Immature Dengue Virus Research Articles

Uncovering the conformational dynamics of dengue virus and its virus-like particles as novel vaccine candidates.

Dengue virus (DENV) is an enveloped virus that infects millions of people worldwide. The only commercially available vaccine has low efficacy and safety issues. DENV is ∼50 nm in diameter, and contains 90 envelope (E) and membrane (M) protein dimers embedded within a lipid envelope, encapsulating an RNA genome. There are four closely related DENV serotypes, which hamper broad neutralization by host antibodies and can result in antibody dependent enhancement worsening the clinical symptoms of dengue infections. During its life cycle, DENV adopts numerous conformations in response to environmental factors such as pH and temperature changes, which result in varying degrees of exposure of its accessible epitopes. These factors make vaccine development challenging both from the immunological and structural points of view. Virus-like particles (VLPs) represent promising platforms as novel vaccine alternatives because they are non-infectious and highly immunogenic. DENV VLPs are ∼30 nm in diameter, containing 30 E/M protein dimers on their surface, likely leading to significant differences in their conformational dynamics compared to the virus itself. Notably, these VLPs exhibit a significant “groove” at the E protein dimeric interface, yielding more exposed epitopes than those present on the typical DENV particle. This factor is likely to be critical to the efficacy of resultant vaccines. Here, we employed an integrative modeling and multiscale simulation approach supported by various experimental measurements to understand the differences in conformational dynamics between both mature and immature DENV and its VLPs, to assess epitope exposure and particle stability. Similar tools were also used to guide several site-directed mutations that may guide the improvement of such VLPs, and hence represents a platform for novel vaccine development strategies.

TLR2 axis on peripheral blood mononuclear cells regulates inflammatory responses to non-infectious immature dengue virus particles.

Severe dengue virus (DENV) infection is characterized by exacerbated inflammatory responses that lead to endothelial dysfunction and plasma leakage. We have recently demonstrated that Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) on blood monocytes senses DENV infection leading to endothelial activation. Here, we report that non-infectious immature DENV particles, which are released in large numbers by DENV-infected cells, drive endothelial activation via the TLR2 axis. We show that fully immature DENV particles induce a rapid, within 6 hours post-infection, inflammatory response in PBMCs. Furthermore, pharmacological blocking of TLR2/TLR6/CD14 and/or NF-kB prior to exposure of PBMCs to immature DENV reduces the initial production of inter alia TNF-α and IL-1β by monocytes and prevents endothelial activation. However, prolonged TLR2 block induces TNF-α production and leads to exacerbated endothelial activation, indicating that TLR2-mediated responses play an important role not only in the initiation but also the resolution of inflammation. Altogether, these data indicate that the maturation status of the virus has the potential to influence the kinetics and extent of inflammatory responses during DENV infection.

Implications of Dengue Virus Maturation on Vaccine Induced Humoral Immunity in Mice.

The use of dengue virus (DENV) vaccines has been hindered by the complexities of antibody dependent enhancement (ADE). Current late-stage vaccine candidates utilize attenuated and chimeric DENVs that produce particles of varying maturities. Antibodies that are elicited by preferentially exposed epitopes on immature virions have been linked to increased ADE. We aimed to further understand the humoral immunity promoted by DENV particles of varying maturities in an AG129 mouse model using a chimeric insect specific vaccine candidate, bDENV-2. We immunized mice with mature, partially mature, and immature bDENV-2 and found that immunization with partially mature bDENV-2 produced more robust and cross-neutralizing immune responses than immunization with immature or mature bDENV-2. Upon challenge with mouse adapted DENV-2 (D220), we observed 80% protection for mature bDENV-2 vaccinated mice and 100% for immature and partially mature vaccinated mice, suggesting that protection to homotypic challenge is not dependent on maturation. Finally, we found reduced in vitro ADE at subneutralising serum concentrations for mice immunized with mature bDENV-2. These results suggest that both immature and mature DENV particles play a role in homotypic protection; however, the increased risk of in vitro ADE from immature particles indicates potential safety benefits from mature DENV-based vaccines.

Morphological Diversity and Dynamics of Dengue Virus Affecting Antigenicity.

