Molecular characterization of nonstructural protein NS38 of grass carp reovirus

Viral nonstructural proteins in both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses play important roles in viral replication. Protein NS38 of Grass carp reovirus (GCRV), has been deduced to be a non-structural protein, and, consistent with other reoviruses, is considered to cooperate with the NS80 protein in viral particle assembly. To investigate the molecular basis of the role of NS38, a complete protein was expressed in E.coli for the first time. It was found that there is a better expression of NS38 induced with IPTG at 28 ℃ rather than 37 ℃. In addition, the antiserum of NS38 prepared with purified fusion protein and injected into rabbit could be used for detecting NS38 protein expression in GCRV infected cell lysate, while there is not any reaction crossed with purified virus particle, confirming NS38 is not a component of the viral structural protein. The result reported in this study will provide evidence for further viral protein-protein and protein-RNA interaction in dsRNA viruses replication.     

Molecular Characterization of Nonstructural Protein NS38 of Grass Carp Reovirus

Viral nonstructural proteins in both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses play important roles in viral replication. Protein NS38 of Grass carp reovirus (GCRV), has been deduced to be a non-structural protein, and, consistent with other reoviruses, is considered to cooperate with the NS80 protein in viral particle assembly. To investigate the molecular basis of the role of NS38, a complete protein was expressed in E.coli for the first time. It was found that there is a better expression of NS38 induced with ...     

Down-regulation of heme oxygenase-1 by SVCV infection

Heme oxygenase (HO-1) is a cytoprotective enzyme that plays a critical role in defending the body against oxidant-induced injury during inflammatory processes. In mammalian systems, viral infection or antigen expression can down-regulate the expression of HO-1. In turn, the induction of HO-1 or overexpression of HO-1 results in potent and direct antiviral activity that targets the replication of several mammalian viruses. In this study, the HO-1 gene of Cyprinus carpio was cloned, and the expression profile of HO-1 was investigated during spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV) infection. The results demonstrate that the expression of HO-1 was down-regulated during SVCV infection in the EPC cells and in common carp. These results indicated that SVCV infection could induce host oxidative stress, which may contribute to tissue injury in affect fish.     

Expression and identification of inclusion forming-related domain of NS80 nonstructural protein of grass carp reovirus

Grass carp reovirus (GCRV), a double stranded RNA virus that infects aquatic animals, often with disastrous effects, belongs to the genus Aquareovirus and family Reoviridea. Similar to other reoviruses, genome replication of GCRV in infected cells occurs in cytoplasmic inclusion bodies, also called viral factories. Sequences analysis revealed the nonstructural protein NS80, encoded by GCRV segment 4, has a high similarity with uNS in MRV(Mammalian orthoreoviruses), which may be associated with viral factory formation. To understand the function of the uNS80 protein in virus replication, the initial expression and identification of the immunogenicity of the GCRV NS80 protein inclusion forming-related region (335.742) was investigated in this study. It is shown that the over-expressed fusion protein was produced by inducing with IPTG at 28oC. In addition, serum specific rabbit antibody was obtained by using super purified recombinant NS80(335.742) protein as antigen. Moreover, the expressed protein was able to bind to anti-his-tag monoclonal antibody (mouse) and NS80(335-742) specific rabbit antibody. Further western blot analysis indicates that the antiserum could detect NS80 or NS80C protein expression in GCRV infected cells. This data provides a foundation for further investigation of the role of NS80 in viral inclusion formation and virion assembly.     

利用噬菌体展示技术淘选草鱼呼肠孤病毒的单链抗体

草鱼呼肠孤病毒（GCRV）是引起我国大面积草鱼幼鱼出血病暴发的主要病原,其外衣壳蛋白VP5和VP7在病毒入侵宿主细胞过程中起着至关重要的作用。研究以原核表达的VP7、全长VP5、VP5的N端片段及C端片段为靶蛋白,利用已构建的噬菌体展示单链抗体文库进行淘选。经过3轮淘选后,共获得7个针对VP7、VP5、VP5N和VP5C的单链抗体。经过验证,识别原核表达的VP7的两个单链抗体能够成功识别天然GCRV病毒。此结果对于进一步研究GCRV与宿主细胞的相互作用机理奠定了基础。       

N-Terminal Myristoylated VP5 is Required for Penetrating Cell Membrane and Promoting Infectivity in Aquareoviruses

正Dear Editor,Myristoylation is a naturally occurring post-translational modification for targeting cytoplasmic proteins to intracellular membranes.Unlike enveloped animal viruses,which enter host cells by membrane fusion,nonenveloped animal viruses must disrupt the cell membrane to initiate infection.Some animal viruses and several nonenveloped viruses such     

Expression of outer capsid protein VP5 of grass carp reovirus in <Emphasis Type="Italic">E.coli</Emphasis> and analysis of its immunogenicity

Grass carp reovirus (GCRV) is a tentative member of the Aquareovirus genus in the family Reoviridae. The mature virion comprises 11 dsRNA genomes enclosed by two concentric icosahedral proteins shells that is comprised of five core proteins and two outer capsid proteins. The genome sequence and 3D structure demonstrate there is a higher level of sequence homology in structural proteins between GCRV and mammalian orthoreoviruses (MRV) compared to other members of the family. To understand the pathogenesis of GCRV infection, the outer capsid protein VP5, a homology of the μ1 protein of MRV, was expressed in E.coli. It was found that the recombinant VP5 was highly expressed, and the expressed His-tag fusion protein was involved in the formation of the inclusion body. Additionally, specific anti-VP5 serum was prepared from purified protein and western blot demonstrated that the expressed protein was able to bind immunologically to rabbit anti GCRV particle serum and the immunogenicity was determined by ELISA assay. Additional experiments in investigating the functional properties of VP5 will further elucidate the role of the GCRV outer capsid protein VP5 during entry into host cells, and its interaction among viral proteins and host cells during the infection process.     

两株水生呼肠孤病毒部分特性的比较

水生呼肠孤病毒为感染水生动物的一类病原体,隶属于呼肠孤病毒科新建水生呼肠孤病毒属。草鱼呼肠孤病毒(Grass carp reovirus,GCRV)是引起中国南方淡水养殖草鱼暴发性出血病病原,鲅鱼呼肠孤病毒(Threadfin reovirus,TFV)是引起海水养殖鲅鱼病毒病病原。本研究将GCRV与新加坡TFV分离株进行了部分特性比较研究。结果表明,GCRV与TFV均能感染CIK细胞,但对其它鱼类细胞系的敏感性有所差异。此外,凝胶电泳与逆转录聚合酶链式扩增显示,GCRV与TFV核酸属不同的基因型。在多肽特性上,证实了GCRV的5条主要结构多肽具有与。FTV及水生呼肠孤病毒相似的特性。Westem blot检测显示,草鱼呼肠孤病毒与TFV结构蛋白拥有部分相同的抗原决定簇。     

Nano-bubble hydrogen water: An effective therapeutic agent against inflammation related disease caused by viral infection in zebrafish model

Since the anti-inflammatory effect of hydrogen has been widely known, it was supposed that hydrogen could suppress tissue damage by inhibiting virus-related inflammatory reactions. However, hydrogen is slightly soluble in water, which leads to poor effect of oral hydrogen-rich water therapy. In this study, the nano-bubble hydrogen water (nano-HW) (about 0.7 ppm) was prepared and its therapeutic effect against viral infection was investigated by utilizing spring viraemia of carp virus (SVCV)-infected zebrafish as model. Three-month-old zebrafish were divided into nano-HW treatment-treated group and aquaculture water treated group (control group). The results revealed that the cumulative mortality rate of SVCV-infected zebrafish was reduced by 40% after treatment with nano-bubble hydrogen water, and qRT-PCR results showed that SVCV replication was significantly inhibited. Histopathological examination staining showed that SVCV infection caused tissue damage was greatly alleviated after treatment with nano-bubble hydrogen water. Futhermore, SVCV infection caused reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation was significantly reduced upon nano-HW treatment. The level of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-8, and TNF-α was remarkably reduced in the nano-HW-treated group in vivo and in vitro. Taken together, our data demonstrated for the first time that nano-HW could inhibit the inflammatory response caused by viral infection in zebrafish, which suggests that nano-HW can be applied to antiviral research,and provides a novel therapeutic strategy for virus-caused inflammation related disease.     

Suppression of RNA interference pathway <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> by Grass carp reovirus

The means of survival of genomic dsRNA of reoviruses from dsRNA-triggered and Dicer-initiated RNAi pathway remains to be defined.The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Grass carp reovirus...     

Endosomes and Microtubles are Required for Productive Infection in Aquareovirus

Grass carp reovirus(GCRV), the genus Aquareovirus in family Reoviridae, is viewed as the most pathogenic aquareovirus.To understand the molecular mechanism of how aquareovirus initiates productive infection, the roles of endosome and microtubule in cell entry of GCRV are investigated by using quantum dots(QDs)-tracking in combination with biochemical approaches. We found that GCRV infection and viral protein synthesis were significantly inhibited by pretreating host cells with endosome acidification inhibitors NH_4Cl, chloroquine and bafilomycin A1(Bafi). Confocal images indicated that GCRV particles could colocalize with Rab5, Rab7 and lysosomes in host cells. Further ultrastructural examination validated that viral particle was found in late endosomes. Moreover, disruption of microtubules with nocodazole clearly blocked GCRV entry, while no inhibitory effects were observed with cytochalasin D treated cells in viral infection,hinting that intracellular transportation of endocytic uptake in GCRV infected cells is via microtubules but not actin filament. Notably, viral particles were observed to transport along microtubules by using QD-labeled GCRV. Altogether,our results suggest that GCRV can use endosomes and microtubules to initiate productive infection.     

