Transmission of Bluetongue Virus Serotype 8 by Artificial Insemination with Frozen-Thawed Semen from Naturally Infected Bulls

Transmission of bluetongue (BT) virus serotype 8 (BTV-8) via artificial insemination of contaminated frozen semen from naturally infected bulls was investigated in two independent experiments. Healthy, BT negative heifers were hormonally synchronized and artificially inseminated at oestrus. In total, six groups of three heifers received semen from four batches derived from three bulls naturally infected with BTV-8. Each experiment included one control heifer that was not inseminated and that remained BT negative throughout. BTV viraemia and seroconversion were determined in 8 out of 18 inseminated heifers, and BTV was isolated from five of these animals. These eight heifers only displayed mild clinical signs of BT, if any at all, but six of them experienced pregnancy loss between weeks four and eight of gestation, and five of them became BT PCR and antibody positive. The other two infected heifers gave birth at term to two healthy and BT negative calves. The BT viral load varied among the semen batches used and this had a significant impact on the infection rate, the time of onset of viraemia post artificial insemination, and the gestational stage at which pregnancy loss occurred. These results, which confirm unusual features of BTV-8 infection, should not be extrapolated to infection with other BTV strains without thorough evaluation. This study also adds weight to the hypothesis that the re-emergence of BTV-8 in France in 2015 may be attributable to the use of contaminated bovine semen.

Distinctive Cellular and Metabolic Reprogramming in Porcine Lung Mononuclear Phagocytes Infected With Type 1 PRRSV Strains

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) has an extensive impact on pig production. The causative virus (PRRSV) is divided into two species, PRRSV-1 (European origin) and PRRSV-2 (North American origin). Within PRRSV-1, PRRSV-1.3 strains, such as Lena, are more pathogenic than PRRSV-1.1 strains, such as Flanders 13 (FL13). To date, the molecular interactions of PRRSV with primary lung mononuclear phagocyte (MNP) subtypes, including conventional dendritic cells types 1 (cDC1) and 2 (cDC2), monocyte-derived DCs (moDC), and pulmonary intravascular macrophages (PIM), have not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we analyze the transcriptome profiles of in vivo FL13-infected parenchymal MNP subpopulations and of in vitro FL13- and Lena-infected parenchymal MNP. The cell-specific expression profiles of in vivo sorted cells correlated with their murine counterparts (AM, cDC1, cDC2, moDC) with the exception of PIM. Both in vivo and in vitro, FL13 infection altered the expression of a low number of host genes, and in vitro infection with Lena confirmed the higher ability of this strain to modulate host response. Machine learning (ML) and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) unraveled additional relevant genes and pathways modulated by FL13 infection that were not identified by conventional analyses. GSEA increased the cellular pathways enriched in the FL13 data set, but ML allowed a more complete comprehension of functional profiles during FL13 in vitro infection. Data indicates that cellular reprogramming differs upon Lena and FL13 infection and that the latter might keep antiviral and inflammatory macrophage/DC functions silent. Although the slow replication kinetics of FL13 likely contribute to differences in cellular gene expression, the data suggest distinct mechanisms of interaction of the two viruses with the innate immune system during early infection.

A Single Shot Pre-fusion-Stabilized Bovine RSV F Vaccine is Safe and Effective in Newborn Calves with Maternally Derived Antibodies

