马传染性贫血病毒envgp90基因在实验感染马体内的遗传变异

为确定马传染性贫血病毒（ＥＩＡＶ）ｅｎｇ ｇｐ９０基因的遗传变异特性,本研究应用ＥＬＡＶ日本分离强毒株Ｐ３３７－Ｖ７０实验感染了１匹健康马,经第２次感染后,实验马未呈现临床症状,ｇｐ９０基因的核苷酸序列被直接从这匹马的外周血和肝脏所获得的前病毒ＤＮＡ扩增。     

马传染性贫血病毒阿根廷流行毒株前病毒gag和gp90基因在马体内的变异分析

为建立美洲马传贫毒株和我国弱毒疫苗株鉴别诊断PCR，对接种马传贫阿根廷流行毒株后马4个发热期（23、40、51和70d）外周血单核细胞前病毒DNA gag基因和gP90基因的核苷酸序列进行了监测，经过序列分析发现4个发热期中前病毒gag基因核苷酸序列变化不明显，变异率在1％之内，表明前病毒gag基因在马体内比较保守，可以作为设计鉴别诊断引物的区域；gp90区的基因变化比较大，核苷酸序列变异率在8％～10％之间，通过对几个发热期核苷酸序列推导氨基酸的分析，可以划分出A1、A2、A3和A44个可变区，但其中A1和A4变异都很稳定，在马体发病的整个过程中均只发生1次变异，而A2区第3个发热期变异后，在第4个发热期又回复了突变。对马传染性贫血病毒阿根廷代表毒株前病毒gag和gp90基因核甘酸序列的动念检测结果表明，马传贫病毒在马体整合为前病毒之后比较稳定，这就为建立PCR鉴别诊断方法提供了依据。     

马传染性贫血驴强毒gp90基因的克隆和序列分析

以EIAV驴强毒株D-AmRNA为模板，利用RT-PCR技术，扩增了约1．4kb的gp90基因。将其克隆后进行了测序。测序结果表明所扩增的1338个核苷酸片段含有完整的gp90基因全序列。核苷酸和氨基酸序列比较分析结果表明：D-A EIAV与国内分离株辽系强毒L株差异率仅有1．8％，而与国外毒株(克隆1369，WENVl7、WENVl6、PSPEIAVl9)核苷酸差异率在35．5％～37．2％之间；D-A株与国内分离株L株氨基酸水平差异率在2．9％，而与国外毒株氨基酸水平上的差异率在42．6％—46．0％；D-AEIAV有19个N-连接糖基化位点，L株、WENVl7和WENVl6是18个，克隆1369、WENVl6和WENVl7亲本毒株PSPEIAVl9是12个。     

马传染性贫血病毒囊膜基因gp90V3区糖化回复突变感染性克隆的构建

为阐明我国马传染性贫血病毒（Equine infectious anemia virus,EIAV）弱毒疫苗致弱及免疫保护的分子机制,作者分析了疫苗株及其亲本强毒株共34个囊膜基因序列。结果发现疫苗株在膜基因gp90V3区的潜在N-连接糖基化位点出现稳定的碱基替换,使该位点消失。为研究囊膜糖基化的作用,以疫苗株全长感染性克隆pLG—FD3—8为亲本,利用反向遗传技术对该突变位点进行糖基化序列回复操作,构建全基因感染性克隆pLGFDg5。将pLGFDg5转染驴胎皮肤细胞（FDD）,通过逆转录酶活性和RT-PCR方法评价其感染性。结果表明,将pLGFDg5在FDD细胞中盲传3代后,可在细胞培养上清中检测到逆转录酶活性,用RT—PCR检测到EIAV保守基因片段,在电镜下可见典型的EIAV粒子。在FDD细胞上的病毒复制动力学分析显示,与其亲本克隆pLGFD3—8的衍生病毒pLGFD3-V相比,回复突变克隆衍生的pLGFDg5-V复制速度较慢,获得较低的病毒载量。体外抗体中和试验表明,与其亲本pLGFD3-V相比,引入潜在的糖基化位点g5降低了衍生病毒对中和抗体的敏感性。这一结果为N-连接糖基化在我国马传贫弱毒疫苗致弱机理的作用研究提供了重要依据。     

