Generation by Reverse Genetics of an Effective,Stable, Live-Attenuated Newcastle Disease Virus Vaccine Based on a Currently Circulating,Highly Virulent Indonesian Strain

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) can cause severe disease in chickens. Although NDV vaccines exist, there are frequent reports of outbreaks in vaccinated chickens. During 2009–2010, despite intense vaccination, NDV caused major outbreaks among commercial poultry farms in Indonesia. These outbreaks raised concern regarding the protective immunity of current vaccines against circulating virulent strains in Indonesia. In this study, we investigated whether a recombinant attenuated Indonesian NDV strain could provide better protection against prevalent Indonesian viruses. A reverse genetics system for the highly virulent NDV strain Banjarmasin/010/10 (Ban/010) isolated in Indonesia in 2010 was constructed. The Ban/010 virus is classified in genotype VII of class II NDV, which is genetically distinct from the commercial vaccine strains B1 and LaSota, which belong to genotype II, and shares only 89 and 87% amino acid identity for the protective antigens F and HN, respectively. A mutant virus, named Ban/AF, was developed in which the virulent F protein cleavage site motif “RRQKR↓F” was modified to an avirulent motif “GRQGR↓L” by three amino acid substitutions (underlined). The Ban/AF vaccine virus did not produce syncytia or plaques in cell culture, even in the presence of added protease. Pathogenicity tests showed that Ban/AF was completely avirulent. Ban/AF replicated efficiently during 10 consecutive passages in chickens and remained genetically stable. Serological analysis showed that Ban/AF induced higher neutralization and hemagglutination inhibition antibody titers against the prevalent viruses than the commercial vaccines B1 or LaSota. Both Ban/AF and commercial vaccines provided protection against clinical disease and mortality after challenge with virulent NDV strain Ban/010 (genotype VII) or GB Texas (genotype II). However, Ban/AF significantly reduced challenge virus shedding from the vaccinated birds compared to B1 vaccine. These results suggest that Ban/AF can provide better protection than commercial vaccines and is a promising vaccine candidate against NDV strains circulating in Indonesia.     

置换HN基因对新城疫病毒LaSota株致病力的影响

[目的]新城疫病毒的血凝素.神经氨酸酶(HN)和融合蛋白(F)在病毒装配、出芽、释放及侵入宿主细胞的过程中发挥关键作用,但HN对病毒致病力的影响程度尚不完全清楚.[方法]为探讨这一问题,本研究以中等毒力毒株Mukteswar的HN基因替换我国广泛应用的LaSota疫苗株HN基因,通过反向遗传操作技术拯救出嵌合病毒(rL-MuHN).[结果]rL-MuHN红细胞吸附能力较亲本株rLaSota无显著升高,具有相似的细胞融合活性;嵌合病毒ICPI由rLaSota株的0.36降为0,MDT≥90,IVPI=0与rLaSota株相同,保持典型低致病力缓发型特点不变.进一步以Mukteswar株F基因替换rL-MuHN的F基因,拯救出F和HN双基因替换嵌合病毒rL-MuFHN,尽管该病毒的细胞融合能力显著提高,但其MDT、ICPI和IVPI分别为98 h,0.59和0,显示F和HN双基因替换仍未能使嵌合新城疫病毒rL-MuFHN的致病力达到中等毒力毒株Mukteswar(MDT、ICPI及IVPI分别为46 h、1.32和0.64)的水平.[结论]试验结果表明,F及HN囊膜蛋白基因之外的病毒基因组骨架背景对病毒的致病性同样具有重要的决定性意义,不同HN蛋白对嵌合病毒的致病能力的影响不同,与供体毒株毒力无关;以流行野毒株HN替代rLaSota疫苗株构建抗原针对性更强的弱毒疫苗株存在技术可行性.     

