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Ayoub SM, Holloway BM, Miranda AH, Roberts BZ, Young JW, Minassian A, Ellis RJ. The Impact of Cannabis Use on Cognition in People with HIV: Evidence of Function-Dependent Effects and Mechanisms from Clinical and Preclinical Studies. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2024; 21:87-115. [PMID: 38602558 PMCID: PMC11129923 DOI: 10.1007/s11904-024-00698-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Cannabis may have beneficial anti-inflammatory effects in people with HIV (PWH); however, given this population's high burden of persisting neurocognitive impairment (NCI), clinicians are concerned they may be particularly vulnerable to the deleterious effects of cannabis on cognition. Here, we present a systematic scoping review of clinical and preclinical studies evaluating the effects of cannabinoid exposure on cognition in HIV. RECENT FINDINGS Results revealed little evidence to support a harmful impact of cannabis use on cognition in HIV, with few eligible preclinical data existing. Furthermore, the beneficial/harmful effects of cannabis use observed on cognition were function-dependent and confounded by several factors (e.g., age, frequency of use). Results are discussed alongside potential mechanisms of cannabis effects on cognition in HIV (e.g., anti-inflammatory), and considerations are outlined for screening PWH that may benefit from cannabis interventions. We further highlight the value of accelerating research discoveries in this area by utilizing translatable cross-species tasks to facilitate comparisons across human and animal work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M Ayoub
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive MC 0804, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0804, USA.
| | - Breanna M Holloway
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive MC 0804, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0804, USA
| | - Alannah H Miranda
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive MC 0804, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0804, USA
| | - Benjamin Z Roberts
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive MC 0804, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0804, USA
| | - Jared W Young
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive MC 0804, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0804, USA
- Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Arpi Minassian
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive MC 0804, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0804, USA
- VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, Veterans Administration San Diego HealthCare System, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Ronald J Ellis
- Department of Neuroscience, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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Developing a Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Subtype B Vaccine Prototype Using a Recombinant MVA Vector. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10101717. [PMID: 36298582 PMCID: PMC9611692 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10101717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a retrovirus with global impact and distribution, affecting both domestic and wild cats. This virus can cause severe and progressive immunosuppression culminating in the death of felids. Since the discovery of FIV, only one vaccine has been commercially available. This vaccine has proven efficiency against FIV subtypes A and D, whereas subtype B (FIV-B), found in multiple continents, is not currently preventable by vaccination. We, therefore, developed and evaluated a vaccine prototype against FIV-B using the recombinant viral vector modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) expressing the variable region V1-V3 of the FIV-B envelope protein. We conducted preclinical tests in immunized mice (C57BL/6) using a prime-boost protocol with a 21 day interval and evaluated cellular and humoral responses as well the vaccine viability after lyophilization and storage. The animals immunized with the recombinant MVA/FIV virus developed specific splenocyte proliferation when stimulated with designed peptides. We also detected cellular and humoral immunity activation with IFN-y and antibody production. The data obtained in this study support further development of this immunogen and testing in cats.
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Cano-Ortiz L, Gu Q, de Sousa-Pereira P, Zhang Z, Chiapella C, Penda Twizerimana A, Lin C, Cláudia Franco A, VandeWoude S, Luedde T, Baldauf HM, Münk C. Feline Leukemia Virus-B Envelope together with its GlycoGag and Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 Nef Mediate Resistance to Feline SERINC5. J Mol Biol 2021; 434:167421. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Long M, Toesca J, Guillon C. Review and Perspectives on the Structure-Function Relationships of the Gag Subunits of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10111502. [PMID: 34832657 PMCID: PMC8621984 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10111502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The Gag polyprotein is implied in the budding as well as the establishment of the supramolecular architecture of infectious retroviral particles. It is also involved in the early phases of the replication of retroviruses by protecting and transporting the viral genome towards the nucleus of the infected cell until its integration in the host genome. Therefore, understanding the structure-function relationships of the Gag subunits is crucial as each of them can represent a therapeutic target. Though the field has been explored for some time in the area of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), it is only in the last decade that structural data on Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) Gag subunits have emerged. As FIV is an important veterinary issue, both in domestic cats and endangered feline species, such data are of prime importance for the development of anti-FIV molecules targeting Gag. This review will focus on the recent advances and perspectives on the structure-function relationships of each subunit of the FIV Gag polyprotein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Long
- Retroviruses and Structural Biochemistry, Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry, CNRS, Univ Lyon, UMR5086, 69007 Lyon, France; (M.L.); (J.T.)
- Center for Molecular Protein Science, Department of Chemistry, Lund University, Lund, 221 00 Scania, Sweden
| | - Johan Toesca
- Retroviruses and Structural Biochemistry, Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry, CNRS, Univ Lyon, UMR5086, 69007 Lyon, France; (M.L.); (J.T.)
- Enveloped Viruses, Vectors and Immunotherapy, CIRI-Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, UMR5308, ENS Lyon, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Christophe Guillon
- Retroviruses and Structural Biochemistry, Molecular Microbiology and Structural Biochemistry, CNRS, Univ Lyon, UMR5086, 69007 Lyon, France; (M.L.); (J.T.)
- Correspondence:
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Retroviral Antisense Transcripts and Genes: 33 Years after First Predicted, a Silent Retroviral Revolution? Viruses 2021; 13:v13112221. [PMID: 34835027 PMCID: PMC8622228 DOI: 10.3390/v13112221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Paradigm shifts throughout the history of microbiology have typically been ignored, or met with skepticism and resistance, by the scientific community. This has been especially true in the field of virology, where the discovery of a “contagium vivum fluidum”, or infectious fluid remaining after excluding bacteria by filtration, was initially ignored because it did not coincide with the established view of microorganisms. Subsequent studies on such infectious agents, eventually termed “viruses”, were met with skepticism. However, after an abundance of proof accumulated, viruses were eventually acknowledged as defined microbiological entities. Next, the proposed role of viruses in oncogenesis in animals was disputed, as was the unique mechanism of genome replication by reverse transcription of RNA by the retroviruses. This same pattern of skepticism holds true for the prediction of the existence of retroviral “antisense” transcripts and genes. From the time of their discovery, it was thought that retroviruses encoded proteins on only one strand of proviral DNA. However, in 1988, it was predicted that human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), and other retroviruses, express an antisense protein encoded on the DNA strand opposite that encoding the known viral proteins. Confirmation came quickly with the characterization of the antisense protein, HBZ, of the human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), and the finding that both the protein and its antisense mRNA transcript play key roles in viral replication and pathogenesis. However, acceptance of the existence, and potential importance, of a corresponding antisense transcript and protein (ASP) in HIV-1 infection and pathogenesis has lagged, despite gradually accumulating theoretical and experimental evidence. The most striking theoretical evidence is the finding that asp is highly conserved in group M viruses and correlates exclusively with subtypes, or clades, responsible for the AIDS pandemic. This review outlines the history of the major shifts in thought pertaining to the nature and characteristics of viruses, and in particular retroviruses, and details the development of the hypothesis that retroviral antisense transcripts and genes exist. We conclude that there is a need to accelerate studies on ASP, and its transcript(s), with the view that both may be important, and overlooked, targets in anti-HIV therapeutic and vaccine strategies.
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Moskaluk A, Nehring M, VandeWoude S. Serum Samples from Co-Infected and Domestic Cat Field Isolates Nonspecifically Bind FIV and Other Antigens in Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays. Pathogens 2021; 10:665. [PMID: 34071706 PMCID: PMC8226436 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10060665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
We evaluated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) specificity for measuring seroantibody responses to two types of retroviral infections in domestic cats: feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline foamy virus (FFV). We compared the seroreactivity of specific pathogen-free (SPF) cat sera, sera from SPF cats inoculated with either FIV or FFV, and field isolates (e.g., shelter or privately owned cats). Sera from SPF cats experimentally infected with the cognate virus had significantly lower background in both FIV and FFV ELISAs compared to sera from negative field isolates. ELISA values for SPF cats exposed to either FIV or FFV tended to have higher OD values on the opposite ELISA antigen plate. FIV nonspecific background absorbance was greater than that of FFV, and 10 of 15 sera samples from FIV seronegative field samples were measured in the indeterminant range. These findings highlight that exposure to off-target pathogens elicit antibodies that may nonspecifically bind to antigens used in binding assays; therefore, validation using sera from SPF animals exposed during controlled infection results in the setting of a cutoff value that may be inappropriately low when applied to field samples. Our work also suggests that infection of domestic cats with pathogens other than FIV results in antibodies that cross-react with the FIV Gag antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sue VandeWoude
- Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (A.M.); (M.N.)
