Molecular characterization of a neutralizing domain of the Japanese encephalitis virus structural glycoprotein.

Expression of antigenic fragments of the Japanese encephalitis virus envelope protein (E) in Escherichia coli has been used to define the boundaries of an antigenic domain that contains the binding sites for 10 anti-E monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). All of these antibodies neutralized the virus in vitro and some of them passively protected mice from a fatal virus challenge. We have shown previously that nine of these antibodies react with the antigenic determinants encoded by a 405 bp fragment of viral cDNA. To determine the amino acid sequences of specific determinants, truncated polypeptides were expressed as fusion proteins in E. coli following progressive Bal 31 exonuclease digestion of the 5' and 3' ends of the cDNA fragment. Examination of the immunoreactivity of these polypeptides revealed that the region from methionine 303 to tryptophan 396 was the shortest sequence capable of reacting with any of the 10 MAbs or with a polyclonal, antiviral hyperimmune mouse ascitic fluid. Biochemical tests showed that an intramolecular disulphide cross-linkage between cysteine 304 and cysteine 335 of the E protein sequence was required for presentation of the binding site(s) for these MAbs. Although this 95 amino acid antigenic domain appeared to be capable of forming several conformational neutralizing epitopes, it was not an effective immunogen for inducing neutralizing or protective antibodies in mice.

Identification of an antigenic and genetic variant of dengue-4 virus from the Caribbean.

Twenty-one dengue (DEN) viruses isolated from the Caribbean (Dominica and Jamaica) during the 1981-1982 epidemic year were distinct serological and genetic variants of DEN-4 virus. These isolates were clearly identified as DEN-4 viruses using type-specific monoclonal antibodies in indirect immunofluorescence assays. However, they either were not neutralized, or were neutralized poorly using hyperimmune mouse ascitic fluids (HMAF) or rhesus monkey serum directed against the H-241 prototype strain of DEN-4 virus isolated in the Philippines in 1956. HMAF prepared against a representative Caribbean isolate, however, neutralized with similar effectiveness the homologous virus, the H-241 prototype strain, and virus strains isolated from the Pacific and Southeast Asian areas from 1973 to 1984. The Caribbean isolate exhibited no more than 30% and 16% oligonucleotide spot homology with the H-241 and Bangkok viruses, respectively, by RNA fingerprint analysis, while demonstrating 82% and 89% homology with the Gilbert and Niue Island isolates, respectively. The isolation of dengue viruses which are serologically and genetically distinct from the prototype virus emphasizes the need for continued dengue virus surveillance. The recognition of unique dengue isolates should allow the selection of reference strains and vaccine candidate strains which will induce antibodies that are equally effective in neutralizing viruses from all geographic areas.

Epitopic analysis of antigenic determinants on the surface of dengue-2 virions using monoclonal antibodies.

The relative binding sites of dengue serotype-specific, dengue subcomplex-specific, dengue complex-specific, flavivirus subgroup-reactive, and flavivirus group-reactive monoclonal antibody preparations were identified by using competitive antibody binding assays. A dengue complex-specific epitope, capable of mediating infection enhancement, was identified on a 20,000 dalton protein found on intracellular virions. The other epitopes were assigned relative positions on the E glycoprotein by competitive antibody binding. These could be grouped into 3 linkage groups based on the ability of some monoclonal antibodies to block contiguous binding sites. Some antibodies were able to increase or "promote" the binding of antibodies from other linkage groups. These results suggest that a continuum of antigenic reactivities exist on the E glycoprotein of the dengue viruses, and that the conformation of this glycoprotein may be altered after antibody binding.

Dengue 2 vaccine: dose response in volunteers in relation to yellow fever immune status.

A live dengue 2 vaccine was tested in 38 volunteers in an evaluation of the safety, infectivity, and immunogenicity of doses of 10(1.8)-10(5.5) plaque-forming units. Twenty yellow fever-immune and 18 yellow fever-nonimmune individuals received 0.5 ml of vaccine sc. Immunization was dose related in yellow fever-immune volunteers, with a 50% immunizing dose of 10(3.3) plaque-forming units. In the group not immune to yellow fever, some but not all recipients of each vaccine dilution were immunized, and no 50% immunizing dose could be estimated. Volunteers immune to yellow fever developed adequate titers of neutralizing antibody to dengue 2 virus and maintained them for at least three years; those not immune to yellow fever developed lower antibody titers that disappeared within six months in half of the cases. More than 40 isolates of dengue 2 virus from 12 volunteers retained the in vitro growth characteristics of the vaccine virus; this result affirmed the genetic stability of the virus. Common clinical signs in immunized individuals were leukopenia (55%), macular rash (15%), and fever (10%).