The large polymerase protein is associated with the virulence of Newcastle disease virus

Naturally occurring Newcastle disease virus (NDV) strains vary greatly in virulence, ranging from no apparent infection to severe disease causing 100% mortality in chickens. The viral determinants of NDV virulence are not completely understood. Cleavage of the fusion protein is required for the initiation of infection, and it acts as a determinant of virulence. The attachment protein HN was found to play a minor role in virulence. In this study, we have evaluated the role of the internal proteins (N, P, and L) in NDV virulence by using a chimeric reverse-genetics approach. The N, P, and L genes were exchanged individually between an avirulent NDV strain, LaSota, and an intermediate virulent NDV strain, Beaudette C (BC), and the N and P genes were also exchanged together. The recovered chimeric viruses were evaluated for their pathogenicity in the natural host, chickens. Our results showed that the pathogenicities of N and P chimeric viruses were similar to those of their respective parental viruses, indicating that the N and P genes probably play minor roles in virulence. However, replacement of the L gene of BC with that of LaSota significantly increased the pathogenicity of the L-chimeric virus, suggesting that the L gene probably contributes to the virulence of NDV. The L-chimeric BC virus was found to replicate at a 100-fold-higher level than its parental virus in chicken brain, suggesting that the increase in pathogenicity may be due to the increased replication level of the chimeric virus. Our findings offer new insights into the pathogenesis of NDV infection.     

The hemagglutinin-neuraminidase protein of Newcastle disease virus determines tropism and virulence

The hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) plays a crucial role in the process of infection. However, the exact contribution of the HN gene to NDV pathogenesis is not known. In this study, the role of the HN gene in NDV virulence was examined. By use of reverse genetics procedures, the HN genes of a virulent recombinant NDV strain, rBeaudette C (rBC), and an avirulent recombinant NDV strain, rLaSota, were exchanged. The hemadsorption and neuraminidase activities of the chimeric viruses showed significant differences from those of their parental strains, but heterotypic F and HN pairs were equally effective in fusion promotion. The tissue tropism of the viruses was shown to be dependent on the origin of the HN protein. The chimeric virus with the HN protein derived from the virulent virus exhibited a tissue predilection similar to that of the virulent virus, and vice versa. The chimeric viruses with reciprocal HN proteins either gained or lost virulence, as determined by a standard intracerebral pathogenicity index test of chickens and by the mean death time in chicken embryos (a measure devised to classify these viruses), indicating that virulence is a function of the amino acid differences in the HN protein. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the virulence of NDV is multigenic and that the cleavability of F protein alone does not determine the virulence of a strain.     

Roles of the fusion and hemagglutinin-neuraminidase proteins in replication, tropism, and pathogenicity of avian paramyxoviruses

Virulent and moderately virulent strains of Newcastle disease virus (NDV), representing avian paramyxovirus serotype 1 (APMV-1), cause respiratory and neurological disease in chickens and other species of birds. In contrast, APMV-2 is avirulent in chickens. We investigated the role of the fusion (F) and hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) envelope glycoproteins in these contrasting phenotypes by designing chimeric viruses in which the F and HN glycoproteins or their ectodomains were exchanged individually or together between the moderately virulent, neurotropic NDV strain Beaudette C (BC) and the avirulent APMV-2 strain Yucaipa. When we attempted to exchange the complete F and HN glycoproteins individually and together between the two viruses, the only construct that could be recovered was recombinant APMV-2 strain Yucaipa (rAPMV-2), containing the NDV F glycoprotein in place of its own. This substitution of NDV F into APMV-2 was sufficient to confer the neurotropic, neuroinvasive, and neurovirulent phenotypes, in spite of all being at reduced levels compared to what was seen for NDV-BC. When the ectodomains of F and HN were exchanged individually and together, two constructs could be recovered: NDV, containing both the F and HN ectodomains of APMV-2; and APMV-2, containing both ectodomains of NDV. This supported the idea that homologous cytoplasmic tails and matched F and HN ectodomains are important for virus replication. Analysis of these viruses for replication in vitro, syncytium formation, mean embryo death time, intracerebral pathogenicity index, and replication and tropism in 1-day-old chicks and 2-week-old chickens showed that the two contrasting phenotypes of NDV and APMV-2 could largely be transferred between the two backbones by transfer of homotypic F and HN ectodomains. Further analysis provided evidence that the homologous stalk domain of NDV HN is essential for virus replication, while the globular head domain of NDV HN could be replaced with that of APMV-2 with only a minimal attenuating effect. These results demonstrate that the F and HN ectodomains together determine the cell fusion, tropism, and virulence phenotypes of NDV and APMV-2 and that the regions of HN that are critical to replication and the species-specific phenotypes include the cytoplasmic tail and stalk domain but not the globular head domain.     

Preparation and Efficacy of a Live Newcastle Disease Virus Vaccine Encapsulated in Chitosan Nanoparticles

Background

Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly contagious viral disease of poultry caused by pathogenic strains of the Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Live NDV vaccines are administered by drinking water, eyedrops or coarse aerosol spray. To further enhance mucosal immune responses, chitosan nanoparticles were developed for the mucosal delivery of a live NDV vaccine.

Methodology/Principal Findings

A lentogenic live-virus vaccine (strain LaSota) against NDV encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles were developed using an ionic crosslinking method. Chitosan nanoparticles containing the lentogenic live-virus vaccine against NDV (NDV-CS-NPs) were produced with good morphology, high stability, a mean diameter of 371.1 nm, an encapsulation rate of 77% and a zeta potential of +2.84 mV. The Western blotting analysis showed that NDV structural proteins were detected in NDV-CS-NPs. The virus release assay results of NDV-CS-NPs indicated that NDV was released from NDV-CS-NPs. Chickens immunized orally or intranasally with NDV-CS-NPs were fully protected whereas one out of five chickens immunized with the LaSota live NDV vaccine and three out of five chickens immunized with the inactivated NDV vaccine were dead after challenge with the highly virulent NDV strain F48E9.

Conclusions/Significance

NDV-CS-NPs induced better protection of immunized specific pathogen free chickens compared to the live NDV vaccine strain LaSota and the inactivated NDV vaccine. This study lays a foundation for the further development of mucosal vaccines and drugs encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles.     

三株新城疫病毒强毒株的生物学特性及全基因组序列分析

2009～2011年从北方发病鸡群和鸭群中分离出3株新城疫病毒（Newcastle disease virus,NDV）。通过致病性指数测定及交叉血凝抑制试验初步分析了3个毒株的毒力和相互之间的同源性。选取鸡源分离株SDLY01与新城疫疫苗株（LaSota）进行了交叉保护试验,选取鸭源毒株SD03对樱桃谷鸭进行攻毒实验,同时设计引物对3个毒株进行了全基因组测序,并与36株NDV参考株进行了分子进化分析。结果表明3个分离株F蛋白裂解位点的氨基酸序列均为112R-R-Q-K-R-F117符合强毒株的序列特征,并与致病性指数测定结果相符。交叉血凝抑制试验发现3个分离株与疫苗株LaSota 的抗原同源性较低为82.5%～89.4%,两个鸡源分离株间的抗原同源性为90%,而鸭源毒株SD03与鸡源毒株SDSG01同源性为100%。交叉保护试验和攻毒实验结果显示传统的LaSota疫苗能对SDLY01流行株提供100%免疫保护,但第5天仍检测到排毒;鸭源毒株SD03对樱桃谷鸭不致病,但能检出排毒,排毒期最长为5d。全基因组测序与分析表明3个毒株基因组长度均为15192bp,属于基因Ⅶd型毒株,与同期流行的鹅源及鸭源NDV毒株之间全基因组核苷酸序列具有高度的同源性,揭示鸭源、鹅源NDV与鸡源NDV在遗传学和流行病学上密切相关。     

Evaluation of the Newcastle disease virus F and HN proteins in protective immunity by using a recombinant avian paramyxovirus type 3 vector in chickens

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) belongs to serotype 1 of the avian paramyxoviruses (APMV-1) and causes severe disease in chickens. Current live attenuated NDV vaccines are not fully satisfactory. An alternative is to use a viral vector vaccine that infects chickens but does not cause disease. APMV serotype 3 infects a wide variety of avian species but does not cause any apparent disease in chickens. In this study, we constructed a reverse-genetics system for recovery of infectious APMV-3 strain Netherlands from cloned cDNAs. Two recombinant viruses, rAPMV3-F and rAPMV3-HN, were generated expressing the NDV fusion (F) and hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) proteins, respectively, from added genes. These viruses were used to immunize 2-week-old chickens by the oculonasal route in order to evaluate the contribution of each protein to the induction of NDV-specific neutralizing antibodies and protective immunity. Each virus induced high titers of NDV-specific hemagglutination inhibition and serum neutralizing antibodies, but the response to F protein was greater. Protective immunity was evaluated by challenging the immunized birds 21 days later with virulent NDV via the oculonasal, intramuscular, or intravenous route. With oculonasal or intramuscular challenge, all three recombinant viruses (rAPMV3, rAPMV3-F, and rAPMV3-HN) were protective, while all unvaccinated birds succumbed to death. These results indicated that rAPMV3 alone can provide cross-protection against NDV challenge. However, with intravenous challenge, birds immunized with rAPMV3 were not protected, whereas birds immunized with rAPMV3-F alone or in combination with rAPMV3-HN were completely protected, and birds immunized with rAPMV3-HN alone were partially protected. These results indicate that the NDV F and HN proteins are independent neutralization and protective antigens, but the contribution by F is greater. rAMPV3 represents an avirulent vaccine vector that can be used against NDV and other poultry pathogens.     

A recombinant Newcastle disease virus (NDV) expressing VP2 protein of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) protects against NDV and IBDV

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) causes a highly immunosuppressive disease in chickens. Currently available, live IBDV vaccines can lead to generation of variant viruses. We have developed an alternative vaccine that will not create variant IBDV. By using the reverse genetics approach, we devised a recombinant Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vector from a commonly used vaccine strain LaSota to express the host-protective immunogen VP2 of a variant IBDV strain GLS-5. The gene encoding the VP2 protein of the IBDV was inserted into the most 3'-proximal locus of a full-length NDV cDNA for high-level expression. We successfully recovered the recombinant virus, rLaSota/VP2. The rLaSota/VP2 was genetically stable, at least up to 12 serial passages in chicken embryos, and was shown to express the VP2 protein. The VP2 protein was not incorporated into the virions of recombinant virus. Recombinant rLaSota/VP2 replicated to a titer similar to that of parental NDV strain LaSota in chicken embryos and cell cultures. To assess protective efficacy of the rLaSota/VP2, 2-day-old specific-pathogen-free chickens were vaccinated with the recombinant virus and challenged with a highly virulent NDV strain Texas GB or IBDV variant strain GLS-5 at 3 weeks postvaccination. Vaccination with rLaSota/VP2 generated antibody responses against both NDV and IBDV and provided 90% protection against NDV and IBDV. Booster immunization induced higher levels of antibody responses against both NDV and IBDV and conferred complete protection against both viruses. These results indicate that the recombinant NDV can be used as a vaccine vector for other avian pathogens.     

Recombinant newcastle disease virus expressing a foreign viral antigen is attenuated and highly immunogenic in primates

Paramyxoviruses such as human parainfluenza viruses that bear inserts encoding protective antigens of heterologous viruses can induce an effective immunity against the heterologous viruses in experimental animals. However, vectors based on common human pathogens would be expected to be restricted in replication in the adult human population due to high seroprevalence, an effect that would reduce vector immunogenicity. To address this issue, we evaluated Newcastle disease virus (NDV), an avian paramyxovirus that is serotypically distinct from common human pathogens, as a vaccine vector. Two strains were evaluated: the attenuated vaccine strain LaSota (NDV-LS) that replicates mostly in the chicken respiratory tract and the Beaudette C (NDV-BC) strain of intermediate virulence that produces mild systemic infection in chickens. A recombinant version of each virus was modified by the insertion, between the P and M genes, of a gene cassette encoding the human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV3) hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein, a test antigen with considerable historic data. The recombinant viruses were administered to African green monkeys (NDV-BC and NDV-LS) and rhesus monkeys (NDV-BC only) by combined intranasal and intratracheal routes at a dose of 10(6.5) PFU per site, with a second equivalent dose administered 28 days later. Little or no virus shedding was detected in nose-throat swabs or tracheal lavages following immunization with either strain. In a separate experiment, direct examination of lung tissue confirmed a highly attenuated, restricted pattern of replication by parental NDV-BC. The serum antibody response to the foreign HN protein induced by the first immunization with either NDV vector was somewhat less than that observed following a wild-type HPIV3 infection; however, the titer following the second dose exceeded that observed with HPIV3 infection, even though HPIV3 replicates much more efficiently than NDV in these animals. NDV appears to be a promising vector for the development of vaccines for humans; one application would be in controlling localized outbreaks of emerging pathogens.     

