Impact of genetic background on neonatal lethality of Gga2 gene-trap mice

The functional redundancy of the three mammalian Golgi-localized, γ-ear–containing, ADP-ribosylation factor-binding proteins (GGAs) was addressed in a previous study. Using insertional mutagenesis, we found that Gga1 or Gga3 homozygous knockout mice were for the most part normal, whereas mice homozygous for two different Gga2 gene-trap alleles exhibited either embryonic or neonatal lethality in the C57BL/6 background, depending on the source of the vector utilized (Byg vs. Tigm, respectively). We now show that the Byg strain harbors a disrupted Gga2 allele that is hypomorphic, indicating that the Byg lethality is attributable to a mechanism independent of GGA2. This is in contrast to the Tigm Gga2 allele, which is a true knockout and establishes a role for GGA2 during the neonatal period. Placement of the Tigm Gga2 allele into the C57BL6/Ola129Sv mixed background results in a lower incidence of neonatal lethality, showing the importance of genetic background in determining the requirement for GGA2 during this period. The Gga2(−/−) mice that survive have reduced body weight at birth and this runted phenotype is maintained through adulthood

Binding of cargo sorting signals to AP-1 enhances its association with ADP ribosylation factor 1–GTP

The adaptor protein AP-1 is the major coat protein involved in the formation of clathrin-coated vesicles at the trans-Golgi network. The prevailing view is that AP-1 recruitment involves coincident binding to multiple low-affinity sites comprising adenosine diphosphate ribosylation factor 1 (Arf-1)–guanosine triphosphate (GTP), cargo sorting signals, and phosphoinositides. We now show that binding of cargo signal peptides to AP-1 induces a conformational change in its core domain that greatly enhances its interaction with Arf-1–GTP. In addition, we provide evidence for cross talk between the dileucine and tyrosine binding sites within the AP-1 core domain such that binding of a cargo signal to one site facilitates binding to the other site. The stable association of AP-1 with Arf-1–GTP, which is induced by cargo signals, would serve to provide sufficient time for adaptor polymerization and clathrin recruitment while ensuring the packaging of cargo molecules into the forming transport vesicles

A Mouse Model of Zika Virus Pathogenesis

SummaryThe ongoing Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic and unexpected clinical outcomes, including Guillain-Barré syndrome and birth defects, has brought an urgent need for animal models. We evaluated infection and pathogenesis with contemporary and historical ZIKV strains in immunocompetent mice and mice lacking components of the antiviral response. Four- to six-week-old Irf3−/− Irf5−/− Irf7−/− triple knockout mice, which produce little interferon α/β, and mice lacking the interferon receptor (Ifnar1−/−) developed neurological disease and succumbed to ZIKV infection, whereas single Irf3−/−, Irf5−/−, and Mavs−/− knockout mice exhibited no overt illness. Ifnar1−/− mice sustained high viral loads in the brain and spinal cord, consistent with evidence that ZIKV causes neurodevelopmental defects in human fetuses. The testes of Ifnar1−/− mice had the highest viral loads, which is relevant to sexual transmission of ZIKV. This model of ZIKV pathogenesis will be valuable for evaluating vaccines and therapeutics as well as understanding disease pathogenesis

prM-reactive antibodies reveal a role for partially mature virions in dengue virus pathogenesis

Cleavage of the flavivirus premembrane (prM) structural protein during maturation can be inefficient. The contribution of partially mature flavivirus virions that retain uncleaved prM to pathogenesis during primary infection is unknown. To investigate this question, we characterized the functional properties of newly-generated dengue virus (DENV) prM-reactive monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in vitro and using a mouse model of DENV disease. Anti-prM mAbs neutralized DENV infection in a virion maturation state-dependent manner. Alanine scanning mutagenesis and cryoelectron microscopy of anti-prM mAbs in complex with immature DENV defined two modes of attachment to a single antigenic site. In vivo, passive transfer of intact anti-prM mAbs resulted in an antibody-dependent enhancement of disease. However, protection against DENV-induced lethality was observed when the transferred mAbs were genetically modified to inhibit their ability to interact with Fcγ receptors. These data establish that in addition to mature forms of the virus, partially mature infectious pr

Affinity-restricted memory B cells dominate recall responses to heterologous flaviviruses

Memory B cells (MBCs) can respond to heterologous antigens either by molding new specificities through secondary germinal centers (GCs) or selecting pre-existing clones without further affinity maturation. To distinguish these mechanisms in flavivirus infections and immunizations, we studied recall responses to envelope protein domain III (DIII). Conditional deletion of activation induced cytidine deaminase (AID) between heterologous challenges of West Nile, Japanese encephalitis, Zika, and Dengue viruses did not affect recall responses. DIII-specific MBCs were contained mostly within the plasma cell-biased CD80(+) subset and few GCs arose following heterologous boosters, demonstrating that recall responses are confined by pre-existing clonal diversity. Measurement of monoclonal antibody binding affinity to DIII proteins, timed AID deletion, single cell RNA-sequencing, and lineage tracing experiments point to selection of relatively low affinity MBCs as a mechanism to promote diversity. Engineering immunogens to avoid this MBC diversity may facilitate flavivirus type-specific vaccines with minimized potential for infection enhancement

Maternally Acquired Zika Antibodies Enhance Dengue Disease Severity in Mice

Antibody (Ab)-dependent enhancement can exacerbate dengue virus (DENV) infection due to cross-reactive Abs from an initial DENV infection, facilitating replication of a second DENV. Zika virus (ZIKV) emerged in DENV-endemic areas, raising questions about whether existing immunity could affect these related flaviviruses. We show that mice born with circulating maternal Abs against ZIKV develop severe disease upon DENV infection. Compared with pups of naive mothers, those born to ZIKV-immune mice lacking type I interferon receptor in myeloid cells (LysMCre+Ifnar1fl/fl) exhibit heightened disease and viremia upon DENV infection. Passive transfer of IgG isolated from mice born to ZIKV-immune mothers resulted in increased viremia in naive recipient mice. Treatment with Abs blocking inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor linked to DENV disease or Abs blocking DENV entry improved survival of DENV-infected mice born to ZIKV-immune mothers. Thus, the maternal Ab response to ZIKV infection or vaccination might predispose to severe dengue disease in infants

Analysis of Gga Null Mice Demonstrates a Non-Redundant Role for Mammalian GGA2 during Development

Numerous studies using cultured mammalian cells have shown that the three GGAs (Golgi-localized, gamma-ear containing, ADP-ribosylation factor- binding proteins) function in the transport of cargo proteins between the trans- Golgi network and endosomes. However, the in vivo role(s) of these adaptor proteins and their possible functional redundancy has not been analyzed. In this study, the genes encoding GGAs1-3 were disrupted in mice by insertional mutagenesis. Loss of GGA1 or GGA3 alone was well tolerated whereas the absence of GGA2 resulted in embryonic or neonatal lethality, depending on the genetic background of the mice. Thus, GGA2 mediates a vital function that cannot be compensated for by GGA1and/or GGA3. The combined loss of GGA1 and GGA3 also resulted in a high incidence of neonatal mortality but in this case the expression level of GGA2 may be inadequate to compensate for the loss of the other two GGAs. We conclude that the three mammalian GGAs are essential proteins that are not fully redundant