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Belser JA, Kieran TJ, Mitchell ZA, Sun X, Mayfield K, Tumpey TM, Spengler JR, Maines TR. Key considerations to improve the normalization, interpretation and reproducibility of morbidity data in mammalian models of viral disease. Dis Model Mech 2024; 17:dmm050511. [PMID: 38440823 PMCID: PMC10941659 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Viral pathogenesis and therapeutic screening studies that utilize small mammalian models rely on the accurate quantification and interpretation of morbidity measurements, such as weight and body temperature, which can vary depending on the model, agent and/or experimental design used. As a result, morbidity-related data are frequently normalized within and across screening studies to aid with their interpretation. However, such data normalization can be performed in a variety of ways, leading to differences in conclusions drawn and making comparisons between studies challenging. Here, we discuss variability in the normalization, interpretation, and presentation of morbidity measurements for four model species frequently used to study a diverse range of human viral pathogens - mice, hamsters, guinea pigs and ferrets. We also analyze findings aggregated from influenza A virus-infected ferrets to contextualize this discussion. We focus on serially collected weight and temperature data to illustrate how the conclusions drawn from this information can vary depending on how raw data are collected, normalized and measured. Taken together, this work supports continued efforts in understanding how normalization affects the interpretation of morbidity data and highlights best practices to improve the interpretation and utility of these findings for extrapolation to public health contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A. Belser
- Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Troy J. Kieran
- Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Zoë A. Mitchell
- Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Division of Scientific Resources, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Xiangjie Sun
- Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Kristin Mayfield
- Division of Scientific Resources, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Terrence M. Tumpey
- Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Jessica R. Spengler
- Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Taronna R. Maines
- Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
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2
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Watson RJ, Tree J, Fotheringham SA, Hall Y, Dong X, Steeds K, Gouriet J, Salguero FJ, Burton C, Pitman J, Easterbrook L, Richards KS, Burton J, Bewley K, Bruce C, Hiscox JA, Carroll MW, Funnell SGP. Dose-Dependent Response to Infection with Ebola Virus in the Ferret Model and Evidence of Viral Evolution in the Eye. J Virol 2021; 95:e0083321. [PMID: 34586862 DOI: 10.1128/JVI.00833-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Filoviruses cause high-consequence infections with limited approved medical countermeasures (MCMs). MCM development is dependent upon well-characterized animal models for the assessment of antiviral agents and vaccines. Following large-scale Ebola virus (EBOV) disease outbreaks in Africa, some survivors are left with long-term sequelae and persistent virus in immune-privileged sites for many years. We report the characterization of the ferret as a model for Ebola virus infection, reproducing disease and lethality observed in humans. The onset of clinical signs is rapid, and EBOV is detected in the blood, oral, and rectal swabs and all tissues studied. We identify viral RNA in the eye (a site of immune privilege) and report on specific genomic changes in EBOV present in this structure. Thus, the ferret model has utility in testing MCMs that prevent or treat long-term EBOV persistence in immune-privileged sites. IMPORTANCE Recent reemergence of Ebola in Guinea that caused over 28,000 cases between 2013 and 2016 has been linked to the original virus from that region. It appears the virus has remained in the region for at least 5 years and is likely to have been maintained in humans. Persistence of Ebola in areas of the body for extended periods of time has been observed, such as in the eye and semen. Despite the importance of reintroduction of Ebola from this route, such events are rare in the population, which makes studying medical interventions to clear persistent virus difficult. We studied various doses of Ebola in ferrets and detected virus in the eyes of most ferrets. We believe this model will enable the study of medical interventions that promote clearance of Ebola virus from sites that promote persistence.
