减毒沙门氏菌介导的小鼠肝炎病毒S1基因DNA疫苗的免疫特性分析

根据GenBank公开序列自行设计一对引物,通过RT-PCR扩增出小鼠肝炎病毒的全长S1基因,并将其插入真核表达质粒pVAX1中,构建出重组真核表达质粒pVAX1-S1。将重组质粒转染COS-7细胞,采用间接免疫荧光检测出S1蛋白的体外表达。将重组质粒转入减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌SL7207中,构建出运送DNA疫苗的重组沙门氏菌SL7207(pVAX1-S1)。分别以5×108CFU、1×109CFU、2×109CFU剂量的重组菌口服接种6周龄BALB/c小鼠,试验结果表明,重组菌对小鼠具有良好的安全性。以1×109CFU剂量的重组菌口服免疫小鼠,抗体检测结果显示,在二免后两周和三免后两周,重组菌免疫组的血清抗体水平与SL7207(pVAX1)空载体免疫组间分别存在显著性差异(P<0.05)和极显著性差异(P<0.01)。在三免后两周重组菌免疫组出现了较高水平的肠黏膜抗体。     

稳定携带新城疫病毒DNA疫苗减毒沙门氏菌的构建及其免疫原性

采用PCR技术从重组质粒pVAX1-F中扩增出新城疫病毒JS5株的融合蛋白(F)基因,将其克隆入真核表达质粒pmcDNA3.1 中,获得重组表达质粒pmcDNA3.1-F.通过电穿孔转化法将重组质粒转入减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌SL7207,构建成功携带DNA疫苗的重组沙门氏菌SL7207(pmcDNA3.1-F).体内、体外试验结果表明,重组质粒pmcDNA3.1-F在沙门氏菌中的稳定性显著高于pcDNA3.1-F.将重组菌SL7207(pmcDNA3.1-F)和SL7207(pcDNA3.1-F)分别以1×109 CFU剂量两次口服免疫BALB/c小鼠,免疫小鼠可产生针对新城疫病毒F蛋白的血清抗体和黏膜抗体.重组菌以5×109 CFU剂量两次口服免疫4日龄SPF鸡,免疫鸡产生的针对新城疫病毒F蛋白的血清抗体和小肠黏膜抗体效价水平与空载体组之间存在显著性差异(P＜0.05).免疫保护试验结果显示,SL7207(pmcDNA3.1-F)和SL7207(pcDNA3.1-F)免疫组的免疫保护率均与空载体组之间存在显著性差异(P＜0.05),且SL7207(pmcDNA3.1-F)免疫组的保护率较SL7207(pcDNA3.1-F)免疫组提高了20.0%,说明稳定携带新城疫病毒DNA疫苗的减毒沙门氏菌具有良好的免疫原性和免疫保护性.     

稳定携带H5亚型禽流感病毒候选DNA疫苗减毒沙门氏菌的构建及其免疫原性

采用PCR技术从重组质粒pVAX1-HA扩增出禽流感病毒JSGO(H5N1)株的血凝素(HA)基因,将其克隆入真核表达质粒pmcDNA3.1 中,获得重组表达质粒pmcDNA3.1-HA。通过电穿孔转化法将重组质粒转入减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌SL7207*,构建成功携带DNA疫苗的重组沙门氏菌SL7207*(pmcDNA3.1-HA)。经体内体外试验证实,重组质粒pmcDNA3.1-HA在沙门氏菌中的稳定性显著高于pcDNA3.1-HA。将重组菌SL7207*(pmcDNA3.1-HA)和SL7207*(pcDNA3.1-HA)分别以2×109CFU剂量两次口服免疫BALB/c小鼠,免疫小鼠可产生针对禽流感病毒HA蛋白的黏膜抗体。重组菌以5×109CFU剂量两次口服免疫试验鸡,免疫鸡的小肠样品中可测到针对禽流感病毒HA蛋白的黏膜抗体,且SL7207*(pmcDNA3.1-HA)免疫组的抗体效价高于SL7207*(pcDNA3.1-HA)免疫组。免疫保护试验结果显示,SL7207*(pmcDNA3.1-HA)和SL7207*(pcDNA3.1-HA)免疫组的免疫保护率均与空载体组之间存在显著性差异(P<0.05),且SL7207*(pmcDNA3.1-HA)免疫组的保护率较SL7207*(pcDNA3.1-HA)免疫组提高了22.6%,说明稳定携带H5亚型禽流感病毒DNA疫苗的减毒沙门氏菌具有良好的免疫原性和免疫保护性。     

