scholarly journals RdDM pathway is required for Tobamovirus-induced symptomatology production

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melisa Leone ◽  
Diego Zavallo ◽  
Andrea Venturuzzi ◽  
Sebastián Asurmendi

SummarySmall RNAs (sRNA) are important molecules for gene regulation in plants and play an essential role in plant-pathogen interactions. Researchers have evaluated the relationship between viral infections as well as the endogenous accumulation of sRNAs and the transcriptional changes associated with the production of symptoms, little is known about a possible direct role of epigenetics, mediated by 24-nt sRNAs, in the induction of these symptoms.With the use of different RNA directed DNA methylation pathway mutants and triple demethylase mutants, here we demonstrate that the disruption of RdDM pathway during viral infection produced alterations in the plant transcriptomic changes (because of the infection) and in symptomatology.This study represents the initial step in exposing that DNA methylation directed by endogenous sRNAs has an important role, uncoupled to defense, in the production of symptoms associated with plant-virus interactions.Significance statementThe crop yield losses induced by phytoviruses are mainly associated with the symptoms of the disease. DNA modifications as methylation, can modulate the information coded by the sequence, process named epigenetics. Viral infection can change the expression patterns of different genes linked to defenses and symptoms. This work represents the initial step to expose the role of epigenetic process, in the production of symptoms associated with plants-virus interactions.

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 232
Author(s):  
Srikanth Elesela ◽  
Nicholas W. Lukacs

Viral diseases account for an increasing proportion of deaths worldwide. Viruses maneuver host cell machinery in an attempt to subvert the intracellular environment favorable for their replication. The mitochondrial network is highly susceptible to physiological and environmental insults, including viral infections. Viruses affect mitochondrial functions and impact mitochondrial metabolism, and innate immune signaling. Resurgence of host-virus interactions in recent literature emphasizes the key role of mitochondria and host metabolism on viral life processes. Mitochondrial dysfunction leads to damage of mitochondria that generate toxic compounds, importantly mitochondrial DNA, inducing systemic toxicity, leading to damage of multiple organs in the body. Mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy are essential for the maintenance of mitochondrial quality control and homeostasis. Therefore, metabolic antagonists may be essential to gain a better understanding of viral diseases and develop effective antiviral therapeutics. This review briefly discusses how viruses exploit mitochondrial dynamics for virus proliferation and induce associated diseases.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian-Qian Sha ◽  
Ye-Zhang Zhu ◽  
Yunlong Xiang ◽  
Jia-Li Yu ◽  
Xiao-Ying Fan ◽  
...  

Abstract During oogenesis, oocytes gain competence and subsequently undergo meiotic maturation and prepare for embryonic development; trimethylated histone H3 on lysine-4 (H3K4me3) mediates a wide range of nuclear events during these processes. Oocyte-specific knockout of CxxC-finger protein 1 (CXXC1, also known as CFP1) impairs H3K4me3 accumulation and causes changes in chromatin configurations. This study investigated the changes in genomic H3K4me3 landscapes in oocytes with Cxxc1 knockout and the effects on other epigenetic factors such as the DNA methylation, H3K27me3, H2AK119ub1 and H3K36me3. H3K4me3 is overall decreased after knocking out Cxxc1, including both the promoter region and the gene body. CXXC1 and MLL2, which is another histone H3 methyltransferase, have nonoverlapping roles in mediating H3K4 trimethylation during oogenesis. Cxxc1 deletion caused a decrease in DNA methylation levels and affected H3K27me3 and H2AK119ub1 distributions, particularly at regions with high DNA methylation levels. The changes in epigenetic networks implicated by Cxxc1 deletion were correlated with the transcriptional changes in genes in the corresponding genomic regions. This study elucidates the epigenetic changes underlying the phenotypes and molecular defects in oocytes with deleted Cxxc1 and highlights the role of CXXC1 in orchestrating multiple factors that are involved in establishing the appropriate epigenetic states of maternal genome.


Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 154
Author(s):  
Fengling Feng ◽  
Jin Zhao ◽  
Pingchao Li ◽  
Ruiting Li ◽  
Ling Chen ◽  
...  