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Sil S, Thangaraj A, Chivero ET, Niu F, Kannan M, Liao K, Silverstein PS, Periyasamy P, Buch S. HIV-1 and drug abuse comorbidity: Lessons learned from the animal models of NeuroHIV. Neurosci Lett 2021; 754:135863. [PMID: 33794296 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.135863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Various research studies that have investigated the association between HIV infection and addiction underpin the role of various drugs of abuse in impairing immunological and non-immunological pathways of the host system, ultimately leading to augmentation of HIV infection and disease progression. These studies have included both in vitro and in vivo animal models wherein investigators have assessed the effects of various drugs on several disease parameters to decipher the impact of drugs on both HIV infection and progression of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). However, given the inherent limitations in the existing animal models of HAND, these investigations only recapitulated specific aspects of the disease but not the complex human syndrome. Despite the inability of HIV to infect rodents over the last 30 years, multiple strategies have been employed to develop several rodent models of HAND. While none of these models can accurately mimic the overall pathophysiology of HAND, they serve the purpose of modeling some unique aspects of HAND. This review provides an overview of various animal models used in the field and a careful evaluation of methodological strengths and limitations inherent in both the model systems and study designs to understand better how the various animal models complement one another.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susmita Sil
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Annadurai Thangaraj
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Ernest T Chivero
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Fang Niu
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Muthukumar Kannan
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Ke Liao
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Peter S Silverstein
- School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA
| | - Palsamy Periyasamy
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA.
| | - Shilpa Buch
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA.
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Marchand C, Lemay G, Archambault D. Identification of the nuclear and nucleolar localization signals of the Feline immunodeficiency virus Rev protein. Virus Res 2020; 290:198153. [PMID: 33010374 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2020.198153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Lentivirus genomes code for a regulatory protein essential for virus replication termed Rev. The Rev protein binds to partially spliced and unspliced viral RNAs and mediates their nuclear export. Therefore, Rev possesses functional domains that enable its shuttling between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. The Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), a lentivirus, can lead to an immunodeficiency syndrome after a long incubation period, similar to that associated with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The FIV Rev functional domains have been predicted only by homology with those of HIV-1 Rev. In the present study, the nuclear and nucleolar localization signals (NLS and NoLS, respectively) of the FIV Rev were examined. A series of FIV Rev deletion mutants fused to the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) were used to localize the NLS in a region spanning amino acids (aa) 81-100. By using alanine substitution mutants, basic residues present between the amino acids (aa) 84-99 of the FIV Rev protein sequence were identified to form the NLS, whereas those between aa 82-95 were associated with the NoLS function. These results further enhance our understanding of how Rev exerts its role in the replication cycle of lentiviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claude Marchand
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Guy Lemay
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Denis Archambault
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
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Wang C, Zhang K, Meng L, Zhang X, Song Y, Zhang Y, Gai Y, Zhang Y, Yu B, Wu J, Wang S, Yu X. The C-terminal domain of feline and bovine SAMHD1 proteins has a crucial role in lentiviral restriction. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:4252-4264. [PMID: 32075911 PMCID: PMC7105322 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.012767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
SAM and HD domain-containing protein 1 (SAMHD1) is a host factor that restricts reverse transcription of lentiviruses such as HIV in myeloid cells and resting T cells through its dNTP triphosphohydrolase (dNTPase) activity. Lentiviruses counteract this restriction by expressing the accessory protein Vpx or Vpr, which targets SAMHD1 for proteasomal degradation. SAMHD1 is conserved among mammals, and the feline and bovine SAMHD1 proteins (fSAM and bSAM) restrict lentiviruses by reducing cellular dNTP concentrations. However, the functional regions of fSAM and bSAM that are required for their biological functions are not well-characterized. Here, to establish alternative models to investigate SAMHD1 in vivo, we studied the restriction profile of fSAM and bSAM against different primate lentiviruses. We found that both fSAM and bSAM strongly restrict primate lentiviruses and that Vpx induces the proteasomal degradation of both fSAM and bSAM. Further investigation identified one and five amino acid sites in the C-terminal domain (CTD) of fSAM and bSAM, respectively, that are required for Vpx-mediated degradation. We also found that the CTD of bSAM is directly involved in mediating bSAM's antiviral activity by regulating dNTPase activity, whereas the CTD of fSAM is not. Our results suggest that the CTDs of fSAM and bSAM have important roles in their antiviral functions. These findings advance our understanding of the mechanism of fSAM- and bSAM-mediated viral restriction and might inform strategies for improving HIV animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chu Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China; The First Hospital and Institute of Immunology, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Kaikai Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Lina Meng
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Yanan Song
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Yanxin Gai
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Yuepeng Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Bin Yu
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China; Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Jiaxin Wu
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China; Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Song Wang
- Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Xianghui Yu
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China; Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.
