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The phylogenetic analysis revealed that strains predominant in the nineties, which were of the Massachusetts type, have been replaced by D388/QX-like strains, however the evolutionary link could not be established.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.     

Coronavirus avian infectious bronchitis virus

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), the coronavirus of the chicken (Gallus gallus), is one of the foremost causes of economic loss within the poultry industry, affecting the performance of both meat-type and egg-laying birds. The virus replicates not only in the epithelium of upper and lower respiratory tract tissues, but also in many tissues along the alimentary tract and elsewhere e.g. kidney, oviduct and testes. It can be detected in both respiratory and faecal material. There is increasing evidence that IBV can infect species of bird other than the chicken. Interestingly breeds of chicken vary with respect to the severity of infection with IBV, which may be related to the immune response. Probably the major reason for the high profile of IBV is the existence of a very large number of serotypes. Both live and inactivated IB vaccines are used extensively, the latter requiring priming by the former. Their effectiveness is diminished by poor cross-protection. The nature of the protective immune response to IBV is poorly understood. What is known is that the surface spike protein, indeed the amino-terminal S1 half, is sufficient to induce good protective immunity. There is increasing evidence that only a few amino acid differences amongst S proteins are sufficient to have a detrimental impact on cross-protection. Experimental vector IB vaccines and genetically manipulated IBVs--with heterologous spike protein genes--have produced promising results, including in the context of in ovo vaccination.     

Molecular characterization of infectious bronchitis virus strains isolated from the enteric contents of Brazilian laying hens and broilers

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is the causative agent of avian infectious bronchitis, which is characterized by respiratory, reproductive, and renal signs. However, the role of IBV as an enteric pathogen in still controversial. In Brazil, antigenic groups of IBV divergent from the Massachusetts serotype used for vaccination schedules in that country have already been demonstrated. The present study aimed to assess the different genotypes of IBV in Brazilian commercial poultry flocks by partial sequencing of the S1 amino-terminus coding region using enteric contents as samples and examine their relationship with the vaccine serotype currently in use. Samples of enteric contents were taken as pools of five birds from each of 18 poultry farms (17 broiler and one laying farm) from five Brazilian states between 2002 and 2006. Birds were presenting watery diarrhea and poor general condition but were without respiratory, renal, or reproductive signs. Conventional antibacterial and anticoccidial therapies were unsuccessful and, furthermore, all samples proved negative for rotavirus, reovirus, and astrovirus. Eleven IBV samples were isolated in embryonated eggs and resulted in S1 sequences. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these segregated into an exclusive cluster, close to serotype D274, but distant from Massachusetts. Mean amino acid identity amongst these Brazilian strains was 94.07%; amongst these and serotypes D274, 4/91, and Massachusetts, mean amino acid identity was 77.17%, 69.94%, and 68.93%, respectively. In conclusion, the presence of genotype variant strains of IBV in Brazilian poultry flocks has been demonstrated and might be the reason for the unsuccessful control of IBV in Brazil. Furthermore, these results also strengthen the implications of IBV in enteric diseases of poultry.     

2006年至2010年山东省鸡传染性支气管炎病毒分子变异的研究

为研究山东省鸡传染性支气管炎病毒(IBV)的遗传变异规律,本研究2006年～2010年从山东省发病的商品鸡中分离鉴定了17株IBV,并对其S1基因、N基因和M基因分别进行RT-PCR扩增、测序及遗传进化分析.序列分析结果表明:与疫苗株H120相比,17个分离株S1蛋白的变异程度较大,存在广泛的基因突变和氨基酸替代,多数病毒株还存在氨基酸的插入;N蛋白无碱基的缺失和插入,仅存在核苷酸的突变和氨基酸的替代;M蛋白除病毒株CK/CH/SD09/005插入3个碱基外,其它16个分离株仅存在少数的碱基突变和氨基酸替代.S1基因、N基因和M基因的系统进化分析结果表明多数分离株的3个基因在进化上相对平行,与国内分离株LX4同属一个进化分支,同源性较高;分离株SDYT0605的3个基因与疫苗株H120同源性较高,可能是免疫压力下变异的疫苗株;分离株SDTA06111、SDWF0608和CK/CH/SD09/005的S1基因、N基因和M基因分属于不同的进化分支,可能发生了基因重组.本研究结果显示基因突变、插入和不同基因之间的重组是免疫压力下IBV变异的主要方式.     

