戊型肝炎病毒DNA免疫的研究

利用PCR方法获得1163bp的戊型肝炎（Hepatitis E Virus,HEV）开放读码框架（Open Reading Frame,ORF）ORF2之3'大片段和369bp ORF3的完整片段,分别克隆到真核表达载体pcDNA3中,构建两种含有HEV主要抗原表位的质粒DNA：pcE2和pcE3,分别或混合免疫Swiss小鼠三次（0时,第2周,第4周）,观察其在小鼠体内诱发的体液免疫应答。ELISA检测结果表明,pcE2和pcE3在小鼠体内均可诱导出一定水平的HEV IgG抗体,且在第三次免疫接种两周后,100％的小鼠抗体阳转。与两和中质粒单独免疫相比,两者同时注射的抗体水平较高。本研究为HEV DNA疫苗的研究打下一定基础。     

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.     

猪2型圆环病毒核酸疫苗的接种Balb/c小鼠实验免疫研究

为了筛选得到较理想的核酸疫苗,用pVAX1真核表达载体,以猪白介素18基因、猪2型圆环病毒内蒙株的衣壳蛋白和与复制相关蛋白基因为目的基因,构建了4个重组质粒,分别是pVAX1-ORF2、pVAX1-UL18ORF2、pVAX1-ORF2ORF1和pVAX1-IL18ORF2ORF1。用它们免疫6-8周龄Balb/c小鼠,进小鼠后一周首免,每隔19d免1次,共免3次;每10d采血1次,三免后10d杀鼠取脾。用ELISA方法检测小鼠血清抗体效价,流式细胞仪检测脾T淋巴细胞亚类CD4+、CD8+数量。统计学分析发现:4个核酸疫苗实验免疫组均是从最后一次采集的小鼠血清中,获得最高的抗体效价,与对照组PBS和空载体pVAX1相比都能产生一定的体液免疫反应,且以pVAx1-IL18ORF2ORF1核酸疫苗免疫小鼠产生的血清抗体效价最高;脾T淋巴细胞亚类数量测定发现,免疫实验组的CD4+与CD8+的T细胞亚类总数显著高于对照组(P<0．05),并以pVAX-1-IL18ORF2ORF1数值较高。结论是核酸疫苗pVAX1-IL18ORF2ORF1既能较好地刺激细胞免疫又能产生一定的体液免疫反应,相对较好,将作为候选核酸疫苗进行下一步本体动物免疫实验研究。     

猪圆环病毒2型－细小病毒－伪狂犬重组病毒免疫小鼠试验研究

为了研究表达猪2型圆环病毒ORF2基因和猪细小病毒VP2基因的重组伪狂犬病毒疫苗株SA215(D)的疫苗价值,对该病毒株安全性、免疫原性、保护力及对PRV Fa株定值进行了研究。研究结果表明重组病毒SA215（D）毒力显著低于PRV Fa强毒株,可以抵御伪狂犬病强毒Fa株的攻击,并能抵御其在小鼠体内的定植;抗体检测显示SA215（D）免疫小鼠后第2周抗PRV、PCV2和PPV的抗体水平均很低,加强免疫后第4周抗体水平大幅上升,且显著高于阴性对照组,而与阳性对照组无明显差异,表明SA215（D）可诱导小鼠产生体液免疫反应。淋巴细胞增殖试验显示SA215（D）可诱导小鼠产生较强的淋巴细胞增殖反应,与亲本株SA215组相比,差异显著(0.01     

新疆奶牛戊型肝炎病毒RNA检测及序列分析

从新疆两个奶牛场的戊型肝炎病毒(Hepatitis E virus,HEV)抗体检测阳性的奶牛中分别采集牛粪便或肛拭子样品,利用反转录套式聚合酶链反应(RT-nPCR)检测所采集样品中的HEV RNA,结果来自第一个奶牛场的7份牛粪便样品为阳性,阳性率11.67%,来自第二奶牛场的1份肛拭子样品为阳性,阳性率为3.23%。将PCR扩增产物克隆、测序并进行序列分析,结果表明,对应于HEV ORF2 189bp核苷酸序列的8个牛源HEV基因组扩增片段的同源性为96.3%~100.0%,应当属于相同的基因型;它们与HEV 1、2、3和4型ORF2 189bp核苷酸平均同源性分别为78.5%~86.4%,81.7%~83.8%,79.1%~85.3%和84.3%~95.8%,与4型的同源性最高达93.2%~95.8%。基于这些已测序核酸片段绘制的基因进化树显示:本研究中的8株牛源HEV ORF2 189bp核苷酸序列与HEV 4型人源C5株、猪源swC3与swXJ株位于同一进化枝上,同属HEV基因4型,提示新疆奶牛中可能存在HEV感染,并且奶牛可能是人类HEV传染源中除猪之外的新宿主。     

