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Removal of genes coding for major parts of capsid (C), premembrane (prM), and envelope (E) proteins on the flavivirus genome aborts the production of infectious virus particles where the remaining genome forms a replicon that retains replicability in host cells. The C-prM-E proteins can also be expressed in trans with the flavivirus replicons to generate single-round infectious replicon virus-like particles (RVPs). In this study, we characterized the use of RVPs based on the Kunjin strain of WNV (WNVKUN) as a putative WNV vaccine candidate. In addition, the WNVKUN C-prM-E genes were substituted with the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) genes encoding the glycoproteins Gn and Gc to generate a WNVKUN replicon expressing the CCHFV proteins. To generate RVPs, the WNVKUN replicon was transfected into a cell line expressing the WNVKUN C-prM-E. Using immunoblotting and immunofluorescence assays, we showed that the replicon can express the CCHFV Gn and Gc proteins and the RVPs can transduce cells to express WNVKUN proteins and the CCHFV Gn and Gc proteins. Our study also revealed that these RVPs have potential as a vaccine platform with low risk of recombination as it infects cells only in one cycle. The immunization of mice with the RVPs resulted in high seroconversion to both WNV E and NS1 but limited seroconversion to CCHFV Gn and Gc proteins. Interestingly, we found that there was enhanced production of WNV E, NS1 antibodies, and neutralizing antibodies by the inclusion of CCHFV Gc and Gn into WNVKUN RVPs. Thus, this study indicates a complementary effect of the CCHFV Gn and Gc proteins on the immunogenicity by WNVKUN RVPs, which may be applied to develop a future vaccine against the WNV.

Flaviviruses are usually transmitted to humans via mosquito or tick bites. During infection, virus replication and assembly, whose cellular sites are relatively close, are controlled by virus proteins and a diverse range of host proteins. By siRNA-mediated gene silencing, we show that ALIX and CHMP4A, two members of the host endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) protein machinery, are required for flavivirus infection. Using cell lines expressing subgenomic replicons and replicon virus-like particles, we demonstrate specific roles for ALIX and CHMP4A in viral replication and assembly, respectively. Employing biochemical methodology, we show that the ESCRT proteins are recruited by a putative specific late (L) domain motif LYXLA within the NS3 protein of tick-borne flaviviruses. Furthermore, to counteract the recruitment of ESCRT proteins, the host cells may elicit defense mechanisms. We found that ectopic expression of the interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) or the E3 ISG15-protein ligase (HERC5) reduced virus replication by suppressing the positive effects of ALIX and CHMP4A. Collectively, these results have provided new insights into flavivirus-host cell interactions that function as checkpoints, including the NS3 and the ESCRT proteins, the ISG15 and the ESCRT protein, at essential stages of the virus life cycle. IMPORTANCE: Flaviviruses are important zoonotic viruses with high fatality rates worldwide. Here, we report that during infection the virus employs ESCRT protein members for virus replication and assembly. Among the ESCRT proteins, ALIX acts during virus replication, while CHMP4A is required during virus assembly. Other ESCRT protein members such as TSG101 are not required for virus production. The ESCRT, ALIX -CHMP4A complex, is recruited to NS3 through their interactions with the putative L domain motif of NS3, while CHMP4A is recruited to E. In addition, we demonstrate the antiviral mechanism of ISG15 and HERC5, which degrades ALI

The genus Flavivirus (family Flaviviridae) consists of important zoonotic viruses that cause morbidity and mortality worldwide. These viruses are enveloped and have a positive-sense single-stranded RNA genome encoding a polyprotein. Cleavages of the polyprotein by host and viral proteases result in individual viral proteins, including the structural capsid (C), pre-membrane (prM), envelope (E) proteins, and seven nonstructural proteins. Removal of the C-prM-E genes in the flavivirus genome results in replicons that can replicate in transfected cells but do not generate infectious virus particles. The replicon can be co-expressed with the C-prM-E genes in trans, resulting in packaging of the replicon and generation of replicon virus-like particles (RVPs). During cellular infection, various host proteins are employed, supporting multiple stages of the virus life cycle. In this thesis, we identified and characterized functions of the host lunapark protein and two members of the Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport Machinery – ALIX and CHMP4A. We also revealed how the host proteins were recruited by virus proteins during infection. To counteract the virus infection, virus-infected cells can express antiviral proteins. We demonstrated the antiviral mechanism of interferonstimulated gene (ISG) 15 and the E3 ligase for ISG15 conjugation HERC5, which degrades ALIX and CHMP4A, indirectly targets virus infection. Furthermore, using proteomic screening, we identified tripartite motif-containing proteins (TRIM) – TRIM21 and TRIM14 – as restriction factors to Langat virus and Zika virus. We also established and characterized an RVP production system based on the West Nile virus (WNV) Kunjin strain. The system was used as a vector to express antigens from Ebola virus (EBOV), which can potentially be developed as a vaccine platform against WNV and EBOV.

