Protocol for detection of pathogenic enteric RNA viruses by regular monitoring of environmental samples from wastewater treatment plants using droplet digital PCR

Background:The present comprehensive protocol is focused on the detection of pathogenic enteric RNA viruses,explicitly focusing on norovirus genogroup II(GII),astrovirus,rotavirus,Aichi virus,sapovirus,hepatitis A and E viruses in wastewater treatment plants through droplet digital PCR(ddPCR).Enteric viruses are of significant public health concern,as they are the leading cause of diseases like gastroenteritis.Regular monitoring of environmental samples,particularly from wastewater treatment plants,is crucial for early detection and control of these viruses.This research aims to improve the understanding of the prevalence and dynamics of enteric viruses in urban India and will serve as a model for similar studies in other regions.Our protocol's objective is to establish a novel ddPCRbased methodology for the detection and molecular characterization of enteric viruses present in wastewater samples sourced from Bhopal,India.Our assay is capable of accurately quantifying virus concentrations without standard curves,minimizing extensive optimization,and enhancing sensitivity and precision,especially for low-abundance targets.Methods:The study involves fortnightly collecting and analyzing samples from nine wastewater treatment plants over two years,ensuring comprehensive coverage and consistent data.Our study innovatively applies ddPCR to simultaneously detect and quantify enteric viruses in wastewater,a more advanced technique.Additionally,we will employ next-generation sequencing for detailed viral genome identification in samples tested positive for pathogenic viruses.Conclusion:This study will aid in understanding these viruses’genetic diversity and mutation rates,which is crucial for developing tailored intervention strategies.The findings will be instrumental in shaping public health responses and improving epidemiological surveillance,especially in localities heaving sewage networks.

Construction Strategy and Affecting Factors of Positive-Strand RNA Virus Infectious Clone

Construction of infectious clones by full-length cDNA is basic and key for recovering RNA virus and is core of reverse genetics.In this article,basic consideration and key technology were viewed and factors affecting infectivity of clones were also summarized.Some research advances were briefly introduced about positive-strand RNA viruses infectious clones.Finally,this article also reviewed the application of infectious clones.

Emerging perspectives on RNA virus-mediated infections:from pathogenesis to therapeutic interventions

RNA viruses continue to pose significant threats to global public health,necessitating a profound understanding of their pathogenic mechanisms and the development of effective therapeutic interventions.This manuscript provides a comprehensive overview of emerging perspectives on RNA virus-mediated infections,spanning from the intricate intricacies of viral pathogenesis to the forefront of innovative therapeutic strategies.A critical exploration of antiviral drugs sets the stage,highlighting the diverse classes of compounds that target various stages of the viral life cycle,underscoring the ongoing efforts to combat viral infections.Central to this discussion is the exploration of RNA-based therapeutics,with a spotlight on messenger RNA(mRNA)-based approaches that have revolutionized the landscape of antiviral interventions.Furthermore,the manuscript delves into the intricate world of delivery systems,exploring innovative technologies designed to enhance the efficiency and safety of mRNA vaccines.By analyzing the challenges and advancements in delivery mechanisms,this review offers a roadmap for future research and development in this critical area.Beyond conventional infectious diseases,the document explores the expanding applications of mRNA vaccines,including their promising roles in cancer immunotherapy and personalized medicine approaches.This manuscript serves as a valuable resource for researchers,clinicians,and policymakers alike,offering a nuanced perspective on RNA virus pathogenesis and the cutting-edge therapeutic interventions.By synthesizing the latest advancements and challenges,this review contributes significantly to the ongoing discourse in the field,driving the development of novel strategies to combat RNA virus-mediated infections effectively.

