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At least 415 records · Page 23Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

AAV serotype-1 mediates early onset of gene expression in mouse hearts and results in better therapeutic effect.

Adeno-associated viral vectors (AAV) are attractive tool for gene therapy for coronary artery disease. However, gene expression in myocardium mediated by AAV serotype 2 (AAV2) does not peak until 4-6 weeks after gene transfer. This delayed gene expression may reduce its therapeutic potential for acute cardiac infarction. To determine whether earlier gene expression and better therapeutic effect could be achieved using a different serotype, CMV promoter driving the EPO gene (AAV-EPO) was packaged into AAV serotypes 1-5 capsids and injected into mouse myocardium. EPO expression was studied by measuring the hematocrits and EPO mRNA. After we found that AAV1 mediates the highest gene expression after 4 days of gene transduction, AAV-LacZ (CMV promoter driving LacZ gene expression) and MLCVEGF (hypoxia-inducible and cardiac-specific VEGF expression) were packaged into AAV1 and 2 capsids. LacZ expression was detected in AAV1-LacZ but not in AAV2-LacZ-injected hearts 1 day after vector injection. Compared to AAV2-MLCVEGF that mediated no significant VEGF expression, AAV1-MLCVEGF mediated 13.7-fold induction of VEGF expression in ischemic hearts 4 days after gene transduction and resulted in more neovasculatures, better cardiac function and less myocardial fibrosis. Thus, AAV1 mediates earlier and higher transgene expression in myocardium and better therapeutic effects.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Genes required for replication of the 15.5-kilobase RNA genome of a plant closterovirus.

A full-length cDNA clone of beet yellows closterovirus (BYV) was engineered and used to map functions involved in the replication of the viral RNA genome and subgenomic RNA formation. Among 10 open reading frames (ORFs) present in BYV, ORFs 1a and 1b suffice for RNA replication and transcription. The proteins encoded in these ORFs harbor putative methyltransferase, RNA helicase, and RNA polymerase domains common to Sindbis virus-like viruses and a large interdomain region that is unique to closteroviruses. The papain-like leader proteinase (L-Pro) encoded in the 5'-proximal region of ORF 1a was found to have a dual function in genome amplification. First, the autocatalytic cleavage between L-Pro and the remainder of the ORF 1a product was essential for replication of RNA. Second, an additional L-Pro function that was separable from proteolytic activity was required for efficient RNA accumulation. The deletion of a large, approximately 5.6-kb, 3'-terminal region coding for a 6-kDa hydrophobic protein, an HSP70 homolog, a 64-kDa protein, minor and major capsid proteins, a 20-kDa protein, and a 21-kDa protein (p21) resulted in replication-competent RNA. However, examination of mutants with replacements of start codons in each of these seven 3'-terminal ORFs revealed that p21 functions as an enhancer of genome amplification. The intriguing analogies between the genome organization and replicational requirements of plant closteroviruses and animal coronavirus-like viruses are discussed.

Closterovirus↗
PubMed1995

A single nucleotide change in the coat protein gene of tobacco mosaic virus is involved in the induction of severe chlorosis.

YSI/1 is a mutant of the common strain (U1) of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) which induces a severe yellow mosaic in Nicotiana tabacum instead of the light green/dark green mosaic induced by its parental U1 virus. Although there was less coat protein (CP) in whole leaf extracts of YSI/1-infected leaves than in U1-infected leaves, severalfold more CP was found in the chloroplasts, most of which was associated with the thylakoids. Sequencing the CP genes of both viruses showed the presence of nucleotide differences at viral RNA positions 5770 and 6127, both of which result in amino acid replacements; YSI/1 has an Asp-->Val change at amino acid 19 and a Ser-->Phe change at amino acid 138. A common strain TMV engineered to contain the YSI/1 3' end sequences, including the CP, induced the severe yellow mosaic of the YSI/1 mutant. A chimeric virus with the change only at nucleotide 5770 (amino acid 19) in the CP induced a severe yellow mosaic, showing that this replacement is involved in the induction of chlorosis by YSI/1. A second isolate of the same chimera also induced severe yellow mosaic symptoms; sequencing showed that it had gained the change at nucleotide 6127. However, a chimeric virus with the change only at nucleotide 6127 (amino acid 138) in the CP was unable to induce the severe yellow mosaic.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Gene transfer to mammalian cells using genetically targeted filamentous bacteriophage.

We have genetically modified filamentous bacteriophage to deliver genes to mammalian cells. In previous studies we showed that noncovalently attached fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) can target bacteriophage to COS-1 cells, resulting in receptor-mediated transduction with a reporter gene. Thus, bacteriophage, which normally lack tropism for mammalian cells, can be adapted for mammalian cell gene transfer. To determine the potential of using phage-mediated gene transfer as a novel display phage screening strategy, we transfected COS-1 cells with phage that were engineered to display FGF2 on their surface coat as a fusion to the minor coat protein, pIII. Immunoblot and ELISA analysis confirmed the presence of FGF2 on the phage coat. Significant transduction was obtained in COS-1 cells with the targeted FGF2-phage compared with the nontargeted parent phage. Specificity was demonstrated by successful inhibition of transduction in the presence of excess free FGF2. Having demonstrated mammalian cell transduction by phage displaying a known gene targeting ligand, it is now feasible to apply phage-mediated transduction as a screen for discovering novel ligands.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Fiber knob modifications overcome low, heterogeneous expression of the coxsackievirus-adenovirus receptor that limits adenovirus gene transfer and oncolysis for human rhabdomyosarcoma cells.

Exploiting the lytic life cycle of viruses has gained recent attention as an anticancer strategy (oncolysis). To explore the utility of adenovirus (Ad)-mediated oncolysis for rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), we tested RMS cell lines for Ad gene transduction and infection. RMS cells were variably transduced by Ad. Compared with control cells, RMS cells were less sensitive or even resistant to oncolysis by wild-type virus. RMS cells expressed the Ad internalization receptors, alpha(v) integrins, but had low or undetectable expression of the major attachment receptor, coxsackievirus-Ad receptor (CAR). Mutant Ads with ablated CAR binding exhibited only 5-20% of transgene expression in RMS cells seen with a wild-type vector, suggesting that residual or heterogeneous CAR expression mediated the little transduction that was detectable. Immunohistochemical analysis of archived clinical specimens showed little detectable CAR expression in five embryonal and eight alveolar RMS tumors. Stable transduction of the cDNA for CAR enabled both efficient Ad gene transfer and oncolysis for otherwise resistant RMS cells, suggesting that poor CAR expression is the limiting feature. Gene transfer to RMS cells was increased >2 logs using Ads engineered with modified fiber knobs containing either an integrin-binding RGD peptide or a polylysine peptide in the exposed HI loop. The RGD modification enabled increased oncolysis for RMS cells by a conditionally replicative Ad, Ad delta24RGD, harboring a retinoblastoma-binding mutation in the E1A gene. Thus, the development of replication-competent vectors targeted to cell surface receptors other than CAR is critical to advance the use of Ad for treating RMS.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1991

Rescue of Sindbis virus-specific RNA replication and transcription by using a vaccinia virus recombinant.

A heterologous system expressing functional Sindbis virus nonstructural proteins (nsPs) has several possible uses for studying Sindbis virus-specific RNA replication and transcription in vivo and in vitro. Of the many possible approaches, vaccinia virus offers an attractive transient expression system given that Sindbis virus replication can occur in cells which have been previously infected by vaccinia virus. In this report, a vaccinia virus recombinant (called vSINNS), which contains the cDNA encoding the Sindbis virus nsPs under the control of either the vaccinia virus 7.5K promoter or the bacteriophage T7 promoter, has been constructed and characterized. Upon infection of several cell types with vSINNS, Sindbis virus nsP precursors and processed forms, including nsP1, nsP2, and both phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated forms of nsP3, were synthesized. Proteins containing the putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase domain (nsP4 and nsP34), which are normally produced in small amounts by readthrough of an opal termination codon, were not detected in vSINNS-infected cells. However, all nsP functions necessary for Sindbis virus-specific RNA synthesis must have been expressed, since both replication and subgenomic mRNA transcription of an engineered Sindbis virus defective interfering RNA in cells infected with vSINNS was observed. Furthermore, vSINNS could be used as a helper virus to amplify, to relatively high titers, a replication-defective Sindbis virus mutant containing an in-frame deletion in the conserved N-terminal domain of nsP3. These data, as well as the observation that normal yields of parental Sindbis virus are produced in cells which have been previously infected with vSINNS, indicate that expression of Sindbis virus nsPs, in the absence of Sindbis virus-specific RNA replication, is not sufficient to block the formation of active RNA replication complexes by superinfecting Sindbis virus.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Presentation of neutralizing epitopes by engineered rotavirus VP7's expressed by recombinant vaccinia viruses.

