弓形虫多表位抗原基因DNA疫苗对BALB/c小鼠的免疫保护性研究

目的以弓形虫多表位抗原基因DNA疫苗免疫小鼠,评价该疫苗对弓形虫感染产生的免疫保护作用。方法利用PCR技术和亚克隆技术,构建弓形虫多表位抗原基因真核表达重组质粒pcDNA3-MAG,以质粒纯化试剂盒大量制备质粒,同时分别以载体质粒pcDNA3和PBS液为空质粒对照和空白对照,与lipofectin按5∶2的比例混合后,经股四头肌注射免疫小鼠,间隔两周,连续免疫3次,通过检测小鼠血清中特异的IgG抗体、IFN-γ和IL-4含量,评价疫苗产生的体液免疫和细胞免疫水平。以强毒型RH株弓形虫感染免疫小鼠,统计小鼠的存活时间,评价疫苗产生的免疫保护性。结果经双酶切及DNA测序鉴定,所构建的重组质粒pcDNA3-MAG读码框架正确。与免疫前及载体质粒和空白对照组相比,小鼠免疫后产生特异性IgG抗体,并引发高水平IFN-γ。攻虫后,实验组较对照组小鼠存活时间明显延长。结论弓形虫多表位抗原基因DNA能诱导BALB/c系小鼠产生特异的细胞免疫和体液免疫,对弓形虫感染可产生一定的免疫保护性。     

EB病毒潜伏膜蛋白2多表位DNA联合多肽的免疫效应研究

目的研究HPV L1携带EB病毒(EBV)潜伏膜蛋白2(LMP2)多表位DNA联合多肽的免疫效应。方法BALB/c雌性小鼠随机分为4组。pcHPVL1-EBV LMP2DNA免疫组,肌肉注射pcDNA3.1(+)/HPVL1-EBV LMP2多表位DNA,每鼠每次100μg;DNA联合多肽免疫组:先用DNA免疫,每鼠每次50μg,同时皮下注射EBV LMP2多表位肽,每鼠每次5μg;DNA免疫对照组:肌肉免疫空载体pcDNA3.1(+),每鼠每次100μg;多肽免疫对照组:每鼠每次10μg皮下注射不相关多肽。共免疫4次,间隔2周。免疫后第7周收集小鼠血清,采用ELISA法检测小鼠EBV LMP2特异性抗体IgG、IgA以及HPVL1特异性抗体IgG;免疫后第9周测定EBV特异性抗体IgG1与IgG2a亚类,同时采用乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)释放法测定小鼠脾细胞CTL的杀伤活性。结果多肽联合DNA免疫组小鼠血清EBV LMP2特异性抗体IgG、IgA A值分别为1.573±0.025和0.436±0.033,单独DNA免疫组分别为1.282±0.051和0.317±0.022,差异有统计学意义(F=80.393,27.722,P<0.05);两免疫组小鼠血清HPV L1特异性IgG A值别为0.648±0.063和0.702±0.023,差异无统计学意义(F=1.952,P>0.05)。DNA免疫组IgG1和IgG2aA值别为0.723±0.023和0.594±0.084,差异无统计学意义(F=6.643,P>0.05),是混合Th1/Th2免疫反应类型;多肽联合DNA免疫组IgG1和IgG2aA值别为0.897±0.042和0.629±0.035,差异有统计学意义(F=72.306,P<0.05),是偏向Th2免疫反应类型。多肽联合DNA免疫组在效靶比为10︰1时,小鼠脾细胞CTL杀伤效应(杀伤率)为27.70%,DNA免疫组为21.50%,差异有统计学意义(F=51.559,P<0.05)。结论多肽联合DNA免疫可产生有效的CTL杀伤效应,更能发挥有效的体液免疫作用,其免疫策略可为EBV相关肿瘤的免疫治疗提供参考。     

刚地弓形虫复合基因疫苗、混合疫苗及多表位疫苗研究进展

有效的疫苗免疫是预防弓形虫病的最理想方法.当前弓形虫疫苗的研制虽然取得了一些进展,但是单价疫苗的免疫效果并不理想.寻找更有效的候选抗原基因和合适的载体及研究多种抗原基因的优化组合将是今后弓形虫疫苗研究的主要方向.该文就弓形虫复合基因疫苗、混合疫苗及多表位疫苗的研究进展进行综述.     

