Open Access
Identificación de lentivirus de pequeños rumiantes en granulomas post-vacunales y evaluación de métodos de diagnóstico y selección genética en la lucha frente a la infección
(2021) Echeverría Garín, Irache; Reina Arias, Ramsés; Andrés Cara, Damián de; Glaría Ezquer, Idoia; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
Esta tesis plantea tres objetivos que se desarrollarán en tres capítulos independientes, correspondientes a sus respectivas publicaciones. Por un lado, se ha caracterizado la presencia y replicación de SRLV en macrófagos procedentes de granulomas inducidos tras la vacunación con formulaciones basadas en hidróxido de aluminio, el adyuvante más común en las vacunas ovinas. En segundo lugar, se ha analizado una población de más de 1000 individuos en diferentes sistemas de producción y razas e infectados por diferentes cepas de SRLV. Se ha realizado un estudio serológico y molecular con las herramientas disponibles en el comercio y se ha analizado la asociación de parámetros productivos, en granjas de carne y leche, con la presencia de infección. Por último, se han analizado poblaciones ovinas correspondientes a cuatro razas de importancia productiva teniendo en cuenta su estado sanitario y el genotipo de la proteína TMEM154, uno de los candidatos más prometedores para su implantación en programas de selección genética.
Open Access
Characterization of a recombinant Sendai virus vector encoding the small ruminant lentivirus gag-P25: antiviral properties in vitro and transgene expression in sheep
(BMC, 2025-03-07) Gómez, Álex; Glaría Ezquer, Idoia; Moncayola, Irati; Echeverría Garín, Irache; Arrizabalaga, Javier; Rodríguez Largo, Ana; Blas, Ignacio de; Lacasta, Delia; Pérez, Estela; Pérez, Marta María; Diego, Alicia de; Miguel, Ricardo de; Lee, Benhur; Luján, Lluís; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV) cause multisystemic chronic inflammatory disease and significant economic losses in sheep and goats worldwide. However, no vaccines or therapies are currently available. In this study, a recombinant Sendai virus (SeV) vector encoding the SRLV gag-P25 gene (rSeV-GFP-P25) from the EV1 strain was generated using In-FUSION cloning and rescued using the SeV reverse genetic system. Transgene expression and stimulation of innate immunity and interferon-stimulated genes (ovine A3Z1, OBST2 and SAMHD1) were evaluated in ovine skin fibroblasts (OSF) transduced with SeV-GFP and rSeV-GFP-P25. Additionally, to characterize the effect of the SRLV restriction in transduced OSF, the SRLV DNA load was quantified at different times post-transduction and post-infection with strain EV1. Using immunohistochemistry and image analysis, transgene expression and tissue distribution of recombinant P25 were studied in two lambs inoculated intranasally, one with rSeV-GFP-P25 and the other with SeV-GFP. rSeV-GFP-P25 induced efficient and transient transgene expression in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, OSF transduced with rSeV-GFP-P25 presented upregulation of TLR2, TLR3, TLR6, TLR7, RIG-I, MyD88 and IFN-β, whereas SeV-GFP did not induce TLR6 or IFN-β upregulation. Among the interferon-stimulated genes, OBST2 was significantly upregulated after transduction with rSeV-GFP-P25 compared with the empty vector. SRLV restriction gradually increased and persisted after transduction with SeV-GFP and rSeV-GFP-P25, with OSF transduced three times showing cumulative restriction. Forty-eight hours post-inoculation in vivo, marked P25 expression was observed in ciliated epithelial cells and submucosal macrophages/dendritic cells of the nasal mucosa. This study reinforces the important role of the innate immune response in controlling SRLV infection and suggests that rSeV-GFP-P25 is a potential vaccine candidate against SRLV.
Open Access
Replication of small ruminant lentiviruses in aluminum hydroxide-induced granulomas in sheep: a potential new factor for viral dissemination
(American Society for Microbiology, 2021) Echeverría Garín, Irache; Miguel, Ricardo de; Asín, Javier; Rodríguez Largo, Ana; Fernández, Antonio; Pérez, Marta María; Andrés Cara, Damián de; Luján, Lluís; Reina Arias, Ramsés; Ciencias; Zientziak; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Aluminum (Al)-based salts are widely used adjuvants in ruminants and other species to strengthen the immune response elicited against vaccine antigen(s). However, they can lead to the formation of long-lasting granulomas composed of abundant activated macrophages. Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV) are widely distributed macrophage-tropic retroviruses that cause persistent infections in sheep and goats. Infected monocytes/macrophages and dendritic cells establish an inflammatory microenvironment that eventually leads to clinical manifestations. The aim of this work was to study the effect of Al-induced granulomas in the replication and pathogenesis of SRLV. Eleven adult, naturally SRLV-infected sheep showing clinical arthritis were distributed in vaccine (n = 6), adjuvant-only (n = 3), and control (n = 2) groups and inoculated with commercial Al-based vaccines, Al hydroxide adjuvant alone, or phosphate-buffered saline, respectively. In vitro studies demonstrated viral replication in Al-induced granulomas in 5 out of 10 sheep. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) evinced granular, intracytoplasmic SRLV presence in macrophages within granulomas. Viral sequences obtained from granulomas, blood monocytes, and other tissues were highly similar in most animals, suggesting virus circulation among body compartments. However, notable differences between isolated strains in granulomas and other tissues in specific animals were also noted. Interestingly, the B2 subtype was the most commonly found SRLV genotype, reaching a wider body distribution than previously described. Recombination events between genotypes B2 and A3 along the gag region were identified in two sheep. Our results indicate that Al-hydroxide-derived granulomas may represent an ideal compartment for SRLV replication, perhaps altering natural SRLV infection by providing a new, suitable target tissue. IMPORTANCE Granulomas are inflammation-derived structures elicited by foreign bodies or certain infections. Aluminum adjuvants included in vaccines induce granulomas in many species. In sheep, these are persistent and consist of activated macrophages. Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV), which are macrophage-tropic lentiviruses, cause a chronic wasting disease affecting animal welfare and production. Here, we studied the occurrence of SRLV in postvaccination granulomas retrieved from naturally infected ewes after vaccination or inoculation with aluminum only. SRLV infection was confirmed in granulomas by identification of viral proteins, genomic fragments, and enzymatic activity. The infecting SRLV strain, previously found exclusively in carpal joints, reached the central nervous system, suggesting that occurrence of SRLV in postvaccination granulomas may broaden tissue tropism. SRLV recombination was detected in inoculated animals, a rare event in sheep lentiviruses. Potentially, virus-host interactions within granulomas may modify viral pathogenesis and lead to more widespread infection.
Open Access
Nuevos avances para el desarrollo de vacunas frente a lentivirus
(Interempresasmedia, 2020) Reina Arias, Ramsés; Nistal Villán, Estanislao; Pablo Maiso, Lorena de; Echeverría Garín, Irache; Glaría Ezquer, Idoia; Andrés Cara, Damián de; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura
La infección de células ovinas por un virus murino no patogénico es capaz de interferir en la replicación de virus patogénicos como el Maedi Visna. El éxito en la defensa está condicionado por la capacidad inicial de respuesta con la que cuentan casi todas las células de los organismos vivos, participando en la inmunidad innata frente a cualquier infección.
Open Access
Effect of a topical formulation on infective viral load in lambs naturally infected with orf virus
(Taylor and Francis Group, 2021) Lacasta, Delia; Reina Arias, Ramsés; Ruiz de Arcaute, Marta; Ferrer, Luis Miguel; Benito, Alfredo Ángel; Tejedor, María Teresa; Echeverría Garín, Irache; Ruiz, Héctor; Martínez Cárdenas, Silvia; Windsor, Peter Andrew; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura
Introduction: Orf is a highly contagious eruptive viral disease of the skin and mucosa of sheep and goats. Although vaccination with live or attenuated orf virus is the preferred option for disease control, the vaccine is unavailable in many countries. Treatment of orf lesions involves standard hygiene and in numerous cases, management of presumptive secondary infections with antibiotics, increasing risks of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The wound dressing formulation Tri-Solfen® containing two local anaesthetics (lignocaine and bupivacaine), adrenaline and an antiseptic (cetrimide) in a gel formulation was developed for pain relief in sheep undergoing surgical husbandry procedures in Australia. Recently, TS therapy was found to reduce suffering and enhance recovery in cattle and buffalo with oral and skin lesions due to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus infection. It was noted that TS has a low pH and is potentially viricidal, potentially aiding disease control. Methods: One-month-old lambs (n=14), naturally infected with orf, were recruited from a farm during a natural outbreak of the disease. The animals were selected at the early stages of the infection and randomly divided into two cohorts: Group A (n=11) treated with the topical wound gel formulation (TS); and Group B (n=3) an untreated control group. Swabs were obtained before treatment (T0) and on days one (T1), 3 (T2) and 5 (T3) post-treatment, then submitted to direct DNA extraction with real-time PCR quantification, plus incubation with primary tissue cultures from ovine skin fibroblasts (OSF) and T-immortalized goat embryonic fibroblasts (TIGEF). Results: Although no significant differences were found in the clinical progression of the lesions and PCR quantification (p=0.722) between these small cohorts, there was a significant difference (p<0.05) in reduction in infective viral load between the groups when assessed in OSF cell cultures between T0 and T3. Conclusion: These preliminary findings suggest that treatment of early stage lesions with this TS may reduce the infective viral load present in orf lesions.
