Corrigendum to "Assessment of trivalent live influenza vaccines in MDCK cell line" [MethodsX 8 (2021) 101442].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2021.101442.].

Assessment of trivalent live influenza vaccines in MDCK cell line.

We applied a one-step reverse transcriptase real-time PCR (rRT-PCR) analysis using TaqMan technique to evaluate the infectious titers of vaccine strains containing in trivalent live influenza vaccines (LAIVs). The cold-adapted reassortant influenza viruses A/H1N1 pdm09, A/H3N2, B/Yamagata and B/Victoria, included in the composition of the LAIV in 2015-2016, 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 flu season were studied for reproductive activity in MDCK cells as part of a mono-vaccine and tri-vaccine. For this we have developed a set of specific primers and probes. Method validation was performed using ELISA-test after mouse monoclonal antibodies to hemagglutinin (HA) staining of MDCK monolayer. Influenza B viruses B/Yamagata and B/Victoria were studied in MDCK cells in mono-infection and coinfection with different multiplicity of infection (MOI) using quantitative rRT-PCR.•RT-PCR analysis was adjusted to assess the growth characteristics of cold-adapted reassortant influenza viruses in MDCK cell line. The greatest suppression in the composition of the tri-vaccine was exposed to the H1N1 pdm09 LAIV component.•Influenza B viruses are least suppressed in trivalent LAIV. Influenza viruses B/Yamagata and B/Victoria reproduced as part of a mixed preparation not lower, if not better than as a mono-preparation at an MOI of 0.1. At an MOI of 0.01, the reproduction of both B/Yamagata and B/Victoria in the mixture was reduced compared to mono-vaccine.•The interference of trivalent LAIV vaccine viruses in MDCK cells was minimal at low dilutions. This indicates that it is undesirable to reduce the titers of vaccine viruses, including at the stages of transportation and storage of LAIV.

Evaluation of influenza A and B cold-adapted reassortant virus reproduction in trivalent live influenza vaccines.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the present study was to compare reproduction of trivalent LAIV vaccine strains in MDCK cells and to perform quantitative RT-PCR analysis of trivalent LAIV replication after inoculation in mice. METHODS: We applied a reverse transcriptase real-time PCR (rRT-PCR) analysis using TaqMan technique to evaluate the infectious titers of vaccine strains containing in trivalent live influenza vaccines (LAIVs). We confirmed the PCR data in ELISA using staining of MDCK monolayer with mouse monoclonal antibodies to hemagglutinin. RESULTS: The viral load during the reproduction of mono-vaccines and trivalent LAIV in MDCK cells was similar at low dilutions. The content of vaccine viruses was evaluated using quantitative RT-PCR analysis in the nasal turbinate and lungs of CBA mice on day 3 after intranasal immunization. It was shown that despite the almost complete absence of reproduction of the A/H3N2 virus in mice, the immune response of A/H3N2-specific antibodies was formed at the same level as to other viruses. In MDCK cells, a decreased infectious titers of vaccine viruses in trivalent LAIV compared to mono-vaccines was demonstrated except for B/Yamagata virus. CONCLUSION: RT-PCR analysis is applicable to assess the growth characteristics of cold-adapted reassortant influenza viruses in vitro and in mice. The interference of trivalent LAIV vaccine viruses in MDCK cells was minimal at low dilutions. In mice, decrease in infectious titers did not lead to a decline of the immunogenicity.

Inhibitors of SERCA and mitochondrial Ca-uniporter decrease velocity of calcium waves in rat cardiomyocytes.

Spontaneous calcium waves in isolated rat cardiomyocytes were investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy using the fluorescent Ca(2+)-indicator fluo-4 AM. With increasing calcium overload propagation velocities reinforced. The calcium wavespeed was significantly diminished by drugs which interfere with the calcium uptake of both the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and mitochondria, respectively. Stepwise addition of thapsigargin, a highly specific inhibitor of SERCA, decreased the wavespeed and allowed the determination of flux control coefficients which were found to be increasing from 0.15-0.75 in dependence on calcium overload. Kd was estimated to be between 0.4 and 0.6 nM TG. At 5 mM TG wavespeed was significantly reduced by almost 50%. Spontaneous calcium waves did not occur in bathing solutions with more than 20 nM thapsigargin. Calcium wave velocity was also reduced in the presence of the oxygen-bridged dinuclear ruthenium amine complex RU 360 which specifically blocks the mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake. The observed effects are likely due to a reduction of the ryanodine receptor's open probability. It is suggested that the intracellular Ca2+ signaling depends on both SR lumenal and cytosolic calcium concentration.

Sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles embedded in agarose gel exhibit propagating calcium waves.

In different cell types, activation of signal transduction pathways leads to the generation of calcium oscillations and/or waves. Due to this important impact for cellular function, calcium waves are the subject of intensive investigations. To study interactions of cell organelles with no influence of the cell membrane, sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicles and well-coupled mitochondria were reconstituted. For the first time, we demonstrate the generation and propagation of calcium waves in a suspension of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles, embedded in an agarose gel. The propagation dynamics resemble those of calcium waves in living cells. Moreover, the addition of well-coupled mitochondria leads to more pronounced and significantly faster propagating waves, demonstrating the importance of the mitochondrial Ca(2+) transport. The experimental and simulation results indicate the resemblance of the in vitro system to an excitable medium.

Probing substrate backbone function in prolyl oligopeptidase catalysis--large positional effects of peptide bond monothioxylation.

Site-specific effects on the catalytic activity of prolyl oligopeptidase from human placenta were studied using oligopeptide substrates in which a peptide bond has been replaced by a thioxo peptide bond. Two series of tetrapeptide-4-nitroanilides, Ala-Gly-Pro-Phe-NH-Np and Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-NH-Np, along with all possible monothioxylated derivatives, were synthesised and k(cat) and Km values were determined for proteolytic cleavage at the Pro-Phe bond. Regardless of either Gly or Ala in the P2 subsite, tetrapeptides were rendered uncleavable by thioxylation at the Pro-Phe linkage. As a result, Ala-Xaa-Pro-psi[CS-NH]-Phe-NH-Np (Xaa = Gly or Ala) displayed competitive inhibition with Ki-values of 12 microM and 44 microM, respectively. Furthermore, in controlling proteolytic susceptibility of the substrates, cooperation of the P3-P2 thioxylation site and the side chain at the P2 subsite was obtained. Thioxylation at this position enhanced k(cat)/Km fivefold in the Gly series, but led to a 1.7-fold decrease in the Ala series of substrates. With respect to the Xaa-Pro peptide bond, all of the substrates underwent cis/trans isomerisation, thus presenting two stable conformers to the protease. However, the magnitudes of the isomerisation constants suggested that neither isomerisation rates nor cis/trans equilibria can explain the effect of thioxylation on the steady-state constants of proteolysis.