Identification and Characterization of Highly Divergent Simian Foamy Viruses in a Wide Range of New World Primates from Brazil

Foamy viruses naturally infect a wide range of mammals, including Old World (OWP) and New World primates (NWP), which are collectively called simian foamy viruses (SFV). While NWP species in Central and South America are highly diverse, only SFV from captive marmoset, spider monkey, and squirrel monkey have been genetically characterized and the molecular epidemiology of SFV infection in NWPs remains unknown. We tested a large collection of genomic DNA (n  = 332) comprising 14 genera of NWP species for the presence of SFV polymerase (pol) sequences using generic PCR primers. Further molecular characterization of positive samples was carried out by LTR-gag and larger pol sequence analysis. We identified novel SFVs infecting nine NWP genera. Prevalence rates varied between 14–30% in different species for which at least 10 specimens were tested. High SFV genetic diversity among NWP up to 50% in LTR-gag and 40% in pol was revealed by intragenus and intrafamilial comparisons. Two different SFV strains infecting two captive yellow-breasted capuchins did not group in species-specific lineages but rather clustered with SFVs from marmoset and spider monkeys, indicating independent cross-species transmission events. We describe the first SFV epidemiology study of NWP, and the first evidence of SFV infection in wild NWPs. We also document a wide distribution of distinct SFVs in 14 NWP genera, including two novel co-speciating SFVs in capuchins and howler monkeys, suggestive of an ancient evolutionary history in NWPs for at least 28 million years. A high SFV genetic diversity was seen among NWP, yet these viruses seem able to jump between NWP species and even genera. Our results raise concerns for the risk of zoonotic transmission of NWP SFV to humans as these primates are regularly hunted for food or kept as pets in forest regions of South America.     

Interspecies transmission of simian foamy virus in a natural predator-prey system

Simian foamy viruses (SFV) are ancient retroviruses of primates and have coevolved with their host species for as many as 30 million years. Although humans are not naturally infected with foamy virus, infection is occasionally acquired through interspecies transmission from nonhuman primates. We show that interspecies transmissions occur in a natural hunter-prey system, i.e., between wild chimpanzees and colobus monkeys, both of which harbor their own species-specific strains of SFV. Chimpanzees infected with chimpanzee SFV strains were shown to be coinfected with SFV from colobus monkeys, indicating that apes are susceptible to SFV superinfection, including highly divergent strains from other primate species.     

Virus detection in monkeys with diarrhea: the association of adenoviruses with diarrhea and the possible role of rotaviruses.

To explore the role of viruses in the etiology of diarrhea in colony-reared monkeys, direct electron microscopy, the fluorescent virus precipitin test and cell culture inoculation were used to examine the stools of monkeys with and without diarrhea. The animals were predominantly rhesus with a few macaques of other species, and included infants, juveniles and adults. Adenoviruses were isolated from a higher proportion of specimens from rhesus monkeys with diarrhea (73% of specimens from infants and 78% of specimens from juveniles and adults) than from control monkeys without diarrhea (22% of specimens from infants and 26% of specimens from juveniles and adults). SV 20 was the most frequently isolated simian adenovirus type; SV 17 and SV 32 also were recovered. Noncultivable adenoviruses detectable only by electron microscopy were not seen. Although adenovirus excretion was associated with diarrhea, the causal role of adenoviruses was difficult to assess. When serial specimens from animals with chronic or intermittent episodes of diarrhea were examined, sequential infections with different viruses were found to be common. Rotaviruses were detected by electron microscopy and isolated in cell cultures from two infant rhesus monkeys with diarrhea. However, the low detection rate, together with negative serologic data on 40% of infant monkeys with diarrhea, suggested that rotaviruses were not the major cause of gastroenteritis in the monkeys under study.     

