Sequencing and analysis of complete genome of the attenuated Hanvet1.VN strain used for vaccine production against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome

The porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) attenuated strain Hanvet1.VN has been developed by the Pharmaceutical and Veterinary Material J.S.C (HANVET) by passaging HY-2010 strain on MARC-145 cells for 80 passages and used for PRRS vaccine production. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the whole genome of the attenuated Hanvet1.VN strain. The total RNA was extracted from the Hanvet1.VN strain, RT-PCR was used for amplification of 15 separate segments of the whole genome. The amplified segments were cloned into the pCR2.1 vector and sequenced by Sanger sequencing. The sequences were analyzed with BioEdit and DNA Star Software. The results showed that, GP5 of the Hanvet1.VN attenuated strain had 100% identity in amino acid (aa) sequences with one of the pathogenic Vietnamese strain isolated in Quang Nam Province and had 98% identity with that of the Chinese 07NM strain. However, the identity of aa sequence of the Hanvet1.VN GP5 was much lower in the comparison with GP5 of VR2332, and it was only 87%. The MP and NP proteins were highly conserved compared with pathogenic strains circulating in Vietnam (07QN) and China (07NM) (99-100%, respectively). The other eight proteins of the Hanvet1.VN strain showed changes from 1.2% in NP1a to 3.9% in GP2 compared with the 07QN strain. However, the aa identity of all Hanvet1.VN proteins were very low when compared with proteins of PRRSV type II strain (North American strain, VR2332), ranged from 86.25% to 97.7%. Our results showed that the Hanvet1.VN attenuated vaccine strain had protective immunogenicity similar to that strain circulating in Vietnam closely related to a strain from China but different from the type II North American strain VR2332. Hence, for importing PRRSV vaccine, especially from American or Europe Countries, antigenic compatibility of the PRRSV vaccine and strains circulating in Vietnam should be concerned in PRRSV vaccine production.

Detection of anti-Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in the state of Pará, Brazil

This study aimed to investigate the frequency of homologous antibodies of IgG class against Borrelia burgdorferi in buffaloes in the state of Pará, Brazil. Blood serum samples from 491 buffaloes were analyzed by means of the indirect ELISA test, using crude antigen produced from a cultivar of the North American strain G39/40 of B. burgdorferi. There were 412 positive samples (83.91%), and there was no statistically significant difference in the proportions of positive animals between the 81.69% (232/284) originating from Marajó Island and the 86.96% (180/207) from the continental area of the state of Pará. In all the municipalities studied, the frequency of positive findings of antibodies against B. burgdorferi among the animals ranged from 63.6% to 92.9%. The high numbers of seropositive animals can be explained by the frequent presence of the tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus)microplus, and by the possible existence of spirochetes of the genus Borrelia infecting buffaloes in the region studied, although specific studies are needed to confirm this relationship. These factors suggest that a cross-reaction exists between the North American strain G39/40 of B. burgdorferi, which is used as an antigenic substrate, and the species of Borrelia spp. that possibly infects buffaloes in the state of Pará.

Interactions with Hosts at Cool Temperatures, Not Cold Tolerance, Explain the Unique Epidemiology of Ralstonia solanacearum Race 3 Biovar 2

Most strains of the bacterial wilt pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum are tropical, but race 3 biovar 2 (R3bv2) strains can attack plants in temperate zones and tropical highlands. The basis of this distinctive ecological trait is not understood. We compared the survival of tropical, R3bv2, and warm-temperate North American strains of R. solanacearum under different conditions. In water at 4°C, North American strains remained culturable the longest (up to 90 days), whereas tropical strains remained culturable for the shortest time (≈40 days). However, live/dead staining indicated that cells of representative strains remained viable for >160 days. In contrast, inside potato tubers, R3bv2 strain UW551 survived >4 months at 4°C, whereas North American strain K60 and tropical strain GMI1000 were undetectable after <70 days in tubers. GMI1000 and UW551 grew similarly in minimal medium at 20 and 28°C and, although both strains wilted tomato plants rapidly at 28°C, UW551 was much more virulent at 20°C, killing all inoculated plants under conditions where GMI100 killed just over half. Thus, differences among the strains in the absence of a plant host were not predictive of their behavior in planta at cooler temperatures. These data indicate that interaction with plants is required for expression of the temperate epidemiological trait of R3bv2.

Structural and Nonstructural Protein Genome Regions of Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus Are Determinants of Interferon Sensitivity and Murine Virulence

ABSTRACT Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) causes sporadic epidemics of human and equine disease in North America, but South American strains have seldom been associated with human neurologic disease or mortality, despite serological evidence of infection. In mice, most North American and South American strains of EEEV produce neurologic disease that resembles that associated with human and equine infections. We identified a South American strain that is unable to replicate efficiently in the brain or cause fatal disease in mice yet produces 10-fold higher viremia than virulent EEEV strains. The avirulent South American strain was also sensitive to human interferon (IFN)-α, -β, and -γ, like most South American strains, in contrast to North American strains that were highly resistant. To identify genes associated with IFN sensitivity and virulence, infectious cDNA clones of a virulent North American strain and the avirulent South American strain were constructed. Two reciprocal chimeric viruses containing swapped structural and nonstructural protein gene regions of the North American and South American strains were also constructed and found to replicate efficiently in vitro. Both chimeras produced fatal disease in mice, similar to that caused by the virulent North American strain. Both chimeric viruses also exhibited intermediate sensitivity to human IFN-α, -β, and -γ compared to that of the North American and South American strains. Virulence 50% lethal dose assays and serial sacrifice experiments further demonstrated that both structural and nonstructural proteins are important contributors to neurovirulence and viral tissue tropism. Together, the results of this study emphasize the complex and important influences of structural and nonstructural protein gene regions on EEEV virulence.