Achieving safe and protective vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants and in calves has proven a challenging task. The design of recombinant antigens with a conformation close to their native form in virus particles is a major breakthrough. We compared two subunit vaccines, the bovine RSV (BRSV) pre-fusion F (preF) alone or with nanorings formed by the RSV nucleoprotein (preF+N). PreF and N proteins are potent antigenic targets for neutralizing antibodies and T cell responses, respectively. To tackle the challenges of neonatal immunization, three groups of six one-month-old calves with maternally derived serum antibodies (MDA) to BRSV received a single intramuscular injection of PreF, preF+N with Montanide^TM ISA61 VG (ISA61) as adjuvant or only ISA61 (control). One month later, all calves were challenged with BRSV and monitored for virus replication in the upper respiratory tract and for clinical signs of disease over one week, and then post-mortem examinations of their lungs were performed. Both preF and preF+N vaccines afforded safe, clinical, and virological protection against BRSV, with little difference between the two subunit vaccines. Analysis of immune parameters pointed to neutralizing antibodies and antibodies to preF as being significant correlates of protection. Thus, a single shot vaccination with preF appears sufficient to reduce the burden of BRSV disease in calves with MDA.

Electroporation of a nanoparticle-associated DNA vaccine induces higher inflammation and immunity compared to its delivery with microneedle patches in pigs

DNA vaccination is an attractive technology, based on its well-established manufacturing process, safety profile, adaptability to rapidly combat pandemic pathogens, and stability at ambient temperature; however an optimal delivery method of DNA remains to be determined. As pigs are a relevant model for humans, we comparatively evaluated the efficiency of vaccine DNA delivery in vivo to pigs using dissolvable microneedle patches, intradermal inoculation with needle (ID), surface electroporation (EP), with DNA associated or not to cationic poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid nanoparticles (NPs). We used a luciferase encoding plasmid (pLuc) as a reporter and vaccine plasmids encoding antigens from the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV), a clinically-significant swine arterivirus. Patches were successful at inducing luciferase expression in skin although at lower level than EP. EP induced the cutaneaous recruitment of granulocytes, of MHC2^posCD172A^pos myeloid cells and type 1 conventional dendritic cells, in association with local production of IL-1β, IL-8 and IL-17; these local responses were more limited with ID and undetectable with patches. The addition of NP to EP especially promoted the recruitment of the MHC2^posCD172A^pos CD163^int and CD163^neg myeloid subsets. Notably we obtained the strongest and broadest IFNγ T-cell response against a panel of PRRSV antigens with DNA + NPs delivered by EP, whereas patches and ID were ineffective. The anti-PRRSV IgG responses were the highest with EP administration independently of NPs, mild with ID, and undetectable with patches. These results contrast with the immunogenicity and efficacy previously induced in mice with patches. This study concludes that successful DNA vaccine administration in skin can be achieved in pigs with electroporation and patches, but only the former induces local inflammation, humoral and cellular immunity, with the highest potency when NPs were used. This finding shows the importance of evaluating the delivery and immunogenicity of DNA vaccines beyond the mouse model in a preclinical model relevant to human such as pig and reveals that EP with DNA combined to NP induces strong immunogenicity.

A DNA Prime Immuno-Potentiates a Modified Live Vaccine against the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus but Does Not Improve Heterologous Protection

The porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), an RNA virus inducing abortion in sows and respiratory disease in young pigs, is a leading infectious cause of economic losses in the swine industry. Modified live vaccines (MLVs) help in controlling the disease, but their efficacy is often compromised by the high genetic diversity of circulating viruses, leading to vaccine escape variants in the field. In this study, we hypothesized that a DNA prime with naked plasmids encoding PRRSV antigens containing conserved T-cell epitopes may improve the protection of MLV against a heterologous challenge. Plasmids were delivered with surface electroporation or needle-free jet injection and European strain-derived PRRSV antigens were targeted or not to the dendritic cell receptor XCR1. Compared to MLV-alone, the DNA-MLV prime- boost regimen slightly improved the IFNγ T-cell response, and substantially increased the antibody response against envelope motives and the nucleoprotein N. The XCR1-targeting of N significantly improved the anti-N specific antibody response. Despite this immuno-potentiation, the DNA-MLV regimen did not further decrease the serum viral load or the nasal viral shedding of the challenge strain over MLV-alone. Finally, the heterologous protection, achieved in absence of detectable effective neutralizing antibodies, was not correlated to the measured antibody or to the IFNγ T-cell response. Therefore, immune correlates of protection remain to be identified and represent an important gap of knowledge in PRRSV vaccinology. This study importantly shows that a naked DNA prime immuno-potentiates an MLV, more on the B than on the IFNγ T-cell response side, and has to be further improved to reach cross-protection.

