Transgenic expression in mouse lung reveals distinct biological roles for the adenovirus type 5 E1A 243- and 289-amino-acid proteins. (49/452)

Little is known about the biological significance of human adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) E1A in vivo. However, Ad5 E1A is well defined in vitro and can be detected frequently in the lungs of patients with pulmonary disease. Transgenic expression of the Ad5 E1A gene targeted to the mouse lung reveals distinct biological effects caused by two Ad5 E1A products. Either of two Ad5 E1A proteins was preferentially expressed in vivo in the transgenic lungs. The preferential expression of the Ad5 E1A 243-amino-acid (aa) protein at a moderate level was associated with cellular hyperplasia, nodular lesions of proliferating lymphocyte-like cells, and a low level of p53-dependent apoptosis in the lungs of transgenic mice. In contrast, the preferential expression of the Ad5 E1A 289-aa protein at a moderate level resulted in a proapoptotic injury and an acute pulmonary proinflammation in the lungs of transgenic mice, mediated by multiple apoptotic pathways, as well as an enhancement of the host immune cell response. Expression of the Ad5 E1A 243-aa protein resulted in proliferation-stimulated p53 upregulation, while expression of the Ad5 E1A 289-aa protein led to DNA damage-induced p53 activation. These data suggest that the Ad5 E1A 243- and 289-aa proteins lead to distinct biological roles in vivo.  (+info)

Viral etiology of acute respiratory infections among children in Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. (50/452)

Although acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are a major cause of child morbidity and mortality in Southern Brazil, little information is available on their seasonality and viral etiology. This study was conducted on children under 5 years of age with ARI to assess viral etiology in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, from 1990 to 1992. A total of 862 nasopharyngeal secretion (NPS) samples were tested using indirect immunofluorescence. The results showed that 316 (36.6%) NPS samples were positive: 26.2% for RSV, 6% for adenovirus, 1.7% for influenza viruses, 1.5% for parainfluenza viruses, and 1.2% for mixed infection. The mean viral prevalence rates in out-patient services, emergency wards, and in-patient hospital wards were 26.7%, 53% and 42.3%, respectively. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and adenovirus accounted for 91.4 % of the viral diagnoses. RSV was more frequent in children under one year of age at the three levels of health care and was prevalent in infants under six months. Adenovirus was the most prevalent pathogen in hospitalized children, in 1992. Influenza A virus showed an increased prevalence with age among out-patient children. This study shows the annual occurrence of viral respiratory infections in the coldest months, with a significant annual variation in the frequency of RSV infection.  (+info)

Adenovirus triggers macropinocytosis and endosomal leakage together with its clathrin-mediated uptake. (51/452)

Adenovirus type 2 (Ad2) binds the coxsackie B virus Ad receptor and is endocytosed upon activation of the alphav integrin coreceptors. Here, we demonstrate that expression of dominant negative clathrin hub, eps15, or K44A-dynamin (dyn) inhibited Ad2 uptake into epithelial cells, indicating clathrin-dependent viral endocytosis. Surprisingly, Ad strongly stimulated the endocytic uptake of fluid phase tracers, coincident with virus internalization but without affecting receptor-mediated transferrin uptake. A large amount of the stimulated endocytic activity was macropinocytosis. Macropinocytosis depended on alphav integrins, PKC, F-actin, and the amiloride-sensitive Na+/H+ exchanger, which are all required for Ad escape from endosomes and infection. Macropinocytosis stimulation was not a consequence of viral escape, since it occurred in K44A-dyn-expressing cells. Surprisingly, 30-50% of the endosomal contents were released into the cytosol of control and also K44A-dyn-expressing cells, and the number of fluid phase-positive endosomes dropped below the levels of noninfected cells, indicating macropinosomal lysis. The release of macropinosomal contents was Ad dose dependent, but the presence of Ad particles on macropinosomal membranes was not sufficient for contents release. We conclude that Ad signaling from the cell surface controls the induction of macropinosome formation and leakage, and this correlates with viral exit to the cytosol and infection.  (+info)

Prevalence and quantitation of species C adenovirus DNA in human mucosal lymphocytes. (52/452)

The common species C adenoviruses (serotypes Ad1, Ad2, Ad5, and Ad6) infect more than 80% of the human population early in life. Following primary infection, the virus can establish an asymptomatic persistent infection in which infectious virions are shed in feces for several years. The probable source of persistent virus is mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, although the molecular details of persistence or latency of adenovirus are currently unknown. In this study, a sensitive real-time PCR assay was developed to quantitate species C adenovirus DNA in human tissues removed for routine tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy. Using this assay, species C DNA was detected in Ficoll-purified lymphocytes from 33 of 42 tissue specimens tested (79%). The levels varied from fewer than 10 to greater than 2 x 10(6) copies of the adenovirus genome/10(7) cells, depending on the donor. DNA from serotypes Ad1, Ad2, and Ad5 was detected, while the rarer serotype Ad6 was not. When analyzed as a function of donor age, the highest levels of adenovirus genomes were found among the youngest donors. Antibody-coated magnetic beads were used to purify lymphocytes into subpopulations and determine whether viral DNA could be enriched within any purified subpopulations. Separation of T cells (CD4/8- expressing and/or CD3-expressing cells) enriched viral DNA in each of nine donors tested. In contrast, B-cell purification (CD19-expressing cells) invariably depleted or eliminated viral DNA. Despite the frequent finding of significant quantities of adenovirus DNA in tonsil and adenoid tissues, infectious virus was rarely present, as measured by coculture with permissive cells. These findings suggest that human mucosal T lymphocytes may harbor species C adenoviruses in a quiescent, perhaps latent form.  (+info)