Open Access
Sendai virus, a strong inducer of anti-lentiviral state in ovine cells
(MDPI, 2020) Pablo Maiso, Lorena de; Echeverría Garín, Irache; Rius-Rocabert, Sergio; Luján, Lluís; Garcin, Dominique; Andrés Cara, Damián de; Nistal Villán, Estanislao; Reina Arias, Ramsés; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura
Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) are widely spread in the ovine and caprine populations, causing an incurable disease aecting animal health and production. Vaccine development is hindered owing to the high genetic heterogeneity of lentiviruses and the selection of T-cell and antibody escape mutants, requiring antigen delivery optimization. Sendai virus (SeV) is a respiratory paramyxovirus in mice that has been recognized as a potent inducer of innate immune responses in several species, including mouse and human. The aim of this study was to stimulate an innate antiviral response in ovine cells and evaluate the potential inhibitory eect upon small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) infections. Ovine alveolar macrophages (AMs), blood-derived macrophages (BDMs), and skin fibroblasts (OSFs) were stimulated through infection with SeV encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP). SeV eciently infected ovine cells, inducing an antiviral state in AM from SRLV naturally-infected animals, as well as in in vitro SRLV-infected BDM and OSF from non-infected animals. Supernatants from SeV-infected AM induced an antiviral state when transferred to fresh cells challenged with SRLV. Similar to SRLV, infectivity of an HIV-1-GFP lentiviral vector was also restricted in ovine cells infected with SeV. In myeloid cells, an M1-like proinflammatory polarization was observed together with an APOBEC3Z1 induction, among other lentiviral restriction factors. Our observations may boost new approximations in ameliorating the SRLV burden by stimulation of the innate immune response using SeV-based vaccine vectors.
Open Access
Multi-platform detection of small ruminant lentivirus antibodies and provirus as biomarkers of production losses
(Frontiers Media, 2020) Echeverría Garín, Irache; Miguel, Ricardo de; Pablo Maiso, Lorena de; Glaría Ezquer, Idoia; Benito, Alfredo A.; Blas, Ignacio de; Andrés Cara, Damián de; Luján, Lluís; Reina Arias, Ramsés; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura
Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) are endemic in most areas of Europe, causing a chronic infection and a multisystemic disease affecting the udder, carpal joints, lungs, and central nervous system. Due to the lack of treatments and protective vaccination strategies, infection control is focused on the identification of infected animals through serological or molecular techniques. However, antigenic and genetic heterogeneity of SRLVs represent a clear drawback for diagnosis. Infected animals may present lower animal production parameters such as birth weight or milk production and quality, depending on productive systems considered and, likely, to the diagnostic method applied. In this study, four sheep flocks dedicated to dairy or meat production were evaluated using three different ELISA and two PCR strategies to classify animal population according to SRLV infection status. Productive parameters were recorded along one whole lactation or reproductive period and compared between positive and negative animals. SRLV was present in 19% of the total population, being unequally distributed in the different flocks. Less than half of the infected animals were detected by a single diagnostic method, highlighting the importance of combining different diagnostic techniques. Statistical analysis employing animal classification using all the diagnostic methods associated lambing size, lamb weight at birth, and daily weight gain with SRLV infection status in meat flocks. Milk production, somatic cell count, fat, and protein content in the milk were associated with SRLV infection in dairy flocks, to a greater extent in the flock showing higher seroprevalence. A multi-platform SRLV diagnostic strategy was useful for ensuring correct animal classification, thus validating downstream studies investigating production traits.
Open Access
Growth performance and clinicopathological analyses in lambs repetitively inoculated with aluminum-hydroxide containing vaccines or aluminum-hydroxide only
(MDPI, 2021) Miguel, Ricardo de; Asín, Javier; Rodríguez Largo, Ana; Echeverría Garín, Irache; Lacasta, Delia; Andrés Cara, Damián de; Reina Arias, Ramsés; Pinczowski, Pedro; Gimeno, Marina; Molín, Jéssica; Fernández, Antonio; Blas, Ignacio de; Pérez, Marta María; Luján, Lluís; Ciencias; Zientziak; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Aluminum (Al) hydroxide is an effective adjuvant used in sheep vaccines. However, Al-adjuvants have been implicated as potential contributors to a severe wasting syndrome in sheep— the so-called ovine autoimmune-inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA syndrome). This work aimed to characterize the effects of the repetitive injection of Al-hydroxide containing products in lambs. Four flocks (Flocks 1–4; n = 21 each) kept under different conditions were studied. Three groups of seven lambs (Vaccine, Adjuvant-only, and Control) were established in each flock. Mild differences in average daily gain and fattening index were observed, indicating a reduced growth performance in Vaccine groups, likely related to short-term episodes of pyrexia and decreased daily intake. Clinical and hematological parameters remained within normal limits. Histology showed no significant differences between groups, although there was a tendency to present a higher frequency of hyperchromatic, shrunken neurons in the lumbar spinal cord in the Adjuvant-only group. Although Al-hydroxide was linked to granulomas at the injection site and behavioral changes in sheep, the results of the present experimental work indicate that injected Al-hydroxide is not enough to fully reproduce the wasting presentation of the ASIA syndrome. Other factors such as sex, breed, age, production system, diet or climate conditions could play a role.