John Staczek

Regulation of equine herpesvirus type 1 gene expression: Characterization of immediate early, early, and late transcription

The regulation of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) transcription was examined in infected rabbit kidney cells using metabolic inhibitors. In order to map EHV-1 immediate early, early, and late transcripts, viral RNA was 32P-labeled in vivo and hybridized to EHV-1 DNA restriction fragments immobilized on nitrocellulose filters. Immediate early viral RNA was mapped to one region of the viral genome within the inverted repeat DNA sequences (map units 0.78-0.83 and 0.95-1.0). Northern blot hybridization analysis using a 32P-labeled cloned DNA probe from this region identified a single immediate early viral transcript (approximately 6 kb). Transcription of early and late genes was not restricted to any specific region on the viral genome as indicated by the ability of 32P-labeled early and late RNA to hybridize to EHV-1 restriction endonuclease fragments from both the long and short components of EHV-1 DNA. Additional experiments performed without the use of metabolic inhibitors confirmed that EHV-1 transcription is temporally regulated. The characterization of EHV-1 transcription during productive infection will serve as a reference for the analysis of viral transcripts in oncogenically transformed and persistently infected cells.

Immunization with a chimeric tobacco mosaic virus containing an epitope of outer membrane protein F of Pseudomonas aeruginosa provides protection against challenge with P. aeruginosa.

A chimeric tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) was constructed by inserting sequences representing peptide 9-14mer (TDAYNQKLSERRAN) of outer membrane (OM) protein F of Pseudomonas aeruginosa between amino acids Ser154 and Gly155 of the TMV coat protein (CP). This is the first example of TMV being used to construct a chimera containing a bacterial epitope. Mice immunized with TMV-9-14 produced anti-peptide-9-14mer-specific antibodies that reacted in whole-cell ELISA with all seven Fisher-Devlin (FD) immunotype strains of P. aeruginosa, reacted specifically by Western blotting with OM protein F extracted from all seven FD immunotypes, and were opsonic in opsonophagocytic assays. The chimeric TMV-9-14 vaccine afforded immunoprotection against challenge with wild-type P. aeruginosa in a mouse model of chronic pulmonary infection. TMV-9-14 is an excellent candidate for further development as a vaccine for possible use in humans to protect against P. aeruginosa infections.

Equine herpesvirus type 1 infected cell polypeptides: Evidence for immediate early/early/late regulation of viral gene expression

EHV-1 polypeptide synthesis was examined in productively infected rabbit kidney and hamster embryo cells. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analyses of extracts from [35S]methionine- and 3H-amino acid-labeled-infected and mock-infected cultures revealed the presence of 30 infected cell-specific polypeptides (ICPs) which ranged in apparent molecular weights from 16.5K to 213K. Twenty-two of these ICPs comigrated with virion structural proteins. Four ICPs (203K, 176K, 151K, 129K) were detected in extracts of infected cultures labeled in the presence or absence of actinomycin D (Act D) immediately after release from a 4-hr treatment with cycloheximide (CH). These polypeptides, which were designated as EHV-1 immediate early (alpha) ICPs, were not detected in unblocked (non-CH-treated) infected cells. The most abundant ICP was a 31.5K nonstructural protein which, in addition to a 74K protein, was detected in unblocked infected cells at 2-3 hr postinfection. These proteins appeared to be regulated as early (beta) ICPs, since neither protein was observed in Act D-treated cultures released from CH block. Twelve ICPs were classified as late (gamma) polypeptides on the basis of their reduced synthesis in cultures in which viral DNA replication was inhibited by phosphonoacetic acid. All but one (40K) of these late ICPs corresponded to virion structural proteins.

Characterization and mapping of equine herpesvirus type 1 immediate early, early, and late transcripts.

