both termini-which have been implicated in RNA binding-are oriented toward the adjacent 5-fold vertex, the entry pathway of ssRNA segments. Thus, P7 may promote packaging either by interacting directly with incoming RNA or by modulating the structure of the translocation pore.

Cryo-electron tomography of bacteriophage phi6 procapsids shows random occupancy of the binding sites for RNA polymerase and packaging NTPase.

Assembly of dsRNA bacteriophage phi6 involves packaging of the three mRNA strands of the segmented genome into the procapsid, an icosahedrally symmetric particle with recessed vertices. The hexameric packaging NTPase (P4) overlies these vertices, and the monomeric RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP, P2) binds at sites inside the shell. P2 and P4 are present in substoichiometric amounts, raising the questions of whether they are recruited to the nascent procapsid in defined amounts and at specific locations, and whether they may co-localize to form RNA-processing assembly lines at one or more "special" vertices. We have used cryo-electron tomography to map both molecules on individual procapsids. The results show variable complements that accord with binomial distributions with means of 8 (P2) and 5 (P4), suggesting that they are randomly incorporated in copy numbers that simply reflect availability, i.e. their rates of synthesis. Analysis of the occupancy of potential binding sites (20 for P2; 12 for P4) shows no tendency to cluster nor for P2 and P4 to co-localize, suggesting that the binding sites for both proteins are occupied in random fashion. These observations indicate that although P2 and P4 act sequentially on the same substrates there is no direct physical coupling between their activities.

Initial location of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase in the bacteriophage Phi6 procapsid determined by cryo-electron microscopy.

The RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRPs) of Cystoviridae bacteriophages, like those of eukaryotic viruses of the Reoviridae, function inside the inner capsid shell in both replication and transcription. In bacteriophage Phi6, this inner shell is first assembled as an icosahedral procapsid with recessed 5-fold vertices that subsequently undergoes major structural changes during maturation. The tripartite genome is packaged as single-stranded RNA molecules via channels on the 5-fold vertices, and transcripts probably exit the mature capsid by the same route. The RdRP (protein P2) is assembled within the procapsid, and it was thought that it should be located on the 5-fold axes near the RNA entry and exit channels. To determine the initial location of the RdRP inside the procapsid of bacteriophage Phi6, we performed cryo-electron microscopy of wild type and mutant procapsids and complemented these data with biochemical determinations of copy numbers. We observe ring-like densities on the 3-fold axes that are strong in a mutant that has approximately 10 copies of P2 per particle; faint in wild type, reflecting the lower copy number of approximately 3; and completely absent in a P2-null mutant. The dimensions and shapes of these densities match those of the known crystal structure of the P2 monomer. We propose that, during maturation, the P2 molecules rotate to occupy positions closer to adjacent 5-fold vertices where they conduct replication and transcription.

Electron cryomicroscopy comparison of the architectures of the enveloped bacteriophages phi6 and phi8.

The enveloped dsRNA bacteriophages phi6 and phi8 are the two most distantly related members of the Cystoviridae family. Their structure and function are similar to that of the Reoviridae but their assembly can be conveniently studied in vitro. Electron cryomicroscopy and three-dimensional icosahedral reconstruction were used to determine the structures of the phi6 virion (14 A resolution), phi8 virion (18 A resolution), and phi8 core (8.5 A resolution). Spikes protrude 2 nm from the membrane bilayer in phi6 and 7 nm in phi8. In the phi6 nucleocapsid, 600 copies of P8 and 72 copies of P4 interact with the membrane, whereas in phi8 it is only P4 and 60 copies of a minor protein. The major polymerase complex protein P1 forms a dodecahedral shell from 60 asymmetric dimers in both viruses, but the alpha-helical fold has apparently diverged. These structural differences reflect the different host ranges and entry and assembly mechanisms of the two viruses.

Packaging, replication and recombination of the segmented genome of bacteriophage Phi6 and its relatives.

The genomes of bacteriophage Phi6 and its relatives are packaged through a mechanism that involves the recognition and translocation of the three different plus strand transcripts of the segmented dsRNA genomes into preformed polyhedral structures called procapsids or inner cores. The packaging requires hydrolysis of NTPs and takes place in the order S:M:L. Minus strand synthesis begins after the completion of the plus strand packaging. The packaging and replication reactions can be studied in vitro with purified components. A model has been presented that proposes that the program of serially dependent packaging is determined by the conformational changes at the surface of the procapsid due to the amount of RNA packaged at each step. The in vitro packaging and replication system has facilitated the application of reverse genetics and the study of recombination in the family of Cystoviridae.

Do viruses form lineages across different domains of life?

The scarce characterisation of the viral world has hampered our efforts to appreciate the magnitude and diversity of the viral domain. It appears that almost every species can be infected by a number of viruses. As our knowledge of viruses increases, it appears that this myriad of viruses may be organised into a reasonably low number of viral lineages including members infecting hosts belonging to different domains of life. Viruses belonging to a lineage share a common innate "self" that refers to structural and assembly principles of the virion. This hypothesis has a few consequences. All viruses are old, maybe preceding cellular life, and virus origins are polyphyletic, as opposed to the idea of a monophyletic origin of cellular life.

