传染性支气管炎病毒江苏分离株核蛋白基因序列测定与同源性分析

将本室鸡传染性支气管炎病毒（IBV）江苏省地方分离肾型毒株JS／95／03接种鸡胚,分离、纯化病毒,提取单股RNA做为反转录－聚合酶链反应（RT－PCR）的扩增模板。用Genbank公开序列多重比较后设计一对引物,使用单管RT－PCR方法,物异扩增IBV核蛋白（N）基因5'端854bp的片段,扩增产物纯化后测,序列分析表明,IBV N基因也存在较大变异,此毒株与呼吸型疫苗株M41序列同源性最高。     

马传染性贫血病毒驴白细胞弱毒疫苗株及其亲本强毒株前病毒核苷酸序列比较分析

以马传染性贫血病毒驴白细胞弱毒疫苗株(DLA-EIAV)感染细胞总DNA及其亲本强毒L株感染马外周血液白细胞中DNA为模板, 应用PCR方法分段扩增出DLA-EIAV和L株前病毒, 并将各段扩增产物克隆后进行测序. 根据国外发表的马传染性贫血病毒核苷酸序列, 推导出DLA-EIAV和L株全基因组核苷酸序列, 经比较分析, DLA-EIAV株前病毒基因组全长8266个碱基, EIAV L株前病毒基因组共有8235个碱基. DLA-EIAV株与其亲本L株和DA株核苷酸序列相比, 同源率分别为97.0%和 97.5%. DLA-EIAV株和L株相比, 长末端重复序列(LTR, 由U3, R, U5组成)、编码囊膜糖蛋白的基因env及ORF S2变异率很高, U3, R, U5, env及ORF S2核苷酸序列差异率分别达13.2%, 7.5%, 5.1%, 2.7%和3.9%, env基因及ORF S2推导的氨基酸序列差异率分别为4.4%和8.8%. 从EIAV高度变异的env各个毒株中鉴定出6个氨基酸序列保守区, 并发现中国的EIAV强、弱毒增强子区有转录因子GATA结合一致序列. 序列比较发现EIAV L比DLA株多2个N连接糖化位点. DLA-EIAV, L和DA株在ENH的主要差别是, DLA-EIAV株含有转录因子bHLH作用一致序列. 另外, DLA-EIAV株TAR茎的起始部位发生了改变, 形成一个尿嘧啶小泡. 这些变异对EIAV毒力的影响有待进一步研究.     

传染性支气管炎病毒江苏分离株 核蛋白基因序列测定与同源性分析

将本室鸡传染性支气管炎病毒（IBV）江苏省地方分离肾型毒株JS/95/03接种鸡胚,分离、纯化病毒,提取单股RNA做为反转录-聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）的扩增模板。用Genbank公开序列多重比较后设计一对引物,使用单管RT-PCR方法,特异扩增IBV核蛋白（N）基因5'端854 bp的片段。扩增产物纯化后测序,序列分析表明,IBVN基因也存在较大变异,此毒株与呼吸型疫苗株M41序列同源性最高。     

森林脑炎病毒疫苗株的全基因组序列分析

实验设计针对森林脑炎病毒的特异性引物,以被森林脑炎疫苗株病毒感染的鼠脑组织中提取的总RNA为模板,用PCR方法分段逆转录合成、扩增序列并测序,应用DNASTAR软件比较分析。结果表明,该病毒疫苗株的全基因组由10782个核苷酸组成,编码3414个氨基酸。森林脑炎疫苗株病毒全基因序列的测定,为研究该病毒疫苗株的生物学特性提供了分子基础。     

狂犬病疫苗株病毒aG株全基因序列测定及特征分析

对我国狂犬病疫苗生产株aG株进行全基因序列测定分析,为完善aG株毒种的质量控制提供数据支持。将aG株病毒全基因组RNA分成8段进行RT-PCR分段扩增,其中基因组5′末端采取5′RACE方法,将PCR扩增产物分别克隆入pGEM-T载体中,测定序列并拼接获得病毒全基因序列;用DNAStar软件包中的相应软件对基因全序列进行分析,并与国内外主要狂犬病疫苗生产株进行基因同源性分析和主要抗原位点比较。aG株病毒基因组序列全长11 925bp(GenBank登录号为JN234411),属基因Ⅰ型狂犬病病毒;各疫苗株生物信息学分析表明,各株病毒存在同源性差异。本研究获得了aG株病毒全基因组序列,对aG株基因特征进行了分析并将其与国内外疫苗株进行了比较,为完善其质量控制提供了参考和数据支持。     

