Analyse du mécanisme et du rôle de l'inhibition de l'autophagie par deux protéines complémentaires du cytomégalovirus humain

Abstract: Autophagy is a constitutive and inducible mechanism of degradation of cytoplasmic components, in order to maintain the cellular homeostasis. Autophagy is often modulated by viruses, because it is also considered as an antiviral defense mechanism. It can have a beneficial role, when it is hijacked and regulated by viruses. We have previously observed in our laboratory that the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) stimulates autophagosome formation, at the early stage of infection, independently of viral protein expression then, later on, it blocks autophagy. In this work, we showed that this virus has developed strategies involving the synthesis of several viral proteins, such as IRS1 and TRS1, to inhibit autophagy. Surprisingly, we also demonstrated a proviral role of autophagy at late stages of infection with HCMV. We showed, through biochemical and cellular imaging technologies, that expression of both TRS1 and IRS1 is able to block the formation of autophagosomes. We identified the mechanism of action of these proteins. It is independent of the protein kinase PKR but requires interaction with Beclin 1, a protein of the autophagic machinery. We mapped the interaction site of Beclin 1 with IRS1 and TRS1 in their N-terminal region and called it BBD for Beclin 1-binding domain. This domain (BBD)is conserved between the two proteins and essential to inhibit autophagy. We also identified the site of interaction of IRS1 in the coiled-coil domain (CCD) of Beclin 1. We characterized the role of IRS1 and TRS1 in the modulation of autophagy, in the context of viral infection, using different mutant viruses: viruses in which either the IRS1 or the TRS1 gene has been removed and a mutant virus lacking both IRS1 and TRS1 genes. Our results suggest that both IRS1 and TRS1 are involved in the regulation of this process. To better understand the role of the interaction of these proteins with Beclin 1, we studied the phenotype of a mutant virus that does not express IRS1 and which contains a deletion of the N-terminal region of TRS1. We showed that this mutant does not bind to Beclin 1 and is not able to block autophagy. Surprisingly, it has no defects in viral production, suggesting that inhibition of autophagy is not essential for viral replication. We developed other approaches, including the use of pharmacological modulators of autophagy or shRNA knockdown, which show that the inhibition of autophagy is able to reduce viral production and, on the contrary, that its stimulation increases it. These results suggest that autophagy may be beneficial to HCMV in certain conditions.Résumé : L’autophagie est un mécanisme constitutif et inductible de dégradation des composants cytoplasmiques afin de maintenir l’homéostasie cellulaire. Elle est souvent modulée par les virus car il s’agit également d’un mécanisme de défense antiviral. Elle peut avoir un rôle proviral quand elle est détournée et régulée par les virus. Nous avons précédemment observé au laboratoire que le cytomégalovirus humain (HCMV) stimule la formation des autophagosomes de manière précoce indépendamment de l’expression des protéines virales, puis qu’il entraine un blocage de l’autophagie aux temps tardifs. Dans ce travail, nous avons montré que ce virus a développé des stratégies impliquant la synthèse de deux protéines virales, IRS1 et TRS1, pour inhiber l’autophagie. De façon surprenante, nous avons également mis en évidence un rôle proviral de l’autophagie aux temps tardifs de l’infection par le HCMV. Nous avons pu montrer par des techniques de biochimie et d’imagerie cellulaire que l’expression aussi bien de TRS1 que d’IRS1 est capable de bloquer la formation des autophagosomes dans les cellules. Nous avons identifié le mécanisme d’action de ces protéines. Il est indépendant de la protéine kinase PKR mais nécessite une interaction avec Beclin 1, une protéine de la machinerie autophagique. Nous avons localisé le site d'interaction de Beclin 1 avec IRS1 et TRS1 (BBD pour Beclin 1 binding domain) au niveau de leur région N-terminale. Ce domaine, conservé entre les deux protéines, est nécessaire pour l’inhibition del’autophagie. Le site d’interaction d’IRS1 a été identifié dans le domaine en superhélice (coiled-coil domain) CCD de Beclin 1. Nous avons caractérisé le rôle de TRS1 et IRS1 dans la modulation de l’autophagie dans le contexte de l’infection virale, en utilisant différents virus mutants : des virus dans lesquels on a supprimé soit le gène IRS1, soit le gène TRS1 et un virus dans lequel il manque les deux gènes IRS1 et TRS1. Les résultats obtenus suggèrent qu’IRS1 et TRS1 sont effectivement toutes les deux impliquées dans ce processus. Afin de mieux comprendre le rôle de l’interaction de ces protéines avec Beclin 1, nous avons étudié le phénotype d’un virus mutant qui n’exprime pas IRS1 et qui contient une délétion de la région BBD de TRS1. Nous avons montré que ce virus mutant ne se lie pas à Beclin 1 et qu’il ne bloque pas l’autophagie. De manière surprenante, il n’a pas de défaut de production virale, suggérant que l’inhibition de l'autophagie ne serait pas essentielle pour la réplication virale. Nous avons développé d’autres approches, comme l’utilisation de modulateurs pharmacologiques de l’autophagie ou de lentivirus hébergeant des shRNA, qui montrent que l’inhibition de l’autophagie est capable de diminuer la production virale et au contraire que sa stimulation l’augmente. Ces derniers résultats suggèrent que l’autophagie pourrait être bénéfique au HCMV dans certaines conditions

