Construction of Oka varicella vaccine expressing human immunodeficiency virus env antigen

Oka varicella vaccine has been used to confer active immunity to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in healthy and immunocompromised hosts. Based on its attenuated nature, Oka varicella vaccine expressing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) env antigen was constructed by inserting the HIVenv gene into the viral genome and its immunogenicity was assessed in guinea pigs. The HIVenv gene encoding 296-463 amino acids was inserted between the sequences of the hepatitis B surface antigen and the thymidine kinase gene of the cloned plasmid and the recombinant virus was isolated by cotransfection of the chimeric plasmid with viral DNA. Insertion of the HIVenv gene into the viral genome was confirmed by PCR and sequencing of the viral genome of the recombinant virus. The recombinant virus expressed 30k HIVenv fusion protein in its infected cells. In guinea pigs, immunization with the recombinant virus induced an antibody response to both the HIV antigen and the V3 peptide of gp120 as well as VZV gE:gI. Cell-mediated immunity to the HIV antigen and gE:gI was assessed by the cutaneous reaction representing delayed type hypersensitivity. Immunized guinea pigs responded well to both the HIV antigen and gE:gI. Thus the recombinant Oka varicella vaccine expressing the HIVenv antigen induced both a humoral and cell-mediated immunity to the HIV antigen similar to VZV as Oka varicella vaccine induces humoral and cell-mediated immunity to VZV in the vaccinees. This recombinant Oka varicella vaccine expressing the HIVenv antigen may be evaluated for its immunogenicity as one of the AIDS vaccine candidates.     

Inoculation of Guinea pigs with varicella-zoster virus via the respiratory route

Summary Guinea pigs were inoculated by the respiratory route with wild-type (Cyr) or vaccine (Oka) strain varicella zoster virus (VZV). Wild-type cell-free virus obtained by sonication produced neutralizing antibody responses in steroid-treated animals when given via the intratracheal route, and induced neutralizing antibody as well as a pneumonitis in normal animals when given via the intrabronchial (i. b.) route. A humoral response also followed i.b. instillation of cell-associated wild-type or vaccine strain VZV. Prior i.b. administration of thioglycollate or exposure to hyperoxia altered the number and function of pulmonary macrophages, respectively, but viral susceptibility of the guinea pigs was not enhanced. Both strains of VZV could be isolated from bronchial washings up to 48 hours after i.b. instillation of cell-associated virus, but neither strain was isolated thereafter from cultures of bronchial washings or explanted lung tissues.With 2 FiguresThis work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (AI 16154) and the Christina Billington Cruger Fund.     

Use of a rodent model to show that varicella-zoster virus ORF61 is dispensable for establishment of latency

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) results in a latent infection in humans after primary infection. Latency has also been established in guinea pigs and rats after inoculation with the virus. It was found that infection of cotton rats with the Oka vaccine strain of VZV results in a latent infection. To begin to identify which genes are required for latency, we infected cotton rats with VZV strain Oka that is deleted for ORF61. ORF61 protein transactivates certain VZV promoters and enhances the infectivity of viral DNA in transient transfections. Deletion of ORF61 results in abnormal syncytia and impairs the growth of VZV in vitro. Inoculation of cotton rats with ORF61-deleted Oka virus resulted in latent VZV infection in the nervous system similar to that seen for animals infected with parental virus. Thus, the cotton rat can be used to study the ability of mutants in the Oka vaccine strain of VZV to establish latent infection.     

