Pathogenesis of human parainfluenza virus 3 infection in two species of cotton rats: Sigmodon hispidus develops bronchiolitis, while Sigmodon fulviventer develops interstitial pneumonia.

Human parainfluenza virus 3 replicates well in the noses and lungs of two species of cotton rats, Sigmodon hispidus and Sigmodon fulviventer. Peak viral titers of nearly 10(6) PFU/g are reached 2 days after infection in both tissues, are maintained through day 5, and are equivalent in the two species. Infectious virus is eliminated by day 8 after infection. Both species produce a strong neutralizing antibody response with titers of 1:10,000 4 weeks after infection. Viral replication in the nasal epithelium results in only minor histological changes, and viral antigen is found only in the apical portion of epithelial cells. Infection of S. hispidus causes a bronchiolitis with a peribronchiolar lymphoid cell infiltration that reaches a peak 6 days after infection, and there is only a minor component of interstitial pneumonia. In contrast, infection of S. fulviventer causes an interstitial pneumonia, and this lesion reaches its maximal extent by 6 days after infection. There is minimal peribronchiolar lymphoid cell infiltration in infected S. fulviventer. Lung lesions in both species of cotton rats are largely healed 9 days after infection, and the lungs are indistinguishable from those of uninfected controls 16 days after infection. These species of cotton rats offer separate models for the two major pulmonary manifestations of human parainfluenza virus 3 infection. The models may be useful for basic studies of the pathogenesis of this infection and for initial evaluation of candidate vaccines.     

Pathogenesis of adenovirus type 5 pneumonia in cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus).

Cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) were inoculated intranasally with 10(2.0) to 10(10.0) PFU of human adenovirus type 5. The virus replicated to a high titer in pulmonary tissues, with the peak titer being proportional to the input dose. The 50% lethal dose was 10(9.4) PFU. Histopathologic changes were proportional to the infecting inoculum and included the infiltration of interstitial and intra-alveolar areas, moderate damage to bronchiolar epithelium, and cellular infiltration of peribronchiolar and perivascular regions. These changes could be divided into two phases: an early phase (affecting alveoli, bronchiolar epithelium, and peribronchiolar regions) with an infiltrate consisting primarily of monocytes-macrophages and neutrophils, with occasional lymphocytes, and a later phase (affecting peribronchiolar and perivascular regions) with an infiltrate consisting almost exclusively of lymphocytes. In both phases, the predominant process was the response of the host to infection, rather than direct viral damage to infected cells. An infecting inoculum of 10(8.0) PFU or larger caused severe damage to type II alveolar cells, which were swollen, showed a loss of lamellar bodies, and were surrounded by polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages. No evidence of complete viral replication was found in type II alveolar cells.     

Strongyloidiasis in cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) from central Oklahoma

Thirty-one of 40 cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) collected from central Oklahoma were infected with Strongyloides sp. (78% prevalence). Larvae of Strongyloides sp. (rhabditiform or filariform) were not demonstrable in intestinal contents and scrapings. Female nematodes recovered from intestinal contents and scrapings had morphological similarities with Strongyloides sigmodontis. Cotton rats infected with Strongyloides sp. were indistinguishable clinically from non-infected hosts. Infected animals had no significant gross lesions, but the presence of Strongyloides sp. in the intestinal mucosa was associated with villus atrophy and mild to moderate infiltration of the lamina propria by lymphocytes, plasma cells and occasional eosinophils. Other organs or tissues examined were free from lesions induced by Strongyloides sp.     

Echinococcus multilocularis: responses to infection in cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus)

Various aspects of the responses of cotton rats to intraperitoneal infections with Echinococcus multilocularis were examined to determine if they could be related to the progress of the infection. At 14 weeks post-infection, infected animals had enlarged spleens; there was a slight decrease in packed cell volume, but no reticulocytosis. The number of all four types of leukocytes in the peripheral blood (lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils) increased during the course of the infection. In the peritoneal fluid, the numbers of neutrophils increased, monocytes and basophils decreased, and lymphocytes and eosinophils remained unchanged. Antibodies to E. multilocularis were detected in the serum of infected cotton rats as early as 2 weeks post-infection. The mean levels of transaminases (SGOT and SGPT) in the serum of infected animals were higher than in controls, and 5'-nucleotidase levels were elevated in heavily infected animals. There were no differences in responses between male and female animals. Comparison with results previously obtained suggest that both the outcome of the infection, and responses to it, may be under host control.     

