In the present study, we examined the codon usage bias between pseudorabies virus （PRV） US1 gene and the USl-like genes of 20 reference alphaherpesviruses. Comparative analysis showed noticeable disparities of the s...In the present study, we examined the codon usage bias between pseudorabies virus （PRV） US1 gene and the USl-like genes of 20 reference alphaherpesviruses. Comparative analysis showed noticeable disparities of the synonymous codon usage bias in the 21 alphaherpesviruses, indicated by codon adaptation index, effective number of codons （ENc） and GC3s value. The codon usage pattern of PRV US1 gene was phylogenetically conserved and similar to that of the USl-like genes of the genus Varicellovirus of alphaherpesvirus, with a strong bias towards the codons with C and G at the third codon position. Cluster analysis of codon usage pattern of PRV US1 gene with its reference alphaherpesviruses demonstrated that the codon usage bias of USl-like genes of 21 alphaherpesviruses had a very close relation with their gene functions. ENc-plot revealed that the genetic heterogeneity in PRV US1 gene and the 20 reference alphaherpesviruses was constrained by G＋C content, as well as the gene length. In addition, comparison of codon preferences in the US1 gene of PRV with those ofE. coli, yeast and human revealed that there were 50 codons showing distinct usage differences between PRV and yeast, 49 between PRV and human, but 48 between PRV and E. coil Although there were slightly fewer differences in codon usages between E.coli and PRV, the difference is unlikely to be statistically significant, and experimental studies are necessary to establish the most suitable expression system for PRV US1. In conclusion, these results may improve our understanding of the evolution, pathogenesis and functional studies of PRV, as well as contributing to the area of herpesvirus research or even studies with other viruses.展开更多
To understand the molecular characteristics of China human rabies vaccine strains, we report the full-length genome of the aG strain and present a comprehensive analysis of this strain and almost all available lyssavi...To understand the molecular characteristics of China human rabies vaccine strains, we report the full-length genome of the aG strain and present a comprehensive analysis of this strain and almost all available lyssavirus genomes （58 strains） from GenBank （as of Jan 6, 2011）. It is generally considered that the G protein plays a predominant role in determining the pathogenicity of the virus, to this end we predicted the tertiary structure of the G protein of aG strain, CTN 181 strain and wild type strain HN 10 based on the crystal structure of Vesicular stomatitis virus （VSV） G. The predicted RABV G structure has a similar topology to VSV G and the ectodomain can be divided into 4 distinct domains DI - DIV. By mapping the characterized mutations to this structure between China vaccine strains and their close street strains, we speculate that the G303（P-H） mutations of CTN181 and HN10 causing D II 3D change may be associated with the attenuated virulence in both strains. Specifically, the two signature mutations （G165P and G231P） in the aG strain are withinβsheets, suggesting that both sites are of structural importance.展开更多
An epidemic of Chinese ferret badger-associated human rabies was investigated in Wuyuan county, Jiangxi province and rabies viruses isolates from ferret badgers in different districts in Jiangxi and Zhejiang provinces...An epidemic of Chinese ferret badger-associated human rabies was investigated in Wuyuan county, Jiangxi province and rabies viruses isolates from ferret badgers in different districts in Jiangxi and Zhejiang provinces were sequenced with their nucleotides and amino acids and aligned for epidemiological analysis. The results showed that the human rabies in Wuyuan are only associated with ferret badger bites; the rabies virus can be isolated in a high percentage of ferret badgers in the epidemic areas in Jiangxi and Zhejiang provinces; the isolates share the same molecular features in nucleotides and have characteristic amino acid signatures, i.e., 2 sites in the nucleoprotein and 3 sites in the glycoprotein, that are distinct from virus isolates from dogs in the same region. We conclude that rabies in Chinese ferret badgers has formed an independent transmission cycle and ferret badgers may serve as another important rabies reservoir independent of dog rabies in China.展开更多
基金supported by grants from the Scientific Research Foundation for the Ph.D.,Guangzhou Medical University(2011C20)National Natural Science Foundation of China(31200120)+1 种基金Medical Scientific Research Foundation of Guangdong Province,China(B2012165)the Guangzhou city-level key disciplines and specialties of Immunology(B127007)
文摘In the present study, we examined the codon usage bias between pseudorabies virus （PRV） US1 gene and the USl-like genes of 20 reference alphaherpesviruses. Comparative analysis showed noticeable disparities of the synonymous codon usage bias in the 21 alphaherpesviruses, indicated by codon adaptation index, effective number of codons （ENc） and GC3s value. The codon usage pattern of PRV US1 gene was phylogenetically conserved and similar to that of the USl-like genes of the genus Varicellovirus of alphaherpesvirus, with a strong bias towards the codons with C and G at the third codon position. Cluster analysis of codon usage pattern of PRV US1 gene with its reference alphaherpesviruses demonstrated that the codon usage bias of USl-like genes of 21 alphaherpesviruses had a very close relation with their gene functions. ENc-plot revealed that the genetic heterogeneity in PRV US1 gene and the 20 reference alphaherpesviruses was constrained by G＋C content, as well as the gene length. In addition, comparison of codon preferences in the US1 gene of PRV with those ofE. coli, yeast and human revealed that there were 50 codons showing distinct usage differences between PRV and yeast, 49 between PRV and human, but 48 between PRV and E. coil Although there were slightly fewer differences in codon usages between E.coli and PRV, the difference is unlikely to be statistically significant, and experimental studies are necessary to establish the most suitable expression system for PRV US1. In conclusion, these results may improve our understanding of the evolution, pathogenesis and functional studies of PRV, as well as contributing to the area of herpesvirus research or even studies with other viruses.
基金supported by the National Department Public Benefit Research Foundation (201103032)
文摘To understand the molecular characteristics of China human rabies vaccine strains, we report the full-length genome of the aG strain and present a comprehensive analysis of this strain and almost all available lyssavirus genomes （58 strains） from GenBank （as of Jan 6, 2011）. It is generally considered that the G protein plays a predominant role in determining the pathogenicity of the virus, to this end we predicted the tertiary structure of the G protein of aG strain, CTN 181 strain and wild type strain HN 10 based on the crystal structure of Vesicular stomatitis virus （VSV） G. The predicted RABV G structure has a similar topology to VSV G and the ectodomain can be divided into 4 distinct domains DI - DIV. By mapping the characterized mutations to this structure between China vaccine strains and their close street strains, we speculate that the G303（P-H） mutations of CTN181 and HN10 causing D II 3D change may be associated with the attenuated virulence in both strains. Specifically, the two signature mutations （G165P and G231P） in the aG strain are withinβsheets, suggesting that both sites are of structural importance.
基金supported by the Key Project of National Science Foundation of China (Approval No. 30630049)China National "863" Program (Approval No. 2011AA10A212)the China National "973" Program (Approval No. 2012CB722501)
文摘An epidemic of Chinese ferret badger-associated human rabies was investigated in Wuyuan county, Jiangxi province and rabies viruses isolates from ferret badgers in different districts in Jiangxi and Zhejiang provinces were sequenced with their nucleotides and amino acids and aligned for epidemiological analysis. The results showed that the human rabies in Wuyuan are only associated with ferret badger bites; the rabies virus can be isolated in a high percentage of ferret badgers in the epidemic areas in Jiangxi and Zhejiang provinces; the isolates share the same molecular features in nucleotides and have characteristic amino acid signatures, i.e., 2 sites in the nucleoprotein and 3 sites in the glycoprotein, that are distinct from virus isolates from dogs in the same region. We conclude that rabies in Chinese ferret badgers has formed an independent transmission cycle and ferret badgers may serve as another important rabies reservoir independent of dog rabies in China.
