virus
Genetic Diversity and EvolutionComparative Analysis of RNA Virome Composition in Rabbits and Associated EctoparasitesEctoparasites play an important role in the transmission of many vertebrate-infecting viruses, including Zika and dengue viruses. Although it is becoming increasingly clear that invertebrate species harbor substantial virus diversity, it is unclear how many of the viruses carried by invertebrates have the potential to infect vertebrate species. We used the European rabbit (...
Pathogenesis and ImmunityMaternal Zika Virus (ZIKV) Infection following Vaginal Inoculation with ZIKV-Infected Semen in Timed-Pregnant Olive BaboonsZika virus remains a worldwide health threat, with outbreaks still occurring in the Americas. While mosquitos are the primary vector for the spread of the virus, sexual transmission of Zika virus is also a significant means of infection, especially in terms of passage from an infected to an uninfected partner. While sexual transmission has been documented in humans, and male-to-female transmission has been reported in mice, ours is the...
Vaccines and Antiviral AgentsLong-Acting BMS-378806 Analogues Stabilize the State-1 Conformation of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Envelope GlycoproteinsThe envelope glycoprotein (Env) spike on the surface of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) mediates the entry of the virus into host cells and is also the target for antibodies. During virus entry, Env needs to change shape. Env flexibility also contributes to the ability of HIV-1 to evade the host immune response; many shapes of Env raise antibodies that cannot recognize the functional Env and therefore do not block virus...
MinireviewBridging the Gap: Virus Long-Distance Spread via Tunneling NanotubesTunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are actin-based intercellular conduits that connect distant cells and allow intercellular transfer of molecular information, including genetic information, proteins, lipids, and even organelles. Besides providing a means of intercellular communication, TNTs may also be hijacked by pathogens, particularly viruses, to facilitate their spread. Viruses of many different families, including retroviruses,...
Virus-Cell InteractionsCpG Dinucleotides Inhibit HIV-1 Replication through Zinc Finger Antiviral Protein (ZAP)-Dependent and -Independent MechanismsSome RNA virus genomes are suppressed in the nucleotide combination of a cytosine followed by a guanosine (CpG), indicating that they are detrimental to the virus. The antiviral protein ZAP binds viral RNA containing CpGs and prevents the virus from multiplying. However, it remains unknown how the number and position of CpGs in viral genomes affect restriction by ZAP and whether CpGs have other antiviral mechanisms. Importantly,...
Structure and AssemblyIdentification of the First Gene Transfer Agent (GTA) Small Terminase in Rhodobacter capsulatus and Its Role in GTA Production and Packaging of DNARandom transfer of any and all genes between bacteria could be influential in the spread of virulence or antimicrobial resistance genes. Discovery of the true prevalence of GTAs in sequenced genomes is hampered by their apparent similarity to bacteriophages. Our data allowed the prediction of small terminases in diverse GTA producer species, and defining the characteristics of a “GTA-type” terminase could be an important step toward...
Pathogenesis and ImmunityDisrupted CXCR2 Signaling in Oligodendroglia Lineage Cells Enhances Myelin Repair in a Viral Model of Multiple SclerosisSignaling through the chemokine receptor CXCR2 in oligodendroglia is important for developmental myelination in rodents, while chemical inhibition or nonspecific genetic deletion of CXCR2 appears to augment myelin repair in animal models of the human demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis (MS). To better understand the biology of CXCR2 signaling on oligodendroglia, we generated transgenic mice in which Cxcr2 is selectively...
Virus-Cell InteractionsANP32 Proteins Are Essential for Influenza Virus Replication in Human CellsInfluenza virus is the etiological agent behind some of the most devastating infectious disease pandemics to date, and influenza outbreaks still pose a major threat to public health. Influenza virus polymerase, the molecule that copies the viral RNA genome, hijacks cellular proteins to support its replication. Current anti-influenza drugs are aimed against viral proteins, including the polymerase, but RNA viruses like influenza tend to...
Structure and AssemblyA Hydrophobic Network: Intersubunit and Intercapsomer Interactions Stabilizing the Bacteriophage P22 CapsidSimilarities in assembly reactions and coat protein structures of the dsDNA tailed phages and herpesviruses make phages ideal models to understand capsid assembly and identify potential targets for antiviral drug discovery. The coat protein E-loops of these viruses are involved in both intra- and intercapsomer interactions. In phage P22, hydrophobic interactions peg the coat protein subunits together within a capsomer, where the E-loop...
Virus-Cell InteractionsNipah and Hendra Virus Glycoproteins Induce Comparable Homologous but Distinct Heterologous Fusion PhenotypesThe NiV and HeV henipaviruses are BSL-4 pathogens transmitted from bats. NiV and HeV often lead to human death and animal diseases. The formation of multinucleated cells (syncytia) is a hallmark of henipaviral infections and is caused by fusion of cells coordinated by interactions of the viral attachment (G) and fusion (F) glycoproteins. We found via various assays that viral entry and syncytium formation depend on the viral origin of...