The aging process is characterized by cellular functional decline and increased susceptibility to infections. Understanding the association between virus infection and aging is crucial for developing effective strategies against viral infections in older individuals. However, the relationship between Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infection, a cause of Kaposi's sarcoma prevalent among the elderly without HIV infection, and cellular senescence remains enigmatic. This study uncovers a fascinating link between cellular senescence and enhanced KSHV infectivity in human endothelial cells. Through a comprehensive proteomic analysis, we identified caveolin-1 and CD109 as novel host factors significantly upregulated in senescent cells that promote KSHV infection. Remarkably, CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knockout of these factors reduced KSHV binding and entry, leading to decreased viral infectivity. Furthermore, surface plasmon resonance analysis and confocal microscopy revealed a direct interaction between KSHV virions and CD109 on the cell surface during entry, with recombinant CD109 protein exhibiting an intriguing ability to inhibit infection by blocking virion binding. These findings uncover a previously unrecognized role of cellular senescence in enhancing KSHV infection through upregulation of specific host factors and provide novel insights into the complex interplay between aging and viral pathogenesis.
Myung-Ju Lee, Jun-Hee Yeon, Jisu Lee, Yun Hee Kang, Beom Seok Park, Joo Hee Park, Sung-Ho Yun, Dagmar Wirth, Seung-Min Yoo, Changhoon Park, Shou-Jiang Gao, Myung-Shin Lee
BACKGROUND. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has improved the clinical management of HIV-1 infection. However, little is known about how the latest ART recommendations affect the heterogeneity of HIV-1 reservoir size. METHODS. We used a complete statistical approach to outline parameters underlying diversity in HIV-1 reservoir size in a cohort of 892 people with HIV-1 (PWH) on suppressive ART for >3 years. Total HIV-1-DNA levels were measured in PBMCs using digital droplet PCR (ddPCR). RESULTS. We classified 179 (20%) participants as Low Viral Reservoir Treated (LoViReT, <50 HIV-1-DNA copies/106 PBMCs). Twenty variables were collected to explore their association with the LoViReT phenotype using machine learning approaches. Nadir CD4 and zenith pre-ART viral load were closely associated with LoViReT status, with lower CD4 recovery, shorter time from diagnosis to undetectable viral load, and initiation of treatment with an integrase inhibitor (InSTI)–containing regimen. Initiating ART with any InSTI was also associated with shorter time to undetectable viremia. Locally estimated scatterplot smoothing (LOESS) regression revealed a progressive reduction in the size of the HIV-1 reservoir in individuals who started ART after 2007. Similarly, higher nadir CD4 and shorter time to undetectable viremia were observed when treatment was initiated after that year. CONCLUSION. Our findings demonstrate that the progressive implementation of earlier, universal treatment at diagnosis and the use of InSTIs affect the size of the HIV-1 reservoir. Our work shows that effective management of infection is the first step toward reducing the reservoir and brings us closer to achieving a cure. FUNDING. U.S. National Institutes of Health, Division of AIDS at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Merck Sharp & Dohme.
Irene González-Navarro, Víctor Urrea, Cristina Gálvez, Maria del Carmen Garcia-Guerrero, Sara Morón-López, Maria C. Puertas, Eulàlia Grau, Beatriz Mothe, Lucía Bailón, Cristina Miranda, Felipe García, Lorna Leal, Linos Vandekerckhove, Vincent C. Marconi, Rafick P. Sekaly, Bonaventura Clotet, Javier Martinez-Picado, Maria Salgado
BACKGROUND. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), but the existence of NPC protective antibody against EBV-associated antigens remains inconclusive. METHODS. NPC cases and matched controls were identified from prospective cohorts comprising 75,481 participants in southern China. ELISA and conditional logistic regression were applied to assess effects of gp42-IgG on NPC. The expression of HLA-II, the gp42 receptor, in nasopharyngeal atypical dysplasia and its impact on EBV infecting epithelial cells were evaluated. FINDINGS. gp42-IgG titers were significantly lower in NPC cases compared to controls across various follow-up years before NPC diagnosis (P<0.05). Individuals in the highest quartile of gp42-IgG titers had a 71% NPC risk reduction comparing to those in the lowest quartile (odds ratios [OR]Q4vsQ1=0.29, 95% confidence intervals [CIs]=0·15 to 0·55, P<0.001). Each unit antibody titer increase was associated with 34% lower risk of NPC (OR=0.66, 95% CI=0.54 to 0.81, Ptrend <0.001). Their protective effect was observed in cases diagnosed ≥5 years, 1-5 years and <1 year after blood collection (P<0.05). HLA-II expression was detected in 13 of 27 nasopharyngeal atypical dysplasia and its overexpression substantially promoted epithelial-cell-origin EBV infection. CONCLUSION. Elevated EBV gp42-IgG titers can reduce NPC risk, indicating gp42 as a potential EBV prophylactic vaccine design target. TRIAL REGISTRATION. NCT00941538, NCT02501980, ChiCTR2000028776, ChiCTR2100041628. FUNDING. Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases-National Science and Technology Major Project, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Local Innovative and Research Teams Project of Guangdong Pearl River Talents Program, Central Financial Transfer Payment Projects of the Chinese Government, Cancer Research Grant of Zhongshan City.
