绿脓杆菌外膜蛋白OprF的生物信息学分析

[目的]利用生物信息学方法预测绿脓杆菌外膜蛋白OprF的理化性质、高级结构和细胞表位。[方法]采用在线软件预测OprF蛋白的理化性质;Signal P 4.1软件预测OprF信号肽序列;利用TMHMM软件预测ACFA蛋白跨膜结构;SOPMA服务器预测蛋白的二级结构;Swiss-Model程序预测OprF三维结构;综合ABCpred与Bepi Pred方案预测OprF的B细胞表位;运用神经网络法预测OprF的CTL表位;使用MHC-Ⅱ类分子结合肽程序预测OprF的Th细胞表位。[结果]OprF为亲水性蛋白;1~24位氨基酸为信号肽序列;存在多个酶切位点;无跨膜结构并定位于细胞膜外;二级结构中含无规则卷曲34.36%、α-螺旋31.90%、β-转角11.66%、β-片层22.09%;并可能存在3个B细胞表位、2个CTL表位、4个Th细胞表位。[结论]系统分析了OprF蛋白的理化性质、信号肽、跨膜结构、二级与三级结构,以及B、T细胞抗原表位。     

口蹄疫病毒株AF72 VP1的结构构建与B细胞表位预测

以口蹄疫病毒株AF72 RNA为模板,反转录并扩增目的基因,PCR纯化产物与pGEM-T easy载体连接并转化JM109菌株,用凝胶电泳、PCR和EcoRⅠ酶切法鉴定为阳性的重组质粒进行测序。比对测序结果确定AF72 VP1的核苷酸序列,利用同源建模的方法建立AF72 VP1结构蛋白的3D结构,在此基础上,综合亲水性、可塑性、抗原指数以及表面可能性等参数预测AF72 VP1结构蛋白的B细胞抗原表位。结果显示,VP1结构蛋白呈现较规则的空间构象,其中5-11、24-30、43-47、82-87、132-147和196-203氨基酸区段是AF72 VP1结构蛋白可能的B细胞抗原表位区域,该结果将为进一步的FMDV多表位疫苗研究提供很有价值的参考信息。     

猪链球菌Lmb、Sao、ZnuA蛋白的抗原表位、二级结构分析及重组表位疫苗分子的设计

[目的]利用生物信息学方法设计猪链球菌候选疫苗蛋白Lmb、Sao、Znu A的重组表位多肽分子。[方法]通过ABCpred和Bepi Pred方案,预测猪链球菌Lmb、Sao、Znu A蛋白的B细胞表位。运用神经网络与量化矩阵法预测蛋白的CTL表位。使用MHC-Ⅱ类分子结合肽预测蛋白的Th表位。采用DNASTAR软件与SOPMA服务器预测蛋白二级结构,进而验证获得的B/T细胞表位的准确性。通过DNASTAR Protean软件重组拼接获得的B/T细胞抗原表位,设计抗原性较好的猪链球菌重组表位多肽。[结果]猪链球菌Lmb、Sao、Znu A蛋白的优势B细胞表位数分别为4个、4个和3个;CTL表位数各为1个;Th表位数分别为2个、1个和1个。二级结构预测显示这些表位大多处于蛋白易于产生表位的暴露表面、无规则卷曲与转角等位置。并设计获得抗原性较好的重组表位多肽。[结论]设计了抗原性较好的猪链球菌Lmb、Sao、Znu A蛋白的重组表位多肽。     

人白细胞介素-36受体拮抗剂的二级结构及B细胞表位的预测

[目的]预测人白细胞介素-36受体拮抗剂(interleukin-36 receptor antagonist,IL-36Ra)蛋白的特性及其B细胞抗原表位。[方法]以人IL-36Ra基因序列为基础,应用Expasy工具中Prot Param程序分析人IL-36Ra蛋白的氨基酸组成、理化性质和二级结构;采用Prot Scale网络服务器预测亲水性和柔韧性;采用Emini和Kolaskar方案分析其可及性。结合其二级结构的特性,进一步预测IL-36Ra的B细胞抗原表位。[结果]人IL-36Ra的二级结构主要由无规则卷曲(44.52%)、β折叠(30.97%)、α-螺旋(18.06%)和β-转角(6.45%)组成。IL-36Ra蛋白肽链的36-37、72-79、91-96、103-110、126-130和134-138区段为B细胞表位区域的可能性较大。[结论]该研究采用多参数方案综合预测人IL-36Ra蛋白的二级结构和B细胞表位,为深入鉴定IL-36Ra的抗原表位及试验方法探索其单克隆抗体奠定了理论基础。     

