Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Dear Participants,
The main objective of this meeting is to promote the
exchange of scientific information between academia,
government and industry in the area of dengue research.
This meeting has acquired an essential niche as one of
the conferences available to the international Dengue
community. We expect it will serves a distinct function
by providing a mid-format meeting at which the latest
unpublished research can be discussed in depth.
Particularly relevant are the unpublished results of all
five dengue vaccine candidates presently in clinical
trials, including result from Phase III safety study
recently completed in our Latin American Region. We
encourage all of you to promote the networking and to
establish new collaborations and to open new
opportunities for the students and young investigators.
Dear Participants,
The Pan American Dengue Research Network (Pan Dengue Net) welcomes all of you and
appreciates your time and contributions, which have made the Fourth Meeting possible.
We feel it is essential to continue to have meetings that give the Pan American dengue research
community the opportunity to integrate key aspects from different areas of dengue research
(virology, immunology, epidemiology, vector biology, modeling among others), and attract
participants from other disciplines as well, allowing valuable cross-fertilization.
These interactions are likely to result in recruitment opportunities for participants who are
seeking post-doctoral fellowships or new faculty positions, as well as in fostering North-South
productive collaborations. We hope this meeting will contribute to meet these goals.
This year, our event has participants from at least 25 countries from the Americas, Europe, Asia,
and Australia. By the end of September, we had 295 registered participants but more significant,
67% are females, Congratulations!
This meeting would not be possible without the contribution of our Sponsors, particularly the
Brazil Ministry of Health, the Instituto Evandro Chagas, and the Chief of Arbovirology and
Hemorrhagic Fevers Section and Chairman of this Meeting Dr. Pedro Vasconcelos and his team.
Also the contribution of Dr. Maurcio Lacerda Nogueira as Coordinator and member of the
Brazilian crew has been key to the meeting organization.
The scientific success and quality of this meeting is largely attributable to Dr. Eva Harris (just Eva),
Chairperson of the Scientific Committee, who as in previous meetings devoted a lot of energy to
select the Speakers, to select the members of the scientific committee and to put together the
exciting Agenda of this meeting.
We are deeply in debt to all of you, members of our community, who took time away form your
daily activities (academic, administrative, scientific, clinical, etc.) to be part of the Organizing and
Scientific committees (listed on this agenda) to guarantee the success of this Fourth meeting.
We are already working on the 2016 Pan Dengue Net Fifth meeting. Volunteers are more than
welcome! Don't be shy, we will need a lot of help.
If you are a potential Sponsor, please add us to your contributions list for 2016!!
If you think you can help, please contact us with your comments, suggestions and ideas at
contactus@denguemeeting.com or through our web site wwwpandenguenet.org
Scott Halstead
Epidemiology/Phylogenetics - 85 min
LUNCH
12:45-2:00 PM
LUNCH
12:45-2:00 PM
Immunology - 85 min
POSTER SESSIONS
5:15-6:45 pm
POSTER SESSIONS
5:15-6:45 pm
Virology/Antivirals
Epidemiology/Phylogenetics
Pathogenesis
Marciano Paes (Brazil)
Emiliana Silva (Brazil)
Victor Fiestas (Brazil)
Monique Trugilho (Brazil)
Jonas Conde (Brazil)
Immunology
Emily Gallichotte (USA)
Raphael Zellweger (USA)
Cintia Marinho (Brazil)
Mariana Gandini (Brazil)
Daniel Limonta (Cuba)
Clinical Research
Cynthia Rodriguez (Honduras)
Crystyan Siles (Peru)
Carlos Narvaez (Colombia)
Mayara Marques Carneiro da Silva (Brazil)
Vaccine/Modeling
Harry Partidos (Takeda)
Clemente Diaz (GSK/Puerto Rico)
Guido Camargo (Colombia)
Milene Silveira Ferreira (Brazil)
Melissa Mattocks (USA)
Alienys Izquierdo (Cuba)
Diagnostics/Prognostics
Irene Bosch (MIT/USA)
Claire Huang (CDC/USA)
Angela Argolo (Brazil)
Diego Allonso (Brazil)
Stalin Vilcarromero (Peru)
Vector
Natapong Jupatanakul (USA)
Jos Joaqun Carvajal Corts (Brazil)
Luciana dos Santos Dias (Brazil)
Kacey C. Ernst (USA)
LUNCH
12:45-2:00 PM
Round Table II
Roberto Barrera (USA/CDC/Puerto Rico)
Alvaro Eiras (Brasil)
Dawn Wesson (USA)
Meeting Sessions
and Invited Speakers
Sunday
October 19th
18:00-18:15
Opening Ceremony
18:15-19:00
Keynote
19:00-21:00
Welcome Cocktail
VIROLOGY/ANTIVIRALS
INVITED SPEAKERS
STRUCTURE-FUNCTION ANALYSES OF THE DENGUE VIRUS NS1 PROTEIN
Richard J. Kuhn1,2, Joyce Jose1, Jinsam Chang1, Andrew Miller1, David Akey3, Clay Brown3, Theodore C. Pierson4, & Janet Smith3
Markey Center for Structural Biology, Dept. of Biological Sciences, 2Bindley Bioscience Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; 3Life Sciences Institute,
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 4Laboratory of Viral Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD
We have recently solved the high-resolution x-ray crystal structures of the dengue virus and the West Nile virus NS1 proteins. The NS1 protein is found as a functional
dimer with a hydrophobic and hydrophilic face separated by an extended set of beta strands. The hydrophobic face is suggested to play an intimate role in RNA
synthesis by directly contacting membrane replication proteins. As NS1 is also secreted in the form of a lipoprotein complex, this face also serves to organize lipids in
the hexamer form of NS1. Several additional structural features of NS1 suggest a role in evading immune surveillance. Mutational and functional studies are being
done to interrogate the relationship between the structure and function of the NS1 protein. Surprisingly, many single point mutations render the virus restricted in
replication. Many of these detrimental substitutions were made in the beta roll and greasy nger domains. This region is suggested to play a role in RNA synthesis.
Insights into the functional differences between the West Nile and dengue NS1 proteins are being pursued by exchanging regions or specic residues that differ
between the two proteins. Certain chimeras, while not expected to have structural differences, do present phenotype differences. Structural features will be presented
in the context of biological functions.
1
RNA STRUCTURE DUPLICATIONS IN THE DENGUE VIRUS GENOME FACILITATES HOST ADAPTATION
Sergio Villordo*, Claudia Filomatori* and Andrea Gamarnik
Fundacin Instituto Leloir-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Dengue virus cycles in nature between humans and mosquitoes, however, it is still unclear how the virus adapts to use different cellular machineries for replication
and overcome different types of antiviral responses. RNA viruses in general have high capacity to adapt to different environments due to the genetic diversity of viral
populations. Using dengue virus, we recently found specic RNA sequences in the viral 3'UTR that are essential for viral replication in mosquito cells but dispensable
for replication in mammalian cells. These studies provided direct evidence for host-specic functions of viral RNA elements and raised the question whether viral RNA
structures are under specic selective pressures during host adaptation. To further these studies, we evaluated how RNA cis-acting elements evolve under singlehost selective pressures in mosquito and mammalian cells and during host switch. Deep sequencing of dengue virus populations subjected to host adaptation
showed a strong selection of different mutations in the viral 3'UTR in each host, while cis-acting elements present at the 5' end of the genome remained unchanged.
Secondary RNA structure analysis showed that viruses selected in mosquito cells contained mutations mapping to a single stem-loop structure, which was found to
be duplicated in mosquito-borne aviviruses. Using recombinant viruses and evaluation of tness parameters, we found that RNA duplication is required to tolerate
mosquito-adaptive mutations for replication in mammalian cells. Our ndings provide a novel model supporting the role of RNA duplications for efcient dengue virus
replication in multiple hosts.
THE LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HOST PROTEINS AND DENGUE VIRUS RNAS
Mariano A. Garcia-Blanco12,3,4,5, Katell Bidet1,2, Alex Ward1, Brandt Levitt3,4, and Shelton Bradrick3,4
Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore, 2NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National
University of Singapore, Singapore, 3Center for RNA Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA, 4Department of Molecular Genetics and
Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA, and 5Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina,
USA.
Viral RNA-host protein interactions are critical for replication of aviviruses, a genus of positive-strand RNA viruses comprising major vector-borne human pathogens
including dengue viruses (DENV). We examined three conserved host RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) G3BP1, G3BP2 and CAPRIN1 in dengue virus (DENV-2) infection
and found them to be novel regulators of the interferon (IFN) response against DENV-2. The three RBPs were required for the accumulation of the protein products of
several interferon stimulated genes (ISGs), and for efcient translation of PKR and IFITM2 mRNAs. This identies G3BP1, G3BP2 and CAPRIN1 as novel regulators of
the antiviral state. Their antiviral activity was antagonized by the abundant DENV-2 non-coding subgenomic aviviral RNA (sfRNA), which bound to G3BP1, G3BP2
and CAPRIN1, inhibited their activity and lead to profound inhibition of ISG mRNA translation. This work describes a new and unexpected level of regulation for
interferon stimulated gene expression and presents the rst mechanism of action for an sfRNA as a molecular sponge of anti-viral effectors in human cells. We also
examined the function of ERI3, a host 3'-5' RNA exonuclease, which is required for dengue virus replication. We determined that this enzyme is required, paradoxically,
to stabilize viral RNAs. In addition to presenting mechanistic data on the role of ERI3 in dengue virus infection we will present the results of our high throughput screen
for ERI3 inhibitors and their action as anti-dengue compounds.
1
DENGUE VIRUS CAPSID PROTEIN ABILITY TO TRANSLOCATE NUCLEIC ACIDS ACROSS MEMBRANES: IMPLICATIONS IN VIRUS ENTRY INTO HOST CELLS
Christine Cruz-Oliveira1, Joo Miguel Freire2, Thas M. Conceio1, Daisy M. Strottmann3, Claudia N. Duarte dos Santos3, Miguel A. R. B. Castanho2, Andrea T. Da Poian1
Instituto de Bioqumica Mdica Leopoldo de Meis, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro Brasil; Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
Instituto Carlos Chagas Filho, Fiocruz-PR, Curitiba, Brasil
For all enveloped viruses, genome access to the cytoplasm depends on the fusion of viral envelope with a cellular membrane, a process triggered by a viral fusion
protein anchored at the virion envelope. In the case of dengue virus (DENV), it is currently established in the literature that, despite the different entry routes of viral
particle internalization, genome release into the cytoplasm occurs through envelope (E) protein-mediated membrane fusion. However, based on recent results, we
hypothesize that DENV capsid (C) protein may cooperate with E protein during the fusion stages. We characterized the capsid proteins of all aviviruses as
supercharged proteins, which are proteins with a high net charge/molecular weight (MW) that are able to efciently penetrate cells and deliver functional cargoes. We
found that recombinant DENV C protein, as well as two synthetic peptides comprising C protein residues 45-72 and 67-100, were able to translocate short
oligonucleotide sequences (ssDNA and siRNA) and large nucleic acids (GFP-encoding plasmid) across cellular membranes. The GFP-encoding plasmid as well as the
siRNAs were not only transported into the cells, but also expressed efciently. In addition, DENV 2 C protein was able to internalize DENV 1 RNA (derived from DENV1
infectious clone vBACDV1) in hepatic cells. After C protein-mediated transfection, DENV1 RNA expression was monitored using antibodies against DENV E protein
through microscopy and ow citometry studies. Besides efcient viral RNA expression and translation, transfection of DENV1 RNA with C protein promotes virus
assembly, since infectious DENV particles were detected in the medium at 96 hours post transfection. Taken together, these results reinforce the role of C protein in
viral genome release into the cytoplasm.
ASSESSING DENGUE VIRUS-INDUCED CHANGES IN GENE EXPRESSION PROFILES VIA RIBOSOME PROFILING
Mariana Leguia1, Diana Juarez1, Michael Torres1, Eric S. Halsey1, Daniel G. Bausch1, Anton Vila-Sanjurjo2.
1
U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, 2Universidade de A Corua, Peru
A majority of the research on dengue (DENV) virus-induced changes in gene expression has focused on the role of the adaptive immune response, which is undeniably
important. However, epidemiological data suggest that the host's genetic background may also contribute important susceptibility factors that could exert their effect
in a manner independent from the adaptive immune response. Cellular responses with the potential to make a difference between life and death outcomes are
ultimately mediated by the actions of proteins encoded in the genome. Thus, an understanding of differential global gene expression at the proteome level is essential
to understand how DENV infection can result in dramatically different disease outcomes. Ribosome proling is a new technique that enables direct measurements of
protein expression at the whole cell level. In so doing, it generates all the information needed for a comprehensive understanding of how global gene expression may
inuence particular disease phenotypes. We have recently completed the rst ribosome proling-based study of DENV-2 infected human cells. Our results indicate
that ribosome proling is a powerful tool to study changes in cellular dynamics upon DENV infection. Specically, we are able to pinpoint differentially regulated genes
and corroborate previously identied putative predictors of disease progression. As a whole, these data sets elucidate differentially regulated genes in the context of
the host's genetic background. Furthermore, this approach has the potential to enable discovery of genes not previously associated with particular disease states, and
in so doing, lead to the development of improved vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics.
DENGUE-3 VIRUS (DENV-3) ENTRY INTO THE HOST CELL: MECHANISM AND ANTIVIRAL TARGET FOR HEPARAN SULFATE-MIMICKING AGENTS
Elsa B. Damonte, Luana E. Piccini, Viviana Castilla.
Laboratorio de Virologa, Departamento de Qumica Biolgica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, IQUIBICEN- CONICET, 1428
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Dengue virus (DENV) entry into the host cell represents an attractive antiviral strategy for chemotherapy to suppress the beginning of infection. However, it appears to
be a very complex process regulated by several cell- and virus-dependent factors that may affect antiviral susceptibility. Here, we studied rst the mode of entry of
DENV-3 strain H87 into the host cell by analyzing the effect of pharmacological and molecular inhibitors of different endocytic pathways on viral infectivity and antigen
expression. Together, the results obtained demonstrated that DENV-3 entered mosquito C6/36 cells by clathrin-mediated endocytosis whereas the entry into monkey
Vero and human A549 cells occurred via a clathrin-independent, dynamin and acid pH-mediated route with a partial involvement of caveolae. The kinetics of viral
entry, analyzed by using a resistance to ammonium chloride assay, indicated that virion penetration started at 5 min post-binding and the time for viral escape from
endosomes was about 15 min. The antiviral susceptibility of DENV-3 to entry inhibitors was next analyzed in both Vero and A549 cells. Diverse classes of sulfated
polysaccharides (SP), compounds mimicking the cellular heparan sulfate residues, exhibited a potent and selective antiviral activity against DENV-3. Carrageenans
were the most active inhibitors with effective concentration 50% (EC50) values around 1 g/ml and selectivity indices (ratio cytotoxicity/antiviral activity) higher
than 1000. The target of these compounds was DENV-3 entry by dual blockade of virus adsorption and internalization of the nucleocapsid from endosomes.
The comparison with our previous studies on Vero cell entry with DENV-1 (clathrin-mediated endocytosis and resistance to SP) and DENV-2 (non classical clathrinand caveola-independent pathway and susceptibility to SP) conrms that diverse viral and cellular factors affect DENV entry and should be considered for evaluation
of safe antiviral agents reactive against all DENV serotypes.
HIGHLIGHTED POSTERS
VIROLOGY/ANTIVIRALS
HP01
Dengue virus inhibits miR-133a expression through its 3'UTR but miR-133a overexpression blocks dengue virus replication
Jorge Andrs Castillo1, Juan Camilo Castrilln1, Mayra Diosa-Toro1,2, Juan Guillermo Betancur1, St Laurent G 3rd1,3, Jolanda M Smit2, Silvio Urcuqui-Inchima1
1
Grupo Inmunovirologa, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia; 2Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of
Groningen, The Netherlands. 3St Laurent Institute, 9 Lewis St, Providence, RI 02906, USA
Dengue virus (DENV) is the most common vector-borne viral infection worldwide with approximately 390 million cases and 25,000 reported deaths each year. Despite
the high economic and social impact of DENV, neither vaccine nor antiviral drug therapy exists for any of the four dengue serotypes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding small RNA molecules responsible for the regulation of gene expression by repressing mRNA translation or inducing its degradation. miRNAs have been
described to poses antiviral activity towards several mammalian-infecting viruses. However, the role of miRNAs during DENV replication is not yet understood and
well-studied. Here, we analyzed miR-133a expression in Vero cells during DENV infection and we observed a rapid down-regulation of miR-133a early in infection. The
3'UTR of DENV participates in this process by altering the expression of proteins involved in the miRNA biogenesis pathway. In addition, we observed that reduced
levels of miR-133a augment expression of the polypyrimidine tract binding protein during the rst 12 hours after infection. Furthermore, transfection of Vero cells with
mature miR-133a was found to inhibit DENV replication, while inhibition of miR-133 expression with miR-133a antisense mimics, increased the viral replication.
Taken together, our results indicate that miR-133a has anti-DENV activity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the rst study demonstrating that a cellular miRNA has
anti-DENV activity.
HP02
The heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K is a cell factor required for dengue virus type 2 multiplication
Viviana Castilla, Jess E. Brunetti, Luis A. Scolaro
Laboratorio de Virologa, Departamento de Qumica Biolgica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) A2 and K are cellular RNA-binding proteins that participate in mRNA splicing, trafcking and translation and
have been implicated in the multiplication of several cytoplasmic RNA viruses. To identify cellular factors involved in dengue virus (DENV) replication, here we
characterized hnRNP A2 and K expression in Vero and A549 cells infected with DENV type 2 and we evaluated the effect of hnRNP K silencing on DENV-2 multiplication.
We analyzed hnRNP intracellular localization by indirect immunouorescence assays, using anti-hnRNP and anti-viral glycoprotein E antibodies, at 2 or 5 days postinfection (dpi). Whereas hnRNP A2 showed a clear nuclear localization, similar to that observed in uninfected cells, the cytoplasmic translocation of hnRNP K was
evident at 5 dpi in both cell types. We also performed A549 cell transfection with a plasmid that allows the expression of T7-tagged hnRNP K and the re-localization of
transiently overexpressed hnRNP K to the cytoplasm was observed at 2dpi. The analysis by western blot showed no signicant differences in the total levels of hnRNP
K expression between uninfected and DENV-2 infected Vero or A549 cells. Finally, A549 cells were transfected with small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that target hnRNP
K or small non-interfering RNA used as control, and at 24 h post-transfection cells were infected. The effectiveness of siRNA silencing was corroborated by western
blot and at 1 and 5 dpi, virus yield and the amount of glycoprotein E expressing cells were assessed by plaque assay and immunouorescence technique, respectively.
A signicant reduction of 66.6% and 96.0% of virus yield was achieved at 1 and 5 dpi, respectively, and the amount of uorescent cells was also inhibited. The results
obtained indicate that DENV-2 infection alters hnRNP K intracellular distribution and this hnRNP would play an important role in DENV-2 multiplication in cell cultures.
HP03
MicroRNA profiling associates miR-21 and miR-146a with dengue virus-induced apoptosis and replication in human hepatoma cells
Antonio Gregorio Dias Junior1; Daniele Barbosa de Almeida Medeiros1; Ana Ceclia Ribeiro Cruz1,2; Mrcio Roberto Teixeira Nunes1; Evonnildo Costa Gonalves3;
Antnio Rosrio Carlos Vallinoto3; Edna Cristina Santos Franco1; Pedro Fernando da Costa Vasconcelos1,2
2
1
Instituto Evandro Chagas/SVS/MS - Seo de Arbovirologia e Febres Hemorrgicas - Ananindeua, Par, Brazil. Universidade do Estado do Par - Belm, Par, Brazil
3
Universidade Federal do Par - Belm, Par, Brazil
Dengue virus (DENV 1-4) is a mosquito-borne agent recognized by its impact on public health in tropical and sub-tropical countries. Infected individuals may present
severe forms of the disease, namely dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. These are often associated with a subversion of the innate immune
responses (e.g. due viral proteins inhibition of interferon - IFN - type I pathway; antibody dependent enhancement; host polymorphisms, etc.) along with an
inammatory cytokine storm and organ impairment, where apoptotic cells might be found. To exploit possible mechanisms involved in these events, we infected IFNdecient Huh7.5 and IFN competent HepG2 human hepatoma cell lines with DENV2. In comparison, Huh7.5 produced the highest virus titers with caspase 3
production and decreased cellular viability over time. In addition, an microRNA proling revealed miR-21 and miR-146a were upregulated at 48 hours post-infection
(hpi) in Huh7.5 cells. Hence, we show DENV replication affects cellular microRNA proling in an IFN-decient environment, concomitant with peaks of detectable
infectious particles and caspase 3 detection.
HP04
Effect of dengue virus infection on calcium homeostasis in hepatic cultured cells
Cinthia L. Dionicio1, Franshelle Pea2., Eda Benitez3, Fernando Medina1, Jos L. Zambrano4, Marie C. Ruiz 2, Rosa M. Del Angel1, Juan E. Ludert1
1
Department of Infectomics and Molecular Pathogenesis and 3Department for Biochemistry, Center for Research and Advanced Studies (CINVESTAV), Mexico City,
Mexico; 2Center for Biochemistry and Biophysis and 4Center for Microbiology and Cell Biology, Venezuelan Institute for Scientic Research (IVIC), Caracas, Venezuela.
email: jludert@cinvestav.mx
Dengue is the mosquito-borne viral disease most important to humans. It produces a wide range of clinical conditions ranging from mild forms (dengue fever) to the
hemorrhagic forms, known as severe dengue (DS). The dengue virus (DENV) belongs to the family Flaviviridae and 4 serotypes have been described. Ca2+ is a
second messenger controlling many intracellular processes in mammalian cells. Substantial evidence exists indicating that Ca2+ plays an important role in the
replication cycle of several viruses, including some Flavivirus. However, the importance of Ca2+ during the replication cycle of DENV is unknown. This study aims to
explore the possible involvement of Ca2+ and various mediators of this ion levels during DENV infection. Experiments carried out in Hep-G2 cells infected with DENV4 (MOI=3) and loaded with Fura-2, showed that infection signicantly (p0.005) increased the permeability of the plasma membrane to Ca2+, and causes a
signicant (p0.005) reduction in the levels of Ca2+ releasable from the endoplasmic reticulum, at 12 and 18 hpi. In addition, we observed an increase in the mRNA
levels of the proteins involved in capacitive entry, STIM1 and Orai1, at 18 and 24 hpi. However, WB analysis of Orai1 and STIM1 protein levels showed no changes in the
levels of these proteins along infection. The results suggest that the observed increase in plasma membrane permeability is due to an increase in the activation of
channels, rather than an increase in protein production. Finally, it was observed that manipulation of the intra and extracellular levels of Ca2+ in infected Huh-7 cells
through treatments with Ca2+ chelators, such as BAPTA-AM and EGTA, reduced viral particle production in more than 1 log (p<0.005), without affecting cell
viability. This result suggests that the changes induced in Ca2+ homeostasis during infection are required for an efcient viral replication.
HP05
The dengue virus non-structural protein 1 (NS1) is secreted from the mosquito cell line C6/36 following a non-classical secretory pathway.
Ana C. Alcal, Fernando Medina, Rebeca Basave, Rosa Mara del ngel, Juan E. Ludert
Department of Infectomics and Molecular Pathogenesis, Center for Research and Advanced Studies (CINVESTAV), Mexico City, D.F., Mexico. C.P. 07360. Email:
jludert@cinvestav.mx
The dengue virus non-structural protein 1 (NS1) is a glycoprotein of 46-50Kd found mainly associated to intracellular membranes and organelles. NS1 is essential for
viral replication, and has been found to co-localize with the viral replication complexes, although its roles in virus replication are not well understood. A small fraction
of NS1 can also be found associated with lipid rafts on the plasma membrane or soluble, secreted to the supernatant. Early during infection, NS1 circulates in high
levels in patients sera and evidence exists indicating that circulating NS1 plays a role in dengue pathogenesis. The notion in the eld is that during infection, NS1 is
secreted only by cells of vertebrates and not by insect or mosquito cells. In this work, however, evidence is presented indicating that the Aedes albopictus cell line
C6/36 and its variant C6/36HT, infected with DENV-4 or DEN-2 (MOI=3) secrete NS1 to the media starting at 10-12 h.p.i. The presence of NS1 in the cells
supernatants was determined using a commercial assay (PLATELIA, BIO-RAD). Secretion of NS1 takes place in the absence of any signicant (less than 5%) cell
lysis as indicated by several cytotoxicity and cell viability assays. Cell treatment with brefeldin A decreases the secretion of NS1 from infected Vero cells by about 40%,
but it does not affect NS1 secretion from C6/36 cells. Similarly, C6/36 cells treatment with drugs that affect the cytoskeleton (cytochalasin D and nocodazol) or inhibit
exosome release (spiroepoxide) had no effect on NS1 secretion. In contrast, the inhibition of the caveolin-1 chaperone complex transport by the use of siRNAs to
silence caveolin-1 expression signicantly (over 60%) reduces NS1 secretion from infected C6/36 cells. These results suggest that NS1 is indeed secreted by infected
insect cells but following a secretion route different from vertebrate cells.
HP06
Small molecule inhibitors for dengue virus NS2B/NS3 protease serotype 2
Maria Cabarcas-Montalvo1, Jesus Olivero-Verbela1*, Raquel Ocazionez-Jimenez2.
1
Environmental and Computational Chemistry Group. University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia. *Corresponding Author. joliverov@unicartagena.edu.co.
2
Laboratorio de Arbovirus. Centro de Investigaciones en Enfermedades Tropicales. (Cintrop). Universidad Industrial de Santander. Bucaramanga. Colombia.
Dengue virus is a mosquito-borne avivirus responsible for millions of human infections worldwide each year. Until today little progress has been made in nding
therapeutic compounds to control dengue disease and the treatment is supportive. NS2B-NS3 protease (NS2B-NS3pro) of dengue fever virus is essential for viral
polyprotein processing and hence for viral replication, therefore, the development of small molecule inhibitors of the viral protease is of considerable interest for the
treatment. Virtual screening of approximately two hundred thousand compounds from PubChem database was conducted by in silico blind docking to identify novel
inhibitors against the dengue protease using NS2B/NS3 crystal structure (2FOM). Near two hundred compounds presented great theoretical afnity binding to 2FOM.
From this group, ve compounds were purchased and submitted to assays to conrm the inhibitory protease activity using two methods: The rst was a uorometric
competitive assay performed against a recombinant NS2B-NS3pro expressed in E. coli and puried by afnity chromatography, employing Boc-Gly-Arg-Arg- AMC as
a substrate. The second one, an antiviral activity test consisted of the yield reduction assay in HepG-2 cells infected with dengue virus serotype 2. Three strong
NS2BNS3pro inhibitors were conrmed for both approximations. IC50 values estimated for uorometric assays were19.9 M, 17.5 M and 9.1 M for
CID54681617, CID54692801 and CID54715399, respectively. For the same chemicals, IC50 values and percentages of NS1 viral title reductions for the in vitro
antiviral assays corresponded to 61.5 M, 79.9%; 14.9 M, 69.8%; and 1.8 M, 73.9 %, respectively. Similarity searches based on calculated molecular
descriptors and multivariate methods revealed that two of these compounds, CID54681617 and CID54715399, are structurally different from those already reported
in the literature. These data show the protocol used in this work allows the discovery of promising molecules against dengue virus infection. UniCartagenaColciencias (Grant 110751929058: Contract 256-2010). UniCartagena-CENIVAM (RC-0572-7-2012).
HP07
Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) inhibits replication and viral morphogenesis of dengue virus
Rubn Soto-Acosta1, Patricia Bautista-Carbajal1, Gulam H. Syed2, Aleem Siddiqui2, Rosa M. Del Angel1
1
Departmento de Infectmica y Patognesis molecular, CINVESTAV-IPN, Mxico, D.F., Mexico. 2Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, University of
California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.
Dengue is the most common mosquito borne viral disease in humans. The infection with any of the 4 dengue virus serotypes (DENV) can either be asymptomatic or
manifest in two clinical forms, the mild dengue fever or the more severe dengue hemorrhagic fever that may progress into dengue shock syndrome. A DENV replicative
cycle relies on host lipid metabolism; specically, DENV infection modulates cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis, generating a lipid-enriched cellular environment
necessary for viral replication. Thus, the aim of this work was to evaluate the anti-DENV effect of the Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), a hypolipidemic agent with
antioxidant and anti-inammatory properties. A dose-dependent inhibition in viral yield and NS1 secretion was observed in supernatants of infected cells treated for
24 and 48h with different concentrations of NDGA. To evaluate the effect of NDGA in DENV replication, a DENV4 replicon transfected Vero cells were treated with
different concentrations of NDGA. NDGA treatment signicantly reduced DENV replication, reiterating the importance of lipids in viral replication. NDGA treatment also
led to reduction in number of lipid droplets (LDs), the neutral lipid storage organelles involved in DENV morphogenesis that are known to increase in number during
DENV infection. Furthermore, NDGA treatment resulted in dissociation of the C protein from LDs. Overall our results suggest that NDGA inhibits DENV infection by
targeting genome replication and viral assembly.
able to xate into wild mosquitoes. Here we evaluated the effects of wMel and wMelPop strains on key biological parameters of recently backcrossed Brazilian A.
aegypti, in preparation for eld releases, reared under different stress conditions. For both strains, there was signicant difference in larval development time only in
highest stress condition, where infected individuals developed more rapidly than uninfected, regardless of sex. Regarding wMel infection, we observed several
phenotypic changes, ranging from no effect at all (fecundity, fertility), to partially detrimental (longevity and body size in highest stress condition), and partially
benecial (increased levels of glycogen under the highest stress condition). About infection levels, there was generally, a higher bacterial concentration in the Brazilian
mosquitoes over time for wMel strain compared to Australian mosquitoes, exhibiting maternal transmission and cytoplasmic incompatibility rate of 96% and 99,51%
respectively. For wMelPop, there were benecial phenotypic effects: larval development time was lower in infected individuals, which showed an increased body size
and glycogen content in highest stress condition compared to uninfected females. In conclusion, we highlight key phenotypic effects of Wolbachia on the biology of
Brazilian A. aegypti. We also think it contributes with relevant information regarding the benecial effects of wMel strain, being suitable for application in the eld,
possibly controlling dengue outbreaks in Brazil.
V-P04
STRUCTURAL AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF DENV2 CAPSID PROTEIN AND ITS MUTANTS
Janaina Figueira Mansur1, Renata Morgado Pereira1, Rafael Mesquita Stoque1, Ronaldo da Silva Mohana Borges1
1
Laboratrio de Genmica Estrutural - Instituto de Biofsica Carlos Chagas Filho - Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro- Rio de Janeiro- Brazil.
The process of DENV nucleocapsid assembly is not well understood. There are some studies that showed the presence of capsid protein at the cytoplasmic side of the
endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes and that some substitutions and deletions at hydrophobic regions of capsid protein can disrupt its association with
membranes, suggesting that capsid-membrane interaction is mediated by conserved regions among residues 45 to 65. Furthermore, it was also shown that in the
absence of capsid protein there is production of subviral particles without RNA. These ndings suggest that the production of infectious viral particle is dependent on
the interaction between viral genome and capsid protein associated with ER membranes. The comprehension of the fundamental processes of the viral infection cycle
can provide potential targets for design of antiviral drugs. In this context, the present work aims to study the molecular and structural aspects of capsid protein and
characterize its interaction with membranes. DENV2 capsid protein is a highly basic protein, composed exclusively of alpha-helix, that has about 12 KDa and is
dimeric in solution. In this work, we have cloned, expressed and puried ve mutants of capsid protein (L81N, I88N, L50S, L54S, L50S/L54S). The oligomeric state of
these proteins was analyzed by gel ltration chromatography and they showed to be dimeric as the wild type protein. L81N and I88N mutants were also analyzed by
EGS cross-linking assay and the results corroborate with those obtained in the chromatography. The secondary structure of L81N and I88N were studied by circular
dichroism and presented alpha-helix structure; however, the I88N mutant showed loss of secondary structure. Stability of these two mutants was analyzed by urea
denaturation assays monitoring the tryptophan uorescence. L81N and I88N mutants were much less stable than wild type, suggesting that hydrophobic residues at
the alpha-helix 4 are important to protein stability.
V-P05
DENGUE VIRUS INTERACTOME: INTERACTION OF NONSTRUCTURAL PROTEIN 5 (NS5) AND HUMAN PROTEINS
Estefania A. Aguilera1, Emiliana M. Silva1, and Ronaldo Mohana-Borges1
1
Laboratrio de Genmica Estrutural- IBCCF - Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Among DENV nonstructural proteins, NS5 is the most conserved protein in DENV serotypes. It is a bifunctional enzyme that contains the S-adenosyl methionine
transferase and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) catalytic domains. Although all suggested functions of NS5 are generally to occur in the cytosol NS5 has
been located in the cell nucleus. There is no role for nuclear localization of dengue virus NS5, however the interaction study of NS5 and cellular proteins it's really
important for pathogenesis understanding of DENV infection. Thus, the objective of this work is to verify the role of NS5 and its RdRp and MTase domains on the
recruitment and interaction with host proteins during the replicative cycle, since we believe that the understanding of this process is essential to development of
antiviral treatments and new therapies. In this study, we employed the Matchmaker Gold Yeast Two-Hybrid System to identify human proteins that interact with NS5
protein. Y2HGold yeast cells were transformed with the pGBKT7-NS5 construct using lithium acetate method and mixed with cDNA human library provided in yeast
Y187, together, they mate to create diploids cells that contain four reporter genes: HIS3, ADE2, MEL1, and AUR1-C, that are activated in response to two-hybrid
interactions. As result we screened 132 putative interactions between DENV NS5 protein and human proteins. We demonstrated that NS5 interacts with several
proteins that have diverse functions; including metabolic, regulatory, transcriptional factors and cytoskeletal proteins. Among the screened proteins our results
showed that NS5 interacts with tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 6, cyclin-D-binding Myb-like transcription factor 1 and centromere protein F. The
next step of this work will conrm some of these putative interactions by co-immunoprecipitation, pull-down, co-immunolocalization and mass spectrometry and
then investigate the role of these interactions in viral replication and pathogenesis.
V-P06
VERTICAL TRANSMISSION OF DENGUE VIRUS IN AEDES AEGYPTI CAPTURED IN PUERTO IGUAZ, MISIONES, ARGENTINA
Manuel Espinosa1, Sergio Giamperetti2, Marcelo Abril1, Alfredo Seijo2
1
Fundacin Mundo Sano, 2Servicio de Zoonosis, Hospital F.J. Muiz; Buenos Aires, Argentina
In recent years, there have been reports of transovarial or vertical transmission of the dengue virus in Aedes aegypti and A. albopictus. While it is still uncertain how
this can currently impact the incidence of outbreaks - where the typical form of transmission (human with viremia-vector-susceptible human) prevails --, this
phenomenon could play a crucial role in maintaining the virus in the ecosystem during interepidemic periods, mainly in regions where circulation of the virus is
particularly seasonal in nature. As part of the Entomological Vigilance of Dengue Program implemented by the Mundo Sano Foundation in Puerto Iguaz, Misiones
Province, Argentina, genetic material for serotype DEN 3 was detected in male specimens of A. aegypti captured in the urban area, in the months following the dengue
epidemic that affected the Tropic of Capricorn region during the summer-fall of 2009. This event represents the rst evidence of the vertical transmission phenomenon
documented in Argentina. The existence of this alternative way of transmission in a region that is close to the international border, with the presence of A. aegypti and
A. albopictus, high human transit due to the great number of tourists visiting the Iguaz Falls National Park, and the history of circulation of the four serotypes of the
dengue virus, as well as yellow fever, should be given epidemiological importance in order to stay vigilant regarding the incidence of dengue virus and other related
avivirus.
V-P07
MODULATION OF DENV-2 REPLICATION VIA BIOCHEMICAL AND GENETIC INHIBITION OF CHOLESTEROL SYNTHESIS
Bryan L. Owen1, Romn Vidaltamayo3, Augusto Rojas1, Hugo Barrera1, Javier Ramos2, Ana Rivas1
1
Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Nuevo Leon Autonomous University; 2Infectology Department, Universitary Hospital Jos Eleuterio Martnez,
Monterrey, Nuevo Len; 3Research Department of Health Sciences at Universidad de Monterrey; Mexico
Pathogenesis of dengue virus (DENV) infection is still, not completely understood. Although Antibody dependent enhancement and immunology related factors have
been appointed as causative for severe Dengue, several cases are not consistent with this hypothesis, suggesting that other mechanisms could be involved.
