Racaniello Lab Publications



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Click the author names to view the abstract. In some cases a pdf file of the entire paper can be downloaded by clicking on 'pdf file'.

Stewart Kim, M., Racaniello VR.
Enterovirus 70 receptor utilization Is controlled by capsid residues that also regulate host range and cytopathogenicity.
J Virol. 2007 81:8648-8655.
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Barral PM, Morrison, JM, Drahos J, Gupta P, Sarkar D, Fisher, PB, Racaniello VR.
MDA-5 Is Cleaved in Poliovirus-Infected Cells.
J Virol. 2007 81:3677-3684.
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Kauder S, Kan S, Racaniello VR.
Age-dependent poliovirus replication in the mouse central nervous system is determined by internal ribosome entry site-mediated translation.
J Virol. 2006 80(6):2589-2595.
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Rosenfeld AB, Racaniello VR
Hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site-dependent translation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is independent of polypyrimidine tract-binding protein, poly(rC)-binding protein 2, and La protein.
J. Virol. 2005 79:10126-10137.
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Harris JR, Racaniello VR
Amino Acid Changes in Proteins 2B and 3A Mediate Rhinovirus Type 39 Growth in Mouse Cells.
J. Virol. 2005 79:5363-5373.

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Kauder, S.E., Racaniello, V.R.
Poliovirus tropism and attenuation are determined after internal ribosome entry.
J Clin Invest. 2004 113:1743-53.
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Brown DM, Kauder SE, Cornell CT, Jang GM, Racaniello VR, Semler BL.
Cell-dependent role for the poliovirus 3' noncoding region in positive-strand RNA synthesis.
J. Virol. 2004 78:1344-51.
pdf file

Hughes, S.A., Thaker, H.M., Racaniello, V.R.
Transgenic mouse model for echovirus myocarditis and paralysis.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2003 100(26):15906-11.
pdf file

Flint, S.J., Enquist, L., Racaniello, V.R., and Skalka, A.M.
Principles of Virology. Molecular Biology, Pathogenesis, and Control of Animal Viruses. [Textbook]
ASM Press, Washington, DC.2003.

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Béatrice Baury, B., D. Masson, B. M. McDermott Jr., A. Jarry, H. M. Blottière, C L. Laboisse, P. Lustenberger, V. R. Racaniello, M.G. Denis.
Identification of CD155 isoforms.
Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 2003 309:175-182.

Harris JR, Racaniello VR
Changes in rhinovirus protein 2C allow efficient replication in mouse cells
J. Virol. 2003 77: 4773-4780.
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Tsang, SK, McDermott, BM, Racaniello, VR, Hogle, JM
Kinetic Analysis of the Effect of Poliovirus Receptor on Viral Uncoating: the Receptor as a Catalyst
J. Virol. 2001. 75:4984-4989.
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Racaniello, V.R.
Picornaviridae: The viruses and their replication.
Fields Virology, 4th Edition.
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, PA.

Racaniello VR.
It is too early to stop polio vaccination.
Bull World Health Organ. 2000;78(3):359-60.
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McDermott BM Jr, Rux AH, Eisenberg RJ, Cohen GH, Racaniello VR.
Two distinct binding affinities of poliovirus for its cellular receptor.
J Biol Chem. 2000 Jul 28;275(30):23089-96.
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Bouchard MJ, Dong Y, McDermott BM Jr, Lam DH, Brown KR, Shelanski M, Bellve AR, Racaniello VR.
Defects in nuclear and cytoskeletal morphology and mitochondrial localization in spermatozoa of mice lacking nectin-2, a component of cell-cell adherens junctions.
Mol Cell Biol. 2000 Apr;20(8):2865-73.
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Dove AW, Racaniello VR.
An antiviral compound that blocks structural transitions of poliovirus prevents receptor binding at low temperatures.
J Virol. 2000 Apr;74(8):3929-31.
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Belnap DM, McDermott BM Jr, Filman DJ, Cheng N, Trus BL, Zuccola HJ, Racaniello VR, Hogle JM, Steven AC.
Three-dimensional structure of poliovirus receptor bound to poliovirus.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2000 Jan 4;97(1):73-8.
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Flint, S.J., Enquist, L., Krug, R.M., Racaniello, V.R., and Skalka, A.M.
Principles of Virology. Molecular Biology, Pathogenesis and Control. [Textbook]
ASM Press, Washington, DC.1999.
sample chapter
Buy the book here

Shukla D, Rowe CL, Dong Y, Racaniello VR, Spear PG.
The murine homolog (Mph) of human herpesvirus entry protein B (HveB) mediates entry of pseudorabies virus but not herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2.
J Virol. 1999 May;73(5):4493-7.
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Deatly AM, Taffs RE, McAuliffe JM, Nawoschik SP, Coleman JW, McMullen G, Weeks-Levy C, Johnson AJ, Racaniello VR.
Characterization of mouse lines transgenic with the human poliovirus receptor gene.
Microb Pathog. 1998 Jul;25(1):43-54.
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Zhang S, Racaniello VR.
Persistent echovirus infection of mouse cells expressing the viral receptor VLA-2.
Virology. 1997 Sep 1;235(2):293-301.
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Dove AW, Racaniello VR.
The polio eradication effort: should vaccine eradication be next?
Science. 1997 Aug 8;277(5327):779-80.
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Zhang S, Racaniello VR.
Expression of the poliovirus receptor in intestinal epithelial cells is not sufficient to permit poliovirus replication in the mouse gut.
J Virol. 1997 Jul;71(7):4915-20.
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Dove AW, Racaniello VR.
Cold-adapted poliovirus mutants bypass a postentry replication block.
J Virol. 1997 Jun;71(6):4728-35.
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Gutierrez AL, Denova-Ocampo M, Racaniello VR, del Angel RM.
Attenuating mutations in the poliovirus 5' untranslated region alter its interaction with polypyrimidine tract-binding protein.
J Virol. 1997 May;71(5):3826-33.
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Bouchard MJ, Racaniello VR.
CD44 is not required for poliovirus replication.
J Virol. 1997 Apr;71(4):2793-8.
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Gutierrez-Escolano AL, Medina F, Racaniello VR, Del Angel RM.
Differences in the UV-crosslinking patterns of the poliovirus 5'-untranslated region with cell proteins from poliovirus-susceptible and -resistant tissues.
Virology. 1997 Jan 20;227(2):505-8.
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Racaniello VR.
Early events in poliovirus infection: virus-receptor interactions.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1996 Oct 15;93(21):11378-81. Review.
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Racaniello VR.
The poliovirus receptor: a hook, or an unzipper?
Structure. 1996 Jul 15;4(7):769-73. Review.
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Racaniello VR, Ren R.
Poliovirus biology and pathogenesis.
Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 1996;206:305-25. Review. No abstract available.

Bouchard MJ, Lam DH, Racaniello VR.
Determinants of attenuation and temperature sensitivity in the type 1 poliovirus Sabin vaccine.
J Virol. 1995 Aug;69(8):4972-8.
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Colston EM, Racaniello VR.
Poliovirus variants selected on mutant receptor-expressing cells identify capsid residues that expand receptor recognition.
J Virol. 1995 Aug;69(8):4823-9.
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Weeks-Levy, C., E.J. Gorgacz and V. Racaniello
Transgenic strategies for studying poliovirus pathogenesis and immunology.
In: "Strategies in Transgenic Animal Science: (G.M. Monastersky, J.M. Robl, eds.).
ASM Press, Washington, DC. 1995 pp. 271-286.

Racaniello, V.R.
Early events in infection: Receptor binding and cell entry.
In: "Human Enterovirus Infections" (H. Rotbart, ed.).
ASM Press, Washington, DC. 1995 pp. 73-94.

Colston E, Racaniello VR.
Soluble receptor-resistant poliovirus mutants identify surface and internal capsid residues that control interaction with the cell receptor.
EMBO J. 1994 Dec 15;13(24):5855-62.

Morrison ME, He YJ, Wien MW, Hogle JM, Racaniello VR.
Homolog-scanning mutagenesis reveals poliovirus receptor residues important for virus binding and replication.
J Virol. 1994 Apr;68(4):2578-88.

Shepley MP, Racaniello VR.
A monoclonal antibody that blocks poliovirus attachment recognizes the lymphocyte homing receptor CD44.
J Virol. 1994 Mar;68(3):1301-8.

Racaniello VR, Ren R.
Transgenic mice and the pathogenesis of poliomyelitis.
Arch Virol Suppl. 1994;9:79-86. Review.

