bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of Medically Relevant
Nocardia
Species with an Abbreviated Battery of Tests
Authors: Kiska Deanna L. , Hicks Karen , Pettit David J.
Published: July 2002

Identification of
Nocardia
to the species level is useful for predicting antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and defining the pathogenicity and geographic distribution of these organisms. We sought to develop an identification method which was accurate, timely, and employed tests which would be readily available in most clinical laboratories. We evaluated the API 20C AUX yeast identification system as well as several biochemical tests and Kirby-Bauer susceptibility patterns for the identification of 75 isolates encompassing the 8 medically relevant
Nocardia
species. There were few biochemical reactions that were sufficiently unique for species identification; of note,
N. nova
were positive for arylsulfatase,
N. farcinica
were positive for opacification of Middlebrook 7H11 agar, and
N. brasiliensis
and
N. pseudobrasiliensis
were the only species capable of liquefying gelatin. API 20C sugar assimilation patterns were unique for
N. transvalensis
,
N. asteroides
IV, and
N. brevicatena
. There was overlap among the assimilation patterns for the other species. Species-specific patterns of susceptibility to gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin, and erythromycin were obtained for
N. nova
,
N. farcinica
, and
N. brevicatena
, while there was overlap among the susceptibility patterns for the other isolates. No single method could identify all
Nocardia
isolates to the species level; therefore, a combination of methods was necessary. An algorithm utilizing antibiotic susceptibility patterns, citrate utilization, acetamide utilization, and assimilation of inositol and adonitol accurately identified all isolates. The algorithm was expanded to include infrequent drug susceptibility patterns which have been reported in the literature but which were not seen in this study.
Clonal Spread of
Staphylococcus aureus
Heterogeneously Resistant to Vancomycin in a University Hospital in Korea
Authors: Kim Mi-Na , Hwang Sang Hyun , Pyo Yeon-Jung , Mun Hyang-Mi , Pai Chik Hyun
Published: July 2002

Since vancomycin-intermediate
Staphylococcus aureus
(VISA) was first reported in Japan in 1997, there has been great concern that heterogeneous vancomycin-intermediate
S. aureus
(hetero-VISA) is the putative precursor of VISA. To investigate the prevalence, clinical significance, and molecular epidemiology of
S. aureus
with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin, all consecutive isolates of
S. aureus
isolated from clinical specimens from December 1998 to August 1999 at Asan Medical Center were screened for VISA and hetero-VISA by using brain heart infusion agar containing 4 μg of vancomycin/ml. Screen-positive isolates were confirmed by susceptibility testing and population analysis of subpopulations with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin. The isolates confirmed as hetero-VISA were typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Medical records were reviewed to evaluate the clinical significance and risk factors for the acquisition of hetero-VISA. Of the 4,483 isolates that were tested, 53 were screen positive; no VISA was detected, but 24 isolates (0.54%) from 22 patients were hetero-VISA. All but two strains appeared to be clones of the Korean VISA strain, AMC11094, in the PFGE analysis. A total of 18 patients were in intensive care units, and 16 underwent major surgeries during the same admission. Only 10 of the 22 patients had previous methicillin-resistant
S. aureus
infections and 11 had previous vancomycin or teicoplanin therapy. Only 7 of the 22 patients from whom hetero-VISA strains were isolated were infected, and the remaining 15 patients were colonized. All seven infected patients were successfully treated with vancomycin. These results suggest that hetero-VISA can be treated with vancomycin, but the spread of hetero-VISA clonal to VISA is of concern, since many believe that VISA can arise from hetero-VISA, although this phenomenon was not observed in this study.
Novel IS
6110
Insertion Sites in the Direct Repeat Locus of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Clinical Strains from the St. Petersburg Area of Russia and Evolutionary and Epidemiological Considerations
Authors: Mokrousov Igor , Narvskaya Olga , Limeschenko Elena , Otten Tatiana , Vyshnevskiy Boris
Published: July 2002

A modification of spoligotyping with primers derived from the direct repeat (DR) and IS
6110
sequences was used to identify IS
6110
insertions in the DR locus of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
clinical strains from the St. Petersburg area of Russia. Novel IS
6110
insertions were identified: (i) in two epidemiologically unlinked Beijing family strains, an asymmetrical direct insertion in DR37; (ii) in a non-Beijing strain, an asymmetrical insertion in the opposite orientation in DR38; (iii) in another non-Beijing strain, a direct insertion in DR38 and one in the opposite orientation in DR14 (DR numbering is according to standard spoligotyping). Our results strengthen an observation that the DR locus structure is extremely conserved in the Beijing genotype. Asymmetrical insertions prevented detection of the adjacent spacer by standard spoligotyping. This, therefore, should be taken into consideration when similar spoligoprofiles that differ only in signals 37 and 38 are interpreted.
Rapid Particle Agglutination Test for Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Hospital-Based Evaluation
Authors: Ramalingam Sandeep , Kannangai Rajesh , Raj A Antony , Jesudason Mary V. , Sridharan Gopalan
Published: July 2002

The performance of a rapid particle agglutination test for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (Capillus HIV type 1 [HIV-1]/HIV-2) on hospital samples is compared with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The test had a sensitivity and specificity of 99 and 98.9%, respectively. In addition, the test was reactive on plasma samples from all individuals infected with HIV-1 subtype C. This test can safely be used for voluntary counseling and testing in India.
Exposure of Laboratory Workers to
Francisella tularensis
despite a Bioterrorism Procedure
Authors: Shapiro Daniel S. , Schwartz Donald R.
Published: July 2002

A rapidly fatal case of pulmonary tularemia in a 43-year-old man who was transferred to a tertiary care facility is presented. The microbiology laboratory and autopsy services were not notified of the clinical suspicion of tularemia by the service caring for the patient. Despite having a laboratory bioterrorism procedure in place and adhering to established laboratory protocol, 12 microbiology laboratory employees were exposed to
Francisella tularensis
and the identification of the organism was delayed due to lack of notification of the laboratory of the clinical suspicion of tularemia. A total of 11 microbiology employees and two persons involved in performing the patient's autopsy received prophylactic doxycycline due to concerns of transmission. None of them developed signs or symptoms of tularemia. One microbiology laboratory employee was pregnant and declined prophylactic antibiotics. As a result of this event, the microbiology laboratory has incorporated flow charts directly into the bench procedures for several highly infectious agents that may be agents of bioterrorism. This should permit more rapid recognition of an isolate for referral to a Level B laboratory for definitive identification and should improve laboratory safety.
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 TAR RNA Upper Stem-Loop Plays Distinct Roles in Reverse Transcription and RNA Packaging
Authors: Harrich David , Hooker C. William , Parry Emma
Published: July 2002

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA genome is flanked by a repeated sequence (R) that is required for HIV-1 replication. The first 57 nucleotides of R form a stable stem-loop structure called the transactivation response element (TAR) that can interact with the virally encoded transcription activator protein, Tat, to promote high levels of gene expression. Recently, we demonstrated that TAR is also important for efficient HIV-1 reverse transcription, since HIV-1 mutated in the upper stem-loop of TAR showed a reduced ability both to initiate and to complete reverse transcription. We have analyzed a series of HIV-1 mutant viruses to better defined the structural or sequence elements required for natural endogenous reverse transcription and packaging of virion RNA. Our results indicate that the requirement for TAR in reverse transcription is conformation dependent, since mutants with mutations that alter the upper stem-loop orientation are defective for reverse transcription initiation and have minor defects in RNA packaging. In contrast, TAR mutations that allowed the formation of alternative upper stem-loop structure greatly reduced RNA packaging but did not affect reverse transcription efficiency. These results are consistent with direct involvement of the upper stem-loop structure in packaging of genomic RNA and suggest that the TAR RNA stem-loop from nucleotide +18 to +42 interacts with other components of the reverse transcription initiation complex to promote efficient reverse transcription.
Proteasome-Mediated Degradation of the Papillomavirus E2-TA Protein Is Regulated by Phosphorylation and Can Modulate Viral Genome Copy Number
Authors: Penrose Kerri J. , McBride Alison A.
Published: July 2002

The bovine papillomavirus E2 proteins regulate viral transcription, replication, and episomal genome maintenance. We have previously mapped the major phosphorylation sites of the E2 proteins to serine residues 298 and 301 and shown that mutation of serine residue 301 to alanine leads to a dramatic (10- to 20-fold) increase in viral DNA copy number. In this study we analyzed how phosphorylation regulates E2 protein function. S301 is located in a PEST sequence; these sequences are often found in proteins with a short half-life and can be regulated by phosphorylation. We show here that the E2 protein is ubiquitinated and degraded by the proteasome. Mutation of serine 301 to alanine increases the half-life of E2 from approximately 50 min to 160 min. Furthermore, the A301 E2 protein shows greatly reduced ubiquitination and degradation by the proteasome. These results suggest that the E2 protein level is regulated by phosphorylation, which in turn determines viral episomal copy number.
Retargeting the Coxsackievirus and Adenovirus Receptor to the Apical Surface of Polarized Epithelial Cells Reveals the Glycocalyx as a Barrier to Adenovirus-Mediated Gene Transfer
Authors: Pickles Raymond J. , Fahrner Jill A. , Petrella JenniElizabeth M. , Boucher Richard C. , Bergelson Jeffrey M.
Published: July 2002

Lumenal delivery of adenovirus vectors (AdV) results in inefficient gene transfer to human airway epithelium. The human coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (hCAR) was detected by immunofluorescence selectively at the basolateral surfaces of freshly excised human airway epithelial cells, suggesting that the absence of apical hCAR constitutes a barrier to adenovirus-mediated gene delivery in vivo. In transfected polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney cells, wild-type hCAR was expressed selectively at the basolateral membrane, whereas hCAR lacking the transmembrane and/or cytoplasmic domains was expressed on both the basolateral and apical membranes. Cells expressing apical hCAR still were not efficiently transduced by AdV applied to the apical surface. However, after the cells were treated with agents that remove components of the apical surface glycocalyx, AdV transduction occurred. These results indicate that adenovirus can infect via receptors located at the apical cell membrane but that the glycocalyx impedes interaction of AdV with apical receptors.
Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Rapidly Penetrates the Cervicovaginal Mucosa after Intravaginal Inoculation and Infects Intraepithelial Dendritic Cells
Authors: Hu Jinjie , Gardner Murray B. , Miller Christopher J.
Published: July 2002

