Topoisomerases are essential for the replication of herpesviruses but the mechanisms by which the viruses hijack the cellular enzymes are largely unknown. We found that topoisomerase-II (TOP2) is a substrate of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) ubiquitin deconjugase BPLF1. BPLF1 co-immunoprecipitated and deubiquitinated TOP2, and stabilized SUMOylated TOP2 trapped in cleavage complexes (TOP2cc), which halted the DNA damage response to TOP2-induced double strand DNA breaks and promoted cell survival. Induction of the productive virus cycle in epithelial and lymphoid cell line carrying recombinant EBV encoding the active enzyme was accompanied by TOP2 deubiquitination, accumulation of TOP2ccs and resistance to Etoposide toxicity. The protective effect of BPLF1 was dependent on the expression of tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 2 (TDP2) that releases DNA-trapped TOP2 and promotes error-free DNA repair. These findings highlight a previously unrecognized function of BPLF1 in supporting a non-proteolytic pathway for TOP2cc debulking that favors cell survival and virus production.

In the current study we describe a novel DNA sensor system that allows the detection of single catalytic DNA integration events mediated by retrovirus encoded integrase (IN) present in viral particles. This is achieved by rolling circle amplification mediated conversion of enzymatic reactions happening within nanometer dimensions to directly detectable micrometer sized DNA products. The system utilizes the unique integration reaction of IN to generate a surface anchored nicked DNA circle that serves as a substrate for rolling circle amplification and allows for specific, quantitative and sensitive detection of purified recombinant IN or virus particles with a detection limit of less than 30 virus particles per μL of sample. Moreover, by modifying the nucleotide sequences of the utilized DNA it was possible to tailor the system to distinguish between the highly pathogenic lentivirus HIV and the gammaretrovirus murine leukemia virus present in a given sample. Infections with HIV remain a major threat to global health with more than 2 million new infections and 1 million deaths each year. The sensitive and specific detection of HIV particles based on IN activity holds promise for the development of a new type of diagnostic tools suitable for early (within hours of infection) detection of HIV, which would be valuable for prevention strategies as well as for efficient treatment.

CD176 (Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen) is a tumor-associated carbohydrate epitope (glycotope) functionally involved in blood spread and liver metastasis of cancer cells by mediating the adhesion of cancer cells to endothelial cells and hepatocytes, respectively. CD176 could be a promising target for antitumor immunotherapy. We applied B lymphocytes obtained from mice immunized with CD176 antigen and constructed a phage display library. A positive clone of CD176 single-chain variable antibody fragment (scFv) was successfully screened from this library. The CD176 scFv was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. The purified scFv can bind to the natural CD176 expressed on the surface of cancer cells. Furthermore, the CD176 scFv inhibits the adhesion of CD176(+) cancer cells to endothelial cells and hepatocytes. This CD176 scFv provides a basis for future development of recombinant CD176-specific antibodies that can be used in therapeutic application.