title: Characterization and functional analysis of Serp3: a novel myxoma virus-encoded serpin involved in virulence.
abstract: Myxoma virus (MV), a member of the family Poxviridae, is the causative agent of myxomatosis, a fatal disease of the European rabbit. The MV genome is a linear, double-stranded DNA molecule that encodes several factors important for evasion of the host immune system. Sequencing the right-end region of the MV genome identified an 801 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a polypeptide that belongs to the serpin superfamily. To date, two MV-encoded serpins have been characterized: SERP-1 binds to several targets and is an anti-inflammatory molecule, whereas Serp2 is essential for virus virulence and has both anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects. Thus, Serp3 is the third MV-encoded serpin. DNA sequence analysis of Serp3 indicated a similarity to poxvirus late promoters, which was confirmed by mRNA expression analysis. Serp3 has an atypical serpin motif and has significant sequence deletions as compared to most cellular and viral serpins. However, molecular modelling studies suggested that Serp3 can retain the overall serpin fold. Insertional inactivation of the serp3 ORF led to a significant attenuation of virulence in vivo (as measured by the increase in survival of infected rabbits) and limited dissemination of the virus to secondary sites of infection. In rabbits infected with a Serp3 deletion mutant (MV-Serp3(-)), the main histopathological feature is the absence of secondary myxomas. Both wild-type MV and MV-Serp3(-) replicate at comparable levels in vivo. Serp3 may represent a significant virulence factor of MV and probably acts in synergy with other viral proteins.
authors.affiliation: UMR de Microbiologie Moléculaire1 and Laboratoire d'Anatomie-Pathologique2, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique and Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Guerin
authors.affiliation: UMR de Microbiologie Moléculaire1 and Laboratoire d'Anatomie-Pathologique2, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique and Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gelfi
authors.affiliation: UMR de Microbiologie Moléculaire1 and Laboratoire d'Anatomie-Pathologique2, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique and Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Christelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Camus
authors.affiliation: UMR de Microbiologie Moléculaire1 and Laboratoire d'Anatomie-Pathologique2, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique and Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Maxence
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delverdier
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia3.
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Whisstock
authors.affiliation: UMR de Microbiologie Moléculaire1 and Laboratoire d'Anatomie-Pathologique2, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique and Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Marie-France
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Amardeihl
authors.affiliation: UMR de Microbiologie Moléculaire1 and Laboratoire d'Anatomie-Pathologique2, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique and Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Py
authors.affiliation: UMR de Microbiologie Moléculaire1 and Laboratoire d'Anatomie-Pathologique2, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique and Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bertagnoli
authors.affiliation: UMR de Microbiologie Moléculaire1 and Laboratoire d'Anatomie-Pathologique2, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique and Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Frédérique
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Messud-Petit
mesh_terms: D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002460:Cell Line; D017353:Gene Deletion; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009233:Myxoma virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D009234:Myxomatosis, Infectious / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D011817:Rabbits; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015843:Serpins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015996:Survival Rate; D019562:Viral Load; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015843:Serpins; D014764:Viral Proteins; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin