Protection of Rabbits and Immunodeficient Mice against Lethal Poxvirus Infections by Human Monoclonal Antibodies

Smallpox (variola virus) is a bioweapon concern. Monkeypox is a growing zoonotic poxvirus threat. These problems have resulted in extensive efforts to develop potential therapeutics that can prevent or treat potentially lethal poxvirus infections in humans. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against smallpox are a conservative approach to this problem, as the licensed human smallpox vaccine (vaccinia virus, VACV) primarily works on the basis of protective antibody responses against smallpox. Fully human mAbs (hmAbs) against vaccinia H3 (H3L) and B5 (B5R), targeting both the mature virion (MV) and extracellular enveloped virion (EV) forms, have been developed as potential therapeutics for use in humans. Post-exposure prophylaxis was assessed in both murine and rabbit animal models. Therapeutic efficacy of the mAbs was assessed in three good laboratory practices (GLP) studies examining severe combined immunodeficiency mice (SCID) given a lethal VACV infection. Pre-exposure combination hmAb therapy provided significantly better protection against disease and death than either single hmAb or vaccinia immune globulin (VIG). Post-exposure combination mAb therapy provided significant protection against disease and death, and appeared to fully cure the VACV infection in ≥50% of SCID mice. Therapeutic efficacy was then assessed in two rabbit studies examining post-exposure hmAb prophylaxis against rabbitpox (RPXV). In the first study, rabbits were infected with RPVX and then provided hmAbs at 48 hrs post-infection, or 1 hr and 72 hrs post-infection. Rabbits in both groups receiving hmAbs were 100% protected from death. In the second rabbitpox study, 100% of animal treated with combination hmAb therapy and 100% of animals treated with anti-B5 hmAb were protected. These findings suggest that combination hmAb treatment may be effective at controlling smallpox disease in immunocompetent or immunodeficient humans.     

Production of Native Bispecific Antibodies in Rabbits

Background

A natural bispecific antibody, which can be produced by exchanging Fab arms of two IgG4 molecules, was first described in allergic patients receiving therapeutic injections with two distinct allergens. However, no information has been published on the production of natural bispecific antibody in animals. Even more important, establishment of an animal model is a useful approach to investigate and characterize the naturally occurring antibody.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We demonstrated that a natural bispecific antibody can also be generated in New Zealand white rabbits by immunization with synthesized conjugates. These antibodies showed bispecificity to the components that were simultaneously used to immunize the animals. We observed a trend in our test animals that female rabbits exhibited stronger bispecific antibody responses than males. The bispecific antibody was monomeric and primarily belonged to immunoglobulin (Ig) G. Moreover, bispecific antibodies were demonstrated by mixing 2 purified monospecific antibodies in vivo and in vitro.

Conclusions/Significance

Our results extend the context of natural bispecific antibodies on the basis of bispecific IgG4, and may provide insights into the exploration of native bispecific antibodies in immunological diseases.     

Survival of Listeria monocytogenes in Experimentally Infected Mice

Physiological saline was found to be very detrimental to the viability of Listeria monocytogenes. The LD(50) value was substantially reduced when peptone was used as the suspending fluid rather than saline. Normal splenic tissue was not inhibitory to the survival of Listeria. In experimentally infected mice, L. monocytogenes survived for 8 days in the peritoneal cavity and for at least 11 days in the spleen.     

实验小鼠体内曼氏裂头蚴移行途径及分布的研究

从王锦蛇Elaphe carinate体内检取曼氏裂头蚴Spirometra mansoni,口服法以5条/只感染昆明小鼠,于感染后10 min、20 min、30 min、1 h、2 h、4 h、6 h、24 h、7 d、14 d分别处死一组小鼠(3只小鼠/组),观察裂头蚴在小鼠体内的移行及分布。发现小鼠经口服感染裂头蚴后,裂头蚴最早于10 min穿透胃肠壁;感染后20 min,腹腔内已见穿过肠壁的裂头蚴;感染后10 min至6 h,裂头蚴主要见于胃肠腔、胃肠壁和腹腔内;感染24 h,有少数的裂头蚴移行至小鼠皮下;感染7 d后,大多数的裂头蚴移行至皮下组织,从颈部、躯干及头部皮下组织检获的裂头蚴数分别为7条、6条和1条;脑、心脏、肝脏、肾脏及肺等器官未见裂头蚴寄生。小鼠感染曼氏裂头蚴后,裂头蚴经胃肠壁进入腹腔,随后移行至身体的组织器官内寄生,其中以皮下组织多见。     

