Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detecting infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) infection based on the VP3 structural protein

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) causes a contagious immunosuppressive disease in chickens. The aim of the present study is to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the expressed VP2 or VP3 protein of IBDV as the coating antigen for detecting antibodies to IBDV. Experimental results were compared with virus neutralization assay and a commercial-available ELISA. These assays were used to examine the sera from farm chickens and chickens vaccinated experimentally. The VP3-based ELISA had a higher correlation coefficient (R(2)) of 0.812 with a commercial ELISA kit at a serum dilution of 1:500 than that of VP2-based ELISA (R(2)) of 0.671. The relative sensitivity between virus neutralization and VP2-ELISA and VP3-ELISA was 96% (251/262) and 100% (262/262), respectively, and that between virus neutralization and a commercial ELISA was 99% (257/261). Additionally, compared with virus neutralization assay, the reference technique for diagnosing IBDV, VP3-based ELISA had an agreement value of 99%, superior to that of VP2-based ELISA (95%) or the commercial kit (89%). These results revealed that the capability of either VP2-ELISA or VP3-ELISA in detecting the field chicken sera was comparable to the commercial one, which is generally used to replace the virus neutralization assay. However, the preparation of VP3 is derived from an Escherichia coli expression system with a high yield and purification efficiency by Ni(2+)-NTA gels, which is more favorable to the insect cell-derived particles formed by VP2. Therefore, VP3-ELISA could be developed as an efficient and low cost diagnostic method for IBDV infection in field chickens.     

A study of antigenic variants of foot-and-mouth disease virus by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of their structural polypeptides

Twenty-nine foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) type A virus strains, previously classified serologically as distinct subtypes were analysed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) to determine the extent of variation in the pattern of the structural polypeptides and to evaluate the technique as an aid to existing subtyping techniques. The majority of the subtypes examined had distinct polypeptide patterns, however, some variation also occurred between strains within a subtype. The position of VP2(1B) and VP3(1C) was often unchanged in different strains within a subtype and between geographically related subtypes over long periods of time. Changes in the position of VP1(1D) were also observed within a subtype. The technique was considered to be of value for the screening of isolates prior to conventional serological subtyping procedures and in the tracing of the possible origin of FMD outbreaks.     

新Ⅰ型鸭肝炎病毒VP1和3D蛋白的原核表达及鉴定

为表达新Ⅰ型亚肝炎病毒(DHV-1C)的VP1和3D重组蛋白,本研究根据GenBank中的DHV-1C N株全基因序列,设计合成两对引物扩增其VP1和3D基因,构建重组表达载体并进行诱导表达.SDS-PAGE和western blot分析表明,VP1和3D重组蛋白分别在诱导3h和4h后表达量达到峰值,其大小分别为37.68 ku和65.80 ku,并且能够与抗DHV-1C阳性血清产生特异性免疫反应.     

Molecular characterization of a 13-amino acid deletion in VP1 (1D) protein and novel amino acid substitutions in 3D polymerase protein of foot and mouth disease virus subtype A/Iran87

The nucleotide sequence of the VP1 (1D) and partial 3D polymerase (3D^pol) coding regions of the foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) vaccine strain A/Iran87, a highly passaged isolate (~150 passages), was determined and aligned with previously published FMDV serotype A sequences. Overall analysis of the amino acid substitutions revealed that the partial 3D^pol coding region contained four amino acid alterations. Amino acid sequence comparison of the VP1 coding region of the field isolates revealed deletions in the highly passaged Iranian isolate (A/Iran87). The prominent G-H loop of the FMDV VP1 protein contains the conserved arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) tripeptide, which is a well-known ligand for a specific cell surface integrin. Despite losing the RGD sequence of the VP1 protein and an Asp₂₆→Glu substitution in a beta sheet located within a small groove of the 3D^pol protein, the virus grew in BHK 21 suspension cell cultures. Since this strain has been used as a vaccine strain, it may be inferred that the RGD deletion has no critical role in virus attachment to the cell during the initiation of infection. It is probable that this FMDV subtype can utilize other pathways for cell attachment.     

