用ELISA检测火鸡冠状病毒感染

目前,火鸡冠状病毒(TCV)感染的血清学诊断方法主要采用间接荧光抗体试验,该方法费时费力。虽然ELISA是一种理想方法,但由于建立ELISA需要大量优质的TCV抗原,而抗原生产受细胞培养的限制,因此,该方法未能建立。美国学者应用RT-PCR扩增、克隆了CV核衣壳(N)基因,并成功的表达在杆状病毒。

Production of CCHF Virus-Like Particle by a Baculovirus-Insect Cell Expression System

Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV) is a tick-born virus of the Nairovirus genus within the Bunyaviridae family,which is widespread and causes high fatality.The nucleocapsid of CCHFV is comprised of N proteins that are encoded by the S segment.In this research,the N protein of CCHFV was expressed in insect cells using a recombinant baculovirus.Under an electron microscope,Virus-Like Particles (VLPs) with various size and morphology were observed in cytoplasmic vesicles in the infected cells.Sucrose-gradient purification of the cell lysate indicated that the VLPs were mainly located in the upper fraction after ultracentrifugation,which was confirmed by Western blot analysis and immuno-electron microscopy (IEM).

Efficient expression of histidine-tagged large hepatitis delta antigen in baculovirus-transduced baby hamster kidney cells

AIM： To study the baculovirus/mammalian cell system for efficient expression of functional large hepatitis delta antigen （L-HDAg）. METHODS： A recombinant baculovirus expressing histidine-tagged L-HDAg （L-HDAgH） was constructed to transduce baby hamster kidney （BHK） cells by a simplified transduction protocol. RESULTS： The recombinant baculovirus transduced BHK cells with efficiencies higher than 90% as determined by flow cytometry. The expression level was significantly higher than that obtained by plasmid transfection and was further enhanced 3-fold to around 19 pg/cell by the addition of 10 mmol/L sodium butyrate. Importantly, the expressed L-HDAgH was localized to the cell nucleus and correctly isoprenylated as determined by immunofluorescence labeling and confocal microscopy. Moreover, L-HDAgH interacted with hepatitis B surface antigen to form virus-like particles. CONCLUSION： The fusion with histidine tags as well as overexpression of L-HDAgH in the baculovirus-transduced BHK cells does not impair the biological functions. Taken together, the baculovirus/mammalian cell system offers an attractive alternative for high level expression of L-HDAgH or other proteins that require extensive posttranslational modifications.

Expression of Rice Gall Dwarf Virus Outer Coat Protein Gene (S8) in Insect Cells

To obtain the P8 protein of Rice gall dwarf virus (RGDV) with biological activity,its outer coat protein gene S8 was expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) insect cells using the baculovirus expression system.The S8 gene was subcloned into the pFastBacTM1 vector,to produce the recombinant baculovirus transfer vector pFB-S8.After transformation,pFB-S8 was introduced into the competent cells (E.coli DH10Bac) containing a shuttle vector,Bacmid,generating the recombinant bacmid rbpFB-S8.After being infected by recombinant baculovirus rvpFB-S8 at different multiplicities of infection,Sf9 cells were collected at different times and analyzed by SDS-PAGE,Western blotting and immunofluorescence microscopy.The expression level of the P8 protein was highest between 48-72 h after transfection of Sf9 cells.Immunofluorescence microscopy showed that P8 protein of RGDV formed punctate structures in the cytoplasm of Sf9 cells.

Molecular Dissection of Bombyx mori Nucleopolyhedrovirus orf8 Gene

Viruses including baculoviruses are obligatory parasites, as their genomes do not encode all the proteins required for replication. Therefore, viruses have evolved to exploit the behavior and the physiology of their hosts and olden coevolved with their hosts over millions of years. Recent comparative analyses of complete genome sequences of baculoviruses revealed the patterns of gene acquisitions and losses that have occurred during baculovirus evolution. In addition, knowledge of virus genes has also provided understanding of the mechanism of baculovirus infection including replication, species-specific virulence and host range. The Bm8 gene of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus （NPV） and its homologues are found only in group I NPV genomes. The Autographa californica NPV Ac 16 gene is a homologue of Bm8 and, encodes a viral structural protein. It has been shown that BmS/Ac 16 interacts with baculoviral and cellular proteins. BmS/Ac 16 interacts with baculoviral IE1 that is facilitated by coiled coil domains, and the interaction with IE1 is important for Bin8 function. Acl6 also forms a complex with viral FP25 and cellular actin and associates with membranes via palmitoylation. These data suggested that this gene family encodes a multifunctional protein that accomplishes specific needs of group I NPVs.

Virion Proteomics of Large DNA Viruses

Large DNA viruses normally have complex structures with many of protein components derived from both viral and host origins. The development in proteomics, especially mass spectrometry identification techniques provide powerful tools for analyzing large viruses. In this review, we have summarized the recent achievements on proteomic studies of large DNA viruses, such as herpesvirus, poxvirus, nimavirus and baculoviruse. The proteomics of baculovirus occlusion-derived virions (ODV) were emphasized. Different mass spectrometry techniques used on various baculoviruses were introduced, and the identified structurally associated proteins of baculoviruses are summarized.

A novel endogenous badnavirus exists in Alhagi sparsifolia

We report the recovery of a 7068-nt viral sequence from the ＂viral fossils＂ embedded in the genome of Alhagi sparsifolia, a typical desert plant. Although the full viral genome remains to be completed, the putative genome structure, the deduced amino acids and phylogenetic analysis unambiguously demonstrate that this viral sequence represents a novel species of the genus Badnavirus. The putative virus is tentatively termed Alhagi bacilliform virus （ABV）. Southern blotting and inverse polymerase chain reaction （PCR） data indicate that the ABV-related sequence is integrated into the A. sparsifolia genome, and probably does not give rise to functional episomal virus. Molecular evidence that the ABV sequence exists widely in A. sparsifolia is also presented. To our knowledge, this is the first endogenous badnavirus identified from plants in the Gobi desert, and may provide new clues on the evolution, geo- graphical distribution as well as the host range of the badnaviruses.