一种含不同流感病毒血凝素抗原表位的核酸疫苗

流感病毒表面抗原血凝素( hemagglutinin,HA)是流感核酸疫苗重要的靶抗原,针对HA的保护性中和抗体主要由HA上的五个抗原表位诱导产生.在本文中,我们构建了一种以新甲型H1N1流感病毒HA1为骨架的含2个A/PR/8( H1N1)流感病毒HA抗原表位和3个新甲型H1N1流感病毒HA抗原表位的核酸疫苗,并在B...     

基于血凝素(HA)的新型流感疫苗研究进展

新型广谱流感疫苗是预防和控制不断变异的流感病毒的重要手段。血凝素(HA)是流感病毒表面的糖蛋白,具有免疫原性,但其变异性强,是A型流感病毒发生抗原变异的主要原因。近年来研究发现,HA存在保守的恒定区,可诱导机体产生流感病毒特异性广谱中和抗体,拮抗多种流感病毒的感染。因此,如何采取不同策略和方法,研发基于HA的新型疫苗成为流感防治研究的重点。就基于HA的新型流感疫苗研究进展作一综述。     

2009年中国流行的甲型流感病毒（H1N1）血凝素特征分析

目的研究甲型流感病毒（H1N1）暴发流行以来中国各地甲型流感病毒血凝素（HA）的特征。方法搜索甲型流感病毒（H1N1）暴发流行以来中国各地报道的血凝素（HA）的氨基酸序列,比较当年不同时期血凝素（HA）的氨基酸序列的变化,并比较2009年报道的血凝素（HA）的氨基酸序列和2008年、2007年报道的血凝素（HA）的氨基酸序列作比较,以分析和前2年血凝素（HA）氨基酸序列相比所发生的变化。结果2009年中国各地甲型流感病毒（H1N1）的血凝素（HA）的氨基酸序列（人源）的同源性为99%-100%,但和2008年以及2007年的同源性非常低,分别为70%-77%和71%-90%。结论2009年暴发流行的甲型流感病毒（H1N1）的血凝素氨基酸序列较往年发生了很大程度的变异,这可能是今年甲型流感病毒（H1N1）暴发流行的主要原因。     

IL-12增强流感血凝素DNA疫苗在小鼠中抗流感作用

流感病毒的表面抗原血凝素 (hemagglutinin ,HA)能作为DNA疫苗抗流感病毒攻击 ,在小鼠模型中检测白介素 12 (interleukin 12 ,IL 12 )能否作为HADNA疫苗佐剂增强小鼠抗流感病毒攻击。将IL 12和HA共同免疫小鼠 ,免疫 2次 ,间隔 3周 ,加强免疫后用致死量流感病毒攻击。共同免疫IL 12和HADNA与单独免疫HA相比 ,无论初免还是加强免疫后血清中抗HA的IgG抗体显著提高 ,小鼠体重丢失 (一种临床症状 )明显减少且提高了小鼠的存活率。这些结果表明了IL 12能作为一种佐剂提高流感DNA疫苗的免疫效价。     

基于流感病毒HA柄部和M2e融合基因的DNA疫苗

由于流感病毒容易突变,流感通用疫苗的研究势在必行.流感病毒血凝素(HA)柄部和基质蛋白2的胞外域(M2e)都是流感病毒通用疫苗的重要候选靶点.通过重叠PCR的方法用A/PR/8/34(H1N1)(简称PR8)流感病毒的M2e或者4个甘氨酸取代HA的头部,分别获得HAM2e和HA4G,然后将两种重组基因插入真核表达载体pCAGGS-P7中,制得pHAM2e和pHA4G两种DNA疫苗.通过电击免疫的方法对小鼠分别免疫pHAM2e和pHA4G,免疫3次,每次免疫间隔2周.第3次免疫2周后用5LD50的同源流感病毒感染小鼠.结果表明HAM2e组和HA4G组的小鼠均产生了特异性抗体,HAM2e组比HA4G组具有更好的抗PR8流感病毒的能力,这提示可以用M2e替换HA头部用于疫苗研发.     

流感病毒NP表位序列增强H7N9 HA DNA疫苗免疫效果研究

为增强H7N9流感病毒HA DNA疫苗的免疫效果,本文构建了含有流感病毒NP的5个重复优势T表位或B表位(包括B_1线性表位和B_2构象表位)的表达质粒(简称NPT和NPB),以小鼠为动物模型,将NPT和NPB分别与H7N9流感病毒HA DNA混合免疫BALB/c小鼠1次,21 d后用致死剂量(20 LD_(50))的H7N9流感病毒攻击小鼠。通过检测免疫后小鼠血清特异性抗体滴度和攻毒后的免疫保护性指标-存活率、肺部残余病毒滴度及体重丢失率,评价表位质粒与HA DNA疫苗混合免疫对小鼠的保护效果。试验结果表明:用致死性H7N9流感病毒攻击小鼠后,HA DNA组小鼠全部死亡,HA+NPT免疫组小鼠存活率达到100%,HA+NPB1和HA+NPB2免疫组,小鼠存活率分别为30%和75%;混合免疫HA+NPT后小鼠抗体滴度升高明显,攻毒后小鼠体重丢失明显降低。综上表明,含有5个NP优势T表位或B表位的表达质粒能增强H7N9流感病毒HA DNA疫苗的免疫效果,混合免疫一次可以使小鼠得到较好的保护。HA DNA和表位疫苗的混合免疫,节约了疫苗用量,降低了免疫成本,为流感病毒核酸疫苗的临床开发提供了一定的试验基础。     

重组虎源H5N1流感病毒HA基因犬2型腺病毒的构建与实验免疫研究

H5N1流感病毒可以对虎和猫产生致死性感染,为研制可用于预防猫科动物流感的新型疫苗,构建了重组虎源H5N1流感病毒HA基因的犬2型腺病毒。将A/Tiger/Harbin/01/2003(H5N1)的HA基因克隆入pVAX1载体中,然后将含有HA基因的表达盒(CMV HA PolyA)克隆入pVAXΔE3的SSPⅠ酶切缺失处,获得含有HA表达盒的穿梭载体pΔEHA。用SalⅠ NruⅠ分别对pΔEHA和pPoly-2-CAV2进行双酶切,将含有HA表达盒的SalⅠ NruⅠ片段克隆入pPoly2-CAV2,获得了在E3区缺失处插入HA表达盒的重组质粒pCAV-2/HA。释放CAV-2/HA重组基因组转染MDCK细胞,获得了重组活病毒CAV2/HA,经Western blot分析表明重组表达产物可被流感病毒HA单克隆抗体3A13所识别。使用该重组病毒免疫猫可以产生效价为1∶8~1∶16的抗H5亚型流感病毒血凝抑制抗体。     

编码流感病毒血凝素基因和CD40L的核酸疫苗抗小鼠流感研究

为了检测表达CD40L的质粒能否作为核酸疫苗佐剂提高A/PR8/34流感病毒血凝素(HA)DNA疫苗的免疫应答,构建了表达鼠CD40L的质粒,并将它与A型流感病毒的 HA DNA疫苗用电击的方法共同免疫BALB/C小鼠(各30μg),免疫两次,间隔三周,第二次免疫后1周,用致死量流感病毒A/PR8/34攻击.发现与单独免疫30μg HA相比,血清中抗HA的IgG抗体量明显提高,且以IgG2a抗体提高为主,小鼠体重减轻非常少且体重恢复加快.实验结果显示,CD40L能作为流感病毒核酸疫苗佐剂,提高小鼠抗流感病毒攻击的能力.     

1996-2004年中国福建省甲3亚型流感病毒（H3N2）的分子进化

对1996～2004年甲3亚型流感病毒的HA1基因在中国南方福建省的变异特点与流行特征进行研究．对25株（其中11株基因序列来自GenBank）甲3亚型流感病毒HA1基因进行种系发生学分析．研究表明在约8个流感流行季节中,HA1基因在不断进行着点突变,期间可能发生了4次抗原性漂移．氨基酸突变的位点主要位于HA1分子抗原决定簇A～E内及附近和某些受体结合位点．其中,抗原位点B,A和受体结合位点226位的突变对于抗原漂移至关重要,但随着流感病毒的进化,抗原位点和与抗原漂移有关的关键密码子也会发生改变．因此,在亚洲南部监测甲3亚型流感病毒HA1基因阳性选择密码子的突变是很重要的．     

