Protection of crayfish, Cambarus clarkii, from white spot syndrome virus by polyclonal antibodies against a viral envelope fusion protein

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a large double-stranded DNA virus, causing considerable mortality in penaeid shrimp and other crustaceans. WSSV produces five major structural proteins, including two major envelope proteins, VP28 and VP19. To produce VP28 and VP19 as a single protein for antibody production, DNA sequences encoding both open reading frames were fused together and cloned into pET-22b(+) expression vector. The fusion protein, VP(19+28), was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified using Ni2+ His affinity chromatography and injected into a rabbit. Antiserum collected from the immunized rabbit was tested in vivo for ability to protect crayfish, Cambarus clarkii, from disease caused by WSSV. Fifteen days after challenge with WSSV, treatment with VP(19+28) antiserum gave 100% protection against disease in the ambient temperature range of 15-22 degrees C and 65% protection at a constant temperature of 26 degrees C. These results demonstrated VP(19+28) antiserum is effective in protection of crayfish from WSSV and confirmed that VP19 and VP28 play an important role in WSSV host infection. Targeting both VP19 and VP28 may be effective for the design of both immunotherapeutic medicines and reagents to detect WSSV.     

Increased resistance to white spot syndrome virus in Procambarus clarkii by injection of envelope protein VP28 expressed using recombinant baculovirus

In order to investigate whether protein structure has an effect on protective effect of envelope protein of WSSV, VP28 protein was expressed both in Escherichia coli (pET-VP28) and insect (BmN) cells (BmNPV-VP28). The baculovirus (BmNPV) expression system was used to obtain correctly folded VP28 protein. Procambarus clarkii crayfish were intramuscularly injected with lysates of cells infected with recombinant pET-VP28 and BmNPV-VP28, respectively, and then challenged by intramuscular injection of WSSV to assess the duration of protection. The crayfish injected with BmNPV-VP28 showed generally lower mortality rates when compared to crayfish injected with pET-VP28, resulting in relative percent survivals of 92% and 39%, respectively, when compared to the control groups injected with empty vectors BmNPV and pET-30a. These results showed that VP28 protein produced in BmN cells gave much better protection than VP28 protein produced in E. coli.     

白斑综合征病毒囊膜蛋白VP19及VP28的研究进展

自二十世纪90年代,白斑综合征病毒(WSSV)就因其暴发范围广、致死率高得到了广泛的关注。研究主要集中在确定该病毒蛋白的结构及功能,以及利用其囊膜蛋白制备亚单位疫苗、研发DNA疫苗等来提高对虾抵抗白斑综合征病毒的能力,尽管免疫防治目前在实验室阶段已取得了显著的保护效果,但因其给药方式局限以及成本较高等因素一直没有应用于实际生产中。VP19和VP28是白斑综合征病毒主要的囊膜蛋白,在WSSV感染对虾的过程中起着非常重要的作用。本文从WSSV的基因组学、VP19和VP28的蛋白质结构及其在免疫防治中的应用等方面概述了VP19和VP28的研究进展,包括蛋白亚单位疫苗、DNA疫苗、RNA疫苗以及相关抗体的研究。在总结了不同类型疫苗的保护效果后发现,VP19和VP28的双价疫苗的保护率较高,为今后制定有效的WSSV控制方法提供了参考。     

Protection of Fenneropenaeus chinensis (Osbeck, 1765) against the white spot syndrome virus using specific chicken egg yolk immunoglobulins by oral delivery

