Viral proteomics: The emerging cutting-edge of virus research

Zhou, ShengTao; Liu, Rui; Zhao, Xia; Huang, CanHua; Wei, YuQuan

The rapid advances in MS-based proteomics strategies have facilitated the global analysis of not only virion proteomes, but also the detection and identification of novel virionassociated viral and cellular proteins. The Y2H system, TAP-tagging method, in vitro pull-down assays, and immunoprecipitation techniques have detected seminal protein-protein interactions between viruses and their corresponding host cells. RNAi screening technology has further characterized the physiological significance of these interactions, which have been corroborated by mutations or other functional experiments. As for protein expression analysis, several isotope-labeling techniques have been able to complement the traditional 2DE coupled with mass spectrometry strategy to identify global alterations in cell protein levels during viral infection. However, the functions of most of those identified virion-associated proteins, as well as alterations in cellular proteomes or novel protein interactions, have yet to be characterized. Moreover, protein interaction screen results, using either the Y2H system or protein complex purification and mass spectrometry, are expected to increase exponentially in the future. This will require matching advances in computational biology techniques to model, visualize, and analyze the detailed interaction maps occurring during the viral infection processes. These viral proteomics technologies hold much promise for improving our understanding of virus-host interactions. Such an understanding will ultimately aid the diagnosis of specific infectious diseases, as well as help in the design of novel antiviral drugs and vaccines for various virus-human interactions and for targeted treatments.