Viral-antigen dependence and T-cell receptor expression in leucocytes from rhabdovirus immunized trout

This work describes the characterization of trout haematopoietic in vitro long-term cell cultures showing specific viral antigen-dependent cell (ADC) proliferation. The ADC cultures were developed from outbreed trout after surviving viral hemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) infections or after immunization with purified VHSV. For in vitro long-term proliferation of the ADC cultures, adherent (Ad) cells obtained from autologous trout were pulsed with VHSV recombinant glycoprotein G4 (G4-pulsed Ad cells) and added periodically to the cultures. ADC did not proliferate in cultures obtained from non-infected control trout treated in parallel with G4 or from VHSV survivor/VHSV immunized trout kidney donors treated with non-viral proteins. After months in culture, the ADC acquired an increasingly homogeneous morphology compatible with that of mature trout lymphocytes, secreted supernatant 'factors', and were stained with rabbit antibodies to the ectodomain of recombinant trout T-cell receptor (TcR) beta-chain. Together with all the above mentioned properties, the presence of TcR sequences in the ADC cultures confirmed by the expression of alpha- and beta-chain TcR by nested PCR amplification and sequencing of the amplified bands, suggests that these ADC cultures contain trout T-like cells engaged in a VHSV response. These trout ADC cultures offer a first opportunity to further analyze fish anti-viral immunological responses.     

Antibody response to a fragment of the protein G of VHS rhabdovirus in immunised trout

A fragment (called frg#11, amino acids, aa 56-110) of the protein G (pG) of viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) was designed after previous results showed it to be recognised by approximately 40% of the trout immunised to VHSV [Dis. Aquat. Organ. 34 (1999) 167]. frg#11 was then cloned, expressed, purified and used to study the production of antibodies to its epitopes in trout immunised to VHSV. Anti-frg#11 trout antibodies could be detected in serum from individual trout surviving VHSV exposure, immunised by injection with purified VHSV or DNA-immunised with its pG gene whereas it was not detected in non-infected and non-immunised trout. The trout serum antibodies which reacted more strongly by ELISA using solid-phase frg#11 (continuous or linear epitopes on the sequence of the pG) had the lowest VHSV-neutralising activity (epitopes which are pG conformation-dependent). Because antibodies recognising continuous as well as conformation-dependent epitopes of the pG seem to be involved in protective trout immunological responses to VHSV, the estimation of anti-frg#11 antibodies could help to the dissection of the complex trout antibody response to VHSV infections. In addition, these preliminary results suggest that the determination of anti-frg#11 antibodies might also be used to complement in vitro viral neutralising assays which seem to be restricted to pG conformation-dependent epitopes.     

尼帕病毒G和F蛋白单克隆抗体的制备与鉴定

为制备抗尼帕病毒(NiV)G和F蛋白的单克隆抗体(MAb),本研究以表达NiV G和F蛋白的真核重组表达质粒pCAGG-NiVG和pCAGG-NiVF分别免疫BALB/c小鼠,采用常规技术制备杂交瘤细胞;以表达G和F蛋白的重组牛痘病毒(rWR-NiVG、rWR-NiVF)分别感染BHK细胞,通过间接免疫荧光(IFA)筛...     

Isolation of monoclonal antibodies that inhibit the binding of infectious bursal disease virus to LSCC-BK3 cells

Three hybridoma cell lines producing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against LSCC-BK3 cells which are susceptible to infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) infection were produced and characterized. The MAbs, designated T7, Q11 and Q13, inhibited the attachment of IBDV to LSCC-BK3 cells. Furthermore, these MAbs bound to LSCC-BK3 but not to nonpermissive cells in flow cytometry. MAb T7 detected a 110-kDa membrane protein of LSCC-BK3 cells, whereas Q11 and Q13 reacted with membrane proteins of molecular weights 58-, 85-, 90- and 110-kDa. These observations imply that the 110-kDa protein recognized by all the MAbs is associated with IBDV binding. The MAbs established in this study are useful for studying the interaction between IBDV and its target cell.     

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus-specific monoclonal antibodies

Five hybridomas were produced which secreted monoclonal antibodies to bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV). Two antibodies (8G12, 15C7) neutralized the virus and inhibited syncytia formation in vitro. These monoclonal antibodies also stained, by indirect fluorescent assay, an external envelope protein of living virus-infected cells, and recognized the 48k subunit of the viral fusion protein by Western blot analysis of bovine respiratory syncytial virus-infected cell lysates. Three other monoclonals (6A12, 14D3, 14E3) stained, by indirect fluorescent assay, acetone-fixed virus-infected cells but not living cells. Three hybridomas (6A12, 8G12, 15C7) secreted monoclonal antibody of isotype IgG1, k; two hybridomas secreted monoclonal antibody of isotype IgG2a, k. This apparently is the first report of monoclonal antibodies specific for BRSV glycoproteins.     

