A single mutation in the Japanese encephalitis virus E protein (S123R) increases its growth rate in mouse neuroblastoma cells and its pathogenicity in mice

We previously reported that the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) strain Mie/41/2002 has weak pathogenicity compared with the laboratory strain Beijing-1. To identify the determinants of its growth nature and pathogenicity, we produced intertypic viruses, rJEV(EB1-M41), rJEV(nEB1-M41) and rJEV(cEB1-M41), which contained the entire, the N-terminal, and the C-terminal half, respectively, of the Beijing-1 E region in the Mie/41/2002 background. The growth of rJEV(EB1-M41) in mouse neuroblastoma N18 cells and virulence in mice were similar to those of Beijing-1. rJEV(nEB1-M41) propagated in N18 cells to the same extent as did Beijing-1. Furthermore, we produced mutant viruses with single amino acid substitutions in the N-terminal half of the Mie/41/2002 E region. A Ser-123-Arg mutation in the Mie/41/2002 E protein exhibited significantly increased growth rate in N18 cells and virulence in mice. These results indicate that the position 123 in the E protein is responsible for determining the growth properties and pathogenicity of JEV.     

A single amino acid change in the C-terminal domain of the matrix protein M1 of influenza B virus confers mouse adaptation and virulence

Serial passage of an initially avirulent influenza B virus, B/Memphis/12/97, resulted in the selection of a variant which was lethal in mice. Virulence correlated with improved growth in vivo and prolonged replication. Sequencing of the complete coding regions of the parent and mouse-adapted viruses revealed 8 amino acid differences. Sequencing and characterization of intermediate passages suggested that one change in the C-terminal domain of the M1 protein, an asparagine to a serine at position 221, was responsible for acquisition of virulence and lethality. Site-directed mutagenesis of the M segment of a different virus, B/Yamanashi/166/98, to change this amino acid residue confirmed its importance by conferring improved growth and virulence in mice. This observation suggests a role for the C domain of the M1 protein in growth and virulence in a mammalian host.     

候选hEra结合蛋白A19/GST的融合表达及其抗体的制备

目的:在大肠杆菌中表达候选人Era结合蛋白A19/GST融合蛋白,并制备兔抗A19抗体。方法:利用人Era蛋白全长作为诱饵,进行胎肝cDNA文库的酵母双杂交筛选。将得到的候选人Era结合蛋白A19的编码基因序列克隆入pACT2载体中,构建pACT2A19。用PCR扩增A19蛋白的编码基因序列,克隆入融合表达载体pGEX4T3中,构建A19的表达菌,并经IPTG诱导表达A19蛋白。用SDSPAGE分析及薄层扫描检测目的蛋白的含量。用A19蛋白免疫家兔制备抗血清,以Westernblot鉴定抗体的特异性并检测抗体的效价。结果:大肠杆菌中表达的A19蛋白占菌体总蛋白的30.2%。Westernblot分析显示,抗血清具有较高的特异性,其效价约为1∶4000。结论:成功地获得了候选的人Era结合蛋白A19,制备了兔抗A19抗血清,为后续Era功能的研究奠定了基础。     

Expression of both M protein and hyaluronic acid capsule by group A streptococcal strains results in a high virulence for chicken embryos

The human pathogenic microorganismStreptococcus pyogenes can resist against phagocytic attack of human granulocytes. Streptococcal M protein and hyaluronic acid were identified as virulence factors involved in this protection. So far, no experiments have been reported which describe the contribution of both components together in one system. We used the chicken embryo as an in vivo phagocytosis model to investigate the role of both components on the virulence of streptococci. For this, isogeneic mutants of group A streptococcal strains (GAS) which lack hyaluronic acid capsule (cap⁻) or M protein (M⁻) expression were used for infection and their virulence was compared with laboratory strains which had lost their ability to produce one or both virulence factors after long-time laboratory passages on blood agar. The experiments revealed that strains producing both M protein and hyaluronic capsule were higly, virulent. Only 1–10 colonyforming units were enough to cause a 50% lethality of 12-day-old chicken embryos. Those strains lacking one of these components showed a significant decrease in virulence. Finally, strains which failed to express either hyaluronic acid or M protein showed an additional tenfold decrease in virulence. This indicates a partial contribution of both M protein and hyaluronic acid to the virulence of GAS in the chicken embryo.     

穿心莲内酯对人皮肤基底细胞癌A431细胞生长、凋亡及增值细胞核抗原蛋白表达的影响

目的 探讨穿心莲内酯（AD）对人皮肤基底细胞癌A431细胞生长、凋亡及增殖细胞核抗原（PCNA）蛋白表达的影响。方法 应用酸性磷酸酶（APA）法检测细胞增殖抑制率,荧光显微镜观察细胞形态,Annexin V-FITC/PI双染法、流式细胞术（FCM）检测细胞凋亡率, Rh123染色FCM检测细胞线粒体膜电位,免疫细胞化学法检测细胞PCNA蛋白表达。结果AD呈时间、剂量依赖性抑制A431细胞生长增殖;且同一时间点50mg/L、100mg/L AD组与溶媒对照组相比差异显著（P＜0.05）。AD组作用A431细胞24h时,部分细胞核染色质出现典型凋亡形态学改变。不同浓度AD作用A431细胞24h,早期凋亡率、晚期凋亡及坏死率均随AD浓度升高而逐渐增加,且50mg/L、100mg/L AD组与溶媒对照组相比差异显著（P＜0.05）。AD作用A431 24h细胞内PCNA蛋白随AD浓度升高表达逐渐减少。AD作用A431细胞24h后,线粒体膜电位下降明显,与溶媒对照组相比较,50mg/L、100mg/L AD组差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 AD可明显抑制A431细胞生长增殖,其抑制细胞增殖可能与下调PCNA蛋白表达有关。AD能诱导A431细胞凋亡,其凋亡机制可能与细胞线粒体膜电位下降有关。     

