Genetic analysis of ORF5 in porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in Japan

In recent years, no reports regarding genetic information on porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) with a focus on Japan have been published. To clarify the effect of time on PRRSV genomic evolution, we sequenced the open reading frame 5 (600 or 603 bases) obtained from Japanese PRRSV isolates for three periods (1992-1993, 2000-2001, and 2007-2008) and compared their phylogenetic relationships. Assessment of mean pairwise homology of nucleotide sequences of PRRSV isolates indicated a trend towards increasing heterogeneity over time. In addition, we newly detected a virus classified in cluster IV, indicative of the increasing genetic variation of PRRSV in Japan.     

Genetic analysis of ORF5 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus isolated in Vietnam

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is one of the most economically important swine pathogens because it is highly infectious and causes economic losses due to decreased pig productivity. In this study, the 603 bp complete major envelope protein encoding gene (ORF5) of 32 field PRRSV isolates from Vietnam collected during 2008–2012 were sequenced and analyzed. Multiple nucleotide (nt) and deduced amino acid (aa) alignments of ORF5 were performed on the 32 isolates: the representative strains (European and North American genotypes), Chinese strains available in GenBank and vaccine strains licensed for use in Vietnam. The results showed 94.8–100.0% nt identity and 94.0–100% aa similarity among the 32 isolates. These isolates shared similarities with the prototype of the North American PRRSV strain (VR‐2332; nt 87.8–89.3%, aa 87.5–90.0%), and Lelystat virus, the prototype of the European PRRSV strain (LV; nt 61.1–61.9%, aa 55.1‐57.0%). There was greater similarity with QN07 (nt 96.5‐98.5%, aa 96.0‐99.0%) from the 2007 PRRS outbreak in QuangNam Province, CH‐1a (nt 93.2–95.1%, 91.5–93.5%) isolated in China in 1995 and JXA1 (nt 96.5–98.6%, aa 95.0–98.0%), the highly pathogenic strain from China isolated in 2006. The Vietnamese isolates were more similar to JXA1‐R (nt 96.5–98.6%, aa 95.0–98.0%), the strain used in Chinese vaccines, than to Ingelvac MLV/BSL‐PS (nt 87.2–89.0%, aa 86.0–89.0%). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the 32 isolates were of the North American genotype and classified into sub‐lineage 8.7. This sub‐lineage contains highly pathogenic Chinese PRRSV strains. This study documents genetic variation in circulating PRRSV strains and could assist more effective use of PRRS vaccines in Vietnam.     

Analysis of molecular variation in porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in China between 2007 and 2012

In the present study, 89 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) isolates in China during 2007 to 2012 were randomly selected from the GenBank genetic sequence database. Evolutionary characteristics of these isolates were analyzed based on the sequences of non-structural protein 2 (Nsp2) and glycoprotein 5 (GP5). The genetic variations of the isolates were also compared with six representative strains. The results showed that a high degree of genetic diversity exists among the PRRSV population in China. Highly pathogenic PRRSV isolates, with a discontinuous deletion of a 30 amino acid residue in the Nsp2 region, remained the most dominant virus throughout 2007–2012 in China. Owing to the extensive use of representative vaccine strains, natural recombination events occurred between strains. Three isolates — HH08, DY, and YN-2011 — were more closely related to vaccine strains than the other isolates. Both YN-2011 and DY were the evolutionary products of recombination events between strains SP and CH-1R. The results of the present study provide useful information for the epidemiology of PRRSV as well as for vaccine development.     

