Assembly of MHC class I-beta 2 microglobulin (beta 2m) dimers in the endoplasmic reticulum involves two chaperones. Calnexin has previously been shown to interact with free class I heavy chains. Here, we show that the related chaperone, calreticulin, binds human class I-beta 2m dimers prior to peptide loading. Calreticulin remains associated with at least a subset of class I molecules when they, in turn, bind to TAP. Further evidence suggests that the interaction of class I-beta 2m dimers with TAP occurs via a novel uncharacterized 48 kDa glycoprotein, tapasin, which can bind independently to TAP and class I-beta 2m-calreticulin complexes. Tapasin is absent from the mutant cell line .220, in which class I-TAP association and peptide loading is defective.

A systematic quantitative analysis of temporal changes in host and viral proteins throughout the course of a productive infection could provide dynamic insights into virus-host interaction. We developed a proteomic technique called "quantitative temporal viromics" (QTV), which employs multiplexed tandem-mass-tag-based mass spectrometry. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is not only an important pathogen but a paradigm of viral immune evasion. QTV detailed how HCMV orchestrates the expression of >8,000 cellular proteins, including 1,200 cell-surface proteins to manipulate signaling pathways and counterintrinsic, innate, and adaptive immune defenses. QTV predicted natural killer and T cell ligands, as well as 29 viral proteins present at the cell surface, potential therapeutic targets. Temporal profiles of >80% of HCMV canonical genes and 14 noncanonical HCMV open reading frames were defined. QTV is a powerful method that can yield important insights into viral infection and is applicable to any virus with a robust in vitro model.

Newly assembled major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules, together with the endoplasmic reticulum chaperone calreticulin, interact with the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) through a molecule called tapasin. The molecular cloning of tapasin revealed it to be a transmembrane glycoprotein encoded by an MHC-linked gene. It is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily with a probable cytoplasmic endoplasmic reticulum retention signal. Up to four MHC class I–tapasin complexes were found to bind to each TAP molecule. Expression of tapasin in a negative mutant human cell line (220) restored class I–TAP association and normal class I cell surface expression. Tapasin expression also corrected the defective recognition of virus-infected 220 cells by class I–restricted cytotoxic T cells, establishing a critical functional role for tapasin in MHC class I–restricted antigen processing.

Significant differences exist in the availability of healthcare worker (HCW) SARS-CoV-2 testing between countries, and existing programmes focus on screening symptomatic rather than asymptomatic staff. Over a 3 week period (April 2020), 1032 asymptomatic HCWs were screened for SARS-CoV-2 in a large UK teaching hospital. Symptomatic staff and symptomatic household contacts were additionally tested. Real-time RT-PCR was used to detect viral RNA from a throat+nose self-swab. 3% of HCWs in the asymptomatic screening group tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. 17/30 (57%) were truly asymptomatic/pauci-symptomatic. 12/30 (40%) had experienced symptoms compatible with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)>7 days prior to testing, most self-isolating, returning well. Clusters of HCW infection were discovered on two independent wards. Viral genome sequencing showed that the majority of HCWs had the dominant lineage B∙1. Our data demonstrates the utility of comprehensive screening of HCWs with minimal or no symptoms. This approach will be critical for protecting patients and hospital staff.

Keeping quiet one gene at a time: Chromosomal DNA comes in two flavors—euchromatin, which contains most of the expressed genes, and heterochromatin, which usually remains quiet. But what keeps genes within heterochromatin silent? Tchasovnikarova et al. examined the basis for this type of silencing in mammalian cells (see the Perspective by Brummelkamp). They identified a complex of proteins in human cells they called HUSH that kept particular parts of the genome silent by changing associated histone methylation marks. Science , this issue p. 1481 , see also p. 1433