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Bron GM, Wichgers Schreur PJ, de Jong MCM, van Keulen L, Vloet RPM, Koenraadt CJM, Kortekaas J, ten Bosch QA. Quantifying Rift Valley fever virus transmission efficiency in a lamb-mosquito-lamb model. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1206089. [PMID: 38170150 PMCID: PMC10759236 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1206089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a (re)emerging mosquito-borne pathogen impacting human and animal health. How RVFV spreads through a population depends on population-level and individual-level interactions between vector, host and pathogen. Here, we estimated the probability for RVFV to transmit to naive animals by experimentally exposing lambs to a bite of an infectious mosquito, and assessed if and how RVFV infection subsequently developed in the exposed animal. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, previously infected via feeding on a viremic lamb, were used to expose naive lambs to the virus. Aedes aegypti colony mosquitoes were used as they are easy to maintain and readily feed in captivity. Other mosquito spp. could be examined with similar methodology. Lambs were exposed to either 1-3 (low exposure) or 7-9 (high exposure) infectious mosquitoes. All lambs in the high exposure group became viremic and showed characteristic signs of Rift Valley fever within 2-4 days post exposure. In contrast, 3 out of 12 lambs in the low exposure group developed viremia and disease, with similar peak-levels of viremia as the high exposure group but with some heterogeneity in the onset of viremia. These results suggest that the likelihood for successful infection of a ruminant host is affected by the number of infectious mosquitoes biting, but also highlights that a single bite of an infectious mosquito can result in disease. The per bite mosquito-to-host transmission efficiency was estimated at 28% (95% confidence interval: 15 - 47%). We subsequently combined this transmission efficiency with estimates for life traits of Aedes aegypti or related mosquitoes into a Ross-McDonald mathematical model to illustrate scenarios under which major RVFV outbreaks could occur in naïve populations (i.e., R0 >1). The model revealed that relatively high vector-to-host ratios as well as mosquitoes feeding preferably on competent hosts are required for R0 to exceed 1. Altogether, this study highlights the importance of experiments that mimic natural exposure to RVFV. The experiments facilitate a better understanding of the natural progression of disease and a direct way to obtain epidemiological parameters for mathematical models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gebbiena M. Bron
- Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Mart C. M. de Jong
- Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Lucien van Keulen
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University and Research, Lelystad, Netherlands
| | - Rianka P. M. Vloet
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University and Research, Lelystad, Netherlands
| | | | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University and Research, Lelystad, Netherlands
| | - Quirine A. ten Bosch
- Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
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2
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Bakker JW, Pascoe EL, van de Water S, van Keulen L, de Vries A, Woudstra LC, Esser HJ, Pijlman GP, de Boer WF, Sprong H, Kortekaas J, Wichgers Schreur PJ, Koenraadt CJM. Infection of wild-caught wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) and yellow-necked mice (A. flavicollis) with tick-borne encephalitis virus. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21627. [PMID: 38062065 PMCID: PMC10703896 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47697-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The distribution of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is expanding to Western European countries, including the Netherlands, but the contribution of different rodent species to the transmission of TBEV is poorly understood. We investigated whether two species of wild rodents native to the Netherlands, the wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus and the yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis, differ in their relative susceptibility to experimental infection with TBEV. Wild-caught individuals were inoculated subcutaneously with the classical European subtype of TBEV (Neudoerfl) or with TBEV-NL, a genetically divergent TBEV strain from the Netherlands. Mice were euthanised and necropsied between 3 and 21 days post-inoculation. None of the mice showed clinical signs or died during the experimental period. Nevertheless, TBEV RNA was detected up to 21 days in the blood of both mouse species and TBEV was also isolated from the brain of some mice. Moreover, no differences in infection rates between virus strains and mouse species were found in blood, spleen, or liver samples. Our results suggest that the wood mouse and the yellow-necked mouse may equally contribute to the transmission cycle of TBEV in the Netherlands. Future experimental infection studies that include feeding ticks will help elucidate the relative importance of viraemic transmission in the epidemiology of TBEV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian W Bakker
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Emily L Pascoe
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Conservation Genomics Research Unit, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Trento, Italy
| | - Sandra van de Water
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Lucien van Keulen
- Department of Bacteriology, Host-Pathogen Interaction and Diagnostics Development, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Ankje de Vries
- National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lianne C Woudstra
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Helen J Esser
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Gorben P Pijlman
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Willem F de Boer
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hein Sprong
- National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, Saint Priest, France
| | - Paul J Wichgers Schreur
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
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Bermúdez-Méndez E, Angelino P, van Keulen L, van de Water S, Rockx B, Pijlman GP, Ciuffi A, Kortekaas J, Wichgers Schreur PJ. Transcriptomic Profiling Reveals Intense Host-Pathogen Dispute Compromising Homeostasis during Acute Rift Valley Fever Virus Infection. J Virol 2023; 97:e0041523. [PMID: 37306574 PMCID: PMC10308945 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00415-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) (family Phenuiviridae) can cause severe disease, and outbreaks of this mosquito-borne pathogen pose a significant threat to public and animal health. Yet many molecular aspects of RVFV pathogenesis remain incompletely understood. Natural RVFV infections are acute, characterized by a rapid onset of peak viremia during the first days post-infection, followed by a rapid decline. Although in vitro studies identified a major role of interferon (IFN) responses in counteracting the infection, a comprehensive overview of the specific host factors that play a role in RVFV pathogenesis in vivo is still lacking. Here, the host in vivo transcriptional profiles in the liver and spleen tissues of lambs exposed to RVFV are studied using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology. We validate that IFN-mediated pathways are robustly activated in response to infection. We also link the observed hepatocellular necrosis with severely compromised organ function, which is reflected as a marked downregulation of multiple metabolic enzymes essential for homeostasis. Furthermore, we associate the elevated basal expression of LRP1 in the liver with RVFV tissue tropism. Collectively, the results of this study deepen the knowledge of the in vivo host response during RVFV infection and reveal new insights into the gene regulation networks underlying pathogenesis in a natural host. IMPORTANCE Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a mosquito-transmitted pathogen capable of causing severe disease in animals and humans. Outbreaks of RVFV pose a significant threat to public health and can result in substantial economic losses. Little is known about the molecular basis of RVFV pathogenesis in vivo, particularly in its natural hosts. We employed RNA-seq technology to investigate genome-wide host responses in the liver and spleen of lambs during acute RVFV infection. We show that RVFV infection drastically decreases the expression of metabolic enzymes, which impairs normal liver function. Moreover, we highlight that basal expression levels of the host factor LRP1 may be a determinant of RVFV tissue tropism. This study links the typical pathological phenotype induced by RVFV infection with tissue-specific gene expression profiles, thereby improving our understanding of RVFV pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick Bermúdez-Méndez
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Paolo Angelino
- Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lucien van Keulen
- Department of Bacteriology, Host-Pathogen Interaction and Diagnostics Development, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Sandra van de Water
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Barry Rockx
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Gorben P. Pijlman
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Angela Ciuffi
- Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Paul J. Wichgers Schreur
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
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Wichgers Schreur PJ, Bird BH, Ikegami T, Bermúdez-Méndez E, Kortekaas J. Perspectives of Next-Generation Live-Attenuated Rift Valley Fever Vaccines for Animal and Human Use. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11030707. [PMID: 36992291 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11030707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Live-attenuated Rift Valley fever (RVF) vaccines transiently replicate in the vaccinated host, thereby effectively initiating an innate and adaptive immune response. Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV)-specific neutralizing antibodies are considered the main correlate of protection. Vaccination with classical live-attenuated RVF vaccines during gestation in livestock has been associated with fetal malformations, stillbirths, and fetal demise. Facilitated by an increased understanding of the RVFV infection and replication cycle and availability of reverse genetics systems, novel rationally-designed live-attenuated candidate RVF vaccines with improved safety profiles have been developed. Several of these experimental vaccines are currently advancing beyond the proof-of-concept phase and are being evaluated for application in both animals and humans. We here provide perspectives on some of these next-generation live-attenuated RVF vaccines and highlight the opportunities and challenges of these approaches to improve global health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Wichgers Schreur
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands
- BunyaVax B.V., 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Brian H Bird
- One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Tetsuro Ikegami
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
- The Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
- The Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Erick Bermúdez-Méndez
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
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5
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Bermúdez-Méndez E, Bronsvoort KF, Zwart MP, van de Water S, Cárdenas-Rey I, Vloet RPM, Koenraadt CJM, Pijlman GP, Kortekaas J, Wichgers Schreur PJ. Incomplete bunyavirus particles can cooperatively support virus infection and spread. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001870. [PMID: 36378688 PMCID: PMC9665397 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bunyaviruses lack a specific mechanism to ensure the incorporation of a complete set of genome segments into each virion, explaining the generation of incomplete virus particles lacking one or more genome segments. Such incomplete virus particles, which may represent the majority of particles produced, are generally considered to interfere with virus infection and spread. Using the three-segmented arthropod-borne Rift Valley fever virus as a model bunyavirus, we here show that two distinct incomplete virus particle populations unable to spread autonomously are able to efficiently complement each other in both mammalian and insect cells following co-infection. We further show that complementing incomplete virus particles can co-infect mosquitoes, resulting in the reconstitution of infectious virus that is able to disseminate to the mosquito salivary glands. Computational models of infection dynamics predict that incomplete virus particles can positively impact virus spread over a wide range of conditions, with the strongest effect at intermediate multiplicities of infection. Our findings suggest that incomplete particles may play a significant role in within-host spread and between-host transmission, reminiscent of the infection cycle of multipartite viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick Bermúdez-Méndez