Guinea Pig Herpes-Like Virus Infection I. Antibody Response and Virus Persistence in Guinea Pigs After Experimental Infection

Guinea pigs, experimentally infected with guinea pig herpes-like virus produced antibodies which were detectable by indirect hemagglutination (IHA), complement-fixation (CF), and neutralization tests. The IHA test appeared to be a more sensitive method than the CF or neutralization test for determining antibody response in guinea pigs immediately after infection, but the IHA method was not suitable for the detection of antibody in animals receiving small doses of virus. Antibody titers obtained by CF tests were generally higher than those obtained by the neutralization test, and they followed the same time course when individual animals were studied serially. Intracardiac inoculation produced the best antibody response in guinea pigs when compared with other routes of infection. Guinea pigs infected by the intraperitoneal, intranasal, or oral route showed rising antibody titers but the levels were low. Infectious virus was isolated from and persisted in all inoculated animals in the presence of antibody regardless of the route of inoculation. Recovery of infectious virus required cultivation or cocultivation of tissue cells containing virus. The administration of antilymphocyte sera delayed the appearance of IHA antibody but had no effect on antibodies determined by the CF- and neutralization tests.     

Immunogenic glycoproteins of laboratory and vaccine strains of Varicella-Zoster virus.

High-titered antisera were prepared in guinea pigs and rabbits against two strains of varicella-zoster virus (VZV): VZV-32, a low-passage laboratory strain, and VZV-Oka, a vaccine strain attenuated by passage in both human and guinea pig embryo cells. When the animal VZV-immune sera, as well as a human zoster serum, were used to precipitate radiolabeled glycoproteins from VZV-infected cells and the immune precipitates were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography, it was observed that cell cultures infected with either strain had similar electrophoretic profiles containing major glycoproteins of approximate molecular weights 62,000, 98,000, and 118,000. A prominent high-molecular-weight (approximately 150,000) nonglycosylated polypeptide was identified in both strains also. These determinants were demonstrable by both indirect (staphylococcal protein A-antibody adsorbent) and direct immunoprecipitation, as long as VZV-immune sera with an antibody titer greater than or equal to 1:128 were used. Further analysis of individual caviid VZV antisera demonstrated some heterogeneity which appeared to be related to the method of immunization rather than the level of virus-specific antibody. VZV extracts emulsified with complete Freund adjuvant elicited an antibody response to all major immunogenic viral glycoproteins, whereas guinea pigs inoculated with virus alone during the primary immunization initially produced VZV antibody which failed to precipitate the highest-molecular-weight glycoprotein (gp118). Thus, Freund-type adjuvants promoted the maturation of the humoral immune response after VZV immunization in outbred guinea pigs.     

Specificity of skin test with varicella-zoster virus antigen in varicella-zoster and herpes simplex virus infections.

Specificity of the skin test with varicella-zoster virus (VZV) antigen was examined in guinea pigs infected with herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 or VZV and in children with a history of HSV infection who developed varicella. Infected guinea pigs responded positively only to homologous virus. No cross-reaction between HSV and VZV was detected in the skin test, as well as in the neutralization test in infected guinea pigs, suggesting that the VZV skin test is specific for immunity to VZV infection. Twelve children were infected with HSV during an HSV epidemic and subsequently developed varicella in institutional settings. During the 2.5-month period between the HSV and VZV infections, the immune status of the children to VZV was negative both in the skin test and in the antibody test, although antibody to HSV was detected by an immune adherence hemagglutination test. After VZV infection, all responded positively both in the skin test and in the antibody test (immune adherence hemagglutination test) to VZV. These results suggest that the VZV skin test is specific for immunity to VZV infection, not cross-reactive to HSV infection in humans. This specificity will be of value in screening susceptibility or immunity to VZV, irrespective of prior HSV infection.     

Neutralizing Antibody Response of Guinea Pigs to Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus

A 24-h neutralization test that is based on fluorescent cell counting was used for the detection and quantitative determination of serum-neutralizing antibody against lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. The earliest manifestation of serum-neutralizing antibody in guinea pigs was shown to occur within 1 week after inoculation with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. Within 11 weeks, serum-neutralizing antibody increased from 20- to 300-fold. Neutralizing end points of serum samples, obtained from 3 through 11 weeks, were enhanced as much as sevenfold by complement. Anti-guinea pig immunoglobulin G or anti-whole guinea pig serum potentiated the neutralizing activity of serum as much as 20- and 40-fold, respectively.     

