第三代慢病毒高效率包装系统的建立

慢病毒介导法是最有前途的转基因动物生产方法之一,高滴度慢病毒颗粒的包装是慢病毒转基因动物技术的关键.本研究应用含有增强型绿色荧光蛋白基因(eGFP)的第3代慢病毒载体系统,用脂质体转染法将慢病毒系统4质粒共转染293T包装细胞,培养48～72 h收集病毒上清液,通过超速离心进行浓缩,采用批量快速测定法(LaSRT)测定病毒滴度.结果显示,用脂质体转染法包装的慢病毒能成功地感染293T细胞,经检测病毒滴度达到5×108IU/mL以上,初步建成了高滴度慢病毒包装平台,为慢病毒介导制作转基因动物奠定了良好的研究基础.     

一种新型慢病毒载体制备方法的建立

为了建立新型、高产量的慢病毒载体制备体系,将构建好的主框架质粒pVECRNA、包装质粒pGAGPOL及包膜质粒pVSVG通过脂质体共转染至BHK21细胞,再用含有T7RNA聚合酶基因的重组痘苗病毒vTF-3感染细胞,培养4d后,收集培养上清,提取培养上清的RNA,进行RT-PCR反应;将培养上清进行免疫印迹鉴定;将培养上清感染正常的293T细胞、HepG2细胞、Vero细胞,荧光显微镜下观察细胞GFP的表达情况;采取3*3*3析因分析方法,优化系统产量,Real-time PCR方法测定细胞培养上清中病毒载体的拷贝数,利用流式细胞术检测病毒载体滴度。RT-PCR及p24免疫印迹结果均提示在细胞上清中存在慢病毒载体;通过荧光显微镜观察到感染组293T细胞、HepG2细胞、Vero细胞均表达绿色荧光蛋GFP,说明此系统制备出的慢病毒载体具有感染性;系统经优化后,培养上清中慢病毒载体拷贝数达到(11.71±0.80)×1011copies/mL,培养上清原始滴度达到(1.3±0.18)×108tu/mL,高出目前常用制备体系产量1个数量级。初步建立了新型慢病毒载体制备体系,为今后该系统的大规模应用提供客观的科学依据。     

一种新型慢病毒载体制备体系的初步建立

为了建立新型、高产量的慢病毒载体制备体系,将构建好的主框架质粒pVECRNA、包装质粒pGAGPOL及包膜质粒pVSVG通过脂质体共转染至BHK21细胞.再用含有T7RNA聚合酶基因的重组痘苗病毒vTF-3感染细胞,培养4天后,收集培养上清.提取培养上清的RNA,进行RT-PCR反应,将培养上清进行免疫印迹鉴定,将培养上清感染正常的293T细胞、HepG2细胞、Vero细胞,荧光显微镜下观察细胞GFP的表达情况,采取3×3×3析因分析方法,优化系统产量,Real-timePCR方法测定细胞培养上清中病毒载体的拷贝数,利用流式细胞术检测病毒载体滴度.RT-PCR及p24免疫印迹结果均提示在细胞上清中存在慢病毒载体;通过荧光显微镜观察到感染组293T细胞、HepG2细胞、Vero细胞均表达绿色荧光蛋白GFP,说明此系统制备出的慢病毒载体具有感染性;系统经优化后,培养上清中慢病毒载体拷贝数达到1.1×1012/ml,培养上清原始滴度达到1.3×108tu/ml,高出目前常用制备体系产量1个数量级.上述结果表明,新型慢病毒载体制备体系已初步建立,为今后该系统的大规模应用提供客观的科学依据.     

慢病毒载体介导RNAi的研究进展

RNAi通过双链RNA的介导,特异性阻抑相关序列的表达,从而导致转录后水平的基因沉默.广泛存在于真菌、植物和动物等真核生物中.慢病毒载体是理想的真核细胞基因转移工具,被广泛应用于相关的RNAi研究领域,例如抗病毒研究、癌症及其治疗、遗传性疾病的治疗、基因治疗.现已发现,慢病毒载体能够介导组织特异、时间特异的RNAi,在疾病的基因靶向性治疗上必有广阔的前景.     