Activation of MAPK-mediated immunity by phosphatidic acid in response to positive-strand RNA viruses

Increasing evidence suggests that mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)cascades play a crucial role in plant defense against viruses.However,the mechanisms that underlie the activation of MAPK cascades in response to viral infection remain unclear.In this study,we discovered that phosphatidic acid(PA)repre-sents a major class of lipids that respond to Potato virus Y(PVY)at an early stage of infection.We identified NbPLDa1(Nicotiana benthamiana phospholipase Da1)as the key enzyme responsible for increased PA levels during PVY infection and found that it plays an antiviral role.6K2 of PVY interacts with NbPLDa1,lead-ing to elevated PA levels.In addition,NbPLDa1 and PA are recruited by 6K2 to membrane-bound viral repli-cation complexes.On the other hand,6K2 also induces activation of the MAPK pathway,dependent on its interaction with NbPLDa1 and the derived PA.PA binds to WIPK/SIPK/NTF4,prompting their phosphoryla-tion of WRKY8.Notably,spraying with exogenous PA is sufficient to activate the MAPK pathway.Knock-down of the MEK2-WIPK/SIPK-WRKY8 cascade resulted in enhanced accumulation of PVY genomic RNA.6K2 of Turnip mosaic virus and p33 of Tomato bushy stunt virus also interacted with NbPLDa1 and induced the activation of MAPK-mediated immunity.Loss of function of NbPLDa1 inhibited virus-induced activation of MAPK cascades and promoted viral RNA accumulation.Thus,activation of MAPK-mediated immunity by NbPLDa1-derived PA is a common strategy employed by hosts to counteract positive-strand RNA virus infection.

Engineered biocontainable RNA virus vectors for non-transgenic genome editing across crop species and genotypes

CRISPR/Cas genome-editing tools provide unprecedented opportunities for basic plant biology research and crop breeding.However,the lack of robust delivery methods has limited the widespread adoption of these revolutionary technologies in plant science.Here,we report an efficient,non-transgenic CRISPR/Cas delivery platform based on the engineered tomato spotted wilt virus(TSWV),an RNA virus with a host range of over 1000 plant species.We eliminated viral elements essential for insect transmission to liberate genome space for accommodating large genetic cargoes without sacrificing the ability to infect plant hosts.The resulting non-insect-transmissible viral vectors enabled effective and stable in planta delivery of Cas12a and Cas9 nucleases as well as adenine and cytosine base editors.In systemically infected plant tissues,the deconstructed TSWV-derived vectors induced efficient somatic gene mutations and base conversions in multiple crop species with little genotype dependency.Plants with heritable,bi-allelic mutations could be readily regenerated by culturing the virus-infected tissues in vitro without antibiotic selection.Moreover,we showed that antiviral treatment with ribavirin during tissue culture cleared the viral vectors in 100%of regenerated plants and further augmented the recovery of heritable mutations.Because many plants are recalcitrant to stable transformation,the viral delivery system developed in this work provides a promising tool to overcome gene delivery bottlenecks for genome editing in various crop species and elite varieties.

Plant and animal positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses encode small proteins important for viral infection in their negative-sense strand

Positive-sense single-stranded RNA(+ssRNA)viruses,the most abundant viruses of eukaryotes in nature,require the synthesis of negative-sense RNA(-RNA)using their genomic(positive-sense)RNA(+RNA)as a template for replication.Based on current evidence,viral proteins are translated via viral+RNAs,whereas-RNA is considered to be a viral replication intermediate without coding capacity.Here,we report that plant and animal+ssRNA viruses contain small open reading frames(ORFs)in their-RNA(reverse ORFs[rORFs]).Using turnip mosaic virus(TuMV)as a model for plant+ssRNA viruses,we demonstrate that small proteins encoded by rORFs display specific subcellularlocalizations,and confirm the presence of rORF2 in infected cells through mass spectrometry analysis.The protein encoded by TuMV rORF2 forms punctuate granules that are localized in the perinuclear region and co-localized with viral replication complexes.The rORF2 protein can directly interact with the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase,and mutation of rORF2 completely abolishes virus infection,whereas ectopic expression of rORF2 rescues the mutant virus.Furthermore,we show that several rORFs in the-RNA of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)have the ability to suppress type l interferon production and facilitate the infection of ve-sicular stomatitis virus.In addition,we provide evidence that TuMV might utilize internal ribosome entry sites to translate these small rORFs.Taken together,these findings indicate that the-RNA of+ssRNA vi-ruses can also have the coding capacity and that small proteins encoded therein play critical roles in viral infection,revealing a viral proteome larger than previously thought.