携带新城疫病毒DNA疫苗的鼠伤寒沙门氏菌及其安全性与免疫效力

根据GenBank中发表的新城疫病毒(NDV)融合蛋白(F)基因序列,设计一对引物,通过RTPCR扩增出鹅源新城疫病毒分离株JS5F基因,测序确认后,将其克隆入真核表达载体pVAX1,获得重组真核表达质粒pVAX1F。将pVAX1F转化减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌SL7207,构建成携带DNA疫苗的重组沙门氏菌SL7207(pVAX1F)。重组菌以不同剂量口服免疫1日龄雏鸡,结果表明,细菌对雏鸡具有良好的安全性,且不影响鸡的增重。将SL7207(pVAX1F)分别以108CFU和109CFU的剂量3次口服免疫1日龄商品代伊莎褐蛋鸡,抗体检测结果显示,在三免后1周,SL7207(pVAX1F)109CFU剂量组的血清抗体效价与空载体组之间存在显著性差异(p<0.05)。重组菌两个剂量组在首免后2周开始出现粘膜抗体,并于二免后2周和3周达到较高水平。免疫保护试验结果显示,SL7207(pVAX1F)109CFU剂量组的保护率为77.27%,与空载体组之间存在显著性差异(p<0.05)。     

以减毒沙门氏菌为载体的小鼠肝炎病毒DNA疫苗的构建及其免疫原性

目的：构建以减毒沙门氏菌为载体的小鼠肝炎病毒DNA疫苗,研究该疫苗的免疫原性。方法：以小鼠肝炎病毒S1基因的重组真核表达质粒pVAX1—S1免疫BALB／c小鼠,ELISA检测其诱导抗体产生情况;再将重组质粒pVAX1—S1电转化到减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌SL7207中,构建运送S1基因的重组减毒沙门氏菌SL7207（pVAX1—S1）,口服免疫BALB／c小鼠,间接免疫荧光试验鉴定减毒沙门氏菌运送的DNA疫苗的免疫原性。结果：与pVAX1空载体对照组相比,重组真核表达质粒pVAX1—S1免疫组二免及三免后抗体水平分别存在显著性差异（P〈0．05）和极显著性差异（P〈0．01）。减毒沙门氏菌运送的DNA疫苗SL7207（pVAX1—S1）诱导小鼠产生了特异性的血清抗体。结论：构建的重组减毒沙门氏菌SL7207（pVAX1—S1）具有良好的免疫原性,可诱导小鼠产生特异性的体液免疫应答。这为进一步研制冠状病毒新型基因疫苗奠定了基础。     

携带TGEV DNA疫苗减毒沙门氏菌的构建及安全性与免疫性分析

【目的】探讨以减毒沙门氏菌为载体,进行TGEV DNA疫苗口服免疫可行性。【方法】通过RT-PCR扩增TGEV四川株（SC-H）S基因5’端约2.1 kb的主要抗原位点片段,将其插入真核表达载体pVAX1,构建重组质粒pVAX-S,体外转染COS7细胞,间接免疫荧光检测S基因表达。通过电转化将pVAX-S转入减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌SL7207,构建SL7207（pVAX-S）重组菌,并在体外感染小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞,以RT-PCR、间接免疫荧光检测细胞内S基因的转录与表达情况。将SL7207（pVAX-S）重组菌以5×108、1×109、2×109CFU剂量口服接种BALB/c小鼠,分析其安全性,并以1×109CFU剂量的重组菌3次免疫BALB/c小鼠,通过间接ELISA检测免疫小鼠的血清IgG与肠道粘膜IgA抗体。【结果】成功构建重组质粒pVAX-S,且重组质粒能在COS7细胞中表达。重组菌SL7207（pVAX-S）感染巨噬细胞后检测到目的基因的转录、表达。小鼠口服接种不同剂量重组菌,具有良好的安全性。免疫小鼠于二免后两周可检测到针对TGEV S蛋白的特异性血清IgG与肠道粘膜IgA抗体,且三免后两周与SL7207（pVAX1）空载体免疫组间分别存在显著性差异（P<0.05）和极显著性差异（P<0.01）。【结论】携带TGEV DNA疫苗的减毒沙门氏菌小鼠试验显示了良好的免疫原性与安全性。     

减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌介导的H5亚型禽流感病毒DNA疫苗的实验免疫效果研究

将运送H5亚型禽流感病毒DNA疫苗重组减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌以1.0×1010CFU剂量口服接种1日龄SPF雏鸡,结果表明重组菌对雏鸡具有良好的安全性。将重组菌SL7207(pVAX1-HA)和X4550(asd-pVAX1-HA)以2×109CFU的剂量两次口服免疫1日龄商品代伊莎褐蛋鸡,同时,将重组菌分别与pVAX1-IFN-γ或pVAX1-IL2(200μg/只)联合免疫,通过测定小肠粘膜抗体效价,结果显示,重组菌单独免疫组和联合免疫组能激发机体产生粘膜免疫应答,且与空载体组、空白对照组以及油苗组之间存在显著性差异(P<0.05)。攻毒后,免疫保护结果显示无论是重组菌单独免疫组还是联合免疫组均与空载体组和空白对照组之间存在显著性差异(P<0.05),而重组菌单独免疫组与联合免疫组之间不存在显著性差异,说明重组菌SL7207(pVAX1-HA)和X4550(asd-pVAX1-HA)能够提供机体抵抗HPAIV H5亚型强毒攻击的良好的免疫保护作用,这为进一步筛选出基于粘膜免疫途径的新型禽流感基因工程疫苗奠定了基础。     

以减毒沙门氏菌运送的H5亚型禽流感病毒DNA疫苗的构建及其对小鼠的免疫原性

根据GenBank中已发表的H5亚型禽流感病毒HA基因序列,设计一对引物,通过RTPCR扩增鹅源H5亚型高致病力禽流感病毒HA基因,测序确认后,将其克隆入真核表达载体pVAX1和asdpVAX1得到重组表达载体pVAX1HA和asdpVAX1HA。将重组质粒转染P815细胞,经间接免疫荧光试验证实,HA基因在细胞内得到了瞬时表达。进一步将重组质粒转化减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌X4550得到两种运送DNA疫苗的重组沙门氏菌X4550（pVAX1HA）和X4550（asdpVAX1HA）,以1×109CFU/只的剂量两次口服免疫BALB/c小鼠,免疫小鼠不仅可以检测到HA特异性的血清抗体应答,而且还能抵抗稳定表达H5亚型禽流感病毒HA基因的P815肥大细胞瘤的攻击,说明该运送DNA疫苗的减毒沙门氏菌系统在体内能够成功释放所携带的质粒,并且能够刺激机体产生保护性免疫应答。     

山羊痘口服疫苗构建及其安全性、稳定性检测

目的:探索山羊痘新型疫苗.方法:将山羊痘病毒P32基因插入真核表达载体pcDNA3.1(+),转化至减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌SL7207(aroA-);重组菌以不同浓度灌暇小鼠进行安全性检测,同时进行稳定性检测.结果:重组减毒沙门氏菌质粒PCR鉴定与预期大小(986bp、1 134bp)一致,完成山羊痘口服疫苗构建;安全性试验结果表明除1010CFU剂量组小鼠呈现轻微反应外,其它组别小鼠均健康存活;体外连续培养10代菌能检测到目的基因,以109CFU剂量灌服小鼠,在第1d、第3d肠内容物和第5d脾脏中分离到重组菌.结论:成功构建了以减毒沙门氏菌为载体的山羊痘口服疫苗,且具有良好的安全性和稳定性,为山羊痘新型疫苗的进一步深入研究奠定了基础.     

