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Monoclonal antibody analysis of serotype-restricted and unrestricted bluetongue viral antigenic determinants.

Twenty-one monoclonal antibodies that react with bluetongue virus (BTV) and have restricted or unrestricted serotype specificities were identified in culture supernatants of hybridomas derived from lymphocytes of mice immunized with BTV serotype 17. Hybridomas were screened and antibody specificities characterized in a solid-phase radioimmunoassay and by immunoprecipitation with radiolabeled, BTV 17-infected cell lysates. Three general serotype specificities were demonstrated by 13 antibodies that precipitated structural viral protein 9 (VP 9). One antibody precipitated VP 7, a 48,000 dalton nonstructural protein, and reacted in radioimmunoassay with 20 BTV serotypes and Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease of Deer Virus serotype 1 (EHDV 1), EHDV 2, and Ibaraki virus, but not with uninfected cells. One serotype-specific antibody neutralized infectivity, inhibited hemagglutination by BTV 17, and precipitated VP 2 and VP 3. A second antibody, with restricted serotype specificity, precipitated VP 2 and VP 8. These results confirm those of others (Huismans and Erasmus, Onderstepoort J. Vet. Res. 48, 51-58, 1981) that BTV serotype-specific and neutralizing epitopes are associated with VP 2.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus by N-methylisatin-beta 4':4'-diethylthiosemicarbazone and N-allylisatin-beta-4':4'-diallythiosemicarbazone.

N-methylisatin-beta 4':4'-diethylthiosemicarbazone(M-IBDET) and N-allylisatin-beta-4':4'-diallylthiosemicarbazone(A-IBDAT ) inhibit the production of Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Virus inhibition was related to the thiosemicarbazone derivative (TSCD) concentrations and time of treatment. Inhibition of HIV production was confirmed by various parameters of virus assay employing reverse transcriptase activity, plaque forming units (PFU) and levels of viral structural proteins. Effective antiviral TSCD concentrations ranged from 0.17 microM to 2.04 microM for M-IBDET, and from 1.45 microM to 17.4 microM for A-IBDAT. Treatment of the chronic HIV-infected cells for 48 h with 0.34 microM M-IBDET or 2.9 microM A-IBDAT caused about 50% inhibition in as virus yield ED50 as assayed by the PFU method. Almost 2 logs of virus infectivity (PFU) was suppressed after 48 h of treatment with 17.4 microM A-IBDAT. Therapeutic index values of 20 and 30 were found for M-IBDET and A-IBDAT, respectively. A significant selective inhibition of HIV structural protein synthesis was shown by both M-IBDET and A-IBDAT.

Antiviral Agents↗

Chemically synthesized peptides elicit neutralizing antibody to bovine enterovirus.

Synthetic peptides representing 14 regions of the bovine enterovirus structural proteins were used to raise antibodies in mice. The peptides were predicted using amino acid sequence alignments with the position of antigenic sites on other picornaviruses. Five of the anti-peptide antibodies reacted with the virus in an immunoprecipitation test. Furthermore, each of these anti-peptide antibodies neutralized virus infectivity; those directed against peptides of VP2 and VP3 neutralized to a greater extent than those directed against peptides of VP1. The positions of these epitopes in the viral structural proteins are discussed in relation to corresponding positions in other picornaviruses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Coronavirus genomic and subgenomic minus-strand RNAs copartition in membrane-protected replication complexes.

The majority of porcine transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus plus-strand RNAs (genome and subgenomic mRNAs), at the time of peak RNA synthesis (5 h postinfection), were not found in membrane-protected complexes in lysates of cells prepared by Dounce homogenization but were found to be susceptible to micrococcal nuclease (85%) or to sediment to a pellet in a cesium chloride gradient (61%). They therefore are probably free molecules in solution or components of easily dissociable complexes. By contrast, the majority of minus-strand RNAs (genome length and subgenomic mRNA length) were found to be resistant to micrococcal nuclease (69%) or to remain suspended in association with membrane-protected complexes following isopycnic sedimentation in a cesium chloride gradient (85%). Furthermore, 35% of the suspended minus strands were in a dense complex (1.20 to 1.24 g/ml) that contained an RNA plus-to-minus-strand molar ratio of approximately 8:1 and viral structural proteins S, M, and N, and 65% were in a light complex (1.15 to 1.17 g/ml) that contained nearly equimolar amounts of plus- and minus-strand RNAs and only trace amounts of proteins M and N. In no instance during fractionation were genome-length minus strands found segregated from sub-genome-length minus strands. These results indicate that all minus-strand species are components of similarly structured membrane-associated replication complexes and support the concept that all are active in the synthesis of plus-strand RNAs.

