Inhibition of caspase pathways limits CD4+ T cell loss and restores host anti-retroviral function in HIV-1 infected humanized mice with augmented lymphoid tissue.

The study of HIV infection and pathogenicity in physical reservoirs requires a biologically relevant model. The human immune system (HIS) mouse is an established model of HIV infection, but defects in immune tissue reconstitution remain a challenge for examining pathology in tissues. We utilized exogenous injection of the human recombinant FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (rFLT-3 L) into the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) cord blood HIS mouse model to significantly expand the total area of lymph node (LN) and the number of circulating human T cells. The results enabled visualization and quantification of HIV infectivity, CD4 T cell depletion and other measures of pathogenesis in the secondary lymphoid tissues of the spleen and LN. Treatment with the Caspase-1/4 inhibitor VX-765 limited CD4+ T cell loss in the spleen and reduced viral load in both the spleen and axillary LN. In situ hybridization further demonstrated a decrease in viral RNA in both the spleen and LN. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that in vivo inhibition of caspase-1/4 led to an upregulation in host HIV restriction factors including SAMHD1 and APOBEC3A. These findings highlight the use of rFLT-3 L to augment human immune system characteristics in HIS mice to support investigations of HIV pathogenesis and test host directed therapies, though further refinements are needed to further augment LN architecture and cellular populations. The results further provide in vivo evidence of the potential to target inflammasome pathways as an avenue of host-directed therapy to limit immune dysfunction and virus replication in tissue compartments of HIV+ persons.

Lymphoid tissue on the mind.

To surveil an organ for pathogens, lymphoid structures need to sample antigens locally. The full set of lymphoid structures involved in surveilling for brain-tropic pathogens has not been defined. Through comprehensive imaging of the mouse meninges, a new study by Fitzpatrick et al. describes dural-associated lymphoid tissue (DALT) and its contribution to humoral responses following intranasal viral infection.

SHIV-C109p5 NHP induces rapid disease progression in elderly macaques with extensive GI viral replication.

CCR5-tropic simian/human immunodeficiency viruses (SHIV) with clade C transmitted/founder envelopes represent a critical tool for the investigation of HIV experimental vaccines and microbicides in nonhuman primates, although many such isolates lead to spontaneous viral control post infection. Here, we generated a high-titer stock of pathogenic SHIV-C109p5 by serial passage in two rhesus macaques (RM) and tested its virulence in aged monkeys. The co-receptor usage was confirmed before infecting five geriatric rhesus macaques (four female and one male). Plasma viral loads were monitored by reverse transcriptase-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), cytokines by multiplex analysis, and biomarkers of gastrointestinal damage by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Antibodies and cell-mediated responses were also measured. Viral dissemination into tissues was determined by RNAscope. Intravenous SHIV-C109p5 infection of aged RMs leads to high plasma viremia and rapid disease progression; rapid decrease in CD4+ T cells, CD4+CD8+ T cells, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells; and wasting necessitating euthanasia between 3 and 12 weeks post infection. Virus-specific cellular immune responses were detected only in the two monkeys that survived 4 weeks post infection. These were Gag-specific TNFα+CD8+, MIP1ß+CD4+, Env-specific IFN-γ+CD4+, and CD107a+ T cell responses. Four out of five monkeys had elevated intestinal fatty acid binding protein levels at the viral peak, while regenerating islet-derived protein 3α showed marked increases at later time points in the three animals surviving the longest, suggesting gut antimicrobial peptide production in response to microbial translocation post infection. Plasma levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, interleukin-15, and interleukin-12/23 were also elevated. Viral replication in gut and secondary lymphoid tissues was extensive.IMPORTANCESimian/human immunodeficiency viruses (SHIV) are important reagents to study prevention of virus acquisition in nonhuman primate models of HIV infection, especially those representing transmitted/founder (T/F) viruses. However, many R5-tropic SHIV have limited fitness in vivo leading to many monkeys spontaneously controlling the virus post acute infection. Here, we report the generation of a pathogenic SHIV clade C T/F stock by in vivo passage leading to sustained viral load set points, a necessity to study pathogenicity. Unexpectedly, administration of this SHIV to elderly rhesus macaques led to extensive viral replication and fast disease progression, despite maintenance of a strict R5 tropism. Such age-dependent rapid disease progression had previously been reported for simian immunodeficiency virus but not for R5-tropic SHIV infections.

