Bovine aortic endothelial cells are susceptible to Hantaan virus infection.

Hantavirus serotype Hantaan (HTN) is one of the causative agents of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS, lethality up to 10%). The natural host of HTN is Apodemus agrarius. Recent studies have shown that domestic animals like cattle are sporadically seropositive for hantaviruses. In the present study, the susceptibility of bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) expressing alpha(V)beta(3)-integrin to a HTN infection was investigated. Viral nucleocapsid protein and genomic RNA segments were detected in infected BAEC by indirect immunofluorescence assay, Western blot analysis, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. The results of this study strongly support our previous observation on Puumala virus (PUU) that has been propagated efficiently in BAEC. These findings open a new window to contemplate the ecology of hantavirus infection and transmission route from animal to man.

Bovine aortic endothelial cells are susceptible to hantavirus infection; a new aspect in hantavirus ecology.

Hantaviruses are enveloped RNA viruses that belong to the family Bunyaviridae. They are the causative agents of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). Hantaviruses show a worldwide distribution with specific rodent species as natural hosts. It is known that rodents can transmit the virus via feces, urine, saliva, or bites to humans. Additionally, antibodies against different hantaviruses were also found in domestic animals, For example, Danes et al. documented hantavirus-specific IgG titers in 2% of examined cattle [Ceskoslov. Epidemiol. Mikrobiol. Imunol. 41 (1992) 15]. In order to clarify the possibility of a nonrodent and nonhuman hantavirus infection, the susceptibility of bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) to Hantavirus serotype Puumala infection was investigated. The hantaviral nucleocapsid protein was detected in 95% of infected BAEC at the fourth cell culture passage 12 weeks after initial infection by immunofluorescence assay (IFA). The presence of Puumala virus (PUU) nucleocapsid protein and the viral glycoproteins G1 and G2 in infected cells were additionally confirmed by Western blot analysis. The viral RNA genome was identified in infected BAEC cultures and in cell-free culture medium at the fourth passage by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), verified by cDNA nucleotide sequence analysis, showing a 98-100% homology to the input virus. The infected BAEC cultures were shown to express alpha(V)beta(3)-integrin surface receptors that are known to mediate virus entry in human cells and revealed no major cytopathic effects (CPEs) as assayed by immunofluorescence staining of the cytoskeletal components actin and microtubules. In the present study, we documented for the first time that a nonrodent and nonhuman aortic endothelial cell culture of bovine origin (BAEC) can be efficiently infected with a hantavirus. This finding is of particular importance because it adds new aspects to questions dealing with host species barrier, viral reservoir, virus transmission, and ecology of hantaviruses.

Stable and long-lasting immune response in horses after DNA vaccination against equine arteritis virus.

Equine arteritis virus (EAV) is the causative agent of the equine viral arteritis. It is a small RNA virus with a linear, non-segmented plus RNA genome. EAV is a member of the Arteriviridae family that includes porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRSSV), simian haemorrhagic fever virus (SHFV) and lactate dehydrogenase virus (LDV). The viral transmission is via respiratory and reproductive routes. Clinical signs in horses vary, and severe infection can lead to abortions in pregnant mares or neonatal foal death. The aim of this study was to investigate the development of the immune response in horses after immunization with a DNA vaccine harbouring and expressing EAV Open Reading Frames (ORF) 2, 5, and 7, in combination with equine interleukin 2 (eqIL2). Three boosters followed the basic immunization in two-week intervals. Each immunization was a combination of gene gun and intramuscular injection. All horses developed a high titer of neutralizing antibodies after basic immunization within 2 weeks. Remarkably, this immune response was found to be independent of the age of animals. The youngest horse was six-years old, and the oldest twenty-two years old. A remarkable difference in the immune response between the young and old were not observed. The duration of immunity was investigated during a period of one year. After 12 months, neutralizing antibodies were still detectable in all the vaccinated horses.

Large envelope glycoprotein and nucleocapsid protein of equine arteritis virus (EAV) induce an immune response in Balb/c mice by DNA vaccination; strategy for developing a DNA-vaccine against EAV-infection.

