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Tomlinson JE, Wolfisberg R, Fahnøe U, Patel RS, Trivedi S, Kumar A, Sharma H, Nielsen L, McDonough SP, Bukh J, Tennant BC, Kapoor A, Rosenberg BR, Rice CM, Divers TJ, Van de Walle GR, Scheel TK. Pathogenesis, MicroRNA-122 Gene-Regulation, and Protective Immune Responses After Acute Equine Hepacivirus Infection. Hepatology 2021; 74:1148-1163. [PMID: 33713356 PMCID: PMC8435542 DOI: 10.1002/hep.31802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Equine hepacivirus (EqHV) is phylogenetically the closest relative of HCV and shares genome organization, hepatotropism, transient or persistent infection outcome, and the ability to cause hepatitis. Thus, EqHV studies are important to understand equine liver disease and further as an outbred surrogate animal model for HCV pathogenesis and protective immune responses. Here, we aimed to characterize the course of EqHV infection and associated protective immune responses. APPROACH AND RESULTS Seven horses were experimentally inoculated with EqHV, monitored for 6 months, and rechallenged with the same and, subsequently, a heterologous EqHV. Clearance was the primary outcome (6 of 7) and was associated with subclinical hepatitis characterized by lymphocytic infiltrate and individual hepatocyte necrosis. Seroconversion was delayed and antibody titers waned slowly. Clearance of primary infection conferred nonsterilizing immunity, resulting in shortened duration of viremia after rechallenge. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell responses in horses were minimal, although EqHV-specific T cells were identified. Additionally, an interferon-stimulated gene signature was detected in the liver during EqHV infection, similar to acute HCV in humans. EqHV, as HCV, is stimulated by direct binding of the liver-specific microRNA (miR), miR-122. Interestingly, we found that EqHV infection sequesters enough miR-122 to functionally affect gene regulation in the liver. This RNA-based mechanism thus could have consequences for pathology. CONCLUSIONS EqHV infection in horses typically has an acute resolving course, and the protective immune response lasts for at least a year and broadly attenuates subsequent infections. This could have important implications to achieve the primary goal of an HCV vaccine; to prevent chronicity while accepting acute resolving infection after virus exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy E. Tomlinson
- Baker Institute for Animal HealthCornell University College of Veterinary MedicineIthacaNY
| | - Raphael Wolfisberg
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO‐HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital and Department of Immunology and MicrobiologyUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Ulrik Fahnøe
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO‐HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital and Department of Immunology and MicrobiologyUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Roosheel S. Patel
- Department of MicrobiologyIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNY
| | - Sheetal Trivedi
- Center for Vaccines and ImmunityResearch Institute at Nationwide Children’s HospitalColumbusOH
| | - Arvind Kumar
- Center for Vaccines and ImmunityResearch Institute at Nationwide Children’s HospitalColumbusOH
| | - Himanshu Sharma
- Center for Vaccines and ImmunityResearch Institute at Nationwide Children’s HospitalColumbusOH
| | - Louise Nielsen
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO‐HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital and Department of Immunology and MicrobiologyUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Sean P. McDonough
- Department of Biomedical SciencesCornell University College of Veterinary MedicineIthacaNY
| | - Jens Bukh
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO‐HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital and Department of Immunology and MicrobiologyUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Bud C. Tennant
- Department of Clinical SciencesCornell University College of Veterinary MedicineIthacaNY
| | - Amit Kapoor
- Center for Vaccines and ImmunityResearch Institute at Nationwide Children’s HospitalColumbusOH
| | - Brad R. Rosenberg
- Department of MicrobiologyIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNY
| | - Charles M. Rice
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious DiseaseThe Rockefeller UniversityNew YorkNY
| | - Thomas J. Divers
- Department of Clinical SciencesCornell University College of Veterinary MedicineIthacaNY
| | | | - Troels K.H. Scheel
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO‐HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital and Department of Immunology and MicrobiologyUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark,Laboratory of Virology and Infectious DiseaseThe Rockefeller UniversityNew YorkNY
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2
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Dale JM, Hood SP, Bowen O, Bright H, Cutler KL, Berry N, Almond N, Goldin R, Karayiannis P, Rose NJ. Development of hepatic pathology in GBV-B-infected red-bellied tamarins (Saguinus labiatus). J Med Virol 2020; 92:3584-3595. [PMID: 32181899 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