Despite recent insights into mucosal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission, the route used by primate lentiviruses to traverse the stratified squamous epithelium of mucosal surfaces remains undefined. To determine if dendritic cells (DC) are used by primate lentiviruses to traverse the epithelial barrier of the genital tract, rhesus macaques were intravaginally exposed to cell-free simian immunodeficiency virus SIVmac251. We examined formalin-fixed tissues and HLA-DR+-enriched cell suspensions to identify the cells containing SIV RNA in the genital tract and draining lymph nodes within the first 24 h of infection. Using SIV-specific fluorescent in situ hybridization combined with immunofluorescent antibody labeling of lineage-specific cell markers, numerous SIV RNA+DC were documented in cell suspensions from the vaginal epithelium 18 h after vaginal inoculation. In addition, we determined the minimum time that the SIV inoculum must remain in contact with the genital mucosa for the virus to move from the vaginal lumen into the mucosa. We now show that SIV enters the vaginal mucosa within 60 min of intravaginal exposure, infecting primarily intraepithelial DC and that SIV-infected cells are located in draining lymph nodes within 18 h of intravaginal SIV exposure. The speed with which primate lentiviruses penetrate mucosal surfaces, infect DC, and disseminate to draining lymph nodes poses a serious challenge to HIV vaccine development.
Recognition by Human Monoclonal Antibodies of Free and Complexed Peptides Representing the Prefusogenic and Fusogenic Forms of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 gp41
Authors: Gorny Miroslaw K. , Zolla-Pazner Susan
Published: July 2002

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) entry into target cells appears to be triggered when two heptad repeat regions in the ectodomain of gp41 associate, converting the prefusogenic form of gp41 to a fusogenic form. Peptides from these two heptad repeat regions, designated N51 and C43, form a coiled coil consisting of an α-helical trimer of heterodimers which approximates the core of the fusogenic form of gp41. To understand the antigenic structures of gp41 in these two configurations, and to examine the specificity of anti-gp41 antibodies produced by HIV-1-infected individuals, human anti-gp41 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were tested for their reactivity against N51, C43, and the complex formed by these peptides. Of 11 MAbs, 7 reacted with the complex but with neither of the parent peptides. These MAbs reacted optimally with the N51-C43 complex prepared at a 1:1 ratio and appeared to recognize the fusogenic form of gp41 in which the two heptad repeat regions are associated to form the coiled coil. The existence of antibodies from HIV-infected humans that exclusively recognize the N51-C43 complex constitutes the first proof that the coiled-coil conformation of gp41 exists in vivo and is immunogenic. Two of the 11 MAbs were specific for the hydrophilic loop region of gp41 and failed to react with either peptide alone or with the peptide complex, while the remaining 2 MAbs reacted with peptide C43. One of these two latter MAbs, 98-6, also reacted well with the equimolar N51-C43 complex, while reactivity with C43 by the other MAb, 2F5, was inhibited by even small amounts of N51, suggesting that the interaction of these peptides occludes or disrupts the epitope recognized by MAb 2F5. MAbs 98-6 and 2F5 are also unusual among the MAbs tested in their ability to neutralize multiple primary HIV isolates, although 2F5 displays more broad and potent activity. The data suggest that anti-gp41 neutralizing activity is associated with specificity for a region in C43 which participates in complex formation with N51.
Thebfl-1Gene Is Transcriptionally Upregulated by the Epstein-Barr Virus LMP1, and Its Expression Promotes the Survival of a Burkitt's Lymphoma Cell Line
Authors: D'Souza Brendan , Rowe Martin , Walls Dermot
Published: July 2002

The recently identifiedbfl-1gene (also known asA1orGRS), a homologue ofbcl-2, encodes an antiapoptotic protein that suppresses apoptosis induced by the p53 tumor suppressor protein and exhibits proliferative and potent cooperative transforming activities. We show that elevated levels ofbfl-1mRNA are a feature of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-immortalized B-cell lines and Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines expressing the full spectrum of EBV latent proteins. Using an EBV-negative Burkitt's lymphoma cell line in which the expression of EBV latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) is inducibly regulated by tetracycline, we demonstrate that LMP1 expression coincides with a dramatic increase in the level ofbfl-1mRNA. Also in this system, an increase in the level of Bcl-2 protein was seen to occur earlier than that ofbcl-2mRNA, suggesting that both transcriptional and translational mechanisms are involved in the control of Bcl-2 expression by LMP-1. We show that elevatedbfl-1mRNA stability can contribute to this effect of LMP-1, thus providing evidence of a novel mechanism of gene regulation by this EBV protein. Upregulation ofbfl-1by LMP1 was not observed in the T-cell line Jurkat or the epithelial cell line C33A. Ectopic expression of Bfl-1 in an EBV-positive cell line exhibiting a latency type I infection protects against apoptosis induced by growth factor deprivation, thereby providing a functional role for Bfl-1 in this cellular context and adding Bfl-1 to the list of antiapoptotic proteins whose expression is modulated by EBV. This is the first report of the regulation ofbfl-1expression by a viral protein, and this novel finding may thus represent an important link between the EBV oncoprotein LMP1 and its cellular growth-transforming properties.
Inhibition of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Replication in Primary CD4+T Lymphocytes, Monocytes, and Dendritic Cells by Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes
Authors: Severino Michael E. , Sipsas Nikolaos V. , Nguyen Phuong Thi , Kalams Spyros A. , Walker Bruce D. , Johnson R. Paul , Yang Otto O.
Published: July 2002

We demonstrate that human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-specific CD8+cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) suppress HIV-1 replication in primary lymphocytes, monocytes, and dendritic cells individually. Viral inhibition is significantly diminished in lymphocyte-dendritic cell clusters, suggesting that these clusters in vivo could be sites where viral replication is more difficult to control by CTL.
CCR8 on Human Thymocytes Functions as a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Coreceptor
Authors: Lee Shirley , Tiffany H. Lee , King Lisa , Murphy Philip M. , Golding Hana , Zaitseva Marina B.
Published: July 2002

