Nanoscale topography of hepatitis B antigen particles by atomic force microscopy

Hepatitis B virus envelope is mainly composed of three forms of the same protein expressed from different start codons of the same open reading frame. The smaller form named S protein corresponds to the C-terminal common region and represents about 80% of the envelope proteins. It is mainly referred as hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg). Over expressed in the host cell, this protein can be produced as spherical and tubular self-organized particles. Highly immunogenic, these particles are used in licensed hepatitis B vaccines. In this study we have combined transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy to determine the shape and size of HBsAg particles produced from the yeast Hansenula polymorpha. Tapping mode atomic force microscopy in liquid allows structural details of the surface to be delineated with a resolution in the nanometer range. Particles were decorated by closely packed spike-like structures protruding from particle surface. Protrusions appeared uniformly distributed at the surface and an average number of 75 protrusions per particle were calculated. Importantly, we demonstrated that proteins mainly contribute to the topography of the protrusions.     

Visualization of the structures of the hepatitis C virus replication complex

Hepatitis C viral RNA synthesis has been demonstrated to occur on a lipid raft membrane structure. Lipid raft membrane fraction purified by membrane flotation analysis was observed using transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Particles around 0.7 um in size were found in lipid raft membrane fraction purified from hepatitis C virus (HCV) replicon but not their parental HuH7 cells. HCV NS5A protein was associated with these specialized particles. After several cycles of freezing-thawing, these particles would fuse into larger sizes up to 10 um. Knockdown of seven proteins associated with lipid raft (VAPA, COPG, RAB18, COMT, CDC42, DPP4, and KDELR2) of HCV replicon cells reduced the observed number of these particles and suppressed the HCV replication. Results in this study indicated that HCV replication complexes with associated lipid raft membrane form distinct particle structures of around 0.7 um as observed from transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy.     

Improved particle counting and size distribution determination of aggregated virus populations by asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation and multiangle light scattering techniques

A method using a combination of asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation (AFFFF) and multiangle light scattering (MALS) techniques has been shown to improve the estimation of virus particle counts and the amount of aggregated virus in laboratory samples. The method is based on the spherical particle counting approach given by Wyatt and Weida in 2004, with additional modifications. The new method was tested by analyzing polystyrene beads and adenovirus samples, both having a well-characterized particle size and concentration. Influenza virus samples were analyzed by the new AFFFF-MALS technique, and particle size and aggregate state were compared with results from atomic force microscopy analysis. The limitations and source of possible errors for the new AFFFF-MALS analysis are discussed.     

Atomic force microscopy investigation of isolated virions of murine leukemia virus

Virions of mouse leukemia virus spread on glass substrates were visualized by atomic force microscopy. The size distribution mode was 145 nm, significantly larger than that for human immunodeficiency virus particles. The distribution of particle sizes is broad, indicating that no two particles are likely identical in content or surface features. Virions possess knoblike protrusions, which may represent vestiges of budding from cell membranes. Particles which split open allowed imaging of intact cores with diameters of 65 nm. They also permitted estimation of viral shell thickness (35 to 40 nm) and showed the presence of a distinct trough between the shell and the core surface.     

Colloidal gold particles as an incompressible atomic force microscope imaging standard for assessing the compressibility of biomolecules.

Colloidal gold particles have multiple uses as three-dimensional atomic force microscopy imaging standards because they are incompressible, monodisperse, and spherical. The spherical nature of the particles can be exploited to characterize scanning tip geometry. As uniform spheres, colloidal gold particles may be used to calibrate the vertical dimensions of atomic force microscopy at the nanometer level. The monodisperse and incompressible nature of the gold can be used to characterize the vertical dimensions of coadsorbed biomolecules. Simultaneous measurements of gold with tobacco mosaic virus show that, at the same applied vertical force, the tobacco mosaic virus is undamaged by blunt tips but is compressed or disintegrated under sharper scanning styli, suggesting that specimen degradation is partly a pressure-dependent effect.     

流行性感冒裂解疫苗免疫原性试验及电镜观察

实验报告了以三硝基甲苯X-100(Triton X-100)为裂解剂对流行性感冒病毒裂解效果的电镜观察结果及裂解疫苗的免疫原性。通过对病毒纯化、裂解、再纯化制备的3批流行性感冒裂解疫苗样品的电镜观察,表明使用此裂解剂能使疫苗中的病毒裂解完全,无完整病毒颗粒,裂解效果好。安全试验和免疫试验结果表明疫苗的安全性好,免疫效果好。     

A quantitative analysis of complex formation between IgM and immobilized ligand using atomic force microscopy

Specific interaction between human IgM and polyclonal antibodies immobilized on support was studied by atomic force microscopy. Human IgMs are responsible for a number of side effects arising during the xenotransplantation of mammalian organs to man. On the basis of atomic force microscopy, a quantitative analysis of complexes with IgM was performed. The data of the analysis agree well with the results of enzyme immunoassay. It was shown that the method of detection of immune complexes based on atomic force microscopy is able to detect specific antibodies/antigens in serum.     

JEV-DNA实时荧光定量标准品的构建

利用TaqMan荧光定量PCR技术,建立JEV-DNA定量标准品的制备方法。通过处理JEV减毒活疫苗提取病毒RNA,进行RT-PCR扩增目的片段,与T载体连接,转化感受态细胞,T-A克隆,测序鉴定后定量。获得预期的重组质粒,建立的标准曲线有较大的线性范围。此法制备的重组质粒标准品可用于对病毒载量进行测定。     

NSOM‐ and AFM‐based nanotechnology elucidates nano‐structural and atomic‐force features of a Y. pestis V immunogen‐containing particle vaccine capable of eliciting robust response

It is postulated that unique nanoscale proteomic features of immunogen on vaccine particles may determine immunogen‐packing density, stability, specificity, and pH‐sensitivity on the vaccine particle surface and thus impact the vaccine‐elicited immune responses. To test this presumption, we employed near‐filed scanning optical microscopy (NSOM)‐ and atomic force microscopy (AFM)‐based nanotechnology to study nano‐structural and single‐molecule force bases of Yersinia pestis (Y. pestis) V immunogen fused with protein anchor (V‐PA) loaded on gram positive enhancer matrix (GEM) vaccine particles. Surprisingly, the single‐molecule sensitive NSOM revealed that ～90% of V‐PA immunogen molecules were packed as high‐density nanoclusters on GEM particle. AFM‐based single‐molecule force analyses indicated a highly stable and specific binding between V‐PA and GEM at the physiological pH. In contrast, this specific binding was mostly abrogated at the acidic pH equivalent to the biochemical pH in phagolysosomes of antigen‐presenting‐cells in which immunogen protein is processed for antigen presentation. Intranasal mucosal vaccination of mice with such immunogen loaded on vaccine particles elicited robust antigen‐specific immune response. This study indicated that high‐density, high‐stability, specific, and immunological pH‐responsive loading of immunogen nanoclusters on vaccine particles could readily be presented to the immune system for induction of strong antigen‐specific immune responses.     

利用原子力显微镜对A型流感病毒的形态学研究

利用透射电子显微镜(TEM)和原子力显微镜(AFM)观察流感病毒(H1N1),探讨AFM在病毒形态研究中的应用,为病毒形态学研究提供一种新型、简便、快捷的工具.TEM采用磷钨酸负染方法,AFM采用轻敲模式在大气常温下扫描成像,并对主要指标长度(直径)、Ra、Rq等进行测量.两种方法最终得到相似的形态学结果,流感病毒呈球状、丝状,并有一些形状介于两者之间.TEM提供了流感病毒二维图像,可见钉状突起,AFM则呈现了流感病毒三维图像,且可见病毒表面有凹凸不平的特征和边缘有齿轮状的突起,同时获得表面粗糙度等可以量化指标.与TEM观察相比,原子力显微镜是一种制样简单、观察直观的新型病毒形态学研究工具,其表征参数可以作为病毒形态学研究的量化指标.     