第三代慢病毒包装系统优化及Rev表达质粒对慢病毒包装效率作用初探

目的:对目前最为常用的三质粒慢病毒包装系统进行优化,以期明确各质粒表达的病毒成分对提高慢病毒包装效率的重要性。方法:在限定总质粒量为10μg的情况下,将表达绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)的目的质粒、表达gag/pol、Rev、VSVG的包装质粒按不同比例混合,转染293T细胞进行病毒包装,48 h后收集上清用于感染293T及K562细胞,72 h后经流式细胞术检测GFP+阳性细胞比例,分析所获病毒的感染效率。结果:采用不同的质粒混合比例包装的病毒感染效率具有明显差异,其中携带GFP的目的质粒量影响作用最为显著,当目的质粒量从15%(1.5μg)增至35%(3.5μg)时,GFP+293T细胞比例从14.2%升至45.1%,增加了3.2倍。当固定目的质粒量为35%,同时分别将表达gag/pol或Rev的质粒量从15%提高到25%时,改变Rev组的GFP+阳性率提升最明显,为1.5倍;而改变VSVG质粒量在已测试的混合比例中作用不显著。包装病毒感染K562细胞的结果与293T细胞类似。结论:通过对比包装病毒的感染效率,优化了慢病毒包装的混合质粒条件,并成功地应用于感染白血病细胞系;首次发现提高Rev质粒量可以更有效地提高病毒的包装效率,为利用慢病毒表达体系研究多种基因在血液系统中的功能奠定了技术基础。     

慢病毒载体构建及结构优化

慢病毒载体目前是基因治疗中研究较多的载体,与通常使用的逆转录病毒载体和腺病毒载体比较,它有感染非分裂期细胞及容纳外源性目的基因片段大等优点。对其结构的优化主要集中在提高生物安全性,提高转基因表达、转基因表达的调控及载体靶向性等方面。本文介绍了慢病毒载体构建及结构优化方面的研究进展作一综述。     

艾滋病的基因治疗策略及慢病毒载体

高活性的抗病毒治疗可以显著地降低艾滋病患者血浆中的HIV病毒载量,但对潜伏的病毒库无效.对HIV的基因治疗包括诱导HIV潜伏感染的休止的CD4 T记忆细胞增生,使潜伏的HIV激活进入复制循环,结合药物治疗和激活潜伏的HIV基因表达但并不诱导细胞增生,而是通过载体携带的基因使细胞凋亡,以清除HIV潜伏感染的细胞,利用载体携带目的基因治疗脑中的病毒.     

重组腺相关病毒生产方法研究进展

重组腺相关病毒(rAAV)作为基因治疗的载体,具有感染范围广、能在宿主细胞中长久稳定表达外源基因和非致病性等优点,因此在基因治疗领域倍受青睐。rAAV的大规模制备技术一直是限制其临床广泛应用的瓶颈。近年来,有许多改进rAAV制备工艺的尝试。我们在介绍rAAV载体制备所需各种元件的基础上,对这些方法进行了简要综述。     

可诱导慢病毒载体的优化策略及应用

以1型人免疫缺陷病毒(HIV-1)为基础构建的慢病毒载体具有可感染非分裂细胞、免疫反应小、携带的基因片段容量大和可整合进宿主基因组而长期表达等优点,因而成为最理想的基因转移载体之一。可诱导慢病毒载体介导的可诱导基因表达系统能够有效控制目的基因表达,扩大了慢病毒载体的临床应用潜能,成为很有前景的基因治疗载体。主要介绍带有四环素和其他几种诱导系统的可调控性慢病毒载体及其改进,以及可诱导慢病毒载体在RNA干扰中的应用。     

Enhanced transgenesis by intracytoplasmic injection of envelope-free lentivirus

We demonstrate enhanced transgenesis in mice by intracytoplasmic injection of envelope-free lentivirus. Envelope-free lentivirus carrying the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene under the control of the ubiquitin promoter (LVU-GFP) was microinjected into the cytoplasm of mouse zygotes prior to embryo transfer. Ninety-seven percent (31/32) of the adult mice were confirmed transgenic by PCR and Southern blot analysis; all founder mice express GFP when tail snips were examined by fluorescent microscopy prior to genomic DNA extraction. Transgene insertion numbers ranging from 1 to 32 were revealed by Southern blot analysis. Germline transmission was confirmed by the presence of transgene in F1 offspring. As expected, a lower transgenic rate (2.2%; 1/46) resulted when envelope-free LVU-GFP was microinjected into the perivitelline space (PVS) because cell recognition followed by membrane fusion between the viral envelope and the target cell is prerequisite for successful infection by envelope viruses. Here we demonstrate the competence of envelope-free lentivirus in establishing stable gene integration by germline transgenesis in mice at high efficiency, by intracytoplasmic viral injection (INVI) of envelope-free lentivirus into mouse zygotes.     

羊慢病毒及其抗性基因研究进展

羊慢病毒也称小反刍动物慢病毒, 主要包括绵羊梅迪–维斯纳病毒和山羊关节炎–脑炎病毒, 二者主要感染绵羊和山羊, 目前该病在世界范围内流行并给养羊业带来很大的经济损失。研究表明, 不同绵羊品种对慢病毒易感性存在差异, 这种差异表明易感性不同的绵羊可能存在遗传多样性的差异。全基因组关联分析发现绵羊跨膜蛋白TMEM154 (Transmembrane protein 154)基因中的一个点突变E35K与抗病力高度相关, 可以作为绵羊抗病选育的分子标记。文章详述了绵羊TMEM154基因E35K突变对抗病力的影响和当前慢病毒抗病基因研究概况, 包括锌指家族、趋化因子受体CCR5、三重基序蛋白TRIM5α、载脂蛋白B mRNA剪辑酶催化多肽样蛋白3、多能发育相关基因2和4, 并简要介绍了羊慢病毒特征和我国羊慢病毒病的流行状况, 以期为我国绵羊养殖业和抗病选育提供参考。     

A system for efficient generation of adenovirus protein IX-producing helper cell lines

BACKGROUND: The adenovirus 14.3 kDa hexon-associated protein IX (pIX) functions in the viral capsid as 'cement' and assembles the hexons in stable groups-of-nine (GONs). Although viruses lacking pIX do not form GONs, and are less heat-stable than wild-type (wt) viruses, they can be propagated with the same kinetics and yields as the wt viruses. To facilitate 'pseudotyping' of adenoviral vectors we have set up an efficient system for the generation of pIX-producing helper cell lines. METHODS: With a lentiviral pIX-expression cassette, monoclonal and polyclonal helper cell lines were generated, which express wt or modified pIX genes at levels equivalent to wt HAdV-5 infected cells. The incorporation efficiency into pIX gene deleted viruses was examined by Western analysis, immuno-affinity electron microscopy, and heat-stability assays. RESULTS: Immuno-affinity electron microscopy on viruses lacking the pIX gene demonstrated that more than 96% of the particles contain pIX protein in their capsids after propagation on the pIX-expressing helper cell lines. In addition, the pIX level in the helper cells was sufficient to generate heat-stable particles. Finally, the ratio between pIX and fiber was equivalent to that found in wt particles. The pIX-producing cell lines are very stable, demonstrating that pIX is not toxic to cells. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that lentivirus vectors can be used for the establishment of pIX-complementing helper cell lines.     

Tight control of transgene expression by lentivirus vectors containing second-generation tetracycline-responsive promoters

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to design improved regulatable lentivirus vector systems. The aim was to design tetracycline (tet)-regulatable lentivirus vectors based on the Tet-on system displaying low background expression in the absence of the doxycycline (DOX) inducer and high transgene expression levels in the presence of DOX. METHODS: We constructed a binary lentivirus vector system that is composed of a self-inactivating (SIN) lentivirus vector bearing inducible first- or second-generation tet-responsive promoter elements (TREs) driving expression of a transgene and a second lentivirus vector encoding a reverse tetracycline-controlled transactivator (rtTA) that activates transgene expression from the TRE in the presence of DOX. RESULTS: We evaluated a number of different rtTAs and found rtTA2S-M2 to induce the highest levels of transgene expression. Regulated transgene expression was stable in human breast carcinoma cells implanted into nude mice for up to 11 weeks. In an attempt to minimize background expression levels, the chicken beta-globin cHS4 insulator element was cloned into the 3' long terminal repeat (LTR) of the transgene transfer vector. The cHS4 insulator element reduced background expression but expression levels following DOX addition were lower than those observed with vectors lacking an insulator sequence. In a second strategy, vectors bearing second-generation TREs harboring repositioned tetracycline operator elements were used. Such vectors displayed greatly reduced leakiness in the absence of DOX and induced transgene expression levels were up to 522-fold above those seen in the absence of DOX. CONCLUSIONS: Inducible lentivirus vectors bearing insulators or second-generation TREs will likely prove useful for applications demanding the lowest levels of background expression.     

Affinity recovery of lentivirus by diaminopelargonic acid mediated desthiobiotin labelling

Desthiobiotin-tagged lentiviral vectors have been metabolically produced by DBL producer cells in a 7,8-diaminopelargonic acid (7-DAPA) dependent manner for envelope independent, single-step affinity purification. 7-DAPA, which has little or no affinity for avidin/streptavidin, was synthesised and verified by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. By expressing the biotin acceptor, biotin ligase and desthiobiotin synthase bioD, DBL cells converted exogenous 7-DAPA into membrane-bound desthiobiotin. Desthiobiotin on the DBL cell surface was visualised by confocal microscopy and the desthiobiotin density was quantified by HABA-avidin assay. Desthiobiotin was then spontaneously incorporated onto the surface of lentiviral vectors produced by the DBL cells. It has been demonstrated by flow cytometry that the desthiobiotinylated lentiviruses were captured from the crude 7-DAPA-containing viral supernatant by Streptavidin Magnespheres^® and eluted by biotin solution efficiently whilst retaining infectivity. The practical, high yielding virus purification using Pierce monomeric avidin coated columns indicates a highly efficient biotin-dependent recovery of infectious lentiviruses at 68%. The recovered lentiviral vectors had a high purity and the majority were eluted within 45 min. This 7-DAPA mediated desthiobiotinylation technology can be applied in scalable production of viral vectors for clinical gene therapy.     

Targeted gene modification in mouse ES cells using integrase‐defective lentiviral vectors

Lentiviral vectors efficiently integrate into the host genome of both dividing and nondividing cells, and so they have been used for stable transgene expression in biological and biomedical studies. However, recent studies have highlighted the risk of insertional mutagenesis and subsequent oncogenesis. Here, we used an integrase‐defective lentiviral (IDLV) vector to decrease the chance of random integration and examined the feasibility of lentiviral vector‐mediated gene targeting into murine embryonic stem (ES) cells. After transduction with wild‐type lentiviral vectors, none of the 512 G418 resistant clones were found to be homologous recombinant clones. Although the transduction efficiency was lower with the IDLV vectors (5.9% of wild‐type), successful homologous recombination was observed in nine out of the 941 G418 resistant clones (0.83 ± 1.32%). Pluripotency of the homologous recombinant ES cells was confirmed by the production of chimeric mice and subsequent germ line transmission. Because lentiviral vectors can efficiently transduce a variety of stem cell types, our strategy has potential relevance for secure gene‐manipulation in therapeutic applications. genesis 47:217–223, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Antibody-based diagnosis of small ruminant lentivirus infection in seminal fluid

Antibody-based diagnosis of small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) has been efficiently achieved using serum and milk, but not semen, for which polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been proposed as a confirmatory technique. This work, involving 296 ovine (Ovis aries) and caprine (Capra hircus) semen donors, investigates whether seminal fluid (SF) can be reliably used in antibody-based SRLV diagnosis. First, a gold standard was established to assess the infection status and determine the sensitivity and specificity of three commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) in serum testing using Western blot and PCR as confirmatory tests. For SF testing, both gold standard and serum testing results were used as reference. The performance of SF testing was affected not only by the ELISA assay sensitivity (related to antigen spectrum) compared with that of the gold standard (as it occurred in serum testing) but also by SF sample quality and SF working dilution. Nonturbid SF samples, commonly collected in artificial insemination centers (AICs), were required. Compared with serum, SF testing had a decreased sensitivity in two of the ELISA assays (with original serum working dilutions ≤1/20 in serum testing) but reached a similar sensitivity (and specificity) in the assay designed to work at the highest serum dilution (1/500). A SF concentration of about 1/2 (250-fold that used in serum testing) was found optimal in this assay, yielding highly repeatable results that were in almost perfect agreement with those of serum testing (κ ± SE, 0.91 ± 0.81). Thus, SF ELISA can be reliably applied in antibody-based SRLV diagnosis. This information may be useful to control infection in AICs and animal and semen trade programs requiring health-certified quality of semen donors.