To determine whether human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) coreceptors besides CXCR4 and CCR5 are involved in HIV-1 infection of the thymus, we focused on CCR8, a receptor for the chemokine I-309, because of its high expression in the thymus. Similar levels of CCR8 mRNA were detected in immature and mature primary human thymocytes. Consistent with this, [125I]I-309 was shown to bind specifically and with similar affinity to the surface of immature and mature human thymocytes. Fusion of human thymocytes with cells expressing HIV-1 X4 or X4R5 envelope glycoprotein was inhibited by I-309 in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, I-309 partially inhibited productive infection of human thymocytes by X4, R5, and X4R5 HIV-1 strains. Our data provide the first evidence that CCR8 functions as an HIV-1 coreceptor on primary human cells and suggest that CCR8 may contribute to HIV-1-induced thymic pathogenesis.
Overexpression of p21
waf1
in Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus Type 1-Infected Cells and Its Association with Cyclin A/cdk2
Authors: de la Fuente Cynthia , Santiago Francisco , Chong Siew Yen , Deng Longwen , Mayhood Todd , Fu Peng , Stein Dana , Denny Thomas , Coffman Frederick , Azimi Nazli , Mahieux Renaud , Kashanchi Fatah
Published: July 2002

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is associated with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). T-cell transformation is mainly due to the actions of the viral phosphoprotein Tax. Tax interacts with multiple transcriptional factors, aiding the transcription of many cellular genes. Here, we report that the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21/waf1 is overexpressed in all HTLV-1-infected cell lines tested as well as in ATL and HAM/TSP patient samples. Tax was found to be able to transactivate the endogenous p21/waf1 promoter, as detected by RNase protection, as well as activate a series of wild-type and 5′-deletion constructs linked to a luciferase reporter cassette. Wild-type but not a mutant form of Tax (M47) transactivated the p21/waf1 promoter in a p53-independent manner and utilized a minimal promoter that contained E2A and TATA box sequences. The p21/waf1 protein was reproducibly observed to be complexed with cyclin A/cdk2 and not with any other known G
1
, S, or G
2
/M cyclins. Functionally, the association of p21/cyclin A/cdk2 decreased histone H1 phosphorylation in vitro, as observed in immunoprecipitations followed by kinase assays, and affected other substrates, such as the C terminus of Rb protein involved in c-Abl and histone deacetylase-1 (HDAC1) regulation. Interestingly, upon the use of a stress signal, such as gamma-irradiation, we found that the p21/cyclin A/cdk2 complex was able to block all known phosphorylation sites on the Rb molecule. Finally, using elutriated cell cycle fractions and a stress signal, we observed that the HTLV-1-infected T cells containing wild-type Tax, which had been in early or mid-G
1
phase prior to gamma-irradiation, arrested in G
1
and did not undergo apoptosis. This may be an important mechanism for an oncogenic virus such as HTLV-1 to stop the host at the G
1
/S boundary and to repair the damaged DNA upon injury, prior to S-phase entry.
Identification of Domains of the Human Papillomavirus Type 11 E1 Helicase Involved in Oligomerization and Binding to the Viral Origin
Authors: Titolo Steve , Pelletier Alex , Pulichino Anne-Marie , Brault Karine , Wardrop Elizabeth , White Peter W. , Cordingley Michael G. , Archambault Jacques
Published: July 2002

The E1 helicase of papillomavirus is required, in addition to host cell DNA replication factors, during the initiation and elongation phases of viral episome replication. During initiation, the viral E2 protein promotes the assembly of enzymatically active multimeric E1 complexes at the viral origin of DNA replication. In this study we used the two-hybrid system and chemical cross-linking to demonstrate that human papillomavirus type 11 (HPV11) E1 can self-associate in yeast and form hexamers in vitro in a reaction stimulated by single-stranded DNA. Self-association in yeast was most readily detected using constructs spanning the E1 C-terminal domain (amino acids 353 to 649) and was dependent on a minimal E1-E1 interaction region located between amino acids 353 and 431. The E1 C-terminal domain was also able to oligomerize in vitro but, in contrast to wild-type E1, did so efficiently in the absence of single-stranded DNA. Sequences located between amino acids 191 and 353 were necessary for single-stranded DNA to modulate oligomerization of E1 and were also required, together with the rest of the C terminus, for binding of E1 to the origin. Two regions within the C-terminal domain were identified as important for oligomerization: the ATP-binding domain and region A, which is located within the minimal E1-E1 interaction domain and is one of four regions of E1 that is highly conserved with the large T antigens of simian virus 40 and polyomavirus. Amino acid substitutions of highly conserved residues within the ATP-binding domain and region A were identified that reduced the ability of E1 to oligomerize and bind to the origin in vitro and to support transient DNA replication in vivo. These results support the notion that oligomerization of E1 occurs primarily through the C-terminal domain of the protein and is allosterically regulated by DNA and ATP. The bipartite organization of the E1 C-terminal domain is reminiscent of that found in other hexameric proteins and suggests that these proteins may oligomerize by a similar mechanism.
Construction and Characterization of Murine Cytomegaloviruses That Contain Transposon Insertions at Open Reading Frames m09 and M83
Authors: Zhan Xiaoyan , Lee Manfred , Xiao Jianqiao , Liu Fenyong
Published: July 2002

