2019新型冠状病毒基因组的生物信息学分析

2019年12月,中国武汉报道了冠状病毒引起的肺炎,其临床症状与2003年爆发的严重急性呼吸综合征(Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, SARS)不同,因此推断该病毒可能是冠状病毒的一个新变种。不同于简单使用全基因组序列的其它研究,我们于2018年在国际上首次提出分子功能与进化分析相结合的研究思想,并应用于Beta冠状病毒B亚群(BB冠状病毒)基因组的研究。在这一思想指导下,本研究使用BB冠状病毒基因组中的一个互补回文序列(命名为Nankai complemented palindrome)与其所在的编码区(命名为Nankai CDS)对新发布的2019新型冠状病毒基因组(GenBank:MN908947)进行分析以期准确溯源,并对BB冠状病毒的跨物种传播和宿主适应性进行初步研究。溯源分析的结果支持2019新型冠状病毒源自蝙蝠,但与SARS冠状病毒差异巨大,这一结果与两者临床症状差异一致。本研究的最重要发现是BB冠状病毒存在大量的可变翻译,从分子水平揭示了BB冠状病毒变异快、多样性高的特点。从BB冠状病毒可变翻译中获取的信息可应用于(但不限于)其快速检测、基因分型、疫苗开发以及药物设计。另外,我们推断BB冠状病毒可能通过可变翻译以适应不同宿主。基于大量基因组数据的实证分析,本研究在国际上首次从分子水平尝试解释了BB冠状病毒变异快、宿主多且具有较强的宿主适应性的原因。     

冠状病毒的新成员--SARS-CoV的基因组特性

2003年3月,人类发现一种新的冠状病毒SARS-CoV,这种病毒是非典型性肺炎(SARS)的病原体。SARS-CoV的基因组序列已经由包括中国科学家在内的全世界的科研人员测定完成。该文对国际报道的SARS病源的基因序列进行了收录,阐述了SARS-CoV基因组的基本特性：SARS-CoV的基因组长约28-30kb,与冠状病毒科的基因组长度相符合,其中包括11个编码序列,基因组的组织方式也与其他冠状病毒类似,从表面蛋白(S蛋白)、外膜蛋白(M蛋白)和核蛋白(N蛋白)上看,SARS病毒与其他冠状病毒的对应蛋白进化关系接近。同时发现,在某些区域,SARS病毒的基因序列与其他冠状病毒存在相当大的差异,具有自身比较保守的基因组序列结构。而且氨基酸的序列也与其他冠状病毒有很大程度的不同。基因信息的冗余分析表明,SARS-CoV具有较低的冗余度,即发生变异的可能性比较大。虽然SARS-CoV外表与冠状病毒类似,亲缘关系未超出冠状病毒科界限,但由于蛋白基因与氨基酸的序列与其他冠状病毒有本质不同,因此可能不是其他冠状病毒的变异体,而是一种与冠状病毒类似、但早已独立存在、此前未被人类所认识的新病毒。     

猪肠道冠状病毒与入侵受体氨基肽酶N的相互作用

猪肠道冠状病毒是目前危害养猪产业的重要病原。目前已发现能够感染猪肠道的致病性冠状病毒有4种：猪传染性胃肠炎病毒、猪流行性腹泻病毒、猪丁型冠状病毒和猪肠道甲型冠状病毒。冠状病毒感染宿主的第一步是识别宿主细胞膜受体分子并与之结合,随后启动入侵及膜融合进而使病毒基因组进入宿主细胞内部。因此,冠状病毒受体是决定其宿主范围及组织嗜性的关键因素。确定冠状病毒受体及病毒与受体的结合机制对预防新发病毒及开发冠状病毒治疗性药物具有重要意义。猪传染性胃肠炎病毒利用猪氨基肽酶N（aminopeptidase N,APN）作为感染宿主的功能性受体,并利用唾液酸作为辅助结合因子。猪APN最初也被鉴定为猪流行性腹泻病毒的功能性受体,但近年的研究结果与前面的报道存在较大的差异,产生了较大的争议。最近的研究认为,猪丁型冠状病毒的功能性受体也是APN,并且猪丁型冠状病毒能够利用多个物种的APN作为功能性受体,这与其跨物种传播具有密切关系。最新发现的猪肠道甲型冠状病毒则不使用APN作为其入侵受体。本文综述了前面3种猪肠道病毒感染宿主细胞的受体及结合机制的研究进展,并比较分析了猪APN及唾液酸在不同猪肠道冠状病毒入侵宿主过程中结合方式的异同,为进一步研究新发猪肠道冠状病毒受体提供参考。     

