Poliomyelitis in transgenic mice expressing CD155 under the control of the Tage4 promoter after oral and parenteral poliovirus inoculation.

An important step in poliovirus (PV) infection by the oral route in humans is replication of the virus in lymphatic tissues of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, thought to be mainly in the Peyer's patches of the small intestine. No immunocompetent transgenic (tg) mice that express human PV receptor (CD155) under the control of different promoters can be infected orally. The mouse orthologue of human CD155 is Tage4, a protein expressed at the surface of enterocytes and in the Peyer's patches. We describe here the generation of a tg mouse model in which the Tage4 promoter was used to drive expression of the human PV receptor-coding region (Tage4-CD155tg mice). In this model, CD155 expression was observed by immunostaining in different regions in the Peyer's patches but not in their germinal centres. Although a similar pattern of staining was observed between 3- and 6-week-old Tage4-CD155tg mice, poliomyelitis was only seen in the younger mice after PV infection by the oral route. When compared with TgPVR21 mice that expressed CD155 driven by its human promoter, 3-week-old Tage4-CD155tg mice were more susceptible to gut infection and paralysis following feeding with PV. Also, Tage4-CD155tg mice exhibited higher susceptibility to poliomyelitis after parenteral inoculation of PV. Remarkably, the LD50 after intracerebral inoculation of PV was similar in both CD155 tg mouse strains. The CD155 tg mouse model reported here, although moderately susceptible to oral infection, may be suitable to study mechanisms of PV replication in the gastrointestinal tract and to dissect important aspects of PV neuroinvasiveness.

Oncolytic poliovirus therapy and immunization with poliovirus-infected cell lysate induces potent antitumor immunity against neuroblastoma in vivo.

In a previous study, we demonstrated that neuroblastoma subcutaneously implanted in immuno-competent mice is eliminated by intratumoral administration of neuroattenuated poliovirus (PV). Our results also suggested that the in vivo destruction of neuroblastoma cells by virotherapy lead to a robust antitumor immune response. In this work, splenocytes harvested from neuroblastoma-bearing animals treated with neuroattenuated PV exhibited significantly higher lytic activity against tumor target cells than did those from splenocytes derived from control mice. In vitro T-cell depletion experiments indicated that CD8(+) T cells were essential for the cytotoxic antitumor activity of splenocytes. Moreover, adoptive transfer of splenocytes obtained from mice cured of neuroblastoma by PV virotherapy markedly delayed the tumor growth of previously established neuroblastomas in recipient naïve mice. These results confirmed that treatment with a neuroattenuated oncolytic PV strain induces antitumor immunity against neuroblastoma that is mainly mediated by cytotoxic CD8(+) T cells. Immunocompetent mice, on the other hand, were immunized with PV-infected neuroblastoma cell lysate prior intravenous challenge with neuroblastoma cells. As a control, mice were vaccinated with either non-infected neuroblastoma cell lysate alone or mixed with PV, or with PBS prior tumor cell injection. Results showed that survival is significantly prolonged only in mice immunized with PV-infected tumor lysate. This finding clearly suggested that in vitro poliovirus infection of neuroblastoma cells turns these cells into a potent tumor immunogen. Further studies in oncolytic treatment of neuroblastoma using attenuated PV alone or in combination with immunotherapy with PV oncolysate should improve the probability for successful translation in the clinic.

Growth phenotypes and biosafety profiles in poliovirus-receptor transgenic mice of recombinant oncolytic polio/human rhinoviruses.

The use of oncolytic recombinant polioviruses has an important therapeutic potential in the treatment of human gliomas. This study was carried out to assess parameters of the utility of the oncolytic poliovirus/human rhinovirus type 2 chimeras (PV/HRV2). The prototype PV/HRV2 chimera was constructed containing the complete genome of wild-type PV type 1 (Mahoney) [PV1(M)] in which the cognate IRES was replaced with that of HRV2 [called PV1(RIPO)]. A derivative of PV1(RIPO) is PV1(RIPOS) in which the capsid coding region (P1) was replaced with the capsid-coding region of the PV type 1 (Sabin) [PV1(S)] vaccine strain. In addition, a third PV/HRV2 chimera was constructed containing the complete genome of PV1(S) in which the cognate IRES was replaced with that of HRV2 [termed PVS(RIPO)]. To analyze the growth phenotypes of PV/HRV2 recombinants [PV1(RIPO), PV1(RIPOS), PVS(RIPO)], one-step growth experiments were performed in four human cell lines at three different temperatures. To address the safety profile, PVS(RIPO) was injected into the brain of CD155 tg mice at the dose 10(7) PFU. Then, clinical signs, persistence of the virus in the CNS and genetic stability of PVS(RIPO) replicating in the CNS were evaluated. The data obtained in the present study suggest (i) a correlation between temperature-sensitive (ts) phenotype in both neuronal and non-neuronal cell lines and neuroattenuation in experimental animals, (ii) that PVS (RIPO) is genetically stable on replication in the CNS of poliovirus-susceptible mice. These findings highlight the safety of intracerebral inoculation of PVS(RIPO) for the treatment of human glioma.