Characterization of Newcastle Disease Viruses in Wild and Domestic Birds in Luxembourg from 2006 to 2008

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is one of the most important viral diseases of birds. Wild birds constitute a natural reservoir of low-virulence viruses, while poultry are the main reservoir of virulent strains. Exchange of virus between these reservoirs represents a risk for both bird populations. Samples from wild and domestic birds collected between 2006 and 2010 in Luxembourg were analyzed for NDV. Three similar avirulent genotype I strains were found in ducks during consecutive years, suggesting that the virus may have survived and spread locally. However, separate introductions cannot be excluded, because no recent complete F gene sequences of genotype I from other European countries are available. Detection of vaccine-like strains in wild waterbirds suggested the spread of vaccine strains, despite the nonvaccination policy in Luxembourg. Among domestic birds, only one chicken was positive for a genotype II strain differing from the LaSota vaccine and exhibiting a so-far-unrecognized fusion protein cleavage site of predicted low virulence. Three genotype VI strains from pigeons were the only virulent strains found. The circulation of NDV in wild and free-ranging domestic birds warrants continuous surveillance because of increased concern that low-virulence wild-bird viruses could become more virulent in domestic populations.     

Complete genome sequences of Newcastle disease virus strains circulating in chicken populations of Indonesia

Eight highly virulent Newcastle disease virus (NDV) strains were isolated from vaccinated commercial chickens in Indonesia during outbreaks in 2009 and 2010. The complete genome sequences of two NDV strains and the sequences of the surface protein genes (F and HN) of six other strains were determined. Phylogenetic analysis classified them into two new subgroups of genotype VII in the class II cluster that were genetically distinct from vaccine strains. This is the first report of complete genome sequences of NDV strains isolated from chickens in Indonesia.     

中国禽源新城疫病毒(NDV)流行株F和HN基因的遗传演化和变异频率

【目的】新城疫(ND)是中国流行最严重的疫病之一,对家禽业可造成巨大的经济损失,疫苗防控是控制ND的重要措施。新城疫病毒(NDV)流行株的遗传演化一直是研究NDV的焦点。本文利用分子信息学手段,通过比较近20年间NDV流行株不同基因型F和HN基因的分子特征和遗传变异频率,解析免疫压力下NDV的演化规律。【方法】利用Lasergene 7.1和MEGA5.1软件,选取本实验室89株NDV分离株,结合从Gen Bank下载的364株NDV流行株以及15株NDV经典毒株的基因序列,对其进行系统发育、分子特征和替代频率分析。【结果】系统发育表明,NDV已经演化为15个基因型。一致性比较显示,NDV流行株相同基因型之间核苷酸(氨基酸)高度同源,而不同基因型之间差异较大且存在明显的氨基酸变异积累。NDV基因型的分布与时间、地域密切相关,VII d亚型为中国NDV优势流行株。为评估NDV变异的频率,以Go/GD/QY/1997株(中国较早发生的基因VII亚型)为参照,1997-2015年间NDV的F/HN基因的年平均核苷酸(氨基酸)替代率为2.31×10~(-3)(2.26×10~(-3))/3.37×10~(-3)(2.35×10~(-3))。其中,1997-2001年(未使用基因VII型疫苗)F/HN基因核苷酸年平均替代率为4.72×10~(-3)/8.28×10~(-3);2002-2015年(疫苗使用后)为1.6×10~(-3)/1.84×10~(-3),显示出基因VII型疫苗在控制NDV变异速度方面具有明显的效果。【结论】生物信息学分析证实:研制出与NDV流行毒株相匹配的新型疫苗是控制当前NDV变异的关键。     