Racaniello VR.
Infectious cDNA, cell receptors and transgenic mice in the study of Sabin's poliovirus vaccines.
Biologicals. 1993 Dec;21(4):365-9.

Gomez Yafal A, Kaplan G, Racaniello VR, Hogle JM.
Characterization of poliovirus conformational alteration mediated by soluble cell receptors.
Virology. 1993 Nov;197(1):501-5.

Pipkin PA, Wood DJ, Racaniello VR, Minor PD.
Characterisation of L cells expressing the human poliovirus receptor for the specific detection of polioviruses in vitro.
J Virol Methods. 1993 Mar;41(3):333-40. No abstract available.

Racaniello VR, Ren R, Bouchard M.
Poliovirus attenuation and pathogenesis in a transgenic mouse model for poliomyelitis.
Dev Biol Stand. 1993;78:109-16. Review.

Racaniello, V.R.
Virus-receptor interaction in poliovirus entry and pathogenesis.
The Harvey Lectures 1993 87:1-16.

Ren R, Racaniello VR.
Poliovirus spreads from muscle to the central nervous system by neural pathways.
J Infect Dis. 1992 Oct;166(4):747-52.

Morrison ME, Racaniello VR.
Molecular cloning and expression of a murine homolog of the human poliovirus receptor gene.
J Virol. 1992 May;66(5):2807-13.

Tatem JM, Weeks-Levy C, Georgiu A, DiMichele SJ, Gorgacz EJ, Racaniello VR, Cano FR, Mento SJ.
A mutation present in the amino terminus of Sabin 3 poliovirus VP1 protein is attenuating.
J Virol. 1992 May;66(5):3194-7.

Blackburn RV, Racaniello VR, Righthand VF.
Construction of an infectious cDNA clone of echovirus 6.
Virus Res. 1992 Jan;22(1):71-8.

Ren R, Racaniello VR.
Human poliovirus receptor gene expression and poliovirus tissue tropism in transgenic mice.
J Virol. 1992 Jan;66(1):296-304.

Racaniello, V.R.
Interaction of poliovirus with its cell receptor.
Sem. in Virol. 1992 3:473-482.

Racaniello VR.
Poliovirus vaccines.
Biotechnology. 1992;20:205-22. Review. No abstract available.

Freistadt MS, Racaniello VR.
Mutational analysis of the cellular receptor for poliovirus.
J Virol. 1991 Jul;65(7):3873-6.

Racaniello VR.
Viruses: not the simplest form of life after all.
Molecular Biology of Human Pathogenic Viruses: a Keystone Symposium, Lake Tahoe, CA, USA, March 8-15, 1991.
New Biol. 1991 Jun;3(6):575-9. No abstract available.

Moss EG, Racaniello VR.
Host range determinants located on the interior of the poliovirus capsid.
EMBO J. 1991 May;10(5):1067-74.

Kaplan G, Racaniello VR.
Down regulation of poliovirus receptor RNA in HeLa cells resistant to poliovirus infection.
J Virol. 1991 Apr;65(4):1829-35.

Ren RB, Moss EG, Racaniello VR.
Identification of two determinants that attenuate vaccine-related type 2 poliovirus.
J Virol. 1991 Mar;65(3):1377-82.

Racaniello VR.
Virus-receptor interaction in poliovirus entry and pathogenesis.
Harvey Lect. 1991-92;87:1-16. Review.

Racaniello, V.R.
Picornaviruses.
Current Topics in Microbiol. and Immunol. vol. 161. Review.

Kaplan G, Peters D, Racaniello VR.
Poliovirus mutants resistant to neutralization with soluble cell receptors.
Science. 1990 Dec 14;250(4987):1596-9.
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Freistadt MS, Kaplan G, Racaniello VR.
Heterogeneous expression of poliovirus receptor-related proteins in human cells and tissues.
Mol Cell Biol. 1990 Nov;10(11):5700-6.

Ren RB, Costantini F, Gorgacz EJ, Lee JJ, Racaniello VR.
Transgenic mice expressing a human poliovirus receptor: a new model for poliomyelitis.
Cell. 1990 Oct 19;63(2):353-62.

Kaplan G, Freistadt MS, Racaniello VR.
Neutralization of poliovirus by cell receptors expressed in insect cells.
J Virol. 1990 Oct;64(10):4697-702.

Racaniello VR.
Cell receptors for picornaviruses.
Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 1990;161:1-22. Review. No abstract available.

O'Neill RE, Racaniello VR.
Inhibition of translation in cells infected with a poliovirus 2Apro mutant correlates with phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of eucaryotic initiation factor 2.
J Virol. 1989 Dec;63(12):5069-75.

del Angel RM, Papavassiliou AG, Fernandez-Tomas C, Silverstein SJ, Racaniello VR.
Cell proteins bind to multiple sites within the 5' untranslated region of poliovirus RNA.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1989 Nov;86(21):8299-303.
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Skinner MA, Racaniello VR, Dunn G, Cooper J, Minor PD, Almond JW.
New model for the secondary structure of the 5' non-coding RNA of poliovirus is supported by biochemical and genetic data that also show that RNA secondary structure is important in neurovirulence.
J Mol Biol. 1989 May 20;207(2):379-92.

La Monica N, Racaniello VR.
Differences in replication of attenuated and neurovirulent polioviruses in human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y.
J Virol. 1989 May;63(5):2357-60.

Moss EG, O'Neill RE, Racaniello VR.
Mapping of attenuating sequences of an avirulent poliovirus type 2 strain.
J Virol. 1989 May;63(5):1884-90.

Mendelsohn CL, Wimmer E, Racaniello VR.
Cellular receptor for poliovirus: molecular cloning, nucleotide sequence, and expression of a new member of the immunoglobulin superfamily.
Cell. 1989 Mar 10;56(5):855-65.

Kaplan G, Levy A, Racaniello VR.
Isolation and characterization of HeLa cell lines blocked at different steps in the poliovirus life cycle.
J Virol. 1989 Jan;63(1):43-51.

Murray MG, Bradley J, Yang XF, Wimmer E, Moss EG, Racaniello VR.
Poliovirus host range is determined by a short amino acid sequence in neutralization antigenic site I.
Science. 1988 Jul 8;241(4862):213-5.
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Pelletier J, Kaplan G, Racaniello VR, Sonenberg N.
Translational efficiency of poliovirus mRNA: mapping inhibitory cis-acting elements within the 5' noncoding region.
J Virol. 1988 Jul;62(7):2219-27.

Kaplan G, Racaniello VR.
Construction and characterization of poliovirus subgenomic replicons.
J Virol. 1988 May;62(5):1687-96.

Pelletier J, Kaplan G, Racaniello VR, Sonenberg N.
Cap-independent translation of poliovirus mRNA is conferred by sequence elements within the 5' noncoding region.
Mol Cell Biol. 1988 Mar;8(3):1103-12.

Racaniello VR.
Poliovirus neurovirulence.
Adv Virus Res. 1988;34:217-46. Review. No abstract available.

La Monica N, Kupsky WJ, Racaniello VR.
Reduced mouse neurovirulence of poliovirus type 2 Lansing antigenic variants selected with monoclonal antibodies.
Virology. 1987 Dec;161(2):429-37.

La Monica N, Almond JW, Racaniello VR.
A mouse model for poliovirus neurovirulence identifies mutations that attenuate the virus for humans.
J Virol. 1987 Sep;61(9):2917-20.

Racaniello VR.
Viral sequences required for neurovirulence of poliovirus.
Bioessays. 1986 Dec;5(6):266-70. Review. No abstract available.

Racaniello VR, Meriam C.
Poliovirus temperature-sensitive mutant containing a single nucleotide deletion in the 5'-noncoding region of the viral RNA.
Virology. 1986 Dec;155(2):498-507.

Mendelsohn C, Johnson B, Lionetti KA, Nobis P, Wimmer E, Racaniello VR.
Transformation of a human poliovirus receptor gene into mouse cells.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1986 Oct;83(20):7845-9.
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Lubinski JM, Kaplan G, Racaniello VR, Dasgupta A.
Mechanism of in vitro synthesis of covalently linked dimeric RNA molecules by the poliovirus replicase.
J Virol. 1986 May;58(2):459-67.

La Monica N, Meriam C, Racaniello VR.
Mapping of sequences required for mouse neurovirulence of poliovirus type 2 Lansing.
J Virol. 1986 Feb;57(2):515-25.

