Two clones obtained from Urabe AM9 mumps virus vaccine differ in their replicative efficiency in neuroblastoma cells

A high rate of post-vaccinal aseptic meningitis for Urabe AM9 mumps virus strain is well documented. This strain is composed of two virus variants differing at the nt 1081 (A/G) region in the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) gene. An association of HN-A(1081) variant with neurovirulence has been proposed. In order to test for neurotropism we isolated the HN-A(1081) and HN-G(1081) virus variants from Urabe AM9 mumps virus vaccine. Sequential passages were performed in monkey kidney Vero cells and human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Viral replication was determined by conventional and real-time RT-PCR. The results show that clone HN-A(1081) can replicate efficiently in both cell types. However, a defective replication of clone HN-G(1081), lacking its genetic marker, was observed after the third passage in neuroblastoma cells. Kinetics assays showed that clone HN-A(1081) replicates faster than clone HN-G(1081). Viral clones were also inoculated into the brains of newborn rats. Clone HN-A(1081) replicated 14 times, while clone HN-G(1081) merely duplicated its level over the initial inoculum. These results suggest that there is a selective replication of HN-A(1081) mumps virus variants in cells of nervous origin.     

Amino acid change 335 E to K affects the sialic-acid-binding and neuraminidase activities of Urabe AM9 mumps virus hemagglutinin-neuraminidase glycoprotein

A mutation coding for the amino acid change E335 to K is frequently found in the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) gene of Urabe AM9 mumps viruses isolated during post-vaccination meningitis cases. To identify if this mutation modifies the biological activities of the HN glycoprotein, two variants of Urabe AM9 vaccine differing at amino acid 335 (HN-E335 and HN-K335) were isolated and their receptor-binding specificity was determined by means of competence assays. Pre-incubation of the viruses with sialic acids inhibited both syncytia formation in Vero cells and replication in SH-SY5Y cells. Thus, HN-K335 showed higher affinity towards sialylalpha2,6lactose, whereas HN-G335 preferred sialylalpha2,3lactose. These results are relevant because a high expression of sialylalpha2,6lactose in nerve cells was confirmed by means of Sambucus nigra lectin-cytochemistry. In addition, kinetics assays showed that HN-K335 and HN-E335 also differ in their hydrolysis rate (Vmax values of 37.5 vs. 3.5 nmol min-1mg-1, respectively). Therefore, HN-K335 variant presented a neuraminidase activity level 11-fold higher than that of HN-E335 variant. In conclusion, the mutation affects the receptor-binding and neuraminidase activities of Urabe AM9 mumps virus variants.     

Isolation and complete nucleotide sequence of the measles virus IMB-1 strain in China

The complete nucleotide sequence of the measles virus strain IMB-1, which was isolated in China, was determined. As in other measles viruses, its genome is 15,894 nucleotides in length and encodes six proteins. The full-length nucleotide sequence of the IMB-1 isolate differed from vaccine strains (including wild-type Edmonston strain) by 4%–5% at the nucleotide sequence level. This isolate has amino acid variations over the full genome, including in the hemagglutinin and fusion genes. This report is the first to describe the full-length genome of a genotype H1 strain and provide an overview of the diversity of genetic characteristics of a circulating measles virus.     

犬传染性肝炎病毒Hexon蛋白Loop1、Loop2基因的克隆与表达

犬传染性肝炎病毒（ICHV）主要的中和抗原表位位于六邻体蛋白Loop1、Loop2上。本次研究参考Genebank发表的基因序列设计引物,提取ICHV基因组DNA,,分别PCR扩增六邻体蛋白（Hexon）的Loop1、Loop2基因片段,用T4酶连接在一起,克隆入原核表达载体pET28a中,测序显示本室保存病毒分离株Loop1与CLL株、RI261株和Toronto A26/61株核苷酸序列同源性分别为100%、100%和83.8%;Loop2与CLL株、RI261株和Toronto A26/61株核苷酸序列同源性分别为88.1%、88.1%和99.3%,推导的氨基酸序列同源性分别为93.6%、93.6%和98.6%。转化BL21工程菌,实现了重组Loop蛋白在大肠杆菌中的高效表达,其表达的重组蛋白以包涵体形式存在,分子量约为36kDa,并且利用镍柱纯化重组蛋白,纯度达95%以上。本实验为建立新的犬传染性肝炎病毒基因工程产品奠定了良好的基础。     

