Dominance of a nonpathogenic glycoprotein gene over a pathogenic glycoprotein gene in rabies virus

The nonpathogenic phenotype of the live rabies virus (RV) vaccine SPBNGAN is determined by an Arg-->Glu exchange at position 333 in the glycoprotein, designated GAN. We recently showed that after several passages of SPBNGAN in mice, an Asn-->Lys mutation arose at position 194 of GAN, resulting in GAK, which was associated with a reversion to the pathogenic phenotype. Because an RV vaccine candidate containing two GAN genes (SPBNGAN-GAN) exhibits increased immunogenicity in vivo compared to the single-GAN construct, we tested whether the presence of two GAN genes might also enhance the probability of reversion to pathogenicity. Comparison of SPBNGAN-GAN with RVs constructed to contain either both GAN and GAK genes (SPBNGAN-GAK and SPBNGAK-GAN) or two GAK genes (SPBNGAK-GAK) showed that while SPBNGAK-GAK was pathogenic, SPBNGAN-GAN and SPBNGAN-GAK were completely nonpathogenic and SPBNGAK-GAN showed strongly reduced pathogenicity. Analysis of genomic RV RNA in mouse brain tissue revealed significantly lower virus loads in SPBNGAN-GAK- and SPBNGAK-GAN-infected brains than those detected in SPBNGAK-GAK-infected brains, indicating the dominance of the nonpathogenic phenotype determined by GAN over the GAK-associated pathogenic phenotype. Virus production and viral RNA synthesis were markedly higher in SPBNGAN-, SPBNGAK-GAN-, and SPBNGAN-GAK-infected neuroblastoma cells than in the SPBNGAK- and SPBNGAK-GAK-infected counterparts, suggesting control of GAN dominance at the level of viral RNA synthesis. These data point to the lower risk of reversion to pathogenicity of a recombinant RV carrying two identical GAN genes compared to that of an RV carrying only a single GAN gene.     

Novel human 3-domain disulfide-stabilized antibody fragment against glycoprotein of rabies virus

Mutated disulfide bond sites VH (Cys44) and VL (Cys100) were constructed in variable domains (Fvs) of the human anti-glycoprotein antigen of the rabies virus (anti-GPRV), and the light chain variable (VL) and heavy chain variable (VH) fragments were linked using the heavy chain constant region 1 (CH1) of the human immunoglobulin (Ig) to successfully construct a 3-domain disulfide-stabilized fragment of variables (3d-dsFv). 3d-dsFv was mainly expressed as an inclusion body. After refolding by the conventional dilution method, 3d-dsFv was purified using a nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni-NTA) column. Enyzme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the binding activity of 3d-dsFv to GPRV. Flow cytometry studies and rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test were used to evaluate the function of 3d-dsFv. The results showed that the stability of 3d-dsFv was improved notably in some aspects such as thermal kinetics, ability to withstand urea denaturation, etc. 3d-dsFv could bind specially to infective cells and the GPRV. The titration of 3d-dsFv to RV-CVS is 83.3 IU/mg, and it can easily reach 2.5IU/mL, which is the value suggested by the WHO as effective for neutralization titration of the rabies virus.     

Oligosaccharides of the glycoprotein of rabies virus.

The number of oligosaccharide side chains on rabies virus glycoprotein (G-protein) was investigated. Analysis of glycopeptides obtained by protease digestion of desialated G-protein revealed three discrete glycopeptides. Comparison of the protease digestion products from desialated and from untreated G-protein indicated a heterogeneity among the glycopeptides in the sialic acid content. Two major tryptic glycopeptides were isolated from desialated rabies virus G-protein and analyzed after protease digestion; one contained two oligosaccharide side chains and the other contained a single oligosaccharide side chain.     

Mokola virus glycoprotein and chimeric proteins can replace rabies virus glycoprotein in the rescue of infectious defective rabies virus particles.