Cholesterol levels have been reported to regulate DENV replication in vitro and proved to be necessary to successfully complete the viral life cycle. Also, Lovastatin
treatment reduced viral RNA on a Dengue replicon system. The aim of this work is to evaluate the effect of cholesterol regulation on DENV replication cycle. Cholesterol
synthesis was biochemically (statins lovastatin, pravastatin and atorvastatin) and genetically (iRNA against HMG-CoA R) inhibited in non-infected and DENV infected
HuH-7 Hepatoma cells. Statin concentration was maintained by applying treatment every 24 h. Supernatant was collected every 24h up to 96h for cholesterol and
DENV evaluation and replaced with fresh media containing treatment. DENV replication was evaluated using Anti Flavivirus Group antigen 4G2 and diaminobenzidine
(DAB) ourophore. Viral titter was measured with the Plaque formation unit (PFU) assay in BHK-21 cells and cholesterol levels were evaluated using Caymans
cholesterol uorometric assay. A reduction in 4G2 antigen was observed in all statin treated cells compared with the untreated control. DENV inhibition percentages for
LOV, PRA and ATO were 30%, 40% and 20% respectively at 72h p.i. 12h pre-treatment with statins slightly reduced virus titter while post-infection continuous
treatment result on a marked reduction on DENV infective particles up to 40% for PRA, 30% for LOV and 20% for ATO at 96h p.i. Statin treatment also reduced
Intracellular cholesterol levels in a time dependent manner simultaneously to DENV reduction. Genetic inhibition of cholesterol synthesis also reduces DENV titer. Our
results indicate that cholesterol inhibition causes a reduction of DENV infectious particles and 4G2 aviviral antigen signal. Our results suggest that cholesterol is
particularly involved on DENV later stages of replication.
V-P08
TRANSPLACENTAL TRANSFER PROFILE OF DENGUE VIRUS-SPECIFIC IGG
Priscila Castanha1,2, Eduardo J. M. Nascimento1, Marli Cordeiro2, Robyn Konicki1, Guangchao Gu1, Claudeir Silva Jr.2, Ernesto Marques Jr.1,2, Cynthia Braga2
1
Center for Vaccine Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; 2Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Aggeu Magalhaes Research Center, Recife, Brazil
Placental transfer of maternal dengue virus (DENV)-specic IgG to the fetus likely plays an essential role in immunity and pathogenesis of DENV infection in infants.
We investigated the placental transfer prole of DENV-specic IgG antibodies in maternal and umbilical cord blood sera pairs from parturients who took part of an
ongoing birth cohort study in Recife, Brazil. Serotype-specic antibody prole was determined by Plaque reduction neutralization test. In-house virus-capture ELISA
was used to estimate the levels of DENV-specic IgG (total as well as IgG1 and IgG4). Antibody titers were log-transformed and the transplacental antibody transfer
calculated as ratio (value infant/value mother). From 200 parturient examined, 10.5% did not have detectable neutralizing DENV-specic antibodies to any of the
DENV serotypes, 62.2% showed monotypic infection by DENV3, 22.8% the dual infection by DENV3/DENV4 and 4.5% other DENV serotype combinations. Denguespecic IgG titers in the cord sera were higher than maternal levels (p=0.026), which is consistent with an active transport mechanism across the placenta. A
negative correlation between DENV-specic IgG maternal titers and placental transfer ratio of anti-DENV3 (r= -0.1846, p=0.022) and anti-DENV4 (r= -0.3249,
p=0.015) antibodies was found, demonstrating that high levels of maternal anti-dengue IgG antibodies reduce the maternofetal transfer of DENV serotype-specic
IgG antibodies. Additionally, the titers of both isotypes IgG1 (r=0.6944, p<0.0001) and IgG4 (r=0.6875, p<0.0001) were highly correlated among the maternalcord pairs, showing that both isotypes are efciently transferred via placenta. Further analysis is underway to assess the efciency of the transplacental transfer of
other DENV-specic IgG isotypes.
V-P09
PRESENCE OF DENGUE IGA ANTIBODIES IN CASES OF DENGUE HEMORRHAGIC FEVER AND DENGUE SHOCK SYNDROME IN HONDURAN PATIENTS DURING THE
DENGUE OUTBREAK-2013
Ivette Lorenzana1, Leda Parham1, Carlos Snchez2, Mara Jos Lpez1
1
Virology Unit, Microbiology School, National Autonomous University of Honduras; 2Hospital Escuela Universitario-Materno Infantil, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Dengue fever is one of the most serious arthropod-borne viral diseases. The clinical manifestations of dengue infection include severe and life-threatening forms
dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS). The laboratory diagnosis of dengue infection could be achieved (among other test) by the
detection of specic antibodies. Dengue IgA antibodies (Ab) could be a promising approach as an indicator of recent infection, and moreover, as possible marker for
disease severity. The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of dengue IgA-Ab and to correlate it with primary and secondary infection and disease
severity. The study population was 59 patients, clinically classied as DHF (n=55) and DSS (n=4) according to the WHO criteria and laboratory conrmed. Twenty
samples were classied as primary infection and 39 as secondary infection. Dengue specic IgA-Ab was performed in plasma samples by IgA antibody-capture EIA
(VIRCELL, S.L. Spain). The overall percentage of IgA-Ab and IgM-Ab positivity was 60% (n=35) and 86% (n=51) respectively. The presence of IgA-Ab was
statistically signicant for secondary infections (31/39; 80%) when was compared with primary infection (4/20; 20%) OR=15.5, p=0.0001. Regarding disease
severity, 56% of IgA-Ab was found in DHF vs 100% in SSD and 51% of IgM-Ab in DHF vs 47% in DSS. Our ndings are in agreement with other studies, which have
reported higher positivity of IgA-Ab detection in samples from secondary infections when compare with primary cases. There is not statistical signicant difference of
IgA-Ab according to disease severity, there is a tendency to nd higher presence of IgA-Ab positivity in DSS than in DHF (OR=7). Further analysis should be done to
determine the utility of IgA-Ab detection as a marker of diagnosis and/or prognosis in dengue disease.
V-P10
EXPRESSION LEVEL EVALUATION OF DGCR8 IN HUMAN CELLS DURING VIRAL INFECTION BY DENGUE VIRUS 4
Samir Casseb1, Karla de Melo1, Gustavo Holanda1, Bruno Tardelli1, Maria Helena1 Mendona1, Ana Celila Cruz1, Pedro Fernando da Costa Vasconcelos1
1
Instituto Evandro Chagas /SVS/MS, Ananindeua, Par, Brazil
Dengue virus and its four serotypes (DENV-1 to DENV-4) infect 390 million people and are implicated in at least 25,000 deaths annually, Dengue virus is the most
common disease in tropical and subtropical regions. In Brazil, DENV-4 reemerged in 2010 in Boa Vista and Cant municipalities Roraima State. Virus spread to other
geographic regions of Brazil with cases of infection start to be registered in the Northern (Roraima, Amazonas and Par State), Northeast (Bahia, Pernambuco and
Piau State) and Southeast (Rio de Janeiro and So Paulo State). The Drosha-DGCR8 complex (Microprocessor) is required for microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis. DGCR8
recognizes the RNA substrate, whereas Drosha works as an endonuclease. High-throughput sequencing and crosslinking immunoprecipitation (HITS-CLIP) were
used to identify DGCR8 RNA targets in human cells. Unexpectedly, miRNAs were not the most abundant targets. DGCR8-bound RNAs also comprised several hundred
mRNAs as well as small non-codius RNAs and long non-coding RNAs. In the present study, we investigated the correlate expression of DGCR8 during viral infection by
Dengue virus 4 in A549 cells. We used the method described by Johnson et al. 2005 for quantication of viral load, together with method for absolute quantication
curve by RT-qPCR, quantication mRNA used for DGCR8 target and endogenous control RPL38 by RT-qPCR using SYBR Green method. Quantication of mRNA related
to DGCR8, showed no changes from uninfected cells. Since its reduced expression during viral infection after three days post-infection, and its lower expression on the
third day, might be related with the low expression of DGCR8 with high viral replication rate. The low expression of DGCR8 may help the viral replication process; the
possible low expression of DGCR8 might be related not only with the biogenesis of miRNAs, but possibly to others small RNAs.
V-P11
STRUCTURAL STABILITY OF DENGUE VIRUS RECOMBINANT NS1 PROTEIN
Diego R. Coelho, Diego Allonso, Ronaldo Mohana-Borges
Laboratrio de Genmica Estrutural, Instituto de Biofsica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
The current literature about Dengue suggests that the recombinant NS1 protein expressed in bacteria (NS1bac) may have almost the same conformation of the wild
type form, except for the post-translational modications. Thus, the aim of this study was to characterize the structural stability of NS1bac in order to compare,
hereafter, to the glycosylated protein. First, the NS1bac protein was expressed in E. coli, puried and refolded. Its monomeric population was then puried by size
exclusion chromatography. The stability of tertiary and secondary structures was analyzed by uorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism (CD), respectively.
The results suggested that the structure of NS1bac is very stable against thermal denaturation, acidic pH, and increasing concentration of urea and guanidine
hydrochloride. The secondary structure analysis by circular dichroism also revealed a typical spectrum of -helix and -sheet contents. In order to perform a future
comparison, it was also developed a protocol for expression and purication of recombinant hexameric glycosylated NS1 protein (NS1mam). The NS1mam was
puried from BHK-21 cell culture transfected with recombinant vector containing the NS1 gene. The preliminary structural analysis also revealed a typical CD
spectrum of -helix and -sheet, in agreement with recent crystallographic results published.
V-P12
LIVER INJURY IN EXPERIMENTAL DENGUE VIRUS INFECTION IN CALLITHRIX PENICILLATA
Daniele Henriques1, Vera Barros2, Paulo Castro3, Gilmara Silva3, Milene Ferreira1 and Pedro Vasconcelos1
1
Seo de Arbovirologia e Febres Hemorrgicas, Instituto Evandro Chagas, Ananindeua, Par; 2 Seo de Patologia, Instituto Evandro Chagas, Ananindeua, PA; 3
Centro Nacional de Primatas, Instituto Evandro Chagas, Ananindeua, PA; Brazil
Dengue viruses are globally the most important arboviruses causing human disease in more than 100 countries, and none vaccine is licensed for them. The lacks of an
experimental model that mimic human disease is of concern, missing information on the disease pathogenesis. This study aimed to evaluate pathological changes in
the liver of marmoset Callithrix penicillata sequentially infected with DENV3 and DENV2 Brazilian isolates obtained from fatal cases. C6/36 cells supernatant were
used to infect 26 marmosets subcutaneously with DENV3 (primary infection-PI) (3.23 x 103 PFU/ml); uninfected control animals (CA) were reserved up the end of
experiment. Daily for seven days and at intervals of 10, 15, 20, 30, 45 and 60 days post-infection experimented animals were anesthetized and sacriced; secondary
infection-SI with DENV2 (4.47 x 104 PFU/ml) was performed two months after PI of the remaining 13 non-sacriced animals. Liver of infected and CA animals were
processed for histopathological and immunohistochemical assays. Both PI and SI marmoset livers showed sinusoidal congestion; portal spaces presented discrete
inammatory response in most PI liver samples, while for SI the inammatory inltrate was more evident in the parenchyma. In both experiments, the inammatory
inltrate was predominantly mononuclear; foci of hepatocellular necrosis were also observed. Other histological changes sporadically observed at different time
intervals include apoptotic Councilman corpuscles in midzone, hyperplasia and hypertrophy of Kupffer cells, hepatocellular swelling in the lobe areas I and III, and
megakaryocytes in both experiments; focal hemorrhage was only observed in a SI animal showing acute hepatic hemorrhagic failure. Samples of both experiments
showed mild acute hepatitis. No pathologic changes were observed on CA livers. These ndings were consistent with those described for livers of human fatal dengue,
indicating marmosets as suitable model to study dengue pathogenesis and thus may be a useful experimental model for dengue vaccine evaluation.
V-P13
CO-CIRCULATION OF DENGUE VIRUS 1, 2, 3 AND 4 IN SYMPTOMATIC PATIENTS DURING AN OUTBREAK, CONTAGEM, MINAS GERAIS, BRAZIL, 2013
Elisa Helena Paz Andrade, Ana Paula Pessoa Vilela, Julio Cesar Camara Rosa, Leandra Barcelos Figueiredo, Jaquelline Germano de Oliveira, Paulo Cesar Peregrino
Ferreira, Claudio Antonio Bonjardim, Erna Geessien Kroon
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
In dengue endemic countries the co-circulation of multiple Dengue virus (DENV) serotypes in the same area has been described. Contagem is a city located in the State
of Minas Gerais, in the Southest region of Brazil. In 2013, Contagem underwent a dengue epidemic with 23.572 notied cases, of which three patients died. In this
study, we report the co-circulation of DENV1-4 in symptomatic patients during this outbreak. A total of 49 acute phase plasma samples from patients clinically
suspected of dengue admitted to a hospital, located in Contagem, were collected during three weeks of May, 2013. All patients were residents of Contagem or
neighboring cities. RNA of DENV serotypes 1, 2, 3 and 4 were detected by RT-semi-nested PCR targeting the C-prM region of its genome. Positive semi-nested PCR
samples were puried and used directly as template in sequencing reactions. Of 49 samples, 33 (67.3%) tested positive for DENV RNA by RT-semi-nested PCR. Of
these, 20 DNA fragments were sequenced and 8 (40%) were identied as DENV-3, 5 (25%) as DENV-4, 4 (20%) as DENV-2 and 3 (15%) as DENV-1. The data
conrmed the co-circulation of the four DENV serotypes in one outbreak in a short time period. Financial support: CAPES, CNPq, MS/ SCTIE/ Decit/ FAPEMIG/ CNPq/
PRONEX Dengue / INCT-Dengue
VP-14
MODULATION OF DENGUE VIRUS INFECTION BY STRESS GRANULES.
Araujo D.F.F., Assuno-Miranda I., Carneiro L.A.
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Stress granules (SGs) are cytoplasmic RNA granules that form in response to various types of cellular stress such as heat shock, hypoxia and radiation. Their
formation results in inhibition of translation initiation of new proteins with the phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor elF2, as a major event. The role of SGs
suppression in translation and in RNA silencing suggests that such structures may have an impact on viral replication. Several studies have demonstrated
interactions of these structures with several viruses during the course of infection. Recently, it was shown that dengue virus (DENV) infection negatively regulates the
formation of SGs. Furthermore, co-localization between viral replication sites and proteins of SGs was also evidenced by immunouorescence, suggesting a possible
interaction. Thus, we propose to investigate the role of SG formation in the viability of the host cell, the viral replication and assembly of new viral particles in the course
of infection by DENV2. Initially, we evaluated the replication cycle of DENV2 comparing infected wild type cells with infected cells in which no phosphorylation of elF2
and consequently no formation of SGs, takes place. The study was performed by comparing cell viability, production of infectious particles, viral replication and the
production of viral proteins in both cell types. It was found that in cells in which no phosphorylation of eIF2 takes place, there is a decrease in cell viability and in the
production of infectious particles, despite a higher production of viral mRNA and proteins. Next stages of the project involve the study of the production of inammatory
cytokines produced by DENV2 infection such as IL-6, KC and RANTES in both cell types and also to check the type of death induced by the virus and to identify which
structures present in SGs are important for the completion of the viral life cycle.
V-P15
THE HETEROGENEOUS NUCLEAR RIBONUCLEOPROTEIN K IS A CELL FACTOR REQUIRED FOR DENGUE VIRUS TYPE 2 MULTIPLICATION
Viviana Castilla, Jess E. Brunetti, Luis A. Scolaro.
Laboratorio de Virologa, Departamento de Qumica Biolgica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) A2 and K are cellular RNA-binding proteins that participate in mRNA splicing, trafcking and translation and
have been implicated in the multiplication of several cytoplasmic RNA viruses. To identify cellular factors involved in dengue virus (DENV) replication, here we
characterized hnRNP A2 and K expression in Vero and A549 cells infected with DENV type 2 and we evaluated the effect of hnRNP K silencing on DENV-2 multiplication.
We analyzed hnRNP intracellular localization by indirect immunouorescence assays, using anti-hnRNP and anti-viral glycoprotein E antibodies, at 2 or 5 days postinfection (dpi). Whereas hnRNP A2 showed a clear nuclear localization, similar to that observed in uninfected cells, the cytoplasmic translocation of hnRNP K was
evident at 5 dpi in both cell types. We also performed A549 cell transfection with a plasmid that allows the expression of T7-tagged hnRNP K and the re-localization of
transiently overexpressed hnRNP K to the cytoplasm was observed at 2dpi. The analysis by western blot showed no signicant differences in the total levels of hnRNP
K expression between uninfected and DENV-2 infected Vero or A549 cells. Finally, A549 cells were transfected with small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that target hnRNP
K or small non-interfering RNA used as control, and at 24 h post-transfection cells were infected. The effectiveness of siRNA silencing was corroborated by western
blot and at 1 and 5 dpi, virus yield and the amount of glycoprotein E expressing cells were assessed by plaque assay and immunouorescence technique, respectively.
A signicant reduction of 66.6% and 96.0% of virus yield was achieved at 1 and 5 dpi, respectively, and the amount of uorescent cells was also inhibited. The results
obtained indicate that DENV-2 infection alters hnRNP K intracellular distribution and this hnRNP would play an important role in DENV-2 multiplication in cell cultures.
V-P16
VIRAL GROWTH CURVE FOR DETERMINING DAYS OF HARVEST OF DENGUE VIRAL STOCK IN VERO CELLS
Vivian Regina Silveira, Iray Maria Rocco, Rezolina Pereira dos Santos, Adriana Yurika Maeda, Fernanda Gisele da Silva, Terezinha Lisieux Moraes Coimbra, Ana Lucia
Rodrigues Oliveira, Maria do Carmo Sampaio Tavares Timenetsky.
Insituto Adolfo Lutz, Coordenadoria de Controle de Doenas, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Faced with the need for a dengue vaccine, Adolfo Lutz Institute directs its efforts to implement techniques to measure neutralizing antibodies. According to WHO, the
correlation between the presence of neutralizing antibodies and virus protection against infection is not absolute and suggests that the Plaque Reduction
Neutralization Test (PRNT) is the most widely accepted approach for measuring virus neutralization and protective antibodies. The deployment of PRNT implies the
production of viral antigen. Knowing the growth curve of these viruses is an important parameter to PRNT results as a large amount of inactive particles can result in a
falsely low antibodies titers. Therefore, the best harvest day must occur during the late exponential growth phase. The aim of this study was to observe the growth
curve of these viruses and determine the best harvests days with titers around 105PFU/ml, verify the possibility of two different harvests in one bottle. Standards
strains DENV1(Hawaii), DENV2(NGC), DENV3(H87) and DENV4(H241) adapted in Vero cells were used. Viral stocks were grown in Vero cells from the ATCC. The
conditions for amplication were standardized using a Multiplicity of Infection of about 10-2 to DENV3 and 10-3 to DENV1, 2 and 4. The contents of this viral
preparation was quantied by titration in 24 wells plates and revealed by immunostaining using monoclonal antibodies. The results demonstrate that it is possible to
make two harvests and suggest that the best days to harvest of DENV3 is the day 7 (104.90 PFU/ml) and a second harvest on day 12 (104.70PFU/ml). For DENV1, 2
and 4 the best for the harvests days were the day 5 (105.69PFU/ml, 104.93PFU/ml and 105.87PFU/ml) and second harvest day 10 (105.38PFU/ml, 104.58PFU/ml e
105.13PFU/ml) respectively.
V-P17
EXPRESSION OF THE DENGUE VIRUS NS1 PROTEIN IN HEPG2 CELLS AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL ASPECTS
Kssila Rabelo1, Marciano Viana Paes1, Adriana de Souza Azevedo1, Edson Roberto A. de Oliveira1, Ceclia Jacques G. de Almeida2, Ada Maria de Barcelos Alves1 and
Simone Morais da Costa1
1
Laboratrio de Biotecnologia e Fisiologia de Infeces Virais, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz,- RJ, Brasil. 2Laboratrio de Imunofarmacologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz,
Fiocruz,- RJ, Brasil
Dengue is an important viral disease, with epidemics in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The disease is complex, with different manifestations, in which
the liver is normally affected. The dengue non-structural protein 1 (NS1) is essential for virus viability, although its function is not yet elucidated. It is found in infected
cells associated with plasma membrane and secreted into the circulation. Some reports indicate that NS1 can be used as a protective antigen, while others suggest its
involvement in viral pathogenesis. Therefore, studies concerning the effect of the NS1 in hepatic cells can elucidate some aspects of its role during the virus infection.
In this work, we standardized an efcient protocol of HepG2 transfection, a human hepatocarcinome cell, with a plasmid encoding the dengue-2 virus NS1 protein and
evaluated the effect of this protein in the cell ultrastructures. Such assays were necessary, since HepG2 cells are particularly difcult to be transfected. First, we
evaluated three different transfection methods: Lipofectamine, FuGENE 6 and nucleofection, and the expression of NS1 were detected by immunouorescence and
ow cytometry. Subsequently, we analyzed ultrastructural changes in HepG2 cells expressing the recombinant protein by electron microscopy. Low levels of NS1
expression were observed in cells transfected with Lipofectamine and FuGene, 24h post transfection. On the other hand, the efciency of nucleofection was
remarkable higher when compared to the others methods, in which approximately 59% of cells expressed the NS1. The analysis by electron microscopy suggested that
NS1 appears to induce some morphological alterations in HepG2 involving organelles as Endoplasmic Reticulum and Mitochondria, as well as in Lipid Bodies
production. Funding support: IOC-Fiocruz, PAPES-Fiocruz, FAPERJ, CNPq.
V-P18
THE DENGUE VIRUS NS3 PROTEIN IS LOCATED IN DETERGENT RESISTANT MICRODOMIANS OF HMEC-I INFECTED CELLS
Garca-Cordero J1, Bueno-Cruz K1, Gutirrez-Castaeda B2, Gonzlez-Y-Merchand J3, Cedillo-Barrn L1.
1
Depto. Biomedicina Molecular, CINVESTAV, D.F.; 2Facultad de Estudios Superiores IZTACALA UNAM; Estado de Mxico; 3Dpto. de Microbiologa Molecular ENCB-IPN
D.F.; Mxico
Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, the causative agent is an enveloped virus of positive-strand RNA and there are four serotypes (DEN-1 to 4). The
interaction of virus with the host cell is still a matter of study. It is proposed that there are different kinds of cellular receptors including: heparan sulfate, lectins, DCSIGN, heat shock proteins, among others. Several reports have shown that different life cycle events, including the process of virus replication, are held in
membranous organelles. It has been shown that the complex formed by replicative NS3 and NS5 proteins is associated with membranes of the endoplasmic
reticulum. Cell membranes are characterized by the presence of dynamic structures of proteins and lipids known as lipid rafts or Resistant Microdomains Detergents
(RMD) where events such cell signaling are take place. The goal of this work was to evaluate whether the dengue virus uses the lipid rafts during the events following
the entry in a model of endothelial cells (HMEC-I). HMEC-I cells were infected with Dengue-2 virus and analyzed at 48h post-infection to evaluate the level of
colocalization of a nonstructural protein NS3 (as part of the replication complex) and lipid rafts markers residents such as caveolin and otillin. Confocal microscopy
results show a high level of colocalization between lipid rafts resident proteins and viral NS3 protease, but not for the transferrin receptor as no resident marker of lipid
rafts. However when the extraction of detergent resistant microdomains (MRD) was performed through sucrose gradients and by evaluating NS3 distribution in each of
the MRD fractions, it was observed that NS3 localises to the lipid rafts region. Furthermore, when NS3 was immunoprecipitated with caveolin, it was observed that it is
indeed associated only with caveolar rafts. Moreover, it was found that lipid rafts could be playing an important role during viral assembly due to the fact that when
cells were treated with an inhibitor of cholesterol synthesis (Lovastatin) it was observed that there was a reduction in viral infectious progeny. Finally, it was observed
that NS5 protein did not colocalize with caveolar lipid rafts, which suggests that lipid rafts may only participate during the processing of the polyprotein. In conclusion,
it was found that NS3 viral protein is localized in a protein complex associated to caveolin and that this complex affects the assembly of dengue virus in HMEC-I cells.
A-P03
MARCGRAVIACEAE-ORIGINATED COMPOUNDS DEMONSTRATED ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY AGAINST DENV-2 IN PRIMARY HUMAN MONOCYTES INFECTED IN VITRO
Luciana Gomes Fialho1; Cntia da Silva Mello1; Vagner Pereira da Silva1; Maria Raquel Figueiredo1; Claire Fernandes Kubelka1
1
Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro - RJ - Brasil
Introduction: The discovery of medicinal plants with antiviral activity against Dengue virus (DENV)-2 is important since the viral load and replication generate immune
responses leading to severe disease outcomes. The use of the virus main target cells in this study, like primary monocytes, reproduces events occurring with dengue
patients. Marcgraviaceae, has been evaluated for its biodynamic activities, due to its almost complete chemical and pharmacological uniqueness. The aim of this
work was to determine the antiviral potential of a Marcgraviaceae sp. Methods and results: Primary human monocytes were infected with DENV-2 (strain 16681). We
analyzed for three days the iNOS expression by ow cytometry, while cell culture supernatants were evaluated for NS1, by ELISA and for NO2-, by Griess reaction. The
virus induced expression/production of all factors evaluated at 48 hours post-infection and this time-point was adopted for antiviral assays with plant fractions.
Monocytes treated after infection either with buthanolic fraction or with 89-98 subfraction, both derived from a leave crude ethanolic extract were able to reduce
signicantly the NS1 production (50% and 79%, respectively). The 89-98 subfraction increased NO production in 55%. Afterwards, we evaluated if these compounds
could be inhibiting the infection to new cells. Monocytes were infected and incubated, simultaneously, with fractions; after two hours fresh medium was added and the
cells analyzed for the infection rate by ow cytometry at 48 hours. The results showed that only 89-98 subfraction presented a strong reduction in monocytes infection
rate (60%) compared with cells infected without compounds, suggesting that this fraction would be blocking the infection of new monocytes. Conclusion: Compounds
studied are good candidates for the development of herbal medicines for dengue treatment, since they generate an antiviral response and possible prevent the
infection of new cells. Financial support: PROEP-IOC & RPT 11D/FIOCRUZ; CAPES; CNPq and FAPERJ.
A-P04
IN VITRO STUDY OF A MEDICINAL PLANT WITH IMMUNOMODULATORY AND ANTIVIRAL POTENTIAL IN CONTINUOUS LINES OF HUMAN HEPATOCYTES INFECTED
WITH DENGUE VIRUS-2.
Cntia da Silva Mello1; Fialho, Luciana Gomes1; Marinho, Cintia Ferreira1; Siani, Antonio C2; Valente, Ligia M3; Kubelka, Claire F1.
1
Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 2Farmanguinhos, FIOCRUZ;3Instituto de Qumica, UFRJ; Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Introduction: Infection with Dengue virus (DENV) in Brazil is characterized as an endemic disease with periodic epidemics. Phytotherapy is considered an alternative
for the immunomodulation of the immune system through the dynamic regulation of signaling molecules such as cytokines, which interfere in their cellular effector
functions and in humoral components. The aim of this study is to investigate compounds originated from medicinal plants that could modulate the innate immune
response associated with immunopathological features in DENV infection using an in vitro infection model with continuous lines of human hepatocytes (Huh-7).
Methods and Results: After target cell infection by DENV-2, cultures were treated with the aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of Uncaria spp. (UGC/UGFEEA) and
tested at different concentrations. The infected cell rate was determined after incubation periods by virus specic immunouorescence and ow cytometry analysis.
Nonstructural viral proteins (NS1) were detected in the cell culture supernatants as was the chemokine MIF, all determined by ELISA assays. Antiviral effects of
UGC/UGFEEA were observed as compared to untreated cells in concentrations that reduced the frequency of viral antigen positive and the amount of NS1 secreted.
Immunomodulatory effects were shown by reduced MIF secretion. In UGC, the optimal concentration was 10 g/mL as antiviral activity by ow cytometry(DENV=
57.45 vs DENV+UGC 10 g/mL= 46.74) and immunomodulatory effect (72h: DENV=3084.71 vs DENV+UGC 10 g/mL=1874.54). In UGFEEA, 1g/mL showed
better antiviral activity by ow cytometry (72h): DENV=44.67 vs DENV+UGFEEA 1g/mL=25.02 and NS1(24h): DENV=2.56 vs DENV+UGFEEA 1g/mL=0.75),
and 0.1g/mL greater imunonodulador effect (72h): DENV=3084.71 vs DENV+UGFEEA 0.1 g/mL=1232.86).Values shown are means of DO. Conclusion: These
preliminary results showing a possible antiviral and immunomodulatory activities from UGC/UGFEEA in human hepatocytes, open perspectives to advanced studies
about the mechanisms of action related to these extracts and their assets components such as endothelial cell permeability and the modulation of cell activation.
Supported by FIOCRUZ/RPT11D;IOC/PROEP;CNPq;FAPERJ;CAPES.
A-P05
SCREENING FOR ANTI-DENGUE VIRUS ACTIVITY OF QUINIC ACID DERIVATIVES.
Paula Rodrigues Zanello, Andrea Cristine Koishi, Fabricio Klerynton Marchini, Mauro Vieira de Almeida, Claudia Nunes Duarte dos Santos, Juliano Bordignon
Instituto Carlos Chagas, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Introduction: Among all human arthropod-vector diseases, Dengue (genus Flavivirus) is the most important as it is a health threat worldwide. Despite the large
number of cases and their severity, to date there is neither specic dengue treatment nor approved vaccine to prevent infection. Substances obtained from quinic acid
have demonstrated antiviral acitivity against HIV, Hepatitis B Virus, Herpes Simplex-1, Enterovirus 71 and Inuenza H1N1. Here we test the anti-dengue virus activity
of quinic acid derivatives against the four dengue serotypes. Methods: Prior to the antiviral screening, compound cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT and Neutral Red
assays. Quinic acid derivatives had their antiviral activity (against four dengue serotypes) screened in Huh7.5 cells through in situ ELISA. Foci-forming assays
validated ELISA ndings. Two promising compounds were also validated in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy volunteers (PBMCs) infected in
vitro with DENV-4. Results: Out of 10 tested compounds, two (AAP17 and ALB34) were able to reduced DENV-1 to -4 infection. PBMCs infected with DENV-4 had
similar low infection rates Further results showed that AAP17 and ALB34 did not act as virucidal, nor affect the binding and internalization of viral particles.
Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the r st report on the use of quinic acid derivatives against DENV. Data demonstrated the anti-DENV action of two promising
drugs in both Huh7.5 and human primary cells. Additional experiments using DENV subgenomic replicon system may determine the mode of action of hit substances.
These results contribute for the development of a unique dengue treatment against the virus.
A-P06
ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY OF FUNGI AND PLANT EXTRACTS AGAINST DENGUE VIRUS
Emerson C. Barbosa1; Fernanda L. M. Francisco2; Gabriela C. Mota1; Tnia M. A. Alves2; Carlos L. Zani2; Luiz H. Rosa3; Carlos Eduardo Calzavara-Silva1; Erna G. Kroon3
and Jaquelline G. Oliveira1
1
Laboratrio de Imunologia Celular e Molecular - Centro de Pesquisas Ren Rachou (CPqRR) FIOCRUZ; 2 Laboratrio de Qumica de Produtos Naturais, Centro de
Pesquisas Ren Rachou (CPqRR) - FIOCRUZ; 3 Departamento de Microbiologia - Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brasil
Natural products could be, in the future, a source of antiviral drugs for dengue treatment and also for other diseases caused by viruses of the Flaviviridae family, or
even by a wide spectrum of viruses. In this study, were screened 2940 plant and fungi extracts obtained from the Fiocruz collection of plant and fungi extracts (COLAB)
for antiviral activity against Dengue virus (DENV). Ethanolic extracts of different anatomical parts of a wide range of plant and from cultures of fungi isolates were
evaluated in vitro against Dengue virus 2 (DENV-2) by the cytopathic effect (CPE) denoted by degree of inhibition upon treating DENV2-infected BHK-21 cells. The
potency of these extracts at 25 g/mL on DENV-2 inhibition were further examined using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT)
colorimetric assay, in which the percentage of viability of cells alone, cells infected with DENV-2 and infected cells treated with extracts were measured and compared.
A total of 114 out of the 2940 extracts tested presented antiviral activity against DENV-2. Thirty two out of the those 114 extracts were obtained from plants belonging
to 17 distinct families: Malpighiaceae (6), Erythroxylaceae (1), Melastomataceae (2), Myrtaceae (1), Rubiaceae (2), Fabaceae (1), Clusiaceae (1), Combretaceae (1),
Leguminosae (2), Lythraceae (2), Asteraceae (4), Amaryllidaceae (3), Sapindaceae (2), Ochnaceae (1), Begoniaceae (1), Annonaceae (1), Primulaceae (1). All the
82 fungal extracts with antiviral activity were obtained from cultures of endophytic fungi, which are in the process of taxonomic identication. Eight fungal extracts
presented interesting effective concentration 50 (EC50) values, ranging between 3,1 g/mL and 12,5 g/mL, with no cytotoxicity at 100 g/mL. Our results indicate
that fungi extracts can be a promising source of antiviral agents. Financial support by FIOCRUZ, CPqRR, CNPq and FAPEMIG.
PATHOGENESIS
ABSTRACTS INVITED SPEAKERS
PATHOGENESIS OF DENGUE VIRUS INFECTIONS: UPDATE AND CHALLENGES
Pedro F. C. Vasconcelos
PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center for Arbovirus Research and Diagnostic Reference; National Reference Laboratory for Dengue and other arboviruses; National
Institute for Science and Technology on Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (INCT-FHV); Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers, Instituto Evandro Chagas,
SVS/MoH, Rodovia BR-316, km-07, Ananindeua, Par, Brazil
The pathogenesis of dengue virus infections remain poorly understood and therefore a challenge to scientists around the world. Despite several discoveries on
participation of antibodies and different viral lineages in the disease severity, it is not clear the role of both and also of cells and their cytokines in the pathophysiology of
dengue, mainly on severe disease (Yacoub et al., 2013). Many of difculties for a clear understanding of pathogenesis of dengue are the lack of an ideal model to study
the dengue disease. The ideal model is the one reproducing the human disease, and no one animal has demonstrated this quality. In the absence of a perfect model,
the Old World monkey especially rhesus monkey were used not only to test potential vaccine candidates but rather to observe viremia and humoral response
particularly antibodies response, as previously used for yellow fever and yellow fever 17D vaccine (Theiler & Smith, 1937). Only recently New World monkeys,
especially marmosets were investigated their susceptibility to dengue virus infections (Omatsu et al., 2011; Omatsu et al., 2012; Ferreira et al., 2014). The results
showed these animals as promissory model to study dengue viruses. Several lineages of mice have been infected with dengue viruses and different degrees of
susceptibility were achieved. More robust results were obtained on humanized mice and interferon decient animals, and also immunocompetent mice challenged
several times with DENV3 (Kuruvilla et al., 2007; Zompi & Harris, 2013; Diniz et al., 2014). This is easily understood since mice are naturally resistant to dengue
viruses and despite the interesting results obtained these animals cannot be considered as ideal model to study dengue pathogenesis. Considering the difculties of a
good model to study dengue viruses and the preliminary results indicating that marmosets are susceptible to those viruses, and also the availability of these animals
in the National Primate Center (CENP) at the Evandro Chagas Institute (IEC), we performed three distinct experiments on marmosets (Callithrix penicillata) with
dengue viruses: Experiment 1. 26 animals were subcutaneously infected with Brazilian isolates of DENV3 and 60 days later 13 remaining animals (not euthanized)
were infected with DENV2; experiment 2. Three animals were infected with DENV2 and one year and 7 months later challenged with DENV3; experiment 3. Three
animals were infected weekly with DENV3 and 24 hours later received anti-DENV2 antibodies, four animals were mock no infected controls and two received only antiDENV2 antibodies. The results were interesting: Experiment 1 - animals developed high viremia titers and robust antibody responses; many cytokines were
increased; Interesting, secondary infections after 2 months of primary infections revealed some discrete alteration characterized by pathologic changes, antigen
detection and expression of selected cytokines. Experiment 2 viremia was high and antibody response robust; secondary infection was accompanied by important
pathologic changes and they developed thrombocytopenia, leukopenya, discrete increased levels of aminotransferases and a strong in situ response in liver, kidney,
lung and dermal tissues mimicking nding obtained on human fatal dengue disease. Experiment 3 animals presented low viremia titles and they remained all timing
experiment apparently without alterations; nonetheless, changes were observed on liver, brain, lung and lymph nodes. In conclusion, marmosets that are closed to
human on evolutionary aspect showed to be a handle, cheaper, and feasible model to investigate the pathogenesis of dengue virus infections and perhaps also to
potential vaccine candidates, but interval between primary and secondary infections should be longer; nally other New World primate species should be investigated
the potential susceptibility of them to dengue viruses using the new available virologic and immunologic tools. Financial support: this study had the nancial support
of INCT-FHV (grant CNPq/CAPES/FAPESPA n 573739/2008-0), CNPq (grant 301641/2010-2), IEC, CENP and SVS/MoH
population has variants of susceptibility and resistance to DENV infection and only risk variants to occurrence of haemorrhages. These associations are consistent
with previous studies. Financial support: COLCIENCIAS (Grant Code 1115-493-26145; Contract 441.2009).