Antigen-specific T lymphocytes play a critical role in controlling viral infections. However, we report here that preexisting virus-specific T cell responses also contribute to promoting adenovirus (Ad) infection. Previously, we found that CD14+ monocytes from Ad-seropositive individuals exhibited an increased susceptibility to Ad infection, when compared with that of Ad-seronegative individuals. But the underlying mechanisms for this enhancement of viral infection are not completely clarified. In this study, we found that the efficacy of Ad infection into CD14+ monocytes was significantly decreased after CD3+ T lymphocytes depletion from PBMC samples of Ad-seropositive individuals. In contrast, adding virus-specific CD3+ T lymphocytes into PBMC samples of Ad-seronegative individuals resulted in a significant increase of infection efficacy. CD3+ T lymphocytes in PBMC samples from Ad-seropositive individuals were more sensitive to be activated by adenovirus stimulus, characterized by upregulation of multiple cytokines and activation markers and also enhancement of cell proliferation. Further studies demonstrated that GM-CSF and IL-4 can promote Ad infection by up-regulating the expression of scavenger receptor 1 (SR-A) and integrins αVβ5 receptor of CD14+ cells. And taken together, these results suggest a novel role of virus-specific T cells in mediating enhancement of viral infection, and provide insights to understand the pathogenesis and complicated interactions between viruses and host immune cells.


Author(s):  
Samir Casseb ◽  
Karla de Melo

Dengue is an acute febrile disease caused by a virus of the genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae, endemic in tropical regions of the globe. The agent is a virus with single-stranded RNA, classified into four distinct dengue virus (DENV) serotypes: DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4. The host’s innate and adaptive immune responses play an essential role in determining the natural history of viral infections, especially in dengue. In this context, it has observed in recent years that the presence of RNA interference (RNAi) in viral infection processes is increasing, as well as immune defense. The context microRNAs (miRNAs) go for stood out, as their presence during viral infection, both in the replication of the virus and in the defense against these infections, becomes increasingly noticeable, therefore, making it increasingly necessary to better understand the role of these small RNAs within viral infection by DENV and what their consequences are in aggravating the consequences of patients affected by this disease.


2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (20) ◽  
pp. 11246-11257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan G. Laniewski ◽  
Jason M. Grayson

ABSTRACT During many viral infections, antigen-specific CD8+ T cells undergo large-scale expansion. After viral clearance, the vast majority of effector CD8+ T cells undergo apoptosis. Previous studies have implicated reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) in lymphocyte apoptosis. The purpose of the experiments presented here was to determine the role of ROI in the expansion and contraction of CD8+ T cells in vivo during a physiological response such as viral infection. Mice were infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and treated with Mn(III)tetrakis(4-benzoic acid)porphyrin chloride (MnTBAP), a metalloporphyrin-mimetic compound with superoxide dismutase activity, from days 0 to 8 postinfection. At the peak of CD8+-T-cell response, on day 8 postinfection, the numbers of antigen-specific cells were 10-fold lower in MnTBAP-treated mice than in control mice. From days 8 to 30, a contraction phase ensued where the numbers of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells declined 25-fold in vehicle-treated mice compared to a 3.5-fold decrease in MnTBAP-treated mice. Differences in contraction appeared to be due to greater proliferation in drug-treated mice. By day 38, the numbers of antigen-specific CD8+ memory T cells were equivalent for the two groups. The administration of MnTBAP during secondary viral infection had no effect on the expansion of antigen-specific CD8+ secondary effector T cells. These data suggest that ROI production is critical for the massive expansion and contraction of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells during primary, but not secondary, viral infection.


Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 2053-2053
Author(s):  
Gordon R. Strathdee ◽  
Tessa L. Holyoake ◽  
Alyson Sim ◽  
Robert Brown

Abstract Hox (homeobox) genes are known to be key regulators of development and haematopoiesis and several have also been implicated in leukaemogenesis. Overexpression of HoxA5 in human haematopoietic progenitors leads to an increase in myelopoiesis, suggesting a role for this hox gene during induction of myeloid differentiation. Inactivation of genes by CpG island DNA methylation is known to be important in the development and progression of leukaemia, and inhibitors of DNA methylation are currently of great interest as novel therapeutics for a number of haematopoietic malignancies. Here we show that in peripheral blood from healthy volunteers HoxA5 exhibits methylation of 50% of alleles across an extensive CpG island covering the promoter region/1st exon of HoxA5. In patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia, 33% (15/45 patients) exhibited increased methylation of HoxA5 (80–100% of alleles methylated) in the chronic phase of the disease. However, such hypermethylation of HoxA5 was invariably present in samples from patients in myeloid blast crisis (15/15 patients). In contrast, patients in lymphoid blast crisis did not exhibit increased levels of hypermethylation. Analysis of patients in chronic phase demonstrated a statistically significant correlation (p < 0.006) between hypermethylation of the HoxA5 gene and other prognostic factors associated with high risk of progression to blast crisis (high Hasford/Sokal score, incomplete response to Imatinib, known early progression, del 9), suggesting that methylation of HoxA5 may be a clinically useful prognostic indicator. The results are also compatible with a direct role for hypermethylation of HoxA5, and consequent loss of HoxA5 expression, in inhibition of myeloid differentiation during progression to blast crisis and implicate HoxA5 as a therapeutic target for inhibitors of DNA methylation in the treatment of leukaemia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 55-61
Author(s):  
Mary-Benedicta Obikili

