Ability of Lactococcus lactis To Export Viral Capsid Antigens: a Crucial Step for Development of Live Vaccines

Thefood grade bacterium Lactococcus lactis is a potential vehicle for protein delivery in the gastrointestinal tract. As a model, we constructed lactococcal strains producing antigens of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). IBDV infects chickens and causes depletion of B-lymphoid cells in the bursa of Fabricius and subsequent immunosuppression, morbidity, or acute mortality. The two major IBDV antigens, i.e., VP2 and VP3, that form the viral capsid were expressed and targeted to the cytoplasm, the cell wall, or the extracellular compartment of L. lactis. Whereas VP3 was successfully targeted to the three compartments by the use of relevant expression and export vectors, VP2 was recalcitrant to export, thus confirming the difficulty of translocating naturally nonsecreted proteins across the bacterial membrane. This defect could be partly overcome by fusing VP2 to a naturally secreted protein (the staphylococcal nuclease Nuc) that carried VP2 through the membrane. Lactococcal strains producing Nuc-VP2 and VP3 in various bacterial compartments were administered orally to chickens. The chickens did not develop any detectable immune response against VP2 and VP3 but did exhibit an immune response against Nuc when Nuc-VP2 was anchored to the cell wall of lactococci.     

Protective Oral Vaccination against Infectious bursal disease virus Using the Major Viral Antigenic Protein VP2 Produced in Pichia pastoris

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) causes economically important immunosuppressive disease in young chickens. The self-assembling capsid protein (VP2) from IBDV strain IR01 was expressed in Pichia pastoris resulting in the formation of homomeric, 23-nm infectious bursal disease subviral particles (IBD-SVPs) with a yield of 76 mg/l before and 38 mg/l after purification. Anti-IBDV antibodies were detected in chickens injected with purified IBD-SVPs or fed with either purified IBD-SVPs or inactivated P. pastoris cells containing IBD-VP2 (cell-encapsulated). Challenge studies using the heterologous classical IBDV strain (MB3) showed that intramuscular vaccination with 20 µg purified IBD-SVPs conferred full protection, achieved complete virus clearance and prevented bursal damage and atrophy, compared with only 40% protection, 0–10% virus clearance accompanied by severe atrophy and substantial bursal damage in mock-vaccinated and challenge controls. The commercial IBDV vaccine also conferred full protection and achieved complete virus clearance, albeit with partial bursal atrophy. Oral administration of 500 µg purified IBD-SVPs with and without adjuvant conferred 100% protection but achieved only 60% virus clearance with adjuvant and none without it. Moderate bursal damage was observed in both cases but the inclusion of adjuvant resulted in bursal atrophy similar to that observed with live-attenuated vaccine and parenteral administration of 20 µg purified IBD-SVPs. The oral administration of 250 mg P. pastoris cells containing IBD-VP2 resulted in 100% protection with adjuvant and 60% without, accompanied by moderate bursal damage and atrophy in both groups, whereas 25 mg P. pastoris cells containing IBD-VP2 resulted in 90–100% protection with moderate bursal lesions and severe atrophy. Finally, the oral delivery of 50 µg purified IBD-SVPs achieved 40–60% protection with severe bursal lesions and atrophy. Both oral and parenteral administration of yeast-derived IBD-VP2 can therefore induce a specific and protective immune response against IBDV without affecting the growth rate of chickens.     

TRIM25 inhibits infectious bursal disease virus replication by targeting VP3 for ubiquitination and degradation

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), a double-stranded RNA virus, causes immunosuppression and high mortality in 3–6-week-old chickens. Innate immune defense is a physical barrier to restrict viral replication. After viral infection, the host shows crucial defense responses, such as stimulation of antiviral effectors to restrict viral replication. Here, we conducted RNA-seq in avian cells infected by IBDV and identified TRIM25 as a host restriction factor. Specifically, TRIM25 deficiency dramatically increased viral yields, whereas overexpression of TRIM25 significantly inhibited IBDV replication. Immunoprecipitation assays indicated that TRIM25 only interacted with VP3 among all viral proteins, mediating its K27-linked polyubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation. Moreover, the Lys854 residue of VP3 was identified as the key target site for the ubiquitination catalyzed by TRIM25. The ubiquitination site destroyed enhanced the replication ability of IBDV in vitro and in vivo. These findings demonstrated that TRIM25 inhibited IBDV replication by specifically ubiquitinating and degrading the structural protein VP3.     

