In the generation of flavivirus particles, an internal cleavage of the envelope glycoprotein prM by furin is required for the acquisition of infectivity. Unlike cleavage of the prM of other flaviviruses, cleavage of dengue virus prM is incomplete in many cell lines; the partial cleavage reflects the influence of residues at furin nonconsensus positions of the pr-M junction, as flaviviruses share basic residues at positions P1, P2, and P4, recognized by furin. In this study, viruses harboring the alanine-scanning and other multiple-point mutations of the pr-M junction were generated, employing a dengue virus background that exhibited 60 to 70% prM cleavage and a preponderance of virion-sized extracellular particles. Analysis of prM and its cleavage products in viable mutants revealed a cleavage-suppressive effect at the conserved P3 Glu residue, as well as the cleavage-augmenting effects at the P5 Arg and P6 His residues, indicating an interplay between opposing modulatory influences mediated by these residues on the cleavage of the pr-M junction. Changes in the prM cleavage level were associated with altered proportions of extracellular virions and subviral particles; mutants with reduced cleavage were enriched with subviral particles and prM-containing virions, whereas the mutant with enhanced cleavage was deprived of these particles. Alterations of virus multiplication were detected in mutants with reduced prM cleavage and were correlated with their low specific infectivities. These findings define the functional roles of charged residues located adjacent to the furin consensus sequence in the cleavage of dengue virus prM and provide plausible mechanisms by which the reduction in the pr-M junction cleavability may affect virus replication.Dengue viruses are members of the genus Flavivirus in the family Flaviviridae. A single-stranded genomic RNA of positive polarity encodes an open reading frame which is translated into a precursor of three structural proteins and at least seven nonstructural proteins (27). During the replication of flaviviruses, proteolytic cleavages of the polyprotein by viral protease and a number of cellular enzymes occur in distinct subcellular compartments (27,32). Three structural proteins, C, prM/M, and E, are associated with the membrane of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by C-terminal membrane-spanning regions. Cleavages distal to the membrane-spanning regions of C and the two envelope glycoproteins prM and E by host signalase in the lumen of the rough ER and a cleavage proximal to the membrane-spanning region of C by viral protease in the cytoplasm are important to the assembly of viral particles (32). During the export of immature particles through the secretory pathway, cleavage of prM by the trans-Golgi apparatus resident furin allows reorganization of the receptor-binding E protein that is required for the acquisition of infectivity (9, 43).Assembly of flavivirus particles in the rough ER results in two types of particles: virions and subviral particles (32,40). An immature...

During dengue virus replication, an incomplete cleavage of the envelope glycoprotein prM, generates a mixture of mature (prM-less) and prM-containing, immature extracellular particles. In this study, sequential immunoprecipitation and cryoelectron microscopy revealed a third type of extracellular particles, the partially mature particles, as the major prM-containing particles in a dengue serotype 2 virus. Changes in the proportion of viral particles in the pr-M junction mutants exhibiting altered levels of prM cleavage suggest that the partially mature particles may represent an intermediate subpopulation in the virus maturation pathway. These findings are consistent with a model suggesting the progressive mode of prM cleavage.Dengue viruses are enveloped, positive-strand RNA viruses in the genus Flavivirus of the family Flaviviridae (19). The viral genome encodes three structural proteins (C, prM/M, and E) and seven nonstructural proteins (19). Two types of genomecontaining particles, the immature and mature particles, can be distinguished by the differences in size and surface morphology and the presence and cleavage status of the envelope glycoprotein prM (19,20). The immature particles are assembled in the endoplasmic reticulum as spherical "spiky" particles of about 60 nm in diameter (36). Each of the spikes is formed by a noncovalent association of three prM-E heterodimers, with the pr portion of prM on the outermost part of the spike providing the main contact (18,36). During the export, the low-pH environment of the trans-Golgi network induces the rearrangement of prM-E heterodimers into a flattened conformation that allows for an internal cleavage of prM by furin (34). The complete prM cleavage generates the mature particles, which are about 50 nm in diameter and present a smooth surface (17). These infectious particles contain 90 E homodimers arranged in groups of three parallel dimers in the "herringbone" pattern (17). Further complexity of the viral particles was observed in studies of dengue virus and West Nile virus in the form of particles having an intermediate conformation between those of the mature and immature particles (3,24,35).Cleavage of prM is a prerequisite for an acquisition of infectivity, as the pr portion of prM functions as a mechanical barrier to protect the fusion loop in the receptor-binding E glycoprotein from undergoing low pH-mediated fusion (7,18,29). Inhibition of the prM cleavage by mutation of the furin cleavage site, treatment of the infected cells with acidotropic amines, or growth of the virus in furin-deficient cells generates noninfectious particles in the extracellular compartment (7,8,10,25,37). During the replication of dengue virus, cleavage of prM is, however, usually incomplete (1,4,9,11,16,21,25,27,32,33). This reflects an inhibition of cleavage mediated by a highly conserved acidic residue at the P3 cleavage position of the pr-M junction (15). Currently, it is not clear how the prM molecules are collectively cleaved in each viral particle. In the "all-or-none...