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3
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Schiffman Z, Yan F, He S, Tierney K, Zhu W, Emeterio K, Zhang H, Banadyga L, Qiu X. Taï Forest Virus Does Not Cause Lethal Disease in Ferrets. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9020213. [PMID: 33494199 PMCID: PMC7909818 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9020213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Filoviruses are zoonotic, negative-sense RNA viruses, most of which are capable of causing severe disease in humans and nonhuman primates, often with high case fatality rates. Among these viruses, those belonging to the Ebolavirus genus—particularly Ebola virus, Sudan virus, and Bundibugyo virus—represent some of the most pathogenic to humans. Taï Forest virus (TAFV) is thought to be among the least pathogenic ebolaviruses; however, only a single non-fatal case has been documented in humans, in 1994. With the recent success of the ferret as a lethal model for a number of ebolaviruses, we set out to evaluate its suitability as a model for TAFV. Our results demonstrate that, unlike other ebolaviruses, TAFV infection in ferrets does not result in lethal disease. None of the intramuscularly inoculated animals demonstrated any overt signs of disease, whereas the intranasally inoculated animals exhibited mild to moderate weight loss during the early stage of infection but recovered quickly. Low levels of viral RNA were detected in the blood and tissues of several animals, particularly the intranasally inoculated animals, and all animals mounted a humoral immune response, with high titers of GP-specific IgG detectable as early as 14 days post-infection. These data provide additional insight into the pathogenesis of TAFV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Schiffman
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada; (Z.S.); (K.E.); (H.Z.)
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3R2, Canada; (S.H.); (K.T.); (W.Z.); (X.Q.)
| | - Feihu Yan
- Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130122, China;
| | - Shihua He
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3R2, Canada; (S.H.); (K.T.); (W.Z.); (X.Q.)
| | - Kevin Tierney
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3R2, Canada; (S.H.); (K.T.); (W.Z.); (X.Q.)
| | - Wenjun Zhu
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3R2, Canada; (S.H.); (K.T.); (W.Z.); (X.Q.)
| | - Karla Emeterio
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada; (Z.S.); (K.E.); (H.Z.)
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3R2, Canada; (S.H.); (K.T.); (W.Z.); (X.Q.)
| | - Huajun Zhang
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada; (Z.S.); (K.E.); (H.Z.)
| | - Logan Banadyga
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3R2, Canada; (S.H.); (K.T.); (W.Z.); (X.Q.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Xiangguo Qiu
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3R2, Canada; (S.H.); (K.T.); (W.Z.); (X.Q.)
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Abstract
Marburg virus (MARV) is a highly pathogenic virus associated with severe disease and mortality rates as high as 90%. Outbreaks of MARV are sporadic, deadly, and often characterized by a lack of resources and facilities to diagnose and treat patients. There are currently no approved vaccines or treatments, and the chaotic and infrequent nature of outbreaks, among other factors, makes testing new countermeasures during outbreaks ethically and logistically challenging. Without field efficacy studies, researchers must rely on animal models of MARV infection to assess the efficacy of vaccines and treatments, with the limitations being the accuracy of the animal model in recapitulating human pathogenesis. This review will compare various animal models to the available descriptions of human pathogenesis and aims to evaluate their effectiveness in modeling important aspects of Marburg virus disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Shifflett
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Health, 903 South 4th Street, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
| | - Andrea Marzi
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Health, 903 South 4th Street, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA.
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Abstract
Marburgviruses are closely related to ebolaviruses and cause a devastating disease in humans. In 2012, we published a comprehensive review of the first 45 years of research on marburgviruses and the disease they cause, ranging from molecular biology to ecology. Spurred in part by the deadly Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa in 2013-2016, research on all filoviruses has intensified. Not meant as an introduction to marburgviruses, this article instead provides a synopsis of recent progress in marburgvirus research with a particular focus on molecular biology, advances in animal modeling, and the use of Egyptian fruit bats in infection experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Olejnik
- Department of Microbiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, USA.,National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, USA
| | - Elke Mühlberger
- Department of Microbiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, USA.,National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, USA
| | - Adam J Hume
- Department of Microbiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, USA.,National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, USA
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6
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Perley CC, Brocato RL, Kwilas SA, Daye S, Moreau A, Nichols DK, Wetzel KS, Shamblin J, Hooper JW. Three asymptomatic animal infection models of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome caused by hantaviruses. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0216700. [PMID: 31075144 PMCID: PMC6510444 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Hantaan virus (HTNV) and Puumala virus (PUUV) are rodent-borne hantaviruses that are the primary causes of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Europe and Asia. The development of well characterized animal models of HTNV and PUUV infection is critical for the evaluation and the potential licensure of HFRS vaccines and therapeutics. In this study we present three animal models of HTNV infection (hamster, ferret and marmoset), and two animal models of PUUV infection (hamster, ferret). Infection of hamsters with a ~3 times the infectious dose 99% (ID99) of HTNV by the intramuscular and ~1 ID99 of HTNV by the intranasal route leads to a persistent asymptomatic infection, characterized by sporadic viremia and high levels of viral genome in the lung, brain and kidney. In contrast, infection of hamsters with ~2 ID99 of PUUV by the intramuscular or ~1 ID99 of PUUV by the intranasal route leads to seroconversion with no detectable viremia, and a transient detection of viral genome. Infection of ferrets with a high dose of either HTNV or PUUV by the intramuscular route leads to seroconversion and gradual weight loss, though kidney function remained unimpaired and serum viremia and viral dissemination to organs was not detected. In marmosets a 1,000 PFU HTNV intramuscular challenge led to robust seroconversion and neutralizing antibody production. Similarly to the ferret model of HTNV infection, no renal impairment, serum viremia or viral dissemination to organs was detected in marmosets. This is the first report of hantavirus infection in ferrets and marmosets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey C. Perley
- Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Ft. Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Rebecca L. Brocato
- Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Ft. Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Steven A. Kwilas
- Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Ft. Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sharon Daye
- Pathology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Ft. Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Alicia Moreau
- Pathology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Ft. Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Donald K. Nichols
- Pathology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Ft. Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Kelly S. Wetzel
- Molecular and Translational Sciences Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Ft. Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Joshua Shamblin
- Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Ft. Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jay W. Hooper
- Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Ft. Detrick, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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7
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Banadyga L, Schiffman Z, He S, Qiu X. Virus inoculation and treatment regimens for evaluating anti-filovirus monoclonal antibody efficacy in vivo. Biosaf Health 2019; 1:6-13. [PMID: 32835206 PMCID: PMC7347303 DOI: 10.1016/j.bsheal.2019.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of monoclonal antibodies to treat disease caused by filoviruses, particularly Ebola virus, has risen steeply in recent years thanks to several key studies demonstrating their remarkable therapeutic potential. The increased drive to develop new and better monoclonal antibodies has necessarily seen an increase in animal model efficacy testing, which is critical to the pre-clinical development of any novel countermeasure. Primary and secondary efficacy testing against filoviruses typically makes use of one or more rodent models (mice, guinea pigs, and occasionally hamsters) or the more recently described ferret model, although the exact choice of model depends on the specific filovirus being evaluated. Indeed, no single small animal model exists for all filoviruses, and the use of any given model must consider the nature of that model as well as the nature of the therapeutic and the experimental objectives. Confirmatory evaluation, on the other hand, is performed in nonhuman primates (rhesus or cynomolgus macaques) regardless of the filovirus. In light of the number of different animal models that are currently used in monoclonal antibody efficacy testing, we sought to better understand how these efficacy tests are being performed by numerous different laboratories around the world. To this end, we review the animal models that are being used for antibody efficacy testing against filoviruses, and we highlight the challenge doses and routes of infection that are used. We also describe the various antibody treatment regimens, including antibody dose, route, and schedule of administration, that are used in these model systems. We do not identify any single best model or treatment regimen, and we do not advocate for field-wide protocol standardization. Instead, we hope to provide a comprehensive resource that will facilitate and enhance the continued pre-clinical development of novel monoclonal antibody therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan Banadyga