Antibodies and PMBC from EIAV infected carrier horses recognize gp45 and p26 synthetic peptides

Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) is a lentivirus causing a persistent infection in horses characterized by recurrent febrile episodes and high levels of viremia associated with a novel antigenic strain of the virus. The virus contains two envelope glycoproteins, gp90 and gp45, and four internal proteins, p26, p15, p11 and p9. Considering that the most infected horses are able to restrict EIAV replication to very low levels and that gp45 and p26 contain highly conserved epitopes among lentiviruses, it would be necessary to identify those conserved epitopes stimulating cellular and humoral responses. The aims of this study were to determine if the synthetic peptides identified as gp45 (aa 523-547) and p26 (aa 318-346) representing two highly conserved and immunodominant regions of EIA virus are recognized by PBMC and antibodies to EIAV adult mixed-breed naturally infected carrier horses, and if these peptides are able to induce immune responses in mice. Antibodies from 100% of carrier horses, evaluated by ELISA, recognized both peptides; PBMC from 80% of carrier horses, evaluated by lymphoproliferation assay, recognized, at least, one peptide. Furthermore, immunization with 100 microg of each peptide elicited humoral and cellular responses in BALB/c mice, antibodies appeared at 48 or 63 days of immunization with gp45 or p26, respectively. Although the kinetics of gp45- and p26-specific antibody responses were similar, percentage of positivity was higher for gp45. The lymphoproliferation assay, evaluated by BrdU uptake, was higher in mice immunized with gp45 or p26 than in the control group (P<0.05). Based on our findings, we consider that both peptides could be included in an effective vaccine design to induce long-term immunological memory.     

The determination of in vivo envelope-specific cell-mediated immune responses in equine infectious anemia virus-infected ponies

Distinct from human lentivirus infection, equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV)-infected horses will eventually enter an inapparent carrier state in which virus replication is apparently controlled by adaptive immune responses. Although recrudescence of disease can occur after immune suppression, the actual immune correlate associated with protection has yet to be determined. Therefore, EIAV provides a model for investigating immune-mediated protective mechanisms against lentivirus infection. Here, we have developed a method to monitor EIAV-envelope specific cellular immunity in vivo. An EIA carrier horse with no clinical signs infected 7 years ago and 4 related experimental ponies infected 6 months previously were used in this study. Forty-four 20-mer peptides, representing the entire surface unit protein (gp90) of EIAV, were combined into 14 peptide pools and intradermally injected into the neck of EIAV-infected horses. An identical volume of saline alone was injected into a fifteenth site as a negative control. After 48h, those sites with palpable infiltrations were measured prior to the collection of 2mm and 4mm punch biopsies. Total RNA was extracted from each 2mm biopsy for determination of CD3 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) mRNA expression by real-time PCR. The 4mm skin biopsies were formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded for immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining for CD3, CD20, CD25 and MAC387 (macrophage marker). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were obtained prior to the injection and tested for in vitro reactivity against the same peptides. Histological examination showed that some of the envelope peptides elicited a lymphocytic cellular infiltration at the injection site, as evidenced by positive staining for CD3. Gp90 peptide-specific increases in CD3 and IFN-γ gene expression were also detected in the injection sites. Furthermore, differences were found between in vivo and in vitro responses to gp90 specific peptides. These results demonstrate a novel method for detecting in vivo cell-mediated immune responses to EIAV-specific peptides that is readily applicable to other host/pathogen systems.     

