Detection and molecular characterization of infectious bronchitis virus isolated from recent outbreaks in broiler flocks in Thailand

Thirteen field isolates of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) were isolated from broiler flocks in Thailand between January and June 2008. The 878-bp of the S1 gene covering a hypervariable region was amplified and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis based on that region revealed that these viruses were separated into two groups (I and II). IBV isolates in group I were not related to other IBV strains published in the GenBank database. Group 1 nucleotide sequence identities were less than 85% and amino acid sequence identities less than 84% in common with IBVs published in the GenBank database. This group likely represents the strains indigenous to Thailand. The isolates in group II showed a close relationship with Chinese IBVs. They had nucleotide sequence identities of 97-98% and amino acid sequence identities 96-98% in common with Chinese IBVs (strain A2, SH and QXIBV). This finding indicated that the recent Thai IBVs evolved separately and at least two groups of viruses are circulating in Thailand.     

Isolation and identification of four infectious bronchitis virus strains in China and analyses of their S1 glycoprotein gene

Between 2003 and 2005, four strains of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) were isolated from the vaccinated chicken flocks in China. The results from chicken embryo cross-neutralization assays showed that all the four isolates were relative to strain A2 of IBV, which was isolated in 1996 in Beijing and related to strain 4/91. The S1 gene of the spike protein was amplified and sequenced. The nucleotide and amino acid sequence of the S1 gene had a similar degree of identity (88.98-99.28%) among the four Chinese IBV isolates. The identity of the S1 protein gene between the four Chinese IBV isolates and 14 strains of other IBVs varied from 70.06 to 81.59%. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that there are at least four groups of IBVs circulating in China and the disease outbreaks might have been caused by infection of multiple strains of IBV.     

Genetic diversity of avian infectious bronchitis coronavirus in recent years in China

Fifty-six isolates of avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) were obtained from different field outbreaks in China in 2010, and they were genotyped by comparison with 19 reference strains in the present study. The results showed that LX4-type isolates are still the predominant IBVs circulating in chicken flocks in China, and these isolates could be grouped further into two clusters. Viruses in each cluster had favored amino acid residues at different positions in the S1 subunit of the spike protein. In addition, a recombination event was observed to have occurred between LX4- and tl/CH/LDT3/03I-type strains, which contributed to the emergence of a new strain. The most important finding of the study is the isolation and identification of Taiwan II-type (TW II-type) strains of IBV in mainland China in recent years. The genome of TW II-type IBV strains isolated in mainland China has experienced mutations and deletions, as demonstrated by comparison of the entire genome sequence with those of IBV strains isolated in Taiwan. Pathogenicity testing and sequence analysis of the 3' terminal untranslated region revealed that TW II-type IBV strains isolated in mainland China have a close relationship with the embryo-passaged, attenuated TW2296/95.     

禽传染性支气管炎病毒嗜肾毒株(X株)核衣壳基因的克隆和序列分析

根据已发表的禽传染性支气管炎病毒 (IBV) Beaudette株核衣壳基因序列 ,设计了 1对特异性引物 ,采用 RT-PCR方法 ,克隆了禽传染性支气管炎病毒嗜肾毒株 (X株 )的核衣壳基因 ,并测定了其序列。 X株 IBV与来自 Gen Bank的其他 10株 IBV相比 ,共存在 136个点突变 ,其中有 15处是连续突变区域 ,这些点突变总体呈散在分布。X株与其他毒株的核衣壳蛋白同源性在 90 .2 %～ 99.0 %之间 ,X株 IBV与同为肾型的 N株同源性最高。     

IBV安徽分离株膜蛋白基因的克隆及序列分析

利用设计的1对特异性引物,通过RT-PCR方法扩增出4株鸡传染性支气管炎病毒(IBV)安徽地方分离株膜蛋白M基因全长片段并进行了克隆测序。将各IBV安徽地方分离株与GenBank中注册的一些毒株M基因核苷酸序列及推导的氨基酸序列进行比较和系统进化关系分析,发现毒株间核苷酸序列同源性为88.5%~100%,其相应的氨基酸序列同源性为90.3%~100%;不同毒株间存着重组、缺失、插入及点突变等变异,从ATG至第140 bp区段的核苷酸序列变异频率最高;4株分离毒株属于同一个进化群的2个不同进化亚群,与我国常用疫苗毒株H120、M41和W 93不属同一个进化亚群。     

Characterization of infectious bronchitis virus isolates by slot blot hybridization

We used slot blot hybridization of the hypervariable regions of the S1 subunit of spike peplomer gene to identify and characterize infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) strains. Template DNA was created from six reference strain IBVs of different serotypes and immobilized on a nitrocellulose membrane. We synthesized digoxigenin-labeled probes from reference and unknown field viruses and hybridized them to template DNA. All reference strains could be distinguished and isolates identified by serotype if they were at least 95% identical to a reference strain. This slot blot hybridization procedure was specific and reproducible, and strain typing was consistent with the S1 sequencing of the IBV genome. This study thus provides a simple and rapid method for typing of IBV.     

