Adaptive changes in the genomes of wild rabbits after 16 years of viral epidemics

Since its introduction to control overabundant invasive European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), the highly virulent rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) has caused regular annual disease outbreaks in Australian rabbit populations. Although initially reducing rabbit abundance by 60%, continent‐wide, experimental evidence has since indicated increased genetic resistance in wild rabbits that have experienced RHDV‐driven selection. To identify genetic adaptations, which explain the increased resistance to this biocontrol virus, we investigated genome‐wide SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) allele frequency changes in a South Australian rabbit population that was sampled in 1996 (pre‐RHD genomes) and after 16 years of RHDV outbreaks. We identified several SNPs with changed allele frequencies within or close to genes potentially important for increased RHD resistance. The identified genes are known to be involved in virus infections and immune reactions or had previously been identified as being differentially expressed in healthy versus acutely RHDV‐infected rabbits. Furthermore, we show in a simulation study that the allele/genotype frequency changes cannot be explained by drift alone and that several candidate genes had also been identified as being associated with surviving RHD in a different Australian rabbit population. Our unique data set allowed us to identify candidate genes for RHDV resistance that have evolved under natural conditions, and over a time span that would not have been feasible in an experimental setting. Moreover, it provides a rare example of host genetic adaptations to virus‐driven selection in response to a suddenly emerging infectious disease.     

兔出血症病毒（RHDV）WHNRH株的分离鉴定及基因组全序列的测定与分析

从发病长毛兔中分离鉴定了兔病毒性出血症病毒WHNRH株。参考GenBank中已登录的RHDV毒株序列对RHDV WHNRH分离株进行了全基因组序列测定与分析。设计5对扩增区段相互重叠的RHDV特异性引物,扩增除5′和3′末端以外的序列,采用设计锚引物的5′RACE方法以及针对RHDV 3′末端的polyA结构设计引物获得了RHDV WHNRH株的5′和3′末端序列。胶回收各PCR产物,连接pMD 18-T克隆载体,测得RHDV WHNRH分离株的基因组全长为7437nt(不包括polyA),与GenBank公布的全部共6株RHDV全基因序列进行同源性比较分析,同源性在89.0%~97.1%之间,ORF1同源性为89.0%~97.1%,编码氨基酸序列的同源性为95.2%~98.7%;ORF2的核酸苷序列同源性为92.1%~97.7%,编码氨基酸序列的同源性为94.1%~96.6%。     

表达兔出血症病毒VP60蛋白的重组兔粘液瘤病毒的构建与初步评价

兔出血症病毒 (Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus,RHDV) 及兔粘液瘤病毒 (Myxoma virus,MYXV) 分别引起兔出血症 (兔瘟) 和兔粘液瘤病,是两种严重危害家兔养殖业以及导致原产地欧洲野兔-穴兔 (Oryctolagus cuniculus) 种群近濒危的重要病原。VP60为构成RHDV衣壳的主要抗原蛋白。为研制能同时免疫预防该两种疫病的重组二联疫苗,本研究分别以MYXV和其复制非必需基因——胸腺激酶 (Thymidine kinase,TK) 基因为重组载体和同源重组靶基因,构建穿梭载体p7.5-VP60-GFP。将p7.5-VP60-GFP载体转染被MYXV感染的兔肾细胞株RK13,经同源重组后,在荧光显微镜下筛选出表达GFP的重组病毒,并将其命名为rMV-VP60-GFP。通过PCR和Western blotting进行重组病毒vp60基因特异性插入和表达验证结果显示,vp60和gfp基因成功插入MYXV基因组中并且可成功表达,表明成功构建了表达RHDV衣壳蛋白基因vp60的重组MYXV。动物攻毒保护试验表明,制备的重组病毒能保护家兔抵抗MYXV的致死性攻击,这为后续疫苗的研发奠定了基础。     

