scholarly journals Several Recombinant Capsid Proteins of Equine Rhinitis A Virus Show Potential as Diagnostic Antigens

2005 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 778-785 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fan Li ◽  
Rachel A. Stevenson ◽  
Brendan S. Crabb ◽  
Michael J. Studdert ◽  
Carol A. Hartley

ABSTRACT Equine rhinitis A virus (ERAV) is a significant pathogen of horses and is also closely related to Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). Despite these facts, knowledge of the prevalence and importance of ERAV infections remains limited, largely due to the absence of a simple, robust diagnostic assay. In this study, we compared the antigenicities of recombinant full-length and fragmented ERAV capsid proteins expressed in Escherichia coli by using sera from experimentally infected and naturally exposed horses. We found that, from the range of antigens tested, recombinant proteins encompassing the C-terminal region of VP1, full-length VP2, and the N-terminal region of VP2 reacted specifically with antibodies present in sera from each of the five experimentally infected horses examined. Antibodies to epitopes on VP2 (both native and recombinant forms) persisted longer postinfection (>105 days) than antibodies specific for epitopes on other fragments. Our data also suggest that B-cell epitopes within the C terminus of VP1 and N terminus of VP2 contribute to a large proportion of the total reactivity of recombinant VP1 and VP2, respectively. Importantly, the reactivity of these VP1 and VP2 recombinant proteins in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) correlated well with the results from a range of native antigen-based serological assays using sera from 12 field horses. This study provides promising candidates for development of a diagnostic ERAV ELISA.

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (7A) ◽  
Author(s):  
Soumendu Chakravarti ◽  
Caroline Wright ◽  
Emma Howes ◽  
Richard Kock ◽  
Terry Jackson ◽  
...  

The picornavirus foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is responsible for one of the most significant diseases of livestock, leading to large economic losses due to reduced productivity and trade embargoes for areas not certified as disease-free. The picornavirus non-structural protein 3A is involved in replication of the viral RNA genome and is implicated in host tropism of several picornaviruses. Deletions in the C-terminus of 3A have been observed in FMDV outbreaks specific for swine and such viruses are non-pathogenic in cattle. The mechanism for species specific attenuation of FMDV is unknown. We have shown that FMDV containing a C-terminal deletion in 3A is attenuated in bovine cell culture and that the attenuated phenotype can be reversed by the JAK1/2 inhibitor Ruxolitinib (Rux), identifying a role for the induction of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) in the restricted bovine tropism of the 3A-deleted virus.


1999 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 6729-6741 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin Baetz ◽  
Brenda Andrews

ABSTRACTInSaccharomyces cerevisiae, two transcription factors, SBF (SCB binding factor) and MBF (MCB binding factor), promote the induction of gene expression at the G1/S-phase transition of the mitotic cell cycle. Swi4 and Mbp1 are the DNA binding components of SBF and MBF, respectively. The Swi6 protein is a common subunit of both transcription factors and is presumed to play a regulatory role. SBF binding to its target sequences, the SCBs, is a highly regulated event and requires the association of Swi4 with Swi6 through their C-terminal domains. Swi4 binding to SCBs is restricted to the late M and G1phases, when Swi6 is localized to the nucleus. We show that in contrast to Swi6, Swi4 remains nuclear throughout the cell cycle. This finding suggests that the DNA binding domain of Swi4 is inaccessible in the full-length protein when not complexed with Swi6. To explore this hypothesis, we expressed Swi4 and Swi6 in insect cells by using the baculovirus system. We determined that partially purified Swi4 cannot bind SCBs in the absence of Swi6. However, Swi4 derivatives carrying point mutations or alterations in the extreme C terminus were able to bind DNA or activate transcription in the absence of Swi6, and the C terminus of Swi4 inhibited Swi4 derivatives from binding DNA intrans. Full-length Swi4 was determined to be monomeric in solution, suggesting an intramolecular mechanism for auto-inhibition of binding to DNA by Swi4. We detected a direct in vitro interaction between a C-terminal fragment of Swi4 and the N-terminal 197 amino acids of Swi4, which contain the DNA binding domain. Together, our data suggest that intramolecular interactions involving the C-terminal region of Swi4 physically prevent the DNA binding domain from binding SCBs. The interaction of the carboxy-terminal region of Swi4 with Swi6 alleviates this inhibition, allowing Swi4 to bind DNA.


2001 ◽  
Vol 75 (6) ◽  
pp. 2810-2817 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy L. Tellinghuisen ◽  
Rushika Perera ◽  
Richard J. Kuhn

ABSTRACT A nucleic acid-bound capsid protein dimer was previously identified using a Sindbis virus in vitro nucleocapsid assembly system and cross-linking reagents. Cross-link mapping, in combination with a model of the nucleocapsid core, suggested that this dimer contained one monomer from each of two adjacent capsomeres. This intercapsomere dimer is believed to be the initial intermediate in the nucleocapsid core assembly mechanism. This paper presents the purification of cross-linked dimers of a truncated capsid protein and the partial purification of cross-linked dimers of a full-length assembly-defective mutant. The assembly of core-like particles from these cross-linked capsid protein dimers is demonstrated. Core-like particles generated from cross-linked full-length mutant CP(19-264)L52D were examined by electron microscopy and appeared to have a morphology similar to that of wild-type in vitro-assembled core-like particles, although a slight size difference was often visible. Truncated cross-linked CP(81-264) dimers generated core-like particles as well. These core-like particles could subsequently be disassembled when reversible cross-linking reagents were used to form the dimers. The ability of the covalent intercapsomere cross-link to rescue capsid proteins with assembly defects or truncations in the amino-terminal region of the capsid protein supports the previous model of assembly and suggests a possible role for the amino-terminal region of the protein.


Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 2133-2133
Author(s):  
Jingyu Zhang ◽  
Zhenni Ma ◽  
Ningzheng Dong ◽  
Jian Su ◽  
Anyou Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 2133 Poster Board II-110 Introduction: In our former study, we have found that SZ-34, a monoclonal antibody to Von Willebrand factor (VWF), can inhibit the proteolysis of VWF by ADAMTS13 under shear stress. But the precise epitope of this antibody (SZ-34) on VWF is not clear for it is generated by immunizing mouse with native full-length VWF purified from pooled human normal plasmas. Thus, the objective of this study is to map the epitope of SZ-34 and to explore the effect of VWF structrue on the proteolytic activity by ADAMTS13. Materials and Methods: Firstly we constructed and expressed a series of recombinant proteins of different domains or polypeptide fragments of human VWF in prokaryotic cell expression system, including A1A2A3, D′D3, A1, A2, A3, A1A2, A2A3 and five sub-fragments of A2 domain. Then native VWF and these recombinant proteins or polypeptide fragments were subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and analyzed by Western blots with SZ-34. Results: Different recombinant proteins of VWF were successfully expressed and purified. Results of Western blot showed that SZ-34 could bind specifically some recombinant proteins, such as full-length VWF, A1A2A3, A2 and GST-D1459D1596 in which the last was a fusion protein of a sub-fragment of A2 domain with GST. But SZ-34 couldn't bind to others, including A1, A3, D′D3, GST-D1459E1554, GST-E1554D1596, GST-D1596R1668 (VWF73) and GST- E1554R1668. In addition, the reacting activity of SZ-34 with native VWF was significantly stronger than with unfolded VWF, such as heat-treated or 1.5M guanidine hydrochloride-treated VWF. Conclusions: The epitope of SZ-34 is located within N-terminal region fore-VWF73 inside VWF-A2 domain. Besides, SZ-34 maybe is a conformation-specific monoclonal antibody. Combining with our former findings that SZ-34 inhibits the proteolytic cleavage of VWF by ADAMTS13, we can conclude that N-terminal region fore-VWF73 inside VWF-A2 domain also regulates the proteolytic activity of VWF by ADAMTS13, although VWF73 is considered as the minimal substrate for ADAMTS13. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


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