新发现的冠状病毒属——丁型冠状病毒

新发冠状病毒危害人类和动物健康,造成严重公共卫生问题和巨大经济损失。丁型冠状病毒(Deltacoronavirus)是2009年发现并在2011年正式划分的第四种冠状病毒属,其属内的病毒基因组特征与其他冠状病毒属有较大差异。其中,猪丁型冠状病毒(PDCoV)与近两年爆发的猪病毒性腹泻疫情密切相关。本文以猪丁型冠状病毒为例,从病毒基因组结构、进化、流行情况、检测方法、致病性试验、蛋白质功能等方面介绍其研究进展。     

冠状病毒蛋白结构基因组研究进展

冠状病毒（coronaviridae / Coronaviruse,CoV）是一类对人及家畜具有严重危害的病原微生物,其中的SARS（Severe Acute Respiratory Syndromes）- CoV更是于2003年引起全球性爆发,对人类健康和全球经济造成了严重威胁和重大损失。冠状病毒拥有目前已知最大的正链RNA基因组。侵染细胞后,它通过直接翻译与不连续转录－翻译得到一系列病毒蛋白,包括非结构蛋白、结构蛋白与附属蛋白。对冠状病毒转录/复制过程具有重要作用的非结构蛋白与附属蛋白,由于与目前研究较为深入的蛋白序列相似性很低,因此系统地开展与冠状病毒转录/复制密切相关的蛋白质的结构基因组研究,不仅能够从分子水平深入了解冠状病毒转录复制的分子机制,而且对于有针对性地设计抗冠状病毒的药物具有非常关键的作用。因此,美国,欧洲及我国的多个研究组实施了与冠状病毒及其相关病原体的结构基因组计划,使人类对冠状病毒蛋白质结构与功能的认识进入了一个新阶段。本文将对目前世界范围内冠状病毒结构基因组研究取得的进展进行综合性地展示与介绍。     

严重急性呼吸综合征(SARS)冠状病毒核蛋白的鉴定与分析

利用蛋白质组学技术,对纯化的严重急性呼吸综合征(SARS)冠状病毒颗粒所含核蛋白进行初步分离与鉴定。质谱分析结果最终表明,SARS冠状病毒核蛋白的分子量位于47kD与52kD之间,所获得的SARS冠状病毒核蛋白的质谱分析数据覆盖了所预测病毒核蛋白氨基酸序列的87％,且符合率为100％。从而首次从蛋白质水平对SARS冠状病毒核蛋白的氨基酸序列进行了证实。     

新型冠状病毒SARS-CoV-2检测技术的研究进展

新型冠状病毒(SARS-CoV-2)具有较强的传播能力,已证实可人传人,无症状携带者也可传播.快速、准确诊断新型冠状病毒对控制疫情爆发尤为重要.论文基于国内外的相关研究进展,就新型冠状病毒的荧光PCR、等温扩增、基于Cas酶技术、免疫法四大类检测技术进行了详细的分析与梳理,以期为新型冠状病毒及其他流行性病毒诊断及防控提供借鉴和思路.     

从多角度分析SARS-CoV-2和SARS冠状病毒(SARS-CoV)差异

新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)在全球范围内持续肆虐,感染人数与日俱增.COVID-19的病毒SARS-CoV-2与2003年发生的严重急性呼吸系统综合症冠状病毒(SARS coronavirus,SARS-CoV)同属冠状病毒.本研究就COVID-19与SARS冠状病毒的差异以及两种冠状病毒的中间宿主进行分析和探...     

