Variations in the major envelope glycoprotein GP5 of Czech strains of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

2000 ◽  
Vol 81 (10) ◽  
pp. 2497-2502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanislav Indik ◽  
Lubomír Valíček ◽  
Dieter Klein ◽  
Jana Klánová

The major envelope glycoprotein genes (ORF5) of seven Czech isolates of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) were amplified and their nucleotide sequences were determined. ORF5 displayed nucleotide and amino acid identities of 87·5–100% and 87·6–100%, respectively, among the isolates. In a phylogenetic tree, all European isolates were grouped in a genotype distinct from that of reference American strains (VR-2332, IAF-Klop). Among the European isolates, two different clades were identified. Two Czech isolates (V-501 and V-503) and Italian strain PRRSV 2156 fell into one clade. The remaining European strains comprised the second clade. Surprisingly, two separately clustered strains (V-501 and V-516) were isolated from the same herd. Additionally, the possible effect of in vitro cultivation on the nucleotide sequence was analysed. Nine point mutations in the ORF5 region resulted from 152 in vitro passages of the V-502 isolate in MARC-145 cells.

2014 ◽  
Vol 95 (5) ◽  
pp. 1033-1042 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blanca García-Barreno ◽  
Teresa Delgado ◽  
Sonia Benito ◽  
Inmaculada Casas ◽  
Francisco Pozo ◽  
...  

Murine hybridomas producing neutralizing mAbs specific to the pandemic influenza virus A/California/07/2009 haemagglutinin (HA) were isolated. These antibodies recognized at least two different but overlapping new epitopes that were conserved in the HA of most Spanish pandemic isolates. However, one of these isolates (A/Extremadura/RR6530/2010) lacked reactivity with the mAbs and carried two unique mutations in the HA head (S88Y and K136N) that were required simultaneously to eliminate reactivity with the murine antibodies. This unusual requirement directly illustrates the phenomenon of enhanced antigenic change proposed previously for the accumulation of simultaneous amino acid substitutions at antigenic sites of the influenza A virus HA during virus evolution (Shih et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 104 , 6283–6288, 2007). The changes found in the A/Extremadura/RR6530/2010 HA were not found in escape mutants selected in vitro with one of the mAbs, which contained instead nearby single amino acid changes in the HA head. Thus, either single or double point mutations may similarly alter epitopes of the new antigenic site identified in this work in the 2009 H1N1 pandemic virus HA. Moreover, this site is relevant for the human antibody response, as shown by competition of mAbs and human post-infection sera for virus binding. The results are discussed in the context of the HA antigenic structure and challenges posed for identification of sequence changes with possible antigenic impact during virus surveillance.


2009 ◽  
Vol 83 (18) ◽  
pp. 9449-9463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Han ◽  
Mark S. Rutherford ◽  
Kay S. Faaberg

ABSTRACT The N terminus of the replicase nonstructural protein 2 (nsp2) of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) contains a putative cysteine protease domain (PL2). Previously, we demonstrated that deletion of either the PL2 core domain (amino acids [aa] 47 to 180) or the immediate downstream region (aa 181 to 323) is lethal to the virus. In this study, the PL2 domain was found to encode an active enzyme that mediates efficient processing of nsp2-3 in CHO cells. The PL2 protease possessed both trans- and cis-cleavage activities, which were distinguished by individual point mutations in the protease domain. The minimal size required to maintain these two enzymatic activities included nsp2 aa 47 to 240 (Tyr47 to Cys240) and aa 47 to 323 (Tyr47 to Leu323), respectively. Introduction of targeted amino acid mutations in the protease domain confirmed the importance of the putative Cys55- His124 catalytic motif for nsp2/3 proteolysis in vitro, as were three additional conserved cysteine residues (Cys111, Cys142, and Cys147). The conserved aspartic acids (e.g., Asp89) were essential for the PL2 protease trans-cleavage activity. Reverse genetics revealed that the PL2 trans-cleavage activity played an important role in the PRRSV replication cycle in that mutations that impaired the PL2 protease trans function, but not the cis activity, were detrimental to viral viability. Lastly, the potential nsp2/3 cleavage site was probed. Mutations with the largest impact on in vitro cleavage were at or near the G1196|G1197 dipeptide.


1980 ◽  
Vol 187 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Penny ◽  
M D Hendy ◽  
L R Foulds

We have recently reported a method to identify the shortest possible phylogenetic tree for a set of protein sequences [Foulds Hendy & Penny (1979) J. Mol. Evol. 13. 127–150; Foulds, Penny & Hendy (1979) J. Mol. Evol. 13, 151–166]. The present paper discusses issues that arise during the construction of minimal phylogenetic trees from protein-sequence data. The conversion of the data from amino acid sequences into nucleotide sequences is shown to be advantageous. A new variation of a method for constructing a minimal tree is presented. Our previous methods have involved first constructing a tree and then either proving that it is minimal or transforming it into a minimal tree. The approach presented in the present paper progressively builds up a tree, taxon by taxon. We illustrate this approach by using it to construct a minimal tree for ten mammalian haemoglobin alpha-chain sequences. Finally we define a measure of the complexity of the data and illustrate a method to derive a directed phylogenetic tree from the minimal tree.


2000 ◽  
Vol 44 (8) ◽  
pp. 2100-2108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Korsinczky ◽  
Nanhua Chen ◽  
Barbara Kotecka ◽  
Allan Saul ◽  
Karl Rieckmann ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Atovaquone is the major active component of the new antimalarial drug Malarone. Considerable evidence suggests that malaria parasites become resistant to atovaquone quickly if atovaquone is used as a sole agent. The mechanism by which the parasite develops resistance to atovaquone is not yet fully understood. Atovaquone has been shown to inhibit the cytochrome bc 1 (CYTbc 1) complex of the electron transport chain of malaria parasites. Here we report point mutations in Plasmodium falciparum CYT b that are associated with atovaquone resistance. Single or double amino acid mutations were detected from parasites that originated from a cloned line and survived various concentrations of atovaquone in vitro. A single amino acid mutation was detected in parasites isolated from a recrudescent patient following atovaquone treatment. These mutations are associated with a 25- to 9,354-fold range reduction in parasite susceptibility to atovaquone. Molecular modeling showed that amino acid mutations associated with atovaquone resistance are clustered around a putative atovaquone-binding site. Mutations in these positions are consistent with a reduced binding affinity of atovaquone for malaria parasite CYTb.


2013 ◽  
Vol 288 (20) ◽  
pp. 14032-14045 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander N. Patananan ◽  
Jonathan M. Palmer ◽  
Graeme S. Garvey ◽  
Nancy P. Keller ◽  
Steven G. Clarke

The filamentous fungi in the genus Aspergillus are opportunistic plant and animal pathogens that can adapt to their environment by producing various secondary metabolites, including lovastatin, penicillin, and aflatoxin. The synthesis of these small molecules is dependent on gene clusters that are globally regulated by the LaeA protein. Null mutants of LaeA in all pathogenic fungi examined to date show decreased virulence coupled with reduced secondary metabolism. Although the amino acid sequence of LaeA contains the motifs characteristic of seven-β-strand methyltransferases, a methyl-accepting substrate of LaeA has not been identified. In this work we did not find a methyl-accepting substrate in Aspergillus nidulans with various assays, including in vivo S-adenosyl-[methyl-3H]methionine labeling, targeted in vitro methylation experiments using putative protein substrates, or in vitro methylation assays using whole cell extracts grown under different conditions. However, in each experiment LaeA was shown to self-methylate. Amino acid hydrolysis of radioactively labeled LaeA followed by cation exchange and reverse phase chromatography identified methionine as the modified residue. Point mutations show that the major site of modification of LaeA is on methionine 207. However, in vivo complementation showed that methionine 207 is not required for the biological function of LaeA. LaeA is the first protein to exhibit automethylation at a methionine residue. These findings not only indicate LaeA may perform novel chemistry with S-adenosylmethionine but also provide new insights into the physiological function of LaeA.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baochao Fan ◽  
Hai Wang ◽  
Juan Bai ◽  
Lili Zhang ◽  
Ping Jiang

PRRSV strain SH1211 was isolated from the lung tissue of a piglet on a large-scale pig farm with approximately 30% morbidity and 50% mortality in mid-eastern China in 2012. The full-length genome of SH1211 was 15 313 nt in size, excluding the polyadenylated sequences, and shared 94.9% nucleotide sequence identity with the HP-PRRSV strain, JXA1. The GP2 and GP5 proteins of SH1211 shared only 91.5% and 85.1% amino acid sequence identities with those of the JXA1, respectively. A deletion at amino acid positions 68 and 69 was identified in the GP3 protein of SH1211, compared with the GP3 of Type-2 PRRSV isolates. A phylogenetic tree based on the nucleotide sequence of the complete genome showed that SH1211 is the most closely related to other HP-PRRSV strains isolated in China. However, phylogenetic analysis based on the GP2 and GP5 proteins showed that SH1211 is the most closely related to the QYYZ strain. A recombination analysis indicated that SH1211 might have been generated through recombination events between the JXA1 and QYYZ in which the GP2 and GP5 coding sequences were exchanged. Thus, SH1211 is a novel PRRSV strain with significant variation. Our analysis of SH1211 provides insight into the role of genetic variation in the antigenicity of PRRSVs in China.


