Project description:Recombinant mumps viruses (MuVs) based on established vaccine strains represent attractive vector candidates as they have known track records for high efficacy and the viral genome does not integrate in the host cells. We developed a rescue system based on the consensus sequence of the L-Zagreb vaccine and generated seven different recombinant MuVs by (a) insertion of one or two additional transcription units (ATUs), (b) lengthening of a noncoding region to the extent that the longest noncoding region in MuV genome is created, or (c) replacement of original L-Zagreb sequences with sequences rich in CG and AT dinucleotides. All viruses were successfully rescued and faithfully matched sequences of input plasmids. In primary rescued stocks, low percentages of heterogeneous positions were found (maximum 0.12%) and substitutions were predominantly obtained in minor variants, with maximally four substitutions seen in consensus. ATUs did not accumulate more mutations than the natural MuV genes. Six substitutions characteristic for recombinant viruses generated in our system were defined, as they repetitively occurred during rescue processes. In subsequent passaging of primary rescue stocks in Vero cells, different inconsistencies within quasispecies structures were observed. In order to assure that unwanted mutations did not emerge and accumulate, sub-consensus variability should be closely monitored. As we show for Pro408Leu mutation in L gene and a stop codon in one of ATUs, positively selected variants can rise to frequencies over 85% in only few passages.
Project description:BackgroundPorcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) has caused enormous economic losses to the global pig industry. Currently available PEDV vaccine strains have limited protective effects against PEDV variant strains.MethodsIn this study, the highly virulent epidemic virus strain CT was serially passaged in Vero cells for up to 120 generations (P120). Characterization of the different passages revealed that compared with P10 and P64, P120 had a higher viral titer and more obvious cytopathic effects, thereby demonstrating better cell adaptability.ResultsPathogenicity experiments using P120 in piglets revealed significant reductions in clinical symptoms, histopathological lesions, and intestinal PEDV antigen distribution; the piglet survival rate in the P120 group was 100%. Furthermore, whole-genome sequencing identified 13 amino acid changes in P120, which might be responsible for the attenuated virulence of P120.ConclusionsThus, an attenuated strain was obtained via cell passaging and that this strain could be used in preparing attenuated vaccines.
Project description:Spherical three-dimensional cell aggregates called embryoid bodies (EBs), have been widely used in in vitro differentiation protocols for human pluripotent stem cells including human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Recent studies highlight the new devices and techniques for hEB formation and expansion, but are not involved in the passaging or subculture process. Here, we provide evidence that a simple periodic passaging markedly improved hEB culture condition and thus allowed the size-controlled, mass production of human embryoid bodies (hEBs) derived from both hESCs and hiPSCs. hEBs maintained in prolonged suspension culture without passaging (>2 weeks) showed a progressive decrease in the cell growth and proliferation and increase in the apoptosis compared to 7-day-old hEBs. However, when serially passaged in suspension, hEB cell populations were significantly increased in number while maintaining the normal rates of cell proliferation and apoptosis and the differentiation potential. Uniform-sized hEBs produced by manual passaging using a 1?4 split ratio have been successfully maintained for over 20 continuous passages. The passaging culture method of hEBs, which is simple, readily expandable, and reproducible, could be a powerful tool for improving a robust and scalable in vitro differentiation system of human pluripotent stem cells.
Project description:In reverse genetic experiments we have isolated recombinant mumps viruses (rMuV) that carry large numbers of mutations clustered in small parts of their genome, which are not caused by biased hyper-mutation. In two separate experiments we obtained such recombinant viruses: one virus had 11 mutations in the V/P region of the genome; the other, which also contained an extra transcription unit encoding green fluorescent protein (EGFP), had 32 mutations in the N gene. These specific sets of mutations have not been observed in naturally occurring MuV isolates. Unusually, the vast majority of the mutations (48/51) were synonymous. On passage in Vero cells and human B-LCL cells, a B lymphocyte-like cell line, these mutations appear stable as no reversion occurred to the original consensus sequence, although mutations in other parts of the genome occurred and changed in frequency during passage. Defective interfering RNAs accumulate in passage in Vero cells but not in B-LCL cells. Interestingly, in all passaged samples the level of variation in the EGFP gene is the same as in the viral genes, though it is unlikely that this gene is under any functionality constraint. What mechanism gave rise to these viruses with clustered mutations and their stability remains an open question, which is likely of interest to a wider field than mumps reverse genetics.
