Susceptibility and lack of evidence for a viremic state of rabies in the night owl monkey, Aotus nancymaae

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Rabies causes an acute fatal encephalomyelitis in most mammals following infection with rhabdovirus of the genus Lyssavirus. Little is known about rabies virus infection in species of New World Primates. To investigate the suitability of the Aotus nancymaae owl monkey as a viable animal model for rhabdovirus candidate vaccine testing, we used clinical presentation, serology, viral isolation, and PCR to evaluate the incubation period, immunity, and pathogenesis of infected animals. We tested the hypothesis that no viremic state exists for rabies virus. METHOD: S Eight monkeys divided into two equal groups were inoculated intramuscularly either in the neck or footpad with 105 pfu of rabies virus (Pasteur/ V-13R) and observed for >130 days. Oral and blood samples were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Two monkeys inoculated in the neck displayed classic paralytic rabies. The mean incubation period was 11.5 days. The average maximum IgG response (antibody titer >0.200 O.D.) was achieved at day 10.0 and 62.3 in the clinical rabies and non-clinical rabies cases, respectively (p=0.0429). No difference in IgM or IgG time to seroconversion or average maximum IgM level was observed between neck versus footpad inoculation groups. No viremia or viral shedding was detected by PCR or viral isolation during the observation period, including within the two symptomatic animals three days after disease onset. Tissue sections examined were unremarkable for inflammation or other histologic signs of rabies. None of the brain sections exhibited immunoreactivity for rabies virus antibody. DISCUSSION This study demonstrates there is no difference in time to immune response between inoculation sites and distance to the brain; however, immune response tends to be more rapid in cases of clinically apparent disease and prolonged in cases infected at sites further from the brain. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the hypothesis that a viremic state for rabies does not exist in the New World Monkey, Aotus nancymaae, and it appears that this species may be refractory to infection. The species does provide a suitable model to assess post infection immune responses. Additional studies that address the limitations of sample size, length of observation, and lack of measurable infection should be conducted.     

Evaluation of a direct rapid immunohistochemical test (dRIT) for rapid diagnosis of rabies in animals and humans

Presently the gold standard diagnostic technique for rabies is the direct immunofluorescence assay (dFA) which is very expensive and requires a high level of expertise. There is a need for more economical and user friendly tests, particularly for use in developing countries. We have established one such test called the direct rapid immunohistochemical test (dRIT) for diagnosis of rabies using brain tissue. The test is based on capture of rabies nucleoprotein (N) antigen in brain smears using a cocktail of biotinylated monoclonal antibodies specific for the N protein and color development by streptavidin peroxidase-amino ethyl carbazole and counter staining with haematoxollin. The test was done in parallel with standard FAT dFA using 400 brain samples from different animals and humans. The rabies virus N protein appears under light microscope as reddish brown particles against a light blue background. There was 100 % correlation between the results obtained by the two tests. Also, interpretation of results by dRIT was easier and only required a light microscope. To conclude, this newly developed dRIT technique promises to be a simple, cost effective diagnostic tool for rabies and will have applicability in field conditions prevalent in developing countries.     

Pantropism of rabies virus in free-ranging rabid red fox Vulpes fulva

The fluorescent antibody and mouse inoculation tests were employed to study the pantropism of rabies virus in tissue from free-ranging red fox (Vulpes fulva) submitted for rabies diagnosis. Viral antigen was found in various organs and tissues of the body. The distribution of antigen within tissues is discussed in the light of the pathogenesis and potential excretion of the virus.     

The rabies virion-associated 100-kDa polypeptide (VAP100) is a host-derived minor component of the viral envelope

We investigated a minor polypeptide component of 100-kDa detected in the rabies virion (referred to as VAP100) by using a monoclonal antibody (mAb), #16743, which was shown to recognize the SDS-denatured VAP100 antigen by immunoblot analyses. Although the VAP100 antigen was hardly detectable in the cell by usual immunoblot methods with this mAb, we could detect the antigen by a luminescent immunoblot method as well as by immunoprecipitation from the metabolically radiolabeled cell lysates and virions. Fluorescent antibody (FA) staining with mAb #16743 detected the uniformly distributed antigen on the formalin-fixed normal BHK-21 cells, while slight accumulation of the antigen was also seen in the Golgi area when the cells were permeabilized by treatment with Triton X-100 after fixation. Rabies virus infection induced alteration of the behavior of VAP100 to show a spotted distribution pattern in virus-infected cells. Double FA staining with mAb #16743 and rabbit antibody against the rabies virus envelope antigen demonstrated colocalized distribution of the viral envelope antigens and VAP100 in the cell. From these results, we think that VAP100 is a membrane-associated component of the cell, and its colocalized distribution with the viral envelope antigens in the cell implicates an intimate association of the VAP100 with viral envelope protein(s) and a reflection of possible involvement in the efficient incorporation of VAP100 into the virion.     