The four serotypes of the mature dengue virus can display different morphologies, including the compact spherical, the bumpy spherical and the non-spherical clubshape morphologies. In addition, the maturation process of dengue virus is inefficient and therefore some partially immature dengue virus particles have been observed and they are infectious. All these viral particles have different antigenicity profiles and thus may affect the type of the elicited antibodies during an immune response. Understanding the molecular determinants and environmental conditions (e.g., temperature) in inducing morphological changes in the virus and how potent antibodies interact with these particles is important for designing effective therapeutics or vaccines. Several techniques, including cryoEM, site-directed mutagenesis, hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, time-resolve fluorescence resonance energy transfer, and molecular dynamic simulation, have been performed to investigate the structural changes. This review describes all known morphological variants of DENV discovered thus far, their surface protein dynamics and the key residues or interactions that play important roles in the structural changes.

Mechanism of Enhanced Immature Dengue Virus Attachment to Endosomal Membrane Induced by prM Antibody

Dengue virus (DENV) particles are released from cells in different maturation states. Fully immature DENV (immDENV) is generally non-infectious, but can become infectious when complexed with anti-precursor membrane (prM) protein antibodies. It is unknown how anti-prM antibody-coated particles can undergo membrane fusion since the prM caps the envelope (E) protein fusion loop. Here, we determined cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) maps of the immDENV:anti-prM complex at different pH values, mimicking the extracellular (pH 8.0) or endosomal (pH 5.0) environments. At pH 5.0, there are two structural classes with fewer antibodies bound than at pH 8.0. These classes may represent different maturation states. Molecular simulations, together with the measured high-affinity pr:antibody interaction (versus the weak pr:E interaction) and also the low pH cryo-EM structures, suggest how antibody:pr complex can dislodge from the E protein at low pH. This exposes the E protein fusion loop enhancing virus interaction with endosomes.

Structural Basis for Dengue Virus Antibody Dependent Maturation

Event Abstract Back to Event Structural basis for dengue virus antibody dependent maturation Jan K. Marzinek1 and Peter J. Bond1* 1 Bioinformatics Institute (A*STAR), Singapore Background Dengue virus (DENV) is responsible for millions of infections a year around the world. DENV is composed of an RNA genome complexed with capsid (C) proteins, which are surrounded by envelope (E) and membrane (M) proteins embedded within a lipid bilayer. In nascent viral particles, the pre-membrane (prM) protein caps the fusion loop of the E protein, making it non-fusogenic. During maturation, cleavage of prM into the M protein and release of pr leads to a conformational change in the E protein that makes it fusion-competent. Interestingly, DENV is known to be released from cells under different states of maturation. Fully immature DENV (immDENV) is non-infectious. However, its infectivity can be enhanced when DENV is targeted by host anti-prM antibodies. The molecular basis for this antibody-dependent enhancement has until recently been unknown. Methods In this work, cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of the immDENV:anti-prM complex at acidic and neutral pH conditions mimicking the endosomal and extracellular environments respectively were analyzed via integrative modeling and simulation approaches. Results At acidic pH, an intermediate structure of the DENV maturation pathway has been solved with fewer antibodies bound in comparison to neutral pH. Based on previously developed multiscale models of the DENV particle, we employed sets of targeted molecular dynamics (TMD) simulations in order to trigger the maturation transition at low pH. Hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectroscopy and Elisa measurements confirmed that the affinity of the antibody:pr complexes are stronger than those of the pr:E complexes, and the TMD simulations revealed dislodgement of antibody:pr from the E protein surface during the conformational transition due to steric clashes. Conclusion Here, we provide the detailed molecular mechanism by which anti-prM antibodies enhance maturation of DENV in the acidic endosomal environment, leading to exposure of the E protein fusion loops for subsequent endosomal membrane binding and fusion. Acknowledgements National Research Foundation: CRP Grant Number: NRF2017-CRP001-027 Keywords: Dengue virus maturation, cryo-electron microscopy, antibody, PRM, Molecular dynamic simulations Conference: International Conference on Drug Discovery and Translational Medicine 2018 (ICDDTM '18) “Seizing Opportunities and Addressing Challenges of Precision Medicine”, Putrajaya, Malaysia, 3 Dec - 5 Feb, 2019. Presentation Type: Oral Presentation Topic: Infectious diseases Citation: Marzinek JK and Bond PJ (2019). Structural basis for dengue virus antibody dependent maturation. Front. Pharmacol. Conference Abstract: International Conference on Drug Discovery and Translational Medicine 2018 (ICDDTM '18) “Seizing Opportunities and Addressing Challenges of Precision Medicine”. doi: 10.3389/conf.fphar.2018.63.00082 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 30 Sep 2018; Published Online: 17 Jan 2019. * Correspondence: Dr. Peter J Bond, Bioinformatics Institute (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore, peterjb@bii.a-star.edu.sg Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Jan K Marzinek Peter J Bond Google Jan K Marzinek Peter J Bond Google Scholar Jan K Marzinek Peter J Bond PubMed Jan K Marzinek Peter J Bond Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