Characterization of emerging European-like porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus isolates in the United States

European-like field isolates of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) have recently emerged in North America. The full-length genomic sequence of an index isolate characterized in 1999, strain EuroPRRSV, served as the reference strain for further studies of the evolution and epidemiology of European-like isolates (type 1) in the United States. Strain EuroPRRSV shared 90.1 to 100% amino acid identity with the prototype European strain, Lelystad, within the structural and nonstructural open reading frames (ORFs) and 95.3% overall nucleotide identity. The 5' untranslated region and two nonstructural regions within ORF 1 were closely examined due to significant divergence from strain Lelystad. A 51-bp deletion in a region within ORF 1a, coding for nonstructural protein 2 (NSP2), was observed. Sequence analysis of the structural ORFs 2 to 7 of additional European-like isolates indicated that these isolates share 93% nucleotide identity with one another and 95 to 96% identity with the Lelystad strain but only 70% identity with the North American reference strain VR-2332. Phylogenetic analysis with published PRRSV ORF 3, 5, and 7 nucleotide sequences indicated that these newly emerging isolates form a clade with the Lelystad and United Kingdom PRRSV isolates. Detailed analysis of four of these isolates with a panel of 60 monoclonal antibodies directed against the structural proteins confirmed a recognition pattern that was more consistent with strain Lelystad than with other North American isolates.     

我国猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒NT0901分离株分子特征

猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)是目前引起国内外养猪业严重经济损失的重要病原之一,病毒基因和毒力变异较大。PRRSV NT0801株分离自我国发病猪群,毒力较强,但NSP2基因不存在高致病性PRRSV 30个氨基酸的缺失。为了进一步阐明该分离株的分子特征,本研究对该毒株全基因序列进行了测定和分析,结果该毒株基因组全长15 439 bp,其中包含29 nt Poly(A)。与高致病性PRRSV毒株JXA1比较,核酸序列同源性为96.7%,推导的GP3和GP5氨基酸序列同源性分别为97.2%和98.5%,但NSP2基因无30个氨基酸的缺失;与传统型毒株ch-1a比较,推导的GP3和GP5氨基酸序列同源性分别为92.9%和91.5%;基因进化树分析结果显示其介于高致病性和传统PRRSV毒株之间。与其它不同毒力PRRSV分离株基因序列比较,未发现明显重组信号。不同毒力毒株氨基酸残基比对分析结果显示,15个位点潜在毒力相关氨基酸残基中,该毒株有9个与高致病性PRRSV毒株一致,3个与高致病性PRRSV毒株不同,但与传统型和JXA1疫苗株相同,1个位点只与JXA1疫苗株相同,2个与其它毒株都不相同。表明该分离株与高致病性PRRSV密切相关,PRRSV流行毒株变异与基因突变有关,从而为该病毒毒力基因定位研究奠定了基础。     

Antigen-specific B-cell responses to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) causes an acute, viremic infection of 4 to 6 weeks, followed by a persistent infection lasting for several months. We characterized antibody and B-cell responses to viral proteins in acute and persistent infection to better understand the immunological basis of the prolonged infection. The humoral immune response to PRRSV was robust overall and varied among individual viral proteins, with the important exception of a delayed and relatively weak response to envelope glycoprotein 5 (GP5). Memory B cells were in secondary lymphoid organs, not in bone marrow or Peyer's patches, in contrast to the case for many mammalian species. Potent anti-PRRSV memory responses were elicited to recall antigen in vitro, even though a second infection did not increase the B-cell response in vivo, suggesting that productive reinfection does not occur in vivo. Antibody titers to several viral proteins decline over time, even though abundant antigen is known to be present in lymphoid tissues, possibly indicating ineffective antigen presentation. The appearance of antibodies to GP5 is delayed relative to the resolution of viremia, suggesting that anti-GP5 antibodies are not crucial for resolving viremia. Lastly, viral infection had no immunosuppressive effect on the humoral response to a second, unrelated antigen. Taking these data together, the active effector and memory B-cell responses to PRRSV are robust, and over time the humoral immune response to PRRSV is effective. However, the delayed response against GP5 early in infection may contribute to the prolonged acute infection and the establishment of persistence.     