Molecular and serologic characterization, pathogenicity, and protection studies with infectious bronchitis virus field isolates from California

In this study, we characterized three variant infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) strains isolated in 2003 and 2004 from broiler chickens in California and compared them to previously isolated California variant viruses and to common vaccine serotypes used in the United States. We conducted genetic, serologic, and pathogenicity studies on all three isolates, then tested different vaccines against one of the viruses. Genetically the three variant IBV strains, designated CA557/03, CA706/03, and CA1737/04, were not related to each other. GenBank BLAST database search and phylogenetic analysis of the hypervariable region of the S1 subunit of the spike gene to determine the most closely related viruses to the three variants showed the CA557/03 variant to be 81.8% similar to the CAV/CA56b/91 whereas the CA706/03 and CA1737/04 variant viruses were only distantly related to Dutch/D1466/81 (72.2%), a vaccine strain used in Europe, and Korea/K142/02 (72.7%), a Korean field isolate, respectively. Cross virus-neutralization testing showed that none of the 2003-04 California IBV variant viruses were serologically related to each other or to Ark, Conn, or Mass vaccine strains. In addition the CA1737/04 isolate was also tested against DE072 and found not to be serologically related. All three variant viruses were pathogenic in 1-wk-old broilers and vaccination with Mass/Conn followed by Holland/Conn provided 80% protection against the CA1737/04 virus. The 2003-04 California variant viruses were not compared with variants isolated in California during 1970s and 1980s because, to our knowledge, no genetic information is available and those viruses are no longer obtainable. This study shows that the CA557/03 virus was distantly related to the CAV-type viruses isolated in California in the early 1990s, but that none of the 2003-04 viruses were similar genetically or serologically to the CAL99-type viruses, indicating that new IBV variants continue to emerge and cause disease in commercial chickens in California.     

鸡肾型IBV分离株M基因的克隆与特性分析

依据NCBI所登录的鸡传染性支气管炎病毒的M基因序列设计了一对引物,应用TRIzol试剂盒对8个肾型鸡传染性支气管炎病毒陕西地方分离株进行总RNA的提取,以所得到的RNA为模板,用RT-PCR对M基因进行扩增;其目的条带回收提纯后,与PMD18-T克隆载体进行连接,转化到DH5α宿主菌,并经药物抗性筛选、PCR及酶切鉴定,将所筛选鉴定出的阳性质粒进行测序,最后对测序结果进行分析。结果表明：陕西地方8个毒株（BJ2、FF2、YL2、B01、G5、YX、WH、WG）M基因长约为650 bp,其中YX、WH株本身无BamH 1酶切位点。WH与其它分离株的核苷酸同源性为91.8%～92.6%,而其它的分离株间的同源性为98.8%～99.8%。8个毒株与参考株的核苷酸同源性为74.9%～99.8%。其N端90 aa肽段与对照株相比,不同之处表现为高亲水性氨基酸取代低亲水性氨基酸,这会使其具有更好的抗原性。     

4株鸡肾型IBV陕西分离株3种主要结构蛋白基因的遗传变异分析

采用RT—PCR方法对近年来本实验室分离的4株肾型IBV陕西分离株的纤突蛋白S1基因、膜蛋白基因（M）和核蛋白基因（N）分别进行扩增,测序后进行遗传变异分析。结果显示：与肾型疫苗株w93相比,各分离株S1基因均存在广泛的点突变,并且都存在基因插入现象,分离株之间氨基酸同源性为75．8％～99．4％;M基因除了存在点突变外,W09和WNl2在其5’端还存在9个核苷酸的缺失,分离株之间氨基酸同源性为91．0％～99．6％;N基N无插入和缺失,但存在基因点突变,分离株之间氨基酸同源性为99．3％～99．5％。4株IBV分离株在S1、M和N基因氨基酸系统进化树上分属于不同的进化群,且都与较早的肾型IBV陕西分离株w118遗传距离较远。结果表明,4株鸡肾型IBV流行毒株的s1、M和N基因均存在不同程度变异,这可能是免疫鸡群肾型鸡传染性支气管炎长期流行的主要原因．     

