戊肝病毒Th表位肽免疫可增强其载体蛋白的体液免疫应答

戊型肝炎病毒衣壳蛋白内包含一个强H-2d限制性Th表位P34。以该表位肽免疫BALB/c鼠,其脾细胞能够在体外识别重组戊型肝炎病毒衣壳蛋白,剔除实验表明应答细胞几乎完全是CD4 T细胞,证明P34表位肽能有效诱导产生特异性Th细胞。以P34肽初免小鼠,再以包含该表位的重组戊型肝炎病毒抗原(E2)免疫,结果表明,10μg、20μgE2免疫组在免疫后第1周即有部分小鼠产生抗体,到第3周所有小鼠均能够产生抗体;而对照肽P18初免的小鼠,以20μgE2加强免疫亦无法诱导小鼠产生抗体。这表明,Th表位肽P34初免诱导产生的Th细胞能够有效促进小鼠对携带该表位的载体蛋白的体液免疫应答。     

戊型肝炎病毒颗粒性蛋白疫苗H-2d限制性Th表位的筛选

戊型肝炎病毒衣壳蛋白重组抗原HEV 239能形成类病毒颗粒,具备演变成多价疫苗的载体的潜力,此文旨在筛选、鉴定其内包含的H-2d限制性Th表位。以50μg HEV 239蛋白与完全弗式佐剂混合后皮下免疫BALB/c鼠,以覆盖HEV 239蛋白全长的15氨基酸肽库体外刺激其脾细胞,用IFN--γELISPOT方法检测其细胞免疫应答,并通过磁珠剔除脾细胞中CD4 T细胞或CD8 T细胞以分析筛选得到的T细胞表位的特性。结果显示:HEV 239中包含优势的T细胞表位P34(HEV PORF2 AA533~AA547,HSKTF FVLPL RGKLS)及数个较弱的T细胞表位,P34对HEV 239免疫的BALB/c鼠脾细胞的刺激效果与HEV 239蛋白相当,剔除实验表明该表位为CD4 T细胞表位,即Th表位。     

人乳头瘤病毒11型L1主要衣壳蛋白的B细胞表位多肽作为疫苗的研究

分析了人乳头瘤病毒11型(HPV11)L1主要衣壳蛋白的B细胞优势表位,并以此为基础研制表位多肽疫苗。研究中采用Goldkey和．PC／Gene软件系统,分析HPV11的L1主要衣壳蛋白的二级结构、抗原性、B细胞表位,并引人氨基酸抗原性指数,综合评估其B细胞优势表位。Fmoc固相合成表位多肽,高效液相层析方法纯化,毛细管电泳分析其纯度。与0．2ml佐剂完全乳化后,按50μg／只的剂量免疫小鼠,进行动物水平的免疫效果评价。取免疫小鼠血清,与HPV11 DNA阳性的尖锐湿疣患者的疣体上清液结合,鉴定免疫后小鼠所产生抗体的特异性。发现HPV11的L1主要衣壳蛋白的第426～439位和第487～501位具有较高的免疫原性,可明显诱导小鼠血清抗体滴度升高,且该抗体与人尖锐湿疣的疣体组织上清液呈阳性反应。说明所选这两个肽段为HPV11的L1主要衣壳蛋白的B细胞优势表位,但是否具有功能特异性,尚需进一步研究。     

表达重组猪瘟病毒E290多肽的干酪乳杆菌口服免疫特性及诱导特异性CTL反应的研究

经PCR扩增获得约60bp编码猪瘟病毒T细胞表位E290多肽基因片段,克隆至表达载体pPG-VP2中VP2基因5′端上游,命名为pPG-VP2-E290,电转化干酪乳杆菌,构建了表达猪瘟病毒E290多肽的重组乳酸菌系统。口服免疫BALB/c鼠和新西兰兔,检测诱导小鼠和兔体内产生特异性抗猪瘟病毒E290多肽IgG水平,并对E290多肽的CTL活性进行检测,同时对免疫兔进行猪瘟病毒攻毒实验,检测E290多肽抗体对免疫兔的保护作用。构建的重组猪瘟病毒T细胞表位的干酪乳杆菌具有良好的免疫性,口服免疫后的小鼠和兔血清中均检测到了较高水平的抗E290多肽抗体IgG,且能诱导小鼠机体产生抗猪瘟病毒的特异性CTL反应,亦证实猪瘟病毒E290免疫兔能够抵抗猪瘟病毒的攻击。     