A reverse genetics approach which allows the generation of infectious defective rabies virus (RV) particles entirely from plasmid-encoded genomes and proteins (K.-K. Conzelmann and M. Schnell, J. Virol. 68:713-719, 1994) was used to investigate the ability of a heterologous lyssavirus glycoprotein (G) and chimeric G constructs to function in the formation of infectious RV-like particles. Virions containing a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene (SDI-CAT) were generated in cells simultaneously expressing the genomic RNA analog, the RV N, P, M, and L proteins, and engineered G constructs from transfected plasmids. The infectivity of particles was determined by a CAT assay after passage to helper virus-infected cells. The heterologous G protein from Eth-16 virus (Mokola virus, lyssavirus serotype 3) as well as a construct in which the ectodomain of RV G was fused to the cytoplasmic and transmembrane domains of the Eth-16 virus G rescued infectious SDI-CAT particles. In contrast, a chimeric protein composed of the amino-terminal half of the Eth-16 virus G and the carboxy-terminal half of RV G failed to produce infectious particles. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to convert the antigenic site III of RV G to the corresponding sequence of Eth-16 G. This chimeric protein rescued infectious SDI-CAT particles as efficiently as RV G. Virions containing the chimeric protein were specifically neutralized by an anti-Eth-16 virus serum and escaped neutralization by a monoclonal antibody directed against RV antigenic site III. The results show that entire structural domains as well as short surface epitopes of lyssavirus G proteins may be exchanged without affecting the structure required to mediate infection of cells.     

Preparation and diagnostic use of a novel recombinant single-chain antibody against rabies virus glycoprotein

Rabies virus (RABV) causes a fatal infectious disease, but effective protection may be achieved with the use of rabies immunoglobulin and a rabies vaccine. Virus-neutralizing antibodies (VNA), which play an important role in the prevention of rabies, are commonly evaluated by the RABV neutralizing test. For determining serum VNA levels or virus titers during the RABV vaccine manufacturing process, reliability of the assay method is highly important and mainly dependent on the diagnostic antibody. Most diagnostic antibodies are monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) made from hybridoma cell lines and are costly and time consuming to prepare. Thus, production of a cost-effective mAb for determining rabies VNA levels or RABV titers is needed. In this report, we describe the prokaryotic production of a RABV-specific single-chain variable fragment (scFv) protein with a His-tag (scFv98H) from a previously constructed plasmid in a bioreactor, including the purification and refolding process as well as the functional testing of the protein. The antigen-specific binding characteristics, affinity, and relative affinity of the purified protein were tested. The scFv98H antibody was compared with a commercial RABV nucleoprotein mAb for assaying the VNA level of anti-rabies serum samples from different sources or testing the growth kinetics of RABV strains for vaccine manufactured in China. The results indicated that scFv98H may be used as a novel diagnostic tool to assay VNA levels or virus titers and may be used as an alternative for the diagnostic antibody presently employed for these purposes.     

A model of the rabies virus glycoprotein active site

The glycoprotein from the neurotropic rabies virus shows a significant homology with the α neurotoxin that binds to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. The crystal structure of the α neurotoxins suggests that the Arg 37 guanidinium group and the Asp 31 side-chain carboxylate of the erabutoxin have stereochemical features resembling those of acetylcholine. Conformational studies on the Asn194-Ser195-Arg196-Gly197 tetrapeptide, an essential part of the binding site of the rabies virus glycoprotein, indicate that the side chains of Asn and Arg could also mimic the acetylcholine structure. This observation is consistent with the recently proposed mechanism of the viral infection. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A monoclonal antibody to a synthetic fragment of rabies virus glycoprotein binds ligands of the nicotinic cholinergic receptor

Rabies virus glycoprotein and snake venom curaremimetic neurotoxins share a region of high homology (30-45 for neurotoxins and 190-203 for the glycoprotein) in the regions that are believed to be responsible for binding the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Monoclonal antibodies raised to the 190-203 synthetic fragment of rabies virus glycoprotein were immobilized on a high performance affinity chromatography column and were able to bind neurotoxins. Toxins were displaced from the affinity column by elution at acidic pH and by affinity competition with acetylcholine at neutral pH. Furthermore, the affinity column proved to be useful for the purification of cholinergic ligands. Overall, these results indicate that the paratope of our monoclonal antibodies could behave as an 'internal image' of the nicotinic cholinergic receptor acetylcholine binding site.     

The effect of strain differences on the assay of rabies virus glycoprotein by single radial immunodiffusion

Antigenic differences between rabies virus strains used for vaccine manufacture can be demonstrated using monoclonal antibodies. We have shown that these differences are sufficiently large to affect the potency values of vaccines measured in single radial immunodiffusion (SRD) assays if the reference and test vaccines are antigenically heterologous. The production of reagents for use in SRD assays for each strain of rabies virus should be considered.     

Prevention of rabies virus infection in dogs by a recombinant canine adenovirus type-2 encoding the rabies virus glycoprotein

Safe and effective vaccination is important for rabies prevention in animals. Although several genetically engineered rabies vaccines have been developed, few have been licensed for use, principally due to biosafety concerns or due to poor efficacy in animal models. In this paper, we describe the construction and characterization of a replication-competent recombinant canine adenovirus type-2 expressing the rabies virus glycoprotein (SRV9 strain) by a different strategy from that reported previously, i.e., the recombinant genome carrying the glycoprotein cDNA was generated by a series of strictly gene cloning steps, infectious recombinant virus was obtained by transfecting the recombinant genome into a canine kidney cell line, MDCK. This recombinant virus, CAV-E3delta-CGS, was subcutaneously injected into dogs. All vaccinated dogs produced effective neutralizing antibodies after one inoculation and a stronger anamnestic immune response was produced after booster injection. The immunized dogs could survive the challenge of 60,000 mouse LD50 CVS-24, which is lethal to all unimmunized dogs and is comparable to the conventional vaccines. The immunity lasts for months with a protective level of neutralizing antibody. This recombinant virus would be an alternative to the attenuated and the inactivated rabies vaccines and be prospective in immunizing dogs against rabies.     

Study of kinetic parameters for the production of recombinant rabies virus glycoprotein

Gene expression in insect cells is an advantageous system for recombinant protein production, mainly because of its capacity to produce complex proteins with correct post-translational modifications. Recently, we identified and purified a protein from Lonomia obliqua hemolymph able to increase the production of rabies virus glycoprotein, expressed in Drosophila melanogaster cells, by about 60%. In this work, the kinetic parameters for cell growth and recombinant rabies virus glycoprotein production were determined in cultures of transfected Drosophila melanogaster Schneider 2 (S2) cells expressing recombinant rabies virus glycoprotein (rRVGP), enriched and non-enriched with the hemolymph of Lonomia obliqua (Hb). The highest concentration of rRVGP was achieved at the beginning of the culture enriched with Hb, indicating that the cells produce greater amounts of rRVGP per cell (specific rRVGP concentration) at the early exponential growth phase. After day 8, a decrease in the concentration of rRVGP (ng/mL) was observed, probably due to protein decomposition. The average specific rRVGP production rate (μ_rRVGP) was 30 ng rRVGP/10⁷cell.day, higher than that observed in the non-enriched culture.     

The mannose-dependent epitope for neutralizing antibody 2G12 on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 glycoprotein gp120

We have analyzed the unique epitope for the broadly neutralizing human monoclonal antibody (MAb) 2G12 on the gp120 surface glycoprotein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Sequence analysis, focusing on the conservation of relevant residues across multiple HIV-1 isolates, refined the epitope that was defined previously by substitutional mutagenesis (A. Trkola, M. Purtscher, T. Muster, C. Ballaun, A. Buchacher, N. Sullivan, K. Srinivasan, J. Sodroski, J. P. Moore, and H. Katinger, J. Virol. 70:1100-1108, 1996). In a biochemical study, we digested recombinant gp120 with various glycosidase enzymes of known specificities and showed that the 2G12 epitope is lost when gp120 is treated with mannosidases. Computational analyses were used to position the epitope in the context of the virion-associated envelope glycoprotein complex, to determine the variability of the surrounding surface, and to calculate the surface accessibility of possible glycan- and polypeptide-epitope components. Together, these analyses suggest that the 2G12 epitope is centered on the high-mannose and/or hybrid glycans of residues 295, 332, and 392, with peripheral glycans from 386 and 448 on either flank. The epitope is mannose dependent and composed primarily of carbohydrate, with probably no direct involvement of the gp120 polypeptide surface. It resides on a face orthogonal to the CD4 binding face, on a surface proximal to, but distinct from, that implicated in coreceptor binding. Its conservation amidst an otherwise highly variable gp120 surface suggests a functional role for the 2G12 binding site, perhaps related to the mannose-dependent attachment of HIV-1 to DC-SIGN or related lectins that facilitate virus entry into susceptible target cells.     

The use of an E1-deleted, replication-defective adenovirus recombinant expressing the rabies virus glycoprotein for early vaccination of mice against rabies virus.