禽流感病毒毒力与生态学选择

禽流感（Avian Influenza,AI;也有俗称为Bird Flu）是禽流行性感冒的简称,是由甲型流感病毒引起的一种禽类（家禽和野禽）的感染和（或）疾病综合征^[1]。甲型流感病毒具有16个血凝素亚型（Subtype）,分别为HA1～16;9个神经氨酸酶亚型,分别为NA1-9。与其他动物来源的流感病毒不同的是,从禽（鸟）来源的甲型流感病毒含有所有不同的HA与NA亚型,因此被认为禽（鸟）是甲型流感病毒的储存基因库。HA亚型与NA亚型的组合构成了甲型流感病毒的亚型联合（HANA）,即为血清型^[2]。     

Analysis of Herba Asari polysaccharides and their immunological activity

A water-soluble polysaccharide (HA) was extracted from the Herba Asari root. HA was separated into a starch-like glucan fraction (HA1) and a pectin fraction (HA2) using DEAE-cellulose. HA2 was further fractionated into three pectic polysaccharides, HA2-a, HA2-b and HA2-c, using ion-exchange chromatography. NMR and sugar composition analyses demonstrated that HA2-a is an arabinogalactan (AG) and HA2-b and HA2-c are xylogalacturonans (XGA) with AG domains. Lymphocyte proliferation assays showed that both the neutral polysaccharide and acidic polysaccharide were potent B and T cell stimulators that may have two different modes of action.     

Importance of hyaluronan length in a hyaladherin-based assay for hyaluronan

Specific hyaladherin-based assays have been set up to measure the concentration of hyaluronan in biological fluids. Hyaluronectin (HN; a hyaladherin extracted from ovine brain) binds to hyaluronan (HA) that must be 10 units (HA10) or more long. It was therefore of interest to determine whether HN would continue to bind to HA10 in full-length HA since conformational changes might mask potential binding sites. We used the enzyme-linked sorbent assay (ELSA) to assay HA and hyaluronan-derived oligosaccharides, with different standard HAs, and the results were compared to results obtained with the carbazole technique. Oligosaccharide length was calculated from the ratio glucuronic acid/reducing N-acetylglucosamine in fractions of hyaluronidase-digested macromolecular hyaluronan prepared by chromatography; the size of the HA12 oligosaccharide was confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry. During the digestion of macromolecular HA with hyaluronidase, the binding of HN to HA first increased and then decreased as shown using the ELSA. The concentration of HA fragments of HA60 and below was overestimated when intact macromolecular HA was used as the reference for the ELSA, while the concentration of HA100 and above was underestimated when HA10 was used as the reference. The binding of HN to HA20, HA40, and HA60 saccharides was consistent with binding to multiples of HA10 sites. In conclusion, the level of HN binding is determined by the conformation of HA, which may mask binding sites. Hence, calibration HA used in the ELSA must be adapted to the size of HA to assay.     

Signal processing, glycosylation, and secretion of mutant hemagglutinins of a human influenza virus by Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We investigated the nature of signal recognition, transport, and secretion of mutant hemagglutinins (HAs) of a human influenza virus by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The cDNA sequences encoding variant forms of influenza HA were expressed in S. cerevisiae. The HA polypeptides (HA500 and HA325) that were synthesized with their N-terminal signal peptides were correctly targeted to the membrane compartment where they were glycosylated. In contrast, the HA polypeptides (HA484 and HA308) lacking the signal peptide were expressed in the cytoplasm and did not undergo any glycosidic modification, demonstrating the importance of the heterologous signal sequence in the early steps of translocation in S. cerevisiae. The analysis of the N-terminal amino acid sequence of HA500 and HA325 polypeptides demonstrated the correct cleavage of the signal peptide, indicating the structural compatibility of a heterologous signal peptide for efficient recognition and processing by the yeast translocation machinery. The membrane-sequestered and glycosylated HA polypeptides were relatively stable in S. cerevisiae compared with the signal-minus, nonglycosylated HA molecules. Although both the anchor-minus HA (HA500) and HA1 (HA325) polypeptides were targeted efficiently to the membrane, their glycosylation and transport patterns were shown to be different. During pulse-chase, the HA500 remained cell-associated with no detectable secretion into the extracellular medium, whereas the HA325 secreted into the medium. Furthermore, only the cell-associated and secreted forms of HA325 and not HA500 appeared to have undergone hyperglycosylation with the extensive addition of high-molecular-weight outer-chain mannans. Possible reasons for the observed phenotypic behavior of these two mutant HAs are discussed.     

