Recombinant newcastle disease virus expressing a foreign viral antigen is attenuated and highly immunogenic in primates

Paramyxoviruses such as human parainfluenza viruses that bear inserts encoding protective antigens of heterologous viruses can induce an effective immunity against the heterologous viruses in experimental animals. However, vectors based on common human pathogens would be expected to be restricted in replication in the adult human population due to high seroprevalence, an effect that would reduce vector immunogenicity. To address this issue, we evaluated Newcastle disease virus (NDV), an avian paramyxovirus that is serotypically distinct from common human pathogens, as a vaccine vector. Two strains were evaluated: the attenuated vaccine strain LaSota (NDV-LS) that replicates mostly in the chicken respiratory tract and the Beaudette C (NDV-BC) strain of intermediate virulence that produces mild systemic infection in chickens. A recombinant version of each virus was modified by the insertion, between the P and M genes, of a gene cassette encoding the human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV3) hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein, a test antigen with considerable historic data. The recombinant viruses were administered to African green monkeys (NDV-BC and NDV-LS) and rhesus monkeys (NDV-BC only) by combined intranasal and intratracheal routes at a dose of 10(6.5) PFU per site, with a second equivalent dose administered 28 days later. Little or no virus shedding was detected in nose-throat swabs or tracheal lavages following immunization with either strain. In a separate experiment, direct examination of lung tissue confirmed a highly attenuated, restricted pattern of replication by parental NDV-BC. The serum antibody response to the foreign HN protein induced by the first immunization with either NDV vector was somewhat less than that observed following a wild-type HPIV3 infection; however, the titer following the second dose exceeded that observed with HPIV3 infection, even though HPIV3 replicates much more efficiently than NDV in these animals. NDV appears to be a promising vector for the development of vaccines for humans; one application would be in controlling localized outbreaks of emerging pathogens.     

Rescue and preliminary application of a recombinant newcastle disease virus expressing green fluorescent protein gene

Based on the complete genome sequence of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) ZJI strain, seven pairs of primers were designed to amplify a cDNA fragment for constructing the plasmid pNDV/ZJI, which contained the full-length cDNA of the NDV ZJI strain. The pNDV/ZJI, with three helper plasmids, pCIneoNP, pCIneoP and pCIneoL, were then cotransfected into BSR-T7/5 cells expressing T7 RNA polymerase. After inoculation of the transfected cell culture supernatant into embryonated chicken eggs from specific-pathogen-free (SPF) flock, an infectious NDV ZJI strain was successfully rescued. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene was amplified and inserted into the NDV full-length cDNA to generate a GFP-tagged recombinant plasmid pNDV/ZJIGFP. After cotransfection of the resultant plasmid and the three support plasmids into BSR-T7/5 cells, the recombinant NDV, NDV/ZJIGFP, was rescued. Specific green fluorescence was observed in BSR-T7/5 and chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) cells 48h post-infection, indicating that the GFP gene was expressed at a relatively high level. NDV/ZJIGFP was inoculated into 10-day-old SPF chickens by oculonasal route. Four days post-infection, strong green fluorescence could be detected in the kidneys and tracheae, indicating that the recombinant GFP-tagged NDV could be a very useful tool for analysis of NDV dissemination and pathogenesis.     

基于双质粒拯救系统的新城疫病毒LaSota株的拯救

传统新城疫病毒(newcastle disease virus, NDV)的拯救系统包括一个cDNA克隆质粒和分别表达NDV的核衣壳蛋白(NP)、磷蛋白(P)、聚合酶蛋白(L)的3个辅助质粒,且必须满足4个质粒同时转染进入同一个宿主细胞才能完成病毒的组装,效率相对低下。【目的】提高NDV的拯救效率,并建立双质粒高效拯救系统。【方法】将NP、P、L基因表达盒串联克隆至真核表达载体pCI中,构建为可同时表达NP、P、L蛋白的单辅助质粒PCI-NPL;同时,采用分段克隆再拼接的方式,将NDV LaSota株基因组cDNA克隆于真核表达质粒pCI的CMV启动子下游,并分别在P和M基因中插入报告基因增强型绿色荧光蛋白(enhanced green fluorescent protein, EGFP)、5''端引入锤头状核酶序列、3''端引入丁型肝炎病毒核酶序列,构成全基因组转录质粒pCI-LaSota-EGFP;以pCI-LaSota-EGFP和pCI-NPL组成病毒拯救系统共转染至BHK-21细胞,拯救获得重组子代病毒rLaSota-EGFP,并进行系列生物学特性鉴定。【结果】经RT-PCR、荧光显微镜观察、Western blotting、生长特性测定等系列鉴定,证明rLaSota-EGFP构建正确,成功拯救获得了重组病毒rLaSota-EGFP,且与野生型(wild-type, WT) LaSota具有相似的生物学特性。【结论】基于CMV启动子的NDV双质粒新型拯救系统构建成功,为重组NDV及其他副黏病毒的高效拯救奠定了基础。     

High-level expression and immunogenic properties of the recombinant rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus VP60 capsid protein obtained in Pichia pastoris

The VP60 capsid protein from rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) (Spanish isolate AST/89) was cloned and expressed in Pichia pastoris. The transformed yeast was grown at high cell density and an expression level of about 1.5 g VP60L(-1) culture was obtained. The protein was detected associated with the cell debris fraction of the recombinant yeast after mechanical disruption. It was purified by a simple method and was obtained N-glycosylated with purity of approximately 70% as deduced from densitometry scan analysis. The recombinant product was antigenically similar to the native capsid protein as determined with polyclonal antibodies obtained from rabbits vaccinated with VP60 protein purified from native virus. The immunogenicity of VP60 protein purified from P. pastoris was demonstrated by ELISA in a vaccination experiment conducted with two groups of rabbits subcutaneously immunized. Animals vaccinated with VP60 in Freund's incomplete adjuvant developed a significant (p<0.01) virus-specific antibody response while the group injected with placebo remained seronegative. Preliminary results showed that the antigen administered within the cell debris fraction of the transformed yeast protected rabbits immunized by the oral route against an intramuscular challenge with 100 LD50 (16,000 hemagglutination units) of homologous virus.     

Hepatitis B virus large surface protein is not secreted but is immunogenic when selectively expressed by recombinant vaccinia virus.

The envelope region of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome contains an open reading frame that begins upstream of the major surface protein gene. The two minor proteins that are initiated within this pre-s segment are immunogenic and may be involved in virus attachment to hepatocytes. We have constructed a recombinant vaccinia virus that contains the predicted coding segment for the large surface protein (LS) under control of a vaccinia virus that contains the predicted coding segment for the large surface protein (LS) under control of a vaccinia virus promoter. Cells infected with the recombinant virus synthesized HBV polypeptides of 39 and 42 kilodaltons, corresponding to the unglycosylated and glycosylated forms of LS, respectively. The presence of pre-s epitopes in the 39- and 42-kilodalton polypeptides was demonstrated by binding of antibody prepared against a synthetic peptide. Synthesis of the 42-kilodalton species was specifically inhibited by tunicamycin, suggesting that it is N-glycosylated. Despite apparent glycosylation, LS was not secreted into the medium of infected cells. Nevertheless, rabbits vaccinated with the purified recombinant virus made antibodies that recognized s and pre-s epitopes. Antibody to the NH2 terminus of LS appeared before or simultaneously with antibody that bound to the major surface protein. The additional immunogenicity provided by expression of LS may be advantageous for the development of an HBV vaccine.     