GB virus B (GBV-B) is a new world monkey-associated flavivirus used to model acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Critical for evaluation of antiviral or vaccine approaches is an understanding of the effect of HCV on the liver at different stages of infection. In the absence of longitudinal human tissue samples at defined time points, we have characterized changes in tamarins. As early as 2 weeks post-infection histological changes were noticeable, and these were established in all animals by 6 weeks. Despite high levels of liver-associated viral RNA, there was reversal of hepatic damage on clearance of peripheral virus though fibrosis was demonstrated in four tamarins. Notably, viral RNA burden in the liver dropped to near undetectable or background levels in all animals which underwent a second viral challenge, highlighting the efficacy of the immune response in removing foci of replication in the liver. These data add to the knowledge of GBV-B infection in New World primates which can offer attractive systems for the testing of prophylactic and therapeutic treatments and the evaluation of their utility in preventing or reversing liver pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M Dale
- Division of Virology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, UK
| | - Simon P Hood
- Division of Virology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, UK
| | - Ori Bowen
- Division of Virology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, UK
| | - Helen Bright
- Internal Medicine Research Unit, Pfizer Research and Development, Sandwich, Kent, UK
| | - Keith L Cutler
- Division of Virology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, UK
| | - Neil Berry
- Division of Virology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, UK
| | - Neil Almond
- Division of Virology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, UK
| | - Robert Goldin
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Imperial College London, St. Mary's Campus, Norfolk Place, London, UK
| | - Peter Karayiannis
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, St. Mary's Campus, Norfolk Place, London, UK
| | - Nicola J Rose
- Division of Virology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, UK
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3
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Burm R, Collignon L, Mesalam AA, Meuleman P. Animal Models to Study Hepatitis C Virus Infection. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1032. [PMID: 29867998 PMCID: PMC5960670 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
With more than 71 million chronically infected people, the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major global health concern. Although new direct acting antivirals have significantly improved the rate of HCV cure, high therapy cost, potential emergence of drug-resistant viral variants, and unavailability of a protective vaccine represent challenges for complete HCV eradication. Relevant animal models are required, and additional development remains necessary, to effectively study HCV biology, virus–host interactions and for the evaluation of new antiviral approaches and prophylactic vaccines. The chimpanzee, the only non-human primate susceptible to experimental HCV infection, has been used extensively to study HCV infection, particularly to analyze the innate and adaptive immune response upon infection. However, financial, practical, and especially ethical constraints have urged the exploration of alternative small animal models. These include different types of transgenic mice, immunodeficient mice of which the liver is engrafted with human hepatocytes (humanized mice) and, more recently, immunocompetent rodents that are susceptible to infection with viruses that are closely related to HCV. In this review, we provide an overview of the currently available animal models that have proven valuable for the study of HCV, and discuss their main benefits and weaknesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rani Burm
- Laboratory of Liver Infectious Diseases, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Laura Collignon
- Laboratory of Liver Infectious Diseases, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Ahmed Atef Mesalam
- Laboratory of Liver Infectious Diseases, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.,Therapeutic Chemistry Department, National Research Centre (NRC), Cairo, Egypt
| | - Philip Meuleman
- Laboratory of Liver Infectious Diseases, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
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4