DENGUE VIRUS NON-STRUCTURAL PROTEIN-1 (NS1) INCREASES HUMAN PULMONARY ENDOTHELIAL CELL PERMEABILITY IN VITRO
Henry Puerta-Guardo, Dustin Glasner, and Eva Harris
Division of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA
Dengue is the most prevalent arboviral disease in humans and a major public health problem worldwide. Systemic plasma leakage and increased vascular
permeability leading to profound shock and potentially fatal complications are critical determinants of dengue severity. Dengue pathogenesis involves a complex
interaction of the virus and host immune response, including cross-reactive antibodies and T cells, complement activation, and elevated levels of cytokines and other
soluble mediators that correlate with severe disease. However, the mechanism of vascular dysfunction in dengue disease is still unclear. Secreted and cell-surfaceassociated dengue virus (DENV) nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) and anti-NS1 antibodies are implicated in contradictory roles of protection and pathogenesis, and how
NS1 contributes to dengue pathogenesis remains uncertain. Here we evaluated the role of soluble NS1 (sNS1) in inducing endothelial dysfunction. Cultures of human
pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells grown on a transwell permeable membrane system as a model of barrier function in vitro were exposed to sNS1 (0.2-20
g/mL), and endothelial permeability was examined by continuously measuring the trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER). DENV2 sNS1 induced a signicant
dose-dependent increase in endothelial permeability starting 2 hours post-treatment (hpt), with a ~20 and ~50% decrease in TEER at 5 and 20 g/mL,
respectively. This effect persisted for more than 24 h as compared to the TEER baseline values exhibited by untreated controls and treatment with unrelated protein
(20 g/mL OVA). Lower concentrations (0.2 and 1 g/mL) showed less dramatic but still signicant decreases in TEER that returned to baseline ~12 hpt. When the
sNS1 hexameric structure was disrupted by boiling, this effect was lost, but TEER reduction was restored as the hexamer reformed over time. sNS1 from DENV1,
DENV3, and DENV4 yielded similar results. Confocal microscopy revealed concomitant alterations in intercellular junctional proteins. Our ndings suggest a new
mechanism of sNS1 directly triggering endothelial vascular dysfunction that occurs in severe dengue disease.
HIGHLIGHTED POSTERS
Pathogenesis
HP08
HISTOPATHOLOGICAL CHANGES AND VIRAL REPLICATION IN MULTIPLE ORGANS FROM DENGUE FATAL CASES IN BRAZIL
Paes, M.V1 ; Pvoa, T.F1 ; Baslio-de-Oliveira C.A2 ; Chagas V.L.A3 ; Alves, A. M. B1
1
Laboratrio de Biotecnologia e Fisiologia de Infec es Virais, IOC, Fiocruz, RJ, Brazil; 2Anatomia Patolgica, Hospital Gaffre Guinle, UNIRI O, RJ, Brazil; 3Anatomia
Patolgica, Hospital Universitrio Clementino Fraga Filho, RJ, Brazil.
The pathogenesis of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is complex and not well dened. In the present work, we initiated a study with tissues obtained from different
organs (liver, lung, heart and kidney) of four dengue fata l cases. In this work, we analyzed lesions in different organs of four dengue fatal cases, occurred in Brazil.
Tissues were prepared for visualization in optical and electron microscopy, with damages quantication. Cases presented necrotic areas in the liver and diffuse macro
and microsteatosis, which were more accentuated in case 1, who also had obesity. The lung was the most affected organ, with hyaline membrane formation
associated with mononuclear inltrates in patients with pre-existing diseases such as diabetes and obesity (cases 1 and 2, respectively). These cases had also
extensive acute tubular necrosis in the kidney. Infection induced destruction of cardiac bers in most cases, with absence of nucleus and loss of striations, suggesting
myocarditis. Spleens revealed signicant destruction of the germinal centers and atrophy of lymphoid follicles, which may be associated to decrease of T cell number.
Circulatory disturbs were reinforced by the presence of megakaryocytes in alveolar spaces, thrombus formation in glomerular capillaries and loss of endothelium in
several tissues. Besides histopathological and ultrastructural observations, virus replication were investigated by detection of dengue antigens, especially the nonstructural 3 protein (NS3), and conrmed by the presence of virus RNA negative strand (in situ hybridization ), with second staining for identication of some cells.
Results showed that dengue had broader tropism comparing to what was described before in literature, replicating in hepatocytes, type II pneumocytes and cardiac
bers, as well as in resident and circulating monocytes/macrophages and endothelial cells. These studies may contribute to a better understanding of the key cells
involved in pathogenesis and replication of dengue. Financial support: Fiocruz/IOC, CNPq and Faperj.
HP09
DENGUE VIRUS NONSTRUCTURAL 3 PROTEIN INTERACTS WITH HUMAN GLYCERALDEHYDE-3- PHOSPHATE DEHYDROGENASE (GAPDH) AND ALTERS ITS
GLYCOLYTIC ACTIVITY.
Emiliana M. Silva1; Jonas N. Conde1; Diego Allonso1; Manuela Leal2; Gustavo T. Ventura1; Ronaldo Mohana-Borges1.
1
Laboratrio de Genmica Estrutural, Instituto de Biofsica Carlos Chagas Filho, UFRJ, Brazil 2Laboratrio de Biologia Computacional, Instituto Nacional de Metrologia,
Qualidade e Tecnologia - INMETRO, Brazil
The multifunctional NS3 protein forms a non-covalent complex with the NS2B cofactor, functioning as serine-protease that is responsible for proteolytic processing of
the viral polyprotein at the NS2A/NS2B, NS2B/NS3, NS3/NS4A and NS4B/NS5 junctions. It has also an ATPase/helicase and RNA triphosphatase domain at its Cterminal, which is essential for RNA replication. In this study, we employed yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) system to identify liver human proteins that interact with NS3
protein, which was performed using the Matchmaker GAL-4 Two-Hybrid System 3 (Clontech). The Y2H screening identied 49 colonies that grew in the absence of Trp,
Leu, His, Ade and were tested for the LacZ phenotype. Among the NS3- interacting partners, we found the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). The
human GAPDH directly interacted with NS3 helicase and protease domains as demonstrated by ELISA and molecular docking. Surface plasmon resonance
measurements revealed the high avidity and afnity between these interactions. In addition, NS3 protein co-localizes with GAPDH in hepatocytes cell lineage infected
with dengue virus using mouse polyclonal anti-NS3 helicase and rabbit polyclonal anti-GAPDH. Glycolytic activity for GAPDH decreased in the presence of NS3
helicase and protease domains. As GAPDH is a well characterized glycolytic enzyme, displaying multiple functions in transcriptional coactivation, DNA repair,
oxidative stress, apoptosis induction and regulation, we suggest that the GAPDH-NS3 interaction is associated with the viral replication and apoptosis processes.
Financial Support: FAPERJ, CNPq and CAPES.
HP10
EVALUATION OF CLINICAL AND INFLAMMATORY PARAMETERS IN PATIENTS INFECTED WITH DENGUE VIRUS (DENV)-4
Victor Fiestas Solrzano1, Elzinandes Leal de Azeredo1, Luzia Maria de Oliveira- Pinto1, Rivaldo Venncio da Cunha2, Paulo Vieira Damasco3, Luis Jos de Souza 4 , Claire
Fernandes Kubelka1
1
Laboratrio de Imunologia Viral, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, RJ, Brazil 2Departamento de Clnica Mdica, FM, Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do Sul,
Campo Grande, MS, Brazil 3Hospital Hospital Rio-Laranjeiras, RJ, Brazil 4Centro de Referncia em Dengue e Faculdade de Medicina, Campos de Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
Background: Dengue is considered the main human arbovirus and is a cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. DENV- 4 was reintroduced into Brazil in
2010 and then spread to the different regions of Brazil. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and inammatory prole of D ENV-4 infection. Methods: During
a DENV-4 outbreak in 2013, dengue suspected patients were enrolled in the states of RJ and MS, Brazil. Plasma levels of TNF-, IL-1, IL-6 , IL-10, IFN-, IL-8 and
MCP-1 were evaluated by Luminex and ELISA. Plasma levels of brinogen and sTF were also determined. Results: 207 patients with conrmed dengue infection
were included. 146 (70.5%) had dengue without warning signs (DwoWS), 59 (28.5%) had dengue with warning signs (DwWS) and two (1.0%) had severe dengue.
Three commonest warning signs were abdominal pain/tenderness, mucosal bleeding and increase in hematocrit concurrent with rapid decrease of platelet count.
DwWS patients had signicantly lower platelet count (p<0.0001), lower brinogen levels (p=0.017) and signicantly higher AST and ALT levels (p<0.0001 and
p=0.014 respective ly) than those with DwoWS. Concentrations of circulating cytokines and chemokines were signicantly elevated in dengue patients compared to
healthy controls. IL-10 was signicantly higher (p=0.0008) in DwWS patients compared with DwoWS. Interestingly, plasma levels of IL-10 were associated
signicantly and inversely with platelet (r=-0.28, p=0.002) and lymphocytes counts (r=-0.34, p=0.0006), but positively with AST levels (r=0.29, p=0.005).
However, IL-10 did not show a good predictive value in discriminating DwoWS and DwWS patients (ROC curve: 0.66, 95% IC: 0 .58-0.75). No signicant difference
was observed in levels of sTF between patients with DwoWS and DwWS. Conclusions: DENV-4 infections had a milder clinical presentation. DwWS patients had
signicantly lower brinogen levels. In contrast, these patients showed elevated IL- 10 levels supporting the importance of this inammatory marker in the
pathogenesis of dengue.
HP11
PROTEOMIC ANALYSIS OF PLATELETS FROM DENGUE PATIENTS: CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PATHOGENESIS ELUCIDATION
Monique Trugilho1; Eugenio Hottz2; Paulo Carvalho3; Giselle Brunoro1; Andr Teixeira-Ferreira1; Ana Gisele Neves-Ferreira1; Patrcia Bozza2; Fernando Bozza4; Jonas
Perales1.
1
Laboratrio de Toxinologia, 2Laboratrio de Imunofarmacologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC); 3Laboratrio de Protemica e Engenharia de Protenas, Instituto Carlos
Chagas (ICC); 4Instituto de Pesquisa Clnica Evandro Chagas (IPEC); FIOCRUZ, Brazil.
Dengue is the most frequent hemorrhagic viral disease and re-emerging infection in the world, affecting millions of people and causing thousands of deaths every year.
Infection can be asymptomatic or may lead to sickness whose intensity vary from undifferentiated fever up to severe cases with bleeding and shock. Although
thrombocytopenia is characteristically observed in mild and severe forms of dengue, the role of platelet activation in dengue pathogenesis has not been fully
elucidated. Here we studied platelets isolated from healthy donors and dengue virus (DV)-infected patients, using label-free mass spectrometry-based quantication
in a proteomic approach. Isolated platelets were lysed, trypsinized and fractioned on the OFFGEL system, followed by MS/MS analysis (ESI-LTQ-Orbitrap XL). Protein
identication/quantication was performed using the PatternLab for Proteomics software. As preliminary results, we identied more than 3000 proteins in two
conditions (control and dengue) and several proteins were found as differentially expressed with q-value of 0.05. As examples, we can mention upregulated proteins in
dengue samples, such as disulde isomerase (PDI), required for platelet adhesion/aggregation; anti-oxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD1) and glucose-6phosphate isomerase (GPI), involved in the glycolytic pathway activation. Thrombospondin-1 (THBS1), a glycoprotein which mediates platelet adhesion to
endothelium upon injury/inammation and presents anti-angiogenic function when secreted by activated platelets, was downregulated in dengue. Another
downregulated protein was platelet glycoprotein V (GP5), a component of the von Willebrand factor (vWF) receptor that is cleaved from the platelet surface during
activation. Secretion of THBS1 and GP5 by activated platelets explains their lower levels in platelets from DV patients. Also, we identied, exclusively in dengue
samples, proteins PCAM1 that mediates platelet-endothelial adhesion and BID, a pro-apoptotic protein. These ndings corroborate our previous data suggesting
platelet activation, mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis induction in platelets from patients with dengue and may further improve our knowledge on the
pathogenesis of dengue-associated vasculopathy.
HP12
DENGUE VIRUS NON STRUCTURAL 1 (NS1) PROTEIN INTERACTS WITH HUMAN VITRONECTIN
Conde, J.N., Silva, E.M.1, Menezes, J.L., Allonso, D., Coelho, D.R., Mohana-Borges, R.
Instituto de Biofsica Carlos Chagas Filho, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Dengue virus (DENV) nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) is a 50 kDa intracellular homodimeric glycoprotein that plays a pivotal role in DENV replication. NS1 associates
with membranes and is also secreted into the plasma as a lipid-associated barrel-shaped hexamer that is detectable in patient serum in the rst few days after the
onset of clinical symptoms. Several studies demonstrated that NS1 protein has a possible involvement in dengue pathogenesis and liver dysfunction. It is of
fundamental importance to understand the interactions between DENV proteins and host cell proteins in order to develop new methods to control its infection. Using
the full-length NS1 as bait, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screening against a human liver cDNA library and the nucleotide sequence of one of the true positive
clones was identied as the vitronectin protein (VN). We performed a coimmunoprecipitation and colocalization experiments in HepG2 cells that were infected with
DENV2 strain 16681 to conrm two-hybrid results. DENV- or mock-infected HepG2 cell extracts were incubated with anti-NS1 polyclonal antibody immobilized to a
resin. The co-IP eluted fractions showed two bands of approximately 65 and 50 kDa corresponding to VN and NS1, respectively. To evaluate whether these proteins
colocalize during DENV infection in vivo, we performed an immunouorescence assay of DENV- or mock-infected HepG2 cells using both anti-NS1 and anti-VN
antibodies. We observed that infected cells were labeled for both VN and NS1 proteins. When the images were merged, distinct yellow regions were observed,
indicating the colocalization of NS1 with VN in these areas. We also performed binding experiments with ELISA and SPR approaches conrming the directly interaction
between these two proteins. NS1 and host proteins interactions will allow a better understanding of the viral replication process and also provide means for elucidating
the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis caused by DENV.
P-P03
AN EMBRYONIC HEART CELL LINE IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DENGUE VIRUS INFECTION
Arianna M Hurtado-Monzn; Antonio Angel-Ambrocio; Rubn Soto-Acosta; Eshwar R Tammineni; Elba D Carrillo; Patricia Bautista-Carbajal; Jorge A Snchez; Rosa
M. Del Angel1.
1
Centro de Investigacin y de Estudios Avanzados del Insituto Politcnico Nacional. Mxico, D.F.
Dengue Virus (DENV), a positive-single strain RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family, is the causative agent of dengue fever. In most cases, the symptoms of dengue fever
are self-limited. However in a small portion of people the disease progresses to the severe form of the infection called severe dengue, previously called dengue
hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS). In recent years, patients with more severe form of the disease, with acute heart failure or progression to
cardiogenic shock and death have been reported, however the pathogenesis of myocardial lesions has not been elucidated. Moreover the susceptibility of
cardiomyocytes to DENV infection has not been described. Under this perspective, the susceptibility of the myoblast cell line H9c2, obtained from embryonic rat heart,
to DENV infection was analyzed. In order to demonstrate the ability of DENV to infect this cell line and the infection efciency the presence of viral antigens in infected
cells was analyzed by confocal microscopy, ow cytometry and focus assay. Additionally, the ability of DENV to replicate within H9c2 cells was determined by detection
of viral RNA by RT-PCR and viral proteins by Western-blot. Finally, the formation of viral infective particles was evaluated by the infection of U937 DC-SIGN cells, a
highly susceptible monocytic derived cell line, which expresses the dendritic cell receptor DC-SIGN with supernatants of infected H9c2 cells. Our ndings conrm that
H9c2 cells are susceptible to DENV infection. Our results support the view that DENV may target heart cells as evidenced by infection of H9c2 cells. This cell line may
thus represent an excellent model for the study and characterization of cardiac physiopathology in DENV infection.
P-P04
EXPERIMENTAL MURINE MODEL FOR THE PATHOGENESIS STUDY OF DENGUE VIRUSES
Debora Ferreira Barreto-Vieira1, Fernanda Cunha Jcome1, Arthur da Costa Rasinhas1, Marcos Alexandre Nunes da Silva1, Ortrud Monika Barth1
1
Laboratory of Morphology and Viral Morphogenesis, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
A great difculty to study dengue virus (DENV) infection in humans and for a virus vaccine developing is the absence of a suitable animal model which presents a
disease with similar aspects of the Dengue haemorrhagic fever and Dengue shock syndrome. In the majority of models the animals are immunocompromised and/or
inoculated by routes like the intracerebral, with neuroadapted DENV. Tissues of adult BALB/c mice infected with non-neuroadapted DENV-1 and DENV-2 serotypes
from patient sera were analyzed. The tissue fragments were processed following the standard techniques of fotonic and transmission electron microscopy. In primary
infection with DENV-1 and DENV-2 morphogical alterations were observed inside hepatic, lung, kidney and cerebellum tissues. DENV-1 particles and specic DENV
antigen was observed in C6/36 cells inoculated with the supernatant of spleen and lung macerates and with the animal sera. Ultrastructural studies of alveolar
macrophages of animals infected with DENV-2 showed DENV-like particles inside the rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex, suggesting viral replication.
DENV particles were ultrastructurally identied, and immunolocalized inside C6/36 cells, inoculated with the supernatant (liver, lung kidney and cerebellum) of tissue
macerates. The corporal temperature in the majority of mice increased after the second day post-infection. Elevated enzyme levels of alanine aminotransferase and
aspartate aminotrasferase were observed. In secondary infections morphological alterations were observed in liver, lung and heart. The tissue injuries were more
severe than those seen in animals with signs of primary infection. DENV-1 particles, specic DENV-1 antigen and DENV-1 RNA were present in C6/36 cells inoculated
with the animal sera. These studies conrm the susceptibility of BALB/c mice to infection and reinfection by DENV-1 and DENV-2 and those they can be used as a
model for testing of drugs and vaccine candidates against DENV.
P-P05
HISTOLOGICAL CHANGES AND ACTIVATION PATTERN OF DENDRITIC CELLS IN THE SKIN OF THE CALLITHRIX PENICILLATA UNDERWENT SEQUENTIAL DENV-3
AND DENV -2 INFECTION
Daniele Freitas Henriques, Edna Cristina Santos Franco, Vera Lucia Reis Souza de Barros, Carla Pagliari, Milene Silveira Ferreira, Paulo Henrique Gomes de Castro,
Gilmara Abreu da Silva Cavalcante, Pedro Fernando da Costa Vasconcelos
Instituto Evandro Chagas, Ananindeua, Par, Brazil
INTRODUCTION: Dengue is an infectious disease caused by dengue virus (DENV sorotypes 1, 2, 3 and 4) and transmitted by bite of infected mosquitoes of the genus
Aedes that release DENV in the skin of the host during the pasture. Dendritic cells have the function to present antigens to effectors' cells, shaping the adaptative
immune response. In epidermis these cells express S100 glycoprotein and at dermis they express procoagulant factor XIIIa. Few immunopathological studies have
evaluated the role of immune cells present in the skin after the rst moments following DENV infection. OBJECTIVE: To describe the histological changes and the
activation pattern of dendritic cells in the skin of the Callithrix penicillata underwent sequential infection of DENV-3 and DENV-2. MATERIAL E METHODS: Primary
infection was performed in 26 non-human primates with DENV-3 and secondary infection was performed with DENV-2 two months later. The animals' skin was
collected 7 days and at intervals of 10, 15, 20, 30, 45 and 60 days post infection (dpi). Skin were subjected to pathological and immunohistochemistry for anti-S100
(Dako Z0311) and anti-FXIIIa (biogenex AN516-5M) examination. The dendritic cells were counted in three different elds of epidermis and reticular dermis. RESULTS:
Pathological changes found were focal perivascular inammatory inltrate, dermatitis, interstitial edema, and miositis. FXIIIa cells number was 11.67 (1.20) in
control animals. These cells peak were 26.67 (7.68) 7dpi and 30 (4.58) 10dpi after primary and secondary infection, respectively. S100 cells number were 8.33
(0.33) in control animals. These cells peak were 18.33 (1.20) 2dpi and 19.67 (2.40) 10dpi in primary and secondary infection, respectively (ANOVA+ t Test
p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The dendritic cells number increase at skin of animals subjected to sequential infection with DENV-3 AND DENV-2, suggesting that viral
infection of these cells play important role in disease pathogenesis.
P-P06
EFFECT OF THE NS2B COFACTOR ON THE STABILITY AND HYDROPHOBICITY OF THE DENGUE VIRUS NS3 PROTEASE
Gustavo Ventura1, Emmerson Costa1 and Ronaldo Mohana Borges1
1Instituto de Biofsica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
NS3 is a multifunctional enzyme with two domains: a serine protease (NS3Pro) and a helicase, NTPase and RTPase (NS3Hel). NS3Pro requires a hydrophilic segment
of 40 residues from the NS2B protein (NS2BCF40) as a cofactor, which is essential for this activity. Mutations in the catalytic site of the NS3Pro abolish proteolytic
activity and viral infectivity, suggesting that this domain is a promising drug target. In this work, we investigated how NS2BCF40 could interfere in the structure of
NS3Pro by evaluating two different constructs: the isolated NS3Pro and the NS3Pro fused with NS2BCF40 by a exible linker. We carried out intrinsic uorescence
experiments monitoring the Tryptophan (Trp), which is used as a probe to evaluate protein conformational changes, and we used acrylamide and bis-ANS to determine
the solvent exposure of Trp and hydrophobic clefts, respectively. We have also carried out circular dichroism (CD) assays to monitor the secondary structure of the
constructs. Our results have shown that the NS2BCF40 causes drastic structural changes on the NS3Pro, which turns from a + to a random coil secondary
structure, with signicant increase in the Trp residues exposure and decrease in the bis-ANS binding. We suggest that the NS3Pro adopts an extremely opened
conformation in the presence of NS2BCF40, with evident loss of secondary structure that could favor the substrate binding and consequently increase the efciency of
cleavage.
P-P07
IDENTIFICATION OF THE INTERACTION BETWEEN DENGUE NS1 PROTEIN AND CD14 IN HUMAN MONOCYTIC CELLS
Iamara da Silva Andrade1; Daniele Cristina Passos da Rocha1; Jonas Nascimento Conde1; Diego Allonso1; Lissa Catherine Reignault2; Wanderley de Souza2; Emiliana
Mandarano da Silva1; Ronaldo Mohana-Borges1
1
Laboratrio de Genmica Estrutural - IBCCF- UFRJ, Brazil; 2Laboratrio de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer- IBCCF- UFRJ, Brazil
NS1 exists in different oligomeric forms, which are found in different cellular locations and as a soluble secreted hexameric lipoparticle. It is known that this protein is
related to a paradoxical immune response, involving monocytes/macrophages and endothelial cells during the early stages of DENV infection. Our group has mapped
interactions between DENV-2 NS1 and human liver proteins using a two-hybrid system and identied CD14 as an interacting partner. CD14 is expressed in several
cells, especially in monocytes/macrophages, and is known as co-receptor for several Toll-like Receptors (TLRs).This molecule takes part in recognition of low doses of
LPS, facilitating cellular responses. It is able to activate NF-B-dependent cytokine production, TLR4 endocytosis resulting in type-I interferon expression and
activation of NFATc transcription factors family members by autonomous signaling. CD14 also cooperates with DENV entry in monocytes. Our aim is to conrm the
interaction between NS1 and CD14 in monocytic cells, and to understand the modulation of signaling pathways inuenced by this interaction. We conrmed the
interaction between NS1 and CD14 by ELISA assay. Furthermore, we found that NS1 produced by DENV2 infected cells and recombinant NS1 incubated with THP-1
colocalizes with CD14 by confocal microscopy analyses. In addition, we observed by FACS assays that recombinant NS1 is able to bind to the surface of THP-1 cells
using CD14 as a target for interaction. We concluded that NS1 that interacts with CD14 and this interaction might be important in modulating the cellular response.
From now on we intend to better understand the role of this interaction in cell signaling pathways related to cytokine production. Financial support: CNPq and FAPERJ.
P-P08
NATURAL INFECTION WITH DENGUE VIRUS AFFECTS THE VIABILITY AND FUNCTION OF CRYOPRESERVED PERIPHERAL BLOOD MONONUCLEAR CELLS
Federico Perdomo1, Diana M. Castaeda1, Jairo A. Rodrguez1, Roco Vega1,2, Doris M. Salgado1,2 and Carlos F. Narvez1
1
Programa de Medicina, Facultad de Salud, Universidad Surcolombiana, Neiva, Colombia; 2 Departamento de Pediatra, Hospital Universitario de Neiva, Colombia
The cryopreservation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) is a widely used technique to preserve phenotypic and functional cell characteristics long times.
However, several factors such as used reagents, quality of stored and illness of patients source of PBMC, affect its efciency. Dengue is a viral vector-borne disease
endemic in tropical areas and studies using cryopreserved PBMC in this eld are routine. It has been shown that in acute dengue infection an elevated frequency of
PBMC, particularly T cells, undergo cell death. Thus, this dengue-related effect could modify the viability of cryopreserved PBMC when compared with healthy children
and others pediatrics infections. Here, we evaluated the viability (trypan blue and amine dye staining) and function (frequency of IFN- producing T cells after a
polyclonal stimulus) of cryopreserved PBMC from 14, 10, and 15 healthy, dengue infected and febrile non-dengue children, respectively. To dengue cases, pared acute
and convalescent samples were also included. Frequency of non-viable PBMC detected by both methods, trypan blue and amine dye staining, was comparable
(r=0.8, P<0.001). Percentage of non-viable PBMC in acute dengue but not in febrile non-dengue children was signicantly higher than healthy children (P<0.01,
Dunn's post-hoc test) and the most of dead cells corresponded to CD3+ median (range) 65% (25-78), CD3-CD19- 34% (21-72) and nally CD19+ 1% (0.6-1.1).
PBMC viability was restored in convalescent dengue at same levels than healthy children. When functional aspect was evaluated, acute dengue infection dramatically
decreased the frequency of IFN- producing T cells and signicant higher levels were obtained in healthy and convalescent dengue (P<0.01, Dunn's post-hoc test). In
short, dengue infection affects the viability and function of cryopreserved PBMC and could to alter the reliability of subsequent analysis carried out with these cells.
Funded By Colciencias.
P-P09
ROLE OF CC CHEMOKINE RECEPTOR 1 AND TWO OF ITS LIGANDS IN HUMAN DENGUE INFECTION. THREE APPROACHES UNDER THE CUBAN SITUATION
Beatriz Sierra, Ana B. Perez, Gissel Garcia, Eglys Aguirre, Mayling Alvarez, Daniel Gonzalez, Maria G. Guzmn
Virology Department, PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center for the Study of Dengue and its Vector, Institute of Tropical Medicine Pedro Kouri, Autopista Novia del
Mediodia, Km 61/2, La Lisa, Habana, Cuba
Any of the four dengue serotypes can cause a severe disease, partly due to systemic inammation orchestrated by mediators like cytokine and chemokines. We
addressed the role of CCR1 and its ligands CCL3/MIP-1a and CCL5/RANTES in dengue infection using three different approaches: an ex vivo model exploring memory
immune response in subjects with a well characterized dengue immune background, an in vivo study in patients with primary or secondary dengue infection, and an
approach in fatal dengue. CCR1 and CCL3/MIP-1a gene expression showed differences after homotypic and heterotypic challenge according to dengue immune
background of subjects, in correspondence with previous observations in Cuban dengue outbreaks. CCL5/RANTES gene expression was higher after homotypic
challenge. CCR1 and CCL3/MIP-1a gene expression was higher in patients with secondary infection during critical days of the dengue disease, while the increase in
RANTES expression started earlier than the observed for CCR1 and CCL3/MIP-1a. CCR1 and CCL3/MIP-1a gene expression was as high in brain as in spleen tissue
from necropsy. Our results conrm the strong inuence of previous immunity in subsequent dengue infections, and confer a possible pathogenic role to CCR1 and
CCL3/MIP-1a in dengue disease and a possible protective role for CCL5/RANTES, probably through CCR5 interaction.
P-P10
DENGUE VIRUS NONSTRUCTURAL 3 PROTEIN INTERACTS WITH HUMAN GLYCERALDEHYDE-3-PHOSPHATE DEHYDROGENASE (GAPDH) AND ALTERS ITS
GLYCOLYTIC ACTIVITY.
Emiliana M. Silva1; Jonas N. Conde1; Diego Allonso1; Manuela Leal2; Gustavo T. Ventura1; Ronaldo Mohana-Borges1.
1
Laboratrio de Genmica Estrutural, Instituto de Biofsica Carlos Chagas Filho, UFRJ, Brazil; 2Laboratrio de Biologia Computacional, Instituto Nacional de Metrologia,
Qualidade e Tecnologia - INMETRO, Brazil
The multifunctional NS3 protein forms a non-covalent complex with the NS2B cofactor, functioning as serine-protease that is responsible for proteolytic processing of
the viral polyprotein at the NS2A/NS2B, NS2B/NS3, NS3/NS4A and NS4B/NS5 junctions. It has also an ATPase/helicase and RNA triphosphatase domain at its Cterminal, which is essential for RNA replication. In this study, we employed yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) system to identify liver human proteins that interact with NS3
protein, which was performed using the Matchmaker GAL-4 Two-Hybrid System 3 (Clontech). The Y2H screening identied 49 colonies that grew in the absence of Trp,
Leu, His, Ade and were tested for the LacZ phenotype. Among the NS3-interacting partners, we found the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). The
human GAPDH directly interacted with NS3 helicase and protease domains as demonstrated by ELISA and molecular docking. Surface plasmon resonance
measurements revealed the high avidity and afnity between these interactions. In addition, NS3 protein co-localizes with GAPDH in hepatocytes cell lineage infected
with dengue virus using mouse polyclonal anti-NS3 helicase and rabbit polyclonal anti-GAPDH. Glycolytic activity for GAPDH decreased in the presence of NS3
helicase and protease domains. As GAPDH is a well characterized glycolytic enzyme, displaying multiple functions in transcriptional coactivation, DNA repair,
oxidative stress, apoptosis induction and regulation, we suggest that the GAPDH-NS3 interaction is associated with the viral replication and apoptosis processes.
Financial Support: FAPERJ, CNPq and CAPES.
IMMUNOLOGY
ABSTRACTS INVITED SPEAKERS
DENGUE VIRUS NON-STRUCTURAL PROTEIN 1 TRIGGERS ENDOTHELIAL PERMEABILITY AND VASCULAR LEAK THAT IS INHIBITED BY NS1-SPECIFIC
ANTIBODIES
Eva Harris1, Sarah Killingbeck1, Henry Puerta Guardo1, Dustin Glasner1, Zachary MacMillen2, Tomer Hertz2, and P. Robert Beatty1
1
Division of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley; 2Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson
Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
The four dengue virus serotypes (DENV1-4) are mosquito-borne aviviruses that cause annually ~100 million cases of dengue and 500,000 hospitalizations from
severe disease characterized by vascular leakage leading to shock. DENV nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) is secreted by infected cells and is found at high levels in
patient serum during acute infection. We examined the protective efcacy of NS1 immunization against lethal DENV2 infection in a mouse model of vascular leak.
Interferon / receptor-decient C57BL/6 (Ifnar-/-) mice were immunized with DENV2 recombinant NS1 combined with different adjuvants, including alum, Sigma
adjuvant system (SAS), CpG DNA, Addavax and/or monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA). Mice vaccinated with DENV2 NS1 with either SAS+CpG or Addavax+MPLA were
fully protected against lethal peripheral challenge with DENV2, whereas mice vaccinated with DENV2 NS1 with alum were not protected. Screening of mouse sera on
an array of overlapping 15-mer peptides spanning NS1 identied two peptides that correlated with protection. In addition, heterologous cross-protection was
observed, as 60-75% of mice vaccinated with DENV1, DENV3, or DENV4 NS1 survived lethal DENV2 challenge. These results led us to hypothesize that NS1 itself may
have direct pathogenic effects. We then found that inoculation of mice with NS1 alone increased both vascular leakage and key inammatory cytokines, while
simultaneous administration of NS1 with a sublethal dose of DENV2 resulted in a lethal vascular leak syndrome. In separate experiments, we showed that DENV NS1
increases permeability of human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. We next demonstrated that lethal NS1-mediated
toxicity in vivo and disruption of endothelial integrity by NS1 in vitro were inhibited by NS1-immune serum. In addition, a MAb targeting one of the NS1 peptides that
correlated with protection in vaccination experiments completely blocked NS1-triggered endothelial permeability and protected mice from NS1-mediated toxicity in
vivo. Thus, physiologically relevant levels of DENV NS1 can directly contribute to increased vascular permeability, which can be blocked by anti-NS1 antibody. These
ndings add an important and previously overlooked component to the causes of dengue vascular leak and support inclusion of NS1 in dengue vaccines.
COMPLEMENT MODULATION OF CELLULAR RESPONSES AND DENGUE-ASSOCIATED VASCULOPATHY
Eduardo J. M. Nascimento1, Eugenio D. Hottz 2, Fernando Bozza 2, Simon Barratt-Boyes 1, and Ernesto T. A. Marques1,2,3
University of Pittsburgh, Center for Vaccine Research1, Fiocruz, Instituto Osvaldo Cruz2, Instituto Aggeu Magalhaes3.
The dengue-associated vasculopathy starts around day 4 after onset of symptoms while the virus is disappearing from the blood and lasts for 3 or 4 days. During this
period we observe high levels of complement activation associated with B-cell activation and platelet depletion. We propose that complement activation have an
important role modulating the immune responses during this phase of the dengue disease. We, and others have observed signicant alterations in soluble
complement factors (C3, C4 and CFD) and regulatory molecules (CFH and clusterin) in the plasma and also on the expression of complement receptors (CD46, CD55
and CD59) on cells from infected patients and also in in vitro infected cells. These complement alterations may play a role inducing high levels of plasmablast
responses and platelet activation that together induces exacerbated inammatory responses in the microvasculature that leads to the dengue-associated
vasculopathy.
pathogenesis of DENV-infected LysMCre+Ifnarf/f mice was blocked by administration of anti-complement antibodies, suggesting a key role for complement
activation in DENV disease pathogenesis in this model. Our ndings establish a more immunocompetent mouse model of severe DENV pathogenesis that reects
many facets of human disease and identies novel targets for pharmacological control of sepsis.
DENGUE INFECTION INDUCES EXPRESSION OF NKG2D LIGANDS IN HUMAN IMMATURE DENDRITIC CELLS IN VITRO
Davis Beltrn1,2,3, Simona Zompi4, Yamilka Diaz1, Janice Arakawa-Hyot5, Juan Miguel Pascale1, Eva Harris4, Lewis L. Lanier5, Sandra Lpez-Vergs1
1Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama city, Panama; 2INDICASAT-AIP, Panama city, Panama; 3Acharya-Nargayuna Univesity, Guntur, India;
4University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California; 5University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Immune response towards dengue virus (DENV) infection is mediated by the innate immune response in conjunction with the T-cell response and antibodies produced
by B cells. Natural Killer (NK) cells may play a crucial role in the limitation of viral replication at early times of DENV infection, and this could result in mild dengue
symptoms. NK cells can mediate antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC) of infected cells coated with DENV-specic antibodies; however in vitro experiments
suggest that they are also capable of direct recognition of DENV-infected cells in the absence of antibodies. We hypothesized that ligands of NK activating receptors,
such as NKG2D, can be induced by DENV infection allowing for recognition of infected cells by NK cells. This hypothesis is supported by genetic studies that showed an
association between some MICB ad MICA alleles and dengue disease severity. To determine if DENV infection alters NKG2D ligand expression, we performed in vitro
experiments in which immature dendritic cells (imDCs) derived from peripheral blood monocytes of volunteer donors were infected with DENV isolates from Panama.
Twenty-four hours and 48 hours post-infection, we evaluated the expression of NKG2D ligand mRNA by RT-PCR/Q-PCR and the expression of the proteins at the cell
surface by ow cytometry. DENV-infection of imDCs induces or increases the mRNA of many NKG2D ligands; however, we did not detect induction of ULBP-4
transcripts. Moreover we observed an increase of surface expression of NKG2D ligands MICA, ULBP-1, 2, -3, -5, and -6, whereas MICB and ULBP-4 did not show any
signicant increase. These preliminary results suggest that NKG2D ligands are induced by DENV-infection and that this could allow for recognition of infected cells by
NK cells. Further studies are needed to characterize the recognition of DENV-infected cells by NK cells and to study NK cell-mediated responses during dengue
disease.
HIGHLIGHTED POSTERS
HP13
USE OF CHIMERIC RECOMBINANT DENGUE VIRUSES TO MAP THE SEROTYPE 2 NEUTRALIZING HUMAN ANTIBODY RESPONSE
Emily Gallichotte1, Douglas Widman2, Scott Royal2, Aravinda de Silva1, Ralph Baric1,2
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC; 2Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health,
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Primary infection with one of the four dengue virus (DENV) serotypes (DENV1-4) results in antibodies that neutralize the infecting serotype, but not other serotypes.
Our group has previously reported on the isolation of serotype specic, strongly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (hMAbs) from people exposed to natural DENV
infections. We have demonstrated that these hMAbs bind to complex quaternary structure epitopes that are only expressed on intact virus particles. Recently we
reported that it is possible to create viable recombinant DENVs in which these complex epitopes have been transplanted between serotypes. By using DENV3/4
chimeras, we observed that the hinge region between domains I/II of the envelope (E) protein contains epitopes that are the main target of type-specic antibodies
that neutralize serotypes 3 and 4. In the current study we have used a similar approach to map sites on DENV2 recognized by neutralizing hMAbs and primary DENV2
human immune sera. Our studies have led to the identication of a novel quaternary structure-dependent DENV2 epitope that is distinct from EDI/II hinge region
epitopes previously dened for serotypes 3 and 4. Importantly, we use gain and loss of function studies to demonstrate that different locations in the DENV1-4 E
glycoprotein encode unique long-lived neutralizing epitopes, which are portable between serotypes. We will present data on the location of DENV2 epitope and its
relative importance as a target of neutralizing antibodies in people exposed to natural infections and vaccines.
HP14
T CELLS PREVENT ANTIGEN-INDUCED ANTIBODY-DEPENDENT ENHANCEMENT OF DENGUE DISEASE IN MICE
Raphael M. Zellweger, William E. Eddy, William W. Tang, Robyn Miller and Sujan Shresta
La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, CA
Dengue virus (DENV) causes pathologies ranging from the febrile illness dengue fever to the potentially lethal severe dengue disease. A major risk factor for developing
severe dengue disease is the presence of sub-protective DENV-reactive antibodies from a previous infection (or from an immune mother), which can induce antibodydependent enhancement of infection (ADE). However, infection in the presence of sub-protective anti-DENV antibodies does not always result in severe disease,
suggesting that other factors inuence disease severity. This study investigates how cellular responses inuence the outcome of antibody-mediated severe dengue
disease. Mice were immunized with alum-adjuvanted UV-inactivated DENV prior to challenge with DENV. Immunization failed to induce robust T cell responses, and
induced non-neutralizing antibody responses that increased disease severity upon infection. Transfer of DENV-primed T cells into immunized mice prior to infection
prevented antibody-induced enhancement and dramatically reduced viral load upon infection. Our results suggest that in the presence of sub-protective anti-DENV
antibodies, efcient T cell responses reduce the risk of antibody-mediated severe dengue disease, while inefcient (or absent) T cell responses increase disease
severity.
HP15
COMPLEMENT RECEPTORS ARE DOWNREGULATED IN DENGUE PATIENTS AND MODULATES THE VIRAL INFECTION IN HUMAN MONOCYTES IN VITRO.
Cintia Ferreira Marinho1, Elzinandes Leal Azaredo1, Amanda Torrentes de Carvalho1, Alessandro Marins dos Santos2, Claire Fernandes Kubelka1, Luiz Jos de Souza3,
Rivaldo Venncio Cunha4, Luzia Maria de Oliveira Pinto1.
1
Laboratory of Viral Immunology-Oswaldo Cruz Institute, RJ-Brazil. 2Flow Cytometry Sector, Center for Cell Sorting and Analysis -Oswaldo Cruz Institute, RJ-Brazil.
3
Referral Center for Dengue, RJ-Brazil. 4Department of Clinical Medicine, UFMS, MS-Brazil
Complement System (CS) activation inhibits infection of many viruses augmenting the neutralizing activity of antiviral antibodies. In Flavivirus infection, it appears to
have both protective and pathogenic roles depending on immune status of the host, the specic virus and infectious phase. Dengue virus (DENV) is a member of the
Flavivirus genus that comprises four closely related and antigenically distinct serotypes (DENV1-4). In severe dengue fever (DF), the levels of DENV non-structural-1
protein and of the products of complement activation, including C3a, C5a and SC5b-9, are higher before vascular leakage occurs, supporting the hypothesis that
complement activation contributes to unfavourable outcomes. The clinical manifestations of DF range from asymptomatic to severe and even fatal. The risk of
developing the most severe forms is related to the cross-reactive nature of the immune response to infection with heterologous serotypes of DENV. Here, we aimed to
characterise CS by their receptors or activation product, in vivo in DF patients and in vitro by DENV-2 stimulation on monocytes. In comparison with healthy controls,
DF patients showed lower expression of CR3(CD11b), CR4(CD11c) and, CD59 on monocytes. The DF patients who were high producers of SC5b-9 were also those that
showed more pronounced bleeding or vascular leakage. Those ndings encouraged us to investigate the role of CS in vitro, using monocytes isolated from healthy
subjects. Prior blocking with CR3 alone (CD11b) or CR3(CD11b/CD18) reduced viral infection, as quantied by the levels of intracellular viral antigen expression and
soluble DENV non-structural viral protein. However, we found that CR3(CD11b) or CR3(CD11b/CD18) blocking did not inuence major histocompatibility complex
presentation neither active caspase-1 on monocytes, thus probably ruling out inammasome-related mechanisms. Although it impaired TNF- and IFN- secretion.
Our data provide strategies of blocking CR3(CD11b) pathways could have implications for the treatment of viral infection by antiviral-related mechanisms.
HP16
DENGUE-INDUCED TRAIL EXPRESSION ON NK CELLS DURING INFECTION
Mariana Gandini 1; Fabienne Paiva 1; Cintia Marinho 1; Gladys Correa 1; Luzia Pinto 1; Claire Kubelka 1*; Elzinandes Azeredo 1*
1
Laboratrio de Imunologia Viral, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Dengue is an arboviral disease and 2.5 billion people are at risk in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Dengue virus can cause a febrile syndrome, in which
severe cases are characterized by vascular permeability and effusions. A high viral burden in the acute phase may enhance the production of inammatory mediators,
leading to plasma leakage. Innate immunity is an importante barrier, which limits viral spread. NK cells are one of main actors in early infection because of their
antiviral and cytotoxic features against infected cells. NK cells can be activated directly, by target recognition, or indirectly, by cytokines (like interferons) and become
cytotoxic, expressing TRAIL, an apoptotic inducer. Despite its antiviral role, the function of this cell population during dengue fever (DF) is not largely known. We
studied NK cells involvement in DF immunopathology. The frequency of NK cells population (CD56+CD16+/-) and also TRAIL+NK cells were signicantly higher in
mild DF cases (n=11) as compared to severe cases (n=4) or healthy controls (n=18). NK activation markers such as CD107a degranulation marker and pattern
recognition receptor TLR3 were upregulated in patients' cells (n=10) as compared to healthy donors (n=10). Cytokines IFN, IL12 related to cell activation were
signicantly upregulated in mild DF cases. PBMCs cultured in vitro show that DENV-stimulated and IFN-stimulated NK cells (n=8) were able to express TRAIL,
suggesting an indirect activation of cells, regarding TRAIL expression. Type I IFN receptor blockage (n=6) on DENV-stimulated PBMCs showed TRAIL expression on NK
cells was partially IFN dependent (50% blockage). Also, during PBMC stimulation, TRAIL expression on NK cells was inversely correlated to DENV positive
monocytes. Therefore, we observed DENV-induced activation of NK cells populations. A higher activation of NK cell would promote limited viral spread, resulting in
dimished inammatory response and contributing to protection against severity during dengue fever. C.F.K. and E.L.A. contributed equally to this work. Supported by
FIOCRUZ/RPT11D; IOC/PROEP;CNPQ; FAPERJ; CAPES.
HP17
REGULATION OF LEUKOCYTES APOPTOSIS DURING DENGUE INFECTION
Daniel Limonta1, Amanda Torrentes-Carvalho2, Cntia Ferreira Marinho2, Elzinandes Leal de Azeredo2, Rivaldo Venncio da Cunha3, Claire Fernandes Kubelka2, Rita
Maria Nogueira4, Luzia Maria de-Oliveira-Pinto2
1
Arbovirus Laboratory, Pedro Kour Institute of Tropical Medicine (IPK), La Habana, Cuba.; 2Laboratrio de Imunologia Viral, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), FIOCRUZ, Rio
de Janeiro, Brasil; 3Setor Hemoncleo, Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil; 4Laboratrio de Flavivrus, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz
(IOC), FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
Background: Despite 390 million infections of dengue are estimated worldwide annually, dengue has no vaccine, antiviral treatment or reliable severity predictors. It
has been shown that apoptotic cells from blood and tissues may be involved in the complex pathogenesis of dengue. However, very little is known about the interplay
between blood proapoptotic and antiapoptotic regulators in this viral hemorrhagic fever. Methods: Plasma levels of the three proapoptotic mediators Fas ligand (FasL),
tumor necrosis factor-alfa (TNF-alfa), and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) were measured by ELISA in Brazilian dengue patients. Patients were
classied according to the World Health Organization classication of dengue revised in 2009. Additionally, inhibitors of apoptosis protein (IAPs) were determined in
plasma (Survivin) by ELISA and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) lysates (cIAP-1, cIAP-2, XIAP) by an apoptosis array kit. Levels of apoptotic proteins in
plasma were correlated with counts of PBMCs obtained by ow cytometry. Results: FasL and TRAIL levels were elevated in dengue patients without warning signs
when compared to patients with severe dengue and controls. The highest level of FasL was measured in a fatal case. Dengue patients with warning signs showed
decreased levels of Survivin compared to patients with severe dengue and controls. Survivin was positively correlated with leukocyte counts. In contrast, TRAIL was
inversely correlated with counts of lymphocyte subsets. There was a trend of elevated IAPs levels in PBMCs of patients with severe dengue. No signicant differences
were found in TNF-alfa levels among the dengue patients studied. Conclusion: Our ndings support the likely antiviral effect of TRAIL in dengue patients. It appears that
TRAIL might be involved with apoptosis induction of lymphocytes, whereas IAPs might participate in protecting leukocytes from apoptosis. Further research is needed
to explore the interactions between pro and antiapoptotic molecules and their implications in dengue pathogenesis.
classied as DF, DCC and DHF by specialist clinicians. Then, 160 samples were selected from patients in acute phase of infection, effervescence period, to perform
citokynesquantitative assays using commercial kits (ELISA-Biolegend, USA). The average levels of IL-21 had slightly elevated in patients with DHF (69.2 pg/mL)
compared to DF (55.3 pg/mL) and DCC (40.5 pg/mL), but there was no difference statistically signicant. A similar distribution of TGF- in DF (40294.2 pg/mL), DCC
(42108.6 pg/ml) and DHF patients was found (32289.4 pg/ml) and alike, an increase of IFN- serum levels in all analysis groups: DF (136.9 pg/mL) DCC (131.6
pg/ml) and DHF (85.1 pg/mL). However, IL-10 median levels in severe clinical forms, DHF (131.5 pg/mL) and DCC (106.0 pg/ml), were signicantly higher (p =
0.027) than those with DF (89.8 pg/ml). These results demonstrate IL-10 as a possible biomarker to predict dengue's potential severity cases, and contribute for
follow-up strategies or clinical intervention in order to improve the prognosis of dengue.
I-P04
LEVELS OF DENGUE VIRUS-SPECIFIC IGG1 AND IGG4 DO NOT CORRELATE WITH BOTH COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION AND DISEASE SEVERITY
Eduardo J. M. Nascimento; Priscila Castanha; Robyn Konichi; Marli Cordeiro; Ernesto T. A. Marques, Jr.
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburg, USA
Complement activation plays an important role on disease severity caused by dengue virus (DENV). Despite the mechanism driving complement activation is still
unclear, it is believed that antibodies contribute to the overall complement activation through classical pathway. IgG isotypes vary on their capability to activate
complement, where IgG1 is the most efcient while IgG4 lacks this property. In this study, we measured the levels of DENV-specic IgG1 and IgG4 in plasma samples
collected from dengue fever (DF) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) patients. In-house virus-capture ELISA was used to estimate the levels of DENV-specic IgG1
and IgG4 present on plasma samples from DF (n = 43) and DHF (n = 20) cases 3-fold serially diluted. The area under the curve (AUC) was calculated for each patient
and compared among clinical outcomes. Man-Whitney test was used to compare the medians in between groups. According to the results, 74.5% and 65% of DF and
DHF cases, respectively, have detectable levels of DENV-specic IgG1, while 23.2% of DF cases and 30% of DHF cases have DENV-specic IgG4 titers. Levels of
DENV-specic IgG1 differed between primary and secondary infections (p<0.0001), while IgG4 levels were similar (p = 0.5). Levels of neither IgG1 (p=0.3) nor
IgG4 (p=0.5) differed between DF and DHF. Additionally, correlation analyses of complement proteins (C3, factor H and factor D) that are correlated with disease
severity indicate that only IgG1 is weakly correlated with C3 (r = 0.33, p = 0.008). Altogether, the results suggest that levels of antigen-specic IgG1 are not directly
involved on increased complement activation in severe disease, as IgG4 is not involved on protection against severe disease. However, they may indirectly inuence
on complement activation by triggering and/or controlling the complement cascade.
I-P05
PROMINENT EXPANSION OF A CD4+T CELL SUBSET IS ASSOCIATED WITH A PROTECTIVE ROLE IN DENGUE VIRUS INFECTION
Daniela Weiskopf, Derek J. Bangs, Ravi V. Kolla, John Sidney, Aruna D. de Silva, Aravinda de Silva, Bjoern Peters and Alessandro Sette
Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, USA
Dengue virus infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. The occurrence of four distinct antigenic
serotypes (DENV1-4) adds complexity to the understanding of pathogenesis and immunity. While DENV-specic CD8+ T cell responses have been extensively
studied, the breadth and specicity of HLA-restricted CD4+ T cell responses remains to be dened. The denition of these responses are important as CD4+ T cells
are well characterized to contribute to host protection from viral and bacterial pathogens in a number of ways including: cytokine production, mediation of CD8+ Tand B- cell activation, and execution of cytotoxic functions to lyse virally infected cells. In an effort to dene HLA-restricted CD4+ T cell responses resulting from
natural infection with DENV, we endeavored to map T cell responses in individuals from Sri Lanka where DENV is hyper-epidemic. To identify HLA class II candidates,
we utilized a panel of algorithms for eight common HLA DR molecules (DRB1*0101, DRB1*0301, DRB1*0401, DRB1*0701, DRB*0802, DRB1*1101, DRB1*1302
and DRB1*1501) representative of the main DR supertypes to generate a library of DENV-derived, HLA DR binding peptides. While we could identify epitopes derived
from all 10 DENV proteins, the highest number of responses was associated with the structural capsid protein, followed by nonstructural NS5, NS2A, and NS4B.
Interestingly, while NS3 was the immunodominant protein for CD8+ responses, only 6 CD4+ T cell epitopes were targeted against this protein. Characterization of
the phenotype of the responding CD4+ T cells revealed a DENV specic T cell subset that is specically expanded in donors carrying an allele associated with
protection from severe DENV disease. We believe that our results will help shed light on the specic role of CD4+ T cells in DENV infection and may help in nding a
correlate of protection.
I-P06
IMMUNODOMINANCE CHANGES AS A FUNCTION OF THE INFECTING DENGUE VIRUS SEROTYPE AND PRIMARY VERSUS SECONDARY INFECTION
Daniela Weiskopf, Michael A. Angelo, John Sidney, Bjoern Peters, Sujan Shresta, and Alessandro Sette
Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, USA
Dengue virus (DENV) is the causative agent of dengue fever (DF), the most prevalent arthropod-borne viral illness in humans. Disease can be caused by any of the four
DENV serotypes (DENV1-4), which share 67-75% sequence homology with one another. The effect of subsequent infections with different serotypes on the T cell
repertoire is not fully understood. We utilized mice transgenic for human leukocyte antigens (HLA) lacking the IFN -/ receptor to study T cell responses to heterologous
DENV infection. First, we dened the primary immune response to DENV3 in the context of a wide range of HLA class I and class II molecules. The primary DENV3
immune response recognized epitopes derived from all 10 DENV proteins, with a signicant fraction of the response directed against the structural proteins. This is in
contrast to primary DENV2 infection where structural proteins are a very minor component of the response. Together, these data suggest a different hierarchy of
immune dominance as a function of the infecting serotype. We also investigated the effect of secondary heterologous DENV infection on the T cell repertoire. We found
that while primary DENV3 infection elicited responses prevalently directed towards serotype specic epitopes, the responses following secondary heterologous
infection with DENV3 followed by DENV2 were more frequently directed towards epitopes conserved between the two serotypes and resembling DENV2 primary
infection. Our results provide new insights into HLA-restricted T cell responses in primary and secondary infection with DENV, which are of relevance for both vaccine
design and DENV immuno-pathogenesis.
I-P07
ACTIVATED HUMAN PBMCS WITH INCREASED EXPRESSION OF CELL DEATH MARKERS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH DENGUE FEVER DISEASE
Amanda Torrentes-Carvalho; Cintia Ferreira Marinho; Dbora Batista de Oliveira; Paulo Vieira Damasco; Luiz Jose de Souza; Elzinandes Leal de Azeredo; Claire
Fernandes Kubelka
Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz - Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, io de Janeiro / Brazil
Dengue Fever, a public health problem in Brazil, may present severe clinical manifestations as a
result of increased vascular permeability and coagulation disorders. Phagocytes are important targets for DENV replication, which induce inammatory mediators.
DENV may be inducing apoptosis and disseminating its virus progenies to neighbor cells through phagocytized apoptotic bodies. Monocytes may have an essential
role in developing disease severity. T cell activation is a crucial event for an effective immune response against infection, including the production of a range of
cytokines. We aim to reveal processes that modulate the virus-cell interaction, with an emphasis on cell death mechanism. PBMCs from healthy individuals and DENV
infected patients clinically classied were obtained from heparinized venous blood. Extra and intracellular staining were made by FACS. The analysis of apoptotic
proteins prole expression was done using PBMCs lysates obtained from patients and controls. Levels of soluble factors were determined by ELISA. As results, we
observed up regulation of CD29 and CD107a expression indicated that in patients the majority of T cells express activation and cytotoxic phenotype. Higher frequency
of CD95 was presented in both monocytes and T lymphocytes specially in those T cells with cytotoxic activation prole. We also demonstrated high expressed low
levels of anti-apoptotic molecule Bcl-2, corroborating this data. DNA fragmentation was observed in PBMCs from patients during Dengue infection, conrming
apoptosis of T lymphocytes. Analysis of the apoptotic-related proteins expression prole showed that some molecules are over expressed in PBMCs from DENV
infected patients at acute phase. High levels of pro inammatory cytokines TNF and IFNgama in patients` plasma might predispose cells to death. Our data support
virus modulation of apoptotic factors in PBMCs from patients at acute phase of Dengue. The immune scenario generated as a result of interactions and/or virus itself
may be interfering in activation and cell death. These mechanisms are relevant to understand and clarify the immunopathogenesis and disease severity. Financial
Support: FIOCRUZ-IOC, CNPq and FAPERJ
I-P08
IMPLICATION OF CHEMOKINES ON THE ENDOTHELIAL BARRIER HOMEOSTASIS DURING DENGUE FEVER
Cipitelli, Mrcio da Costa; Marinho, Cintia Ferreira; Faria, Nieli Rodrigues da Costa; Kubelka, Claire, Luis Jos de Souza, Rivaldo Venncio da Cunha; De-OliveiraPinto, Luzia Maria
Laboratory of Viral Immunology - Oswaldo Cruz Institute, RJ-Brazil. Laboratory of Flavivirus -Oswaldo Cruz Institute, RJ-Brazil. Department of Clinical Medicine,
UFMS, MS-Brazil.
Introduction: Endothelial dysfunction contributes to the pathogenesis of the dengue fever. Because endothelial activation often precedes overt endothelial
dysfunction, biomarkers may be detectable before, and therefore, useful as biomarkers of disease severity or prognosis. Herein, we investigated the cytokines and
chemokines as biomarkers of the activated endothelium in serum from Dengue Fever without (DF) or with Warning Signs (WS) plus Severe (WS/Severe) patients and
their role in the modulation of endothelial barrier function using primary human endotelial cells (HMVEC). Methods: Patients from DENV-4- outbreaks were studied.
Serum cytokines and chemokines levels were measured by ELISA. For measuring TEER (Trans-endothelial electrical resistance), HMVEC were plated at 2x105
cells/well on bronectin-coated transwell inserts at 37C in 5% CO2 for two days. Untreated serum or pretreated serum with chemokines ligands blocking were added
to the top chamber. Electrical resistance across HMVEC monolayers was measured by using an EndOhm-6 chamber and EVOM volt-ohmmeter. Results: The
WS/Severe patients had show even higher frequency of vascular leakage and bleeding than those of DF patients. Moreover, the platelet counts were lower among these
WS/Severe, while serum aminotransferase levels were signicantly higher in the WS/Severe as compared to DF. Both DF and WS/Severe patients showed higher TNFa, IL-10, CCL2, CXCL10, CX3CL1, CXCL8 levels than normal controls. However, IL-1b and CCL5 did not differ signicantly from those found in controls. We had that
after early time points (5min), serum from 3 to 4 DENV-patients decreased the HMVEC TEER and TEER recovery in only one patient. Our results showed that the HMVEC
monolayers became more permeable upon in vitro blocking of CCL4 or CXCL10 serum DENV-patients, but not with blocking of CCL5 or CX3CL1, than untreated serum.
Conclusion: Our preliminary ndings suggest that chemokines has been involved in the endothelial barrier homeostasis during dengue fever. Support: FIOCRUZ/IOC;
FAPERJ; CAPES.
I-P09
LYMPHOCYTE ACTIVATION IN PRIMARY IMMUNE RESPONSE OF MICE INFECTED BY THE INTRACEREBRAL ROUTE WITH DENV2
Oliveira ERA1, Veltri ERP1, Gonalves AJS1, Mantuano-Barradas M1, Azevedo AS1, de Meis J2, Nogueira ACMA1 and Alves AMB1
1
Laboratory of Biotechnology and Physiology of Viral Infections, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; 2Laboratory of Thymus Research, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
Dengue disease is considered a great burden in an extensive area of the globe. Mouse models for dengue infection represent a major tool to research anti-dengue
strategies regarding vaccine candidates or antivirals. A widely used mouse model for this purpose is the intracerebral inoculation of a brain adapted virus into
immunocompetent mice that results in lethality. Under this approach, mortality and morbidity are often seen as endpoints to determine efcacy of anti-dengue
vaccines. Nevertheless, little is known about the immune mechanisms involving lymphocyte responses in intracerebrally infected mice. Here, a kinetic study of
lymphocyte responses was made analyzing samples from BALB/c animals infected with DENV2 NGC strain by the intracerebral route. Activated T cell phenotypes
CD3+CD4+CD45RBlow and CD3+CD8+CD45RBlow, peaked between days 3 and 7 post-infection in blood and spleen, and effector T cells (CD44hiCD62L-) were
also seen in liver samples after 3 days of infection, as measured by ow cytometry technique. Lymphocyte inltrates were characterized in SNC of infected mice by the
time of morbidity manifestations. Blood and spleen samples collected 8 to 11 days post-infection also showed increased B220+IgD- B cell phenotype, that were
consistent with the presence of IgM and IgG anti-NS1 virus protein in serum of mice. Cytokines related with inammatory response, IL-12p70, TNF-, MCP-1 and IL10 were detected in serum samples of animals in the rst day post-infection, while on day 7 we found increased levels of IL-12p70, TNF-, IL-10 and IFN-.These
data provide new insights and a better knowledge about the primary immune response in mice infected with DENV by the intracerebral route and may contribute with
the establishment of new parameters to evaluate the efcacy of anti-dengue candidate vaccines. Financial support: PDTIS-Fiocruz, INCTV, CNPq and FAPERJ.
IMMUNOLOGY/DIAGNOSTICS/PROGNOSTICS
ABSTRACTS INVITED SPEAKERS
DENGUE DIAGNOSTICS
Maria G. Guzman
"Pedro Kouri" Tropical Medicine Institute, PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center, Havana, Cuba lupe@ipk.sld.cu
Dengue diagnosis is important for clinical care, surveillance support, pathogenesis studies, vaccine and drug development and clinical trials. Direct (virus isolation,
RNA and antigen detection) and indirect methods (serological investigations) constitute the dengue diagnostic tools. Direct methods show the highest condence,
indirect methods show the highest opportunity for diagnosis being the widest applied to routine practice. Tools available include virus isolation and identication, IgM
ELISA for the serological diagnosis, RT/PCR and real-time RT/PCR for genome detection and quantication and NS1 detection. Dengue diagnostic studies allow
conrming acute, early and late convalescent dengue infection. Early diagnosis is of importance for case management. As part of the epidemiological surveillance,
dengue diagnosis allows the conrmation of transmission, identication of circulating serotypes and genotypes as well as severe and fatal cases. There are still some
needs requiring attention for dengue diagnosis: greater reagent availability, prociency should be improved and extended. Also important are the development of tests
for early diagnosis, serological tests to differentiate dengue from other aviviruses, easy and inexpensive protocols for genomic characterization and viral
quantication, simplify specimen handling and transportation and recombinant antigens for serological tests as well as tools supporting dengue vaccine evaluation.
Finally, enhanced information and experience exchange between endemic areas as well as training and capacity building are needed.
EVALUATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF AVAILABLE DENGUE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN OPTIMAL DIAGNOSTIC ALGORITHM FROM A
SINGLE SPECIMEN
Elizabeth Hunsperger1, Jorge Munoz-Jordn1, Manuela Beltran1, Candimar Colon1, Jessica Carrion1, Jesus Vazquez1, Raziel Rojas1, Nereida Acosta1, Juan Francisco
Medina-Izquierdo1, Kalanthe Horiuchi2, Harold Margolis1
1
Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Vector-Borne Diseases (DVBD), Dengue Branch, San Juan, Puerto Rico; 2CDC, DVBD, Ofce of the Director,
Fort Collins, Colorado
Dengue diagnostic testing is a challenge because no single test detects all the analytes needed to conrm the diagnosis of dengue in a single specimen obtained during
the febrile phase of the illness. However, the use of two diagnostic tests; one to detect dengue virus (DENV) RNA or antigen (NS1), and one to detect IgM anti-DENV
conrms a high proportion of suspect dengue cases. This study was conducted to provide an estimate of the performance of dengue diagnostic tests during the rst 10
days after onset of fever and to develop a diagnostic testing algorithm for single specimen testing. The course of dengue from 1 to 10 days post onset of illness (DPO)
was reconstructed using a panel (n=1234) of archived acute and convalescent serum samples obtained from previously conrmed dengue cases in Puerto Rico
between 2005 through 2010. The panel contained all four DENV serotypes. Specimens were tested by the CDC developed real time RT-PCR and IgM anti-DENV tests,
and commercial ELISAs for NS1 antigen and IgM anti-DENV. The evaluation showed that two IgM anti-DENV tests (Focus and InBios) had a sensitivity of 79%
(CI95:70-85) and 58% (CI95:49-67) respectively on DPO=4 indicating that IgM anti-DENV adds diagnostic value in the acute phase of dengue. An analysis of the
sensitivity of NS1 ELISAs compared to RT-PCR showed that they ranged from 78-93% (CI95: 68-98) during the rst 3 days of illness. Results indicated that either RTPCR or NS1 provide the best denitive result in the rst 3 days of illness, whereas a 2-test format with IgM anti-DENV and RT-PCR/NS1 was best used after the rst 3
days. These results determined an algorithm of diagnostic testing that provided the highest likelihood of a denitive result in a single serum/plasma specimen
obtained during the acute phase of dengue as dened by the 2009 WHO Dengue Case Classication.
out of the epidermis, and the inux of Ms into the dermis, which subsequently replicate DENV to high levels. Ongoing experiments are designed to determine the
mechanism for M recruitment. These studies are revealing that DENV infection of human skin is a dynamic process involving sequential interactions and recruitment
of distinct cellular targets.
HIGHLIGHTED POSTERS
HP32
A RAPID, MULTIPLEXED, MOBILE PHONE-ENABLED POINT-OF-CARE DIAGNOSTICS
Tam, Justina1,7; Yen, Chunwan 2,6; de Puig Guix, Helena4,7; Miyazaki, Hikaru7; Fiegen, Ann7; Phillips, Elizabeth4,7; Gmez-Mrquez, Jose3,4; Hamad-Schifferli, Kimberly5;
Regan, Patrick6, Clavet, Charles6, Bosch, Irene2,6; and Gehrke, Lee7
1
FDA Commissioner's Fellow, 2FDA ORISE Fellow, 3Little Devices Lab @ MIT; 4MIT/SUTD International Design Center, Massachusetts ; Institute of Technology; 5Lincoln
Labs, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; 6FDA Winchester Engineering and Analytical Center; 7Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, and Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School
Background: Medical countermeasures surveillance and reporting during and after a public health emergency event require sensitive and specic detection/
diagnostic methods and devices. We are designing, building, and testing a rapid, multiplexed, mobile phone-enabled diagnostic device to detect dengue virus and
Ebola virus, Category A bioterror agents, in the eld. The goal is to deliver a device that will permit screening for multiple pathogen markers without the need for
refrigeration, specialized training, specialized equipment or chemicals. Mobile phone technology is used to analyze the lateral ow data, quantify the results, and
upload the results for real time epidemiology. Methods: The device is based on lateral ow chromatography, an established technology. Current multiplexing permits
assay for up to eight pathogen markers concurrently using one hundred microliters of sample. Monoclonal antibodies have been screened using ow cytometry and
lateral ow chromatography to dene functional pairs when conjugated to gold nanoparticles and bound to nitrocellulose paper. Nanoparticle surface chemistries are
being evaluated to identify low cost approaches toprepare conjugated nanoparticles. A mobile phone app has been coded to record the image of the multiplexed
diagnostic, correct the image for user photography errors, quantify the signal intensities, and upload data to a server, with GIS. Results: A prototype device that detects
and distinguishes the four serotypes of dengue virus, dengue IgG/IgM, Ebola glycoprotein, and ST2 protein has been built and tested. Initial specicity and sensitivity
tests using laboratory proteins and human patient serum samples are favorable. The phone app records the data, measures signal intensities, and uploads data for
real time epidemiology. Conclusion: A multiplexed rapid lateral ow diagnostic for eld use detects Category A pathogens and uploads data for real time epidemiology.
The goal of this project is build a rapid, multiplexed, point of care diagnostic device that is paired with a mobile phone reader/analytic for real time epidemiology.
HP33
USE OF FAST-GROWTH DENGUE-LIKE VIRUSES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF FAST NEUTRALIZATION ASSAY AND LETHAL MOUSE CHALLENGE STUDY
Claire Huang1, Karen Boroughs1, Janae Stovall1, Betty Luy1, Elizabeth Hunsperger2, and Richard Kinney1
Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA1 & San Juan, Puerto Rico2
Dengue virus (DENV) presents a substantial threat to public health globally, yet there is no approved DENV vaccine or effective anti-viral treatment. Wild-type DENVs
usually grow slowly in cell cultures and do not cause signicant illness in weanling mice following peripheral challenge with virus. Therefore, many assays or
diagnostics requiring live DENVs are time consuming, and it is difcult to establish lethal viral challenge mouse models for all 4 serotypes of DENV. We have
successfully engineered chimeric West Nile/Dengue viruses for all 4 DENVs, which have been further genetically modied to enhance their viability and genetic
stability in cell cultures. These chimeric viruses express the pre-membrane (prM) and envelope (E) proteins of DENV in the replicative genetic vector of WNV. Due to the
robust replication ability of the WNV vector, these chimeric viruses exhibit faster and more vigorous growth in cell cultures than the wt DENVs. Because the viral
envelope consists of DENV prM and E proteins, these chimeras can be used as surrogate DENVs in multiple applications, including diagnostics, vaccine development,
vaccine testing, and virology research. This report focuses on results of using these chimeras in Ab neutralization assays with human clinical samples and in a mouse
challenge study for a tetravalent DENV vaccine. Our results demonstrated that these DEN-like viruses are reliable substitutes for wt DENVs to establish a fast Ab
neutralization assay and to be used as lethal challenge viruses in mouse studies of DENV vaccines by the most convenient intraperitoneal route of injection.
HP34
DENGUE SURVEILLANCE IN CENTRAL BRAZIL: IMPLEMENTATION OF NS1AG TEST AS SCREENING TOOL FOR EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF DENGUE
Angela Argoloa, Vincius Lemesa, Lucileis Fernandesa, Carmen Ramosa, Maysa Silvaa, Valria Fresb.
a Laboratrio de Sade Pblica Dr. Giovanni Cysneiros (LACEN-GO); b Faculdade de Farmcia da Universidade Federal de Gois (FF/UFG)
Dengue is considered a major public health issue in South American countries. During the last three decades, Brazil has experienced an increase in the incidence of
dengue, dengue hemorrhagic fever and, also, a sharp increase in the number of deaths. In Brazil, viral isolation has been used as part of viral surveillance of dengue.
Serologic NS1Ag test was implemented in several public health laboratories to improve the early dengue diagnosis as well to increase the positivity of viral isolation.
This study aims to describe the results of the NS1Ag test as screening tool for DENV monitoring in the reference public health laboratory of Goias, Central Brazil, 2013.
Routinely, samples from patients with dengue suspicious were collected by epidemiological surveillance and performed by LACEN-GO: (1) Blood collected <5 days
after onset of symptoms (DOS) tested by viral isolation (C6/36 cell culture followed by immunouorescence); (2) Serum with >6 DOS tested by ELISA IgM test. To
evaluate NS1Ag test as screening procedure, 570 paired samples (serum and blood) collected <5 DOS were analyzed. Data were extracted from GAL lab software and
analyzed using Excel 2010. 17,877 samples were tested. 64.3% and 21% were positive for IgM or NS1Ag tests, respectively. Viral isolation was performed in 1,514
samples yielding 38% (n=575) of positivity. Among paired samples, 299/570 were positive by NS1Ag. Moreover, 243 were also positive by viral isolation (81.3% of
co-positivity). Among NS1Ag negative samples, 27 had DENV-4 isolated. There was high concordance between NS1Ag test and viral isolation. NS1Ag test used as a
screening test before viral isolation improved its positivity. However lower sensitivity of NS1Ag for DENV-4 was observed in agreement with other studies. NS1Ag
seems to be feasible as screening tool to be performed before viral isolation in routine of DENV surveillance. Further cost-effectiveness studies of NS1Ag screening
tool are necessary before its implementation in routine.
HP35
ASSESSING POSITIVITY AND CIRCULATING LEVELS OF NS1 IN SAMPLES FROM 2012 DENGUE OUTBREAK IN RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
Diego Allonso1, Marcelo D. F. Meneses2, Davis F. Ferreira2, Ronaldo Mohana-Borges1
1
Laboratrio de Genmica Estrutural, Instituto de Biofsica Carlos Chagas Filho, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 2 Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Ges, UFRJ, Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil.
Ideal early dengue diagnosis should not only detect the infection but also identify patients with higher likelihood to develop severe cases. Previous studies have
suggested the potentiality of NS1 as viral marker for dengue severity. However, further studies using different sera panels are necessary to conrm such hypothesis.
We aimed at analyzing qualitatively and quantitatively NS1 antigenemia in serum samples from DENV-infected patients collected during the 2012 outbreak occurred
in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We developed a home-made ELISA able to detect similarly NS1 protein from the four DENV serotypes and from primary and secondary cases.
This approach was used to calculate circulating NS1 concentration in previously identied positive samples. In parallel, we compared the NS1 positivity using the
Platelia Dengue NS1 Ag assay from Bio-Rad with our system. A total of 128 samples were positive to DENV infection and were classied according to the new WHO
guideline. The overall NS1 positivity was 68% according to Platelia assay, whereas all samples were NS1-positive when analyzed by our home-made ELISA (100%
positivity). Fifty-four samples were positive to PCR revealing a co-circulation of DENV1 and DENV4. Not surprisingly, the NS1 positivity for DENV4 samples was lower
than that obtained for DENV1. The circulating NS1 concentration varied from 7 to 284 ng/mL. However, no signicant difference was observed between primary and
secondary cases, and between mild and severe cases. Our results support previous data that demonstrated the low efciency of Platelia assay to detect DENV4
infection. We did not observe any difference in NS1 levels in all conditions analyzed, indicating that NS1 antigen is not a suitable marker for disease severity.
HP36
WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNTS IN THE DIAGNOSES OF DENGUE FEVER AND LEPTOSPIROSIS
Stalin Vilcarromero1, Connie Fernandez2, Manuel Cespedes3, V. Alberto Laguna-Torres1, Robert D. Hontz1, Eduardo Gotuzzo4, Tadeusz Kochel1, Daniel G. Bausch1,5
1
U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima, Peru;2Hospital Santa Gema de Yurimaguas,Yurimaguas, Peru;3Instituto Nacional de Salud, Iquitos, Peru;4Universidad
Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Iquitos, Peru;5Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, USA
Dengue fever and leptospirosis are signicant causes of acute febrile illness in tropical regions of low and middle income countries. Differentiation between these two
diseases on clinical grounds is difcult, and pathogen-specic laboratory diagnostics are not uniformly or rapidly available. However, white blood cell (WBC) and
platelet counts are usually feasible. We explored the utility of these clinical parameters in distinguishing dengue fever from leptospirosis. We analyzed data from one
year (2006) of a febrile surveillance program at the Public Hospital of Yurimaguas, a city in the Peruvian Amazon. WBC and platelet counts were performed on all study
patients on the rst or second day of enrollment by the hospital's laboratory staff. Acute and convalescent serum samples were tested for dengue virus (virus isolation,
PCR, ELISA IgM) and leptospirainfection (microagglutination, IgM) at the laboratory of the U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6 in Lima, Peru. A total of 337 patients
were enrolled, of whom 51 (15%) were conrmed to have dengue fever and 51 (15%) leptospirosis. Although normal cell counts were frequently observed in both
diseases, lymphocytosis (16/51, 31%), leukocytopenia (17/51, 33%) and thrombocytopenia (41/51, 80%), were common in dengue fever while normal values
forleucocytes (31/51, 61%) and lymphocytes (32/51, 63%) predominated in leptospirosis. We conclude that leukocytopenia, lymphocytosis, and
thrombocytopeniaareimportant early features in dengue fever, while normal leukocyte and lymphocytes counts aretypical in leptospirosis. These laboratory
parameters are readily available in most hospitals, including in low and middle income countries, and may serve as valuable tools and early indicatorsto distinguish
between dengue fever and leptospirosis.
the performance of a rapid immunochromatographic test for simultaneous IgM and IgG detection (Panbio Dengue Duo Cassette/ Inverness Medical), we used
characterized sera tested by MAC-ELISA, hemagglutination inhibition (HI), qPCR and virus isolation. To establish the sensitivity and specicity of the assay relative to
dengue IgM status, we used 44 seropositive samples and 64 seronegative samples by MAC-ELISA. We obtained 100% of sensitivity, 89% of specicity and 93.5% of
serological agreement. The kappa value obtained was 0.915 indicating optimal agreement. To establish the sensitivity and specicity relative to dengue IgG status, we
used 8 seropositive samples and 7 seronegative samples by HI. We obtained 100% of sensitivity, specicity and serological agreement. The kappa value obtained was
1.0. In order to determine the analytical specicity, we used 31 samples from patients with conrmed diseases other than dengue. Samples from patients with
antibodies against Herpesvirus 6 and Parvovirus showed false-positive results on the Duo Cassette: 22.5% for IgM and 6.4% for IgG. We obtained indications that
Panbio Duo Cassette shows a good performance, being suitable for clinical use; however, other studies are required to evaluate consistently the potential of crossreactivity.
DP-P02
UTILITY OF A COMMERCIAL NON-STRUCTURAL PROTEIN 1 (NS1) ELISA FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF DENGUE IN PROSPECTIVELY COLLECTED ACUTE FEBRILE ILLNESS
SERUM SPECIMENS
B. Katherine Poole-Smith, Elba Caraballo, Brenda Torres-Velasquez, Kay M. Tomashek, and Elizabeth A. Hunsperger
Dengue Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00920
Dengue is an acute febrile illness (AFI) caused by one of four dengue viruses (DENV1-4) that presents similarly to inuenza, leptospirosis, or measles during the acute
phase [0-5 days post onset (DPO)] of illness. DENV RT-PCR and anti-DENV IgM enzyme-linked immunoassays (ELISA) are used 0-5 DPO to conrm a dengue clinical
diagnosis. DENV non-structural protein 1 (NS1) ELISA can be used 0-9 DPO to conrm a case. Most studies measuring sensitivity of DENV NS1 assay used archived
serum specimens. We hypothesized that freeze-thaw effect on archived specimens increases the bioavailability of NS1 yielding articially high sensitivity. We
evaluated the performance of the PanBio Dengue Early (NS1) ELISA using prospectively collected, never frozen specimens. Patients with AFI 7 days were enrolled at
our Sentinel Enhanced Dengue Surveillance System (SEDSS) site in Puerto Rico from May 2012-March 2013 (n=1560). Acute specimens were tested by DENV RTPCR. Acute and convalescent specimens (6-14 DPO) were tested by DENV IgM and Panbio Dengue Early ELISA. The sensitivity of Panbio Dengue Early ELISA was 74%
(95CI 70-78) and specicity 90% (95CI 88-92) compared to RT-PCR (391 positive patients). The majority of the patients were infected with DENV1 (n = 386, 74%
NS1 positive); 5 patients were infected with DENV4 (40% NS1 positive). DENV RT-PCR or IgM-positive patients <15 years old were 1.8 times more likely to have a
positive NS1 test (OR = 1.9 95CI 1.3-2.7) than patients 15. NS1 positivity did not vary by patient gender. PanBio Dengue Early ELISA sensitivity was low relative to
ndings from a recent meta-analysis and supports our hypothesis. Patients <15 years old may be more likely to have a primary DENV infection and less likely to have
anti-NS1 antibodies to reduce NS1 bioavailability. Differential assay sensitivity by serotype needs further evaluation with a larger sample size.
DP-P03
EVALUATION OF DENGUE DIAGNOSTIC ASSAYS IN GUARULHOS COUNTY, SO PAULO STATE, BRAZIL, 2014
Fernanda Gisele da Silva1, Sarai Joaquim dos Santos Silva1, Iray Maria Rocco1, Mariana Sequetim Cunha1, Margarida G. Montoro1, Regina A. Nunes Romano2, Ana de
Nazar Melo Mesquita2 e Ivani Bisordi1.
1
Ncleo de Doenas de Transmisso Vetorial, Centro de Virologia, Instituto Adolfo Lutz; 2Laboratrio Municipal de Guarulhos, Brazil. E-mail:
fernanda_sbio@yahoo.com.br
Dengue virus (DENV) is a Flavivirus with four serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4). Infections in humans may range from asymptomatic to mild or
severe manifestations. Dengue is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes and is considered the most important arboviral disease. Rapid diagnostic methods in samples
obtained in the early days of symptoms are fundamental to the epidemiological surveillance and vector control. We evaluated the results of 56 patients (Guarulhos
County, So Paulo State, Brazil) with negative response in NS1 detection essay and subsequent positive response in an IgM capture assay. Two blood samples were
collected from each patient after suspicion of dengue. The rst sample was collected in the acute phase (3 days after onset of symptoms) and a second sample taken
after the sixth day of illness. Samples of initial acute phase were processed by detection of NS1 protein using a commercial enzyme immunoassay. Samples collected
after the sixth day of illness were processed by a commercial ELISA for IgM capture. The rst 56 samples were negative for NS1 and the second samples were all
positive for IgM. The samples were subsequently submitted to RT-qPCR, virus isolation, IFA and in house MAC-ELISA assays. The qPCR technique conrmed 21
(37.5%) samples positive for DENV-1 and 7 (12.5%) samples positive for DENV-4. Virus isolation conrmed 7 (12.5%) positive for DENV-4 and 14 (25%) positive for
DENV-1. The in-house MAC-ELISA tested positive for 43 of 56 samples (77%). Identication of serotypes was possible in 28 samples. The results suggest that DENV1 and DENV-4 are currently circulating in the studied area and that there is a high percentage of false negative tests for the detection of NS1 protein for these serotypes.
It suggests that the NS1 detection kits, as diagnostic tool, must be used with precaution.
DP-P04
DEVELOPMENT OF ANTI-DENGUE VIRUS NS1 MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES FOR DIAGNOSTIC OF ACUTE DENGUE INFECTIONS
Marli Tenrio Cordeiro1, Klcia Marlia Soares Melo1, Rafael Dhalia1, Cheysa A. Biondo1, Eduardo J. M. Nascimento2, Ernesto T. A. Marques1,2
1
Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhes, FIOCRUZ-PE, Brazil ; 2Center for Vaccine Research, University of Pittsburg, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
Detection of circulating dengue non-structural protein 1 (NS1) has been widely used as a reliable marker of acute infection. However, limited availability of antibodies
specic to NS1 halts the advance of development of immune-assays for detection and quantication of this protein. Our aim was to develop a panel of mouse
monoclonal antibodies (mAb) specic to dengue virus (DENV) NS1 for use as a tool for research and development of diagnostic of acute dengue infection. Thus, gene
sequences encoding DENV-NS1 isolated in Latin American countries were selected in public databases and aligned to generate a consensus sequence for each virus
serotype (DENV1-4). These sequences were then optimized for bacterial expression, synthesized and cloned into prokaryotic expression vectors for ultimately
transform Escherichia coli. After bacterial induction and recombinant protein purication, Balb/c mice were immunized and splenocytes were used for development
and selection of hybridomas producing mAb specic to DENV NS1. A total of 168 hybridomas generated were selected and stored. These monoclonal antibodies
reacted against both recombinant and native (from culture supernatants of DENV-infected C6/36 and serum samples collected from subjects during acute DENV
infection) NS1 proteins. Among these, we selected 30 clones to determine the IgG subclass and we are using these monoclonal antibodies for development of immuneassays for dengue diagnosis. In order to select the best mAb pairs for NS1 antigen capture, screening tests are being performed with serum samples that were positive
by RT-PCR (for each DENV serotype) and in commercial capture ELISA. Initial results indicate several pairs of monoclonals with potential for diagnostic development.
Further tests still are necessary to improve assays sensitivity and specicity. Besides the immune-assays diagnosis these mAb will be used in several studies
undertaken in our laboratories.
DP-P05
EVALUATION OF REAL TIME RT-PCR ASSAY FOR DETECTION AND SEROTYPING OF DENGUE VIRUS
Natlia Barbosa do Vale Alves, Bruno Tardelli Diniz Nunes, R.gis Bruni Andriolo, Daniele Barbosa de Almeida Medeiros, Val.ria Lima Carvalho, Pedro Fernandes da
Costa Vasconcelos, Ana Cec.lia Ribeiro Cruz.
Instituto Evandro Chagas - Seo de Arbovirologia e Febres Hemorrgicas, Belem- Para, Brazil
Global public health highlights dengue as a major viral disease transmitted by arthropods. Dengue virus species harbors four serotypes (DENV 1, 2, 3, and 4) with
increasingly geographic expansion along with its main vector, Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. It was estimated a 30 times increase over the past 50 years, thus threatening
almost half of worldwide population living in risk areas for infection. Given its relevance, it is necessary improvements at the health surveillance through specic and
sensitive diagnostic methods. To this end, this study evaluated a real time PCR assay (RT-qPCR) for DENV detection developed by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA): the CDC DENV-1-4 Real-Time PCR. Was tested 606 human patient-derived serum, total
blood, and organ samples. Out of this total, 207 samples formed a panel with recognized DENV positive, DENV negative, and other viruses non-DENV positive samples,
as determined by virus isolation in clone C6/36 mosquito cell line. Using DENV positive controls, the assay presented an efciency of amplication of 103% for DENV-1
(R. 0.99), 101% for DENV-2 (R. 0.98), 98% for DENV-3 (R. 0.98), and 99% for DENV-4 (R. 0.99). Hence, DENV RNA was detected in 100% of DENV positive samples
only. The assay sensibility per serotype was 96.67% for DENV-1, 100% for VDEN-2, 95.45% for DENV-3, and 100% for DENV-4. The specicity was 87.85% with
lacking of cross-reactivity reactions. In order to evaluate the RT-qPCR efcacy in a diagnostic routine basis, the remaining samples (399) were randomly selected
without previous knowledge of virus isolation data. For this, the sensibility was 98.7% and the specicity was 94.1% with positive and negative predictive values of 80
and 99.67%, respectively. The accuracy was 95%. The observed concordance between RT-qPCR and cell culture virus isolation was 94.9% with kappa value of 0.85
(p < 0,0001). Thus, the data here presented for RT-qPCR assay demonstrated excellent values for coecient of correlation (R.) and efciency of amplication for
DENV RNA. In addition, the assay was highly sensitive when detecting each virus serotype without cross-reacting reactions. Finally, statistic values observed at the
random study demonstrated RT-qPCR as a precise and efcient assay for DENV serotypes detection and identication. In sum, RT-qPCR assay can be suggested as a
routine method for a rapid and reliable detection and identication of DENV suspected cases, generating improvements for dengue surveillance.
DP-P06
EVALUATING THE LABORATORY DIAGNOSTIC RESPONSE AGAINST SEVER CASES OF DENGUE INFECTION, 2012-2013, SO PAULO STATE, BRAZIL
Mariana Sequetin Cunha, Vivian Regina Silveira, Adriana Maeda, Sarai Joaquim Santos Silva, Renato Pereira de Souza, Iray Maria Rocco, Ivani Bisordi, Akemi Suzuki
Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Dengue fever is the most prevalent arthropod-borne viral infection in the world, with an stimated 2.5 billion people living in areas under risk of infection. The virus
belongs to the family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus, and has four serotypes: DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4. Due to unplanned and uncontrolled urbanization,
sewer and waste management systems, substandard housing and water accumulation, which have created ideal conditions for its primary vector Aedes aegypti,
dengue fever incidence has increased in the past years. Albeit it has a low mortality rate, dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS), which
are more serious manifestations often associated with secondary dengue virus infections may occur, mainly in areas where more than one serotype circulates
simultaneously. DHF is characterized by plasma leakage and hemorrhagic diathesis
that is apparent by the time of defervescence typically after ve days of fever. During the period between June 2012 and July 2013, 16.033 dengue diagnosis requests
were sent to the Instituto Adolfo Lutz, So Paulo, Brazil, from different municipalities. A total of 378 were death cases with dengue suspicious, and therefore IgM MACELISA assay in-house, real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and indirect immunouorescense assay (IFA) were performed. Samples used for diagnosis were serum, blood, liver,
spleen or lungs. 78 cases were conrmed by at least one of these tests, and one tested positive for Hantavirus IgM. MAC-ELISA tested positive in samples varying from
day 1 to 46 after onset of symptoms. qRT-PCR was able to amplify dengue virus from day 1 to 12, while IFA from days 1 to 4. qPCR and IFA demonstrated 5 DENV-1 and
15 DENV-4. Adolfo Lutz Institute is a reference laboratory, and therefore plays an important role on dengue diagnosis and surveillance in Brazil and its differential
diagnosis.
DP-P07
GRO-ALPHA, A POTENTIAL DENGUE SEVERITY MARKER
Renato A S Oliveira; Marli Tenrio Cordeiro; Patrcia Muniz Mendes Freire de Moura; Paulo Neves Baptista Filho; Ernesto Torres de Azevedo Marques Jnior; Laura
Helena Vega Gonzales Gil
Aggeu Magalhes Research Center/Fiocruz. LaViTE, Recife, Brazil
It is believed that the development of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is the result of a complex interaction between the virus and host immune factors. The
mechanisms of dengue pathogenesis is not fully understood, and the identication of biomarkers that identify patients at high risk of developing severe dengue is a
major challenge. A wide preliminar screening for relative quantication of 36 circulating cytokines and chemokines levels, namely G-CSF, GM-CSF, IFN- gamma , IL1beta, IL-1 beta , IL1ra, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 p70, IL-13, IL-16, IL-17, IL17E, IL-23, IL-27, IL-32 , TNF- alpha , IL-8, RANTES, SDF-1, IP-10, I-TAC, MCP-1,
GRO- alpha, I-309, MIP-1, MIP-1 alpha , Serpin E1, C5a, CD40 ligand, MMIF, sICAM-1 and sTREM-1, was evaluated, using serum/plasma of dengue patients at acute
phase of infection and health donors. Sequential quantication by ELISA demostrated that GRO-alpha was signicantly increased in DF patients when compared to
DHF patients. Our data indicate that we determine the prole of cytokines expression for DF and DHF patients, and GRO-alpha was identied for the rst time as a good
prognostic marker.
EPIDEMIOLOGY/PHYLOGENETICS
ABSTRACTS INVITED SPEAKERS
AN OVERVIEW OF THE CIRCULATION OF DENGUE VIRUS IN SO JOS DO RIO PRETO AND IN BRAZIL
Mauricio Lacerda Nogueira
Faculdade de Medicina de So Jos do Rio Preto (FAMERP), Brazil
Dengue virus (DENV) is a virus of the Flaviviridae family. There are four antigenically distinct DENV serotypes; DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4 and each
serotype show phylogenetically distinct genotypes. Over the last 8 years we were sampling and analyzing DENV transmission in So Jos do Rio Preto (SJRP), So
Paulo and comparing with sequences obtained from the rest of the country. In this presentation we will overview the DENV introduction and circulation in Brazil and in
Sao Jose do Rio Preto. Using NGS and conventional sequencing we were able to genotype several different linages that circulated in SJRP over the years. Since 2006
SJRP had 3 major outbreaks (linked to DENV-3, DENV-1 and DENV-4) and an endemic DENV-2 circulation. At least 2 different linages of DENV-3 and 2 linages of DENV1 circulated in the city with differences in their immunogenic potential. Only one linage of DENV2 and DENV-4 were detected. When compared with Brazilian data we
could infer the introductions of these viruses in the country, their spatial and temporal distribution and the occurrence of major outbreaks in the country. We can
conclude that the phylodinamics of dengue circulation can be much more complex than expected even in a small city, with circulation not only of different serotypes but
also different strains. These data provide us more information about the dynamics of DENV circulation and its role in emergence of outbreaks and endemic circulation.
PHYLOGENETIC EVIDENCE FOR THE EMERGENCE OF A NORTH AMERICAN LINEAGE OF DENGUE VIRUS SUBTYPE 1
Jorge L. Munoz-Jordan, Gilberto A. Santiago
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dengue Branch, 1324 Canada Street, San Juan, PR 00920
Dengue, one of the most important re-emerging tropical diseases, is caused by four dengue virus subtypes (DENV-1-4). Transmission in previously non-epidemic
areas is documented every year. Frequent international travel probably contributes to the increased distribution of DENV, as evidenced by emergence of new
phylogenetic lineages. In 2009-2010, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, a region that had reported only limited dengue cases since 2005, reported 2271 laboratory-positive cases,
with a high proportion of DENV-1 identications; and Key West, Florida experienced endemic DENV-1 transmission. Consequently, in 2013 autochthonous
transmission of DENV-1 was reported in Hidalgo and Cameron Counties in Texas and in the Martin and Saint Lucie counties in Florida in 2013. These occurrences
indicate local DENV transmission in new areas of North America. To assess the genetic relatedness of DENV-1 in North America and understand the increasing
endemicity of DENV-1 in this region. We performed sequencing, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses on the envelope gene from 103 DENV-1
isolates from the Americas, including 9 sequences obtained from clinical cases during the 2010 Nuevo Leon outbreak, 8 from Key West, 4 from Martin/St. Lucie
counties, and 4 from other counties from cases during the 2009-2013 outbreaks in Florida, and 5 sequences from Southern Texas. We plotted this new dataset
together with sequence data of DENV-1 isolates from the last 10 years obtained in Central America and the Caribbean. We identied the emergence of a new DENV-1
lineage currently propagating in North America. This North American lineage emerged from the Central American and Caribbean-South American lineages of the
American-African genotype evolving in a short period of time following a northbound transmission trajectory. The recent DENV-1 emergence into non-endemic areas in
North America seems to have driven the divergence of new monophyletic lineages associated with outbreaks in Northern Mexico/Southern Texas and Southern Florida.
In situ microevolution of these emerging lineages has been identied using genomic sequence data from DENV-1 identied in non-travelers from these areas,
conrming the establishment of these lineages in new regions of North America. Current efforts are in place to further understand DENV transmission among residents
in continental US.
and degree of cross-reactivity between serotypes. However, when rst-infection neutralizing antibody responses were analyzed as a group, increasing crossreactivity was observed over time. Specically, the difference between the best and second-best neutralized serotypes decreased over time, with a mean decline of
1.3-fold/year (p<0.01), from an average difference of 8.5-fold in the rst year after infection (p<0.001). This effect remained signicant when serotype, year, and
infection outcome were taken into account. Indeed, while the titer to the infecting type did not change signicantly over time, the second-best neutralized serotype
and third-best neutralized serotype increased by 1.3 fold/year (p<0.01) and 1.2 fold/year (p<0.05), respectively. When neutralizing antibody responses were
analyzed in the same subjects following subsequent second infections, cross-reactivity between serotypes did not change signicantly over time, although the
magnitude of titers to all four serotypes decreased over time. We nd that children living in Nicaragua become more cross-reactive to heterologous DENV serotypes
over time following rst infection and maintain cross-reactive responses following second infection.
HIGHLIGHTED POSTERS
HP22
DENGUE INVASION IN ACRE: IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN MOBILITY ON THE SPREAD OF DISEASES
Raquel Martins Lana, Nildimar Alves Honrio, Cludia Torres Codeo
Fundao Oswaldo Cruz-RJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Since its reemergence in 1986, dengue fever has spread from the large centers to the peripheries of Brazil. By the end of the 1990's , most states were already affected,
except the extremes - Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina in the South region and Acre in the Northern region. This work describes the invasion of dengue in Acre,
following its transportation networks since 2001, when the rst autochthonous cases were reported. Since then, dengue has concentrated in Southern Acre, where the
capital Rio Branco is located. Cases have been reported annually at this location since then and, in 2009, dengue incidence exceeded 2800 cases per 100,000
inhabitants representing the largest epidemic in the state. Until recently, the northwest region of Acre, Alto Juru, was dengue free due to the absence of its vector
Aedes aegypti, although occasional imported cases were reported. However, investments in infrastructure since the year 2000 are changing the landscape.
Commutation within the state increased drastically with the pavement of the BR-364 road, linking Rio Branco to Alto Juru municipalities and the daily ights
between these two regions have intensied; furthermore others conditions such as urbanization, availability of breeding sites and climate, created a scenario with
favorable conditions for the spread of Ae. aegypti. In 2014, the rst dengue epidemic in Alto Juru was reported. To understand the spatial diffusion of dengue and its
association with increased human and commodities commutation, we calculated the effective reproductive number of dengue over the years for each municipality of
Acre and related time of arrival to accessibility by transport.
HP23
DENGUE SEROPREVALENCE, FORCE OF INFECTION AND AVERAGE AGE OF FIRST INFECTION IN A SCHOOL-BASED COHORT OF CHILDREN, 5 -13 YEARS OF AGE,
IN FORTALEZA, BRAZIL
Adrianne Patricia Guignard, Hogea C, Arajo FMC, Coelho ZCB, Colares JK, Feng Y, Innis BL, Coelho ICB
GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines, Belgium
Dengue is endemic in Fortaleza, Northeast Brazil, where periodical outbreaks have occurred since 1986. Dengue virus serotype 4 (DENV-4) was rst isolated in 2011
and associated with a large outbreak in 2012. An urban paediatric school-based cohort study with longitudinal surveillance of febrile illness was initiated in 2011 to
estimate the dengue burden and characterize clinical and epidemiological patterns. We describe here the seroprevalence of DENV immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies
in study participants at enrolment, the estimation of the force of infection (FOI) and the average age of rst infection. This study (NCT01391819) enrolled 2117
children, 5-13 year-olds, from 9 schools. Enrolment took place in three phases: September 2011-January 2012 (N=1253), May-June 2012 (N=394), April-June
2013 (N=470). Sera collected at enrolment were tested for DENV serum antibodies using an indirect commercial IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Overall seroprevalence was 50.3% (95%CI 48.2-52.5) and increased from 32.6% (95%CI 27.4-38.1) in the 5-year-olds to 71.4% (95%CI 62.7-79.1) in the 13year-olds. Seroprevalence was lower in the 5-9 year-olds enrolled in 2011 compared to same-age children enrolled in 2013: 33.3% (95%CI 29.7-37.0) versus
46.5% (95%CI 41.2-51.8) (p<0.0001). The FOI based on seroprevalence was estimated with an exponentially damped linear catalytic model previously used for
dengue in Brazil (Amaku, 2012). The model-estimated average age of rst infection was 9 years based on pooled seroprevalence data between 2011 and 2013,
corresponding to an average FOI (rate of primary infection) of 11% per year. These preliminary results indicate that dengue transmission in children of Fortaleza is high
and suggest high attack rates in 2012 when DENV-4 was introduced in a fully susceptible population. Fitting the model separately on seroprevalence data for children
enrolled in 2011 and in 2012-2013 resulted in a subsequent shift downwards in the age of rst infection following the 2012 DENV-4 outbreak. Funding:
GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA
HP24
THE PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS OF DENGUE VIRUS TYPE 2 CIRCULATING IN COLOMBIA BASED ON COMPLETE GENOME
Cinthy Jimenez-Silva1,2 , Raquel E Ocazionez1,3*
1
Centro de Investigaciones en Enfermedades Tropicales (CINTROP), 2 Laboratorio de Sistemtica y Biogeografa de la Escuela de Biologa, 3 Grupo de Investigacin en
Enfermedades
Infecciosas y Metablicas (GINEM), Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia
Introduction. Colombia is one of the most affected American countries for Dengue viruses. In Santander, the dengue virus is endemic and this departament is one of
the principal hot zone in outbreaks during the last 20 years. The serotype 2 has been caused the mayority of hemorrhagic dengue cases in Santander which has been
related with secondary infections. However, the phylogenetic relationships of DENV-2 strains that has been circulated in Santander and Norte de Santander are
unknown. Objective.To describe phylogenetic relationships of Dengue virus type 2 circulating in Colombia based on Complete Genome. Methods. In this study, we
present a robust reconstruction of the phylogenetic relationships of DENV- 2 based on the complete genome of all available complete genome sequences from the
Genbank, which included sixteen sequences of Colombia isolated in Antioquia, Guaviare, Norte de Santander and Santander from 1986 to 2007. We reconstructed the
phylogenetic trees using the maximum-likelihood and the Bayesian analysis. Results. Our results showed that two genotypes (American and American/Asian)
circulated in Colombia in different periods of time. These genotypes were subdivided in VI lineages. The lineage III and VI have circulated in Norte de Santander and
Santander departments since 1998 to 2007. The Colombian sequence in the lineage III was related with Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Brazil strains from 90's. The
Colombian lineage IV were closely related with Venezuelan isolates from 1996 to 2008. At the same time, this clade was subdivided into ve groups that evidence a
temporal structure. Sequences of Colombia isolated in Guaviare in 2005 and Antioquia in 2004 were included in this lineage, for this reason, we supposed that this
lineage was introduced since Venezuela through Norte de Santander / Santander and it has been circulated in different areas of Colombia since 1998 to 2008.
Conclusion. Two genotypes of DENV-2 were presented in Colombia during 1986 to 2007. The phylogenetic relationships of DENV-2 was associated to changes in the
virus predominance. Acknowledgments- This research was carried out thanks to nancial support received from the Universidad Industrial de Santander,
Bucaramanga, Colombia (Grant # 5658)
HP25
THE DENGUE VACCINE INITIATIVE PROJECT: SERO-PREVALENCE STUDY IN CHILDREN AND ADULTS OF SANTA CRUZ COMUNA OF MEDELLIN
Mabel Carabali1, Jacqueline Lim1, Carolina Velez2, Andrea Trujillo-Correa2, Kang Sung-Lee, Ivn D. Velez2, Jorge Osorio3
1
Dengue Vaccine Initiative, International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, Korea; 2 Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales (PECET), Universidad de
Antioquia, Medelln, Colombia; and 3 Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin
Dengue is a major public health problem in Colombia. During the last 10 years, there has been a signicant increase in the number cases of dengue, with circulation of
all four serotypes and epidemic waves occurring every 3-4 years. Dengue Vaccine Initiative (DVI) conducted a serological survey to determine the true burden of
dengue due to inapparent infections in the Santa Cruz comuna of Medellin, Colombia. The serosurvey included two years of follow up with ve bleedings, with sixmonth intervals from Nov. 2011 to Feb. 2014. More than 2000 randomly selected residents were enrolled in the study. To estimate the incidence and the age-specic
sero-conversion rates on samples that showed a rise in IgG antibody titers by IgG Indirect ELISA. Through 5 bleedings, replacements were made to keep an open
cohort of 2000 randomly selected residents. The sero-prevalence of IgG antibodies in each sero-survey were: 59.02% in S1; 63.9% in S2; 64.9% in S3; 64.7% in S4,
and 64.7% in S5. The overall sero-conversion rate during the rst year was of 4.8%. The highest sero-conversion rate between S1 and S3 was found among children
5-9 years of age (7.3%), followed by young adults between 35-44 years-of-age (6.9%) and children 1-4 years old (5.6%). From the preliminary PRNT performed on a
subset of sero-converted samples (n=48), 83.7% showed an immune response against all 4 serotypes, with DENV-3 (24.5%) and DENV-1 (16.3%) as the
predominant serotypes. These sero-prevalence results may indicate an elevated dengue transmission in Santa Cruz and a higher risk for severe forms with increase
in age. Results of further analyses of the immunological status of individuals in this geographic area will be presented at the conference.
found to be statistically different in LISA and one-way ANOVA test and varied signicantly in various social factors: percentage of households with garbage collection
(F=5.36; p=0.02), dependency ratio (F=3.80; p=0.05), poverty index (F=28.46; p<0.001) and life condition index (F=8.95; p=0.003). The districts in group B
showed higher values of population density, poverty index and dependency ratio, with less children and a lower dependency ratio. Conclusions. While social factors
were found to be signicantly associated with either increasing or decreasing trends of dengue incidence, our results indicate several implications for the human
behavior associated with preventative dengue control measures as those indices which indicated or factors associated with a caretaker's presence offered a factor
of protection. Further renement of geospatial modeling may be useful to better capture the complex nature of dengue transmission.
EP-P02
IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS OF DENGUE VIRUS GENETIC VARIATION AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS IN PATIENTS FROM AN
ENDEMIC AND NON-ENDEMIC ZONES IN MEXICO
Galn-Huerta Kame Alberto; Loroo-Pino Mara Alba; Sauceda-Garza Jessica; Muoz-Jordan Jorge; Santiago Gilberto Antonio; Prez-Villarreal Jess Zacaras;
Ramos-Jimnez Javier; Rivas-Estilla Ana Mara
Faculty of Medicine - Universidad Autnoma de Nuevo Len, Mexico
Objective: Our aim was to investigate if there is a relationship between clinical manifestations and DENV genetic variation in strains isolated from infected subjects
from an endemic and non-endemic zone in Mexico. Methods: The study was conducted at the southern state of Yucatan and the northern state of Nuevo Leon in Mexico,
from October to November 2012. Dengue infection diagnosis was made according to the new WHO guidelines and serum samples were obtained. Viral RNA was
detected by RT-PCR to conrm DENV infection. Further, DENV viruses were isolated, amplied in C6/36 cell culture and E gene was sequenced. The relationship
between clinical manifestations and E gene mutations were investigated for each strain isolated. Phylogeny reconstruction was inferred in MEGA5 using maximum
likelihood approach. Results: Twenty-eight patients were analyzed:12 from Yucatan and 16 from Nuevo Leon. Clinical manifestations were different among the
patients of both regions. The circulating viruses in both states were DENV-1 and DENV-2, with different frequencies. Three E gene sequences were obtained from
Yucatan and 7 from Nuevo Leon. Twenty mutations were found among the DENV-1 E gene sequences and 11 at DENV-2. When the sequences were compared with
themselves, two non-synonymous substitutions were found. One was at E475 (L F) in DENV-1 and the other at E344 (N Y) in DENV-2. DENV-1 viruses from both
states grouped in the same clade, separated from 2011 viruses. Nuevo Leon's DENV-2 grouped at the same clade with the DENV-2 isolated in 2011. Conclusions: We
found no relationship between clinical manifestations and E gene mutations in the analyzed patients. Due to the homology between DENV-1 from Nuevo Leon and
Yucatan, we can infer they had the same origin. There was a DENV-1 reintroduction in Nuevo Leon and Yucatan in 2012 and DENV-2 is circulating in Nuevo Leon since
2011.
EP-P03
DESCRIPTIVE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF DENGUE TRANSMISSION IN A MEDIUM-SIZED CITY FROM BRAZIL, 2008 - 2012
Aline Chimello Ferreira, Francisco Chiaravalloti-Neto, Adriano Mondini
Faculdade de Cincias Farmacuticas - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Brazil
Dengue has been a public health problem in tropical regions for decades but autochthonous transmission has now been reported in countries like USA, France and
Croatia. In 2013, 2.35 million dengue cases were reported in the Americas and Brazil alone was responsible for more than 50%. The country has been presenting
outbreaks for more than three decades and important lessons can be learned. Thus, a detailed analysis of dengue transmission in Araraquara, a medium-sized city at
the central portion of So Paulo, which is a critical area for dengue transmission, may clarify transmission patterns and entail effective control measures. Dengue has
been circulating in the city since 1990s at low incidences. However, the number of cases has increased in recent years and we will be describing the scenario of ve
years of transmission herein. Ofcial data on dengue reports from 2008 to 2012 were recovered from the Information System on Diseases of Compulsory Declaration.
Data from 5,253 reported cases were analyzed. The majority occurred at the rst ve months of the year - January to May - which is nal portion of the rainy season.
Severe dengue or dengue with complications was a rare event in the city. The incidence in Caucasians (78%) was higher than in other ethnic groups, a pattern that has
been described worldwide. Another important observation is that dengue transmission has become endemic in the city, with cases being ofcially reported in all
months of the year, with the exception of 2009, which was atypical in the whole state of So Paulo. This is part of an ongoing project that is also focused on classical and
spatial epidemiology involving a survey of risk factors such as socioeconomic and climatic variables. Financial Support: Fapesp grant 2013/02338-9.
EP-P04
CIRCULATION OF DENV-4 IN ARGENTINA" THIS WORK CHARACTERIZES THE DENV-4 STRAINS WITH AUTOCHTHONOUS CIRCULATION IN ARGENTINA, FROM
2010 TO THE PRESENT
Luppo VC, Morales MA, Fabbri CM, Levis S and Enra D.
Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Virales Humanas, "Dr. Julio I. Maiztegui", INEVH, Argentina
During the beginning of 2010, circulation of DENV-4 was conrmed in Rosario, Santa Fe, the virus was isolated from the serum of a woman without history of recent
travel, representing the southernmost detection of this virus in America. Epidemiological research also identied a group of 4 people with specic IgM and IgG
antibodies to dengue, one of which had a history of travel to Colombia and his home was near the work site of the index case. In 2013 were identied by molecular
techniques in provincial laboratories of the Laboratory Network for the diagnosis of Dengue and other Arboviruses, 11 strains of DENV-4, which were later conrmed
by the National Reference Center for the diagnosis of dengue and other Arbovirus, INEVH . 8 strains were amplied, obteining amplicons in 3 of them (Salta 2, Crdoba
1). In 2014 indigenous circulation of this serotype was detected in the province of Salta. This work characterizes the DENV-4 strains with autochthonous circulation in
Argentina, from 2010 to the present. In the serum samples the viral RNA extraction was performed using a commercial kit (QIAGEN) and serotype was conrmed by
RT-PCR , qRT-PCR and virus isolation. The complet gene E (envelope protein) was amplied and the obtained sequence was compared with other strains of different
genotypes and geographic areas of DENV-4 virus in the Genebank. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the circulating strains of DENV-4 in Argentina grouped with
genotype II strains, with a nucleotide difference of 1% in relation to the nearest American strains in the phylogenetic tree obtained. Only genotypes I and II have been
detected in America. This shows an expansion, in recent years, the circulation of this serotype in our territory, alerting the possibility of future epidemics in the region
due to the high availability of susceptible population.
EP-P05
VIRUS SURVEILLANCE IN THE SERUM OF PATIENTS WITH CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS OF DENGUE FROM A MEDIUM-SIZED CITY OF RONDONIA STATE, BRAZIL
Walquer Vinicius Esteves Gonalves Pereira, Arianne Fagotti, Felipe Guioti, Aline Chimello Ferreira, Adriano Mondini
Universidade Estadual Paulista "Julio Mesquita Filho", Brazil
The infection by any of the four serotypes of the dengue virus (DENV 1-4) can be asymptomatic orproduce a disease that ranges from a mild febrile illness to life
threatening hemorrhagicmanifestations. In Brazil, the majority of dengue disease diagnostics are obtained by serology andclinical and epidemiological criteria. Virus
isolation, identication of DENV by polymerase chainreaction or the detection of the nonstructural protein 1 are usually performed in reference laboratories for a
limited number of cases. No further tests to detect other arthropod borneviruses (arboviruses) are performed in febrile patients. In our study, we are testing samples
withclinical diagnostic of dengue from a medium sized city from the west part of Brazil for DENV 1-4and other aviviruses, along with orthobunyaviruses and
alphaviruses. We collected bloodsamples from febrile patients that had clinical diagnostic of dengue from August 2013 to January2014 in Ji-Paran (Rondonia), which
is allegedly an area with the circulation of severalarboviruses. Viral RNA was extracted and a Multiplex-Nested-RT-PCR with genus-specic primersto detect
members of the Flavivirus, Alphavirus and Orthobunyavirus genera and species-specic primers to identify DENV 1-4, yellow fever virus, mayaro virus, oropouche
virus and seven otherviruses was performed. We were able to collect 103 blood samples for the study. So far, we havetested 12 samples and we could not detect DENV
or any other arboviruses. However, 89% of thesamples still remain untested. It is undeniably important to provide differential diagnostic forfebrile illnesses, not only
for a better management of the patients but also to understand the epidemiology of the viruses that may be circulating in a certain location and the control
measuresthat should be taken to control their spread.
EP-P06
FIRST DENGUE HAEMORRHAGIC FEVER EPIDEMIC IN THE AMERICAS, 1981: INSIGHTS INTO THE CAUSATIVE AGENT
Rosmari Rodriguez-Roche, Yoandri Hinojosa and Maria G. Guzman
Pedro Kouri Tropical Medicine Institute (IPK), Havana, Cuba
Historical records describe a disease in North America that clinically resembled dengue haemorrhagic fever during the latter part of the Slave Trading period. However,
the dengue epidemic that occurred in Cuba in 1981 was the rst laboratory conrmed and clinically diagnosed outbreak of dengue haemorrhagic fever in the Americas.
This totally unexpected and explosive epidemic was characterised by rapid dispersal of the virus and the accompanying disease, throughout Cuba, with extraordinarily
high transmission rates. At that time, the predicted source of the dengue type 2 strain isolated during this epidemic was considered controversial, partly because of the
limited sequence data and partly because the origin of the virus appeared to be Southern Asia. Bayesian phylogenetic analysis using genomic-length sequences
revealed the relatively close genetic relatedness of the Cuban strains isolated in 1981 with the prototype NGC Asian strain isolated in 1944, all of which grouped within
the Asian 2 genotype. Indeed, the 1981 strains are very distant from strains grouped in the Asian/American genotype, which have been circulating in the Americas
since 1983 to date, and have displaced the American genotype. Evidence of viral evolution during the 1981 epidemic is presented, including non-conserved amino
acid substitutions in both structural and non-structural proteins. In addition, the Cuban isolates exhibited particular amino acid substitutions that differentiate them
from the prototype strain as well as from dengue type 2 strains isolated globally. Possible mechanisms of viral evolution and its implications for disease severity are
discussed.
EP-P07
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF DENGUE EPISODE: MULTICENTER STUDY ACROSS FOUR BRAZILIAN REGIONS
Martelli CMT, Oliveira CS, Mendes MCO, Bahia LR, Parente MPPD, Cortes FJM, Siqueira Filha NT, Zara AL, Siqueira Junior JB
Centro de Pesquisa Aggeu Magalhes CPqAM - Fiocruz PE, Brazil
Objective: to evaluate the economic burden of dengue from public payer and societal perspectives in Brazil. Methods: investigation was designed as a multicenter
cost study. Suspected dengue cases were recruited during 2012/2013 in four endemic regions (city): Midwest (Goiania), Southeast (Belo Horizonte and Rio de
Janeiro), Northeast (Teresina and Recife), North (Belem). Participants were suspected or laboratory conrmed dengue cases, treated in ambulatory or hospital
settings (private and public sectors). A household interview was scheduled 20-30 days after the onset of clinical symptoms. The time horizon was one-year
considering dengue seasonality. We calculated the direct cost, public payer perspective and direct/indirect costs for societal perspective. Estimation of annual
national dengue costs took into account cases reported by notication system (SINAN) with possible under-reporting of passive surveillance. Results: we screened
2,223 patients and 2,097 (94.3%) symptomatic dengue cases were included. The majority of patients were adults. 1,661 cases were treated in ambulatory and 436
cases in hospitals. In the ambulatory cohort, the average number of medical visits ranged from 1.2 to 4.2. A higher number of medical visits were recorded among
inpatients (3.2 to 5.0). For the public payer perspective, estimated cost per case was USD 43 (95% CI: 39-47) ambulatory and USD 237 (95% CI: 202-248) hospital.
Dengue illness in Brazil was estimated to cost USD 126 million (95% CI: 112-135), ambulatory and hospitalized cases considering the reported cases (SINAN).
Outpatients cost account for 62% of the total costs. For the societal perspective, the estimated cost per ambulatory case was USD 163 (95% CI: 142-169) and USD
465 (95% CI: 407-591) hospital. Dengue illness was estimated to cost USD 389 million (95% CI: 339-425), ambulatory and hospitalized cases. Our results show
evidence of substantial economic impact in Brazil. We have provided a timely economic evaluation of dengue. Financial support: Sano.
EP-P08
CHARACTERIZATION OF A DENGUE VIRUS TYPE 4 OUTBREAK IN SOUTH-CENTRAL MATO GROSSO, BRAZIL
Nayara Zuchi1, Steven G. Widen2, Rubing Chen3,4,5, Hilda Guzman3,4,5, Letcia B. S. Heinen1, Sandra V. Mayer3,4,5, Thomas G. Wood2, Marcelo A. M. dos Santos6, Jonathan
E. Allen7, Robert B. Tesh3,4,5, Renata Dezengrini-Slhessarenko1, Nikos Vasilakis3,4,5
1
Post-Graduation Program in Health Sciences, Medicine Faculty, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiab, Mato Grosso, Brazil; 2Department of Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology, 3Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases and Department of Pathology, 4Center for Tropical Diseases, and 5Institute for Human
Infections and Immunity, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston TX, USA; 6MT-Laboratory, State Secretary of Health, Cuiab, Mato Grosso, Brazil;
7
Computing Application & Research Department, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore CA, USA
Dengue viruses (DENV) are by far the most important arboviral pathogens in the tropics globally, putting at risk of infection nearly a third of the global human
population.. In the current study we characterize the phylogeny and intrahost variation of 26 isolates of dengue virus type 4 (DENV-4) from acute serum samples
obtained during an outbreak in South-Central Mato Grosso State (MT), Brazil, in 2012. All 26 isolates located within genotype II in two distinct lineages forming a
monophyletic clade. Further conrmation of the co-circulation of two distinct lineages is obtained by analysis of the intrahost virus variation in the acute serum
samples. Based on our phylogenetic analyses, there are 6 independent introductions of DENV-4 in Brazil, presumably from Venezuela, Puerto Rico, China, and
Southeast Asia. The DENV-4 isolates of the 2012 outbreak in South-Central Mato Grosso State were closely related with two 2010 isolates from the geographically
close regions of Amazonas and Roraima and were closely related with strains sampled from Venezuela 2007, indicating the potential origin introduction. The extent
and severity of the 2012 DENV-4 outbreak is likely attributed to the lack of immunity in the population.
EP-P09
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF DENV-1 IN BRAZIL: MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY OF STRAINS ISOLATED FROM 1986 TO 2011
Fernanda de Bruycker Nogueira, Flavia Barreto dos Santos, Nieli Rodrigues da Costa Faria, Jaqueline Bastos Santos Simes, Mrcia Gonalves de Castro, Priscila
Conrado Guerra Nunes, Simone Alves Sampaio, Ana Maria Bispo de Filippis, Rita Maria Ribeiro Nogueira
Laboratory of Flavivirus, Laboratory Transmitters Hematozoa, Oswaldo Cruz Institute-FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
E-mail: nandanog@ioc.ocruz.br
This study presents the phylogeny and molecular characterization based on envelope gene (E) analysis of DENV-1 (n=48) isolated during epidemics occurred since
this serotype introduction in 1986 to 2011. From those strains, six were fully sequenced (coding region) and possible genomic recombination events were analyzed.
The results of the phylogenetic analysis based on the E gene showed that DENV-1 isolates from the states of RJ, ES, MG, MS, AL, CE, PI and RN belong to genotype V
(American/Africa), but grouping in distinct clades. Three groups were identied, one dating from 1986 to 2002 (lineage 1a), a second group isolated between 2009 and
2011 and a representative strain isolated in 2002 (lineage 2) and a group of strains isolated in 2010 and 2011 (lineage 1b). Lineage 2 has a high bootstrap support
ensuring their separation from the other lineages. The lineages 1a and 1b, despite in distinct branches, were characterized in a same group supported by a bootstrap of
75%. Furthermore, the lineages 1a and 1b were more closely related to the American strains, while lineage 2 to the Asian strains. Amino acids (aa) substitutions were
observed in the ectodomains I and III of the E protein and were associated to the lineages separation. A substitution on E297 differentiated the lineage 1a from the
lineages 1b and 2. Changes observed in E338, E394 (ectodomain III), E428 and E430 (stem region) differentiated lineages 1a, 1b and 2. The complete coding region
analysis showed a large number of specic aa changes (n=82) distributed among the six strains studied, however lineage 2 presented approximately 50% of the total
detected. With the exception of the C gene, all the others genes analyzed allowed the DENV-1 classication into the distinct genotypes. However, only the E gene and
the entire coding region were able to group those into the distinct lineages. No recombinant event was detected but a sample belonging to lineage 1a was closely
related to the known recombinant strain AF513110/BR/2001.
EP-P10
EVIDENCES OF RECENT INTRODUCTION OF AFRICAN LINEAGES OF DENGUE 1 VIRUS IN BRAZIL
Adriana Yurika Maeda, Iray Maria Rocco, Ivani Bisordi, Akemi Suzuki, Vivian Regina Silveira,
Margarida Maria G. Montoro, Mariana Sequetin Cunha, Renato Pereira de Souza, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Brazil
DENV is a RNA virus with a genome of approximately 11 Kb of the family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus with four related serotypes of Dengue (DENV 1-4). Each serotype
presents its own range of genotypes. The present report describes the phylogenetic relationship of DENV-1 strains isolated in So Paulo State, in 2010. DENV-1 virus was
isolated from ve patients samples with suspected of Dengue infection, by inoculation into cell culture lineage Aedes albopictus C6/36 and identication by indirect
immunouorescence. A fragment of 953 bp from the Envelope gene was amplied by one step RT-PCR for all strains. The fragments were sequenced and aligned with
representative sequences of the genotypes of DENV-1, retrieved from GenBank. A Bayesian inference method applying a relaxed molecular clock model, available in the
software BEAST v. 1.6.2, was used to estimate phylogenetic relationship between the sequences. All available data indicates that the DENV-1 strains analyzed in this study
belong to two different clades or lineages in the genotype V. The rst lineage (Clade A) represents an older introduction of this genotype, with the studied strains representing
the continuous circulation of a virus previously encountered in past epidemics of 2007 to 2009. The second lineage ( Clade B) is formed by samples that became associated
with a lineage detected only after 2010. This lineage is the same associated with an outbreak of the disease detected rst in Reunion Islands in the Indic Ocean moving to
East Africa. This relationship suggested that this lineage was probably introduced in Brazil after the African epidemics. Studies with a relaxed molecular clock model were
performed pointing to a recent differentiation, within the last 300 years for DENV-1 and a relatively greater diversity of genotypes in the last 30 years. It is also indicated that
the Clade B circulated previously in Africa and Reunion Islands before its diversication in Brazil.
EP-P11
PHYLOGEOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF PATTERNS OF INTERCHANGE OF DENGUE 3 VIRUS IN THE SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRIES
Renato Pereira de Souza, Adriana Yurika Maeda, Iray Maria Rocco, Fernanda Gisele Silva, Sarai Joaquim dos Santos Silva, Ana Loecia R. Oliveira, Juliana Silva Nogueira,
Ivani Bisordi
Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Brazil
DENV is a RNA Flavivirus with four related serotypes (DENV 1-4). Each serotype presents its own range of genotypes. The present report describes the patterns of
interchange of Dengue 3 Virus in South America by means of a discrete phylogeograpic analysis. DENV-3 virus was isolated from 07 patients from So Paulo State, in 2010,
by inoculation into cell culture lineage Aedes albopictus C6/36 and identication by indirect immunouorescence. A fragment of 953 bp from the Envelope gene was
amplied by one step RT-PCR for all strains. The fragments were sequenced and aligned with 60 representative sequences of the genotypes of DENV-3, retrieved from
GenBank representing 15 countries. Bayesian phylogenetic reconstructions were performed using Markov chain Monte Carlo analysis implemented by BEAST version
1.6.2. The internal nodes were inferred under a GTR model with Gamma-distributed rate variation ( ) and a proportion of invariable sites (I), using a relaxed ( uncorrelated
lognormal) molecular clock. Four independent MCMC runs of four chains each were run for 10 million generations, performing also a discrete phylogeographic analysis. All
available data indicates that the DENV-3 strains analyzed in this study belong to tree different clades forming a monophyletic group originally introduced in the Caribbean
region circa 1964-1968. From the Caribbean DENV-3 reached Central and South America at the same period of time. The analysis suggests that the virus reached South
America via the Andean countries and Venezuela. After that the virus were introduced in Brazil, where undergone an important evolutionary differentiation, that accelerated
its spreading throughout South America. The data suggests the existence of two exchange routes, one between Brazil, Peru, Bolivia and Paraguay and other linking
Venezuela and the northern portion of South America with the Caribbean.
EP-P12
ISOLATION OF DENV STRAINS FROM INFECTED PATIENTS IN NORTHEAST MEXICO AND FURTHER EVALUATION OF ITS CAPACITY TO MODULATE STAT-1 EXPRESSION
ON HUH-7 INFECTED CELL LINE
Arellanos-Soto Daniel, Ramos-Jimnez Javier, Fernndez-Salas Ildefonso, Del ngel-Nez Rosa Mara, Rivas-Estilla Ana Maria
Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Mexico
INTRODUCTION: Replication of DENV in patients seems to be inuenced by the ability of the infecting strain to modulate the host's signaling pathway required to activate
antiviral response of IFN-type I, then its important to know modulation of genes like STAT-1, in response to infection with circulating DENV-strains. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate
the levels of STAT-1 in Huh-7 cell-line, infected with clinical isolates of DENV circulating in Mexico from 2010-2014. METHODS: DENV-NS1 positive sera from subjects from
Nuevo Leon were evaluated by qPCR to identify serotypes and then virus were isolated and amplied in C6/36 cells. The infected cultures were monitored by microscopy (714 days) and RT-PCR and then titrated in BHK-21 cells. Further, Huh-7 cells were infected (moi 0.1) for 36h. Afterwards cells were treated with IFN(1000UI/mL) before total
protein extraction. STAT-1 expression was evaluated by Western-Blot. RESULTS: From 1079 DENV-NS1 positive sera, 13 DENV were isolated: 6 (46%) DENV-1, 6 (46%)
DENV-2 and 1(8%) DENV-4. Viral strains isolated from patients had no co-infections or contamination with different serotypes. No advantages related to infecting serotype,
Ct or NS1 levels were observed in production of viral particles. Induction of CPE on Huh-7 cells infected with the clinical isolates was similar regardless infecting serotype
(granulation, vacuolation, multikaryons, lysis). After IFN-1 treatment, most of the strains negatively modulated the production of STAT- 1 on Huh-7 cells. There was a
differential STAT-1 expression: sample 6870 (30%), 692 (7.2%), 694 (34.7 %) and sample 696 (35.4%). Meanwhile strain 4904 did not reduce the production of STAT-1
(112 %). CONCLUSION: Infection of Huh-7 cells with viral isolates from mexican patients decreased levels of STAT-1, coinciding with previous reports, however there is no
information on the effect of Mexican-circulating DENV-strains from patients. This is the rst study of IFN modulation response using Mexican dengue viral strains.
EP-P13
DIFFERENT LINEAGES OF DENV-1 CIRCULATING SIMULTANEOUSLY IN THE AMERICAS DURING 2010-2011.
Daz Y, Brenner H, Mamani E, Vzquez C, Regato M, Nina A, Mndez J, Franco L.
Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud. Panama
DENV is a RNA Flavivirus with four related serotypes (DENV 1-4). Each serotype presents its own range of genotypes. The present report describes the patterns of
interchange of Dengue 3 Virus inSouth America by means of a discrete phylogeograpic analysis. DENV-3 virus was isolated from 07patients from So Paulo State, in
2010, by inoculation into cell culture lineage Aedes albopictus C6/36and identication by indirect immunouorescence. A fragment of 953 bp from the Envelope gene
wasamplied by one step RT-PCR for all strains. The fragments were sequenced and aligned with 60representative sequences of the genotypes of DENV-3, retrieved
from GenBank representing 15countries. Bayesian phylogenetic reconstructions were performed using Markov chain Monte Carloanalysis implemented by BEAST
version 1.6.2. The internal nodes were inferred under a GTR modelwith Gamma-distributed rate variation ( ) and a proportion of invariable sites (I), using a relaxed
(uncorrelated lognormal) molecular clock. Four independent MCMC runs of four chains each were runfor 10 millions generations, performing also a discrete
phylogeographic analysis. All available dataindicates that the DENV-3 strains analyzed in this study belong to tree different clades forming amonophyletic group
originally introduced in the Caribbean region circa 1964-1968. From the Caribbean DENV-3 reached Central and South America at the same period of time. The
analysis suggests that thevirus reached South America via the Andean countries and Venezuela. After that the virus were introduced in Brazil, where undergone an
important evolutionary differentiation, that accelerated itsspreading throughout South America. The data suggests the existence of two exchange routes, one between
Brazil, Peru, Bolivia and Paraguay and other linking Venezuela and the northern portion of South America with the Caribbean.
EP-P14
CHARACTERIZATION OF A DENGUE VIRUS TYPE 4 OUTBREAK IN SOUTH-CENTRAL MATO GROSSO, BRAZIL
Nayara Zuchi1, Steven G. Widen2, Rubing Chen3,4,5, Hilda Guzman3,4,5, Letcia B. S. Heinen1, Sandra V. Mayer3,4,5, Thomas G. Wood2, Marcelo A. M. dos Santos6, Jonathan E.
Allen7, Robert B. Tesh3,4,5, Renata Dezengrini-Slhessarenko1, Nikos Vasilakis3,4,5
1
Post-Graduation Program in Health Sciences, Medicine Faculty, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiab, Mato Grosso, Brazil; 2Department of Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology, 3Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases and Department of Pathology, 4Center for Tropical Diseases, and 5Institute for Human
Infections and Immunity, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston TX, USA; 6MT-Laboratory, State Secretary of Health, Cuiab, Mato Grosso, Brazil;
7
Computing Application & Research Department, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore CA, USA
Dengue viruses (DENV) are by far the most important arboviral pathogens in the tropics globally, putting at risk of infection nearly a third of the global human
population.. In the current study we characterize the phylogeny and intrahost variation of 26 isolates of dengue virus type 4 (DENV-4) from acute serum samples
obtained during an outbreak in South-Central Mato Grosso State (MT), Brazil, in 2012. All 26 isolates located within genotype II in two distinct lineages forming a
monophyletic clade. Further conrmation of the co-circulation of two distinct lineages is obtained by analysis of the intrahost virus variation in the acute serum
samples. Based on our phylogenetic analyses, there are 6 independent introductions of DENV-4 in Brazil, presumably from Venezuela, Puerto Rico, China, and
Southeast Asia. The DENV-4 isolates of the 2012 outbreak in South-Central Mato Grosso State were closely related with two 2010 isolates from the geographically
close regions of Amazonas and Roraima and were closely related with strains sampled from Venezuela 2007, indicating the potential origin introduction. The extent
and severity of the 2012 DENV-4 outbreak is likely attributed to the lack of immunity in the population.
EP-P15
DIFFERENT LINEAGES OF DENV-1 CIRCULATING SIMULTANEOUSLY IN THE AMERICAS DURING 2010-2011
Yamilka Daz 1, Hebleen Brenner2, Enrique Mamani3,4, Cinthia Vzquez5, Mary Regato6, Aleida Nina7, Jairo Mndez8, Leticia Franco9
1
Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud-Panam. 2INCIENSA-Costa Rica, 3Universidad San Marcos-Per. 4Instituto Nacional de Salud-Per, 5 Laboratorio
Central de Salud Pblica-Paraguay, 6Instituto Leopoldo Izquieta-Guayaquil-Ecuador, 7INCIENSA-Bolivia. 8Instituto Nacional de Salud-Colombia. 9Centro Nacional de
Microbiologa-Instituto Carlos III-Espaa.
Dengue is a disease caused by one of the four serotypes of dengue virus (DENV1 to 4). Since 1980 the disease has broadly expanded throughout the Americas. During
the 80's, DENV-1 was the predominant serotype in the region, replaced by DENV 2 in the 90's and subsequently for DENV 3 in 2000. Despite it, DENV 1 has caused
several outbreaks in the America's, leading as the serotype more detected and reported in American countries and in imported dengue cases in other continents.
During 2010, a highest incidence of dengue occurred in the Americas, several countries registered historically high case fatality rate with the co-circulation of at least
two serotype of the virus, including DENV 1. In order to explain this situation we analyzed 50 DENV 1 isolates from 7 American countries collected during 2010 and
2011 through a collaborative study by the VIRORED labs-network. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using MEGA 5 based on 421 nucleotides fragment of the
E/NS1 region. In our analyses the strains were mainly grouped in the American/Africa genotype (V) that is widely distributed across the continent. We found at least 5
different lineages circulating from Costa Rica to Paraguay. Strains from Panama and Costa Rica belongs to the Centro American lineages close to strains from
Nicaragua and Mexico, except for 2 Panamanian strains that fall into a different clade, close to Asian strains. Viruses circulating in Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru
and Paraguay are grouped into two different South American lineages. Our nding suggest that during 2010-2011, DENV 1 has great diversity, with the circulation of
at least one or two different lineages at the same time and place, and depending of its geographical location could have contributed with the high morbidity observed in
2010 when dengue cases in the region reach 1,6 mil with 1194 deaths.
VACCINE/MODELING
ABSTRACTS INVITED SPEAKERS
RECENT SCIENTIFIC AND CLINICAL ADVANCES IN SANOFI PASTEUR'S DENGUE VACCINE PROGRAM
Nicholas Jackson
Sano Pasteur, Global Headquarters, 2 Pont Pasteur, Lyon, 69007, France
In 2012, results from the rst clinical efcacy study of a dengue vaccine, a phase 2b efcacy trial in Ratchaburi, Thailand, demonstrated clinical protection against
dengue virus (DENV) serotypes 1, 3, and 4, but not DENV2, despite similar antibody neutralization levels observed for all four serotypes. This triggered the initiation of a
broad investigational programme with emerging conclusions suggesting that several factors may have contributed to the observations in Thailand. In parallel to these
investigations, the active surveillance phase of two Phase III efcacy trials in more than 30,000 children and adolescents in Asia and in Central and South America has
concluded, and the clinical safety database now counts over 28,000 subjects who have received at least one dose of vaccine. The rst data analyses from the Asian
Phase III study are available demonstrating that the primary endpoint was successfully achieved, with an overall efcacy of 56.5% against virologically-conrmed
symptomatic disease, regardless of severity, against any serotype in children aged 2 to 14 years old (Capeding et al, 2014). Additional sub-analyses have
demonstrated that efcacy varies by serotype, age and dengue baseline status. Importantly, preplanned observational analyses show an 88.5% reduction of dengue
haemorrhagic fever, and a 67% reduction in hospitalization after 3 doses of vaccine. A favourable safety prole consistent with prior trials was observed. The results
of this rst efcacy study will be supplemented by results from the second phase III study in Latin America including more than 20,000 children and adolescents aged
9 to 16 years old.
CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT OF A RECOMBINANT LIVE ATTENUATED TETRAVALENT DENGUE VACCINE
Pedro Garbes
Takeda Vaccines, Inc, Madison, WI, USA
Takeda is developing a tetravalent, live attenuated dengue vaccine (LADV) consisting of a molecularly characterized, attenuated DENV-2 strain and three chimeras in
which the prM and E genes of the attenuated DENV-2 were substituted with those of DENV- 1, -3 or -4 viruses. The results of our Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials in healthy
subjects support the safety and immunogenicity of the tetravalent vaccine. Administration of LADV was generally well-tolerated with mostly mild and transient local or
systemic reactions. There were no related serious or severe adverse events (AEs), and no discontinuations due to vaccine-related AEs. The LADV induced neutralizing
antibody responses to all four dengue viruses after one or two administrations. These studies highlight the safety and immunogenicity of the tetravalent LADV vaccine
in children and adults in dengue endemic countries. Based on our results from Phase 1 and 2 studies, the LADV warrants further evaluation in Phase 3 efcacy studies
in children and adults in dengue-endemic countries.
CLINICAL EVALUATION OF THE NIAID / BUTANTAN INSTITUTE LIVE ATTENUATED TETRAVALENT DENGUE VACCINE
Stephen Whitehead1, Ricardo Palacios2, Joo Luiz Miraglia, Beatriz Thom, Neuza Maria Frazatti Gallina, Beth Kirkpatrick, Anna Durbin, Neuza Maria Frazatti
Gallina, Alexander Precioso.
1
Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, NIAID, NIH. Bethesda, MD, USA. 2Instituto Butantan, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The Laboratory of Infectious Diseases at the NIAID has developed live attenuated dengue vaccine candidates shown to be both safe and immunogenic in monovalent
and tetravalent studies in humans. These studies have enabled the down-selection of vaccine candidates to an optimal mixture of rDEN130, rDEN2/430,
rDEN330/31, and rDEN430. In admixture TV003, each component is delivered at a potency of 1000 PFU and neutralizing antibody data collected 90 days postvaccination in avivirus-nave US adults showed seroconversion to DENV1, DENV2, DENV3, and DENV4 in 92%, 76%, 97%, and 100% of vaccinees, respectively,
after a single subcutaneous dose. In this cohort, 74% of vaccinees achieved a tetravalent antibody response. When the potency of the DENV2 component of the
vaccine was increased 10-fold in admixture TV005 and administered in the same manner as TV003, frequencies of seroconversion in vaccinees to the individual
serotypes 1 - 4 reached 92%, 97%, 97%, and 97%, respectively, after a single dose, with 90% of vaccinees achieving a tetravalent antibody response. The safety
prole remained similar for both TV003 and TV005. Following a second dose of vaccine given 180 days after the rst dose, vaccine viremia, adverse clinical signs, or
boosts in neutralizing antibody titers were not observed in any vaccinee, indicating that sterilizing immunity was elicited following the rst dose. Importantly, the US
data suggest that admixtures can be administered as a single dose. This is unprecedented among dengue vaccines and has positive implications for vaccine safety,
compliance, cost, and dose sparing. Phase II studies of the vaccine produced at the Butantan Institute with potency of 1000 PFU per virus are currently underway in
Sao Paulo, Brazil and include both dengue-nave and dengue-experienced adults. Results from these studies will be presented and represent the rst time the
vaccine has been produced and evaluated in a dengue-endemic area.
TETRAVALENT DENGUE PURIFIED INACTIVATED VACCINE (DPIV): STATUS OF THE GSK/FIOCRUZ/U.S. ARMY DENGUE VACCINE CANDIDATE
Alexander Schmidt
GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines, Rixensart, Belgium
GSK, Fiocruz, and the U.S. Army are collaborating to develop a Tetravalent Dengue Puried Inactivated Vaccine (DPIV). All three parties contribute to epidemiology
studies, preclinical, clinical, and technical development. Two prospective cohort studies for dengue surveillance have been initiated in Brazil: a pediatric school-based
study in Fortaleza (NCT01391819) and a household-based study in Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Manaus (NCT01751139). Two Phase I vaccine studies are ongoing in
non-endemic (Maryland, United States, NCT01666652) and endemic (Puerto Rico, NCT01702857) regions. In these studies, DPIV, adjuvanted with either alum, AS01
or AS03, induced a robust immune response in both dengue nave and in dengue primed subjects following 2 doses of vaccine administered 4 weeks apart. AS03
adjuvanted vaccine induced the highest titers of neutralizing antibodies, with Day 56 GMTs against the four serotypes ranging from 406 to 526 in unprimed subjects,
and from 2150 to 3840 in primed subjects. Conclusion: The observed difference in GMTs between primed and unprimed subjects suggests that the analysis of
immunogenicity (and at a later stage efcacy) data should be stratied by priming status since an efcacious vaccine will need to protect both primed and unprimed
populations. The GSK/FIOCRUZ/U.S. Army collaboration is committed to develop a safe and efcacious dengue vaccine for use in infants, children, and adults.
PRECLINICAL AND CLINICAL TESTING OF A RECOMBINANT SUBUNIT VACCINE FOR DENGUE
Beth-Ann Coller1, Susan Manoff1, Andrew Bett2, Michele Sausser1, Tyler Finn1, Amy Russell1, Govindarajan Dhanasekaran2, Danilo Casimiro2
1
Merck Research Laboratories, North Wales, PA, 19454. 2 Merck Research Laboratories, West Point, PA, 19486, USA.
Dengue viruses are a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the tropics and subtropics. It is estimated that more than 120 countries currently have
endemic dengue virus transmission. Each year there are at least 100 million infections, of which more than a million are clinically severe, resulting in approximately
21,000 deaths. While a licensed dengue vaccine is not yet available, several vaccine candidates designed to protect individuals against dengue virus-induced
disease are currently being evaluated in clinical trials, including a tetravalent recombinant subunit vaccine. Preclinical studies of this recombinant subunit vaccine
have been conducted in non-human primates to evaluate the immunogenicity and efcacy of tetravalent formulations. Vaccine formulations have been evaluated in
both dengue nave and experienced animals. These preclinical studies have shown the capacity of the recombinant proteins to induce balanced tetravalent responses
without evidence of interference. Data from these preclinical non-human primate studies will be presented. The vaccine candidate is also being tested in a Phase 1
clinical trial in healthy, avivirus-nave, adults. An update on clinical trial status will also be provided.
A DENGUE HUMAN INFECTION MODEL (DHIM) TO EVALUATE THE PROTECTIVE EFFICACY OF THE LIVE ATTENUATED TETRAVALENT DENGUE CANDIDATE
VACCINE TV003
Anna Durbin1, Beth Kirkpatrick2, Dan Elwood1, Beulah Sabundayo1, Cathy Larssen2, Cecilia Tibery1, Paltama Grier1, Kristen Pierce2, Janece Lovchik1, Matthew Jo1, Sean
Diehl2, Marya Carmoli2, and Stephen Whitehead3
1
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2University of Vermont College of Medicine, 3National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes
of Health
Dengue virus (DENV) has become the most important arbovirus worldwide with estimates of as many as 400 dengue infections occurring annually resulting in 100
million symptomatic and 21,000 fatal infections. Neutralizing antibody, the accepted immunologic endpoint, was not predictive of protection against DENV illness in
two recently completed efcacy trials of the lead DENV candidate vaccine CYD-TV. These results make it difcult for vaccine manufacturers to determine which
candidates should be further evaluated in large efcacy trials in endemic areas where vaccine failure could predispose subjects to more severe disease upon
subsequent DENV infection. A dengue human infection model (DHIM) would be useful in down-selecting candidate vaccines prior to testing in endemic areas as well
as identifying putative correlates of protection. We have developed a DHIM to evaluate the protective efcacy of the live attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccine TV003
developed by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. In Phase I clinical trials, a single dose of TV003 induced neutralizing antibody to DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and
DENV-4 in 92%, 76%, 97%, and 100% of vaccinees, respectively. It induced seroconversion to all four DENV serotypes in 75% of subjects and to 3 serotypes in
98%. On study day 0, 24 avivirus-nave subjects received TV003 and 24 subjects received a placebo. Six months later, all 48 subjects received 1,000 PFU of
rDEN230, an under-attenuated DENV-2 vaccine candidate. rDEN230 was previously demonstrated to induce viremia in 100% of inoculated subjects with a mean
peak virus titer of 2.5 log10 PFU/mL. In addition, 80% of subjects developed a maculopapular rash and 40% developed neutropenia. The study is powered to detect
60% efcacy of TV003 to prevent viremia caused by rDEN230 (the primary outcome). Secondary outcomes include protection against rash and neutropenia.
Preliminary clinical and virological outcomes of the trial will be presented.
Structure-function relationships of human antibodies that neutralize dengue viruses
Aravinda de Silva1, Rukie de Alwis1, Emily Gallichotte1, Ralph Baric1, Scott Royal1, Doug Widman1, William Messer2 , James Crowe3, Scott Smith3, Gopal Sapparapu3,
Shee-mei Lok4, Joannne Tan4 and Guntur Fibriansah4
1
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA; 2Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Sciences University,
Portland, Oregon, USA; 3Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA; 4Program for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS, Singapore
Recent studies from our groups provide new insights into the properties of human antibodies (Abs) responsible for serotype-specic, durable neutralizing immunity
against dengue virus (DENV). In people exposed to DENV, only a minor fraction of the total DENV-specic Ab response is responsible for neutralization. These rare but
potently neutralizing Abs are produced by both memory B-cells and long-lived plasma cells. We have mapped the epitopes recognized by strongly neutralizing human
monoclonal Abs (nHMAbs) and obtained high-resolution structures of nHMAbs bound to different serotypes of DENV. nHMAbs bind to multiple overlapping epitopes
that are often quaternary epitopes because the Ab footprint extends into adjacent E protein molecules. Indeed a common theme emerging from our studies is that
proper display of nHMAb epitopes requires the assembly of E protein molecules to form intact virus particles. As an alternate strategy, we have created recombinant
DENVs with targeted mutations in the epitopes. Despite the structural complexity of these epitopes, it is possible to genetically transplant these epitopes between
serotypes. Studies with recombinant viruses demonstrate that epitopes dened by nHMAbs are also the target of neutralizing Abs in polyclonal dengue immune sera.
nHMAbs neutralize DENVs by blocking DENV attachment to cells and steps after attachment, most likely low pH mediated DENV fusion with endosomes. We will
discuss the implications of our work for evaluating vaccines in the current pipeline and developing next generation DENV vaccines. Supported by NIAID U54 AI057157
from SERCEB (AMds, WBM, SAS, JEC Jr, RSB), R01 AI107731-01 (AMds), 1 R56 AI097560-01 (AMds).
A NEW SIMULATION MODEL OF DENGUE VIRUS TRANSMISSION AND CONTROL IN IQUITOS, PERU
Alex Perkins1,2, Bobby Reiner2,3, Amit Verma4, Steve Stoddard5, Valerie Paz-Soldan6, Amy Morrison5, Gonzalo Vazquez-Prokopec7, Helvio Astete8, Eric Halsey8, Tad
Kochel8, Uriel Kitron7, David Smith2,9, Thomas Scott2,5
1
University of Notre Dame, IN USA. 2 Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, MD USA. 3 Indiana University, Bloomington, IN USA. 4 Center for Disease
Dynamics, Economics, and Policy, Washington, DC. 5 University of California, Davis, CA USA.6 Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, LA USA.
7
Emory University, GA USA. 8 United States Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima, Peru. 9 University of Oxford, UK
It is becoming increasingly recognized that mathematical models are useful, if not essential, tools for understanding the dynamics of transmission and control of
dengue. Models can play important roles in study design, interpretation of eld-collected data, evaluation of control strategies, and forecasting future outbreaks.
Given the general utility of models for dengue research, we developed a suite of models that are capable of incorporating various levels of epidemiological and
entomological detail. Parameterization of these models leveraged 15 years of eld studies on the entomology, epidemiology, and human dimensions of dengue virus
transmission in the city of Iquitos, Peru. Particularly novel features of these models include a sub-model of human movement that is the most realistic description of
ne-scale movement in resource-poor cities to date, and a spatiotemporal surface of adult female Aedes aegypti densities that leverages a data set comprised of over
150,000 individual mosquito captures. Here, we show that predictions based on a mathematical model that combines this information into estimates of block-level
seroprevalence are consistent with realized patterns of transmission during the invasion of DENV-3 to Iquitos. We then show predictions from a more rened model
that can be used to disentangle the contributions of different types of heterogeneity to transmission. Finally, we show some preliminary results about the effectiveness
of interventions featuring a combination of vaccination and vector control.
MODELING TRANSMISSION AND CONTROL OF DENGUE WITH VACCINES
Ira Longini1, M. Elizabeth Halloran2,3, Dennis Chao2, Tom Hladish1, Diana Rojas-Alvarez1
1
University of Florida, 2Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 3University of Washington
With tetravalent dengue vaccines on the near-time horizon, we will nally have an effective intervention strategy for dengue. We construct a detailed stochastic
dengue transmission model for a population in Latin America. The model is used to project the transmission of dengue in this population over a twenty year time
horizon. We then evaluate the overall vaccine effectiveness (i.e., reduction in dengue incidence, comparing vaccinated to unvaccinated populations) of different
vaccination strategies for a plausible dengue vaccine. Our work captures the potential heterogeneity in protection of these vaccines with respect to different levels of
circulating serotypes, prior and evolving population immunity, force of infection, vaccine action, and age structure. We show that the overall effectiveness of the best
vaccine strategies would vary from 70-85% over time, space and the strategy employed.
UTILITY, LIMITATIONS AND FUTURE OF NON-HUMAN PRIMATES FOR DENGUE RESEARCH AND VACCINE DEVELOPMENT
Laura J. White1 and Carlos A. Sariol2
1
Global Vaccine Inc., Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA . 2Caribbean Primate Research Center, Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, Department
of Internal Medicine, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
One foremost constraint to test the efcacy of a dengue vaccine candidate is the lack of an adequate animal model to reproduce dengue symptoms or its hemorrhagic
or shock manifestations upon challenge. In spite of this, Non Human Primates (NHP) are considered the best model due to their genetic relatedness to humans and
their ability to develop neutralizing antibodies and viremia similar to humans. Therefore, data obtained in NHP have been the gatekeeper for vaccines advancing to
clinical trials, based on neutralizing activity in serum and reduction of post-challenge viremia, which indicates to vaccine developers and regulatory agencies of the
potential for efcacy in humans. However, how predictive NHP are has been questioned recently. The results of a comprehensive review of published studies on
dengue vaccines tested in NHP will be presented in the light of recent clinical data. Vaccine performance in NHP and humans will be compared, and the NHP model will
be re-evaluated for its usefulness and potential for improvement. The replication and immunogenicity of vaccines tested in NHP have parallels to the human
responses to the same vaccines, specically regarding under-attenuation, relative serotype dominance and immunogenicity in tetravalent formulations. We also
found parallels in the induction of anamnestic responses upon second vaccine doses, sero-conversion to all 4 serotypes after a single dose, and serotype interference.
Our analysis suggests that the predictive capacity of the NHP model may improve by examining additional immunological parameters in depth after dengue infection
and vaccination. Also, the model may be improved by standardization of the stringency of the challenge, and the methods used for evaluating the magnitude and
quality of the immune response.
HIGHLIGHTED POSTERS
HP26
CHARACTERIZATION OF CELLULAR RESPONSES TO A TETRAVALENT LIVE-ATTENUATED DENGUE VACCINE IN FLAVIVIRUS-NAVE HUMAN VOLUNTEERS
Charalambos D. Partidos, 1Haiyan Chu, 2,3Sarah George, 1Dan T. Stinchcomb, 1Jorge E. Osorio
1
Takeda Vaccines, Inc, Madison, WI, USA, 2Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of
Medicine
We have developed a live attenuated tetravalent dengue candidate vaccine (TDV) based on an attenuated dengue 2 virus (TDV-2) and three chimeric viruses
containing the pre-membrane and envelope genes of dengue viruses (DENV) -1, -3 and -4 expressed in the context of the attenuated TDV-2 genome (TDV-1, TDV-3,
and TDV-4, respectively). The cellular responses elicited by this vaccine were analyzed in avivirus-nave human volunteers vaccinated twice (day 0, 90) via the
subcutaneous or intradermal routes. Using peptide arrays and intracellular cytokine staining, we demonstrated that the vaccine elicits CD8+ T cells targeting the
non-structural NS1, NS3 and NS5 proteins of TDV-2. The cells were characterized by the production of IFN-, and TNF-, and to a lesser extend IL-2. Responses were
the highest on day 90 after the rst immunization and were still detectable on day 160 post-secondary immunization. In addition, CD8+ T cells were multifunctional,
producing 2 cytokines simultaneously, and cross-reactive to the NS proteins of the other serotypes. Overall, these ndings highlight the immunogenic prole of our
candidate dengue vaccine and support the further evaluation of clinical samples from ongoing phase II clinical trials.
1
HP27
PHASE I STUDY OF DIFFERENT FORMULATIONS OF A TETRAVALENT DENGUE PURIFIED INACTIVATED VACCINE (DPIV): DAY 56 SAFETY AND IMMUNOGENICITY
DATA IN HEALTHY ADULTS FROM PUERTO RICO
Clemente Diaz,1 Luis J. Martinez,2 Maribel Campos,1 Leyi Lin,2 Elodie Tournay,3 Kenneth H. Eckels,2 Jean-Franois Toussaint,3 Edith Lepine,3 Rafael De La Barrera,2
Richard G. Jarman,2 Bruce L. Innis,4 Stephen J. Thomas,2 Alexander Schmidt3
1
University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico; 2Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland USA; 3GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines,
Rixensart, Belgium; 4GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, USA
Background: We assessed the safety and immunogenicity of an investigational tetravalent dengue puried inactivated vaccine (DPIV) formulated with different
adjuvant systems administered as a 2-dose schedule in Puerto Rico. Methods: In this Phase I, observer-blind study (NCT01702857), 100 healthy adults aged 1839
years were randomized 1:1:1:1:1 to receive one of four DPIV formulations (1g per dengue virus [DENV] type adjuvanted with either aluminum hydroxide [Alum],
AS01E or AS03B, and 4g per DENV type adjuvanted with Alum) or saline placebo, at Day (D) 0 and D28. Primary safety endpoints included solicited and unsolicited
adverse events (AEs) recorded for 7 and 28 days post-vaccination, respectively, and serious AEs (SAEs) and potential immune-mediated diseases (pIMDs) through
D56. Primary immunogenicity endpoints were neutralizing antibody titers per DENV type at D56 by 50% microneutralization assay. Results: No SAEs were reported
through D56. A pre-existing pIMD (rheumatoid arthritis) was reported for one subject in the 1g+AS03B group. Injection site pain was more common in the vaccine
groups than in the placebo group. Headache and myalgia were the most frequent solicited general AEs across all groups. The rates of unsolicited AEs were similar
across all groups. The according-to-protocol cohort for immunogenicity included 94 participants, of whom 89 were seropositive for one or more DENV type at D0, with
geometric mean titers (GMTs) between 394 and 1020. By D56, GMTs had increased approximately 2-fold in the 1g+Alum group, 3-fold in the 4g+Alum group, and
4-fold in the 1g+AS01E and 1g+AS03B groups. D56 GMTs against DENV-1, -2, -3, and -4, respectively, were 1896, 1916, 2471 and 2569 in the 1g+AS01E
group, and 2634, 2338, 2473 and 4733 in the 1g+AS03B group. Conclusions: All DPIV formulations were generally well-tolerated. AS01E- and AS03B-adjuvanted
vaccines were more immunogenic than Alum-adjuvanted vaccines at D56. Funding: US Army and GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA.
HP28
A NATIONAL AGENT-BASED MODEL OF DENGUE TRANSMISSION IN COLOMBIA
Guido Camargo1,2, Willem Van Panhuis1, Hernando Diaz2, Carlos Castane da-Orjuela4, Ernesto Marques1, Nathan Stone3, Shawn Brown3, John Grefenstette1
University of Pittsburgh1, Universidad Nacional de Colombia2, Pittsburgh Supercomputer Center3, Observatorio Nacional de Salud de Colombia4
Dengue is the most signicant vector-borne disease throughout the globe. Almost three billion people live in risk areas and more than 300 million are infected each
year. In Colombia, the four serotypes of the dengue virus circulate heterogeneously across the country. In the 2010, the country reported more than 140,000 cases.
Vector control programs have been unable to stop the spread of this epidemic but a new dengue vaccine is expected in the near future. The public health impact and
optimal vaccination strategies remain unclear, including the potential role for integrated dengue control that include vaccine and vector control components. We
created a large-scale agent-based model of dengue transmission in Colombia that represents each of the almost 50 million people living in this country. For this we
modied the existing Framework for Reconstructing Epidemic Dynamics (FRED) developed at the University of Pittsburgh. We used Colombia census microdata,
population density grids, and transport data to develop a synthetic population and developed a vector density grid based on climate and population data. We used a
four serotype deterministic dengue SEIR transmission model for dengue transmission. This model was parameterized based on historical dengue surveillance data
provided by the Colombia Ministry of Health. This model for dengue transmission in Colombia is currently the largest scale agent-based model for dengue
transmission worldwide, representing an entire country of 50 million inhabitants. This model can be used to simulate spatially explicit dengue dynamics and the
impact of interventions strategies such as vaccination, vector control, or both. This model can be scaled up to represent larger populations in different countries or
across the entire PAHO region. Using dengue simulation models will greatly support decision-making on the introduction of new dengue vaccines.
HP29
EXPERIMENTAL SEQUENCIAL DENGUE VIRUS INFECTION IN MARMOSETS CALLITHRIX PENICILLATA: HISTOPATHOLOGICAL CHANGES AND VIRAL ANTIGEN
DETECTION
Ferreira, Milene Silveira1; Barros, Vera Lucia Reis Souza de1; Silva, Gilmara Abreu2; Castro, Paulo Henrique Gomes de2; Casseb, Samir Mansuor Moraes1; Domingues,
Ricardo Augusto de Barros3; Vasconcelos, Pedro Fernando da Costa1
1
Evandro Chagas Institute, Ananindeua-Par-Brazil. 2National Primate Center, Ananindeua - Par- Brazil. 3 Metropolitan College of Amazon.
Dengue is the most widespread arbovirus in the world. Presently, approximately 3.0 billion people live in areas at risk of infection. Several studies on the pathogenesis
of DENV has been performed, however, to date there is not an animal model that reproduces the signs of severe disease observed in humans. To investigate the
susceptibility of the marmoset Callithrix penicillata to dengue vrus infection DENV-2 and DENV-3 isolates recovered from fatal human cases were sequentially
intraperitoneally inoculated. Three marmosets were infected with DENV-2 (4.47 104 PFU/mL) (primary infection) and after one year and seven months they were
reinfected with DENV-3 (3.23 103 PFU/mL) (secondary infection). Tissue (lymph node, liver, spleen and kidney) were collected at 3, 5 and 10 dpi. to
histopathological and immunohistochemical assays. The result showed no signicant change in the lymph nodes; liver presented reactive hyperplasia (3 and 5 dpi),
giant cells in the sinusoid, similar to megakaryocytes (3 dpi), scattered necrotic Kupffer cells and slight mononuclear inammatory reaction (10 dpi); It was observed
in the spleen red pulp a large number of lymphocytic elements, giant cells, similar to megakaryocytes (3 dpi) and hyperplasia in the white pulp (5 dpi) and hypoplasia
(10 dpi); the kidney showed acute interstitial nephritis (5 dpi) and acute necrosis (bilateral) in small medullary areas (10 dpi). The result of immunohistochemical
assay showed large amounts of viral antigens in all examined samples. The anatomical and physiopathological changes found in the marmosets are similar to those
observed in human severe disease such as reactive hyperplasia of megakaryocytes giant cells, mononuclear inammatory inltrate and necrosis. Nonetheless the
three infected marmosets showed no clinical signs of illness. The results indicate that the species Callithrix penicillata is a good model for studying the pathogenesis of
dengue.
HP30
A TETRAVALENT DENGUE VACCINE FOR EARLY LIFE IMMUNIZATION
Melissa D. Mattocks1, Syed Muaz Khalil1,2, Daniel R. Tonkin1 , Robert E. Johnston1, and Laura J. White1
1
Global Vaccines, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC, USA. 2Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Preexisting immunity resulting from a previous DENV infection is the major risk factor for severe dengue during secondary heterologous infections. During primary
infections in infants, maternal antibodies pose an analogous risk, therefore the need to vaccinate early in life. At the same time, maternal antibodies are likely to
prevent induction of endogenous anti-DENV antibodies in response to current live, attenuated vaccine (LAV) candidates. Any effective early life dengue vaccine has to
overcome maternal antibody interference (leading to ineffective vaccination) and poor induction of antibody responses (increasing the risk of severe dengue disease
upon primary infection). Here we demonstrate the feasibility of a non-propagating VEE virus replicon vector (VRP) expressing DENV E protein as an early life vaccine
platform for dengue. First, DENV-VRP vaccine is immunogenic even in the presence of maternal antibodies that otherwise interfere with a live virus vaccination in
weanling BALB/c mice. Second, we observed that a single immunization in 7-day-old BALB/c mice with a VRP vaccine expressing E ectodomain of DENV induced
neutralizing antibody (NAb) titers by 6 weeks, which remained stable until at least 15 weeks post-immunization. Third, DENV-specic cell-mediated immunity was
also induced in these immunized mice. Fourth, the NAb levels induced to each serotype by a tetravalent VRP formulation were equivalent to those of each monovalent
vaccine components, suggesting that this vaccine modality can overcome serotype interference. Fifth, VRP immunization in neonatal mice was durable and could be
boosted later in life to further increase NAb and T-cell responses. Finally, although the neonatal immune response was lower in magnitude than responses in adult
BALB/c mice, we demonstrate that, both monovalent and tetravalent VRP vaccines generated protective immunity from a lethal intracranial challenge after a single
neonatal immunization.
HP31
A TETRAVALENT DENGUE VACCINE CONTAINING A MIX OF DOMAIN III-P64K AND DOMAIN III-CAPSID PROTEINS INDUCES A PROTECTIVE RESPONSE IN MICE
Alienys Izquierdo1, Anglica Garca1, Laura Lazo2, Lzaro Gil2, Mayling Alvarez1, Lisset Hermida2, Gerardo Guilln2, Mara G. Guzmn1
1
PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center for the Study of Dengue and its Vector, Department of Virology, Tropical Medicine Institute Pedro Kour (IPK), Autopista Novia del
Medioda Km 6 P.O. Box 601 Marianao 13, Havana, Cuba; 2Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Avenue 31, P.O. Box 6162, Havana 6, 10 600,
Cuba.
Recombinant fusion proteins containing domain III of the dengue envelope protein fused to the P64k protein from Neisseria meningitidis and domain III of dengue 2
fused to capsid protein of this serotype were immunogenic and conferred protection in mice against lethal challenge, as previously reported. Combining the domain IIIP64k recombinant proteins of dengue 1, 3 and 4 with the domain III-capsid protein from dengue 2, we obtained a novel tetravalent formulation containing different
antigens. Here, the IgG and neutralizing antibody response, the cellular immune response and the protective capacity against the lethal challenge in mice immunized
with this tetravalent formulation were evaluated. The neutralizing antibody response obtained against D1, D2 and D3 together with the high levels of IFN secretion
induced after stimulation with the four dengue serotypes support the strategy of a new tetravalent formulation containing the domain III of envelope protein fused to
the capsid protein of each dengue serotype.
subset of sero-converted samples (n=48), 83.7% showed an immune response against all 4 serotypes, with DENV-3 (24.5%) and DENV-1 (16.3%) as the
predominant serotypes. These sero-prevalence results may indicate an elevated dengue transmission in Santa Cruz and a higher risk for severe forms with increase in
age. Results of further analyses of the immunological status of individuals in this geographic area will be presented at the conference.
VM-P03
RECOMBINANT DENGUE 2 VIRUS NS3 PROTEIN CONSERVES STRUCTURAL ANTIGENIC AND IMMUNOLOGICAL PROPERTIES RELEVANT FOR DENGUE VACCINE DESIGN
Rosa Ramrez1, Rosabel Falcn1, Alienys Izquierdo1, Oney Ortega1, Mayling Alvarez1, Emiliana Mandarano da Silva2, Ronaldo Mohana-Borges2, Mara G. Guzmn1
1
PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center for the Study of Dengue and its Vector, Department of Virology, Tropical Medicine Institute Pedro Kour (IPK), Autopista Novia del
Medioda Km 6 P.O. Box 601 Marianao 13, Havana, Cuba; 2Laboratorio de Genmica Estrutural, Instituto de Biofsica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do
Rio de Janeiro, Ilha do Fundo, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21949-900, Brazil
The NS3 protein is a multifunctional non-structural protein of aviviruses implicated in the polyprotein processing. The predominance of cytotoxic T cell lymphocytes
epitopes on the NS3 protein suggests a protective role of this protein in limiting virus replication. In this work, we studied the antigenicity and immunogenicity of a
recombinant NS3 protein of the Dengue virus 2. The full-length NS3 gene was cloned and expressed as a His-tagged fusion protein in Escherichia coli. The pNS3
protein was puried by using two chromatography steps. The recombinant NS3 protein was recognized by anti-protease NS3 polyclonal antibody and anti-DENV2
HMAF by Western Blot. This puried protein was able to stimulate the secretion of high levels of gamma interferon and low levels of interleukin-10 and tumor necrosis
factor- in mice splenocytes, suggesting a predominantly Th-1 type T cell response. Immunized BALB/c mice with the puried NS3 protein showed a strong induction
of anti-NS3 IgG antibodies, essentially IgG2b, as determined by ELISA. Immunized mice sera with recombinant NS3 protein showed specic recognition of native
dengue protein by western blotting and immunouorescence techniques. The successfully puried recombinant protein was able of preserving the structural and
antigenic determinants of the native dengue protein. The antigenicity shown by the recombinant NS3 protein suggests its possible inclusion into future DENV vaccine
preparations.
VM-P04
A FRAMEWORK FOR MODELING AND SIMULATING AEDES AEGYPTI AND DENGUE FEVER DYNAMICS
Tiago Lima1, Raquel Lana2, Cludia Codeo2, Tiago Carneiro1, Raian Maretto3, Liliam Medeiros4, Leonardo Santos5, Izabel Reis2, Gabriel Machado1, Flvio Coelho6,
Antnio Monteiro3.
1
Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP). Ouro Preto, MG, BRAZIL; 2 Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz). Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BRAZIL; 3 National Institute for Space
Research (INPE). So Jos dos Campos, SP, BRAZIL; 4 So Paulo State University (UNESP). So Jos dos Campos, SP, BRAZIL; 5 National Centre for Monitoring Natural
Disasters and Alerts (Cemaden). Cachoeira Paulista, SP, BRAZIL; 6 Getlio Vargas Foundation (FGV). Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BRAZIL.
Controlling dengue fever and its vector, the Aedes aegypti mosquito, is a public health challenge. It presents a complex dynamic, governed by interaction of multiple
agents in a complex space. While environmental factors as temperature, rainfall and humidity interfere in developmental stages of dengue vector, social aspects could
also contributed for increasing dengue incidence. Modeling is a powerful tool to understand epidemic dynamics and to evaluate costs, benets and effectiveness of
control strategies. Several models have been developed aiming to understand dynamics of vector population and transmission disease. In order to support decisionmakers and researchers to evaluate different methodologies, we present Dengue Modeling Environment (DengueME), an open source tool aiming at supporting the
development and simulation of spatio-temporal models of dengue and its vector. DengueME was developed as a tool for helping the designing of site-specic and
population-specic control strategies for dengue. It consists of a series of compartmental and individual-based models, implemented over a GIS database, that
represents the Aedes aegypti's life cycle, human demography, human mobility, urban landscape and dengue transmission. The platform is designed to allow easy
simulation of intervention scenarios. A Graphical User Interface (GUI) was developed to control parameters and data, and run simulations.
VM-P05
A DNA VACCINE ENCODING THE ENVELOPE AND NS1 PROTEINS OF DENV2 PROTECTION AGAINST DENGUE VIRUS INFECTION IN MICE
Paolla Beatriz de Almeida Pinto, Tamiris Azamor da Costa Barros, Kssila Rabelo, Antonio Jos da Silva Gonalves, Simone Morais da Costa e Ada Maria de Barcelos Alves
Laboratrio de Biotecnologia e Fisiologia de Infeces Virais, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz
Dengue represents a world health problem with recurrent epidemics in tropical and subtropical regions. The development of a dengue vaccine to protect against the
four viral serotypes is considered a priority for the World Health Organization. The envelope (E) and the non-structural (NS1) proteins are identied as promising
antigens to integrate a vaccine against DENV. The E protein interacts with receptors present on cell surfaces, allowing virus endocytosis. Therefore, neutralizing
antibodies against this protein can prevent virus entry inside host cells. Other studies indicate that the NS1 protein is also able to induce a protective immune
response. Previous reports with DNA vaccines developed by our group based on the expression of these two proteins individually demonstrated the induction of
protective immune responses against dengue virus. In order to decrease the number of plasmids that may compose a tetravalent DNA vaccine based on E and NS1
proteins, we constructed one single plasmid containing both genes, named pNS1/E/D2. Recombinant clones were evaluated by restriction enzyme digestions and
sequencing of the NS1 and E regions. After conrmation of correct open reading frames, BHK-21 cells were transfected with different clones of this plasmid. The
immunouorescence analysis revealed that all plasmids mediated expression of the recombinant proteins in vitro in eukaryotic cells, detected with specic
antibodies. We evaluated the protector potential of pNS1/E/D2 and compared with the vaccines that encode the proteins E (pE1D2) and NS1 (pcTPANS1) individually.
BALB/C mice were immunized with the vaccine pNS1/E/D2, as well as with pE1D2 and pcTPANS1, administered individually or simultaneously, and challenged with
DENV2. Two pNS1/E/D2 clones and the mix pcTPANS1+pE1D2 induced complete protection, with 100% survival rates and no signs of infection.
Funding Support: IOC-FIOCRUZ, PDTIS-FIOCRUZ, INCTV, CNPq e FAPERJ
VM-P06
MORPHOLOGICAL AND VIREMIA ANALYSIS OF MURINE MODEL INFECTED WITH LINEAGES OF DENGUE VIRUS TYPE 2
Fernanda Cunha Jcome, Dbora Ferreira Barreto-Vieira, Marcos Alexandre Nunes, Arthur da Costa Rasinhas, Priscila Conrado Guerra Nunes, Thais Chouin Carneiro,
Flvia Barreto dos Santos
Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
The serotype 2 of dengue virus, circulating in Brazil belongs to the Southern Asia genotype. It was introduced in the country in 1990 when the rst cases of dengue
hemorrhagic fever were reported. After seven years without activity, dengue virus type 2 (DENV-2) re-emerged in 2007 causing in 2008 the most notorious epidemics
concerning mortality and morbidity. After reemergence, logenetic studies showed two distinct lineages within this genotype. Although molecular characterization of
complete viral genome showed no genetic differences to support higher virulence of the 2007 emerging Lineage, studies showed a higher viremia in sera of patients
infected with this lineage. In this study we infected BALB/c mice with representative strains of both DENV-2 lineages for susceptibility, viremia and morphological
analysis. Groups of ve 2 months old male BALB/c mice were infected with strains of both DENV-2 lineages by the intravenous or intraperitoneal route. 72 hour postinfection, euthanasia was performed. Brain, heart lung, spleen and liver were harvested and divided into two parts. Part of the tissue was xated and processed by
transmission electronic microscope techniques for morphological analysis and part was macerated with L-15 medium for RNA extraction and viral detection and
quantitation using real time RT-PCR assay. Our preliminary results demonstrated the susceptibility of BALB/c mice to the DENV-2 lineages. Moreover, we observed, in
the tissue where the viral genome was detected, morphological alterations similar to the ones reported in human cases of dengue infection.
VM-P07
DESIGN AND PRODUCTION OF A TETRAVALENT CHIMERICAL PROTEIN USEFUL TO DENGUE VACCINE AND DIAGNOSIS
Izabella Batista, 1Camila de Oliveira, 1Eneida de Oliveira, 2Erna Kroon, 1Rodrigo Corra-Oliveira, 1Jaquelline de Oliveira, 1Brbara Quinan, 1Carlos Eduardo CalzavaraSilva.
1
Lab. Imunologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou - Fiocruz/MG; 2 Lab. Vrus, Departamento de Microbiologia - ICB UFMG.
Dengue virus (DENV) consists of four antigenically distinct serotypes, known as DENV 1 to 4. Nowadays, no vaccines or antiviral drugs for dengue prevention and
treatment are available. A safe vaccine demands a balanced tetravalent immune response, since antibodies produced after a rst infection may not neutralize
subsequent heteroserotype infections, increasing viral replication. In this study, an alternative vaccine or diagnosis strategy was proposed by the construction of an
articial chimerical protein containing known immunogenic epitopes for all serotypes of DENV. Using bioinformatics tools, the most potential immunogenic regions
derived from the known antigenic DENV proteins (envelope, capsid, membrane and non-structural protein 1), were selected. Regions sharing high homology among
the four DENV serotypes were preferentially included. Antigenic regions from single or pairs of DENV serotypes were also included. All regions were spaced by amino
acid residues to maintain the epitopes structure when the protein is expressed. The nal amino acid sequence of the chimerical protein was back translated and the
sequence was optimized to be expressed in bacteria and used to design a 1400 bp minigene, named qDV, coding for a 50 KDa chimerical protein. The qDV minigene
was submitted to several others in silico analyses and further commercially synthesized. The qDV was cloned into the expression vector pET TEV 28, able to express in
E. coli BL21 a 53 kDa recombinant protein in fusion with a 6 his tagged, qDV-his. The qDV-his was puried by afnity chromatography and used in Western blot to test
its reactivity with sera of DENV-infected patients and DENV-negative sera as negative control. Our results show a specic recognition of the protein qDV-his by
antibodies in sera DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 or DENV-4 infected patients, indicating that articial proteins can be designed to be used in the vaccine and/or diagnosis
development of infectious diseases.
1
In Brazil the activities of prevention and control of transmissible diseases are executed by the municipalities and nanced by the Federal Government through the
National Health Fund. Dengue National Control Program is coordinate by the National Health Surveillance Secretariat who establishes guidelines that normalizes the
activities executed by health municipalities programs including dengue vector control. Currently, about 60,000 vector control agents working in the municipal dengue
control programs.
The main vector control actions are targeted for elimination or treatment of mosquito breeding sites. Since 1999 it was established in Brazil the management of Aedes
aegypti resistance to insecticides using rotation of products because the resistance to temephos. Currently, growth regulators are used as larvicidas. When occur
dengue transmission additional measures using space spray application of insecticides are used.
Some initiatives such as the LIRAa, a sampling methodology of the vector in a short time to direct efforts to control and disposal of tires with the support of Tire
Manufacturers Association (ANIP) has contributed to improve vector control actions.
Despite the great effort expended to the vector control actions there are several challenges to the implementation of these control activities in large and medium-sized cities
where the complexity of contemporary urban life generates factors that facilitate Aedes aegypti's proliferation and constraints on the reduction of its infestation rates.
HIGHLIGHTED POSTERS
HP18
DYNAMIC OF PLASMA CYTOKINES AND CYTOKINES RECEPTORS IN PEDIATRIC DENGUE AND SEPSIS: A COMPARISON
Doris M. Salgado, Martha Roco Vega, Jairo A. Rodrguez and Carlos F. Narvez
Universidad Surcolombiana, Colombia
Pediatric dengue and sepsis are life-threatening infections. Shock and hemorrhage are serious and common symptoms for both conditions. Cytokines and their
receptors play a critical role in their pathophysiology and some of them such as TNF-, IL-6 and IL-10 have been associated with severe clinical outcome in dengue
and sepsis studies. Due the high use potential of these biomarkers for diagnosis, clinical follow-up and treatment, it is necessary to know the plasma cytokines and
cytokines receptor pattern for each condition. We determine the patterns of cytokines and their receptors in 180 children with several clinical ranges of dengue
infection classied according the 2009 WHO guide, and 60 children (all from 1 to 14 years old) with conrmed sepsis. In most cases, two samples in acute as well as
one in convalescent phase were collected. Plasma levels of VEGF, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, VEGF RII, TNF RII, sIL-2Ra and ST2, were evaluated by beads based array or ELISA.
Compared with convalescence, acute dengue and sepsis signicantly increased all tested markers (P<0.01, Wilcoxon test), except the VEGF and VEGF RII, whose
levels were higher in convalescence. Evaluated biomarkers were early induced (3-4 days after fever onset) and lower levels of them were detected in acute late time
(5-7 days). In acute period, plasma VEGF, IL-6, IL-8, VEGF RII and sIL-2 R were signicantly higher in sepsis than dengue. Interestingly, only IL-10 (a regulatory
cytokine) and TNF RII were higher in acute dengue (P<0.02, Mann-Whitney test). Plasma ST2 was not different in both. When levels of biomarkers were analyzed in
dengue-infected children, VEGF, IL-6, IL-8 IL-2 R, TNF RII and ST2 were related with clinically severe forms. Thus, pattern of plasma cytokines circulating in pediatric
dengue and sepsis is highly different and it could have a potential as therapeutic target. Funded by Colciencias.
HP19
VITAMIN D RECEPTOR-352 AND TNFA-308 SHOWED PROTECTION/SUSCEPTIBILITY ROLES IN DENGUE INFECTION IN HONDURAS
Cynthia M. Rodrguez, Ivette Lorenzana de Rivera
National Autonomous University of Honduras
Introduction. Dengue is a problem of health public in tropical and sub-tropical countries, where dengue cases increase every year. Variations in immune response
could be related to polymorphisms in regulatory regions of cytokine genes and other molecules such as Vitamin D receptor and the immune regulatory effects, a thus is
in turn may have inuence on the disease severity. Objective. To evaluate the association of polymorphic variants in Vitamin D receptor 352 and TNF alpha 308, among
individuals with different dengue disease presentation. Material and methods. The study was carried out in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The study population consisted of
500 participants: 285 dengue cases (154 with alarm signs) and 215 asymptomatic controls (AC), all of them laboratory conrmed. The dengue classication was
done following the new WHO criteria. The selected single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were carried out by a Real Time PCR methodology, using sequence specic
primers, obtaining the allelic genotype for each investigated genetic marker. Results. In VDR-352 polymorphism, the TT genotype was observed in 59% of in the AC and
this was decreasing as disease severity increases, and TC genotype showed a signicant risk in severe forms of the disease compared with the AC (OR: 1.6, p=0.02).
For TNFa-308 polymorphisms it was observed that 75% of severe cases had GG genotype. Conclusion. These ndings are in agreement with previous studies
performed by our group with VDR-352 and TNFa-308. A study by Loke et al, in VDR-352 shows how the T allele is associated with severity in Vietnamese. For TNFa-308
in opposition to Fernandez-Mestre that nds that the A allele is associated with severity in Venezuelan population. We believe that these are the rst steps to obtain a
prognosis of the severity of disease in our population.
HP20
DENGUE 2 VIRUS INFECTION WITH ACUTE MYOCARDITIS IN THE PERUVIAN AMAZON: A CASE REPORT
Crystyan Siles1, Moises Sihuincha2, Carlos Vidal-or2, Julia S. Ampuero1, Stalin Vilcarromero1, Amy C Morrison1, 3 Robert D Hontz1, Daniel G Bausch1, 4
1
U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima, Peru; 2Hospital Apoyo de Iquitos, Iquitos, Peru;3University of California, Davis. USA, 4Tulane School of Public Health and
Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, USA
Cardiac involvement is uncommon in dengue fever. We report a case of a 28-year-old woman with no history of cardiovascular or other chronic disease who developed
acute myocarditis with dengue 2 virus infection. The patient presented with a history of four days of worsening fever, chest and joint pain, dyspnea, persistent vomiting
and vaginal bleeding. On physical examination, she presented with a axillary temperature (T) of 39 C, heart rate (HR) of 48 beats per minute (bpm), respiratory rate
(RR) of 24 per minute, and blood pressure (BP) of 80 / 60 mmHg. She further presented marked pallor, a generalized rash, and a positive Murphy sign. Initial routine
blood testing showed mild thrombocytopenia (122000xmm). Cardiomegaly was notice on a chest X-ray (cardiothoracic ratio 0.5) and an electrocardiogram revealed
sinus bradycardia (45bpm). Echocardiography demonstrated mild mitral insufciency with an ejection fraction of 50% and normal diastolic function. Subsequent
cardiac-specic analyses revealed elevated troponin I (0.19ng/mL) and B-type natriuretic peptide (4556pg/mL) on 7th day of illness. Ultrasound of the abdomen
showed thickening of the gallbladder wall. Dengue virus serotype 2 was conrmed by real-time PCR. The patient was diagnosed with dengue fever with acute
myocarditis. During hospitalization she showed persistent bradycardia (45-50xmin) with arterial hypotension (80/50mmHg) requiring the use of dobutamine for two
days. Her symptoms resolved and she was discharged on the 13th day of illness in good health with normal vital signs, electrocardiogram, chest x-ray, and cardiac
biomarkers were normalized as documented during follow-up at 3 months. Cardiac complications during dengue disease such as myocarditis have been documented
and physicians should be aware of heart manifestations even without specic symptoms upon initial presentation. Specic clinical exams and laboratory analysis in
these patients could help to establish an early diagnosis and prevent excessive morbidity and mortality among dengue patients.
HP21
DENGUE HEMORRHAGIC FEVER IN PATIENTS FROM NORTHEAST OF BRAZIL IS ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH LEVELS OF INTERFERON- AT ACUTE INFECTION.
Mayara Marques Carneiro da Silva; Renato A S Oliveira; Carlos Eduardo Calzavara-Silva; Marli Tenrio Cordeiro; Patrcia Muniz Mendes Freire de Moura; Paulo Neves
Baptista Filho; Ernesto Torres de Azevedo Marques Jnior; Laura Helena Vega Gonzales Gil
Aggeu Magalhes Research Center/Fiocruz, Brazil
Dengue is an acute febrile disease caused by the mosquito-borne dengue viruses. Fifty million new cases are reported each year, mainly in tropical regions. Interferon and are expressed to different levels in dengue fever (DF) compared with dengue hemorrhegic fever (DHF) patients. Interferon-/can be secretedby all
nucleated cells and are the main cytokines involved in the antiviral responses. Our results demonstrated that high levels of circulating interferon- and low-level
viremia were associated with primary DHF, suggesting that, in patients from Northeast Brazil, DENV3 infection elicits an innate response characterized by an
increased secretion of IFN- in the primary dengue hemorrhagic variant. These ndings shed lights of the immune response role in the dengue hemorrhagic fever
development, and contribute to a better understanding of dengue pathogenesis.
CR-P03
DYNAMIC OF PLASMA CYTOKINES AND CYTOKINES RECEPTORS IN PEDIATRIC DENGUE AND SEPSIS: A COMPARISON
Doris M. Salgado, Martha Roco Vega, Jairo A. Rodrguez and Carlos F. Narvez
Universidad Surcolombiana, Colombia
Pediatric dengue and sepsis are life-threatening infections. Shock and hemorrhage are serious and common symptoms for both conditions. Cytokines and their receptors
play a critical role in their pathophysiology and some of them such as TNF-, IL-6 and IL-10 have been associated with severe clinical outcome in dengue and sepsis
studies. Due the high use potential of these biomarkers for diagnosis, clinical follow-up and treatment, it is necessary to know the plasma cytokines and cytokines receptor
pattern for each condition. We determine the patterns of cytokines and their receptors in 180 children with several clinical ranges of dengue infection classied according
the 2009 WHO guide, and 60 children (all from 1 to 14 years old) with conrmed sepsis. In most cases, two samples in acute as well as one in convalescent phase were
collected. Plasma levels of VEGF, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, VEGF RII, TNF RII, sIL-2Ra and ST2, were evaluated by beads based array or ELISA. Compared with convalescence, acute
dengue and sepsis signicantly increased all tested markers (P<0.01, Wilcoxon test), except the VEGF and VEGF RII, whose levels were higher in convalescence. Evaluated
biomarkers were early induced (3-4 days after fever onset) and lower levels of them were detected in acute late time (5-7 days). In acute period, plasma VEGF, IL-6, IL-8,
VEGF RII and sIL-2 R were signicantly higher in sepsis than dengue. Interestingly, only IL-10 (a regulatory cytokine) and TNF RII were higher in acute dengue (P<0.02,
Mann-Whitney test). Plasma ST2 was not different in both. When levels of biomarkers were analyzed in dengue-infected children, VEGF, IL-6, IL-8 IL-2 R, TNF RII and ST2
were related with clinically severe forms. Thus, pattern of plasma cytokines circulating in pediatric dengue and sepsis is highly different and it could have a potential as
therapeutic target. Funded by Colciencias.
CR-P04
THE DENGUE VACCINE INITIATIVE (DVI) PROJECT: PASSIVE FACILITY-BASED FEVER SURVEILLANCE IN CHILDREN AND ADULTS OF MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA
Jacqueline Lim1, Mabel Carabali1, Catalina Le Cacheux2, Diana Carolina Velez2, Andrea Trujillo-Correa2, Kang Sung-Lee1, Ivan D. Velez2, Jorge Osorio3
1
Dengue Vaccine Initiative, International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, Korea; 2Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales (PECET), Universidad de Antioquia,
Medellin, Colombia; and 3Biomedical Science Laboratories, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin
Dengue virus (DENV) infection is a major public health problem in Colombia, causing more human illness than any other arbovirus. Dengue Vaccine Initiative (DVI)
conducted a passive facility-based fever surveillance to determine the true burden of dengue fever in the Santa Cruz comuna of Medellin, Colombia. The surveillance was
based in Santa Cruz Hospital and three other primary health care centers afliated to METROSALUD E.S.E. Individuals between 1-65 years-of-age were evaluated for
febrile episodes (7 days of evolution). Two paired samples were obtained from all participants; an acute sample (0-7 days of fever) and a convalescent sample 10-14
days after the rst visit. All samples were tested with rapid diagnostic test SDR Dengue Duo during the acute phase, and both acute and convalescent samples were
analyzed with IgM/IgG capture ELISA. The positive cases on ELISA were tested with RT-PCR for serotyping. From Oct. 2011 until Feb. 2014, there were 579 enrollees in the
surveillance with 150 (26%) laboratoryconrmed with dengue fever. Higher proportions of dengue-conrmed cases were found in children between 5-9 (20%) and in
young adults between 15-24 (18.7%) years of age. The mean fever duration was longer for those dengue cases at 5.2 days compared to non-dengue cases 4.5 days (pvalue=0.007). The majority of our dengue cases were outpatients (n=137) with only 9% of hospitalized patients. About 25% of the dengue cases had secondary infection
where as 75% had primary infection. The RT-PCR results show that DENV-3 with47.6% is the most commonly circulating serotype, followed by DENV-1 with 9.5%. All signs
and symptoms were similar between dengue patients and non-dengue febrile patients, except for rash and retro-orbital pain found more commonly among dengue cases.
