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The 17 nucleotides downstream from the env gene stop codon are important for murine leukemia virus packaging.

We have identified a previously unknown nucleotide sequence important for the packaging of murine leukemia virus. This nucleotide sequence is located downstream from the stop codon of the env gene but does not overlap the polypurine tract. Deletion of 17 bp from this region resulted in a more than 10-fold decrease in viral titer. Consistent with this result, the deletion mutant showed a 20- to 30-fold drop in the amount of virion RNA in the culture supernatant. The total amount of virion protein in the culture supernatant was comparable for the deletion mutant and the parental virus, suggesting that the mutant construct could release the empty viral particles. These results suggested that the packaging signal sequence might be present at the two extreme sites of the viral genome, one in the region around the splice donor sequence downstream from the 5' long terminal repeat (LTR) and the other immediately upstream from the 3' LTR. Implications for gene therapy, especially in regard to construction of retroviral vectors and packaging constructs, are discussed.

3T3 Cells↗

Interaction of the adenovirus IVa2 protein with viral packaging sequences.

We have demonstrated previously that the adenovirus L1 52/55-kDa protein binds to the viral IVa2 protein in infected cells. The significance of this interaction was unclear, however, based on the known functions of these two proteins: the 52/55-kDa protein is required for viral DNA packaging, while the IVa2 protein is a transactivator of the major late promoter (MLP). In this report, we have attempted to elucidate a role for each of the two proteins in the other's known function. There is no apparent effect of the 52/55-kDa protein on the interaction of the IVa2 protein with the MLP. Surprisingly, however, we found that the IVa2 protein can interact with the adenoviral packaging signal and that this interaction involves DNA sequences that have previously been demonstrated to be required for packaging.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

PG13 packaging cells produce recombinant retroviruses carrying a diphtheria toxin mutant which kills cancer cells.

The development of suicide gene therapy with gene products that are directly toxic to cells, such as the A subunit of diphtheria toxin (DT-A), has been hampered by the difficulty of engineering recombinant viruses. DT-A is a strong inhibitor of protein synthesis that acts by ADP-ribosylating elongation factor 2, and a low level of DT-A expression in virus producer cells prevents the production of recombinant virus. We analyzed here the natural resistance of packaging cells to DT-A toxicity, and we report that PG13 and PA317 packaging cell lines are resistant to H21G, a DT-A mutant. PG13 cells produce recombinant H21G virus that efficiently kills a variety of human tumor cells. Our finding indicates that PG13 packaging cells provide a new potential for the development of DT-A-based suicide gene therapy.

Animals↗

A novel gene expression control system and its use in stable, high-titer 293 cell-based adeno-associated virus packaging cell lines.

Previous attempts to establish 293cell-based stable and high-titer adeno-associated virus (AAV) packaging cell lines were unsuccessful, primarily due to adenovirus E1-activated Rep gene expression, which exerts cytostatic and cytotoxic effects on the host cells. Control of the two large AAV Rep proteins (Rep78/68) was insufficient to eliminate the adverse effects, because of the leaky expression of the two small Rep proteins (Rep52/40). However, it was unsuccessful to control Rep52/40 gene expression since its promoter is located within the coding sequence of Rep78/68. To tightly regulate all four Rep proteins by using their own promoters, we have developed a novel gene control paradigm termed "dual splicing switch," which disrupts all four Rep genes by inserting into their shared coding region an intron that harbors transcription termination sequences flanked the LoxP sites. As a result, the structure and activities of the Rep gene promoters, both p5 and p19, are not affected; however, all of the Rep transcripts are prematurely terminated and the genes were inactivated. Removal of the terminator by Cre protein reactivates the transcription of all four Rep proteins derived from their own promoters. This switch system was initially tested in the lacZ gene and a 600-fold induction of beta-galactosidase activity was observed. Using the dual splicing switch strategy, we have subsequently established a number of AAV packaging cell lines from 293 cells, which showed a normal growth rate, high stability, and more importantly, high yields of AAV vectors. Such a gene control paradigm is also useful for other viruses, e.g., autonomous parvoviruses. Finally, the high-titer 293-based AAV packaging cell lines should greatly reduce the risk of wild-type adenovirus contamination and provide a scalable AAV vector production method for both preclinical and clinical studies.