Evaluation of Archival HIV DNA in Brain and Lymphoid Tissues.

HIV reservoirs persist in anatomic compartments despite antiretroviral therapy (ART). Characterizing archival HIV DNA in the central nervous system (CNS) and other tissues is crucial to inform cure strategies. We evaluated paired autopsy brain-frontal cortex (FC), occipital cortex (OCC), and basal ganglia (BG)-and peripheral lymphoid tissues from 63 people with HIV. Participants passed away while virally suppressed on ART at the last visit and without evidence of CNS opportunistic disease. We quantified total HIV DNA in all participants and obtained full-length HIV-envelope (FL HIV-env) sequences from a subset of 14 participants. We detected HIV DNA (gag) in most brain (65.1%) and all lymphoid tissues. Lymphoid tissues had higher HIV DNA levels than the brain (P < 0.01). Levels of HIV gag between BG and FC were similar (P > 0.2), while OCC had the lowest levels (P = 0.01). Females had higher HIV DNA levels in tissues than males (gag, P = 0.03; 2-LTR, P = 0.05), suggesting possible sex-associated mechanisms for HIV reservoir persistence. Most FL HIV-env sequences (n = 143) were intact, while 42 were defective. Clonal sequences were found in 8 out of 14 participants, and 1 participant had clonal defective sequences in the brain and spleen, suggestive of cell migration. From 10 donors with paired brain and lymphoid sequences, we observed evidence of compartmentalized sequences in 2 donors. Our data further the idea that the brain is a site for archival HIV DNA during ART where compartmentalized provirus may occur in a subset of people. Future studies assessing FL HIV-provirus and replication competence are needed to further evaluate the HIV reservoirs in tissues. IMPORTANCE HIV infection of the brain is associated with adverse neuropsychiatric outcomes, despite efficient antiretroviral treatment. HIV may persist in reservoirs in the brain and other tissues, which can seed virus replication if treatment is interrupted, representing a major challenge to cure HIV. We evaluated reservoirs and genetic features in postmortem brain and lymphoid tissues from people with HIV who passed away during suppressed HIV replication. We found a differential distribution of HIV reservoirs across brain regions which was lower than that in lymphoid tissues. We observed that most HIV reservoirs in tissues had intact envelope sequences, suggesting they could potentially generate replicative viruses. We found that women had higher HIV reservoir levels in brain and lymphoid tissues than men, suggesting possible sex-based mechanisms of maintenance of HIV reservoirs in tissues, warranting further investigation. Characterizing the archival HIV DNA in tissues is important to inform future HIV cure strategies.

Lymph-Node-Based CD3+ CD20+ Cells Emerge from Membrane Exchange between T Follicular Helper Cells and B Cells and Increase Their Frequency following Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection.

