Structure of avian orthoreovirus virion by electron cryomicroscopy and image reconstruction

Among members of the genus Orthoreovirus, family Reoviridae, a group of non-enveloped viruses with genomes comprising ten segments of double-stranded RNA, only the "non-fusogenic" mammalian orthoreoviruses (MRVs) have been studied to date by electron cryomicroscopy and three-dimensional image reconstruction. In addition to MRVs, this genus comprises other species that induce syncytium formation in cultured cells, a property shared with members of the related genus Aquareovirus. To augment studies of these "fusogenic" orthoreoviruses, we used electron cryomicroscopy and image reconstruction to analyze the virions of a fusogenic avian orthoreovirus (ARV). The structure of the ARV virion, determined from data at an effective resolution of 14.6 A, showed strong similarities to that of MRVs. Of particular note, the ARV virion has its pentameric lambda-class core turret protein in a closed conformation as in MRVs, not in a more open conformation as reported for aquareovirus. Similarly, the ARV virion contains 150 copies of its monomeric sigma-class core-nodule protein as in MRVs, not 120 copies as reported for aquareovirus. On the other hand, unlike that of MRVs, the ARV virion lacks "hub-and-spokes" complexes within the solvent channels at sites of local sixfold symmetry in the incomplete T=13l outer capsid. In MRVs, these complexes are formed by C-terminal sequences in the trimeric mu-class outer-capsid protein, sequences that are genetically missing from the homologous protein of ARVs. The channel structures and C-terminal sequences of the homologous outer-capsid protein are also genetically missing from aquareoviruses. Overall, the results place ARVs between MRVs and aquareoviruses with respect to the highlighted features.     

Microbiological and chemical quality of sludges from domestic wastewater plants

Digested sludge samples from domestic wastewater treatment plants located in Northern Italy were tested as far as the presence of viruses (enteric viruses and coliphages), bacteria (faecal coliforms, salmonella) and helminth eggs is concerned. Heavy metals were also analysed. Escherichia coli bacteriophages and faecal coliforms were isolated from all samples, while salmonellae and helminth eggs were isolated only from four and three out of 27 total samples, respectively. The 66% of sludge samples, 46 and 82% of aerobic and anaerobic digested sludges respectively, showed the presence of enteric viruses (enteroviruses and reoviruses). The virus concentrations ranged from 0.6 to 123 MPNCU/g. Results of this study suggest that significant concentrations of pathogens such as enteric viruses can be present in digested sludge, which showed compliance with Italian legislation. As suggested by other authors, there is the need for surveillance and reference indications both in EU (European Union) and Italian regulations concerning the use of sludge in agriculture.     

Therapeutic potential of thiazolidinediones as anticancer agents

There has been great interest in the development of oncolytic viruses – viruses that selectively destroy tumour cells – as cancer therapeutics. Reovirus holds great promise as an anticancer therapy, not just because it is a wild type virus that inherently displays selective tumour cytotoxicity in cancers with active Ras signalling pathways but also because it results only in relatively benign infections with few minor symptoms. As many tumours have an activated Ras pathway, the potential for utilizing reovirus as an effective anticancer agent is substantial. The several challenges that need to be overcome in the development of oncolytic viruses as anticancer agents, including issues of systemic toxicity, tumour selectivity and immune response, are addressed in this review. Clinical studies with the objective of developing Reolysin (human reovirus serotype 3 Dearing) as a human cancer therapeutic are currently underway. The first human Phase I study with intravenous Reolysin has now been completed and further studies, including Phase I and II clinical trials using Reolysin alone and in combination with radiation or chemotherapy, delivered via local or systemic intravenous administration, have commenced.     

IFN-α expression and antiviral effects are subtype and cell type specific in the cardiac response to viral infection

The interferon-β (IFN-β) response is critical for protection against viral myocarditis in several mouse models, and IFN-α or -β treatment is beneficial against human viral myocarditis. The IFN-β response in cardiac myocytes and cardiac fibroblasts forms an integrated network for organ protection; however, the different IFN-α subtypes have not been studied in cardiac cells. We developed a quantitative RT-PCR assay that distinguishes between 13 highly conserved IFN-α subtypes and found that reovirus T3D induces five IFN-α subtypes in primary cardiac myocyte and fibroblast cultures: IFN-α1, -α2, -α4, -α5, and -α8/6. Murine IFN-α1, -α2, -α4, or -α5 treatment induced IRF7 and ISG56 and inhibited reovirus T3D replication in both cell types. This first investigation of IFN-α subtypes in cardiac cells for any virus demonstrates that IFN-α is induced in cardiac cells, that it is both subtype and cell type specific, and that it is likely important in the antiviral cardiac response.     

