An electron microscopic study of experimentally-induced HEV encephalitis.

A gnobiotic piglet, was inoculated intracerebrally with hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus (strain VW572). Mononuclear cells formed vascular cuffs and were disseminated in the brain parenchyma. A few neurons were surrounded by the same kind of cells. Virus particles morphologically similar to coronavirus particles were found in the cytoplasm of both chromatolytic light neurons and hyperchromic dark neurons. The particles were in vesicles of distended endoplasmic reticulum and in the hypertrophied Golgi apparatus.     

Isolation of bovine coronavirus from feces and nasal swabs of calves with diarrhea.

Fecal and nasal samples were collected from 180 calves with diarrhea and 36 clinically normal co-habitants, and tested for virus using HRT-18 cell cultures derived from human rectal adenocarcinoma. A cytopathic virus was isolated from 5 fecal and 56 nasal samples obtained from diarrheic calves. All calves in which the virus was isolated from diarrheic feces were positive for virus isolation from nasal swabs. The virus was also isolated from the nasal swabs of 10 clinically normal calves that were co-habitants with diarrheic calves. Because they were morphologically similar to coronavirus, agglutinated mouse erythrocytes and serologically identical with the Nebraska calf diarrhea coronavirus, new isolates were identified as bovine coronavirus. The demonstration of viral antigens in nasal epithelial cells by a direct immunofluorescence was in close agreement with the virus isolation in HRT-18 cell cultures. This is the first report on the isolation of bovine coronavirus from newborn calves with diarrhea in Japan. The evidence that the virus was frequently isolated from nasal swabs is of great interest for understanding the pathogenesis of bovine coronavirus infection.     

Studies with an unclassified virus isolated from diarrheic calves

A transmissible agent (Breda agent) was isolated from a calf with diarrhea and shown to be infectious by inoculation orally into gnotobiotic and conventionally reared calves. The “Breda” agent had the morphology of a virus and possessed a hemagglutinin. Antigenic studies showed the virus to be antigenically different from bovine coronavirus, parainfluenza 3 virus, bovine rotavirus, bovine parvovirus and bovine pestivirus (BVD). Attempts to culture the virus in cell or organ cultures or in embryonated eggs, were unsuccessful. The virus was either spherical or kidney shaped, with 7–9 nm peplomers on the surface. A few particles possessed coronavirus processes of 17–20 nm, but these were arranged irregularly and were thought to be tissue debris. Three out of eight experimental calves developed severe diarrhea and the lesions in the small and large intestines were similar to those reported for coronavirus. The virus replicated in the jejunal and ileal regions of the small intestine and in the spiral colon, as judged by immunofluorescence. The virus multiplied in all experimental calves and was excreted in the feces; excretion correlating with the onset of diarrhea or a change in the appearance of the feces. There was little or no malabsorption measured by the uptake of D-xylose and the fact that infection of both the crypt and villus epithelial cells was observed, suggests that the pathogenesis may be different from rotavirus and coronavirus. Fourteen of fortyseven calves in the outbreak were infected with the virus, virus was not identified in other farm outbreaks of the disease.     

Isolation and trypsin-enhanced propagation of turkey enteric (bluecomb) coronaviruses in a continuous human rectal adenocarcinoma cell line

Turkey enteric coronavirus (TCV) from intestinal contents of diarrheal poults was isolated and serially propagated in HRT-18 cells, an established cell line derived from a human rectal adenocarcinoma. In these cells, TCV induced cytopathic changes, including polykaryocytosis, which depended on trypsin in the medium and incubation at 41 C. Viral antigens could be demonstrated in the cytoplasm by immunofluorescence, and extracellular virus was detected by an ELISA and negative electron microscopy. The cell-free virus had characteristics of TCV: shape, surface projections, buoyant density of 1.18 to 1.20 g/ml in sucrose, and hemagglutination of rat RBC. The one-step growth curve was complete by postinoculation hours 14 to 16, and maximal titers reached 9 to 9.5 log10 TCID50/ml during 5 passages, after which the titer remained stable. Electron microscopic examination of infected cell monolayers revealed budding of typical coronavirus particles through intracytoplasmic membranes and accumulation of complete virus in cytoplasmic vesicles. Late in the infection, aggregated progeny vial particles were detected near the outer surface of infected cells. One-day-old turkey poults inoculated orally with tissue culture-adapted TCV isolates developed mild to severe diarrhea.     