A symmetry mismatch at the site of RNA packaging in the polymerase complex of dsRNA bacteriophage phi6.

The polymerase complex of the enveloped double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) bacteriophage phi6 fulfils a similar function to those of other dsRNA viruses such as Reoviridae. The phi6 complex comprises protein P1, which forms the shell, and proteins P2, P4 and P7, which are involved in RNA synthesis and packaging. Icosahedral reconstructions from cryo-electron micrographs of recombinant polymerase particles revealed a clear dodecahedral shell and weaker satellites. Difference imaging demonstrated that these weak satellites were the sites of P4 and P2 within the complex. The structure determined by icosahedral reconstruction was used as an initial model in an iterative reconstruction technique to examine the departures from icosahedral symmetry. This approach showed that P4 and P2 contribute to structures at the 5-fold positions of the icosahedral P1 shell which lack 5-fold symmetry and appear in variable orientations. Reconstruction of isolated recombinant P4 showed that it was a hexamer with a size and shape matching the satellite. Symmetry mismatch between the satellites and the shell could play a role in RNA packaging akin to that of the portal vertex of dsDNA phages in DNA packaging. This is the first example of dsRNA virus in which the structure of the polymerase complex has been determined without the assumption of icosahedral symmetry. Our result with phi6 illustrates the symmetry mismatch which may occur at the sites of RNA packaging in other dsRNA viruses such as members of the Reoviridae.

A novel virus-host cell membrane interaction. Membrane voltage-dependent endocytic-like entry of bacteriophage straight phi6 nucleocapsid.

Studies on the virus-cell interactions have proven valuable in elucidating vital cellular processes. Interestingly, certain virus-host membrane interactions found in eukaryotic systems seem also to operate in prokaryotes (Bamford, D.H., M. Romantschuk, and P. J. Somerharju, 1987. EMBO (Eur. Mol. Biol. Organ.) J. 6:1467-1473; Romantschuk, M., V.M. Olkkonen, and D.H. Bamford. 1988. EMBO (Eur. Mol. Biol. Organ.) J. 7:1821-1829). straight phi6 is an enveloped double-stranded RNA virus infecting a gram-negative bacterium. The viral entry is initiated by fusion between the virus membrane and host outer membrane, followed by delivery of the viral nucleocapsid (RNA polymerase complex covered with a protein shell) into the host cytosol via an endocytic-like route. In this study, we analyze the interaction of the nucleocapsid with the host plasma membrane and demonstrate a novel approach for dissecting the early events of the nucleocapsid entry process. The initial binding of the nucleocapsid to the plasma membrane is independent of membrane voltage (DeltaPsi) and the K(+) and H(+) gradients. However, the following internalization is dependent on plasma membrane voltage (DeltaPsi), but does not require a high ATP level or K(+) and H(+) gradients. Moreover, the nucleocapsid shell protein, P8, is the viral component mediating the membrane-nucleocapsid interaction.

Mutational analysis of the role of nucleoside triphosphatase P4 in the assembly of the RNA polymerase complex of bacteriophage phi6.

Bacteriophage phi6 is a complex enveloped double-stranded RNA virus with a segmented genome and replication strategy quite similar to that of the Reoviridae. An in vitro packaging and replication system using purified components is available. The positive-polarity genomic segments are translocated into a preformed polymerase complex (procapsid) particle. This particle is composed of four proteins: the shell-forming protein P1, the RNA polymerase P2, and two proteins active in packaging. Protein P7 is involved in stable packaging, and protein P4 is a homomultimeric potent nucleoside triphosphatase that provides the energy for the RNA translocation event. In this investigation, we used mutational analysis to study P4 multimerization and assembly. P4 is assembled onto a preformed particle containing proteins P2 and P7 in addition to P1. Only simultaneous production of P1 and P4 in the same cell leads to P4 assembly on P1 alone, whereas the P1 shell is incompetent for accepting P4 if produced separately. The C-terminal part of P4 is essential for particle assembly but not for multimerization or enzymatic activity. Altering the P4 nucleoside triphosphate binding site destroys the ability to form multimers.

Intermediates in the assembly pathway of the double-stranded RNA virus phi6.

The double-stranded RNA bacteriophage phi6 contains a nucleocapsid enclosed by a lipid envelope. The nucleocapsid has an outer layer of protein P8 and a core consisting of the four proteins P1, P2, P4 and P7. These four proteins form the polyhedral structure which acts as the RNA packaging and polymerase complex. Simultaneous expression of these four proteins in Escherichia coli gives rise to procapsids that can carry out the entire RNA replication cycle. Icosahedral image reconstruction from cryo-electron micrographs was used to determine the three-dimensional structures of the virion-isolated nucleocapsid and core, and of several procapsid-related particles expressed and assembled in E. coli. The nucleocapsid has a T = 13 surface lattice, composed primarily of P8. The core is a rounded structure with turrets projecting from the 5-fold vertices, while the procapsid is smaller than the core and more dodecahedral. The differences between the core and the procapsid suggest that maturation involves extensive structural rearrangements producing expansion. These rearrangements are co-ordinated with the packaging and RNA polymerization reactions that result in virus assembly. This structural characterization of the phi6 assembly intermediates reveals the ordered progression of obligate stages leading to virion assembly along with striking similarities to the corresponding Reoviridae structures.

