Infection of human dendritic cells by a sindbis virus replicon vector is determined by a single amino acid substitution in the E2 glycoprotein.

The ability to target antigen-presenting cells with vectors encoding desired antigens holds the promise of potent prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines for infectious diseases and cancer. Toward this goal, we derived variants of the prototype alphavirus, Sindbis virus (SIN), with differential abilities to infect human dendritic cells. Cloning and sequencing of the SIN variant genomes revealed that the genetic determinant for human dendritic cell (DC) tropism mapped to a single amino acid substitution at residue 160 of the envelope glycoprotein E2. Packaging of SIN replicon vectors with the E2 glycoprotein from a DC-tropic variant conferred a similar ability to efficiently infect immature human DC, whereupon those DC were observed to undergo rapid activation and maturation. The SIN replicon particles infected skin-resident mouse DC in vivo, which subsequently migrated to the draining lymph nodes and upregulated cell surface expression of major histocompatibility complex and costimulatory molecules. Furthermore, SIN replicon particles encoding human immunodeficiency virus type 1 p55(Gag) elicited robust Gag-specific T-cell responses in vitro and in vivo, demonstrating that infected DC maintained their ability to process and present replicon-encoded antigen. Interestingly, human and mouse DC were differentially infected by selected SIN variants, suggesting differences in receptor expression between human and murine DC. Taken together, these data illustrate the tremendous potential of using a directed approach in generating alphavirus vaccine vectors that target and activate antigen-presenting cells, resulting in robust antigen-specific immune responses.

Replicon vectors derived from Sindbis virus and Semliki forest virus that establish persistent replication in host cells.

Alphavirus replicon vectors are well suited for applications where transient, high-level expression of a heterologous gene is required. Replicon vector expression in cells leads to inhibition of host macromolecular synthesis, culminating in eventual cell death by an apoptotic mechanism. For many applications, including gene expression studies in cultured cells, a longer duration of transgene expression without resulting cytopathic effects is useful. Recently, noncytopathic Sindbis virus (SIN) variants were isolated in BHK cells, and the mutations responsible were mapped to the protease domain of nonstructural protein 2 (nsP2). We report here the isolation of additional variants of both SIN and Semliki Forest virus (SFV) replicons encoding the neomycin resistance gene that can establish persistent replication in BHK cells. The SIN and SFV variant replicons resulted from previously undescribed mutations within one of three discrete regions of the nsP2 gene. Differences among the panel of variants were observed in processing of the nonstructural polyprotein and in the ratios of subgenomic to genomic RNAs. Importantly, high-level expression of a heterologous gene was retained with most replicons. Finally, in contrast to previous studies, efficient packaging was obtained with several of the variant replicons. This work expands the utility of noncytopathic replicons and the understanding of how alphavirus replicons establish persistent replication in cultured cells.

Alphavirus DNA and particle replicons for vaccines and gene therapy.

Alphaviruses have several features that make them attractive as gene delivery platforms, and vectors derived principally from Sindbis virus (SIN), Semliki Forest virus (SFV), and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE), are currently being developed as prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines for infectious diseases and cancer. Alphavirus vectors, termed "replicons", retain the nonstructural protein genes encoding the viral replicase, that in turn programme high level cytoplasmic amplification of the vector RNA. We have developed plasmid DNA and recombinant vector particle delivery systems derived from the prototype alphavirus, SIN. Each system uses RNA polymerase II-based expression of alphavirus genome components and both vector formats are highly efficacious towards inducing robust antigen-specific immune responses in vaccinated animals. To increase the potency of SIN vector particles, which are not known to be lymphotropic, the tropism was re-directed for efficient infection of dendritic cells, both in vitro and in vivo.

Stable alphavirus packaging cell lines for Sindbis virus and Semliki Forest virus-derived vectors.

