Species-specific recognition of single-stranded RNA via toll-like receptor 7 and 8

Double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) serves as a danger signal associated with viral infection and leads to stimulation of innate immune cells. In contrast, the immunostimulatory potential of single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) is poorly understood and innate immune receptors for ssRNA are unknown. We report that guanosine (G)- and uridine (U)-rich ssRNA oligonucleotides derived from human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) stimulate dendritic cells (DC) and macrophages to secrete interferon-alpha and proinflammatory, as well as regulatory, cytokines. By using Toll-like receptor (TLR)-deficient mice and genetic complementation, we show that murine TLR7 and human TLR8 mediate species-specific recognition of GU-rich ssRNA. These data suggest that ssRNA represents a physiological ligand for TLR7 and TLR8.     

Autophagy-dependent viral recognition by plasmacytoid dendritic cells

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) detect viruses in the acidified endosomes by means of Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Yet, pDC responses to certain single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) viruses occur only after live viral infection. We present evidence here that the recognition of such viruses by TLR7 requires transport of cytosolic viral replication intermediates into the lysosome by the process of autophagy. In addition, autophagy was found to be required for the production of interferon-alpha by pDCs. These results support a key role for autophagy in mediating ssRNA virus detection and interferon-alpha secretion by pDCs and suggest that cytosolic replication intermediates of viruses serve as pathogen signatures recognized by TLR7.     

流感病毒PA蛋白与宿主蛋白PCBP1的相互作用

【背景】PA蛋白是流感病毒RNA聚合酶复合体的重要组成部分,在流感病毒基因组的转录和复制过程中发挥重要作用。前期利用酵母双杂交技术(Y2H)筛选与流感病毒PA蛋白相互作用的宿主蛋白,获得多聚胞嘧啶结合蛋白1(poly(r C)-binding protein 1,PCBP1)。【目的】探索PCBP1蛋白与流感病毒PA蛋白的互作关系及其对流感病毒复制的影响,为深入理解流感病毒在宿主体内的复制调控机制提供数据。【方法】将诱饵质粒pGBKT7-PA与筛选到的重组质粒p GADT7-PCBP1以及阴性对照组和阳性对照组按照醋酸锂法分别共转化酵母感受态细胞,并涂布在3种营养缺陷型培养基上,30℃倒置培养5—7 d,观察酵母菌落生长情况和菌落颜色,回交验证PA蛋白与PCBP1蛋白在酵母系统中的相互作用。参照GenBank中录入的PA蛋白和人源PCBP1蛋白的序列,分别设计特异性扩增引物,构建真核重组表达质粒pCAGGS-Flag-PA和pCAGGS-Myc-PCBP1,将这两种真核表达质粒分别单独转染或共同转染HEK293T细胞,于转染48 h后裂解细胞,收获上清,留取少部分作对照,余下的样品逐步加入FLAG单抗和Protein G琼脂糖珠子进行免疫共沉淀(Co-IP),经SDS-PAGE和Western blot检测PA蛋白与PCBP1蛋白在哺乳动物细胞中的相互作用。利用慢病毒包装系统pLVX-IRES-Zs Green1在HEK293T细胞中包装假病毒,将假病毒侵染A549细胞后经超速流式分选构建PCBP1蛋白过表达细胞系,Western blot检测PCBP1过表达情况,然后用流感病毒WSN以0.01 MOI感染该过表达细胞系,于感染后24和48 h收获上清,对上清中的流感病毒进行蚀斑计数。合成PCBP1蛋白的si RNA,转染A549细胞下调PCBP1蛋白的表达,干扰后48 h通过Western blot检测PCBP1蛋白表达下调情况,并以MOI=0.01感染流感病毒WSN,收获感染后24和48 h的上清,进行蚀斑滴定计数。【结果】通过酵母回交验证发现诱饵质粒pGBKT7-PA与重组阳性质粒p GADT7-PCBP1的共转酵母菌落可以在SD/-2、SD/-4、SD/-4/X/A等3种营养缺陷型平板上正常生长,并且能分解底物X-α-Gal,使菌落呈现蓝色,与阳性对照组一致,表明PA蛋白与PCBP1蛋白在酵母系统中存在相互作用。免疫共沉淀试验发现PA蛋白可以将PCBP1蛋白沉淀下来,说明PA蛋白与PCBP1蛋白在哺乳动物细胞中存在相互作用。在PCBP1过表达细胞系中,PCBP1蛋白表达水平显著提高,流感病毒的复制滴度下降;而通过si RNA干扰后,PCBP1表达水平显著下降,流感病毒的复制滴度升高,表明PCBP1对流感病毒复制具有负调控作用。【结论】通过研究发现流感病毒PA蛋白与宿主蛋白PCBP1在酵母细胞和哺乳动物细胞中均存在相互作用,且宿主蛋白PCBP1对流感病毒的复制具有负调控作用。     

