Kite, J. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2021

Cell-to-cell transmission of HSV1 in human keratinocytes in the absence of the major entry receptor, nectin1

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) infects the stratified epithelia of the epidermis, oral or genital mucosa, where the main cell type is the keratinocyte. Here we have used nTERT human keratinocytes to generate a CRISPR-Cas9 knockout (KO) of the primary candidate HSV1 receptor, nectin1, resulting in a cell line that is refractory to HSV1 entry. Nonetheless, a small population of KO cells was able to support infection, and strikingly at later times, those cells originally resistant to HSV1 infection had also been infected. Appearance of this later population was blocked by inhibition of virus genome replication, or infection with a{Delta} UL34 virus defective in capsid export to the cytoplasm, while newly formed GFP-tagged capsids were detected in cells surrounding the initial infected cell, suggesting that virus was spreading following replication in the original susceptible cells. Neutralizing human serum failed to block virus transmission in KO cells, which was dependent on the cell-to-cell spread glycoproteins gI and gE, indicating that virus was spreading by direct cell-to-cell transmission. In line with these results, both HSV1 and HSV2 formed plaques on nectin1 KO cells, albeit at a reduced titre, confirming that once the original cell population was infected, the virus could spread into all other cells in the monolayer. Additional siRNA depletion of the second major HSV1 receptor HVEM, or PTP1B, a cellular factor shown elsewhere to be involved in cell-to-cell transmission, had no effect on virus spread in the absence of nectin1. We conclude that although nectin1 is required for extracellular entry in to the majority of human keratinocytes, it is dispensable for direct cell-to-cell transmission. Author SummaryHerpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) infects the epithelia of the epidermis, oral or genital mucosa to cause cold sores, genital herpes, or more serious outcomes such as keratitis and neonatal herpes. Like many viruses, HSV1 can spread through the extracellular environment or by direct cell-to-cell transmission, with the latter mechanism being important for avoiding antibody responses in the host. Here we have studied HSV1 entry and transmission in the human keratinocyte, the main cell type in the target epithelia, by generating a CRISPR-Cas9 knockout of the primary candidate virus receptor, nectin1. While HSV1 was unable to infect the majority of nectin1 knockout keratinocytes, a small population of these nectin1 KO cells remained susceptible to virus entry, and once infected, the virus was able to spread unhindered into the rest of the monolayer. This spread continued in the presence of neutralising serum which blocks extracellular virus, and required the glycoproteins gE and gI which are known to be involved in cell-to-cell spread. Hence, while nectin1 is required for virus entry into the majority of human keratinocyte cells, it is dispensable for cell-to-cell transmission of the virus. These data have implications for the mechanism of HSV1 epithelial spread and pathogenesis.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

Novel role for ESCRT-III component CHMP4C in the integrity of the endocytic network utilized for herpes simplex virus envelopment

Enveloped viruses exploit cellular trafficking pathways for their morphogenesis, providing potential scope for the development of new antiviral therapies. We have previously shown that herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) utilises recycling endocytic membranes as the source of its envelope, in a process involving four Rab GTPases. To identify novel factors involved in HSV1 envelopment, we have screened an siRNA library targeting over eighty human trafficking proteins including coat proteins, adaptor proteins, fusion factors, fission factors and Rab effectors. Depletion of eleven factors reduced virus yield by 20- to 100-fold, including three early secretory pathway proteins; four late secretory pathway proteins; and four endocytic pathway proteins, three of which are membrane fission factors. Five of the eleven targets were chosen for further analysis in virus infection where it was found that the absence of only one, the fission factor CHMP4C, known for its role in the cytokinesis checkpoint, specifically reduced virus production at the final stage of morphogenesis. Ultrastructural and confocal microscopy of CHMP4C-depleted, HSV1-infected cells, showed an accumulation of endocytic membranes; extensive tubulation of recycling, transferrin receptor-positive endosomes indicative of aberrant fission; and a failure in virus envelopment. No effect on the late endocytic pathway was detected, while exogenous CHMP4C was shown to localise to recycling endosomes. Taken together, these data reveal a novel role for the CHMP4C fission factor in the integrity of the recycling endosomal network, which has been unveiled through the dependence of HSV1 on these membranes for the acquisition of their envelopes. ImportanceCellular transport pathways play a fundamental role in secretion and membrane biogenesis. Enveloped viruses exploit these pathways to direct their membrane proteins to sites of envelopment, and as such, are powerful tools for unravelling subtle activities of trafficking factors, potentially pinpointing therapeutic targets. Using the sensitive biological readout of virus production, over eighty trafficking factors involved in diverse and poorly defined cellular processes have been screened for involvement in the complex process of HSV1 envelopment. Out of eleven potential targets, CHMP4C - a key component in the cell-cycle abscission checkpoint - stood out as being required for the physical process of virus wrapping in endocytic tubules, where it was shown to localise. In the absence of CHMP4C, recycling endocytic membranes failed to undergo scission, causing transient tubulation and accumulation of membranes and unwrapped virus. These data reveal a new role for this important cellular factor in the biogenesis of recycling endocytic membranes.

cell biology↗