Substitution of the precursor peptide prevents anti-prM antibody-mediated antibody-dependent enhancement of dengue virus infection

Antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) is currently considered as the mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of severe dengue disease. Many studies have shown that precursor (pr) peptide-specific antibodies do not efficiently neutralize infection but potently promote ADE of dengue virus (DENV) infection. To explore the effect of pr peptide substitution on neutralization and ADE of DENV infection, the rabbit anti-prM polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) and anti-JEVpr/DENV-M pAbs were prepared, and the neutralization and ADE of these two pAbs were further compared. Here, we report that both anti-JEVpr/DENV-M and anti-prM pAbs exhibited broad cross-reactivity and only partial neutralization with four DENV serotypes and immature DENV. Rabbit anti-prM pAbs showed a significant enhancement in a broad range of serum dilutions. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the enhancing activity of rabbit anti-JEVpr/DENV-M pAbs at various levels of dilution. These results demonstrate that anti-prM antibody-mediated ADE can be prevented by JEV pr peptide replacement. The present study contribute further to research on the pathogenesis of DENV infection.

How antibodies alter the cell entry pathway of dengue virus particles in macrophages.

Antibody-dependent enhancement of dengue virus (DENV) infection plays an important role in the exacerbation of DENV-induced disease. To understand how antibodies influence the fate of DENV particles, we explored the cell entry pathway of DENV in the absence and presence of antibodies in macrophage-like P388D1 cells. Recent studies unraveled that both mature and immature DENV particles contribute to ADE, hence, both particles were studied. We observed that antibody-opsonized DENV enters P388D1 cells through a different pathway than non-opsonized DENV. Antibody-mediated DENV entry was dependent on FcγRs, pH, Eps15, dynamin, actin, PI3K, Rab5, and Rab7. In the absence of antibodies, DENV cell entry was FcγR, PI3K, and Rab5-independent. Live-cell imaging of fluorescently-labeled particles revealed that actin-mediated membrane protrusions facilitate virus uptake. In fact, actin protrusions were found to actively search and capture antibody-bound virus particles distantly located from the cell body, a phenomenon that is not observed in the absence of antibodies. Overall, similar results were seen for antibody-opsonized standard and antibody-bound immature DENV preparations, indicating that the maturation status of the virus does not control the entry pathway. Collectively, our findings suggest that antibodies alter the cell entry pathway of DENV and trigger a novel mechanism of initial virus-cell contact.

Immature dengue virus is infectious in human immature dendritic cells via interaction with the receptor molecule DC-SIGN.

BackgroundDengue Virus (DENV) is the most common mosquito-borne viral infection worldwide. Important target cells during DENV infection are macrophages, monocytes, and immature dendritic cells (imDCs). DENV-infected cells are known to secrete a large number of partially immature and fully immature particles alongside mature virions. Fully immature DENV particles are considered non-infectious, but antibodies have been shown to rescue their infectious properties. This suggests that immature DENV particles only contribute to the viral load observed in patients with a heterologous DENV re-infection.Methodology/Principal findingsIn this study, we re-evaluated the infectious properties of fully immature particles in absence and presence of anti-DENV human serum. We show that immature DENV is infectious in cells expressing DC-SIGN. Furthermore, we demonstrate that immature dendritic cells, in contrast to macrophage-like cells, do not support antibody-dependent enhancement of immature DENV.Conclusions/SignificanceOur data shows that immature DENV can infect imDCs through interaction with DC-SIGN, suggesting that immature and partially immature DENV particles may contribute to dengue pathogenesis during primary infection. Furthermore, since antibodies do not further stimulate DENV infectivity on imDCs we propose that macrophages/monocytes rather than imDCs contribute to the increased viral load observed during severe heterotypic DENV re-infections.

A toggle switch controls the low pH-triggered rearrangement and maturation of the dengue virus envelope proteins.