Project description:BackgroundIn October 2016, a mumps outbreak occurred among the students living in the on-campus dormitory of a public university located in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. This study aimed to investigate the outbreak and identify the genotype of the mumps virus (MuV) strain that was involved in the outbreak.Main bodyDuring the outbreak, one 21-year-old and four 20-year-old males staying in the same dormitory building were reported to have developed symptoms of mumps. Of these, two students were available during the investigation for sample collection to detect MuV by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of the 639-bp fragment encompassing the entire small hydrophobic (SH) gene. Nucleotide sequencing of the amplicon and phylogenetic analysis using the neighbor-joining method was performed to determine the MuV genotype. Of the two buccal swab samples, one was positive for MuV. The MuV strain in this sample belonged to genotype F and it was clustered together with genotype F strains from China with 96.84-99.68% nucleotide identity.ConclusionsGenotype F has limited circulation and is endemic in mainland China. Genotype F strains occasionally reported from other countries were epidemiologically linked to China. This study is the first to report a case of genotype F MuV in Malaysia and no epidemiological link could be established with mainland China. The results provide important information that can assist in strategic planning to improve the prevention and control of mumps infection in Malaysia.
Project description:With the rapid increase in SARS-CoV-2 cases in children, a safe and effective vaccine for this population is urgently needed. The MMR (measles/mumps/rubella) vaccine has been one of the safest and most effective human vaccines used in infants and children since the 1960s. Here, we developed live attenuated recombinant mumps virus (rMuV)-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates using the MuV Jeryl Lynn (JL2) vaccine strain backbone. The soluble prefusion SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (preS) gene, stablized by two prolines (preS-2P) or six prolines (preS-6P), was inserted into the MuV genome at the P-M or F-SH gene junctions in the MuV genome. preS-6P was more efficiently expressed than preS-2P, and preS-6P expression from the P-M gene junction was more efficient than from the F-SH gene junction. In mice, the rMuV-preS-6P vaccine was more immunogenic than the rMuV-preS-2P vaccine, eliciting stronger neutralizing antibodies and mucosal immunity. Sera raised in response to the rMuV-preS-6P vaccine neutralized SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, including the Delta variant equivalently. Intranasal and/or subcutaneous immunization of IFNAR1-/- mice and golden Syrian hamsters with the rMuV-preS-6P vaccine induced high levels of neutralizing antibodies, mucosal immunoglobulin A antibody, and T cell immune responses, and were completely protected from challenge by both SARS-CoV-2 USA-WA1/2020 and Delta variants. Therefore, rMuV-preS-6P is a highly promising COVID-19 vaccine candidate, warranting further development as a tetravalent MMR vaccine, which may include protection against SARS-CoV-2.
Project description:During May-August 2016, mumps virus genotype K was detected in 12 Vietnam citizens who entered China at the Shuikou border crossing and 1 girl from China. We provide evidence that mumps genotype K is circulating in Vietnam and was imported to China from Vietnam.
Project description:BackgroundThe most often used mumps vaccine strains Jeryl Lynn (JL), RIT4385, Urabe-AM9, L-Zagreb and L-3 differ in immunogenicity and reactogenicity. Previous analyses showed that JL, Urabe-AM9 and L-3 are genetically heterogeneous.ResultsWe identified the heterogeneity of L-Zagreb throughout the entire genome. Two major variants were defined: variant A being identical to the consensus sequence of viral seeds and vaccine(s) and variant B which differs from variant A in three nucleotide positions. The difference between viral variants in L-Zagreb strain is insufficient for distinct viral strains to be defined. We demonstrated that proportion of variants in L-Zagreb viral population depends on cell substrate used for viral replication in vitro and in vivo.ConclusionL-Zagreb strain should be considered as a single strain composed of at least two variant viral genomes.