CD4+ T follicular helper (TFH) cells are key targets for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) replication and contribute to the virus reservoir under antiretroviral therapy (ART). Here, we describe a novel CD3+ CD20+ double-positive (DP) lymphocyte subset, resident in secondary lymphoid organs of humans and rhesus macaques (RMs), that appear predominantly after membrane exchange between TFH and B cells. DP lymphocytes are enriched in cells displaying a TFH phenotype (CD4+ PD1hi CXCR5hi), function (interleukin 21 positive [IL-21+]), and gene expression profile. Importantly, expression of CD40L upon brief in vitro mitogen stimulation identifies, by specific gene-expression signatures, DP cells of TFH-cell origin versus those of B-cell origin. Analysis of 56 RMs showed that DP cells (i) significantly increase following SIV infection, (ii) are reduced after 12 months of ART in comparison to pre-ART levels, and (iii) expand to a significantly higher frequency following ART interruption. Quantification of total SIV-gag DNA on sorted DP cells from chronically infected RMs showed that these cells are susceptible to SIV infection. These data reinforce earlier observations that CD20+ T cells are infected and expanded by HIV infection, while suggesting that these cells phenotypically overlap activated CD4+ TFH cells that acquire CD20 expression via trogocytosis and can be targeted as part of therapeutic strategies aimed at HIV remission. IMPORTANCE The HIV reservoir is largely composed of latently infected memory CD4+ T cells that persist during antiretroviral therapy and constitute a major barrier toward HIV eradication. In particular, CD4+ T follicular helper cells have been demonstrated as key targets for viral replication and persistence under ART. In lymph nodes from HIV-infected humans and SIV-infected rhesus macaques, we show that CD3+ CD20+ lymphocytes emerge after membrane exchange between T cells and B cells and are enriched in phenotypic, functional, and gene expression profiles found in T follicular helper cells. Furthermore, in SIV-infected rhesus macaques, these cells expand following experimental infection and after interruption of ART and harbor SIV DNA at levels similar to those found in CD4+ T cells; thus, CD3+ CD20+ lymphocytes are susceptible to SIV infection and can contribute to SIV persistence.

The Progestin Medroxyprogesterone Acetate Affects HIV-1 Production in Human Lymphoid Tissue Explants in a Dose-Dependent and Glucocorticoid-like Fashion.

The association between the use of the injectable contraceptive depot medroxyprogesterone acetate and HIV-1 susceptibility has been addressed mainly in respect to the changes occurring in the female genital mucosa and blood. However, one of the main sites of HIV-1 pathogenesis is lymphoid organs. To investigate the immunoregulatory effect of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) at this site, human tonsillar tissue explants were infected ex vivo with either a CCR5 (BaL) or CXCR4 (LAI) HIV-1 variant and the release of p24gag and cytokines was measured in culture supernatant. The response to MPA was compared with that elicited by treatment with progesterone (P4) and dexamethasone (DEX), which selectively binds the glucocorticoid receptor, in donor-matched explant cultures. MPA treatment reduced the replication of both tested HIV-1 strains as well as the production of the mediators of inflammation IL-1ß, IL-17A and CCL5, but not CCL20, in a similar way to DEX, whereas P4 had no effect on HIV-1 replication. The magnitude of both MPA and DEX-mediated responses was proportional to the length of exposure and/or administered dose. Blockage of the progesterone and glucocorticoid receptors with mifepristone abolished all observed changes in HIV-1 and cytokine production, and was associated with increased IL-22 levels in HIV-infected explants. Our data indicate that elevated doses of MPA may affect the immune responses in lymphoid tissue in a glucocorticoid-like fashion with an immediate impact on local HIV-1 replication.

Infection with SARS-CoV-2 primes immunological memory in human nasal-associated lymphoid tissue.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, has resulted in considerable morbidity and mortality in humans. Little is known regarding the development of immunological memory following SARS-CoV-2 infection or whether immunological memory can provide long-lasting protection against reinfection. Urgent need for vaccines is a considerable issue for all governments worldwide. METHODS: A total of 39 patients were recruited in this study. Tonsillar mononuclear cells (MNCs) were co-cultured in RPMI medium and stimulated with the full-length SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in the presence and absence of a CpG-DNA adjuvant. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was utilised to measure the specific antibody response to the spike protein in the cell culture supernatants. RESULTS: The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein primed a potent memory B cell-mediated immune response in nasal-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) from patients previously infected with the virus. Additionally, spike protein combined with the CpG-DNA adjuvant induced a significantly increased level of specific anti-spike protein IgG antibody compared with the spike protein alone (p < 0.0001, n = 24). We also showed a strong positive correlation between the specific anti-spike protein IgG antibody level in a serum samples and that produced by MNCs derived from the same COVID-19-recovered patients following stimulation (r = 0.76, p = 0.0002, n = 24). CONCLUSION: Individuals with serological evidence of previous SARS-CoV-2 exposure showed a significant anti-spike protein-specific memory humoral immune response to the viral spike protein upon stimulation. Additionally, our results demonstrated the functional response of NALT-derived MNCs to the viral spike protein. CpG-DNA adjuvant combined with spike protein induced significantly stronger humoral immune responses than the spike protein alone. These data indicate that the S protein antigen combined with CpG-DNA adjuvant could be used as a future vaccine candidate.

