scholarly journals Modeling SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Mice Using Lentiviral hACE2 Vectors Infers Two Modes of Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Chaja Katzman ◽  
Tomer Israely ◽  
Sharon Melamed ◽  
Boaz Politi ◽  
Assa Sittner ◽  
...  

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused a severe global pandemic. Mice models are essential to investigate infection pathology, antiviral drugs, and vaccine development. However, wild-type mice lack the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) that mediates SARS-CoV-2 entry into human cells and consequently are not susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. hACE2 transgenic mice could provide an efficient COVID-19 model, but are not always readily available, and practically restricted to specific strains. Therefore, there is a dearth of additional mouse models for SARS-CoV-2 infection. We applied lentiviral vectors to generate hACE2 expression in interferon receptor knock-out (IFNAR1−/−) mice. Lenti-hACE2 transduction supported SARS-CoV-2 replication in vivo, simulating mild acute lung disease. Gene expression analysis revealed two modes of immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection: one in response to the exposure of mouse lungs to SARS-CoV-2 particles in the absence of productive viral replication, and the second in response to productive SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our results infer that immune response to immunogenic elements on incoming virus or in productively infected cells stimulate diverse immune effectors, even in absence of type I IFN signaling. Our findings should contribute to a better understanding of the immune response triggered by SARS-CoV-2 and to further elucidate COVID-19.

2020 ◽  
Vol 217 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Israelow ◽  
Eric Song ◽  
Tianyang Mao ◽  
Peiwen Lu ◽  
Amit Meir ◽  
...  

Severe acute respiratory syndrome–coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) has caused over 13,000,000 cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) with a significant fatality rate. Laboratory mice have been the stalwart of therapeutic and vaccine development; however, they do not support infection by SARS-CoV-2 due to the virus’s inability to use the mouse orthologue of its human entry receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2). While hACE2 transgenic mice support infection and pathogenesis, these mice are currently limited in availability and are restricted to a single genetic background. Here we report the development of a mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 based on adeno-associated virus (AAV)–mediated expression of hACE2. These mice support viral replication and exhibit pathological findings found in COVID-19 patients. Moreover, we show that type I interferons do not control SARS-CoV-2 replication in vivo but are significant drivers of pathological responses. Thus, the AAV-hACE2 mouse model enables rapid deployment for in-depth analysis following robust SARS-CoV-2 infection with authentic patient-derived virus in mice of diverse genetic backgrounds.


2018 ◽  
Vol 93 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun-Cheol Lee ◽  
Eun-Seo Lee ◽  
Md Bashir Uddin ◽  
Tae-Hwan Kim ◽  
Jae-Hoon Kim ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (WRS) is one of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) that possesses noncanonical functions. Full-length WRS is released during bacterial infection and primes the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD2) complex to elicit innate immune responses. However, the role of WRS in viral infection remains unknown. Here, we show that full-length WRS is secreted by immune cells in the early phase of viral infection and functions as an antiviral cytokine. Treatment of cells with recombinant WRS protein promotes the production of inflammatory cytokines and type I interferons (IFNs) and curtails virus replication in THP-1 and Raw264.7 cells but not in TLR4−/− or MD2−/− bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). Intravenous and intranasal administration of recombinant WRS protein induces an innate immune response and blocks viral replication in vivo. These findings suggest that secreted full-length WRS has a noncanonical role in inducing innate immune responses to viral infection as well as to bacterial infection. IMPORTANCE ARSs are essential enzymes in translation that link specific amino acids to their cognate tRNAs. In higher eukaryotes, some ARSs possess additional, noncanonical functions in the regulation of cell metabolism. Here, we report a novel noncanonical function of WRS in antiviral defense. WRS is rapidly secreted in response to viral infection and primes the innate immune response by inducing the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and type I IFNs, resulting in the inhibition of virus replication both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, we consider WRS to be a member of the antiviral innate immune response. The results of this study enhance our understanding of host defense systems and provide additional information on the noncanonical functions of ARSs.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zongmei Wang ◽  
Yueming Yuan ◽  
Chen Chen ◽  
Chengguang Zhang ◽  
Fei Huang ◽  
...  

