Cloning of UL7 protein of HSV-1 and analysis of the expression of UL7 protein during the prolifera-tion of HSV-1 / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

Objective To express and purify the recombinant UL7 protein of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), to prepare the corresponding UL7-specific polyclonal antibody and to preliminarily analyze the expression of UL7 protein during the proliferation of HSV-1. Methods The UL7 gene was amplified by PCR and then cloned into the pGEX-5X-1 vector for expression of UL7 protein in the prokaryotic expression system. The constructed expression plasmid, pGEX-5X-1-UL7, was transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3) to induce the expression of UL7 protein by IPTG. The purified GST-UL7 fusion protein was used as antigen to inject the ICR mouse for the preparation of polyclonal antibody specific for UL7 protein. The titer and speci-ficity of the polyclonal antibody were analyzed by using indirect ELISA and Western blot assay, respectively. The UL7 protein-specific polyclonal antibody was used to detect the expression of UL7 protein at different time points after infecting Vero cells with HSV-1. Results The GST-UL7 fusion protein was efficiently ex-pressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3). The UL7 protein-specific polyclonal antibody was prepared with high titer (1 ∶ 105) and high specificity as indicated by the indirect ELISA and Western blot assay. The expression of UL7 protein was detected at different time points after infecting Vero cells with HSV-1. Conclusion The GST-UL7 fusion protein was obtained successfully and the UL7 protein-specific polyclonal antibody was pre-pared. Accompany with the proliferation of HSV-1, the expression of UL7 protein was detected at different time points by using the polyclonal antibody.

Comparative analysis of the genes UL1 through UL7 of the duck enteritis virus and other herpesviruses of the subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae

The nucleotide sequences of eight open reading frames (ORFs) located at the 5' end of the unique long region of the duck enteritis virus (DEV) Clone-03 strain were determined. The genes identified were designated UL1, UL2, UL3, UL4, UL5, UL6 and UL7 homologues of the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). The DEV UL3.5 located between UL3 and UL4 had no homologue in the HSV-1. The arrangement and transcription orientation of the eight genes were collinear with their homologues in the HSV-1. Phylogenetic trees were constructed based on the alignments of the deduced amino acids of eight proteins with their homologues in 12 alpha-herpesviruses. In the UL1, UL3, UL3.5, UL5 and UL7 proteins trees, the branches were more closely related to the genus Mardivirus. However, the UL2, UL4, and UL6 proteins phylogenetic trees indicated a large distance from Mardivirus, indicating that the DEV evolved differently from other viruses in the subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae and formed a single branch within this subfamily.