Authors:Jenny K.Stodola1GuillaumeDubois1AlainLe CoupanecMarcDesforgesPierre J.Talbot
Highlights
Coronavirus structural envelope (E) protein specific motifs involved in protein-protein interaction or in homo-oligomeric ion channel formation are needed for optimal production of recombinant infectious virus.•
Fully functional E protein of HCoV-OC43 is crucial for viral propagation in the CNS and neurovirulence.•
Fully functional E protein of HCoV-OC43 is crucial for efficient viral propagation in the central nervous system and thereby for neurovirulence.
Abstract
The OC43 strain of human coronavirus (HCoV-OC43) is an ubiquitous respiratory tract pathogen possessing neurotropic capacities. Coronavirus structural envelope (E) protein possesses specific motifs involved in protein-protein interaction or in homo-oligomeric ion channel formation, which are known to play various roles including in virion morphology/assembly and in cell response to infection and/or virulence. Making use of recombinant viruses either devoid of the E protein or harboring mutations either in putative transmembrane domain or PDZ-binding motif, we demonstrated that a fully functional HCoV-OC43 E protein is first needed for optimal production of recombinant infectious viruses. Furthermore, HCoV-OC43 infection of human epithelial and neuronal cell lines, of mixed murine primary cultures from the central nervous system and of mouse central nervous system showed that the E protein is critical for efficient and optimal virus replication and propagation, and thereby for neurovirulence.
For More Information: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0042682217304361