Cell Line↗

Feasibility of generating adeno-associated virus packaging cell lines containing inducible adenovirus helper genes.

The adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector system is based on nonpathogenic and helper-virus-dependent parvoviruses. The vector system offers safe, efficient, and long-term in vivo gene transfer in numerous tissues. Clinical trials using AAV vectors have demonstrated vector safety as well as efficiency. The increasing interest in the use of AAV for clinical studies demands large quantities of vectors and hence a need for improvement in vector production. The commonly used transient-transfection method, although versatile and free of adenovirus (Ad), is not cost-effective for large-scale production. While the wild-type-Ad-dependent AAV producer cell lines seem to be cost-effective, this method faces the problem of wild-type Ad contamination. To overcome these shortcomings, we have explored the feasibility of creating inducible AAV packaging cell lines that require neither transfection nor helper virus infection. As a first step toward that goal, we have created a cell line containing highly inducible Ad E1A and E1B genes, which are essential for AAV production. Subsequently, the AAV Rep and Cap genes and an AAV vector containing a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene were stably introduced into the E1A-E1B cell line, generating inducible AAV-GFP packaging cell lines. Upon induction of E1A and E1B genes and infection with replication-defective Ad with E1A, E1B, and E3 deleted, the packaging cells yielded high-titer AAV-GFP vectors. Finally, the E2, E4, and VA genes of Ad, under the control of their endogenous promoters, were also introduced into these cells. A few producer cell lines were obtained, which could produce AAV-GFP vectors upon simple drug induction. Although future improvement is necessary to increase the stability and vector yield of the cells, our study has nonetheless demonstrated the feasibility of generating helper-virus-free inducible AAV producer cell lines.

Adenovirus E1A Proteins↗

Improved primate foamy virus vectors and packaging constructs.

Foamy virus (FV) vectors that have minimal cis-acting sequences and are devoid of residual viral gene expression were constructed and analyzed by using a packaging system based on transient cotransfection of vector and different packaging plasmids. Previous studies indicated (i) that FV gag gene expression requires the presence of the R region of the long terminal repeat and (ii) that RNA from packaging constructs is efficiently incorporated into vector particles. Mutants with changes in major 5' splice donor (SD) site located in the R region identified this sequence element as responsible for regulating gag gene expression by an unidentified mechanism. Replacement of the FV 5' SD with heterologous splice sites enabled expression of the gag and pol genes. The incorporation of nonvector RNA into vector particles could be reduced to barely detectable levels with constructs in which the human immunodeficiency virus 5' SD or an unrelated intron sequence was substituted for the FV 5' untranslated region and in which gag expression and pol expression were separated on two different plasmids. By this strategy, efficient vector transfer was achieved with constructs that have minimal genetic overlap.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

Cre levels limit packaging signal excision efficiency in the Cre/loxP helper-dependent adenoviral vector system.

Helper-dependent (HD) adenovirus vectors devoid of all viral coding sequences have a large cloning capacity and provide long-term transgene expression in vivo with negligible toxicity, making them attractive vectors for gene therapy. Currently, the most efficient means of producing HD vectors involves coinfecting 293 cells expressing Cre with the HD vector and a helper virus bearing a packaging signal flanked by loxP sites. Cre-mediated packaging signal excision renders the helper virus genome unpackageable but still able to replicate and provide helper functions for HD vector propagation. Typically, helper virus contamination is < or =1% pre- and < or =0.1% postpurification by CsCl banding. While these contamination levels are low, further reduction is desirable. However, this objective has not been realized since the Cre/loxP system was first developed. This lack of progress is due, at least in part, to our lack of understanding of the origins of the contaminating helper virus, thus rendering its reduction or elimination difficult to achieve. This study was designed to investigate the possible sources of contaminating helper virus persisting during HD vector amplification. The results revealed that Cre is limiting in helper virus-infected Cre-expressing 293 cells, thereby permitting helper viruses to escape packaging signal excision and propagate. The results of this study should provide a foundation for developing rational strategies to further reduce or possibly eliminate the contaminating helper virus.