A recombinant Newcastle disease virus (NDV) expressing VP2 protein of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) protects against NDV and IBDV

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) causes a highly immunosuppressive disease in chickens. Currently available, live IBDV vaccines can lead to generation of variant viruses. We have developed an alternative vaccine that will not create variant IBDV. By using the reverse genetics approach, we devised a recombinant Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vector from a commonly used vaccine strain LaSota to express the host-protective immunogen VP2 of a variant IBDV strain GLS-5. The gene encoding the VP2 protein of the IBDV was inserted into the most 3'-proximal locus of a full-length NDV cDNA for high-level expression. We successfully recovered the recombinant virus, rLaSota/VP2. The rLaSota/VP2 was genetically stable, at least up to 12 serial passages in chicken embryos, and was shown to express the VP2 protein. The VP2 protein was not incorporated into the virions of recombinant virus. Recombinant rLaSota/VP2 replicated to a titer similar to that of parental NDV strain LaSota in chicken embryos and cell cultures. To assess protective efficacy of the rLaSota/VP2, 2-day-old specific-pathogen-free chickens were vaccinated with the recombinant virus and challenged with a highly virulent NDV strain Texas GB or IBDV variant strain GLS-5 at 3 weeks postvaccination. Vaccination with rLaSota/VP2 generated antibody responses against both NDV and IBDV and provided 90% protection against NDV and IBDV. Booster immunization induced higher levels of antibody responses against both NDV and IBDV and conferred complete protection against both viruses. These results indicate that the recombinant NDV can be used as a vaccine vector for other avian pathogens.     

The peptide motif of the single dominantly expressed class I molecule of the chicken MHC can explain the response to a molecular defined vaccine of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV)

In contrast to typical mammals, the chicken MHC (the BF-BL region of the B locus) has strong genetic associations with resistance and susceptibility to infectious pathogens as well as responses to vaccines. We have shown that the chicken MHC encodes a single dominantly expressed class I molecule whose peptide-binding motifs can determine resistance to viral pathogens, such as Rous sarcoma virus and Marek’s disease virus. In this report, we examine the response to a molecular defined vaccine, fp-IBD1, which consists of a fowlpox virus vector carrying the VP2 gene of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) fused with β-galactosidase. We vaccinated parental lines and two backcross families with fp-IBD1, challenged with the virulent IBDV strain F52/70, and measured damage to the bursa. We found that the MHC haplotype B15 from line 15I confers no protection, whereas B2 from line 6₁ and B12 from line C determine protection, although another locus from line 6₁ was also important. Using our peptide motifs, we found that many more peptides from VP2 were predicted to bind to the dominantly expressed class I molecule BF2*1201 than BF2*1501. Moreover, most of the peptides predicted to bind BF2*1201 did in fact bind, while none bound BF2*1501. Using peptide vaccination, we identified one B12 peptide that conferred protection to challenge, as assessed by bursal damage and viremia. Thus, we show the strong genetic association of the chicken MHC to a T cell vaccine can be explained by peptide presentation by the single dominantly expressed class I molecule.     