Kaplan G, Lubinski J, Dasgupta A, Racaniello VR.
In vitro synthesis of infectious poliovirus RNA.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1985 Dec;82(24):8424-8.
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Postdoctoral Publications of V. Racaniello:

Levenson R, Racaniello VR, Albritton L, Housman D.
Molecular cloning of the mouse ouabain resistance gene.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1984 81:1489-1493.
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Racaniello VR.
Studying poliovirus with infectious cloned cDNA.
Rev Infect Dis. 1984 May-Jun;6 Suppl 2:S514-5.

Ticehurst JR, Racaniello VR, Baroudy BM, Baltimore D, Purcell RH, Feinstone SM.
Molecular cloning and characterization of hepatitis A virus cDNA.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1983 Oct;80(19):5885-9.
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Racaniello VR, Baltimore D.
Cloned poliovirus complementary DNA is infectious in mammalian cells.
Science. 1981 Nov 20;214(4523):916-9.
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Lemischka IR, Farmer S, Racaniello VR, Sharp PA.
Nucleotide sequence and evolution of a mammalian alpha-tubulin messenger RNA.
J Mol Biol. 1981 Sep 5;151(1):101-20. No abstract available.

Racaniello VR, Baltimore D.
Molecular cloning of poliovirus cDNA and determination of the complete nucleotide sequence of the viral genome.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1981 Aug;78(8):4887-91.
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Ph.D. Thesis Publications of V. Racaniello:

Palese P, Racaniello VR, Desselberger U, Young J, Baez M.
Genetic structure and genetic variation of influenza viruses.
Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 1980 Feb 25;288(1029):299-305.
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Desselberger U, Racaniello VR, Zazra JJ, Palese P.
The 3' and 5'-terminal sequences of influenza A, B and C virus RNA segments are highly conserved and show partial inverted complementarity.
Gene. 1980 Feb;8(3):315-28.

Racaniello VR, Palese P.
Isolation of influenza C virus recombinants.
J Virol. 1979 Dec;32(3):1006-14.

Racaniello VR, Palese P.
Influenza B virus genome: assignment of viral polypeptides to RNA segments.
J Virol. 1979 Jan;29(1):361-73.

Racaniello, V.R., and P. Palese.
The genes of influenza virus: Analysis of influenza B virus strains.
In: Negative Strand Viruses and the Host Cell (R.D. Barry and B.W.J. Mahy, eds.) 1978, pp. 27-36.
Academic Press, London.


J. Virol. 79:10126-10137.
Hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site-dependent translation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is independent of polypyrimidine tract-binding protein, poly(rC)-binding protein 2, and La protein.
Rosenfeld AB, Racaniello VR
Translation initiation of some viral and cellular mRNAs occurs by ribosome binding to an internal ribosome entry site (IRES). Internal initiation mediated by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) IRES in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was shown by translation of the second open reading frame in a bicistronic mRNA. Introduction of a single base change in the HCV IRES, known to abrogate internal initiation in mammalian cells, abolished translation of the second open reading frame. Internal initiation mediated by the HCV IRES was independent of the nonsense-mediated decay pathway and the cap binding protein eIF4E, indicating that translation is not a result of mRNA degradation or 5'-end-dependent initiation. Human La protein binds the HCV IRES and is required for efficient internal initiation. Disruption of the S. cerevisiae genes that encode La protein orthologs and synthesis of wild-type human La protein in yeast had no effect on HCV IRES-dependent translation. Polypyrimidine tract-binding protein (Ptb) and poly-(rC)-binding protein 2 (Pcbp2), which may be required for HCV IRES-dependent initiation in mammalian cells, are not encoded within the S. cerevisiae genome. HCV IRES-dependent translation in S. cerevisiae was independent of human Pcbp2 protein and stimulated by the presence of human Ptb protein. These findings demonstrate that the genome of S. cerevisiae encodes all proteins necessary for internal initiation of translation mediated by the HCV IRES.


J. Virol. 79:5363-5373.

Amino Acid Changes in Proteins 2B and 3A Mediate Rhinovirus Type 39 Growth in Mouse Cells
Harris JR, Racaniello VR
Many steps of viral replication are dependent on the interaction of viral proteins with host cell components. To identify rhinovirus proteins involved in such interactions, human rhinovirus 39 (HRV39), a virus unable to replicate in mouse cells, was adapted to efficient growth in mouse cells producing the viral receptor ICAM-1 (ICAM-L cells). Amino acid changes were identified in the 2B and 3A proteins of the adapted virus, RV39/L. Changes in 2B were sufficient to permit viral growth in mouse cells; however, changes in both 2B and 3A were required for maximal viral RNA synthesis in mouse cells. Examination of infected HeLa cells by electron microscopy demonstrated that human rhinoviruses induced the formation of cytoplasmic membranous vesicles, similar to those observed in cells infected with other picornaviruses. Vesicles were also observed in the cytoplasm of HRV39-infected mouse cells despite the absence of viral RNA replication. Synthesis of picornaviral nonstructural proteins 2C, 2BC, and 3A is known to be required for formation of membranous vesicles. We suggest that productive HRV39 infection is blocked in ICAM-L cells at a step posttranslation and prior to the formation of a functional replication complex. The observation that changes in HRV39 2B and 3A proteins lead to viral growth in mouse cells suggests that one or both of these proteins interact with host cell proteins to promote viral replication.


J Clin Invest. 2004 113:1743-53.

Poliovirus tropism and attenuation are determined after internal ribosome entry.
Kauder, S.E. and Racaniello, V.R.

Poliovirus replication is limited to a few organs, including the brain and spinal cord. This restricted tropism may be a consequence of organ-specific differences in translation initiation by the poliovirus internal ribosome entry site (IRES). A C-to-U mutation at base 472 in the IRES of the Sabin type 3 poliovirus vaccine strain, known to attenuate neurovirulence, may further restrict tropism by eliminating viral replication in the CNS. To determine the relationship between IRES-mediated translation and poliovirus tropism, recombinant human adenoviruses were used to express bicistronic mRNAs in murine organs. The IRESs of poliovirus, the cardiotropic coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3), and the hepatotropic hepatitis C virus (HCV) mediate translation in many organs, including those that do not support viral replication. A translation defect associated with the Sabin type 3 IRES was observed in all organs examined. Poliovirus type 1 and recombinant polioviruses dependent on the IRES of CVB3 or HCV replicate in the CNS of mice and cause paralysis. Although the type 3 Sabin strain is an effective vaccine, polioviruses with a U at base 472 of the IRES cause paralysis in newborn mice. Tropism of wild-type and vaccine strains of poliovirus is therefore determined after internal ribosome entry.


J. Virol. 2004 78:1344-51.

Cell-dependent role for the poliovirus 3' noncoding region in positive-strand RNA synthesis.
Brown DM, Kauder SE, Cornell CT, Jang GM, Racaniello VR, Semler BL.
We previously reported the isolation of a mutant poliovirus lacking the entire genomic RNA 3' noncoding region. Infection of HeLa cell monolayers with this deletion mutant revealed only a minor defect in the levels of viral RNA replication. To further analyze the consequences of the genomic 3' noncoding region deletion, we examined viral RNA replication in a neuroblastoma cell line, SK-N-SH cells. The minor genomic RNA replication defect in HeLa cells was significantly exacerbated in the SK-N-SH cells, resulting in a decreased capacity for mutant virus growth. Analysis of the nature of the RNA replication deficiency revealed that deleting the poliovirus genomic 3' noncoding region resulted in a positive-strand RNA synthesis defect. The RNA replication deficiency in SK-N-SH cells was not due to a major defect in viral translation or viral protein processing. Neurovirulence of the mutant virus was determined in a transgenic mouse line expressing the human poliovirus receptor. Greater than 1,000 times more mutant virus was required to paralyze 50% of inoculated mice, compared to that with wild-type virus. These data suggest that, together with a cellular factor(s) that is limiting in neuronal cells, the poliovirus 3' noncoding region is involved in positive-strand synthesis during genome replication.


Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2003 100(26):15906-11.

Transgenic mouse model for echovirus myocarditis and paralysis.
Hughes, S.A., Thaker, H.M., and Racaniello, V.R.
Echoviruses have been implicated in multiple human disease syndromes, including aseptic meningitis, paralysis, and heart disease, but no animal model is available for studying the pathogenesis of infection. Production of human integrin very late antigen 2, a receptor for echovirus type 1, in transgenic mice conferred susceptibility to viral infection. Intracerebral inoculation of newborn transgenic mice with echovirus leads to paralysis and wasting. No disease was observed in infected nontransgenic mice. In paralyzed mice significant damage was observed in the outer layers of the cerebrum, and numerous condensed neuronal nuclei were present. In contrast, intracerebral inoculation of adolescent (3- to 4-week-old) transgenic mice with echovirus type 1 did not lead to paralysis but an acute wasting phenotype and myocarditis. These findings establish human very late antigen 2 transgenic mice as a model for echovirus pathogenesis.