The host-targeting compound peruvoside has a broad-spectrum antiviral activity against positive-sense RNA viruses

Positive-sense RNA viruses modify intracellular calcium stores,endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus(Golgi)to generate membranous replication organelles known as viral factories.Viral factories provide a conducive and substantial enclave for essential virus replication via concentrating necessary cellular factors and viral proteins in proximity.Here,we identified the vital role of a broadspectrum antiviral,peruvoside in limiting the formation of viral factories.Mechanistically,we revealed the pleiotropic cellular effect of Src and PLC kinase signaling via cyclin-dependent kinase 1 signaling leads to Golgi-specific brefeldin A-resistance guanine nucleotide exchange factor 1(GBF1)phosphorylation and Golgi vesiculation by peruvoside treatment.The ramification of GBF1 phosphorylation fosters GBF1 deprivation consequentially activating downstream antiviral signaling by dampening viral factories formation.Further investigation showed signaling of ERK1/2 pathway via cyclin-dependent kinase 1 activation leading to GBF1 phosphorylation at Threonine 1337(T1337).We also showed 100%of protection in peruvoside-treated mouse model with a significant reduction in viral titre and without measurable cytotoxicity in serum.These findings highlight the importance of dissecting the broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutics mechanism and pave the way for consideration of peruvoside,host-directed antivirals for positive-sense RNA virus-mediated disease,in the interim where no vaccine is available.

Emerging roles of extracellular vesicles in mediating RNA virus infection

The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 has once again shrouded people in the enormous threat of RNA virus.Extracellular vesicles(EVs),eukaryotic cells-derived small bi-layer vesicles mainly consisting of exosomes and microvesicles,share many properties with RNA viruses including structure,size,generation,and uptake.Emerging evidence has implicated the involvement of EVs in the pathogenesis of infectious diseases induced by RNA viruses.EVs can transfer viral receptors(e.g.,ACE 2 and CD9)to recipient cells to facilitate viral infection,directiy transport infectious viral particles to adjacent cells for virus spreading,and mask viruses with a host structure to escape immune surveillance.Here,w e examine the current status of EVs to summarize their roles in mediating RNA virus infection,together with a comprehensive discussion of the underlying mechanisms.

CD97 negatively regulates the innate immune response against RNA viruses by promoting RNF125-mediated RIG-I degradation

The G protein-coupled receptor ADGRE5(CD97)binds to various metabolites that play crucial regulatory roles in metabolism.However,its function in the antiviral innate immune response remains to be determined.In this study,we report that CD97 inhibits virus-induced type-I interferon(IFN-I)release and enhances RNA virus replication in cells and mice.CD97 was identified as a new negative regulator of the innate immune receptor RIG-I,and RIG-1 degradation led to the suppression of the IFN-I signaling pathway.Furthermore,overexpression of CD97 promoted the ubiquitination of RIG-I,resulting in its degradation,but did not impact its mRNA expression.Mechanistically,CD97 upregulates RNF125 expression to induce RNF125-mediated RIG-I degradation via K48-linked ubiquitination at Lys181 after RNA virus infection.Most importantly,CD97-deficient mice are more resistant than wild-type mice to RNA virus infection.We also found that sanguinarine-mediated inhibition of CD97 effectively blocks VSV and SARS-CoV-2 replication.These findings elucidate a previously unknown mechanism through which CD97 negatively regulates RIG-I in the antiviral innate immune response and provide a molecular basis for the development of new therapeutic strategies and the design of targeted antiviral agents.

