Analysis of porcine cytomegalovirus DNA polymerase by consensus primer PCR

We used a consensus primer PCR method to amplify a region of herpesviral DNA-directed DNA polymerase gene using degenerate primers for initial characterization of the porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV) genome. The sequence of the PCR product from PCMV DNA template and its alignment with other herpesvirus DNA polymerase counterparts showed that both conserved amino acid residues and conservative amino acid substitutions are in parallel. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that PCMV should be included in the clade comprising human herpesvirus 6 and 7, rather than human and mouse cytomegaloviruses, in Betaherpesvirus subfamily.     

猪巨细胞病毒福建株DPOL基因的克隆及序列分析

为了明确猪巨细胞病毒（porcine cytomegalovirus,PCMV）福建株（PCMV-FJ01株）DPOL基因特征,本研究根据GenBank数据库中PCMV DPOL基因序列特征,利用引物设计软件Oligo 7.0设计针对DPOL基因的引物,以PCMV-FJ01株核酸DNA为模板,对其进行分段PCR扩增。将分段扩增的产物经胶回收试剂盒回收后进行克隆测序,对测序结果进行拼接后获得PCMV-FJ01株DPOL基因序列,并进行生物信息学分析。结果表明,PCMV-FJ01株DPOL基因全长为3 021 bp,编码1 006个氨基酸;其与GenBank中的PCMV分离株DPOL基因核苷酸和氨基酸同源性分别在98.7%和99.1%以上。遗传进化分析发现,相对于巨细胞病毒属其他种代表株,PCMV分离株DPOL基因在遗传进化上和玫瑰疱病毒属代表株更近。建议根据PCMV DPOL基因遗传进化特征,将其划归为玫瑰疱病毒属的一个病毒新种--猪玫瑰疹病毒（porcine roseolovirus）。     

Cloning and Sequencing Analysis of DPOL Gene of Porcine Cytomegalovirus

In order to know the DPOL gene characterization of porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV) (PCMV-FJ01 strain),three pairs of specific primer were designed by Oligo 7.0 software based on comparison the characterization of DPOL gene retrieved from GenBank.The target DPOL gene fragments were amplified using PCR methods with the strain PCMV-FJ01 genomic DNA. The target PCR fragments were cloned and sequenced. The assembly sequences were bioinformatics analysis. The DPOL gene of PCMV-FJ01 strain was 3 021 bp in length, coding 1 006 amino acids. The results showed that the homology of the nucleotide sequence and amino acid sequence were above 98.7% and 99.1%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the PCMV was closer with genus Roseolovirus rather than genus Cytomegalovirus. The results suggested that PCMV should be new species under genus Roseolovirus base on the phylogenetic relationship.     

猪细胞巨化病毒四川株MCP基因克隆及其编码蛋白的生物信息学分析

参照GenBank公布的仅有的日本株猪细胞巨化病毒较大衣壳蛋白（MCP）基因序列（登录号：AB051069）设计2对引物,采用分步克隆的方法,将PCMVMCP全序列克隆入pMD19-T载体进行测序,成功获得了pMD-MCP重组质粒,将所得序列录入到GenBank中（登录号：HQ025802）。测序结果表明,该MCP基因全长4017bp,共编码1338个氨基酸;与NCBI上公布的仅有的日本毒株MCP基因的核苷酸同源性为96．8％,氨基酸同源性为94．1％;进化分析显示：PCMVMCP基因与人疱疹病毒6型或7型的MCP基因亲缘关系较近;利用生物信息学软件对蛋白质结构特征进行分析,发现该蛋白含有59个潜在的磷酸化位点,潜在功能强大;亚细胞定位预测结果表明该蛋白主要存在于线粒体中和细胞质中并各占39．1％和26．1％,内质网占17．4％,高尔基体占8．7％,空泡和细胞核均占4．3％,表明PCMVMCP蛋白属于胞质蛋白,抗原区位集中于胞膜,有向胞质移动的趋势;另该成熟蛋白存在18个主要的抗原位点,将肽链经亲水性与抗原表位的共同分析,发现其肽链的c端极有可能分布有抗原决定簇。     