稳定携带山羊痘病毒DNA疫苗减毒沙门氏菌的构建

为构建质粒稳定型山羊痘DNA疫苗,采用PCR与限制性酶切技术去除真核表达质粒pcDNA3.1(+)的氨苄抗性bla基因启动子序列,构建改良质粒pmcDNA3.1(+),然后插入山羊痘病毒P32基因,获得重组表达质粒pmcDNA3.1-P32,通过TSS法将其转化至减毒沙门氏菌中,构建成功携带山羊痘DNA疫苗的重组减毒沙门氏菌SL7207(pmcDNA3.1-P32);体内和体外试验结果表明,重组质粒pmcDNA3.1-P32在沙门氏菌中的稳定性显著高于pcDNA3.1-P32。这为下一步减毒沙门氏菌介导的山羊痘DNA免疫研究奠定了基础。     

Human HEL308 localizes to damaged replication forks and unwinds lagging strand structures

HEL308 is a superfamily II DNA helicase, conserved from archaea through to humans. HEL308 family members were originally isolated by their similarity to the Drosophila melanogaster Mus308 protein, which contributes to the repair of replication-blocking lesions such as DNA interstrand cross-links. Biochemical studies have established that human HEL308 is an ATP-dependent enzyme that unwinds DNA with a 3' to 5' polarity, but little else is know about its mechanism. Here, we show that GFP-tagged HEL308 localizes to replication forks following camptothecin treatment. Moreover, HEL308 colocalizes with two factors involved in the repair of damaged forks by homologous recombination, Rad51 and FANCD2. Purified HEL308 requires a 3' single-stranded DNA region to load and unwind duplex DNA structures. When incubated with substrates that model stalled replication forks, HEL308 preferentially unwinds the parental strands of a structure that models a fork with a nascent lagging strand, and the unwinding action of HEL308 is specifically stimulated by human replication protein A. Finally, we show that HEL308 appears to target and unwind from the junction between single-stranded to double-stranded DNA on model fork structures. Together, our results suggest that one role for HEL308 at sites of blocked replication might be to open up the parental strands to facilitate the loading of subsequent factors required for replication restart.     

Distributions of Topological States in Circular DNA

A distinctive feature of closed circular DNA molecules is their particular topological state, which cannot be altered by any conformational rearrangement short of breaking at least one strand. This topological constraint opens unique possibilities for experimental studies of the distributions of topological states created in different ways. Primarily, the equilibrium distributions of topological properties are considered in the review. It is described how such distributions can be obtained and measured experimentally, and how they can be computed. Comparison of the calculated and measured equilibrium distributions over the linking number of complementary strands, equilibrium fractions of knots and links formed by circular molecules has provided much valuable information about the properties of the double helix. Study of the steady-state fraction of knots and links created by type II DNA topoisomerases has revealed a surprising property of the enzymes: their ability to reduce these fractions considerably below the equilibrium level.     

Topoisomerase II Regulates the Maintenance of DNA Methylation

The maintenance of DNA methylation in nascent DNA is a critical event for numerous biological processes. Following DNA replication, DNMT1 is the key enzyme that strictly copies the methylation pattern from the parental strand to the nascent DNA. However, the mechanism underlying this highly specific event is not thoroughly understood. In this study, we identified topoisomerase IIα (TopoIIα) as a novel regulator of the maintenance DNA methylation. UHRF1, a protein important for global DNA methylation, interacts with TopoIIα and regulates its localization to hemimethylated DNA. TopoIIα decatenates the hemimethylated DNA following replication, which might facilitate the methylation of the nascent strand by DNMT1. Inhibiting this activity impairs DNA methylation at multiple genomic loci. We have uncovered a novel mechanism during the maintenance of DNA methylation.     

