RNA-dependent RNA polymerases,viruses, and RNA silencing

Most viruses have RNA genomes that are replicated and transcribed into messenger RNA by viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRps), usually in concert with other viral and host factors. Many, if not most, eukaryotes also encode putative RdRps that have been implicated in sequence-specific, RNA-triggered gene silencing. Although the viral and cellular RdRps have no sequence homology, they share functional similarities such as copying messenger RNA templates and intercellular spread of the amplified sequences. Better understanding of viral and host RdRps will improve our ability to control viruses and to use RNA silencing and viruses as tools for research, biotechnology, and medicine.     

Inhibitors of DNA polymerases of murine leukemia viruses: activity of ethidium bromide

Ethidium bromide, compared on a molar basis, was a more effective inhibitor of the DNA polymerases of the Rauscher and Moloney murine leukemia viruses than either 4-N-demethylrifampicin or 4-N-benzyldemethylrifampicin. Daunomycin inhibited the polymerases weakly, and chromomycin A(3) inhibited almost not at all. 4-N-Benzyldemethylrifampicin was a more active inhibitor than the 4-N-demethyl congener.     

Antigenic relationships in mammalian DNA polymerase

Rabbit antibody was prepared against a high-molecular-weight DNA polymerase purified from the soluble fraction of calf thymus gland. This antibody does not inhibit terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase isolated from that source, but does inhibit both low-molecular-weight and high-molecular-weight DNA polymerases isolated from cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions of a number of mammalian tissues (mouse L cells, calf thymus, phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human lymphocytes, rat liver, and rabbit bone marrow). The results suggest that (i) no antigenic relationship exists between terminal transferase and DNA polymerase, (ii) common antigenic determinants exist in the DNA polymerases from all mammalian sources, and (iii) multiple forms of DNA polymerase found in mammalian, cells are related by having polypeptide sequences or subunits in common.     

Genetic variation in HTLV-III/LAV over time in patients with AIDS or at risk for AIDS

In a study of genetic variation in the AIDS virus, HTLV-III/LAV, sequential virus isolates from persistently infected individuals were examined by Southern blot genomic analysis, molecular cloning, and nucleotide sequencing. Four to six virus isolates were obtained from each of three individuals over a 1-year or 2-year period. Changes were detected throughout the viral genomes and consisted of isolated and clustered nucleotide point mutations as well as short deletions or insertions. Results from genomic restriction mapping and nucleotide sequence comparisons indicated that viruses isolated sequentially had evolved in parallel from a common progenitor virus. The rate of evolution of HTLV-III/LAV was estimated to be at least 10(-3) nucleotide substitutions per site per year for the env gene and 10(-4) for the gag gene, values a millionfold greater than for most DNA genomes. Despite this relatively rapid rate of sequence divergence, virus isolates from any one patient were all much more related to each other than to viruses from other individuals. In view of the substantial heterogeneity among most independent HTLV-III/LAV isolates, the repeated isolation from a given individual of only highly related viruses raises the possibility that some type of interference mechanism may prevent simultaneous infection by more than one major genotypic form of the virus.     

中国部分地区高致病性猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒的分子流行病学研究

 【目的】对来自2006年猪病流行爆发地的组织样品进行多种病毒的检测,确定引起本次流行的致病病原及PRRSV的分子流行病学特征。【方法】利用（RT-）PCR对采集的样品进行PRRSV北美型和欧洲型、猪圆环病毒2型（PCV2）、猪血凝性脑脊髓炎病毒（PHEV）、日本乙型脑炎病毒（JEV）以及瘟病毒的检测,对PRRSV阳性的进行ORF5的序列测定并分析。【结果】检测到16份PRRSV北美型阳性样品,PCV2阳性样品2份,其它病毒均未检到。PRRSV ORF5序列分析表明笔者分离到的PRRSV株可分为2个群。【结论】（1）PRRSV与2006年肆虐中国养猪业的猪病流行有直接关系;（2）2006年PRRSV流行株主要是以JX0612株为代表,但不同遗传特征的PRRSV也在流行。     

Major pol gene progenitors in the evolution of oncoviruses

The genetic relationships among molecularly cloned prototype viruses representing all of the major oncovirus genera were investigated by molecular hybridization and nucleotide sequence analysis. One of the major progenitors of the pol genes of such viruses gives rise to mammalian type C viruses and another gives rise to type A, B, D, and avian type C oncoviruses. Evidence of unusual patterns of homology among the env genes of mammalian type C and D oncoviruses illustrates that genetic interactions between their progenitors contributed to the evolution of oncoviruses.     

