Development of a multiplex polymerase chain reaction for the simultaneous detection of microsporidians, nucleopolyhedrovirus, and densovirus infecting silkworms

We have developed a novel PCR-based assay for individual and simultaneous detection of three major pathogens (microsporidians, nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) and densovirus (DNV)) infecting the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Multiplex PCR, using three primer pairs, two of which were designed from the conserved regions of 16S small subunit ribosomal RNA gene of microsporidians, and polyhedrin gene of NPVs respectively, and a third primer pair designed from the internal sequences of B. mori DNVs (BmDNV), showed discrete and pathogen specific PCR products. The assay showed high specificity and sensitivity for the pathogenic DNA. Under optimized PCR conditions, the assay yielded a 794 bp DNA fragment from Nosema bombycis, 471 bp fragment from B. mori NPV (BmNPV) and 391 bp fragment from BmDNV. Further, this detection method was successfully applied to other silkworm species such as Antheraea mylitta and Samia cynthia ricini, in detecting same or similar pathogens infecting them. This method is a valuable supplement to the conventional microscopic diagnostic methods and can be used for the early detection of pathogens infecting silkworms. Furthermore it can assist research and extension centers for the safe supply of disease-free silkworms to farmers.     

含荧光素酶基因的黑胸大蠊浓核病毒重组质粒的构建与表达

黑胸大蠊(Periplaneta fuliginosa)是我国分布最广的蟑螂种类.黑胸大蠊浓核病毒(Periplaneta fuliginosa densovirus, PfDNV)是我室1991年在国内首次报道并在国内外第一个分类鉴定的蟑螂细小病毒[1].我们构建了PfDNV全基因组克隆和酶切亚克隆重组质粒,测定并分析了病毒基因组全序列与结构.序列分析表明该病毒基因组具有细小病毒基因组的结构特征,其末端具有反转重复序列(Invert Terminal Repeatant, ITR)和回文结构,这类病毒基因组两端的特殊结构可能是与病毒复制,整合,拯救,包装有关的必需顺式元件[2～5].为了进一步研究黑胸大蠊浓核病毒基因复制及表达机理,尤其是其末端结构在病毒基因复制中的作用,我们将荧光素酶基因插入了PfDNV基因组保留了两个完整的末端结构而其它部分缺失的重组质粒中.将这种重组质粒转染虫体后,在虫体中检测到了荧光素酶的表达,说明在缺失基因组中间部分时,插入的外源基因依然可以复制、表达.本结果证实了PfDNV基因组的末端结构是PfDNV复制的必需结构.这一实验为将外源基因引入病毒基因组,构建基因工程杀虫剂提供了有效的技术途径.现将结果报告如下.     

The densovirus of Periplaneta fuliginosa (PfDNV) as an insect vector for persistent foreign gene expression in vivo

An infectious clone of the Periplaneta fuliginosa densovirus (PfDNV) has been constructed and the PfDNV genome can rescue from the plasmid and replicate as the wild-type virus in nymphs of P. fuliginosa. To investigate the ability of the cloned PfDNV genome to be used as a stable and persistent expression vector, we constructed seven recombinant plasmids in which the GFP reporter gene was inserted into the genome of PfDNV. When these recombinant constructs were transfected into hosts, the GFP was expressed efficiently in every clone. Southern blot analysis revealed that recombinant plasmids had integrated into host genome. Infectious recombinant virions could be produced from plasmids in which the GFP gene was downstream of and in frame with the NS3 and NS1 coding regions. These results indicate that PfDNV genome can be used as an insect vector for the transfer and persistent expression of an exogenous gene.     

一种家蚕类浓核病毒的组织病理学特征

本文从家蚕病蚕中分离到一种家蚕类浓核病毒（BmDNV-Like）,对它的组织病理学研究表明:该病毒首先寄生家蚕中肠柱状细胞,继而引起其细胞核的膨大和破裂;组织原位杂交结果表明该病毒既能在家蚕中肠柱状细胞中增殖,也能在中肠的杯形细胞中增殖,甚至在感染后期能在家蚕幼虫的大部分组织细胞中感染和增殖。     

Transmission of viruses to mosquito larvae mediated by divalent cations

The two major groups of pathogenic viruses in mosquitoes are the occluded viruses, represented by baculoviruses and cypoviruses, and the non-occluded viruses, represented by the densoviruses and the iridoviruses. Baculoviruses, densoviruses, and iridoviruses are DNA viruses, while cypoviruses are the major group of RNA viruses reported from mosquitoes. Research on mosquito pathogenic viruses has been limited, in part, due to the inability to effectively transmit them to the larval mosquito host. Recently, there have been tremendous advancements in the ability to transmit mosquito baculoviruses and cypoviruses with the finding that transmission is mediated by divalent cations. Oral transmission of both baculoviruses and cypoviruses to mosquito larvae is enhanced by magnesium and inhibited by calcium ions. The current status of transmission for each of the major groups is reviewed with emphasis on the common role of divalent cations in transmission of the distantly related baculoviruses and cypoviruses.     

A nonoccluded virus in nymphs of the dragonfly Leucorrhinia dubia (Odonata,Anisoptera)

This work establishes the sequence of events as the water mold, Coelomomyces psorophorae, develops and enters mosquito larvae through the cuticles of these insects. The fungal cyst shows a number of adaptations for a parasitic function. A bulb-shaped appressorium is produced at germination which is initiated and/or maintained by a microtubular skeleton. The tip of the appressorium secretes a dense amorphous substance, then produces a narrow penetration tube which grows through the larval cuticle. The penetration tube maintains its narrow diameter as it grows inside the host epidermal cell. The parasite protoplasm is injected into a host epidermal cell. The protoplast is squeezed through the narrow tube by the (probably rapid) expansion of a vacuole in the cyst body at the end distal to the penetration point. There is a correlation of cuticular texture with adhesion patterns of cysts. A cuticular collar is always seen in successful penetrations. The sequence of development after attachment of the fungal zygotes is: germination between 1 and 2 hr; penetration between 3 and 4 hr; and injection between 6.5 and 8 hr.     

家蚕浓核病毒中国(镇江)株结构蛋白的生物信息学比较分析

运用生物信息学方法将家蚕浓核病毒中国(镇江)株的结构蛋白与其它类型家蚕浓核病毒的结构蛋白在理化特性、结构、功能等方面进行了比较分析。结果表明:家蚕浓核病毒结构蛋白是一类稳定的亲水性蛋白,BmDNV-ZJ与BmDNV-2的结构蛋白性质可能比较类似,而BmDNV-ZJ和BmDNV-1结构蛋白序列的理化性参数、序列内部重复片断以及折叠区域差异较大,表明这两种浓核病毒结构蛋白在性状、结构、功能上有较大差异。而BmDNV-ZJ和BmDNV-1结构蛋白序列中有3个不同的LCR功能区域。分子进化聚类分析可得到四大类浓核病毒结构蛋白。