Sindbis Virus Replicase-based DNA Vaccine Construct Encoding FMDV-specific Multivalent Epitope Gene: Studies on its Immune Responses in Guinea Pigs

Foot‐and‐mouth disease (FMD) is still a perennial global menace affecting livestock health and production. It is imperative to figure out new ways to curb this disease. In this study, a sindbis virus replicase‐based DNA vaccine, pSinCMV‐Vac‐MEG990, encoding a multivalent epitope gene (representing tandemly linked VP1 C‐terminal halves of three foot‐and‐mouth disease virus (FMDV) serotypes) was constructed. In vitro transfection studies in BHK‐21 cells revealed that the construct was able to express FMDV‐specific antigen but does not overproduce the antigen. Immunization of guinea pigs with the construct at dose rate of 10, 5, 2 and 1 μg per animal through intramuscular route showed significant neutralizing antibody induction at all doses against all serotype tested as compared to non‐immunized controls. On viral challenge of guinea pigs 4 week post‐immunization with 1000 GPID₅₀ of FMDV serotype A, it was observed that the immunization not only delayed the appearance and reduced the severity of FMD lesions significantly (P < 0.05) but also provided complete protection in several guinea pigs. In fact, two of six and one of six guinea pigs were completely protected in 10 and 5 μg immunized groups, respectively. These results suggest that the development of the replicase‐based DNA vaccine may provide a promising approach as an alternative vaccine strategy for controlling FMD.     

Molecular diagnosis of zoster post varicella vaccination.

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster can be caused by endogenous reactivation of both wild-type virus or vaccine varicella-zoster virus (VZV) becoming latent within sensory ganglia after natural primary infection or varicella vaccination. OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate molecular biological methods for reliable discrimination between wild-type VZV and vaccine strain Oka by an example of zoster in a vaccinated girl. STUDY DESIGN: VZV was isolated from zoster occurring 16 months after varicella vaccination in a 2-year-old infant. Including VZV wild-type and different Oka strains as controls, viral DNA fragments located in the open reading frames (ORF) 38, 54, 62 and the R5 variable repeat region were characterized by amplification and restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) analysis. RESULTS: VZV vaccine strain Oka was definitely proven to be the causative virus in this case of zoster post vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: Molecular procedures for characterization of ORF 38 allow reliable discrimination between Oka-like and wild-type VZV outside Japan and Japanese communities. To distinguish Oka vaccine virus from Oka-like wild strains, analysis of DNA fragments located in the ORF 62 should be included.     

Comparison of guinea pig cytomegalovirus and guinea pig herpes-like virus: pathogenesis and persistence in experimentally infected animals.

The pathogenesis of guinea pig cytomegalovirus (GPCMV) and guinea pig herpes-like virus (GPHLV) in guinea pigs was compared. Animals were inoculated with the two viruses by different routes and sacrificed after varying periods of time. GPCMV was consistently isolated from salivary gland 2 weeks postinoculation and thereafter following intraperitoneal or subcutaneous incoulaton. Virus was less frequently found in other tissues including blood, spleen, and kidney. Intranuclear inclusions were seen in tissue sections of salivary gland after inoculation with GPCMV- infected tissue suspension, but were only rarely found after inoculation with tissue culture virus. In GPHLV-infected guinea pigs, consistent latent infection of leukocytes and other tissues was detected by cocultivation techniques. Intranuclear inclusions were not found in the spleen, salivary gland, or other infected tissues after GPHLV infection with either tissue culture virus or infected tissue suspension. Guinea pigs inoculated with GPCMV produced high titers of specific neutralizing antibody to the homologous virus; those inoculated with GPHLV developed long-term viremia accompanied by minimal neutralizing antibody levels to the virus.     

Restriction fragment differences between the genomes of the Oka varicella vaccine virus and American wild-type varicella-zoster virus

The Oka vaccine strains of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) have a significantly different BgII DNA restriction pattern from that of American wild-type isolates of VZV. This difference consists primarily of an additional BgII site, which lies within the BamHI "D" fragment. In conjunction with a study of the efficacy of an experimental Merck/Oka VZV vaccine, the area of the genome from which the most marked restriction pattern alteration arises was studied more closely to determine if there are other significant differences between the Oka strains and American wild-type strains. BamHI "D" fragments from the DNA of the Oka parent strain (the progenitor of the vaccine strain), the RIT/Oka vaccine strain (a derivative of the Oka parent strain), the Merck/Oka vaccine strain, and the EF strain (an American wild type), were submitted to extensive endonuclease digestion studies to ascertain if additional unique restriction sites are present in the Oka parent or vaccine strains. The extra BgII restriction site characteristic of the Merck/Oka vaccine strain is also present in the DNA of the parent virus as well as its derivatives and was therefore not produced by the "attenuation" process. No other novel sites were found in the Oka parent or Oka-derived strains in this section of the genome. The Merck/Oka vaccine strain of VZV, despite its Japanese origin, is therefore quite similar to circulating American varicella-zoster virus strains. Varicella-zoster virus DNA, at least in the area of the BamHI D fragment, also appears to be remarkably stable from strain to strain.     

Immune responses to the oral administration of recombinant Bacillus subtilis expressing multi-epitopes of foot-and-mouth disease virus and a cholera toxin B subunit

Bacillus subtilis has been engineered successfully to express heterologous antigens for use as a vaccine vehicle that can elicit mucosal and systemic immunity response. In this study, a recombinant B. subtilis expressing the B subunit of cholera toxin (CT-B) and an epitope box constituted with antigen sites from foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) type Asia 1 was constructed and named 1A751/CTB-TEpiAs. Its capability to induce mucosal, humoral, and cellular responses in mice and guinea pigs was evaluated after oral administration with vegetative cells of 1A751/CTB-TEpiAs. In addition, its capability to protect guinea pigs against homologous virus challenge was examined. All animals were given booster vaccination at day 21 after initial inoculation and guinea pigs were challenged 3 weeks after booster vaccination. The control groups were inoculated with a commercial vaccine or administered orally with 1A751/pBC38C or an oral buffer. All animals vaccinated with 1A751/CTB-TEpiAs developed specific anti-FMDV IgA in lung and gut lavage fluid, serum ELISA antibody, neutralizing antibody as well as T lymphocyte proliferation, and IFN-γ secretory responses. Three of the five guinea pigs vaccinated with 1A751/CTB-TEpiAs were protected completely from the viral challenge. The results demonstrate the potential viability of a B. subtilis-based recombinant vaccine for the control and prevention of FMDV infections.     

New method of differentiating wild-type varicella-zoster virus (VZV) strains from Oka varicella vaccine strain by VZV ORF 6-based PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.

A new method was developed to distinguish accurately wild-type varicella-zoster virus (VZV) strains from the Oka vaccine strain. Several DNA fragments covering open reading frame (ORF) 1-37 were amplified from wild-type VZV strains including the Oka parent strain and from the Oka vaccine strain. Restriction fragment length polymorphisms of these regions were compared, and nucleotide differences between the vaccine virus and other wild-type VZV strains were noted in ORFs 6, 10, and 35. In addition, variations of the R2 and R4 reiterated structures of the vaccine and its parent strains were examined. The Oka vaccine strain used in Japan was shown to be a mixture of viruses with different nucleotide sequences that had variations in at least three nucleotide positions in ORF 1-37 and had variable polymorphisms at R2 and R4 repeat regions (two and three patterns, respectively). The Oka parent strain on the other hand showed a single sequence and had only one reiterated structure at these regions. When VZV ORF 6 was amplified and its product was digested with AluI, the Oka vaccine strain could be precisely differentiated from its parent and from 56 other Japanese clinical isolates.     

