Name: Scientists unmask a virus that mimicked human RNA and hit on a potential vaccine
Brand: massivesci.com
SKU: massivesci-com-50
Availability: OnlineOnly

critic

Scientists unmask a virus that mimicked human RNA and hit on a potential vaccine

preview

Viruses are clever parasites that are quick to hack into host systems for their survival. But viruses can themselves be turned on their head. Can you imagine a virus hacking the immune system to hide from the body and then hacking the hacker itself to make a vaccine?&nbsp;published in February in Nature Microbiology, has shown that this is possible. Scientists determined that a virus called human metapneumovirus (hMPV) mimics human RNA to hide from the body's immune response. But blocking the ability of the virus to do so results in a mutant strain that can actually act as a candidate vaccine.The was . It is considered one of the leading causes of respiratory infections around the world, particularly in infants, elderly, and immunocompromised people. Although there have been many advancements in hMPV research since its discovery, there is still no Food and Drug Administration-approved antiviral or vaccine available to treat it.the mutant virus was less infectious, took longer to duplicate and synthesized less viral proteins in laboratory conditions than the original formhMPV uses (a cousin of DNA) as a blueprint to make copies of itself. have been known for many years but only recently their roles have started to come to the surface.Think of RNA modifications as do-it-yourself charms on a bracelet. You can add different decorations/charms to the chain (the RNA strand) that makes each bracelet unique. Similarly, human proteins modify their RNA to mark them with a unique identity that helps distinguish their own RNA from RNA belonging to foreign invaders like viruses.A very common and important RNA modification is called m6A (). , but its biological function has largely been a puzzle for virologists. Imagine m6a as just one particular kind of charm on RNA's chain. As of now, there is no consensus on whether m6A positively or negatively affects viral load, or what it does for viruses.In this new paper, led by Mijia Lu and Zijie Zhang from the Ohio State University Department of Veterinary Biosciences, researchers showed that the hMPV genome, (template strand for RNA genome replication), and are festooned with m6A.&nbsp;Next, the team moved onto understanding the function of these modifications. First, they identified which of hMPV's genes had the most m6A modifications. Then, they developed a mutated form of the virus that lacked these modifications so they could study how the virus performed without them.To their surprise, they found that the mutant virus was less infectious, took longer to duplicate and synthesized less viral proteins in laboratory conditions than the original form, or the wild type, of hMPV. Encouraged by this discovery, the researchers then introduced the mutant virus into human lung cells (grown in a dish) and the eureka moment arrived. The mutant virus increased production of a protein called (INF-1), an antiviral molecule made by the immune system, which is responsible for activating the first line of defense against pathogens.This raised an important question: why would a virus with less m6A than normal activate a stronger immune response than the wild type virus?Imagine a security system installed in your house. The security camera differentiates between family members and threats. Once a burglar is identified, the system alerts the owner of the potential threat. Similarly, humans have a built-in that distinguishes between self (human) and non-self (viral, in this case) molecules. And once it detects non-self molecules, it activates the alarm to release INF-1, which calls for help from other immune cells, including and antibodies.&nbsp;the mutant virus can effectively provide complete protection against the viral infectionThe scientists deduced that the extra m6As on the RNA of the wild type virus effectively disguised it as human RNA (self-RNA). The virus is quite clever. It gains m6As on its RNA that make it look human, tricking the body's security camera and decreasing the likelihood that the virus is destroyed it before its too late.Without the modifications in viral RNA, the immune system is no longer confused and can effectively mount a defense strategy. The researchers confirmed this by conducting an experiment in rats infected with the mutant virus. They observed that the rats immunized with the mutant virus and then infected with wild type hMPV produced more IFN-1 and a higher antibody and T-cell immune response compared to rats that were not immunized. This means that the mutant virus can effectively provide complete protection against the viral infection.This pivotal experiment proved to be the last piece of the puzzle confirming that genome editing to mutate modification sites in the virus can serve as an effective strategy to design novel vaccines against hMPV. hMPV has an infection rate of , making it incidence similar to that of influenza virus. And the estimated annual burden associated with hMPV infection is – proving it a substantial health care concern.&nbsp;This research is an excellent reminder that though viruses are a global health threat, they still serve as great teachers of cell biology. And these teachers will continue to provide scientists with valuable tools to gain deeper insights into the world of RNA modifications.We ask other scientists from our to respond to articles with commentary from their expert perspective.I appreciated the analogy you used to describe RNA modification as adding charms to a bracelet, this is such a useful visual. I’ve been studying a different “charm” for the RNA “bracelet” called pseudouridine, and this article has me curious about how the cell’s security system might respond to other RNA modifications.&nbsp;It’s amazing how these tiny living things (viruses) exploit the host system to perpetuate. But I am perplexed about how an (m6A) methylation mutant virus could act as a potential vaccine candidate? If the mutation triggers our immunity to &nbsp;produce antibodies against viral un-methylated RNA, I wonder how can those antibodies detect methylated viral RNA during an actual infection?&nbsp;I greatly enjoyed the security camera and charm bracelet analogies you used to explain the complex molecular biology concepts! I’m interested in other “charms” that could be added to the RNA for vaccine development; has there been any work in other RNA modifications that could produce stronger or different immune responses, such as other immune system activators instead of interferon (IFN) gamma? If the mutated RNA vaccine can be modulated to produce different immune responses, it could theoretically be individualized like personalized medicine to a specific person and work around any medical complication they may have that would prevent them from taking the “standard” vaccine option.A study of microorganisms collected from public transportation systems shows even cities have microbial signaturesA new study illuminates the role of small RNA in the disease, laying the foundation for new diagnosis and treatment optionsFascinating science stories, as told by scientistsWe're a community of scientists telling stories about all the truth and beauty in the universe. Subscribe to get the most interesting, enlightening, and entertaining science writing sent to you.✕ Dismiss✕ Not Interested✓ Already Subscribed

Viruses are clever parasites that are quick to hack into host systems for their survival. But viruses can themselves be turned on their head. Can you imagine a virus hacking the immune system to hide from the body and then hacking the hacker itself to make a vaccine?&nbsp;published in February in Nature Microbiology, has shown that this is possible. Scientists determined that a virus called human metapneumovirus (hMPV) mimics human RNA to hide from the body's immune response. But blocking the ability of the virus to do so results in a mutant strain that can actually act as a candidate...

public

Ankita Arora

Massive Science is a content and media company delivering bleeding-edge scientific research and expertise. Our subscribers love our cutting-edge science news, opinion, translated research and longform content that is unrivaled in digital news media. We provide trustworthy, entertaining and shareable science content authored by a growing community of over 2,000 knowledgeable scientists.

Scientists unmask a virus that mimicked human RNA and hit on a potential vaccine

No article scores yet.

CRITIC REVIEWS

PUBLIC REVIEWS