Cytokine regulation by virus infection: bovine viral diarrhea virus, a flavivirus, downregulates production of tumor necrosis factor alpha in macrophages in vitro.

Bovine bone marrow-derived macrophages were infected in vitro with noncytopathic or cytopathic strains of bovine viral diarrhea virus. Infection with both biotypes resulted in a decreased production of tumor necrosis factor alpha upon stimulation with heat-inactivated Salmonella dublin or lipopolysaccharide. Other macrophage functions were not downregulated, indicating that the observed effect was not due to a loss in macrophage viability. The downregulated production of tumor necrosis factor alpha in infected macrophages may contribute to the well-documented immunosuppression in animals infected with bovine viral diarrhea virus.     

BVDV and innate immunity.

Infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is prevalent in the cattle population worldwide. The virus exists in two biotypes, cytopathic and non-cytopathic, depending on the effect of the viruses on cultured cells. BVDV may cause transient and persistent infections which differ fundamentally in the host's antiviral immune response. Transient infection may be due to both cytopathic and non-cytopathic biotypes of BVDV and leads to a specific immune response. In contrast, only non-cytopathic BVD viruses can establish persistent infection as a result of infection of the embryo early in its development. Persistent infection is characterized by immunotolerance specific for the infecting viral strain. In this paper we discuss the role of innate immune responses in the two types of infection. In general, both transient and persistent infections are associated with an increased frequency of secondary infections. Associated with the increased risk of such infections are, among others, impaired bacteria killing and decreased chemotaxis. Interestingly, non-cytopathic BVDV fails to induce interferon type I in cultured bovine macrophages whereas cytopathic biotypes readily trigger this response. Cells infected with non-cytopathic BVDV are also resistant to induction of interferon by double stranded RNA, a potent interferon inducer signalling the presence of viral replication in the cell. Thus, non-cytopathic BVDV may dispose of a mechanism suppressing a key element of the antiviral defence of the innate immune system. Since interferon is also important in the activation of the adaptive immune response, suppression of this signal may be essential for the establishment of persistent infection and immunotolerance.     

Bovine Diarrhea Virus

Marked cytopathic changes were induced by challenge with Newcastle disease (ND) virus in bovine testicle or kidney cell cultures which were previously infected with non-cytopathogenic strains of bovine diarrhea (BD) virus. No cytopathic changes were induced by ND virus in similar cells not infected with BD virus. The development of cytopathic effect was shown to be associated with enhancement of ND virus replication. This exalting effect of BD virus appears to be dependent on infectivity, since the effect was inhibited when infection of the cells with BD virus was blocked by specific antiserum. Various factors involved in the phenomenon were investigated and an in vitro method (END) for the assay of BD virus and its antibodies was developed. The use of this method eliminates the difficulties in recognizing non-cytopathogenic strains of BD virus which hampered systematic investigations of the nature and behavior of BD virus as well as of the natural history and pathogenesis of the infection in cattle.     

Separation and properties of enterovirus and reovirus recovered from a fecal sample of calf with diarrhea.

In April, 1971, a disease with pyrexia and diarrhea as main symptoms broke out collectively among calves. Fecal samples were collected from calves involved and inoculated into bovine kidney (BK) cell cultures. As a result, the diarrheal feces of one calf were suspected to contain two agents simultaneously. One agent (C-121 E strain) was isolated from the primary infected BK cell culture fluid by terminal dilution passages. It had been predominant in replication and shown a cytopathic effect which gave rise to a granular appearance in the early stage of culture. The other agent (C-121 R strain) was isolated from the primary infected BK cell culture fluid by neutralizing the C-121 E strain contained in this fluid with antiserum against this strain. It caused cytoplasmic inclusion bodies to form. On the basis of their physico-chemical properties, the C-121 E strain was identified as bovine enterovirus and the C-121 R strain as reovirus. Serological tests indicated that some of the affected calves had been infected not only with the two strains isolated, but also with bovine viral diarrhea virus, bovine adenovirus type 7, and bovine parvovirus.     

Demonstration of an Antigenic Relationship Between Hog Cholera and Bovine Viral Diarrhea Viruses by Immunofluorescence

Specific staining of antigen within bovine embryo kidney tissue culture cells, infected with either Oregon C24V or NADL-MD bovine viral diarrhea virus, was accomplished using fluorescein-conjugated swine anti-hog cholera or bovine antiviral diarrhea globulin. Also specific staining of antigen within pig kidney tissue culture cells, infected with hog cholera virus, was accomplished using the same two types of conjugates. Specificity was confirmed by appropriate controls. The authors found immunofluorescence to be a convenient and sensitive method for determining an antigenic relationship between hog cholera and bovine viral diarrhea viruses.     

Noncytopathic bovine viral diarrhea virus inhibits double-stranded RNA-induced apoptosis and interferon synthesis

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), a pestivirus of the Flaviviridae family, is an economically important cattle pathogen with a worldwide distribution. Both noncytopathic (ncp) and cytopathic (cp) biotypes of BVDV can be isolated from persistently infected cattle suffering from the lethal mucosal disease. The cp biotype correlates with the production of the NS3 nonstructural protein, which in the corresponding ncp biotype is present in its uncleaved form, NS23. Previously, we have shown that cp but not ncp BVDV induces the formation of alpha/beta interferons in bovine macrophages. In this study, we demonstrate that ncp BVDV inhibits the induction of apoptosis and the expression of interferon alpha/beta by poly(IC), a synthetic double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Inhibition was observed only in cells which had been infected with ncp BVDV at least 12 h prior to the addition of dsRNA, which indicates that expression of viral proteins is necessary for the ncp virus to inhibit the effects of poly(IC). Additional experiments using transfected poly(IC) showed that ncp BVDV interfered with the intracellular action of dsRNA rather than with its uptake into the cells. Infected cells were not resistant to induction of apoptosis by actinomycin D or staurosporine, which suggests that ncp BVDV may specifically interfere with signaling through dsRNA. Interference with the innate antiviral host responses may explain the successful establishment of persistent infection by ncp BVDV in fetuses early in their development.     

Differences in pathogenicity and antigenicity among hog cholera virus strains.

Using antiserum against a particular strain of bovine viral diarrhea virus, the strains of hog cholera virus were divided into two groups, H and B, on the basis of the difference in the degree of neutralization. Group H consisted of strains reacting poorly in neutralization, and group B Consisted of strains reacting well with bovine viral diarrhea antiserum. Most of the strains of group H induced a typical clinical form of hog cholera in experimentally infected pigs. Inoculation of pigs with a strain of group B, however, resulted in a chronic type of illness. When immunized with bovine viral diarrhea virus, pigs succumbed to challenge with group H virus after showing clinical signs of hog cholera, but survived challenge with group B virus without manifesting any clinical sign.     

Neutralizing antibodies modulate replication of simian immunodeficiency virus SIVmac in primary macaque macrophages.

Cultured macaque macrophages are permissive for the replication of SIVmac251, and inoculation with virus is followed by the production of viral p27. Neutralizing macaque polyclonal and murine monoclonal antibodies preincubated with the virus prevented infection but did not prevent cytopathic virus replication when added more than 3 days after inoculation with virus. However, application of the neutralizing antibodies to macrophages 24 h after inoculation with virus resulted in sustained, low-level production of viral antigen. Cell lysates and individual macrophages from treated cultures contained less viral protein by Western blot (immunoblot) and immunocytochemistry than untreated controls. In situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction procedures for detecting and estimating relative amounts of viral RNA and DNA showed that both viral nucleic acids failed to increase beyond the levels obtained before the addition of neutralizing antibodies. The data suggest that macrophages may need to be infected with a minimum threshold of virus particles in order to reach their full potential for virus replication and that their exposure to neutralizing antibodies prior to reaching this threshold resulted in limited virus replication.     

Detection and characterization of genetic recombination in cytopathic type 2 bovine viral diarrhea viruses

In cytopathic bovine viral diarrhea virus genotype 1 (BVDV1) isolates, insertions are reported at position A (amino acid [aa] 1535) and position B (aa 1589). Insertions at position B predominate. In this survey it was found that in BVDV2, insertions at position A predominate. Possible reasons for this difference in relative frequency are discussed.     

Bovine viral diarrhea viruses differentially alter the expression of the protein kinases and related proteins affecting the development of infection and anti-viral mechanisms in bovine monocytes

Using a proteomics approach, we evaluated the effect of cytopathic (cp), and non-cytopathic (ncp) bovine viral diarrhea viruses (BVDV) on the expression of protein kinases and related proteins in bovine monocytes. Proteins were isolated from membrane and cytosolic fractions with the differential detergent fractionation (DDF) method and identified with 2D-LC ESI MS(2). Of approximately 10,000 proteins identified, 378 proteins had homology with known protein kinases or related proteins. Eighteen proteins involved in cell differentiation and activation, migration, anti-viral mechanisms (interferon/apoptosis), biosynthesis, sugar metabolism and oncogenic transformation were significantly altered in BVDV-infected monocytes compared to the uninfected controls. Six proteins, mostly related to cell migration, anti-viral mechanisms, sugar metabolism and possibly tumor resistance were differentially expressed between the ncp and cp BVDV-infected monocytes. Particularly, the expression of the receptor of activated C kinase (RACK), of pyridoxal kinase (PK), diacyglycerol kinase (DGK) and Brutons tyrosine kinase (BTK) was decreased in monocytes infected with cp BVDV compared to ncp BVDV, possibly contributing to the cytopathic effect of the virus. This and other findings are discussed in view of the possible role the identified proteins play in the development of viral infection and oncogenic transformation of cells.     

Attenuation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 cytopathic effect by a mutation affecting the transmembrane envelope glycoprotein.

The cytopathic effects of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection are specific for cells that express the CD4 viral receptor and consist of syncytium formation and single-cell lysis. Here we report that a mutation (517A) affecting the amino terminus of the HIV-1 gp41 transmembrane envelope glycoprotein resulted in a virus that was markedly less cytopathic than was wild-type HIV-1. In systems in which cell-to-cell transmission of HIV-1 occurred, the replication ability of the 517A virus was comparable with that of the wild-type virus. Even though the levels of viral protein expression, virion production, and interaction of the envelope glycoproteins with CD4 were similar for the 517A and wild-type viruses, both syncytium formation and single-cell lysis were attenuated for the 517A mutant virus. These results demonstrate that an envelope glycoprotein region important for mediating post-receptor binding events in cell membrane fusion is important for the induction of cytopathic effects by HIV-1. These results also indicate that levels of HIV-1 viral proteins or viral particles produced in infected cells are in themselves not sufficient to induce cytopathic effects.     

Characterization of bovine viral diarrhea virus proteins.

Virus-specific proteins were examined in cultured cells infected with bovine viral diarrhea virus. By using antisera obtained from virus-infected animals, three major virus-specific polypeptides with molecular weights of 115,000 (115K), 80K, and 55K were observed. Minor proteins of 45,000 and 38,000 daltons were also noted. Tryptic peptide mapping indicated that the 115K and the 80K polypeptides were structurally related. The 55K protein was glycosylated and appeared not to be related to the 115K and 80K proteins. Pulse-chase experiments failed to demonstrate any procursor-product relationship among any of these proteins, and all three polypeptides were found in purified virion preparations. The significance of these findings with respect to the replication of bovine viral diarrhea virus is discussed.     

Washing and trypsin treatment of in vitro derived bovine embryos exposed to bovine viral diarrhea virus

Gametes, somatic cells and materials of animal origin in media are potential sources for introducing bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) into systems for production of IVF bovine embryos. Further, the efficacy of washing and trypsin treatment for removal of BVDV from IVF embryos is questionable. Washing and trypsin treatments recommended by the International Embryo Transfer Society for in vivo-derived embryos were applied to in vitro-derived, virus-exposed, bovine embryos in this side-by-side comparison of treatments. Embryos for the study were produced in a virus-free system in which follicular oocytes were matured and fertilized in vitro and presumptive zygotes were co-cultured with bovine uterine tubal cells for 7 d. A total of 18 trials was performed, 9 using a noncytopathic BVDV and 9 using a cytopathic BVDV. In each trial, 4 equal groups of 10 or less, zona pellucida-intact embryos/ova were assembled, including 2 groups of morulae and blastocysts (M/B) and 2 groups of nonfertile or degenerated ova (NFD). Each group was prewashed and exposed to 10(4) to 10(6) TCID50/mL of either noncytopathic (SD-1) or cytopathic (NADL) BVDV for 2 h. Following in vitro viral exposure, one group of M/B and one group of NFD were washed. The other groups of M/B and NFD were trypsin-treated. Both treatments were consistent with IETS guidelines. After in vitro exposure to noncytopathic BVDV and washing, viral assays of 100% (9/9) and 78% (7/9) of the groups of M/B and NFD ova, respectively, were positive. After in vitro exposure to cytopathic BVDV and washing, viral assay of 33% (3/9) of the groups of both M/B and NFD ova were positive. After in vitro exposure to noncytopathic BVDV and trypsin treatment, viral assay of 44% (4/9) of groups of M/B and 67% (6/9) of groups of NFD ova were positive. Finally, after in vitro exposure to cytopathic BVDV and trypsin treatment, viral assay of 22% (2/9) of the groups of M/B and 44% (4/9) of the groups of NFD ova were positive. Contingency table analysis, in which data was stratified by embryo type and virus biotype, was used to compare results. While a difference existed between results of the 2 treatments of groups of M/B within the noncytopathic biotype (P = 0.01, Mantel Haenszel Chi-square), no difference was observed between comparison of treatment between all groups in both biotypes (P > 0.05).     

Cell killing by avian leukosis viruses.

Infection of chicken cells with a cytopathic avian leukosis virus resulted in the detachment of killed cells from the culture dish. The detached, dead cells contained more unintegrated viral DNA than the attached cells. These results confirm the hypothesis that cell killing after infection with a cytopathic avian leukosis virus is associated with accumulation of large amounts of unintegrated viral DNA. No accumulation of large amounts of integrated viral DNA was found in cells infected with cytopathic avian leukosis viruses.     

Comparison of methods of detection of bovine adenovirus serotype 3 in infected culture of calf kidney cells (MDBK)

The comparative study of the dynamics of the main antigen (hexon) and viral DNA of the bovine adenovirus type 3 accumulation in the established cell line MDBK under the conditions of single- or multistep cycle of infection has been undertaken. The quantitative immunoelectrophoresis and immunoenzyme assay detected the viral antigens on the late stages of infection in the period of cellular monolayer degradation. The immunofluorescence reaction and histochemical immunoenzyme method detected the antigen in the infected cells concurrently with the primary expression of the viral cytopathic effect. The reaction of the spot molecular hybridization with the [32P]-DNA probes detected the viral DNA considerably earlier than the antigen was detected by the immunological methods, before the appearance of degenerative changes in the infected cells. Preference of the immunoenzyme assay and DNA-probes in diagnosis of the virus are discussed.     

Cytoplasmic assembly and accumulation of human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 in recombinant human colony-stimulating factor-1-treated human monocytes: an ultrastructural study.

Recombinant human colony-stimulating factor-1-treated human peripheral blood-derived monocytes-macrophages are efficient host cells for recovery of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from blood leukocytes of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. These cells can be maintained as viable monolayers for intervals exceeding 3 months. Infection with HIV resulted in virus-induced cytopathic effects, accompanied by relatively high levels of released progeny virus, followed by a prolonged low-level release of virus from morphologically normal cells. In both acutely and chronically infected monocytes, viral particles were seen budding into and accumulating within cytoplasmic vacuoles. The number of intravacuolar virions far exceeded those associated with the plasma membrane, especially in the chronic phase, and were concentrated in the perinuclear Golgi zone. In many instances, the vacuoles were identified as Golgi elements. Fusion of virus-laden vacuoles with primary lysosomes were rare. The pattern of cytoplasmic assembly of virus was observed with both HIV types 1 and 2 and in brain macrophages of an individual with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome encephalopathy. Immunoglobulin-coated gold beads added to acutely infected cultures were segregated from the vacuoles containing virus; relatively few beads and viral particles colocalized. The assembly of HIV virions within vacuoles of macrophages is in contrast to the exclusive surface assembly of HIV by T lymphocytes. Intracytoplasmic virus hidden from immune surveillance in monocytes-macrophages may explain, in part, the persistence of HIV in the infected human host.     

A neutrophil-derived antiviral protein: induction requirements and biological properties

Polymorphonuclear neutrophilic granulocytes (PMN) have been implicated as playing a role in antiviral defense. In addition to having phagocytic and cytotoxic activities, PMN may produce an antiviral substance with interferon (IFN)-like activity. The product, for which the name polyferon (PF) has been coined, is produced upon direct encounter of PMN with bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1)-infected bovine cells or membranes thereof. Exposure to purified virus only does not induce PF. The intimate interaction between PMN and the membranes was also revealed by electron microscopy studies. Bovine cells infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 could also induce PF production by bovine PMN, whereas cells infected with BHV-2, herpes simplex virus type 2, equine herpesvirus 1, bovine respiratory syncytial virus, bovine viral diarrhea virus, or parainfluenza virus 3 were unable to do so. Results obtained in experiments using transfected cells expressing BHV-1 glycoproteins as well as blocking experiments using BHV-1 glycoprotein-monospecific antibodies suggested that a combination of both viral product(s) and host cell factor(s) unique to bovine cells is required for induction of PF production by PMN. PF, which appeared in detectable amounts 12 to 18 h after exposure of PMN to the appropriate inducer, could not be neutralized by antibodies to bovine IFN-alpha, -beta, and -gamma. PF may nevertheless belong to the IFN family of proteins, as indicated by its ability to induce 2',5'-oligoadenyl synthetase in various cell types that are responsive to bovine IFNs and by its antiviral spectrum. It does, however, differ from the other cytokines in most immunological characteristics tested so far, including major histocompatibility complex class II antigen induction, cell migration, and cytotoxicity.     

A cellular J-domain protein modulates polyprotein processing and cytopathogenicity of a pestivirus

Pestiviruses are positive-strand RNA viruses closely related to human hepatitis C virus. Gene expression of these viruses occurs via translation of a polyprotein, which is further processed by cellular and viral proteases. Here we report the formation of a stable complex between an as-yet-undescribed cellular J-domain protein, a member of the DnaJ-chaperone family, and pestiviral nonstructural protein NS2. Accordingly, we termed the cellular protein Jiv, for J-domain protein interacting with viral protein. Jiv has the potential to induce in trans one specific processing step in the viral polyprotein, namely, cleavage of NS2-3. Efficient generation of its cleavage product NS3 has previously been shown to be obligatory for the cytopathogenicity of the pestiviruses. Regulated expression of Jiv in cells infected with noncytopathogenic bovine viral diarrhea virus disclosed a direct correlation between the intracellular level of Jiv, the extent of NS2-3 cleavage, and pestiviral cytopathogenicity.