Recognition of influenza virus hemagglutinin by subtype-specific and cross-reactive proliferative T cells: contribution of HA1 and HA2 polypeptide chains

The recognition of influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) by T lymphocytes was examined by assaying the T cell proliferative response of influenza virus-primed T cells to purified HA of different influenza A subtypes or to isolated heavy (HA1) or light (HA2) polypeptide chains of the HA molecule. The proliferative response to HA was dependent on the activation of an Ly-1+2- subset of T cells and required the presence of nylon wool-adherent, radiation-resistant accessory cells. T cells from mice primed by infection with one strain of type A influenza virus cross-reacted with other purified HA not only of the same subtype as the priming virus but also of serologically distinct subtypes of influenza A (but not B) virus. The response of virus-primed T cells to the homologous HA or to HA of the same subtype was shown to involve recognition of determinants on both the HA1 and the HA2 chains. The recognition of HA of different subtype by cross-reactive T cells appeared to be directed predominantly to determinants on HA2. Because the antibody response to influenza virus HA is not cross-reactive between subtypes and is directed predominantly to determinants on HA1, the present results indicate that at least some of the determinants on HA recognized by T cells are different from those recognized by B cells and that the HA2 chain may be involved primarily in stimulation of T cell rather than B cell immunity.     

Crystal Structure of Clostridium botulinum Whole Hemagglutinin Reveals a Huge Triskelion-shaped Molecular Complex

Clostridium botulinum HA is a component of the large botulinum neurotoxin complex and is critical for its oral toxicity. HA plays multiple roles in toxin penetration in the gastrointestinal tract, including protection from the digestive environment, binding to the intestinal mucosal surface, and disruption of the epithelial barrier. At least two properties of HA contribute to these roles: the sugar-binding activity and the barrier-disrupting activity that depends on E-cadherin binding of HA. HA consists of three different proteins, HA1, HA2, and HA3, whose structures have been partially solved and are made up mainly of β-strands. Here, we demonstrate structural and functional reconstitution of whole HA and present the complete structure of HA of serotype B determined by x-ray crystallography at 3.5 Å resolution. This structure reveals whole HA to be a huge triskelion-shaped molecule. Our results suggest that whole HA is functionally and structurally separable into two parts: HA1, involved in recognition of cell-surface carbohydrates, and HA2-HA3, involved in paracellular barrier disruption by E-cadherin binding.     

The final conformation of the complete ectodomain of the HA2 subunit of influenza hemagglutinin can by itself drive low pH-dependent fusion

One of the best characterized fusion proteins, the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA), mediates fusion between the viral envelope and the endosomal membrane during viral entry into the cell. In the initial conformation of HA, its fusogenic subunit, the transmembrane protein HA2, is locked in a metastable conformation by the receptor-binding HA1 subunit of HA. Acidification in the endosome triggers HA2 refolding toward the final lowest energy conformation. Is the fusion process driven by this final conformation or, as often suggested, by the energy released by protein restructuring? Here we explored structural properties as well as the fusogenic activity of the full sized trimeric HA2(1–185) (here called HA2*) that presents the final conformation of the HA2 ectodomain. We found HA2* to mediate fusion between lipid bilayers and between biological membranes in a low pH-dependent manner. Two mutations known to inhibit HA-mediated fusion strongly inhibited the fusogenic activity of HA2*. At surface densities similar to those of HA in the influenza virus particle, HA2* formed small fusion pores but did not expand them. Our results confirm that the HA1 subunit responsible for receptor binding as well as the transmembrane and cytosolic domains of HA2 is not required for fusion pore opening and substantiate the hypothesis that the final form of HA2 is more important for fusion than the conformational change that generates this form.     

Osteoclastogenic differentiation of human precursor cells over micro- and nanostructured hydroxyapatite topography

BackgroundSurface topography is a key parameter in bone cells–biomaterials interactions. This study analyzed the behavior of human osteoclast precursor cells cultured over three hydroxyapatite (HA) surfaces ranging from a micro- to nanoscale topography.MethodsHA surfaces were prepared with microsized HA particles, at 1300 °C (HA1), and with nanosized HA particles at 1000 °C (HA2) and 830 °C (HA3). Human osteoclast precursors were cultured in the absence or presence of M-SCF and RANKL.ResultsHA surfaces had similar chemical composition, however, HA1 and HA3 presented typical micro- and nanostructured topographies, respectively, and HA2 profile was between those of HA1 and HA3. The decrease on the average grain diameter to the nanoscale range (HA3) was accompanied by an increase in surface area, porosity and hydrophilicity and a decrease in roughness. Compared to HA1 surface, HA3 allowed a lower osteoclastic adhesion, differentiation and function. Differences in the cell response appeared to be associated with the modulation of relevant intracellular signaling pathways.ConclusionsThe decrease in HA grain size to a biomimetic nanoscale range, appears less attractive to osteoclastic differentiation and function, compared to the HA microsized topography.General significanceThis observation emphasizes the role of surface topography in designing advanced biomaterials for tailored bone cells response in regenerative strategies.     