Chemotherapy of Mice Experimentally Infected with Shigella flexneri

A chronic infection with Shigella flexneri 2a has been established in mice for the evaluation of compounds for therapeutic potential. Evidence of infection is indicated by prolonged symptomless excretion in the feces and by positive isolation of organisms from different segments of the intestinal tract and from mesenteric lymph nodes. Serum antibody titer reaches a maximum after 9 days of infection and remains at a low level until 32 days postinfection. In this model, five drugs used in human shigellosis were evaluated for efficacy. Ampicillin was found to be the most active followed by oxytetracycline and kanamycin. Neomycin and colistin were the least active in this system.     

Infectious Chikungunya Virus in the Saliva of Mice,Monkeys and Humans

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a reemerging, ordinarily mosquito-transmitted, alphavirus that occasionally produces hemorrhagic manifestations, such as nose bleed and bleeding gums, in human patients. Interferon response factor 3 and 7 deficient (IRF3/7^-/-) mice, which are deficient for interferon α/β responses, reliably develop hemorrhagic manifestations after CHIKV infection. Here we show that infectious virus was present in the oral cavity of CHIKV infected IRF3/7^-/- mice, likely due to hemorrhagic lesions in the olfactory epithelium that allow egress of infected blood into the nasal, and subsequently, oral cavities. In addition, IRF3/7^-/- mice were more susceptible to infection with CHIKV via intranasal and oral routes, with IRF3/7^-/- mice also able to transmit virus mouse-to-mouse without an arthropod vector. Cynomolgus macaques often show bleeding gums after CHIKV infection, and analysis of saliva from several infected monkeys also revealed the presence of viral RNA and infectious virus. Furthermore, saliva samples collected from several acute CHIKV patients with hemorrhagic manifestations were found to contain viral RNA and infectious virus. Oral fluids can therefore be infectious during acute CHIKV infections, likely due to hemorrhagic manifestations in the oral/nasal cavities.     

Anti Transglutaminase Antibodies Cause Ataxia in Mice

Background

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune gastrointestinal disorder characterized by the presence of anti-transglutaminase 2 (TG2) and anti-gliadin antibodies. Amongst the neurological dysfunctions associated with CD, ataxia represents the most common one.

Methods

We analyzed by immunohistochemistry, the anti-neural reactivity of the serum from 20 CD patients. To determine the role of anti-TG2 antibodies in ataxia, two anti-TG2 single chain variable fragments (scFv), isolated from a phage-display IgA antibody library, were characterized by immunohistochemistry and ELISA, and injected in mice to study their effects on motor coordination. We found that 75% of the CD patient population without evidence of neurological involvement, has circulating anti-neural IgA and/or IgG antibodies. Two anti-TG2 scFvs, cloned from one CD patient, stained blood vessels but only one reacted with neurons. This anti-TG2 antibody showed cross reactivity with the transglutaminase isozymes TG3 and TG6. Intraventricular injection of the anti-TG2 or the anti-TG2/3/6 cross-reactive scFv provoked transient, equally intensive ataxia in mice.

Conclusion

The serum from CD patients contains anti-TG2, TG3 and TG6 antibodies that may potentially cause ataxia.     

Besnoitia jellisoni in Macrophages and Cysts From Experimentally Infected Laboratory Mice*

SYNOPSIS. Besnoitia jellisoni from experimentally infected laboratory mice (Mus musculus) was studied by means of electron microscopy. After inoculation into the peritoneal cavity, the parasites were often found within vacuoles in macrophages, in which they underwent multiplication. About 10 days after inoculation, the peritoneal fluid became free of macrophages with parasites. The latter were then seen not earlier than 3–8 weeks later within cysts, which were distributed within the reticular endothelial system indicating transport of the parasites by macrophages. Within macrophages and cysts the parasites reproduced by endodyogeny and occasionally by endopolygeny. In serial sections of some specimens, the inner membranes of the daugther merozoites were found to be continuous with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Cytochemical studies showed that acid phosphatase was present within the ER and between the inner membranes of the pellicle. These findings indicate the origin of the inner membranes from the ER.     

