Ambisense polarity of genome RNA of orthomyxoviruses and coronaviruses

Influenza viruses and coronaviruses have linear single-stranded RNA genomes with negative and positive sense polarities and genes encoded in viral genomes are expressed in these viruses as positive and negative genes,respectively.Here we consider a novel gene identified in viral genomes in opposite direction,as positive in influenza and negative in coronaviruses,suggesting an ambisense genome strategy for both virus families.Noteworthy,the identified novel genes colocolized in the same RNA regions of viral genomes,where the previously known opposite genes are encoded,a so-called ambisense stacking architecture of genes in virus genome.It seems likely,that ambisense gene stacking in influenza and coronavirus families significantly increases genetic potential and virus diversity to extend virus-host adaptation pathways in nature.These data imply that ambisense viruses may have a multivirion mechanism,like"a dark side of the Moon",allowing production of the heterogeneous population of virions expressed through positive and negative sense genome strategies.

The complete genome sequence of Citrus vein enation virus from China

The complete nucleotide sequence of an isolate of Citrus vein enation virus（CVEV-XZG） from China has been determined for the first time. The genome consisted of 5 983 nucleotides, coding for five open reading frames（ORFs）, had a similar genomic organization features with Pea enation mosaic virus（PEMV）. Nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence identity of the five ORFs compared to isolate CVEV VE-1 range from 97.1 to 99.0% and 97.4 to 100.0%, these values compared to isolate PEMV-1 range from 45.2 to 51.6% and 31.1 to 45.2%. Phylogenetic analysis based on the complete genome sequence showed that the isolate CVEV-XZG had close relationship with Pea enation mosaic virus. The results supports CVEV may be a new member of genus Enamovirus. The full sequence of CVEV-XZG presented here may serve as a basis for future study of CVEV in China.

Construction of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) whole genome phage display library

A rebuilt vector pCANTAB 5 EE was obtained by inserting a 34 bp double-stranded oligonucleotide which contained a EcoRV recognition sequence into pCANTAB 5 E. White spot syndrome virus （WSSV） genome DNA was fragmented by sonication to isolate fragments mainly in the range of 0.8 ～2.0 kb, then the fragments were blunt-ended with T4 DNA polymerase and cloned into the EcoRV site of pCANTAB 5 EE. The primary recombinant clone of the library was 3.0 × 10^5.Colony PCR of random selected recombinants showed that the size of the inserts was 0.12 ～ 1.77 kb. After the whole library recombinant phages infected Escherichia coli HB2151 cells, the extracellular and periplasmic extracts were dropped on PVDF membranes to perform dot blot, using polyclonal mouse anti-VP24 serum,anti-WSV026 serum,anti-WSV063 serum,anti-WSV069 serum,anti-WSV112 serum, anti WSV238 serum,anti-WSV303 serum and anti-VP26 serum as the primary antibody, respectively. The results showed that the display library could express the viral proteins.

Gene heterogeneity of hepatitis B virus isolates from patients with severe hepatitis B

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of severe hepatitis B remains unknown. Reports have indicated that hepatitis B virus (HBV) mutations are important factors in the pathogenesis of this disease. This study was to investigate the genetic heterogeneity of HBV strains from serum samples of patients with fulminant hepatitis B. METHODS: Full-length HBV genomes from 4 patients with severe hepatitis B were cloned and sequenced to observe mutations in every open reading-frame ( ORF). Serum samples of another 25 patients with severe hepatitis B, 30 patients with chronic hepatitis B, and 25 HBV carriers were collected for sequencing and comparison of mutations in preS2, preC and core promoter regions. RESULTS: Of 4 HBV full-length genome sequences, 3 had a G to A mutation at nucleotide A1896 in the preC region and 1 had double mutations of T1762-A1764 in the core promoter region. The 4 sequences showed mutations in the known B or T cell epitopes of the preS2 and C regions. For the other 3 groups, more mutations were seen in the preS2 region in the HBV isolates from the patients with severe hepatitis B than those from the patients with chronic hepatitis B and HBV carriers (P <0.01). There was a significant difference of mutations in the T cell epitope region of preS2 between the patients with severe hepatitis B and those with chronic hepatitis B or HBV carriers (P <0.01). In the preC and core promoter regions, the mutation frequencies of T1653 and C1753 were 48.0% and 24.0% respectively in the patients with severe hepatitis B, but none of these mutations were observed in the patients with chronic hepatitis B group or HBV carriers (P <0.01). The mutation frequency of T1762-A1764 was 76.0% in the patients with severe hepatitis B, 40.0% in the patients with chronic hepatitis B (P <0. 01) , and 16. 0% in the HBV carriers ( P < 0. 01). There was a significant difference in A1896 mutation between the patients with severe hepatitis B and the patients with chronic hepatitis B (P < 0. 05 ) or the HBV carriers (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our observations suggest that the accumulation and persistence of high frequency mutations or complex mutations may be associated with the development and deterioration of HBV infection.