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Gates L, Mistry T, Ogunbiyi O, Kite KA, Klein NJ, Sebire NJ, Alber DG. Identification of bacterial pathogens in sudden unexpected death in infancy and childhood using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1171670. [PMID: 37396359 PMCID: PMC10309030 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1171670] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) is the most common cause of post-neonatal death in the developed world. Following an extensive investigation, the cause of ~40% of deaths remains unknown. It is hypothesized that a proportion of deaths are due to an infection that remains undetected due to limitations in routine techniques. This study aimed to apply 16S rRNA gene sequencing to post-mortem (PM) tissues collected from cases of SUDI, as well as those from the childhood equivalent (collectively known as sudden unexpected death in infancy and childhood or SUDIC), to investigate whether this molecular approach could help identify potential infection-causing bacteria to enhance the diagnosis of infection. Methods In this study, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was applied to de-identified frozen post-mortem (PM) tissues from the diagnostic archive of Great Ormond Street Hospital. The cases were grouped depending on the cause of death: (i) explained non-infectious, (ii) infectious, and (iii) unknown. Results and conclusions In the cases of known bacterial infection, the likely causative pathogen was identified in 3/5 cases using bacterial culture at PM compared to 5/5 cases using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Where a bacterial infection was identified at routine investigation, the same organism was identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Using these findings, we defined criteria based on sequencing reads and alpha diversity to identify PM tissues with likely infection. Using these criteria, 4/20 (20%) cases of unexplained SUDIC were identified which may be due to bacterial infection that was previously undetected. This study demonstrates the potential feasibility and effectiveness of 16S rRNA gene sequencing in PM tissue investigation to improve the diagnosis of infection, potentially reducing the number of unexplained deaths and improving the understanding of the mechanisms involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lily Gates
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Talisa Mistry
- NIHR GOSH Biomedical Research Centre, Histopathology Department, Camelia Botnar Laboratories, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Olumide Ogunbiyi
- NIHR GOSH Biomedical Research Centre, Histopathology Department, Camelia Botnar Laboratories, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kerry-Anne Kite
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nigel J. Klein
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Neil J. Sebire
- NIHR GOSH Biomedical Research Centre, Histopathology Department, Camelia Botnar Laboratories, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dagmar G. Alber
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
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Vaitkute G, Panic G, Alber DG, Faizura-Yeop I, Cloutman-Green E, Swann J, Veys P, Standing JF, Klein N, Bajaj-Elliott M. Linking gastrointestinal microbiota and metabolome dynamics to clinical outcomes in paediatric haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Microbiome 2022; 10:89. [PMID: 35689247 PMCID: PMC9185888 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-022-01270-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a curative procedure for a variety of conditions. Despite major advances, a plethora of adverse clinical outcomes can develop post-transplantation including graft-versus-host disease and infections, which remain the major causes of morbidity and mortality. There is increasing evidence that the gastrointestinal microbiota is associated with clinical outcomes post-haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Herein, we investigated the longitudinal dynamics of the gut microbiota and metabolome and potential associations to clinical outcomes in paediatric haematopoietic stem cell transplantation at a single centre. RESULTS On admission (baseline), the majority of patients presented with a different gut microbial composition in comparison with healthy control children with a significantly lower alpha diversity. A further, marked decrease in alpha diversity was observed immediately post-transplantation and in most microbial diversity, and composition did not return to baseline status whilst hospitalised. Longitudinal trajectories identified continuous fluctuations in microbial composition, with the dominance of a single taxon in a significant proportion of patients. Using pam clustering, three clusters were observed in the dataset. Cluster 1 was common pre-transplantation, characterised by a higher abundance of Clostridium XIVa, Bacteroides and Lachnospiraceae; cluster 2 and cluster 3 were more common post-transplantation with a higher abundance of Streptococcus and Staphylococcus in the former whilst Enterococcus, Enterobacteriaceae and Escherichia predominated in the latter. Cluster 3 was also associated with a higher risk of viraemia. Likewise, further multivariate analysis reveals Enterobacteriaceae, viraemia, use of total parenteral nutrition and various antimicrobials contributing towards cluster 3, Streptococcaceae, Staphylococcaceae, Neisseriaceae, vancomycin and metronidazole contributing towards cluster 2. Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, Bifidobacteriaceae and not being on total parenteral nutrition contributed to cluster 1. Untargeted metabolomic analyses revealed changes that paralleled fluctuations in microbiota composition; importantly, low faecal butyrate was associated with a higher risk of viraemia. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the frequent shifts and dominations in the gut microbiota of paediatric patients undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The study reveals associations between the faecal microbiota, metabolome and viraemia. To identify and explore the potential of microbial biomarkers that may predict the risk of complications post-HSCT, larger multi-centre studies investigating the longitudinal microbial profiling in paediatric haematopoietic stem cell transplantation are warranted. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gintare Vaitkute
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1EH UK
- Department of Surgical Biotechnology, UCL Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, UCL, London, NW3 2PF UK
| | - Gordana Panic
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ UK
- School of Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ UK
| | - Dagmar G. Alber
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1EH UK
| | | | | | - Jonathan Swann
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ UK
- School of Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ UK
| | - Paul Veys
- Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, WC1N 3JH UK
| | - Joseph F. Standing
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1EH UK
- Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, WC1N 3JH UK
| | - Nigel Klein
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1EH UK
- Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, WC1N 3JH UK