ph-Dependent hydrophobicity profile of hemagglutinin of influenza virus and its possible relevance in virus fusion

The hydropathy profile of hemagglutinin (HA) subunits HA1 and HA2 of influenza virus X31 and A/PR 8/34 is analyzed at different pH. At neutral pH (7.4) pronounced hydrophobic sequences of HA correspond to the N-terminus and the transmembrane spanning sequence of HA2. At pH 5.0 where influenza virus is known to fuse with biological membranes several hydrophobic sequences in the ectodomain exist which are comparable in both the hydrophobicity and length of the N-terminus of HA2. It is suggested that these hydrophobic stretches are important for the fusion complex, in addition to the N-terminal site of HA2.Abbreviations HA hemagglutinin - NHA2 N-terminus of HA2     

Delay of influenza hemagglutinin refolding into a fusion-competent conformation by receptor binding: a hypothesis

Two subunits of influenza hemagglutinin (HA), HA1 and HA2, represent one of the best-characterized membrane fusion machines. While a low pH conformation of HA2 mediates the actual fusion, HA1 establishes a specific connection between the viral and cell membranes via binding to the sialic acid-containing receptors. Here we propose that HA1 may also be involved in modulating the kinetics of HA refolding. We hypothesized that binding of the HA1 subunit to its receptor restricts the major refolding of the low pH-activated HA to a fusion-competent conformation and, in the absence of fusion, to an HA-inactivated state. Dissociation of the HA1-receptor connection was considered to be a slow kinetic step. To verify this hypothesis, we first analyzed a simple kinetic scheme accounting for the stages of dissociation of the HA1/receptor bonds, inactivation and fusion, and formulated experimentally testable predictions. Second, we verified these predictions by measuring the extent of fusion between HA-expressing cells and red blood cells. Three experimental approaches based on 1) the temporal inhibition of fusion by lysophosphatidylcholine, 2) rapid dissociation of the HA1-receptor connections by neuraminidase treatment, and 3) substitution of membrane-anchored receptors by a water-soluble sialyllactose all provided support for the proposed role of the release of HA1-receptor connections. Possible biological implications of this stage in HA refolding and membrane fusion are being discussed.     

Direct visualization of avian influenza H5N1 hemagglutinin precursor and its conformational change by high-speed atomic force microscopy

BackgroundHemagglutinin (HA) of influenza A is one of the key virulence factors that mediates the release of viral components in host cells. HA is initially synthesized as a trimeric precursor (HA0) and then it is cleaved by proteases to become a functional HA. Low pH induces irreversible conformational changes in both HA0 and HA but only HA is fusion compatible. Here, we used high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) to record conformational changes in HA0 trimers (H5N1) from neutral to acidic conditions at a millisecond scale.MethodsPurified HA0 protein was diluted with either neutral Tris-HCl (pH 7.4) or acetic acid-titrated Tris-HCl (pH 5.0) and then loaded onto bare mica. Neutral or acidic Tris-HCl was used as the scanning buffer. HS-AFM movies were recorded and processed using Image J software.ResultsThe conformation of HA0_neutral visualized using HS-AFM was comparable to the HA trimer structures depicted in the PDB data and the AFM simulator. HA0 underwent rapid conformational changes under low pH condition. The circularity and area of HA0_acid were significantly higher than in HA0_neutral. In contrast, the height of HA0_acid was significantly lower than in HA0_neutral.ConclusionsWe have captured real-time images of the native HA0 trimer structure under physiological conditions using HS-AFM. By analyzing the images, we confirm that HA0 trimer is sensitive to acidic conditions.General significanceThe dynamic nature of the HA structure, particularly in the host endosome, is essential for H5N1 infectivity. Understanding this acidic behavior is imperative for designing therapeutic strategies against H5N1. This article reports a sophisticated new tool for studying the spatiotemporal dynamics of the HA precursor protein.