Evidence for mixed membrane topology of the newcastle disease virus fusion protein

The synthesis of the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) fusion (F) protein in a cell-free protein-synthesizing system containing membranes was characterized. The membrane-associated products were in at least two different topological forms with respect to the membranes. The properties of one form were consistent with the expected membrane insertion as a classical type 1 glycoprotein. This form of the protein was fully glycosylated, and sequences amino terminal to the transmembrane domain were protected from protease digestion by the membranes. The second form of membrane-associated F protein was partially glycosylated and partially protected from protease digestion by the membranes. Protease digestion resulted in a 23-kDa protease-protected polypeptide derived from F2 sequences and sequences from the amino-terminal end of the F1 domain. Furthermore, a 10-kDa polypeptide derived from the cytoplasmic domain (CT) was also protected from protease digestion by the membranes. Protease resistance of the 23- and 10-kDa polypeptides suggested that this second form of F protein inserted in membranes in a polytopic conformation with both the amino-terminal end and the carboxyl-terminal end translocated across membranes. To determine if this second form of the fusion protein could be found in cells expressing the F protein, two different approaches were taken. A polypeptide with the size of the partially translocated F protein was detected by Western analysis of proteins in total-cell extracts of NDV strain B1 (avirulent)-infected Cos-7 cells. Using antibodies raised against a peptide with sequences from the cytoplasmic domain, CT sequences were detected on surfaces of F protein-expressing Cos-7 cells by immunofluorescence and by flow cytometry. This antibody also inhibited the fusion of red blood cells to cells expressing F and HN proteins. These results suggest that NDV F protein made both in a cell-free system and in Cos-7 cells may exist in two topological forms with respect to membranes and that the second form of the protein may be involved in cell-cell fusion.     

Partial antiviral activities of the Asn631 chicken Mx against newcastle disease virus and vesicular stomatitis virus

Conflicting data existed for the antiviral potential of the chicken Mx protein and the importance of the Asn631 polymorphism in determination of the antiviral activity. In this study we modified the chicken Mx cDNA from the Ser631 to Asn631 genotype and transfected them into COS-I cells, chicken embryonic fibroblast (CEF) or NIH 3T3 cells. The Mx protein was mainly located at the cytoplasm. The transfected cell cultures were challenged with newcastle disease virus (NDV) or vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), cytopathic affect (CPE) inhibition assay showed that the times for development of visible and full CPE were significantly postponed by the Asn631 cDNA transfection at 48 h transfection, but not by the Ser631 cDNA transfection. Viral titration assay showed that the virus titers were significantly reduced before 72 h postinfection. CEF cells was incubated by the cell lysates extracted from the COS-I cells transfected with pcDNA-Mx/Asn631, could resist and delayed NDV infection. These data suggested the importance of the Asn631 polymorphism of the chicken Mx in determination of the antiviral activities against NDV and VSV at early stage of viral infection, which were relatively weak and not sufficient to inhibit the viral replication at late stage of viral infection.     

Recombinant Newcastle disease virus expressing African swine fever virus protein 72 is safe and immunogenic in mice

African swine fever(ASF) is a lethal hemorrhagic disease that affects wild and domestic swine. The etiological agent of ASF is African swine fever virus(ASFV). Since the first case was described in Kenya in 1921, the disease has spread to many other countries. No commercial vaccines are available to prevent ASF. In this study, we generated a recombinant Newcastle disease virus(r NDV) expressing ASFV protein 72(p72) by reverse genetics and evaluated its humoral and cellular immunogenicity in a mouse model. The recombinant virus, r NDV/p72, replicated well in embryonated chicken eggs and was safe to use in chicks and mice. The p72 gene in r NDV/p72 was stably maintained through ten passages. Mice immunized with r NDV/p72 developed high titers of ASFV p72 specific Ig G antibody, and had higher levels of Ig G1 than IgG2 a. Immunization also elicited T-cell proliferation and secretion of IFN-γ and IL-4. Taken together, these results indicate that r NDV expressing ASFV p72 might be a potential vaccine candidate for preventing ASF.     

Evaluation of immunogenic potential of 75kDa and 56kDa proteins of newcastle disease virus (NDV)

The R2B strain of virus of new castle disease virus (NDV) was propagated in 9-11 day old embryonated chicken eggs via allantoic cavity route and after seven serial passages virus was purified from allantoic fluid. Purified virus was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis which yielded six major polypeptides ranging from 38-200 kDa. Protein fractions, corresponding to 75 and 56kDa, resembling haemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) and fusion (F) proteins were used to ascertain their immunization potential. Immunization of viral proteins was compared with the whole virus vaccine. Among different group of birds, highest haemagglutination inhibition (HI) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) titers were obtained in birds immunized with whole virus vaccine followed by viral proteins, 75 and 56kDa in combination which was comparable with birds immunized with 56kDa protein alone. Despite lower values of HI and ELISA titers elicited by viral subunits in immunized birds, when challenged with virulent NDV strain, protection accorded by viral proteins in combination (75 +56kDa) or 56kDa alone was comparable with whole virus vaccine.     

