Surveillance for Adenoviruses in Bats in Italy

Adenoviruses are important pathogens of humans and animals. Bats have been recognized as potential reservoirs of novel viruses, with some viruses being regarded as a possible zoonotic threat to humans. In this study, we report the detection and analysis of adenoviruses from different bat species in northern Italy. Upon sequence and phylogenetic analysis, based on a short diagnostic fragment of the highly-conserved DNA polymerase gene, we identified potential novel candidate adenovirus species, including an avian-like adenovirus strain. An adenovirus isolate was obtained in simian cell lines from the carcass of a Pipistrellus kuhlii, and the complete genome sequence was reconstructed using deep sequencing technologies. The virus displayed high nucleotide identity and virtually the same genome organization as the Pipistrellus pipistrellus strain PPV1, isolated in Germany in 2007. Gathering data on epidemiology and the genetic diversity of bat adenoviruses may be helpful to better understand their evolution in the mammalian and avian hosts.

Detection of Enteroviruses: An Assessment of Ten Cell Lines

The routine monitoring of waters and wastewaters using the BGM - suspended cell plaque assay system has resulted in high isolation rates for polio and coxsackie B viruses with echoviruses only rarely being detected. Ten cell lines (five of human origin, five of simian derivation) were examined for their susceptibility to twenty six enteroviruses and their ability to isolate naturally occurring enteroviruses in wastewater effluent determined. All the viruses produced cytopathic effect in the simian cell lines but only in the FL amnion line of human cells. The detection of naturally occurring enteroviruses was most efficient when BGM cells were used with 82% of samples being positive. RD cells gave 73% positive whilst chimpanzee liver gave 64%. However, the number of plaques formed in the presence of each cell line showed that BGM detected 50% of all plaques observed with RD and chimpanzee liver detecting 21% and 9% respectively. The serotypes detected in this study were of the polio and coxsackie B groups, no echoviruses being identified.

Murine cell complementation of a cold-sensitive defect for simian virus 40 replication in simian cells

Mouse 3T3 fibroblasts were found to complement, in simian cell variants semipermissive to simian virus 40, a cold-sensitive defect of an early function, but not a nonconditional defect of viral uncoating. The variant simian cells could rescue simian virus 40 from 3T3 transformants, and this capacity was not temperature dependent.

Murine cell complementation of a cold-sensitive defect for simian virus 40 replication in simian cells.

Mouse 3T3 fibroblasts were found to complement, in simian cell variants semipermissive to simian virus 40, a cold-sensitive defect of an early function, but not a nonconditional defect of viral uncoating. The variant simian cells could rescue simian virus 40 from 3T3 transformants, and this capacity was not temperature dependent.