静脉注射吸毒感染者体内HIV-1CRF07_BC的准种变异特征

为了研究静脉注射吸毒者(IDU)体内HIV-1CRF07_BC病毒准种变异和遗传多样性特征,本文采用单基因组扩增(SGA)技术分别从6份CRF07_BC感染者血浆获得HIV-1病毒准种env基因gp120片段序列11～28条,采用构建系统进化树的方法进行聚类分析,描述感染者血浆中CRF07_BC病毒准种的变异特征;运用Simplot软件、分段系统进化树和对平均两两比对基因距离进行遗传多样性作图(Diversity plot)的方法分析病毒准种间的重组。系统进化树分析结果显示仅1个病例具有较高的遗传同质性,而其他5个病例的遗传异质性较高,主要表现为系统进化树上形成2～4个次级进化簇。此外,有3个病例存在病毒准种间的重组。本研究表明SGA技术能有效地分析感染者体内病毒准种复杂的变异特征。     

猪戊肝病毒存在准种现象

为研究猪戊肝病毒准种存在情况,采用逆转录-巢式聚合酶链反应法(RT-nested-PCR)对四株猪戊肝病毒(Hepatitis E virus)第2可读框(ORF2)部分序列进行PCR扩增,将产物克隆后,每个毒株分别随机挑取20个阳性克隆测序,进行DNA序列分析。结果显示4株HEV不同克隆间的ORF2核苷酸序列同源性分别为96.8%~99.7%、98.8%~99.7%、98.8%~99.7%和100%,有变异的克隆核苷酸序列与上海株(SAAS-JDY5)同源性为96.8%~100%。由此证实感染戊肝病毒的猪个体内存在HEV准种。     

四份中国HCV阳性血清中包膜蛋白E1/E2准种基因的序列分析及新型插入突变的发现

为分析四份中国丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）阳性血清中包膜蛋白E1/E2基因的准种特征。本研究对从4份中国HCV阳性血清（1b亚型：274、366、383;2a亚型：283）中提取的HCV核酸,采用逆转录-聚合酶反应扩增编码全长E1/E2蛋白（191～764aa）的基因片段,随机挑取多个克隆测序。根据E1/E2基因核苷酸的序列与其他相关序列（来自于GenBank）构建亲缘性关系进化树,进行核苷酸与氨基酸同源性分析并对重要的基因位点进行分析。共获得阳性克隆序列43个（274株10个,283株12个,366株13个,383株8个）,发现高变区HVR1、HVR2的基因异质性高,而其他抗体中和表位及跨膜区I、II及N末端糖基化位点相对保守。并首次发现在HCV 2a亚型（283血清）中多个准种序列存在1279nt（E1区,313aa）处单碱基插入优势基因突变,导致HCV包膜蛋白编码突变与中断（E2区,398aa）。本研究对中国HCV代表株包膜蛋白E1/E2编码基因的准种多样性及一种新型插入突变进行了描述,可为进一步研究HCV免疫逃避与慢性化机制提供重要信息。关键词：丙型肝炎病毒;包膜蛋白;序列分析;准种;插入突变     

最早传入北京地区的SARS冠状病毒S基因序列分析和克隆

SARS冠状病毒的spike(S)蛋白对病毒的致病力至关重要,也是机体特异性体液和细胞免疫主要针对的靶分子。从北京地区最早发现的SARS患者咽拭子细胞培养上清中提取病毒RNA,用反转录巢式聚合酶链式反应(RTPCR)分6个片段扩增出S基因全序列,用TA载体克隆后进行DNA序列分析,再通过重叠PCR将6个片段连接成一条完整的S基因并克隆测序。DNA测序结果表明病毒S基因序列与报告的BJ01株SARS冠状病毒S基因序列完全一致,用重叠PCR将6个S基因片段连接成了一条完整的S基因,插入到pGEMT载体后读序完全正确。上述结果表明最早传入北京地区的病毒与新近报告的BJ01株SARS冠状病毒在分子流行病学上具有同源特征,重叠PCR技术可以用于有效连接多个基因片段。S区全基因的克隆为进一步研究该基因的功能和DNA疫苗等研究提供了基础。     

