Attenuation of herpes simplex virus neurovirulence with picornavirus cis-acting genetic elements.
Viral pathogenesis depends on a suitable milieu in target host cells permitting viral gene expression, propagation, and spread. In many instances, viral genomes can be manipulated to select for propagation in certain tissues or cell types. This has been achieved for the neurotropic poliovirus (PV) by exchange of the internal ribosomal entry site (IRES), which is responsible for translation of the uncapped plus-strand RNA genome. The IRES of human rhinovirus type 2 (HRV2) confers neuron-specific replication deficits to PV but has no effect on viral propagation in malignant glioma cells. We report here that placing the critical gamma(1)34.5 virulence genes of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV) under translation control of the HRV2 IRES results in neuroattenuation in mice. In contrast, IRES insertion permits HSV propagation in malignant glioma cell lines that do not support replication of HSV recombinants carrying gamma(1)34.5 deletions. Our observations indicate that the conditions for alternative translation initiation at the HRV2 IRES in malignant glioma cells differ from those in normal central nervous system (CNS) cells. Picornavirus regulatory sequences mediating cell type-specific gene expression in the CNS can be utilized to target cancerous cells at the level of translation regulation outside their natural context.
Campbell
Stephanie A
SA
Division of Neurological Surgery, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
Mulvey
Matthew
M
Mohr
Ian
I
Gromeier
Matthias
M
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D020805:Central Nervous System Viral Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D005260:Female; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D005910:Glioma; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012229:Rhinovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D020506:Untranslated Regions; D014709:Vero Cells; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014774:Virulence; D014779:Virus Replication
D020506:Untranslated Regions; D014764:Viral Proteins; C066469:gamma 34.5 protein, Human herpesvirus 1