Ebolaviruses (EBOV) belong to the group of nonsegmented negative-sense (NNS) RNA viruses and are highly pathogenic in humans. Currently, there are no approved therapeutics to treat or prevent EBOV hemorrhagic fever. Ebolaviruses use an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase to replicate and transcribe their genomes. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms employed by the EBOV polymerase to interact with the RNA template and initiate replication. Viral polymerases are common targets for antiviral drug development, and rational design of antiviral compounds targeting viral polymerases requires a thorough understanding of the molecular events involved in genome replication. Here, we propose to dissect the molecular mechanisms used by EBOV to initiate replication. Our preliminary data suggest that EBOV has evolved a replication initiation mechanism that is different from those used by other NNS RNA viruses. According to our model, EBOV initiates replication at position +2 of the template strand and uses an RNA secondary structure adopted by the promoter region to maintain its genome ends. To test this model, we will use RNA isolated from EBOV-infected cells or virions to determine the 3'and 5'ends of the replication products. By mapping the terminal nucleotides of intracellular and virion-associated viral RNA, we will identify the replication start sites. We will further use EBOV minigenome systems to introduce mutations in relevant regions and analyze the effects on replication initiation and genome integrity. We will perform the initial experiments using the EBOV prototype Zaire ebolavirus. We will then analyze if the identified replication mechanism used by ZEBOV is conserved among other EBOV species. Finally, we will determine the role of an RNA secondary structure adopted by the EBOV promoter region for promoter function and replication initiation. Overall, the proposed work will elucidate if the EBOV polymerase has acquired unique capabilities to interact with the viral genome or if it follows a general mechanism shared with other NNS RNA viruses.

Public Health Relevance

The research proposed here will add to our knowledge of a group of viruses that includes several significant human pathogens. A better understanding of the differences and similarities in the viral life cycle of each virus family is key to the development of rationally designed antiviral drugs.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
1R03AI114293-01
Application #
8771943
Study Section
Virology - A Study Section (VIRA)
Program Officer
Repik, Patricia M
Project Start
2014-08-05
Project End
2016-07-31
Budget Start
2014-08-05
Budget End
2015-07-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$81,850
Indirect Cost
$31,850
Name
Boston University
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
604483045
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02118
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Cressey, Tessa; Brauburger, Kristina; Mühlberger, Elke (2017) Modeling Ebola Virus Genome Replication and Transcription with Minigenome Systems. Methods Mol Biol 1628:79-92
Schmidt, Kristina Maria; Mühlberger, Elke (2016) Marburg Virus Reverse Genetics Systems. Viruses 8:
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Brauburger, Kristina; Boehmann, Yannik; Krähling, Verena et al. (2016) Transcriptional Regulation in Ebola Virus: Effects of Gene Border Structure and Regulatory Elements on Gene Expression and Polymerase Scanning Behavior. J Virol 90:1898-909