Adeno-associated virus vectors transduce primary cells much less efficiently than immortalized cells.

Immortalized cell lines have been used to study infection and replication of adeno-associated virus (AAV) in culture, but primary cells presumably provide a better model for AAV behavior in animals. Here, we have evaluated the ability of AAV vectors to transduce primary and immortalized strains of human epithelial cells and fibroblasts. Two AAV vectors were used, one that transduced an alkaline phosphatase gene (AAV-LAPSN), and one that transduced a beta-galactosidase/neomycin phosphotransferase fusion gene (AAV-L beta geo). The transduction efficiency of the AAV-LAPSN vector, quantitated by measurement of alkaline phosphatase-positive cell foci following infection, was 10 to 60 times greater in immortalized human cells than in primary cells, and total alkaline phosphatase activity in cell lysates was 40 to 50 times greater in immortalized cells. The AAV-L beta geo vector gave similar results. In contrast, the transduction efficiency of a retrovirus vector encoding alkaline phosphatase was equivalent in primary and immortalized cells. Analysis of the quantity and state of the AAV vector genomes in cells showed that primary and immortalized cells contained comparable numbers of vector copies per cell and that the vast majority of vector DNA was not integrated into the cell genome. Additionally, the level of AAV vector-derived message paralleled the transduction efficiency. These results indicate that the block to functional transduction in primary cells occurred after virus entry and limited the abundance of vector-derived message. Data from AAV transduction in cultures of human cells containing immortalizing genes suggest that cellular changes secondary to the introduction of immortalizing genes increased permissiveness for transduction by AAV vectors. In summary, our data demonstrate that AAV vectors transduce primary human cells much less efficiently than immortalized cells and indicate the importance of using primary cells to evaluate AAV vectors for gene therapy applications.

A baculovirus encoded 16-kDa glycoprotein localizes near the nuclear membrane of infected cells.

An open reading frame (ORF 2) located upstream of the polyhedron envelope protein gene of Orgyia pseudotsugata multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (OpMNPV) was cloned in frame into a trpE expression vector. The fusion protein produced by this construct was used for the production of a monospecific antiserum. Western blot analysis of OpMNPV-infected Lymantria dispar cells detected a 16-kDa protein at 24 hr postinfection. The 16-kDa protein was determined to be N-glycosylated by tunicamycin treatment of infected cells. Immunofluorescence microscopy localized the 16-kDa protein to foci of intense cytoplasmic staining near the nuclear membrane. Immunoelectron microscopy indicated that the 16-kDa protein is associated with lamellar-like structures peripheral to the nuclear membrane and with envelopes of virus that have budded into the cytoplasm. The 16-kDa protein was not associated with extracellular budded or polyhedron-derived virions.

A 37-kilodalton glycoprotein from a baculovirus of Orgyia pseudotsugata is localized to cytoplasmic inclusion bodies.

The gene encoding a 37-kDa glycoprotein (gp37) of Orgyia pseudotsugata multinucleocapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (OpMNPV) was located and sequenced. gp37 of OpMNPV was found to have 62 and 37% amino acid sequence identity with gp37 of Autographa californica multinucleocapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) and with a protein reported to be a component of occlusion bodies from Choristoneura biennis entomopoxvirus, respectively. The mRNA start site of the OpMNPV gp37 gene was mapped within a late promoter sequence (TTAAG). A TrpE fusion protein containing 55% of the OpMNPV gp37 gene amino acid sequence was used to generate a monospecific antiserum. Western immunoblot analysis of OpMNPV-infected Lymantria dispar cells detected gp37 beginning at 24 h postinfection. Immunoelectron microscopy indicated that the protein is concentrated in cytoplasmic inclusion bodies late in infection. In contrast to gp37 of AcMNPV which was present in the matrix of occlusion bodies, OpMNPV gp37 was not observed in this location. Neither OpMNPV nor AcMNPV gp37 was associated with the polyhedron envelope.

Immunocytochemical characterization of p24, a baculovirus capsid-associated protein.

An open reading frame (ORF 1) located upstream of the polyhedron envelope protein gene in the Orgyia pseudotsugata multinucleocapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (OpMNPV) genome was cloned in-frame into a trpE bacterial expression vector. The fusion protein produced by this construct was used for the preparation of a monospecific antiserum. Western blot analysis of extracts from OpMNPV-infected Lymantria dispar cells and Autographa californica NPV (AcMNPV)-infected Spodoptera frugiperda cells detected a 24K protein late in infection. This antiserum also reacted with a 24K protein in preparations of budded and polyhedra-derived virus from OpMNPV and AcMNPV. The 24K protein was not N-glycosylated. Immunoelectron microscopy confirmed that the OpMNPV p24 is associated with nucleocapsids of budded and polyhedra-derived virions.