猪脾转移因子对La Sota株鸡新城疫弱毒疫苗的免疫增强作用

【目的】本文旨在研究猪脾转移因子（TF）对新城疫（ND）病毒弱毒疫苗La Sota株的免疫增强作用及机理,为兽医临床防控提供理论依据。【方法】以4种不同剂量La Sota疫苗株分别单独、与TF联合免疫SPF鸡,14 d后以ND病毒（NDV）参考强毒F₄₈E₉株(10^4.7 ELD₅₀)进行攻毒,采用蛋白质芯片技术测定鸡外周血IL-6、IL-10、IL-16和IL-21浓度,并以血凝抑制（HI）试验和荧光定量RT-PCR方法分别检测鸡ND HI抗体效价和F₄₈E₉株的病毒血症水平。【结果】攻毒保护试验表明,单独免疫10^5.17、10^4.17、10^3.17和10^2.17 EID₅₀剂量时疫苗攻毒保护率分别为100%、55%、0%和0%,半数保护量(PD₅₀)为12 023 EID₅₀;对应剂量联合免疫时疫苗攻...     

利用反向遗传操作技术产生ZJI株鹅源新城疫病毒

利用反向遗传操作技术,将ZJI株鹅源新城疫病毒全基因组cNDA克隆(NDV3GM122)和含该毒株NP、P及L基因的3个表达载体(pCI-NP、pCI-P与pCI-L)共转染BSR-T7/5细胞;同时,将NDV3GM122与含新城疫病毒La Sota毒株NP、P及L基因的3个表达载体(pCIneoNP、pCIneoP与pCIneoL)进行共转染。通过间接免疫荧光实验(Indiectimmunofluorescence assay,IFA)以及接种鸡胚后进行血凝(Hemagglutinin,HA)与血凝抑制(Hemagglutinininhibition,HI)试验、RT-PCR扩增和电镜观察,结果均证实全基因组cDNA克隆NDV3GM122与La Sota毒株表达载体共转染组产生了有血凝性的鹅源新城疫病毒,而NDV3GM122与ZJI株表达载体共转染组暂未检测到有血凝性的病毒。ZJI株鹅源新城疫病毒的拯救成功为对该病毒进行功能基因组研究和疫苗的研制等后续工作打下了基础。     

4株鸽新城疫病毒的基因组序列与致病性分析

本研究对从北京、天津以及山东地区发病鸽群中分离到的4株鸽新城疫病毒（Newcastle disease virus,NDV）进行基因组测序和遗传进化分析,并进一步比较这些毒株对鸽子的致病性。研究通过特异性引物扩增4株鸽NDV的全长基因组序列后与GenBank上已登陆的所有鸽NDV毒株的序列进行遗传进化分析;通过病毒生物学特性的测定比较分离株的毒力;通过病毒感染1月龄肉鸽,检测分离株对鸽子的致病性。结果显示4株鸽NDV毒株均属于ClassⅡ类基因Ⅵb亚型病毒,其中Pigeon/China/BJ2018株、Pigeon/China/TJ2017株和Pigeon/China/BJ2013株属于VIb/4bii f亚型,Pigeon/China/SD2012株属于VIb/4bii d亚型。4株病毒与目前国内鸽NDV流行株属于同一进化分支,与鸡源经典疫苗株La Sota属于不同进化分支。对这四个毒株进行生物学特性测定,均为中等毒力毒株。4株病毒中,Pigeon/China/BJ2018株对1月龄肉鸽的致病性最强,通过肌肉注射途径攻毒后3d肉鸽开始表现临床症状,攻毒后第5d开始出现死亡,累计死亡率...     

致蛋鸡血管瘤J亚群禽白血病病毒cDNA全序列分析

【目的】了解近年来我国商品蛋鸡群中以血管瘤为主要表型的J亚群禽白血病病毒(Avian Leukosis Virus subgroup J,ALV-J)的分子生物学特性,为控制ALV-J在鸡群中流行提供基础资料。【方法】采用PCR扩增和序列分析技术,对分离自血管瘤或者血管瘤与髓样细胞瘤(Myeloid Leukosis,ML)并存的3株蛋鸡ALV-J毒株前病毒DNA的全序列及3株商品蛋鸡血管瘤型分离毒和1株商品蛋鸡ML型分离毒的致瘤关键性序列进行研究。【结果】来自血管瘤或者血管瘤与ML并存的商品蛋鸡分离毒株与来自肉鸡分离毒株的全序列差异明显,在遗传进化树上分属两个大的分支;研究发现商品蛋鸡血管瘤及ML混合病例分离毒JS09GY3与JS09GY6株的引物结合位点(Primer Binding Site,PBS)-Leader中出现极为罕见的连续19bp的插入突变,其与劳斯相关病毒1(Rous Associated Virustype1,RAV-1)、劳斯相关病毒2(Rous Associated Virustype2,RAV-2)及劳斯肉瘤病毒施密特-鲁宾二氏[Rous sarcoma virus(strain Schmidt-RuppinB),RSV-SRB]毒株序列相同;通过对U3区调控元件的分析,发现血管瘤商品蛋鸡病例分离毒NHH与JS09GY5的U3区各发生1处连续序列缺失,出现了极为独特的c-Est-1、TCF11及C/EBP结合位点,这些调控元件可能与病毒的致肿瘤特性相关;所测的5株血管瘤商品蛋鸡分离毒均保留完整E元件,而所有肉鸡分离毒的E元件均发生了几乎相同的大部分序列缺失;首次发现血管瘤商品蛋鸡分离毒JS09GY3的E元件中有11bp的连续插入序列。【结论】商品蛋鸡血管瘤型ALV-J与肉鸡分离毒在全序列上差异明显,U3、DR1和E元件等区域有一部分特殊的突变与毒株的宿主类型和肿瘤表型有一定关系,其功能尚需进一步研究。而血管瘤型、髓细胞瘤型ALV-J可能是ALV-J与其它反转录病毒的重组毒。     

整合REV LTR序列的MDV弱毒株的分离鉴定与生物学特性

【目的】从非免疫健康三黄鸡中分离到一株马立克氏病病毒(MDV),命名为MDV GD06株,本工作系统研究了其生物学特性。【方法】PCR扩增GD06株Meq基因及短末端重复区(RS)序列,进行序列分析,并用间接免疫荧光试验进行血清型特异性鉴定;通过接种SPF鸡和鸡胚成纤维细胞(CEF)来判定GD06株体内外的增殖能力;为确定GD06株的致病性,用1日龄SPF鸡进行攻毒试验。【结果】GD06株为MDV血清I型病毒,其基因组中自然整合禽网状内皮增殖症病毒(REV)的长末端重复序列(LTR),Meq基因富含脯氨酸的结构域比参考强毒株Md5多59个氨基酸,与MD商品化疫苗CVI988/Rispens和814株相符,具有弱毒株的特征。在接种CEF细胞96、120、144、168、192 h,GD06株病毒滴度分别为1.9×105、3.9×105、6.1×105、6.5×105、5.8×105PFU,明显比CVI988/Rispens(病毒滴度分别为1.3×105、3.5×105、5.0×105、5.7×105、4.7×105PFU)高(P0.05);接种SPF鸡21、28天,GD06株在鸡体内的病毒滴度分别为740和350 PFU,明显比CVI988/Rispens株(病毒滴度分别为460、216 PFU)高(P0.05),结果表明,GD06株在CEF细胞和鸡体内具有比CVI988/Rispens更快的增殖能力。人工接种攻毒实验表明,GD06株对SPF鸡没有致病性,不引免疫抑制。【结论】研究结果表明,MDV GD06株为国内首次分离的自然整合有REV LTR序列的重组MDV弱毒株。     

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。     

新城疫不同毒株交叉鸡胚中和指数及其与F和HN基因变异的相关性

选取13株国内2001～2004年分离的新城疫流行病毒(Newcastle disease virus,NDV),经蚀斑纯化,克隆其融合蛋白(F)和血凝素.神经氨酸酶(HN)基因,结合疫苗株La Sota、Clone30和国内标准强毒株F48E9等的基因序列,进行遗传变异分析.利用纯化的病毒制备特异阳性血清,进行鸡胚交叉中和试验,确定不同NDV毒株之间的抗原相关性,并与NDV不同毒株之间的HN和F基因核苷酸(氨基酸)同源性进行相关比较.结果表明:病毒中和指数与HN基因的核苷酸(氨基酸)同源性显著相关(P<0.01,r=-0.35),与F基因呈弱相关(P<0.05,r=0.20),而与F基因前374bp的核甘酸同源性不相关.这表明,NDV的分子变异已经对NDV的抗原性变异产生了影响,研制新型的疫苗成为必然.     