A transposon derived from
Escherichia coli
Tn
3
was introduced into the genome of murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) to generate a pool of viral mutants, including two recombinant viruses that contained the transposon sequence within open reading frames m09 and M83. Our studies provide the first direct evidence to suggest that m09 is not essential for viral replication in mouse NIH 3T3 cells. Studies in cultured cells and in both BALB/c-Byj and CB17 severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice indicated that the transposon insertion is stable during viral propagation both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the virus that contained the insertion mutation in m09 exhibited a titer similar to that of the wild-type virus in the salivary glands, lungs, livers, spleens, and kidneys of both the BALB/c and SCID mice and was as virulent as the wild-type virus in killing the SCID mice when these animals were intraperitoneally infected with these viruses. These results suggest that m09 is dispensable for viral growth in these organs and that the presence of the transposon sequence in the viral genome does not significantly affect viral replication in vivo. In contrast, the virus that contained the insertion mutation in M83 exhibited a titer of at least 60-fold lower than that of the wild-type virus in the organs of the SCID mice and was attenuated in killing the SCID mice. These results demonstrate the utility of using the Tn
3
-based system as a mutagenesis approach for studying the function of MCMV genes in both immunocompetent and immunodeficient animals.
Antibodies to CD9, a Tetraspan Transmembrane Protein, Inhibit Canine Distemper Virus-Induced Cell-Cell Fusion but Not Virus-Cell Fusion
Authors: Schmid Erik , Zurbriggen Andreas , Gassen Uta , Rima Bert , ter Meulen Volker , Schneider-Schaulies Jürgen
Published: July 2002

Canine distemper virus (CDV) causes a life-threatening disease in several carnivores including domestic dogs. Recently, we identified a molecule, CD9, a member of the tetraspan transmembrane protein family, which facilitates, and antibodies to which inhibit, the infection of tissue culture cells with CDV (strain Onderstepoort). Here we describe that an anti-CD9 monoclonal antibody (MAb K41) did not interfere with binding of CDV to cells and uptake of virus. In addition, in single-step growth experiments, MAb K41 did not induce differences in the levels of viral mRNA and proteins. However, the virus release of syncytium-forming strains of CDV, the virus-induced cell-cell fusion in lytically infected cultures, and the cell-cell fusion of uninfected with persistently CDV-infected HeLa cells were strongly inhibited by MAb K41. These data indicate that anti-CD9 antibodies selectively block virus-induced cell-cell fusion, whereas virus-cell fusion is not affected.
Fast Screening Procedures for Random Transposon Libraries of Cloned Herpesvirus Genomes: Mutational Analysis of Human Cytomegalovirus Envelope Glycoprotein Genes
Authors: Hobom Urs , Brune Wolfram , Messerle Martin , Hahn Gabriele , Koszinowski Ulrich H.
Published: July 2002

We have cloned the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) genome as an infectious bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) in
Escherichia coli
. Here, we have subjected the HCMV BAC to random transposon (Tn) mutagenesis using a Tn
1721
-derived insertion sequence and have provided the conditions for excision of the BAC cassette. We report on a fast and efficient screening procedure for a Tn insertion library. Bacterial clones containing randomly mutated full-length HCMV genomes were transferred into 96-well microtiter plates. A PCR screening method based on two Tn primers and one primer specific for the desired genomic position of the Tn insertion was established. Within three consecutive rounds of PCR a Tn insertion of interest can be assigned to a specific bacterial clone. We applied this method to retrieve mutants of HCMV envelope glycoprotein genes. To determine the infectivities of the mutant HCMV genomes, the DNA of the identified BACs was transfected into permissive fibroblasts. In contrast to BACs with mutations in the genes coding for gB, gH, gL, and gM, which did not yield infectious virus, BACs with disruptions of open reading frame
UL4
(gp48) or
UL74
(gO) were viable, although gO-deficient viruses showed a severe growth deficit. Thus, gO (
UL74
), a component of the glycoprotein complex III, is dispensable for viral growth. We conclude that our approach of PCR screening for Tn insertions will greatly facilitate the functional analysis of herpesvirus genomes.
Molecular Cloning and Functional Analysis of Three Type D Endogenous Retroviruses of Sheep Reveal a Different Cell Tropism from That of the Highly Related Exogenous Jaagsiekte Sheep Retrovirus
Authors: Palmarini Massimo , Hallwirth Claus , York Denis , Murgia Claudio , de Oliveira Tulio , Spencer Thomas , Fan Hung
Published: July 2002