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Manickam C, Martinot AJ, Jones RA, Varner V, Reeves RK. Hepatic immunopathology during occult hepacivirus re-infection. Virology 2017; 512:48-55. [PMID: 28915405 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2017.08.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Revised: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Despite drug advances for Hepatitis C virus (HCV), re-infections remain prevalent in high-risk populations. Unfortunately, the role of preexisting viral immunity and how it modulates re-infection is unclear. GBV-B infection of common marmosets is a useful model to study tissue immune responses in hepacivirus infections, and in this study we re-challenged 4 animals after clearance of primary viremia. Although only low-to-absent viremia was observed following re-challenge, GBV-B viral RNA was detectable in liver, confirming re-infection. Microscopic hepatic lesions indicated severe-to-mild lymphocyte infiltration and fibrosis in 3 out of 4 animals. Further, GBV-B-specific T cells were elevated in animals with moderate-to-severe hepatopathology, and up to 3-fold increases in myeloid dendritic and activated natural killer cells were observed after infection. Our data indicate that occult hepacivirus re-infections occur and that new liver pathology is possible even in the presence of anti-hepacivirus T cells and in the absence of high viremia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cordelia Manickam
- Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Amanda J Martinot
- Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rhianna A Jones
- Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Valerie Varner
- Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - R Keith Reeves
- Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
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5
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Determinants Involved in Hepatitis C Virus and GB Virus B Primate Host Restriction. J Virol 2015; 89:12131-44. [PMID: 26401036 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01161-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2015] [Accepted: 09/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Hepatitis C virus (HCV) only infects humans and chimpanzees, while GB virus B (GBV-B), another hepatotropic hepacivirus, infects small New World primates (tamarins and marmosets). In an effort to develop an immunocompetent small primate model for HCV infection to study HCV pathogenesis and vaccine approaches, we investigated the HCV life cycle step(s) that may be restricted in small primate hepatocytes. First, we found that replication-competent, genome-length chimeric HCV RNAs encoding GBV-B structural proteins in place of equivalent HCV sequences designed to allow entry into simian hepatocytes failed to induce viremia in tamarins following intrahepatic inoculation, nor did they lead to progeny virus in permissive, transfected human Huh7.5 hepatoma cells upon serial passage. This likely reflected the disruption of interactions between distantly related structural and nonstructural proteins that are essential for virion production, whereas such cross talk could be restored in similarly designed HCV intergenotypic recombinants via adaptive mutations in NS3 protease or helicase domains. Next, HCV entry into small primate hepatocytes was examined directly using HCV-pseudotyped retroviral particles (HCV-pp). HCV-pp efficiently infected tamarin hepatic cell lines and primary marmoset hepatocyte cultures through the use of the simian CD81 ortholog as a coreceptor, indicating that HCV entry is not restricted in small New World primate hepatocytes. Furthermore, we observed genomic replication and modest virus secretion following infection of primary marmoset hepatocyte cultures with a highly cell culture-adapted HCV strain. Thus, HCV can successfully complete its life cycle in primary simian hepatocytes, suggesting the possibility of adapting some HCV strains to small primate hosts. IMPORTANCE Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important human pathogen that infects over 150 million individuals worldwide and leads to chronic liver disease. The lack of a small animal model for this infection impedes the development of a preventive vaccine and pathogenesis studies. In seeking to establish a small primate model for HCV, we first attempted to generate recombinants between HCV and GB virus B (GBV-B), a hepacivirus that infects small New World primates (tamarins and marmosets). This approach revealed that the genetic distance between these hepaciviruses likely prevented virus morphogenesis. We next showed that HCV pseudoparticles were able to infect tamarin or marmoset hepatocytes efficiently, demonstrating that there was no restriction in HCV entry into these simian cells. Furthermore, we found that a highly cell culture-adapted HCV strain was able to achieve a complete viral cycle in primary marmoset hepatocyte cultures, providing a promising basis for further HCV adaptation to small primate hosts.
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6
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Hood SP, Mee ET, Perkins H, Bowen O, Dale JM, Almond NM, Karayiannis P, Bright H, Berry NJ, Rose NJ. Changes in immune cell populations in the periphery and liver of GBV-B-infected and convalescent tamarins (Saguinus labiatus). Virus Res 2013; 179:93-101. [PMID: 24246306 PMCID: PMC3969288 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2013.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2013] [Revised: 11/03/2013] [Accepted: 11/07/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
GBV-B infection of tamarins is a valuable model for acute HCV infection. We observed distinct expression patterns of PD-1, a marker of T-cell activation, on peripheral and hepatic lymphocytes. Differential PD-1 expression is coincident with reduction in peripheral GBV-B. Liver-associated viral RNA in the absence of peripheral viraemia indicates maintenance of occult infection.