CD32+CD4+ T Cells Sharing B Cell Properties Increase With Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Replication in Lymphoid Tissues.

CD4 T cell responses constitute an important component of adaptive immunity and are critical regulators of anti-microbial protection. CD4+ T cells expressing CD32a have been identified as a target for HIV. CD32a is an Fcγ receptor known to be expressed on myeloid cells, granulocytes, B cells and NK cells. Little is known about the biology of CD32+CD4+ T cells. Our goal was to understand the dynamics of CD32+CD4+ T cells in tissues. We analyzed these cells in the blood, lymph nodes, spleen, ileum, jejunum and liver of two nonhuman primate models frequently used in biomedical research: African green monkeys (AGM) and macaques. We studied them in healthy animals and during viral (SIV) infection. We performed phenotypic and transcriptomic analysis at different stages of infection. In addition, we compared CD32+CD4+ T cells in tissues with well-controlled (spleen) and not efficiently controlled (jejunum) SIV replication in AGM. The CD32+CD4+ T cells more frequently expressed markers associated with T cell activation and HIV infection (CCR5, PD-1, CXCR5, CXCR3) and had higher levels of actively transcribed SIV RNA than CD32-CD4+T cells. Furthermore, CD32+CD4+ T cells from lymphoid tissues strongly expressed B-cell-related transcriptomic signatures, and displayed B cell markers at the cell surface, including immunoglobulins CD32+CD4+ T cells were rare in healthy animals and blood but increased strongly in tissues with ongoing viral replication. CD32+CD4+ T cell levels in tissues correlated with viremia. Our results suggest that the tissue environment induced by SIV replication drives the accumulation of these unusual cells with enhanced susceptibility to viral infection.

In Situ Characterization of Human Lymphoid Tissue Immune Cells by Multispectral Confocal Imaging and Quantitative Image Analysis; Implications for HIV Reservoir Characterization.

CD4 T cells are key mediators of adaptive immune responses during infection and vaccination. Within secondary lymphoid organs, helper CD4 T cells, particularly those residing in germinal centers known as follicular helper T cells (Tfh), provide critical help to B-cells to promote their survival, isotype switching and selection of high affinity memory B-cells. On the other hand, the important role of Tfh cells for the maintenance of HIV reservoir is well documented. Thus, interrogating and better understanding the tissue specific micro-environment and immune subsets that contribute to optimal Tfh cell differentiation and function is important for designing successful prevention and cure strategies. Here, we describe the development and optimization of eight multispectral confocal microscopy immunofluorescence panels designed for in depth characterization and immune-profiling of relevant immune cells in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded human lymphoid tissue samples. We provide a comprehensive library of antibodies to use for the characterization of CD4+ T-cells -including Tfh and regulatory T-cells- as well as CD8 T-cells, B-cells, macrophages and dendritic cells and discuss how the resulting multispectral confocal datasets can be quantitatively dissected using the HistoCytometry pipeline to collect information about relative frequencies and immune cell spatial distributions. Cells harboring actively transcribed virus are analyzed using an in-situ hybridization assay for the characterization of HIV mRNA positive cells in combination with additional protein markers (multispectral RNAscope). The application of this methodology to lymphoid tissues offers a means to interrogate multiple relevant immune cell targets simultaneously at increased resolution in a reproducible manner to guide CD4 T-cell studies in infection and vaccination.