Two kinds of specific chicken egg yolk immunoglobulins (IgYs), IgY‐WSSV and IgY‐VP28, were, respectively, raised against the 2 mM binary ethylenimine (BEI)‐inactivated white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) and a principal envelope protein VP28. The activity of purified specific IgYs was stable under the conditions of 20–70 °C, pH 3.0–10.0 and 0–700 g L^?1 sucrose solution. In the neutralization assay, these high‐affinity IgY antibodies can specifically bind with the virus particles to protect shrimp (Fenneropenaeus chinensis) against WSSV infection. After oral delivery for 20 days, the IgY‐WSSV exerted a higher protection effect (RPS: 71.5%) than IgY‐VP28 (RPS: 63.7%). Moreover, an increase in RPS (79.2%) was found on addition of IgY‐WSSV:VP28 (0.1% IgY‐VP28 plus 0.2% IgY‐WSSV). This may indicate that neutralization of WSSV refers to the multiple‐hit model. By time‐course study of the levels of the specific IgYs in vivo, the data showed that the titre was enhanced to a relatively high level (P/N=8.35±0.45) at 3 days post administration, declined slightly (P/N=7.13±1.01) at 7 days post administration and then remained stable for further investigation. The stable antibody level potentially contributes towards blocking a large number of WSSV particles from entering and infecting on the major tissues at the early and late stages after challenge in shrimp.     

Nucleotide sequence variations of the major structural proteins (VP15, VP19, VP26 and VP28) of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), a pathogen of cultured Litopenaeus vannamei in Mexico

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) was first reported in farmed Litopenaeus vannamei stocks in Sinaloa and Sonora, Mexico during 1999 and continues to cause severe shrimp losses. WSSV genes encoding nucleocapsid (VP26 and VP15) and envelope proteins (VP19 and VP28) of a Mexican isolate were cloned in the pMosBlue vector. The nucleotide sequences of these genes were compared with WSSV isolates in GenBank. VP15 is highly conserved, and VP26 showed 99% homology to a Chinese isolate. The VP28 fragment demonstrated 100% homology to the majority of the isolates analysed (UniProt accession no. Q91CB7), differing from two Indian WSSV and one Chinese WSSV isolates by two non-conserved and one conserved replacements, respectively. Because of their highly conserved nature, these three structural proteins are good candidates for the development of antibody-based WSSV diagnostic tools or for the production of recombinant protein vaccines to stimulate the quasi-immune response of shrimp. In contrast, VP19 of the Mexican isolate was distinguishable from almost all isolates tested, including an American strain of WSSV (US98/South Carolina, GenBank accession no. AAP14086). Although homology was found with isolates from Taiwan (GenBank accession no. AAL89341) and India (GenBank accession no. AAW67477), VP19 may have application as a genetic marker.     

Characterization and application of monoclonal antibodies against white spot syndrome virus

Three hybridoma clones secreting monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were produced from mouse myeloma and spleen cells immunized with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) isolated and purified from Penaeus monodon (Fabricius), collected from north-eastern Taiwan. By sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE), the protein profile of this isolate contained four major proteins with sizes of approximately 35 (VP35), 28 (VP28), 24 (VP24), and 19 kDa (VP19). Western blot analysis revealed that two MAbs (1D7 and 6E1) recognized epitopes on VP28 and one MAb (3E8) recognized an epitope on VP19. The MAb 6E1 isotyped to the IgG₁ class was used in both an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and in an immunochemical staining protocol for successful identification and localization of WSSV in infected shrimp tissues. Antigenic similarity of isolates from Indonesia and Malaysia to the Taiwan isolate was illustrated by IFA with MAb 6E1. A MAb (2F6) which bound specifically to two shrimp proteins, 75 and 72 kDa, and reacted to the healthy and non-target tissues of WSSV in infected shrimp, such as hepatopancreas, is also described here and shows the necessity for specific identification of antibodies.     