Caprine herpesvirus-1 (CapHV-1) induces apoptosis in goat peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Programmed cell death (PCD), or apoptosis, is initiated in response to various stimuli, including virus infection. A number of studies have shown that deregulation of apoptosis is an important feature of virus-induced immunosuppression for various viral diseases. In the present study, CapHV-1 was found to cause apoptosis in mitogen-stimulated as well as nonstimulated caprine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Apoptotic index, as quantified by fluorescent dyes, revealed a significant increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells at 24 and 48 h postinfection as compared to their respective noninfected controls. Apoptosis specific internucleosomal laddering in DNA from CapHV-1 infected PBMC was seen in agarose gel electrophoresis. No DNA fragmentation was observed in control noninfected PBMC. Virus-induced apoptosis was reduced by Z-VAD-FMK, an aspecific caspase inhibitor, by AC-DEVD-CHO (caspase-3-specific) and AC-VEID-CHO (caspase-6-specific) treatment. PCD in CapHV-1 infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells occurs at the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. However, penetration of virus particles and infection was not required for PCD, as UV-inactivated CapHV-1 induced apoptosis of mitogen-stimulated bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro.     

Importance of the medullary macrophage in the replication of lymphoid leukosis virus in the bursa of Fabricius of chickens

Electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry were used to study the development of lymphoid leukosis virus infection in the bursa of Fabricius of experimentally infected chicken embryos and chickens. In embryos infected at 7 days of incubation and killed 10 days later, virus particles and group-specific viral antigen were confined mainly to the connective tissue of the lamina propria of the bursal mucosal folds; a few developing follicles had discrete virions and group-specific antigen between cells. In chickens infected at 1 day of age, infection (as determined by use of electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry) was maximal in 1- to 4-month-old birds, and the greatest concentration of virus and group-specific viral antigen was in the medulla of the follicles. Although lymphoid leukosis virus was released from lymphocytes, epithelial cells, and macrophages, virus replication in the medullary macrophages was more active than that in the other cells. Normal medullary macrophages had cell membrane vesicles (50 to 80 nm in diameter) that covered part of all of the cell membrane surface. In infected chickens, virus particles frequently developed within these vesicles. Comparable vesicles were not found on cortical macrophages. Results of the present study indicated that the medullary macrophage was the principal host cell for replication of lymphoid leukosis virus in the bursa of Fabricius of the chicken.     

Inner structures of some coronaviruses.

When treated with formaldehyde, Tween 80, sodium oleate and Nonidet P-40, avian infectious bronchitis virus, porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus, neonatal calf diarrhea coronavirus, porcine hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus as well as the human coronavirus show similar inner structures by negative staining. The first one is an inner membranous bag. This structure could be evaginated following treatments used and does not show the characteristic projections of coronaviruses. Subsequently, the inner fold could be separated from the outer membrane at the point of junction between these two membranes. Each virus does not react in the same way to the action of the different products. The transmissible gastroenteritis virus appears more sensitive to treatments than other viruses. On the other hand, the hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus is the most resistant. The variable sensitivities of these viruses are not related to the type of host-cells. Also, a second internal structure, which is more dense than the viral particle, encircles partially the aperture of the internal tongue-shaped structure and seems to emerge from the viral particle through the aperture of the inner bag.     

Virus-like particles, 45 to 65 nm, in intestinal contents of neonatal calves.

Enveloped virus particles 45 to 65 nm in diameter, tentatively called minicorona virus, were detected by electron microscopy in the intestinal contents of one normal and seven diarrheic calves in Quebec dairy herds. The agent was shown to be antigenically unrelated to the Nebraska calf diarrhea coronavirus and to the bovine viral diarrhea virus by counterimmunoelectrophoresis and fluorescent-antibody techniques. Antibodies against these particles were demonstrated in the serum of affected calves using immunoelectron microscopy. The agent could not be isolated in cell cultures and its possible role as etiological agent in calf diarrhea is still to be determined.     