FBH1 Helicase Disrupts RAD51 Filaments in Vitro and Modulates Homologous Recombination in Mammalian Cells

Efficient repair of DNA double strand breaks and interstrand cross-links requires the homologous recombination (HR) pathway, a potentially error-free process that utilizes a homologous sequence as a repair template. A key player in HR is RAD51, the eukaryotic ortholog of bacterial RecA protein. RAD51 can polymerize on DNA to form a nucleoprotein filament that facilitates both the search for the homologous DNA sequences and the subsequent DNA strand invasion required to initiate HR. Because of its pivotal role in HR, RAD51 is subject to numerous positive and negative regulatory influences. Using a combination of molecular genetic, biochemical, and single-molecule biophysical techniques, we provide mechanistic insight into the mode of action of the FBH1 helicase as a regulator of RAD51-dependent HR in mammalian cells. We show that FBH1 binds directly to RAD51 and is able to disrupt RAD51 filaments on DNA through its ssDNA translocase function. Consistent with this, a mutant mouse embryonic stem cell line with a deletion in the FBH1 helicase domain fails to limit RAD51 chromatin association and shows hyper-recombination. Our data are consistent with FBH1 restraining RAD51 DNA binding under unperturbed growth conditions to prevent unwanted or unscheduled DNA recombination.     

Studies on human DNA polymerase epsilon and GINS complex and their role in DNA replication

In eukaryotic cells, DNA replication is carried out by the coordinated action of three DNA polymerases (Pols), Pol α, δ, and ε. In this report, we describe the reconstitution of the human four-subunit Pol ε and characterization of its catalytic properties in comparison with Pol α and Pol δ. Human Pol ε holoenzyme is a monomeric complex containing stoichiometric subunit levels of p261/Pol 2, p59, p17, and p12. We show that the Pol ε p261 N-terminal catalytic domain is solely responsible for its ability to catalyze DNA synthesis. Importantly, human Pol (hPol) ε was found more processive than hPol δ in supporting proliferating cell nuclear antigen-dependent elongation of DNA chains, which is in keeping with proposed roles for hPol ε and hPol δ in the replication of leading and lagging strands, respectively. Furthermore, GINS, a component of the replicative helicase complex that is composed of Sld5, Psf1, Psf2, and Psf3, was shown to interact weakly with all three replicative DNA Pols (α, δ, and ε) and to markedly stimulate the activities of Pol α and Pol ε. In vivo studies indicated that siRNA-targeted depletion of hPol δ and/or hPol ε reduced cell cycle progression and the rate of fork progression. Under the conditions used, we noted that depletion of Pol ε had a more pronounced inhibitory effect on cellular DNA replication than depletion of Pol δ. We suggest that reduction in the level of Pol δ may be less deleterious because of its collision-and-release role in lagging strand synthesis.     

The DDN Catalytic Motif Is Required for Metnase Functions in Non-homologous End Joining (NHEJ) Repair and Replication Restart

Metnase (or SETMAR) arose from a chimeric fusion of the Hsmar1 transposase downstream of a protein methylase in anthropoid primates. Although the Metnase transposase domain has been largely conserved, its catalytic motif (DDN) differs from the DDD motif of related transposases, which may be important for its role as a DNA repair factor and its enzymatic activities. Here, we show that substitution of DDN⁶¹⁰ with either DDD⁶¹⁰ or DDE⁶¹⁰ significantly reduced in vivo functions of Metnase in NHEJ repair and accelerated restart of replication forks. We next tested whether the DDD or DDE mutants cleave single-strand extensions and flaps in partial duplex DNA and pseudo-Tyr structures that mimic stalled replication forks. Neither substrate is cleaved by the DDD or DDE mutant, under the conditions where wild-type Metnase effectively cleaves ssDNA overhangs. We then characterized the ssDNA-binding activity of the Metnase transposase domain and found that the catalytic domain binds ssDNA but not dsDNA, whereas dsDNA binding activity resides in the helix-turn-helix DNA binding domain. Substitution of Asn-610 with either Asp or Glu within the transposase domain significantly reduces ssDNA binding activity. Collectively, our results suggest that a single mutation DDN⁶¹⁰ → DDD⁶¹⁰, which restores the ancestral catalytic site, results in loss of function in Metnase.     