乙型脑炎病毒DNA初免-蛋白加强策略在小鼠模型上的免疫效应评价

为了评价基因Ⅰ型乙型脑炎病毒prM-E DNA疫苗与prM和EⅢ融合抗原亚单位疫苗采用DNA初免-蛋白加强免疫策略对小鼠的免疫效果,本研究将prM-E融合基因插入到pVAX1真核表达载体中,构建重组表达载体prM-E-pVAX1作为DNA疫苗进行初免,利用原核表达系统获得的prM和EⅢ融合抗原作为亚单位疫苗进行加强免疫。将32只4−6周龄雌性BALB/c小鼠随机分成4组,设置prM-E-pVAX1 DNA疫苗组、DNA初免-蛋白加强免疫组、prM和EⅢ融合抗原亚单位疫苗组及pVAX1载体对照组,通过ELISA检测血清中特异性抗体水平;通过噬斑减少中和试验滴定中和抗体滴度;通过细胞因子表达丰度和淋巴细胞增殖试验分析不同疫苗免疫组诱导产生的细胞免疫反应。结果表明,用DNA初免-蛋白加强策略免疫的小鼠诱导产生的中和抗体滴度略高于prM和EⅢ融合抗原亚单位疫苗免疫组,显著高于prM-E-pVAX1 DNA疫苗免疫组。DNA初免-蛋白加强策略在小鼠模型中诱导产生了有效的Th1/Th2型免疫反应,特别是显著诱导了Th1型细胞免疫反应。本研究为预防流行性乙型脑炎提供了新的免疫策略和理论参考依据。     

戊型肝炎病毒重组颗粒性蛋白疫苗在小鼠体内诱导的免疫应答研究

HEV 239是福建省医学分子病毒学研究中心实验室研制的一种戊型肝炎病毒（HEV）重组颗粒性蛋白疫苗,该文旨在研究HEV239蛋白疫苗在小鼠体内诱导产生特异性免疫应答的情况.将5μg HEV 239蛋白疫苗（239-Pro）、加铝佐剂疫苗（239-Vac）或加弗氏佐剂疫苗（239-CFA）肌肉注射免疫BALB/c鼠3次,第8周检测鼠血清抗HEV抗体及其亚类,同时用ELISPOT方法检测细胞毒性T细胞（CTL）应答.结果显示：239-Vac诱导的抗体滴度与239-CFA相当,高于无佐剂的239-Pro.239-Vac诱导的抗体中,IgG1/IgG2a比值显著高于239-CFA和239-Pro,主要为Th2型应答.除239-CFA之外,239-Vac和239-Pro也可诱导出一定的HEV抗原特异性I型Tc应答.提示：重组抗原HEV 239能诱导良好的抗体应答及一定的Tc1应答.     

一种新型T细胞免疫原的原核表达及对口蹄疫疫苗的免疫增强作用

主要探讨了T细胞免疫原TI对口蹄疫疫苗的免疫增强作用。设计并原核表达产生了一种包含口蹄疫病毒VP1,VP4,3A和3D蛋白上多个T细胞表位与两个通用T细胞表位的T细胞免疫原,命名为TI;同时表达了O和Asia 1两个型口蹄疫病毒 VP1 蛋白的串联编码基因,表达产物命名为OA-VP1。将上述T细胞免疫原分别与OA-VP1和口蹄疫灭活疫苗按不同剂量组合免疫小鼠,于免疫后不同时间测定各组小鼠的体液与细胞免疫应答情况。采用微量中和试验检测小鼠O型和Asia1型中和抗体,采用流式细胞检测技术和测定γ-干扰素的水平来分析不同免疫组小鼠细胞免疫的水平。结果显示,与灭活疫苗或OA-VP1单独免疫组相比,添加TI抗原后灭活疫苗 (P＜0.01) 和OA-VP1免疫组(P＜0.05)小鼠均能产生高水平的特异性中和抗体;且CD4+ T细胞数量显著增多,IFN-γ产生水平显著升高 (P＜0.01)。说明TI抗原具有很好的诱导特异性体液与细胞免疫应答的作用,是一种很好的免疫增效剂,可作为口蹄疫蛋白亚单位疫苗和灭活疫苗中的一种有效成分,以提高疫苗的免疫效果。     

人乳头瘤病毒11型L2NE7E6融合蛋白的原核表达及其诱发的T细胞免疫反应

目的:在原核表达系统中表达人乳头瘤病毒11型(HPV11)L2NE7E6融合蛋白,纯化蛋白后免疫小鼠,检测其诱发的T细胞免疫水平,并筛选HPV11 E6、E7特异的T细胞表位肽。方法:用重叠PCR方法构建HPV11L2NE7E6融合基因并插入原核表达质粒,在大肠杆菌中经IPTG诱导表达融合蛋白L2NE7E6,用SDS-PAGE和West-ern印迹鉴定融合蛋白的表达。Q柱纯化蛋白后免疫C57BL/6小鼠,分别用覆盖HPV11 E6和E7蛋白序列的肽库,采用酶联免疫斑点法(ELISPOT)检测其诱发的E7、E6特异的T细胞免疫反应,并筛选E7、E6特异的T细胞表位肽。结果:在原核表达系统中有效表达了HPV11 L2NE7E6融合蛋白,蛋白纯化后免疫C57BL/6小鼠,分别能检测到针对HPV11 E6、E7肽库刺激产生的特异性T细胞免疫反应。经肽池筛选到1条强的E6 T细胞表位肽E6aa41-55(AEI-YAYAYKNLKVVW);而E7只筛选到2条弱的T细胞表位肽,分别为E7aa53-67(QILTCCCGCDSNVRL)和E7aa73-87(DGDIRQLQDLLLGTL)。结论:HPV11 L2NE7E6融合蛋白能诱发小鼠产生E6、E7特异性细胞免疫反应,可作为尖锐湿疣免疫治疗候选疫苗。     

猪瘟病毒T细胞表位E290多肽与猪细小病毒VP2蛋白在干酪乳杆菌中的共表达及免疫小鼠特异性抗体的测定

将分别编码猪瘟病毒T细胞表位E290多肽和猪细小病毒主要保护性抗原VP2蛋白的重组基因插入干酪乳杆菌分泌型表达载体pPG中,构建了重组表达载体pPG-VP2-E290,将其电转化干酪乳杆菌Lactobacillus casei 393,获得了猪瘟病毒T细胞表位E290多肽与猪细小病毒VP2蛋白的乳酸菌共表达系统,经2%乳糖在MRS培养基中的诱导表达,对诱导表达的菌体及培养上清液进行SDS-PAGE检测表明,有约70kDa蛋白得到了表达,表达蛋白的大小与理论值相符。Western blot分析结果表明所表达的蛋白具有与天然病毒蛋白一样的抗原特异性。以诱导表达上清液作为抗原进行的间接ELISA实验也表明,重组的目的蛋白获得了分泌表达。将该重组干酪乳杆菌经口服接种途径免疫BALB/c小鼠,收集粪便样品检测小鼠产生抗PPV的特异性sIgA抗体,采集血液样本检测血清中抗PPV及抗E290的特异性IgG。结果表明分泌型的重组菌pPG-VP2-E290/L.casei 393免疫小鼠能够产生明显的抗体水平,为重组猪瘟与猪细小病毒乳酸菌口服活菌疫苗的研制奠定了重要的物质基础。     

人乳头瘤病毒-6 L1蛋白B-细胞优势表位作为多肽疫苗的研究

本研究分析了人乳头瘤病毒-6型L1外壳蛋白之B-细胞优势表位,并拟以此为基础制作表位多肽疫苗。研究中采用Goldkey和PC／Gene软件系统综合分析HPV6之L1蛋白B-细胞优势表位后,Fmoc固相合成表位多肽,通过HPLC纯化和毛细管电泳分析其纯度。与佐剂完全乳化后,免疫小鼠,进行动物水平的免疫效果评价。取免疫小鼠血清,与HPV-6 DNA阳性的尖锐湿疣患者疣体组织上清液结合,以鉴定免疫小鼠所产生抗体的特异性。发现L1蛋白第425-439位和第486-500位具有较高的免疫原性,可明显诱导小鼠血清抗体滴度升高,且该抗体与人尖锐湿疣疣体组织上清液呈阳性反应。说明所选这两个肽段为HPV6之L1蛋白的B-细胞优势表位,但诱导产生的抗体是否具有功能特异性,正在做进一步研究。     

A Unique Protease Cleavage Site Predicted in the Spike Protein of the Novel Pneumonia Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Potentially Related to Viral Transmissibility

正Dear Editor,In December 2019, a novel human coronavirus caused an epidemic of severe pneumonia(Coronavirus Disease 2019,COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei, China(Wu et al. 2020; Zhu et al. 2020). So far, this virus has spread to all areas of China and even to other countries. The epidemic has caused 67,102 confirmed infections with 1526 fatal cases     

Curcuminoids as inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase: A receptor based pharmacophore study with distance mapping of the active site

Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric that interacts irreversibly forming an adduct with thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an enzyme responsible for redox control of cell and defence against oxidative stress. Docking at both the active sites of TrxR was performed to compare the potency of three naturally occurring curcuminoids, namely curcumin, demethoxy curcumin and bis-demethoxy curcumin. Results show that active sites of TrxR occur at the junction of E and F chains. Volume and area of both cavities is predicted. It has been concluded by distance mapping of the most active conformations that Se atom of catalytic residue SeCYS498, is at a distance of 3.56 from C13 of demethoxy curcumin at the E chain active site, whereas C13 carbon atom forms adduct with Se atom of SeCys 498. We report that at least one methoxy group in curcuminoids is necessary for interation with catalytic residues of thioredoxin. Pharmacophore of both active sites of the TrxR receptor for curcumin and demethoxy curcumin molecules has been drawn and proposed for design and synthesis of most probable potent antiproliferative synthetic drugs.     

Comparative morphology of the carpel in the Liliaceae: Hewardieae, Petrosavieae, and Tricyrteae

The young pistils in the melanthioid tribes, Hewardieae, Petrosavieae and Tricyrteae, are uniformly tricarpellate and syncarpous. They lack raphide idioblasts. All are multiovulate, with bitegmic ovules. The Petrosavieae are marked by the presence of septal glands and incomplete syncarpy. Tepals and stamens adhere to the ovary in the Hewardieae and the Petrosavieae but not in the Tricyrteae. Two vascular bundles occur in the stamens of the Hewartlieae and Tricyrtis latifolia. Ventral bundles in the upper part of the ovary of the Hewardieae are continuous with compound septal bundles and placental bundles in the lower part. Putative ventral bundles occur in the alternate position in the Tricyrteae and putative placental bundles in the opposite. position in the Petrosavieae. The dichtomously branched stigma in each carpel of the Tricyrteae is supplied by a bifurcated dorsal bundle.     

Enterovirus 71 3C proteolytically processes the histone H3 N-terminal tail during infection

Highlights
1. The N-terminal tail of histone H3 is specifically cleaved during EV71 infection.
2. Viral protease 3C is identified as a protease responsible for proteolytically processing the N-terminal H3 tail.
3. Our finding reveals a new epigenetic regulatory mechanism for Enterovirus 71 in virus-host interactions.     

Detection of EBV and HHV6 in the Brain Tissue of Patients with Rasmussen’s Encephalitis

Rasmussen’s encephalitis (RE) is a rare pediatric neurological disorder, and the exact etiology is not clear. Viral infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of RE, but conflicting results have reported. In this study, we evaluated the expression of both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus (HHV) 6 antigens in brain sections from 30 patients with RE and 16 control individuals by immunohistochemistry. In the RE group, EBV and HHV6 antigens were detected in 56.7% (17/30) and 50% (15/30) of individuals, respectively. In contrast, no detectable EBV and HHV6 antigen expression was found in brain tissues of the control group. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in 20.0% (6/30) of individuals. In particular, a 4-year-old boy had a typical clinical course, including a medical history of viral encephalitis, intractable epilepsy, and hemispheric atrophy. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in neurons and astrocytes in the brain tissue, accompanied by a high frequency of CD8⁺ T cells. Our results suggest that EBV and HHV6 infection and the activation of CD8⁺ T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of RE.     

Perinatal Vertical Transmission of Chikungunya Virus in Ruili,a Town on the Border between China and Myanmar

正Dear Editor,Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an arbovirus in the family of Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus, is transmitted by the A.aegyptii or A. albopictus mosquito, and causes disease in humans characterized by fever, rash, and arthralgia (Silva and Dermody 2017; Suhrbier 2019). It was first reported in 1953 in Tanzania, and caused only a few outbreaks and sporadic cases in Africa and Asia in last century. However, in the epidemic in 2004, CHIKV acquired mutations that conferred enhanced transmission by the A. albopictus mosquito(Schuffenecker et al. 2006). Since then, it has successively caused outbreaks in Africa, the Indian Ocean, South East Asia, the South America, and Europe (Zeller et al. 2016).     

Development of a Novel Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Method for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2

In conclusion, the novel visual RT-LAMP assay is a simple, rapid, and sensitive approach for detection of SARS-CoV-2, and it is ready for application in primary care and community hospitals or health care centers, and even patients' own houses in response to the current SARS-CoV-2 epidemic because the assay does not require sophisticated equipment and skilled personnel. Furthermore, it is also ready to be used in fields for screening samples from wild animals and environments to facilitate the identification of potential intermediate hosts that mediate the cross-species transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from bats to humans.