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To address how L2-specific antibodies prevent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection of the genital tract, we generated neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) WW1, a rat IgG2a that binds L2 residues 17 to 36 (like mouse MAb RG1), and JWW3, a mouse IgG2b derivative of Mab24 specific for L2 residues 58 to 64. By Western blotting, WW1 recognized L2 of 29/34 HPV genotypes tested, compared to only 13/34 for RG1 and 25/34 for JWW3. WW1 IgG and F(ab')2 bound HPV16 pseudovirions similarly; however, whole IgG provided better protection against HPV vaginal challenge. Passive transfer of WW1 IgG was similarly protective in wild-type and neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn)-deficient mice, suggesting that protection by WW1 IgG is not mediated by FcRn-dependent transcytosis. Rather, local epithelial disruption, required for genital infection and induced by either brushing or nonoxynol-9 treatment, released serum IgG in the genital tract, suggesting Fc-independent exudation. Depletion of neutrophils and macrophages reduced protection of mice upon passive transfer of whole WW1 or JWW3 IgGs. Similarly, IgG-mediated protection by L2 MAbs WW1, JWW3, and RG1 was reduced in Fc receptor knockout compared to wild-type mice. However, levels of in vitro neutralization by WW1 IgG were similar in TRIM21 knockout and wild-type cells, indicating that Fc does not contribute to antibody-dependent intracellular neutralization (ADIN). In conclusion, the Fc domain of L2-specific IgGs is not active for ADIN, but it opsonizes bound extracellular pseudovirions for phagocytes in protecting mice from intravaginal HPV challenge. Systemically administered neutralizing IgG can access the site of infection in an abrasion via exudation without the need for FcRn-mediated transcytosis.IMPORTANCE At least 15 alpha HPV types are causative agents for 5% of all cancers worldwide, and beta types have been implicated in nonmelanoma skin cancer, whereas others produce benign papillomas, such as genital warts, associated with considerable morbidity and health systems costs. Vaccines targeting the minor capsid protein L2 have the potential to provide broad-spectrum immunity against medically relevant HPVs of divergent genera via the induction of broadly cross-neutralizing serum IgG. Here we examine the mechanisms by which L2-specific serum IgG reaches the viral inoculum in the genital tract to effect protection. Abrasion of the vaginal epithelium allows the virus to access and infect basal keratinocytes, and our findings suggest that this also permits the local exudation of neutralizing IgG and vaccine-induced sterilizing immunity. We also demonstrate the importance of Fc-mediated phagocytosis of L2 antibody-virion complexes for humoral immunity, a protective mechanism that is not detected by current in vitro neutralization assays.

A high rate of genetic and antigenic variability among porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome viruses (PRRSVs) hampers effective prevention and control of the disease caused by PRRSV. The major envelope protein (GP5) encoded by the ORF5 of PRRSV has a critical role in inducing virus neutralizing (VN) antibody and cross protection among different strains of PRRSV. This study was conducted to identify sequence elements related to cross neutralization by comparing the ORF5 sequences of 69 field isolates in conjunction with their susceptibility to VN antibody raised against the VR2332 strain in vitro and in vivo . Five common variable sites (amino acid position 32–34, 38–39, 57–59, 137 and 151) were identified between susceptible and resistant viral isolates. Mutants whose ORF5 amino acid sequences were substituted with the sequences corresponding to the 5 identified common variable sites individually or concurrently were generated from a VR2332-backboned infectious clone by site mutagenesis. The change in the susceptibility of the mutants to VN antibodies specific for VR2332 or a heterologous PRRSV was assessed to determine the association of those 5 identified sites with cross neutralization. Among the five sites, the changes of amino acid sequences at three sites (32–34, 38–39, and 57–59) located in the N-terminal ectodomain of ORF5 significantly influenced the susceptibility of the mutant viruses to VN antibody, suggesting that sequence homology at these sites can be utilized as genetic markers to predict the degree of cross neutralization among different PRRSVs.

The influenza A virus M2 protein has important roles during virus entry and in the assembly of infectious virus particles. The cytoplasmic tail of the protein can be palmitoylated at a cysteine residue, but this residue is not conserved in a number of human influenza A virus isolates. Recombinant viruses encoding M2 proteins with a serine substituted for the cysteine at position 50 were generated in the A/WSN/33 (H1N1) and A/Udorn/72 (H3N2) genetic backgrounds. The recombinant viruses were not attenuated for replication in MDCK cells, Calu-3 cells, or in primary differentiated murine trachea epithelial cell cultures, indicating there was no significant contribution of M2 palmitoylation to virus replication in vitro. The A/WSN/33 M2C50S virus displayed a slightly reduced virulence after infection of mice, suggesting that there may be novel functions for M2 palmitoylation during in vivo infection.

