Jul 30, 2018

Session 4: Lytic Cycle II

Session Chairs: Fanxiu Zhu & Richard Longnecker

Oral Talk #29
The EBV Glycoprotein BDLF2 is Essential for the Infection of
Stratified Epithelium
Ian Hayman1, Joshua Walston1, Mindy Gore2, Lindsey Hutt-Fletcher2, Clare E. Sample1
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, 2Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a widespread human pathogen associated with several neoplastic diseases of the epithelial compartment. Despite the global public health impact of EBV, there are significant unanswered questions regarding the lifecycle of EBV within the epithelium. We recently developed an organotypic culture model using primary keratinocytes that allows for efficient infection and spread of EBV. In this model, isolated productively replicating cells are observed as early as two days postinfection. The number of productively replicating cells increases very quickly over the next few days, suggesting that the virus may be spreading intercellularly throughout the epithelium. BDLF2, the most recently described of the eleven glycoproteins of EBV, is thought to form a complex with glycoprotein BMRF2. The complex is homologous to one encoded by murine gammaherpesvirus 68 that is essential for intercellular spread. Using a recombinant EBV deleted for BDLF2, we demonstrated that the loss of BDLF2 did not affect virion production or infection of primary B cells, B cell lines or 293 cells. In stratified epithelium, however, infection with virus lacking BDLF2 resulted in a limited number of isolated cells undergoing productive replication, whereas rafts infected with wildtype recombinant virus exhibited a broad expanse of productively replicating cells. These data support the hypothesis that BDLF2 is required for efficient infection of stratified epithelium, and that the loss of this glycoprotein results in reduced intercellular spread. 

BX-1 BXLF1 replaced with GFP by HR
delta BDLF2 BX-1 backbone with BDLF2 deleted
BX-1 and delta BDLF2 Akata rEBVs induce similarly in vitro
Both rEBVs can transform primary B cells in vitro, no effects on replication, nor egress
BDLF2 KO negatively impacts intracellular infection
BDLF2 KO Negatively Impacts infection in Raft cultures
results in fewer and smaller BZLF1+Foci



Oral Talk #30
Kaposi Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus gH Is Essential for
Viral Infection, but Not for Virion Assembly or Egress from
Cells and is an Ideal Target for Vaccine Development
Murali Muniraju1, Joshua Nyagol1,3, Lorraine Z. Mutsvunguma1, Joslyn Foley1, David H. Mulama1,2, Felix Wussow1, Anne K. Barasa1,3, Javier G. Ogembo1
1Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, 2Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, 3University of Nairobi
Introduction: Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is an emerging pathogen and is the causative infectious agent of Kaposi sarcoma and other malignancies. To date, there is no licensed KSHV vaccine. Development of an effective vaccine continues to be limited by a poor understanding of how KSHV initiates the acute primary infection. Although several KSHV-host interactions have been identified, all prior experiments were performed in vitro; to date, the critical complement of viral envelope glycoproteins required for KSHV entry in vivo remains unresolved.
Hypothesis and Significance: We hypothesized that surface glycoproteins K8.1, gB, and gH/gL are critical for virus entry in vivo and that inclusion of these key targets in a virus-like particle (VLP) would yield an effective prophylactic KSHV vaccine candidate.
Approach: Using a bacterial artificial chromosome containing a complete recombinant KSHV genome (rKSHV), we generated and characterized mutant viruses in which we deleted gH, K8.1, or gB. We assessed the infectivity of the three mutant viruses in vitro and in humanized mice. We generated VLPs incorporating K8.1, gB, gH/gL complex, and latent protein LANA1 (KSHV-LPs). We immunized wild-type rabbits and mice with KSHV-LPS as a multivalent vaccine against KSHV infection.
Results: In our mutant rKSHV studies, gH was essential for viral infection of diverse cell types in vitro and in vivo, and K8.1 and gB supported infectious entry. None of the glycoproteins was essential for virion assembly or egress from infected cells. Our KSHV-LP studies showed that sera from rabbits or mice immunized with KSHV-LPs elicited elevated titers of neutralizing antibodies that blocked KSHV infection in vitro.
Discussion: This is the first report that KSHV gH is essential for virus infection, but not for virion assembly or egress. Thus, it functions as a critical component of an effective prophylactic KSHV. 

Three goals
1. elucidate whether KSHV glycoproteins (gH, K8.1 and gB) are dispensable /indispensable for virion entry, assembly or egress
2. construct, purify, and characterise KSHV-like particle incorporating four glycoproteins as a prophylactic vaccine candidate

3. ....

New Zealand white rabbits
Marmosets
Construction of rKSHVdeltagH, deltaK8.1,
mutant rKSHVdeltagH-eGFP egressed normally from iSLK cells
rKSHVdeltagH-eGFP virions are defective in iSLK cell free virus infection
HeLa, Vero, HUVEC, ==》 deletion of K8.1 increases infectivity!!
Role of glycoproteins in in KSHV infection
gH is indispensable while K8.1 is dispensable for viral infection

Goal 2: hypothesis: immunisation with multivalent KSHV-LPs will generate potent neutralising antibodies
NDV-platform: K8.1-gB-gH/gL+/-HR2 F VLPs productioun
K8.1-gB-gH/gL+ or -HR2 F VLPs
UV-KSHV elicited higher antibody reposnes than KSHV-LPs


Oral Talk #31
An Early Lytic Gene Regulates Immediate Early Gene BZLF1
Xiaofan Li1, Ayman El-Guindy2, Eric Burton3, Sumita Bhaduri-McIntosh1,4
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, 2Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Yale University, 3Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Stony Brook University, 4Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida
DNA viruses replicate through tightly ordered expression of sets of temporally regulated genes. In herpesviruses, these sets of genes represent 3 kinetic classes: immediate-early, early, and late. Immediate-early genes regulate expression of early and late genes, with early genes regulating late genes. It is not clear whether this vectorially regulated viral gene expression also allows for retrograde regulation of immediate-early genes by kinetically downstream genes. Here, we report that the EBV viral protein kinase (vPK) encoded by an early lytic gene, BGLF4, regulates the expression of BZLF1, the immediate- early latency-to-lytic switch, in Burkitt lymphoma and lymphoblastoid cell lines. We find that vPK functions via ATM, the cellular PI3-kinase-related kinase, to cause phosphorylation of TRIM28/KAP1, the universal transcriptional co-repressor. When phosphorylated, TRIM28 derepresses BZLF1 encoded by the viral genome but not when encoded in an extra-viral context. To derepress BZLF1 in lytic cells, vPK directly interacts with ATM but not TRIM28. Notably, vPK can cause phosphorylation of TRIM28 in the absence of known lytic triggers or even viral genomes. Concurrent studies in the Bhaduri lab have shown that TRIM28 is recruited to the BZLF1 promoter through KRAB-ZFP DNA binding proteins. One outcome of this retrograde regulation of BZLF1 by vPK is to accelerate the completion of the EBV lytic cascade. 

