Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Murphey-Corb

Publications and source records attributed to M Murphey-Corb.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Temporal association of interferon-alpha and p27 core antigen levels in sera of simian immunodeficiency virus infected monkeys.

We report the temporal association of interferon (IFN) and p27 core antigen production during experimental simian immunodeficiency virus Delta B670 (SIV) infection in rhesus monkeys. Peak serum IFN-alpha levels (10(2.8-5.0)U/ml) occurred 10 days post infection (p.i.) and peak p27 levels (3.1-34.4 ng/ml) occurred 10-14 days p.i. Acid-stable IFN-alpha (10(1.6-2.5)U/ml) was detected 3-5 days before p27 in sera from three monkeys and was detected with p27 (0.06-3.06 ng/ml) in four monkeys during the primary infection. Serum IFN-alpha and p27 levels became undetectable 24-40 days p.i. Two monkeys remained asymptomatic for SIV after the primary p27 antigenaemia, three monkeys had recrudescent (3-4 months p.i.) acid stable interferonaemias (10(1-2.5)U/ml) with p27 antigenaemias (0.06-2.7 ng/ml) that persisted until death, and two monkeys had acute SIV infections (died < or = 7 months p.i.) with persistent acid-stable interferonaemia (10(1.6-2.5)U/ml) and p27 antigenaemia (6-9 ng/ml). Our results indicate that the detection of acid-stable IFN-alpha in serum is closely associated with detection of p27 (P = 0.0001) and suggest that detection of acid-stable IFN-alpha and p27 core antigen is indicative of active SIV infection.

Animals↗

Genotypic analysis of infant macaques infected transplacentally and orally.

The SIV-infected macaque provides an excellent model to study factors involved in maternal-fetal transmission of HIV. In our prenatal transmission studies, female macaques were inoculated intravenously during midgestation with either SIV/DeltaB670 or a combination of SIV/ DeltaB670 and the macrophage-tropic molecular clone SIV/17E-Fr. The females harbored a genetically diverse virus population at parturition, whereas a single genotype from the maternal quasispecies was identified in the infants. One of two variants was transplacentally transmitted to the infants, SIV/17E-Fr or B670-Cl 12, a genotype contained within the SIV/ DeltaB670 inoculum. Both of these variants have been identified in the central nervous system of macaques that have developed encephalitis and they replicate in vitro on primary rhesus macrophages. These results suggest a critical role for macrophages in fetal infection in utero. In our perinatal transmission studies we have evaluated the viral genotypes found in two newborn macaques infected orally with SIV/DeltaB670 and in one infant infected via amniotic inoculation in late gestation. More than one viral genotype was identified in each infant, moreover, each infant harbored different genotypes. These results suggest different mechanisms are responsible for viral infection via these routes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Induction of immunodeficiency virus-specific immune responses in rhesus monkeys following gene gun-mediated DNA vaccination.

The Accell gene delivery system (gene gun) was used to deliver gold particles coated with HIV-1LAI and SIVmac239 expression constructs into the epidermis of rhesus macaques, resulting in the elicitation of env- and gag-specific humoral responses. One microgram of vector DNA per dose was sufficient to induce immune responses in monkeys using SIVmac239 gp160 and gp120 vectors driven by the CMV-intron A promoter. Several parameters, including the identity of the vector, the length of the rest period between immunizations, the number of immunizations, and the amount of DNA per immunization, are all important in designing an optimal DNA immunization regimen. In addition, gene gun-based DNA immunization using low efficiency expression vectors is an effective means of priming for the induction of vigorous antibody responses in macaques following boosting with recombinant subunits.

AIDS Vaccines↗

Distribution of SIV in lymph nodes of serially sacrificed rhesus monkeys.

