A three-dimensional air-liquid interface airway epithelial cell model to study pathogen interactions within the bovine respiratory tract
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Glasgow
Department Name: College of Medical, Veterinary, Life Sci
Abstract
Background. Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a multifactorial condition of cattle that involves complex interactions between different viral and bacterial pathogens and causes significant economic losses to the cattle industry worldwide. Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) and bovine herpes virus-1 (BHV-1) are two of the most important viruses and Mannheimia haemolytica is one of the most important bacterial species involved in BRD. There is an urgent need to develop more effective vaccines and antimicrobials against the pathogens responsible for BRD. To achieve this we require a greater understanding of the molecular interactions that take place between pathogens and host. In particular, we need to more fully understand the early events that take place when viruses and bacteria colonise the host respiratory tract. Unfortunately, the methods that are currently available to do this are not well developed and, consequently, a large number of research experiments have to be carried out in cattle. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop laboratory-based methods that can be used to study the interactions of viruses and bacteria with the bovine respiratory tract. One such method involves the three-dimensional (3-D) culture of differentiated primary airway epithelial cells grown at an air-liquid interface (ALI). Crucially, these cells can be extracted from the lungs of freshly killed cattle at abattoirs; the approach does not involve killing cattle specifically for this purpose.
Aims and objectives. The overall aim of the project is to develop a 3-D bovine airway epithelial cell (BAEC) model at an ALI that will allow us to investigate the complex interactions of bacteria and viruses within the bovine respiratory tract. The project comprises four phases. In phase 1, differentiated BAECs grown at an ALI will be characterized and optimized by examining the cells over a period of 42 days using a range of microscopic and other techniques. The optimum "window" during which the cells are at their healthiest for use in subsequent experiments will be identified. In phase 2, the interactions of BRSV and BHV-1, as well as M. haemolytica, with BAECs maintained at an ALI will be studied using a range of microscopy and other techniques. We will also carry out co-infection studies in which we will investigate the effect of viral infection on subsequent infection with M. haemolytica. In phase 3, the immune response of the epithelial cells to "infection" with these pathogens will be studied. Respiratory epithelial cells secrete special immune chemicals (cytokines) when they are infected with pathogens that are important in protecting the epithelial surface from infection. We will study this innate immune response by measuring cytokine secretion. In phase 4, the findings of the laboratory studies will be validated by infecting cattle with a virus alone, with M. haemolytica alone, and with the virus followed by M. haemolytica. The effects of these infections will be assessed by evaluating colonisation of bacteria and the cytokine response within the respiratory tract.
Applications and benefits. The development and characterization of this model, and the demonstration that it can be used to study bacterial and viral infections of the bovine respiratory tract, will have a number of important applications and benefits to the study of respiratory disease in cattle. It will provide an invaluable tool for studying the interactions of bacteria and viruses within the bovine respiratory tract in the laboratory without the need to use cattle. Importantly, this approach could also be extended to other animals. In this way, the development of this model will save countless animals from being used in such experiments. In addition, this and future work will further our understanding of bacterial and viral infections within the bovine respiratory tract and this will contribute to the development of improved vaccines and antimicrobials.
Aims and objectives. The overall aim of the project is to develop a 3-D bovine airway epithelial cell (BAEC) model at an ALI that will allow us to investigate the complex interactions of bacteria and viruses within the bovine respiratory tract. The project comprises four phases. In phase 1, differentiated BAECs grown at an ALI will be characterized and optimized by examining the cells over a period of 42 days using a range of microscopic and other techniques. The optimum "window" during which the cells are at their healthiest for use in subsequent experiments will be identified. In phase 2, the interactions of BRSV and BHV-1, as well as M. haemolytica, with BAECs maintained at an ALI will be studied using a range of microscopy and other techniques. We will also carry out co-infection studies in which we will investigate the effect of viral infection on subsequent infection with M. haemolytica. In phase 3, the immune response of the epithelial cells to "infection" with these pathogens will be studied. Respiratory epithelial cells secrete special immune chemicals (cytokines) when they are infected with pathogens that are important in protecting the epithelial surface from infection. We will study this innate immune response by measuring cytokine secretion. In phase 4, the findings of the laboratory studies will be validated by infecting cattle with a virus alone, with M. haemolytica alone, and with the virus followed by M. haemolytica. The effects of these infections will be assessed by evaluating colonisation of bacteria and the cytokine response within the respiratory tract.