Previous studies showed that a calcium-dependent neutralization domain forms on the rotavirus glycoprotein VP7 during assembly into particles. Here, we demonstrate that expressed, recombinant VP7 is capable of forming this neutralization domain in the absence of other rotavirus proteins, but that the domain is unstable. High calcium environments, incorporation into particles, and binding of neutralizing antibodies stabilize the neutralization domain on expressed VP7. A chimeric, cell surface-anchored molecule, VP7sc, has an enhanced ability to react with neutralizing antibodies. This may explain why immunization of mice with expressed native VP7 has had limited success while immunization with VP7sc efficiently induced neutralizing antibodies and passively protected pups from diarrhea. A model of VP7 folding consistent with these results is presented.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Efficient immunization of rhesus macaques with an HCV candidate vaccine by heterologous priming-boosting with novel adenoviral vectors based on different serotypes.

Efficient vaccination against viral agents requires a strong T-cell-mediated immune response to clear viral-infected cells. Optimal vaccination can be achieved by administration of recombinant viral vectors encoding phatogen antigens. Adenoviral vectors have attracted considerable attention as potential viral vectors for genetic vaccination owing to their favorable safety profile and potent transduction efficiency following intramuscular injection. However, the neutralizing antibody response against adenoviral capsid proteins following adenoviral vectors injection limits the success of vaccination protocols based on multiple administrations of the same adenoviral serotype. In this work, we describe efficient immunization of rhesus macaques, the preferred model for preclinical assessment, with an HCV candidate vaccine by heterologous priming-boosting with adenoviral vectors based on different serotypes. The induced responses are broad and show significant cross-strain reactivity. Boosting can be delayed for over 2 years after priming, indicating that there is long-term maintenance of resting memory cells.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed2004

[Construction of the plant expression vector with hepatitis a capsid protein fusion gene and genetic transformation of Citrus. Sinensis Osbeck].

The use of edible plants for the production and delivery of vaccine proteins could provide an economical alternative to fermentation systems. The construction of the plant expression vector pBI121-A was reported, which contained a fusion gene encoding hepatitis A capsid proteins. The gene was located between the left and right Ti border sequences under the control of CaMV35S promoter. The vector was identified via PCR and restriction enzyme analysis and was introduced into Agrobacterium tumerifacience LBA4404. The transgenic Citrus plants were produced by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of epicotyl segments.13 putatively transformed plants through the kanamycin selection were micrografted onto the seedlings. The presence and integration of the transgene had been verified by PCR analysis. The result showed that five transformants were integrated and the transformation efficiency was 4.1%.

Citrus sinensis↗
PubMed2001

Highly efficient transduction of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells with subgroup B fiber-modified adenovirus vectors enhances transgene-encoded antigen presentation to cytotoxic T cells.

The efficiency of dendritic cells (DC) as immunotherapeutic vaccines critically depends on optimal delivery of target Ags. Although DC modified by subgroup C type 5 recombinant adenoviruses (rAd5) provide encouraging results, their clinical application is hampered by the need for high viral titers to achieve sufficient gene transfer, due to the lack of the Ad5 fiber receptor. We now demonstrate that rAd5 carrying subgroup B Ad fibers are up to 100-fold more potent than classical rAd5 for gene transfer and expression in human DC, rAd5 with a type 35 fiber (rAd5F35) being the most efficient vector. This improvement relates to a greater and faster virus entry and to an increased transgene expression especially following DC maturation. Furthermore, these new vectors possess enhanced synergistic effects with other activation signals to trigger DC maturation. Consequently, rAd5F35-infected DC engineered to express the gp100 melanoma-associated Ag largely exceed rAd5-infected DC in activating gp100-specific CTL. Finally, the DC infection pattern of rAd5F35 is fully conserved when DC are in the vicinity of primary skin-derived fibroblasts, suggesting this vector as a candidate for in vivo targeting of DC. Thus, subgroup B fiber-modified rAd5 constitute a major breakthrough in the exploitation of ex vivo rAd-targeted DC as clinically relevant vaccines and may also be suitable for in vivo genetic modification of DC.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed2002

Resistance to wheat streak mosaic virus in transgenic wheat engineered with the viral coat protein gene.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) plants were stably transformed with the coat protein (CP) gene of wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) by the biolistic method. Eleven independently transformed plant lines were obtained and five were analyzed for gene expression and resistance to WSMV. One line showed high resistance to inoculations of two WSMV strains. This line had milder symptoms and lower virus titer than control plants after inoculation. After infection, new growth did not show symptoms. The observed resistance was similar to the 'recovery' type resistance described previously using WSMV NIb transgene and in other systems. This line looked morphologically normal but had an unusually high transgene copy number (approximately 90 copies per 2C homozygous genome). Northern hybridization analysis indicated a high level of degraded CP mRNA expression. However, no coat protein expression was detected.