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kirsten F. Bronsvoort
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Mark P. Zwart
- Department of Microbial Ecology, The Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sandra van de Water
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Ingrid Cárdenas-Rey
- Department of Bacteriology, Host-Pathogen Interactions and Diagnostics Development, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Genetics, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rianka P. M. Vloet
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | | | - Gorben P. Pijlman
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Paul J. Wichgers Schreur
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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6
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Cecilia H, Vriens R, Wichgers Schreur PJ, de Wit MM, Métras R, Ezanno P, ten Bosch QA. Heterogeneity of Rift Valley fever virus transmission potential across livestock hosts, quantified through a model-based analysis of host viral load and vector infection. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1010314. [PMID: 35867712 PMCID: PMC9348665 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Quantifying the variation of pathogens’ life history traits in multiple host systems is crucial to understand their transmission dynamics. It is particularly important for arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses), which are prone to infecting several species of vertebrate hosts. Here, we focus on how host-pathogen interactions determine the ability of host species to transmit a virus to susceptible vectors upon a potentially infectious contact. Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a viral, vector-borne, zoonotic disease, chosen as a case study. The relative contributions of livestock species to RVFV transmission has not been previously quantified. To estimate their potential to transmit the virus over the course of their infection, we 1) fitted a within-host model to viral RNA and infectious virus measures, obtained daily from infected lambs, calves, and young goats, 2) estimated the relationship between vertebrate host infectious titers and probability to infect mosquitoes, and 3) estimated the net infectiousness of each host species over the duration of their infectious periods, taking into account different survival outcomes for lambs. Our results indicate that the efficiency of viral replication, along with the lifespan of infectious particles, could be sources of heterogeneity between hosts. Given available data on RVFV competent vectors, we found that, for similar infectious titers, infection rates in the Aedes genus were on average higher than in the Culex genus. Consequently, for Aedes-mediated infections, we estimated the net infectiousness of lambs to be 2.93 (median) and 3.65 times higher than that of calves and goats, respectively. In lambs, we estimated the overall infectiousness to be 1.93 times higher in individuals which eventually died from the infection than in those recovering. Beyond infectiousness, the relative contributions of host species to transmission depend on local ecological factors, including relative abundances and vector host-feeding preferences. Quantifying these contributions will ultimately help design efficient, targeted, surveillance and vaccination strategies. Viruses spread by mosquitoes present a major threat to animal and public health worldwide. When these pathogenic viruses can infect multiple species, controlling their spread becomes difficult. Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is such a virus. It spreads predominantly among ruminant livestock but can also spill over and cause severe disease in humans. Understanding which of these ruminant species are most important for the transmission of RVFV can help for effective control. One piece of this puzzle is to assess how effective infected animals are at transmitting RVFV to mosquitoes. To answer this question, we combine mathematical models with observations from experimental infections in cattle, sheep, and goats, and model changes in viremia over time within individuals. We then quantify the relationship between hosts’ viremia and the probability to infect mosquitoes. In combining these two analyses, we estimate the overall transmission potential of sheep, when in contact with mosquitoes, to be 3 to 5 times higher than that of goats and cattle. Further, sheep that experience a lethal infection have an even larger overall transmission potential. Once applied at the level of populations, with setting-specific herd composition and exposure to mosquitoes, these results will help unravel species’ role in RVF outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hélène Cecilia
- INRAE, Oniris, BIOEPAR, Nantes, France
- * E-mail: (HC); (QAtB)
| | - Roosmarie Vriens
- Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Mariken M. de Wit
- Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Raphaëlle Métras
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d’Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique (IPLESP), Paris, France
| | | | - Quirine A. ten Bosch
- Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- * E-mail: (HC); (QAtB)
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7
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Rodriguez-Conde S, Inman S, Lindo V, Amery L, Tang A, Okorji-Obike U, Du W, Bosch BJ, Wichgers Schreur PJ, Kortekaas J, Sola I, Enjuanes L, Kerry L, Mahal K, Hulley M, Daramola O. Suitability of transiently expressed antibodies for clinical studies: product quality consistency at different production scales. MAbs 2022; 14:2052228. [PMID: 35323099 PMCID: PMC8959507 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2022.2052228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Transgenic human monoclonal antibodies derived from humanized mice against different epitopes of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and chimeric llama-human bispecific heavy chain-only antibodies targeting the Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), were produced using a CHO-based transient expression system. Two lead candidates were assessed for each model virus before selecting and progressing one lead molecule. MERS-7.7G6 was used as the model antibody to demonstrate batch-to-batch process consistency and, together with RVFV-107-104, were scaled up to 200 L. Consistent expression titers were obtained in different batches at a 5 L scale for MERS-7.7G6. Although lower expression levels were observed for MERS-7.7G6 and RVFV-107-104 during scale up to 200 L, product quality attributes were consistent at different scales and in different batches. In addition to this, peptide mapping data suggested no detectable sequence variants for any of these candidates. Functional assays demonstrated comparable neutralizing activity for MERS-7.7G6 and RVFV-107-104 generated at different production scales. Similarly, MERS-7.7G6 batches generated at different scales were shown to provide comparable protection in mouse models. Our study demonstrates that a CHO-based transient expression process is capable of generating consistent product quality at different production scales and thereby supports the potential of using transient gene expression to accelerate the manufacturing of early clinical material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Rodriguez-Conde
- Cell Culture & Fermentation Sciences, BioPharmaceutical Development, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sophie Inman
- Analytical Sciences, BioPharmaceutical Development, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Viv Lindo
- Analytical Sciences, BioPharmaceutical Development, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Leanne Amery
- Late-Stage Formulation Sciences, BioPharmaceutical Development, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alison Tang
- Purification Process Sciences, BioPharmaceutical Development, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Uche Okorji-Obike
- Analytical Sciences, Bioassay Biosafety and Impurities, BioPharmaceutical Development, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Wenjuan Du
- Virology Section, Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Berend-Jan Bosch
- Virology Section, Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Paul J Wichgers Schreur
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | | | - Isabel Sola
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, National Center of Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC), Campus Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Enjuanes
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, National Center of Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC), Campus Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Kerry
- Analytical Sciences, Bioassay Biosafety and Impurities, BioPharmaceutical Development, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Katharina Mahal
- Analytical Sciences, Bioassay Biosafety and Impurities, BioPharmaceutical Development, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Martyn Hulley
- Purification Process Sciences, BioPharmaceutical Development, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Olalekan Daramola
- Cell Culture & Fermentation Sciences, BioPharmaceutical Development, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
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8
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Abstract
Multimerization of single-domain antibodies (sdAbs) is instrumental for construction of antibody molecules with high avidity, extended in vivo half-life, and tailor-made biological activity. Two-component superglues, based on bacterium-derived peptides (Tags) and small protein domains (Catchers) that form isopeptide bonds when in close proximity, enable the creation of multimers by simply mixing of the individual components. Here, we provide detailed methods for the construction of sdAbs and scaffolds bearing genetically fused superglue components and their assembly into multimeric complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Wichgers Schreur
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands.
| | - Sandra van de Water
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Lelystad, The Netherlands
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9
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Aebischer A, Wernike K, König P, Franzke K, Wichgers Schreur PJ, Kortekaas J, Vitikainen M, Wiebe M, Saloheimo M, Tchelet R, Audonnet JC, Beer M. Development of a Modular Vaccine Platform for Multimeric Antigen Display Using an Orthobunyavirus Model. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9060651. [PMID: 34203630 PMCID: PMC8232151 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9060651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging infectious diseases represent an increasing threat to human and animal health. Therefore, safe and effective vaccines that could be available within a short time frame after an outbreak are required for adequate prevention and control. Here, we developed a robust and versatile self-assembling multimeric protein scaffold particle (MPSP) vaccine platform using lumazine synthase (LS) from Aquifex aeolicus. This scaffold allowed the presentation of peptide epitopes by genetic fusion as well as the presentation of large antigens by bacterial superglue-based conjugation to the pre-assembled particle. Using the orthobunyavirus model Schmallenberg virus (SBV) we designed MPSPs presenting major immunogens of SBV and assessed their efficacy in a mouse model as well as in cattle, a target species of SBV. All prototype vaccines conferred protection from viral challenge infection and the multivalent presentation of the selected antigens on the MPSP markedly improved their immunogenicity compared to the monomeric subunits. Even a single shot vaccination protected about 80% of mice from an otherwise lethal dose of SBV. Most importantly, the MPSPs induced a virtually sterile immunity in cattle. Altogether, LS represents a promising platform for modular and rapid vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Aebischer
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (A.A.); (K.W.); (P.K.); (K.F.)
| | - Kerstin Wernike
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (A.A.); (K.W.); (P.K.); (K.F.)
| | - Patricia König
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (A.A.); (K.W.); (P.K.); (K.F.)
| | - Kati Franzke
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (A.A.); (K.W.); (P.K.); (K.F.)
| | - Paul J. Wichgers Schreur
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands; (P.J.W.S.); (J.K.)
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands; (P.J.W.S.); (J.K.)
| | - Marika Vitikainen
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., 02150 Espoo, Finland; (M.V.); (M.W.); (M.S.)
| | - Marilyn Wiebe
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., 02150 Espoo, Finland; (M.V.); (M.W.); (M.S.)
| | - Markku Saloheimo
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., 02150 Espoo, Finland; (M.V.); (M.W.); (M.S.)
| | - Ronen Tchelet
- Dyadic Netherland B.V., 6709 PA Wageningen, The Netherlands;
| | | | - Martin Beer
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (A.A.); (K.W.); (P.K.); (K.F.)
