Dominance of a nonpathogenic glycoprotein gene over a pathogenic glycoprotein gene in rabies virus

The nonpathogenic phenotype of the live rabies virus (RV) vaccine SPBNGAN is determined by an Arg-->Glu exchange at position 333 in the glycoprotein, designated GAN. We recently showed that after several passages of SPBNGAN in mice, an Asn-->Lys mutation arose at position 194 of GAN, resulting in GAK, which was associated with a reversion to the pathogenic phenotype. Because an RV vaccine candidate containing two GAN genes (SPBNGAN-GAN) exhibits increased immunogenicity in vivo compared to the single-GAN construct, we tested whether the presence of two GAN genes might also enhance the probability of reversion to pathogenicity. Comparison of SPBNGAN-GAN with RVs constructed to contain either both GAN and GAK genes (SPBNGAN-GAK and SPBNGAK-GAN) or two GAK genes (SPBNGAK-GAK) showed that while SPBNGAK-GAK was pathogenic, SPBNGAN-GAN and SPBNGAN-GAK were completely nonpathogenic and SPBNGAK-GAN showed strongly reduced pathogenicity. Analysis of genomic RV RNA in mouse brain tissue revealed significantly lower virus loads in SPBNGAN-GAK- and SPBNGAK-GAN-infected brains than those detected in SPBNGAK-GAK-infected brains, indicating the dominance of the nonpathogenic phenotype determined by GAN over the GAK-associated pathogenic phenotype. Virus production and viral RNA synthesis were markedly higher in SPBNGAN-, SPBNGAK-GAN-, and SPBNGAN-GAK-infected neuroblastoma cells than in the SPBNGAK- and SPBNGAK-GAK-infected counterparts, suggesting control of GAN dominance at the level of viral RNA synthesis. These data point to the lower risk of reversion to pathogenicity of a recombinant RV carrying two identical GAN genes compared to that of an RV carrying only a single GAN gene.     

Mokola virus glycoprotein and chimeric proteins can replace rabies virus glycoprotein in the rescue of infectious defective rabies virus particles.

A reverse genetics approach which allows the generation of infectious defective rabies virus (RV) particles entirely from plasmid-encoded genomes and proteins (K.-K. Conzelmann and M. Schnell, J. Virol. 68:713-719, 1994) was used to investigate the ability of a heterologous lyssavirus glycoprotein (G) and chimeric G constructs to function in the formation of infectious RV-like particles. Virions containing a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene (SDI-CAT) were generated in cells simultaneously expressing the genomic RNA analog, the RV N, P, M, and L proteins, and engineered G constructs from transfected plasmids. The infectivity of particles was determined by a CAT assay after passage to helper virus-infected cells. The heterologous G protein from Eth-16 virus (Mokola virus, lyssavirus serotype 3) as well as a construct in which the ectodomain of RV G was fused to the cytoplasmic and transmembrane domains of the Eth-16 virus G rescued infectious SDI-CAT particles. In contrast, a chimeric protein composed of the amino-terminal half of the Eth-16 virus G and the carboxy-terminal half of RV G failed to produce infectious particles. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to convert the antigenic site III of RV G to the corresponding sequence of Eth-16 G. This chimeric protein rescued infectious SDI-CAT particles as efficiently as RV G. Virions containing the chimeric protein were specifically neutralized by an anti-Eth-16 virus serum and escaped neutralization by a monoclonal antibody directed against RV antigenic site III. The results show that entire structural domains as well as short surface epitopes of lyssavirus G proteins may be exchanged without affecting the structure required to mediate infection of cells.     

Biochemical determination of natural tumor-associated T-cell epitopes

The knowledge of tumor-associated T-cell epitopes is important for the understanding of tumor biology and the development of cancer vaccines. We describe here a biochemical approach for the identification of tumor-associated T-cell epitopes. Peptides are extracted from immunoaffinity isolated MHC class I molecules of tumor cells and separated by HPLC. The HPLC fractions are then tested for biological activity of the peptides which are then sequenced by mass spectrometry. The tumor association of the identified T-cell epitopes is confirmed using synthetic analogs and T-cells of cancer patients.     

