Genotyping of the fish rhabdovirus, viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus, by restriction fragment length polymorphisms

The aim of this study was to develop a standardized molecular assay that used limited resources and equipment for routine genotyping of isolates of the fish rhabdovirus, viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV). Computer generated restriction maps, based on 62 unique full-length (1524 nt) sequences of the VHSV glycoprotein (G) gene, were used to predict restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns that were subsequently grouped and compared with a phylogenetic analysis of the G-gene sequences of the same set of isolates. Digestion of PCR amplicons from the full-length G-gene by a set of three restriction enzymes was predicted to accurately enable the assignment of the VHSV isolates into the four major genotypes discovered to date. Further sub-typing of the isolates into the recently described sub-lineages of genotype I was possible by applying three additional enzymes. Experimental evaluation of the method consisted of three steps: (i) RT-PCR amplification of the G-gene of VHSV isolates using purified viral RNA as template, (ii) digestion of the PCR products with a panel of restriction endonucleases and (iii) interpretation of the resulting RFLP profiles. The RFLP analysis was shown to approximate the level of genetic discrimination obtained by other, more labour-intensive, molecular techniques such as the ribonuclease protection assay or sequence analysis. In addition, 37 previously uncharacterised isolates from diverse sources were assigned to specific genotypes. While the assay was able to distinguish between marine and continental isolates of VHSV, the differences did not correlate with the pathogenicity of the isolates.     

牛流行热病毒JB76H株G蛋白基因核苷酸序列分析

通过反转录－聚合酶链反应（ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ）,从中国北京分离株牛流行热病毒ＪＢ７６Ｈ基因组ＲＢＡ中扩增出主要保护性抗原糖蛋白Ｇ的cＤＮＡ。采用Ｓanger’s双脱氧末端终 止法测定cＤＮＡ片段的核苷酸序列,并推导出氨基酸序列。Ｇ基因全长为１８７２个碱基,单一的开放阅读框架阅读框架编码６２３个氨基酸的多肽。将测得的序列与澳大利亚六个分离株进行比较,发现我国分离株与渊大利亚分离株间同源性为９１％,低于澳大利亚各分     

Equid herpesvirus 9 (EHV-9) isolates from zebras in Ontario,Canada, 1989 to 2007

The objective of this study was to identify and partially characterize 3 equid herpesviruses that were isolated postmortem from zebras in Ontario, Canada in 1989, 2002, and 2007. These 3 virus isolates were characterized by plaque morphology, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of their genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, and sequence analyses of the full length of the glycoprotein G (gG) gene (ORF70) and a portion of the DNA polymerase gene (ORF30). The isolates were also compared to 3 reference strains of equid herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1). Using rabbit kidney cells, the plaques for the isolates from the zebras were found to be much larger in size than the EHV-1 reference strains. The RFLP patterns of the zebra viruses differed among each other and from those of the EHV-1 reference strains. Real-time PCR and sequence analysis of a portion of the DNA polymerase gene determined that the herpesvirus isolates from the zebras contained a G at nucleotide 2254 and a corresponding N at amino acid position 752, which suggested that they could be neuropathogenic EHV-1 strains. However, subsequent phylogenetic analysis of the gG gene suggested that they were EHV-9 and not EHV-1.     

Nucleotide sequence and polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses of Aleutian disease virus in ferrets in Japan.

Two ferrets with spontaneous Aleutian disease (AD) were found in Japan. The diagnosis was verified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of part of the capsid gene specific to AD virus (ADV). The nucleotide sequences (365 bp in length) of the amplified fragments from the 2 ferrets differed by a single nucleotide, producing an amino acid alteration. Compared with other types of ADV, these isolates had 96% sequence similarity to a published ferret ADV (FADV) in contrast to <91% homology to various types of mink ADV (MADV). The phylogenetic tree of ADVs indicates that these 2 isolates and the published FADV belong to the same genetic group and definitely are divergent from MADVs. The predicted amino acid sequence of the hypervariable segment in the capsid gene was conserved among the 3 types of FADV. These results indicated that the 2 isolates found in Japan were new DNA types of FADV and could have been derived from FADV(s). A restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method to distinguish the ferret types of ADV from the mink types of ADV was developed on the basis of differences in their nucleotide sequences. Digestion of the PCR products with Afal or ScaI provided different cleavage patterns for FADV and MADV. This PCR/RFLP analysis of the ADV capsid gene will be a valuable asset for diagnosis of this virus infection in ferrets.     