Animals↗

Localization of papillomavirus and virus-specific antigens in the skin of tumor-bearing Mastomys natalensis (GRA Giessen).

In skin neoplasms (so-called keratoakanthomas, papillomas, and squamous cell carcinomas) of Mastomys natalensis (GRA Giessen) virus particles and viral antigens were demonstrated in distinct epithelial layers. Nuclei of the upper parts of the stratum granulosum and disintegrated cell parts of the stratum corneum contain viral structures. The localization of virus particles and viral antigens in any skin neoplasms of M. natalensis (GRA Giessen) corresponded to the sites where papillomavirus-specific material had been demonstrated in papillomas of other species.

Animals↗

Expression of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) nef gene during HIV-1 production increases progeny particle infectivity independently of gp160 or viral entry.

The nef gene product of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) promotes more-rapid kinetics of viral replication in primary peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We have previously shown that these enhancing effects of Nef on HIV-1 replication reflect an increase in viral infectivity detectable both in limiting dilution assays and through a single-cycle infection of the HeLa-CD4-long terminal repeat-beta-galactosidase indicator cell line. We now demonstrate that nef-defective HIV-1 can be rescued to near wild-type levels of infectivity by coexpressing Nef in trans in the cell line producing the virus. This observation indicates that HIV-1 virions produced in the presence of Nef are intrinsically different. However, we show that the major viral structural proteins are quantitatively similar in purified viral preparations. We also demonstrate the functional equivalence of the gp120-gp41 envelope glycoprotein complexes of Nef+ and Nef- HIV-1 through an assay for viral entry. Finally, we show that env-defective Nef+ HIV-1 pseudotyped with an amphotropic envelope is also more infectious than similarly pseudotyped Nef- HIV-1. Thus, the production of HIV-1 in the presence of Nef results in viral particles that are more infectious, and this increased infectivity is manifested at a stage after viral entry but prior to or coincident with HIV-1 gene expression.

Cells, Cultured↗

Low TRBP levels support an innate human immunodeficiency virus type 1 resistance in astrocytes by enhancing the PKR antiviral response.

Acute human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication in astrocytes produces minimal new virus particles due, in part, to inefficient translation of viral structural proteins despite high levels of cytoplasmic viral mRNA. We found that a highly reactive double-stranded (ds) RNA-binding protein kinase (PKR) response in astrocytes underlies this inefficient translation of HIV-1 mRNA. The dsRNA elements made during acute replication of HIV-1 in astrocytes triggers PKR activation and the specific inhibition of HIV-1 protein translation. The heightened PKR response results from relatively low levels of the cellular antagonist of PKR, the TAR RNA binding protein (TRBP). Efficient HIV-1 production was restored in astrocytes by inhibiting the innate PKR response to HIV-1 dsRNA with dominant negative PKR mutants, or PKR knockdown by siRNA gene silencing. Increasing the expression of TRBP in astrocytes restored acute virus production to levels comparable to those observed in permissive cells. Therefore, the robust innate PKR antiviral response in astrocytes results from relatively low levels of TRBP expression and contributes to their restricted infection. Our findings highlight TRBP as a novel cellular target for therapeutic interventions to block productive HIV-1 replication in cells that are fully permissive for HIV-1 infection.

Astrocytes↗

Effect of herpesvirus infection on pancreatic duct cell secretion.