Flaviviruses related to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in suitable animal models may provide further insight into the role that cellular immunity contributes to spontaneous clearance of HCV. We characterised changes in lymphocyte populations in tamarins with an acute GBV-B infection, a hepatitis virus of the flaviviridae. Major immune cell populations were monitored in peripheral and intra-hepatic lymphocytes at high viraemia or following a period when peripheral virus was no longer detected. Limited changes in major lymphocyte populations were apparent during high viraemia; however, the proportions of CD3+ lymphocytes decreased and CD20+ lymphocytes increased once peripheral viraemia became undetectable. Intrahepatic lymphocyte populations increased at both time points post-infection. Distinct expression patterns of PD-1, a marker of T-cell activation, were observed on peripheral and hepatic lymphocytes; notably there was elevated PD-1 expression on hepatic CD4+ T-cells during high viraemia, suggesting an activated phenotype, which decreased following clearance of peripheral viraemia. At times when peripheral vRNA was not detected, suggesting viral clearance, we were able to readily detect GBV-B RNA in the liver, indicative of long-term virus replication. This study is the first description of changes in lymphocyte populations during GBV-B infection of tamarins and provides a foundation for more detailed investigations of the responses that contribute to the control of GBV-B infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon P Hood
- Division of Virology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Edward T Mee
- Division of Virology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Hannah Perkins
- Internal Medicine Research Unit, Pfizer Research and Development, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9NJ, UK
| | - Ori Bowen
- Division of Virology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Jessica M Dale
- Division of Virology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Neil M Almond
- Division of Virology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Peter Karayiannis
- Hepatology and Gastroenterology Section, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, Variety Wing Floor D, St. Mary's Campus, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Helen Bright
- Internal Medicine Research Unit, Pfizer Research and Development, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9NJ, UK
| | - Neil J Berry
- Division of Virology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 3QG, UK.
| | - Nicola J Rose
- Division of Virology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 3QG, UK.
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7
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Bailey J. An assessment of the use of chimpanzees in hepatitis C research past, present and future: 1. Validity of the chimpanzee model. Altern Lab Anim 2011; 38:387-418. [PMID: 21105756 DOI: 10.1177/026119291003800501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The USA is the only significant user of chimpanzees in biomedical research in the world, since many countries have banned or limited the practice due to substantial ethical, economic and scientific concerns. Advocates of chimpanzee use cite hepatitis C research as a major reason for its necessity and continuation, in spite of supporting evidence that is scant and often anecdotal. This paper examines the scientific and ethical issues surrounding chimpanzee hepatitis C research, and concludes that claims of the necessity of chimpanzees in historical and future hepatitis C research are exaggerated and unjustifiable, respectively. The chimpanzee model has several major scientific, ethical, economic and practical caveats. It has made a relatively negligible contribution to knowledge of, and tangible progress against, the hepatitis C virus compared to non-chimpanzee research, and must be considered scientifically redundant, given the array of alternative methods of inquiry now available. The continuation of chimpanzee use in hepatitis C research adversely affects scientific progress, as well as chimpanzees and humans in need of treatment. Unfounded claims of its necessity should not discourage changes in public policy regarding the use of chimpanzees in US laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarrod Bailey
- New England Anti-Vivisection Society, Boston, MA 02108-5100, USA.
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8
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Stapleton JT, Foung S, Muerhoff AS, Bukh J, Simmonds P. The GB viruses: a review and proposed classification of GBV-A, GBV-C (HGV), and GBV-D in genus Pegivirus within the family Flaviviridae. J Gen Virol 2010; 92:233-46. [PMID: 21084497 PMCID: PMC3081076 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.027490-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 212] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In 1967, it was reported that experimental inoculation of serum from a surgeon (G.B.) with acute hepatitis into tamarins resulted in hepatitis. In 1995, two new members of the family Flaviviridae, named GBV-A and GBV-B, were identified in tamarins that developed hepatitis following inoculation with the 11th GB passage. Neither virus infects humans, and a number of GBV-A variants were identified in wild New World monkeys that were captured. Subsequently, a related human virus was identified [named GBV-C or hepatitis G virus (HGV)], and recently a more distantly related virus (named GBV-D) was discovered in bats. Only GBV-B, a second species within the genus Hepacivirus (type species hepatitis C virus), has been shown to cause hepatitis; it causes acute hepatitis in experimentally infected tamarins. The other GB viruses have however not been assigned to a genus within the family Flaviviridae. Based on phylogenetic relationships, genome organization and pathogenic features of the GB viruses, we propose to classify GBV-A-like viruses, GBV-C and GBV-D as members of a fourth genus in the family Flaviviridae, named Pegivirus (pe, persistent; g, GB or G). We also propose renaming 'GB' viruses within the tentative genus Pegivirus to reflect their host origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack T Stapleton