兔出血症病毒遗传变异分析及RT—PCR检测方法的建立

目的获得兔出血症病毒（浙江分离株）近20年间遗传变异概况,建立兔出血症病毒的RT—PCR检测方法。方法对1989～2006年间的7株RHDV浙江分离株的衣壳蛋白基因（VP60）进行了克隆与测序,并与国内、外RHDV的基因组序列进行了遗传比对和分析;根据兔出血症病毒株的VP60设计引物,对20只人工感染兔的实质脏器、全血和350只实验兔全血样本进行了检测。结果7株RHDV的VP60基因均由1740个核苷酸组成,编码580个氨基酸。它们与参考序列之间的氨基酸同源性为94.0%～99.8%。系统发生树分析结果显示,RHDV可划分为2个大的基因群,浙江（中国）的RHDV分离株主要集中于C亚群。RT—PCR检测方法表明20只实验兔全部扩出预期条带,而350只实验兔全血检测中出现13只RHDV可疑样本。经血凝抑制试验检测,13例PCR阳性样品中有10个HAI阳性,3个阴性。检测敏感度达100%,特异性为99.12%,经统计检验,kappa=0.865,表明PCR检出RHDV的结果与HAI高度一致。结论RHDV基因群之间的遗传距离有逐渐加大的趋势。我们建立的RT—PCR法可用于RHDV浙江分离株的检测,用RT—PCR检测全血中RHDV方法的建立为活体检测RHDV打下了基础。     

European brown hare syndrome virus: relationship to rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus and other caliciviruses.

Monoclonal antibodies directed against the capsid protein of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) were used to identify field cases of European brown hare syndrome (EBHS) and to distinguish between RHDV and the virus responsible for EBHS. Western blot (immunoblot) analysis of liver extract of an EBHS virus (EBHSV)-infected hare revealed a single major capsid protein species of approximately 60 kDa that shared epitopes with the capsid protein of RHDV. RNA isolated from the liver of an EBHSV-infected hare contained two viral RNA species of 7.5 and 2.2 kb that comigrated with the genomic and subgenomic RNAs of RHDV and were recognized by labeled RHDV cDNA in Northern (RNA) hybridizations. The nucleotide sequence of the 3' 2.8 kb of the EBHSV genome was determined from four overlapping cDNA clones. Sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame that contains part of the putative RNA polymerase gene and the complete capsid protein gene. This particular genome organization is shared by RHDV but not by other known caliciviruses. The deduced amino acid sequence of the capsid protein of EBHSV was compared with the capsid protein sequences of RDDV and other caliciviruses. The amino acid sequence comparisons revealed that EBHSV is closely related to RHDV and distantly related to other caliciviruses. On the basis of their genome organization, it is suggested that caliciviruses be divided into three groups.     

First case of rabbit haemorrhagic disease in Canada: contaminated flying insect, vs. long-term infection hypothesis

Following the announcement of the first case of rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) in a pet rabbit, housed indoors in Canada for more than 1 year, I submitted an evidence‐based explanation to ProMed explaining how RHD might have caused the death of ‘one’ of the three pet rabbits. I suggested with supporting evidence, that it may have been persistently infected with rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) which may have reactivated to cause the fatal disease. However, in this issue, Peacock et al. have proposed an alternative ‘hypothesis’ for the appearance of RHD in the pet rabbit. They hypothesise that a non‐identified insect or fomite might have become contaminated by a Chinese strain of RHDV somewhere in the US. This insect/fomite then flew or was windborne, from the US to Canada where it entered the house containing three pet rabbits and infected one of them. RHD is non‐endemic and is rarely reported in the US, where it has only been observed in domestic European rabbits, held in rabbitries. My proposal was based on the details provided by ProMed, the veterinary report from Canada, where RHDV has never previously been identified and the epidemiological, ecological and evolutionary history of RHDV which includes serological and phylogenetic evidence that ancestral RHDV lineages circulated before 1984. The flying insect hypothesis of Peacock et al. is based on circumstantial evidence and, I believe, has a lower probability of being correct than my evidence‐based long‐term infection proposal.     

