Immunogenic characterization and epitope mapping of transmissible gastroenteritis virus RNA dependent RNA polymerase

Coronavirus RNA synthesis is a sophisticated process performed by a viral multienzymatic replicase complex, together with cellular factors. A key enzyme of this replication complex is the RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). To study the replication of coronavirus genome, six monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) RdRp were generated and characterized. His-tagged RdRp was expressed in baculovirus, purified and used as immunogen to produce mAbs. The TGEV RdRp was recognized by these mAbs in the context of virus infection by immunofluorescence analysis and Western blot. Epitope mapping by Pepscan indicated that RdRp mAbs recognized four non-overlapping linear epitopes located in a 62-amino acid region of the N-terminal domain, suggesting that this region may constitute an immunodominant domain. The availability of TGEV RdRp mAbs will be instrumental to study coronavirus replication and to analyze the function of RdRp in pathogenesis.     

The African swine fever virus lectin EP153R modulates the surface membrane expression of MHC class I antigens

We have modeled a 3D structure for the C-type lectin domain of the African swine fever virus protein EP153R, based on the structure of CD69, CD94 and Ly49A cell receptors, and this model predicts that a dimer of EP153R may establish an asymmetric interaction with one MHC-I molecule. A functional consequence of this interaction could be the modulation of MHC-I expression. By using both transfection and virus infection experiments, we demonstrate here that EP153R inhibits MHC-I membrane expression, most probably by impairing the exocytosis process, without affecting the synthesis or glycosylation of MHC antigens. Interestingly, the EP153-mediated control of MHC requires the intact configuration of the lectin domain of the viral protein, and specifically the R133 residue. Interference of EP153R gene expression during virus infection and studies using virus recombinants with the EP153R gene deleted further support the inhibitory role of the viral lectin on the expression of MHC-I antigens.     

Activity limitation and match load in para-footballers with cerebral palsy: An approach for evidence-based classification

Classification is a hot topic in Paralympic sport, making the development of evidence-based and sport-specific classification systems mandatory. However, the development of measurements for exploring the relationships between the athletes' impairment and their activity limitation is a considerable scientific challenge in team Paralympic sport such as 7-side football (ie, CP Football). The aims of this study were 1) to describe the activity limitation and external match load (ML) differences among impairment profiles (FT) in international level footballers with cerebral palsy (CPFP) and 2) to analyze the relationship among the activity limitation and external ML variables. Forty-eight international male CPFP (23 ± 7 y; 174.7 ± 7.2 cm; 69.4 ± 9.2 kg; 22.7 ± 2.6 kg·m⁻²) participated in this study and were divided according to their impairment profile (FT5/6, FT7, and FT8). Significant differences (P < .05) have been observed among FT profiles in the activity limitation tests (ie, static balance, coordination, vertical jump, horizontal jump, acceleration capacity, and change of direction ability). Additionally, significant differences have been observed among FT profiles in certain ML values (ie, Vel_max, High Acc and in Mod and High Dec), where generally, FT8 players reported the best performance values. On the other hand, especially in the FT5/6 and in the FT8 profiles, a large-to-very large significant relationship was observed between the CPFP activity limitation and the ML values. In general, the results of the present study show that players with a lower impairment have less activity limitation and better ML. This study concludes that the potential relationships between the impairments of hypertonia, ataxia, or athetosis and performance in this para-sport might be impairment-specific.