鸡传染性支气管炎病毒SH株的分离及鉴定

从黑龙江省绥化市某养鸡场疑似鸡传染性支气管炎的鸡群中采集病料,经鸡胚传代、电镜观察、生物学特性和分子生物学鉴定以及动物回归试验,表明该分离株具有明显的鸡传染性支气管炎病毒特征,具有鸡胚出现卷曲、出血、发育延迟等作用;对新城疫病毒有明显的干扰作用;动物回归试验导致未免疫鸡出现明显的感染症状,剖检可见明显的肾脏肿胀、尿酸盐沉积现象,同时可见呼吸道有出血现象。对该毒株的N基因进行扩增,并将其序列与NCBI的参考毒株的N基因进行序列对比,发现其与国内的分离株SC和N毒株的N基因具有较高的同源性,为97.6%;与国外参考毒株和国内的疫苗株同源性较低,为84.8%。表明分离的病毒为鸡传染性支气管炎病毒。     

Emergence of novel strains of avian infectious bronchitis virus in Sweden

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) causes avian infectious bronchitis, an important disease that produces severe economic losses in the poultry industry worldwide. Recent IBV infections in Sweden have been associated with poor growth in broilers, drop in egg production and thin egg shells in layers. The complete spike gene of selected isolates from IBV cases was amplified and sequenced using conventional RT-PCR. Nucleotide and amino acid sequence comparisons have shown that the recent isolates bear 98.97% genetic similarity with strains of the QX-like genotype. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that strains predominant in the nineties, which were of the Massachusetts type, have been replaced by D388/QX-like strains, however the evolutionary link could not be established. The homology between the two genotypes was 79 and 81%. Remarkably, a strong positive selection pressure was determined, mostly involving the S1 subunit of the S gene. This strong selective pressure resulted in recombination events, insertions and deletions in the S gene. Two new isolates generated from recombination were found with nucleotide sequence diverging 1.7-2.4% from the D388/QX-like branch, indicating the emergence of a new lineage. The study demonstrates a constant evolution of IBV that might be in relation to increased poultry farming, trade and vaccine pressure. The findings underscore the importance of continuous monitoring to control spread of infections, as well as to timely adjust diagnostic methods, molecular epidemiological studies, development and use of vaccines that are adapted to the changing disease scenario.     

鸡传染性支气管炎病毒地方分离株核蛋白基因的遗传变异分析

对2006-2009年从山西各地疑似传染性支气管炎的病例中分离到的7株IBV地方分离株的核蛋白基因片段进行序列测定及分析。结果发现,7株IBV地方分离株核蛋白基因有5株含有一个长1 230 bp的ORF,其余2株含有1 227 bp,编码410/409氨基酸残基组成的多肽,与常用疫苗株H120推导的氨基酸序列比对发现,存在基因突变现象。与GenBank中的34株国内外分离毒株核蛋白基因推导的氨基酸序列进行比较和分析,系统进化关系显示41株IBV毒株分属于4个群,至少有3个群在我国流行,7个分离株分布在第Ⅳ群中,第IV群大多来自我国的北方地区地方分离毒株,第Ⅱ群来自我国南方地区的部分地方分离毒株,从N基因推导氨基酸进化树上分析可见,我国的IBV地方分离毒株主要分布在第Ⅱ和第Ⅳ群中,具有较明显的地理区域性,可见IBV地方分离株在基因进化关系上形成了自己较为独立的进化群。     

Identification and analysis of the Georgia 98 serotype, a new serotype of infectious bronchitis virus

Twenty-five field infectious bronchitis viruses (IBVs) similar to, but genetically distinct from, the DE072 serotype were isolated from several states in the United States from 1990 through 1999 and were examined molecularly and antigenically. A 421-bp sequence in the hypervariable region of the S1 gene was examined, and phylogenetic analysis on that region indicated that these viruses are closely related but fall into unique groups. Cross-virus neutralization testing and entire S1 sequence analysis on selected isolates further confirmed that fact, and we divided the viruses into the DE072 serotype and two other unique groups. In a vaccine protection trial, the commercially available DE072 vaccine showed less than 50% protection against viruses in one of the groups. The majority of the recent isolates belong to that group and share very low antigenic relatedness to the DE072 strain as well as other serotypes of IBV. Consequently, we designated this group as a new serotype, Georgia 98. We developed a restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis that can differentiate this new serotype from all other serotypes of IBV.     

Phylogenetic analysis of S1 gene of infectious bronchitis virus isolates from China

Between 2006 and 2009, seven strains of infectious bronchitis (IB) virus (IBV) were isolated from vaccinated chicken flocks on different chicken farms in China. The pathogenic characters of seven IBV strains were assessed. Each of the seven strains was infective to the test chickens and could induce an immune response. The results from chicken embryo cross-neutralization assays showed that these strains were antigenically distinct from classic IBV strains of H120, M41, Conn, and Gray. Compared to H120 vaccine strain, point mutation, short insertion, and deletion occurred at many positions in the S1 protein of the seven strains. Five of the seven strains had the motif (HRRRR), which was identical to that of the epidemic IBV strains in China. Two new motifs (HRLRR and RRIRR) emerged in the isolated strains. The homology of the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the S1 gene among the seven isolates was 81.7%-99.7% and 79.0%-99.4%, respectively. These seven strains were also genetically different from the vaccine strains and non-China IBV strains but closely related to large numbers of Chinese strains. The seven isolates and 36 reference IBV strains were clustered into six distinct groups (I-VI). The seven strains were categorized into groups I, II, and III, forming a big phylogenetic branch, which is closely related to Chinese IBVs, whereas the vaccine strains belonging to group VI are genetically distant from groups I, II, and III. The results from this study indicate that different IBV strains cocirculate in the chicken population in China.     

IBV分离株部分S1蛋白基因的序列分析

参考GenBank上的IBVS1基因序列,自行设计合成了一对跨幅约0.6kb的引物,RT-PCR对6株IBV分离株的S1基因进行扩增。序列分析显示,这些病毒从时间、空间和组织嗜性都没有明显的规律可循。2株从传染性腺胃炎病鸡中获得病毒(ZC4-3株和DB239-1株)属于既不同于国内其他分离毒株,又不同于国际参考毒株的独立一群。通过对IBV的分析,认为现流行的IBV已发生了很大的变异,分别利用嗜肾性、嗜呼吸道性和嗜腺胃性的毒株研制疫苗,对我国IBV的防疫十分重要。     

鸡传染性支气管炎病毒KIBVXJ株S1基因的克隆及序列分析

根据已发表的鸡传染性支气管炎病毒S1基因,设计并合成了一对引物,经RT-PCR扩增后获得全长约为1700bp的核苷酸序列。序列分析表明,S1基因的最大开放阅读框位于12位～1685位碱基之间,编码557个氨基酸;KIBVXJ株S1基因序列在19位～292位点的氨基酸区域内有较多的氨基酸置换、插入和与缺失现象;S1的裂解位点的序列为HRRRR,具有我国地方流行株的特征。KIBVXJ株的S1基因与国内外疫苗株的同源性分析表明,核苷酸同源率为73.8%～74.2%,氨基酸同源率为74.9%～76.0%。遗传进化分析表明,KIBVXJ株与国内外的主要疫苗株亲缘关系最远,与国内近年来分离的A2株、LX4株和QXIBV株的亲缘关系最近。     

鸡传染性支气管炎病毒分离株核衣壳基因克隆、序列分析和真核表达

根据GenBank公开序列自行设计一对引物，采用RT—PCR扩增出鸡传染性支气管炎病毒（Infectious bronchitis virus，IBV）W和C9001分离株完整的核衣壳（N）基因，并将其克隆至pMD18-T载体进行核苷酸序列测定和分析。结果表明，扩增的2个IBV分离株核衣壳基因片段长度均为1230bp，编码409个氨基酸，彼此间核苷酸和氨基酸同源性分别为88．0％和89．5％，与GenBank中有代表性的参考毒株相应基因核苷酸和氨基酸序列比较显示，w株核苷酸序列与GenBank中的广东分离株（AY646283）同源性最高，为94．1％，氨基酸序列同源性为94．6％；与国内部分毒株核苷酸序列同源性在86．1％～88．0％之间，氨基酸序列同源性在88．0％～90．7％之间；C9001株与国内部分毒株核苷酸序列同源性在86．4％～99．8％之间，氨基酸序列同源性在88．0％～99．8％之间。从核衣壳基因编码的氨基酸序列的系统进化树可见，W株与C9001株处于不同的进化分枝，亲缘关系较远。同时将核衣壳基因构建于真核表达质粒pVAX1中，用脂质体法将重组质粒转染入COS-7细胞中，间接免疫荧光检测出核衣壳蛋白的体外表达。研究结果为进一步研究IBV核衣壳蛋白的结构与功能以及基因工程疫苗的研制奠定了基础。