Characterization of bovine parainfluenza virus type 3.

Bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV-3) has a buoyant density of 1.197. The RNA of PIV-3, like that of Sendai virus, is a single continuous chain which lacks polyadenylic acid sequences and tends to self-anneal to a marked extent. It has a sedimentation coefficient of 42S and a molecular weight of 4.5 X 10(6), being slightly smaller than Sendai virus RNA (47S, 5.3 X 10(6)). PIV-3 has 5 main structural proteins, of which 2 are glycoproteins. The molecular weights of protein 1, protein 2, protein 3, glycoprotein 1, and glycoprotein 2 were estimated to be 79,000, 68,000, 35,000, 69,000, and 55,000, respectively. Protein 2 was suggested to be nucleocapsid protein.     

Expression of the surface glycoproteins of human parainfluenza virus type 3 by bovine parainfluenza virus type 3, a novel attenuated virus vaccine vector

Bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 (bPIV3) is being evaluated as an intranasal vaccine for protection against human PIV3 (hPIV3). In young infants, the bPIV3 vaccine appears to be infectious, attenuated, immunogenic, and genetically stable, which are desirable characteristics for an RNA virus vector. To test the potential of the bPIV3 vaccine strain as a vector, an infectious DNA clone of bPIV3 was assembled and recombinant bPIV3 (r-bPIV3) was rescued. r-bPIV3 displayed a temperature-sensitive phenotype for growth in tissue culture at 39 degrees C and was attenuated in the lungs of Syrian golden hamsters. In order to test whether r-bPIV3 could serve as a vector, the fusion and hemagglutinin-neuraminidase genes of bPIV3 were replaced with those of hPIV3. The resulting bovine/human PIV3 was temperature sensitive for growth in Vero cells at 37 degrees C. The replication of bovine/human PIV3 was also restricted in the lungs of hamsters, albeit not as severely as was observed for r-bPIV3. Despite the attenuation phenotypes observed for r-bPIV3 and bovine/human PIV3, both of these viruses protected hamsters completely upon challenge with hPIV3. In summary, bPIV3 was shown to function as a virus vector that may be especially suitable for vaccination of infants and children against PIV3 and other viruses.     

Sarcocystis sigmodontis n. sp. from the cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus)

Sarcocystis sarcocysts were found in 3 of 4 cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) from Atlanta, Georgia. Sarcocysts were several centimetres long and were present only in skeletal muscles. The sarcocyst wall appeared thin (less than 1 micron), with minute projections in the light microscope. By transmission electron microscopy, the sarcocyst wall had 0.6-1.0 x 0.21-0.36-micron villar protrusions without microtubules. The metrocytes were 6.5 x 3.8 micron, and the bradyzoites were 8 x 2.7 micron. The sarcocysts were not infectious for dogs and cats. The parasite was named Sarcocystis sigmodontis because it differed from all sarcocysts in rodents.     

Measles virus-induced immune suppression in the cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) model depends on viral glycoproteins.

Immune suppression during measles accounts for most of the morbidity and mortality associated with the virus infection. Experimental study of this phenomenon has been hampered by the lack of a suitable animal model. We have used the cotton rat to demonstrate that mitogen-induced proliferation of spleen cells from measles virus-infected animals is impaired. Proliferation inhibition is seen in all lymphocyte subsets and is not dependent on viral replication. Cells which express the viral glycoproteins (hemagglutinin and fusion protein) transiently by transfection induce proliferation inhibition after intraperitoneal inoculation, whereas application of a recombinant measles virus in which measles virus glycoproteins are replaced with the vesicular stomatitis virus G protein does not have an antiproliferative effect. Therefore, in vivo expression of measles virus glycoproteins is sufficient and necessary to induce inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation.     