AIM: To examine the effect of acute infection caused by herpesvirus (pseudorabies virus, PRV) on pancreatic ductal secretion. METHODS: The virulent Ba-DupGreen (BDG) and non-virulent Ka-RREp0lacgfp (KEG) genetically modified strains of PRV were used in this study and both of them contain the gene for green fluorescent protein (GFP). Small intra/interlobular ducts were infected with BDG virus (10(7) PFU/mL for 6 h) or with KEG virus (10(10) PFU/mL for 6 h), while non-infected ducts were incubated only with the culture media. The ducts were then cultured for a further 18 h. The rate of HCO(3)(-) secretion (base efflux -J(B-)) was determined from the buffering capacity of the cells and the initial rate of intracellular acidification (1) after sudden blockage of basolateral base loaders with dihydro-4,4-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2-disulfonic acid (500 micromol/L) and amiloride (200 micromol/L), and (2) after alkali loading the ducts by exposure to NH(4)Cl. All the experiments were performed in HCO(3)(-)-buffered Ringer solution at 37 degrees (n = 5 ducts for each experimental condition). Viral structural proteins were visualized by immunohistochemistry. Virally-encoded GFP and immunofluorescence signals were recorded by a confocal laser scanning microscope. RESULTS: The BDG virus infected the majority of accessible cells of the duct as judged by the appearance of GFP and viral antigens in the ductal cells. KEG virus caused a similarly high efficiency of infection. After blockage of basolateral base loaders, BDG infection significantly elevated -J(B-) 24 h after the infection, compared to the non-infected group. However, KEG infection did not modify -J(B-). After alkali loading the ducts, -J(B-) was significantly elevated in the BDG group compared to the control group 24 h after the infection. As we found with the inhibitor stop method, no change was observed in the group KEG compared to the non-infected group. CONCLUSION: Incubation with the BDG or KEG strains of PRV results in an effective infection of ductal epithelial cells. The BDG strain of PRV, which is able to initiate a lytic viral cycle, stimulates HCO(3)(-) secretion in guinea pig pancreatic duct by about four- to fivefold, 24 h after the infection. However, the KEG strain of PRV, which can infect, but fails to replicate, has no effect on HCO(3)(-) secretion. We suggest that this response of pancreatic ducts to virulent PRV infection may represent a defense mechanism against invasive pathogens to avoid pancreatic injury.

Animals↗

Biochemical studies on structural and nonstructural proteins of the African green monkey B-lymphotropic papovavirus (LPV).

African green monkey (AGM) B-lymphotropic papovavirus (LPV) particles were separated from infected B-lymphoma BJA-B cells by neuraminidase and deoxycholate treatment and were further purified twice by CsCl density centrifugation. The SDS-PAGE analysis of virus particles banding at a density of 1.3510 g/ml and radioactively labeled by 125I revealed a major polypeptide of 40,000 and two minor polypeptides of 42,000 and 29,000. In addition, in infected BJA-B cells, all three viral structural polypeptides could be identified by immunoprecipitation. A nonstructural phosphopolypeptide of approximately 90,000 MW could be detected when sera against SDS-denatured SV40 T antigen or an AGM serum pool were used for immunoprecipitation. It is suggested that the 90K polypeptide of LPV represents an equivalent to T antigens of other papovaviruses.

Animals↗

A gene encoding a polydnavirus structural polypeptide is not encapsidated.

Polydnaviruses are symbiotic viruses associated with some parasitic Hymenoptera that are vertically transmitted as proviruses within wasp genomes. To study this symbiotic association a gene encoding an abundant Campoletis sonorensis polydnavirus virion protein was characterized. This gene is not encapsidated but resides in the wasp genome where it is expressed only during virus replication. Immunolocalization studies detected the encoded 44-kDa protein only in oviduct tissue with ultrastructural studies detecting epitopes between or on virion envelopes. Expression and localization of the 44-kDa protein are consistent with its being a viral structural protein but localization of the gene only within the wasp genome is atypical, raising the possibility that this protein is adventitiously packaged during virion assembly. To address this possibility, quantitative dot blot and genomic Southern blot hybridizations were performed to determine whether the copy number of the p44 gene increased disproportionately during replication, as would be expected for a gene encoding a virion protein. The copy number of the p44 gene increases in tissues supporting virus replication but is unchanged in other tissues, suggesting that this gene is amplified in replicative cells. The data indicate that genes encoding polydnavirus virion proteins may be distributed between wasp and encapsidated viral genomes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Immunoglobulin-class-specific immune response to respiratory syncytial virus structural proteins in infants, children, and adults.

