Variation in the Coat Protein Gene of Papaya ringspot Virus Isolates from Multiple Locations of China

The potyvirus Papaya ringspot virus （PRSV） is an important pathogen of papaya that causes severe losses in economic crops for papaya production globally. The coat protein （CP） genes of five PRSV isolates originating from different locations in China were cloned and sequenced. The CP-coding region varied in size from 864-873 nucleotides, encoding proteins of 288-291 amino acids. The five Chinese isolates of PRSV have been characterized as papaya-infecting （PRSV-P）. The CP sequences of the Chinese isolates were compared with those of previously published PRSV isolates originating from different countries at amino acid levels. A number of KE repeat boxes in the N terminus of the PRSV-CP were found in all Chinese isolates. The phylogenetic branching pattern revealed that there was certain extended grouping between geographic locations, and the Asian type probably represents the oldest population of PRSV. The information of CP genes will be useful in designing and developing durable virus resistant-PRSV transgenic papaya in China. Meanwhile broad-spectrum-virus resistant, strongly resistant-PRSV and good safe papaya lines are required.

Phylogenetic analysis of avian infectious bronchitis virus isolates from Morocco:a retrospective study(1983 to 2014)

Dear Editor,Infectious bronchitis(IB),one of the most common and difficult poultry diseases,is caused by a gammacoronavirus named infectious bronchitis virus(IBV).IBV frequently causes respiratory and/or renal diseases in chickens and egg production losses in hens.IB has

Cloning of Banana Bunchy Top Virus Chinese Zhangzhou Isolate DNA 4 and the Promoter Activity of Its Non_coding Region

Banana bunchy top virus Chinese Zhangzhou isolate (BBTV-ZZ) DNA 4 was amplified by PCR and cloned. Sequence analysis showed that BBTV-ZZ DNA 4 is 1 039 nucleotides (nts) in length and this virus could be one member of BBTV Asian group. Transcriptional initiation site A, which is at the 269 nucleotide, was preliminarily determined by using 5' RACE method. BBTV-ZZ DNA 4 non-coding region was sub-cloned by PCR and inserted into upstream of gfp : : gus plant expression vector pCAMBIA 1304 to construct recombinant plasmid pTA2. Agrobacterium tumefaciens harboring pTA2 was injected into leaves of the tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Xanthi NC) via Agrobacterium-infiltration procedure. Transient expressions of GUS and GFP were determined in injected leaves 3 - 5 d later. GUS activities of pTA2, pCAMBIA 1304 injected and non-injected tobacco leaves respectively were 1.007 0 pmol MU(.)mug(-1.)min(-1), 2.069 0 pmol MU(.)mug(-1.)min(-1) and 0.021 4 pmol MU(.)mug(-1.)min(-1). Indirect ELISA for GFP in 1 mg total protein from pTA2, pCAMBIA 1304 injected and non-injected leaves showed an A(490 nm) value of 89.577, 100.440 and 3.287, respectively. These results showed that the non-coding region of BBTV-ZZ DNA 4 has a promoter activity not only in the virus replication in monocot, but also in driving the expression of a foreign gene in dicot plants.

Replication of clinical hepatitis B virus isolate and its application for selecting antiviral agents for chronic hepatitis B patients

AIM: To establish a cell model harboring replicative clinical hepatitis B virus (HBV) isolates and evaluate its application in individualized selection of anti-HBV agents for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. METHODS: The full-length HBV genomic DNA from 8 CHB patients was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All the patients were treated with lamivudine for at least seven months and finally became resistant to lamivudine. The amplified HBV DNA fragments were inserted into pHY106 vectors by Sap Ⅰ?digestion. The recombinant plasmids containing 1.1 copies of HBV genome were transiently transfected into Huh7 cell line, and the levels of HBsAg, HBeAg and intercellular HBV replicative intermediates were determined by ELISA and Southern blot analysis, respectively, with or without lamivudine and adefovir treatment. The antiviral treatment with adefovir was administered to the patients and analyzed in parallel. RESULTS: A total of 25 independent HBV isolateswere obtained from the sera of 8 patients, each patient had at least two isolates. One isolate from each individual was selected and subcloned into pHY106 vector, including 5 isolates with YVDD mutation and 3 isolates with YIDD mutation. All recombinant plasmids harboring HBV isolates were transfected into Huh7 cells. The results indicated that HBV genome carried in HBV replicons of clinical HBV isolates could effectively replicate and express in Huh7 cells. Adefovir, but not lamivudine, inhibited HBV replication both in vitro and in vivo, and in vitro inhibition was dose-dependent. CONCLUSION: The novel method described herein enables individualized selection of anti-HBV agents in clinic and is useful in future studies of antiviral therapy for CHB.