Integrated into the sheep genome are 15 to 20 copies of type D endogenous loci that are highly related to two exogenous oncogenic viruses, jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) and enzootic nasal tumor virus (ENTV). The exogenous viruses cause infectious neoplasms of the respiratory tract in small ruminants. In this study, we molecularly cloned three intact type D endogenous retroviruses of sheep (enJS56A1, enJS5F16, and enJS59A1; collectively called
enJRSV
s) and analyzed their genomic structures, their phylogenies with respect to their exogenous counterparts, their capacity to form viral particles, and the expression specificities of their long terminal repeats (LTRs). In addition, the pattern of expression of
enJSRV
s in vivo was studied by in situ hybridization. All of the three
enJSRV
proviruses had open reading frames for at least one of the structural genes. In particular, enJS56A1 had open reading frames for all structural genes, but it could not assemble viral particles when highly expressed in human 293T cells. We localized the defect for viral assembly in the first two-thirds of the
gag
gene by making a series of chimeras between enJS56A1 and the exogenous infectious molecular clone JSRV
21
. Phylogenetic analysis distinguished five ovine type D retroviruses:
enJSRV
groups A and B, ENTV, and two exogenous JSRV groups (African versus United Kingdom/North America isolates). Transient transfection assays indicated that the LTRs of the three
enJSRV
s were not preferentially active in differentiated lung epithelial cells. This suggests that the pulmonary tropic JSRV developed from a type D retrovirus that did not have lung specificity. Consistent with this, in situ hybridization of a panel of normal ovine tissues revealed high expression of
enJSRV
mRNA in the luminal epithelium and glandular epithelium of the uterus; lower expression was localized in the lamina propria of the gut and in the bronchiolar epithelium of the lungs.
The Collagen Repeat Sequence Is a Determinant of the Degree of Herpesvirus Saimiri STP Transforming Activity
Authors: Choi Joong-Kook , Ishido Satoshi , Jung Jae U.
Published: July 2002

Herpesvirus saimiri (HVS) is divided into three subgroups, A, B, and C, based on sequence divergence at the left end of genomic DNA in which the saimiri transforming protein (STP) resides. Subgroup A and C strains transform primary common marmoset lymphocytes to interleukin-2-independent growth, whereas subgroup B strains do not. To investigate the nononcogenic phenotype of the subgroup B viruses, STP genes from seven subgroup B virus isolates were cloned and sequenced. Consistent with the lack of oncogenic activity of HVS subgroup B viruses, STP-B was deficient for transforming activity in rodent fibroblast cells. Sequence comparison reveals that STP-B lacks the signal-transducing modules found in STP proteins of the other subgroups, collagen repeats and an authentic SH2 binding motif. Substitution mutations demonstrated that the lack of collagen repeats but not an SH2 binding motif contributed to the nontransforming phenotype of STP-B. Introduction of the collagen repeat sequence induced oligomerization of STP-B, resulting in activation of NF-κB activity and deregulation of cell growth control. These results demonstrate that the collagen repeat sequence is a determinant of the degree of HVS STP transforming activity.
Transfer of Specificity for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 into Primary Human T Lymphocytes by Introduction of T-Cell Receptor Genes
Authors: Cooper Laurence J. N. , Kalos Michael , Lewinsohn Deborah A. , Riddell Stanley R. , Greenberg Philip D.
Published: July 2002

The introduction of genes encoding T-cell receptor (TCR) chains specific for human immunodeficiency virus into T cells of infected patients represents a means to quantitatively and qualitatively improve immunity to the virus. Our results demonstrate that the high level of TCR expression required for physiologic functioning can be reproducibly achieved with retroviral vectors encoding full-length unmodified TCR chains under the control of a strong internal constitutive phosphoglycerate kinase promoter.
Identification of Dominant Optimal HLA-B60- and HLA-B61-Restricted Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte (CTL) Epitopes: Rapid Characterization of CTL Responses by Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay
Authors: Altfeld Marcus A. , Trocha Alicja , Eldridge Robert L. , Rosenberg Eric S. , Phillips Mary N. , Addo Marylyn M. , Sekaly Rafick P. , Kalams Spyros A. , Burchett Sandra A. , McIntosh Kenneth , Walker Bruce D. , Goulder Philip J. R.
Published: July 2002

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses play a major role in the antiviral immune response, but the relative contribution of CTL responses restricted by different HLA class I molecules is less well defined. HLA-B60 or the related allele B61 is expressed in 10 to 20% of Caucasoid populations and is even more highly prevalent in Asian populations, but yet no CTL epitopes restricted by these alleles have been defined. Here we report the definition of five novel HLA-B60-restricted HIV-1-specific CTL epitopes, using peripheral blood mononuclear cells in enzyme-linked immunospot (Elispot) assays and using CTL clones and lines in cytolytic assays. The dominant HLA-B60-restricted epitope, Nef peptide KEKGGLEGL, was targeted by all eight subjects with B60 and also by both subjects with B61 studied. This study additionally establishes the utility of the Elispot assay as a more rapid and efficient method of defining novel CTL epitopes. This approach will help to define new CTL epitopes that may play an important role in the immune control of HIV-1.
Remodeling the Endoplasmic Reticulum by Poliovirus Infection and by Individual Viral Proteins: an Autophagy-Like Origin for Virus-Induced Vesicles
Authors: Suhy David A. , Giddings Thomas H. , Kirkegaard Karla
Published: July 2002

All positive-strand RNA viruses of eukaryotes studied assemble RNA replication complexes on the surfaces of cytoplasmic membranes. Infection of mammalian cells with poliovirus and other picornaviruses results in the accumulation of dramatically rearranged and vesiculated membranes. Poliovirus-induced membranes did not cofractionate with endoplasmic reticulum (ER), lysosomes, mitochondria, or the majority of Golgi-derived or endosomal membranes in buoyant density gradients, although changes in ionic strength affected ER and virus-induced vesicles, but not other cellular organelles, similarly. When expressed in isolation, two viral proteins of the poliovirus RNA replication complex, 3A and 2C, cofractionated with ER membranes. However, in cells that expressed 2BC, a proteolytic precursor of the 2B and 2C proteins, membranes identical in buoyant density to those observed during poliovirus infection were formed. When coexpressed with 2BC, viral protein 3A was quantitatively incorporated into these fractions, and the membranes formed were ultrastructurally similar to those in poliovirus-infected cells. These data argue that poliovirus-induced vesicles derive from the ER by the action of viral proteins 2BC and 3A by a mechanism that excludes resident host proteins. The double-membraned morphology, cytosolic content, and apparent ER origin of poliovirus-induced membranes are all consistent with an autophagic origin for these membranes.
Granzyme A, a Noncytolytic Component of CD8+Cell Granules, Restricts the Spread of Herpes Simplex Virus in the Peripheral Nervous Systems of Experimentally Infected Mice
Authors: Pereira Rosemarie A. , Simon Markus M. , Simmons Anthony
Published: July 2002