表达IBDV VP2融合蛋白的重组MDV的构建及其免疫特性

将增强型绿色荧光蛋白基因(eGFP)与鸡传染性法氏囊病病毒(IBDV)的VP2基因融合,插入马立克氏病毒(MDV)CVI988/Rispens的非必需区US10片段中,成功构建表达VP2融合蛋白的MDVCVI988转移载体pUC18-US10-VP2。将转移载体质粒与CVI988/Rispens疫苗毒共转染鸡胚成纤维细胞(CEF),筛选获得表达VP2融合蛋白的重组MDV(rMDV)。聚合酶链式反应(PCR)和间接免疫荧光实验(IFA)证明,rMDV传至第31代仍能稳定表达VP2融合蛋白。用rMDV免疫SPF鸡,进行IBDV攻毒保护试验,1日龄SPF鸡分别用1000PFU、2000PFU、5000PFU的rMDV进行免疫,33日龄用100LD50的IBDVJS超强毒进行攻毒,鸡的免疫保护率分别为50%、60%、80%。值得注意的是,5000PFU的rMDV一次免疫1日龄SPF鸡,其法氏囊组织病理损伤等级与IBD中等毒力活疫苗常规二次免疫相当(2·0/1·5),其保护效果无显著差异(p>0·05),而与非重组病毒免疫组相比较,保护效果差异显著(P<0·01),这表明构建的表达IBDVVP2融合蛋白的rMDV可以有效地为SPF鸡提供免疫保护作用。     

Characterization of tubule and monomer derived from VP4 protein of infectious bursal disease virus

The VP4 protein of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) is a serine protease that processes the polyprotein for viral assembly. VP4 has been found to associate primarily with type II IBDV tubules that are 24 nm in diameter. In this study, a chimeric VP4, assigned as HS1VP4, was constructed with a VP4-autocleavage site inserted between the N-terminal His-tag and the VP4 sequence. The results showed that the VP4 forms tubules after the self-cleavage of HS1VP4 when expressed in Escherichia coli. Furthermore, a deletion of 28 amino acids at the C-terminus of VP4 resulted in monomers and dimers instead of tubule formation; mutants of S652A and K692A at active site destroyed the activity. The endopeptidase activity of these monomers and dimers was approximately 12.5 times higher than that of VP4 tubules. Additionally, the formation of tubules inhibited VP4 protease activity, as demonstrated through in vitro assays. The production and characterization of monomers or dimers that have greater endopeptidase activity and protease activity than tubules can provide further insight into VP4 tubule assembly and the regulation of VP4 activity in host cells; this insight will facilitate the development of new anti-IBDV strategies.     

Infectious Bursal Disease Virus VP3 Upregulates VP1-Mediated RNA-Dependent RNA Replication

Genome replication is a critical step in virus life cycles. Here, we analyzed the role of the infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) VP3, a major component of IBDV ribonucleoprotein complexes, on the regulation of VP1, the virus-encoded RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Data show that VP3, as well as a peptide mimicking its C-terminal domain, efficiently stimulates the ability of VP1 to replicate synthetic single-stranded RNA templates containing the 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs) from the IBDV genome segments.     

Oral immunization with transgenic rice seeds expressing VP2 protein of infectious bursal disease virus induces protective immune responses in chickens

The expression of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) host-protective immunogen VP2 protein in rice seeds, its immunogenicity and protective capability in chickens were investigated. The VP2 cDNA of IBDV strain ZJ2000 was cloned downstream of the Gt1 promoter of the rice glutelin GluA-2 gene in the binary expression vector, pCambia1301-Gt1. Agrobacterium tumefaciens containing the recombinant vector was used to transform rice embryogenic calli, and 121 transgenic lines were obtained and grown to maturity in a greenhouse. The expression level of VP2 protein in transgenic rice seeds varied from 0.678% to 4.521% µg/mg of the total soluble seed protein. Specific pathogen-free chickens orally vaccinated with transgenic rice seeds expressing VP2 protein produced neutralizing antibodies against IBDV and were protected when challenged with a highly virulent IBDV strain, BC6/85. These results demonstrate that transgenic rice seeds expressing IBDV VP2 can be used as an effective, safe and inexpensive vaccine against IBDV.     

Overexpression of recombinant infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) capsid protein VP2 in the middle silk gland of transgenic silkworm

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) is the causative agent of a highly contagious disease affecting young chickens and causes serious economic losses to the poultry industry worldwide. Development of subunit vaccine using its major caspid protein, VP2, is one of the promising strategies to protect against IBDV. This study aim to test the feasibility of using silkworm to produce recombinant VP2 protein (rVP2) derived from a very virulent strain of IBDV (vvIBDV). A total of 16 transgenic silkworm lines harboring a codon-optimized VP2 gene driven by the sericin1 promoter were generated and analyzed. The results showed that the rVP2 was synthesized in the middle silk gland of all lines and secreted into their cocoons. The content of rVP2 in the cocoon of each line was ranged from 0.07 to 16.10 % of the total soluble proteins. The rVP2 was purified from 30 g cocoon powders with a yield of 3.33 mg and a purity >90 %. Further analysis indicated that the rVP2 was able to tolerate high temperatures up to 80 °C, and exhibited specific immunogenic activity in mice. To our knowledge, this is the first report of overexpressing rVP2 in the middle silk gland of transgenic silkworm, which demonstrates the capability of silkworm as an efficient tool to produce recombinant immunogens for use in new vaccines against animal diseases.     

Complete, long-lasting protection against lethal infectious bursal disease virus challenge by a single vaccination with an avian herpesvirus vector expressing VP2 antigens

Marek's disease herpesvirus is a vaccine vector of great promise for chickens; however, complete protection against foreign infectious diseases has not been achieved. In this study, two herpesvirus of turkey recombinants (rHVTs) expressing large amounts of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) VP2 antigen under the control of a human cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter or CMV/beta-actin chimera promoter (Pec promoter) (rHVT-cmvVP2 and rHVT-pecVP2) were constructed. rHVT-pecVP2, which expressed the VP2 antigen approximately four times more than did rHVT-cmvVP2 in vitro, induced complete protection against a lethal IBDV challenge in chickens, whereas rHVT-cmvVP2 induced 58% protection. All of the chickens vaccinated with rHVT-pecVP2 had a protective level of antibodies to the VP2 antigen at the time of challenge, whereas only 42 and 67% of chickens vaccinated with rHVT-cmvVP2 or the conventional live IBDV vaccine, respectively, had the antibodies. The antibody level of chickens vaccinated with rHVT-pecVP2 increased for 16 weeks, and the peak antibody level persisted throughout the experiment. The serum antibody titer at 30 weeks of age was about 20 or 65 times higher than that of chickens vaccinated with rHVT-cmvVP2 or the conventional live vaccine, respectively. rHVT-pecVP2, isolated consistently for 30 weeks from the vaccinated chickens, expressed the VP2 antigen after cultivation, and neither nucleotide mutations nor deletion in the VP2 gene was found. These results demonstrate that the amount of VP2 antigen expressed in the HVT vector was correlated with the vaccine efficacy against lethal IBDV challenge, and complete protective immunity that is likely to persist for the life of the chickens was induced.     

Inhibitory effect of Sargassum polysaccharide on oxidative stress induced by infectious bursa disease virus in chicken bursal lymphocytes

The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of Sargassum polysaccharide on oxidative stress induced by infectious bursa disease virus (IBDV) in chicken bursal lymphocytes. The levels of IL-1β, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, MCP-1, reduced glutathione and reactive oxygen species in chicken bursal lymphocytes treated with IBDV or both IBDV and Sargassum polysaccharide were measured, and the activities of superoxide dimutase and glutathione peroxidase were evaluated. Our results showed that oxidative stress appeared when chicken bursal lymphocytes were incubated with IBDV for 8 h at 100 TCID₅₀. Sargassum polysaccharide inhibited oxidative stress by increasing the amount of reduced glutathione, promoting the activities of superoxide dimutase and glutathione peroxidase and reducing the level of reactive oxygen species. The polysaccharide also raised IL-1β, IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-α levels in cells infected with IBDV. These findings suggest that Sargassum polysaccharide acts against infection by elevating antioxidant capacity and cytokine levels in chicken bursal lymphocytes.     

