Detection of Multi-drug Resistant Acinetobacter Lwoffii Isolated from Soil of Mink Farm.

There were 4 Acinetobacter lwoffii obtained from soil samples. The antimicrobial susceptibility of the strains to 16 antimicrobial agents was investigated using K-B method. Three isolates showed the multi-drug resistance. The presence of resistance genes and integrons was determined using PCR. The aadA1, aac(3')-IIc, aph(3')-VII, aac(6')-Ib, sul2, cat2, floR, and tet(K) genes were detected, respectively. Three class 1 integrons were obtained. The arr-3-aacA4 and blaPSE-1 gene cassette, which cause resistance to aminoglycoside and beta-lactamase antibiotics. Our results reported the detection of multi-drug resistant and carried resistant genes Acinetobacter lwoffii from soil. The findings suggested that we should pay close attention to the prevalence of multi-drug resistant bacterial species of environment.

Effect of Nonstructural Protein 2 Hypervariable Regions in the Replication of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus in Marc-145 Cells.

BACKGROUND: Highly pathogenic (HP) porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) causes prolonged high fever, red discoloration of the body, blue ears and a high mortality. Previously, we found that the PRRSV vaccine strain TJM contained a deletion of 120 amino acids (aa 628-747) in nonstructural protein 2 (Nsp2). We aimed to explore the replication features of PRRSV after adding the transiently expressed product of these 120 aa in vitro. METHODS: We constructed seven eukaryotic expression plasmids containing different parts of the 120-aa sequence, transfected them into Marc-145 cells and then inoculated the cells with 103 TCID50 TJM per well. We detected virus replication at mRNA and protein level by real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively, and determined the virus titer. RESULTS: The transiently expressed 120 aa and one of its truncated polypeptides inhibited PRRSV TJM propagation on Marc-145 cells. The complete 120-aa sequence induced a remarkable decrease in PRRSV replication, causing a reduction in structural protein levels between 36 and 48 h after infection. Additionally, aa 628-727 partly reduced the replication of PRRSV on Marc-145 cells. CONCLUSIONS: The 120 aa from Nsp2, especially aa 628-727, play a negative role in PRRSV TJM proliferation.

Serine proteases of parasitic helminths.

Serine proteases form one of the most important families of enzymes and perform significant functions in a broad range of biological processes, such as intra- and extracellular protein metabolism, digestion, blood coagulation, regulation of development, and fertilization. A number of serine proteases have been identified in parasitic helminths that have putative roles in parasite development and nutrition, host tissues and cell invasion, anticoagulation, and immune evasion. In this review, we described the serine proteases that have been identified in parasitic helminths, including nematodes (Trichinella spiralis, T. pseudospiralis, Trichuris muris, Anisakis simplex, Ascaris suum, Onchocerca volvulus, O. lienalis, Brugia malayi, Ancylostoma caninum, and Steinernema carpocapsae), cestodes (Spirometra mansoni, Echinococcus granulosus, and Schistocephalus solidus), and trematodes (Fasciola hepatica, F. gigantica, and Schistosoma mansoni). Moreover, the possible biological functions of these serine proteases in the endogenous biological phenomena of these parasites and in the host-parasite interaction were also discussed.

Phylogenetic analysis of the bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 from cattle herds revealing the existence of a genotype A strain in China.

In 2009, a bovine parainfluenza virus (BPIV3), named as NM09, was isolated using MDBK cell culture from the nasal swabs of normal cattle in China. The NM09 isolate was characterized by RT-PCR and nucleotide sequence analysis. Its complete genome was 15,456 nucleotides in length. Similar to other sequenced PIV strains, the NM09 virus consisted of six non-overlapping genes, which were predicted to encode nine proteins with conserved and complementary 3' leader and 5' trailer regions, conserved gene starts, gene stops, and trinucleotide intergenic sequences. Nucleotide phylogenetic analysis of matrix and hemagglutinin-neuraminidase gene demonstrated that this NM09 isolate belonged to BPIV3 genotype A instead of the previously reported BPIV3 genotype C in China. It is implicated that the different genotypes A and C might coexist infection for a long time in China.

