An essential role for gamma-herpesvirus latency-associated nuclear antigen homolog in an acute lymphoproliferative disease of cattle.

in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (2013)

Wildebeests carry asymptomatically alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 (AlHV-1), a gamma-herpesvirus inducing malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) to several ruminant species (including cattle). This acute and lethal ... [more ▼]

Wildebeests carry asymptomatically alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 (AlHV-1), a gamma-herpesvirus inducing malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) to several ruminant species (including cattle). This acute and lethal lymphoproliferative disease occurs after a prolonged asymptomatic incubation period after transmission. Our recent findings with the rabbit model indicated that AlHV-1 infection is not productive during MCF. Here, we investigated whether latency establishment could explain this apparent absence of productive infection and sought to determine its role in MCF pathogenesis. First, whole-genome cellular and viral gene expression analyses were performed in lymph nodes of MCF-developing calves. Whereas a severe disruption in cellular genes was observed, only 10% of the entire AlHV-1 genome was expressed, contrasting with the 45% observed during productive infection in vitro. In vivo, the expressed viral genes included the latency-associated nuclear antigen homolog ORF73 but none of the regions known to be essential for productive infection. Next, genomic conformation analyses revealed that AlHV-1 was essentially episomal, further suggesting that MCF might be the consequence of a latent infection rather than abortive lytic infection. This hypothesis was further supported by the high frequencies of infected CD8+ T cells during MCF using immunodetection of ORF73 protein and single-cell RT-PCR approaches. Finally, the role of latency-associated ORF73 was addressed. A lack of ORF73 did not impair initial virus replication in vivo, but it rendered AlHV-1 unable to induce MCF and persist in vivo and conferred protection against a lethal challenge with a WT virus. Together, these findings suggest that a latent infection is essential for MCF induction. [less ▲]

Cis-acting inhibition of MHC class I-restricted epitope presentation by Alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 genome maintenance protein

Poster (2013, January 18)

γ-Herpesviruses persist as latent episomes in actively dividing lymphocytes. Their consequent need to express a viral genome maintenance protein (GMP) during latency presents a potential immune target ... [more ▼]

γ-Herpesviruses persist as latent episomes in actively dividing lymphocytes. Their consequent need to express a viral genome maintenance protein (GMP) during latency presents a potential immune target. However, the GMPs from several γ-herpesviruses have evolved related strategies to limit their own MHC class I epitope presentation to cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 (AlHV-1) is a γ-herpesvirus that persists asymptomatically in its natural host, the wildebeest. However, AlHV-1 transmission to a large number of susceptible ruminants, including cattle, results in the development of a lethal lymphoproliferative disease named malignant catarrhal fever (MCF). We recently observed that the AlHV-1 GMP-homologue encoded by ORF73 is highly expressed during MCF and that the impairment of its expression renders AlHV-1 unable to induce MCF. With its 1300 aa, AlHV-1 ORF73 is the largest γ-herpesvirus GMP described to date and contains a large acidic internal repeat region that could be involved in the cis-acting CTL evasion mechanism. Here, we sought to determine the CTL evasion properties of AlHV-1 ORF73. We first performed bioinformatic analyses to characterize the protein domains. Then, we used an in vitro assay to demonstrate that ORF73 severely limits the presentation at the cell surface of an MHC class I-restricted epitope linked to ORF73 in cis. These results suggest that AlHV-1 has developed mechanisms to evade cytotoxic anti-viral response during latency. The exact mechanisms explaining the presentation defect remain to be deciphered as well as the role of the cis-acting CTL evasion mechanism of ORF73 in the pathogenesis of MCF. [less ▲]

Scaphandre La science rencontre l'art: L'alimentation

in Haubruge, Eric; Bay, Daniel; Semal, Jean (Eds.) Scaphandre La science rencontre l'art (2012)

Proteomic characterization of bovine herpesvirus 4 extracellular virions.

in Journal of Virology (2012), 86(21), 11567-80

Gammaherpesviruses are important pathogens in human and animal populations. During early events of infection, these viruses manipulate preexisting host cell signaling pathways to allow successful ... [more ▼]