传染性法氏囊病毒的抗原及分子特征

用鸡胚成纤维细胞对来自野外的 5 个传染性法氏囊病毒株 (IBDV-JD1 、 JD2 、 NB 、 HZ1 、 HZ2) 进行分离,测定理化特性、致病性,同时进行血清亚型测定及 A 片段基因组的克隆分析 . 试验所用 5 个法氏囊组织悬液在鸡胚成纤维细胞盲传 2~14 代后适应细胞并产生细胞病变 . 细胞适应的 IBDV 毒株的理化和形态特征与经典传染性法氏囊病毒株一致 . 除 IBDV-HZ1 、 HZ2 属经典 IBDV 血清型外, IBDV-JD1 、 JD2 和 NB 毒株分属不同的血清亚型 . 人工感染实验结果显示,分离的 IBDV 毒株产生与野外病例相似的临床症状和病变,出现法氏囊滤泡髓质的淋巴细胞变性、坏死和消失 . 基因组序列分析显示, IBDV-NB 毒株 A 片段由 3 264 个核苷酸组成,编码由 145 个氨基酸残基组成的 VP5 和由 1 012 个氨基酸残基组成的多聚蛋白 . 与来自 GenBank 的 IBDV Ⅰ型毒株比较, NB 毒株 A 片段编码的多聚蛋白与 JD1 毒株的同源性最高,达 99.5% , VP2 与 JD1 、 CEF94 、 D78 的同源性为 99.8% , VP3 与 JD1 的同源性为 99.2% , VP4 与 JD1 的同源性为 100% , VP5 与 JD1 , HZ2 , P2 , CEF94 , CT , Cu-1 和 D78 毒株的同源性为 99.3%. NB 毒株 VP2 蛋白的第 253 、 280 、 284 位氨基酸残基与 IBDV 变异毒株和经典毒株一致,但不同于 IBDV 超强毒株 . 这些结果暗示 IBDV 的抗原表位是构象依赖性表位, IBDV 血清亚型的形成与 IBDV 弱毒疫苗病毒株密切相关 .     

传染性法氏囊病病毒AH1株vp2基因在昆虫细胞中的表达与应用

将近期引起传染性法氏囊病(IBD)免疫预防失败的传染性法氏囊病病毒(IBDV)vp2基因,定向克隆入杆状病毒表达系统的供体质粒pFastBacHTA中,构建重组供体质粒pFastBacHTA-VP2,转化Escherichia coli DH10Bac感受态,筛选重组杆状病毒表达质粒pBac-VP2。用pBac-VP2转染Sf9昆虫细胞,获得重组杆状病毒vBac-VP2。对重组杆状病毒vBac-VP2感染的Sf9细胞,用间接免疫荧光试验(IFA)检测,具有特异性荧光;用IBDV抗体夹心ELISA检测,呈阳性反应,抗原效价达到1.6×103;用Western blotting分析,在53kDa处出现一条特异蛋白条带;电镜观察,重组Vp2蛋白能够自组装成病毒样颗粒,在感染细胞中发现了"包涵体样"结构。用HisTrap HP亲和层析柱纯化的重组Vp2蛋白作为包被抗原,建立的IBDV抗体间接ELISA检测方法具有良好的特异性。用重组杆状病毒感染的Sf9昆虫细胞裂解物,免疫2周龄SPF鸡,一次免疫14d后,ELISA检测抗体效价为8×102,中和抗体效价为1106,攻毒实验的存活率为30%;二次免疫14d后,ELISA抗体效价为3.2×103,中和抗体效价为2536,存活率为100%。在实验观察7d内,重组Vp2蛋白免疫保护鸡未显任何临床症状和病理变化,法氏囊/体重比高于对照组(P0.05)。本实验制备的病毒样颗粒重组Vp2蛋白在研制新型IBD基因工程疫苗和检测试剂方面显示出了应用前景。     

VP1, the Putative RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase of Infectious Bursal Disease Virus, Forms Complexes with the Capsid Protein VP3, Leading to Efficient Encapsidation into Virus-Like Particles

