title: Three different functional microdomains in the hepatitis C virus hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) mediate entry and immune evasion.
abstract: High genetic heterogeneity is an important characteristic of hepatitis C virus (HCV) that contributes to its ability to establish persistent infection. The hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) that includes the first 27 amino acid residues of the E2 envelope glycoprotein is the most variable region within the HCV polyprotein. HVR1 plays a major role in both HCV cell entry and immune evasion, but the respective contribution of specific amino acid residues is still unclear. Our mutagenesis analyses of HCV pseudoparticles and cell culture-derived HCV using the H77 isolate indicate that five residues at positions 14, 15, and 25-27 mediate binding of the E2 protein to the scavenger receptor class B, type I receptor, and any residue herein is indispensable for HCV cell entry. The region spanning positions 16-24 contains the sole neutralizing epitope and is dispensable for HCV entry, but it is involved in heparan binding. More importantly, this region is necessary for the enhancement of HCV entry by high density lipoprotein and interferes with virus neutralization by E2-neutralizing antibodies. Residues at positions 1-13 are also dispensable for HCV entry, but they can affect HCV infectivity by modulating binding of the envelope protein to scavenger receptor class B, type I. Mutations occurring at this site may confer resistance to HVR1 antibodies. These findings further our understanding about the mechanisms of HCV cell entry and the significance of HVR1 variation in HCV immune evasion. They have major implications for the development of HCV entry inhibitors and prophylactic vaccines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Mo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Wenbo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoqing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Yimin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Shiying
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Inserm U1019, CNRS UMR8204, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Université Lille Nord de France, F-59021 Lille, France.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dubuisson
authors.affiliation: Unité Inserm U.748, Université de Strasbourg, Nouvel Hôpital Civil, 3 Rue Koeberlé, F-67000 Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Baumert
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Yongzhe
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Haoran
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201.
authors.forename: Laure
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aurelian
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China. Electronic address: pnzhao@163.com.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China. Electronic address: qizt@smmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Zhongtian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Qi
mesh_terms: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D018955:CD36 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000502:physiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D057131:Immune Evasion; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D053586:Virus Internalization
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D018955:CD36 Antigens; C400562:HVR1 protein, Hepatitis C virus; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines; D014764:Viral Proteins