Christiane Bourdieu

Influenza A Virus Protein PB1-F2 Exacerbates IFN-β Expression of Human Respiratory Epithelial Cells

The PB1-F2 protein of the influenza A virus (IAV) contributes to viral pathogenesis by a mechanism that is not well understood. PB1-F2 was shown to modulate apoptosis and to be targeted by the CD8+ T cell response. In this study, we examined the downstream effects of PB1-F2 protein during IAV infection by measuring expression of the cellular genes in response to infection with wild-type WSN/33 and PB1-F2 knockout viruses in human lung epithelial cells. Wild-type virus infection resulted in a significant induction of genes involved in innate immunity. Knocking out the PB1-F2 gene strongly decreased the magnitude of expression of cellular genes implicated in antiviral response and MHC class I Ag presentation, suggesting that PB1-F2 exacerbates innate immune response. Biological network analysis revealed the IFN pathway as a link between PB1-F2 and deregulated genes. Using quantitative RT-PCR and IFN-β gene reporter assay, we determined that PB1-F2 mediates an upregulation of IFN-β expression that is dependent on NF-κB but not on AP-1 and IFN regulatory factor-3 transcription factors. Recombinant viruses knocked out for the PB1-F2 and/or the nonstructural viral protein 1 (the viral antagonist of the IFN response) genes provide further evidence that PB1-F2 increases IFN-β expression and that nonstructural viral protein 1 strongly antagonizes the effect of PB1-F2 on the innate response. Finally, we compared the effect of PB1-F2 variants taken from several IAV strains on IFN-β expression and found that PB1-F2–mediated IFN-β induction is significantly influenced by its amino acid sequence, demonstrating its importance in the host cell response triggered by IAV infection.

The immunodominant Eimeria acervulina sporozoite antigen previously described as p160/p240 is a 19-kilodalton antigen present in several Eimeria species

A lambda Zap II cDNA expression library, constructed from Eimeria acervulina (PAPa46 strain) sporulated oocyst stage, was screened with sera raised to E. acervulina or Eimeria tenella oocysts in order to isolate clones coding for antigens common to the two species. Most of the clones isolated were derived from the same gene. Antisera raised to a recombinant glutathione-S-transferase fusion protein 1P reacted with an antigen of 19 kDa in immunoblot of E. acervulina sporulated and unsporulated oocysts. Immunofluorescence of E. acervulina sporozoites indicated that the antigen is located in the cytoplasm. The anti-1P antisera reacted on immunoblots of E. tenella with a 19-kDa antigen and by immunofluorescence on E. tenella, Eimeria maxima and Eimeria falciformis sporozoites, indicating that the antigen is conserved in Eimeria species. DNA sequencing indicated that the sequence was almost identical to that of clone cSZ1 previously described by Jenkins et al. using E. acervulina strain #12. The 1P insert hybridized to a 1150-nt mRNA from E. acervulina PAPa46 strain and strain #12, a size consistent with the observed molecular weight of the protein.

A Novel Subnucleocapsid Nanoplatform for Mucosal Vaccination against Influenza Virus That Targets the Ectodomain of Matrix Protein 2

ABSTRACT In this study, subnucleocapsid nanorings formed by the recombinant nucleoprotein (N) of the respiratory syncytial virus were evaluated as a platform to anchor heterologous antigens. The ectodomain of the influenza virus A matrix protein 2 (M2e) is highly conserved and elicits protective antibodies when it is linked to an immunogenic carrier, making it a promising target to develop universal influenza vaccines. In this context, one or three M2e copies were genetically linked to the C terminus of N to produce N-M2e and N-3M2e chimeric recombinant nanorings. Mice were immunized intranasally with N-M2e or N-3M2e or with M2e or 3M2e control peptides. N-3M2e-vaccinated mice showed the strongest mucosal and systemic antibody responses. These mice presented a reduced viral load and minor weight loss, and all survived upon challenge with influenza virus A/PR8/34 (H1N1) (PR8). We compared the intranasal route to the subcutaneous route of N-3M2e immunization. Only the intranasal route induced a strong local IgA response and led to the protection of mice upon challenge. Finally, we demonstrated that the induction of anti-M2e antibodies by N-3M2e is not impaired by preexisting anti-N immunity. Overall, these results show that the N nanoring is a potent carrier for mucosal delivery of vaccinal antigens.

