The Structure Analysis and Antigenicity Study of the N Protein of SARS-CoV

The Coronaviridae family is characterized by a nucleocapsid that is composed of the genome RNA molecule in combination with the nucleoprotein (N protein) within a virion. The most striking physiochemical feature of the N protein of SARS-CoV is that it is a typical basic protein with a high predicted pI and high hydrophilicity, which is consistent with its function of binding to the ribophosphate backbone of the RNA molecule. The predicted high extent of phosphorylation of the N protein on multiple candidate phosphorylation sites demonstrates that it would be related to important functions, such as RNA-binding and localization to the nucleolus of host cells. Subsequent study shows that there is an SR-rich region in the N protein and this region might be involved in the protein-protein interaction. The abundant antigenic sites predicted in the N protein, as well as experimental evidence with synthesized polypeptides, indicate that the N protein is one of the major antigens of the SARS-CoV. Compared with other viral structural proteins, the low variation rate of the N protein with regards to its size suggests its importance to the survival of the virus.

Type I vaccine-derived polioviruses in China from 1995 to 2019

A nation-wide case surveillance was conducted in China since 1995 for the objective of identifying acute flaccid paralysis(AFP)in children so that potential wild polioviruses and vaccine-derived poliovirus(VDPV)could be identified on time.Two outbreaks associated with type I circulating VDPVs,eight native independent type I ambiguous VDPVs(aVDPV),and one imported aVDPV were identified during the AFP case surveillance in China from 1995 to 2019.The VP1 coding region of the Chinese type I VDPVs differed from the polio vaccine strain by 1.00%–3.75%(9–34 substitutions in 906 nucleotides).Most of the Chinese type I VDPV strains shared 4 amino acid substitutions in the neutralizing antigenic(NAg)sites:3 located at the BC loop,which formed the NAg site 1,and another at NAg site 3a.All of the Chinese type I VDPVs identified during the AFP case surveillance were young VDPVs,which indicated a limited viral replication resulted from the administration of the initiating oral polio vaccine(OPV)dose.VDPVs can emerge and spread in isolated communities with immunity gaps and the circulation ceases following a mass immunization with OPV.As such,high-quality surveillance permitted very early detection and response and it played a key role in stalling the widespread circulation of the emergent cVDPV strains in China.