Three-dimensional structure of Aleutian mink disease parvovirus: implications for disease pathogenicity.

The three-dimensional structure of expressed VP2 capsids of Aleutian mink disease parvovirus strain G (ADVG-VP2) has been determined to 22 A resolution by cryo-electron microscopy and image reconstruction techniques. A structure-based sequence alignment of the VP2 capsid protein of canine parvovirus (CPV) provided a means to construct an atomic model of the ADVG-VP2 capsid. The ADVG-VP2 reconstruction reveals a capsid structure with a mean external radius of 128 A and several surface features similar to those found in human parvovirus B19 (B19), CPV, feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), and minute virus of mice (MVM). Dimple-like depressions occur at the icosahedral twofold axes, canyon-like regions encircle the fivefold axes, and spike-like protrusions decorate the threefold axes. These spikes are not present in B19, and they are more prominent in ADV compared to the other parvoviruses owing to the presence of loop insertions which create mounds near the threefold axes. Cylindrical channels along the fivefold axes of CPV, FPV, and MVM, which are surrounded by five symmetry-related beta-ribbons, are closed in ADVG-VP2 and B19. Immunoreactive peptides made from segments of the ADVG-VP2 capsid protein map to residues in the mound structures. In vitro tissue tropism and in vivo pathogenic properties of ADV map to residues at the threefold axes and to the wall of the dimples.

Expression of Aleutian mink disease parvovirus capsid proteins in a baculovirus expression system for potential diagnostic use.

A 2.3-kb cDNA clone encoding Aleutian mink disease parvovirus (ADV) structural proteins VP1 and VP2 was inserted into the polyhedron gene of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) and expressed by the recombinant virus, AcADV-1, in Spodoptera frugiperda-9 cells. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and western immunoblot analysis (WIA) indicated that synthesis of both VP1 and VP2 was being directed by AcADV-1. Fluorescence microscopic examination of AcADV-1-infected S. frugiperda-9 cells indicated that the recombinant protein was present within the nucleus of the cells, and electron microscopic examination of these cells revealed the presence of small particles 23-25 nm in diameter. Structures resembling empty ADV capsids could be purified on CsCl density gradients, thus indicating that the ADV proteins were self-assembling. The antigenicity of recombinant VP1 and VP2 was evaluated by WIA. Sera collected from 16 mink prior to infection with ADV did not react with VP1 and VP2. Ten sera collected from mink with counter current immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) titers greater than 4 (log2) reacted with VP1 and VP2 in WIA. Two of 6 sera with CIE titers of 4 and 1 of 14 sera with CIE titers < 4 reacted with the recombinant proteins. These results suggest that baculovirus recombinant ADV capsid proteins may be useful as diagnostic antigens.

Topographical analysis of the G virion of Aleutian mink disease parvovirus with monoclonal antibodies.

The topography of the Aleutian mink disease parvovirus (ADV) G virion was analyzed with monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal antiserum. There was homology between the two major structural proteins as others have previously reported. Trypsin treatment of the virion with subsequent immunoblotting revealed that VP2 represents the main peptide on the exterior of virion and that VP1 is probably embedded within the capsid. Additional analyses of the trypsin-treated virions showed that VP2 is responsible for binding complement and that it also represents the structural part of the virion that binds to cellular receptors. A third protein, p34, was detected that might represent a third structural polypeptide because of its many unique epitopes relative to the other peptides detected.

A novel replicative form DNA of Aleutian disease virus: the covalently closed linear DNA of the parvoviruses.

The analysis of replicative form (RF) DNA of Aleutian disease virus (ADV) by alkaline gel electrophoresis revealed that all RF DNA species segregate into DNA single strands which represent integral multiples of a genome equivalent. This demonstrates that as with other autonomous parvoviruses, the virion and complementary DNA strands are frequently linked by hairpin structures and that also, nicks are present at subterminal sites. Approximately 50% of the 5'-terminal hairpins contain a subterminal nick whereas no nick is detectable in the 3'-terminal hairpin. This finding together with the presence of nicks in the 3' palindrome sequence of the dimer RF DNA (D RF DNA) bridge fragment is the first experimental proof for the so far hypothetical substrate specificity of a nickase. A novel DNA structure was identified in the monomer (M) RF DNA population. This molecule, designated 'monomer covalently closed linear RF DNA' (Mccl RF DNA), consists of a continuous, self-complementary, circular polynucleotide chain of twice the genome length. It was directly visualized by electron microscopy that denatured ADV M RF DNA is a single-stranded circular molecule of twice the genome length with covalently closed terminal hairpins on either end. Alkaline gradient centrifugations, enzymic assays and electrophoretic techniques confirmed the proposed structure. Moreover, evidence was obtained that the D RF DNA species contains an analogous Dccl RF DNA. It is suggested that the newly described Mccl RF DNA form is an important intermediate common to the DNA replication of all autonomously replicating parvoviruses.

