Identification of a single amino acid residue in the capsid protein VP1 of coxsackievirus B4 that determines the virulent phenotype.

To identify the molecular determinants of virulence for coxsackievirus B4, a panel of recombinant, chimeric viruses were constructed from cDNA clones of a virulent virus, CB4-V, and a nonvirulent virus, CB4-P. Initial studies mapped a major determinant of virulence to the 5' end of the viral genome, which contained the 5' untranslated and the P1 regions (A. Ramsingh, A. Hixson, B. Duceman, and J. Slack, J. Virol. 64:3078-3081, 1990). To determine whether the 5' untranslated region contributed to the virulent phenotype, a chimeric virus (vCB403) containing this region of the virulent virus on an avirulent background was tested in mice. The vCB403 construct displayed a phenotype similar to that of CB4-P, suggesting that the 5' untranslated region did not significantly contribute to virulence. Analysis of the sequence data of the P1 regions of both CB4-V and CB4-P revealed five mutations that resulted in amino acid substitutions in VP1, VP2, and VP4 (A. Ramsingh, H. Araki, S. Bryant, and A. Hixson, Virus Res. 23:281-292, 1992). Analysis of individual mutations in both VP1 and VP2 revealed that a single residue (Thr-129 of VP1) determined the virulent phenotype.     

The large polymerase protein is associated with the virulence of Newcastle disease virus

Naturally occurring Newcastle disease virus (NDV) strains vary greatly in virulence, ranging from no apparent infection to severe disease causing 100% mortality in chickens. The viral determinants of NDV virulence are not completely understood. Cleavage of the fusion protein is required for the initiation of infection, and it acts as a determinant of virulence. The attachment protein HN was found to play a minor role in virulence. In this study, we have evaluated the role of the internal proteins (N, P, and L) in NDV virulence by using a chimeric reverse-genetics approach. The N, P, and L genes were exchanged individually between an avirulent NDV strain, LaSota, and an intermediate virulent NDV strain, Beaudette C (BC), and the N and P genes were also exchanged together. The recovered chimeric viruses were evaluated for their pathogenicity in the natural host, chickens. Our results showed that the pathogenicities of N and P chimeric viruses were similar to those of their respective parental viruses, indicating that the N and P genes probably play minor roles in virulence. However, replacement of the L gene of BC with that of LaSota significantly increased the pathogenicity of the L-chimeric virus, suggesting that the L gene probably contributes to the virulence of NDV. The L-chimeric BC virus was found to replicate at a 100-fold-higher level than its parental virus in chicken brain, suggesting that the increase in pathogenicity may be due to the increased replication level of the chimeric virus. Our findings offer new insights into the pathogenesis of NDV infection.     

Newcastle Disease Virus Fusion Protein Is the Major Contributor to Protective Immunity of Genotype-Matched Vaccine

Virulent strains of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) can cause devastating disease in chickens worldwide. Although the current vaccines are substantially effective, they do not completely prevent infection, virus shedding and disease. To produce genotype-matched vaccines, a full-genome reverse genetics system has been used to generate a recombinant virus in which the F protein cleavage site has been changed to that of avirulent vaccine virus. In the other strategy, the vaccines have been generated by replacing the F and HN genes of a commercial vaccine strain with those from a genotype-matched virus. However, the protective efficacy of a chimeric virus vaccine has not been directly compared with that of a full-genome virus vaccine developed by reverse genetics. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the protective efficacy of genotype VII matched chimeric vaccines by generating three recombinant viruses based on avirulent LaSota (genotype II) strain in which the open reading frames (ORFs) encoding the F and HN proteins were replaced, individually or together, with those of the circulating and highly virulent Indonesian NDV strain Ban/010. The cleavage site of the Ban/010 F protein was mutated to the avirulent motif found in strain LaSota. In vitro growth characteristics and a pathogenicity test indicated that all three chimeric viruses retained the highly attenuated phenotype of the parental viruses. Immunization of chickens with chimeric and full-length genome VII vaccines followed by challenge with virulent Ban/010 or Texas GB (genotype II) virus demonstrated protection against clinical disease and death. However, only those chickens immunized with chimeric rLaSota expressing the F or F plus HN proteins of the Indonesian strain were efficiently protected against shedding of Ban/010 virus. Our findings showed that genotype-matched vaccines can provide protection to chickens by efficiently preventing spread of virus, primarily due to the F protein.     

