scholarly journals Recombinant Baculovirus: A Flexible Drug Screening Platform for Chikungunya Virus

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 7891
Author(s):  
Muhammed Muhsin Varikkodan ◽  
Chun-Chung Chen ◽  
Tzong-Yuan Wu
Keyword(s):  
Chikungunya Virus ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Recombinant Baculovirus ◽  
Infectious Agent ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Vector System ◽  
Structural Protein ◽  
Entry Site ◽  
Baculovirus Expression Vector

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted infectious agent that causes an endemic or epidemic outbreak(s) of Chikungunya fever that is reported in almost all countries. This virus is an intense global threat, due to its high rate of contagion and the lack of effective remedies. In this study, we developed two baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS)-based approaches for the screening of anti-CHIKV drugs in Spodoptera frugiperda insect (Sf21) cells and U-2OS cells. First, structural protein of CHIKV was co-expressed through BEVS and thereby induced cell fusion in Sf21 cells. We used an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) to co-express the green fluorescent protein (EGFP) for identifying these fusion events. The EGFP-positive Sf21 cells fused with each other and with uninfected cells to form syncytia. We identified that ursolic acid has potential anti-CHIKV activity in vitro, by using this approach. Second, BacMam virus-based gene delivery has been successfully applied for the transient expression of non-structural proteins with a subgenomic promoter-EGFP (SP-EGFP) cassette in U-2OS cells to act as an in vitro CHIKV replicon system. Our BacMam-based screening system has identified that the potential effects of baicalin and baicalein phytocompounds can inhibit the replicon activity of CHIKV in U-2OS cells. In conclusion, our results suggested that BEVS can be a potential tool for screening drugs against CHIKV.

scholarly journals A Newly Designed EGFP-2A Peptide Monocistronic Baculoviral Vector for Concatenating the Expression of Recombinant Proteins in Insect Cells

Processes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chih-Yu Wu ◽  
Chao-Wei Huang ◽  
Yu-Shin Nai ◽  
Pei-Yu Chu ◽  
Chung-Hsiung Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Recombinant Proteins ◽  
Posttranslational Modifications ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Insect Cells ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Expression System ◽  
Recombinant Baculovirus ◽  
New Combination ◽  
Vector System ◽  
Baculovirus Expression Vector

Recombinant proteins produced by the baculovirus expression vector system (BVES) have been widely applied in the agricultural and medical fields. However, the procedure for protein expression is inefficient and needs to be improved. Herein, we propose a simple construct that incorporates a selectable marker (enhanced green fluorescent protein, EGFP) and a picorna viral-derived “self-cleaving” 2A-like peptide to separate the EGFP and target proteins in a monocistronic baculovirus vector to facilitate isolation of the recombinant baculovirus in the BVES. In this study, porcine adiponectin (ADN), a secreted, multimeric protein with insulin-sensitizing properties, was used to demonstrate its utility in our EGFP-2A-based expression system. EGFP and ADN were simultaneously expressed by a recombinant alphabaculovirus. Co-expression of EGFP facilitates the manipulation of the following processes, such as determining expression kinetics and harvesting ADN. The results showed that the 2A “self-cleaving” process does not interfere with EGFP activity or with signal peptide removal and the secretion of recombinant ADN. Posttranslational modifications, including glycosylation, of the recombinant ADN occurred in insect cells, and the formation of various multimers was further verified. Most importantly, the insect-produced ADN showed a similar bioactivity to that of mammalian cells. This concept provides a practical and economic approach that utilizes a new combination of alphabaculovirus/insect cell expression systems for future applications.

scholarly journals Efficient and Stable Delivery of Multiple Genes to Fish Cells by a Modified Recombinant Baculovirus System

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 3767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Wang ◽  
Jian Fang ◽  
Qihua Pan ◽  
Yizhou Wang ◽  
Ting Xue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Recombinant Baculovirus ◽  
Transgenic Fish ◽  
Early Gene ◽  
Drug Selection ◽  
Baculovirus System ◽  
Fish Cells

