Dániel Cadar, Balázs Horváth, Melanie Rissman, Heike Baum, Alexandra Bialonski, Michelle Heung, Philip Lawrence, Anne Balkema-Buschmann, Estefanía Rodríguez, Beatriz Escudero-Pérez
{"title":"Transcriptional signatures of Ebola and Marburg virus infection in a bat-immune-system (BIS) mouse model.","authors":"Dániel Cadar, Balázs Horváth, Melanie Rissman, Heike Baum, Alexandra Bialonski, Michelle Heung, Philip Lawrence, Anne Balkema-Buschmann, Estefanía Rodríguez, Beatriz Escudero-Pérez","doi":"10.1016/bs.aivir.2025.03.006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.aivir.2025.03.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bats are the reservoir hosts for a diverse range of viruses, including some that are highly pathogenic to humans, yet they generally harbor these pathogens without showing symptoms. This unique tolerance to viral infection makes them a critical model to study virus-host interactions and immune responses. Immunological in vivo studies in bats are however often hampered by low reproducibility, a lack of specific reagents, limited access to adequate facilities and availability of inbred bat colonies to perform experiments. In order to overcome these challenges, we have developed a bat xenograft mouse model by intravenously engrafting mice with Rousettus aegyptiacus bone marrow (bat immune system mice; BIS-mice). R. aegyptiacus is of special interest since it is the reservoir host of Marburg virus (MARV). Here we show that MARV does not cause morbidity in bat-engrafted mice, while Ebola virus (EBOV) seems to be highly lethal in this model. Further transcriptome analysis of MARV and EBOV infected BIS-mice revealed that the infection route significantly influences gene expression profiles in host tissues. Additionally, distinct gene expression patterns were observed in BIS-mice when comparing EBOV and MARV infection, underscoring virus-specific timing and intensity of immune gene activation, with MARV typically inducing earlier and more sustained antiviral responses compared to EBOV, which triggers a pronounced inflammatory response. This study demonstrates, for the first time, the use of BIS-mice to study filovirus immunopathogenesis. Additionally, it establishes a crucial foundation for generating bat species-specific immune mouse models, enabling in-depth characterization of bat-borne viruses and promoting translational research in this field.</p>","PeriodicalId":50977,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Virus Research","volume":"122 ","pages":"19-59"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144700298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gesche K Gerresheim, Franziska Kraft, Anke-Dorothee Werner, Nadine Biedenkopf
{"title":"Semi-automated diagnostic RT-PCR as a screening assay for antiviral compounds in a 96-well format against highly pathogenic RNA viruses.","authors":"Gesche K Gerresheim, Franziska Kraft, Anke-Dorothee Werner, Nadine Biedenkopf","doi":"10.1016/bs.aivir.2025.03.008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.aivir.2025.03.008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In response to outbreaks of (re)emerging highly pathogenic RNA viruses, simple and scalable antiviral screening methods are urgently needed. Using established and validated diagnostic methods like RT-PCR for antiviral screening offers a rapid readout of viral replication. This becomes particular important when other traditional viral replication readouts, such as TCID<sub>50</sub> or plaque assays cannot be used due to the absence of cytopathic effects, lack of reporter gene-containing recombinant viruses or unavailability of appropriate antibodies - the latter two common challenges when so far unknown viruses emerge. This study evaluated semi-automated diagnostic RT-PCR in a 96-well approach for antiviral compound screening using Marburg virus serving as a case study. Remdesivir, a prodrug that exhibits antiviral activities against multiple RNA viruses, was used as positive control inhibiting replication of filoviruses. Applicability of the protocol to other members of the filovirus family was feasible using the same settings, while for other viruses like Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) or Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) adaptations to optimal infection settings were necessary. Our results demonstrate a high reproducibility and highlight the rapid adaptability of semi-automated RT-PCR assays as an accelerated antiviral screening assay with high scalability against a wide range of newly or (re)emerging RNA viruses. This is critical especially during outbreak situations where timely antiviral assessments are urgently needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":50977,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Virus Research","volume":"121 ","pages":"101-122"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144087007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Consequences of seed transmission for plant virus emergence.","authors":"Lucía García Ordóñez, Cristina Sáez, Israel Pagán","doi":"10.1016/bs.aivir.2025.08.002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.aivir.2025.08.002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Plant virus emergence is a major threat for agricultural production and for the preservation of biodiversity in wild ecosystems. This process is determined by genetic and ecological factors and, among the latter, one of the most important is the