Rise and survival of bovine herpesvirus 1 recombinants after primary infection and reactivation from latency

in Journal of Virology (2003), 77(23), 12535-12542

Recombination is thought to be an important source of genetic variation in herpesviruses. Several studies, performed in vitro or in vivo, detected recombinant viruses after the coinoculation of two ... [more ▼]

Recombination is thought to be an important source of genetic variation in herpesviruses. Several studies, performed in vitro or in vivo, detected recombinant viruses after the coinoculation of two distinguishable strains of the same herpesvirus species. However, none of these studies investigated the evolution of the relative proportions of parental versus recombinant progeny populations after coinoculation of the natural host, both during the excretion and the reexcretion period. In the present study, we address this by studying the infection of cattle with bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1). The recombination of two BoHV-1 mutants lacking either glycoprotein C (gC(-)/gE(+)) or E (gC(+)/gE(-)) was investigated after inoculation of cattle by the natural route of infection. The results demonstrated that (i) recombination is a frequent event in vivo since recombinants (gC(+)/gE(+) and gC(-)/gE(-)) were detected in all coinoculated calves, (ii) relative proportions of progeny populations evolved during the excretion period toward a situation where two populations (gC(+)/gE(+) and gC(-)/gE(+)) predominated without fully outcompeting the presence of the two other detected populations (gC(+)/gE(-) and gC(-)/gE(-)), and (iii) after reactivation from latency, no gC(+)/gE(-) and gC(-)/gE(-) progeny viruses were detected, although gC(+)/gE(-) mutants, when inoculated alone, were detected after reactivation treatment. In view of these data, the importance of gE in the biology of BoHV-1 infection and the role of recombination in herpesvirus evolution are discussed. [less ▲]

Induce triploidy by heat shock in Eurasian perch, Perca fluviatilis

in Aquatic Living Resources (2003), 16(2, MAR-APR), 90-94

In Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis), females grow significantly faster than males. Moreover, gonadal development has a significant negative impact on somatic growth and fillet yield. In order to induce ... [more ▼]

In Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis), females grow significantly faster than males. Moreover, gonadal development has a significant negative impact on somatic growth and fillet yield. In order to induce sterility, triploidy induction was attempted by subjecting fertilised eggs to heat shocks. Different combinations of temperature (28, 30, 34, 35 and 36 degreesC), duration (2, 5, 10 and 25 min) and time of shock initiation (TI = 3, 5 and 7 min post-fertilisation) were tested. Flow cytometry analysis was used to assess ploidy level of control and heat-shocked larvae. Low intensity (28-30 degreesC) and long duration (10 and 25 min) shocks lead to significantly higher survival (44 +/- 26%) and triploidisation (71 +/- 26%) rates than high intensity (34-36 degreesC) and short duration (2 and 5 min) shocks (17 +/- 19% and 21 +/- 26%, respectively). The most effective conditions for efficient triploidy induction were low intensity shock of 30 degreesC, applied 5 min post-fertilisation for 25 min. This treatment led to the production of all-triploid populations (100%) with up to 43% survival rate. (C) 2003 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS and Ifremer/IRD/Inra/Cemagref. All rights reserved. [less ▲]

Alcelaphine herpesvirus 1: the causative agent of the African form of malignant catarrhal fever

in Annales de Médecine Vétérinaire (2003), 147(1, FEB-MAR), 1-15

Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a pathology usually lethal which has been described in a large number of ruminant species. Based on the etiology, two main forms of MCF have been described, i.e., the ... [more ▼]

Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a pathology usually lethal which has been described in a large number of ruminant species. Based on the etiology, two main forms of MCF have been described, i.e., the European and the African forms due to ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2) and alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 (AIHV-1), respectively. The present review is devoted to the African form of MCF and to its causative agent AIHV-1. AIHV-1 belongs to the Gammaherpesvirinae subfamily of the Herpesviridae family. Wildebeests (Connochaetes spp) carry AIHV-1, which is lethal for a large number of ruminant species, while apparently harmless to its natural host. In hosts susceptible to MCF, the pathology is characterized by fever, extensive lymphadenopathy, ulcerative lesions of the digestive and the upper respiratory tracts mucous membranes and severe keratoconjunctivitis. In the present paper, we will review the data available to date on AIHV-1 and on the African form of MCF with emphasis on the pathogenesis, clinical signs and anatomo-pathological lesions of MCF. Finally, we will discuss the relationship between AIHV-1 and wildebeest as an example of symbiosis between a virus and its natural host. [less ▲]

Effect of polystyrene particles on lung mirovascular permeability in isolated perfused rabbit lungs : role of size and surface proporties

in Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology (2003), 190

The core 2 beta-1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-mucin encoded by bovine herpesvirus 4 was acquired from an ancestor of the African buffalo

in Journal of Virology (2003), 77(3), 1784-1792

The Bo17 gene of bovine herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) is the only viral gene known to date that encodes a homologue of the cellular core 2 beta-1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-mucin type (C2GnT-M). To ... [more ▼]