RNA fingerprinting as a method for distinguishing dengue 1 virus strains.

Virion RNAs of 12 geographically distinct dengue type 1 (DEN-1) virus isolates were clearly unique by RNA fingerprinting. Isolates from the same geographic area were very similar but differed from those of other areas, allowing us to establish three geographical groupings based upon percent shared oligonucleotides. Three Caribbean strains were virtually identical (85-91% homologous oligonucleotides) whereas Pacific/S.E. Asian strains exhibited considerably less homology to one another (44-49%). The Pacific/S.E. Asian strains exhibited little relationship (20-30%) to the Caribbean and African strains. A Sri Lankan isolate displayed a relatively high degree of homology to Nigerian isolates (60-66% homologous oligonucleotides), suggesting that the Sri Lanka DEN-1 infection originated from Africa. A 1978 Nigerian DEN-1 isolate and the 1969 Sri Lankan strain each exhibited greater than 50% homology with a 1977 Jamaican strain. The similarities observed between the African/Sri Lankan and Jamaican strains suggest that the DEN-1 virus which caused the 1977 Jamaican epidemic may have originated from Africa or Sri Lanka. The RNA fingerprint is a unique characteristic of DEN-1 strains from a particular geographic region, suggesting this technique as a useful tool for dengue epidemiological investigations.

Rapid identification of dengue virus isolates by using monoclonal antibodies in an indirect immunofluorescence assay.

Type-specific monoclonal antibodies prepared against the four dengue (DEN) virus serotypes were evaluated for their ability to identify low-passage human and mosquito isolates from Jamaica and West Africa by an indirect immunofluorescence assay. Serotyped human isolates from Jamaican dengue fever patients included 12 DEN-1, two DEN-2, and five DEN-4 viruses. Viruses from West Africa included 84 DEN-2 mosquito strains as well as two DEN-1 and one DEN-2 from humans. Results obtained using the immunofluorescence assay were consistent with virus identifications obtained using the more classical but costly and time-consuming plaque-reduction neutralization test. More viral isolates and higher virus yields were obtained using the C6/36 clone of Aedes albopictus cells rather than LLC-MK2 (monkey kidney) cells. Dengue type-specific monoclonal antibodies detected prototype viral antigens 24-48 hours postinfection in C6/36 cells. This is the first time that monoclonal antibodies have been used to serotype low-passage flavivirus isolates.

Dengue-2 vaccine: infection of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes by feeding on viremic recipients.

Colonized Aedes aegypti mosquitoes were fed on voluntary recipients of an experimental, live, attenuated, dengue type 2 (PR 159/S-1) vaccine to estimate the frequency of vector infection and the stability of the virus in mosquitoes. Two volunteers were viremic at the time of mosquito feeding, but only two of 114 mosquitoes that took a viremic blood meal became infected with the vaccine virus. Strains of virus recovered from the bodies of the mosquitoes and the volunteer's blood retained the temperature sensitivity and small plaque growth characteristics of the vaccine virus. Dengue viral antigen was not detectable in any of the mosquito heads by direct immunofluorescence and in vitro virus transmission by droplet feeding was not observed. This experiment showed that vector mosquitoes can be infected with vaccine virus by feeding on viremic vaccinees. Furthermore, the virus is sufficiently stable to retain the in vitro growth characteristics associated with the vaccine virus.

Dengue virus-specific and flavivirus group determinants identified with monoclonal antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence.

Monoclonal antibodies produced against the four dengue virus serotypes identified four categories of reactions by immunofluorescence: flavivirus group reactive, dengue complex specific, dengue subcomplex specific (DEN-1, DEN-3), and dengue serotype specific. This is the first time that monospecific antibodies have been available for all of these unique antigenic determinants. Hybridoma cell lines producing dengue type-specific antibodies have been deposited in the Hybridoma Cell Bank of the American Type Culture Collection (Rockville, MD) for general distribution.

Infection enhancement of dengue type 2 virus in the U-937 human monocyte cell line by antibodies to flavivirus cross-reactive determinants.

Dengue type 2 virus replication was detected in the U-937 human monocyte cell line when the virus inoculum and the culture medium contained flavivirus antibodies diluted beyond their neutralizing titers. This was in marked contrast to yellow fever virus, which replicated very well in the absence of antibodies; however, 10-fold-higher yields of yellow fever virus could be obtained in the presence of flavivirus antibodies. These infection-enhancing antibodies were obtained from either a dengue type 2 human antiserum or reference hyperimmune obtained from either a dengue type 2 human antiserum or reference hyperimmune mouse ascitic fluid. The infection enhancement phenomenon, previously shown to be due to infection of Fc receptor-bearing cells with virus-antibody complexes, was completely blocked by preincubation of the cells with aggregated gamma globulin. The blocking results suggested an Fc receptor-mediated infection of the U-937 cells as well. A panel of monoclonal antibodies, previously characterized as either virus type specific or flavivirus cross-reactive and with mouse immunoglobulin subclasses G1 and G2a in both categories, were tested for their infection enhancement characteristics. A type-specific neutralizing monoclonal antibody preparation that was diluted beyond its neutralization titer did not cause infection enhancement, nor did low-level neutralizing monoclonal antibodies that were dengue serotype specific by the hemagglutination inhibition test. Only flavivirus cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies caused infection enhancement, irrespective of whether the immunoglobulins were G1 or G2a. These cross-reactive flavivirus determinants may reside at the tips of the glycoprotein projections on the virus particles, enabling the Fc ends of the cross-reactive antibodies attached to these determinants to interact with Fc receptors on susceptible cells.

Identification of distinct antigenic determinants on dengue-2 virus using monoclonal antibodies.

Monoclonal antibodies directed against antigenic determinants of the New Guinea C strain of dengue-2 virus were obtained from lymphocyte hybridomas produced by fusing immune mouse lymphocytes with mouse myeloma cells. Hybridoma cell culture supernatants were screened by using a radioimmunoassay employing detergent-solubilized dengue-2 infected cell antigens. Monoclonal antibodies in ascitic fluids induced by 22 selected hybridomas were characterized by the hemagglutination-inhibition, plaque reduction neutralization, immunofluorescence, and complement-fixation tests. Both type-specific and broadly cross-reactive antibodies were observed, and immunoglobulin subclasses IgG1 and IgG2a were represented in both groups. At least three distinct antigenic determinants on the virion were defined using these antibodies. A single hybridoma produced antibody which recognized a dengue-2 virus type-specific determinant and exhibited high titered neutralization but had a low titer by hemagglutination inhibition. Four preparations reacted with a type-specific determinant and exhibited hemagglutination inhibition but did not neutralize. Seventeen hybridomas produced antibodies which were broadly cross reactive in all tests. Only two preparations reacted by complement fixation with dengue-2 antigens; both were cross reactive. Immunofluorescence specificity or cross reactivity correlated with neutralization and/or hemagglutination-inhibition. The dengue-2 virus type-specific antibody useful for identification of dengue-2 infected cells by immunofluorescence has been deposited in the Hybridoma Cell Bank of the American Type Culture Collection.

Evidence for two mechanisms of dengue virus infection of adherent human monocytes: trypsin-sensitive virus receptors and trypsin-resistant immune complex receptors.

Trypsin treatment of adherent human monocytes greatly reduced or eliminated the ability of these cells to support dengue virus replication. However, addition of dilute (nonneutralizing) antibody to the inoculum and the culture medium resulted in viral yields similar to those from monocytes not treated with trypsin. These results suggested that viral entry was facilitated by phagocytosis of immune complexes via Fc receptors on the monocytes. This concept was tested by (i) pretreating monocytes with aggregated gamma globulin, which resulted in a 40-fold reduction of viral yields after infection with dilute antibody-virus complexes and (ii) forming an immune complex with virus, antivirus F(ab')2 fragments, and rabbit anti-human Fab. Whereas F(ab')2 fragments alone would not enhance virus replication in trypsin-treated monocytes, the immune complex containing a rabbit Fc piece did increase the yield of dengue virus. These results suggest that dengue virus can infect a cultured monocyte in two ways: (i) through a viral receptor that is trypsin sensitive or (ii) through an Fc receptor that is not trypsin sensitive.

Dengue-2 vaccine: virological, immunological, and clinical responses of six yellow fever-immune recipients.

Six male volunteers, previously immunized with yellow fever vaccine, were inoculated subcutaneously with a live, attenuated dengue-2 virus (PR-159/S-1) candidate vaccine. Five recipients developed viremia 8 or 9 days after vaccination, which lasted 1 to 10 days. The onset of viremia was followed by fever in three people, transient leukopenia in four, and an erythematous rash in one. One volunteer developed an oral temperature of 38.8 degrees C with headache, myalgia, fatigue, and photophobia suggestive of mild dengue fever. All five viremic volunteers developed fourfold or greater rises in serum neutralizing antibody. The sixth volunteer, who had a low titer of preexisting dengue-2 neutralizing antibody, had no viremia, no symptoms, and a modest rise in hemagglutination inhibiting antibody. Virus isolates obtained from plasma retained the small-plaque and temperature-sensitive growth characteristics of the vaccine virus in vitro. In this study, the vaccine virus genetically stable and immunogenic and seemed sufficiently attenuated for additional testing in humans.

Effect of passage history on dengue-2 virus replication in subpopulations of human leukocytes.

Three passage levels of dengue-2 virus strain PR-159, obtained during the course of deriving the attenuated S-1 vaccine, were tested for their ability to replicate in subpopulations of human peripheral blood leukocytes: (i) 6th primary African green monkey kidney (PGMK) cell passage (parent virus); (ii) 19th PGMK cell passage of a small-plaque-forming clone derived from the parent virus (S-1 PGMK virus); and (iii) virus derived by four additional passages of the S-1 PGMK virus in diploid fetal rhesus lung cells (S-1 vaccine virus). Replication of these PR-159 viruses and another strain of dengue-2 virus adapted to Raji cells (16681-Raji virus) was measured in adherent and nonadherent mononuclear cells. All viruses except the S-1 PGMK virus replicated in monocytes. Occasional replication of the S-1 PGMK virus was associated with reversion to parent virus. The addition to the monocyte cultures of low concentrations of homologous dengue-2 antibody or non-neutralizing heterologous antibody increased the yield of the parent virus as much as 400-fold. This phenomenon of immune enhancement usually enabled the S-1 PGMK virus to replicate slowly in monocytes, but the progeny virus produced large plaques similar to the parent virus. Replication of the S-1 vaccine virus in cultured monocytes did not result in the appearance of large plaques. We could not recover S-1 vaccine virus from monocytes harvested from infected volunteers in the same manner that monocytes from natural human infections yield wild virus. The three passage levels of PR-159 virus were tested for replication in lymphocytes in comparison with the 16681-Raji virus. Only the 16681-Raji virus replicated in human lymphocytes cultured with or without enhancing antibody.

Dimethyl sulfoxide enhancement of phlebotomus fever virus plaque formation.

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)incorporated into an agar overlay containing DEAE-dextran enhanced plaque formation in Vero cells by Naples sandfly fever virus passaged in mouse brain or Vero cell cultures. No plaques were visible when DMSO was used without the DEAE-dextran, some plaques were rarely visible (less than 0.5mm) when DEAE-dextran was used without the DMSO, and up to 10-fold more plaques were clearly visible (0.5-1.5 mm) when both chemicals were used. The combined enhancing effect of DMSO and DEAE-dextran was also observed with mouse brain passaged, but not Vero passaged Sicilian sandfly fever virus. Other Phlebotomus group viruses produced a bit plaques (3-5 mm) and did not require DMSO for plaque formation, although an increase in plaque clarity was obtained with DMSO for some of them. Plaque reduction neutralization tests were assayed successfully under agar containing DMSO. The alphavirus Sindbis produced slightly larger plaques under agar containing DMSO, but there was no effect on clarity or size of plaques produced by the flavivirus dengue-2.

Isolation of a temperature-sensitive dengue-2 virus under conditions suitable for vaccine development.

Dengue virus, type 2, in viremic human sera and after passage in cell cultures produces mixtures of small and large plaques when assayed in LLC-MK2 cells. Clones of dengue virus type 2 obtained by plaque selection in primary green monkey kidney cell cultures were tested for temperature sensitivity in vitro and for virulence by intracerebral inoculation of suckling mice. Sublines of a small-plaque clone were found to have lower nonpermissive temperatures than the parent virus by both plaque formation and release of infectious virus into the culture media. Small-plaque sublines were significantly less virulent in suckling mice than was the parent virus. Sublines from a large-plaque clone were not temperature sensitive and closely resembled parent virus mixed-plaque morphology. When small-plaque sublines were serially passaged using undiluted inocula, reversion occurred as evidenced by the appearance of large plaques and return of mouse virulence. Small-plaque virus could be maintained through several serial passages without reversion by using low-input inocula. Desirable passage history as well as temperature-sensitive and attentuation characteristics of the S-1 small-plaque subline make it appear suitable as a vaccine candidate virus.

Human immunoglobulin specificity after group B arbovirus infections.

Sera obtained during a dengue-2 epidemic from individuals with primary or secondary group B arbovirus infections contained cross-reactive antibody against several viruses in this group. Hemagglutination-inhibition antibody titers of the immunoglobulin M fractions from these sera revealed a rise in antibody specific for dengue-2. The acute and convalescent sera in over half of the secondary infection group also had low-level unchanging immunoglobulin M antibody titers to yellow fever which implicated yellow fever immunization as the primary infection.

Elimination of repeated clot formation in mouse ascitic fluid containing arbovirus antibodies.

Repeated clot formation in mouse ascitic fluids containing antiviral antibody was eliminated by acid precipitation of the fibrinogen.