H9N2禽流感病毒M2 DNA疫苗初免-蛋白加强免疫的保护效果研究

流感病毒M2(基质蛋白2)是A型流感病毒的一个高度保守的蛋白。由于其免疫原性较弱,本研究采用M2 DNA疫苗初免-蛋白加强的策略来考察M2的免疫保护效果。制备A/Chicken/Jiangsu/07/2002(H9N2)流感病毒的M2 DNA疫苗以及经大肠杆菌表达的去除M2跨膜区的M2蛋白即sM2。以SPF级BALB/c小鼠为模型,电击法免疫M2 DNA疫苗,滴鼻法免疫sM2蛋白,免疫间隔三周,并于末次免疫后三周以致死量5LD50流感病毒H9N2攻击小鼠,通过检测小鼠存活率、体重丢失率、肺部病毒滴度及IgG抗体水平等指标来评价免疫的保护效果。实验结果表明,基于M2的疫苗采用DNA疫苗初免蛋白加强免疫二次的免疫程序能诱导较高的特异性抗体,明显减轻小鼠流感病症,提供完全的保护。     

流行性乙型脑炎病毒E蛋白主要抗原域的原核表达与间接ELISA检测方法的初步建立

重组质粒pET-E转化宿主菌BL21,经1.0mmol/LIPTG诱导,外源基因以包含体的形式获得高效表达。通过Westernblotting检测证明表达产物具有良好的抗原性。以纯化后表达产物作为诊断抗原包被酶标板建立了检测JEV抗体的间接ELISA方法。结果表明,抗原的最佳稀释度为1:2000,血清的最佳稀释度为1:200,待检血清阳性标准初步定为:OD490nm>1.2,且待检血清与阴性血清的OD490nm比值大于2。     

流行性乙型脑炎病毒E蛋白主要抗原域的原核表达与间接ELISA检测方法的初步建立

重组质粒pET-E转化宿主菌BL21,经1.0mmol/LIPTG诱导,外源基因以包含体的形式获得高效表达.通过Western blotting检测证明表达产物具有良好的抗原性.以纯化后表达产物作为诊断抗原包被酶标板建立了检测JEV抗体的间接ELISA方法.结果表明,抗原的最佳稀释度为12000,血清的最佳稀释度为1200,待检血清阳性标准初步定为OD490nm＞1.2,且待检血清与阴性血清的OD490m比值大于2.     

DNA疫苗预敏蛋白疫苗增强策略对乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原蛋白免疫应答的影响

目的:观察核酸疫苗预敏,乙型肝炎病毒HBsAg蛋白疫苗增强的免疫对Balb/c小鼠免疫应答的影响.方法:以TransfectionTM脂质体将乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原中蛋白(MHBs)核酸疫苗pSW3891/MHBs/adr(简称为adr),及空载体pSW3891(简称vector)体外转染293T细胞.免疫印迹法(Western blot)检测adr,vector的体外表达;动物体内研究选用Balb/c小鼠共18只,每组6只,编号后随机分为3组,即空载体质粒组(vector+vector组)、adr核酸疫苗+HBsAg蛋白疫苗(adr+protein组)、HBsAg蛋白疫苗+HBsAg蛋白疫苗(Protein+Protein组);于第0周肌肉注射法分别以vector、adr及HBsAg蛋白疫苗免疫小鼠,于第4周肌内注射法分剐以vector、HBsAg蛋白疫苗、及HBsAg蛋白疫苗免疫小鼠.采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测小鼠血清HBsAg特异性抗体、酶联免疫斑点(ELISPOT)法检测小鼠脾细胞HBsAg多肽特异性IFN-γ分泌细胞.结果:adr体外转染293T细胞后,能够表达乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原中蛋白(MHBs);体内研究结果显示:除vector+vector组外,adr+protein组、Protein+Protein组小鼠均能检出血清抗-HBs,Protein+Protein组抗-HBs终点滴度比adr+protein组高,但无统计学意义;三组中vector+vector组没有检测到特异性INF-γ分泌的脾细胞,而adr+protein组、Protein+Protein组小鼠均能检出,且adr+protein组特异性细胞数量显著高于protein+protein组(P＜0.001),具有统计学意义.结论:乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原中蛋白(MHBs)核酸疫苗预敏.能明显增强Balb/c小鼠对乙型肝炎HBsAg蛋白疫苗细胞免疫应答水平.     