Asymptomatic human CD4+ cytotoxic T-cell epitopes identified from herpes simplex virus glycoprotein B

The identification of “asymptomatic” (i.e., protective) epitopes recognized by T cells from herpes simplex virus (HSV)-seropositive healthy individuals is a prerequisite for an effective vaccine. Using the PepScan epitope mapping strategy, a library of 179 potential peptide epitopes (15-mers overlapping by 10 amino acids) was identified from HSV type 1 (HSV-1) glycoprotein B (gB), an antigen that induces protective immunity in both animal models and humans. Eighteen groups (G1 to G18) of 10 adjacent peptides each were first screened for T-cell antigenicity in 38 HSV-1-seropositive but HSV-2-seronegative individuals. Individual peptides within the two immunodominant groups (i.e., G4 and G14) were further screened with T cells from HLA-DR-genotyped and clinically defined symptomatic (n = 10) and asymptomatic (n = 10) HSV-1-seropositive healthy individuals. Peptides gB_161-175 and gB_166-180 within G4 and gB_661-675 within G14 recalled the strongest HLA-DR-dependent CD4⁺ T-cell proliferation and gamma interferon production. gB_166-180, gB_661-675, and gB_666-680 elicited ex vivo CD4⁺ cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) that lysed autologous HSV-1- and vaccinia virus (expressing gB)-infected lymphoblastoid cell lines. Interestingly, gB_166-180 and gB_666-680 peptide epitopes were strongly recognized by CD4⁺ T cells from 10 of 10 asymptomatic patients but not by CD4⁺ T cells from 10 of 10 symptomatic patients (P < 0.0001; analysis of variance posttest). Inversely, CD4⁺ T cells from symptomatic patients preferentially recognized gB_661-675 (P < 0.0001). Thus, we identified three previously unrecognized CD4⁺ CTL peptide epitopes in HSV-1 gB. Among these, gB_166-180 and gB_666-680 appear to be “asymptomatic” peptide epitopes and therefore should be considered in the design of future herpes vaccines.     

Oligosaccharides of the glycoprotein of rabies virus.

The number of oligosaccharide side chains on rabies virus glycoprotein (G-protein) was investigated. Analysis of glycopeptides obtained by protease digestion of desialated G-protein revealed three discrete glycopeptides. Comparison of the protease digestion products from desialated and from untreated G-protein indicated a heterogeneity among the glycopeptides in the sialic acid content. Two major tryptic glycopeptides were isolated from desialated rabies virus G-protein and analyzed after protease digestion; one contained two oligosaccharide side chains and the other contained a single oligosaccharide side chain.     

Neutralising epitopes of simian immunodeficiency virus envelope glycoprotein

Abstract: Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies with weak SIV neutralising activity bind to the V2 and V4 regions of gp120 or bind to the amino acids DWNND in gp41. Antibodies with the most potent neutralising activity recognise conformation-dependent epitopes involving the V3 and V4 regions of gp120. Monoclonal antibodies that map to the V3 region of SIV_mac failed to neutralise. However, one antibody to SIV AGM neutralised but only in the presence of soluble CD4.     

糖蛋白G 基因在基因组P-M 位的插入重组表达对狂犬病毒Flury LEP 致病力的影响

【目的】研究狂犬病病毒Flury鸡胚低代毒株(Flury LEP)在基因组P-M位增加糖蛋白基因(G基因)的重组表达对病毒致病力的影响。【方法】利用反向遗传操作技术,构建了P、M基因之间额外插入G基因的重组狂犬病病毒Flury LEP株(rLEP-PGM),并对重组病毒的生物学特性及对小鼠的致病性进行了初步研究。【结果】亲本株和重组病毒具有相似的生长特性,LEP和rLEP-PGM在BHK-21细胞的生长滴度分别为4×106 FFU/mL和2.5×106 FFU/mL,在小鼠神经母细胞(NA)的生长滴度分别为4×107 FFU/mL和2.5×107 FFU/mL;嗜神经指数均为1;Western blot显示,rLEP-PGM在感染细胞的G蛋白表达量比LEP显著提高;小鼠感染试验显示,rLEP-PGM与LEP脑内注射小鼠的LD50分别为3 FFU和1 FFU,肌肉注射途径的LD50分别为4×104 FFU和3.2×105 FFU。【结论】P、M基因之间插入一个额外的G基因能够提高G蛋白的表达水平,同时增强重组病毒外周侵入中枢神经系统的能力。     

狂犬病毒aG株糖蛋白在pET原核系统中的表达及纯化

在狂犬病的临床诊断和基础研究中都迫切需要大量纯度高且价廉的狂犬病毒糖蛋白抗原。本文应用带有Ｈｉｓ６尾的ｐＥＴ原核表达系统对狂犬病毒（ＲＶ）ａＧ株的糖蛋白（ＧＰ）进行表达和纯化。构建的融合表达载体ｐＥＴ－ａＧ１和ｐＥＴ－ａＧ２（－５７ｂｐ）分别含有ＲＶａＧ株ＧＰ基因的全序列及删除了为ＧＰ信号肽编码的５８个碱基的序列。用ＳＤＳ 聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳、免疫印迹、间接ＥＬＩＳＡ检测都证明表达产物为ＲＶＧＰ,且位于菌体中的包涵体内。经固定化金属螯合层析（ＩＭＡＣ）提纯,ｐＥＴ－ａＧ１表达产物有较高的特异性和纯度,可用作测定ＲＶＧＰ抗体的免疫诊断试剂。     

Identification of two T-cell epitopes on the candidate Epstein-Barr virus vaccine glycoprotein gp340 recognized by CD4+ T-cell clones.