对虾白斑综合征病毒囊膜蛋白VP28和VP26的毕赤酵母组成型分泌表达

近年来,重组 VP28和 VP26蛋白作为蛋白亚单位疫苗,在增强对虾抗白斑综合征病毒(WSSV)感染的过程中具有重要作用。本研究根据GenBank中WSSV的基因序列设计引物,以WSSV粗提液为模板进行普通PCR扩增,得到VP28和VP26基因,再用引物悬挂法将EcoRⅠ和XbaⅠ酶切位点分别添加到 VP28和 VP26基因的5￠端和3￠端。目的基因经双酶切后插入到表达载体pGAPZαA,转化TOP10大肠杆菌,经博莱霉素(Zeocin)抗性筛选阳性重组酵母表达载体。AvrⅡ酶切线性化之后,电击转化 X-33毕赤酵母感受态细胞,经 Zeocin 抗性筛选得到阳性重组酵母。SDS-PAGE电泳分析重组酵母表达上清液的目的蛋白,没有检测到VP28和VP26重组蛋白。随后,采用蛋白质银染法,结果显示,与空载pGAPZαA组相比,VP28和VP26表达上清液组有明显的条带,证明VP28和VP26在毕赤酵母中成功表达,蛋白分子量大小约为32 kDa。     

养殖克氏原螯虾体内白斑综合征病毒的绝对定量分析

近年来克氏原螯虾的养殖受到WSSV的威胁,病毒在宿主组织中的绝对定量对于了解病毒的致病性具有重要意义,但克氏原螯虾组织中WSSV的绝对定量分布还有待研究。实验调查了湖北省5个主养区克氏原螯虾WSSV的感染率,结果表明80%以上克氏原螯虾都携带有WSSV。采用WSSV-VP28蛋白特异性抗体对克氏原螯虾提取蛋白进行Western Blot检测,在WSSV-PCR阳性样品中可检测到VP28特异性条带,在WSSV-PCR阴性样品中没有检测到相应条带。采用实验室建立的WSSV绝对定量PCR方法,对携带病毒的克氏原螯虾6个组织(鳃、胃、肠、血淋巴细胞、肝胰腺和心脏)进行检测。结果表明,在鳃、胃和肠可检测到较多病毒量(约108拷贝/mg),其次是血淋巴细胞(107拷贝/mg)、肝胰腺(106拷贝/mg),在心脏中病毒的含量最低(103拷贝/mg),表明病毒的复制存在组织特异性。结果显示WSSV主要存在于消化系统中,预示着克氏原螯虾可能主要在摄食过程中感染WSSV;不同地区克氏原螯虾组织病毒携带量表现出一定差异,预示着WSSV感染可能受到环境因素的影响。     

对虾白斑综合征病毒囊膜蛋白VP110在中国明对虾鳃细胞中结合蛋白的鉴定与特性

为了鉴定对虾白斑病综合征病毒(WSSV)囊膜蛋白VP110在中国明对虾(Fenneropenaeus chinensis)鳃细胞中的结合蛋白, 运用pET-32(a)+载体构建了1段含RGD模体的截短VP110原核重组表达质粒, 转化大肠杆菌诱导表达后获得分子量为41 kD的截短重组VP110蛋白(rVP110)。以rVP110作为诱饵蛋白, 运用pull-down实验结合蛋白质谱分析鉴定rVP110结合蛋白, 结果显示, 中国明对虾鳃细胞中的肌动蛋白和精氨酸激酶(arginine kinase,AK)与rVP110具有结合作用。利用PCR扩增中国明对虾AK编码基因, 将其与表达载体pGEX-4T-1连接后转化大肠杆菌诱导表达获得重组AK蛋白(rAK), 通过pull-down实验进一步证实rAK可与rVP110发生结合。克氏原螯虾(Procambarus clarkia)体内中和实验结果显示, rAK对WSSV感染克氏原螯虾具有一定的中和作用, 能延缓螯虾的死亡进程。另外, 中国明对虾在人工感染WSSV后, 荧光定量PCR检测结果显示, AK基因表达水平显著上调, 18 h时达到峰值, 然后下降至正常水平; 酶底物法检测结果同样显示, 鳃细胞中AK酶活性在感染WSSV后发生显著上调。本研究旨在为深入了解WSSV囊膜蛋白VP110在WSSV感染宿主过程中的作用提供基础依据。

     

自然养殖水体投喂CpG ODN和表面展示VP28的解脂耶罗维亚酵母对凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)抗WSSV的免疫保护作用

