RNA-dependent DNA polymerase activity in preparations of a mutant of Newcastle disease virus arising from persistently infected L cells

Inducible viral receptor, A possible concept to induce viral protection in primitive immune animals

A pseudolysogen (PL) is derived from the lysogenic Vibrio harveyi (VH) which is infected with the VHS1 (Vibrio harveyi Siphoviridae-like 1) bacteriophage. The lysogenic Vibrio harveyi undergoes an unequivalent division of the extra-chromosomal VHS1 phage genome and its VH host chromosome and produces a true lysogen (TL) and pseudolysogen (PL). The PL is tolerant to super-infection of VHS1, as is of the true lysogen (TL), but the PL does not contain the VHS1 phage genome while the TL does. However, the PL can become susceptible to VHS1 phage infection if the physiological state of the PL is changed. It is postulated that this is due to a phage receptor molecule which can be inducible to an on-and-off regulation influence by an alternating condition of the bacterial host cell. This characteristic of the PL leads to speculate that this phenomenon can also occur in high organisms with low immunity such as shrimp. This article proposes a hypothesis that the viral receptor molecule on the target cell can play a crucial role in which the invertebrate aquaculture animals can become tolerant to viral infection. A possible mechanism may be that the target cell disrupts the viral receptor molecule to prevent super infection. This concept can explain a mechanism for the prevention of viral infection in invertebrate animals which do not have acquired immunity in response to pathogens. It can guide us to develop a mechanism of immunity to viral infection in low-evolved-immune animals. Also, it can be an additional mechanism that exists in high immune organism, as in human for the prevention of viral infection

A biological perspective of slow virus infection and chronic disease

Sequential events characterize the interaction of viruses with parenchymal cells, and acute lytic infections of tissues and organs have broad biological attributes. A knowledge of these permits a keener understanding of persistent, intermittent herpesvirus infections and persistent, continuous respiratory virus infections. In addition to unique biochemical mechanisms which may permit the latter chronic infections to evolve, the roles of defective and mutant strains of virus, viral interference, and the genetic, developmental and immunological expressions of the host are of considerable and provocative importance. The traditional view of viral infections embraces a broad spectrum of acute pathological and inflammatory events. The relationship of measles virus to subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, the elucidation of the latency of herpes simplex virus, and the slow unmasking of the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis have illustrated the subtle elements of persistent viral infections of the human being. These chronic neurological diseases have provided the opportunity and stimulus for sharp dissection of the biological and biochemical processes which embellish the logical link of viral infections to other forms of chronic human illness.

Measles virus and its associated diseases

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Persistent infection of tissue culture cells by RNA viruses

In this paper, the characteristics of cultured cells persistently infected with RNA viruses, other than leuko viruses are described. The roles that the host cell, interferon, virus mutants and defective interfering particles may play in the establishment and maintenance of persistent infection are discussed. It is proposed that the interaction of viruses with certain types of host cells can lead to persistent infection. The differences in virus-host interactions may be attributable to differences in membrane properties of various cells. Defective interfering particles may play a role in the establishment of persistent infections in cells which normally undergo lytic virus development. Mutant types of virus appear to be prominent in the virus released from persistently infected cells, but the role that various mutants play in the maintenance of persistent infections remains unclear.

Comparison of RNA polymerase associated with Newcastle disease virus and a temperature-sensitive mutant of Newcastle disease virus isolated from persistently infected L cells

An in vitro comparison was made of the RNA polymerase activity associated with Newcastle disease virus (NDVo) and three clones of the temperature-sensitive mutant (NDVpi) isolated from persistently infected L cells. Less polymerase activity was associated with the NDVpi clones. Also, compared to NDVo, an increase in incubation temperature from 32 to 37 or 42 C resulted in a marked decrease in polymerase activity for the temperature-sensitive mutants which coincided with their inability to replicate at 42 C.

Recovery of infectious proviral DNA from mammalian cells infected with respiratory syncytial virus

The DNA fraction from a line of bovine embryonic kidney cells originally exposed as primary cultures several months earlier to a temperature-sensitive (ts) mutant of respiratory syncytial (RS) virus could be used to transfect human HEp-2 cells with the production of infectious RS virus. The DNA donor cells, designated BEK/RS ts, retained their healthy fibroblastic appearance during continuous cultivation at a temperature (39 degrees) restrictive for growth of the original infecting mutant and showed no evidence for RS virus replication or viral antigen synthesis when directly examined for these activities by conventional methods. The infectious property of the DNA from BEK/RS ts cells was abolished by exposure of the nucleic acid preparation to DNase (but not RNase) or by pretreatment of recipient HEp-2 cells with actinomycin D or mitomycin C. The latter drug treatments substantially enhanced the replication of infecting wild-type RS virus in HEp-2 cells. Viral isolates derived from the progeny of a DNA transfection included clones possessing several genetic markers of the RS ts mutant originally used to infect BEK/RS ts cells and other virus clones that appeared to be either hybrid or wild-type for phenotypic properties such as their temperature sensitivity. An infectious proviral DNA was also detected in a line of virogenic HEp-2 cells (HEp-2/RS) persistently infected with respiratory syncytial virus after exposure to the wild-type strain 2 years earlier.

A comparison of biochemical and biological properties of standard and defective lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) virus infection of the mouse is the best-studied model of persistent viral infection. In cell culture, persistent LCM virus infections are associated with the production of large quantities of defective interfering (DI) LCM virus. These defective interfering particles cannot replicate by themselves yet can interfere with the replication of the standard virus and prevent the cytolytic effect caused by the standard virus. It is important to determine the mechanism of interference and to establish whether the DI virus plays a role in vivo. Biological and biochemical properties of the standard and DI virus particles and also virus enzymes are compared. Antigenic analyses reveal that cells releasing only DI virus particles have less cell surface expression of viral antigens than cells releasing the standard virus. In the animal model, the DI virus is shown to have a protective effect against the pathogenesis of the LCM virus disease both in the mouse and in the rat.

Role of interferon in six cell lines persistently infected with rubella virus

Presistent infections with rubella virus were established in baby hamster kidney, BSC-1, HeLa, RK-13, rabbit embryo chondrocyte, and Vero cell lines. All of the cultures except Vero continually produced rubella virus and interferon to which the virus was sensitive. Concurrently, only the Vero cells did not display interference against superinfection with Newcastle disease and vesicular stomatitis viruses. The addition of 1,000 U of exogenous interferon to the cultures cured only the rabbit embryo and Vero cells of the persistent infection. That the interferon is not required for the initiation and maintenance of rubella viral persistence in vitro is implied by the following. (1) Vero cells were persistently infected in the absence of interferon; (2) actinomycin D or cortisone inhibited interferon synthesis but not the rubella viral infection; and (3) cells continuously cultured in the presence of cortisone maintained a viral persistence without interferon synthesis. On the other hand, interferon seems to be responsible for the viral interference; Vero cells infected with rubella virus and cultures inoculated with rubella virus in the presence of actinomycin D or cortisone did not display interference against Newcastle disease or vesicular stomatitis viruses.

Polymerase activity of Pichinde virus

Pichinde virus, a member of the arenavirus group, was examined for polymerase activity. Purified virus was found to contain RNA-dependent RNA polymerase but not RNA-dependent DNA polymerase activity. Since RNase but neither DNase nor actinomycin D inhibited the endogenous polymerase reaction, RNA of the virus appeared to be used as the template. The divalent cations Mg(2+) and Mn(2+) were required for optimal reactivity. The RNA product was partially resistant to RNase and the resistant portion had a sedimentation coefficient of 22 to 26S in sucrose gradients.