Collaborative study for the characterization of a chikungunya virus RNA reference reagent for use in nucleic acid testing.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Infections with the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus (CHIKV) can cause febrile illness or be asymptomatic. Laboratory diagnosis of CHIKV is often made with laboratory-developed nucleic acid amplification technology (NAT) assays because there are no U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved diagnostic or blood screening assays. We aimed to produce a well-characterized CHIKV RNA reference reagent (CHIKV-RR) for use in NAT assays. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A CHIKV RNA-RR consisting of cell culture-grown, heat-inactivated CHIKV diluted in human plasma was assessed by 8 laboratories in a collaborative study. The participants were asked to test the CHIKV-RR using their NAT assay(s) by qualitative testing (determination of RNA end-point by testing log and half-log dilutions followed by calculation of estimated NAT-detectable units/ml, after adjustment for the sample volume used for testing), and by quantitative testing, when available. RESULTS: Results from the testing showed that the CHIKV-RR had an estimated overall mean of 7.56 log10 detectable units/ml, ranging from 6.2 log10 to 8.6 log10. CONCLUSIONS: The Center for Biologics for Evaluation and Research/FDA CHIKV RNA-RR for NAT was established with a concentration of 7.56 log10 detectable units/ml.

An international collaborative study to establish the 2nd World Health Organization International Standard for hepatitis B virus DNA nucleic acid amplification technology-based assays.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to replace the 1st World Health Organization International Standard for hepatitis B virus DNA for nucleic acid amplification technique (NAT)-based assays (code 97/746) with a new International Standard. Two lyophilized preparations freeze dried from the same bulk were evaluated in the original collaborative study (coded 97/746 and 97/750, and termed AA and BB, respectively, in the original study). This present study re-evaluates these two preparations in terms of potency and real-time stability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 1(st) International Standard (97/746) and the second lyophilized preparation (97/750) were coded Samples 1 and 2, respectively, in the present study. The samples were distributed to six laboratories and assayed on four separate occasions. Accelerated thermal degradation samples of the two preparations were examined after long-term storage at 4 degrees C and 20 degrees C for more than 51 months. RESULTS: Data were returned from a total of nine different NAT-based assays, five in qualitative format and four in quantitative format. The results of this study confirm the results of the original collaborative study, with no significant differences being found in estimated international units (IU)/ml or polymerase chain reaction-detectable units/ml for the 1(st) International Standard (Sample 1 in this study) and the proposed replacement preparation, Sample 2 (97/750). Real-time and accelerated degradation studies indicate that both samples are very stable. Storage of both preparations at 20 degrees C for more than 51 months resulted in no detectable degradation. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the data presented in this collaborative study, Sample 2 (code 97/750) was established as the 2nd International Standard for hepatitis B virus DNA for NAT-based assays with a potency of 10(6) IU/ml (500,000 IU/vial).

Detection of emerging HIV variants in blood donors from urban areas of Cameroon.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has licensed several assays for use in donor testing and management of persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. However, the performance of these assays for detection and quantitation of emerging HIV genetic variants has not been studied extensively. We tested 240 human plasma specimens collected from two urban blood centers in Cameroon where HIV genetic diversity and recombinant HIV strains are highly prevalent, using several FDA licensed assays. The testing record in Cameroon indicated that 149 specimens were HIV antibody positive and 91 specimens were negative using a rapid HIV-1/2 antibody assay in routine use in Cameroon blood centers. Both sets of samples were evaluated in the FDA laboratory using four ELISA tests for HIV-1 group M, HIV-1 group O, and HIV-2 antibodies, one IFA for HIV-1 antibody, one Western blot for HIV-1, one HIV-1 p-24 antigen assay, and three nucleic acid tests (NAT). Our results indicate that the assays had high sensitivity for detection of emerging genetic variants, although a small number of samples harboring circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) found in Cameroon were not always consistently detected by a few assays. These findings may be due to the evolving genetic diversity of HIV strains in Cameroon.

Real-time PCR for the detection of Cryptosporidium parvum.