| | - Mona Bajaj-Elliott
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1EH UK
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Gärtner K, Meleke H, Kamdolozi M, Chaima D, Samikwa L, Paynter M, Nyirenda Nyang’Wa M, Cloutman-Green E, Nastouli E, Klein N, Nyirenda T, Msefula C, Alber DG. A fast extraction-free isothermal LAMP assay for detection of SARS-CoV-2 with potential use in resource-limited settings. Virol J 2022; 19:77. [PMID: 35501862 PMCID: PMC9059459 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-022-01800-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background To retain the spread of SARS-CoV-2, fast, sensitive and cost-effective testing is essential, particularly in resource limited settings (RLS). Current standard nucleic acid-based RT-PCR assays, although highly sensitive and specific, require transportation of samples to specialised laboratories, trained staff and expensive reagents. The latter are often not readily available in low- and middle-income countries and this may significantly impact on the successful disease management in these settings. Various studies have suggested a SARS-CoV-2 loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay as an alternative method to RT-PCR. Methods Four previously published primer pairs were used for detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the LAMP assay. To determine optimal conditions, different temperatures, sample input and incubation times were tested. Ninety-three extracted RNA samples from St. George's Hospital, London, 10 non-extracted nasopharyngeal swab samples from Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, and 92 non-extracted samples from Queen Elisabeth Central Hospital (QECH), Malawi, which have previously been tested for SARS-Cov-2 by quantitative reverse-transcription RealTime PCR (qRT-PCR), were analysed in the LAMP assay. Results In this study we report the optimisation of an extraction-free colourimetric SARS-CoV-2 LAMP assay and demonstrated that a lower limit of detection (LOD) between 10 and 100 copies/µL of SARS-CoV-2 could be readily detected by a colour change of the reaction within as little as 30 min. We further show that this assay could be quickly established in Malawi, as no expensive equipment is necessary. We tested 92 clinical samples from QECH and showed the sensitivity and specificity of the assay to be 86.7% and 98.4%, respectively. Some viral transport media, used routinely to stabilise RNA in clinical samples during transportation, caused a non-specific colour-change in the LAMP reaction and therefore we suggest collecting samples in phosphate buffered saline (which did not affect the colour) as the assay allows immediate sample analysis on-site. Conclusion SARS-CoV-2 LAMP is a cheap and reliable assay that can be readily employed in RLS to improve disease monitoring and management. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12985-022-01800-7.
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Matei DE, Menon M, Alber DG, Smith AM, Nedjat-Shokouhi B, Fasano A, Magill L, Duhlin A, Bitoun S, Gleizes A, Hacein-Bey-Abina S, Manson JJ, Rosser EC, Klein N, Blair PA, Mauri C. Intestinal barrier dysfunction plays an integral role in arthritis pathology and can be targeted to ameliorate disease. Med (N Y) 2021; 2:864-883.e9. [PMID: 34296202 PMCID: PMC8280953 DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2021.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Background Evidence suggests an important role for gut-microbiota dysbiosis in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The link between changes in gut bacteria and the development of joint inflammation is missing. Here, we address whether there are changes to the gut environment and how they contribute to arthritis pathogenesis. Methods We analyzed changes in markers of gut permeability, damage, and inflammation in peripheral blood and serum of RA patients. Serum, intestines, and lymphoid organs isolated from K/BxN mice with spontaneous arthritis or from wild-type, genetically modified interleukin (IL)-10R−/−or claudin-8−/−mice with induced arthritis were analyzed by immunofluorescence/histology, ELISA, and flow cytometry. Findings RA patients display increased levels of serum markers of gut permeability and damage and cellular gut-homing markers, both parameters positively correlating with disease severity. Arthritic mice display increased gut permeability from early stages of disease, as well as bacterial translocation, inflammatory gut damage, increases in interferon γ (IFNγ)+and decreases in IL-10+intestinal-infiltrating leukocyte frequency, and reduced intestinal epithelial IL-10R expression. Mechanistically, both arthritogenic bacteria and leukocytes are required to disrupt gut-barrier integrity. We show that exposing intestinal organoids to IFNγ reduces IL-10R expression by epithelial cells and that mice lacking epithelial IL-10R display increased intestinal permeability and exacerbated arthritis. Claudin-8−/−mice with constitutively increased gut permeability also develop worse joint disease. Treatment of mice with AT-1001, a molecule that prevents development of gut permeability, ameliorates arthritis. Conclusions We suggest that breakdown of gut-barrier integrity contributes to arthritis development and propose restoration of gut-barrier homeostasis as a new therapeutic approach for RA. Funding Funded by Versus Arthritis (21140 and 21257) and UKRI/MRC (MR/T000910/1). Serum gut-permeability markers LPB, LPS, and I-FABP are increased in RA Mice with arthritis have increased gut permeability and intestinal inflammation Both bacteria and leukocytes are needed to disrupt gut-barrier integrity Prevention of gut-barrier dysfunction in arthritis ameliorates joint inflammation
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder characterized by chronic joint inflammation. Accumulating evidence suggests that changes in the composition of the bacteria residing in the gut could be responsible for joint inflammation. Currently, it is unclear how bacteria or their products instruct cells of the immune system to become harmful and induce arthritis. Researchers at University College London have shown that, in arthritis, there is profound damage to the gut lining, which fails to work properly as a barrier, as well as an accumulation in the gut of white blood cells that cause inflammation. The authors show that, in arthritis, bacteria cross the prohibited border of the intestinal lining and that repairing gut permeability defects with specific drugs inhibits joint inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana E Matei
- Centre for Rheumatology, Division of Medicine and Division of Infection and Immunity and Transplantation, University College London, London WC1E 6JF, UK
| | - Madhvi Menon
- Centre for Rheumatology, Division of Medicine and Division of Infection and Immunity and Transplantation, University College London, London WC1E 6JF, UK.,Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Division of Infection, Immunity & Respiratory Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Dagmar G Alber
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Programme, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Andrew M Smith
- Eastman Dental Institute, School of Life and Medical Sciences, UCL, London WC1X 8LD, UK
| | - Bahman Nedjat-Shokouhi