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。     

Genetic analysis of phosphoprotein and matrix protein of rabies viruses isolated in Brazil

To investigate the genetic characteristics of phosphoprotein (P) and matrix protein (M) genes of variable rabies virus (RV) prevalent in Brazil, the authors genetically characterized the P and M genes from 30 Brazilian RV field isolates. Phylogenetic analysis based on the P and M genes revealed the presence of six RV variants that consisted primarily of three insectivorous bats, the vampire bat, dog and fox in Brazil. Specific amino acid substitutions corresponding to these phylogenetic lineages were observed, with Asp(42) and Glu(62) in the P protein found to be characteristic of Brazilian chiroptera- and carnivora-related RVs, respectively. Amino acid sequence motifs predicted to associate with a viral function in the P and M proteins were conserved among Brazilian RV variants.     

Detection and molecular characterization of infectious bronchitis virus isolated from recent outbreaks in broiler flocks in Thailand

Thirteen field isolates of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) were isolated from broiler flocks in Thailand between January and June 2008. The 878-bp of the S1 gene covering a hypervariable region was amplified and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis based on that region revealed that these viruses were separated into two groups (I and II). IBV isolates in group I were not related to other IBV strains published in the GenBank database. Group 1 nucleotide sequence identities were less than 85% and amino acid sequence identities less than 84% in common with IBVs published in the GenBank database. This group likely represents the strains indigenous to Thailand. The isolates in group II showed a close relationship with Chinese IBVs. They had nucleotide sequence identities of 97-98% and amino acid sequence identities 96-98% in common with Chinese IBVs (strain A2, SH and QXIBV). This finding indicated that the recent Thai IBVs evolved separately and at least two groups of viruses are circulating in Thailand.     

Molecular epidemiological analysis of bat rabies viruses in Brazil

A molecular epidemiological analysis was performed in 19 rabies viruses (RVs) isolated from haematophagous, frugivorous and insectivorous bats, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The authors carried out RT-PCR for amplification of the RV nucleoprotein (N) gene, and determined 1,335 nucleotide sequences of N gene by direct sequencing method. Phylogenetic analysis, which was based on the N gene of Brazilian RV isolates identified presently and previously, revealed that RVs isolated from bats were genetically divided into four lineages had a tendency to depend on the host bat species. The first lineage consisted mainly of haematophagous bat (Desmodus rotundus) isolates, including frugivorous bat (Artibeus spp.) isolates. Other three lineages consisted of insectivorous bat isolates; mainly Eptesicus spp., Molossus spp. and Nyctinomops spp. isolates, respectively. These results indicate a possibility of that there are bat species-specific RV variants in Brazil.     

新城疫病毒分离株F基因的克隆与序列分析

应用RT-PCR分别扩增出新城疫病毒(NDV)青海株(QH3)、黑龙江株(HLJ)和甘肃株(A4)的融合蛋白(F)基因的全长核苷酸,再克隆到pMD18-T载体中.经酶切和质粒PCR鉴定,获得阳性重组质粒后,进行序列测定并推导出其氨基酸序列,同时进行分析和比较.序列分析结果表明,所获得的3个分离株F基因完整的开放阅读框长度为1 662 bp,共编码F蛋白的553个氨基酸;3个毒株之间的核苷酸序列同源性为88.0%～90.6%;与常用疫苗株之间核苷酸序列同源性只有85.3%～91.6%.三者F基因的裂解位点均为112R-R-Q-K/R-R-F117,符合强毒株裂解区氨基酸组成的特征.以1 bp～374 bp的核苷酸序列绘制系统发育树分析表明,QH3株NDV为基因Ⅷ型,A4株NDV为基因Ⅵ型,HLJ株NDV为基因Ⅸ型.     