A cDNA corresponding to the coding region of VP1, the putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) was cloned and inserted into the genome of a vaccinia virus inducible expression vector. The molecular mass and antigenic reactivity of VP1 expressed in mammalian cells are identical to those of its counterpart expressed in IBDV-infected cells. The results presented here demonstrate that VP1 is efficiently incorporated into IBDV virus-like particles (VLPs) produced in mammalian cells coexpressing the IBDV polyprotein and VP1. Incorporation of VP1 into VLPs requires neither the presence of IBDV RNAs nor that of the nonstructural polypeptide VP5. Immunofluorescence, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and immunoprecipitation analyses conclusively showed that VP1 forms complexes with the structural polypeptide VP3. Formation of VP1-VP3 complexes is likely to be a key step for the morphogenesis of IBDV particles.     

Mutations of Residues 249 and 256 in VP2 Are Involved in the Replication and Virulence of Infectious Bursal Disease Virus

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) is a pathogen of worldwide significance to the poultry industry. Although the P_DE and P_FG domains of the capsid protein VP2 contribute significantly to virulence and fitness, the detailed molecular basis for the pathogenicity of IBDV is still not fully understood. Because residues 253 and 284 of VP2 are not the sole determinants of virulence, we hypothesized that other residues involved in virulence and fitness might exist in the P_DE and P_FG domains of VP2. To test this, five amino acid changes selected by sequence comparison of the P_DE and P_FG domains of VP2 were introduced individually using a reverse genetics system into the virulent strain (rGx-F9VP2). Then reverse mutations of the selected residues 249 and 256 were introduced individually into the attenuated strain (rGt). Seven modified viruses were generated and evaluated in vitro (CEF cells) and in vivo (SPF chicken). For residue 249, Q249R could elevate in vitro and reduce in vivo the replication of rGx-F9VP2 while R249Q could reduce in vitro and elevate in vivo the replication of rGt; meanwhile Q249R reduced the virulence of rGx-F9VP2 while R249Q increased the virulence of rGt, which indicated that residue 249 significantly contributed to the replication and virulence of IBDV. For residue 256, I256V could elevate in vitro and reduce in vivo the replication of rGx-F9VP2 while V256I could reduce in vitro but didn’t change in vivo the replication of rGt; although V256I didn’t increase the virulence of rGt, I256V obviously reduced the virulence of virulent IBDV. The present results demonstrate for the first time, to different extent, residues 249 and 256 of VP2 are involved in the replication efficiency and virulence of IBDV; this is not only beneficial to further understanding of pathogenic mechanism but also to the design of newly tailored vaccines against IBDV.     

传染性法氏囊病病毒VP3抗原表位的鉴定

利用肽扫描技术对4株IBDV VP3的单克隆抗体(HRB-3F、HRB-7B、HRB-7C和HRB-10E)的抗原表位进行了研究.通过Western blot和ELISA鉴定,将HRB-3F和HRB-7B的抗原表位定位于VP3 109～119 aa(位于IB-DV聚合蛋白的864～874 aa),HRB-7C和HRB-10E的抗原表位定位于VP3 177～190 aa(位于IBDV聚合蛋白的932～945 aa).进一步检测其反应原性及免疫原性,结果表明,这两个表位均能与抗IBDV阳性血清反应.将这两个表位短肽免疫BALB/c小鼠,其血清可以和IBDV反应,具有较好的免疫原性.与D6948、HK46和UK661等多株IBDV相应区域的同源性进行了比较,结果显示,这两个表位在多种毒株中同源性为100%.通过IBDV VP3抗原表位的研究,筛出两个新的保守线性表位并进行精确定位,对进一步分析IBDV结构与功能以及建立以表位为基础的抗原抗体诊断方法具有重要的意义.     

