Commentary on a combined approach to the problem of developing biomarkers for the prediction of spontaneous preterm labor that leads to preterm birth.

INTRODUCTION: Globally, preterm birth has replaced congenital malformation as the major cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity. The reduced rate of congenital malformation was not achieved through a single biophysical or biochemical marker at a specific gestational age, but rather through a combination of clinical, biophysical and biochemical markers at different gestational ages. Since the aetiology of spontaneous preterm birth is also multifactorial, it is unlikely that a single biomarker test, at a specific gestational age will emerge as the definitive predictive test. METHODS: The Biomarkers Group of PREBIC, comprising clinicians, basic scientists and other experts in the field, with a particular interest in preterm birth have produced this commentary with short, medium and long-term aims: i) to alert clinicians to the advances that are being made in the prediction of spontaneous preterm birth; ii) to encourage clinicians and scientists to continue their efforts in this field, and not to be disheartened or nihilistic because of a perceived lack of progress and iii) to enable development of novel interventions that can reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with preterm birth. RESULTS: Using language that we hope is clear to practising clinicians, we have identified 11 Sections in which there exists the potential, feasibility and capability of technologies for candidate biomarkers in the prediction of spontaneous preterm birth and how current limitations to this research might be circumvented. DISCUSSION: The combination of biophysical, biochemical, immunological, microbiological, fetal cell, exosomal, or cell free RNA at different gestational ages, integrated as part of a multivariable predictor model may be necessary to advance our attempts to predict sPTL and PTB. This will require systems biological data using "omics" data and artificial intelligence/machine learning to manage the data appropriately. The ultimate goal is to reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with preterm birth.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for measurement of serological response to respiratory syncytial virus infection.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was applied to the detection of serum antibodies against respiratory syncytial virus. The end points of the various sera tested in the assay were approximately 100 times higher than in the complement-fixation test and 2 to 4 times higher than in the plaque reduction test. In addition, the immunosorbent assay appeared to be more efficient than the plaque reduction and complement-fixation techniques for detecting a serological response in young infants (1 to 6 months old) with serous respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory disease. The simplicity, sensitivity, and rapidity of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay make it a useful tool for immunological studies with respiratory syncytial virus.

Evaluation of five temperature-sensitive mutants of respiratory syncytial virus in primates: II. Genetic analysis of virus recovered during infection.

Five temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of respiratory syncytial (RS) virus (ts-1, ts-1 NG-1, ts-1 NG-16, ts-2, and ts-7), previously evaluated forinfectivity and virulence in chimpanzees and owl monkeys, were also assayed for in vivo genetic stability. None of the five mutants tested was completely stable genetically. Thus, virus which had lost some or all of the ts property was recovered from each infected chimpanzee. Significantly, each ts-1 NG-1 isolate retained some degree of temperature sensitivity and hence was not true wild-type virus. Clonal analysis of viruses shed by ts-1, ts-1 NG-1, ts-1 NG-16, or ts-7 infected chimpanzees indicated that in most instances only a minority of the virus shed was altered genetically. Of five chimpanzees infected with the ts-2 mutant, three shed only ts virus, and the remaining two chimpanzees shed only ts+ virus. Such ts+ virus proved to be avirulent when evaluated in chimpanzees or owl monkeys, indicating that loss of the ts property did not restore virulence. Based upon these findings, the ts-2 mutant appears to be a suitable candidate for clinical trials in man.

Experimental respiratory syncytial virus pneumonia in cebus monkeys.

Into 14 juvenile cebus monkeys that lacked serum antibodies for RS virus 10(8) plaque-forming units (pfu) of wild-type respiratory syncytial (RS) virus were inoculated transtracheally. Roentgenographic evidence of pneumonia developed in 13 of 14 infected animals. Gross pathologic changes occurred in each of the 13 monkeys that were sacrificed. Patchy areas of red consolidation were seen in the lower lobes 24 hours after inoculation, and there was progression to gray consolidation seven days later. Each of the infected animals had histologic evidence of interstitial pneumonia. Changes were detected in the lung as early as 24 hours after inoculation; they consisted primarily of infiltration of the alveolar wall. By the fourth to sixth day after inoculation there was marked interstitial thickening, pulmonary consolidation, formation of multinucleated giant cells and development of eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusion bodies within alveolar cells. RS viral antigens, detected by indirect immunofluorescence, were distributed throughout cells of the alveolar wall and the bronchiolar epithelium. The virus grew to highest titer in the lungs on the fourth to sixth day after inoculation; up to 10(8) pfu/gram of tissue were detected. The cebus monkey represents the first experimental host to develop extensive pulmonary lesions during infection with respiratory syncytial virus.

Growth and genetic stability of 4 temperature sensitive (ts) mutants of respiratory syncytial (RS) virus in newborn ferrets.

Four temperature sensitive (ts) mutants of respiratory syncytial (RS) virus were evaluated for growth and genetic stability in newborn ferrets. ts-1, the mutant previously tested in children as a possible live virus vaccine and found to be insufficiently attenuated for the upper respiratory tract, grew in the lungs of newborn ferrets to the same peak titer as wild type RS virus. In addition some genetic alteration of the ts-1 mutant occurred. Two more defective subclones of ts-1, ts-1 NG-1 and ts-1 NG-16, were greatly restricted in growth in the ferret's lungs. ts-1 NG-16 was also restricted in the nasal turbinates, but ts-1 NG-1 grew to high titer in the nasal turbinates. Growth of ts-1 NG-1, however, was delayed 2 weeks compared to the growth of wild type virus. Genetic alteration occurred during growth of either subclone; the virus isolated was intermediate between wild type and input virus in plaque forming ability at restrictive temperatures. In no instance was wild type virus isolated from the ferrets infected with either subclone. ts-2, a plaque morphology mutant that does not fuse cells to form syncytia even at the permissive temperature of 32 degrees C, was restricted in growth in both the lungs and nasal turbinates, and genetically altered virus was not recovered from these animals. Of the mutants tested, ts-2 was the most restricted mutant in the newborn ferret and should be evaluated further as a candidate vaccine virus.

Further characterization of the complementation group B temperature-sensitive mutant of respiratory syncytial virus.

ts-2, a temperature-sensitive and plaque morphology mutant of respiratory syncytial virus and sole representative of complementation group B, was compared with members of the other complementation groups of respiratory syncytial virus (group A [ts-1] and group C [ts-7]). ts-2 was found to be 10- to 1,000-fold more restricted in growth and ability to spread at restrictive temperatures (37, 38, and 39 degrees C) than at the permissive temperature (32 degrees C). In temperature shift-up experiments, the ts defect of ts-1 and other members of complementation group A was found to effect a late function that was required for at least 13 h in the replicative cycle. The ts lesion of ts-7 affected a function early in the replication cycle. In contrast, ts-2 was not temperature sensitive when studied by the shift-up technique. The discrepancy between the ts plaque property and failure to detect temperature sensitivity during the shift-up experiment was resolved when it was shown that ts-2 had a defect in adsorption or penetration or both at the restrictive temperature. Clonal analysis of revertant ts-2 showed a coordinate restoration of ts+ phenotype ans syncytium-forming capacity. It appears that ts-2 has a defect in a protein that is involved in adsorption and/or penetration of virus and is also responsible for cell fusion activity.

Isolation and characterization of further defective clones of a temperature sensitive mutant (ts-1) of respiratory syncytial virus.

After exposure of the temperature sensitive ts-1 mutant of respiratory syncytial virus to the chemical mutagne, nitrosoguanidine (NG), 2 clones of virus were recovered which were more temperature sensitive and stable genetically than the ts-1 mutant. The initial criterion used for selection of the 2 clones was decreased ability to produce plaques at 36 degrees C. Subsequently it was shown that the 2 clones grew less well at the restrictive temperatures of 37 degrees and 38 degrees C than did the ts-1 parent. Peak titers of the NG derived clones were decreased 10--30 fold at 37 degrees C and over 100-fold at 38 degrees C compared to ts-1. Complementation analysis indicated that the NG mutants retained the same complementation pattern as the ts-1 parent.

Experimental respiratory syncytial virus infection of four species of primates.

Four species of nonhuman primates were inoculated intranasally with 10(3.1) to 10(3.7) plaque forming units (pfu) of respiratory syncytial (RS) virus. Adults squirrel monkeys and newborn rhesus monkeys became infected and shed small quantities (peak titer 10(2.0) pfu/ml of nasopharyngeal swab specimen) of virus, but illness did not develop. Infant cebus monkeys aged 2 months became infected, shed 10(2.3) to 10(3.8) pfu/ml of nasopharyngeal swab specimen, but did not become ill. Chimpanzees aged 15 to 18 months shed a large quantity of virus, up to 10(6.0) pfu/ml of nasopharyngeal swab specimen and developed an upper respiratory illness. Chimpanzees are proposed as a possible animal model for future study of the immunopathology of RS virus disease and for in vivo evaluation of attenuated live virus vaccine candidates.

A survey on the effect of steroid hormone on type C virus production from cultured murine cells.