2001 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 734-738 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiffany R. Shultz ◽  
John W. Tapsall ◽  
Peter A. White

ABSTRACT The in vitro activities of ciprofloxacin, trovafloxacin, moxifloxacin, and grepafloxacin against 174 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated in Sydney, Australia, were determined. The strains included 84 quinolone-less-sensitive and -resistant N. gonorrhoeae (QRNG) strains for which ciprofloxacin MICs were in the range of 0.12 to 16 μg/ml. The QRNG included strains isolated from patients whose infections were acquired in a number of countries, mostly in Southeast Asia. The gyrA and parCquinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDR) of 18 selected QRNG strains were sequenced, and the amino acid mutations observed were related to the MICs obtained. The activities of moxifloxacin and grepafloxacin against QRNG were comparable to that of ciprofloxacin. Trovafloxacin was more active than the other quinolones against some but not all of the QRNG strains. Increments in ciprofloxacin resistance occurred in a step-wise manner with point mutations initiated ingyrA resulting in amino acid alterations Ser91-to-Phe, Ser91-to-Tyr, Asp95-to-Gly, and Asp95-to-Asn. Single gyrAchanges correlated with ciprofloxacin MICs in the range 0.12 to 1 μg/ml. The Ser91 changes in GyrA were associated with higher MICs and further QRDR changes. QRNG strains for which ciprofloxacin MICs were greater than 1 μg/ml had both gyrA and parCQRDR point mutations. ParC alterations were seen in these isolates only in the presence of GyrA changes and comprised amino acid changes Asp86-to-Asn, Ser87-to-Asn, Ser87-to-Arg, Ser88-to-Pro, Glu91-to-Lys, and Glu91-to-Gln. QRNG strains for which MICs were in the higher ranges had double GyrA mutations, but again only with accompanying ParC alterations. Not only did the nature and combination of GyrA and ParC changes influence the incremental increases in ciprofloxacin MICs, but they seemingly also altered the differential activity of trovafloxacin. Our findings suggest that the newer quinolones of the type examined are unlikely to be useful replacements for ciprofloxacin in the treatment of gonorrhea, particularly where ciprofloxacin MICs are high or where resistance is widespread.


2002 ◽  
Vol 366 (3) ◽  
pp. 863-872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bouchaib BAHBOUHI ◽  
Nathalie CHAZAL ◽  
Nabil Georges SEIDAH ◽  
Cristina CHIVA ◽  
Marcelo KOGAN ◽  
...  

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the capacity of synthetic l- and d-peptides encompassing the HIV-1BRU gp160 REKR cleavage site to interfere with HIV and simian immuno-deficiency virus (SIV) replication and maturation of the envelope glycoprotein (Env) precursors. To facilitate their penetration into cells, a decanoyl (dec) group was added at the N-terminus. The sequences synthesized included dec5d or dec5l (decREKRV), dec9d or dec9l (decRVVQREKRV) and dec14d or dec14l (TKAKRRVVQREKRV). The peptide dec14d was also prepared with a chloromethane (cmk) group as C-terminus. Because l-peptides exhibit significant cytotoxicity starting at 35μM, further characterization was conducted mostly with d-peptides, which exhibited no cytotoxicity at concentrations higher than 70μM. The data show that only dec14d and dec14dcmk could inhibit HIV-1BRU, HIV-2ROD and SIVmac251 replication and their syncytium-inducing capacities. Whereas peptides dec5d and dec9d were inactive, dec14dcmk was at least twice as active as peptide dec14d. At the molecular level, our data show a direct correlation between anti-viral activity and the ability of the peptides to interfere with maturation of the Env precursors. Furthermore, we show that when tested in vitro the dec14d peptide inhibited PC7 with an inhibition constant Ki = 4.6μM, whereas the peptide dec14l preferentially inhibited furin with a Ki = 28μM. The fact that PC7 and furin are the major prohormone convertases reported to be expressed in T4 lymphocytes, the principal cell targets of HIV, suggests that they are involved in the maturation of HIV and SIV Env precursors.


2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kacy R. Paul ◽  
Amandine Molliex ◽  
Sean Cascarina ◽  
Amy E. Boncella ◽  
J. Paul Taylor ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Hundreds of human proteins contain prion-like domains, which are a subset of low-complexity domains with high amino acid compositional similarity to yeast prion domains. A recently characterized mutation in the prion-like domain of the human heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein hnRNPA2B1 increases the aggregation propensity of the protein and causes multisystem proteinopathy. The mutant protein forms cytoplasmic inclusions when expressed in Drosophila, the mutation accelerates aggregation in vitro, and the mutant prion-like domain can substitute for a portion of a yeast prion domain in supporting prion activity. To examine the relationship between amino acid sequence and aggregation propensity, we made a diverse set of point mutations in the hnRNPA2B1 prion-like domain. We found that the effects on prion formation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and aggregation in vitro could be predicted entirely based on amino acid composition. However, composition was an imperfect predictor of inclusion formation in Drosophila; while most mutations showed similar behaviors in yeast, in vitro, and in Drosophila, a few showed anomalous behavior. Collectively, these results demonstrate the significant progress that has been made in predicting the effects of mutations on intrinsic aggregation propensity while also highlighting the challenges of predicting the effects of mutations in more complex organisms.


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