Differential responses of Equus caballus and Equus asinus to infection with two pathogenic strains of equine infectious anemia virus

Most in vivo studies with equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) have been performed in horses and ponies (Equus caballus) with little published information available detailing the clinical responses of donkeys (Equus asinus) to infection with this virus. Consequently, donkeys were inoculated with two strains of EIAV (EIAV(PV) and EIAV(WY)) which have been documented to produce disease in E. caballus. Four ponies, 561, 562, 564 and 567 and two donkeys, 3 and 5 were infected with EIAV(PV) and one horse (94-10) and one donkey (4) were infected with EIAV(WY). Although the horse and ponies all experienced clinical signs of disease, which in some cases were severe, the donkeys remained asymptomatic throughout a 365-day observation period, except for mild transient reductions in platelet counts. The results from serological assays, virus isolation from plasma and detection of plasma-associated viral RNA by RT-PCR, indicated that initial replication of EIAV(PV) and EIAV(WY) was lower in donkeys than in horses and ponies. This conclusion was confirmed using competitive RT-PCR, in which viral RNA levels in the plasma of EIAV(PV)-infected ponies was up to 100,000-fold higher than in infected donkeys during the first 20 days post-infection (dpi). Similar results were obtained in the EIAV(WY)-infected animals, in which viral RNA burdens in the donkey at 20 dpi were 1000-fold less than in the horse. However, infection of donkey and horse monocyte-derived macrophage cultures with EIAV(PV) demonstrated that these cells in vitro were equally susceptible to virus-induced cytopathic effects and yielded similar levels of progeny virus. This result suggests that factors other than host cell permissiveness mediate the clinical differences observed between horses and donkeys infected with EIAV(PV) or EIAV(WY).     

中国马传染性贫血病毒DLV株前病毒gp90基因在马体内的变异分析

分别以EIAV辽宁马强毒株（EIAVliao）前病毒DNA和马传染性贫血驴白细胞弱毒疫苗株（EIAVDLV）前病毒DNA为模板,从免疫接种后不同时期马血清中利用nested—PCR技术,扩增了约1．4kb的gp90基因。将其克隆后进行了测序,测序结果表明,免疫EIAVDLV后的第1时期至第5时期,与EIAV—liao比较核苷酸序列平均差异率分别为3．2956％、3．1456oA、3．36％、3．1856％和3．6456％。EIAVliao有20个N-连接糖基化位点,EIAVDLV平均是17．2个,其中有11个N-连接糖基化位点是高度保守的。     

血管瘤禽白血病病毒FJ0610株的分离与鉴定

为了解禽白血病病毒在商品蛋鸡中的流行情况,试验采用病理剖检、聚合酶链式反应(PCR)以及间接免疫荧光试验(IFA)等方法对送检的疑似禽白血病病毒感染的商品蛋鸡进行了病毒分离与鉴定,并对分离株的致瘤相关基因gp85基因进行测序,与国内外各亚群禽白血病病毒进行对比。结果表明:分离、鉴定到1株J亚群血管瘤禽白血病病毒,命名为FJ0610;分离株gp85基因核苷酸序列同源性在11.5%～94.5%之间,其中与血管瘤禽白血病毒株ZH-08株同源性最高,而与E亚群毒株同源性最低;基于gp85核苷酸序列的系统进化分析表明FJ0610株的gp85序列与ZH-08株的亲缘关系最近。     

马传贫驴白细胞弱毒疫苗株跨膜蛋白主要免疫决定区基因的克隆与表达

从感染驴白细胞的马传贫驴白细胞弱毒疫苗株前病毒DNA中克隆了编码跨膜蛋白主要免疫决定区(TMIR)的基因，并在大肠杆菌中进行了表达。所表达的融合蛋白有一部分是可溶的，其氨基端带有6个组氨酸的标签，因此可以用固定化金属离子亲和层析法在非变性条件下进行纯化。在间接酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)和免疫印迹试验中，重组的TMIR蛋白可与马传贫阳性血清样品发生反应，而与健康马血清无任何反应。这表明该重组蛋白具有良好的抗原性和特异性，可用于马传贫弱毒疫苗株在体内外复制、接种马体内免疫应答及马传贫诊断的研究。     

