Efficient disulfide bond formation in virus-like particles

Virus-like particles (VLPs) consist of a virus's outer shell but without the genome. Similar to the virus, VLPs are monodisperse nano-capsules which have a known morphology, maintain a high degree of symmetry, and can be engineered to encapsidate the desired cargo. VLPs are of great interest for vaccination, drug/gene delivery, imaging, sensing, and material science applications. Here we demonstrate the ability to control the disulfide bond formation in VLPs by directly controlling the redox potential during or after production and assembly of VLPs. The open cell-free protein synthesis environment, which has been reported to produce VLPs at yields comparable or greater than traditional in vivo technologies, was employed. Optimal conditions for disulfide bond formation were found to be VLP dependent, and a cooperative effect in the formation of such bonds was observed.     

广州地区GⅡ.17型诺如病毒GZ-L343毒株病毒样颗粒的构建与免疫特征的鉴定

【背景】人源诺如病毒是急性胃肠炎暴发的主要原因,GII.4是过去几十年的主要流行基因型。2014/2015年出现的GII.17型变异株是中国首例导致大规模暴发的非GII.4流行株。通过对来自华南地区的诺如病毒GII.17型毒株的完整基因组序列进行分析,证实了该GII.17型突变株与先前确定的GII型变异株不同。【目的】制备广州地区GII.17型诺如病毒GZ-L343的病毒样颗粒,并系统表征其免疫原性及功能特性。【方法】借助杆状病毒表达系统制备GII.17-GZ-L343的病毒样颗粒,并通过氯化铯梯度超速离心对其进行纯化,制备抗血清并对其免疫功能进行评价。【结果】聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳和蛋白质免疫印迹结果表明所得蛋白分子量大小约为58kDa;透射电镜结果表明病毒样颗粒直径约为30nm;酶联免疫吸附测定结果显示该病毒样颗粒具有较好的免疫原性;唾液组织血型抗原的体外受体结合测定表明,该病毒样颗粒与部分A型、B型、O型及AB型分泌及非分泌血型样本存在阳性结合;效价测定结果表明免疫所得血清效价在104以上;交叉反应结果表明该抗血清与异型病毒样颗粒不存在交叉反应。此外,体外阻断结果表明,该抗血清仅能阻...     

Isometric virus-like particles from citrus red mites, Panonychus citri

Virus-like spherical particles found in laboratory-reared citrus red mites but not in field populations were independent of the pathogenic virus affecting this species. Three sizes of particles are present: 18-nm spheres occuring in crystalline array, and 30- and 37-nm spheres. The particles possess antigenic properties and contain RNA.     

Screen of multifunctional monoclonal antibodies against hepatitis B core virus-like particles

HBc-VLP can be used in an epitope presentation system to carry foreign epitopes and mimic live virus in order to study viral particle uptake, virion-mediated activation and antigen presentation by dendritic cells. In this study, a multifunctional mAb was produced using a novel research strategy. A truncated HBc-VLP bone vector with a special conformation was used as an immunogen and the target hybridoma cell lines were screened by a series of tests; including ELISA, Western blot, and cellular immunofluorescence based on the epitope presentation system. The screened monoclonal antibody was used to identify the HBc-VLP vector, a fusion HBc-VLP vaccine, and intracellular HBV capsids. The new strategy facilitated acquisition of the desired mAbs and will serve as a reference for other VLP-related research.     

大肠杆菌来源的人乳头瘤病毒11型病毒样颗粒的制备及其免疫原性

摘要：【目的】 利用大肠杆菌表达系统制备人乳头瘤病毒11型病毒样颗粒（HPV11 VLPs）,并对其免疫原性和所诱导中和抗体的型交叉反应性进行研究。 【方法】 在大肠杆菌ER2566中非融合表达HPV11-L1蛋白,并通过离子交换层析,疏水相互作用层析其进行纯化。纯化后的HPV11-L1经体外组装形成病毒样颗粒,通过动态光散射,透射电镜检测其形态,并通过多种HPV型别假病毒中和实验评价HPV11 VLPs的免疫原性及型交叉反应性。 【结果】 HPV11-L1蛋白在大肠杆菌中可以以可溶形式表达。经过硫酸铵沉     

The release of virus-like particles from recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae: effect of freezing and thawing on homogenization and bead milling

Recombinant cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, expressing virus-like particles (Ty-VLPs), can be readily disrupted in a high pressure homogenizer and show identical disruption kinetics to the untransformed host strain. When the cells are freeze/thawed before disruption, they become about four times more resistant to homogenization. This effect increases with the number of freeze/thaw cycles, but is independent of the time the cells remain frozen. The freeze/thaw effect is observed with cells harvested during both the logarithmic and stationary phase of growth, and occurs with the untransformed host strain as well as the transformed one. Freeze/thawed cells are twice as resistant to disruption in the bead mill as fresh cells. (c) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Induction of protective immune response to intranasal administration of influenza virus-like particles in a mouse model

Human influenza A viruses (IAVs) cause global pandemics and epidemics, which remains a nonignorable serious concern for public health worldwide. To combat the surge of viral outbreaks, new treatments are urgently needed. Here, we design a new vaccine based on virus-like particles (VLPs) and show how intranasal administration of this vaccine triggers protective immunity, which can be exploited for the development of new therapies. H1N1 VLPs were produced in baculovirus vectors and were injected into BALB/c mice by the intramuscular (IM) or intranasal (IN) route. We found that there were significantly higher inflammatory cell and lymphocyte concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage samples and the lungs of IN immunized mice; however, the IM group had little signs of inflammatory responses. On the basis of our results, immunization with H1N1 influenza VLP elicited a strong T cell immunity in BALB/c mice. Despite T cell immunity amplification after both IN and IM vaccination methods in mice, IN-induced T cell responses were significantly more intense than IM-induced responses, and this was likely related to an increased number of both CD11b^high and CD103⁺ dendritic cells in mice lungs after IN administration of VLP. Furthermore, evaluation of interleukin-4 and interferon gamma cytokines along with several chemokine receptors showed that VLP vaccination via IN and IM routes leads to a greater CD4⁺ Th1 and Th2 response, respectively. Our findings indicated that VLPs represent a potential strategy for the development of an effective influenza vaccine; however, employing relevant routes for vaccination can be another important part of the universal influenza vaccine puzzle.     

Histopathology of virus-like particles in Heliothis spp

Larvae of Heliothis spp. collected from cotton, soybean, and peanut fields in South Carolina were found to be infected with virus-like particles (VLPs). Infected larvae became pale and swollen, stopped feeding, and remained alive for 2–3 weeks. Hemolymph from these larvae was milky and contained numerous spherical bodies ranging in diameter from 2 to 10 μm. The hemolymph also contained VLPs which were oval and measured 375 × 125 nm. Infectivity tests with crude saline extracts of infected larvae demonstrated that the pathogen could be transmitted by injection but not per os. The spherical bodies contained VLPs (387 × 149 nm) surrounded by two envelopes and packed together in clusters. These VLPs were also found in fat body cells, cuticular epithelial cells, tracheal cells, and connective tissue associated with the body wall and the gut. They were not found in muscle tissue or in midgut epithelial cells. Similar VLPs have been found in Heliothis zea from Mississippi and Trichoplusia ni from California, but a positive identification of the VLPs has not been made in any of these studies. Morphologically they appear to be distinct from any other previously described insect viruses.     

Cytopathology of spotted cucumber beetle hemocytes containing virus-like particles

Spherical, virus-like particles with an average diameter of 70 nm were consistently found in the hemocytes of field-collected, spotted cucumber beetles, Diabrotica undecimpunctata. The particles and associated inclusion bodies occurred both in the cytoplasm and nucleus. Hemocytes containing the particles exhibited structural features which were indicative of virus infection. These were (1) the appearance of fibril-containing membranous vesicles, 70 to 80 nm in diameter, in the perinuclear space and in the cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum, (2) accumulation of vesicle-containing cisternae in certain areas of cytoplasm, (3) appearance and condensation of granular material in viroplasm-like structures, and (4) appearance of virus-like particles. The results suggest that the particles are viral in nature and occur widely in leaf-feeding beetles.     

Construction of virus-like particles exposing HIV-1 epitopes

An original method was elaborated to construct artificial immunogens in the form of spherical particles with yeast dsRNA in the center and hybrid proteins exposing epitopes of an infectious agent on the surface. The dsRNA and the proteins were linked with spermidine-polyglucin-glutathione conjugates. Particles exposing HIV-1 epitopes were constructed, and their immunogenicity tested.     

Virus-like particles in conidia and hypha of Arthrinium aureum

This paper is the first report in the literature of the presence of virus-like particles in the conidia and hypha of Arthrinium aureum. These particles, detected with an electron microscope, are spherical and 52 nm in diameter. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

人细小病毒B19病毒样颗粒的制备

采用昆虫杆状病毒表达系统,制备人细小病毒B19病毒样颗粒(VLPs)。先通过PCR方法合成细小病毒B19衣壳蛋白基因VP2,将其克隆到pFastBac1质粒,然后转化含杆状病毒穿梭载体Bacmid的E.coliDH10Bac感受态细胞,获得重组杆状病毒表达质粒Bacmid-VP2。在脂质体介导下转染Sf9昆虫细胞,包装重组杆状病毒rBac-VP2。利用rBac-VP2感染Sf9细胞表达B19VP2蛋白,通过间接免疫荧光、Western blotting等方法鉴定目的蛋白表达。采用两次超速离心的方法对表达产物进行纯化,纯化产物在透射电镜下可见直径约22nm的VLPs。本研究成功制备了人细小病毒B19的VLPs,为B19感染血清学检测方法的建立提供了参考。     

