Nucleocapsid protein (NPs) of negative-sense single-stranded RNA (-ssRNA) viruses function in different stages of viral replication, transcription, and maturation. Structural investigations show that -ssRNA viruses that encode NPs preliminarily serve as structural building blocks that encapsidate and protect the viral genomic RNA and mediate the interaction between genomic RNA and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. However, recent structural results have revealed other biological functions of -ssRNA viruses that extend our understanding of the versatile roles of virally encoded NPs.
Animals ; Capsid ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lassa virus ; chemistry ; physiology ; Nucleocapsid Proteins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Orthobunyavirus ; chemistry ; physiology ; RNA Viruses ; chemistry ; physiology

COVID-19 ; Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins ; Humans ; Nucleocapsid Proteins ; Phosphoproteins ; SARS-CoV-2

The genome of Hantaan virus, the prototype of the hantavirus genus, is composed of three segmented, single stranded negative sense RNA genome. The 5' and 3' termini of the Hantaan virus RNA genome contain noncoding regions (NCRs) that are highly conserved and complementary to form panhandle stuctures. There are some reports that these NCRs seems to control gene expression and viral replication in influenza virus and vesicular stomatitis virus. In this study, we examined whether NCRs in Hantaan virus play a role in expression of the viral nucleocapsid protein (Np) and foreign (luciferase) gene. The 5' and/or 3' NCR-deleted mutants were constructed and analysed. The Np expression of 5' NCR-deleted clone, it showed 40% reduction. To investigate the role of NCR in foreign gene expression, the clones which are replaced ORF of Hantaan viral Np gene with that of luciferase gene were constructed. The results were similar to those of the experiments using Np gene. These results suggest that 3' NCR is more important than 5' NCR in protein expression. To find out a critical region of 3' NCR in more important than 5' NCR in protein expression. To find out a critical region of 3' NCR in protein expression, several clones with a deleted part of 3' NCR were constructed and analyzed. The deletion of the conserved region in 3' NCR showed 20~30% decrease in Np expression. However there were no change in luciferase activities between clones with or without non-conserved region of 3' NCR. These results suggest that the 3' NCR of Hantaan virus S genome, especially conserved region in 3' NCR, plays and important role in the expression of Hantaan viral Np and foreign genes.
Animals ; Clone Cells ; Ecthyma, Contagious ; Gene Expression ; Genome* ; Hantaan virus ; Hantavirus ; Luciferases ; Nucleocapsid Proteins* ; Nucleocapsid* ; Orthomyxoviridae ; RNA ; Vesicular Stomatitis

Apoptosis, as a part of the natural defense mechanisms that protect against viral infection, plays a vital role in the pathogenic mechanisms. It also plays a key role in the pathogenesis of diseases including many viral diseases. Mechanisms of virus-induced apoptosis are not completely understood because of the complexity of the underlying biochemical cascades and all of the participating host factors. Mumps virus belongs to the genus Rubulavirus in the family Paramyxoviridae. It contains single stranded RNA genome with negative polarity. It was observed that mumps virus induced apoptosis in VeroE6 cells, and adsorption and penetration of mumps virus to cell membrane alone were not sufficient for the induction of cell death. When mumps virus was superinfected onto nucleocapsid protein (NP) expressing VeroE6 cells, cell viability and facterial titer were maintained until 13 and 12 day, respectively. The levels of p53, Bax, and Bcl-2 were increased in NP-expressing VeroE6 cells, and the increase in Bax, and Bcl-2 was outstanding. It was observed that NP protein did not directly affect the efficiency of the infection of mumps virus in NP-expressing VeroE6 cells. The levels of p53, and Bax were decreased in both mock-infected VeroE6 cells and NP-expressing VeroE6 cells infected with mumps virus. However, the Bcl-2 level was little affected by the virus infection.
Adsorption ; Apoptosis* ; Cell Death ; Cell Membrane ; Cell Survival ; Defense Mechanisms ; Genome ; Humans ; Mumps virus* ; Mumps* ; Nucleocapsid Proteins* ; Nucleocapsid* ; Paramyxoviridae ; RNA ; Rubulavirus ; Virus Diseases

PURPOSE: Rabies viruses (RABV) circulating worldwide in various carnivores occasionally cause fatal encephalitis in swine. In this study, the safety and immunogenicity of a recombinant rabies virus, the ERAGS strain constructed with a reverse genetics system, was evaluated in domestic pigs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Growing pigs were administered 1 mL (108.0 FAID50/mL) of the ERAGS strain via intramuscular (IM) or oral routes and were observed for 4 weeks' post-inoculation. Three sows were also inoculated with 1 mL of the ERAGS strain via the IM route. The safety and immunogenicity in swine were evaluated using daily observation and a virus-neutralizing assay (VNA). Fluorescent antibody tests (FAT) for the RABV antigen and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays for the detection of the nucleocapsid (N) gene of RABV were conducted with brain tissues from the sows after necropsy. RESULTS: The growing pigs and sows administered the ERAGS strain did not exhibit any clinical sign of rabies during the test period test and did develop VNA titers. The growing pigs inoculated with the ERAGS strain via the IM route showed higher VNA titers than did those receiving oral administration. FAT and RT-PCR assays were unable to detect RABV in several tissues, including brain samples from the sows. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the ERAGS strain was safe in growing pigs and sows and induced moderate VNA titers in pigs.
Administration, Oral ; Brain ; Encephalitis ; Nucleocapsid ; Rabies virus* ; Rabies* ; Reverse Genetics ; Sus scrofa ; Swine* ; Vaccines

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study is to express partial S gene of Hantavirus Z10.

