• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1987

Hantaan virus(HV) 76-118 strain was inoculated into suckling ICR mice by intra-nasal route with an inoculum of $10LD_{50}$. Mortality was 65% at the 3rd week after inoculation, but declined to 35% at the 4th week. Infectivity was determined by the measuring immuno-fluorescent antibody in sera. The peak of infectivity was 80% at the 4'th week after inoculation. Viremia was reached peak level of $1.7{\times}10^4\;PFU/ml$ by day 10. Immunofluorescent antibody and neutralizing antibody appeared by 2 weeks and 15-17 days respectively, but achieved similar titer by 35 days. By using a monoclonal antibody to HV 76-118, viral antigens were initially detected in inguinal and axillary lymph node by 2 days. Viral antigens in bone marrow and lung were delayed much more than in those of lymph node. These were similar with those of intra-peritoneal and intra-muscular route. Immune complex against IgG, IgM and C3 appeared by 16 days, 14 days, and 18 days respectively. The pattern of immunofluorescence in the basement membrane of glomeruli was diffuse membranous. Spotted pattern was also observed in the tissue stained with anti-mouse C3 antibody. By 20 days, control tissue was also shown immune complex in the glomeruli.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.340-346
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• 2002

The purpose of the present study was to examine the efficacy and mechanism of the PAB (para-amino benzamidine) affinity column chromatography, Viresolve NFP virus filtration, pasteurization (60$\^{C}$ heat treatment for 10 h), and lyophilization steps employed in the manufacture of urokinase from human urine as regards the removal and/or inactivation of the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Samples from the relevant stages of the production process were spiked with HAV and subjected to scale-down processes mimicking the manufacture of urokinase Samples were collected at each step, immediately titrated using a 50% tissue culture infectious dose (TCID$\_$50/), and the virus reduction factors evaluated. PAB chromatography was found to be an effective step for removing HAV with a log reduction factor of 3.24. HAV infectivity was rarely detected in the urokinase fraction, while most of the HAV infectivity was recovered in the unbound and wash fractions. HAV was completely removed during the Viresolve NFP filtration with a log reduction factor of $\geq$ 4.60. Pasteurization was also found to be an effective step in inactivating HAV where the titers were reduced from an initial titer of 7.18 log$\_$10/ TCID$\_$50/ to undetectable levels within 10 h of treatment. The log reduction factor achieved during pasteurization was $\geq$ 4.76. Lyophilization revealed the lowest efficacy for inactivating HAV with a log reduction factor of 1.48. The cumulative log reduction factor was $\geq$ 14.08. Accordingly, these results indicate that the production process for urokinase exhibited a sufficient HAV reducing capacity to achieve a high margin of virus safety.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.100-108
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• 2011

A method for the rapid detection and quantification of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) produced in an animal cell culture-based production system was developed to enhance the speed of the NDV vaccine manufacturing process. A SYBR Green I-based real-time RT-PCR was designed with a conventional, inexpensive RT-PCR kit targeting the F gene of the NDV LaSota strain. The method developed in this study was validated for specificity, accuracy, precision, linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), and robustness. The validation results satisfied the predetermined acceptance criteria. The validated method was used to quantify virus samples produced in an animal cell culture-based production system. The method was able to quantify the NDV samples from mid- or late-production phases, but not effective on samples from the early-production phase. For comparison with other quantifiable methods, immunoblotting, plaque assay, and tissue culture infectious dose 50 ($TCID_{50}$) assay were also performed with the NDV samples. The results demonstrated that the real-time RT-PCR method is suitable for the rapid quantification of virus particles produced in an animal cell-culture-based production system irrespective of viral infectivity.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.47-51
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• 2011

The present study demonstrated lymphocystis disease virus (LCDV) propagation through cytopathic effects (CPE) formation and LCDV detection in olive flounder fin (FFN) cells by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and fluorescent antibody technique (FAT) methods. Tissue filtrates from the cluster cells produced CPE in FFN cells, which initially cells became enlarged and gradually underwent fusion en masse. Infectivity of culture grown LCDV using the FFN cells reached $10^{2.3}$ $TCID_{50}$/ml at 4 days post infection and the highest titer was measured $10^{6.5}$ $TCID_{50}$/ml at 12 days. The viral DNA was detected in the cell culture supernatants showing CPE and the CPE cells by PCR. Antigen specific strong fluorescence reacting with monoclonal antibody against the virus revealed the presence of viral antigen in the cytoplasm of infected FFN cells. These results suggest that the FFN cell line originated from the olive flounder has a susceptibility of the LCDV.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.165-176
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• 1997

Water samples collected from marine fish culture system in Korea were compared for their capability to reduce the infectivity titers of HRV (rhabdovirus olivaceus), FBV(flounder birnavirus) and RVS(retrovirus of salmonid). In addition, interaction between viruses and microorganisms present in the rearing seawater was examined. The titer of HRV and RVS were reduced at $15^{\circ}C$ to less than detectable limits within 3 to 5 days using untreated samples of seawater. No reduction of infectivity was noted in bacteria-free water treated by filtration or autoclaving. Bacteria (Pseudomonas and Vibrio sp.) isolated from the water collected from a flounder culture system showed the inactivation activity of HRV.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5635-5641
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• 2015

Background: Cirrhosis is regarded as a possible end stage of many liver diseases, including viral infection. It occurs when healthy liver tissue becomes damaged and is replaced by scar tissue and finally may lead to hepatocellular carcinoma. Interferons (IFNs)are two general categories, type I and II. Type I includes one beta interferon and over 20 different alpha interferons. Alpha interferons are very similar in how they work, interacting with other proteins on cells like receptors. The main objective of this study was to compare Mx gene productivity post different cell line treatment with imported and Egyptian biosimilar locally produced IFNs, as well as the efficacy of those tested IFNs. Also, an assessment was made of sensitivity of different cell lines as alternatives to that recommended for evaluation of antiviral activity. Materials and Methods: Different cell lines (Vero, MDBK and Wish) were employed to evaluate cytotoxicity using the MTT assay. Antiviral activity was evaluated compared with standard IFN against VSV, Indiana strain -156, on tested rh-IFNs (imported; innovated and Egyptian biosimilar locally produced IFNs) in the pre-treated cell lines previously mentioned. The virus was propagated in the Wish cell line as recommended. Finally we estimated up-regulation of the Mx gene as a biomarker. Results: Data recorded revealed that test IFNs were safe in test cell lines. Viability was around 100%. Locally tested interferon did not realize the international potency limits, while the imported one was accepted compared with the standard IFN. These results were the same either using infectivity titer reduction assay or crystal violet staining of residual non- infected cells. Mx protein production was cell type related and confirmed by the detected Mx gene expressed in imported and locally produced IFN pre-treated cell lines. The expression of the gene was arranged in the order of Vero> wish > MDBK for the imported IFN, while for the Egyptian biosimillar locally produced one it was MDBK> Vero> wish. With regard to the antiviral activity there was a significant difference of imported IFN potency compared with the locally produced IFN (P<0.05), the IFN potential (antiviral activity) was not cell line related and showed non-significant difference for each separate product. Conclusions: Vero cells can be used as an alternative cell line for evaluation of IFN potency in case of unavailable USP recommended cell lines. Alternative potency evaluation assay could be used and proved significant difference in IFN potency in case of local and imported agents. Evaluation of antiviral activity could be used in parallel to viral infectivity reduction assay for better accuracy. Mx gene can be used as a marker for IFN potential.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1164-1169
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• 2008

We developed multiplex RT-PCR assays that can detect and identify 12 hemagglutinin (H1-H12) and 9 neuraminidase (N1-N9) subtypes that are commonly isolated from avian, swine, and human influenza A viruses. RT-PCR products with unique sizes characteristic of each subtype were amplified by multiplex RT-PCRs, and sequence analysis of each amplicon was demonstrated to be specific for each subtype with 24 reference viruses. The specificity was demonstrated further with DNA or cDNA templates from 7 viruses, 5 bacteria, and 50 influenza A virus-negative specimens. Furthermore, the assays could detect and subtype up to $10^5$ dilution of each of the reference viruses that had an original infectivity titer of $10^6\;EID_{50}/ml$. Of 188 virus isolates, the multiplex RT-PCR results agreed completely with individual RT-PCR subtyping results and with results obtained from virus isolations. Furthermore, the multiplex RT-PCR methods efficiently detected mixed infections with at least two different subtypes of influenza viruses in one host. Therefore, these methods could facilitate rapid and accurate subtyping of influenza A viruses directly from field specimens.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.171-180
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• 2001

Compared to other gene transfer system, the advantages of retrovirus-mediated gene transfer are technical ease, efficient expression and genetic stability. Despite the high potency of the retrovirus vector system in gene transfer, one of the drawbacks is a difficulty in concentration of virus stock. To overcome this problem, we tested a new retrovirus vector system producing the progeny retrovirus particles encapsidated with VSV-G (vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein). The infectivity of this virus was not sacrificed by ultracentrifugal concentration and the host cell range extended from all mammalian to fish embryos. Virus titer after 1,000 x concentration was more than 10$^{8}$ CFU/ $m\ell$ on most of the target cell lines. We applied this pantropic viruses in transgenic chicken production by injecting the concentrated (100$\times$) stock into subgerminal cavity of stage X chicken embryos. The survival rate of chicken embryos after injection was about 20% and gene integration rate in surviving embryos was scored almost 100%. Analyses of RT-PCR and fluorescence microscopy, however, showed no evidence of the transgene expression.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.73-83
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the viral load dynamics in children with underlying malignancies diagnosed with symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: This was a retrospective longitudinal cohort study of patients <19 years old with underlying hemato-oncologic malignancies that were diagnosed with their first symptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 infection during March 1 to August 30, 2022. Review of electronic medical records and telephone surveys were undertaken to assess the clinical presentations and transmission route of the patients. Thresholds of negligible likelihood of infectious virus was defined as E gene reverse transcription (RT)-PCR cycle threshold (Ct) value ≥25. Results: During the 6-month study period, a total of 43 children with 44 episodes of COVID-19 were included. Of the 44 episodes, the median age of the patients included was 8 years old (interquartile range [IQR], 4.9-10.5), and the most common underlying disease was acute lymphoid leukemia (n=30, 68.2%), followed by patients post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (n=8, 18.2%). Majority of the patients had mild COVID-19 (n=32, 72.7%), and three patients (7.0%) had severe/critical COVID-19. Furthermore, 2.3% (n=1) died of COVID-19 associated acute respiratory distress syndrome. The largest percentage of the patients showed E gene RT-PCR Ct value ≥25 between 15-21 days (n=13, 39.4%), followed by 22-28 days (n=10, 30.3%). In 15.2% (n=5), E gene RT-PCR Ct value remained <25 beyond 28 days after initial positive PCR. Refractory malignancy status (β, 67.0; 95% confidence interval, 7.0-17.0; P=0.030) was significantly associated with prolonged duration of E gene RT-PCR <25. A patient with prolonged duration of E gene RT-PCR Ct value <25 was suspected to have infectivity shown by the transmission of the virus to his mother at day 86 after his initial positive test. Conclusions: Children that acquire symptomatic COVID-19 during refractory malignancy state are at a high risk for prolonged shedding warranting PCR-based transmission precautions in this cohort of patients.