Evaluation of the humoral immunity in mice induced by foot-and-mouth disease virus-like particles-ZIF-8 complexes with different sizes / 生物工程学报

To further enhance the immune effect of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus-like particles (VLPs) vaccine, this study prepared FMDV VLPs-zeolitic imidazolate (framework-8, ZIF-8) complexes with different particle sizes. We used a biomimetic mineralization method with Zn2+ and 2-methylimidazole in different concentration ratios to investigate the effect of size on the immunization effect. The results showed that FMDV VLPs-ZIF-8 with three different sizes were successfully prepared, with an approximate size of 70 nm, 100 nm, and 1 000 nm, respectively. Cytotoxicity and animal toxicity tests showed that all three complexes exhibited excellent biological safety. Immunization tests in mice showed that all three complexes enhanced the titers of neutralizing and specific antibodies, and their immune effects improved as the size of the complexes decreased. This study showed that ZIF-8 encapsulation of FMDV VLPs significantly enhanced their immunogenic effect in a size-dependent manner.

Construction of foot-and-mouth disease virus like particles-induced expression vectors and screening of BHK-21 cell pools / 生物工程学报

Transient expression is the major method to express foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) capsid proteins in mammalian cells. To achieve stable expression of FMDV capsid proteins and efficient assembly of virus like particles (VLPs) in cells, the plasmids of piggyBac (PB) transposon-constitutive expression and PB transposon-tetracycline (Tet) inducible expression vectors were constructed. The function of the plasmids was tested by fluorescent proteins. By adding antibiotics, the constitutive cell pools (C-WT, C-L127P) expressing P12A3C (WT/L127P) genes and the inducible cell pools (I-WT, I-L127P) expressing P12A3C (WT/L127P) genes were generated. The genes of green fluorescent protein, 3C protease and reverse tetracycline transactivator (rtTA) were integrated into chromosome, which was confirmed by fluorescence observation and PCR testing. The cell pool I-L127P has a stronger production capacity of capsid proteins and VLPs, which was confirmed by Western blotting and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. In conclusion, inducing the chromosomal expression of FMDV capsid proteins was firstly reported, which may facilitate the technical process of mammalian production of FMDV VLPs vaccine and the construction of mammalian inducible expression systems for other proteins.

Effect of amino acid site modification on stability of foot-and-mouth disease virus-like particles / 生物工程学报

The stability of virus-like particles (VLPs) is currently the main factor affecting the quality of foot-and-mouth disease VLPs vaccines. In order to further improve the quality of the VLPs vaccine of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), three amino acid modification sites were designed and screened through kinetic analysis software, based on the three-dimensional structure of FMDV. The three mutant recombinant plasmids were successfully prepared by the point mutation kit, transformed into Escherichia coli strain BL21 and expressed in vitro. After purification by Ni ion chromatography column, SDS-PAGE proved that the three amino acid mutations did not affect the expression of the target protein. The results of the stability study of three FMD mutant VLPs obtained by in vitro assembly show that the introduction of internal hydrophobic side chain amino acids made the morphology of VLPs more uniform (N4017W), and their stability was significantly improved compared to the other two VLPs. The internal hydrophobic force of the capsid contributes to the formation of VLPs and helps to maintain the stability of the capsid, providing new experimental ideas for improving the quality of VLPs vaccines, and helping to promote the development of VLPs vaccines.

Construction, expression and identification of chimeric foot-and-mouth disease virus-like particles / 生物工程学报

To improve the specific recognition and presentation of virus-like particle (VLPs), and to develop immune-targeted VLPs vaccine, the gene fragment encoding OVA₂₅₇₋₂₆₄ peptide was inserted into the VP3 gene of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) between the 171th and 172th amino acids (aa) or 173th and 174th aa by reverse PCR. The recombinant proteins were expressed by using Escherichia coli and assembled into chimeric VLP (VLP(OVA)) in vitro after purification. The VLP(OVA) was measured by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. The recombinant protein and the assembled VLPs were evaluated by Western blotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and laser scanning confocal microscopy to confirm the insertion of OVA₂₅₇₋₂₆₄ peptide into VP3 and its location. The results show that insertion of OVA₂₅₇₋₂₆₄ into the 173th and 174th aa of FMDV VP3 did not affect the assembly of VLPs. The VLP(OVA) in size was larger than VLPs, and the OVA₂₅₇₋₂₆₄ peptide was located on the surface of VLP(OVA).