Genetic variability of the nucleocapsid protein of the virus of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome

The porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a contagious viral pathology caused by PRRS virus. There are 2 types of the above virus--the European and American ones. Distribution patterns of the PRRS virus were studied for Russia and Byelorussia. Above 700 porcine sera obtained from 32 households of 21 Russia's administrative regions and from 19 households of 6 Byelorussia's administrative regions were tested for presence of antibodies to the PRRS virus. Simultaneously, the samples were tested for virus presence by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). It was proven serologically that the PRRS virus is widespread in the territories of Russia and Byelorussia. Noteworthily, all field isolates found in Russia and Byelorussia belong to the European type. Not a single viral isolate of the American PRRS type was found. The nucleocapsid (N) recombinant protein was obtained on the basis of the Russian field isolate of the PRRS virus by using the E. coli. expression system. Finally, it was shown as possible to use the recombinant protein in indirect immune enzyme assay for the sake of detecting the antibodies to the PRRS virus.     

Evolution of quasispecies diversity for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus under antibody selective pressure

To study the quasispecies diversity of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), open reading frame 5 (ORF5) of strain SD0612 was amplified and cloned. Sixty clones of ORF5 were sequenced and analyzed with DNAStar software. Nucleic acid sequence homology was 97.7%?C100%, with 78 mutations observed. Among these 60 clones, the sequences of 17 clones were identical and recognized as the dominant quasispecies of strain SD0612. Evolution of SD0612 quasispecies diversity under antibody selective pressure was also studied. SD0612 was passed continuously in the Marc-145 cell line over 40 passages in 6 independent lineages. SD0612 antiserum was not added to lineage A, B, and C cultures; however, antiserum was added to culture medium for lineages D, E, and F. PRRSV ORF5 was then amplified, cloned, and sequenced from each of the 6 lineages, designated as A40-F40. F40 was further passed in Marc-145 cells using 6 independent lineages with or without F40 antiserum for another 40 passages. ORF5 from the 6 newly-derived virus lineages, which we designated as a40-f40, were amplified, cloned and sequenced. The proportion of dominant quasispecies increased with passage number in cell cultures supplemented with antibodies, but decreased when antibodies were lacking. Our work has demonstrated a diversity of quasispecies for ORF5 in PRRSV SD0612. Antibody selective pressure was able to significantly influence quasispecies diversity and promote a dominant quasispecies that was able to evade immune reactions.     

Application of GP5 protein to develop monoclonal antibody against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

In this study,a panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus(PRRSV),named as 8C9 and4B4,were produced by fusing SP2/0 myeloma cells and spleen cells of BALB/c mice immunized with the PRRSV (TCID50=5.5),screened by the indirect ELISA and subjected to several limiting dilutions.mAbs were then identified by biological characterization.Among the two fusion cell strains,8C9 belonged to the IgG1 subclass and 4B4 belonged to the IgG2a subclass.The titers in cell culture supernatant and abdomen liquor reached to 1:104and 1:105,respectively.The specificity test indicated that the two cells had specific reactions for the PRRSV and GP5 protein respectively,and no reaction with Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) or Swine vesicular disease virus (SVDV).The molecular weights of the heavy chain and light chain were about 45.0 kDa and 25.0 kDa,respectively.In neutralization activity tests,the results showed that the prepared mAb 4B4 can protect 50% of cells with no CPE in dilution up to 1:512,but mAB 8C9 has no neutralization activities to PRRSV.     

Phosphorylation of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus nucleocapsid protein

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a cytoplasmic RNA virus with the unique or unusual feature of having a nucleocapsid (N) protein that is specifically transported to the nucleolus of virus-infected cells. In this communication, we show that the N protein is a phosphoprotein. Phosphoamino acid analysis of authentic and recombinant N proteins demonstrated that serine residues were exclusively phosphorylated. The pattern of phosphorylated N protein cellular distribution in comparison with that of [(35)S]methionine-labeled N protein suggested that phosphorylation does not influence subcellular localization of the protein. Time course studies showed that phosphorylation occurred during, or shortly after, synthesis of the N protein and that the protein remained stably phosphorylated throughout the life cycle of the virus to the extent that phosphorylated N protein was found in the mature virion. Two-dimensional electrophoresis and acid-urea gel electrophoresis showed that one species of the N protein is predominant in virus-infected cells, suggesting that multiple phosphorylated isoforms of N do not exist.     