Adenoviridae↗

Transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus packaging signal is located at the 5' end of the virus genome.

To locate the transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus (TGEV) packaging signal, the incorporation of TGEV subgenomic mRNAs (sgmRNAs) into virions was first addressed. TGEV virions were purified by three different techniques, including an immunopurification using an M protein-specific monoclonal antibody. Detection of sgmRNAs in virions by specific reverse transcription-PCRs (RT-PCRs) was related to the purity of virus preparations. Interestingly, virus mRNAs were detected in partially purified virus but not in virus immunopurified using stringent conditions. Analyses by quantitative RT-PCR confirmed that virus mRNAs were not present in highly purified preparations. Lack of sgmRNA encapsidation was probably due to the absence of a packaging signal (Psi) within these mRNAs. This information plus that from the encapsidation of a collection of TGEV-derived minigenomes suggested that Psi is located at the 5' end of the genome. To confirm that this was the case, a set of minigenomes was expressed that included an expression cassette for an mRNA including the beta-glucuronidase gene (GUS) plus variable sequence fragments from the 5' end of the virus genome potentially including Psi. Insertion of the first 649 nucleotides (nt) of the TGEV genome led to the specific encapsidation of the mRNA, indicating that a Psi was located within this region which was absent from all of the other virus mRNAs. The presence of this packaging signal was further confirmed by showing the expression and rescue of the mRNA including the first 649 nt of the TGEV genome under control of the cytomegalovirus promoter in TGEV-infected cells. This mRNA was successfully amplified and encapsidated, indicating that the first 649 nt of TGEV genome also contained the 5' cis-acting replication signals. The encapsidation efficiency of this mRNA was about 30-fold higher than the genome encapsidation efficiency, as estimated by quantitative RT-PCR. In contrast, viral mRNAs presented significantly lower encapsidation efficiencies (about 100-fold) than those of the virus genome, strongly suggesting that TGEV mRNAs in fact lacked an alternative TGEV Psi.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

Incorporation of tick-borne encephalitis virus replicons into virus-like particles by a packaging cell line.

