Design and development of a simple method for the detection and quantification of residual host cell DNA in recombinant rotavirus vaccine

Rotavirus recombinant vaccine is usually produced in Vero cells. Residual host DNA may reside in the final product and is considered a source of contamination. WHO protocols indicate that biological products should be free of any type of impurity such as nucleic acids, endotoxins, and host cell intermediate materials. Therefore, all recombinant biological therapeutics should be assessed for residual host DNA. In the present study, a sensitive and specific real-time PCR method was developed to detect residual host cell DNA in the final product. The Beta-actin gene of Vero cells was selected to detect residual host cell DNA. One set of primers and a TaqMan probe were designed for the gene using AlleleID 6 software. Real-time PCR reactions were set up, and efficiency of 84% was obtained. The sensitivity and limit of detection of the assay were determined to be 0.176 Fg/μl and 0.044 Fg/μl, respectively. The intra-assay and inter-assay variations were 4.4% and 1.04%, respectively. Furthermore, the specificity and sensitivity of the assay were high enough, and the detection limit was lower than that of the FDA and WHO standards. This indicates that our assay is highly specific and sensitive to detect residual host DNA of Vero cells in the recombinant rotavirus vaccine.     

一种可用于溶瘤病毒M1体内组织定量的TaqMan RT-qPCR检测法的建立与评价

目的:监测溶瘤病毒M1在组织中的传播情况,以更好地控制给药剂量,确保安全性。方法:建立一种基于TaqMan的实时定量PCR检测法,用于对组织中溶瘤病毒M1的检测和定量,并检测静脉注射病毒后多种实验动物体内的病毒载量和分布。结果:我们以一对特异的引物(Q3)和标准RNA开始SYBR Green RT-qPCR研究。通过优化实验方法发现当退火温度高于62℃时可降低基质效应,但却影响了扩增效率。因此我们建立了一步法TaqMan RT-qPCR实验,重新设计了一对Q3短引物(Q3S)。运用一步TaqMan RT-qPCR检测法和Q3S引物,在混有SD大鼠或食蟹猴基质RNA的背景下,均能特异性检测到低拷贝数的标准RNA。经验证,该方法适用于检测M1病毒在小鼠、SD大鼠和食蟹猴体内的组织分布。结论:利用Q3S引物构建的TaqMan一步法RT-qPCR能够定量检测不同动物不同组织样品中的M1病毒,具有特异性和敏感性,可进一步应用于临床样品的检测。     

The selection and identification of compound housekeeping genes for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis in rat fetal kidney

During quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) data analysis, the selection of optimal housekeeping gene is necessary to ensure the accuracy of results. It is noteworthy that housekeeping genes commonly used in adult studies may not be applicable for fetus. However, the stability analysis of housekeeping gene in fetal kidney has not been reported. This study intends to screen the applicable compound housekeeping genes in rat fetal kidney. In this study, eight housekeeping genes used in kidney studies based on literature reports (GAPDH, ACTB, 18S, HPRT, YWHAZ, HMBS, PPIA, and TBP) were selected as the research object. Their expression levels in the rat fetal kidney in physiological condition and the intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) model induced by prenatal dexamethasone exposure (PDE) (0.2 mg/kg·day from gestation Days 9 to 20) was measured. Furthermore, these eight housekeeping genes were used to conduct relative quantitative analysis of nephrin expression in the fetal kidney in PDE-induced IUGR model, to compare the influence of choosing different housekeeping gene on data analysis of nephrin expression and to verify the reliability of selected compound housekeeping genes. In this study, stable housekeeping genes of fetal kidney tissues in PDE-induced IUGR model were identified: ACTB, GAPDH, TBP, and HMBS for males; ACTB, YWHAZ, and GAPDH for females. Besides, our results suggest that ACTB + GAPDH were the best compound housekeeping genes for normalization analysis in male fetal kidney studies, and ACTB + YWHAZ in females. This study will provide an experimental evidence basis for the selection of housekeeping genes in the RT-qPCR experiment in renal development toxicology-related models.     

Ginger extract modulates Pb-induced hepatic oxidative stress and expression of antioxidant gene transcripts in rat liver

Context: Spices and herbs are recognized sources of natural antioxidants that can protect from oxidative stress, thus play an important role in chemoprevention of liver diseases. Ginger is used worldwide primarily as a spicy condiment.

Objective: This study evaluated the ability of ginger extract (GE) to ameliorate oxidative-hepatic toxicity induced by lead acetate (PbAc) in rats.

Materials and methods: Five groups of animals were used: group I kept as control; groups II, IV, and V received PbAc (1?ppm in drinking water daily for 6 weeks, and kept for an additional 2 weeks without PbAc exposure); group III treated orally with GE (350?mg/kg body weight, 4?d per week) for 6 weeks; group IV (protective) received GE for 2 weeks before and simultaneously with PbAc; and group V (treatment) received GE for 2 weeks after PbAc exposure.

Results: GC-MS analysis of GE revealed its content of gingerol (7.09%), quercetin (3.20%), dl-limonene (0.96%), and zingiberene (0.18%). Treatment of PbAc-treated rats with GE has no effect on hepatic Pb concentrations. However, it maintained serum aspartate aminotransferase level, increased hepatic glutathione (157%), glutathione S-transferase (GST) (228%), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (138%) and catalase (CAT) (112%) levels, and reduced hepatic malondialdehyde (80%). Co-treatment of PbAc group with GE upregulated mRNA expression of antioxidant genes: GST-α1 (1.4-fold), GPx1 (1.8-fold), and CAT (8-fold), while post-treatment with GE upregulated only mRNA expression of GPx1 (1.5-fold).

Conclusion: GE has an antioxidant protective efficacy against PbAc-induced hepatotoxicity, which appears more effective than its therapeutic application. However, the changes in antioxidant gene expression were not reflected at the protein level.     

Echovirus 30 meningitis epidemic followed by an outbreak-specific RT-qPCR

BackgroundAn outbreak of enteroviral aseptic meningitis emerged in Southwestern Finland in August 2009. The same enterovirus reappeared with increasing incidence of meningitis in other parts of Finland in 2010.ObjectivesTo identify the incidence and molecular epidemiology of enteroviral meningitis outbreak.Study designThe causative agent was identified as echovirus 30 (E-30) by sequencing partial viral protein 1 capsid genome, and a virus type-specific RT-qPCR was set up for sensitive detection of the virus in cerebrospinal fluid specimens. Enterovirus positive CSF specimens were subjected to the E-30-specific assay to investigate this unusual occurrence of aseptic meningitis and facilitate case confirmation during the outbreaks between August 2009 and September 2010.ResultsE-30 was detected in 106 (72%) enterovirus positive cerebrospinal fluid specimens. All the meningitis cases in 2009 and most of them in 2010 were among adolescents and several were members of sport teams.ConclusionsBetween August 2009 and September 2010, E-30 caused an extensive outbreak with two peaks in Finland. Type-specific RT-PCR allowed rapid diagnostic follow-up of the epidemic.