Immunohistochemical detection of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus using colloidal gold.

Two cytopathic agents were isolated on porcine alveolar macrophages following inoculation with homogenates of lung tissues from pigs showing respiratory problems. These isolates were identified as porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus isolates by indirect immunofluorescence using a PRRS virus (PRRSV) specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) and were designated as LHVA-92-1 and LHVA-92-2. Immunogold electron microscopy using a porcine PRRS positive serum pool and protein A-gold resulted in an intense labelling of aggregates of viral particles. Dark specific cytoplasmic staining of porcine alveolar macrophages infected with both virus isolates could be observed by immunogold silver staining (IGSS) using the specific MAb. This method proved effective in detecting PRRSV antigens in several ethanol-fixed tissues of piglets intranasally inoculated with the supernatants of macrophages infected with each isolate. Immunogold silver staining was also successfully used for the detection of PRRSV antigens on sections of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded lung tissues and on frozen sections of lungs. The present results indicate that colloidal gold may be useful for the identification and immunohistochemical detection of PRRSV in tissues.     

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)-specific mAbs: supporting diagnostics and providing new insights into the antigenic properties of the virus

The porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is one of the most important viral pathogens in the swine industry. Despite great efforts of pig holders, veterinarians, researchers and vaccine developers, the virus still causes major production losses. It is clear that efficient and correct monitoring and rational development of vaccines are crucial in the combat against this pathogen. PRRSV-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are essential tools for both diagnostic and research purposes. This study describes the production of PRRSV GP3-, GP5- and N-specific hybridomas and an extensive characterization of the mAbs. The N-specific mAbs generated in this study appear to be useful tools for diagnostics, as they were found to react with genetically very different PRRSV isolates and may serve to discriminate between European and American type PRRSV isolates. These mAbs also allowed detection of the PRRSV N protein in both formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections and frozen tissue sections of PRRSV-infected lungs, further illustrating their diagnostic value. Different neutralization assays pointed out that none of the GP3- and GP5-specific mAbs tested shows virus-neutralizing capacity. This is noteworthy, as these mAbs recognize epitopes in the predicted ectodomains of their target protein and since the GP5-specific antibodies specifically react with the antigenic region that corresponds to the "major neutralizing epitope" suggested for American type PRRSV. The current findings argue against an important role of the identified antigenic regions in direct antibody-mediated neutralization of European type PRRSV in vivo. However, it is also clear that findings concerning a specific PRRSV epitope cannot always be generalized, as the antigenic determinants and their biological properties may differ radically between different virus isolates.     

猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒ORF7基因原核表达载体的构建及序列分析

根据GenBank中美洲型猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)ORF7基因序列,设计合成一对引物,应用RT-PCR方法扩增出猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)的ORF7基因(N基因)。将所扩增片段克隆入原核表达载体pET-32a(+),pET-ORF7重组质粒转化DH5a宿主菌后,经双酶切、PCR鉴定后挑选阳性克隆测序鉴定并对插入的ORF7基因序列进行分析。结果表明,ORF7基因的原核表达载体构建成功。ORF7基因序列与美洲型的ORF7基因核苷酸同源性为92.8%～99.7%,与LV株的相应基因核苷酸同源性为65.3%;推导的氨基酸与美洲型相应基因的同源性为92.0%～99.2%,与LV株的同源性为65.3%,系统进化树表明该PRRSV属于美洲型。本研究为N蛋白的进一步研究和制备诊断性抗原奠定了基础。     

A survey of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome among wild boar populations in Korea

No information is currently available on porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection in wild boars (Sus scrofa) in Korea. In this study, the status of PRRS in wild boars was investigated. Blood samples were collected from 267 wild boars from eight provinces in Korea. Four of the samples tested (1.5%) were positive for PRRSV antibodies and eight (3.0%) were positive for antigens. Of the virus-positive samples, three and five samples were typed as containing European (EU, type 1) or North American (NA, type 2) viruses, respectively. Two amplicons (one from type 1 and one from type 2) were used to analyze the PRRSV open reading frame 7 (ORF7) sequence. The nucleotide sequences of type 1 PRRSV ORF7 had identities between 96.1% and 98.4% with PRRSVs from domestic pigs in Korea. The sequences of type 2 PRRSV ORF7 had identities of 100% with the PRRSV strain VR-2332, which was prototypic North American strain. These results show that PRRSVs are present in wild boars in Korea, and effective PRRSV surveillance of the wild boar population might therefore be useful for disease control.     

