This thesis examines parental condition, how it is traded off against reproduction and how it is displayed in a secondary sexual trait. The studies were performed on nest-box breeding collared flycatchers Ficedula albicollis on the island of Gotland, in the Baltic Sea. Early breeding and high fitness were found to be associated with high levels of glycosylated haemoglobin possibly governed by migratory exertion and infectious disease. In order to test if immune function is expressed in secondary sexual traits and how it is traded off against reproductive effort a series of experiments were performed, in which birds were challenged with an antigen, via a vaccine containing neutralised paramyxovirus. The forehead patch of the male collared flycatcher serves as a badge of status and is under sexual selection. Good condition, as reflected in strong immune response and low levels of blood parasites was found to be associated with bigger patch size. Patch size was also found to vary in size within the same breeding season in a pattern predictable from immune response data. Immune response, in itself, was found to be costly in terms of reduced survival, confirming that trade-offs involving suppression of immune response may increase fitness. Mating effort was found to be traded off against immune function and moult. Experimental brood size manipulations revealed a trade-off females between number of offspring and immune function. Thus I suggest a set of parameters useful for condition estimation. I also show that immune response is costly and, second, that pathogen resistance probably plays an important role in the shaping of secondary sexual traits and life-history decisions.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is a member of the genus Avulavirus of the Paramyxoviridaefamily of enveloped negative-stranded RNA viruses. The virus causes respiratory, neurological, or enteric disease in many species of birds, resulting in significant losses to the poultry industry worldwide. Strains of the virus are classified into three pathotypes based on the severity of disease in chickens. Avirulent strains that produce mild or asymptomatic infections are termed lentogenic, whereas virulent strains are termed velogenic. Strains of intermediate virulence are termed mesogenic. The envelope of NDV virions contains two types of glycoproteins, the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) and fusion (F) proteins. HN mediates three functions: 1) virus attachment to sialic acid-containing receptors; 2) neuraminidase activity that cleaves sialic acid from progeny virions to prevent self-aggregation; and, 3) complementation of the F protein in the promotion of fusion. Though it is widely accepted that cleavage of a fusion protein precursor is the primary determinant of NDV virulence, it is not the sole determinant. At least two other proteins, HN and the V protein, contribute to virulence. The V protein possesses interferon (IFN) antagonistic activity. The long-range goal of these studies is to understand the roles of HN and V in the differential virulence patterns exhibited by members of the NDV serotype. The first aim is to compare the IFN antagonistic activity of the V protein from a lentogenic and a mesogenic strain of the virus. The results of this study demonstrate that the V protein of the mesogenic strain Beaudette C (BC) exhibits greater IFN antagonistic activity than that of the lentogenic strain La Sota. Hence, the IFN antagonistic activities of the two V proteins correlate with their known virulence properties. Comparison of the C-terminal regions of La Sota and BC V proteins revealed four amino acid differences. The results demonstrate that the IFN antagonistic activity of La Sota V increases when any one of these residues is mutated to the corresponding residue in BC V. Conversely, the IFN antagonistic activity of BC V decreases when any one of these four residues is mutated to the corresponding residue in La Sota V. However, no single residue accounts for the difference in IFN antagonistic activity between the two V proteins. Also, analysis of La Sota V and BC V proteins with multiple mutations in these positions revealed that the four residues are collectively responsible for the difference in the IFN antagonistic activity of the two V proteins. Finally, characterization of chimeric La Sota/BC V proteins showed that the N-terminal region also contributes to the IFN antagonistic activity of V. Contrary to an earlier report, results described here demonstrate that the NDV V protein does not target STAT1 for degradation. However, both La Sota and BC V proteins target interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-7 for degradation and promote the conversion of full-length IRF-7 to a lower molecular weight form (IRF-7*). This is the first demonstration that IRF-7 is targeted by a paramyxovirus V protein. The amount of IRF-7* decreases in a dose-dependent manner in the presence of a proteasome inhibitor, suggesting that IRF-7* is a degradation product of IRF-7. Furthermore, the BC V protein promotes complete conversion of IRF-7 to IRF7*, whereas the La Sota V protein does so less efficiently. Again, this is consistent with the difference in IFN antagonistic activity of the two V proteins, and in turn, with their virulence. The second aim is to characterize an HN-specific monoclonal antibody called AVS-I. A previous study suggested that AVS-I recognizes an epitope that is conserved in lentogenic strains and raises the possibility that this epitope may colocalize with a determinant of virulence in HN. To further characterize antibody AVS-I and the epitope it recognizes, we (i) determined its specificity for several additional strains of the virus, (ii) mapped its binding to HN in competition with our own antibodies, (iii) determined its functional inhibition profile, and (iv) isolated and sequenced an AVS-I escape mutant. The results demonstrate that AVS-I binds to a conformational epitope at the carboxy terminus of HN. This suggests that this region of HN may define a determinant of virulence. However, it was also shown that AVS-I, which was previously thought to be specific for avirulent strains of NDV, actually recognizes individual mesogenic and velogenic strains. In conclusion, the data presented in this dissertation contributes to a greater understanding of the molecular basis for NDV virulence and may aid in development of antiviral strategies and generation of recombinant NDVs suitable for use in cancer and gene therapy.

