Efficacy of Gel Formulations Containing free and Liposomal Foscarnet in a Murine Model of Cutaneous HSV-1 Infection

Abstract

The efficacy of gel formulations containing free and liposomal foscarnet has been evaluated in a murine model of cutaneous Herpes simplex virus type-1 infection. Both formulations were applied topically 3 times daily for 4 days and initiated 24 h post-infection. The penetration of liposomes incorporated into the gel in infected skin tissues was better than that of liposomes dispersed in buffer. Therein, their localization mostly matched that of viral antigen detected by immunoperoxydase staining. Despite these facts, the efficacy of gel formulations of both free and liposomal foscarnet in preventing the development of a zosteriform rash in mice was similar. Electron microscopic examination revealed that liposomes incorporated into the gel formed aggregates together with the micelles of gel. Diffusion studies showed that liposomes were trapped within these aggregates and were hardly able to diffuse across a polycarbonate membrane. In addition, although the liposomes were shown to be highly stable in vitro, the formation of these aggregates destabilized their membrane resulting in a premature release of foscarnet from liposomes. The efficacy of both gel formulations was higher than that of solutions of free or liposomal foscarnet suggesting that the gel formulation is a suitable matrix for the delivery of drugs. Thus, strategies aimed at reducing the interaction of liposomes with the gel could be a convenient approach to improve the efficacy of liposome-encapsulated drug over the free drug.     

Affecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa Phenotypic Plasticity by Quorum Sensing Dysregulation Hampers Pathogenicity in Murine Chronic Lung Infection

In Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing (QS) activates the production of virulence factors, playing a critical role in pathogenesis. Multiple negative regulators modulate the timing and the extent of the QS response either in the pre-quorum or post-quorum phases of growth. This regulation likely increases P. aeruginosa phenotypic plasticity and population fitness, facilitating colonization of challenging environments such as higher organisms. Accordingly, in addition to the factors required for QS signals synthesis and response, also QS regulators have been proposed as targets for anti-virulence therapies. However, while it is known that P. aeruginosa mutants impaired in QS are attenuated in their pathogenic potential, the effect of mutations causing a dysregulated timing and/or magnitude of the QS response has been poorly investigated so far in animal models of infection. In order to investigate the impact of QS dysregulation on P. aeruginosa pathogenesis in a murine model of lung infection, the QteE and RsaL proteins have been selected as representatives of negative regulators controlling P. aeruginosa QS in the pre- and post-quorum periods, respectively. Results showed that the qteE mutation does not affect P. aeruginosa lethality and ability to establish chronic infection in mice, despite causing a premature QS response and enhanced virulence factors production in test tube cultures compared to the wild type. Conversely, the post-quorum dysregulation caused by the rsaL mutation hampers the establishment of P. aeruginosa chronic lung infection in mice without affecting the mortality rate. On the whole, this study contributes to a better understanding of the impact of QS regulation on P. aeruginosa phenotypic plasticity during the infection process. Possible fallouts of these findings in the anti-virulence therapy field are also discussed.     

Melatonin Reverses Fas,E2F-1 and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Mediated Apoptosis and Dysregulation of Autophagy Induced by the Herbicide Atrazine in Murine Splenocytes

Exposure to the herbicide Atrazine (ATR) can cause immunotoxicity, apart from other adverse consequences for animal and human health. We aimed at elucidating the apoptotic mechanisms involved in immunotoxicity of ATR and their attenuation by Melatonin (MEL). Young Swiss mice were divided into control, ATR and MEL+ATR groups based on daily (x14) intraperitoneal administration of the vehicle (normal saline), ATR (100 mg/kg body weight) and MEL (20 mg/kg body weight) with ATR. Isolated splenocytes were processed for detection of apoptosis by Annexin V-FITC and TUNEL assays, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress by immunostaining. Key proteins involved in apoptosis, ER stress and autophagy were quantified by immunoblotting. ATR treatment resulted in Fas-mediated activation of caspases 8 and 3 and inactivation of PARP1 which were inhibited significantly by co-treatment with MEL. MEL also attenuated the ATR-induced, p53 independent mitochondrial apoptosis through upregulation of E2F-1 and PUMA and suppression of their downstream target Bax. An excessive ER stress triggered by ATR through overexpression of ATF-6α, spliced XBP-1, CREB-2 and GADD153 signals was reversed by MEL. MEL also reversed the ATR-induced impairment of autophagy which was indicated by a decline in BECN-1, along with significant enhancement in LC3B-II and p62 expressions. Induction of mitochondrial apoptosis, ER stress and autophagy dysregulation provide a new insight into the mechanism of ATR immunotoxicity. The cytoprotective role of MEL, on the other hand, was defined by attenuation of ER stress, Fas-mediated and p53 independent mitochondria-mediated apoptosis as well as autophagy signals.     