Xiang-Wei Kong, Guo-Long Bu, Hua Chen, Yu-Hua Huang, Zhiwei Liu, Yin-Feng Kang, Yan-Cheng Li, Xia Yu, Biao-Hua Wu, Zi-Qian Li, Xin-Chun Chen, Shang-Hang Xie, Dong-Feng Lin, Tong Li, Shu-Mei Yan, Run-Kun Han, Nan Huang, Qian-Yu Wang, Yan Li, Ao Zhang, Qian Zhong, Xiao-Ming Huang, Weimin Ye, Ming-Fang Ji, Yong-Lin Cai, Su-Mei Cao, Mu-Sheng Zeng
The function of the spike protein N terminal domain (NTD) in coronavirus (CoV) infections is poorly understood. However, some rare antibodies that target the SARS-CoV-2 NTD potently neutralize the virus. This finding suggests the NTD may contribute in part to protective immunity. Pan-sarbecovirus antibodies are desirable for broad protection, but the NTD region of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 exhibit a high level of sequence divergence, and therefore, cross-reactive NTD-specific antibodies are unexpected, and there is no structure of a SARS-CoV NTD-specific antibody in complex with NTD. Here we report a monoclonal antibody COV1-65 encoded by the IGHV1-69 gene that recognizes the NTD of SARS-CoV S protein. A prophylaxis study showed the MAb COV1-65 prevented disease when administered before SARS-CoV challenge of BALB/c mice, an effect that requires intact Fc effector functions for optimal protection in vivo. The footprint on the S protein of COV1-65 is near to functional components of the S2 fusion machinery, and the selection of COV1-65 escape mutant viruses identified critical residues Y886H and Q974H, which likely affect the epitope through allosteric effects. Structural features of the mAb COV1-65-SARS-CoV antigen interaction suggest critical antigenic determinants that should be considered in the rational design of sarbecovirus vaccine candidates.
Naveenchandra Suryadevara, Nurgun Kose, Sandhya Bangaru, Elad Binshtein, Jennifer Munt, David R. Martinez, Alexandra Schäfer, Luke Myers, Trevor D. Scobey, Robert H. Carnahan, Andrew B. Ward, Ralph S. Baric, James E. Crowe Jr.
Hannes Vietzen, Laura M. Kühner, Sarah M. Berger, Philippe L. Furlano, Gabriel Bsteh, Thomas Berger, Paulus Rommer, Elisabeth Puchhammer-Stöckl
Despite effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), persons living with HIV (PWH) harbor reservoirs of persistently infected CD4+ cells, which constitute a barrier to cure. Initiation of ART during acute infection reduces the size of the HIV reservoir, and we hypothesized that in addition, it would favor integration of proviruses in HIV-specific CD4+ T cells, while initiation of ART during chronic HIV infection would favor relatively more proviruses in herpesvirus-specific cells. We further hypothesized that proviruses in acute-ART-initiators would be integrated into antiviral genes, whereas integration sites in chronic-ART-initiators would favor genes associated with cell proliferation and exhaustion. We found the HIV DNA distribution across HIV-specific vs. herpesvirus-specific CD4+ T cells was as hypothesized. HIV integration sites (IS) in acute-ART-initiators were significantly enriched in gene sets controlling lipid metabolism and HIF-1α-mediated hypoxia, both metabolic pathways active in early HIV infection. Persistence of these infected cells during prolonged ART suggests a survival advantage. IS in chronic-ART-initiators were enriched in a gene set controlling EZH2 histone methylation; and methylation has been associated with diminished LTR transcription. These differences we found in antigen specificities and IS distributions within HIV-infected cells might be leveraged in designing cure strategies tailored to the timing of ART initiation.
