Reference Gene Selection for Normalization of PCR Analysis in Chicken Embryo Fibroblast Infected with H6N1 AIV

Chicken embryo fibroblasts(CEFs)are among the most commonly used cells for the study of interactions between chicken hosts and H5N1 avian influenza virus(AIV).In this study,the expression of eleven housekeeping genes typically used for the normalization of quantitative real-time PCR(QPCR)analysis in mammals were compared in CEFs infected with H5N1 AIV to determine the most reliable reference genes in this system.CEFs cultured from 10-day-old SPF chicken embryos were infected with 100 TCID50 of H5N1 AIV and harvested at 3,12,24 and 30 hours post-infection.The expression levels of the eleven reference genes in infected and uninfected CEFs were determined by real-time PCR.Based on expression stability and expression levels,our data suggest that the ribosomal protein L4(RPL4)and tyrosine 3-monooxygenase tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein zeta polypeptide(YWHAZ)are the best reference genes to use in the study of host cell response to H5N1 AIV infection.However,for the study of replication levels of H5N1 AIV in CEFs,the β-actin gene(ACTB)and the ribosomal protein L4(RPL4)gene are the best references.     

Bt毒素诱导下小菜蛾实时定量PCR 内参基因的筛选

【目的】筛选出Bt毒素诱导后的小菜蛾Plutella xylostella (L.)的实时定量PCR最适内参基因。【方法】选取核糖体18S rRNA (18S rRNA)、 肌动蛋白（ACTB）、 延伸因子（EF1）、3-磷酸甘油醛脱氢酶（GAPDH）、 核糖体蛋白L32 (RPL32)、 核糖体蛋白S13 （RPS13）、 核糖体蛋白S20 （RPS20）和β-微管蛋白(TUB)基因作为候选内参基因, 以geNorm、 Normfinder和BestKeeper软件分析这8个基因在Bt毒素诱导后的小菜蛾不同品系中肠组织中的表达稳定性。并应用筛选出来的内参基因分析小菜蛾氨肽酶2（aminopeptidase N2, APN2）基因的表达水平。【结果】geNorm软件以RPS13和EF1为最稳定内参基因, NormFinder和BestKeeper软件均以RPS13和RPL32为最稳定基因。使用3种不同内参基因分析Bt毒素诱导后的小菜蛾Bt抗性和敏感品系中ANP2表达水平时, 新的内参基因EF1和传统内参基因RPL32表现了良好的稳定性, 二者作为标准化因子, ANP2表达量结果基本一致, 而使用18S rRNA作为内参基因, 却导致部分表达量分析结果有所误差。【结论】筛选出PRS13,RPL32和EF1可以作为小菜蛾某些试验条件下的内参基因, 对小菜蛾基因表达研究奠定了一定基础, 也对其他昆虫内参基因的筛选具有参考价值。     

家禽市场污水来源的H5N1亚型禽流感病毒NS基因分析

对长沙市家禽市场污水来源的H5N1亚型禽流感病毒(Avian influenza viruses,AIV)的非结构蛋白(Non-structural,NS)基因进行进化和分子特征分析,探讨污水中H5N1病毒的传播风险。9份家禽市场环境污水H5N1亚型AIV标本进行NS基因TA克隆测序,测序结果利用Lasergene和Mega5软件进行氨基酸(amine acid,aa)比对和进化树分析。共得到8个阳性克隆,进化树构建显示8个H5N1的NS基因均属于A亚群,其编码的NS1和NS2蛋白与A亚群代表株(A/chicken/Hubei/w h/1999)aa同源性分别为90.1%～92.5%和91.0%～92.6%,8个H5N1的NS1和NS2aa之间的同源性分别为93.8%～100.0%和98.4%～100.0%。8个H5N1的NS1蛋白均具有缺失80～84位aa、C末端携带有ESEV的PL基序和第92位aa为E的高致病性分子特征。家禽市场污水来源的H5N1亚型AIV的NS基因具有高致病性的分子特征,这种基因特征表明污水可能传播H5N1病毒。     

Selection and validation of reference genes for quantitative gene expression analyses in various tissues and seeds at different developmental stages in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bixa orellana</Emphasis> L.