Alphavirus vectors are being developed for possible human vaccine and gene therapy applications. We have sought to advance this field by devising DNA-based vectors and approaches for the production of recombinant vector particles. In this work, we generated a panel of alphavirus vector packaging cell lines (PCLs). These cell lines were stably transformed with expression cassettes that constitutively produced RNA transcripts encoding the Sindbis virus structural proteins under the regulation of their native subgenomic RNA promoter. As such, translation of the structural proteins was highly inducible and was detected only after synthesis of an authentic subgenomic mRNA by the vector-encoded replicase proteins. Efficient production of biologically active vector particles occurred after introduction of Sindbis virus vectors into the PCLs. In one configuration, the capsid and envelope glycoproteins were separated into distinct cassettes, resulting in vector packaging levels of 10(7) infectious units/ml, but reducing the generation of contaminating replication-competent virus below the limit of detection. Vector particle seed stocks could be amplified after low multiplicity of infection of PCLs, again without generating replication-competent virus, suggesting utility for production of large-scale vector preparations. Furthermore, both Sindbis virus-based and Semliki Forest virus-based vectors could be packaged with similar efficiency, indicating the possibility of developing a single PCL for use with multiple alphavirus-derived vectors.

DNA immunization against herpes simplex virus: enhanced efficacy using a Sindbis virus-based vector.

Previously we reported the development of a plasmid DNA expression vector system derived from Sindbis virus (T. W. Dubensky, Jr., et al., J. Virol. 70:508-519, 1996). In vitro, such vectors exhibit high-level heterologous gene expression via self-amplifying cytoplasmic RNA replication. In the present study, we demonstrated the in vivo efficacy of the Sindbis virus-based pSIN vectors as DNA vaccines. A single intramuscular immunization of BALB/c mice with pSIN vectors expressing the glycoprotein B of herpes simplex virus type 1 induced a broad spectrum of immune responses, including virus-specific antibodies, cytotoxic T cells, and protection from lethal virus challenge in two different murine models. In addition, dosing studies demonstrated that the pSIN vectors were superior to a conventional plasmid DNA vector in the induction of all immune parameters tested. In general, 100- to 1,000-fold-lower doses of pSIN were needed to induce the same level of responsiveness as that achieved with the conventional plasmid DNA vector. In some instances, significant immune responses were induced with a single dose of pSIN as low as 10 ng/mouse. These results indicate the potential usefulness of alphavirus-based vectors for DNA immunization in general and more specifically as a herpes simplex virus vaccine.

Plasmid DNA-based alphavirus expression vectors for nucleic acid immunization.

Alphavirus-derived vectors are being developed for vaccine, gene therapy and recombinant protein production applications, based in part on observations of transient, high level expression of heterologous genes in eukaryotic cells. Efficient means for launching the RNA alphavirus genome from RNA polymerase II expression cassettes have been developed, obviating the need for transcription in vitro of long cDNA templates. One system being developed from this technology is a layered plasmid DNA vector which, when inoculated directly into animal muscle, launches a self-amplifying alphavirus vector, resulting in subsequent induction of comparatively robust immune responses specific for the expressed antigen.

Sindbis virus DNA-based expression vectors: utility for in vitro and in vivo gene transfer.

Several DNA-based Sindbis virus vectors were constructed to investigate the feasibility and potential applications for initiating the virus life cycle in cells transfected directly with plasmid DNA. These vectors, when transfected into mammalian cells, have been used to produce virus, to express heterologous genes, and to produce infectious vector particles. This approach involved the conversion of a self-replicating vector RNA (replicon) into a layered DNA-based expression system. The first layer includes a eukaryotic RNA polymerase II expression cassette that initiates nuclear transcription of an RNA which corresponds to the Sindbis virus vector replicon. Following transport of this RNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, the second layer, autocatalytic amplification of the vector, proceeds according to the Sindbis virus replication cycle and results in expression of the heterologous gene. The Sindbis virus DNA vectors expressed reporter genes in transfected cells at levels that were comparable to those of in vitro-transcribed RNA replicons and were approximately 10-fold higher than the levels produced by conventional RNA polymerase II-dependent plasmids in which the promoter and reporter gene were linked directly. Reporter gene expression was also observed in rodent muscle following injection with Sindbis virus DNA vectors. In a second application, packaged vector particles were produced in cells cotransfected with complementing replicon and defective helper DNAs. The Sindbis virus-derived DNA vectors described here increase the utility of alphavirus-based vector systems in general and also provide a vector with broad potential applications for genetic immunization.