应用亲和素——生物素——过氧化物酶复合物技术检测组织细胞中的禽呼肠孤病毒抗原

应用亲和素——生物素——过氧化物酶复合物(ABC)技术检测经不同途径接种ARV的鸡只,结果表明ARV抗原广泛分布于内脏实质器官、肠道、腱鞘和滑膜。在接种后4周除腱鞘和滑膜外,都检不到病毒抗原的存在,而这两种组织到试验结束时(60d)仍为阳性,感染鸡血液涂片的ABC检测结果均为阴性,ABC技术比病毒分离法更敏感。     

Avian reovirus sigma C enhances the mucosal and systemic immune responses elicited by antigen-conjugated lactic acid bacteria

Mucosal surfaces are common sites of pathogen colonization/entry. Effective mucosal immunity by vaccination should provide protection at this primary infection site. Our aim was to develop a new vaccination strategy that elicits a mucosal immune response. A new strain of Enterococcus faecium, a non pathogenic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with strong cell adhesion ability, was identified and used as a vaccine vector to deliver two model antigens. Specifically, sigma (σ) C protein of avian reovirus (ARV), a functional homolog of mammalian reovirus σ1 protein and responsible for M-cell targeting, was administered together with a subfragment of the spike protein of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). Next, the effect of immunization route on the immune response was assessed by delivering the antigens via the LAB strain. Intranasal (IN) immunization induced stronger humoral responses than intragastic (IG) immunization. IN immunization produced antigen specific IgA both systemically and in the lungs. A higher IgA titer was induced by the LAB with ARV σC protein attached. Moreover, the serum of mice immunized with LAB displaying divalent antigens had much stronger immune reactivity against ARV σC protein compared to IBV-S1. Our results indicate that ARV σC protein delivered by LAB via the IN route elicits strong mucosal immunity. A needle-free delivery approach is a convenient and cost effective method of vaccine administration, especially for respiratory infections in economic animals. Furthermore, ARV σC, a strong immunogen of ARV, may be able to serve as an immunoenhancer for other vaccines, especially avian vaccines.     

病毒性关节炎的研究

作者根据广东省江门市某鸡场以破行鸡为主的鸡病流行情况,临床症状及病理变化等,作出鸡病毒性关节炎的假定性诊断。 从病鸡的关节滑液中分离到一种病毒,该病毒能在鸡胚卵黄囊内、尿囊腔内和绒毛尿囊膜上生长并致死鸡胚,使鸡胚皮肤呈暗红色。病毒也能在鸡胚肾细胞、鸡胚成纤维细胞上生长并引起细胞病变。病毒对鸡红细胞无凝集作用,用含病毒的鸡胚尿囊液接种敏感鸡后,可复制出与临床所见相类似的疾病。 在电镜下观察,病毒直径为63～74nm,在感染的鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜上可见到胞浆内的包涵体,经测定,病毒含有双股RNA,对氯仿、乙醚、60~0C1小时有抵抗力,对胰酶敏感。 实验结果表明:被分离到的病毒为传染性关节炎病毒,因此江门市某鸡场所发生的以跛行为主要特征的疾病可以确诊为鸡病毒性关节炎。     

Different activities of the reovirus FAST proteins and influenza hemagglutinin in cell-cell fusion assays and in response to membrane curvature agents

The reovirus fusion-associated small transmembrane (FAST) proteins evolved to induce cell-cell, rather than virus-cell, membrane fusion. It is unclear whether the FAST protein fusion reaction proceeds in the same manner as the enveloped virus fusion proteins. We now show that fluorescence-based cell-cell and cell-RBC hemifusion assays are unsuited for detecting lipid mixing in the absence of content mixing during FAST protein-mediated membrane fusion. Furthermore, membrane curvature agents that inhibit hemifusion or promote pore formation mediated by influenza hemagglutinin had no effect on p14-induced cell-cell fusion, even under conditions of limiting p14 concentrations. Standard assays used to detect fusion intermediates induced by enveloped virus fusion proteins are therefore not applicable to the FAST proteins. These results suggest the possibility that the nature of the fusion intermediates or the mechanisms used to transit through the various stages of the fusion reaction may differ between these distinct classes of viral fusogens.     

A Randomized Phase II Study of FOLFOX6/Bevacizumab With or Without Pelareorep in Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: IND.210, a Canadian Cancer Trials Group Trial

Background

Oncolytic reovirus pelareorep might preferentially infect and destroy rat sarcoma (RAS)-activated cells, and has preclinical and early clinical activity against colorectal cancer (CRC).