一株兔出血症病毒2型毒株的分离鉴定

【背景】我国于2020年4月突发兔出血症病毒2型(Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2,RHDV2)疫情,严重威胁兔养殖业和生态平衡,而且目前国内对RHDV2的病原学以及遗传特征等基础研究匮乏。【目的】分离鉴定RHDV2毒株,对分离株进行全基因测序与遗传进化分析。【方法】对成都某兔场疑似RHDV2感染致死的家兔进行病理剖检,通过RT-qPCR检测和动物回归试验,分离鉴定得到RHDV2毒株,进一步进行全基因测序及遗传进化分析。【结果】病死兔剖检表现为各实质器官出血肿大,以心、肺、肝脏尤为明显,经RT-qPCR确诊为RHDV2,而且不存在其他病原混合感染,试验感染家兔可致相似病变。将分离株命名为SCCN03,其基因序列全长为7464bp,与参考毒株(GenBank登录号为MN901451.1)一致性为99.21%。对比参考株氨基酸序列,分离株的非结构蛋白和结构蛋白氨基酸序列发生了多处错义突变,其中非结构蛋白p16和结构蛋白的几处错义突变可能与毒株变异有关。进化树显示毒株SCCN03属于GI.2基因型。【结论】分离鉴定出一株RHDV2毒株,获得其基因序列,丰富了RHDV2的全基因数据资料,为后续RHDV毒力相关研究和相关疫苗研发奠定了基础。     

Identification and characterization of a 3C-like protease from rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus, a calicivirus.

Expression studies conducted in vitro and in Escherichia coli led to the identification of a protease from rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV). The gene coding for this protease was found to be located in the central part of the genome preceding the putative RNA polymerase gene. It was demonstrated that the protease specifically cuts RHDV polyprotein substrates both in cis and in trans. Site-directed mutagenesis experiments revealed that the RHDV protease closely resembles the 3C proteases of picornaviruses with respect to the amino acids directly involved in the catalytic activity as well as to the role played by histidine as part of the substrate binding pocket.     

Nucleolin interacts with the rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus replicase RdRp,nonstructural proteins p16 and p23, playing a role in virus replication

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) is a member of the Caliciviridae family and cannot be propagated in vitro, which has impeded the progress of investigating its replication mechanism. Construction of an RHDV replicon system has recently provided a platform for exploring RHDV replication in host cells. Here, aided by this replicon system and using two-step affinity purification, we purified the RHDV replicase and identified its associated host factors. We identified rabbit nucleolin (NCL) as a physical link, which mediating the interaction between other RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp)-related host proteins and the viral replicase RdRp. We found that the overexpression or knockdown of NCL significantly increased or severely impaired RHDV replication in RK-13 cells, respectively. NCL was identified to directly interact with RHDV RdRp, p16, and p23. Furthermore, NCL knockdown severely impaired the binding of RdRp to RdRp-related host factors. Collectively, these results indicate that the host protein NCL is essential for RHDV replication and acts as a physical link between viral replicase and host proteins.     

Oxidative stress in wild European rabbits naturally infected with myxoma virus and rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus

The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is one of the most important vertebrate species in the Mediterranean Basin ecosystem. Over the last 60 years, the arrival of two viral diseases, myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease, have led to dramatic declines in wild rabbit populations across the Iberian Peninsula. These diseases are currently endemic. Periodic outbreaks occur and have significant impacts on wild populations. Both infection types have diverse physiological effects on their hosts that are rooted in aerobic metabolic processes. To fight off these viruses, rabbits activate their immune systems. However, the production of immune defences generates reactive oxygen species that may consequently damage host tissues. Hypothesising that immune responses increase oxidative stress, we examined whether wild rabbits naturally infected with myxoma virus (MV) and rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) had high oxidative stress. Using blood samples, we measured anti-MV and anti-RHDV antibody concentrations and different oxidative stress markers (i.e., glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and malondialdehyde). Our results show that rabbits that were seropositive for both MV and RHDV had high concentrations of malondialdehyde. Age and body condition were also positively related to dual seropositivity. No significant relationships were observed between serostatus and the concentrations of the other oxidative stress markers. Although we expected infection with MV and RHDV to be correlated with oxidative stress, the influence of external sources of oxidative stress (e.g., climatic conditions) likely made it more difficult to detect such relationships in wild rabbits.     

Rabbit haemorrhagic disease: applying Occam's razor to competing hypotheses

Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) is a highly virulent lagovirus endemic in Europe and Australasian populations of the European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus. It has also caused several unexplained disease outbreaks in domestic European rabbits in North America. Non-pathogenic spread of RHDV leading to persistent infection which later reactivated has recently been proposed as the cause of overt disease and death of a pet rabbit in Canada, the first confirmed case of Rabbit haemorrhagic disease in that country. We suggest that there is little evidence to support non-pathogenic spread of virulent RHDV, some evidence that is contradictory, and evidence to support a simpler alternative hypothesis. RHDV can be spread over long distances between sparse rabbit populations by fomites or flying insects. Although highly pathogenic, RHDV can be limited in its spread within rabbit populations, or its presence masked by closely related but non-pathogenic lagoviruses which can provide protection against acute disease. In the absence of any evidence from clinical studies to support reactivation of persistent RHDV infection, the simpler explanation seems more likely to be correct.     

Viral Genome-Linked Protein (VPg) Is Essential for Translation Initiation of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV)

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), the causative agent of rabbit hemorrhagic disease, is an important member of the caliciviridae family. Currently, no suitable tissue culture system is available for proliferating RHDV, limiting the study of the pathogenesis of RHDV. In addition, the mechanisms underlying RHDV translation and replication are largely unknown compared with other caliciviridae viruses. The RHDV replicon recently constructed in our laboratory provides an appropriate model to study the pathogenesis of RHDV without in vitro RHDV propagation and culture. Using this RHDV replicon, we demonstrated that the viral genome-linked protein (VPg) is essential for RHDV translation in RK-13 cells for the first time. In addition, we showed that VPg interacts with eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) in vivo and in vitro and that eIF4E silencing inhibits RHDV translation, suggesting the interaction between VPg and eIF4E is involved in RHDV translation. Our results support the hypothesis that VPg serves as a novel cap substitute during the initiation of RHDV translation.     

Histo-blood group antigens act as attachment factors of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus infection in a virus strain-dependent manner

Rabbit Hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), a calicivirus of the Lagovirus genus, and responsible for rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD), kills rabbits between 48 to 72 hours post infection with mortality rates as high as 50-90%. Caliciviruses, including noroviruses and RHDV, have been shown to bind histo-blood group antigens (HBGA) and human non-secretor individuals lacking ABH antigens in epithelia have been found to be resistant to norovirus infection. RHDV virus-like particles have previously been shown to bind the H type 2 and A antigens. In this study we present a comprehensive assessment of the strain-specific binding patterns of different RHDV isolates to HBGAs. We characterized the HBGA expression in the duodenum of wild and domestic rabbits by mass spectrometry and relative quantification of A, B and H type 2 expression. A detailed binding analysis of a range of RHDV strains, to synthetic sugars and human red blood cells, as well as to rabbit duodenum, a likely gastrointestinal site for viral entrance was performed. Enzymatic cleavage of HBGA epitopes confirmed binding specificity. Binding was observed to blood group B, A and H type 2 epitopes in a strain-dependent manner with slight differences in specificity for A, B or H epitopes allowing RHDV strains to preferentially recognize different subgroups of animals. Strains related to the earliest described RHDV outbreak were not able to bind A, whereas all other genotypes have acquired A binding. In an experimental infection study, rabbits lacking the correct HBGA ligands were resistant to lethal RHDV infection at low challenge doses. Similarly, survivors of outbreaks in wild populations showed increased frequency of weak binding phenotypes, indicating selection for host resistance depending on the strain circulating in the population. HBGAs thus act as attachment factors facilitating infection, while their polymorphism of expression could contribute to generate genetic resistance to RHDV at the population level.     

Atomic Model of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus by Cryo-Electron Microscopy and Crystallography

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease, first described in China in 1984, causes hemorrhagic necrosis of the liver. Its etiological agent, rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), belongs to the Lagovirus genus in the family Caliciviridae. The detailed molecular structure of any lagovirus capsid has yet to be determined. Here, we report a cryo-electron microscopic (cryoEM) reconstruction of wild-type RHDV at 6.5 Å resolution and the crystal structures of the shell (S) and protruding (P) domains of its major capsid protein, VP60, each at 2.0 Å resolution. From these data we built a complete atomic model of the RHDV capsid. VP60 has a conserved S domain and a specific P2 sub-domain that differs from those found in other caliciviruses. As seen in the shell portion of the RHDV cryoEM map, which was resolved to ∼5.5 Å, the N-terminal arm domain of VP60 folds back onto its cognate S domain. Sequence alignments of VP60 from six groups of RHDV isolates revealed seven regions of high variation that could be mapped onto the surface of the P2 sub-domain and suggested three putative pockets might be responsible for binding to histo-blood group antigens. A flexible loop in one of these regions was shown to interact with rabbit tissue cells and contains an important epitope for anti-RHDV antibody production. Our study provides a reliable, pseudo-atomic model of a Lagovirus and suggests a new candidate for an efficient vaccine that can be used to protect rabbits from RHDV infection.     

Gene transfer using recombinant rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus capsids with genetically modified DNA encapsidation capacity by addition of packaging sequences from the L1 or L2 protein of human papillomavirus type 16

The aim of this study was to produce gene transfer vectors consisting of plasmid DNA packaged into virus-like particles (VLPs) with different cell tropisms. For this purpose, we have fused the N-terminally truncated VP60 capsid protein of the rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) with sequences which are expected to be sufficient to confer DNA packaging and gene transfer properties to the chimeric VLPs. Each of the two putative DNA-binding sequences of major L1 and minor L2 capsid proteins of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) were fused at the N terminus of the truncated VP60 protein. The two recombinant chimeric proteins expressed in insect cells self-assembled into VLPs similar in size and appearance to authentic RHDV virions. The chimeric proteins had acquired the ability to bind DNA. The two chimeric VLPs were therefore able to package plasmid DNA. However, only the chimeric VLPs containing the DNA packaging signal of the L1 protein were able efficiently to transfer genes into Cos-7 cells at a rate similar to that observed with papillomavirus L1 VLPs. It was possible to transfect only a very limited number of RK13 rabbit cells with the chimeric RHDV capsids containing the L2-binding sequence. The chimeric RHDV capsids containing the L1-binding sequence transfer genes into rabbit and hare cells at a higher rate than do HPV-16 L1 VLPs. However, no gene transfer was observed in human cell lines. The findings of this study demonstrate that the insertion of a DNA packaging sequence into a VLP which is not able to encapsidate DNA transforms this capsid into an artificial virus that could be used as a gene transfer vector. This possibility opens the way to designing new vectors with different cell tropisms by inserting such DNA packaging sequences into the major capsid proteins of other viruses.     

实验兔出血症病毒检测方法的建立与免疫效果调查

目的检测全省六个实验兔场的兔子所携带的兔出血症病毒（RHDV）情况,调查实验兔RHDV抗体水平,评价不同疫苗的免疫效果,比较HAI与ELISA两种方法的符合率。方法采用HAI、ELISA方法对1168份实验兔RHDV抗体进行了检测,并与RT-PCR方法的检测结果进行对比分析。结果我省实验兔免疫情况较好,不同饲养场的实验兔免疫合格率虽有不同,但未发生疫情。通过比较发现ELISA法检测的抗体合格率明显高于HAI法。结论LISA、HAI和RT-PCR方法均适合实验兔RHDV的检测。     

A sensitive and specific blocking ELISA for the detection of rabbit calicivirus RCV-A1 antibodies

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Antibodies to non-pathogenic rabbit caliciviruses (RCVs) cross-react in serological tests for rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) and vice versa, making epidemiological studies very difficult where both viruses occur. It is important to understand the distribution and interaction of the two viruses because the highly pathogenic RHDV has been used as a biocontrol agent for wild rabbits in Australia and New Zealand for the past 17 years. The presence of the benign RCV Australia 1 (RCV-A1) is considered a key factor for the failure of RHDV mediated rabbit control in cooler, wetter areas of Australia. RESULTS: A highly sensitive and specific blocking ELISA was developed for the detection of RCV-A1 antibodies. When sera from rabbits with a known infection history for either RCV-A1 or RHDV were tested, this assay showed 100% sensitivity and no cross-reactivity with RHDV sera (100% specificity). CONCLUSIONS: This new ELISA not only allows the detection of RCV-A1 at a population level, but also permits the serological status of individual rabbits to be determined more reliably than previously described methods. This robust and simple to perform assay is therefore the tool of choice for studying RCV-A1 epidemiology in Australian wild rabbit populations.     

The outbreak of rabbit hemorrhagic virus type 2 in the interior of China may be related to imported semen

Highlights:
1. We identified one RHD case caused by a new RHDV variant (GI.2) in China through HA, TEM, and genome sequencing.
2. This is the first study to demonstrate that GI.2 can replicate efficiently in the reproductive system.
3. Our evidence suggests that GI.2 might be introduced into China by contaminated rabbit semen.