Next-Generation Porcine Intestinal Organoids: an Apical-Out Organoid Model for Swine Enteric Virus Infection and Immune Response Investigations.

The intestinal organoid culture system is a pathbreaking working model for investigating pathogen-host interactions in the intestines. However, due to the limitations of the first generation of intestinal organoids, basal-out structure and growth in Matrigel, most pathogens can rarely attach to the apical membrane directly and hardly initiate infection. In this study, we first developed a next-generation porcine intestinal organoid culture system, characterized by an apical membrane on the surface, called apical-out. To investigate the infectivity and antiviral immune responses of this apical-out porcine intestinal organoid, a swine enteric virus, transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), was employed to inoculate the culture system. Both reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and immunofluorescence assay (IFA) analysis demonstrated that TGEV replicated in the apical-out porcine intestinal organoid culture system. Additionally, our results illustrated that TGEV infection significantly upregulated the expression levels of alpha interferon (IFN-α), IFN-λ1, interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15), ISG58, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in this culture system. Hence, we successfully developed a porcine intestinal apical-out organoid culture system, which will facilitate the investigation of pathogen-host interactions in pig intestines.IMPORTANCE Intestinal organoids are a newly developed culture system for investigating pathogen-host interactions. Intestinal organoid models have been widely used since their development, because the results obtained from this type of culture model better represent physiological conditions than those from well-established cell lines. The three-dimensional (3D) porcine intestinal organoid model was reported in 2018 and 2019 for the investigation of intestinal pathogens. However, those organoid culture models were basal-out intestinal organoids, which are not suitable for porcine enteric virus research because they invade the intestines via the apical side of epithelial cells on villi. In this study, we developed a porcine apical-out intestinal organoid culture system and verified its infectivity, type I and type III interferon (IFN) antiviral responses, and inflammatory responses following infection by a swine enteric virus. Our results imply that this apical-out porcine intestinal organoid culture system is an ideal model for the investigation of interactions between swine enteric viruses and the intestines.

Nucleocapsid proteins from other swine enteric coronaviruses differentially modulate PEDV replication.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) and porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) share tropism for swine intestinal epithelial cells. Whether mixing of viral components during co-infection alters pathogenic outcomes or viral replication is not known. In this study, we investigated how different coronavirus nucleocapsid (CoV N) proteins interact and affect PEDV replication. We found that PDCoV N and TGEV N can competitively interact with PEDV N. However, the presence of PDCoV or TGEV N led to very different outcomes on PEDV replication. While PDCoV N significantly suppresses PEDV replication, overexpression of TGEV N, like that of PEDV N, increases production of PEDV RNA and virions. Despite partial interchangeability in nucleocapsid oligomerization and viral RNA synthesis, endogenous PEDV N cannot be replaced in the production of infectious PEDV particles. Results from this study give insights into functional compatibilities and evolutionary relationship between CoV viral proteins during viral co-infection and co-evolution.

Surfactin Inhibits Membrane Fusion during Invasion of Epithelial Cells by Enveloped Viruses.

Because membrane fusion is a crucial step in the process by which enveloped viruses invade host cells, membrane fusion inhibitors can be effective drugs against enveloped viruses. We found that surfactin from Bacillus subtilis can suppress the proliferation of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) and transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) in epithelial cells at a relatively low concentration range (15 to 50 µg/ml), without cytotoxicity or viral membrane disruption. Membrane fusion inhibition experiments demonstrate that surfactin treatment significantly reduces the rate at which the virus fuses to the cell membrane. Thermodynamic experiments show that the incorporation of small amounts of surfactin hinders the formation of negative curvature by lamellar-phase lipids, suggesting that surfactin acts a membrane fusion inhibitor. A fluorescent lipopeptide similar to surfactin was synthesized, and its ability to insert into the viral membrane was confirmed by spectroscopy. In vivo experiments have shown that oral administration of surfactin to piglets protects against PEDV infection. In conclusion, our study indicates that surfactin is a membrane fusion inhibitor with activity against enveloped viruses. As the first reported naturally occurring wedge lipid membrane fusion inhibitor, surfactin is likely to be a prototype for the development of a broad range of novel antiviral drugs.IMPORTANCE Membrane fusion inhibitors are a rapidly emerging class of antiviral drugs that inhibit the infection process of enveloped viruses. They can be classified, on the basis of the viral components targeted, as fusion protein targeting or membrane lipid targeting. Lipid-targeting membrane fusion inhibitors have a broader antiviral spectrum and are less likely to select for drug-resistant mutations. Here we show that surfactin is a membrane fusion inhibitor and has a strong antiviral effect. The insertion of surfactin into the viral envelope lipids reduces the probability of viral fusion. We also demonstrate that oral administration of surfactin protects piglets from PEDV infection. Surfactin is the first naturally occurring wedge lipid membrane fusion inhibitor that has been identified and may be effective against many viruses beyond the scope of this study. Understanding its mechanism of action provides a foundation for the development of novel antiviral agents.