chance for the virus to encounter susceptible plant populations. Seed transmission has a great potential to facilitate such encounters: from allowing plant viruses to persist locally over unfavorable conditions such as the absence of susceptible hosts, to mediate long range dissemination to reach distant plant populations that could not otherwise be invaded. Here, we review current knowledge on the relationship between plant virus seed transmission and emergence, and on its consequences for the epidemiology of these pathogens. We start by setting up a conceptual framework based on mathematical modelling. Then, we summarize experimental and empirical evidence supporting the central role of seed transmission for initiating damaging plant virus-induced disease epidemics, at different geographical scales and in wild and cultivated plant populations. Finaly, we explore current methodologies to limit the emergence of plant viruses associated with seed transmission. Considering these studies, we propose avenues for future research on this subject.</p>","PeriodicalId":50977,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Virus Research","volume":"123 ","pages":"1-100"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145193021","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"De novo rescue of new henipaviruses under BSL-4 conditions - From sequence to pathogen.","authors":"Griffin Haas, Benhur Lee","doi":"10.1016/bs.aivir.2025.03.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/bs.aivir.2025.03.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Zoonotic paramyxoviruses, including the highly pathogenic henipaviruses (HNVs), pose significant risks to global health due to their high mortality rates, potential for human-to-human transmission, and lack of approved countermeasures. Recent metagenomic surveys have uncovered an extensive diversity of HNVs and related paramyxoviruses circulating in wildlife, the majority of which remain uncharacterized due to the dearth of viral isolates. In lieu of viral isolates, reverse genetics systems offer an approach to derive infectious clones de novo in the laboratory, facilitating research into the biology, zoonotic potential, and pathogenicity of novel HNVs. This chapter explores the methodologies and applications of reverse genetics systems for novel HNVs, including considerations for virus sequence validation, full-length virus recovery, and the development of platforms such as minigenomes, replicons, and virus replicon particles. Such biologically-contained life cycle modeling systems enable research to be conducted at lower biocontainment, and provide accessible tools through which to investigate HNV biology. This work demonstrates the versatility of reverse genetics systems in advancing our understanding of high-consequence pathogens, enabling the proactive development of vaccines, antivirals, and diagnostic tools. By integrating these methodologies within a framework of biosafety and biosecurity, researchers can better prepare for and respond to future zoonotic threats.</p>","PeriodicalId":50977,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Virus Research","volume":"121 ","pages":"61-99"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144087002","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Molecular virulence determinants of human-pathogenic filoviruses.","authors":"Jil A Haase, Andrea Marzi","doi":"10.1016/bs.aivir.2025.03.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.aivir.2025.03.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Filoviridae family encompasses Ebola virus (EBOV) and Marburg virus (MARV), some of the most lethal viruses known to cause sporadic, recurring outbreaks of severe hemorrhagic fever mainly throughout central Africa. However, other lesser-known viruses also belong to the filovirus family as they are closely related, such as Bundibugyo, Reston and Taï Forest virus. These viruses differ in their virulence in humans significantly: while EBOV and MARV show lethality in humans of up to 90 %, Reston virus appears to be avirulent in humans. Here, underlying molecular factors leading to differences in virulence via changes in filovirus entry, replication and immune evasion strategies are summarized and assessed. While the filovirus glycoprotein contributes towards virulence by facilitating entry into a wide variety of tissues, differences in virus-host interactions and replication efficacies lead to measurable variances of progeny virus production. Additionally, immune evasion strategies lead to alterations in replication efficacy thus changing who has the upper hand between the virus and the host. Understanding and unraveling the contributions of these molecular determinants on filovirus virulence provide insights into the processes causing the underlying pathogenesis. It will further help to assess the pathogenicity of newly discovered filoviruses. Finally, these molecular determinants and processes present attractive targets for therapeutic intervention and development of novel antiviral countermeasures.</p>","PeriodicalId":50977,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Virus Research","volume":"121 ","pages":"1-29"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144087005","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"More similar than different: A comparison of human and veterinary maximum containment facilities.","authors":"Sandra Diederich, Michael Eschbaumer","doi":"10.1016/bs.aivir.2025.05.