SARS病毒N蛋白的表达与DNA疫苗的构建

目的：在大肠杆菌中表达SARS冠状病毒核衣壳N蛋白，并构建其DNA疫苗。方法：构建含N基因的原核表达载体pQEN，并在大肠杆菌M15中表达N蛋白。采用NP亲和层析法纯化目的蛋白。将N基因克隆入真核表达载体pSecTagB中，构建真核重组质粒pSecN。以其免疫小鼠制备抗血清，并用ELISA法检测其与大肠杆菌中表达的重组N蛋白及天然全病毒N蛋白的反应性。结果：重组N蛋白能与DNA疫苗免疫的小鼠血清以及SARS患者血清发生特异性反应；SARS—CoV病毒颗粒也可与DNA疫苗免疫的小鼠血清发生特异性反应。结论：重组N蛋白保留了病毒的一些特异性抗原表位，可作为用ELISA法检测SARS—CoV的抗原。构建的DNA疫苗可在小鼠体内产生高效价的抗SARS病毒N蛋白的特异性抗体，从而为该疫苗的开发奠定了基础。     

SARS-CoV、229E和OC43的抗原相关性研究

目的：分析SARS冠状病毒（SARS—CoV）和人冠状病毒（229E和OCA3）的抗原相关性。方法：制备三株冠状病毒的免疫兔血清及其重组核衣壳（N）蛋白的免疫小鼠血清，分别采用SARS法、Western blot和免疫荧光法对免疫血清进行检测以分析三株冠状病毒的抗原相关性。结果：Westem blot结果显示重组N蛋白免疫小鼠血清仅与各自的冠状病毒或重组N蛋白有特异性反应，相互间无交叉反应，而SARS结果显示OC43重组N蛋白免疫小鼠血清与SARS—CoV、229E N蛋白出现了构象抗体的交叉反应。同时，免疫荧光结果显示SARS—CoV和OCA3免疫兔血清与229E感染细胞存在较明显的交叉反应，但在SARS、Westem blot结果中全病毒免疫兔血清均仅与各自N蛋白特异性反应，相互间无交叉反应。结论：SARS—CoV、229E和OCA3N蛋白抗原性在免疫动物血清中不存在交叉反应，而SARS—CoV、OC43全病毒免疫血清均和229E出现明显的交叉反应。另外，基因重组的OCA3 N蛋白与另外二种N蛋白出现重组构形表位的交叉反应，提示以基因重组的蛋白作为诊断试剂，可能会因为蛋白的空间构象发生改变而产生非特异性反应。     

SARS冠状病毒核衣壳蛋白的克隆表达及其临床应用研究

目的　克隆、原核表达严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒 (SARS-CoV)核衣壳 (N)蛋白 ,分析、评价其抗原性和在SARS血清学诊断中的应用价值。方法　采用逆转录巢式聚合酶链反应 (RT-nested PCR)扩增SARS CoV的N蛋白基因 ,克隆入pBAD-Thio TOPO原核表达载体 ,表达、纯化重组融合N蛋白 ,WesternBlot分析其抗原性和特异性 ,建立以重组N蛋白为抗原的酶联免疫吸附测定(ELISA)法 ,并与以全病毒裂解液为抗原的ELISA法进行比较。结果　重组表达载体经诱导产生了高水平的重组融合N蛋白 ,融合蛋白经亲和纯化后 ,具备了较高的纯度和抗原反应性 ,以重组蛋白为抗原的ELISA法在特异性和敏感性方面优于以全病毒裂解液为抗原者。结论　重组SARS-CoV的N蛋白具有良好的抗原性和特异性 ,可作为新一代SARS-CoV抗体检测试剂盒的备选抗原     

一株变异SARS冠状病毒N蛋白的原核表达及活性测定

目的 :克隆编码严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒 (SARS CoV)N蛋白的DNA ,构建原核表达质粒pGEX 2T/N ,并诱导表达。方法 :采用RT PCR方法从病毒培养液中获得N基因片段 ,并克隆入T EASY载体中。经PCR、双酶切鉴定后 ,测序。将N蛋白基因序列定向插入原核表达载体pGEX 2T中 ,表达融合蛋白。用表达产物与抗SARS CoV抗体阳性血清做Westernblot。结果 :N蛋白DNA测序的结果与GenBank比对缺失 2 0个bp。GST N融合蛋白以可溶形式表达。Westernblot检测表明 ,其与抗SARS CoV抗体阳性血清的反应呈阳性。结论 :成功地构建原核表达质粒pGEX 2T/N ,并表达GST N融合蛋白 ,为下一步的研究奠定了基础。     

