Efficient isolation of human parainfluenza viruses 1 and 3 using MNT‐1, a human malignant melanoma cell line system that exhibits an apparent cytopathic effect

Isolation of human parainfluenza virus (HPIV) serotypes 1 and 3 from clinical specimens is not very efficient because of the lack of a cell culture system capable of inducing CPE. In this study, the utility of a melanoma cell line, MNT‐1, that allows HPIV growth and displays CPE was demonstrated. In particularly, the efficiency of isolating HPIV1 and HPIV3 using MNT‐1 was greater than for cell lines conventionally used for HPIV isolation. Our demonstrated efficacy of HPIV1 and HPIV3 isolation with apparent CPE using the MNT‐1 cell culture system has the potential to improve virus isolation from clinical specimens.     

浙江省SARS冠状病毒分离与系统进化树分析

从浙江省3例SARS患者中收集含漱液标本,经处理后接种Vero、RD、VeroE6和Hep-2细胞进行病毒分离,培养3d后在Vero和RD细胞中可观察到细胞病变。从细胞培养上清中提取病毒核酸,用SARS冠状病毒特异性引物进行RT-PCR,并经测序证实从3份临床样本中分离到2株SARS冠状病毒株。对其中1株病毒的基因组进行了全序列测定并作系统进化树分析显示浙汀省SARS冠状病毒株与新加坡2774株和台湾TW1株最为接近。     

Vero及Vero-dst细胞对犬瘟热病毒敏感性比较

目的为了更好地分离犬瘟热病毒（CDV）并确诊犬瘟热,本实验比较了Vero及Vero-dst细胞对此病毒的敏感性。方法将CDV标准毒株Snyder Hill株及临床犬瘟热阳性犬组织匀浆分别接种Vero及Vero-dst两种细胞,通过观察细胞病变、检测病毒滴度（TCID50）,并通过RT-PCR法进行比较,分析两种细胞对CDV的敏感性。结果接种病毒后Vero细胞盲传5代始终未见细胞病变,而Vero-dst细胞12 h出现了明显的合胞样细胞病变,且RT-PCR扩增出了CDV基因特异性片段。结论 Vero-dst细胞对CDV表现了良好的敏感性,是体外分离培养CDV的一个有效细胞系。而所本实验中使用的Vero细胞并不适于CDV的分离与培养。另外,本实验利用Vero-dst细胞从临床犬瘟热阳性病例中成功分离到了野毒株,并确定其毒力较标准毒株毒力强,可用于进一步的研究。     

Susceptibility of human and rat neural cell lines to infection by SARS-coronavirus

Pathological characterization of autopsied tissues from patients with SARS revealed severe damage in restricted tissues, such as lung, with no apparent cell damage in other tissues, such as intestine and brain. Here, we examined the susceptibility of neural cell lines of human (OL) and rat (C6) origins to SARS-associated coronavirus. Both of the neural cell lines showed no apparent cytopathic effects (CPE) by infection but produced virus with infectivity of 10(2-5) per ml, in sharp contrast to the production by infected Vero E6 cells of >10(9) per ml that showed a lytic infection with characteristic rounding CPE. Interestingly, the infection of intestinal cell line CaCo-2 also induced no apparent CPE, with production of the virus at a slightly lower level as that of the Vero E6 cell culture. Notably, the cellular receptor for the virus, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 was expressed at similar levels on Vero E6 and CaCo-2 cells, but at undetectable levels on OL and C6 cells.     

A novel 111‐nucleotide duplication in the G gene of human metapneumovirus

In 2017, novel human metapneumovirus (HMPV) A2b subgroup strains with a 111‐nucleotide duplication in the G gene was detected by the present team. These strains were related to previously identified HMPV A2b strains with a 180‐nucleotide duplication; however, they appeared to be different strains, produced by an independent duplication event. The recent evolution of HMPV suggests that careful monitoring of this virus is required.

     

Regeneration of multiple shoots from transgenic potato events facilitates the recovery of phenotypically normal lines: assessing a cry9Aa2 gene conferring insect resistance

Background

Tools for authenticating cell lines are critical for quality control in cell-based biological experiments. Currently there are methods to authenticate human cell lines using short tandem repeat (STR) markers based on the technology and procedures successfully used in the forensic community for human identification, but there are no STR based methods for authenticating nonhuman cell lines to date. There is significant homology between the human and vervet monkey genome and we utilized these similarities to design the first multiplex assay based on human STR markers for vervet cell line identification.