- Eastman Dental Institute, School of Life and Medical Sciences, UCL, London WC1X 8LD, UK.,Centre for Molecular Medicine, Division of Medicine, UCL, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Alessio Fasano
- MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Laura Magill
- Centre for Rheumatology, Division of Medicine and Division of Infection and Immunity and Transplantation, University College London, London WC1E 6JF, UK
| | - Amanda Duhlin
- Centre for Rheumatology, Division of Medicine and Division of Infection and Immunity and Transplantation, University College London, London WC1E 6JF, UK
| | - Samuel Bitoun
- Rheumatology Department, Bicêtre Hospital AP-HP, Université Paris-Saclay and INSERM UMR 1184 IMVA 78 Avenue du Général Leclerc, 94270 Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France
| | - Aude Gleizes
- Université de Paris, CNRS, INSERM, UTCBS, Unité des Technologies Chimiques et Biologiques pour la Santé, 75006 Paris, France.,Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Paris-Sud, Hôpital Kremlin-Bicêtre, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 94270 Le-Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Salima Hacein-Bey-Abina
- Université de Paris, CNRS, INSERM, UTCBS, Unité des Technologies Chimiques et Biologiques pour la Santé, 75006 Paris, France.,Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux Paris Saclay, Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Hôpital Bicêtre, 94275 Le-Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Jessica J Manson
- Department of Rheumatology, University College London Hospital, London NW1 2BU, UK
| | - Elizabeth C Rosser
- Centre for Rheumatology, Division of Medicine and Division of Infection and Immunity and Transplantation, University College London, London WC1E 6JF, UK.,Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology Versus Arthritis at UCL, UCLH and GOSH, London WC1E 6JF, UK
| | | | - Nigel Klein
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Programme, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Paul A Blair
- Centre for Rheumatology, Division of Medicine and Division of Infection and Immunity and Transplantation, University College London, London WC1E 6JF, UK
| | - Claudia Mauri
- Centre for Rheumatology, Division of Medicine and Division of Infection and Immunity and Transplantation, University College London, London WC1E 6JF, UK
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Gates L, Klein NJ, Sebire NJ, Alber DG. Characterising Post-mortem Bacterial Translocation Under Clinical Conditions Using 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing in Two Animal Models. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:649312. [PMID: 34135873 PMCID: PMC8200633 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.649312] [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: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) is the sudden and unexpected death of an apparently healthy infant occurring within the first year of life where the cause is not immediately obvious. It is believed that a proportion of unexplained infant deaths are due to an infection that remains undiagnosed. The interpretation of post-mortem microbiology results is difficult due to the potential false-positives, a source of which is post-mortem bacterial translocation. Post-mortem bacterial translocation is the spread of viable bacteria from highly colonised sites to extra-intestinal tissues. We hypothesise that although post-mortem bacterial translocation occurs, when carcasses are kept under controlled routine clinical conditions it is not extensive and can be defined using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. With this knowledge, implementation of the 16S rRNA gene sequencing technique into routine clinical diagnostics would allow a more reliable retrospective diagnosis of ante-mortem infection. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish the extent of post-mortem bacterial translocation in two animal models to establish a baseline sequencing signal for the post-mortem process. To do this we used 16S rRNA gene sequencing in two animal models over a 2 week period to investigate (1) the bacterial community succession in regions of high bacterial colonisation, and (2) the bacterial presence in visceral tissues routinely sampled during autopsy for microbiological investigation. We found no evidence for significant and consistent post-mortem bacterial translocation in the mouse model. Although bacteria were detected in tissues in the piglet model, we did not find significant and consistent evidence for post-mortem bacterial translocation from the gastrointestinal tract or nasal cavity. These data do not support the concept of significant post-mortem translocation as part of the normal post-mortem process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lily Gates
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University College London Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nigel J Klein
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University College London Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Neil J Sebire
- Histopathology, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dagmar G Alber
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University College London Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
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Rosser EC, Piper CJM, Matei DE, Blair PA, Rendeiro AF, Orford M, Alber DG, Krausgruber T, Catalan D, Klein N, Manson JJ, Drozdov I, Bock C, Wedderburn LR, Eaton S, Mauri C. Microbiota-Derived Metabolites Suppress Arthritis by Amplifying Aryl-Hydrocarbon Receptor Activation in Regulatory B Cells. Cell Metab 2020; 31:837-851.e10. [PMID: 32213346 PMCID: PMC7156916 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2020.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 259] [Impact Index Per Article: 64.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The differentiation of IL-10-producing regulatory B cells (Bregs) in response to gut-microbiota-derived signals supports the maintenance of tolerance. However, whether microbiota-derived metabolites can modulate Breg suppressive function remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and arthritic mice have a reduction in microbial-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) compared to healthy controls and that in mice, supplementation with the SCFA butyrate reduces arthritis severity. Butyrate supplementation suppresses arthritis in a Breg-dependent manner by increasing the level of the serotonin-derived metabolite 5-Hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA), which activates the aryl-hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a newly discovered transcriptional marker for Breg function. Thus, butyrate supplementation via AhR activation controls a molecular program that supports Breg function while inhibiting germinal center (GC) B cell and plasmablast differentiation. Our study demonstrates that butyrate supplementation may serve as a viable therapy for the amelioration of systemic autoimmune disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth C Rosser
- Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology Versus Arthritis at UCL, UCLH and GOSH, London, UK; Centre for Rheumatology Research, Division of Medicine, UCL, London WC1E 6JF, UK; Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Programme, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK.