METHODSThe 300 bp S gene of Z10 strain was synthesized by using a successive PCR method for the optimal expression in Pichia pastoris and subcloned into pMD19-T. The SP300 gene was constructed into pPICZaA and sequenced. The recombinant pPICZaA-SP300 and pPICZaA-S300 was transformed into Pichia with LiCI.

RESULTSThe recombination Pichia were cultivate, and expressed the SP300 or S300 gene induced in Pichia by methanol.

CONCLUSIONThe nucleocapsid secreted from the Pichia can be detected by ELISA and WesternBlot.

Gene Expression ; Hantavirus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nucleocapsid Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pichia ; genetics ; metabolism

To develop the large scale serological assay for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) infection, we evaluated two different enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods using nucleocapsid protein (NP) and Gn proteins of CB1 (genotype B) SFTSV strains. The NP-based ELISA tests showed more sensitive with broad cross-reactivity between two different genotype A and B strains compared with those of Gn-based ELISA tests. However, Gn-based ELISA showed more genotype specificity and specificity. These result suggested that NP-based ELISA test could be applicable for general sero-prevalence studies of SFTSV infections, while Gn-based ELISA could be applicable for a certain specific genotype sero-prevalence study.
Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fever ; Genotype ; Nucleocapsid Proteins ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thrombocytopenia

Since the outbreak of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), viral strains have mutated and evolved. Vaccine research is the most direct and effective way to control COVID-19. According to different production mechanisms, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines included inactivated virus vaccine, live attenuated vaccine, mRNA vaccine, DNA vaccine, viral vector vaccine, virus-like particle vaccine and protein subunit vaccine. Among them, viral protein subunit vaccine has a wide application prospect due to its high safety and effectiveness. Viral nucleocapsid protein has high immunogenicity and low variability which could be a new direction for vaccine production. We summarized the current development of vaccine research by reviewing the current progress, vaccine safety and vaccine immune efficiency. It is hoped that the proposed possible development strategies could provide a reference for epidemic prevention work in future.
Humans ; SARS-CoV-2/genetics* ; COVID-19/prevention & control* ; Protein Subunits ; Vaccines, DNA ; Nucleocapsid Proteins

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), a porcine enteropathogenic coronavirus, causes lethal watery diarrhea in piglets, resulting in large economic losses because of high mortality. In November 2013, PEDV reemerged in Korea, and these outbreaks have since continuously occurred. In the present study, we determined the full-length nucleocapsid (N) gene sequences of three Korean PEDV field isolates collected in 2014-2015. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of N genes revealed that recent prevalent Korean PEDV isolates were very closely related to the US PEDV isolates in 2013. Interestingly, the phylogenetic tree based on the nucleotide sequencing of the PEDV N gene was similar to the tree topology of the PEDV complete genomes. Therefore, our data provide a better understanding of the genetic diversity and contribute to the accurate diagnosis and development of vaccines against PEDV.
Coronavirus ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Disease Outbreaks ; Genetic Variation* ; Genome ; Korea* ; Mortality ; Nucleocapsid* ; Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus* ; Trees ; Vaccines

Canine respiratory coronavirus (CRCoV) is commonly associated with canine kennel cough worldwide. Clinically infected dogs present coughing, sneezing, and nasal discharge. Severe infections may progress to pneumonia. Through serological surveys, CRCoV has been identified as a worldwide pathogen found in the respiratory tracts of dogs suffering from mild or severe respiratory disease. In this study, three dogs were obtained from a dog kennel. Over the previous 5 days, the dogs showed coughing, sneezing, and nasal discharge. To detect the etiologic pathogen, we performed multiplex RT-PCR (mRT-PCR) to amplify the genes encoding canine influenza virus matrix protein, canine distemper virus nucleocapsid protein, and CRCoV spike protein. Dot blotting was achieved with a CRCoV-specific probe. Nasal-secreting CRCoV was detected by the 442 bp CRCoV-positive PCR reaction in the nasal swabbing samples from dogs. Further, CRCoV-positive reactions by dot blot hybridization were detected in the nasal swabbing samples from dogs. In conclusion, we detected CRCoV in kenneled dogs with respiratory disease in Korea. Multiplex RT-PCR was able to detect successfully CRCoV infection in dogs. We suggest that mRT-PCR would be useful and effective for monitoring CRCoV infection in various kinds of dogs.
Animals ; Coronavirus* ; Cough ; Distemper Virus, Canine ; Dogs* ; Korea ; Nucleocapsid Proteins ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Pneumonia ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Respiratory System ; Sneezing