Rapid progression is associated with lymphoid follicle dysfunction in SIV-infected infant rhesus macaques.

HIV-infected infants are at an increased risk of progressing rapidly to AIDS in the first weeks of life. Here, we evaluated immunological and virological parameters in 25 SIV-infected infant rhesus macaques to understand the factors influencing a rapid disease outcome. Infant macaques were infected with SIVmac251 and monitored for 10 to 17 weeks post-infection. SIV-infected infants were divided into either typical (TypP) or rapid (RP) progressor groups based on levels of plasma anti-SIV antibody and viral load, with RP infants having low SIV-specific antibodies and high viral loads. Following SIV infection, 11 out of 25 infant macaques exhibited an RP phenotype. Interestingly, TypP had lower levels of total CD4 T cells, similar reductions in CD4/CD8 ratios and elevated activation of CD8 T cells, as measured by the levels of HLA-DR, compared to RP. Differences between the two groups were identified in other immune cell populations, including a failure to expand activated memory (CD21-CD27+) B cells in peripheral blood in RP infant macaques, as well as reduced levels of germinal center (GC) B cells and T follicular helper (Tfh) cells in spleens (4- and 10-weeks post-SIV). Reduced B cell proliferation in splenic germinal GCs was associated with increased SIV+ cell density and follicular type 1 interferon (IFN)-induced immune activation. Further analyses determined that at 2-weeks post SIV infection TypP infants exhibited elevated levels of the GC-inducing chemokine CXCL13 in plasma, as well as significantly lower levels of viral envelope diversity compared to RP infants. Our findings provide evidence that early viral and immunologic events following SIV infection contributes to impairment of B cells, Tfh cells and germinal center formation, ultimately impeding the development of SIV-specific antibody responses in rapidly progressing infant macaques.

Persistence of viral RNA in lymph nodes in ART-suppressed SIV/SHIV-infected Rhesus Macaques.

The establishment of a long-lived viral reservoir is the key obstacle for achieving an HIV-1 cure. However, the anatomic, virologic, and immunologic features of the viral reservoir in tissues during antiretroviral therapy (ART) remain poorly understood. Here we present a comprehensive necroscopic analysis of the SIV/SHIV viral reservoir in multiple lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues from SIV/SHIV-infected rhesus macaques suppressed with ART for one year. Viral DNA is observed broadly in multiple tissues and is comparable in animals that had initiated ART at week 1 or week 52 of infection. In contrast, viral RNA is restricted primarily to lymph nodes. Ongoing viral RNA transcription is not the result of unsuppressed viral replication, as single-genome amplification and subsequent phylogenetic analysis do not show evidence of viral evolution. Gag-specific CD8+ T cell responses are predominantly observed in secondary lymphoid organs in animals chronically infected prior to ART and these responses are dominated by CD69+ populations. Overall, we observe that the viral reservoir in rhesus macaques is widely distributed across multiple tissue sites and that lymphoid tissues act as a site of persistent viral RNA transcription under conditions of long-term ART suppression.

Scrapie infection and endogenous retroviral expression in sheep lymphoid tissues.

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, or prion diseases, are fatal neurodegenerative diseases affecting humans and animals. Although many host tissues express PrPC (essential for prion replication), relatively few cell types accumulate significant levels of infectivity, including neurons and other cell types in the nervous system, and follicular dendritic cells in secondary lymphoid organs. This suggests that tissue or cell-specific receptors or cofactors could play a role in controlling differential susceptibility to infection. Endogenous retroviruses (ERV), the remnants of ancient retroviral integration into the host germline, may represent one such cofactor. We examined the effect of scrapie infection on expression of three ovine ERV families (enJSRV/ß1-OERV, γ1-OERV, γ2-OERV) in secondary lymphoid tissues of sheep at different time points following subcutaneous inoculation, using RT-qPCR. These OERVs were constitutively expressed in the prescapular lymph node and spleen of uninfected sheep. However, we were unable to find convincing evidence of specific differential expression of OERV in the same tissues following scrapie infection, in contrast to previous studies of ERV expression in brains of prion-infected mice and macaques. This study is the first to quantify the expression of potentially functional OERV transcripts in sheep lymphoid tissues, opening up interesting questions about the consequences for host immune function.

