庚型肝炎病毒基因组RNA转录体恒河猴肝内注射感染的初步研究

庚型肝炎病毒(GBV-C/HGV)属黄病毒科,为单股正链RNA病毒,是新近发现的疑似引起人类肝炎的病原体[1,2],但对其致病性目前尚存在争议.GBV-C/HGV体外培养困难,不感染常规实验动物,但可感染人类和灵长类动物如黑猩猩、猴等[3-5].随着分子生物学技术的进展,一些正链RNA病毒如甲肝病毒、脊髓灰质炎病毒、登革病毒、丙型肝炎病毒等的全长cDNA克隆构建成功[6-12],这些全长cDNA克隆及其转录体被证明在细胞及动物模型中具有感染性,为我们研究GBV-C/HGV提供了一条新的可行的途径.为此我们在构建GBV-C/HGV基因组全长cDNA克隆的基础上[13],体外转录制备了RNA并直接注射到恒河猴肝脏内,进行了感染实验研究.现将结果报告如下.     

庚型肝炎病毒抑制人类免疫缺陷病毒感染及其机制

庚型肝炎病毒(HGV/GBV-C)是10年前发现的单正链RNA病毒,属黄病毒科,病毒基因组RNA长约9.4kb),含1个开放读码框架,编码2 900左右的氨基酸.     

小干扰RNA对庚型肝炎病毒基因在人Huh-7细胞中表达的抑制作用

RNA干扰(RNAi)是由小干扰RNA(siRNA)引发的生物细胞内同源基因的转录后基因沉默现象, 是近年来兴起的一项研究生物基因调控与功能的崭新技术. 庚型肝炎病毒(HGV)是一单正链RNA病毒, 复制时不与宿主细胞基因组整合, 尤其适合用于RNAi的研究. 构建了含HGV完整结构基因并携带筛选标志潮霉素基因的真核表达载体pVAX.EH, 转染Huh-7细胞后, 筛选获得稳定表达HGV 结构蛋白的Huh-7细胞株(Huh-7-EH). RT-PCR和Western blot检测证实, HGV结构基因能在Huh-7-EH细胞中转录、表达, 并能进行剪切和翻译后修饰. 以体外转录法制备了2对靶向HGV E2基因的siRNA(1-E2 siRNA和2-E2 siRNA), 将其导入Huh-7-EH细胞中, 采用Western blot和克隆形成实验证实, HGV 1-E2 siRNA和2-E2 siRNA均能特异性抑制HGV结 构蛋白的表达, 抑制作用可维持1周以上. 其中2-E2 siRNA的抑制作用更强, 转染后对Huh-7-EH细胞潮霉素抗性克隆形成的抑制率达到了99%. Huh-7-EH细胞转染siRNA后对潮霉素敏感, 说 明HGV E2 siRNA不仅使HGV E2区的mRNA降解, 还可使融合在HGV E2区下游的潮霉素mRNA降解. 综上所述, 本实验建立的稳定表达HGV结构蛋白的Huh-7-EH细胞株, 能作为用于研究HGV复制和RNAi的细胞模型; HGV结构基因区的siRNA可同时抑制HGV结构蛋白及其下游的潮霉素基因的表达, 证明RNAi在真核细胞Huh-7-EH内可能存在放大作用.     

丙型肝炎病毒基因组结构及功能

丙型肝炎病毒（hepatitis C virus, HCV）是单股正链的RNA 病毒,全长为9.6 kb,包括1个大的开放阅读框（ORF）和两侧的5′,3′非编码区（UTRs）.核糖体通过进入HCV 5′UTR 端的内部核糖体进入位点（IRES）,将HCV基因组翻译成1个聚蛋白前体.前体聚蛋白被宿主和病毒的蛋白酶共同切割成为若干个具有独立功能的HCV蛋白,根据功能的不同分别命名为C、E1、E2、p7、NS2、NS3、NS4A、NS4B、NS5A 和NS5B,它们不但在HCV的生活史中发挥着重要的作用,也影响着宿主细胞的信号传导、凋亡及物质代谢等一系列生化过程.近年来,随着HCV体外细胞摸型的不断发展,其病毒分子生物学方面的研究取得了很大的进展.本文从基因组结构及其编码的蛋白功能等方面阐述了HCV病毒的研究进展,为致病机理的研究及抗HCV药物的开发和疫苗研制等提供理论基础.     