| | | | - Diana E Matei
- Centre for Rheumatology Research, Division of Medicine, UCL, London WC1E 6JF, UK
| | - Paul A Blair
- Centre for Rheumatology Research, Division of Medicine, UCL, London WC1E 6JF, UK
| | - André F Rendeiro
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Orford
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Programme, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Dagmar G Alber
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Programme, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Thomas Krausgruber
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Diego Catalan
- Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology Versus Arthritis at UCL, UCLH and GOSH, London, UK; Programa Disciplinario de Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICBM), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nigel Klein
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Programme, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Jessica J Manson
- Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology Versus Arthritis at UCL, UCLH and GOSH, London, UK; Department of Rheumatology, University College Hospital, London, UK
| | | | - Christoph Bock
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Max Planck Institute for Informatics, Saarland Informatics Campus, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Lucy R Wedderburn
- Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology Versus Arthritis at UCL, UCLH and GOSH, London, UK; Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Programme, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK; NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK
| | - Simon Eaton
- Developmental Biology and Cancer Programme, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Claudia Mauri
- Centre for Rheumatology Research, Division of Medicine, UCL, London WC1E 6JF, UK.
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Brunner K, John CM, Phillips NJ, Alber DG, Gemmell MR, Hansen R, Nielsen HL, Hold GL, Bajaj-Elliott M, Jarvis GA. Novel Campylobacter concisus lipooligosaccharide is a determinant of inflammatory potential and virulence. J Lipid Res 2018; 59:1893-1905. [PMID: 30049709 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.m085860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathogenicity of Campylobacter concisus, increasingly found in the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract, is unclear. Some studies indicate that its role in GI conditions has been underestimated, whereas others suggest that the organism has a commensal-like phenotype. For the enteropathogen C. jejuni, the lipooligosaccharide (LOS) is a main driver of virulence. We investigated the LOS structure of four C. concisus clinical isolates and correlated the inflammatory potential of each isolate with bacterial virulence. Mass spectrometric analyses of lipid A revealed a novel hexa-acylated diglucosamine moiety with two or three phosphoryl substituents. Molecular and fragment ion analysis indicated that the oligosaccharide portion of the LOS had only a single phosphate and lacked phosphoethanolamine and sialic acid substitution, which are hallmarks of the C. jejuni LOS. Consistent with our structural findings, C. concisus LOS and live bacteria induced less TNF-α secretion in human monocytes than did C. jejuni Furthermore, the C. concisus bacteria were less virulent than C. jejuni in a Galleria mellonella infection model. The correlation of the novel lipid A structure, decreased phosphorylation, and lack of sialylation along with reduced inflammatory potential and virulence support the significance of the LOS as a determinant in the relative pathogenicity of C. concisus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Brunner
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Programme, University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Constance M John
- Center for Immunochemistry, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA.,Department of Laboratory Medicine University of California, San Francisco, CA
| | - Nancy J Phillips
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA
| | - Dagmar G Alber
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Programme, University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew R Gemmell
- Center for Genome-Enabled Biology and Medicine, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Hansen
- Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Hans L Nielsen
- Department of Infectious Diseases Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Microbiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Georgina L Hold
- St George and Sutherland Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Mona Bajaj-Elliott
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Programme, University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gary A Jarvis
- Center for Immunochemistry, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA .,Department of Laboratory Medicine University of California, San Francisco, CA
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Joss TV, Burke CM, Hudson BJ, Darling AE, Forer M, Alber DG, Charles IG, Stow NW. Bacterial Communities Vary between Sinuses in Chronic Rhinosinusitis Patients. Front Microbiol 2016; 6:1532. [PMID: 26834708 PMCID: PMC4722142 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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: 08/17/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common and potentially debilitating disease characterized by inflammation of the sinus mucosa for longer than 12 weeks. Bacterial colonization of the sinuses and its role in the pathogenesis of this disease is an ongoing area of research. Recent advances in culture-independent molecular techniques for bacterial identification have the potential to provide a more accurate and complete assessment of the sinus microbiome, however there is little concordance in results between studies, possibly due to differences in the sampling location and techniques. This study aimed to determine whether the microbial communities from one sinus could be considered representative of all sinuses, and examine differences between two commonly used methods for sample collection, swabs, and tissue biopsies. High-throughput DNA sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was applied to both swab and tissue samples from multiple sinuses of 19 patients undergoing surgery for treatment of CRS. Results from swabs and tissue biopsies showed a high degree of similarity, indicating that swabbing is sufficient to recover the microbial community from the sinuses. Microbial communities from different sinuses within individual patients differed to varying degrees, demonstrating that it is possible for distinct microbiomes to exist simultaneously in different sinuses of the same patient. The sequencing results correlated well with culture-based pathogen identification conducted in parallel, although the culturing missed many species detected by sequencing. This finding has implications for future research into the sinus microbiome, which should take this heterogeneity into account by sampling patients from more than one sinus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom V Joss
- Faculty of Medicine, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Catherine M Burke
- Faculty of Science, The Ithree Institute, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Bernard J Hudson