应用快速HEPES蚀斑法检测狂犬病毒

应用快速ＨＥＰＥＳ蚀斑法检测狂犬病毒邵益斌,顾勤,曾蓉芳（卫生部上海生物制品研究所;上海２０００５２）关键词ＨＥＰＦＳ蚀斑法,ＭＣ蚀斑法,小鼠脑内毒力滴定,狂犬病毒蚀斑法作为滴定活性病毒效价常用的比较精确的方法早被广泛应用。国内外学者已经建立并应用狂...     

狂犬病小鼠模型的制作

目的建立狂犬病病毒感染动物疾病模型。方法狂犬病病毒CVS-B2C毒株以10LD50剂量腿部肌肉注射接种4~6周龄的BALB/c小鼠,0.2 mL/只,于BSL2实验室负压IVC设备内饲养观察,并对其模型进行评价。结果小鼠接种狂犬病病毒后一周左右就出现临床症状,表现为饮食量下降,毛皮慢慢失去原先的光泽,体重下降,并出现麻痹等症状,进而死亡,部分小鼠出现躁狂的症状或抽搐性和强直性痉挛,而对照组小鼠则表现正常。DFA法检测结果：感染上狂犬病毒的小鼠脑组织涂片中出现特异性荧光抗体染色反应,而对照组动物的小鼠脑组织涂片未出现荧光抗体染色反应。RT-PCR法检测结果：从感染小鼠脑组织标本中提取病毒RNA,引物扩增出的目的基因片段,大小约为1kb,为N蛋白。免疫组化法检测结果：感染狂犬病毒的小鼠脑切片显示出棕色阳性颗粒,对照组小鼠脑切片染色阴性。病理检测结果：HE染色可见感染小鼠脑组织炎性细胞浸润,神经细胞胞质内出现内基体以及神经细胞退行性病变。结论成功的复制出小鼠狂犬病病毒感染模型,为研究和控制狂犬病奠定了基础。     

狂犬病病毒糖蛋白表达及纯化及其记忆性B细胞结合能力的分析

表达纯化不同标签、不同大小3个狂犬病病毒糖蛋白,分析其结合功能后,得到具备高亲和力的、可特异性结合记忆性B细胞的狂犬病病毒糖蛋白。本实验通过基因工程的方法,采用不同的原核表达系统分别表达带有不同标签的、全长和膜外区的RVG,纯化蛋白并分析比较其结合功能,荧光标记候选蛋白,结合CD19及CD27的抗体,流式细胞术检测狂犬疫苗免疫后PBMCs中抗狂犬病病毒特异性记忆性B细胞的情况,确认候选蛋白与抗狂犬病毒特异性记忆性B细胞的结合功能。本实验成功构建了3个表达载体pGEX-5X-1-RVG、pET28a-RVG和pET30a-G,优化表达纯化条件成功获得了糖蛋白GST-RVG、His-RVG和His-G。纯化后的GST-RVG、His-RVG和His-G经Western blotting和ELISA鉴定均有抗原特异性;由竞争ELISA法测得3个纯化后糖蛋白与抗狂犬病病毒抗体的亲和力。通过流式细胞术可以检测到狂犬疫苗免疫后阳性志愿者PBMCs中的抗狂犬病病毒特异性记忆性B细胞,从而获得了高亲和力、可用于分选抗原特异性的记忆性B细胞的狂犬病病毒糖蛋白。     

The spectral correlation characteristics of the brain electrical activity in the rabbit during thirst]

Spectral-correlation analysis of the summate electrical activity of a number of subcortical structures of rabbit brain, having, by literature data, a relation to drinking behaviour showed that the increase of drinking excitability, induced by water deprivation was accompanied by definite reconstruction of biopotentials. In electrical activity of the studied structures, the spectrum power, as a rule, decreased (except in the paraventricular nucleus), and a definite structure of coherent connections between the subcortical and cortical potentials was established. Among the studied subcortical formations, structures (anterior hypothalamic area, lateral preoptic area, medial preoptic area, paraventricular nucleus) could be singled out where reconstructions of spectral characteristics of biopotentials took place most regularity, and the electrical processes in which were characterised by coherence index by an increase of spatial interconnection with the neocortex potentials, what allows to consider them as most significant for organization of drinking excitation.     

狂犬病毒抗体ELISA检测试剂盒的改进研究

为了提高狂犬病毒抗体检测的灵敏度和特异性,采用狂犬病毒单克隆抗体包被酶标板,再分别加入重组的狂犬病毒糖蛋白或细胞培养抗原做固相层的方法(抗体捕捉法),用传统的间接ELISA法做对照,按常规方法检测抗狂犬病毒抗体。结果显示,抗体捕捉法的非特异性反应低于间接法,而灵敏度达到0．51U水平,高于间接法。在800份临床标本检测中,检出率明显高于间接法。用15份阳性血清作小鼠中和试验,并和抗体捕捉ELISA法比较具有高度的一致性。试验结果充分表明,该方法优于传统的ELISA间接法。因此可作为临床注射狂犬疫苗后检测血清中狂犬病毒抗体的常规方法。     

The full-length genome analysis of a street rabies virus strain isolated in Yunnan province of China

The epidemic of rabies has rapidly increased and expanded in Yunnan province in recent years.In order to further analyze and understand the etiological reasons for the rapid expansion of rabies in Yunn...     

A simple sandwich ELISA (WELYSSA) for the detection of lyssavirus nucleocapsid in rabies suspected specimens using mouse monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibody (MAb)-based capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were developed for the diagnosis of rabies-suspect specimens. A combination of four mouse monoclonal antibodies directed against the rabies virus nucleocapsid was selected and used for the detection. The test was optimized and standardized so that maximum concordance could be maintained with the standard procedures of rabies diagnosis recommended by the WHO expert committee. Using prototype viruses from the different genotypes of lyssavirus and from various geographic origins and phylogenetic lineages, this paper presents a reliable, rapid and transferable diagnostic method, named WELYSSA that readily permits the detection of lyssaviruses belonging to the 7 genotypes of lyssavirus circulating in Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania. The threshold of detection of lyssavirus nucleocapsids is low (0.8 ng/ml). With a panel of 1030 specimens received for rabies diagnostic testing, this test was found to be highly specific (0.999) and sensitive (0.970) when compared to other recommended rabies diagnostic methods.     

A simple and rapid immunochromatographic test kit for rabies diagnosis

In rabies endemic countries, funds and infrastructure are often insufficient to employ the approved gold standard for the definitive diagnosis of rabies: the direct fluorescent test. In the present study, two types (type 1 and 2) of an ICT kit were evaluated for detection of rabies. These were developed using monoclonal antibodies which recognize epitope II and III of the nucleoprotein of rabies virus. Both kits specifically detected all rabies virus strains and there was no cross reactivity with Lyssaviruses (Lagos, Mokola and Duvenhage), Rhabdovirus (VSV and Oita 296/1972) and other common canine-pathogenic viruses. In type 1, a single type of monoclonal antibody was used. It was capable of detecting recombinant nucleoprotein and showed sensitivity of 95.5% (42/44) and specificity of 88.9% (32/36) using brain samples from rabid dogs. In contrast, type 2 which was made of two different monoclonal antibodies had a lower sensitivity of 93.2% (41/44) and higher specificity of 100% (36/36). These ICT kits provide a simple and rapid method for rabies detection. They need neither cold chain for transportation nor complicated training for personnel. This diagnostic test is suitable for rabies screening, particularly in areas with a high prevalence of rabies and where the fluorescent antibody test is not available.     

In Vitro and In Vivo Isolation and Characterization of Duvenhage Virus

A fatal human case of Duvenhage virus (DUVV) infection in a Dutch traveller who had returned from Kenya was reported in 2007. She exhibited classical symptoms of rabies encephalitis with distinct pathological findings. In the present study we describe the isolation and characterization of DUVV in vitro and its passage in BALB/c mice. The virus proved to be neuroinvasive in both juvenile and adult mice, resulting in about 50% lethality upon peripheral infection. Clinical signs in infected mice were those of classical rabies. However, the distribution of viral antigen expression in the brain differed from that of classical rabies virus infection and neither inclusion bodies nor neuronal necrosis were observed. This is the first study to describe the in vitro and in vivo isolation and characterization of DUVV.     

登革Ⅱ型病毒在白纹伊蚊体内分布的研究

利用蚊虫连续石蜡切片免疫组织化学技术,对登革Ⅱ型病毒(DEN-2)感染白纹伊蚊Aedes albopictus后的散播时间、程度及组织器官的感染顺序进行监测,以了解DEN-2在媒介白纹伊蚊体内的分布规律。结果表明：大剂量感染登革Ⅱ型病毒后,在蚊虫消化道的主要部位以及大多数组织器官包括神经及内分泌系统在内,如涎腺、脑、神经节等亦检测到病毒抗原。登革Ⅱ型病毒一旦感染并逸出中肠会迅速侵染其它组织。从各组织感染率的高低推断,病毒逸出中肠后通过血淋巴传播到其它组织的顺序通常为：前肠、涎腺、咽部神经节、脑及食管下神经节、后肠及复眼的小眼等。     

Carrier Cultures of Simian Foamy Virus

The production of cultures of HEp-2 and BHK-21 cells persistently infected with a type 1 simian foamy virus is described. After infection, HEp-2 cells showed no structural changes, whereas BHK-21 cells lost their normal spindle shape and showed mitochondrial damage, and some cells contained many lysosomes. Thin sections also showed that a few BHK-21 cells contained virus particles in low concentration, and infectious virus could be isolated from both the cells and the supernatant fluid. No virus was seen in thin sections of HEp-2 cells, although infectious virus in low titer could be recovered intermittently from lysed cells. Both carrier cultures were immune to challenge with homologous virus and antigen could be detected in over 90% of the cells even after growth for 9 weeks in the presence of virus-neutralizing serum. The distribution of antigen in carrier cultures of both cell types is described and compared with that seen in cytocidal infections.     

Validation of a Rapid Rabies Diagnostic Tool for Field Surveillance in Developing Countries

BackgroundOne root cause of the neglect of rabies is the lack of adequate diagnostic tests in the context of low income countries. A rapid, performance friendly and low cost method to detect rabies virus (RABV) in brain samples will contribute positively to surveillance and consequently to accurate data reporting, which is presently missing in the majority of rabies endemic countries.Conclusion/SignificanceThe RIDT shows excellent performance qualities both in regard to user friendliness and reliability of the result. In addition, the test cassettes can be used as a vehicle to ship viral RNA to reference laboratories for further laboratory confirmation of the diagnosis and for epidemiological investigations using nucleotide sequencing. The potential for satisfactory use in remote locations is therefore very high to improve the global knowledge of rabies epidemiology. However, we suggest some changes to the protocol, as well as careful further validation, before promotion and wider use.     

Quantitative Autoradiography of Tyrosine Hydroxylase Immunoreactivity in the Rat Brain

Levels of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) were quantified in discrete areas of unfixed rat brain tissue sections using a rapid and sensitive radioimmunohistochemical method. The immunological reaction with the TH monoclonal antibody was revealed by a 35S-labelled secondary antibody and thus permitted autoradiographic detection of the enzyme. Autoradiograms were generated by apposition of tissue sections to high-sensitivity films or by dipping into autoradiographic emulsion. A detailed analysis of antibody concentration, incubation time, tissue section thickness, and exposure time of the film was undertaken to determine optimal conditions to produce a linear radiolabelling intensity with respect to the amount of antigen. Quantification of the antigen at regional levels was assessed by computer-assisted image analysis. Autoradiographic optical density of radiolabelling in brain areas was converted to enzyme concentrations by interpolation with a constructed TH calibration curve processed in parallel with tissue sections. The specificity of the labelling and the validity and reproducibility of the quantification were investigated. The distribution of TH radiolabelling was comparable to that described using immunofluorescence histochemistry or measuring TH enzymatic activity on homogenates. Using a 35S-labelled antibody, the detection of TH could be performed at the cellular level.