Promotion of self-nucleic acid fragments on the assembly of foot-and-mouth disease virus-like particles / 生物工程学报

The special nucleic acid fragments, 5' untranslated region (5' UTR) and internal ribosome entry site (IRES) of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), which interact with the capsid proteins, were selected as scaffolds to investigate the assembly efficiency of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus-like particles (VLPs). The assembled product was characterized by evaluation of particle size, surface potential, gel retardation assay, nuclease digestion experiments, size-exclusion chromatography, transmission electron microscopy and circular dichroism analysis. The results confirmed that the 5' UTR and IRES of FMDV co-assembled with the FMD VLPs and facilitated the assembly efficiency of FMD-VLPs. It demonstrates that the assembly efficiency of 75S particles of VLPs-5'UTR was significantly higher than those of the VLPs (P<0.001) and VLPs-IRES group (P<0.01). Comparatively the assembly efficiency of 12S particles of VLPs-IRES was significantly higher than those of the VLPs (P<0.000 1) and VLPs-5'UTR (P<0.000 1). It showed that the 5' UTR represented more effective in facilitating the assembly of VLPs. This study proposes an optimized strategy for improving the assembly efficiency of VLPs for the development of VLPs vaccine.

Isolation and analysis of differentially expressed genes from peanut in response to challenge with Ralstonia solanacearum

Background: Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is the most devastating disease in peanut. Planting resistant peanut cultivars is deemed as the sole economically viable means for effective control of the disease. To understand the molecular mechanism underlying resistance and facilitate breeding process, differences in gene expression between seeds of Rihua 1 (a Virginia type peanut variety resistant to bacterial wilt) inoculated with the bacterial pathogen suspension (10(9) cfu ml-1) and seeds of the same cultivar treated with water (control), were studied using the GenefishingTM technology. Results: A total of 25 differentially expressed genes were isolated. Expression of genes encoding cyclophilin and ADP-ribosylation factor, respectively, were further studied by real time RT-PCR, and full length cDNAs of both genes were obtained by rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Conclusions: The study provided candidate genes potentially useful for breeding peanut cultivars with both high yield and bacterial wilt resistance, although confirmation of their functions through transgenic studies is still needed.

Study on the spatiotemporal trend of Japanese encephalitis in Guangxi,based on geographic information system and space-time permutation scan statistic / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To study the spatiotemporal trend of Japanese encephalitis in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region between 1989 and 2006.Methods Retrospective space-time permutation scan statistic and inverse distance weighted (IDW) interpolation were employed to detect the spatiotemporal trend of Japanese encephalitis in Guangxi,from the year 1989 to 2006.Results The spatiotemporal pattern of Japanese encephalitis was divided into four phases by IDW interpolation maps,from 1989 to 2006.The first phase was spatiotemporal cluster located in southeast region,from 1989 to 1996.The second phase showed discrete distribution from 1997 to 1998.The third phase of spatiotemporal cluster located in Lingshan county,Pubei county and Bobai county,in 1999.And the last phase was spatiotemporal cluster located in northwest region from 2000 to 2006.Three statistically significant spatiotemporal clusters were detected by retrospective space-time permutation scan statistic.The primary cluster appeared in 1999 (LLR=253.25,P=0.001,RR=4.62),with 109°54′ E,22°28′ N (located in Pubei county) as its center and radiated 45.24 km.From 2000 to 2006,the secondary cluster showed in northwest (LLR=75.91,P=0.001,RR = 1.88),with center located at 105°23′ E,24°68′ N (Longlin county),and radiated 199.85 kn.From 1989 to 1996,the other secondary cluster appeared in the southeast area(LLR=46.29,P=0.001,RR= 1.16),with center located at 110°94′ E,24°03′N(Zhaoping county) and radiated 229.12 km.Conclusion Space-time permutation scan statistic and geographical information system could be applied to quantitatively detect the potentially spatiotemporal trend of the disease.The spatiotemporal cluster shifted from southeast to northwest,from 1989 to 2006.

Orbital fracture-induced exophthalmos after head injury: a clinical study of 13 cases / 中华神经医学杂志

Objective To study the mechanism, clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatments of orbital fracture-induced exophthalmos after craniocerebral injury. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the data of 13 patients with orbital fracture-induced exophthalmos after head injury: their causes of injury, clinical situations, types of fracture, operative treatments and surgical outcomes. Spiral CT thin slice scan and three-dimensional reconstruction were performed on the orbit before any treatment, and then, orbital fractures were repaired by corresponding surgical approaches according to the position of fractures and head injury. The effect of operation was evaluated by spiral CT and follow up was performed. Results The patients obviously manifested as having craniocerebral injury and 14 eyeballs in 13 patients had exophthalmos. The average preoperative degree of protrusion was (2.94±0.47) mm.The axial spiral CT together with the reconstructive picture presented the pre- and pro-operative orbital fractures clearly. Orbital fracture positions were situated at superior and medial wall of the orbit. All operations were succeed without death or severe disability. Conclusion The diversify of intracranial pressure is the main reason of orbital fractures which shrinks towards the inter orbit to its volume and induces exophthalmos after craniocerebral injury. The spiral CT examination has vital significance in the diagnosis and treatment of orbital fracture-induced exophthalmos and the patients can obtain good outcome by early surgery.