Parainfluenza virus pneumonitis in an adult.

Parainfluenza virus uncommonly causes fatal giant cell pneumonia in immunocompromised infants and children. To our knowledge, this is the first adult case of parainfluenza virus pneumonia. A 77-year-old woman who was diagnosed as having small-cell carcinoma of the lung underwent chemotherapy. She died of lung edema. Analysis of her serum showed antibodies to parainfluenza virus types 2 and 3 at titers of 1:64 and 1:128, respectively. The postmortem examination revealed giant cell pneumonia, in which giant cells and detached alveolar lining cells had intracytoplasmic inclusions. On electron microscopic examination, the intracytoplasmic inclusions contained fuzzy-form nucleocapsids.

Identification of amino acids recognized by syncytium-inhibiting and neutralizing monoclonal antibodies to the human parainfluenza type 3 virus fusion protein.

Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies specific for the fusion (F) glycoprotein of human parainfluenza type 3 virus (PIV3) were used to select neutralization-resistant antigenic variants. Sequence analysis of the F genes of the variants indicated that their resistance to antibody binding, antibody-mediated neutralization or to both was a result of specific amino acid substitutions within the neutralization epitopes of the F1 and F2 subunits. Comparison of the locations of PIV3 neutralization epitopes with those of Newcastle disease and Sendai viruses indicated that the antigenic organization of the fusion proteins of paramyxoviruses is similar. Furthermore, some of the PIV3 epitopes recognized by syncytium-inhibiting monoclonal antibodies are located in an F1 cysteine cluster region which corresponds to an area of the measles virus F protein involved in fusion activity.

Identification and partial purification of the fusion protein of avian paramyxovirus type 3.

The fusion protein of an avian paramyxovirus-3 from turkeys was detected as a poorly-labelled 56K 3H-glucosamine band. After immunopurification by a monoclonal antibody it elicited antisera which inhibited haemolysis but not haemagglutination.

Structural proteins of bovine parainfluenza-3 virus.

Six structural proteins of bovine parainfluenza-3 virus (PI-3V) labeled with [35S]-methionine could be resolved by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Five structural proteins of this virus had been previously reported. The 6 proteins found in this study were: L, a 180,000 (180 kD) molecular weight (MW) large protein; P, 83 kD phosphoprotein; HN, 69 kD hemagglutinin-neuraminidase glycoprotein; NP, 66 kD nucleocapsid protein; F, 55 kD fusion glycoprotein; and M, 38 kD matrix protein. Selective labeling with [2-3H]-mannose revealed only HN and F glycoprotein bands. A cellular actin protein (43 kD), associated with many enveloped viruses, was also found as a seventh protein in bovine PI-3V.

[Proteins of the human parainfluenza virus]. / Belki virusa paragrippa cheloveka.

Proteins of human parainfluenza type 3 virus propagated in green monkey kidney cultures are described. The presence of 4 major and 3 minor polypeptides is described along with their molecular weights. Protein F1 was found as a double band, its both components having a similar intensity. Only the upper band of F1 protein was found in the virus grown in Vero cell culture which has a low sensitivity for this virus. Fractionation of the virus and analysis of the proteins of subviral structures were carried out. Nucleocapsid had a buoyant density of 1.32 g/cm3 in cesium chloride and contained major NP protein and minor P and L proteins.

Glycoproteins of human parainfluenza virus type 3: affinity purification, antigenic characterization and reconstitution into lipid vesicles.

Monoclonal antibodies to the envelope glycoproteins, HN and F, of human parainfluenza virus type 3 were coupled to a Sepharose 4B matrix and used for affinity purification of the viral glycoproteins. The purity of the glycoproteins was demonstrated by SDS-PAGE followed by fluorography or silver staining. The antigenicity of the glycoproteins was determined by immunization of rabbits; polyclonal rabbit antisera demonstrated inhibition of functional activities of the virus glycoproteins. The F glycoprotein, when reconstituted into lipid vesicles, showed distinct spike-like projections similar to those of intact virions.

Differences in bovine parainfluenza 3 virus variants studied by monoclonal antibodies against viral glycoproteins.