Background Infection by any one of 15 high risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) types causes most invasive cervical cancers. Their oncogenic genome is encapsidated by L1 (major) and L2 (minor) coat proteins. Current HPV prophylactic vaccines are composed of L1 virus-like particles (VLP) that elicit type restricted immunity. An N-terminal region of L2 protein identified by neutralizing monoclonal antibodies comprises a protective epitope conserved among HPV types, but it is weakly immunogenic compared to L1 VLP. The major antigenic capsid protein of adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) is hexon which contains 9 hypervariable regions (HVRs) that form the immunodominant neutralizing epitopes. Insertion of weakly antigenic foreign B cell epitopes into these HVRs has shown promise in eliciting robust neutralizing antibody responses. Thus here we sought to generate a broadly protective prophylactic HPV vaccine candidate by inserting a conserved protective L2 epitope into the Ad5 hexon protein for VLP-like display. Methods Four recombinant adenoviruses were generated without significant compromise of viral replication by introduction of HPV16 amino acids L2 12–41 into Ad5 hexon, either by insertion into, or substitution of, either hexon HVR1 or HVR5. Results Vaccination of mice three times with each of these L2-recombinant adenoviruses induced similarly robust adenovirus-specific serum antibody but weak titers against L2. These L2-specific responses were enhanced by vaccination in the presence of alum and monophoryl lipid A adjuvant. Sera obtained after the third immunization exhibited low neutralizing antibody titers against HPV16 and HPV73. L2-recombinant adenovirus vaccination without adjuvant provided partial protection of mice against HPV16 challenge to either the vagina or skin. In contrast, vaccination with each L2-recombinant adenovirus formulated in adjuvant provided robust protection against vaginal challenge with HPV16, but not against HPV56. Conclusion We conclude that introduction of HPV16 L2 12–41 epitope into Ad5 hexon HVR1 or HVR5 is a feasible method of generating a protective HPV vaccine, but further optimization is required to strengthen the L2-specific response and broaden protection to the more diverse hrHPV.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) ORF2 contains an internal ORF that codes for a small non-glycosylated protein known as 2b. Previous work had identified the presence of a 10 kDa 2b protein in virus-infected cells and the induction of an anti-2b response in PRRSV-infected pigs, as well as a possible association of 2b with the virion (Wu et al., 2001, Virology 287:183–191). In this study, we utilized two experimental approaches, including the use of a 2b peptide-specific monoclonal antibody, to demonstrate that the PRRSV 2b protein is an integral component of the PRRSV virion. This study suggests that 2b in PRRSV is similar to the E protein in EAV and forms a minor structural component of the virion.

An automated PCR with fluorescent probes (molecular beacons) detected Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in bovine feces. When the PCR was compared with culture in testing 41 fecal samples, kappa scores of 0.94 to 0.96, a sensitivity of 93 to 96%, and a specificity of 92% were obtained. Results were quantitated by using a standard curve derived from a plasmid containing IS 900 . A minimum quantity of 1.7 × 10 −4 pg of DNA, correlating to 1 to 8 CFU, was detected.

Presently, the seroprevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) minor capsid antigen L2-reactive antibody is not well understood, and no serologic standard exists for L2-specific neutralizing antibodies. Therefore, we screened a total of 1,078 serum samples for HPV16 L2 reactivity, and these were obtained from four prior clinical studies: a population-based (n= 880) surveillance study with a high-risk HPV DNA prevalence of 10.8%, a cohort study of women (n= 160) with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), and two phase II trials in women with high-grade vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) receiving imiquimod therapy combined with either photodynamic therapy (PDT) (n= 19) or vaccination with a fusion protein comprising HPV16 L2, E7, and E6 (TA-CIN) (n= 19). Sera were screened sequentially by HPV16 L2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and then Western blot. Seven of the 1,078 serum samples tested had L2-specific antibodies, but none were detectably neutralizing for HPV16. To develop a standard, we substituted human IgG1 sequences into conserved regions of two rodent monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific for neutralizing epitopes at HPV16 L2 residues 17 to 36 and 58 to 64, creating JWW-1 and JWW-2, respectively. These chimeric MAbs retained neutralizing activity and together reacted with 33/34 clinically relevant HPV types tested. In conclusion, our inability to identify an HPV16 L2-specific neutralizing antibody response even in the sera of patients with active genital HPV disease suggests the subdominance of L2 protective epitopes and the value of the chimeric MAbs JWW-1 and JWW-2 as standards for immunoassays to measure L2-specific human antibodies.