Rabies, caused by rabies virus (RABV), remains a serious threat to public health in most countries worldwide. At present, the administration of rabies vaccines has been the most effective strategy to control rabies. Herein, we evaluate the effect of colloidal manganese salt (Mn jelly, MnJ) as an adjuvant of rabies vaccine in mice, cats, and dogs. The results showed that MnJ promoted type I interferon (IFN-I) and cytokine production in vitro and the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro and in vivo . Besides, MnJ serving as an adjuvant for rabies vaccines could significantly facilitate the generation of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, germinal center (GC) B cells, plasma cells (PCs), and RABV-specific antibody-secreting-cells (ASCs), consequently improved the immunogenicity of rabies vaccines and provide better protection against virulent RABV challenge. Similarly, MnJ enhanced the humoral immune response in cats and dogs as well. Collectively, our results suggest that MnJ can facilitate the maturation of DCs during rabies vaccination, which can be a promising adjuvant candidate for rabies vaccines. IMPORTANCE Extending humoral immune response by using adjuvants is an important strategy for vaccine development. In this study, a novel adjuvant MnJ supplemented in rabies vaccines was evaluated in mice, cats, and dogs. Our results in the mouse model revealed that MnJ increased the numbers of mature DCs, Tfh cells, GC B cells, PCs, and RABV-specific ASCs, resulting in enhanced immunogenicity and protection rate of rabies vaccines. We further found MnJ had the same stimulative effect in cats and dogs. Our study provides the first evidence that MnJ serving as a novel adjuvant of rabies vaccines can boost immune response both in a mouse and pet model.


2008 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 584-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Carnero ◽  
Wenjing Li ◽  
Antonio V. Borderia ◽  
Bruno Moltedo ◽  
Thomas Moran ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT One attractive strategy for the development of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine is the use of viral vectors with a proven safety profile and an absence of preexisting immunity in humans, such as Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Several NDV vaccine vectors have been generated, and their immunogenicities have been investigated with different animal models. However, a systematic study to evaluate the optimal insertion site of the foreign antigens into NDV that results in enhanced immune responses specific to the antigen has not yet been conducted. In this article, we describe the ability of NDV expressing HIV Gag to generate a Gag-specific immune response in mice. We also have determined the optimal insertion site into the NDV genome by generating recombinant NDV-HIVGag viruses in which HIV gag was located at different transcriptional positions throughout the NDV viral genome. All recombinant viruses were viable, grew to similar titers in embryonated chicken eggs, and expressed Gag in a stable manner. Our in vivo experiments revealed that higher HIV Gag protein expression positively correlates with an enhanced CD8+ T-cell-mediated immune response and protective immunity against challenge with vaccinia virus expressing HIV Gag. We also inserted a codon-optimized version of HIV gag in the described best location, between the P and M genes. Virus expressing the codon-optimized version of HIV gag induced a higher expression of the protein and an enhanced immune response against HIV Gag in mice. These results indicate that strategies directed toward increasing antigen expression by NDV result in enhanced immunogenicity and vaccine efficacy.


Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 629
Author(s):  
Megan M. Dunagan ◽  
Kala Hardy ◽  
Toru Takimoto

Influenza A virus (IAV) is a significant human pathogen that causes seasonal epidemics. Although various types of vaccines are available, IAVs still circulate among human populations, possibly due to their ability to circumvent host immune responses. IAV expresses two host shutoff proteins, PA-X and NS1, which antagonize the host innate immune response. By transcriptomic analysis, we previously showed that PA-X is a major contributor for general shutoff, while shutoff active NS1 specifically inhibits the expression of host cytokines, MHC molecules, and genes involved in innate immunity in cultured human cells. So far, the impact of these shutoff proteins in the acquired immune response in vivo has not been determined in detail. In this study, we analyzed the effects of PA-X and NS1 shutoff activities on immune response using recombinant influenza A/California/04/2009 viruses containing mutations affecting the expression of shutoff active PA-X and NS1 in a mouse model. Our data indicate that the virus without shutoff activities induced the strongest T and B cell responses. Both PA-X and NS1 reduced host immune responses, but shutoff active NS1 most effectively suppressed lymphocyte migration to the lungs, antibody production, and the generation of IAV specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. NS1 also prevented the generation of protective immunity against a heterologous virus challenge. These data indicate that shutoff active NS1 plays a major role in suppressing host immune responses against IAV infection.


