Newcastle disease virus in Madagascar: identification of an original genotype possibly deriving from a died out ancestor of genotype IV.

In Madagascar, Newcastle disease (ND) has become enzootic after the first documented epizootics in 1946, with recurrent annual outbreaks causing mortality up to 40%. Four ND viruses recently isolated in Madagascar were genotypically and pathotypically characterised. By phylogenetic inference based on the F and HN genes, and also full-genome sequence analyses, the NDV Malagasy isolates form a cluster distant enough to constitute a new genotype hereby proposed as genotype XI. This new genotype is presumably deriving from an ancestor close to genotype IV introduced in the island probably more than 50 years ago. Our data show also that all the previously described neutralising epitopes are conserved between Malagasy and vaccine strains. However, the potential implication in vaccination failures of specific amino acid substitutions predominantly found on surface-exposed epitopes of F and HN proteins is discussed.

Control of African swine fever virus replication by small interfering RNA targeting the A151R and VP72 genes.

BACKGROUND: African swine fever virus (ASFV) is the unique member of the Asfarviridae family and Asfivirus genus. It is an enveloped double-stranded DNA arbovirus that replicates in the cell cytoplasm, similar to poxviruses. There is no vaccine and no treatment available to control this virus. METHODS: We describe the use of small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting the A151R and VP72 (B646L) genes to control the ASFV replication in vitro. RESULTS: Results suggest that siRNA targeting the A151R and VP72 genes can reduce both the virus replication and its levels of messenger RNA transcripts. The reduction was up to 4 log(10) copies on the virus titre and up to 3 log(10) copies on virus RNA transcripts levels. The combination of multiple siRNA did not improve the antiviral effect significantly, compared with use of individual siRNAs. CONCLUSIONS: The function of the A151R gene product in the virus replication cycle is yet unclear, but is essential. We also demonstrate that it is possible to inhibit, using small interfering RNA, a virus that replicates exclusively in the cell cytoplasm in specific viral factories.

Quantitative one-step real-time RT-PCR for the fast detection of the four genotypes of PPRV.

A one-step real-time Taqman RT-PCR assay (RRT-PCR) for peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) was developed to detect the four lineages of PPRV by targeting the nucleoprotein (N) gene of the virus. This new assay was compared to a conventional RT-PCR on reference strains and field materials. Quantitation was performed against a standard based on a synthetic transcript of the NPPR gene for which a minimum of 32 copies per reaction were detected with a corresponding C(t) value of 39. Depending on the lineage involved, the detection limit of RRT-PCR was decreased by one to three log copies relative to the conventional method. The lower stringency occurred with lineage III because of minor nucleotide mismatches within the probe region. The assay did not detect phylogenetically or symptomatically related viruses of ruminants (such as rinderpest, bluetongue, and bovine viral diarrhea viruses). However, it was capable of detecting 20% more positive field samples with low viral RNA loads compared to the conventional PCR method. When compared on a proficiency panel to the method developed by Bao et al. (2008), the sensitivity of the in-house assay was slightly improved on lineage II. It proved significantly faster to perform and hence better adapted for monitoring large numbers of at risk or diseased animals.

Identification and mapping of a region on the mRNA of Morbillivirus nucleoprotein susceptible to RNA interference.

The morbillivirus genus includes important pathogens such as measles virus (MV), peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV), and rinderpest virus (RPV) and forms a group of antigenically related viruses. The viral nucleoprotein (N) is a well-conserved protein among the genus and plays a central role in the replication of the virus. Using a comprehensive approach for siRNA screening of the conserved sequences of the N gene, including sequence analysis and functional in vitro tests, we have identified a region for the design of siRNA effective for the control of PPRV, RPV, and MV replication. Silencing of the N mRNA efficiently shuts down the production of N transcripts, the expression of N protein, and the indirect inhibition of matrix protein, resulting in the inhibition of PPRV progeny by 10,000-fold. These results suggest that siRNA against this region should be further explored as a therapeutic strategy for morbillivirus infections.

Structure and sequence motifs of siRNA linked with in vitro down-regulation of morbillivirus gene expression.

The most challenging task in RNA interference is the design of active small interfering RNA (siRNA) sequences. Numerous strategies have been published to select siRNA. They have proved effective in some applications but have failed in many others. Nonetheless, all existing guidelines have been devised to select effective siRNAs targeting human or murine genes. They may not be appropriate to select functional sequences that target genes from other organisms like viruses. In this study, we have analyzed 62 siRNA duplexes of 19 bases targeting three genes of three morbilliviruses. In those duplexes, we have checked which features are associated with siRNA functionality. Our results suggest that the intramolecular secondary structure of the targeted mRNA contributes to siRNA efficiency. We also confirm that the presence of at least the sequence motifs U13, A or U19, as well as the absence of G13, cooperate to increase siRNA knockdown rates. Additionally, we observe that G11 is linked with siRNA efficacy. We believe that an algorithm based on these findings may help in the selection of functional siRNA sequences directed against viral genes.

Control of ruminant morbillivirus replication by small interfering RNA.

Peste-des-petits-ruminants virus (PPRV) and rinderpest virus (RPV) are two morbilliviruses of economic relevance in African and Asian countries. Although efficient vaccines are available for both diseases, they cannot protect the animals before 14 days post-vaccination. In emergencies, it would be desirable to have efficient therapeutics for virus control. Here, two regions are described in the nucleocapsid genes of PPRV and RPV that can be targeted efficiently by synthetic short interfering RNAs (siRNAs), resulting in a >80 % reduction in virus replication. The effects of siRNAs on the production of viral RNA by real-time quantitative PCR, of viral proteins by flow cytometry and of virus particles by appreciation of the cytopathic effect and virus titration were monitored. The findings of this work highlight the potential for siRNA molecules to be developed as therapeutic agents for the treatment of PPRV and RPV infections.