Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are evolutionarily conserved pattern recognition receptors that mediate host-responses to pathogens. In mammals, TLR ligands promote cellular activation and the production of cytokines. Several TLR ligands have been employed prophylactically for the control of bacterial or viral diseases in the mouse model. However, the TLR-mediated responses in chickens have not been well described. Importantly, the utility of TLR agonists for the control of viral pathogens, such as avian influenza virus (AIV), has not been fully explored in chickens. To this end, the studies described in this thesis characterized the kinetics of in vivo responses in chickens to the TLR4 ligand lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the TLR21 ligand CpG ODN. It was demonstrated that both of these ligands induced the up-regulation of several immune system genes in the spleen, including those associated with pro-inflammatory and antiviral responses, as well antigen presentation. By harnessing the immunostimulatory properties of TLR ligands, it was also demonstrated that the prophylactic administration of either poly I:C (a TLR3 ligand), LPS or CpG ODN may confer immunity to a low pathogenic avian influenza virus, as determined by a reduction in both oropharyngeal and cloacal virus shedding in infected birds. Furthermore, transcriptional analysis of genes in the spleen and lungs identified interleukin (IL)-8, interferon (IFN)-α and IFN-γ as correlates of immunity. In conclusion, TLR ligands may modulate several aspects of the chicken immune system to induce an anti-viral state, thereby conferring immunity to AIV.

Viral sequence data has great potential for answering questions about the epidemiological dynamics and evolution of viruses. Classical approaches have sought amino acid changes that alter pathogenesis or transmissibility by influencing a virus's ability to enter or replicate within cells. However, this approach rarely recognises the fundamental impact of heterogeneous host contact structures and existing immunological responses on viral transmission. This thesis draws heavily on ecological and immunological concepts to explore the epidemiological dynamics, diversity and evolution of viruses using molecular sequence data. A number of different research approaches and study systems are used in this thesis. I begin by describing a novel polyomavirus in a European badger, and apply phylogenetic techniques to analyze the evolutionary history of the Polyomaviridae. I subsequently describe a large metaviromic study in a population of wild mute swans, for which host demographic data are available. I describe nine new viral species and test whether age and season are associated with differences in abundance and prevalence of different viral taxonomic groups. The study highlights the potential of metaviromics for investigating viral epidemiological dynamics in natural populations. Influenza A viruses of avian origin (AIV) threaten human and animal health. Using phylogeographic methods, I reconstruct the spatial spread of an H5N8 virus at a regional scale, and investigate how bird density and migration shaped this dispersal. Despite the importance of acquisition of humoral immunity to different strains throughout the lifespan of wild birds for epidemiological dynamics, this topic is poorly understood. I assess the accumulation of immune responses to AIV with age in mute swans. I consider how ecological factors, including age-structured immunity, might have affected the epidemiology of an H5N8 outbreak in the population.

In this study, the expression of HA, a key immunogenic protein of influenza viruses, in insect cells was compared using three baculovirus expression strategies: protein over-expression, surface (GP64) display, and capsid (VP39) display. Further, a recombinant virus expressing NA, another immunogenic influenza virus protein, was generated and fused to an HA epitope-tag. Western immunoblot using various antibodies, including those against HA, demonstrated the expression of HA and NA for all recombinant viruses. HA showed stronger expression when fused to the C-terminus of VP39 than the N-terminus, but unlike other expression methods, there was no observable cleavage of HA in VP39-displayed viruses. Cells infected with only over-expressed and surfaced-displayed HA were biologically active, and capable of hemadsorption and hemagglutination of chicken red blood cells. These results suggest that GP64 display or over-expression are the most efficacious modes of HA-expression for use as antigen to detect anti-HA antibodies in poultry. / NSERC, OGS, OMAFRA, CPRC

Periodic introductions of influenza A viruses (IAVs) from wild birds contribute to emergence of novel strains that infect domestic poultry, lower mammals, and humans, but the mechanisms of emergence are unclear. The objectives of this dissertation research are to infer the genesis of two emerging IAVs, low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) H10N8 and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H7N8 viruses, and to characterize the antigenic diversity and genetic evolution of contemporary H7 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) from North America. First, AIVs that are genetically close to the human H10N8 isolate were recovered at the live poultry market (LPM) visited by the first H10N8 patient. High seroprevalence of H10 virus was observed in ducks and chickens from five LPMs in the region. These findings suggested that LPM was the most probable source of human infection with the H10N8 virus, and this virus appeared to be present throughout the LPM system in the city. Second, the novel H7N8 virus most likely circulated among diving ducks in the Mississippi flyway during autumn 2015 and was subsequently introduced to Indiana turkey, in which it evolved from LPAI into HPAI. H4N8 IAVs from diving ducks possess a gene constellation comprising five H7N8–like gene segments. These findings suggest that viral gene constellations circulating among diving ducks could contribute towards the emergence of IAVs that can affect poultry. Diving ducks may serve as a unique reservoir, contributing to the maintenance, diversification, and transmission of IAVs in wild birds. Third, antigenic and genetic characterization of 93 H7 AIVs from North America showed limited antigenic diversity. Gradual accumulation of nucleotide and amino acid substitutions in the H7 gene of AIVs from wild and domestic birds caused a wide genetic diversity. These findings suggested that continuous genetic evolution has not led to significant antigenic diversity for contemporary H7 AIVs isolated from wild and domestic birds in North America. In summary, these findings not only improve our understanding of the ecology and evolution of IAVs but also provide information for formulation of effective disease prevention and control strategies.