Multigenic relation to the attenuation of rabies virus

Rabies virus Nishigahara strain causes lethal infection in adult mice after intracerebral inoculation. On the other hand, the RC-HL strain, derived from the Nishigahara strain, does not cause lethal infection in adult mice. We previously demonstrated that a chimeric virus, R(G), with the open reading frame of the G gene (G-ORF) from the Nishigahara strain in the background of the RC-HL genome, is virulent. Reversely, in order to demonstrate that the G gene of the RC-HL strain is related to the attenuated phenotype, we established a reverse genetics system of the Nishigahara strain and generated a chimeric virus, Ni(G), with the G-ORF from RC-HL in the background of the Nishigahara genome. Contrary to our prediction, Ni(G) killed adult mice after intracerebral inoculation with neuropathic symptoms like those of Nishigahara strain infection. Therefore, the G-ORF of the RC-HL strain is not the sole determinant of the attenuated phenotype. In additional investigation, we examined other genes, including N, P, M and L genes, and generated chimeric viruses exhaustively. We found that chimeric viruses with a single gene from the RC-HL were not attenuated and that chimeric viruses with the G-ORF and at least one other ORF from the RC-HL were attenuated. In conclusion, attenuation from the Nishigahara to RC-HL strain is multigenic.     

Molecular determinants of virulence, cell tropism, and pathogenic phenotype of infectious bursal disease virus.

Infectious bursal disease viruses (IBDVs), belonging to the family Birnaviridae, exhibit a wide range of immunosuppressive potential, pathogenicity, and virulence for chickens. The genomic segment A encodes all the structural (VP2, VP4, and VP3) and nonstructural proteins, whereas segment B encodes the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (VP1). To identify the molecular determinants for the virulence, pathogenic phenotype, and cell tropism of IBDV, we prepared full-length cDNA clones of a virulent strain, Irwin Moulthrop (IM), and constructed several chimeric cDNA clones of segments A and B between the attenuated vaccine strain (D78) and the virulent IM or GLS variant strain. Using the cRNA-based reverse-genetics system developed for IBDV, we generated five chimeric viruses after transfection by electroporation procedures in Vero or chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) cells, one of which was recovered after propagation in embryonated eggs. To evaluate the characteristics of the recovered viruses in vivo, we inoculated 3-week-old chickens with D78, IM, GLS, or chimeric viruses and analyzed their bursae for pathological lesions 3 days postinfection. Viruses in which VP4, VP4-VP3, and VP1 coding sequences of the virulent strain IM were substituted for the corresponding region in the vaccine strain failed to induce hemorrhagic lesions in the bursa. In contrast, viruses in which the VP2 coding region of the vaccine strain was replaced with the variant GLS or virulent IM strain caused rapid bursal atrophy or hemorrhagic lesions in the bursa, as seen with the variant or classical virulent strain, respectively. These results show that the virulence and pathogenic-phenotype markers of IBDV reside in VP2. Moreover, one of the chimeric viruses containing VP2 sequences of the virulent strain could not be recovered in Vero or CEF cells but was recovered in embryonated eggs, suggesting that VP2 contains the determinants for cell tropism. Similarly, one of the chimeric viruses containing the VP1 segment of the virulent strain could not be recovered in Vero cells but was recovered in CEF cells, suggesting that VP1 contains the determinants for cell-specific replication in Vero cells. By comparing the deduced amino acid sequences of the D78 and IM strains and their reactivities with monoclonal antibody 21, which binds specifically to virulent IBDV, the putative amino acids involved in virulence and cell tropism were identified. Our results indicate that residues Gln at position 253 (Gln253), Asp279, and Ala284 of VP2 are involved in the virulence, cell tropism, and pathogenic phenotype of virulent IBDV.     

