Detection and molecular characterization of enteric viruses in environmental samples in Monastir,Tunisia between January 2003 and April 2007

Aims: A prospective study was performed to characterize the main human enteric viruses able to persist in sewage samples and in shellfish tissues, and to establish the correlation between environmental strains and viral infantile diarrhoea observed in the same area during the same period. Methods and Results: A total of 250 sewage (raw and treated) and 60 shellfish samples were collected between January 2003 and April 2007 in Monastir region, Tunisia. Group A rotavirus (RVA) was detected in 80 (32%) sewage samples, norovirus (NoV) in 11 (4·4%) and enteric adenovirus (AdV) in 1 (0·4%). Among 60 shellfish samples collected near sewage effluents, one was contaminated by NoV (1·6%). Conclusion: Our data represent the first documentation in Tunisia, combining gastroenteritis viruses circulating in the environment and in clinical isolates. We observed a correlation between environmental strains and those found in children suffering from gastroenteritis during the same period study. This suggests the existence of a relationship between water contamination and paediatric diarrhoea. Significance and Impact of the Study: Our results address the potential health risks associated with transmission of human enteric viruses through water‐related environmental routes. The research findings will aid in elucidating the molecular epidemiology and circulation of enteric viruses in Tunisia and in Africa, where data are rare.     

Characterization of bovine rotavirus VP6 and VP7 as glycoproteins using monoclonal antibodies

Bovine rotavirus proteins were analysed by a panel of monoclonal antibodies. Glycosylated epitopes were identified on both inner and outer capsid proteins (VP6 and VP7 respectively). VP7 possessed a periodate insensitive epitope which was, however, sensitive to endoglycosidase H, mixed glycosidases and to protease treatment. This epitope was not detected on viruses grown in the presence of 2-deoxy-D-glucose or tunicamycin. An epitope was detected on VP6 which was sensitive to periodate oxidation. The blotted protein reacted with a glycan assay kit; yet the epitope was not affected by endoglycosidase H and was found on viruses grown in the presence of 2-deoxy-D-glucose or tunicamycin. These results suggest that VP7 and VP6 epitopes are carbohydrate dependent. The VP7 epitope contains an N-linked carbohydrate moiety in contrast to the VP6 epitope which appears to contain O-linked glycosyl units.     

Detection and Typing of Human Rotavirus in Reference to Repeated Acute Gastroenteritis in Infants

Stool specimens from infants who visited a clinic because of acute gastroenteritis were tested for the presence of human rotavirus. Among the samples obtained were specimens taken from seven patients who had visited the clinic at two different times. In six of these seven children, human rotavirus (HRV) was detected in only one of the specimens taken (i.e. during only one of the two visits). One patient was shown to have excreted HRV twice; in both cases the HRV was serotyped to be type 1. The present results indicate that the symptomatic reinfection of HRV was not a widely occurring phenomenon in the group of infants tested.     

Group A rotavirus and norovirus display sharply distinct seasonal profiles in Belém,northern Brazil

Several viruses have been associated with acute gastroenteritis (AGE), and group A rotavirus (RVA) and nor-ovirus (NoV) are the most prevalent. This study aimed to assess their prevalence among children hospitalised for diarrhoea during a three-year surveillance study. From May 2008-April 2011, overall positivity rates of 21.6% (628/2904) and 35.4% (171/483) were observed for RVA and NoV, respectively. The seasonality observed indicated distinct patterns when both viruses were compared. This finding may explain why hospitalisation for AGE remains constant throughout the year. Continuous AGE monitoring is needed to better assess the patterns of infection.     

膜芯片检测A组轮状病毒的初步研究

建立表面带正电荷的尼龙膜为基片的基因芯片,采用RT-semi-nested PCR方法,对A组轮状病毒RNA实现高度扩增,并通过5'端带地高辛标记的上游引物实现扩增产物的标记.通过同膜芯片上探针的杂交和免疫显色,实现对A组轮状病毒的检测.结果表明,膜芯片对探针的固定效果、杂交吸脱和检测结果可靠,空白对照和阴性对照均为阴性,探针均显示为阳性信号,并且信号强弱与探针浓度关系不大,而主要与探针本身同互补链的结合相关.以上结果说明已经初步建立了快速检测A组轮状病毒的膜基因芯片检测技术.     

April 2004

Announcements

April 2004     

口服轮状病毒活疫苗安全性和免疫原性观察

为了观察口服轮状病毒活疫苗在儿童服用后的安全性和免疫原性效果。于惠州市选择63名6月龄~3岁的儿童为观察对象。所用疫苗由兰州生物制品研究所生产,服苗前和服苗后4~5周采末梢血,以中和试验检测抗轮状病毒(G1、G2、G3、G4)型抗体及疫苗株(LLR型)的抗体水平。63名儿童服苗前、后采集的血清样本双份配对均有效者为37人。37人服苗后各型抗体阳转率为47.06%~72.72%;≥4倍增长率为43.40%~66.04%;各型中和抗体免疫前后平均增长2.67~3.01倍。63名服苗儿童中的不良反应为低热3例(24.67%)、中热1例(1.59%)、无高热反应。观察结果表明,轮状病毒具有良好的免疫原性和安全性。     

人轮状病毒HRB-02株的分离鉴定

从哈尔滨医科大学第二临床医学院发生腹泻患儿粪便中取得标本 ,用MA10 4细胞传代培养 ,传至第4代时 ,细胞出现明显病变 ;电镜观察见到典型的轮状病毒颗粒 ;其RNA电泳型为 4∶2∶3∶2型 ,属A群轮状病毒。对其蚀斑特性和血凝特性进行了初步研究 ,把这株轮状病毒地方株命名为HRB 0 2株。为研究该株轮状病毒的分子生物学特性 ,从而研制诊断性抗原和疫苗奠定基础。     

SA11株轮状病毒VP7基因的克隆及表达

采用RT PCR方法 ,从提取的SA1 1株轮状病毒总RNA中扩增出VP7基因片段 ,进行鉴定后 ,将该片段克隆于真核表达载体pEF1 HisC dhfr,构建成重组质粒pEF1 HisC dhfr VP7,然后用质脂体法转染COS 7细胞 ,进行真核系统的表达 .获得了长 981bp的PCR片段 ,序列分析结果与已知VP7序列相同 .表达后经细胞超声破碎 ,Westernblot检测表达产物 ,在相对分子质量 38× 1 0 3 处有表达条带 ,表达蛋白主要存在于上清中 .因此 ,获得了VP7基因 ,并在COS 7细胞中获得了表达 ,表达蛋白质免疫Balb c小鼠 ,获得了具有特异性结合活性的抗体     

An Occurrence of Diarrheal Cases Associated with Group C Rotavirus in Adults

Six of the 23 college students who joined a group trip in February of 1991 developed acute nonbacterial gastroenteritis with severe diarrhea. The causal agent was identified as group C rotaviruses by electron microscopy (EM), immune-EM (IEM) and the molecular examinations including polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on virus particles detected in the extract of watery fecal specimens of the patients. The patients positive for virus isolation showed significant increase in IEM antibody to the isolated virus in their paired sera. These findings suggest that the group C rotavirus is an important etiological agent of diarrhea and may also cause serious food-borne diarrheal disease in adults.     

Proportion of sporadic gastroenteritis cases caused by rotavirus, norovirus, adenovirus and bacteria in Japan from January 2000 to December 2003

Many kinds of virus and bacterium have been identified as pathogens that cause sporadic gastroenteritis (SG). Among the pathogens, rotavirus (RV), norovirus (NV; previously known as Norwalk-like virus), and adenovirus (AdV) types 40/41 have been considered as the prevalent viruses implicated in the aetiology of childhood gastroenteritis. In the present study, we attempted to estimate monthly proportions of SG cases caused by the viral agents (RV, NV, AdV and other viruses (OV)) and bacterial agents in the whole of Japan. The estimation was carried out by using time series data of the incidence of SG and the viral and bacterial agents of SG, which were collected by a nationwide surveillance system in Japan from January 2000 to December 2003. It was confirmed that, in the dominant period of RV and NV, the proportion of RV-associated SG and that of NV-associated SG indicate almost same level with each other: 46-69% during February-May for RV, and 41-75% during October-December for NV.     

Genogroup characterization of reemerging serotype G9 human rotavirus strain 95H115 in comparison with earlier G9 and other human prototype strains

Serotype G9 human rotaviruses have emerged globally since the mid-1990s. The 95H115 strain was derived from a stool specimen collected in Japan in the 1994-95 season, thus it is the earliest of the globally reemerging G9 human rotaviruses that were adapted to cell culture. Genogrouping by RNA-RNA hybridization was performed to examine the genetic background of 95H115. The 95H115 strain belonged to the Wa genogroup, the most common human rotavirus genogroup, and it had a high degree of homology with AU32 and WI61, the prototype G9 isolates in the 1980s. However, the divergent genomic RNA constellation as indicated by the aberrant hybridization patterns between 95H115 and earlier G9 strains served as further evidence that 95H115 was not a direct descendant of the prototype strains in the '80s.     

A组轮状病毒多个结构蛋白抗原表位的串联表达及其免疫原性的检测

从北京腹泻婴儿粪便提取的轮状病毒(rotavirus,RV)(T114株)的RNA中,克隆到轮状病毒结构蛋白基因vp4,vp6和vp7的全长cDNA,对它们编码的蛋白质序列和可能的抗原表位肽进行了预测,选择了RV主要抗原蛋白VP7、VP6和VP4的4个抗原表位肽,通过人工合成DNA的方式将这些抗原表位肽基因串联融合成一个阅读框RME(rotavirus multipleepitopes,RME)并构建原核表达载体.大肠杆菌表达的RME在ELISA反应中可被RV多克隆抗体识别,纯化的RME蛋白注射免疫小鼠可诱导特异性免疫应答,产生高滴度的同源氨基酸序列特异抗体和人RV抗体,其中针对RME的IgG抗体滴度达到l∶40 000,针对单个抗原表位EV7、EV6和EV4的IgG抗体滴度达l∶10 000～l∶20 000,针对RV Wa株的IgG抗体滴度较低为l∶2 500,但能特异地中和该病毒对MAC145细胞的侵染.上述结果为新型RV基因工程疫苗的研发提供了论据和基础.     

人轮状病毒的细胞培养分离

用CV-1细胞从急性腹泻病儿7份粪便标本中直接分离出4株人轮状病毒(HRV),并适应传代14代。感染细胞出现特征性细胞病变,经电镜、ELISA、免疫荧光染色及病毒RNA电泳等试验证实HRV毒株在CV-1细胞中的繁殖及抗原特异性。病毒滴度为10~(6.0)TCID_(60)。分离的4株HRV毒株均为RNA电泳型长型,经CV-1细胞传7～14代后,RNA图型与原粪样相比未见变异。