表达乙型脑炎病毒E蛋白重组减毒沙门菌活载体疫苗株的构建

目的:构建表达乙型脑炎病毒(JEV)E蛋白的口服重组减毒鼠伤寒沙门菌活载体疫苗株。方法:克隆JEV E基因,将其插入表达载体pYA3341中,构建重组质粒pYA3341-E,将重组质粒电转入鼠伤寒沙门菌疫苗株X4550(缺失asd、cya、crp基因),获得重组疫苗菌株X4550(pYA3341-E);鉴定重组菌E蛋白的表达,测定重组菌的稳定性、生长曲线、安全性,以及小鼠的免疫试验和血清中和试验。结果:酶切鉴定和序列测定证实重组质粒构建成功;SDS-PAGE检测有目的蛋白条带;Western印迹证实表达的E蛋白能与猪抗JEV阳性血清特异性结合;重组菌株在体外营养选择压力下,可稳定地携带重组质粒传代繁殖,在体内可较稳定地定居于肠系膜淋巴结和脾脏;小鼠口服试验证实重组菌无毒性作用,安全可靠;小鼠口服重组菌免疫,ELISA检测产生了抗JEV抗体;中和试验表明产生的抗体具有中和活性。结论:构建了能稳定表达JEV E蛋白的口服减毒鼠伤寒沙门菌疫苗株X4550(pYA3341-E),为研究乙型脑炎口服基因工程疫苗奠定基础。     

乙型脑炎病毒感染的神经元中干扰素诱导蛋白-10与肿瘤坏死因子-α的相关性及意义

乙型脑炎病毒（Japanese encephalitis virus,JEV）感染引起血脑屏障损伤与干扰素诱导蛋白-10(Interferon gamma-induced protein-10,IP-10)表达上调及下游肿瘤坏死因子-α(Tumor necrosis factor-α,TNF-α)释放增加有关,但IP-10及TNF-α在JEV感染引起神经元损伤中的作用并不清楚。为了研究JEV感染的神经元中IP-10与TNF-α的相关性及生物学意义,本研究以SH-SY5Y细胞为实验对象,建立JEV感染的细胞模型,转染阴性对照（Negative control,NC）siRNA或IP-10 siRNA,给予溶剂或重组人TNF-α干预。干预后,检测细胞中IP-10、p-JNK的表达水平,培养基中TNF-α的含量,细胞存活率及凋亡率,JEV的滴度及拷贝数。结果显示,JEV组细胞中IP-10的表达水平及培养基中TNF-α的含量均高于对照组（P<0.05）且IP-10的表达水平与培养基中TNF-α的含量具有正相关关系;敲低IP-10后,si-IP-10+JEV组细胞中IP-10、p-JNK的...     

流行性乙型脑炎病毒减毒株和野毒株在聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳上的表现

乙型脑炎病毒减毒株(2-8株)和野毒株(SA14株)在生物学性质上有明显的不同,特别是嗜神经毒力方面,2-8株已丧失了对小白鼠、马,猴等敏感动物的脑内致病力。为了探讨这些生物学性质变化的物质基础,我们开展了乙脑强、弱毒株聚丙烯酰胺凝胶     

流行性乙型脑炎病毒E蛋白结构域Ⅲ的抗原表位鉴定与功能研究

流行性乙型脑炎病毒(Japanese encephalitis virus,JEV)是一种严重危害人畜健康的虫媒病毒.表面囊膜蛋白(E蛋白)是该病毒的主要结构蛋白.E蛋白在介导病毒与宿主细胞的吸附、融合,决定病毒的血凝活性、细胞嗜性以及决定病毒毒力和诱导宿主产生保护性免疫反应中起重要作用.E蛋白结构域Ⅲ(EⅢ)是诱导中和抗体的重要区域.为确定乙型脑炎EⅢ的抗原表位,实验首先克隆了JEV疫苗株SA14-14-2的EⅢ区域,并用pGEX-6P-1载体进行融合表达,免疫印迹分析表明,该融合蛋白能被抗JEV血清识别.为了进一步对该结构域进行抗原表位作图,设计了14个覆盖该区域且部分重叠的短肽.将各短肽与GST进行融合表达与纯化.短肽融合蛋白经JEV阳性血清免疫印迹和EUSA免疫反应性扫描分析,结果鉴定出,E39(306TEKFSFAKNPVDTGHG320)、EA5-l(355VTNPFVATSSA366)、FA8-1(377FGDSYIV384)和E49(385VGRGDKQINHHWHKAG400)4个线性抗原表位.分别将4个抗原表位融合蛋白免疫小鼠,制备各抗原表位单因子血清,结果经体外病毒中和试验表明,E39为具有病毒中和活性的抗原表位.试验结果为进一步分析JEVE蛋白结构与功能以及诊断试剂和表位疫苗的研究提供了重要工作基础.     

乙型脑炎病毒NS1′蛋白表达对小鼠毒力的影响

为探究乙型脑炎病毒NS1′蛋白表达对小鼠神经毒力和神经侵袭力的影响，以乙脑病毒疫苗株SA14-14-2为模板，对NS2A基因进行A66G定点突变，并构建全长感染性克隆。体外转录后，将病毒RNA导入BHK21细胞，获得突变病毒SA14-14-2（A66G）。同样以乙脑病毒野毒株SA14为模板，采用相同方法构建并获得突变病毒SA14（G66A）。经测序和间接免疫荧光鉴定，证明突变病毒构建成功。Western blot检测发现疫苗株SA14-14-2和SA14(G66A)不表达NS1′蛋白，而野毒株SA14和SA14-14-2（A66G）能表达NS1′蛋白。生长曲线显示突变病毒的生长特性无明显改变。蚀斑实验发现SA14(G66A)的蚀斑较SA14更小，SA14-14-2(A66G)的蚀斑较SA14-14-2更大。细胞增殖活性实验显示NS1′蛋白表达对BHK21细胞的增殖有明显抑制作用 (P＜0.01)。疫苗株SA14-14-2与SA14-14-2（A66G）对1周龄小鼠脑内接种的LD50分别为297.9 PFU(0.02 mL)和143.4 PFU(0.02 mL)，野毒株SA14和SA14(G66A)对3周龄小鼠脑内接种的LD50分别为0.8 PFU(0.03 mL)和2.3 PFU(0.03 mL)。疫苗株SA14-14-2与SA14-14-2(A66G)对2周龄小鼠腹腔接种的LD50分别为＞5.65×10⁶ PFU(0.5 mL)和＞1.46×10⁶ PFU(0.5 mL)。野毒株SA14和SA14(G66A)对3周龄小鼠腹腔接种的LD50分别为1.3×10³ PFU (0.5 mL)和1.2×10⁴ PFU(0.5 mL)。结果表明，乙脑病毒NS2A中第66位碱基是影响NS1′蛋白表达与否的关键位点，且NS1′蛋白表达能提高病毒对小鼠的神经毒力与神经侵袭力，其中对侵袭力的影响更为显著。     

乙型脑炎病毒SA14-14-2株E蛋白主要抗原片段的高效表达

在本实验室已构建的原核表达载体(含乙脑疫苗株SA14-14-2株E蛋白基因主要抗原片段)的基础上用巴斯德毕赤酵母系统表达,该片段长1113bp,编码371个氨基酸残基,将其亚克隆入酵母表达载体pPICZα-A,以电穿孔法转化酵母X-33,用Zeocin平板筛选重组子,经甲醇诱导表达后,SDS-PAGE和免疫印迹分析表达产物.由于糖基化不同,所表达产物有两种,其相对分子质量分别为44kDa和50kDa,表达量较高,约为290mg/L,经Western印迹验证,有较好的抗原性.在ELISA试验中,我们直接以PBS透析后的酵母上清包被,能够很明显地区分出乙脑阴阳性血清,与RT-PCR检测的相符率达95%,为制备JEV的诊断抗原和基因工程疫苗提供了依据.     

RIG-I mediates innate immune response in mouse neurons following Japanese encephalitis virus infection

Background

Neuroinflammation associated with Japanese encephalitis (JE) is mainly due to the activation of glial cells with subsequent release of proinflammatory mediators from them. The recognition of viral RNA, in part, by the pattern recognition receptor retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) has been indicated to have a role in such processes. Even though neurons are also known to express this receptor, its role after JE virus (JEV) infections is yet to be elucidated.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Upon infecting murine neuroblastoma cells and primary cortical neurons with JEV the expression profile of key proinflammatory cyto/chemokines were analyzed by qRT-PCR and bead array, both before and after ablation of RIG-I. Immunoblotting was performed to evaluate the levels of key molecules downstream to RIG-I leading to production of proinflammatory mediators. Changes in the intracellular viral antigen expression were confirmed by intracellular staining and immunoblotting. JEV infection induced neuronal expression of IL-6, IL-12p70, MCP-1, IP-10 and TNF-α in a time-dependent manner, which showed significant reduction upon RIG-I ablation. Molecules downstream to RIG-I showed significant changes upon JEV-infection, that were modulated following RIG-I ablation. Ablation of RIG-I in neurons also increased their susceptibility to JEV.

Conclusions/Significance

In this study we propose that neurons are one of the potential sources of proinflammatory cyto/chemokines in JEV-infected brain that are produced via RIG-I dependent pathways. Ablation of RIG-I in neurons leads to increased viral load and reduced release of the cyto/chemokines.     

Effect of cytokine-encoding plasmid delivery on immune response to Japanese encephalitis virus DNA vaccine in mice

We have previously shown that immunization of mice with plasmid pMEa synthesizing Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) envelope protein induced anti-JEV humoral and cellular immune responses. We now show that intra-muscular co-administration of mice with pMEa and pGM-CSF, encoding murine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor or pIL-2, encoding murine interleukin-2 given 4 days after pMEa, augmented anti-JEV antibody titers. This did not enhance the level of protection in immunized mice against JEV. However, intra-dermal co-administration of pMEa and pGM-CSF in mice using the gene gun, enhanced anti-JEV antibody titers resulting in an increased level of protection in mice against lethal JEV challenge.     

Strain difference of mouse in susceptibility to Japanese encephalitis virus infection

Eight strains of mice were examined for their susceptibilities to intraperitoneal infection with AS-6 strain of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). 1) C3H/He mice suffered from a high mortality as well as infection rate. 2) C57BL/6, RR, NC and KK mice showed approximately the same infection rates as C3H/He, while these strains showed significantly lower mortalities than C3H/He. 3) AA, BALB/c and ddY mice showed no death and had the lowest infection rates among the eight strains. There was no difference in the virus recovery from six visceral organs (except the brain) between C3H/He, C57BL/6 and AA. Despite the equal degree of preceding viremia, the incidence of encephalitis was much lower in C57BL/6 than in C3H/He. The same strain difference as the above was also observed in C3H/He and C57BL/6 by intravenous inoculation with JEV. However, there was no difference in mortality between C3H/He and C57BL/6 mice when intracerebrally inoculated with JEV. The incubation period and survival time in the intracerebral inoculation were shorter than in the intraperitoneal and intravenous inoculations. The three types of strains were characterized: the first (C3H/He) was highly susceptible to both visceral phase infection (VI) and nervous phase infection (NI): the second (C57BL/6) was susceptible to VI but resistant to NI, and the third (AA) was probably resistant to VI and highly resistant to NI.     

Virus-neuron interactions in the mouse brain infected with Japanese encephalitis virus

The virus-host interactions between Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus and mouse brain neurons were analyzed by electron microscopy. JE virus replicated exclusively in the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) of neurons. In the early phase of infection, the perikaryon of infected neurons had relatively normal-looking lamellar RER whose cisternae showed focal dilations containing progeny virions and characteristic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) vesicles. The reticular RER, consisted of rows of ribosomes surrounding irregular-shaped, membrane-unbounded cisternae and resembled that observed in JE-virus-infected PC12 cells, were also seen adjacent to the lamellar RER. The appearance of the reticular RER indicated that RER morphogenesis occurred in infected neurons in association with the viral replication. The fine network of Golgi apparatus was extensively obliterated by fragmentation and dissolution of the Golgi membranes and their replacement by the electron-lucent material. As the infection progressed, the lamellar RER was increasingly replaced by the hypertrophic RER which had diffusely dilated cisternae containing multiple progeny virions and ER vesicles. The Golgi apparatus, at this stage, was seen as coarse, localized Golgi complexes near the hypertrophic RER. In the later phase of infection, RER of infected neurons showed a degenerative change, with the cystically dilated cisternae being filled with ER vesicles and virions. Small, localized Golgi complexes frequently showed vesiculation, vacuolation, and dispersion. The present study, therefore, indicated that during the viral replication the normal lamellar RER which synthesized neuronal secretory and membrane proteins was replaced by the hypertrophic RER which synthesized the viral proteins. The hypertrophic RER eventually degenerated into cystic RER whose cisternae were filled with viral products. The constant degenerative change which occurred in the Golgi apparatus during the viral replication suggested that some of the viral proteins transported from RER to the Golgi apparatus were harmful to the Golgi apparatus and that increasing damage to the Golgi apparatus during the viral replication played the principal role in the pathogenesis of JE-virus-infected neurons in the central nervous system.     

A new model for Hendra virus encephalitis in the mouse

Hendra virus (HeV) infection in humans is characterized by an influenza like illness, which may progress to pneumonia or encephalitis and lead to death. The pathogenesis of HeV infection is poorly understood, and the lack of a mouse model has limited the opportunities for pathogenetic research. In this project we reassessed the role of mice as an animal model for HeV infection and found that mice are susceptible to HeV infection after intranasal exposure, with aged mice reliably developing encephalitic disease. We propose an anterograde route of neuroinvasion to the brain, possibly along olfactory nerves. This is supported by evidence for the development of encephalitis in the absence of viremia and the sequential distribution of viral antigen along pathways of olfaction in the brain of intranasally challenged animals. In our studies mice developed transient lower respiratory tract infection without progressing to viremia and systemic vasculitis that is common to other animal models. These studies report a new animal model of HeV encephalitis that will allow more detailed studies of the neuropathogenesis of HeV infection, particularly the mode of viral spread and possible sequestration within the central nervous system; investigation of mechanisms that moderate the development of viremia and systemic disease; and inform the development of improved treatment options for human patients.     

Suppression of immune response and protective immunity to a Japanese encephalitis virus DNA vaccine by coadministration of an IL-12-expressing plasmid

IL-12 plays a central role in both innate and acquired immunity and has been demonstrated to potentiate the protective immunity in several experimental vaccines. However, in this study, we show that IL-12 can be detrimental to the immune responses elicited by a plasmid DNA vaccine. Coadministration of the IL-12-expressing plasmid (pIL-12) significantly suppressed the protective immunity elicited by a plasmid DNA vaccine (pE) encoding the envelope protein of Japanese encephalitis virus. This suppressive effect was associated with marked reduction of specific T cell proliferation and Ab responses. A single dose of pIL-12 treatment with plasmid pE in initial priming resulted in significant immune suppression to subsequent pE booster immunization. The pIL-12-mediated immune suppression was dose dependent and evident only when the IL-12 gene was injected either before or coincident with the pE DNA vaccine. Finally, using IFN-gamma gene-disrupted mice, we showed that the suppressive activity of the IL-12 plasmid was dependent upon endogenous production of IFN-gamma. These results demonstrate that coexpression of the IL-12 gene can sometimes produce untoward effects to immune responses, and thus its application as a vaccine adjuvant should be carefully evaluated.     

A kinetic study of gamma interferon production in herpes simplex virus-1 DNA prime-protein boost regimen comparing to DNA or subunit vaccination

The vast majority of the world’s population is infected with Herpes simplex virus (HSV). Although antiviral therapy can reduce the incidence of reactivation and asymptomatic viral shedding and limits morbidity and mortality from active disease, it cannot cure infection. Therefore, the development of an effective vaccine is an important global health priority. In this study, the induction of IFN-γ production was compared in different herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) vaccines. Glycoprotein D (gD1) as a major immunogenic HSV-1 glycoprotein was chosen to our study. Balb/c mice were administered with DNA vaccine encoding gD1, subunit glycoprotein vaccine including insect cells infected by a gD1 recombinant Baculovirus, prime DNA vaccine boosted by subunit glycoprotein vaccine, inactivated KOS strain as a positive control, pcDNA3 plasmid and Sf9 cells as negative controls. Evaluation tests showed that the amount of IFN-γ mRNA at 8, 16 and 32 hours after restimulation sharply decreased whereas, the IFN-γ protein level is significantly increased. Our results revealed that at 14 days after immunization IFN-γ secretion of stimulated cells in all of the vaccinated groups dramatically raised rather than secreted IFN-γ levels in mice that were analyzed at 7 days after vaccination. In comparison to other groups; Prime-Boost immunization dramatically caused vigorous and prompt IFN-γ production at 7 days after immunization and 8 hours after restimulation. The article is published in the original.