Pathogenesis and phylogenetic analyses of canine distemper virus strain ZJ7 isolate from domestic dogs in China.

A new isolate of canine distemper virus (CDV), named ZJ7, was isolated from lung tissues of a dog suspected with CDV infection using MDCK cells. The ZJ7 isolate induced cytopathogenic effects of syncytia in MDCK cell after six passages. In order to evaluate pathogenesis of ZJ7 strain, three CDV sero-negative dogs were intranasally inoculated with its virus suspension. All infected dogs developed clinical signs of severe bloody diarrhea, conjunctivitis, ocular discharge, nasal discharge and coughing, fever and weight loss at 21 dpi, whereas the mock group infected with DMEM were normal. The results demonstrated that CDV-ZJ7 strain isolated by MDCK cell was virulent, and the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of strain ZJ7 had no change after isolation by MDCK cell when compared with the original virus from the fresh tissues. Molecular and phylogenetic analyses for the nucleocapsid (N), phosphoprotein (P) and receptor binding haemagglutinin (H) gene of the ZJ7 isolate clearly showed it is joins to the Asia 1 group cluster of CDV strains, the predominant genotype in China.

Serological tools for detection of Trichinella infection in animals and humans.

Trichinellosis is a serious foodborne zoonotic disease. It is an important threat to public health in both developing and developed countries. Human infections are strongly associated with consuming undercooked meat containing infective Trichinella larvae. The development of serological tools has enabled seroepidemiological studies and contributed to our knowledge on the importance of this parasite. Serological tests can also help the diagnosis of parasite infections in humans and the surveillance of animals. Generally speaking, serological techniques include detection methods for specific antibodies and for circulating parasite antigens in the serum or tissue fluids. Here, we present a comprehensive review of various methods used in the detection of antibodies against Trichinella and circulating parasite antigens in animals and humans.

Safety of inoculation of bovine parainfluenza virus 3 as potential vaccine vector in pigs.

Bovine parainfluenza virus 3 (BPIV3) is one of the most important respiratory pathogens in cattle. One BPIV3, named NM09, was isolated from cattle suffering from severe respiratory diseases in 2009. BPIV3 is a potential recombinant vaccine vector. To investigate whether NM09 can infect pigs and determine BPIV3 defense in these animals, BPIV3 antibody-free pigs were inoculated intramuscularly with the BPIV3 NM09 strain in a continuous passage. Clinical signs were observed each day after inoculation. Viral nucleic acid was detected in nasal and anal secretions. Results showed that virus-inoculated pigs displayed few observable clinical signs related to respiratory diseases. The antibody was identified, but the virus could not be detected in the second continuous passage in pigs. Thus, BPIV3 is a potential vaccine vector for genetic engineering.

Development and evaluation of two truncated recombinant NP antigen-based indirect ELISAs for detection of bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 antibodies in cattle.

Bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 (BPIV3) is one of the most important viral respiratory pathogens in both young and adult cattle. Nucleocapsid protein (NP) is the most abundant viral protein and the main regulator of virus replication and transcription. In this study, amino acid sequence data of BPIV3 NP was used to identify potential linear epitopic regions, which were subsequently used to design truncated recombinant NP antigens. The amino-terminal region (aa 9-157, NP-N) and the carboxy-terminal region (aa 391-500, NP-C) were selected, and these two truncated recombinant BPIV3 NP proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli based on the results of prediction studies. Furthermore, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISAs) were established using the truncated recombinant BPIV3-N proteins as antigens, and 154 clinical samples were used to evaluate the newly established ELISA systems in comparison with a virus neutralisation test (VNT) as a reference. The results showed that a high coincidence rate was observed for the data that were obtained by the two methods. The sensitivity of NP-N ELISA and NP-C ELISA were 98.4% and 94.6%, respectively, and the specificity of both ELISAs was 100% with reference to the VNTs. Our data indicated that both ends of NP have high immunogenicity during BPIV3 infection and that they were good targets for serodiagnosis. The ELISAs based on the two truncated proteins were especially suitable for use in large-scale epidemiological investigations.

