在哺乳动物细胞中稳定表达丙型肝炎病毒E2糖蛋白

利用ＤＮＡ重组技术,将Ⅲ型中国株ＨＣＶＥ２／ＮＳ１基因片段插入真核表达载体,然后转染哺乳动物细胞ＮＩＨ３Ｔ３以表达Ｅ２糖蛋白．检测显示来自３月以上培养的细胞克隆中表达产物分子量为７０ｋＤ,经Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎｂｌｏｔ证实该表达产物能与抗ＨＣＶ阳性血清进行特异性反应．以上表明首次在哺乳动物细胞中成功表达Ⅲ型中国株ＨＣＶ的Ｅ２糖蛋白,并建立相应的稳定表达细胞系．     

Expression of hepatitis C virus E2 ectodomain in E. coli and its application in the detection of anti-E2 antibodies in human sera

The second envelope glycoprotein (E2) of hepatitis C virus has been shown to bind human target cells and has become a major target for the development of anti-HCV vaccines. Anti-E2 antibodies have been suggested to be of clinical significance in diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of hepatitis C. However, large-scale expression and purification of E2 proteins in mammalian cells is difficult. As an alternative, E2 fragment (aa 385-730) with a four-amino-acid mutation (aa 568-571 PCNI to RVTS) was expressed as hexa-histidine-tagged full length protein [E2N730(m)] in E. coli and purified to over 85% purity. Purified E2N730(m) was specifically recognized by homologous hepatitis C patient serum in Western blot, suggesting that it displayed E2~specific antigenicity. Rabbit antiserum raised against E2N730(m) recognized E2 glyco-proteins expressed in mammalian cells in Western blot. Purified E2N730(m) was used to detect anti-E2 antibodies in human sera and showed better specificity and sensitivity than previousl     

Characterization of hepatitis C virus envelope glycoprotein complexes expressed by recombinant vaccinia viruses.

We constructed recombinant vaccinia virus vectors for expression of the structural region of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Infection of mammalian cells with a vector (vv/HCV1-906) encoding C-E1-E2-NS2 generated major protein species of 22 kDa (C), 33 to 35 kDa (E1), and 70 to 72 kDa (E2), as observed previously with other mammalian expression systems. The bulk of the E1 and E2 expressed by vv/HCV1-906 was found integrated into endoplasmic reticulum membranes as core-glycosylated species, suggesting that these E1 and E2 species represent intracellular forms of the HCV envelope proteins. HCV E1 and E2 formed E1-E2 complexes which were precipitated by either anti-E1 or anti-E2 serum and which sedimented at approximately 15 S on glycerol density gradients. No evidence of intermolecular disulfide bonding between E1 and E2 was detected. E1 and E2 were copurified to approximately 90% purity by mild detergent extraction followed by chromatography on Galanthus nivalus lectin-agarose and DEAE-Fractogel. Immunization of chimpanzees with purified E1-E2 generated high titers of anti-E1 and anti-E2 antibodies. Further studies, to be reported separately, demonstrated that purified E1-E2 complexes were recognized at high frequency by HCV+ human sera (D. Y. Chien, Q.-L. Choo, R. Ralston, R. Spaete, M. Tong, M. Houghton, and G. Kuo, Lancet, in press) and generated protective immunity in chimpanzees (Q.-L. Choo, G. Kuo, R. Ralston, A. Weiner, D. Chien, G. Van Nest, J. Han, K. Berger, K. Thudium, J. Kansopon, J. McFarland, A. Tabrizi, K. Ching, B. Mass, L. B. Cummins, E. Muchmore, and M. Houghton, submitted for publication), suggesting that these purified HCV envelope proteins display native HCV epitopes.     

Hepatitis C virus structural proteins and virus-like particles produced in recombinant baculovirus-infected insect cells

Three proteins, namely, the core protein C and envelope glycoproteins E1 and E2, are main structural proteins forming a hepatitis C virus (HCV) virion. The virus structure and assembly and the role of the structural proteins in virion morphogenesis remain unknown because of the lack of an efficient culture system for HCV to be grown in vitro. Highly efficient heterologous expression systems make it possible to obtain self-assembled, nonreplicating, genome-lacking particles that are morphologically similar to intact virions. Using recombinant baculoviruses expressing the HCV structural protein genes in insect cells, the individual HCV structural proteins were expressed to 25–35% of the total cell protein, and the CE1 and E1E2 heterodimers and HCV-like particles were obtained. It was demonstrated that the recombinant C, E1, and E2 proteins underwent posttranslational modification, the glycoproteins formed a noncovalent heterodimer, and HCV- like particles were located in endoplasmic reticulum membranes of infected cells. The formation of E1E2 dimers and HCV-like particles was used to study the effect of E1 glycosylation on the expression and processing of the coat proteins.     

