Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Fowl Adenovirus and Avian Reovirus from Breeder Chickens in Japan in 2019–2021

Fowl adenoviruses (FAdVs) and avian reoviruses (ARVs) are ubiquitous in poultry farms and most of them are not pathogenic, yet often cause damage to chicks. A total of 104 chicken fecal samples were collected from 7 farms of breeder chickens (layers and broilers) in Japan from 2019 to 2021, and yielded 26 FAdV plus 14 ARV isolates. By sequencing, FAdV isolates were classified as FAdV-1, 5 and 8b. ARV isolates were classified as genotype II, IV and V. These results suggest that FAdVs and ARVs are resident in the breeder chicken farms in Japan.     

Genomic characteristics of a novel reovirus from Muscovy duckling in China

A new reovirus was isolated from a sick Muscovy duckling with hemorrhagic-necrotic lesions in the liver in Zhejiang, China in 2000 and was tentatively denoted a new type of Muscovy duck reovirus (N-MDRV ZJ00M). This reovirus was propagated in a chicken fibroblast cell line (DF-1) with obvious cytopathic effects. The reovirus's genome was 23,419 bp in length with an approximately 50% G+C content and 10 dsRNA segments encoding 12 proteins. The length of the genomic segments was similar to those of avian reoviruses (ARVs), which range from 3959 nt (L1) to 1191 nt (S4) in size. All of the segments have the conserved terminal sequences 5′-GCUUUUU…UUCAUC-3′, and all of the genome segments, with the exception of S1, apparently encoded one single primary translation product. The genome analysis revealed that the S1 segment of N-MDRV is a tricistronic gene that encodes the overlapping ORFs for p10, p18, and σC. This finding is similar to that found for ARVs but distinct from that found for classical MDRV and GRV, which have a bicistronic S4 segment that encodes p10 and σC and do not encode p18. The amino acid (aa) alignments of the putative proteins encoded by the main ORF in each segment revealed a high similarity (14.1–100%) to the counterpart proteins encoded by other ARV species from the avian orthoreoviruses (e.g., ARV, classical MDRV and N-MDRV) in the Orthoreovirus genus, particularly with N-MDRV (94.6–100%). The phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequences of all 10 genome segments revealed that N-MDRV ZJ00M is distinct from all other described reovirus species groups but is a separated from the ARV (including MDRV and GRV) species within orthoreovirus species group II and grouped into the classical MDRV and GRV genogroup with the N-MDRV isolates. The MDRV genogroup can be further divided into two genotype clusters. The morphological and pathological analyses and the genetic characterization of N-MDRV ZJ00M suggest that it belongs to genotype 2 (N-MDRV). In addition, the RT-PCR assays of DRV diseased duckling and gosling samples collected from different regions of China during 2000–2013 indicate that N-MDRV is currently the prevalent genotype in China.     

Characterization of the sigmaB-encoding genes of muscovy duck reovirus: sigmaC-sigmaB-ELISA for antibodies against duck reovirus in ducks

The sigmaB/sigmaC-encoding genes of muscovy duck reovirus (DRV) S12 strain were cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli. The sigmaC-encoding gene of DRV showed only 21-22% identity to that of avian reovirus (ARV) at both nucleotide and amino acid level. The sigmaB-encoding gene of DRV comprised 1163bp with one open reading frame (ORF). The ORF comprised 1104bp and encoded 367 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 40.44 kDa. A zinc-binding motif and a basic amino acid motif were found within the predicted amino acid sequence of sigmaB. The identities between the S12 and ARV were 59.3-64.0% and 60.9-62.5%, respectively, at the nucleotide and deduced amino acid levels. Phylogenetic analysis of the sigmaB-encoding gene sequence indicated that S12 separated as a distinct virus relative to other avian strains. The expressed sigmaB/sigmaC fusion proteins in E. coli could be detected, approximately 45 and 50kDa, respectively, by duck anti-reovirus polyclonal serum. In addition, an ELISA (sigmaB-sigmaC-ELISA) using the expressed sigmaB-sigmaC proteins as coating antigen for detection of antibodies to DRV in ducks was developed. In comparison with the virus neutralization test and agar gel immuno-diffusion test (AGID), the sigmaB-sigmaC-ELISA showed perfect specificity and sensitivity. The sigmaB-sigmaC-ELISA did not react with the antisera to other duck pathogens, implying that these two proteins were specific in recognition of DRV antibodies. Taken together, the results demonstrated that sigmaB-sigmaC-ELISA was a sensitive and accurate method for detecting antibodies to DRV.     