通过暂时免疫抑制研究跨膜蛋白C末端缺失对EIAV疫苗株EIAV_(FDDV12)体内复制的影响

马传染性贫血病毒(EIAV)减毒疫苗是世界首例慢病毒疫苗,但其作用机理尚不明了。我们的前期研究发现EIAV疫苗株EIAVFDDV12编码跨膜蛋白gp45的基因在马体内发生高频率G2230A点突变形成终止子,使该蛋白C末端出现154个氨基酸的截短。为了探讨该截短蛋白对EIAV疫苗株生物学特性的作用,本研究以EIAV弱毒疫苗株感染性克隆基础上,构建了gp45截短型感染性克隆,脂质体转染细胞,增殖传代,获得病毒株EIAVFDDVTM-36,接种到马体内。在接种后167 d内未观察到临床症状,连续注射10 d地塞米松以暂时抑制免疫系统,并用迟发性超敏反应和淋巴细胞增殖实验评价免疫抑制效果。结果显示,截短型跨膜蛋白疫苗株EIAVFDDVTM-36接种组免疫抑制前后病毒载量和中和抗体效价差异不显著,而完整型跨膜蛋白疫苗株感染性克隆EIAVFDDVTM-45接种组4匹马中3匹免疫抑制后病毒载量显著上升,同时组内中和抗体效价明显提高。以上结果表明,马体特异性免疫压力对EIAVFDDVTM-36复制无影响,而对亲本株EIAVFDDVTM-45复制有抑制,显示跨膜蛋白截短型EIAV作为疫苗更为安全。但免疫抑制造成的gp45跨膜蛋白未截短型疫苗株感染性克隆体内病毒载量升高,可以促使机体产生更高的中和抗体效价,提示该疫苗的安全性和有效性在一定程度内呈负相关(相互制约)。因此,安全性和有效性的平衡是慢病毒减毒疫苗研发需注意的重要因素。     

马传染性贫血病病毒弱毒疫苗株感染性分子克隆的构建

采用ＰＣＲ方法分三段扩增出马传染性贫血病毒驴白细胞弱毒疫苗株（ＥＬＡＶ　 ＤＬＡ）的前病毒ＤＮＡ,这三个片段覆盖马传染性贫血病毒的全部基因组,ＰＣＲ产物经克隆后顺次连接,获得一个含有ＥＬＡＶ全基因（８．０Ｋｂ）的重组质粒,将其命名为ｐ８．０。将此８．０Ｋｂ ＥＩＡＶ全基因再亚克隆到含有一完整 ＥＩＡＶ ＤＬＡ株长末端重复序列的质粒中,获得一含有 ＥＩＡＶ驴白细胞弱毒前病毒全基因的重组质粒,将其命名为ｐ８．２,经核苷酸序列分析,证明ｐ８．２含有ＥＩＡＶ前病毒的全基因。用ｐ８．２转染驴白细胞,将其作为种毒进行传代,于感染该克隆毒的细胞培养上清中检测出了反转录酶,说明在驴白细胞中由ｐ８．２衍生出了ＥＩＡ病毒。驴白细胞经该克隆毒感染后,第４天出现病变,经透射电镜可观察到典型的马传染性贫血病毒粒子,进一步证明ｐ８．２具有感染性,我们获得了马传染性贫血病毒驴白细胞弱毒疫苗株的感染性分子克隆,为进一步在分子水平上阐明我国ＥＩＡＶ疫苗株的减毒机理和免疫保护机制奠定了基础。     

带有组氨酸标签的马传染性贫血病毒感染性分子克隆的构建

马传染性贫血(EIA)弱毒疫苗的广泛使用存在野毒和疫苗毒鉴别困难的问题.本研究以已构建的马传染性贫血驴白细胞弱毒疫苗株的感染性分子克隆(pOK8266)为基础,在其S2基因内引入NspV酶切位点,将人工合成的编码6个组氨酸的寡核苷酸插入NspV位点,获得带有组氨酸标签的重组质粒pOK8266-HIS.将pOK8266-HIS转染驴白细胞,将驴白细胞转染产物传至第6代时,在电镜下观察到了典型的马传染性贫血病毒粒子.提取pOK8266-HIS衍生病毒的前病毒基因组DNA,通过PCR扩增和测序表明,衍生病毒基因组中引入了6个组氨酸标签,从而获得了带有分子标志的马传染性贫血弱毒疫苗株,为野毒株和疫苗病毒的鉴别诊断奠定了基础.本研究还证明了S2基因中的插入突变并不影响马传染性贫血病毒的体外复制.     

马传贫驴白细胞弱毒疫苗株基质蛋白基因的克隆与表达

从感染驴白细胞的马传贫驴白细胞弱毒疫苗株前病毒DNA中克隆了编码基质蛋白（p15)的基因，并在大肠杆菌中进行了表达，所表达的蛋白是一种可溶性的融合蛋白，其氨基端带有6个组氨酸的标签，因此可以用固定化金属离子亲和层析法在非变性条件下进行纯化，在间接ELISA和免疫印迹试验中，重组的基质蛋白可与马传贫阳性血清样品发生反应，而与健康马血清无任何反应，这表明该重组蛋白具有良好的抗原性和特异性，可用于马传贫弱毒疫苗株在体内外复制及在接种马体人免疫应答的研究中。     

Real-time quantitative RT-PCR and PCR assays for a novel European field isolate of equine infectious anaemia virus based on sequence determination of the gag gene

In 2006, an outbreak of equine infectious anaemia (EIA) occurred in Ireland. The initial source of the outbreak is believed to have been contaminated plasma imported from Italy. This paper presents the nucleotide sequence of the gag gene of the virus identified in Ireland (EIAV(Ire)), the first for a European strain of EIAV. Comparison of the gag gene with North American and Asian strains of the virus showed that the gag gene is less well conserved than previously believed, and that EIAV strains can have similar phenotypes despite considerable variations in genotype. On the basis of the deduced sequence of the EIAV(Ire) gag gene, highly sensitive, specific and quantitative RT-PCR and PCR assays were developed, and used to quantify the EIAV nucleic acid in postmortem tissues, plasma and secretions of infected horses. This is the first report of the detection and quantification of EIAV in nasal, buccal and genital swabs by RT-PCR.     

Design and validation of an ELISA for equine infectious anemia (EIA) diagnosis using synthetic peptides

Three peptides derived from the equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) surface proteins were synthesized to design and validate an ELISA for EIA diagnosis. Peptides identified as gp90-I and gp90-II correspond to the N- and C-terminal part of the surface glycoprotein gp90. Peptide gp45-1 overlaps the immunodominant epitope CIERTHVFC of the transmembrane glycoprotein gp45, and includes a hydrophilic chain close to the N-terminal end of this nonapeptide loop. Serum samples from 140 naturally infected horses with EIAV and a panel of 167 non-immune equine sera obtained from non-infected animals were used. Differences in reactivity between positive and negative serum samples were clearly distinguished. Samples considered weak positive to the agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test were "true" positive in the ELISA. These results are consistent with the improved sensitivity of the ELISA in comparison with the AGID test. The cyclic peptide that mimics the immunodominant sequence of gp45 showed excellent reactivity, thus suggesting that its functional activity depends significantly on its conformation, since very low reactivity was observed in the linear form of the peptide. The detectability indices of positive and negative sera reached 98% when gp90-II and gp45-I synthetic peptides were used in the same assay, illustrating the high specificity and sensitivity of the assay. Our study represents a first approach for the design of a diagnostic kit, which would allow the rapid analysis of a large numbers of serum samples from horses, and could be applied in endemic areas with different prevalence of infection.     