弓形虫新基因表位疫苗免疫效果的观察

目的观察弓形虫新基因WX、WX2的表位疫苗对小鼠的保护作用。方法将昆明小鼠分成5组,分别用pcDNA3-W2b、pcDNA3-W4a、pcDNA3-W2b4a质粒及pcDNA3和NS,肌注3次,每次间隔2周。免疫完成后ELISA法检测血清抗体水平,取脾细胞用流式细胞仪检测CD4 与CD8 淋巴细胞比值,PCR检测肌肉组织中重组质粒。免疫后第3周,小鼠经腹腔注射弓形虫速殖子500个,观察发病情况和存活时间。30d后仍存活的小鼠,取组织匀浆后进行小鼠盲传。结果免疫后第3周,pcDNA3-W2b组小鼠血清抗体水平显著高于pcDNA3和NS对照组(P<0.05);用PCR法从pcDNA3-W2b、pcDNA3-W4a和pcDNA3-W2b4a质粒组小鼠肌肉组织中成功检测到各表位疫苗质粒,且各组小鼠脾脏CD4 与CD8 T淋巴细胞比值显著低于pcDNA3组和NS组(P<0.05)。pcDNA3-W2b、pcDNA3-W2b4a组小鼠存活时间与pcDNA3组及NS组比较明显延长(P<0.05)。结论弓形虫新基因WX、WX2表位疫苗能够诱导小鼠产生抗弓形虫感染保护性免疫,提示DNA类表位疫苗的研制可作为弓形虫疫苗研究的策略之一。     

西尼罗病毒研究进展

1999年,西尼罗病毒(West Nile virus,WNV)首次在美国纽约地区出现,随后几年迅速在北美大陆蔓延。近年WNV流行表现出新的特点,部分感染病人出现严重的神经系统症状,死亡率高,引起了人们的高度关注。该文就近年来对WNV的生物学性状、致病性、感染的免疫、流行病学、防治措施及疫苗研制的研究进展进行综述。     

人工合成多表位抗原的研究进展

通过表位作图、表面展示及计箅机预测等技术确定抗原表位的序列,再通过基因工程技术将多个表位串联起来形成多表位抗原.目前,有关多表位抗原的研究已取得长足进步,该文对特异性表位的选择和鉴定、多表位抗原基因的分子设计和合成等方面的研究进展进行了综述.     

刚地弓形虫多表位抗原基因在转基因番茄中的表达研究

目的 获得稳定表达弓形虫多表位抗原基因（Tg-MAG）的转基因番茄植株。 方法 用植物组成型启动子E35S、番茄果实特异性E82.2启动子以及E35S-E81.1复合式启动子驱动弓形虫Tg?-MAG的植物表达载体pC35MG、pCE2MG与pC35E1MG，以农杆菌介导的T-DNA转化法转化番茄子叶和下胚轴；经芽诱导、伸长以及生根的连续性抗性筛选和培育，获得Tg-MAG转基因番茄植株，练苗后移栽花盆中培育至开花、结果。用PCR、RT-PCR、蛋白质印迹（Western blotting）分别对Tg-MAG转基因植株进行DNA、RNA、蛋白水平的鉴定。 结果 获得的Tg-MAG转基因番茄植株经PCR和RT-PCR鉴定，得到预期360 bp的Tg-MAG片段，经Western blotting筛选获得能正确表达预期相对分子质量（Mr）为11 900 的Tg-MAG重组蛋白，且８株具有免疫反应性，其中有２株于番茄果实中所表达的重组蛋白能与抗弓形虫速殖子主要表面抗原１（SAG1）单克隆抗体K7H3发生强免疫反应。 结论 获得Tg-MAG转基因番茄株系，在其果实中成功表达具有良好免疫反应性的Tg-MAG重组蛋白。     

