戊型肝炎病人血清抗—HEV IgG与IgM和HEV RNA的动态变化

利用酶联免疫试验（ＥＩＡ）及逆转录－聚合酶链反应（ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ）,检测了２１０份急性非甲非乙非丙肝炎患者血清和４０例戊型肝炎（戊肝）病人系列血清。在急性非甲非乙非丙肝炎血清中,抗－ＨＥＶ ＩｇＧ、抗－ＨＥＶ ＩｇＭ和ＨＥＶ ＲＮＡ阳性率分别为６２．８６％、４５．２３％和４０．４８％。在戊肝系列血清检测中,抗－ＨＥＶ ＩｇＧ阳性率发病１个月内为９２．５％,发病２￣６个月１００％,１２个月９４．７％,     

戊型肝炎病毒基因1型和基因4型中和表位区域分子差异研究

戊型肝炎病毒(HEV)根据易感宿主的差别可以分为两大类:一类只分离自人的H(Human)类,包括HEV-1和HEV-2;一类为人畜共患的Z(Zoonosis)类,包括HEV-3和HEV-4。本研究通过比较这两类HEV的ORF2aa368~606区段,发现存在4个类保守的差异位点,均位于HEV的主要中和表位区域aa459~606,分别是aa483、aa492、aa497和aa599;对这四个位点进行定点替换突变,以一组能够捕获HEV-1和/或HEV-4的单克隆抗体比较各种突变体的免疫反应性,结果表明仅aa497的差异造成了这两类HEV中和表位构象的部分差异,提示aa497及其相关的病毒表面结构差异在H类和Z类HEV宿主选择中可能扮演重要角色。     

Alpha-smooth muscle actin expression identifies subpopulations of mouse lymph node non-hematopoietic cells

Significant attention has been given to the role played by non-hematopoietic cells in the immune organs, including the lymph nodes, in hopes of understanding the development, maintenance, and regulation of the immune system. However, the molecular and cellular characterization of non-hematopoietic cells is still in its infancy. Here we show that non-hematopoietic cells in mouse lymph nodes can be fractionated into previously unidentified subpopulations according to the transgenic reporter expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (αSMA). αSMA⁺ non-hematopoietic cells were predominantly detected in gp38⁺CD31⁻ and gp38⁻CD31⁻ cells. Molecular expression profiles suggest similarities between αSMA⁺gp38⁺CD31⁻ and αSMA⁻gp38⁺CD31⁻ subpopulations and dissimilarities between αSMA⁺gp38⁻CD31⁻ and αSMA⁻gp38⁻CD31⁻ subpopulations. The results indicate that αSMA is a useful marker for further understanding the molecular and cellular characteristics of non-hematopoietic cells in the lymph nodes.     

Molecular biology and pathogenesis of hepatitis E virus

The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a small RNA virus and the etiological agent for hepatitis E, a form of acute viral hepatitis. The virus has a feco-oral transmission cycle and is transmitted through environmental contamination, mainly through drinking water. Recent studies on the isolation of HEV-like viruses from animal species also suggest zoonotic transfer of the virus. The absence of small animal models of infection and efficient cell culture systems has precluded virological studies on the replication cycle and pathogenesis of HEV. A vaccine against HEV has undergone successful clinical testing and diagnostic tests are available. This review describes HEV epidemiology, clinical presentation, pathogenesis, molecular virology and the host response to HEV infection. The focus is on published literature in the past decade. Equal contribution     

缺氧诱导因子-1在病毒感染中的作用

缺氧诱导因子-1(hypoxia-inducible factor-1,HIF-1)是一种由β亚单位和α亚单位组成的异二聚体转录因子,其表达产物参与细胞的许多生理过程。越来越多的研究提示HIF-1在病毒感染中发挥着重要作用。通过检索相关文献,对人病毒感染中HIF-1活性改变及其在病毒感染中的作用进行了综述,为研究HIF-1在病毒感染中的作用提供参考。     

免疫胶体金试剂的制备及应用胶体金免疫电镜技术检测戊型肝炎病毒

报道了用胶体金免疫电镜技术检测戊型肝炎病毒（ＨＥＶ）的方法。实验采用１０ｎｍ胶体金标记纯化兔抗鼠ＩｇＧ制备了免疫胶体金探针试剂。用本法从戊型肝炎患者粪便提取物中检出ＨＥＶ呈球形,直径３２±５ｎｍ。此方法具有快速、灵敏、直观等特点,在ＨＥＶ生物学性质研究中,有一定的应用价值。     

戊型肝炎病毒实验感染恒河猴的研究

报道了用戊型肝炎（ＨｅｐａｔｉｔｉｓＥ,ＨＥ）病人粪便悬液感染恒河猴后的组织病理学、血液生化与免疫学以及病毒学分子生物学检测的结果。三只实验猴在感染后第３～４周均出现ＡＬＴ异常;粪便以及肝脏与胆囊组织超薄切片中电镜观察到２７～３４ｎｍ大小的病毒样颗粒;病理组织切片观察表明,肝脏组织有典型的急性炎症病灶;粪便与血清经ＲＴｎＰＣＲ扩增到戊型肝炎病毒（ＨｅｐａｔｉｔｉｓＥＶｉｒｕｓ,ＨＥＶ）特异性片段,粪便排毒从感染后第７天持续至第５０天左右,病毒血症迟于粪便排毒,出现于感染后两周左右,维持１～２周;ＥＬＩＳＡ检测发现,实验猴血清中ＨＥＶＩｇＧ抗体水平在感染后３～４周阳转,４～５个月后转阴。这些实验结果提示,恒河猴作为ＨＥＶ感染实验动物模型是理想的,建立系统的恒河猴实验模型对探讨ＨＥＶ感染发病机理、机体免疫应答以及临床诊断与疫苗研制具有重要意义。     