Cucurbit[7]uril as a Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Agent against Diverse RNA Viruses

The emergence and re-emergence of RNA virus outbreaks highlight the urgent need for the development of broadspectrum antivirals.Polyamines are positively-charged small molecules required for the infectivity of a wide range of RNA viruses,therefore may become good antiviral targets.Cucurbit[7]uril(CB[7]),a synthetic macrocyclic molecule,which can bind with amine-based organic compounds with high affinity,has been shown to regulate bioactive molecules through competitive binding.In this study,we tested the antiviral activity of CB[7]against diverse RNA viruses,including a panel of enteroviruses(i.e.human enterovirus A71,coxsackievirus A16,coxsackievirus B3,and echovirus 11),some flaviviruses(i.e.dengue virus and Zika virus),and an alphavirus representative Semliki forest virus.CB[7]can inhibit virus replications in a variety of cell lines,and its mechanism of action is through the competitive binding with polyamines.Our findings not only for the first time provide evidence that CB[7]can be a promising broad-spectrum antiviral agent,but more importantly,offer a novel therapeutic strategy to fight against RNA viruses by supramolecular sequestration of polyamines.

CRISPR/CasRx-mediated resistance to Soybean mosaic virus in soybean

Soybean mosaic virus(SMV),an RNA virus,is the most common and destructive pathogenic virus in soybean fields.The newly developed CRISPR/Cas immune system has provided a novel strategy for improving plant resistance to viruses;hence,this study aimed to engineer SMV resistance in soybean using this system.Specifically,multiple sgRNAs were designed to target positive-and/or negative-sense strands of the SMV HC-Pro gene.Subsequently,the corresponding CRISPR/CasRx vectors were constructed and transformed into soybeans.After inoculation with SMV,39.02%,35.77%,and 18.70%of T_(1)plants were confirmed to be highly resistant(HR),resistant(R),and mildly resistant(MR)to SMV,respectively,whereas only 6.50%were identified as susceptible(S).Additionally,qRT-PCR and DAS-ELISA showed that,both at 15 and 30 d post-inoculation(dpi),SMV accumulation significantly decreased or was even undetectable in HR and R plants,followed by MR and S plants.Additionally,the expression level of the CasRx gene varied in almost all T_(1)plants with different resistance level,both at 15 and 30 dpi.Furthermore,when SMV resistance was evaluated in the T_(2)generation,the results were similar to those recorded for the T_(1)generation.These findings provide new insights into the application of the CRISPR/CasRx system for soybean improvement and offer a promising alternative strategy for breeding for resistance to biotic stress that will contribute to the development of SMV-immune soybean germplasm to accelerate progress towards greater soybean crop productivity.

RNA chaperones encoded by RNA viruses

RNAs are functionally diverse macromolecules whose proper functions rely strictly upon their correct tertiary structures. However, because of their high structural flexibility, correct folding of RNAs is challenging and slow. Therefore, cells and viruses encode a variety of RNA remodeling proteins, including helicases and RNA chaperones. In RNA viruses, these proteins are believed to play pivotal roles in all the processes involving viral RNAs during the life cycle. RNA helicases have been studied extensively for decades, whereas RNA chaperones, particularly virus-encoded RNA chaperones, are often overlooked. This review describes the activities of RNA chaperones encoded by RNA viruses, particularly the ones identified and characterized in recent years, and the functions of these proteins in different steps of viral life cycles, and presents an overview of this unique group of proteins.

重要人感染RNA病毒复制机制和靶向聚合酶药物开发研究进展

近年来,拉沙热、埃博拉、新冠和尼帕等多种病毒性传染病在世界范围内频繁暴发,给人类健康和社会经济发展带来了巨大威胁。广谱抗病毒药物是主动应对新发突发病毒性传染病的重要手段之一,而其研发的关键是发现病毒特有的保守药物靶点。病毒聚合酶负责病毒基因组的复制和转录过程,蛋白序列相对保守,是理想的药物靶点。本文以重要人感染RNA病毒聚合酶的工作机制和靶向病毒聚合酶的药物开发展开综述,为未来新发突发传染性疾病防控提供新思路和新策略。

Cross-sectional evaluation of circulating hepatitis B virus RNA and DNA: Different quasispecies?