Sensitivity of rabies virus to type I interferon is determined by the phosphoprotein gene

The growth of a virulent strain of fixed rabies virus, Nishigahara, in mouse neuroblastoma NA cells treated with type I interferon (IFN) was compared with that of a derivative avirulent strain, Ni-CE. Nishigahara strain was slightly sensitive to IFN treatment but still grew more efficiently than did Ni-CE strain in IFN-treated NA cells. Furthermore, a virulent chimeric virus with the phosphoprotein gene from Nishigahara strain in the Ni-CE genome was less sensitive to IFN treatment than was Ni-CE strain, indicating that the IFN sensitivity is determined by the phosphoprotein gene of the virus.     

Identification of the Mechanisms Causing Reversion to Virulence in an Attenuated SARS-CoV for the Design of a Genetically Stable Vaccine

A SARS-CoV lacking the full-length E gene (SARS-CoV-∆E) was attenuated and an effective vaccine. Here, we show that this mutant virus regained fitness after serial passages in cell culture or in vivo, resulting in the partial duplication of the membrane gene or in the insertion of a new sequence in gene 8a, respectively. The chimeric proteins generated in cell culture increased virus fitness in vitro but remained attenuated in mice. In contrast, during SARS-CoV-∆E passage in mice, the virus incorporated a mutated variant of 8a protein, resulting in reversion to a virulent phenotype. When the full-length E protein was deleted or its PDZ-binding motif (PBM) was mutated, the revertant viruses either incorporated a novel chimeric protein with a PBM or restored the sequence of the PBM on the E protein, respectively. Similarly, after passage in mice, SARS-CoV-∆E protein 8a mutated, to now encode a PBM, and also regained virulence. These data indicated that the virus requires a PBM on a transmembrane protein to compensate for removal of this motif from the E protein. To increase the genetic stability of the vaccine candidate, we introduced small attenuating deletions in E gene that did not affect the endogenous PBM, preventing the incorporation of novel chimeric proteins in the virus genome. In addition, to increase vaccine biosafety, we introduced additional attenuating mutations into the nsp1 protein. Deletions in the carboxy-terminal region of nsp1 protein led to higher host interferon responses and virus attenuation. Recombinant viruses including attenuating mutations in E and nsp1 genes maintained their attenuation after passage in vitro and in vivo. Further, these viruses fully protected mice against challenge with the lethal parental virus, and are therefore safe and stable vaccine candidates for protection against SARS-CoV.     

Chimeric animal and plant viruses expressing epitopes of outer membrane protein F as a combined vaccine against Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection

Outer membrane protein F of Pseudomonas aeruginosa has vaccine efficacy against infection by P. aeruginosa as demonstrated in a variety of animal models. Through the use of synthetic peptides, three surface-exposed epitopes have been identified. These are called peptides 9 (aa 261-274 in the mature F protein, TDAYNQKLSERRAN), 10 (aa 305-318, NATAEGRAINRRVE), and 18 (aa 282-295, NEYGVEGGRVNAVG). Both the peptide 9 and 10 epitopes are protective when administered as a vaccine. In order to develop a vaccine that is suitable for use in humans, including infants with cystic fibrosis, the use of viral vector systems to present the protective epitopes has been investigated. An 11-amino acid portion of epitope 10 (AEGRAINRRVE) was successfully inserted into the antigenic B site of the hemagglutinin on the surface of influenza virus. This chimeric influenza virus protects against challenge with P. aeruginosa in the mouse model of chronic pulmonary infection. Attempts to derive a chimeric influenza virus carrying epitope 9 have been unsuccessful. A chimeric plant virus, cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV), with epitopes 18 and 10 expressed in tandem on the large coat protein subunit (CPMV-PAE5) was found to elicit antibodies that reacted exclusively with the 10 epitope and not with epitope 18. Use of this chimeric virus as a vaccine afforded protection against challenge with P. aeruginosa in the mouse model of chronic pulmonary infection. Chimeric CPMVs with a single peptide containing epitopes 9 and 18 expressed on either of the coat proteins are in the process of being evaluated. Epitope 9 was successfully expressed on the coat protein of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), and this chimeric virus is protective when used as a vaccine in the mouse model of chronic pulmonary infection. However, initial attempts to express epitope 10 on the coat protein of TMV have been unsuccessful. Efforts are continuing to construct chimeric viruses that express both the 9 and 10 epitopes in the same virus vector system. Ideally, the use of a vaccine containing two epitopes of protein F is desirable in order to greatly reduce the likelihood of selecting a variant of P. aeruginosa that escapes protective antibodies in immunized humans via a mutation in a single epitope within protein F. When the chimeric influenza virus containing epitope 10 and the chimeric TMV containing epitope 9 were given together as a combined vaccine, the immunized mice produced antibodies directed toward both epitopes 9 and 10. The combined vaccine afforded protection against challenge with P. aeruginosa in the chronic pulmonary infection model at approximately the same level of efficacy as provided by the individual chimeric virus vaccines. These results prove in principle that a combined chimeric viral vaccine presenting both epitopes 9 and 10 of protein F has vaccine potential warranting continued development into a vaccine for use in humans.     

Genetic basis of influenza virus virulence: gene composition and virulence of reassortants between mouse-adapted and nonadapted strains from different subtypes

Reassortment analysis of the pneumovirulence for mice marker of influenza virus has been performed. The original A/USSR/90/77 (H1H1) influenza virus strain or its mouse-adapted variant were crossed with a variant of A/Aichi/2/68 (H3N2) influenza virus highly virulent for mice. The reassortant having HA gene of the original A/USSR/90/77 virus and the other genes of the highly virulent A/Aichi/2/68 strain was avirulent for mice, whereas a similar reassortant possessing HA gene of the mouse-adapted A/USSR/90/77 strain was as virulent as A/Aichi/2/68 parent virus. The reasortant having HA and M genes of A/Aichi/2/68 and other genes of the mouse-adapted A/USSR/90/77 was moderately virulent, resembling in this respect the latter parent. The data indicates that changes in the different genes in course of viral adaptation to mice result in a differential acquisition of virulence for mice.     

The hemagglutinin-neuraminidase protein of Newcastle disease virus determines tropism and virulence

The hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) plays a crucial role in the process of infection. However, the exact contribution of the HN gene to NDV pathogenesis is not known. In this study, the role of the HN gene in NDV virulence was examined. By use of reverse genetics procedures, the HN genes of a virulent recombinant NDV strain, rBeaudette C (rBC), and an avirulent recombinant NDV strain, rLaSota, were exchanged. The hemadsorption and neuraminidase activities of the chimeric viruses showed significant differences from those of their parental strains, but heterotypic F and HN pairs were equally effective in fusion promotion. The tissue tropism of the viruses was shown to be dependent on the origin of the HN protein. The chimeric virus with the HN protein derived from the virulent virus exhibited a tissue predilection similar to that of the virulent virus, and vice versa. The chimeric viruses with reciprocal HN proteins either gained or lost virulence, as determined by a standard intracerebral pathogenicity index test of chickens and by the mean death time in chicken embryos (a measure devised to classify these viruses), indicating that virulence is a function of the amino acid differences in the HN protein. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the virulence of NDV is multigenic and that the cleavability of F protein alone does not determine the virulence of a strain.     

Determinants of virulence of classical swine fever virus strain Brescia

Two related classical swine fever virus (CSFV) strain Brescia clones were isolated from blood samples from an infected pig. Virus C1.1.1 is a cell-adapted avirulent variant, whereas CoBrB is a virulent variant. Sequence analysis revealed 29 nucleic acid mutations in C1.1.1, resulting in 9 amino acid substitutions compared to the sequence of CoBrB (476)R. Using reverse genetics, parts of the genomes of these viruses, which contain differences that lead to amino acid changes, were exchanged. Animal experiments with chimeric viruses derived from C1.1.1 and CoBrB (476)R showed that a combination of amino acid changes in the structural and nonstructural regions reduced the virulence of CSFV in pigs. Moreover, the presence of a Leu at position 710 in structural envelope protein E2 seemed to be an important factor in the virulence of the virus. Changing the Leu at position 710 in the CoBrB (476)S variant into a His residue did not affect virulence. However, the (710)His in the C1.1.1/CoBrB virus, together with adaptive mutations (276)R, (476)R, and (477)I in E(rns), resulted in reduced virulence in pigs. These results indicated that mutations in E(rns) and E2 alone do not determine virulence in pigs. The results of in vitro experiments suggested that a high affinity for heparan sulfate of C1.1.1 E(rns) may reduce the spread of the C1.1.1/CoBrB virus in pigs and together with the altered surface structure of E2 caused by the (710)L-->H mutation may result in a less efficient infection of specific target cells in pigs. Both these features contributed to the attenuation of the C1.1.1/CoBrB virus in vivo.     