Rhesus monkeys were inoculated with SIVDeltaB670 and sacrificed 2, 4, 8, and 24 weeks after inoculation or when moribund. Two monkeys predicted to have a rapid disease course and two predicted to have a slower disease course were sacrificed at each time point. Lymph nodes were studied by histopathology, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, electron microscopy, flow cytometry for lymphocyte subsets, and mitogen responsiveness. A greater selective decrease in peripheral CD4+CD29+ (helper-inducer/memory) T cells occurred in monkeys with high antigenemia. Although the percentage of CD8+ lymphocytes was increased and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio decreased in all infected groups, there were no consistent differences between monkeys with high or low antigenemia in lymph node lymphocyte subsets. Blastogenic responses of lymph node lymphocytes to PHA, ConA, or PWM were not significantly altered in infected monkeys. A reticular pattern typical of antigen deposition within germinal center follicular dendritic cells was seen in three monkeys with atrophic lymph nodes, high serum antigenemia, and a low percentage of circulating CD4+/CD29+ cells. More individually stained cells were in monkeys with high serum antigen and in moribund animals. By in situ hybridization, most monkeys had signal in a reticular pattern of germinal centers. Animals with higher levels of serum antigenemia tended to have more infected cells and a more intense signal. Extracellular virions were found between the FDC foot processes in the germinal centers of lymph nodes. Disease course was already established 2 weeks after inoculation.

Animals↗

Analysis of envelope glycoprotein-specific antibodies from SIV-infected and gp110-immunized monkeys in ACC and ADCC assays.

Sera collected from SIV-infected or recombinant glycoprotein-immunized monkeys were characterized for antibodies participating in antibody-complement-mediated cytolysis (ACC) and antibody-dependent cellular cytolysis (ADCC) in terms of their IgG subclass and epitope specificity. In a competitive inhibition ELISA, gp110-specific antibody reactivity with nondenatured rgp110 was blocked completely by soluble homologous rgp110 and partially inhibited by heterologous rgp110, suggesting cross-reactivity between viral strains. However, only partial inhibition was observed with denatured recombinant gp140 (rgp140) in selected monkeys, indicating that the majority of gp110-specific antibodies recognized conformational epitopes. ACC activity against recombinant vaccinia-infected, envelope-expressing targets was found in sera from both infected and immunized monkeys, whereas ADCC activity was observed only in sera from infected monkeys. ACC was blocked with denatured rgp140 as well as nondenatured rgp110, indicating that ACC-mediating antibodies recognized mainly linear epitopes. In contrast, rgp140 did not compete as effectively as rgp110 in the ADCC assay, indicating that the majority of ADCC antibodies recognized conformational epitopes. Competitive inhibition using three peptide fragments of gp110 indicated that epitopes recognized by ACC antibodies lie within amino acid residues 214-471, a region that spans V3, whereas ADCC-reactive epitopes lie between amino acid residues 52 and 214 at the N-terminal end of gp110. Column chromatography of rhesus IgG resulted in three subclass-enriched fractions, designated IgG-I, IgG-II, and IgG-III. IgG-I, but not IgG-II or IgG-III, from both infected and immunized monkeys mediated ACC, whereas IgG-I and IgG-II from infected monkeys mediated ADCC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Genotypic selection of simian immunodeficiency virus in macaque infants infected transplacentally.

To understand viral and host factors that contribute to transplacental transmission of human immunodeficiency virus, we developed an animal model using pregnant female macaques infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). Pregnant females were inoculated intravenously during midgestation with either a well-characterized primary isolate of SIV (SIV/DeltaB670) or a combination of SIV/DeltaB670 and the macrophage-tropic molecular clone SIV/17E-Fr. The viral genetic diversity in five infected female macaques and their in utero-infected infants was analyzed. All of the mothers harbored a genetically diverse virus population at parturition, whereas a single genotype from the maternal quasispecies was identified in the infants at birth. Only one of two variants was found in the infants: SIV/17E-Fr (two cases) or a genotype contained within the SIV/DeltaB670 quasispecies (three cases). The macrophage-tropic properties of both transmitted genotypes were suggested by productive replication in primary rhesus macrophage cultures in vitro and the clonal presence in central nervous system tissue of infected monkeys with encephalitis. These observations provide compelling evidence for both genotypic and phenotypic selection in transplacental transmission of SIV and suggest a critical role for macrophages in fetal infection in utero.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Immune responses induced by prototype vaccines for AIDS in rhesus monkeys.