Bixa orellana L., popularly known as annatto, produces several secondary metabolites of pharmaceutical and industrial interest, including bixin, whose molecular basis of biosynthesis remain to be determined. Gene expression analysis by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) is an important tool to advance such knowledge. However, correct interpretation of qPCR data requires the use of suitable reference genes in order to reduce experimental variations. In the present study, we have selected four different candidates for reference genes in B. orellana, coding for 40S ribosomal protein S9 (RPS9), histone H4 (H4), 60S ribosomal protein L38 (RPL38) and 18S ribosomal RNA (18SrRNA). Their expression stabilities in different tissues (e.g. flower buds, flowers, leaves and seeds at different developmental stages) were analyzed using five statistical tools (NormFinder, geNorm, BestKeeper, ΔCt method and RefFinder). The results indicated that RPL38 is the most stable gene in different tissues and stages of seed development and 18SrRNA is the most unstable among the analyzed genes. In order to validate the candidate reference genes, we have analyzed the relative expression of a target gene coding for carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 1 (CCD1) using the stable RPL38 and the least stable gene, 18SrRNA, for normalization of the qPCR data. The results demonstrated significant differences in the interpretation of the CCD1 gene expression data, depending on the reference gene used, reinforcing the importance of the correct selection of reference genes for normalization.     

Differential miRNA expression profiling of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 infected chicken lungs reveals critical microRNAs,biological pathways and genes involved in the molecular pathogenesis

Highlights
· Highthrouput sequencing of small RNA of H5N1 infected and mock infected chicken lungs.
· 297 miRNAs identified in mock-infected and 201 miRNAs identified in AIV infected chicken lungs.
· 36 miRNAs were upregulated and 90 were downregulated during H5N1 infection.
· Functional analysis and gene ontology of predicted target genes of expressed miRNAs.
· MAPK pathway, NF-κB, IGF and gga-let-7b might play important role during H5N1 pathogenesis.     

禽流感病毒A型和H5亚型RT-PCR检测试剂盒研究

目的　检测和鉴定A型、H5亚型禽流感病毒 (AIV) ,研发一种高效实用的检测手段。方法　根据Ming ShiuhLee报道的文献设计、合成引物 ,采用反转录和PCR一步法对A型、H5亚型禽流感病毒cDNA进行扩增和电泳鉴定 ,组装成禽流感病毒RT PCR试剂盒 ,对H1～ 15亚型AIV参考株、38份AIV国内分离株进行检测试验。结果　建立了A型、H5亚型禽流感病毒RT PCR检测方法 ,并在此基础上组装试剂盒 ,用A型试剂盒检测时 ,全部AIV毒株均为阳性 ,能检测 1 10 2 4血凝单位禽流感病毒 ;用H5亚型试剂盒检测时 ,仅有H5亚型AIV参考株和 19株H5亚型AIV分离株呈阳性 ,其余H1～H4、H6～H15参考株和H7、H9分离株以及 1株H5分株均为阴性 ,能检测1 6 4血凝单位禽流感病毒。 2种试剂盒对实验感染鸡病料检出率均为 10 0 %。结论　研制的AIVA型、H5亚型RT PCR试剂盒具有特异性强、敏感性高、稳定性和重复性好的特点。     

H5N1亚型AIVHA抗原表位的高效表达及其抗原活性分析

血凝素(hemagglutinin,HA)蛋白是禽流感病毒(avian influenza virus,AIV)的一个重要表面抗原性蛋白,在疾病诊断和防治上有重要意义。本研究为了探讨一种更为简便有效的HA重组蛋白表达途径,利用生物信息学软件,对H5N1亚型AIVHA基因编码的氨基酸序列进行分析,在分析其在大肠杆菌中的密码子偏好性、稀有密码子分布情况及有关蛋白的抗原性等重要特性后,构建了HA抗原表位重组表达质粒pET-32a(+)-HA。经测试,该重组质粒在1mmol/LIPTG诱导剂作用下诱导过夜,能在大肠杆菌Rosetta-gami B(DE3)中高效表达,并得到48.1kD大小的目的重组表达蛋白。重组蛋白用6×His-tagged protein纯化试剂盒纯化后,与福氏佐剂等量混合制备成抗原,以200μg/鸡的剂量皮下注射2月龄SPF鸡3次,采血分离血清。Western-Blot试验结果表明,该重组表达蛋白能分别与所制备的高免鸡血清及H5N1亚型AIV阳性血清发生特异性反应,在硝酸纤维素膜上出现特异性杂交带。说明本试验研究的HA抗原重组表达蛋白具有良好的免疫原性和反应原性,保留了HA蛋白的抗原活性,提示该重组蛋白在H5亚型AIV的防治技术研究中具有重要的实际应用价值。     