拼接信号序列单碱基变异提高马传染性贫血病毒mRNA拼接效率

分别以马传染性贫血(马传贫)驴强毒(D—A EIAV)RNA和马传贫驴白细胞弱毒疫苗(DLA EIAV)RNA为模板,利用RT—PCR的方法,克隆到马传贫强、弱毒株基因组外显子2及其下游的核苷酸序列。然后将报告基因CAT插入到EIAV内含子2env阅读框架中,构成CAT拼接报告系统。同时在强毒株重组表达质粒的基础上,将其外显子-3上游拼接受体位点的核苷酸序列CAG突变为弱毒株相应位置的核苷酸序列TAG,得到强毒单核苷酸突变株重组表达质粒。用构建的3个重组表达质粒DNA转染驴血白细胞,ELISA检测转染细胞CAT浓度。结果表明：EIAV强毒株重组表达质粒中CAT蛋白表达量最高,EIAV强毒株重组表达质粒次之,EIAV强毒突变株重组表达质粒最低。由于CAT基因被插入于各重组质粒中的EIAV内含子-2里,EIAV外显子-2、3之间的拼接可导致该基因的删除,因而其拼接效率低于EIAVmRNA外显子-2、3之间的拼接效率。实验数据表明,EIAV SA2拼接信号序列单碱基变异提高了SD2-SA2拼接效率;D—AEIAV SA2-SD2拼接效率比DLA EIAV相应位点拼接效率高。     

Deciphering human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transmission and early envelope diversification by single-genome amplification and sequencing

Accurate identification of the transmitted virus and sequences evolving from it could be instrumental in elucidating the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and in developing vaccines, drugs, or microbicides to prevent infection. Here we describe an experimental approach to analyze HIV-1 env genes as intact genetic units amplified from plasma virion RNA by single-genome amplification (SGA), followed by direct sequencing of uncloned DNA amplicons. We show that this strategy precludes in vitro artifacts caused by Taq-induced nucleotide substitutions and template switching, provides an accurate representation of the env quasispecies in vivo, and has an overall error rate (including nucleotide misincorporation, insertion, and deletion) of less than 8 x 10(-5). Applying this method to the analysis of virus in plasma from 12 Zambian subjects from whom samples were obtained within 3 months of seroconversion, we show that transmitted or early founder viruses can be identified and that molecular pathways and rates of early env diversification can be defined. Specifically, we show that 8 of the 12 subjects were each infected by a single virus, while 4 others acquired more than one virus; that the rate of virus evolution in one subject during an 80-day period spanning seroconversion was 1.7 x 10(-5) substitutions per site per day; and that evidence of strong immunologic selection can be seen in Env and overlapping Rev sequences based on nonrandom accumulation of nonsynonymous mutations. We also compared the results of the SGA approach with those of more-conventional bulk PCR amplification methods performed on the same patient samples and found that the latter is associated with excessive rates of Taq-induced recombination, nucleotide misincorporation, template resampling, and cloning bias. These findings indicate that HIV-1 env genes, other viral genes, and even full-length viral genomes responsible for productive clinical infection can be identified by SGA analysis of plasma virus sampled at intervals typical in large-scale vaccine trials and that pathways of viral diversification and immune escape can be determined accurately.     

Dynamic behavior of hepatitis C virus quasispecies in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation.

We have studied the distribution of viral sequences from the 5' noncoding region and from a fragment of the E2/NS2 region of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome in samples obtained before and after liver transplantation in two patients with HCV cirrhosis. The population of viral sequences in both regions were established by sequencing cloned PCR products. In both cases, the complexity of the viral quasispecies decreased after transplantation, although the consensus nucleotide and amino acid sequences remained unchanged. It is suggested that both positive and negative selection and random sampling events contribute substantially in shaping the genetic composition of HCV quasispecies and that recurrence of HCV infection may occur under equilibrium conditions.     