弓形虫多表位基因植物表达载体的构建

目的构建弓形虫多表位基因(TGMG)植物表达载体。方法①将TGMG亚克隆人pBAC55构建中间载体pB35MG,再将其中E35S/TGMG/NOS3′结构单元亚克隆人pCAMBIA2300构建植物表达载体pC35MG。②将番茄果实特异性启动子E81.1插入pB35MG构建中间载体pB35E1MG,再将其中E35SE81.1/TGMG/NOS3′结构单元亚克隆人pCAMBIA2300构建植物表达载体pC35E1MG。③将番茄果实特异性启动子E82.2插入pB35MG构建中间载体pBE2MG,再将其中E82.2/TGMG/NOS3′结构单元亚克隆人pCAMBIA2300构建植物表达载体pCE2MG。测序鉴定pB35MG、pC35E1MG、pCE2MG中的TGMG序列。④pC35MG、pC35E1MG、pCE2MG转化根癌农杆菌LBA404。结果重组质粒用酶切鉴定均得到预期片段,pB35MG、pC35E1MG、pCE2MG测序结果正确。结论成功构建TGMG中间载体pB35MG、pB35E1MG、pBE2MG,以及植物表达载体pC35MG、pC35E1MG、pCE2MG。并将3种植物表达载体导入根癌农杆菌。     

Vaccines in Development against West Nile Virus

West Nile encephalitis emerged in 1999 in the United States, then rapidly spread through the North American continent causing severe disease in human and horses. Since then, outbreaks appeared in Europe, and in 2012, the United States experienced a new severe outbreak reporting a total of 5,387 cases of West Nile virus (WNV) disease in humans, including 243 deaths. So far, no human vaccine is available to control new WNV outbreaks and to avoid worldwide spreading. In this review, we discuss the state-of-the-art of West Nile vaccine development and the potential of a novel safe and effective approach based on recombinant live attenuated measles virus (MV) vaccine. MV vaccine is a live attenuated negative-stranded RNA virus proven as one of the safest, most stable and effective human vaccines. We previously described a vector derived from the Schwarz MV vaccine strain that stably expresses antigens from emerging arboviruses, such as dengue, West Nile or chikungunya viruses, and is strongly immunogenic in animal models, even in the presence of MV pre-existing immunity. A single administration of a recombinant MV vaccine expressing the secreted form of WNV envelope glycoprotein elicited protective immunity in mice and non-human primates as early as two weeks after immunization, indicating its potential as a human vaccine.     

Antiviral Cytokine Response in Neuroinvasive and Non-Neuroinvasive West Nile Virus Infection

Data on the immune response to West Nile virus (WNV) are limited. We analyzed the antiviral cytokine response in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of patients with WNV fever and WNV neuroinvasive disease using a multiplex bead-based assay for the simultaneous quantification of 13 human cytokines. The panel included cytokines associated with innate and early pro-inflammatory immune responses (TNF-α/IL-6), Th1 (IL-2/IFN-γ), Th2 (IL-4/IL-5/IL-9/IL-13), Th17 immune response (IL-17A/IL-17F/IL-21/IL-22) and the key anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Elevated levels of IFN-γ were detected in 71.7% of CSF and 22.7% of serum samples (p = 0.003). Expression of IL-2/IL-4/TNF-α and Th1 17 cytokines (IL-17A/IL-17F/IL-21) was detected in the serum but not in the CSF (except one positive CSF sample for IL-17F/IL-4). While IL-6 levels were markedly higher in the CSF compared to serum (CSF median 2036.71, IQR 213.82–6190.50; serum median 24.48, IQR 11.93–49.81; p < 0.001), no difference in the IL-13/IL-9/IL-10/IFN-γ/IL-22 levels in serum/CSF was found. In conclusion, increased concentrations of the key cytokines associated with innate and early acute phase responses (IL-6) and Th1 type immune responses (IFN-γ) were found in the CNS of patients with WNV infection. In contrast, expression of the key T-cell growth factor IL-2, Th17 cytokines, a Th2 cytokine IL-4 and the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α appear to be concentrated mainly in the periphery.     