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Abstract
Environmental exposure has a significant impact on human health. While some airborne fungi can cause life-threatening infections, the impact of environment on fungal spore dispersal and transmission is poorly understood. The democratization of shotgun metagenomics allows us to explore important questions about fungal propagation. We focus on Pneumocystis, a genus of host-specific fungi that infect mammals via airborne particles. In humans, Pneumocystis jirovecii causes lethal infections in immunocompromised patients if untreated, although its environmental reservoir and transmission route remain unclear. Environmental exposure has a significant impact on human health. While some airborne fungi can cause life-threatening infections, the impact of environment on fungal spore dispersal and transmission is poorly understood. The democratization of shotgun metagenomics allows us to explore important questions about fungal propagation. We focus on Pneumocystis, a genus of host-specific fungi that infect mammals via airborne particles. In humans, Pneumocystis jirovecii causes lethal infections in immunocompromised patients if untreated, although its environmental reservoir and transmission route remain unclear. Here, we attempt to clarify, by analyzing human exposome metagenomic data sets, whether humans are exposed to different Pneumocystis species present in the air but only P. jirovecii cells are able to replicate or whether they are selectively exposed to P. jirovecii. Our analysis supports the latter hypothesis, which is consistent with a local transmission model. These data also suggest that healthy carriers are a major driver for the transmission.
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Danesi P, Corrò M, Falcaro C, Carminato A, Furlanello T, Cocchi M, Krockenberger MB, Meyer W, Capelli G, Malik R. Molecular detection of Pneumocystis in the lungs of cats. Med Mycol 2020; 57:813-824. [PMID: 30566653 PMCID: PMC7107658 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myy139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Pneumocystis comprises potential pathogens that reside normally in the lungs of a wide range of mammals. Although they generally behave as transient or permanent commensals, they can occasionally cause life-threatening pneumonia (Pneumocystis pneumonia; PCP) in immunosuppressed individuals. Several decades ago, the presence of Pneumocystis morphotypes (trophic forms and cysts) was described in the lungs of normal cats and cats with experimentally induced symptomatic PCP (after immunosuppression by corticosteroids); yet to date spontaneous or drug-induced PCP has not been described in the clinical feline literature, despite immunosuppression of cats by long-standing retrovirus infections or after kidney transplantation. In this study, we describe the presence of Pneumocystis DNA in the lungs of normal cats (that died of various unrelated causes; n = 84) using polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) targeting the mitochondrial small and large subunit ribosomal RNA gene (mtSSU rRNA and mtLSU rRNA). The presence of Pneumocystis DNA was confirmed by sequencing in 24/84 (29%) cats, with evidence of two different sequence types (or lineages). Phylogenetically, lineage1 (L1; 19 cats) and lineage 2 (L2; 5 cats) formed separate clades, clustering with Pneumocystis from domestic pigs (L1) and carnivores (L2), respectively. Results of the present study support the notion that cats can be colonized or subclinically infected by Pneumocystis, without histological evidence of damage to the pulmonary parenchyma referable to pneumocystosis. Pneumocystis seems most likely an innocuous pathogen of cats’ lungs, but its possible role in the exacerbation of chronic pulmonary disorders or viral/bacterial coinfections should be considered further in a clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Danesi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Michela Corrò
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Christian Falcaro
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Antonio Carminato
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | | | - Monia Cocchi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Mark B Krockenberger
- Veterinary Pathology Diagnostic Services, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Wieland Meyer
- Molecular Mycology Research Laboratory, Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Westmead Clinical School, Marie Bashir Institute for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
| | - Gioia Capelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Richard Malik
- Centre for Veterinary Education, B22, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Gomez-Lucia E, Collado VM, Miró G, Martín S, Benítez L, Doménech A. Follow-Up of Viral Parameters in FeLV- or FIV-Naturally Infected Cats Treated Orally with Low Doses of Human Interferon Alpha. Viruses 2019; 11:v11090845. [PMID: 31514435 PMCID: PMC6783854 DOI: 10.3390/v11090845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Specific treatments for the long-life infections by feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are either toxic, expensive or not too effective. Interferon α (IFN-α) is an immunomodulatory molecule which has been shown in vitro to decrease the release of infective particles. The aim of this study was to follow the progress of the clinical score and viral parameters of FeLV- and FIV-naturally infected privately owned cats treated with recombinant human IFN-α (rHuIFN-α, Roferon-A). Twenty-seven FeLV-infected cats (FeLV+) and 31 FIV-infected cats (FIV+) were enrolled in the study. Owners were instructed to orally administer 1 mL/day of 60 IU rHuIFN-α/mL in alternating weeks for four months. Blood samples were taken at the beginning of the study (M0), mid-treatment (M2), end of treatment (M4), and 6-10 months later (M10). Clinical status at these time points improved notably with rHuIFN-α treatment, regardless of the initial severity of the disease, an effect which lasted throughout the study in most animals (15 of the 16 FeLV+ symptomatic cats; 20 of the 22 FIV+ symptomatic cats) improved markedly their clinical situation. In FeLV+ cats plasma antigenemia (p27CA), reverse transcriptase (RT) activity, and proviral load decreased at M2 and M4 but increased again at M10 ("rebound effect"). The level of antigenemia or RT activity was below the detection limits in FIV+ cats, and the effect on proviral load was less marked than in FeLV+ cats. Taken together, these results indicate that rHuIFN-α is a good candidate for treating FeLV+ cats, but the "rebound effect" seen when treatment was discontinued suggests that additional studies should be conducted to clarify its effect on progression of the infection in cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esperanza Gomez-Lucia
