TRIM35 mediates protection against influenza infection by activating TRAF3 and degrading viral PB2

Tripartite motif (TRIM) family proteins are important effectors of innate immunity against viral infections. Here we identified TRIM35 as a regulator of TRAF3 activation. Deficiency in or inhibition of TRIM35 suppressed the production of type I interferon (IFN) in response to viral infection. Trim35-deficient mice were more susceptible to influenza A virus (IAV) infection than were wild-type mice. TRIM35 promoted the RIG-I-mediated signaling by catalyzing Lys63-linked polyubiquitination of TRAF3 and the subsequent formation of a signaling complex with VISA and TBK1. IAV PB2 polymerase countered the innate antiviral immune response by impeding the Lys63-linked polyubiquitination and activation of TRAF3. TRIM35 mediated Lys48-linked polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of IAV PB2, thereby antagonizing its suppression of TRAF3 activation. Our in vitro and in vivo findings thus reveal novel roles of TRIM35, through catalyzing Lys63- or Lys48-linked polyubiquitination, in RIG-I antiviral immunity and mechanism of defense against IAV infection.

Expression of porcine interferon-gamma and its safe antiviral assay / 生物工程学报

In order to ensure the biosafety of the IFN-gamma antiviral activity assay, we used a replication-deficient VSV carrying GFP as an interferon sensitive indicator virus (VSVdeltaG*G). The antiviral activities of porcine IFN-gamma expressed in Escherichia coli and in baculovirus on MDBK cells were assessed. The results showed that the antiviral activity of porcine IFN-gamma expressed in baculovirus could reach 10(5) IU/mL, while the porcine IFN-gamma expressed in E. coli showed some antiviral activity (32 IU/mL) after refolding. The results of the VSVdeltaG*G-based antiviral assay were almost identical to that of the VSV*GFP-based assay, suggesting it is highly feasible to use VSVdeltaG*G as a substitute for VSV*GFP, making assays for IFN-gamma antiviral activity safer and more accurate.

Stable expression of mouse IFN-λ2 in CHO cells and its biological activity analysis / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

Objective To express mouse IFN-λ2 stably and study its biological activity. Methods Full-length of mIFN-λ2 cDNA was obtained by using RT-PCR from cells of mouse spleen stimulated by ve-sicular stomatitis virus(VSV) and then subcloned to eukaryotic expressing vector PCAGG-EGFP. The recom-binant was transfected into CHO cells. VSV * GFP-B16 system was used to measure the antivirus activity. The constructed cell line MDBK-Mxp-Luc was used to study the character of Mx1 protein induced by the mIFN-λ2. Results The recombinant pMD18-T-mIFN-λ2 was digested by two kinds of enzyme, Sac I and Xho I, to produce the fragment was of 582 bp, and of which the sequence analysis of sequence shows it was entirely consistent with the nucleotide sequences reported in GenBank. PCAGG-EGFP-mIFN-λ2 eukaryotic expressing vector was constructed successfully and expressed stably in CHO cells, and the mRNA of mIFN-λ2 was verified expressing in CHO-PCAGG-EGFP-mIFN-λ2 cell line by RT-PCR. The antivirus activity of in the supernatant secreted by the CHO-PCAGG-EGFP-mIFN-λ2 cell line was 10~4 AU/ml. The mIFN-λ2 pro-tein can could induce the expression of the antivirus protein Mx1, and the expression of Mx1 protein induced by mIFN-λ2 enhanced with time going, 9 to 12 hours achieved the peak, 24 hours vanished. Conclusion Gene cloning of mIFN-λ2 was successful. The eukaryotic expressing vector of mIFN-λ2 was constructed suc-cessfully and expressed stably in CHO cells, and its product has obvious antivirus activity in vitro. And the antivirus activity of the product was closely correlated with inducing expression of antivirus protein Mx1.

Establishment of plaque assay titration for GFP-labeled recombinant human metapneumovirus / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

Objective To establish the plaque assay for the titration of GFP-labeled recombinant human metapneumovims(rhMPV). Methods Vero-E6 cells were selected as host cells for titration. GFP-labeled hMPV was serially diluted and added to each well to infect the cells. The plates were covered with low melting agarose overlay and incubated for different days in incubator. The plates were then observed under fluorescence microscope for plaques with green flourecence, at the same time, the number of plaques was counted by blue plaque-forming. Results Under the low melting agarose overlay, Vero-E6 cells grew well until the CPE caused by hMPV was seen. Clear green flourescence could be observed the first day post infection, much clearer on the third day post infection but showed somewhat fusion between plaques later on.Blue plaques on the fifth day after infection were large and easy to observe. The recombinant GFP-labeled hMPV could replicate up to 1 × 106 PFU in the Vero-E6 cells. Conclusion Plaque assay for titration of recombinant GFP-rhMPV has been sucessfully established. This methodology will offer a solid base for further studies on pathogenesis and vaccine development of this virus.

