Administration of an adeno-associated viral vector expressing interferon-β in patients with inflammatory hand arthritis, results of a phase I/II study.

Objective: Inflammatory hand arthritis (IHA) results in impaired function. Local gene therapy with ART-I02, a recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype 5 vector expressing interferon (IFN)-β, under the transcriptional control of nuclear factor κ-B responsive promoter, was preclinically shown to have favorable effects. This study aimed to investigate the safety and tolerability of local gene therapy with ART-I02 in patients with IHA.

First-in-Human Phase I Clinical Trial of an SFV-Based RNA Replicon Cancer Vaccine against HPV-Induced Cancers.

A first-in-human phase I trial of Vvax001, an alphavirus-based therapeutic cancer vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced cancers was performed assessing immunological activity, safety, and tolerability. Vvax001 consists of replication-incompetent Semliki Forest virus replicon particles encoding HPV16-derived antigens E6 and E7. Twelve participants with a history of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia were included.

GMP manufacturing of Vvax001, a therapeutic anti-HPV vaccine based on recombinant viral particles.

Therapeutic vaccination is being explored as a treatment strategy for the treatment of patients with primary or metastatic tumours. We developed a vaccine targeted to Human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced tumours based on recombinant Semliki Forest virus (rSFV) encoding a fusion protein of the E6 and E7 proteins of HPV type 16. To enable a phase I clinical trial with this vaccine, Vvax001, a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant manufacturing process was set up and clinical material was produced.

ORCA-010, a novel potency-enhanced oncolytic adenovirus, exerts strong antitumor activity in preclinical models.

Improving the antitumor potency of current oncolytic adenoviruses represents one of the major challenges in development of these viruses for clinical use. We have generated an oncolytic adenovirus carrying the safety-enhancing E1AΔ24 deletion, the potency-enhancing T1 mutation, and the infectivity-enhancing fiber RGD modification. The results of in vitro cytotoxicity assays on 15 human cancer cell lines derived from different tumor types demonstrated that ORCA-010 is more potent than Ad5-Δ24RGD or ONYX-015.

AAV-1-mediated gene transfer to skeletal muscle in humans results in dose-dependent activation of capsid-specific T cells.

In a clinical trial for adeno-associated virus serotype 1 (AAV-1)-mediated gene transfer to muscle for lipoprotein lipase (LPL) deficiency, 1 subject from the high-dose cohort experienced a transient increase in the muscle enzyme creatine phosphokinase (CPK) 4 weeks after gene transfer. Simultaneously, after an initial downward trend consistent with expression of LPL, plasma triglyceride levels returned to baseline. We characterized B- and T-cell responses to the vector and the transgene product in the subjects enrolled in this study.

The nsp1alpha and nsp1 papain-like autoproteinases are essential for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus RNA synthesis.

The two N-terminal cleavage products, nsp1alpha and nsp1beta, of the replicase polyproteins of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) each contain a papain-like autoproteinase domain, which have been named PCPalpha and PCPbeta, respectively. To assess their role in the PRRSV life cycle, substitutions and deletions of the presumed catalytic cysteine and histidine residues of PCPalpha and PCPbeta were introduced into a PRRSV infectious cDNA clone. Mutations that inactivated PCPalpha activity completely blocked subgenomic mRNA synthesis, but did not affect genome replication.

Correction of feline lipoprotein lipase deficiency with adeno-associated virus serotype 1-mediated gene transfer of the lipoprotein lipase S447X beneficial mutation.

Human lipoprotein lipase (hLPL) deficiency, for which there currently exists no adequate treatment, leads to excessive plasma triglycerides (TGs), recurrent abdominal pain, and life-threatening pancreatitis. We have shown that a single intramuscular administration of adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype 1 vector, encoding the human LPL(S447X) variant, results in complete, long-term normalization of dyslipidemia in LPL(/) mice. As a prelude to gene therapy for human LPL deficiency, we tested the efficacy of AAV1-LPL(S447X) in LPL(/) cats, which demonstrate hypertriglyceridemia (plasma TGs, >10,000 mg/dl) and clinical symptoms similar to LPL deficiency in humans, including pancreatitis.