Real time, TaqMan PCR assays were developed for the Cp11 and 18S rRNA genes of the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum. The TaqMan probes were specific for the genus Cryptosporidium, but could not hybridize exclusively with human-infectious C. parvum species and genotypes. In conjunction with development of the TaqMan assays, two commercial kits, the Mo Bio UltraClean Soil DNA kit, and the Qiagen QIAamp DNA Stool kit, were evaluated for DNA extraction from calf diarrhea and manure, and potassium dichromate and formalin preserved human feces. Real-time quantitation was achieved with the diarrhea samples, but nested PCR was necessary to detect C. parvum DNA in manure and human feces. Ileal tissues were obtained from calves at 3, 7, and 14 days post-infection, and DNA extracted and assayed. Nested PCR detected C. parvum DNA in the 7-day post-infection sample, but neither of the other time point samples were positive. These results indicate that real-time quantitation of C. parvum DNA, extracted using the commercial kits, is feasible on diarrheic feces, with large numbers of oocysts and small concentrations of PCR inhibitor(s). For samples with few oocysts and high concentrations of PCR inhibitor(s), such as manure, nested PCR is necessary for detection.

Production and characterization of human monoclonal antibody Fab fragments to vaccinia virus from a phage-display combinatorial library.

A combinatorial, phage-display library of human Fab antibody fragments was generated from IgG heavy chain (HC) and light chain (LC) genes cloned from the lymphocytes of a vaccinia virus (VACV)-immune donor. To ascertain the complexity of the library, nucleotide sequences of the variable regions of the HC and LC genes were determined. Fourteen distinct HC and 18 distinct LC (7 kappa and 11 lambda) that formed a combinatorial library of 22 Fabs were identified. Immune-precipitation of radiolabeled VACV revealed that at least six different VACV proteins were recognized by the antibodies. Plaque-reduction neutralization demonstrated that six of the Fabs neutralized VACV in the presence of anti-human antibody. ELISA studies indicated that 15 of the Fabs were cross-reactive with monkeypox virus.

IL-3 and ribavirin induce differentiation and growth suppression during long-term treatment of a megakaryocytic leukemia cell line.

Differentiation of the megakaryocytic leukemia cells, CMK, was induced by long-term (12 day) treatment with the combination of IL-3 and the nucleoside analogue ribavirin (RV), which reduces cellular GTP levels. In a previous report we demonstrated the induction of early messages and antigens, as well as the formation of giant polyploid cells in the cultures (Majumdar et al., 1994, J. Cell. Physiol., 160:29-39). Here we show high level induction of messages for the late markers, Platelet Factor 4, GMP140 (P-Selectin), thrombospondin, and beta thromboglobulin. The induced cells are also positive for these antigens by immunocytochemical analysis. The high level message induction resulted from synergy between the inducers. Pretreatment of the cells with IL-3 could accelerate the rise in message seen with the inducer combination. The increase in differentiation markers was accompanied by a reduction of the proliferative capacity of the cells. Riboguanosine, which has anti differentiation activity, blocked the induction of early and late antigens by the inducer combination, and also by IL-3 acting alone, but did not block the reduction in proliferative competence. In this model of megakaryocytic differentiation IL-3 treatment yields an initial stimulation of growth followed by growth suppression, and is the principal driver of the differentiation process. RV functions primarily as a stimulator of message and protein expression in synergy with IL-3.

IL-3 and ribavirin induce high level expression of megakaryocytic markers and messages during long-term treatment of a megakaryocytic leukemia cell line.

Megakaryocyte differentiation is a lengthy process with cells moving through a continuum delineated by the sequential expression of specific gene products. The limited number of primary cells available from marrow for analysis has brought attention to some leukemic cell lines which show enhanced megakaryocyte marker expression following incubation with inducing agents, the most common of which is phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). We developed an alternative induction protocol for the megakaryocytic leukemic cell line CMK, which involved incubation of the cells with IL-3 and the nucleoside analog, ribavirin, for 1-2 weeks. This treatment was neither toxic nor cytostatic and yielded increased levels of the surface glycoproteins GPIIb/IIIA and GPIb-IX. Levels of some megakaryocytic messages (GPIIIa, GPIX) showed a marked rise by 12 days of incubation in the inducer combination. This was due to a synergistic interaction between IL-3 and ribavirin which influenced both transcriptional and posttranscriptional events. Light and electron microscopy demonstrated the presence of large polyploid cells, with morphological features similar to those of megakaryocytes, in the induced cultures. Analysis of the heterogeneity of response in the cell population to the induction regimen after several days of treatment suggested that cells which failed to display surface markers had been stimulated by the inducers but did not have sufficient time to complete expression of that marker. The results were consistent with the view that the cells in the starting population were distributed along a temporal expression pathway, and those which were first to express the earliest marker would also lead in the expression of a later marker. The order of expression was the same as that during normal megakaryocyte development.

