Simian foamy viruses (SFVs) are highly prevalent in a variety of nonhuman primate species ranging from prosimians to apes. SFVs possess a broad host range, and human infections can occur by cross-species transfer (W. Heneine et al., Nat. Med. 4:403-407, 1998). Retrovirus screening of potential sources of infection, such as laboratory research animals and simian-derived biological products, coul...

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an alphavirus, has recently caused epidemic outbreaks and is therefore considered a re-emerging pathogen for which no effective treatment is available. In this study, a CHIKV replicon containing the virus replicase proteins together with puromycin acetyltransferase, EGFP and Renilla luciferase marker genes was constructed. The replicon was transfected into BHK cells t...

Intracellular immunization to target the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) regulatory protein Rev has been explored as a genetic therapy for AIDS. Efficient intracellular expression of rearranged immunoglobulin heavy and light chain variable regions of anti-Rev monoclonal antibodies, with various vectors, and subsequent inhibition of HIV-1 replication have been previously reported by ...

A foamy virus isolated by Achong et al. from a human nasopharyngeal carcinoma was studied to determine its antigenic relationship to the eight known simiam foamy viruses (SFV). Using reciprocal cross-immunofluorescent and cross-neutralization techniques, we found the human isolate to be closely related to SFV type 6. In a seroepidemiological survey, neutralizing antibody to the human foamy viru...

Phylogenetic analysis of foamy virus sequences obtained from Bornean and Sumatran orangutans showed a distinct clustering pattern. One subcluster was represented by both Bornean and Sumatran orangutan simian foamy viruses (SFV). Combined analysis of host mitochondrial DNA and SFV phylogeny provided evidence for the hypothesis of the repopulation of Sumatra by orangutans from Borneo.

Purified preparations of Semliki Forest (SFV) and Sindbis virus haemolyse red blood cells from several species of animals and birds. The optimal haemolysis by SFV was obtained at pH 5.8 with 1-day-old chick erythrocytes incubated at room temperature. Considerable variation in haemolytic activity was observed between different virus preparations purified by different methods. The haemolytic acti...

Anti-CD3 immunotoxins exhibit considerable promise for the induction of transplantation tolerance in pre-clinical large animal models. Recently an anti-human anti-CD3epsilon single-chain immunotoxin based on truncated diphtheria toxin has been described that can be expressed in CHO cells that have been mutated to diphtheria toxin resistance. After the two toxin glycosylation sites were removed,...

Structural requirements for membrane antigens on target cells to mediate immune cytolysis were studied in a model system with purified membrane proteins from Semliki Forest virus (SFV). These SFV spike proteins were isolated in the form of detergent- and lipid-free protein micelles (29S complexes) or, after reconstitution into lipid vesicles, in the form of virosomes. Both the 29S complexes and...

Interferon inducible transmembrane proteins (IFITMs) are broad-spectrum antiviral factors. In cell culture the entry of many enveloped viruses, including orthomyxo-, flavi-, and filoviruses, is inhibited by IFITMs, though the mechanism(s) involved remain unclear and may vary between viruses. We demonstrate that Sindbis and Semliki Forest virus (SFV), which both use endocytosis and acid-induced ...

Intratumoral injection of Semliki Forest virus encoding interleukin-12 (SFV-IL-12) combines acute expression of IL-12 and stressful apoptosis of infected malignant cells. Agonist antibodies directed to costimulatory receptor CD137 (4-1BB) strongly amplify pre-existing cellular immune responses toward weak tumor antigens. In this study, we provide evidence for powerful synergistic effects of a c...