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The Major Envelope Glycoprotein of Murid Herpesvirus 4 Promotes Sexual Transmission
Caroline Zeippen1, Justine Javaux1, Xue Xiao1
1Immunology-Vaccinology, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine-Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH), University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
Abstract:
Gammaherpesviruses are important human and animal pathogens. Infection control has proven difficult because the key process of transmission is ill understood. Murid herpesvirus 4 (MuHV-4), a gammaherpesvirus of mice, is transmitted sexually. We show that this depends on the major virion envelope glycoprotein gp150. gp150 is redundant for host entry, and in vitro, it regulates rather than promotes cell binding. We show that gp150-deficient MuHV-4 reaches and replicates normally in the female genital tract after nasal infection but is poorly released from vaginal epithelial cells and fails to pass from the female to the male genital tract during sexual contact. Thus, we show that the regulation of virion binding is a key component of spontaneous gammaherpesvirus transmission.IMPORTANCE Gammaherpesviruses are responsible for many important diseases in both animals and humans. Some important aspects of their life cycle are still poorly understood. Key among these is viral transmission. Here we show that the major envelope glycoprotein of murid herpesvirus 4 functions not in entry or dissemination but in virion release to allow sexual transmission to new hosts.
Insights
The major glycoprotein gp150 of murid herpesvirus 4 (MuHV-4) is crucial for sexual transmission. This glycoprotein regulates virion release, not host entry, enabling gammaherpesvirus spread.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Pathogen Transmission
Background:
- Gammaherpesviruses are significant pathogens in humans and animals.
- Understanding gammaherpesvirus transmission is critical for infection control.
- Murid herpesvirus 4 (MuHV-4) serves as a model for studying gammaherpesvirus sexual transmission.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the major virion envelope glycoprotein gp150 in MuHV-4 transmission.
- To elucidate the mechanism by which gp150 facilitates gammaherpesvirus spread.
Main Methods:
- Utilized gp150-deficient MuHV-4 to assess its role in genital tract infection and transmission.
- Analyzed virion release from infected vaginal epithelial cells.
- Tracked viral transmission between male and female mice during sexual contact.
Main Results:
- gp150 is not essential for host entry or viral replication in the female genital tract.
- gp150 regulates, rather than promotes, cell binding.
- gp150-deficient MuHV-4 exhibits poor release from vaginal epithelial cells, hindering sexual transmission.
Conclusions:
- The major envelope glycoprotein gp150 is essential for efficient virion release and sexual transmission of MuHV-4.
- Regulation of virion binding by gp150 is a key factor in spontaneous gammaherpesvirus transmission.
- Findings provide new insights into gammaherpesvirus transmission mechanisms.