Project description:BackgroundMyxovirus resistance (Mx) proteins are crucial effectors of the innate antiviral response against a wide range of viruses, mediated by the type I interferon (IFN-I) signaling pathway. However, the antiviral activity of Mx proteins is diverse and complicated in different species.Methodology/principal findingsIn the current study, two novel Mx genes (CiMx1 and CiMx3) were identified in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). CiMx1 and CiMx3 proteins exhibit high sequence identity (92.1%), and low identity with CiMx2 (49.2% and 49.5%, respectively) from the GenBank database. The predicted three-dimensional (3D) structures are distinct among the three isoforms. mRNA instability motifs also display significant differences in the three genes. The spatial and temporal expression profiles of three C. idella Mx genes and the IFN-I gene were investigated by real-time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) following infection with grass carp reovirus (GCRV) in vivo and in vitro. The results demonstrated that all the four genes were implicated in the anti-GCRV immune response, that mRNA expression of Mx genes might be independent of IFN-I, and that CIK cells are suitable for antiviral studies. By comparing expression patterns following GCRV challenge or poly(I:C) treatment, it was observed that GCRV blocks mRNA expression of the four genes. To determine the functions of Mx genes, three CiMx cDNAs were cloned into expression vectors and utilized for transfection of CIK cells. The protection conferred by each recombinant CiMx protein against GCRV infection was evaluated. Antiviral activity against GCRV was demonstrated by reduced cytopathic effect, lower virus titer and lower levels of expressed viral transcripts. The transcription of IFN-I gene was also monitored.Conclusions/significanceThe results indicate all three Mx genes can suppress replication of grass carp reovirus and over-expression of Mx genes mediate feedback inhibition of the IFN-I gene.
Project description:Global fish production from aquaculture has rapidly grown over the past decades, and grass carp shares the largest portion. However, hemorrhagic disease caused by grass carp reovirus (GCRV) results in tremendous loss of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) industry. During the past years, development of molecular biology and cellular biology technologies has promoted significant advances in the understanding of the pathogen and the immune system. Immunoprophylaxis based on stimulation of the immune system of fish has also got some achievements. In this review, authors summarize the recent progresses in basic researches on GCRV; viral nucleic acid sensors, high-mobility group box proteins (HMGBs); pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and retinoic acid inducible gene I- (RIG-I-) like receptors (RLRs); antiviral immune responses induced by PRRs-mediated signaling cascades of type I interferon (IFN-I) and IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) activation. The present review also notices the potential applications of molecule genetic markers. Additionally, authors discuss the current preventive and therapeutic strategies (vaccines, RNAi, and prevention medicine) and highlight the importance of innate immunity in long term control for grass carp hemorrhagic disease.
Project description:Grass carp reovirus (GCRV) is a causative agent of haemorrhagic disease in grass carp that drastically affects grass carp aquaculture. Here we report a novel GCRV isolate isolated from sick grass carp that induces obvious cytopathic effect in CIK cells and name it as GCRV096. A large number of GCRV 096 viral particles were found in the infected CIK cells by electron microscope. The shape, size and the arrangement of this virus were similar to those of grass carp reovirus. With the primers designed according to GCRV 873 genome sequences, specific bands were amplified from sick grass carp and the infected CIK cells. The homology rates among vp4, vp6 and vp7 gene in GCRV 096 and those of some GCRV isolates were over 89%. In this study, the sequences of vp4, vp6 and vp7 were used to analyse sequence variation, phylogenetic relationships and genotypes in twenty five GCRV isolates. The results indicated these twenty five GCRV isolates should be attributed to four genotypes. And there were no obvious characteristics in the geographical distribution of GCRV genotype. The study should provide the exact foundation for developing more effective prevention strategies of grass carp haemorrhagic disease.
Project description:BACKGROUND: Grass Carp Reovirus (GCRV), a tentative member in the genus Aquareovirus of family Reoviridae, contains eleven segmented (double-stranded RNA) dsRNA genome which encodes 12 proteins. A low-copy core component protein VP4, encoded by the viral genome segment 5(S5), has been suggested to play a key role in viral genome transcription and replication. RESULTS: To understand the role of minor core protein VP4 played in molecular pathogenesis during GCRV infection, the recombinant GCRV VP4 gene was constructed and expressed in both prokaryotic and mammalian cells in this investigation. The recombinant His-tag fusion VP4 products expressed in E.coli were identified by Western blotting utilizing His-tag specific monoclonal and GCRV polyclonal antibodies. In addition, the expression of VP4 in GCRV infected cells, appeared in granules structure concentrated mainly in the cytoplasm, can be detected by Immunofluorescence (IF) using prepared anti-VP4 polyclonal antibody. Meanwhile, VP4 protein in GCRV core and infected cell lysate was identified by Immunoblotting (IB) assay. Of particular note, the VP4 protein was exhibited a diffuse distribution in the cytoplasm and nucleus in transfected cells, suggesting that VP4 protein may play a partial role in the nucleus by regulating cell cycle besides its predicted cytoplasmic function in GCRV infection. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate the VP4 is a core component in GCRV. The cellular localization of VP4 is correlated with its predicted function. The data provide a foundation for further studies aimed at understanding the role of VP4 in viroplasmic inclusion bodies (VIB) formation during GCRV replication and assembly.