Longitudinal Study of Hepatitis A Infection by Saliva Sampling: The Kinetics of HAV Markers in Saliva Revealed the Application of Saliva Tests for Hepatitis A Study

Despite the increasing numbers of studies investigating hepatitis A diagnostic through saliva, the frequency and the pattern of hepatitis A virus (HAV) markers in this fluid still remains unknown. To address this issue, we carried on a longitudinal study to examine the kinetics of HAV markers in saliva, in comparison with serum samples. The present study followed-up ten patients with acute hepatitis A infection during 180 days post diagnosis (dpd). Total anti-HAV was detected in paired serum and saliva samples until the end of the follow-up, showing a peak titer at 90^th. However, total anti-HAV level was higher in serum than in saliva samples. This HAV marker showed a probability of 100% to be detected in both serum and saliva during 180 dpd. The IgM anti-HAV could be detected in saliva up to 150 dpd, showing the highest frequency at 30^th, when it was detected in all individuals. During the first month of HAV infection, this acute HAV marker showed a detection probability of 100% in paired samples. The detection of IgM anti-HAV in saliva was not dependent on its level in serum, HAV-RNA detection and/or viral load, since no association was found between IgM anti-HAV positivity in saliva and any of these parameter (p>0.05). Most of the patients (80%) were found to contain HAV-RNA in saliva, mainly at early acute phase (30^th day). However, it was possible to demonstrate the HAV RNA presence in paired samples for more than 90 days, even after seroconversion. No significant relationship was observed between salivary HAV-RNA positivity and serum viral load, demonstrating that serum viral load is not predictive of HAV-RNA detection in saliva. Similar viral load was seen in paired samples (on average 10⁴ copies/mL). These data demonstrate that the best diagnostic coverage can be achieved by salivary anti-HAV antibodies and HAV-RNA tests during 30–90 dpd. The long detection and high probability of specific-HAV antibodies positivity in saliva samples make the assessment of salivary antibodies a useful tool for diagnosis and epidemiological studies. The high frequency of HAV-RNA in saliva and the probability of detection of about 50%, during the first 30 dpd, demonstrate that saliva is also useful for molecular investigation of hepatitis A cases, mainly during the early course of infection. Therefore, the collection of saliva may provide a simple, cheap and non-invasive means of diagnosis, epidemiological surveys and monitoring of hepatitis A infection purposes.     

兔支气管败血波氏杆菌单克隆抗体的制备及鉴定

目的建立能稳定分泌抗兔支气管败血波氏杆菌（Bb）的单克隆抗体杂交瘤细胞株,为今后进一步建立该菌的免疫检测技术奠定基础。方法以Bb分离株BLJ05的灭活菌液为免疫原,腹腔免疫BALB/c小鼠,采用常规杂交瘤技术制备Bb单克隆抗体（McAb）,用间接ELISA、Western-blot等方法对McAb特性进行鉴定。结果获得两株能稳定分泌抗Bb单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株,分别命名为A7D5和D6B2,其小鼠腹水抗体效价分别为1∶409600和1∶102400;且不与兔大肠杆菌、多杀性巴氏杆菌、产气荚膜梭菌等兔的常见病原菌反应,特异性强。两株单抗亲和力实验表明A7D5亲和力略高于D6B2。ELISA相加试验表明它们针对相同的抗原表位。结论成功建立了两株能稳定分泌抗兔支气管败血波氏杆菌单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株,效价高、特异性强,为今后建立该菌的免疫检测技术建立奠定了基础。     

Canine Antibodies against Salivary Recombinant Proteins of Phlebotomus perniciosus: A Longitudinal Study in an Endemic Focus of Canine Leishmaniasis

BackgroundPhlebotomine sand flies are vectors of Leishmania parasites. During blood feeding, sand flies deposit into the host skin immunogenic salivary proteins which elicit specific antibody responses. These anti-saliva antibodies enable an estimate of the host exposure to sand flies and, in leishmaniasis endemic areas, also the risk for Leishmania infections. However, the use of whole salivary gland homogenates as antigen has several limitations, and therefore, recombinant salivary proteins have been tested to replace them in antibody detection assays. In this study, we have used for the first time sand fly salivary recombinant proteins in a longitudinal field study on dogs.ConclusionsThese results suggest that P. perniciosus rSP03B protein is a valid alternative to whole saliva and could be used in large-scale serological studies. This novel method could be a practical and economically-sound tool to detect the host exposure to sand fly bites in CanL endemic areas.     