几种细胞因子对HSV─1感染单核巨噬细胞的影响

以ＨＳＶ─１接种人单核细胞系Ｕ＿（９３７）和小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞,并在接种前后分别以不同的细胞因子处理。经病毒滴定、免疫荧光试验检测病毒抗原及多聚酶链反应技术检测病毒基因,研究了细胞因子对ＨＳＶ─１感染单核巨噬细胞的影响。结果证实,ＴＮＦ─α５０ｕ／ｍＬ　、Ｍ─ＣＳＦ２００ｕ／ｍＬＩＦＮ─γ１０００ｕ／ｍＬ、ＩＦＮ－α１０００ｕ／ｍＬ均能增强单核巨噬细胞对ＨＳＶ─１的抗性,加速细胞对ＨＳＶ─１ＤＮＡ的清除,抑制病毒抗原的表达;并能拮抗ＬＰＳ对ＨＳＶ─１在单核巨噬细胞中表达的促进作用。     

细胞自噬在冠状病毒感染中的作用

细胞自噬是一种保守的广泛存在于真核细胞内的溶酶体依赖性分解代谢途径,其通过形成双层膜结构的自噬体降解蛋白质和细胞器,参与物质循环和稳态维持。同时,自噬也能作为机体免疫防御的一部分发挥抗病毒的作用,或是被病毒利用以促进其自身增殖。冠状病毒是一种有囊膜的单股正链RNA病毒,能够诱导双层膜囊泡形成转录复合物,进一步指导病毒基因组的合成。研究表明多个冠状病毒成员能够诱导自噬发生,自噬参与了病毒增殖的多个环节。本文拟对细胞自噬的概况及作用、自噬在病毒感染特别是冠状病毒感染中的作用进行综述,以期为揭示冠状病毒的致病机理提供参考,并为开发冠状病毒的治疗方案提供新思路。     

Quantitative Trait Locus Based Virulence Determinant Mapping of the HSV-1 Genome in Murine Ocular Infection: Genes Involved in Viral Regulatory and Innate Immune Networks Contribute to Virulence

Herpes simplex virus type 1 causes mucocutaneous lesions, and is the leading cause of infectious blindness in the United States. Animal studies have shown that the severity of HSV-1 ocular disease is influenced by three main factors; innate immunity, host immune response and viral strain. We previously showed that mixed infection with two avirulent HSV-1 strains (OD4 and CJ994) resulted in recombinants that exhibit a range of disease phenotypes from severe to avirulent, suggesting epistatic interactions were involved. The goal of this study was to develop a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of HSV-1 ocular virulence determinants and to identify virulence associated SNPs. Blepharitis and stromal keratitis quantitative scores were characterized for 40 OD4:CJ994 recombinants. Viral titers in the eye were also measured. Virulence quantitative trait locus mapping (vQTLmap) was performed using the Lasso, Random Forest, and Ridge regression methods to identify significant phenotypically meaningful regions for each ocular disease parameter. The most predictive Ridge regression model identified several phenotypically meaningful SNPs for blepharitis and stromal keratitis. Notably, phenotypically meaningful nonsynonymous variations were detected in the UL24, UL29 (ICP8), UL41 (VHS), UL53 (gK), UL54 (ICP27), UL56, ICP4, US1 (ICP22), US3 and gG genes. Network analysis revealed that many of these variations were in HSV-1 regulatory networks and viral genes that affect innate immunity. Several genes previously implicated in virulence were identified, validating this approach, while other genes were novel. Several novel polymorphisms were also identified in these genes. This approach provides a framework that will be useful for identifying virulence genes in other pathogenic viruses, as well as epistatic effects that affect HSV-1 ocular virulence.     

