RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Lymphocytes provide invaluable whistle blowers of changes due to infections. We use the information registered by these cells using their mRNAs as they encounter the pathogen to develop patterns of expression that correspond to that specific pathogen. Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) is a mosquito-borne viral disease characterized by fever and one or more of the following: severe headache, back pain, myalgias, prostration, chills, nausea, vomiting, weakness and other flu-like symptoms. Screening for host mRNA obtained from blood samples after exposure to VEEV may provide the means for early detection of surrogate markers of the impending illness and provide appropriate strategies for treatment. RESULTS: We have been carrying out gene expression analysis of PBMC exposed to VEEV to extract signatures and diagnostic markers of early exposure to be used in non invasive blood analysis methods. In this study, we used high throughput gene expression analysis to identify markers of early and late exposures to VEEV in vivo in Cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis). We carried out cDNA microarrays and real time PCR on blood samples obtained from the NHP model resulting in a panel of host genes that are altered in response to VEEV. CONCLUSION: Screening for host mRNA obtained from blood samples after exposure to VEEV may provide the means for early detection of surrogate markers of the impending illness and provide appropriate strategies for treatment.
Assuntos
Encefalomielite Equina Venezuelana/sangue , Encefalomielite Equina Venezuelana/genética , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Leucócitos Mononucleares/metabolismo , Animais , Apoptose/genética , Citocinas/genética , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Encefalomielite Equina Venezuelana/virologia , Regulação da Expressão Gênica , Humanos , Macaca fascicularis , Análise de Sequência com Séries de Oligonucleotídeos , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Receptores Androgênicos/genéticaRESUMO
Here we briefly report testosterone and cytokine responses to Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) in macaques which were used as part of a larger study conducted by the Department of Defense to better characterize pathological responses to aerosolized VEEV in non-human primates. Serial samples were collected and analyzed for testosterone and cytokines prior to and during infection in 8 captive male macaques. Infected animals exhibited a febrile response with few significant changes in cytokine levels. Baseline testosterone levels were positively associated with viremia following exposure and were significantly higher than levels obtained during infection. Such findings suggest that disease-induced androgen suppression is a reasonable area for future study. Decreased androgen levels during physiological perturbations may function, in part, to prevent immunosuppression by high testosterone levels and to prevent the use of energetic resources for metabolically-expensive anabolic functions.
Assuntos
Vírus da Encefalite Equina Venezuelana/fisiologia , Encefalomielite Equina Venezuelana/veterinária , Macaca fascicularis/sangue , Macaca fascicularis/virologia , Testosterona/sangue , Animais , Encefalomielite Equina Venezuelana/sangue , Encefalomielite Equina Venezuelana/imunologia , Encefalomielite Equina Venezuelana/virologia , Masculino , Viremia/sangueRESUMO
Since Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) was isolated in Peru in 1942, >70 isolates have been obtained from mosquitoes, humans, and sylvatic mammals primarily in the Amazon region. To investigate genetic relationships among the Peru VEEV isolates and between the Peru isolates and other VEEV strains, a fragment of the PE2 gene was amplified and analyzed by single-stranded conformation polymorphism. Representatives of seven genotypes underwent sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The results identified four VEE complex lineages that cocirculate in the Amazon region: subtypes ID (Panama and Colombia/Venezuela genotypes), IIIC, and a new, proposed subtype IIID, which was isolated from a febrile human, mosquitoes, and spiny rats. Both ID lineages and the IIID subtype are associated with febrile human illness. Most of the subtype ID isolates belonged to the Panama genotype, but the Colombia/Venezuela genotype, which is phylogenetically related to epizootic strains, also continues to circulate in the Amazon basin.
Assuntos
Vírus da Encefalite Equina Venezuelana/classificação , Vírus da Encefalite Equina Venezuelana/genética , Encefalomielite Equina Venezuelana/epidemiologia , Doenças Endêmicas , Animais , Culicidae/virologia , Vírus da Encefalite Equina Venezuelana/isolamento & purificação , Encefalomielite Equina Venezuelana/virologia , Genótipo , Humanos , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/genética , Peru/epidemiologia , Filogenia , Polimorfismo Conformacional de Fita Simples , Precursores de Proteínas , RNA Viral/análise , RNA Viral/isolamento & purificação , Doenças dos Roedores/virologia , Roedores/virologia , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Proteínas Virais/genéticaRESUMO
Equine epizootics of Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) occurred in the southern Mexican states of Chiapas in 1993 and Oaxaca in 1996. To assess the impact of continuing circulation of VEE virus (VEEV) on human and animal populations, serologic and viral isolation studies were conducted in 2000 to 2001 in Chiapas State. Human serosurveys and risk analyses indicated that long-term endemic transmission of VEEV occurred among villages with seroprevalence levels of 18% to 75% and that medical personnel had a high risk for VEEV exposure. Seroprevalence in wild animals suggested cotton rats as possible reservoir hosts in the region. Virus isolations from sentinel animals and genetic characterizations of these strains indicated continuing circulation of a subtype IE genotype, which was isolated from equines during the recent VEE outbreaks. These data indicate long-term enzootic and endemic VEEV circulation in the region and continued risk for disease in equines and humans.
Assuntos
Encefalomielite Equina Venezuelana/epidemiologia , Animais , Animais Selvagens/virologia , Vírus da Encefalite Equina Venezuelana/genética , Vírus da Encefalite Equina Venezuelana/isolamento & purificação , Encefalomielite Equina Venezuelana/veterinária , Genoma Viral , Doenças dos Cavalos/epidemiologia , Doenças dos Cavalos/virologia , Cavalos , Humanos , México/epidemiologia , Filogenia , RNA Viral , Fatores de Risco , Vigilância de Evento Sentinela , Estudos SoroepidemiológicosRESUMO
West Nile virus (WNV) antibodies were detected in horses from five Mexican states, and WNV was isolated from a Common Raven in the state of Tabasco. Phylogenetic studies indicate that this isolate, the first from Mexico, is related to strains from the central United States but has a relatively high degree of sequence divergence.
Assuntos
Doenças das Aves/virologia , Doenças dos Cavalos/virologia , Febre do Nilo Ocidental/veterinária , Vírus do Nilo Ocidental/isolamento & purificação , Animais , Anticorpos Antivirais/sangue , Doenças das Aves/epidemiologia , Aves , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática/veterinária , Feminino , Testes de Inibição da Hemaglutinação/veterinária , Doenças dos Cavalos/epidemiologia , Cavalos , Masculino , México/epidemiologia , Filogenia , RNA Viral/química , RNA Viral/genética , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase Reversa/veterinária , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , Febre do Nilo Ocidental/epidemiologia , Febre do Nilo Ocidental/virologiaRESUMO
Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) virus was isolated from a febrile human in Panama. The patient became febrile approximately 10 days after returning from Gatun Lake in Panama. The virus was isolated from the acute phase serum and identified as VEE, subtype ID virus by monoclonal antibodies, and was confirmed by cross plaque-reduction neutralization tests.