A battery of assay systems was used to profile both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses induced by immunization with candidate vaccines consisting of recombinant simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) glycoproteins rgp110 (nondenatured) with SAF-M adjuvant (gp110 + SAF-M) or rgp140 (denatured) with Freund's adjuvant (gp140 + FA). All of the monkeys became infected after intravenous challenge. However, 16 days following infection, viral antigenemia was reduced in both groups of vaccinates compared to controls. After 23 days antigenemia in the gp110 + SAF-M group remained at the same level as on day 16, whereas antigenemia in the gp140 + FA group was significantly reduced further than the level observed on day 16. Both vaccines induced blastogenic responses in PBMC cultures stimulated with rgp140, which decreased after repeated immunizations. Both vaccines induced high ELISA titers of IgG antibody against rgp140 that were equivalent to the titers in asymptomatic long-term survivors (LTSs). gp110 +/- SAF-M induced high titers of neutralizing antibody. In contrast, gp140 + FA failed to induce neutralizing antibody, suggesting that the natural conformation of the antigen may be essential for the induction of neutralizing antibody. High titers of antibodies capable of complement-mediated cytolysis (ACC) were induced by gp110 + SAF-M, whereas minimal ACC antibodies were induced by gp140 + FA. In spite of high titers of antibodies by ELISA, neither gp110 + SAF-M nor gp140 + FA vaccines induced detectable levels of antibody capable of antibody dependent cell-mediated cytolysis (ADCC). Detectable amounts of MHC class I-restricted, CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) were not induced in immunized monkeys before challenge. After challenge and infection, antibody responses to glycoprotein (detected by ELISA and ACC) as well as glycoprotein-specific CTLs were induced in gp140 + FA vaccinates at levels higher than in nonimmunized control animals, indicating a priming effect by gp140 + FA immunization. No priming effect for ADCC antibody induction was observed in monkeys vaccinated with either gp110 + SAF-M or gp140 + FA. Rhesus monkey groups immunized with two different SIV envelope vaccines differed regarding potentially protective humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. The physical state of the immunogens, the type of adjuvant used, and/or the immunization protocol apparently affected these responses in both a qualitative and quantitative manner.

AIDS Vaccines↗

Effects of U-75875, a peptidomimetic inhibitor of retroviral proteases, on simian immunodeficiency virus infection in rhesus monkeys.

U-75875 inhibits human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) proteases and blocks Gag-Pol protein processing and viral maturation and replication in vitro. Rhesus monkeys were treated with vehicle alone or with formulated U-75875 at doses of 7 or 20 mg/kg of body weight per day for 26 days by continuous intravenous infusion beginning 6 h prior to intravenous inoculation with 10 monkey 50% infectious doses of SIV Delta B670, and the monkeys were monitored until death. The effects of treatment on the level of SIV p26 antigenemia, the infectious virus titer in serum, and the level of proviral DNA in blood mononuclear cells evaluated by PCR were assessed. SIV infection of the controls resulted in an initial viral antigenemia that began 5 to 10 days postinoculation (p.i.), reached peak values on days 10 to 14 p.i., and lasted for more than 15 days. Proviral DNA was detectable in peripheral blood mononuclear cells by 7 to 11 days p.i., reached the mean peak level by 11 days p.i., and remained at high levels through day 24 p.i. Infectious virus was detected in serum from all of the infected controls by 24 days p.i. Treatment with U-75875 for 26 days resulted in a dose-related delay in the day of the peak level of antigenemia (P = 0.034). The level of proviral DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells at 11 days p.i. was significantly decreased in a dose-related fashion in the treated monkeys ( P </- 0.048), with a delay in the attainment of the peak level of proviral DNA in the treated groups. The titer of infectious virus in the serum of the group treated with 20 mg/kg/day was significantly decreased on day 24 p.i. compared with that in the serum of controls ( P = 0.046). Treatment with formulated U-75875 was well tolerated in rhesus monkeys and resulted in an inhibitory effect of SIV in vivo.