Analysis of the mechanism and the role of autophagy inhibition by two complementary human cytomegalovirus proteins

Résumé : L’autophagie est un mécanisme constitutif et inductible de dégradation des composants cytoplasmiques afin de maintenir l’homéostasie cellulaire. Elle est souvent modulée par les virus car il s’agit également d’un mécanisme de défense antiviral. Elle peut avoir un rôle proviral quand elle est détournée et régulée par les virus. Nous avons précédemment observé au laboratoire que le cytomégalovirus humain (HCMV) stimule la formation des autophagosomes de manière précoce indépendamment de l’expression des protéines virales, puis qu’il entraine un blocage de l’autophagie aux temps tardifs. Dans ce travail, nous avons montré que ce virus a développé des stratégies impliquant la synthèse de deux protéines virales, IRS1 et TRS1, pour inhiber l’autophagie. De façon surprenante, nous avons également mis en évidence un rôle proviral de l’autophagie aux temps tardifs de l’infection par le HCMV. Nous avons pu montrer par des techniques de biochimie et d’imagerie cellulaire que l’expression aussi bien de TRS1 que d’IRS1 est capable de bloquer la formation des autophagosomes dans les cellules. Nous avons identifié le mécanisme d’action de ces protéines. Il est indépendant de la protéine kinase PKR mais nécessite une interaction avec Beclin 1, une protéine de la machinerie autophagique. Nous avons localisé le site d'interaction de Beclin 1 avec IRS1 et TRS1 (BBD pour Beclin 1 binding domain) au niveau de leur région N-terminale. Ce domaine, conservé entre les deux protéines, est nécessaire pour l’inhibition de l’autophagie. Le site d’interaction d’IRS1 a été identifié dans le domaine en superhélice (coiled-coil domain) CCD de Beclin 1. Nous avons caractérisé le rôle de TRS1 et IRS1 dans la modulation de l’autophagie dans le contexte de l’infection virale, en utilisant différents virus mutants : des virus dans lesquels on a supprimé soit le gène IRS1, soit le gène TRS1 et un virus dans lequel il manque les deux gènes IRS1 et TRS1. Les résultats obtenus suggèrent qu’IRS1 et TRS1 sont effectivement toutes les deux impliquées dans ce processus. Afin de mieux comprendre le rôle de l’interaction de ces protéines avec Beclin 1, nous avons étudié le phénotype d’un virus mutant qui n’exprime pas IRS1 et qui contient une délétion de la région BBD de TRS1. Nous avons montré que ce virus mutant ne se lie pas à Beclin 1 et qu’il ne bloque pas l’autophagie. De manière surprenante, il n’a pas de défaut de production virale, suggérant que l’inhibition de l'autophagie ne serait pas essentielle pour la réplication virale. Nous avons développé d’autres approches, comme l’utilisation de modulateurs pharmacologiques de l’autophagie ou de lentivirus hébergeant des shRNA, qui montrent que l’inhibition de l’autophagie est capable de diminuer la production virale et au contraire que sa stimulation l’augmente. Ces derniers résultats suggèrent que l’autophagie pourrait être bénéfique au HCMV dans certaines conditions.Abstract: Autophagy is a constitutive and inducible mechanism of degradation of cytoplasmic components, in order to maintain the cellular homeostasis. Autophagy is often modulated by viruses, because it is also considered as an antiviral defense mechanism. It can have a beneficial role, when it is hijacked and regulated by viruses. We have previously observed in our laboratory that the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) stimulates autophagosome formation, at the early stage of infection, independently of viral protein expression then, later on, it blocks autophagy. In this work, we showed that this virus has developed strategies involving the synthesis of several viral proteins, such as IRS1 and TRS1, to inhibit autophagy. Surprisingly, we also demonstrated a proviral role of autophagy at late stages of infection with HCMV. We showed, through biochemical and cellular imaging technologies, that expression of both TRS1 and IRS1 is able to block the formation of autophagosomes. We identified the mechanism of action of these proteins. It is independent of the protein kinase PKR but requires interaction with Beclin 1, a protein of the autophagic machinery. We mapped the interaction site of Beclin 1 with IRS1 and TRS1 in their N-terminal region and called it BBD for Beclin 1-binding domain. This domain (BBD)is conserved between the two proteins and essential to inhibit autophagy. We also identified the site of interaction of IRS1 in the coiled-coil domain (CCD) of Beclin 1. We characterized the role of IRS1 and TRS1 in the modulation of autophagy, in the context of viral infection, using different mutant viruses: viruses in which either the IRS1 or the TRS1 gene has been removed and a mutant virus lacking both IRS1 and TRS1 genes. Our results suggest that both IRS1 and TRS1 are involved in the regulation of this process. To better understand the role of the interaction of these proteins with Beclin 1, we studied the phenotype of a mutant virus that does not express IRS1 and which contains a deletion of the N-terminal region of TRS1. We showed that this mutant does not bind to Beclin 1 and is not able to block autophagy. Surprisingly, it has no defects in viral production, suggesting that inhibition of autophagy is not essential for viral replication. We developed other approaches, including the use of pharmacological modulators of autophagy or shRNA knockdown, which show that the inhibition of autophagy is able to reduce viral production and, on the contrary, that its stimulation increases it. These results suggest that autophagy may be beneficial to HCMV in certain conditions