We previously showed that of three bovine parainfluenza 3 virus strains the M strain, which is neurovirulent for young mice, has an extensive syncytium-inducing activity, whereas avirulent SC and 910N strains are weak in this activity. It was also demonstrated that both M and SC strains have very low hemagglutination and neuraminidase activities, while the 910N strain shows these activities to high levels. In the present study, monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) were raised against the glycoproteins of the 910N strain, and utilized to further characterize these three viral strains. Five Mabs against the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase protein, which were classified into four different epitope-recognizing groups, neutralized the M strain much more effectively than the 910N and SC strains, while the Mabs showed lower hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers against the M and SC strains than the 910N strain. Three Mabs against the fusion protein neutralized the M strain but not the 910N and SC strains, while they showed no HI activity against any of these strains. These findings suggested that the M strain is considerably different from other strains in the structure of the viral envelope proteins.

Sequence analysis of the P and C protein genes of human parainfluenza virus type 3: patterns of amino acid sequence homology among paramyxovirus proteins.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the P + C mRNA of human parainfluenza virus type 3 (PF3) was determined by sequencing cDNA, viral genomic RNA and mRNA. The P + C mRNA is 2009 nucleotides in length, exclusive of poly(A), and contains two overlapping open reading frames (ORFs). The P + C mRNA encodes two proteins, the 602 amino acid nucleocapsid phosphoprotein P and the 199 amino acid non-structural protein C. Peptide mapping confirmed that the two proteins are unrelated. Hybrid-arrest translation experiments assigned each of the two proteins to its respective ORF. These studies showed that the coding strategy of the PF3 P + C mRNA is similar to that of Sendai virus. Amino acid sequence alignment showed that the P and C proteins of PF3 and Sendai virus represent homologous pairs. However, these homologies are represented by high contents of accepted amino acid substitutions and by similarity in hydropathy profiles rather than by high contents of exact amino acid matches. Homology with the P and C proteins of measles, canine distemper and respiratory syncytial viruses was at the threshold of significance. The patterns of amino acid sequence homology among the paramyxovirus HN, F, NP, P and C proteins are compared.

Characterization of four parainfluenza virus type 3 proteins by use of monoclonal antibodies.

Monoclonal antibodies directed against four structural components of the ATCC strain C243 of parainfluenza virus type 3 were produced. The specific reaction of the antibodies with individual structural components was determined by radioimmune precipitation assay. In the collection of monoclonal antibodies, 21 reacted with the haemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) glycoprotein (mol. wt. 72,000), eight with the fusion (F) glycoprotein (mol. wt. 64,000), 27 with the nucleocapsid (NP) protein (mol. wt. 69,000) and 24 with the matrix (M) protein (mol. wt. 40,000). The F-specific monoclonal antibodies precipitated two proteins which were interpreted to represent intact F protein and the large cleavage product F1 (mol. wt. 52,000). The numbers of epitopes were determined in a competition ELISA with the monoclonal antibodies. The epitopes found were six for the HN, two for the F, six for the NP and six for the M protein. The six groups of antibodies reacting with different epitopes on the HN molecule showed varying capacities to inhibit biological activities. Two exhibited high neutralization (NT), haemagglutination inhibition (HI) and haemolysis inhibition (HLI) activity. Three groups had somewhat lower NT, lower HI and no detectable HLI activity. One group showed no activity in these tests. Of the eight monoclonal antibodies directed to the F protein two had demonstrable HLI activity.

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of the human parainfluenza 3 virus RNA encoding the nucleocapsid protein.

The sequence of 1690 nucleotides from the 5' end of the viral complementary RNA for the human parainfluenza 3 virus was determined by molecular cloning. One large open reading frame consisting of 1548 nucleotides was demonstrated. The encoded protein, the nucleocapsid protein (NP), consists of 515 amino acids, and has a predicted molecular weight of 57,819. A noncoding 5' sequence of 51 nucleotides is present at the end of the NP-mRNA. Two consensus sequences were identified which are homologous with sequences found in Sendai virus. One of these sequences, AGGATTAAAG, was located at the 5' end of the nucleocapsid mRNA and may function in transcription initiation. The other consensus sequence, GTAAGGGAA, was found in the viral genomic leader sequence. The nucleocapsid protein amino acid sequence was compared to other members of the Paramyxoviridae family. The parainfluenza 3 virus protein nucleocapsid amino acid sequence demonstrated a high degree of homology with the Sendai virus nucleocapsid protein. Seventy percent of the first 387 amino acids from the amino termini were identical. Little homology was observed in the distal carboxy termini.

