Sequence analysis of L RNA of Lassa virus

The L RNA of three Lassa virus strains originating from Nigeria, Ghana/Ivory Coast, and Sierra Leone was sequenced and the data subjected to structure predictions and phylogenetic analyses. The L gene products had 2218-2221 residues, diverged by 18% at the amino acid level, and contained several conserved regions. Only one region of 504 residues (positions 1043-1546) could be assigned a function, namely that of an RNA polymerase. Secondary structure predictions suggest that this domain is very similar to RNA-dependent RNA polymerases of known structure encoded by plus-strand RNA viruses, permitting a model to be built. Outside the polymerase region, there is little structural data, except for regions of strong alpha-helical content and probably a coiled-coil domain at the N terminus. No evidence for reassortment or recombination during Lassa virus evolution was found. The secondary structure-assisted alignment of the RNA polymerase region permitted a reliable reconstruction of the phylogeny of all negative-strand RNA viruses, indicating that Arenaviridae are most closely related to Nairoviruses. In conclusion, the data provide a basis for structural and functional characterization of the Lassa virus L protein and reveal new insights into the phylogeny of negative-strand RNA viruses.     

Lineage extinction and replacement in dengue type 1 virus populations are due to stochastic events rather than to natural selection

Between 1996 and 1998, two clades (B and C; genotype I) of dengue virus type 1 (DENV-1) appeared in Myanmar (Burma) that were new to that location. Between 1998 and 2000, a third clade (A; genotype III) of DENV-1, which had been circulating at that locality for at least 25 years, became extinct. These changes preceded the largest outbreak of dengue recorded in Myanmar, in 2001, in which more than 95% of viruses recovered from patients were DENV-1, but where the incidence of severe disease was much less than in previous years. Phylogenetic analyses of viral genomes indicated that the two new clades of DENV-1 did not arise from the, now extinct, clade A viruses nor was the extinction of this clade due to differences in the fitness of the viral populations. Since the extinction occurred during an inter-epidemic period, we suggest that it was due to a stochastic event attributable to the low rate of virus transmission in this interval.     

3味山姜属中药黄酮类成分对大鼠环核苷酸水平及交感神经-肾上腺轴的影响

目的：观察高良姜、大高良姜、红豆蔻黄酮类成分对胃溃疡寒证大鼠环核苷酸水平及交感神经-肾上腺轴的影响,探讨3味山姜属中药温热药性的物质基础。方法：采用灌服冰知母水煎液与15%冰乙酸制备大鼠胃溃疡寒证模型,以干姜姜辣素为阳性对照,采用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）法测定腺苷酸环化酶（AC）、磷酸二酯酶2（PDE2）、环磷酸腺苷（cAMP）、环磷酸鸟苷（cGMP）、促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）、多巴胺β羟化酶（D-β-H）含量。结果：与空白组比较,胃溃疡寒证模型组大鼠胃组织AC、cAMP含量及cAMP/cGMP比值显著降低,PDE2含量显著升高（P<0.01）。与模型组比较,高良姜、大高良姜、红豆蔻高低剂量组大鼠胃组织AC含量升高;高良姜、大高良姜、红豆蔻高低剂量组大鼠胃组织PDE2含量显著降低,cAMP含量、cAMP/cGMP比值显著升高（P<0.01或P<0.05）。结论：3味山姜属中药黄酮类成分通过调节胃溃疡寒证大鼠环核苷酸水平从而促进交感神经-肾上腺轴功能活动的作用,也体现出黄酮类成分药性温热。     

2010年安徽省蚊虫标本分离到基因Ⅰ型流行性乙型脑炎病毒

目的在安徽省不同地区开展流行性乙型脑炎病毒(JEV)病原学调查,了解当地JEV的基因型别及分子特征。方法 2010年8月在安徽省阜阳、淮南、安庆市的3个标本采集点使用诱蚊灯采集蚊虫标本,通过组织培养法分离病毒,并对病毒分离物进行血清学和分子生物学鉴定;利用生物信息学技术对新分离病毒的序列进行分析,完成同源性和系统发生分析。结果采集到3属3种共计7651只蚊虫标本,通过组织培养技术分离得到11株病毒分离物,鉴定结果显示均为基因Ⅰ型JEV。安徽省JEV新分离株与基因Ⅰ型JEV的同源性最高,核苷酸同源性为96.8%～99.5%,氨基酸同源性为97.8%～100%。结论在安徽省首次分离到基因Ⅰ型JEV,与我国上海市及浙江省JEV分离株进化关系较近。     

云南境外禽流感H5N1亚型病毒神经氨酸酶基因进化及分子结构特征分析

目的:禽流感病毒神经氨酸酶(NA)是病毒粒子重要表面抗原之一,其抗原性差异决定病毒神经氨酸酶亚型(N1-N9)的划分。NA介导病毒对敏感细胞的侵染及协助子代病毒粒子的成熟和释放,与病毒的宿主嗜性及毒力有关。方法:对2003~2009年期间采集自云南境外家禽的H5N1亚型阳性样品中病毒NA基因进行测序,并与国内外已知代表毒株进行序列比对及系统发育分析。认识云南境外禽流感H5N1亚型病毒神经氨酸酶(NA)基因分子结构特征。结果:21份代表性病毒样品NA基因核苷酸和氨基酸序列同源性介于94.3%~99.3%、93.1%~99.3%。系统发育分析表明可划分为6个不同进化(亚)分支(1、7、9、2.4、2.3.2、2.3.4),其中进化亚分支2.3.4毒株已成为当前云南境外流行的优势毒株;所有云南境外毒株NA蛋白的49-68位氨基酸均存在缺失。结论:糖基化位点存在特有变异;云南境外毒株对Oseltam ivir(达菲)类抗病毒药物可能无耐药性。     

Genetic characterization and molecular clock analyses of the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus from human and ticks in India, 2010–2011

A nosocomial outbreak of Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) was reported among humans in Ahmadabad district, Gujarat, India during January, 2011. In the present study we provide the complete genomic sequences of four CCHFV isolates derived from two human patients and two pools of Hyalomma anatolicum ticks during the period of this outbreak and the complete S segment sequence of two retrospective human serum samples, positive for CCHFV in 2010. Sequence-based molecular characterization of the Indian CCHFV showed that they possessed the functional motifs known to occur in the S, M and L gene segment products as in other CCHF viruses. The S segment of the six Indian CCHF viruses showed 99.8% nucleotide identity. Notably both tick isolates shared 100% nucleotide identity with one of the Indian human isolates of 2011. Phylogenetic analysis based on the S segment demonstrated that the Indian CCHFV isolates formed a distinct cluster in the Asian-Middle East group IV of CCHF viruses. The S segment was closest to a Tajikistan strain TADJ/HU8966 of 1990 (98.5% nucleotide identity) and was of South-Asia 2 type while the M segment was of type M2. Both M and L segments were closest to an Afghanistan strain Afg09-2990 of 2009 (93% and 98% nucleotide identity, respectively). The Indian isolates were thus identified as a South-Asia 2/M2 far-east virus combination and the differing parental origin in the S and L/M segments is suggestive that it may be an intra-genotypic reassortant. Molecular clock studies further revealed that the ancestry of the viruses was not very recent and dated back to about 33 years on the basis of the S segment while it was about 15 years based on the M segment. Thus though the 2011 outbreak may not have resulted from a very recent introduction, considering that so far there is no evidence of multiple circulating strains in the country, the possibility of a recent re-introduction of the virus from any of the neighboring countries cannot be ruled out. The study thus warrants the need for continued surveillance and increased sampling of CCHFV in different parts of the country.