BBRC 2003 309:175-182.

Identification of CD155 isoforms.
Béatrice Baury, B., D. Masson, B. M. McDermott Jr., A. Jarry, H. M. Blottière, C L. Laboisse, P. Lustenberger, V. R. Racaniello, and M.G. Denis
Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U539, Faculté de Médecine, 1 rue Gaston Veil, 44035 Nantes, France
Department of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA

The CD155 gene is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily. We first demonstrate the existence of soluble CD155 (sCD155) isoforms in culture medium conditioned by CD155-expressing cells, in human serum and in cerebrospinal fluid. sCD155 concentration was measured in human serum and cerebrospinal fluid using a specific ELISA. Analysis of conditioned media indicated that sCD155 release does not require protease activity. In order to determine which tissues are responsible for sCD155 expression, we have quantified CD155 mRNAs in human normal tissues. The highest expression was observed in liver. The CD155 transcript is the most abundant and the proportion of the CD155 and CD155 variants was similar between the tissues. Finally, serum purified sCD155 reduces poliovirus entry mediated by membrane-bound CD155. The high level of CD155 synthesis in many tissues and the presence of sCD155 in biological fluids suggest the existence of an important role for the protein in cellular function.


J. Virol. 2003 77: 4773-80.

Changes in rhinovirus protein 2C allow efficient replication in mouse cells
Harris, JR, Racaniello, VR
Department of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032

Rhinovirus type 16 was found to replicate in mouse L cells that express the viral receptor, human intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). However, infection of these cells at low multiplicity of infection leads to no discernible cytopathic effect, and low virus titers are produced. A variant virus, 16/L, was isolated after alternate passage of rhinovirus 16 between HeLa and ICAM-1 L cells. Infection of mouse cells with 16/L leads to higher virus titers, increased production of RNA, and total cytopathic effect. Three amino acid changes were identified in the P2 region of virus 16/L, and the adaptation phenotype mapped to two changes in protein 2C. The characterization of a rhinovirus host range mutant will facilitate the investigation of cellular proteins required for efficient viral growth and the development of a murine model for rhinovirus infection.


J. Virol. 2001. 75:4984-4989.

Kinetic Analysis of the Effect of Poliovirus Receptor on Viral Uncoating: the Receptor as a Catalyst
Tsang, SK, McDermott, BM, Racaniello, VR, Hogle, JM
Committee on Higher Degrees in Biophysics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138; Department of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032; and Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.

We examined the role of soluble poliovirus receptor on the transition of native poliovirus (160S or N particle) to an infectious intermediate (135S or A particle). The viral receptor behaves as a classic transition state theory catalyst, facilitating the N-to-A conversion by lowering the activation energy for the process by 50 kcal/mol. In contrast to earlier studies which demonstrated that capsid-binding drugs inhibit thermally mediated N-to-A conversion through entropic stabilization alone, capsid-binding drugs are shown to inhibit receptor-mediated N-to-A conversion through a combination of enthalpic and entropic effects.


J Biol Chem 2000 Jul 28;275(30):23089-96

Two distinct binding affinities of poliovirus for its cellular receptor.
McDermott BM Jr, Rux AH, Eisenberg RJ, Cohen GH, Racaniello VR
Department of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, USA.

To study the kinetics and equilibrium of poliovirus binding to the poliovirus receptor, we used surface plasmon resonance to examine the interaction of a soluble form of the receptor with poliovirus. Soluble receptor purified from mammalian cells is able to bind poliovirus, neutralize viral infectivity, and induce structural changes in the virus particle. Binding studies revealed that there are two binding sites for the receptor on the poliovirus type 1 capsid, with affinity constants at 20 degrees C of K(D)(1) = 0.67 microm and K(D)(2) = 0.11 microm. The relative abundance of the two binding sites varies with temperature. At 20 degrees C, the K(D)(2) site constitutes approximately 46% of the total binding sites on the sensor chip, and its relative abundance decreased with decreasing temperature such that at 5 degrees C, the relative abundance of the K(D)(2) site is only 12% of the total binding sites. Absolute levels of the K(D)(1) site remained relatively constant at all temperatures tested. The two binding sites may correspond to docking sites for domain 1 of the receptor on the viral capsid, as predicted by a model of the poliovirus-receptor complex. Alternatively, the binding sites may be a consequence of structural breathing, or could result from receptor-induced conformational changes in the virus.


Mol Cell Biol 2000 Apr;20(8):2865-73

Defects in nuclear and cytoskeletal morphology and mitochondrial localization in spermatozoa of mice lacking nectin-2, a component of cell-cell adherens junctions.
Bouchard MJ, Dong Y, McDermott BM Jr, Lam DH, Brown KR, Shelanski M, Bellve AR, Racaniello VR
Departments of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, USA.

Nectin-2 is a cell adhesion molecule encoded by a member of the poliovirus receptor gene family. This family consists of human, monkey, rat, and murine genes that are members of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily. Nectin-2 is a component of cell-cell adherens junctions and interacts with l-afadin, an F-actin-binding protein. Disruption of both alleles of the murine nectin-2 gene resulted in morphologically aberrant spermatozoa with defects in nuclear and cytoskeletal morphology and mitochondrial localization. Homozygous null males are sterile, while homozygous null females, as well as heterozygous males and females, are fertile. The production by nectin-2(-/-) mice of normal numbers of spermatozoa containing wild-type levels of DNA suggests that Nectin-2 functions at a late stage of germ cell development. Consistent with such a role, Nectin-2 is expressed in the testes only during the later stages of spermatogenesis. The structural defects observed in spermatozoa of nectin-2(-/-) mice suggest a role for this protein in organization and reorganization of the cytoskeleton during spermiogenesis.


J Virol 2000 Apr;74(8):3929-31

An antiviral compound that blocks structural transitions of poliovirus prevents receptor binding at low temperatures.
Dove AW, Racaniello VR
Department of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, USA.

Drugs such as WIN51711 that inhibit picornavirus replication are thought to block poliovirus infectivity by binding to the capsid and preventing structural transitions required for uncoating. We examined the activity of WIN51711 at temperatures where capsid flexibility is thought to be decreased. Below 37 degrees C, WIN51711 inhibits the binding of wild-type poliovirus to cells but does not affect the binding of a poliovirus mutant which is believed to undergo structural transitions more readily. These results suggest that the poliovirus capsid must undergo structural changes to bind to its cellular receptor.


Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2000 Jan 4;97(1):73-8

Three-dimensional structure of poliovirus receptor bound to poliovirus.
Belnap DM, McDermott BM Jr, Filman DJ, Cheng N, Trus BL, Zuccola HJ, Racaniello VR, Hogle JM, Steven AC
Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.

Poliovirus initiates infection by binding to its cellular receptor (Pvr). We have studied this interaction by using cryoelectron microscopy to determine the structure, at 21-A resolution, of poliovirus complexed with a soluble form of its receptor (sPvr). This density map aided construction of a homology-based model of sPvr and, in conjunction with the known crystal structure of the virus, allowed delineation of the binding site. The virion does not change significantly in structure on binding sPvr in short incubations at 4 degrees C. We infer that the binding configuration visualized represents the initial interaction that is followed by structural changes in the virion as infection proceeds. sPvr is segmented into three well-defined Ig-like domains. The two domains closest to the virion (domains 1 and 2) are aligned and rigidly connected, whereas domain 3 diverges at an angle of approximately 60 degrees. Two nodules of density on domain 2 are identified as glycosylation sites. Domain 1 penetrates the "canyon" that surrounds the 5-fold protrusion on the capsid surface, and its binding site involves all three major capsid proteins. The inferred pattern of virus-sPvr interactions accounts for most mutations that affect the binding of Pvr to poliovirus.