Isolation and Characterization of Mumps Virus Strains in a Mumps Outbreak with a High Incidence of Aseptic Meningitis

In 1993, mumps with a high incidence of aseptic meningitis became prevalent in Akita prefecture, Japan. Three mumps virus isolates obtained from the nonvaccine-associated cases lacked the BamHI restriction cleavage site of the P gene, like the Urabe strain (Yamada, A. et al, Vaccine 8: 553-557). However, four additional nucleotide substitutions were found in the determined region of 157 bp. Fourteen of 19 cases from which mumps virus showing the Urabe-like RFLP profile was detected were complicated with symptomatic meningitis, whereas there were only four cases of meningitis among 23 individuals infected with the wild type showing no Urabe-like RFLP profile (non-“Urabe-like” wild-type). The incidence of meningitis was over 70% among patients infected with the “Urabe-like” wild-type virus. The “Urabe-like” wild-type disappeared after February 1994 in the epidemic area and was replaced by the non-“Urabe-like” wild-type. Patients infected with the “Urabe-like” wild-type lived in a closed colony, in which there were two instances of transmission between siblings. Thus this outbreak was transient and narrowly localized.     

汉坦病毒HTN261株S基因片段的核苷酸序列测定及分析

黑龙江省是肾综合征因热（HFRS）的重疫区。近年来HFRS年的发病人数曾超过万人。流行病学和血清学研究表明黑龙江省HFRS疫区主要是姬鼠型,但目前尚缺乏病毒的分子生物学资料。我们对从疫区捕获的宿主动物－黑线姬鼠肺中分离的汉坦病毒HTN261株的S基因片段的全基因序列进测定和初步分析。结果如下,HTN261株的S基因片段的全序列长为1697nt。只有一个主要的编码N蛋白的ORF,起始位置为第37nt,终止于1326nt,编码的蛋白长为429aa。没有发现存在ORF2。HTN261株的S基因片段核苷酸序列与HGTN型中的病毒株的同源性很高,而与汉坦病毒其他型的同源民生较差,从种系发生树分析来看,HNT261株归结于汉坦病毒的HTN型。在HTN型之内,HTN261株和HTN76－118株在一个分枝内,就其核苷酸和蛋白的同源性说,HT N261株和HTN76－118株的同源性分别是89％（全S基因）和98％（蛋白）。而与中国境内发现的其他汉坦病毒株Z10,HU,Chen4,NC167等基因和蛋白的同源性相对较差,汉坦病毒除具有其宿主的依赖性外,还具有其地理的簇集性。HTN261株和HTN76－118株之间S基因和N蛋白序列的变异性的差异分别为11％和2％,表明HTN261株和HTN76－118株还有不同,可能是不同的亚型。不过,尚有待于进一步研究证明。     

汉坦病毒HTN261株S基因片段的核苷酸序列测定及分析

黑龙江省是肾综合征出血热(HFRS)的重疫区。近年来HFRS年的发病人数曾超过万人。流行病学和血清学研究表明黑龙江省HFRS疫区主要是姬鼠型,但目前尚缺乏病毒的分子生物学资料。我们对从疫区捕获的宿主动物-黑线姬鼠肺中分离的汉坦病毒HTN261株的S基因片段的全基因序列进行了测定和初步分析。结果如下,HTN261株的S基因片段的全序列长为1697nt。只有一个主要的编码N蛋白的ORF,起始位置为第37nt,终止于1326nt,编码的蛋白长为429aa。没有发现存在ORF2。HTN261株的S基因片段核苷酸序列与HTN型中的病毒株的同源性很高,而与汉坦病毒其他型的同源性较差。从种系发生树分析来看,HTN261株归结于汉坦病毒的HTN型。在HTN型之内,HTN261株和HTN76-118株在一个分枝内。就其核苷酸和蛋白的同源性来说,HTN261株和HTN76-118株的同源性分别是89%(全S基因)和98%(蛋白)。而与中国境内发现的其他汉坦病毒株Z10,HU,Chen4,NC167等基因和蛋白的同源性相对较差。汉坦病毒除具有其宿主的依赖性外,还具有其地理的簇集性。HTN261株和HTN76-118株之间S基因和N蛋白序列的变异性的差异分别为11%和2%,表明HTN261株和HTN76-118株还有不同,可能是不同的亚型。不过,尚有待于进一步研究证明。     