Spring viremia of carp (SVC)

Spring viremia of carp (SVC) is an important disease affecting cyprinids, mainly common carp Cyprinus carpio. The disease is widespread in European carp culture, where it causes significant morbidity and mortality. Designated a notifiable disease by the Office International des Epizooties, SVC is caused by a rhabdovirus, spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV). Affected fish show destruction of tissues in the kidney, spleen and liver, leading to hemorrhage, loss of water-salt balance and impairment of immune response. High mortality occurs at water temperatures of 10 to 17 degrees C, typically in spring. At higher temperatures, infected carp develop humoral antibodies that can neutralize the spread of virus and such carp are protected against re-infection by solid immunity. The virus is shed mostly with the feces and urine of clinically infected fish and by carriers. Waterborne transmission is believed to be the primary route of infection, but bloodsucking parasites like leeches and the carp louse may serve as mechanical vectors of SVCV. The genome of SVCV is composed of a single molecule of linear, negative-sense, single-stranded RNA containing 5 genes in the order 3'-NPMGL-5' coding for the viral nucleoprotein, phosphoprotein, matrix protein, glycoprotein, and polymerase, respectively. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the viral proteins, and sequence homologies between the genes and gene junctions of SVCV and vesicular stomatitis viruses, have led to the placement of the virus as a tentative member of the genus Vesiculovirus in the family Rhabdoviridae. These methods also revealed that SVCV is not related to fish rhabdoviruses of the genus Novirhabdovirus. In vitro replication of SVCV takes place in the cytoplasm of cultured cells of fish, bird and mammalian origin at temperatures of 4 to 31 degrees C, with an optimum of about 20 degrees C. Spring viremia of carp can be diagnosed by clinical signs, isolation of virus in cell culture and molecular methods. Antibodies directed against SVCV react with the homologous virus in serum neutralization, immunofluorescence, immunoperoxidase, or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, but they cross-react to various degrees with the pike fry rhabdovirus (PFR), suggesting the 2 viruses are closely related. However, SVCV and PFR can be distinguished by certain serological tests and molecular methods such as the ribonuclease protection assay.     

Spring viraemia of carp virus induces autophagy for necessary viral replication

Outbreaks of spring viraemia of carp virus (SVCV) in several carp species and other cultivated fish can cause significant mortality and jeopardize the billion‐dollar worldwide fish industry. Spring viraemia of carp virus, also known as Rhabdovirus carpio, is a bullet‐shaped RNA virus that enters and amplifies in gill epithelium and later spreads to internal organs. Young fish under stressed conditions (spring cold water, etc.) are more vulnerable to SVCV‐induced lethality because of their lack of a mature immune system. Currently, the host response of SVCV remains largely unknown. Here, we observed that autophagy is activated in SVCV‐infected epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cells. We demonstrated that the SVCV glycoprotein, rather than viral replication, activates the autophagy pathway. In addition, SVCV utilized the autophagy pathway to facilitate its own genomic RNA replication and to enhance its titres in the supernatants. Autophagy promoted the survival of SVCV‐infected cells by eliminating damaged mitochondrial DNA generated during viral infection. We further showed that SVCV induces autophagy in EPC cells through the ERK/mTOR signalling pathway. Our results reveal a connection between autophagy and SVCV replication and propose autophagy suppression as a novel means to restrict SVCV viral replication.     

High level expression of grass carp reovirus VP7 protein in prokaryotic cells

Sequences analysis revealed Grass carp reovirus (GCRV) s10 was 909 nucleotides coding a 34 kDa protein denoted as VP7, which was determined to be a viral outer capsid protein (OCP). To obtain expressed OCP in vitro, a full length VP7 gene was produced by RT-PCR amplification, and the amplified fragment was cloned into T7 promoted prokaryotic expression vector pRSET. The recombinant plasmid,which was named as pR/GCRV-VP7,was then transformed into E.coli BL21 host cells. The data indicated that the expressed recombinant was in frame with the N-terminal fusion peptide. The over-expressed fusion protein was produced by inducing with IPTG, and its molecular weight was about 37kDa, which was consistent with its predicted size. In addition, the fusion protein was produced in the form of the inclusion body with their yield remaining steady at more than 60% of total bacterial protein. Moreover,the expressed protein was able to bind immunologically to anti-his-tag monoclonal antibody (mouse) and anti-GCRV serum (rabbit). This work provides a research basis for further structure and function studies of GCRV during entry into cells.     

