Pierre Trépanier

Concentration of human respiratory syncytial virus using ammonium sulfate, polyethylene glycol or hollow fiber ultrafiltration

Human respiratory syncytial virus was concentrated by polyethylene glycol or ammonium sulfate precipitation as well as by hollow ultrafiltration. Recoveries obtained were respectively 49.4%, 47.7%, and 75.2%; however, further analysis of these results by resuspension experiments showed that all the infectivity could be recovered from the different concentrates. The protein content of polyethylene glycol concentrates was much lower than those of ammonium sulfate or hollow fiber ultrafiltration. Electron microscopy revealed that the morphological integrity of virus particles was unaffected by the concentration methods used. Purified virus was obtained when polyethylene glycol concentrates were centrifuged through two successive density gradients.

Rapid Detection of Human Viruses in Faeces by a Simple and Routine Immune Electron Microscopy Technique

Summary An immune electron microscopy technique modified from the Anderson & Doane (1973) method by using commercial pools of human gamma-globulins has been successfully used for the morphological identification of several different viruses from clarified faeces. This technique is simple, rapid and numerous samples can be easily processed.

Hemagglutinating activity associated with bovine herpesvirus type 1.

Using C57BL/HPB mouse erythrocytes, hemagglutination has been observed with the Los Angeles and Colorado-1 strains of bovine herpesvirus type 1 and with 12 other Canadian field isolates as well. The specificity of the hemagglutination observed with the viral strains has been confirmed by a hemagglutination-inhibition assay.

Hemagglutination inhibition and virus neutralizing response of rabbits inoculated with bovine herpesvirus 1 subunit vaccine

The immunogenicity of bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) hemagglutinin has been investigated. Both live and nonionic detergent solubilized vaccines were prepared and 5000 hemagglutinating units (HAU) were injected subcutaneously into rabbits. Both types of vaccine induced a good antibody response but live virus was four times more efficient in inducing hemagglutination inhibiting and neutralizing antibodies than either Triton X-100- or octylglucoside-solubilized subunit vaccine. Blotting analysis revealed that five proteins, of 105,000, 90,000, 74,000, 64,000 and 54,000 mol. wt, were recognized by the serum of vaccinated animals. Triton X-100-solubilized vaccine did not induce antibodies against the 105,000 and 64,000 mol. wt proteins, indicating the important role of VP 90,000 and VP 74,000 in hemagglutination and neutralization. The order in which antibodies to the different viral proteins were induced was VP 90,000, (VP 105,000, VP 64,000, VP 54,000) and VP 74,000. Our data indicate that VP 90,000 is the hemagglutinin. Using convalescent serum from intranasally infected animals, we could identify nine structural proteins for BHV-1; VP 105,000, VP 90,000, VP 74,000, VP 64,000, VP 54,000, VP 50,000, VP 47,000, VP 40,000 and VP 31,000.

A simple and rapid microassay for the titration of human respiratory syncytial virus

A microassay, using tissue culture microplates for the titration of human respiratory syncytial virus by syncytium formation, is described. Virus titers obtained agreed well with those obtained in a larger assay system; the microassay, however, is more rapid and economical. Large numbers of virus samples are easily and rapidly processed as the assay necessitates an incubation period of only three days.

Further biological, serological and biochemical characterization of North American, European and Southeast Asian strains of bovine herpesvirus 1 compared with other alphaherpesvirinae members

Hemagglutination activity, structural protein profiles and neutralization assays were used in a comparative study of bovine herpesvirus 1 strains from the U.S.A., Canada, Great Britain, Denmark and Malaysia with equine, feline and human herpesviruses in order to further characterize the bovine herpesvirus 1 hemagglutinin. Bovine herpesvirus 1 strains of different geographical origins all showed hemagglutinating activity for mouse erythrocytes; furthermore, feline herpesvirus 1 was also shown to hemagglutinate mouse erythrocytes. Analyses of partly purified viruses showed that a distinctive and specific polypeptides profile is associated with each species of herpesviruses used in our study; strains of bovine herpesvirus 1 from North America, Europe and Southeast Asia however, presented a remarkable similarity as to their electrophoretic protein patterns. A protein similar to the 97-kDa bovine viral hemagglutinin was not identified with the hemagglutinating feline herpesvirus. An important neutralization epitope on the bovine viral hemagglutinin was also not found on feline, equine and human herpesviruses but was identified on all bovine strains tested from North America, Europe and Southeast Asia stressing the importance of the bovine hemagglutinin for eventual prophylactic purposes.

Rapid identification of viruses by a simple indirect immune electron microscopy technique using ferritin-labelled antibodies.

Abstract A simple indirect immune electron microscopy technique using ferritin-labelled antibodies and negative staining to rapidly visualize and identify human viruses is described. The increased electron density given by the ferritin molecules, which also served as a reliable marker, has greatly facilitated virus detection.

Modified immunoprecipitation procedure for the identification of human respiratory syncytial virus polypeptides.

When analysed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, human respiratory syncytial virus harvested after a one step growth cycle and purified through a continuous sucrose density gradient was shown to be composed of nine structural proteins of 90, 68, 49, 42, 34, 28, 25, 19 an 13 kd. The 90, 49 and 19 kd polypeptides were identified as glycopolypeptides by glucosamine incorporation. A modified immunoprecipitation procedure confirmed the viral specificity of the 49, 42, 28, 25 and 19 kd polypeptides.

Growth of poliovirus using alginate entrapped-anchorage dependant Vero cells

Obligatory anchorage dependant Vero cells were successfully grown in gelatinous-like macrocarriers made of calcium alginate. Entrapped single cells were immobilized within the polymerized alginate matrix divide to form large spherical clumps of cells. A cell density of 17×106 cells/ml of alginate with over 95% viability was obtained after 14 days in spinner flasks. When subjected to poliovirus type I infection, spherical masses of Vero cells progressively showed extensive cytopathic effect but remained entrapped in the alginate matrix of the macrocarriers. Virus was released into a cellular debris free-like supernatant and reached a peak titer of 108.0 TCID50/ml after 72 hours.

Comparison of Three Electron Microscopy Techniques for the Detection of Human Rotaviruses

Rotavirus detection by direct electron microscopy was compared with direct and indirect immune electron microscopy techniques. The latter two approaches permitted the enumeration of 25 and 103 times more rotaviruses respectively, than direct electron microscopy. Also, 70% and 90% of the virus particles were aggregated by direct and indirect immune electron microscopy techniques respectively, thus facilitating their detection.