Browsing by Author "Cortes-Hinojosa, Galaxia"

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    Adenovirus Diversity in Fur Seal and Penguin Colonies of South America
    (2021) Cortes-Hinojosa, Galaxia; Adkesson, Michael J.; Cardenas-Alayza, Susana; Seguel, Mauricio; Paves, Hector; Wellehan Jr, James F. X.
    Adenoviruses are medium size non-enveloped viruses with a trend of coevolution with their hosts. We surveyed South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) and Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) for adenoviruses at two sites from 2009 to 2012. Despite the common pattern of host specificity, some of the adenoviruses in our study were present in samples from unexpected host species. We identified mastade-noviruses, aviadenoviruses, and siadenoviruses in A. australis from Peru and Chile and in S. humboldti from Peru. The El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) significantly reduces the productivity of the Humboldt upwelling system, which can change trophic and other ecological interactions, facilitating exposure to new pathogens. One aviadenovirus was detected in both the penguins and the fur seals, an interclass distance. This finding occurred only during the 2009 ENSO and not in 2010 or 2012. Further studies of viral diversity in sites with high-density mixed species populations are necessary to better understand viral evolution and the effect of environmental change on viral evolution and host specificity.
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    Identification of 3 novel herpesviruses in prosimians with lymphoproliferative disease
    (2023) Kunze, Patricia E.; Cortes-Hinojosa, Galaxia; Williams, Cathy V.; Archer, Linda L.; Ferrante, Jason A.; Wellehan, James F. X., Jr.
    Although many studies have characterized catarrhine and platyrrhine primate herpesviruses, little is known about herpesviruses in prosimians. We aimed to identify and characterize herpesviruses in prosimians with proliferative lymphocytic disease. DNA was extracted from tissues of 9 gray mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus) and 3 pygmy slow lorises (Nycticebus pygmaeus) with lymphoproliferative lesions, and we performed nested PCR and sequencing for detection of herpesviruses and polyomaviruses. We identified 3 novel herpesviruses and performed phylogenetic analyses to characterize their relationship with other herpesviruses. A gray mouse lemur herpesvirus clustered with other primate herpesviruses within the subfamily Betaherpesvirinae, just basal to the genus Cytomegalovirus. The other gray mouse lemur herpesvirus and the pygmy slow loris herpesvirus clustered within the subfamily Gammaherpesvirinae, although the relationships within the subfamily were less resolved. Quantitative PCR assays were developed for the 2 new gray mouse lemur viruses, providing specific, faster, less expensive, and quantitative detection tools. Further studies are needed to elucidate the relationship between the presence of these viruses and the severity or presence of lymphoproliferative lesions in prosimians.
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    Identification of the interleukin-8 ( CXCL-8) pathway in feline oral squamous cell carcinoma - A pilot study
    (2022) Ackerman, Leah H.; Souza, Carlos H. de Mello; Cortes-Hinojosa, Galaxia; Salute, Marc E.; Stephen, Alexa A.; Anthony, Elizabeth; Shiomitsu, Keijiro; Milner, Rowan J.
    The purpose of this pilot study was to detect the presence of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and the potential downstream effects of IL-8 receptor activation in 2 previously characterized feline oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines ( SCCF1 and SCCF2). Interleukin-8 messenger RNA (mRNA) was initially detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). A previously validated and commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test was used to measure IL-8 production in the supernatant of the 2 cell lines. Western blot was used to detect phosphorylation of proteins (AKT, ERK1/2, JAK2, STAT3, and Src), known to be downstream of interleukin-8 receptor activation. The IL-8 receptor-specific antagonists, Reparixin and SCH527123, were used to identify effects on phosphorylation of these proteins. Interleukin-8 mRNA and protein were detected in both SCCF1 and SCCF2 by RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. Phosphorylation of ERK1/2, STAT3, and Src was detected in both cell lines. Inhibition of the IL- 8 receptor led to a decrease in phosphorylation of Src, but not ERK1/2 or STAT3. In conclusion, feline squamous cell carcinoma cell lines can produce IL-8. Phosphorylation of Src seems, at least in part, a consequence of IL-8 receptor activation. The phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and STAT3, although present, seems independent of IL-8 receptor activation. Due to its potential effects on the tumor microenvironment, in addition to its autocrine effects on Src phosphorylation, the inhibition of the IL-8 receptor may become a beneficial therapeutic tool. Evaluation of the presence of both IL- 8 and Src in many cases should elucidate their importance.