鸽新城疫病毒BJ-C分离株基因组测序及系统发育分析

【背景】鸽新城疫是由鸽Ⅰ型副黏病毒(pigeon paramyxovirus type Ⅰ,PPMV-1)感染引起的危害最严重的疫病之一,至今尚无有效的防控制剂。【目的】分析鸽新城疫病毒BJ-C株的基因组信息及系统发育关系,为鸽新城疫的防控提供科学依据。【方法】设计首尾重叠的6对特异性引物,利用分段扩增的方法,以鸽新城疫病毒BJ-C株基因组cDNA为模板,分别扩增、测序后进行全基因组序列拼接。以NCBI数据库中发布的新城疫病毒序列为参考,针对鸽新城疫病毒BJ-C株的基因组、F基因建立系统发育树。【结果】鸽新城疫病毒BJ-C株的基因组全长为15192nt。基于全基因组的系统发育分析发现其与PPMV-1/BJ-01/CH株的系统发育关系最近,核苷酸相似性为99.96%,氨基酸相似性高达100%,属于同一个分支,而与LaSota疫苗株等其他新城疫毒株的亲缘关系相对较远。基于F基因序列的系统发育树分析发现BJ-C株F基因与我国的BJP2013株同属一个分支。ClassⅡ类Ⅵ亚型F基因高变区序列(47-420nt)比对结果显示,安徽株Pigeon/Anhui/2369/2012、广东株Pigeon/Guangdong/GZ288/2013、北京株BJP13、浙江株Pigeon/Zhejiang/2036/2012及比利时株PPMV-1/Belgium/11-09620/2011等与BJ-C毒株处于同一个分支,同属Ⅵb亚型。【结论】本研究获得了鸽新城疫病毒BJ-C株全基因组序列,分析了其系统发育关系,确定其属于ClassⅡ类Ⅵb型,为后续防控产品的开发提供了理论依据。     

2012–2015年江淮地区猪丹毒杆菌分离株血清型、spaA基因遗传进化及PFGE基因型分析

【目的】了解2012–2015年江淮地区猪丹毒杆菌分离株血清型分布、spaA基因遗传进化关系和基因分型特征。【方法】收集临床分离鉴定的42株猪丹毒杆菌,应用琼脂扩散沉淀实验、PCR扩增和序列分析技术、脉冲场凝胶电泳分型技术(PFGE)分别测定分离株的血清型、spaA基因遗传变异性及PFGE基因型。【结果】42株猪丹毒杆菌分离株血清型均为1a型;spaA基因与猪丹毒杆菌国内外参考株核苷酸序列相似性为98.5%–100%,分离株在第609 bp处出现T突变为G、769 bp处C突变为A,对应的氨基酸第203位Ile突变为Met、第257位Leu突变为Ile,为Met-203、Ile-257型;分离株形成8个PFGE基因型,相似度达88.8%–100%,优势基因型为ER2 (54.8%),弱毒疫苗G4T10和GC42株独立为同一个基因型。【结论】江淮地区致病猪丹毒杆菌流行血清型为1a型,spaA基因相似性高,分离株变异小、源于同一克隆系,Met-203、Ile-257型菌株致病力强,是江淮地区猪丹毒发生与流行的主要致病菌型。     

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。     

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.     

3株禽滑液囊支原体分离株致病性的比较和评价

【背景】禽滑液囊支原体是感染鸡的一种重要病原体,给我国的家禽养殖业带来了严重的经济损失。【目的】评价从病鸡中分离到的3株禽滑液囊支原体的致病性,以期丰富不同区域来源的分离株对鸡致病性的认识。【方法】分别用分离株CHN-WF224-2016、CHN-BZJ2-2015、CHN-JNB19-2016感染商品肉鸡,并在攻毒后第10天和21天进行实验室解剖,通过气囊和足垫的临床病变、血清学检测结果及气管粘膜病理形态学改变来比较评价分离株的致病力。【结果】CHN-BZJ2-2015和CHN-WF224-2016分离株能引起明显足垫肿胀和关节滑膜炎,其中CHN-BZJ2-2015分离株致病力最强,感染21 d后的血清学检测和气管粘膜厚度与CHN-JNB19-2016分离株和MS-H疫苗株比较差异显著(P<0.05)。【结论】本研究表明我国目前流行的禽滑液囊支原体菌株其致病力存在明显差异,强调养殖场要积极控制和预防禽滑液囊支原体感染的重要性,同时为今后该疫苗的研发积累了实验数据。     

J亚群禽白血病病毒蛋鸡分离株SD07LK1全基因组核苷酸序列的比较

[目的]分析我国ALV-J蛋鸡分离株的来源和进一步演变趋势.[方法]以J亚群禽白血病病毒(ALV-J)蛋鸡分离株SD07LK1感染的鸡胚成纤维细胞(CEF)基因组:DNA作为其前病毒基因组模板,根据已发表序列设计合成9对引物,经PCR扩增出9段连续的、相互部分重叠的DNA片段和闭合环形前病毒两末端LTR的连接区段,并分别连入T载体进行克隆、测序.[结果]用:DNAstar软件对测序结果进行剪辑和拼接,首次完成了ALV-J蛋鸡分离株SD07LK1的前病毒全基因组核苷酸序列.[结论]将该序列与另外已完成的全基因组序列的比较表明,ALV-J的整个基因组gag和pol基因相对保守,各毒株间对应基因的同源性分别在95.O%以上,env基因的同源性仅为88.6%～94.0%.     

Pathogenicity and molecular characterization of a fowl adenovirus 4 isolated from chicken associated with IBH and HPS in China

Background

Since July in 2015, an emerging infectious disease, Fowl adenovirus (FAdV) species C infection with Hepatitis-Hydropericardium syndrome was prevalent in chicken flocks in China. In our study, one FAdV strain was isolated from commercial broiler chickens and was designated as SDSX1.The phylogenetic information, genetic mutations and pathogenicity of SDSX1 were evaluated.

Results

The phylogenetic analysis indicated that SDSX1 is a strain of serotype 4, FAdV-C. The amino acid analysis of fiber-2 showed that there were more than 20 mutations compared with the non-virulent FAdV-C strains. The pathogenic evaluation of SDSX1 showed that the mortality of one-day-old chickens inoculated SDSX1 was 100%. The typical histopathological changes of SDSX1 were characterized by the presence of basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies in hepatocytes. The virus copies in different tissues varied from10⁷ to 10¹¹ per 100?mg tissue and liver had the highest virus genome copies.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the isolate SDSX1, identified as FAdV-4, could cause one-day-old chicks’ typical inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) and hepatitis-hydropericardium syndrome (HHS) with 100% mortality. The virus genome loads were the highest in the liver. Molecular analysis indicated that substitutions in fiber-2 proteins may contribute to the pathogenicity of SDSX1.

     

Complete Genome Sequence Analysis of a Natural Reassortant Infectious Bursal Disease Virus in China

A novel isolate of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) was designated GX-NN-L. The GX-NN-L IBDV was a very virulent infectious bursal disease virus (vvIBDV) isolated from broiler flocks in Guangxi province, China, in 2011. The GX-NN-L IBDV caused high mortality, immunosuppression, low weight gain, and bursal atrophy in commercial broilers. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of the GX-NN-L IBDV, a reassortment strain with segments A and B derived from very virulent strains and attenuated IBDV, respectively. These findings from this study provide additional insights into the genetic exchange between attenuated and very virulent strains of IBDV and continuous monitoring of the spread of the virus in chicken.     

短发夹结构RNA干扰新城疫病毒的增殖

 以新城疫病毒（NDV）NP基因为标靶,构建3个细胞内表达发夹样结构小干扰RNA（shRNA）的质粒载体,在鸡胚成纤维细胞（CEF）和鸡胚上进行了RNAi试验,筛选出一个有效抑制病毒复制的小分子ndv1.用阳离子脂质体转染试剂Silent-fect 将ndv1转染CEF,以不相关shRNA质粒载体HK为阴性对照,4 h后接种NDV,与对照相比,干涉组在病毒感染后3 h NP基因的表达量降低2.3倍,6 h 降低21.1倍,9 h降低9.8倍;ndv1能在48 h内完全阻断NDV在CEF中的增殖,延缓病变出现时间,减轻病变程度.将Silent-fect-ndv1混合物与NDV同时注入10日龄SPF鸡胚绒毛尿囊腔,能使10⁵ ELD₅₀NDV感染后17 h鸡胚尿囊液中病毒增殖量减少94.4%,使10⁶ ELD₅₀NDV感染后17　h鸡胚尿囊液中病毒增殖量减少62.5%.实验结果证实,在CEF中存在RNAi机制,抑制NDV NP基因的表达能有效阻断该病毒增殖,说明NP基因在NDV复制过程中起重要作用.实验结果为进一步利用RNAi技术在CEF和鸡胚中研究病毒基因组功能及筛选抗病毒小分子奠定了基础.     

Newcastle disease virus V protein is a determinant of host range restriction

It has been demonstrated that the V protein of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) functions as an alpha/beta interferon (IFN-alpha/beta) antagonist (M. S. Park, M. L. Shaw, J. Mu?oz-Jordan, J. F. Cros, T. Nakaya, N. Bouvier, P. Palese, A. García-Sastre, and C. F. Basler, J. Virol. 77:1501-1511, 2003). We now show that the NDV V protein plays an important role in host range restriction. In order to study V functions in vivo, recombinant NDV (rNDV) mutants, defective in the expression of the V protein, were generated. These rNDV mutants grow poorly in both embryonated chicken eggs and chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEFs) compared to the wild-type (wt) rNDV. However, insertion of the NS1 gene of influenza virus A/PR8/34 into the NDV V(-) genome [rNDV V(-)/NS1] restores impaired growth to wt levels in embryonated chicken eggs and CEFs. These data indicate that for viruses infecting avian cells, the NDV V protein and the influenza NS1 protein are functionally interchangeable, even though there are no sequence similarities between the two proteins. Interestingly, in human cells, the titer of wt rNDV is 10 times lower than that of rNDV V(-)/NS1. Correspondingly, the level of IFN secreted by human cells infected with wt rNDV is much higher than that secreted by cells infected with the NS1-expressing rNDV. This suggests that the IFN antagonist activity of the NDV V protein is species specific. Finally, the NDV V protein plays an important role in preventing apoptosis in a species-specific manner. The rNDV defective in V induces apoptotic cell death more rapidly in CEFs than does wt rNDV. Taken together, these data suggest that the host range of NDV is limited by the ability of its V protein to efficiently prevent innate host defenses, such as the IFN response and apoptosis.     

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。     

Selection of Temperature-Sensitive Mutants During Persistent Infection: Role in Maintenance of Persistent Newcastle Disease Virus Infections of L Cells

Virus mutants (NDV(pi)) recovered from L cells persistently infected with Newcastle disease virus (NDV, Herts strain) are temperature-sensitive (ts) at 43 C, although the wild-type virus (NDV(o)) which initiated the persistent infection replicates normally at that temperature. To study the relationship between the ts marker of NDV(pi) and the other properties which distinguish this virus from NDV(o), NDV(pi) ts(+) revertants were selected at the nonpermissive temperature and NDV(o) ts mutants were generated by treating NDV(o) with nitrous acid. Spontaneously-occurring ts mutants in the Herts NDV population were also isolated. The different virus populations were characterized with regard to plaque size, virulence for eggs, and thermal stability of infectivity, hemagglutinin, and neuraminidase. The NDV(pi) ts(+) revertants, although no longer temperature-sensitive, retained NDV(pi) properties, whereas both spontaneously-occurring and mutagen-induced ts mutants remained wild-type in their other properties. These findings showed that the properties which characterized NDV(pi) were independent of the ts marker. However, the ts marker and the other markers of NDV(pi) were coselected during the persistent infection, and the combination of those markers appeared to be important in the outcome of NDV infection of L cells. NDV(pi) replicated productively in L cells, whereas NDV(o), the NDV(pi) ts(+) revertants, and the spontaneously-occurring ts mutants all yielded covert infections in L cells. The role of the selection of ts mutants in persistent infection was confirmed as follows: L cells were persistently infected with NDV(pi) ts(+) revertants and NDV(o) ts mutants. Virus recovered from the persistently infected cultures after eight cell passages was always temperature-sensitive and of smaller plaque size than the parental virus in chicken embryo cell cultures. Similar results were obtained with virus recovered from L-cell cultures persistently infected with two other velogenic strains of NDV, the Texas-GB and Kansas-Man strains. These results strongly suggest that selection of ts mutants during the persistent infection was not random and played a role in establishment or maintenance of the persistent infection, or both.