A highly virulent togavirus-like agent associated with the fulminating disease of guinea fowl.

During a 1986 natural lethal outbreak of fulminating disease in guinea poult flocks in southwestern France, enveloped virus particles were consistently observed in the gut contents of infected birds. For the present study, a protocol was developed for the purification of these particles. Sucrose-banded virus obtained from birds infected experimentally with virus from the outbreak was found to have a buoyant density of 1.18 g/ml. The purified virus showed hemagglutinating activity, was shown by electron microscopy to have a togavirus-like morphology, and also was shown to be transmissible and pathogenic through oral ingestion. In addition, other enveloped particles have been occasionally detected in gut contents of both infected and uninfected birds; the improbability of the viral nature of these interfering particles is discussed.     

Comparison of intestinal (Illinois strain) and cell culture-adapted (M-HP strain) viral populations of transmissible gastroenteritis of swine.

Intestinal and cell culture-adapted viral populations of transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) of swine were compared by means of sucrose gradient centrifugation, immunnofluorescence, electron microscopy, immune electron microscopy, statistical analysis of the number of plaque-forming units, and ultraviolet sensitivity. Results indicated that the size range and general coronavirus morphologic characteristics were shared by both viral populations. Marked morphologic variations existed among particles from both populations. Unlike the cell culture-adapted virus, the Illinois virus of intestinal origin was infractions representing 2 bands of infectivity which were isolated by the sucrose gradient centrifugation method. The intestinal and cell culture-adapted TGE viruses were similar in antigenicity and in sensitivity to ultraviolet irradiation. There was no indication of a 2nd virus in addition to the coronavirus described as the cause of TGE.     

Scanning electron microscopic characterization of bovine coronavirus plaques in HRT cells

The ecology of cytopathic expression of bovine coronavirus (BCV) in HRT-18 cells was analyzed within virus-induced plaques by scanning electron microscopy. Virus replication was cytocidal for many HRT-18 cells, a function enhanced in the presence of trypsin. A monolayer of cells remained that imparted a characteristic turbidity to the plaque. These structurally normal, lysis-resistant cells did not stain with fluorescent antibodies specific for BCV antigens, failed to adsorb virus particles or mouse erythrocytes in contrast to the susceptible cells. The survival of cells in the plaque interior reflects a non-productively infected population with evidence of viral persistence.     

犬传染性肝炎病毒的形态发生学及抗原定位研究

应用免疫金电子显微镜技术研究了犬传染性肝炎病毒(ICHV)在犬肾传代细胞内的增殖过程及其病毒抗原在感染细胞内外的定位.结果显示:(1)吸附在细胞膜表面的病毒粒子,主要通过细胞吞饮作用侵入细胞,而吸附在微绒毛膜表面的病毒粒子则可直接“渗入”细胞;(2)在病毒感染不同时用的细胞核内观察到均质型、微粒型、颗粒型、副晶格型、病毒包涵体型及致密型等6种类型包涵体,其中前5种能被免疫金标记,它们是尚未形成病毒粒子的抗原蛋白、病毒装配后剩余的抗原蛋白或ICHV的病毒粒子结晶,致密型包涵体未被免疫金标记,可能是病毒DNA;(3)感染细胞内出现的某些特殊结构均不具有病毒抗原性,其中纤维样结构和管状结构在病毒增殖过程中起支持作用.     

Experimental sialodacryoadenitis virus infection in severe combined immunodeficient mice.

Mice with a severe combined immunodeficiency in B and T lymphocytes and natural killer cells (SCID-beige) were inoculated intranasally with sialodacryoadenitis (SDA) virus, a coronavirus of rats. Animals were killed at designated intervals and tissues were examined for evidence of viral infection by light microscopy and immunofluorescence microscopy. Based on these criteria, there was no evidence that these immunodeficient mice were susceptible to infection with SDA virus.     