Morphogenesis and proliferative rule of porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus in porcine intestinal epithelial cells.

To gain a better understanding of the replication, proliferation and infection characteristics of porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) in porcine intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), this study established a cell model of IECs infected with the Chongqing (CQ) strain of TGEV. The morphogenesis and proliferative rule of TGEV in porcine IECs were investigated using transmission electron microscopy, indirect immunofluorescence assays and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Observations under the TEM indicated that the enveloped viral particles were roughly spherical, with diameters of between 80 and 120nm. The virions entered porcine IECs by membrane fusion and the mature viruses in the vacuoles were transported to the cell membrane before release. The results also showed that from 0 to 12h after TGEV infection of porcine IECs, the intracellular viral RNA content did not change significantly. Logarithmic growth occurred from 12 to 36h, after which it gradually decreased. Moreover, the extracellular RNA content began to rise at 24h after inoculation and then reduced gradually at approximately 48h. This study provided a theoretical foundation for further study on the infection characteristics of TGEV in target cells.

Phage displayed peptides recognizing porcine aminopeptidase N inhibit transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus infection in vitro.

Porcine aminopeptidase N (pAPN) is a cellular receptor of transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), a porcine coronavirus. Interaction between the spike (S) protein of TGEV and pAPN initiates cell infection. Small molecules, especially peptides are an expanding area for therapy or diagnostic assays for viral diseases. Here, the peptides capable of binding the pAPN were, for the first time, identified by biopanning using a random 12-mer peptide library to the immobilized protein. Three chemically synthesized peptides recognizing the pAPN showed effective inhibition ability to TGEV infection in vitro. A putative TxxF motif was identified in the S protein of TGEV. Phages bearing the specific peptides interacted with the pAPN in ELISA. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays confirmed the protective effect of the peptides on cell infection by TGEV. Moreover, the excellent immune responses in mice induced by the identified phages provided the possibility to develop novel phage-based vaccines.

Absence of E protein arrests transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus maturation in the secretory pathway.

A recombinant transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus (rTGEV) in which E gene was deleted (rTGEV-DeltaE) has been engineered. This deletion mutant only grows in cells expressing E protein (E(+) cells) indicating that E was an essential gene for TGEV replication. Electron microscopy studies of rTGEV-DeltaE infected BHK-pAPN-E(-) cells showed that only immature intracellular virions were assembled. These virions were non-infectious and not secreted to the extracellular medium in BHK-pAPN-E(-) cells. RNA and protein composition analysis by RNase-gold and immunoelectron microscopy showed that rTGEV-DeltaE virions contained RNA and also all the structural TGEV proteins, except the deleted E protein. Nevertheless, full virion maturation was blocked. Studies of the rTGEV-DeltaE subcellular localization by confocal and immunoelectron microscopy in infected E(-) cells showed that in the absence of E protein virus trafficking was arrested in the intermediate compartment. Therefore, the absence of E protein in TGEV resulted in two actions, a blockade of virus trafficking in the membranes of the secretory pathway, and prevention of full virus maturation.

Coronavirus M proteins accumulate in the Golgi complex beyond the site of virion budding.

The prevailing hypothesis is that the intracellular site of budding of coronaviruses is determined by the localization of its membrane protein M (previously called E1). We tested this by analyzing the site of budding of four different coronaviruses in relation to the intracellular localization of their M proteins. Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) and infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) grown in Sac(-) cells, and feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) and transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) grown in CrFK cells, all budded exclusively into smooth-walled, tubulovesicular membranes located intermediately between the rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex, identical to the so-called budding compartment previously identified for MHV. Indirect immunofluorescence staining of the infected cells showed that all four M proteins accumulated in a perinuclear region. Immunogold microscopy localized MHV M and IBV M in the budding compartment; in addition, a dense labeling in the Golgi complex occurred, MHV M predominantly in trans-Golgi cisternae and trans-Golgi reticulum and IBV M mainly in the cis and medial Golgi cisternae. The corresponding M proteins of the four viruses, when independently expressed in a recombinant vaccinia virus system, also accumulated in the perinuclear area. Quantitative pulse-chase analysis of metabolically labeled cells showed that in each case the majority of the M glycoproteins carried oligosaccharide side chains with Golgi-specific modifications within 4 h after synthesis. Immunoelectron microscopy localized recombinant MHV M and IBV M to the same membranes as the respective proteins in coronavirus-infected cells, with the same cis-trans distribution over the Golgi complex. Our results demonstrate that some of the M proteins of the four viruses are transported beyond the budding compartment and are differentially retained by intrinsic retention signals; in addition to M, other viral and/or cellular factors are probably required to determine the site of budding.

Adaptation of transmissible gastroenteritis virus to growth in non-permissive Vero cells.

The CPK cells derived from swine kidney were infected with the attenuated TO-163 strain of transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) virus, and fused with uninfected Vero cells in the presence of polyethylene glycol. Repeated cocultivation of the fused cells with uninfected Vero cells rendered the virus to grow in Vero cells. The Vero cell-adapted virus acquired the ability to infect and produce cytopathic effects in several other non-permissive cell lines of non-porcine origin. No major differences in viral polypeptides were shown between the Vero cell-adapted TO-163 strain and its parent strain by indirect immunofluorescence and Western blotting using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to TGE virus.

General characteristics and viral susceptibility of a newborn pig kidney (NPK) continuous culture.

We have developed a fibroblastic-like continuous culture of newborn pig kidney (NPK). The current cell line was serially passaged 160 times and appeared to be well suited for production and assay of a number of viruses affecting pigs, such as pig parvovirus, pseudorabies and transmissible gastroenteritis. The cell line appeared aneuploid, with a modal chromosome number of 36 and induced tumors, classified as fibrosarcoma, in athymic mice.

Effect of virus-induced destruction of villous epithelium on intestinal secretion induced by heat-stable Escherichia coli enterotoxins and prostaglandin E1 in swine.

Villous atrophy and crypt hyperplasia were induced in the jejunal epithelium of thirteen 3-week-old pigs by inoculation with transmissible gastroenteritis virus. The responses (changes in net fluid movement) induced in ligated intestinal loops of these pigs by intraloop injections of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) or Escherichia coli broth culture filtrates containing either or both E coli heat-stable enterotoxins (STa and STb) were compared with the responses induced by these preparations in littermates not inoculated with virus. Villous atrophy was associated with a marked decrease in response to preparations containing STa, STb, or STa + STb, but the response to PGE1 was undiminished. These results were consistent with the reports of others that the response to cyclic adenosine monophosphate-mediated secretogogues (PGE1) is a function of crypt epithelium; however, the present results also suggest that the secretory response to STa and to STb is dependent on the integrity of the villous epithelium. In the present study, loss of villous epithelium was associated with loss of response to STa and STb, but not to PGE1.

Replication of transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus (TGEV) in swine alveolar macrophages.

Several strains of the enteropathogenic coronavirus transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) have been shown to replicate in alveolar macrophages maintained in vitro. A distinct cytopathic effect was observed at a multiplicity of infection greater than or equal to 0.1. Infected cells released infectious virus. The extent of both virus production and cell destruction was highly dependent upon the virus input. At low input, cell viability was affected only slightly, and a delayed and persistent virus production could be observed. TGEV infection of macrophages also led to a marked synthesis of type I interferon. Thus, the possibility that alveolar macrophages act as an extra-intestinal target for TGEV must be considered.

Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and spontaneous cell-mediated cytotoxicity against cells infected with porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus.

The objective of this study was to determine whether porcine peripheral blood leukocytes and intestinal intraepithelial leukocytes can mediate antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and spontaneous cell-mediated cytotoxicity against target cells infected with transmissible gastroenteritis virus. Peripheral blood leukocytes collected from six young adult pigs and intraepithelial leukocytes from a further five pigs were used as effector cells in chromium release assays against PK-15 cells persistently infected with transmissible gastroenteritis virus. Both peripheral blood leukocytes and intraepithelial leukocytes were capable of mediating antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and spontaneous cell-mediated cytotoxicity against PK-15 transmissible gastroenteritis cells. While the peripheral blood leukocytes mediated lower levels of specific 51Cr release in spontaneous cell-mediated cytotoxicity than in antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, the intraepithelial leukocytes were more effective in spontaneous cell-mediated cytotoxicity than antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

Viral susceptibility of a cell line derived from the pig oviduct.

Seventeen of 24 RNA viruses and eight of nine DNA viruses replicated in a cell line derived from a pig fallopian tube. The following RNA viruses grew poorly in it: the virus of transmissible gastroenteritis of pig and the swine-influenza, Sendai and bovine para-influenza type 3 viruses. Among other RNA viruses an untyped swine para-myxovirus and some picornaviruses, rhabdoviruses and togaviruses attained high titers and produced an extensive cytopathic effect. Among the DNA viruses a porcine adeno, equine rhinopneumonitis, infectious bovine rhinotraceheitis, pseudorabies and porcine cytomegalo viruses replicated in pig fallopian tube cells as well as in other cells generally used to grow them.