Production of the mouse mammary tumor virus in cultures of BALB/cfC3H strain

The mouse mammary tumor virus (MTV) reproduces by a budding mechanism at the cell membrane of mouse mammary epithelial cells. In tissue culture, the tumor cells release their virions in the culture supernatant from which they can be removed by high speed centrifugation. Mammary tumor cells from the RIII, GR, and A strains of mice generally produce yields of virus which decrease after a few months. Cells derived from a spontaneous mammary tumor in a BALB/cfC3H mouse have shown the capability to shed relatively large amounts of virus continuously. A quantitative estimation by membrane immunofluorescence of the number of virus producing cells in one-year-old cultures revealed the presence of viral antigen on 80 to 90% of the cells; by comparison, cultures from other mouse strains had a ratio of only 10 to 15% virus producing cells. High speed centrifugation pellets obtained from 50 ml culture supernatant provided large amounts of mature virus particles which have been characterized by electron microscopy.     

鸭胚成纤维细胞中鸭瘟强毒的增殖特性研究

通过细胞培养物光学显微观察、细胞超薄切片研究、定量PCR检测技术对鸭胚成纤维细胞中鸭瘟强毒的增殖特性进行了研究.结果表明:鸭瘟强毒接种鸭胚成纤维细胞后42 h,可使细胞培养物出现大量明显的蚀斑病变.细胞培养物的超薄切片电镜观察研究表明,病毒核酸在胞核内常集中分布,呈直径35～45 nm的圆形颗粒状;核衣壳在胞核和胞浆内都有分布,呈直径90～100 nm的网形颗粒状;成熟病毒位于胞浆空泡内,呈直径150～300 nm的圆形,有囊膜和皮层结构;病毒通过囊膜与胞膜融合入侵细胞,在核内生成核酸、装配核衣壳,在胞浆中得到皮层,出芽到胞浆空泡内获得囊膜,通过胞吐作用释放到胞外.定量PCR研究表明:鸭瘟强毒接种细胞后10 h开始明显复制,接毒后30 h时含量趋于稳定,接毒后22 h时开始向胞外释放,50 h时达最大值,细胞和上清中病毒含量的增幅均为103左右,病毒主要存在于细胞中,其含量为上清的102～103倍.     

Atomic force microscopy detection of serological markers of viral hepatites B and C

The possibility of detection of serological markers, containing the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis C virus core-antigen (HCVcoreAg) in human serum, by a new atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based nanotechnological approach has been demonstrated. The antibodies against the hepatitis B virus surface antigen (anti-HBsAg) and the antibodies against the hepatitis C virus core antigen (anti-HCVcoreAg) were immobilized on an AFM-chip. It was shown that such approach enables to detect HBsAg, HCVcoreAg and the viral fragments containing these antigens in the serum. The comparative analysis of detection of HBsAg- and HCVcoreAg-containing particles by the AFM method versus traditional methods (ELISA, PCR) has demonstrated the 75% coincidence of results between the AFM and two other methods.     

鉴别伪狂犬病病毒野毒与疫苗毒荧光定量PCR方法的建立

根据猪伪狂犬病病毒(PRV) gH、gE基因的序列, 设计了两对引物及其对应的TaqMan探针, 通过对引物、探针、Mg2+的浓度和样品DNA提取方法等进行优化, 建立了鉴别PRV野毒与疫苗毒感染的荧光定量PCR方法。该方法线性范围为101~108拷贝/mL, 达8个数量级, 灵敏度可达101拷贝/mL, 比常规PCR高100倍。用此方法对60份疑似组织样品进行检测, 并与血清中和试验、常规PCR相比较, 结果显示该方法具有快速、灵敏、特异、重复性好和能对样品进行定量检测等优点, 并且该法以闭管的模式操作, 减少了后续步骤污染的可能性, 整个PCR检测过程不到2 h。此方法的建立, 为猪伪狂犬病病毒的早期鉴别诊断和定量分析猪伪狂犬病病毒感染程度奠定了基础。     

African swine fever virus interaction with microtubules

The role of microtubules in intracellular transport of African swine fever virus (ASFV) and virus-induced inclusions was studied by immunofluorescence using anti-ASFV and anti-tubulin antibodies, by electron microscopy of infected Vero cells and by in vitro binding of virions to purified microtubules. MTC, a reversible colchicine analogue, was used to depolymerize microtubules. In cells treated with MTC multiple large inclusions containing ASFV antigens and particles were observed in the cytoplasm. Removal of the drug lead to migration and fusion of the inclusions at a perinuclear location. To study the effect of microtubule repolymerization on virus particle distribution, the particles were counted in thin sections of MTC treated cells and at different times after removal of the drug. In cells treated with MTC 6.8% and 3.6% of the virus particles were found respectively in the cytoplasm and at the cell membrane while 38% of the particles were located around the virosome. With reversal of the drug effect the number of virus particles around the virosomes progressively decreased to 10% at 2 h while the number of particles in the cytoplasm and at the cell membrane increased. At 2 h after removal of the drug 33.5% of the particles were found budding from the cell membrane. Virus particles were found closely associated with microtubules in cytoskeletons obtained by Triton X-100 extraction of taxol treated cells. The association of virus particles with microtubules was also observed in vitro using purified microtubules and virus particles. The results show that microtubules are involved in the transport of African swine fever virus particles from the assembly site to the cell surface and in the movement and fusion of the virus inclusions.     

改良抗体结合实验检测灭活狂犬病疫苗效价

目的:建立抗体结合试验检测狂犬病疫苗(aG株)效价的方法。方法:将待检测疫苗与疫苗标准品梯度稀释后分别加入人抗狂犬病毒免疫球蛋白国家标准品中和1 h,之后加入80%感染剂量的狂犬病毒CVS-11,体外中和1h后接种BSR细胞,培养24 h后免疫荧光染色,在显微镜下观察结果,通过检测剩余病毒量计算待检疫苗的效价,同时与小鼠中和试验法(NIH法)测定狂犬病疫苗效价进行比较。结果:2种方法对8个样品效价的检测结果无显著统计学差异(P=0.997,配对t检验)。结论:初步建立了改良抗体结合试验,可用于狂犬病疫苗中间产品的质量控制。     

马传染性贫血病毒基因非编码区LTR嵌合克隆的构建

在已有全长感染性克隆pLGFD3 8 和pD70344 的基础上,根据马传贫弱毒疫苗致弱过程中不同代次毒株LTR序列的分析,在LTR U3区选取特定的酶切位点对EIAV非编码区LTR基因进行了部分替换。将替换的全基因克隆转染驴胎皮肤细胞(FDD)并以驴白细胞(DL)传代,用逆转录酶活性检测、RT PCR方法及Real time RT PCR验证其感染性。结果发现,其衍生病毒感染上述两种细胞均出现明显的细胞病变;细胞培养上清可检测到RT酶活性和RT PCR阳性。电镜下可见大量典型的EIAV颗粒。pLGFD9 12 嵌合克隆衍生病毒与其父本克隆衍生病毒pLGFD3 8具有相似的复制水平,pLGFD9 12嵌合克隆衍生病毒在DL细胞上复制水平略高于FDD细胞。此结果为进一步深入研究LTR对马传染性贫血病毒复制水平和毒力的影响奠定了基础。     

Structured model of influenza virus replication in MDCK cells

Intracellular events that take place during influenza virus replication in animal cells are well understood qualitatively. However, to better understand the complex interaction of the virus with its host cell and to quantitatively analyze the use of cellular resources for virion formation or the overall dynamic for the entire infection cycle, a mathematical model for influenza virus replication has to be formulated. Here, we present a structured model for the single-cell reproductive cycle of influenza A virus in animal cells that accounts for the individual steps of the process such as attachment, internalization, genome replication and translation, and progeny virion assembly. The model describes an average cell surrounded by a small quantity of medium and infected by a low number of virus particles. The model allows estimation of the cellular resources consumed by virus replication. Simulation results show that the number of cellular surface receptors and endosomes, as well as other resources, such as the number of free nucleotides or amino acids, is not significantly influenced by influenza virus propagation. A factor that limits the growth rate of progeny viruses and their release is the total amount of matrix proteins (M1) in the nucleus while other newly synthesized viral proteins (e.g., nucleoprotein NP) and viral RNAs accumulate. During budding, synthesis of vRNPs (viral ribonucleoprotein complexes) represents another limiting factor. Based on this model it is also possible to analyze effects of parameter changes on the dynamics of virus replication, to identify possible targets for molecular engineering, or to develop strategies for improving yields in vaccine production processes. Furthermore, a better insight into the interactions of viruses and host cells might help to improve our understanding of virus-related diseases and to develop therapies.