Overview: Replication of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), an arterivirus that causes significant losses in the pig industry, is one of the most important animal pathogens of global significance. Since the discovery of the virus, significant progress has been made in understanding its epidemiology and transmission, but no adequate control measures are yet available to eliminate infection with this pathogen. The genome replication of PRRSV is required to reproduce, within a few hours of infection, the millions of progeny virions that establish, disseminate, and maintain infection. Replication of the viral RNA genome is a multistep process involving a replication complex that is formed not only from components of viral and cellular origin but also from the viral genomic RNA template; this replication complex is embedded within particular virus-induced membrane vesicles. PRRSV RNA replication is directed by at least 14 replicase proteins that have both common enzymatic activities, including viral RNA polymerase, and also unusual and poorly understood RNA-processing functions. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of PRRSV replication, which is important for developing a successful strategy for the prevention and control of this pathogen.     

Divergence time of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus subtypes

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) recently emerged in domestic pigs of Western Europe and North America. Although time of emergence was identical on the two continents, genetic composition was markedly different with a clear geographical subtype structure, indicating that subtypes diverged in separate reservoirs prior to emergence. Genetic analyses have shown that the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of Western European isolates existed around 1980 and that these originate from Eastern European pigs. These findings are challenged by a study of Hanada et al. who place the MRCA of all PRRSV isolates around 1980 and find that no significant subtype divergence occurred before emergence. Here, I discuss problems of information content, methodology, and biological plausibility associated with this study. Using alternative methodology, I reanalyze the existing data and conclude that the MRCA of all PRRSV isolates existed around 1880, 100 years before the date estimated by Hanada et al.     

Indirect ELISA with recombinant GP5 for detecting antibodies to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome is caused by the PRRS virus (PRRSV), which has six structural proteins (GP2, GP3, GP4, GP5, M and N). GP5 and N protein are important targets for serological detection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and other methods. Toward this goal, we developed an indirect ELISA with recombinant GP5 antigens and this method was validated by comparison to the LSI PRRSV-Ab ELISA kit. The results indicated that the optimal concentration of coated recombinant antigen was 0.2 μg/well for a serum dilution of 1:40. The rate of agreement with the LSI PRRSV-Ab kit was 88.7% (266/300). These results support the potential use of recombinant GP5 as an antigen for indirect ELISA to detect PRRSV antibodies in pigs.     

Identification of neutralizing and nonneutralizing epitopes in the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus GP5 ectodomain

After infection of swine with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), there is a rapid rise of PRRSV-specific nonneutralizing antibodies (NNA), while neutralizing antibodies (NA) are detectable not sooner than 3 weeks later. To characterize neutralizing epitopes, we selected phages from a 12-mer phage display library using anti-PRRSV neutralizing monoclonal antibody (MAb) ISU25-C1. In addition, phages carrying peptides recognized by swine antibodies with high seroneutralizing titer were isolated after subtracting from the library those clones binding to swine anti-PRRSV serum with no neutralizing activity. Two epitopes located in the ectodomain of PRRSV GP5 were identified. One of these epitopes, which we named epitope B, was recognized both by neutralizing MAb ISU25-C1 and swine neutralizing serum (NS) but not by swine nonneutralizing serum (NNS), indicating that it is a neutralizing epitope. Epitope B is sequential, conserved among isolates, and not immunodominant. Antibodies directed against it are detected in serum late after infection. In contrast, the other epitope, which we named epitope A, is hypervariable and immunodominant. Antibodies against it appear early after infection with PRRSV. This epitope is recognized by swine NNA but is not recognized by either neutralizing MAb ISU25-C1 or swine NA, indicating that it is not involved in PRRSV neutralization. During infection with PRRSV, epitope A may act as a decoy, eliciting most of the antibodies directed to GP5 and delaying the induction of NA against epitope B for at least 3 weeks. These results are relevant to the design of vaccines against PRRSV.     

