Photochemical inactivation of viruses and bacteria in platelet concentrates by use of a novel psoralen and long-wavelength ultraviolet light.

BACKGROUND: A photochemical treatment process has been developed for the inactivation of viruses and bacteria in platelet concentrates. This process is based on the photochemical reaction of a novel psoralen, S-59, with nucleic acids upon illumination with long-wavelength ultraviolet light (UVA, 320-400 nm). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: High levels of pathogens were added to single-donor platelet concentrates containing 3 to 5 x 10(11) platelets in 300 mL of 35-percent autologous plasma and 65-percent platelet additive solution. After treatment with S-59 (150 microM) and UVA (0-3 J/cm2), the infectivity of each pathogen was measured with established biologic assays. In vitro platelet function after photochemical treatment was evaluated during 7 days of storage by using a panel of 14 assays. The in vivo recovery and life span of photochemically treated platelets were evaluated after 24 hours of storage in a primate transfusion model. RESULTS: The following levels of pathogen inactivation were achieved: >10(6.7) plaque-forming units (PFU) per mL of cell-free human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), >10(6.6) PFU per mL of cell-associated HIV, >10(6.8) infectious dose (ID50) per mL of duck hepatitis B virus (a model for hepatitis B virus), >10(6.5) PFU per mL of bovine viral diarrhea virus (a model for hepatitis C virus), >10(6.6) colony-forming units of Staphylococcus epidermidis, and >10(5.6) colony-forming units of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Expression of integrated HIV was inhibited by 0.1 microM S-59 and 1 J per cm2 of UVA. In vitro and in vivo platelet function were adequately maintained after antiviral and antibacterial treatment. CONCLUSION: Photochemical treatment of platelet concentrates offers the potential for reducing transfusion-related viral and bacterial diseases.

Effect of dose and immunization schedule on immune response of baboons to recombinant glycoprotein 120 of HIV-1.

To evaluate the immunogenicity of purified recombinant envelope glycoprotein of HIV-1 (rgp120) as a potential vaccine for AIDS, the antibody response of 45 baboons to rgp120 was investigated using an adjuvant (alum) and route of administration (intramuscular) suitable for humans. The primary purpose was to evaluate the effects of different doses and immunization schedules on the antibody response to rgp120 in primates. A secondary objective was to evaluate possible adverse consequences of rgp120 immunization. A liquid-phase radioimmunoprecipitation (RIP) assay for detection of rgp120-reactive antibodies revealed that rgp120 doses of 30-300 micrograms per administration resulted in nearly indistinguishable serum antibody responses. However, significant enhancement of serum antibody titers was observed when the interval between the second and third administrations was increased from 4 to 20 w. Although changing the interval significantly altered the magnitude of resulting peak titers, the kinetics of antibody formation were not changed. Thus, of the three schedules of immunization tested, none resulted in a sustained humoral immune response. The significance of the RIP assay for evaluating immune responses was confirmed by analysis showing that the percentage of immunized baboons that developed in vitro HIV-1 serum neutralizing responses was greatest in groups that also exhibited high anti-rgp120 RIP titers. Immunization with rgp120 had no significant adverse effect on any clinical or laboratory parameter monitored over the course of the study.