Lack of Evidence of Endogenous Avian Leukosis Virus and Endogenous Avian Retrovirus Transmission to Measles Mumps Rubella Vaccine Recipients

Althaf I. Hussain,* Vedapuri Shanmugam,* William M. Switzer,* Shirley X. Tsang,* Aly Fadly,† Donald Thea,‡ Rita Helfand,* William J. Bellini,* Thomas M. Folks,* and Walid Heneine*
*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; †Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture, East Lansing, Michigan, USA; ‡Harvard Institute for International Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Vaccines effectively reduce and prevent death and disease from many viral infections. However, vaccine production occasionally has been complicated by inadvertent contamination with adventitious agents that may have originated from cell substrates used to propagate vaccine strains. Examples of such contamination include simian virus in early polio vaccines grown on monkey kidney cells and avian leukosis virus (ALV) in yellow fever vaccines propagated in chick embryos (1). Hepatitis B virus has also been identified in yellow fever vaccines produced by using pooled human serum as a stabilizing agent (2). Exposure of vaccine recipients to contaminated vaccines has been associated with effects ranging from benign to demonstrable transmission of infection, with or without subsequent disease (2,3).

Reverse transcriptase (RT) activity, an indicator of retroviruses, has recently been detected by sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based RT assays in currently used vaccines produced in chick embryo fibroblasts or embryonated eggs (4-7). The RT-positive vaccines include measles, mumps, and yellow fever vaccines produced by several manufacturers in Europe and the United States (4,5). RT activity was detected in the vaccines despite strict manufacturing practices requiring that chick embryos and embryo fibroblasts be derived from closed, specific-pathogen-free chicken flocks. Such chickens are screened for known pathogens, including two exogenous avian retroviruses: reticuloendotheliosis virus and ALV (8).

The origin of RT activity in measles vaccines was examined in two recent studies. RT activity in a vaccine manufactured in Europe was associated with particles containing endogenous avian virus (EAV) RNA (6). In the second study, we examined measles vaccines from a U.S. manufacturer and found evidence of both EAV and endogenous ALV (7): we detected particle-associated ALV and EAV-0 RNA sequences in both vaccine and chick embryo fibroblast supernatants and demonstrated neutralization of RT activity in vaccines by anti-ALV RT antibodies. In addition, we observed ALV-like particles by electron microscopy in culture supernatants from chick embryo fibroblasts that had not been inoculated with vaccine viruses (7).

At least six subgroups of ALV (A-E and J) have been identified in chickens on the basis of differences in envelope sequences (9). Only subgroup E viruses are expressed from endogenous sequences that are part of the chicken germ line; all the other subgroups are exogenous. The endogenous ALV sequences are usually referred to as endogenous viral (ev) loci. At least 30 ev loci have been characterized in various chicken strains (10). Although endogenous ALVs are not known to be pathogenic for chickens, related species of fowl are susceptible to infection with endogenous ALV (11). Disease associations in these cross-species infections have not been fully investigated (11). Exogenous-type ALVs have been shown to cause several neoplastic diseases in infected chickens (9).

Less is known about EAV, which has elements distinct from but closely related to those of the ALV family of endogenous retroviruses. EAV are also present in line-0 chickens (ev-negative), which have been bred to have no ev proviruses (12). EAV elements exist in at least 50 copies per chicken genome (13).

The observed association of the RT activity of these vaccines with endogenous retroviral particles rather than exogenous retroviruses is consistent with vaccine manufacturing regulations that require exogenous ALV and reticuloendotheliosis virus infections to be eliminated from source chickens. Endogenous retroviral particles are not addressed by current manufacturing guidelines because these particles had not been associated with chick cell-derived vaccines.