Cloning and characterization of an Eimeria acervulina sporozoite gene homologous to aspartyl proteinases

A lambda ZapII cDNA library was constructed using mRNA from Eimeria acervulina sporulated oocysts and screened with monoclonal antibodies raised against Eimeria tenella sporulated oocytes. Monoclonal antibody N3C8B12 identified a clone (6S2) potentially encoding an aspartyl proteinase since significant homology with cathepsin D, pepsin and renin proteinases was revealed by sequence comparisons. The 1500-bp cDNA fragment containing the coccidial gene was subcloned into pGEX-FA expression vector, leading to the production of an 80-kDa fusion protein (FA6S2) which was used to immunize rabbits. The anti-FA6S2 rabbit sera revealed a single 43-kDa protein present in Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria tenella, Eimeria maxima and Eimeria falciformis sporulated oocyst antigens. Indirect immunofluorescence and electron microscopy with mAb N3C8B12 localized the putative aspartyl proteinase in the refractile bodies of Eimeria tenella sporozoites.

Gene discovery in Eimeria tenella by immunoscreening cDNA expression libraries of sporozoites and schizonts with chicken intestinal antibodies

Specific antibodies were produced ex vivo from intestinal culture of Eimeria tenella infected chickens. The specificity of these intestinal antibodies was tested against different parasite stages. These antibodies were used to immunoscreen first generation schizont and sporozoite cDNA libraries permitting the identification of new E. tenella antigens. We obtained a total of 119 cDNA clones which were subjected to sequence analysis. The sequences coding for the proteins inducing local immune responses were compared with nucleotide or protein databases and with expressed sequence tags (ESTs) databases. We identified new Eimeria genes coding for heat shock proteins, a ribosomal protein, a pyruvate kinase and a pyridoxine kinase. Specific features of other sequences are discussed.

Cloning and expression of cDNA encoding an Eimeria acervulina 70 kDa sporozoite protein which is related to the 70 kDa heat-shock protein family

Stress or heat shock proteins are involved in a variety of cellular functions such as translocation of proteins across membranes, folding and unfolding of proteins, and the response to elevated temperatures [1]. Heat shock proteins of the 70 kDa family (Hsp70) are the most highly conserved proteins during evolution and are encoded by genes which show both constitutive and inducible expression. To date, these proteins which are prominent immunogens have been identified in virtually every type of organism from bacteria to man. In the protozoan parasite Eimeria which causes coccidiosis in a variety of domestic animals, the presence of Hsp70 proteins at the sporozoite and merozoite stages have been suggested by Robertson et al. [2] and the ubiquitin gene of E.

Surface Plasmon Resonance Immunosensor for Detection of PB1-F2 Influenza A Virus Protein in Infected Biological Samples

The detection and evaluation of concentration of influenza virus proteins in biological samples is critical in a broad range of medical and biological investigations regarding the concern over potential outbreaks of virulent influenza strains in animals and humans. This paper describes a sensitive, label-free approach for the detection of a virulence factor PB1-F2. PB1-F2 is a small, 90 amino acid long polypeptide expressed in influenza A viruses, which generally exacerbate virus pathogenicity. The developed immunosensoris based on a non-the-chipcovalently immobilized specific monoclonal anti-PB1-F2 antibody and a SPR technology. The immunosensor was calibrated using purified full length PB1-F2 protein. Itdetected PB1-F2 with the linear range extended from 10 to 500 nM, repeatability of 5% for 500 nM PB1-F2 and showed saturationof protein concentrations higher than 1 μM. The sensor can quantify PB1-F2 in its monomeric form but not when its oligomerization was induced by preincubation in 0.05% SDS. The immunosensor was successfully applied in the detection and quantification of PB1-F2 in infected mouse lungs and cell lines, providing temporal expression profiles of PB1-F2 during viral infection. In lungs of infected mice, the influenza virus structural nucleoprotein NP was detected in parallel using a specific anti-NP antibody. This parallel detection of PB1-F2 and NP suggests that applied sensor chip technology may be amenable to an arrow immunosensor for simultaneous detection of all known influenza virus proteins in infected tissues and cells.

Detection of Soluble Oligomers Formed by PB1-F2 Influenza A Virus Protein in vitro

Influenza A viruses (IAV) remain a major cause of respiratory disease worldwide each year and have been responsible for three main pandemics during the last century comprising the Spanish flu which killed up to 50 million of people. IAV are RNA enveloped viruses belonging to the Orthomyxoviridae family. The nature of the genome of IAV favors the constant and hardly predictable emergence of new strains such as highly virulent H5N1 viruses since 2003, or the H1N1 2009 pandemic strain. Recently, new human cases of severe respiratory illness with a new avian influenza A (H7N9) virus have been reported in China (mortality rate of 60%).Thus, researchers maintain their efforts to determine specific markers of virulence and to evaluate the potential of emerging strains to cause new pandemics.