J Virol 1999 May;73(5):4493-7

The murine homolog (Mph) of human herpesvirus entry protein B (HveB) mediates entry of pseudorabies virus but not herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2.
Shukla D, Rowe CL, Dong Y, Racaniello VR, Spear PG

Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA.
A mouse member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, originally designated the murine poliovirus receptor homolog (Mph), was found to be a receptor for the porcine alphaherpesvirus pseudorabies virus (PRV). This mouse protein, designated here murine herpesvirus entry protein B (mHveB), is most similar to one of three related human alphaherpesvirus receptors, the one designated HveB and also known as poliovirus receptor-related protein 2. Hamster cells resistant to PRV entry became susceptible upon expression of a cDNA encoding mHveB. Anti-mHveB antibody and a soluble protein composed of the mHveB ectodomain inhibited mHveB-dependent PRV entry. Expression of mHveB mRNA was detected in a variety of mouse cell lines, but anti-mHveB antibody inhibited PRV infection in only a subset of these cell lines, indicating that mHveB is the principal mediator of PRV entry into some mouse cell types but not others. Coexpression of mHveB with PRV gD, but not herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) gD, inhibited entry activity, suggesting that PRV gD may interact directly with mHveB as a ligand that can cause interference. By analogy with HSV-1, envelope-associated PRV gD probably also interacts directly with mHveB during viral entry.


Microb Pathog 1998 Jul;25(1):43-54

Characterization of mouse lines transgenic with the human poliovirus receptor gene.
Deatly AM, Taffs RE, McAuliffe JM, Nawoschik SP, Coleman JW, McMullen G, Weeks-Levy C, Johnson AJ, Racaniello VR
Viral Vaccine Research, Wyeth-Lederle Vaccines and Pediatrics, Pearl River, New York 10965, USA.

Two mouse lines transgenic with the human poliovirus receptor gene (PVR), TGM-PRG-1 and TGM-PRG-3, were characterized to determine whether transgene copy number and PVR expression levels influence susceptibility to poliovirus. The mouse lines have been bred for more than 10 generations and the transgene was stably transmitted to progeny as determined by Southern blot hybridization and restriction fragment length polymorphism. The transgene copy number is 10 in the TGM-PRG-3 mouse line and one in the TGM-PRG-1 mouse line. Abundance of PVR RNA is on average three-fold higher in TGM-PRG-3 relative to TGM-PRG-1 tissues, and the abundance of the receptor molecule is three-fold higher in TGM-PRG-3 central nervous system tissues compared to TGM-PRG-1 tissues as determined by Western blot analysis. When TGM-PRG-1 and TGM-PRG-3 mice were inoculated intracranially with a neurovirulent type III poliovirus strain, they developed clinical symptoms and CNS lesions characteristic of human poliomyelitis. These results indicate that the PVR gene is expressed as a functional receptor in the CNS of both mouse lines rendering the mice susceptible to poliovirus infection. Even though the two mouse lines have different copy numbers of the transgene and different levels of PVR RNA and protein, they are similar in their susceptibility to poliovirus.


Virology 1997 Sep 1;235(2):293-301 Related Articles, Books, LinkOut

Persistent echovirus infection of mouse cells expressing the viral receptor VLA-2.
Zhang S, Racaniello VR
Department of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 701 West 168th Street, New York, New York, 10032, USA.

Mouse cells are not susceptible to infection with echovirus 1 (EV-1) because they lack the viral receptor, human VLA-2. Two mouse fibroblast cell lines, L cells and 3T3 cells, were made susceptible to EV-1 infection after transformation with cDNAs of human VLA-2. After EV-1 infection, L cell transformants of human VLA-2 (alpha2beta1 L cells) develop cytopathic effect (CPE) as expected, while 3T3 cell transformants of human VLA-2 (alpha2beta1 3T3 cells) or the alpha2 subunit of human VLA-2 (alpha2 3T3 cells) become persistently infected. The distinct outcome is not a result of differential virus growth on these transformants because one-step growth curve analysis reveals little difference in EV-1 replication in both cell lines. In addition, 3T3 cell transformants expressing the poliovirus receptor (Pvr 3T3 cells) are lysed during poliovirus infection, suggesting that 3T3 cells are not intrinsically resistant to CPE caused by enterovirus infection. The results of limit dilution assays indicate that all EV-1-infected alpha2 3T3 cells produce infectious virus. All EV-1-infected alpha2 3T3 cells remain viable after EV-1 infection, and the kinetics of cell growth were not altered. FACS analysis reveals that receptor down-regulation is not involved in the establishment of persistent infection. Furthermore, inhibition of host protein synthesis was not observed in EV-1-infected alpha2 3T3 or alpha2beta1 L cells. Since alpha2beta1 L cells are lysed by EV-1 infection, these findings suggest that virus-induced translation inhibition is not a determinant of cell killing.


Science. 1997 Aug 8;277(5327):779-80.

The polio eradication effort: should vaccine eradication be next?
Alan W. Dove, Vincent R. Racaniello *
Department of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA.
 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has implemented a plan to eradicate poliovirus that is widely viewed as having made enormous progress. If all goes as planned, polio will be eradicated on this planet by the year 2003. However, there is a debate, as highlighted in a pair of Policy Forums in this issue, over when vaccination against polio can be stopped. Dove and Racaniello believe that the reliance of the WHO on the live Sabin oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) means that there will be a continuing threat of release of potentially pathogenic virus into the environment. They are also concerned that the planned destruction of all wild-type polio stocks will not be possible. They therefore recommend a switch to the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV). In response, Hull and Aylward explain why a switch from OPV is not necessary and describe the studies being sponsored by the WHO to determine how and when immunization can safely be ended.


J Virol 1997 Jul;71(7):4915-20.

Expression of the poliovirus receptor in intestinal epithelial cells is not sufficient to permit poliovirus replication in the mouse gut.
Zhang S, Racaniello VR
Department of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, USA.
 

Although the initial site of poliovirus replication in humans is the intestine, previously isolated transgenic mice which carry the human poliovirus receptor (PVR) gene (TgPVR mice), which develop poliomyelitis after intracerebral inoculation, are not susceptible to infection by the oral route. The low levels of PVR expressed in the TgPVR mouse intestine might explain the absence of poliovirus replication at that site. To ascertain whether PVR is the sole determinant of poliovirus susceptibility of the mouse intestine, we have generated transgenic mice by using the promoter for rat intestine fatty acid binding protein to direct PVR expression in mouse gut. Pvr was detected by immunohistochemistry in the enterocytes and M cells of transgenic mouse (TgFABP-PVR) small intestine. Upon oral inoculation with poliovirus, no increase in virus titer was detected in the feces of TgFABP-PVR mice, and no virus replication was observed in the small intestine, although poliovirus replicated in the brain after intracerebral inoculation. The failure of poliovirus to replicate in the TgFABP-PVR mouse small intestine was not due to lack of virus binding sites, because poliovirus could attach to fragments of small intestine from these mice. These results indicate that the inability of poliovirus to replicate in the mouse alimentary tract is not solely due to the absence of virus receptor, and other factors are involved in determining the ability of poliovirus to replicate in the mouse gut.



J Virol 1997 Jun;71(6):4728-35

Cold-adapted poliovirus mutants bypass a postentry replication block.
Dove AW, Racaniello VR
Department of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, USA.

In the current model of poliovirus entry, the initial interaction of the native virion with its cellular receptor is followed by a transition to an altered form, which then acts as an intermediate in viral entry. While the native virion sediments at 160S in a sucrose gradient, the altered particle sediments at 135S, has lost the coat protein VP4, and has become more hydrophobic. Altered particles can be found both associated with cells and in the culture medium. It has been hypothesized that the cell-associated 135S particle releases the viral genome into the cell cytoplasm and that nonproductive transitions to the 135S form are responsible for the high particle-to-PFU ratio observed for polioviruses. At 25 degrees C, a temperature at which the transition to 135S particles does not occur, the P1/Mahoney strain of poliovirus was unable to replicate, and cold-adapted (ca) mutants were selected from the population. These mutants have not gained the ability to convert to 135S particles at 25 degrees C, and the block to wild-type (wt) infection at low temperatures is not at the level of cellular entry. The particle-to-PFU ratio of poliovirus does not change at 25 degrees C in the absence of alteration. Three independent amino acid changes in the 2C coding region were identified in ca mutants, at positions 218 (Val to Ile), 241 (Arg to Ala), and 309 (Met to Val). Introduction of any of these mutations individually into wt poliovirus by site-directed mutagenesis confers the ca phenotype. All three serotypes of the Sabin vaccine strains and the P3/Leon strain of poliovirus also exhibit the ca phenotype. These results do not support a model of poliovirus entry into cells that includes an obligatory transition to the 135S particle.



J Virol 1997 May;71(5):3826-33

Attenuating mutations in the poliovirus 5' untranslated region alter its interaction with polypyrimidine tract-binding protein.
Gutierrez AL, Denova-Ocampo M, Racaniello VR, del Angel RM
Departamento de Patologia Experimental, Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Mexico City, Mexico.