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease, Royal North Shore Hospital Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Aaron E Darling
- Faculty of Science, The Ithree Institute, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Martin Forer
- Department of Otolaryngology, Royal North Shore Hospital Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Dagmar G Alber
- Faculty of Science, The Ithree Institute, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ian G Charles
- Faculty of Science, The Ithree Institute, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nicholas W Stow
- Department of Otolaryngology, Mona Vale Hospital Sydney, NSW, Australia
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9
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Doyle RM, Alber DG, Jones HE, Harris K, Fitzgerald F, Peebles D, Klein N. Term and preterm labour are associated with distinct microbial community structures in placental membranes which are independent of mode of delivery. Placenta 2014; 35:1099-101. [PMID: 25458966 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2014.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2014] [Revised: 10/10/2014] [Accepted: 10/13/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Infection is considered a possible trigger for preterm labour, supported by evidence showing the presence of bacteria in the placenta and placental membranes from preterm births. In this study, 16S rDNA pyrosequencing was used to identify bacteria in placental membranes. Caesarean sections and vaginal deliveries at term were found to harbour common genera. Mycoplasma hominis, Aerococcus christensenii, Gardnerella vaginalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum were either only present in preterm membranes or in greater abundance than at term. These data support previous studies that used either targeted qPCR or broad-range 16S rDNA PCR and cloning but not a recent microbiome analysis of placental tissue using high-throughput sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- R M Doyle
- Infection, Inflammation and Rheumatology Section, Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom.
| | - D G Alber
- Infection, Inflammation and Rheumatology Section, Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom.
| | - H E Jones
- Infection, Inflammation and Rheumatology Section, Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom.
| | - K Harris
- Microbiology Department, Camelia Botnar Laboratories, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
| | - F Fitzgerald
- Infection, Inflammation and Rheumatology Section, Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom.
| | - D Peebles
- Department of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Institute for Womens Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - N Klein
- Infection, Inflammation and Rheumatology Section, Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom.
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10
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Müller P, Alber DG, Turnbull L, Schlothauer RC, Carter DA, Whitchurch CB, Harry EJ. Synergism between Medihoney and rifampicin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). PLoS One 2013; 8:e57679. [PMID: 23469049 PMCID: PMC3585195 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0057679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2012] [Accepted: 01/24/2013] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Skin and chronic wound infections caused by highly antibiotic resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are an increasing and urgent health problem worldwide, particularly with sharp increases in obesity and diabetes. New Zealand manuka honey has potent broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, has been shown to inhibit the growth of MRSA strains, and bacteria resistant to this honey have not been obtainable in the laboratory. Combinational treatment of chronic wounds with manuka honey and common antibiotics may offer a wide range of advantages including synergistic enhancement of the antibacterial activity, reduction of the effective dose of the antibiotic, and reduction of the risk of antibiotic resistance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Medihoney in combination with the widely used antibiotic rifampicin on S. aureus. Using checkerboard microdilution assays, time-kill curve experiments and agar diffusion assays, we show a synergism between Medihoney and rifampicin against MRSA and clinical isolates of S. aureus. Furthermore, the Medihoney/rifampicin combination stopped the appearance of rifampicin-resistant S. aureus in vitro. Methylglyoxal (MGO), believed to be the major antibacterial compound in manuka honey, did not act synergistically with rifampicin and is therefore not the sole factor responsible for the synergistic effect of manuka honey with rifampicin. Our findings support the idea that a combination of honey and antibiotics may be an effective new antimicrobial therapy for chronic wound infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Müller
- The ithree institute, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Dagmar G. Alber
- The ithree institute, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Lynne Turnbull
- The ithree institute, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Dee A. Carter
- School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Cynthia B. Whitchurch
- The ithree institute, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Elizabeth J. Harry
- The ithree institute, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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11
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Chapman J, Abbott E, Alber DG, Baxter RC, Bithell SK, Henderson EA, Carter MC, Chambers P, Chubb A, Cockerill GS, Collins PL, Dowdell VCL, Keegan SJ, Kelsey RD, Lockyer MJ, Luongo C, Najarro P, Pickles RJ, Simmonds M, Taylor D, Tyms S, Wilson LJ, Powell KL. RSV604, a novel inhibitor of respiratory syncytial virus replication. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2007; 51:3346-53. [PMID: 17576833 PMCID: PMC2043207 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00211-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2007] [Revised: 03/30/2007] [Accepted: 06/12/2007] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of lower respiratory tract infections worldwide, yet no effective vaccine or antiviral treatment is available. Here we report the discovery and initial development of RSV604, a novel benzodiazepine with submicromolar anti-RSV activity. It proved to be equipotent against all clinical isolates tested of both the A and B subtypes of the virus. The compound has a low rate of in vitro resistance development. Sequencing revealed that the resistant virus had mutations within the nucleocapsid protein. This is a novel mechanism of action for anti-RSV compounds. In a three-dimensional human airway epithelial cell model, RSV604 was able to pass from the basolateral side of the epithelium effectively to inhibit virus replication after mucosal inoculation. RSV604, which is currently in phase II clinical trials, represents the first in a new class of RSV inhibitors and may have significant potential for the effective treatment of RSV disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Chapman
- Arrow Therapeutics Ltd., Britannia House, 7 Trinity Street, London SE1 1DB, United Kingdom.
