Theo Harmsen

Enhanced Adherence of Streptococcus pneumoniae to Human Epithelial Cells Infected with Respiratory Syncytial Virus

In the present study, we analyzed the effect of a preceding respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection of human respiratory epithelial cells on the adherence of Streptococcus pneumoniae tested by means of a cytometric fluorescence assay. Adherence of clinically relevant pneumococcal serotypes 3, 9, 14, 18, 19, and 23 was studied using uninfected and RSV-infected monolayers. To this end, monolayers of both human nasopharyngeal cells (HEp-2) and pneumocyte type II cells (A549) were infected with RSV serotype A. Adherence to uninfected epithelial cells varied between pneumococcal serotypes. After RSV infection of the monolayers, all serotypes showed a strongly (2- to 10- fold) and significantly increased adherence when compared with adherence to uninfected monolayers. Enhanced adherence was observed with both cell lines. By fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy, we observed redistribution of pneumococcal adherence over the epithelial surface due to RSV infection, with dense bacterial accumulations near to epithelial syncytia.

Direct Binding of Respiratory Syncytial Virus to Pneumococci: A Phenomenon That Enhances Both Pneumococcal Adherence to Human Epithelial Cells and Pneumococcal Invasiveness in a Murine Model

In a previous study we showed that pneumococcal adherence to epithelial cells was enhanced by a preceding respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. RSV-glycoproteins, expressed on the infected cell surface, may play a role in this enhanced pneumococcal binding, by acting as bacterial receptors. In the current study, it was attempted to analyze the capacity of pneumococci to interact directly with RSV virions. By flow-cytometry, a direct interaction between RSV and pneumococci could be detected. Heparin, an inhibitor of RSV infectivity that interacts with RSV protein-G, blocked RSV-pneumococcal binding, indicating that the latter interaction is indeed mediated by protein-G. RSV-pneumococcal complexes showed enhanced adherence to uninfected human epithelial cells, compared with pneumococcal adherence without bound RSV, and this enhancement was also blocked by heparin. In addition, the significance of these findings in vitro was explored in vivo in a murine model. Both mice that were pretreated with RSV at day 4 before pneumococcal challenge and mice infected with both agents simultaneously showed significantly higher levels of bacteraemia than controls. Simultaneous infection with both agents enhanced the development of pneumococcal bacteraemia most strongly. It was hypothesized that direct viral binding is another mechanism by which RSV can induce enhanced pneumococcal binding to epithelial cells, a phenomenon that is translated in vivo by a higher invasiveness of pneumococci when administered simultaneously with RSV to mice. Apparently, RSV acts in this process as a direct coupling particle between bacteria and uninfected epithelial cells, thereby increasing colonization by and enhancing invasiveness of pneumococci.

Effect of the adjuvant dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium bromide on the humoral and cellular immune responses to encephalomyocarditis virus

The effects of the adjuvant dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium bromide (DDA) on the immune responses to encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus were studied in mice. The humoral response, as measured by appearance of neutralizing antibodies, was slightly enhanced in mice immunized by the intraperitoneal route. Intracutaneously, DDA almost did not affect the humoral response but resulted in distinct enhancement of delayed type hypersensitivity (DH), as measured by the footpad swelling test. DH to EMC virus was found to be antigen-specific and could be passively transferred to normal mice with peritoneal exudate cells from immunized mice. Dose-response curves for DH and humoral antibody responses to EMC virus were not concordant. Low doses induced DH on day 6 without measurable circulating antibodies; high doses gave good antibody responses but suboptimal DH reactions. Immunization conferred a state of resistance to infection with virulent EMC virus. Protection seemed more related to DH than to the prevalence of specific antibodies at the time of infection.

Enzyme immunoassay of mumps virus in cell culture with peroxidase-labelled virus specific monoclonal antibodies and its application for determination of antibodies

Mumps neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAs) were purified and labelled with horseradish peroxidase and used to detect virus-infected Vero cells, which were seeded as monolayers in wells of 96-well plates. This direct enzyme immunoassay (EIA) in cell culture proved to be a sensitive method for detection and titration of mumps virus and it may be useful for diagnostic purposes. The EIA is also suitable for the rapid determination of neutralizing antibodies. Neutralization of mumps virus by preincubation with either monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies was indicated by inhibition of the absorbance at 450 nm as measured with a multichannelled photometer. The EIA (duration 2 days) for determination of mumps neutralizing antibodies is an attractive alternative for the plaque reduction test (duration 6 days).

Determination of inhibitory concentrations of antiviral agents in cell culture by use of an enzyme immunoassay with virus-specific, peroxidase-labeled monoclonal antibodies.

An enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to determine 50% inhibitory concentrations of drugs which suppress Semliki Forest virus replication is described. Inhibition of virus replication was measured in L-cells, seeded as monolayers in 96-well plates by use of horseradish peroxidase-labeled monoclonal antibodies directed against the E1 glycoprotein of Semliki Forest virus. The antiviral agents tested were cycloheximide, tunicamycin, NH4Cl, and disodium cromoglycate. The 50% inhibitory concentration of these antiviral agents was arbitrarily defined as the concentration of drug, in culture medium, associated with 50% reduction of the control absorbance value measured on Semliki Forest virus-infected cells without drug in the culture fluid. Twenty-two hours after infection the 50% inhibitory concentrations of the drugs were 0.2 microgram/ml for cycloheximide, 0.8 microgram/ml for tunicamycin, 0.3 mg/ml for NH4Cl, and 4.9 mg/ml for disodium cromoglycate. These values are similar to those determined by others with conventional methods of virus quantification. This test is sensitive and easy to perform and therefore is suited for large-scale experiments.

Enhancement of delayed-type hypersensitivity and induction of interferon by the lipophilic agents DDA and CP-20,961

The lipophilic amines dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium bromide (DDA) and N,N-dioctadecyl-N′, N′-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)propanediamine (CP-20,961) are compared on their capacities to induce interferon, nonspecific protection to viral infection, and enhancement of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DH). DDA, a well-known adjuvant for the induction of DH is a moderate interferon inducer like CP-20,961. On the other hand, CP-20,961, a known interferon inducer and resembling in structure DDA, is shown to enhance DH to inactivated Semliki Forest virus (SFV). Nonspecific protection to challenge with a lethal dose of either SFV or encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus was induced on injection of both compounds.

Rapid bioassay of human interferon by direct enzyme immunoassay of encephalomyocarditis virus in HEp-2 cell monolayers after a single cycle of infection.

Multiplication of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) in human HEp-2 cells, and its suppression by interferon (IFN), was demonstrated by direct enzyme immunoassay (EIA) in cell culture. EMCV was detected in glutaraldehyde fixed HEp-2 cell monolayers, in wells of 96-well plates, with a horse radish peroxidase (HRPO) labelled EMCV specific monoclonal antibody. Multiplication of EMCV (multiplicity of infection: 50) was indicated by a steep rise of absorbance values measured against infected monolayers starting as early as 5 h after infection and reaching relatively high values at 6 and 7 h. The rise in absorbance values did not occur after preincubation of the HEp-2 cells with either Newcastle disease virus-induced IFN, recombinant gamma IFN or recombinant alfa-2a IFN. Absorbance values were inversely dependent on the amount of IFN used. Therefore the EIA was suitable for rapid titration of IFN. The titres of recombinant gamma and alfa-2a IFN determined with EIA proved to be similar to those given by the manufacturers. The described bioassay of human IFN is objective, rapid and easy to perform and suitable for large scale experiments.

Competition binding assay in cell culture for identification of epitopes on enveloped and naked viruses.

Virus infected monolayers, in wells of 96-well plates, could be used as antigen in competition binding assays to identify epitopes on respectively Semliki Forest virus, encephalomyocarditis virus and mumps virus.

In vivo TNF induction by culture supernatants of antibiotic-treated Escherichia coli 07:K1. Role of antibiotic class and concentration

Antibiotics may cause an excess release of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from bacteria and thereby promote the production of tumour necrosis factor (TNF). TNF was measured in the serum of Swiss mice challenged with filtered supernatant of Escherichia coli O7:K1 that had been exposed to various antibiotics in vitro. Expressed as a function of a standardized number of cells remaining after 6 h of exposure to gentamicin, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin or imipenem, TNF leves associated with antibiotic exposure always exceeded those of controls. However, if differences in the remaining number of bacteria were not taken into account, TNF induction by supernatant of control untreated cultures was greater than that elicited by supernatant from any of the antibiotic-treated cultures. With the exception of imipenem, low-dose antibiotic exposure (0.5 x MIC) invariably induced higher TNF levels than did high-dose exposure (10 x MIC). Considerable antibiotic class- and concentration-related differences were noted. LAL equivalent amounts of LPS released by different antibiotics may diverge in their capacity to induce TNF. Our results do not support the notion that the use of rapidly bactericidal and lytic antibiotics should be avoided.

Inhibition of semliki forest virus multiplication in L-cells by combinations of interferon and ribavirin as measured by plaque titration and direct enzyme immunoassay

Inhibition of Semliki Forest virus (SFV) multiplication in L-cell monolayers by combinations of mouse interferon (IFN) and ribavirin was measured by plaque titration and by direct enzyme immunoassay of SFV in L-cells. When critically inhibitory quantities of IFN and ribavirin were combined, an additive inhibitory effect was observed in either assay.