Adenovirus (Ad) is a widely studied DNA virus, but the nucleoprotein structure of the viral genome in the cell is poorly characterized. Our objective is to study Ad DNA-protein associations and how these affect the viral life cycle. Most of the viral DNA condensing protein, protein VII, is lost within a few hours of infection and this loss is independent of transcription. Cellular histones associate with the viral DNA after removal of protein VII, with a preferential deposition of H3.3. Micrococcal nuclease accessibility assays at 6 hpi showed laddering of the viral DNA, suggesting the genome is wrapped in physiologically spaced nucleosomes. Although viral DNA continues to associate with H3.3 at late times of infection, the overall level of association with histones is greatly reduced. Knockdown of the H3.3 chaperone HIRA had no effect on the viral life cycle suggesting that other H3.3 chaperones are involved. Our studies have begun to elucidate the nucleoprotein structure of Ad DNA in the infected cell nucleus.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Vita. "August 2007" Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed Feb. 9, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 92-115).

Thesis (Ph.D. in Molecular Biology) -- University of Colorado Denver, 2008. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 134-149). Free to UCD affiliates. Online version available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations;

In the complex relationships of mammalian viruses with their hosts, it is currently unclear as to what role RNA silencing pathways play during the course of infection. RNA silencing-based immunity is the cornerstone of plant and invertebrate defense against viral pathogens, and examples of host defense mechanisms and numerous viral counterdefense mechanisms exist. Recent studies indicate that RNA silencing might also play an active role in the context of a mammalian virus infection. We show here that a mammalian virus, human adenovirus, interacts with RNA silencing pathways during infection, as the virus produces microRNAs (miRNAs) and regulates the expression of Dicer, a key component of RNA silencing mechanisms. Our work demonstrates that adenovirus encodes two miRNAs within the loci of the virus-associated RNA I (VA RNA I). We find that one of these miRNAs, miR-VA “g”, enters into a functional, Argonaute-2 (Ago-2)-containing silencing complex during infection. Currently, the cellular or viral target genes for these miRNAs remain unidentified. Inhibition of the function of the miRNAs during infection did not affect viral growth in a highly cytopathic cell culture model. However, studies from other viruses implicate viral miRNAs in the establishment of latent or chronic infections. Additionally, we find that adenovirus infection leads to the reduced expression of Dicer. This downregulation does not appear to be dependent on the presence of VA RNA or its associated miRNAs. Rather, Dicer levels appear to inversely correlate with the level of viral replication, indicating that another viral gene product is responsible for this activity. Misregulation of Dicer expression does not appear to influence viral growth in a cell culture model of infection, and also does not lead to gross changes in the pool of cellular miRNAs. Taken together, our results demonstrate that RNA silencing pathways are active participants in the process of infection with human adenovirus. The production of viral miRNAs and the regulation of cellular Dicer levels during infection implicate RNA silencing mechanisms in both viral fitness as well as potential host defense strategies.

