Antigenic variants of CVS rabies virus with altered glycosylation sites

Inactivated rabies-based Lassa fever virus vaccine candidate LASSARAB protects nonhuman primates from lethal disease

Lassa fever virus (LASV), a member of the Arenavirus family, is the etiological agent of Lassa fever, a severe hemorrhagic disease that causes considerable morbidity and mortality in the endemic areas of West Africa. LASV is a rodent-borne CDC Tier One biological threat agent and is on the World Health Organization's (WHO) Priority Pathogen list. Currently, no FDA-licensed vaccines or specific therapeutics are available. Here, we describe the efficacy of a deactivated rabies virus (RABV)-based vaccine encoding the glycoprotein precursor (GPC) of LASV (LASSARAB). Nonhuman primates (NHPs) were administered a two-dose regimen of LASSARAB or an irrelevant RABV-based vaccine to serve as a negative control. NHPs immunized with LASSARAB developed strong humoral responses to LASV-GPC. Upon challenge, NHPs vaccinated with LASSARAB survived to the study endpoint, whereas NHPs in the control group did not. This study demonstrates that LASSARAB is a worthy candidate for continued development.

Producing Vaccines against Enveloped Viruses in Plants: Making the Impossible, Difficult

The past 30 years have seen the growth of plant molecular farming as an approach to the production of recombinant proteins for pharmaceutical and biotechnological uses. Much of this effort has focused on producing vaccine candidates against viral diseases, including those caused by enveloped viruses. These represent a particular challenge given the difficulties associated with expressing and purifying membrane-bound proteins and achieving correct assembly. Despite this, there have been notable successes both from a biochemical and a clinical perspective, with a number of clinical trials showing great promise. This review will explore the history and current status of plant-produced vaccine candidates against enveloped viruses to date, with a particular focus on virus-like particles (VLPs), which mimic authentic virus structures but do not contain infectious genetic material.

Addicted to sugar: roles of glycans in the order Mononegavirales

Glycosylation is a biologically important protein modification process by which a carbohydrate chain is enzymatically added to a protein at a specific amino acid residue. This process plays roles in many cellular functions, including intracellular trafficking, cell-cell signaling, protein folding and receptor binding. While glycosylation is a common host cell process, it is utilized by many pathogens as well. Protein glycosylation is widely employed by viruses for both host invasion and evasion of host immune responses. Thus better understanding of viral glycosylation functions has potential applications for improved antiviral therapeutic and vaccine development. Here, we summarize our current knowledge on the broad biological functions of glycans for the Mononegavirales, an order of enveloped negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses of high medical importance that includes Ebola, rabies, measles and Nipah viruses. We discuss glycobiological findings by genera in alphabetical order within each of eight Mononegavirales families, namely, the bornaviruses, filoviruses, mymonaviruses, nyamiviruses, paramyxoviruses, pneumoviruses, rhabdoviruses and sunviruses.

Protection of bats (Eptesicus fuscus) against rabies following topical or oronasal exposure to a recombinant raccoon poxvirus vaccine

