1.Preparation and immunization effect evaluation of recombinant F protein vaccine of respiratory syncytial virus
Chinese Journal of Biologicals 2024;37(4):257-262
Objective To prepare recombinant F protein vaccine of respiratory syncytial virus(RSV) and evaluate its immunization effect.Methods Two RSV vaccines based on RSV F protein were prepared:one was a mucosal vaccine with bacterial like particle(BLP)as adjuvant and the other was an injectable vaccine with aluminium hydroxide as adjuvant.Forty female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups:BLP-F,BLP control,AL-F and AL control group,with 10mice in each group.BLP-F and BLP control group were inoculated intranasally,and AL-F and AL control group were inoculated subcutaneously.The mice were immunized once each at day 0,14 and 28,respectively.Two weeks after the last immunization,the titers of serum IgG antibody and IgA antibody in nasal lotion were detected by ELISA,and the titers of neutralizing antibody were detected by plaque test.Results Both vaccines induced high levels of serum binding antibodies and neutralizing antibodies,and the induction capacity of injected vaccine was stronger than that of mucosal vaccine.The injected vaccine induced the increase of IgG in serum,which was about 10 times higher than the mucosal immune response,but could not induce the increase of IgA.However,the mucosal vaccine induced the high level of mucosal IgA,but the serum IgG antibody was relatively low.Conclusion Both vaccines based on RSV F protein are promising candidates,and each vaccine has its own advantages.Follow-up studies will evaluate the feasibility of these two vaccines as immunogens using a combination immunization approach to simultaneously enhance systemic and mucosal immune responses against RSV.
2.Immunogenicity evaluation of prototype and variant inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in rats
Chinese Journal of Biologicals 2024;37(4):263-266+272
SARS-CoV-2;Inactivated vaccine;IgG antibody;Neutralizing antibody
Objective To evaluate the immunogenicity of prototype strain,Beta strain,Gamma strain and Delta strain of SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccines in rats.Methods Five female Wistar rats were immunized with SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccines of prototype,Beta,Gamma and Delta strains through thigh muscle twice at an interval of 14 d,with an immunization dose of 3 μg virus protein/(0.5 mL per rat).Serum samples were collected and isolated by vein 14,28 and 42 d after the first immunization.The serum IgG antibody levels were detected by indirect ELISA,the titers of serum neutralizing antibody were measured by microneutralization,and the antigenic ratios of the serum neutralizing antibody titers were calculated to evaluate the antigenicity difference between different strains.Results at 14 d after the first immunization,IgG antibodies against four strains of virus were detected in all immunized serum samples.The levels of IgG antibodies increased by more than 10 times at 28 d compared with those at 14 d,and decreased slightly at 42 d.At 14 d after the first immunization,all the neutralizing antibodies against the four strains were positive in the serum of rats immunized with prototype strain or Delta strain vaccine;In the serum samples of rats immunized with Beta and Gamma strains,all the neutralizing antibodies against Beta and Gamma strains were positive,while some neutralizing antibodies against prototype or Delta strains were positive.At 28 d after the first immunization,the neutralizing antibodies in the immune serum of the four strains were positive,and the titers of neutralizing antibodies were significantly higher than those at 14 d;The neutralizing antibody titers were slightly lower at 42 d after the first immunization than 28 d.There was small difference in the antigenicity between Beta and Gamma,prototype and Gamma,but significant difference in the antigenicity between prototype and Beta strains.Conclusion The prototype strain,Beta strain,Gamma strain and Delta strain of SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccines can stimulate rats to produce neutralizing antibodies with high titer,while the immunogenicity has difference.
3.Expression of Gn protein of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus and its immunogenicity
Chinese Journal of Biologicals 2024;37(4):267-272
Objective To express the Gn protein of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus(SFTSV) through adeno-associated virus 9(AAV9) expression system and evaluate its immunogenicity.Methods SFTSV Gn gene was inserted into viral vector pAAV-CMV-FH and the recombinant plasmid was transfected into HEK293T cells to obtain recombinant virus AAV9-Gn.The expression of Gn protein was determined by immunofluorescence and Western blot.Eighteen fernale BALB/c mice were randomly divided into three groups:Mock group(serum-free DMEM),AAV9-GFP group(1 × 10~(11) vg) and AAV9-Gn group(1 × 10~(11) vg),all of which were injected intramuscularly into the right hind limb at a dose of 100 μL per mouse.The body mass,diet,behavior and mental state of mice in each group were monitored continuously for 21 d,and the change rate of body mass was calculated;At 2,4,8 and 16 weeks after immunization,the levels of SFTSV neutralizing antibody in serum of mice in each group were detected by fluorescent reduction neutralization test(FRNT),and the levels of specific IgGl and IgG2a in serum of mice in AAV9-Gn group were detected by ELISA.Results After incubation with specific antibody,Vero cells transfected with AAV9-Gn showed specific green fluorescence under fluorescence microscope,and had specific binding to mouse anti-SFTSV Gn monoclonal antibody,and the specific binding bands were found at a relative molecular mass of about 61 000.The body mass of the three groups showed an increasing trend,there was no significant difference between the three groups(F=0.158—2.621,P> 0.05),and the diet,behavior and mental state were normal.At 2,4,8 and 16 weeks after immunization,the titer of SFTSV neutralizing antibody in serum of mice in AAV9-Gn group was significantly higher than that of Mock group and AAV9-GFP group(H=13.332—14.538,each P <0.001),and the titer peak appeared at 8 weeks;The level of specific IgG1 in serum of mice was significantly higher than that of IgG2a(F=4.373—12.975,each P <0.05) at different time points.Conclusion SFTSV Gn protein can be expressed correctly through AAV9 expression system,and has low toxicity to mice with good immunogenicity,which is expected to be a candidate component of SFTSV vaccine.
4.Analysis of factors affecting stability of high concentration VHH-Fc fusion protein
Chinese Journal of Biologicals 2024;37(4):273-279
Objective To explore the factors affecting the stability of high concentration variable domain of heavy-chain antibody-Fc(VHH-Fc) fusion protein.Methods Three groups of forced degradation experiments,shaking,light and 40℃ high temperature were set up.Differential scanning fluorimetry,dynamic light scattering(DLS) and ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS) were used to detect the effects of the three forced degradation conditions on the conformational stability,colloidal stability,average hydrodynamic diameter and post-translational modifications of high concentration VHH-Fc fusion protein.Results Under the light condition,the onset temperature of unfolding(T_(onset)),melting temperature(T_m) and aggregation onset temperature(T_(agg)) of high concentration VHH-Fc fusion protein decreased the most,and the oxidation ratio of Met160 and Met266 increased significantly.Under the condition of shaking,the variation of the diffusion interaction parameter(k_D) and the average hydrodynamic diameter was the largest.Conclusion Light can significantly reduce the conformational stability of high concentration VHH-Fc fusion protein and induce methionine oxidation.Shaking has the most significant effect on its colloidal stability and promotes aggregation
5.Effects of signal peptide on secretory expression of SARS-CoV-2 S1,RBD and RBD dimer proteins in Expisf9 insect cells
Chinese Journal of Biologicals 2024;37(4):280-286
Objective To compare the effects of different signal peptides on the secretion and expression of SARS-CoV-2S1,receptor binding domain(RBD) and RBD dimer proteins in Expisf9 insect cells.Methods The gene sequences of three proteins,SARS-CoV-2 S1(M1-E661),RBD(R319-P545) and RBD dimer(R319-K537 tandem),were selected and divided into 25 groups according to the different N-terminal signal peptide sequences(Endo,honeybee melittin(HBM),GP64,GP67,chitinase(Chi) and HIV-ENV) and C-terminal label sequences.25 recombinant baculoviruses were constructed by Bac-to-Bac system,and 25 groups of tertiary strain banks were prepared.B2 and C4 viruses were inoculated to logarithmic prestage cells(2.8 × 10~6 cells/mL) and logarithmic metaphase cells(1.2 × 10~7 cells/mL),respectively.The viruses of each group were cultured to 100 mL(500 mL shaker) for protein expression,and samples were taken for SDSPAGE electrophoresis,Western-blot and ELISA detection.Two groups with higher expression levels of S1,RBD and RBD dimer proteins were selected for repeated verification.Results When B2 and C4 were inoculated to high cell density,the secretion expression level showed no increase,while there were significant difference between 4 and 5 d after inoculation.The expression level of A7(Endo-S1-tag) was significantly lower than that of A9(HIV-ENV-S1-tag),the expression level of A4(Gp67-S1-tag) was the highest,and the secreted expression level of A1(Endo-Endo-Sl-tag) was significantly lower than that of A7(Endo-S1-tag).The secretion and expression of B6(HIV-ENV-RBD-tag) was signifi-cantly higher than that of B4(Gp67-RBD-tag) and other signal peptide groups,and C4(Gp67-RBD-dimer-tag) expression was significantly higher than that of C3(Gp64-RBD-dimer-tag).Two groups with high expression of each protein were selected separately for repeated verification(A4,A9;B4,B6;C3,C4) and the results showed that A4,B6 and C4 had the highest secretion expression levels.Conclusion The signal peptide for the highest secretion expression of S1 and RBD dimer proteins is the same,which is GP67 signal peptide,while the most suitable signal peptide for RBD protein is HIV-ENV,indicating that the N-terminal sequence can affect protein secretion,signal peptide sequence is universal to a certain extent,but is also related to the target protein sequence to be expressed.