Biolistics↗
PubMed1986

Efficient introduction of plasmid DNA into human hemopoietic cells by encapsidation in simian virus 40 pseudovirions.

Introduction of DNA into human hemopoietic cells is required for the study of regulatory mechanisms operating in these cells, as well as for possible procedures of gene therapy. However, with hemopoietic cells the conventional technique of calcium phosphate precipitation is inefficient. The pathway of encapsidation of plasmid DNA as simian virus 40 (SV40) pseudovirions for the introduction of new genetic material was therefore investigated. Encapsidation was achieved in COS (monkey kidney) cells, which express SV40 large tumor (T) antigen constitutively. The vector, pSO, was introduced to the COS cells by DNA transfection. It carried the SV40 origin of replication (ori), to facilitate replication of the plasmid in the COS cells. The SV40 capsid proteins were supplied in trans by a helper SV40 virus. The bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene cat was used as a model for gene transmission. After encapsidation, the pseudovirions were used in infection of the human erythroleukemic cell line K562 and of normal human bone marrow cells. The results demonstrate that the cat gene can be transmitted with high efficiency. Over 40% of the infected K562 cells and 30% of the infected bone marrow cells were observed to contain plasmid DNA 48 hr after infection. Moreover, the results suggest that the efficiency of gene transmission by this vector can be improved and so may approach the theoretical 100%.

Acetyltransferases↗
PubMed1992

Genetically engineered rice resistant to rice stripe virus, an insect-transmitted virus.

The coat protein (CP) gene of rice stripe virus was introduced into two japonica varieties of rice by electroporation of protoplasts. The resultant transgenic plants expressed the CP at high levels (up to 0.5% of total soluble protein) and exhibited a significant level of resistance to virus infection. Plants derived from selfed progeny of the primary transformants also expressed the CP and showed viral resistance, indicating stable transmission of the CP gene and the trait of resistance to the next generation. Moreover, the virally encoded strip disease-specific protein was not detected in transgenic plants expressing CP 8 weeks after inoculation, indicating protection before viral multiplication. These studies demonstrated that CP-mediated resistance to virus infection can be extended to cereals and to the viruses transmitted by an insect vector (planthopper).

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1991

[Possible etiological relations between Sjogren's syndrome and Epstein-Barr virus].

Tissue biopsies from patients with Sjogren's syndrome (SS) and controls were detected by a monoclonal antibody (McAb) of gene engineering against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) encoded early antigen (EA p138) and a 32p-labelled EBV DNA probe, and also B95-8 and K4 cells as antigens to detect reacting antibodies to EBV in patients' sera. As a result, cytoplasmic fluorescence staining of epithelial cells with the McAb as described above was noted in 15/33 labial and 7/7 renal biopsies from primary SS. The same McAb did not react with biopsies from secondary SS, non-SS connective tissue diseases, benign tumors and normal persons, nor with the other tissues detected from primary SS. By using McAbs against the EBV EA p54 and nuclear antigen (EBNA-1) and by using immunoblotting method, it was found that the reacting antigens in labial biopsies of primary SS had both a M. W. of 54,000 and a M. W. of 65,000, similar to the EA-D and EBNA-1 antigens found in lymphoblastoid cells lytically infected with EBV. Seven out of 21 labial and one out of two renal samples from primary SS patients contained EBV DNA detectable by dot blot hybridization with EBV Bam W probe. Serum levels of both antiviral capsid antigen antibodies and antinuclear antibodies were elevated in patients with primary SS. Our results demonstrated an elevated content of EBV in labial gland and kidney of patients with primary SS, where EBV has been of a lytic fate leading to active replication. It is concluded that EBV may play an important role in the pathogenesis of primary SS.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

A highly attenuated host range-restricted vaccinia virus strain, NYVAC, encoding the prM, E, and NS1 genes of Japanese encephalitis virus prevents JEV viremia in swine.