BACKGROUND Different forms of pregenomic and other hepatitis B virus(HBV)RNA have been detected in patients’sera.These circulating HBV-RNAs may be useful for monitoring covalently closed circular DNA activity,and predicting hepatitis B eantigen seroconversion or viral rebound after nucleos(t)ide analog cessation.Data on serum HBV-RNA quasispecies,however,is scarce.It is therefore important to develop methodologies to thoroughly analyze this quasispecies,ensuring the elimination of any residual HBV-DNA.Studying circulating HBV-RNA quasispecies may facilitate achieving functional cure of HBV infection.AIM To establish a next-generation sequencing(NGS)methodology for analyzing serum HBV-RNA and comparing it with DNA quasispecies.METHODS Thirteen untreated chronic hepatitis B patients,showing different HBV-genotypes and degrees of severity of liver disease were enrolled in the study and a serum sample with HBV-DNA>5 Log10 IU/mL and HBV-RNA>4 Log10 copies/mL was taken from each patient.HBV-RNA was treated with DNAse I to remove any residual DNA,and the region between nucleotides(nt)1255-1611 was amplified using a 3-nested polymerase chain reaction protocol,and analyzed with NGS.Variability/conservation and complexity was compared between HBV-DNA and RNA quasispecies.RESULTS No HBV-DNA contamination was detected in cDNA samples from HBV-RNA quasispecies.HBV quasispecies complexity showed heterogeneous behavior among patients.The Rare Haplotype Load at 1%was greater in DNA than in RNA quasispecies,with no statistically significant differences(P=0.1641).Regarding conservation,information content was equal in RNA and DNA quasispecies in most nt positions[218/357(61.06%)].In 102 of the remaining 139(73.38%),HBV-RNA showed slightly higher variability.Sliding window analysis identified 4 hyper-conserved sequence fragments in each quasispecies,3 of them coincided between the 2 quasispecies:nts 1258-1286,1545-1573 and 1575-1604.The 2 hyper-variable sequence fragments also coincided:nts 1311-1344 and 1461-1485.Sequences between nts 1519-1543 and 1559-1587 were only hyper-conserved in HBV-DNA and RNA,respectively.CONCLUSION Our methodology allowed analyzing HBV-RNA quasispecies complexity and conservation without interference from HBV-DNA.Thanks to this,we have been able to compare both quasispecies in the present study.

Antiviral Effect of Ribonuclease from <i>Bacillus pumilus</i>against Phytopathogenic Rna-Viruses

Background: Viruses can cause different diseases in plants. To prevent viral infections, plants are treated with chemical compounds and antiviral agents. Chemical antiviral agents usually have narrow specificity, which limits their wide application. Alternative antiviral strategy is associated with the use of microbial enzymes, which are less toxic and are readily decomposed without accumulation of harmful substances. The aim of this work is to study the effect of Bacillus pumilus ribonuclease on various phytopathogenic viruses with specific focus on the ability of enzyme to eliminate them from plant explants in vitro. Materials and methods: Extracellular ribonuclease of B. pumilus is tested as an antiviral agent. To study the antiviral effect of RNase, depending on concentration and the time of application several plant-virus model systems are used. Virus detection is conducted by serological testing and RT-PCR. Results: Bacillus pumilus ribonuclease possesses antiviral activity against plant Rna-viruses RCMV (red clover mottle virus), PVX (Potato Virus X) and AMV (Alfalfa Mosaic Virus). The maximum inhibitory effect against actively replicating viruses is observed when plants are treated with the enzyme in the concentration of 100 ug/ml prior to infection. In case of local necrosis ribonuclease in the concentration of 1 ug/ml completely inhibits the development of RCMV virus on bean plants. The enzyme is able to penetrate plants and inhibit the development of viral infection, inhibiting effect for untreated surfaces decreased on average for 20%. It is also found that B. pumilus ribonuclease protects apical explants of sprouts of potato tubers from PVM and PVS viruses. Conclusion: B. pumilus ribonuclease possesses antiviral activity against plant Rna-viruses and produces viruses-free plants in the apical meristem culture.