Current efforts to develop an Epstein-Barr virus subunit vaccine are based on the major envelope glycoprotein gp340. Given the central role of CD4+ T cells in regulating immune responses to subunit vaccine antigens, the present study has begun the work of identifying linear epitopes which are recognized by human CD4+ T cells within the 907-amino-acid sequence of gp340. A panel of gp340-specific CD4+ T-cell clones from an Epstein-Barr virus-immune donor were first assayed for their proliferative responses to a series of truncated gp340 molecules expressed from recombinant DNA vectors in rat GH3 cells, by using an autologous B lymphoblastoid cell line as a source of antigen-presenting cells. The first four T-cell clones analyzed all responded to a truncated form of gp340 which contained only the first 260 N-terminal amino acids. These clones were subsequently screened for responses to each of a panel of overlapping synthetic peptides (15-mers) corresponding to the primary amino acid sequence of the first 260 N-terminal amino acids of gp340. One clone (CG2.7) responded specifically to peptides from the region spanning amino acids 61 to 81, while three other clones (CG5.15, CG5.24, and CG5.36) responded specifically to peptides from the region spanning amino acids 163 to 183. Work with individual peptides from these regions allowed finer mapping of the T-cell epitopes and also revealed the highly dose-dependent nature of peptide-induced responses, with inhibitory effects apparent when the most antigenic peptides were present at supraoptimal concentrations. Experiments using homozygous typing B lymphoblastoid cell lines as antigen-presenting cells showed that the T-cell clones with different epitope specificities were restricted through different HLA class II antigens; clone CG2.7 recognized epitope 61-81 in the context of HLA DRw15, whereas clones CG5.15, CG5.24, and CG5.36 recognized epitope 163-183 in the context of HLA DRw11. The present protocol therefore makes a systematic analysis of CD4+ T-cell epitopes within gp340 possible; it will be necessary to screen gp340-specific T-cell clones from a variety of donors to assess the wider influence of HLA class II polymorphism upon epitope choice.     

Characterization of recombinant rabies virus carrying double glycoprotein genes

A recombinant rabies virus carrying double glycoprotein (G) genes, R(NPMGGL) strain, was generated by a reverse genetics system utilizing cloned cDNA of the RC-HL strain, and the biological properties of the virus were compared to those of the recombinant RC-HL (rRC-HL) strain. The extents of virus growth in cultured cells and virulence for adult mice of the R(NPMGGL) strain were almost same as those of the rRC-HL strain, while G protein content of the purified R(NPMGGL) virion and G protein expression level in R(NPMGGL)-infected cells were 1.5-fold higher than those of the rRC-HL strain. As a result of serial passages of the R(NPMGGL) strain in cultured cells, the expression level of G protein in cultured cells infected with the passaged R(NPMGGL) strain was maintained and virus titers rose with adaptation to the cultured cells. Furthermore, analysis of neutralization titers in mice immunized with UVinactivated virus suggested that the R(NPMGGL) strain had higher immunogenicity than that of the rRC-HL strain. The results suggest that the R(NPMGGL) strain carrying double G genes might be a useful candidate for development of a new inactivated rabies vaccine.     

A model of the rabies virus glycoprotein active site

The glycoprotein from the neurotropic rabies virus shows a significant homology with the α neurotoxin that binds to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. The crystal structure of the α neurotoxins suggests that the Arg 37 guanidinium group and the Asp 31 side-chain carboxylate of the erabutoxin have stereochemical features resembling those of acetylcholine. Conformational studies on the Asn194-Ser195-Arg196-Gly197 tetrapeptide, an essential part of the binding site of the rabies virus glycoprotein, indicate that the side chains of Asn and Arg could also mimic the acetylcholine structure. This observation is consistent with the recently proposed mechanism of the viral infection. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

HCV E2区基因在真核表达系统中的表达

以原核表达载体pET-E2为模板,用PCR的方法重新扩增出带有适于真核表达载体多克隆位点的E2基因,PCR产物经纯化并双酶切后与相同处理的真核表达载体pSecTag2/Hygro连接并转化大肠杆菌DH5α感受态细胞,重组表达载体在大量扩增并纯化后再转染COS7细胞,收集的培养上清经过Ni-柱纯化,用ELISA进行血清检测显示,6份HCV阳性血清中有4份检出有E2抗体,而5份HCV阴性血清也有一份检出有E2抗体。     

