Development of substrate analogue inhibitors for the human airway trypsin-like protease HAT

A series of substrate analogue inhibitors of the serine protease HAT, containing a 4-amidinobenzylamide moiety as the P1 residue, was prepared. The most potent compounds possess a basic amino acid in the d-configuration as P3 residue. Whereas inhibitor 4 (K_i 13 nM) containing proline as the P2 residue completely lacks selectivity, incorporation of norvaline leads to a potent inhibitor (15, K_i 15 nM) with improved selectivity for HAT in comparison to the coagulation proteases thrombin and factor Xa or the fibrinolytic plasmin. Selected inhibitors were able to suppress influenza virus replication in a HAT-expressing MDCK cell model.     

Synthesis and evaluation of quinoxaline derivatives as potential influenza NS1A protein inhibitors

A library of quinoxaline derivatives were prepared to target non-structural protein 1 of influenza A (NS1A) as a means to develop anti-influenza drug leads. An in vitro fluorescence polarization assay demonstrated that these compounds disrupted the dsRNA-NS1A interaction to varying extents. Changes of substituent at positions 2, 3 and 6 on the quinoxaline ring led to variance in responses. The most active compounds (35 and 44) had IC₅₀ values in the range of low micromolar concentration without exhibiting significant dsRNA intercalation. Compound 44 was able to inhibit influenza A/Udorn/72 virus growth.     

Molecular basis of antigenic drift in Influenza A/H3N2 strains (1968-2007) in the light of antigenantibody interactions

The emergence of new strains of Influenza virus have caused several pandemics over the last hundred years with the latest being the H1N1 Swine flu pandemic of 2009. The Hemagglutinin (HA) protein of the Influenza virus is the primary target of human immune system and is responsible for generation of protective antibodies in humans. Mutations in this protein results in change in antigenic regions (antigenic drift) which consequently leads to loss of immunity in hosts even in vaccinated population (herd immunity). This necessitates periodic changes in the Influenza vaccine composition. In this paper, we investigate the molecular basis of the reported loss of herd immunity in vaccinated population (vaccine component: Influenza A/X-31/1968 (H3N2)) which resulted in the outbreak due to strain Influenza A/Port Chalmers/1/1973 (H3N2). Also, the effects of antigenic drift in HA protein (H3N2 vaccine strains 1968-2007) on the 3D structures as well as interactions with BH151, a 1968 antibody, has been studied. Rigid body molecular docking protocol has been used to study the antigen-antibody interactions. We believe that the present study will help in better understanding of host-pathogen interactions at the molecular level.     

温州地区人群对甲型H1N1流感认知情况及其疫苗不良反应的调查

目的了解温州地区居民对甲型H1N1流感(以下简称甲流)的认知情况及其疫苗的不良反应,分析相关调查数据为医务人员加强疾病防控提供依据。方法采用自行设计问卷,随机抽取2010年3月-4月温州地区居民888人为调查对象,对其进行问卷调查。结果温州地区人群对甲流及其疫苗的认知程度平均得分为15.69分,处于中低水平,各年龄段、各职业人群在认知度上差异存在统计学意义(P<0.05),走访的113名70岁以上的老人在甲型H1N1信息上欠缺认识。调查对象中50.5%人群对甲流疫苗的安全性持质疑观望态度。调查对象中共115人已接种疫苗,13人出现不良反应,占11.3%。结论甲流疫苗具有较高的安全性,但温州地区人群对甲型H1N1流感相关知识了解欠缺,而且群众的信任度不高,因此仍应加大宣传力度,尤其加强对老年人的预防宣教。JP     