Characterization of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 Viruses Isolated from Domestic Poultry in China

The highly pathogenic avian influenza （HPAI） H5N1 virus has caused several outbreaks in domestic poultry. Despite great efforts to control the spread of this virus, it continues to evolve and poses a substantial threat to public health because of a high mortality rate. In this study, we sequenced whole genomes of eight H5N1 avian influenza viruses isolated from domestic poultry in eastern China and compared them with those of typical influenza virus strains. Phylogenetic analyses showed that all eight genomes belonged to clade 2.3.2.1 and clade 7.2, the two main circulating clades in China. Viruses that clustered in clade 2.3.2.1 shared a high degree of homology with H5N1 isolates located in eastern Asian. Isolates that clustered in clade 7.2 were found to circulate throughout China, with an east-to-west density gradient. Pathogenicity studies in mice showed that these isolates replicate in the lungs, and clade 2.3.2.1 viruses exhibit a notably higher degree of virulence compared to clade 7.2 viruses. Our results contribute to the elucidation of the biological characterization and pathogenicity of HPAI H5N1 viruses.

Laboratory diagnosis of nonpolio enteroviruses:A review of the current literature

Infections by nonpolio enteroviruses(EVs)are highly prevalent,particularly among children and neonates,where they may cause substantial morbidity and mortality.Laboratory diagnosis of these viral infections is important in patient prognosis and guidance of clinical management.Although the laboratory diagnosis of non-polio EVs is mainly based on molecular techniques,classical virus-isolation techniques are still used in refer-ence laboratories.Other techniques,such as antigen detection and serology,are becoming obsolete and rarely used in diagnosis.An important part of diagnosis and surveillance of EV infections is viral typing by VP1 gene sequencing using conventional Sanger technique and more recently,full-genome next-generation sequencing.The latter allows the typing of all EVs,better investigation of EV outbreaks,detection of coinfec-tion,and identification of severity markers in the EV genome.

Isolation and characterization of dengue virus serotype 2 from the large dengue outbreak in Guangdong, China in 2014

Dengue has been well recognized as a global public health threat,but only sporadic epidemics and imported cases were reported in recent decades in China.Since July 2014,an unexpected large dengue outbreak has occurred in Guangdong province,China,resulting in more than 40000 patients including six deaths.To clarify and characterize the causative agent of this outbreak,the acute phase serum from a patient diagnosed with severe dengue was subjected to virus isolation and high-throughput sequencing(HTS).Traditional real-time RT-PCR and HTS with Ion Torrent PGM detected the presence of dengue virus serotype 2(DENV-2).A clinical DENV-2 isolate GZ05/2014 was obtained by culturing the patient serum in mosquito C6/36 cells.The complete genome of GZ05/2014 was determined and deposited in Gen Bank under the access number KP012546.Phylogenetic analysis based on the complete envelope gene showed that the newly DENV-2 isolate belonged to Cosmopolitan genotype and clustered closely with other Guangdong strains isolated in the past decade.No amino acid mutations that are obviously known to increase virulence or replication were identified throughout the genome of GZ05/2014.The high homology of Guangdong DENV-2 strains indicated the possibility of establishment of local DENV-2 circulation in Guangdong,China.These results help clarify the origin of this epidemic and predict the future status of dengue in China.

