The prototypic arenavirus LCMV has proven to be a Rosetta stone for the investigation of the anti-viral host immune responses, and mechanisms of virus immune evasion and persistence. In addition, evidence indicates that LCMV, worldwide distributed, is a neglected human pathogen of clinical significance. Moreover, several other arenaviruses cause hemorrhagic fever (HF) disease in humans. The failure of the host innate immune response to control virus multiplication contributes to arenaviral-induced disease. We have shown that the nucleoprotein (NP) of LCMV and HF arenaviruses inhibits activation of the transcriptional factor IRF3 and production of Type I interferon (IFN-I), a key player in innate immunity. Our long-term goal is to understand the molecular bases and biological consequences of the IFN counteracting activity associated with arenavirus NP. To this end we propose the following specific aims:
Aim 1. Define the genetic determinants of LCMV-NP responsible for its IFN antagonistic function. We have identified two C-terminal domains of LCMV-NP that are critical for the anti-IFN-I activity of NP. We hypothesize that specific residues within these two regions play a critical role on the IFN antagonistic function of NP, and that this function can be segregated from the role of NP in virus replication and production of infectious progeny. We propose to conduct a comprehensive mutation- function analysis of these regions to identify single amino acid mutations in NP that abrogate its anti-IFN function without affecting other roles of NP required for arenavirus multiplication.
Aim 2. Define the mechanisms by which NP exerts its IFN antagonistic activity. We have shown that LCMV-NP counteracts the IFN response by inhibiting activation and nuclear translocation of IRF3. We hypothesize that LCMV-NP achieves this by interacting with host cell proteins involved in activation of IRF3. We will pursue proteomic approaches including affinity purification methods combined with mass spectrometry procedures to identify NP-interacting cellular proteins. We will use biochemical and genetic approaches, together with functional assays, to assess the contribution of identified NP-interacting cellular proteins to the IFN antagonistic activity of NP.
Aim 3. Assess the contribution of the IFN antagonistic activity of NP to virus multiplication and pathogenesis during LCMV infection of its natural host, the mouse. We will generate recombinant LCM viruses (rLCMV/NP*) containing mutated forms of NP that retain wt activity in virus RNA synthesis and infectious particle formation but lost the ability to inhibit IRF3 activation and IFN production. We hypothesize that rLCMV/NP*-infected cells will exhibit higher levels of IRF3-inducible gene expression, including IFN production, compared to LCMV/WT-infected cells. We predict this to result in altered growth properties of rLCMV/NP* with consequences for the outcome of LCMV-host interaction during acute and persistent infection.

Public Health Relevance

Several arenaviruses cause hemorrhagic fever (HF) disease in humans, and the worldwide-distributed prototypic arenavirus LCMV is being considered as a neglected human pathogen of clinical significance. Moreover, weaponized forms of arenaviruses pose a serious threat as agents of bioterrorism. No licensed anti-arenavirus vaccines are available, and current anti-arenavirus therapy is limited to the use of ribavirin, which is only partially effective and often associated with severe side effects. Evidence indicates that a failure of the host innate immune response to control virus multiplication plays a critical role in arenaviral- induced disease. We have shown that the nucleoprotein (NP) of LCMV and HF arenaviruses inhibits activation of the transcriptional factor IRF3 and production of Type I interferon (IFN), a key player in innate immunity. Our long-term goal is to understand the molecular bases and biological consequences of the IFN counteracting activity associated with arenavirus NP. This knowledge should fuel the development of better antiviral strategies to combat human pathogenic arenaviruses.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01AI077719-01A2
Application #
7654235
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-IDM-S (02))
Program Officer
Park, Eun-Chung
Project Start
2009-05-01
Project End
2013-04-30
Budget Start
2009-05-01
Budget End
2010-04-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$311,793
Indirect Cost
Name
Scripps Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
781613492
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92037
Iwasaki, Masaharu; de la Torre, Juan C (2018) A Highly Conserved Leucine in Mammarenavirus Matrix Z Protein Is Required for Z Interaction with the Virus L Polymerase and Z Stability in Cells Harboring an Active Viral Ribonucleoprotein. J Virol 92:
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Martinez-Sobrido, Luis; de la Torre, Juan Carlos (2016) Novel strategies for development of hemorrhagic fever arenavirus live-attenuated vaccines. Expert Rev Vaccines 15:1113-21
Martínez-Sobrido, Luis; Cheng, Benson Yee Hin; de la Torre, Juan Carlos (2016) Reverse Genetics Approaches to Control Arenavirus. Methods Mol Biol 1403:313-51
Iwasaki, Masaharu; Ng, Cherie T; Cubitt, Beatrice et al. (2016) Residues K465 and G467 within the Cytoplasmic Domain of GP2 Play a Critical Role in the Persistence of Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus in Mice. J Virol 90:10102-10112
Iwasaki, Masaharu; Cubitt, Beatrice; Sullivan, Brian M et al. (2016) The High Degree of Sequence Plasticity of the Arenavirus Noncoding Intergenic Region (IGR) Enables the Use of a Nonviral Universal Synthetic IGR To Attenuate Arenaviruses. J Virol 90:3187-97
Martínez-Sobrido, Luis; de la Torre, Juan Carlos (2016) Reporter-Expressing, Replicating-Competent Recombinant Arenaviruses. Viruses 8:
Ngo, Nhi; Henthorn, Kristina Schimmelpfeng; Cisneros, Maria Isabel et al. (2015) Identification and Mechanism of Action of a Novel Small-Molecule Inhibitor of Arenavirus Multiplication. J Virol 89:10924-33

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