SARS-CoV核衣壳蛋白单克隆抗体识别抗原位点的分析

SARS CoV主要的结构蛋白包括刺突糖蛋白(spikeglycoprotein ,S)、包膜小蛋白 (smallenvelope ,E)、膜蛋白 (membrane ,M)和核衣壳蛋白 (nucleocap sidprotein ,N)。研究发现 ,N蛋白诱导机体产生很强的免疫应答〔1〕,我们用SARS CoV全病毒免疫小鼠制备的单克隆抗体 ,发现有 80 %是针对N蛋白的抗体 ,证明N蛋白具有很强的免疫原性 ,这与以往对动物冠状病毒N蛋白研究结果是一致的〔2〕。本研究通过对SARS CoVN蛋白单克隆抗体结合抗原位点分析 ,以及用SARS CoV抗体阳性血清与单抗对N蛋白进行竞争抑制试验 ,分析自然状态下机体对N蛋…     

SARS冠状病毒N蛋白基因的表达及其在SARS诊断中的应用

目的 获得重组SARS冠状病毒（SARS-CoV）N蛋白抗原，建立特异性诊断SAILS病毒感染的免疫学方法。方法 大肠埃希菌中表达SARS病毒N蛋白基因，用金属螯合层析纯化N蛋白，建立检测SARS抗体的EUSA方法。结果 大肠埃希菌中表达了SARS病毒全长N蛋白抗原，经包涵体洗涤和金属螯和纯化后得到纯度较高的重组蛋白。用重组抗原EUSA检测30名SARS患者抗体全部为阳性，30名正常人血清为阴性，30名发热非SARS患者血清为阴性。结论 SARS表达核蛋白可以在大肠埃希菌中得到高效表达，纯化的重组N蛋白具有良好抗原性，可用于检测SARS抗体。     

SARS冠状病毒N蛋白的克隆与表达

目的　克隆和表达SARS冠状病毒N蛋白 ,并分析其免疫学活性。方法　采用RT PCR从SARS冠状病毒RNA中扩增出编码N蛋白的基因 ;经克隆和测序分析后 ,亚克隆至表达载体pGEX 4T 2 ,转化大肠杆菌JM10 9,PCR和双酶切鉴定 ;阳性菌株经IPTG诱导 ,SDS PAGE分析 ;大量诱导表达N蛋白 ,亲和层析予以纯化 ;免疫印迹分析纯化蛋白对SARS的诊断效果 ;用纯化的融合蛋白免疫小鼠观察其诱导的抗体应答。结果　RT PCR扩增出N蛋白基因的特异片段 ,获得的阳性克隆序列与Gen Bank中登录的SARS冠状病毒的N蛋白基因序列同源性为 99.8% ;N蛋白基因被亚克隆到表达载体pGEX 4T 2 ,在JM10 9中表达了N蛋白 ,表达的蛋白经亲和层析获得纯化 ;纯化蛋白能被SARS病人血清识别 ;免疫小鼠诱导产生了高滴度的抗体。结论　成功构建了SARS冠状病毒N蛋白的重组表达质粒 ,在大肠杆菌中表达的N蛋白融合蛋白具有良好的免疫学活性。     

SARS冠状病毒S蛋白高保守性C区重组核酸疫苗肌肉免疫和黏膜免疫的研究

构建含SARS冠状病毒S蛋白基因高保守性C区基因的真核表达重组质粒pCDNA Sc作为DNA疫苗 ,其中C区位于SARS冠状病毒S蛋白S1亚基基因片段的 811～ 12 2 1bp区域的病毒外部羧酸端多肽肽段。将重组真核表达载体注射入实验小鼠肌肉 ,10 0 μl/只 ,疫苗滴鼻免疫组 ,每次以脂质体 -质粒混合液适量滴入鼻内 ,3次 /d ,连续 1周。抗SARS病毒S蛋白的特异性IgG滴度用ELISA法测定 :免疫后的小鼠分别在 15、30和 4 5d后采血并分离血清 ,用纯化SARS CoV全病毒裂解液抗原包被的微孔板进行ELISA测定血清抗SARS CoVIgG的效价 ,结果显示 :…     

SARS病毒S蛋白受体结合区DNA疫苗及免疫效果研究

目的 研究SARS冠状病毒(SARS-CoV)靶细胞受体结合区所构建之DNA疫苗的免疫效果,为进一步的SARS-CoV免疫机理研究及疫苗研制奠定基础.方法 选取SARS-CoV S基因包含靶细胞受体结合区和S1亚单位C端2个基因片段作为目的基因,构建真核表达质粒pVAX-RBD(receptor binding domain)、pVAX-S1C作为DNA疫苗免疫BALB/c小鼠,检测其特异性体液免疫及细胞免疫情况.结果 体液免疫方面,以SARS全病毒裂解产物和原核表达的RBD蛋白作为诊断抗原,用ELISA均可检测到高滴度的小鼠血清抗体IgG的产生.而且,血清中和试验显示pVAX-RBD质粒激发了小鼠保护性中和抗体的产生.通过流式细胞分析和酶联免疫斑点实验(ELISPOT)检测,pVAX-RBD和pVAX-S1C两组质粒均诱导免疫小鼠产生了特异性细胞免疫反应.结论 证明SARS-CoV S蛋白受体结合区上中和表位的存在;体液免疫在抗SARS-CoV感染方面起到重要作用.     

小鼠对HIV-2 gp105核酸疫苗免疫应答的研究

目的: 探讨HIV- 2gp105基因核酸疫苗在小鼠体内的免疫应答, 为开发HIV- 2核酸疫苗提供实验依据。方法:将HIV- 2外膜蛋白 (gp105 )基因插入真核表达质粒载体pVAX1中, 构建pVAX1 gp105重组表达质粒。将其肌注免疫BALB/c小鼠, 用ELISA法检测小鼠血清抗HIV -2抗体, 用流式细胞仪测定CD4 、CD8 T细胞亚群数, 以乳酸脱氢霉释放法检测脾特异性CTL的杀伤活性。结果: 重组质粒pVAX1 -gp105免疫组小鼠的血清抗体滴度、脾T细胞亚群的数量及特异性CTL的杀伤活性, 均明显高于对照组, 分别为P<0. 01, P<0. 05和P<0. 01。结论: HIV -2gp105核酸疫苗能诱导小鼠产生特异性细胞和体液免疫。     

Expression of SARS coronavirus nucleocapsid protein and construction of its DNA vaccine]

AIM: To express the nucleocapsid (N) protein of SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) in E. coli and construct its DNA vaccine. METHODS: The prokaryotic expression vector pQEN containing N gene was constructed and transformed into the E. coli. The recombinant N protein was then expressed and purified by Ni(2+)-NTA affinity resin. In addition, the N gene was cloned into the eukaryotic expression plasmid pSecTagB and the eukaryotic recombinant expression vector pSecN was obtained. The DNA vaccine pSecN was injected to immunize the BALB/c mice to produce the antiserum against N protein of SARS-CoV. Subsequently, the reactivity of the antiserum with recombinant N protein and SARS-CoV particles was assayed by ELISA. RESULTS: Recombinant N protein reacted strongly and specifically with the sera from immunized mice and SARS patients. Similarly, the sera of immunized mice could also react specifically with SARS-CoV particles. CONCLUSION: The recombinant N protein could be used as a good antigen to detect SARS. The DNA vaccine pSecN could also efficiently induce the production of IgG against N protein of SARS-CoV, which offered clues to the development of a potential DNA vaccine.     

Search for potential target site of nucleocapsid gene for the design of an epitope-based SARS DNA vaccine

It is believed today that nucleocapsid protein (N) of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV is one of the most promising antigen candidates for vaccine design. In this study, three fragments [N1 (residues: 1-422); N2 (residues: 1-109); N3 (residues: 110-422)] of N protein of SARS-CoV were expressed in Escherichia coli and analyzed by pooled sera of convalescence phase of SARS patients. Three gene fragments [N1 (1-1269 nt), N2 (1-327 nt) and N3 (328-1269 nt)-expressing the same proteins of N1, N2 and N3, respectively] of SARS-N were cloned into pVAX-1 and used to immunize BALB/c mice by electroporation. Humoral (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA) and cellular (by cell proliferation and CD4(+):CD8(+) assay) immunity was detected by using recombinant N1 and N3 specific antigen. Results showed that N1 and N3 fragments of N protein expressed by E. coli were able to react with sera of SARS patients but N2 could not. Specific humoral and cellular immunity in mice could be induced significantly by inoculating SARS-CoV N1 and N3 DNA vaccine. In addition, the immune response levels in N3 were significantly higher for antibody responses (IgG and IgG1 but not IgG2a) and cell proliferation but not in CD4(+):CD8(+) assay compared to N1 vaccine. The identification of antigenic N protein fragments has implications to provide basic information for the design of DNA vaccine against SARS-CoV. The present results not only suggest that DNA immunization with pVax-N3 could be used as potential DNA vaccination approaches to induce antibody in BALB/c mice, but also illustrates that gene immunization with these SARS DNA vaccines can generate different immune responses.     

Immunogenicity of SARS inactivated vaccine in BALB/c mice

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a serious infectious threat to public health. To create a novel trial vaccine and evaluate its potency, we attempted to generate a SARS inactivated vaccine using SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) strain F69 treated with formaldehyde and mixed with Al(OH)3. Three doses of the vaccine were used to challenge three groups of BALB/c mice. We found that the mice exhibited specific IgM on day 4 and IgG on day 8. The peak titers of IgG were at day 47 in low-dose group (1:19,200) and high-dose group (1:38,400) whereas in middle-dose group (1:19,200), the peak was at day 40. On day 63, the IgG levels reached a plateau. Neutralization assay demonstrated that the antisera could protect Vero-E6 cells from SARS-CoV's infection. Analysis of the antibody specificity revealed that the mouse antisera contained a mixture of antibodies specifically against the structure proteins of SARS-CoV. Furthermore, the mouse antisera conferred higher amount of antibodies against protein N, polypeptide S4 and S2 than those of proteins M and 3CL. These findings suggest that the inactivated SARS-CoV could preserve its antigenicity and the inactivated vaccine can stimulate mice to produce high levels of antibodies with neutralization activity. Results also suggest that polypeptides originating from protein N or S might be a potential target for the generation of a recombinant SARS vaccine.     

Antigenic characterization of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus nucleocapsid protein expressed in insect cells: The effect of phosphorylation on immunoreactivity and specificity

The nucleocapsid (N) protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is involved in the pathological reaction to SARS and is a key antigen for the development of a sensitive diagnostic assay. However, the antigenic properties of this N protein are largely unknown. To facilitate the studies on the function and antigenicity of the SARS-CoV N protein, 6x histidine-tagged recombinant SARS-CoV N (rSARS-N) with a molecular mass of 46 and 48kDa was successfully produced using the recombinant baculovirus system in insect cells. The rSARS-N expressed in insect cells (BrSARS-N) showed remarkably higher specificity and immunoreactivity than rSARS-N expressed in E. coli (ErSARS-N). Most of all, BrSARS-N proteins were expressed as a highly phosphorylated form with a molecular mass of 48kDa, but ErSARS-N was a nonphosphorylated protein. In further analysis to determine the correlation between the phosphorylation and the antigenicity of SARS-N protein, dephosphorylated SARS-N protein treated with protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) remarkably enhanced the cross-reactivity against SARS negative serum and considerably reduced immunoreactivity with SARS-N mAb. These results suggest that the phosphorylation plays an important role in the immunoreactivity and specificity of SARS-N protein. Therefore, the BrSARS-N protein may be useful for the development of highly sensitive and specific assays to determine SARS infection and for further research of SARS-N pathology.     

