The pathogenesis of virus-induced disease is complex with many host-, cell-, and pathogen specific determinants. A general theme of this proposal is the importance of viral RNA translational regulation and cell-type specific RNA binding proteins in determining picornavirus-induced disease. Our studies involve Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV), a member of the cardiovirus genus, and poliovirus (PV), a member of the enterovirus genus. Our main interests in this proposal are: neural cell type-specific proteins which bind to the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) of the 5'- untranslated region (UTR), and thereby regulate the efficiency of translation initiation and affect TMEV or PV neurovirulence; preferential translation of an alternatively initiated protein of TMEV called L* (a protein synthesized from an alternative translation initiation site that is out of frame with the polyprotein, a unique finding among picornaviruses), that is important in virus persistence and demyelination of DA strain of TMEV. This proposal: reviews and extends our published data demonstrating that the presence of cell type-specific proteins that bind the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) of the 5'-UTR of GDVII strain of TMEV are key in regulating viral RNA translation and neurovirulence; provides recent data indicating the importance of cell type-specific IRES-binding proteins in the attenuation of Sabin strain of PV3; focuses on the importance of L* in determining the remarkable phenotype of DA strain and other TO subgroup strains of TMEV (i.e., virus persistence and chronic inflammatory demyelination). The data and approaches that are leaned in this proposal are applicable to our understanding of neurotrophic viruses more broadly.
The specific aims are: 1) To identify determinants in the TMEV and PV 5'UTRs that regulate translation and affect disease phenotype, and clarify their mechanisms of action 2) To: a) identify the effect of cell type on the expression of TMEV L*, and b) determine the effect of TMEV gene expression on the cell.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS037958-08
Application #
7012796
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-CNBT (01))
Program Officer
Utz, Ursula
Project Start
1998-07-20
Project End
2009-01-31
Budget Start
2006-02-01
Budget End
2007-01-31
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$344,369
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Chicago
Department
Neurology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
005421136
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60637
Ghadge, G D; Wollmann, R; Baida, G et al. (2011) The L-coding region of the DA strain of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus causes dysfunction and death of myelin-synthesizing cells. J Virol 85:9377-84
Stavrou, Spyridon; Ghadge, Ghanashyam; Roos, Raymond P (2011) Apoptotic and antiapoptotic activity of L protein of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus. J Virol 85:7177-85
Stavrou, Spyridon; Feng, Zongdi; Lemon, Stanley M et al. (2010) Different strains of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus antagonize different sites in the type I interferon pathway. J Virol 84:9181-9
Stavrou, Spyridon; Baida, Gleb; Viktorova, Ekaterina et al. (2010) Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus L* amino acid position 93 is important for virus persistence and virus-induced demyelination. J Virol 84:1348-54
Baida, Gleb; Popko, Brian; Wollmann, Robert L et al. (2008) A subgenomic segment of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus RNA causes demyelination. J Virol 82:5879-86
Lin, Xiaoqi; Ma, Xiaoxing; Rodriguez, Moses et al. (2004) CD4+ T cells are important for clearance of DA strain of TMEV from the central nervous system of SJL/J mice. Int Immunol 16:1237-40
Lin, Xiaoqi; Ma, Xiaoxing; Rodriguez, Moses et al. (2003) Membrane lymphotoxin is required for resistance to Theiler's virus infection. Int Immunol 15:955-62
Pilipenko, E V; Viktorova, E G; Guest, S T et al. (2001) Cell-specific proteins regulate viral RNA translation and virus-induced disease. EMBO J 20:6899-908