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3R2, Canada
| | - Zachary Schiffman
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3R2, Canada.,Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
| | - Shihua He
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3R2, Canada
| | - Xiangguo Qiu
- Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3R2, Canada.,Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
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8
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Cross RW, Speranza E, Borisevich V, Widen SG, Wood TG, Shim RS, Adams RD, Gerhardt DM, Bennett RS, Honko AN, Johnson JC, Hensley LE, Geisbert TW, Connor JH. Comparative Transcriptomics in Ebola Makona-Infected Ferrets, Nonhuman Primates, and Humans. J Infect Dis 2018; 218:S486-S495. [PMID: 30476250 PMCID: PMC6249602 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiy455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The domestic ferret is a uniformly lethal model of infection for 3 species of Ebolavirus known to be pathogenic in humans. Reagents to systematically analyze the ferret host response to infection are lacking; however, the recent publication of a draft ferret genome has opened the potential for transcriptional analysis of ferret models of disease. In this work, we present comparative analysis of longitudinally sampled blood taken from ferrets and nonhuman primates infected with lethal doses of the Makona variant of Zaire ebolavirus. Strong induction of proinflammatory and prothrombotic signaling programs were present in both ferrets and nonhuman primates, and both transcriptomes were similar to previously published datasets of fatal cases of human Ebola virus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert W Cross
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
- Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
| | - Emily Speranza
- Department of Microbiology, Bioinformatics Program, National Emerging Infectious Disease Laboratories, Boston University, Massachusetts
| | - Viktoriya Borisevich
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
- Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
| | - Steven G Widen
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
| | - Thomas G Wood
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
| | - Rebecca S Shim
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Ricky D Adams
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Dawn M Gerhardt
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Richard S Bennett
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Anna N Honko
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Joshua C Johnson
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Lisa E Hensley
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Thomas W Geisbert
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
- Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
| | - John H Connor
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
- Department of Microbiology, Bioinformatics Program, National Emerging Infectious Disease Laboratories, Boston University, Massachusetts
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9
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert W. Cross
- Galveston National Laboratory, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Karla A. Fenton
- Galveston National Laboratory, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Thomas W. Geisbert
- Galveston National Laboratory, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
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10
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Fedewa G, Radoshitzky SR, Chī X, Dǒng L, Zeng X, Spear M, Strauli N, Ng M, Chandran K, Stenglein MD, Hernandez RD, Jahrling PB, Kuhn JH, DeRisi JL. Ebola virus, but not Marburg virus, replicates efficiently and without required adaptation in snake cells. Virus Evol 2018; 4:vey034. [PMID: 30524754 PMCID: PMC6277580 DOI: 10.1093/ve/vey034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Ebola virus (EBOV) disease is a viral hemorrhagic fever with a high case-fatality rate in humans. This disease is caused by four members of the filoviral genus Ebolavirus, including EBOV. The natural hosts reservoirs of ebolaviruses remain to be identified. Glycoprotein 2 of reptarenaviruses, known to infect only boa constrictors and pythons, is similar in sequence and structure to ebolaviral glycoprotein 2, suggesting that EBOV may be able to infect reptilian cells. Therefore, we serially passaged EBOV and a distantly related filovirus, Marburg virus (MARV), in boa constrictor JK cells and characterized viral infection/replication and mutational frequency by confocal imaging and sequencing. We observed that EBOV efficiently infected and replicated in JK cells, but MARV did not. In contrast to most cell lines, EBOV-infected JK cells did not result in an obvious cytopathic effect. Surprisingly, genomic characterization of serial-passaged EBOV in JK cells revealed that genomic adaptation was not required for infection. Deep sequencing coverage (>10,000×) demonstrated the existence of only a single nonsynonymous variant (EBOV glycoprotein precursor pre-GP T544I) of unknown significance within the viral population that exhibited a shift in frequency of at least 10 per cent over six serial passages. In summary, we present the first reptilian cell line that replicates a filovirus at high titers, and for the first time demonstrate a filovirus genus-specific restriction to MARV in a cell line. Our data suggest the possibility that there may be differences between the natural host spectra of ebolaviruses and marburgviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greg Fedewa
- Integrative Program in Quantitative Biology, Bioinformatics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sheli R Radoshitzky
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Xiǎolì Chī
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Lián Dǒng
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Xiankun Zeng
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Melissa Spear
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Nicolas Strauli
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Melinda Ng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Kartik Chandran
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Mark D Stenglein
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Ryan D Hernandez
- Quantitative Biosciences Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Institute for Computational Health Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Peter B Jahrling
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Jens H Kuhn
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Joseph L DeRisi
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
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