Immune responses against SARS-coronavirus nucleocapsid protein induced by DNA vaccine

The nucleocapsid (N) protein of SARS-coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is the key protein for the formation of the helical nucleocapsid during virion assembly. This protein is believed to be more conserved than other proteins of the virus, such as spike and membrane glycoprotein. In this study, the N protein of SARS-CoV was expressed in Escherichia coli DH5alpha and identified with pooled sera from patients in the convalescence phase of SARS. A plasmid pCI-N, encoding the full-length N gene of SARS-CoV, was constructed. Expression of the N protein was observed in COS1 cells following transfection with pCI-N. The immune responses induced by intramuscular immunization with pCI-N were evaluated in a murine model. Serum anti-N immunoglobulins and splenocytes proliferative responses against N protein were observed in immunized BALB/c mice. The major immunoglobulin G subclass recognizing N protein was immunoglobulin G2a, and stimulated splenocytes secreted high levels of gamma interferon and IL-2 in response to N protein. More importantly, the immunized mice produced strong delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) and CD8(+) CTL responses to N protein. The study shows that N protein of SARS-CoV not only is an important B cell immunogen, but also can elicit broad-based cellular immune responses. The results indicate that the N protein may be of potential value in vaccine development for specific prophylaxis and treatment against SARS.     

SARS vaccine based on a replication-defective recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus is more potent than one based on a replication-competent vector

A SARS vaccine based on a live-attenuated vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) recombinant expressing the SARS-CoV S protein provides long-term protection of immunized mice from SARS-CoV infection (Kapadia, S.U., Rose, J. K., Lamirande, E., Vogel, L., Subbarao, K., Roberts, A., 2005. Long-term protection from SARS coronavirus infection conferred by a single immunization with an attenuated VSV-based vaccine. Virology 340(2), 174-82.). Because it is difficult to obtain regulatory approval of vaccine based on live viruses, we constructed a replication-defective single-cycle VSV vector in which we replaced the VSV glycoprotein (G) gene with the SARS-CoV S gene. The virus was only able to infect cells when pseudotyped with the VSV G protein. We measured the effectiveness of immunization with the single-cycle vaccine in mice. We found that the vaccine given intramuscularly induced a neutralizing antibody response to SARS-CoV that was approximately ten-fold greater than that required for the protection from SARS-CoV infection, and significantly greater than that generated by the replication-competent vector expressing SARS-CoV S protein given by the same route. Our results, along with earlier studies showing potent induction of T-cell responses by single-cycle vectors, indicate that these vectors are excellent alternatives to live-attenuated VSV.     

SARS-CoV S1蛋白基因克隆及其在Vero E6细胞中的表达

目的：克隆表达SARS-CoV S1蛋白，构建SARS基因疫苗。方法：从SARS病毒的cDNA中以PCR方法扩增编码人SARS-CoV S1蛋白的编码序列，将该序列克隆入真核表达载体pVAX1，构建重组表达载体。采用脂质体法转染Vero E6细胞，用Western blot检测S1蛋白的表达。结果:PCR方法扩增出2000bp左右的基因片段，插入pVAXl构建重组表达载体后，经序列测定证实扩增的片段为SARS-CoV Tor2株S1蛋白编码序列。将重组子转染Vero E6细胞，收集细胞总蛋白，Western检测获得特异蛋白带。结论：成功克隆并表达了SARS-CoV S1蛋白，为其作为SARS基因疫苗研究打下基础。     

SARS-CoV N蛋白的原核表达及其免疫原性研究

为了研究SARS-CoV病毒N蛋白基因的原核表达及其免疫原性,为进一步的研究奠定基础,我们以PCR方法在全病毒基因组文库中获得全长N基因,分别克隆到pcDNA3和pET32a载体中获得重组质粒pcDNA3-N和pET32a-N。以亲和层析方法分离纯化pET32a-N转化的BL21细菌裂解液中的重组N融合蛋白,并以ELISA方法检测pcDNA3-N质粒基因免疫小鼠诱导后血清中的特异性抗体。结果pET32a-N转化BL21细菌后可检测到重组SARS-CoVN融合蛋白表达并分离纯化,pcDNA3-N基因免疫能够诱导产生N特异的体液免疫应答。研究的结果表明,SARS-CoVN蛋白可以在原核细胞中有效表达并有良好免疫原性,可以为进一步的功能研究和血清学诊断提供条件。