West Nile Virus Vaccination Protects against Usutu Virus Disease in Mice

West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) are mosquito-borne flaviviruses that can cause neuroinvasive disease in humans. WNV and USUV circulate in both Africa and Europe and are closely related. Due to antigenic similarity, WNV-specific antibodies and USUV-specific antibodies have the potential to bind heterologous viruses; however, it is unclear whether this interaction may offer protection against infection. To investigate how prior WNV exposure would influence USUV infection, we used an attenuated WNV vaccine that contains the surface proteins of WNV in the backbone of a dengue virus 2 vaccine strain and protects against WNV disease. We hypothesized that vaccination with this attenuated WNV vaccine would protect against USUV infection. Neutralizing responses against WNV and USUV were measured in vitro using sera following vaccination. Sera from vaccinated CD-1 and Ifnar1^−/− mice cross-neutralized with WNV and USUV. All mice were then subsequently challenged with an African or European USUV strain. In CD-1 mice, there was no difference in USUV titers between vaccinated and mock-vaccinated mice. However, in the Ifnar1^−/− model, vaccinated mice had significantly higher survival rates and significantly lower USUV viremia compared to mock-vaccinated mice. Our results indicate that exposure to an attenuated form of WNV protects against severe USUV disease in mice and elicits a neutralizing response to both WNV and USUV. Future studies will investigate the immune mechanisms responsible for the protection against USUV infection induced by WNV vaccination, providing critical insight that will be essential for USUV and WNV vaccine development.     

西尼罗病毒感染免疫应答反应研究进展

西尼罗病毒病是由西尼罗病毒引起的一种人兽共患传染病,给人类和动物健康带来重大危害。虽现已有疫苗处在研究阶段,但仍没有人用疫苗获批上市。通过感染动物模型,有关西尼罗病毒免疫反应的研究已经开展。本文对固有免疫和获得性免疫在抵抗西尼罗病毒感染中的作用进行综述,为进一步研究西尼罗病毒激发免疫应答反应的机制和新型疫苗研制提供依据。     

A brief report of West Nile Virus neuroinvasive disease in the summer of 2012 in Hamilton,Ontario

West Nile neuroinvasive disease is a severe infectious disease that is associated with a high mortality rate, especially in immunocompromised hosts. Physicians who are aware of its clinical presentations may be able to order diagnostic tests more appropriately and avoid inappropriate treatment. In the present series, the cases of seven patients admitted to Hamilton Health Sciences (Hamilton, Ontario) in the summer of 2012 with a diagnosis of West Nile neuroinvasive disease were retrospectively reviewed based on available medical records. According to the clinical and laboratory criteria published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, five cases were diagnosed as encephalitis, one case as meningitis and one case as meningomyelitis. Patients were managed supportively. Forty-three percent (three of seven) presented with rash, 71% (five of seven) did not report headache despite exhibiting neurological symptoms, 43% (three of seven) did not have fever on presentation and 37.5% of cerebrospinal fluid samples exhibited a neutrophil predominance. The mortality rate in the present series was 14.3% (one of seven), and 57.1% (four of seven) of the patients had residual symptoms on discharge and at follow-up.     

Infection with Non-Lethal West Nile Virus Eg101 Strain Induces Immunity that Protects Mice against the Lethal West Nile Virus NY99 Strain

Herein we demonstrate that infection of mice with West Nile virus (WNV) Eg101 provides protective immunity against lethal challenge with WNV NY99. Our data demonstrated that WNV Eg101 is largely non-virulent in adult mice when compared to WNV NY99. By day 6 after infection, WNV-specific IgM and IgG antibodies, and neutralizing antibodies were detected in the serum of all WNV Eg101 infected mice. Plaque reduction neutralization test data demonstrated that serum from WNV Eg101 infected mice neutralized WNV Eg101 and WNV NY99 strains with similar efficiency. Three weeks after infection, WNV Eg101 immunized mice were challenged subcutaneously or intracranially with lethal dose of WNV NY99 and observed for additional three weeks. All the challenged mice were protected against disease and no morbidity and mortality was observed in any mice. In conclusion, our data for the first time demonstrate that infection of mice with WNV Eg101 induced high titers of WNV specific IgM and IgG antibodies, and cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies, and the resulting immunity protected all immunized animals from both subcutaneous and intracranial challenge with WNV NY99. These observations suggest that WNV Eg101 may be a suitable strain for the development of a vaccine in humans against virulent strains of WNV.     