Contribution of the intrinsic curvature to measured DNA persistence length

The persistence length of DNA, a, depends both on the intrinsic curvature of the double helix and on the thermal fluctuations of the angles between adjacent base-pairs. We have evaluated two contributions to the value of a by comparing measured values of a for DNA containing a generic sequence and for an "intrinsically straight" DNA. In each 10 bp segment of the intrinsically straight DNA an initial sequence of five bases is repeated in the sequence of the second five bases, so any bends in the first half of the segment are compensated by bends in the opposite direction in the second half. The value of a for the latter DNA depends, to a good approximation, on thermal fluctuations only; there is no intrinsic curvature. The values of a were obtained from measurements of the cyclization efficiency for short DNA fragments, about 200 bp in length. This method determines the persistence length of DNA with exceptional accuracy, due to the very strong dependence of the cyclization efficiency of short fragments on the value of a. We find that the values of a for the two types of DNA fragment are very close and conclude that the contribution of the intrinsic curvature to a is at least 20 times smaller than the contribution of thermal fluctuations. The relationship between this result and the angles between adjacent base-pairs, which specify the intrinsic curvature, is analyzed.     

A procedure for large-scale isolation of RNA-free plasmid and phage DNA without the use of RNase

A preparative procedure for the large-scale isolation of plasmid DNA without the use of RNAse is described. Crude plasmid DNA is prepared using a standard boiling method. High-molecular-weight RNA is removed by precipitation with LiCl, and low-molecular-weight RNA is removed by sedimentation through high-salt solution. The procedure is inexpensive, rapid, simple, and particularly suitable for processing several large-scale preparations simultaneously. A similar procedure has been developed for preparation of lambda-phage DNA.     

Formation of a stable RuvA protein double tetramer is required for efficient branch migration in vitro and for replication fork reversal in vivo

In bacteria, RuvABC is required for the resolution of Holliday junctions (HJ) made during homologous recombination. The RuvAB complex catalyzes HJ branch migration and replication fork reversal (RFR). During RFR, a stalled fork is reversed to form a HJ adjacent to a DNA double strand end, a reaction that requires RuvAB in certain Escherichia coli replication mutants. The exact structure of active RuvAB complexes remains elusive as it is still unknown whether one or two tetramers of RuvA support RuvB during branch migration and during RFR. We designed an E. coli RuvA mutant, RuvA2(KaP), specifically impaired for RuvA tetramer-tetramer interactions. As expected, the mutant protein is impaired for complex II (two tetramers) formation on HJs, although the binding efficiency of complex I (a single tetramer) is as wild type. We show that although RuvA complex II formation is required for efficient HJ branch migration in vitro, RuvA2(KaP) is fully active for homologous recombination in vivo. RuvA2(KaP) is also deficient at forming complex II on synthetic replication forks, and the binding affinity of RuvA2(KaP) for forks is decreased compared with wild type. Accordingly, RuvA2(KaP) is inefficient at processing forks in vitro and in vivo. These data indicate that RuvA2(KaP) is a separation-of-function mutant, capable of homologous recombination but impaired for RFR. RuvA2(KaP) is defective for stimulation of RuvB activity and stability of HJ·RuvA·RuvB tripartite complexes. This work demonstrates that the need for RuvA tetramer-tetramer interactions for full RuvAB activity in vitro causes specifically an RFR defect in vivo.