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Equine arteritis virus derived from an infectious cDNA clone is attenuated and genetically stable in infected stallions.

Virus derived from an infectious cDNA clone of equine arteritis virus (EAV030H) was intranasally inoculated into two stallions, neither of which subsequently developed clinical manifestations of equine viral arteritis (EVA). Virus was isolated from nasal swabs and mononuclear cells collected from both stallions </=14 days p.i. and from the semen of one stallion only at 7 days p.i. Similarly, viral RNA was detected by RT nested-PCR in nasal swabs and mononuclear cells for </=14 days p.i. and at 7 days p.i. in the semen of the one stallion. Both stallions seroconverted to EAV by 10 days p.i. and maintained high neutralizing antibody titers thereafter. Sequence and restriction digestion analysis demonstrated that the recombinant virus present in nasal swabs, mononuclear cells, and semen from the two stallions was identical to the infectious clone-derived virus that was used to inoculate them. Furthermore analysis of multiple clones derived by RT nested-PCR amplification from several samples indicated that the recombinant EAV030H virus was stable during replication in horses. These studies document for the first time that a recombinant virus derived from an infectious cDNA clone of a member of the order Nidovirales is replication competent in animals, and the genetic stability of the recombinant virus during in vivo replication indicates that it will be useful for the characterization of genetic determinants of virulence and persistence of EAV. The genetic conservation of the cloned recombinant virus during in vivo infection is similar to that which occurs during natural horizontal and vertical transmission of EAV in horses and contrasts with the heterogeneous virus population (quasispecies) that occurs in the semen of carrier stallions.

Animals↗

Characterization of an infectious molecular clone of human T-cell leukemia virus type I.

An infectious molecular clone of human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) was derived from an HTLV-I-transformed rabbit T-cell line, RH/K30, obtained by coculture of rabbit peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with the human HTLV-I-transformed cell line MT-2. The RH/K30 cell line contained two integrated proviruses, an intact HTLV-I genome and an apparently defective provirus with an in-frame stop codon in the env gene. A genomic DNA fragment containing the intact HTLV-I provirus was cloned into bacteriophage lambda (K30 phi) and subcloned into a plasmid vector (K30p). HTLV-I p24gag protein was detected in culture supernatants of human and rabbit T-cell and fibroblast lines transfected with these clones, at levels comparable to those of the parental cell line RH/K30. Persistent expression of virus was observed in one of these lines, RL-5/K30p, for more than 24 months. Biologic characterization of this cell line revealed the presence of integrated HTLV-I provirus, spliced and unspliced mRNA transcripts, and typical extracellular type C retrovirus particles. As expected, these virus particles contained HTLV-I RNA and reverse transcriptase activity. The transfected cells also expressed surface major histocompatibility complex class II, whereas no expression of this molecule was detected in the parental RL-5 cell line. Virus was passaged by cocultivation of irradiated RL-5/K30p cells with either rabbit PBMC or human cord blood mononuclear cells, demonstrating in vitro infectivity. The virus produced in these cells was also infectious in vivo, since rabbits injected with RL-5/K30p cells became productively infected, as evidenced by seroconversion, amplification of HTLV-I-specific sequences by PCR from PBMC DNA, and virus isolation from PBMC. Availability of infectious molecular clones will facilitate functional studies of HTLV-I genes and gene products.

Animals↗

Isolation and characterization of two divergent infectious molecular clones of HIV type 1 longitudinally obtained from a seropositive patient by a progressive amplification procedure.