Enteropathogenicity of Dutch and German avian reoviruses in SPF white leghorn chickens and broilers

The enteropathogenicity of avian reoviruses (ARVs), isolated from chickens affected with malabsorption syndrome (MAS) from The Netherlands and Germany was studied. In the first trial seven different ARVs isolated from MAS cases were inoculated in 1-day-old specific pathogenic free (SPF) white leghorns. The pathogenicity was compared with 2 ARVs isolated from cases of tenosynovitis, namely reference strain S1133 and a Dutch strain. Although a difference in the severity of the clinical disease was observed, all reoviruses could induce vacuolar degeneration and sloughing of the epithelium of the small intestine at day 2 post inoculation (PI) till day 7 PI. Two Dutch and one German ARV derived from MAS causing the most severe intestinal lesions at day 2 PI, were further studied in the second trial using SPF broilers. These reoviruses did not cause weight gain depression in the broilers although lesions in the small intestine were present from day 1 up to day 4 PI and were more severe than in the white leghorn chickens. In one of the inoculated groups apical denuded villi were already present at day 1 PI. At day 7 PI the small intestine of the infected broilers appeared to be normal. Reovirus antigen was detected in the cytoplasm of the enterocytes at the tip and middle section of the affected villi both in layers and in broilers. To study the role of intestinal CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells and macrophages/monocytes in the pathogenesis of ARV, the numbers of these cells of the jejunal villi of one infected and the control broiler groups were compared. CD4+ T-cells were detected in low numbers and only in the infected broiler group at day 14 PI. The numbers of CD8+ T-cells and macrophages/monocytes were significantly higher in the infected broiler group than in the control broiler group at day 7 and 14 PI and at day 7 PI respectively. Our study indicates that the reovirus alone cannot induce intestinal lesions as found in MAS chickens. Moreover, CD8+ T-cells may play a major role in the pathogenesis and or reovirus clearance in the small intestine.     

禽呼肠孤病毒μNS非结构蛋白基因的克隆及序列分析

根据GenBank中禽呼肠孤病毒(ARV)M3基因序列,设计并合成了一对跨越μNS非结构蛋白基因完整开放阅读框(ORF)的特异性引物,对ARV的10个毒株进行RT-PCR扩增、克隆及序列测定。结果表明,10个毒株μNS蛋白基因ORF的核苷酸序列全长均为1908 bp,编码635个氨基酸。这10个毒株之间的核苷酸及推导的氨基酸同源性分别都在98%以上。将它们与哺乳动物呼肠孤病毒(MRV)、番鸭呼肠孤病毒(DRV)等进行核苷酸及推导的氨基酸序列比较,并进行遗传系统树分析,结果表明ARV与MRV有较大的差异,与DRV差异较小。     

禽呼肠病毒P10、P17非结构蛋白基因的克隆及序列分析

根据GenBank上的禽呼肠病毒(ARV)S1基因序列,设计并合成了一对跨越P10和P17非结构蛋白基因的特异性引物,对13个ARV毒株进行RT-PCR扩增、克隆及序列测定。结果显示,13个ARV毒株的P10蛋白基因ORF全长均为297bp,编码98个氨基酸;P17蛋白基因ORF全长为441bp,编码146个氨基酸。这13个ARV毒株P10、P17蛋白基因核苷酸同源性分别在96.6%~100%和95.2%~99.3%之间,推导的氨基酸同源性分别在98.2%~100%和91.9%~99.0%之间。将这13个ARV毒株与GenBank上其他正呼肠病毒毒株,包括番鸭株(DRV)和飞狐上分离到的内尔森海湾病毒(NelsonBayvirus,NBV)及两个澳洲分离株(ARM-1和SOM-4)进行同源性比较和遗传进化树分析,结果表明,呼肠病毒有地域和种类的差别。     

