Development of porcine induced pluripotent stem cells with a CD163 reporter system / 生物工程学报

As main recipient cells for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), porcine alveolar macrophage (PAM) are involved in the progress of several highly pathogenic virus infections. However, due to the fact that the PAM cells can only be obtained from primary tissues, research on PAM-based virus-host interactions remains challenging. The improvement of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) technology provides a new strategy to develop IPSCs-derived PAM cells. Since the CD163 is a macrophage-specific marker and a validated receptor essential for PRRSV infection, generation of stable porcine induced pluripotent stem cells lines containing CD163 reporter system play important roles in the investigation of IPSCs-PAM transition and PAM-based virus-host interaction. Based on the CRISPR/Cas9- mediated gene editing system, we designed a sgRNA targeting CD163 locus and constructed the corresponding donor vectors. To test whether this reporter system has the expected function, the reporter system was introduced into primary PAM cells to detect the expression of RFP. To validate the low effect on stem cell pluripotency, we generated porcine iPSC lines containing CD163 reporter and assessed the pluripotency through multiple assays such as alkaline phosphatase staining, immunofluorescent staining, and EdU staining. The red-fluorescent protein (RFP) expression was detected in CD163-edited PAM cells, suggesting that our reporter system indeed has the ability to reflect the expression of gene CD163. Compared with wild-type (WT) iPSCs, the CD163 reporter-iPSCs display similar pluripotency-associated transcription factors expression. Besides, cells with the reporter system showed consistent cell morphology and proliferation ability as compared to WT iPSCs, indicating that the edited-cells have no effect on stem cell pluripotency. In conclusion, we generated porcine iPSCs that contain a CD163 reporter system. Our results demonstrated that this reporter system was functional and safe. This study provides a platform to investigate the iPS-PAM development and virus-host interaction in PAM cells.

Genetic variation analysis of Nsp2, ORF5 and ORF3 of PRRSV SC-GY strain from Sichuan province / 中国兽医学报

To monitor genetic variation of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV),RT-PCR was used to identify a sample suspected of PRRSV infection.A PRRSV named SC-GY strain was obtained,and its Nsp2,ORF5 and ORF3 genes were used for sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree construction.The results showed that SC-GY strain is highly pathogenic PRRSV American variant strains with Nsp2 gene discontinuous deletion of 30 amino acids,ORF3 gene aa17 a serine (S) insert.Comparing to VR2332,CH-1a,JXA1,HUN4,NADC30,HENAN-XINX and SC2012,the Nsp2,ORF5 and ORF3 of SC-GY shared 70.3％-97.9％,82.4％-97.6％ and 83.1％-98.2％ of nucleotide similarity,and 62.3％-96.3％,78.0％-95.7％ and 81.6％-96.5％ of deduced amino acid similarity;and compared to LV they shared only 18.9％,60.8％ and 63.7％ of nucleotide similarity,and 14.0％,54.9％ and 57.2％ of deduced amino acid similarity.The phylogenetic tree revealed that the SC-GY formed independent small branches although it belonged to the same subgroup as highly pathogenic PRRSV strains.The results showed that in high frequency live vaccine immunization of currently PRRSV,the gene of PRRSV epidemic strain is still in constant variation.Vaccination of live PRRSV vaccines should be reduced and surveillance of PRRSV strains should be enhanced.

Analysis of molecular variation in porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in China between 2007 and 2012 / 中国病毒学·英文版

In the present study, 89 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) isolates in China during 2007 to 2012 were randomly selected from the GenBank genetic sequence database. Evolutionary characteristics of these isolates were analyzed based on the sequences of non-struc-tural protein 2 (Nsp2) and glycoprotein 5 (GP5). The genetic variations of the isolates were also compared with six representative strains. The results showed that a high degree of genetic diversity exists among the PRRSV population in China. Highly pathogenic PRRSV isolates, with a discon-tinuous deletion of a 30 amino acid residue in the Nsp2 region, remained the most dominant virus throughout 2007-2012 in China. Owing to the extensive use of representative vaccine strains, natu-ral recombination events occurred between strains. Three isolates-HH08, DY, and YN-2011-were more closely related to vaccine strains than the other isolates. Both YN-2011 and DY were the evolu-tionary products of recombination events between strains SP and CH-1R. The results of the present study provide useful information for the epidemiology of PRRSV as well as for vaccine development.

Rapid and Sensitive Detection of PRRSV by a Reverse Transcription-Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay / 中国病毒学·英文版

A real-time monitoring reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay was developed for the sensitive and specific detection of prototypic,prevalent North American porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)strains.As a higher sensitivity and specificity method than reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR),the RT-LAMP method only used a turbidimeter,exhibited a detection limit corresponding to a 10-4 dilution of template RNA extracted from 250 μL of 105 of the 50% tissue culture infective dose (TCID50) of PRRSV containing cells,and no cross-reactivity was observed with other related viruses including porcine circovirus type 2,swine influenza virus,porcine rotavirus and classical swine fever virus.From forty-two field samples,33 samples in the RT-LAMP assay was detected positive,whereas three of which were not detected by RT-PCR.Furthermore,in 33 strains of PRRSV,an identical detection rate was observed with the RT-LAMP assay to what were isolated using porcine alveolar macrophages.These findings demonstrated that the RT-LAMP assay has potential clinical applications for the detection of highly pathogenic PRRSV isolates,especially in developing countries.