Characterization of the Invasive,Multidrug Resistant Non-typhoidal Salmonella Strain D23580 in a Murine Model of Infection

A distinct pathovar of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, ST313, has emerged in sub-Saharan Africa as a major cause of fatal bacteremia in young children and HIV-infected adults. {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"D23580","term_id":"427513","term_text":"D23580"}}D23580, a multidrug resistant clinical isolate of ST313, was previously shown to have undergone genome reduction in a manner that resembles that of the more human-restricted pathogen, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi. It has since been shown through tissue distribution studies that {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"D23580","term_id":"427513","term_text":"D23580"}}D23580 is able to establish an invasive infection in chickens. However, it remains unclear whether ST313 can cause lethal disease in a non-human host following a natural course of infection. Herein we report that {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"D23580","term_id":"427513","term_text":"D23580"}}D23580 causes lethal and invasive disease in a murine model of infection following peroral challenge. The LD₅₀ of {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"D23580","term_id":"427513","term_text":"D23580"}}D23580 in female BALB/c mice was 4.7 x 10⁵ CFU. Tissue distribution studies performed 3 and 5 days post-infection confirmed that {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"D23580","term_id":"427513","term_text":"D23580"}}D23580 was able to more rapidly colonize the spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes and gall bladder in mice when compared to the well-characterized S. Typhimurium strain SL1344. {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"D23580","term_id":"427513","term_text":"D23580"}}D23580 exhibited enhanced resistance to acid stress relative to SL1344, which may lend towards increased capability to survive passage through the gastrointestinal tract as well as during its intracellular lifecycle. Interestingly, {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"D23580","term_id":"427513","term_text":"D23580"}}D23580 also displayed higher swimming motility relative to SL1344, S. Typhi strain Ty2, and the ST313 strain A130. Biochemical tests revealed that {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"D23580","term_id":"427513","term_text":"D23580"}}D23580 shares many similar metabolic features with SL1344, with several notable differences in the Voges-Proskauer and catalase tests, as well alterations in melibiose, and inositol utilization. These results represent the first full duration infection study using an ST313 strain following the entire natural course of disease progression, and serve as a benchmark for ongoing and future studies into the pathogenesis of {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"D23580","term_id":"427513","term_text":"D23580"}}D23580.     

人中性粒细胞多肽HNP1,3体外抗单纯疱疹病毒Ⅰ型的作用

体外观察人中性粒细胞多肽1,3(Human neutrophil peptide,HNP1,3)及阿昔洛韦(Acyclovir,ACV)对单纯疱疹病毒Ⅰ型(Herpes simplex virus 1,HSV-1)的抑制作用.以Vero细胞为靶细胞,用各种浓度HN1,3与游离病毒颗粒(直接失活组)及感染病毒后的靶细胞(复制抑制组)进行相互作用,镜下观察各药物对HSV-1致细胞病变效应的抑制作用,并采用ELISA法测定感染48h后药物对HSV-1囊膜糖蛋白分泌的抑制作用.MTT法检测各药物对细胞的毒性作用.结果显示直接失活组中,HNP1,3可使HSV-1的致细胞病变效应减轻,对HSV-1直接失活的50%有效浓度(ECs0)为8.1μg/mL、10.03μg/mL;复制抑制组中,ACV使HSV-1的致细胞病变效应减轻,EC5o为0.68μg/mL.MTT检测结果表明HNP1,3在治疗浓度范围内无明显细胞毒性.以上结果表明HNP1,3除具有较强的抗菌作用和抗人类免疫缺陷病毒Ⅰ型(Human immunodeficiency virus 1,HIV-1)活性外,还能失活HSV-1病毒颗粒,从而逆转病毒及其蛋白的病毒效应(致细胞病变)和抑制病毒蛋白质的合成.     

人中性粒细胞多肽HNP1，3体外抗单纯疱疹病毒Ⅰ型的作用

体外观察人中性粒细胞多肽1,3(Humanneutrophilpeptide,HNP1,3)及阿昔洛韦(Acyclovir,ACV)对单纯疱疹病毒-Ⅰ型(Herpessimplexvirus1,HSV-1)的抑制作用。以Vero细胞为靶细胞,用各种浓度HNP1,3与游离病毒颗粒(直接失活组)及感染病毒后的靶细胞(复制抑制组)进行相互作用,镜下观察各药物对HSV-1致细胞病变效应的抑制作用,并采用ELISA法测定感染48h后药物对HSV-1囊膜糖蛋白分泌的抑制作用。MTT法检测各药物对细胞的毒性作用。结果显示直接失活组中,HNP1,3可使HSV-1的致细胞病变效应减轻,对HSV-1直接失活的50%有效浓度(EC50)为8.1μg/mL、10.03μg/mL;复制抑制组中,ACV使HSV-1的致细胞病变效应减轻,EC50为0.68μg/mL。MTT检测结果表明HNP1,3在治疗浓度范围内无明显细胞毒性。以上结果表明HNP1,3除具有较强的抗菌作用和抗人类免疫缺陷病毒Ⅰ型(Humanimmunodeficiencyvirus1,HIV-1)活性外,还能失活HSV-1病毒颗粒,从而逆转病毒及其蛋白的病毒效应(致细胞病变)和抑制病毒蛋白质的合成。     

