How baculovirus polyhedra fit square pegs into round holes to robustly package viruses

Natural protein crystals (polyhedra) armour certain viruses, allowing them to survive for years under hostile conditions. We have determined the structure of polyhedra of the baculovirus Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV), revealing a highly symmetrical covalently cross‐braced robust lattice, the subunits of which possess a flexible adaptor enabling this supra‐molecular assembly to specifically entrap massive baculoviruses. Inter‐subunit chemical switches modulate the controlled release of virus particles in the unusual high pH environment of the target insect's gut. Surprisingly, the polyhedrin subunits are more similar to picornavirus coat proteins than to the polyhedrin of cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (CPV). It is, therefore, remarkable that both AcMNPV and CPV polyhedra possess identical crystal lattices and crystal symmetry. This crystalline arrangement must be particularly well suited to the functional requirements of the polyhedra and has been either preserved or re‐selected during evolution. The use of flexible adaptors to generate a powerful system for packaging irregular particles is characteristic of the AcMNPV polyhedrin and may provide a vehicle to sequester a wide range of objects such as biological nano‐particles.     

烟青虫质型多角体病毒的形态及某些理化特性

本文对烟青虫(Heliothis assulta)质型多角体病毒(CPV)的形态大小以及某些理化特性进行了研究。烟青虫CPV多角体为正五角形的十二面体,大小为0.8-4.6μm;CPV 粒子为外形呈六角形或球形的廿面体,大小为62nm。CPV多角体蛋白的主要多肽为一种,分子量23000,为非糖蛋白。 用SDS-酚法提取的CPV基因,经Rnase I和Dnase I处理后在1%琼脂糖凝胶上电泳,结果表明 其基因是双链RNA,并由10个基因片段组成。各片段大小为0.3-2.68X10⁶,总分子量为15.85x10⁶。本文所报道的烟青虫质型多角体病毒在国内外尚属首次。     

我国蚊虫分离的一种新型胞质多形体病毒

0507BS3是从中国新疆喀什地区采集的库蚊和按蚊混合蚊标本分离的病毒株,对C6/36细胞致病变而对Ve-ro和BHK-21细胞不致病变。电镜观察显示病毒颗粒呈圆球形,直径约60nm(n=20),无包膜,单层衣壳,衣壳内有中央核。基因组核酸电泳显示基因组包括10条双链RNA(double stranded RNA,dsRNA)片段。病毒第10基因片段核酸序列测定显示该片段全长964bp(GenBankID:FJ150869),具有单一开放读码框,编码长度为275个氨基酸的蛋白,分子量约30.8kD。病毒第10基因片段核酸序列比对未发现相似的病毒核酸序列,氨基酸序列与胞质多形体病毒(Cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus,CPV)第10基因片段编码的多形体蛋白部分区段匹配。病毒第10基因片段和已知各型CPV第10基因片段核酸序列共同进行系统进化分析显示该病毒位于独立的进化分枝,提示0507BS3病毒可能是一种新型CPV病毒。     

Alkaline protease associated with virus particles of a nuclear polyhedrosis virus: assay, purification, and properties

Proteolytic activity was detected within polyhedra of the nuclear polyhedrosis virus of Spodoptera littoralis. The enzyme activity was detected by its ability to degrade the major structural polypeptide of polyhedra (polyhedrin). A quantitative assessment of activity was made by a radioassay technique using ³H-labeled polyhedrin as the substrate. Of the structural components of polyhedra, virus particles showed the greatest specific proteolytic activity. Preparations of purified nucleocapsids were inactive. The virus particle enzyme displayed a temperature optimum for proteolysis of 30 to 40°C and a pH optimum of 9.6. Its activity was inhibited by H²⁺ and Cu²⁺, but not by 2-mercaptoethanol. The enzyme was purified from detergent-treated virus particles by affinity column chromatography, using polyhedrin linked to cyanogen bromide-activated Sepharose. Three major envelope polypeptides (L107, L85, and L71) bound to the column at 4°C, but after incubation at 31°C, polypeptide L71 alone was eluted. The fractions containing this protein exhibited a specific enzyme activity more than 80-fold greater than that present in polyhedra. The possible significance of the alkaline protease, and other proteins with affinity for polyhedrin, is discussed.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of Antheraea mylitta cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus polyhedrin gene and its variant forms