2011 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin Huk Choi ◽  
Joe Dekker ◽  
Stephen C. Schafer ◽  
Jobby John ◽  
Craig E. Whitfill ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe immune response to recombinant adenoviruses is the most significant impediment to their clinical use for immunization. We test the hypothesis that specific virus-antibody combinations dictate the type of immune response generated against the adenovirus and its transgene cassette under certain physiological conditions while minimizing vector-induced toxicity.In vitroandin vivoassays were used to characterize the transduction efficiency, the T and B cell responses to the encoded transgene, and the toxicity of 1 × 1011adenovirus particles mixed with different concentrations of neutralizing antibodies. Complexes formed at concentrations of 500 to 0.05 times the 50% neutralizing dose (ND50) elicited strong virus- and transgene-specific T cell responses. The 0.05-ND50formulation elicited measurable anti-transgene antibodies that were similar to those of virus alone (P= 0.07). This preparation also elicited very strong transgene-specific memory T cell responses (28.6 ± 5.2% proliferation versus 7.7 ± 1.4% for virus alone). Preexisting immunity significantly reduced all responses elicited by these formulations. Although lower concentrations (0.005 and 0.0005 ND50) of antibody did not improve cellular and humoral responses in naïve animals, they did promote strong cellular (0.005 ND50) and humoral (0.0005 ND50) responses in mice with preexisting immunity. Some virus-antibody complexes may improve the potency of adenovirus-based vaccines in naïve individuals, while others can sway the immune response in those with preexisting immunity. Additional studies with these and other virus-antibody ratios may be useful to predict and model the type of immune responses generated against a transgene in those with different levels of exposure to adenovirus.


2006 ◽  
Vol 189 (3) ◽  
pp. 807-817 ◽  
Author(s):  
Narisara Chantratita ◽  
Vanaporn Wuthiekanun ◽  
Khaemaporn Boonbumrung ◽  
Rachaneeporn Tiyawisutsri ◽  
Mongkol Vesaratchavest ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Melioidosis is a notoriously protracted illness and is difficult to cure. We hypothesize that the causative organism, Burkholderia pseudomallei, undergoes a process of adaptation involving altered expression of surface determinants which facilitates persistence in vivo and that this is reflected by changes in colony morphology. A colony morphotyping scheme and typing algorithm were developed using clinical B. pseudomallei isolates. Morphotypes were divided into seven types (denoted I to VII). Type I gave rise to other morphotypes (most commonly type II or III) by a process of switching in response to environmental stress, including starvation, iron limitation, and growth at 42°C. Switching was associated with complex shifts in phenotype, one of which (type I to type II) was associated with a marked increase in production of factors putatively associated with in vivo concealment. Isogenic types II and III, derived from type I, were examined using several experimental models. Switching between isogenic morphotypes occurred in a mouse model, where type II appeared to become adapted for persistence in a low-virulence state. Isogenic type II demonstrated a significant increase in intracellular replication fitness compared with parental type I after uptake by epithelial cells in vitro. Isogenic type III demonstrated a higher replication fitness following uptake by macrophages in vitro, which was associated with a switch to type II. Mixed B. pseudomallei morphologies were common in individual clinical specimens and were significantly more frequent in samples of blood, pus, and respiratory secretions than in urine and surface swabs. These findings have major implications for therapeutics and vaccine development.


Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1408
Author(s):  
Qiao Li ◽  
Zhihua Liu ◽  
Yi Liu ◽  
Chen Liang ◽  
Jiayi Shu ◽  
...  