The protein specificities of IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies induced during respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in 74 patients (4 weeks to 81 years of age) were investigated using the technique of immunoblotting. Although the pattern of antibody reactivity varied among patients, most of the humoral immune response in all age groups was directed against the 48, 42, 35, and 27 K proteins. An infant's own antibody response was discernible in 55 of the 57 children below 1 year of age, despite the presence of maternally derived antibodies. Antibody against the 90 K surface glycoprotein was not detectable in those less than 1 year of age. Primary RSV infection induced antibodies only against a subset of RSV proteins. Although a broadening of the antibody response occurred with increasing age and in the course of reinfection, an immune response to all the viral structural proteins was observed rarely.

Adolescent↗

Trans-activating rev protein of the human immunodeficiency virus 1 interacts directly and specifically with its target RNA.

The 20-kDa phosphorylated rev protein from human immunodeficiency virus 1 has been shown to transactivate posttranscriptionally the expression of viral structural proteins by selective stabilization and nuclear export of unspliced and incompletely spliced viral mRNA. We could demonstrate in gel-mobility and immunoprecipitation assays that the recombinant rev protein purified from a baculovirus expression system forms a distinct and specific complex with its target RNA (rev-responsive element), a 234-nucleotide sequence within the envelope coding region of human immunodeficiency virus 1. No complex formation could be observed using RNAs with similar secondary structure nor with other human immunodeficiency virus 1 recombinant proteins. Deletion analysis mapped this specific binding to the first 90 nucleotides of this rev-responsive element, which contains a U2 small nuclear RNA homologous region. We propose that the specific binding of rev to its target RNA sequence plays an essential part in releasing an incompletely spliced viral mRNA containing this target sequence to the cytoplasm.

Base Sequence↗

Localization of extensive deletions in the structural genes of two neurotropic variants of murine coronavirus JHM.

The intracellular RNA of two neurotropic variants of the JHM strain of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) independently isolated from the brain and spinal cord of an infected Wistar Furth rat were compared with that of the parental virus. The mRNAs corresponding to the genes encoding the peplomer (S) and the hemagglutinin-esterase (HE) proteins of the variant viruses were found to be smaller in size. The possible sequence changes were studied by oligonucleotide fingerprinting and direct RNA sequencing. Both variants have a large deletion of 246 amino acids in the carboxy-terminal end of the HE protein. However, this truncated protein was not detected in the infected cells, suggesting either a translational regulation or rapid degradation of the truncated protein in these cells. The variant virus isolated from the spinal cord has a second deletion of 147 amino acids in the amino-terminal half of the S protein. This deletion site corresponds to a hypervariable region where deletions have been frequently noted among MHV variants with different biological properties. These findings suggest that the changes in pathogenic properties of the two neural isolates are associated with drastic alterations of the viral structural glycoproteins.

Base Sequence↗

Rapid, high level protein production using DNA-based Semliki Forest virus vectors.

Semliki Forest virus (SFV) vectors can be produced faster, and have a wider host range, than baculovirus vectors. However, the original SFV system requires in vitro manipulation of RNA. We have generated a system that is wholly DNA-based. Both the replicon vector, encoding SFV polymerase and the protein of interest, and the helper vector, encoding viral structural proteins, were modified so that expression was RNA polymerase II-dependent. Transfection of the modified replicon plasmid alone generated 20-30-fold more protein than obtained from a simple expression vector. Expression required the SFV replicase, which amplifies replicon RNA. The SFV-based vector generated 10-20-fold more protein than a plasmid based on Sindbis virus. Cotransfection of SFV replicon and helper vectors generated viral titers of around 10(6) infectious particles/ml. A single electroporation, plated on one 10-cm plate, generated enough virus (10(7) particles) to produce >500 microg of protein. Wild type, replication proficient virus was not detected in three tests utilizing almost 10(8) viral particles, a distinct advantage over a DNA Sindbis-based system in which over half the virus particles generated are fully infectious. The new SFV vectors significantly enhance the utility of this expression system.