- Correspondence:
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10
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Meurens F, Dunoyer C, Fourichon C, Gerdts V, Haddad N, Kortekaas J, Lewandowska M, Monchatre-Leroy E, Summerfield A, Wichgers Schreur PJ, van der Poel WHM, Zhu J. Animal board invited review: Risks of zoonotic disease emergence at the interface of wildlife and livestock systems. Animal 2021; 15:100241. [PMID: 34091225 PMCID: PMC8172357 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2021.100241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The ongoing coronavirus disease 19s pandemic has yet again demonstrated the importance of the human-animal interface in the emergence of zoonotic diseases, and in particular the role of wildlife and livestock species as potential hosts and virus reservoirs. As most diseases emerge out of the human-animal interface, a better understanding of the specific drivers and mechanisms involved is crucial to prepare for future disease outbreaks. Interactions between wildlife and livestock systems contribute to the emergence of zoonotic diseases, especially in the face of globalization, habitat fragmentation and destruction and climate change. As several groups of viruses and bacteria are more likely to emerge, we focus on pathogenic viruses of the Bunyavirales, Coronaviridae, Flaviviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, and Paramyxoviridae, as well as bacterial species including Mycobacterium sp., Brucella sp., Bacillus anthracis and Coxiella burnetii. Noteworthy, it was difficult to predict the drivers of disease emergence in the past, even for well-known pathogens. Thus, an improved surveillance in hotspot areas and the availability of fast, effective, and adaptable control measures would definitely contribute to preparedness. We here propose strategies to mitigate the risk of emergence and/or re-emergence of prioritized pathogens to prevent future epidemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Meurens
- INRAE, Oniris, BIOEPAR, 44307 Nantes, France; Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon S7N5E3, Canada.
| | - Charlotte Dunoyer
- Direction de l'évaluation des risques, Anses, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | | | - Volker Gerdts
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO)-International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E3, Canada
| | - Nadia Haddad
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, BIPAR, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University and Research, Houtribweg 39, 8221 RA Lelystad, the Netherlands
| | - Marta Lewandowska
- Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI), Sensemattstrasse 293, 3147 Mittelhäusern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Artur Summerfield
- Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI), Sensemattstrasse 293, 3147 Mittelhäusern, Switzerland
| | - Paul J Wichgers Schreur
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University and Research, Houtribweg 39, 8221 RA Lelystad, the Netherlands
| | - Wim H M van der Poel
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University and Research, Houtribweg 39, 8221 RA Lelystad, the Netherlands
| | - Jianzhong Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Comparative Medicine Research Institute, Yangzhou University, 225009 Yangzhou, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, 225009 Yangzhou, China
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11
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Wichgers Schreur PJ, Tacken M, Gutjahr B, Keller M, van Keulen L, Kant J, van de Water S, Lin Y, Eiden M, Rissmann M, von Arnim F, König R, Brix A, Charreyre C, Audonnet JC, Groschup MH, Kortekaas J. Vaccine Efficacy of Self-Assembled Multimeric Protein Scaffold Particles Displaying the Glycoprotein Gn Head Domain of Rift Valley Fever Virus. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9030301. [PMID: 33806789 PMCID: PMC8005036 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9030301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Compared to free antigens, antigens immobilized on scaffolds, such as nanoparticles, generally show improved immunogenicity. Conventionally, antigens are conjugated to scaffolds through genetic fusion or chemical conjugation, which may result in impaired assembly or heterogeneous binding and orientation of the antigens. By combining two emerging technologies-i.e., self-assembling multimeric protein scaffold particles (MPSPs) and bacterial superglue-these shortcomings can be overcome and antigens can be bound on particles in their native conformation. In the present work, we assessed whether this technology could improve the immunogenicity of a candidate subunit vaccine against the zoonotic Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV). For this, the head domain of glycoprotein Gn, a known target of neutralizing antibodies, was coupled on various MPSPs to further assess immunogenicity and efficacy in vivo. The results showed that the Gn head domain, when bound to the lumazine synthase-based MPSP, reduced mortality in a lethal mouse model and protected lambs, the most susceptible RVFV target animals, from viremia and clinical signs after immunization. Furthermore, the same subunit coupled to two other MPSPs (Geobacillus stearothermophilus E2 or a modified KDPG Aldolase) provided full protection in lambs as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J. Wichgers Schreur
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands; (M.T.); (L.v.K.); (J.K.); (S.v.d.W.); (Y.L.); (J.K.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Mirriam Tacken
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands; (M.T.); (L.v.K.); (J.K.); (S.v.d.W.); (Y.L.); (J.K.)
| | - Benjamin Gutjahr
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (B.G.); (M.K.); (M.E.); (M.R.); (F.v.A.); (R.K.); (M.H.G.)
| | - Markus Keller
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (B.G.); (M.K.); (M.E.); (M.R.); (F.v.A.); (R.K.); (M.H.G.)
| | - Lucien van Keulen
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands; (M.T.); (L.v.K.); (J.K.); (S.v.d.W.); (Y.L.); (J.K.)
| | - Jet Kant
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands; (M.T.); (L.v.K.); (J.K.); (S.v.d.W.); (Y.L.); (J.K.)
| | - Sandra van de Water
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands; (M.T.); (L.v.K.); (J.K.); (S.v.d.W.); (Y.L.); (J.K.)
| | - Yanyin Lin
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands; (M.T.); (L.v.K.); (J.K.); (S.v.d.W.); (Y.L.); (J.K.)
| | - Martin Eiden
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (B.G.); (M.K.); (M.E.); (M.R.); (F.v.A.); (R.K.); (M.H.G.)
| | - Melanie Rissmann
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (B.G.); (M.K.); (M.E.); (M.R.); (F.v.A.); (R.K.); (M.H.G.)
| | - Felicitas von Arnim
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (B.G.); (M.K.); (M.E.); (M.R.); (F.v.A.); (R.K.); (M.H.G.)
| | - Rebecca König
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (B.G.); (M.K.); (M.E.); (M.R.); (F.v.A.); (R.K.); (M.H.G.)
| | - Alexander Brix
- Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Research Center GmbH & Co. KG, 30559 Hannover, Germany;
| | | | | | - Martin H. Groschup
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (B.G.); (M.K.); (M.E.); (M.R.); (F.v.A.); (R.K.); (M.H.G.)
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands; (M.T.); (L.v.K.); (J.K.); (S.v.d.W.); (Y.L.); (J.K.)
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
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12
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Bermúdez-Méndez E, Katrukha EA, Spruit CM, Kortekaas J, Wichgers Schreur PJ. Visualizing the ribonucleoprotein content of single bunyavirus virions reveals more efficient genome packaging in the arthropod host. Commun Biol 2021; 4:345. [PMID: 33753850 PMCID: PMC7985392 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01821-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Bunyaviruses have a genome that is divided over multiple segments. Genome segmentation complicates the generation of progeny virus, since each newly formed virus particle should preferably contain a full set of genome segments in order to disseminate efficiently within and between hosts. Here, we combine immunofluorescence and fluorescence in situ hybridization techniques to simultaneously visualize bunyavirus progeny virions and their genomic content at single-molecule resolution in the context of singly infected cells. Using Rift Valley fever virus and Schmallenberg virus as prototype tri-segmented bunyaviruses, we show that bunyavirus genome packaging is influenced by the intracellular viral genome content of individual cells, which results in greatly variable packaging efficiencies within a cell population. We further show that bunyavirus genome packaging is more efficient in insect cells compared to mammalian cells and provide new insights on the possibility that incomplete particles may contribute to bunyavirus spread as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick Bermúdez-Méndez
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Eugene A Katrukha
- Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Cindy M Spruit
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
- Department of Chemical Biology & Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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13
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Wichgers Schreur PJ, Vloet RPM, Kant J, van Keulen L, Gonzales JL, Visser TM, Koenraadt CJM, Vogels CBF, Kortekaas J. Reproducing the Rift Valley fever virus mosquito-lamb-mosquito transmission cycle. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1477. [PMID: 33446733 PMCID: PMC7809480 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79267-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a mosquito-borne bunyavirus that is pathogenic to ruminants and humans. The virus is endemic to Africa and the Arabian Peninsula where outbreaks are characterized by abortion storms and mortality of newborns, particularly in sheep herds. Vector competence experiments in laboratory settings have suggested that over 50 mosquito species are capable of transmitting RVFV. Transmission of mosquito-borne viruses in the field is however influenced by numerous factors, including population densities, blood feeding behavior, extrinsic incubation period, longevity of vectors, and viremia levels in vertebrate hosts. Animal models to study these important aspects of RVFV transmission are currently lacking. In the present work, RVFV was transmitted to European (Texel-swifter cross-breed) lambs by laboratory-reared Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that were infected either by membrane feeding on a virus-spiked blood meal or by feeding on lambs that developed viremia after intravenous inoculation of RVFV. Feeding of mosquitoes on viremic lambs resulted in strikingly higher infection rates as compared to membrane feeding. Subsequent transmission of RVFV from lamb to lamb by infected mosquitoes was highly efficient in both models. The animal models described here can be used to study mosquito-mediated transmission of RVFV among the major natural target species and to evaluate the efficacy of vaccines against mosquito-mediated RVFV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jet Kant
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | | | - Jose L Gonzales
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Tessa M Visser
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Chantal B F Vogels
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands. .,Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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14
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Oymans J, van Keulen L, Vermeulen GM, Wichgers Schreur PJ, Kortekaas J. Shuni Virus Replicates at the Maternal-Fetal Interface of the Ovine and Human Placenta. Pathogens 2020; 10:pathogens10010017. [PMID: 33383649 PMCID: PMC7823754 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10010017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Shuni virus (SHUV) is a neglected teratogenic and neurotropic orthobunyavirus that was discovered in the 1960s in Nigeria and was subsequently detected in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Israel. The virus was isolated from field-collected biting midges and mosquitoes and shown to disseminate efficiently in laboratory-reared biting midges, suggesting that members of the families Culicidae and Ceratopogonidae may function as vectors. SHUV infections have been associated with severe neurological disease in horses, a variety of wildlife species, and domesticated ruminants. SHUV infection of ruminants is additionally associated with abortion, stillbirth, and congenital malformations. The detection of antibodies in human sera also suggests that the virus may have zoonotic potential. To understand how SHUV crosses the ruminant placenta, we here infected pregnant ewes and subsequently performed detailed clinical- and histopathological examination of placental tissue. We found that SHUV targets both maternal epithelial cells and fetal trophoblasts, that together form the maternal-fetal interface of the ovine placenta. Experiments with human placental explants, furthermore, revealed replication of SHUV in syncytiotrophoblasts, which are generally highly resistant to virus infections. Our findings provide novel insights into vertical transmission of SHUV in sheep and call for research on the potential risk of SHUV infection during human pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Oymans
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Houtribweg 39, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands; (J.O.); (L.v.K.); (P.J.W.S.)
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Lucien van Keulen
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Houtribweg 39, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands; (J.O.); (L.v.K.); (P.J.W.S.)
| | - Guus M. Vermeulen
- Department of Gynaecology, Isala Hospital, 8025 AB Zwolle, The Netherlands;
| | - Paul J. Wichgers Schreur
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Houtribweg 39, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands; (J.O.); (L.v.K.); (P.J.W.S.)
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Houtribweg 39, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands; (J.O.); (L.v.K.); (P.J.W.S.)