RNA replicons derived from flavivirus genomes show considerable potential as gene transfer and immunization vectors. A convenient and efficient encapsidation system is an important prerequisite for the practical application of such vectors. In this work, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus replicons and an appropriate packaging cell line were constructed and characterized. A stable CHO cell line constitutively expressing the two surface proteins prM/M and E (named CHO-ME cells) was generated and shown to efficiently export mature recombinant subviral particles (RSPs). When replicon NdDeltaME lacking the prM/M and E genes was introduced into CHO-ME cells, virus-like particles (VLPs) capable of initiating a single round of infection were released, yielding titers of up to 5 x 10(7)/ml in the supernatant of these cells. Another replicon (NdDeltaCME) lacking the region encoding most of the capsid protein C in addition to proteins prM/M and E was not packaged by CHO-ME cells. As observed with other flavivirus replicons, both TBE virus replicons appeared to exert no cytopathic effect on their host cells. Sedimentation analysis revealed that the NdDeltaME-containing VLPs were physically distinct from RSPs and similar to infectious virions. VLPs could be repeatedly passaged in CHO-ME cells but maintained the property of being able to initiate only a single round of infection in other cells during these passages. CHO-ME cells can thus be used both as a source for mature TBE virus RSPs and as a safe and convenient replicon packaging cell line, providing the TBE virus surface proteins prM/M and E in trans.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Effects of a single amino acid substitution within the p2 region of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 on packaging of spliced viral RNA.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 encapsidates two copies of viral genomic RNA in the form of a dimer. The dimerization process initiates via a 6-nucleotide palindrome that constitutes the loop of a viral RNA stem-loop structure (i.e., stem loop 1 [SL1], also termed the dimerization initiation site [DIS]) located within the 5' untranslated region of the viral genome. We have now shown that deletion of the entire DIS sequence virtually eliminated viral replication but that this impairment was overcome by four second-site mutations located within the matrix (MA), capsid (CA), p2, and nucleocapsid (NC) regions of Gag. Interestingly, defective viral RNA dimerization caused by the DeltaDIS deletion was not significantly corrected by these compensatory mutations, which did, however, allow the mutated viruses to package wild-type levels of this DIS-deleted viral RNA while excluding spliced viral RNA from encapsidation. Further studies demonstrated that the compensatory mutation T12I located within p2, termed MP2, sufficed to prevent spliced viral RNA from being packaged into the DeltaDIS virus. Consistently, the DeltaDIS-MP2 virus displayed significantly higher levels of infectiousness than did the DeltaDIS virus. The importance of position T12 in p2 was further demonstrated by the identification of four point mutations,T12D, T12E, T12G, and T12P, that resulted in encapsidation of spliced viral RNA at significant levels. Taken together, our data demonstrate that selective packaging of viral genomic RNA is influenced by the MP2 mutation and that this represents a major mechanism for rescue of viruses containing the DeltaDIS deletion.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

Cross-packaging of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 vector RNA by spleen necrosis virus proteins: construction of a new generation of spleen necrosis virus-derived retroviral vectors.

The ability of the nonlentiviral retrovirus spleen necrosis virus (SNV) to cross-package the genomic RNA of the distantly related human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and vice versa was analyzed. Such a model may allow us to further study HIV-1 replication and pathogenesis, as well as to develop safe gene therapy vectors. Our results suggest that SNV can cross-package HIV-1 genomic RNA but with lower efficiency than HIV-1 proteins. However, HIV-1-specific proteins were unable to cross-package SNV RNA. We also constructed SNV-based gag-pol chimeric variants by replacing the SNV integrase with the HIV-1 integrase, based on multiple sequence alignments and domain analyses. These analyses revealed that there are conserved domains in all retroviral integrase open reading frames (orf), despite the divergence in the primary sequences. The transcomplementation assays suggested that SNV proteins recognized one of the chimeric variants. This demonstrated that HIV-1 integrase is functional in the SNV gag-pol orf with a lower transduction efficiency, utilizing homologous (SNV) RNA, as well as the heterologous vector RNA of HIV-1. These findings suggest that homology in the conserved sequences of the integrase protein may not be fully competent in the replacement of protein(s) from one retrovirus to another, and there are likely several other factors involved in each of the steps related to replication, integration, and infection. However, further studies to dissect the gag-pol region will be critical for understanding the mechanisms involved in the cleavage of reverse transcriptase, RNase H, and integrase. These studies should provide further insight into the design and development of novel molecular approaches to block HIV-1 replication and to construct a new generation of SNV-based vectors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of cis sequences required for lytic DNA replication and packaging of murine gammaherpesvirus 68.

Human gammaherpesviruses are associated with lymphomas and other malignancies. Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68) infection of mice has emerged as a model for understanding gammaherpesvirus pathogenesis in vivo. In contrast to human gammaherpesviruses, MHV-68 replicates in permissive cell lines in a robust manner, presenting an efficient model to study the basic mechanisms for DNA replication and recombination processes. In addition, MHV-68 also infects a broad range of cells of different tissue types and from different host species, and the viral genome persists as an episome in infected cells. These features make MHV-68 an attractive system on which to build gene delivery vectors. We have therefore undertaken a study to identify the cis elements required for MHV-68 genome replication and packaging. Here we report that an 8.4-kb MHV-68 genomic fragment between ORF66 and ORF73 conferred on the plasmid the ability to replicate; replication required the presence of either de novo viral infection or viral reactivation from latency. We further mapped the origin of lytic replication (oriLyt) to a 1.25-kb region. Moreover, we demonstrated that the terminal repeat of the viral genome is sufficient for packaging of the replicated oriLyt plasmid into mature viral particles. Functional identification of the MHV-68 oriLyt and packaging signal has laid a foundation for investigating the mechanisms controlling gammaherpesvirus DNA replication during the viral lytic phase and will also serve as a base on which to design gene delivery vectors.