Our study results show patterns of the elevated dengue transmission in Santa Cruz comuna. Also, we observed some correlation between the national surveillance data
from Medellin and our study ndings. More information will be presented at the conference.
CR-P05
THE DENGUE VACCINE INITIATIVE PROJECT: SERO-PREVALENCE STUDY IN CHILDREN AND ADULTS OF SANTA CRUZ COMUNA OF MEDELLIN
Mabel Carabali1, Jacqueline Lim1, Carolina Velez2, Andrea Trujillo-Correa2, Kang Sung-Lee, Ivn D. Velez2, Jorge Osorio3
1
Dengue Vaccine Initiative, International Vaccine Institute, Seoul, Korea; 2 Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales (PECET), Universidad de Antioquia,
Medelln, Colombia; and 3 Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin
Dengue is a major public health problem in Colombia. During the last 10 years, there has been a signicant increase in the number cases of dengue, with circulation of all
four serotypes and epidemic waves occurring every 3-4 years. Dengue Vaccine Initiative (DVI) conducted a serological survey to determine the true burden of dengue due to
inapparent infections in the Santa Cruz comuna of Medellin, Colombia. The serosurvey included two years of follow up with ve bleedings, with six-month intervals from
Nov. 2011 to Feb. 2014. More than 2000 randomly selected residents were enrolled in the study. To estimate the incidence and the age-specic sero-conversion rates on
samples that showed a rise in IgG antibody titers by IgG Indirect ELISA. Through 5 bleedings, replacements were made to keep an open cohort of 2000 randomly selected
residents. The sero-prevalence of IgG antibodies in each sero-survey were: 59.02% in S1; 63.9% in S2; 64.9% in S3; 64.7% in S4, and 64.7% in S5. The overall seroconversion rate during the rst year was of 4.8%. The highest sero-conversion rate between S1 and S3 was found among children 5-9 years of age (7.3%), followed by
young adults between 35-44 years-of-age (6.9%) and children 1-4 years old (5.6%). From the preliminary PRNT performed on a subset of sero-converted samples
(n=48), 83.7% showed an immune response against all 4 serotypes, with DENV-3 (24.5%) and DENV-1 (16.3%) as the predominant serotypes. These sero-prevalence
results may indicate an elevated dengue transmission in Santa Cruz and a higher risk for severe forms with increase in age. Results of further analyses of the immunological
status of individuals in this geographic area will be presented at the conference.
VECTOR BIOLOGY
ABSTRACTS INVITED SPEAKERS
TARGETING DENGUE IN THE MOSQUITO
George Dimopholous
W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
The understanding of Aedes aegypti - dengue virus interactions is crucial for the development of novel disease control strategies. The virus relies on numerous
conserved host factors for its propagation from the mosquito gut to the salivary gland. Upon ingestion of an infected blood meal, the virus encounters the mosquito's
innate immune system and the gut microbiota that can inhibit infection. We have explored the potential of conserved virus host factors, the mosquito immune system
and the mosquito microbiota, for the development of novel dengue control strategies. The dengue virus uses the human and Ae. aegypti cellular machinery to establish
infection. Many of the dengue virus host factors are conserved between the two host species and could be chemically inactivated to block virus infection. Several host
factor inhibitors have already been developed to block virus infection in the human. We have explored the antiviral properties of human Dengue-targeting compounds
in adult mosquitoes, and the feasibility to develop dengue virus transmission blocking strategies with such chemicals. We have shown that the Ae. aegypti JAK-STAT
and Toll immune signaling pathways are implicated in anti-dengue defenses through the control of various anti-viral effectors. We have genetically manipulated the
JAK-STAT pathway to confer resistance to dengue virus infection, thereby providing proof-of-principle that the mosquito's natural antiviral immunity can be
engineered for resistance to the virus. The intestinal microbiota of Ae. aegypti can greatly inuence the mosquito's capacity to transmit the virus. We have identied a
specic bacterial isolate that has mosquitocidal activity and mediated inhibition of the virus through bacteria-produced metabolites. These types of bacteria therefore
represent powerful tools for the development of dengue biocontrol strategies. Here we discuss different complementary approaches for blocking dengue virus
transmission by their mosquito vectors.
METHODS FOR MEASURING NATURAL DENGUE TRANSMISSION FROM HUMANS TO MOSQUITOES
Amy C. Morrison1,2, Kanya C. Long1,3, Juan Sulca2, Valerie Paz-Soldan4, Helvio Astete2, Isabel Bazan2, Hugo Jaba5, Robert Hontz2, Thomas W. Scott1, Louis Lambrechts6.
1
Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis; 2Department of Virology and Emerging Infections, Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6 (NAMRU-6), 3Current
afliation, Department of Biology, Andrews University; 4Department of Global Health Systems and Development, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical
Medicine; 5Department of Entomology, NAMRU-6, 6Department of Genomes and Genetics, Insect-Virus Interactions Group, Institut Pasteur, Centre National de la
Recherche Scientique URA 3012, Paris, France.
Despite substantial evidence showing that dengue virus (DENV) infection of Aedes aegypti is dependent on virus dose and that disease severity in humans is positively
correlated with higher viremia levels, few studies have examined the ability of viremic humans with milder disease outcomes to infect mosquitoes. We present
human-to-mosquito transmission studies for 51 naturally infected people (10-73 years-old) with symptoms from clinically inapparent to requiring hospitalization
captured through active and passive febrile surveillance, and contact cluster investigations. DENV viremic participants fed 25-50 laboratory reared (F2) Ae. aegypti
mosquitoes directly on their arms or legs, and provided blood samples with no additive and with EDTA for exposure of mosquitoes in an articial membrane feeder.
Mosquitoes were then incubated for 14d and tested for DENV infection (midgut) and dissemination (head) by RT-PCR. Serum virus titers were quantied by focusforming assay (FFA). Overall, the direct feeding method was well tolerated and accepted by study participants, an observation consistent with results from 12 focus
groups, 7 of which had respondents participating in ongoing longitudinal cohort studies and the remainder not. When proper information is provided direct mosquito
feeding was acceptable to community members and in many cases preferable to blood draws. Overall, feeding rates were signicantly higher for direct (79%)
compared to indirect (42-48%) methods. Serum titers ranged from 8x102 to 2x106 FFU/ml, however among 17 people who had no detectable titer by FFA, 11 (65%)
infected mosquitoes of which 8 (73%) resulted in disseminated infections. Although the number of comparisons with samples containing EDTA were low, there is a
trend indicating that infection rates are highest by this method, an observation that would contraindicate its use in larger scale studies. Infection rates for direct feeds
were signicantly higher than for indirect feeding with no additive (p=0.0032) and varied by severity of illness. The implications of these ndings for future studies
will be discussed.
CHANGING PARADIGMS IN THE SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL OF DENGUE VECTORS
Roberto Barrera
Dengue Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Accurate estimation of vector populations is necessary to determine the effectiveness of vector control programs. However, establishing how many individuals exist in
a local population of dengue vectors has been challenging. There are three sampling techniques that allow an approximate estimation of the total numbers of Aedes
aegypti in a given area (absolute density) but they are rarely used in operative vector control programs. They are mark-release-recapture, indoor/outdoor aspiration of
adult mosquitoes, and pupal surveys. More commonly used are estimations of presence / absence data, such as larval surveys and its derived Stegomyia indices
(House, Container, and Breteau indices), and measures of relative density such as oviposition (eggs per ovicup, percentage of positive ovicups) and number of
females attempting to bite human subjects (landing rates). A number of new traps are now available that allow more practical estimates of the relative density of
adult mosquitoes, such as the electro-mechanical BG-Sentinel trap for host seeking females and a variety of passive traps for gravid females. The availability of these
devices allows shifting the main emphasis of vector surveillance to the adult stage, which is the most closely related to virus transmission. Likewise, novel vector
control techniques are targeting the adult stages of dengue vectors, including genetically modied mosquitoes, biological control of adults (bacteria, fungi),
insecticide impregnated surfaces (curtains, bednets, covers for water-storage containers, lethal ovitraps, auto dissemination devices), and sticky gravid traps. Thus,
greater emphasis is being placed on both surveillance and control of the adult stages of dengue vectors.
PLATFORM MI-DENGUE: A COST-BENEFIT MOSQUITO SURVEILLANCE
Alvaro E. Eiras1, Ceclia M. Toledo2, Tina Stutzman3 & Brett Ellis4
1
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil; 2Ecovec Tld., Belo Horizonte, Brazil; 3Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA;4Virgin Islands Department of
Health, USA
Monitoring adult Aedes aegypti abundance with xed position traps has been considered as an alternative surveillance method that shows promise for directing vector
control and predicting when and where dengue outbreaks will take place. With support from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a partnership between
university and a spin-off company, we developed the MI-Dengue Platform. The Platform consist of an integration of continuous vector monitoring, at ne spatial and
temporal scales, and information technology platform for near real-time data collection, analysis, and decision-making. The surveillance data generated from the
system is used to calculate weekly vector indices and easily discernible geographical hot spots to target vector control resources. Once identied, directing control
efforts to high priority areas with virus detection may reduce future virus circulation. Citywide analysis also facilitates the detection of novel serotype introduction to
the city, which can be an indicator for dengue epidemics. Furthermore, the viral analysis of mosquitoes is low-cost and can be implemented with a simple laboratory
protocol. The results of two years of MI-Dengue platform 21 cities in Minas Gerais State, Brazil, indicated that over 27,000 dengue cases were prevented (2.7 times
lower than conventional methods) and about US$ 7 million were saved in direct and indirect costs. MI-Dengue Platform is an alternative for monitoring other urban
vector diseases such as Chikungunya. The Platform was used over 50 Brazilian cities and has been implemented recently in Lee County, Florida (USA).
CAN LETHAL OVITRAPS CONTRIBUTE TO DENGUE PREVENTION AND CONTROL? CHALLENGES TO IMPLEMENTATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF LETHAL OVITRAPS
IN PERU AND ELSEWHERE
Dawn Wesson1, Valerie Paz Soldan1, and Amy C. Morrison2,3
Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine 2Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis; 3Department of Virology and Emerging
Infections, Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6 (NAMRU-6)
The objective of this study was to develop a lethal ovitrap (Attractive Lethal OviTrap = ALOT) for dengue prevention. From June 2011 through June2013, we tested the
ALOT in dengue-endemic Iquitos, Peru. The study design was a prospective non-randomized controlled trial, where dengue incidence was compared in two adjacent
neighborhoods, one with ALOT traps (intervention) and one with standard Ministry of Health (MOH) control procedures (control). Traps were placed at a density of ~3
per residence, with ~85% participation in the intervention area. MOH fumigation to control adult mosquitoes was ongoing in both areas during the study.
Entomological indices were monitored in participating households at 3 month intervals, and individuals were monitored serologically through active febrile
surveillance (home visits 3x/wk). One year into the trial, dengue incidence as measured by febrile surveillance was 75% lower (0.28 vs. 1.24 per 100 person years) in
the intervention area compared to the control area (p<0.0001). After two years, dengue incidence was still signicantly lower in the treatment area (0.38 vs. 0.85 per
100 person years; p=0.0013). The proportion of nulliparous females (compared to parous and/or gravid females) was signicantly higher in the ALOT area,
supporting the removal of older egg-laying mosquitoes from the population. Likewise, the Ae. aegypti house index and the ratio of male:female mosquitoes collected
were signicantly different between treatment and control areas, suggesting that the ALOTs were selectively removing female mosquitoes from the treatment area.
These results suggest that area-wide application with the ALOT could signicantly lower dengue transmission by selectively removing gravid female mosquitoes.
Although the study results were promising, challenges remain to expanding ALOT usage and potential for commercialization. These challenges will be discussed in the
context of large scale ALOT implementation.
1
HIGHLIGHTED POSTERS
HP37
JAK/STAT SUPER-IMMUNE AEDES AEGYPTI AS A TOOL FOR DENGUE DISEASE CONTROL
Natapong Jupatanakul, Shuzhen Sim, Jayme Souza-Neto, Jared Balaich, and George Dimopoulos
W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
The JAK/STAT pathway is a cytokine signaling pathway involve in insect development and anti-viral immunity. Our previous result showed that dengue virus (DENV)
infection in A. aegypti resulted in JAK/STAT pathway activation and expression of anti-viral effectors. A. aegypti was more susceptible to DENV infection when the
JAK/STAT pathway was compromised through RNAi-mediation gene silencing of the JAK/STAT pathway components. These data suggest the JAK/STAT pathway as a
key player for mosquito anti-DENV responses. In this study, we generated transgenic A. aegypti that over-express the JAK/STAT pathway components, the Domeless
receptor (Dome) and Hop receptor adaptor protein, upon bloodfeeding. Over-expression of the JAK/STAT pathway components resulted in the transcriptional induction
of the JAK/STAT pathway-regulated putative anti-DENV effectors, DVRF1 and DVRF2. We then checked vector competence to DENV and found that these transgenic
mosquitoes had lower midgut DENV titers, and lower DENV dissemination to other organs compared to the wildtype. The tness cost of these mosquitoes, for example,
longevity and fecundity will also be discussed.
HP38
COEXISTENCE AND DISPLACEMENT OF AEDES (STEGOMYIA) ALBOPICTUS (SKUSE, 1894) BY THE INVASION OF AEDES (STEGOMYIA) AEGYPTI (LINNAEUS,
1762) IN THE LETICIA COUNTRY (AMAZONAS-COLOMBIA)
Carvajal JJ1, Codeo CT2, Alvarado LA3, Frois LF4, Rodriguez MH5, Murcia LM3, Falla C3, Honrio NA1
1
Laboratrio de Transmissores de Hematozorios - LATHEMA/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil; 2Programa de Computao Cientca - PROCC/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro,
Brasil; 3Laboratorio Departamental de Salud Pblica, Leticia, Colombia; 4Programa de Estatstica, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;
5
Direccin de Ciencia, Tecnologia e Innovacin, Gobernacion de Amazonas, Leticia, Colombia
The Dengue fever viruses are transmitted naturally by the mosquito Ae. aegypti, its main vector in the world, and in some regions, also by the mosquito Ae. albopictus.
Dengue is endemic of tropical regions like the South-East Asia, Pacic South, Oriental Africa, Caribbean and Latin America. The rst register of Ae. albopictus in
Colombia was in the Leticia county (Amazonas) in 1998, when Leticia was Ae. aegypti free. Ae. aegypti arrived a decade later, found in 2009 in the neighborhood of La
Union in Leticia, near the frontier with the Tabatinga county (Amazonas, Brasil). Data from periodic entomological surveys of positive breeding sites of Ae. albopictus
(2000-2012) and Ae. aegypti (2009-2012) in Leticia were analyzed using descriptive methods and models for spatial and time series analyses, as well as thematic
maps with Radial Basis Functions. Ae. albopictus presented preference for disposable containers and low tanks, while Ae. aegypti was more frequently found in low
tanks and disposable containers. Ae. albopictus showed a less seasonal behaviour than Ae. aegypti. It was observed an important reduction of positive breeding sites
and infestation rates of Ae. albopictus, after the introduction of Ae. aegypti in 2009, moreover, it was found signicant evidence of displacement of Ae. albopictus to the
periphery of the urban area of Leticia. Ae. albopictus populations were reduced and geographically displaced to the periphery of Leticia, after the introduction of Ae.
aegypti in 2009. The difcult control and surveillance along the frontier belt will keep being a challenge to reduce the infestation rates, by reinfestations, by precarious
sanitation services, among other factors, which contribute for keeping the virus of Dengue.
HP39
EFFECTIVENESS OF SPINOSAD - AN ALLOSTERIC MODULATOR OF ACETYLCHOLINE RECEPTORS ON BRAZILIAN POPULATIONS OF AEDES AEGYPTI
RESISTANT TO THE ORGANOPHOSPHATE TEMEPHOS
Dias, LS1,2, Macoris, Maria LG3, Andrighetti, Maria TM3, Otrera, VG3, Dias, AS1,2, Martins, AJ1,2, Lima, JBP1,2
1
Laboratrio de Fisiologia e Controle de Artrpodes Vetores, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, 2Laboratrio de Entomologia, Instituto de Biologia do Exrcito, Rio de Janeiro, RJ,
Brasil, 3Superintendncia de Controle de Endemias (Sucen) Marlia, SP - Brasil.
In Brazil, control of dengue vector larvae was performed for decades with the organophosphate temephos, what led to resistance selection to this insecticide. Studies
of new tools to control Ae. aegypti, which are less harmful to the environment and safer for human, have become of main importance. Spinosad, a product of the
aerobic fermentation of Sacharopolyspora spinosa (an actinobacteria isolated from soil), presents insecticidal property, an action mechanism different from the
classical insecticides, low toxicity to humans and animals. In the present work, we (i) standardized the dose response assay with L3 larvae of Ae. aegypti (Rockefeller
strain) with mortality scored after 24, 48 and 72 hours of exposure to spinosad; (ii) evaluated, in laboratory, the efcacy of spinosad (NatularTM 20EC - 20,6%) on the
Rockefeller strain and seven populations from different regions of Brazil with mortality scored after 24 hours of exposure to the chemical, and (iii) evaluated, with eld
simulation, the efcacy of spinosad (NatularTM DT - 7,48%) on the Rockefeller strain and four eld populations using water tanks (capacity of 300 L) and mortality
scoring every 24 hours. All eld populations used showed different levels of resistance to the organophosphate temephos. During the standardization of the assay, no
signicant differences in mortality between different exposure times were observed. Spinosad, both in laboratory and eld simulation, was effective against all
populations, regardless their status of temephos resistance. In eld simulation, the mortality of Ae. aegypti larvae was above 80% for up to 8 weeks. This persistence
was similar for the susceptible strain Rockefeller and eld populations. The data presented here suggest that the evaluated populations do not exhibited crossresistance between spinosad and temephos, demonstrating that this product may be a promising alternative to combat Ae. aegypti, especially in populations that are
resistant to other neurotoxic compounds used in the control.
HP40
COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND SUPPORT OF THE CONTROVERSIAL RELEASE OF OX513A AEDES AEGYPTI IN KEY WEST, FL
Kacey C. Ernst1, Steven Haenchen2, Katherine Dickinson3, Michael Doyle4, Kathleen Walker5 and Mary H. Hayden3
1
University of Arizona, College of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Tucson, AZ, USA); 2University of Arizona, College of Public Health, Division of
Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Tucson, AZ, USA); 3National Center for Atmospheric Research (Boulder, CO, USA); 4Florida Keys Mosquito Control District (Key West,
FL); 5University of Arizona, College of Agriculture, Department of Entomology (Tucson, AZ, USA)
Innovative control strategies for mosquito-borne disease include the release of genetically modied mosquitoes. Release of OX513A Aedes aegypti mosquito has
demonstrated success in inter-mixing among natural Ae. aegypti populations to reduce vector indices within several eld sites. Following the dengue outbreak in
2009/2010, the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District began exploring the release of OX513A Ae. aegypti to prevent further outbreaks of dengue. This proposal was
met with controversy. As part of a comprehensive knowledge, attitudes and practices cross-sectional survey conducted in Key West and neighboring Stock Island, FL
in 2012 we investigated the proportion of the community that was aware of the proposed release and their current level of support. Of the four-hundred participants
approximately half of the community had heard of the proposed release (50.1%). In multivariable analyses those who had heard of the release were more likely to be
older, male, white non-Hispanic, educated and with an awareness of local dengue prevention campaigns. Of those who had prior awareness of the release (n=195)
about half were supportive (n=68, 34.9% strongly supportive; somewhat supportive, n = 43, 22.1%). However, there was a fairly large proportion that was neutral
(n = 49, 25.1%) and a smaller proportion that was opposed (n=16, 8.2%) or strongly opposed (n=19, 9.7%). Primary reasons for a neutral attitude were
uncertainty about risks/ benets of the proposed release and lack of enough information to make a decision. Approximately one-third of individuals who expressed
support of the release also expressed remaining concerns. As novel public health strategies are proposed, it is important to monitor and obtain feedback from the
community. Efforts to maintain public communication and target outreach towards select groups are recommended and standards must be set to determine the level
of awareness and support that are required prior to implementation.
density, independent of the local population. Thus, the present study evaluated, under natural conditions: A) the inuence of abiotic factors upon oviposition dynamics
and egg hatching; B) evaluate locally how aquatic microclimate conditions are inuenced/impacted by abiotic factors, and which impact on the choice of ideal sites for
oviposition, eggs hatching and immature development; C) and contribute to the discussion of strategies for Ae. aegypti population control from a new perspective of
the eggs in the population resilience. Therefore, were conducted experiments to evaluate the oviposition sites choice according to the availability of breeding sites
containing different water volume, in order to test the following hypotheses: water volume affects the choice of oviposition breeding sites choice; oviposition rate
would vary as a function of previously oviposition; there is an interaction between the container water volume and the number of laid eggs; and eggs hatching depends
on the water line relationship.
VB-P04
DENGUE SURVEILLANCE IN MOSQUITOES FROM A MEDIUM-SIZED CITY IN SO PAULO STATE, BRAZIL
Felipe Guioti1 Eduardo Sterlino Bergo2, Aline Chimello Ferreira1, Arianne Fagotti1, Talita Motta Quiarim1, Betania Paiva Drumond3, Roberta Vieira de Moraes Bronzoni4,
Mauricio Lacerda Nogueira5, Adriano Mondini1
1
Universidade Estadual Paulista Jlio de Mesquita Filho NESP/FCFAR. 2Superintendncia de Controle de Endemias SUCEN/SR-06. 3Universidade Federal de Juiz
de Fora UFJF. 4Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso UFMT Campus Sinop. 5Faculdade de Medicina de So Jos do Rio Preto FAMERP.
Infections by the four dengue serotypes (DENV 1-4) have been reported in more than 100 countries and DENV is considered one of the most important arthropod borne
viruses in terms of public health. Aedes aegypti is the main vector of DENV in Brazil due to its ability to adapt to the urban environment. Araraquara, located in the
center of the state of So Paulo, Brazil, has a high quality of life (Human Development Index: 0,830), which is comparable to many developing countries. Until now, no
studies on DENV circulation have been available for this city. The aim of this study is to evaluate the presence of DENV 1-4 in samples of mosquitoes collected in
Araraquara from February 2014 to January 2015. We have installed 150 ovitraps in a pre-established grid of census tracts that covered the entire municipality. The
ovitraps were collected ve days after installation and the eggs in the cardboard paddles were hatched. Mosquitoes were identied and pooled according to collection
site, species and gender. A Multiplex-Nested-RT-PCR was used to detect DENV in the mosquitoes. So far, approximately 800 mosquitoes divided in 241 pools have
been collected. We have assessed 20 pools (10 pools of each gender). We could not detect the presence of DENV in any of the pools. It is important to note that DENV is
actively circulating in the city and only 10% of the pools have been analyzed. We are still collecting eggs and we will be collecting samples from febrile patients with
clinical diagnosis of dengue. These are preliminary data from a study that is being conducted in Araraquara to detect DENV in mosquitoes and in humans.
VB-P05
MICROBIOTA ISOLATED FROM MOSQUITOES AE. AEGYPTI AND AE. ALBOPICTUS FROM ENDEMICS AREAS OF PANAMA
Ortiz A1,2, Ramirez JL3, Torres R1, Rovira J1, Burgos R1, Gonzalez C1,2, Pascale JM1,2, Dimopoulos G3
1
Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas, 2Universidad de Panam, 3W.H. Feisntone Dep. of Molecular Microbiology and Inmunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns
Hopkins University, USA.
Background: Mosquitoes are the most important vectors of human and animal diseases affecting millions of people around the world, such as the case of dengue in
which there are 50 millions of dengue cases per year. Panama ranks fth in the number of dengue cases in Central America with DENV-1, DENV-2 and DENV-3 cocirculating throughout the country. In the absence of good sanitary control and a reliable dengue vaccine, we need to use all strategies to control the spread of the
disease. One of the ways to control the spread of dengue is by understanding the mosquito vector and its microbiota; nding potential microbial agents that have the
ability to confer resistance to infection by dengue virus in mosquitoes. Methods: We collected females mosquitoes from dengue-endemics areas. About 237
mosquitoes were collected. Their midguts were dissected and used for the isolation of bacteria. Characterization of bacterial isolates was done via sequencing of its
16rs RNA gene. Currently, we are analyzing the prevalence and localization of at least 28 bacterial species that have been characterized. Results: Bacteria isolated
from eld mosquitoes were heterogenous withbacteria isolated in Aedes aegypti presenting a prevalence of: Staphylococcus and Chryseobacterium 12 % ,Pantoea
8%, Asaia 7%, Microbacterium 7%, Asaia and Bacillus 7%, Enterobacter 1% ; Diversity in Aedes albopictus showed Chryseobacterium 25% , Staphylococcus and
Comamonas 15% , Acinetobacter and Pantoea 10% ; Asaia, Pseudomona, Microbacterium, Halophic bacterium 5%. Conclusions: The characterized bacteria are
currently being tested for its anti-dengue effect both in the mosquito as well as in vitro. Tests are also being conducted for its moquitocidal activity against Ae. aegypti
and Ae. albopictus, two competent vectors of dengue virus in Panama.
VB-P06
EVALUATION OF INNATE IMMUNE RESPONSE MECHANISMS ASSOCIATED WITH SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DENGUE VIRUS IN DIFFERENT FIELD POPULATIONS OF
AEDES AEGYPTI
Idalba Mildred Serrato Pomar1,2, Paola Andrea Caicedo Burbano1,3, Clara Beatriz Ocampo Durn1
1
Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigacion es Mdicas, CIDEIM, Biology and vector control laboratory. 2Master student in biomedical sciences,
Universidad del Valle. 3Doctorade student biomedical sciences, Universidad del Valle
The main vector of dengue virus (vD) is Aedes aegypti, mosquito widely adapted to the urban environment. Their ability to become infected and transmit the virus
(vector competence-VC) varies between populations and depends on genetic and environmental characteristics. Understanding the genetic characteristics of VC will
identify potential targets to inhibit virus replication strategies. Preliminary studies on differential expression in D-2 selected strains from eld collected individuals in
Cali, susceptible (Cali-S) and refractory (Cali-MIB), suggest that immune response genes associated with apoptosis play a role in the virus replication. This study
evaluated if VC of the select strains is similar compared with other serotypes of vD. And was assessed if the molecular mechanisms identied in select strains are a
characteristic of eld populations. The VC of the selected strains compared to 4 virus serotypes was measured by articial infection and immunouorescence. The VC
of A. aegypti collected from 6 locations in Cali was measured. Three different populations with different VC were selected to evaluate the expression by qPCR of Dronc,
Caspase-16, Cathepsin-B and Niemann genes at 0, 24, 36, 48h post-infection. No statistically signicant differences in the VC of the selected strains against the four
serotypes were observed. The mosquitoes collected in Cali showed differences on VC at the different sites, however did not show a high susceptibility (ranges between
68 and 34%). When the midgut infection barrier-MIB (percentage of uninfected midguts) was evaluated, variation was also observed (11 to 38%). Increased
expression of the genes evaluated when exposed to the virus compared to the blood was observed in all populations, mainly between 24 and 36 hours post-infection.
Although there is variation between biological replicates (possibly by genetic variability), this pattern is maintained, demonstrating that these inhibition mechanisms
are specic from the eld populations and explain the observed intermediate susceptibility.
VB-P07
ASSOCIATED FACTORS WITH REFRACTORINESS OR SUSCEPTIBILITY TO INFECTION WITH DENGUE-2 VIRUS OF AEDES AEGYPTI FIELD-DERIVED STRAINS
FROM COLOMBIA, USING COMPARATIVE MICROARRAY-BASED ANALYSIS
Paola A. Caicedo1, Carl Lowenberger2, George Dimopoulos3, Idalba Serrato1, Neal Alexander1, Clara Ocampo1
1
Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Mdicas (CIDEIM), Santiago de Cali-Colombia; 2Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University,
Burnaby BC, Canada; 3Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins
University, Baltimore, MD
BACKGROUND: Selected strains of Aedes aegypti, from Cali, Colombia with different susceptibility to dengue infection: Susceptible (Cali-S) and refractory with midgut
infection barrier (Cali-MIB), have suggested apoptosis mechanisms as one of the innate immune responses to eliminate virus infection. OBJECTIVES: Compare the
global gene expression of the midguts of Cali-S and Cali-MIB after ingestion of sugar, a bloodmeal, or a bloodmeal containing Dengue-2 virus using microarrays.
METHODS: We fed Cali-R or Cali-S with blood or blood+DENv-2. We dissected midguts at 30 hours post feeding (time at what most of the changes have been
observed according to previous studies), extracted RNA and generated cDNAs. We used microarrays, and Quantitative Real time PCR (qPCR) to identify differential
gene expression in Cali-S and Cali-R Ae. aegypti. RESULTS: Preliminary results from the microarrays indicated the expression of a total of 3761 genes. Of these, a total
of 165 immune-related genes have been identied. A differential expression between the two strains exposed to DENv-2 virus included genes in different functional
groups; immunity, metabolism, proteolysis, redox, replication, transport, and unknown function. We have identied 15 genes with differential gene expression at 0, 8,
24 and 36 hours post-infection. Future studies will evaluate gene function using RNAi technology to evaluate the effects of gene knockdown on the phenotype.
CONCLUSION: This study will provide a global overview of gene expression in susceptible and refractory mosquitoes and will be compared with other studies that have
looked at specic molecules and pathways. This study will also validate the use of our eld derived strains as an important biological model to study Dengue-vector
relationships.
VB-P08
EFFECT OF NS1 DENGUE VIRUS PROTEIN ON THE IMMUNE RESPONSE SIGNALING PATHWAYS IN AEDES AEGYPTI MOSQUITOES
Ma. Isabel Salazar-Snchez1, Luis Antonio Alonso-Palomares1, Jorge I. Castaeda-Snchez2, Tereza Magalhes3, Humberto Lanz-Mendoza4.
1
Laboratorio de Inmunologa Celular e Inmunopatognesis. Departamento de Inmunologa- Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biolgicas-IPN. Mxico; 2Departamento de
Sistemas Biolgicos. Universidad Autnoma Metropolitana - Unidad Xochimilco. Mxico; 3Department of Virology and Experimental Therapeutics. Fiocruz-Recife.
Brazil; 4Centro de Investigacin sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas-Instituto Nacional de Salud Pblica. Mxico.
Dengue virus NS1 protein constitutes not only the virus replication complex inside the host cell, but it is also secreted to the extracelular milleu. Recently, de novo
production of NS1 protein cells have been demonstrated in infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Considering that NS1 protein is uptaken along with virus particles and
plasma components during blood feeding, we considered important to determine its role in modulating immune response in mosquitoes. In this investigation we used
Aag2 cell as well as Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to establish the effect of NS1 recombinant protein on the mRNAs expression levels of different effectors in immune
response signaling pathways. Experimental design included untreated group for mRNA basal levels and positive controls. Our results from the time course reveal that
effectors related to Toll signaling pathway in the immune response are upregulated by dengue virus NS1 protein.
VB-P09
MALE ACCESSORY GLAND SUBSTANCES FROM AEDES ALBOPICTUS AFFECT THE LOCOMOTOR ACTIVITY OF AEDES AEGYPTI FEMALES
Tamara Lima-Camara1,2,3, Claudia Codeo1,Nildimar Honrio4,Rafaela Bruno2,5, Alexandre Peixoto2,5, Leon Lounibos6
1
Programa de Computao Cientca PROCC. Fundao Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ; 2Laboratrio de Biologia Molecular de Insetos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, IOCFIOCRUZ, 3Departamento de Epidemiologia da Faculdade de Sade Pblica da USP, 4Laboratrio de Transmissores de Hematozorios, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, IOCFIOCRUZ; 5Instituto Nacional de Cincia e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular CNPq/Brazil, 6Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, University of Florida, Vero
Beach, Florida, USA. Deceased
Dengue is one of the world's most important mosquito-borne diseases and is usually transmitted by one of two vector species: Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus.
These two diurnal mosquitoes are frequently found coexisting in similar habitats, enabling interactions between adults, such as cross-mating. The objective of this
study was to assess cross-mating between Ae. aegypti females and Ae. albopictus males under articial conditions and evaluate the locomotor activity of Ae. aegypti
virgin females injected with male accessory gland (MAG) homogenates to infer the physiological and behavioural responses to interspecic mating. After seven days
of exposure, 3.3-16% of Ae. aegypti females mated with Ae. albopictus males. Virgin Ae. aegypti females injected with conspecic and heterospecic MAGs showed a
general decrease in locomotor activity compared to controls and were refractory to mating with conspecic males. The reduction in diurnal locomotor activity induced
by injections of conspecic or heterospecic MAGs is consistent with regulation of female reproductive activities by male substances, which are capable of sterilising
female Ae. aegypti through satyrisation by Ae. albopictus
VB-P10
BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF NEW PLASTIC OVITRAPS CONTAINING PYRIPROXYEN FOR AEDES AEGYPTI (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)
CONTROL
Harburguer Laura1, Seccacini Emilia1, Zerba Eduardo1,2, and Licastro Susana1
1
Centro de Investigaciones de Plagas e Insecticidas (CIPEIN-CITEDEF UNIDEF) (MINDEF/ CONICET) Juan Bautista de La Salle 4397, Villa Martelli, Buenos Aires,
Argentina. 23iA, UNSAM, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Aedes aegypti is an urban mosquito adapted to using articial containers for breeding. In the absence of a vaccine, controlling the dengue vector is essential to avoid
epidemics. In Argentina larvae control is performed by applying the organophosphate larvicide temephos in containers that cannot be eliminated while adult control is
performed by ground application of space sprays with pyrethroids. Ovitraps are widely used for monitoring mosquito populations. Its improvement for population
control purposes could introduce a new tool with low environmental impact that will allow an integrated vector control. In this work ovitraps made of black synthetic
plastic materials containing 0.1% of the larvicide pyriproxyfen were developed. It was found that these ovitraps had larvicidal activity against Ae. aegypti obtaining an
emergence inhibition (EI) of 100% which implies that pyriproxyfen incorporated into the plastic was successfully released to the water. An accelerated aging test of
these plastic ovitraps was performed, this test is internationally standardized to simulate at least two years of aging. The results indicate that after 14 days plastic
ovitraps with pyriproxyfen that suffered accelerated aging produce 100% of EI of the treated larvae, and its behaviour was the same as not aging ovitraps. Finally
ovitraps resistance to successive washes was evaluated and was found an EI of 100% for more than 25 washes. Polyethylene strips containing 0.5% pyriproxyfen
that can oat (white) or that can be sunken (black) were also developed and an accelerated aging test performed, replacing water every day. Results of this work
indicate the feasibility of using a long lasting material containing pyriproxyfen as larvicidal ovitrap. This tool together with the use of curtains or jar covers treated with
insecticides could improve Ae. aegypti population control and potentially reduce dengue transmission
VB-P11
DOES WOLBACHIA INTERFERE WITH DENGUE VIRUS VERTICAL TRANSMISSION?
Etiene Casagrande, Eric P. Caragata, Luciano A. Moreira
Centro de Pesquisas Ren Rachou, FIOCRUZ-MG / IOC-RJ, Brazil
Dengue is a growing medical problem in subtropical and tropical areas, and disease transmission is particularly severe in Central and South American countries.
Aedes aegypti is a highly competent vector for dengue, and is extremely procient at colonizing urban environments. The heavy burden of disease that persists
indicates that current control strategies are insufcient. Therefore, there is a need to seek new strategies to supplement existing forms of control. Our work is based on
the use of a strain of the bacterium Wolbachia pipientis (wMel) in Brazilian A. aegypti mosquitoes (Eliminate Dengue Project: Brazil). Despite several studies showing
the interference of Wolbachia strains towards pathogens (wMel, wMelPop, wAlbA and wAlbB) on different mosquito hosts (A. aegypti, A. albopictus and A. stephensi),
there is no evidence Wolbachia is able to block dengue in the progeny of infected mosquitoes, the so called vertical transmission. The aim of this study is to evaluate
whether Wolbachia has an effect on the vertical transmission of dengue virus in Brazilian A. aegypti. Here, we compare Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes with those
treated with antibiotics to remove Wolbachia. We utilised two modes of dengue infection. (1) By oral feeding with an infected blood meal, to simulate a natural dengue
infection in mosquitoes. (2) Articial infection by nanoinjection of dengue into the thorax to increase the chance that the ovaries would become infected. Dengue virus
was detected in the progeny from infected females through quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), using primers and probes for the mosquito, dengue and Wolbachia in a
multiplex Taqman assay. The present study could demonstrate another facet of the contribution of Wolbachia in restricting dengue transmission in A. aegypti.