No description available.

Highly pathogenic (HP) avian influenza viruses (AIVs) are naturally restricted to H5 and H7 subtypes with a polybasic cleavage site (CS) in hemagglutinin (HA) and any AIV with an intravenous pathogenicity index (IVPI) ≥ 1.2. Although only a few non-H5/H7 viruses fulfill the criteria of HPAIV; it remains unclear why these viruses did not spread in domestic birds. In 2012, a unique H4N2 virus with a polybasic CS 322PEKRRTR/G329 was isolated from quails in California which, however, was avirulent in chickens. This is the only known non-H5/H7 virus with four basic amino acids in the HACS. Here, we investigated the virulence of this virus in chickens after expansion of the polybasic CS by substitution of T327R (322PEKRRRR/G329) or T327K (322PEKRRKR/G329) with or without reassortment with HPAIV H5N1 and H7N7. The impact of single mutations or reassortment on virus fitness in vitro and in vivo was studied. Efficient cell culture replication of T327R/K carrying H4N2 viruses increased by treatment with trypsin, particularly in MDCK cells, and reassortment with HPAIV H5N1. Replication, virus excretion and bird-to-bird transmission of H4N2 was remarkably compromised by the CS mutations, but restored after reassortment with HPAIV H5N1, although not with HPAIV H7N7. Viruses carrying the H4-HA with or without R327 or K327 mutations and the other seven gene segments from HPAIV H5N1 exhibited high virulence and efficient transmission in chickens. Together, increasing the number of basic amino acids in the H4N2 HACS was detrimental for viral fitness particularly in vivo but compensated by reassortment with HPAIV H5N1. This may explain the absence of non-H5/H7 HPAIV in poultry.

Highly pathogenic (HP) avian influenza viruses (AIVs) are naturally restricted to H5 and H7 subtypes with a polybasic cleavage site (CS) in hemagglutinin (HA) and any AIV with an intravenous pathogenicity index (IVPI) 1.2. Although only a few non-H5/H7 viruses fulfill the criteria of HPAIV; it remains unclear why these viruses did not spread in domestic birds. In 2012, a unique H4N2 virus with a polybasic CS 322PEKRRTR/G329 was isolated from quails in California which, however, was avirulent in chickens. This is the only known non-H5/H7 virus with four basic amino acids in the HACS. Here, we investigated the virulence of this virus in chickens after expansion of the polybasic CS by substitution of T327R (322PEKRRRR/G329) or T327K (322PEKRRKR/G329) with or without reassortment with HPAIV H5N1 and H7N7. The impact of single mutations or reassortment on virus fitness in vitro and in vivo was studied. Ecient cell culture replication of T327R/K carrying H4N2 viruses increased by treatment with trypsin, particularly in MDCK cells, and reassortment with HPAIV H5N1. Replication, virus excretion and bird-to-bird transmission of H4N2 was remarkably compromised by the CS mutations, but restored after reassortment with HPAIV H5N1, although not with HPAIV H7N7. Viruses carrying the H4-HA with or without R327 or K327 mutations and the other seven gene segments from HPAIV H5N1 exhibited high virulence and ecient transmission in chickens. Together, increasing the number of basic amino acids in the H4N2 HACS was detrimental for viral fitness particularly in vivo but compensated by reassortment with HPAIV H5N1. This may explain the absence of non-H5/H7 HPAIV in poultry.

Although wild birds are natural hosts of avian influenza viruses (AIVs), these viruses can be highly contagious to poultry and a zoonotic threat to humans. The propensity of AIV for genetic variation through genetic shift and drift allows virus to evade vaccine mediated humoral immunity. An alternative approach to current vaccine development is induction of CD8+ T cells which responds to more conserved epitopes than humoral immunity and targets a broader spectrum of viruses. Since the memory CD8+ T lymphocyte responses in chickens to individual AIV proteins have not been defined, the modulation of responses of the memory CD8+ T lymphocytes to H5N9 AIV hemagglutinin (HA) and nucleocapsid (NP) proteins over a time course were evaluated. CD8+ T lymphocyte responses induced by intramuscular inoculation of chickens with AIV HA and NP expressing cDNA plasmids or a non-replicating human adenovirus vector were identified through ex vivo stimulation with virus infected, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) matched antigen presenting cells (APCs). The IFN? production by activated lymphocytes was evaluated by macrophage production of nitric oxide and ELISA. MHC-I restricted memory T lymphocyte responses were determined at 10 days and 3, 5, 7 and 9 weeks post-inoculation (p.i). The use of non-professional APCs and APC driven proliferation of cells with CD8+ phenotype correlated with the activation of CD8+ T lymphocytes. The responses specific to nucleocapsid protein (NP) were consistently greater than those to the hemagglutinin (HA) at 5 weeks when the CD8+ T cell responses were maximum. By 8 to 9 weeks p.i., responses to either protein were undetectable. The T lymphocytes also responded to stimulation with a heterologous H7N2 AIV infected APCs. Administration of booster dose induced secondary effector cell mediated immune responses which had greater magnitudes than primary effector responses at 10 days p.i. Flow cytometric analysis (FACS) of the T lymphocytes demonstrated that memory CD8+ T lymphocytes of chickens can be distinguished from naive lymphocytes by their higher expression of CD44 and CD45 surface antigens. CD45 expression of memory lymphocytes further increases upon ex vivo stimulation with APCs expressing AIV. This is the first characterization of avian memory responses following both primary and secondary expression of any individual viral protein.

Computational evolutionary analyses, particularly phylogenetics and ancestral reconstruction, have been extensively exploited under different algorithms and evolutionary models to better understand genome evolution from both small- and large-scale perspectives in order to assign genotypes based on assortment, resolve species relationships and gene annotation issues, further understand gene gain/loss within individual gene families, measure functional divergence among homologs, and infer ancestral character states. These evolutionary studies provide us with insights into biologically relevant issues including paleoenvironments inferred from resurrected proteins, developmental physiology associated with functional divergence of duplicated genes, viral epidemics and modes of transmission in attempt to better prepare, prevent and control diseases, evolution of lineage-specific pathogenicity, and attempts to create a synthetic ancient organism that would benefit the field of synthetic biology. Our work also provides us with greater insights into the accuracies and limitations of ancestral sequence reconstruction methods. In total, our work highlights the diverse questions that evolutionary studies attempt to address and the different biological levels that can be studied to answer these questions.

Orientador: Hélio José Montassier / Banca: Liana Brentano / Banca: Manoel Victor Franco Lemos / Resumo: A técnica de imunocaptura associada com a reação de transcrição reversa e reação em cadeia da polimerase (IC-RT-PCR) executadas tanto pelos procedimentos convencional como em tempo real foram testadas para a detecção rápida do gene da glicoproteína de Matriz (M) do vírus de influenza aviária (AIV) em amostras de líquido cório-alantóide (LCA) e em suabes traqueais e cloacais. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo desenvolver e otimizar a técnica de IC-RT-PCR para o diagnóstico do vírus da Influenza aviária. Os resultados obtidos foram comparados com um sistema empregando "beads" magnéticas em microplacas (AMBION), que é o método padrão de extração de RNA usado no laboratório de referência para diagnóstico de influenza aviária, o National Veterinary Services Laboratory - Ames, EUA (USDA), acrescido ainda de outros métodos de extração tradicionalmente usados nos laboratórios de referência para AIV, como os procedimentos com o uso do solvente orgânico Trizol® (Invitrogen) e com um sistema robotizado e que utiliza "beads" magnéticas (MagNA Pure - ROCHE). A técnica de IC-RT-PCR em tempo real neste estudo detectou a estirpe H2N2 do AIV, sem que nenhum outro dos RNA-vírus heterólogos testados fossem detectados (vírus das doença de Gumboro, de Newcastle e da bronquite infecciosa aviária). Os limites de detecção do IC-RTPCR foram iguais aos obtidos na técnica de extração com o kit da AMBION e menores do que aqueles que foram observados para os métodos de extração com Trizol® (Invitrogen) e com o MagNA Pure. O IC-RT-PCR demonstrou ser um sistema de diagnóstico capaz de conciliar simplicidade operacional e um menor custo com sensibilidade e especificidade analíticas iguais às do procedimento padrão atualmente adotado, podendo ser inclusive por laboratórios dotados de uma infra-estrutura mais simples / Abstract: The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), including real-time RT-PCR have been used for the rapid detection of Matrix glycoprotein gene (M gene) Avian influenza virus (AIV). Despite the availability of various RNA extraction methods for using in RT-PCR, isolation and detection of viral RNA are still difficult due to the unstable nature of viral RNA molecules and the presence of PCR inhibitory substances. In this study, a simple method using immune-capture (IC) to recover viral RNA from H2 AIV samples was developed and compared to one standard and two others reference methods used for viral RNA extraction, such as Ambion MagMAXTM kit and Trizol® (Invitrogen) and Magnapure kit (Roche), respectively, with subsequent analysis by real-time RT-PCR. The real-time IC-RT-PCR developed in was able to detect specifically H2N2 AIV strain, without detecting non-related avian RNA-virus pathogens, such as Newcastle disease virus, avian infectious bronchitis virus and Gumboro disease virus. Comparable detection limits were found for IC and the standard RNA extraction method using Ambion MagMAXTM kit, either for the detection of AIV in allantoic fluid suspension or in seeded tracheal and cloacal swab samples by conventional or real time RT-PCR techniques. These methods were less sensitive than Trizol® (Invitrogen) and Magnapure kit (Roche) procedures. Thus, IC was rapid and as sensitive and specific as current standard AIV RNA extraction method for real time or conventional RT-PCR, besides it conciliated simplicity and lower cost and can be applied simultaneously for direct detection of AIV in a large number of samples, including less-equipped laboratories / Mestre