利用基因芯片技术区分禽流感病毒主要亚型

[目的]研制可同时区分AIV的H5、H7、H9血凝素亚型及N1、N2神经氨酸酶亚型的基因诊断芯片.[方法]分别克隆了禽流感病毒的M基因,H5、H7、H9亚型HA基因,N1、N2亚型NA基因以及看家基因GAPDH的重组质粒.以重组质粒为模板,用PCR方法扩增制备探针,纯化后点于氨基修饰的片基上,制备基因芯片.在PCR过程中对待检样品进行标记,然后与芯片杂交,洗涤,扫描并进行结果分析.[结果]结果显示检测探针可特异性的与相应的标记样品进行杂交,呈现较强的杂交信号,且无交叉杂交.同时用RT-PCR、鸡胚接种和基因芯片方法对H1-H15亚型AIV参考毒株、30份人工感染样品、21份现地疑似样品进行检测,结果发现,对人工感染样品芯片检测方法与鸡胚接种和RT-PCR的符合率分别为100%和96%,现地样品符合率为100%.[结论]研究表明该方法可用于同步鉴别部分主要流行的禽流感亚型,是一种有效的新方法.     

Stable reference genes for expression studies in breast muscle of normal and white striping-affected chickens

The normalization with proper reference genes is a crucial step to obtain accurate mRNA expression levels in quantitative PCR (qPCR) studies. Therefore, in this study, 10 reference candidate genes were evaluated to determine their stability in normal pectoralis major muscle of broilers and those counterparts affected with White Striping (WS) myopathy at 42 days age. Four different tools were used for ranking the most stable genes: GeNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper and Comparative Ct (ΔCt), and a general ranking was performed using the RankAggreg tool to select the best reference genes among all tools. From the 10 genes evaluated in the breast muscle of broilers, 8 were amplified. Most of the algorithms/tools indicated the same two genes, RPL30 and RPL5, as the most stable in the broilers breast muscle. In addition, there was agreement among the tools for the least stable genes: MRPS27, GAPDH and RPLP1 in the broilers breast muscle. Therefore, it is interesting to note that even with different tools for evaluating gene expression, there was consensus on the most and least stable genes. These results indicate that the Ribosomal protein L30 (RPL30) and Ribosomal protein L5 (RPL5) can be recommended for accurate normalization in qPCR studies with chicken pectoralis major muscle affected with White Striping and other myopathies.

     

Avian influenza viruses infect primary human bronchial epithelial cells unconstrained by sialic acid α2,3 residues

Avian influenza viruses (AIV) are an important emerging threat to public health. It is thought that sialic acid (sia) receptors are barriers in cross-species transmission where the binding preferences of AIV and human influenza viruses are sias α2,3 versus α2,6, respectively. In this study, we show that a normal fully differentiated, primary human bronchial epithelial cell model is readily infected by low pathogenic H5N1, H5N2 and H5N3 AIV, which primarily bind to sia α2,3 moieties, and replicate in these cells independent of specific sias on the cell surface. NHBE cells treated with neuraminidase prior to infection are infected by AIV despite removal of sia α2,3 moieties. Following AIV infection, higher levels of IP-10 and RANTES are secreted compared to human influenza virus infection, indicating differential chemokine expression patterns, a feature that may contribute to differences in disease pathogenesis between avian and human influenza virus infections in humans.     

禽流感病毒H7N2血凝素HA1基因在大肠杆菌中的表达

目的　表达H7N2亚型禽流感病毒 (AIV)HA1基因 ,用于感染H7亚型禽流感病毒抗体的检测和HA1蛋白功能研究。方法　采用RT PCR方法对H7N2亚型AIVHA1基因进行扩增 ,将PCR产物克隆于pGEM T Easy载体 ,将该基因插入pGEX 4T 2中构建HA1基因原核表达载体 ,转化BL2 1大肠杆菌后 ,在IPTG诱导下表达HA1蛋白 ,Westernblot鉴定表达HA1蛋白。电洗脱方法纯化表达HA1蛋白 ,建立间接ELISA方法 ,对感染AIVH7、H9、H5亚型AIV阳性血清进行检测。结果　成功克隆H7N2亚型AIV的HA1基因 ,其核苷酸序列长度 96 6bp ,编码 32 2个氨基酸残基。构建HA1基因原核表达载体在大肠杆菌内表达出约 6 1× 10 3的HA1融合蛋白。Westernblot和ELISA方法鉴定表明 :表达HA1蛋白与感染H7亚型AIV鸡血清有反应 ,与H5、H9亚型AIV阳性血清没有反应。结论　本研究在大肠杆菌中成功表达了H7N2亚型AIVHA1基因蛋白 ,具有与感染H7亚型AIV阳性血清反应原性 ,不与H5和H9亚型AIV感染阳性血清发生反应。     

Recombinant M2e Protein-Based ELISA: A Novel and Inexpensive Approach for Differentiating Avian Influenza Infected Chickens from Vaccinated Ones