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/bs.aivir.2025.05.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Human maximum containment facilities-also known as biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) laboratories-for zoonotic viruses such as Ebola virus or Nipah virus and veterinary maximum containment (BSL-4vet) facilities, e.g. for foot-and-mouth disease virus or peste-de-petits-ruminants virus, share many similar features but also differ in their design, standard operating procedures and operational requirements. This article summarizes the similarities and differences by addressing relevant aspects of these two types of maximum containment facilities. Construction and operation of both facilities is bound by strict regulations and regular audits by national or state authorities. The technical infrastructure is similar with respect to air handling, negative pressure differential to the outside and between rooms, as well as autoclaves and waste water handling. Both facilities require strict access control and training for entry into the area, which is more extensive on the human maximum containment side. Special personal protective equipment such as a positive pressure suits needs to be worn in the human maximum containment facility, but this is not generally necessary in veterinary facilities. Exiting the facility requires showering of personnel-a personal shower only in the veterinary containment and at least a chemical shower to decontaminate the suit in the human containment. Removal of samples from both kinds of facilities can only occur after application of strict and validated inactivation protocols. In addition, both facilities undergo room decontamination processes for maintenance or between animal studies. Overall, we would like to demonstrate that these facilities have more in common than expected at first glance and close coordination and cooperation between the individuals responsible for them is advisable.</p>","PeriodicalId":50977,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Virus Research","volume":"122 ","pages":"61-77"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144700294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kyle L O'Donnell, Paige Fletcher, Hanna Anhalt, Corey W Henderson, Atsushi Okumura, Joseph F Rhoderick, Greg Saturday, Andrea Marzi
{"title":"Mucosal Sudan virus infection results in a lethal disease in ferrets with previous Lloviu virus infection not providing cross-protection.","authors":"Kyle L O'Donnell, Paige Fletcher, Hanna Anhalt, Corey W Henderson, Atsushi Okumura, Joseph F Rhoderick, Greg Saturday, Andrea Marzi","doi":"10.1016/bs.aivir.2025.03.007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.aivir.2025.03.007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sudan virus (SUDV) causes highly lethal outbreaks of hemorrhagic disease throughout Africa, but there has yet to be an approved vaccine or therapeutic to combat this public health threat. The most common route of natural exposure to filoviruses is through mucosal contact which greatly impacts initial viral replication. Historically, SUDV animal models used an intramuscular infection route. Here, we sought to further characterize an animal model using mucosal challenge routes and compared the impact that intramuscular, intranasal, or aerosol exposure had on SUDV pathogenicity in a ferret model. We determined that the route of infection did not significantly impact overall SUDV pathogenicity; only subtle changes were detected in magnitude of viremia and oral viral shedding. Additionally, we sought to determine if preexisting Lloviu virus (LLOV) immunity could protect ferrets from lethal SUDV infection. We found that the previous immunity elicited by LLOV infection was not sufficient to protect ferrets from lethal SUDV disease. In conclusion, our results indicate that the infection route has minimal effect on overall pathogenicity of SUDV in ferrets and that prior LLOV infection does not elicit a cross-protective immune response to SUDV.</p>","PeriodicalId":50977,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Virus Research","volume":"122 ","pages":"1-17"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144700295","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Defense signaling pathways in resistance to plant viruses: Crosstalk and finger pointing.","authors":"Peter Palukaitis, Ju-Yeon Yoon","doi":"10.1016/bs.aivir.2024.01.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/bs.aivir.2024.01.002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Resistance to infection by plant viruses involves proteins encoded by plant resistance (R) genes, viz., nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeats (NLRs), immune receptors. These sensor NLRs are activated either directly or indirectly by viral protein effectors, in effector-triggered immunity, leading to induction of defense signaling pathways, resulting in the synthesis of numerous downstream plant effector molecules that inhibit different stages of the infection cycle, as well as the induction of cell death responses mediated by helper NLRs. Early events in this process involve recognition of the activation of the R gene response by various chaperones and the transport of these complexes to the sites of subsequent events. These events include activation of several kinase cascade pathways, and the syntheses of two master transcriptional regulators, EDS1 and NPR1, as well as the phytohormones salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and ethylene. The phytohormones, which transit from a primed, resting states to active states, regulate the remainder of the defense signaling pathways, both directly and by crosstalk with each other. This regulation results in the turnover of various suppressors of downstream events and the synthesis of various transcription factors that cooperate and/or compete to induce or suppress transcription of either other regulatory proteins, or plant effector molecules. This network of interactions results in the production of defense effectors acting alone or together with cell death in the infected region, with or without the further activation of non-specific, long-distance resistance. Here, we review the current state of knowledge regarding these processes and the components of the local responses, their interactions, regulation, and crosstalk.</p>","PeriodicalId":50977,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Virus Research","volume":"118 ","pages":"77-212"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140068951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anthony J Domma, Lauren A Henderson, Jeffery A Nurdin, Jeremy P Kamil
{"title":"Uncloaking the viral glycocalyx: How do viruses exploit glycoimmune checkpoints?","authors":"Anthony J Domma, Lauren A Henderson, Jeffery A Nurdin, Jeremy P Kamil","doi":"10.1016/bs.aivir.2024.03.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/bs.aivir.2024.03.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The surfaces of cells and enveloped viruses alike are coated in carbohydrates that play multifarious roles in infection and immunity. Organisms across all kingdoms of life make use of a diverse set of monosaccharide subunits, glycosidic linkages, and branching patterns to encode information within glycans. Accordingly, sugar-patterning enzymes and glycan binding proteins play integral roles in cell and organismal biology, ranging from glycoprotein quality control within the endoplasmic reticulum to lymphocyte migration, coagulation, inflammation, and tissue homeostasis. Unsurprisingly, genes involved in generating and recognizing oligosaccharide patterns are playgrounds for evolutionary conflicts that abound in cross-species interactions, exemplified by the myriad plant lectins that function as toxins. In vertebrates, glycans bearing acidic nine-carbon sugars called sialic acids are key regulators of immune responses. Various bacterial and fungal pathogens adorn their cells in sialic acids that either mimic their hosts' or are stolen from them. Yet, how viruses commandeer host sugar-patterning enzymes to thwart immune responses remains poorly studied. Here, we review examples of viruses that interact with sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins (Siglecs), a family of immune cell receptors that regulate toll-like receptor signaling and govern glycoimmune checkpoints, while highlighting knowledge gaps that merit investigation. Efforts to illuminate how viruses leverage glycan-dependent checkpoints may translate into new clinical treatments that uncloak viral antigens and infected cell surfaces by removing or masking immunosuppressive sialoglycans, or by inhibiting viral gene products that induce their biosynthesis. Such approaches may hold the potential to unleash the immune system to clear long intractable chronic viral infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":50977,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Virus Research","volume":"119 ","pages":"63-110"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11192240/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141428219","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"More than a decade of research on Schmallenberg virus-Knowns and unknowns.","authors":"Kerstin Wernike, Martin Beer","doi":"10.1016/bs.aivir.2024.09.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/bs.aivir.2024.09.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Schmallenberg virus, an arbovirus of the Orthobunyavirus genus that primarily infects ruminants, emerged in 2011 near the Dutch-German border region and subsequently caused a large number of abortions and the births of severely malformed newborns in the European livestock population. Immediate intensive research led to the development of reliable diagnostic tests, the identification of competent Culicoides vector species, and the elucidation of the pathogenesis in infected vertebrate hosts. In addition, the structure of the major antigenic domain has been elucidated in great detail, leading to the development of effective marker vaccine candidates. The knowledge gained over the last decade on the biology and pathogenesis of SBV and the experience acquired in its control will be of great value in the future for the control of any similar emerging pathogen of veterinary or public health importance such as Shuni or Oropouche virus. However, some important knowledge gaps remain, for example, the factors contributing to the highly variable transmission rate from dam to fetus or the viral factors responsible for the vector competence of Culicoides midges are largely unknown. Thus, questions still remain for the next decade of research on SBV and related viruses.</p>","PeriodicalId":50977,"journal":{"name":"Advances in Virus Research","volume":"120 ","pages":"77-98"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142512395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}