Protection and synergism by recombinant fowl pox vaccines expressing multiple genes from Marek's disease virus

Recombinant fowl poxviruses (rFPVs) were constructed to express genes from serotype 1 Marek's disease virus (MDV) coding for glycoproteins B, E, I, H, and UL32 (gB1, gE, gI, gH, and UL32). An additional rFPV was constructed to contain four MDV genes (gB1, gE, gI, and UL32). These rFPVs were evaluated for their ability to protect maternal antibody-positive chickens against challenge with highly virulent MDV isolates. The protection induced by a single rFPV/gB1 (42%) confirmed our previous finding. The protection induced by rFPV/gI (43%), rFPV/gB1UL32 (46%), rFPV/gB1gEgI (72%), and rFPV/gB1gEgIUL32 (70%) contributed to additional knowledge on MDV genes involved in protective immunity. In contrast, the rFPV containing gE, gH, or UL32 did not induce significant protection compared with turkey herpesvirus (HVT). Levels of protection by rFPV/gB1 and rFPV/gl were comparable with that of HVT. Only gB1 and gI conferred synergism in rFPV containing these two genes. Protection by both rFPV/gB1gEgI (72%) and rFPV/gB1gEgIUL32(70%) against Marek's disease was significantly enhanced compared with a single gB1 or gI gene (40%). This protective synergism between gB1 and gI in rFPVs may be the basis for better protection when bivalent vaccines between serotypes 2 and 3 were used. When rFPV/gB1gIgEUL32 + HVT were used as vaccine against Md5 challenge, the protection was significantly enhanced (94%). This synergism between rFPV/gB1gIgEUL32 and HVT indicates additional genes yet to be discovered in HVT may be responsible for the enhancement.     

Identification and characterization of Marek's disease virus serotype 1 (MDV1) ICP22 gene product: MDV1 ICP22 transactivates the MDV1 ICP27 promoter synergistically with MDV1 ICP4

A previous report [Virus Genes 6 (1992) 365-378] has shown that the US1 gene of Marek's disease virus serotype 1 (MDV1) encodes a homologue of herpes simplex virus type 1 infected cell protein No. 22 (ICP22). In the present study, we expressed and identified a product of the MDV1 US1 gene in chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEFs) with the aid of a recombinant baculovirus expressing a Flag epitope-tagged MDV1 US1 gene, under control of the SRalpha promoter (composed of the enhancer region of the simian virus 40 early promoter and the R region of the human T-cell leukaemia virus type 1 long terminal repeat). In CEF infected with the recombinant baculovirus, MDV1 ICP22 was specifically and efficiently expressed in the presence of n-butyric acid. The apparent M(r) of the expressed protein was 30,000. Reporter gene assays revealed that MDV1 ICP22 by itself transactivated an MDV1 ICP27 promoter/reporter construct weakly but specifically, and furthermore, worked synergistically with MDV1 ICP4 to efficiently up-regulate the MDV1 ICP27 promoter. MDV1 ICP22 may be a regulatory protein that stimulates viral promoters in co-operation with other viral regulatory proteins such as MDV1 ICP4.     

重组马立克病毒通用转移载体的构建及初步应用

本实验以独立启动子控制的增强型绿色荧光基因(GFP)作为报告基因,同时将CMV启动子及其多克隆位点与之连接,构成外源基因表达盒,插入到马立克病毒(MDV)复制非必需区基因(短独特区US2等)构成的同源臂中,构建成重组马立克病毒的通用载体。鉴定正确后,将转移载体与提取的MDV基因组共转染鸡胚成纤维细胞(CEF),同源重组获得具有感染性的重组病毒,待病毒蚀斑出现后,荧光显微镜下观察,可见到明显的绿色荧光病毒蚀斑,经三次筛选,初步分离到重组病毒。结果表明,转移载体与MDV基因组共转染可获得感染性病毒,US2基因可作为重组病毒构建中的外源基因插入位点,证实通用转移载体的构建是可行的,为重组马立克病毒新型疫苗的研究奠定物质基础。     