牦牛多杀性巴氏杆菌外膜蛋白OmpH的扩增与生物信息学分析

旨在扩增牦牛多杀性巴氏杆菌外膜蛋白OmpH的编码基因,并预测OmpH蛋白二级结构和B细胞抗原表位,从而探讨牦牛多杀性巴氏杆菌外膜蛋白OmpH在免疫保护中所起的作用。对牦牛多杀性巴氏杆菌的外膜蛋白OmpH基因进行PCR扩增及序列测定。应用生物信息学相关软件和方法,对牦牛多杀性巴氏杆菌OmpH蛋白的二级结构和B细胞抗原表位进行预测。牦牛多杀性巴氏杆菌OmpH基因全长1 478 bp,ORF包含1 002 bp编码333个氨基酸。二级结构以无规卷曲为主,有少量的α-螺旋和延伸带;推测OmpH蛋白有1个细胞黏附位点、2个糖基化位点。     

EB病毒gp125蛋白的B细胞表位预测

目的预测EB病毒gp125蛋白的B细胞表位。方法基于EB病毒gp125蛋白的氨基酸序列,采用亲水性参数、可及性参数、极性参数和抗原性指数方案等,辅以对gp125蛋白的二级结构中的柔性区域的分析,预测gp125蛋白的B细胞表位。结果最有可能的B细胞表位位于gp125蛋白N端第403-416、565—574、578—584、618-630和832—843区段及其附近。结论用多参数预测EB病毒gp125蛋白的B细胞表位,为制备具有高灵敏度和高特异性的鼻咽癌诊断试剂及研究抗肿瘤转移靶向治疗的分子免疫学奠定基础。     

白念珠菌细胞壁蛋白Csp37抗原表位预测

目的预测白念珠菌细胞壁蛋白Csp37的抗原表位,分析其作为疫苗靶点的免疫原性。方法采用生物信息学方法对Csp37蛋白的抗原表位进行预测,利用ProtParam网络服务器分析蛋白基本理化性质,SignaIP 3.0预测信号肽,TMHMM软件预测跨膜区,GOR4在线分析蛋白二级结构,DNAStar预测分析亲水性、可塑性、表面可及性和氨基酸抗原指数,使用在线工具ABCPred预测B细胞抗原表位,Syfpeithi预测T细胞抗原表位。最后,综合分析B细胞和T细胞共有抗原表位。结果预测白念珠菌细胞壁蛋白Csp37的B细胞表位9个和T细胞表位8个,以及共有的优势抗原表位5个,共同优势区域为:45-48,76-78,153-158,222-225,303-305位氨基酸。结论白念珠菌细胞壁蛋白Csp37含有丰富的抗原表位,具有诱导细胞免疫应答和体液免疫应答的潜能,可以作为疫苗研究的新靶点。     

口蹄疫病毒株AF72 VP3的结构模拟与分析

以口蹄疫病毒株AF72 RNA为模板,反转录并扩增目的基因,PCR纯化产物与pGEM TEasy载体连接并转化JM109菌株,用凝胶电泳、PCR和Spe I/Sph I双酶切法鉴定为阳性的重组质粒进行测序.比对测序结果确定AF72 VP3的核苷酸序列,利用同源建模的方法建立AF72 VP3结构蛋白的3D结构,在此基础上,综合亲水性、可塑性、抗原指数以及表面可能性等参数预测AF72 VP3结构蛋白的B细胞抗原表位.分析表明,口蹄疫病毒VP1、VP2、VP3和VP4在核苷酸水平上的变异率是无差异的(P＞0.05);而它们在氨基酸水平上的变异率差异显著(P＜0.05).该毒株与20株源于GenBank中的VP3氨基酸序列比对发现其保守区主要位于第1～24、24～35、36～42、45～56、65～122、124～172、177～210、211～219位.AF72 VP3结构蛋白三维空间结构可分为A、B和C 3个结构区域,蛋白呈现较规则的空间构象,其中18～23、30～44、60～75、113～124、130～142、193～220氨基酸区段是AF72VP3结构蛋白可能的B细胞抗原表位区域,该结果将为进一步的FMDV多表位疫苗研究提供更有价值的参考信息.     