Mechanism of differences in pathogenicity between two variants of a laboratory strain of herpes simplex virus type 1

The mechanisms responsible for the difference in neurovirulence to inbred mice between two variants of the Miyama strain of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) were studied. After intraperitoneal (i.p.) inoculation, the +GC (LPV) variant reached the spinal cord and the brain, and caused death. Conversely, the -GCr variant lacked the ability to gain access to the central nervous system (CNS) after the same route of infection and failed to kill susceptible mice. The initial virus growth after i.p. inoculation, as indicated by the number of infective centers (ICs) produced by the peritoneal exudate cells (PECs), was compared between these two variants. The virulent +GC (LPV) strain induced much more ICs than the attenuated -GCr variant. When the attenuated variant was preinoculated i.p. 24 hr before the challenge inoculation with the virulent variant by the same route, the production of ICs by the pathogenic variant was highly inhibited, and growth of this variant did not occur in the CNS. Thus, mice were protected from lethal infection by the virulent variant by preinoculation with the attenuated one. Moreover, the ability of mice to resist i.p. infection by HSV-1 was shown to be age-dependent.     

Mutations responsible for adaptation of hepatitis A virus to efficient growth in cell culture.

Chimeric genomes of hepatitis A virus strain HM-175 were constructed from cDNA clones of the wild-type virus and its cell culture-adapted variant. RNA transcribed in vitro from each construct was assayed for infectivity by transfection of cultured cells. RNA transcribed from the wild-type cDNA clone was minimally infectious and produced virus that grew inefficiently in vitro, whereas that transcribed from certain chimeric genomes consistently produced virus that grew efficiently in cultured cells. Mutations in the P2 region were found to be necessary for efficient virus growth in vitro, while mutations in the 5' noncoding region imparted a conditional enhancement of growth in vitro.     

Increased mucosal transmission but not enhanced pathogenicity of the CCR5-tropic,simian AIDS-inducing simian/human immunodeficiency virus SHIV(SF162P3) maps to envelope gp120

Through rapid serial transfer in vivo, the chimeric CCR5-tropic simian/human immunodeficiency virus SHIV(SF162) evolved from a virus that is nonpathogenic and poorly transmissible across the vaginal mucosa to a variant that still maintains CCR5 usage but which is now pathogenic and establishes intravaginal infection efficiently. To determine whether envelope glycoprotein gp120 is responsible for increased pathogenesis and transmissibility of the variant SHIV(SF162P3), we cloned and sequenced the dominant envelope gene (encoding P3 gp120) and characterized its functions in vitro. Chimeric SHIV(SF162) virus expressing P3 gp120 of the pathogenic variant, designated SHIV(SF162PC), was also constructed and assessed for its pathogenicity and mucosal transmissibility in vivo. We found that, compared to wild-type SHIV(SF162) gp120, P3 gp120 conferred in vitro neutralization resistance and increased entry efficiency of the virus but was compromised in its fusion-inducing capacity. In vivo, SHIV(SF162PC) infected two of two and two of three rhesus macaques by the intravenous and intravaginal routes, respectively. Nevertheless, although peak viremia reached 10(6) to 10(7) RNA copies per ml of plasma in some infected animals and was associated with depletion of gut-associated CD4(+) lymphocytes, none of the animals maintained a viral set point that would be predictive of progression to disease. Together, the data from this study suggest a lack of correlation between entry efficiency and cytopathic properties of envelope glycoproteins with viral pathogenicity. Furthermore, whereas env gp120 contains the determinant for enhanced mucosal transmissibility of SHIV(SF162P3), the determinant(s) of its increased virulence may require additional sequence changes in env gp41 and/or maps to other viral genes.     

Identification of VP1/2A and 2C as virulence genes of hepatitis A virus and demonstration of genetic instability of 2C

Fourteen different chimeric virus genomes were constructed from two infectious cDNA clones encoding a virulent and an attenuated isolate, respectively, of the HM175 strain of hepatitis A virus. The ability of each recombinant virus to infect tamarins and to cause acute hepatitis was determined. Comparisons of the genotype and phenotype of each virus suggested that VP1/2A and 2C genes were responsible for virulence. The 2C gene derived from the attenuated parent virus was unstable, and one or more mutations arose in this gene during the first passage in tamarins.     