The expression of foreign gene under the control of cauliflower mosaic virus 35s RNA promoter

The promoter region of cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35s RNA was employed to construct an intermediate expression vector which can be used in Ti plasmid system of Agro-bacterium tumefaciens. The original plasmid, which contains a polylinker between CaMV 35s RNA and its 3' termination signal in pUC18 was modified to have another antibiotic resistance marker (kanamycin resistance gene Kmr) to facilitate the selection of recombinant with Ti plasmid. Octopine synthase (ocs) structural gene was inserted into this vector downstream of CaMV 35s RNA promoter. This chimaeric gene was introduced into integrative Ti plasmid vector pGV3850, and then transformed into Nicotiana tobaccum cells. A binary plasmid vector was also used to introduce the chimaeric gene into tobacco cells. In both cases, the expression of ocs gene was demonstrated. The amount of oc-topine was much more than the nopaline synthesized by no-paline synthase (nos) gene transferred at the same time with Ti plasmid vector. This demonstrated that CaMV 35s RNA promoter is stronger in transcriptional function than the promoter of nos in tobacco cells.

Characterization and function of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus-derived small RNAs generated in tolerant and susceptible tomato varieties

supported by the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China （20134320120013）;the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province, China （14JJ3095）

Synchronous Detection of DNA/RNA of Four Shrimp Viruses by Real-time Fluorescence Quantitative RT-PCR

[ Objective] This study aimed to establish a simultaneous detection method of shrimp viruses by real-time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR, to improve the efficiency of inspection and quarantine. [ Method] A novel real-time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR assay was established and optimized for simultaneously detecting DNA/RNA of four shrimp viruses （WSSV, IHHNV, TSV and YHV ）. [ Result] The optimized real-time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR system gener- ated typical amplification curves with high amplification efficiencies （E = 1.06, 1.07, 0.92 and 0.92, respectively）, good hnear relationship （ r = 1 ）, uniform repeatability （ standard deviation = 0.05 - 0.46 ; variation coefficient = 0.26% - 1.62% ） and high sensitivity, exhibiting no significant differences compared with re- al-time fluorescence quantitative PCR （average error of Ct value = 0.04 -0.40; T = 0.53 -2.50; P 〉 0.05 ）. The total detection time was about 1 h. [ Conclusion] The optimized real-time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR system can be used for rapid detection of WSSV, IHHNV, TSV and YHV.

Correlation between HBeAg and Hepatitis B Virus DNA and RNA Levels in Diverse Liver Disease Cohorts

Objective:To investigate the disparities and associations between HBV DNA and HBV RNA in various liver disease groups with respect to HBeAg status.Methods:Between September 2020 and September 2023,90 patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B(CHB),74 patients diagnosed with liver cirrhosis(LC),and 102 patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)from the Department of Gastroenterology or Infection at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University were selected.HBV DNA,HBV RNA,and HBeAg quantitative tests were conducted using serum samples from the same patients.Results:In the three groups of cases,the HBV RNA load was higher when HBeAg was positive than when HBeAg was negative,and this difference was statistically significant.Only in the HCC group was the HBV DNA load significantly higher when HBeAg was positive than when HBeAg was negative.Additionally,there was a positive correlation between HBV DNA and HBV RNA regardless of HBeAg status.Conclusion:During HBeAg conversion,HBV RNA demonstrates a more sensitive response than HBV DNA.As CHB progresses to LC or HCC,HBV RNA exhibits better diagnostic value than HBV DNA.

Clinical Value of Hepatitis B Virus RNA Detection in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

Objective:To study the clinical value of hepatitis B virus pregenomic RNA(HBV-pgRNA)detection in the treatment of hepatitis B.Methods:60 patients with hepatitis B were included in the study.Serum HBV-pgRNA and HBV DNA levels in different phases of infection and during treatment were detected,and serum hepatitis B surface antigen(HbsAg)titer was detected by chemiluminescent immunoassay.DNA was extracted from liver biopsy tissue,and covalently closed circular DNA was detected to predict the therapeutic value in patients.Results:At the initial stage of treatment,the level of HBV-pgRNA in phase I,II,III,and IV showed a gradual decrease.Comparing the levels of HBV-pgRNA before and after treatment,we found that the level of HBV-pgRNA was significantly lower after treatment(P<0.05).Among the indicators for predicting HBsAg seroconversion,the accuracy of HBV-pgRNA level was 85.0%(51/60).Conclusion:The clinical value of HBV-pgRNA detection in the treatment of hepatitis B is high.