Molecular Basis for Nucleotide Conservation at the Ends of the Dengue Virus Genome

International audienceThe dengue virus (DV) is an important human pathogen from the Flavivirus genus, whose genome- and antigenome RNAs start with the strictly conserved sequence pppAG. The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), a product of the NS5 gene, initiates RNA synthesis de novo, i.e., without the use of a pre-existing primer. Very little is known about the mechanism of this de novo initiation and how conservation of the starting adenosine is achieved. The polymerase domain NS5PolDV of NS5, upon initiation on viral RNA templates, synthesizes mainly dinucleotide primers that are then elongated in a processive manner. We show here that NS5PolDV contains a specific priming site for adenosine 59-triphosphate as the first transcribed nucleotide. Remarkably, in the absence of any RNA template the enzyme is able to selectively synthesize the dinucleotide pppAG when Mn 2+ is present as catalytic ion. The T794 to A799 priming loop is essential for initiation and provides at least part of the ATP-specific priming site. The H798 loop residue is of central importance for the ATP-specific initiation step. In addition to ATP selection, NS5PolDV ensures the conservation of the 59-adenosine by strongly discriminating against viral templates containing an erroneous 39-end nucleotide in the presence of Mg 2+. In the presence of Mn2+, NS5Pol DV is remarkably able to generate and elongate the correct pppAG primer on these erroneous templates. This can be regarded as a genomic/antigenomic RNA end repair mechanism. These conservational mechanisms, mediated by the polymerase alone, may extend to other RNA virus families having RdRps initiating RNA synthesis de novo

Synthesis and substrate properties towards HIV-1 reverse transcriptase of new diphosphate analogues of 9-[(2-phosphonomethoxy)ethyl]adenine

International audienceBackground The replacement of β,γ-pyrophosphate by β,γ-phosphonate moieties within the triphosphate chain of 5'-triphosphate nucleoside analogues was previously studied for various antiviral nucleoside analogues such as AZT and 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides. Thus, it has been shown that these chemical modifications could preserve, in some cases, the terminating substrate properties of the triphosphate analogue for HIV-RT. Herein, we aimed to study such 5'-triphosphate mimics based on the scaffold of the well-known antiviral agent 9-[(2-phosphonomethoxy)ethyl]adenine (PMEA, Adefovir). Methods Synthesis involved coupling of a morpholidate derivative of PMEA with appropriate pyrophosphoryl analogues. The relative efficiencies of incorporation of the studied diphosphate phosphonates were measured using subtype B WT HIV-1 RT in an in vitro susceptibility assay, in comparison to the parent nucleotide analogue (PMEApp). Results Searching for nucleoside 5'-triphosphate mimics, we have synthesized and studied a series of diphosphate analogues of PMEA bearing non hydrolysable bonds between the and phosphorus atoms. We also examined their relative inhibitory capacity towards HIV-1 reverse transcriptase in comparison to the parent nucleotide analogue (PMEApp). Only one of them appeared as a weak inhibitor (IC50 = 403.0 ± 75.5 µM) and proved to be less effective than PMEApp (IC50 = 6.4 ± 0.8 µM). Conclusion PMEA diphosphoryl derivatives were designed as potential substrates and/or inhibitors of various viral polymerases. These modifications dramatically affect their ability to inhibit HIV-RT

The methyltransferase domain of dengue virus protein NS5 ensures efficient RNA synthesis initiation and elongation by the polymerase domain (vol 42, pg 11642, 2014)

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Enzymatic synthesis of acyclic nucleoside thiophosphonate diphosphates: Effect of the alpha-phosphorus configuration on HIV-1 RT activity

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Synthesis, in Vitro Antiviral Evaluation, and Stability Studies of Novel α-Borano-Nucleotide Analogues of 9-[2-(Phosphonomethoxy)ethyl]adenine and ( R )-9-[2-(Phosphonomethoxy)propyl]adenine

International audienceWe describe here the synthesis of 9-[2-(boranophosphonomethoxy)ethyl]adenine (6a) and (R)-9-[2-(boranophosphonomethoxy)propyl]adenine (6b), the first alpha-boranophosphonate nucleosides in which a borane (BH3) group substitutes one nonbridging oxygen atom of the alpha-phosphonate moiety. H-phosphinates 5a and 5b and alpha-boranophosphonates 6a and 6b were evaluated for their in vitro activity against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected cells and against a panel of DNA or RNA viruses. Compounds 5a, 5b, 6a, and 6b exhibited no significant antiviral activity in vitro and cytotoxicity. To measure the chemical and enzymatic stabilities of the target compounds 6a and 6b, kinetic data of decomposition for derivatives 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, and standard compounds were studied at 37 degrees C in several media. The alpha-boranophosphonates 6a and 6b were metabolized in culture medium into H-phosphinates 5a and 5b, with half-live values of 5.3 h for 6a and 1.3 h for 6b

Synthesis and antiviral activity of boranophosphonate isosteres of AZT and d4T monophosphates

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Experimental Infection of Sand Flies by Massilia Virus and Viral Transmission by Co-Feeding on Sugar Meal

