NS1 Protein of Influenza A Virus Down-Regulates Apoptosis

Wild-type (WT) influenza A/PR/8/34 virus and its variant lacking the NS1 gene (delNS1) have been compared for their ability to mediate apoptosis in cultured cells and chicken embryos. Cell morphology, fragmentation of chromatin DNA, and caspase-dependent cleavage of the viral NP protein have been used as markers for apoptosis. Another marker was caspase cleavage of the viral M2 protein, which was also found to occur in an apoptosis-specific manner. In interferon (IFN)-competent host systems, such as MDCK cells, chicken fibroblasts, and 7-day-old chicken embryos, delNS1 virus induced apoptosis more rapidly and more efficiently than WT virus. As a consequence, delNS1 virus was also more lethal for chicken embryos than WT virus. In IFN-deficient Vero cells, however, apoptosis was delayed and developed with similar intensity after infection with both viruses. Taken together, these data indicate that the IFN antagonistic NS1 protein of influenza A viruses has IFN-dependent antiapoptotic potential.     

Characterization of influenza virus NS1 protein by using a novel helper-virus-free reverse genetic system

We have developed a novel helper-virus-free reverse genetic system to genetically manipulate influenza A viruses. The RNPs, which were purified from the influenza A/WSN/33 (WSN) virus, were treated with RNase H in the presence of NS (nonstructural) cDNA fragments. This specifically digested the NS RNP. The NS-digested RNPs thus obtained were transfected into cells together with the in vitro-reconstituted NS RNP. The NS-digested RNPs alone did not rescue viruses; however, cotransfection with the NS RNP did. This protocol was also used to rescue the NP transfectant. We obtained two NS1 mutants, dl12 and N110, using this protocol. The dl12 NS gene contains a deletion of 12 amino acids at positions 66 to 77 near the N terminus. This virus was temperature sensitive in Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells as well as in Vero cells. The translation of all viral proteins as well as cellular proteins was significantly disrupted during a later time of infection at the nonpermissive temperature of 39 degrees C. The N110 mutant consists of 110 amino acids which are the N-terminal 48% of the WSN virus NS1 protein. Growth of this virus was significantly reduced at any temperature. In the virus-infected cells, translation of the M1 protein was reduced to 10 to 20% of that of the wild-type virus; however, the translation of neither the nucleoprotein nor NS1 was significantly interfered with, indicating the important role of NS1 in translational stimulation of the M1 protein.     

Influenza B viruses with site-specific mutations introduced into the HA gene.

We have succeeded in engineering changes into the genome of influenza B virus. First, model RNAs containing the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene flanked by the noncoding sequences of the HA or NS genes of influenza B virus were transfected into cells which were previously infected with an influenza B helper virus. Like those of the influenza A viruses, the termini of influenza B virus genes contain cis-acting signals which are sufficient to direct replication, expression, and packaging of the RNA. Next, a full-length copy of the HA gene from influenza B/Maryland/59 virus was cloned. Following transfection of this RNA, we rescued transfectant influenza B viruses which contain a point mutation introduced into the original cDNA. A series of mutants which bear deletions or changes in the 5' noncoding region of the influenza B/Maryland/59 virus HA gene were constructed. We were able to rescue viruses which contained deletions of 10 or 33 nucleotides at the 5' noncoding region of the HA gene. The viability of these viruses implies that this region of the genome is flexible in sequence and length.     

High-efficiency formation of influenza virus transfectants.

cDNA-derived RNAs were introduced into the genomes of influenza viruses by using an improved ribonucleoprotein (RNP) transfection protocol. Up to 10(5) viral transfectants with a novel neuraminidase gene could be obtained by using a 35-mm dish (10(6) cells) for RNP transfection. In addition to genes coding for surface proteins (hemagglutinin and neuraminidase), we also exchanged a gene coding for nonsurface proteins. The cDNA-derived influenza A/PR/8/34 virus NS gene was introduced into a temperature-sensitive mutant with a defect in this gene. We suggest that the term influenza virus transfectant be used for those viruses which are made by RNP transfection with cDNA-derived RNA.     

Generation of high-yielding influenza A viruses in African green monkey kidney (Vero) cells by reverse genetics

Influenza A viruses are the cause of annual epidemics of human disease with occasional outbreaks of pandemic proportions. The zoonotic nature of the disease and the vast viral reservoirs in the aquatic birds of the world mean that influenza will not easily be eradicated and that vaccines will continue to be needed. Recent technological advances in reverse genetics methods and limitations of the conventional production of vaccines by using eggs have led to a push to develop cell-based strategies to produce influenza vaccine. Although cell-based systems are being developed, barriers remain that need to be overcome if the potential of these systems is to be fully realized. These barriers include, but are not limited to, potentially poor reproducibility of viral rescue with reverse genetics systems and poor growth kinetics and yields. In this study we present a modified A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (PR8) influenza virus master strain that has improved viral rescue and growth properties in the African green monkey kidney cell line, Vero. The improved properties were mediated by the substitution of the PR8 NS gene for that of a Vero-adapted reassortant virus. The Vero growth kinetics of viruses with H1N1, H3N2, H6N1, and H9N2 hemagglutinin and neuraminidase combinations rescued on the new master strain were significantly enhanced in comparison to those of viruses with the same combinations rescued on the standard PR8 master strain. These improvements pave the way for the reproducible generation of high-yielding human and animal influenza vaccines by reverse genetics methods. Such a means of production has particular relevance to epidemic and pandemic use.     

Identification,design and synthesis of novel pyrazolopyridine influenza virus nonstructural protein 1 antagonists

Nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) plays a crucial function in the replication, spread, and pathogenesis of influenza virus by inhibiting the host innate immune response. Here we report the discovery and optimization of novel pyrazolopyridine NS1 antagonists that can potently inhibit influenza A/PR/8/34 replication in MDCK cells, rescue MDCK cells from cytopathic effects of seasonal influenza A strains, reverse NS1-dependent inhibition of IFN-β gene expression, and suppress the slow growth phenotype in NS1-expressing yeast. These pyrazolopyridines will enable researchers to investigate NS1 function during infection and how antagonists can be utilized in the next generation of treatments for influenza infection.     

Adaptation of high-growth influenza H5N1 vaccine virus in Vero cells: implications for pandemic preparedness

Current egg-based influenza vaccine production technology can't promptly meet the global demand during an influenza pandemic as shown in the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. Moreover, its manufacturing capacity would be vulnerable during pandemics caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses. Therefore, vaccine production using mammalian cell technology is becoming attractive. Current influenza H5N1 vaccine strain (NIBRG-14), a reassortant virus between A/Vietnam/1194/2004 (H5N1) virus and egg-adapted high-growth A/PR/8/1934 virus, could grow efficiently in eggs and MDCK cells but not Vero cells which is the most popular cell line for manufacturing human vaccines. After serial passages and plaque purifications of the NIBRG-14 vaccine virus in Vero cells, one high-growth virus strain (Vero-15) was generated and can grow over 10(8) TCID(50)/ml. In conclusion, one high-growth H5N1 vaccine virus was generated in Vero cells, which can be used to manufacture influenza H5N1 vaccines and prepare reassortant vaccine viruses for other influenza A subtypes.     

Complete nucleotide sequence of the influenza A/PR/8/34 virus NS gene and comparison with the NS genes of the A/Udorn/72 and A/FPV/Rostock/34 strains.