Available avian influenza (AIV) serological diagnostic tests cannot distinguish vaccinated from naturally infected birds. Differentiation of vaccinated from infected animals (DIVA) is currently advocated as a means of achieving the full control of H5N1. In this study, for the first time, recombinant ectodomain of M2 protein (M2e) of avian influenza virus (H5N1 strain) was used for the DIVA serology test. M2e was cloned into pMAL-P4X vector and expressed in E. coli cells. We used Western blot to recognize the expressed M2e-MBP protein by chicken antisera produced against live H5N1 virus. Also, the specificity of M2e-MBP protein was compared to the M2e synthetic peptide via ELISA. In M2e-MBP ELISA, all sera raised against the live avian influenza viruses were positive for M2e antibodies, whereas sera from killed virus vaccination were negative. Furthermore, M2e-MBP ELISA of the field sera obtained from vaccinated and non-vaccinated chickens showed negative results, while challenged vaccinated chickens demonstrated strong positive reactions. H5N1-originated recombinant M2e protein induced broad-spectrum response and successfully reacted with antibodies against other AIV strains such as H5N2, H9N2, H7N7, and H11N6. The application of the recombinant protein instead of synthetic peptide has the advantages of continues access to an inexpensive reagent for performing a large scale screening. Moreover, recombinant proteins provide the possibility of testing the DIVA results with an additional technique such a Western blotting which is not possible in the case of synthetic proteins. All together, the results of the present investigation show that recombinant M2e-MBP can be used as a robust and inexpensive solution for DIVA test.     

表达H5亚型AIV血凝素的重组NDV构建及免疫原性

利用反向遗传技术获得表达H5亚型禽流感病毒(AIV)血凝素(HA)的新城疫病毒(NDV)。克隆NDV clone 30的全长基因,通过在NDV的融合蛋白基因和血凝素-神经氨酸酶(HN)基因之间插入编码高致病性AIV分离株A/chicken/italy/8/98(H5N2)的血凝素基因开放阅读框从而获得两株重组新城疫病毒NDVH5和NDVH5m。NDVH5感染的细胞可以检测到两种HA转录产物。对于重组病毒NDVH5m,NDV位于HA ORF的转录终止信号序列被沉默突变消除,产生2.7个全长HA转录产物的折叠,从而使修饰过的HA得到稳定地高表达。1日龄小鸡的脑内接种证实了两种重组病毒均无致病性。鸡群在NDVH5m诱导产生的NDV和H5亚型AIV HA特异性抗体的免疫力下能够免于致死剂量的NDV与高致病性AIV的感染。血清学研究结果表明NDVH5m免疫鸡群产生的抗体可结合NP蛋白抗体的检测从而用于区分免疫和感染AIV的动物。因此,NDVH5m重组病毒可作为抗NDV和AIV的"二联疫苗",也可成为控制AJ的标记疫苗。     

Evaluation of housekeeping genes as references for quantitative real-time PCR analysis of European eel,Anguilla anguilla

Eels are important aquaculture species for which an increasing number of reference genes are being identified and applied. In this study, five housekeeping genes [RPL7 (ribosomal protein L7), 18 S (18 S ribosomal RNA), EF1A (elongation factor 1α), ACTB (β-actin) and GAPDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase)] were chosen to evaluate their reliability as reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) for the study of Anguilla anguilla. The expression of the selected genes in different eel tissues was determined using qPCR at different growth stages or upon challenge by Anguillid herpesvirus (AngHV), and the expression levels of these genes were then compared and evaluated using the geNorm and NormFinder algorithms. Then, RefFinder was used to comprehensively rank the examined housekeeping genes. Interestingly, the expression of the evaluated housekeeping genes exhibited tissue-dependent and treatment-dependent variations. In different growth periods A. anguilla tissues, the most stable genes were the following: ACTB in mucus; 18 S in skin and kidney; RPL7 in muscle, gill, intestine and brain; EF1A in heart and liver; and GAPDH in spleen. In contrast, in AngHV-challenged A. anguilla tissues, the most stable genes were the following: 18 S in mucus; RPL7 in skin, gill, heart, spleen, kidney and intestine; EF1A in muscle and liver; and ACTB in brain. Further comparison analysis indicated that the expression of RPL7 and EF1A was stable in multiple A. anguilla tissues in different growth periods and in eels challenged by AngHV. Nonetheless, the expression level of GAPDH in eel tissues was lower, and it was unstable in several tissues. These results indicated that the selection of reference genes for qPCR analysis in A. anguilla should be made in accordance with experimental parameters, and both RPL7 and EF1A could be used as reference genes for qPCR study of A. anguilla at different growth stages or upon challenge by AngHV. The reference genes identified in this study could improve the accuracy of qPCR data and facilitate further studies aimed at understanding the biology of eels.     