流感疫苗单向免疫扩散试验中抗血清制备新方法的研究

流感疫苗血凝素含量检测方法为单向免疫扩散试验,其抗血清通常由WHO参比实验室提供,通过纯化病毒、蛋白酶切获得血凝素主要抗原片段,然后再免疫动物获得抗血清。该方法制备时间较长,是制约流感疫苗研发及检测的主要因素。以RT-PCR方法获取甲型H1N1流感病毒血凝素中主要抗原片段基因,构建重组质粒并在大肠杆菌中表达,表达产物经纯化、复性后,以蛋白电泳及免疫印迹方法进行了鉴定。以纯化蛋白免疫家兔,制备了相应的抗体,初步证明可用于常规的单向免疫扩散试验。以该法可以快速获得抗血清,尤其是在大流行流感疫苗的研发中,加快疫苗研发进程。     

GST pull-down验证流感病毒PB1-F2蛋白与热休克蛋白40的相互作用

为体外验证流感病毒PB1-F2与热休克蛋白Hsp40相互作用,通过两个方向的GST pull-down试验验证PB1-F2与Hsp40的相互作用。构建GST-多肽融合蛋白原核表达载体pGEX-6P-1-PB1-F2和pGEX-6P-1-Hsp40,并在大肠杆菌(E.co-li)BL21中诱导表达;构建真核表达载体pLEGFP-Hsp40及pCAGGS-PB1-F2,并分别转染293T细胞使其表达Hsp40及PB1-F2融合蛋白,然后进行GST pull-down试验验证二者的相互作用。成功地构建了两种蛋白的各种表达载体,经表达、纯化获得了可溶性的GST-多肽融合蛋白,GST pull-down试验正反两方向都证实了PB1-F2与Hsp40的相互作用,初步证实了流感病毒PB1-F2在体外能与Hsp40发生相互作用。     

Phylogenetic Analysis of the Non-structural (NS) Gene of Influenza A Viruses Isolated in Kazakhstan in 2002-2009

Although the important role of the non-structural (NS1 and NEP) gene of influenza A in virulence of the virus is well established, our knowledge about the extent of variation in the NS gene pool of influenza A viruses in their natural reservoirs in Kazakhstan is incomplete. 17 influenza A viruses of different subtypes were studied in this paper. Seven types of haemagglutinin and five different neuraminidase subtypes in eight combinations were found among the isolated viruses. A comparison of nucleotide sequ...     

Comparison of Influenza Outbreaks in the Republic of Kazakhstan and Russia Induced by 2009 Yearly New Variant of А(H1N1) Influenza Virus

The aim of the work is the comparison of the epidemiology of influenza and acute respiratory virus infections (ARVI) in the Republic of Kazakhstan with the corresponding influenza epidemic in Russia induced by influenza pandemic virus A/California/07/2009 in 2009.Data on influenza and ARVI from the Republic of Kazakhstan and Federal Center of influenza was collected and investigated over the course of several weeks from hospitalized patients with the same diagnosis among all population and in age groups on ...     

Prospective of Genomics in Revealing Transmission, Reassortment and Evolution of Wildlife-Borne Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Viruses

The outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 disease has led to significant loss of poultry and wild life and case fatality rates in humans of 60%. Wild birds are natural hosts for all avian influenza virus subtypes and over120 bird species have been reported with evidence of H5N1 infection. Influenza A viruses possess a segmented RNA genome and are characterized by frequently occurring genetic reassortment events, which play a very important role in virus evolution and the spread of novel gene constellations in immunologically naïve human and animal populations. Phylogenetic analysis of whole genome or sub-genomic sequences is a standard means for delineating genetic variation, novel reassortment events, and surveillance to trace the global transmission pathways. In this paper, special emphasis is given to the transmission and circulation of H5N1 among wild life populations, and to the reassortment events that are associated with inter-host transmission of the H5N1 viruses when they infect different hosts, such as birds, pigs and humans. In addition, we review the inter-subtype reassortment of the viral segments encoding inner proteins between the H5N1 viruses and viruses of other subtypes, such as H9N2 and H6N1. Finally, we highlight the usefulness of genomic sequences in molecular epidemiological analysis of HPAI H5N1 and the technical limitations in existing analytical methods that hinder them from playing a greater role in virological research.