猪巨细胞病毒gB蛋白抗原表位富集区的表达和抗原性的分析

为表达猪巨细胞病毒(PCMV)gB基因,本研究根据GenBank登录的PCMV gB基因序列设计1对引物,以感染PCMV猪肺细胞总DNA为模板,采用PCR扩增得到gB基因片段,克隆于pMD-18T并进行核苷酸序列测定。利用DNAStar分析gB蛋白的抗原表位,选择抗原表位富集的2个基因片段(命名为PCMVgB1和PCMVgB2)分别克隆到原核表达载体pET-32a(+)中,构建重组表达质粒并转化Rosetta(DE3)宿主菌。结果显示:扩增的gB基因与GenBank登录的PCMV gB基因的核苷酸同源性在97.6%～98.9%之间,推导的氨基酸同源性在97%～98.6%之间。经IPTG诱导的含pET-gB1和pET-gB2重组质粒的宿主菌可表达重组gB1和gB2蛋白,SDS-PAGE显示分子量约为62ku和36ku。Western blot和间接ELISA结果表明,重组gB1和gB2蛋白均具有反应原性。     

猪巨细胞病毒gB基因的克隆与序列分析

应用PCR方法,从郑州、福建、浙江金华和宁波猪肺脏中分别扩增出4段PCMV gB基因,并将其分别克隆入pMD18-T载体,经蓝白斑筛选和PCR鉴定,将阳性克隆进行序列分析并构建系统进化树。序列分析表明,其gB基因全长为2 580bp,编码860个氨基酸,与PCMV其他序列相比,其同源性在96.1%～99.7%,与β疱疹病毒亚科中其他常见毒株同源性在25.9%～38.1%;推导的氨基酸序列,有11个半胱氨酸,17个潜在N-糖基化位点,其裂解位点是RYKR;系统进化树分析发现,推导的氨基酸序列出现两个分支,而且来自上述4个地区PCMV gB糖蛋白氨基酸序列处在不同的分支中。     

Experimental infection of crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus) with an invertebrate iridovirus isolated from a high-casqued chameleon (Chamaeleo hoehnelii).

Invertebrate iridoviruses (IIV) have been a regular problem for insect breeders. They have also recently been isolated from various lizard species. An iridovirus isolated from several tissues of a high-casqued chameleon (Chamaeleo hoehnelii) was identified as an IIV on the basis of electron microscopy (EM), sequencing of a portion of the major capsid protein (MCP) gene, and restriction endonuclease analysis of viral DNA. The pathogenicity of this isolate for crickets of the species Gryllus bimaculatus was tested by using 3 experimental infection studies. The mortality rates in the infected crickets ranged between 20% and 35%. The fat bodies of the crickets were examined on cell culture, with a nested PCR targeting the MCP gene, histologically, with in situ hybridization and by EM. Nested PCR was the most sensitive method for detecting IIV in the fat-body samples. Virus was re-isolated from several fat-body samples. In some fat bodies of infected crickets, massive arrays of viruses could be detected by EM. These findings support the hypothesis that IIV from insects are able to infect reptiles.     

Epidemiological survey of Theileria parasite infection of cattle in Northeast China by allele-specific PCR

An epidemiological survey on a Theileria parasite infection of cattle in Northeast China was carried out using allele-specific PCR and DNA sequence analysis of the major piroplasm surface protein (MPSP) gene. The results showed that 14 of 104 blood samples were positive for Theileria by PCR. Among the positive cases, co-infection with various combinations of C- and I-type parasites was detected in 12 samples; no B- and Thai-type parasites were detected by allele-specific PCR. Phylogenetic analysis based on the MPSP gene sequences revealed that Theileria parasites with the MPSP types 1, 2, and 4 were distributed in Northeast China.     

猪巨细胞病毒(PCMV)四川株gB基因的克隆与序列分析

根据GenBank中猪巨细胞病毒(porcine cytomegalovirus,PCMV)gB基因的核苷酸序列(GenBank登录号:FJ870563.1)设计1对引物,采用PCR方法从确诊为猪巨细胞病毒的阳性样品中扩增gB基因,将其克隆到pMD19-T载体上,转化DH5α感受态细胞,提取重组质粒T-PCMV-gB,经PCR和酶切鉴定后测序,并与GenBank上gB相应序列进行同源性分析。结果表明,该基因片段长度为2580 bp,与其他参考株gB基因的核苷酸同源性达98.0%～99.6%;其推导的氨基酸序列与人疱疹病毒6型和7型比较分析结果显示,其同源性分别为42.9%～43.6%和40.5%～40.6%。这些氨基酸差异对病毒生物学特性的影响有待于进一步研究。     