用添加CpG寡聚核苷酸(CpG ODN)和表面展示VP28的解脂耶罗维亚酵母(VP28-yl)的饵料投喂凡纳滨对虾,进行田间中试实验。投喂30 d后进行WSSV感染实验,评估其对凡纳滨对虾的免疫保护作用。投喂实验结束后,CpG ODN投喂组对虾的相对增重率达到(65.8±7.8)% (P<0.05),这暗示CpG ODN可能具有促生长作用。WSSV攻毒后,CpG ODN和VP28-yl投喂组对虾中WSSV拷贝数与对照组相比均显著降低(P<0.05),相对免疫保护率分别可达到26.7%和36.7%。在投喂结束和WSSV刺激后,CpG ODN组对虾中的呼吸爆发水平均显著升高(P<0.05)。而在VP28-yl投喂组,WSSV引起的细胞凋亡则显著受到抑制(P<0.05)。此外,WSSV刺激后,STAT基因在CpG ODN组和VP28-yl组对虾中的表达水平均显著上调(P<0.05),分别在第5天和第3天达到最大值,而对照组中则显著下调。研究结果表明,CpG ODN和VP28-yl增强了凡纳滨对虾抗病毒免疫力,对养殖对虾病毒性疫病的防控具有显著作用,可以作为免疫增强剂添加在饵料中,具有在养殖生产中推广使用的前景。     

对虾白斑综合征病毒VP28酵母表面展示

以pYD1为载体,制备以酒精酵母为载体的基因工程免疫制剂。参照GenBank中对虾白斑综合征病毒VP28基因序列设计引物,PCR扩增得到预期长度的产物,双酶切插入用于酒精酵母表面展示的穿梭质粒载体pYD1,转化大肠杆菌TOP10,提取阳性质粒转化酒精酵母菌株EBY100,诱导表达后,用免疫荧光检测外源蛋白的表达。结果获得VP28酵母表面展示菌,测得最佳诱导时间为36～48h。以此展示酵母活细胞分设两个浓度组,腹腔注射螯虾,检测其毒性。结果表明,此重组酵母对螯虾是安全的,该研究为下一步对虾用活载体免疫制剂效果的研究奠定了基础。     

抗WSSV囊膜蛋白（VP28和VP19）单抗的体内中和效果研究

通过酶联免疫吸附法（ELISA）测定不同稀释度对虾白斑综合征病毒（WSSV）与已制备的WSSV囊膜蛋白单克隆抗体结合的OD值。利用克氏原螯虾Cambarus proclarkii动物模型,将不同稀释度病毒与单抗1：1混合孵育2h后,肌肉注射克氏原螯虾（50μl／只）,观察记录螯虾的死亡情况。ELISA结果显示,在1×10^-3病毒稀释度下两种单抗均足量。在螯虾体内中和实验中,当病毒浓度为1×10^-3、1×10^-4、1×10^-5和1×10^-6稀释度时,MAb1D6（VP28）螯虾组最终死亡率分别为100％、90％、16．7％和6．7％,而MAb2E9（VP19）螯虾组最终死亡率分别为100％、100％、100％和93．3％。这表明随病毒浓度的降低,MAb1D6（VP28）的中和效果越明显。而MAb2E9（VP19）并无明显的中和效果。     

Prokaryotic expression of a hub protein of white spot syndrome virus with vaccine potential

Envelope proteins of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) play an important role in viral entry as well as in triggering host defences. To date, some main envelope proteins such as VP28, VP24 and VP19 have been expressed heterologously and proved effective in WSSV prevention. However, VP62, an envelope protein with hub function as well as better antigenicity, has not been focused on. In an attempt to prepare this protein for rapid purification and further functional analysis, N‐terminus‐truncated VP62 was expressed in Escherichia coli using two common fusion tags, including hexahistidine (his6) and solubility‐enhancing tag thioredoxin (Trx). The results showed that the truncated VP62 fused with C‐terminal His‐tag could not be expressed in either E. coli BL21(Plyss) or Arctic Express, but it could be expressed in the form of inclusion bodies in Arctic Express with N‐terminal tag. After refolding and His‐tag affinity purification, the protein with purity over 90% was obtained. This study laid the foundation for evaluation of its vaccine potential as well as further application in WSSV prevention.     