Rabies is an ancient neglected tropical disease that causes tens of thousands of human deaths and millions of cattle deaths annually. In order to develop a new vaccine for potential use in bats, a reservoir of rabies infection for humans and animals alike, an in silico antigen designer tool was used to create a mosaic glycoprotein (MoG) gene using available sequences from the rabies Phylogroup I glycoprotein. This sequence, which represents strains more likely to occur in bats, was cloned into raccoonpox virus (RCN) and the efficacy of this novel RCN-MoG vaccine was compared to RCN-G that expresses the glycoprotein gene from CVS-11 rabies or luciferase (RCN-luc, negative control) in mice and big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus). Mice vaccinated and boosted intradermally with 1 x 107 plaque forming units (PFU) of each RCN-rabies vaccine construct developed neutralizing antibodies and survived at significantly higher rates than controls. No significant difference in antibody titers or survival was noted between rabies-vaccinated groups. Bats were vaccinated either oronasally (RCN-G, RCN-MoG) with 5x107 PFU or by topical application in glycerin jelly (RCN-MoG, dose 2x108 PFU), boosted (same dose and route) at 46 days post vaccination (dpv), and then challenged with wild-type big brown variant RABV at 65 dpv. Prior to challenge, 90% of RCN-G and 75% of RCN-MoG oronasally vaccinated bats had detectable levels of serum rabies neutralizing antibodies. Bats from the RCN-luc and topically vaccinated RCN-MoG groups did not have measurable antibody responses. The RCN-rabies constructs were highly protective and not significantly different from each other. RCN-MoG provided 100% protection (n = 9) when delivered oronasally and 83% protection (n = 6) when delivered topically; protection provided by the RCN-G construct was 70% (n = 10). All rabies-vaccinated bats survived at a significantly (P ≤ 0.02) higher rate than control bats (12%; n = 8). We have demonstrated the efficacy of a novel, in silico designed rabies MoG antigen that conferred protection from rabies challenge in mice and big brown bats in laboratory studies. With further development, topical or oronasal administration of the RCN-MoG vaccine could potentially mitigate rabies in wild bat populations, reducing spillover of this deadly disease into humans, domestic mammals, and other wildlife.

Rabies Internalizes into Primary Peripheral Neurons via Clathrin Coated Pits and Requires Fusion at the Cell Body

The single glycoprotein (G) of rabies virus (RABV) dictates all viral entry steps from receptor engagement to membrane fusion. To study the uptake of RABV into primary neuronal cells in culture, we generated a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus in which the G protein was replaced with that of the neurotropic RABV CVS-11 strain (rVSV CVS G). Using microfluidic compartmentalized culture, we examined the uptake of single virions into the termini of primary neurons of the dorsal root ganglion and ventral spinal cord. By pharmacologically disrupting endocytosis at the distal neurites, we demonstrate that rVSV CVS G uptake and infection are dependent on dynamin. Imaging of single virion uptake with fluorescent endocytic markers further identifies endocytosis via clathrin-coated pits as the predominant internalization mechanism. Transmission electron micrographs also reveal the presence of viral particles in vesicular structures consistent with incompletely coated clathrin pits. This work extends our previous findings of clathrin-mediated uptake of RABV into epithelial cells to two neuronal subtypes involved in rabies infection in vivo. Chemical perturbation of endosomal acidification in the neurite or somal compartment further shows that establishment of infection requires pH-dependent fusion of virions at the cell body. These findings correlate infectivity to existing single particle evidence of long-range endosomal transport of RABV and clathrin dependent uptake at the plasma membrane.

T-bet Is Required for the Rapid Clearance of Attenuated Rabies Virus from Central Nervous System Tissue

Much of our understanding of CNS immunity has been gained from models involving pathological inflammation. Attenuated rabies viruses (RABV) are unique tools to study CNS immunity in the absence of conventional inflammatory mechanisms, as they spread from the site of inoculation to the CNS transaxonally, thereby bypassing the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and are cleared without neutrophil or monocyte infiltration. To better understand the role of CD4 T cell subsets in the clearance of the virus from CNS tissues, we examined the development of antiviral immunity in wild-type (WT) and T-bet knockout mice (T-bet(-/-)), which lack Th1 cells. Early control of RABV replication in the CNS tissues of WT mice is associated with the production of IFN-γ, with antiviral effects likely mediated through the enhanced expression of type I IFNs. Of interest, IFN-α and -γ are overexpressed in the infected T-bet(-/-) by comparison with WT CNS tissues, and the initial control of RABV infection is similar. Ultimately, attenuated RABV are cleared from the CNS tissues of WT mice by Ab locally produced by the activities of infiltrating T and B cells. Although T and B cell infiltration into the CNS of infected T-bet(-/-) mice is comparable, their activities are not, the consequence being delayed, low-level Ab production and prolonged RABV replication. More importantly, neither T-bet(-/-) mice immunized with an attenuated virus, nor WT mice with Th2 RABV-specific immunity induced by immunization with inactivated virus, are protected in the long term against challenge with a pathogenic RABV.