利用Real-time PCR对外周血白细胞中EIAV前病毒及血浆中病毒RNA含量的测定

利用Real-time PCR和Real-time RT-PCR方法对马传染性贫血病(EIA)驴白细胞弱毒疫苗(DLA-EIAV)、DLA-EIAV感染性分子克隆衍生毒(vOK8226)、强弱毒嵌合病毒(vOKVltr)以及EIA强毒接种马后不同时期外周血白细胞中前病毒含量及血浆中病毒含量进行了监测,结果发现直接攻击强毒的2匹马及1匹接种vOK8226后再用强毒攻击的马血浆中病毒含量快速升高,伴随着明显的临床反应,最后均以死亡结束.其它免疫接种马在攻击强毒后均获得保护,没有发病,马血浆中有低水平病毒存在,攻毒后3个月血浆中检测不到病毒,说明感染马体内病毒的大量增殖与疾病的进程有着直接的关系.而外周血白细胞中前病毒的含量在各试验马各时期均能检测到,说明EIAV以前病毒的形式潜伏在感染马体内,疫苗的免疫只能控制发病,而不能清除感染的病毒.     

Multiple RNA splicing and the presence of cryptic RNA splice donor and acceptor sites may contribute to low expression levels and poor immunogenicity of potential DNA vaccines containing the env gene of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV)

The env gene is an excellent candidate for inclusion in any DNA-based vaccine approach against equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV). Unfortunately, this gene is subjected to mutational pressure in E. coli resulting in the introduction of stop codons at the 5' terminus unless it is molecularly cloned using very-low-copy-number plasmid vectors. To overcome this problem, a mammalian expression vector was constructed based on the low-copy-number pLG338-30 plasmid. This permitted the production of full-length EIAV env gene clones (plcnCMVenv) from which low-level expression of the viral surface unit glycoprotein (gp90) was detected following transfection into COS-1 cells. Although this suggested the nuclear export of complete env mRNA moieties at least two additional polypeptides of 29 and 20kDa (probably Rev) were produced by alternative splicing events as demonstrated by the fact that their synthesis was prevented by mutational inactivation of EIAV env splice donor 3 (SD3) site. The plcnCMVenv did not stimulate immune responses in mice or in horses, whereas an env construct containing an inactivated SD3 site (plcnCMVDeltaSD3) did induce weak humoral responses against gp90 in mice. This poor immunogenicty in vivo was probably not related to the inherent antigenicity of the proteins encoded by these constructs but to some fundamental properties of EIAV env gene expression. Attempts to modify one of these properties by mutational inactivation of known viral RNA splice sites resulted in activation of previously unidentified cryptic SD and slice acceptor sites.     

Detection, molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of full-length equine infectious anemia (EIAV) gag genes isolated from Shackleford Banks wild horses

The genetically distinct wild horse herds inhabiting Shackleford Banks, North Carolina are probably the direct descendents of Spanish stock abandoned after failed attempts to settle mid-Atlantic coastal regions of North America in the Sixteenth Century. In a 1996 island survey, 41% of the gathered horses were discovered seropositive for Equine Infectious Anemia Virus (EIAV) with additional cases identified in 1997 and 1998. As a result of their unique genetic heritage, EIAV seropositive individuals identified in the two latter surveys were transferred to a quarantine facility on the mainland. In September 2008 two of the horses SB1 and SB2 after 10 and 11 years in quarantine respectively, developed clinical signs of EIA. In the case of SB2 these were so severe that the only humane option was euthanasia. Although SB1, survived it experienced a second clinical episode one month later. In May 2009, a third horse in quarantine, SB3, developed extremely severe clinical EIA and was euthanized. This demonstrates naturally infected long-term inapparent carriers can experience recrudescence of very severe disease many years after initial exposure to EIAV. Phylogenetic analysis of complete EIAV gag gene sequences obtained from each of three Shackleford horses demonstrated they were infected with very closely related viruses. Although these were distinguishable from all other strains examined, they belong to a monophyletic group comprising almost exclusively of New World isolates that is distinct from a number of recently characterized Central European EIAV strains.