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Correspondence:
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15
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Wichgers Schreur PJ, Oreshkova N, van Keulen L, Kant J, van de Water S, Soós P, Dehon Y, Kollár A, Pénzes Z, Kortekaas J. Safety and efficacy of four-segmented Rift Valley fever virus in young sheep, goats and cattle. NPJ Vaccines 2020; 5:65. [PMID: 32728479 PMCID: PMC7382487 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-020-00212-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a mosquito-borne bunyavirus that causes severe and recurrent outbreaks on the African continent and the Arabian Peninsula and continues to expand its habitat. RVFV induces severe disease in newborns and abortion in pregnant ruminants. The viral genome consists of a small (S), medium (M) and large (L) RNA segment of negative polarity. The M segment encodes a glycoprotein precursor protein that is co-translationally cleaved into the two structural glycoproteins Gn and Gc, which are involved in receptor attachment and cell entry. We previously constructed a four-segmented RVFV (RVFV-4s) by splitting the M genome segment into two M-type segments encoding either Gn or Gc. RVFV-4s replicates efficiently in cell culture but was shown to be completely avirulent in mice, lambs and pregnant ewes. Here, we show that a RVFV-4s candidate vaccine for veterinary use (vRVFV-4s) does not disseminate in vaccinated animals, is not shed or spread to the environment and does not revert to virulence. Furthermore, a single vaccination of lambs, goat kids and calves was shown to induce protective immunity against a homologous challenge. Finally, the vaccine was shown to provide full protection against a genetically distinct RVFV strain. Altogether, we demonstrate that vRVFV-4s optimally combines efficacy with safety, holding great promise as a next-generation RVF vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Wichgers Schreur
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands.,BunyaVax B.V., Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Nadia Oreshkova
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Lucien van Keulen
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Jet Kant
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Sandra van de Water
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Pál Soós
- Ceva Animal Health, Ceva-Phylaxia, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Yves Dehon
- Ceva Animal Health, Ceva-Phylaxia, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anna Kollár
- Ceva Animal Health, Ceva-Phylaxia, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Pénzes
- Ceva Animal Health, Ceva-Phylaxia, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands.,BunyaVax B.V., Lelystad, The Netherlands.,Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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16
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Oymans J, van Keulen L, Wichgers Schreur PJ, Kortekaas J. Early Pathogenesis of Wesselsbron Disease in Pregnant Ewes. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9050373. [PMID: 32414152 PMCID: PMC7281025 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9050373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Wesselsbron virus (WSLV) is a neglected, mosquito-borne flavivirus that is endemic to the African continent. The virus is teratogenic to ruminants and causes a self-limiting febrile illness in humans. Wesselsbron disease manifests with similar clinical signs and occurs in the same areas under the same climatic conditions as Rift Valley fever, which is therefore included in the differential diagnosis. Although the gross pathology of WSLV infection in pregnant ewes is reported in literature, the pathogenesis that leads to stillbirths, congenital malformations and abortion has remained undescribed. In the present study, pregnant ewes were inoculated with WSLV and subjected to detailed clinical- and histopathology 8 days later. The virus was mainly detected in foetal trophoblasts of the placenta and in neural progenitor cells, differentiated neurons, oligodendrocytes, microglia and astrocytes. Our study demonstrates that WSLV efficiently crosses the maternal-foetal interface and is highly neuroinvasive in the ovine foetus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Oymans
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Houtribweg 39, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands; (J.O.); (L.v.K.); (P.J.W.S.)
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Lucien van Keulen
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Houtribweg 39, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands; (J.O.); (L.v.K.); (P.J.W.S.)
| | - Paul J. Wichgers Schreur
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Houtribweg 39, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands; (J.O.); (L.v.K.); (P.J.W.S.)
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Houtribweg 39, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands; (J.O.); (L.v.K.); (P.J.W.S.)
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +31-6-20919110
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17
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Wichgers Schreur PJ, van de Water S, Harmsen M, Bermúdez-Méndez E, Drabek D, Grosveld F, Wernike K, Beer M, Aebischer A, Daramola O, Rodriguez Conde S, Brennan K, Kozub D, Søndergaard Kristiansen M, Mistry KK, Deng Z, Hellert J, Guardado-Calvo P, Rey FA, van Keulen L, Kortekaas J. Multimeric single-domain antibody complexes protect against bunyavirus infections. eLife 2020; 9:52716. [PMID: 32314955 PMCID: PMC7173960 DOI: 10.7554/elife.52716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The World Health Organization has included three bunyaviruses posing an increasing threat to human health on the Blueprint list of viruses likely to cause major epidemics and for which no, or insufficient countermeasures exist. Here, we describe a broadly applicable strategy, based on llama-derived single-domain antibodies (VHHs), for the development of bunyavirus biotherapeutics. The method was validated using the zoonotic Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) and Schmallenberg virus (SBV), an emerging pathogen of ruminants, as model pathogens. VHH building blocks were assembled into highly potent neutralizing complexes using bacterial superglue technology. The multimeric complexes were shown to reduce and prevent virus-induced morbidity and mortality in mice upon prophylactic administration. Bispecific molecules engineered to present two different VHHs fused to an Fc domain were further shown to be effective upon therapeutic administration. The presented VHH-based technology holds great promise for the development of bunyavirus antiviral therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sandra van de Water
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, Netherlands
| | - Michiel Harmsen
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, Netherlands
| | - Erick Bermúdez-Méndez
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, Netherlands.,Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Dubravka Drabek
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Harbour Antibodies B.V, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Frank Grosveld
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Harbour Antibodies B.V, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Kerstin Wernike
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin Beer
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Andrea Aebischer
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Olalekan Daramola
- Biopharmaceutical Development, R&D BioPharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Rodriguez Conde
- Biopharmaceutical Development, R&D BioPharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Karen Brennan
- Biopharmaceutical Development, R&D BioPharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Dorota Kozub
- Biopharmaceutical Development, R&D BioPharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Kieran K Mistry
- Biopharmaceutical Development, R&D BioPharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Ziyan Deng
- Biopharmaceutical Development, R&D BioPharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jan Hellert
- Structural Virology Unit, Virology Department, CNRS UMR 3569, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Pablo Guardado-Calvo
- Structural Virology Unit, Virology Department, CNRS UMR 3569, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Félix A Rey
- Structural Virology Unit, Virology Department, CNRS UMR 3569, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Lucien van Keulen
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, Netherlands.,Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
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Oymans J, Wichgers Schreur PJ, van Oort S, Vloet R, Venter M, Pijlman GP, van Oers MM, Kortekaas J. Reverse Genetics System for Shuni Virus, an Emerging Orthobunyavirus with Zoonotic Potential. Viruses 2020; 12:E455. [PMID: 32316542 PMCID: PMC7232226 DOI: 10.3390/v12040455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The genus Orthobunyavirus (family Peribunyaviridae, order Bunyavirales) comprises over 170 named mosquito- and midge-borne viruses, several of which cause severe disease in animals or humans. Their three-segmented genomes enable reassortment with related viruses, which may result in novel viruses with altered host or tissue tropism and virulence. One such reassortant, Schmallenberg virus (SBV), emerged in north-western Europe in 2011. Shuni virus (SHUV) is an orthobunyavirus related to SBV that is associated with neurological disease in horses in southern Africa and recently caused an outbreak manifesting with neurological disease and birth defects among ruminants in Israel. The zoonotic potential of SHUV was recently underscored by its association with neurological disease in humans. We here report a reverse genetics system for SHUV and provide first evidence that the non-structural (NSs) protein of SHUV functions as an antagonist of host innate immune responses. We furthermore report the rescue of a reassortant containing the L and S segments of SBV and the M segment of SHUV. This novel reverse genetics system can now be used to study SHUV virulence and tropism, and to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that drive reassortment events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Oymans
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Houtribweg 39, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands; (J.O.); (P.J.W.S.); (S.v.O.); (R.V.)
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands; (G.P.P.); (M.M.v.O.)
| | - Paul J. Wichgers Schreur
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Houtribweg 39, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands; (J.O.); (P.J.W.S.); (S.v.O.); (R.V.)
| | - Sophie van Oort
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Houtribweg 39, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands; (J.O.); (P.J.W.S.); (S.v.O.); (R.V.)
| | - Rianka Vloet
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Houtribweg 39, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands; (J.O.); (P.J.W.S.); (S.v.O.); (R.V.)
| | - Marietjie Venter
- Department Medical Virology, Faculty of Health Science, Centre for Viral Zoonoses, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa;
| | - Gorben P. Pijlman
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands; (G.P.P.); (M.M.v.O.)
| | - Monique M. van Oers
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands; (G.P.P.); (M.M.v.O.)
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Houtribweg 39, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands; (J.O.); (P.J.W.S.); (S.v.O.); (R.V.)
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands; (G.P.P.); (M.M.v.O.)
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Woelfl F, Léger P, Oreshkova N, Pahmeier F, Windhaber S, Koch J, Stanifer M, Roman Sosa G, Uckeley ZM, Rey FA, Boulant S, Kortekaas J, Wichgers Schreur PJ, Lozach PY. Novel Toscana Virus Reverse Genetics System Establishes NSs as an Antagonist of Type I Interferon Responses. Viruses 2020; 12:v12040400. [PMID: 32260371 PMCID: PMC7232479 DOI: 10.3390/v12040400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The sand fly-borne Toscana virus (TOSV) is the major cause of human meningoencephalitis in the Mediterranean basin during the summer season. In this work, we have developed a T7 RNA polymerase-driven reverse genetics system to recover infectious particles of a lineage B strain of TOSV. The viral protein pattern and growth properties of the rescued virus (rTOSV) were found to be similar to those of the corresponding wild-type (wt) virus. Using this system, we genetically engineered a TOSV mutant lacking expression of the non-structural protein NSs (rTOSVɸNSs). Unlike rTOSV and the wt virus, rTOSVɸNSs was unable to (i) suppress interferon (IFN)-b messenger RNA induction; and (ii) grow efficiently in cells producing IFN-b. Together, our results highlight the importance of NSs for TOSV in evading the IFN response and provide a comprehensive toolbox to investigate the TOSV life cycle in mammalian and insect host cells, including several novel polyclonal antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Woelfl
- CellNetworks Cluster of Excellence, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (F.W.); (P.L.); (F.P.); (S.W.); (J.K.); (Z.M.U.)