Preparation of recombinant human metapneumovirus expressing green fluorescent protein / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

Objective To construct the recombinant human metapneumovirus(hMPV) (defined as rhMPV NL/1/00 GFP) in vitro by reverse genetics technique. Methods BSR-T7 cells were transfected using LipofectAMINE 2000 with the full-length cDNA plasmid, and four major protein expressing plasmids, pCITE-N, pCITE-P, pCITE-M2.1 and pCITE-L. After 3 d, cells were subjected to one -80℃ freeze-thaw cycle to prepare lysates. The supernatant of lysate was used to inoculate Vero-E6 cells. After 1-4 d, cells were found for the obvious development of cytopathic effects under light microscope and green fluoroscopic signals under fluorescence microscope, and were observed up to 10 d. The supernatant were collected to de-tect virus titer. Viral RNA was extracted from the supernatant and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain re-action (RT-PCR) was used to amplify N, F and G genes of rescued virus. Results Cytopathic effects and green fluoroscopic signals was readily and obviously observed after 1-4 d post-inoculation in Vero-E6 cells, then cytopathic effects got worse and green fluoroscopic signals became stronger gradually up to 10 d. The ti-ters of the 1st, 5th, 10th,15th and 20th generation virus ranged from 105.0 to 106.5 TCID50/ml. Amplicons with size of 910 bp (N), 450 bp (F) and 980 bp (G) by RT-PCR were accordant with expectant. Nucleotide sequence analysis of above cDNA fragments showed 100% similarity with reported sequence of hMPV NI/1/00 strain. The recombinant virus was genetically constant and GFP-labeled after 20 passages in Vero-E6 cells. Conclusion Recombined hMPV was successfully rescued by reverse genetics technique. This study lays ground for exploring pathogenesis of hMPV infection and development of hMPV attenuated vac-cines.

Recombinant goat pox virus expressing PPRV H protein / 生物工程学报

The purpose of the study is to construct recombinant goat pox virus (GPV) expressing Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) H protein, and to evaluate the immunization effect. Recombinant GPV containing PPRV H gene (rGPV-PPRV-H) was selected and purified by gpt and eGFP utilizing plaque purification, and the final selected recombinant GPV was proved to be purified by PCR. Immunofluorescence and Western blotting showed that the recombinant virus could express H protein of PPRV while infecting lamb testis cells. Six goats were immunized with 2 x 10(6) PFU rGPV-PPRV-H through intradermal injection, and were immunized for the second time at 28 days with the same dose recombinant virus after first immunization. Serum was collected after immunization, and was analyzed for the neutralization antibodies. 21 days after first immunization, the neutralization antibodies of GPV were 40, 80, > or = 80, > or = 80, 40, > or = 80 in turn, and neutralization antibodies of PPRV were 80, 80, 80, 80, 40, 40, 10 in turn; 14 days after second immunization, the neutralization antibodies of GPV were all > or = 80, and the neutralization antibodies of PPRV were > 80, 80, > 80, 80, 80 and 40 in turn. This study established a foundation for the industrialization of the PPRV recombinant GPV vaccine.

Antiviral activity determination of recombinant equine interferon-gamma and identification inhibited antiviral activity of monoclonal antibodies / 生物工程学报

Equine interferon-gamma (eIFN-gamma) expressed both in E. coli and baculovirus were evaluated for antiviral activity against recombinant Vesicular Stomatits Virus expressing green fluorescence protein (rVSV-GFP) in EFK-78 cells. The assays were conducted in 96-well plate. Virus infectivity was measured by quantifying GFP-positive cells, instead of quantifying the CPE reduction. Prior to infection of EFK-78 cells with rVSV-GFP, the cells were incubated with eIFN-gamma. The GFP expression in the EFK-78 cells dramatically decreased in the cells treated with eIFN-gamma in a dose-dependent manner, comparing with the mock-treated cells. The titers of antiviral activity were 1 x 10(3) AU/mL and 1 x 10(5) AU/mL of eIFN-gamma expressed from E. coli and baculovirus, respectively. The antiviral activities of the recombinant eIFN-gamma were highly efficient and specific, as it was blocked by mAbs against eIFN-gamma.

Development of highly potent non-covalent inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is the causal agent of the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). There is an urgent need for potent, specific antiviral compounds against SARS-CoV-2. The 3C-like protease (3CLpro) is an essential enzyme for the replication of SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses, and thus is a target for coronavirus drug discovery. Nearly all inhibitors of coronavirus 3CLpro reported so far are covalent inhibitors. Here, we report the development of specific, non-covalent inhibitors of 3CLpro. The most potent one, WU-04, effectively blocks SARS-CoV-2 replications in human cells with EC50 values in the 10-nM range. WU-04 also inhibits the 3CLpro of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV with high potency, indicating that it is a pan-inhibitor of coronavirus 3CLpro. WU-04 showed anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity similar to that of PF-07321332 (Nirmatrelvir) in K18-hACE2 mice when the same dose was administered orally. Thus, WU-04 is a promising drug candidate for coronavirus treatment. One-Sentence SummaryA oral non-covalent inhibitor of 3C-like protease effectively inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication.