HMPV was first reported in Australia by Nissen et al in 2002 from a group of 200 nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) specimens collected throughout 2001 from children presenting to the Royal Children’s Hospital, Brisbane. These specimens, previously negative for all common viral pathogens, were screened for hMPV by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay based on known sequences. Molecular diagnostic assays including conventional reverse transcriptase PCR assay (RT-PCR) and real-time RT-PCR assays were subsequently developed, and molecular characterisation studies in our laboratory identified four genetic groups of hMPV. At the start of this project, little information were available regarding the virological characteristics of hMPV such as the isolation and replication kinetics of the virus in eukaryotic cells, molecular assays capable of detecting all virus subtypes, quantitation of viral load, genotyping and molecular epidemiology, correlation between virus subtypes and disease severity, and clinical spectrum of the infection. This project was designed to elucidate the virological features of hMPV that had not been explained by earlier studies on this virus. The project was limited to retrospective studies utilising the sera and nucleic acids obtained from positive subjects presenting to our hospital. The project provided relevant data in these areas, which helped in the early detection of infection and treatment, and also provided information for future research on antibody profiles and vaccine development. The study examined specific areas related to clinical and virological characteristics of hMPV with the aim of applying the results in patient management. During the project, five areas of hMPV research were undertaken, addressing each through detailed studies. An outline of the project aims and the conclusions derived from those experimental chapters is described below: 1. Isolation of the virus from clinical specimens obtained from infected subjects An optimised tissue culture protocol was successfully developed for isolating hMPV from positive nasopharyngeal aspirates, using LLC-MK2 cell lines. Viral stocks were prepared and maintained at stable conditions for future experiments. The demonstration of virus infection in the eukaryotic cells and titration of the infectious virions were performed using immunological assays developed and optimised in our laboratory, during the course of this study. 2. The complete genome sequence of an Australian hMPV isolate In this study, we described the ‘13,333 base pair’ complete genome sequence of the Queensland hMPV type-A strain, designated as AUS-001. Phylogenetic analyses of individual genes were used to generate ‘topological trees’ for systematic comparison of our local hMPV strain to that of international sequences. 3. A quantitative PCR assay (q.PCR) for hMPV A quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR assay (qrt.RT-PCR) was developed for the simultaneous detection and quantification of hMPV in clinical samples. Serial dilutions of a synthetic RNA control were amplified after determining the absolute RNA copy numbers, and a standard curve was derived based on the cycle thresholds (Ct) values of the respective dilutions. Quantification of the hMPV RNA in clinical specimens was performed by extrapolating this data with Ct values of specimen dilutions obtained from the real-time assay. The dynamic range of the assay for hMPV genotypes A and B was determined. Validation of the inter- and intra- assay variations was completed using negative and positive controls along with a second assay targeting a different gene. 4. Determine the molecular epidemiology of hMPV genotypes This component of the project was designed to determine the molecular epidemiology of Queensland hMPV strains, using a selected ‘specimen population of hMPV positives’ representing the period 2001 to 2004. An RT-PCR assay based on P gene regions of hMPV was developed for the molecular typing of the above panel. Analyses of nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences confirmed the heterogeneity of hMPV strains. In our study group, two genotypes (A and B) further classified into four subtypes (A1, A2, B1 and B2), were found to co-circulate during this period. General epidemiological features of the hMPV infections including seasonality, co-infections, incidence and prevalence in different age groups and in general population were described. 5. Clinical characteristics of hMPV infections The aim of this analysis was to illustrate the clinical spectrum of hMPV infections in a Queensland study population. We described the hMPV incidence pattern in different age groups and investigated the clinical severity scores of hMPV genotypes based on reported clinical features. We also undertook to identify any correlations between disease severity and other factors, including genotype, co-infections and viral load. Summary On completion, this PhD study provided valuable data on the isolation, molecular detection, epidemiological pattern and clinical severity of hMPV infections in Queensland. Overall hMPV was determined to be a serious respiratory pathogen in Queensland children. Data from this thesis will contribute to improved patient management and reduce the burden of hMPV-related disease in Queensland. These studies also formed the basis of further research involving respiratory viral pathogens in our laboratory and nationally.

A rubéola é uma doença infecciosa aguda, normalmente com um curso clínico suave. Porém quando adquirida nas primeiras 12 semanas de gestação, pode causar severos defeitos de nascimento, conhecida como Síndrome da Rubéola Congênita (SRC). A caracterização genética do vírus da rubéola é feita analisando a seqüência da região hipervariável do gene da glicoproteína E1. Este estudo, apresenta a primeira caracterização molecular de do vírus da rubéola isolados no estado de São Paulo, Brasil. As amostras (sangue, urina, swab de orofaringe, explante de fígado, produto de aborto e fluido cerebrospinal) foram coletados entre 1997 e 2004 de pacientes com sintomas clínicos de rubéola. O gene E1 vírus da rubéola foi amplificado pela reação em cadeia da polimerase em cadeia diretamente de espécimes clínicos e isolados, e os fragmentos de DNA obtidos foram seqüenciados. As seqüências foram alinhadas para a analise filogenética, com seqüências representativas dos diferentes genótipos do vírus da rubéola. Vinte e nove isolados foram obtidos, incluindo isolados relacionados com insuficiência hepática aguda, encefalite e infecções congênitas. A análise filogenética mostrou que 19 dos 29 virus da rubéola isolados pertencem ao genótipo 1a, e 10 pertencem ao genótipo 1G. Este trabalho demonstrou dois genótipos do vírus da rubéola circularam simultaneamente entre os anos de 1997-2004. / Rubella is an acute infectious disease with normally a mild clinical course. However, infections during pregnancy, especially before week 12 of gestation (WG), can cause severe birth defects known as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). Genetic characterization of wild-type rubella virus is based on sequence analysis of a hypervariable region of the glycoprotein E1 gene. This study presents the first molecular characterization of isolates from São Paulo, Brazil. Samples (blood, urine, oropharyngeal swab, explanted liver, product of conception and cerebrospinal fluid) were collected between 1997 and 2004 from patients with clinical symptoms of rubella. The rubella virus E1 gene coding region was amplified by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction directly from clinical specimens and isolates, and the resulting DNA fragments were sequenced. Sequences were assigned to genotypes by phylogenetic analysis with rubella virus reference sequences. Twenty-nine isolates were obtained, including isolates from acute liver failure, encephalitis and congenital infections. Phylogenetic analysis showed that 19 out of 29 isolated in the São Paulo strains of rubella virus belonged to genotype 1a, and 10 strains to genotype 1G. This work demonstrated two genotypes of RV circulated simultaneously between years 1997 and 2004 in the state of São Paulo. The information reported in this paper may be useful for contributes to understand better the molecular epidemiology of RV in São Paulo, Brazil.

Lack of host-specific cell cultures necessitated initiation of primary cell cultures from ictalurid catfish. Cell cultures from the fin tissues of hybrid catfish ( channel catfish x blue catfish) were developed, characterized, and species of origin molecularly authenticated. Blue catfish alloherpesvirus (BCAHV) is an Ictalurid herpesvirus. When BCAHV was inoculated onto various fish cell lines from different families, the cytopathic effects were restricted to cell lines from family Ictaluridae indicating the host-specificity of virus. A virus challenge using channel, blue, and hybrid catfish indicated mortality due to BCAHV was significantly higher in blue and hybrid catfish. Crowding influenced BCAHV pathogenesis indicated by significantly higher mortality in highly stocked tanks. Host susceptibility to BCAHV differed with age. Temperature had a significant role in the activation and pathogenesis of BCAHV. The enhanced virulence of BCAHV in blue and hybrid catfish reveals its potential to be a significant pathogen in catfish culture.

Orientador: Clarice Weis Arns / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-05T02:18:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Domingues_HelenaGallicchio_D.pdf: 1037559 bytes, checksum: 5f1aa70035e934b591bffbdd05c647b9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / Resumo: No presente estudo, técnicas para a detecção do vírus respiratório sincicial bovino, BRSV, visando ao diagnóstico e caracterização molecular deste patógeno, foram adaptadas e aplicadas em amostras coletadas de animais sem levar em consideração a presença de sinais e sintomas clínicos característicos de infecções causadas por esse agente. Foi coletado um total de 278 amostras de secreções nasais e fragmentos pulmonares de rebanhos bovinos provenientes dos estados de São Paulo e Rio Grande do Sul. Utilizando a técnica de RT-PCR detectou-se a presença de BRSV em sete amostras, duas de secreções nasais e cinco de fragmentos de pulmões. As amostras positivas foram submetidas ao isolamento viral e um novo isolado, denominado BRSV-108-BR, foi obtido após nove passagens em cultivos de células. Os fragmentos de 603 pb correspondentes ao segmento genômico da proteína G das amostras de BRSV em estudo, obtidos com a técnica de RT-PCR, foram submetidos à análise por enzimas de restrição-REA e ao seqüenciamento, visando sua caracterização molecular. Com a técnica de REA foram identificadas variações genéticas entre as amostras de BRSV detectadas, sugestivas de que duas amostras pertenciam ao subgrupo AB e cinco, ao subgrupo B de BRSV. Entretanto, a análise filogenética realizada pelo alinhamento das seqüências obtidas com seqüências disponíveis no GeneBank revelou que todas as amostras detectadas pertenciam ao subgrupo B. Com este estudo sugerimos que a técnica de REA possui utilidade limitada para classificação de BRSV em subgrupos, podendo ser utilizada como um instrumento prévio na caracterização das amostras, sendo, todavia, estritamente necessária uma análise baseada no seqüenciamento do gene da proteína G para caracterização de BRSV em subgrupos / Abstract: In this study techniques to detect the bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), aiming at the diagnosis and molecular characterization of this pathogen, where adapted and applied in samples collected from animals regardless of the presence of clinical signs and symptoms characteristic of infections caused by this agent. A total of 278 samples of nasal secretion and pulmonary fragments of bovine herds from the States of São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul. By using the RT-PCR technique it was detected the presence of BRSV in seven samples, two of the nasal secretion samples, and five of the pulmonary fragments samples. The positive samples were submitted to viral isolation, and a new isolate named BRSV-108-BR was obtained after nine passages in cell cultivations. 603 pb fragments corresponding to the genomic segment of the G protein of the BRSV samples in study and obtained through the RT-PCR technique were submitted to restriction enzyme analysis (REA) and sequencing, aiming at their molecular characterization. With the REA technique, genetic variations were identified among the detected BRSV samples, suggesting that two samples belonged to the BSRV AB subgroup and five belonged to the BRSV B subgroup. However, phylogenetic analysis carried out by sequence alignment obtained with sequences available at the GeneBank revealed that all samples detected belonged to subgroup B. With this study we suggest that the REA technique to classify BRSV subgroups has a limited usefulness, serving only as a prior instrument to characterize the samples. Nevertheless, a subsequent analysis based on G protein sequencing is extremely necessary to characterize samples in one of the different BRSV existing subgroups / Doutorado / Genetica Animal e Evolução / Doutor em Genetica e Biologia Molecular