Isolation of different types of birnavirus from ayu Plecoglossus altivelis and amago salmon Oncorhynchus rhodurus cultured in the same geographic area

A birnavirus was recently isolated from cultured ayu Plecoglossus altivelis on Shikoku island, Japan. The diseased fish displayed vertebral or vertical curvature and mild haemorrhage around the brain. Cytopathic effects (CPE) of the virus, including cell roundness, filamentous change and cell lysis, were observed in CHSE-214, RTG-2 and RSBK-2 cells. The virus isolated from ayu, designated the AY-98 strain, was found to be antigenically related to the marine birnavirus (MABV) Y-6 strain that originated from yellowtail Seriola quinqueradiata. AY-98 had a bi-segmented RNA genome and the same nucleotide sequence in the 310 bp VP2/NS junction as MABV Y-6. At the same time that the ayu epizootics occurred, another birnavirus (AM-98) was isolated from amago salmon Oncorhynchus rhodurus which were cultured 66 km away from the ayu farm. AM-98 showed a similar CPE and had the same host cell ranges as AY-98. However, AM-98 was serologically similar to the VR-299 strain of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) and their nucleotide sequences in the VP2/NS junction region showed 98% homology without changes at the amino acid level. In this study, the ayu strain AY-98 was grouped into MABV, whereas the amago salmon strain AM-98 was grouped into IPNV. This indicates that the 2 birnaviruses originated from different sources in spite of the fact that the places where they were isolated are close to one another. The results in this paper show a new aspect of the traditional consensus that the same serogroup of birnavirus distribute in close geographic areas.     

Role of biased hypermutation in evolution of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis virus from progenitor acute measles virus.

We identified an acute measles virus (Nagahata strain) closely related to a defective virus (Biken strain) isolated from a patient with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). The proteins of Nagahata strain measles virus are antigenically and electrophoretically similar to the proteins of Edmonston strain measles virus. However, the nucleotide sequence of the Nagahata matrix (M) gene is significantly different from the M genes of all the acute measles virus strains studied to date. The Nagahata M gene is strikingly similar to the M gene of Biken strain SSPE virus isolated several years later in the same locale. Eighty percent of the nucleotide differences between the Nagahata and Biken M genes are uridine-to-cytosine transitions known as biased hypermutation, which has been postulated to be caused by a cellular RNA-modifying activity. These biased mutations account for all but one of the numerous missense genetic changes predicted to cause amino acid substitutions. As a result, the Biken virus M protein loses conformation-specific epitopes that are conserved in the M proteins of Nagahata and Edmonston strain acute measles viruses. These conformation-specific epitopes are also absent in the cryptic M proteins encoded by the hypermutated M genes of two other defective SSPE viruses (Niigata and Yamagata strains). Nagahata-like sequences are found in the M genes of at least five other SSPE viruses isolated from three continents. These data indicate that Biken strain SSPE virus is derived from a progenitor closely resembling Nagahata strain acute measles virus and that biased hypermutation is largely responsible for the structural defects in the Biken virus M protein.     