The recombinant baculovirus has been widely used as an efficient tool to mediate gene delivery into mammalian cells but has barely been used in fish cells. In the present study, we constructed a recombinant baculovirus containing the dual-promoter cytomegalovirus (CMV) and white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) immediate-early gene 1 (ie1) (WSSV ie1), followed by a puromycin–green fluorescent protein (Puro-GFP, pf) or puromycin–red fluorescent protein (Puro-RFP, pr) cassette, which simultaneously allowed for easy observation, rapid titer determination, drug selection, and exogenous gene expression. This recombinant baculovirus was successfully transduced into fish cells, including Mylopharyngodon piceus bladder (MPB), fin (MPF), and kidney (MPK); Oryzias latipes spermatogonia (SG3); and Danio rerio embryonic fibroblast (ZF4) cells. Stable transgenic cell lines were generated after drug selection, which was further verified by Western blot. A cell monoclonal formation assay proved the stable heredity of transgenic MPB cells. In addition, a recombinant baculovirus containing a pr cassette and four transcription factors for induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) was constructed and transduced into ZF4 cells, and these exogenous genes were simultaneously delivered and transcribed efficiently in drug-selected ZF4 cells, proving the practicability of this modified recombinant baculovirus system. We also proved that the WSSV ie1 promoter had robust activity in fish cells in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, this modified recombinant baculovirus can be a favorable transgenic tool to obtain transient or stable transgenic fish cells.

scholarly journals Feline Calicivirus: Recovery of Wild-Type and Recombinant Viruses after Transfection of cRNA or cDNA Constructs

2002 ◽  
Vol 76 (12) ◽  
pp. 6398-6407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jörg Oliver Thumfart ◽  
Gregor Meyers
Keyword(s):  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
In Vitro Transcription ◽  
Feline Calicivirus ◽  
Nucleotide Sequencing ◽  
Structural Protein ◽  
Recombinant Viruses ◽  
Rna Transfection ◽  
Phage T7 ◽  
Green Fluorescent

ABSTRACT The RNA genome of the vaccine strain 2024 of feline calicivirus was cloned as cDNA and analyzed by nucleotide sequencing. A full-length DNA copy of the viral genome was established and proved to be a source of infectious cRNA after in vitro transcription and RNA transfection. Virus could also be recovered when the DNA construct was introduced into cells containing phage T7 RNA polymerase that was provided by vaccinia virus MVA-T7. After insertion of the sequence encoding the green fluorescent protein into the structural protein-encoding region of the infectious cDNA clone, a defective replicon was recovered that was able to replicate autonomously and was packaged into virus particles when the structural proteins were provided in trans.

scholarly journals Leucine rich amelogenin peptide prevents ovariectomy-induced bone loss in mice

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0259966
Author(s):  
Naoto Haruyama ◽  
Takayoshi Yamaza ◽  
Shigeki Suzuki ◽  
Bradford Hall ◽  
Andrew Cho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Loss ◽  
Bone Formation ◽  
Bone Turnover ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Tooth Enamel ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Periodontal Ligament Cells ◽  
Mineral Density ◽  
Entry Site