Inhibition of chemical carcinogenesis by viral vaccines

The incidence of 3-methylcholanthrene-induced subcutaneous tumors was significantly reduced by a single injection of inactivated type C RNA viral vaccine. Rauscher leukemia virus vaccine reduced the incidence of sarcomas from 78 to 50 percent in the BALB/cCr mouse. Radiation leukemia virus vaccine and a vaccine from a wild murine leukemia virus derived from a 3-methylcholanthrene tumor reduced the incidence of sarcoma from 86 percent to 33 and 37 percents, respectively, in the C57BL/6 mouse. These reductions in tumor incidence by virus vaccines help support the concept that type C RNA viruses serve as determinants of chemically induced cancer; additional studies of vaccines made with more purified virus preparations are necessary.     

种番鸭源禽坦布苏病毒分离鉴定及基因组序列分析

种番鸭是否感染禽坦布苏病毒颇受国内学者关注。本研究于国内外首次自表现产蛋下降的种番鸭卵巢中分离获得1株病毒（命名为WYZLJ-1359株）,经RT-PCR方法鉴定为禽坦布苏病毒。经比较分析该病毒与我国其他禽源分离株全基因组序列表明,种番鸭源分离株WYZLJ-1359主要分子特征未出现变异,与2010年以来我国分离的其他禽源分离毒株的核苷酸序列同源性均在98.4％以上,且亲缘关系非常近,遗传距离均在1.8％以下,远低于与2000年以前分离的坦布苏病毒分离株之间的遗传距离。以上结果表明,我国禽坦布苏病毒感染的宿主在不断增加,但病毒在不同品种家禽的传播过程中遗传较为稳定,基因组未出现基因的缺失或插入等变异现象。     

2010—2013年我国鸡传染性支气管炎病毒分离株S1基因分子特性分析

为掌握近年来我国传染性支气管炎病毒的流行动态和变化规律,利用检测转化至克隆载体鸡传染性支气管炎病毒(IBV)S1基因序列,应用MEGA5分析软件进行聚类分析,并对瑞普生物疫病诊断研究服务中心2010—2013年间从我国野外分离并测定的30株传染性支气管炎的S1基因序列与常用疫苗毒株和GenBank中代表性IBV毒株的对应基因序列进行比较,结果发现:1)30株野外分离株可分为2个基因型:LX4型和TW型,分别占总数的93.3%和6.7%;2)LX4型分离株S1基因和氨基酸序列与常见疫苗毒株序列差别很大,同源性仅分别为77.6%~86.3%和75.8%~85.7%;3)分析S基因裂解位点时发现同一基因型毒株的裂解位点氨基酸序列高度趋同,且型间差异性较大。可见,近年来我国主要IBV分离株属于LX4型,并且彼此间亲缘关系较近,与我国现用传染性支气管炎主要弱毒疫苗和国外参考株属于不同的基因型,这可能是导致疫苗免疫失败,传染性支气管炎(IB)在鸡群中爆发的主要原因。该研究结果为筛选针对我国目前流行IBV毒株的疫苗株提供参考。     

Mammalian cells in culture frequently release type C viruses

Cell cultures commonly used in animal cell research, both cell strains and continuous cell lines from various mammalian species, spontaneously produce type C RNA viruses.     