Receptor-determined susceptibility of preimplantation embryos to pseudorabies virus and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

In the present study, the in vitro interaction of embryos with pseudorabies virus (PRV) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) was investigated by viral antigen detection and by evaluating the expression of virus receptors, namely, poliovirus receptor-related 1 (PVRL1; formerly known as nectin 1) for PRV and sialoadhesin for PRRSV. Embryonic cells of zona pellucida intact embryos incubated with PRV remained negative for viral antigens. Also, no antigen-positive cells could be detected after PRV incubation of protease-treated embryos, since the protease disrupted the expression of PRVL1. However, starting from the five-cell-stage onwards, viral antigen-positive cells were detected after subzonal microinjection of PRV. At this stage, the first foci of PVRL1, also a known cell adhesion molecule, were expressed. At the expanded blastocyst stage, a lining pattern of PVRL1 in the apicolateral border of trophectoderm cells was present, whereas the expression in the inner cell mass was low. Furthermore, PVRL1-specific monoclonal antibody CK41 significantly blocked PRV infection of trophectoderm cells of hatched blastocysts, while the infection of the inner cell mass was only partly inhibited. Viral antigen-positive cells were never detected after PRRSV exposure of preimplantation embryos up to the hatched blastocyst stage. Also, expression of sialoadhesin in these embryonic stages was not detected. We conclude that the use of protease to investigate the virus embryo interaction can lead to misinterpretation of results. Results also show that blastomeres of five-cell embryos up to the hatched blastocysts can become infected with PRV, but there is no risk of a PRRSV infection.     

Structure of the nucleocapsid protein of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is an enveloped RNA virus of the Arteriviridae family, genomically related to the coronaviruses. PRRSV is the causative agent of both severe and persistent respiratory disease and reproductive failure in pigs worldwide. The PRRSV virion contains a core made of the 123 amino acid nucleocapsid (N) protein, a product of the ORF7 gene. We have determined the crystal structure of the capsid-forming domain of N. The structure was solved to 2.6 A resolution by SAD methods using the anomalous signal from sulfur. The N protein exists in the crystal as a tight dimer forming a four-stranded beta sheet floor superposed by two long alpha helices and flanked by two N- and two C-terminal alpha helices. The structure of N represents a new class of viral capsid-forming domains, distinctly different from those of other known enveloped viruses, but reminiscent of the coat protein of bacteriophage MS2.     

Characterization of interaction between porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and porcine dendritic cells

The porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome Virus (PRRSV) is an infectious disease that causes abortions and respiratory disorders in swine. In this study, the interaction between PRRSV and porcine dendritic cells generated from CD14(+) monocytes in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4 was examined. As a result, it was shown that immature and mature dendritic cells can be productively infected with PRRSV. When the expression of surface MHC molecules on infected dendritic cells was determined, MHC classes I and II were found to be downregulated when compared with uninfected dendritic cells. With the exception of the IL-4 and IFN-gamma cytokines, the induction of the IL-10, IL-12, and TNF-alpha cytokines all increased in dendritic cells infected with PRRSV. A mixed lymphocyte reaction showed that peripheral blood mononuclear cells cocultured with PRRSVinfected dendritic cells were less stimulated than peripheral blood mononuclear cells cocultured with dendritic cells treated with PBS, LPS, or UV-inactivated PRRSV. Therefore, these results suggest that PRRSV would appear to modulate the immune stimulatory function of porcine dendritic cells.     

毕赤酵母表达猪干扰素—γ基因及其抑制蓝耳病毒效果

为了研究和应用猪重组干扰素-γ（rPoIFN-γ)预防和治疗病毒性疫苗,将大白猪PoIFN-γ基因插入到酵母整合载体pHIL-S1,构建了重组GS115工程菌（pHIL-S1/rPoIFN-γ)。经过SDS－PAGE,Western blot分析和抗滤泡性口炎病毒（VSV）活性测定,证实了rPoIFN-γ分子量为18kD,在GS115中的表达量为18％。其抗VSV活性为450－540u/mL。用rPoIFN-γ处理猪肺巨噬细胞系Marc-145后,经细胞病变抑制法（CPE50）测定,rPoIFN-γ可以抑抗蓝耳病病毒（PRRSV）感染。结果显示酵母表达的rPoIFN-γ是有应用价值的抗病毒生物工程制剂。