Cultivation and serological characterization of a human Theiler's-like cardiovirus associated with diarrheal disease

J Virol. 2010 May;84(9):4407-14. doi: 10.1128/JVI.02536-09. Epub 2010 Feb 17.

Abstract

Cardioviruses (e.g., Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus [TMEV]) are members of the Picornaviridae family that cause myocarditis and encephalitis in rodents. Recently, several studies have identified human cardioviruses, including Saffold virus (SAFV) and a related virus named human TMEV-like cardiovirus (HTCV). At least eight cardiovirus genotypes are now recognized, with SAFV and most strains of HTCV belonging to genotypes 1 and 2, respectively; genotype 2 strains are the most common in the population. Although a genotype 3 cardiovirus has recently been cultured (SAFV-3), the genotype 1 and 2 cardioviruses have been difficult to propagate in vitro, hindering efforts to understand their seroprevalence and pathogenicity. Here we present the isolation and characterization of a genotype 2 human cardiovirus (HTCV-UC6). Notably, successful cultivation of HTCV-UC6 from stool required the addition of cytokine-blocking antibodies to interrupt downstream antiviral pathways. Unlike SAFV-3, HTCV-UC6 exhibited slow replication kinetics and demonstrated only a moderate cytopathic effect. Serologic assays revealed that 91% of U.S. adults carry antibodies to the genotype 2 cardioviruses, of which 80% generate neutralizing antibodies, in agreement with previous data showing that cardiovirus infection is widespread in humans. We also demonstrate an acute cardiovirus seroconversion event in a child with diarrhea and vomiting, thus reporting for the first time evidence linking cardiovirus infection to diarrheal disease in humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / blood
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Cardiovirus / genetics
  • Cardiovirus / growth & development
  • Cardiovirus / isolation & purification*
  • Cardiovirus / physiology*
  • Cardiovirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Cardiovirus Infections / virology
  • Cell Line
  • Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral
  • Diarrhea / virology*
  • Feces / virology
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Virus Replication
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • RNA, Viral

Associated data

  • GENBANK/GU595289