A virus vector based on Canine Herpesvirus for vaccine applications in canids

Canine Herpesvirus (CHV) is being developed as a virus vector for the vaccination of European red foxes. However, initial studies using recombinant CHV vaccines in foxes revealed viral attenuation and lack of antibody response to inserted foreign antigens. These findings were attributed both to inactivation of the thymidine kinase (TK) gene and excess foreign genetic material in the recombinant viral genome. In this study, we report an improved CHV-bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) vector system designed to overcome attenuation in foxes. A non-essential region was identified in the CHV genome as an alternative insertion site for foreign genes. Replacement of a guanine/cytosine (GC)-rich intergenic region between UL21 and UL22 of CHV with a marker gene did not change growth behaviour in vitro, showing that this region is not essential for virus growth in cell culture. We subsequently produced a CHV-BAC vector with an intact TK gene in which the bacterial genes and the antigen expression cassette were inserted into this GC-rich locus. Unlike earlier constructs, the new CHV-BAC allowed self-excision of the bacterial genes via homologous recombination after transfection of BACs into cell culture. The BAC-CHV system was used to produce a recombinant virus that constitutively expressed porcine zona pellucida subunit C protein between the UL21 and UL22 genes of CHV. Complete self-excision of the bacterial genes from CHV was achieved within one round of replication whilst retaining antigen gene expression.     

鸡马立克氏病病毒LMS分离株基因组重复区的测定及分析

为分析鸡马立克氏病病毒(MDV)LMS分离株的分子遗传特性,本研究对该分离株基因组重复区(包括连接长重复区和短重复区的α样序列)进行了测定。LMS分离株基因组的长重复区为11 746 bp,α样序列为997 bp,短重复区为12 431 bp。在重复区内,预测存在43个ORF,与参考病毒株序列相比存在5个变异较大的ORF。重复区的遗传进化分析表明,LMS分离株与国内814株和欧洲pC12-130株亲缘关系较近。LMS分离株在短重复区潜伏相关转录本(LATs)编码序列的预测转录起始位点位置存在缺失;LMS分离株在α样序列内存在一个新的短重复序列。     

Deletion of the UL21 gene in Pseudorabies virus results in the formation of DNA-deprived capsids: an electron microscopy study

We studied the morphogenesis of three pseudorabies virus mutants lacking parts of the gene homologous to the UL21 gene of the herpes simplex virus type 1. The mutants were examined in an SK-6 cell-line, in an SK-6 cell-line expressing the UL21 gene product, in porcine lung alveolar macrophages (PLAM) and in porcine nasal mucosa explants. Although on SK-6 cells and PLAM, the virus-assembly and egress of mutant virus M155, lacking almost the entire UL21 gene, was similar to that of the rescued PRV mutant, M155 producing virions containing little or no DNA (A-type particles). Virus mutants M133 and M134 (lacking 23 and 232 amino acids respectively) produced more C-type particles. In SK-6 cells stably expressing the UL21-encoded protein, all mutants produced C-type particles. All mutants produced C-type particles in nasal mucosa explants, indicating that the UL21-gene product is not essential for virus production in porcine tissue. These results support and extend previous work that indicated a role for the UL21 encoded protein in the packaging of newly replicated viral DNA.     

Identification of the cross-reactive antigens between Marek's disease virus and pseudorabies virus by monoclonal antibodies

Among the 33 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against pseudorabies virus (PRV) examined, three MAbs (24-17, 74-26, and 8) were found to react with cells infected with Marek's disease virus (MDV)-related viruses by immunofluorescence test. Two of the MAbs (24-17 and 74-26) reacted with the nuclei of cells infected with MDV serotype 1 (MDV1), MDV serotype 2 (MDV2), and herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT), whereas MAb 8 reacted with the cytoplasm of MDV2- and HVT-infected cells. However, none of the MAbs against MDV1, MDV2, and HVT that were examined reacted with PRV-infected cells. None of these three MAbs against PRV reactive with MDV-related viruses cross-reacted with the cells infected with other herpesviruses, such as herpes simplex virus type 1, herpes simplex virus type 2, varicella zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus, or human herpesvirus 6. Southern-blot hybridization under stringent or less-stringent conditions showed that no significant DNA homology was detected between PRV DNA and MDV DNA.     

伪狂犬病病毒Ea株UL6基因的克隆、序列分析及表达

以伪狂犬病病毒Ea株基因组DNA为模板,通过PCR扩增UL6全长基因,将PCR产物克隆于pMD18-T载体,并采用双脱氧终止法进行序列测定.序列分析显示UL6全长1 938 bp,可编码646个氨基酸.将该基因克隆到插入原核表达载体pET28a的6×His下游,获得原核表达质粒pET28a-UL6,转化大肠埃希菌BL21,经IPTG诱导在大肠埃希菌中成功表达获得分子质量约70 ku的融合表达蛋白6×His-UL6,Western blot证实,表达的融合蛋白能与抗6×His的单克隆抗体发生特异性反应.根据测定的序列,设计一对能扩增UL6基因完整编码区的引物,PCR扩增UL6基因并将其插入真核表达载体pEGFP-C2中EGFP基因的3'端,获得与EGFP融合表达的真核表达质粒pEGFP-UL6,转染Hela细胞,通过激光共聚焦显微镜观察发现,转染48 h,融合蛋白EGFP-UL6主要定位在胞浆,为进一步研究伪狂犬病病毒Ea株UL6基因的结构和功能奠定了基础.     

Diversity (polymorphism) of the meq gene in the attenuated Marek's disease virus (MDV) serotype 1 and MDV-transformed cell lines

The meq gene encoding a 339-amino-acid bZIP transactivator protein has been identified as a candidate oncogene of Marek's disease virus serotype 1 (MDV1), which induces malignant lymphomas in chickens. We have previously reported that, in addition to meq, L-meq, in which a 180-bp sequence is inserted into the region encoding the transactivation domain of meq, is also detected in chickens experimentally infected with MDV. To further analyze the diversity in meq, PCR was performed using a primer set which specifically amplify the proline-rich repeat (PRR) region in the transactivation domain of meq. In CVI988/R6, a vaccine strain of MDV1, and JM, an MDV1 strain attenuated by prolonged passage in vitro, a major band of a 0.8 kb corresponding to L-meq as well as a minor band of 0.6 kb corresponding to meq was detected by PCR. Furthermore, extra 0.5- and 0.3-kb bands, corresponding to genes termed as short meq (S-meq), and very short meq (VS-meq), respectively, were also detected. These genes were also detected in MDV-transformed cell lines, MSB1 and MTB1. In Md5, an oncogenic MDV1, attenuated by prolonged passage in vitro, the 0.6-kb meq was consistently detected, and 0.5-kb S-meq was occasionally detected. This diversity in meq was due to the difference in the copy number of the PRR region: L-meq and meq contained 9 and 6 copies of PRR while 4 and 2 copies of PRR were present in S-meq and VS-meq, respectively. Thus, the meq gene is polymorphic in the attenuated MDV1 and the MDV-transformed cell lines, and gene products from different meq genes may have different functions from each other.     

表达H5亚型禽流感病毒HA基因的重组马立克氏病病毒的构建

采用聚合酶链反应或反转录聚合酶链反应扩增出H5亚型禽流感病毒(AIV)的HA基因、网状内皮增生症病毒的长末端重复序列(LTR)、马立克氏病病毒(MDV)Rispens CVI988毒株基因组的sorf 1和sorf 2序列、两端带loxp位点的lac/smGFP标志基因,构建含这些基因的转移载体质粒pMHA;以MDV Rispens CVI988毒株的基因组DNA和PMHA质粒DNA共转染鸡胚成纤维细胞(CEF),采用同源重组方法将LTR、lac/smGFP和HA基因插入到MDV基因组,获得重组病毒rMDV-HA/GFP;以cre介导的同源重组去除lac/smGFP标志基因,再转染CEF,获得仅带LTR启动子和HA基因的重组MDV疫苗毒株rMDV-HA.rMDV-HA仍保留了MDV RispensCVI988疫苗毒株的复制特点,并能稳定表达AIV的HA.     

马立克氏病病毒“814”疫苗株基因组重复区序列测定及分析

为了解马立克氏病病毒(MDV)强、弱毒株主要致肿瘤相关基因变异情况,本研究根据MDV GA株基因组序列,设计合成扩增基因组重复区的引物,得到MDV814疫苗株病毒基因组中约26kb的序列片段。与GenBank登录的强、弱毒株进行比较分析表明,扩增的MDV1型814疫苗株的长重复区为12774bp,预测的开放阅读框(ORF)有48个;短重复区为11426bp,预测的ORF有38个。发现了4个MDV814株特有的ORF。814株在编码Meq、RLORF6和23ku的重叠基因内具有类似于疫苗株CVI988的177bp的插入;在RLORF12基因编码区内存在69bp的缺失,该缺失位于病毒复制起始位点内。同时,发现7个814疫苗株特有的氨基酸突变,分布在6个ORF内。单核苷酸多态性(SNP)的鉴定发现,多个基因具有单核苷酸的突变,主要分布于Meq基因,其中氨基酸A115V(丙氨酸-缬氨酸),N142D(天冬酰胺-天门冬氨酸)的变异是814疫苗株所特有的。MDV814疫苗株重复区的基因序列的比较分析将有助于MDV致肿瘤机制的研究。     

表达鸡新城疫病毒F蛋白的重组马立克氏病毒的构建及其鉴定

为构建表达鸡新城疫病毒(NDV)融合蛋白(F)的重组马立克氏病毒(MDV),本研究采用RT-PCR方法从NDV强毒株F48E9基因组中扩增出病毒的融合蛋白F基因,构建由CMV启动子和BGH polyA组成的2.7 kb F基因表达盒。将其插入带有黄嘌呤-鸟嘌呤磷酸核糖基转移酶基因(gpt)和MDV US2同源臂的中间转移载体pUAB-gpt中获得重组MDV转移载体pUAB-gpt-wF。将该转移载体与MDV-814疫苗株感染的鸡胚成纤维细胞(CEF)总DNA共转染CEF,经同源重组及gpt选择系统筛选,获得带有F基因表达盒的重组MDV(rMDV814-wF)。其体外增殖与亲本病毒没有差异。经间接免疫荧光试验、PCR、Southern-blot及western blot等试验证明,重组病毒在CEF中传至13代以上仍稳定表达NDV的F蛋白。该重组病毒的构建为MDV活载体疫苗的筛选及应用奠定了基础。     

应用双重实时荧光定量PCR方法检测鸡马立克氏病血清1型病毒

本研究建立了鸡马立克氏病血清1型病毒（MDV1）绝对定量检测方法。研究中选择MDV1特有的Meq基因的一段保守序列作为检测对象，将其克隆到质粒载体中，作为阳性标准品；同时将管家基因．鸡卵铁转蛋白（Ovo）特异性基因片段克隆到质粒载体上作为内参照的标准品。经荧光定量PCR（FQ-PCR）法扩增获得MDV1的FQ-PCR两条标准曲线，建立了MDV1双重FQ-PCR检测方法。应用该方法绝对定量检测了实验攻毒鸡及吉林省某地发病鸡只的羽髓、淋巴细胞等组织样本中单位细胞病毒拷贝数，并与琼脂扩散（AGP）、常规PCR等检测方法进行比较。结果表明，不论实验攻毒鸡还是自然发病鸡，羽髓中病毒富含量均高于其它组织，每百万宿主细胞内病毒含量为10^7～10^8拷贝；FQ-PCR检测MD发病鸡只的阳性率高于AGP，达100％；该方法的灵敏度比常规PCR检测高10～100倍，在单位细胞内可灵敏地检测到2．78个拷贝的病毒。该方法可以在不同的样品中有效的绝对定量检测MDVl。