马传染性贫血病毒白细胞弱毒疫苗株及其亲本毒驴强毒株前病毒基因组比较分析

为阐明马传染性贫血白细胞弱毒疫苗株(EIAVDLV)的致弱和免疫保护机理,对EIAVDLV121及其亲本驴强毒株(EIAVDV117)前病毒全基因组序列进行了测定,并结合准种理论,分析了EIAV疫苗致弱过程中基因组进化特点。利用LA-PCR技术对EIAVDV117和EIAVDLV121的前病毒基因组分两段进行扩增,分别获得4个和10个前病毒全基因组序列。EIAVDV117前病毒基因组平均为8236bp,G C含量38.0。EIAVDLV121前病毒基因组平均8249bp,G C含量37.3。两者的前病毒基因组平均差异率为2.8。其中S2、LTR和env基因差异较大,分别为4.1、3.9和3.1。此外,S2、S3和env推导的氨基酸的差异明显,分别为10.4、5.6和4.8(gp90为6.8)。EIAVDLV121各基因的异质性均显著高于EIAVDV117。研究发现体外培养的EIAVDLV121至少有5种类型的LTR混合存在。在gp90推导的氨基酸序列上,EIAVDV117比EIAVDLV121平均多2个N-糖基化位点,总数为19,其中3个为EIAVDV117特有。EIAVDLV121有1个疫苗株特有N-糖基化位点。研究结果为进一步探讨马传染性贫血弱毒疫苗生物学特性提供信息。     

Evaluation of intra-host variants of the entire hepatitis B virus genome

Genetic analysis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) frequently involves study of intra-host variants, identification of which is commonly achieved using short regions of the HBV genome. However, the use of short sequences significantly limits evaluation of genetic relatedness among HBV strains. Although analysis of HBV complete genomes using genetic cloning has been developed, its application is highly labor intensive and practiced only infrequently. We describe here a novel approach to whole genome (WG) HBV quasispecies analysis based on end-point, limiting-dilution real-time PCR (EPLD-PCR) for amplification of single HBV genome variants, and their subsequent sequencing. EPLD-PCR was used to analyze WG quasispecies from serum samples of patients (n = 38) infected with HBV genotypes A, B, C, D, E and G. Phylogenetic analysis of the EPLD-isolated HBV-WG quasispecies showed the presence of mixed genotypes, recombinant variants and sub-populations of the virus. A critical observation was that HBV-WG consensus sequences obtained by direct sequencing of PCR fragments without EPLD are genetically close, but not always identical to the major HBV variants in the intra-host population, thus indicating that consensus sequences should be judiciously used in genetic analysis. Sequence-based studies of HBV WG quasispecies should afford a more accurate assessment of HBV evolution in various clinical and epidemiological settings.     

Analysis of the genetic diversity of influenza A viruses using next-generation DNA sequencing

Background

Influenza viruses exist as a large group of closely related viral genomes, also called quasispecies. The composition of this influenza viral quasispecies can be determined by an accurate and sensitive sequencing technique and data analysis pipeline. We compared the suitability of two benchtop next-generation sequencers for whole genome influenza A quasispecies analysis: the Illumina MiSeq sequencing-by-synthesis and the Ion Torrent PGM semiconductor sequencing technique.

Results

We first compared the accuracy and sensitivity of both sequencers using plasmid DNA and different ratios of wild type and mutant plasmid. Illumina MiSeq sequencing reads were one and a half times more accurate than those of the Ion Torrent PGM. The majority of sequencing errors were substitutions on the Illumina MiSeq and insertions and deletions, mostly in homopolymer regions, on the Ion Torrent PGM. To evaluate the suitability of the two techniques for determining the genome diversity of influenza A virus, we generated plasmid-derived PR8 virus and grew this virus in vitro. We also optimized an RT-PCR protocol to obtain uniform coverage of all eight genomic RNA segments. The sequencing reads obtained with both sequencers could successfully be assembled de novo into the segmented influenza virus genome. After mapping of the reads to the reference genome, we found that the detection limit for reliable recognition of variants in the viral genome required a frequency of 0.5% or higher. This threshold exceeds the background error rate resulting from the RT-PCR reaction and the sequencing method. Most of the variants in the PR8 virus genome were present in hemagglutinin, and these mutations were detected by both sequencers.

Conclusions

Our approach underlines the power and limitations of two commonly used next-generation sequencers for the analysis of influenza virus gene diversity. We conclude that the Illumina MiSeq platform is better suited for detecting variant sequences whereas the Ion Torrent PGM platform has a shorter turnaround time. The data analysis pipeline that we propose here will also help to standardize variant calling in small RNA genomes based on next-generation sequencing data.     