Applications and benefits. The development and characterization of this model, and the demonstration that it can be used to study bacterial and viral infections of the bovine respiratory tract, will have a number of important applications and benefits to the study of respiratory disease in cattle. It will provide an invaluable tool for studying the interactions of bacteria and viruses within the bovine respiratory tract in the laboratory without the need to use cattle. Importantly, this approach could also be extended to other animals. In this way, the development of this model will save countless animals from being used in such experiments. In addition, this and future work will further our understanding of bacterial and viral infections within the bovine respiratory tract and this will contribute to the development of improved vaccines and antimicrobials.
Technical Summary
Aims and objectives. The overall aim of the project is to develop a bovine airway epithelial cell (BAEC) model at air-liquid interface (ALI) to investigate interactions of pathogens at the bovine respiratory mucosa. This will be achieved through the following objectives: (1) characterize and optimize differentiated BAECS grown at ALI; (2) investigate interactions of M. haemolytica, BRSV and BHV-1 with BAECs; (3) investigate the proinflammatory innate immune response of BAECs to BRSV, BHV-1 and M. haemolytica; and (4) establish the relevance of the BAEC model to in vivo infection studies of young calves
Methodology. BAECs will be obtained from the bronchi or trachea of respiratory tract material derived from freshly slaughtered animals at a local abattoir. Airway cells will be grown to confluence on Millipore transwells as submerged cultures and differentiation will be triggered by creating an ALI. The integrity, structure and functioning of the epithelium will be monitored for 42 days by biochemical and morphological characterization to determine the optimal "window" for infection studies. Interactions of M. haemolytica, BRSV and BHV-1 with BAECs, both individually and in co-infection studies, will be followed quantitatively and qualitatively. Secretion of IL-1b, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IFNg and TNFa will be measured to assess the proinflammatory innate immune response of the BAECs. The relevance of the BAEC model to the in vivo situation will be assessed by infection studies of young calves.
Scientific and medical opportunities. The development and characterization of this in vitro model will provide an invaluable tool for studying the interactions of bacteria and viruses within the respiratory tract of cattle without the in vivo use of animals. It will lead to further studies aimed at advancing our understanding of infectious disease within the respiratory tract of cattle that will have a major impact on the development of improved vaccines and antimicrobials.
Methodology. BAECs will be obtained from the bronchi or trachea of respiratory tract material derived from freshly slaughtered animals at a local abattoir. Airway cells will be grown to confluence on Millipore transwells as submerged cultures and differentiation will be triggered by creating an ALI. The integrity, structure and functioning of the epithelium will be monitored for 42 days by biochemical and morphological characterization to determine the optimal "window" for infection studies. Interactions of M. haemolytica, BRSV and BHV-1 with BAECs, both individually and in co-infection studies, will be followed quantitatively and qualitatively. Secretion of IL-1b, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IFNg and TNFa will be measured to assess the proinflammatory innate immune response of the BAECs. The relevance of the BAEC model to the in vivo situation will be assessed by infection studies of young calves.
Scientific and medical opportunities. The development and characterization of this in vitro model will provide an invaluable tool for studying the interactions of bacteria and viruses within the respiratory tract of cattle without the in vivo use of animals. It will lead to further studies aimed at advancing our understanding of infectious disease within the respiratory tract of cattle that will have a major impact on the development of improved vaccines and antimicrobials.
Planned Impact
Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a multifactorial condition of cattle that involves different viral and bacterial pathogens and is of major economic significance to the livestock industries both within the UK and globally. In this multi-faceted and cross-disciplinary proposal we aim to develop, optimise and validate an in vitro 3-D bovine airway epithelial cell (BAEC) model at an air-liquid interface (ALI) that will allow ourselves, and others, to investigate the complex interactions of pathogens at the bovine respiratory mucosa. Further details of the 3Rs, scientific and economic impacts are provided below.
3Rs impact: Evidence is presented elsewhere (see Pathways to Impact and Case for Support) to indicate that the successful development of this model will make a significant impact on the 3Rs initiative as it will significantly replace and reduce the number of cattle used in studies of the pathogenesis of BRD and in the development of improved vaccines and antimicrobials. Support that our research proposal will make a significant impact on the 3Rs initiative is provided in a covering letter from Prof. Anthony Confer. The ability to investigate the molecular interactions of bacterial and viral pathogens with the bovine respiratory tract (RT), and assess the proinflammatory immune response, using our model will replace the use of animals in in vivo pathogenesis studies. In addition, the ability to perform preliminary screening experiments on bacteria or viruses interacting with BAECs in vitro will reduce the number of animals needed in subsequent clinical vaccinology and drug-efficacy trials. It is important to emphasize that the model could be used by a large number of research groups around the world investigating a wide range of bacterial and viral pathogens associated with BRD. In addition, the model, and techniques developed from it, could be adapted for similar infectious disease studies in other farmed animal species including sheep, pigs and horses.