广东新型鸭呼肠孤病毒σB蛋白基因克隆及序列分析

为研究广东新型呼肠孤病毒（NDRV）的基因变异及遗传演化情况,本试验从广东不同鸭场病死鸭肝脏、脾脏等组织脏器中分离到8株流行毒株,用RT-PCR方法进行σB蛋白基因扩增、克隆与序列分析,并与其他毒株σB蛋白的氨基酸特性、蛋白抗原和蛋白基因进行系统进化比对分析。结果表明,广东省鸭群中感染的NDRV与国内其他地区报道的DRV核苷酸序列同源性很高,达96.6%~99.5%,而与禽呼肠孤病毒（ARV）和番鸭呼肠孤病毒（MDRV）的同源性则较低,分别为64.6%~66.5%和66.2%~67.1%;8株NDRV之间的核苷酸序列同源性高达97.7%~99.7%。与其他毒株比较结果显示,本试验分离的NDRV毒株磷酸化位点均比参考毒株ARV和MDRV少,且大多数区域的抗原指数都较高,抗原性与MDRV较为接近,遗传进化分析结果表明,NDRV和国内其他DRV处于独立的进化分支,ARV和MDRV则处于不同分支。结果表明,广东省流行的NDRV毒株σB蛋白基因序列高度保守,且广东地区分离的NDRV与国内其他地区分离的DRV没有明显的地域差异。     

Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of M-class genome segments of novel duck reovirus NP03

We report the sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the entire M1, M2, and M3 genome segments of the novel duck reovirus (NDRV) NP03. Alignment between the newly determined nucleotide sequences as well as their deduced amino acid sequences and the published sequences of avian reovirus (ARV) was carried out with DNASTAR software. Sequence comparison showed that the M2 gene had the most variability among the M-class genes of DRV. Phylogenetic analysis of the M-class genes of ARV strains revealed different lineages and clusters within DRVs. The 5 NDRV strains used in this study fall into a well-supported lineage that includes chicken ARV strains, whereas Muscovy DRV (MDRV) strains are separate from NDRV strains and form a distinct genetic lineage in the M2 gene tree. However, the MDRV and NDRV strains are closely related and located in a common lineage in the M1 and M3 gene trees, respectively.     

番鸭IFN-α mRNA实时荧光定量RT-PCR检测方法的建立

根据GenBank中鸭IFN-α基因(GenBank登录号:JF894229)序列设计并合成引物,并以鸭β-actin基因(GenBank登录号:GU564232)为内参,采用SYBR Green I染料法,建立检测鸭IFN-αmRNA的实时荧光定量Real-time PCR方法(RT-PCR)。将IFN-α和β-actin基因分别克隆至pMD18-T载体上,鉴定出阳性重组质粒为标准品(p-IFN-α和p-β-actin),分别建立番鸭IFN-α和β-actin实时荧光定量RT-PCR方法。结果表明,Ct值在13.27~27.54与11.86~25.32范围内呈现良好的线性关系,相关系数均大于0.99(r>0.99),扩增产物的熔解曲线分析均各自只出现1个特异性单峰,无引物二聚体,Tm值分别为(93.6±0.26)℃和(85.3±0.15)℃,最低检测限分别为9.37×102copies/μL和3.71×101copies/μL,检测周期从样品的处理到荧光定量PCR结束仅需4 h左右。本研究建立的鸭IFN-α基因实时荧光定量PCR灵敏度高、特异性强、检测周期短,为番鸭IFN-αmRNA的定量分析奠定了基础。     

鸡β-actin基因实时荧光定量PCR方法的建立

根据GenBank上鸡β-actin基因的序列，在保守区域设计并合成一对引物，采用SYBR Green I染料建立了荧光定量PCR法（real-time PCR）。以常规PCR产物为标准品，建立了标准曲线，并进行了熔解曲线分析。结果表明，标准曲线Ct值检测范围为12~31,扩增效率为95.1%；熔解曲线分析结果显示产物特异的单个峰，其Tm为88±0℃，检测周期从RNA提取到荧光定量PCR结束只需4 h。本试验建立的鸡β-actin基因实时荧光定量PCR法扩增效率高、检测范围广、检测周期短，为β-actin基因作为内参基因进行鸡功能基因与病原基因表达的定量分析奠定了基础。     

