2022
Jakob, Celia; Paul-Stansilaus, Rithu; Schwemmle, Martin; Marquet, Roland; Bolte, Hardin
The influenza A virus genome packaging network - complex, flexible and yet unsolved Journal Article
In: Nucleic Acids Res., 2022.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Project 02, WP 1.4 Virus regulation
@article{nokey,
title = {The influenza A virus genome packaging network - complex, flexible and yet unsolved},
author = {Celia Jakob and Rithu Paul-Stansilaus and Martin Schwemmle and Roland Marquet and Hardin Bolte},
doi = {10.1093/nar/gkac688},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-08-22},
journal = {Nucleic Acids Res.},
abstract = {The genome of influenza A virus (IAV) consists of eight unique viral RNA segments. This genome organization allows genetic reassortment between co-infecting IAV strains, whereby new IAVs with altered genome segment compositions emerge. While it is known that reassortment events can create pandemic IAVs, it remains impossible to anticipate reassortment outcomes with pandemic prospects. Recent research indicates that reassortment is promoted by a viral genome packaging mechanism that delivers the eight genome segments as a supramolecular complex into the virus particle. This finding holds promise of predicting pandemic IAVs by understanding the intermolecular interactions governing this genome packaging mechanism. Here, we critically review the prevailing mechanistic model postulating that IAV genome packaging is orchestrated by a network of intersegmental RNA-RNA interactions. Although we find supporting evidence, including segment-specific packaging signals and experimentally proposed RNA-RNA interaction networks, this mechanistic model remains debatable due to a current shortage of functionally validated intersegmental RNA-RNA interactions. We speculate that identifying such functional intersegmental RNA-RNA contacts might be hampered by limitations of the utilized probing techniques and the inherent complexity of the genome packaging mechanism. Nevertheless, we anticipate that improved probing strategies combined with a mutagenesis-based validation could facilitate their discovery.},
keywords = {Project 02, WP 1.4 Virus regulation},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The genome of influenza A virus (IAV) consists of eight unique viral RNA segments. This genome organization allows genetic reassortment between co-infecting IAV strains, whereby new IAVs with altered genome segment compositions emerge. While it is known that reassortment events can create pandemic IAVs, it remains impossible to anticipate reassortment outcomes with pandemic prospects. Recent research indicates that reassortment is promoted by a viral genome packaging mechanism that delivers the eight genome segments as a supramolecular complex into the virus particle. This finding holds promise of predicting pandemic IAVs by understanding the intermolecular interactions governing this genome packaging mechanism. Here, we critically review the prevailing mechanistic model postulating that IAV genome packaging is orchestrated by a network of intersegmental RNA-RNA interactions. Although we find supporting evidence, including segment-specific packaging signals and experimentally proposed RNA-RNA interaction networks, this mechanistic model remains debatable due to a current shortage of functionally validated intersegmental RNA-RNA interactions. We speculate that identifying such functional intersegmental RNA-RNA contacts might be hampered by limitations of the utilized probing techniques and the inherent complexity of the genome packaging mechanism. Nevertheless, we anticipate that improved probing strategies combined with a mutagenesis-based validation could facilitate their discovery.
2021
Goettsch, Winfried; Beerenwinkel, Niko; Deng, Li; Dölken, Lars; Dutilh, Bas E.; Erhard, Florian; Kaderali, Lars; von Kleist, Max; Marquet, Roland; Matthijnssens, Jelle; McCallin, Shawna; McMahon, Dino; Rattei, Thomas; van Rij, Ronald P.; Robertson, David L.; Schwemmle, Martin; Stern-Ginossar, Noam; Marz, Manja
ITN -- VIROINF: Understanding (Harmful) Virus-Host Interactions by Linking Virology and Bioinformatics Journal Article
In: Viruses, vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 766, 2021.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Project 01, Project 02, Project 03, Project 04, Project 05, Project 06, Project 07, Project 08, Project 09, Project 10, Project 11, Project 12, Project 13, Project 14, Project 15, WP 1.1 Virus identification, WP 1.2 Host prediction, WP 1.3 Virus-host interactions, WP 1.4 Virus regulation, WP 1.5 Virus products, WP 2.1 Microevolution: Virus quasispecies, WP 2.2 Macroevolution: Natural selection of viruses
@article{nokey,
title = {ITN -- VIROINF: Understanding (Harmful) Virus-Host Interactions by Linking Virology and Bioinformatics},
author = {Winfried Goettsch and Niko Beerenwinkel and Li Deng and Lars Dölken and Bas E. Dutilh and Florian Erhard and Lars Kaderali and Max von Kleist and Roland Marquet and Jelle Matthijnssens and Shawna McCallin and Dino McMahon and Thomas Rattei and Ronald P. {van Rij} and David L. Robertson and Martin Schwemmle and Noam Stern-Ginossar and Manja Marz},
doi = {10.3390/v13050766},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-04-27},
urldate = {2021-04-27},
journal = {Viruses},
volume = {13},
number = {5},
pages = {766},
abstract = {Many recent studies highlight the fundamental importance of viruses. Besides their important role as human and animal pathogens, their beneficial, commensal or harmful functions are poorly understood. By developing and applying tailored bioinformatical tools in important virological models, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Initiative International Training Network VIROINF will provide a better understanding of viruses and the interaction with their hosts. This will open the door to validate methods of improving viral growth, morphogenesis and development, as well as to control strategies against unwanted microorganisms. The key feature of VIROINF is its interdisciplinary nature, which brings together virologists and bioinformaticians to achieve common goals.},
keywords = {Project 01, Project 02, Project 03, Project 04, Project 05, Project 06, Project 07, Project 08, Project 09, Project 10, Project 11, Project 12, Project 13, Project 14, Project 15, WP 1.1 Virus identification, WP 1.2 Host prediction, WP 1.3 Virus-host interactions, WP 1.4 Virus regulation, WP 1.5 Virus products, WP 2.1 Microevolution: Virus quasispecies, WP 2.2 Macroevolution: Natural selection of viruses},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Many recent studies highlight the fundamental importance of viruses. Besides their important role as human and animal pathogens, their beneficial, commensal or harmful functions are poorly understood. By developing and applying tailored bioinformatical tools in important virological models, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Initiative International Training Network VIROINF will provide a better understanding of viruses and the interaction with their hosts. This will open the door to validate methods of improving viral growth, morphogenesis and development, as well as to control strategies against unwanted microorganisms. The key feature of VIROINF is its interdisciplinary nature, which brings together virologists and bioinformaticians to achieve common goals.