Detection of koi herpesvirus DNA in tissues of infected fish

A newly recognized herpesvirus, koi herpesvirus or KHV, causes a lethal disease in common carp, Cyprinus carpio , and its colourful strain known as koi or fancy carp. In this study, we report new outbreaks of the disease, present initial characterization of the KHV genome, and describe assays for detection of KHV DNA in infected cells and tissues of infected fish. Restriction endonuclease (RE) profiles of viral DNA derived from two epidemiologically distinct KHV isolates were identical to each other. Cloned KHV BamHI and SphI DNA probes specifically hybridized to KHV DNA, but not to DNAs derived from a variety of other fish herpesviruses. The KHV DNA probes detected KHV DNA in tissues of experimentally infected koi fish by DNA hybridization. The KHV specific polymerase chain assays (PCR) were developed for rapid detection and confirmation of KHV DNA in tissues of infected fish.     

锦鲤疱疹病毒囊膜蛋白ORF59的克隆、分析及其主要B细胞表位区的原核表达

从感染锦鲤疱疹病毒（Koi herpesvirus,KHV）的锦鲤（Cyprinus carpiokoi）肾脏组织中提取DNA,通过PCR扩增了KHVORF59基因。该基因全长411bp,所编码的蛋白包含136个氨基酸,分子量14.3kDa,等电点（PI）6.91,有12个潜在的O糖基化位点。此研究克隆的KHVORF59基因第130位碱基由G突变为A,使其编码的第44位氨基酸由Ala突变为Thr。采用DNAStar程序,在综合分析二级结构柔性区、蛋白的亲水性、表面可能性和抗原性指数的基础上,预测了KHVORF59蛋白主要B细胞表位,并将其区段的编码序列与KHVORF59完整编码序列分别克隆入原核表达载体pET-32a（＋）,构建重组质粒pET32a-ORF59S和pET32a-ORF59C,转入大肠杆菌Rosetta菌株,IPTG诱导表达。SDS-PAGE及WesternBlot分析显示,pET32a-ORF59S可以高效表达,表达的截短KHVORF59蛋白主要以可溶性形式存在,采用HisBindResin填料,层析纯化了该截短蛋白。     

鲤疱疹病毒Ⅱ型的理化及生物学特性和超微形态发生

为了查明鲤疱疹病毒Ⅱ型(Cyprinid herpesvirus 2,Cy HV-2)的理化与生物学特性以及病毒在细胞内的超微形态发生过程,利用新建立的对Cy HV-2敏感的异育银鲫脑组织细胞系(Gi CB),对Cy HV-2的理化及生物学特性进行了详细研究,比较了不同来源鱼类细胞系对Cy HV-2感染的敏感性,并对体外培养细胞中Cy HV-2病毒粒子及其超微形态发生过程进行了电镜观察。结果显示,Cy HV-2对热、酸、碱、有机溶剂和冻融敏感;常用鱼类细胞系EPC、RTG-2、Koi-Fin、CIK、CCK、PF-Fin对Cy HV-2的感染不敏感,特异性巢式PCR检测盲传至第7代Cy HV-2细胞培养物,结果均为阴性;Cy HV-2在Gi CB细胞中的增殖动态研究结果表明:病毒感染细胞经过12 h的隐晦期,24 h开始进入对数生长期,96 h病毒滴度达到最高值(107.52±0.26 TCID50/m L),然后进入平台期;透射电子显微镜观察结果显示,Cy HV-2感染细胞可分为吸附与侵入、复制与装配、成熟与释放3个主要过程,病毒进入对数生长期后,被感染细胞内可见形态典型的疱疹病毒颗粒。     

Efficacy of koi herpesvirus DNA vaccine administration by immersion method on Cyprinus carpio field scale culture

Koi herpesvirus specifically infects and causes mass mortality on koi and carp, resulting in severe economic losses. In this study, we presented the efficacy of KHV DNA vaccine administration by immersion method on Cyprinus carpio. Two different immersion densities of fish were applied, namely 800 fish L^?1 and 1200 fish L^?1. Thirty‐day‐old common carp juveniles were immersed for 30 min in the water containing 1.3 × 10⁸ CFU mL^?1 of heat‐killed Escherichia coli carrying DNA vaccine encoding glycoprotein‐25, and without vaccination treatment as controls. The challenge test was performed at 30 days post vaccination by injecting 0.1 mL KHV filtrate (10^?3 of dilution rate). The result showed that higher relative per cent survival of KHV‐challenged fish was obtained in 800 fish L^?1 (P < 0.05). Furthermore, significant specific antibody anti‐KHV response (P < 0.05) was detected on 28 and 36 days post vaccination in 800 and 1200 fish L^?1, respectively, compared to the controls there was no specific antibody detected. In conclusion, the KHV DNA vaccine could provide good protection in common carp against KHV infection, which has practical applications in aquaculture practices.     

共表达与牛疱疹病毒1型VP22融合的猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒E及M蛋白的重组伪狂犬病毒的构建及其免疫原性观察

为了研制猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒（PRRSV）基因工程疫苗，以伪狂犬病毒（PRV）gE基因缺失标志疫苗株TK^-／gE^-／LacZ^＋为病毒载体，通过同源重组，构建了共表达与牛疱疹病毒1型VP22（BHV-1 VP22）融合的PRRSV E及M蛋白的重组伪狂犬病毒（rPRV）TK^-／gE^-／VP22E^＋／VP22M^＋。经PCR、Southern blot、Western blot证实rPRV构建正确，并能表达与BHV-1 VP22融合的PRRSV E及M蛋白。rPRV在IBRS-2、PK-15细胞中的增殖滴度与PRV亲本株相比无显著差异，表明外源基因的插入不影响rPRV增殖。用该rPRV免疫BALB／c小鼠,检测免疫小鼠抗PRRSV中和抗体及脾淋巴细胞增殖反应，并与未融合VP22的单表达PRRSV E蛋白及共表达E及M蛋白的rPRV TK^-／gE^-／E^＋与TK^-／gE^-／E^＋／M^＋进行比较。结果显示TK^-／gE^-／VP22E^＋／VP22M^＋可诱导小鼠产生更好的体液与细胞免疫反应，BHV-1 VP22发挥了佐剂效应。本研究为研制安全、有效的猪繁殖与呼吸综合征-伪狂犬病二价基因工程疫苗奠定了基础。     

Identification of equine herpesviruses 1 and 4 by polymerase chain reaction

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate specific, sensitive and rapid (< 8 hour) diagnostic tests using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the diagnosis of abortion and respiratory disease caused by equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV1; equine abortion virus) and EHV4 (equine rhinopneumonitis virus). DESIGN: Primer sets based on nucleotide sequences encoding glycoprotein H (gH) of EHV1 and gB of EHV4 were designed and used in single round and second round (seminested) PCRs, and in a multiplex PCR for the diagnosis of EHV1 and EHV4 infections. METHODS: Oligonucleotide primers were designed for each virus, PCR conditions were defined and the specificity and sensitivity of the assays were determined. The tests were applied to tissue samples from aborted equine foetuses and to nasopharyngeal swabs from horses with acute febrile respiratory disease. RESULTS: Individual single round and a second round (seminested) EHV1 and EHV4 PCRs were specific in that EHV1 primers amplified all (n = 30) EHV1 isolates and did not amplify EHV4. Similarly EHV4 primers amplified all (n = 6) EHV4 isolates and did not amplify EHV1. Both PCRs were sensitive in that the first round EHV1 PCR detected 1220 molecules of EHV1 plasmid DNA and the first round EHV4 PCR detected 7280 molecules of EHV4 plasmid DNA. The EHV1 second round PCR was 100 times more sensitive in that it detected 12 molecules of EHV1 DNA and the EHV4 second round PCR was 1000 times more sensitive in that it detected 8 molecules of EHV4 DNA. There was a high correlation between detection of EHV1 by virus isolation and PCR when tissue samples from 71 aborted foetuses were examined; all samples positive by virus isolation were positive by PCR. Similarly the EHV4 PCR was at least as sensitive as virus isolation when applied to nasaopharyngeal swabs from horses with respiratory disease in that all samples positive by virus isolation were also positive by PCR. CONCLUSION: Individual single round and second round (seminested) PCRs and a seminested multiplex PCR were developed that enabled reliable, rapid detection of EHV1 and EHV4 in aborted foetal tissues and nasopharyngeal swab samples.     

