Mechanism of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Induced Membrane Fusion

Herpesviruses are associated with a variety of disease in the human host, ranging from asymptomatic infections to life threatening disease, including encephalitis and cancer. In addition to playing a direct role in cancer genesis, herpesviruses pose an increased risk to cancer patients who may develop debilitating and life-threatening herpesvirus infections. Genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) lesions, even if clinically not apparent, can facilitate the transfer of HIV-infected cells or free virus from one individual to another, and HIV infection and AIDS increase the risks of developing certain kinds of cancer. HSV-1 serves as a prototypic herpesvirus family member and provides an ideal model to understand the requirements for virus infection since it replicates well in cell culture and many reagents have been developed for its study. In particular, the study of HSV-1 entry has proven useful in the understanding the mechanism of Epstein-Bar Virus (EBV) and Kaposi Sarcoma Herpesvirus (KSHV) – two herpesviruses associated with cancer in human infections. Herpesvirus entry into cells requires fusion of the outer envelope of the virus with a cell membrane. Spread of infection can occur via infectious virus or virus-induced cell fusion. The ultimate objective of studies described here is to understand how herpesviruses, specifically HSV-1, induce membrane fusion, the process required for viral entry and cell fusion. Requirements for HSV-induced membrane fusion include the coordinated activities of four HSV glycoproteins (gD, the hererodimeric gHgL complex, and gB) and specific cellular receptors. Our central hypothesis is that gD, present in the viral envelope or on an infected cell surface, binds to a cellular receptor, such as nectin-1, on an uninfected cell and activates gHgL and gB via protein-protein interactions, resulting in fusion mediated by gB. In three aims, we plan to define the sequence requirements and domains of gD, gH/gL and gB that are required to mediate membrane fusion and to investigate means to stabilize gB so that prefusion gB can be studied. The results of these studies will lead to an understanding of the mechanism of herpesvirus-induced membrane fusion and to new approaches for the prevention and treatment of herpesvirus infections.