TFPR1 is a novel adjuvant for protein and peptide antigens, which has been demonstrated in BALB/c mice in our previous studies; however, its adjuvanticity in mice with different genetic backgrounds remains unknown, and its adjuvanticity needs to be improved to fit the requirements for various vaccines. In this study, we first compared the adjuvanticity of TFPR1 in two commonly used inbred mouse strains, BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice, in vitro and in vivo, and demonstrated that TFPR1 activated TLR2 to exert its immune activity in vivo. Next, to prove the feasibility of TFPR1 acting as a major component of combined adjuvants, we prepared a combined adjuvant, TF–Al, by formulating TFPR1 and alum at a certain ratio and compared its adjuvanticity with that of TFPR1 and alum alone using OVA and recombinant HBsAg as model antigens in both BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. Results showed that TFPR1 acts as an effective vaccine adjuvant in both BALB/c mice and C57BL/6 mice, and further demonstrated the role of TLR2 in the adjuvanticity of TFPR1 in vivo. In addition, we obtained a novel combined adjuvant, TF–Al, based on TFPR1, which can augment antibody and cellular immune responses in mice with different genetic backgrounds, suggesting its promise for vaccine development in the future.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renjie Chang ◽  
Qing Chu ◽  
Weiwei Zheng ◽  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Tianjun Xu

As is known to all, the production of type I interferon (IFN) plays pivotal roles in host innate antiviral immunity, and its moderate production play a positive role in promoting the activation of host innate antiviral immune response. However, the virus will establish a persistent infection model by interfering with the production of IFN, thereby evading the organism inherent antiviral immune response. Therefore, it is of great necessity to research the underlying regulatory mechanisms of type I IFN appropriate production under viral invasion. In this study, we report that a Sp1–responsive miR-15b plays a negative role in siniperca chuatsi rhabdovirus (SCRV)-triggered antiviral response in teleost fish. We found that SCRV could dramatically upregulate miiuy croaker miR-15b expression. Enhanced miR-15b could negatively regulate SCRV-triggered antiviral genes and inflammatory cytokines production by targeting TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), thereby accelerating viral replication. Importantly, we found that miR-15b feedback regulates antiviral innate immune response through NF-κB and IRF3 signaling pathways. These findings highlight that miR-15b plays a crucial role in regulating virus–host interactions, which outlines a new regulation mechanism of fish’s innate immune responses.


2021 ◽  
Vol 95 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Teslin S. Sandstrom ◽  
Nischal Ranganath ◽  
Stephanie C. Burke Schinkel ◽  
Syim Salahuddin ◽  
Oussama Meziane ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The use of unique cell surface markers to target and eradicate HIV-infected cells has been a longstanding objective of HIV-1 cure research. This approach, however, overlooks the possibility that intracellular changes present within HIV-infected cells may serve as valuable therapeutic targets. For example, the identification of dysregulated antiviral signaling in cancer has led to the characterization of oncolytic viruses capable of preferentially killing cancer cells. Since impairment of cellular antiviral machinery has been proposed as a mechanism by which HIV-1 evades immune clearance, we hypothesized that HIV-infected macrophages (an important viral reservoir in vivo) would be preferentially killed by the interferon-sensitive oncolytic Maraba virus MG1. We first showed that HIV-infected monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) were more susceptible to MG1 infection and killing than HIV-uninfected cells. As MG1 is highly sensitive to type I interferons (IFN-I), we then investigated whether we could identify IFN-I signaling differences between HIV-infected and uninfected MDM and found evidence of impaired IFN-α responsiveness within HIV-infected cells. Finally, to assess whether MG1 could target a relevant, primary cell reservoir of HIV-1, we investigated its effects in alveolar macrophages (AM) obtained from effectively treated individuals living with HIV-1. As observed with in vitro-infected MDM, we found that HIV-infected AM were preferentially eliminated by MG1. In summary, the oncolytic rhabdovirus MG1 appears to preferentially target and kill HIV-infected cells via impairment of antiviral signaling pathways and may therefore provide a novel approach to an HIV-1 cure. IMPORTANCE Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) remains a treatable, but incurable, viral infection. The establishment of viral reservoirs containing latently infected cells remains the main obstacle in the search for a cure. Cure research has also focused on only one cellular target of HIV-1 (the CD4+ T cell) while largely overlooking others (such as macrophages) that contribute to HIV-1 persistence. In this study, we address these challenges by describing a potential strategy for the eradication of HIV-infected macrophages. Specifically, we show that an engineered rhabdovirus—initially developed as a cancer therapy—is capable of preferential infection and killing of HIV-infected macrophages, possibly via the same altered antiviral signaling seen in cancer cells. As this rhabdovirus is currently being explored in phase I/II clinical trials, there is potential for this approach to be readily adapted for use within the HIV-1 cure field.


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