Identification of a Dual-Specific T Cell Epitope of the Hemagglutinin Antigen of an H5 Avian Influenza Virus in Chickens

Avian influenza viruses (AIV) of the H5N1 subtype have caused morbidity and mortality in humans. Although some migratory birds constitute the natural reservoir for this virus, chickens may play a role in transmission of the virus to humans. Despite the importance of avian species in transmission of AIV H5N1 to humans, very little is known about host immune system interactions with this virus in these species. The objective of the present study was to identify putative T cell epitopes of the hemagglutinin (HA) antigen of an H5 AIV in chickens. Using an overlapping peptide library covering the HA protein, we identified a 15-mer peptide, H5_246–260, within the HA1 domain which induced activation of T cells in chickens immunized against the HA antigen of an H5 virus. Furthermore, H5_246–260 epitope was found to be presented by both major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II molecules, leading to activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets, marked by proliferation and expression of interferon (IFN)-γ by both of these cell subsets as well as the expression of granzyme A by CD8+ T cells. This is the first report of a T cell epitope of AIV recognized by chicken T cells. Furthermore, this study extends the previous finding of the existence of dual-specific epitopes in other species to chickens. Taken together, these results elucidate some of the mechanisms of immune response to AIV in chickens and provide a platform for creation of rational vaccines against AIV in this species.     

Integrated analysis of microRNA expression and mRNA transcriptome in lungs of avian influenza virus infected broilers

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Avian influenza virus (AIV) outbreaks are worldwide threats to both poultry and humans. Our previous study suggested microRNAs (miRNAs) play significant roles in the regulation of host response to AIV infection in layer chickens. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis if genetic background play essential role in the miRNA regulation of AIV infection in chickens and if miRNAs that were differentially expressed in layer with AIV infection would be modulated the same way in broiler chickens. Furthermore, by integrating with parallel mRNA expression profiling, potential molecular mechanisms of host response to AIV infection can be further exploited. RESULTS: Total RNA isolated from the lungs of non-infected and low pathogenic H5N3 infected broilers at four days post-infection were used for both miRNA deep sequencing and mRNA microarray analyses. A total of 2.6M and 3.3M filtered high quality reads were obtained from infected and non-infected chickens by Solexa GA-I Sequencer, respectively. A total of 271 miRNAs in miRBase 16.0 were identified and one potential novel miRNA was discovered. There were 121 miRNAs differentially expressed at the 5% false discovery rate by Fisher's exact test. More miRNAs were highly expressed in infected lungs (108) than in non-infected lungs (13), which was opposite to the findings in layer chickens. This result suggested that a different regulatory mechanism of host response to AIV infection mediated by miRNAs might exist in broiler chickens. Analysis using the chicken 44K Agilent microarray indicated that 508 mRNAs (347 down-regulated) were differentially expressed following AIV infection. CONCLUSION: A comprehensive analysis combining both miRNA and targeted mRNA gene expression suggests that gga-miR-34a, 122-1, 122-2, 146a, 155, 206, 1719, 1594, 1599 and 451, and MX1, IL-8, IRF-7, TNFRS19 are strong candidate miRNAs or genes involved in regulating the host response to AIV infection in the lungs of broiler chickens. Further miRNA or gene specific knock-down assay is warranted to elucidate underlying mechanism of AIV infection regulation in the chicken.     

Reference gene selection for quantitative real-time PCR normalization in tomato subjected to nitrogen, cold, and light stress

We examined eight putative consistently expressed genes—actin (ACT), β-tubulin, elongation factor 1α (EF1), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK), ribosomal protein L2 (RPL2), ubiquitin (UBI), and a catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2Acs)—for their potential as references for the normalization of gene expression in tomato leaves. Expression stability of candidate reference genes was tested during growth conditions of nitrogen (N) starvation, low temperature, and suboptimal light. The geNorm algorithm, using reciprocal cross-validation among a larger group of candidate references, was applied for this purpose. The widely used reference genes GAPDH and PGK were top ranked during light stress but poorly ranked during N and cold stress. In contrast, EF1 was top ranked during N and cold stress but poorly ranked during light stress. The novel references RPL2 and PP2Acs, as well as the traditional references ACT and UBI, appeared to be stably expressed when looking at the data set as a whole. No gene was identified that exhibited such a constant level of expression as to outperform the other candidates under all experimental conditions. Thus, the results highlight the need for normalizing gene expression in tomato using the geometric average of multiple carefully selected reference genes.