H7N9亚型禽流感病毒RT-PCR检测方法建立

【目的】2013年3月,中国国家卫生和计划生育委员会宣布在上海、安徽地区发现了人感染H7N9亚型流感病毒事件,由于这种新型重组H7N9流感病毒未曾有过感染人或者动物的报道,因此出现了一系列亟待解决的问题,引起了全世界范围的广泛关注。根据H7N9亚型禽流感病毒 HA和NA核苷酸序列,设计并合成靶基因为HA和NA的2对引物,建立快速检测H7N9亚型禽流感病毒的一步法RT-PCR检测方法。【方法】根据测序结果,用DNAStar生物软件进行同源性分析比较,选出H7和N9基因中高度保守且特异的核苷酸区域,用oligo6.0软件设计针对H7和N9基因的引物。用Trizol LS提取RNA,采用一步法Access RT-PCR扩增反应液,建立了一步法检测H7N9亚型禽流感病毒RT-PCR 方法。以H7N9亚型流感病毒为阳性对照,其他亚型流感病毒以及新城疫、传染性支气管炎、传染性法氏囊等其他禽病病原作为阴性对照,按所建立的反应体系和反应程序进行RT-PCR反应,验证所建立方法的特异性。对病毒含量为 10^6.5 EID₅₀·mL^-1 的 H7N9 亚型禽流感病毒尿囊液依次进行 10 倍倍比稀释,提取RNA用RT-PCR 方法检测,评价其敏感性。另外,采取双盲试验用荧光定量RT-PCR对该方法进行了比对验证。【结果】用H7亚型特异性引物检测 H1-H15 亚型禽流感病毒和鸡新城疫病毒等其他禽病病原,除H7亚型流感病毒外,其他样品均为阴性;用N9亚型特异性引物检测N1-N9 亚型禽流感病毒和其他禽病病原,仅当前流行的H7N9 亚型 AIV 样品有特异性目的条带,与其他N1-N9 亚型禽流感病毒和鸡新城疫病毒等其他禽病病原均无交叉反应。通过对 H7N9亚型禽流感病毒尿囊液进行10倍倍比稀释检测,证实该方法最低检出量为 1.4×10^2.5 EID₅₀·mL^-1,并可以从阳性棉拭子浸出液中扩增出目的基因片段。【结论】该RT-PCR 方法具有特异性强和准确率高的特点,可以作为H7N9亚型AIV核酸检测的一种有效候选方法。     

TLR13 recognizes bacterial 23S rRNA devoid of erythromycin resistance-forming modification

Host protection from infection relies on the recognition of pathogens by innate pattern-recognition receptors such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Here, we show that the orphan receptor TLR13 in mice recognizes a conserved 23S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequence that is the binding site of macrolide, lincosamide, and streptogramin group (MLS) antibiotics (including erythromycin) in bacteria. Notably, 23S rRNA from clinical isolates of erythromycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and synthetic oligoribonucleotides carrying methylated adenosine or a guanosine mimicking a MLS resistance-causing modification failed to stimulate TLR13. Thus, our results reveal both a natural TLR13 ligand and specific mechanisms of antibiotic resistance as potent bacterial immune evasion strategy, avoiding recognition via TLR13.     