Chronic liver disease, resulting from Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis D virus (HDV), or Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, contributes to a major health burden worldwide. Chronic infections with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be effectively cured by antivirals. However, as cured patients can be re-infected they lack protective immune responses. In addition, the relativelyhigh cost of the HCV treatment brings concerns about the accessibility, especially in the developing countries. Hence, there exists a need for cost effect vaccines with high efficiency to control and possibly eradicate Hepatitis viruses globally. The vaccine should induce either, or both, neutralizing antibodies and protective T cell responses. We therefore have developed DNA based flavivirus replicons as a potent delivery system that effectively prime HCV-specific T cell responses. We generated suicidal subgenomic DNA replicons of Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), Langat virus (LGTV), West-Nile virus (WNV), and Kunjinvirus (KUNV) expressing either a fusion protein between the HCV NS3/4A and a stork hepatitis B virus core or a vaccine candidate gene of HB/DV. Transfection experiments showed that the antigen expression by KUNV and WNV replicons was several folds higher than the antigen expression by standard DNA plasmid with CMV promoter. The immunogenicity of three suicidal flaviviral DNA replicons expressing HCV NS3/4A was tested in mice and compared to HCV NS3/4A expression by the standard DNA plasmid. The KUNV-HCV replicon was the best replicon-based immunogen with respect to priming of HCV NS3/4A-specific T cells as determined by ELISpot, dextramer staining, and polyfunctionality. Importantly, a mutant KUNV-HCV immunogen lacking replication failed to induce immune responses. Thus, the newly developed KUNV-based suicidal DNA launched replicon vaccine for HCV is a highly attractive candidate as a prophylactic vaccine against chronic hepatitis C. In addition, we are currently testing the i

During infection and eclipse time, Flaviviruses induce invagination of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane to form compartments, protecting their viral replication complex. The rearrangements of ER membrane require modifications in ER membrane lipid constituents or binding of proteins to bend the membrane. Indeed, it has been implicated that both KUNV and DENV NS1, NS2A, NS4A, NS4B proteins could induce membrane remodelings. However, it is not well known whether host proteins can also participate in the formation and maintenance of these compartments.In this project, we aimed to identify host proteins interacting with Kunjin, Langat, Zika replication complex. These proteins may function for ER invagination during Flavivirus infection. We used human adenocarcinoma epithelial A549 cells as a cell model, mosquito-borne Zika, Kunjin virus, and tick-borne Langat virus as virus models. After virus infections, the ER membranes from infected and non-infected cells were harvested using ultracentrifuge with a sucrose gradient. Proteins from these ERs were identified using mass spectrometry. We compared the differences between the ER proteomes to identify host candidate proteins that can cause the RC formation. To narrows the list of true candidate proteins, we attempted to enrich the RC-containing fractions by doing co-immuno precipitation. We are doing TMT-MS to identify and quantify the host proteins from Co-IP elutions. The functions of these proteins will be characterized by using molecular techniques.

Chronic liver disease, resulting from Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis D virus (HDV), or Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, contributes to a major health burden worldwide. The relativelyhigh cost of the HCV treatment brings concerns about the accessibility, especially in the developing countries. Hence, there exists a need for cost effect interventions with high efficiency. We aim to develop therapeutic vaccine candidates against HBV, HCV and HDV using DNA based subgenomic flavivirus replicons as a delivery system. Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), Langat virus (LGTV), West-Nile virus (WNV), or Kunjinvirus (KUNV) replicon with firefly luciferase geneas a reporter were expressed and characterized in cell culture studies. WNV and KUNV replicons showed significantly higher replication compared to their respective negative controls with unfunctional viral RNA dependent RNA polymerase. KUNV and WNV replicons were chosen for cloning the HCV or HB/DV vaccine candidate gene by replacing luciferasegene. Owing to the self-replicating trait of the flavivirus subgenomic replicons, Western blotting demonstrated that the antigen expression by KUNV and WNV replicons was several folds higher than the positive control. These results suggest that DNA based KUNV and WNV replicons may function as carriers for the hepatitis vaccine candidate genes, and these replicons are currently used for in vivostudies in animal models.