Equine arteritis virus (EAV) is a member of the Arteriviridae family, that includes lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus (LDV), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), and simian haemorrhagic fever virus (SHFV). Equine arteritis is a contagious disease of horses and is spread via respiratory or reproductive tract. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the possibility for developing a model system for prevention horses against an EAV infection by DNAvaccination. A cDNA bank from the RNA of EAV was established. This gene library contains the translation unit of the EAV open reading frames (ORF) 1 to 7. The identity of the cDNA was confirmed by nucleotide sequence analysis. Using this defined EAV cDNA gene library the cDNA sequence of the viral ORFs were molecularly cloned into the corresponding sites of well characterized and powerful expression vectors (pCR3.1, pDisplay, and/or pcDNA3.1/HisC). The capability of these recombinant plasmids expressing the gene products of the individual viral ORFs 3 to 5, and 7 in induction of an immune response in mouse system was investigated. The Balb/c mice (ten mice per assay) were inoculated with the DNA of the constructed expression vectors harboring and expressing the EAV cDNA of the viral ORFs. The Balb/c mice were injected with about 100 microg DNA diluted in 100 microl PBS. The DNA was injected subcutaneously and into the tibialis cranialis muscle (Musculus gastrocnemius). The mice were boosted 3 to 5 times with the same quantities of DNA and under the same conditions at about two week intervals. Control mice received the same amount of parental expression vectors via an identical route and frequency. The pre- and post-vaccinated sera of the individual animals were screened by neutralization tests (NT). Neutralizing antibodies against EAV were detected when the animals were inoculated with the DNA of the expression vectors harboring cDNA of the EAV ORFs 5 and 7. Highest NT-titers were observed when the animals were administered with the cDNA of ORF 5 and/or with the cDNA of the neutralization determinants of EAV that is located on the N-terminal ectodomain of the gene product of ORF 5 between the amino acid positions 1-121. These results obtained from these studies justified proofing the capability of the EAV cDNA sequences of the viral genes including ORFs 5 and 7 in the autologous animal system horse.

Molecular characterization and determination of the coding capacity of the genome of equine herpesvirus type 2 between the genome coordinates 0.235 and 0.258 (the EcoRI DNA fragment N; 4.2 kbp).

The complete DNA nucleotide sequence of the EcoRI DNA fragment N (0.235 to 0.258 viral map units) of equine herpes virus type 2 (EHV-2) strain T400/3 was determined. This DNA fragment comprises 4237 bp with a base composition of 55.23% G+C and 44.77% A+T. Nineteen open reading frames (ORFs) of 50-287 amino acid (aa) residues were detected. ORF number 10 is located between the nucleotide position 2220 and 2756 coding for a protein of 179 amino acid residues. This protein shows significant homology to the cytokine synthesis inhibitory factor (CSIF; interleukin 10) of human (76.4%) and mouse (68.5%), and to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) protein BCRF1 (70.6%). The existence of an interleukin 10 (IL-10) analogous gene within the genome of the EHV-2 was confirmed by screening the genome of nine EHV-2 strains using specific oligonucleotide primers corresponding to the 5' and 3' region of this particular gene by polymerase chain reaction. In all experiments an 870 bp DNA product was amplified. The specifity of the amplified DNA fragments obtained from individual EHV-2 strains was confirmed by DNA-DNA hybridization experiments. The DNA sequence analysis of the amplified DNA products of the EHV-2 strain LK was carried out. This analysis revealed the identity of the corresponding IL-10 gene (540 bp) of this strain to the IL-10 gene of EHV-2 strain T400/3. The presented data indicate that the EHV-2 genome harbors a viral interleukin 10-like gene. This is further evidence that the IL-10 gene can be present in the genomes of members of the Herpesviridae family.

Identification of genes encoding zinc finger proteins, non-histone chromosomal HMG protein homologue, and a putative GTP phosphohydrolase in the genome of Chilo iridescent virus.

Five RNA transcripts of about 1.2 to 1.7 kilobases were mapped to a part of the genome of insect iridescent virus type 6 (Chilo iridescent virus; CIV) between genome coordinates 0.832 and 0.856 within the EcoRI DNA fragment F. The nucleotide sequence of this particular region (5702 base pairs) of the CIV genome was determined. The DNA sequence contains a number of perfect direct, inverted, and palindromic repeats including three clusters of tandemly organized repetitive DNA elements located between the nucleotide positions 1534 to 1566, 3720 to 3780, and 4350 to 4450. Eight long open reading frames (ORFs; EF1 to 8) were detected in the sequenced region of the CIV genome. ORF EF1 encodes a putative protein of 221 amino acid residues (aa) that is closely related to eukaryotic nonhistone chromosomal proteins of the high mobility group (HMG) superfamily. Virus encoded homologues of HMG proteins have not been reported so far. The EF2 gene product (145 aa) contains a specific zinc finger motif and belongs to a distinct group of identified and putative zinc finger proteins including a second putative protein (239 aa) of CIV encoded in the EcoRI DNA fragment Y (1984 bp; 0.381 to 0.391 viral map units). The product of EF6 (127 aa) is related to D250 ORF product of African swine fever virus (ASFV) and belongs to the recently described protein family sharing a highly conserved sequence motif with bacterial antimutator GTP phosphohydrolase MutT. Thus the sequenced region of the CIV genome encodes three putative proteins which may be directly involved in the replication and/or transcription of the viral DNA.

Identification and mapping of origins of DNA replication within the DNA sequences of the genome of insect iridescent virus type 6.

The origins of DNA replication of the genome (209 kbp) of Chilo iridescent virus (CIV), which is circularly permuted and terminally redundant, were identified. The defined genomic library of CIV, which represents 100% of DNA sequences of the viral genome (e.g., all 32 EcoRI CIV DNA fragments), was used for transfection of Choristoneura fumiferana insect cell cultures (CF-124) that were previously infected with CIV. The plasmid rescue experiments were carried out to select those recombinant plasmids that were amplified during viral replication in CIV-infected cell cultures. It was found that six recombinant plasmids harboring the EcoRI DNA fragments C [13.5 kbp, 0.909-0.974 map units (m.u.)], H (9.8 kbp, 0.535-0.582 m.u.), M (7.25 kbp, 0.310-0.345 m.u.), O (6.5 kbp, 0.196-0.228 m.u.), Q (5.9 kbp, 0.603-0.631 m.u.), and Y (2.0 kbp, 0.381-0.391 m.u.) were able to be amplified under the conditions used. This indicates that the CIV genome possesses six DNA replication origins. Subclones of the EcoRI CIV DNA fragments C and H were screened under the same conditions. It was found that DNA sequences within the EcoRI DNA fragments C and H at the genome coordinates 0.924-0.930 and 0.535-0.548, respectively, contain origins of viral DNA replication. The DNA nucleotide sequences of the EcoRI CIV DNA fragment Y (1986 bp) were determined for identifying the DNA sequence of the corresponding origin of DNA replication. The computer-aided analysis revealed the presence of a 15-mer inverted repeat at nucleotide positions 661-675 and 677-691 (661-TAAATTTAATGAGAA-G-TTCTCATTAAATTTA-692). The analysis of the DNA sequence of the EcoRI DNA fragment H corresponding to the particular region at the genome coordinates 0.535-0.548 (1) showed that this region contains a 16-mer inverted repeat at the nucleotide positions 1315 and 1332 (1315-TAAATTTTAATGGTTA-A-TAACCATTAAAATTTA-1347), which is very similar to the inverted repetition found within the EcoRI DNA fragment Y. The successful recognition and amplification of the single-stranded synthetic DNA sequences of both strands of CIV-ori-Y (nucleotide position 661-691) using phage M13 system in CIV-infected cells is strong evidence that the CIV-ori-Y is bidirectionally active, and this DNA sequence is considered to be the origin of DNA replication within the EcoRI CIV DNA fragment Y.

The primary structure of the thymidine kinase gene of fish lymphocystis disease virus.

The DNA nucleotide sequence of the thymidine kinase (TK) gene of fish lymphocystis disease virus (FLDV) which has been localized between the coordinates 0.678 to 0.688 of the viral genome was determined. The analysis of the DNA nucleotide sequence located between the recognition sites of HindIII (0.669 map unit; nucleotide position 1) and AccI (nucleotide position 2032) revealed the presence of an open reading frame of 954 bp on the lower strand of this region between nucleotide positions 1868 (ATG) and 915 (TAA). It encodes for a protein of 318 amino acid residues. The evolutionary relationships of the TK gene of FLDV to the other known TK genes was investigated using the method of progressive sequence alignment. These analyses revealed a high degree of diversity between the protein sequence of FLDV TK gene and the amino acid composition of other TKs tested. However, significant conservations were detected at several regions of amino acid residues of the FLDV TK protein when compared to the amino acid sequence of TKs of African swine fever virus, fowlpox virus, shope fibroma virus, and vaccinia virus and to the amino acid sequences of the cellular cytoplasmic TK of chicken, mouse, and man.