Mutations in the 5' untranslated regions (5'-UTRs) of all three serotypes of the Sabin vaccine strains are known to be major determinants of the attenuation phenotype. To further understand the functional basis of the attenuation phenotype caused by mutations in the 5'-UTR, we studied their effects on viral replication, translation, and the interaction of the viral RNA with cell proteins. A mutation at base 472 (C472U), which attenuates neurovirulence in primates and mice, was previously found to reduce viral replication and translation in neuroblastoma cells but not in HeLa cells. This mutation reduced cross-linking of the poliovirus 5'-UTR to polypyrimidine tract-binding protein (pPTB) in neuroblastoma cells but not in HeLa cells. These defects were absent in a neurovirulent virus with C at nucleotide 472. When C472U and an additional mutation, G482A, were introduced into the 5'-UTR, the resulting virus was more attenuated, had a replication and translation defect in both HeLa cells and neuroblastoma cells, and cross-linked poorly to pPTB from both cell types. A neurovirulent revertant of this virus (carrying U472C, G482A, and C529U) no longer had a replication defect in HeLa and SH-SY5Y cell lines and cross-linked with pPTB to wild-type levels. The results suggest that the attenuating effects of the mutation C472U may result from an impaired interaction of the 5'-UTR with pPTB in neural cells, which reduces viral translation and replication. Introduction of a second mutation, G482A, into the 5'-UTR extends this defect to HeLa cells.


J Virol 1997 Apr;71(4):2793-8

CD44 is not required for poliovirus replication.
Bouchard MJ, Racaniello VR
Department of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, USA.
 

The identification of a monoclonal antibody, AF3, which recognizes a single isoform of the cell surface protein CD44 and preferentially blocks binding of serotype 2 poliovirus to HeLa cells, suggested that CD44 might be an accessory molecule to Pvr, the cell receptor for poliovirus, and that it could play a role in the function of the poliovirus receptor site. We show here that only AF3 blocks binding of serotype 2 poliovirus to HeLa cells and, in contrast to a previously published report, that the anti-CD44 monoclonal antibodies A3D8 and IM7 are unable to block binding of poliovirus. To determine whether CD44 is involved in poliovirus infection, we analyzed the replication of all three serotypes of poliovirus in human neuroblastoma cells which lack or express CD44 and in mouse neuroblastoma cells which lack Pgp-1, the mouse homolog of human CD44, and which express Pvr. All three poliovirus serotypes replicate with normal kinetics and to normal levels in the absence or presence of CD44 or in the absence of Pgp-1. Furthermore, the binding affinity constants of all three poliovirus serotypes for Pvr are unaffected by the presence or absence of CD44 in the human neuroblastoma cell line. We conclude that CD44 and Pgp-1 are not required for poliovirus replication and are unlikely to be involved in poliovirus pathogenesis.


Virology 1997 Jan 20;227(2):505-8

Differences in the UV-crosslinking patterns of the poliovirus 5'-untranslated region with cell proteins from poliovirus-susceptible and -resistant tissues.
Gutierrez-Escolano AL, Medina F, Racaniello VR, Del Angel RM
Departamento de Patologia Experimental, Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico.

The restricted tissue tropism observed in poliovirus infection is not governed solely by the expression of the poliovirus receptor (PVR) gene, but might be controlled at stages beyond virus entry, such as translation, replication, or assembly. Translation of poliovirus RNA by a cap-independent mechanism requires interactions of the 5'-untranslated region (5'UTR) with cell proteins. To determine whether the patterns of these interacting proteins differ in HeLa cells and permissive and nonpermissive tissues, UV-crosslinking assays using the poliovirus 5'UTR and tissue extracts from PVR transgenic mice were performed. The results indicate a correlation between the presence of a 97-kDa UV-crosslinked protein and permissivity to poliovirus infection. Acquired poliovirus susceptibility in in vitro-cultured kidney cells also correlates with the presence of a 97-kDa crosslinked band. The interaction of the 97-kDa protein from HeLa cells and mouse brain with the poliovirus 5'UTR is stable and specific. Whether the 97-kDa protein plays a role in poliovirus translation and tissue susceptibility remains to be determined.


Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1996 Oct 15;93(21):11378-81

Early events in poliovirus infection: virus-receptor interactions.
Racaniello VR
Department of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA. racaniello@cuccfa.ccc.columbia.edu
 

The interaction of poliovirus with its cell receptor initiates conformational changes that lead to uncoating of the viral RNA. Three types of genetic analyses have been used to study the poliovirus-receptor interaction: (i) mutagenesis of the poliovirus receptor (PVR), (ii) selection of viral mutants resistant to neutralization with soluble PVR, and (iii) selection of viral variants adapted to use mutant PVRs. The results of these studies show that a small portion of the first immunoglobulin-like domain of PVR contacts viral residues within a deep depression on the surface of the capsid that encircles the fivefold axis of symmetry. Viral capsid residues that influence the interaction with PVR are also found in locations such as the capsid interior that cannot directly contact PVR. These mutations might influence the ability of the capsid to undergo receptor-mediated conformational transitions that are necessary for high-affinity interactions with PVR.


Structure 1996 Jul 15;4(7):769-73

The poliovirus receptor: a hook, or an unzipper?
Racaniello VR
Department of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA. racaniello@cuccfa.ccc.columbia.edu
 

The cell receptor for poliovirus may be more than a simple "snare' that attaches virus to cells. Recent results indicate that receptor binding may cause conformational changes in the virus that lead to uncoating of the viral RNA.


J Virol 1995 Aug;69(8):4972-8

Determinants of attenuation and temperature sensitivity in the type 1 poliovirus Sabin vaccine.
Bouchard MJ, Lam DH, Racaniello VR
Department of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA.To identify determinants of attenuation in the poliovirus type 1 Sabin vaccine strain, a series of recombinant viruses were constructed by using infectious cDNA clones of the virulent type 1 poliovirus P1/Mahoney and the attenuated type 1 vaccine strain P1/Sabin. Intracerebral inoculation of these viruses into transgenic mice which express the human receptor for poliovirus identified regions of the genome that conferred reduced neurovirulence. Exchange of smaller restriction fragments and site-directed mutagenesis were used to identify the nucleotide changes responsible for attenuation. P1/Sabin mutations at nucleotides 935 of VP4, 2438 of VP3, and 2795 and 2879 of VP1 were all shown to be determinants of attenuation. The recombinant viruses and site-directed mutants were also used to identify the nucleotide changes which are involved in the temperature sensitivity of P1/Sabin. Determinants of this phenotype in HeLa cells were mapped to changes at nucleotides 935 of VP4, 2438 of VP3, and 2741 of VP1. The 3Dpol gene of P1/Sabin, which contains three amino acid differences from its parent P1/Mahoney, also contributes to the temperature sensitivity of P1/Sabin; however, mutants containing individual amino acid changes grew as well as P1/Mahoney at elevated temperatures, suggesting that either some combination or all three changes are required for temperature sensitivity. In addition, the 3'-noncoding region of P1/Sabin augments the temperature-sensitive phenotype conferred by 3Dpol. Although nucleotide 2741, 3Dpol, and the 3'-noncoding region of P1/Sabin contribute to the temperature sensitivity of P1/Sabin, they do not contribute to attenuation in transgenic mice expressing the poliovirus receptor, demonstrating that determinants of attenuation and temperature sensitivity can be genetically separated.


J Virol 1995 Aug;69(8):4823-9

Poliovirus variants selected on mutant receptor-expressing cells identify capsid residues that expand receptor recognition.
Colston EM, Racaniello VR
Department of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA.

Mutations in the predicted C'-C"-D edge of the first immunoglobulin-like domain of the poliovirus receptor were previously shown to eliminate poliovirus binding. To identify capsid residues that expand receptor recognition, 16 poliovirus suppressor mutants were selected that replicate in three different mutant receptor-expressing cell lines as well as in cells expressing the wild-type receptor. Sequence analysis of the mutant viruses revealed three capsid residues that enable poliovirus to utilize defective receptors. Two residues are in regions of the capsid that are known to regulate receptor binding and receptor-mediated conformational transitions. A third residue is located in a highly exposed loop on the virion surface that controls poliovirus host range in mice by influencing receptor recognition. One of the suppressor mutations enables the primate-restricted P1/Mahoney strain to paralyze mice by enabling the virus to recognize a receptor in the mouse central nervous system. Capsid mutations that suppress receptor defects may exert their effect at the binding site or may improve receptor binding by regulating structural transitions of the capsid.


