Construction and immunogenicity of recombinant rabies virus expressing S gene of SARS-CoV-2

[Background] The coronavirus disease 2019（COVID-19） pandemic has lasted for nearly three years in the globe, which has not only caused serious harm to humans but also affected companion animals. The COVID-19 vaccines for human have been used globally, while those for animals are rarely reported. [Objective] To develop a bivalent vaccine against both severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2（SARS-CoV-2） and rabies virus（RABV） for animal use. [Methods] We cloned the S and S1 genes of SARS-CoV-2 into the region between G and L genes of the attenuated RABV vaccine strain rHEP-Flury to construct the recombinant plasmids pHEP-nCOV-S and pHEP-nCOV-S1, respectively.The two plasmids were respectively co-transfected into BHK-21 cells with the helper plasmids and finally the recombinant viruses rHEP-nCOV-S and rHEP-nCOV-S1 were rescued. The recombinant viruses were confirmed by RT-PCR and direct fluorescent antibody staining against RABV N protein.Western blotting was employed to detect the expression of S and S1 proteins in the cells infected with the recombinant viruses. The growth curves, pathogenicity, and immunogenicity of recombinant viruses were confirmed in NA cells and mice. [Results] The rescued recombinant viruses rHEP-nCOV-S and rHEP-nCOV-S1 respectively carrying the S and S1 genes of SARS-CoV-2 were confirmed by direct fluorescent antibody assay based on the green fluorescence from the supernatants 7 days post infection.rHEP-nCOV-S1 rather than rHEP-nCOV-S showed stronger proliferation and diffusion abilities than the parental virus rHEP-Flury in NA cells. The specific bands at 72 kDa and 144 kDa in the Western blotting confirmed the efficient expression of S and S1 in the recombinant viruses, respectively. The mice vaccinated with the recombinant viruses did not show significant changes in the body weight compared with those vaccinated with rHEP-Flury, and the recombinant viruses induced the production of neutralizing antibody against RABV in mice. [Conclusion] The production of the recombinant RABV carrying the S/S1 gene of SARS-CoV-2 provides a foundation for the development of the bivalent vaccine against both SARS-CoV-2 and rabies virus for animal use.

Aloe polymeric acemannan inhibits the cytokine storm in mouse pneumonia models by modulating macrophage metabolism.

The cytokine storm is highly associated with inflammatory-type disease severity and patients' survival. Plant polysaccharides, the main natural phytomedicine source, have a great potential to be an effective drug to treat cytokine storm. Herein we found that a polymeric acemannan (ABPA1) isolated from Aloe Vera Barbadensis extract C (AVBEC) exerted prominent inhibitory effects on inflammation-induced cytokine storm. The results displayed that ABPA1 effectively suppressed LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokines release in vitro. Moreover, ABPA1 treatment alleviated the cytokine storm and tissue damage in LPS- and IAV-induced mouse pneumonia models, and altered the phenotypic balance of macrophages in lung tissues. Functionally, ABPA1 enhanced macrophage M2 polarization and phagocytosis in RAW264.7 cells and inhibited LPS-induced M1 polarization. Mechanistically, ABPA1 enhanced mitochondrial metabolism and OXPHOS through activated PI3K/Akt/GSK-3ß signalling pathway. Overall, our findings suggest that ABPA1 may modulate macrophage activation and mitochondrial metabolism by targeting PI3K/Akt/GSK-3ß signalling pathway, thereby alleviating cytokine storm and inflammation.

Preparation of monoclonal antibody against N protein of Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus and establishment of indirect immuno-fluorescence assay

Objective: To prepare monoclonal antibodies against porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) N protein, and develop an indirect immuno-fluorescence assay method used for detecting PEDV. Method: The expressed recombinantly PEDV N protein was used as an immunogen and 8-week-old female BALB/c mice were immunized. Then their spleen cells with high antibody titer were isolated and fused with SP2/0 cells. The hybridoma cell lines secreting monoclonal antibodies against PEDV N protein were screened. In Vero cells infected with PEDV, monoclonal antibody of anti-PEDV N protein was used as the primary antibody and FITC-goat-anti-mouse IgG was used as the secondary antibody to develop indirect immuno-fluorescence assay method used for detecting PEDV. Result: The prepared hybridoma cell lines could stably secrete anti-PEDV N protein antibodies, ELISA antibody titer in cell supernatant was above 1:3 200, and in mouse ascites above 1:1 000 000. While monoclonal antibodies were applied in established indirect immuno-fluorescence assay, the optimal conditions were that cells were fixed with 80% () acetone at -20 degrees C for 30 min;The primary antibody was diluted 1 000 times by PBS buffer solution and incubated at 4 degrees C overnight;The secondary antibody was diluted 100 times by PBS buffer solution and incubated at 37 degrees C for 1 h. Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), classical swine fever virus (CSFV), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), porcine reproductive virus (PRV), porcine enteric a corone virus (PEAV), porcine rotavirus (PoRV) and PEDV were detected by established indirect immuno-fluorescence assay method, only PEDV showed positive, all the else viruses showed negative.