Gene therapy for lipoprotein lipase deficiency: working toward clinical application.

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) deficiency causes hypertriglyceridemia and recurrent, potentially life-threatening pancreatitis. There currently is no adequate treatment for this disease. Previously, we showed that intramuscular administration of an adeno-associated virus serotype 1 (AAV1) vector encoding the human LPL(S447X) variant cDNA (AAV1-LPL(S447X)) normalized the dyslipidemia of LPL-/- mice for more than 1 year.

Envelope protein requirements for the assembly of infectious virions of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus.

Virions of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) contain six membrane proteins: the major proteins GP5 and M and the minor proteins GP2a, E, GP3, and GP4. Here, we studied the envelope protein requirements for PRRSV particle formation and infectivity using full-length cDNA clones in which the genes encoding the membrane proteins were disrupted by site-directed mutagenesis. By transfection of RNAs transcribed from these cDNAs into BHK-21 cells and analysis of the culture medium using ultracentrifugation, radioimmunoprecipitation, and real-time reverse transcription-PCR, we observed that the production of viral particles is dependent on both major envelope proteins; no particles were released when either the GP5 or the M protein was absent.

Gene therapy for genetic lipoprotein lipase deficiency: from promise to practice.

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) deficiency is a rare, hereditary disorder of lipoprotein metabolism characterised by severely increased triglyceride levels, and associated with an increased risk for pancreatitis. Since no adequate treatment modality is available for this disorder, we set out to develop an LPL gene therapy protocol. This paper focuses on the clinical presentation of LPL deficiency, summarises the preclinical investigations in animal models and describes the rationale to evaluate gene therapy for this monogenetic disorder of lipid metabolism in humans.

Significance of the oligosaccharides of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus glycoproteins GP2a and GP5 for infectious virus production.

The arterivirus porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) contains four glycoproteins, GP(2a), GP(3), GP(4) and GP(5), the functions of which are still largely unresolved. In this study, the significance of the N-glycosylation of the GP(2a) and GP(5) proteins of PRRSV strain LV was investigated. Both glycoproteins contain two predicted N-glycosylation sites that are highly conserved between North American-type and European-type PRRSV.

Long-term correction of murine lipoprotein lipase deficiency with AAV1-mediated gene transfer of the naturally occurring LPL(S447X) beneficial mutation.

Human lipoprotein lipase (LPL) deficiency causes profound hypertriglyceridemia and life-threatening pancreatitis. We recently developed an adult murine model for LPL deficiency: LPL -/- mice display grossly elevated plasma triglyceride (TG) levels (>200-fold) and very low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C < 10% of normal). We used this animal model to test the efficacy of adeno-associated virus-mediated expression of hLPL(S447X) (AAV1-LPL(S447X)) in muscle for the treatment of LPL deficiency.

The major envelope protein, GP5, of a European porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus contains a neutralization epitope in its N-terminal ectodomain.

A set of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed against the GP(5) protein of European type porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has been produced previously (Weiland et al., 1999). This set reacted with a plaque-purified virus (PPV) subpopulation of Dutch isolate Intervet-10 (I-10), but not with the European prototype PRRSV LV.

Safety and protective efficacy of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome recombinant virus vaccines in young pigs.

Three porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) recombinants, generated by mutagenesis of an infectious cDNA clone of the Lelystad virus (LV) isolate, were tested for their safety and protective efficacy as potential PRRSV vaccines in pigs. Recombinant vABV688 contains two amino acid substitutions in the minor structural protein GP(2) resulting in improved growth on cell line CL2621; in recombinant vABV707 the region encoding the ectodomain of the major unglycosylated membrane protein M has been replaced by that of the murine lactate dehydrogenase-elevating arterivirus; recombinant vABV746 lacks the six C-terminal amino acids of the nucleocapsid protein N. First, we determined the safety of these recombinant viruses by monitoring the stability of the introduced mutations in 8-week-old pigs.

Identification of porcine alveolar macrophage glycoproteins involved in infection of porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus.

The aim of this study was to identify the receptor(s) for PRRSV on porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) by producing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against these cells. Hybridoma supernatants were selected for their ability to block PRRSV infection. Four MAbs, 1-8D2, 9.

Chimeric arteriviruses generated by swapping of the M protein ectodomain rule out a role of this domain in viral targeting.

Arteriviruses are enveloped, positive-strand RNA viruses for which the two major envelope proteins GP(5) and M occur as disulfide-linked heterodimers. These were assumed to serve the viral targeting functions, but recent ectodomain swapping studies with equine arteritis virus (EAV) indicate that the GP(5) protein does not determine arteriviral tropism. Here, we focused on the short, 13- to 18-residue ectodomain of the M protein.

Kissing interaction between 3' noncoding and coding sequences is essential for porcine arterivirus RNA replication.

We used an infectious cDNA clone of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) to investigate the presence of essential replication elements in the region of the genome encoding the structural proteins. Deletion analysis showed that a stretch of 34 nucleotides (14653 to 14686) within ORF7, which encodes the nucleocapsid protein, is essential for RNA replication. Strand-specific reverse transcription-PCR analysis of viral RNA isolated from transfected BHK-21 cells revealed that this region is required for negative-strand genomic RNA synthesis.

Viable porcine arteriviruses with deletions proximal to the 3' end of the genome.

In order to obtain attenuated live vaccine candidates of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), a series of deletions was introduced at the 3' end of the viral genome using an infectious cDNA clone of the Lelystad virus isolate. RNA transcripts from the full-length cDNA clones were transfected into BHK-21 cells. The culture supernatant of these cells was subsequently used to infect porcine alveolar macrophages to detect the production of progeny virus.

Expression of a foreign epitope by porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus.

The potential of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) as a viral vector was explored by the insertion of a sequence encoding a foreign antigen into the infectious cDNA clone of the Lelystad virus isolate. An epitope of the hemagglutinin (HA) protein of human influenza A virus was introduced at the 5' end and at the 3' end of ORF7, in each case resulting in a fusion protein between the HA epitope and the nucleocapsid (N) protein. Furthermore, in the construct carrying the HA sequences at the 5' end of ORF7, additional in-frame insertions encoding the autoprotease 2A of foot-and-mouth disease virus were made between the HA and ORF7 sequences to ensure the generation of a functional N protein from its hybrid precursor.

PRRSV, the virus.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a positive-strand RNA virus that belongs to the Arteriviridae family. PRRSV grows in primary alveolar macrophages and in monkey kidney cell lines. The genomic RNA is approximately 15 kb.

Changes of leukocyte phenotype and function in the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid of pigs infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus: a role for CD8(+) cells.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory virus (PRRSV) primarily infects and destroys alveolar macrophages of the pig. The aim of the present study was to characterize the changes of leukocyte populations in the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of PRRSV-infected pigs. Piglets were inoculated intranasally with PRRSV strain LV ter Huurne.

Localization and fine mapping of antigenic sites on the nucleocapsid protein N of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus with monoclonal antibodies.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the antigenic structure of the nucleocapsid protein N of the Lelystad virus isolate of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and to identify antigenic differences between this prototype European isolate and other North American isolates. To do this, we generated a panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed against the N protein of Lelystad virus and tested them in competition assays with other N-specific mAbs described previously (Drew et al., 1995; Nelson et al.

An infectious cDNA clone of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus.

A plasmid containing a full-length cDNA copy of the Lelystad virus isolate (LV) of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus was constructed. When RNA that was transcribed in vitro from this full-length cDNA clone was transfected to BHK-21 cells, infectious LV was produced and secreted. The virus was rescued by passage to porcine alveolar lung macrophages or CL2621 cells.