Isolation of infectious molecular clones has been valuable to our understanding of HIV-1-induced pathogenesis. Two infectious molecular clones of HIV-1 were isolated longitudinally from a seropositive subject at different stages of the disease, using a standard bacteriophage lambda vector and a novel progressive amplification procedure. We found the progressive amplification procedure was simpler and more specific than the conventional plaque hybridization assay. The two infectious HIV-1 clones had distinct cell tropism and cytopathic properties. The HIV-1 clone obtained at the asymptomatic stage of the disease was macrophage tropic and had a non-syncytium-inducing property. In contrast, the HIV-1 clone obtained at the stage of AIDS development was dual tropic for T cells and macrophages and induced syncytia. A detailed analysis of the restriction sites of the two clones showed 9 of 21 sites to be unique. These unique restriction sites were predominantly localized in the envelope region. Furthermore, the nucleotide sequence analysis of the entire gp120 region supported the results from the restriction analysis and showed that these two clones are closely related, and the differences are restricted to the variable domains. The difference in amino acid sequences in the V3 region may explain the observed differences in T cell tropism and syncytium-inducing properties. Availability of two distinct infectious molecular clones from the same patient at different stages of the disease may be useful in studies on the mechanism of HIV-1 pathogenesis.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Characterization of the masked strain of tobacco mosaic virus: identification of the region responsible for symptom attenuation by analysis of an infectious cDNA clone.

A strain of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) that produces mild (attenuated) symptoms on tobacco plants has been molecularly cloned to identify the region of the genome responsible for symptom attenuation. A full-length cDNA clone whose transcripts produce the parental disease phenotype on both systemic and hypersensitive host plants has been constructed. This infectious clone was sequenced, and 55 base changes relative to the published sequence of common TMV (strain U1) were identified. These changes resulted in 12 amino acid alterations in the open reading frames encoding the 126/183-kDa and 30-kDa movement proteins; two of these changes were determined not to be responsible for the attenuated phenotype. Exchange of restriction fragments between the infectious mild strain cDNA and an infectious U1 strain cDNA indicated that the determinants involved in symptom attenuation reside in the open reading frame encoding the 126/183-kDa proteins of TMV; these proteins are involved in viral replication.

Base Sequence↗

Whole genome sequence data of an infectious molecular clone of the SIVagm TYO-1 strain.

We first sequenced a full genome of simian immunodeficiency virus isolated from African green monkey (SIVagm) but the clone sequenced was found not to be biologically active. We subsequently succeeded in reconstructing a full genome infectious molecular clone, named pSA212. The infectious pSA212 clone (known as the TYO-1 strain of SIVagm) has been distributed widely for research analysis of SIVagm but its genome has never been fully sequenced. Here, we report the whole genome sequence of the infectious pSA212.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Construction and characterization of infectious cDNA clones of a chicken strain of hepatitis E virus (HEV), avian HEV.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV), the causative agent of hepatitis E, is an important human pathogen. Increasing evidence indicates that hepatitis E is a zoonosis. Avian HEV was recently discovered in chickens with hepatitis-splenomegaly syndrome in the USA. Like swine HEV from pigs, avian HEV is also genetically and antigenically related to human HEV. The objective of this study was to construct and characterize an infectious cDNA clone of avian HEV for future studies of HEV replication and pathogenesis. Three full-length cDNA clones of avian HEV, pT7-aHEV-5, pT7G-aHEV-10 and pT7G-aHEV-6, were constructed and their infectivity was tested by in vitro transfection of leghorn male hepatoma (LMH) chicken liver cells and by direct intrahepatic inoculation of specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens with capped RNA transcripts from the three clones. The results showed that the capped RNA transcripts from each of the three clones were replication competent when transfected into LMH cells as demonstrated by detection of viral antigens with avian HEV-specific antibodies. SPF chickens intrahepatically inoculated with the capped RNA transcripts from each of the three clones developed active avian HEV infections as evidenced by seroconversion to avian HEV antibodies, viraemia and faecal virus shedding. The infectivity was further confirmed by successful infection of naïve chickens with the viruses recovered from chickens inoculated with the RNA transcripts. The results indicated that all three cDNA clones of avian HEV are infectious both in vitro and in vivo. The availability of these infectious clones for a chicken strain of HEV now affords an opportunity to study the mechanisms of HEV cross-species infection and tissue tropism by constructing chimeric viruses among human, swine and avian HEVs.

