Detection and direct typing of herpes simplex virus by polymerase chain reaction

A method for the detection and direct typing of herpes simplex virus (HSV) by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique has been developed. One common upstream primer and two type-specific downstream primers were prepared to amplify DNA from the HSV type 1 and type 2 DNA polymerase gene. Using these three primers simultaneously in the PCR reaction mixtures, both types of HSV DNA were amplified to produce products of different sizes. By direct gel analysis, the products of standard HSV type 1 and type 2 strains had the predictive sizes of 469 and 391 base pairs, respectively, and the difference in molecular mass enabled us to type the HSV strain. A total of 24 strains (type 1; 16 and type 2; 8 strains) were examined by PCR, and the results were consistent with those determined by immunofluorescence using type-specific monoclonal antibodies. No specific amplification was observed using other herpes virus or human genomic DNAs. The PCR method was then applied to clinical specimens. Of 15 samples obtained from oral lesions of children with herpetic gingivostomatitis, all (100%) were HSV positive by PCR, compared with 13 (86.7%) using standard cell culture methods. Three specimens from vulvar lesions of women with genital herpes were positive using both PCR and cell cultures. There was complete agreement in the typing of HSV strains using the PCR method or virus isolation. On the basis of these results, it is suggested that DNA amplification and typing by PCR is particularly useful for material from which virus isolation might be difficult.

Human monoclonal antibodies to human cytomegalovirus derived from peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy adults

Immunoglobulin G class human monoclonal antibodies to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) were produced by the fusion of Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B cells and a murine myeloma cell line. The B cells were derived from the peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy adult volunteers. Four hybridomas producing HCMV-specific monoclonal antibodies were established and each of four antibodies immunoprecipitated an HCMV-specific protein with a molecular weight of 68 kDa. However, the antibodies differed in some of their properties as characterized by indirect immunofluorescence assay and immunoblotting studies, due to the detection of different epitopes on the reacting antigen. None of the four antibodies had any virus neutralizing activity.

Inhibitory effect of herpes simplex virus infection to target cells on recognition of minor histocompatibility antigens by cytotoxic T lymphocytes

Target cell lysis by CTL specific for minor histocompatibility Ag (minor HA), which were generated in (C3H/He x BALB/c)F1 mice immunized with A/J mouse spleen cells, was dramatically reduced by infection of HSV to Neuro-2a (A/J mouse origin) cells as target. The reduction was apparent at 5 h after infection of HSV to target cells, when many viral proteins were produced in the cells. Conversely, MHC-restricted HSV-specific CTL-mediated cell lysis increased time dependently. Using an RNA virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, significant reduction of minor specific CTL-mediated target cell lysis was also found. During the time when this reduction of target cell lysis by HSV occurred, the surface expression of class I H-2Dd molecules was maintained, and anti-H-2a allo-MHC-specific CTL lysed HSV-infected Neuro-2a cells as strongly as uninfected Neuro-2a cells. When HSV-infected or uninfected Neuro-2a cells were treated with Brefeldin A that selectively blocks transportation of newly synthesized proteins out of endoplasmic reticulum, both HSV- and minor HA-specific CTL-mediated cell lyses were blocked. These observations demonstrated that minor HA are continuously synthesized and associated with class I molecules at pre-Golgi and transported via trans Golgi system with quick turnover, and that newly synthesized HSV Ag, which are also associated with class I molecules and transported via the same system, should take the place of intrinsic minor HA and be presented on the surface of the cells to be recognized by MHC-restricted CTL.

Inhibitory effect of herpes simplex virus infection to target cells on recognition of minor histocompatibility antigens by cytotoxic T lymphocytes

Target cell lysis by CTL specific for minor histocompatibility Ag (minor HA), which were generated in (C3H/He x BALB/c)F1 mice immunized with A/J mouse spleen cells, was dramatically reduced by infection of HSV to Neuro-2a (A/J mouse origin) cells as target. The reduction was apparent at 5 h after infection of HSV to target cells, when many viral proteins were produced in the cells. Conversely, MHC-restricted HSV-specific CTL-mediated cell lysis increased time dependently. Using an RNA virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, significant reduction of minor specific CTL-mediated target cell lysis was also found. During the time when this reduction of target cell lysis by HSV occurred, the surface expression of class I H-2Dd molecules was maintained, and anti-H-2a allo-MHC-specific CTL lysed HSV-infected Neuro-2a cells as strongly as uninfected Neuro-2a cells. When HSV-infected or uninfected Neuro-2a cells were treated with Brefeldin A that selectively blocks transportation of newly synthesized proteins out of endoplasmic reticulum, both HSV- and minor HA-specific CTL-mediated cell lyses were blocked. These observations demonstrated that minor HA are continuously synthesized and associated with class I molecules at pre-Golgi and transported via trans Golgi system with quick turnover, and that newly synthesized HSV Ag, which are also associated with class I molecules and transported via the same system, should take the place of intrinsic minor HA and be presented on the surface of the cells to be recognized by MHC-restricted CTL.

Combined effects of acyclovir and human interferon-alpha on herpes simplex virus replication in cultured neural cells

The combined effects of Acyclovir [9-(2'-hydroxyethoxymethyl)guanine; ACV] and human interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) on replication of the herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-1) were determined in human neural cell lines, neuroblastoma (IMR), glioblastoma (118MGC), and glioma (U251MG). HSV-1 grew well in all these cells, with final yields of more than 1 x 10(6) PFU/ml. In terms of virus-yield reduction, ACV was found to be highly effective in IMR, moderately effective in U251MG, but ineffective in 118MGC. By contrast, IFN-alpha reduced the virus yield significantly in 118MGC and in U251MG, but did not in IMR. Combined application of ACV and IFN-alpha strongly inhibited the virus replication in all three cell lines with various degrees of synergism or additive effect. These results were also confirmed by immunofluorescent examinations. The sensitivity of HSV-1 to ACV or IFN-alpha was found to be different among the three different cell types. By combining the two agents, the virus growth was strongly suppressed in all the cells. These results suggest the importance of combination therapy for severe type of herpes simplex encephalitis in clinical practice.