SUMMARY Intrinsic innate immune mechanisms are the first line of defense against pathogens, and exist to control infection autonomously in infected cells. Here we show that autophagy, an intrinsic mechanism that can degrade cytoplasmic components, plays a direct anti-viral role against the mammalian viral pathogen Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) in the model organism Drosophila. We found that the surface glycoprotein, VSVG, is likely the pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) that initiates this cell-autonomous response. Once activated, autophagy decreases viral replication, and repression of autophagy leads to increased viral replication and pathogenesis in cells and animals. Lastly, we show that the antiviral response is controlled by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway which normally regulates autophagy in response to nutrient availability. Altogether these data uncover an intrinsic antiviral program that that links viral recognition to the evolutionarily conserved nutrient signaling and autophagy pathways.

To test the hypothesis that inhibition of axonal transport is sufficient to cause motor neuron degeneration such as that observed in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), we engineered a targeted disruption of the dynein-dynactin complex in postnatal motor neurons of transgenic mice. Dynamitin overexpression was found to disassemble dynactin, a required activator of cytoplasmic dynein, resulting in an inhibition of retrograde axonal transport. Mice overexpressing dynamitin demonstrate a late-onset progressive motor neuron degenerative disease characterized by decreased strength and endurance, motor neuron degeneration and loss, and denervation of muscle. Previous transgenic mouse models of ALS have shown abnormalities in microtubule-based axonal transport. In this report, we describe a mouse model that confirms the critical role of disrupted axonal transport in the pathogenesis of motor neuron degenerative disease.

Innate immunity is highly conserved and relies on pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) such as Toll-like receptors (identified through their homology to Drosophila Toll) for pathogen recognition. While Drosophila Toll is vital for immune recognition and defense, roles for the other eight Drosophila Tolls in immunity have remained elusive. Here we have shown that Toll-7 is a PRR both in vitro and in adult flies; loss of Toll-7 led to increased Vesicular Stomatitis virus (VSV) replication and mortality. Toll-7, along with additional uncharacterized Drosophila Tolls, were transcriptionally induced by VSV infection. Furthermore, Toll-7 interacted with VSV at the plasma membrane and induced antiviral autophagy independently of the canonical Toll signaling pathway. These data uncover an evolutionarily conserved role for a second Drosophila Toll receptor that links viral recognition to autophagy and defense, and suggest that other Drosophila Tolls may restrict specific as yet untested pathogens, perhaps via non-canonical signaling pathways.

Several microtubule-binding proteins including EB1, dynactin, APC, and CLIP-170 localize to the plus-ends of growing microtubules. Although these proteins can bind to microtubules independently, evidence for interactions among them has led to the hypothesis of a plus-end complex. Here we clarify the interaction between EB1 and dynactin and show that EB1 binds directly to the N-terminus of the p150Glued subunit. One function of a plus-end complex may be to regulate microtubule dynamics. Overexpression of either EB1 or p150Glued in cultured cells bundles microtubules, suggesting that each may enhance microtubule stability. The morphology of these bundles, however, differs dramatically, indicating that EB1 and dynactin may act in different ways. Disruption of the dynactin complex augments the bundling effect of EB1, suggesting that dynactin may regulate the effect of EB1 on microtubules. In vitro assays were performed to elucidate the effects of EB1 and p150Glued on microtubule polymerization, and they show that p150Glued has a potent microtubule nucleation effect, whereas EB1 has a potent elongation effect. Overall microtubule dynamics may result from a balance between the individual effects of plus-end proteins. Differences in the expression and regulation of plus-end proteins in different cell types may underlie previously noted differences in microtubule dynamics

Glycoprotein B (gB), the fusogen of herpes simplex virus (HSV), is a class III fusion protein with a trimeric ectodomain of known structure for the postfusion state. Seen by negative-staining electron microscopy, it presents as a rod with three lobes (base, middle, and crown). gB has four functional regions (FR), defined by the physical location of epitopes recognized by anti-gB neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Located in the base, FR1 contains two internal fusion loops (FLs) and is the site of gB-lipid interaction (the fusion domain). Many of the MAbs to FR1 are neutralizing, block cell-cell fusion, and prevent the association of gB with lipid, suggesting that these MAbs affect FL function. Here we characterize FR1 epitopes by using electron microscopy to visualize purified Fab-gB ectodomain complexes, thus confirming the locations of several epitopes and localizing those of MAbs DL16 and SS63. We also generated MAb-resistant viruses in order to localize the SS55 epitope precisely. Because none of the epitopes of our anti-FR1 MAbs mapped to the FLs, we hyperimmunized rabbits with FL1 or FL2 peptides to generate polyclonal antibodies (PAbs). While the anti-FL1 PAb failed to bind gB, the anti-FL2 PAb had neutralizing activity, implying that the FLs become exposed during virus entry. Unexpectedly, the anti-FL2 PAb (and the anti-FR1 MAbs) bound to liposome-associated gB, suggesting that their epitopes are accessible even when the FLs engage lipid. These studies provide possible mechanisms of action for HSV neutralization and insight into how gB FR1 contributes to viral fusion. IMPORTANCEFor herpesviruses, such as HSV, entry into a target cell involves transfer of the capsid-encased genome of the virus to the target cell after fusion of the lipid envelope of the virus with a lipid membrane of the host. Virus-encoded glycoproteins in the envelope are responsible for fusion. Antibodies to these glycoproteins are important biological tools, providing a way of examining how fusion works. Here we used electron microscopy and other techniques to study a panel of anti-gB antibodies. Some, with virusneutralizing activity, impair gB-lipid association. We also generated a peptide antibody against one of the gB fusion loops; its properties provide insight into the way the fusion loops function as gB transits from its prefusion form to an active fusogen. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) has four envelope glycoproteins that are essential for virus entry into cells: glycoproteins gD, gH, gL, and gB. All herpesviruses use a combination of gB and the heterodimer gH/gL to carry out virus-cell fusion, with current evidence indicating that gB is the fusion protein (1-4). Like most alphaherpesviruses, HSV also requires the receptor-binding protein gD to carry out fusion. Our current model of HSV fusion starts with the binding of gD to one of its receptors (nectin-1, herpesvirus entry mediator [HVEM], or 3-O-sulfotransferase [3-OST] heparan sulfate) (5), transmitting a physical signal to gH/gL, which, in turn, acts upon gB t...