Comparative analysis of SARS-CoV-2 variants Alpha (B.1.1.7), Gamma (P.1), Zeta (P.2) and Delta (B.1.617.2) in Vero-E6 cells: ultrastructural characterization of cytopathology and replication kinetics

Abstract This study compares the effects of virus-cell interactions among SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) isolated in Brazil in 2021, hypothesizing a correlation between cellular alterations and mortality and between viral load and transmissibility. For this purpose, reference isolates of Alpha, Gamma, Zeta, and Delta variants were inoculated into monolayers of Vero-E6 cells. Viral RNA was quantified in cell supernatants by RT‒PCR, and infected cells were analyzed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of cellular changes 24, 48, and 72 hours postinfection (hpi). Ultrastructural analyses showed that all variants of SARS-CoV-2 altered the structure and function of mitochondria, nucleus, and rough endoplasmic reticulum of cells. Monolayers infected with the Delta variant showed the highest number of modified cells and the greatest statistically significant differences compared to those of other variants. Viral particles were observed in the cytosol and the cell membrane in 100 % of the cells at 48 hpi. Alpha showed the highest mean particle diameter (79 nm), and Gamma and Delta were the smallest (75 nm). Alpha and Gamma had the highest particle frequency per field at 48 hpi, while the same was observed for Zeta and Delta at 72 hpi and 24 hpi, respectively. The cycle threshold of viral RNA varied among the target protein, VOC, and time of infection. The findings presented here demonstrate that all four VOCs evaluated caused ultrastructural changes in Vero-E6 cells, which were more prominent when infection occured with the Delta variant.

Isolation and identification of a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 strain in feces from COVID-19 patients in Shanghai / 上海预防医学

ObjectiveTo isolate and study the biological characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 （SARS-CoV-2） from feces of coronavirus disease 2019 （COVID-19） patients. MethodsVero E6 cells were used for virus isolation and the isolated strains were tested by nucleic acid test， immunofluorescence test， virulence test and whole genome sequencing. 50% tissue culture infective dose （TCID50） was calculated after the cell cultures of each generation were collected ResultsEight fecal specimens were inoculated with Vero E6 cells after treatment and cultured for 48 h. One specimen showed obvious cytopathic effect on Vero E6 cells. One SARS-CoV-2 out of 8 fecal samples from COVID-19 patients were isolated， and separation rate was 12.5%. The TCID50 of P1， P2 and P3 were 104.0/0.2 mL， 104.5/0.2 mL and 104.75/0.2 mL， respectively. Only one of the 8 stool samples had SARS-CoV-2 virus replication and amplification， and the Ct value of the nucleic acid detection was about 10. The sequence of the isolation was more than 99.99% homologous with that of Wuhan-Hu-1（GenBank MN908947）. ConclusionThe SARS-CoV-2 strain is isolated from the fecal samples of COVID-19 cases and is confirmed by genomic sequencing and immunofluorescence test， which indicates the presence of live virus in feces of COVID-19 cases.