用单克隆抗体鉴定猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒分离株

应用ＰＲＲＳＶ单克隆抗体,采用直接与间接免疫荧光抗体试验对分离获得的ＰＲＲＳＶ６个毒株进行了鉴定,结果所有分离毒株均能被单克隆抗体（ＳＤＯＷ１７、Ａ、Ｂ、Ｃ、Ｄ、Ｅ、Ｆ）所识别,呈现特异荧光,６个分离毒株均能与仅识别美洲型ＰＲＲＳＶ的单克隆抗体Ｆ反应,结果表明６个分离毒株均属于美洲型ＰＲＲＳＶ。利用微量细胞培养对分离毒株ＴＣＩＤ５０测定结果表明,６个分离毒株的ＴＣＩＤ５０分别为１０－７．５／０．１ｍｌ、１０－７．５／０．１ｍｌ、１０－７．５／０．１ｍｌ、１０－７．７５／０．１ｍｌ、１０－７．２５／０．１ｍｌ、１０－６．２５／０．１ｍｌ。病毒感染细胞的超薄切片电镜观察表明,在感染细胞浆内可见典型的ＰＲＲＳＶ病毒粒子,呈球形或椭圆形,直径约为６０ｎｍ左右,可见囊膜。     

我国华东地区猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒流行株NSP2基因的遗传变异分析

为研究猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)在我国华东地区的遗传变异情况和发展趋势,本研究对2004年～2009年分离鉴定的38株PRRSV流行株NSP2基因高变异区进行序列测定及分析.38株PRRSV分离株核苷酸同源性为71.6%～99.6%,推导的氨基酸同源性为63.7%～98.3%,共分为5种基因缺失类型.系统进化分析表明:38个分离株按基因序列可分为NSP2基因亚型Ⅰ和Ⅱ,其中,28株属于NSP2基因亚型Ⅰ,各病毒株均具有至少30个氨基酸的缺失,基因同源性为92.9%～99.2%;10株属于NSP2基因亚型Ⅱ,均具有1个或不具有氨基酸的缺失,基因同源性为76.5%～99.6%.流行株显示由基因亚型Ⅱ逐渐向基因亚型Ⅰ变异的趋势,并且NSP2核苷酸的缺失数量呈上升趋势.由此显示,我国PRRSV流行株NSP2基因变异较大,并不断出现新的变化,因此,加强PRRSV流行株基因变异的监测十分必要.     

Sequence analysis of the membrane protein gene and nucleocapsid gene of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus isolated from a swine herd in Hungary

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) was isolated from blood samples taken at a pig farm in Hungary from pigs showing clinical signs of the disease. The virus (ABV 32) was identified as belonging to the European genotype by using type-specific monoclonal antibodies. This was confirmed by comparing the sequence of the membrane protein gene (ORF 6) and the nucleocapsid gene (ORF 7) with the American VR2332 and the European LV genotype reference strain, respectively. Analysis of the amino acid sequence of the ORF 6 and ORF 7 of ABV 32 revealed five amino acid changes in both ORFs when compared with LV, of which two changes in ORF 7 were only found in the Spanish isolates. Additionally, the ORF 7 sequence was compared with corresponding sequences of a total of 21 other European strains. Phylogenetic analysis using the PHYLIP package confirmed the close relationship between the Hungarian and the Spanish isolates. Of all the isolates analysed, ABV 32 and LV were the least related.     

PRRSV重组M蛋白表达及胶体金试纸的制备

为建立PRRSV抗体的检测方法,通过扩增PRRSV ORF6基因,将其克隆至pET-28a（＋）中,IP TG诱导重组质粒转化菌表达,经SDS-P AGE和Western blot鉴定,表明重组质粒能够表达目的蛋白;经亲和层析纯化表达蛋白,以SP A标记胶体金,用纯化M融合蛋白和羊抗猪抗体为检测线和质控线研制胶体金试纸,检测猪血清样品,比较与IDEXX ELISA试剂盒检测结果的符合率。结果表明,表达蛋白具有良好的反应性,制备的胶体金试纸与IDEXX ELISA试剂盒检测符合率为89％,该方法为P RRSV抗体的检测提供了快速简便的方法。     

Molecular characterization of recent Korean porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) viruses and comparison to other Asian PRRS viruses

Twenty-eight PRRS viruses (PRRSVs) isolated from various pig farms in Korea between 2002 and 2003 were sequenced for open-reading frame (ORF) 5 and/or full-length genome and compared with numerous PRRSVs reported from North America, Europe and Asia. All Korean isolates examined were genetically of the North American genotype. The ORF5 sequence of one isolate was identical to Ingelvac PRRS MLV vaccine virus. ORF5 nucleotide sequence divergence of the remaining 27 Korean PRRSVs from VR-2332, the prototype of the North American PRRSV and parental strain of the MLV vaccine virus, ranged from 1.3% to 12.9%, which corresponded to 2.0% to 14.9% divergence at the amino acid level, raising a concern on the efficacy of the MLV vaccine. Phylogenetic analyses of ORF5 and/or full-length sequences revealed that the Korean PRRSVs formed a clade distinct from PRRSVs reported from other Asian countries (China, Taiwan, Japan, and Thailand). Our study demonstrated that PRRSVs of the North American genotype were introduced to the Korean swine population some time ago and have evolved independently from PRRSV in other Asian countries, suggesting that geographic separation might influence the molecular evolution of PRRSV. This should be taken into consideration when a national PRRS prevention and control policy for international trade is established.     