PRRSV的分离鉴定及与其他5种猪病毒混合感染情况调查

应用PCR检测方法,对来自山东、河北、河南等10省44份表现高热病症状的临床发病猪病料,进行猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)、猪瘟病毒(CSFV)、猪圆环病毒(PCV)、猪伪狂犬病病毒(PRV)、猪巨细胞病病毒(PCMV)和猪流感病毒(SIV)6种病原的检测。结果发现,6种病原中PRRSV的检出率最高为72.7%;单纯PRRSV感染的比例仅为2.27%。根据PCR检测结果分析PRRSV与其他5种病毒的混合感染情况,结果发现两重感染中PRRSV/PRV并发率最高(62.50%),三重感染中PRRSV/PRV/PCV并发率最高(43.75%),四重感染中PRRSV/PRV/PCV/PCMV并发率最高(28.125%),五重感染中PRRSV/PCV/PCMV/CSFV/PRV并发率最高(15.625%),PRRSV/PCV/PCMV/CSFV/PRV/SIV六重感染的比例为9.375%。将PRRSV阳性病料接种猪肺巨噬细胞和Marc-145细胞,共分离到9株PRRSV,分离率为28.1%。结果表明,发病猪多为感染PRRSV的同时混合感染其他多种病毒,为制定合理的免疫程序预防猪场各种疾病提供科学依据。     

Orf virus circulation in cattle in Turkey

Orf virus (ORFV) causes contagious skin disease that mainly affects sheep and goats with zoonotic potential. However, there is not enough information about the association between ORFV and occurrence of skin disease in cattle. The present study describes outbreaks of ORFV infection in cattle in different provinces that are located in the Aegean, Central Anatolian and Mediterranean regions of Turkey. During the months of June and August 2017, vesicular fluid and scab samples were collected from cattle which had proliferative skin lesions. First, presence of lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) and bovine herpesvirus 2 (BoHV-2, known as the causative agent of pseudo-lumpy skin disease) were investigated by real time PCR and PCR, respectively. Then, samples tested for the presence of parapoxviruses by PCR using primers specific to major envelope protein gene (B2L). Parapoxvirus DNA was detected in investigated samples whereas LSDV and BoHV-2 DNA were not detected. The analysis of the B2L gene sequences revealed that cattle were infected with ORFV. The isolates in the present study shared 100% sequence identity at the nucleotide and amino acid level when compared with previously characterised Turkish field ORFV isolates from goats in 2016. Results of the study show unusual infection of cattle with ORFV, and suggest that ORFV jumps the host species barrier from goats to cattle.     

Detection of bacterial DNA in synovial fluid from horses with infectious synovitis

Standard culturing techniques are often unrewarding in confirming diagnosis of synovial infection in the equine patient. Several human studies report the use of sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques for the detection of bacterial involvement in acute synovitis. However, successful extraction of bacterial DNA directly from clinical samples from horses without prior culture has not been reported yet. The goal of this study was to develop a sensitive and reliable method for molecular detection and identification of bacterial species in synovial fluid from horses with infectious synovitis. Synovial fluid samples from 6 horses with culture confirmed synovial infection were used for broad range 16S rRNA gene PCR. Synovial aspirates of 2 healthy horses were used as negative controls. Following extraction and purification of synovial fluid DNA, all samples were processed by touchdown PCR. Amplicons were detected by reverse line blot hybridisation and visualised with chemiluminescence. Pathogen-specific detection of 16S rRNA gene sequences was successful in all 6 synovial fluid samples. No bacterial DNA was detected in the aspirates from the negative control horses using touchdown PCR followed by 25 additional cycles of amplification. The identity of the pathogens was confirmed by DNA sequencing of the amplicons. It can be concluded that broad range 16S rRNA gene PCR followed by reverse line blot hybridisation is a promising technique for detection of bacterial DNA in synovial fluid samples. Further research should aim at the detection of bacterial DNA in synovial fluid samples suspected of infection but having negative culture results. When the 16S PCR proves to be reliable and more sensitive than standard culturing techniques, it may become a powerful tool in the diagnosis of synovial infection.     

