Arenavirus : Persistencia de los virus Junín (FHA) y Tacaribe en células cultivadas in vitro

Fil:Damonte, Elsa Beatriz. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina

Dengue virus entry and trafficking: Perspectives as antiviral target for prevention and therapy

Dengue virus (DENV) is the etiological agent of the most important human viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes in the world. In spite of the serious health threat that dengue represents, at present there are no vaccine or antiviral agents available and treatment of patients consists of supportive therapy. This review will focus on the process of DENV entry into the host cell as a potential target for antiviral therapy. The recent advances in the knowledge of viral and cellular molecules and mechanisms involved in binding, internalization and trafficking of DENV into the host cell until virion uncoating are discussed, together with an overview of the strategies and compounds evaluated for development of antiviral agents targeted to DENV entry.Fil: Castilla, Viviana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica; ArgentinaFil: Piccini, Luana Érica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Damonte, Elsa Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentin

Antiviral and Virucidal Activities against Arenaviruses of Zinc-Finger Active Compounds

Fifteen antiretroviral Zn-finger active compounds with diverse chemical structures, including azoic compounds, hydrazide derivatives, disulfide-based reagents and others, were screened in vitro against Junin virus (JUNV), the etiological agent of Argentine hemorrhagic fever, by a virus yield inhibition assay in Vero cells. Cytotoxicity was evaluated simultaneously by the MTT method. From the total of compounds, three were totally inactive as antivirals, nine presented moderate anti JUNV-activity and three were truly active with EC50 (effective concentration 50%) values in the range 6.5-9.3 µM and selectivity indices greater than 10. The most active inhibitors, named NSC20625, 3-7 and 2-71, demonstrated a broad range of action against arenaviruses, including several attenuated and pathogenic strains of JUNV as well as the antigenically related Tacaribe virus (TACV) and Pichinde virus (PICV). The direct treatment of JUNV and TACV virions with the compounds has shown two types of behavior: the aromatic disulfide NSC20625 was a very potent virucidal agent, whereas the other two compounds exhibited moderate or negligible virus inactivating properties.Fil: Garcia, Cybele. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica. Laboratorio de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Candurra, Nélida Alicia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica. Laboratorio de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Damonte, Elsa Beatriz. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica. Laboratorio de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentin

Targeting of arenavirus RNA synthesis by a carboxamide-derivatized aromatic disulfide with virucidal activity.

Several arenaviruses can cause severe hemorrhagic fever (HF) in humans, representing a public health threat in endemic areas of Africa and South America. The present study characterizes the potent virucidal activity of the carboxamide-derivatized aromatic disulfide NSC4492, an antiretroviral zinc finger-reactive compound, against Junín virus (JUNV), the causative agent of Argentine HF. The compound was able to inactivate JUNV in a time and temperature-dependent manner, producing more than 99 % reduction in virus titer upon incubation with virions at 37 °C for 90 min. The ability of NSC4492-treated JUNV to go through different steps of the multiplication cycle was then evaluated. Inactivated virions were able to bind and enter into the host cell with similar efficiency as control infectious particles. In contrast, treatment with NSC4492 impaired the capacity of JUNV to drive viral RNA synthesis, as measured by quantitative RT-PCR, and blocked viral protein expression, as determined by indirect immunofluorescence. These results suggest that the disulfide NSC4492 targets on the arenavirus replication complex leading to impairment in viral RNA synthesis. Additionally, analysis of VLP produced in NSC4492-treated cells expressing JUNV matrix Z protein revealed that the compound may interact with Z resulting in an altered aggregation behavior of this protein, but without affecting its intrinsic self-budding properties. The potential perspectives of NSC4492 as an inactivating vaccinal compound for pathogenic arenaviruses are discussed.Fil: Sepúlveda, Claudia Soledad. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Cs.exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Quimica Biologica;Fil: Garcia, Cybele. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Cs.exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Quimica Biologica;Fil: Levingston Mac Leod, Jesica Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Invest.cientif.y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Pque. Centenario. Instituto de Cs. y Tecnologia "dr. Cesar Milstein";Fil: Lopez, Nora Mabel. Consejo Nacional de Invest.cientif.y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Pque. Centenario. Instituto de Cs. y Tecnologia "dr. Cesar Milstein";Fil: Damonte, Elsa Beatriz. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Cs.exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Quimica Biologica