Properties of rabies virus (MNIIVP-74 strain) adapted to Japanese quail embryo cell culture

Summary The Pasteur strain of fixed rabies virus was adapted to primary cell cultures of Japanese quail embryos and designated as MNIIVP-74. In the course of adaptation the virus pathogenicity for rabbits by the intracerebral route decreased considerably and the pathogenicity for rabbits and adult white mice by extraneural routes was completely lost. After inoculation of Japanese quail embryo cell cultures, a titer of the virus in the culture fluid at 4 days was 6.25–7.0 lg LD₅₀/ml (by the intracerebral inoculation of adult white mice). Viral antigen could be detected by immunofluorescence in the cytoplasm of approximately 60 per cent of the cells. Virus multiplication was accompanied by intensive interferon production. In cultures of BHK-21/13S cells the titer of the virus reached was 5.75 lg LD₅₀/ml at 24 hours and about 30 per cent of the cells were affected. The MNIIVP-74 virus showed a high immunogenic activity in rabbits, guinea pigs and mice.With 3 Figures     

Application of peroxidase labelled antibody assays for detection of porcine IgG antibodies to hog cholera and bovine viral diarrhea viruses

Rapid, sensitive peroxidase labelled antibody (PLA) assays using microtiter systems, were developed for detection of hog cholera virus (HCV) and cross-reacting bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) antibodies in pig sera. HCV-infected pig kidney cell line (PK 15) prepared in microtiter plates were fixed and used in PLA assays. After inoculation with test serum, bound antibodies (HCV/BVDV) were reacted with either horseradish peroxidase (HRP) conjugated anti-porcine immunoglobulin (H & L) or biotinylated protein A (BPA) and subsequent HRP labelled avidin (A). Positive reactions were easily visualized under an inverted light microscope as foci of brown colored cells after enzyme degradation of hydrogen peroxidase in the presence of amino-ethylcarbazole (AEC). The PLA assays were superior to the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test in detecting anti-HCV antibodies in porcine sera collected early after inoculation of pigs with a lapinized HCV vaccine. The performances of the PLA, IFA and FA neutralization (FAN) tests in measuring the immune response in the vaccinated pigs were comparable. Cross-reacting anti-BVDV antibody, as measured by a microtiter serum neutralization (MTSN) test, was not demonstrable in vaccinated pigs until they were challenged with a virulent HCV, 13 weeks later. The PLA assays relative to the IFA test detected more reactive samples among porcine field sera collected from HC-free pigs in Canada. Of 795 samples, 24 (3.01%) were reactive in the PLA employing HRP anti-porcine IgG, and 21 (2.6%) in the PLA, using BPA-HRP-A. When 324 of these sera were screened by the IFA test (using HC antigen), only one sample (0.30%) was found reactive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Immunization of inbred guinea pigs with varicella-zoster virus grown in a syngeneic transformed embryo cell line

Varicella-zoster virus was serially propagated in a chemically transformed and cloned line of embryo cells (designated "104 C1") derived from the inbred strain 2 guinea pig. When strain 2 guinea pigs were immunized with varicella-zoster virus subcultivated in the syngeneic cell line, they produced high-titer virus-specific antiserum which lacked antibody against cellular determinants. This immunization procedure offers both practical and theoretical advantages over prior methods which involved inoculation of outbred laboratory animals with varicella-zoster virus grown in allogeneic or xenogeneic cell cultures.     

Detection and genotyping of varicella-zoster virus by TaqMan allelic discrimination real-time PCR

A proportion of individuals vaccinated with live attenuated Oka varicella-zoster virus (VZV) vaccine subsequently develop attenuated chicken pox and/or herpes zoster. To determine whether postvaccination varicella infections are caused by vaccine or wild-type virus, a simple method for distinguishing the vaccine strain from wild-type virus is required. We have developed a TaqMan real-time PCR assay to detect and differentiate wild-type virus from Oka vaccine strains of VZV. The assay utilized two fluorogenic, minor groove binding probes targeted to a single nucleotide polymorphism in open reading frame 62 that distinguishes the Oka vaccine from wild-type strains. VZV DNA could be genotyped and quantified within minutes of thermocycling completion due to real-time monitoring of PCR product formation and allelic discrimination analysis. The allelic discrimination assay was performed in parallel with two standard PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) methods on 136 clinical and laboratory VZV strains from Canada, Australia, and Japan. The TaqMan assay exhibited a genotyping accuracy of 100% and, when compared to both PCR-RFLP methods, was 100 times more sensitive. In addition, the method was technically simpler and more rapid. The TaqMan assay also allows for high-throughput genotyping, making it ideal for epidemiologic study of the live attenuated varicella vaccine.     

