Replication of neurovirulent equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) in CD172a+ monocytic cells

Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) is responsible for respiratory disorders, abortion and myeloencephalopathy (EHM) in horses. Two pathotypes of EHV-1 strains are circulating in the field: neurovirulent (N) and non-neurovirulent (NN). For both strains, CD172a⁺ monocytic cells are one of the main carrier cells of EHV-1 during primary infection, allowing the virus to invade the horse’s body. Recently, we showed that EHV-1 NN strains showed a restricted and delayed replication in CD172a⁺ cells. Here we characterize the in vitro replication kinetics of two EHV-1 N strains in CD172a⁺ cells and investigate if the replication of these strains is similarly silenced as shown for EHV-1 NN strains. We found that EHV-1 N replication was restricted to 7–8% in CD172a⁺ cells compared to 100% in control RK-13 cells. EHV-1 N replication was not delayed in CD172a⁺ cells but virus production was significant lower (10^3.0 TCID₅₀/10⁵ inoculated cells) than in RK-13 cells (10^8.5 TCID₅₀/10⁵ inoculated cells). Approximately 0.04% of CD172a⁺ cells produced and transmitted infectious EHV-1 to neighbour cells compared to 65% of RK-13 cells. Unlike what we observed for the NN strain, pretreatment of CD172a⁺ cells with histone deacetylases inhibitors (HDACi) did not influence the replication of EHV-1 N strains in these cells. Overall, these results show that the EHV-1 replication of N strains in CD172a⁺ cells differs from that observed for NN strains, which may contribute to their different pathogeneses in vivo.     

两株新分离的APMV-I毒株感染SPF鸡的超微病理变化

将APMV-I鹅源分离株YG97鸡源分离株Y98和NDV强毒株F48E8感染SPF鸡，运用透射电镜观察该2株病毒分离株对机体细胞的影响，结果显示3株禽副黏病毒均引起机体肝、胰、脾、肾、心、胃、十二指肠和直肠等实质器官组织细胞的超微病变，如黏膜上皮细胞多处受损，表面微绒毛脱落；实质细胞核固缩、凝聚、凹陷、核多形性，线粒体嵴断裂、空泡样变、膜溶解，粗面内质网扩张、囊泡变，细胞浆的囊泡内及细胞浆内存在有囊膜的成熟病毒粒子等，但YG97和Y98对不同实质器官的组织细胞超微病变程度不一：胃、肝、胰、脾、肾超微病变比心脏的超微病变严重。电镜观察结果还表明：3株禽副黏病毒引起宿主细胞的超微病变有2种形式：坏死性病变和凋亡性病变。     

Role of polymerase β in DNA metabolism and genomic instability

The major role of DNA polymerase β was thought to be limited in its involvement in short patch base excision repair by removing 5’-deoxyribose phosphate and base insertion. However, the recent researches indicate that polymerase β might take part in a wide spectrum of DNA metabolism reactions, including long patch base excision repair, DNA replication, recombination, meiosis and transleisional DNA synthesis. Because of its wide and important cellular function, an inappropriate intracellular polymerase β level might be associated with genomic instability. Down-regulation or mutation of polymerase β is mutagenic due to deficient in DNA repair, while overexpression of this error-prone β polymerase might perturb the normal function of other accurate polymerases and cause genomic instability as well.     

Role of IFNLR1 gene in PRRSV infection of PAM cells

BackgroundInterferon lambda receptor 1 (IFNLR1) is a type II cytokine receptor that clings to interleukins IL-28A, IL29B, and IL-29 referred to as type III IFNs (IFN-λs). IFN-λs act through the JAK-STAT signaling pathway to exert antiviral effects related to preventing and curing an infection. Although the immune function of IFN-λs in virus invasion has been described, the molecular mechanism of IFNLR1 in that process is unclear.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to elucidate the role of IFNLR1 in the pathogenesis and treatment of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV).MethodsThe effects of IFNLR1 on the proliferation of porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) during PRRSV infection were investigated using interference and overexpression methods.ResultsIn this study, the expressions of the IFNLR1 gene in the liver, large intestine, small intestine, kidney, and lung tissues of Dapulian pigs were significantly higher than those in Landrace pigs. It was determined that porcine IFNLR1 overexpression suppresses PRRSV replication. The qRT-PCR results revealed that overexpression of IFNLR1 upregulated antiviral and IFN-stimulated genes. IFNLR1 overexpression inhibits the proliferation of PAMs and upregulation of p-STAT1. By contrast, knockdown of IFNLR1 expression promotes PAMs proliferation. The G0/G1 phase proportion in IFNLR1-overexpressing cells increased, and the opposite change was observed in IFNLR1-underexpressing cells. After inhibition of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway, the G2/M phase proportion in the IFNLR1-overexpressing cells showed a significant increasing trend. In conclusion, overexpression of IFNLR1 induces activation of the JAK/STAT pathway, thereby inhibiting the proliferation of PAMs infected with PRRSV.ConclusionExpression of the IFNLR1 gene has an important regulatory role in PRRSV-infected PAMs, indicating it has potential as a molecular target in developing a new strategy for the treatment of PRRSV.     