Previoulsy, BRRF1( Na protein) BGLF2 (tegulmetn protein) were found to feedback to regulate immediate-early protein
v-PK (BGLF4) enhances BZLF1 promoter activity by 

Li et al, PLoS Pathogens 2017 and JV 2018 ==》 KAP1+ATM +... regulated ZEBRA promoter (methylation)

v-PK induces phosphorylation f KAP1 at S824, to enhance BZLF1 expression
v-PK =》 ATM =〉 p-KAP1 =》 BZLF1
v-PK induces p-S824 KAp1 independent of other EBV components (IFA asay)
v-PK induces p-S824 KAP1 via cellular kinase ATM
v-PK efficiently sustains EBV lytic cascade

Conclusion: in the EBV genome there are multiple KAP1 sites, thus not only BZLF1 maybe other viral proteins are also enhanced by v-PK


Immune Mechanisms of Protection Against Latency from
Vaccination of a Genetically Engineered Gamma-Herpesvirus
Ting-Ting Wu1, Gurpreet Brar1, Nisar Farhat1, Alisa Sukhina1, Yong Hoon Kim1, Tiffany Hsu1, Marcia Blackman2, Ren Sun1
1University of California Los Angeles, 2The Trudeau Institute
Significant efforts have been made to develop vaccines against EBV with the focus on gp350. The gp350 vaccine reduces infectious mononucleosis but is unable to prevent infection in humans. In our laboratory, we investigate alternative strategies of vaccines to prevent gammaherpesvirus latent infection using MHV-68 as a model system. We constructed a recombinant virus by removing the immune evasion genes as a vaccine. Such a recombinant virus is able to induce the expression of multiple inflammatory genes; moreover, its replication in mice is severely attenuated and undetectable. Despite undetectable replication, the recombinant virus elicits similar levels of viral specific T cells and antibodies as the replicating wild-type virus. Immunization of this in vivo replication- deficient virus induces long-lasting protective immunity against latent infection from challenge of the wild-type virus. Here we present the results from the studies to characterize the mechanism of protection. Adoptive transfer of total T cells reduces latent infection in recipient mice. However, depletion of total T cells does not abolish vaccine- induced protection. This finding indicates that vaccine-induced antibodies alone are sufficient to provide protection against latent infection. Studies are underway to characterize the antibody responses. 

A safe viral vaccine: develop a safe replication-competent virus as a vaccine
lack of latency(oncogenic component), replace the latency locus with an constitutive RTA expression

highly attenuated lytci replication (remove immune evasion genes (IFN antagonists: 

DIP: deficient in immune evasion and persistance (KO)
DIP produces no detectable viruses in vivo
DIP protects against latent infection, elicits durable protection time, elicits virus-specific CD9+ T cells (ORF6 and ORF61 D8 T cells), also elicits robust memory precursor effector cells.

Both T cells and antibodies contribute to protectivity
DIP induces immune mediator expression, IFNbeta, IL1beta, IL12
DIP increases infiltrating ells in peritoneal cavity
DIP induces robust pDCs


Oral Talk #33
How is EBV's Genome Amplified during its Lytic Cycle?
Thejaswi Nagaraju1, Bill Sugden1
1University of Wisconsin-Madison
We are examining how EBV amplifies its DNA during its lytic cycle. qPCR measurements of EBV DNA indicate that EBV synthesizes up to 50% of its DNA during the first 10-20 hrs of its lytic cycle. Live-cell imaging has shown that EBV amplifies its DNA in factories that grow 20-fold in volume in the nucleus towards the nuclear membrane over the course of 20 hours post induction (hpi). The nuclear volume increases modestly during this time, by 1.6- fold. We mapped the rate of viral DNA synthesis per cell using EdU pulse-labelling and found that the rate of viral DNA synthesis rises 3-4 –fold during the first 10-15hrs of its lytic cycle. This rate subsequently remains approximately constant from 15-40 hpi before sharply dropping at ~ 50 hpi. This time course further supports viral DNA accumulation being rapid early and then slowing. We have analyzed the rate of DNA synthesis using Meselson-Stahl analysis which indicates that the rate of EBV DNA synthesis slows between 20-30hrs following entry into its lytic cycle. Two color live-cell imaging of EBV DNA and its capsids show that the capsids begin to accumulate when DNA accumulation peaks about 20 hours into the lytic cycle. Our measurements indicate that EBV accumulates most of its DNA early in its lytic cycle and that it is the rate of elongation that limits its synthesis. We are now testing whether DNA encapsidation also contributes to the regulation of DNA accumulation. 

Both endogenous EBV and its amplicon DNA increase by 100-1000 fold during its lytic phase (in very short time ~24h)
EBV amplification DNA is amplified 5-22 hours post induction

Meselsin-Stahl 
M-S or density shift experiments measure changes in the density of DNAs resulting from the incorporation of heavy nucleotides during DNA synthesis

At 8pi, EBV DNA is rapidly synthesised HH DNA can be seen as early as 60 min
Both copies of oriLyt are likely used for EBV DNA synthesis (compare wild type P3HR1 and 4012 visible amplicon)
At 30hpi, the rate of duplication f EBV DNA has declined dramatically
Controlling DNA length provides evidence for discontinuois DNA synthesis late in its lytic phase (at late er on is characteristically slow and likely discontinuous)



Oral Talk #34
The Kaposi's Sarcoma Herpesvirus Non-Structural Membrane Protein pK15 Recruits the Class II PI3K Phosphatidylinositol 4- phosphate 3-kinase C2 alpha to Activate Productive Viral
Replication
Bizunesh Abere1,2, Naira Samarina1,2, Silvia Gramolelli1,2, Jessica Rückert1,2, Gisa Gerold3, Andreas Pich4, Thomas F. Schulz1,2
1Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, 2German Centre for Infection Research, Hannover–Braunschweig Site, 3Institute for Experimental Virology, TWINCORE -Center for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, 4Research Core Unit Proteomics, Institute of Toxicology, Hannover Medical School
Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)/Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) causes the angiogenic tumor Kaposi’s Sarcoma (KS) and two B-cell malignancies. The KSHV non- structural membrane protein encoded by open reading frame (orf) K15 recruits and activates several cellular proteins including PLCγ1, components of the NF-κB pathway as well as members of the Src family of non-receptor tyrosine kinases and thereby plays an important role in the activation of angiogenic and inflammatory pathways that contribute to the pathogenesis of KS as well as KSHV productive (lytic) replication. In order to identify novel cellular components involved in the biology of pK15, we immunoprecipitated pK15 from KSHV-infected endothelial cells and identified associated proteins by label free quantitative mass spectrometry. Cellular proteins interacting with pK15 point to previously unappreciated cellular processes such as the endocytic pathway that could be involved in the function of pK15. We found the class II PI3K, PI3K-C2α, which is involved in the endocytosis of activated receptor tyrosine kinases and their signaling from intracellular organelles, to interact and co-localize with pK15 in vesicular structures abundant in the perinuclear area. Further functional analysis revealed that PI3K-C2α contributes to the pK15-dependent phosphorylation of PLCγ1 and Erk1/2. PI3K-C2α also plays a role in KSHV lytic replication as evidenced by the reduced expression of viral lytic genes K-bZIP and ORF 45 as well as the reduced release of infectious virus in PI3K-C2α -depleted KSHV-infected endothelial cells. Taken together, our results suggest a role of the cellular PI3K-C2α protein in the functional properties of the KSHV K15 protein. 