Animals↗

Studies of the conformation-dependent neutralizing epitopes of simian immunodeficiency virus envelope protein.

It has been shown previously that the major neutralizing epitopes in simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) are discontinuous and conformation dependent and that the V3 loop, in contrast to that of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1, does not by itself elicit neutralizing antibodies (K. Javaherian et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:1418-1422, 1992). We now present data showing that on the basis of fractionation of infected macaque sera, protease digestion of the envelope, and binding properties of two neutralizing monoclonal antibodies to SIV and SIV-HIV chimeric envelope proteins, changes in V3 can disrupt the conformation-dependent neutralization region. The chimeric protein did not produce significant neutralizing antibodies against either SIV or HIV. We also report that neutralizing antibodies elicited by recombinant SIV envelope proteins of mac251 and B670 isolates cross-neutralize. Finally, we show that deglycosylation of the SIV envelope results in a molecule which binds neither soluble CD4 nor the neutralizing monoclonal antibodies being investigated here and does not elicit sera with a significant neutralizing titer.

Acids↗

Experimental microsporidiosis in immunocompetent and immunodeficient mice and monkeys.

Microsporidia cause opportunistic infections in AIDS patients and commonly infect laboratory animals, as well. Euthymic C57B1/6 mice experimentally infected with intraperitoneal injections of 1 x 10(6) Encephalitozoon cuniculi Levaditi, Nicolau et Schoen, 1923, Encephalitozoon hellem Didier et al., 1991, or Nosema corneum Shadduck et al., 1990 displayed no clinical signs of disease. Athymic mice, however, developed ascites and died 8-16 days after inoculation with N. corneum, 21-25 days after inoculation with E. cuniculi, and 34-37 days after inoculation with E. hellem. All athymic mice displayed hepatomegaly, dilated intestine and accumulation of ascites fluid. Granulomatous lesions are primarily located in the liver, lung, pancreas, spleen, and on serosal surfaces of abdominal organs. The murine microsporidiosis model also was used to examine immune response that inhibit microsporidia growth in vitro. Recombinant murine interferon-gamma (mIFN-gamma, 100 mu/ml) alone or in combination with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 10 ng/ml) could activate thioglycollate-induced peritoneal murine macrophages to destroy E. cuniculi. The production of the nitrogen intermediate, NO2-, correlated with parasite destruction. Inhibition of NO2- generation by addition of the L-arginine analogue, NG-monomethyl L-arginine (NMMA), inhibited microsporidia killing, as well. Since microsporidiosis is becoming an important opportunistic infection in AIDS patients, a microsporidiosis model is being developed using SIV/DeltaB670-infected rhesus macaque monkeys (Macaca mulatta). SIV-infected immunocompetent monkeys given E. cuniculi or E. hellem per os developed specific antibodies, and microsporidia could be detected sporadically by calcofluor or antibody fluorescence staining of stool and urine sediment smears. As immunodeficiency progressed, monkeys developed diarrhoea, cachexia, and anorexia, and organisms were detected in urine and stool with greater frequency. Immunodeficient SIV-infected monkeys died approximately 27 days after receiving E. hellem by intravenous inoculation, and approximately 110 days after receiving E. hellem per os. Lesions typical for SIV-infection were observed in both groups of monkeys and microsporidia were detected in kidney and liver of the intravenously-injected monkeys. The murine microsporidiosis model provides an efficient means for studying protective immune responses to microsporidiosis, and may prove useful for screening immunological and chemotherapeutic agents. The pathogenesis of Encephalitozoon microsporidiosis in SIV-infected monkeys appears to parallel encephalitozoonosis in AIDS patients, suggesting that simian microsporidiosis may provide a useful model for evaluating diagnostic methods and therapeutic strategies during various stages of progressing immunodeficiency.

Animals↗

Neonatal disease induced by SIV infection of the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta).