4种重要虫媒病的核酸液相芯片高通量检测方法的建立

为建立可检测鹿流行性出血热病毒(EHDV)、阿卡斑病毒(AKV)、蓝舌病病毒(BTV)和水泡性口炎病毒(VSV)的液相芯片快速检测技术,用DNAStar软件对GenBank中BTV的VP7基因、EHDV的VP7基因、AKV的N基因和VSV的NP基因序列进行序列分析,设计针对这些基因的特异性探针并标记生物素,分别与不同编号的荧光编码微球偶联后再与这些病毒相应基因的PCR产物杂交反应,用液相芯片检测仪(Liquichip 200)检测荧光信号建立了以上4种虫媒病的快速液相芯片检测方法。检测结果显示,该方法具有较好的特异性,偶联特异性探针的微球只与相应的病毒基因的PCR产物反应,而不与其他虫媒病病毒反应;检测灵敏度达到50~100个TCID50。本研究建立了可以同时检测鹿流行性出血热病毒、阿卡斑病毒、蓝舌病病毒和水泡性口炎病毒的快速高通量液相芯片技术,为其他类似病毒的快速高通量检测提供了借鉴和经验。     

埃博拉病毒分子生物学研究进展

埃博拉出血热是由埃博拉病毒所引起的高致死性传染病。40多年来,埃博拉出血热疫情多次在非洲西部国家大规模爆发,造成了大量人员死亡与重大财产损失。为更好地认识埃博拉出血热,就埃博拉出血热的病原学、分子生物学等最新研究进展进行综述。     

Correlation of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay titers with protection against infectious bursal disease virus.

We examined the utility of baculovirus-expressed infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) proteins to act as antigens in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The three IBDV protein antigens tested included 1) a truncated VP2, 2) whole VP2, and 3) the polyprotein products VP2, VP3, and VP4. Serum samples from 2-wk-old commercially reared broilers were collected and tested in the three ELISAs. Serum samples were obtained from 34 different commercial broiler flocks. An average of 14 serum samples (range = 11-17) were tested for each flock. The ELISA results were compared with the percentage of protection of these birds following challenge with IBDV. Fifty 2-wk-old chicks from each of the 34 broiler flocks were challenged with STC classic virus or Del-E variant virus. At 7 days postchallenge, the bursa from each of the birds was removed and bursa/body weights were recorded. Percentage of protection was determined by the number of birds in each challenge group that had normal relative bursal weights compared with unchallenged controls. No evidence was found of a relationship between ELISA data generated with the polyprotein antigen (VP2, VP3, VP4) and percentage of protection observed in the STC and Del-E challenged birds. A significant relationship was found between ELISA data and percentage of protection to STC and Del-E when the truncated VP2 or whole VP2 antigens were used in the ELISA. The results of this study indicate that predicting the percentage of protection against classic or variant IBDV strains in broilers from vaccinated breeder flocks can be improved when VP2 is used as the only antigen in the ELISA.     

African horse sickness virus structure

African horse sickness virus (AHSV), of which there are nine serotypes (AHSV-1, -2, etc.), is a member of Orbivirus genus within the Reoviridae family. Both in morphology and molecular constituents AHSV particles are comparable to those of bluetongue virus (BTV), the prototype virus of the genus. The two viruses have seven structural proteins (VP1–7) organized in two layered capsid. The outer capsid is composed of VP2 and VP5. The inner capsid, or core, is composed of two major proteins, VP3 and VP7, and three minor proteins, VP1, VP4 and VP6. Within the core is the virus genome. This genome consists of 10 double-stranded (ds)RNA segments of different sizes, three large, designated L1–L3, three medium, M4–M6, and four small, S7–S10. In addition to the seven stuctural proteins that are coded by seven of the RNA species, four non-structural proteins, NS1, NS2, NS3 and NS3A, are coded by three RNA segments, M5, S8 and S10. The two smallest proteins (NS3 and NS3A) are synthesized by the S10 RNA segment, probably from different in-frame translation initiation codons. Nucleotide sequences of eight RNA segments (L2, L3, M4, M5, M6, S7, S8 and S10) and the predicted amino acid sequences of the encoded gene products are also available, mainly representing one serotype, AHSV-4. In this review the properties of the AHSV genes and gene products are discussed. The sequence and hybridization analyses of the different AHSV dsRNA segments indicate that the segments that code for the core proteins, as well as those that code for NS1 and NS2 proteins, are highly conserved between the different virus serotypes. However, the RNA encoding NS3 and NS3A, and the two segments encoding the outer capsid proteins, are more variable between the AHSV serotypes. A close phylogenetic relationship between AHSV, BTV and epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV), three Culicoides-transmitted orbiviruses, has been revealed when the equivalent sequences of genes and gene products are compared. Recently, the four major AHSV capsid proteins have been expressed using recombinant baculoviruses. Biochemically and antigenically these proteins are similar to the authentic proteins. Since the AHSV VP7 protein is highly conserved among the different serotypes, it has been utilized as a diagnostic reagent. The expressed VP7 protein has also been purified to homogeneity and crystallized for three-dimensional X-ray analysis. The expressed outer capsid proteins, VP2 and VP5, have been purified and used to raise antisera in rabbits. The VP2 antisera neutralize virus infections in vitro indicating the importance of this protein for vaccine development.     

细小病毒衣壳蛋白功能研究进展

细小病毒是目前为止发现的最小的单股DNA病毒,在自然界分布极广并与多种疾病相关。该病毒衣壳中主要包含三种蛋白:VP1、VP2、VP3,这些衣壳蛋白参与了病毒感染的整个过程。VP1通过核定位信号(NLS)介导病毒感染性,协助病毒完成核内定位。VP2经"反受体"与细胞受体相互作用促进病毒进一步内化,与此同时VP1与VP2 N’末端共同作用完成核转运。裂解蛋白VP3仅存在于细小病毒科少数成员中,其功能未被完全确定,猜测可能是衣壳蛋白骨架。该病毒对外界理化因素有极强的抵抗力,如酸或热处理,甚至能逃避模式识别受体(PRRS)识别。通过对细小病毒感染过程中衣壳蛋白的作用及其在疾病治疗中的应用进行系统的总结及讨论,以期为相关科研工作者提供参考。     

表达传染性法氏囊病病毒VP2基因的重组鸡痘病毒的构建及其免疫保护性研究

以脂质体转染技术构建了表达鸡传染性法氏囊病病毒（ＩＢＤＶ）ＶＰ２基因的重组鸡痘病毒ＦＰＶ－ＶＰ２，该病毒在鸡胚成纤维细胞及鸡体内均能稳定产生子代病毒，经翅皮下５×１０５ＰＦＵ／羽免疫１日龄ＳＰＦ鸡，免疫后４周以１００ＬＤ５０／羽ＩＢＤＶ超强毒株Ｇ株攻毒，获得了５／６的保护，但不能有效预防临床发病及法氏囊受损萎缩。实验结果证明了ＶＰ２是ＩＢＤＶ的宿主保护性抗原，提示Ｔ细胞介导的免疫可能在ＩＢＤＶ的免疫中起着较为重要的作用。本研究为ＩＢＤＶ重组病毒疫苗研制进行了有益探索。     

How Ebola virus counters the interferon system

Zoonotic transmission of Ebola virus (EBOV) to humans causes a severe haemorrhagic fever in afflicted individuals with high case-fatality rates. Neither vaccines nor therapeutics are at present available to combat EBOV infection, making the virus a potential threat to public health. To devise antiviral strategies, it is important to understand which components of the immune system could be effective against EBOV infection. The interferon (IFN) system constitutes a key innate defence against viral infections and prevents development of lethal disease in mice infected with EBOV strains not adapted to this host. Recent research revealed that expression of the host cell IFN-inducible transmembrane proteins 1-3 (IFITM1-3) and tetherin is induced by IFN and restricts EBOV infection, at least in cell culture model systems. IFITMs, tetherin and other effector molecules of the IFN system could thus pose a potent barrier against EBOV spread in humans. However, EBOV interferes with signalling events required for human cells to express these proteins. Here, we will review the strategies employed by EBOV to fight the IFN system, and we will discuss how IFITM proteins and tetherin inhibit EBOV infection.     

Foot and mouth disease

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) affects cloven-footed animals. It is caused by seven species ("types") of Foot and Mouth virus (FMDV) in the genus aphthovirus, family Picornaviridae (). FMDV is a single-stranded RNA virus, with a protein coat consisting of four capsid proteins enumerated as VP1, VP2, VP3, and VP4 (Garland and Donaldson 1990).     