Gammaherpesviruses are important pathogens in human and animal populations. During early events of infection, these viruses manipulate preexisting host cell signaling pathways to allow successful infection. The different proteins that compose viral particles are therefore likely to have critical functions not only in viral structures and in entry into target cell but also in evasion of the host's antiviral response. In this study, we analyzed the protein composition of bovine herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4), a close relative of the human Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus. Using mass spectrometry-based approaches, we identified 37 viral proteins associated with extracellular virions, among which 24 were resistant to proteinase K treatment of intact virions. Analysis of proteins associated with purified capsid-tegument preparations allowed us to define protein localization. In parallel, in order to identify some previously undefined open reading frames, we mapped peptides detected in whole virion lysates onto the six frames of the BoHV-4 genome to generate a proteogenomic map of BoHV-4 virions. Furthermore, we detected important glycosylation of three envelope proteins: gB, gH, and gp180. Finally, we identified 38 host proteins associated with BoHV-4 virions; 15 of these proteins were resistant to proteinase K treatment of intact virions. Many of these have important functions in different cellular pathways involved in virus infection. This study extends our knowledge of gammaherpesvirus virions composition and provides new insights for understanding the life cycle of these viruses. [less ▲]

Genital re-excretion of Murid gammaherpesvirus 4 following intranasal infection

in Proceedings of the 1st Scientific Meeting of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (2011, December 09)

Gammaherpesviruses are the archetypes of persistent viruses that have been identified in a range of animals from mice to man. As the human gammaviruses have no well-established in vivo infection model ... [more ▼]

Gammaherpesviruses are the archetypes of persistent viruses that have been identified in a range of animals from mice to man. As the human gammaviruses have no well-established in vivo infection model, related animal gammaherpesviruses are an important source of information. We are studying Murid herpesvirus 4 (MuHV-4) in inbred laboratory mouse strains which are commonly accepted as a good model for studying gammaherpesviruses in vivo. To date, it has however never been possible to monitor viral reexcretion and virus transmission in this species. In order to identify potential re-excretion sites, intranasally infected mice were followed through global luciferase imaging for up to six months after infection. Surprisingly, we detected transient viral replication in mice genital tract at various times after latency establishment. Ex vivo imaging, quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry revealed that virus genomes were present in high quantity in the vaginal tissue and that viral replication occurred mainly at the vaginal external border. Moreover, we highlighted the presence of free infectious viruses in the vaginal cavity at the moment of the observation of viral replication. As this ephemeral viral reexcretion could reveal a link with reproductive cycle, we compared reexcretion in normal and ovariectomized mice. Interestingly, no viral reactivation was observed in absence of hormonal cycle. In conclusion, we experimentally indentified for the first time a reexcretion site for MuHV-4 in mice that had been intranasaly infected. In the future, these results could help us to better understand the biology of gammaherpesviruses but should also allow us to develop strategies that could prevent the spread of these viruses in natural populations. [less ▲]

Investigation on the Role of the Viral Semaphorin encoded by the A3 Gene of Alcelaphine Herpesvirus 1 in the Induction of Malignant Catarrhal Fever

Poster (2011, July)

Alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 (AlHV-1) is a gammaherpesvirus carried by wildebeest asymptomatically. AlHV-1 is however responsible for the development of malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) when cross-species ... [more ▼]

Alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 (AlHV-1) is a gammaherpesvirus carried by wildebeest asymptomatically. AlHV-1 is however responsible for the development of malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) when cross-species transmitted to a variety of ruminant susceptible species. Wildebeest-derived (WD)-MCF is a fatal lymphoproliferative and degenerative disease of ruminants. Experimentally, WD-MCF can be reproduced in rabbits. A3 ORF encodes a putative semaphorin homolog protein, named AlHV-sema. Semaphorins are secreted and membrane-associated proteins characterized by a conserved ‘Sema’ domain. Initially identified as guidance factors assisting axons pathfinding during neural development, semaphorins have been shown over the last decade to have significant functions in various processes of immunoregulation. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that AlHV-sema and mammals Sema7A have a common ancestor and that AlHV-Sema has evolved independently of other viral semaphorins. Further bioinformatics analyses demonstrated that AlHV-Sema and cellular Sema7A share a highly similar tridimensional structure. In order to investigate the role of AlHV-Sema in WD-MCF induction, we used the AlHV-1 BAC clone and produced a strain deleted for A3 and a revertant strain. The strain deleted for A3 replicated comparably to the wild-type parental strain in vitro. In vivo, rabbits infected with the strain deleted for A3 developed WD-MCF with a small but significant delay compared to those infected with the parental and revertant strains. Deletion of A3 did not affect the increase of viral genomic charge over time in peripheral blood and in lymph nodes at time of death and the major histopathological lesions were present in all groups. Though infection with wild-type and revertant strains resulted in the inversion of CD8 over CD4 ratio and increased IFN- production in lymphoid tissues at time of death, both parameters were significantly reduced after infection with the A3 deleted strain. Together, these results suggest that AlHV-Sema play a role in the host response to AlHV-1 infection. [less ▲]

Antibody production by injection of living cells expressing non self antigens as cell surface type II transmembrane fusion protein.

in Journal of immunological methods (2011)

Antigen expression and purification are laborious, time consuming and frequently difficult steps in the process of antibody production. In the present study, we developed a method avoiding these two steps ... [more ▼]

Antigen expression and purification are laborious, time consuming and frequently difficult steps in the process of antibody production. In the present study, we developed a method avoiding these two steps. This method relies on the injection of histocompatible living cells stably expressing the antigen as a cell surface type II transmembrane fusion protein. A vector, nicknamed pCD1-CD134L, was constructed to express the antigen fused at the carboxyterminal end of the human CD134 ligand (CD134L) type II transmembrane protein on the surface of eucaryotic cells. This vector was shown to induce cell surface expression of epitopes from human c-Myc (soluble protein), uterogloblin-related protein 1 (secreted protein) and CD94 (type II transmembrane protein). Using this vector, we developed a method to produce antibodies without antigen production. The flowchart of this method is as follows: (i) cloning of the antigen in the pCD1-CD134L vector; (ii) production of a histocompatible cell line stably expressing the CD134L-antigen fusion protein; (iii) testing for cell surface expression of the fusion protein by targeting the CD134L carrier; and (iv) prime-boost immunisation with living cells expressing the fusion protein. This method was successfully used for production of polyclonal antibodies raised against Ixodes ricinus calreticulin (secreted protein) in mice and for production of monoclonal antibodies raised against an epitope of Vaccinia virus A56 (type I transmembrane protein) protein in rat. The present study is the first to demonstrate the use of a type II transmembrane protein as a carrier for cell surface display of antigens. [less ▲]

Identification and localization of the structural proteins of anguillid herpesvirus 1

in Veterinary Research (2011), 42(1), 105

Bovine herpesvirus 4 immediate early 2 (Rta) gene is an essential gene and is duplicated in bovine herpesvirus 4 isolate U.

in Veterinary Microbiology (2011)

The ORF50/Rta gene has been shown to be an essential gene for many gammaherpesviruses. Although the BoHV-4 ORF50/Rta homolog, immediate early gene 2 (IE2), has been shown to activate several BoHV-4 early ... [more ▼]

The ORF50/Rta gene has been shown to be an essential gene for many gammaherpesviruses. Although the BoHV-4 ORF50/Rta homolog, immediate early gene 2 (IE2), has been shown to activate several BoHV-4 early and late promoters in cotransfection assays, there is no direct proof of its indispensability for progression of the virus to the lytic replication cycle in the context of the viral genome. In the present communication, replication defective BoHV-4-V.test IE2 mutants were efficiently rescued, with respect to production of infectious virus and DNA replication, upon the expression of BoHV-4 ORF50/Rta in trans. Surprisingly, in the course of our studies, we discovered that the IE2 gene is duplicated in the genome of BoHV-4-U. [less ▲]

Skin mucus of Cyprinus carpio inhibits cyprinid herpesvirus 3 binding to epidermal cells

in Veterinary Research (2011), 42(92),