Submitted by Angelo Silva (asilva@icict.fiocruz.br) on 2016-07-13T18:29:36Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) 71830.pdf: 2736652 bytes, checksum: 9835f8cf2dae1d7296d4ade3aacbc556 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Anderson Silva (avargas@icict.fiocruz.br) on 2016-08-24T14:07:59Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 71830.pdf: 2736652 bytes, checksum: 9835f8cf2dae1d7296d4ade3aacbc556 (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-24T14:07:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 71830.pdf: 2736652 bytes, checksum: 9835f8cf2dae1d7296d4ade3aacbc556 (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016 / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil / Atualmente, os vírus entéricos, principalmente os norovírus humanos (NoV), são descritos como os principais causadores de surtos de doenças transmitidas por alimentos (DTA), especialmente os de rápido preparo e consumo, como frutas e frios. Devido às baixas concentrações de vírus entéricos em amostras de alimentos, é necessário dispor de um método de detecção rápido e eficiente que permita esclarecer surtos de origem alimentar e implementar medidas de prevenção quando necessárias. Este estudo teve como objetivo adaptar e avaliar a metodologia de floculação orgânica com leite desnatado para recuperação de vírus em frutas e queijos, comparando sucesso e eficiência de recuperação viral com outras metodologias previamente estabelecidas, assim como avaliar a qualidade microbiológica destes alimentos em municípios do Estado do Rio de Janeiro incluindo a pesquisa de vírus gastroentéricos. Ensaios de contaminação artificial em morangos, tomates e queijos foram realizados para recuperação de NoV GII.4 e norovírus murino 1 (MNV-1). O método de floculação orgânica por leite se mostrou eficiente para recuperação de NoV a partir de morangos e tomates quando comparado com métodos de polietileno glicol (PEG) e filtração por membranas carregadas negativamente. Entretanto, não se mostrou eficiente na recuperação viral em queijos, quando comparado com o método de extração direta por TRIzol® Para avaliação da qualidade microbiológica destes alimentos, 270 amostras (90 de cada matriz) obtidas comercialmente foram concentradas por floculação orgânica (morangos e tomates) e TRIzol® (queijos). Todas as amostras foram testadas por PCR quantitativo (qPCR) para investigação de NoV GI, GII e adenovírus humanos (HAdV). MNV-1 foi utilizado com sucesso como controle interno de processo em todas as reações. NoV foram identificados apenas nas amostras de queijos, enquanto a presença de HAdV foi observada em frutas e queijos. Adicionalmente foram realizadas analises bacteriológicas que revelaram coliformes termotolerantes em amostras de morangos e queijos. Nas amostras de queijos também se observou contaminação por Staphyloccocus coagulase positiva, abaixo dos padrões determinados pela legislação brasileira. Concluindo, os resultados obtidos neste estudo apresentam a metodologia de floculação orgânica como alternativa de baixo custo, para frutas, e o uso do TRIzol® em queijos que auxiliarão na vigilância laboratorial de surtos, gerando informações que permitam uma estimativa mais exata da proporção de surtos de NoV atribuídos a transmissão de origem alimentar / Currently, enteric víruses, primarily human norovírus (NoV), are described as the main cause of foodborne disease outbreaks (FBD), especially those of rapid preparation and consumption, like fruits and dairy. Due to the low concentrations of enteric vírus in food samples, it is necessary to have a fast and efficient detection method that allows to elucidate foodborne outbreaks and to implement preventive measures when necessary. This study aimed to adapt and evaluate the skimmed milk organic flocculation methodology for vírus recovery in fruits and cheeses, comparing success and the efficiency of viral recovery with other previously established methods, and assess the microbiological quality of food in the State of the Rio de Janeiro municipalities including gastroenteric vírus. Artificially contaminated strawberries, tomatoes and cheeses were evaluated for NoV GII.4 and murine norovírus 1 (MNV-1) recovery. The organic flocculation method was efficient for the NoV recovery from strawberries and tomatoes as compared to polyethylene glycol (PEG) and filtration negatively charged membranes. However, this methodology was not efficient for viral recovery in cheese when compared with the method of direct extraction by TRIzol® To evaluate the microbiological quality of food, 270 samples (90 of each matrix) commercially obtained were concentrated by organic flocculation (strawberries and tomatoes) and TRIzol® (cheese). All samples were assayed by quantitative PCR (qPCR) for investigation NoV GI, GII and human adenovírus (HAdV). MNV-1 was successfully used as an internal control process in all reactions. NoV were identified only in the cheeses samples, while the presence of HAdV was observed in fruits and cheese. In addition bacteriological analysis revealed that fecal coliforms in samples of strawberries and cheese. In cheese samples was also observed contamination for Staphylococcus coagulase positive below the Standards Brazilian. In conclusion, the results of this study present a skimmed milk organic flocculation methodology as a low cost alternative, for fruits, and the use of TRIzol® in cheeses that can assist in laboratory surveillance of outbreaks, generating information for a more accurate estimate of the proportion of NoV outbreaks attributed to foodborne transmission