A DNA-Modified Live Vaccine Prime-Boost Strategy Broadens the T-Cell Response and Enhances the Antibody Response against the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus

The Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) induces reproductive disorders in sows and respiratory illnesses in growing pigs and is considered as one of the main pathogenic agents responsible for economic losses in the porcine industry worldwide. Modified live PRRSV vaccines (MLVs) are very effective vaccine types against homologous strains but they present only partial protection against heterologous viral variants. With the goal to induce broad and cross-protective immunity, we generated DNA vaccines encoding B and T antigens derived from a European subtype 1 strain that include T-cell epitope sequences known to be conserved across strains. These antigens were expressed either in a native form or in the form of vaccibodies targeted to the endocytic receptor XCR1 and CD11c expressed by different types of antigen-presenting cells (APCs). When delivered in skin with cationic nanoparticles and surface electroporation, multiple DNA vaccinations as a stand-alone regimen induced substantial antibody and T-cell responses, which were not promoted by targeting antigens to APCs. Interestingly, a DNA-MLV prime-boost strategy strongly enhanced the antibody response and broadened the T-cell responses over the one induced by MLV or DNA-only. The anti-nucleoprotein antibody response induced by the DNA-MLV prime-boost was clearly promoted by targeting the antigen to CD11c and XCR1, indicating a benefit of APC-targeting on the B-cell response. In conclusion, a DNA-MLV prime-boost strategy, by enhancing the potency and breadth of MLV vaccines, stands as a promising vaccine strategy to improve the control of PRRSV in infected herds.

Macrophage-B Cell Interactions in the Inverted Porcine Lymph Node and Their Response to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus

Swine lymph nodes (LN) present an inverted structure compared to mouse and human, with the afferent lymph diffusing from the center to the periphery. This structure, also observed in close and distant species such as dolphins, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, and elephants, is poorly described, nor are the LN macrophage populations and their relationship with B cell follicles. B cell maturation occurs mainly in LN B cell follicles with the help of LN macrophage populations endowed with different antigen delivery capacities. We identified three macrophage populations that we localized in the inverted LN spatial organization. This allowed us to ascribe porcine LN MΦ to their murine counterparts: subcapsular sinus MΦ, medullary cord MΦ and medullary sinus MΦ. We identified the different intra and extrafollicular stages of LN B cells maturation and explored the interaction of MΦ, drained antigen and follicular B cells. The porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a major porcine pathogen that infects tissue macrophages (MΦ). PRRSV is persistent in the secondary lymphoid tissues and induces a delay in neutralizing antibodies appearance. We observed PRRSV interaction with two LN MΦ populations, of which one interacts closely with centroblasts. We observed BCL6 up-regulation in centroblast upon PRRSV infection, leading to new hypothesis on PRRSV inhibition of B cell maturation. This seminal study of porcine LN will permit fruitful comparison with murine and human LN for a better understanding of normal and inverted LN development and functioning.

The anti-influenza M2e antibody response is promoted by XCR1 targeting in pig skin

XCR1 is selectively expressed on a conventional dendritic cell subset, the cDC1 subset, through phylogenetically distant species. The outcome of antigen-targeting to XCR1 may therefore be similar across species, permitting the translation of results from experimental models to human and veterinary applications. Here we evaluated in pigs the immunogenicity of bivalent protein structures made of XCL1 fused to the external portion of the influenza virus M2 proton pump, which is conserved through strains and a candidate for universal influenza vaccines. Pigs represent a relevant target of such universal vaccines as pigs can be infected by swine, human and avian strains. We found that cDC1 were the only cell type labeled by XCR1-targeted mCherry upon intradermal injection in pig skin. XCR1-targeted M2e induced higher IgG responses in seronegative and seropositive pigs as compared to non-targeted M2e. The IgG response was less significantly enhanced by CpG than by XCR1 targeting, and CpG did not further increase the response elicited by XCR1 targeting. Monophosphoryl lipid A with neutral liposomes did not have significant effect. Thus altogether M2e-targeting to XCR1 shows promises for a trans-species universal influenza vaccine strategy, possibly avoiding the use of classical adjuvants.