Phylogeographic analysis of rabies viruses in the Philippines

Rabies still remains a public health threat in the Philippines. A significant number of human rabies cases, about 200-300 cases annually, have been reported, and the country needs an effective strategy for rabies control. To develop an effective control strategy, it is important to understand the transmission patterns of the rabies viruses. We conducted phylogenetic analyses by considering the temporal and spatial evolution of rabies viruses to reveal the transmission dynamics in the Philippines. After evaluating the molecular clock and phylogeographic analysis, we estimated that the Philippine strains were introduced from China around the beginning of 20th century. Upon this introduction, the rabies viruses evolved within the Philippines to form three major clades, and there was no indication of introduction of other rabies viruses from any other country. However, within the Philippines, island-to-island migrations were observed. Since then, the rabies viruses have diffused and only evolved within each island group. The evolutionary pattern of these viruses was strongly shaped by geographical boundaries. The association index statistics demonstrated a strong spatial structure within the island group, indicating that the seas were a significant geographical barrier for viral dispersal. Strong spatial structure was also observed even at a regional level, and most of the viral migrations (79.7% of the total median number) in Luzon were observed between neighboring regions. Rabies viruses were genetically clustered at a regional level, and this strong spatial structure suggests a geographical clustering of transmission chains and the potential effectiveness of rabies control that targets geographical clustering. Dog vaccination campaigns have been conducted independently by local governments in the Philippines, but it could be more effective to implement a coordinated vaccination campaign among neighboring areas to eliminate geographically-clustered rabies transmission chains.

Further Studies on the Mechanism of Rabies Virus Neutralization by a Viral Glycoprotein-Specific Monoclonal Antibody, #1-46-12

We previously reported that a conformational epitope-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb; #1-46-12) neutralized the rabies virus by binding only a small number (less than 20) of the antibody molecules per virion, while a linear epitope-specific mAb (#7-1-9) required more than 250 IgG molecules for the neutralization. We also isolated both the epitope-negative (R-31) and-positive (R-61) escape mutants that resisted mAb #1-46-12. Co-infection studies with wild type (wt) and R-61 mutant have shown that although the infectivity of R-61 mutant was not affected by the binding of about 300 IgG molecules per virion, incorporation of a small number of wt G protein into the R-61 virion resulted in dramatic loss of the resistance. In this study, we further investigated properties of the mutant G proteins. The R-61 G protein lost reactivity to the mAb when solubilized, even keeping a trimer form, suggesting that membrane-anchorage is essential for the maintenance of its epitope-positive conformation. On the other hand, incorporation of wt G proteins into the R-31 virions did not affect their resistance to the mAb very much. Although we have not so far found the presumed conformational changes induced by the mAb-binding, we think that these results are not inconsistent with our previously proposed novel model (referred to as a domino effect model) for the virus neutralization by mAb #1-46-12 other than a classical spike-blocking model, which implicates successive spreading of the postulated antibody-induced conformational changes of G protein to the neighboring spikes until abolishing the host cell-binding ability of the virion.