鸭肠炎病毒UL41基因缺失株的构建及其体外增殖能力分析

旨在构建鸭肠炎病毒（DEV）UL41基因缺失毒株,并对其生物学特性进行分析,本研究以克隆有DEV UL41基因的重组黏粒D1为骨架,利用Red/ET重组技术构建缺失UL41基因的重组黏粒D1 dUL41;将UL41基因缺失重组黏粒D1 dUL41与其他4个克隆有DEV基因组片段的亲本黏粒共转染鸭胚成纤维细胞（DEF）,拯救获得UL41基因缺失毒株rDEV-SD19/dUL41。将该基因缺失病毒感染DEF后,提取病毒基因组进行PCR鉴定及测序,并利用间接免疫荧光试验检测该病毒感染细胞中UL41基因表达情况;绘制拯救的基因缺失病毒的生长曲线,分析其体外复制特性。PCR及测序结果显示,本研究成功构建了缺失UL41基因的重组黏粒D1 dUL41。将该基因缺失黏粒与其他含有DEV基因组的亲本黏粒共转染DEF后能够产生典型的蚀斑病变。PCR及测序结果显示,UL41基因成功从DEV基因组中缺失;间接免疫荧光试验发现,基因缺失病毒rDEV-SD19/dUL41感染DEF后,未见UL41蛋白表达。综上表明,本研究成功构建了DEV UL41基因缺失病毒。体外生长曲线显示,rDEV-SD19/dUL41在DEF中的复制能力明显低于亲本病毒,提示UL41蛋白在DEV复制中发挥重要作用。UL41基因缺失DEV的构建为进一步研究UL41基因在DEV感染和致病中的作用机制奠定了基础。     

干扰素刺激基因对羊口疮病毒在OFTu细胞中增殖的抑制效应

羊口疮病毒（ORFV）是重要的人兽共患病病原,不仅严重危害养羊业,而且威胁人类健康。干扰素刺激基因（stimulator of interferon genes,STING）作为细胞的DNA感受器,在机体天然免疫中起重要作用。为探索STING在ORFV感染中的作用及其对病毒复制的影响,本研究构建了ORFV感染羊胚胎鼻甲细胞（OFTu）的模型,分析了ORFV感染细胞后对STING及其相关基因的动态表达,探索了STING基因在干扰表达和过表达状态下对ORFV在细胞上增殖的影响。结果表明,ORFV感染OFTu细胞后,STING、cGAS、TBK1、IRF3、IRF7、IL-6、IFN-β、IL-1β和TNF-α的转录明显升高。OFTu细胞过表达STING可导致RIG-1、DDX41、IFI16、IRF3、IRF7、IL-6、TNF-α、IFN-α和IFN-β等基因转录上调。OFTu细胞在STING过表达状态下感染ORFV可介导TBK-1、IRF3、IFN-β和TNF-α的转录升高,抑制ORFV的复制;在STING表达干扰的状态下,ORFV感染OFTu细胞降低了TBK-1、IRF3、IFN-β和TNF-α的转录,增加了ORFV的复制。这表明STING蛋白能够增强抗病毒细胞因子的表达,抑制ORFV在OFTu细胞中的增殖,研究结果为深入理解STING在羊口疮病毒感染和复制中的作用提供了科学的理论依据,也为深入探索ORFV感染和致病的分子机制提供了基础数据。     

PCV2 Rep蛋白N-糖基化位点突变对病毒复制的影响

N-糖基化对病毒的感染与增殖均具有重要作用,与PCV2复制相关的Rep蛋白含有三个N-糖基化位点。为了分析PCV2Rep蛋白N-糖基化位点突变对病毒复制的影响,本试验构建了三个双拷贝突变体感染性克隆2M23、2M256、2M286,并成功拯救病毒。通过间接免疫荧光检测病毒的拯救效果,TCID50测定病毒的感染力,荧光定量PCR检测细胞病毒的载量。结果显示,PCV2Rep蛋白的23~25aa、256~258aa N-糖基化位点突变后降低病毒的复制能力,而286~288aa突变后增强病毒的复制能力,为进一步阐明PCV2的复制及致病机制提供参考。     

The use of a pen-size optimization workbook for experiment research design using the Visual Basic for Applications in Excel for poultry

Researchers often seem to choose the number of birds per pen and replications per treatment somewhat arbitrarily on the basis of cost, availability of animals, housing considerations, convenience, tradition, and so on. Statistical simulation, performed while designing an experiment, will provide a researcher with an objective estimate of the number of birds per pen and replicates needed for an experiment of known Type I and II errors. In most cases, the time for making power calculations should be before, not after, an experiment is conducted. Here we present a Microsoft Excel workbook to explore the statistical and economic ramifications of different combinations of birds per replicate and replicates per treatment for research with poultry.