Animals↗

Human adenovirus serotypes 4p and 11p are efficiently expressed in cell lines of neural tumour origin.

Most currently used adenovirus vectors are based upon adenovirus serotypes 2 and 5 (Ad2 and Ad5), which have limited efficiencies for gene transfer to human neural cells. Both serotypes bind to the known adenovirus receptor, CAR (coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor), and have restricted cell tropism. The purpose of this study was to find vector candidates that are superior to Ad5 in infecting human neural tumours. Using flow cytometry, the vector candidates Ad4p, Ad11p and Ad17p were compared to the commonly used adenovirus vector Ad5v for their binding capacity to neural cell lines derived from glioblastoma, medulloblastoma and neuroblastoma cell lines. The production of viral structural proteins and the CAR-binding properties of the different serotypes were also assessed in these cells. Computer-based models of the fibre knobs of Ad4p and Ad17 were created based upon the crystallized fibre knob structure of adenoviruses and analysed for putative receptor-interacting regions that differed from the fibre knob of Ad5. The non CAR-binding vector candidate Ad11p showed clearly the best binding capacity to all of the neural cell lines, binding more than 90% of cells of all of the neural cell lines tested, in contrast to 20% or less for the commonly used vector Ad5v. Ad4p and Ad11p were also internalized and produced viral proteins more successfully than Ad5. Ad4p showed a low binding ability but a very efficient capacity for infection in cell culture. Ad17p virions neither bound or efficiently infected any of the neural cell lines studied.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

Generation of influenza A viruses entirely from cloned cDNAs.

We describe a new reverse-genetics system that allows one to efficiently generate influenza A viruses entirely from cloned cDNAs. Human embryonic kidney cells (293T) were transfected with eight plasmids, each encoding a viral RNA of the A/WSN/33 (H1N1) or A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) virus, flanked by the human RNA polymerase I promoter and the mouse RNA polymerase I terminator-together with plasmids encoding viral nucleoprotein and the PB2, PB1, and PA viral polymerases. This strategy yielded >1 x 10(3) plaque-forming units (pfu) of virus per ml of supernatant at 48 hr posttransfection. The addition of plasmids expressing all of the remaining viral structural proteins led to a substantial increase in virus production, 3 x 10(4)-5 x 10(7) pfu/ml. We also used reverse genetics to generate a reassortant virus containing the PB1 gene of the A/PR/8/34 virus, with all other genes representing A/WSN/33. Additional viruses produced by this method had mutations in the PA gene or possessed a foreign epitope in the head of the neuraminidase protein. This efficient system, which does not require helper virus infection, should be useful in viral mutagenesis studies and in the production of vaccines and gene therapy vectors.

Animals↗

Switch from capsid protein import to adenovirus assembly by cleavage of nuclear transport signals.

Replication and assembly of adenovirus occurs in the nucleus of infected cells, requiring the nuclear import of all viral structural proteins. In this report we show that nuclear import of the major capsid protein, hexon, is mediated by protein VI, a structural protein located underneath the 12 vertices of the adenoviral capsid. Our data indicate that protein VI shuttles between the nucleus and the cytoplasm and that it links hexon to the nuclear import machinery via an importin alpha/beta-dependent mechanism. Key nuclear import and export signals of protein VI are located in a short C-terminal segment, which is proteolytically removed during virus maturation. The removal of these C-terminal transport signals appears to trigger a functional transition in protein VI, from a role in supporting hexon nuclear import to a structural role in virus assembly.

Animals↗

The lower matrix protein pp65 is the principal viral antigen present in peripheral blood leukocytes during an active cytomegalovirus infection.

During an active infection with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), viral antigen is consistently present in peripheral blood leukocytes. Two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), CMV-C10 and CMV-C11, are commonly used in the HCMV antigenaemia assay to detect these cells in the peripheral blood of patients suspected of having an active HCMV infection. We demonstrate that the viral antigen detected by these MAbs is the viral structural protein pp65 and not an immediate early antigen as previously reported. Furthermore, significantly fewer leukocytes were found to be positive with MAbs specific for immediate early antigens.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