马传染性贫血病毒美洲流行株与我国弱毒疫苗株鉴别诊断方法的研究

马传染性贫血病毒(Equine infectious anemia virus,EIAV)是反转录病毒科慢病毒属的成员,是马传染性贫血病的病原。二十世纪七十年代我国就研制出马传染性贫血驴白细胞弱毒疫苗,成为世界第一个成功地应用该疫苗控制了我国的马传贫的发生[1]。而且我国的马传贫弱毒疫苗对异源的美国、古巴和阿根廷等毒株也有很高的保护率[2]。因此将我国的马传贫驴细胞弱毒疫苗推向国际市场成为可能。然而目前制约该苗出口的技术问题是现行的OIE推荐的琼脂扩散实验和ELISA等血清学方法不能鉴别自然感染马与我国弱毒疫苗免疫马,针对这个关键问题,本试验…     

The Combination of Phylogenetic Analysis with Epidemiological and Serological Data to Track HIV-1 Transmission in a Sexual Transmission Case

Objective

To investigate the linkage of HIV transmission from a man to a woman through unprotected sexual contact without disclosing his HIV-positive status.

Methods

Combined with epidemiological information and serological tests, phylogenetic analysis was used to test the a priori hypothesis of HIV transmission from the man to the woman. Control subjects, infected with HIV through heterosexual intercourse, from the same location were also sampled. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using the consensus gag, pol and env sequences obtained from blood samples of the man, the woman and the local control subjects. The env quasispecies of the man, the woman, and two controls were also obtained using single genome amplification and sequencing (SGA/S) to explore the paraphyletic relationship by phylogenetic analysis.

Results

Epidemiological information and serological tests indicated that the man was infected with HIV-1 earlier than the woman. Phylogenetic analyses of the consensus sequences showed a monophyletic cluster for the man and woman in all three genomic regions. Furthermore, gag sequences of the man and woman shared a unique recombination pattern from subtype B and C, which was different from those of CRF07_BC or CRF08_BC observed in the local samples. These indicated that the viral sequences from the two subjects display a high level of similarity. Further, viral quasispecies from the man exhibited a paraphyletic relationship with those from the woman in the Bayesian and maximum-likelihood (ML) phylogenetic trees of the env region, which supported the transmission direction from the man to the woman.

Conclusions

In the context of epidemiological and serological evidence, the results of phylogenetic analyses support the transmission from the man to the woman.     

Development of a low bias method for characterizing viral populations using next generation sequencing technology

Background

With an estimated 38 million people worldwide currently infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and an additional 4.1 million people becoming infected each year, it is important to understand how this virus mutates and develops resistance in order to design successful therapies.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We report a novel experimental method for amplifying full-length HIV genomes without the use of sequence-specific primers for high throughput DNA sequencing, followed by assembly of full length viral genome sequences from the resulting large dataset. Illumina was chosen for sequencing due to its ability to provide greater coverage of the HIV genome compared to prior methods, allowing for more comprehensive characterization of the heterogeneity present in the HIV samples analyzed. Our novel amplification method in combination with Illumina sequencing was used to analyze two HIV populations: a homogenous HIV population based on the canonical NL4-3 strain and a heterogeneous viral population obtained from a HIV patient''s infected T cells. In addition, the resulting sequence was analyzed using a new computational approach to obtain a consensus sequence and several metrics of diversity.

Significance

This study demonstrates how a lower bias amplification method in combination with next generation DNA sequencing provides in-depth, complete coverage of the HIV genome, enabling a stronger characterization of the quasispecies present in a clinically relevant HIV population as well as future study of how HIV mutates in response to a selective pressure.     

Serial analysis of V6 ribosomal sequence tags (SARST-V6): a method for efficient, high-throughput analysis of microbial community composition

Serial analysis of ribosomal sequence tags (SARST) is a novel technique for characterizing microbial community composition. The SARST method captures sequence information from concatemers of short 16S rDNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicons from complex populations of DNA. Here, we describe a similar method, serial analysis of V6 ribosomal sequence tags (SARST-V6), which targets the V6 hypervariable region of bacterial 16S rRNA genes. The SARST-V6 technique exploits internal primer sequences to generate compatible restriction digest overhangs, thereby improving upon the efficiency of SARST. Serial analysis of V6 ribosomal sequence tags of bacterial community composition in hydrothermal marine sediments from Guaymas Basin resembled results of cloning and sequencing of single, full-length PCR products from ribosomal RNA genes of the same microbial community. Both methods identified the same major bacterial groups, but only SARST-V6 recovered thermodesulfobacteria and gamma-proteobacteria sequences, while only full-length PCR product cloning recovered candidate division OP11 se-quences. There were differences in the relative frequencies of some phylotypes. The disparities reflect differences in the amplicon pool obtained during initial amplification that may result from different primer affinities or DNA degradation. These results demonstrate the utility of SARST-V6 in collecting taxonomically informative data for high-throughput analysis of microbial communities.