Structural studies of the enveloped dsRNA bacteriophage phi 6 of Pseudomonas syringae by Raman spectroscopy. I. The virion and its membrane envelope.

We report and interpret the first Raman spectrum of a double-stranded RNA virus containing a membrane envelope. Spectra of the native bacteriophage phi 6 and of its isolated host-attachment (spike) protein and phospholipid-free core assembly were collected from aqueous solutions over a wide range of temperature. Comparison of the vibrational spectra by digital difference methods permits the following structural conclusions regarding molecular constituents of the fully assembled virion. (1) The double-stranded RNA, phospholipid and protein components of the phage exhibit Raman amplitudes in accordance with their biochemically determined compositions in the native virion (10, 20 and 70%, respectively). (2) alpha-Helix and irregular conformations are the dominant secondary structures in proteins of both the viral membrane and nucleocapsid. This represents a departure from previously examined icosahedral phage and plant viruses, which are dominated by beta-sheet structures. (3) The phospholipids of the viral membrane are liquid crystalline throughout the determined range of virus thermostability (0 to 40 degrees C). (4) The P3 spike protein of phi 6, which is anchored to, but not sequestered within the viral membrane, is largely alpha-helical (approximately 35%) and highly thermolabile. Denaturation of P3 at temperatures above 30 degrees C leads to appreciable loss (approximately 20%) of alpha-helix in favor of beta-strand structure, and alters significantly the environments of many aromatic side-chains. (5) The secondary structures of integral membrane proteins of phi 6 are overwhelmingly alpha-helical (approximately 70 to 80%) and also thermolabile. In contrast to P3, which exhibits aspartate and glutamate carboxyls in the ionized form (CO2-), the integral membrane proteins exhibit only protonated carboxyl groups (COOH). Treatment of phi 6 with butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), which has been shown to remove the P3 spike protein, does not significantly perturb phospholipids and associated integral proteins of the viral membrane or structural proteins and packaged double-stranded RNA of the nucleocapsid. However, P3 subunits, which are recovered after BHT treatment, exhibit radically altered secondary and tertiary structures, including the loss of most subunit alpha-helices. Among the P3 side-chains affected by BHT treatment, we note a general trend toward greater hydrophilicity and greater solvent exposure of the aromatic residues Trp and Tyr. On the other hand, the cysteine sulfhydryl groups of the BHT-isolated P3 monomer are not solvent exposed and function as strong hydrogen-bond donors in the protein core.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Structural studies of the enveloped dsRNA bacteriophage phi 6 of Pseudomonas syringae by Raman spectroscopy. II. Nucleocapsid structure and thermostability of the virion, nucleocapsid and polymerase complex.

Structures and thermostabilities of the double-stranded (ds) RNA bacteriophage phi 6 and of its isolated nucleocapsid-polymerase complex (nucleocapsid core) and dsRNA components have been investigated by Raman spectroscopy. The spectra show that proteins of the phi 6 virion are collectively deficient in beta-sheet secondary structure. In particular, the major protein (P8) of the outer spherical shell of the phi 6 nucleocapsid exhibits a secondary structure dominated largely by alpha-helix and irregular conformations. The absence of appreciable beta-structure in the P8 subunit suggests a tertiary conformation lacking the beta-barrel motif common to subunits of most other spherical viral capsids. In addition, the Raman spectra show that subunits of the dodecahedral nucleocapsid core are also predominantly alpha-helical. The results thus indicate a largely alpha-helical secondary structure for the major subunit (P1) of the phi 6 nucleocapsid core, as well as for the P8 subunit of the outer spherical shell. Using Raman difference spectroscopy, we demonstrate that proteins of the nucleocapsid core (P1, P2, P4 and P7) interact extensively with the packaged phi 6 RNA genome, and further, that conformational stability of the packaged RNA is reduced upon removal from the core. Also, we find that proteins of the phi 6 nucleocapsid are significantly more thermostable than proteins of the viral membrane envelope, which are reported in the accompanying paper (Li et al., 1993). The present results suggest that both the architectural principles and modes of protein-RNA interaction in the phi 6 virion differ fundamentally from those of icosahedral single-stranded RNA viruses. Both Raman and circular dichroism spectra indicate that the dsRNA genome of phi 6 is an A-form structure. The Raman marker bands signify the presence only of C3'-endo/anti nucleoside conformers. The Raman signature of dsRNA, revealed in the spectrum of the phi 6 genome, is discussed here as a model for assessing base-pairing and base-stacking interactions in other ribonucleoprotein assemblies.