Control of ganglionic herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection depends on CD8+cells but not on the death of infected neurons. Primarily, perforin and granzyme B mediate CD8+cell cytotoxicity, whereas the in vivo functions of granzyme A, a third granule protein, are unknown. Here, it is shown that granzyme A restricts the interneuronal spread of HSV and significantly influences ganglionic virus load.
Determinants of Syncytium Formation in Microglia by Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1: Role of the V1/V2 Domains
Authors: Shieh Joseph T. C. , Martín Julio , Baltuch Gordon , Malim Michael H. , González-Scarano Francisco
Published: July 2002

Microglia are the main reservoir for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in the central nervous system (CNS), and multinucleated giant cells, the result of fusion of HIV-1-infected microglia and brain macrophages, are the neuropathologic hallmark of HIV dementia. One potential explanation for the formation of syncytia is viral adaptation for these CD4
+
CNS cells. HIV-1
BORI-15
, a virus adapted to growth in microglia by sequential passage in vitro, mediates high levels of fusion and replicates more efficiently in microglia and monocyte-derived-macrophages than its unpassaged parent (J. M. Strizki, A. V. Albright, H. Sheng, M. O'Connor, L. Perrin, and F. Gonzalez-Scarano, J. Virol. 70:7654–7662, 1996). Since the interaction between the viral envelope glycoprotein and CD4 and the chemokine receptor mediates fusion and plays a key role in tropism, we have analyzed the HIV-1
BORI-15
env
as a fusogen and in recombinant and pseudotyped viruses. Its syncytium-forming phenotype is not the result of a switch in coreceptor use but rather of the HIV-1
BORI-15
envelope-mediated fusion of CD4
+
CCR5
+
cells with greater efficiency than that of its parental strain, either by itself or in the context of a recombinant virus. Genetic analysis indicated that the syncytium-forming phenotype was due to four discrete amino acid differences in V1/V2, with a single-amino-acid change between the parent and the adapted virus (E153G) responsible for the majority of the effect. Additionally, HIV-1
BORI-15
env
-pseudotyped viruses were less sensitive to decreases in the levels of CD4 on transfected 293T cells, leading to the hypothesis that the differences in V1/V2 alter the interaction between this envelope and CD4 or CCR5, or both. In sum, the characterization of the envelope of HIV-1
BORI-15
, a highly fusogenic glycoprotein with genetic determinants in V1/V2, may lead to a better understanding of the relationship between HIV replication and syncytium formation in the CNS and of the importance of this region of gp120 in the interaction with CD4 and CCR5.
A Role for Single-Stranded Templates in Cell-Free Adeno-Associated Virus DNA Replication
Authors: Ward Peter , Linden R. Michael
Published: July 2002

Assays have been described in which duplex adeno-associated virus (AAV) DNA can be replicated in HeLa cell extracts with exogenous AAV Rep protein. These assays appear to mimic the AAV DNA replication that occurs in the cell, including the ability of extracts from adenovirus (Ad)-infected cells to replicate duplex AAV DNA templates more efficiently than extracts from uninfected cells can. We showed previously that the Ad-infected extract was able to support a more processive replication than the uninfected extract. When the Ad single-stranded DNA binding protein (Ad-DBP) was added to an uninfected extract, DNA replication became processive. Based on a strand displacement replication model, we hypothesized that the Ad-DBP was stabilizing the displaced single-stranded DNA during strand displacement replication. In this report, we show that in Ad-infected extracts most of the newly replicated duplex DNA is converted into a single-stranded form shortly after synthesis. Using the results of assays for the replication of single-stranded AAV DNA, we show that these single-stranded molecules serve as templates for additional replication. In addition, we identify a class of molecules which are likely to be intermediates of replication on single-stranded templates. We discuss a possible role for replication of single-stranded molecules in the infected cell.
Impaired Intracellular Trafficking of Adeno-Associated Virus Type 2 Vectors Limits Efficient Transduction of Murine Fibroblasts
Authors: Hansen Jonathan , Qing Keyun , Kwon Hyung-Joo , Mah Cathryn , Srivastava Arun
Published: July 2002

Although adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV) has gained attention as a potentially useful alternative to the more commonly used retrovirus- and adenovirus-based vectors for human gene therapy, efficient gene transfer and transgene expression by AAV vectors require that the following two obstacles be overcome. First, the target cell must express the receptor and the coreceptor for AAV infection, and second, the cell must allow for viral second-strand DNA synthesis. We now describe a third obstacle, impaired intracellular trafficking of AAV to the nucleus, which results in the lack of transgene expression in murine fibroblasts which do express the AAV receptor and the coreceptor and which are permissive for viral second-strand DNA synthesis. We document that AAV vectors bind efficiently and gain entry successfully into NIH 3T3 cells, but trafficking into the nucleus is significantly impaired in these cells. In contrast, viral trafficking to the nucleus in cells known to be efficiently transduced by AAV vectors is both rapid and efficient. The demonstration of yet another obstacle in AAV-mediated gene transfer has implications for the optimal use of these vectors in human gene therapy.
Rous Sarcoma Virus DR Posttranscriptional Elements Use a Novel RNA Export Pathway
Authors: Paca Robert E. , Ogert Robert A. , Hibbert Catherine S. , Izaurralde Elisa , Beemon Karen L.
Published: July 2002