Project description:CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) are proved to have strong immune stimulatory activity. Plasmids containing CpG ODNs could be conveniently and low-costly used as vaccine adjuvant. However, they are different among various plasmids, motif repeats, species, etc. In the present study, plasmid pcDNA3.1 (+) containing five repetitions of CpG ODN 1670A named pcDNA3.1-1670A*5 with strong immunostimulation was screened out from twelve recombinant plasmids and three empty vectors by cell proliferation activity, interferon promoter activities and immune related gene expressions in CIK cells. It works through TLR9-mediated signaling pathway, triggering the immune related genes expression. Furthermore, the potentiality of pcDNA3.1-1670A*5 as adjuvant was tested in vivo. pcDNA3.1-1670A*5 was co-inoculated with inactivated GCRV vaccine on grass carp fingerlings. Immunoglobulins (IgM, IgD, IgZ), TLR9, IFN?2, IFN1, TNF-?, Mx2 and VP4 were examined. Ultimately, pcDNA3.1-1670A*5 significantly enhanced the expressions of IgM in serum, head kidney and spleen, recognition receptor TLR9 as well as antiviral effector molecule Mx2, and inhibited GCRV proliferation in head kidney and spleen tissues. The present study explored the application and mechanism of plasmid containing CpG ODN as high-efficient adjuvant to promote efficiency of vaccine and control disease in grass carp, which will contribute to the development of new type CpG ODN adjuvant in aquaculture industry.
Project description:BackgroundThe grass carp hemorrhagic disease caused by the grass carp reovirus (GCRV) is a major disease that hampers the development of grass carp aquaculture. The mechanism underlying GCRV pathogenesis and hemorrhagic symptoms is still unknown. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators involved in various biological processes. The aim of this study was to identify conserved and novel miRNAs in grass carp in response to GCRV infection, as well as attempt to reveal the mechanism underlying GCRV pathogenesis and hemorrhagic symptoms.ResultsGrass carp were infected with GCRV, and spleen samples were collected at 0 (control), 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 days post-infection (dpi). These samples were used to construct and sequence small RNA libraries. A total of 1208 miRNAs were identified, of which 278 were known miRNAs and 930 were novel miRNAs. Thirty-six miRNAs were identified to exhibit differential expression when compared with the control, and 536 target genes were predicted for the 36 miRNAs. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of these target genes showed that many of the significantly enriched terms were associated with immune response, blood coagulation, hemostasis, and complement and coagulation cascades, especially the GO term "blood coagulation" and pathway "complement and coagulation cascades." Ten representative target genes involved in "complement and coagulation cascades" were selected for qPCR analysis, and the results showed that the expression patterns of these target genes were significantly upregulated at 7 dpi, suggesting that the pathway "complement and coagulation cascades" was strongly activated.ConclusionConserved and novel miRNAs in response to GCRV infection were identified in grass carp, of which 278 were known miRNAs and 930 were novel miRNAs. Many of the target genes involved in immune response, blood coagulation, hemostasis, and complement and coagulation cascades. Strong activation of the pathway "complement and coagulation cascades" may have led to endothelial-cell and blood-cell damage and hemorrhagic symptoms. The present study provides a new insight into understanding the mechanism underlying GCRV pathogenesis and hemorrhagic symptoms.
Project description:Grass carp reovirus (GCRV) causes serious losses to the grass carp industry. At present, infectious tissues of GCRV have been studied, but target cells remain unclear. In this study, peripheral blood cells were isolated, cultured, and infected with GCRV. Using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western Blot, indirect immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and transmission electron microscopy observation, a model of GCRV infected blood cells in vitro was established. The experimental results showed GCRV could be detectable in leukocytes only, while erythrocytes and thrombocytes could not. The virus particles in leukocytes are wrapped by empty membrane vesicles that resemble phagocytic vesicles. The empty membrane vesicles of leukocytes are different from virus inclusion bodies in C. idella kidney (CIK) cells. Meanwhile, the expression levels of IFN1, IL-1β, Mx2, TNFα were significantly up-regulated in leukocytes, indicating that GCRV could cause the production of the related immune responses. Therefore, GCRV can infect leukocytes in vitro, but not infect erythrocytes and thrombocytes. Leukocytes are target cells in blood cells of GCRV infections. This study lays a theoretical foundation for the study of the GCRV infection mechanism and anti-GCRV immunity.
Project description:Grass carp reovirus (GCRV) is an efficient pathogen causing high mortality in grass carp, meanwhile, fish interferon (IFN) is a powerful cytokine enabling host cells to establish an antiviral state; therefore, the strategies used by GCRV to escape the cellular IFN response need to be investigated. Here, we report that GCRV VP56 inhibits host IFN production by degrading the transcription factor IFN regulatory factor 7 (IRF7). First, overexpression of VP56 inhibited the IFN production induced by the polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) and mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS), while the capacity of IRF7 on IFN induction was unaffected. Second, VP56 interacted with RLRs but did not affect the stabilization of the proteins in the normal state, while the phosphorylated IRF7 activated by TBK1 was degraded by VP56 through K48-linked ubiquitination. Finally, overexpression of VP56 remarkably reduced the host cellular ifn transcription and facilitated viral proliferation. Taken together, our results demonstrate that GCRV VP56 suppresses the host IFN response by targeting phosphorylated IRF7 for ubiquitination and degradation.