New monoclonal antibodies against a recombinant second envelope protein of Hepatitis C virus

To study the immunological features of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope protein (E2 protein), new specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were generated. WKA/H rats were immunized with syngeneic cells infected with a vaccinia virus expressing the E2 protein and with soluble E2 protein obtained from Chinese hamster ovary cells with a plasmid-based expression system. By screening hybridoma cells obtained from spleen cells of the immunized rats, three specific mAbs were obtained. One mAb was reactive to a peptide corresponding to the hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) in E2 protein, while the others reacted to regions outside HVR1. The significance of these antibodies for the diagnosis of HCV infection as well as for analysis of the structure of the HCV E2 protein will be discussed.     

丙型肝炎病毒结构蛋白E1在昆虫细胞中的表达及定位

本文在大肠杆菌中表达了与GST融合无跨膜区的丙型肝炎病毒(Hepatitis C Virus,HCV)E1蛋白,并通过免疫兔制备了兔抗E1的抗血清。然后利用Bac-to-Bac杆状病毒表达系统构建了含有HCV结构蛋白E1基因的重组杆状病毒vAcHCVE1。通过Western blot分析,E1蛋白在Sf9细胞中表达分子量大小为30kDa大于预测的20kDa,表明存在翻译后修饰如糖基化等。通过Confocal显微镜观察当感染48h后E1蛋白定位在细胞质和细胞膜上。     

密码子偏性对痘苗病毒载体表达效率影响的研究

为了研究密码子偏性对痘苗病毒载体表达效率的影响,分别采用痘苗病毒及其宿主细胞的优势密码子对绿色荧光蛋白基因进行改造,利用荧光、Western blot和FCM等方法分析其在痘苗病毒载体系统的表达水平。结果显示,全部采用痘苗病毒优势密码子(富含A T)和全部采用宿主细胞优势密码子(富含G C),以及部分使用宿主细胞优势密码子的三种绿色荧光蛋白基因都能够有效表达,表达水平相近,表明痘苗病毒载体对目的基因密码子的使用具有很好宽容性。为了探讨这种宽容性的机理,分别利用在胞核内和在胞浆内转录的质粒载体对不同密码子偏性的绿色荧光蛋白基因进行表达分析。结果显示,胞核内转录目的基因的pcDNA3质粒载体能有效表达富含G C的绿色荧光蛋白基因,不能有效表达富含A T的绿色荧光蛋白基因,而胞浆内转录目的基因的pSCA质粒载体能同样有效表达上述不同密码子偏性的目的基因。这些结果表明,位于胞浆内的富含A U的转录产物能够有效表达,细胞核内生成的富含A U的转录产物可能受核膜屏障或其它核内因素影响而不能有效表达。因此,胞浆内繁殖的特性是痘苗病毒载体具有密码子宽容性的主要原因。此研究为痘苗病毒载体和常用真核表达载体的选择使用提供了重要实验依据。     

Functional Role of Hepatitis C Virus Chimeric Glycoproteins in the Infectivity of Pseudotyped Virus

The putative envelope glycoproteins of hepatitis C virus (HCV) likely play an important role in the initiation of viral infection. Available information suggests that the genomic regions encoding the putative envelope glycoproteins, when expressed as recombinant proteins in mammalian cells, largely accumulate in the endoplasmic reticulum. In this study, genomic regions which include the putative ectodomain of the E1 (amino acids 174 to 359) and E2 (amino acids 371 to 742) glycoproteins were appended to the transmembrane domain and cytoplasmic tail of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) G protein. This provided a membrane anchor signal and the VSV incorporation signal at the carboxy termini of the E1 and E2 glycoproteins. The chimeric gene constructs exhibited expression of the recombinant proteins on the cell surface in a transient expression assay. When infected with a temperature-sensitive VSV mutant (ts045) and grown at the nonpermissive temperature (40.5°C), cells transiently expressing the E1 or E2 chimeric glycoprotein generated VSV/HCV pseudotyped virus. The resulting pseudotyped virus generated from E1 or E2 surprisingly exhibited the ability to infect mammalian cells and sera derived from chimpanzees immunized with the homologous HCV envelope glycoproteins neutralized pseudotyped virus infectivity. Results from this study suggested a potential functional role for both the E1 and E2 glycoproteins in the infectivity of VSV/HCV pseudotyped virus in mammalian cells. These observations further suggest the importance of using both viral glycoproteins in a candidate subunit vaccine and the potential for using a VSV/HCV pseudotyped virus to determine HCV neutralizing antibodies.     

丙型肝炎病毒核心蛋白在大肠杆菌中的表达

目的：建立稳定表达丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)核心蛋白的原核表达系统,获得高产量的纯化核心蛋白。方法：应用多聚酶链反应(PCR),以HCV—H株全长cDNA序列为模板,扩增获得核心区基因片段,克隆入原核表达载体pBVIL1,构建原核表达载体pBVIL1-C,转化HB101宿主菌,通过温度诱导表达核心蛋白。结果：扩增得到目的基因长度为573bp,构建pBVIL1-C表达载体,在HB101宿主菌中通过温度诱导获得稳定表达,表达蛋白占菌体总蛋白含量的21％,Western—Blot检测证实表达产物可与HCV患者阳性血清发生特异性结合反应。结论：HCV核心蛋白可在大肠杆菌中获得高表达并具有良好的反应原性。     

Cloning of the vaccinia virus ribonucleotide reductase small subunit gene. Characterization of the gene product expressed in Escherichia coli.

During its infectious cycle, vaccinia virus expresses a virus-encoded ribonucleotide reductase which is distinct from the host cellular enzyme (Slabaugh, M.B., and Mathews, C.K. (1984) J. Virol. 52, 501-506; Slabaugh, M.B., Johnson, T.L., and Mathews, C.K. (1984) J. Virol. 52, 507-514). We have cloned the gene for the small subunit of vaccinia virus ribonucleotide reductase (designated VVR2) into Escherichia coli and expressed the protein using a T7 RNA polymerase plasmid expression system. After isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside induction, accumulation of a 37-kDa peptide was detected by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and this peptide reacted with polyclonal antiserum raised against a TrpE-VVR2 fusion protein. The 37-kDa protein was purified to homogeneity, and gel filtration of the purified protein revealed that the recombinant protein existed as a dimer in solution. Purified recombinant VVR2 protein was shown to complement the activity of purified recombinant ribonucleotide reductase large subunit, with a specific activity that was similar to native VVR2 from a virus-infected cell extract. A CD spectrum of the recombinant viral protein showed that like the mouse protein, the vaccinia virus protein has 50% alpha-helical structure. Like other iron-containing ribonucleotide reductase small subunits, recombinant VVR2 protein contained a stable organic free radical that was detectable by EPR spectroscopy. The EPR spectrum of purified recombinant VVR2 was identical to that of vaccinia virus-infected mammalian cells. Both the hyperfine splitting character and microwave saturation behavior of VVR2 were similar to those of mouse R2 and distinct from E. coli R2. By using amino acid analysis to determine the concentration of VVR2, we determined that approximately 0.6 radicals were present per R2 dimer. Our results indicate that vaccinia virus small subunit is similar to mammalian ribonucleotide reductases.     

柯萨奇B3病毒基因在重组痘苗病毒中的表达

将编码柯萨奇Ｂ３病毒（ＣＶＢ３）衣壳蛋白ＶＰ１和ＶＰ２的基因,分别克隆到具有７．５ｋ启动子的痘苗病毒表达载体ｐＧＪＰ５上;将ＣＶＢ３衣壳蛋白全基因克隆到具有Ｔ７启动子的痘苗表达载体ｐＴＭ１上,并筛先到相应的重组痘苗病毒ＶＶＰ１、ＶＶＰ２和ＶＶＰ／４／２／３／１。ＶＶＰ１和ＶＶＰ２稳定表达产物为ＣＶＢ３衣壳蛋白ＶＰ１和ＶＰ２,而ＶＶＰ４／２／３／１为一无分泌性的多聚蛋白,且这三种表达产物均属无分泌性     

不同HCV基因型C蛋白在HepG2细胞引起基因表达改变的初步研究

目的:探讨丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)不同基因型C蛋白在HepG2细胞中的基因表达。方法:分别构建能在HepG2细胞表达HCV-1b、HCV-2a和HCV-4d等3种基因型C蛋白的重组体,将Affymetrix公司人基因芯片HG-U133A和HG-U133B用于本研究。结果:3种C蛋白均可引起不同基因上调和下调改变。3种C蛋白表达如两两相比,有若干相同基因表达改变;如三者相比,有PPM1A、TNNI2、ZNF236、FSCN1基因表达出现相同改变。结论:HCV不同基因型C蛋白所引起的基因表达谱各有特征,主要涉及分子转运、信号转导、致病或癌基因等,这对从基因表达层面认识HCVC蛋白的功能及HCV致病机制均有重大帮助。     

A modified hepatitis B surface antigen carrying both preS1 and preS2 epitopes

ＴｈｅｅｎｖｅｌｏｐｅｐｒｏｔｅｉｎｏｆｈｅｐａｔｉｔｉｓＢｖｉｒｕｓ(ＨＢＶ)ｃｏｎｓｉｓｔｓｏｆｔｈｒｅｅｐｒｏｔｅｉｎｓ:ｓｍａｌｌ(Ｓ),ｍｉｄｄｌｅ(Ｍ)ａｎｄｌａｒｇｅ(Ｌ)[1].ＴｈｅＳｐｒｏｔｅｉｎｃａｒｒｉｅｓａｌｌｔｈｅｉｎｆｏｒｍａｔｉｏｎｒｅｑｕｉｒｅｄｆｏｒｃｅｌｌｕｌａｒｌｉｐｉｄｓｍｏｂｉｌｉｚａｔｉｏｎ,ｓｕｂｖｉｒａｌｐａｒｔｉｃｌｅｆｏｒｍａｔｉｏｎａｎｄｓｅｃｒｅｔｉｏｎ.Ｉｔｈａｓｂｅｅｎｓｕｃｃｅｓｓｆｕｌｌｙｄｅｖｅｌｏｐｅｄａｓａｃａｒｒｉｅｒｔｏｅｘｐｒｅｓｓｆ…     

Trans-encapsidation of hepatitis C virus subgenomic replicon RNA with viral structure proteins

A trans-packaging system for hepatitis C virus (HCV) subgenomic replicon RNAs was developed. HCV subgenomic replicon was efficiently encapsidated by the HCV structural proteins that were stably expressed in trans under the control of a mammalian promoter. Infectious HCV-like particles (HCV-LPs), established a single-round infection, were produced and released into culture medium in titers of up to 10³ focus forming units/ml. Expression of NS2 protein with structural proteins (core, E1, E2, and p7) was shown to be critical for the infectivity of HCV-LPs. Anti-CD81 treatment decreased the number of infected cells, suggesting that HCV-LPs infected cells in a CD81-dependent manner. The packaging cell line should be useful both for the production of single-round infectious HCV-LPs to elucidate the mechanisms of HCV assembly, particle formation and infection to host cells, and for the development of HCV replicon-based vaccines.     

Murine Humoral Immune Response against Recombinant Structural Proteins of Hepatitis C Virus Distinct from Those of Patients

We examined the humoral immune response to recombinant structural proteins of hepatitis C virus (HCV) such as C, E1 and E2 in immunized mice. Mice showed high induction of antibodies against these three structural proteins. Conformational and/or linear epitopes of these regions showed high responses in mice. Comparison with patients revealed higher anti-E1 and anti-E2 responses in mice and 15 immunoreactive peptides which are unique to mice, especially 11 peptides from the E2 region. The hydrophilic regions of these proteins were found to be the most immunogenic. Therefore, the murine immune system against recombinant E1 and E2 glycoproteins was distinct from those of patients in natural infection, and may be a target to find protective activity against HCV infection.     

SARS-CoV N蛋白与人冠状病毒HCoV-OC43和HCoV-229E的交叉反应表位及特异表位的确定

为确定SARS-CoV N蛋白的特异抗原表位,对3种人冠状病毒SARS-CoV、HCoV-OC43和HCoV-229E N蛋白之间的交叉免疫反应进行了系统研究。构建了分别表达SARS-CoV、HCoV-OC43和HCoV-229E N蛋白的重组痘苗病毒,并制备了相应的小鼠免疫血清。用间接免疫荧光方法,检测了3种N蛋白的表达及其与3种冠状病毒免疫动物血清和SARS病人恢复期血清之间的反应。与此同时,用Western blot方法分析了原核表达的39个不同区段的SARS-CoV N蛋白与3种冠状病毒动物免疫血清和SARS病人恢复期血清之间的交叉反应性。免疫荧光检测结果表明,SARS-CoV、HCoV-OC43和HCoV-229E3种病毒的N蛋白在重组痘苗病毒感染的HeLa细胞中均可以特异表达;3种N蛋白之间存在明显交叉免疫反应。Western blot结果显示,SARS-CoV N蛋白的表位主要位于30~60aa、170~184aa、301~320aa和360~422aa;与HCoV-OC43的交叉反应表位主要位于30~60aa、90~120aa、204~214aa和320~360aa;与HCoV-229E的交叉反应表位主要位于30~60aa、150~160aa和301~360aa。含SARS-CoV N蛋白特异表位的重组肽N155b(60~214aa)和N185(30~214aa)只与SARS病人恢复期血清和灭活SARS-CoV免疫小鼠的血清反应,而不与灭活HCoV-OC43和HCoV-229E免疫的山羊血清产生交叉反应。上述结果为使用SARS-CoV N蛋白抗原进行特异诊断试剂的研究,提供了重要的实验依据。     

Baculovirus vectors for efficient gene delivery and expression in mammalian cells

Baculovirus expression vectors are extensively used for the delivery of foreign genes and expression of recombinant proteins in insect and mammalian cells. Modified baculoviruses containing mammalian promoter elements (BacMam viruses) for an efficient transient and stable transduction of diverse mammalian cells ensure a high level of heterologous protein expression both in vitro and in vivo. Recombinant baculovirus vectors containing mammalian expression cassette with cytomegalovirus promoter, green or red fluorescent protein gene, SV40pA polyadenylation signal, and polylinker MCS were constructed for the delivery of genes encoding hepatitis C virus structural proteins into mammalian cells. In HEK293T and Huh7 cells, formation of glycoprotein complexes and HCV4ike particles was observed. A high efficiency of the baculovirus-medi-ated gene transfer and expression of the virus envelope proteins in mammalian cells was demonstrated using fluorescence, flow cytometry, and immunoblot techniques.     

HCV核心蛋白在大肠杆菌中的表达及免疫学特性分析

目的:表达HCV核心蛋白,为检测丙肝病毒提供合适抗原。方法:以含HCV核心全长cDNA克隆的pMD18T/core质粒为模板,PCR扩增全长的HCV核心抗原基因,插入表达载体pQEN1构建重组质粒pQEN1/Core,转化BL-21(DE3)大肠杆菌,IPTG诱导表达6×His融合蛋白,表达产物经SDS-PAGE及Western blot检测和鉴定。结果:经SDS-PAGE及Western blot显示HCV核心蛋白在大肠杆菌中正确表达,融合蛋白分子量约为22 kD,表达量约占菌体蛋白总量的30%。纯化后的C蛋白能与慢性丙型肝炎患者有血清反应。结论:HCV核心蛋白在大肠杆菌中成功表达并具有较强的抗原性。     

口服型HCV融合抗原DNA疫苗在小鼠诱导免疫应答

将编码一个外源信号肽、一个通用型辅助性T淋巴细胞抗原表位和HCV核心 包膜蛋白E2融合抗原基因的真核表达质粒pST CE2t(DNA疫苗 )转化到减毒鼠伤寒沙门菌SL72 0 7.将该重组菌口服接种BALB c小鼠 3次 .小鼠的抗HCV核心和E2抗体阳转率分别达 6 0 %和 70 % .体外以重组HCV核心或E2抗原刺激小鼠脾细胞 ,均使之发生明显的增殖反应 ,且小鼠脾细胞能有效杀伤表达HCV核心抗原的同系骨髓瘤细胞SP2 0 .这为研制高效免疫、成本低廉、接种方便的HCV疫苗提供了一个新的可行途径     

DNA immunization with hepatitis C virus (HCV) polycistronic genes or immunization by HCV DNA priming-recombinant canarypox virus boosting induces immune responses and protection from recombinant HCV-vaccinia virus infection in HLA-A2.1-transgenic mice

We studied immune responses to hepatitis C virus (HCV) genes delivered as DNA encoding the entire HCV protein coding genome in two polycistronic plasmids encoding HCV capsid-E1-E2-NS2-NS3 and HCV NS3-NS4-NS5 in HLA-A2.1-transgenic mice. Immune responses to HCV DNA prime and recombinant canarypox virus boost were also studied with the above constructs. At 8 weeks after a canarypox virus boost, the DNA prime/canarypox virus boosting regimen induced potent cellular immune responses to HCV structural and nonstructural proteins on target cells expressing the HLA-A2.1 allele. High frequencies of gamma interferon-secreting cells, as detected by enzyme-linked immunospot assay, were obtained in response to several endogenously expressed HCV proteins. We also observed cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte reactivity in response to endogenously expressed HCV proteins in fresh spleen cells without in vitro expansion. Upon challenge with a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing HCV proteins at 2 months postimmunization, the HCV DNA prime/canarypox virus-immunized mice showed a complete reduction in vaccinia virus titers compared to HCV DNA prime/boost- and mock-immunized controls. Immune responses were still detectable 4 months after canarypox virus boost in immunized mice. Interestingly, at 10 months postimmunization (8 months after canarypox virus boost), the protection in HCV DNA prime/boost-immunized mice against recombinant HCV-vaccinia virus challenge was higher than that observed in HCV DNA prime/canarypox virus boost-immunized mice.