Amelogenins, major extra cellular matrix proteins of developing tooth enamel, are predominantly expressed by ameloblasts and play significant roles in the formation of enamel. Recently, amelogenin has been detected in various epithelial and mesenchymal tissues, implicating that it might have distinct functions in various tissues. We have previously reported that leucine rich amelogenin peptide (LRAP), one of the alternate splice forms of amelogenin, regulates receptor activator of NF-kappa B ligand (RANKL) expression in cementoblast/periodontal ligament cells, suggesting that the amelogenins, especially LRAP, might function as a signaling molecule in bone metabolism. The objective of this study was to identify and define LRAP functions in bone turnover. We engineered transgenic (TgLRAP) mice using a murine 2.3kb α1(I)-collagen promoter to drive expression of a transgene consisting of LRAP, an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) to study functions of LRAP in bone formation and resorption. Calvarial cell cultures from the TgLRAP mice showed increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and increased formation of mineralized nodules compared to the cells derived from wild-type (WT) mice. The TgLRAP calvarial cells also showed an inhibitory effect on osteoclastogenesis in vitro. Gene expression comparison by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) in calvarial cells indicated that bone formation makers such as Runx2, Alp, and osteocalcin were increased in TgLRAP compared to the WT cells. Meanwhile, Rankl expression was decreased in the TgLRAP cells in vitro. The ovariectomized (OVX) TgLRAP mice resisted bone loss induced by ovariectomy resulting in higher bone mineral density in comparison to OVX WT mice. The quantitative analysis of calcein intakes indicated that the ovariectomy resulted in increased bone formation in both WT and TgLRAP mice; OVX TgLRAP appeared to show the most remarkably increased bone formation. The parameters for bone resorption in tissue sections showed increased number of osteoclasts in OVX WT, but not in OVX TgLRAP over that of sham operated WT or TgLRAP mice, supporting the observed bone phenotypes in OVX mice. This is the first report identifying that LRAP, one of the amelogenin splice variants, affects bone turnover in vivo.

scholarly journals The Development and Applications of a Dual Optical Imaging System for Studying Glioma Stem Cells

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 153601211987089 ◽  
Author(s):  
Po-An Tai ◽  
Yen-Lin Liu ◽  
Ya-Ting Wen ◽  
Chien-Min Lin ◽  
Thanh-Tuan Huynh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Brain Tumor ◽  
Optical Imaging ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Imaging System ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Glioma Stem Cells ◽  
Optical Imaging System

Glioblastoma multiforme represents one of the deadliest brain tumor types, manifested by a high rate of recurrence and poor prognosis. The presence of glioma stem cells (GSCs) can repopulate the tumor posttreatment and resist therapeutics. A better understanding of GSC biology is essential for developing more effective interventions. We established a CD133 promoter-driven dual reporter, expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) and firefly luciferase (CD133-LG), capable for in vitro and in vivo imaging of CD133+ GSCs. We first demonstrated the reporter enabled in vitro analyses of GSCs. DBTRG-05MG (Denver Brain Tumor Research Group 05) carrying CD133-LG (DBTRG-05MG-CD133-LG) system reported increased GFP/luciferase activities in neurospheres. Additionally, we identified and isolated CD133+/GFP+ cells with increased tumorigenic properties, stemness markers, Notch1, β-catenin, and Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (Btk). Furthermore, prolonged temozolomide (TMZ) treatment enriched GSCs (reflected by increased percentage of CD133+ cells). Subsequently, Btk inhibitor, ibrutinib, suppressed GSC generation and stemness markers. Finally, we demonstrated real-time evaluation of anti-GSC function of ibrutinib in vivo with TMZ-enriched GSCs. Tumorigenesis was noninvasively monitored by bioluminescence imaging and mice that received ibrutinib showed a significantly lower tumor burden, indicating ibrutinib as a potential GSC inhibitor. In conclusion, we established a dual optical imaging system which enables the identification of CD133+ GSCs and screening for anti-GSC drugs.

scholarly journals Replication-Competent ΔNS1 Influenza A Viruses Expressing Reporter Genes

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 698
Author(s):  
Aitor Nogales ◽  
Michael Schotsaert ◽  
Raveen Rathnasinghe ◽  
Marta L. DeDiego ◽  
Adolfo García-Sastre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Fluorescent Microscopy ◽  
Reporter Genes ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Structural Protein ◽  
Infected Cells