PLPP, YASIL, YEEVL-cCOOH
Identification f K15 interacting proteins+/- reactivation (RTA+SB)
most of the interactions of K15 
PI3K-C2a , involved in primary cilium assembly, sonic hedgehog signaling, angiogenesis, receptor-mediated endocytosis and endocytic/exocytic trafficking
KO in mice is embryonic lethal
K15 recruits C2a in vesicular structures in the perinuclear area
C2a plays a role in K15 mediated signaling
C2a cointributs to KSHV lytic reactivation
C2a contributes to KSHV spontaneou lytic replication
Most of the interactions of K15 with cellular proteins occur during KSHV lytic replication
K15 associates with components  of the endocytic machinery during lytic replication
K15 interacts and associates with the class-II PI3K, PI3K-C2a in vesicle like structures
recruitment of C2a is required for K15-mediates signaling


Oral Talk #35
CAGE-seq Analysis of Epstein-Barr Virus Lytic Gene
Transcription: 3 Kinetic Classes from 2 Mechanisms
Reza Djavadian1,2, Mitchell Hayes2, Eric Johannsen1,2
1Department of Medicine (McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research), University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 2Department of Oncology (McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research), University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
 2018 Jun 4;14(6):e1007114. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007114. eCollection 2018 Jun.

CAGE-seq analysis of Epstein-Barr virus lytic gene transcription: 3 kinetic classes from 2 mechanisms.

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) lytic replication proceeds through an ordered cascade of gene expression that integrates lytic DNA amplification and late gene transcription. We and others previously demonstrated that 6 EBV proteins that have orthologs in β- and γ-, but not in α-herpesviruses, mediate late gene transcription in a lytic DNA replication-dependent manner. We proposed a model in which the βγ gene-encoded viral pre-initiation complex (vPIC) mediates transcription from newly replicated viral DNA. While this model explains the dependence of late gene transcription on lytic DNA replication, it does not account for this dependence in α-herpesviruses nor for recent reports that some EBV late genes are transcribed independently of vPIC. To rigorously define which transcription start sites (TSS) are dependent on viral lytic DNA replication or the βγ complex, we performed Cap Analysis of Gene Expression (CAGE)-seq on cells infected with wildtype EBV or EBV mutants defective for DNA replication, βγ function, or lacking an origin of lytic replication (OriLyt). This approach identified 16 true-late, 32 early, and 16 TSS that are active at low levels early and are further upregulated in a DNA replication-dependent manner (leaky late). Almost all late gene transcription is vPIC-dependent, with BCRF1 (vIL10), BDLF2, and BDLF3 transcripts being notable exceptions. We present evidence that leaky late transcription is not due to a distinct mechanism, but results from superimposition of the early and late transcription mechanisms at the same promoter. Our results represent the most comprehensive characterization of EBV lytic gene expression kinetics reported to date and suggest that most, but not all EBV late genes are vPIC-dependent.

PMID:
 
29864140

IE —》 E DNA replication enzymes/immune evasion 
Late RNA from new DNA
3 things found (PLoS Pathogens Jun 2016)

 2016 Jun 27;12(6):e1005718. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005718. eCollection 2016 Jun.

An Epstein-Barr Virus-Encoded Protein Complex Requires an Origin of Lytic Replication In Cis to Mediate Late Gene Transcription.

Djavadian R1,2, Chiu YF2,3,4,5, Johannsen E1,2.

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus lytic replication is accomplished by an intricate cascade of gene expression that integrates viral DNA replication and structural protein synthesis. Most genes encoding structural proteins exhibit "true" late kinetics-their expression is strictly dependent on lytic DNA replication. Recently, the EBV BcRF1 gene was reported to encode a TATA box binding protein homolog, which preferentially recognizes the TATT sequence found in true late gene promoters. BcRF1 is one of seven EBV genes with homologs found in other β- and γ-, but not in α-herpesviruses. Using EBV BACmids, we systematically disrupted each of these "βγ" genes. We found that six of them, including BcRF1, exhibited an identical phenotype: intact viral DNA replication with loss of late gene expression. The proteins encoded by these six genes have been found by other investigators to form a viral protein complex that is essential for activation of TATT-containing reporters in EBV-negative 293 cells. Unexpectedly, in EBV infected 293 cells, we found that TATT reporter activation was weak and non-specific unless an EBV origin of lytic replication (OriLyt) was present in cis. Using two different replication-defective EBV genomes, we demonstrated that OriLyt-mediated DNA replication is required in cis for TATT reporter activation and for late gene expression from the EBV genome. We further demonstrate by fluorescence in situ hybridization that the late BcLF1 mRNA localizes to EBV DNA replication factories. These findings support a model in which EBV true late genes are only transcribed from newly replicated viral genomes. PMID: 27348612

Do all late genes depend on the pre-initiation complex (vPIC) for transcription

Overlapping EBV lytic transcripts
41 mRNAs in 16 nests

Cap Analysis of Gene Expression CAGE-seq
strand specific
50+ base pair tags
quantitative
Map TSS down to the nucleotide。(TSS peaks)

Experimental Sretup
p2089 EBV PBAC delta vPIC (delta BDLF)
delta DNA (=delta BALF2)
delta oriLyt
WT
no induction or induction+trans-complementation

CAGE-seq early gene examples (eg BGLF4, BGLF5)
CAGE-seq late gene examples (eg BFFR2, BFFR3)

BDLF2 appears to be non-canonical、、BLRF2 is a leaky gene
lytic gene dependencies
BLRF1, closer look
leaky genes —》 hybrid promoters  of early and lytic (from newly synthesised DNA)



Oral Talk #36
Phosphorylation Regulates the Function of the Epstein-Barr
Virus Pre-Initiation Complex in Transcription of Late Genes
Jinlin Li1, Ann W. Walsh1, Ayman S. El-Guindy1
1Yale School of Medicine
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) encodes approximately 36 late genes that are crucial for many events in the life cycle of the virus. Some of these events include: capsid assembly, viral attachment, and immune suppression during de novo infection. Despite the importance of EBV late proteins, there is a fundamental gap in understanding the mechanisms that regulate their expression. Using genetic and genomic approaches, we previously identified two EBV-encoded regulators that are essential for transcription of late genes encoding structural proteins. These are BGLF3, an early lytic protein that has no cellular homologs or identifiable domains, and BGLF4, the viral Ser/Thr protein kinase. BGLF3 and BGLF4 are part of the viral pre-initiation complex (vPIC) that mediates transcription of late genes. The exact role of BGLF3 and BGLF4 in the process of late gene transcription is not known. Studying the interactome of BGLF4 during lytic infection, we found that BGLF4 interacts with BGLF3. In vitro phosphorylation experiments demonstrated that BGLF3 is a substrate for phosphorylation by BGLF4. Abolishing phosphorylation of BGLF3 disrupted transcription of late genes without affecting expression of early genes or amplification of the viral genome. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments suggest that phosphorylation of BGLF3 is necessary for the protein to form proper interactions with the transcription machinery. Our results provide novel insights into the mechanism that regulates the function of vPIC in transcription of late genes. Phosphorylation of BGLF3 by the BGLF4 protein kinase might serve as a checkpoint necessary for transcription of late genes. Drugs that target the ability of BGLF4 to phosphorylate BGLF3 could aid in the development of anti-EBV drugs that block virus propagation.