EMBO J 1994 Dec 15;13(24):5855-62

Soluble receptor-resistant poliovirus mutants identify surface and internal capsid residues that control interaction with the cell receptor.
Colston E, Racaniello VR
Department of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY 10032.
 

Poliovirus initiates infection by binding to its cell receptor and undergoing a receptor-mediated conformational alteration. To identify capsid residues that control these interactions, we have isolated and characterized poliovirus mutants that are resistant to neutralization by a soluble form of the poliovirus receptor. Twenty one soluble receptor-resistant (srr) mutants were identified which still use the poliovirus receptor to infect cells. All but one srr mutant contain a single amino acid change at one of 13 different positions, either on the surface or in the interior of the virion. The results of binding and alteration assays demonstrate that both surface and internal capsid residues regulate attachment to the receptor and conformational change of the virus. Mutations that reduce alteration also affect receptor binding, suggesting a common structural basis for early events in poliovirus infection.


J Virol 1994 Apr;68(4):2578-88

Homolog-scanning mutagenesis reveals poliovirus receptor residues important for virus binding and replication.
Morrison ME, He YJ, Wien MW, Hogle JM, Racaniello VR
Department of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, New York 10032.
 

Poliovirus initiates infection of primate cells by binding to the poliovirus receptor, Pvr. Mouse cells do not bind poliovirus but express a Pvr homolog, Mph, that does not function as a poliovirus receptor. Previous work has shown that the first immunoglobulin-like domain of the Pvr protein contains the virus binding site. To further identify sequences of Pvr important for its interaction with poliovirus, stable cell lines expressing mutated Pvr molecules were examined for their abilities to bind virus and support virus replication. Substitution of the amino-terminal domain of Mph with that of Pvr yields a molecule that can function as a poliovirus receptor. Cells expressing this chimeric receptor have normal binding affinity for poliovirus, yet the kinetics of virus replication are delayed. Results of virus alteration assays indicate that this chimeric receptor is defective in converting native virus to 135S altered particles. This defect is not observed with cells expressing receptor recombinants that include Pvr domains 1 and 2. Because altered particles are believed to be an intermediate in poliovirus entry, these findings suggest that Pvr domains 2 and 3 participate in early stages of infection. Additional mutants were made by substituting variant Mph residues for the corresponding residues in Pvr. The results were interpreted by using a model of Pvr predicted from the known structures of other immunoglobulin-like V-type domains. Analysis of stable cell lines expressing the mutant proteins revealed that virus binding is influenced by mutations in the predicted C'-C" loop, the C" beta-strand, the C"-D loop, and the D-E loop. Mutations in homologous regions of the immunoglobulin-like CD4 molecule alter its interaction with gp120 of human immunodeficiency virus type 1. Cells expressing Pvr mutations on the predicted C" edge do not develop cytopathic effect during poliovirus infection, suggesting that poliovirus-induced cytopathic effect may be induced by the virus-receptor interaction.


J Virol 1994 Mar;68(3):1301-8

A monoclonal antibody that blocks poliovirus attachment recognizes the lymphocyte homing receptor CD44.
Shepley MP, Racaniello VR
Department of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032.
 

A monoclonal antibody, AF3, was previously shown to specifically inhibit poliovirus binding to HeLa cells and to detect a 100-kDa glycoprotein only in cell lines and tissues permissive for poliovirus infection. These results suggested that the 100-kDa protein may be involved in the pathogenesis of poliomyelitis and the cellular function of the poliovirus receptor site. To study further the role of the 100-kDa protein in poliovirus attachment, immunoaffinity purification, amino acid sequencing, and cDNA cloning were undertaken. The results demonstrate that antibody AF3 reacts with the lymphocyte homing receptor CD44, a multifunctional cell surface glycoprotein involved in the homing of circulating lymphocytes to lymph nodes and the modulation of lymphocyte adhesion and activation. Antibody AF3 reacts with a subset of CD44 molecules (AF3CD44H), which appears to be a small fraction of the heterogeneously glycosylated CD44 molecules expressed on hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic cells. Anti-CD44 monoclonal antibodies, previously reported to induce CD44-mediated modulation of lymphocyte activation and adhesion, compete with 125I-AF3 in binding assays, demonstrating functional overlap among the epitopes. The anti-CD44 monoclonal antibody A3D8, which binds to a greater molecular weight range of CD44 than does AF3, inhibits poliovirus binding to a similar degree. CD44 does not act as a poliovirus receptor, since CD44-expressing mouse L-cell transformants did not bind poliovirus. The poliovirus receptor and AF3CD44H may be noncovalently associated, or they may interact through the cytoskeleton or signal transduction pathways.


Arch Virol Suppl 1994;9:79-86

Transgenic mice and the pathogenesis of poliomyelitis.
Racaniello VR, Ren R
Department of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York.
 

Transgenic mice expressing the cell receptor for poliovirus have been generated and are susceptible to poliovirus infection. TgPVR mice have been used to answer questions about the pathogenesis of poliovirus infection. Despite the widespread pattern of PVR expression, poliovirus infection in TgPVR mice is restricted to only a few sites, indicating that poliovirus tropism is not controlled solely by the ability of cells to bind virus. After intramuscular inoculation, poliovirus travels to the spinal cord by axonal transport. This route of entry into the central nervous system may play a role in the pathogenesis of poliovirus infections in humans.


Biologicals 1993 Dec;21(4):365-9

Infectious cDNA, cell receptors and transgenic mice in the study of Sabin's poliovirus vaccines.
Racaniello VR
Department of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY 10032.
 

The determination of the nucleotide sequence of the poliovirus genome, the isolation of infectious poliovirus cDNAs, and the identification of the cell receptor for poliovirus and establishment of a transgenic mouse model for poliomyelitis have all contributed to our understanding of the live, attenuated Sabin poliovirus vaccines. These highly effective vaccines have been studied extensively by many laboratories to determine the molecular basis for their attenuation phenotype. For this special issue I would like to review how our research has improved the understanding of Sabin's poliovirus vaccines, and highlight Albert's influence on our work.


Virology 1993 Nov;197(1):501-5

Characterization of poliovirus conformational alteration mediated by soluble cell receptors.
Gomez Yafal A, Kaplan G, Racaniello VR, Hogle JM
Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard University Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.

Soluble extracts of Spodoptera frugiperda cells expressing the poliovirus receptor (PVR) induce the native poliovirus (PV) to "A" particle conformational change (J. Virol. 64, 4697-4702). We describe the variables that regulate this passage and study the suitability of solubilized PVR both for use as an in vitro system to characterize the receptor-mediated conformational alteration and for the production of large amounts of altered virus for structural analysis. PVR seems to function in a stoichiometric fashion and the A particles produced appear as intact, stain excluding, spherical structures by electron microscopy, regardless of the extensive proteolysis of the capsid protein VP1, which takes place during the conversion. The products obtained, time course, and temperature and ionic strength dependence of the alteration of PV by the solubilized PVR are indistinguishable from those of the alteration that leads to productive infection in cultured cells. Therefore, solubilized PVR may provide a convenient in vitro system for further characterization of the cell entry process.


Dev Biol Stand 1993;78:109-16

Poliovirus attenuation and pathogenesis in a transgenic mouse model for poliomyelitis.
Racaniello VR, Ren R, Bouchard M
Department of Microbiology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032.

A transgenic mouse model for poliomyelitis has been used to study aspects of poliovirus attenuation and pathogenesis. Transgenic mice expressing the cell receptor for poliovirus (TgPVR mice) develop poliomyelitis after inoculation with poliovirus by a variety of routes. TgPVR mice have been used to identify genomic sequences responsible for the attenuation phenotype of the P1/Sabin and P2/Sabin vaccine strains. Primary cell cultures derived from TgPVR mice differentiate between neurovirulent and attenuated virus strains, indicating that it may be possible to use these cultures to determine the functional basis of attenuation. Studies in TgPVR mice indicate that poliovirus tropism is not controlled solely by expression of PVR, and that poliovirus spreads from muscle to the central nervous system by neural pathways.


J Infect Dis 1992 Oct;166(4):747-52

Poliovirus spreads from muscle to the central nervous system by neural pathways.
Ren R, Racaniello VR
Department of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, New York 10032.

A transgenic mouse model was used to address an unsolved question in the pathogenesis of poliomyelitis: how poliovirus invades the central nervous system (CNS). LD50 values for intramuscular and intracerebral inoculation of poliovirus in transgenic mice expressing poliovirus receptors (TgPVR mice) were similar. After intramuscular inoculation with poliovirus, paralysis was observed first in the inoculated limb. In contrast, localization of initial paralysis to the inoculated limb was not observed in normal mice inoculated intramuscularly with the mouse-adapted P2/Lansing poliovirus strain. After intramuscular inoculation, infectious poliovirus was first detected in the inferior segment of the spinal cord, then in the superior spinal cord and the brain. Sciatic nerve transection blocked poliovirus spread to the spinal cord after inoculation into the hindlimb footpad of TgPVR mice. These results demonstrate that in TgPVR mice, poliovirus spreads from muscle to the CNS through nerve pathways and that expression of the poliovirus receptor plays an important role in viral spread by this route.


J Virol 1992 May;66(5):2807-13

Molecular cloning and expression of a murine homolog of the human poliovirus receptor gene.
Morrison ME, Racaniello VR
Department of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, New York 10032.

The poliovirus receptor (Pvr) is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily of proteins, but its function in the cell is not known. Southern blot hybridization analysis indicated that the murine genome contains a sequence homolog of pvr. As a first step toward using the murine pvr homolog (mph) to study the function of Pvr, murine genomic and cDNA clones encoding mph were isolated. mph encodes a polypeptide with extensive sequence similarity to the extracellular domains of the human PVR. mph mRNAs of 2.0 and 3.0 kb are transcribed in the adult mouse brain, the spinal cord, the spleen, the kidney, the heart, and the liver. The Mph protein does not function as a receptor for poliovirus. However, substitution of domain 1 of the Mph protein with the corresponding sequence from pvr produced a chimeric receptor that could bind poliovirus and lead to productive infection. By constructing pvr-mph chimeras, it will be possible to identify the contact points of poliovirus within domain 1 of Pvr. Identification of the ligand and the cellular function of the Mph protein may help us understand the role of Pvr in the cell.


J Virol 1992 May;66(5):3194-7

A mutation present in the amino terminus of Sabin 3 poliovirus VP1 protein is attenuating.
Tatem JM, Weeks-Levy C, Georgiu A, DiMichele SJ, Gorgacz EJ, Racaniello VR, Cano FR, Mento SJ
Lederle Laboratories, Pearl River, New York 10965.

The attenuated phenotype of Sabin 3 poliovirus compared with its neurovirulent progenitor strain has been largely accounted for by mutations in the genome at positions 472 and 2034 (G. D. Westrop, K. A. Wareham, D. M. A. Evans, G. Dunn, P. D. Minor, D. I. Magrath, F. Taffs, S. Marsden, M. A. Skinner, G. C. Schild, and J. W. Almond, J. Virol. 63:1338-1344, 1989). By sequencing vaccine virus RNA, we recently identified another Sabin 3-specific mutation at position 2493 (U----C), which predicts an Ile----Thr change at the sixth residue of VP1 (C. Weeks-Levy, J. M. Tatem, S. J. DiMichele, W. Waterfield, A. F. Georgiu, and S. J. Mento, Virology 185:934-937, 1991). Viruses generated by using cDNAs which represent the vaccine sequence (LED3) and a derivative (VR318) possessing a single base change to the wild-type nucleotide (U) at 2493 were used to determine the impact of the 2493 mutation on virus phenotype. The VP1 proteins of LED3 and VR318 viruses were distinguishable by denaturing electrophoretic analysis. LED3 produced smaller plaques in Vero cells than VR318 virus did. Neurovirulence testing of these cDNA-derived viruses in monkeys demonstrated that the 2493 mutation in LED3 virus is attenuating.


Virus Res 1992 Jan;22(1):71-8

Construction of an infectious cDNA clone of echovirus 6.
Blackburn RV, Racaniello VR, Righthand VF
Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201.

A complete cDNA copy of the echovirus 6 genome was constructed. Complementary DNA was reversed transcribed from viral RNA. Subgenomic cDNAs were obtained by direct cloning and polymerase chain reactions. Full length cDNA was constructed into the Bluescript II vector (pBSII) using unique, overlapping, restriction sites of four clones. The cDNA was infectious and produced echovirus 6 particles that behaved in the same manner as the parental virus.


J Virol 1992 Jan;66(1):296-304

Human poliovirus receptor gene expression and poliovirus tissue tropism in transgenic mice.
Ren R, Racaniello VR
Department of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, New York 10032.

Expression of the human poliovirus receptor (PVR) in transgenic mice results in susceptibility to poliovirus infection. In the primate host, poliovirus infection is characterized by restricted tissue tropism. To determine the pattern of poliovirus tissue tropism in PVR transgenic mice, PVR gene expression and susceptibility to poliovirus infection were examined by in situ hybridization. PVR RNA is expressed in transgenic mice at high levels in neurons of the central and peripheral nervous system, developing T lymphocytes in the thymus, epithelial cells of Bowman's capsule and tubules in the kidney, alveolar cells in the lung, and endocrine cells in the adrenal cortex, and it is expressed at low levels in intestine, spleen, and skeletal muscle. After infection, poliovirus replication was detected only in neurons of the brain and spinal cord and in skeletal muscle. These results demonstrated that poliovirus tissue tropism is not governed solely by expression of the PVR gene nor by accessibility of cells to virus. Although transgenic mouse kidney tissue expressed poliovirus binding sites and was not a site of poliovirus replication, when cultivated in vitro, kidney cells developed susceptibility to infection. Identification of the changes in cultured kidney cells that permit poliovirus infection may provide information on the mechanism of poliovirus tissue tropism.


J Virol 1991 Jul;65(7):3873-6

Mutational analysis of the cellular receptor for poliovirus.
Freistadt MS, Racaniello VR
Department of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032.

To identify sequences of the cellular poliovirus receptor (PVR) involved in viral infection, mutant PVR cDNAs were constructed and assayed for biological activity in mouse L cells. To confirm that mutant PVRs reached the cell surface, an immunological tag, consisting of part of CH3 from human immunoglobulin G1, was engineered into the PVR. Deletion of PVR amino acids 256 to 320 or 385 to the carboxy terminus yielded receptors that were able to support poliovirus infection. PVRs lacking amino acids 40 to 136 or 137 to 256 were expressed at the cell surface but were not active as receptors for poliovirus. The results show that immunoglobulin-type domain 3 and the extreme carboxy terminus of the PVR are not required for viral receptor function, but sequences within the two amino-terminal domains contribute to the initiation of poliovirus infection.


EMBO J 1991 May;10(5):1067-74

Host range determinants located on the interior of the poliovirus capsid.
Moss EG, Racaniello VR
Department of Microbiology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032.

The inability of certain poliovirus strains to infect mice can be overcome by the expression of human poliovirus receptors in mice or by the presence of a particular amino acid sequence of the B-C loop of the viral capsid protein VP1. We have identified changes in an additional capsid structure that permit host-restricted poliovirus strains to infect mice. Variants of the mouse-virulent P2/Lansing strain were constructed containing amino acid changes, deletions and insertions in the B-C loop of VP1. These variants were attenuated in mice, demonstrating the importance of the B-C loop sequence in host range. Passage of two of the B-C loop variants in mice led to the selection of viruses that were substantially more virulent. The increased neurovirulence of these strains was mapped to two different suppressor mutations in the N-terminus of VP1. Whereas the B-C loop of VP1 is highly exposed on the surface of the capsid, near the five-fold axis of symmetry, the suppressor mutations are in the interior of the virion, near the three-fold axis. Introduction of the suppressor mutations into the genome of the mouse-avirulent P1/Mahoney strain resulted in neurovirulent viruses, demonstrating that the P2/Lansing B-C loop sequence is not required to infect mice. Because the internal host range determinants are in a structure known to be important in conformational transitions of the virion, the host range of poliovirus may be determined by the ability of virions to undergo transitions catalyzed by cell receptors.


J Virol 1991 Apr;65(4):1829-35

Down regulation of poliovirus receptor RNA in HeLa cells resistant to poliovirus infection.
Kaplan G, Racaniello VR
Department of Microbiology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032.

A line of HeLa cells (SOFIA) was previously isolated that is resistant to poliovirus infection and does not express functional virus binding sites at the cell surface. The expression of the poliovirus receptor (PVR) gene in SOFIA cells was examined to determine the molecular basis for the failure of these cells to express PVRs. Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA revealed that the PVR gene in SOFIA cells did not contain gross alterations. However, PVR transcripts were not detected in Northern (RNA) blot analysis of SOFIA cell RNA. In vitro nuclear run-on analysis showed that transcription of PVR-specific RNA was reduced in SOFIA cells. Treatment of SOFIA cells with 5-azacytidine restored susceptibility to poliovirus infection, which correlated with the appearance of