Project description:Among the many simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) immunogens, only live attenuated viral vaccines have afforded strong protection to a natural pathogenic isolate. Since the promoter is crucial to the tempo of viral replication in general, it was reasoned that promoter exchange might confer a novel means of attenuating SIV. The core enhancer and promoter sequences of the SIV macaque 239nefstop strain (NF-kappaB/Sp1 region from -114 bp to mRNA start) have been exchanged for those of the human cytomegalovirus immediate-early promoter (CMV-IE; from -525 bp to mRNA start). During culture of the resulting virus, referred to as SIVmegalo, on CEMx174 or rhesus macaque peripheral blood mononuclear cells, deletions arose in distal regions of the CMV-IE sequences that stabilized after 1 or 2 months of culture. However, when the undeleted form of SIVmegalo was inoculated into rhesus macaques, animals showed highly controlled viremia during primary and persistent infection. Compared to parental virus infection in macaques, primary viremia was reduced by >1,000-fold to undetectable levels, with little sign of an increase of cycling cells in lymph nodes, CD4(+) depletion, or altered T-cell activation markers in peripheral blood. Moreover, in contrast to wild-type infection in most infected animals, the nef stop mutation did not revert to the wild-type codon, indicating yet again that replication was dramatically curtailed. Despite such drastic attenuation, antibody titers and enzyme-linked immunospot reactivity to SIV peptides, although slower to appear, were comparable to those seen in a parental virus infection. When animals were challenged intravenously at 4 or 6 months with the uncloned pathogenic SIVmac251 strain, viremia was curtailed by approximately 1,000-fold at peak height without any sign of hyperactivation in CD4(+)- or CD8(+)-T-cell compartment or increase in lymph node cell cycling. To date, there has been a general inverse correlation between attenuation and protection; however, these findings show that promoter exchange constitutes a novel means to highly attenuate SIV while retaining the capacity to protect against challenge virus.
Project description:Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) caused by a species Dabie bandavirus (formerly SFTS virus [SFTSV]) is an emerging hemorrhagic infectious disease with a high case-fatality rate. One of the best strategies for preventing SFTS is to develop a vaccine, which is expected to induce both humoral and cellular immunity. We applied a highly attenuated but still immunogenic vaccinia virus strain LC16m8 (m8) as a recombinant vaccine for SFTS. Recombinant m8s expressing SFTSV nucleoprotein (m8-N), envelope glycoprotein precursor (m8-GPC), and both N and GPC (m8-N+GPC) in the infected cells were generated. Both m8-GPC- and m8-N+GPC-infected cells were confirmed to produce SFTSV-like-particles (VLP) in vitro, and the N was incorporated in the VLP produced by the infection of cells with m8-N+GPC. Specific antibodies to SFTSV were induced in mice inoculated with each of the recombinant m8s, and the mice were fully protected from lethal challenge with SFTSV at both 103 TCID50 and 105 TCID50. In mice that had been immunized with vaccinia virus strain Lister in advance of m8-based SFTSV vaccine inoculation, protective immunity against the SFTSV challenge was also conferred. The pathological analysis revealed that mice immunized with m8-GPC or m8-N+GPC did not show any histopathological changes without any viral antigen-positive cells, whereas the control mice showed focal necrosis with inflammatory infiltration with SFTSV antigen-positive cells in tissues after SFTSV challenge. The passive serum transfer experiments revealed that sera collected from mice inoculated with m8-GPC or m8-N+GPC but not with m8-N conferred protective immunity against lethal SFTSV challenge in naïve mice. On the other hand, the depletion of CD8-positive cells in vivo did not abrogate the protective immunity conferred by m8-based SFTSV vaccines. Based on these results, the recombinant m8-GPC and m8-N+GPC were considered promising vaccine candidates for SFTS.