- Center for Integrative Infectious Diseases Research (CIID), Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Psylvia Léger
- CellNetworks Cluster of Excellence, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (F.W.); (P.L.); (F.P.); (S.W.); (J.K.); (Z.M.U.)
- Center for Integrative Infectious Diseases Research (CIID), Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Nadia Oreshkova
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Department of Virology, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands; (N.O.); (J.K.)
| | - Felix Pahmeier
- CellNetworks Cluster of Excellence, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (F.W.); (P.L.); (F.P.); (S.W.); (J.K.); (Z.M.U.)
- Center for Integrative Infectious Diseases Research (CIID), Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Stefan Windhaber
- CellNetworks Cluster of Excellence, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (F.W.); (P.L.); (F.P.); (S.W.); (J.K.); (Z.M.U.)
- Center for Integrative Infectious Diseases Research (CIID), Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Jana Koch
- CellNetworks Cluster of Excellence, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (F.W.); (P.L.); (F.P.); (S.W.); (J.K.); (Z.M.U.)
- Center for Integrative Infectious Diseases Research (CIID), Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Megan Stanifer
- Center for Integrative Infectious Diseases Research (CIID), Molecular Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Gleyder Roman Sosa
- Structural Virology Unit, Pasteur Institute, 75015 Paris, France; (G.R.S.); (F.A.R.)
| | - Zina M. Uckeley
- CellNetworks Cluster of Excellence, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (F.W.); (P.L.); (F.P.); (S.W.); (J.K.); (Z.M.U.)
- Center for Integrative Infectious Diseases Research (CIID), Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Felix A. Rey
- Structural Virology Unit, Pasteur Institute, 75015 Paris, France; (G.R.S.); (F.A.R.)
| | - Steeve Boulant
- Center for Integrative Infectious Diseases Research (CIID), Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Department of Virology, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands; (N.O.); (J.K.)
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Paul J. Wichgers Schreur
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Department of Virology, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands; (N.O.); (J.K.)
- Correspondence: (P.J.W.S.); (P.-Y.L.)
| | - Pierre-Yves Lozach
- CellNetworks Cluster of Excellence, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (F.W.); (P.L.); (F.P.); (S.W.); (J.K.); (Z.M.U.)
- Center for Integrative Infectious Diseases Research (CIID), Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
- INRAE, EPHE, Viral Infections and Comparative Pathology (IVPC), University Claude Bernard Lyon1, University of Lyon, UMR754, 69007 Lyon, France
- Correspondence: (P.J.W.S.); (P.-Y.L.)
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Oymans J, Wichgers Schreur PJ, van Keulen L, Kant J, Kortekaas J. Rift Valley fever virus targets the maternal-foetal interface in ovine and human placentas. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0007898. [PMID: 31961862 PMCID: PMC6994196 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an arbovirus of the order Bunyavirales that causes severe disease in ruminants and humans. Outbreaks in sheep herds are characterised by newborn fatalities and abortion storms. The association of RVFV infections with abortions of ovines and other ruminants is well recognized, whereas the pathology resulting in abortion has remained undescribed. Accumulating evidence suggests that RVFV is abortogenic in humans as well, warranting more research on the interaction of RVFV with the ruminant and human placenta. Methodology/Principal findings Pregnant ewes were inoculated with a highly virulent strain of RVFV and necropsied at different days post infection. Tissues were collected and analysed by PCR, virus isolation, and immunohistochemistry. The results show that RVFV replicates efficiently in maternal placental epithelial cells before the virus infects foetal trophoblasts. Moreover, the virus was shown to bypass the maternal epithelial cell layer by directly targeting foetal trophoblasts in the haemophagous zone, a region of the ovine placenta where maternal blood is in direct contact with foetal cells. Abortion was associated with widespread necrosis of placental tissues accompanied with severe haemorrhages. Experiments with human placental explants revealed that the same virus strain replicates efficiently in both cyto- and syncytiotrophoblasts. Conclusions/Significance This study demonstrates that RVFV targets the foetal-maternal interface in both ovine and human placentas. The virus was shown to cross the ovine placental barrier via two distinct routes, ultimately resulting in placental and foetal demise followed by abortion. Our finding that RVFV replicates efficiently in human trophoblasts underscores the risk of RVFV infection for human pregnancy. Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a mosquito-borne RNA virus that causes severe disease in ruminants, wildlife and humans in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Outbreaks are characterised by high mortality rates among newborn lambs and abortion storms in sheep herds. The severe outcome of RVFV infection during pregnancy in livestock is well documented, whereas the pathological changes that result in abortion have not yet been described. To investigate how RVFV crosses the placenta and how infection results in abortion, pregnant ewes were infected with RVFV and target cells in maternal and foetal tissues were identified at different time points after inoculation. We show that epithelial cells of the ovine placenta and foetal trophoblasts are primary target cells of RVFV and that placental demise is the primary cause of abortion. The same RVFV strain was shown to replicate efficiently in human placental explants, targeting both cyto- and syncytiotrophoblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Oymans
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Houtribweg, Lelystad, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Lucien van Keulen
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Houtribweg, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Jet Kant
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Houtribweg, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Houtribweg, Lelystad, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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Stedman A, Wright D, Wichgers Schreur PJ, Clark MHA, Hill AVS, Gilbert SC, Francis MJ, van Keulen L, Kortekaas J, Charleston B, Warimwe GM. Safety and efficacy of ChAdOx1 RVF vaccine against Rift Valley fever in pregnant sheep and goats. NPJ Vaccines 2019; 4:44. [PMID: 31646004 PMCID: PMC6802222 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-019-0138-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a zoonotic mosquito-borne virus that was first discovered in Kenya in 1930 and has since spread to become endemic in much of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Rift Valley fever (RVF) causes recurrent outbreaks of febrile illness associated with high levels of mortality and poor outcomes during pregnancy-including foetal malformations, spontaneous abortion and stillbirths-in livestock, and associated with miscarriage in humans. No vaccines are available for human use and those licensed for veterinary use have potential drawbacks, including residual virulence that may contraindicate their use in pregnancy. To address this gap, we previously developed a simian adenovirus vectored vaccine, ChAdOx1 RVF, that encodes RVFV envelope glycoproteins. ChAdOx1 RVF is fully protective against RVF in non-pregnant livestock and is also under development for human use. Here, we now demonstrate that when administered to pregnant sheep and goats, ChAdOx1 RVF is safe, elicits high titre RVFV neutralizing antibody, and provides protection against viraemia and foetal loss, although this protection is not as robust for the goats. In addition, we provide a description of RVFV challenge in pregnant goats and contrast this to the pathology observed in pregnant sheep. Together, our data further support the ongoing development of ChAdOx1 RVF vaccine for use in livestock and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Stedman
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Surrey GU24 0NF UK
| | - Daniel Wright
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7DQ UK
| | | | - Madeleine H. A. Clark
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Surrey GU24 0NF UK
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7DQ UK
| | - Adrian V. S. Hill
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7DQ UK
| | - Sarah C. Gilbert
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7DQ UK
| | - Michael J. Francis
- BioVacc Consulting Ltd, The Red House, 10 Market Square, Amersham, HP7 0DQ UK
| | - Lucien van Keulen
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Houtribweg 39, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Houtribweg 39, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bryan Charleston
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Surrey GU24 0NF UK
| | - George M. Warimwe
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, NDM Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7FZ UK
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O. Box 230, Kilifi, 80108 Kenya
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22
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Möhlmann TWR, Oymans J, Wichgers Schreur PJ, Koenraadt CJM, Kortekaas J, Vogels CBF. Vector competence of biting midges and mosquitoes for Shuni virus. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0006609. [PMID: 30753187 PMCID: PMC6372163 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Shuni virus (SHUV) is an orthobunyavirus that belongs to the Simbu serogroup. SHUV was isolated from diverse species of domesticated animals and wildlife, and is associated with neurological disease, abortions, and congenital malformations. Recently, SHUV caused outbreaks among ruminants in Israel, representing the first incursions outside the African continent. The isolation of SHUV from a febrile child in Nigeria and seroprevalence among veterinarians in South Africa suggests that the virus may have zoonotic potential as well. The high pathogenicity, extremely broad tropism, potential transmission via both biting midges and mosquitoes, and zoonotic features of SHUV require further investigation. This is important to accurately determine the risk for animal and human health, and to facilitate preparations for potential epidemics. To gain first insight into the potential involvement of biting midges and mosquitoes in SHUV transmission we have investigated the ability of SHUV to infect two species of laboratory-colonised biting midges and two species of mosquitoes. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Culicoides nubeculosus, C. sonorensis, Culex pipiens pipiens, and Aedes aegypti were orally exposed to SHUV by providing an infectious blood meal. Biting midges showed high infection rates of approximately 40%-60%, whereas infection rates of mosquitoes were only 0-2%. Moreover, successful dissemination in both species of biting midges and no evidence for transmission by orally exposed mosquitoes was found. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The results of this study suggest that different species of Culicoides midges are efficient in SHUV transmission, while the involvement of mosquitoes has not been supported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim W. R. Möhlmann
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | - Judith Oymans
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Paul J. Wichgers Schreur
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | | | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Chantal B. F. Vogels
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Möhlmann TWR, Oymans J, Wichgers Schreur PJ, Koenraadt CJM, Kortekaas J, Vogels CBF. Vector competence of biting midges and mosquitoes for Shuni virus. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006993. [PMID: 30532189 PMCID: PMC6285265 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Shuni virus (SHUV) is an orthobunyavirus that belongs to the Simbu serogroup. SHUV was isolated from diverse species of domesticated animals and wildlife, and is associated with neurological disease, abortions, and congenital malformations. Recently, SHUV caused outbreaks among ruminants in Israel, representing the first incursions outside the African continent. The isolation of SHUV from a febrile child in Nigeria and seroprevalence among veterinarians in South Africa suggests that the virus may have zoonotic potential as well. The high pathogenicity, extremely broad tropism, potential transmission via both biting midges and mosquitoes, and zoonotic features warrants prioritization of SHUV for further research. Additional knowledge is essential to accurately determine the risk for animal and human health, and to assess the risk of future epizootics and epidemics. To gain first insights into the potential involvement of arthropod vectors in SHUV transmission, we have investigated the ability of SHUV to infect and disseminate in laboratory-reared biting midges and mosquitoes. Methodology/Principal findings Culicoides nubeculosus, C. sonorensis, Culex pipiens pipiens, and Aedes aegypti were orally exposed to SHUV by providing an infectious blood meal. Biting midges showed high infection rates of approximately 40–60%, whereas infection rates of mosquitoes were lower than 2%. SHUV successfully disseminated in both species of biting midges, but no evidence of transmission in orally exposed mosquitoes was found. Conclusions/Significance The results of this study show that different species of Culicoides biting midges are susceptible to infection and dissemination of SHUV, whereas the two mosquito species tested were found not to be susceptible. Arthropod-borne (arbo)viruses are notorious for causing unpredictable and large-scale epidemics and epizootics. Apart from viruses such as West Nile virus and Rift Valley fever virus that are well known to have a significant impact on human and animal health, many arboviruses remain neglected. Shuni virus (SHUV) is a neglected virus with zoonotic potential that was recently associated with severe disease in livestock and wildlife. Isolations of SHUV from field-collected biting midges and mosquitoes suggests that SHUV may be transmitted by these insects. Laboratory-reared biting midge species (Culicoides nubeculosus and C. sonorensis) and mosquito species (Culex pipiens pipiens and Aedes aegypti), that are known to transmit other arboviruses, were exposed to SHUV via an infectious blood meal. SHUV was able to successfully disseminate in both biting midge species, whereas no evidence of infection or transmission in both mosquito species was found. Our results show that SHUV infects and disseminates in two different Culicoides species, suggesting that these insects could play an important role in the disease transmission cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim W. R. Möhlmann
