Dengue type 4 live-attenuated vaccine viruses passaged in vero cells affect genetic stability and dengue-induced hemorrhaging in mice

PLoS One. 2011;6(10):e25800. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0025800. Epub 2011 Oct 28.

Abstract

Most live-attenuated tetravalent dengue virus vaccines in current clinical trials are produced from Vero cells. In a previous study we demonstrated that an infectious cDNA clone-derived dengue type 4 (DEN-4) virus retains higher genetic stability in MRC-5 cells than in Vero cells. For this study we investigated two DEN-4 viruses: the infectious cDNA clone-derived DEN-4 2A and its derived 3' NCR 30-nucleotide deletion mutant DEN-4 2AΔ30, a vaccine candidate. Mutations in the C-prM-E, NS2B-NS3, and NS4B-NS5 regions of the DEN genome were sequenced and compared following cell passages in Vero and MRC-5 cells. Our results indicate stronger genetic stability in both viruses following MRC-5 cell passages, leading to significantly lower RNA polymerase error rates when the DEN-4 virus is used for genome replication. Although no significant increases in virus titers were observed following cell passages, DEN-4 2A and DEN-4 2AΔ30 virus titers following Vero cell passages were 17-fold to 25-fold higher than titers following MRC-5 cell passages. Neurovirulence for DEN-4 2A and DEN-4 2AΔ30 viruses increased significantly following passages in Vero cells compared to passages in MRC-5 cells. In addition, more severe DEN-induced hemorrhaging in mice was noted following DEN-4 2A and DEN-4 2AΔ30 passages in Vero cells compared to passages in MRC-5 cells. Target mutagenesis performed on the DEN-4 2A infectious clone indicated that single point mutation of E-Q(438)H, E-V(463)L, NS2B-Q(78)H, and NS2B-A(113)T imperatively increased mouse hemorrhaging severity. The relationship between amino acid mutations acquired during Vero cell passage and enhanced DEN-induced hemorrhages in mice may be important for understanding DHF pathogenesis, as well as for the development of live-attenuated dengue vaccines. Taken together, the genetic stability, virus yield, and DEN-induced hemorrhaging all require further investigation in the context of live-attenuated DEN vaccine development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / genetics
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Dengue Virus / genetics*
  • Dengue Virus / immunology*
  • Dengue Virus / pathogenicity
  • Genes, Viral / genetics
  • Hemorrhage / immunology*
  • Hemorrhage / virology*
  • Humans
  • Immunocompetence / genetics
  • Immunocompetence / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mutant Proteins / metabolism
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Nucleotides / genetics
  • Serial Passage
  • Severe Dengue / immunology*
  • Severe Dengue / prevention & control
  • Severe Dengue / virology*
  • Vaccines, Attenuated / immunology*
  • Vero Cells
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / genetics
  • Virulence / genetics
  • Virulence / immunology

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Mutant Proteins
  • Nucleotides
  • Vaccines, Attenuated
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins