Immunization with a Thermostable Newcastle Disease Virus K148/08 Strain Originated from Wild Mallard Duck Confers Protection against Lethal Viscerotropic Velogenic Newcastle Disease Virus Infection in Chickens

Newcastle disease (ND) is one of the most devastating poultry infections because of its worldwide distribution and accompanying economical threat. In the present study, we characterized the ND virus (NDV) K148/08 strain from wild mallard duck, with regard to safety, thermostability, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy against velogenic ND viral infection. The NDV K148/08 strain offered enhanced immunogenicity and safety relative to commercially available vaccine strains. The NDV K148/08 strain was safe in 1-day-old SPF chicks after vaccination using a coarse or cabinet-type fine sprayer. We demonstrated that the NDV K148/08 strain elicited high levels of antibody responses and provided protective efficacy against lethal NDV challenge. In addition, the thermostability of the NDV K148/08 strain was as high as that of the thermostable V4 strain. Therefore, the NDV K148/08 strain may be useful to ensure NDV vaccine performance and effectiveness in developing countries, especially in remote areas without cold chains.     

Preparation and Efficacy of a Live Newcastle Disease Virus Vaccine Encapsulated in Chitosan Nanoparticles

Background

Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly contagious viral disease of poultry caused by pathogenic strains of the Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Live NDV vaccines are administered by drinking water, eyedrops or coarse aerosol spray. To further enhance mucosal immune responses, chitosan nanoparticles were developed for the mucosal delivery of a live NDV vaccine.

Methodology/Principal Findings

A lentogenic live-virus vaccine (strain LaSota) against NDV encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles were developed using an ionic crosslinking method. Chitosan nanoparticles containing the lentogenic live-virus vaccine against NDV (NDV-CS-NPs) were produced with good morphology, high stability, a mean diameter of 371.1 nm, an encapsulation rate of 77% and a zeta potential of +2.84 mV. The Western blotting analysis showed that NDV structural proteins were detected in NDV-CS-NPs. The virus release assay results of NDV-CS-NPs indicated that NDV was released from NDV-CS-NPs. Chickens immunized orally or intranasally with NDV-CS-NPs were fully protected whereas one out of five chickens immunized with the LaSota live NDV vaccine and three out of five chickens immunized with the inactivated NDV vaccine were dead after challenge with the highly virulent NDV strain F48E9.

Conclusions/Significance

NDV-CS-NPs induced better protection of immunized specific pathogen free chickens compared to the live NDV vaccine strain LaSota and the inactivated NDV vaccine. This study lays a foundation for the further development of mucosal vaccines and drugs encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles.     

Detection of Newcastle disease virus using nucleic acid sequence-based amplification.

Newcastle disease (ND) is a contagious and widespread avian disease affecting most species of birds. ND virus (NDV) is the only member of the avian paramyxovirus serotype 1 (APMV1) causing ND outbreak in bird flocks. The technique of nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA) is a potential method to rapidly and reliably detect NDV isolates. Here, we describe an effective and unprecedented method for detecting NDV strains of all pathotypes. A conserved region of the fusion protein gene was used for designing oligonucleotides specific to all NDV pathotypes. The dynamic range of this NDV NASBA detection method is comparable to virus culture and therefore the NDV NASBA method is a potential alternative for NDV screening and surveillance.     

High Genetic Diversity of Newcastle Disease Virus in Wild and Domestic Birds in Northeastern China from 2013 to 2015 Reveals Potential Epidemic Trends

Newcastle disease (ND), caused by the virulent Newcastle disease virus (NDV), is one of the most important viral diseases of birds globally, but little is currently known regarding enzootic trends of NDV in northeastern China, especially for class I viruses. Thus, we performed a surveillance study for NDV in northeastern China from 2013 to 2015. A total 755 samples from wild and domestic birds in wetlands and live bird markets (LBMs) were collected, and 10 isolates of NDV were identified. Genetic and phylogenetic analyses showed that five isolates from LBMs belong to class I subgenotype 1b, two (one from wild birds and one from LBMs) belong to the vaccine-like class II genotype II, and three (all from wild birds) belong to class II subgenotype Ib. Interestingly, the five class I isolates had epidemiological connections with viruses from southern, eastern, and southeastern China. Our findings, together with recent prevalence trends of class I and virulent class II NDV in China, suggest possible virus transmission between wild and domestic birds and the potential for an NDV epidemic in the future.     

中国禽源新城疫病毒(NDV)流行株F和HN基因的遗传演化和变异频率

【目的】新城疫(ND)是中国流行最严重的疫病之一,对家禽业可造成巨大的经济损失,疫苗防控是控制ND的重要措施。新城疫病毒(NDV)流行株的遗传演化一直是研究NDV的焦点。本文利用分子信息学手段,通过比较近20年间NDV流行株不同基因型F和HN基因的分子特征和遗传变异频率,解析免疫压力下NDV的演化规律。【方法】利用Lasergene 7.1和MEGA5.1软件,选取本实验室89株NDV分离株,结合从Gen Bank下载的364株NDV流行株以及15株NDV经典毒株的基因序列,对其进行系统发育、分子特征和替代频率分析。【结果】系统发育表明,NDV已经演化为15个基因型。一致性比较显示,NDV流行株相同基因型之间核苷酸(氨基酸)高度同源,而不同基因型之间差异较大且存在明显的氨基酸变异积累。NDV基因型的分布与时间、地域密切相关,VII d亚型为中国NDV优势流行株。为评估NDV变异的频率,以Go/GD/QY/1997株(中国较早发生的基因VII亚型)为参照,1997-2015年间NDV的F/HN基因的年平均核苷酸(氨基酸)替代率为2.31×10~(-3)(2.26×10~(-3))/3.37×10~(-3)(2.35×10~(-3))。其中,1997-2001年(未使用基因VII型疫苗)F/HN基因核苷酸年平均替代率为4.72×10~(-3)/8.28×10~(-3);2002-2015年(疫苗使用后)为1.6×10~(-3)/1.84×10~(-3),显示出基因VII型疫苗在控制NDV变异速度方面具有明显的效果。【结论】生物信息学分析证实:研制出与NDV流行毒株相匹配的新型疫苗是控制当前NDV变异的关键。     

Newcastle disease vaccines

Newcastle disease (ND) is a worldwide problem with severe economic implications, affecting chickens, turkeys and other birds. Newcastle disease virus (NDV), a member of the Paramyxoviridae group can cause disease of diverse severity in accordance with environmental factors. NDV strains are classified according to their virulence into three categories. The lentogenic strains are very mild and naturally inhabit healthy flocks. They can be used as live vaccines even for young chicks. Killed vaccines can be produced from the same viruses following inactivation. Mesogenic ND viruses, which cause mild or inapparent respiratory infections, have recently been banned in many countries even for killed vaccine production due to fears of disease emergence. Velogenic strains are the causative agents of the disease and can be used for the purpose of vaccine challenge test. Production and use of Newcastle disease vaccines are discussed in this review.     

A recombinant newcastle disease virus with low-level V protein expression is immunogenic and lacks pathogenicity for chicken embryos

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) edits its P-gene mRNA by inserting a nontemplated G residue(s) at a conserved editing site (3'-UUUUUCCC-template strand). In the wild-type virus, three amino-coterminal P-gene-derived proteins, P, V, and W, are produced at frequencies of approximately 68, 29, and 2%, respectively. By applying the reverse genetics technique, editing-defective mutants were generated in cell culture. Compared to the wild-type virus, mutants lacking either six nucleotides of the conserved editing site or the unique C-terminal part of the V protein produced as much as 5, 000-fold fewer infectious progeny in vitro or 200,000-fold fewer in 6-day-old embryonated chicken eggs. In addition, both mutants were unable to propagate in 9- to 11-day-old embryonated specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chicken eggs. In contrast, a mutant (NDV-P1) with one nucleotide substitution (UUCUUCCC) grew in eggs, albeit with a 100-fold-lower infectious titer than the parent virus. The modification in the first two mutants described above led to complete abolition of V expression, whereas in NDV-P1 the editing frequency was reduced to less than 2%, and as a result, V was expressed at a 20-fold-lower level. NDV-P1 showed markedly attenuated pathogenicity for SPF chicken embryos, unlike currently available ND vaccine strains. These findings indicate that the V protein of NDV has a dual function, playing a direct role in virus replication as well as serving as a virulence factor. Administration of NDV-P1 to 18-day-old embryonated chicken eggs hardly affected hatchability. Hatched chickens developed high levels of NDV-specific antibodies and were fully protected against lethal challenge, demonstrating the potential use of editing-defective recombinant NDV as a safe embryo vaccine.     

Liposome and epimedium polysaccharide-propolis flavone can synergistically enhance immune effect of vaccine

Three preparations of epimedium polysaccharide-propolis flavone immunopotentiator (EPI), EPI liposome, EPI suspension and EPI watery solution were prepared. In immune response test, their adjuvanticities were compared in 14-day-old chickens vaccinated with Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine. In immune protection test, the effects of the three preparations on Newcastle disease virus (NDV) infection were compared in chickens vaccinated with ND vaccine then challenged with NDV. The results displayed that EPI liposome could enhance the antibody titer, T lymphocyte proliferation and the concentrations of interferon-γ and interleukin-6, when compared with the other two preparations. In EPI liposome group, the antibody titers, lymphocyte proliferation and protective rate were the highest, while the mortality and morbidity were the lowest, in comparison with the other groups. These results indicated that liposome could enhance the immune effect of EPI on ND vaccine and would be expected as the suitable dosage form of this immunopotentiator.     

抗鸡新城疫病毒单克隆抗体及所测定的毒株的抗原差异

作者以3种不同毒力型的新城疫病毒(NDV)为免疫抗原,获得21株特异单克隆抗体(以下简称单抗),按其血凝抑制、溶血抑制和病毒中和能力的不同,将它们分成3组。21株单抗中有15株与所有被试的35个国内外分离的参考毒株起反应,另外6株单抗仅与部份毒株起反应。根据与上述单抗的不同反应谱,将这些NDV毒株分成7个群,同一群内的毒株在重要的流行病学和生物学特征方面一致。单抗LD_2、LC10-5只与疫苗毒株B1、La Sota及其克隆化毒株N79及1株生物学特性不明的野外分离物起反应。     

Development and in vitro characterization of a bivalent DNA containing HN and F genes of velogenic Newcastle disease virus

Newcastle disease (ND) is highly contagious, economically important viral disease affecting most of avian species worldwide. Newcastle disease virus (NDV) has single stranded negative sense RNA genome which encodes for six structural and two non-structural proteins. Envelope glycoproteins i.e. hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) and the fusion (F), elicit protective immune response. In this study, HN and F genes of velogenic (virulent) strain were amplified and cloned at multiple cloning sites A and B, respectively into pIRES bicistronic vector for use as bivalent DNA vaccine against ND. The recombinant plasmid was characterized for its orientation by restriction enzyme digestion and PCR. Expression of HN and F genes was assessed in transfected Vero cells at RNA level using RT-PCR in total RNA as well as protein level using IFAT, IPT and western blot using NDV specific antiserum. All these experiments confirmed that HN and F genes cloned in recombinant pIRES.nd.hn.f are functionally active. The recombinant construct is being evaluated as DNA vaccine against ND.     

用反向遗传技术致弱基因VIId型鹅源新城疫病毒ZJI株

将新城疫病毒ZJI株基因组cDNA全长分成7个片段,依次连接并克隆至TVT7R转录载体中,构建了含ZJI株全基因组cDNA的转录载体(pNDV/ZJI),pNDV/ZJI与3个辅助表达质粒pCI-NP、pCI-P和pCI-L共转染BSR-T7/5细胞,成功拯救出了具有感染性的新城疫病毒粒子。设计两对引物,经overlapPCR方法将该毒株F蛋白裂解位点的112、115和117位碱性氨基酸突变成弱毒株特征的非碱性氨基酸后,替换pNDV/ZJI上的对应序列,构建了转录载体pNDV/ZJIFM,将pNDV/ZJIFM与3个辅助表达质粒共转染BSR-T7/5细胞,成功拯救出了致弱的基因VIId型鹅源新城疫病毒NDV/ZJIFM,获救病毒的鸡胚最小致死剂量平均死亡时间(MDT)大于120h,同时该病毒的脑内接种致病指数(ICPI)为0.16,上述结果表明,获救病毒的毒力已被致弱,是一个较为理想的疫苗候选株。     

三株新城疫病毒强毒株的生物学特性及全基因组序列分析

2009～2011年从北方发病鸡群和鸭群中分离出3株新城疫病毒（Newcastle disease virus,NDV）。通过致病性指数测定及交叉血凝抑制试验初步分析了3个毒株的毒力和相互之间的同源性。选取鸡源分离株SDLY01与新城疫疫苗株（LaSota）进行了交叉保护试验,选取鸭源毒株SD03对樱桃谷鸭进行攻毒实验,同时设计引物对3个毒株进行了全基因组测序,并与36株NDV参考株进行了分子进化分析。结果表明3个分离株F蛋白裂解位点的氨基酸序列均为112R-R-Q-K-R-F117符合强毒株的序列特征,并与致病性指数测定结果相符。交叉血凝抑制试验发现3个分离株与疫苗株LaSota 的抗原同源性较低为82.5%～89.4%,两个鸡源分离株间的抗原同源性为90%,而鸭源毒株SD03与鸡源毒株SDSG01同源性为100%。交叉保护试验和攻毒实验结果显示传统的LaSota疫苗能对SDLY01流行株提供100%免疫保护,但第5天仍检测到排毒;鸭源毒株SD03对樱桃谷鸭不致病,但能检出排毒,排毒期最长为5d。全基因组测序与分析表明3个毒株基因组长度均为15192bp,属于基因Ⅶd型毒株,与同期流行的鹅源及鸭源NDV毒株之间全基因组核苷酸序列具有高度的同源性,揭示鸭源、鹅源NDV与鸡源NDV在遗传学和流行病学上密切相关。     

新城疫病毒单克隆抗体的特性及应用

建立了8个分泌抗新城疫病毒(NDV)特异性单克隆抗体(McAb)的杂交瘤细胞株,根据它们的免疫生物学特性可以分为三种类型:(1)具有FA和ELISA特性(FN1、FN4、FN29、FN30、FN35、FNl22);(2)具有FA、ELISA和HI特性(FN7);(3)具有ELISA、HI特性和中和能力(FN106),根据FN30和FN106的ELISA试验,可将11个NDV毒株分为二种不同的抗原群,应用FN4-FITC,FN7-FITC和FN29-HRP试剂,对人工感染NDV和野外送检病例检测结果表明,单抗试剂的DFA阳性率(92.3％)高于病毒分离阳性率(87.2％),两种方法的符合率89.7％,这些单抗试剂用于临床诊断敏感性和特异性高,且方法快速、简便。     

一株基因Ⅱ型新城疫强毒株的分子特性

从患病肉鸡群分离到一株新城疫病毒(NewcastleDiseasevirus,NDV)SQZ04。经蚀斑纯化后接种40日龄SPF鸡可诱发典型病变。经蚀斑纯化前和后的MDT为50·5h和51·2h,ICPI为2·0和1·92,IVPI为2·8和2·68,表明属强毒株。但F基因分型表明SQZ04属基因Ⅱ型,而且其与已知基因Ⅱ型的疫苗株LaSota、B1和Texas48的同源性分别为99·3%、98·7%和96·9%,显著高于与基因Ⅶ或Ⅸ型强毒株的同源性88·3%~88·6%或91·3%~92·1%。这是国内第一株属于基因Ⅱ型的NDV强毒株。SQZ04F多肽氨基酸裂解位点的序列为111GGRQGRL117,与弱毒株序列完全相同,这也是国内外首次报道具有这一氨基酸序列的强毒野毒株。然而,SQZ04株与其他已知强毒株的HN氨基酸同源性高达95·3%~97·3%,显著高于与弱毒株LaSota等的同源性87·8%~89·5%。     

Differentiation of velogenic, mesogenic and lentogenic strains of Newcastle disease virus by multiplex RT-PCR

A multiplex RT‐PCR technique has been developed for differentiation of velogenic, mesogenic and lentogenic pathotypes of Newcastle disease virus (NDV), using a set of three oligonucleotide primers designed from NDV genomic RNA (P1, P2 and P3). The primer pair P1 and P2 generated a RT‐PCR product of 204 bp, only with RNA from velogenic and mesogenic strains, whereas the P1 and P3 generated a 364 bp product only with RNA from mesogenic and lentogenic strains. Thirty four NDV strains, including some reference strains (known pathotypes), NDV field isolates and NDV vaccine strains, as well as other avian virus strains, were tested with multiplex RT‐PCR. All reference strains tested were differentiated in agreement with their intracerebral pathogenicity index (ICPI) values or with the pathotypes known in previous reports. The nucleotide sequence analysis of RT‐PCR products for four NDV strains was fully in agreement with the RT‐PCR characterisations of these strains. The RT‐PCR results of other avian RNA viruses further confirmed the reliability and specificity of this technique. However, the RT‐PCR failed to detect some other avian NDV, which may not originate from chicken. This multiplex RT‐PCR technique is simple and easy to perform. It could be applied not only to determine the origin of NDV, but also may be used diagnostically in molecular epidemiological analysis of ND and for prediction of pathotypes of NDV isolates.     

Newcastle disease virus-based live attenuated vaccine completely protects chickens and mice from lethal challenge of homologous and heterologous H5N1 avian influenza viruses

H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) has continued to spread and poses a significant threat to both animal and human health. Current influenza vaccine strategies have limitations that prevent their effective use for widespread inoculation of animals in the field. Vaccine strains of Newcastle disease virus (NDV), however, have been used successfully to easily vaccinate large numbers of animals. In this study, we used reverse genetics to construct a NDV that expressed an H5 subtype avian influenza virus (AIV) hemagglutinin (HA). Both a wild-type and a mutated HA open reading frame (ORF) from the HPAIV wild bird isolate, A/Bar-headed goose/Qinghai/3/2005 (H5N1), were inserted into the intergenic region between the P and M genes of the LaSota NDV vaccine strain. The recombinant viruses stably expressing the wild-type and mutant HA genes were found to be innocuous after intracerebral inoculation of 1-day-old chickens. A single dose of the recombinant viruses in chickens induced both NDV- and AIV H5-specific antibodies and completely protected chickens from challenge with a lethal dose of both velogenic NDV and homologous and heterologous H5N1 HPAIV. In addition, BALB/c mice immunized with the recombinant NDV-based vaccine produced H5 AIV-specific antibodies and were completely protected from homologous and heterologous lethal virus challenge. Our results indicate that recombinant NDV is suitable as a bivalent live attenuated vaccine against both NDV and AIV infection in poultry. The recombinant NDV vaccine may also have potential use in high-risk human individuals to control the pandemic spread of lethal avian influenza.     

表达新城疫病毒F48E8株融合蛋白基因的重组鸡痘病毒及其免？…

将将城疫病毒（ＮＤＶ）Ｆ４８Ｅ８株融合蛋白基因导入鸡痘病毒（ＦＰＶ）插入载体ｐＥＧＦ１１７５－１的Ｐ７．５启动子下游,得到转移载体ｐＦＧ１１７５－１重组质粒。采用脂质体转染技术,将该质粒转染ＦＰＶ２８２Ｅ株感染的鸡胚成纤维细胞（ＣＥＦ）。,经过多次蓝斑筛选纯化,获稳定的重组病毒ｒＦＰＶ－ＮＤＦ。间接免疫荧光试验表明,ｒＦＰＶ－ＮＤＦ感染的ＣＥＦ中表达了ＮＤＶ的融合蛋白。用ｒＦＰＶ－ＮＤＦ免疫的ＳＦ     

鸡新城疫病毒HeB02分离株F基因的克隆及其DNA疫苗的研究

根据GenBank报道的鸡新城疫病毒F基因序列设计了一对引物,以鸡新城疫病毒HeB02分离株基因组为模板,通过RT-PCR扩增出了1·66kb左右的F基因片段,序列分析表明HeB02株F基因与国内标准强毒株F48E9及弱毒疫苗La Sota和Clone30的F基因核苷酸序列的同源性分别为88·1%、84·9%和83·8%。将HeB02株F基因插入真核表达载体pVAX1中,构建了真核表达质粒pSV-F,通过脂质体转染COS-7细胞,SDS-PAGE分析可见表达的特异蛋白条带;Western blot、ELISA和中和试验检测结果表明:真核表达的蛋白与抗新城疫病毒的抗体发生特异性反应,说明F蛋白具有很好的免疫原性。采用活体电击法以真核表达质粒pSV-F免疫3周龄SPF鸡,剂量为50μg/只,3周后加强免疫1次,5周后以100倍鸡胚感染剂量(EID)的F基因同源病毒对所有鸡进行攻毒,攻毒前后每周分别以喉拭子进行病毒分离和HI效价测定。结果显示对照组在攻毒前一直没有检测到抗体效价,攻毒后检测效价为3·0log2±1·40,并且于攻毒后第9天全部死亡;活疫苗组和实验组免疫后第2周检测到抗体效价,第5周最高,HI效价分别为8·3log2±1·30和7·2log2±1·23,攻毒1周后HI效价分别达9·8log2±1·55和8·9log2±1·77,极显著高于对照组(P<0·01)。免疫组未分离到新城疫病毒,对照组全部分离到新城疫病毒。表明所构建的F基因真核表达质粒可作为候选基因疫苗诱导鸡产生免疫保护反应。