An E1-deleted, replication-defective adenovirus recombinant of the human strain 5 expressing the rabies virus glycoprotein, termed Adrab.gp, was tested in young mice. Mice immunized at birth with the Adrab.gp construct developed antibodies to rabies virus and cytokine-secreting lymphocytes and were protected against subsequent challenge. Maternal immunity to rabies virus strongly interferes with vaccination of the offspring with a traditional inactivated rabies virus vaccine. The immune response to the rabies virus glycoprotein, as presented by the Adrab.gp vaccine, on the other hand, was not impaired by maternal immunity. Even neonatal immunization of mice born to rabies virus-immune dams with Adrab.gp construct resulted in a long-lasting protective immune response to rabies virus, suggesting that this type of vaccine could be useful for immunization shortly after birth. Nevertheless, pups born to Adrab.gp virus-immune dams showed an impaired immune response to the rabies virus glycoprotein upon vaccination with the Adrab.gp virus, indicating that maternal immunity to the vaccine carrier affected the offspring's immune response to rabies virus.     

人用精制Vero细胞狂犬病疫苗纯化方法选择

人用精制Ｖｅｒｏ细胞狂犬病疫苗为一种安全、有效的新型疫苗,我们在研制该种疫苗时首先比较了密度梯度离心法和凝胶过滤柱层析法,并发现后者最佳。我们选择了以Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ ４ＦＦ为介质的凝胶过滤柱层析的工艺,并对该方法的上样量、流速等指标进行了选择,确定了最佳方法,并在研制中使纯化疫苗的杂蛋白去除率达到９９．８％以上,为大规模生产提供了工艺方法。     

The role of site-specific N-glycosylation in secretion of soluble forms of rabies virus glycoprotein

Rabies virus glycoprotein is important in the biology and pathogenesis of neurotropic rabies virus infection. This transmembrane glycoprotein is the only viral protein on the surface of virus particles, is the viral attachment protein that facilitates virus uptake by the infected cell, and is the target of the host humoral immune response to infection. The extracellular domain of this glycoprotein has N- glycosylation sequons at Asn37, Asn247, and Asn319. Appropriate glycosylation of these sequons is important in the expression of the glycoprotein. Soluble forms of rabies virus glycoprotein were constructed by insertion of a stop codon just external to the transmembrane domain. Using site-directed mutagenesis and expression in transfected eukaryotic cells, it was possible to compare the effects of site-specific glycosylation on the cell-surface expression and secretion of transmembrane and soluble forms, respectively, of the same glycoprotein. These studies yielded the surprising finding that although any of the three sequons permitted cell surface expression of full-length rabies virus glycoprotein, only the N-glycan at Asn319 permitted secretion of soluble rabies virus glycoprotein. Despite its biological and medical importance, it has not yet been possible to determine the crystal structure of the full-length transmembrane form of rabies virus glycoprotein which contains heterogeneous oligosaccharides. The current studies demonstrate that a soluble form of rabies virus glycoprotein containing only one sequon at Asn319 is efficiently secreted in the presence of the N-glycan processing inhibitor 1-deoxymannojirimycin. Thus, it is possible to purify a conformationally relevant form of rabies virus glycoprotein that contains only one N-glycan with a substantial reduction in its microheterogeneity. This form of the glycoprotein may be particularly useful for future studies aimed at elucidating the three-dimensional structure of this important glycoprotein.      

应用ELISA法检测纯化狂犬病疫苗制备过程中的病毒回收率

应用ＥＬＩＳＡ和病毒毒力滴度测定两种方法对狂犬病疫苗纯化过程中各步样品进行检测,并应用ＮＩＨ效力测定法对ＥＬＩＳＡ法测定的结果进行验证。结果显示,ＥＬＩＳＡ法具有灵敏度高、特异性强、重复性好、简便易行等优点,是一种较理想的病毒回收率测定方法。     

N-linked glycosylation of rabies virus glycoprotein. Individual sequons differ in their glycosylation efficiencies and influence on cell surface expression.

Many eukaryotic proteins are modified by N-linked glycosylation, a process in which oligosaccharides are added to asparagine residues in the sequon Asn-X-Ser/Thr. However, not all such sequons are glycosylated. For example, rabies virus glycoprotein (RGP) contains three sequons, only two of which appear to be glycosylated in virions. To examine further the signals in proteins which regulate N-linked core glycosylation, the glycosylation efficiencies of each of the three sequons in the antigenic domain of RGP were compared. For these studies, mutants were generated in which one or more sequons were deleted by site-directed mutagenesis. Core glycosylation of these mutants was studied using two independent systems: 1) in vitro translation in rabbit reticulocyte lysate supplemented with dog pancreatic microsomes, and 2) transfection into glycosylation-deficient Chinese hamster ovary cells. Parallel results were obtained with both systems, demonstrating that the sequon at Asn37 is inefficiently glycosylated, the sequons at Asn247 and Asn319 are efficiently glycosylated, and the glycosylation efficiency of each sequon is not influenced by glycosylation at other sequons in this protein. High levels of cell surface expression of RGP in Chinese hamster ovary cells are seen with any mutant containing an intact sequon at Asn247 or Asn319, whereas low levels of cell surface expression are seen when the sequon at Asn37 is present alone; deletion of all three sequons completely blocks RGP cell surface expression. Thus, although core glycosylation at Asn37 is inefficient, it is still sufficient to support a biological function, cell surface expression. Future studies using mutagenesis of this model protein and its expression in these two well defined systems will aim to begin to unravel the rules governing core glycosylation of glycoproteins.     

Mapping of the low pH-sensitive conformational epitope of rabies virus glycoprotein recognized by a monoclonal antibody #1-30-44

Monoclonal antibody (mAb) #1-30-44 recognized an acid-sensitive conformational epitope of rabies virus glycoprotein (G). The antigenicity of G protein exposed on the cell surface was lost when the infected cells were exposed to pH 5.8. By comparing the deduced amino acid sequence of G protein between the HEP-Flury strain and the epitope-negative CVS strain as well as the mAb-resistant escape mutants, two distant sites that contained Lys-202 and Asn-336 were shown to be involved in the epitope formation. Lys-202 is located in the so-called neurotoxin-like sequence, while Asn-336 is included in antigenic site III and is very near the amino acid at position 333, which is known to affect greatly the neuropathogenicity of rabies virus when changed. Consistent with this finding, antigenicity of a neurovirulent revertant of the HEP-Flury strain, in which Gln-333 of G protein was replaced by Arg, was also affected as shown by its greatly decreased reactivity with mAb #1-30-44 compared to that of the original avirulent HEP virus. Based on these results, we hypothesize that the neurotoxin-like domain and some amino acids in antigenic site III come into contact with each other to form a conformational epitope for mAb #1-30-44, and such a configuration would be lost when exposed to acidic conditions to perform a certain low pH-dependent function of G protein.     

Characterization of oligosaccharides of highly purified glycoprotein gC of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)

The envelope membrane glycoprotein gC of HSV-1 was purified from Triton X-100 extracts of virus-infected BHK-21 or HEp-2 cells by a single step immuno-affinity column using monoclonal anti-gC antibody. The analysis of the purified [³H]G1cN labeled glycoprotein gC (by gel filtration on Bio-Gel P4) before and after digestion with endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (endo D) indicated that gC contains Asn-linked “complex type” oligosaccharides. No “high mannose” type oligosaccharides were detected. Fractionation of radio-labeled glycopeptides of gC on a column of concanavalin A-sepharose suggested that glycopeptides have “diantennary” and “triantennary” and/or “tetra antennary” structures. Tunicamycin inhibited the incorporation of [¹⁴C]GalN or [³H]GlcN into gC in HSV-1 infected BHK-21 or HEp-2 cells. Gel filtration analysis of [³H]GlcN labeled gC following β-elimination reaction failed to indicate O-glycosidically linked oligosaccharides.     

狂犬病毒aG株糖蛋白在pET原核系统中的表达及纯化

在狂犬病的临床诊断和基础研究中都迫切需要大量纯度高且价廉的狂犬病毒糖蛋白抗原。本文应用带有Ｈｉｓ６尾的ｐＥＴ原核表达系统对狂犬病毒（ＲＶ）ａＧ株的糖蛋白（ＧＰ）进行表达和纯化。构建的融合表达载体ｐＥＴ－ａＧ１和ｐＥＴ－ａＧ２（－５７ｂｐ）分别含有ＲＶａＧ株ＧＰ基因的全序列及删除了为ＧＰ信号肽编码的５８个碱基的序列。用ＳＤＳ 聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳、免疫印迹、间接ＥＬＩＳＡ检测都证明表达产物为ＲＶＧＰ,且位于菌体中的包涵体内。经固定化金属螯合层析（ＩＭＡＣ）提纯,ｐＥＴ－ａＧ１表达产物有较高的特异性和纯度,可用作测定ＲＶＧＰ抗体的免疫诊断试剂。