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12
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Henderson EA, Alber DG, Baxter RC, Bithell SK, Budworth J, Carter MC, Chubb A, Cockerill GS, Dowdell VCL, Fraser IJ, Harris RA, Keegan SJ, Kelsey RD, Lumley JA, Stables JN, Weerasekera N, Wilson LJ, Powell KL. 1,4-Benzodiazepines as Inhibitors of Respiratory Syncytial Virus. The Identification of a Clinical Candidate. J Med Chem 2007; 50:1685-92. [PMID: 17341059 DOI: 10.1021/jm060747l] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the cause of one-fifth of all lower respiratory tract infections worldwide and is increasingly being recognized as representing a serious threat to patient groups with poorly functioning or immature immune systems. Racemic 1,4-benzodiazepines show potent anti-RSV activity in vitro. Anti-RSV evaluation of 3-position R- and S-benzodiazepine enantiomers and subsequent optimization of this series resulted in selection of a clinical candidate. Antiviral activity was found to reside mainly in the S-enantiomer, and the R-enantiomers were consistently less active against RSV. Analogues of 1,4-(S)-benzodiazepine were synthesized as part of the lead optimization program at Arrow and tested in the XTT assay. From this exercise, (S)-1-(2-fluorophenyl)-3-(2-oxo-5-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[e][1,4]-diazepin-3-yl)-urea, 17b (RSV-604) was identified as a clinical candidate, exhibiting potent anti-RSV activity in the XTT assay, which was confirmed in secondary assays. Compound 17b also possessed a good pharmacokinetic profile and has now progressed into the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa A Henderson
- Arrow Therapeutics, Britannia House, 7 Trinity Street, London, SE1 1DA, United Kingdom.
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13
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Carter MC, Alber DG, Baxter RC, Bithell SK, Budworth J, Chubb A, Cockerill GS, Dowdell VCL, Henderson EA, Keegan SJ, Kelsey RD, Lockyer MJ, Stables JN, Wilson LJ, Powell KL. 1,4-Benzodiazepines as Inhibitors of Respiratory Syncytial Virus. J Med Chem 2006; 49:2311-9. [PMID: 16570927 DOI: 10.1021/jm051185t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the cause of one-fifth of all lower respiratory tract infections worldwide and is increasingly being recognized as a serious threat to patient groups with poorly functioning immune systems. Our approach to finding a novel inhibitor of this virus was to screen a 20 000-member diverse library in a whole cell XTT assay. Parallel assays were carried out in the absence of virus in order to quantify any associated cell toxicity. This identified 100 compounds with IC(50)'s less than 50 muM. A-33903 (18), a 1,4-benzodiazepine analogue, was chosen as the starting point for lead optimization. This molecule was moderately active and demonstrated good pharmacokinetic properties. The most potent compounds identified from this work were A-58568 (47), A-58569 (44), and A-62066 (46), where modifications to the aromatic substitution enhanced potency, and A-58175 (42), where the amide linker was modified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malcolm C Carter
- Arrow Therapeutics Ltd, Britannia House, 7, Trinity Street, London, SE1 1DA, UK.