Identification of a mutation in editing of defective Newcastle disease virus recombinants that modulates P-gene mRNA editing and restores virus replication and pathogenicity in chicken embryos

Editing of P-gene mRNA of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) enables the formation of two additional proteins (V and W) by inserting one or two nontemplated G residues at a conserved editing site (5'-AAAAAGGG). The V protein of NDV plays an important role in virus replication and is also a virulence factor presumably due to its ability to counteract the antiviral effects of interferon. A recombinant virus possessing a nucleotide substitution within the A-stretch (5'-AAgAAGGG) produced 20-fold-less V protein and, in consequence, was impaired in replication capacity and completely attenuated in pathogenicity for chicken embryos. However, in a total of seven serial passages, restoration of replication and pathogenic capacity in 9- to 11-day-old chicken embryos was noticed. Determining the sequence around the editing site of the virus at passage 7 revealed a C-to-U mutation at the second nucleotide immediately upstream of the 5'-A(5) stretch (5'-GuUAAgAAGGG). The V mRNA increased from an undetectable level at passage 5 to ca. 1 and 5% at passages 6 and 7, respectively. In addition, similar defects in another mutant possessing a different substitution mutation (5'-AAAcAGGG) were restored in an identical manner within a total of seven serial passages. Introduction of the above C-to-U mutation into the parent virus (5'-GuUAAAAAGGG) altered the frequency of P, V, and W mRNAs from 68, 28, and 4% to 15, 44, and 41%, respectively, demonstrating that the U at this position is a key determinant in modulating P-gene mRNA editing. The results indicate that this second-site mutation is required to compensate for the drop in edited mRNAs and consequently to restore the replication capacity, as well as the pathogenic potential, of editing-defective NDV recombinants.     

重组禽腺联病毒介导的miRNA抑制传染性法氏囊病病毒在鸡胚内的复制

【目的】在鸡胚水平上探索VP1和VP2基因特异miRNA抑制传染性法氏囊病病毒(infectious bursaldisease virus,IBDV)复制的可行性。【方法与结果】将表达VP1基因特异miRNA重组载体pAITR-RFPmiVP1或VP2基因特异miRNA重组载体pAITR-RFPmiVP2E与禽腺联病毒(avian adeno-associated virus,AAAV)包装载体pcDNA-ARC和腺病毒辅助载体pHelper共转染AAV-293细胞,获得重组病毒rAAAV-RFPmiVP1和rAAAV-RFPmiVP2E,用同样方法获得不表达miRNA的rAAAV-RFP和表达对照miRNA的rAAAV-RFPmiVP2con。电镜观察显示重组病毒具有典型的AAAV颗粒形态;PCR检测结果表明其基因组中含miRNA表达盒;经poly(A)加尾RT-PCR检测证明重组病毒感染细胞能表达基因特异的miRNA。分别将重组病毒经卵黄囊途径接种8日龄SPF鸡胚,然后经绒毛尿囊膜途径用Lukert株IBDV攻毒,收获鸡胚进行IBDV组织细胞半数感染剂量(TCID50)测定。结果在攻毒后第3天,rAAAV-RFP和rAAAV-RFPmiVP2con接种组的IBDV TCID50为8.0 log10,rAAAV-RFPmiVP1和rAAAV-RFPmiVP2E接种组的IBDV TCID50分别下降到1.0和1.5 log10;在攻毒后第6天,rAAAV-RFP和rAAAV-RFPmiVP2con接种组的IBDV TCID50仍为8.0 log10,rAAAV-RFPmiVP1和rAAAV-RFPmiVP2E接种组的TCID50分别下降到0.8和2.0 log10。【结论】rAAAV是有效的miRNA鸡胚导入载体,表达的VP1和VP2基因特异miRNA能有效阻断IBDV复制。     