The segments 10 (S10) of the 11 double stranded RNA genomes from Antheraea mylitta cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (AmCPV) encoding a novel polyhedrin polypeptide was converted to cDNA, cloned, and sequenced. Three cDNA clones consisting of 1502 (AmCPV10-1), 1120 (AmCPV10-2), and 1415 (AmCPV10-3) nucleotides encoding polyhedrin of 254, 339, and 319 amino acids with molecular masses of 29, 39, and 37 kDa, respectively, were obtained, and verified by Northern analysis. These clones showed 70-94% sequence identity among them but none with any sequences in databases. The expression of AmCPV10-1 cDNA encoded polyhedrin in Sf-9 cells was detected by immunoblot analysis and formation of polyhedra by electron microscopy, as observed in AmCPV-infected gut cells, but no expression of AmCPV10-2 or AmCPV10-3 cDNA was detected, indicating that during AmCPV replication, along with functional S10 RNA, some defective variant forms of S10 RNAs are packaged in virion particles.     

家蚕CPV感染离体细胞的电镜观察

本文报道了BmCPV感染家蚕细胞系后的电镜观察。病毒感染早期,细胞质内形成电子致密的病毒发生基质,由病毒发生基质形成BmCPV球状病毒粒子;病毒感染48小时后,多角体在病毒发生基质周围形成,大量的病毒粒子随机包埋在多角体内;病毒接种后96小时,多角体数目增多,其形状有三角,四角,五角及六角形,细胞质内充盈多角体致使细胞核被挤向细胞一侧并伴有形态的改变,受染细胞约为40％。     

Insect virus polyhedra, infectious protein crystals that contain virus particles

High-resolution atomic structures have been reported recently for two types of viral polyhedra, intracellular protein crystals produced by ubiquitous insect viruses. Polyhedra contain embedded virus particles and function as the main infectious form for baculoviruses and cypoviruses, two distinct classes of viruses that infect mainly Lepitoptera species (butterflies and moths). Polyhedra are extremely stable and protect the virus particles once released in the environment. The extensive crystal contacts observed in the structures explain the remarkable stability of viral polyhedra and provide hints about how these crystals dissolve in the alkaline midgut, releasing embedded virus particles to infect feeding larvae. The stage is now set to answer intriguing questions about the in vivo crystallization of polyhedra, how virus particles are incorporated into polyhedra, and what determines the size and shape of the crystals. Large quantities of polyhedra can be obtained from infected larvae and polyhedra can also be produced using insect cell expression systems. Modified polyhedra encapsulating other entities in place of virus particles have potential applications as a means to stabilize proteins such as enzymes or growth factors, and the extremely stable polyhedrin lattice may provide a framework for future engineered micro-crystal devices.     

家蚕BmNPV多角体蛋白与外源蛋白共包埋入多角体的研究

为了探索家蚕核型多角体病毒多角体的包装特性,构建了一种不形成多角体但能大量表达绿色荧光蛋白(EGFP)的重组病毒vBmBac(polh-)-5B-EGFP,将其与野生型BmNPV共同感染BmN细胞,于荧光显微镜下观察到EGFP与多角体可以在同一细胞中同时表达。从感染的BmN细胞中收集纯化多角体,观察到多角体能被激发出绿色荧光,进一步利用Western blot证实多角体中含有EGFP。上述结果表明,多角体可以将自身病毒粒子以外的其他病毒粒子的成分包装进入多角体,表明多角体的包装机制中存在非特异性识别机制。     

Abnormal formation of polyhedra resulting from a single mutation in the polyhedrin gene of Autographa californica multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus

A spontaneous mutant that produces a single abnormally large cubic polyhedron per infected cell was isolated from a polyhedra-positive recombinant Autographa californica multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV). Both wild-type and mutant virus produce two forms of virus particles, budded virions and occluded virions. However, occluded virions are not found within the polyhedra of cells infected with mutant virus, as with the wild-type virus. These large cubic polyhedra do not have the typical lattice-like structure normally seen in wild-type polyhedra and are noninfectious. Spodoptera frugiperda 9 (SF9) cells which were infected with this virus had low infectivity to larvae. No significant alterations were found in the viral genome by restriction enzyme analysis, and no mutations were found in the 25K gene. A single point mutation resulting in an amino acid change of Gly25 to Asp was identified in the polyhedrin gene. A transfer vector containing the entire polyhedrin gene including the point mutation was constructed and used to cotransfect Sf9 cells with a polyhedron-negative recombinant virus. Large cubic polyhedra were once again observed, confirming that the Gly25 to Asp mutation is responsible for the formation of abnormal polyhedra.     

Crystal lattice as biological phenotype for insect viruses

Many insect viruses survive for long periods by occlusion within robust crystalline polyhedra composed primarily of a single polyhedrin protein. We show that two different virus families form polyhedra which, despite lack of sequence similarity in the virally encoded polyhedrin protein, have identical cell constants and a body-centered cubic lattice. It is almost inconceivable that this could have arisen by chance, suggesting that the crystal lattice has been preserved because it is particularly well-suited to its function of packaging and protecting viruses.     

Studies on the polyhedrosis virus forming polyhedra in the midgut-cell nucleus of the silkworm,Bombyx mori: I. Purification procedure and form of the virion

A procedure for the isolation and purification of a new polyhedrosis virus that forms polyhedra in the midgut-cell nucleus is described. The method is a modification of that used by Hayashi and Bird (1970) for the isolation of free cytoplasmic-polyhedrosis virus (CPV). The purified virions were spherical in shape with several projections that measured 62 nm in diameter. The sedimentation coefficient of this virion was 430 S. These features are very similar to those of CPV. No significant difference was observed between this virus and CPV in the sedimentation profiles of preparations. Electron microscope observations indicated that the purified virus preparations contained many more empty particles than those of CPV.From these results, it is concluded that this virus is quite similar to CPV.     

Determination of the Nucleotide Sequence of Bombyx mori Cytoplasmic Polyhedrosis Virus Segment 9 and Its Expression in BmN4 Cells

Cloning and sequencing of segment 9 of Bombyx mori cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (BmCPV) strains H and I were performed. The segment consisted of 1,186 bp harboring 5′ and 3′ noncoding regions and an open reading frame from positions 75 to 1037, encoding a protein with 320 amino acids, termed NS5. Comparison of the nucleotide sequences of NS5 for the two strains indicated 37 point differences resulting in only six amino acid replacements. Homology search showed that NS5 has localized similarities to human poliovirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and human rotavirus NS26. By Western blot analysis, NS5 was found in BmCPV-infected midgut cells, but not in polyhedra or virus virions, and was mainly detectable in the nucleus in BmCPV-infected BmN4 cells. Immunoblot analysis with anti-NS5 and antipolyhedrin antibodies displayed marked differences in the period of expression of NS5 and polyhedrin: the polyhedrin molecule was first detected 2 or 3 days after infection with BmCPV, whereas the expression of NS5 was initiated within a few hours. In addition, the level of polyhedrin increased as the infection developed, whereas the amount of NS5 remained essentially constant. When segment 9 was expressed with a baculovirus expression system, the resulting NS5 protein possessed the ability to bind to the double-stranded RNA genome. These results suggest that NS5 is expressed in early stages of infection and contributes to regulation of genomic RNA function.     