小鼠和兔原代乳腺上皮细胞的培养

目的：对小鼠和兔的原代乳腺上皮细胞进行培养。方法：取小鼠和免的乳腺组织,用加葡萄糖的PBS稀释胶原酶Ⅲ作消化液、分三个阶段进行消化,选择离心后的小细胞团,用含激素的培养液培养。结果：在基本培养液中添加10ng／ml的表皮生长因子和5μg／ml的胰岛素可以使乳腺上皮细胞富集．结论：成功地培养出了小鼠和免的原代乳腺上皮细胞。     

汉坦病毒感染诱导乳鼠脑神经细胞表达热休克蛋白70

生后2－3天的昆明乳鼠,每只腹腔接种0.05mL100个半数致死量的陈株汉坦病毒,于接种后不同时间点处死动物,取其脑组织常规固定,石蜡包埋制备5μm连续组织片,用免疫组化法检测组织中的病毒抗原及热休克蛋白70的表达,用共聚焦显微镜观察二者之间的关系。结果发现,感染了病毒的组织能够稳定地检测到热休克蛋白70的表达,而病毒阴性的组织则检测不到热休克蛋白70的表达,且二者有共定位关系,其分布与组织病变一致。这与在病毒感染的VeroE6细胸及EHF病人尸检组织中得到的结果一致,说明病毒感染可诱导热休克蛋白70的表达,后者可能具有保护组织避免或减轻损伤的作用。     

Immunopathological Changes in the Brain of Immunosuppressed Mice Experimentally Infected with Toxocara canis

Toxocariasis is a soil-transmitted helminthozoonosis due to infection of humans by larvae of Toxocara canis. The disease could produce cognitive and behavioral disturbances especially in children. Meanwhile, in our modern era, the incidence of immunosuppression has been progressively increasing due to increased incidence of malignancy as well as increased use of immunosuppressive agents. The present study aimed at comparing some of the pathological and immunological alterations in the brain of normal and immunosuppressed mice experimentally infected with T. canis. Therefore, 180 Swiss albino mice were divided into 4 groups including normal (control) group, immunocompetent T. canis-infected group, immunosuppressed group (control), and immunosuppressed infected group. Infected mice were subjected to larval counts in the brain, and the brains from all mice were assessed for histopathological changes, astrogliosis, and IL-5 mRNA expression levels in brain tissues. The results showed that under immunosuppression, there were significant increase in brain larval counts, significant enhancement of reactive gliosis, and significant reduction in IL-5 mRNA expression. All these changes were maximal in the chronic stage of infection. In conclusion, the immunopathological alterations in the brains of infected animals were progressive over time, and were exaggerated under the effect of immunosuppression as did the intensity of cerebral infection.     

汉坦病毒感染诱导乳鼠脑神经细胞表达热休克蛋白70

生后2～3天的昆明乳鼠,每只腹腔接种0.05mL100个半数致死量的陈株汉坦病毒,于接种后不同时间点处死动物,取其脑组织常规固定,石蜡包埋制备5μm连续组织切片,用免疫组化法检测组织中的病毒抗原及热休克蛋白70的表达,用共聚焦显微镜观察二者之间的关系。结果发现,感染了病毒的组织能够稳定地检测到热休克蛋白70的表达,而病毒阴性的组织则检测不到热休克蛋白70的表达,且二者有共定位关系,其分布与组织病变一致。这与在病毒感染的VeroE6细胞及EHF病人尸检组织中得到的结果一致,说明病毒感染可诱导热休克蛋白70的表达,后者可能具有保护组织避免或减轻损伤的作用。     

Effects of Different Rearing Strategies and Ages on Levels of Natural Antibodies in Saliva of the Philippine Crocodile

The endemic Philippine crocodile(Crocodylus mindorensis) is a relatively small, critically endangered freshwater crocodile. In a head start program, crocodile hatchlings are caught in the wild, reared in captivity, and released back into the wild after two years. The current study aimed to determine optimal rearing strategies of Philippine crocodile hatchlings, including identification of possible diseases during rearing, and studying the effect of ages on natural antibody(NAb) levels. Thirty Philippine crocodiles were divided into two groups, half were reared with a hiding board, and half without the hiding board. Both groups received three different kinds of diets: meat, shrimp, or a combination of both. Saliva samples of the crocodiles were taken three times over a period of three months to test for NAb levels. Saliva samples were also taken from older crocodiles and crocodiles from different locations. NAb titres were compared to sheep red blood cells. Each time saliva samples were taken, a health check was done. The results showed that crocodiles would prefer the hiding board, and neither housing nor diet could affect the level of NAb titres in saliva. A positive correlation was found between NAb titres and body size, weight and age. Wild hatchlings had higher NAb titres than the hatchlings born in captivity, but the difference diminished with ageing. Five different diseases were found.