Les adénovirus humains (HAdV) provoquent un large spectre de maladies cliniques chez les patients immunodéprimés et immunocompétents et sont également des outils polyvalents pour le transfert de gènes et la vaccination. L’immunité humorale acquise peut être en partie responsable des réactions indésirables envers les vecteurs AdV révélées dans plusieurs essais cliniques de vaccination. De plus, plusieurs protéines de l'hôte comme le facteur X de coagulation de la souris (FX) ou les immunoglobulines de type G se lient aux HAdV et exacerbent la réponse pro-inflammatoire. L’évaluation des risques précliniques se fait souvent chez la souris, même s’il existe plusieurs différences entre les humains et les souris dans l'interaction avec les HAdV. La liaison de FX aux HAdV active une réponse pro-inflammatoire chez la souris par l'intermédiaire des récepteurs Toll-like 4. Dans un autre scénario clinique pertinent, le complexe immun HAdV (IC-HAdV-C5) induit une activation plus forte de l’inflammasome dans les phagocytes humains que l’HAdV-C5 non complexé, mais par un mécanisme inconnu. Dans ce contexte, j’ai participé à deux études. Premièrement, nous avons étudié le rôle potentiel de FX et de TLR4 dans la réponse innée à l ‘HAdV-C5 en utilisant uniquement des cellules et des protéines d’origine humaine. Nous avons constaté qu'il n'y a pas d’activation de la voie de signalisation via TLR4 chez l’homme en présence de FX-HAdV. De plus, le FX n'a pas affecté la forte réponse immunitaire innée induite par IC-HAdV-C5 dans les phagocytes humains. Deuxièmement, nous avons abordé le mécanisme sous-jacent de l'inflammation induite par IC-HAdV-C5. Nous avons démontré que l‘IC-HAdV-C5 induit la formation de l’inflammasome dans les cellules dendritiques dérivées de monocytes et cela dépend de l’échappement endosomal dépendant de la protéine VI et de l'activation des récepteurs cytosoliques de l’inflammasome. Nos résultats nous aident à mieux comprendre les différences entre les tests précliniques réalisés chez la souris et les essais cliniques réalisés chez l'homme. De plus, cela nous permet de mieux comprendre comment l’immunité préexistante façonne la réponse immunitaire innée face aux HAdV, afin d’améliorer le traitement des maladies liées aux HAdV ainsi que l’efficacité des vecteurs HAdV. / Human adenoviruses (HAdV) cause a broad spectrum of clinical diseases in immunocompromised and –competent patients and are also versatile tools for gene transfer and vaccination. Pre-existing humoral immunity may be in part responsible for the adverse responses towards AdV vectors seen in several clinical vaccine trials. Furthermore, a variety of host proteins like mouse coagulation factor X (FX) or immunoglobulin G bind HAdV exacerbate the pro-inflammatory response. Pre-clinical risk assessment is often done in mice, albeit there are multiple differences between human and mice in the interaction with HAdV. The binding of FX to HAdV activates a pro-inflammatory response in mouse via Toll-like receptor 4. In another clinical relevant scenario, immune complexed-HAdV (IC-HAdV-C5) induces more inflammasome activation in human phagocytes than HAdV-C5 alone but by unknown mechanism. In this regard, I participated in two studies. First, we investigated a potential role of FX and TLR4 in the innate response to HAdV-C5 by using only human components. We found that there is no detectable FX-HAdV-TLR4 axis in human and FX did not affect the innate immune response elevated by IC-HAdV-C5 in human phagocytes.Second, we addressed the underlying mechanism of IC-HAdV-C5-induced inflammation. We found that IC-HAdV-C5 induces inflammasome formation in monocyte-derived dendritic cells and this is dependent on pVI-mediated endosomal escape and activation of cytosolic inflammasome sensors. Our findings help us to better understand the differences in preclinical testing in mice and clinical use in humans and how pre-existing immunity shapes the innate immune response to HAdV to improve treatment for HAdV diseases and HAdV vector effectiveness.

Adenovirus (Ad) is a widely studied DNA virus, but the nucleoprotein structure of the viral genome in the cell is poorly characterized. Our objective is to study Ad DNA-protein associations and how these affect the viral life cycle. Most of the viral DNA condensing protein, protein VII, is lost within a few hours of infection and this loss is independent of transcription. Cellular histones associate with the viral DNA after removal of protein VII, with a preferential deposition of H3.3. Micrococcal nuclease accessibility assays at 6 hpi showed laddering of the viral DNA, suggesting the genome is wrapped in physiologically spaced nucleosomes. Although viral DNA continues to associate with H3.3 at late times of infection, the overall level of association with histones is greatly reduced. Knockdown of the H3.3 chaperone HIRA had no effect on the viral life cycle suggesting that other H3.3 chaperones are involved. Our studies have begun to elucidate the nucleoprotein structure of Ad DNA in the infected cell nucleus.

Aim: We aimed to clone angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) full-length DNAs of human origin and construct replication-deficient adenovirus encoding for either of these two genes which can be potentially served for clinical applications. Methods: VEGF165 and Ang1 full-length cDNAs of human origin were amplified by RT-PCR, verified by sequencing, cloned into a pShuttle-CMV vector, recombined with a E1 and E3 regions double-deleted adenovirus, packaged in 293A cells, and purified by ultracentrifugation. The titers of Ad-Ang1 and Ad-VEGF165 were determined by a tissue culture infectious dose50 method. Expression of Ang1 and VEGF165 proteins in H9C2 cardiac myoblasts was examined by Western blot. To examine the protective properties of Ad-Ang1 and Ad-VEGF165, DNA fragmentation induced by H2O2 was analyzed in H9C2 cells 24 hours after transfection. Ad-GFP served as a vehicle control. Results: Sequencing analysis indicated that there is one base difference at site 1206 (t) in Ang1 compared with that of GeneBank (c, U83508) although the coded amino acids are the same (Ileucine). VEGF165 cDNA sequence was same as that of GeneBank (AB021221). Western blot showed that protein levels of Ang1 and VEGF165 were increased 3.53 and 11.53 fold respectively 24 h after transfection as compared to control. Examination of DNA fragmentation suggested that Ang1 and/or VEGF165 significantly protected H9C2 cells from H2O2 induced apoptosis. Conclusions: The two constructed adenoviral vectors, Ad-Ang1 and Ad-VEGF165, functionally expressed target proteins. We demonstrated, for the first time, that the combined utilization of Ang1 and VEGF165 inhibited apoptosis, in addition to their angiogenesis properties.

No description available.