流行性乙型脑炎病毒GSS株prM、E和NS1蛋白基因的克隆及在非复制型痘苗病毒中的表达

克隆流行性乙型脑炎(乙脑)病毒野毒(JEV)GSS株前膜蛋白信号序列、前膜蛋白(prM)、包膜蛋白(E)、非结构蛋白-1(NSl)和非结构蛋白NS2a的编码基因,并与非复制型痘苗病毒载体NTV进行同源重组,构建了乙脑病毒非复制型重组痘苗病毒疫苗株NTVA(E／L)JEV。通过：PCR和Southern blot检测证明,在非复制型痘苗病毒中有乙暗病毒prM信号序列、prM、E、NS1和NS2a基因的插入：Western blot检测证明,重组病毒可以在细胞内成功地表达prM、E和NSl蛋白,并可将prM、E和NSl蛋白分泌到细胞培养上清中;免疫荧光检测证明,E和NSl蛋白主要分布在细胞膜上。电镜下可见分泌到细胞外的病毒样颗粒。     

NS3蛋白在黄病毒科病毒生命活动中的作用

黄病毒科病毒包括三个属,即黄病毒属(Flavivirus),瘟病毒属(Pestivirus)和丙型肝炎病毒属(Hepacivirus).这些病毒均能引起人和动物患严重疾病.黄病毒属黄热病毒(Yellow fever virus,YFV)、登革病毒(Dengue virus,DEN)能引起发烧、出血,患者死亡率极高,瘟病毒属牛腹泻病毒(Bovine viral diarrhea petivirus, BVDV)、猪瘟病毒(Classical swine fever virus, CSFV)等能引起其各自宿主家畜患严重疾病.近年来,又发现丙型肝炎病毒(Hepatitis C virus, HCV)与人类原发性肝癌和肝硬化密切相关.然而,目前仍没有对各种黄病毒科病毒有效的治疗方法.尤其是近年来干扰素对丙型肝炎治疗的疗效低,反复率高,使得研究更为有效的抗病毒药物成为各种病毒疾病治疗中亟待解决的问题之一.在BVDV的研究中发现,当非结构蛋白NS3蛋白与NS2蛋白一起以复合物的形式存在时,病毒对其寄主是非致病性的;而当NS3蛋白独立地存在时,病毒颗粒是致病性的[1].这提示NS3蛋白很可能与病毒的致病性密切相关.而且,序列分析表明非结构蛋白NS3(nonstructure protein 3)是黄病毒科病毒中最为保守的非结构蛋白.后来许多研究证明NS3蛋白参与蛋白质水解加工,以及病毒的复制,对病毒的生命循环是必需的.因此,NS3蛋白成为了人们研究的一个热点.     

庚型肝炎病毒转基因小鼠的建立

利用受精卵原核显微注射的方法,产生了含有HGV结构蛋白C、E1、E2及部分非结构蛋白NS2、NS3的转基因小鼠.得到10只founder小鼠,其中有3只founder小鼠与正常小鼠交配后得到了整合有外源基因的F1代阳性小鼠.RT-PCR的结果显示,外源基因可在founder小鼠及F1代小鼠的血液有核细胞及肝细胞内转录;组织病理学检查显示,某些转基因小鼠的肝细胞出现了水样变、脂肪变性及轻微炎性反应等病理学改变,但与同一品系的正常小鼠相比,转基因小鼠血清转氨酶无明显升高.     

7型庚型肝炎病毒包膜糖蛋白E2基因的克隆及原核表达分析

为了探究7型庚型肝炎病毒E2基因编码蛋白作为ELISA试剂盒研发所需检测抗原的可能性,建立更为可靠的GBV-C检测方法,本研究应用在线软件对GBV-C E2基因序列的编码区进行生物信息学分析,预测了E2基因编码蛋白的抗原表位、空间结构及线性B细胞表位等;通过逆转录PCR从7型GBV-C病毒中克隆出E2基因片段,将其克隆到pET-32a载体上,重组载体pET-32a-E2转化大肠杆菌BL21后诱导表达,用12%SDS-PAGE检测,结果重组蛋白主要以包涵体形式存在,其分子量大小约为55kD,利用His标签抗体对重组蛋白进行Western-blotting验证。结果表明GBV-C E2蛋白有多个抗原表位点,克隆的E2基因序列长度为945bp,重组蛋白以包涵体形式表达,其分子量大小与预期一致,此研究为GBV-C检测试剂盒的研制工作奠定了基础。     