WSSV envelope protein VP51B links structural protein complexes and may mediate virus infection

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV), an enveloped double‐stranded DNA virus, is the causative agent of a disease that has led to severe mortalities of cultured shrimps in Taiwan and many other countries. In the previous study, Penaeus monodon chitin‐binding protein (CBP) and glucose transporter 1 (Glut1), two cell membrane proteins, were found to at least interact with other 10 WSSV envelope proteins including VP51B. These envelope proteins might form a protein complex. According to the known information, VP51B was used to identify its role in the protein complex. Western blotting of the intact viral particles and fractionation of the viral components confirmed that VP51B is one of WSSV envelope proteins. In this study, the protein–protein interaction between VP51B and other WSSV envelope proteins was identified by far‐western blot experiment and VP51B was found to interact with VP24, VP31, VP32, VP39B and VP41A. Furthermore, the in vivo neutralization experiment using recombinant VP51B plus with VP39B showed the best inhibition. These data indicate that VP51B participates in the WSSV protein complex and plays an important role in WSSV infection.     

Effect of VP28 DNA vaccine on white spot syndrome virus in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Litopenaeus vannamei</Emphasis>

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) occurs worldwide and causes high mortality and considerable economic damage to the shrimp farming industry. Considering the global environmental, the economic and sociological importance of shrimp farming, and the constraints of high intensity cultivation, development of novel control measures against the outbreak of WSSV become inevitable. In this study, we have explored the protective efficacy of DNA vaccination and tissue distribution of the recombinant plasmid in immunized Litopenaeus vannamei. The VP28 gene was cloned in the eukaryotic expression vector pVAX1, and the construct vector was named as lpv28. The protective effect of lpv28 against WSSV was evaluated in L. vannamei by injecting lpv28 construct and later challenging with WSSV. Expression of these proteins from the recombinant plasmids was confirmed in vitro by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. The result of vaccination trials showed that a survival rate in shrimp vaccinated with lpv28 was 52.5% at most compared to control groups (100% mortality). The immunological parameters analyzed in the vaccinated and control groups showed that the vaccinated groups owned a high level of lysozyme, alkaline phosphatase, and total superoxide dismutase when compared to the control group. Furthermore, protein expression analysis indicated that VP28 can be detected in gill, muscle and head soft tissue of the shrimps in the immunized group after 14th day injection. Thus, the result indicated that DNA vaccination strategy has a potential utility against WSSV.     

Potential role of LvDscam in specific immune response of Litopenaeus vannamei against white spot syndrome virus by oral delivery of VP28 using Bacillus subtilis

Envelope protein VP28 has been suggested as a candidate vaccine component to evoke a better protection against white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). We have reported that Bacillus subtilis spores harbouring VP28 (rVP28‐bs) can specifically protect shrimp against WSSV. However, the mechanism that supports the production of unique molecules induced by rVP28‐bs to trigger specific immunity is originally unknown. It has recently been suggested that Dscam (Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule) plays an essential role in the alternative adaptive immunity of invertebrates. In this study, we compared the diversity of Litopenaeus vannamei Dscam (LvDscam) variable regions by different antigens immunization. A total of 13, 15 and 11 expressed alternative sequences were identified for N‐terminal Ig2, N‐terminal Ig3 and the entire Ig7 domain, respectively. More than half of the unique variants (16 out of 22) were found in the Ig2/Ig3 domains. Further analysis of the interaction between VP28 and unique Ig2/Ig3 variants was confirmed by both yeast two‐hybrid and GST pull‐down approach. We also found that the percentage of haemocytes phagocytosing WSSV was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the shrimp injected with control‐siRNA (43.8 ± 2.2) than those with Dscam‐siRNA (11.3 ± 5.4) in the rVP28‐bs groups. With Dscam‐siRNA injection, survivorship significantly decreased (P < 0.001) in the rVP28‐bs group after WSSV challenge. Our data suggested that LvDscam‐mediated pathway may be involved in the specific immune response of shrimp against WSSV induced by rVP28‐bs.     