Animals↗

In vitro phenotypic markers of a poliovirus recombinant constructed from infectious cDNA clones of the neurovirulent Mahoney strain and the attenuated Sabin 1 strain.

Infectious cDNA corresponding to the entire genome of the attenuated Sabin strain of type 1 poliovirus has been inserted into EcoRI site of bacterial plasmid pBR325. Two consecutive PstI fragments (nucleotide positions 1814 to 3421) of the infectious cDNA of the Sabin 1 strain were replaced by the corresponding DNA fragments prepared from an infectious DNA clone of the genome of the virulent Mahoney strain of poliovirus type 1. The exchanged segment encodes capsid protein VP1 and part of capsid protein VP3, a region in which a large number of amino acid differences between the attenuated Sabin and the parental, neurovirulent Mahoney strain cluster. The recombinant virus was obtained by DNA transfection of HeLa S3 cells, and several in vitro phenotypes of the virus were compared with those of the parental viruses. The recombinant virus was recognized by a neutralizing monoclonal antibody specific to the Mahoney strain. Growth of the Sabin strain of poliovirus has been shown to be quite dependent upon the bicarbonate concentration (d marker). The growth of the recombinant virus, however, was not highly dependent upon the concentration of bicarbonate in cell culture media, and thus resembled that of the Mahoney strain. On the other hand, the temperature-sensitive multiplication (rct marker) and the small-plaque morphology of the recombinant virus corresponded to the phenotype of the Sabin 1 strain. The in vitro recombination of infectious cDNA clones of genomic RNA and subsequent analysis of the growth properties of the recombinant virus have allowed us to correlate specific mutations in the genome of an RNA virus with certain biological characteristics of that virus.

Bicarbonates↗

Construction of an infectious cDNA clone of Aichi virus (a new member of the family Picornaviridae) and mutational analysis of a stem-loop structure at the 5' end of the genome.

Aichi virus is the type species of a new genus, Kobuvirus, of the family Picornaviridae. In this study, we constructed a full-length cDNA clone of Aichi virus whose in vitro transcripts were infectious to Vero cells. During construction of the infectious cDNA clone, a novel sequence of 32 nucleotides was identified at the 5' end of the genome. Computer-assisted prediction of the secondary structure of the 5' end of the genome, including the novel sequence, suggested the formation of a stable stem-loop structure consisting of 42 nucleotides. The function of this stem-loop in virus replication was investigated using various site-directed mutants derived from the infectious cDNA clone. Our data indicated that correct folding of the stem-loop at the 5' end of the positive strand, but not at the 3' end of the negative strand, is critical for viral RNA replication. The primary sequence in the lower part of the stem was also suggested to be crucial for RNA replication. In contrast, nucleotide changes in the loop segment did not so severely reduce the efficiency of virus replication. A double mutant, in which both nucleotide stretches of the middle part of the stem were replaced by their complementary nucleotides, had efficient RNA replication and translation abilities but was unable to produce viruses. These results indicate that the stem-loop at the 5' end of the Aichi virus genome is an element involved in both viral RNA replication and production of infectious virus particles.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Construction and characterization of an infectious molecular clone derived from the CRF01_AE primary isolate of HIV type 1.

An infectious molecular clone (named p95TNIH022) was constructed using long-range polymerase chain reaction products derived from a clinical isolate (95TNIH022) of HIV-1 CRF01_AE obtained from an asymptomatic Thai carrier in 1995. The virus in the supernatant from p95TNIH022-transfected 293T cells showed infectivity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as well as in MAGIC5 cells, which express CD4 and CCR5, but not in the original MAGI cells, indicating that p95TNIH022 is an infectious molecular clone with CCR5 tropism. Interestingly, p95TNIH022-derived virus induced profound cell killing in infected PBMCs, as in cells infected with the parental isolate.