Regulation of murine mononuclear phagocyte inflammatory products by macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Lack of IL-1 and prostaglandin E2 production and generation of a specific IL-1 inhibitor.

The influence of macrophage (M)-CSF on the production of inflammatory mediators has been examined in murine peritoneal macrophages. Cultures of macrophages treated with up to 30,000 U/ml of human rM-CSF or with 10,000 U/ml of L929-derived M-CSF did not reveal either PGE2, IL-1, or IL-6 secretion. In contrast, LPS, which served as a positive control, stimulated production of significant levels of PGE2, IL-1, and IL-6. Furthermore, Northern blot analysis of macrophage RNA revealed a strong induction of IL-1 alpha and IL-6 mRNA by LPS but not by M-CSF. Conditioned medium from macrophage cultures treated with purified L929 or human rM-CSF in combination with LPS exhibited a significant reduction of IL-1 bioactivity as compared with an LPS challenge alone. To investigate the mechanism involved in this M-CSF-dependent reduction of IL-1 bioactivity, we measured IL-1 alpha gene expression. The addition of M-CSF to LPS-treated macrophages did not affect IL-1 alpha mRNA levels suggesting that M-CSF may regulate production of an IL-1 inhibitor. This hypothesis was shown to be valid because removal of IL-1 alpha from conditioned medium of LPS plus M-CSF-treated cells allowed the detection of a nondialyzable factor that blocked IL-1-dependent thymocyte proliferation. The inhibitor appeared to be specific because it did not inhibit IL-2 and TNF bioactivities. Furthermore, this IL-1 inhibitor, which binds to cells and not to IL-1, competed with the binding of radioactive IL-1 alpha or beta to EL-4.6.1 cells. The results demonstrate that M-CSF alone does not induce proinflammatory mediators and PGE2 as was previously published. The data also suggest that M-CSF may play a role in the down-regulation of inflammatory responses.

Infection with a TGF-alpha retroviral vector transforms normal mouse mammary epithelial cells but not normal rat fibroblasts.

A cDNA clone of human transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) was introduced into two different retroviral vectors under the transcriptional control of either the viral LTR, vector 1520, or an internal mouse metallothionein-1 promoter, vector 1522. Infection of normal rat kidney fibroblasts (NRK-49F) and mouse mammary epithelial cells (NOG-8), followed by selection, allowed isolation of individual colonies expressing human TGF-alpha. NRK-49F and NOG-8 1520 infectants conditioned their media with equivalent amounts of TGF-alpha protein but responded differently to autocrine stimulation. NOG-8 infectants formed colonies in soft agar and tumors in nude mice. However, while the NRK-49F infectants proliferated in the presence of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), a response that requires epidermal growth factor (EGF) or TGF-alpha, they exhibited neither anchorage independent growth nor tumorigenicity. NRK-49F cells infected with the 1522 vector produced five-fold more TGF-alpha than the 1520 infectants. Increasing the level of TGF-alpha production by the NRK-49F cells in this way was sufficient to promote agar growth of the cells in the presence of TGF-beta but insufficient to promote tumorigenesis. The EGF receptor level is approximately ten-fold higher on the NOG-8 epithelial cells than on the NRK-49F fibroblast. This fact, in conjunction with the experimental results, suggest that the target cell type and its ability to respond to TGF-alpha is as critical for autocrine stimulation as the amount of growth factor produced by the cells.

The complete coding sequence of the human raf oncogene and the corresponding structure of the c-raf-1 gene.

The complete 648 amino acid sequence of the human raf oncogene was deduced from the 2977 nucleotide sequence of a fetal liver cDNA. The cDNA has been used to obtain clones which extend the human c-raf-1 locus by an additional 18.9 kb at the 5' end and contain all the remaining coding exons.

Structure and biological activity of human homologs of the raf/mil oncogene.

Two human genes homologous to the raf/mil oncogene have been cloned and sequenced. One, c-raf-2, is a processed pseudogene; the other, c-raf-1, contains nine exons homologous to both raf and mil and two additional exons homologous to mil. A 3' portion of c-raf-1 containing six of the seven amino acid differences relative to murine v-raf can substitute for the 3' portion of v-raf in a transformation assay. Sequence homologies between c-raf-1 and Moloney leukemia virus at both ends of v-raf indicate that the viral gene was acquired by homologous recombination. Although the data are consistent with the traditional model of retroviral transduction, they also raise the possibility that the transduction occurred in a double crossover event between proviral DNA and the murine gene.