猪急性腹泻综合征冠状病毒SYBR Green荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立及应用

为建立快速、灵敏且特异的检测猪急性腹泻综合征冠状病毒（swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus,SADS-CoV）检测方法,本试验扩增SADS-CoV N基因保守区域将其克隆至pMD18-T载体。所构建的重组质粒pMD18-T-SADS-qN作为阳性质粒标准品,以其为模板建立一种SYBR Green荧光定量PCR检测方法。结果显示,所建立方法在3.31×10¹~3.31×10⁷拷贝·μL^-1模板量时,呈良好的线性关系,相关系数（R²）为0.997,斜率为-3.318。该方法特异性检测SADS-CoV;而猪流行性腹泻病毒（PEDV）、猪传染性胃肠炎病毒（TGEV）、猪德尔塔冠状病毒（PDCoV）和猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒（PRRSV）检测结果均为阴性。所构建的标准品检测灵敏度下限可以达到3.31×10¹拷贝·μL^-1,组内和组间变异系数均小于1%,表明其具有良好的灵敏性和重复性。用该方法检测SADS-CoV感染IPI-2I和IPEC-J2细胞后不同时间点和不同接毒剂量的复制情况,结果显示,SADS-CoV感染细胞后2 h病毒含量较低,在12~36 h病毒含量迅速增长,36 h后增长速度减缓且病毒含量维持在较高水平。分别用0、0.1、1 MOI SADS-CoV感染细胞结果显示病毒的mRAN转录水平呈现剂量依赖性增加,当MOI为1时,IPI-2I和IPEC-J2细胞病毒含量分别为10^6.7、10^5.3拷贝·mL^-1。进一步利用所建立的方法对经口服攻毒SADS-CoV仔猪的临床样本进行检测,结果发现病毒在空肠回肠含量较高,表明病毒主要定殖于空肠和回肠。综上表明,本研究建立SYBR Green荧光定量PCR检测方法能灵敏特异地检测SADS-CoV,为SADS-CoV的诊断和病毒相关基础研究提供可靠的检测手段。     

Pseudorabies virus infections in explants of porcine nasal mucosa.

The spread of infection and the morphogenesis of three pseudorabies virus strains were studied in explants of porcine nasal mucosa. Virulent NIA-3 virus was compared with a deletion mutant 2.4N3A, and with a non-virulent Bartha virus. All three virus strains infected nasal epithelial cells. NIA-3 virus particles were enveloped mainly at the inner nuclear membrane; the virus rapidly invaded the stroma, causing widespread necrosis. In contrast, 2.4N3A virus particles were enveloped mainly at the endoplasmic reticulum and the infection spread more slowly. Bartha virus particles were enveloped mainly at the endoplasmic reticulum; the infection spread slowly and remained restricted to the epithelial cells. In situ DNA hybridisation showed an accumulation of Bartha virus DNA in the nucleus 24 hours after inoculation. In nasal mucosa viral virulence seemed directly related to the speed of replication and release of virus from infected cells.     

Molecular cloning of complementary DNA from a pneumopathic strain of bovine viral diarrhea virus and its diagnostic application.

A pneumopathic strain of bovine viral diarrhea virus was grown in cell culture and purified. Genomic ribonucleic acid was extracted, polyadenylated at the 3' end, and copied into complementary DNA after oligo-dT priming. Complementary DNA was male double stranded and cloned into the pUC9 plasmid. Approximately 200 complementary DNA clones varying in length from 0.5 to 2.5 kilobases were obtained. Hybridization assays indicated that the sequences isolated were specific for bovine viral diarrhea virus and that at least 5.5 kilobases of bovine viral diarrhea virus genome was represented in the library of complementary DNA clones, the majority of which may have originated from the 3' end of the virus genome. One cloned complementary DNA sequence was used as a 32P-labelled hybridization probe for bovine viral diarrhea virus detection. The probe hybridized with all cytopathic and noncytopathic strains of bovine viral diarrhea virus tested and was 100 times more sensitive than infectivity assays for the detection of bovine viral diarrhea virus. Hybridization did not occur with nucleic acids from bovine coronavirus, bluetongue virus, bovine adenovirus or uninfected cell cultures. Native plasmid DNA sequences, labelled with 32P, did not hybridize with bovine viral diarrhea virus ribonucleic acid.     