Oncolytic treatment and cure of neuroblastoma by a novel attenuated poliovirus in a novel poliovirus-susceptible animal model.

Neuroblastoma is one of the most common solid tumors in children. Treatment is of limited utility for high-risk neuroblastoma and prognosis is poor. Resistance of neuroblastoma to conventional therapies has prompted us to search for a novel therapeutic approach based on genetically modified polioviruses. Poliovirus targets motor neurons leading to irreversible paralysis. Neurovirulence can be attenuated by point mutations or by exchange of genetic elements between different picornaviruses. We have developed a novel and stable attenuated poliovirus, replicating in neuroblastoma cells, by engineering an indigenous replication element (cre), copied from a genome-internal site, into the 5'-nontranslated genomic region (mono-crePV). An additional host range mutation (A(133)G) conferred replication in mouse neuroblastoma cells (Neuro-2a(CD155)) expressing CD155, the poliovirus receptor. Crossing immunocompetent transgenic mice susceptible to poliovirus (CD155 tg mice) with A/J mice generated CD155 tgA/J mice, which we immunized against poliovirus. Neuro-2a(CD155) cells were then transplanted into these animals, leading to lethal tumors. Despite preexisting high titers of anti-poliovirus antibodies, established lethal s.c. Neuro-2a(CD155) tumors in CD155 tgA/J mice were eliminated by intratumoral administrations of A(133)Gmono-crePV. No signs of paralysis were observed. Interestingly, no tumor growth was observed in mice cured of neuroblastoma that were reinoculated s.c. with Neuro-2a(CD155). This result indicates that the destruction of neuroblastoma cells by A(133)Gmono-crePV may lead to a robust antitumor immune response. We suggest that our novel attenuated oncolytic poliovirus is a promising candidate for effective oncolytic treatment of human neuroblastoma or other cancer even in the presence of present or induced antipolio immunity.

Mac-1+ cells are the predominant subset in the early hepatic lesions of mice infected with Francisella tularensis.

The cell composition of early hepatic lesions of experimental murine tularemia has not been characterized with specific markers. The appearance of multiple granulomatous-necrotic lesions in the liver correlates with a marked increase in the levels of serum alanine transferase and lactate dehydrogenase. Francisella tularensis, detected by specific antibodies, can be first noted by day 1 and becomes associated with the lesions by 5 days postinoculation. These lesions become necrotic, with some evidence of in situ apoptosis. The lesions do not contain B, T, or NK cells. Rather, the lesions are largely composed of two subpopulations of Mac-1(+) cells that are associated with the bacteria. Gr-1(+) Mac-1(+) immature myeloid cells and major histocompatibility complex class II-positive (MHC-II(+)) Mac-1(+) macrophages were the most abundant cell phenotypes found in the granuloma and are likely major contributors in controlling the infection in its early stages. Our findings have shown that there is an early development of hepatic lesions where F. tularensis colocalizes with both Gr-1(+) Mac-1(+) and MHC-II(+) Mac-1(+) cells.

Mutation of a single conserved nucleotide between the cloverleaf and internal ribosome entry site attenuates poliovirus neurovirulence.