仙台病毒黑龙江省地方株的分离与鉴定

目的自本省普通级实验动物中分离并鉴定出仙台病毒地方毒株,为建立仙台病毒血清抗体检测方法奠定基础。方法通过鸡胚尿囊腔传代自普通级小鼠肺脏分离病毒,经血凝实验、血凝阻断实验和结构基因序列测定对分离得到的病毒进行鉴定;大量繁殖病毒并通过蔗糖密度梯度离心纯化,免疫动物制备阳性血清,用标准试剂盒检测阳性血清效价。结果自150份小鼠肺脏分离到2株有血凝性的病毒,经形态学、血清学和结构基因序列测定鉴定为仙台病毒,命名为SV-HLJ。SV-HLJ与标准毒株Fushimi核蛋白基因(N)的核苷酸、氨基酸同源性分别为99·6%和99·0%。结论分离并鉴定出了仙台病毒黑龙江省地方毒株,为检测试剂盒的研制奠定了基础。     

The reactogenicity and immunogenicity of the Urabe Am 9 live mumps vaccine and persistence of vaccine induced antibodies in healthy young children

The immunogenicity and reactogenicity of the Urabe Am 9 mumps virus vaccine strain were studied after the administration of different doses of the vaccine to 197 children ranging in age from seven and a half months to nine years and without a history of mumps. There was no effect of dose on the response in serum neutralizing antibodies in the range of 10(2.9) to 10(4.7) TCID50/dose. In the 90 subjects without detectable serum neutralization antibodies before vaccination seroconversion was obtained in 94.4% after 42 days. Half of a group of 34 seropositive children who were tested also showed a fourfold or greater rise in antibodies. Persistence of vaccine-enhanced haemagluttinin-inhibition (EHI) antibodies was satisfactory as only two of 46 vaccinees followed-up for between 27 and 32 months had undetectable levels of EHI antibodies and the geometric mean titre of vaccine-induced EHI antibodies had only fallen to about one-third by 32 months after vaccination. Although there was serological evidence of a subclinical re-infection in three subjects, to date none of the vaccinees has had clinical mumps indicating that the vaccine confers protection against disease. The vaccine was well tolerated. Furthermore, the majority of the few 'reactions' reported were probably not vaccine-related. It is concluded that the Urabe Am 9 is an acceptable strain for use in live mumps vaccines.     

Characterization of a Natural Mutation in an Antigenic Site on the Fusion Protein of Measles Virus That Is Involved in Neutralization

Although measles virus is an antigenically monotypic virus, nucleotide sequence analysis of the hemagglutinin and nucleoprotein genes has permitted the differentiation of a number of genotypes. In contrast, the fusion (F) protein is highly conserved; only three amino acid changes have been reported over a 40-year period. We have isolated a measles virus strain which did not react with an anti-F monoclonal antibody (MAb) which we had previously shown to be directed against a dominant antigenic site. This virus strain, Lys-1, had seven amino acid changes compared with the Edmonston strain. We have shown that a single amino acid at position 73 is responsible for its nonreactivity with the anti-F MAb. With the same MAb, antibody-resistant mutants were prepared from the vaccine strain. A single amino acid change at position 73 (R→W) was observed. The possibility of selecting measles virus variants in vaccinated populations is discussed.     

Isolation and partial characterization of equine herpesvirus type 1 in Czechia

Equine herpesvirus type 1 was determined as the etiological cause of an abortion storm in Czechia in 2003 after the virus strain was isolated from aborted fetus and identified by serological means and by PCR technique. Cloning and sequencing of the glycoprotein D confirmed the identity of the isolates and showed molecular relationships to known EHV-1 strains. Comparison of glycoprotein D sequences with corresponding sequence of EHV-1 reference strains (Kentucky-A and Ab1) revealed high nucleotide homology. The Czech isolate of EHV-1 virus does not differ significantly from the Ab1 strain regarding the glycoprotein D gene and does not bear the frameshift in the 3' terminus which occurs in the Kentucky-A strain.     

Entification of the Rubella virus genotype 1H in Western Siberia

Molecular epidemiological study of novel strain of Rubella virus isolated during the outbreak in Western Siberia in 2004 was described. Detailed phylogenetic analysis performed based upon entire SP-region, which encodes all three Rubella structural proteins (C, E2, and E1), was implemented. This analysis provides characterization of this strain and classifies it as 1H genotype, thereby correcting previous classification of this strain based upon shorter nucleotide sequence, only encoding E1 protein. Therefore, this study identified the genotype of the Rubella virus not previously detected in Western Siberia (and even entire Russian Federation), which highlights the importance of more extensive characterization of genetic variability of the Rubella virus, especially with regard to potential influence of vaccination on the Rubella virus mutagenesis.     