Base Sequence↗

Construction of an infectious cDNA clone of Ribgrass mosaic virus Shanghai isolate and its modification to express an epitope of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Infectious cDNA clones of the Shanghai isolate of Ribgrass mosaic virus (RMV) were produced by joining four overlapping cDNA fragments and also in a single step by long template PCR. After inoculation of Nicotiana glutinosa with either RNA transcripts or the cDNA under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter, plants developed typical symptoms, and viral coat protein could be detected in them by Western blot analysis. However, compared to plants inoculated with purified viral RNA, lesions were fewer and appeared more slowly. An epitope of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis 31-kDa protein was inserted at the C-terminus of the viral coat protein by PCR using two overlapping fragments. The modified clone was also infectious and the foreign epitope could be detected serologically in the electron microscope and by Western blot analysis. The results demonstrate the potential of RMV as a viral gene vector.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

Toward a surrogate model for hepatitis C virus: An infectious molecular clone of the GB virus-B hepatitis agent.

GB virus-B (GBV-B) is a member of the Flaviviridae family of viruses. This RNA virus infects tamarins, but its natural host is not known. GBV-B has special interest because it is the virus that is most closely related to hepatitis C virus (HCV), an important human pathogen. In the present study, we identified a previously unrecognized sequence at the 3' end of the GBV-B genome. This new 3' terminal sequence can form several predicted stem-loop structures as is typical for other members of the Flaviviridae family. We constructed molecular clones and showed that the new 3' UTR sequence was critical for in vivo infectivity. After intrahepatic transfection of two tamarins with RNA transcripts of the full-length GBV-B clone, we detected high viral titers from Week 1 postinoculation with peak titers of approximately 10(8) genome equivalents/ml. The viremic pattern of GBV-B infection in the transfected animals was the same as in animals inoculated intravenously with the virus pool used as the cloning source. The sequence of the recombinant virus was recovered from one of the tamarins and shown to be identical to that of the infectious clone. The development of severe hepatitis in both tamarins infected with the recombinant GBV-B virus provides formal proof that GBV-B is a true hepatitis virus.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

Mapping specific functions in the capsid structure of canine parvovirus and feline panleukopenia virus using infectious plasmid clones.

DNA sequences between 0 and 98.8 genome map units (m.u.) from canine parvovirus (CPV) and feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) were cloned into plasmid vectors to form infectious molecular clones. Those plasmids were transfected into permissive cells and viruses recovered were shown to contain intact genomes, having regenerated the complete viral 5' ends up to 100 m.u. The viruses derived from the plasmids were compared to the original viruses, and shown to be indistinguishable in antigenic type, hemagglutination (HA) type and host range. The plasmid origin of the viruses was shown by preparing recombinant clones between CPV and FPV, and demonstrating the recombinant nature of the resulting viruses by restriction mapping and by sequencing viral DNA across the recombination sites. The sequences of our wild-type isolates CPV-d and FPV-b were completed, revealing 50 nucleotide sequence differences, of which 16 determined coding changes--5 in NS-1,2 in NS-2, and 9 in VP-2 protein. The sequences of the 5' ends (95.3-100 m.u.) of both viruses were also determined. Analysis of recombinant viruses mapped both CPV- and FPV-specific antigenic epitopes, the pH dependence of HA, and sequences affecting canine host range of the viruses within the VP-1 and VP-2 structural protein genes. Most of the specific changes were shown to be either on, or within one amino acid of, the surface of the virus capsid, indicating that the exposed surface of the parvovirus capsid plays an important role in determining a number of virus functions. The specific epitopes were affected by differences in a raised area on the capsid ("threefold spike"), while the pH dependence of HA difference was adjacent to a depression in the surface of the capsid at the twofold axis of symmetry.

Animals↗

Construction and biological characterization of infectious molecular clones of HIV-1 subtypes B and E (CRF01_AE) generated by the polymerase chain reaction.