A Rapid Detection Method for the Ryanodine Receptor 1 (C7360G) Mutation in Quarter Horses

Background: Anesthetic-induced malignant hyperthermia has been documented in Quarter Horses and is caused by a single-point mutation in the ryanodine receptor 1 gene at nucleotide C7360G generating a R2454G amino acid substitution. An accurate, faster molecular test that is less prone to contamination would facilitate screening for the mutation in horses intended for breeding, in those undergoing surgical procedures, and in those with clinical signs compatible with malignant hyperthermia.
Objective: To report a rapid and accurate method for the detection of the ryanodine receptor 1 C7360G mutation.
Animals: Eleven diseased, 10 healthy, and 225 randomly selected Quarter Horses.
Methods: This study included horses with the ryanodine receptor 1 C7360G mutation as detected by gene sequencing. Available genomic and complementary DNA extracted from whole blood, hair or skeletal muscle was used for genetic analysis. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) melting curve analysis was performed by equine specific primers and 2 hybridization probes (sensor and anchor probes) that contain the site of the mutation. Results from this method were blinded and compared with nucleic acid sequencing for validation.
Results: A rapid genotyping assay with fluorescence resonance energy transfer probes and melting curve analysis was accurate (100% agreement, K = 1) for identification of affected horses. The prevalence of the mutation in a random population of Quarter Horses was 1.3%.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Malignant hyperthermia in Quarter Horses can be rapidly and accurately detected by RT-PCR melting curve genotyping with hybridization probes.     

Identification of feline polycystic kidney disease mutation using fret probes and melting curve analysis

We developed and validated a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay using fluorescent hybridization probes and melting curve analysis to identify the PKD1 exon 29 (C → A) mutation, which is implicated in polycystic kidney disease of cats. DNA was isolated from peripheral blood of 20 Persian cats. The employ of the new real-time PCR and melting curve analysis in these samples indicated that 13 cats (65%) were wild type homozygotes and seven cats (35%) were heterozygotes. Both PCR-RFLP and sequencing procedures were in full agreement with real-time PCR test results. Sequence analysis showed that the mutant gene had the expected base change compared to the wild type gene.The new procedure is not only very reliable but also faster than the techniques currently applied for diagnosis of the mutation.     

荧光定量PCR法检测副溶血弧菌tdh基因的表达差异

以pvuA为内标基因,运用实时荧光定量PCR检测不同来源以及不同应激条件下副溶血弧菌热稳定直接溶血素基因tdh的表达量。pvuA和tdh基因的荧光定量PCR融解曲线分析表明,两者均为特异性扩增。尽管相同来源的不同菌株间tdh表达量存在显著差异,副溶血弧菌临床分离株的tdh mRNA平均表达量显著高于海产品分离株((57.2比13.8)。在pH4.0、0.5%和8%NaCl应激条件下,临床株ZJ2和海产品分离株FJ14A的tdh mRNA表达量显著高于对照组;另一海产品分离株KP34在8%NaCl条件下的表达量显著提高,而低pH应激时tdh mRNA的表达量显著降低。结果表明,不同副溶血弧菌分离株的tdh mRNA表达差异显著,临床分离株的tdh mRNA表达量总体上高于海产品分离株,副溶血弧菌在不同应激条件下主要表现为tdh mRNA表达上调。     

禽呼肠病毒套式RT-PCR检测方法的建立

根据GenBank中登录的禽呼肠病毒(ARV)基因组序列,设计合成了2对引物,外部引物的扩增片段大小为478 bp,内部引物的扩增片段大小为247 bp,建立了适合ARV快速检测的套式RT-PCR方法(RT-nested-PCR).采用该方法对REV毒株进行了检测,均能扩增到247 bp的条带,而禽流感病毒(H9亚型)...     