丙型肝炎病毒E2基因DNA 免疫实验动物研究

将编码丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)E2蛋白417～750位氨基酸的DNA片段克隆到真核表达载体pcDNA 3.1(-)中的CMVIE启动子下游,构建成HCV E2重组真核表达质粒pcE2.ELISA法检测pcE2 DNA免疫兔血清中的E2抗体变化和维持规律,结果显示免疫20d已有抗体产生,30d后开始进入高峰,40d时达到最高值,至第90d抗体水平保持平稳,抗体滴度达到11600左右.流式细胞计数仪(FACS)检测pcE2 DNA免疫鼠CD4+、CD8+T淋巴细胞变化情况,与注射空载体pCDNA3.1(-)的阴性鼠相比,CD4+淋巴细胞水平略有上升,CD8+细胞水平有较大升高,增幅达35.46%.免疫组化检测结果显示注射pcE2的小鼠组织中有明显的阳性着色,而注射pcDNA3.1(-)的对照组小鼠免疫组化结果为阴性.以上结果表明pcE2在实验动物内表达出的HCV E2蛋白可以引起免疫动物的体液免疫应答和细胞免疫应答,尤其是MHC-1限制性杀伤性CD8+T淋巴细胞水平的提高对清除病毒是十分有利的,因此HCV E2 DNA免疫有可能成为预防和治疗HCV感染的一条新途径.     

汉滩病毒84Fli株DNA疫苗诱导小鼠免疫应答的初步研究

为了加强我国病毒性出血热的防治,本研究将汉滩病毒84Fli株核蛋白S和糖蛋白M编码片段分别克隆至pcDNA3.0载体,构建了pcDNA3/84S和pcDNA3/84M重组质粒,等量混合采用肌肉注射途径免疫C57BL/6小鼠,免疫3次,每次间隔2周,同时与双价出血热病毒灭活疫苗进行对比。ELISA及免疫荧光(IFA)分别检测小鼠血清中汉滩病毒核蛋白及糖蛋白特异性抗体,流式细胞仪和ELISPOT方法分析小鼠免疫后的细胞免疫水平。微量中和试验检测小鼠血清抗体的的中和活性。结果显示,DNA疫苗免疫组C57BL/6小鼠在初次免疫2周后即能检测到汉滩病毒核蛋白与糖蛋白的特异性抗体,与灭活疫苗组相比,重组质粒诱导的抗体滴度高,产生时间早,产生的抗体具有中和活性;同时可诱导产生特异性细胞免疫应答。研究表明,汉滩病毒pcDNA3/84S和pcDNA3/84M重组质粒能有效刺激小鼠产生特异性体液免疫和细胞免疫应答。     

沙门菌鞭毛蛋白增强新城疫病毒融合蛋白在小鼠中的免疫原性

目的：分析沙门菌鞭毛蛋白对新城疫病毒（NDV）融合蛋白（F蛋白）免疫原性的增强作用。方法：提取鼠伤寒沙门菌SL7207株鞭毛蛋白,将鞭毛蛋白与F蛋白以皮下注射的方式联合免疫C3H/HeJ小鼠,间隔2周免疫,共免疫3次。分别在第2次免疫后2周和第3次免疫后2周采集血清,应用ELISA法测定小鼠血清抗体;在第3次免疫后2周取免疫小鼠脾脏细胞,检测IFN-γ和IL-4特异性分泌细胞。结果：鞭毛蛋白与F蛋白联合免疫能诱导产生特异性的免疫应答,血清抗体水平显著高于F蛋白单独免疫组;在脾脏细胞中,检测到较高水平的IFN-γ和IL-4分泌细胞,免疫应答以Th1型为主。结论：鞭毛蛋白与F蛋白的联合免疫,可显著增强F蛋白的免疫原性,显示出鞭毛蛋白良好的免疫佐剂效应。     