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | - Judith Oymans
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Paul J. Wichgers Schreur
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | | | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Chantal B. F. Vogels
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Wichgers Schreur PJ, Kormelink R, Kortekaas J. Genome packaging of the Bunyavirales. Curr Opin Virol 2018; 33:151-155. [PMID: 30227361 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2018.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2018] [Revised: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The order Bunyavirales comprises nine families of enveloped, negative-strand RNA viruses. Depending on the family and genus, bunyaviruses (i.e. now referring to all members of the Bunyavirales) contain genomes consisting of two to six segments. Each genome segment is encapsidated by multiple copies of the nucleocapsid (N) protein and one or a few molecules of the viral polymerase, forming so-called ribonucleoproteins (RNPs). Incorporation of RNPs into virions is mediated by the interaction of N with the cytoplasmic tails of the structural glycoproteins. Although some selectivity exists in the packaging of RNPs into virions, which seems to be driven by the 5' and 3'-untranslated regions of the genomic RNA segments, evidence is accumulating that bunyavirus genome packaging is a stochastic process.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard Kormelink
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Houtribweg 39, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands; Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
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25
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Monteiro GER, Jansen van Vuren P, Wichgers Schreur PJ, Odendaal L, Clift SJ, Kortekaas J, Paweska JT. Mutation of adjacent cysteine residues in the NSs protein of Rift Valley fever virus results in loss of virulence in mice. Virus Res 2018. [PMID: 29530722 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2018.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The NSs protein encoded by the S segment of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is the major virulence factor, counteracting the host innate antiviral defence. It contains five highly conserved cysteine residues at positions 39, 40, 149, 178 and 194, which are thought to stabilize the tertiary and quaternary structure of the protein. Here, we report significant differences between clinical, virological, histopathological and host gene responses in BALB/c mice infected with wild-type RVFV (wtRVFV) or a genetic mutant having a double cysteine-to-serine substitution at residues 39 and 40 of the NSs protein (RVFV-C39S/C40S). Mice infected with the wtRVFV developed a fatal acute disease; characterized by high levels of viral replication, severe hepatocellular necrosis, and massive up-regulation of transcription of genes encoding type I and -II interferons (IFN) as well as pro-apoptotic and pro-inflammatory cytokines. The RVFV-C39S/C40S mutant did not cause clinical disease and its attenuated virulence was consistent with virological, histopathological and host gene expression findings in BALB/c mice. Clinical signs in mice infected with viruses containing cysteine-to-serine substitutions at positions 178 or 194 were similar to those occurring in mice infected with the wtRVFV, while a mutant containing a substitution at position 149 caused mild, non-fatal disease in mice. As mutant RVFV-C39S/C40S showed an attenuated phenotype in mice, the molecular mechanisms behind this attenuation were further investigated. The results show that two mechanisms are responsible for the attenuation; (1) loss of the IFN antagonistic propriety characteristic of the wtRVFV NSs and (2) the inability of the attenuated mutant to degrade Proteine Kinase R (PKR).
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaby E R Monteiro
- Department of Paraclinical Science, Veterinary Faculty, University Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique; Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
| | - Petrus Jansen van Vuren
- Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Sandringham, South Africa; Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Department of Medical Virology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | - Lieza Odendaal
- Department of Paraclinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Sarah J Clift
- Department of Paraclinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, the Netherlands
| | - Janusz T Paweska
- Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Sandringham, South Africa; Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Department of Medical Virology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa; School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Vloet RPM, Vogels CBF, Koenraadt CJM, Pijlman GP, Eiden M, Gonzales JL, van Keulen LJM, Wichgers Schreur PJ, Kortekaas J. Transmission of Rift Valley fever virus from European-breed lambs to Culex pipiens mosquitoes. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0006145. [PMID: 29281642 PMCID: PMC5760105 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Revised: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a mosquito-borne bunyavirus of the genus Phlebovirus that is highly pathogenic to ruminants and humans. The disease is currently confined to Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, but globalization and climate change may facilitate introductions of the virus into currently unaffected areas via infected animals or mosquitoes. The consequences of such an introduction will depend on environmental factors, the availability of susceptible ruminants and the capacity of local mosquitoes to transmit the virus. We have previously demonstrated that lambs native to the Netherlands are highly susceptible to RVFV and we here report the vector competence of Culex (Cx.) pipiens, the most abundant and widespread mosquito species in the country. Vector competence was first determined after artificial blood feeding of laboratory-reared mosquitoes using the attenuated Clone 13 strain. Subsequently, experiments with wild-type RVFV and mosquitoes hatched from field-collected eggs were performed. Finally, the transmission of RVFV from viremic lambs to mosquitoes was studied. Principal findings Artificial feeding experiments using Clone 13 demonstrated that indigenous, laboratory-reared Cx. pipiens mosquitoes are susceptible to RVFV and that the virus can be transmitted via their saliva. Experiments with wild-type RVFV and mosquitoes hatched from field-collected eggs confirmed the vector competence of Cx. pipiens mosquitoes from the Netherlands. To subsequently investigate transmission of the virus under more natural conditions, mosquitoes were allowed to feed on RVFV-infected lambs during the viremic period. We found that RVFV is efficiently transmitted from lambs to mosquitoes, although transmission was restricted to peak viremia. Interestingly, in the mosquito-exposed skin samples, replication of RVFV was detected in previously unrecognized target cells. Significance We here report the vector competence of Cx. pipiens mosquitoes from the Netherlands for RVFV. Both laboratory-reared mosquitoes and well as those hatched from field-collected eggs were found to be competent vectors. Moreover, RVFV was transmitted efficiently from indigenous lambs to mosquitoes, although the duration of host infectivity was found to be shorter than previously assumed. Interestingly, analysis of mosquito-exposed skin samples revealed previously unidentified target cells of the virus. Our findings underscore the value of including natural target species in vector competence experiments. The consequences of first introductions of mosquito-borne viruses into previously unaffected areas depend on environmental factors, the availability of susceptible hosts and local vector populations. We have previously demonstrated that sheep breeds native to the Netherlands are highly susceptible to Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), a mosquito-borne virus that causes severe outbreaks among domesticated ruminants and humans in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. To gain further insight into the risk of a future RVFV introduction into the Netherlands, we have now investigated the vector competence of Cx. pipiens, the most abundant mosquito species in the country. Vector competence was first determined after artificial blood feeding and subsequently after feeding on viremic lambs. The results from artificial feeding experiments suggested that indigenous Cx. pipiens mosquitoes are competent vectors. The vector competence of Cx. pipiens was confirmed after feeding on viremic lambs. Transmission from lambs to mosquitoes was found to be very efficient, although largely confined to peak viremia. The localized inflammatory response resulting from mosquito bites was associated with enhanced virus replication in the skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rianka P. M. Vloet
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Gorben P. Pijlman
- Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Martin Eiden
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald—Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Jose L. Gonzales
- Department of Bacteriology and Epidemiology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, the Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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Wichgers Schreur PJ, van Keulen L, Kant J, Kortekaas J. Four-segmented Rift Valley fever virus-based vaccines can be applied safely in ewes during pregnancy. Vaccine 2017; 35:3123-3128. [PMID: 28457675 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.04.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Revised: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) causes severe and recurrent outbreaks on the African continent and the Arabian Peninsula and continues to expand its habitat. This mosquito-borne virus, belonging to the genus Phlebovirus of the family Bunyaviridae contains a tri-segmented negative-strand RNA genome. Previously, we developed four-segmented RVFV (RVFV-4s) variants by splitting the M-genome segment into two M-type segments each encoding one of the structural glycoproteins; Gn or Gc. Vaccination/challenge experiments with mice and lambs subsequently showed that RVFV-4s induces protective immunity against wild-type virus infection after a single administration. To demonstrate the unprecedented safety of RVFV-4s, we here report that the virus does not cause encephalitis after intranasal inoculation of mice. A study with pregnant ewes subsequently revealed that RVFV-4s does not cause viremia and does not cross the ovine placental barrier, as evidenced by the absence of teratogenic effects and virus in the blood and organs of the fetuses. Altogether, these results show that the RVFV-4s vaccine virus can be applied safely in pregnant ewes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lucien van Keulen
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Jet Kant
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
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Wichgers Schreur PJ, Kortekaas J. Single-Molecule FISH Reveals Non-selective Packaging of Rift Valley Fever Virus Genome Segments. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1005800. [PMID: 27548280 PMCID: PMC4993503 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 07/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The bunyavirus genome comprises a small (S), medium (M), and large (L) RNA segment of negative polarity. Although genome segmentation confers evolutionary advantages by enabling genome reassortment events with related viruses, genome segmentation also complicates genome replication and packaging. Accumulating evidence suggests that genomes of viruses with eight or more genome segments are incorporated into virions by highly selective processes. Remarkably, little is known about the genome packaging process of the tri-segmented bunyaviruses. Here, we evaluated, by single-molecule RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), the intracellular spatio-temporal distribution and replication kinetics of the Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) genome and determined the segment composition of mature virions. The results reveal that the RVFV genome segments start to replicate near the site of infection before spreading and replicating throughout the cytoplasm followed by translocation to the virion assembly site at the Golgi network. Despite the average intracellular S, M and L genome segments approached a 1:1:1 ratio, major differences in genome segment ratios were observed among cells. We also observed a significant amount of cells lacking evidence of M-segment replication. Analysis of two-segmented replicons and four-segmented viruses subsequently confirmed the previous notion that Golgi recruitment is mediated by the Gn glycoprotein. The absence of colocalization of the different segments in the cytoplasm and the successful rescue of a tri-segmented variant with a codon shuffled M-segment suggested that inter-segment interactions are unlikely to drive the copackaging of the different segments into a single virion. The latter was confirmed by direct visualization of RNPs inside mature virions which showed that the majority of virions lack one or more genome segments. Altogether, this study suggests that RVFV genome packaging is a non-selective process. The bunyavirus family is one of the largest virus families on Earth, of which several members cause severe disease in humans, animals or plants. Little is known about the mechanisms that facilitate the production of infectious bunyavirus virions, which should contain at least one copy of the small (S), medium (M) and large (L) genome segment. In this study, we investigated the genome packaging process of the Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) by visualizing individual genome segments inside infected cells and virions. Experiments performed with wild-type virus, two- and four-segmented variants, and a variant with a codon-shuffled M segment showed that the production of infectious virions is a non-selective process and is unlikely to involve the formation of a supramolecular viral RNA complex. These observations have broad implications for understanding the bunyavirus replication cycle and may facilitate the development of new vaccines and the identification of novel antiviral targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Wichgers Schreur
