The baculoviruses are large DNA viruses distinguished by their prolific multiplication in host insects. Due to their unique properties, these pathogens are used as vectors for foreign gene expression, potent biological insecticides, and gene transfer vehicles. To ensure their replicative success, baculoviruses use novel mechanisms that expedite viral gene expression and suppress host defenses, including cell death by apoptosis. It is the long term goal of this project to investigate the molecular interactions between baculoviruses and their host cell by defining the mechanisms by which Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) regulates gene expression and modulates the host apoptotic response. In an integrated series of experiments that use biochemical, genetic, and cell biology approaches, the molecular mechanisms by which early AcMNPV transcriptional regulators accelerate replication will be investigated. The mechanism of enhancer-mediated transcriptional activation by the immediate early transregulator IE1 will be determined by using new loss-of-function mutations and dominant inhibitors. These dominant inhibitors will be used in combination with interfering RNA (RNAi) to define the roles of IE1 during infection, including the induction of apoptosis. AcMNPV-infected insect cells will be used as a powerful yet convenient system to define the molecular signals by which DNA viruses trigger apoptosis. Capitalizing on the finding that AcMNPV induces widespread apoptosis in cultured Drosophila melanogaster cells, we use dominant inhibitors, RNAi, and the baculovirus apoptotic suppressors (p35, p49, and iap) to investigate the viral and cellular apoptotic factors in this model organism for which many of the cell death components are known. These studies will be complemented by a characterization of the molecular signals (viral and host) responsible for nodavirus-induced apoptosis in Drosophila. Collectively, these studies are expected to provide important insight into the highly conserved pathways of apoptosis, which contribute significantly to the pathogenicity of human viruses. In addition, the molecular mechanisms by which baculoviruses regulate early gene transcription are directly relevant to insect vectors of human disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01AI025557-16
Application #
6720793
Study Section
Experimental Virology Study Section (EVR)
Program Officer
Cassetti, Cristina
Project Start
1988-02-01
Project End
2009-02-28
Budget Start
2004-03-01
Budget End
2005-02-28
Support Year
16
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$321,233
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Other Domestic Higher Education
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715
Byers, Nathaniel M; Vandergaast, Rianna L; Friesen, Paul D (2016) Baculovirus Inhibitor-of-Apoptosis Op-IAP3 Blocks Apoptosis by Interaction with and Stabilization of a Host Insect Cellular IAP. J Virol 90:533-44
Vandergaast, Rianna; Mitchell, Jonathan K; Byers, Nathaniel M et al. (2015) Insect inhibitor-of-apoptosis (IAP) proteins are negatively regulated by signal-induced N-terminal degrons absent within viral IAP proteins. J Virol 89:4481-93
Mitchell, Jonathan K; Byers, Nathaniel M; Friesen, Paul D (2013) Baculovirus F-box protein LEF-7 modifies the host DNA damage response to enhance virus multiplication. J Virol 87:12592-9
Taggart, David J; Mitchell, Jonathan K; Friesen, Paul D (2012) A conserved N-terminal domain mediates required DNA replication activities and phosphorylation of the transcriptional activator IE1 of Autographa californica multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus. J Virol 86:6575-85
Mitchell, Jonathan K; Friesen, Paul D (2012) Baculoviruses modulate a proapoptotic DNA damage response to promote virus multiplication. J Virol 86:13542-53
Vandergaast, Rianna; Schultz, Kimberly L W; Cerio, Rebecca J et al. (2011) Active depletion of host cell inhibitor-of-apoptosis proteins triggers apoptosis upon baculovirus DNA replication. J Virol 85:8348-58
Kopek, Benjamin G; Settles, Erik W; Friesen, Paul D et al. (2010) Nodavirus-induced membrane rearrangement in replication complex assembly requires replicase protein a, RNA templates, and polymerase activity. J Virol 84:12492-503
Cerio, Rebecca J; Vandergaast, Rianna; Friesen, Paul D (2010) Host insect inhibitor-of-apoptosis SfIAP functionally replaces baculovirus IAP but is differentially regulated by Its N-terminal leader. J Virol 84:11448-60
Schultz, Kimberly L W; Friesen, Paul D (2009) Baculovirus DNA replication-specific expression factors trigger apoptosis and shutoff of host protein synthesis during infection. J Virol 83:11123-32
Schultz, Kimberly L W; Wetter, Justin A; Fiore, Diccon C et al. (2009) Transactivator IE1 is required for baculovirus early replication events that trigger apoptosis in permissive and nonpermissive cells. J Virol 83:262-72

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