Background: Massilia virus (MASV) is a phlebovirus isolated from Phlebotomus perniciosus in various regions of southwestern Europe. It is closely related to human pathogens such as Toscana virus and sandfly fever Naples virus. The natural cycle of phleboviruses is poorly understood. Indeed, experimental studies demonstrate that transovarial and sexual transmission are not efficient enough for the maintenance of the virus in nature and to date there is no convincing evidence that a species of vertebrates is the reservoir of the virus. Here, we studied various transmission routes of MASV taking advantage of experimental colonies representing different species of sand flies. Methodology/Principal findings: In P. perniciosus, four sources of infection were compared: (i) Virus-seeded larval food to the first instar larvae (L1), or (ii) to the fourth instar larvae (L4), (iii) virus-seeded blood meal to adult females, and (iv) virus-seeded sugar meal to adults of both sexes. From 875 adults emerged from infected L1 and L4, only three were positive. In females infected by bloodmeal the infection rate was high before defecation, then it decreased drastically; MASV RNA was detected in only 5 out of 27 post-defecation. Surprisingly, the most efficient route of infection was observed after intake of virus-seeded sugar meal: 72% of females (79/110) and 52% of males (51/99) were found to be MASV RNA-positive. In addition, MASV-infected sandflies regurgitated virus particules into the sugar drop and MASV RNA was detectable in this drop for at least 24 h after regurgitation. MASV RNA was detected in about one third of the P. perniciosus exposed to this sugar drop contaminated by regurgitation. Sugar meal infection was also tested with six other species of sand flies. In males, there were no significant differences in infection rates when compared to P. perniciosus. In females, most species tested showed high infection rate at the beginning but then significant gradual decrease in infection rate during the experiment. Conclusions/Significance: We present the first description of arboviral infection of a dipteran vector using sugar meal. In all seven sand fly species tested, MASV was detected for two weeks post-infection. Our results showed that MASV can be transmitted between P. perniciosus either through co-feeding or via an infected sugar source such as plant sap. These newly described routes of horizontal transmission may play an important role in the circulation of phleboviruses in nature

Acyclic nucleoside thiophosphonates as potent inhibitors of HIV and HBV replication

International audience9-[2-(Thiophosphonomethoxy)ethyl]adenine 3 and (R)-9-[2-(Thiophosphonomethoxy)propyl]adenine 4 were synthesized as the first thiophosphonate nucleosides bearing a sulfur atom at the α-position of the acyclic nucleoside phosphonates PMEA and PMPA. Thiophosphonates S-PMEA 3 and S-PMPA 4 were evaluated for in vitro activity against HIV-1 (subtypes A to G), HIV-2 and HBV-infected cells, and found to exhibit potent antiretroviral activity. We showed that their diphosphate forms S-PMEApp 5 and S-PMPApp 6 are readily incorporated by wild-type (WT) HIV-1 RT into DNA and act as DNA chain terminators. Compounds 3 and 4 were evaluated for in vitro activity against a broad panel of DNA and RNA viruses and displayed beside HIV a moderate activity against herpes simplex virus and vaccinia viruses. In order to measure enzymatic stabilities of the target derivatives 3 and 4, kinetic data and decomposition pathways were studied at 37 °C in several media

Meiotic recombination analyses in pigs carrying different balanced structural chromosomal rearrangements

Correct pairing, synapsis and recombination between homologous chromosomes are essential for normal meiosis. All these events are strongly regulated, and our knowledge of the mechanisms involved in this regulation is increasing rapidly. Chromosomal rearrangements are known to disturb these processes. In the present paper, synapsis and recombination (number and distribution of MLH1 foci) were studied in three boars (Sus scrofa domestica) carrying different chromosomal rearrangements. One (T34he) was heterozygote for the t(3;4)(p1.3;q1.5) reciprocal translocation, one (T34ho) was homozygote for that translocation, while the third (T34Inv) was heterozygote for both the translocation and a pericentric inversion inv(4)(p1.4;q2.3). All three boars were normal for synapsis and sperm production. This particular situation allowed us to rigorously study the impact of rearrangements on recombination. Overall, the rearrangements induced only minor modifications of the number of MLH1 foci (per spermatocyte or per chromosome) and of the length of synaptonemal complexes for chromosomes 3 and 4. The distribution of MLH1 foci in T34he was comparable to that of the controls. Conversely, the distributions of MLH1 foci on chromosome 4 were strongly modified in boar T34Inv (lack of crossover in the heterosynaptic region of the quadrivalent, and crossover displaced to the chromosome extremities), and also in boar T34ho (two recombination peaks on the q-arms compared with one of higher magnitude in the controls). Analyses of boars T34he and T34Inv showed that the interference was propagated through the breakpoints. A different result was obtained for boar T34ho, in which the breakpoints (transition between SSC3 and SSC4 chromatin on the bivalents

3'-Deoxy phosphoramidate dinucleosides as improved inhibitors of Hepatitis C virus subgenomic replicon and NS5B polymerase activity.

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