Results

The following STR markers were incorporated into the vervet multiplex PCR assay: D17S1304, D5S1467, D19S245, D1S518, D8S1106, D4S2408, D6S1017, and DYS389. The eight markers were successful in uniquely identifying sixty-two vervet monkey DNA samples and confirmed that Vero76 cells and COS-7 cells were derived from Vero and CV-1 cells, respectively. The multiplex assay shows specificity for vervet DNA within the determined allele range for vervet monkeys; however, the primers will also amplify human DNA for each marker resulting in amplicons outside the vervet allele range in several of the loci. The STR markers showed genetic stability in over sixty-nine passages of Vero cells, suggesting low mutation rates in the targeted STR sequences in the Vero cell line.

Conclusions

A functional vervet multiplex assay consisting of eight human STR markers with heterozygosity values ranging from 0.53-0.79 was successful in uniquely identifying sixty-two vervet monkey samples. The probability of a random match using these eight markers between any two vervet samples is approximately 1 in 1.9 million. While authenticating a vervet cell line, the multiplex assay may also be a useful indicator for human cell line contamination since the assay is based on human STR markers.     

Comparative biochemical and immunocytochemical studies reveal differences in the effects of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin on polarized CaCo-2 cells versus Vero cells.

Since most in vitro studies exploring the action of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) utilize either Vero or CaCo-2 cells, the current study directly compared the CPE responsiveness of those two cell lines. When CPE-treated in suspension, both CaCo-2 and Vero cells formed SDS-resistant, CPE-containing complexes of approximately 135, approximately 155, and approximately 200 kDa. However, confluent Transwell cultures of either cell line CPE-treated for 20 min formed only the approximately 155-kDa complex. Since those Transwell cultures also exhibited significant (86)Rb release, approximately 155-kDa complex formation is sufficient for CPE-induced cytotoxicity. Several differences in CPE responsiveness between the two cell lines were also detected. (i) CaCo-2 cells were more sensitive when CPE-treated on their basal surface, whereas Vero cells were more sensitive when CPE-treated on their apical surface; those sensitivity differences correlated with CPE binding the apical versus basolateral surfaces of these two cell lines. (ii) CPE-treated Vero cells released (86)Rb into both Transwell chambers, whereas CaCo-2 cells released (86)Rb only into the CPE-containing Transwell chamber. (iii) Vero cells express the tight junction (TJ) protein occludin but (unlike CaCo-2 cells) cannot form TJs. The ability of TJs to affect CPE responsiveness is supported by the similar effects of CPE on Transwell cultures of CaCo-2 cells and Madin-Darby canine kidney cells, another polarized cell forming TJs. Confluent CaCo-2 Transwell cultures CPE-treated for >1 h formed the approximately 200-kDa CPE complex (which also contains occludin), exhibited morphologic damage, and had occludin removed from their TJs. Collectively, these results identify CPE as a bifunctional toxin that, in confluent polarized cells, first exerts a cytotoxic effect mediated by the approximately 155-kDa complex. Resultant damage then provides CPE access to TJs, leading to approximately 200-kDa complex formation, internalization of some TJ proteins, and TJ damage that may increase paracellular permeability and thereby contribute to the diarrhea of CPE-induced gastrointestinal disease.     

表达犬CD150的Vero细胞系的建立

目的建立表达CD150基因的非洲绿猴肾细胞系Vero-CD150,提高犬瘟热病毒的分离效率。方法分离健康犬血液中的白细胞,并克隆编码CD150的基因,构建真核表达质粒pIRES-CD150,将该质粒转染Vero细胞系,经过克隆化筛选获得Vero-CD150细胞系。利用RT-PCR、流式细胞仪（FCM）进行鉴定,同时对临床检测为阳性的自然发病犬,取肝、肺、脾脏等脏器为病料,接种于Vero-CD150细胞系。结果RT-PCR和流式细胞仪皆检测到CD150在Vero细胞中能够稳定表达;与Vero细胞系相比,Vero-CD150细胞系的生长特性相似;接种病料后,感染细胞不仅产生明显的细胞病变,且用RT-PCR可检测到病毒核酸。结论本试验使CD150基因能在体外转入正常的非洲绿猴肾细胞系Vero中,获得稳定表达CD150基因的Vero细胞亚克隆,并使后者结合CDV的能力明显增强。该细胞系的建立,为更有效的分离犬瘟热病毒打下了基础,可用于进一步研究。     

Influence of media selection on NMR based metabolic profiling of human cell lines

Introduction

Comparative metabolic profiling of different human cancer cell lines can reveal metabolic pathways up-regulated or down-regulated in each cell line, potentially providing insight into distinct metabolism taking place in different types of cancer cells. It is noteworthy, however, that human cell lines available from public repositories are deposited with recommended media for optimal growth, and if cell lines to be compared are cultured on different growth media, this introduces a potentially serious confounding variable in metabolic profiling studies designed to identify intrinsic metabolic pathways active in each cell line.

Objectives

The goal of this study was to determine if the culture media used to grow human cell lines had a significant impact on the measured metabolic profiles.