Genetic and phylogenetic analysis of glycoprotein of rabies virus isolated from several species in Brazil

Genetic and phylogenetic analyses of the region containing the glycoprotein (G) gene, which is related to pathogenicity and antigenicity, and the G-L intergenic region were carried out in 14 Brazilian rabies virus isolates. The isolates were classified as dog-related rabies virus (DRRV) or vampire bat-related rabies virus (VRRV), by nucleoprotein (N) analysis. The nucleotide and amino acid (AA) homologies of the area containing the G protein gene and G-L intergenic region were generally lower than those of the ectodomain. In both regions, nucleotide and deduced AA homologies were lower among VRRVs than among DRRVs. There were AA differences between DRRV and VRRV at 3 antigenic sites and epitopes (IIa, WB+ and III), suggesting that DRRV and VRRV can be distinguished by differences of antigenicity. In a comparison of phylogenetic trees between the ectodomain and the area containing the G protein gene and G-L intergenic region, the branching patterns of the chiropteran and carnivoran rabies virus groups differed, whereas there were clear similarities in patterns within the DRRV and VRRV groups. Additionally, the VRRV isolates were more closely related to chiropteran strains isolated from Latin America than to Brazilian DRRV. These results indicate that Brazilian rabies virus isolates can be classified as DRRV or VRRV by analysis of the G gene and the G-L intergenic region, as well as by N gene analysis.     

Seroprevalence and molecular evidence for the presence of bovine immunodeficiency virus in Brazilian cattle

Data on the worldwide distribution of bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) and bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is limited. A prevalence study of antibodies to BIV and BLV was conducted in six different cattle herds in Brazil. Out of a total of 238 sera analyzed, 11.7% were found positive for anti-BIV p26 antibodies as determined by Western blot analysis, 2.1% were positive for anti-BLV gp51 antibodies as detected by immunodiffusion test. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from BIV seropositive cattle were found to have BIV-provirus DNA, as detected by nested polymerase chain reaction. A nucleotide sequence corresponding to a 298 bp fragment of the BIV pol gene was also analyzed. Amino acid sequences of these Brazilian pol gene products showed 98.0 to 100% homology to the American strain BIV R29, 97.0 to 99.0% to Japanese BIV isolates, and divergence ranged from 0 to 4.0% among Brazilian BIV isolates. This evidence of the presence of BIV and BLV infections in Brazil should be considered a health risk to Brazilian cattle populations and a potential causative agent of chronic disease in cattle.     

Isolation and identification of four infectious bronchitis virus strains in China and analyses of their S1 glycoprotein gene

Between 2003 and 2005, four strains of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) were isolated from the vaccinated chicken flocks in China. The results from chicken embryo cross-neutralization assays showed that all the four isolates were relative to strain A2 of IBV, which was isolated in 1996 in Beijing and related to strain 4/91. The S1 gene of the spike protein was amplified and sequenced. The nucleotide and amino acid sequence of the S1 gene had a similar degree of identity (88.98-99.28%) among the four Chinese IBV isolates. The identity of the S1 protein gene between the four Chinese IBV isolates and 14 strains of other IBVs varied from 70.06 to 81.59%. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that there are at least four groups of IBVs circulating in China and the disease outbreaks might have been caused by infection of multiple strains of IBV.     

禽流感病毒A/Ostrich/Denmark/72420/96(LPAI-H5N2)株HA全基因克隆与序列分析

为进一步分析禽流感病毒(AIV)H5N2分离株血凝素(HA)基因的特性,参照已发表H5亚型禽流感HA基因序列设计了1对引物,采用RT-PCR技术,以禽流感病毒A/Ostrich/Denmark/72420/96(D96)RNA为模板,扩增了HA全基因并进行核苷酸同源性比较,氨基酸编码分析,绘制系统发育进化树。结果表明,扩增片段长1737个核苷酸,包含了完整的HA基因的开放阅读框架,与Genbank已发表的H5N1和H5N2分离株的HA基因序列比较,发现与国内H5N1分离株同源性较低,只有80%左右,而与H5N2各株序列具有很高的同源性,最高达97.5%,印证了AIV基因组8个片段间频繁的重组及AIV高变异性的特点。推导的氨基酸序列分析表明,HA蛋白裂解位点上游丢失了4个连续碱性氨基酸(R-R-R-K),裂解位点处氨基酸序列为E-T-R,仅包含一个碱性氨基酸(R-)残基,符合低致病性毒株的特征,证明为低致病性毒株。其HA推导后氨基酸序列与H5N1AIV的同源性接近90%,以其研究的疫苗,可以有效抵御我国流行的H5亚型AIV病毒的感染,同时因为是弱毒株,以其研制的疫苗具有更好的安全性,也更符合公共卫生学的要求。