The results indicate that thalidomide is well tolerated by patients receiving anti-tuberculosis therapy. Thalidomide treatment reduces TNF alpha production both in vivo and in vitro and is associated with an accelerated weight gain during the study period.

No abstract

BackgroundHPV infection is common and may cause cancer among men who have sex with men (MSM). Anal HPV infection (HPV+) was found in 85% of HIV-positive (HIV+) and 59% of HIV-negative (HIV-) MSM in Bangkok, central Thailand. As little is known about HPV in this group in northern Thailand, we studied MSM subgroups comprised of gay men (GM), bisexual men (BM), and transgender women (TGW).MethodsFrom July 2012 through January 2013, 85 (42.5% of 200) GM, 30 (15%) BM, and 85 (42.5%) TGW who practiced receptive anal intercourse were recruited after informed consent, followed by self-assisted computer interview, HIV testing, and anal swabs for HPV genotyping.ResultsOf 197 adequate specimens, the overall prevalence of any HPV was 157 (80%). Prevalence was 89% (76/85) in GM, 48% (14/29) in BM, and 81% (67/83) in TGW. The most common high-risk types were HPV16 (27% of 197), HPV58 (23%), and HPV51 (18%). Prevalence of high-risk types was 74% in 85 GM, 35% in 29 BM, and 71% in 83 TGW. Prevalence of any HPV type, or high-risk type, was 100% and 94%, respectively, among 48 HIV+ MSM, 70% and 54% among 120 HIV- MSM. Of the 197 specimens, 36% (70) had HPV types 16 and/or 18 in the bivalent vaccine, compared to 48% (95) with ≥1 of types 16/18/06/11 in the quadrivalent, 56% (111) for 16/18/31/33/45/52/58 in the 7-valent, and 64% (126) for 16/18/31/33/45/52/58/06/11 in the 9-valent. HIV+, GM, and TGW were independently associated with HPV infection.ConclusionsWe found higher rates of both any HPV and high-risk types than previous studies. Among the heretofore unstudied TGW, their equivalent HPV rates were comparable to GM. Current and investigational HPV vaccines could substantially protect GM, BM, and TGW from the serious consequences of HPV infection especially among HIV + MSM.

No abstract

Introduction While high HPV 16 viral load measured at a single time point is associated with cervical disease outcomes, few studies have assessed changes in HPV 16 viral load on viral clearance. Objective To measure the association between changes in HPV 16 viral load and viral clearance in a cohort of Thai women infected with HPV 16. Study design Fifty women (n = 50) between the ages of 18–35 years enrolled in a prospective cohort study were followed up every three months for two years. Women positive for HPV 16 DNA by multiplex TaqMan© assay at two or more study visits were selected for viral load quantitation using a type-specific TaqMan© based real-time PCR assay. The strength of the association of change in viral load between two visits and viral clearance at the subsequent visit was assessed using a GEE model for binary outcomes. Results At study entry, HPV 16 viral load did not vary by infection outcome. A >2 log decline in viral load across two study visits was found to be strongly associated with viral clearance (AOR: 5.5, 95% CI: 1.4–21.3). HPV 16 viral load measured at a single time point was not associated with viral clearance. Conclusions These results demonstrate that repeated measurement of HPV 16 viral load may be a useful predictor in determining the outcome of early endpoints of viral infection.

HPV18 infection was predominant in cervical NECA. Variations in HPV genotype may be related to the clinicopathologic features and pathogenetic pathways of NECA. Vaccination against HPV16 and HPV18 might provide protection against cervical NECA in almost 90% of cases.