Orientador: Antonio Carlos Paulillo / Banca: Elizabeth Moreira dos Santos Schmidt / Banca: Adriano de Oliveira Torres Carrasco / Resumo: Foram avaliados parâmetros clínicos, imunitários e epidemiológicos da vacinação contra a Doença de Newcastle em periquitos-australianos (Melopsittacus undulatus) através de dois experimentos. Foram utilizadas amostras vacinais Ulster 2C, B1 e La Sota do VDN. No experimento 1, foram utilizados 72 periquitos australianos com cinco meses de idade, distribuídos em 4 tratamentos de 18 animais cada, num total de três repetições, submetidos a diferentes esquemas imunoprofiláticos. A resposta imune foi avaliada pelo teste de HI, com posterior desafio frente a estirpe patogênica do VDN, aos 11 meses de vida das aves. Em todos os grupos, coletou-se suabes cloacais para pesquisa de RNA viral através da reação de cadeia de polimerase pós Transcrição Reversa (RT-PCR). Independente do grupo experimental, sinais clínicos da reação vacinal não foram observados. Os resultados dos títulos de anticorpos (HI) mostraram que os programas imunoprofiláticos ensaiados foram igualmente eficientes no estímulo da resposta imune humoral. Os periquitos-australianos desafiados mostraram-se refratários à enfermidade clínica com o VDN. Entretanto, ficou caracterizado o estado de portador de VDN nesta espécie decorridos até 19 dias da infecção experimental com este patógeno. No experimento 2, foram utilizadas aves SPF conviventes com periquitos-australianos inoculados com uma estirpe patogênica do VDN. Observou-se a transmissão de vírus patogênico (VDN) dos periquitos-australianos para as aves SPF conviventes decorridos até 19 dias da infecção experimental com este patógeno, o que vem realçar a importância do periquito-australiano como fonte potencial de infecção de VDN para aves domésticas / Abstract: The clinical, epidemiological, immunological and parameters of vaccination against Newcastle disease in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) were investigated using 2 experiments. Ulster 2C, B1 and LaSota vaccines strains of the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) were used. In experiment 1, 72 budgerigars were used, and divided into 4 different groups with 18 birds per group. They were submitted to different vaccination programs. The immunological responses in these birds were measured by HI test. These birds were also challenged with a pathogenic VDN strain at 11 months of age. In all the groups, cloacal swabs were collected for RT-PCR. Independent of the group, clinical signs of reaction to the vaccine were not observed. The antibody titers (HI) results showed that the immune vaccine programs adopted were equally efficient in stimulating protective levels of humoral immune responses. Challenged budgerigars were refractory to the NDV clinical disease. However, a NDV carrier state was shown in this species until 19 days after experimental infection. In experiment 2, SPF chickens were housed with budgerigars which were previously inoculated with a pathogenic NDV strain. Therefore, the pathogenic virus (NDV) was transmitted from the budgerigars to SPF birds up to 19 days after challenge, showing the importance of the budgerigars as source of dissemination of NDV to domestic birds / Mestre

Orientador: Karin Werther / Banca: Aramis Augusto Pinto / Banca: Nilce Maria Soares Queiroz Gama / Resumo: Aves selvagens podem ser consideradas portadores/carreadores de agentes etiológicos patogênicos para galinhas de produção. O objetivo desse trabalho foi verificar, em aves selvagens, a presença de anticorpo contra: Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG), Mycoplasma sinoviae (MS), Salmonella Pullorum (SP), Salmonella Gallinarum (SG), Vírus da Doença de Newcastle e Vírus da Bronquite Infecciosa; bem como a presença de Salmonella sp. Foram utilizadas 82 aves selvagens, e todas foram negativas na detecção de anticorpo anti-vírus da Doença de Newcastle e Bronquite Infecciosa, usando as técnicas de Inibição de Hemaglutinação e Soroneutralização, respectivamente. Para o diagnóstico de anticorpo anti Mycoplasma (MG e MS) foi utilizado inicialmente a técnica de Soroaglutinação Rápida em Placa, sendo sete aves positivas para MS e duas para MG. Amostras biológicas dessas aves foram posteriormente submetidas a técnicas de HI e/ou PCR, sendo todas negativas. Quanto ao diagnóstico de Salmonella sp., foi isolado Salmonella Muenchen da cultura de suabe de cloaca de uma curicaca; de uma seriema, foi isolado Salmonella Muenchen e Salmonella Saintpaul da cultura de órgãos e conteúdo intestinal, respectivamente; e do conteúdo intestinal de uma pomba foi isolado Salmonella Enteritidis. Apenas com os resultados dessa pesquisa, não foi possível concluir que as aves selvagens possam representar um risco sanitário para a avicultura. São necessários mais estudos envolvendo um número maior de aves e locais para elucidar o real potencial de transmissão e portador são das aves selvagens para os respectivos agentes pesquisados. / Abstract: Wild birds can be considered carrier/transmitter of patogenic etiologic agents for chickens. The objective of this work was to verify in wild birds the presence of antibody Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG), Mycoplasma sinoviae (MS), Salmonella Pullorum (SP), Salmonella Gallinarum (SG), Newcastle Disease Virus, and Infectious Bronchitis Virus; as well as the presence of Salmonella sp. Eighty-two wild birds were sampled, and all was negative for antibody anti-virus Newcastle Disease and Infectious Bronchitis, using the techniques of Hemagglutination Inhibition and Seroneutralization, respectively. For the detection of antibodies anti Mycoplasma (MG e MS) were used initially the Fast Serum Agglutination on Plate method, seven birds were positive for MS and two for MG. Subsequently the positive sera and/or traqueal swab were submitted for HI and/or PCR techniques being all exams negative. Regarding the diagnosis of Salmonella sp., Salmonella Muenchen was isolated from a culture of cloacal swab of a buff-necked Ibis; from a red-legged seriema, Salmonella Muenchen and Salmonella Saintpaul were isolated from culture of organs and intestinal content, respectively; and Salmonella Enteritidis was isolated of intestinal content from a dove. It was not possible to conclude that the wild birds can represent a sanitary risk for aviculture considering only these results. More studies are necessary to elucidate the real potential of transmission and carrier of wild birds for the researched agents. / Mestre

It is shown here that the ability of B lymphocytes to act as supportive host cells for virus infections requires they be activated from the resting Gostage of the cell cycle. I have used a series of activation regimens, which allow B cells to progress to different stages in their activation/differentiation pathway toward antibody secretion, in order to evaluate the extent of activation required to support vesicular stomatitis or Newcastle disease virus infections. At least three distinct phases during B cell activation which affected VSV infection were defined. Freshly isolated resting murine splenic B cells in the Go phase of the cell cycle do not support VSV, assessed by protein synthesis, infectious center formation, and PFU production. Small B cells cultured for 48 hours without stimulation still do not support VSV. B cells stimulated with the lymphokines found in Con A activated supernatants from splenic T cells or cloned T cell lines transited into the G1 phase of the cell cycle but remain refractory to VSV. These VSV non-supportive B cell populations do take up virus particles and transcribe viral mRNAs which can be translated in vitro, suggesting a translational block to VSV. B cells stimulated into the S phase of the cell cycle with anti-immunoglobulin synthesize VSV proteins and increased numbers of infectious centers, but only low level PFU synthesis (center) is observed. Co-stimulation with anti-Ig and lymphokines, which supports differentiation to antibody secretion, enhanced PFU synthesis without further increasing the number of infected B cells. LPS, which activates B cells directly to antibody secretion by a pathway different from anti-Ig, induced infectious centers, and PFUs at levels comparable to those seen when stably transformed permissive cell lines are infected. Co-stimulation of LPS activated B cells with the same lymphokine populations that enhance PFU production when anti-Ig is used as a stimulator suppresses PFU production completely, suggesting that anti-Ig and LPS activated B cells are differentially responsive to lymphokines. NDV infection of murine B cells differed markedly from VSV infection, as all B cell populations examined gave a similar response pattern. NDV viral proteins were synthesized by B cells in each of the activation states previously described, even freshly isolated B cells. Infectious center formation increased up to 5-fold over the levels observed with unstimulated B cells after anti-Ig or LPS activation. However, PFU synthesis was low (center) for all B cell populations. These results suggest that these two similar viruses may be dependent on different host cell factors and that these factors are induced for VSV but not NDV by the B cell activators employed here or that the process of infection of B cell by these two viruses induces different cellular responses.

Orientador: Antonio Carlos Paulillo / Banca: Ruben Pablo Schoken-Iturrino / Banca: Laura Satiko Okada Nakaghi / Banca: Luciano Doretto Júnior / Banca: Maria Estela Gaglianone Moro / Resumo: Parâmetros imunológicos, clínicos, epidemiológicos e patológicos da vacinação em marrecos de Pequim foram avaliados por 3 experimentos. Para tanto, foram utilizadas amostras vacinais Ulster 2C, B1 e LaSota do vírus da doença de Newcastle (VDN). No experimento 1, foram utilizados 120 marrecos de Pequim de 1 dia de idade, distribuídos em 4 tratamentos de 30 animais cada, submetidos a diferentes programas imunoprofiláticos. A resposta imune foi avaliada pelo teste de HI, com posterior desafio frente a estirpe patogênica do VDN, aos 60 dias de vida das aves. Após o desafio, em todos os grupos, procedeu-se o reisolamento de vírus patogênico em embriões SPF. Independente do grupo experimental, sinais clínicos da reação vacinal não foram observados. Os resultados dos títulos de anticorpos (HI) mostraram que os programas imunoprofiláticos ensaiados foram igualmente eficientes no estímulo da resposta imune humoral. Os marrecos de Pequim desafiados mostraram-se refratários à enfermidade clínica com o VDN. Entretanto, ficou caracterizado o estado de portador de VDN nesta espécie decorridos até 30 dias da infecção experimental com este patógeno. Nos grupos vacinados, o reisolamento de vírus patogênico foi nulo, evidenciando -se assim a importância da imunoprofilaxia na supressão do estado de portador de VDN dos marrecos de Pequim. No experimento 2, aves SPF foram colocadas em contato íntimo com marrecos de Pequim inoculados com uma estirpe patogênica do VDN, decorridos cinco e 14 dias...(Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The clinical, epidemiological, immunological and pathological parameters of vaccination in white Pekin ducks were investigated using 3 experiments. Ulster 2C, B1 and LaSota vaccines strains of the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) were used. In experiment 1, 120 one-day-old white Pekin ducks were used, and divided into 4 different groups with 30 birds per group. They were submitted to different vaccination programs. The immunological responses in these birds were measured by HI test. These birds were also challenged with a pathogenic VDN strain at 60 days of age. After challenge, in all the groups, tracheal and cloacal swabs were collected for re-isolation of the virus in SPF embrionated eggs. Independent of the group, clinical signs of reaction to the vaccine were not observed. The antibody titers (HI) results showed that the immune vaccine programs adopted were equally efficient in stimulating protective levels of humoral immune responses. Challenged white Pekin ducks were refractory to the NDV clinical disease. However, a NDV carrier state was shown in this species until 30 days after experimental infection. The vaccinated groups of white Pekin ducks did not present any virus in the re-isolation of the pathogenic virus. Therefore, these results show the relevance of vaccination in suppressing a NDV carrier state in the white Pekin ducks. In experiment 2, SPF chickens housed with white Pekin ducks which were previously inoculated with a pathogenic NDV strain, developed severe and characteristic NDV lesions and died, after five and 14 days...(Complete abstract, acess undermentioned eletronic address) / Doutor

Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária - EMBRAPA / Reusing litter is a common practice in broiler farming. However, it requires the adoption of efficient procedures for inactivating and controlling residual microorganisms during downtime between flocks to ensure sanitary control over the next flock and the quality of the broiler meat. The broiler production adopts a series of stringent precautionary measures to avoid sanitary emergencies and should be able to employ appropriate control measures. In addition, international consumer markets require proof of the efficiency of treatment methods for broiler litter reuse. The efficiency of broiler litter treatments on pathogens is variable and multifactorial and can be influenced by the treatment method and/or microorganisms evaluated. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of different strategies of treatment of broiler litter on Newcastle disease virus (NDV), Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) and Salmonella Heidelberg. Total enterobacteria counts were carried out as an indicator of microbiological quality of litter. First, the experimental contamination of the broiler litter by viruses was standardized, comparing the seeder birds inoculated versus the direct spray of the virus in the broiler litter. To evaluate the treatments, reused broiler litter was contaminated with the three microorganisms and submitted to the treatments (T): T1- shallow fermentation; T2- quicklime; T3- shallow fermentation followed by quicklime; and, T4- untreated. The broiler litter was submitted to bacteriological and physico-chemical analyzes during treatment. Sentinel chicks were housed on the broiler litter treated and further monitored by clinical evaluation, as well as microbiological, serological and molecular tests. The results demonstrated that seeder birds were efficient to stablish viral contamination in broiler litter. T1 was superior in reducing total enterobacteria in the broiler litter. The evaluation of sentinel chicks also indicated that T1 and T3 inactivated IBDV in the broiler litter. T2 was not able to reduce the microorganisms evaluated, and its association with T1 (T3) did not enhance the treatment action. NDV did not survive in broiler litter, regardless of the treatment applied. S. Heidelberg survived in broiler litter after all treatments evaluated and was also detected in the sentinel chicks. The antimicrobial activity of T1 and T3 was associated to ammonia levels present in the broiler litter. The results reveal that shallow fermentation is efficient to control residual IBDV and total enterobacteria in recycled broiler litter. However, other strategies should be considered in the presence of S. Heidelberg. / A reutilização da cama aviária é uma prática comum na avicultura de corte. Porém, o reuso da cama requer a adoção de procedimentos eficientes na inativação e controle de micro-organismos indesejáveis no intervalo entre os lotes, para preservar a saúde avícola e a qualidade do alimento produzido. A preocupação com as questões sanitárias na avicultura engloba a saúde dos frangos e do consumidor. A produção está sujeita às emergências sanitárias e deve estar preparada para empregar medidas adequadas de contenção e controle. Além disso, os mercados consumidores internacionais demandam comprovação da eficiência dos métodos de tratamento para o reuso da cama entre lotes de frangos. A eficiência dos tratamentos de cama sobre os patógenos é variável e multifatorial e pode ser influenciada pelo método de tratamento e/ou pelos micro-organismos avaliados. Deste modo, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar a eficiência de diferentes estratégias de tratamento da cama aviária sobre vírus da Doença de Newcastle (VDNC), vírus da Doença Infecciosa da Bursa (VDIB) e Salmonella Heidelberg. Enterobactérias totais foram analisadas como indicador da qualidade microbiológica da cama aviária. Inicialmente, a contaminação experimental pelos vírus aviários foi padronizada, comparando-se a excreção por aves inoculadas (seeder birds) versus a aspersão direta dos vírus na cama. Para avaliação dos tratamentos, cama aviária reutilizada foi contaminada com os três micro-organismos e submetida aos tratamentos (T): T1- fermentação plana; T2- cal virgem; T3- fermentação plana seguida de adição de cal virgem; T4- não tratado. A cama aviária foi submetida às análises bacteriológicas e físico-químicas durante o tratamento. Aves sentinelas foram alojadas sobre a cama tratada, sendo monitoradas por meio de avaliação clínica e análises microbiológicas, sorológicas e moleculares. Os resultados demonstraram que as seeder birds foram eficientes em estabelecer a contaminação viral da cama. O T1 foi superior na redução de enterobactérias totais na cama aviária. A avaliação das aves sentinelas indicou que ambos T1 e T3 inativaram VDIB na cama aviária. O T2 não foi eficiente sobre os micro-organismos avaliados e sua associação ao T1 (T3) não potencializou a ação do tratamento. O VDNC não sobreviveu na cama, independente do tratamento aplicado. S. Heidelberg permaneceu viável na cama de todos os tratamentos, sendo também detectada nas aves sentinelas. A atividade antimicrobiana dos T1 e T3 foi relacionada aos maiores teores de amônia presentes na cama aviária. Os resultados indicam que a fermentação plana é eficiente para o controle do VDIB e enterobactérias totais residuais na cama aviária reutilizada. Todavia, na presença de S. Heidelberg outras alternativas devem ser consideradas no controle deste agente de importância na saúde animal e pública.

A avicultura brasileira é atualmente uma atividade de grande sucesso. A utilização de sistemas de planejamento associados a novas tecnologias, reflete-se no extraordinário crescimento da atividade. A produção brasileira de frango ultrapassou a marca anual de 10 milhões de toneladas, em 2007. O Brasil está entre os três maiores produtores de frango no ranking mundial, junto com Estados Unidos e China. Haja vista a importância que a avicultura representa para o país, pela geração de benefícios sociais e econômicos, o risco que a Doença de Newcastle (DNC) constitui para a avicultura brasileira é enorme. Um surto desta doença em um centro de produção avícola representaria um risco à economia e incidiria de forma negativa nos níveis de consumo de proteína de qualidade e economicamente acessível à população. A fim de estabelecermos um monitoramento do vírus da Doença de Newcastle (NDV) em aves selvagens, livres ou de cativeiro, e aves domésticas não vacinadas, residentes em regiões de elevada confluência migratória aviária no Brasil e em pingüins ao redor da Estação Antártica Comandante Ferraz (EACF), coletamos amostras de swabs orais e cloacais para a posterior análise por PCR em Tempo Real (qPCR), além de sangue para testes sorológicos, tendo como objetivos maiores, contribuir para o fortalecimento dos serviços de defesa sanitária animal, aumentar a capacidade de investigação, e finalmente, atualizar e harmonizar normas e procedimentos para a prevenção e controle da DNC, referenciando-se nas recomendações da Organização Mundial de Sanidade Animal (Office International des Epizooties - OIE). Das 1072 aves amostradas em diferentes regiões do Brasil, 8 (0,75%) apresentaram resultado positivo para o NDV por qPCR, sendo 5 (62,5% das positivas) delas provenientes da região Norte, 2 (25% das positivas) do Nordeste e 1 (12,5% das positivas) da região Sul do Brasil. Na Antártica, dos 100 pingüins estudados, 2 apresentaram resultado positivo para o NDV por qPCR e em cerca de 33,3% dos soros testados foi detectada a presença de anticorpo pelo teste de Inibição da Hemaglutinação (HI). Todas as amostras positivas foram re-analisadas por qPCR específico para cepas mesogênicas e/ou velogênicas, resultando negatividade, corroborando os dados que certificam o Brasil como sendo livre da Doença de Newcastle. / Brazilian chicken meat exports ended 2007 with shipments of 3,3 million tons, which represented a 21% increase in comparison with 2006. These results were the best in the history of the poultry sector in Brazil. The production reached 10.2 million tons, a result that kept the country as the worlds largest chicken meat exporter and the third largest producer, only behind USA and China. Thus the risk of an introduction of the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) into domestic poultry is enormous and will play severe consequences for the economy and poltry industries. In order to provide the surveillance of the NDV in wild, free or captive, and non vaccinated domestic birds from some regions of migratory birds confluence in Brazil and in penguins around the brasilian Antarctic Station Comandante Ferraz, we collected oral and cloacal swabs, for the viral detection by Real Time PCR (qPCR), and blood for the serological test (hemaglutination inhibition test HI). A total of 1072 birds were sampled in diferent regions of Brazil, where 8 (0.75%) shown positive results to NDV, in which 5 (62.5% of positive) were from North region, 2 (25% of positive) were from Northeast and 1 (12,5% of positive) was from South. In the Antarctic 100 penguins were studied, in which 2 were detected the NDV (2% of total). HI test showed that 33.3% of penguins were seropositives for NDV, indicating their previous contact with the pathogen. All the positive samples by qPCR were repeated with primers projected to detect only virulent strains and no sample was positive, indicating the absence of velogenic strains in Brazil. The epidemiological profile was richer with the isolament of positive samples in embrioned chiken eggs specific patogen free and latter nucleotidic genomic sequencing of isolate.

The first step of viral infection requires the binding of the viral attachment protein to cell surface receptors. Following binding, viruses penetrate the cellular membrane to deliver their genome into the host cell. For enveloped viruses, which have a lipid bilayer that surrounds their nucleocapsids, entry into the host cell requires the fusion of viral and cellular membranes. This process is mediated by viral glycoproteins located on the surface of the virus. For many enveloped viruses, such as influenza, Ebola, and human immunodeficiency virus, the fusion protein is responsible for mediating both attachment to cellular receptors and membrane fusion. However, paramyxoviruses are unique among fusion promoting viruses because their receptor binding and fusion activities reside on two separate proteins. This unique distribution of functions necessitates a mechanism by which the two proteins can transmit the juxtaposition of the viral and host cell membranes, mediated by the attachment protein (HN/H), into membrane fusion, mediated by the fusion (F) protein. This mechanism allows for paramyxoviruses to gain entry into and spread between cells, and therefore, is an important aspect of virus infection and disease progression. Despite the conservation of receptor binding activity among members of the Paramyxovirinaesubfamily, for most of these viruses, including Newcastle disease virus (NDV), heterologous HN proteins cannot complement F in the promotion of fusion; both the HN and F proteins must originate from the same virus. This is consistent with the existence of a virus-specific interaction between the two glycoproteins. Thus, one or more domains on the HN and F proteins is thought to mediate a specific interaction between them that is an integral part of the fusion process. Therefore, the primary focus of this thesis is the identification of the site(s) on HN that directly contacts F in the HN-F interaction. The ectodomain of the HN protein consists of a stalk and a terminal globular head. Analysis of the fusion activity of chimeric paramyxovirus HN proteins indicates that the stalk region of HN determines its F protein specificity. The first goal of this research was to address the question of whether the stalk not only determines F-specificity, but does so by directly mediating the interaction with F. To establish a correlation between the amount of fusion and the extent of the HN-F interaction, a specific and quantitative co-immunoprecipitation assay was used that detects the HN-F complex at the cell surface. As an initial probe of the role of the HN stalk in mediating the interaction with F, N-glycans were individually added at several positions in the region. N-glycan addition at positions 69 and 77 in the stalk specifically and completely block both fusion and the HN-F interaction without affecting either HN structure or its other activities. However, though they also prevent fusion, N-glycans added at other positions in the stalk also modulate activities that reside in the globular head of HN. This correlates with an alteration of the tetrameric structure of the protein as indicated by sucrose gradient sedimentation analyses. These additional N-glycans likely indirectly affect fusion, perhaps by interfering with changes in the conformation of HN that link receptor binding to the fusion activation of F. To address the issue of whether N-glycan addition at any position in HN would abolish fusion, an N-glycan was added in another region at the base of the globular head of HN (residues 124-152), which was previously predicted by a peptide-based analysis to mediate the interaction with F. HN carrying this additional N-glycan exhibits significant fusion promoting activity, arguing against this site being part of the F-interactive domain in HN. These data support the idea that the F-interactive site on HN is defined by the stalk region of the protein. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to begin to explore the role of individual residues in the stalk in the interaction with F. The characteristics of the F-interactive domain in the stalk of HN are that it is a conserved motif with enough sequence heterogeneity to account for the specificity of the interaction. One such region that meets these requirements is the intervening region (IR) (residues 89-95); a non-helical domain situated between two conserved heptad repeats. Several amino acid substitutions for a completely conserved proline residue in this region impair not only fusion and the HN-F interaction, but also decrease neuraminidase activity in the globular domain and alter the structure of the protein, suggesting that the substitutions indirectly affect the HN-F interaction. Substitutions for L94 also interfere with fusion, but have no significant effect on any other HN function or its structure. Amino acid substitutions at two other positions in the IR (A89 and L90) also modulate only fusion. In all cases, diminished fusion correlates with a decreased ability of the mutated HN protein to interact with F at the cell surface. These findings indicate that the IR is critical to the role of HN in the promotion of fusion and are consistent with its direct involvement in the interaction with the homologous F protein. These are the first point mutations in the HN protein for which a correlation has been demonstrated between the extent of the HN-F interaction and the amount of fusion. This argues strongly that the co-IP assay is an accurate reflection of the HN-F interaction. The second goal of this research was to address the HN-F interaction from the perspective of the F protein by investigating the relationship between receptor binding, the HN-F interaction, and fusion using a highly fusogenic form of the F protein. It has previously been shown that an L289A substitution in NDV F eliminates the requirement for HN in the promotion of fusion