Newcastle disease virus V protein is a determinant of host range restriction

It has been demonstrated that the V protein of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) functions as an alpha/beta interferon (IFN-alpha/beta) antagonist (M. S. Park, M. L. Shaw, J. Mu?oz-Jordan, J. F. Cros, T. Nakaya, N. Bouvier, P. Palese, A. García-Sastre, and C. F. Basler, J. Virol. 77:1501-1511, 2003). We now show that the NDV V protein plays an important role in host range restriction. In order to study V functions in vivo, recombinant NDV (rNDV) mutants, defective in the expression of the V protein, were generated. These rNDV mutants grow poorly in both embryonated chicken eggs and chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEFs) compared to the wild-type (wt) rNDV. However, insertion of the NS1 gene of influenza virus A/PR8/34 into the NDV V(-) genome [rNDV V(-)/NS1] restores impaired growth to wt levels in embryonated chicken eggs and CEFs. These data indicate that for viruses infecting avian cells, the NDV V protein and the influenza NS1 protein are functionally interchangeable, even though there are no sequence similarities between the two proteins. Interestingly, in human cells, the titer of wt rNDV is 10 times lower than that of rNDV V(-)/NS1. Correspondingly, the level of IFN secreted by human cells infected with wt rNDV is much higher than that secreted by cells infected with the NS1-expressing rNDV. This suggests that the IFN antagonist activity of the NDV V protein is species specific. Finally, the NDV V protein plays an important role in preventing apoptosis in a species-specific manner. The rNDV defective in V induces apoptotic cell death more rapidly in CEFs than does wt rNDV. Taken together, these data suggest that the host range of NDV is limited by the ability of its V protein to efficiently prevent innate host defenses, such as the IFN response and apoptosis.     

A novel strategy for converting recombinant viral protein into high immunogenic antigen.

Interleukin 2 (IL-2) is a lymphokine promoting immune response and therefore has been investigated as an immunological adjuvant. In order to enhance the immunogenicity of recombinant viral protein, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) glycoprotein D (gD), we genetically created a fusion protein consisting of gD and human IL-2. The fusion protein, without any other adjuvants, induced high antibody responses and cell-mediated immunity to HSV-1 in mice. Mice immunized with the fusion protein were protected against HSV-1 infection. The results indicate that IL-2-fusing can provide a means for converting a weak immunogenic protein into a high immunogenic antigen, and the strategy would be widely applicable to the other antigens for pathogens.     

Construction and characterization of recombinant fowlpox virus co-expressing F and HN genes of newcastle disease virus and gB gene of infectious larygnotracheitis virus

The Fusion (F) and Haemagglutinin-Neuraminidase (HN) genes of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and the glycoprotein B (gB) gene of infectious laryngothracheitis virus (ILTV) as well as a LacZ reporter gene were all inserted into a nonessential gene of fowlpox virus (FPV) 017 strain by homologous recombination. The NDV and ILTV genes were each under the control of a fowlpox virus immediate early/late promoter (LP2EP2), whereas the LacZ reporter gene expression cassette was regulated by a P11 late promoter. A recombinant FPV harboring the F, HN and gB genes as well as the LacZ gene, designated as rFPV-F/HN/gB/LacZ, was obtained after ten cycles of blue plaque purification. The presence of the NDV and ILTV genes was confirmed by PCR. The expression of the recombinant proteins in rFPV-F/HN/gB/LacZ was characterized by Western blot (F and gB proteins) and indirect immunofluorescence tests (F, HN and gB proteins). The results demonstrated that all four foreign proteins, which were encoded within a 10-kb gene fragment, could be expressed authentically and efficiently. Compared with the parental virus, rFPV-F/HN/gB/LacZ showed no obvious difference with respect to virus replication and cytopathogenic effects in the cell culture of chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF). Overall, this study suggests that FPV can be a useful live virus vector for the expression of multiforeign genes against multiple avian pathogens.     