Immature dengue virus particles undergo a dramatic conformational change upon exposure to the acidic environment of the late secretory pathway. The interactions of the E fusion proteins and prM chaperone proteins on the virus envelope are reorganized to permit prM processing by a host protease, furin, thus priming virus for fusion and infection. Here we identify a pH-dependent toggle switch that controls this key conformational change during virus maturation. Our data show that the M region of prM interacts with E at neutral pH but is released at acidic pH, while the pr region interacts with E at acidic pH but is released at neutral pH. Alanine substitution of the conserved residue H98 in prM disrupts the switch by inhibiting dissociation of M from E at low pH, resulting in impaired prM processing and decreased virus infectivity. Thus, release of M-E interaction at low pH promotes formation of a furin-accessible intermediate.

Antibody-dependent enhancement of dengue virus infection is inhibited by SA-17, a doxorubicin derivative

Antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) is thought to play a critical role in the exacerbation of dengue virus (DENV)-induced disease during a heterologous re-infection. Despite ADE’s clinical impact, only a few antiviral compounds have been assessed for their anti-ADE activity. We reported earlier that SA-17, a doxorubicin derivative, efficiently inhibits the in vitro infection of DENV and yellow fever virus. Here we explored SA-17’s mechanism of inhibition and investigated if the compound is active against ADE of DENV infection. Since enhanced infectivity stimulated by antibodies has been observed with standard and immature DENV, both types of virions were included in the study. We observed that SA-17 (i) inhibits DENV infection by preventing binding/entry to the cell and (ii) interferes with antibody-mediated infection of both standard and immature DENV2. SA-17 markedly reduced the infectivity of DENV2 in ADE conditions, with IC50s ranging from 0.26 to 2.89μM. The compound exerted its activity when added before, during, and after antibody-opsonization of standard and immature virus. Thus, molecules with the characteristics of SA-17 may be attractive antiviral agents since they can be used both to block DENV2 entry during primary and secondary infection and to inhibit ADE of standard and immature virus.

Obstruction of Dengue Virus Maturation by Fab Fragments of the 2H2 Antibody

The 2H2 monoclonal antibody recognizes the precursor peptide on immature dengue virus and might therefore be a useful tool for investigating the conformational change that occurs when the immature virus enters an acidic environment. During dengue virus maturation, spiky, immature, noninfectious virions change their structure to form smooth-surfaced particles in the slightly acidic environment of the trans-Golgi network, thereby allowing cellular furin to cleave the precursor-membrane proteins. The dengue virions become fully infectious when they release the cleaved precursor peptide upon reaching the neutral-pH environment of the extracellular space. Here we report on the cryo-electron microscopy structures of the immature virus complexed with the 2H2 antigen binding fragments (Fab) at different concentrations and under various pH conditions. At neutral pH and a high concentration of Fab molecules, three Fab molecules bind to three precursor-membrane proteins on each spike of the immature virus. However, at a low concentration of Fab molecules and pH 7.0, only two Fab molecules bind to each spike. Changing to a slightly acidic pH caused no detectable change of structure for the sample with a high Fab concentration but caused severe structural damage to the low-concentration sample. Therefore, the 2H2 Fab inhibits the maturation process of immature dengue virus when Fab molecules are present at a high concentration, because the three Fab molecules on each spike hold the precursor-membrane molecules together, thereby inhibiting the normal conformational change that occurs during maturation.

Identification and characterization of a linearized B-cell epitope on the pr protein of dengue virus

The four serotypes of dengue virus (DENV) represent one of the major mosquito-borne pathogens globally; so far no vaccine or specific antiviral is available. During virion maturation, the pr protein is cleaved from its precursor form the prM protein on the surface of immature DENV by host protease. Recent findings have demonstrated that the pr protein not only played critical roles in virion assembly and maturation, but was also involved in antibody-dependent enhancement of DENV infection. However, the B-cell epitopes on the pr protein of DENV have not been well characterized. In this study, a set of 11 partially overlapping peptides spanning the entire pr protein of DENV-2 were fused with glutathione S-transferase and expressed in Escherichia coli. ELISA screening with murine hyperimmune antiserum against immature DENV identified the P8 peptide (⁵⁷KQNEPEDIDCWCNST⁷¹) in the pr protein as the major immunodominant epitope. Fine mapping by truncated protein assays confirmed the 8-e peptide ⁵⁷KQNEPEDI⁶⁴ was the smallest unit capable of antibody binding. Importantly, the 8-e epitope reacted with sera from dengue fever patients. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed the asparagine residue at position 59 was important for epitope recognition. The 8-e epitope coincided well with the B-cell epitopes predicted by Immune Epitope Database analysis, and 3D structural modelling mapped the 8-e peptide on the surface of prM-E heterodimers. Overall, our findings characterized a linearized B-cell epitope on the pr protein of DENV, which will help to understand the life cycle of DENV and pathogenesis of dengue infections in human.