丙型肝炎病毒感染过程中其NS3/4A蛋白酶切割线粒体抗病毒信号蛋白的动态过程

已知丙型肝炎病毒(hepatitis C virus,HCV)可通过其蛋白酶NS3/4A切割线粒体抗病毒信号蛋白(mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein,MAVS)来逃逸天然免疫识别,但尚不清楚其切割动力学及切割在抑制干扰素中的作用。本研究旨在细胞模型中探讨HCV感染过程中病毒复制建立及病毒NS3/4A切割MAVS的动态过程,探究NS3/4A切割MAVS对病毒逃逸宿主天然免疫建立感染的贡献。首先构建基于绿色荧光蛋白(green fluorescent protein,GFP)的MAVS切割报告系统(GFP-NLS-MAVS-TM462),用 HCV Jc1-Gluc 感染Huh7.5/GFP-NLS-MAVS-TM462细胞。结果显示,病毒复制早期MAVS切割效率较低;NS3/4A高效切割MAVS发生于HCV复制晚期,且其切割效率与NS3蛋白水平相关。利用带有GFP ypet的HCV报告病毒Jc1-378-1感染Huh7.5/RFP-NLS-MAVS-TM462细胞,在单细胞水平观察HCV感染阳性细胞中MAVS被切割情况,发现HCV复制细胞中仅部分细胞MAVS被切割。进一步研究发现,不同基因型NS3/4A切割MAVS的效率仅与NS3表达水平相关。以上结果提示,HCV蛋白酶NS3/4A切割MAVS依赖NS3/4A蛋白在病毒复制过程中的累积,对在病毒复制早期逃逸宿主天然免疫建立感染可能无显著贡献。     

Genomic variability of hepatitis G virus/GBV-C at the NS3 region: clinical implications

A new hepatitis virus, named GBV-C or hepatitis G virus (HGV), closely related to the hepatitis C virus (HCV), was identified in 1994. The existence of quasispecies in HCV is very important. In this work polymerase chain reaction amplification of the NS3 region of the genome of GBV-C/HGV and heteroduplex mobility assay (HMA) were combined to investigate the presence of quasispecies in patients with chronic infection by GBV-C/HGV. Patients with chronic infection by HCV were used to validate the method. The HMA was also used to investigate the similarity between the cited genomic region of GBV-C/HGV in different infected patients. A high degree of heterogeneity was found for HGV existing as quasispecies and as differences between samples. This is of extreme importance because of the intrinsic clinical and pathogenic implications of quasispecies of a virus capable of producing disease, and is in accord with other studies which report on the genomic variability of the NS3 region.     

Partial nucleotide sequencing of the NS3/helicase region of hepatitis G virus to prove vertical transmission

To study non-parental transmission of hepatitis G virus and/or GB virus C (HGV/GBV-C), we sequenced and compared the NS3/helicase region of the virus for five HGV/GBV-C RNA-positive mothers and their 11 children who had experienced neither blood transfusion nor overt hepatitis and were negative for HBV, HCV and HIV, except in one mother coinfected with HCV. The nucleotide sequences of the familial HGV/GBV-C isolates showed high similarity of 99-100% (mean 99.8%, 100% at the deduced amino acid level) between mother and her child(ren) in each family. These findings strongly suggest the spontaneous occurrence of mother-to-child transmission of HGV/GBV-C as reported previously. They also suggest that nucleotide sequence analysis on the NS3/helicase region of HGV/GBV-C may be a useful tool to study HGV/GBV-C transmission.     

The occurrence rate of HGV/GBV-C RNA and risk factors in patients of narcological dispensary in Novosibirsk

The occurrence rate of HGV/GBV-C RNA, genotypic variety of isolates and various risk factors of infection with HGV/GBV-C were evaluated in 500 patients of the narcological dispensary of Novosibirsk. The occurrence rate of HGV/GBV-C RNA among all examined blood sera was 33.6%. At the same time in blood sera with HCV markers the occurrence rate of HGV/ GBV-C was 42.9% and in sera with negative results for markers HCV--25%. For gene typing of obtained isolates the direct sequencing of the amplification products of fragment NS3B and the phylogenetic analysis of the sequences thus obtained were used. Almost all isolates subjected to gene typing belonged to genotype 2, widespread in Europe, and only 1 isolate was classified with genotype 4. Statistically significant (p<0.05) risk of HGV/GBV-C infection among the examined subjects was linked with the intravenous use of drugs (OR 2.15), risky sexual behavior (OR 1.8) and the presence of virus hepatitis C (OR 2.26).     