Isolation and oral immunogenicity assessment of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus NH-TA2020 strain:One of the predominant strains circulating in China from 2017 to 2021

Porcine epidemic diarrhea(PED)caused by porcine epidemic diarrhea virus(PEDV)is one of the most devastating diseases in the global pig industry due to its high mortality rate in piglets.Maternal vaccines can effectively enhance the gut-mammary gland-secretory IgA axis to boost lactogenic immunity and passive protection of nursing piglets against PEDV challenge.From 2017 to 2021,we collected 882 diarrhea samples from 303 farms in China to investigate the epidemiology of PEDV.The result showed that about 52.15%(158/303)of the farms were positive for PEDV with an overall detection rate of 63.95%(564/882)of the samples.The S1 fragments of S gene from 104 strains were sequenced for the phylogenetic analysis.A total of 71 PEDV strains(68.27%)sequenced in this study were clustered into the predominant G2c subgroup,while the newly-defined G2d strains(9.62%)were identified in three provinces of China.The NH-TA2020 strain of G2c subgroup was isolated and cultured,and its infection to piglets caused watery diarrhea within 24 h,indicating its strong pathogenicity.Oral administration of NH-TA2020 strain to pregnant gilts stimulated high levels of IgA antibody in colostrum.The piglets fed by the gilts above were challenged with NH-TA2020 strain or CH-HeB-RY-2020 strain from G2d subgroup,and the clinical symptoms and virus shedding were significantly reduced compared to the mock group.Our findings suggest that G2c subgroup is the predominant branch circulating in China from 2017 to 2021.Oral administration of NH-TA2020 enhances maternal IgA and lactogenic immune responses,which confer protection against the homologous and emerging G2d PEDV strains challenges in neonates.

Inhibition of dengue virus replication by diisopropyl chrysin-7-yl phosphate

Dengue fever is a tropical disease and caused by dengue virus(DENV), which is transmitted by mosquitoes and infects about 400 million people annually. With the development of international trade and travel, China is facing a growing threat. Over 40 thousands of people were infected during the 2014 DENV outbreak in Guangdong. Neither licensed vaccine nor therapeutic drug has been available. In this report, we isolated two clinical DENV strains. The full-length genome was sequenced and characterized. We also applied a flavonoid, CPI, into an anti-DENV assay. Replication of viral RNA and expression of viral protein was all strongly inhibited. These results indicated that CPI may serve as potential protective agents in the treatment of patients with chronic DENV infection.

Tick-Borne Viruses

Ticks are important vectors for the transmission of pathogens including viruses.The viruses carried by ticks also known as tick-borne viruses(TBVs),contain a large group of viruses with diverse genetic properties and are concluded in two orders,nine families,and at least 12 genera.Some members of the TBVs are notorious agents causing severe diseases with high mortality rates in humans and livestock,while some others may pose risks to public health that are still unclear to us.Herein,we review the current knowledge of TBVs with emphases on the history of virus isolation and identification,tick vectors,and potential pathogenicity to humans and animals,including assigned species as well as the recently discovered and unassigned species.All these will promote our understanding of the diversity of TBVs,and will facilitate the further investigation of TBVs in association with both ticks and vertebrate hosts.

Detection, isolation, and characterization of chikungunya viruses associated with the Pakistan outbreak of 2016–2017

The chikungunya virus(CHIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted alphavirus, which has infected millions of people in Africa, Asia, Americas, and Europe since it reemerged in India and Indian Ocean regions in 2005–2006. Starting in the middle of November 2016, CHIKV has been widely spread, and more than 4,000 cases of infections in humans were confirmed in Pakistan. Here, we report the first isolation and characterization of CHIKV from the Pakistan outbreak. Eight CHIKV strains were newly isolated from human serum samples using a cell culture procedure. A full-length genome sequence and eight complete envelope(E1) sequences of CHIKV from Pakistan were obtained in this study. Alignment of the CHIKV E1 sequences revealed that the eight new CHIKV isolates were highly homogeneous, with only two nonsynonymous substitutions found at generally conserved sites(E99 and Q235). Based on the comparison of 342 E1 sequences, the two nonsynonymous mutations were located in well-recognized domains associated with viral functions such as the cell fusion and vector specificity, suggesting their potential functional importance. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the CHIKV strains from Pakistan originated from CHIKV circulating in the Indian region. This study helps elucidate the epidemics of CHIKV in Pakistan and also provides a foundation for studies of evolution and expansion of CHIKV in South Asia.

Accidental discovery and isolation of Zika virus in Uganda and the relentless epidemiologist behind the investigations

INTRODUCTION Zika virus(ZIKV)has captured the attention of the world because of its potential to infect neural cells and its teratogenic effects on foetuses and the new born.The virus seems to have various modes of transmission and has been the subject of many reviews in the literature(example,Musso and Gubler,2016,Wang et al.,2016).ZIKV was first isolated in1947 but remained almost