The Bo17 gene of bovine herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) is the only viral gene known to date that encodes a homologue of the cellular core 2 beta-1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-mucin type (C2GnT-M). To investigate the origin and evolution of the Bo17 gene, we analyzed its distribution among BoHV-4 strains and determined the sequences of Bo17 from nine representative strains and of the C2GnT-M gene from six species of ruminants expected to encompass the group within which the gene acquisition occurred. Of 34 strains of BoHV-4, isolated from four different continents, all were found to contain the Bo17 gene. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that Bo17 was acquired from a recent ancestor of the African buffalo, implying that cattle subsequently acquired BoHV-4 by cross-species transmission. The rate of synonymous nucleotide substitution in Bo17 was estimated at 5 x 10(-8) to 6 x 10(-8) substitutions/site/year, consistent with previous estimates made under the assumption that herpesviruses have cospeciated with their hosts. The Bo17 gene acquisition was dated to around 1.5 million years ago. Bo17 sequences from BoHV-4 strains from African buffalo and from cattle formed two separate clades, estimated to have split about 700,000 years ago. Analysis of the ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous nucleotide substitutions revealed a burst of amino acid replacements subsequent to the transfer of the cellular gene to the viral genome, followed by a return to a strong constraint on nonsynonymous changes during the divergence of contemporary BoHV-4 strains. The Bo17 gene represents the most recent of the known herpesvirus gene acquisitions and provides the best opportunity for learning more about this important process of viral evolution. [less ▲]

Effects of thiazolidinediones on tumor necrosis factor-α-induced inflammatory cytokine expression

Poster (2003)

The Uses of Poxviruses as Vectors

in Current Gene Therapy (2003), 3(6), 583-95

Poxviruses have played an amazing role in the development of virology, immunology and vaccinology. In 1796, deliberate inoculation of cowpox virus to humans was proved by Dr. Edward Jenner to protect ... [more ▼]

Poxviruses have played an amazing role in the development of virology, immunology and vaccinology. In 1796, deliberate inoculation of cowpox virus to humans was proved by Dr. Edward Jenner to protect against the antigenically related smallpox virus (variola). This discovery founded the science of immunology and eventually led to smallpox eradication from the earth in 1980 after a world wide vaccination campaign with vaccinia virus (another poxvirus). Paradoxically, despite the eradication of smallpox, there has been an explosion of interest in vaccinia virus in the eighties. This interest has stemmed in part from the application of molecular genetics to clone and express foreign genes from recombinant vaccinia virus. The use of these recombinant vaccinia viruses as efficacious in vitro expression system and live vaccine has raised concerns about their safety. The work of the scientific community of the last 20 years has contributed to improve drastically the safety of poxvirus derived vectors. Firstly, the safety of vaccinia virus has been enhanced by production of genetically attenuated strains. Secondly, alternative poxvirus vectors, such as avipoxviruses, were proved to be extremely safe and efficacious non-replicating vectors when used in non avian species. In the present chapter, the basic concepts of poxvirus biology required to assess the safety of a poxvirus derived vector are provided. The principal poxvirus vectors available to date are described in regards to their biosafety. [less ▲]

Glycoprotein G isoforms from some alphaherpesviruses function as broad-spectrum chemokine binding proteins

in EMBO Journal (2003), 22

Constitutive nuclear factor-kappa B activity preserves homeostasis of quiescent mature lymphocytes and granulocytes by controlling the expression of distinct Bcl-2 family proteins

in Blood (2002), 99(10), 3683-3691

Constitutive nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB) activity protects quiescent mature Immune cells from spontaneous apoptosis. Here, we examined whether NF-kappaB exerts its antiapoptotic function in these ... [more ▼]

Constitutive nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB) activity protects quiescent mature Immune cells from spontaneous apoptosis. Here, we examined whether NF-kappaB exerts its antiapoptotic function in these cells through the control of Bcl-2 family proteins. Specific pharmacologic inhibitors of NF-kappaB were used to achieve total NF-kappaB inactivation In quiescent human blood lymphocytes, granulocytes, and monocytes. NF-kappaB inhibition induced drastic lymphocyte and granulocyte apoptosis, but only moderate monocyte apoptosis. T- and B-cell apoptosis was slow and associated with a gradual down-regulation of the prosurvival Bcl-2 family proteins Bcl-X-L and BcI-2, respectively. By contrast, granulocyte apoptosis was fast and accompanied by a rapid cellular accumulation of Bcl-x(s), the proapoptotic Bcl-x isoform that is generated from alternative splicing of the bcl-x pre-mRNA. Finally, antisense bci-x(L) and bcl-2 knockdown in T and B cells, respectively, and induction of Bcl-xs expression in granulocytes through antisense oligonucleotide-mediated redirection of bcl-x pre-mRNA splicing were sufficient to induce significant apoptosis in these cells. Taken together, these results reveal that basal NF-kappaB activity preserves homeostasis of quiescent mature lymphocytes and granulocytes through regulation of distinct members of the Bcl-2 family. This study sheds light on the constitutive mechanisms by which NF-kappaB maintains defense integrity. (C) 2002 by The American Society of Hematology. [less ▲]

CD40 engagement enhances eosinophil survival through induction of cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein 2 expression: possible involvement in allergic inflammation

in Pflügers Archiv : European Journal of Physiology (2002), 443