Expression and antigenic characterization of the major core protein VP7 of Chuzan virus, a member of the Palyam serogroup orbiviruses

The Palyam serogroup-specific antigen, VP7, of Chuzan virus strain K-47 was expressed in insect cells by a recombinant baculovirus. The expressed protein appeared as a single band of 38kDa corresponding to the predicted molecular mass of Chuzan virus VP7 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). In immunoprecipitation analysis, the recombinant VP7 was not only recognized by all polyclonal antibodies against the Palyam serogroup viruses (PALV) tested in this study, but also by antisera to bluetongue virus (BTV) serotype 1, epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) serotypes 1 and 2. However, in Western immunoblot assay, no positive signals were observed between this protein and these antisera, even in the homologous reaction using antiserum to Chuzan virus. These findings demonstrate that the common antigenic determinants on the VP7 proteins of Chuzan virus and the other PALV serotypes are mainly conformational and that the proteins share some epitopes with those of BTV and EHDV beyond the serogroup. No cross-reactivities were detected between Chuzan virus VP7 and antisera to BTV and EHDV in agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) and indirect ELISA tests, indicating that the recombinant VP7 is useful as a diagnostic reagent for serological tests of congenital abnormalities of cattle caused by PALV.     

蛋白结晶技术在病毒学中的应用

病毒及其亚单位蛋白的三维结构 (3 D)解析是认识病毒蛋白功能的有力手段。对病毒结构的认识正经历着病毒粒子电镜结构、纳米水平的精细结构及病毒组成蛋白原子水平 3 D结构的变化。晶体的 X射线衍射技术可在原子水平上认识病毒蛋白的结构。这为从结构生物学的角度认识病毒复制、病毒粒子的装配、病毒的致病与免疫机理及抗病毒药物设计提供了技术平台     

Retrospective genetic characterisation of Encephalomyocarditis viruses from African elephant and swine recovers two distinct lineages in South Africa

Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) outbreaks are rare in southern Africa. Only two have been reported to date from South Africa, both coinciding with rodent irruptions. The first outbreak manifested as acute myocarditis in pigs in 1979, whilst the second, occurring from 1993 to 1994, was linked to the deaths of 64 free-ranging adult African elephants (Loxodonta africana). The P1 genome region, inclusive of the flanking leader (L) and 2A genes, of three South African isolates, one from swine and two from elephants, was characterised by PCR amplification and sequencing of up to 11 overlapping fragments. In addition to the resulting 3329 nucleotide dataset, the 3D region that is widely used in molecular epidemiology studies, was characterised, and three datasets (P1, VP1/3 and 3D), complemented with available homologous EMCV data, were compiled for analyses. Phylogenetic inferences revealed the near-identical elephant outbreak strains to be most closely related to a mengovirus from rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) in Uganda, differing from the latter by between 11% (3D) and 15% (VP3/1). The South African pig isolate differed by 4% (3D) and 11% (VP3/1) from available European and Asian pig virus sequences. This study confirms the presence of two genetically distinct EMCV lineages recovered from sporadic outbreaks in wild and domestic hosts in southern Africa, and provides valuable baseline data for future outbreak eventualities in the sub-region.     

鸡传染性贫血病毒VP3蛋白的原核表达及其单克隆抗体的研制

本研究首先利用同源重组一步克隆法将鸡传染性贫血病病毒(CIAV)的VP3基因克隆到pGEX-6P-1原核表达载体上,经IPTG诱导及SDS-PAGE分析成功获得了重组蛋白rGST-VP3的表达.随即以纯化的重组蛋白rGST-VP3免疫Balb/c小鼠,通过脾细胞与SP2/0细胞融合以及间接免疫荧光(IFA)筛选,获得2株稳定分泌CIAV-VP3抗体的杂交瘤细胞株,分别命名为CIAV-VP3-4D7和CIAV-VP3-4G8;亚型鉴定表明,CIAV-VP3-4D7和CIAV-VP3-4G8均为IgG1;效价测定发现,CIAV-VP3-4D7和CIAV-VP3-4G8的腹水间接免疫荧光效价分别为1:102400与1:12800;Western blot进一步证实,CIAV-VP3-4D7和CIAV-VP3-4G8均能识别重组蛋白rGST-VP3.本研究结果为后期研究VP3蛋白在CIAV致病中作用及其诱导凋亡分子机制奠定了坚实的物质基础.     