表达猪圆环病毒Ⅱ型ORF2基因的重组猪伪狂犬病病毒的免疫原性

【目的】为研制预防猪圆环病毒II型(PCV2)感染的重组伪狂犬病病毒(PRV)活载体疫苗。【方法】将PCV2 ORF2基因插入到PRV通用载体pG中,利用脂质体LipofectamineTM2000试剂盒将重组转移质粒pGO与猪PRV弱毒HB98株DNA共转染猪睾丸(ST)细胞,通过3轮蚀斑纯化重组病毒。将重组病毒、商品化PCV2灭活苗及DMEM培养液分别免疫6周龄雌性昆明小鼠,4周后加强免疫1次,首免后第8周用PCV2强毒NY株对小鼠进行攻毒。【结果】成功获得表达ORF2基因的重组病毒PGO,首免重组病毒后小鼠体内抗PCV2的ELISA抗体水平很低,二免后小鼠PCV2特异的ELISA抗体水平明显升高,并且重组病毒组能够激发PCV2特异的淋巴细胞增殖效应。攻毒试验表明重组病毒组和PCV2灭活疫苗组均能有效抵抗PCV2强毒攻击。【结论】表明表达ORF2基因的重组病毒PGO具有良好免疫原性。     

颗粒化重组戊型肝炎病毒衣壳蛋白及其抗原性与免疫原性

过去的研究发现大肠杆菌表达的戊型肝炎病毒（HEV）衣壳蛋白ORF2的aa394-606片段NE2可以形成同源多聚体,并具有良好的免疫保护性,但纯化后的免疫原性较弱。这里表达了3个NE2蛋白的N端延伸突变体,发现对应于ORF2 aa368_606的重组蛋白HEV239在体外可以形成颗粒性抗原。HEV 239抗原颗粒与戊肝患者血清反应性良好,对中和性单克隆抗体8C11的反应性与NE2抗原相当,而对另一中和性单克隆抗体8H3的反应性较NE2抗原有显著提高,表明HEV 239抗原颗粒具有比NE2更好的抗原性。纯化后的HEV 239抗原颗粒直径约为15～30nm。铝佐剂吸附的HEV 239免疫Balb/c小鼠的半数有效剂量（ED50）在0.08～0.25μg之间,而同样以铝佐剂吸附的NE2抗原60μg剂量免疫的抗体阳转率仅25%,表明HEV 239抗原颗粒具有更好的免疫原性。     

Seroprevalence and Incidence of hepatitis E in Blood Donors in Upper Austria

Background

In recent years various studies showed, that hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a growing public health problem in many developed countries. Therefore, HEV infections might bear a transmission risk by blood transfusions. The clinical relevance still requires further investigations. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of acute HEV infections in Upper Austrian blood donors as well as a risk estimation of this transfusion-related infection.

Methods and Findings

A total of 58,915 blood donors were tested for HEV RNA using a commercial HEV RT-PCR Kit. 7 of these donors (0.01%) were PCR-positive with normal laboratory parameters in absence of clinical signs of hepatitis. Viral load determined by quantitative real-time PCR showed a HEV nucleic acid concentration of 2,217 293,635 IU/ml. At follow-up testing (2–11 weeks after donation) all blood donors had negative HEV RNA results. Additionally, genotyping was performed by amplification and sequencing of the ORF1 or ORF2 region of the HEV genome. All HEV RNA positive donor samples revealed a genotype 3 isolate. For the antibody screening, anti-HEV IgM and IgG were detected by ELISA. Follow up serological testing revealed that no donor was seropositive for HEV IgM or IgG antibodies at time of donation. Moreover, we verified the prevalence of anti-HEV IgG in 1,203 of the HEV RNA negative tested blood donors. Overall 13.55% showed positive results for anti-HEV IgG.

Conclusions

In the presented study, we investigated HEV infections in blood donations of Upper Austria over 1 year. We concluded that 1 out of 8,416 blood donations is HEV RNA positive. Seroprevalence of anti HEV IgG results in an age-related increase of 13.55%. Therefore, based on this data, we recommend HEV-PCR screening to prevent transmission of hepatitis E virus by transfusion.     