Novel Nsp2 deletion based on molecular epidemiology and evolution of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in Shandong Province from 2013 to 2014.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is an economically important swine disease affecting swine worldwide. In this study, a total of 385 samples were collected from Shandong pig farms during 2013 and 2014, when pigs were not inoculated with any vaccine. Results indicated that, out of 385 samples, 47 (12.21%) were PRRSV-RNA-positive. The gene sequence analysis of 12 ORF5, 12 ORF7, and 8 Nsp2 of these samples was used to determine the molecular epidemiology of PRRSV in different parts of China's Shandong Province. The phylogenetic tree based on these 3 genes indicated that the Chinese PRRSV strains could be divided into five subgroups and two large groups. The 8 study strains were clustered into subgroup IV, another 4 strains into subgroup I. The first 8 strains shared considerable homology with VR-2332 in ORF5 (96-97.5%), the other 4 strains shared considerable homology with JXA1 (94-98%). Phylogenetic tree of GP5 showed that the eight isolates formed a tightly novel clustered branch, subgroup V, which resembled but differed from isolate VR-2332. When examined using Nsp2 alone, the first 8 strains showed considerable homology with a U.S. vaccine strain, Ingelvac MLV (89.6-98.4%). One novel pattern of deletion was observed in Nsp2. The genetic diversity of genotype 2 PRRSV tended to vary in the field. The emergence of novel variants will probably be the next significant branch of PRRSV study.

Comparison of conventional RT-PCR, reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification, and SYBR green I-based real-time RT-PCR in the rapid detection of bovine viral diarrhea virus nucleotide in contaminated commercial bovine sera batches.

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) can contaminate biological products produced in bovine or porcine cells or manufactured using bovine sera. A rapid, specific, sensitive, and practical method of detecting BVDV in bio-products is needed. The purpose of this study was to compare three assays with respect to their ability to accurately detect BVDV in biological samples, namely reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP), SYBR green I-based real-time RT-PCR, and conventional RT-PCR. All assays detected BVDV nucleotide and differentiated between BVDV-free and -contaminated bovine sera successfully. In addition, the results were specific to BVDV: the amplification of samples containing the closely related classical swine fever virus or other pathogenic bovine viruses yielded negative results. The lowest detection threshold, 10(1) copies, was displayed by the SYBR green I-based real-time RT-PCR and RT-LAMP assay. This assay was also the most effective in the detection of BVDV contamination in a set of commercially available bovine sera. The field conditions suggest that RT-LAMP is specific and sensitive to detecting BVDV in biological samples and may be used for quality control of biomaterials.

Recombinant rabies virus expressing the H protein of canine distemper virus protects dogs from the lethal distemper challenge.

The rabies virus (RV) vector LBNSE expressing foreign antigens have shown considerable promise as vaccines against viral and bacteria diseases, which is effective and safe. We produced a new RV-based vaccine vehicle expressing 1.824 kb hemagglutinin (H) gene of the canine distemper virus (CDV) by reverse genetics technology. The recombinant virus LBNSE-CDV-H retained growth properties similar to those of vector LBNSE both in BSR and mNA cell culture. The H gene of CDV was expressed and detected by immunostaining. To compare the immunogenicity of LBNSE-CDV-H, dogs were immunized with each of these recombinant viruses by intramuscular (i.m.). The dogs were bled at third weeks after the immunization for the measurement of virus neutralizing antibody (VNA) and then challenged with virulent virus (ZJ 7) at fourth weeks. The parent virus (LBNSE) without expression of any foreign molecules was included for comparison. Dogs inoculated with LBNSE-CDV-H showed no any signs of disease and exhibited seroconversion against both RV and CDV H protein. The LBNSE-CDV-H did not cause disease in dogs and conferred protection from challenge with a lethal wild type CDV strain, demonstrating its potential value for wildlife conservation efforts. Together, these studies suggest that recombinant RV expressing H protein from CDV stimulated high levels of adaptive immune responses (VNA), and protected all dogs challenge infection.