Capsid protein VP1 (p85) of Aleutian disease virus is a major DNA-binding protein.

The interaction between Aleutian disease virus (ADV) DNA and proteins isolated from ADV-infected cells or ADV virions, respectively, was examined. Proteins were separated on SDS-polyacrylamide gels, transferred to nitrocellulose, and probed with 32P-labeled restriction fragments of replicative form (RF) DNA or with single-stranded virion DNA. The ADV capsid protein VP1 was found to bind the 3'-terminal BamHI fragment of RF DNA extending from map units (m.u.) 0 to 15. No binding was observed with the fragment extending from m.u. 15 to 63 and only minor amounts of label were detected with the 5'-terminal EcoRV fragment extending from m.u. 63 to 100. With the latter fragment, small amounts of label were also detected bound to higher-molecular-weight proteins of about 100,000 Da. No binding of DNA to the ADV nonstructural protein NS1 or to the ADV capsid protein VP2 was detected. Additionally, single-stranded virion DNA was found to bind to VP1.

Detection and localization of aleutian disease virus and its antigens in vivo by immunoferritin technique.

Tissues from mink infected with aleutian disease virus were examined by the electron microscope for the presence of virus particles. Virus-like particles, measuring 22 nm in diameter, were observed in macrophages of spleen, mesenteric lymph node and in Kupffer cells in liver of mink ten to 13 days after infection. The virus-like particles were usually present in vacuoles inside the cytoplasm of macrophages and Kupffer cells and, occasionally, similar particles were observed inside the nucleus. Cells from uninfected mink did not contain such patricles. To correlate the existence of these virus-like particles with the presence of aleutian disease virus antigen in infected cells, tissues were processed for immunoferritin technique. It was found that aleutian disease virus antigen was present in vacuoles inside the cytoplasm of cells from the infected spleen, lymph node and liver, and that the location was similar to that of the 22 nm virus-like particles. In addition, some viral antigen was also detected as cytoplasmic granular material. The nuclei of some cells also contained aleutian disease virus antigen. The pattern of aleutian disease virus antigen was similar to the distribution of virus-like particles in cells of infected tissue. It is suggested that virus replication occurs inside the nucleus with subsequent accumulation of virus in the vacuoles of the cytoplasm.

Characterization of the protein and nucleic acid of Aleutian disease virus.

Aleutian disease virus (ADV) was extracted and purified from infected mink. Nucleic acid extracted from the virus was examined in an electron microscope. Three different sizes of molecule, with approximate lengths of 1.2, 0.55, and 0.25 micron, were observed. The ratios of the large molecules to the small molecules were similar in all the particles prepared under different conditions. Equilibrium CsCl density gradient centrifugation showed that ADV nucleic acid had a buoyant density of 1.733 g/cm3. In Cs2SO4, ADV had a lower buoyant density than that of double-stranded RNA. These properties and its sensitivity to DNase suggested that ADV contains DNA. Thermal denaturation curves revealed that the DNA of ADV had a single-stranded configuration. Polypeptide analysis of ADV by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the presence of four polypepties, with molecular weights of 30,000, 27,000, 20,500, and 14,000. These polypeptides were present in a ratio of 10:3:10:1, respectively. The data suggested that ADV is closely related to the members of the parvovirus groups.

Demonstration of heavy and light density populations of Aleutian disease virus.

A highly purified and concentrated suspension of aleutian disease virus was prepared from large quantities of early infected mink tissues using repeated fluorocarbon extraction procedures. Equilibrium centrifugation of the aleutian disease virus preparation in a cesium chloride gradient yielded three distinct bands at buoyant densities of 1.295, 1.332, and 1.405--1.416 g/cm(3). Electron microscopic observations of these three bands revealed mainly empty particles in the first band. In the second band complete particles with a flattened appearnce predominated and there were also some empty particles. In the third band both complete and empty particles were observed. The size of the aleutian disease virus particles observed in all of the three densities was 23 nm. Light aleutian disease virions (density of 1.332 g/cm3) had a particle to counterimmunoelectrophoresis antigen ratio comparable to that of dense aleutian disease virions (density of 1.405--1.416 g/cm3) but possessed much lower infectivity as determined by mink inoculation.