Chinese ferret badger (FB)-transmitted rabies is a serious threat to public health in southeast China. Although mostly associated with dogs, the rabies virus (RABV) presents genetic diversity and has a significantly wide host range in China. Instead of the dog- and wildlife-associated China II lineage in the past decades, the China I lineage has become the main epidemic group hosted and transmitted by dogs. In this study, four new lineages, including 43 RABVs from FBs, have been classified within the dog-dominated China I lineage since 2014. FB RABVs have been previously categorized in the China II lineage. Moreover, FB-hosted viruses seem to have become the main independent FB-associated clade in the phylogenetic tree. This claim suggests that the increasing genetic diversity of RABVs in FBs is a result of the selective pressure from coexisting dog rabies. FB transmission has become complicated and serious with the coexistence of dog rabies. Therefore, apart from targeting FB rabies, priority should be provided by the appropriate state agencies to perform mass immunization of dog against rabies.
Animals ; Brain ; virology ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Reservoirs ; veterinary ; virology ; Dog Diseases ; epidemiology ; transmission ; virology ; Dogs ; Ferrets ; virology ; Genetic Linkage ; Genetic Variation ; Phylogeny ; Phylogeography ; Rabies ; epidemiology ; transmission ; veterinary ; virology ; Rabies virus ; genetics

This study assesses the causes and prevention measures of rabies through epidemiological investigation and analysis. A field epidemiological survey was conducted to investigate a case of rabies by fox bite. The onset of symptoms began 50 days after the bite. The patient did not receive standard treatment, rabies vaccination, or rabies immunoglobulin injection. The fox was killed on the spot. Saliva and pre-death blood samples were collected at different periods, and only blood RT-PCR tests yielded positive results. Wild fox bite is a major risk factor of rabies infection in Xinjiang Province, China.
Adult ; Animals ; Brain ; virology ; China ; epidemiology ; Fatal Outcome ; Foxes ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Rabies ; epidemiology ; transmission ; Zoonoses

Rabies remains a continuous threat to public health in Beijing. In this study, a total of 224 brain tissues were collected from suspected infected stray dogs within Beijing between January 2015 and December 2016. Among them, total of 67 samples were diagnosed positive for rabies. In the phylogenetic analysis, rabies in Beijing is currently a relatively independent public health issue originating from local rabid dogs apart from the imported cases from elsewhere in the country. Because vaccination of unregistered dogs against rabies is still neglected in Beijing and other regions of China, national and local authorities should play central roles in all related aspects, such as development of policies, engagement of stakeholders for public and professional education, entire vaccination process, and animal management.
Animals ; Beijing ; epidemiology ; Bites and Stings ; epidemiology ; Dog Diseases ; virology ; Dogs ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Public Health ; Rabies ; prevention & control ; transmission ; veterinary ; virology ; Rabies Vaccines ; immunology ; Rabies virus ; genetics ; Zoonoses

OBJECTIVETo learn the rabies genome molecular characteristics and compare the difference of China rabies lineages.

METHODSThe complete genomes of 12 strains from different China rabies lineages were amplified and sequenced, and all the China street strain genomes (total 43), Arctic and Arctic-like genomes were aligned using ClustalX2, the genome homologies were analyzed using MegAlign software, and the phylogenetic trees were constructed by MEGA 5.

RESULTSFirst Arctic-like rabies genome in China (CQH1202D) was reported, and we supplemented the rabies genome data of China, ensuring at least one genome was available in each China lineage. The genome size of China V (11908nt) is obviously shorter than other lineages' (11923-11925nt) for the difference of N-P non-coding regions. Among different lineages, the genome homologies are almost under 90%. CQH1202D (China IV lineage) has close relationship with strains from South Korea and they share about 95% genome similarities.

CONCLUSIONThe molecular characteristics of 6 different China rabies lineages were compared and analyzed from genome level, which benefits for continued comprehensive rabies surveillance, rabies prevention and control in China.

Animals ; Brain ; virology ; Cattle ; China ; Dogs ; Genome, Viral ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Rabies ; virology ; Rabies virus ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Viral Proteins ; genetics

The rabies virus (RABV) is an enveloped RNA virus. It mainly damages the central nervous system and causes anencephaly in mammals and humans. There is now compelling evidence that enveloped virions released from infected cells can carry many host proteins, some of which may play an important part in viral replication. Several host proteins have been reported to be incorporated into RABV particles. However, a systematic study to reveal the proteomics of RABV particles has not been conducted. In the present study, after virus culture and purification by sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation, a proteomics approach was used to analyze the protein composition of purified RABV particles to understand the molecular mechanisms of virus-cell interactions. Fifty host proteins, along with five virus-encoded structural proteins, were identified in purified RABV particles. These proteins could be classified into ten categories according to function: intracellular trafficking (14%), molecular chaperone (12%), cytoskeletal (24%), signal transduction (8%), transcription regulation (12%), calcium ion-binding (6%), enzyme binding (6%), metabolic process (2%), ubiquitin (2%) and other (14%). Of these, four proteins (beta-actin, p-tubulin, Cofilin, Hsc70) were validated by western blotting to be present in purified RABV particles. This novel study of the composition of host proteins in RABV particles may aid investigation of the mechanism of RABV replication.
Animals ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Proteomics ; Rabies ; genetics ; metabolism ; virology ; Rabies virus ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Viral Proteins ; analysis ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Virion ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism

To investigate the phenotypic characteristics of the strain of the rabies virus CTNCEC25, the strain of the China rabies virus CTN-1 adapted to primary chicken embryo cells (CECs), Vero cells, and mouse neuroblastoma N2a cells was inoculated with CTNCEC25 and parental CTN-1 strains to explore the cytopathic effect (CPE) and growth kinetics of CTNCEC25 on cultured cells. To determine the pathogenicity of CTNCEC25, suckling mice, adult mice, guinea pigs and rabbits were inoculated with CTNCEC25 via the intracerebral route and their survival monitored every day. Furthermore, the CTNCEC25 strain was passed serially in CECs for 20 passages and then 3 passages in the brains of suckling mice to determine phenotypic stability. CTNCEC25 achieved similar growth kinetics in Vero cells and N2a cells compared with parental CTN-1, but CTNCEC25 replicated more efficiently in CECs than the CTN-1 strain with a titer 72 h after infection reaching 10(7.5-7.6) FFU/mL, which was significantly higher than the 10(5.8) FFU/mL achieved by its parental strain, CTN-1. Moreover, CTNCEC25 induced apparent CPE in Vero cells, CECs and N2a cells. Analyses of intracerebral inoculation demonstrated that CTNCEC25 was attenuated profoundly in adult mice and was completely apathogenic to guinea pigs and rabbits, though it caused death in suckling mice. The CTNCEC25 strain proliferated steadily after serial passage in CECs and the brains of suckling mice, and remained avirulent in adult mice. These results suggest that CTNCEC25 is a highly attenuated and genetically stable strain of the rabies virus. CTNCEC25 replicated stably and efficiently in cultured cells and achieved high titers, so it could be a promising and safe vaccine strain for rabies prevention in China.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; China ; Guinea Pigs ; Humans ; Mice ; Rabbits ; Rabies ; virology ; Rabies virus ; genetics ; growth & development ; pathogenicity ; Serial Passage ; Viral Vaccines ; adverse effects ; genetics ; Virulence

To study the B cell linear epitopes of rabies virus CVS-11 nucleoprotein, peptides were synthesized according to the amino acid sequences of B cell linear epitopes. Linear epitopes predicted by bioinformatics analysis were evaluated with immunological techniques. Indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that titers of antibodies to peptides (355-369 and 385-400 residues of rabies virus CVS-11 nucleoprotein) were above 1:12 800 in mouse sera. The antibodies recognized denatured rabies virus CVS-11 nucleoprotein in Western blot analysis. Purified anti-peptide antibodies recognized natural rabies virus CVS-11 nucleoprotein in BHK-21 cells in indirect fluorescent antibody test. The 355-369 and 385-400 residues of rabies virus CVS-11 nucleoprotein were validated as B cell linear epitopes.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; immunology ; Epitope Mapping ; Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte ; chemistry ; genetics ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nucleoproteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; immunology ; Rabies ; immunology ; virology ; Rabies virus ; chemistry ; genetics ; immunology

Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Bites and Stings ; Dog Diseases ; virology ; Dogs ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nucleocapsid Proteins ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Post-Exposure Prophylaxis ; Rabies ; prevention & control ; veterinary ; virology ; Rabies Vaccines ; immunology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo characterize two strains of street rabies virus (RABV) isolated from the brain tissue of cattle from Inner Mongolia. Differences in the histopathological and ultrastructural changes in the brain tissue of infected mice were determined to reveal variation in the pathogenesis of infection between street rabies virus strains.

METHODSTen-day-old mice were intracranially inoculated with one of three virus strains and brain tissue harvested when the mice were moribund. Various histopathological and ultrastructural markers of disease were then compared between the groups.

RESULTSInfection with the street virus strain CNM1101C resulted in severe neuronal dendrites damage, but only mild cell apoptosis, T lymphocyte infiltration and microglial activation. Infection with the other street virus strain, CNM1103C, was characterized by cell apoptosis, T lymphocyte infiltration and microglial activation as well as dendrites damage. However, in comparison, infection with the attenuated virus strain CTN caused severe T lymphocyte infiltration, microglial activation and cell apoptosis, but left the neuronal dendrites intact.

CONCLUSIONThe two street rabies virus strains isolated from cattle from Inner Mongolia had different levels of virulence and caused distinct pathological changes in infected mice. Therefore, we concluded that different pathogenic mechanisms exist between different RABV strains.

Animals ; Brain ; pathology ; virology ; Cattle ; Cattle Diseases ; pathology ; virology ; China ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Rabies ; pathology ; virology ; Rabies virus ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; physiology ; ultrastructure ; Virulence

To sequence and analyze the full-length gene sequence of rabies vaccine virus aG strain. The full-length gene sequence of aG strain was amplified by RT-PCR by 8 fragments,each PCR product was cloned into vector pGEM-T respectively, sequenced and assemblied; The 5' leader sequence was sequenced with method of 5' RACE. The homology between aG and other rabies vaccine virus was analyzed by using DNAstar and Mega4. 0 software. aG strain was 11 925nt(GenBank accession number: JN234411) in length and belonged to the genotype I . The Bioinformatics revealed that the homology showed disparation form different rabies vaccine virus. the full-length gene sequence of rabies vaccine virus aG strain provided a support for perfecting the standard for quality control of virus strains for production of rabies vaccine for human use in China.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Antigens, Viral ; genetics ; immunology ; Base Sequence ; China ; Genome, Viral ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Rabies ; immunology ; prevention & control ; virology ; Rabies Vaccines ; immunology ; Rabies virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Species Specificity