Role of the suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2) during meningoencephalitis caused by Bovine herpesvirus 5 (BoHV-5)

The role of suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) in meningoencephalitis caused by Bovine herpesvirus 5 (BoHV-5) was evaluated by intracranial infection in C57BL/6 wild-type mice (WT) and SOCS2 deficient mice (SOCS2^−/−). Both infected groups presented weight loss, ruffled fur and hunched posture. Additionally, infected SOCS2^−/− mice showed swollen chamfer and progressive depression. Infected WT animals developed mild meningitis, characterized by infiltration of mononuclear cells. Moreover, viral DNA was detected in liver and lung from infected WT group. This group also showed elevated brain levels of IFN-γ, IL-10, CXCL1 and CCL5, when compared with non-infected WT animals. Brain inflammation was exacerbated in infected SOCS2^−/− mice with widespread distribution of the virus and increased brain levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-12, CXCL1 and CCL5, when compared with WT infected mice. Moreover, infected SOCS2 deficient mice exhibited reduced brain mRNA expression of IFNα and IFNβ and increased expression of mRNA of SOCS1, compared with infected WT mice. Taken together, our study provides an insight into the role of SOCS2 in modulating the immune response to BoHV-5 infection.     

Toll-like receptor activation and expression in bovine alpha-herpesvirus infections

The involvement of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in bovine herpesvirus types 1 (BoHV-1) and 5 (BoHV-5) infections has not been analyzed. In this study, the role of TLR signaling on virus replication was investigated. Blood leukocytes consistently express TLRs. Thus, our approach was to study in vitro the effects of agonist stimulation of TLRs expressed by peripheral blood leukocytes on BoHV-1 and BoHV-5 replication. Furthermore, the patterns of TLRs 3, 7–9 expression on virus-infected-bovine leukocytes were analyzed. Only Imiquimod (TLR7/8 agonist) showed anti-viral activity on infected MDBK cells. This is the first evidence that the timely activation of TLR7/8 signaling is effective in impairing BoHV-1 and 5 replication, thereby providing an experimental indication that Imiquimod may be a promising immune modulator. This work describes, for the first time, the expression patterns of TLRs in BoHV-1- or BoHV-5-infected-bovine leukocytes, suggesting the involvement of TLR7 and TLR9 in the recognition of these viruses.     

Cytobrushing of the oral mucosa as a possible tool for early detection of testudinid herpesvirus in Horsfield’s tortoises with nonspecific clinical signs

Forty-five Horsfield’s tortoises (Testudo horsfieldii; syn. Agrionemys horfieldii, Russian tortoise) belonging to different owners had decreased appetite and respiratory issues. Twenty-nine tortoises had epiphora, dyspnea, and white necrotic diphtheroid oral plaques (group G1). Ten of the remaining 16 tortoises had serious dehydration, appetite disorder, and depression (G2). The last 6 tortoises had only decreased appetite and moderate conjunctival discharge (G3). During the physical examination of all 45 tortoises, a cytologic sample and an oral swab for herpesvirus and Mycoplasma agassizii PCR testing were taken. In 20 of 29 specimens from G1, in 8 of 16 from G2, and 0 of 6 from G3, the cytologic exam revealed intranuclear acidophilic inclusion bodies, multinucleate cellular syncytia, and further abnormalities caused by herpesviral infection. Moreover, all 45 tested subjects were found to be positive for testudinid herpesvirus 1; 2 were positive for M. agassizii. This prospective study suggests that Horsfield’s tortoises with such signs would benefit from this screening procedure, given that it was effective in a significant proportion of infected and symptomatic animals, and no negative effects were seen.