A single amino acid mutation in the spike protein of coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus hampers its maturation and incorporation into virions at the nonpermissive temperature

The spike (S) glycoprotein of coronavirus is responsible for receptor binding and membrane fusion. A number of variants with deletions and mutations in the S protein have been isolated from naturally and persistently infected animals and tissue cultures. Here, we report the emergence and isolation of two temperature sensitive (ts) mutants and a revertant in the process of cold-adaptation of coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) to a monkey kidney cell line. The complete sequences of wild type (wt) virus, two ts mutants, and the revertant were compared and variations linked to phenotypes were mapped. A single amino acid reversion (L294-to-Q) in the S protein is sufficient to abrogate the ts phenotype. Interestingly, unlike wt virus, the revertant grows well at and below 32 degrees C, the permissive temperature, as it carries other mutations in multiple genes that might be associated with the cold-adaptation phenotype. If the two ts mutants were allowed to enter cells at 32 degrees C, the S protein was synthesized, core-glycosylated and at least partially modified at 40 degrees C. However, compared with wt virus and the revertant, no infectious particles of these ts mutants were assembled and released from the ts mutant-infected cells at 40 degrees C. Evidence presented demonstrated that the Q294-to-L294 mutation, located at a highly conserved domain of the S1 subunit, might hamper processing of the S protein to a matured 180-kDa, endo-glycosidase H-resistant glycoprotein and the translocation of the protein to the cell surface. Consequently, some essential functions of the S protein, including mediation of cell-to-cell fusion and its incorporation into virions, were completely abolished.     

A single amino acid substitution in the central portion of the West Nile virus NS4B protein confers a highly attenuated phenotype in mice

West Nile virus (WNV) NS4B is a small hydrophobic nonstructural protein that is hypothesized to participate both in viral replication and evasion of host innate immune defenses. The protein has four cysteine residues (residues 102, 120, 227, and 237). Since cysteines are often critical for the function of proteins, each of the four cysteine residues found in WNV NS4B was mutated to serine by site-directed mutagenesis. While three of these substitutions had little effect on replication or mouse virulence phenotypes, the C102S mutation was associated with a temperature-sensitive phenotype at 41 degrees C as well as attenuation of the neuroinvasive and neurovirulence phenotypes in mice.     

The RNA helicase, nucleotide 5'-triphosphatase, and RNA 5'-triphosphatase activities of Dengue virus protein NS3 are Mg2+-dependent and require a functional Walker B motif in the helicase catalytic core

The nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) of Dengue virus (DV) is a multifunctional enzyme carrying activities involved in viral RNA replication and capping: helicase, nucleoside 5'-triphosphatase (NTPase), and RNA 5'-triphosphatase (RTPase). Here, a 54-kDa C-terminal domain of NS3 (DeltaNS3) bearing all three activities was expressed as a recombinant protein. Structure-based sequence analysis in comparison with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) helicase indicates the presence of a HCV-helicase-like catalytic core domain in the N-terminal part of DeltaNS3, whereas the C-terminal part seems to be different. In this report, we show that the RTPase activity of DeltaNS3 is Mg2+-dependent as are both helicase and NTPase activities. Mutational analysis shows that the RTPase activity requires an intact NTPase/helicase Walker B motif in the helicase core, consistent with the fact that such motifs are involved in the coordination of Mg2+. The R513A substitution in the C-terminal domain of DeltaNS3 abrogates helicase activity and strongly diminishes RTPase activity, indicating that both activities are functionally coupled. DV RTPase seems to belong to a new class of Mg2+-dependent RTPases, which use the active center of the helicase/NTPase catalytic core in conjunction with elements in the C-terminal domain.     

A novel homozygous Fas ligand mutation leads to early protein truncation,abrogation of death receptor and reverse signaling and a severe form of the autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome

We report a novel type of mutation in the death ligand FasL that was associated with a severe phenotype of the autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome in two patients. A frameshift mutation in the intracellular domain led to complete loss of FasL expression. Cell death signaling via its receptor and reverse signaling via its intracellular domain were completely abrogated. In vitro lymphocyte proliferation induced by weak T cell receptor stimulation could be blocked and cell death was induced by engagement of FasL in T cells derived from healthy individuals and a heterozygous carrier, but not in FasL-deficient patient derived cells. Expression of genes implicated in lymphocyte proliferation and activation (CCND1, NFATc1, NF-κB1) was increased in FasL-deficient T cells and could not be downregulated by FasL engagement as in healthy cells. Our data thus suggest, that deficiency in FasL reverse signaling may contribute to the clinical lymphoproliferative phenotype of ALPS.