Lymphoepithelial Carcinoma of Salivary Glands.

Lymphoepithelial carcinoma of salivary glands (LECSG) is an uncommon neoplasm. This article summarizes the findings of 438 cases in a review of the literature. Concurrent lymphoepithelial lesions may suggest a primary tumor. The tumor shows a nonkeratinizing carcinoma intimately associated with a rich lymphohistiocytic infiltrate, destroying adjacent salivary gland tissue. Irrespective of race or ethnicity, the tumors usually express Epstein-Barr virus, with Epstein-Barr virus encoded small RNA (EBER) and/or latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1), although a subset does not. There is an overall good prognosis of about 80% at 5 years.

Effects of Hericium erinaceus polysaccharide on immunity and apoptosis of the main immune organs in Muscovy duck reovirus-infected ducklings.

To investigate the effects of Hericium erinaceus polysaccharide (HEP) on immunity in Muscovy duck reovirus (MDRV)-infected ducklings and explore its mechanism of action, an MDRV contact-infection model was established. Then, we investigated the influence of HEP on morphology of main immune organs in MDRV-infected ducklings by HE staining, while antioxidant capacity (T-AOC, MDA), serum protein levels (TP, ALB, GLO), complement levels (C3, C4) and antibody levels (IgA, IgM, IgG) were detected. Apoptotic indexes (apoptosisi rate and FAS-L) were also quantified by TUNEL method and immunohistochemical staining. Meanwhile, FADD and CytC (apoptosis-related genes), were tested by quantitative RT-PCR. Results showed that HEP could reduce the injuries of immune organs caused by MDRV. Additionally, HEP markedly diminished MDA (p < 0.01), while significantly increased T-AOC, TP, ALB, GLO, C3, C4, IgA, IgM and IgG (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). Then, HEP shifted apoptosis time to an early MDRV-infected stage and reduced apoptosis at later MDRV-infected stage. This was associated with changes of FADD and CytC. Collectively, our data suggested that HEP could reduce the immunesuppression by many ways, such as decreasing organs' injuries, improving antioxidant capacity, serum proteins levels, antibody levels and complement levels, while diminish the apoptosis by lowering the FADD and CytC.

Antibody-mediated depletion of viral reservoirs is limited in SIV-infected macaques treated early with antiretroviral therapy.

The effectiveness of virus-specific strategies, including administered HIV-specific mAbs, to target cells that persistently harbor latent, rebound-competent HIV genomes during combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has been limited by inefficient induction of viral protein expression. To examine antibody-mediated viral reservoir targeting without a need for viral induction, we used an anti-CD4 mAb to deplete both infected and uninfected CD4+ T cells. Ten rhesus macaques infected with barcoded SIVmac239M received cART for 93 weeks starting 4 days after infection. During cART, 5 animals received 5 to 6 anti-CD4 antibody administrations and CD4+ T cell populations were then allowed 1 year on cART to recover. Despite profound CD4+ T cell depletion in blood and lymph nodes, time to viral rebound following cART cessation was not significantly delayed in anti-CD4-treated animals compared with controls. Viral reactivation rates, determined based on rebounding SIVmac239M clonotype proportions, also were not significantly different in CD4-depleted animals. Notably, antibody-mediated depletion was limited in rectal tissue and negligible in lymphoid follicles. These results suggest that, even if robust viral reactivation can be achieved, antibody-mediated viral reservoir depletion may be limited in key tissue sites.

Transcriptional Analysis of Lymphoid Tissues from Infected Nonhuman Primates Reveals the Basis for Attenuation and Immunogenicity of an Ebola Virus Encoding a Mutant VP35 Protein.

Infection with Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV), a member of the Filoviridae family, causes a disease characterized by high levels of viremia, aberrant inflammation, coagulopathy, and lymphopenia. EBOV initially replicates in lymphoid tissues and disseminates via dendritic cells (DCs) and monocytes to liver, spleen, adrenal gland, and other secondary organs. EBOV protein VP35 is a critical immune evasion factor that inhibits type I interferon signaling and DC maturation. Nonhuman primates (NHPs) immunized with a high dose (5 × 105 PFU) of recombinant EBOV containing a mutated VP35 (VP35m) are protected from challenge with wild-type EBOV (wtEBOV). This protection is accompanied by a transcriptional response in the peripheral blood reflecting a regulated innate immune response and a robust induction of adaptive immune genes. However, the host transcriptional response to VP35m in lymphoid tissues has not been evaluated. Therefore, we conducted a transcriptional analysis of axillary and inguinal lymph nodes and spleen tissues of NHPs infected with a low dose (2 × 104 PFU) of VP35m and then back-challenged with a lethal dose of wtEBOV. VP35m induced early transcriptional responses in lymphoid tissues that are distinct from those observed in wtEBOV challenge. Specifically, we detected robust antiviral innate and adaptive responses and fewer transcriptional changes in genes with roles in angiogenesis, apoptosis, and inflammation. Two of three macaques survived wtEBOV back-challenge, with only the nonsurvivor displaying a transcriptional response reflecting Ebola virus disease. These data suggest that VP35 is a key modulator of early host responses in lymphoid tissues, thereby regulating disease progression and severity following EBOV challenge.IMPORTANCE Zaire Ebola virus (EBOV) infection causes a severe and often fatal disease characterized by inflammation, coagulation defects, and organ failure driven by a defective host immune response. Lymphoid tissues are key sites of EBOV pathogenesis and the generation of an effective immune response to infection. A recent study demonstrated that infection with an EBOV encoding a mutant VP35, a viral protein that antagonizes host immunity, can protect nonhuman primates (NHPs) against lethal EBOV challenge. However, no studies have examined the response to this mutant EBOV in lymphoid tissues. Here, we characterize gene expression in lymphoid tissues from NHPs challenged with the mutant EBOV and subsequently with wild-type EBOV to identify signatures of a protective host response. Our findings are critical for elucidating viral pathogenesis, mechanisms of host antagonism, and the role of lymphoid organs in protective responses to EBOV to improve the development of antivirals and vaccines against EBOV.

Mucosal integrin α4ß7 blockade fails to reduce the seeding and size of viral reservoirs in SIV-infected rhesus macaques.

Cellular viral reservoirs are rapidly established in tissues upon HIV-1/SIV infection, which persist throughout viral infection, even under long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART). Specific integrins are involved in the homing of cells to gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) and inflamed tissues, which may promote the seeding and dissemination of HIV-1/SIV to these tissue sites. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of prophylactic integrin blockade (α4ß7 antibody or α4ß7/α4ß1 dual antagonist TR-14035) on viral infection, as well as dissemination and seeding of viral reservoirs in systemic and lymphoid compartments post-SIV inoculation. The results showed that blockade of α4ß7/α4ß1 did not decrease viral infection, replication, or reduce viral reservoir size in tissues of rhesus macaques after SIV infection, as indicated by equivalent levels of plasma viremia and cell-associated SIV RNA/DNA to controls. Surprisingly, TR-14035 administration in acute SIV infection resulted in consistently higher viremia and more rapid disease progression. These findings suggest that integrin blockade alone fails to effectively control viral infection, replication, dissemination, and reservoir establishment in HIV-1/SIV infection. The use of integrin blockade for prevention or/and therapeutic strategies requires further investigation.

Measles immunity and immunosuppression.