Animals↗

RNAs are packaged into human cytomegalovirus virions in proportion to their intracellular concentration.

The assembly of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) virions is a complex process and involves the incorporation of viral transcripts. These RNAs are delivered to the newly infected cells and have the potential to be translated in the absence of HCMV gene expression. We have quantified the relative amount of RNAs in HCMV virions and infected cells with real-time reverse transcription-PCR and observed that viral and cellular RNAs are packaged in proportion to the amount of RNA within the cell at the time of assembly. To determine whether cis elements influenced RNA packaging, we constructed a recombinant HCMV mutant virus that expressed the yellow fluorescence protein (YFP) gene fused to the virion RNA UL21.5. We also constructed a mutant virus in which the UL21.5 transcription unit was replaced with the YFP gene. YFP RNA was incorporated into both viruses, indicating that RNA is incorporated in the absence of a virus-specific signal motif. Furthermore, with in situ hybridization, packaged transcripts were observed throughout the cytoplasm of the infected cells, including the site of virus assembly. Several proteins that nonspecifically interact with RNA, including the tegument protein pp28, were found within HCMV virions. These studies demonstrate that both viral and cellular RNAs are nonspecifically incorporated into HCMV, potentially through interactions with several virion proteins.

Bacterial Proteins↗

The herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA packaging protein UL17 is a virion protein that is present in both the capsid and the tegument compartments.

The UL17 protein of herpes simplex virus type 1 is essential for packaging the viral genome into the procapsid, a spherical assembly intermediate, and is present in the mature virus particle. We have examined the distribution of UL17 in various assembly products and virions to determine which component of the virus particle UL17 is associated with and at what stage in capsid assembly UL17 is required. UL17 was present in the procapsid, in the DNA-containing angularized C capsid, and in two other angularized capsid forms, A and B, that lack DNA and are thought to be dead-end products. The results suggest that UL17 is a minor capsid protein which is incorporated into the procapsid during assembly of the particle. UL17 was also found in virions and in noninfectious structures known as light (L) particles, which possess a tegument and envelope but lack a capsid. The level of UL17 in these particles was much greater than the amount that could be attributed to capsid contamination of the purified L-particle preparation, suggesting that UL17 is also a tegument protein. The finding that virions contain approximately twofold more UL17 than do C capsids provided further support for the idea that UL17 is present in two different structural components within the mature virion. The UL25 packaging protein, which is also present in virions, was not found in significant amounts in L particles, indicating that it is associated only with the capsid. UL6, the third virion-associated packaging protein, was present in slightly increased levels in L particles.

Animals↗

Mutational analysis of narrow pores at the fivefold symmetry axes of adeno-associated virus type 2 capsids reveals a dual role in genome packaging and activation of phospholipase A2 activity.

Adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV2) capsids show 12 pores at the fivefold axes of symmetry. We mutated amino acids which constitute these pores to investigate possible functions of these structures within the AAV2 life cycle. Mutants with alterations in conserved residues were impaired mainly in genome packaging or infectivity, whereas few mutants were affected in capsid assembly. The packaging phenotype was characterized by increased capsid-per-genome ratios. Analysis of capsid-associated DNA versus encapsidated DNA revealed that this observation was due to reduced and not partial DNA encapsidation. Most mutants with impaired infectivity showed a decreased capability to expose their VP1 N termini. As a consequence, the activation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity, which is essential for efficient infection, was affected on intact capsids. In a few mutants, the exposure of VP1 N termini and the development of PLA2 activity were associated with enhanced capsid instability, which is obviously also deleterious for virus infection. Therefore, PLA2 activity seems to be required on intact capsids for efficient infection. In conclusion, these results suggest that the pores at the fivefold axes function not only as portals for AAV2 single-stranded DNA packaging but also as channels for presentation of the PLA2 domain on AAV2 virions during infection.

