Antigenic diversity of human parainfluenza virus type 1 isolates and their immunological relationship with Sendai virus revealed by using monoclonal antibodies. (49/544)

Fifty-six monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against human parainfluenza virus type 1 (hPIV-1) were prepared in order to identify the structural proteins of hPIV-1, to examine the immunological relationship between hPIV-1 and Sendai virus (SV), and to determine the antigenic diversity of clinical isolates of hPIV-1. In addition, 41 MAbs characterized previously and directed against SV were used for immunological comparison of SV and hPIV-1 isolates. Of the MAbs against hPIV-1, two reacted with phospho (P) protein, 11 with nucleocapsid protein (NP), 24 with haemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein and 19 with fusion (F) protein. With the aid of MAbs against hPIV-1 and those against SV showing cross-reactivity with hPIV-1, the structural proteins of hPIV-1 were identified; p83, p56, p34, gp74 and gp60 of hPIV-1 were identified as the P, NP, M, HN and F proteins, respectively. The MAbs against the P protein and NP of hPIV-1 showed limited cross-reactivity with SV, whereas they had high reactivity with clinical isolates of hPIV-1. Interestingly, one MAb against the NP of hPIV-1 lacked reactivity with clinical isolates which were isolated in the 1970s and 1980s. The MAbs against the HN of hPIV-1 also exhibited quite limited reactivity with SV and the clinical isolates; two groups of HN-specific MAbs showed almost no reactivity with the clinical isolates from the 1970s and 1980s, similarly to the NP-specific MAb. However, anti-HN MAbs belonging to the two groups showing specific activities (neuraminidase inhibition and haemolysis inhibition) reacted with almost all clinical isolates. On the other hand, although anti-F protein MAbs had limited reactivity with SV, they showed reactivity with almost all hPIV-1 isolates. The MAbs against the P, NP, M, HN and F proteins of SV also showed limited cross-reactivity with the clinical hPIV-1 isolates, and this reactivity was independent of the time and place of isolation, except for that of the F protein. These results confirm that although hPIV-1 is related to SV, it is antigenically distinct from it.  (+info)

SEARCH FOR ONCOGENIC PROPERTIES IN VARIOUS VIRUSES FOUND IN MAN: POSITIVE RESULTS WITH ADENOVIRUS TYPES 12 AND 18. (50/544)

Since the inoculation of newborn hamsters with polyoma virus results both in necrotizing lesions and virus-free tumours the possibility was raised that necrotizing viruses found in man acted similarly. Accordingly a group of viruses found in man were tested for oncogenic activity by injecting them into newborn hamsters. Most were observed for more than a year. As yet only Adenovirus Types 12 and 18 have induced tumours; the oncogenic properties of these were reported by Trentin et al., and Huebner et al., respectively, while this study was in progress. The significance of the findings with regard to man cannot as yet be evaluated but the point is made that Adenovirus Types 12 and 18, like polyoma and SV40 virus, only cause neoplasia under special circumstances. Further work will be required to discover if these circumstances or their equivalent occur under conditions of the natural spread of infection.  (+info)

MYXOVIRUSES ASSOCIATED WITH ACUTE LARYNGOTRACHEOBRONCHITIS IN TORONTO, 1962-63. (51/544)

Between November 1962 and March 1963, myxoviruses were isolated from 95 of 224 children (40.5%), most of whom were aged less than three years, who were admitted to The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, with acute laryngotracheobronchitis (tracheitis or croup). Viral isolates included 87 strains of Parainfluenza-1, five of Parainfluenza-3, and three of Influenza A2. An epidemic of Influenza A2 afflicted Toronto during March 1963, at which time this virus was isolated from tracheitis patients.Myxoviruses were isolated from nasopharyngeal secretions of 285 of 794 tracheitis patients between November 1960 and March 1963. Parainfluenza-1 virus was the dominant serotype, being found in 241 (30.0%) of subjects. Three peaks of Parainfluenza-1 virus isolations were observed in December 1960, March 1962 and November 1962, and this serotype has been isolated during all months except June and July. Although most of the 28 Parainfluenza-3 virus infections occurred between November and February, this strain has also been isolated during summer. Strains of Influenza A2 and Influenza B viruses have been isolated from tracheitis patients during epidemics of influenza in Toronto due to these agents.  (+info)

ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS IN CHILDREN. II. A TRIAL OF POLYVALENT VIRUS VACCINE. (52/544)

A new polyvalent respiratory virus vaccine has been evaluated in a double-blind trial involving infants and children. Five hundred and sixteen healthy infants and children were given either nine-strain polyvalent respiratory virus vaccine or placebo. The vaccine contained four Influenza strains, three Adenovirus strains and two Parainfluenza strains. Serologic studies revealed that persistent protective antibody levels were achieved with only the Asian Influenza component.The children were followed up clinically for a one-year period and each respiratory illness was recorded. No protection appeared to have been conferred by the vaccine, and indeed a significantly greater number of respiratory illnesses occurred among the vaccinated group.  (+info)