两株高致病性PRRSV ORF6和ORF7基因克隆及序列分析

应用RT PCR方法从实验室分离的两株高致病性PRRSV SX、ZQ株中扩增出ORF6和ORF7,将其分别克隆、测序。用DNAStar 软件分析所测序列,并与VR 2332株、LV株、周边国家及国内分离株进行核苷酸和推导氨基酸同源性比较,并绘制系统进化树,结果ORF6、ORF7核苷酸与北美洲型的同源性为91.1％～100％,与欧洲型的同源性为66.2％～70.7％,推导氨基酸与北美洲型的同源性为91.2％～100％,与欧洲型的同源性为62.3％～82.3％。证明新分离到的PRRSV SX株、ZQ株仍属北美洲型。SX株ORF6、ORF7核苷酸与国内新分离到的高致病性PRRSV JXA1株同源性分别为99.8%、100%;ZQ株ORF6、ORF7核苷酸与国内新分离到的高致病性PRRSV JXA1株同源性分别为99.6%、99.7%。     

Identification of two dominant linear epitopes on the GP3 protein of highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (HP-PRRSV)

Glycosylated protein 3 (GP3) of PRRSV is variable between different PRRSV strains, so it is helpful for subtype classifying by using distinct epitopes. In this study, two dominant linear GP3 epitopes that were recognized by highly dilute serum in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were identified. Sequence alignments of 36 North American (NA) PRRSV isolates revealed that the epitope H⁸⁷DELGFMV⁹⁴ is well conserved, whereas the epitope T⁵⁹RQAAAEILE⁶⁸ differs in other low-virulence NA-type strains, which have at least one amino acid mutation in this region. A mutational analysis revealed that none of these mutations could be recognized by the purified antibodies directed against the corresponding epitope, indicating that the genetic variations altered the antigenicity of the antigenic region. Using ELISA, we also found that antibodies directed against the two epitopes were present in more than 45 of 50 HP-PRRS-positive pig sera, suggesting that their antigenicity is excellent in vivo.     

Antigenic comparison of Canadian and US isolates of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus using monoclonal antibodies to the nucleocapsid protein.

Fifteen Canadian field isolates of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus from Quebec and Ontario were compared with 5 US PRRS virus (PRRSV) isolates and with the European Lelystad isolate using monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) SDOW17, EP147, and VO17 directed to the 15-kDa nucleocapsid protein of PRRSV. All Canadian and US isolates tested by indirect immunofluorescence were recognized by the 3 MAbs, and individual titers of MAbs towards Canadian and US PRRSV isolates were similar as well. In contrast, the Lelystad virus isolate reacted only with the SDOW17 MAb and showed no reactivity with either EP147 or VO17. The reactivity pattern with these MAbs suggests that the Canadian isolates of PRRSV tested are antigenically similar to US isolates of PRRSV, and that these North American isolates share highly conserved epitopes on the 15-kDa nucleocapsid protein that clearly differentiate them from the European Lelystad virus isolate.     

Genetic variation and phylogenetic analyses of the ORF5 gene of acute porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus isolates

Swine herds in the US have experienced recent outbreaks of a severe form of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (designated acute or atypical PRRS) characterized by abortion and high mortality in pregnant sows. Most of the affected herds had been vaccinated with modified live-vaccines (MLVs) against PRRS. To explore the possible mechanism of the emergence of acute PRRS, the open reading frame 5 (ORF5) gene encoding the major envelope protein (GP5) of acute PRRSV isolates was characterized. The complete ORF5 gene of eight acute PRRSV isolates from herds experiencing acute PRRS outbreaks in Iowa and North Carolina was amplified and sequenced. Sequence analyses revealed that these acute PRRSV isolates shared 88-95% nucleotide and 88-96% amino acid sequence identities to each other, 87-97% nucleotide and 84-96% amino acid sequence identities with other North American PRRSV isolates and the MLVs. Most of the amino acid substitutions locate in the putative signal sequence and two short hypervariable regions at the amino terminus. The ORF5 gene sequence of the acute PRRSV isolate 98-37120-2 from a non-vaccinated swine herd in Iowa is very closely related to that of the RespPRRS MLV, with 97% nucleotide and 96% amino acid sequence identities. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all eight acute PRRSV isolates are clustered within the North American genotype. Several minor branches that are not associated with geographic origins were also identified within the North American genotype. One acute PRRSV isolate (98-37120-2) is clustered with the RespPRRS MLV and several Danish isolates that were confirmed to be derived from the RespPRRS MLV. The ORF5 gene sequences of other seven acute isolates are more related to those of several earlier PRRSV isolates and the PrimePac MLV than to that of the RespPRRS MLV. Our results showed that the acute PRRSV isolates analyzed in this study differed from each other in ORF5 genes, although they all clustered within the North American genotype. The data from this study do not fully support the hypothesis that the emergence of acute PRRS is due to reversion of MLVs to a pathogenic phenotype, as only one of the eight acute isolates was shown to be very closely related to the RespPRRS MLV.     

