An investigation of the genetic basis of increased susceptibility to neutralization by anti-fusion glycoprotein antibody arising on passage of human respiratory syncytial virus in cell culture

Abstract

Human respiratory syncytial virus isolates have previously been shown to exhibit resistance to neutralization by anti-fusion glycoprotein antibodies that is lost on passage in cell culture. Early passage resistant and late passage susceptible stocks of two virus isolates from different epidemics were cloned by plaque purification. Early passage stocks of both isolates yielded predominantly neutralization resistant clones while late passage stocks yielded predominantly susceptible clones. On further characterization of resistant and susceptible clones, resistant virus yields were lower and they were relatively resistant to both neutralization and fusion inhibition by anti-F murine monoclonal antibodies and were also resistant to neutralization by human sera and by Palivizumab. The full genome of resistant and susceptible clones from one of the isolates was sequenced. Four differences, confirmed by sequencing sister clones, were found between resistant and susceptible clones, one in each of the SH, G, F, and L genes.

Epigenetics changes caused by the fusion of human embryonic stem cell and ovarian cancer cells

“…At present co-culture of stem cell extracts and cell fusion are the most common reprogramming methods [ 21 – 25 ]. After fusion, the cells have the genetic materials from the two parental cells, which will have new genetic or biological characteristics [ 26 , 27 ]. In the present study, we aimed to observe the changes of gene expression and tumorigenicity in hybrid cells of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and ovarian cancer cells in vitro and in vivo , and to determine if the tumour cells can be reprogrammed successfully, for a potential exploration of the role of hESCs and tumour cells fusion in the management of ovarian cancer.…”