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ck/CH/LHB/100801株的分离鉴定及分子特征研究

本研究于2010年8月从河北省某鸡场鸡群中分离一株病毒,通过对分离株进行电子显微镜观察、鸡胚致病性试验、血凝特性试验等生物学特性及鸡传染性支气管炎病毒(IBV)核蛋白基因RT-PCR方法鉴定,结果表明分离株为IBV,命名为ck/CH/LHB/100801.根据GenBank中登录的IBV基因组序列,设计扩增病毒全基因组的19对引物,并扩增病毒基因组,采用3-RACE和5-RACE技术,扩增得到该病毒全部基因组序列.通过与已发表的参考病毒株全基因组序列比较表明,该分离株基因组全长为27 675bp,共有10个开放阅读框,其基因排序为:5'-cap-Replicase-S-3a-3b-3c-M-5a-5b-N-poly(A)-3',纤突蛋白裂解位点为534RRFRR538.序列分析表明ck/CH/LHB/100801与台湾分离株TW2296/95的结构蛋白序列相似性高达99.8%,进化亲缘关系最近,推测两分离株间可能具有相同的进化来源.     

鸡传染性支气管炎分离株S1基因的序列分析

传染性支气管炎病毒(IBV)为冠状病毒科冠状病毒属成员,基因组为单股正链RNA,长27.6 kb,带有poly ( A)尾.病毒粒子基因组编码6种蛋白,其中位于病毒囊膜表面的纤突蛋白(spike protein , S )是病毒主要的免疫原蛋白基因,IBV纤突蛋白是由2～3个拷贝的S1, S2亚单位组成.由于IBV的特殊的转录合成机制使得S1基因易发生点突变、插入、缺失和基因重组,使得IBV极易产生变异株.S1蛋白具有许多重要的生物学功能,是IBV主要的免疫原蛋白,它能刺激机体产生中和及血凝抑制抗体.因此,根据不同地区的分离毒株S1基因的差异,来确定流行IBV的血清型,研究其分子生物学特性,深入分析IBV的变异原因,进一步揭示IBV分离株的变异机制,对从根本上控制IB,具有重要意义.     

Genetic diversity of avian infectious bronchitis virus isolates in Korea between 2003 and 2006

Thirty-three field isolates of avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) were recovered from commercial chicken flocks in Korea between 2003 and 2006 and were characterized phylogenetically by nucleotide sequence analysis of the IBV S1 gene hyper-variable region. Our phylogenetic analysis revealed that recent field isolates of IBV formed at least three distinct phylogenetic types, including K-I, K-II, and K-III. K-I type IBV consisted of indigenous, 13 IBV isolates which evolved from the Kr-EJ/95 strain and then separated into the lineages of type K-Ia and type K-Ib. K-II type IBV isolates (n = 19) were closely related to nephropathogenic IBV variants from China and Japan. The K-III type isolate (Kr/D064/05), first identified by this study, was closely related to enteric IBV variants from the Chinese strains that cause proventriculitis. Sequence comparisons showed amino acid differences of >27.5% between IBV types. The molecular epidemiologic characteristics of IBV field isolates are briefly discussed.     

Molecular biological characterization of avian poxvirus strains isolated from different avian species

Fifteen strains of Avipoxvirus from different avian species were isolated and molecular biologically characterized. Most strains did not produce evident pocks on the chorioallantoic membranes of commercial and specific-pathogen free embryonated chicken eggs where, on the contrary, microscopic signs of viral growth were always detected. Polymerase chain reaction of highly conserved P4b gene was positive for all cases confirming to be a reliable diagnostic method for Avipoxvirus. Sequencing of these amplicons confirmed most strains clustered either with Fowlpox virus or with Canarypox virus whereas a possible new clade could be hypothesized for one strain from Japanese quail. Classification of Avipoxvirus strains by amplification of the newly identified locus fpv140 revealed major limitations as only five samples were positive. These results underline the importance to undertake similar studies on higher numbers of Avipoxvirus isolates and on wider genomic regions of this large viral group.     

鸡传染性支气管炎病毒地方流行株的分离与鉴定

从山西各地区疑似鸡传染性支气管炎(IB)的病料中,分离到5株鸡传染性支气管炎病毒(IBV)分离株,并对分离病毒进行了病毒形态观察、对鸡新城疫病毒(NDV)的干扰、鸡胚致病性试验、动物回归试验、血凝特性试验、病毒理化特性测定等生物特性鉴定及IBV N基因特异性片段的检测.电镜观察,可见直径为60～120 am,有囊膜及纤突呈冠状排列的病毒粒子;对NDV有明显的干扰作用;分离株的传代物均有明显的致鸡胚矮小化作用;动物回归感染死亡鸡肾脏病变明显,表现肾脏肿大、花斑肾现象,输尿管内充塞大量尿酸盐;无直接血凝性,经1%胰酶处理后可凝集鸡红细胞;分离株对乙醚和氯仿敏感;采用反转录-聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)对分离毒株进行扩增,结果均扩增出特异N基因核酸片段.     