The major structural proteins of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) are derived from ORFs 5, 6, and 7. Western blots of sucrose gradient-purified virions and PRRSV-infected MARC-145 cells, probed with immune pig serum, showed the presence of an additional 10-kDa protein. Nucleotide sequence analysis of North American PRRSV isolate SDSU-23983 revealed a small ORF within ORF2, named ORF2b, which, when translated, produced a 73-amino-acid nonglycosylated protein. Recombinant 2b protein expressed by a baculovirus clone, AcVR2, comigrated with the 10-kDa virus-associated protein. The loss of 10-kDa protein immunoreactivity after absorption of immune sera with lysates from AcVR2-infected insect cells demonstrated that the 2b and 10-kDa proteins are immunologically similar. Immunoblots were also used for the detection of anti-2b activity in serum samples from experimentally infected adult pigs. Antibodies against PRRSV were apparent by 14 days postinfection, followed by anti-2b activity and serum neutralizing activity. The putative ORF2b start codon is only 6 nucleotides downstream of the adenine of the ORF2a start codon. The expression of ORF2a and 2b as enhanced green fluorescent fusion proteins showed that both proteins were translated; however, the ORF2b was preferentially expressed. These results suggest that the 2b protein is virion associated and the principal product of ORF2.

Keratoconus (KC) is a complex thinning disease of the cornea that often requires transplantation. The underlying pathogenic molecular changes in this disease are poorly understood. Earlier studies reported oxidative stress, metabolic dysfunctions and accelerated death of stromal keratocytes in keratoconus (KC) patients. Utilizing mass spectrometry we found reduced stromal extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in KC, suggesting ECM-regulatory changes that may be due to altered TGFβ signals. Here we investigated properties of stromal cells from donor (DN) and KC corneas grown as fibroblasts in serum containing DMEM: F12 or in serum-free medium containing insulin, transferrin, selenium (ITS). Phosphorylation of SMAD2/3 of the canonical TGFβ pathway, was high in serum-starved DN and KC fibroblast protein extracts, but pSMAD1/5/8 low at base line, was induced within 30 minutes of TGFβ1 stimulation, more so in KC than DN, suggesting a novel TGFβ1-SMAD1/5/8 axis in the cornea, that may be altered in KC. The serine/threonine kinases AKT, known to regulate proliferation, survival and biosynthetic activities of cells, were poorly activated in KC fibroblasts in high glucose media. Concordantly, alcohol dehydrogenase 1 (ADH1), an indicator of increased glucose uptake and metabolism, was reduced in KC compared to DN fibroblasts. By contrast, in low glucose (5.5 mM, normoglycemic) serum-free DMEM and ITS, cell survival and pAKT levels were comparable in KC and DN cells. Therefore, high glucose combined with serum-deprivation presents some cellular stress difficult to overcome by the KC stromal cells. Our study provides molecular insights into AKT and TGFβ signal changes in KC, and a mechanism for functional studies of stromal cells from KC corneas.

A 2.3-kb cDNA clone encoding Aleutian mink disease parvovirus (ADV) structural proteins VP1 and VP2 was inserted into the polyhedron gene of Autographa calijbmica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) and expressed by the recombinant virus, AcADV-1, in Spodoptera frugiperda-9 cells. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and western immunoblot analysis (WIA) indicated that synthesis of both VP1 and VP2 was being directed by AcADV-1. Fluorescence microscopic examination of AcADV-1 -infected S. frugiperda-9 cells indicated that the recombinant protein was present within the nucleus of the cells, and electron microscopic examination of these cells revealed the presence of small particles 23–25 nm in diameter. Structures resembling empty ADV capsids could be purified on CsCl density gradients, thus indicating that the ADV proteins were self-assembling. The antigenicity of recombinant VP1 and VP2 was evaluated by WIA. Sera collected from 16 mink prior to infection with ADV did not react with VP1 and VP2. Ten sera collected from mink with counter current immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) titers greater than 4 (log2) reacted with VP1 and VP2 in WIA. Two of 6 sera with CIE titers of 4 and 1 of 14 sera with CIE titers

The use of live recombinant attenuated Salmonella vaccines (RASV) is a promising approach for controlling infections by multiple pathogens. The highly conserved extracellular domain of the influenza M2 protein (M2e) has been shown to provide broad spectrum protection against multiple influenza subtypes sharing similar M2e sequences. An M2e epitope common to a number of avian influenza subtypes was inserted into the core antigen of woodchuck hepatitis virus and expressed in two different recombinant attenuated Salmonella Typhimurium strains. One strain was attenuated via deletion of the cya and crp genes. The second strain was engineered to exhibit a programmed delayed lysis phenotype. Both strains were able to produce both monomeric fusion proteins and fully assembled core particles. Mice orally immunized with the strain exhibiting delayed lysis induced significantly greater antibody titers than the Δcya Δcrp strain and provided moderate protection against weight loss to a low level challenge with the influenza strain A/WSN/33 modified to express the M2e sequence common to avian viruses. Further studies indicated that the Salmonella expressed core antigen induced comparable antibody levels to the purified core antigen injected with an alum adjuvant and that both are able to reduce viral replication in the lungs. To our knowledge this is the first report demonstrating Salmonella-mediated delivery of influenza virus M2e protein in a mammalian host to induce a protective immune response against viral challenge.

Influenza A virus particles assemble and bud from plasma membrane domains enriched with the viral glycoproteins but only a small fraction of the total M2 protein is incorporated into virus particles when compared to the other viral glycoproteins. A membrane proximal cholesterol recognition/interaction amino acid consensus (CRAC) motif was previously identified in M2 and suggested to play a role in protein function. We investigated the importance of the CRAC motif on virus replication by generating recombinant proteins and viruses containing amino acid substitutions in this motif. Alteration or completion of the M2 CRAC motif in two different virus strains caused no changes in virus replication in vitro. Viruses lacking an M2 CRAC motif had decreased morbidity and mortality in the mouse model of infection, suggesting that this motif is a virulence determinant which may facilitate virus replication in vivo but is not required for basic virus replication in tissue culture.

A carboxy-terminal epitope tag introduced into the coding region of the A/WSN/33 M2 protein resulted in a recombinant virus (rWSN M2myc) which replicated to titers similar to those of the parental virus (rWSN) in MDCK cells. The rWSN M2myc virus was attenuated in its ability to induce mortality and weight loss after the intranasal inoculation of BALB/c mice, indicating that the M2 cytoplasmic tail plays a role in virus virulence. Mice infected with rWSN M2myc were completely protected from subsequent challenge with rWSN, suggesting that epitope tagging of the M2 protein may be a useful way of attenuating influenza A virus strains.

Swine influenza viruses (SIV) naturally infect pigs and can be transmitted to humans. In the pig, genetic reassortment to create novel influenza subtypes by mixing avian, human, and swine influenza viruses is possible. An SIV vaccine inducing cross-protective immunity between different subtypes and strains circulating in pigs is highly desirable. Previously, we have shown that an H3N2 SIV (A/swine/Texas/4199-2/98 [TX98]) containing a deleted NS1 gene expressing a truncated NS1 protein of 126 amino acids, NS1Œ126, was attenuated in swine. In this study, 4-week-old pigs were vaccinated with the TX98 NS1Œ126 modified live virus (MLV). Ten days after boosting, pigs were challenged with wild-type homologous H3N2 or heterosubtypic H1N1 SIV and sacrificed 5 days later. The MLV was highly attenuated and completely protected against challenge with the homologous virus. Vaccinated pigs challenged with the heterosubtypic H1N1 virus demonstrated macroscopic lung lesions similar to those of the unvaccinated H1N1 control pigs. Remarkably, vaccinated pigs challenged with the H1N1 SIV had significantly lower microscopic lung lesions and less virus shedding from the respiratory tract than did unvaccinated, H1N1-challenged pigs. All vaccinated pigs developed significant levels of hemagglutination inhibition and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay titers in serum and mucosal immunoglobulin A antibodies against H3N2 SIV antigens. Vaccinated pigs were seronegative for NS1, indicating the potential use of the TX98 NS1Œ126 MLV as a vaccine to differentiate infected from vaccinated animals. Swine influenza virus (SIV) is an important swine pathogen involved in the porcine respiratory disease complex in most swine-producing countries. Serological and virological studies demonstrated 23 to 28% prevalence of SIV in swine populations in the midwestern and north central United States (4, 35, 56). Mortality of SIV in pigs is low, while morbidity may approach 100%. SIV-affected pigs show clinical signs of anorexia and weight loss, fever, respiratory distress, coughing, and nasal discharge (18). SIVs currently circulating in North American swine are subtypes H1N1, H3N2, and H1N2 (36). From 1930 to 1998, classical H1N1 viruses were the subtype predominantly isolated from U.S. swine. In 1998, a new SIV subtype, H3N2, emerged from reassortment of swine, human, and avian influenza viruses (19, 56, 58). The H3N2 SIV acquired PB1, hemagglutinin (HA), and NA genes from recent human viruses, PB2 and PA from avian viruses, and NP, M, and NS genes from the classical H1N1 swine virus (19, 56, 58). A year