Nonvirus encoded proteins could be embedded into Bombyx mori cypovirus polyhedra

To explore whether the nonvirus encoded protein could be embedded into Bombyx mori cypovirus (BmCPV) polyhedra. The stable transformants of BmN cells expressing a polyhedrin (Polh) gene of BmCPV were constructed by transfection with a non-transposon derived vector containing a polh gene. The polyhedra were purified from the midguts of BmCPV-infected silkworms and the transformed BmN cells, respectively. The proteins embedded into polyhedra were determined by mass spectrometry analysis. Host derived proteins were detected in the purified polyhedra. Analysis of structure and hydrophilicity of embedded proteins indicated that the hydrophilic proteins, in structure, were similar to the left-handed structure of polyhedrin or the N-terminal domain of BmCPV structural protein VP3, which were easily embedded into the BmCPV polyhedra. The lysate of polyhedra purified from the infected transformation of BmN cells with modified B. mori baculovirus BmPAK6 could infect BmN cells, indicating that B. mori baculovirus could be embedded into BmCPV polyhedra. Both the purified polyhedra and its lysate could be coloured by X-gal, indicating that the β-galactosidase expressed by BmPAK6 could be incorporated into BmCPV polyhedra. These results suggested that some heterologous proteins and baculovirus could be embedded into polyhedra in an unknown manner.     

马尾松毛虫质型多角体病毒多角体蛋白基因的cDNA克隆及序列分析

通过对马尾松毛虫质型多角体病毒的增殖、纯化,获得一株单一类型的质型多角体病毒。提纯的病毒粒子经SDS－酚抽提,琼脂糖凝胶电泳分离基因组dsRNDA,回收纯化第十片段S10。S10经DMSO变性,逆转录合成cDNA第一链,PCR扩增后,克隆在pGEM-T载体上,对重组子进行限制性内切酶分析及序列测定。结果表明,克隆片段全长763bp,起始密码AUG位于3－5残基,终止密码UGA位于747－749残基。推测DpCPV多角体蛋白基因编码248个氨基酸的多肽,分子量28kD。和家蚕质型多角体病毒（BmCPV）多角体蛋白基因相比较,核苷酸和编码氨基酸序列同源性分别为89.3%和97.6%。     

Recombinant vaccine for canine parvovirus in dogs.

VP2 is the major component of canine parvovirus (CPV) capsids. The VP2-coding gene was engineered to be expressed by a recombinant baculovirus under the control of the polyhedrin promoter. A transfer vector that contains the lacZ gene under the control of the p10 promoter was used in order to facilitate the selection of recombinants. The expressed VP2 was found to be structurally and immunologically indistinguishable from authentic VP2. The recombinant VP2 shows also the capability to self-assemble, forming viruslike particles similar in size and appearance to CPV virions. These viruslike particles have been used to immunize dogs in different doses and combinations of adjuvants, and the anti-CPV responses have been measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, monolayer protection assays, and an assay for the inhibition of hemagglutination. A dose of ca. 10 micrograms of VP2 was able to elicit a good protective response, higher than that obtained with a commercially available, inactivated vaccine. The results indicate that these viruslike particles can be used to protect dogs from CPV infection.     

Production of Aujeszky's disease (pseudorabies) virus envelope glycoproteins gB and gC as recombinant polyhedra in baculovirus-infected silkworm larvae

The expression of viral antigens in baculovirus-infected insect cells is often ineffective. As an alternative approach, therefore, we developed the recombinant polyhedra technology, which is an efficient strategy for the production of viral subunit vaccine. Here, we report a strategy for the large-scale production of a pseudorabies virus (PRV) gB or gC in the larvae of a baculovirus-infected silkworm, Bombyx mori. We constructed a recombinant B. mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) that expressed recombinant polyhedra together with the epitope regions of PRV gB or heparin-binding domains of PRV gC. Recombinant BmNPV-PRV-gB or BmNPV-PRV-gC-infected silkworm larvae expressed native polyhedrin and fusion protein that was detected using both anti-polyhedrin and anti-PRV gB or anti-PRV-gC antibodies. Electron and confocal microscopy demonstrated that the recombinant polyhedra contained both the fusion protein and native polyhedrin with a normal morphology and that the recombinant polyhedra contained PRV gB or gC. The yield of gB or gC antigen produced in BmNPV-PRV-gB or BmNPV-PRV-gC-infected silkworm larvae reached 0.69 or 0.46 mg per larva, respectively, at 6 days post-infection. These results demonstrate that the recombinant polyhedra strategy can be used for the large-scale production of PRV gB or gC antigen.     