High Level Expression of Grass Carp Reovirus VP7 Protein in Prokaryotic Cells

Sequences analysis revealed Grass carp reovirus （GCRV） s10 was 909 nucleotides coding a 34 kDa protein denoted as VP7, which was determined to be a viral outer capsid protein （OCP）. To obtain expressed OCP in vitro, a full length VP7 gene was produced by RT-PCR amplification, and the amplified fragment was cloned into T7 promoted prokaryotic expression vector pRSET. The recombinant plasmid, which was named as pR/GCRV-VP7, was then transformed into E.coli BL21 host cells. The data indicated that the expressed recombinant was in frame with the N-terminal fusion peptide. The over-expressed fusion protein was produced by inducing with IPTG, and its molecular weight was about 37kDa, which was consistent with its predicted size. In addition, the fusion protein was produced in the form of the inclusion body with their yield remaining steady at more than 60% of total bacterial protein. Moreover, the expressed protein was able to bind immunologically to anti-his-tag monoclonal antibody （mouse） and anti-GCRV serum （rabbit）. This work provides a research basis for further structure and function studies of GCRV during entry into cells     

一种新型草鱼呼肠孤病毒人工感染方法

研究从患病草鱼中新分离到一株草鱼呼肠孤病毒（Grass carp reovirus,GCRV）,对其进行了病毒纯化与电镜观察、基因组RT-PCR分型以及病毒量定量分析等,并在此基础上探索了一种新的病毒人工感染方法。取病鱼肌肉组织进行病毒纯化与电镜观察,观察到大量病毒粒子,直径在70-80 nm。病毒基因组RT-PCR扩增结果表明,该草鱼呼肠孤病毒新分离株属基因型Ⅱ型GCRV;通过绝对定量的方法,对病毒悬液的浓度进行了测定,为2.97×103 copy/μL。通过灌胃法,对3个组别的实验鱼分别感染不同浓度的病毒液,同时设置灌胃PBS的组别作为对照组。结果显示,3个实验组死亡率均在80%左右,而对照组仅出现一例死亡个体。实验组死亡个体体表发黑,腹部、鳍条基部以及鳃盖处均有明显的出血症状,为草鱼出血病的典型症状。随机选取死亡的个体进行RT-PCR检测,均能检测出Ⅱ型GCRV的条带。以上结果说明,灌胃法可以作为一种新的方法,用于草鱼的GCRV人工感染实验。     

抗草鱼出血病病毒转基因稀有鮈鲫的初步研究

研究采用草鱼H1基因启动子,以草鱼呼肠孤病毒(Grass carp reovirus,GCRV)外衣壳蛋白VP7基因为靶基因,以增强型绿色荧光蛋白(eGFP)为报告基因,构建了3个小发卡RNA(shRNA)表达载体pH1siGCRV(x)-CMVeGFP。CIK细胞感染实验表明,pH1siGCRV2-CMVeGFP具有较高的病毒抑制作用。通过显微注射将pH1siGCRV2-CMVeGFP导入稀有鮈鲫(Gobiocypris rarus)受精卵,获得转基因稀有鮈鲫P0代群体。转基因稀有鮈鲫攻毒实验显示,转基因稀有鮈鲫死亡率为30%,抗草鱼出血病能力显著提高。进一步的实时荧光定量PCR检测证实,转基因稀有鮈鲫脾脏、后肠和肝脏中GCRV的含量显著低于对照鱼,并随着时间的延续逐渐减少,转基因稀有鮈鲫体内GCRV的复制受到有效抑制。研究为抗草鱼出血病转基因鱼育种奠定重要基础。       

草鱼Noxa基因克隆及其应答GCRV入侵的表达响应

研究通过获得草鱼Noxa基因(Cinoxa)全长cDNA, 进行序列分析和进化树构建, 使用定量PCR (qPCR)的方法研究其在GCRV刺激下的表达模式。研究发现, 草鱼Noxa基因的蛋白序列与斑马鱼Noxa基因具有高度相似性。通过分析草鱼和斑马鱼的Noxa基因的蛋白三维结构(3D)模型, 研究发现两者具有高度一致的蛋白三维结构模式, 该模型与高等哺乳类中的Bcl-2家族蛋白中C端结构域同源。对Cinoxa在GCRV刺激下的表达模式的研究表明, Cinoxa在GCRV感染后中肾、脾脏和头肾中表达发生显著性变化, 攻毒后24h和120h出现显著上调表达。研究表明草鱼Noxa为斑马鱼Noxa的同源基因, 并且参与了草鱼对GCRV入侵的应答反应, 为深入研究鱼类Noxa应答病毒入侵的功能和转录调控机制奠定了基础。