Cathelicidin bovine myeloid antimicrobial peptide (BMAP) 28 is involved in the inflammatory response against alpha-herpesviruses in the bovine nervous system

Transplacental infection by bovine alphaherpesvirus type 1 induces protein expression of COX-2, iNOS and inflammatory cytokines in fetal lungs and placentas

Bovine alphaherpesvirus type 1 (BoAHV-1) is associated with respiratory and reproductive syndromes. Until present the immunologic mechanisms involved in BoAHV-1 abortion are partially known. We studied key elements of the innate immune response in the placentas and fetal lungs from cattle experimentally-inoculated with BoAHV-1. These tissues were analyzed by histopathology. Furthermore, virus identification was performed by qPCR and the expression of the inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin 1-alpha and inflammatory mediators like inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxeganse-2 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The viral transplacental infection was confirmed by the detection of BoAHV-1 by qPCR in the placenta and fetal organs, which revealed mild inflammatory lesions. Inducible nitric oxide synthase immunolabelling was high in the lungs of infected fetuses and placentas, as well as for tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the pulmonary parenchyma and cyclooxeganse-2 in fetal annexes. However, the expression of interleukin 1-alpha was weak in these organs. To our knowledge, this is the first study that provides strong evidence of an early immune response to BoAHV-1 infection in the conceptus. Advances in the knowledge of the complex immunological interactions at the feto-maternal unit during BoAHV-1 infection are needed to clarify the pathogenesis of abortion.

Developing Oncolytic Viruses for the Treatment of Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer represents one of the most important malignancies among women worldwide. Current therapeutic approaches for cervical cancer are reported not only to be inadequate for metastatic cervical cancer, but are also considered as cytotoxic for several patients leading to serious side effects, which can have negative implications on the quality of life of women. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of innovative and effective treatment options. Oncolytic viruses can eventually become effective biological agents, since they preferentially infect and kill cancer cells, while leaving the normal tissue unaffected. Moreover, they are also able to leverage the host immune system response to limit tumor growth. This review aims to systematically describe and discuss the different types of oncolytic viruses generated for targeting cervical cancer cells, as well as the outcome of the combination of virotherapy with conventional therapies. Although many preclinical studies have evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of oncolytic viruses in cervical cancer, the number of clinical trials so far is limited, while their oncolytic properties are currently being tested in clinical trials for the treatment of other malignancies.

Modulation of granzymes mRNA expression in neural tissue of BoAHV-1 and BoAHV-5-infected cattle

Bovine alphaherpesviruses (BoAHV)-1 and 5 are neurotropic viruses of cattle which differ in their neuropathogenic potential. BoAHV-5 is responsible for non-suppurative meningoencephalitis in calves while BoAHV-1 can occasionally cause encephalitis. Granzymes (GZMs) are serine-proteases that participate in CD8⁺ T cells-mediated killing of virally-infected cells upon release through perforin (PFN)-formed pores in the cell membrane. Recently, six GZMs have been identified in cattle (A, B, K, H, M and O). However, their expression in bovine tissues has not been evaluated. In this study, the mRNA expression levels of PFN and GZMs A, B, K, H and M in the nervous system of calves experimentally-inoculated with BoAHV-1 or BoAHV-5 were analyzed at the three distinct stages of the infectious cycle of alphaherpesviruses: acute infection, latency and reactivation. This is the first report describing the expression of GZMs in bovine neural tissue and the first analysis of GZM expression in the context of bovine alphaherpesviruses neuropathogenesis. The findings revealed that PFN and GZM K are upregulated during BoAHV-1 or BoAHV-5 acute infection. In contrast to BoAHV-1, during BoAHV-5 latency a significant up-regulation of PFN, GZM K and GZM H was detected. PFN and GZM A, K and H expression was also up-regulated during BoAHV-5 reactivation. Therefore, a distinct pattern of PFN and GZM expression is evident along the infectious cycle of each alphaherpesvirus and this might contribute to the differences in BoAHV-1 and BoAHV-5 neuropathogenesis.

The Cell-Mediated Immune Response against Bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) Infection and Vaccination

Bovine Alphaherpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) is one of the major respiratory pathogens in cattle worldwide. Infection often leads to a compromised host immune response that contributes to the development of the polymicrobial disease known as “bovine respiratory disease”. After an initial transient phase of immunosuppression, cattle recover from the disease. This is due to the development of both innate and adaptive immune responses. With respect to adaptive immunity, both humoral and cell-mediated immunity are required to control infection. Thus, several BoHV-1 vaccines are designed to trigger both branches of the adaptive immune system. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on cell-mediated immune responses directed against BoHV-1 infection and vaccination.

Microscopic lesions and modulation of gene expression in cervical medulla during BoAHV-1and BoAHV-5 infection: A mini-review

Bovine herpesvirus (BoAHV) types 1 and 5 are closely-related neurotropic alpha-herpesviruses. BoAHV-1 generally causes respiratory and genital disease but can occasionally cause encephalitis. BoAHV-5 is the causative agent of non suppurative meningoencephalitis in calves. During neuroinvasion, both viruses reach the central and peripheral nervous system. While brain alterations are well-described, the changes that occur in the medulla have not been fully detailed. In this work, we integrated and analyzed the virological findings, the microscopic lesions and the changes that occur in the expression of genes related to the innate immunity, cell cycle and apoptosis in the cervical medulla of calves experimentally-infected with BoAHV-1 and BoAHV-5. This will contribute to the understanding of the differential neuropathogenesis of these alpha-herpesviruses of cattle.

Innate and humoral immune parameters at delivery in colostrum and calves from heifers experimentally infected with Neospora caninum

Neospora caninum is a leading cause of abortion in cattle worldwide. The study of the immune response against N. caninum is critical to understand its epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and, ultimately, in preventing and controlling bovine neosporosis. Herein, we determined the gene expression of innate immune components endosomal RNA-sensing TLRs, BMAP28 cathelicidin, TNF-α and IL-10 and characterized the variation in both IgG ratio and avidity at delivery in N. caninum-infected heifers challenged at day 210 of gestation, colostrum and their calves. Increased BMAP28 expression was observed not only in colostrum but also in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and umbilical cord of calves from N. caninum-infected heifers in comparison with mock-infected control group. In addition, statistically significant decrease of TLR7 and IL-10 expression levels were observed in umbilical cord, suggesting an attempt to avoid an exacerbated immune response against the parasite. At delivery, serum and colostrum samples from infected group evidenced specific IgG anti-N. caninum. Infected heifers showed IgG₁/IgG₂ ratios <1 and high avidity specific IgG. As expected, colostrum samples of these animals exhibited a high IgG₁ concentration and elevated avidity values. Three out of four calves from N. caninum-infected heifers had specific IgG with IgG₁/IgG₂ ratios>1 and lower avidity values before colostrum intake. Interestingly, both IgG₁/IgG₂ ratios and avidity values increased in seropositive calves after colostrum intake. Overall, this study provides novel information on neonatal immunity in congenitally infected calves, which is essential to understand how the immune pathways could be manipulated or immune components could be employed in order to improve protection against neosporosis.