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute, part of Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute, part of Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, The Netherlands
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29
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Makoschey B, van Kilsdonk E, Hubers WR, Vrijenhoek MP, Smit M, Wichgers Schreur PJ, Kortekaas J, Moulin V. Rift Valley Fever Vaccine Virus Clone 13 Is Able to Cross the Ovine Placental Barrier Associated with Foetal Infections, Malformations, and Stillbirths. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004550. [PMID: 27031621 PMCID: PMC4816553 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 02/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a mosquito-borne pathogen that affects domesticated ruminants and occasionally humans. Classical RVF vaccines are based on formalin-inactivated virus or the live-attenuated Smithburn strain. The inactivated vaccine is highly safe but requires multiple administrations and yearly re-vaccinations. Although the Smithburn vaccine provides solid protection after a single vaccination, this vaccine is not safe for pregnant animals. An alternative live-attenuated vaccine, named Clone 13, carries a large natural deletion in the NSs gene which encodes the major virulence factor of the virus. The Clone 13 vaccine was previously shown to be safe for young lambs and calves. Moreover, a study in pregnant ewes suggested that the vaccine could also be applied safely during gestation. To anticipate on a possible future incursion of RVFV in Europe, we have evaluated the safety of Clone 13 for young lambs and pregnant ewes. In line with the guidelines from the World Organisation for Animal health (Office International des Epizooties, OIE) and regulations of the European Pharmacopeia (EP), these studies were performed with an overdose. Our studies with lambs showed that Clone 13 dissemination within vaccinated animals is very limited. Moreover, the Clone 13 vaccine virus was not shed nor spread to in-contact sentinels and did not revert to virulence upon animal-to-animal passage. Importantly, a large experiment with pregnant ewes demonstrated that the Clone 13 virus is able to spread to the fetus, resulting in malformations and stillbirths. Altogether, our results suggest that Clone 13 can be applied safely in lambs, but that caution should be taken when Clone 13 is used in pregnant animals, particularly during the first trimester of gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgit Makoschey
- Intervet International BV/Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD) Animal Health, Boxmeer, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | - Emma van Kilsdonk
- Intervet International BV/Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD) Animal Health, Boxmeer, The Netherlands
| | - Willem R. Hubers
- Intervet International BV/Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD) Animal Health, Boxmeer, The Netherlands
| | - Mieke P. Vrijenhoek
- Intervet International BV/Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD) Animal Health, Boxmeer, The Netherlands
| | - Marianne Smit
- Intervet International BV/Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD) Animal Health, Boxmeer, The Netherlands
| | - Paul J. Wichgers Schreur
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Véronique Moulin
- Intervet International BV/Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD) Animal Health, Boxmeer, The Netherlands
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30
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Wichgers Schreur PJ, van Keulen L, Kant J, Oreshkova N, Moormann RJM, Kortekaas J. Co-housing of Rift Valley Fever Virus Infected Lambs with Immunocompetent or Immunosuppressed Lambs Does Not Result in Virus Transmission. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:287. [PMID: 27014211 PMCID: PMC4779905 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is transmitted among susceptible animals by mosquito vectors. Although the virus can be isolated from nasal and oral swabs of infected animals and is known to be highly infectious when administered experimentally via oral or respiratory route, horizontal transmission of the virus is only sporadically reported in literature. We considered that immunosuppression resulting from stressful conditions in the field may increase the susceptibility to horizontally transmitted RVFV. Additionally, we reasoned that horizontal transmission may induce immune responses that could affect the susceptibility of contact-exposed animals to subsequent infection via mosquito vectors. To address these two hypotheses, viremic lambs were brought into contact with sentinel lambs. One group of sentinel lambs was treated with the immunosuppressive synthetic glucocorticosteroid dexamethasone and monitored for signs of disease and presence of virus in the blood and target organs. Another group of contact-exposed sentinel lambs remained untreated for three weeks and was subsequently challenged with RVFV. We found that none of the dexamethasone-treated contact-exposed lambs developed detectable viremia, antibody responses or significant increases in cytokine mRNA levels. Susceptibility of immunocompetent lambs to RVFV infection was not influenced by previous contact-exposure. Our results are discussed in light of previous findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J. Wichgers Schreur
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute, Part of Wageningen University and Research CentreLelystad, Netherlands
| | - Lucien van Keulen
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute, Part of Wageningen University and Research CentreLelystad, Netherlands
| | - Jet Kant
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute, Part of Wageningen University and Research CentreLelystad, Netherlands
| | - Nadia Oreshkova
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute, Part of Wageningen University and Research CentreLelystad, Netherlands
| | - Rob J. M. Moormann
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute, Part of Wageningen University and Research CentreLelystad, Netherlands
- Virology Division, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Utrecht UniversityUtrecht, Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute, Part of Wageningen University and Research CentreLelystad, Netherlands
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Abstract
Paramyxoviruses are able to stably express a wide-variety of heterologous antigens at relatively high levels in various species and are consequently considered as potent gene delivery vehicles. A single vaccination is frequently sufficient for the induction of robust humoral and cellular immune responses. Here we provide detailed methods for the construction and application of Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-based vector vaccines. The in silico design and in vitro rescue as well as the in vivo evaluation of NDV based vectors are described in this chapter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Wichgers Schreur
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Houtribweg 39, Lelystad, 8221 RA, The Netherlands.
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32
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Oreshkova N, Wichgers Schreur PJ, Spel L, Vloet RPM, Moormann RJM, Boes M, Kortekaas J. Nonspreading Rift Valley Fever Virus Infection of Human Dendritic Cells Results in Downregulation of CD83 and Full Maturation of Bystander Cells. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0142670. [PMID: 26575844 PMCID: PMC4648518 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccines based on nonspreading Rift Valley fever virus (NSR) induce strong humoral and robust cellular immune responses with pronounced Th1 polarisation. The present work was aimed to gain insight into the molecular basis of NSR-mediated immunity. Recent studies have demonstrated that wild-type Rift Valley fever virus efficiently targets and replicates in dendritic cells (DCs). We found that NSR infection of cultured human DCs results in maturation of DCs, characterized by surface upregulation of CD40, CD80, CD86, MHC-I and MHC-II and secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines IFN-β, IL-6 and TNF. Interestingly, expression of the most prominent marker of DC maturation, CD83, was consistently downregulated at 24 hours post infection. Remarkably, NSR infection also completely abrogated CD83 upregulation by LPS. Downregulation of CD83 was not associated with reduced mRNA levels or impaired CD83 mRNA transport from the nucleus and could not be prevented by inhibition of the proteasome or endocytic degradation pathways, suggesting that suppression occurs at the translational level. In contrast to infected cells, bystander DCs displayed full maturation as evidenced by upregulation of CD83. Our results indicate that bystander DCs play an important role in NSR-mediated immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Oreshkova
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute, part of Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, The Netherlands
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Virology Division, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Paul J. Wichgers Schreur
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute, part of Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Lotte Spel
- Department of Pediatric Immunology and Laboratory of Translational Immunology, University Medical Centre Utrecht/Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rianka P. M. Vloet
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute, part of Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Rob J. M. Moormann
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute, part of Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, The Netherlands
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Virology Division, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marianne Boes
- Department of Pediatric Immunology and Laboratory of Translational Immunology, University Medical Centre Utrecht/Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute, part of Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, The Netherlands
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Wichgers Schreur PJ, Kant J, van Keulen L, Moormann RJM, Kortekaas J. Four-segmented Rift Valley fever virus induces sterile immunity in sheep after a single vaccination. Vaccine 2015; 33:1459-64. [PMID: 25665959 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.01.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Revised: 01/23/2015] [Accepted: 01/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), a mosquito-borne virus in the Bunyaviridae family, causes recurrent outbreaks with severe disease in ruminants and occasionally humans. The virus comprises a segmented genome consisting of a small (S), medium (M) and large (L) RNA segment of negative polarity. The M-segment encodes a glycoprotein precursor (GPC) protein that is co-translationally cleaved into Gn and Gc, which are required for virus entry and fusion. Recently we developed a four-segmented RVFV (RVFV-4s) by splitting the M-genome segment, and used this virus to study RVFV genome packaging. Here we evaluated the potential of a RVFV-4s variant lacking the NSs gene (4s-ΔNSs) to induce protective immunity in sheep. Groups of seven lambs were either mock-vaccinated or vaccinated with 10(5) or 10(6) tissue culture infective dose (TCID50) of 4s-ΔNSs via the intramuscular (IM) or subcutaneous (SC) route. Three weeks post-vaccination all lambs were challenged with wild-type RVFV. Mock-vaccinated lambs developed high fever and high viremia within 2 days post-challenge and three animals eventually succumbed to the infection. In contrast, none of the 4s-ΔNSs vaccinated animals developed clinical signs during the course of the experiment. Vaccination with 10(5) TCID50 via the IM route provided sterile immunity, whereas a 10(6) dose was required to induce sterile immunity via SC vaccination. Protection was strongly correlated with the presence of RVFV neutralizing antibodies. This study shows that 4s-ΔNSs is able to induce sterile immunity in the natural target species after a single vaccination, preferably administrated via the IM route.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology
- Antibodies, Viral/blood
- Antibodies, Viral/immunology
- Immunity, Active
- Injections, Intramuscular
- Injections, Subcutaneous
- Mutation
- Rift Valley Fever/prevention & control
- Rift Valley fever virus/genetics
- Rift Valley fever virus/immunology
- Sheep
- Sheep Diseases/prevention & control
- Sheep Diseases/virology
- Sheep, Domestic/immunology
- Sheep, Domestic/virology
- Vaccination/veterinary
- Vaccines, Attenuated
- Viral Vaccines/immunology
- Viremia/veterinary
- Viremia/virology
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Wichgers Schreur
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute, Part of Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, The Netherlands.
| | - Jet Kant
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute, Part of Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Lucien van Keulen
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute, Part of Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Rob J M Moormann
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute, Part of Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, The Netherlands; Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Virology Division, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute, Part of Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, The Netherlands
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34
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Ferrando ML, de Greeff A, van Rooijen WJM, Stockhofe-Zurwieden N, Nielsen J, Wichgers Schreur PJ, Pannekoek Y, Heuvelink A, van der Ende A, Smith H, Schultsz C. Host-pathogen Interaction at the Intestinal Mucosa Correlates With Zoonotic Potential of Streptococcus suis. J Infect Dis 2014; 212:95-105. [PMID: 25525050 PMCID: PMC4462715 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiu813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2014] [Accepted: 12/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Streptococcus suis has emerged as an important cause of bacterial meningitis in adults. The ingestion of undercooked pork is a risk factor for human S. suis serotype 2 (SS2) infection. Here we provide experimental evidence indicating that the gastrointestinal tract is an entry site of SS2 infection. METHODS We developed a noninvasive in vivo model to study oral SS2 infection in piglets. We compared in vitro interaction of S. suis with human and porcine intestinal epithelial cells (IEC). RESULTS Two out of 15 piglets showed clinical symptoms compatible with S. suis infection 24-48 hours after ingestion of SS2. SS2 was detected in mesenteric lymph nodes of 40% of challenged piglets. SS2 strains isolated from patients showed significantly higher adhesion to human IEC compared to invasive strains isolated from pigs. In contrast, invasive SS9 strains showed significantly higher adhesion to porcine IEC. Translocation across human IEC, which occurred predominately via a paracellular route, was significantly associated with clonal complex 1, the predominant zoonotic genotype. Adhesion and translocation were dependent on capsular polysaccharide production. CONCLUSIONS SS2 should be considered a food-borne pathogen. S. suis interaction with human and pig IEC correlates with S. suis serotype and genotype, which can explain the zoonotic potential of SS2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Laura Ferrando
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, Center for Infection and Immunity Department of Global Health-Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, University of Amsterdam
| | - Astrid de Greeff
- Central Veterinary Institute, Part of Wageningen UR, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Willemien J M van Rooijen
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, Center for Infection and Immunity Department of Global Health-Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, University of Amsterdam
| | | | - Jens Nielsen
- Technical University of Denmark, National Veterinary Institute, Lindholm, Denmark
| | | | - Yvonne Pannekoek
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, Center for Infection and Immunity
| | | | - Arie van der Ende
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, Center for Infection and Immunity
| | - Hilde Smith
- Central Veterinary Institute, Part of Wageningen UR, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Constance Schultsz
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, Center for Infection and Immunity Department of Global Health-Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, University of Amsterdam Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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Wichgers Schreur PJ, Oreshkova N, Harders F, Bossers A, Moormann RJM, Kortekaas J. Paramyxovirus-based production of Rift Valley fever virus replicon particles. J Gen Virol 2014; 95:2638-2648. [PMID: 25209808 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.067660-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Replicon-particle-based vaccines combine the efficacy of live-attenuated vaccines with the safety of inactivated or subunit vaccines. Recently, we developed Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) replicon particles, also known as nonspreading RVFV (NSR), and demonstrated that a single vaccination with these particles can confer sterile immunity in target animals. NSR particles can be produced by transfection of replicon cells, which stably maintain replicating RVFV S and L genome segments, with an expression plasmid encoding the RVFV glycoproteins, Gn and Gc, normally encoded by the M-genome segment. Here, we explored the possibility to produce NSR with the use of a helper virus. We show that replicon cells infected with a Newcastle disease virus expressing Gn and Gc (NDV-GnGc) were able to produce high levels of NSR particles. In addition, using reverse genetics and site-directed mutagenesis, we were able to create an NDV-GnGc variant that lacks the NDV fusion protein and contains two amino acid substitutions in, respectively, Gn and HN. The resulting virus uses a unique entry pathway that facilitates the efficient production of NSR in a one-component system. The novel system provides a promising alternative for transfection-based NSR production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Wichgers Schreur
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute of Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, the Netherlands
| | - Nadia Oreshkova
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Virology Division, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute of Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, the Netherlands
| | - Frank Harders
- Department of Infection Biology, Central Veterinary Institute of Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, the Netherlands
| | - Alex Bossers
- Department of Infection Biology, Central Veterinary Institute of Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, the Netherlands
| | - Rob J M Moormann
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Virology Division, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute of Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, the Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Kortekaas
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Institute of Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, the Netherlands
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Wichgers Schreur PJ, van Weeghel C, Rebel JMJ, Smits MA, van Putten JPM, Smith HE. Lysozyme resistance in Streptococcus suis is highly variable and multifactorial. PLoS One 2012; 7:e36281. [PMID: 22558419 PMCID: PMC3340348 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2011] [Accepted: 04/04/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Streptococcus suis is an important infectious agent for pigs and occasionally for humans. The host innate immune system plays a key role in preventing and eliminating S. suis infections. One important constituent of the innate immune system is the protein lysozyme, which is present in a variety of body fluids and immune cells. Lysozyme acts as a peptidoglycan degrading enzyme causing bacterial lysis. Several pathogens have developed mechanisms to evade lysozyme-mediated killing. In the present study we compared the lysozyme sensitivity of various S. suis isolates and investigated the molecular basis of lysozyme resistance for this pathogen. Results The lysozyme minimal inhibitory concentrations of a wide panel of S. suis isolates varied between 0.3 to 10 mg/ml. By inactivating the oatA gene in a serotype 2 and a serotype 9 strain, we showed that OatA-mediated peptidoglycan modification partly contributes to lysozyme resistance. Furthermore, inactivation of the murMN operon provided evidence that additional peptidoglycan crosslinking is not involved in lysozyme resistance in S. suis. Besides a targeted approach, we also used an unbiased approach for identifying factors involved in lysozyme resistance. Based on whole genome comparisons of a lysozyme sensitive strain and selected lysozyme resistant derivatives, we detected several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were correlated with the lysozyme resistance trait. Two SNPs caused defects in protein expression of an autolysin and a capsule sugar transferase. Analysis of specific isogenic mutants, confirmed the involvement of autolysin activity and capsule structures in lysozyme resistance of S. suis. Conclusions This study shows that lysozyme resistance levels are highly variable among S. suis isolates and serotypes. Furthermore, the results show that lysozyme resistance in S. suis can involve different mechanisms including OatA-mediated peptidolycan modification, autolysin activity and capsule production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J. Wichgers Schreur
- Central Veterinary Institute, Wageningen UR, Lelystad, The Netherlands
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Mari A. Smits
- Central Veterinary Institute, Wageningen UR, Lelystad, The Netherlands
- Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen UR, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Jos P. M. van Putten
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Hilde E. Smith
- Central Veterinary Institute, Wageningen UR, Lelystad, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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Wichgers Schreur PJ, Rebel JMJ, Smits MA, van Putten JPM, Smith HE. Lgt processing is an essential step in Streptococcus suis lipoprotein mediated innate immune activation. PLoS One 2011; 6:e22299. [PMID: 21811583 PMCID: PMC3139625 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2011] [Accepted: 06/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Streptococcus suis causes invasive infections in pigs and occasionally in humans. The host innate immune system plays a major role in counteracting S. suis infections. The main components of S. suis able to activate the innate immune system likely include cell wall constituents that may be released during growth or after cell wall integrity loss, however characterization of these components is still limited. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS [corrected] A concentrated very potent innate immunity activating supernatant of penicillin-treated S. suis was SDS-PAGE fractionated and tested for porcine peripheral blood mononucleated cell (PBMC) stimulating activity using cytokine gene transcript analysis. More than half of the 24 tested fractions increased IL-1β and IL-8 cytokine gene transcript levels in porcine PBMCs. Mass spectrometry of the active fractions indicated 24 proteins including 9 lipoproteins. Genetic inactivation of a putative prolipoprotein diacylglyceryl transferase (Lgt) gene resulted in deficient lipoprotein synthesis as evidenced by palmitate labeling. The Lgt mutant showed strongly reduced activation of porcine PBMCs, indicating that lipoproteins are dominant porcine PBMC activating molecules of S. suis. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE This study for the first time identifies and characterizes lipoproteins of S. suis as major activators of the innate immune system of the pig. In addition, we provide evidence that Lgt processing of lipoproteins is required for lipoprotein mediated innate immune activation.
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