猪肌生成抑制素基因去信号肽蛋白二级构预测和B细胞表位分析

目的预测猪肌生成抑制素去信号肽蛋白的二级结构和B细胞优势抗原表位,为生产该蛋白的单克隆抗体、建立噬菌体抗体库、研制针对该基因的表位多肽疫苗、表位核酸疫苗等奠定基础。方法根据猪肌生成抑制素去信号肽蛋白氨基酸序列,应用7种参数和方法分析预测二级结构和抗原表位,包括Garnier-Robson、Chou-Fasman、Karplus-Schulz、Kyte-Doolittle、Emini、Jameson-Wolf及吴氏综合预测方法。结果MSTN去信号肽蛋白存在多个潜在的抗原表位位点,其中B细胞抗原优势表位可能在1-11、41-55、57-64、62-90、99-104、138-144、193-200、202-212、235-243区段或其附近,此结果将为进一步鉴定和合成多肽疫苗和表位核酸疫苗制备抗猪MSTN蛋白抗体提供依据,并为研究MSTN结构和功能奠定基础。     

猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌flic蛋白二级结构与B细胞表位预测

目的:预测和分析猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌(Actionobacillus pleuropneumoniae,APP)鞭毛蛋白(flic)的二级结构和B细胞表位.方法:利用生物信息学方法对flic基因推导的氨基酸序列进行结构特征和B细胞表位预测分析.结果:flic蛋白为非稳定型脂蛋白,含有2个酪蛋白激酶Ⅱ磷酸化位点(39-42 SirD,164-167 SvkD)和3个蛋白质激酶C磷酸化位点(39-41 SiR,161-163 TsR、164-166 SvK).该蛋白无信号肽,在21Ala～38Ala处存在跨膜区的可能性最大.fljc蛋白的二级结构主要由无规卷曲区域、α-螺旋和β-折叠组成,而形成较少的转角结构.该蛋白的B细胞表位可能位于55～61和152～158区段内或其附近区域.结论:预测结果将有助于确定file蛋白的B细胞表位,为进一步研究flic基因功能及研制APP基因工程疫苗提供参考.     

The N-terminal region of the VP1 protein of swine vesicular disease virus contains a neutralization site that arises upon cell attachment and is involved in viral entry

The N-terminal region of VP1 of swine vesicular disease virus (SVDV) is highly antigenic in swine, despite its internal location in the capsid. Here we show that antibodies to this region can block infection and that allowing the virus to attach to cells increases this blockage significantly. The results indicate that upon binding to the cell, SVDV capsid undergoes a conformational change that is temperature independent and that exposes the N terminus of VP1. This process makes this region accessible to antibodies which block virus entry.     

Expression and immunological analysis of capsid protein precursor of swine vesicular disease virus HK/70

VP1, a capsid protein of swine vesicular disease virus, was cloned from the SVDV HK/70 strain and inserted into retroviral vector pBABE puro, and expressed in PK15 cells by an retroviral expression system. The ability of the VP1 protein to induce an immune response was then evaluated in guinea pigs. Western blot and ELISA results indicated that the VP1 protein can be recognized by SVDV positive serum, Furthermore,anti-SVDV specific antibodies and lymphocyte proliferation were elicited and increased by VP1 protein after vaccination. These results encourage further work towards the development of a vaccine against SVDV infection.     

Conformational changes in the VP1-unique region of native human parvovirus B19 lead to exposure of internal sequences that play a role in virus neutralization and infectivity

The unique region of the capsid protein VP1 (VP1u) of human parvovirus B19 (B19) elicits a dominant immune response and has a phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) activity, which is necessary for the infection. In contrast to the rest of the parvoviruses, the VP1u of B19 is thought to occupy an external position in the virion, making this region a promising candidate for vaccine development. By using a monoclonal antibody against the most-N-terminal portion of VP1u, we revealed that this region rich in neutralizing epitopes is not accessible in native capsids. However, exposure of capsids to increasing temperatures or low pH led to its progressive accessibility without particle disassembly. Although unable to bind free virus or to block virus attachment to the cell, the anti-VP1u antibody was neutralizing, suggesting that the exposure of the epitope and the subsequent virus neutralization occur only after receptor attachment. The measurement of the VP1u-associated PLA(2) activity of B19 capsids revealed that this region is also internal but becomes exposed in heat- and in low-pH-treated particles. In sharp contrast to native virions, the VP1u of baculovirus-derived B19 capsids was readily accessible in the absence of any treatment. These results indicate that stretches of VP1u of native B19 capsids harboring neutralizing epitopes and essential functional motifs are not external to the capsid. However, a conformational change renders these regions accessible and triggers the PLA(2) potential of the virus. The results also emphasize major differences in the VP1u conformation between natural and recombinant particles.     