A single mutation in the PBC loop of VP2 is involved in the in vitro replication of infectious bursal disease virus

To test whether amino acid mutations in the P_BC and P_HI loops of VP2 are involved in the replication and virulence of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), a pair of viruses, namely the moderately virulent IBDV (rGx-F9VP2) and the attenuated strain (rGt), were used. Residue mutations A222P (P_BC) and S330R (P_HI), selected by sequence comparison, were introduced individually into rGx-F9VP2 by using a reverse genetics system. In addition, the reverse mutation of either P222A or R330S was introduced into rGt. The four modified viruses were then rescued and evaluated in vitro (CEF cells) and in vivo (SPF chickens). Results showed that A222P elevated the replication efficiency of rGx-F9VP2 while P222A reduced that of rGt in CEF cells. A mutation at residue 330 did not alter IBDV replication. In addition, animal experiments showed that a single mutation at either residue 222 or 330 did not significantly influence the virulence of IBDV. In conclusion, residue 222 in P_BC of VP2 is involved in the replication efficiency of IBDV in vitro but does not affect its virulence in vivo, further facilitating our understanding of the gene-function of IBDV.     

Infectious Bursal Disease Virus VP5 Polypeptide: A Phosphoinositide-Binding Protein Required for Efficient Cell-to-Cell Virus Dissemination

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), a member of the Birnaviridae family, is a major avian pathogen responsible for an immunosuppressive disease affecting juvenile chickens. The IBDV genome is formed by two dsRNA segments. The largest one harbors two partially overlapping open reading frames encoding a non-structural polypeptide, known as VP5, and a large polyprotein, respectively. VP5 is non-essential for virus replication. However, it plays a major role in IBDV pathogenesis. VP5 accumulates at the plasma membrane (PM) of IBDV-infected cells. We have analyzed the mechanism underlying the VP5 PM targeting. Updated topological prediction algorithm servers fail to identify a transmembrane domain within the VP5 sequence. However, the VP5 polycationic C-terminal region, harboring three closely spaced patches formed by two or three consecutive basic amino acid residues (lysine or arginine), might account for its PM tropism. We have found that mutations, either C-terminal VP5 deletions or replacement of basic amino acids by alanine residues, that reduce the electropositive charge of the VP5 C-terminus abolish PM targeting. Lipid overlay assays performed with an affinity-purified Flag-tagged VP5 (FVP5) protein version show that this polypeptide binds several phosphoinositides (PIP), exhibiting a clear preference for monophosphate species. Experiments performed with FVP5 mutant proteins lacking the polycationic domain demonstrate that this region is essential for PIP binding. Data gathered with IBDV mutants expressing C-terminal deleted VP5 polypeptides generated by reverse genetics demonstrate that the VP5-PIP binding domain is required both for its PM targeting in infected cells, and for efficient virus dissemination. Data presented here lead us to hypothesize that IBDV might use a non-lytic VP5-dependent cell-to-cell spreading mechanism.     

MDV-1 VP22 conjugated VP2 enhancing immune response against infectious bursal disease virus by DNA vaccination in mice

VP22 of Marek’s disease virus serotype 1 (MDV-1) could function in protein transduction. In this study, an infectious bursal disease virus VP2 gene was fused to the carboxyl termini of VP22. It showed that the fusion protein did not spread into the bystander cells from the cells transfected with pVP22-VP2, as the VP22 alone could. The VP22 proteins were found to be translocated into all the nuclei in the neighboring COS-1 cells, as analyzed by a fluorescence assay. Although mice were immunized with the recombinant DNAs mixed with polyethylenimine (PEI) at a dose of 1:2, it failed to enhance the antibody response against IBDV VP2, as measured by the indirect ELISA assay, yet the cell mediated immune response was significantly increased. The ratio of CD8 /CD4 T cells was significantly increased in the immunized group with the fusion genes, compared with the group immunized with VP2 (P<0.05). Our results demonstrated that VP22 indeed enhances the cell-mediated response in the fused VP2 in a mice model system, possibly due to the fact that the IBDV VP2 could be carried into the surrounding cells at a limited level under pressure from MDV VP22.