Characterization of the Cynomolgus Macaque Model of Marburg Virus Disease and Assessment of Timing for Therapeutic Treatment Testing.

Marburg virus (MARV) causes severe disease and high mortality in humans. The objective of this study was to characterize disease manifestations and pathogenesis in cynomolgus macaques exposed to MARV. The results of this natural history study may be used to identify features of MARV disease useful in defining the ideal treatment initiation time for subsequent evaluations of investigational therapeutics using this model. Twelve cynomolgus macaques were exposed to a target dose of 1000 plaque-forming units MARV by the intramuscular route, and six control animals were mock-exposed. The primary endpoint of this study was survival to Day 28 post-inoculation (PI). Anesthesia events were minimized with the use of central venous catheters for periodic blood collection, and temperature and activity were continuously monitored by telemetry. All mock-exposed animals remained healthy for the duration of the study. All 12 MARV-exposed animals (100%) became infected, developed illness, and succumbed on Days 8-10 PI. On Day 4 PI, 11 of the 12 MARV-exposed animals had statistically significant temperature elevations over baseline. Clinically observable signs of MARV disease first appeared on Day 5 PI, when 6 of the 12 animals exhibited reduced responsiveness. Ultimately, systemic inflammation, coagulopathy, and direct cytopathic effects of MARV all contributed to multiorgan dysfunction, organ failure, and death or euthanasia of all MARV-exposed animals. Manifestations of MARV disease, including fever, systemic viremia, lymphocytolysis, coagulopathy, and hepatocellular damage, could be used as triggers for initiation of treatment in future therapeutic efficacy studies.

Povidone Iodine Ointment Application to the Vaccination Site Does Not Alter Immunoglobulin G Antibody Response to Smallpox Vaccine.

U.S. military personnel deployed to high-risk areas receive the live vaccinia virus (VACV) smallpox vaccine ACAM2000. VACV shedding from the vaccination site can result in autoinoculation and contact transmission. We previously found that the application of povidone iodine ointment (PIO) to the scarification site reduced viral shedding without altering the antibody response, as measured by plaque reduction neutralization or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. In this study, we used protein microarray assays to measure the amount of immunoglobulin G antibody bound to (1) ACAM2000 itself and (2) individual VACV antigens that are present within ACAM2000. We assessed antibody binding in sera from primary smallpox vaccinees who applied PIO to the scarification site beginning on day 7 (PIO group) and from those who did not apply PIO (control group). In both cohorts, the postvaccination antibody response-in terms of antibody binding, both to ACAM2000 and to 11 individual VACV antigens-was significantly greater than the prevaccination response (all p < 0.0001). The postvaccination antibody binding levels of vaccinees in the PIO group did not differ from those of control vaccinees. These findings further support the topical application of PIO, starting on day 7, to reduce the viral shedding associated with smallpox vaccination.

Rift Valley fever MP-12 vaccine Phase 2 clinical trial: Safety, immunogenicity, and genetic characterization of virus isolates.

An outbreak or deliberate release of Rift Valley fever (RVF) virus could have serious public health and socioeconomic consequences. A safe RVF vaccine capable of eliciting long-lasting immunity after a single injection is urgently needed. The live attenuated RVF MP-12 vaccine candidate has shown promise in Phase 1 clinical trials; no evidence of reversion to virulence has been identified in numerous animal studies. The objective of this Phase 2 clinical trial was to (a) further examine the safety and immunogenicity of RVF MP-12 in RVF virus-naïve humans and (b) characterize isolates of RVF MP-12 virus recovered from the blood of vaccinated subjects to evaluate the genetic stability of MP-12 attenuation. We found that RVF MP-12 was well tolerated, causing mostly mild reactions that resolved without sequelae. Of 19 subjects, 18 (95%) and 19 (100%) achieved, respectively, 80% and 50% plaque reduction neutralization titers (PRNT80 and PRNT50)≥1:20 by postvaccination day 28. All 18 PRNT80 responders maintained PRNT80 and PRNT50≥1:40 until at least postvaccination month 12. Viremia was undetectable in the plasma of any subject by direct plaque assay techniques. However, 5 of 19 vaccinees were positive for MP-12 isolates in plasma by blind passage of plasma on Vero cells. Vaccine virus was also recovered from buffy coat material from one of those vaccinees and from one additional vaccinee. Through RNA sequencing of MP-12 isolates, we found no reversions of amino acids to those of the parent virulent virus (strain ZH548). Five years after a single dose of RVF MP-12 vaccine, 8 of 9 vaccinees (89%) maintained a PRNT80≥1:20. These findings support the continued development of RVF MP-12 as a countermeasure against RVF virus in humans.