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14
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Abstract
Gammaherpesviruses are associated with a number of diseases including lymphomas and other malignancies. Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68) constitutes the most amenable animal model for this family of pathogens. However experimental characterization of gammaherpesvirus gene expression, at either the protein or RNA level, lags behind that of other, better-studied alpha- and beta-herpesviruses. We have developed a cDNA array to globally characterize MHV-68 gene expression profiles, thus providing an experimental supplement to a genome that is chiefly annotated by homology. Viral genes started to be transcribed as early as 3 h postinfection (p.i.), and this was followed by a rapid escalation of gene expression that could be seen at 5 h p.i. Individual genes showed their own transcription profiles, and most genes were still being expressed at 18 h p.i. Open reading frames (ORFs) M3 (chemokine-binding protein), 52, and M9 (capsid protein) were particularly noticeable due to their very high levels of expression. Hierarchical cluster analysis of transcription profiles revealed four main groups of genes and allowed functional predictions to be made by comparing expression profiles of uncharacterized genes to those of genes of known function. Each gene was also categorized according to kinetic class by blocking de novo protein synthesis and viral DNA replication in vitro. One gene, ORF 73, was found to be expressed with alpha-kinetics, 30 genes were found to be expressed with beta-kinetics, and 42 genes were found to be expressed with gamma-kinetics. This fundamental characterization furthers the development of this model and provides an experimental basis for continued investigation of gammaherpesvirus pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joo Wook Ahn
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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15
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Alber DG, Vallance P, Powell KL. Enhanced atherogenesis is not an obligatory response to systemic herpesvirus infection in the apoE-deficient mouse: comparison of murine gamma-herpesvirus-68 and herpes simplex virus-1. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2002; 22:793-8. [PMID: 12006392 DOI: 10.1161/01.atv.0000016046.94521.68] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Viral and bacterial infectious agents have been implicated in the etiology of atherosclerosis. We have previously shown that a gamma-herpesvirus can accelerate atherosclerosis in the apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE-/-) mouse. To address whether a virally induced systemic immune response is sufficient to trigger enhanced atheroma formation, we infected apoE-/- mice with murine gamma-herpesvirus-68 (MHV-68) or herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1). In this study, we show that both viruses were able to induce a cell-mediated and humoral immune response in the apoE-/- mouse, which was sustained over a period of 24 weeks. Although intranasal or intraperitoneal infection with MHV-68 induced similar levels of virus-specific IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies in the serum of apoE-/- mice, those infected with HSV-1 showed higher anti-HSV-1 IgG2a compared with IgG1 antibody levels. In addition, viral message was not detected in the aortas of HSV-1-infected animals, whereas we have shown previously that MHV-68 mRNA can be detected in the aortas of infected mice as early as 5 days after infection. Compared with control mice, apoE-/- mice infected with MHV-68 showed accelerated atherosclerosis, whereas mice infected with HSV-1 did not. These data indicate that a systemic immune response to any particular infectious agent is insufficient to induce enhanced atherosclerosis in the apoE-/- mouse and point to specific infections or immune mechanisms that might be essential for virally enhanced atherogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dagmar G Alber
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, UK.
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16
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Grahame-Clarke C, Alber DG, Lucas SB, Miller R, Vallance P. Association between Kaposi's sarcoma and atherosclerosis: implications for gammaherpesviruses and vascular disease. AIDS 2001; 15:1902-4. [PMID: 11579262 DOI: 10.1097/00002030-200109280-00029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The treatment of HIV-positive patients with protease inhibitors has been suggested to increase their risk of atherosclerosis. The cause of this accelerated atherogenesis is unknown, but on the basis of previous studies we postulated that it could be linked to the presence of human herpesvirus-8. A retrospective analysis of post-mortem reports showed a strong correlation between Kaposi's sarcoma and the presence of atheroma. This hypothesis merits further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Grahame-Clarke
- Centre for Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, Royal Free and University Colleg Medical School, UK
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17
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Alber DG, Killington RA, Stokes A. Solid matrix-antibody-antigen complexes incorporating equine herpesvirus 1 glycoproteins C and D elicit anti-viral immune responses in BALB/c (H-2K(d)) and C3H (H-2K(k)) mice. Vaccine 2000; 19:895-901. [PMID: 11115713 DOI: 10.1016/s0264-410x(00)00222-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Glycoproteins C and D (gC and gD) derived from equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1)-infected cells were incorporated into individual solid matrix-antibody-antigen (SMAA) complexes and administered to BALB/c (H-2K(d)) and C3H (H-2K(k)) mice. Antibodies against each of the glycoproteins were produced that neutralised virus infectivity and mediated the lysis of EHV-1-infected target cells in the presence of complement. Immunoglobulin (Ig)G2b was the predominant antibody isotype produced in BALB/c mice against gC, while equal amounts of IgG2a/2b were found in the serum of C3H mice (indicative of a T-helper(1) response). Glycoprotein D immunisation elicited predominantly an IgG1 response in BALB/c mice (indicative of a T-helper(2) response) and an IgG2a/2b response in C3H mice. EHV-1-specific local and systemic T-cell proliferative responses were detected in vitro following administration of SMAA complexes. Suppression of the local T-cell response was seen following virus challenge of mice immunised with SMAA gC. SMAA gD provided some protection against intranasal EHV-1 challenge. These data show that the SMAA system is an effective way of presenting subviral components to the immune system and further emphasises the importance of including glycoprotein D as a component of a subunit EHV-1 vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- D G Alber
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, WC1E 6AU, London, UK
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18
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Human herpesviruses have been implicated but not proven to be involved in the etiology of atherosclerosis. To determine whether there is a causal relationship, the effect of herpesvirus infection on the development of atherosclerosis was assessed in the apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE-/-) mouse. METHODS AND RESULTS In the present study, 3- to 4-week-old apoE-/- mice were infected with murine gamma-herpesvirus-68 (MHV-68). Atheroma formation was accelerated over a 24-week period in infected apoE-/- mice compared with control uninfected apoE-/- mice. Acceleration of atherosclerosis was reduced by antiviral drug administration. Histological analysis of the atheromatous plaques showed no difference between lesions of infected and control mice. Viral mRNA was present in the aortas of infected mice before lesion development on day 5 after infection. This suggests that the virus may initiate endothelial injury, which is believed to be an early event in the development of atherosclerosis. Therefore, the virus may play a direct role in atherosclerosis rather than be an "innocent bystander." CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate that a gamma-herpesvirus can accelerate atherosclerosis in the apoE-/- mouse. This study provides the first report of a murine model in which to study the causative role of herpesvirus infection in the development of atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- D G Alber
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, UK.