Human cytomegalovirus hijacks the autophagic machinery and LC3 homologs in order to optimize cytoplasmic envelopment of mature infectious particles

Abstract During its life cycle, Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) tightly modulates autophagy, a vesicular pathway allowing degradation and recycling of cellular components. To study the interplay between autophagy and the viral life cycle, we established various autophagy-deficient human fibroblastic cell lines. By knocking down the expression or activity of five autophagy-related proteins, we confirmed the proviral function that the autophagic machinery exerts on HCMV production. Using 3D reconstruction from confocal microscopy and electron microscopy, we demonstrated that lipidated LC3-positive vesicles accumulated at the viral assembly compartment (vAC). The vAC is a juxtanuclear ring-shaped structure containing several organelles and membranes, where assembly and final envelopment of HCMV particles occur. Two LC3 homologs, GABARAPL1 and GATE16, also accumulated during HCMV infection and were associated with the vAC, in proximity with fragmented Golgi stacks. Additionally, we observed the formation of a pre-assembly compartment (PrAC) in infected cells, which consists of a juxtanuclear structure containing both fragmented Golgi and LC3-positive vesicles. Finally, we showed that highly purified extracellular viral particles were associated with various autophagy proteins. Our results thus suggest that autophagy machinery participates to the final cytoplasmic envelopment of HCMV viral particles into the vAC and that autophagy-related proteins can be spotted in the virions

Validation of a SARS-CoV-2 Surrogate Virus Neutralization Test in Recovered and Vaccinated Healthcare Workers