The ORF2 protein of hepatitis E virus binds the 5' region of viral RNA

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major human pathogen in much of the developing world. It is a plus-strand RNA virus with a 7.2-kb polyadenylated genome consisting of three open reading frames, ORF1, ORF2, and ORF3. Of these, ORF2 encodes the major capsid protein of the virus and ORF3 encodes a small protein of unknown function. Using the yeast three-hybrid system and traditional biochemical techniques, we have studied the RNA binding activities of ORF2 and ORF3, two proteins encoded in the 3' structural part of the genome. Since the genomic RNA from HEV has been postulated to contain secondary structures at the 5' and 3' ends, we used these two terminal regions, besides other regions within the genome, in this study. Experiments were designed to test for interactions between the genomic RNA fusion constructs with ORF2 and ORF3 hybrid proteins in a yeast cellular environment. We show here that the ORF2 protein contains RNA binding activity. The ORF2 protein specifically bound the 5' end of the HEV genome. Deletion analysis of this protein showed that its RNA binding activity was lost when deletions were made beyond the N-terminal 111 amino acids. Finer mapping of the interacting RNA revealed that a 76-nucleotide (nt) region at the 5' end of the HEV genome was responsible for binding the ORF2 protein. This 76-nt region included the 51-nt HEV sequence, conserved across alphaviruses. Our results support the requirement of this conserved sequence for interaction with ORF2 and also indicate an increase in the strength of the RNA-protein interaction when an additional 44 bases downstream of this 76-nt region were included. Secondary-structure predictions and the location of the ORF2 binding region within the HEV genome indicate that this interaction may play a role in viral encapsidation.     

Optimization of the molecular diagnosis of the acute hepatitis E virus infection

To evaluate the diagnostic value of the combination of two broad-range PCR assays targeting two different and conserved regions of the viral genome for the diagnosis of acute Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection. Patients with acute hepatitis were prospectively recruited. In all, HEV-IgM antibodies were tested together with evaluation of HEV viraemia by two PCR assays (ORF3 and ORF1). The number of individuals exhibiting negative IgM antibody results but carrying viral RNA was calculated by each PCR assay. Four-hundred and seventy individuals were included, of whom 145 (30.8%) were diagnosed as having acute HEV. Of them, 122 (84.1%) exhibited HEV-IgM antibodies, and 81 (55.8%) had detectable viral RNA for at least one PCR. Using the ORF3 molecular assay, 70 (48.3%) individuals were identified with HEV infection. When the ORF1 molecular assay was applied, 49 (33.8%) individuals were identified. The ORF3 assay detected viral RNA in 32 patients not detected by the ORF1 assay. In contrast, the ORF1 assay could amplify viral RNA in 11 patients who were not detected by the ORF3 assay. The parallel use of two broad-range PCR assays significantly increased the performance of the molecular diagnosis of HEV.     

钙离子、镁离子对戊型肝炎病毒感染PLC/PRF/5细胞的影响

为检测钙离子、镁离子对戊型肝炎病毒(hepatitis E virus,HEV)感染PLC/PRF/5细胞(人肝癌亚历山大细胞)的影响,本研究在各实验组PLC/PRF/5细胞的培养体系中加入等量HEV毒种进行孵育,利用实时荧光定量反转录聚合酶链反应以及酶联免疫法,监测HEV核酸和抗原含量;在HEV感染细胞实验组的维持培养液中分别加入钙离子、镁离子、乙二胺四乙酸(ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, EDTA)和乙二醇二乙醚二胺四乙酸(ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid, EGTA),观察钙离子、镁离子、EDTA和EGTA分别存在以及钙离子、镁离子同时存在的情况下,HEV感染后不同时间PLC/PRF/5细胞内及培养上清液中HEV含量。结果显示,HEV接种细胞后1～24 h,钙离子、镁离子的加入能够促进病毒与细胞的结合,而金属离子鏊合剂的加入抑制了病毒与细胞的结合。HEV感染后2～5周,钙离子、镁离子均能增加PLC/PRF/5细胞培养上清液中产生的病毒,其中钙离子的促进作用更加显著。本研究结果表明钙离子、镁离子能够促进HEV感染细胞,在HEV接种细胞后的培养过程中,添加钙离子、镁离子有助于病毒产生。     

Initiation at the third in-frame AUG codon of open reading frame 3 of the hepatitis E virus is essential for viral infectivity in vivo

To determine the initiation strategy of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) open reading frame 3 (ORF3), we constructed five HEV mutants with desired mutations in the ORF1 and ORF2 junction region and tested their levels of in vivo infectivity in pigs. A mutant with a C-terminally truncated ORF3 is noninfectious in pigs, indicating that an intact ORF3 is required for in vivo infectivity. Mutations with substitutions in the first in-frame AUG in the junction region or with the same T insertion at the corresponding position of HEV genotype 4 did not affect the virus infectivity or rescue, although mutations with combinations of the two affected virus recovery efficiency, and a single mutation at the third in-frame AUG completely abolished virus infectivity in vivo, indicating that the third in-frame AUG in the junction region is required for virus infection and is likely the authentic initiation site for ORF3. A conserved double stem-loop RNA structure, which may be important for HEV replication, was identified in the junction region. This represents the first report of using a unique homologous pig model system to study the molecular mechanism of HEV replication and to systematically and definitively identify the authentic ORF3 initiation site.     