Lentiviral vectors pseudotyped with envelope glycoproteins derived from human parainfluenza virus type 3

We describe the generation of lentiviruses pseudotyped with human parainfluenza type 3 envelope (HPIV3) glycoproteins. Lentivirus particles, expressed in 293T/17 cells, incorporate HPIV3 hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) and fusion (F) proteins into their lipid bilayers and are able to transduce human kidney epithelial cells and polarized MDCK cells. Neuraminidase, AZT, and anti-HPIV3 antisera block transduction, which is consistent with lentiviral-mediated transduction via sialated receptors for HPIV3. Our findings show that HPIV3 pseudotyped lentiviruses can be formed and may have a number of useful properties for human gene transfer.     

Experimental Helicobacter pylori infection induces antral-predominant, chronic active gastritis in hispid cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus)

BACKGROUND: The hispid cotton rat has proven to be an excellent animal model for a variety of human infectious disease agents. This study was performed to evaluate the use of the cotton rat as a model of Helicobacter pylori infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight inbred cotton rats were orogastrically inoculated with a human strain of H. pylori. Twenty-eight control cotton rats were dosed with vehicle only. Animals were sacrificed at 2, 4, 12, 26, or 38 weeks after inoculation for bacterial and histologic and immunologic examinations. RESULTS: Helicobacter pylori was cultured from the glandular stomach of 89% of the infected cotton rats. The level of colonization was consistently high (approximately 10(4-6) colony-forming units/g tissue). Histologically, the spiral bacteria were demonstrated on the epithelial surface and in the foveolae of the gastric mucosa with highest numbers in the antrum. H. pylori infection was associated with antral-predominant, chronic active gastritis which progressively increased in severity over time. By week 26 of infection, moderate antral gastritis had developed with frequent involvement of the submucosa and formation of lymphocytic aggregates. Splenic T cells from infected cotton rats expressed mRNAs for interferon-gamma, interleukin-4, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10 following in vitro stimulation with H. pylori. Serum levels of H. pylori-specific immunoglobulin G were significantly elevated after 12 weeks of infection. CONCLUSIONS: The H. pylori-infected cotton rat represents a novel animal model that should prove useful for studies of H. pylori-induced chronic active gastritis and factors affecting gastric colonization by this pathogen.     

Chimeric bovine respiratory syncytial virus with attachment and fusion glycoproteins replaced by bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 hemagglutinin-neuraminidase and fusion proteins

Chimeric bovine respiratory syncytial viruses (BRSV) expressing glycoproteins of bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 (BPIV-3) instead of BRSV glycoproteins were generated from cDNA. In the BRSV antigenome cDNA, the open reading frames of the major BRSV glycoproteins, attachment protein G and fusion protein F, were replaced individually or together by those of the BPIV-3 hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) and/or fusion (F) glycoproteins. Recombinant virus could not be recovered from cDNA when the BRSV F open reading frame was replaced by the BPIV-3 F open reading frame. However, cDNA recovery of the chimeric virus rBRSV-HNF, with both glycoproteins replaced simultaneously, and of the chimeric virus rBRSV-HN, with the BRSV G protein replaced by BPIV-3 HN, was successful. The replication rates of both chimeras were similar to that of standard rBRSV. Moreover, rBRSV-HNF was neutralized by antibodies specific for BPIV-3, but not by antibodies specific to BRSV, demonstrating that the BRSV glycoproteins can be functionally replaced by BPIV-3 glycoproteins. In contrast, rBRSV-HN was neutralized by BRSV-specific antisera, but not by BPIV-3 specific sera, showing that infection of rBRSV-HN is mediated by BRSV F. Hemadsorption of cells infected with rBRSV-HNF and rBRSV-HN proved that BPIV-3 HN protein expressed by rBRSV is functional. Colocalization of the BPIV-3 glycoproteins with BRSV M protein was demonstrated by confocal laser scan microscopy. Moreover, protein analysis revealed that the BPIV-3 glycoproteins were present in chimeric virions. Taken together, these data indicate that the heterologous glycoproteins were not only expressed but were incorporated into the envelope of recombinant BRSV. Thus, the envelope glycoproteins derived from a member of the Respirovirus genus can together functionally replace their homologs in a Pneumovirus background.     