Cellular Organelles Reorganization During Zika Virus Infection of Human Cells

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an enveloped positive stranded RNA virus belonging to the genus Flavivirus in the family Flaviviridae that emerged in recent decades causing pandemic outbreaks of human infections occasionally associated with severe neurological disorders in adults and newborns. The intracellular steps of flavivirus multiplication are associated to cellular membranes and their bound organelles leading to an extensive host cell reorganization. Importantly, the association of organelle dysfunction with diseases caused by several human viruses has been widely reported in recent studies. With the aim to increase the knowledge about the impact of ZIKV infection on the host cell functions, the present study was focused on the evaluation of the reorganization of three cell components, promyelocytic leukemia nuclear bodies (PML-NBs), mitochondria, and lipid droplets (LDs). Relevant human cell lines including neural progenitor cells (NPCs), hepatic Huh-7, and retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells were infected with the Argentina INEVH116141 ZIKV strain and the organelle alterations were studied by using fluorescent cell imaging analysis. Our results have shown that these three organelles are targeted and structurally modified during ZIKV infection. Considering the nuclear reorganization, the analysis by confocal microscopy of infected cells showed a significantly reduced number of PML-NBs in comparison to uninfected cells. Moreover, a mitochondrial morphodynamic perturbation with an increased fragmentation and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential was observed in ZIKV infected RPE cells. Regarding lipid structures, a decrease in the number and volume of LDs was observed in ZIKV infected cells. Given the involvement of these organelles in host defense processes, the reported perturbations may be related to enhanced virus replication through protection from innate immunity. The understanding of the cellular remodeling will enable the design of new host-targeted antiviral strategies.Fil: Garcia, Cybele. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Vázquez, Cecilia Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Giovannoni, Federico. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Russo, Constanza A.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Cordo, Sandra Myriam. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Alaimo, Agustina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Damonte, Elsa Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentin

Antiviral activity against Zika virus of a new formulation of curcumin in poly lactic-co-glycolic acid nanoparticles

Objectives: In the search of an effective antiviral formulation, the natural product curcumin (CUR) was encapsulated into poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles, a non-toxic bioresorbable and biocompatible copolymer. The resulting CUR containing particles (PLGA-CUR NPs) were characterized and analysed for antiviral activity against Zika virus (ZIKV) infection. Methods: The PLGA-CUR NPs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis and release profile. Cytotoxicity of PLGA-CUR and the antiviral activity against ZIKV were determined in Vero cells. The effect of PLGA-CUR NPs on viral RNA synthesis and protein expression was analysed by RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence staining, respectively. Key findings: The PLGA-CUR NPs showed an appropriate in vitro drug release profile. Our studies of the antiviral activity of PLGA-CUR NPs and CUR against ZIKV by virus yield reduction as well as viral RNA synthesis and protein expression have shown that PLGA-CUR formulation is more effective than free CUR to inhibit ZIKV infection of Vero cells. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate for the first time the antiviral activity against ZIKV of PLGA nanoparticles charged with CUR, suggesting that PLGA-CUR NPs are promising candidates for a drug formulation against human pathogenic flaviviruses.Fil: Pacho, María Natalia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono; ArgentinaFil: Pugni, Eugenio Nahuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Diaz Sierra, Johanna Briyith. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Morell, María Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Sepúlveda, Claudia Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Damonte, Elsa Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Garcia, Cybele. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: D'accorso, Norma Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono; Argentin

Interference in dengue virus adsorption and uncoating by carrageenans

This study demonstrated that the λ- and ι-carrageenans, sulfated polysaccharides containing linear chains of galactopyranosyl residues, are potent inhibitors of dengue virus type 2 (DENV-2) and 3 (DENV-3) multiplication in Vero and HepG2 cells, with values of effective concentration 50% from 0.14 to 4.1 μg/ml. This activity was assayed by plaque reduction, virus yield inhibition and antigen expression tests, and was independent of the input multiplicity of infection in the range 0.001-1. The inhibitory action of the λ-carrageenan, an heparan sulfate (HS)-imitative compound, was exerted by a dual interference with virus adsorption and internalization of nucleocapsid into the cytoplasm. Although virus particles may enter the cell when compound was added after DENV-2 adsorption, as shown by intracellular uptake of radiolabeled DENV-2 particles and quantitative RT-PCR, infectious center and virion uncoating assays have shown that carrageenan-treated virions cannot be released from the endosomes. Viral protein synthesis, the first step of macromolecular synthesis after DENV entry to the host cell, was not affected by the carrageenan. Furthermore, no inhibition of virus multiplication was detected when the entry process was bypassed through DENV-2 RNA transfection into the cell. The dual sites of action of an HS-like molecule suggest that, at least in monkey kidney and human hepatic cells, the HS residues in the cell membrane appear to act as mediators for DENV-2 entry, an interesting alternative target for flavivirus therapy.Fil: Talarico, Laura Beatriz. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica. Laboratorio de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Damonte, Elsa Beatriz. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica. Laboratorio de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Functional entry of dengue virus into Aedes albopictus mosquito cells is dependent on clathrin-mediated endocytosis