Efficient N-glycosylation at position 37, but not at position 146, in the street rabies virus glycoprotein reduces pathogenicity

Most street rabies viruses have two N-glycosylation sites in their glycoproteins (G proteins), i.e., at Asn(37) and Asn(319), but Asn(37) is usually not core-glycosylated in an efficient manner. Previously, we reported the possible roles of single additional N-glycosylations at Asn(194) or Asn(247) in the cell adaptation and reduced pathogenicity of a street rabies virus, which suggest that N-glycosylation is closely related to the evolution of rabies viruses. In this study, we characterized two novel N-glycosylation-modified variants, N5C#7 and N5C#8, which were cloned using the limiting dilution method after serial passaging of the street rabies virus strain 1088 in mouse neuroblastoma-derived NA cells. N5C#7 had an L38R mutation in the G protein, which led to efficient core glycosylation at Asn(37). On the other hand, N5C#8 had a D146N mutation in the G protein, which led to an additional N-glycosylation at position 146. Both variants replicated highly efficiently in NA cells compared with the parental strain. Like the parental strain, both variants caused lethal infections in adult mice after intracerebral inoculation. However, N5C#7 exhibited reduced pathogenicity after intramuscular inoculation, whereas N5C#8 displayed the same level of pathogenicity as the parental strain. In summary, the efficient core glycosylation at position 37 was related to cell adaptation and the reduced pathogenicity of the street rabies virus. By contrast, despite of being related to cell adaptation, the additional N-glycosylation at position 146 did not affect the pathogenicity, which is consistent with a report that street rabies virus strains with N-glycosylation sites at positions 37, 146, and 319 have been isolated from rabid animals. Thus, the results of the present study provide additional evidence that supports the relationship between G protein N-glycosylation and rabies virus evolution.

Addition of a single N-glycan to street rabies virus glycoprotein enhances virus production

Most street rabies virus G proteins have two N-glycosylation sites, i.e. Asn37 and Asn319, whereas additional sites are found in fixed (laboratory adapted) viruses. In this study, we performed a pseudotyped virus assay using G-deficient rabies virus and demonstrated that single-N-glycan additions to the G protein of street rabies virus strain 1088, which are found in adapted strains, enhanced virus production in neural and non-neural cell lines, while additions to Asn194 or Asn247 enhanced production greatly. Moreover, we found that N-glycan additions at Asn194 or Asn247 facilitated the production of cell-associated virus. In contrast, deletion of the sequon at Asn37 reduced viral production, while a deletion at Asn319 resulted in extensive loss of production. Furthermore, G proteins lacking an N-glycan at Asn319 failed to fold into their correct structure and lost their fusion activity, indicating that Asn319 N-glycosylation is important for the functional expression of street virus G proteins.

Adaptation of a Chinese ferret badger strain of rabies virus to high-titered growth in BHK-21 cells for canine vaccine development

Rabies virus strain JX08-45CC was derived from a Chinese isolate (JX08-45) by serial passage in the BHK-21 cell line, reaching a titer of 10(8) TCID(50)/mL. JX08-45CC produced rabies in adult mice but was nonpathogenic in dogs after intramuscular injection. A comparison of the entire genomes of JX08-45 and JX08-45CC led to the identification of 17 nucleotide substitutions, resulting in seven amino acid changes in the mature G and L proteins. The immunogenicity of β-propiolactone-inactivated JX08-45CC was similar to the immunogenicity of the live vaccine strains widely used in China. The inactivated vaccine induced antibody responses for more than 6 months and provided full protection from an intramuscular challenge in dogs. JX08-45CC has excellent potential for development as an inactivated vaccine for dogs in China.

The full-length genome analysis of a street rabies virus strain isolated in Yunnan province of China

The epidemic of rabies has rapidly increased and expanded in Yunnan province in recent years. In order to further analyze and understand the etiological reasons for the rapid expansion of rabies in Yunnan, a strain of rabies virus CYN1009D in Yunnan was isolated, and the complete genomic sequencing was carried out, and the bioimfomative analysis on genes/encoded proteins and phylogeny with reference to sequences in GenBank was performed. The complete genome of CYN1009D was 11923 nt in length and belonged to genotype I. The genes encoding different structural proteins were all conserved in their lengths, in comparison to other strains in China. The amino acid sequence was conserved at different antigen sites of NP, but the variation was detected at the secondary phosphorylation site of position 375; variations were also detected in the phosphorylation sites at positions 63-63 and 162 of PP; the sites playing important roles in virus synthesis, budding and viral morphology in MP were conserved; two glycosylation sites were detected at Asn37 and Asn319 in GP, the neutralizing antigen sites in GP were conserved; the initial amino acid of LP (ML) was different from that of most of the strains in China (MM); the variations in G-L region in the intergenic region were significant. The phylogenic tree showed that CYN1009D has a closer genetic relationship to the strains in Southeast Asia, indicating that prevention and control on rabies in borderland areas should be reinforced meanwhile efforts are made to control rabies in China.