人源肺细胞cDNA文库构建及与流感病毒NP互作宿主蛋白的筛选

【目的】构建肺组织细胞Calu-3及A549的高质量酵母cDNA文库并筛选与流感病毒NP蛋白相互作用的宿主因子,为深入研究流感病毒NP蛋白功能、病毒复制及致病机制奠定基础。【方法】提取等量Calu-3及A549细胞的总RNA,混合后反转录生成cDNA,利用长距离PCR(LD-PCR)扩增合成dscDNA,用CHROMA SPINTM+TE-400纯化柱纯化dsDNA,按照Clontech公司的Make Your Own"MatePlate"Library System操作程序,将带有同源臂的dscDNA与线性化p GADT7-Rec共同转化Y187酵母感受态细胞,涂布SD/-Leu平板后于30℃培养4d左右,收集所有菌落,混匀分装即为Calu-3和A549细胞cDNA的酵母文库,并对文库库容、滴度及多样性进行分析。利用Eco RⅠ和Bam HⅠ双酶切将A/Auhui/2/2005(H5N1)NP定向插入pGBKT7载体,构建高致病性流感病毒NP的诱饵质粒p GBKT7-NP,经验证该质粒无自激活活性,并进一步采用构建完成的Calu-3/A549细胞酵母文库进行杂交筛选,筛选得到的正确阅读的猎物质粒与诱饵质粒共转Y2H Gold酵母菌,分别以BD-P53/AD-T7作为阳性对照和BD-Lam/AD-T7作为阴性对照,挑取最终在SD/-Trp/-Leu/-Ade/-His/X-α-gal/Aro A(SD/-4/X/A)固体培养板上生长良好且变蓝的菌落,即为候选与目标蛋白互作阳性的蛋白,提取酵母质粒,进行测序分析、序列比对和Gene Ontology分析。【结果】提取两种细胞RNA 28S与18S条带清晰,5S条带暗淡,表明所提RNA质量较高,基本无降解;对提取的RNA反转录纯化获得dscDNA,dscDNA条带呈弥散状,片段大小分布于500—2 000bp之间,说明不同丰度及大小的RNA均成功反转录;构建的dscDNA文库库容为1.5×10~7,滴度为2.2×10~8cfu/m L,重组率为88%,PCR鉴定文库插入片段,条带大小不一、多样性好;利用诱饵质粒与文库进行双杂交筛选,回交验证后得到11个与NP蛋白互作的宿主因子。经Gene Ontology分析显示,11个宿主因子参与的生物过程包括:细胞凋亡、胚胎发育、可变剪接、转录调节及细胞增殖等;涉及的分子功能包括:GTP结合活性、金属离子结合活性、DNA结合活性及转录因子活性。【结论】成功构建同时含有Calu-3和A549两种人源肺细胞cDNA的酵母文库,文库覆盖cDNA更全面,为后期筛选与流感病毒其它蛋白互作的宿主蛋白奠定基础,筛选得到与NP蛋白存在相互作用的宿主因子为进一步深入研究NP功能提供了可靠的前期数据。     

禽流感与人类健康

禽流感(avian influenza,AI)是由A型流感病毒(avian influenza virus)引起的一种禽类感染征或疾病综合症,高致病性禽流感(highly pathogenic avian influenza,HPAI)可引起禽类100％的死亡。由于抗原转变和抗原漂移,禽流感病毒是高度可变的。人禽流感是指高致病性禽流感病毒跨越物种界限,引起人类感染的一种新发传染病。目前,全球已发现H5N1、H7N7、H9N2等亚型禽流感病毒可感染人类。但目前还没有发现禽流感病毒具有在人群中相互传播的能力。对禽流感必须采用积极的预防策略。在加强监测的基础上,对家禽采用扑杀和免疫相结合的措施,可以有效地控制禽流感的流行。研制人类流感疫苗,是预防新的流感病毒株的流行的可靠保证。     

NMRAL1对流感病毒复制的调控机制

【目的】流感病毒是一种人兽共患病原,常引起大流行,给人类健康造成巨大威胁,且流感病毒易发生变异,能不断逃逸宿主细胞的免疫反应,对现有抗流感药物产生耐药性,因此寻找抵抗流感的新方法迫在眉睫。研究通过探索NMRAL1(NmrA-like family domain-containing protein 1)对流感病毒复制的影响,并揭示其发挥作用的分子机制,为抗流感药物研发提供潜在靶点。【方法】采用siRNA干扰技术在A549细胞中下调表达NMRAL1,并通过Western Blot检测siRNA干扰后NMRAL1的表达水平;在下调表达NMRAL1的细胞中,分别感染A/Anhui/2/2005 (AH05) (H5N1)和A/WSN/33 (H1N1) 两株不同亚型流感病毒,利用蚀斑试验检测感染病毒后24和48 h细胞上清中的病毒滴度。为确定NMRAL1影响流感病毒复制的具体阶段,在HEK293T细胞中瞬时转染NMRAL1-Myc-pCAGGS质粒过表达NMRAL1,通过双荧光素酶报告系统检测过表达NMRAL1对流感病毒聚合酶活性的影响;使用免疫荧光技术对流感病毒NP蛋白进行染色,通过激光共聚焦试验观察下调表达NMRAL1对感染病毒后3、4、5、6和8 h NP蛋白在被感染细胞中的定位情况的影响,判断下调表达NMRAL1是否影响流感病毒的入核和出核过程;利用Western Blot检测下调表达NMRAL1对流感病毒各病毒蛋白表达的影响和对流感病毒激活I型干扰素通路下游IFN刺激基因（ISGs）表达的影响,利用间接免疫荧光试验进一步研究NMRAL1对流感病毒复制的影响。【结果】Western Blot检测发现NMRAL1 siRNA能显著下调NMRAL1表达,在下调表达NMRAL1的A549细胞中分别感染H5N1和H1N1病毒,并通过蚀斑试验检测感染病毒后细胞上清中的病毒滴度,结果显示在下调表达NMRAL1的细胞中,感染流感病毒后24和48 h收取的细胞上清中病毒滴度显著下降,表明NMRAL1能促进不同亚型流感病毒的复制;为进一步探索NMRAL1调控流感病毒复制的具体机制,利用双荧光素酶报告系统检测流感病毒聚合酶活性,发现过表达NMRAL1对流感病毒聚合酶活性无明显影响;激光共聚焦试验结果显示下调NMRAL1表达不影响NP蛋白的入核和出核过程,同时Western Blot检测表明下调NMRAL1表达不影响各病毒蛋白的表达;但荧光定量PCR试验结果显示下调NMRAL1表达能够促进流感病毒感染诱导的IFN-β mRNA水平上升,且Western Blot检测发现下调表达NMRAL1促进I型干扰素通路下游的MxA和IFITM3抗病毒蛋白的表达,与此同时,间接免疫荧光试验结果显示下调NMRAL1表达可显著抑制流感病毒复制。【结论】在流感病毒感染过程中,NMRAL1不影响流感病毒的入侵以及转录翻译过程,而是通过抑制I型干扰素通路激活从而抑制MxA、IFITM3等抗病毒因子的表达,最终促进流感病毒复制。研究证实宿主因子NMRAL1正调控流感病毒的复制,丰富了参与流感病毒复制的宿主因子网络。     

Suppression of avian influenza transmission in genetically modified chickens

Infection of chickens with avian influenza virus poses a global threat to both poultry production and human health that is not adequately controlled by vaccination or by biosecurity measures. A novel alternative strategy is to develop chickens that are genetically resistant to infection. We generated transgenic chickens expressing a short-hairpin RNA designed to function as a decoy that inhibits and blocks influenza virus polymerase and hence interferes with virus propagation. Susceptibility to primary challenge with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus and onward transmission dynamics were determined. Although the transgenic birds succumbed to the initial experimental challenge, onward transmission to both transgenic and nontransgenic birds was prevented.     