Scientific impact: The development of a bovine model will have a significant scientific impact, not only in BRD research, but in wider areas of veterinary and medical research. The model will allow more rapid progress to be made in furthering our understanding of host-pathogen interactions within the RT of cattle. For example, the model will allow proteomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic responses of both pathogens and host cells to be analysed during the infection process. In this way, key in vivo-expressed molecules involved in host-pathogen interactions will be identified; these molecules are likely to represent potential drug targets and vaccine antigens. There is also enormous potential in the model for furthering our understanding of the innate proinflammatory immune response of BAECs to pathogens including the regulation of this response via, for example, the Toll-like receptors (TLRs). A particular strength of the proposed model is its potential for use in co-infection studies involving viral and bacterial pathogens of the bovine RT. This is a hugely important, but under-studied, area of RT infectious disease research. Use of the model in this way represents a completely novel approach and has significant potential for advancing our knowledge of pathogen-pathogen interactions within the RT. The development of a bovine model will enable new techniques to be established, and existing techniques to be refined, in a bovine system before the technology is transferred to equivalent human systems for medical research.
Economic impact: The proposal will also make a major economic impact both within the UK and globally because it will lead to the development of improved vaccines and antimicrobial agents against BRD. In this respect, the proposal will impact on animal health and food security initiatives, both BBSRC priority areas, because the development of this approach will find wide use in studies aimed at combating infectious disease of farmed animals.
3Rs impact: Evidence is presented elsewhere (see Pathways to Impact and Case for Support) to indicate that the successful development of this model will make a significant impact on the 3Rs initiative as it will significantly replace and reduce the number of cattle used in studies of the pathogenesis of BRD and in the development of improved vaccines and antimicrobials. Support that our research proposal will make a significant impact on the 3Rs initiative is provided in a covering letter from Prof. Anthony Confer. The ability to investigate the molecular interactions of bacterial and viral pathogens with the bovine respiratory tract (RT), and assess the proinflammatory immune response, using our model will replace the use of animals in in vivo pathogenesis studies. In addition, the ability to perform preliminary screening experiments on bacteria or viruses interacting with BAECs in vitro will reduce the number of animals needed in subsequent clinical vaccinology and drug-efficacy trials. It is important to emphasize that the model could be used by a large number of research groups around the world investigating a wide range of bacterial and viral pathogens associated with BRD. In addition, the model, and techniques developed from it, could be adapted for similar infectious disease studies in other farmed animal species including sheep, pigs and horses.
Scientific impact: The development of a bovine model will have a significant scientific impact, not only in BRD research, but in wider areas of veterinary and medical research. The model will allow more rapid progress to be made in furthering our understanding of host-pathogen interactions within the RT of cattle. For example, the model will allow proteomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic responses of both pathogens and host cells to be analysed during the infection process. In this way, key in vivo-expressed molecules involved in host-pathogen interactions will be identified; these molecules are likely to represent potential drug targets and vaccine antigens. There is also enormous potential in the model for furthering our understanding of the innate proinflammatory immune response of BAECs to pathogens including the regulation of this response via, for example, the Toll-like receptors (TLRs). A particular strength of the proposed model is its potential for use in co-infection studies involving viral and bacterial pathogens of the bovine RT. This is a hugely important, but under-studied, area of RT infectious disease research. Use of the model in this way represents a completely novel approach and has significant potential for advancing our knowledge of pathogen-pathogen interactions within the RT. The development of a bovine model will enable new techniques to be established, and existing techniques to be refined, in a bovine system before the technology is transferred to equivalent human systems for medical research.
Economic impact: The proposal will also make a major economic impact both within the UK and globally because it will lead to the development of improved vaccines and antimicrobial agents against BRD. In this respect, the proposal will impact on animal health and food security initiatives, both BBSRC priority areas, because the development of this approach will find wide use in studies aimed at combating infectious disease of farmed animals.