Northern blot analysis was used to characterize and map equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) immediate early (IE), early, and late transcripts. Genomic EHV-1 DNA and cloned EHV-1 restriction endonuclease fragments, representing the entire genome, were 32P-labeled and hybridized to immobilized total cell RNA isolated from EHV-1 infected rabbit kidney cells incubated in the presence or absence of metabolic inhibitors. A single 6.0 kilobase (kb) IE transcript mapped to viral inverted repeat sequences. Approximately 41-45 early transcripts ranging in size from 0.8 to 6.4 kb and 18-20 late transcripts ranging in size from 0.8 to 10.0 kb were identified. These findings demonstrate that EHV-1 gene expression is regulated at the level of transcription, although regulation at the level of translation is also possible. The results provide a basis for examining alterations in viral gene expression in EHV-1 oncogenically transformed and persistently infected cells.

Protection against Pseudomonas aeruginosa chronic lung infection in mice by genetic immunization against outer membrane protein F (OprF) of P. aeruginosa.

ABSTRACT The Pseudomonas aeruginosa major constitutive outer membrane porin protein OprF, which has previously been shown to be a protective antigen, was targeted as a DNA vaccine candidate. TheoprF gene was cloned into plasmid vector pVR1020, and the plasmid vaccines were delivered to mice by biolistic (gene gun) intradermal inoculation. Antibody titers in antisera from immunized mice were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the elicited antibodies were shown to be specifically reactive to OprF by immunoblotting. The immunoglobulin G (IgG) immune response was predominantly of the IgG1 isotype. Sera from DNA vaccine-immunized mice had significantly greater opsonic activity in opsonophagocytic assays than did sera from control mice. Following the initial immunization and two consecutive boosts, each at 2-week intervals, protection was demonstrated in a mouse model of chronic pulmonary infection byP. aeruginosa. Eight days postchallenge, both lungs were removed and examined. A significant reduction in the presence of severe macroscopic lesions, as well as in the number of bacteria present in the lungs, was seen. Based on these findings, genetic immunization withoprF has potential for development as a vaccine to protect humans against infection by P. aeruginosa.

A chimaeric plant virus vaccine protects mice against a bacterial infection.

The plant virus cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) is an efficient carrier of foreign peptides for the generation of strong humoral immune responses. Peptides derived from both viruses and bacteria are strongly immunogenic when displayed on the surface of CPMV and elicit high titres of peptide-specific antibody. However, the protective effects of antibodies generated using bacterial epitopes in this system have yet to be demonstrated. In this study the ability of chimaeric virus particles (CVPs) to afford protection against bacterial infection was assessed. Immunization of outbred mice with CPMV expressing a peptide derived from outer-membrane protein F of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CPMV-PAE5) generated high titres of P. aeruginosa-specific IgG that opsonized the bacteria for phagocytosis by human neutrophils and afforded protection upon challenge with two different immunotypes of P. aeruginosa in a model of chronic pulmonary infection. When examined 8 d after challenge, CVP-immunized mice had fewer severe lung lesions and fewer bacteria in their lungs compared to mice immunized with wild-type virus. Different levels of protection were seen with CPMV-PAE5 when Freunds or alum adjuvants were used. These studies highlight the ability of CVPs to generate protective immunity against infectious disease agents.

Equine Herpesviruses: Biochemical studies on genomic structure, DI particles, oncogenic transformation and persistent infection

Three species (types) of the Herpetoviridae family are naturally occurring infectious agents of equidae and are designated equine herpesvirus (EHV) types 1, 2, and 3. Although the three viruses share some antigens and their genomes exhibit some genetic homology, they are immunologically distinct by cross neutralization tests and have virus type unique physicochemical and biological properties that are sufficient to merit separation of the triad into separate species (see 1). Like their counterparts in man, equine herpesviruses cause natural infections that vary in severity and clinical manifestations from inapparent infection to localized infections of the genitalia and eye to severe systemic infections that may involve the central nervous system (1, 2).