双链RNA分析技术在鉴定RNA病毒中的应用

ｄｓＲＮＡ技术是以无ＲＮＡ病毒或类似病毒因子侵染的植物组织中不含有容易鉴定的同原大分子的ｄｓＲＮＡ（＞０．１×１０６）存在为前提。在植物体内ｄｓＲＮＡ是ＲＮＡ病毒和类病毒因子存在的迹象，ｄｓＲＮＡ包括ｄｓＲＮＡ病毒的基因或ｓｓＲＮＡ病的复制中间型。ｄｓＲＮＡ在寄主组织相当稳定，可以用物理和化学的方法分离出来。叙述了ｄｓＲＮＡ技术用于植物病毒群、成员、同一病毒的不同株系、感染作物的新病毒及其复合侵染、类病毒、卫星病毒等的鉴定。证明该方法使用广泛、快速准确，不需要贵重设备，在一般实验室中即可进行。该方法有重要应用和学术价值，已引起植物病毒和植物病理学工作者广泛兴趣。     

TLR11 activation of dendritic cells by a protozoan profilin-like protein

Mammalian Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in the innate recognition of pathogens by dendritic cells (DCs). Although TLRs are clearly involved in the detection of bacteria and viruses, relatively little is known about their function in the innate response to eukaryotic microorganisms. Here we identify a profilin-like molecule from the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii that generates a potent interleukin-12 (IL-12) response in murine DCs that is dependent on myeloid differentiation factor 88. T. gondii profilin activates DCs through TLR11 and is the first chemically defined ligand for this TLR. Moreover, TLR11 is required in vivo for parasite-induced IL-12 production and optimal resistance to infection, thereby establishing a role for the receptor in host recognition of protozoan pathogens.     

Reassortant virus derived from avian and human influenza A viruses is attenuated and immunogenic in monkeys

An influenza A reassortant virus that contained the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes of a virulent human virus, A/Udorn/72 (H3N2), and the six other influenza A virus genome segments from an avirulent avian virus, A/Mallard/New York/6750/78 (H2N2), was evaluated for its level of replication is squirrel monkeys and hamsters. In monkeys, the reassortant virus was as attenuated and as restricted in its level of replication in the upper and lower respiratory tract as its avian influenza virus parent. Nonetheless, infection with the reassortant induced significant resistant to challenge with virulent human influenza virus. In hamsters, the reassortant virus replicated to a level intermediate between that of its parents. These findings suggest that the nonsurface antigen genes of the avian parental virus are the primary determinants of restriction of replication of the reassortant virus in monkeys. Attenuation of the reassortant virus for primates is achieved by inefficient functioning of the avian influenza genes in primate cells, while antigenic specificity of the human influenza virus is provided by the neuraminidase and hemagglutinin genes derived from the human virus. This approach could lead to the development of a live influenza A virus vaccine that is attenuated for man if the avian influenza genes are similarly restricted in human cells.     

重组禽流感病毒H7N9 H7-Re1株培养条件的优化

【背景】高致病性禽流感疫情的暴发造成了巨大的经济损失和环境卫生的破坏,现阶段疫苗接种仍是我国控制禽流感的主要措施之一,需要大量安全、高效和低成本的禽流感病毒疫苗。鸡胚法制备禽流感病毒疫苗的工艺存在原料来源受限、过程复杂、个体差异、培养周期长和不易放大培养等缺陷。而利用生物反应器大规模培养动物细胞生产病毒疫苗,不仅可以大幅度提高单位产量,实现高密度细胞和高病毒产率,同时可保证产品质量。目前我国用于禽流感防控的疫苗为重组禽流感病毒(H5+H7)二价灭活疫苗(H5N1 Re-8株+H7N9 H7-Re1株)。国内细胞全悬浮工艺生产禽流感灭活疫苗单罐产能最大为6 000 L,高病毒含量抗原的提供是生产高效疫苗的主要影响因素之一。【目的】为了能够提供稳定的、高效的生产抗原,开展种毒驯化试验。【方法】将重组禽流感病毒H7N9 H7-Re1株分别在MDCK细胞及悬浮MDCK细胞上增殖。在MDCK细胞上通过不同的病毒接种剂量、不同收获时间、不同TPCK-胰酶浓度的试验,确定了H7N9 H7-Re1株在MDCK细胞上最佳收获时间为64 h,最佳接毒剂量为0.008%或MOI为10~(-4),最佳TPCK-胰酶浓度为2μg·mL~(-1),根据确定的最佳培养条件连续传代,并对各代次病毒含量进行检测。【结果】在MDCK细胞上传至第5代时,HA可达1﹕256,每1 mL病毒含量达到10~(8.5)TCID50,每0.1 mL病毒含量达到10~(8.5)EID50,均高于其他代次。【结论】将第5代确定为MDCK细胞传代最佳代次,可考虑确定为生产用基础种毒代次。在悬浮MDCK细胞上对重组禽流感病毒传代进行了优化试验,确定了H7N9 H7-Re1株在悬浮MDCK细胞上最佳收获时间为48 h,最佳接毒剂量MOI为10~(-2),最佳TPCK-胰酶浓度为4—8μg·mL~(-1)。在实际疫苗生产过程中,可选择MDCK细胞或悬浮MDCK细胞来扩繁种毒。     