Rous sarcoma virus (RSV), a simple retrovirus, needs to export unspliced viral RNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, circumventing the host cell restriction on cytoplasmic expression of intron-containing RNA. The cytoplasmic accumulation of full-length viral RNA is promoted by two
cis
-acting direct repeat (DR) elements that flank the
src
gene; at least one copy of the DR sequence is necessary for viral replication. We show here that the DR mediates export of a reporter construct from the nucleus, suggesting it is a constitutive transport element (CTE). In contrast, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and other complex retroviruses encode accessory proteins, Rev or Rex, which promote export of incompletely spliced viral transcripts. This RNA export pathway is CRM1 dependent and can be blocked by the cytotoxic agent leptomycin B. We show here that DR-mediated export is CRM1 independent, suggesting that RSV uses a different export pathway from that of HIV-1 and other complex retroviruses. The simian retroviruses have a CTE which interacts with the cellular Tap export protein. However, we were unable to detect binding of the RSV DR RNA to Tap, suggesting it may use a different export pathway from that of the simian retroviruses. These data suggest that the RSV DR element uses a novel nucleocytoplasmic export pathway.
Impairment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Entry into Jurkat T Cells by Constitutive Expression of the HIV-1 Vpr Protein: Role of CD4 Down-Modulation
Authors: Conti Lucia , Varano Barbara , Gauzzi M. Cristina , Matarrese Paola , Federico Maurizio , Malorni Walter , Belardelli Filippo , Gessani Sandra
Published: July 2002

Jurkat T-cell clones, stably expressing the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Vpr protein, exhibited an impaired susceptibility to HIV-1 infection. A marked down-modulation of surface CD4 receptors was detected in Vpr-expressing clones with respect to control cells. Likewise, a reduced CD4 expression was also observed in parental Jurkat cells infected with wild-type but not with Vpr-mutant HIV-1. Notably, Vpr-expressing clones were fully susceptible to infection with a vesicular stomatitis virus G protein-pseudotyped HIV-1 virus, indicating that a block at the level of viral entry was responsible for the inhibition of viral replication. The effect exerted by Vpr on HIV replication and CD4 expression suggests that this protein can regulate both the establishment of a productive HIV-1 infection and CD4-mediated T-cell functions.
Interaction of the Rabies Virus P Protein with the LC8 Dynein Light Chain
Authors: Raux Hélène , Flamand Anne , Blondel Danielle
Published: July 2002

The rabies virus P protein is involved in viral transcription and replication but its precise function is not clear. We investigated the role of P (CVS strain) by searching for cellular partners by using a two-hybrid screening of a PC12 cDNA library. We isolated a cDNA encoding a 10-kDa dynein light chain (LC8). LC8 is a component of cytoplasmic dynein involved in the minus end-directed movement of organelles along microtubules. We confirmed that this molecule interacts with P by coimmunoprecipitation in infected cells and in cells transfected with a plasmid encoding P protein. LC8 was also detected in virus particles. Series of deletions from the N- and C-terminal ends of P protein were used to map the LC8-binding domain to the central part of P (residues 138 to 172). These results are relevant to speculate that dynein may be involved in the axonal transport of rabies virus along microtubules through neuron cells.
Adeno-Associated Virus RNAs Appear in a Temporal Order and Their Splicing Is Stimulated during Coinfection with Adenovirus
Authors: Mouw Matthew B. , Pintel David J.
Published: July 2002

We have used a quantitative RNase protection assay to characterize the relative accumulation and abundance of individual adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV) RNAs throughout the course of AAV-adenovirus coinfections and preinfections. We have demonstrated that there is a previously unrecognized temporal order to the appearance of AAV RNAs. First, unspliced P5-generated transcripts, which encode Rep78, were detectable prior to the significant accumulation of other AAV RNAs. Ultimately, as previously demonstrated, P19-generated products accumulated to levels greater than those generated from P5, and P40-generated transcripts predominated in the total RNA pool. Second, the percentage of each class of AAV RNA that was spliced increased during infection, and the degree of this increase was different for the P5/P19 products than for those generated by P40. At late times postcoinfection, approximately 90% of P40 products, but only approximately 50% of RNAs generated by P5 and P19, were seen to be spliced; thus, the AAV intron was removed to different final levels from these different RNA species. We have shown that each of the AAV RNAs is quite stable; the majority of each RNA species persisted 6 h after treatment with actinomycin D. Quantification of the accumulation of individual AAV RNAs, over intervals during which degradation was negligible, allowed us to infer that at late times during infection the relative strength of P5, P19, and P40 was approximately 1:3:18, respectively, consistent with the steady-state accumulated levels of the RNAs generated by each promoter. All AAV RNAs exited to the cytoplasm with similar efficiencies in the presence or absence of adenovirus; however, adenovirus coinfection appeared to stimulate total splicing of AAV RNAs and the relative use of the downstream intron acceptor. Our results confirm and extend previous observations concerning the appearance and processing of AAV-generated RNAs.