Apolipoprotein B editing complex (APOBEC3/A3) genes are found in mammalian cells. In primates, there are 7 APOBEC3 genes, namely, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3DE, 3F, 3G, and 3H. Previous research has shown that A3 proteins help to inhibit viral infection via their cytidine deaminase activity. However, it has also been found that A3 proteins could also lead to viral evolution, where viruses such as HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) instead gain beneficial mutations that enable them to overcome the antiviral activity of A3 proteins, gain resistance to certain drugs used for treating viral infections and escape recognition by the immune system. This paper is a review article summarizing the role of A3G on viral infection and evolution, and the potential impact viral evolution could have in treatment of retroviral infections such as HIV.


1998 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 1171-1176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly J. Rager ◽  
Jeffrey O. Langland ◽  
Bertram L. Jacobs ◽  
David Proud ◽  
David G. Marsh ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT An epidemiologic association between viral infections and the onset of asthma and allergy has been documented. Also, evidence from animal and human studies has suggested an increase in antigen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) production during viral infections, and elevated levels of IgE are characteristic of human asthma and allergy. Here, we provide molecular evidence for the roles of viral infection and of activation of the antiviral protein kinase (PKR) (double-stranded-RNA [dsRNA]-activated protein kinase) in the induction of IgE class switching. The presence of dsRNA, a known component of viral infection and an activator of PKR, induced IgE class switching as detected by the expression of germ line ɛ in the human Ramos B-cell line. Furthermore, dsRNA treatment of Ramos cells resulted in the activation of PKR and in vivo activation of the NF-κB complex. Interestingly, infection of Ramos cells with rhinovirus (common cold virus) serotypes 14 and 16 resulted in the induction of germ line ɛ expression. To further evaluate the role of PKR in the viral induction of IgE class switching, we infected Ramos cells with two different vaccinia virus (cowpox virus) strains. Infection with wild-type vaccinia virus failed to induce germ line ɛ expression; however, a deletion mutant of vaccinia virus (VP1080) lacking the PKR-inhibitory polypeptide E3L induced the expression of germ line ɛ. Collectively, the results of our study define a common molecular mechanism underlying the role of viral infections in IgE class switching and subsequent induction of IgE-mediated disorders such as allergy and asthma.


Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kavitha Ganesan Nathan ◽  
Sunil K. Lal

The 14-3-3 proteins are a family of ubiquitous and exclusively eukaryotic proteins with an astoundingly significant number of binding partners. Their binding alters the activity, stability, localization, and phosphorylation state of a target protein. The association of 14-3-3 proteins with the regulation of a wide range of general and specific signaling pathways suggests their crucial role in health and disease. Recent studies have linked 14-3-3 to several RNA and DNA viruses that may contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of infections. Therefore, comprehensive knowledge of host–virus interactions is vital for understanding the viral life cycle and developing effective therapeutic strategies. Moreover, pharmaceutical research is already moving towards targeting host proteins in the control of virus pathogenesis. As such, targeting the right host protein to interrupt host–virus interactions could be an effective therapeutic strategy. In this review, we generated a 14-3-3 protein interactions roadmap in viruses, using the freely available Virusmentha network, an online virus–virus or virus–host interaction tool. Furthermore, we summarize the role of the 14-3-3 family in RNA and DNA viruses. The participation of 14-3-3 in viral infections underlines its significance as a key regulator for the expression of host and viral proteins.


2002 ◽  
Vol 169 (8) ◽  
pp. 4253-4261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simeon Santourlidis ◽  
Hans-Ingo Trompeter ◽  
Sandra Weinhold ◽  
Britta Eisermann ◽  
Klaus L. Meyer ◽  
...  

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