小鼠TLR3基因双敲除打靶载体构建及巨噬细胞RAW264.7TLR3-/-细胞系的建立

[目的]建立Toll样受体3(TLR3)基因缺失的小鼠巨噬细胞RAW264.7细胞系,为探索狂犬病毒感染机体过程中TLR3在固有免疫反应中的作用机制提供理论依据.[方法]采用Golden Gate Kit试剂盒组装转录激活样效应因子核酸酶(TALEN)打靶载体pTALEN-TLR3,经酶切和测序验证其连接正确后,通过脂质体瞬时转染RAW264.7细胞,转染后提取细胞DNA,用T7核酸内切酶酶切验证TALEN质粒剪切活性.[结果]TALENs左右臂分两部分连接,首先完成A、B部分的各自连接,然后分别将T1LA与T1LB、T1RA与T1RB、T2LA与T2LB、T2RA与T2RB连接,TALEN模块经过两次连接后的PCR鉴定结果显示,T1L、T1R和T2L的4个克隆均呈阳性,T2R有3个克隆呈阳性.T2L和T2R质粒共转染RAW264.7细胞后提取DNA为模板,经PCR扩增后用T7核酸内切酶进行酶切,酶切后的DNA电泳结果显示TALEN2剪切活性较强,共获得3条条带(931、555和376 bp).TALEN打靶载体pTALEN-TLR3转染RAW264.7细胞24 h后用胰酶进行消化,并加入800μg/mL G418进行筛选,7 d后获得细胞单克隆;挑选阳性细胞克隆进行T7核酸内切酶酶切鉴定及测序,结果发现4-1和4-40号细胞克隆为双敲细胞系,均缺失7 bp的核苷酸碱基,为非3整数倍碱基缺失,可造成后续基因移码突变,使细胞基因功能失活.[结论]通过TALEN技术可成功构建TLR3基因双敲除的小鼠巨噬细胞RAW264.7TLR3-/-细胞系,且可用于狂犬病毒感染细胞后细胞因子和TLR3间的关系研究.     

Identification and characterization of a TLR13 gene homologue from Laodelphax striatellus involved in the immune response induced by rice stripe virus

Toll-like receptors(TLRs) are the critical superfamily homologues that initiate sensing of the invasion of pathogens by the Toll pathway. As one of several intracellular nucleic acid-sensing TLRs, TLR13 is activated by an unmethylated motif present in the large ribosomal subunit of bacterial RNA. However, little attention has been paid to the function of TLR13 gene homologue from Laodelphax striatellus(designated as LsToll-13) in the immune response to rice stripe virus(RSV). Herein, LsToll-13 was cloned and characterized using RACE-PCR. Phylogenetic analysis showed that LsToll-13 was clustered with the TLR13 from six insects. Real-time PCR analysis demonstrated that the expression level of LsToll-13 was significantly reduced in L. striatellus with RSV infection compared with that in the naive strain. When the expression of LsToll-13 was significantly up-regulated at 6 h after bacterial infection, the expression of ribonucleoprotein(RNP) indicated that the RSV titer in the host insect was significantly suppressed. Upon knockdown of LsToll-13, using RNA interference(RNAi) in L. striatellus, the expression level of RNP was significantly increased with enhanced RSV accumulation, suggesting that LsToll-13 potentially protects L. striatellus from RSV infection. Taken together, our results indicated that LsToll-13 might be involved in the immune response of L. striatellus to RSV infection, and provided a new insight into further elucidating the molecular mechanisms of complex pathogen-host interactions and integrative pest management.     

