Replication, pathogenesis and transmission of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus in non-immune pigs.

The declaration of the human influenza A pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (H1N1/09) raised important questions, including origin and host range [1], [2]. Two of the three pandemics in the last century resulted in the spread of virus to pigs (H1N1, 1918; H3N2, 1968) with subsequent independent establishment and evolution within swine worldwide [3]. A key public and veterinary health consideration in the context of the evolving pandemic is whether the H1N1/09 virus could become established in pig populations [4]. We performed an infection and transmission study in pigs with A/California/07/09. In combination, clinical, pathological, modified influenza A matrix gene real time RT-PCR and viral genomic analyses have shown that infection results in the induction of clinical signs, viral pathogenesis restricted to the respiratory tract, infection dynamics consistent with endemic strains of influenza A in pigs, virus transmissibility between pigs and virus-host adaptation events. Our results demonstrate that extant H1N1/09 is fully capable of becoming established in global pig populations. We also show the roles of viral receptor specificity in both transmission and tissue tropism. Remarkably, following direct inoculation of pigs with virus quasispecies differing by amino acid substitutions in the haemagglutinin receptor-binding site, only virus with aspartic acid at position 225 (225D) was detected in nasal secretions of contact infected pigs. In contrast, in lower respiratory tract samples from directly inoculated pigs, with clearly demonstrable pulmonary pathology, there was apparent selection of a virus variant with glycine (225G). These findings provide potential clues to the existence and biological significance of viral receptor-binding variants with 225D and 225G during the 1918 pandemic [5].

Temperature sensitivity on growth and/or replication of H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2 influenza A viruses isolated from pigs and birds in mammalian cells.

Influenza A viruses have been isolated from a wide range of animal species, aquatic birds being the reservoir for their genetic diversity. Avian influenza viruses can be transmitted to humans, directly or indirectly through an intermediate host like pig. This study aimed to define in vitro conditions that could prove useful to evaluate the potential of influenza viruses to adapt to a different host. Growth of H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2 influenza viruses belonging to different lineages isolated from birds or pigs prior to 2005 was tested on MDCK or NPTr cell lines in the presence or absence of exogenous trypsin. Virus multiplication was compared at 33, 37 and 40 degrees C, the infection site temperatures in human, swine and avian hosts, respectively. Temperature sensitivity of PB2-, NP- and M-RNA replication was also tested by quantitative real-time PCR. Multiplication of avian viruses was cold-sensitive, whatever cell type. By contrast, temperature sensitivity of swine viruses was found to depend on the virus and the host cell: for an H1N1 swine isolate from 1982, multiplication was cold-sensitive on NPTr cells and undetectable at 40 degrees C. From genetic analyses, it appears that temperature sensitivity could involve other residues than PB2 residue 627 and could affect other steps of the replication cycle than replication.

Maternal stress during late gestation has moderate but long-lasting effects on the immune system of the piglets.

Events acting prenatally on developing foetuses are important determinants for disorders later in life. Prenatal stress (PNS) is one of these events. The purpose of this study was to determine the consequences of a repeated social stress applied during late gestation of the pregnant gilt on the immune system and hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity of the piglets from birth to two months of age. Pregnant gilts were submitted to repeated social stress which was induced by housing unfamiliar gilts in pairs modified twice a week during 4 weeks between days 77 and 105 of gestation (S group, n=18). Control gilts were housed in stable pairs during the same period (C group, n=18). Blood cortisol, haptoglobin and IgG levels, immune cell counts, mitogen-induced whole-blood proliferation and TNF-alpha production were evaluated in piglets at 4 days of age (D4), before and after weaning (D26 and 28) and before and after relocation to a new building (D60 and 62). We found that PNS did not affect growth rate of the progeny. It decreased the relative weight of adrenal glands on D4 (P<0.05) but plasma cortisol levels were similar in both groups at all ages. IgG levels in colostrum and in the serum of piglets were not affected. PNS decreased the total numbers of white blood cells, lymphocytes and granulocytes from D26 to D60 (P<0.05), the CD4(+)/CD8(+) T cell ratio on D4 (P<0.05), and LPS induced-TNF-alpha production on D60 (P<0.05). PNS increased the ConA-induced lymphocyte proliferation on D4 and D60 and the PWM-induced proliferation on D60 (P<0.05). Our results demonstrate that a repeated social stress applied to pregnant sows during late gestation can induce long-lasting effects on several parameters of the immune function of the offspring. These effects are not due to modifications of the HPA axis activity and may impair the abilities of the piglets to efficiently react against infections during the suckling period and around weaning.

Classical swine fever virus induces activation of plasmacytoid and conventional dendritic cells in tonsil, blood, and spleen of infected pigs.

Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) compromises the host immune system, causing indirect leucopoenia and disruption of in vitro T cell stimulation capacity. In order to explore the potential role of dendritic cells (DC) in such phenomena, the activation of conventional DC (cDC) and plasmacytoid DC (pDC) in blood and secondary lymphoid organs of infected pigs was investigated in the early time course post-inoculation (pi), together with viral components dissemination and cytokine production in serum. Whereas CD11R1+CD172a+ cDC frequencies were markedly reduced in blood and spleen, analysis of CD4+CD172a+ pDC numbers revealed a rapid turn-over of this DC subset in tissues pi. Both subsets matured and were activated after infection, as demonstrated by down-regulation of CD1a, up-regulation of the co-stimulation molecule CD80/86 and expression of cytokines. cDC essentially expressed tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin (IL)-10, whereas pDC produced alpha interferon (IFN-alpha) and IL-12. IFN-alpha and TNF-alpha productions revealed an enhancement of innate anti-viral immune responses. Detection of antigen activated B lymphocytes in tonsil T-cell areas at 72 h pi, subsequently to the transient translocation of the viral E2 protein within germinal centres at 48 h pi, indicates the initiation of humoral response. This response was also evidenced by an important IL-10 production in serum one week pi. IL-12 expression in organs, as well as transient detection of IL-18 and IFN-gamma in serum, reflected the initiation of cellular immune responses. However, the uncommonly high levels of TNF-alpha and IFN-alpha produced by DC and measured in serum early post-infection, together with IL-10 expression in spleen, could play a role in the disruption of immune system cells, either inducing apoptosis or impairing DC functionalities themselves.

Characterization of conventional and plasmacytoid dendritic cells in swine secondary lymphoid organs and blood.

Dendritic cells (DCs) act as antigen presenting cells that bridge innate and adaptive immune systems with the unique capacity to initiate primary T-cell responses and efficiently stimulate memory responses. In pig, little information is available about these cells in secondary lymphoid organs, the place where T cell activation usually occurs. As increased knowledge on DC is a necessary prerequisite to further understand their role in response to microbial infection or in protection after vaccination, we investigated the DC types that would be present in tonsil, spleen and non-subcutaneous lymph nodes in the steady state. One population was composed of CD172a(+)CD11R1(+)CD1(+/-)CD80/86(+/-) cells and would correspond to conventional DCs (cDC), while the other one was composed of CD172a(+)CD4(+)CD1(+/-)CD80/86(+/-) cells and would correspond to plasmacytoid DCs (pDC). These subsets were also detected in blood but spleen was the tissue with the higher frequency of such DCs. In lymphoid organs, most of cDC and pDC were in an immature status, as revealed by the low percentage of cells expressing the co-stimulatory molecule CD80/86. However, expression of that marker by 5% of DCs in organs and up to 15% in blood, together with lower expression of CD1a and expression of CD208, would indicate a partial activation and/or semi-maturation. Interestingly, 8% of tonsil pDC and 15% of blood pDC were shown to secrete IFN-alpha, while 18-20% of cDC expressed TNF-alpha in these tissues. Both cell types also expressed IL-12 and IL-10 in the steady state. Measurements of IFN-alpha, TNF-alpha, IL-12 and IL-10 levels in serum confirmed their production within immune homeostasis, whereas IL-6, IL-18 and IFN-gamma could not be detected. Altogether, these data complete knowledge on porcine immune system cells and will be a useful tool for further in vivo studies on porcine DC role in peripheral tolerance induction and in immune responses to pathogens.

Baculovirus-expressed muscovy duck reovirus sigmaC protein induces serum neutralizing antibodies and protection against challenge.

Recombinant baculoviruses with sigmaC- or sigmaB-encoding gene from muscovy duck reovirus (DRV) were constructed. Western-blot analysis showed that sigmaC was more immunoreactive than sigmaB. Vaccination of SPF ducks with two injections, 3 weeks apart, of emulsions containing sigmaC or sigmaC + sigmaB elicited DRV-specific neutralizing antibodies. Following challenge, vaccination partially--or even totally in some cases--prevented the appearance of clinical symptoms. Moreover, immunization reduced the severity of reovirus-induced tenosynovitis and prevented pericarditis development during the course of the assay. Thus, DRV sigmaC, alone or co-expressed with sigmaB, appeared as a good candidate for vaccination of ducks (96/100 mots).

Muscovy duck reovirus sigmaC protein is atypically encoded by the smallest genome segment.

Although muscovy duck reovirus (DRV) shares properties with the reovirus isolated from chicken, commonly named avian reovirus (ARV), the two virus species are antigenically different. Similar to the DRV sigmaB-encoded gene (1201 bp long) previously identified, the three other double-stranded RNA small genome segments of DRV have been cloned and sequenced. They were 1325, 1191 and 1124 bp long, respectively, and contained conserved terminal sequences common to ARVs. They coded for single expression products, except the smallest (S4), which contained two overlapping open reading frames (ORF1 and ORF2). BLAST analyses revealed that the proteins encoded by the 1325 and 1191 bp genes shared high identity levels with ARV sigmaA and sigmaNS, respectively, and to a lesser extent with other orthoreovirus counterparts. No homology was found for the S4 ORF1-encoded p10 protein. The 29.4 kDa product encoded by S4 ORF2 appeared to be 25% identical to ARV S1 ORF3-encoded sigmaC, a cell-attachment oligomer inducing type-specific neutralizing antibodies. Introduction of large gaps in the N-terminal part of the DRV protein was necessary to improve DRV and ARV sigmaC amino acid sequence alignments. However, a leucine zipper motif was conserved and secondary structure analyses predicted a three-stranded alpha-helical coiled-coil feature at this amino portion. Thus, despite extensive sequence divergence, DRV sigmaC was suggested to be structurally and probably functionally related to ARV sigmaC. This work provides evidence for the diversity of the polycistronic S class genes of reoviruses isolated from birds and raises the question of the relative classification of DRV in the Orthoreovirus genus.