Expression of Semliki Forest virus capsid protein from SV40 recombinant virus

Here, the proteolytic processing of the Semliki Forest virus (SFV) capsid protein was studied in the absence of other viral functions. Two different fragments of the SFV messenger cDNA, coding for capsid protein and 174 and 38 extra amino acids from the envelope proteins, respectively, were cloned in the late region of the SV40 viral DNA. Cells infected with the SV40 recombinant virus stocks were analyzed for the production of SFV capsid mRNA and polypeptide. Immunofluorescence staining of the infected cells indicated that the produced SFV capsid protein accumulated mainly in the nucleus. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the immunoprecipitated SFV capsid proteins showed that both recombinants yielded a labelled band equivalent in size to the SFV capsid protein. Thus the proteolytic processing takes place even under conditions where the capsid protein is the only virus-specified protein synthesized.     

Infection of newborn Taiwan monkeys (Macaca cyclopis) with human adenovirus type 12 and simian virus 40.

For testing biological response of newborn Taiwan monkeys to infection of human adenovirus type 12 (Ad12) and simian virus 40 (SV40), 40 newborn Taiwan monkeys were inoculated with Ad12, Ad12, plus SV40, Ad12 supplemented with Ad12-induced hamster tumor tissue (Ad12 tumor) or control specimens (HeLa or African green monkey kidney cell lysate). Among them 26 survived including 8 newborn monkeys inoculated with control specimens. The survivors were observed for 4 years but no tumor was produced. The increase of body weight and intake of calories and protein in each test group during the first 12 wk were similar to those of corresponding control groups. Intrapulmonary inoculation of 108.2TCD50 of Ad12 with additional subcutaneous dose of Ad12 (108.8TCD50), Ad12 plus SV40 (108TCD50) or Ad12 plus Ad12 tumor killed 78% of newborn monkeys (7 of 9) in 18 days. The newborn could stand subcutaneous inoculation of SV40 (108TCD50) with 1 dose of Ad12 (108.8TCD50) or 3 doses of Ad12 (108.5, 108.5 and 108.2TCD50) at 24-hr intervals. When 108.8TCD50 or more Ad12 were inoculated, the virus could be isolated as late as 44 and 26 days from rectal and throat swab specimens respectively. The Ad12 neutralizing antibody in baby monkeys inoculated with multiple doses of Ad12 persisted, in low titer, longer than those injected with single high doses of Ad12, but anti-Ad12 T (tumor) antibody disappeared by 35 wk in both groups. Although SV40 antibody response was better than Ad12 antibody response in baby Taiwan monkeys, pre-infection of SV40 did not potentiate the production of anti-Ad12 T antibody.     

Virus Validation of PH 4-treated Human Immunoglobulin Produced by the Cohn Fractionation Process

To assess the virus reducing capacity of Cohn's cold ethanol fractionation process for the production of intravenous (IVIg) and intramuscular (IMIg) immunoglobulin products, and treatment of these products at pH 4, a validation study of virus removal and/or inactivation was performed using both lipid-enveloped viruses [human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) and pseudorabies virus (PSR)], and non-lipid-enveloped viruses [(simian virus 40 (SV40) and encephalomyocarditis virus (EMC)]. For the cold ethanol fractionation process, overall reduction factors of 3.0 logs, > or = 2.6 (< 5.5) logs, 4.6 logs, 5.8 logs and > or = 2.6 (< 6.2) logs were found for HIV, BVDV, PSR, SV40 and EMC, respectively. For all tested viruses the precipitation of fraction III from fraction II + III was the most effective step. From the overall reduction factors it appears that cold ethanol fractionation, although capable of reducing viral infectivity to a significant extent, is not sufficient to meet the requirements of regulatory bodies for viral safety of immunoglobulin products. However, pH 4 treatment contributes effectively to the viral safety of the final products. Treatment at pH 4.05 and 37 degrees C for 16 h, as is applied to IVIg, yields reduction factors of > or = 8.4 logs, > or = 4.0 logs, > or = 7.1 logs, 4.8 logs and 1.4 logs for HIV, BVDV, PSR, SV40 and EMC, respectively. The effectiveness of this process step could be enhanced by extending incubation to 40 h at pH 4.25 compared to 16 h at pH 4.05. The extended incubation, as applied in the production of IMIg, yields a reduction of infectivity of SV40 by > or = 5.5 (< 8.0) logs and of EMC by > or = 4.1 (< 7.1) logs. Storage of IMIg, which is formulated as a solution, at 2-8 degrees C also contributes to virus safety. For storage periods of 8 weeks or longer, reduction factors of 2 to 6 logs were found for all viruses, except for BVDV which remained unaffected. These data indicate that the production processes for IVIg and IMIg as described here have sufficient virus reducing capacity to achieve a high margin of virus safety.     