Glycoprotein M of bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) is nonessential for replication in cell culture and is involved in inhibition of bovine respiratory syncytial virus F protein induced syncytium formation in recombinant BHV-1 infected cells

Cell cultures infected with BHV-1/F(syn), a recombinant bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) which expresses a synthetic open reading frame encoding the fusion (F) protein of the bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), showed a cytopathic effect (CPE) indistinguishable from that induced by wildtype BHV-1 although transient transfection experiments demonstrated that expression of the F protein leads to formation of large syncytia. Since it has been shown that glycoprotein M (gM) of pseudorabies virus inhibits BRSV F-induced syncytium formation in transient plasmid transfection experiments [Pseudorbies virus glycoprotein M inhibits membrane fusion. J. Virol. 74 (2000) 6760], the gM ORF of wtBHV-1 and BHV-1/F(syn) was interrupted. Infection of cell cultures with the resulting gM(-) mutant of BHV-1/F(syn) led to formation of syncytia, whereas the CPE in gM(-)BHV-1 infected cells was comparable to the CPE in wtBHV-1 infected cultures. Our results demonstrate that gM is not essential for BHV-1 replication in cell culture and that gM is involved in inhibition of the cell fusion activity of the BHV-1 expressed BRSV F protein.     

Molecular cloning of the mRNA coding for the G protein of the viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) of salmonids

Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV), a rhabdovirus, is a major threat for continental European trout fish farming. The development of a recombinant subunit vaccine could solve that problem. The neutralizing epitopes are located on the glycoprotein or G protein, the surface antigen. The G protein has a molecular weight of 65 kDa, reduced to 55 kDa by deglycosylation. cDNA was synthetized from mRNA of VHS virus infected cells, and cloned in E. coli. The viral cDNA was recognized by positive hybridization with a labelled probe made from infected cell RNA, and negative hybridization with labelled cDNA made from cellular RNA. The Northern blot hybridization with different clones on VHS infected cell RNA revealed two VHS mRNA whose lengths, 2.0 and 1.5 kb, were compatible with the mRNA length for G and N proteins respectively. This mRNA must contain about 400 bp of untranslated sequence.     

H9亚型禽流感病毒基质蛋白M1单克隆抗体的制备与鉴定

本研究用纯化的H9N2亚型禽流感病毒免疫BALB/c小鼠,取其脾细胞与SP2/0骨髓瘤细胞融合。对杂交瘤细胞及时筛选,阳性孔经3次有限稀释法克隆,成功获得3株能稳定传代并分泌抗H9亚型禽流感病毒基质蛋白M1单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞：3G8、2F6、5F2。间接ELISA方法检测,3株单克隆抗体的腹水间接ELISA效价达106以上。构建了真核表达载体pCAGGS-M1并转染于MDCK细胞,以用于腹水的Western blot和间接免疫荧光鉴定。间接免疫荧光结果表明,3株单克隆抗体皆与真核表达蛋白M1反应。这些单克隆抗体的制备为后期研究M1蛋白在流感病毒复制与出芽过程中的重要生物学功能奠定了基础。     

Identification of a variable epitope on the Newcastle disease virus hemagglutinin–neuraminidase protein

Fifteen virulent Newcastle disease viruses (NDVs) were isolated from diseased birds in Eastern China in 2005. To investigate the antigenic variation in the epitopes on NDV hemagglutinin–neuraminidase (HN) protein, these isolates, together with six reference strains, were subjected to the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests using five HI-positive monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against velogenic NDV strain ZJ1. The MAbs 2G5, 3A4, 3B5 and 6B1 recognized 12 of the 15 NDV isolates, and exhibited HI activity towards the six reference strains. However, these MAbs did not react with three local isolates, JS-02/05, JS-06/05 and JS-10/05. HN gene sequence analysis of all NDV strains revealed that these MAb-resistant NDV isolates possessed residue K at position 347 of the HN protein, whereas all remaining strains possessed E or G at the same site. To determine the contribution of the residue at position 347 to antigenic epitope formation, we generated by reverse genetics two recombinant viruses, ZJ1HNK with an E347K mutation on ZJ1 HN, and JSHNE with a K347E mutation on JS-06/05 HN. The HI test demonstrated that ZJ1HNK lost reactivity with MAbs 2G5, 3A4, 3B5 and 6B1, whereas JSHNE did react with these MAbs. Further verification by immunofluorescent assay demonstrated that residue 347 was a critical determinant for formation of the antigenic epitope (residues 345–353) on the HN protein.     