[Structural organization and proteins of the human type-3 para-influenza virus]. / Strukturnaia organizatsiia i belki virusa paragrippa cheloveka tipa 3.

The structure of human parainfluenza type 3 virus was studied by electron microscopy and virion fractionation by treatment with a detergent and high ionic strength. The protein spectrum of the virus was studied. The presence of 6 structural proteins was revealed of which two, HN and F, are glycoproteins. Intracellular cleavage of F0 protein into F1+2 proteins was demonstrated in a pulse-chase experiment. A tighter binding of HN protein than of F protein with the virus lipoprotein membrane was observed which may be useful for obtaining purified F protein preparations.

Human parainfluenza virus 3: purification and characterization of subviral components, viral proteins and viral RNA.

A simple method was established that allowed large quantities of human parainfluenza 3 (PF3) virions to be isolated from tissue culture cells. The purity of the virus was sufficient for biochemical analysis of virion proteins. The density of PF3 virions was 1.18-1.20. Purified virions contained seven viral proteins with estimated molecular weights of: L, 180 000; P, 83 000; HN, 69 000; NP, 66 000; F0, 60 000; F1, 51 000; and M, 38 000, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions. There were three phosphoproteins, P, NP and M, and two glycoproteins, HN and F (includes F0 and F1). F1.2, the activated, cleaved, fusion glycoprotein (60 000 Da), consisting of two disulfide-linked subunits, F1 and F2, was seen only under nonreducing conditions. Because of its small size (approximately 9000 Da) F2 could be seen only on gels with high acrylamide concentrations. As in other enveloped viruses, cellular actin (43 000 Da) was present in purified virions. Several minor bands migrating between NP and M represented breakdown products of NP. Solubilization of the virion membrane in low salt buffer with non-ionic detergent resulted in the loss of HN and F. In high salt buffer, the M protein was also removed. Nucleocapsids isolated by CsCl centrifugation contained L, P, NP and small amounts of M. Nucleocapsids isolated in the presence of the ionic detergent, sarcosyl, contained only the NP protein. The density of nucleocapsids was 1.29-1.30. Genomic 50S RNA isolated from nucleocapsids had an estimated molecular weight of 5 X 10(6).

Proteins associated with human parainfluenza virus type 3.

The polypeptides associated with human parainfluenza virus type 3 were identified. Five proteins were present in detergent- and salt-resistant viral cores. Of these, three proteins designated NP0, NP1, and NP2 of 68,000, 58,000, and 52,000 daltons, respectively, were stably associated with 50S RNA in CsCl gradient-purified nucleocapsids. The amounts of NP1 and NP2 were variable, and these proteins were shown to be structurally related to the major nucleocapsid protein (NP0) by partial Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease mapping. The other core proteins included a 240K protein designated L (candidate for the viral polymerase) and an 84K protein designated as the phosphoprotein (P) on the basis of a predominant incorporation of Pi. The viral envelope had four prominent proteins (72, 53, 40, and 12K) under reducing conditions of electrophoresis. The 72 and 53K proteins were specifically labeled with [3H]glucosamine and [3H]mannose. When sulfhydryl reagents were removed, a new 62K protein was visualized in place of the 72, 53, and 12K proteins. The 53 and 12K proteins were interpreted to be the two subunits (F1 and F2) of the fusion protein, and the 72K protein was designated as the HN (hemagglutinin-neuraminidase) glycoprotein. The unglycosylated 40K protein represented the viral matrix protein (M). Immunoprecipitation of infected cell lysates with rabbit hyperimmune antiserum against purified virus confirmed the viral origin of these polypeptides.

Resolution of two surface glycoproteins from human parainfluenza-3 virus by crossed immunoelectrophoresis.