Large Human Outbreak of West Nile Virus Infection in North-Eastern Italy in 2012

Human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) disease have been reported in Italy since 2008. So far, most cases have been identified in north-eastern Italy, where, in 2012, the largest outbreak of WNV infection ever recorded in Italy occurred. Most cases of the 2012 outbreak were identified in the Veneto region, where a special surveillance plan for West Nile fever was in place. In this outbreak, 25 cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease and 17 cases of fever were confirmed. In addition, 14 WNV RNA-positive blood donors were identified by screening of blood and organ donations and two cases of asymptomatic infection were diagnosed by active surveillance of subjects at risk of WNV exposure. Two cases of death due to WNND were reported. Molecular testing demonstrated the presence of WNV lineage 1 in all WNV RNA-positive patients and, in 15 cases, infection by the novel Livenza strain was ascertained. Surveillance in other Italian regions notified one case of neuroinvasive disease in the south of Italy and two cases in Sardinia. Integrated surveillance for WNV infection remains a public health priority in Italy and vector control activities have been strengthened in areas of WNV circulation.     

A Potential Role for Substance P in West Nile Virus Neuropathogenesis

Of individuals who develop West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND), ~10% will die and >40% will develop long-term complications. Current treatment recommendations solely focus on supportive care; therefore, we urgently need to identify novel and effective therapeutic options. We observed a correlation between substance P (SP), a key player in neuroinflammation, and its receptor Neurokinin-1 (NK1R). Our study in a wild-type BL6 mouse model found that SP is upregulated in the brain during infection, which correlated with neuroinvasion and damage to the blood–brain barrier. Blocking the SP/NK1R interaction beginning at disease onset modestly improved survival and prolonged time to death in a small pilot study. Although SP is significantly increased in the brain of untreated WNND mice when compared to mock-infected animals, levels of WNV are unchanged, indicating that SP likely does not play a role in viral replication but may mediate the immune response to infection. Additional studies are necessary to define if SP plays a mechanistic role or if it represents other mechanistic pathways.     

Preclinical and Clinical Development of a YFV 17 D-Based Chimeric Vaccine against West Nile Virus

Substantial success has been achieved in the development and implementation of West Nile (WN) vaccines for horses; however, no human WN vaccines are approved. This review focuses on the construction, pre-clinical and clinical characterization of ChimeriVax-WN02 for humans, a live chimeric vaccine composed of a yellow fever (YF) 17D virus in which the prM-E envelope protein genes are replaced with the corresponding genes of the WN NY99 virus. Pre-clinical studies demonstrated that ChimeriVax-WN02 was significantly less neurovirulent than YF 17D in mice and rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys. The vaccine elicited neutralizing antibody titers after inoculation in hamsters and monkeys and protected immunized animals from lethal challenge including intracerebral inoculation of high dose of WN NY99 virus. Safety, viremia and immunogenicity of ChimeriVax-WN02 were assessed in one phase I study and in two phase II clinical trials. No safety signals were detected in the three clinical trials with no remarkable differences in incidence of adverse events (AEs) between vaccine and placebo recipients. Viremia was transient and the mean viremia levels were low. The vaccine elicited strong and durable neutralizing antibody and cytotoxic T cell responses. WN epidemiology impedes a classical licensure pathway; therefore, innovative licensure strategies should be explored.     

Characteristics of Chimeric West Nile Virus Based on the Japanese Encephalitis Virus SA14-14-2 Backbone

West Nile virus disease (WND) is an arthropod-borne zoonosis responsible for nonspecific fever or severe encephalitis. The pathogen is West Nile virus belonging to the genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae. Every year, thousands of cases were reported, which poses significant public health risk. Here, we constructed a West Nile virus chimera, ChiVax-WN01, by replacing the prMΔE gene of JEV SA14-14-2 with that of the West Nile virus NY99. The ChiVax-WN01 chimera showed clear, different characters compared with that of JEV SA14-14-2 and WNV NY99 strain. An animal study indicated that the ChiVax-WN01 chimera presented moderate safety and immunogenicity for 4-week female BALB/c mice.