A serological survey of simian virus 40 in monkeys

A serological survey of simian virus 40 (SV 40) was conducted by an immune adherence hemagglutination (IAHA) test in breeding monkeys. Of a total of 356 monkeys tested, 168 (47.2%) were seropositive. All 168 seropositive monkeys were detected from 224 monkeys which were bred or kept in Japan for a long time. In contrast, none of the 132 monkeys which were newly imported from Southeast Asia was seropositive. If a comparison was made in the same breeding place, the positive rate of 80.4% (111/138) of Japanese monkeys was significantly (P less than 0.01) higher than the 59.5% (25/42) among rhesus monkeys. The positive rate and the IAHA titers were higher in older age group (greater than 5 years) but similar in male and female. These results indicated that SV 40 was highly prevalent among breeding monkeys in Japan.     

Rearrangement of simian virus 40 regulatory region is not required for induction of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in immunosuppressed rhesus monkeys

Rearrangements of the JC virus (JCV) regulatory region (RR) are consistently found in the brains of patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), whereas the archetype RR is present in their kidneys. In addition, the C terminus of the large T antigen (T-Ag) shows greater variability in PML than does the rest of the coding region. To determine whether similar changes in simian virus 40 (SV40) are necessary for disease induction in monkeys, we sequenced the SV40 RR and the C terminus of the T-Ag from the brain of simian/human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV)-infected monkey 18429, which presented spontaneously with an SV40-associated PML-like disease, as well as from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), kidneys, and brains of SV40-seronegative, SHIV-infected monkeys 21289 and 21306, which were inoculated with the 18429 brain SV40 isolate. These animals developed both SV40-associated PML and meningoencephalitis. Thirteen types of SV40 RR were characterized. Compared to the SV40 archetype, we identified RRs with variable deletions in either the origin of replication, the 21-bp repeat elements, or the late promoter, as well as deletions or duplications of the 72-bp enhancer. The archetype was the most prominent RR in the brain of monkey 18429. Shortly after inoculation, a wide range of RRs could be found in the PBMC of monkeys 21289 and 21306. However, the archetype RR became the predominant type in their blood, kidneys, and brains at the time of sacrifice. On the contrary, the T-Ag C termini remained identical in all compartments of the three animals. These results indicate that unlike JCV in humans, rearrangements of SV40 RR are not required for brain disease induction in immunosuppressed monkeys.     

Squirrel monkeys support replication of BK virus more efficiently than simian virus 40: an animal model for human BK virus infection

We performed experiments to test the suitability of squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) as an experimental model for BK virus (BKV) and simian virus 40 (SV40) infection. Four squirrel monkeys received intravenous inoculation with BKV Gardner strain, and six squirrel monkeys received intravenous inoculation with SV40 777 strain. Eight of 10 monkeys received immunosuppression therapy, namely, cyclophosphamide subcutaneously either before or both before and after viral inoculation. The presence of viral infection was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR amplification of viral DNA from blood, urine, and 10 tissues. We found that squirrel monkeys were susceptible to infection with BKV, with high viral copy number detected in blood and viral genome detected in all tissues examined. BKV genome was detected in urine from only one monkey, while three monkeys manifested focal interstitial nephritis. BKV T antigen was expressed in renal peritubular capillary endothelial cells. By contrast, SV40 was detected at very low copy numbers in only a few tissues and was not detected in blood. We conclude that the squirrel monkey is a suitable animal for studies of experimental BKV infection and may facilitate studies of viral entry, pathogenesis, and therapy.     