Identification of virus-encoded microRNAs

RNA silencing processes are guided by small RNAs that are derived from double-stranded RNA. To probe for function of RNA silencing during infection of human cells by a DNA virus, we recorded the small RNA profile of cells infected by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). We show that EBV expresses several microRNA (miRNA) genes. Given that miRNAs function in RNA silencing pathways either by targeting messenger RNAs for degradation or by repressing translation, we identified viral regulators of host and/or viral gene expression.     

猪细小病毒感染PK-15细胞后TLRs转录时相的变化

研究猪细小病毒(Porcine Parvovirus,PPV)感染猪肾传代细胞(PK-15 cells)后Toll样受体(Toll-like receptors,TLRs)表达水平变化情况,为探明PPV感染机制提供理论基础。试验利用荧光定量PCR方法检测PPV感染PK-15细胞后TLR1-10的转录时相变化。结果显示,PPV感染PK-15细胞后,TLR1在PPV感染后3h表达上调,约为对照组细胞的3.1倍,其他时段均低于正常水平;TLR3和TLR7 mRNA表达水平在病毒感染早期均低于正常水平;TLR4和TLR8的mRNA含量均在感染后3、12、36 h表达上调,TLR10分别在在3h和36 h表达上调,其他时段均不同程度的降低;而TLR2和TLR9 mRNA表达水平在感染后24 h开始升高,并于48 h达到峰值,分别为对照水平的10.1倍和26.7倍。研究表明,PPV感染PK-15细胞后能够诱导细胞上TLR2和TLR9在mRNA水平显著上调,PPV感染可能通过TLR2和TLR9受体介导感染。     

Oxygen radicals in influenza-induced pathogenesis and treatment with pyran polymer-conjugated SOD

The pathogenicity of influenza virus infection in the mice involves, at least in part, overreaction of the immune responses of the host rather than a direct effect of virus multiplication. Xanthine oxidase, which is responsible for the generation of oxygen free radicals, was elevated in serum and lung tissue of mice infected with influenza virus. To test the theory that oxygen-free radicals are involved in pathogenesis, free radicals were removed by injecting superoxide dismutase (SOD), a specific superoxide radical scavenger, which was conjugated with a pyran copolymer. The conjugate protected mice against a potentially lethal influenza virus infection if administered 5 to 8 days after infection. These findings indicate that oxygen radicals are important in the pathogenesis of influenza virus infection, and that a polymer-conjugated SOD has therapeutic potential for this virus infection and other diseases associated with free radicals.     

Endosomal proteolysis of the Ebola virus glycoprotein is necessary for infection

Ebola virus (EboV) causes rapidly fatal hemorrhagic fever in humans and there is currently no effective treatment. We found that the infection of African green monkey kidney (Vero) cells by vesicular stomatitis viruses bearing the EboV glycoprotein (GP) requires the activity of endosomal cysteine proteases. Using selective protease inhibitors and protease-deficient cell lines, we identified an essential role for cathepsin B (CatB) and an accessory role for cathepsin L (CatL) in EboV GP-dependent entry. Biochemical studies demonstrate that CatB and CatL mediate entry by carrying out proteolysis of the EboV GP subunit GP1 and support a multistep mechanism that explains the relative contributions of these enzymes to infection. CatB and CatB/CatL inhibitors diminish the multiplication of infectious EboV-Zaire in cultured cells and may merit investigation as anti-EboV drugs.