Antigenic reactivity and electrophoretic migrational heterogeneity of the three polymerase proteins of type A human and animal influenza viruses

Summary Antigenic reactivity of the three polymerase proteins PB1, PB2, and PA of type A influenza viruses of animal and human origin were analysed by radioimmunoprecipitation using monospecific antisera. Each of the polymerase monospecific antisera made against the polymerase proteins of the human A/WSN/33 (H1N1) influenza virus reacted efficiently with the homologous proteins of all the known thirteen HA subtype viruses of avian influenza virus, three subtypes of human influenza virus, swine and equine influenza viruses. This broad reactivity of each of the antisera indicated that the polymerase proteins are antigenically related among the type A influenza viruses and therefore can be considered as type specific antigens similar to the other viral internal proteins nucleoprotein (NP) and matrix protein (M). No electrophoretic migrational heterogeneity was found among the PB2 proteins of different subtype viruses, whereas PB1 protein exhibited minor variation. However, PA protein from among various viral subtypes showed considerable heterogeneity. Each of the polymerase antisera also immunoprecipitated additional antigenically related polypeptides with distinct electrophoretic mobilities from cells infected with each of the influenza viral subtypes.     

Complete sequence and organization of Periplaneta fuliginosa densovirus genome

The replicative form (RF) of the Periplaneta fuliginosa densovirus (PfDNV) genome was cloned and its complete nucleotide sequence was determined. The PfDNV genome is 5454 nucleotides (nt) in length with distal 201-nt long inverted terminal repeats (ITRs). The first 122 nt at the 5'-end and the terminal 122 nt at the 3'-end of both strands are palindromes with identical sequences, of which each can fold into a typical U-shaped hairpin structure. The coding regions of PfDNV genome are evenly distributed in the 5'-halves of both strands. PfDNV genome contains seven major open reading frames (ORFs), four of which on the plus DNA strand may encode non-structural (NS) proteins, while the others on the minus DNA strand may encode structural proteins. Two potential functional promoters (P3 and P97) were found within the ITRs on both strands. The ORF2 polypeptide contains a highly conserved NTP-binding domain of NS proteins of parvoviruses. The ORF5 polypeptide has significant homology to the conserved PGY region of coat proteins of parvoviruses. The ORF6 polypeptide has distinct homology to the structural polypeptides of insect parvoviruses. The organization of PfDNV genome was compared to those of other parvoviruses.     

An oligonucleotide complementary to the SL-B1 domain in the 3'-end of the minus-strand RNA of the hepatitis C virus inhibits in vitro initiation of RNA synthesis by the viral polymerase

We describe oligonucleotides (ODNs) that inhibit hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA synthesis in vitro. From a series of 13 ODNs complementary to the 3'-end of the minus-strand HCV RNA, only 4 inhibited RNA synthesis with IC(50) values lower than 1 microM. The inhibition was sequence-specific, since no effect was observed when the ODNs were used with a noncomplementary template. The introduction of a 2'-O-methyl modification increased the inhibitor activity 11-fold (IC(50) = 50 nM) in just 1 (ODN7) of the 4 inhibitory ODNs. ODNs did not inhibit RNA synthesis by interfering with the elongation process as no short RNAs products were detected. We also show that ODN7 did not prevent binding of NS5B to the template or cause polymerase trapping by the duplex RNA/ODN. Our data demonstrate that ODN7 inhibits the initiation process, most probably by modifying structural features present at the 3'-end of the minus-strand RNA.     

Comparative sequence analysis of duck and human hepatitis B virus genomes

We have cloned and sequenced an infectious, functionally active genome of a duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV). It is 3,021 base pairs (bp) in length and shows little DNA sequence homology to the genome of human hepatitis B virus (HBV). However, the amino acid sequences of predicted viral gene products are similar between DHBV and HBV, and the genome organization present in DHBV reflects that of HBV. As in the mammalian virus the long minus strand of the DHBV genome encodes three long overlapping reading frames designated as P, S, and C. The fourth open reading frame, termed X, is absent in DHBV. A comparison with a sequence of a second DHBV isolate [Mandart et al, Journal of Virology 49:782-792, 1984] revealed a nucleotide sequence variation of 5.6% and confirmed the presented overall gene organization of DHBV.     

Characterization of infectious and defective cloned avian hepadnavirus genomes

The infectivity in vivo, replication competence in vitro, and expression of viral genes of several molecularly cloned duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) genomes were investigated. In addition, replication competence, core protein expression, and secretion of viral proteins were investigated for a grey heron hepatitis B virus genome. Except two, all DHBV isolates tested induced a systemic infection in Pekin ducks when injected as cloned viral DNA into the liver. After transfection of chicken hepatoma cells, both defective DHBV genomes expressed intracellular nucleocapsid and pre-S envelope proteins and secreted DHBs/pre-S particles into the medium. One of the defective DHBV genomes and HHBV produced within the cells replicative intermediates encapsidated in core particles and secreted virions, whereas the other defective DHBV genome did not and was unable to efficiently encapsidate the RNA pregenome. Comparative sequence analysis was performed to identify potential amino acid changes in viral proteins of both defective DHBV genomes. The data obtained demonstrate that most cloned avian hepadnaviruses are infectious or replication competent and suggest defects in envelope, polymerase or encapsidation function, respectively, in two cloned DHBV genomes.     