- Department of Animal Health, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Victorio M Collado
- Department of Animal Health, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Guadalupe Miró
- Department of Animal Health, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sonsoles Martín
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Benítez
- Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, José Antonio Novais, 12, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Doménech
- Department of Animal Health, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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13
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Variation in Intra-individual Lentiviral Evolution Rates: a Systematic Review of Human, Nonhuman Primate, and Felid Species. J Virol 2019; 93:JVI.00538-19. [PMID: 31167917 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00538-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Lentiviral replication mediated by reverse transcriptase is considered to be highly error prone, leading to a high intra-individual evolution rate that promotes evasion of neutralization and persistent infection. Understanding lentiviral intra-individual evolutionary dynamics on a comparative basis can therefore inform research strategies to aid in studies of pathogenesis, vaccine design, and therapeutic intervention. We conducted a systematic review of intra-individual evolution rates for three species groups of lentiviruses-feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Overall, intra-individual rate estimates differed by virus but not by host, gene, or viral strain. Lentiviral infections in spillover (nonadapted) hosts approximated infections in primary (adapted) hosts. Our review consistently documents that FIV evolution rates within individuals are significantly lower than the rates recorded for HIV and SIV. FIV intra-individual evolution rates were noted to be equivalent to FIV interindividual rates. These findings document inherent differences in the evolution of FIV relative to that of primate lentiviruses, which may signal intrinsic difference of reverse transcriptase between these viral species or different host-viral interactions. Analysis of lentiviral evolutionary selection pressures at the individual versus population level is valuable for understanding transmission dynamics and the emergence of virulent and avirulent strains and provides novel insight for approaches to interrupt lentiviral infections.IMPORTANCE To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that compares intra-individual evolution rates for FIV, SIV, and HIV following systematic review of the literature. Our findings have important implications for informing research strategies in the field of intra-individual virus dynamics for lentiviruses. We observed that FIV evolves more slowly than HIV and SIV at the intra-individual level and found that mutation rates may differ by gene sequence length but not by host, gene, strain, an experimental setting relative to a natural setting, or spillover host infection relative to primary host infection.
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Asquith CRM, Laitinen T, Konstantinova LS, Tizzard G, Poso A, Rakitin OA, Hofmann-Lehmann R, Hilton ST. Investigation of the Pentathiepin Functionality as an Inhibitor of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) via a Potential Zinc Ejection Mechanism, as a Model for HIV Infection. ChemMedChem 2019; 14:454-461. [PMID: 30609219 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201800718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Revised: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
A small diverse library of pentathiepin derivatives were prepared to evaluate their efficacy against the nucleocapsid protein function of the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) as a model for HIV, using an in vitro cell culture approach. This study led to the development of nanomolar active compounds with low toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R M Asquith
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Life Sciences, University College London, London, WC1N 1AX, UK.,Clinical Laboratory & Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.,Current address: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 120 Mason Farm Road, Genetic Medicine Building, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Tuomo Laitinen
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, 70211, Finland
| | - Lidia S Konstantinova
- Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation.,Nanotechnology Education and Research Center, South Ural State University, Lenina Ave. 76, Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation
| | - Graham Tizzard
- UK National Crystallography Service, School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Antti Poso
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, 70211, Finland
| | - Oleg A Rakitin
- Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation.,Nanotechnology Education and Research Center, South Ural State University, Lenina Ave. 76, Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation
| | - Regina Hofmann-Lehmann
- Clinical Laboratory & Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Stephen T Hilton
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Life Sciences, University College London, London, WC1N 1AX, UK
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