Jaimy Joy, Ana L. Gervassi, Lennie Chen, Brent Kirshenbaum, Sheila Styrchak, Daisy Ko, Sherry McLaughlin, Danica Shao, Ewelina Kosmider, Paul T. Edlefsen, Janine Maenza, Ann C. Collier, James I. Mullins, Helen Horton, Lisa M. Frenkel
Background: Persistent controllers (PC) maintain antiretroviral-free HIV-1 control indefinitely over time while transient controllers (TC) eventually lose virological control. It is essential to characterize the quality of the HIV reservoir of these phenotypes to identify the factors that lead to HIV progression and to open new avenues in HIV cure strategies. Methods: The characterization of HIV-1 reservoir, from peripheral blood mononuclear cells, was performed using next-generation sequencing techniques, such as full-length individual and matched integration site proviral sequencing (FLIP-seq; MIP-seq). Results: PC and TC before losing virological control, presented significantly lower total, intact and defective proviruses compared to participants on antiretroviral therapy (ART). No differences were found in total and defective proviruses between PC and TC. However, intact provirus levels were lower in PC compared to TC, being the intact/defective HIV-DNA ratio significantly higher in TC. Clonally expanded intact proviruses were found only in PC and located in centromeric satellite DNA or zinc-finger genes, both associated with heterochromatin features. In contrast, sampled intact proviruses were located in permissive genic euchromatic positions in TC. Conclusions: These results suggest the need for, and can give guidance to the design of, future research to identify a distinct proviral landscape that may be associated with the persistent control of HIV-1 without ART. Funding: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (FI17/00186, FI19/00083, MV20/00057 PI18/01532, PI19/01127 and PI22/01796), Consejería de Economía, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidad, Junta de Andalucía (PI20/1276), Gilead Fellowships (GLD22/00147) and I+D+iFEDER Andalucía 2014-2020 (US-1380938).
Carmen Gasca-Capote, Xiaodong Lian, Ce Gao, Isabelle C. Roseto, María Reyes Jiménez-León, Gregory Gladkov, María Inés Camacho-Sojo, Alberto Pérez-Gómez, Isabel Gallego, Luis E. Lopez-Cortes, Sara Bachiller, Joana Vitalle, Mohammed Rafii-El-Idrissi Benhnia, Francisco J. Ostos, Antonio R. Collado-Romacho, Jesús Santos, Rosario Palacios, Cristina Gomez-Ayerbe, Leopoldo Muñoz-Medina, Andrés Ruiz-Sancho, Mario Frias, Antonio Rivero-Juarez, Cristina Roca-Oporto, Carmen Hidalgo-Tenorio, Anna Rull, Julian Olalla, Miguel A. Lopez-Ruz, Francesc Vidal, Consuelo Viladés, Andrea Mastrangelo, Matthias Cavassini, Nuria Espinosa, Matthieu Perreau, Joaquin Peraire, Antonio Rivero, Luis F. López-Cortes, Mathias Lichterfeld, Xu G. Yu, Ezequiel Ruiz-Mateos
Amanda Macamo, Jan Beckervordersandforth, Axel zur Hausen
Vaidya Govindarajan, Jay Chandar, Avindra Nath, Ashish H. Shah
Virophagy, the selective autophagosomal engulfment and lysosomal degradation of viral components, is crucial for neuronal cell survival and antiviral immunity. However, the mechanisms leading to viral antigen recognition and capture by autophagic machinery remain poorly understood. Here, we identified cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5), known to function in neurodevelopment, as an essential regulator of virophagy. Loss of function mutations in CDKL5 are associated with a severe neurodevelopmental encephalopathy. We found deletion of CDKL5 or expression of a clinically-relevant pathogenic mutant of CDKL5 reduced virophagy of Sindbis virus (SINV), a neurotropic RNA virus, and increased intracellular accumulation of SINV capsid protein aggregates and cellular cytotoxicity. CDKL5 knockout mice displayed increased viral antigen accumulation and neuronal cell death after SINV infection and enhanced lethality after infection with several neurotropic viruses. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that CDKL5 directly binds the canonical selective autophagy receptor p62 and phosphorylates p62 at T269/S272 to promote its interaction with viral capsid aggregates. We found that CDKL5-mediated phosphorylation of p62 facilitated the formation of large p62 inclusion bodies that captured viral capsids to initiate capsid targeting to autophagic machinery. Overall, these findings identify a cell-autonomous innate immune mechanism for autophagy activation to clear intracellular toxic viral protein aggregates during infection.
Josephine W. Thinwa, Zhongju Zou, Emily Parks, Salwa Sebti, Kelvin K. Hui, Yongjie Wei, Mohammad Goodarzi, Vibha Singh, Greg Urquhart, Jenna L. Jewell, Julie K. Pfeiffer, Beth Levine, Tiffany A. Reese, Michael U. Shiloh
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