Characteristics of adenovirus associated urethritis. (53/452)

OBJECTIVES: To describe the characteristics of adenovirus urethritis in men. METHOD: Cases occurred over a 30 month period among men presenting with urethritis to Melbourne Sexual Health Clinic. All cases had a urethral Gram stain and underwent testing for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, herpes, and adenovirus. Cases were empirically treated with a macrolide or doxycycline. RESULTS: Eight cases of adenovirus associated urethritis were identified in whom no other causative organism was isolated. Cases were clustered in autumn and winter of each year and all reported recent insertive oral sex and seven reported recent insertive vaginal sex. All patients complained of dysuria, seven had meatitis and mucoid discharge, six had conjunctivitis, and four constitutional symptoms. Three sexual contacts were known to be symptomatic. CONCLUSION: Adenovirus is an uncommon cause of urethritis in men but it should be considered in all males presenting with dysuria, meatitis, and associated conjunctivitis or constitutional symptoms.  (+info)

Adenovirus DNA in serum of children hospitalized due to an acute respiratory adenovirus infection. (54/452)

Serum samples from 68 immunocompetent infants (mean age, 12.6 months) with an acute adenovirus infection of the respiratory tract (39 experiencing their first adenovirus infection) were tested for the presence of adenovirus DNA, to investigate whether viral dissemination via the blood is usually present in the immunocompetent patient. Using a nested polymerase chain reaction assay, adenovirus DNA could be detected in acute-phase serum samples from 28 (41%) children. Adenovirus DNA was never found in follow-up serum samples, indicating a short period ( approximately 1 week) of viral dissemination. In children experiencing their first adenovirus infection, viral DNA could be detected in 72% of the acute-phase serum samples collected within the first week after onset of symptoms. Adenovirus DNA could also be detected in 25% of the acute-phase serum samples from patients with reinfection.  (+info)

Adenovirus infection in pediatric liver and intestinal transplant recipients: utility of DNA detection by PCR. (55/452)

To evaluate the incidence of adenovirus (AdV) infection in pediatric liver and intestinal transplant recipients, the records of patients with possible AdV infection were reviewed for demographic data, symptomatology, methods of diagnosis, treatment and outcome. To evaluate the impact of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and identification of AdV DNA as a diagnostic test, the incidence and outcome of AdV before and after the introduction of PCR were compared. Adenovirus infection was identified in 4.1% of liver recipients and 20.8% of intestinal transplant recipients. The overall incidence of AdV did not increase over time, even following the introduction of PCR for virus detection. The higher incidence of AdV in the pediatric intestinal transplant recipients may be attributed to the frequent application of PCR methodology to intestinal biopsy material. Detection of AdV by PCR was associated with reduced mortality compared with detection by culture, either because of earlier detection of invasive disease or because PCR detects the presence of latent as well as active AdV.  (+info)

Acute mechanism of medium chain fatty acid-induced enhancement of airway epithelial permeability. (56/452)

The localization of viral receptors to the basolateral surface of airway epithelia is an obstacle to the effectiveness of luminal viral-mediated gene transfer to the lung. The tight junction (TJ) serves as a rate-limiting barrier to the penetration of viral vectors. We have previously identified the sodium salt of the medium chain fatty acid (MCFA) capric acid (C10) as an agent that can enhance the ability of adenoviral vectors to transduce well differentiated (WD) primary human airway epithelial (HAE) cells. Previous studies have suggested that intracellular calcium (Ca(i)2+) levels may play a central role in the long-term C10-mediated increases in junctional permeability. In this study, we investigated the effects of C10 and lauric acid (C12) on Ca(i)2+ in WD primary HAE cells and determined whether these effects were necessary for the acute MCFA-induced reduction in transepithelial resistance (R(T)) and increased permeability. In addition, we characterized the effects of C10 and C12 on components localized to the TJ, including ZO-1, junctional adhesion molecule (JAM), and the claudin family of transmembrane proteins. In addition to rapidly decreasing R(T), C10 and C12 increased cellular and paracellular permeability. C10 induced a rapid, sustained increase in Ca(i)2+. However, buffering Ca(i)2+ did not block the effects of C10 on R(T). Both C10 and C12 caused reorganization of claudins-1, -4, JAM, and beta-catenin, but not ZO-1. These data suggest that C10 and C12 exert their acute effects on airway TJs via a Ca(2+)-independent mechanism of action and may alter junctional permeability via direct effects on the claudin family of TJ proteins.  (+info)