6.Construction of recombinant adenovirus expression vector of avian reovirus σC protein and its effect on proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Chinese Journal of Biologicals 2024;37(4):287-291+297
Objective To construct the recombinant adenovirus vector pAd-σC for the expression of avian reovirus(ARV)aC protein and to detect its effects on the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells,in order to build up a basis for the development of novel anti-tumor vaccines.Methods The recombinant shuttle vector pShuttle-σC was constructed by PCR amplification of ARV σC gene,and then transformed into competent BJ5183 cells containing the adenovirus vector pAdessy-1.The recombi-nant adenovirus vector pAd-σC was obtained by homologous recombination,and the virus was packaged in HEK293 cells.The virus titer was measured by TCID_(50),the expression of σC protein was determined by Western blot and ELISA,and the effect of virus on the proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells SMMC7721 was detected by CCK-8 assay.Results The recombinant shuttle vector pShuttle-σC was confirmed to be constructed correctly by double enzyme digestion and sequen-cing,and the recombinant adenovirus vector pAd-σC was constructed correctly as identified by colony PCR.σC protein was successfully expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma cells SMMC7721.The recombinant adenovirus Ad-σC had a titer of 10~(7.5)/0.1 mL,which inhibited the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells SMMC7721.Conclusion The recombinant adenovirus vector pAd-trC containing ARV σC gene was successfully constructed,and its inhibitory effect on tumor cell proliferation was preliminarily analyzed,which lays a foundation for revealing the molecular mechanism of ARV oncolytic effect and further developing novel anti-tumor biological preparation.
7.Isolation and identification of Coxsackievirus A16 strains in Kunming,Yunnan Province in 2019 and analysis of genetic characteristics of VP1 gene
Chinese Journal of Biologicals 2024;37(4):292-297
Coxsackievirus A16(CVA16);VP1 sequence;Isolation;Identification;Evolutionary analysis;Genetic characteristics
Objective To analyze the genetic characteristics of the entire VP1 gene of Coxsackievirus A16(CVA16) strains isolated from the feces of patients with hand,foot and mouth disease(HFMD) in Yunnan Province in 2019.Methods The virus was isolated from human embryonic lung diploid fibroblast(KMB-17) cells and African green monkey kidney(Vero)cells,and the primers for the complete VP1 gene sequence of CVA16 were designed.The target fragment was amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced;the complete VP1 sequence was analyzed by softwares such as MEGA 7.0 and Geneious 9.0.2.Results A total of 26 CVA16 strains were isolated,including eight KMB-17 isolates and 18 Vero isolates.Twenty CVA16isolates were randomly selected for analysis,and three isolates were found to have Bla and 17 B1b genotypes;the nucleotide and amino acid homology of 17 CVA16 B1b isolates were 93.8%—100% and 98.3%—100%,and the nucleotide and amino acid homology with other domestic isolates was 91.1 %—99.2% and 97.3%—99.0%,respectively;the nucleotide and amino acid homology of the three Bla isolates was 98.0%—98.1% and 99.3%,and those with other domestic Bla isolates was 88.7%—98.1% and 98.3%—99.7%,respectively;17 B1b isolates and other three Bla isolates showed the nucleotide and amino acid homology of 87.4%—88.4% and 97.3%—98.7%.Conclusion The CVA16 prevalent in Kunming in 2019 belonged to Bla and B1b genotypes,with B1b as the main strain,and all of them were prevalent strains in the mainland of China.
