pH-dependent endocytosis mechanisms for influenza A and SARS-coronavirus

The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the influenza epidemics have revived the interest in understanding how these highly contagious enveloped viruses respond to alterations in the physicochemical properties of their microenvironment. By understanding the mechanisms and conditions by which viruses exp...

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Main Author: Amar Aganovic
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Microbiology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1190463/full
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author Amar Aganovic
author_facet Amar Aganovic
author_sort Amar Aganovic
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description The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the influenza epidemics have revived the interest in understanding how these highly contagious enveloped viruses respond to alterations in the physicochemical properties of their microenvironment. By understanding the mechanisms and conditions by which viruses exploit the pH environment of the host cell during endocytosis, we can gain a better understanding of how they respond to pH-regulated anti-viral therapies but also pH-induced changes in extracellular environments. This review provides a detailed explanation of the pH-dependent viral structural changes preceding and initiating viral disassembly during endocytosis for influenza A (IAV) and SARS coronaviruses. Drawing upon extensive literature from the last few decades and latest research, I analyze and compare the circumstances in which IAV and SARS-coronavirus can undertake endocytotic pathways that are pH-dependent. While there are similarities in the pH-regulated patterns leading to fusion, the mechanisms and pH activation differ. In terms of fusion activity, the measured activation pH values for IAV, across all subtypes and species, vary between approximately 5.0 to 6.0, while SARS-coronavirus necessitates a lower pH of 6.0 or less. The main difference between the pH-dependent endocytic pathways is that the SARS-coronavirus, unlike IAV, require the presence of specific pH-sensitive enzymes (cathepsin L) during endosomal transport. Conversely, the conformational changes in the IAV virus under acidic conditions in endosomes occur due to the specific envelope glycoprotein residues and envelope protein ion channels (viroporins) getting protonated by H+ ions. Despite extensive research over several decades, comprehending the pH-triggered conformational alterations of viruses still poses a significant challenge. The precise mechanisms of protonation mechanisms of certain during endosomal transport for both viruses remain incompletely understood. In absence of evidence, further research is needed.
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spelling doaj.art-1e12114333f04cd291c460701c77415c2023-05-10T04:34:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2023-05-011410.3389/fmicb.2023.11904631190463pH-dependent endocytosis mechanisms for influenza A and SARS-coronavirusAmar AganovicThe ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the influenza epidemics have revived the interest in understanding how these highly contagious enveloped viruses respond to alterations in the physicochemical properties of their microenvironment. By understanding the mechanisms and conditions by which viruses exploit the pH environment of the host cell during endocytosis, we can gain a better understanding of how they respond to pH-regulated anti-viral therapies but also pH-induced changes in extracellular environments. This review provides a detailed explanation of the pH-dependent viral structural changes preceding and initiating viral disassembly during endocytosis for influenza A (IAV) and SARS coronaviruses. Drawing upon extensive literature from the last few decades and latest research, I analyze and compare the circumstances in which IAV and SARS-coronavirus can undertake endocytotic pathways that are pH-dependent. While there are similarities in the pH-regulated patterns leading to fusion, the mechanisms and pH activation differ. In terms of fusion activity, the measured activation pH values for IAV, across all subtypes and species, vary between approximately 5.0 to 6.0, while SARS-coronavirus necessitates a lower pH of 6.0 or less. The main difference between the pH-dependent endocytic pathways is that the SARS-coronavirus, unlike IAV, require the presence of specific pH-sensitive enzymes (cathepsin L) during endosomal transport. Conversely, the conformational changes in the IAV virus under acidic conditions in endosomes occur due to the specific envelope glycoprotein residues and envelope protein ion channels (viroporins) getting protonated by H+ ions. Despite extensive research over several decades, comprehending the pH-triggered conformational alterations of viruses still poses a significant challenge. The precise mechanisms of protonation mechanisms of certain during endosomal transport for both viruses remain incompletely understood. In absence of evidence, further research is needed.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1190463/fullrespiratory virusinfluenza ASARS-coronaviruspHendocytosisenveloped virus
spellingShingle Amar Aganovic
pH-dependent endocytosis mechanisms for influenza A and SARS-coronavirus
Frontiers in Microbiology
respiratory virus
influenza A
SARS-coronavirus
pH
endocytosis
enveloped virus
title pH-dependent endocytosis mechanisms for influenza A and SARS-coronavirus
title_full pH-dependent endocytosis mechanisms for influenza A and SARS-coronavirus
title_fullStr pH-dependent endocytosis mechanisms for influenza A and SARS-coronavirus
title_full_unstemmed pH-dependent endocytosis mechanisms for influenza A and SARS-coronavirus
title_short pH-dependent endocytosis mechanisms for influenza A and SARS-coronavirus
title_sort ph dependent endocytosis mechanisms for influenza a and sars coronavirus
topic respiratory virus
influenza A
SARS-coronavirus
pH
endocytosis
enveloped virus
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1190463/full
work_keys_str_mv AT amaraganovic phdependentendocytosismechanismsforinfluenzaaandsarscoronavirus