运用SYBR Green Ⅰ熔解曲线法检测饲料中牛、羊源性成分的研究

试验旨在建立SYBR Green Ⅰ熔解曲线法对饲料中牛、羊源成分进行检测,以SYBR GreenⅠ为荧光染料,通过优化PCR反应体系,提高了检测灵敏度。在随机抽检的145批样品中,与国标法（GB/T20190-2006）相比,SYBR GreenⅠ熔解曲线法的准确性达到了100%,此方法可作为饲料中牛羊源成分检测的一种方法。     

ARV、REV与ALV三重RT-PCR检测方法的建立

根椐GenBank中已发表的禽呼肠孤病毒（ARV）、禽网状内皮增生病病毒（REV）、禽白血病病毒（ALV）等3种病毒基因组序列,设计了3对分别与ARV、REV和ALV某段基因序列互补的引物。在建立各病毒单项RT-PCR技术的基础上,优化三重RT-PCR反应条件,建立了3种病毒的三重RT-PCR技术。结果表明,用这3对引物对同一样品中的ARV、REV、ALV核酸模板进行三重RT-PCR扩增,可同时扩增ARV的247bp,ALV的675bp,REV的467bp的特异性片段,而对其他6种禽病病原的PCR扩增结果均为阴性。敏感性测定结果表明,该三重RT-PCR技术能检出10pg的ALV、1pg的ARV和10pg的REV模板。用42份临床病料对本研究多重RT-PCR技术和单项RT-PCR技术进行对比验证,结果显示,两者的总符合率为92%以上。表明建立的多重RT-PCR检测方法,具有特异、快速、准确的特点,可用于对这3种病毒的同时检测和鉴别诊断。     

Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of P10- and P17-encoding genes of avian reovirus

Avian reovirus (ARV) causes viral arthritis, chronic respiratory diseases, and malabsorption syndrome. The P10 protein is a viroporin and induces cell fusion, whereas the biological function of P17 protein is completely unknown. In this study, the nucleotide sequences of the P10- and P17-encoding genes from 17 field isolates and vaccine strains of ARV isolated over a 23-year period from distinct geographic locations were analyzed to define phylogenetic profiles and to study sequence variability and genetic evolution. These genes displayed the signs of a high level of sequence divergence and have evolved into five distinct lineages, respectively. The P17-encoding gene showed higher sequence divergence than that of P10-encoding gene. Our results indicated that synonymous substitutions predominate over nonsynonymous substitutions in both genes. Comparison of P10 and P17 gene phylograms with those of S-class genes revealed distinct evolutionary patterns, indicating that P10 and P17 evolve in an independent manner. Comparative sequence analysis also showed extensive sequence divergence between ARV and other orthoreoviruses. The phylogenetic analysis of P10- and P17-encoding genes revealed that diversity within both genes is neither dependent of viral serotypes nor correlated with the disease states caused by avian reovirus.     

番鸭呼肠孤病毒MW9710株S1基因片段的克隆及序列分析

参考GenBank番鸭呼肠孤病毒(muscovy duck reovirus,MDRV)S1基因序列设计合成一对引物,对番鸭呼肠孤病毒MW9710株S1基因进行RT-PCR扩增,并对PCR产物进行了克隆和测序.结果显示扩增产物为300bp,与预期的目的片段大小一致,经PCR、酶切反应鉴定后克隆到pGEM-Teasy载体中,核苷酸序列经BLAST软件分析表明:番鸭呼肠孤病毒MW9170株S1基因的目的片段与番鸭呼肠孤病毒法国89026株同源性为91.7%,与鸡关节炎病毒S2基因同源性为68.7%,结果提示番鸭呼肠孤病毒MW9710株与鸡关节炎病毒亲缘距离较远.     

禽呼肠病毒σC基因的表达及ELISA抗体检测方法的建立

将RT-PCR扩增得到的禽呼肠病毒(ARV)S1133毒株的σC基因克隆至pMD-18T-Simple载体,经酶切及测序鉴定,证明该基因片段为ARVσC基因。将该基因亚克隆至pET32a(+)成功构建了表达载体pET32a-σC。该重组质粒在大肠埃希菌BL21中经1.0mmol/L IPTG诱导5h得到最佳表达。pET32a-σC蛋白的分子质量为55ku,Western blot分析表明,该重组蛋白能与ARV阳性血清发生特异性反应,表明其具有良好的反应原性。将纯化好的ARVσC蛋白作为包被抗原,确定了该方法的抗原最适包被浓度为2μg/mL,血清的最适稀释度为1∶400。用建立的ELISA方法检测接种过ARV疫苗的65份临床血清样品,测得44份为阳性,阳性率为67.7%;未接种ARV疫苗的30份血清样品检测结果均为阴性。