Capsid↗

Randomised controlled trial of educational package on management of menorrhagia in primary care: the Anglia menorrhagia education study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether an educational package could influence the management of menorrhagia, increase the appropriateness of choice of non-hormonal treatment, and reduce referral rates from primary to secondary care. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: General practices in East Anglia. SUBJECTS: 100 practices (348 doctors) in primary care were recruited and randomised to intervention (54) and control (46). INTERVENTIONS: An educational package based on principles of "academic detailing" with independent academics was given in small practice based interactive groups with a visual presentation, a printed evidence based summary, a graphic management flow chart, and a follow up meeting at 6 months. OUTCOME MEASURES: All practices recorded consultation details, treatments offered, and outcomes for women with regular heavy menstrual loss (menorrhagia) over 1 year. RESULTS: 1001 consultation data sheets for menorrhagia were returned. There were significantly fewer referrals (20% v 29%; odds ratio 0. 64; 95% confidence interval 0.41 to 0.99) and a significantly higher use of tranexamic acid (odds ratio 2.38; 1.61 to 3.49) in the intervention group but no overall difference in norethisterone treatment compared with controls. There were more referrals when tranexamic acid was given with norethisterone than when it was given alone. Those practices reporting fewer than 10 cases showed the highest increase in prescribing of tranexamic acid. CONCLUSIONS: The educational package positively influenced referral for menorrhagia and treatment with appropriate non-hormonal drugs.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

Comparative evaluation of three continuous speech recognition software packages in the generation of medical reports.

OBJECTIVE: To compare out-of-box performance of three commercially available continuous speech recognition software packages: IBM ViaVoice 98 with General Medicine Vocabulary; Dragon Systems NaturallySpeaking Medical Suite, version 3.0; and L&H Voice Xpress for Medicine, General Medicine Edition, version 1.2. DESIGN: Twelve physicians completed minimal training with each software package and then dictated a medical progress note and discharge summary drawn from actual records. MEASUREMENTS: Errors in recognition of medical vocabulary, medical abbreviations, and general English vocabulary were compared across packages using a rigorous, standardized approach to scoring. RESULTS: The IBM software was found to have the lowest mean error rate for vocabulary recognition (7.0 to 9.1 percent) followed by the L&H software (13.4 to 15.1 percent) and then Dragon software (14.1 to 15.2 percent). The IBM software was found to perform better than both the Dragon and the L&H software in the recognition of general English vocabulary and medical abbreviations. CONCLUSION: This study is one of a few attempts at a robust evaluation of the performance of continuous speech recognition software. Results of this study suggest that with minimal training, the IBM software outperforms the other products in the domain of general medicine; however, results may vary with domain. Additional training is likely to improve the out-of-box performance of all three products. Although the IBM software was found to have the lowest overall error rate, successive generations of speech recognition software are likely to surpass the accuracy rates found in this investigation.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗

Abuse of statistical packages: the case of the general linear model.

Since their introduction in the 1960s, packaged computer programs have freed researchers from much drudgery and painstaking computational labor. Before the distribution of these packages, many meaningful projects could not be attempted, simply because the data analysis phase would have been too labor intensive. However, the very ease of use of these packages can lead to their abuse. In particular, performing all possible t tests among numerous groups, calculating many correlations and circling the ones with P values less than 0.05, and performing stepwise regression all can easily lead to spurious statistical conclusions. The danger of these three practices is illustrated with three simple computer runs using random data. In each run statistically significant results were found for the random data.

Animals↗