野生及笼养猕猴SV40T抗原基因检测方法的建立

目的建立猴外周血单核细胞SV40DNA的PCR检测方法,对猕猴SV40T抗原基因进行检测。方法使用PCR方法对分别来自野外（云南宁蒗71只、景东60只）及笼养猕猴（64只）的SV40大T抗原基因进行检测,同时对扩增出的阳性结果进行测序。结果在195份样本中,有4只来自野生猴样本扩增出SV40大T抗原基因（3．1％,4／131）,1只来自笼养猴样本扩增出SV40大T抗原基因（1．6％,1／64）。测序结果显示：猴血样本扩增片段序列与GenBank中的SV40大T抗原C-末端的基因序列片段有15个核苷酸不同（3．3％差异）,与SV40．776标准株的序列基本一致,但SV40—776在nt3020处有一缺口。结论云南野生及笼养猕猴猴群均能检出SV40T抗原基因。因此建立SV40病毒的DNA检测技术,对用于科研及疫苗生产的实验猕猴的病毒学质量控制具有重要意义。     

Genetic analysis of simian virus 40 from brains and kidneys of macaque monkeys.

Simian virus 40 (SV40) was isolated from the brains of three rhesus monkeys and the kidneys of two other rhesus monkeys with simian immunodeficiency virus-induced immunodeficiency. A striking feature of these five cases was the tissue specificity of the SV40 replication. SV40 was also isolated from the kidney of a Taiwanese rock macaque with immunodeficiency probably caused by type D retrovirus infection. Multiple full-length clones were derived from all six fresh SV40 isolates, and two separate regions of their genomes were sequenced: the origin (ori)-enhancer region and the coding region for the carboxy terminus of T antigen (T-ag). None of the 23 clones analyzed had two 72-bp enhancer elements as are present in the commonly used laboratory strain 776 of SV40; 22 of these 23 clones were identical in their ori-enhancer sequences, and these had only a single 72-bp enhancer element. We found no evidence for differences in ori-enhancer sequences associated with tissue-specific SV40 replication. The T-ag coding sequence that was analyzed was identical in all clones from kidney. However, significant variation was observed in the carboxy-terminal region of T-ag in SV40 isolated from brain tissues. This sequence variation was located in a region previously reported to be responsible for SV40 host range in cultured cell lines. Thus, SV40 appears to be an opportunistic pathogen in the setting of simian immunodeficiency virus-induced immunodeficiency, similarly to JC virus in human immunodeficiency virus-infected humans, the enhancer sequence organization generally attributed to SV40 is not representative of natural SV40 isolates, and sequence variation near the carboxy terminus of T-ag may play a role in tissue-specific replication of SV40.     

Association of Virus with Cases of Rubella Studied in Toronto: Propagation of the Agent and Transmission to Monkeys

Using an interference test with indicator virus Echo 11, a virus has been isolated in nine of 18 specimens from cases of typical rubella. The virus will interfere with the development of cytopathology in green monkey kidney cells with viruses Echo 11, Coxsackie B1 and B4, Poliovirus I and III (Sabin strains) and simian virus SV4. In four of five paired sera this virus was neutralized by convalescent but not by the acute phase serum, tested by interference inhibition. No cytopathology was observed in unstained cultures or in sequential cultures stained with acridine orange or fluorescent antibody. The virus was destroyed by exposure to 56° C. for 30 minutes and 15% ether at 4° C. for 24 hours, but survived with some reduction in titre at 4° C. for 24 hours. Green monkeys infected by this virus developed a macular rash, lymphadenopathy and modest rise in white blood cell count.     

SV40灭活疫苗的制备及其对小鼠免疫的研究

猿猴空泡病毒40(Simian vacuolating virus 40,SV40) 属于乳多空病毒科,是一种DNA肿瘤病毒。亚洲猿类特别是恒河猴是SV40的天然宿主。感染SV40病毒可导致猴体急性病变或呈长期带毒状态,此外能诱使幼鼠产生肿瘤,并能使多种培养细胞发生转化。本研究初步建立了SV40 病毒在Vero细胞中的增殖培养方法,并且初步建立了β丙内脂灭活病毒的方法和纯化工艺。使用SV40病毒灭活疫苗对Balb/c小鼠进行了免疫,结果表明该疫苗具有较好的免疫原性。随后对SV40 病毒DNA在免疫小鼠的重要脏器中的整合情况进行了调查,结果表明SV40病毒DNA未在小鼠重要脏器中整合。本研究为SV40病毒灭活疫苗的研制和进一步开展猴体抗SV40 感染实验奠定了良好的基础。     

