Sensitivity of Ribonucleic Acid and Deoxyribonucleic Acid Viruses to Different Species of Interferon in Cell Cultures

Although two deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) viruses, pseudorabies (PsRV) and vaccinia, are as susceptible as a ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus, vesicular stomatitis (VSV), to interferon when tested in chicken or mouse cells, they are refractory to inhibition in interferon-treated primary rabbit kidney cells and in a continuous line (RK-13) of rabbit kidney cells. Superinfection with VSV of RK-13 cells first infected with PsRV completely blocks the replication of PsRV with no effect on VSV yield. When the same experiment is carried out in RK-13 cells pretreated with 1,000 units of interferon, VSV replication is inhibited, which permits PsRV to replicate normally. These findings demonstrate that in the same cell one virus (PsRV) can be refractory to interferon and a second virus (VSV) can be susceptible. These experiments show that rabbit kidney cell cultures are deficient in the synthesis of resistance factors active against the DNA viruses tested and raise the possibility that separate resistance factors may exist for RNA and DNA viruses. In the case of sequential infection of interferon-treated RK-13 cells with vaccinia and VSV, it was found that not only was vaccinia replication refractory to inhibition by interferon, but also that prior infection with vaccinia was able to partially reverse the effect of the inhibitor on the replication of the VSV used for superinfection. On the basis of these and other data it is postulated that a vaccinia virion component or a replication product of vaccinia virus, or both, enables VSV to escape the inhibiting action of interferoninduced resistance factors.     

Factors Affecting the Sensitivity of Different Viruses to Interferon

When the sensitivities to interferon of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) were compared by the plaque reduction method in chick embryo cell cultures, NDV was found to be 45-fold more resistant than VSV. This difference was exaggerated when a multiple-cycle yield inhibition method was employed. In marked contrast, when the same viruses were tested by a single-cycle yield inhibition method, the difference in sensitivity to interferon of the two viruses was virtually eliminated. Further investigation showed that, in chick embryo cells exposed to interferon, the resistance to NDV decayed more rapidly than resistance to VSV. This finding explained the divergent results obtained with the two viruses when single- or multiple-cycle replication techniques were employed. Experiments carried out with L cells showed that cellular antiviral resistance decayed much more slowly in these cells than in chick embryo cells. Consequently, when measured by the plaque reduction method in L cells, no difference was observed in the sensitivity to interferon of VSV and NDV(pi), a mutant of NDV which replicates efficiently in L cells. A procedure is suggested for determining the relative sensitivities to interferon of different viruses under conditions which minimize the role of decay of antiviral resistance in the host cells.     

Interferon Induction by Viruses

Interferons are proteins of cellular origin capable of conferring virus resistance to vertebrate cells. Most cells do not produce interferons except in response to proper stimulation. Clearly, the stimulation of interferon production encompasses two phenomena. When stimulated, some cell systems produce their interferons by synthesizing new proteins. Other cell systems do not require the synthesis of new proteins to produce interferons, and still other cell systems may produce interferons by both means. Before much can be learned from the detailed study of the nature of the molecules which stimulate interferons, the type of phenomenon which the stimulus induces must be identified. Chick embryo tissues apparently make interferons by synthesizing new proteins. Many viruses stimulate interferon production in chick embryo tissues. Data available suggest that neither the protein nor nucleic acid moieties of the added virions act as inducing molecules. Also, double-stranded replicative form is probably not responsible. It is suggested that the inducer molecule may be cellular in nature and may be produced in response to a wide variety of insults among which are viral infections.     

病毒虫传相关蛋白

昆虫传播的植物病毒种类多、危害大。病毒虫传包括获毒、携毒与传毒3个阶段,是病毒、昆虫、植物互作的复杂过程,其中涉及到多种蛋白质。本文对与昆虫传播病毒有关的蛋白质进行了综述,并分析了这些蛋白质研究的科学意义与发展趋势,为植物病毒病的防治研究提供了一些思路。     

Molecular Aspects of Interferon Induction by Viruses

Virus-induced interferon formation depends on the presence within the cell of a viral ribonucleic acid. This RNA may either be double stranded or, in certain cases, single stranded. The double-stranded RNA can be derived from a virus, such as reovirus, which contains this type of RNA, or it may be synthesized within the cell using viral single-stranded RNA as a template. Single-stranded RNA must possess a stable configuration in solution to be active, and certain viral RNA molecules appear to be active for this reason. The presence of this RNA triggers a derepression event, which is probably nuclear, by an unknown mechanism, and this is followed by the production of an interferon messenger RNA and its translation. Little is known of the derepression event or the events that follow it.     