Differentiation between porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus isolates by restriction fragment length polymorphism of their ORFs 6 and 7 genes.

Three distinct antigenic profiles were identified by comparing the reactivities of 15 Canadian field isolates, the attenuated U.S. vaccine (Ingelvac MLV) strain and 2 European reference strains (Lelystad and Weybridge) of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) by indirect immunofluorescence with a set of 4 monoclonal antibodies to the nucleocapsid (N) protein and 2 other to the matrix (M) protein. In the present study, 9 Canadian isolates for which the sequences were determined appeared closely related to 2 U.S. reference strains (ATCC VR-2332 and ATCC VR-2385) with amino acid identities varying between 90 to 98% for the M and N proteins; substitutions in the nucleotide sequences were distributed randomly throughout the ORFs 6 and 7 genes, and most were 3rd base silent mutations. In comparison, more than 30% divergence was demonstrated with the Lelystad virus. Furthermore, differentiation between North American and European isolates, and between field isolates and the MLV strain could be achieved by cutting PCR-amplified products encompassing both ORFs 6 and 7 genes with 4 restriction endonucleases. When taken individually, BsaJI and AluI were the more appropriate restriction enzymes for distinguishing the vaccine strain from field isolates. The results obtained suggest that the restriction fragment length polymorphism of the genomic region covering the ORFs 6 and 7 genes may be a valuable tool to differentiate among PRRSV isolates.     

Genomic and antigenic variations of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus major envelope GP5 glycoprotein.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the importance of genomic and antigenic variations which may have affected the major envelope glycoprotein GP5 of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) isolates responsible for outbreaks in Quebec and Ontario, in comparison with the modified-live U.S. vaccine strain (MLV) and the European prototype strain from Lelystad (LV). Nucleotide sequence analyses of the open reading frame (ORF)5 genes showed that all of the isolates studied were heterogenous, amino acid (aa) identities varied from 88 to 99% with the MLV strain, and between 51 and 54% with the LV strain. The aa substitutions were randomly scattered across the protein, although one region between residues 26 and 39 was found to correspond to a hypervariable region which involved 0 to 3 potential N-glycosylation sites. The ORF5 encoded products of 5 of these isolates, including the MLV and LV strains, were expressed in E. coli as recombinant proteins fused to the glutathione S-transferase (GST) protein and used to raise hyperimmune anti-ORF5 sera in rabbits. The reactivity patterns of strain-specific hyperimmune anti-ORF5 sera and a panel of 4 monoclonal antibodies directed against the ORF5 gene product of the Quebec IAF-Klop strain of PRRSV, indicated that GP5 of field isolates also underwent antigenic variations. The data suggest that neutralizing epitopes, independent of conformation and glycosylation, are also associated with antigenic variability of the GP5 of PRRSV.     

Genetic diversity and phylogenetic analysis of glycoprotein 5 of PRRSV isolates in mainland China from 1996 to 2006: coexistence of two NA-subgenotypes with great diversity

GP5, the most important neutralizing antigen of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), has the highest genetic diversity among isolates. To more fully understand the extent of genetic diversity of PRRSV in China, we analyzed and compared the GP5 sequences of 42 PRRSV isolated from 1996 to 2006 in mainland China. We found that all of the Chinese isolates examined belong to the North American (NA) type. Among them two highly diverse subgroups were clearly demarcated on the NA-genotype phylogenetic tree. All the subgroup 1 isolates were found to be high variable in the primary neutralizing epitope and the viruses were geographically restricted to regions in southeast China. The subgroup 2 isolates shared a high identity with MLV vaccine and its parent virus VR-2332. These results may contribute to the knowledge of PRRSV epidemiology in China, and may help to explain the low efficiency of MLV or killed CH-1a vaccine to protect the subgroup 1 virus infected pigs, and the great genetic diversity should be taken into consideration for control and preventive measures.