and enhances HN-dependent fusion above wild-type (wt) levels. Here, it was shown that the HN-independent fusion exhibited by L289A-F in Cos-7 cells cannot be duplicated in BHK cells. However, when L289A-F is co-expressed with wt HN, enhanced fusion above wt levels is observed in BHK cells. Additionally, when L289A-F is co-expressed with IR-mutated HN proteins previously shown to promote low levels of fusion with wt F, a 2.5-fold increase in fusion was observed. However, similar to wt F, an interaction between L289A-F and the IR-mutated HN proteins was not detected. These results imply that the attachment function of HN, as well as the conformational change in L289A-F, are necessary for the enhanced level of fusion exhibited by HN proteins co-expressed with L289A-F. Indeed, two MAbs detected a conformational difference between L289A-F and the wt F protein. These findings support the idea that the L289A substitution converts F to a form that is less dependent on an interaction with HN for conversion to the fusion-active form. The last goal of this research was to address the cellular site of the HN-F interaction, still a controversial issue based on conflicting data from studies of different paramyxoviruses, using various approaches. This is a particular point of interest, as it speaks to the mechanism by which the HN-F interaction regulates fusion. Thus, NDV HN and F were successfully retained intracellularly with a multiple arginine or KK motif, respectively. The results of Endoglycosidase H resistance and F cleavage studies indicate that the mutated proteins, HN-ER and F-ER, are retained in a compartment prior to the medial-Golgi apparatus and that they are unable to interact with a high enough affinity to co-retain or even cause reduced transport of their wt partner glycoproteins. This is consistent with the HN-F interaction occurring at the cell surface, possibly triggered by receptor binding. In conclusion, this thesis presents evidence to argue that the IR in the stalk of the NDV HN protein directly mediates the interaction with the F protein that is necessary for fusion. Overall, the data presented in this thesis extend the current knowledge of the mechanism by which the paramyxovirus attachment protein can trigger the F protein to initiate membrane fusion. A clear understanding of this process has the potential to identify new anti-viral strategies, such as small molecule inhibitors, aimed at controlling paramyxovirus infection by interfering with early steps in the virus infection cycle.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) belongs to the Paramyxoviridae, a family of enveloped RNA viruses that includes many important human and animal pathogens. Although many aspects of the paramyxovirus life cycle are known in detail, our understanding of the mechanisms regulating paramyxovirus assembly and release are poorly understood. For many enveloped RNA viruses, it has recently become apparent that both viral and host cellular determinants coordinate the proper and efficient assembly of infectious progeny virions. Utilizing NDV as a model system to explore viral and cellular determinants of paramyxovirus assembly, we have shown that host cell membrane lipid raft domains serve as platforms of NDV assembly and release. This conclusion was supported by several key experimental results, including the exclusive incorporation of host cell membrane raftassociated molecules into virions, the association of structural components of the NDV particle with membrane lipid raft domains in infected cells and the strong correlation between the kinetics of viral protein dissociation from membrane lipid raft domains and incorporation into virions. Moreover, perturbation of infected cell membrane raft domains during virus assembly resulted in the disordered assembly of abnormal virions with reduced infectivity. These results further established membrane raft domains as sites of virus assembly and showed the integrity of these domains to be critical for the proper assembly of infectious virions. Although specific viral protein-protein interactions are thought to occur during paramyxovirus assembly, our understanding of how these interactions are coordinated is incomplete. While exploring the mechanisms underlying the disordered assembly of non-infectious virions in membrane raft-perturbed cells, we determined that the integrity of membrane raft domains was critical in the formation and virion incorporation of a complex consisting of the NDV attachment (HN) and fusion (F) proteins. The reduced virus-to-cell membrane fusion capacity of particles released from membrane raft-perturbed cells was attributed to an absence of the HN – F glycoprotein-containing complex within the virion envelope. This result also correlated with a reduction of these glycoprotein complexes in membrane lipid raft fractions of membrane raft-perturbed cells. Specifically, it was determined that the formation of newly synthesized HN and F polypeptides into the glycoprotein complex destined for virion incorporation was dependent on membrane lipid raft integrity. Finally, a novel virion complex between the ribonucleoprotein (RNP) structure and the HN attachment protein was identified and characterized. Unlike the glycoprotein complex, the detection of the RNP – HN protein-containing complex was not affected by membrane raft perturbation during virus assembly in the cell. The biological importance of this novel complex for the proper assembly of an infectious progeny virion is currently under investigation. The results presented in this thesis outline the role of host cell membrane lipid raft domains in the assembly and release processes of a model paramyxovirus. Furthermore, the present work extends our understanding of how these particular host cell domains mechanistically facilitate the ordered assembly and release of an enveloped RNA virus.