Newcastle disease virus V protein is associated with viral pathogenesis and functions as an alpha interferon antagonist

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) edits its P gene by inserting one or two G residues at the conserved editing site (UUUUUCCC, genome sense) and transcribes the P mRNA (unedited), the V mRNA (with a +1 frameshift), and the W mRNA (with a +2 frameshift). All three proteins are amino coterminal but vary at their carboxyl terminus in length and amino acid composition. Little is known about the role of the V and W proteins in NDV replication and pathogenesis. We have constructed and recovered two recombinant viruses in which the expression of the V or both the V and W proteins has been abolished. Compared to the parental virus, the mutant viruses showed impaired growth in cell cultures, except in Vero cells. However, transient expression of the carboxyl-terminal portion of the V protein enhanced the growth of the mutant viruses. In embryonated chicken eggs, the parental virus grew to high titers in embryos of different gestational ages, whereas the mutant viruses showed an age-dependent phenomenon, growing to lower titer in more-developed embryos. An interferon (IFN) sensitivity assay showed that the parental virus was more resistant to the antiviral effect of IFN than the mutant viruses. Moreover, infection with the parental virus resulted in STAT1 protein degradation, but not with the mutant viruses. These findings indicate that the V protein of NDV possesses the ability to inhibit alpha IFN and that the IFN inhibitory function lies in the carboxyl-terminal domain. Pathogenicity studies showed that the V protein of NDV significantly contributes to the virus virulence.     

Exploring vaccinia virus as a tool for large-scale recombinant protein expression

A recombinant vaccinia virus was engineered to express enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under control of the T7 promoter using the VOTE expression system in HeLa cells. Infection of HeLa cells with this virus and induction with IPTG demonstrated the utility of this construct for easily measuring protein expression. This construct was used to evaluate several production parameters, specifically, multiplicity of infection (MOI), volume during infection, and serum concentration during the infection phase. In static culture, increasing multiplicity of infection was found to increase expression of EGFP up to a plateau around MOI of 1.0. Expression was also shown to increase with decreasing volume during the infection phase. Serum concentration during the infection phase was only marginally significant from 0 to 7.5%. Cytodex 3 microcarriers were found to have the best characteristics for HeLa cell growth. These cells were grown and infected in microcarrier spinner flask culture, and the maximum expression was 2.2 microg EGFP/(million cells at the time of infection), demonstrating the ability of this system to successfully express recombinant proteins at larger scale.     

A recombinant chimeric La Crosse virus expressing the surface glycoproteins of Jamestown Canyon virus is immunogenic and protective against challenge with either parental virus in mice or monkeys

La Crosse virus (LACV) and Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV), family Bunyaviridae, are mosquito-borne viruses that are endemic in North America and recognized as etiologic agents of encephalitis in humans. Both viruses belong to the California encephalitis virus serogroup, which causes 70 to 100 cases of encephalitis a year. As a first step in creating live attenuated viral vaccine candidates for this serogroup, we have generated a recombinant LACV expressing the attachment/fusion glycoproteins of JCV. The JCV/LACV chimeric virus contains full-length S and L segments derived from LACV. For the M segment, the open reading frame (ORF) of LACV is replaced with that derived from JCV and is flanked by the untranslated regions of LACV. The resulting chimeric virus retained the same robust growth kinetics in tissue culture as observed for either parent virus, and the virus remains highly infectious and immunogenic in mice. Although both LACV and JCV are highly neurovirulent in 21 day-old mice, with 50% lethal dose (LD₅₀) values of 0.1 and 0.5 log₁₀ PFU, respectively, chimeric JCV/LACV is highly attenuated and does not cause disease even after intracerebral inoculation of 10³ PFU. Parenteral vaccination of mice with 10¹ or 10³ PFU of JCV/LACV protected against lethal challenge with LACV, JCV, and Tahyna virus (TAHV). The chimeric virus was infectious and immunogenic in rhesus monkeys and induced neutralizing antibodies to JCV, LACV, and TAHV. When vaccinated monkeys were challenged with JCV, they were protected against the development of viremia. Generation of highly attenuated yet immunogenic chimeric bunyaviruses could be an efficient general method for development of vaccines effective against these pathogenic viruses.