The finding of RT activity in all measles vaccine lots from different manufacturers tested suggests that this occurrence is not sporadic and that vaccine recipients may be universally exposed to these retroviral particles (4,5,7,14). Surveillance for infection with ALV/EAV in vaccine recipients is important for evaluating the safety of these vaccines. This surveillance, which was recommended by the World Health Organization in a consultation meeting on RT activity in chicken cell-derived vaccines, is needed for policy decisions regarding the global use of these vaccines (15). We recently reported negative PCR results for ALV and EAV sequences in peripheral blood lymphocytes from 33 measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine recipients (7). However, these preliminary results do not fully reflect risks for transmission of ALV and EAV because of the small number of samples analyzed and the lack of testing for antibodies and plasma viremia (7). We have expanded our surveillance for ALV and EAV infection in recipients of MMR vaccines and here report evidence that does not support infection with either ALV or EAV.

Materials and Methods

Study Population

The study population was 206 children identified from two cohorts. Samples for 113 of the children were identified from repository serum specimens of the New York City Perinatal HIV Transmission Collaborative Study and Perinatal AIDS Collaborative Transmission Study (PACTS). All 113 children had documented evidence of MMR vaccination; none were infected with HIV-1 (16). The remaining 93 children participated in a study of antibody responses to immunization with the U.S.-manufactured MMR vaccine (17). Of 206 specimens analyzed, 32 (15.5%) were collected 6 to 12 months and 158 (76.7%) 12 to 24 months after the first MMR vaccination. Sixteen (7.8%) samples were collected after the second MMR dose. Peripheral blood lymphocytes samples were available for 100 of 113 children from the PACTS study. All testing was done anonymously with regard to children's identity.

Endogenous ALV-based Western Blot Assay

The source of antigen for the Western blot assay was the Rous-associated virus type 0 (RAV-0), a prototype endogenous ALV highly related to the endogenous ALV particles found in MMR vaccine (9,10,18). RAV-0 was inoculated into 15B₁ chick embryo fibroblast cells. Infection with RAV-0 was monitored by using the ALV antigen test kit (Flockchek, IDEXX, ME) that detects ALV p27 gag antigen. Antigen was prepared by lysing 10⁶ cells with 100 µL lysis buffer, followed by 5 minutes each of boiling and sonication. The protein concentration of the lysate was determined with the Pierce protein kit (Rockford, IL).

Electrophoresis was done on 150 micrograms of either infected or uninfected whole-cell lysates in 10%-20% Tris-HCl gradient SDS-polyacrylamide gels (BioRad, CA) for 2 hours at 70V. Serum samples were diluted 1:50 in blocking buffer. Rabbit anti-avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV, an exogenous strain of ALV) p27 (SPAFAS, Preston, CT) antibody was used as positive control. Anti-rabbit, anti-chicken, and anti-human antibodies conjugated to horseradish peroxidase were used as secondary antibodies for rabbit, chicken, and human plasma samples at 1:6000, 1:3000, and 1:6000 dilutions, respectively. Control human IgG was used as an assay control for anti-human horseradish peroxidase-conjugated secondary antibody.

To validate the Western blot assay, sera from 27 chickens seropositive by virus neutralization assays for ALV (subgroup A) and 34 ALV-seronegative chickens were tested for seroreactivity to ALV antigens by Western blot. In addition, 10 serum samples from chickens infected with reticuloendotheliosis virus were used as specificity controls. Validation on human sera included testing samples from persons infected with human T-cell lymphotropic virus types I and II (HTLV-I and HTLV-II) and HIV types 1 and 2 to assess possible cross-reactivity between ALV and human retroviruses. HTLV- and HIV-negative sera from anonymous blood donors were also included in this validation. All chicken serum samples used for validation of the RAV-0 Western blot assay were also tested on blots containing control antigen from uninfected 15B₁ chick embryo fibroblasts.

Proviral DNA PCR

Aliquots of lysates from 150,000 peripheral blood lymphocytes from MMR vaccine recipients were amplified by PCR for ALV env and EAV env-like sequences by using primers ALVENVF2/ALVENVR2 and EAVENVF10/EAVENVR10, respectively (7). All diagnostic primers used were derived from particle-associated viral sequences identified in the vaccine substrate used to prepare the MMR vaccine (7). Both assays are highly sensitive, with a detection threshold of one copy for EAV PCR assay and 1-10 copies for the ALV PCR assay (7). The PCR reaction conditions included 35 cycles of 95°C for 1 minute, 55°C for 1 minute, and 72°C for 1 minute. PCR products were detected by Southern blot hybridization to the ALV- and EAV-specific ³²P-labeled probes, ALVENVP1 and EAVENVP1, respectively (7).