C-Terminal Amino Acids 471-507 of Avian Hepatitis E Virus Capsid Protein Are Crucial for Binding to Avian and Human Cells

The infection of chickens with avian Hepatitis E virus (avian HEV) can be asymptomatic or induces clinical signs characterized by increased mortality and decreased egg production in adult birds. Due to the lack of an efficient cell culture system for avian HEV, the interaction between virus and host cells is still barely understood. In this study, four truncated avian HEV capsid proteins (ORF2-1 – ORF2-4) with an identical 338aa deletion at the N-terminus and gradual deletions from 0, 42, 99 and 136aa at the C-terminus, respectively, were expressed and used to map the possible binding site within avian HEV capsid protein. Results from the binding assay showed that three truncated capsid proteins attached to avian LMH cells, but did not penetrate into cells. However, the shortest construct, ORF2-4, lost the capability of binding to cells suggesting that the presence of amino acids 471 to 507 of the capsid protein is crucial for the attachment. The construct ORF2-3 (aa339-507) was used to study the potential binding of avian HEV capsid protein to human and other avian species. It could be demonstrated that ORF2-3 was capable of binding to QT-35 cells from Japanese quail and human HepG2 cells but failed to bind to P815 cells. Additionally, chicken serum raised against ORF2-3 successfully blocked the binding to LMH cells. Treatment with heparin sodium salt or sodium chlorate significantly reduced binding of ORF2-3 to LMH cells. However, heparinase II treatment of LMH cells had no effect on binding of the ORF2-3 construct, suggesting a possible distinct attachment mechanism of avian as compared to human HEV. For the first time, interactions between avian HEV capsid protein and host cells were investigated demonstrating that aa471 to 507 of the capsid protein are needed to facilitate interaction with different kind of cells from different species.     

戊型肝炎病毒实验感染恒河猴的研究

报道了用戊型肝炎（ＨｅｐａｔｉｔｉｓＥ,ＨＥ）病人粪便悬液感染恒河猴后的组织病理学、血液生化与免疫学以及病毒学分子生物学检测的结果。三只实验猴在感染后第３～４周均出现ＡＬＴ异常;粪便以及肝脏与胆囊组织超薄切片中电镜观察到２７～３４ｎｍ大小的病毒样颗粒;病理组织切片观察表明,肝脏组织有典型的急性炎症病灶;粪便与血清经ＲＴｎＰＣＲ扩增到戊型肝炎病毒（ＨｅｐａｔｉｔｉｓＥＶｉｒｕｓ,ＨＥＶ）特异性片段,粪便排毒从感染后第７天持续至第５０天左右,病毒血症迟于粪便排毒,出现于感染后两周左右,维持１～２周;ＥＬＩＳＡ检测发现,实验猴血清中ＨＥＶＩｇＧ抗体水平在感染后３～４周阳转,４～５个月后转阴。这些实验结果提示,恒河猴作为ＨＥＶ感染实验动物模型是理想的,建立系统的恒河猴实验模型对探讨ＨＥＶ感染发病机理、机体免疫应答以及临床诊断与疫苗研制具有重要意义。     

Identification by phage display and characterization of two neutralizing chimpanzee monoclonal antibodies to the hepatitis E virus capsid protein

Two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against the ORF2 protein of the SAR-55 strain of hepatitis E virus (HEV) were isolated by phage display from a cDNA library of chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) gamma1/kappa antibody genes. Both MAbs, HEV#4 and HEV#31, bound to reduced, denatured open reading frame 2 (ORF2) protein in a Western blot, suggesting that they recognize linear epitopes. The affinities (equilibrium dissociation constants, K(d)) for the SAR-55 ORF2 protein were 1.7 nM for HEV#4 and 5.4 nM for HEV#31. The two MAbs also reacted in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with recombinant ORF2 protein from a heterologous HEV, the Meng strain. Each MAb blocked the subsequent binding of the other MAb to homologous ORF2 protein in indirect competition assays, suggesting that they recognize the same or overlapping epitopes. Radioimmunoprecipitation assays suggested that at least part of the linear epitope(s) recognized by the two MAbs is located between amino acids 578 and 607. MAbs were mixed with homologous HEV in vitro and then inoculated into rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) to determine their neutralizing ability. Whereas all control animals developed hepatitis (elevated liver enzyme levels in serum) and seroconverted to HEV, those receiving an inoculum incubated with either HEV#4 or HEV#31 were not infected. Therefore, each MAb neutralized the SAR-55 strain of HEV in vitro.