Characterization of an avian infectious bronchitis virus isolated in China from chickens with nephritis

One IBV isolate, SC021202, was isolated from the kidneys of the infected young chickens by inoculating embryonated eggs, and its morphology, physiochemical and haemagglutonating properties were detected. Virulence of the isolate SC021202 was determined with specific pathogen-free (SPF) chicken inoculation. Nucleotide acid sequence of S1 gene of the isolate SC021202 was further sequenced and analysed. The physiochemical and morphological properties of the isolate SC021202 were in accordance to that of typical infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). In a pathogenicity experiment, the clinical signs and related gross lesions resembling those of field outbreak were reproduced and the virus isolate SC021202 was re-isolated from the kidneys of the infected chicken. Sequence data demonstrated that the full length of the amplified S1 gene of the isolate SC021202 was composed of 1931 nucleotides, coding a polypeptide of 543 amino acid residues. Compared with IBV strains from GenBank, the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence of S1 gene of the isolate SC021202 shared 60.0-91.4% and 49.1-88.9% identities, respectively. A nucleotide fragment of 'CTTTTTAATTATACTAACGGA' was inserted at nucleotide site 208 in the S1 gene of the isolate. These results indicated that IBV isolate SC021202 was a new variant IBV isolate and responsible for field outbreak of nephritis.     

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。     

1株鸡传染性支气管炎病毒变异株的分子特征和抗原性分析

从山东省发病商品鸡群分离鉴定了1株鸡传染性支气管炎病毒,命名为CK/CH/SD09/005.S1基因序列分析发现,该株和同期分离的16个IBV流行株与疫苗株H120和491同源性分别为65.2％和66.0％.BLAST发现,CK/CH/SD09/005株仅与GenBank中3个广东分离株同源性较高(98.6％～98.8％),并形成独立的进化群.分别以H120和491为参考株,除了广泛的点突变,CK/CH/SD09/005 S1基因在多个位点发生了插入和缺失,CK/CH/SD09/005 N基因仅发生了点突变,没有基因插入和缺失;M基因除了发生点突变之外,分别在16～18和7～18位发生了碱基插入.鸡胚中和试验结果显示,CK/CH/SD09/005与H120和491均有交叉中和性,抗原相关性分别为0.18和0.09,应属于Mass和793/B之外新的血清型.结果表明,IBV S1基因可同时通过点突变、插入和缺失产生变异株,增加了免疫预防的难度.     

Chicken embryonal vaccination with avian infectious bronchitis virus

A commercial infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) vaccine of the Massachusetts 41 strain was injected in embryonating chicken eggs on embryonation day (ED) 18. The IBV vaccine was pathogenic for embryos, and it was passaged in chicken kidney tissue culture to reduce the pathogenicity. At the 40th tissue culture passage (P40-IBV), the virus became apathogenic for the embryos. Maternal antibody-positive or -negative chicks hatching from eggs injected with P40-IBV developed antibody to IBV and were protected against challenge exposure at 4 weeks of age with virulent Massachusetts 41 IBV. Although P40-IBV protected chicks when administered on ED 18, this virus did not protect chicks well if given at hatch. When combined with the turkey herpesvirus (HVT), P40-IBV given on ED 18 did not interfere with the protection against challenge exposure with virulent Marek's disease virus, nor did the presence of HVT interfere with protection by P40-IBV. Thus, under laboratory conditions, IBV vaccine could be combined with HVT to form a bivalent embryonal vaccine.     

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。     

1株QX基因型鸡传染性支气管炎病毒的致病性

通过对8日龄SPF鸡人工感染鸡传染性支气管炎病毒(IBV)QX株发病,分别在攻毒后3,7,30 d剖杀并采集气管、肺、肾、脾、胸腺、法氏囊制作病理组织切片。攻毒7 d后,采集上述器官相同部位进行免疫组织化学法分析。根据IBV-QX株NP基因的保守序列设计引物,构建质粒标准品,建立了IBV-QX Real-time PCR标准曲线,并跟踪检测试验鸡的口腔、泄殖腔排毒情况。此外,观察并记录了2组鸡的临床症状、体质量差异等信息。结果显示,发病初期(3 d),气管、肺几乎无明显病理变化,其他器官均出现不同程度的炎性反应;临床症状明显期(7 d),所涉及的器官均有不同程度的病理变化;发病后期(30 d),气管纤毛有所恢复,肺、脾炎性反应有所减轻,但肾脏和法氏囊的病变依然严重。免疫组织化学法检测到上述器官均有可见抗原聚集。30 d时被感染鸡的口腔、泄殖腔仍可检出病毒核酸。试验鸡临床症状明显,体质量差异显著。本试验旨在探究具有组织嗜性的IBV-QX毒株对宿主的免疫器官和该病毒的主要靶器官的病理损伤以及被损伤器官的自我修复情况,抗原分布差异,排毒规律等,为后续研究宿主免疫器官发挥天然免疫的相关机理打下基础,也为研发新的疫苗、相关药物的临床药效评价、制定合理的疫苗接种策略提供参考。