NADC30-like猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒样颗粒的制备与鉴定

【背景】猪繁殖和呼吸综合征病毒(porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus,PRRSV)可以造成怀孕母猪的繁殖障碍及仔猪的呼吸系统疾病,近年来,NADC30-like谱系PRRSV已成为国内的优势流行毒株。【目的】研制针对NADC30-like谱系PRRSV的病毒样颗粒(virus-like particle,VLP)疫苗。【方法】将PRRSV NADC30-like毒株编码GP5蛋白开放阅读框5(open reading frame 5,ORF5)、ORF6(编码M蛋白)分别连接至pFastBac^TMDual载体P₁₀和P_H启动子下游多克隆位点,获得穿梭质粒pFB-30-ORF5及pFB-30-ORF6,酶切鉴定后,将ORF6基因插入到穿梭质粒pFB-30-ORF5 P_H启动子下游,构建穿梭质粒pFB-30-ORF5-OPF6。将上述3种穿梭质粒分别转化大肠杆菌DH10Bac感受态细胞,通过蓝白斑筛选及PCR鉴定重组杆粒。再将获得的重组杆粒转染至SF9昆虫细胞,发现细胞病变后收获病毒液,继续盲传3代,在透射电镜下观察是否有病毒样颗粒。用第3代病毒液感染SF9细胞后,分别用GP5蛋白、His-tag、Flag-tag单克隆抗体作为一抗,通过免疫电镜、间接免疫荧光(indirect immunofluorescence assay,IFA)、Western blotting鉴定重组蛋白。【结果】成功构建了3种穿梭质粒pFB-30-ORF5、pFB-30-ORF6和pFB-30-ORF5-OPF6,酶切鉴定正确。通过蓝白斑筛选及PCR验证后获得重组杆粒,分别命名为Bacmind-30-ORF5、Bacmind-30-ORF6和Bacmind-30-ORF5-ORF6。重组杆粒感染SF9细胞120h时出现明显的细胞病变,收获病毒液后,在透射电子显微镜可观察到大小为50nm左右呈现球形结构的VLPs。免疫电镜可以观察到胶体金颗粒结合在VLPs周围;IFA结果显示实验组均出现了明显绿色的特异性荧光灶;Western blotting结果表明,3种VLPs均出现特异性条带,并与预期大小一致。【结论】制备了3种NADC30-like谱系PRRSV的病毒样颗粒,为针对PRRSV新谱系流行株疫苗的研发奠定了基础。     

A型塞内卡病毒的病毒样颗粒的制备及其免疫原性分析

为了研制A型塞内卡病毒 (Senecavirus A,SVA) 的病毒样颗粒 (Virus-like particles,VLPs) 疫苗,以SVA田间流行毒株CH-FJ-2017结构蛋白基因序列为研究对象,构建了能够同时表达SVA的3种结构蛋白VP0、VP1和VP3的单个原核重组表达质粒pET28a-SVA-VP031。通过大肠杆菌Escherichia coli表达、亲和层析纯化和体外自组装,获得SVA VLPs。透射电子显微镜鉴定显示,SVA的3种结构蛋白在体外能够自组装成直径约25–30 nm的VLPs,并且动物免疫试验结果表明,该VLPs能够有效刺激豚鼠产生高水平的抗原特异性中和抗体。上述研究结果为SVA VLPs疫苗的研制奠定了基础。     

Two types of virus-like particles in the bean leaf beetle,Cerotoma trifurcata

Two types of virus-like particles were observed in the cytoplasm of hemocytes of the bean leaf beetle, Cerotoma trifurcata. The polyhedral particles were 37–40 nm in diameter and were usually in a crystalline array. They were often associated with granular and laminated structures. The enveloped, spherical particles were 70–75 nm in diameter and were composed of three parts: an outer envelope, a central electron-dense core, and an electron-lucent space between the envelope and the central core. The envelope was similar in structure to the membranes of the cell organelles. These particles were also associated with granular and filamentous structures which were distinct from those associated with the nonenveloped, smaller, polyhedral particles. The nonenveloped particles were recovered in large amounts from partially purified preparations from beetles that contained the particles in thin sections and from soybean loopers, Pseudoplusia includens, which were injected with partially purified preparations from beetles.     

A quantitative description of in vitro assembly of human papillomavirus 16 virus-like particles

The full-length human papillomavirus 16 major capsid protein L1 is expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae as virus-like particles (VLPs). However, yeast-expressed human papillomavirus 16 particles are irregular in shape and are prone to aggregate. When disassembled and reassembled, the resulting particles have improved stability and solubility. We have examined VLP dissociation and reassembly to define the important features of the assembly mechanism. We found that the VLPs rapidly disassemble at pH 8.2 and low ionic strength in the presence of low concentrations of reducing agents. The pH dependence of assembly kinetics and extent of assembly under reducing conditions were differentially sensitive to ionic strength. Assembly at pH 5.2 was very fast and led to heavily aggregated particles. This sort of kinetic trap is expected for overinitiated assembly. We observed that reassembly at pH 6.2, 7.2, and 8.2 yielded regular particles over a broad range of ionic strength. At these three pH values, assembly was quantitative at 1 M NaCl. At pH 7.2, much more than at pH 6.2 or pH 8.2, assembly decreased monotonically with ionic strength. The free energy of association ranged from − 8 to − 10 kcal/mol per pentamer. The effect of pH on assembly was further investigated by examining dissociation of reassembled particles. Though indistinguishable by negative stain electron microscopy, particles assembled at pH 7.2 disassembled slower than pH 5.2, 6.2, or 8.2 VLPs. We hypothesize that pH 7.2 assembly reactions lead to formation of particles with conformationally different interactions.     

Effect of heterotrophic nanoflagellates on the loss of virus-like particles in pond water

A decrease in the abundance of virus-like particles (VLP) by heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF) was examined using size-fractionated water samples taken from a hypereutrophic pond in December 1999, and in March and July 2000. We recorded a considerable decrease in the abundance of VLP in the 5.0µm filtrate relative to the 0.2–0.8µm filtrates. Decrease rates of VLP were reduced in a parallel 5.0µm filtrate treated with cycloheximide. The loss rates of VLP in 5.0µm filtrate varied in each experiment, and a high rate of loss was found when the growth rate of HNF was high. These results suggested that HNF consumed the VLP and that HNF is an important factor for decreasing viral abundance in freshwater environments.     

Self-assembly of virus-like particles of canine parvovirus capsid protein expressed from Escherichia coli and application as virus-like particle vaccine

Canine parvovirus disease is an acute infectious disease caused by canine parvovirus (CPV). Current commercial vaccines are mainly attenuated and inactivated; as such, problems concerning safety may occur. To resolve this problem, researchers developed virus-like particles (VLPs) as biological nanoparticles resembling natural virions and showing high bio-safety. This property allows the use of VLPs for vaccine development and mechanism studies of viral infections. Tissue-specific drug delivery also employs VLPs as biological nanomaterials. Therefore, VLPs derived from CPV have a great potential in medicine and diagnostics. In this study, small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) fusion motif was utilized to express a whole, naturalVP2 protein of CPV in Escherichia coli. After the cleavage of the fusion motif, the CPV VP2 protein has self-assembled into VLPs. The VLPs had a size and shape that resembled the authentic virus capsid. However, the self-assembly efficiency of VLPs can be affected by different pH levels and ionic strengths. The mice vaccinated subcutaneously with CPV VLPs and CPV-specific immune responses were compared with those immunized with the natural virus. This result showed that VLPs can effectively induce anti-CPV specific antibody and lymphocyte proliferation as a whole virus. This result further suggested that the antigen epitope of CPV was correctly present on VLPs, thereby showing the potential application of a VLP-based CPV vaccine.     

人乳头瘤病毒18型病毒样颗粒在大肠杆菌中的表达及免疫原性分析

利用大肠杆菌表达系统可溶性表达人乳头瘤病毒18型(HPV18)L1蛋白,经过纯化和重组装过程获得HPV18病毒样颗粒(VLPs),研究其免疫原性和诱发中和抗体生成的水平。首先,提取HPV18的基因组DNA,通过PCR扩增获得HPV18 L1基因片段,将其插入pTrxFus表达载体,在大肠杆菌中可溶性表达HPV18 L1蛋白;其次,通过硫酸铵沉淀、离子交换层析和疏水相互作用层析获得高纯度的HPV18 L1蛋白,而后透析去除预先加入的还原剂DTT,使HPV18 L1蛋白自发组装成VLPs;最后,通过动态光散射技术和透射电子显微镜鉴定HPV18 VLPs的大小和形态,利用假病毒细胞中和实验评价HPV18 VLPs在实验动物体内的免疫原性和中和抗体生成水平。结果表明,HPV18L1蛋白可以在大肠杆菌表达系统中以可溶形式表达,经过纯化的HPV18 L1蛋白可以自发组装成为半径约为29.34nm、与HPV病毒外观相似的VLP。该VLPs在小鼠体内的中和抗体半数有效剂量为0.006μg,在兔及山羊体内诱导中和抗体滴度高达107。总之,本研究利用原核表达系统可简便高效地获得具有高度免疫原性的HPV18 VLPs,为HPV18...