BGLF3 and BGLF4 regulate expression f EBV late genes
Current models for transcription of EBV late genes

Current topics in Mciro and Immunity 2015 McKenzie and El-Guindy

Does the BGLF4 protien kinase regulate thje function of vPLC
BGLF4 interacting ptoyerins nby Flag -Ip and MS/MS
BGLF3 co-immunopreciputates with BGLF4 and BGLF4(K/I)
BGLF3 is phosphrylated in vio at T42
BGLF3 phosphorylation sites are dispendible for viral DNA replication
BGLF3 T42 is essential for late gene expression
vIL10 and vDUB are expressed independent of BGLF3

Late gene regulators (aka vPIC)
BcRF1
BDLF4
BFRF2
BVLF1
Extopic expresion of vPIC components partially suppresses the phenotype of BGLF3(T42A)

BFRF2 and BVLF1 are sufficient to partialluy rescue thje defect in BGLF3(T42)

Jul 28, 2018

Keynote Address II: Blossom Damania (16:30)

4:30 PM Keynote Address II  Blossom Damania   Shannon Hall

Blossom Damania is the Boshamer Distinguished Professor and Vice Dean for Research in the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill). She is a professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology and is a member of the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at UNC-Chapel Hill. She obtained her B.A. from Mount Holyoke College in 1992 and her PhD from the Cell & Molecular Biology program at the University of Pennsylvania in 1998. She was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School prior to joining the faculty at UNC-Chapel Hill in 2000. For her work, Dr. Damania has received several honors including being named a V Foundation for Cancer Research Scholar, an AACR Gertrude B. Elion Research Scholar, a Burroughs Welcome Investigator in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease, and a Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Scholar. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She received the Dolph O. Adams award from the Society for Leukocyte Biology and was also named a Kavli Fellow by the National Academy of Sciences, USA.

Dr. Damania's research focuses on oncogenic human herpesviruses and host-pathogen interactions. She uses a multi-faceted approach towards understanding host innate immune responses to viral infection, as well as viral oncogenesis. Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the etiologic agent of Kaposi's sarcoma, and two lymphoproliferative diseases, primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) and multicentric Castleman's disease (MCD). Moreover, KSHV is the causative agent of KS-immune reconstitution syndrome (KS-IRIS) and KSHV-inflammatory cytokine syndrome (KICS). KSHV promotes tumorigenesis by modulating cell signaling networks, enhancing angiogenesis, and evading immune sensing pathways. Understanding the mechanisms by which KSHV manipulates cellular pathways will allow us to identify targets for future therapeutics again KSHV-associated viral cancers.
_________
PLoS Pathog. 2018 Sep 13;14(9):e1007267. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007267. eCollection 2018 Sep.
Chromatin remodeling controls Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus reactivation from latency.

Hopcraft SE1, Pattenden SG2, James LI2, Frye S2, Dittmer DP1, Damania B1.
Author information

Abstract
Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the etiologic agent of three human malignancies, the endothelial cell cancer Kaposi's sarcoma, and two B cell cancers, Primary Effusion Lymphoma and multicentric Castleman's disease. KSHV has latent and lytic phases of the viral life cycle, and while both contribute to viral pathogenesis, lytic proteins contribute to KSHV-mediated oncogenesis. Reactivation from latency is driven by the KSHV lytic gene transactivator RTA, and RTA transcription is controlled by epigenetic modifications. To identify host chromatin-modifying proteins that are involved in the latent to lytic transition, we screened a panel of inhibitors that target epigenetic regulatory proteins for their ability to stimulate KSHV reactivation. We found several novel regulators of viral reactivation: an inhibitor of Bmi1, PTC-209, two additional histone deacetylase inhibitors, Romidepsin and Panobinostat, and the bromodomain inhibitor (+)-JQ1. All of these compounds stimulate lytic gene expression, viral genome replication, and release of infectious virions. Treatment with Romidepsin, Panobinostat, and PTC-209 induces histone modifications at the RTA promoter, and results in nucleosome depletion at this locus. Finally, silencing Bmi1 induces KSHV reactivation, indicating that Bmi1, a member of the Polycomb repressive complex 1, is critical for maintaining KSHV latency.

PMID: 30212584
1.
Hopcraft SE, Moody CA, Damania B.
mSphere. 2018 Jul 18;3(4). pii: e00350-18. doi: 10.1128/mSphere.00350-18.
PMID:
 
30021881
 
2.
Zhang Y, Dittmer DP, Mieczkowski PA, Host KM, Fusco WG, Duncan JA, Damania B.
MBio. 2018 Jul 3;9(4). pii: e00823-18. doi: 10.1128/mBio.00823-18.
PMID:
 
29970461
3.
Anders PM, Montgomery ND, Montgomery SA, Bhatt AP, Dittmer DP, Damania B.
J Clin Invest. 2018 Jun 1;128(6):2519-2534. doi: 10.1172/JCI97053. Epub 2018 May 7.
PMID:
 
29733294
4.
Host KM, Jacobs SR, West JA, Zhang Z, Costantini LM, Stopford CM, Dittmer DP, Damania B.
MBio. 2017 Oct 10;8(5). pii: e00917-17. doi: 10.1128/mBio.00917-17.
PMID:
  29018115
 
5.
Hopcraft SE, Damania B.
Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2017 Oct 19;372(1732). pii: 20160267. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0267. Review.
PMID
28893934
6.
Ma Z, Hopcraft SE, Yang F, Petrucelli A, Guo H, Ting JP, Dittmer DP, Damania B.
PLoS Pathog. 2017 May 1;13(5):e1006350. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006350. eCollection 2017 May.
PMID:
   28459883
 
7.
Wong JP, Damania B.
Biol Chem. 2017 Jul 26;398(8):911-918. doi: 10.1515/hsz-2017-0101. Review.
PMID:
28284028
8.
Anders PM, Zhang Z, Bhende PM, Giffin L, Damania B.
PLoS Pathog. 2016 Nov 9;12(11):e1005985. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005985. eCollection 2016 Nov.
PMID:
 27829024
 

9.
Dittmer DP, Damania B.
J Clin Invest. 2016 Sep 1;126(9):3165-75. doi: 10.1172/JCI84418. Epub 2016 Sep 1. Review.
PMID:
  27584730
 
10.
Bhatt AP, Wong JP, Weinberg MS, Host KM, Giffin LC, Buijnink J, van Dijk E, Izumiya Y, Kung HJ, Temple BR, Damania B.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016 Jul 12;113(28):7876-81. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1600587113. Epub 2016 Jun 24.
PMID: 27342859
 

Session 3: Virus Host Interactions I

Session Chairs: Mandy Muller and Ben Gewurz

Oral Talk #20
A Genome-Wide Screen of EBV Proteins that Modulate Host
SUMOylation Identifies a SUMO E3 Ligase Conserved in
Herpesviruses
Carlos F. De La Cruz Herrera1, Kathy Shire1, Lori Frappier1
1Dept of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto

Modification by the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) controls the activity of many proteins central to antiviral responses and oncogenesis. Therefore to modulate cellular processes, some viruses encode SUMO E3 ligases that induce SUMOylation or SUMO- targeted ubiquitin ligases that degrade SUMOylated proteins. EBV has not been reported to encode either, however the cellular impact of most EBV proteins has not been investigated. 