We previously described the use of extended polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify contiguous 9.2-kilobase (kb) single-long terminal repeat (LTR) proviral sequences from HIV-1 genetic subtypes A through G. We now extend these findings by describing a novel vector system to recover infectious molecular clones from long PCR amplicons. Directional ligation of 9.2-kb proviral amplicons into a recovery vector reconstitutes missing LTR sequences, providing candidate molecular clones for infectivity screening. We show that a previously characterized infectious molecular clone of HIV-1 retains its biological properties upon recovery with this strategy. Three additional infectious molecular clones generated, from primary isolates of subtype B (HIV-1(WR27)) and circulating recombinant form 01_AE (subtype E) (HIV-1(CM235)) by subtype-specific LTR reconstitution, displayed biological properties reflecting their cognate parental isolates. This represents the first report of infectious molecular clones from circulating recombinant form 01_AE (subtype E).

Cells, Cultured↗

Examining the molecular genetics of HTLV-I with an infectious molecular clone of the virus and permissive cell culture systems.

Infectious molecular clones of HTLV-I proviruses have only recently been reported. The long wait for such provirus clones reflects the difficulties inherent in propagating HTLV-I in vitro, and thus a rigorous demonstration of infectivity has awaited improved cell culture systems and sensitive detection techniques for HTLV-I. An intact HTLV-I provirus, originating from an American ATL patient, was subcloned into a plasmid vector and was designated pCS-HTLV. Transient transfections of mammalian cells with pCS-HTLV resulted in the synthesis of viral proteins and mRNAs which were assembled into virions that had physical and morphological characteristics typical of HTLV-I particles. The ability of these virus particles to infect cells, replicate, and produce infectious progeny was demonstrated initially in short term, cell-free infection assays by monitoring the expression of specific viral mRNAs. These studies have been extended in cell culture systems that support continuous virus production. Primary T-lymphocytes have been infected either with cell-free supernatant fluids from, or by coculture with, cells transiently transfected with pCS-HTLV, giving rise to continuous, IL-2-dependent cell lines that have been in culture for >1 year. Furthermore, fetal rhesus lung cells (FRhL) were shown to be permissive for HTLV-I replication and sustained virus expression after infection with pCS-HTLV. Continuous FRhL cell lines now have been established that express various HTLV-I proviruses and mutants. These provirus clones and cell lines provide us with the means to address long-standing questions dealing with the biology of HTLV-I.

Animals↗

Construction and characterization of two infectious molecular clones of encephalomyocarditis virus.

We constructed and characterized two infectious molecular clones of encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus. Both constructs, pDL and pDA, were assembled from five overlapping cDNA clones derived from the diabetogenic variant of EMC virus (EMC-D) and from two synthetic oligonucleotide cartridges. pDA contained a single point mutation at position 1720 within the "puff" region of capsid protein 1AB that was derived from the nondiabetogenic variant of EMC virus (EMC-B). This point mutation resulted in an amino acid substitution of arginine (EMC-B) for lysine (EMC-D). Our construction illustrates two novel findings: (i) that the problem of stably cloning long poly(C) tracts of EMC virus can be circumvented by the use of a shortened, synthetic, poly(dC-dG) oligonucleotide cartridge, and (ii) that a single point mutation in the puff region of the capsid protein 1AB leads to change in its electrophoretic mobility and to a change in the plaque size of recombinant virus.

Animals↗

Neuroadapted yellow fever virus 17D: genetic and biological characterization of a highly mouse-neurovirulent virus and its infectious molecular clone.