狂犬病病毒糖蛋白表达及纯化及其记忆性B细胞结合能力的分析

表达纯化不同标签、不同大小3个狂犬病病毒糖蛋白,分析其结合功能后,得到具备高亲和力的、可特异性结合记忆性B细胞的狂犬病病毒糖蛋白。本实验通过基因工程的方法,采用不同的原核表达系统分别表达带有不同标签的、全长和膜外区的RVG,纯化蛋白并分析比较其结合功能,荧光标记候选蛋白,结合CD19及CD27的抗体,流式细胞术检测狂犬疫苗免疫后PBMCs中抗狂犬病病毒特异性记忆性B细胞的情况,确认候选蛋白与抗狂犬病毒特异性记忆性B细胞的结合功能。本实验成功构建了3个表达载体pGEX-5X-1-RVG、pET28a-RVG和pET30a-G,优化表达纯化条件成功获得了糖蛋白GST-RVG、His-RVG和His-G。纯化后的GST-RVG、His-RVG和His-G经Western blotting和ELISA鉴定均有抗原特异性;由竞争ELISA法测得3个纯化后糖蛋白与抗狂犬病病毒抗体的亲和力。通过流式细胞术可以检测到狂犬疫苗免疫后阳性志愿者PBMCs中的抗狂犬病病毒特异性记忆性B细胞,从而获得了高亲和力、可用于分选抗原特异性的记忆性B细胞的狂犬病病毒糖蛋白。     

Reversible conformational changes and fusion activity of rabies virus glycoprotein.

In an attempt to understand the implication of the rabies virus glycoprotein (G) in the first steps of the viral cycle, we studied the pH dependence of virus-induced fusion and hemagglutination, as well as modifications of the structure and properties of the viral glycoprotein following pH acidification. Our results suggest that the G protein adopts at least three distinct configurations, each associated with different properties. At neutral pH, G did not fuse membranes or hemagglutinate erythrocytes. It was insensitive to digestion with bromelain and trypsin. At pH 6.4, the glycoprotein became sensitive to proteases. Hemagglutination was at its maximum and then sharply decreased with the pH. No fusion was detected. Aggregation of virus was also observed. The third configuration, at below pH 6.1, was associated with the appearance of fusion. Some neutralizing monoclonal antibodies were able to differentiate these three configurations. Preincubation of the virus at below pH 6 inhibited fusion, but this inhibition, like the structural modifications of the glycoprotein, was reversible when G was reincubated at neutral pH.     

Molecular optimization of rabies virus glycoprotein expression in Pichia pastoris

In this work, different approaches were investigated to enhance the expression rabies virus glycoprotein (RABV‐G) in the yeast Pichia pastoris; this membrane protein is responsible for the synthesis of rabies neutralizing antibodies. First, the impact of synonymous codon usage bias was examined and an optimized RABV‐G gene was synthesized. Nevertheless, data showed that the secretion of the optimized RABV‐G gene was not tremendously increased as compared with the non‐optimized one. In addition, similar levels of RABV‐G were obtained when α‐factor mating factor from Saccharomyces cerevisiae or the acid phosphatase PHO1 was used as a secretion signal. Therefore, sequence optimization and secretion signal were not the major bottlenecks for high‐level expression of RABV‐G in P. pastoris. Unfolded protein response (UPR) was induced in clones containing high copy number of RABV‐G expression cassette indicating that folding was the limiting step for RABV‐G secretion. To circumvent this limitation, co‐overexpression of five factors involved in oxidative protein folding was investigated. Among these factors only PDI1, ERO1 and GPX1 proved their benefit to enhance the expression. The highest expression level of RABV‐G reached 1230 ng ml^?1. Competitive neutralizing assay confirmed that the recombinant protein was produced in the correct conformational form in this host.     

Expression of the vesicular stomatitis virus membrane glycoprotein gene in Bacillus subtilis

Abstract The molecularly cloned gene encoding the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) membrane glycoprotein G was modified and joined to a Bacillus subtilis secretion vector constructed from the plasmid pUB110 and containing the promoter and signal sequence regions of the α-amylase (a secretory protein) gene from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens . The regions encoding the NH₂-terminal signal peptide and the COOH-terminal hydrophobic transmembrane domains of the VSV gene were deleted to facilitate the secretion of the G protein in soluble form. The truncated G protein was found to be expressed in B. subtilis . The expression level was low, probably due to rapid proteolytic degradation of the protein and, contrary to what was expected, almost all of the protein remained cell-associated.