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    Molecular and phylogenetic analysis of herpesviruses in endangered free-ranging cervids of Chile: ovine gammaherpesvirus-2-A novel threat to wild and domestic animal health in Chilean Patagonia
    (2024) Hidalgo-Hermoso, Ezequiel; Cabello, Javier; Lopez, Rodrigo; Vergara-Wilson, Vicente; Vera, Frank; Valencia, Carola; Sanchez, Carlos; Celis, Sebastian; Silva, Alejandra; Carinanos, Aintzane; Barria, Ismael; Vicencio, Rocio; Munoz-Leal, Sebastian; Aravena, Paula; Lagos, Rocio; Toro-Letelier, Juan; Verasay-Caviedes, Sebastian; Garnham, Antonio; Pena, Irene; Sanchez, Fernando; Moreira-Arce, Dario; Vergara, Pablo M.; Alegria-Moran, Raul; Cortes-Hinojosa, Galaxia
    Introduction Herpesvirus infections have been highlighted as emerging diseases affecting wildlife health and the conservation of several taxa. Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) and infectious keratoconjunctivitis (IKC) are two viruses that infect wild ruminants. Nevertheless, epidemiological data on herpesviruses in South American wild ruminants are limited. An outbreak of caprine gammaherpesvirus-2 (CpHV-2) that recently was suspected as the cause of MCF in southern pudus (Pudu puda) prompted the need to conduct molecular screenings in Chilean cervids to understand the epidemiology of herpesviruses. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence and genetic diversity of herpesviruses in free-ranging cervids from Chile.Methods Herpesvirus infection was assessed in antemortem blood samples (n = 86) from pudus (n = 81) and huemuls (Hippocamelus bisulcus) (n = 5), as well as postmortem samples of spleen (n = 24) and lung (n = 3) from pudus, using a nested pan-herpesvirus PCR assay.Results Combining all suitable sample types, DNA of pudu gammaherpesvirus-1 was detected in five pudues and five huemuls, with an overall prevalence of 9.90% (n = 10/101; 95% CI = 5.11-17.87%). One pudu tested positive for ovine gammaherpesvirus-2 (n = 1/96; 1.04%; 95% CI = 0.05-6.49%), and one pudu tested positive for a Macavirus sequence with 98.63 similarity to ovine gammaherpesvirus-2 (n = 96; 1.04%; 95% CI = 0.05-6.49%).Discussion To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a herpesvirus in huemul and of ovine gammaherpesvirus-2 in Chile. Our results also confirm the active circulation of herpesvirus in free-ranging cervids in Chilean Patagonia, and as such, MCF should be considered as a possible cause of disease in free-ranging Chilean pudus and livestock species. Further research is necessary to develop a plan of systematic monitoring (serological and pathological screening) of herpesviruses in Chilean wild and domestic ruminants to understand their diversity and impact on animal health and conservation.
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    Otariid gammaherpesvirus 1 in South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) and a novel related herpesvirus in free-ranging South American sea lions (Otaria byronia): Prevalence and effects of age, sex, and sample type
    (2024) Tang, Karisa N.; Adkesson, Michael J.; Cardenas-Alayza, Susana; Adamovicz, Laura; Deming, Alissa C.; Wellehan, James F. X.; Childress, April; Cortes-Hinojosa, Galaxia; Colegrove, Kathleen; Langan, Jennifer N.; Allender, Matthew C.
    Otariid gammaherpesvirus 1 (OtGHV1) is associated with high rates of urogenital carcinoma in free-ranging California sea lions (Zalophus californianus; CSL), and until recently was reported only in the Northern Hemisphere. The objective of this study was to survey free-ranging South American sea lions (Otaria byronia; SASL) and South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis: SAFS) in Punta San Juan, Peru for OtGHV1 and to determine prevalence characteristics. Twenty-one percent (14/67) of urogenital swabs collected over three years (2011, 2014, 2015) from live pinnipeds of both species tested positive with a pan-herpesvirus conventional PCR. Sequencing of SAFS amplicons revealed 100% homology to OtGHV1 at the DNA polymerase, glycoprotein B, and viral bcl2-like genes. Sequencing of SASL amplicons revealed a novel related virus, herein called Otariid gammaherpesvirus 8 (OtGHV8). For comparison of sample sites, urogenital, conjunctival, and oropharyngeal swabs collected from 136 live pinnipeds of both species at Punta San Juan between 2011-2018 were then assayed using quantitative PCR for a segment of the OtGHV1/8 DNA polymerase gene using a qPCR assay now determined to cross-react between the two viruses. In total, across both species, 38.6% (51/132) of urogenital swabs, 5.6% (4/71) of conjunctival swabs, and 1.1% (1/90) of oropharyngeal swabs were positive for OtGHV1/8, with SASL only positive on urogenital swabs. Results from SASL were complicated by the finding of OtGHV8, necessitating further study to determine prevalence of OtGHV1 versus OtGHV8 using an alternate assay. Results from SAFS suggest a potential relationship between OtGHV1 in SAFS and CSL. Though necropsy surveillance in SAFS is very limited, geographic patterns of OtGHV1-associated urogenital carcinoma in CSL and the tendency of herpesviruses to cause more detrimental disease in aberrant hosts suggests that it is possible that SAFS may be the definitive host of OtGHV1, which gives further insight into the diversity and phyogeography of this clade of related gammaherpesviruses.
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    Unlocking the Role of a Genital Herpesvirus, Otarine Herpesvirus 1, in California Sea Lion Cervical Cancer
    (2021) Deming, Alissa C.; Wellehan, James F. X.; Colegrove, Kathleen M.; Hall, Ailsa; Luff, Jennifer; Lowenstine, Linda; Duignan, Padraig; Cortes-Hinojosa, Galaxia; Gulland, Frances M. D.
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