Origin and evolution of GBV-C/hepatitis G virus and relationships with ancient human migrations

The GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) is a newly identified human RNA virus, belonging to the Flaviviridae family. Persistent infection by GBV-C/HGV is common in humans, and genetically divergent isolates have been identified in different parts of the world. Due to the absence of a real pathogenic role of GBV-C/HGV in liver disease and its extremely low mutation rate, this virus is a potential marker to trace prehistoric links between human populations. In this study, origin and evolution of GBV-C/HGV were examined using a set of fully sequenced strains of worldwide origin. A first phylogenetic analysis, addressed to the short (255 nucleotides) NS5A overlapping coding region by the neighbor-joining method, suggested an ancient African origin of GBV-C/HGV. This notion was confirmed when the same analysis was applied to the genomic regions showing the lowest rate of synonymous substitutions, covering one-fourth (2184 nucleotides) of the total coding potential of the virus genome. By using a multivariate statistical method and extending the analysis to the complete coding region, fine details of the evolutionary history of GBV-C/HGV were further elucidated. By this approach, isolates from Southeast Asia appeared to be the most closely related to those of African origin, consistent with a major route of ancient human migrations from Africa to southeastern parts of the Asian continent. Received: 26 October 2000 / Accepted: 28 February 2001     

Prevalence and genotypes of hepatitis G virus/GB virus C in a multirisk group in Hungary

HGV/GBV-C is a mainly parenterally transmitted Flavivirus that causes a persistent infection. So far no disease has been associated with HGV/GBV-C infection, but its beneficial role in co-infection with the human immunodeficiency virus has been shown in many recent studies. The aim of our study was to determine the frequency of ongoing HGV/GBV-C infections among a sociologically unique group of the Hungarian population, who are at great risk for parenterally transmitted diseases. Viral RNA was detected in 75 serum samples by an RT-PCR method specific for the NS5 region. Nine (12%) samples were positive for HGV/GBV-C RNA. All nine PCR products were sequenced and a phylogenetic analysis was performed to identify the genotypes and subtypes of the detected viruses. All nine isolates proved to be genotype 2, eight of them were classified as subtype 2a, and one as subtype 2b.     

Homologous recombination in GB virus C/hepatitis G virus

Analysis of 33 GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) full or nearly full genome sequences revealed several putative inter- and intrasubtype recombinants. The breakpoints of the recombinant regions were mapped using a maximum-likelihood method, and the statistical significance for each region was tested using Monte Carlo simulation. The results were highly significant and provided evidence for the existence of complex mosaic genomes showing as many as nine recombination events, with breakpoints in the 5' UTR and in all of the coding regions except the short NS4b gene. Recombination was confirmed by separate phylogenetic analysis of the various recombinant regions and by Sawyer's runs test. Taken together, these findings demonstrate for the first time that recombination is common in natural populations of GBV-C and that it takes place both within and between subtypes. The wide-ranging implications of such nonclonal history for reconstructing the spread and timescale of GBV-C evolution are discussed.     

GB virus-C/hepatitis G virus infection in Taiwan: A virus that fails to cause a disease?

Recently, an RNA virus designated GB virus-C or hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) was identified; however, its clinical significance remains uncertain. This discovery prompted us to investigate the virological, epidemiological and clinical implications of GBV-C/HGV infection in Taiwan where chronic liver diseases and liver cancer are endemic. Our results showed that genetic heterogeneity of GBV-C/HGV isolates exists, and primers from the highly conserved 5 untranslated region of viral genome can efficiently detect GBV-C/HGV RNA. Epidemiological surveys showed that GBV-C/HGV infection is common in high-risk groups in Taiwan, and its coinfection does not aggravate the course of chronic hepatitis B or C. A prospective study of transfusion-transmitted GBV-C/HGV infection also showed GBV-C/HGV does not cause classic hepatitis in most patients. In addition, GBV-C/HGV plays a minimal role in causing fulminant hepatitis. Like hepatitis C virus, sexual transmission of GBV-C/HGV exists. The risk increases with prolonged duration of exposure. In addition, high-titered maternal viremia and mode of delivery are associated with the mother-to-infant transmission of GBV-C/HGV. Interestingly, we found that GBV-C/HGV exerts no suppression on levels of chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C viremia, and GBV-C/HGV responds to interferon; however, ribavirin plus interferon does not induce a higher sustained response. As to the replication sites of GBV-C/HGV, our preliminary results showed liver and peripheral blood mononuclear cells are not the major sites for GBV-C/HGV replication, and thus GBV-C/HGV is not a primary hepatotropic virus. In conclusion, transfusion and exchange of body fluids indeed can transmit GBV-C/HGV; however, current lines of evidence suggest that GBV-C/HGV fails to cause a disease.     