Induction of ovine trophoblast cell fusion by fematrin‐1 in vitro

Endogenous retroviruses present in the genomes take a specific role in placental formation in various vertebrates, including bovine and sheep. Fematrin‐1, which is the envelope (Env) protein of bovine endogenous retrovirus found in bovine placenta, is involved in the formation of fetomaternal hybrid cells in cattle placenta. This study was conducted to clarify whether fematrin‐1 possesses fusogenic activity in trophoblast cells. Another question is whether Env proteins only have species‐specific activity or not. For this, fematrin‐1 gene was transfected in ovine trophoblast cells, and we examined fusogenic activity with Cos‐7 cells. Although fematrin‐1 fusogenic activity was detected in both neutral and acidic pH conditions, acidic condition significantly enhanced it. These activities were rather weaker than those of vesicular stomatitis virus G protein as a positive control. However, the ratio of fematrin‐1 and vesicular stomatitis virus G protein fusion index was confirmed similar to those in the previous reports. Some fusion cells showed multinucleate cells. These results imply that fematrin‐1 is involved in the formation of trophoblast hybrid cells even in different species trophoblastic cells.     

Role of membrane phospholipids and glycolipids in cell-to-cell fusion by VSV

To identify membrane components of CER cells interacting with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) during fusion at acidic pH (fusion from without, FFWO) two different approaches have been used, i.e. (i) treating the whole cells with enzymes and (ii) testing the ability of isolated membrane molecules to interfere with FFWO. Phospholipase A₂ and C digestion of cells greatly reduced syncytia formation, pointing towards the involvement of lipid structures as target sites for VSV. Cell susceptibility to FFWO was also reduced after neuraminidase, β-galactosidase or periodate treatment, suggesting that carbohydrate residues may participate in a complex receptor structure required for virus fusion. When membrane molecules were examined separately for their ability to inhibit viral FFWO, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol, sphingomyelin, cholesterol and GM3 ganglioside were found to be active, confirming the role of membrane lipid moiety in the cell surface structures involved in the early phases of VSV infection.     

抗猪(嗜血)支原体MSG1蛋白单克隆抗体的制备及鉴定

以原核表达纯化的猪(嗜血)支原体MSG1蛋白免疫BALB/c小鼠,运用细胞融合技术筛选分泌针对MSG1蛋白抗体的融合细胞。通过间接ELISA方法筛选获得2株能稳定分泌抗体的融合细胞株,分别命名为1A7和3G6,Western blot结果证明这2株细胞分泌的抗体能够与重组MSG1蛋白发生特异性反应。细胞上清和腹水中的ELISA抗体效价分别为1∶4 096、1∶1 024和1∶1 638 400、1∶51 200,其单抗亚类鉴定均属于IgG1,轻链为κ型。抗原识别位点分析结果表明,2株单抗所识别的抗原位点相同。猪(嗜血)支原体MSG1蛋白特异性单克隆抗体的制备成功,为制备免疫诊断试剂盒和致病机制的研究奠定了基础。     

DNA Vaccination of Rainbow Trout against Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus: A Dose–Response and Time–Course Study

Abstract

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss is caused by VHS virus (VHSV), which belongs to the rhabdovirus family. Among the different strategies for immunizing fish with a recombinant vaccine, genetic immunization has recently proven to be highly effective. To further investigate the potential for protecting fish against VHS by DNA vaccination, experiments were conducted to determine the amount of plasmid DNA needed for induction of protective immunity. The time to onset of immunity and the duration of protection following administration of a protective vaccine dose were also analyzed. The dose–response analysis revealed that significant protection of rainbow trout fingerlings was obtained following intramuscular injection of only 0.01 μg of plasmid DNA encoding the VHSV glycoprotein gene. In addition, higher doses of DNA induced immunity to a virus isolate serologically different from the isolate used for vaccine development. Following administration of 1 μg of a DNA vaccine, significant protection against VHS was observed in the fish as early as 8 d postvaccination. At 168 d postvaccination, the fish had increased in size by a factor of 10 and protection against a lethal dose of VHSV was still evident. The results confirm the great potential for DNA vaccination in inducing efficient immunoprophylaxis against viral diseases in aquacultured fish.     

抗蓝舌病病毒VP6和VP7蛋白单克隆抗体的制备及鉴定

为制备针对蓝舌病病毒(BTV)的单克隆抗体(MAb),本研究利用血清型1型BTV(BTV1)免疫BALB/c鼠,将其脾淋巴细胞与SP2/0进行融合,并用BTV1包被ELISA板,通过间接ELISA方法筛选出3株稳定分泌抗BTV1的MAb的杂交瘤细胞株(2B10、3D4和4H8)。利用表达BTV1主要蛋白的真核表达重组质粒转染BHK-21后,对所制备的杂交瘤细胞株上清进行间接免疫荧光(IFA)以及western blot鉴定,结果显示:2B10和4H8与VP7蛋白反应,而3D4与VP6蛋白反应。同时,IFA鉴定结果进一步表明,3株MAb与24个血清型的BTV均可以发生反应。本研究制备的MAb为建立BTV免疫学检测方法和相关病毒蛋白的功能研究奠定了基础。     

鸭1型甲肝病毒亚型VP1蛋白单克隆抗体的研制及鉴定

为制备抗鸭1型甲肝病毒亚型（DHAV-1a）结构蛋白VP1的单克隆抗体（MAbs）,本研究以pGEX-VP1重组蛋白免疫BALB/c小鼠,同时以纯化浓缩的全病毒作为包被抗原,建立了筛选抗VP1蛋白阳性杂交瘤细胞株的间接ELISA方法,经融合、筛选制备杂交瘤细胞及鉴定MAbs的稳定性、特异性、腹水效价和中和活性等生物学活性,获得了2株持续且稳定分泌抗体的杂交瘤细胞（1A2和5G3）。MAbs腹水ELISA效价分别为1：3.2×10⁴和1：2.0×10⁶。亚类鉴定均为IgG1/κ型。Western blotting结果显示,2株MAbs均能与DHAV-1a VP1蛋白和DHAV-1a全病毒发生特异性反应。特异性试验结果显示2株MAbs能与鸭1型甲肝病毒（DHAV-1）和DHAV-1a发生交叉反应。中和试验结果显示5G3株具有中和活性。结果表明2株MAbs的ELISA效价高、特异性强、稳定性好,均能与DHAV-1和DHAV-1a全病毒发生特异性反应,其中一株具有中和活性。     

Production of Neutralizing Antisera against Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) Virus by Intravenous Injections of Rabbits

Abstract

Rabbit antisera against viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) produced by two immunization procedures were compared for neutralization and immunochemical properties against homologous and heterologous strains. The VHSV isolate used as the immunogen was a member of a serogroup not neutralized by previously available antisera. The results from this study suggested that frequent intravenous (IV) injections of rabbits with viral antigens were superior to adjuvant-mediated, combined subcutaneous and intraperitoneal (SC/IP) injections for the production of neutralizing antisera. All IV injected rabbits produced high neutralization titers against the homologous VHSV isolate but not against an isolate from a different serogroup. The SC/IP injected rabbits had no significant neutralization titers against either the homologous VHSV strain or two isolates of a heterologous VHSV strain. Sera from all injected rabbits reacted in indirect immunofluorescence (IF) assays with either strain; however, the SC/IP injected rabbits produced higher titers against the heterologous VHSV strain by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). By Western blotting, neutralizing antisera primarily stained the viral glycoprotein (G) whereas the nonneutralizing sera stained all the viral structural proteins equally well. Our results demonstrate that immunization procedures to produce antisera against VHSV in rabbits determine whether the resultant antibodies will have primarily neutralizing or binding capabilities.     

Development and Identification of Monoclonal Antibodies against VP1 Protein of DHAV-1a

To prepare the monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against DHAV-1a, hybridomas were produced by fusing SP2/0 cells with spleen cells from mouse immunized with DHAV-1a pGEX-VP1 recombinant protein. Two hybridomas stablely secreting MAbs against VP1 protein were identified by indirect ELISA detection with DHAV-1a as coating antigen. The ascetic fluids of MAbs were 1:3.2×10⁴ and 1:2.0×10⁶, respectively. The MAbs were IgG1 with κ chain. Western blotting analysis showed that the MAbs could recognize the recombinant VP1 protein and DHAV-1a. The neutralization tests showed that one MAb (5G3) had better neutralization activity. Therefore, the results showed that the ELISA titers and specialities of two MAbs were very good, with excellent stability. In addition, they all had cross interaction with DHAV-1 and DHAV-1a, one of which had good neutralization activity.     

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.     

Monoclonal antibodies to avian Escherichia coli Iss

Escherichia coli infections are a major problem for the poultry industry in the United States. Yet, the virulence mechanisms operative in avian E. coli are poorly understood. In the present studies, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) have been generated that may facilitate study of the pathogenesis of avian colibacillosis. These MAbs are directed against the Iss protein because results from our laboratory have shown that the possession of iss DNA sequences is strongly correlated with the E. coli implicated in avian colibacillosis. As part of an overall effort to explore the role of iss/Iss in colibacillosis pathogenesis, Iss protein has been purified, MAbs to Iss have been generated, and the MAbs are being evaluated. B cells from mice immunized with an Iss fusion to glutathione-S-transferase produced antibodies specifically against Iss, and these cells were used to generate the MAbs. These anti-Iss MAbs, when used in western blotting assays, can be used to distinguish iss-positive and -negative E. coli isolates, suggesting that they may be useful as reagents in the detection and study of virulent avian E. coli.