Quantifying the Risk of Localised Animal Movement Bans for Foot-and-Mouth Disease

The maintenance of disease-free status from Foot-and-Mouth Disease is of significant socio-economic importance to countries such as the UK. The imposition of bans on the movement of susceptible livestock following the discovery of an outbreak is deemed necessary to prevent the spread of what is a highly contagious disease, but has a significant economic impact on the agricultural community in itself. Here we consider the risk of applying movement restrictions only in localised zones around outbreaks in order to help evaluate how quickly nation-wide restrictions could be lifted after notification. We show, with reference to the 2001 and 2007 UK outbreaks, that it would be practical to implement such a policy provided the basic reproduction ratio of known infected premises can be estimated. It is ultimately up to policy makers and stakeholders to determine the acceptable level of risk, involving a cost benefit analysis of the potential outcomes, but quantifying the risk of spread from different sized zones is a prerequisite for this. The approach outlined is relevant to the determination of control zones and vaccination policies and has the potential to be applied to future outbreaks of other diseases.     

Structure of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Mutant Polymerases with Reduced Sensitivity to Ribavirin

Passage of poliovirus (PV) or foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) in the presence of ribavirin (R) selected for viruses with decreased sensitivity to R, which included different mutations in their polymerase (3D): G64S located in the finger subdomain in the case of PV and M296I located within loop β9-α11 at the active site in the case of FMDV. To investigate why disparate substitutions were selected in two closely related 3Ds, we constructed FMDVs with a 3D that included either G62S (the equivalent replacement in FMDV of PV G64S), M296I, or both substitutions. G62S, but not M296I, inflicts upon FMDV a strong selective disadvantage which is partially compensated for by the substitution M296I. The corresponding mutant polymerases, 3D(G62S), 3D(M296I), and 3D(G62S-M296I), were analyzed functionally and structurally. G62S in 3D impairs RNA-binding, polymerization, and R monophosphate incorporation activities. The X-ray structures of the 3D(G62S)-RNA, 3D(M296I)-RNA, and 3D(G62S-M296I)-RNA complexes show that although the two positions are separated by 13.1 Å, the loops where the replacements reside are tightly connected through an extensive network of interactions that reach the polymerase active site. In particular, G62S seems to restrict the flexibility of loop β9-α11 and, as a consequence, the flexibility of the active site and its ability to bind the RNA template. Thus, a localized change in the finger subdomain of 3D may affect the catalytic domain. The results provide a structural interpretation of why different amino acid substitutions were selected to confer R resistance in closely related viruses and reveal a complex network of intra-3D interactions that can affect the recognition of both the RNA template and incoming nucleotide.Ribavirin (1-β-d-ribofuranosyl-1-H-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide) (R) is a clinically important nucleoside analogue that exhibits antiviral activity against a broad spectrum of RNA viruses (17). R displays several antiviral mechanisms of action, including lethal mutagenesis (loss of infectivity associated with an increase in the mutation rate) (7, 9, 21, 23). The 5′-triphosphorylated form of R (RTP) can be incorporated by the viral polymerases into the nascent RNA, acting as either an adenylate or a guanylate analogue, inducing base transitions. Ambiguous utilization of RTP by RNA-dependent RNA polymerases during genome replication may lead to virus extinction (1, 6, 7, 33).As extensively documented for nonmutagenic antiviral inhibitors, selection of mutagen-resistant viruses may be a problem for the efficacy of antiviral treatments based on lethal mutagenesis. Serial passages of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) in the presence of increasing concentrations of R resulted in the selection of a mutant virus containing the amino acid substitution M296I in polymerase 3D. Measurements of viral fitness and progeny production suggested that M296I was selected because it decreased the mutagenic activity of R on FMDV (28). The mutant polymerase restricted the incorporation of RTP during RNA synthesis, relative to the wild-type enzyme, without an increase in average copying fidelity. Rather, the mutant enzyme displayed an about 2-fold lower RTP incorporation frequency and an about 2.5-fold increase in the A-to-G transition frequency (3). The substitution M296I in 3D conferred upon FMDV resistance to extinction by high R concentrations, but extinction of the mutant was achieved by an alternative mutagenic treatment (22).In contrast to passage of FMDV, passage of poliovirus (PV) in the presence of R selected a mutant virus that included the replacement G64S in 3D (25). This substitution conferred upon 3D a higher average copying fidelity, allowing the enzyme to restrict the incorporation of RTP in the place of ATP or GTP (4, 6). The increased copying fidelity gave rise to PV populations that were less adaptable than wild-type populations to a complex environment, represented by PV-susceptible mice (24, 32). In FMDV 3D, the substitution equivalent to G64S in PV is G62S. This replacement was never selected in FMDV passaged in the presence of R and was never detected as a minority component in mutant spectra of FMDV that replicated in the absence or presence of R or other mutagenic agents (1, 28, 29).To interpret the selection of disparate R resistance mutations in FMDV and PV and to gain insight into the molecular basis of R resistance, we have engineered FMDVs encoding 3D with G62S, alone and together with M296I and compared the behavior of the mutants with that of wild-type FMDV. We have purified the corresponding 3Ds with the G62S, the M296I, or both substitutions and determined their polymerase activities and three-dimensional structures alone and in several catalytic complexes. The results show that FMDV expressing 3D with G62S is genetically unstable and that the reason for its instability probably lies in impaired polymerase activity associated with the conformation acquired by a loop located close to motif B (loop β9-α11, residues 294 to 304) which is involved in interactions with the template RNA and with the incoming nucleotide. Comparison of the structures revealed that the mutated residues, G62S and M296I, are involved in an extensive network of interactions that affect residues directly required for the catalytic function of the enzyme.     

转基因植物作为生物反应器生产口蹄疫疫苗的研究进展

利用转基因植物作为生物反应器表达重组蛋白,生产外源蛋白质作为动物疫苗是一个很有吸引力的廉价生产系统,它有可能代替生产成本较高的传统疫苗的发酵生产系统。通过口蹄疫病毒VP1结构蛋白基因在转基因植物中的表达,口蹄疫疫苗已在植物中产生。在植物中生产的抗原能够保持其自身的免疫原性。本文简要综述了近十年来用转基因植物作为生物反应器生产口蹄疫疫苗的研究进展、特点及其应用前景 。     

Development of DNA Aptamers to a Foot-and-Mouth Disease Peptide for Competitive FRET-Based Detection

We sought to develop a novel competitive fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-aptamer-based strategy for detection of foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease within minutes. A 14-amino-acid peptide from the VP1 structural protein, which is conserved among 16 strains of O-serotype FMD virus, was synthesized and labeled with Black Hole Quencher-2 (BHQ-2) dye. Polyclonal FMD DNA aptamers were labeled with Alexa Fluor 546-14-dUTP by polymerase chain reaction and allowed to bind the BHQ-2-peptide conjugate. Following purification of the FRET–aptamer–peptide complex, a “lights off” response was observed within 10 minutes and was sensitive to a level of 25–250 ng/mL of FMD peptide. Ten candidate aptamers were sequenced from the polyclonal family. The aptamer candidates were screened in an enzyme-based plate assay. A high- and low-affinity aptamer candidate were each labeled with Alexa Fluor 546-14-dUTP by asymmetric polymerase chain reaction and used in the competitive FRET assay, but neither matched the sensitivity of the polyclonal FRET response, indicating the need for further screening of the aptamer library.     

Key strategies for reducing spread of avian influenza among commercial poultry holdings: lessons for transmission to humans

Recent avian flu epidemics (A/H5N1) in Southeast Asia and case reports from around the world have led to fears of a human pandemic. Control of these outbreaks in birds would probably lead to reduced transmission of the avian virus to humans. This study presents a mathematical model based on stochastic farm-to-farm transmission that incorporates flock size and spatial contacts to evaluate the impact of control strategies. Fit to data from the recent epidemic in the Netherlands, we evaluate the efficacy of control strategies and forecast avian influenza dynamics. Our results identify high-risk areas of spread by mapping of the farm level reproductive number. Results suggest that an immediate depopulation of infected flocks following an accurate and quick diagnosis would have a greater impact than simply depopulating surrounding flocks. Understanding the relative importance of different control measures is essential for response planning.     

Membrane Topology and Cellular Dynamics of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus 3A Protein

Foot-and-mouth disease virus non-structural protein 3A plays important roles in virus replication, virulence and host-range; nevertheless little is known on the interactions that this protein can establish with different cell components. In this work, we have performed in vivo dynamic studies from cells transiently expressing the green fluorescent protein (GFP) fused to the complete 3A (GFP3A) and versions including different 3A mutations. The results revealed the presence of a mobile fraction of GFP3A, which was found increased in most of the mutants analyzed, and the location of 3A in a continuous compartment in the cytoplasm. A dual behavior was also observed for GFP3A upon cell fractionation, being the protein equally recovered from the cytosolic and membrane fractions, a ratio that was also observed when the insoluble fraction was further fractioned, even in the presence of detergent. Similar results were observed in the fractionation of GFP3ABBB, a 3A protein precursor required for initiating RNA replication. A nonintegral membrane protein topology of FMDV 3A was supported by the lack of glycosylation of versions of 3A in which each of the protein termini was fused to a glycosylation acceptor tag, as well as by their accessibility to degradation by proteases. According to this model 3A would interact with membranes through its central hydrophobic region exposing its N- and C- termini to the cytosol, where interactions between viral and cellular proteins required for virus replication are expected to occur.     

口蹄疫病毒单克隆抗体的制备及应用研究进展

口蹄疫是严重影响全球政治经济的烈性动物传染病,快速诊断及有效防治对口蹄疫的防控具有重要意义。单克隆抗体具有高特异性、均质、活性单一等优点,在生物医学领域中有广泛用途。目前,国内外学者制备了多种抗口蹄疫病毒的单克隆抗体,并应用于口蹄疫病毒抗原定型、疫苗量化、抗体水平监测、自然感染与疫苗免疫动物的鉴别诊断,以及口蹄疫病毒抗原表位分析等方面。我们简要综述口蹄疫病毒单克隆抗体的制备及应用进展。     

Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus: Stability of Neutralizing Antibody After Freeze-drying and Air-drying

It is possible to stabilize foot-and-mouth disease antiserum by either freeze-drying in bottles or air-drying on paper for periods of 7 months.     

Inactivation of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus by Interaction of Dye and Visible Light

The inactivation of foot-and-mouth disease virus was studied by means of the interaction of neutral red, Toluidine Blue, and methylene blue with visible light. The virus, Type A, strain 1, CANEFA of Argentine origin, was grown in tissue culture and tested in the crude and clarified state. Virus and dye were mixed and incubated together at 4 C for 45 min in the dark, or were mixed and immediately exposed to the visible light source without prior incubation together. Mixtures of crude virus and dye, under any of the experimental conditions used, did not inactivate more than 1 to 2 logs of viral infectivity when held in the dark or when exposed to light during a period of 45 min. Complete inactivation of virus was achieved when clarified virus and dye were mixed and immediately exposed to the visible light source for 15 min. Prior incubation of clarified virus and dye permitted inactivation by methylene blue only, whereas no incubation prior to exposure resulted in three of the dyes contributing to inactivation. A concentration of 6 μg of neutral red, Toluidine Blue, methylene blue, and crystal violet was used per milliliter of virus suspension. Crystal violet was not a good viral inactivator under the conditions of the experimentation. Inactive virus induced the formation of neutralizing antibodies in adult chickens and mice. The antibody titer stimulated by the antigen treated with methylene blue and visible light was probably significant.     

Serotype-Specific Transmission and Waning Immunity of Endemic Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus in Cameroon

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) causes morbidity and mortality in a range of animals and threatens local economies by acting as a barrier to international trade. The outbreak in the United Kingdom in 2001 that cost billions to control highlighted the risk that the pathogen poses to agriculture. In response, several mathematical models have been developed to parameterize and predict both transmission dynamics and optimal disease control. However, a lack of understanding of the multi-strain etiology prevents characterization of multi-strain dynamics. Here, we use data from FMDV serology in an endemic setting to probe strain-specific transmission and immunodynamics. Five serotypes of FMDV affect cattle in the Far North Region of Cameroon. We fit both catalytic and reverse catalytic models to serological data to estimate the force of infection and the rate of waning immunity, and to detect periods of sustained transmission. For serotypes SAT2, SAT3, and type A, a model assuming life-long immunity fit better. For serotypes SAT1 and type O, the better-fit model suggests that immunity may wane over time. Our analysis further indicates that type O has the greatest force of infection and the longest duration of immunity. Estimates for the force of infection were time-varying and indicated that serotypes SAT1 and O displayed endemic dynamics, serotype A displayed epidemic dynamics, and SAT2 and SAT3 did not sustain local chains of transmission. Since these results were obtained from the same population at the same time, they highlight important differences in transmission specific to each serotype. They also show that immunity wanes at rates specific to each serotype, which influences patterns of local persistence. Overall, this work shows that viral serotypes can differ significantly in their epidemiological and immunological characteristics. Patterns and processes that drive transmission in endemic settings must consider complex viral dynamics for accurate representation and interpretation.     

FMDV整联蛋白受体b1亚基的克隆及其配体黏附区多抗的制备

采用RT-PCR技术从牛气管组织扩增出2400 bp的b1基因, 回收纯化连入PGEM-T载体, 测序。用Expasy软件对b1基因的抗原性进行分析, 选取胞外区334~861 bp的配体结合区与6×His融合, 在大肠杆菌中大规模诱导表达, 并经Ni2+亲和柱层析纯化。通过SDS-PAGE鉴定后, 应用纯化蛋白免疫新西兰家兔, 获得效价在1:12 800以上的多抗, Western blotting鉴定表明此抗体可特异性的与表达的融合蛋白作用。     

The molecular epidemiology of Foot-and-Mouth Disease virus serotypes A and O from 1998 to 2004 in Turkey

Background

Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) causes significant economic losses in Turkish livestock. We have analysed the genetic diversity of the 1D sequences, encoding the hypervariable surface protein VP1, of Turkish isolates of serotype A and O collected from 1998 to 2004 in order to obtain epidemiological and immunological information.

Results

The 1D coding region of 33 serotype O and 20 serotype A isolates, obtained from outbreaks of FMD between 1998 and 2004, was sequenced. For serotype A, we confirmed the occurrence of the two subtypes IRN99 and IRN96. These subtypes are most divergent within the region encoding the immuno-dominant GH-loop. Also a close relationship to Foot-and-Mouth Disease virus (FMDV) serotype A isolates obtained from outbreaks in Iraq and Iran were detected and a clustering of isolates collected during the same period of time were found. The analysis of the deduced amino-acid sequences of these subtypes revealed evidence of positive selection in one site and one deletion, both within the GH-loop region. By inferring the ancestral history of the positively selected codon, two potential precursors were found. Furthermore, the structural alignment of IRN99 and IRN96 revealed differences between the tertiary structures of these subtypes. The similarity plot of the serotype O isolates suggested a more homogeneous group than the serotype A isolates. However, phylogenetic analysis revealed two major groups, each further divided in subgroups, of which some only consisted of Turkish isolates. Positively selected sites and structural differences of the Turkish isolates analysed, were not found.

Conclusion

The sequence and structural analysis of the IRN99 strains is indicative of positive selection suggesting an immunological advantage compared to IRN96. However, results of antigenic comparison reported elsewhere do not substantiate such a conclusion. There is evidence that IRN99 was introduced to Turkey, in all probability from Iran. Since, a member of the IRN96 lineage was included as a component of the FMDV vaccine produced since 2000, the outbreaks caused by IRN96 strains in 2004 could be due to incomplete vaccine coverage. The Turkish type O strains, all with a VP1 structure similar to the O1/Manisa/69 vaccine, appear in several sublineages. Whether these sublineages reflect multiple samplings from a limited number of outbreaks, or if they reflect cross-boundary introductions is not clear.     

Inactivation of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus by Citric Acid and Sodium Carbonate with Deicers

Three out of five outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) since 2010 in the Republic of Korea have occurred in the winter. At the freezing temperatures, it was impossible to spray disinfectant on the surfaces of vehicles, roads, and farm premises because the disinfectant would be frozen shortly after discharge and the surfaces of the roads or machines would become slippery in cold weather. In this study, we added chemical deicers (ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, sodium chloride, calcium chloride, ethyl alcohol, and commercial windshield washer fluid) to keep disinfectants (0.2% citric acid and 4% sodium carbonate) from freezing, and we tested their virucidal efficacies under simulated cold temperatures in a tube. The 0.2% citric acid could reduce the virus titer 4 logs at −20°C with all the deicers. On the other hand, 4% sodium carbonate showed little virucidal activity at −20°C within 30 min, although it resisted being frozen with the function of the deicers. In conclusion, for the winter season, we may recommend the use of citric acid (>0.2%) diluted in 30% ethyl alcohol or 25% sodium chloride solvent, depending on its purpose.     

FMDV整联蛋白受体b1亚基的克隆及其配体黏附区多抗的制备

采用RT-PCR技术从牛气管组织扩增出2400 bp的b1基因, 回收纯化连入PGEM-T载体, 测序。用Expasy软件对b1基因的抗原性进行分析, 选取胞外区334~861 bp的配体结合区与6×His融合, 在大肠杆菌中大规模诱导表达, 并经Ni2+亲和柱层析纯化。通过SDS-PAGE鉴定后, 应用纯化蛋白免疫新西兰家兔, 获得效价在1:12 800以上的多抗, Western blotting鉴定表明此抗体可特异性的与表达的融合蛋白作用。