表达轮状病毒G2和G3型vp7基因重组腺病毒的免疫效果

为探索以非复制型腺病毒为表达载体的多价轮状病毒(Rotavirus,RV)基因工程疫苗的可行性,在前期工作的基础上,对表达我国G2和G3型RV流行毒株vp7基因的重组腺病毒的免疫效果进行了研究。分别用表达G2和G3型vp7基因的重组腺病毒rvAdG2VP7、rvAdG3VP7经滴鼻和灌胃两种途径免疫Balb/c小鼠,对免疫后小鼠的血清抗体、黏膜抗体和相关的细胞因子水平进行了检测和比较。结果表明,用表达G2和G3型vp7基因的重组腺病毒经滴鼻和灌胃两种途径免疫小鼠后,均可诱导机体产生较强的RV特异性免疫反应,包括体液免疫、细胞免疫和黏膜免疫,并能产生中和抗体。但免疫反应以Th2类为主,Th1类反应也占有相当的比例。本研究为新型RV基因工程疫苗的深入研究奠定了基础。     

用重组腺病毒表达A组轮状病毒主要中和抗原VP7可获得良好的免疫学效果

为探索利用重组腺病毒表达轮状病毒的结构抗原以制备轮状病毒基因工程疫苗的可行性,构建了一株可表达A组轮状病毒主要中和抗原VP7的重组腺病毒AdEasyCVP7.AdEasyCVP7感染293细胞后,RT－PCR证明VP7基因有转,Western blotting试验可检测到VP7的表达。随后,用AdEasyCVP7通过灌胃和滴鼻两种不同途径免疫小鼠,并对免疫后小鼠的血清抗体和粘膜抗体进行了比较。初次免疫后,两组小鼠均有应答,但血清抗体滴度及阳转率不同。再次免疫后,滴鼻组小鼠显示出明显的加强效果。对肺灌洗液中的sIgA及肺、肠粘膜组织匀浆中的IgA进行检测发现滴鼻组的免疫学效果明显优于灌胃组。对血清中和抗体的检测表明,初次和再次免疫后,两组小鼠血清中均有中和抗体产生。该研究为轮状病毒基因工程疫苗的免疫方案、免疫途径及免疫保护作用等的进一步研究奠定了基础。     

表达流行性感冒病毒HA基因非复制型重组腺病毒的构建及免疫效果的研究

通过RT-PCR扩增流行性感冒(流感)病毒HA基因,克隆至腺病毒穿梭载体pAd Track-MV,该重组质粒与腺病毒DNA共转化E．coli BJ5183,通过细菌内同源重组获得重组腺病毒DNA,将其转染293细胞获得重组腺病毒。PCR证实HA基因已整合至腺病毒基因组中,Western blot结果检测到重组病毒感染293细胞中HA的表达。重组病毒经滴鼻和灌胃两种途径免疫小鼠,结果2次免疫后滴鼻组和灌胃组均产生明显的免疫应答,血清IgG抗体滴度分别为1：10000和1：1000。除血清IgG外,还在肺灌洗液中检测到分泌型IgA。滴鼻组的免疫效果强于灌胃组。经小剂量攻毒实验显示,重组腺病毒保护率为100％。该文成功构建了表达流感病毒HA基因的非复制型重组腺病毒,重组病毒免疫小鼠可产生较好的免疫效果。     

表达流感病毒神经氨酸酶基因的重组腺病毒的构建

通过RT-PCR方法扩增流感病毒神经氨酸酶基因,将其克隆到腺病毒穿梭载体pTrackCMV,此重组质粒与腺病毒DNA共转化大肠杆菌BJ5183,通过细菌内同源重组获得重组腺病毒DNA,将其转染293细胞获得重组腺病毒.经PCR证实目的基因已整合至腺病毒基因组中,western blot检测到神经氨酸酶的表达.重组病毒经滴鼻和灌胃两种途径免疫小鼠,结果表明2次免疫后滴鼻组和灌胃组均产生明显的免疫应答反应,滴鼻组的免疫效果优于灌胃组.     

汉滩病毒囊膜糖蛋白G1、G2腺病毒载体的表达及免疫分析

为了研究利用腺病毒载体表达汉滩病毒囊膜糖蛋白G1、G2的可行性及免疫原性.通过克隆76-118株G1、G2基因至腺病毒表达载体pAdTrackCMV,得到阳性克隆pAdTrackCMV-G1、G2.PmeI线性化的阳性克隆与腺病毒骨架载体pAdeasy-1共转化BJ5183宿主菌,经同源重组后得到重组病毒rAdeasy-G1、rAdeasy-G2.重组病毒经PacI线性化后,脂质体介导转染293细胞,使重组病毒得到扩增.将重组病毒免疫Balb/c小鼠,并通过ELISA和间接免疫荧光对免疫小鼠血清进行了分析.结果表明,rAdeasy-G1组六只免疫小鼠、rAdeasy-G2组4只免疫小鼠均产生了能与汉滩病毒抗原发生反应的特异抗体.该研究为进一步研制以腺病毒为活载体的汉坦病毒工程疫苗奠定了基础.     

汉滩病毒囊膜糖蛋白G1、G2腺病毒载体的表达及免疫分析

为了研究利用腺病毒载体表达汉滩病毒囊膜糖蛋白G1、G2的可行性及免疫原性。通过克隆76-118株G1、G2基因至腺病毒表达载体pAdTrackCMV,得到阳性克隆padTrackCMV-G1、G2。PmeI线性化的阳性克隆与腺病毒骨架载体pAdeasy-1共转化BJ5183宿主菌,经同源重组后得到重组病毒rAdeasy-G1、rAdeasy-G2。重组病毒经PacI线性化后,脂质体介导转染293细胞,使重组病毒得到扩增。将重组病毒免疫Balb／c小鼠,并通过ELISA和间接免疫荧光对免疫小鼠血清进行了分析。结果表明,rAdeasy—G1组六只免疫小鼠、rAdeasy—G2组4只免疫小鼠均产生了能与汉滩病毒抗原发生反应的特异抗体。该研究为进一步研制以腺病毒为活载体的汉坦病毒工程疫苗奠定了基础。     

重组腺病毒载体乙肝疫苗的免疫学研究

目的比较腺病毒(Adenovirus,Ad)载体乙型肝炎病毒(Hapotitis B virus,HBV)疫苗鼻腔黏膜、皮下注射接种小鼠免疫效果.方法以腺病毒为载体、以HBV preS2/S为目的基因构建重组疫苗,然后将重组疫苗分别鼻黏膜和皮下接种BALB/c小鼠,与阴性对照组(载体对照组、生理盐水对照组)比较接种重组疫苗35、72 d的免疫效果.结果鼻腔接种Ad HBV疫苗组动物在72 d时血清抗体终末效价为1/2 470,同时可提高NK细胞杀伤能力和干扰素-γ、IL-2含量升高.皮下注射Ad HBV在免疫35 d和72 d、1∶200血清稀释度均未测到阳性抗体(A值,P/N值＜2.1).结论重组疫苗黏膜接种诱导小鼠产生特异抗体和细胞免疫反应高于皮下接种途径.     

表达流感病毒神经氨酸酶基因的重组腺病毒的构建

通过RT-PCR方法扩增流感病毒神经氨酸酶基因,将其克隆到腺病毒穿梭载体pTrackCMV,此重组质粒与腺病毒DNA共转化大肠杆菌BJ5183,通过细菌内同源重组获得重组腺病毒DNA,将其转染293细胞获得重组腺病毒。经PCR证实目的基因已整合至腺病毒基因组中,western blot检测到神经氨酸酶的表达。重组病毒经筋鼻和灌胃两种途径免疫小鼠,结果表明2次免疫后滴鼻组和灌胃组均产生明显的免疫应答反应,滴鼻组的免疫效果优于灌胃组。     

表达尼帕病毒G囊膜糖蛋白重组牛痘病毒的研究

采用牛痘病毒WR株,构建了表达哺乳动物密码子优化的NiV G蛋白基因的重组病毒rWR-NiV-G。Westernblot证实大小为66kDa的重组G蛋白在rWR-NiV-G感染的Hela细胞中获得表达;采用兔抗NiV高免血清间接免疫荧光检测重组痘病毒表达G蛋白显示出良好的特异免疫反应原性。rWR-NiV-G感染NiV敏感的BHK细胞系,并与NiV融合蛋白F共同表达,可形成强烈细胞融合现象。rWR-NiV-G感染免疫BALB/c小鼠,可诱导显著的NiV G蛋白特异体液免疫反应。以原核表达NiV G蛋白片段为包被抗原,间接ELISA检测rWR-NiV-G感染免疫小鼠血清中的G蛋白特异抗体,具有良好的敏感性和特异性。同时,rWR-NiV-G感染免疫小鼠血清中的G蛋白特异抗体可有效中和NiV囊膜蛋白F和G介导的伪型VSV重组病毒侵入NiV易感宿主细胞的感染性。结果表明,重组牛痘病毒表达的NiV G蛋白有良好的免疫原性和生物学活性功能,为进一步深入研究NiV G蛋白生物学功能、免疫原性及重组活载体疫苗研究奠定了重要基础。     

表达轮状病毒nsp4基因重组腺病毒的构建与免疫评价

目的:应用非复制腺病毒表达系统构建表达人轮状病毒非结构蛋白4(NSP4)的重组腺病毒,初步评价其免疫保护效果。方法:构建含野生轮状病毒NSP4基因的穿梭质粒pshuttle-NSP4,与腺病毒骨架质粒pAdeasy经同源重组后在Ad-293细胞中包装获得pAd-NSP4重组腺病毒颗粒。电镜、RT-PCR、免疫荧光等方法鉴定病毒特征及在体外细胞中的表达。肌肉注射及滴鼻方式免疫小鼠,检测小鼠血清抗体效价及其中和保护效果。结果:获得了滴度为108.25CCID50/ml的重组腺病毒pAd-NSP4,免疫荧光检测到特异性目的蛋白的表达。二次免疫后肌肉注射和滴鼻小鼠的ELISA血清平均效价分别为1∶320和1∶1436.8;中和抗体效价1∶45.3和1∶71.8。结论:表达轮状病毒NSP4蛋白的非复制型重组腺病毒颗粒具有良好的免疫原性。滴鼻途径比肌肉注射可更加有效地诱导小鼠的免疫应答。     

A dimeric RNA quadruplex architecture comprised of two G:G(:A):G:G(:A) hexads,G:G:G:G tetrads and UUUU loops

Using CD and NMR, we determined the structure of an RNA oligomer, r(GGAGGUUUUGGAGG) (R14), comprising two GGAGG segments joined by a UUUU segment. A modified quadruplex structure was observed for r(GGAGGUUUUGGAGG) in solution even in the absence of K(+). An unusually stable dimeric RNA quadruplex architecture formed from two strands of r(GGAGGUUUUGGAGG) at low K(+) concentration is reported here. In each strand of r(GGAGGUUUUGGAGG), two sets of successive turns in the GGAGG segments and turns at both ends of the UUUU loops drive four G-G steps to align in a parallel manner, a core with two stacked G-tetrads being formed. Two adenine bases bind to two edges of one G:G:G:G tetrad through the sheared G:A mismatch augmenting the tetrad into a G:G(:A):G:G(:A) hexad. Thus, one molecule of r(GGAGGUUUUGGAGG) folds into a modified quadruplex comprising a G:G:G:G tetrad, a UUUU double-chain reversal loop and a G:G(:A):G:G(:A) hexad. Two such molecules further associate by stacking through the dimeric hexad-hexad interface with a rotational symmetry. The ribose rings of most nucleotides take S (close to C2'-endo) puckering, which is unusual for an RNA. K(+) can increase the stability of this quadruplex structure; the number of bound K(+) was estimated from the results of the titration experiment. Besides G:G and G:A mismatches, a network of hydrogen bonds including O4'-NH(2) and C-H..O hydrogen bonds, and the extensive base stacking contribute to the high thermodynamic stability of R14. Our results could provide the stereochemical and thermodynamic basis for elucidating the biological role of the GGAGG-containing RNA segments abundantly existing in various RNAs. Relevance to quadruplex-mediated mRNA-FMRP binding and HIV-1 genome RNA dimerization is discussed.     

Big G,little G: G proteins and actin cytoskeletal reorganization

It has been known for some time that stimulation of heterotrimeric G protein-coupled receptors can cause cytoskeletal reorganization. A recent report in Developmental Cell demonstrates that the activation of a tyrosine kinase, C-terminal Src kinase, by heterotrimeric G protein subunits provides the trigger for Rho-dependent actin stress fiber formation.     

Two G12 family G proteins, G alpha12 and G alpha13, show different subcellular localization

The G alpha subunits of the G12 family of heterotrimeric G proteins, G alpha12 and G alpha13, are closely related in sequences and some effectors, but they often act through different pathways or bind to different proteins. We have examined subcellular distribution of these two G proteins and found that endogenous G alpha12 and G alpha13 localize in membrane and cytoplasmic fractions, respectively. Exogenously expressed G alpha12 and G alpha13 also localize in membrane and cytoplasmic fractions, respectively, in COS-7 cells. Stimulation of lysophosphatidic acid receptor coupled to G alpha13 markedly promotes the translocation of G alpha13 from cytoplasm to membrane. This different localization of G alpha12 and G alpha13 may explain some of the nonoverlapping actions of G alpha12 and G alpha13.     

Intramolecular higher order packing of parallel quadruplexes comprising a G:G:G:G tetrad and a G(:A):G(:A):G(:A):G heptad of GGA triplet repeat DNA

GGA triplet repeats are widely dispersed throughout eukaryotic genomes and are frequently located within biologically important regions such as gene regulatory regions and recombination hot spot sites. We determined the structure of d(GGA)4 (12-mer) under physiological conditions and founded the formation of an intramolecular parallel quadruplex for the first time. Later, a similar architecture to that of the intramolecular parallel quadruplex was found for a telomere DNA in the crystalline state. Here, we have determined the structure of d(GGA)8 (24-mer) under physiological conditions. Two intramolecular parallel quadruplexes comprising a G:G:G:G tetrad and a G(:A):G(:A):G(:A):G heptad are formed in d(GGA)8. These quadruplexes are packed in a tail-to-tail manner. This is the first demonstration of the intramolecular higher order packing of quadruplexes at atomic resolution. K+ ions, but not Na+ ones, are critically required for the formation of this unique structure. The elucidated structure suggests the mechanisms underlying the biological events related to the GGA triplet repeat. Furthermore, in the light of the structure, the mode of the higher order packing of the telomere DNA is discussed.     

Signalling mechanisms of RhoGTPase regulation by the heterotrimeric G proteins G12 and G13

G protein-mediated signal transduction can transduce signals from a large variety of extracellular stimuli into cells and is the most widely used mechanism for cell communication at the membrane. The RhoGTPase family has been well established as key regulators of cell growth, differentiation and cell shape changes. Among G protein-mediated signal transduction, G12/13-mediated signalling is one mechanism to regulate RhoGTPase activity in response to extracellular stimuli. The alpha subunits of G12 or G13 have been shown to interact with members of the RH domain containing guanine nucleotide exchange factors for Rho (RH-RhoGEF) family of proteins to directly connect G protein-mediated signalling and RhoGTPase signalling. The G12/13-RH-RhoGEF signalling mechanism is well conserved over species and is involved in critical steps for cell physiology and disease conditions, including embryonic development, oncogenesis and cancer metastasis. In this review, we will summarize current progress on this important signalling mechanism.     

Micropropagation of four Gentiana species (G. lutea, G. cruciata, G. purpurea and G. acaulis)

The growth of axillary shoots was initiated on nodal stem segments, excised from aseptically grown seedlings of Gentiana acaulis L., G. cruciata L., G. lutea L. and G. purpurea L. In later subcultures, a basal callus tissue developed on the shoots, giving rise to de novo formed buds. Optimum benzyladenine and indoleacetic acid combinations for shoot development were established. They were slightly different in the four species. From 35-70% of shoots rooted spontaneously, except in G. lutea, in which adventitious roots were induced by applying naphthaleneacetic acid. It was conduded that the four Gentiana species were amenable to propagation in vitro. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

G proteins G12 and G13 control the dynamic turnover of growth factor-induced dorsal ruffles

Growth factors induce massive actin cytoskeletal remodeling in cells. These reorganization events underlie various cellular responses such as cell migration and morphological changes. One major form of actin reorganization is the formation and disassembly of dorsal ruffles (also named waves, dorsal rings, or circular ruffles). Dorsal ruffles are involved in physiological functions including cell migration, invasion, macropinocytosis, plasma membrane recycling, and others. Growth factors initiate rapid formation (within 5 min) of circular membrane ruffles, and these ruffles move along the dorsal side of the cells, constrict, close, and eventually disassemble ( approximately 20 min). Considerable attention has been devoted to the mechanism by which growth factors induce the formation of dorsal ruffles. However, little is known of the mechanism by which these ruffles are disassembled. Here we have shown that G proteins G(12) and G(13) control the rate of disassembly of dorsal ruffles. In Galpha(12)(-/-)Galpha(13)(-/-) fibroblast cells, dorsal ruffles induced by growth factor treatment remain visible substantially longer ( approximately 60 min) than in wild-type cells, whereas the rate of formation of these ruffles was the same with or without Galpha(12) and Galpha(13). Thus, Galpha(12)/Galpha(13) critically regulate dorsal ruffle turnover.