Entry of dengue virus 2 (DENV-2) into Aedes albopictus mosquito C6/36 cells was analysed using biochemical and molecular inhibitors, together with confocal and electron microscopy observations. Treatment with monodansylcadaverine, chlorpromazine, sucrose and ammonium chloride inhibited DENV-2 virus yield and protein expression, whereas nystatin, a blocker of caveolae-mediated endocytosis, did not have any effect. Using confocal microscopy, co-localization of DENV-2 E glycoprotein and the marker protein transferrin was observed at the periphery of the cytoplasm. To support the requirement of clathrin function for DENV-2 entry, overexpression of a dominant-negative mutant of Eps15 in C6/36 cells was shown to impair virus entry. The disruption of actin microfilaments by cytochalasin D also significantly affected DENV-2 replication. In contrast, microtubule disruption by colchicine treatment did not impair DENV-2 infectivity, suggesting that DENV-2 does not require transport from early to late endosomes for successful infection of mosquito cells. Furthermore, using transmission electron microscopy, DENV-2 particles of approximately 44-52 nm were found attached within electron-dense invaginations of the plasma membrane and in coated vesicles that resembled those of clathrin-coated pits and vesicles, respectively. Together, these results demonstrate for the first time that DENV-2 enters insect cells by receptor-mediated, clathrin-dependent endocytosis, requiring traffic through an acidic pH compartment for subsequent uncoating and completion of a productive infection.Fil: Acosta, Eliana Gisela. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica. Laboratorio de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Castilla, Viviana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica. Laboratorio de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Damonte, Elsa Beatriz. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica. Laboratorio de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Zn finger containing proteins as targets for the control of viral infections

The zinc finger proteins have fascinated many research groups because of their modular assembly, broad range of biological functions and more recently because they are attractive targets for antiviral therapy. The zinc finger domain is a very stable structural element whose hallmark is the coordination of a zinc ion by several amino acid residues, usually cysteines and histidines. These structural motifs are associated with protein-nucleic acid recognition as well as protein-protein interactions. The biological function of the zinc finger proteins is strongly dependent on the zinc ion, which assure integrity and stability. Thus, the disruption of critical zinc finger viral proteins represents a fundamentally new approach to inhibit viral replication in the absence of mutations leading to drug resistance phenotypes. This review summarizes the drug design and potential therapeutic applications of viral zinc fingers disrupting agents for the control of viral diseases.Fil: García, C. C.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica. Laboratorio de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Damonte, Elsa Beatriz. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica. Laboratorio de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentin

Requirement of cholesterol in the viral envelope for dengue virus infection

•Cholesterol in the virion envelope is essential for dengue virus infectivity.•The four dengue serotypes are similarly inactivated by cholesterol-extracting drugs.•Dengue virus uncoating is blocked in infection with cholesterol-depleted virions.•Virion treatment with exogenous cholesterol exert also a virucidal effect.•Cholesterol in the cell membranes is not required for dengue virus entry. The role of cholesterol in the virus envelope or in the cellular membranes for dengue virus (DENV) infection was examined by depletion with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MCD) or nystatin. Pretreatment of virions with MCD or nystatin significantly reduced virus infectivity in a dose-dependent manner. By contrast, pre-treatment of diverse human cell lines with MCD or nystatin did not affect DENV infection. The four DENV serotypes were similarly inactivated by cholesterol-extracting drugs and infectivity was partially rescued when virion suspensions were treated with MCD in the presence of bovine serum. The addition of serum or exogenous water-soluble cholesterol after MCD treatment did not produce a reversion of MCD inactivating effect. Furthermore, virion treatment with extra cholesterol exerted also a virucidal effect. Binding and uptake of cholesterol-deficient DENV into the host cell were not impaired, whereas the next step of fusion between virion envelope and endosome membrane leading to virion uncoating and release of nucleocapsids to the cytoplasm appeared to be prevented, as determined by the retention of capsid protein in cells infected with MCD inactivated-DENV virions. Thereafter, the infection was almost completely inhibited, given the failure of viral RNA synthesis and viral protein expression in cells infected with MCD-treated virions. These data suggest that envelope cholesterol is a critical factor in the fusion process for DENV entry.Fil: Carro, Ana Clara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Damonte, Elsa Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentin