Toll-like receptor 7 and MyD88 knockdown by lentivirus-mediated RNA interference to porcine dendritic cell subsets.

Sensing of viruses by dendritic cell (DC) pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs) represents a critical event during innate antiviral immune responses. Identification of these PRRs has often posed a problem due to difficulties in performing gene function studies in the naturally targeted hosts. Consequently, we developed a lentivirus (LV)-based strategy for specific gene knockdown in porcine DC. Short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) were designed, targeting toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) and the adaptor protein MyD88. As cellular targets, monocyte-derived DC (MoDC) and Flt3 ligand-induced DC (Flt3L-DC), DC precursors including monocytes and haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) as well as plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) were employed. Transduction efficiencies ranged from 40 to 95%. The LV-mediated shRNA delivery was functionally active, reducing TLR7 and MyD88 mRNA in MoDC and conventional Flt3L-DC, and blunting the responsiveness to TLR7 ligands in Flt3L-DC. Although infection of MoDC by the LV did neither influence MHC class II and CD80/86 expressions, nor cytokine responses, the infection of Flt3L-DC induced a phenotypic maturation. Furthermore, the interaction of the LV with pDC induced high levels of interferon-alpha. Taken together, these studies characterize the interaction of the LV with different DC subsets and demonstrate the suitability of LV-mediated small interfering RNA delivery for targeting PRR knockout for MoDC and conventional Flt3L-DC.

High IFN-alpha responses associated with depletion of lymphocytes and natural IFN-producing cells during classical swine fever.

During the acute phase of the viral hemorrhagic disease, classical swine fever (CSF), a severe hematologic depletion in primary lymphoid organs and depletion of peripheral blood T and B lymphocytes are observed. The onset of these pathologic events is before viremia and independent of leukocyte infection, indicating a host-mediated effect possibly through a cytokine storm. Here, we show that high serum levels of interferon- alpha (IFN-alpha) were found during this phase of CSF, detectable as early as 2 days postinfection and reaching maximum levels 3-5 days postinfection (250-1300 U/mL). This IFN-alpha response was related to the virulence of the viral strain used, with avirulent virus not inducing any detectable serum IFN-alpha. A progressive depletion of natural IFN-producing cells/plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC), the likely in vivo source of IFN-alpha, was also induced by the viral infection. An important finding was that the onset of severe lymphopenia was concomitant with the IFN-alpha responses, and all animals with serum IFN-alpha had depleted B and T lymphocytes. A statistically significant correlation between lymphocyte depletion and serum IFN-alpha indicates a relationship between the two events, which is supported by the known hematologic effects of high IFN-alpha doses in vivo.

Identification of classical swine fever virus protein E2 as a target for cytotoxic T cells by using mRNA-transfected antigen-presenting cells.

Vaccination of pigs against Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) by using live-virus vaccines induces early protection before detectable humoral immune responses. Immunological analyses indicate that this is associated with T-cell activation, underlining the importance of targeting cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses for vaccine improvement. Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) transfected with mRNA encoding structural protein E2 or non-structural viral proteins NS3-NS4A were used to identify viral genes encoding CTL epitopes. Monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) and fibrocytes served as the APCs. In vitro translation of the mRNA and microscopic analysis of transfected cells demonstrated that E2 and NS3-NS4A could be identified. APCs transfected with either of the mRNA molecules restimulated CSFV-specific T cells to produce gamma interferon and specific cytotoxic activity against CSFV-infected target cells. The presence of CTL epitopes on E2 was confirmed by using d/d-haplotype MAX cells expressing E2 constitutively as target cells in d/d-haplotype CTL assays. A potent CTL activity against E2 was detected early (1-3 weeks) after CSFV challenge. This work corroborates the existence of CTL epitopes within the non-structural protein domain NS3-NS4A of CSFV. Furthermore, epitopes on the E2 protein can also now be classified as targets for CTLs, having important implications for vaccine design, especially subunit vaccines. As for the use of mRNA-transfected APCs, this represents a simple and efficient method to identify viral genes encoding CTL epitopes in outbred populations.

Double-stranded secondary structures on mRNA induce type I interferon (IFN alpha/beta) production and maturation of mRNA-transfected monocyte-derived dendritic cells.

BACKGROUND: The development of dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccines using antigen-encoding mRNA requires identification of the critical parameters for efficient ex vivo loading of DCs. Exogenously delivered mRNA can induce DC activation, but the molecular mechanisms involved are unknown. The aim of the present study was to identify the means by which mRNA-dependent activation of DCs occurs. METHODS: In vitro transcribed mRNA molecules were delivered into porcine monocyte-derived DCs (MoDCs) using different non-viral gene transfer procedures. Using the green fluorescent protein (GFP) as reporter gene, as well as rhodamine-labeled RNA, intracellular delivery and transfection efficiency were assessed by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. DC activation was monitored in terms of MHC class II and CD80/86 upregulation, as well as the production of type I interferon (IFN-alpha/beta). RESULTS: mRNA-lipofected MoDCs produced type I IFN and upregulated MHC class II and CD80/86. Computational analysis of the mRNA molecules predicted highly ordered secondary structures forming double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). This dsRNA was also detectable by immunofluorescence in mRNA-lipofected cells, using antibody specific for dsRNA. Digestion of the mRNA prior to lipofection with a double-strand-specific RNase, but not a single-strand-specific RNase, abrogated DC activation. Impairment of protein kinase R (PKR) with 2-aminopurine also interfered with the activation. CONCLUSIONS: Double-stranded secondary structures on mRNA delivered by lipofection can activate MoDCs. This could have important implications for mRNA-based immunomodulation of DCs, DC-based immunotherapy, and formulation of RNA-based vaccines. In addition, this report describes the first in vitro steps towards development of a novel large animal model system to evaluate DC-based vaccines against infectious diseases.

Classical swine fever virus leader proteinase Npro is not required for viral replication in cell culture.

The sequence encoding the viral leader proteinase Npro was replaced by the murine ubiquitin gene in a full-length cDNA clone of the classical swine fever virus (CSFV) strain Alfort/187. The recombinant virus vA187-Ubi showed growth characteristics similar to those of the parent vA187-1 virus. At two occasions cells infected with vA187-Ubi exhibited a cytopathic effect and were found to contain a subgenomic viral RNA. This RNA lacked the same viral genes as the subgenomic RNA which has been found in all cytopathogenic CSFV strains analyzed so far, but it maintained the ubiquitin sequence.

Infectious bovine viral diarrhea virus (strain NADL) RNA from stable cDNA clones: a cellular insert determines NS3 production and viral cytopathogenicity.

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), strain NADL, was originally isolated from an animal with fatal mucosal disease. This isolate is cytopathic in cell culture and produces two forms of NS3-containing proteins: uncleaved NS2-3 and mature NS3. For BVDV NADL, the production of NS3, a characteristic of cytopathic BVDV strains, is believed to be a consequence of an in-frame insertion of a 270-nucleotide cellular mRNA sequence (called cIns) in the NS2 coding region. In this study, we constructed a stable full-length cDNA copy of BVDV NADL in a low-copy-number plasmid vector. As assayed by transfection of MDBK cells, uncapped RNAs transcribed from this template were highly infectious (>10(5) PFU/microg). The recovered virus was similar in plaque morphology, growth properties, polyprotein processing, and cytopathogenicity to the BVDV NADL parent. Deletion of cIns abolished processing at the NS2/NS3 site and produced a virus that was no longer cytopathic for MDBK cells. This deletion did not affect the efficiency of infectious virus production or viral protein production, but it reduced the level of virus-specific RNA synthesis and accumulation. Thus, cIns not only modulates NS3 production but also upregulates RNA replication relative to an isogenic noncytopathic derivative lacking the insert. These results raise the possibility of a linkage between enhanced BVDV NADL RNA replication and virus-induced cytopathogenicity.

Genetic determinants of Sindbis virus neuroinvasiveness.

After peripheral inoculation of mice, Sindbis virus replicates in a variety of tissues, leading to viremia. In some cases, the virus can enter the central nervous system (CNS) and cause lethal encephalitis. The outcome of infection is age and virus strain dependent. Recently, two pairs of Sindbis virus variants differing in neurovirulence and neuroinvasiveness were derived by limited serial passaging in mouse brain. Two early passage isolates (SVA and SVB) were neurotropic but did not cause lethal encephalitis. SVB, but not SVA, was neuroinvasive. A second independent pair of isolates (SVN and SVNI), which had undergone more extensive mouse brain passaging, were highly neurotropic and caused lethal encephalitis. Only SVNI could reach the brain after peripheral inoculation. From these isolates, virion RNAs were obtained and used to construct full-length cDNA clones from which infectious RNA transcripts could be recovered. The strains recovered from these clones were shown to retain the appropriate phenotypes in weanling mice. Construction and analysis of recombinant viruses were used to define the genetic loci determining neuroinvasion. For SVB, neuroinvasiveness was determined by a single residue in the E2 glycoprotein (Gln-55). For SVNI, neuroinvasive loci were identified in both the 5' noncoding region (position 8) and the E2 glycoprotein (Met-190). Either of these changes on the SVN background was sufficient to confer a neuroinvasive phenotype, although these recombinants were less virulent. To completely mimic the SVNI phenotype, three SVNI-specific substitutions on the SVN background were required: G at position 8, E2 Met-190, and Lys-260, which by itself had no effect on neuroinvasion. These genetically defined strains should be useful for dissecting the molecular mechanisms leading to Sindbis virus invasion of the CNS.

Detection of antibodies against classical swine fever virus in swine sera by indirect ELISA using recombinant envelope glycoprotein E2.

Recombinant envelope protein E2 (gp55) of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) strain Alfort/187 was evaluated as an alternative to whole virus as ELISA antigen for the detection of antibodies against CSFV. A glycosylated and a non-glycosylated form of E2 was expressed in the baculovirus system. Six histidine residues added at the carboxy terminus of each of the recombinant proteins allowed purification by nickel-chelate affinity chromatography. Comparison of the antigenic properties of the two proteins in indirect and blocking ELISAs revealed that the glycosylated form resulted in both higher sensitivity and specificity. The indirect ELISA, using glycosylated E2, either derived from crude cell extract or affinity-purified, was validated by testing a total of 2719 porcine sera. Its final version proved to be as sensitive (98.3%) as the virus neutralization test when sera from infected pig herds were examined, and highly specific (99.6%) when applied to test negative sera. It is therefore suitable for large scale monitoring of classical swine fever.

Nucleotide sequence of classical swine fever virus strain Alfort/187 and transcription of infectious RNA from stably cloned full-length cDNA.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the genome of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) strain Alfort/187 was determined from three cDNA libraries constructed by cloning of DNA fragments obtained from independent sets of reverse transcription and PCR. The cDNA fragments were then assembled and inserted downstream of a T7 promoter in a P15A-derived plasmid vector to obtain the full-length cDNA clone pA187-1. The first nucleotide of the CSFV genome was positioned at the transcription start site of the T7 promoter. Cleavage at an SrfI restriction site introduced at the exact 3' end of the cloned viral cDNA allowed the in vitro synthesis of full-length viral RNA by runoff transcription. This RNA proved to be infectious after transfection into porcine kidney cells. Infectivity was not increased after capping of the synthetic RNA. Virus recovered from transfected cells was titrated in porcine kidney cells by endpoint dilution using indirect immunofluorescence and a CSFV-specific monoclonal antibody. RNA transcripts generated from plasmid DNA isolated from bacteria which had been cultured and cloned 10 times remained infectious, indicating that the full-length clone is stable in bacterial cells. A silent point mutation introduced at position 11842 of the genome was retained in the recombinant virus recovered from transfected cells. An infectious chimeric construct was obtained by replacing a 696-bp fragment in pA187-1 with the corresponding cDNA fragment from the CSFV strain CAP. The stably cloned full-length CSFV cDNA allows site-specific mutagenesis of the viral genome and thus will be useful for detailed molecular characterization of the virus as well as for studies of viral pathogenesis.

[PCR: a look behind the scenes at bovine viral diarrhea virus]. / PCR: Ein Blick hinter die Kulisse der Bovinen Virusdiarrhöe-Viren.

As indicated by their nucleotide sequences bovine viral diarrhea viruses (BVD-virus) are genetically quite heterogenous. Despite differences in the nucleotide sequence in the NS3 region, we found that the derived amino acid sequence of all viral strains analyzed was identical and differed from that of classical swine fever viruses, thus allowing differentiation between bovine and porcine pestiviruses. Remarkably, the BVD viral strains were isolated over a time period of some 40 years in Europe, North America and New Zealand. The nucleotide sequence of the 5' untranslated genome region of a BVD virus recently isolated in Switzerland from a calf with hemorrhagic syndrome differs from that of BVD viruses causing similar symptoms in a large epidemic outbreak in North America.

Baculovirus expression and affinity purification of protein E2 of classical swine fever virus strain Alfort/187.

The genome region encoding the major envelope glycoprotein E2 (gp55) of the classical swine fever virus (CSFV) strain Alfort/187 was cloned and sequenced. The E2 gene, either with or without additional authentic 5'-terminal sequences coding for two variants of a putative signal sequence, was used to construct recombinant baculoviruses expressing the respective glycosylated and nonglycosylated E2 protein in insect cells. The signal sequences mediated glycosylation in insect cells, but no efficient secretion of the protein into the cell culture supernatant was observed. Six histidine residues introduced at the carboxy terminus of E2 allowed purification of E2 protein by Ni(2+)-chelate affinity chromatography. The proteins obtained were characterized and their immunological properties were compared by western blot analysis.