Secondary functionalization of allyl-terminated GaP(111)A surfaces via heck cross-coupling metathesis, hydrosilylation, and electrophilic addition of bromine.

The functionalization of single crystalline gallium phosphide (GaP) (111)A surfaces with allyl groups has been performed using a sequential chlorine-activation/Grignard reaction process. Increased hydrophobicity following reaction of a GaP(111)A surface with C3H5MgCl was observed through water contact angle measurements. Infrared spectra of GaP(111)A samples after reaction with C3H5MgCl showed the asymmetric C═C and C═C-H modes diagnostic of surface-attached allyl groups. The stability of allyl-terminated GaP(111)A surfaces under ambient and aqueous conditions was investigated. XP spectra of allyl-terminated GaP(111)A highlighted a significant resistance against interfacial oxidation both in air and in water relative to the native interface. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicated a change in the flat-band potential of allyl-terminated GaP(111)A electrodes immersed in water relative to native GaP(111)A surfaces. Further, the flat-band potentials for allyl-terminated electrodes were insensitive to changes in solution pH. The utility of surface-bound allyl groups for covalent secondary functionalization of GaP(111)A interfaces was assessed through three separate reactions: Heck cross-coupling metathesis, hydrosilylation, and electrophilic addition of bromine reactions. Addition of aryl groups across the olefins on allyl-terminated GaP(111)A via Heck cross coupling was performed and confirmed through high-resolution F 1s and C 1s XP spectra and IR spectra. Control experiments with GaP(111)A surfaces functionalized with short alkanes indicated no evidence for metathesis. Hydrosilylation reactions were separately performed. Si 2s XP spectra, in conjunction with infrared spectra, similarly showed secondary evidence of surface functionalization for allyl-terminated GaP(111)A but not for CH3-terminated GaP(111)A surfaces. Similar analyses showed electrophilic addition of Br2 across the terminal olefin on an allyl-terminated GaP(111)A surface after exposure to dilute Br2 solutions in CH2Cl2. The work presented herein establishes a set of secondary reaction strategies utilizing allyl-terminated surfaces to modify chemically protected GaP surfaces.

Efficient catalytic cycloalkane oxidation employing a "helmet" phthalocyaninato iron(III) complex.

We have examined the catalytic activity of an iron(III) complex bearing the 14,28-[1,3-diiminoisoindolinato]phthalocyaninato (diiPc) ligand in oxidation reactions with three substrates (cyclohexane, cyclooctane, and indan). This modified metallophthalocyaninato complex serves as an efficient and selective catalyst for the oxidation of cyclohexane and cyclooctane, and to a far lesser extent indan. In the oxidations of cyclohexane and cyclooctane, in which hydrogen peroxide is employed as the oxidant under inert atmosphere, we have observed turnover numbers of 100.9 and 122.2 for cyclohexanol and cyclooctanol, respectively. The catalyst shows strong selectivity for alcohol (vs. ketone) formation, with alcohol to ketone (A/K) ratios of 6.7 and 21.0 for the cyclohexane and cyclooctane oxidations, respectively. Overall yields (alcohol + ketone) were 73% for cyclohexane and 92% for cyclooctane, based upon the total hydrogen peroxide added. In the catalytic oxidation of indan under similar conditions, the TON for 1-indanol was 10.1, with a yield of 12% based upon hydrogen peroxide. No 1-indanone was observed in the product mixture.