The influenza A virus (IAV) is able to infect multiple mammalian and avian species, and in humans IAV is responsible for annual seasonal epidemics and occasional pandemics of respiratory disease with significant health and economic impacts. Studying IAV involves laborious secondary methodologies to identify infected cells. Therefore, to circumvent this requirement, in recent years, multiple replication-competent infectious IAV expressing traceable reporter genes have been developed. These IAVs have been very useful for in vitro and/or in vivo studies of viral replication, identification of neutralizing antibodies or antivirals, and in studies to evaluate vaccine efficacy, among others. In this report, we describe, for the first time, the generation and characterization of two replication-competent influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 H1N1 (PR8) viruses where the viral non-structural protein 1 (NS1) was substituted by the monomeric (m)Cherry fluorescent or the NanoLuc luciferase (Nluc) proteins. The ΔNS1 mCherry was able to replicate in cultured cells and in Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 1 (STAT1) deficient mice, although at a lower extent than a wild-type (WT) PR8 virus expressing the same mCherry fluorescent protein (WT mCherry). Notably, expression of either reporter gene (mCherry or Nluc) was detected in infected cells by fluorescent microscopy or luciferase plate readers, respectively. ΔNS1 IAV expressing reporter genes provide a novel approach to better understand the biology and pathogenesis of IAV, and represent an excellent tool to develop new therapeutic approaches against IAV infections.

Localization of the cystic fibrosis gene product in a transfected Sf9 insect cell line

1991 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
pp. 90-91
Author(s):  
C.A. Ackerley ◽  
N. Kartner ◽  
J.R. Riordan ◽  
M.J. Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Gene Product ◽  
Insect Cell Line ◽  
Recombinant Baculovirus ◽  
Vector System ◽  
Cystic Fibrosis Gene ◽  
Baculovirus Expression Vector System ◽  
Baculovirus Expression ◽  
Baculovirus Expression Vector

The cystic fibrosis gene product (CFTR) is thought to be either directly or indirectly involved with Cl- conductance in epithelial cells in which it is produced. Utilizing the Baculovirus expression vector system, CFTR has been expressed in Sf9 insect cells which in turn display a regulated Cl- conductance employing the same techniques as those used to demonstrate Cl- conductance in epithelial cells. This was not observed in mock-infected Bgalactosidase producing or non-infected Sf9 cells.Two cell lines, one infected with CFTR expressing recombinant baculovirus and the other infected with B-galactosidase expressing recombinant baculovirus were fixed in 2% paraformaldehyde and 0.001% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M HEPES buffer, PH7.2 for 2 hours. They were then rinsed several times with buffer, infiltrated with 2% agarose and infused with 2.3 M sucrose for at least 24 hours. The samples were then frozen by rapid immersion in liquid nitrogen cooled FREON 22 and ultrathin cryosections cut with a cryoultramicrotome and immunogold labelled with purified monclonal antibodies against CFTR (1) using the method described by Griffiths.

Popularizing recombinant baculovirus-derived OneBac system for laboratory production of all recombinant adeno-associated virus vector serotypes

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Wu ◽  
Zengpeng Han ◽  
Mingzhu Duan ◽  
Liangyu Jiang ◽  
Tiantian Tian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Full Range ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Recombinant Baculovirus ◽  
Transduction Efficiency ◽  
Sf9 Cells ◽  
Adeno Associated Virus ◽  
Baculovirus Expression Vector ◽  
Raav Production ◽  
High Yields

Objective: On the basis of our previously established single recombinant baculovirus expression vector (BEV)-derived OneBac system, we have optimized the process and expanded the rAAV production range to the full range of serotypes rAAV1-13. Firstly, the AAV Cap gene was optimized to translate by ribosome leaky scanning and the gene of interest (GOI) was cloned into the pFD/Cap-(ITR-GOI)-Rep2 shutte plasmid. Following the classical Bac-to-Bac method, sufficient BEV stock containing all rAAV packaging elements can be quickly obtained. Finally, we can repeatedly scale up production of rAAVs in one week by using a single BEV to infect suspension-cultured Sf9 cells. The rAAV1-13 show relatively high yields ranging from 5×104 to 4×105 VG/cell. More than 1×1015 VG purified rAAVs can be easily obtained from 5 L suspension-cultured Sf9 cells. As expected, rAAV serotypes 1-13 show different potencies for in vitro transduction and celltype tropisms. Background: Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) has been widely used as an efficient transgenic vector in biomedical research, as well as gene therapy. Serotype-associated transduction efficiency, tissue- or cell-type tropism and immunological profile are major considerations in the various applications of rAAVs. There are increasing needs for different serotypes of rAAV, either naturally isolated or artificially engineered. However, affordable and scalable production of a desired serotype of rAAV remains very difficult, especially for researchers lacking relevant experience. Conclusion: In summary, the single BEV-derived OneBac system should prove popular for laboratory scaling-up production of any serotype of rAAV.