The nucleotide sequence of the NS gene of the human influenza virus A/PR/8/34 was determined and found to be the same length (890 nucleotides) as the NS gene of another human influenza virus A/Udorn/72 and of the avian isolate A/FPV/Rostock/34. Comparison of the sequences of the NS genes of the two human influenza viruses shows an 8.9% difference whereas the NS gene of the avian isolate differs by only 8% from that of the human strain A/PR/8/34. The extensive sequence similarity among these three genes does not support the notion of species specific homology groups among NS genes of avian and human influenza virus strains. The primary sequence of the A/PR/8/34 NS gene is consistent with the findings that the influenza virus NS gene may code for two overlapping polypeptides. In addition, an open reading frame potentially coding for a polypeptide 167 amino acids in length was found in the negative strand RNA of the A/PR/8/34 virus NS gene.     

用8质粒病毒拯救系统产生H9N2/WSN重组A型流行性感冒病毒

把禽流行性感冒(流感)病毒A／Chicken／Shanghai／F／98(H9N2)的血凝素(HA)和神经氨酸酶(NA)基因cDNA克隆至polⅠ-pol Ⅱ双向转录和表达载体pHW2000,用这两种质粒与8质粒病毒拯救系统中流感病毒A／WSN／33(H1N1)6个内部基因cDNA的质粒组合(6 2重排),共转染COS-1细胞,产生了能在鸡胚中高滴度增殖的H9N2／、WSN重组病毒。用A／WSN／33的8个基因cDNA质粒作对照,也产生了转染子病毒。经过EID50测定和MDCK感染实验,新基因型H9N2／WSN病毒感染鸡胚的能力强(EID50为10^-11／0．2m1),而且对鸡胚的毒力弱,在不加胰酶的情况下不使MDCK细胞产牛病变。经电镜观察,两个转染子病毒的形态与野生型流感病毒相似。反向遗传操作技术的建立,为对禽流感病毒基因功能和疫苗构建等方面的研究提供了新的手段。     

Expression of influenza virus NS2 nonstructural protein in bacteria and localization of NS2 in infected eucaryotic cells.

The nonstructural NS2 protein of influenza A/PR/8/34 virus was efficiently expressed in bacteria, and monospecific antisera were prepared against the bacterially synthesized polypeptide. These antisera were cross-reactive among the NS2 proteins of various influenza A viruses. However, they did not react with the NS2 of influenza B/Lee/40 virus nor with other proteins of influenza A viruses such as NS1. Antisera against NS2 were used to determine that the NS2 protein is localized in the cell nucleus during influenza virus infection, as shown by immunofluorescence microscopy. Cells infected with simian virus 40 recombinants containing the influenza virus NS gene revealed that both the NS1 and NS2 proteins appeared in the nucleus, even in the absence of expression of other influenza virus-specific components.     

MDCK and Vero cells for influenza virus vaccine production: a one-to-one comparison up to lab-scale bioreactor cultivation

Over the last decade, adherent MDCK (Madin Darby canine kidney) and Vero cells have attracted considerable attention for production of cell culture-derived influenza vaccines. While numerous publications deal with the design and the optimization of corresponding upstream processes, one-to-one comparisons of these cell lines under comparable cultivation conditions have largely been neglected. Therefore, a direct comparison of influenza virus production with adherent MDCK and Vero cells in T-flasks, roller bottles, and lab-scale bioreactors was performed in this study. First, virus seeds had to be adapted to Vero cells by multiple passages. Glycan analysis of the hemagglutinin (HA) protein showed that for influenza A/PR/8/34 H1N1, three passages were sufficient to achieve a stable new N-glycan fingerprint, higher yields, and a faster increase to maximum HA titers. Compared to MDCK cells, virus production in serum-free medium with Vero cells was highly sensitive to trypsin concentration. Virus stability at 37 °C for different virus strains showed differences depending on medium, virus strain, and cell line. After careful adjustment of corresponding parameters, comparable productivity was obtained with both host cell lines in small-scale cultivation systems. However, using these cultivation conditions in lab-scale bioreactors (stirred tank, wave bioreactor) resulted in lower productivities for Vero cells.     

Mutations in the NS1 protein of swine influenza virus impair anti-interferon activity and confer attenuation in pigs

It has been shown previously that the nonstructural protein NS1 of influenza virus is an alpha/beta interferon (IFN-alpha/beta) antagonist, both in vitro and in experimental animal model systems. However, evidence of this function in a natural host has not yet been obtained. Here we investigated the role of the NS1 protein in the virulence of a swine influenza virus (SIV) isolate in pigs by using reverse genetics. The virulent wild-type A/Swine/Texas/4199-2/98 (TX/98) virus and various mutants encoding carboxy-truncated NS1 proteins were rescued. Growth properties of TX/98 viruses with mutated NS1, induction of IFN in tissue culture, and virulence-attenuation in pigs were analyzed and compared to those of the recombinant wild-type TX/98 virus. Our results indicate that deletions in the NS1 protein decrease the ability of the TX/98 virus to prevent IFN-alpha/beta synthesis in pig cells. Moreover, all NS1 mutant viruses were attenuated in pigs, and this correlated with the amount of IFN-alpha/beta induced in vitro. These data suggest that the NS1 protein of SIV is a virulence factor. Due to their attenuation, NS1-mutated swine influenza viruses might have a great potential as live attenuated vaccine candidates against SIV infections of pigs.     

Impact of host cell line adaptation on quasispecies composition and glycosylation of influenza A virus hemagglutinin

The genome of influenza A viruses is constantly changing (genetic drift) resulting in small, gradual changes in viral proteins. Alterations within antibody recognition sites of the viral membrane glycoproteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) result in an antigenetic drift, which requires the seasonal update of human influenza virus vaccines. Generally, virus adaptation is necessary to obtain sufficiently high virus yields in cell culture-derived vaccine manufacturing. In this study detailed HA N-glycosylation pattern analysis was combined with in-depth pyrosequencing analysis of the virus genomic RNA. Forward and backward adaptation from Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells to African green monkey kidney (Vero) cells was investigated for two closely related influenza A virus PR/8/34 (H1N1) strains: from the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) or the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). Furthermore, stability of HA N-glycosylation patterns over ten consecutive passages and different harvest time points is demonstrated. Adaptation to Vero cells finally allowed efficient influenza A virus replication in Vero cells. In contrast, during back-adaptation the virus replicated well from the very beginning. HA N-glycosylation patterns were cell line dependent and stabilized fast within one (NIBSC-derived virus) or two (RKI-derived virus) successive passages during adaptation processes. However, during adaptation new virus variants were detected. These variants carried "rescue" mutations on the genomic level within the HA stem region, which result in amino acid substitutions. These substitutions finally allowed sufficient virus replication in the new host system. According to adaptation pressure the composition of the virus populations varied. In Vero cells a selection for "rescue" variants was characteristic. After back-adaptation to MDCK cells some variants persisted at indifferent frequencies, others slowly diminished and even dropped below the detection limit.     

Growth determinants for H5N1 influenza vaccine seed viruses in MDCK cells

H5N1 influenza A viruses are exacting a growing human toll, with more than 240 fatal cases to date. In the event of an influenza pandemic caused by these viruses, embryonated chicken eggs, which are the approved substrate for human inactivated-vaccine production, will likely be in short supply because chickens will be killed by these viruses or culled to limit the worldwide spread of the infection. The Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line is a promising alternative candidate substrate because it supports efficient growth of influenza viruses compared to other cell lines. Here, we addressed the molecular determinants for growth of an H5N1 vaccine seed virus in MDCK cells, revealing the critical responsibility of the Tyr residue at position 360 of PB2, the considerable requirement for functional balance between hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), and the partial responsibility of the Glu residue at position 55 of NS1. Based on these findings, we produced a PR8/H5N1 reassortant, optimized for this cell line, that derives all of its genes for its internal proteins from the PR8(UW) strain except for the NS gene, which derives from the PR8(Cambridge) strain; its N1 NA gene, which has a long stalk and derives from an early H5N1 strain; and its HA gene, which has an avirulent-type cleavage site sequence and is derived from a circulating H5N1 virus. Our findings demonstrate the importance and feasibility of a cell culture-based approach to producing seed viruses for inactivated H5N1 vaccines that grow robustly and in a timely, cost-efficient manner as an alternative to egg-based vaccine production.     

禽流感病毒NS第263～277位核苷酸缺失降低其抗干扰素能力

2000年以来,多数H5N1亚型禽流感病毒在NS基因的263～277位发牛15个碱基的缺失。为了研究此缺失在流感病毒进化中的生物学意义,构建H5N1亚型流感病毒A／SD／04株的HA、NA、NS的全基因表达载体,以及NS基因263～277位删除的突变载体。通过反向遗传学技术,与编码WSN的其他内部基因（PB2,PB1,PA,NP和M）的表达载体进行组合转染,获得在NS基因的263～277位缺失和不缺失的2个重组H5N1亚型流感病毒（RWSN—m248和RWSN-248）。此两个重组病毒在无干扰素产生的Vero细胞上的繁殖滴度相似,在能产生干扰素的细胞MDCK和COS-1细胞上的繁殖滴度有明显差异。两个重组病毒在鸡胚中的繁殖滴,IVPI,MDT和EID50均无显著差异。说明NS基因的263～277位核苷酸的缺失不影响病毒的整体毒力,但降低了H5N1的抗干扰素能力。     

Intragenic suppression of a deletion mutation of the nonstructural gene of an influenza A virus.

The influenza A/Alaska/77 (H3N2) virus mutant 143-1 is temperature sensitive (ts) due to a spontaneous in-frame 36-nucleotide deletion in the nonstructural (NS) gene segment, which leads to a 12-amino-acid deletion in the NS1 protein. In addition, it has a small-plaque phenotype on MDCK cell monolayers. However, phenotypically revertant (i.e., ts+) viruses were isolated readily following replication of the 143-1 virus both in vitro and in vivo. In order to determine the genetic mechanism by which escape from the ts phenotype occurred, we performed segregational analysis and found that an intrasegmental suppressor mutation caused the loss of the ts phenotype. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed the presence of an intragenic mutation in each of the ts+ phenotypic revertant viruses, involving a substitution of valine for alanine at amino acid 23 of the NS1 protein. This mutation resulted in acquisition of the ts+ phenotype and also in the large-plaque phenotype on MDCK cells, characteristic of the wild-type A/Alaska/77 parent virus. This amino acid substitution is predicted to generate an area of alpha helix in the secondary structure of the amino-terminal portion of the NS1 protein of the revertant viruses which may compensate for loss of an alpha-helical region due to the deletion of amino acids 66 to 77 in the NS1 protein of the 143-1 virus.     

Preclinical Evaluation of a Replication-Deficient Intranasal ΔNS1 H5N1 Influenza Vaccine

Background

We developed a novel intranasal influenza vaccine approach that is based on the construction of replication-deficient vaccine viruses that lack the entire NS1 gene (ΔNS1 virus). We previously showed that these viruses undergo abortive replication in the respiratory tract of animals. The local release of type I interferons and other cytokines and chemokines in the upper respiratory tract may have a “self-adjuvant effect”, in turn increasing vaccine immunogenicity. As a result, ΔNS1 viruses elicit strong B- and T- cell mediated immune responses.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We applied this technology to the development of a pandemic H5N1 vaccine candidate. The vaccine virus was constructed by reverse genetics in Vero cells, as a 5∶3 reassortant, encoding four proteins HA, NA, M1, and M2 of the A/Vietnam/1203/04 virus while the remaining genes were derived from IVR-116. The HA cleavage site was modified in a trypsin dependent manner, serving as the second attenuation factor in addition to the deleted NS1 gene. The vaccine candidate was able to grow in the Vero cells that were cultivated in a serum free medium to titers exceeding 8 log₁₀ TCID_50/ml. The vaccine virus was replication deficient in interferon competent cells and did not lead to viral shedding in the vaccinated animals. The studies performed in three animal models confirmed the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine. Intranasal immunization protected ferrets and mice from being infected with influenza H5 viruses of different clades. In a primate model (Macaca mulatta), one dose of vaccine delivered intranasally was sufficient for the induction of antibodies against homologous A/Vietnam/1203/04 and heterologous A/Indonesia/5/05 H5N1 strains.

Conclusion/Significance

Our findings show that intranasal immunization with the replication deficient H5N1 ΔNS1 vaccine candidate is sufficient to induce a protective immune response against H5N1 viruses. This approach might be attractive as an alternative to conventional influenza vaccines. Clinical evaluation of ΔNS1 pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccine candidates are currently in progress.     

Extensive accumulation of influenza virus NS1 protein in the nuclei causes effective viral growth in vero cells

We previously showed that modified A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (PR8) influenza master strain had improved viral rescue and growth properties in African green monkey kidney (Vero) cell line by introducing NS gene of Vero-adapted A/England/1/53 (vaEng53). In the present study, it was found that the NS1 protein derived from vaEng53 was extensively accumulated in the nuclei than that of PR8. This accumulation was caused by 7 amino acid differences in C-terminal region of NS1 protein. These results suggest that specific accumulation of NS1 protein may contribute to efficient viral replication in Vero cells.     

Attenuation of equine influenza viruses through truncations of the NS1 protein

Equine influenza is a common disease of the horse, causing significant morbidity worldwide. Here we describe the establishment of a plasmid-based reverse genetics system for equine influenza virus. Utilizing this system, we generated three mutant viruses encoding carboxy-terminally truncated NS1 proteins. We have previously shown that a recombinant human influenza virus lacking the NS1 gene (delNS1) could only replicate in interferon (IFN)-incompetent systems, suggesting that the NS1 protein is responsible for IFN antagonist activity. Contrary to previous findings with human influenza virus, we found that in the case of equine influenza virus, the length of the NS1 protein did not correlate with the level of attenuation of that virus. With equine influenza virus, the mutant virus with the shortest NS1 protein turned out to be the least attenuated. We speculate that the basis for attenuation of the equine NS1 mutant viruses generated is related to their level of NS1 protein expression. Our findings show that the recombinant mutant viruses are impaired in their ability to inhibit IFN production in vitro and they do not replicate as efficiently as the parental recombinant strain in embryonated hen eggs, in MDCK cells, or in vivo in a mouse model. Therefore, these attenuated mutant NS1 viruses may have potential as candidates for a live equine influenza vaccine.     

H5N1亚型禽流感病毒NS第263—277位核苷酸缺失提高病毒对鸡的致病力

为研究2000年以来绝大多数H5N1亚型禽流感病毒分离株在非结构基因的第263—277位发生15个碱基缺失现象的生物学意义,构建H5N1A／D／SD／04株HA、NA、NS的全基因表达／转录载体,以及NS的删除突变载体（m248）,A/D/YZ/04株的NS基因表达／转录载体（848）和其补加15个核苷酸的NS突变载体（m848）。构建的载体分别与编码WSN（H1N1）内部基因载体进行组合转染,拯救获得4个具不同NS的重组的H5N1亚型流感病毒：RWSN-848和RWSN—m248在263-277位缺失15个碱基。RWSN-m848和RWSN-248则在相同位置不发生缺失。4个重组病毒的平均鸡胚繁殖效价（HA）、鸡胚的平均死亡时间（MDT）和鸡胚半数感染量（EID50）均无显著差异;但RWSN-848和RWSN-m248对6周龄SPF鸡的致病力明显高于RWSN—m848和RWSN-248。结果说明H5N1的NS基因在263～277位核苷酸发生缺失后,不影响重组H5N1在鸡胚中的繁殖性能,但提高了病毒对鸡的致病力。