Biosynthesis of reovirus-specified polypeptides: identification of regions of the bicistronic reovirus S1 mRNA that affect the efficiency of translation in animal cells.

The reovirus S1 gene cDNA was systematically altered by site-directed mutagenesis in an attempt to identify regions important in determining the relative efficiency of translation of the two open reading frames of the bicistronic S1 mRNA. The synthesis of the minor capsid protein sigma 1 encoded by ORF1, extending from AUG14 to UGA1424, and the synthesis of the nonstructural protein sigma 1NS encoded by ORF2, extending from AUG75 to UAG432, were examined in transfected COS cells. Deletion of the 5'-untranslated region upstream of ORF1 AUG14 did not significantly affect either the relative amount, or the ratio, of sigma 1 and sigma 1NS synthesized. Creation of a strong context ORF1 initiation site by substitution of 5'-untranslated region nucleotides flanking AUG14 likewise did not affect sigma 1 synthesis, but sigma 1NS synthesis from ORF2 was decreased about twofold relative to wild-type S1 mRNA. The amount of sigma 1NS synthesis was increased less than twofold either by elimination of the ORF1 AUG14 initiation codon or by termination of sigma 1 synthesis shortly after initiation from AUG14. No sigma 1 synthesis was detected when the ORF1 AUG14 was mutated to a UUG14 codon. When ribosomes which initiated translation at AUG14 were frameshifted at the next codon after AUG14, elongation occurred with comparable efficiency in the sigma 1NS ORF2 and in sigma 1 ORF1. No sigma 1NS synthesis was detected when the ORF2 AUG75 was mutated to an CUG75 codon, and this mutation did not affect the amount of sigma 1 synthesis. sigma 1NS synthesis was not affected by truncation of the 3'-untranslated region or premature termination of sigma 1 synthesis shortly after the ORF2 UAG432. However, truncation of the ORF2 5'-untranslated region at either 6 or 36 nt following the ORF1 AUG14 significantly increased the efficiency of sigma 1NS synthesis. These results indicate that the region of the S1 mRNA immediately downstream of the sigma 1 ORF1 initiation codon AUG14 but well upstream of the sigma 1NS ORF2 initiation codon AUG75 plays a major role in determining the relative efficiency of synthesis of sigma 1 and sigma 1NS from the reovirus bicistronic s1 mRNA.

Biosynthesis of reovirus-specified polypeptides: expression of reovirus S1-encoded sigma 1NS protein in transfected and infected cells as measured with serotype specific polyclonal antibody.

Polyclonal monospecific antibody was prepared against the reovirus serotype 1 Lang strain nonstructural sigma 1NS protein encoded by the S1 gene. The antibody was serotype-specific. The sigma 1NS protein of reovirus serotype 1, but not reovirus serotype 3, was recognized by the polyclonal antibody in both immunoprecipitation and Western immunoblot assays. The sigma 1NS protein expressed in vector-transfected COS cells was indistinguishable by immunoprecipitation and immunoblot analyses from the authentic sigma 1NS protein synthesized in virus-infected mouse L or monkey COS cells. The temporal appearance of sigma 1NS protein in virus-infected cells was similar to that of the other reovirus proteins. Both sigma 1NS and sigma 1, the two S1 gene products, were observed in the cytoplasm of COS cells by immunofluorescent microscopy, although their staining patterns were distinct from each other. However, sigma 1NS, but not sigma 1 or the other reovirion structural proteins, was also detected in the nucleoli of COS cells. These results suggest that sigma 1NS, like sigma 1, is a serotype-specific reovirus protein, but unlike sigma 1 is localized in part to the cell nucleus.