新城疫病毒F蛋白碱裂解位点修饰及外源基因的插入对 新城疫LaSota疫苗株致病力的影响

新城疫是危害养禽业发展的重要传染病.新城疫病毒(NDV)具有高度传染性和高致病性,融合蛋白(F)的F1/F2裂解位点存在多个碱性氨基酸并由此形成的泛组织嗜性一直以来被认为是NDV致病的主要决定因素.本研究利用已经构建NDV弱毒LaSota疫苗株反向遗传操作平台,将LaSota病毒F蛋白的碱裂解位点由GGRQGR↓L分别突变为GRRQRR↓F和GRRQRR↓L,在未加入TPCK胰酶的情况下分别成功拯救出突变修饰LaSota疫苗病毒株rL-FmF和rL-FmL,通过测定鸡胚平均致死时间(MDT)、脑内致病指数(ICPI)和静脉内致病指数(IVPI)等指标对其毒力进行评估,结果rL-FmF和rL-FmL,的ICPI值由LaSota的0.36分别上升为1.18和1.05,但.MDT均大于90小时,IVPI仍然均为0,表明碱裂解位点的突变可显著增强致病力.为了检测外源基因插入对病毒致病力的影响,进一步以rL-FmF为载体,分别构建并拯救出表达H5亚型禽流感病毒血凝素HA和增强绿色荧光蛋白EGFP基因的重组病毒rL-FmF-HA和rL-FmF-EGFP,经测定ICPI分别为0.67和1.10,但MDT均大于90小时,IVPI仍然均为0.结果表明,对rLaSota病毒F蛋白裂解位点2个非碱性氨基酸突变为碱性氨基酸,无论F2蛋白氨基端为F或L,均可显著增强其脑内接种致病力,接近中发型毒株标准,但对静脉内接种致病能力均无显著影响,而对鸡胚致死能力均保持rIaSota病毒缓发型特点(MDT≥90);外源基因的重组、表达可不同程度致弱病毒,其致弱程度与外源基因及其表达产物性质有关.结果提示,影响NDV致病力不仅仅局限于F蛋白裂解位点氨基酸序列;通过F裂解位点修饰及HA基因插入可以获得致病力较高但基本接近缓发型标准的重组病毒.     

新城疫不同毒株交叉鸡胚中和指数及其与F和HN基因变异的相关性

选取13株国内2001～2004年分离的新城疫流行病毒(Newcastle disease virus,NDV),经蚀斑纯化,克隆其融合蛋白(F)和血凝素.神经氨酸酶(HN)基因,结合疫苗株La Sota、Clone30和国内标准强毒株F48E9等的基因序列,进行遗传变异分析.利用纯化的病毒制备特异阳性血清,进行鸡胚交叉中和试验,确定不同NDV毒株之间的抗原相关性,并与NDV不同毒株之间的HN和F基因核苷酸(氨基酸)同源性进行相关比较.结果表明:病毒中和指数与HN基因的核苷酸(氨基酸)同源性显著相关(P<0.01,r=-0.35),与F基因呈弱相关(P<0.05,r=0.20),而与F基因前374bp的核甘酸同源性不相关.这表明,NDV的分子变异已经对NDV的抗原性变异产生了影响,研制新型的疫苗成为必然.     

Comprehensive Analysis and Characterization of Linear Antigenic Domains on HN Protein from Genotype VII Newcastle Disease Virus Using Yeast Surface Display System

Circulation of genotype VII Newcastle disease virus (NDV) has posed a great threat for the poultry industry worldwide. Antibodies against Hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN), a membrane protein of NDV with critical roles in NDV infection, have been reported to provide chickens protection from NDV infection. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the in vivo antibody responses against the linear antigenic domains of the HN protein from genotype VII NDV using a yeast surface display system. The results revealed four distinct regions of HN, P1 (1-52aa), P2 (53-192aa), P3 (193-302aa) and P4 (303-571aa), respectively, according to their antigenic potency. Analysis by FACS and ELISA assay indicated P2 to be the dominant linear antigenic domain, with the immunogenic potency to protect the majority of chickens from NDV challenge. In contrast, the P1, P3 and P4 domains showed weak antigenicity in vivo and could not protect chickens from NDV challenge. These results provide important insight into the characteristic of humoral immune responses elicited by HN of NDV in vivo.     

Newcastle disease virus in Madagascar: identification of an original genotype possibly deriving from a died out ancestor of genotype IV

In Madagascar, Newcastle disease (ND) has become enzootic after the first documented epizootics in 1946, with recurrent annual outbreaks causing mortality up to 40%. Four ND viruses recently isolated in Madagascar were genotypically and pathotypically characterised. By phylogenetic inference based on the F and HN genes, and also full-genome sequence analyses, the NDV Malagasy isolates form a cluster distant enough to constitute a new genotype hereby proposed as genotype XI. This new genotype is presumably deriving from an ancestor close to genotype IV introduced in the island probably more than 50 years ago. Our data show also that all the previously described neutralising epitopes are conserved between Malagasy and vaccine strains. However, the potential implication in vaccination failures of specific amino acid substitutions predominantly found on surface-exposed epitopes of F and HN proteins is discussed.     

新城疫分离毒HN基因的分子特性和片段同源相关性

选取国内1997-2005年分离的新城疫病毒(Newcastle disease virus,NDV)24株,经蚀斑纯化克隆其血凝素-神经氨酸酶(HN)基因,与在GenBank发表的36株国内外不同时期的NDV毒株,进行氨基酸遗传变异分析,并利用SPSS8.0软件对其不同片段的氨基酸进行同源相关比较。结果显示:国内所有NDV分离毒株氨基酸高度同源,同源性为94.4%-99.4%;与LaSota、Clone30疫苗株等的氨基酸同源性为86.9%-89%;与强毒株F48E9的氨基酸同源性为87.9%-89.9%;与国外NDV的氨基酸同源性为87.2%-96.2%。系统发育分析表明:国内NDV分离毒HN遗传距离较近,而与LaSota、Clone30和F48E9遗传距离较远。国内NDV分离毒均缺乏538-540位糖基化位点。不同片段与全长的氨基酸同源性高度相关,且与前80个氨基酸相关最密切。     

Immunization of Chickens with Newcastle Disease Virus Expressing H5 Hemagglutinin Protects against Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza Viruses

Background

Highly-pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) are the two most important poultry viruses in the world. Natural low-virulence NDV strains have been used as vaccines over the past 70 years with proven track records. We have previously developed a reverse genetics system to produce low-virulent NDV vaccine strain LaSota from cloned cDNA. This system allows us to use NDV as a vaccine vector for other avian pathogens.

Methodology/Principal Finding

Here, we constructed two recombinant NDVs (rNDVs) each of which expresses the hemagglutinin (HA) gene of HPAIV H5N1strain A/Vietnam/1203/2004 from an added gene. In one, rNDV (rNDV-HA), the open reading frame (ORF) of HA gene was expressed without modification. In the second, rNDV (rNDV-HAF), the ORF was modified so that the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of the encoded HA gene were replaced with those of the NDV F protein. The insertion of either version of the HA ORF did not increase the virulence of the rNDV vector. The HA protein was found to be incorporated into the envelopes of both rNDV-HA and rNDV-HAF. However, there was an enhanced incorporation of the HA protein in rNDV-HAF. Chickens immunized with a single dose of either rNDV-HA or rNDV-HAF induced a high titer of HPAIV H5-specific antibodies and were completely protected against challenge with NDV as well as lethal challenges of both homologous and heterologous HPAIV H5N1.

Conclusion and Significance

Our results suggest that these chimeric viruses have potential as safe and effective bivalent vaccines against NDV and. HPAIV. These vaccines will be convenient and affordable, which will be highly beneficial to the poultry industry. Furthermore, immunization with these vaccines will permit serological differentiation of vaccinated and avian influenza field virus infected animals.     

Newcastle disease virus-based live attenuated vaccine completely protects chickens and mice from lethal challenge of homologous and heterologous H5N1 avian influenza viruses

H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) has continued to spread and poses a significant threat to both animal and human health. Current influenza vaccine strategies have limitations that prevent their effective use for widespread inoculation of animals in the field. Vaccine strains of Newcastle disease virus (NDV), however, have been used successfully to easily vaccinate large numbers of animals. In this study, we used reverse genetics to construct a NDV that expressed an H5 subtype avian influenza virus (AIV) hemagglutinin (HA). Both a wild-type and a mutated HA open reading frame (ORF) from the HPAIV wild bird isolate, A/Bar-headed goose/Qinghai/3/2005 (H5N1), were inserted into the intergenic region between the P and M genes of the LaSota NDV vaccine strain. The recombinant viruses stably expressing the wild-type and mutant HA genes were found to be innocuous after intracerebral inoculation of 1-day-old chickens. A single dose of the recombinant viruses in chickens induced both NDV- and AIV H5-specific antibodies and completely protected chickens from challenge with a lethal dose of both velogenic NDV and homologous and heterologous H5N1 HPAIV. In addition, BALB/c mice immunized with the recombinant NDV-based vaccine produced H5 AIV-specific antibodies and were completely protected from homologous and heterologous lethal virus challenge. Our results indicate that recombinant NDV is suitable as a bivalent live attenuated vaccine against both NDV and AIV infection in poultry. The recombinant NDV vaccine may also have potential use in high-risk human individuals to control the pandemic spread of lethal avian influenza.