Project description:The rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) represents the causative agent of a highly contagious disease in rabbits that is often associated with high mortality. Because of the lack of a suitable cell culture system for RHDV, the pathogenic mechanism and replication of RHDV remains unclear. In order to analyze the pathogenic mechanism of RHDV to rabbits, we used New Zealand white rabbits infected with RHDV, collected liver tissues 32 hours after infection, and used TMT labeling for LC-MS analysis. Subsequently, it was compared and analyzed with the protein data of the liver tissue of the uninfected rabbits. Perform bioinformatics analysis on significantly different proteins. Finally, comprehensively analyze the influence of RHDV on host protein and pathway expression levels. This study provides clues to clarify the pathogenic mechanism of RHDV in rabbits.
Project description:Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) belongs to the family Caliciviridae, genus Lagovirus and is used in Australia as a biocontrol tool to keep the population of european rabbits low. This virus has a positive-sense single-stranded RNA genome that encodes structural (capsid) and non-structural proteins. Due to the lack of an established cell culture system for this virus, some of the non-structural proteins are yet awaiting characterisation and their function is unknown. This work attempted to characterise the process of RHDV infection and identify pathways that alterate in RHDV-infected rabbit liver at the proteome level. Young rabbits were infected with RHDV2 (genotype GI.1bP-GI.2) and humanely killed 24 hours post-infection. 25% liver homogenates were prepared in RNAlater buffer and stored at -20C. Uninfected rabbit liver samples served as a control. Samples from three RHDV2-infected animals (K375, K376, K378) and three uninfected animals (K3, K14, K12) were used in this study.
Project description:Kyasanur Forest disease virus (KFDV) and the closely related Alkhurma hemorrhagic disease virus (AHFV) are emerging flaviviruses that cause severe viral hemorrhagic fevers in humans. Increasing geographical expansion and case numbers, particularly of KFDV in southwest India, class these viruses as a public health threat. Viral pathogenesis is not well understood and additional vaccines and antivirals are needed to effectively counter the impact of these viruses. However, current animal models for KFDV do not accurately reproduce viral tissue tropism or clinical outcomes observed in humans. Here, we show pigtailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) infected with KFDV or AHFV develop viremia that peaks 2 to 4 days following inoculation. Over the course of infection, animals developed lymphocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, and elevated liver enzymes. Infected animals exhibited hallmark signs of human disease characterized by a flushed appearance, piloerection, dehydration, loss of appetite, weakness, and hemorrhagic signs such as epistaxis. Virus was commonly present in the gastrointestinal tract, consistent with human disease caused by KFDV and AHFV where gastrointestinal symptoms (hemorrhage, vomiting, diarrhea) are common. This work characterizes a nonhuman primate model for KFDV and AHFV that closely resembles human disease for further utilization in understanding host immunity and development of antiviral countermeasures.
Project description:Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) belongs to the family Caliciviridae, genus Lagovirus and is used in Australia as a biocontrol tool to keep the population of european rabbits low. This virus has a positive-sense single-stranded RNA genome that encodes structural (capsid) and non-structural proteins. Due to the lack of an established cell culture system for this virus, some of the non-structural proteins are yet awaiting characterisation and their function is unknown. This work was aimed at the identification of cellular interactors of RHDV proteins p23 and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). p23 has an unknown function and RdRp is the main enzyme that replicates viral genome. SILAC-labeled rabbit kidney (RK13) cells were transfected with the FLAG-tagged viral proteins and GFP-transfected cells served as an internal control. For example, two replicates of heavy Arg and Lys labeled cells were transfected with protein p23 and two replicates of light Arg and Lys labeled cells were transfected with GFP. For the third replicate this was swapped: 'heavy' cells were transfected with GFP and 'light' cells were transfected with p23. After that, cells were harvested, lysed in mild conditions and applied onto anti-FLAG antibody resin for immunoprecipitation. Eluates from the resin were processed for mass spectrometry processing.