2003～2007年中国风疹病毒基因特征分析

本研究用Vero细胞或Vero/SLAM细胞从我国10个省(直辖市、自治区,下同)2003～2007年风疹暴发和散发病例的咽拭子标本中分离到57株风疹病毒,用RT-PCR方法扩增了57株风疹病毒E1基因1 107个核苷酸的片段,并对该PCR产物进行序列测定和分析.结果提示,在基于WHO基因定型靶序列739个核苷酸片段构建的基因亲缘关系树上,其中55株风疹病毒株属于1E基因型,相对于其他国家的1E基因型,形成一个独立分支;另外2株风疹病毒属于2B基因型.57株风疹病毒大部分核苷酸的突变为无义突变,氨基酸序列高度保守,除了2株风疹病毒在E1蛋白血凝抑制和中和位点区域第212位氨基酸由Thr变为Ser,其他病毒株均无重要抗原位点的改变;所有我国已分离到的1E基因型风疹病毒在E1蛋白第338位氨基酸共享突变位点(Leu338→Phe338),而其他基因型以及其他国家的1E基因型风疹病毒在该位点均未发生突变,提示该氨基酸(Phe338)可能是我国1E基因型风疹病毒所特有.2003～2007年在我国10个省均分离到1E基因型,而2B基因型只在2006年从四川省的越南输入病例中分离到,提示1E为绝对优势基因型,2B基因型为输入基因型.与1979～1984年和1999～2002年我国流行的风疹基因型不同,发生了基因型的更替,近年我国风疹的流行是由1E基因型为主的风疹野病毒的多个传播链引起.     

Comparison of Two Human Papovaviruses with Simian Virus 40 by Structural Protein and Antigenic Analysis

The proteins of simian virus 40 (SV40) and two human papovaviruses, the hemagglutinating BK virus and the non-hemagglutinating DAR virus, were analyzed and compared by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The virions of SV40 and DAR contain seven proteins. By molecular weight analysis the constituent proteins of SV40 and DAR are identical. Approximately 84% of the viral protein has a molceular weight of 45,000. The major protein of BK virus is 3,000 to 5,000 daltons lighter than the major proteins of SV40 and DAR viruses. The five most rapidly migrating proteins of BK virus are indistinguishable by molecular weight analysis from the corresponding proteins of SV40 and DAR viruses. Radial immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis of whole virus gave lines of identity between SV40 and DAR when reacted with SV40 antibody. SV40 antiserum tested against BK virus and BK antiserum tested against SV40 virus showed no reactivity by complement fixation, immunodiffusion, or immunoelectrophoresis.     

Simian virus 40-specific polypeptides in AD2+ ND1- and Ad2+ ND4-infected cells.

A comparison of the proteins synthesized in human cells at late times after infection with adenovirus (Ad2) and with the adeno-simian virus 40 (SV40) hybrid viruses revealed polypeptides of 30,000 and 92,000 molecular weight specific for the hybrid viruses Ad2+ND1 and Ad2+ND4, respectively. Cell-free translation of SV40-specific mRNA, prepared from these cells by hybridization of total cytoplasmic RNA to SV40 DNA, showed that the mRNA's specifying these two polypeptides were at least partially encoded by the SV40 portion of the hybrid viruses. Cell-free translation of SV40-specific mRNA prepared from monkey cells infected with SV40 produced polypeptides of 40,000, 43,000, 48,500, and 92,000 molecular weight. The SV40 and Ad2+ND4 92,000-molecular-weight polypeptides made in vitro were very similar in electrophoretic mobility in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels to the polypeptide precipitated by Tegtmeyer (1974) with SV40 anti-T serum.     

Properties of Simian Virus 40 Rescued from Cell Lines Transformed by Ultraviolet-Irradiated Simian Virus 40

Simian virus 40 (SV40) strains have been rescued from various clonal lines of mouse kidney cells that had been transformed by ultraviolet (UV)-irradiated SV40. To learn whether some of the rescued SV40 strains were mutants, monkey kidney (CV-1) cells were infected with the rescued virus strains at 37 C and at 41 C. The SV40 strains studied included strains rescued from transformed cell lines classified as "good," "average," "poor," and "rare" yielders on the basis of total virus yield, frequency of induction, and incidence of successful rescue trials. Four small plaque mutants isolated from "poor" yielder lines and fuzzy and small plaque strains isolated from an "average" and a "good" yielder line, respectively, were among the SV40 strains tested. Virus strains rescued from all classes of transformed cells were capable of inducing the transplantation antigen, and they induced the intranuclear SV40-T-antigen, thymidine kinase, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) polymerase, and cellular DNA synthesis at 37 C and at 41 C. With the exception of four small plaque strains rescued from "poor" yielders, the rescued SV40 strains replicated their DNA and formed infectious virus with kinetics similar to parental SV40 at either 37 or 41 C. The four exceptional strains did replicate at 37 C, but replication was very poor at 41 C. Thus, only a few of the rescued virus strains exhibited defective SV40 functions in CV-1 cells. All of the virus strains rescued from the "rare" yielder lines were similar to parental SV40. Several hypotheses consistent with the properties of the rescued virus strains are discussed, which may account for the significant variations in virus yield and frequency of induction of the transformed cell lines.     

Nested-PCR检测恒河猴泡沫病毒

目的用nested-PCR检测恒河猴泡沫病毒SFV的前病毒形式。方法从SFV-1的pol区域选择两对引物分别对原代猴肾细胞（rhesus monkey kidney,RMK）及猴外周血淋巴细胞（peripheral blood lymphocytes,PBLs）进行体外扩增,扩增产物经1.0%的琼脂糖凝胶电泳,证实其特异性。阳性对照使用具有典型泡沫样病变的RMK377细胞株的前病毒DNA,阳性对照的PCR扩增产物经测序证实,阴性对照为恒河猴的SRV-1cDNA。结果nested-PCR能快速灵敏的直接从猴外周血淋巴细胞检出SFV的前病毒形式,与RMK细胞培养结果基本相一致。结论本实验所建立的检测SFV的nested-PCR法能快速准确的检测猴群中的SFV的带毒情况,对于提高实验猴的质量具有重要意义。     

Multiprotein genetic vaccine in the SIV-Macaca animal model: a promising approach to generate sterilizing immunity to HIV infection

BACKGROUND: Vaccine combining structural and regulatory proteins is an emerging approach to develop an HIV/AIDS vaccine and therefore, the immunogenicity and efficacy of two regimens of immunization combining structural (Gag/Pol, Env) and regulatory (Rev, Tat, Nef) Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) proteins were compared in cynomolgus monkeys. METHODS: Monkeys were immunized with Modified Vaccine Ankara vector (MVA-J5) (protocol 1) or with DNA, Semliki forest virus and MVA vectors (DNA/SFV/MVA) (protocol 2). At week 32, all monkeys were challenge intravenously (protocol 1) or intrarectally (protocol 2) with 50 MID(50) of SIVmac251. Humoral, proliferative responses and in particular in protocol 2, the frequency of IFN-gamma producing cells, were measured in all monkeys before and after the challenge. RESULTS: Both vaccine regimens elicited humoral and proliferative responses but failed to induce neutralizing antibodies. Upon intravenous challenge, two out of three MVA-J5 vaccinated monkeys exhibited a long-term control of the viral replication whereas DNA/SFV/MVA vaccine abrogated the virus replication up to undetectable level in three out of four vaccinated monkeys. A major contribution to this vaccine effect appeared to be the IFN-gamma/ELISPOT responses to vaccine antigens (Gag, Rev Tat and Nef). CONCLUSIONS: These results, indicate that multiprotein heterologous prime-boost vaccination can induce a robust vaccine-induced immunity able to abrogate virus replication.