We screened 51 EBV proteins for the ability to globally alter SUMO1 and SUMO2 modifications of cellular proteins in three different cellular systems, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma. One EBV protein (BRLF1; Rta) induced the loss of SUMOylated proteins, in a proteasome-dependent manner, as well as the loss of the SUMO-associated promeylocytic leukemia nuclear bodies, suggesting that, like its homologue in KSHV, it is a SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligase. 

Four EBV proteins consistently upregulated the levels of SUMO-conjugated proteins, including the EBV SM protein. SM homologues exist in herpes simplex virus (UL54 or ICP27) and cytomegalovirus (UL69), prompting us to examine the effects of these proteins on cellular SUMOylation. Like SM, HSV-1 UL54 and CMV UL69 induced global SUMOylation. All three viral proteins were purified and tested in an in vitro assay for SUMOylation using p53 as a substrate, revealing that all three proteins had titratable SUMO E3 ligase activity. Consistent with this activity, all three viral homologues bound SUMO and the SUMO E2, Ubc9. Interestingly, the homologues had different specificities for SUMO1 and SUMO2, with SM and UL69 preferentially binding SUMO1 and inducing SUMO1 modifications, and UL54 preferentially binding SUMO2 and inducing SUMO2 modifications. The results provide new insights into the function of this family of conserved herpesvirus proteins. These are the first SUMO E3 ligases discovered for EBV, HSV-1 and CMV and the conservation of this activity across diverse herpesviruses suggests the importance of this activity for herpesvirus infections. 

Oral Talk #21
Computational Analysis of Ribonomics Datasets Identifies
Long Non-Coding RNA Targets of γ-herpesviral miRNAs
Sunantha Sethuraman1, Lauren Appleby Gay1, Rolf Renne1,2,3
1Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, 2UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, 3UF Genetics Institute, University of Florida

Ribonomics experiments involving crosslinking and immuno-precipitation (CLIP) of Ago proteins have expanded the understanding of the miRNA targetome of several organisms. These techniques, collectively referred to as CLIP-Seq, have been applied to identifying the mRNA targets of miRNAs expressed by Kaposi’s Sarcoma Associated Herpesvirus (KSHV) and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). However, these studies focused on identifying only those RNA targets of KSHV and EBV miRNAs that are known to encode proteins. Recent studies have demonstrated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are also targeted by miRNAs. In this study, we performed a systematic re-analysis of published datasets from KSHV- and EBV-driven cancers. We used CLIP-Seq data from lymphoma cells or EBV- transformed B cells, and a crosslinking, ligation and sequencing of hybrids (CLASH) dataset from KSHV-infected endothelial cells, to identify novel lncRNA targets of viral miRNAs. Here, we catalog the lncRNA targetome of KSHV and EBV miRNAs, and provide a detailed in silico analysis of lncRNA-miRNA binding interactions. Viral miRNAs target several hundred lncRNAs, including a subset previously shown to be aberrantly expressed in human malignancies. In addition, we identified thousands of lncRNAs to be putative targets of human miRNAs, suggesting that miRNA-lncRNA interactions broadly contribute to the regulation of gene expression. 

Oral Talk #22
The Receptor or Coreceptors in Epstein-Barr Virus Infection of
Nasopharyngeal Epithelial Cells
Hua Zhang1, Hong-Bo Wang1, Yan Li1, Qian Zhong1, Yi-Xin Zeng1, Elliott Kieff2, Benjamin Gewurz2, Bo Zhao2, Mu-sheng Zeng1
1Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 2 Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard University

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is implicated as an etiological factor in B lymphomas and undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a malignant epithelial cancer occurring frequently in South China and Southeast Asia. However, the mechanisms of cell-free EBV infection of nasopharyngeal epithelial cells (NEPCs) remain elusive, mainly due to the deficiency of highly susceptible NPECs model. We focus on establishing the highly susceptible NPECs model and identifying cellular factors responsible for EBV infection. We found EGF-treated NPECs and premalignant NPECs-Bmi1 cells grown as sphere-like cells (SLCs) significantly enhanced EBV infection. We use cDNA array, siRNA library and pull- down assay followed by liquid chromatography-tandem MS to screen the key cellular factors involved in EBV infection of epithelial cells. We found that non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIA (NMHCIIA) interacts with EBV gH/gL and mediates EBV attachment to the epithelial cells; EphA2 interacts with both gH/gL and gB and mediates EBV fusion with the cellular membrane, while neuropilin 1 (NRP1) interacts with EBV gB and triggers the activation of EGFR/RAS/ERK signaling induced by EBV. Taken together, NMHCIIA, EphA2 and NRP1 are identified as the receptor or coreceptors in EBV infection of NPECs, indicative of their capacity to serve as targets for blocking EBV infection. 

Oral Talk #23
Examination of the Effects of Rhesus Macaque Rhadinovirus
(RRV) Infection and Viral CD200 (vCD200) on Cellular Gene
Expression Profiles During in vivo Infection
Ryan D. Estep1, Helen Li1, Scott W. Wong1,2,3
1Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health & Science University West Campus, 2Division of Pathobiology and Immunology, Oregon National Primate Research Center, 3Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University

Rhesus macaque rhadinovirus (RRV) and Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) both encode viral CD200 (vCD200) molecules that are functional homologues of cellular CD200, an immunoregulatory molecule that inhibits the activation of cells expressing CD200 receptor (CD200R). Previous infection studies in rhesus macaques (RM) utilizing a recombinant RRV lacking expression of vCD200 (vCD200ns) indicated that vCD200 is immunosuppressive in vivo, and is capable of inhibiting T cell activation at early times post-infection. RRV vCD200 also demonstrates unanticipated negative effects on viral replication levels in infected RM, with higher viral loads being detected in blood and lymph node (LN) tissues of RM infected with RRV vCD200ns. In order to assess the overall effects of RRV infection on cellular gene expression patterns in vivo, and in an attempt to understand the effects of vCD200 on viral replication, RNA samples from LN biopsies obtained pre- and post-WT or vCD200ns RRV infection were subjected to RNA-Seq analysis. From this investigation, we have determined that RRV infection has measurable effects on the expression of a variety of cellular genes in LN tissue, and that vCD200 can affect the expression of cellular genes during infection. Specific genes of interest that displayed 2-fold or greater changes in expression, and which were confirmed to be significantly up-regulated in LN after RRV infection, include those associated with immunity and oncogenesis, such as the B cell-associated activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AICDA), chemokine receptors (e.g. CX3CR1), and a cancer biomarker (Glypican-1), while significantly downregulated genes include a negative regulator of cell growth and proliferation (RasD1). Thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP), a multifunction protein that can regulate a variety of processes, including proliferation, apoptosis, and tumor suppression, was identified as a gene that is differentially expressed between WT and vCD200ns RRV-infected RM. TXNIP is now being investigated for its potential role in RRV replication in vivo. 

Oral Talk #24
PIAS1 Restricts Epstein-Barr Virus Reactivation and it is
Antagonized by Caspases upon Lytic Induction
Renfeng Li1, Kun Zhang1, Dong-Wen Lv1
1Virginia Commonwealth University

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in tumor cells is predominately in latent phase but the virus can undergo lytic reactivation in response to various stimuli. However, the cellular factors that control latency and lytic replication are poorly defined. Using gene-knockout and reconstitution methods, we recently demonstrated that PIAS1 is a cellular restriction factor for EBV. We found that depletion of PIAS1 facilitates, while reconstitution of PIAS1 suppresses, EBV lytic reactivation. Strikingly, we showed that lytic induction by the cross-linking of B cell receptor (BCR) or chemicals triggers caspase-dependent cleavage of PIAS1. We demonstrated that caspase-3, -6 and -8 are major caspases responsible for PIAS1 cleavage at two evolutionarily conserved sites (D100 and D433) and that caspase inhibition abrogates EBV reactivation through preventing PIAS1 cleavage. We further demonstrated that a cleavage-resistant PIAS1 mutant strongly suppresses EBV replication upon lytic induction. Mechanistically, we showed that PIAS1 specifically inhibits multiple viral and cellular factors through protein-protein interaction to suppress EBV lytic gene expression and that caspase-mediated cleavage antagonizes PIAS1-mediated restriction toward EBV reactivation. (這是不是和那令人不解的實驗結果有關?)

Together, our results establish PIAS1 as a critical restriction factor for EBV lytic replication and uncover a previously unappreciated mechanism by which EBV exploits apoptotic caspases to antagonize PIAS1-mediated restriction. 

Oral Talk #25
Metabolic Reprogramming of Kaposi’s Sarcoma Associated
Herpes Virus Infected B-Cells in Hypoxia
Rajnish K Singh1, Fengchao Lang1, Yonggang Pei1, Hem C Jha2, Erle S Robertson1 1University of Pennsylvania, 2Indian Institute of Technology

Kaposi’s sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infection stabilizes hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs). The interaction between KSHV encoded factors and HIFs plays a critical role in KSHV latency, reactivation and associated disease phenotypes. Besides modulation of large-scale signaling, KSHV infection also reprograms the metabolic activity of infected cells. However, the mechanism and cellular pathways modulated during these changes are poorly understood. We performed comparative RNA sequencing analysis on cells with stabilized hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1α) of KSHV negative or positive background to identify changes in global and metabolic gene expression. Our results show that hypoxia induces glucose dependency of KSHV positive cells with high glucose uptake and high lactate release. We identified the KSHV-encoded vGPCR, as a novel target of HIF1α and one of the main viral antigens of this metabolic reprogramming. Bioinformatics analysis of vGPCR promoter identified 9 distinct hypoxia responsive elements which were activated by HIF1α in-vitro. Expression of vGPCR alone was sufficient for induction of changes in the metabolic phenotype similar to those induced by KSHV under hypoxic conditions. Silencing of HIF1α rescued the hypoxia associated phenotype of KSHV positive cells. Analysis of the host transcriptome identified several common targets of hypoxia as well as KSHV encoded factors and other synergistically activated genes belonging to cellular pathways. These include those involved in carbohydrate, lipid and amino acids metabolism. Further, the DNA methyltranferases, DNMT3A and DNMT3B were found to be regulated by either KSHV, or hypoxia at the transcript and protein levels. These changes were synergistically induced due to KSHV infection in the hypoxic environment. This study showed distinct and common, as well as collaborative effects of HIF1α and KSHV-encoded proteins on metabolic reprogramming of KSHV-infected cells in hypoxia. 

Oral Talk #26
Caspase 3 Activation Facilitates Lytic Replication of Epstein-
Barr Virus in Epithelial Cells
Dong-Yan Jin1, Tsz-Fung Cheng1, Ting-Hin Ho1, Kit-San Yuen1 1The University of Hong Kong

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) undergoes lytic replication and also maintains latency states in B cells and epithelial cells. Both states are required for maintenance and oncogenesis of EBV. How lytic replication of EBV is regulated in epithelial cells is not well understood. Particularly, it is unclear how apoptosis and activation of caspase 3 might affect EBV lytic induction. (讚) In this study we found that activation of caspase 3 facilitates productive infection of EBV in epithelial cells.(這是不是和那令人不解的實驗結果有關?) Pro-caspase 3 was identified in a CRISPR activation screen for cellular dependency factors of EBV infection in HEK293 cells. The positive role of caspase 3 activation in de novo infection of EBV in HEK293 cells was verified. Pre-treatment with 5- flurouracil (5FU) and cisplatin was highly capable of sensitizing HEK293 cells to infection with M81 EBV, leading to much higher ratios of GFP+ cells. This phenotype was abrogated completely with the addition of QVD-OPh (QV), a potent and broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor. Furthermore, a correlation between the elevation of caspase 3 activity and the accumulation of EBV DNA in the cells was observed. Activation of the mitochondrial or intrinsic pathway of apoptosis or expression of a dominant active form of caspase 3 showed stimulatory effect on EBV lytic replication as reflected by the ratio of GFP+ cells and level of EBV DNA. Finally, Z-DEVD-FMK, a highly specific inhibitor of caspase 3, ablated the stimulatory effect of 5FU or cisplatin. Similar findings were also obtained in NP460 nasopharyngeal epithelial cells and HK1 NPC cells infected with M81. Taken together, our work revealed that activation of caspase 3 facilitates EBV productive infection in epithelial cells. Our findings might also provide new strategies to improve the design of anti-EBV therapy. 

Oral Talk #27
EBNA3A Regulates Apoptosis at Early and Late Times after
Infection in Epstein Barr Virus-Infected B Cells
Joanne Dai1, Micah Luftig1
1Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a highly prevalent pathogen that establishes latent infection in human B cells. In vivo, primary infection occurs in the oral cavity where viral latency induces naïve B cells to proliferate and differentiate to access the long-lived memory B-cell compartment. In contrast, during in vitro infection, EBV-infected B cells are immortalized and form lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs), which require LMP1 for proliferation and survival. Our lab has found that early-infected B cells and LCLs are transcriptionally distinct and differ most notably in that early-infected B cells express low levels of LMP1 and NFκB targets, despite undergoing rapid hyperproliferation with low levels of apoptosis. To understand how early-infected B cells survive in the absence of LMP1, we performed BH3 profiling and found that uninfected B cells depend on BCL-2, early-infected B cells depend on MCL-1 and BCL-2, and LCLs depend on BFL-1 for survival. Through GSEA, we found that early-infected B cells are transcriptionally similar to germinal center (GC) centroblasts and that LCLs are similar to centrocytes. To determine if apoptosis regulation in EBV- infected B cells was similar to that in maturing B cells, we then performed BH3 profiling (?) of human B-cell subsets from tonsillectomies. We found that human GC B cells rely on MCL-1 for survival, suggesting that early, rapidly proliferating EBV-infected B cells utilize the same survival program found in GC B cells. In addition, we have found that the viral protein EBNA3A is required for both early MCL-1 activation and late BFL-1 expression. EBNA3A promotes the accumulation of MCL-1 at the mitochondria and regulates BFL-1 transcription by coordinating chromatin looping. In sum, we have discovered a novel viral-specific mechanism of apoptosis regulation that mimics survival programs in normal B-cell maturation. These findings have important implications for both EBV latency establishment and EBV-positive lymphoma cell survival.