Use of synthetic peptides to identify surface-exposed, linear B-cell epitopes within outer membrane protein F of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

In a previous study (Hughes EE, Gilleland LB, Gilleland HE Jr. [1992] Infect Immun 60:3497–3503), ten synthetic peptides were used to test for surface-exposed antigenic regions located throughout the length of outer membrane protein F of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. An additional nine peptides of 11–21 amino acid residues in length were synthesized. Antisera collected from mice immunized with each of the 19 synthetic peptides conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin were used to determine which of the peptides had elicited antibodies capable of reacting with the surface of whole cells of the various heterologous Fisher-Devlin immunotypes of P. aeruginosa. Cell surface reactivity was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with whole cells of the various immunotypes as the ELISA antigens and by opsonophagocytic uptake assays with the various peptide-directed antisera, immunotype 2 P. aeruginosa cells, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes of human and murine origin. Three peptides located in the carboxy-terminal portion of protein F elicited antibodies with the greatest cell-surface reactivity. Peptide 9 (TDAYNQKLSERRAN), peptide 10 (NATAEGRAINRRVE), and peptide 18 (NEYGVEGGRVNAVG) appear to have sufficient potential for further development as vaccine candidates for immunoprophylaxis against infections caused by P. aeruginosa. A topological model for the arrangement of protein F within the outer membrane of P. aeruginosa is presented.

Equine herpesvirus type 1 defective-interfering (DI) particle DNA structure: The central region of the inverted repeat is deleted from DI DNA

The inverted repeat (IRs) component of the genome of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) is an important region of structure and function. It is a major constituent of the DNA of EHV-1 defective-interfering (DI) particles which have been shown to mediate the coestablishment of oncogenic transformation and persistent infection of hamster embryo cells. In addition, the IRs encodes the single EHV-1 immediate early gene and the 31.5K very early protein. DNA sequences encompassing EHV-1 internal IRs and the joint between the long (L) and short (S) regions were subcloned into the plasmid vectors pBR322 and pUC12. A total of 22 subclones were derived, including six Sa/l subclones in pBR322 and 12 SmaI subclones in pUC12. Individual subclones were employed in Southern blot hybridizations to define subclone homology to repeated, unique, or heterogeneous (het) DNA sequences within the EHV-1 genome. These studies revealed that the EHV-1 het region is contained entirely within the unique long region of the viral genome and is separated from the L/S junction by approximately 1.8 MDa of completely unique DNA sequences. Furthermore, these IRs subclones were employed in blot hybridizations to analyze the integrity of IRs DNA sequences within the cloned DNA of EHV-1 DI particles. These analyses demonstrated that IRs DNA sequences present in DI DNA were extensively rearranged and contained major deletions (0.80-0.83 map units) which removed a large portion of the single EHV-1 immediate early gene (0.78-0.83 and 0.95-1.00 map units) located in the IRs. Thus, these data and those previous studies (R. P. Baumann et al., 1984, J. Virol. 50, 13-21; R. P. Baumann, J. Staczek, and D. J. O-Callaghan, 1986, Virology 153, 188-200) indicate that the major subunits of the DI DNA molecule are comprised of selected sequences from the IRs component and a highly conserved short sequence located at the terminus of the L region of the standard viral genome.

Cloning and fine mapping the DNA of equine herpesvirus type one defective Interfering Particles

Equine herpesvirus type one (EHV-1) defective interfering (DI) particle DNA fragments were inserted into the XbaI site of the plasmid vector pACYC184. Five DI XbaI fragments, which ranged in molecular weight from 4.5 to 6.7 MDa, were selected for detailed analysis. Each DI DNA clone was labeled with 32P-deoxynucleotides by nick translation and hybridized to genomic digests of EHV-1 standard (STD) DNA bound to nitrocellulose. All five clones were shown to hybridize to DNA sequences derived from the left terminus (0.0-0.04 map units) of the long (L) region and from the short (S) region inverted repeats (IRs, 0.79-0.86 and 0.93-1.00 map units) of the STD EHV-1 genome. Restriction enzyme mapping studies and Southern blot hybridizations employing cloned STD virus DNA fragments as probes revealed that these EHV-1 DI clones contain two major domains: (1) an L terminal region which maps to 0.01-0.04 map units and is highly conserved among all five clones, and (2) a region homologous to the IRs which appears to vary between individual clones.