Application of GP5 Protein to Develop Monoclonal Antibody against Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus / 中国病毒学·英文版

In this study,a panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus(PRRSV),named as 8C9 and4B4,were produced by fusing SP2/0 myeloma cells and spleen cells of BALB/c mice immunized with the PRRSV (TCID50=5.5),screened by the indirect ELISA and subjected to several limiting dilutions.mAbs were then identified by biological characterization.Among the two fusion cell strains,8C9 belonged to the IgG1 subclass and 4B4 belonged to the IgG2a subclass.The titers in cell culture supernatant and abdomen liquor reached to 1:104and 1:105,respectively.The specificity test indicated that the two cells had specific reactions for the PRRSV and GP5 protein respectively,and no reaction with Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) or Swine vesicular disease virus (SVDV).The molecular weights of the heavy chain and light chain were about 45.0 kDa and 25.0 kDa,respectively.In neutralization activity tests,the results showed that the prepared mAb 4B4 can protect 50% of cells with no CPE in dilution up to 1:512,but mAB 8C9 has no neutralization activities to PRRSV.

Sequence Analysis and Expression of ORF5 in Korean Isolate of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is the causative agent of reproductive failure and respiratory disorders in pigs. The viral genome consists of eight overlapping open reading frames (ORFs). ORF5 encodes one of the major glycoproteins and is known as an immunologically important structural protein associated with virus neutralization. The ORF5 gene of the Korean PRRSV isolate, CNV-1, was amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), cloned and sequenced. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of CNV-1 ORF5 shared 91% and 83% identity, respectively, with the American isolate (VR2332 strain) and 57% and 49% identity with the European isolate. For the expression and easy purification of ORF5, the cDNA containing the complete ORF5 sequence fused in-frame with sequence encoding glutathione S-transferase (GST) was cloned into a baculovirus transfer vector and transfected into Sf9 cells. The GST-ORF5 fusion protein produced in Sf9 cells was detected by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting. Sequencing results confirmed that the recombinant baculovirus from Sf9 cells contains the complete ORF5 gene. Further studies in this direction will address whether ORF5 can be a good candidate for a subunit vaccine against PRRSV in Korea.

Molecular Characterization of a Highly Pathogenetic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Variant in Hubei, China / 中国病毒学·英文版

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has been recognized as one of the most important pathogens of pigs throughout the world. In 2006, more than 10 provinces of China have experienced an epizootic outbreak of pig diseases characterized by high fever, reddened skin and high morbidity and mortality. From June 2006 to April 2007, we have investigated some clinical samples in Hubei province by RT-PCR and cloned several major genes, N, GP5 and NSP2 gene, shown in this study. Phylogenetic analysis of these genes revealed that the highly pathogenic PRRSV variant, ZB, was responsible for 2006 emergent outbreak of pig disease in Hubei province similar with those variants isolated from other provinces in China in 2006, and belongs to the NA-type PRRSV. In the PRRSV variants, the N and GP5 shear about 90% identity with prototypic ATCC VR-2332 and some typical NA-type Chinese isolates, except the 2850bp NSP2 gene (only shares 65% identity with ATCC VR-2332). But they all shear more than and 97% identity with other highly pathogenetic Chinese PRRSV strains. Additionally, there are extensive amino acid (aa) mutations in the GP5 protein and 2 deletions in the Nsp2 protein when compared with the previous isolates. Most of the variants found in 2006 epizootic outbreak of pig diseases in China were the farthest variants from the typical NA-type PRRSV in phylogenetic distance, and these diversities may be responsible for the differences in the pathogenicity observed between these variants and original Chinese PRRSV strains.

Study on immunological responses to eukaryotic expression vector containing PRRSV ORF5 and CpG motifs / 中国免疫学杂志

Objective:To enhance the immune efficiency of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus(PRRSV)DNA vaccine,the ORF5 genes were used as candidate genes to construct the recombinant plasmids CpG-pVAX1-ORF5 by pVAX1 as eukaryotic expression vector.The aim is to analyze the immune responses and the effects of CpG-ODN induced by GP5 recombinant plasmids of PRRSV.Methods:Piglets were immunized with recombinant DNA plasmids which expressed PRRSV GP5 for three inoculations.The PRRSV antibody in serum,the concentration of IL-2 and the lymphocyte proliferation test(MTT) in peripheral blood of vaccinated piglets were detected.The vaccinated pigs were challenged intranasally with PRRSV SD2.Results:GP5 DNA immunization with CpG resulted in the production of both PRRSV antibodies and cellular immune(a significant enhancement of a lymphoproliferative response ).The CpG-pVAX1-ORF5 was showed significantly better protection from the PRRSV challenge compared with the control plasmid.This immune response was characterized by a significantly decreased frequency of viraemia with decrease of 80% compared with the control group.There were little clinical symptoms and protection in some extent from lung damage.Conclusion:The results indicate that CpG-ODN could be used as immune adjuvant of PRRSV DNA vaccine.