Non-radioactive hybridization probes prepared using M13 phage vector and the universal sequencing primer

Non-radioactive hybridization probes were prepared using the M13 phage vector and the universal sequencing primer. The probe sequence to be used was first cloned into the M13 vector, and the minus strand of the template DNA was then synthesized with the Klenow fragment of E. coli DNA polymerase I in the presence of the biotinylated nucleotide, biotin-11-dUTP, as a label. Resultant DNA was heavily biotinylated, and made up of the entire minus strand of the template DNA. The long tag sequence derived from the M13 vector may increase the sensitivity of the detection. The biotinylated hybrids were visualized with the streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase conjugate and chromogenic substrates. As shown by Southern hybridization, the probe prepared in this way could be used to detect less than 1 pg of target sequence and a single copy gene sequence in human genomic DNA within several hours of signal development.     

In vivo electroporation improves therapeutic potency of a DNA vaccine targeting hepadnaviral proteins

This preclinical study investigated the therapeutic efficacy of electroporation (EP)-based delivery of plasmid DNA (pDNA) encoding viral proteins (envelope, core) and IFN-γ in the duck model of chronic hepatitis B virus (DHBV) infection. Importantly, only DNA EP-therapy resulted in a significant decrease in mean viremia titers and in intrahepatic covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) levels in chronic DHBV-carrier animals, compared with standard needle pDNA injection (SI). In addition, DNA EP-therapy stimulated in all virus-carriers a humoral response to DHBV preS protein, recognizing a broader range of major antigenic regions, including neutralizing epitopes, compared with SI. DNA EP-therapy led also to significant higher intrahepatic IFN-γ RNA levels in DHBV-carriers compared to other groups, in the absence of adverse effects. We provide the first evidence on DNA EP-therapy benefit in terms of hepadnaviral infection clearance and break of immune tolerance in virus-carriers, supporting its clinical application for chronic hepatitis B.     

小鼠pdx-1基因真核表达载体的构建及其在胚胎干细胞中的表达

目的： 克隆小鼠pdx-1基因，构建其真核表达载体，并在小鼠胚胎干细胞中表达，为糖尿病的细胞移植治疗奠定基础。方法： PCR扩增小鼠胰腺pdx-1基因 cDNA，酶切后和携带绿色荧光蛋白报告基因的真核表达载体pEGFP-N1重组，将pdx-1基因 cDNA片段连接到pEGFP-N1载体的多克隆位点，形成重组载体pEGFP/pdx-1，转化大肠杆菌DH5α菌株，构建成pdx-1基因真核表达载体质粒。扩增DH5α后抽提质粒DNA，Hind Ⅲ 和BamHⅠ酶切，电泳，DNA测序鉴定。鉴定正确的质粒DNA用脂质体包裹后转染小鼠胚胎干细胞MESPU13。结果： 从小鼠胰腺cDNA扩增出876 bp的DNA片段并成功重组到pEGFP-N1载体中。经酶切和DNA测序验证，插入载体的DNA片段为pdx-1基因，插入方向正确。重组质粒经脂质体转染胚胎干细胞MESPU13，24 h 后观察到绿色荧光蛋白报告基因和目的基因的pdx-1表达。结论： 小鼠pdx-1基因的克隆和真核表达载体构建获得成功，为进一步研究其功能奠定了基础。     

Identification of sequences in rotavirus mRNAs important for minus strand synthesis using antisense oligonucleotides.

The core of the rotavirion consists of three proteins, including the viral RNA polymerase, and 11 segments of double-stranded (ds)RNA. The RNA polymerase of disrupted (open) cores is able to catalyze the synthesis of dsRNA from exogenous viral mRNAs in vitro. In this study, we have identified sequences in exogenous viral mRNAs important for RNA replication using antisense oligonucleotides. The results showed that oligonucleotides complementary to the highly conserved 3'-terminal sequence of rotavirus mRNAs prevented all but basal levels of dsRNA synthesis. Notably, we observed that the addition of oligonucleotides which were complementary to nonconserved sequences present either at the 5'- or 3'-end of a viral mRNA effectively inhibited its replication without interfering with the replication of other viral mRNAs present in the same replication assay. Thus, the nonconserved sequences in rotavirus mRNAs contain gene-specific information that promotes RNA replication. The fact that antisense oligonucleotides inhibited dsRNA synthesis indicates that the strandedness (single- versus double-stranded) and secondary structure of the viral mRNA template are factors that affect the efficiency of minus strand synthesis.