Methods

NMR-based metabolic profiles of hydrophilic extracts of three human pancreatic cancer cell lines, AsPC-1, MiaPaCa-2 and Panc-1, were compared after culture on Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) or Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI-1640) medium.

Results

Comparisons of the same cell lines cultured on different media revealed that the concentrations of many metabolites depended strongly on the choice of culture media. Analyses of different cell lines grown on the same media revealed insight into their metabolic differences.

Conclusion

The choice of culture media can significantly impact metabolic profiles of human cell lines and should be considered an important variable when designing metabolic profiling studies. Also, the metabolic differences of cells cultured on media recommended for optimal growth in comparison to a second growth medium can reveal critical insight into metabolic pathways active in each cell line.

     

Alteration of the In Vitro Host Range of Rabies Virus after Serial Chick Embryo Cell Passage Using Alkaline Maintenance Medium

HEP Flury strain of rabies virus maintained by 7-day chicken egg passage (parent line) and the same strain serially passaged in primary chick embryo (CE) cells using alkaline maintenance medium (AM line) were inoculated to cells of various species. Growth was negative in primary mouse embryo, L and HeLa cells, and positive in primary hamster kidney and BHK21 cells with both lines. An all-or-none difference between the two lines was observed in primary monkey kidney and Vero cells. The parent line did not multiply in these monkey cells, whereas the AM line grew to high titers. In the case of Vero cells a unique cytopathic effect (CPE) was induced by the AM line. After five consecutive passages in Vero cells, the CPE-inducing agent was identified as rabies virus by a neutralization test. It was infective to intracerebrally inoculated suckling mice but not to adult mice, and its Vero cell-infective titer determined by CPE induction was about 1 log lower than the baby mouse-infective and CE plaque-forming titers. In contrast to the AM line, HEP Flury strain receiving 150 CE cell passages under neutral maintenance medium and three other strains receiving similar CE cell passages all failed to grow in Vero cells.     

不同动物源性细胞系对猪丁型冠状病毒的易感性

[目的]探究猪丁型冠状病毒(porcine deltacoronavirus,PDCoV)能否在不同动物源性细胞系中感染和增殖.[方法]本研究将PDCoV四川分离株CHN-SC2015接种来自仓鼠、家禽、猴、人和猪的12种细胞系,将病毒在每种细胞系中盲传至少5代并通过逆转录-聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)、实时荧光定量...     

Exogenous ACE2 expression allows refractory cell lines to support severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus replication

Of 30 cell lines and primary cells examined, productive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (Urbani strain) (SARS-CoV) infection after low-multiplicity inoculation was detected in only six: three African green monkey kidney epithelial cell lines (Vero, Vero E6, and MA104), a human colon epithelial line (CaCo-2), a porcine kidney epithelial line [PK(15)], and mink lung epithelial cells (Mv 1 Lu). SARS-CoV produced a lytic infection in Vero, Vero E6, and MA104 cells, but there was no visible cytopathic effect in Caco-2, Mv 1 Lu, or PK(15) cells. Multistep growth kinetics were identical in Vero E6 and MA104 cells, with maximum titer reached 24 h postinoculation (hpi). Virus titer was maximal 96 hpi in CaCo-2 cells, and virus was continually produced from infected CaCo-2 cells for at least 6 weeks after infection. CaCo-2 was the only human cell type of 13 tested that supported efficient SARS-CoV replication. Expression of the SARS-CoV receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), resulted in SARS-CoV replication in all refractory cell lines examined. Titers achieved were variable and dependent upon the method of ACE2 expression.     

Efficient isolation of wild strains of canine distemper virus in Vero cells expressing canine SLAM (CD150) and their adaptability to marmoset B95a cells

We have previously shown that canine signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM; also known as CD150) acts as a cellular receptor for canine distemper virus (CDV). In this study, we established Vero cells stably expressing canine SLAM (Vero.DogSLAMtag cells). Viruses were isolated in Vero.DogSLAMtag cells one day after inoculation with spleen samples from five out of seven dogs with distemper. By contrast, virus isolation with reportedly sensitive marmoset B95a cells was only successful from three diseased animals at 7 to 10 days after inoculation, and no virus was recovered from any dogs when Vero cells were used for isolation. The CDV strain isolated in Vero.DogSLAMtag cells did not cause cytopathic effects in B95a and human SLAM-expressing Vero cells, whereas the strain isolated in B95a cells from the same dog did so in canine or human SLAM-expressing Vero cells as well as B95a cells. There were two amino acid differences in the hemagglutinin sequence between these strains. Cell fusion analysis after expression of envelope proteins and vesicular stomatitis virus pseudotype assay showed that their hemagglutinins were responsible for the difference in cell tropism between them. Site-directed mutagenesis indicated that glutamic acid to lysine substitution at position 530 of the hemagglutinin was required for the adaptation to the usage of marmoset SLAM. Our results indicate that Vero cells stably expressing canine SLAM are highly sensitive to CDV in clinical specimens and that only a single amino acid substitution in the hemagglutinin can allow the virus to adapt to marmoset SLAM.     