Detection and characterization of avastrovirus associated with diarrhea isolated from minks in China.

Astroviruses are becoming a growing concern in veterinary and public health. Many astrovirus species are associated with enteric diseases have been described in both mammalian and avian hosts. In the present study, 23 fecal samples from diarrheic minks were collected in Liaoning and Shandong Province, and an investigation of astrovirus was performed using biochemical methods and RT-PCR assay with specific primers. A total of four mink astroviral isolates were detected from sick minks with diarrhea problems. Further sequencing and characterization of the partial ORF1b gene and ORF2 gene segments revealed low sequence identities (20.0-85.3 and 31.8-87.2%) with known astroviral strains, indicating the emergence of a novel clade of astroviruses. Some new features of the astroviral genome have also been discovered. The phylogenetic tree revealed that all samples were distantly related to mink astrovirus and were closely related to chicken astroviruses and turkey astroviruses. MK/DL-1, MK/DL-2, MK/SD-1, and MK/SD-2 formed a new clade and were found to be more closely related to astroviruses from birds than to other mink strains, indicating past cross-species transmission and considerable zoonotic potential.

Non-structural protein 2 of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus: a crucial protein in viral pathogenesis, immunity and diagnosis.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a swine disease of significant economic importance that causes reproductive and respiratory problems in pigs. The replicase non-structural protein 2 (Nsp2) of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is recognized as the most variable region within the PRRSV genome. This review discusses the molecular characteristics and biological and immunological functions of the PRRSV Nsp2 and its involvement in the virus's pathogenesis. The role of Nsp2 in cell and tissue tropism, replication and growth, and variation and pathogenicity of PRRSV and the differences in virulence among different strains are described in the present review. Nsp2 is an ideal marker for monitoring genetic variation and for developing differential diagnostic tests.

Isolation and Sequence Analysis of Highly Pathogenic Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus from Swine Herds in the Jilin Province of China.

The aim of the present study was to determine the causative agent of infected swines in the Jilin province of China and assess its genetic characteristics. Virus was isolated from tissues suspected of being infected by porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and inoculated onto MARC-145 cells. Virus detection was carried out by RT-PCR, immunofluorescence, electron microscopy and sequencing. The results showed that the isolate was the North American genotype PRRSV, termed the JL-04/12 strain, with a 15,320 bp genome. The homology of the amino acid sequences in two nonstructural proteins and GP2 to GP5, between strains JL-04/12 and HUN4, ranged from 97.2 to 99.3 %. However, JL-04/12 GP6 and N protein were identical in HP-PRRSV JXA1 and HUN4. JL-04/12 was characterized by two discontinuous deletions in Nsp2. We speculate that the isolate is a variant of highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome derived from strains in 2006-2008. Altogether, these results indicate that highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus still exists in the Jilin province of China.

Role of non-structural protein 2 in the regulation of the replication of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in MARC-145 cells: effect of gene silencing and over expression.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is an economically important disease in swine-producing areas. Many vaccine strategies have been developed to control the disease, but none have yet been completely successful. The development of a cell line that can produce large yields of PRRSV vaccine is very necessary. In order to determine the role of Nsp2 in the replication of the highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (HP-PRRSV) in MARC-145 cells, we used an RNA interference-based short hairpin RNA of Nsp2 and constructed cell lines expressing the HP-PRRSV Nsp2 gene. Conserved HP-PRRSV Nsp2 sequences were used to design short interfering RNAs and test their ability to silence PRRSV transcript expression and replication in cells in vitro transfection. Nsp2, ORF7, and ß-actin mRNA expression were determined using semi-quantitative real-time PCR. Infection with siRNA targeting Nsp2 was found to reduce the Nsp2 expression in MARC-145 cells infected with PRRSV. Both MARC-145-TJ Nsp2 and MARC-145-TJM Nsp2 cell lines were screened by G418, which were infected with HP-PRRSV, normal MARC-145 cells for mock, and then virus titers were calculated by TCID(50) after the CPE showing up. The downregulation of Nsp2 induced a remarkable decrease in PRRSV replication, causing the reduction of structural protein. The Nsp2-targeted siRNA was found to downregulate the expression of Nsp2 in MARC-145 cells and inducing replication reduce of PRRSV in MARC-145 cells. The shRNA vectors S-1 and S-2 could effectively induce the inhibition of viral replication in MARC-145. Results showed that cells expressing the Nsp2 gene of the highly pathogenic PRRSV TJ and attenuated TJM remained stable. PRRSV replication was faster in these cells than in MARC-145 cells, especially during the early stage. This shows that Nsp2 plays a positive role in PRRSV proliferation.