A Human PrM Antibody That Recognizes a Novel Cryptic Epitope on Dengue E Glycoprotein

Dengue virus (DENV) is a major mosquito-borne pathogen infecting up to 100 million people each year; so far no effective treatment or vaccines are available. Recently, highly cross-reactive and infection-enhancing pre-membrane (prM)-specific antibodies were found to dominate the anti-DENV immune response in humans, raising concern over vaccine candidates that contain native dengue prM sequences. In this study, we have isolated a broadly cross-reactive prM-specific antibody, D29, during a screen with a non-immunized human Fab-phage library against the four serotypes of DENV. The antibody is capable of restoring the infectivity of virtually non-infectious immature DENV (imDENV) in FcγR-bearing K562 cells. Remarkably, D29 also cross-reacted with a cryptic epitope on the envelope (E) protein located to the DI/DII junction as evidenced by site-directed mutagenesis. This cryptic epitope, while inaccessible to antibody binding in a native virus particle, may become exposed if E is not properly folded. These findings suggest that generation of anti-prM antibodies that enhance DENV infection may not be completely avoided even with immunization strategies employing E protein alone or subunits of E proteins.

Antibodies against the envelope glycoprotein promote infectivity of immature dengue virus serotype 2.

Cross-reactive dengue virus (DENV) antibodies directed against the envelope (E) and precursor membrane (prM) proteins are believed to contribute to the development of severe dengue disease by facilitating antibody-dependent enhancement of infection. We and others recently demonstrated that anti-prM antibodies render essentially non-infectious immature DENV infectious in Fcγ-receptor-expressing cells. Immature DENV particles are abundantly present in standard (st) virus preparations due to inefficient processing of prM to M during virus maturation. Structural analysis has revealed that the E protein is exposed in immature particles and this prompted us to investigate whether antibodies to E render immature particles infectious. To this end, we analyzed the enhancing properties of 27 anti-E antibodies directed against distinct structural domains. Of these, 23 bound to immature particles, and 15 enhanced infectivity of immature DENV in a furin-dependent manner. The significance of these findings was subsequently tested in vivo using the well-established West Nile virus (WNV) mouse model. Remarkably, mice injected with immature WNV opsonized with anti-E mAbs or immune serum produced a lethal infection in a dose-dependent manner, whereas in the absence of antibody immature WNV virions caused no morbidity or mortality. Furthermore, enhancement infection studies with standard (st) DENV preparations opsonized with anti-E mAbs in the presence or absence of furin inhibitor revealed that prM-containing particles present within st virus preparations contribute to antibody-dependent enhancement of infection. Taken together, our results support the notion that antibodies against the structural proteins prM and E both can promote pathogenesis by enhancing infectivity of prM-containing immature and partially mature flavivirus particles.

Class II ADP-ribosylation Factors Are Required for Efficient Secretion of Dengue Viruses

Identification and characterization of virus-host interactions are very important steps toward a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for disease progression and pathogenesis. To date, very few cellular factors involved in the life cycle of flaviviruses, which are important human pathogens, have been described. In this study, we demonstrate a crucial role for class II Arf proteins (Arf4 and Arf5) in the dengue flavivirus life cycle. We show that simultaneous depletion of Arf4 and Arf5 blocks recombinant subviral particle secretion for all four dengue serotypes. Immunostaining analysis suggests that class II Arf proteins are required at an early pre-Golgi step for dengue virus secretion. Using a horseradish peroxidase protein fused to a signal peptide, we show that class II Arfs act specifically on dengue virus secretion without altering the secretion of proteins through the constitutive secretory pathway. Co-immunoprecipitation data demonstrate that the dengue prM glycoprotein interacts with class II Arf proteins but not through its C-terminal VXPX motif. Finally, experiments performed with replication-competent dengue and yellow fever viruses demonstrate that the depletion of class II Arfs inhibits virus secretion, thus confirming their implication in the virus life cycle, although data obtained with West Nile virus pointed out the differences in virus-host interactions among flaviviruses. Our findings shed new light on a molecular mechanism used by dengue viruses during the late stages of the life cycle and demonstrate a novel function for class II Arf proteins.