The chemical synthesis of poliovirus (PV) cDNA combined with the cell-free synthesis of infectious particles yielded virus whose mouse neurovirulence was highly attenuated (J. Cello, A. V. Paul, and E. Wimmer, Science 297:1016-1018, 2002). Compared to the wild-type PV1 (Mahoney) [PV1(M)] sequence, the synthetic virus genome harbored 27 nucleotide (nt) changes deliberately introduced as genetic markers. Of the 27 nucleotide substitutions, the UA-to-GG exchanges at nucleotides 102/103, mapping to a region between the cloverleaf and the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) in the 5'-nontranslated region, were found to be involved in the observed attenuation phenotype in mice. The UA/GG mutation at nt 102/103 in the synthetic PV1(M) [sPV1(M)] background conferred also a ts phenotype of replication to the virus in human neuroblastoma cells. Conversely, the exchange of GG to wild-type (wt) UA at 102/103 in an sPV1(M) background restored wt neurovirulence in CD155 transgenic (tg) mice and suppressed the ts phenotype in SK-N-MC cells. All poliovirus variants replicated well in HeLa cells at the two temperatures, regardless of the sequence at the 102/103 locus. Analyses of variants isolated from sPV(M)-infected CD155 tg mice revealed that the G(102)G(103)-to-G(102)A(103) reversion alone reestablished the neurovirulent phenotype. This suggests that a single mutation is responsible for the observed change of the neurovirulence phenotype. sPV1(M) RNA is translated in cell extracts of SK-N-MC cells with significantly lower efficiency than PV1(M) RNA or sPV1(M) RNA with a G(102)-to-A(102) reversion. These studies suggest a function for the conserved nucleotide (A(103)) located between the cloverleaf and the IRES which is important for replication of PV in the central nervous system of CD155 tg mice and in human cells of neuronal origin.

Effects of ribavirin on cytokine production of recall antigens and phytohemaglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. (Inhibitory effects of ribavirin on cytokine production).

AIM: To evaluate the effects of ribavirin on cytokine production of recall antigen and PHA-stimulated PBMC obtained from healthy individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PBMC were challenged with tetanus toxoid (5 microg/mL) and PHA (10 microg/mL) in absence or presence of ribavirin at different concentrations (1, 10 and 100 (microM). Parallel sets of wells containing PBMC exposed to medium alone were used as negative controls. On day 3 after initiation of the cultures, IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-4, IL-10, TNF-alpha content were determined in supernatants of PBMC from the different individuals. RESULTS: The effects of ribavirin on cytokine released by human PBMC in response to PHA and TT showed a great variation among individuals. No significant changes were observed between 1-10 microM concentrations in the production of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and IL-10 by both PHA and TT-stimulated PBMC. Ribavirin inhibited TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and IL-10 in both PHA and TT-stimulated PBMC at 100 microM (p <0.05). At this concentration, ribavirin induced an increase of 124% in the production of IL-2 by PHA-stimulated PBMC (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present data suggest that ribavirin may cause diverse effects on immunoregulatory cytokine secretion with changes in the Th1/Th2 balance.

In vivo down regulation of HIV replication after hepatitis C superinfection

There are increasing molecular and clinical evidences that the effects of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection can be modified by coinfection with other viruses. The objective was to investigate the viral interaction between HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) after HCV superinfection. A 16 year-old pregnant woman was evaluated because of icteric acute hepatitis. Admission laboratory tests showed the following results: ALT 877 IU/L; AST 1822 1822 IU/L; bilirubin 6.79 mg/dl. Diagnosis of acute HCV was based on detection of serum HCV RNA by PCR and anti-HCV seroconversion. ELISA for anti HIV testing was positive and confirmed by western blot. Serum markers for other viruses were negative. The patient was followed during 19 months; serum samples were taken monthly during this period for detection of plasma HIV and HCV RNA. Levels of plasma HIV-RNA were positive in all samples ttested before and after the onset of acute hepatitis C. Six months later and a for two month period, and 13 months later for a period of one month HIV viremia was undetectable; then HIV-RNA in plasma was detectable again. In conclusion, HCV superinfection may have temporarily interfered with HIV replication in our patient. The following observations support our hypothesis: it has been demonstrated that HIV-1 replication is suppressed by HCV core protein which has transcriptional regulation properties of several viral and cellular promoters. Clinical implications of this event are not generally known and the interaction between these two viruses in dual infections is worth considering.

Comparación del método de aglutinación en latex con la inhibición de la hemoglutinación en la detección de anticuerpos contra el virus rubeola / Comparison of the latex agglutination method with hemagglutination inhibition in the detection of rubella virus antibodies

Se estudiaron 85 sueros de mujeres embarazadas, comparando un nuevo método de aglutinación en látex con la inhibición de la hemaglutinación en la detección de anticuerpos contra el virus de la rubeola. La sensibilidad del método de aglutinación en látex fue del 98,4%, la especificidad del 66,6% y el valor predictivo de los resultados positivos del 90%. El método de aglutinación en látex presenta simplicidad técnica y requiere menor tiempo de reacción que la inhibición de la hemaglutinación