Effects of measles on the immune system are only partially understood. Lymphoid tissue is a primary site of measles virus (MeV) replication where CD150 is the receptor for infection of both B and T cells. Lymphocyte depletion occurs during the acute phase of infection, but initiation of the adaptive immune response leads to extensive lymphocyte proliferation, production of MeV-specific antibody and T cells, the rash and clearance of infectious virus. Viral RNA persists in lymphoid tissue accompanied by ongoing germinal center proliferation, production of antibody-secreting cells, functionally distinct populations of T cells and antibody avidity maturation to establish life-long immunity. However, at the same time diversity of pre-existing antibodies and numbers of memory and naive B cells are reduced and susceptibility to other infections is increased.

Detection of infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) in tissues and blood fractions from experimentally infected chickens using PCR and immunostaining analyses.

The ability of infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) to replicate in organs outside of the upper respiratory tract and conjunctiva associated-lymphoid tissues is still not well understood. This study investigated the tissue distribution of an Australian field strain of ILTV (class 9) on birds experimentally inoculated via eye-drop at 7 days of age by using quantitative PCR (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry. Tissues including conjunctiva, caecal tonsil, kidney, liver, lung, spleen, thymus, trachea and blood were collected from sham-inoculated (control group; n = 2) and ILTV-inoculated (n = 8) birds at 7 days post-inoculation (dpi). Blood was collected from 13 infected birds at 14 dpi and fractionated using ficoll-paque. At 7 dpi, the highest detection rate and genomic copies (GC) were in conjunctiva (8/8; 8.08 ± 0.48 log10 GC/mg) followed by trachea (8/8; 4.64 ± 0.48) and thymus (8/8; 4.52 ± 0.48), kidney (8/8; 3.97 ± 0.48), lung (8/8; 3.65 ± 0.48), spleen (8/8; 3.55 ± 0.48), liver (8/8; 3.51 ± 0.48), caecal tonsil (7/8; 3.76 ± 0.48) and plasma (4/8; 2.40 ± 0.48 log10 GC/ml). ILTV antigen was only detected in conjunctiva (7/8), trachea (6/8) and lung (4/8) samples. At 14 dpi, ILTV detection rate and genomic copies in buffy coat cells were 12/13 and 2.86 ± 0.39 log10 GC/mg, respectively while those of plasma were 11/13 and 4.29 ± 0.39 log10 GC/ml and red blood cell were 3/13 and 0.36 ± 0.39 log10 GC/mg. In conclusion, ILTV DNA was detected in a wide range of tissues and blood fractions but ILTV antigen was only detected in respiratory organs and conjunctiva.

Histopathological Lesions Accompanied with First-Time Isolation of a PRRSV-2 Strain in Greece.

Genotype 2 strains of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV-2) have been reported sporadically in Europe. Even if, PRRSV-2 reported to be genetically homogenous in Europe due to the introduction of an MLV vaccine strain, independent introductions of PRRSV-2 field strains have been reported. The aim of the present study was to report the complete genome sequence and evaluate the histopathological lesions of a PRRSV-2 strain, isolated for the first time in Greece. During a routine blood sampling in a commercial pig farm, the results revealed positive samples in weaners of 40-60 days for the PRRSV-2, using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The clinical picture was characterized from respiratory symptoms in weaners, as well as coughing and poor performance at finishing stage and less than 3% mortality rate from weaning stage to finishing stage. The use of ORF5 for PRRSV phylogenetic analysis of the isolated PRRSV strain, named "x1544-1 strain", was successfully determined, belonging to the genotype PRRSV-2. Comparison of the obtained sequence revealed nucleotide sequence identity >98% with PRRSV-2 strain VR2332 and other related strains from Denmark and China. The histopathological evaluation revealed diffuse interstitial pneumonia, multifocal interstitial nephritis, while in the lymphoid organs, follicular and paracortical hyperplasia, coexisting with necrosis and depletion of germ cells were detected. The results of current study undersign the importance for veterinary practitioners to have up-to-date access to phylogenetic data linked to phenotypic information to follow-up the control and prevention strategies against PRRSV.