猪嵴病毒病原特性及检测技术研究进展

猪嵴病毒（porcine kobuvirus,PKV）是近年来在健康猪和腹泻猪粪便中新检测到的小核糖核酸病毒科嵴病毒属成员,可能引起猪的腹泻,对养猪业造成重大经济损失。研究发现,PKV广泛分布在猪中,在腹泻和临床健康猪中均已被检测到,阳性率从3.9%~100.0%各不相同。一个典型的PKV病毒粒子直径为30 nm,基因组全长为8 120 bp,包括1个含2 488个氨基酸的开放性阅读框（ORF）;PKV是典型的小RNA病毒科的基因组结构：1个5'非编码区,1个L蛋白,结构蛋白P1（VP0、VP3和VP1）,非结构蛋白P2（2A、2B和2C）和P3（3A、3B、3C和3D）,1个3'非编码区和1个Poly（A）尾巴。PKV的2B编码区存在30个氨基酸的缺失,VP1蛋白是小RNA病毒科变异最频繁的结构蛋白,其含有主要的抗原表位,可促进机体产生中和抗体。检测PKV的方法有反转录聚合酶链式反应（RT-PCR）、TaqMan探针实时荧光定量RT-PCR和逆转录环介导扩增（RT-LAMP）方法。作者对PKV的分类学、流行概况、基因组结构、遗传特性及检测技术等研究现状做一简要概述,以期为进一步研究及了解PKV提供参考。     

Retrospective genetic analysis of SAT-1 type foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in West Africa (1975-1981)

The complete 1D genome region encoding the immunogenic and phylogenetically informative VP1 gene was genetically characterized for 23 South African Territories (SAT)-1 viruses causing foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease outbreaks in the West African region between 1975 and 1981. The results indicate that two independent outbreaks occurred, the first involved two West African countries, namely Niger and Nigeria, whilst the second affected Nigeria alone. In the former epizootic, virus circulation spanned a period of 2 years, whilst in the latter virus was recovered from the field over a 3 year period. Comparison of the West African viruses with SAT-1 viruses from other regions on the continent revealed that the two West African lineages identified in this study are regionally distinct. Furthermore, variation in VP1 gene length was identified in SAT-1 viruses for the first time, further emphasizing the uniqueness of these pathogens in West Africa. This first retrospective analysis in which the molecular epidemiology of SAT-1 viruses in West Africa is reported, provides a useful measure of the regional variation of these viruses and is an essential first step in the establishment of a West African sequence database that will be a useful reference for future outbreak eventualities.     

A neutralizing monoclonal antibody to bovine rotavirus VP8 neutralizes rotavirus infection without inhibiting virus attachment to MA-104 cells.

VP8*, the N-terminal cleavage product of rotavirus VP4, contains the virus neutralizing epitopes in the hemagglutination domain. To map the neutralizing epitope, we developed monoclonal antibodies specific for VP4 of bovine rotavirus C486 (BRV). A neutralizing escape mutant was generated by one of these monoclonal antibodies (2E8) and a point mutation (Glu-->Asp) was found at aa 116 of VP8*. To investigate the effect of this mutation on the cellular binding and hemagglutination activities, the VP8* genes of the escape mutant and wild type (WT) virus were expressed in E. coli and their functional activities were compared. Both the escape mutant and WT virus VP8* showed hemagglutination and MA-104 cell binding activities. However, hemagglutination activity of the WT virus VP8* was inhibited by 2E8, but that of the escape mutant VP8* was not. These data indicate that the neutralizing epitope is located in the HA domain but is not critical for rotavirus attachment to MA-104 cells. To understand virus neutralization, radiolabelled BRV was incubated with 2E8 and the distribution of radioactivity in a CsCI density gradient was analysed as was the morphology of the virions in peak fractions. Interaction of 2E8 with rotavirus led to virus morphological changes with a concomitant shift in buoyant density. These data suggest that aa 116 influences the binding of 2E8 which in turn may alter virus integrity.