Corrigendum: A Universal Influenza Vaccine Can Lead to Disease Exacerbation or Viral Control Depending on Delivery Strategies

[This corrects the article on p. 641 in vol. 7, PMID: 28082980.].

A Universal Influenza Vaccine Can Lead to Disease Exacerbation or Viral Control Depending on Delivery Strategies

The development of influenza A virus (IAV) vaccines, which elicits cross-strain immunity against seasonal and pandemic viruses is a major public health goal. As pigs are susceptible to human, avian, and swine-adapted IAV, they would be key targets of so called universal IAV vaccines, for reducing both the zoonotic risk and the economic burden in the swine industry. They also are relevant preclinical models. However, vaccination with conserved IAV antigens (AGs) in pigs was reported to elicit disease exacerbation. In this study, we assessed whether delivery strategies, i.e., dendritic cell (DC) targeting by the intradermal (ID) or intramuscular (IM) routes, impact on the outcome of the vaccination with three conserved IAV AGs (M2e, NP, and HA2) in pigs. The AGs were addressed to CD11c by non-covalent binding to biotinylated anti-CD11c monoclonal antibody. The CD11c-targeted AGs given by the ID route exacerbated disease. Conversely, CD11c-targeted NP injected by the IM route promoted T cell response compared to non-targeted NP. Furthermore, the conserved IAV AGs injected by the IM route, independently of DC targeting, induced both a reduction of viral shedding and a broader IgG response as compared to the ID route. Our findings highlight in a relevant animal species that the route of vaccine delivery impacts on the protection induced by conserved IAV AGs and on vaccine adverse effects. Finally, our results indicate that HA2 stands as the most promising conserved IAV AG for universal vaccine development.

The Pig: A Relevant Model for Evaluating the Neutrophil Serine Protease Activities during Acute Pseudomonas aeruginosa Lung Infection

The main features of lung infection and inflammation are a massive recruitment of neutrophils and the subsequent release of neutrophil serine proteases (NSPs). Anti-infectious and/or anti-inflammatory treatments must be tested on a suitable animal model. Mice models do not replicate several aspects of human lung disease. This is particularly true for cystic fibrosis (CF), which has led the scientific community to a search for new animal models. We have shown that mice are not appropriate for characterizing drugs targeting neutrophil-dependent inflammation and that pig neutrophils and their NSPs are similar to their human homologues. We induced acute neutrophilic inflammatory responses in pig lungs using Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic respiratory pathogen. Blood samples, nasal swabs and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALFs) were collected at 0, 3, 6 and 24 h post-insfection (p.i.) and biochemical parameters, serum and BAL cytokines, bacterial cultures and neutrophil activity were evaluated. The release of proinflammatory mediators, biochemical and hematological blood parameters, cell recruitment and bronchial reactivity, peaked at 6h p.i.. We also used synthetic substrates specific for human neutrophil proteases to show that the activity of pig NSPs in BALFs increased. These proteases were also detected at the surface of lung neutrophils using anti-human NSP antibodies. Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced lung infection in pigs results in a neutrophilic response similar to that described for cystic fibrosis and ventilator-associated pneumonia in humans. Altogether, this indicates that the pig is an appropriate model for testing anti-infectious and/or anti-inflammatory drugs to combat adverse proteolytic effects of neutrophil in human lung diseases.