Recombinant adenoviruses expressing the E2 protein of bovine viral diarrhea virus induce humoral and cellular immune responses

The E2 protein of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is a major viral glycoprotein and an attractive target for BVDV vaccines. Three replication defective recombinant adenoviruses expressing the BVDV/E2 protein (rAds/E2) were constructed. Two contain a constitutive promoter, and one an inducible promoter. All three recombinant adenoviruses induced very strong BVDV specific antibody responses in a mouse model as detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) and neutralization tests. Induction of cellular immune responses was investigated in two recombinant adenoviruses with a constitutive promoter. The mononuclear cells from the immunized mice demonstrated a proliferative response after in vitro stimulation with an homologous BVDV strain, but only one of them induced the production of IFN-gamma.     

Mechanism of interference mediated by human parainfluenza virus type 3 infection

Viral interference is characterized by the resistance of infected cells to infection by a challenge virus. Mechanisms of viral interference have not been characterized for human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPF3), and the possible role of the neuraminidase (receptor-destroying) enzyme of the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) glycoprotein has not been assessed. To determine whether continual HN expression results in depletion of the viral receptors and thus prevents entry and cell fusion, we tested whether cells expressing wild-type HPF3 HN are resistant to viral infection. Stable expression of wild-type HN-green fluorescent protein (GFP) on cell membranes in different amounts allowed us to establish a correlation between the level of HN expression, the level of neuraminidase activity, and the level of protection from HPF3 infection. Cells with the highest levels of HN expression and neuraminidase activity on the cell surface were most resistant to infection by HPF3. To determine whether this resistance is attributable to the viral neuraminidase, we used a cloned variant HPF3 HN that has two amino acid alterations in HN leading to the loss of detectable neuraminidase activity. Cells expressing the neuraminidase-deficient variant HN-GFP were not protected from infection, despite expressing HN on their surface at levels even higher than the wild-type cell clones. Our results demonstrate that the HPF3 HN-mediated interference effect can be attributed to the presence of an active neuraminidase enzyme activity and provide the first definitive evidence that the mechanism for attachment interference by a paramyxovirus is attributable to the viral neuraminidase.     

Immunization with vaccinia virus recombinants that express the surface glycoproteins of human parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV3) protects patas monkeys against PIV3 infection.

Patas monkeys (Eryphrocebus patas) were immunized intradermally with two vaccinia virus recombinants that individually express the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase glycoprotein or the fusion glycoprotein of human parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV3). These immunizations induced a high titer of PIV3 serum-neutralizing antibodies. At 1 month after immunization, monkeys were challenged intratracheally with PIV3. Subsequent virus replication was reduced in these monkeys by 3.2 log10 and 1.9 log10 (mean peak virus titers) in the upper and lower respiratory tracts, respectively, compared with control animals. The average duration of virus shedding was also reduced from 9.0 to 3.4 days in the upper respiratory tract and from 5.3 to 1.2 days in the lower respiratory tract. These findings demonstrate that a single intradermal dose of live recombinant vaccinia viruses can significantly restrict the replication of a virus which primarily infects the epithelial cells of the respiratory tract.     

Nucleotide sequence of the bovine parainfluenza 3 virus genome: the genes of the F and HN glycoproteins.

By analysing complementary DNA clones constructed from genomic RNA of bovine parainfluenza 3 virus (BPIV3), we determined the nucleotide sequence of the region containing the entire F and HN genes. Their deduced amino acid sequences showed about 80% homologies with those of human parainfluenza 3 virus (HPIV3), about 45% with those of Sendai virus, and about 20% with those of SV5 and Newcastle disease virus (NDV), indicating, together with the results described in the preceding paper on the NP, P, C and M proteins of BPIV3, that BPIV3, HPIV3 and Sendai virus constitute a paramyxovirus subgroup, and that BPIV3 and HPIV3 are very closely related. The F and HN proteins of all these viruses, including SV5 and NDV, however, were shown to have protein-specific structures as well as short but well-conserved amino acid sequences, suggesting that these structures and sequences are related to the activities of these glycoproteins.