Preparation and efficacy of antiherpes type 1 and 2 subunit vaccines

DNA free antiherpes subunit vaccines were prepared from diploid human embryonic lung cells infected either with type 1 or type 2 herpes simplex viruses (HSV). Virion and membrane-bound virus-specific glycoproteins were solubilized with Nonidet P-40 and separated by ultracentrifugation. The antigenic properties of the vaccine were tested in guinea pigs. Antibody response was followed by virus neutralization and complement fixation. The vaccine itself was low-immunogenic, however its immunogenicity has considerably increased by usage of suitable adjuvants. In virus neutralization test higher antibody titre was found against homologous virus. The antibody response was related to protein content and to the frequency of vaccination.     

Pathogenesis of attenuated Junin virus in the guinea pig model

The purpose of this work was to elucidate the pathogenesis of attenuated Junin virus (JV) strains in the guinea pig model. Three groups of guinea pigs were infected by the IM route with 10(3) PFU of the XJC13 and XJO-attenuated strains or with the XJ pathogenic strain of JV, respectively. Viremia was studied at 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, and 14 days postinfection (pi) (a) in serum samples of all animals and in washed cells from XJC13-infected guinea pigs by conventional techniques and (b) in whole blood samples from XJC13 and XJO animals by coculture with Vero cells. Virus spread was studied at 14 days pi in brain, spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow by parallel suckling mouse inoculation or organ homogenates and coculture of cell suspensions with Vero cells. By coculture techniques of whole blood, an otherwise undetectable viremia was demonstrated for both attenuated strains throughout the observation period. In contrast, XJ viremia was easily detected by direct techniques, as has already been shown. Attenuated virus was also shown to reach brain and bone marrow when coculture methods were employed. But titers were always markedly lower than those of the pathogenic strain. The sustained viremia demonstrated in guinea pigs infected with either attenuated strain explains the mode of viral dissemination and accounts for viral rescue and antigen detection from some organs. These results suggest that attenuated strains do not differ greatly in their invasive capacity in guinea pigs, but later on viral replication is impaired. Therefore, these findings reveal potential risks and should be noted when developing human vaccines.     

Effect of age and route of inoculation on outcome of neonatal herpes simplex virus infection in guinea pigs

The morbidity and mortality of neonatal herpes simplex virus infection remains unacceptably high despite antiviral therapy. A better understanding of factors that might contribute to this poor outcome is needed but has been hindered by a lack of a good animal model. The recently described guinea pig model of neonatal HSV-2 infection was used to explore the effect of age and route of inoculation on the outcome of infection. After intranasal inoculation the onset, extent, and severity of the primary disease, as well as the number of recurrent lesion days, varied inversely with age. The route of inoculation also affected the outcome. Newborn animals were inoculated either intradermally on the scalp or by the intranasal, oral or corneal route. Animals inoculated on the scalp had the best outcome with no deaths or evidence of neurologic disease while the intranasal route produced the most severe disease, 88% mortality. Neurologic disease was common after oral (41%) and corneal (56%) inoculation but resolved spontaneously whereas following intranasal (39%) inoculation all animals with neurologic disease died. Recurrent disease manifest by cutaneous lesions was observed in all survivors of each group but also differed by the route of inoculation. The guinea pig model of neonatal HSV-2 disease appears to mimic human disease. The studies presented here show that the outcome of infection is influenced by the age and route of inoculation. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.