A Mathematical Model of Cell Cycle Dysregulation Due to Human Papillomavirus Infection

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) that infect mucosal epithelium can be classified as high risk or low risk based on their propensity to cause lesions that can undergo malignant progression. HPVs produce the E7 protein that binds to cell cycle regulatory proteins including the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein (RB) to modulate cell cycle control. Generally, high-risk HPV E7 proteins bind to RB with a higher affinity than low-risk HPV E7s, but both are able to deactivate RB and trigger S phase progression. In uninfected cells, RB inactivation is a tightly controlled process that must coincide with growth factor stimulation to commit cells to division. High-risk HPV E7 proteins short-circuit this control by decreasing growth factor requirement for cell division. We develop a mathematical model to examine the role that RB binding affinity, growth factor concentration, and E7 concentration have on cell cycle progression. Our model predicts that high RB binding affinity and E7 concentration accelerate the \(\mathrm {G_{1}}\) to S phase transition and weaken the dependence on growth factor. This model thus captures a key step in high-risk HPV oncogenesis.     

Melanization of Cryptococcus neoformans in Murine Infection

Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungus that is pathogenic in humans and that can produce melanin in vitro. Melanization is associated with virulence, but there is no evidence that melanin is made during infection. Melanins are difficult to study because they are amorphous and insoluble. Melanin-binding peptides from a phage display library were used to demonstrate that C. neoformans makes melanin-like compounds in tissue. Melanin-binding peptides were characterized by a high proportion of positively charged and aromatic residues. Two other methods, demonstration of an antibody response to melanin in mice infected with C. neoformans and analysis of yeast cell walls in infected tissue by light microscopy, were used to support these findings. The demonstration that C. neoformans melanizes in tissue has important implications for pathogenesis and drug discovery.     

HSV-1感染对神经胶质瘤细胞神经生长因子及其受体表达的影响

神经生长因子(NGF)主要由神经胶质细胞产生,通过特异的靶细胞表面的神经生长因子受体介导产生生物学效应,与神经细胞的生长发育、分化和凋亡等密切相关。单纯疱疹病毒1型(HSV-1)作为一种嗜神经病毒,易造成神经细胞、神经胶质细胞凋亡或死亡。本实验以U251人神经胶质瘤细胞为研究对象,观察HSV-1感染致U251细胞凋亡的过程中NGF及其受体的变化情况。结果发现U251细胞是HSV-1的容许细胞;HSV-1感染致U251细胞凋亡过程中,NGF及其低亲和力受体p75NTR出现表达强度随时间先增强后减弱的趋势,而高亲和受体Tr-kA持续低表达。推测HSV-1感染致神经细胞凋亡中可能调控了神经营养因子的表达。     

A Small Library of Synthetic Di-Substituted 1, 4-Naphthoquinones Induces ROS-Mediated Cell Death in Murine Fibroblasts

Synthesis of compound libraries and their concurrent assessment as selective reagents for probing and modulating biological function continues to be an active area of chemical biology. Microwave-assisted solid-phase Dötz benzannulation reactions have been used to inexpensively synthesize 2, 3-disubstituted-1, 4-naphthoquinone derivatives. Herein, we report the biological testing of a small library of such compounds using a murine fibroblast cell line (L929). Assessment of cellular viability identified three categories of cytotoxic compounds: no toxicity, low/intermediate toxicity and high toxicity. Increased levels of Annexin-V-positive staining and of caspase 3 activity confirmed that low, intermediate, and highly toxic compounds promote cell death. The compounds varied in their ability to induce mitochondrial depolarization and formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Both cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic compounds triggered mitochondrial depolarization, while one highly cytotoxic compound did not. In addition, all cytotoxic compounds promoted increased intracellular ROS but the cells were only partially protected from compound-induced apoptosis when in the presence of superoxide dismutase, catalase, or ascorbic acid suggesting utilization of additional pro-death mechanisms. In summary, nine of twelve (75%) 1, 4-naphthoquinone synthetic compounds were cytotoxic. Although the mitochondria did not appear to be a central target for induction of cell death, all of the cytotoxic compounds induced ROS formation. Thus, the data demonstrate that the synthesis regime effectively created cytotoxic compounds highlighting the potential use of the regime and its products for the identification of biologically relevant reagents.     