猪流行性腹泻病毒地方株LJB/03分离及培养特性

从黑龙江省某猪场疑为病毒性腹泻的发病猪采集腹泻粪便样品,以RT-PCR法扩增出猪流行性腹泻病毒M基因后,采用细胞培养法进行病毒分离。对细胞培养分离物进行间接免疫荧光、免疫电镜观察、RT-PCR及ELISA法检验,其中间接免疫荧光试验可见培养细胞中存在明显的特异性绿色荧光;免疫电镜下可见大小符合预期、有囊膜、花瓣状的典型冠状病毒结构特征;RT-PCR检测证实存在PEDVM基因;间接ELISA检测中平均P/N比值为7.6;从而确认为分离到一株猪流行性腹泻病毒(Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus,PEDV),命名为PEDVLJB/03株。随后,对该分离毒株的培养特性及如何提高病毒滴度进行探索。通过摸索该分离毒株的蚀斑形成条件,建立了PEDV蚀斑形成方法,并采用该方法进行病毒的蚀斑纯化,纯化得到PEDV大蚀斑克隆株和小蚀斑克隆株。对大、小两种蚀斑克隆株的病毒滴度测定结果表明,大小蚀斑克隆株细胞感染滴度相差明显。     

Complete Genomic Sequence of an H5N1 Influenza Virus from a Parrot in Southern China

An H5N1 avian influenza virus (AIV) designated A/Parrot/Guangdong/C99/2005 (H5N1) was first isolated from a sick parrot in Guangdong in southern China in 2005. The complete genome of this strain was analyzed. Genome sequence analysis showed that all 8 gene segments of the virus nucleotide had 99.0% homology to A/chicken/Henan/12/2004 (H5N1). Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that all 8 gene segments of the virus were derived from the Eurasian lineage. The availability of genome sequences is useful to investigate the host range and genetic evolution of the H5N1 avian influenza virus in Southern China.     

Greater numbers of nucleotide substitutions are introduced into the genomic RNA of bovine viral diarrhea virus during acute infections of pregnant cattle than of non-pregnant cattle

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) strains circulating in livestock herds show significant sequence variation. Conventional wisdom states that most sequence variation arises during acute infections in response to immune or other environmental pressures. A recent study showed that more nucleotide changes were introduced into the BVDV genomic RNA during the establishment of a single fetal persistent infection than following a series of acute infections of naive cattle. However, it was not known if nucleotide changes were introduce when the virus crossed the placenta and infected the fetus or during the acute infection of the dam. METHODS: The sequence of the open reading frame (ORF) from viruses isolated from four acutely infected pregnant heifers following exposure to persistently infected (PI) calves was compared to the sequences of the virus from the progenitor PI calf and the virus from the resulting progeny PI calf to determine when genetic change was introduced. This was compared to genetic change found in viruses isolated from a pregnant PI cow and its PI calf, and in three viruses isolated from acutely infected, non-pregnant cattle exposed to PI calves. RESULTS: Most genetic changes previously identified between the progenitor and progeny PI viruses were in place in the acute phase viruses isolated from the dams six days post-exposure to the progenitor PI calf. Additionally, each progeny PI virus had two to three unique nucleotide substitutions that were introduced in crossing the placenta and infection of the fetus. The nucleotide sequence of two acute phase viruses isolated from steers exposed to PI calves revealed that six and seven nucleotide changes were introduced during the acute infection. The sequence of the BVDV-2 virus isolated from an acute infection of a PI calf (BVDV-1a) co-housed with a BVDV-2 PI calf had ten nucleotides that were different from the progenitor PI virus. Finally, twenty nucleotide changes were identified in the PI virus of a calf born to a PI dam. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that nucleotide changes are introduced into the BVDV infecting pregnant cattle at rates of 2.3 to 8 fold higher then during the acute infection of non-pregnant animals.