Study of vertical transmission of fowl adenoviruses

The vertical transmission of fowl adenoviruses (FAdVs) was studied by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and virus isolation. Liver, spleen, kidney, and bursa of Fabricius were collected from 60 chicks 1 d old representing progenies hatched to 6 broiler breeder flocks in 6 geographically different premises in Ontario, Canada. The presence of FAdV DNA sequences was detected by PCR with the use of primers specific for the conserved pVI gene of FAdV-9 in 58 (24%) of the 240 samples tested. All samples from 1 flock were negative for FAdV sequences, and only a few samples were positive in 3 flocks, whereas 32% and 72% of the samples from the other 2 flocks were positive. Testing of 1 sample with primers designed to amplify the L1 region of the hexon protein gene and amino acid sequence analysis of the PCR product indicated that the sequences were similar to serotype-8a FAdV sequences. No fowl adenoviruses were isolated in chicken hepatoma cells from any of the 30 samples inoculated. These findings imply that vertical transmission and establishment of latent infection with FAdVs can occur in chickens.     

Presence and diversity of the beta-lactamase gene in cat and dog staphylococci

Staphylococci are part of the normal microflora of humans and animals and some are potential pathogens that have become resistant to almost all known antibiotics. Despite the widespread reports of penicillin resistance in cat and dog staphylococci, the mechanism underlying penicillin resistance has not been examined. This study was aimed at investigating the molecular basis of resistance to penicillin in cat and dog staphylococcal isolates that showed phenotypic resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics. An 861 bp fragment of the structural blaZ gene which codes for beta-lactamase production in staphylococci was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the products were sequenced. Sequenced fragments were analysed by protein signature typing and sequences were compared to published blaZ sequences of human and bovine staphylococcal strains held in a public database. Four known protein signature types (1, 3, 5 and 6) and one new type (12) were identified in this study. When sequences were compared with published blaZ sequences, gene phylogenetic analysis revealed three major groups. The four variants of beta-lactamases types (A, B, C and D) belonged to each major group except for types A and D which were both in group II. These findings confirm that the blaZ gene is responsible for beta-lactamase production leading to subsequent resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics in feline and canine staphylococci and that the gene shows similar diversity and relatedness as found with blaZ sequences obtained from human and bovine staphylococci.     

猪巨细胞病毒PCR检测方法的建立及应用

参考GenBank中收录的猪巨细胞病毒(PCMV)DNA聚合酶基因序列设计合成了一对引物,扩增目的片段为236 bp.进行PCR检测方法的特异性、敏感性和重复性试验,建立了PCMV的PCR检测方法.结果表明,该方法对模板的最低检测量为1.1 pg,具有良好的特异性、敏感性和重复性.应用该法对猪同时感染PCMV和PRRS...     

The Isolation,Identification and Phylogenetic Analysis of Theileria

Bovine theileriosis was a kind of hemo-protozoan diseases that seriously hindered the sustainable development of cattle industry.In the present study, the infection of Theileria was detected using microscopic examination and species-specifc PCR of T.annulata, T.sergenti and T.sinensis from 18 blood samples collected from a breeding cattle farm in China.Then ITS and MPSP genes were amplified and cloned using universal primers of ITS and allele-specific primers of 4 major piroplasm surface protein (MPSP) from the positive samples.The sequences were used to make alignment, polymorphism and phylogeny analysis.The results showed that 3 samples were positive for Theileria and the 3 positive samples were all the T.sergenti infection.The amplification of allelic MPSP gene of T.sergenti from the 3 positive samples showed that two of them were single infection by Ikeda-type and another one was co-infection with both Chitose-type and Ikeda-type, while Buffeli-type and Thai-type were not detected.Moreover, on the basis of phylogenetic tree constructed with MPSP gene sequences, types 1 and 2 of MPSP were confirmed to be present in the cattle farm.The results revealed that there were T.sergenti infection in the breeding cattle farm, and these parasites at least with 2 allelic MPSP gene types were present, which indicated that the immune prevention and control of the disease became more complicated.Our research laid foundation of the further study on T.sergenti infection and disease prevention and control.     

牛泰勒虫的分离鉴定及进化分析

牛泰勒虫病是严重危害养牛业可持续发展的血液原虫病,本试验采用血涂片镜检和特异性PCR检测技术,对中国某种牛场的18份血样进行了泰勒虫检测,然后分别用ITS基因通用引物和4种MPSP等位基因特异性引物自阳性样品中扩增出对应的基因,克隆测序后,进行序列比对和进化分析,确定泰勒虫基因型。结果显示,自18份牛血样中检出3份阳性样品,且全为瑟氏泰勒虫感染;3个阳性样品的瑟氏泰勒虫MPSP等位基因扩增结果显示,1个阳性样品为I (Ikeda) 和C (Chitose)型的混合感染,另2个样品为I型单一感染,而均无B (Buffeli)和Thai型;用扩增的MPSP基因测序,构建进化树,确认其感染的瑟氏泰勒虫存在MPSP 1型和2型。这些结果表明,该种牛场存在瑟氏泰勒虫感染,且同时存在2种MPSP等位基因型;MPSP等位基因的复杂性可能使该病的免疫防控更加困难。本试验结果为深入研究瑟氏泰勒虫感染情况及免疫防控提供了数据支持,并为养防一体做好监控。     

Comparison of surface plasmon resonance imaging and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of antibodies against iridovirus in rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus).

A protein chip based on surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRI) was developed for detecting fish iridovirus antibody using a recombinant 50-kDa fragment of major capsid protein (MCP) as an antigen. The diagnostic potential of SPRI for measuring antibodies to the iridovirus MCP was compared with that of a conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using 40 juvenile rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus) serum samples in a nursery. There was a strong positive correlation between the SPRI and ELISA (n = 40, r = 0.939, P < 0.01). Therefore, this recombinant 50-kDa MCP can be used as an antigen for serological studies, and the SPRI, which is a label-free and high-throughput method, is potentially a valuable tool in the serodiagnosis of an iridoviral infection.     

一株牛蛙源虹彩病毒的分离及鉴定

用鲤鱼表皮瘤细胞系(epithelioma papulosum cyprini cell line,EPC)从福建省某美洲牛蛙养殖场分离到一株病毒FJ049。感染病毒的EPC呈现细胞圆缩、颗粒增多、脱落等特征性病变。间接免疫荧光检测结果表明,感染FJ049的EPC细胞与虹彩病毒单克隆抗体反应并出现特异性的胞浆荧光。采用PCR对虹彩病毒主衣壳蛋白(major capsid protein,MCP)基因保守区域进行扩增,扩增出531 bp的特异性基因片段。MCP基因同源性和遗传进化分析结果表明分离株FJ049与沼泽绿牛蛙虹彩病毒RGV9808的核苷酸同源性最高,为99.8%,属于虹彩病毒科蛙病毒属。     

Prevalence of Ehrlichia canis infection in thrombocytopenic dogs from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

BACKGROUND: Infection with Ehrlichia canis causes a highly variable, multisystemic disease in dogs. Nevertheless, many clinicians in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, use the presence of only thrombocytopenia to make a presumptive diagnosis of E canis infection. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of E canis in thrombocytopenic dogs from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). METHODS: Following DNA extraction of whole blood samples from 226 dogs, PCR assays were done using primers for rickettsial DNA (including Ehrlichia spp, Anaplasma platys and A phagocytophilum) and using E canis-specific primers (16S rRNA gene). Dogs were grouped as thrombocytopenic and nonthrombocytopenic based on platelet counts. The null hypothesis that there was no difference in the prevalence of E canis in these groups was rejected at P<.05. RESULTS: Thirty-six (32.1%) of the thrombocytopenic dogs and 4 (3.5%) of the nonthrombocytopenic dogs were positive for rickettsial gene sequences (P<.0001). Further, 30 (26.8%) of thrombocytopenic dogs and 4 (3.5%) nonthrombocytopenic dogs were positive for E canis-specific gene sequences (P<.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Although the prevalence of E canis infection was higher in thrombocytopenic dogs, less than one third of these dogs had demonstrable E canis infection. Thus, thrombocytopenia is not specific for the detection of E canis infection and should not be used solely to establish a diagnosis of canine ehrlichiosis, even in a geographic area with relatively high disease prevalence.