鸡传染性贫血病PCR试剂盒技术的研究及应用

根据鸡传染性贫血病毒（CIAV）的VP1、VP2基因序列的结构特点,设计合成了一对引物,建立了检测鉴别鸡传染性贫血病毒PCR技术,并研制出CIAV—PCR检测试剂盒。试验结果显示,该CIAV—PCR检测试剂盒对参考菌株和地方分离株均能特异性地扩增出420bp条带,而对其他禽病病原体的扩增结果为阴性;该CIAV—PCR试剂盒最低能检测出10fg的CIAV DNA模板;保存期测定结果显示,在-20℃条件下保存至1、3．6、9个月时,试剂盒的敏感性无明显变化,仍能检测到10～100fg的CIAV DNA模板,保存至12个月时其敏感度虽然降低了1个滴度,但仍能100％检出人工感染鸡的临床样品。表明该CIAV—PCR检测试剂盒对CIAV临床样品的检测具有特异、敏感、快速和准确的特点,适合在临床生产中推广使用。     

Viruses associated with epidemic hemorrhagic fevers of the Philippines and Thailand

Epidemiologic, clinical, and etiologic studies were carried out on a newly recognized, frequently fatal, pediatric disease syndrome which occurred in urban areas infested with Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Four types of dengue virus (two of which are new), chikungunya virus, and another virus yet to be identified were isolated from the blood of patients. Dengue viruses, types 2 and 3, were isolated from the mosquitoes. Ample serologic confirmation was obtained of concurrent hemorrhagic fever and infection with one or more of these viruses. Thus, it was discovered that viruses of previously recognized types and of closely related new types apparently have etiologic roles in a new and highly dangerous epidemic disease syndrome.     

H5N1亚型高致病性禽流感病毒A/goose/Guangdong/1/96株反向基因操作系统的建立

 A/goose/Guangdong/1/96（GSGD/1/96）是中国分离的第1株H5N1亚型禽流感病毒，它不仅是97香港感染并致人死亡的H5N1亚型流感病毒HA基因供体株，而且是中国目前已报到的H5亚型流感病毒分离株的共同祖先。本研究建立了该病毒的8质粒反向基因操作系统，并通过细胞转染成功拯救了该病毒（R-GSGD/1/96）。R-GSGD/1/96在对SPF鸡和 Balb/c小鼠的致病性方面保持了与亲本野毒(W-GSGD/1/96)一致的生物学特性，即对鸡都是高致病性毒株，R-GSGD/1/96与W-GSGD/1/96的静脉致病指数分别为2.01和2.10；救获病毒与野生病毒一样，尽管106EID50经鼻腔感染小鼠后1～2 d内能从肺脏检测到低滴度的病毒，但不能在小鼠体内成功复制。GSGD/1/96反向基因操作系统的成功建立为进一步开展中国高致病性禽流感病毒分离株的生物学特性、遗传衍化及结构与其功能关系研究奠定了基础。     

Antigenic and genetic properties of viruses linked to hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) comprises a variety of clinically similar diseases of viral etiology that are endemic to and sporadically epidemic throughout the Eurasian continent and Japan. Although HFRS has not been reported in North America, viruses that are antigenically similar to HFRS agents were recently isolated from rodents in the United States. Examination and comparison of eight representative isolates from endemic disease areas and from regions with no known associated HFRS indicate that these viruses represent a new and unique group that constitutes a separate genus in the Bunyaviridae family of animal viruses.     

Concurrent isolation from patient of two arboviruses, Chikungunya and dengue type 2

Chikungunya virus and dengue type 2 virus were isolated from a single blood specimen taken from a patient in the acute phase of a dengue-like illness seen at Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore, South India, in October 1964. In serial blood specimens collected from this patient there was an increase in antibody to these same two viruses. The technique for unmasking an agent (such as dengue) with a long incubation period in mice in the presence of an agent with a short incubation period is described.     

Segregation of loci for C-type virus induction in strains of mice with high and low incidence of leukemia

Multiple genetic loci for induction of murine leukemia viruses are demonstrated in cells of the high leukemic incidence C58 mouse strain. The biologic properties of viruses at C58 inducibility loci are clearly distinguishable from those of viruses activated from mouse cells containing a locus for virus induction of the low leukemia incidence BALB/c strain. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the genes for virus induction in normal mouse embryo cells represent viral structural information.