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19
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Stokes A, Alber DG, Cameron RS, Marshall RN, Allen GP, Killington RA. The production of a truncated form of baculovirus expressed EHV-1 glycoprotein C and its role in protection of C3H (H-2Kk) mice against virus challenge. Virus Res 1996; 44:97-109. [PMID: 8879139 DOI: 10.1016/0168-1702(96)01339-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
A truncated form of the equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) glycoprotein C (gC) gene was expressed in baculovirus. The gC signal sequence was substituted with the honeybee melittin signal sequence and the transmembrane region was replaced with a histidine tag. The recombinant virus produced high levels of gC in both the cells and supernatants of infected cells. The protein was present by 24 h and maximal secretion occurred at 96 h post-infection. The recombinant protein was antigenically authentic as shown by its reaction with each of a panel of individual monoclonal antibodies specific for the five distinct antigenic sites on EHV-1 gC. Recombinant gC was purified from the supernatant of infected cells by immuno-affinity chromatography and used to immunize C3H (H-2Kk haplotype) mice. This incurred a gC specific antibody response against both the recombinant protein and EHV-1 gC. 'Pepscan' analysis showed that the gC specific antibodies in serum from these mice reacted with the same epitopes on gC as those recognized by antibodies in convalescent equine sera (i.e. antibodies were specific to antigenic sites one and five). A third previously unrecognized antibody binding site at the carboxyl terminus was also detected (Antibody binding domain I). A T-cell proliferative response against EHV-1 was detected in splenocyte populations taken from vaccinated mice. Further, the recovery of virus from the lungs and turbinates following challenge of mice with EHV-1 was significantly reduced. These findings indicate that baculovirus expressed gC may contribute significantly to a subunit vaccine preparation aimed at protecting horses from EHV-1 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Stokes
- Department of Microbiology, University of Leeds, UK
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20
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Stokes A, Alber DG, Greensill J, Amellal B, Carvalho R, Taylor LA, Doel TR, Killington RA, Halliburton IW, Meredith DM. The expression of the proteins of equine herpesvirus 1 which share homology with herpes simplex virus 1 glycoproteins H and L. Virus Res 1996; 40:91-107. [PMID: 8725124 DOI: 10.1016/0168-1702(95)01256-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Several expression systems were used in studies aimed at characterizing the equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) glycoprotein H and L homologues of HSV-1 (EHV-1 gH and gL) and the products were compared to the authentic proteins synthesized in virus infected cells. Using an in vitro transcription/translation system two gH species were detected (an unprocessed 89 kDa and a processed 116 kDa product). Three low molecular weight proteins were found in the case of gL (21.8 kDa, 22.9 kDa and 26.9 kDa) and these showed a slight reduction in mobility on the addition of microsomal membranes to the reactions. A gL fusion protein was produced in pGEX-2T, expression being confirmed by Western blotting using a gL-specific antiserum raised against a peptide incorporating the 13 carboxyl terminal amino acids of the protein. A gH specific peptide antiserum precipitated both gH and two smaller proteins from EHV-1 infected cells thought to be two forms of gL. Insect cells infected with gH or gL baculovirus recombinants were used to vaccinate C3H (H-2k) mice. Some protection against EHV-1 infection was conferred to the gH inoculated mice. The results will enable further studies on the importance of the gH and gL interaction in the pathogenesis of EHV-1 to be evaluated and their potential in contributing to a subunit vaccine to be assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Stokes
- Department of Microbiology, University of Leeds, UK
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21
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Alber DG, Greensill J, Killington RA, Stokes A. Role of T-cells, virus neutralising antibodies and complement-mediated antibody lysis in the immune response against equine herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1) infection of C3H (H-2k) and BALB/c (H-2d) mice. Res Vet Sci 1995; 59:205-13. [PMID: 8588092 DOI: 10.1016/0034-5288(95)90003-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The suitability of C3H (H-2k) and BALB/c (H-2d) mice for use as small animal models to study immunity to EHV-1 was assessed. An in vitro T cell response mediated by both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was detected both during the acute phase of infection and after challenge with a second dose of EHV-1 at two months in lymphocyte populations taken from the spleens of both types of mouse. The responses were apparent until at least 61 days after the primary inoculation. After challenge, T cells from mice previously infected with EHV-1 responded by as early as day 3 after infection and higher levels of T cell proliferation were reached than in mice undergoing a primary infection. Immunological cross-reactivity with the closely related virus, EHV-4 was detected and some activity against herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) was observed during the acute phase of infection. T cell responses were detected in the draining cervical lymph nodes but not in the inguinal lymph nodes of the mice and these were the primary sites of T cell activation. Complement-dependent virus neutralising antibodies were present by day 8 after infection. These antibodies were also able to lyse EHV-1 infected target cells in vitro. Complement-independent virus neutralising antibodies were found before challenge only in C3H mice. The clinical signs and duration of virus shedding were reduced after challenge. The time course of the appearance of the different immune effector mechanisms is discussed in relation to the clearance of virus from the infected mice. The results suggest that C3H mice provide a better model in which to study potential vaccine candidates against EHV-1 infections of the horse than BALB/c mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- D G Alber
- Department of Microbiology, University of Leeds
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