Establishment and evaluation of a fluorescent antibody assay against varicella-zoster virus membrane antigen based on Vero E6 cells / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To establish and evaluate a fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen (FAMA) method for detecting antibodies against varicella-zoster virus (VZV) based on Vero E6 cells. 【Methods】 Based on the adapted VZV-Oka-E6 strain that VZV-Oka live attenuated varicella vaccine strain grew in Vero E6 cells, Vero E6 cells were infected with VZV-Oka-E6 of three different doses (104.65, 104.95 and 105.25 TCID50), and the cytopathic effect was observed under a microscope to determine the optimal infection dose of VZV-Oka-E6 strain. Then the detectable sensitivity of the infected cell antigen slides prepared after fixing the infected cells with different fixatives was compared to determine the optimal fixative. As a result, the FAMA method based on Vero E6 cells for the determination of neutralizing anti-VZV has been developed. The established FAMA assay was used to detect the international standard for varicella zoster immunoglobulin with different titers to determine the sensitivity of the assay. The specificity of the assay was evaluated by detecting specific antibodies against human herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 and type 2. The neutralizing anti-VZV antibodies of the international standard for varicella zoster immunoglobulin were detected using VZV-infected cell antigen slides prepared in the same batch and four different batches, respectively, to determine the intra-assay repeatability and inter-assay repeatability. The international standard for varicella zoster immunoglobulin with three known titers was detected to evaluate the relative accuracy of this assay. The anti-VZV titers in 20 apheresis plasma samples were determined with the newly established FAMA test and ELISA test, respectively, and the detection results of the two methods were compared using Spearman’s correlation test. 【Results】 The optimal infection dose of the VZV-Oka-E6 strain in FAMA assay was determined to be 105.25 TCID50, and acetone precooled at -20℃ was used as the fixative. The FAMA test has a high sensitivity with a detecting limit of 31.25 mIU/mL for neutralizing anti-VZV titers. The negative result was observed when detecting herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 and 2 specific antibodies. The international standard for varicella zoster immunoglobulin was detected by VZV infected cell antigen slides prepared in the same batch and 4 different batches, with the coefficient of variation being 29.95% and 26.71%, respectively. The detection value of the international standard for varicella zoster immunoglobulin with three different titer levels was consistent with their theoretical value. The correlation coefficient of the detection results of 20 apheresis plasma samples by the FAMA test and ELISA test was 0.268. 【Conclusion】 The VZV FAMA assay has good sensitivity, specificity, repeatability, and relative accuracy in detecting neutralizing anti-VZV titers. It can be applied for detecting neutralizing anti-VZV titers in apheresis plasma samples as well as the varicella-zoster immunoglobulin (VZIG) preparations.

Morphology and morphogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 in Vero-E6 cells

BACKGROUND The coronaviruses (CoVs) called the attention of the world for causing outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV), in Asia in 2002-03, and respiratory disease in the Middle East (MERS-CoV), in 2012. In December 2019, yet again a new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) first identified in Wuhan, China, was associated with a severe respiratory infection, known today as COVID-19. This new virus quickly spread throughout China and 30 additional countries. As result, the World Health Organization (WHO) elevated the status of the COVID-19 outbreak from emergency of international concern to pandemic on March 11, 2020. The impact of COVID-19 on public health and economy fueled a worldwide race to approve therapeutic and prophylactic agents, but so far, there are no specific antiviral drugs or vaccines available. In current scenario, the development of in vitro systems for viral mass production and for testing antiviral and vaccine candidates proves to be an urgent matter. OBJECTIVE The objective of this paper is study the biology of SARS-CoV-2 in Vero-E6 cells at the ultrastructural level. METHODS In this study, we documented, by transmission electron microscopy and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the infection of Vero-E6 cells with SARS-CoV-2 samples isolated from Brazilian patients. FINDINGS The infected cells presented cytopathic effects and SARS-CoV-2 particles were observed attached to the cell surface and inside cytoplasmic vesicles. The entry of the virus into cells occurred through the endocytic pathway or by fusion of the viral envelope with the cell membrane. Assembled nucleocapsids were verified inside rough endoplasmic reticulum cisterns (RER). Viral maturation seemed to occur by budding of viral particles from the RER into smooth membrane vesicles. MAIN CONCLUSIONS Therefore, the susceptibility of Vero-E6 cells to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the viral pathway inside the cells were demonstrated by ultrastructural analysis.

Isolation of Chandipura virus (Vesiculovirus: Rhabdoviridae) from Sergentomyia species of sandflies from Nagpur, Maharashtra, India.