HSV-1感染大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞及形成潜伏感染的初步研究

在体外培养大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞(BMSCs),观察单纯疱疹病毒1型感染骨髓间充质干细胞情况.分离并鉴定BMSCs;HSV-1感染BMSCs,观察细胞病变(CPE);建立BMSCs的HSV-1潜伏感染模型.提取总DNA,PCR法扩增BMSCs内的HSV-1特异性片段,检测HSV-1感染BMSCs及潜伏感染.结果显示骨髓间充质干细胞经14d诱导后,碱性磷酸酶含量增高、形成钙结节,表现出成骨细胞特性.HSV-1感染BMSCs,出现典型的CPE,PCR法证实BMSCs内存在HSV-1的特异性片段.HSV-1潜伏感染的BMSCs,未出现明显的CPE,细胞传至7代,仍可测到HSV-1的基因片段,表明BMSCs有可能形成HSV-1的潜伏感染.大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞在体外可以向成骨细胞方向分化,可作为组织工程学的种子细胞.HSV-1可以在体外感染骨髓间充质干细胞并有形成潜伏感染的趋势.     

Gene Expression Profiles of Chicken Embryo Fibroblasts in Response to Salmonella Enteritidis Infection

The response of chicken to non-typhoidal Salmonella infection is becoming well characterised but the role of particular cell types in this response is still far from being understood. Therefore, in this study we characterised the response of chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEFs) to infection with two different S. Enteritidis strains by microarray analysis. The expression of chicken genes identified as significantly up- or down-regulated (≥3-fold) by microarray analysis was verified by real-time PCR followed by functional classification of the genes and prediction of interactions between the proteins using Gene Ontology and STRING Database. Finally the expression of the newly identified genes was tested in HD11 macrophages and in vivo in chickens. Altogether 19 genes were induced in CEFs after S. Enteritidis infection. Twelve of them were also induced in HD11 macrophages and thirteen in the caecum of orally infected chickens. The majority of these genes were assigned different functions in the immune response, however five of them (LOC101750351, K123, BU460569, MOBKL2C and G0S2) have not been associated with the response of chicken to Salmonella infection so far. K123 and G0S2 were the only ’non-immune’ genes inducible by S. Enteritidis in fibroblasts, HD11 macrophages and in the caecum after oral infection. The function of K123 is unknown but G0S2 is involved in lipid metabolism and in β-oxidation of fatty acids in mitochondria.     

Ex Vivo Infection of Murine Epidermis with Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1

To enter its human host, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) must overcome the barrier of mucosal surfaces, skin, or cornea. HSV-1 targets keratinocytes during initial entry and establishes a primary infection in the epithelium, which is followed by latent infection of neurons. After reactivation, viruses can become evident at mucocutaneous sites that appear as skin vesicles or mucosal ulcers. How HSV-1 invades skin or mucosa and reaches its receptors is poorly understood. To investigate the invasion route of HSV-1 into epidermal tissue at the cellular level, we established an ex vivo infection model of murine epidermis, which represents the site of primary and recurrent infection in skin. The assay includes the preparation of murine skin. The epidermis is separated from the dermis by dispase II treatment. After floating the epidermal sheets on virus-containing medium, the tissue is fixed and infection can be visualized at various times postinfection by staining infected cells with an antibody against the HSV-1 immediate early protein ICP0. ICP0-expressing cells can be observed in the basal keratinocyte layer already at 1.5 hr postinfection. With longer infection times, infected cells are detected in suprabasal layers, indicating that infection is not restricted to the basal keratinocytes, but the virus spreads to other layers in the tissue. Using epidermal sheets of various mouse models, the infection protocol allows determining the involvement of cellular components that contribute to HSV-1 invasion into tissue. In addition, the assay is suitable to test inhibitors in tissue that interfere with the initial entry steps, cell-to-cell spread and virus production. Here, we describe the ex vivo infection protocol in detail and present our results using nectin-1- or HVEM-deficient mice.