The technique of two-dimensional crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) was used to resolve two glycoproteins from purified human parainfluenza type 3 virus. Virus preparations were extracted with Triton X-100 and fractionated by centrifugation in a Beckman airfuge. Two immunoprecipitates were detected by CIE in the supernatant fractions, but were not found in the pellets from extracted virus. Viral glycoproteins labeled with [35S]methionine were isolated by affinity chromatography on concanavalin A (Con A) agarose columns, resolved by CIE and detected by autoradiography. Resolution of two glycoprotein peaks from as little as 4.5 micrograms of protein from extracted virus is consistent with results from polyacrylamide gel patterns showing two unique glycoproteins with molecular weights of 48 kd and 65 kd.

Association of parainfluenza-3 virus with bovine macrophages and blood cells: an in vitro study.

Bovine blood cells and peritoneal and lung macrophages were exposed in vitro to parainfluenza-3 (PI-3) virus. Residual nonadsorbed PI-3 virus (expressed in percentage of input virus) in the supernate of the various cell fractions 1 hour after incubation at 37 C was as follows: lung macrophages, 11%; peritoneal macrophages, 59%; monocytes, 26%; RBC, 14%; lymphocytes, 28%; and polymorphonuclear cells (PMN), 63%. Lung macrophages, monocytes, lymphocytes, and PMN were monitored over a 72-hour period for hemadsorption of chicken RBC. Hemadsorption increased for lung macrophages and monocytes, whereas it decreased for lymphocytes and PMN. Infective virus could not be recovered from PMN, RBC, lymphocytes, or monocytes for more than 24 hours after PI-3 infection. Recovery of infective PI-3 virus from infected peritoneal and lung macrophages extended over 4 to 8 days, respectively.

A simple procedure for the analysis of the structural proteins of influenza and parainfluenza viruses involving adsorption to erythrocytes.

A simple procedure for the analysis of the structural proteins of influenza and parainfluenza viruses utilizing adsorption to erythrocytes is described. The method involves virus growth in the presence of [35S]methionine, adsorption of clarified culture medium with a 0.5% suspension of either guinea-pig or chicken erythrocytes and analysis of the virus-erythrocyte aggregates by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). All of the structural proteins can be detected using this procedure, and the protein profiles of virus-adsorbed erythrocyte complexes compare extremely well with those of sucrose density gradient purified virus preparations.

Parainfluenza 3 virus: plaque-type variants lacking neuraminidase activity.

Virus clones lacking detectable neuraminidase activity (SC-YN and M-YN) as well as those possessing it (LT-910N and LT-YN) were isolated from bovine strains of parainfluenza 3 virus. LT-910N and LT-YN viruses produced large turbid plaques in MDBK cells, and SC-YN virus produced small clear plaques. Incorporation of a bacterial neuraminidase in agar overlay medium made SC-YN virus form large turbid plaques, whereas it made M-YN virus form large clear plaques. However, M-YN virus formed only pinhole plaques or no plaques in the absence of neuraminidase. The exogenous neuraminidase had little effect on the plaque formation of LT-910N and LT-YN viruses. M-YN virus induced extensive syncytial formation, and SC-YN virus produced less extensive syncytial formation. The exogenous neuraminidase enhanced replication of SC-YN and M-YN viruses and reduced syncytial formation by these viruses. The enzyme had little effect on replication and cytopathic effect of LT-910N and LT-YN viruses. The reason for these effects of the exogenous neuraminidase is discussed.

Elevated parainfluenza virus type 1 antibody in patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

Parainfluenza virus hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibodies were determined 3 times in the sera of 9 patients with subacute sclerosiing panencephalitis (SSPE) and 20 healthy controls matched for age and place of residence. Serum antibody against parainfluenza virus type 1 was significantly elevated in SSPE patients as compared with controls, whereas antibodies against type 2 and 3 were found to be in normal ranges. Higher titres of parainfluenza virus type 1 antibody might depend on: (1) dual viral infection, (2) cross-reaction between antigens of SSPE virus and parainfluenza virus type 1, and (3) non-specific activation of latent virus type 1 genome. The latter explanation seems to be particularly interesting since the parainfluenza type 1 antibody titres remained constant despite the clinical progression. This finding is comparable to the elevated titres against Epstein-Barr virus of adenovirus which have been found occasionally in this disease.