Background & objectives: An outbreak of acute encephalitis syndrome was reported from Vidarbha region of Maharashtra state, India, during July 2012. Anti-IgM antibodies against Chandipura virus (CHPV) were detected in clinical samples. Sandfly collections were done to determine their role in CHPV transmission. Methods: Twenty nine pools of Sergentomyia spp. comprising 625 specimens were processed for virus isolation in Vero E6 cell line. Diagnostic RT-PCR targeting N-gene was carried out with the sample that showed cytopathic effects (CPE). The PCR product was sequenced, analysed and the sequences were deposited in Genbank database. Results: CPE in Vero E6 cell line infected with three pools was detected at 48 h post infection. However, virus could be isolated only from one pool. RT-PCR studies demonstrated 527 nucleotide product that confirmed the agent as CHPV. Sequence analysis of the new isolate showed difference in 10-12 nucleotides in comparison to earlier isolates. Interpretation & conclusions: This is perhaps the first isolation of CHPV from Sergentomyia spp. in India and virus isolation during transmission season suggests their probable role in CHPV transmission. Further studies need to be done to confirm the precise role of Sargentomyia spp. in CHPV transmission.

Chandipura virus growth kinetics in vertebrate cell lines, insect cell lines & embryonated eggs.

Background & objectives: Since not much information on Chandipura virus is available, an attempt was made to study the growth kinetics of the virus in certain vertebrate, invertebrate cell lines and embryonated chicken eggs. Methods: Comparative study of Chandipura virus (CHPV) growth kinetics in three vertebrate cell lines [Vero E6, Rhabdo myosarcoma (RD), Porcine stable kidney (PS) cell lines], two insect cell lines [Aedes aegypti (AA) and Phlebotomus papatasi (PP-9) cell lines] and embryonated pathogen free chicken eggs was conducted, by tissue culture infective dose 50 per cent (TCID50) and indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Results: All the cell lines and embryonated egg supported the growth of CHPV and yielded high virus titre. The vertebrate cell lines showed distinct cytopathic effect (CPE) within 4-6 h post infection (PI), while no CPE was observed in insect cell lines. PP-9 cell line was the most sensitive system to CHPV as viral antigen could be detected at 1 h PI by IFA. Interpretation & conclusions: Our results demonstrated that all the systems were susceptible to CHPV and achieved high yield of virus. However, the PP-9 cell line had an edge over the others due to its high sensitivity to the virus which might be useful for detection and isolation of the virus during epidemics.

Electron Microscopic Study on the Replcation of Hantaan Virus in Vero-E6 Cells

Noabstract available.

Isolation and Identification of cytopathogenic Effect Strains of Epidemic Hemorrhagic Virus in Vero-E_6 Cell Culture / 第三军医大学学报

Five strains out of the 8 of epidermic hemorrhagic fever(EHF)virus isolated from the serum of the acute phase of EHF patients in Nanchong, Sichuan were found to have cytopathogenic effect(CPE)through 4th to 10th passages in Vero-E6 cell culture. The biological, physico-chemical and antigenic characteristics of HFN-04 and HFN-19, 2 out of the 5 CPE strains, were identified. The results were as follows;( 1 ) The CPE development and the dynamic proliferation of the virus areconsistent. ( 2 ) The main biological and physico-chemical characteristics of the 2 CPEstrains arc the same as those of EHF virus.( 3 ) When paired samples of EHF patients' serum were tested with the slide antigens of E6 cells infected with these CPE strains, all the convalescent serum demonstrated an increase by 4 fold or more of the IFA. titer.( 4 ) The CPE of the virus can be neutralized by EHF patient's serum or EHF and KHF antisera, but not by normal rabbit serum or the multivalent serum of Reovirus type 1-3.( 5 ) The E6 cells infected by CPE strains of virus can almost fully absorbthe specific antibodies in EHF patients or in EHF and KHF antisera.( 6 ) The suspension of the mouse brain infected by CPE strains can formpositive agglutination reaction with the sentitized blood cells by EHFvirus strain A9 McAb 25-1.On the basis of our observation, it can be concluded that at least certain strains of EHF virus can produce CPE in Vero-E6 cell culture.