Protective efficacy of an H5/H7 trivalent inactivated vaccine produced from Re-11, Re-12, and H7-Re2 strains against challenge with different H5 and H7 viruses in chickens

We developed an H5/H7 trivalent inactivated vaccine by using Re-11, Re-12, and H7-Re2 vaccine seed viruses, which were generated by reverse genetics and derived their HA genes from A/duck/Guizhou/S4184/2017(H5 N6)(DK/GZ/S4184/17)(a clade 2.3.4.4 d virus), A/chicken/Liaoning/SD007/2017(H5 N1)(CK/LN/SD007/17)(a clade 2.3.2.1 d virus), and A/chicken/Guangxi/SD098/2017(H7 N9)(CK/GX/SD098/17), respectively. The protective efficacy of this novel vaccine and that of the recently used H5/H7 bivalent inactivated vaccine against different H5 and H7 N9 viruses was evaluated in chickens. We found that the H5/H7 bivalent vaccine provided solid protection against the H7 N9 virus CK/GX/SD098/17, but only 50–60% protection against different H5 viruses. In contrast, the novel H5/H7 trivalent vaccine provided complete protection against the H5 and H7 viruses tested. Our study underscores the importance of timely updating of vaccines for avian influenza control.     

H9N2禽流感病毒全基因组密码子使用偏好性及影响因素分析

【目的】探究H9N2禽流感病毒(AIV)全基因组的密码子使用偏好性及影响因素。【方法】选取2010—2018年国内H9N2 AIV流行毒株的全基因组为研究对象,分析其碱基组成特性、最优密码子、密码子使用偏好性的影响因素以及病毒对宿主密码子使用模式的适应性。【结果】H9N2 AIV的全基因组中AU含量高于GC。大部分最优密码子以A或U结尾,有效密码子数(ENC)平均值为52.86,提示存在密码子使用偏好性但偏好性较低。密码子使用偏好性主要受到突变压力和自然选择的共同作用,其中自然选择(所占比例为61.79%～76.15%)作用大于突变压力(所占比例为23.85%～38.21%)。H9N2 AIV对人Homo sapiens的密码子适应指数平均值为0.739～0.741,提示H9N2AIV禽流感病毒可能已适应人类的密码子使用模式。【结论】本研究为H9N2 AIV的基因进化分析、已有疫苗的密码子优化和新型疫苗(密码子去优化疫苗)研制提供了理论依据。     

Dvl1及其突变体腺病毒载体的构建与在MSCs中表达鉴定

Dvl1及其结构缺失突变体ΔDIX（dsh and axin）和ΔDEP（dsh,Egl-10 and pleckstrin）腺病毒载体的构建并验证其在MSCs（mesenchymal stem cells）中的表达情况。将目的基因定向克隆至pAdTrack-CMV穿梭载体上,并经PmeⅠ线性化后在BJ5183细菌中与pAdEasy-1骨架质粒同源重组,获得重组腺病毒载体,在QBI-293A细胞中包装及扩增,实时荧光定量PCR和Western bolt验证Dvl1在MSCs中的表达情况。经PCR、PacⅠ单酶切鉴定及测序分析,成功构建Ad-Dvl1、Ad-ΔDIX和Ad-ΔDEP腺病毒载体,目的基因序列与GenBank报道一致,并选出150 MOI为最适感染MSCs的感染复数,成功构建了Ad-Dvl1、Ad-ΔDIX和Ad-ΔDEP腺病毒载体,并获得高滴度的病毒子,qPCR和Western blot证实Dvl1在MSCs中高表达并增加了β-catenin在细胞中的累积,为进一步研究Dvl1在MSCs迁移过程的作用奠定了基础。     

一株野鸟源H9N2亚型禽流感病毒的全基因组序列分析及致病性研究

为进一步了解2014年分离自我国南方野鸟粪便中的一株H9N2亚型禽流感病毒(AIV)Wide Bird/Hu N/SC1400/2014(H9N2)(WB/400/14)的生物学特性,本研究对其进行全基因组序列测定、进化分析及SPF鸡、SPF鸭和BALB/c小鼠的感染性试验。序列分析显示:该分离株的HA裂解位点基序为333PAASDR↓GL340,其中不存在多个连续的碱性氨基酸,符合低致病性禽流感病毒(LPAIV)氨基酸序列特征。该分离株不同基因片段来源较复杂,分别与H9、H6、H4、H1、H11、H10、H3等多种亚型的LPAIV同源性较高,呈现明显的多样性。感染性试验显示,WB/400/14不能够在SPF鸡和小鼠体内有效复制,但病毒感染SPF鸭后能够在部分脏器中检测到病毒的存在,并且感染鸭能通够过咽喉和泄殖腔同时向外排毒,而同居感染鸭仅通过泄殖腔向外排毒,表明分离株在SPF鸭群中具有良好的水平传播能力。本研究为AIV的监测和防控提供实验依据。     

Pathogenicity of a Strain of H5N6 Subtype Avian Influenza Virus in Ducks and Mice

To investigate the pathogenicity of A/Hero/Guangdong/C1/2013(H5N6), an AIV strain isolated from Heron on ducks and mice, pathogenicity of this new virus strain and changing of histopathology as well as a preliminary study on its biological characteristics were studied by virus challenges test via intranasal and eye-drop and in chicken via jugular vein injection.Results showed that the EID₅₀ of this strain of virus was 10^-8.16/0.1 mL in embryonated chicken eggs and the intravenous inoculation of pathogenic index (IVPI) was 2.76.In ducks and mice, the 50% lethal doses (LD₅₀) of it were determined to be 10^-4.0/0.2 mL and 10^-4.67/0.05 mL, respectively.Symptoms of infection included loss of appetite, depression, swollen head and tears after being infected with 10⁶ EID₅₀ per duck by intranasal and eye-drop administration.Most of ducks died 4 to 7 days post-infection, liver, lung and kidney still eliminated toxicants at day 7 post-infection.Anatomy showed symptoms of pericardial effusion, pulmonary congestion and kidney enlargement, while pathological section showed pathological change like karyopycnosis and inflammatory cell infiltration in heart, liver, kidney and spleen.Mice developed symptoms of infection like loss of appetite, depression, shaggy coat and ruffled coat after being infected with 5×10⁵ EID₅₀ per mouse by intranasal and eye-drop administration.Most of the infected mice died 5 to 7 days post-infection and only liver still eliminated toxicants at day 7 post-infection.Although organ anatomy showed no obvious pathological changes, pathological section showed pathological changes like karyopycnosis and inflammatory cell infiltration in heart, kidney and lung.Our research demonstrated that this H5N6 subtype AIV had a strong pathogenicity and could be defined as a highly pathogenic AIV strain as its IVPI was greater than 1.2.Our work laid a theory foundation for study, prevention and control of H5N6 subtype AIV.     

Isolation and Identification of one Strain of H9 Subtype Avian Influenza Virus and Study on its Biological Characteristics

In 2013,one case of suspected H9 subtype avian influenza occurred in a chicken farm of Jilin povince.Clinical samples were collected from the diseased farm,inoculated into the allantoic cavity of 9-day-old SPF chicken embryo,and then one strain of virus was isolated.The results of HA test,HI test and molecular biology test all showed that the isolate belonged to H9 subtype avian influenza virus (AIV).The HA cleavage site of the isolate was RSSR↓GLF,which was consisted with the molecular characteristic of low pathogenic AIV.The HA peptide chain had 9 potential glycosylation sites which were same as other isolates of recent years.The isolate had 8 receptor binding sites,including 234 receptor binding site by glutamine (Q) mutating into threonine (T).The phylogenetic tree revealed the isolate belonged to Eurasian lineages and it had far genetic relationship with the earliest domestic isolate (A/Chicken/Beijing/1/94(H9N2)),but had close genetic relationship with the representative strain (A/Chicken/Guangxi/55/2005(H9N2)) of major epidemic branch since 2007.We prepared an inactivated oil-emulsion vaccine of the isolate,and then vaccinated SPF chicken.21 days after vaccination,the HI titer of chicken serum antibody reached up to 10log2.The result suggested the isolate had good immunogenicity.     

Cloning and Sequence Analysis of N and M Genes of Avian Infectious Bronchitis Virus Guangxi Strain

To investigate genetic variation of avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) in Guangxi province,one strain of IBV was isolated from chicken.Two pairs of primers for amplifying the N and M genes of IBV were designed according to the sequences in GenBank.The N and M genes of the strain were amplified by RT-PCR,and they were proved to be the N and M genes of IBV by cloning,sequencing and compared with reference IBV strains published in GenBank.The results showed that the N gene from the IBV isolate consisted of 1 230 bp,coding 409 amino acids.The M gene from the IBV isolate consisted of 678 bp,coding 225 amino acids.The sequence analysis of N gene showed that it shared 87.2% to 93.3% nucleotide homologies and 90.0% to 94.4% deduced amino acid sequence homologies with IBV strains from GenBank.The M gene sequence analysis showed that it shared 83.6% to 91.0% nucleotide homologies and 82.7% to 92.9% deduced amino acid sequence homologies.The phylogenetic tree analysis showed that it was closely related to BJ and LX4 strains,and were clustered into one group;But with the distant relatives from other strains of IBV.These results suggested that the isolate was a new variant of IBV.     

Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Outbreak Investigation: Application of the FAO‐OIE‐WHO Four‐way Linking Framework in Indonesia

WHO, FAO and OIE developed a ‘four‐way linking’ framework to enhance the cross‐sectoral sharing of epidemiological and virological information in responding to zoonotic disease outbreaks. In Indonesia, outbreak response challenges include completeness of data shared between human and animal health authorities. The four‐way linking framework (human health laboratory/epidemiology and animal health laboratory/epidemiology) was applied in the investigation of the 193rd human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection. As recommended by the framework, outbreak investigation and risk assessment findings were shared. On 18 June 2013, a hospital in West Java Province reported a suspect H5N1 case in a 2‐year‐old male. The case was laboratory‐confirmed that evening, and the information was immediately shared with the Ministry of Agriculture. The human health epidemiology/laboratory team investigated the outbreak and conducted an initial risk assessment on 19 June. The likelihood of secondary cases was deemed low as none of the case contacts were sick. By 3 July, no secondary cases associated with the outbreak were identified. The animal health epidemiology/laboratory investigation was conducted on 19–25 June and found that a live bird market visited by the case was positive for H5N1 virus. Once both human and market virus isolates were sequenced, a second risk assessment was conducted jointly by the human health and animal health epidemiology/laboratory teams. This assessment concluded that the likelihood of additional human cases associated with this outbreak was low but that future sporadic human infections could not be ruled out because of challenges in controlling H5N1 virus contamination in markets. Findings from the outbreak investigation and risk assessments were shared with stakeholders at both Ministries. The four‐way linking framework clarified the type of data to be shared. Both human health and animal health teams made ample data available, and there was cooperation to achieve risk assessment objectives.