Production of Classical Swine Fever Virus Envelope Glycoprotein E2 as Recombinant Polyhedra in Baculovirus-Infected Silkworm Larvae

Although, classical swine fever virus (CSFV) envelope glycoprotein E2 subunit vaccine has been developed using the baculovirus expression system, the expression of viral antigens in baculovirus-infected insect cells is often ineffective. Therefore, an alternative strategy to the traditional baculovirus expression system is needed that is more productive and effective. Here, we report a novel strategy for the large-scale production of a CSFV E2 in the larvae of a baculovirus-infected silkworm, Bombyx mori. We constructed a recombinant B. mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) that expressed recombinant polyhedra together with the N-terminal 179 amino acids of CSFV E2 (E2ΔC). BmNPV-E2ΔC-infected silkworm larvae expressed native polyhedrin and approximately 44-kDa fusion protein that was detected using both anti-polyhedrin and anti-CSFV E2 antibodies. Electron and confocal microscopy both demonstrated that the recombinant polyhedra contained both the fusion protein and native polyhedrin were morphologically normal and contained CSFV E2ΔC. The CSFV E2ΔC antigen produced in BmNPV-E2ΔC-infected silkworm larvae reached 0.68?mg/ml of hemolymph and 0.53?mg/larva at 6-days post-infection. Six-week-old female BALB/c mice that were immunized with the E2ΔC protein purified from solubilized recombinant polyhedra elicited CSFV E2 antibodies, which indicated that the CSFV E2ΔC protein from recombinant polyhedra was immunogenic. The virus neutralization test showed that the serum from mice that were treated with E2ΔC protein from recombinant polyhedra contained significant levels of virus neutralization activity. These results demonstrate that this strategy can be used for the large-scale production of CSFV E2 antigen.     

Inapparent infection ofDiatraea grandiosella byHeliothis virescens cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus

The terminal stage of infection with cytoplasmic polyhedrosis viruses (CPVs) is formation of crystal-like inclusion bodies (polyhedra) in host insects. The degree of susceptibility of larvae to CPV, based on light microscopy and presence of polyhedra, varies with the host species.Heliothis virescens (F.) andSpodoptera exigua (Hübner) are highly susceptible to CPV. In CPV treatedDiatraea grandiosella (Dyar), polyhedra were absent in all 400 + insects examined with light and electron microscopy. However,H. virescens larvae became infected when fed haemolymph ofD. grandiosella larvae or pupae (36±10 days post treatment) developed from CPV-treated larvae. No difference in pathology was observed betweenH. virescens larvae infected with CPV polyhedra and haemolymph fromD. grandiosella. This study provides evidence thatD. grandiosella can serve as a symptomless (no occlusion bodies) carrier of a CPV which is fully expressed inH. virescens species. The observation is interesting because it reveals a potentially important aspect of the epizootiology of this insect virus.     

Isolation and reconstitution of the RNA replicase of the cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus of silkworm,Bombyx mori

Summary After irradiation of the virus particles of CPV, the RNA replicase associated with the virion was isolated in the form of a genome-replicase complex with DEAE-Sephadex A-25 chromatography. This complex was then treated with Triton X-100 and purified by phosphocellulose column chromatography. The RNA replicase reconstituted with the doublestranded RNA of CPV showed both the enzyme activity of RNA polymerase and methyltransferase. The single-stranded RNA could not serve as the template for the RNA replicase. The role of the RNA replicase of CPV is discussed.