不同冬小麦品种对氮肥反应敏感性研究

以土垫旱耕人为土为供试土壤进行盆栽试验,在不同施氮水平条件下,以NR9405、9430、偃师9号、小偃6号陕229、西农2208、矮丰3号等7个冬小麦品种为材料,研究不同品种冬小麦对氮肥反应敏感性。结果表明：7个品种中,9430、西农2208、偃师9号和NR9405属于氮肥较敏感品种,小偃6号和矮丰3号属于氮肥敏感性较差品种,陕229居中。小偃6号对氮肥的反应敏感性最差,属于典型的对氮肥反应不敏感型品种。根据对不同品种干物质转移量、干物质转移效率和转移干物质对籽粒贡献率的分析,将供试品种分为两类：一类是在生长后期（开花至成熟）主要靠同化产物的继续大量形成和转移而影响籽粒产量,可称为“后期同化累积型”;另一类在生长后期则主要靠开花前干物质的转移而影响产量,可称为“后期物质转移型”。偃师9号、西农2208和9430属于比较典型的“后期同化累积型”,而小偃6号属于比较典型的“后期物质转移型”。将不同品种地上部分干物质、氮素累积对氮肥反应的敏感性对比分析后发现,“后期同化累积型”品种对氮肥反应相对敏感,“后期物质转移型”对氮肥反应的敏感性差,这种差异性可能与“后期同化累积型”在生长后期仍需继续从介质中吸收大量氮素,以满足同化需要,而“后期物质转移型”在生育后期主要靠花前吸收氮素转移和再分配以满足花后同化需要,从介质中吸收的氮素有限有关。     

Inhibition of Plant Viruses by Human Gamma Interferon

In order to evaluate the inhibitory effect induced by gamma interferon (Hu g IFN) on plant viruses, pre-inoculation treatments (brushing the leaves) were carried out in two different plant-virus systems: D. stramonium* TMV and G. globosa* PVX. Results showed that Hu g IFN induced a higher inhibitory effect (IP = 90%) in D. stramonium* TMV system (Table 1). Comparing the antiviral effect of the three IFNs: gamma, alpha and beta-like interferons, it was verified that Hu g IFN was more effective than the other two (Table 2). Hu g IFN was also used for post-inoculation treatments (incubation of tobacco leaf-discs) and using different dilutions a dose response curve could be obtained (Fig. 1). Hu g IFN inhibitory effect was confirmed by the neutralization of its inhibitory effect using monoclonal antibody (Table 3). Results suggest that although the three IFNs differ in their composition, they present similarities in their biological activities probably triggering an antiviral state in plants.     

Resistance of Aerosolized Bacterial Viruses to Relative Humidity and Temperature

The use of aerosolized bacteriophages as surrogates for hazardous viruses might simplify and accelerate the discovery of links between viral components and their persistence in the airborne state under diverse environmental conditions. In this study, four structurally distinct lytic phages, MS2 (single-stranded RNA [ssRNA]), ϕ6 (double-stranded RNA [dsRNA]), ϕX174 (single-stranded DNA [ssDNA]), and PR772 (double-stranded DNA [dsDNA]), were nebulized into a rotating chamber and exposed to various levels of relative humidity (RH) and temperature as well as to germicidal UV radiation. The aerosolized viral particles were allowed to remain airborne for up to 14 h before being sampled for analysis by plaque assays and quantitative PCRs. Phages ϕ6 and MS2 were the most resistant at low levels of relative humidity, while ϕX174 was more resistant at 80% RH. Phage ϕ6 lost its infectivity immediately after exposure to 30°C and 80% RH. The infectivity of all tested phages rapidly declined as a function of the exposure time to UVC radiation, phage MS2 being the most resistant. Taken altogether, our data indicate that these aerosolized phages behave differently under various environmental conditions and highlight the necessity of carefully selecting viral simulants in bioaerosol studies.     

Transfer Efficiency of Bacteria and Viruses from Porous and Nonporous Fomites to Fingers under Different Relative Humidity Conditions

Fomites can serve as routes of transmission for both enteric and respiratory pathogens. The present study examined the effect of low and high relative humidity on fomite-to-finger transfer efficiency of five model organisms from several common inanimate surfaces (fomites). Nine fomites representing porous and nonporous surfaces of different compositions were studied. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus thuringiensis, MS2 coliphage, and poliovirus 1 were placed on fomites in 10-μl drops and allowed to dry for 30 min under low (15% to 32%) or high (40% to 65%) relative humidity. Fomite-to-finger transfers were performed using 1.0 kg/cm² of pressure for 10 s. Transfer efficiencies were greater under high relative humidity for both porous and nonporous surfaces. Most organisms on average had greater transfer efficiencies under high relative humidity than under low relative humidity. Nonporous surfaces had a greater transfer efficiency (up to 57%) than porous surfaces (<6.8%) under low relative humidity, as well as under high relative humidity (nonporous, up to 79.5%; porous, <13.4%). Transfer efficiency also varied with fomite material and organism type. The data generated can be used in quantitative microbial risk assessment models to assess the risk of infection from fomite-transmitted human pathogens and the relative levels of exposure to different types of fomites and microorganisms.     

病毒靶向人I型干扰素受体1的负调控机制

人Ⅰ型干扰素（type I interferon, IFN-I）的诱生和应答在机体抗病毒固有免疫中发挥重要作用。但病毒多可逃逸宿主此类抗病毒免疫,导致感染和致病。Ⅰ型干扰素受体（interferon alpha receptor, IFNAR）是识别及结合IFN-I的一种跨细胞膜蛋白受体,其IFNAR1亚型在干扰素发挥抗病毒效应的启动阶段发挥关键作用;本文从IFNAR1蛋白质的表达、降解及其功能等方面,概述病毒以IFNAR1为靶点负调控IFN-I的抗病毒机制,以期为该领域基础研究和临床抗病毒策略提供有益的参考依据。     

The Basis for Different Sensitivities of Photosynthesis to SO2 in Two Cultivars of Pea

Alscher, R., Bower, J. L. and Zipfel, W. 1987. The basis fordifferent sensitivities of photosynthesis to SO₂ in two cultivarsof pea.—J. exp. Bot. 38: 99–108. The response of several physiological parameters to exposureto SO₂ (0?8 ppm and 0?6 ppm) was studied in two cultivars ofPisum sativum in which photosynthesis showed a different sensitivityto SO₂. Leaf conductance was slightly reduced during exposureto SO₂ in the sensitive but not the insensitive cultivar. Moresulphite accumulated in the leaves of the sensitive than inthose of the insensitive cultivar. Total leaf content of reducedglutathione in the insensitive cultivar increased during exposureto SO₂, while in the sensitive cultivar there was no increaseuntil the post-exposun period. The activities of fructose l,6-bisphosphataseand glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase did not decreasegreatly in either cultivar, although activities of enzymes fromthe sensitive cultivar were more affected by SO₂ than were thoseof the insensitive cultivar. Exposure to SO₂ also had littleeffect on either coupled or uncoupled electron transport ofisolated thylakoids from the leaves of either cultivar. Increasedglutathione in the insensitive cultivar may protect the photosyntheticapparatus against SO₂ Key words: SO₂, photosynthesis, light modulation, glutathione     

Assessment of Aerosol Mixtures of Different Viruses

Aerosol mixtures of the psittacosis agent, yellow fever virus, and variola virus were assayed by selective immunofluorescence in conjunction with fluorescent cell counting. The aerosol behavior of each agent could be readily delineated at test conditions of 80 F (26.67 C) and three relative humidities (30, 50, or 80%). Of the three agents, variola virus exhibited the lowest biological decay. The biological decay rates of the airborne agents were not significantly affected by humidity changes.     

Relative Susceptibility of Four Pine Species to Infection by Pinewood Nematode

Mature trees of eastern white, jack, Scotch, and shortleaf pines were inoculated with 25,000-34,000 pinewood nematodes, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, isolated from infected Scotch pines in Missouri. Equal numbers of trees of each species inoculated with distilled water served as controls. Nine of fifteen Scotch pines died within 4 months of nematode infection or during the winter and early spring following infection. A single eastern white and shortleaf pine died. No jack pines died. A single Scotch pine control died, apparently the result of natural nematode infection. No other controls died. Mean oleoresin flow did not differ among nematode-inoculated jack and shortleaf pines and their respective controls. Oleoresin flow in nematode-inoculated eastern white and Scotch pines was significantly lower than in their controls. Oleoresin flow was temporarily reduced in mortality-resistant eastern white and Scotch pines following nematode infection. Thus a sublethal impact of nematode infection on mortality-resistant host trees was documented.     

Comparison of the Interferon γ-Binding Proteins of the Variola and Monkeypox Viruses

PCR was used to amplify DNA fragments containing the genes for interferon γ (IFNγ)-binding proteins (IFNγBPs) of the variola virus (VARV) and monkeypox virus (MPXV). The genes were expressed from baculovirus DNAs in Sf21 insect cells. The recombinant proteins were isolated from the culture medium by affinity chromatography. PAGE and Western blot analysis of the culture media and affinity-purified recombinant proteins showed that, in contrast to their cell analogs, the viral IFNγBPs form dimers in the absence of the ligand, human IFNγ. The biological activity of recombinant IFNγBPs was inferred from suppression of the protective effect of human IFNγ on L68 cells infected with the mouse encephalomyocarditis virus. The viral proteins showed a dose-dependent IFNγ-neutralizing effect. The prospects of using IFNγBPs as IFNγ antagonists are discussed.     

Influence of Relative Humidity on the Survival of Some Airborne Viruses

A system for studying the effects of relative humidity (RH) and temperature on biological aerosols, utilizing a modified toroid for a static aerosol chamber, is described. Studies were conducted at 23 C and at three RH levels (10, 35, and 90%) with four viruses (Newcastle disease virus, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, and Escherichia coli B T3 bacteriophage). Virus loss on aerosol generation was consistently lower at 90% than at 10 or 35% RH. When stored at 23 C, Newcastle disease virus and vesicular stomatitis virus survived best at 10% RH. Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus and E. coli B T3 bacteriophage survived storage at 23 C best at 90% RH.