- Department of Internal Medicine, Veterans Administration Medical Center and the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
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9
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Takikawa S, Engle RE, Faulk KN, Emerson SU, Purcell RH, Bukh J. Molecular evolution of GB virus B hepatitis virus during acute resolving and persistent infections in experimentally infected tamarins. J Gen Virol 2009; 91:727-33. [PMID: 19906942 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.015750-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
GB virus B (GBV-B) causes acute hepatitis in experimentally infected tamarins. We compared evolutionary features in acute resolving and persistent GBV-B infection. We detected no evidence of evolution in four animals with clearance during weeks 9-12, whereas three animals with clearance during weeks 13-26 had several substitutions in their polyprotein sequence. A single tamarin had long-term GBV-B viraemia; analysis of virus recovered at weeks 2, 5, 12, 20, 26, 52 and 104 demonstrated that mutations accumulated over time. Overall, the amino acid substitution rate was 3.5x10(-3) and 1.1x10(-3) substitutions per site year(-1) during weeks 1-52 and 53-104, respectively. Thus, there was a significant decrease in evolution over time, as found for hepatitis C virus. The rate of non-synonymous substitution per non-synonymous site compared with that of synonymous substitution per synonymous site decreased over time, suggesting reduction of positive selective pressure. These data demonstrate that prolonged GBV-B infection is associated with viral evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shingo Takikawa
- Hepatitis Viruses and Molecular Hepatitis Sections, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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10
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HCV animal models: a journey of more than 30 years. Viruses 2009; 1:222-40. [PMID: 21994547 PMCID: PMC3185497 DOI: 10.3390/v1020222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2009] [Revised: 08/05/2009] [Accepted: 08/18/2009] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the 1970s and 1980s it became increasingly clear that blood transfusions could induce a form of chronic hepatitis that could not be ascribed to any of the viruses known to cause liver inflammation. In 1989, the hepatitis C virus (HCV) was discovered and found to be the major causative agent of these infections. Because of its narrow tropism, the in vivo study of this virus was, especially in the early days, limited to the chimpanzee. In the past decade, several alternative animal models have been created. In this review we review these novel animal models and their contribution to our current understanding of the biology of HCV.
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11
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Akari H, Iwasaki Y, Yoshida T, Iijima S. Non-human primate surrogate model of hepatitis C virus infection. Microbiol Immunol 2009; 53:53-7. [PMID: 19161559 DOI: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.2008.00087.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
More than 170 million people worldwide are chronically infected by HCV, which is the causative agent of chronic hepatitis C, cirrhosis, and finally liver cancer. Although animal models of viral hepatitis are a prerequisite for the evaluation of antiviral and vaccine efficacy, the restricted host range of HCV has hampered the development of a suitable small animal model of HCV infection. Use of the chimpanzee, the only animal known to be susceptible to HCV infection, is limited by ethical and financial restrictions. In this regard GBV-B, being closely related to HCV, appears to be a promising non-human surrogate model for the study of HCV infection. This review describes the characteristic of GBV-B infection of New World monkeys, and discusses current issues concerning the GBV-B model and its future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirofumi Akari
- Laboratory of Disease Control, Tsukuba Primate Research Center, National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, 1-1 Hachimandai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0843, Japan.
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12
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McGarvey MJ, Iqbal M, Nastos T, Karayiannis P. Restricted quasispecies variation following infection with the GB virus B. Virus Res 2008; 135:181-6. [PMID: 18455258 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2008.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2006] [Revised: 03/19/2008] [Accepted: 03/24/2008] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The extent of genetic variability following acute infection of tamarins with GB virus B (GBV-B) is not known. In this study we attempted to define the quasispecies variation of GBV-B 17 days post-infection, by PCR amplification of GBV-B RNA extracted from serum and liver. Cloning followed by sequencing revealed a small number of changes in the three regions studied, namely the 5' untranslated region, E2 and NS3. Moreover, there was no region of high amino acid variability in E2, akin to hypervariable region 1 of hepatitis C virus. This was further confirmed by analysing sequences from two additional animals obtained at a similar time point post-infection. Nevertheless, it was apparent that different variants with one or two amino acid substitutions in the region studied had been selected when comparing the sequences from the three animals. This restricted sequence variation of GBV-B during acute hepatitis may explain the infrequent progression of the infection to a chronic stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Joseph McGarvey
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College, Faculty of Medicine, St. Mary's Campus, London, United Kingdom
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