A neuroadapted strain of yellow fever virus (YFV) 17D derived from a multiply mouse brain-passaged virus (Porterfield YF17D) was additionally passaged in SCID and normal mice. The virulence properties of this virus (SPYF) could be distinguished from nonneuroadapted virus (YF5.2iv, 17D infectious clone) by decreased average survival time in SCID mice after peripheral inoculation, decreased average survival time in normal adult mice after intracerebral inoculation, and occurrence of neuroinvasiveness in normal mice. SPYF exhibited more efficient growth in peripheral tissues of SCID mice than YF5.2iv, resulting in a more rapid accumulation of virus burden, but with low-titer viremia, at the time of fatal encephalitis. In cell culture, SPYF was less efficient in replication than YF5.2iv in all cell lines tested. The complete nucleotide sequence of SPYF revealed 29 nucleotide substitutions relative to YF5.2iv, and these were distributed throughout the genome. There were a total of 13 predicted amino acid substitutions, some of which correspond to known differences among the Asibi, French viscerotropic virus, French neurotropic vaccine, and YF17D vaccine strains. The envelope (E) protein contained five substitutions, within all three functional domains. Substitutions were also present in regions encoding the NS1, NS2A, NS4A, and NS5 proteins and in the 3' untranslated region (UTR). Construction of YFV harboring all of the identified coding nucleotide substitutions and those in the 3' UTR yielded a virus whose cell culture and pathogenic properties, particularly neurovirulence and neuroinvasiveness for SCID mice, generally resembled those of the original SPYF isolate. These findings implicate the E protein and possibly other regions of the genome as virulence determinants during pathogenesis of neuroadapted YF17D virus in mice. The determinants affect replication efficiency in both neural and extraneural tissues of the mouse and confer some limited host-range differences in cultured cells of nonmurine origin.

Animals↗

Molecular cloning of integrated simian sarcoma virus: genome organization of infectious DNA clones.

The integrated form of simian sarcoma virus (SSV) was molecularly cloned in the Charon 16A strain of bacteriophage lambda. In transfection analysis, the recombinant viral DNAs demonstrated the ability to transform cells in tissue culture at high efficiency. Such transformants possessed typical SSV morphology, expressed simian sarcoma associated virus (SSAV) gag gene products in the absence of virus release, and released SSV after superinfection with a type C helper virus. A physical map of the 5.8-kilobase-pair (kbp) recombinant viral DNA clone, deduced from restriction endonuclease analysis, revealed a 5.1-kbp SSV genome containing 0.55-kbp-long terminal repeats flanked by 0.45 and 0.25 kbp of contiguous host cell sequences. By R-loop analysis, the viral DNA molecule contained two regions of homology to SSAV, separated by a 1.0-kbp nonhomologous region. This SSV-specific sequence was shown to be uniquely represented within the normal cellular DNA of diverse mammalian species, including human. Our results demonstrate that this primate transforming retrovirus arose in nature by recombination of a type C helper virus and a host cellular gene.

Animals↗

An infectious cDNA clone of the poliovirus Sabin strain could be used as a stable repository and inoculum for the oral polio live vaccine.

Viruses were recovered from HeLa S3 cells and African green monkey kidney (AGMK) cells transfected with an infectious cDNA clone of poliovirus vaccine Sabin 1 strain. The viruses recovered from the different DNA-transfected cells were tested for the biological characteristics of temperature sensitivity (rct marker), plaque size, and bicarbonate concentration dependency (d marker). The results revealed that the above properties were similar to those obtained from tests on the Sabin 1 vaccine reference strain. The recovered viruses and the vaccine reference virus were passaged in AGMK cells at an elevated temperature of 37.5 degrees, and the passaged isolates were tested for the rct marker. The virus recovered from AGMK cells had the most stable rct phenotype while the virus from HeLa S3 cells had a similar stability to that of the reference virus, suggesting that the virus from AGMK cells would be more suitable as a vaccine strain than the other two viruses. Furthermore, an infectious cDNA clone of high specific infectivity, constructed by introducing SV40 large T antigen into the plasmid, was used for production of high titers of virus after transfection. The results of in vitro biological tests on the recovered virus suggested that virus produced in the transfected AGMK cells also had the high quality that is desirable in vaccine stocks. Monkey neurovirulence tests performed with these recovered viruses revealed that the recovered viruses were weakly neurovirulent, similar to the vaccine reference virus. The infectious cDNA clone of the poliovirus vaccine strain could therefore be used to generate a possible inoculum of the oral polio live vaccine. Our findings strongly suggest that an infectious cDNA clone of poliovirus RNA may be used to preserve the constancy and quality of the present seed viruses of the Sabin 1 vaccine strain.

Animals↗