Prevalence and genotypes of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus among blood donors in Central Brazil

A survey was conducted in a blood donor population of Central Brazil aiming to investigate the prevalence of GB virus C (GBV-C)/hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection and also to analyze the virus genotypes distribution. A total of 241 voluntary blood donors were interviewed at the State Blood Bank in Goiania, State of Goiás, Brazil. Blood samples were collected and serum samples tested for GBV-C/HGV RNA by polymerase chain reaction. Genotypes were determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Seventeen samples were GBV-C/HGV RNA-positive, resulting in a prevalence of 7.1% (95% CI: 4.2-11.1). A significant trend of GBV-C/HGV RNA positivity in relation to age was observed, with the highest prevalence in donors between 29-39 years old. Ten infected individuals were characterized by reporting parenteral (30%), sexual (18%), both (6%) and intrafamiliar (6%) transmission. However, 7 (40%) GBV-C/HGV RNA-positive donors did not mention any potential transmission route. RFLP analysis revealed the presence of genotypes 1 and 2 of GBV-C/HGV; more precisely, 10 (58.9%) samples were found belonging to the 2b subtype, 4 (23.5%) to the 2a subtype, and 3 (17.6%) to genotype 1. The present data indicate an intermediate endemicity of GBV-C/HGV infection among this blood donor population, and a predominant circulation of genotype 2 (subtype 2b) in Central Brazil.     

GB virus C/hepatitis G virus infection in dialysis patients and kidney transplant recipients in Central Brazil

In order to investigate the prevalence of GB virus C (GBV-C)/hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection in dialysis patients and kidney transplant recipients in Central Brazil and also to analyze the virus genotypes distribution, a total of 123 patients including 98 on hemodialysis, 13 on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis treatment, and 12 who received kidney transplantation were interviewed in one unit of dialysis treatment in Goiania city. Blood samples were collected and serum samples tested for GBV-C/HGV RNA by polymerase chain reaction. Genotypes were determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Eighteen samples were GBV-C/HGV RNA-positive, resulting in an overall prevalence of 14.6% (95% CI: 9.2-21.7). A high positivity for GBV-C/HGV RNA was observed in patients who had received kidney transplant (16.7%), followed by those on hemodialysis (15.3%), and peritoneal dialysis (7.7%). RFLP analysis revealed the presence of genotypes 1, 2, and 3 of GBV-C/HGV; more precisely, 9 (50%) samples were found belonging to the 2b subtype, 4 (22%) to the 2a subtype, 3 (17%) to genotype 1, and 2 (11%) to genotype 3. The present data indicate an intermediate prevalence of GBV-C/HGV infection among dialysis patients and kidney transplant recipients in Central Brazil. Genotype 2 (subtype 2b) seems to be the most prevalent GBV-C/HGV genotype in our region.     

庚型肝炎病毒E2区cDNA在毕赤酵母中的表达及抗原性鉴定

从含有庚型肝炎病毒(GBVC/HGV)包膜蛋白E2 cDNA(559bp)的质粒pGEX\|E2中,扩增得到能够编码日本血吸虫谷胱甘肽硫转移酶(GST)和GBVC/HGV包膜蛋白E2的融合基因片段。将此长度为1324bp的DNA片段插入到酵母表达载体pPIC9K中,使之位于α因子信号肽下游,且与之同框。通过电激转化将构建的重组表达质粒pPIC9K\|GST\|E2插入到Pichia pastoris GS115菌株染色体中。筛选His\++Mut\+s表型的转化子,震荡培养,用05%甲醇诱导表达5d后,在培养液中得到表达的GSTE2融合蛋白。经过表达条件的优化,GSTE2蛋白可占培养液中总蛋白的50%。通过谷胱甘肽亲和层析柱纯化,GSTE2融合蛋白的纯度可达95%左右。以庚型肝炎病人血清为探针,进行免疫印迹及ELISA实验,结果表明该融合蛋白具有能被庚型肝炎病人血清特异性识别的抗原性。