Codon optimization of human parvovirus B19 capsid genes greatly increases their expression in nonpermissive cells

Parvovirus B19 (B19V) is pathogenic for humans and has an extreme tropism for human erythroid progenitors. We report cell type-specific expression of the B19V capsid genes (VP1 and VP2) and greatly increased B19V capsid protein production in nonpermissive cells by codon optimization. Codon usage limitation, rather than promoter type and the 3' untranslated region of the capsid genes, appears to be a key factor in capsid protein production in nonpermissive cells. Moreover, B19 virus-like particles were successfully generated in nonpermissive cells by transient transfection of a plasmid carrying both codon-optimized VP1 and VP2 genes.     

Identification of the region including the epitope for a monoclonal antibody which can neutralize human parvovirus B19.

In this study, we identified a region in the human parvovirus structural protein which involves the neutralization of the virus by a monoclonal antibody and site-specific synthetic peptides. A newly established monoclonal antibody reacted with both viral capsid proteins VP1 and VP2. The epitope was found in six strains of independently isolated human parvovirus B19. The monoclonal antibody could protect colony-forming unit erythroid in human bone marrow cell culture from injury by the virus. The monoclonal antibody reacted with only 1 of 12 peptides that were synthesized according to a predicted amino acid sequence based on nucleotide sequences of the coding region for the structural protein of B19 virus. The sequence recognized by the antibody was a site corresponding to amino acids 328 to 344 from the amino-terminal portion of VP2. This evidence suggests that the epitope of the viral capsid protein is located on the surface of the virus and may be recognized by virus-neutralizing antibodies.     

Monoclonal antibodies against the adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV-2) capsid: epitope mapping and identification of capsid domains involved in AAV-2-cell interaction and neutralization of AAV-2 infection

The previously characterized monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) A1, A69, B1, and A20 are directed against assembled or nonassembled adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV-2) capsid proteins (A. Wistuba, A. Kern, S. Weger, D. Grimm, and J. A. Kleinschmidt, J. Virol. 71:1341-1352, 1997). Here we describe the linear epitopes of A1, A69, and B1 which reside in VP1, VP2, and VP3, respectively, using gene fragment phage display library, peptide scan, and peptide competition experiments. In addition, MAbs A20, C24-B, C37-B, and D3 directed against conformational epitopes on AAV-2 capsids were characterized. Epitope sequences on the capsid surface were identified by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay using AAV-2 mutants and AAV serotypes, peptide scan, and peptide competition experiments. A20 neutralizes infection following receptor attachment by binding an epitope formed during AAV-2 capsid assembly. The newly isolated antibodies C24-B and C37-B inhibit AAV-2 binding to cells, probably by recognizing a loop region involved in binding of AAV-2 to the cellular receptor. In contrast, binding of D3 to a loop near the predicted threefold spike does not neutralize AAV-2 infection. The identified antigenic regions on the AAV-2 capsid surface are discussed with respect to their possible roles in different steps of the viral life cycle.     

Epitope insertion at the N-terminal molecular switch of the rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus T = 3 capsid protein leads to larger T = 4 capsids