Vaccination against COVID-19 is the main public health approach to fight against the pandemic. The Spike (S) glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 is the principal target of the neutralizing humoral response. We evaluated the analytical and clinical performances of a surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT) compared to conventional neutralization tests (cVNTs) and anti-S eCLIA assays in recovered and/or vaccinated healthcare workers. Our results indicate that sVNTs displayed high specificity and no cross-reactivity. Both eCLIA and sVNT immunoassays were good at identifying cVNT serum dilutions ≥1:16. The optimal thresholds when identifying cVNT titers ≥1:16, were 74.5 U/mL and 49.4 IU/mL for anti-S eCLIA and sVNT, respectively. Our data show that neutralizing antibody titers (Nab) differ from one individual to another and may diminish over time. Specific assays such as sVNTs could offer a reliable complementary tool to routine anti-S serological assays

Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 resistance mutations in a patient who received anti-SARS-COV2 spike protein monoclonal antibodies: a case report

International audienceBackground: To manage severe or potentially severe cases of CoronaVirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), therapeutic monoclonal antibodies targeting Spike protein of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been designed. It has been noted in vitro that upon exposure to these treatments, mutations could be selected. Case presentation: We here report the case of an immunosuppressed patient infected with a B.1.1.7 variant, who received a combination of monoclonal antibodies, and subsequently selected mutations K417N, E484K and Q493R on Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Conclusions: Our case raises the importance of monitoring SARS-CoV-2 mutations in patients receiving monoclonal antibodies and having persistent excretion of the virus, in order to offer optimal management of their infection, and strengthen prevention measures to avoid subsequent transmission of these selected variants

Analysis of the role of autophagy inhibition by two complementary human cytomegalovirus BECN1/Beclin 1-binding proteins.

International audienceAutophagy is activated early after human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection but, later on, the virus blocks autophagy. Here we characterized 2 HCMV proteins, TRS1 and IRS1, which inhibit autophagy during infection. Expression of either TRS1 or IRS1 was able to block autophagy in different cell lines, independently of the EIF2S1 kinase, EIF2AK2/PKR. Instead, TRS1 and IRS1 interacted with the autophagy protein BECN1/Beclin 1. We mapped the BECN1-binding domain (BBD) of IRS1 and TRS1 and found it to be essential for autophagy inhibition. Mutant viruses that express only IRS1 or TRS1 partially controlled autophagy, whereas a double mutant virus expressing neither protein stimulated autophagy. A mutant virus that did not express IRS1 and expressed a truncated form of TRS1 in which the BBD was deleted, failed to control autophagy. However, this mutant virus had similar replication kinetics as wild-type virus, suggesting that autophagy inhibition is not critical for viral replication. In fact, using pharmacological modulators of autophagy and inhibition of autophagy by shRNA knockdown, we discovered that stimulating autophagy enhanced viral replication. Conversely, inhibiting autophagy decreased HCMV infection. Thus, our results demonstrate a new proviral role of autophagy for a DNA virus

Correction for Chaumorcel et al., "The Human Cytomegalovirus Protein TRS1 Inhibits Autophagy via Its Interaction with Beclin 1"

International audienceErratum for The human cytomegalovirus protein TRS1 inhibits autophagy via its interaction with Beclin 1. [J Virol. 2012

Contribution of Serum Cytomegalovirus PCR to Diagnosis of Early CMV Primary Infection in Pregnant Women

International audience(1) Background: What is the role of serum CMV PCR in the diagnosis of recent primary infection (PI) in pregnant women when IgG avidity is uninformative? (2) Methods: Retrospective cohort study to compare serum versus whole blood CMV PCR. (a) Qualitative assessment: CMV PCR was performed on 123 serum samples and 74 whole blood samples collected from 132 pregnant women with recent CMV PI. PCR positivity rate was used to calculate sensitivity in serum and whole blood. (b) Quantitative assessment: CMV PCR was performed on 72 paired samples of serum and whole blood collected on the same day from 57 patients. (3) Results: In pregnant women, PCR positivity rate was 89% for serum samples versus 100% in whole blood in the case of very recent PI (<15 days), but only 27% in serum versus 68% in whole blood for PI occurring from 6 weeks to 3 months before. Comparing CMV viral loads between serum and whole blood, we determined the limit of CMV DNA detection in serum as 3 log copies/mL (whole blood equivalent). (4) Conclusions: Serum CMV PCR is reliable in confirming PI in cases when only IgM is detected. It is therefore a valuable tool in introducing valaciclovir treatment as early as possible to prevent mother-to-child CMV transmission