Effect of amino acid mutation at position 127 in 3A of a rabbitattenuated foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype Asia1 on viral replication and infection

An amino acid mutation(R127→I) in the 3A non-structural protein of an FMDV serotype Asia1 rabbit-attenuated ZB strain was previously found after attenuation of the virus. To explore the effects of this mutation on viral replication and infection, the amino acid residue isoleucine(I) was changed to arginine(R) in the infectious cDNA clone of the rabbit-attenuated ZB strain by sitedirected mutagenesis, and the R127-mutated virus was rescued. BHK monolayer cells and suckling mice were inoculated with the R127-mutated virus to test its growth property and pathogenicity, respectively. The effects of the R127 mutation on viral replication and virulence were analyzed. The data showed that there was a slight difference in plaque morphology between the R127-mutated and wild-type viruses. The growth rate of the mutated virus was lower in BHK-21 cells and its virulence in suckling mice was also attenuated. This study indicates that the R127 mutation in 3A may play an important role in FMDV replication in vitro and in pathogenicity in suckling mice.

Effect of Viral Antigen Levels on the Serological Response and Efficiency of the Binary Ethylenimine-Inactivated Bluetongue Virus Serotype-16 Vaccine

Bluetongue (BT) is a serious hemorrhagic disease of ruminants caused by bluetongue virus (BTV). Inactive BTV vaccines have been successful in field trials in some areas, and inactivated vaccines are considered safer. However, information about the effect of the viral antigen level on the serological response and efficiency of the inactive BTV-16 vaccine is lacking. In the present study, the serological response and efficiency of the viral antigen concentration in the binary ethylenimine-inactivated Chinese BTV serotype-16 vaccine were investigated. The viral antigens in the viral suspension (VS) were quantified using a modified BTV AC-ELISA method. Four batches of vaccine containing 1, 5, 10, and 50 μg/ml of viral antigen were generated from the VS. Four groups of naive Chinese sheep were vaccinated with the different vaccine batches, and the serological response and vaccine efficiency were investigated before and after challenge infection. The vaccines containing 10 and 50 μg/ml of viral antigen induced significant ELISA and neutralizing antibody titers 14 days after vaccination, whereas the vaccines containing 1 and 5 μg/ml of viral antigen did not have these effects. A booster immunization at 21 days enhanced all groups’ antibody titers;however, the increased titer was related to the viral antigen level. In contrast to the serological response, the viral antigen level of the vaccines did not have a significant effect on the vaccine efficiency. With the exception of one sheep from the 5 μg/ml viral antigen group, all vaccinated sheep from the four antigen level groups showed strong resistance to infection based on their clinical symptoms, rectal temperatures and viremia. Collectively, these data suggested that viral antigen levels from 1 to 50 μg/ml had a significant effect on the serological response of the animals but a limited effect on the vaccine efficiency. The BTV-16 vaccine containing 1 μg/ml of viral antigen was sufficient to achieve high efficiency, but only the vaccines with more than 10 μg/ml of antigen induced a significant antibody response. To obtain a better serological response, we suggest the use of vaccines with more than 10 μg/ml of viral antigen. The findings in the study will be useful for BTV vaccine production.

WRF Numerical Simulation Analysis of Meteorological Elements in the Main Urban Area of Chongqing from 2013 to 2015

Using the WRF mesoscale numerical model,based on the FNL global reanalysis data of NCEP,numerical simulations with a resolution of 27,9 and 3 km were carried out on the meteorological elements in four national air quality control stations(Jinyun Mountain,Shapingba,Jiefangbei and Nanping)in the main urban area of Chongqing City in July from 2013 to 2015.The results show that at the concerned points,there was an obvious southeast dominant wind at 850 hPa.The meteorological conditions in July in the main urban area of Chongqing were favorable for the diffusion of pollutants.That is,the height of the mixed layer was higher,and the precipitation was higher;the temperature and wind speed at 850 hPa were higher.Compared with 2013 and 2014,the meteorological conditions in July 2015 were not more favorable for the diffusion of pollutants.

Numerical Simulation of Distribution of VOCs Concentration in the Main Urban Area of Chongqing Based on CALPUFF

The distribution of VOCs concentration in the main urban area of Chongqing was simulated based on the CALPUFF model.The results show that the long-term contribution of key industrial pollution sources of VOCs in the study area was not significant(0-0.13 mg/m^(3)),and the hourly average instantaneous contribution was significant(the maximum was up to 2.75 mg/m^(3));the hourly average concentration of VOCs in the area where the sensitive points were located rose abruptly at different times(with a maximum of 1.35 mg/m^(3)).The distribution of VOCs concentration in this area was influenced by the dominant wind,and the area where the sensitive points were located was not the area covered by the maximum landing concentration of pollutants.As the dominant wind changed,the pollution situation of the sensitive points may be worsen.

一株新型云南牛环状病毒的分离鉴定

【目的】为加深云南省动物虫媒病毒多样性的认知。【方法】在云南省景洪市设立哨兵牛,定期采血接种细胞进行虫媒病毒的分离;通过RT-PCR、电镜观察与基因组琼脂糖凝胶电泳对分离病毒进行初步鉴定;扩增分离病毒的基因节段2(Seg-2)与基因节段3(Seg-3)全长序列进行分析与系统发生树的构建,明确病毒的分类地位;通过qRT-PCR与血清中和试验对病毒在动物上的感染进行回溯分析。【结果】2019年7月,从哨兵牛上采集的血液中分离到1株可在BHK-21细胞上引起细胞病变的病毒;电镜下观察,病毒粒子呈球形,直径约70 nm;琼脂糖凝胶电泳显示病毒基因组由双链RNA组成,呈现“3-3-3”的带型特征。分离毒株的Seg-2编码环状病毒属病毒保守的T2蛋白,与Mobuck virus具有最近的亲缘关系,核酸与氨基酸序列相似度分别为72.8%与84.0%;分离毒株的Seg-3编码决定环状病毒属病毒血清型的OC1蛋白,与Mobuck virus的核酸与氨基酸序列相似度仅为60.2%与56.5%;在T2与OC1蛋白构建的系统发生树上,分离毒株形成独立于Mobuck virus的进化分支。对哨兵牛血液中的病毒核酸与血清中和抗体回溯分析结果显示,从病毒感染哨兵动物至监测期结束的17周内,动物血液中均可检测到病毒核酸;动物感染病毒1周后,开始产生特异性中和抗体,随后上升至最高水平(抗体效价1:226),至监测期结束,中和抗体仍维持在较高水平(抗体效价1:113)。【结论】本研究首次报道了1种新型Mobuck virus在云南省哨兵牛上的分离与感染特性。研究结果丰富了对我国环状病毒属病毒的认知,为开展病毒的诊断、流行病学与致病性研究奠定了基础。