Complementation of the function of glycoprotein H of human herpesvirus 6 variant A by glycoprotein H of variant B in the virus life cycle

J Virol. 2012 Aug;86(16):8492-8. doi: 10.1128/JVI.00504-12. Epub 2012 May 30.

Abstract

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is a T-cell-tropic betaherpesvirus. HHV-6 can be classified into two variants, HHV-6 variant A (HHV-6A) and HHV-6B, based on genetic, antigenic, and cell tropisms, although the homology of their entire genomic sequences is nearly 90%. The HHV-6A glycoprotein complex gH/gL/gQ1/gQ2 is a viral ligand that binds to the cellular receptor human CD46. Because gH has 94.3% amino acid identity between the variants, here we examined whether gH from one variant could complement its loss in the other. Recently, we successfully reconstituted HHV-6A from its cloned genome in a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) (rHHV-6ABAC). Using this system, we constructed HHV-6ABAC DNA containing the HHV-6B gH (BgH) gene instead of the HHV-6A gH (AgH) gene in Escherichia coli. Recombinant HHV-6ABAC expressing BgH (rHHV-6ABAC-BgH) was successfully reconstituted. In addition, a monoclonal antibody that blocks HHV-6B but not HHV-6A infection neutralized rHHV-6ABAC-BgH but not rHHV-6ABAC. These results indicate that HHV-6B gH can complement the function of HHV-6A gH in the viral infectious cycle.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Cell Line
  • Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Genetic Complementation Test*
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Herpesvirus 6, Human / genetics
  • Herpesvirus 6, Human / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Recombination, Genetic
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / deficiency*
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • glycoprotein H, herpesvirus 6