Experimental adaptation of an RNA virus mimics natural evolution

Identification of virulence determinants of viruses is of critical importance in virology. In search of such determinants, virologists traditionally utilize comparative genomics between a virulent and an avirulent virus strain and construct chimeras to map their locations. Subsequent comparison reveals sequence differences, and through analyses of site-directed mutants, key residues are identified. In the absence of a naturally occurring virulent strain, an avirulent strain can be functionally converted to a virulent variant via an experimental evolutionary approach. However, the concern remains whether experimentally evolved virulence determinants mimic those that have evolved naturally. To provide a direct comparison, we exploited a plant RNA virus, soybean mosaic virus (SMV), and its natural host, soybean. Through a serial in vivo passage experiment, the molecularly cloned genome of an avirulent SMV strain was converted to virulent variants on functionally immune soybean genotypes harboring resistance factor(s) from the complex Rsv1 locus. Several of the experimentally evolved virulence determinants were identical to those discovered through a comparative genomic approach with a naturally evolved virulent strain. Thus, our observations validate an experimental evolutionary approach to identify relevant virulence determinants of an RNA virus.     

A group B coxsackievirus/poliovirus 5' nontranslated region chimera can act as an attenuated vaccine strain in mice

The linear, single-stranded enterovirus RNA genome is flanked at either end with a nontranslated region (NTR). By replacing the entire 5' NTR of coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) with that from type 1 poliovirus, a progeny virus was obtained following transfection of HeLa cells. The chimeric virus, CPV/49, replicates like the parental CVB3 strain in HeLa cells but is attenuated for replication and yield in primary human coronary artery endothelial cell cultures, in a human pancreas tumor cell line, and in primary murine heart fibroblast cultures. Western blotting analyses of CPV/49 replication in murine heart fibroblast cultures demonstrate that synthesis of CPV/49 proteins is significantly slower than that of the parental CVB3 strain. CPV/49 replicates in murine hearts and pancreata, causing no disease in hearts and a minor pancreatic inflammation in some mice that resolves by 28 days postinoculation. A single inoculation with CPV/49 induces protective anti-CVB3 neutralizing antibody titers that completely protect mice from both heart and pancreatic disease when mice are challenged 28 days p.i. with genetically diverse virulent strains of CVB3. That a chimeric CVB3 strain, created from sequences of two virulent viruses, is sufficiently attenuated to act as an avirulent, protective vaccine strain in mice suggests that chimeric genome technology merits further evaluation for the development of new nonpoliovirus enteroviral vectors.     

Yellow fever/Japanese encephalitis chimeric viruses: construction and biological properties

A system has been developed for generating chimeric yellow fever/Japanese encephalitis (YF/JE) viruses from cDNA templates encoding the structural proteins prM and E of JE virus within the backbone of a molecular clone of the YF17D strain. Chimeric viruses incorporating the proteins of two JE strains, SA14-14-2 (human vaccine strain) and JE Nakayama (JE-N [virulent mouse brain-passaged strain]), were studied in cell culture and laboratory mice. The JE envelope protein (E) retained antigenic and biological properties when expressed with its prM protein together with the YF capsid; however, viable chimeric viruses incorporating the entire JE structural region (C-prM-E) could not be obtained. YF/JE(prM-E) chimeric viruses grew efficiently in cells of vertebrate or mosquito origin compared to the parental viruses. The YF/JE SA14-14-2 virus was unable to kill young adult mice by intracerebral challenge, even at doses of 10(6) PFU. In contrast, the YF/JE-N virus was neurovirulent, but the phenotype resembled parental YF virus rather than JE-N. Ten predicted amino acid differences distinguish the JE E proteins of the two chimeric viruses, therefore implicating one or more residues as virus-specific determinants of mouse neurovirulence in this chimeric system. This study indicates the feasibility of expressing protective antigens of JE virus in the context of a live, attenuated flavivirus vaccine strain (YF17D) and also establishes a genetic system for investigating the molecular basis for neurovirulence determinants encoded within the JE E protein.