Dexamethasone stimulates type C virus production induced by iododeoxyuridine (IdUrd) from several murine cell lines: uninfected BALB cells, virally transformed nonproducer K-BALB cells, mouse neuroblastoma N-4 cells, and rat tumor XC cells. Dexamethasone also stimulates virus production from BALB cells newly infected by some murine leukemia or leukemia sarcoma viruses, from a murine myelogenous leukemic cell line (M-1) producing type C virus, from K-BALB(l) cells (K-BALB producing cells previously induced by IdUrd), and from K-BALB cells rescued by Rauscher leukemia virus. However, this stimulatory effect is not universal, since we observed that dexamethasone did not stimulate virus production from BALB cells newly infected by B-tropic virus, from S2CL3 cells producing N-tropic virus (a clone of spontaneously transformed BALB cells), from virus producing normal rat kidney cells, and from a mouse adrenal gland tumor Y-1 cell line chronically producing type C virus. Some estrogenic hormones that do not have any stimulatory effect on virus production from BALB or K-BALB cells induced by IdUrd stimulate virus production from normal rat kidney cells induced by IdUrd. When there is no stimulation of virus production in a cell system by steroid hormones, very often there is some inhibitory activity. Furthermore, we observed that in JLSV10 cells chronically producing Rauscher leukemia virus and in K-BALB cells newly infected by Rauscher leukemia virus, virus production is enhanced by dexamethasone when the cells are still producing a low titer of virus but is not enhanced when the cells are producing a high titer of virus.

Growth and genetic stability of the ts-1 mutant of respiratory syncytial virus at restrictive temperatures.

An in vitro study was performed to define in greater detail those factors which favored the growth of the ts-1 mutant of respiratory syncytial virus under restrictive conditions and the emergence of genetically altered virus with decreased temperature sensitivity. Replication of ts-1 occurred at each of the restrictive temperatures of 37, 38, and 39 C, even through plaque formation was not observed. The level of virus growth under restrictive conditions was inversely related to the incubation temperature and directly related to the multiplicity of infection. These relationships appeared to reflect the effect of restrictive temperature in reducing the quantity of virus produced and released from an infected cell. Under restrictive conditions the production of genetically altered virus which exhibited reduced temperature sensitivity was directly related to the multiplicity of infection and inversely related to temperature. Production of genetically altered virus was not observed under permissive conditions.

Cell electrophoresis research directed toward clinical cytodiagnosis.

The application of cell electrophoresis to cytodiagnosis requires that a scientifically established basis exists for identifying abnormal cells electrophoretically, that research to detect such differences in the cytodiagnostic setting is possible and that a rapid and simple method of cell electrophoresis is adaptable to the clinical setting. Data are presented indicating modifications of electrophoretic mobility due to herpes simplex virus type 1 infection and Rous sarcoma virus transformation of culture cells. A simple apparatus for electrophoretically separating cells on a density gradient and collecting them for subsequent analysis is described, and results of experiments with this apparatus are consistent with those obtained by microscopic electrophoresis. Laser-doppler spectroscopic electrophoresis is suggested as a rapid method adaptable to clinical application.

Enhancement of phagocytosis by Compound 48/80 and its influence upon Ca++-dependent ATP-ase.

A new activity of p-methoxy-phenylethyl-methyl-amine condensed by formaldehyde (Cpd 48/80) has been established: enhancement of phagocytosis. This property seems to be correlated to its ability to activate lysosomes. Enhancement of phagocytosis is discussed in relation to the virus penetration process. Furthermore it was found that Cpd 48/80 and to a smaller degree the dimer inhibit the Ca++-dependent ATP-ase (E. C. 3.6.1.3.) from human red blood cells. The enzyme from bovine myosin is not inhibited by the dimer, but somewhat more by poly-THIQ (7-methoxy-tetrahydroisoquinoline condensed by formaldehyde) than by Cpd 48/80. These properties are discussed in relation to a general hypothesis of virus-induced giant cell formation. Finally it has been shown that the drug does not influence the PHA-stimulation (phytohemagglutinin) of lymphocytes, indicating selectivity of its activity.

Effect of cordycepin on the replication of type-c RNA tumor viruses.

Cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine) was previously shown to inhibit virus production induced by iododeoxyuridine from murine fibroblasts (Wu et al., 1972). We now report that the inhibitory effect of cordycepin results in a reduction of the number of cells producing virus as measured by the infectious center assay and fluorescent antibody technique. Cordycepin has a much greater inhibitory effect on viral replication than on transformation of normal rat kidney cells by murine sarcoma virus since viral production was greatly reduced (seven- to 35-fold) with 5-10 mug/ml of cordycepin while viral transformation was only slightly inhibited (two-fold reduction in focus-forming units) with the same concentration of cordycepin. Inhibition of viral production is most effective if the compound is present during the first 24 h after injection.

Adrenal corticosteroids enhance production of type-C virus induced by 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine from cultured mouse fibroblasts.

Induction of RNA "tumor" viruses by 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine in mouse fibroblasts is stimulated 5- to 25-fold by glucogenic adrenal corticosteroids. Enhancement of virus production by the hormones is inhibited by low concentration of cordycepin, an inhibitor of poly(A) synthesis.