Cardiac-Specific Caveolin-3 Overexpression Prevents Post-Myocardial Infarction Ventricular Arrhythmias by Inhibiting Ryanodine Receptor-2 Hyperphosphorylation

Cardiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 145 (3) ◽  
pp. 136-147
Author(s):  
Zhihao Zhang ◽  
Qin Fang ◽  
Tingyi Du ◽  
Guangzhi Chen ◽  
Yan Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Ryanodine Receptor ◽  
Western Blotting ◽  
Ventricular Arrhythmias ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Viral Vector ◽  
Structural Protein ◽  
Relationship Of

Introduction: Ventricular arrhythmia is the most important risk factor for sudden cardiac death (SCD) after acute myocardial infarction (MI) worldwide. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these arrhythmias are complex and not completely understood. Objective: Here, we evaluated whether caveolin-3 (Cav3), the structural protein of caveolae, plays an important role in the therapeutic strategy for ventricular arrhythmias. Methods: A model of cardiac-specific overexpression of Cav3 was established to evaluate the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias after MI in mice. Ca2+ imaging was employed to detect the propensity of adult murine cardiomyocytes to generate arrhythmias, and immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence were used to determine the relationship of proteins. Additionally, qRT-PCR and western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression. Results: We found that cardiac-specific overexpression of Cav3 delivered by a recombinant adeno-associated viral vector reduced the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias and SCD after MI in mice. Ca2+ imaging and western blotting revealed that overexpression of Cav3 reduced diastolic spontaneous Ca2+ waves by inhibiting the hyperphosphorylation of ryanodine receptor-2 (RyR2) at Ser2814, rather than at Ser2808, compared to in rAAV-red fluorescent protein control mice. Furthermore, we demonstrated that Cav3-regulated RYR2 hyperphosphorylation relied on plakophilin-2 in hypoxia-stimulated cultured cardiomyocytes by western blotting, immunoprecipitation, and immunofluorescence in vitro. Conclusions: Our results suggested a novel role for Cav3 in the prevention of ventricular arrhythmias, thereby identifying a new target for preventing SCD after MI.

scholarly journals Novel Fluorescence-Based Screen To Identify Small Synthetic Internal Ribosome Entry Site Elements

2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 2826-2837 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arun Venkatesan ◽  
Asim Dasgupta
Keyword(s):  
Internal Ribosome Entry Site ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Fluorescent Proteins ◽  
Encephalomyocarditis Virus ◽  
Entry Site ◽  
Independent Manner ◽  
Internal Ribosome Entry

ABSTRACT We report here a novel fluorescent protein-based screen to identify small, synthetic internal ribosome entry site (IRES) elements in vivo. A library of bicistronic plasmids encoding the enhanced blue and green fluorescent proteins (EBFP and EGFP) separated by randomized 50-nucleotide-long sequences was amplified in bacteria and delivered into mammalian cells via protoplast fusion. Cells that received functional IRES elements were isolated using the EBFP and EGFP reporters and fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and several small IRES elements were identified. Two of these elements were subsequently shown to possess IRES activity comparable to that of a variant of the encephalomyocarditis virus IRES element in a context-independent manner both in vitro and in vivo, and these elements functioned in multiple cell types. Although no sequence or structural homology was apparent between the synthetic IRES elements and known viral and cellular IRES elements, the two synthetic IRES elements specifically blocked poliovirus (PV) IRES-mediated translation in vitro. Competitive protein-binding experiments suggested that these IRES elements compete with PV IRES-mediated translation by utilizing some of the same factors as the PV IRES to direct translation. The utility of this fluorescent protein-based screen in identifying IRES elements with improved activity as well as in probing the mechanism of IRES-mediated translation is discussed.

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