ZBITNEW A: UPPER RESPIRATORY DISEASE IN THOUROUGHBRED HORSES: STUDIES OF ITS VIRAL ETIOLOGY IN THE TORONTO AREA, 1960 TO 1963. (53/544)

From outbreaks of upper respiratory infection of horses in the Toronto area between 1960 and 1963, several viruses have been isolated. The viruses, isolated in tissue cultures or eggs, include an equine strain of Myxovirus parainfluenzae 3; two strains of equine influenza virus, A/equi-1/Prague/56, and A/equi-2/Miami/63; equine rhinopneumonitis virus, and two newly recognized viruses of the horse, equine rhinoviruses. In addition serological evidence suggested a widespread infection with these viruses in the population under study. Because of the identical clinical picture seen and the complex etiology of the disease, immunization against upper respiratory disease of the horse does not appear to be completely feasible at this time.  (+info)

Human metapneumovirus infection in the Canadian population. (54/544)

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV), a newly discovered paramyxovirus, has been associated with acute respiratory tract infections (ARIs) ranging from upper ARIs to severe bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Important questions remain on the contribution of hMPV to ARIs and its impact on public health. During the 2001-2002 season, we conducted a collaborative study with four provincial public health laboratories to study the prevalence of this new virus in the Canadian population. A total of 445 specimens were collected from patients of all age groups with ARIs and were tested for the presence of hMPV by reverse transcription-PCR. Of these, 66 (14.8%) tested positive for hMPV. Positive specimens were found in all age groups and in all four provinces studied. Virus activity peaked in February and March. The age range of the patients with hMPV infection was 2 months to 93 years (median age, 25 years), with similar numbers of females (35%) and males (41%). Thirty-three percent (n = 22) of hMPV-infected patients were hospitalized; of these, 27% (n = 6) had rhinitis and pneumonia, 23% (n = 5) had bronchiolitis, and 9% (n = 2) had bronchitis. The hospitalization rates were significantly higher among patients <5 years of age (P = 0.0005) and those >50 years of age (P = 0.0044) than among those 6 to 50 years of age. Phylogenetic analysis of the F gene showed that two hMPV genetic clusters were cocirculating in the 2001-2002 season, and comparison with earlier studies suggests a temporal evolutionary pattern of hMPV isolates. These results provide further evidence of the importance of hMPV in ARIs, particularly in young children and elderly individuals.  (+info)

Prevalence and clinical symptoms of human metapneumovirus infection in hospitalized patients. (55/544)

During a 17-month period, we performed retrospective analyses of the prevalence of and clinical symptoms associated with human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infection, among patients in a university hospital in The Netherlands. All available nasal-aspirate, throat-swab, sputum, and bronchoalveolar-lavage samples (N=1515) were tested for hMPV RNA by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. hMPV RNA was detected in 7% of samples from patients with respiratory tract illnesses (RTIs) and was the second-most-detected viral pathogen in these patients during the last 2 winter seasons. hMPV was detected primarily in very young children and in immunocompromised individuals. In young children, clinical symptoms associated with hMPV infection were similar to those associated with human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) infection, but dyspnea, feeding difficulties, and hypoxemia were reported more frequently in hRSV-infected children. Treatment with antibiotics and corticosteroids was reported more frequently in hMPV-infected children. From these data, we conclude that hMPV is an important pathogen associated with RTI.  (+info)

Evaluation of attenuation, immunogenicity and efficacy of a bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV-3) vaccine and a recombinant chimeric bovine/human PIV-3 vaccine vector in rhesus monkeys. (56/544)

Restricted replication in the respiratory tract of rhesus monkeys is an intrinsic property of bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 (bPIV-3) strains. This host range phenotype of bPIV-3 has been utilized as a marker to evaluate the attenuation of bPIV-3 vaccines for human use. Two safety, immunogenicity and efficacy studies in primates evaluated and compared three human parainfluenza virus type 3 (hPIV-3) vaccine candidates: biologically derived bPIV-3, a plasmid-derived bPIV-3 (r-bPIV-3) and a chimeric bovine/human PIV-3 (b/hPIV-3). These studies also examined the feasibility of substituting Vero cells, cultured in the presence or absence of foetal bovine serum, for foetal rhesus lung-2 (FRhL-2) cells as the tissue culture substrate for the production of bPIV-3 vaccine. The results demonstrated that (i) Vero cell-produced bPIV-3 was as attenuated, immunogenic and efficacious as bPIV-3 vaccine grown in FRhL-2 cells, (ii) plasmid-derived bPIV-3 was as attenuated, immunogenic and efficacious as the biologically derived bPIV-3 and (iii) the b/hPIV-3 chimera displayed an intermediate attenuation phenotype and protected animals completely from hPIV-3 challenge. These results support the use of bPIV-3 vaccines propagated in Vero cells in human clinical trials and the use of b/hPIV-3 as a virus vaccine vector to express foreign viral antigens.  (+info)