Detection of ALV and EAV RNA in Vaccine Recipients

RNA was extracted from serum as described (19). The primers used for the RT reaction were ALVENVR2 and EAVENVR10 for ALV and EAV, respectively. The reaction was carried out at 37°C for 2 hours, followed by 95°C for 5 minutes. RNA extracted from RAV-0-infected 15B₁ chick embryo fibroblast supernatants was used for positive controls. PCR was carried out as described (7). The ALV and EAV PCR products were detected by Southern blot hybridization with the ³²P-labeled ALVENVP1 and EAVENVP1 probes, respectively.

Results

Validation of Western Blot Assay and Criteria for Positivity

	Figure 1
	Click to view enlarged image Figure 1. Western blot antibody reactivity of chicken sera to endogenous avian leukosis virus (ALV) (Rous-associated virus 0) antigen....
	Figure 2
	Click to view enlarged image Figure 2. Representative results from polymerase chain reaction analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes from measles mumps rubella (MMR) vaccine recipients for endogenous avian retrovirus (EAV).
	Figure 3
	Click to view enlarged image Figure 3. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis of sera from measles mumps rubella (MMR) vaccine recipients for the presence of avian leukosis virus (ALV).

The presence of viral proteins was confirmed by the use of antisera raised against whole ALVs (anti-AMV and anti-RAV-0) and against anti-p27 gag protein from AMV (Table). These antisera detected env gp85 and gp37 as well as gag p27, p19, p15, and p12 proteins (data not shown). All 27 ALV-infected and neutralization antibody-positive chicken sera reacted strongly to RAV-0 p27, while negative control sera from both uninfected chickens and reticuloendotheliosis virus-infected chickens showed no reactivity to p27 (Figure 1a). These data support the use of p27 reactivity as a marker for ALV seropositivity. Similarly, negative results were seen with samples from 60 human blood donors. No cross-reactivity was observed between RAV-0 p27 gag protein and antibodies against HIV-1, HIV-2, HTLV-I, and HTLV-II (data not shown).

Lack of Evidence of Seroreactivity to ALV

Serum samples from all 206 MMR vaccine recipients were negative by Western blot (Table). These samples included those of the 16 children who had received two doses of MMR vaccine (Figure 1b). No seroreactivity to any viral proteins, including p27, was observed.

Lack of Evidence of ALV and EAV Sequences

All 100 peripheral blood lymphocyte samples were negative for both ALV and EAV DNA sequences by PCR analysis (Figure 2). Of the 100 samples from the PACTS cohort, 33 had been tested previously (7). Similarly, all sera from the 100 children tested negative for both ALV and EAV RNA by RT-PCR (Figure 3). These results indicate absence of both ALV and EAV viremia in these vaccine recipients (Table).

Conclusions

Analysis of MMR vaccines from different manufacturers suggests that vaccine recipients may be universally exposed to endogenous chicken retroviral particles. We sought evidence of persistent ALV and EAV infection in a large number of MMR vaccine recipients, and we were unable to find any evidence of ALV or EAV sequences in peripheral blood lymphocytes, despite the use of highly sensitive PCR assays. Neither did we find evidence of ALV or EAV viremia, since all serum samples tested negative for ALV and EAV RNA by RT-PCR analysis; this finding is of interest because ALV viremia is commonly seen in chickens infected with ALV (18). All 206 serum samples tested by a validated Western blot assay were negative for ALV antibodies, indicating absence of antigenic exposure. These findings differ from those in persons infected with human retroviruses, who usually seroconvert 2 weeks to 6 months after exposure (20,21). The negative serologic data also suggest the low likelihood of nonviremic ALV infection in cells other than peripheral blood lymphocytes, which may not have been detected by PCR testing. Our results overall show no evidence of infection with either ALV or EAV in these vaccine recipients. The lack of transmission of ALV and EAV observed in 16 children who had two MMR vaccinations provides additional reassuring data.