Phylogenetic analysis of the haemagglutinin gene of canine distemper virus strains detected from breeding foxes, raccoon dogs and minks in China.

Canine distemper virus (CDV) infects a variety of carnivores, including wild and domestic Canidae. Genetic/antigenic heterogeneity has been observed among the various CDV strains, notably in the haemagglutinin (H) gene, that appears as a good target to gather epidemiological information. Based on sequence analysis of the H gene, wild-type CDV strains cluster into distinct geographic lineages (genotypes), irrespective of the species of isolation. The sequence of the H gene of 28 CDV strains detected from both vaccinated and non-vaccinated breeding foxes, raccoon dogs and minks from different geographical areas of China during the years 2004-2008 was determined. All the CDV strains but two (strains HL and HLJ2) were characterized as Asia-1 genotype and were highly similar to each other (96.2-99.7% at the amino acid [aa] level) and to other Asia-1 strains (96.1-99.5% aa) previously detected in China. The CDV strains HL and HLJ2 were both collected from foxes in Heilongjiang province in 2005. Strain HL resembled CDVs of the Arctic genotype (GR88-like) and displayed high aa identity (98.0%) to the Chinese canine strain Liu. By converse, strain HLJ2 was barely related to CDVs of the Asia-2 genotype (88.7-90.3% aa identity), and could represent a novel CDV genotype, tentatively proposed as Asia-3. These results suggest that at least three different CDV genotypes, distantly related (81.8-91.6% aa identity) to the vaccine strains, Onderstepoort-like (America-1 genotype), are currently circulating in breeding foxes, raccoon dogs and minks in China, and that the genotype Asia-1 is predominant. Whether the diversity between wild-type CDVs and the vaccine strains may affect, to some extent, the efficacy of the vaccines deserves further investigations.

[Genetic variation analysis of canine parvovirus VP2 gene in China].

To recognize the molecular biology character, phylogenetic relationship and the state quo prevalent of Canine parvovirus (CPV), Faecal samnples from pet dogs with acute enteritis in the cities of Beijing, Wuhan, and Nanjing were collected and tested for CPV by PCR and other assay between 2006 and 2008. There was no CPV to FPV (MEV) variation by PCR-RFLP analysis in all samples. The complete ORFs of VP2 genes were obtained by PCR from 15 clinical CPVs and 2 CPV vaccine strains. All amplicons were cloned and sequenced. Analysis of the VP2 sequences showed that clinical CPVs both belong to CPV-2a subtype, and could be classified into a new cluster by amino acids contrasting which contains Tyr-->Ile (324) mutation. Besides the 2 CPV vaccine strains belong to CPV-2 subtype, and both of them have scattered variation in amino acids residues of VP2 protein. Construction of the phylogenetic tree based on CPV VP2 sequence showed these 15 CPV clinical strains were in close relationship with Korea strain K001 than CPV-2a isolates in other countries at early time, It is indicated that the canine parvovirus genetic variation was associated with location and time in some degree. The survey of CPV capsid protein VP2 gene provided the useful information for the identification of CPV types and understanding of their genetic relationship.