Seven 72-hr-old Indian origin rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were inoculated with 10 animal ID50 of SIV/DeltaB670. Nine age-matched animals were used as uninoculated controls. All seven inoculated animals became infected as verified by viral isolation and SIV p26 antigenemia. Five of seven infected animals died within a mean of 31 days (range, 26-41 days), with high levels of antigenemia beginning 1-2 weeks postinoculation (PI) that persisted until death. Absolute lymphocyte numbers were within normal limits in all animals in both groups throughout the study. Inoculated animals that died within a mean of 31 days (short-term survivors) had significantly lower numbers of CD4+CD29+ (helper/inducer) lymphocytes than did long-term surviving inoculated animals through 3 weeks PI. Numbers of CD4+ lymphocytes were no different when controls were compared to all inoculated animals through 4-5 weeks PI. The two inoculated animals surviving 216 and 423 days PI (long-term survivors) did demonstrate declining CD4+ cells, but only late in disease. CD8+ lymphocytes were significantly lower in short-term survivors when compared to long-term survivors through 5 weeks PI. Antibody production against SIV viral proteins was detected only in the long-term survivors and was similar to results from past studies in juveniles. Clinical signs in the inoculated group were consistent with those seen in past studies on older animals. Persistent bacterial infections, primarily of the GI and respiratory tracts, were seen in the infected group. Aside from the lack of some opportunistic infections such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Pneumocystis carinii, necropsy findings were not different when compared to past studies on juvenile animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Effects of initiation of 3'-azido,3'-deoxythymidine (zidovudine) treatment at different times after infection of rhesus monkeys with simian immunodeficiency virus.

The effects of initiating treatment with 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (zidovudine) at different times after inoculation of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) were investigated in rhesus monkeys. Zidovudine treatments of 100 mg/kg/day (25 mg/kg, subcutaneously every 6 h) were initiated 1, 8, 24, or 72 h after intravenous inoculation of 10 ID50 of SIV. Treatments continued for 28 days, and results were compared with those of saline-treated controls. Serum infectious virus titers 14 days after inoculation (AI) significantly decreased after treatment initiation 1, 8, or 24 h AI. Titers were correlated with the time treatment was initiated. Treatments initiated 1-72 h AI prevented the establishment of persistent SIV antigenemia; greater effects were observed with earlier initiation of treatment. Treatments initiated 1-8 h AI resulted in decreased levels of viral antigenemia 14 days AI and delayed decreases in CD4+CD29+ blood lymphocytes. Earlier treatment initiation resulted in delayed recurrence of antigenemia, with a tendency for longer survival. Early initiation of treatment may be important for limiting initial viral replication and dissemination in cases of known exposure.

Animals↗

Simian immunodeficiency virus needlestick accident in a laboratory worker.

The macaque monkey infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) is an animal model of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. We investigated a laboratory worker who was exposed by needlestick accident to blood from an SIV-infected macaque. Seroreactivity to SIV developed within 3 months of exposure, with antibody titres peaking from the third to the fifth month and declining thereafter. Polymerase chain reaction for SIV sequences and cultures of peripheral-blood mononuclear cells failed to show infection. Inoculation of an SIV-negative monkey with blood from the worker did not cause infection. Animal-care and laboratory workers should adhere strictly to recommended procedures to avoid accidental exposures when working with SIV-infected animals or specimens.

Animals↗

Identification of broadly reactive continuous antigenic determinants of simian immunodeficiency virus glycoproteins.

The env polyprotein sequences of several simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) isolates were analyzed using computer algorithms designed to predict immunologically reactive protein segments. Peptides corresponding to predicted epitopes were synthesized and employed in peptide enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) screening of serum panels from experimentally infected macaques, as well as naturally infected, asymptomatic mangabeys and African green monkeys. Several of the peptides are recognized by a high percentage of antisera from each panel of monkeys indicating that they represent group-specific antigenic determinants of SIV. Several type-specific determinants also were identified. These peptides may be a useful tool for studying the kinetics of SIV glycoprotein-specific immune responses produced by infected and vaccine-protected monkeys at the epitope level.

Algorithms↗