猪δ冠状病毒的研究进展

δ冠状病毒(Deltacoronavirus)是冠状病毒科冠状病毒亚科的新成员,可感染鸟类和哺乳动物。δ冠状病毒最早于2007年从亚洲豹猫和中国白鼬獾群中检测到。2014年,猪δ冠状病毒(Porcine Deltacoronavirus,PDCoV)在美国流行并成功分离到病毒,人工感染实验证实PDCoV可导致仔猪腹泻,具有较强的致病性,成为研究δ冠状病毒的良好模型。本文对PDCoV的发现、病原学、流行病学、致病性、培养与检测等方面进行综述。     

高致病性冠状病毒感染导致宿主免疫应答异常

近二十多年，全球范围内先后爆发了由严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒（severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus，SARS-CoV）、中东呼吸综合征冠状病毒（middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus，MERS-CoV）和严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2，SARS-CoV-2）3种高致病性冠状病毒导致的疫情。这3种高致病性冠状病毒感染通常伴随着免疫系统功能失调，临床表现有淋巴细胞减少症、细胞因子风暴、急性呼吸系统窘迫综合征，甚至多器官衰竭而导致死亡。揭示高致病性冠状病毒在免疫应答中的作用机制，对于预防与控制冠状病毒感染具有重要意义。本文总结了SARS-CoV、MRES-CoV和SARS-CoV-2的进入机制和受体特征、固有免疫应答和适应性免疫应答失调方面的研究进展，强调了高致病性冠状病毒与宿主免疫应答之间的复杂相互作用，以期为防治冠状病毒感染提供参考。     

Characterization of SARS-CoV main protease and identification of biologically active small molecule inhibitors using a continuous fluorescence-based assay

Severe acute respiratory syndrome associated coronavirus main protease (SARS-CoV Mpro) has been proposed as a prime target for anti-SARS drug development. We have cloned and overexpressed the SARS-CoV Mpro in Escherichia coli, and purified the recombinant Mpro to homogeneity. The kinetic parameters of the recombinant SARS-CoV Mpro were characterized by high performance liquid chromatography-based assay and continuous fluorescence-based assay. Two novel small molecule inhibitors of the SARS-CoV Mpro were identified by high-throughput screening using an internally quenched fluorogenic substrate. The identified inhibitors have Ki values at low microM range with comparable anti-SARS-CoV activity in cell-based assays.     

Silencing SARS-CoV Spike protein expression in cultured cells by RNA interference

The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has been one of the most epidemic diseases threatening human health all over the world. Based on clinical studies, SARS-CoV (the SARS-associated coronavirus), a novel coronavirus, is reported as the pathogen responsible for the disease. To date, no effective and specific therapeutic method can be used to treat patients suffering from SARS-CoV infection. RNA interference (RNAi) is a process by which the introduced small interfering RNA (siRNA) could cause the degradation of mRNA with identical sequence specificity. The RNAi methodology has been used as a tool to silence genes in cultured cells and in animals. Recently, this technique was employed in anti-virus infections in human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C/B virus. In this study, RNAi technology has been applied to explore the possibility for prevention of SARS-CoV infection. We constructed specific siRNAs targeting the S gene in SARS-CoV. We demonstrated that the siRNAs could effectively and specifically inhibit gene expression of Spike protein in SARS-CoV-infected cells. Our study provided evidence that RNAi could be a tool for inhibition of SARS-CoV.     

SARS相关冠状病毒及其基因组

正在全球部分地区流行的严重急性呼吸综合征(SARS),由于其传染性强、危害性大而引起了广泛关注。各国实验室密切协作,在数月时间内分离出了SARS冠状病毒(SARSCoV),测定了病毒基因组序列,并在猴体内初步再现出SARSCoV所致肺部疾病与人相似,这些工作为遏制SARS的蔓延发挥了重要作用。现就SARSCoV的鉴定、基因组及其产物的结构与功能做一综述。     

Interferon alfacon 1 inhibits SARS-CoV infection in human bronchial epithelial Calu-3 cells

The primary targets for SARS-CoV infection are the epithelial cells in the respiratory and intestinal tract. The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) has been identified as a functional receptor for SARS-CoV. ACE-2 has been shown to be expressed at the apical domain of polarized Calu-3 cells. In this report, interferon alfacon 1 was examined for inhibitory activities against SARS-CoV on human lung carcinoma epithelial Calu-3 cell line and the other three African green monkey kidney epithelial cell lines. Interferon alfacon 1 demonstrated significant antiviral activity in neutral red uptake assay and virus yield reduction assay. The data might provide an important insight into the mechanism of pathogenesis of SARS-CoV allowing further development of antiviral therapies for treating SARS infections.     