Viruses need only one or a few structural capsid proteins to build an infectious particle. This is possible through the extensive use of symmetry and the conformational polymorphism of the structural proteins. Using virus-like particles (VLP) from rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) as a model, we addressed the basis of calicivirus capsid assembly and their application in vaccine design. The RHDV capsid is based on a T=3 lattice containing 180 identical subunits (VP1). We determined the structure of RHDV VLP to 8.0-Å resolution by three-dimensional cryoelectron microscopy; in addition, we used San Miguel sea lion virus (SMSV) and feline calicivirus (FCV) capsid subunit structures to establish the backbone structure of VP1 by homology modeling and flexible docking analysis. Based on the three-domain VP1 model, several insertion mutants were designed to validate the VP1 pseudoatomic model, and foreign epitopes were placed at the N- or C-terminal end, as well as in an exposed loop on the capsid surface. We selected a set of T and B cell epitopes of various lengths derived from viral and eukaryotic origins. Structural analysis of these chimeric capsids further validates the VP1 model to design new chimeras. Whereas most insertions are well tolerated, VP1 with an FCV capsid protein-neutralizing epitope at the N terminus assembled into mixtures of T=3 and larger T=4 capsids. The calicivirus capsid protein, and perhaps that of many other viruses, thus can encode polymorphism modulators that are not anticipated from the plane sequence, with important implications for understanding virus assembly and evolution.     

In silico prediction and in vitro identification of bluetongue virus 4 VP5 protein B-cell epitopes

VP5, the outer capsid protein of bluetongue virus (BTV), plays an important role in viral penetration and antibody-mediated viral neutralization. Therefore, VP5 represents an important target for development of vaccines and diagnostic tests. In this study, we use bioinformatic tools to predict nine antigenic B cell epitopes in the VP5 protein of a BTV serotype 4 (BTV4) isolate from China. Further, we generate five BTV4 VP5-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and define their corresponding epitopes using a set of VP5-derived peptides expressed as maltose-binding protein (MBP) fusion proteins. The five identified epitopes map to amino acids 119–134, 257–272, 286–301, 322–337, and 481–496 of the VP5 protein. Importantly, the epitopes identified using VP5-derived peptides do not correlate with our bioinformatic prediction of antibody epitopes. Identification and characterization of BTV4 VP5 protein epitopes may aid the development of diagnostic tools and provide information with which to study the structure of the BTV VP5 protein.     

Generation of Neutralizing Human Monoclonal Antibodies against Parvovirus B19 Proteins

Infections caused by human parvovirus B19 are known to be controlled mainly by neutralizing antibodies. To analyze the immune reaction against parvovirus B19 proteins, four cell lines secreting human immunoglobulin G monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were generated from two healthy donors and one human immunodeficiency virus type 1-seropositive individual with high serum titers against parvovirus. One MAb is specific for nonstructural protein NS1 (MAb 1424), two MAbs are specific for the unique region of minor capsid protein VP1 (MAbs 1418-1 and 1418-16), and one MAb is directed to major capsid protein VP2 (MAb 860-55D). Two MAbs, 1418-1 and 1418-16, which were generated from the same individual have identity in the cDNA sequences encoding the variable domains, with the exception of four base pairs resulting in only one amino acid change in the light chain. The NS1- and VP1-specific MAbs interact with linear epitopes, whereas the recognized epitope in VP2 is conformational. The MAbs specific for the structural proteins display strong virus-neutralizing activity. The VP1- and VP2-specific MAbs have the capacity to neutralize 50% of infectious parvovirus B19 in vitro at 0.08 and 0.73 μg/ml, respectively, demonstrating the importance of such antibodies in the clearance of B19 viremia. The NS1-specific MAb mediated weak neutralizing activity and required 47.7 μg/ml for 50% neutralization. The human MAbs with potent neutralizing activity could be used for immunotherapy of chronically B19 virus-infected individuals and acutely infected pregnant women. Furthermore, the knowledge gained regarding epitopes which induce strongly neutralizing antibodies may be important for vaccine development.     

A second neutralizing epitope of B19 parvovirus implicates the spike region in the immune response.

We used 18 monoclonal antibodies against B19 parvovirus to identify neutralizing epitopes on the viral capsid. Of the 18 antibodies, 9 had in vitro neutralizing activity in a bone marrow colony culture assay. The overlapping polypeptide fragments spanning the B19 structural proteins were produced in a pMAL-c Escherichia coli expression system and used to investigate the binding sites of the neutralizing antibodies. One of the nine neutralizing antibodies reacted with both VP1 and VP2 capsid proteins and a single polypeptide fragment on an immunoblot, identifying a linear neutralizing epitope between amino acids 57 and 77 of the VP2 capsid protein. Eight of nine neutralizing antibodies failed to react with either of the capsid proteins or any polypeptide fragments, despite reactivities with intact virions in a radioimmunoassay, suggesting that additional conformationally dependent neutralizing epitopes exist.