8.Mechanism of monoclonal antibody against interleukin IL-17A regulating autophagy and inflammation in gout
Chinese Journal of Biologicals 2024;37(4):298-305+315
Objective To investigate the mechanism of anti-IL-17A monoclonal antibody(secukinumab) regulating autophagy and inflammation in gout.Methods The peripheral venous blood samples from 57 patients with acute gout(AG),57patients with intermittent gout(IG) and 82 healthy volunteers were collected and measured for the mRNA transcription levels of autophagy-related genes(ATGs) ATG4B,ATG7, A TG16L1,Beclin-1 and LC3B by RT-qPCR.The model of AG inflammation was established by adding monosodium urate(MSU) crystals into the peripheral venous blood samples of healthy volunteers,and the transcription and protein expression of IL-1β were detected by RT-qPCR and ELISA at 0,1,2,4,6 and8 h and different concentrations(0,100,200 and 400 μmol/L) of secukinumab.The peripheral blood samples of healthy volunteers were divided into control(without MSU treatment),MSU(100 μg/mL),MSU+colchicine(100 μg/mL+30 μg/mL) and MSU+secukinumab(100 μg/mL+400 μmol/L) groups,which were detected for the mRNA transcription and protein expression of IL-1 β and ATGs by RT-qPCR and Western blot,and for the expression of IL-1β,IL-12 and IL-35 by ELISA.Results The mRNA expression levels of ATG4B, Beclin-1 and LC3B in AG,IG and healthy control groups were significantly different(F=3.896,11.78 and 3.856,respectively,each P <0.05),among which the mRNA levels in AG were lower than those in IG and HC groups(t=2.692,3.234,2.231 and 2.085,4.795,2.748,respectively,each P <0.05);the expression levels of ATG16L1 mRNA were significantly different in the three groups(F=7.949,P <0.001),and was significantly lower in AG group than HC group(t=3.860,P <0.001).In AG inflammation model,the mRNA and protein expression of IL-1 β reached their peak in 2—4 h,and the anti-inflammation effect of secukinumab was the strongest at the concentration of 400 μmol/L.Compared with MSU group,the mRNA levels of ATG16L1 and LC3B(t=2.343 and 2.916,respectively,each P <0.05) as well as the expression levels of ATG4B,ATG7,Beclin-1,ATG16L1 and LC3B-Ⅱ proteins(t=28.84,11.6,8.402,4.124 and 2.458,respectively,each P <0.05) in MSU+secukinumab group decreased significantly.The expression levels of IL-12 and IL-35 in the control,MSU,MSU+colchicine and MSU+secukinumab groups showed significant difference(F=7.009 and 6.518,respectively,each P <0.01).Compared with MSU group,the expression level of IL-12 significantly decreased(t=2.604,P <0.05)in MSU+secukinumab group,and the expression level of IL-35 also decreased,while with no significant difference(t=1.928,P> 0.05).Conclusion Secukinumab can regulate the mRNA and protein expression of ATGs,reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines,and inhibit gout inflammation,which provides a reference for the treatment of gout.
9.Analysis of co-infection of other viruses in some confirmed measles cases in Jilin Province from 2013 to 2022
Chinese Journal of Biologicals 2024;37(4):306-309
Objective To analyze rash and fever illness(RFI) and other respiratory virus co-infection in some confirmed measles cases in Jilin Province from 2013 to 2022,and to provide scientific basis for measles co-infection and multi-pathogen diagnosis.Methods The throat swab specimens of 106 measles confirmed cases in Jilin Province from 2013 to 2022 were collected,of which nine kinds of RFI associated virus and respiratory virus with similar clinical symptoms were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR,including varicella-zoster virus(VZV),Dengue virus(DENY),human parvovirus B19(HPV-B19),Epstein-Barr virus(EBV),human herpesvirus6(HHV6),human rhinovirus(HRV),respiratory syncytial virus(RSV),human adenovirus(HAdV) and human cytomegalovirus(HCMV),and statistical analysis was conducted by using SPSS 23.0 software.Results VZV and DENV were not detected in the 106 collected specimens,and the other 7viruses were detected.30.18% of the measles cases were co-infected with other viruses,of which only HCMV co-infection cases showed significant difference in the age groups(≤24 months old,24 months old to 15 years old,> 15 years old)(χ~2=9.941,P <0.05);there was no significant difference between the genders in cases co-infected with other viruses(χ~2=0.200—2.778,each P> 0.05).Conclusion Some confirmed cases of measles might be co-infected with one or more other viruses in Jilin Province from 2013 to 2022,and it is recommended to strengthen targeted surveillance and differential diagnosis,especially for infants and young children,women of childbearing age and pregnant women.
10.Preparation,identification and comparison of murine and rabbit polyclonal antibodies against matrix protein of rabies virus strain CVS-11
Chinese Journal of Biologicals 2024;37(4):310-315
Rabies virus(RV);Matrix protein(M protein);Prokaryotic expression vector;Murine source;Rabbit source;Polyclonal antibody
Objective To prepare murine and rabbit polyclonal antibodies against rabies virus(RV) matrix(M) protein and compare their reactivity.Methods The prokaryotic expression vector pET-28a-M was constructed by using the cDNA of cells infected with RV CVS-11 strain as template,then transformed into E.coli BL21(DE3),and the induced by IPTG to express M protein.After nickel column affinity chromatography and dialysis renaturation,female BALB/c mice and New Zealand white rabbits were immunized with the M protein,and the whole blood was taken to separate the serum.The titers of the murine and rabbit polyclonal antibodies were detected by ELISA,and the reactivity was measured by Western blot,indirect immunofluorescence assay(IFA) and immunoprecipitation(IP).Results The plasmid pET-28a-M was constructed correctly as identified by sequencing.The titers of murine and rabbit polyclonal antibodies were 1:100 and 1:256 000respectively,and the polyclonal antibodies had reactivity with different RV strains.Conclusion The murine and rabbit polyclonal antibodies against M protein were successfully prepared,which provides important biological tools for exploring the interaction between M protein and host protein as well as studying the pathogenesis of RV.