Hemolytic activity of Akabane virus

Akabane virus was shown to lyse as well as to agglutinate pigeon erythrocytes. The hemolytic activity of the virus was markedly enhanced by repeated freeze-thawing, but its hemagglutinating activity was not affected. Hemolysis (HL) with the virus, like its hemagglutination, was affected by the NaCl concentration as well as by the pH of the diluent. HL was markedly affected by the incubation temperature, but hemagglutination (HA) was not; HL activity was highest at 37°C, somewhat lower at 25°C, very low at 4°C, and did not occur at 0°C. While pigeon erythrocytes were positive for both HL and HA, goose erythrocytes were positive for HA but negative for HL. Erythrocytes from cattle, sheep, rabbits, guinea pigs, mice and day-old chickens were tested for HA as well as for HL activity with negative results. A linear relationship was shown, in a wide range of the virus concentrations, between the percent HL and the virus concentration, as expressed on a logarithmic scale. Based on these findings we developed an assay method for Akabane virus hemolysin. Analysis by CsCl equilibrium density gradient centrifugation indicated the hemolytic as well as the hemagglutinating activity to be structurally associated with the virion. Scanning electron microscopy of pigeon erythrocytes undergoing HL with the virus revealed the appearance of a depressed area with a hole on the cell surface. The hemolytic activity of the virus was specifically inhibited by antisera to the virus and an HL-inhibition test was developed.     

传染性软化病病毒感染家蚕中肠上皮细胞的免疫电镜观察

家蚕传染性软化病病毒(Bombyxmoriinfectious flacherie virus,BmIFV)专一地侵染家蚕中肠上皮组织,造成中肠上皮细胞的超微结构发生病变,在染毒家蚕的中肠杯形细胞内形成特异性小泡体和电子稠密体等特异性结构。电镜观察显示,在感染早期,微绒毛膜、线粒体附近及相邻两个细胞的细胞膜和内质网中较易发现胶体金颗粒(10 nm)的吸附;其后在微绒毛中间和细胞质中,以及内质网和特异性小泡体的界限膜附近出现或较多存在,但线粒体和特异性小泡体的内部未见金颗粒的吸附。因此可以认为:家蚕传染性软化病病毒主要在染毒细胞的各细胞器膜附近出现。     

How the bovine viral diarrhea virus outwits the immune system

The interaction of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVD virus) with its host has several unique features, most notably the capacity to infect its host either transiently or persistently. The transient infection stimulates an antiviral immune reaction similar to that seen in other transient viral infections. In contrast, being associated with immunotolerance specific for the infecting BVD viral strain, the persistent infection differs fundamentally from other persistent infections like those caused by lentiviruses. Whereas the latter are characterized by complex viral evasion of the host's adaptive immune response by mechanisms such as antigenic drift and interference with presentation of T cell epitopes, BVD virus avoids the immune response altogether by inducing both humoral and cellular immune tolerance. This is made possible by invasion of the fetus at an early stage of development. In addition to adaptive immunity, BVD virus also manipulates key elements of the host's innate immune response. The non-cytopathic biotype of BVD virus, which is capable of persistently infecting its host, fails to induce type I interferon. In addition, persistently infected cells are resistant to the induction of apoptosis by double-stranded RNA and do not produce interferon when treated with this pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) that signals viral infection. Moreover, when treated with interferon, cells persistently infected with non-cytopathic BVD virus do not clear the virus. Surprisingly, however, despite this lack of effect on persistent infection, interferon readily induces an antiviral state in these cells, as shown by the protection against infection by unrelated viruses. Overall, BVD virus manipulates the host's interferon defense in a manner that optimises its chances of maintaining the persistent infection as well as decreasing the risks that heterologous viral infections may carry for the host. Thus, since not all potential host cells are infected in animals persistently infected with BVD virus, heterologous viruses replicating in cells uninfected with BVD virus will still trigger production of interferon. Interferon produced by such cells will curtail the replication of heterologous viruses only, be that in cells already infected with BVD virus, or in cells in which the heterologous virus may replicate alone. From an evolutionary viewpoint, this strategy clearly enhances the chances of transmission of BVD virus to new hosts, as it attenuates the negative effects that a global immunosuppression would have on the survival of persistently infected animals.