Session 2A | 2B: Lytic Cycle I | Therapeutics & Vaccines

Lytic Cycle I : Linda van Dyk and Mei-Ru Chen

Oral Talk #8
Continuous DNA Replication Is Required for Late Gene
Transcription and Maintenance of Replication Compartments in
Gammaherpesviruses
Dajiang Li1, Wenmin Fu1, Sankar Swaminathan1,2
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, 2George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Late gene transcription in herpesviruses is dependent on viral DNA replication in cis but the mechanistic basis for this linkage remains unknown. DNA replication results in demethylated DNA, topological changes, removal of proteins and recruitment of proteins to promoters. One or more of these effects of DNA replication may facilitate late gene transcription. Using 5-azacytidine to promote demethylation of DNA, we demonstrate that late gene transcription cannot be rescued by DNA demethylation. Late gene transcription precedes significant increases in DNA copy number, indicating that increased template numbers also do not contribute to the linkage between replication and late gene transcription. By using serial, timed blockade of DNA replication and measurement of late gene mRNA accumulation, we demonstrate that late gene transcription requires ongoing DNA replication. Consistent with these findings, blocking DNA replication led to dissolution of DNA replication complexes which also contain RNA polymerase II and BGLF4, an EBV protein required for transcription of several late genes. These data indicate that ongoing DNA replication maintains integrity of a replication-transcription complex which is required for recruitment and retention of factors necessary for late gene transcription. 

Session 1: Gene Expression/Epigenetics

Session Chairs: Ke Lan and Wolfgang Hammerschmidt [9:00 AM – 10:30 AM]
Oral Talk #2
Global Changes in the Host B cell During the Pre-latent Phase of EBV Infection
Paulina Mrozek-Gorska1, Alexander Buschle1, Antonio Scialdone2, Thomas Schwarzmayr3, Wolfgang Hammerschmidt1
1Helmholtz Centre Munich Research Unit Gene Vectors, 2Helmholt Centre Munich Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells, 3Helmholtz Centre Munich Institute of Human Genetics

In vitro infection of human quiescent B cells with EBV activates them and leads to infinitely proliferating lymphoblastoid B cell lines (LCL). In this process, the virus triggers dramatic changes in the host cell biology to allow its long-term persistence and to guarantee the survival of its host cell in the latent phase. I investigated the very early steps of EBV infection focusing on changes in the host cell biology. Early after infection cells grow in cell volume and massively induce RNA and proteins synthesis. Within the first two days, the cells show stable metabolic activity and do not proliferate. On day three post infection (p.i), the cells initiate DNA replication and cell division followed by a phase of intense proliferation. Starting at day four p.i., the cells show very high metabolic activities characterized by an increased uptake of glucose and enhanced mitochondrial activity. I performed time-resolved RNA-seq experiments to follow the dynamics and kinetics of transcriptome changes upon EBV infection. The analyses of these experiments identified seven different clusters of genes with very specific gene expression patterns in EBV- infected cells compared with uninfected cells. My results demonstrate that the virus governs all important cellular processes including proliferation, cell metabolism, and various epigenetic mechanisms in a strictly time-controlled manner during infection.
The virus delivers its epigenetically naïve genomic DNA to the host cell upon infection, but during latency the viral DNA is extrachromosomaly maintained and organized with nucleosomes including mostly repressive histone marks. I investigated the kinetics of nucleosome assembly on viral DNA as well as the positioning of nucleosomes. Within 24 hours after infection, EBV DNA had acquired nucleosomal structures, which accumulated and became more prevalent until day three p.i.. Nucleosome acquisition did not appear to be random, but pre-defined locations occupied with nucleosomes were found very early p.i..

Jul 26, 2018

2018/08/02 Journal Club

Tumor Cell-Intrinsic Factors Underlie Heterogeneity of Immune Cell Infiltration and Response to Immunotherapy.

Jul 18, 2018

真確

https://goo.gl/66ZeS9

(中央社網站)微軟創辦人比爾.蓋茲(Bill Gates)愛讀書,他的書單經常成為書市話題,今年6月他做了一件以前沒做過的事:自掏腰包送給全美國大學、研究所畢業生一本書--公衛學者漢斯.羅斯林(Hans Rosling)的「真確:扭轉十大直覺偏誤,發現事情比你想的美好」。其實在這本書出版前,比爾.蓋茲就罕見地搶先分享,又在夏季書單中再次推薦,他為何如此推崇這本書?

比爾.蓋茲說:「這本書充滿了關於如何清晰地看待世界的建議。儘管我認為每個人都應該閱讀它,但對於那些正在從大學跳躍到下一個階段的人來說,它具有特別有用的見解。」他也希望大學畢業生能藉此學會真確思考,基於事實行動。

身兼醫師、學者及講者的漢斯來自瑞典,一生努力對抗全球的無知,透過統計分析、數據和問答互動,傳播基於事實的世界觀。他受邀到TED演講超過10次,是TED影片點閱率最高的講者之一,還曾被「時代」雜誌評選全球最具影響力的百大人物。

漢斯的13個真確問題考考你  正確解答 in blue:

Jul 10, 2018

For Trip Report

Regarding authentic NPC cell lines:
  • Prof SW Tsao 請來 "Georgetown method" 原作,Dr. Liu, Xuefeng,Dr. Liu further introduced two papers, one from the Singapore group (non-malignant NP cells are easier to be established by this method), the other one from Prof Tsao's lab (北非C15鼻咽癌細胞株之建立)
  • 而Prof Tsao自己實驗室新建立的鼻咽癌細胞株則將於Nat Commun發表, stay tuned
  • 香港AoE launches a very nice portal site for researchers in NPC field (NPC AoE Research Tissue Bank)
Regarding multiplex immunohistochemistry (multiplex IHC)"
Regarding Weissman IL's regenerative medicine

  • 2017 Nature paper (PD-L1 is another "don't eat me signal, pdf 5259) : PD-1 expression by tumour-associated macrophages inhibits phagocytosis and tumour immunity.
    • Here we show that both mouse and human TAMs express PD-1. 
    • TAM PD-1 expression increases over time in mouse models of cancer and with increasing disease stage in primary human cancers. 
    • TAM PD-1 expression correlates negatively with phagocytic potency against tumour cells, and blockade of PD-1-PD-L1 in vivo increases macrophage phagocytosis, reduces tumour growth and lengthens the survival of mice in mouse models of cancer in a macrophage-dependent fashion. 
    • This suggests that PD-1-PD-L1 therapies may also function through a direct effect on macrophages, with substantial implications for the treatment of cancer with these agents.
      • Figure 1 | Mouse and human TAMs express high levels of PD-1
      • Figure 2 | PD-1+ TAM characterization
      • Figure 3 | PD-1–PD-L1 blockade promotes anti-tumour efficacy by TAMs.

      • Extended Data Figure 4 | Immunocompromised mice also
      • exhibit tumour-specific expression of PD-1 on macrophages.
We engrafted DLD cells constitutively expressing PD-L1 and GFP-luciferase (GFP-luc) into NOD.Cg-PrkdcSCIDIl2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ (NSG) mice, an immunocompromised strain that shows improved engraftment of human cells compared to Rag2−/−γc−/− mice.

These cells should continually agonize mouse TAM PD-1 signalling24, an effect that should be blocked by administration of the anti-mouse PD-1 antibody, or the anti-human PD-L1 small protein, HAC.

As expected, NSG mice engrafted with DLD-tg(PD-L1)-GFP-luc+ tumours showed tumour-specific expression of PD-1 on TAMs (Extended Data Fig. 4c), and shared the previously observed correlation between PD-1 expression and tumour volume (Extended Data Fig. 4d). Mice treated with either PD-1 blockade (anti-mouse PD-1 antibody) or PD-L1 blockade (HAC) had an equivalent and significant reduction in tumour growth (Fig. 3e).

TAM depletion (See Methods for TAM depletion protocol, and Extended Data Fig. 6a, b for TAM depletion) abrogated the effects that HAC and anti-PD-1 treatment had on tumour size (Fig. 3f). With

Jul 4, 2018

2018/07/19 Journal Club

Cancer-associated fibroblasts induce antigen-specific deletion of CD8 + T Cells to protect tumour cells.


Jul 3, 2018

2018/07/05 Journal Club

Germinal center antibody mutation trajectories are determined by rapid self/foreign discrimination.

(PubMed Link)

2018 GRC NPC Index page

0624 (Sunday night)
  • Prof George SW Tsao: 186 participants (66 China, 44 Hong Kong, 20 Industry)
  • Keynote Session: Viruses, Cancer and Stem Cell [06/24 PM]
  • led by Alan Rickinson (University of Birmingham, United Kingdom)
    • In memory of Thomas Turse 1946-2018 (start to work on EBV since 1979s’ ; an oncologist; stromatolites-tumor in NPC; organizer of EBV meeting at Annecy France in 1994)
Patric Moore (Why Do Viruses Cause Cancer?)
Irving Weissman (Normal and Neoplastic Stem Cells)
0625 Monday (Day 2)
  • EBV Infection and NPC Pathogenesis [06/25 AM]
  • led by Alan Chiang (The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR China)
Paul Farrell (EBV Genome Sequence Variation: Geography, Function and Disease)
Bill Sugden (How EBV Prevails During Productive Infection)
Rebecca Skalsky (regulation of Host Signaling Pathways by EBV miRNAs)
Bo Zhao (NPC Epigenetic Landscapes and Super-Enhancers)
Selected from Poster Abstracts:
Lin Feng (Nasopharyngeal carcinoma susceptibility gene TNFRSF19 inhibits TGFß signaling and promotes tumorigenesis)
Miao Xu (Genome sequencing analysis identifies Epstein- Barr virus subtypes associated with the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma)
  • Regulation of Lytic and Latent EBV Infection [06/25 PM]
  • led by Mei-Ru Chen (National Taiwan University, Taiwan)
Shannon Kenney (Differentiation-Dependent Lytic EBV Reactivation in Epithelial Cells)
Lori Frappier (New Functions for EBV Proteins in Manipulating Cellular Processes Important for Cancer)
Mu Sheng Zeng 曾木聖 (The Key Cellular Factors in EBV Infection of Epithelial Cells)

0626 Tuesday (Day 3)
  • Risk Factors and Novel Markers for NPC [06/26 AM]
  • led by Jin-Xin Bei 貝錦新 (Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, China)
Wei-Hua Jia (Genetic Predisposition of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: Evidence from GWAS and Sequencing Studies)
Jin-Ching Lin 林進清 (Application of Plasma EBV DNA Assay in Daily Practice of NPC Management)
Dennis Lo 盧煜明 (Plasma EBV DNA for – Screening Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma)
Maria Lung (New Insights in NPC Detection Utilizing Circulating Tumor Cell Enumeration and NGS Analysis)
Scott Bratman (Circulating Tumor DNA: Detection and Applications in Curable Cancers)
  • Molecular Profiling of NPC [06/26 PM]
  • led by Andrew Futreal (University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA)
Kwok Wai Lo 羅國煒 (Acquired Genomic Changes in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma)
Wei Dai (Genetic Susceptibility in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma)
Daniel De Carvalho (Translational Aspects of DNA Methylation in Cancer)
Selected from Poster Abstracts:
Ming-Han Tsai 蔡明翰 (The M81 Epstein-Barr Virus Associated RNA2 Enhances CXCL8 Production and Spontaneous Virus Lytic Replication in Primary B Lymphocytes)

0627 Wed (Day 4)
  • Tumor Microenvironment of NPC [06/27 AM]
  • led by Eric Stanbridge (University of California, Irvine, USA)
Pierre Busson (Galectin-9 and Other Factors of Immune Escape in NPC Tumor Microenvironment: How to Bring Them Under Control?)
Maria Massucci (A Role of Bacterial Co-Infection in the Pathogenesis of NPC?)
Selected from Poster Abstracts:
Alan Chiang
(Novel Mechanism of Induction of Lytic Cycle of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) in EBV-Positive Epithelial Malignancies Through Intracellular Iron Chelation)
Scott Bratman
(EBV-Seq for Ultrassensitive Detection of Nasopharynx Cancer from Plasma Cell-Free DNA)
Shibing Li
(ISNLx Regulates Cellular Metabolic Reprogramming and Is a Potential Therapeutic Target for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma)
Jun Zhang
(Epstein-Barr Virus-Encoded LMP1 Reprograms Glucose Metabolism to Drive Cell Motility Through mTORC2/PDHE1α-Mediated Histone Acetylation in Nasopharyngeal Cells)
Xuefeng Liu (ROCK inhbibitor J Pathol Author, Georgetown U)
(Patient-Derived Cell Models and Next Generation Living Biobanks (NGLB) for Precision Medicine)
Dewi Kartikawati Paramita
(NPC Strip G: Rapid Test Strip Detecting IgG Against EBV Antigens in NPC)
  • Challenges and Novel Approaches in NPC Treatment [06/27 PM]
  • led by Brian O'Sullivan (University of Toronto, Canada)
Danny Rischin (Role of Chemotherapy in NPC: Not Novel, but Still Challenging)
Jun Ma 馬駿 (Comprehensive Treatment Strategy in Locoregionally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma)
Anne Lee (Challenges and Novel Approaches in Radiotherapy for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma)
Troy Messick (Development of an EBNA1 Inhibitor for the Treatment of NPC: Toward First-in- Human Studies)

0628 Thu (Day 5)
  • Immunotherapy of NPC [06/28 AM]
  • led by Dora Kwong 鄺麗雲 (University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR China)
Lillian Siu (Immune and Other Biomarkers of Resistance to Anti-PD1 Therapy in NPC)
Rajiv Khanna (Adoptive T Cell Therapy for NPC: Immune Correlates to Immune Contexture)
Graham Taylor (The NPC Immunotherapy Landscape)
Han Chong Toh (Cellular Immunotherapy for Nasopharyngeal Cancer: Learning from the Past for a Better Tomorrow)
Brigette Ma (Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor in the Treatment of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Clinical Overview)
  • Keynote Session: Future Perspectives in NPC Research and Treatment
  • led by Quynh-Thu Le (Stanford University, USA)
Tak Mak (Beyond Targeting Oncogenes: Future Anti-Cancer Strategies)
Lawrence Young (The Future of NPC Research: Opportunities and Challenges)
Poster List