A highly attenuated strain of vaccinia virus (NYVAC) was engineered to express the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) prM, E, and NS1 genes or the prM and E genes. The recombinant viruses were tested as vaccine candidates in pigs, a natural host of JEV. JEV-neutralizing and hemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies appeared in swine sera 7 days after immunization with 10(8) PFU of the recombinant viruses and increased after a second dose at 28 days. The JEV levels detected in the serum after JEV challenge (d56) of the swine with 2 x 10(5) PFU of JEV were significantly reduced in animals inoculated with the recombinant viruses. These results demonstrate the ability of these NYVAC-vectored recombinants to protect pigs from JEV viremia.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Reconstitution of wild type viral DNA in simian cells transfected with early and late SV40 defective genomes.

The DNAs of polyomaviruses ordinarily exist as a single circular molecule of approximately 5000 base pairs. Variants of SV40, BKV and JCV have been described which contain two complementing defective DNA molecules. These defectives, which form a bipartite genome structure, contain either the viral early region or the late region. The defectives have the unique property of being able to tolerate variable sized reiterations of regulatory and terminus region sequences, and portions of the coding region. They can also exchange coding region sequences with other polyomaviruses. It has been suggested that the bipartite genome structure might be a stage in the evolution of polyomaviruses which can uniquely sustain genome and sequence diversity. However, it is not known if the regulatory and terminus region sequences are highly mutable. Also, it is not known if the bipartite genome structure is reversible and what the conditions might be which would favor restoration of the monomolecular genome structure. We addressed the first question by sequencing the reiterated regulatory and terminus regions of E- and L-SV40 DNAs. This revealed a large number of mutations in the regulatory regions of the defective genomes, including deletions, insertions, rearrangements and base substitutions. We also detected insertions and base substitutions in the T-antigen gene. We addressed the second question by introducing into permissive simian cells, E- and L-SV40 genomes which had been engineered to contain only a single regulatory region. Analysis of viral DNA from transfected cells demonstrated recombined genomes containing a wild type monomolecular DNA structure. However, the complete defectives, containing reiterated regulatory regions, could often compete away the wild type genomes. The recombinant monomolecular genomes were isolated, cloned and found to be infectious. All of the DNA alterations identified in one of the regulatory regions of E-SV40 DNA were present in the recombinant monomolecular genomes. These and other findings indicate that the bipartite genome state can sustain many mutations which wtSV40 cannot directly sustain. However, the mutations can later be introduced into the wild type genomes when the E- and L-SV40 DNAs recombine to generate a new monomolecular genome structure.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Immunity to adenovirus and adeno-associated viral vectors: implications for gene therapy.

Viral vectors have provided effective methods for in vivo gene delivery for therapeutic purposes. The ability of viruses to infect a wide variety of cell types in vivo has been exploited for several applications, such as liver, lung, muscle, brain, eye and many others. Immune responses directed towards the viral capsids and the transgene products have severely affected the ability of these vectors to induce long-term gene expression. This paper reviews the influence of viral vectors on antigen-presenting cells (APC), which are central to the induction of innate as well as adaptive immune responses. In this respect, we have focused on adenovirus and adeno-associated viruses because of the polar responses these vector systems induce in vivo. While adenovirus vector can induce significant inflammatory responses, adeno-associated viral vectors are characterized by their inability to consistantly induce immune responses to the transgene product. Understanding the mechanism of infection, transduction and activation of APC by viral vectors will provide strategies to develop safe vectors and prevent immune responses in gene therapies.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1996

Resistance to geminivirus infection by virus-induced expression of dianthin in transgenic plants.

Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are naturally occurring plant toxins that exhibit antiviral activity against a diverse range of plant and animal viruses. Here, the action of dianthin, a potent RIP isolated from Dianthus caryophyllus, has been exploited to engineer resistance to a plant DNA virus, African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV), in transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana. To achieve this, dianthin has been expressed from the ACMV virion-sense promoter that is transactivated by the product of viral gene AC2. This avoids the need for constitutive expression of the RIP, facilitating the regeneration of phenotypically normal plants, and ensures transgene expression is localized to virus-infected cells. When challenged with ACMV, transgenic plants produce atypical necrotic lesions on inoculated leaves, indicative of dianthin expression, viral DNA accumulation is significantly reduced in these tissues, and plants exhibit attenuated systemic symptoms from which they recover. This phenotype holds for isolates of ACMV but not for other geminiviruses, suggesting that AC2 homologues from the latter are unable to efficiently transactivate the ACMV promoter.

Antiviral Agents↗