Several factors, including a natural human resistance to infection with endogenous ALV, may explain the lack of transmission of these viruses to MMR vaccine recipients. However, few or no data are available on the ability of endogenous ALV to replicate in human cells. Resistance to endogenous ALV infection may, for instance, be attributed to the absence of a human cell-surface receptor for the virus as well as to other intracellular blocks for ALV replication. A tumor necrosis factor receptor-related protein, referred to as SEAR, has been recently identified as a receptor for endogenous ALV in turkey cells (22). Plasmid-encoded expression of SEAR in human 293 cells can confer susceptibility to infection by endogenous ALV, suggesting that human cells can support endogenous ALV replication if virus entry is achieved (22). Human serum can lyse ALV by complement activation (23); however, this protective mechanism has not been demonstrated for endogenous ALV and EAV particles.

The presence of defective ALV and EAV particles in vaccines may also explain the lack of transmission of these viruses to vaccine recipients. ev loci confer a variety of different phenotypes, including infectious or defective particles (9,10,18,24). However, it is not known whether the ALV particles in the vaccine are all defective. The proportion of defective to infectious ALV in different vaccine lots depends on the set of the ev loci in the chick embryo fibroblast substrate preparation used for each vaccine lot. Loci associated with noninfectious viruses (ev-1, ev-3, and ev-6) have been identified in a chick embryo fibroblast substrate of a U.S. vaccine manufacturer (7). However, the presence of many loci known to produce infectious ALV-E could not be determined (7).

EAV may represent the predominant retroviral particles in MMR vaccines (6,7). Therefore, our data, which indicate that exposure to EAV particles was not associated with EAV viremia or EAV-infected peripheral blood lymphocytes in vaccine recipients, are important. Confirmation of our molecular results by EAV-specific serologic testing may, however, be necessary. The lack of evidence of transmission of EAV to vaccinees is likely due to the presence of defective particles. No infectious EAVs have yet been isolated, nor has a full-length intact EAV provirus been identified (25). However, our understanding of the EAV family is limited.

The presence of ALV in chick-cell-derived vaccines is not a new phenomenon; many instances of ALV contamination in yellow fever and measles vaccines have been documented (26,27). However, earlier vaccines had evidence of exogenous rather than endogenous type ALV (27). Available data also suggest lack of transmission of ALV to vaccine recipients (26,28,29). These studies examined 6 adults and 41 children with measles vaccination and 227 yellow fever vaccine recipients (26,27,29), and no evidence was found of neutralizing antibodies to an exogenous ALV. No increase in cancer rate has been found in a study of recipients of exogenous ALV-positive yellow fever vaccine (27).

Despite these reassuring data, the presence of avian retroviral particles in chick embryo fibroblast-derived vaccines raises questions about the suitability of primary chicken cell substrates for vaccine production and the advisability of a change to RT-negative substrates. Chick embryo fibroblasts originating from line 0 chickens could provide substrates that do not express ALV-E; however, such cells may still produce EAV particles (7,12). Obtaining an RT-negative substrate may require a substantial change from primary chicken cells to RT-negative cells from different species, such as immortalized or diploid mammalian cells. Since the cell substrate is critical to the attenuation of live vaccine viruses, any change in the cell substrate could have unpredictable effects on the safety and efficacy of the vaccine and should be approached cautiously.

In conclusion, we found no evidence of either endogenous ALV or EAV infection in recipients of U.S.-made MMR vaccines. Our data indicate that no change is warranted in current U.S. policies for the use of MMR vaccine.

Acknowledgments

We thank Alison Mawle, Harold Jaffe, and Rafael Harpaz for critical reviews of the manuscript.

This work was supported in part by The National Vaccine Program Office.

Dr. Hussain is a postdoctoral fellow at the Molecular Epidemiology and Zoonoses Section, HIV and Retrovirology Branch, CDC, with research interests in investigating retroviral zoonotic infections.

Address for correspondence: Walid Heneine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Mail Stop G19, Atlanta, GA 30333; fax: 404-639-1174; e-mail: whm2@cdc.gov.

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