Susceptibility to SARS coronavirus S protein-driven infection correlates with expression of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 and infection can be blocked by soluble receptor

The angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) has been identified as a receptor for the severe acute respiratory syndrome associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Here we show that ACE2 expression on cell lines correlates with susceptibility to SARS-CoV S-driven infection, suggesting that ACE2 is a major receptor for SARS-CoV. The soluble ectodomain of ACE2 specifically abrogated S-mediated infection and might therefore be exploited for the generation of inhibitors. Deletion of a major portion of the cytoplasmic domain of ACE2 had no effect on S-driven infection, indicating that this domain is not important for receptor function. Our results point to a central role of ACE2 in SARS-CoV infection and suggest a minor contribution of the cytoplasmic domain to receptor function.     

Mitochondrial location of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 3b protein

Severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV), a distant member of the Group 2 coronaviruses, has recently been identified as the etiological agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The genome of SARS-CoV contains four structural genes that are homologous to genes found in other coronaviruses, as well as six subgroup-specific open reading frames (ORFs). ORF3 encodes a predicted 154-amino-acid protein that lacks similarity to any known protein, and is designated 3b in this article. We reported previously that SARS-CoV 3b is predominantly localized in the nucleolus, and induces G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis in transfected cells. In this study, we show that SARS-CoV 3b fused with EGFP at its N- or C- terminus co-localized with a mitochondria-specific marker in some transfected cells. Mutation analysis of SARS-CoV 3b revealed that the domain spanning amino acids 80 to 138 was essential for its mitochondria localization. These results provide new directions for studies of the role of SARS-CoV 3b protein in SARS pathogenesis.     

Cleavage of spike protein of SARS coronavirus by protease factor Xa is associated with viral infectivity

The spike (S) protein of SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) has been known to recognize and bind to host receptors, whose conformational changes then facilitate fusion between the viral envelope and host cell membrane, leading to viral entry into target cells. However, other functions of SARS-CoV S protein such as proteolytic cleavage and its implications to viral infection are incompletely understood. In this study, we demonstrated that the infection of SARS-CoV and a pseudovirus bearing the S protein of SARS-CoV was inhibited by a protease inhibitor Ben-HCl. Also, the protease Factor Xa, a target of Ben-HCl abundantly expressed in infected cells, was able to cleave the recombinant and pseudoviral S protein into S1 and S2 subunits, and the cleavage was inhibited by Ben-HCl. Furthermore, this cleavage correlated with the infectivity of the pseudovirus. Taken together, our study suggests a plausible mechanism by which SARS-CoV cleaves its S protein to facilitate viral infection.     

Surface ultrastructure of SARS coronavirus revealed by atomic force microscopy

Atomic force microscopy has been used to probe the surface nanostructures of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Single crown-like virion was directly visualized and quantitative measurements of the dimensions for the structural proteins were provided. A corona of large, distinctive spikes in the envelope was measured after treatment with hydroxyoctanoic acid. High-resolution images revealed that the surface of each single SARS-CoV was surrounded with at least 15 spherical spikes having a diameter of 7.29 +/- 0.73 nm, which is in close agreement with that of S glycoproteins earlier predicted through the genomes of SARS-CoV. This study represents the first direct characterization of the surface ultrastructures of SARS-CoV particles at the nanometre scale and offers new prospects for mapping viral surface properties.     

On the mechanisms of bananin activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus

In a previous study, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) was cultured in the presence of bananin, an effective adamantane-related molecule with antiviral activity. In the present study, we show that all bananin-resistant variants exhibit mutations in helicase and membrane protein, although no evidence of bananin interference on their mutual interaction has been found. A structural analysis on protein sequence mutations found in SARS-CoV bananin-resistant variants was performed. The S259/L mutation of SARS-CoV helicase is always found in all the identified bananin-resistant variants, suggesting a primary role of this mutation site for bananin activity. From a structural analysis of SARS-CoV predicted helicase structure, S259 is found in a hydrophilic surface pocket, far from the enzyme active sites and outside the helicase dimer interface. The S/L substitution causes a pocket volume reduction that weakens the interaction between bananin and SARS-CoV mutated helicase, suggesting a possible mechanism for bananin antiviral activity.