A Fusion-Loop Antibody Enhances the Infectious Properties of Immature Flavivirus Particles

Flavivirus-infected cells secrete a mixture of mature, partially immature, and fully immature particles into the extracellular space. Although mature virions are highly infectious, prM-containing fully immature virions are noninfectious largely because the prM protein inhibits the cell attachment and fusogenic properties of the virus. If, however, cell attachment and entry are facilitated by anti-prM antibodies, immature flavivirus becomes infectious after efficient processing of the prM protein by the endosomal protease furin. A recent study demonstrated that E53, a cross-reactive monoclonal antibody (MAb) that engages the highly conserved fusion-loop peptide within the flavivirus envelope glycoprotein, preferentially binds to immature flavivirus particles. We investigated here the infectious potential of fully immature West Nile virus (WNV) and dengue virus (DENV) particles opsonized with E53 MAb and observed that, like anti-prM antibodies, this anti-E antibody also has the capacity to render fully immature flaviviruses infectious. E53-mediated enhancement of both immature WNV and DENV depended on efficient cell entry and the enzymatic activity of the endosomal furin. Furthermore, we also observed that E53-opsonized immature DENV particles but not WNV particles required a more acidic pH for efficient cleavage of prM by furin, adding greater complexity to the dynamics of antibody-mediated infection of immature flavivirus virions.

Immature Dengue Virus: A Veiled Pathogen?

Cells infected with dengue virus release a high proportion of immature prM-containing virions. In accordance, substantial levels of prM antibodies are found in sera of infected humans. Furthermore, it has been recently described that the rates of prM antibody responses are significantly higher in patients with secondary infection compared to those with primary infection. This suggests that immature dengue virus may play a role in disease pathogenesis. Interestingly, however, numerous functional studies have revealed that immature particles lack the ability to infect cells. In this report, we show that fully immature dengue particles become highly infectious upon interaction with prM antibodies. We demonstrate that prM antibodies facilitate efficient binding and cell entry of immature particles into Fc-receptor-expressing cells. In addition, enzymatic activity of furin is critical to render the internalized immature virus infectious. Together, these data suggest that during a secondary infection or primary infection of infants born to dengue-immune mothers, immature particles have the potential to be highly infectious and hence may contribute to the development of severe disease.

Association of the pr Peptides with Dengue Virus at Acidic pH Blocks Membrane Fusion

Flavivirus assembles into an inert particle that requires proteolytic activation by furin to enable transmission to other hosts. We previously showed that immature virus undergoes a conformational change at low pH that renders it accessible to furin (I. M. Yu, W. Zhang, H. A. Holdaway, L. Li, V. A. Kostyuchenko, P. R. Chipman, R. J. Kuhn, M. G. Rossmann, and J. Chen, Science 319:1834-1837, 2008). Here we show, using cryoelectron microscopy, that the structure of immature dengue virus at pH 6.0 is essentially the same before and after the cleavage of prM. The structure shows that after cleavage, the proteolytic product pr remains associated with the virion at acidic pH, and that furin cleavage by itself does not induce any major conformational changes. We also show by liposome cofloatation experiments that pr retention prevents membrane insertion, suggesting that pr is present on the virion in the trans-Golgi network to protect the progeny virus from fusion within the host cell.

Functional importance of dengue virus maturation: infectious properties of immature virions

Prior to the release of flavivirus particles from infected cells, the viral surface protein prM is cleaved to M by the cellular enzyme furin. For dengue virus (DENV), this maturation process appears to be very inefficient since a high proportion of progeny virions contain uncleaved prM. Furthermore, it has been reported that prM-containing DENV particles are infectious. These observations contradict the general assumption that prM processing is required to render virus particles infectious. Therefore, in this study, we reinvestigated the infectious properties of immature DENV virions. DENV particles were produced in furin-deficient LoVo cells. We observed that DENV-infected LoVo cells secrete high numbers of prM-containing particles. Subsequent analysis of the infectious titre revealed that immature particles lack the ability to infect cells, the infectious unit to particle ratio being 10 000-fold reduced compared with that of wild-type virus. Our results indicate that cleavage of prM to M is required for DENV infectivity.