Susceptibility of continuous lines of monkey kidney cells to influenza and parainfluenza viruses in the presence of trypsin

LLC-MK2, GMK AH-1, BSC-1, and Vero cells were compared in titrations of recent isolates and laboratory strains of influenza A and B and parainfluenza types 1, 2, and 3 viruses. About the same titres, as determined by haemadsorption in cell cultures, were obtained in LLC-MK2, GMK AH-1, and BSC-1 cells when trypsin had been added to the medium, whereas the Vero cells were less sensitive to the influenza virus strains tested. Virus titres were usually low in the absence of trypsin. A laboratory strain of parainfluenza 2 virus reached about the same titres in medium without as in medium with trypsin, possibly owing to prior adaptation by passages in Vero cells. Comparative titrations of influenza A, and parainfluenza 1 and 3 viruses suggested the same susceptibility of LLC-MK2 cells with trypsin as of primary monkey kidney cells. Re-isolation experiments from 38 clinical specimens showed LLC-MK2 cells to be as efficient as primary monkey kidney cells for isolation of influenza and parainfluenza viruses, whereas the susceptibility of the other cell lines to clinical material has not yet been tested on a larger scale. It is concluded that a continuous line of monkey kidney cell culture may be acceptable as an alternative to primary monkey kidney cells for the isolation of influenza and parainfluenza viruses from patients.     

Polyethyleneimine-based immunopolyplex for targeted gene transfer in human lymphoma cell lines

Background

Specific and efficient delivery of genes into targeted cells is a priority objective in non‐viral gene therapy. Polyethyleneimine‐based polyplexes have been reported to be good non‐viral transfection reagents. However, polyplex‐mediated DNA delivery occurs through a non‐specific mechanism. This article reports the construction of an immunopolyplex, a targeted non‐viral vector based on a polyplex backbone, and its application in gene transfer over human lymphoma cell lines.

Methods

Targeting elements (biotin‐labeled antibodies), which should recognize a specific element of the target cell membrane and promote nucleic acid entry into the cell, were attached to the polyplex backbone through a bridge protein (streptavidin). Immunopolyplex transfection activity was studied in several hematological cell lines [Jurkat (CD3+/CD19?), Granta 519 (CD3?/ CD19+), and J.RT3‐T3.5 (CD3?/CD19?)] using the EGFP gene as a reporter gene and anti‐CD3 and anti‐CD19 antibodies as targeting elements. Transfection activity was evaluated via green fluorescence per cell and the percentage of positive cells determined by flow cytometry.

Results

A significant selectivity of gene delivery was observed, since the anti‐CD3 immunopolyplex worked only in Jurkat cells while the anti‐CD19 immunopolyplex worked only in the Granta cell line. Moreover, transfection of a CD3+/CD3? cell mixture with anti‐CD3 immunopolyplexes showed up to 16‐fold more transfection in CD3+ than in CD3? cells. Several non‐specific transfection reagents showed poor or no transfection activity.

Conclusion

It is concluded that immunopolyplex is a good non‐viral vector for specific and selective nucleic acid delivery. Immunopolyplex design allows easy replacement of the targeting element (antibody) – the streptavidin–polyplex backbone remaining intact – thereby conferring high versatility. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

     

An ultra scale‐down methodology to characterize aspects of the response of human cells to processing by membrane separation operations

Tools that allow cost‐effective screening of the susceptibility of cell lines to operating conditions which may apply during full scale processing are central to the rapid development of robust processes for cell‐based therapies. In this paper, an ultra scale‐down (USD) device has been developed for the characterization of the response of a human cell line to membrane‐based processing, using just a small quantity of cells that is often all that is available at the early discovery stage. The cell line used to develop the measurements was a clinically relevant human fibroblast cell line. The impact was evaluated by cell damage on completion of membrane processing as assessed by trypan blue exclusion and release of intracellular lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Similar insight was gained from both methods and this allowed the extension of the use of the LDH measurements to examine cell damage as it occurs during processing by a combination of LDH appearance in the permeate and mass balancing of the overall operation. Transmission of LDH was investigated with time of operation and for the two disc speeds investigated (6,000 and 10,000 rpm or ? _max ≈ 1.9 and 13.5 W mL^?1, respectively). As expected, increased energy dissipation rate led to increased transmission as well as significant increases in rate and extent of cell damage. The method developed can be used to test the impact of varying operating conditions and cell lines on cell damage and morphological changes. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2017;114: 1241–1251. © 2017 The Authors. Biotechnology and Bioengineering Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.