Differential activities of cellular and viral macro domain proteins in binding of ADP-ribose metabolites

Macro domain is a highly conserved protein domain found in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Macro domains are also encoded by a set of positive-strand RNA viruses that replicate in the cytoplasm of animal cells, including coronaviruses and alphaviruses. The functions of the macro domain are poorly understood, but it has been suggested to be an ADP-ribose-binding module. We have here characterized three novel human macro domain proteins that were found to reside either in the cytoplasm and nucleus [macro domain protein 2 (MDO2) and ganglioside-induced differentiation-associated protein 2] or in mitochondria [macro domain protein 1 (MDO1)], and compared them with viral macro domains from Semliki Forest virus, hepatitis E virus, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, and with a yeast macro protein, Poa1p. MDO2 specifically bound monomeric ADP-ribose with a high affinity (K_d = 0.15 μM), but did not bind poly(ADP-ribose) efficiently. MDO2 also hydrolyzed ADP-ribose-1″ phosphate, resembling Poa1p in all these properties. Ganglioside-induced differentiation-associated protein 2 did not show affinity for ADP-ribose or its derivatives, but instead bound poly(A). MDO1 was generally active in these reactions, including poly(A) binding. Individual point mutations in MDO1 abolished monomeric ADP-ribose binding, but not poly(ADP-ribose) binding; in poly(ADP-ribose) binding assays, the monomer did not compete against polymer binding. The viral macro proteins bound poly(ADP-ribose) and poly(A), but had a low affinity for monomeric ADP-ribose. Thus, the viral proteins do not closely resemble any of the human proteins in their biochemical functions. The differential activity profiles of the human proteins implicate them in different cellular pathways, some of which may involve RNA rather than ADP-ribose derivatives.     

In silico identification of novel hevein-like peptide precursors

Lectins are proteins with ability to bind reversibly and non-enzymatically to a specific carbohydrate. They are involved in numerous biological processes and show enormous biotechnological potential. Among plant lectins, the hevein domain is extremely common, being observed in several kinds of lectins. Moreover, this domain is also observed in an important class of antimicrobial peptides named hevein-like peptides. Due to higher cysteine residues conservation, hevein-like peptides could be mined among the sequence databases. By using the pattern CX(4,5)CC[GS]X(2)GXCGX[GST]X(2,3)[FWY]C[GS]X[AGS] novel hevein-like peptide precursors were found from three different plants: Oryza sativa, Vitis vinifera and Selaginella moellendorffii. In addition, an hevein-like peptide precursor from the phytopathogenic fungus Phaeosphaeria nodorum was also identified. The molecular models indicate that they have the same scaffold as others, composed of an antiparallel β-sheet and short helices. Nonetheless, the fungal hevein-like peptide probably has a different disulfide bond pattern. Despite this difference, the complexes between peptide and N,N,N-triacetylglucosamine are stable, according to molecular dynamics simulations. This is the first report of an hevein-like peptide from an organism outside the plant kingdom. The exact role of an hevein-like peptide in the fungal biology must be clarified, while in plants they are clearly involved in plant defense. In summary, data here reported clear shows that an in silico strategy could lead to the identification of novel hevein-like peptides that could be used as biotechnological tools in the fields of health and agribusiness.     

Structural basis for the neutralization of hepatitis E virus by a cross-genotype antibody

Hepatitis E virus (HEV), a non-enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus, is a major cause of enteric hepatitis. Classified into the family Hepeviridae, HEV comprises four genotypes (genotypes 1-4), which belong to a single serotype. We describe a monoclonal antibody (mAb), 8G12, which equally recognizes all four genotypes of HEV, with ∼2.53–3.45 nM binding affinity. The mAb 8G12 has a protective, neutralizing capacity, which can significantly block virus infection in host cells. Animal studies with genotypes 1, 3 and 4 confirmed the cross-genotype neutralizing capacity of 8G12 and its effective prevention of hepatitis E disease. The complex crystal structures of 8G12 with the HEV E2s domain (the most protruded region of the virus capsid) of the abundant genotypes 1 and 4 were determined at 4.0 and 2.3 Å resolution, respectively. These structures revealed that 8G12 recognizes both genotypes through the epitopes in the E2s dimerization region. Structure-based mutagenesis and cell-model assays with virus-like particles identified several conserved residues (Glu549, Lys554 and Gly591) that are essential for 8G12 neutralization. Moreover, the epitope of 8G12 is identified as a key epitope involved in virus-host interactions. These findings will help develop a common strategy for the prevention of the most abundant form of HEV infection.