Development of immunodot blot assay for the detection of white spot syndrome virus infection in shrimps (Penaeus monodon)

The VP 28 gene encoding a structural envelope protein of the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) was cloned into a pET32a(+) expression vector for the production of the recombinant VP28 protein. A purified recombinant protein of 39.9 kDa size was used for polyclonal antibody production in rabbit. Specific immunoreactivity of the rabbit anti rVP28 antiserum to the viral antigen was confirmed by a Western blot. The specificity of this polyclonal anti‐rVP28 antiserum to detect the presence of the virus in WSSV‐infected Penaeus monodon was verified using a immunodot blot assay. Immunodot blot showed a positive reaction in infected shrimp tissues with prominent colour development using 3,3′,5,5′‐tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) as a chromogenic substrate when compared with 3–3′ diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride (DAB). Highest signal intensities of the immunodots were observed in infected shrimp pleopod extracts and haemolymph. On comparison with polymerase chain reaction (PCR), immunodot blot could detect 76% of PCR‐positive WSSV‐infected shrimp samples. Immunodot blot was found to be equivalent to first‐step PCR sensitivity to detect WSSV particles estimated to contain 1.0 × 10⁵ viral DNA copies.     

Molecular docking and simulation studies of 3‐(1‐chloropiperidin‐4‐yl)‐6‐fluoro benzisoxazole 2 against VP26 and VP28 proteins of white spot syndrome virus

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV), an aquatic virus infecting shrimps and other crustaceans, is widely distributed in Asian subcontinents including India. The infection has led to a serious economic loss in shrimp farming. The WSSV genome is approximately 300 kb and codes for several proteins mediating the infection. The envelope proteins VP26 and VP28 play a major role in infection process and also in the interaction with the host cells. A comprehensive study on the viral proteins leading to the development of safe and potent antiviral therapeutic is of adverse need. The novel synthesized compound 3‐(1‐chloropiperidin‐4‐yl)‐6‐fluoro benzisoxazole 2 is proved to have potent antiviral activity against WSSV. The compound antiviral activity is validated in freshwater crabs (Paratelphusa hydrodomous). An in silico molecular docking and simulation analysis of the envelope proteins VP26 and VP28 with the ligand 3‐(1‐chloropiperidin‐4‐yl)‐6‐fluoro benzisoxazole 2 are carried out. The docking analysis reveals that the polar amino acids in the pore region of the envelope proteins were involved in the ligand binding. The influence of the ligand binding on the proteins is validated by the molecular dynamics and simulation study. These in silico approaches together demonstrate the ligand's efficiency in preventing the trimers from exhibiting their physiological function.     

草鱼出血病病毒VP6蛋白的原核表达、纯化及免疫效果

为了探讨草鱼出血病病毒(GCRV)VP6亚单位疫苗对草鱼出血病的免疫保护作用,将vp6基因克隆进原核表达载体pET-28a(+),构建了重组质粒pET28a(+)-VP6。SDS-PAGE和Western-blotting显示,重组VP6蛋白的分子量约为43 ku,主要以包涵体形式存在,重组蛋白占菌体总蛋白的20%左右;Ni2+柱纯化后的重组蛋白,以每尾500μg肌肉注射免疫草鱼(14～20 cm,60～120 g),并在第14、21、28、49、70天通过间接凝集反应检测抗体水平,结果显示,免疫注射后第14天可检测到鱼体产生的特异性抗体,第21天达到最高峰,第70天仍可检测到抗体的存在;免疫注射第21天人工接种GCRV,免疫后的草鱼对出血病的保护力达100%。