Molecular characterization of Korean rabies virus isolates

The nucleoprotein (N) and glycoprotein (G) of 11 Korean rabies virus (RABV) isolates collected from animals diagnosed with rabies between 2008 and 2009 were subjected to molecular and phylogenetic analyses. Six isolates originated from domestic animals (cattle and dogs) and five were obtained from wild free-ranging raccoon dogs. The similarities in the nucleotide sequences of the N gene among all Korean isolates ranged from 98.1 to 99.8%, while those of the G gene ranged from 97.9 to 99.3%. Based on the nucleotide analysis of the N and G genes, the Korean RABV isolates were confirmed as genotype I of Lyssavirus and classified into four distinct subgroups with high similarity. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Korean isolates were most closely related to the non-Korean NeiMeng1025B and 857r strains, which were isolated from rabid raccoon dogs in Eastern China and Russia, respectively. These findings suggest that the Korean RABV isolates originated from a rabid raccoon dog in Northeastern Asia. Genetic analysis of the Korean RABV isolates revealed no substitutions at several antigenic sites, indicating that the isolates circulating in Korea may be pathogenic in several hosts.

Two different conformations of rabies virus glycoprotein taken under neutral pH conditions

We previously reported that the rabies virus glycoprotein (G) takes either of two different conformations (referred to as B and C forms) under neutral pH conditions, that could be differentiated by their reactivity to a monoclonal antibody (mAb), #1-30-44, that recognizes the acid-sensitive conformational epitope, and the formation taken is dependent on two separate regions containing Lys-202 and Asn-336 of the protein (Kankanamge et al., Microbiol. Immunol., 47, 507-519, 2003). Semi-quantitative antibody-binding assays demonstrated that only one-third to one-fourth of mature G proteins on the cell surface were taking the 1-30-44 epitope-positive B form even at pH 7.4. The ratio of B to C varied, depending on the environmental pH, but did not decrease to zero even at pH 5.8-6.2, preserving a certain content (about 15-20%) of B form. Immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated that a portion of G proteins were intimately associated with a dimer form of matrix (M) protein in terms of resistance to treatment with a mixture of 1% deoxycholate and 1% Nonidet P-40, and seemed to preserve the B form even at lower pHs. Similar results were also obtained with the virion-associated G proteins, including the intimate association of a portion of the G proteins with the M protein dimer. From these results, we assume that a certain portion of the rabies virion-associated G proteins are associated with a dimer form of M protein, keeping the 1-30-44 epitope-positive B conformation under various pH conditions, which might possibly assure the virion's recognition of host cell receptor molecules in the body.

Current developments in viral DNA vaccines: shall they solve the unsolved?

This review describes the mechanisms of immune response following DNA vaccination. The efficacy of DNA vaccines in animal models is highlighted, especially in viral diseases against which no widely accepted vaccination is currently available. Emphasis is given to possible therapeutic vaccination in chronic infections due to persisting virus genomes, such as recurrent herpes (HSV-1 and HSV-2), pre-AIDS (HIV-1) and/or chronic hepatitis B (HBV). In these, the problem of introducing foreign viral DNA may not be of crucial importance, since the immunised subject is already a viral DNA (or provirus) carrier. The DNA-based immunisation strategies may overcome several problems of classical viral vaccines. Novel DNA vaccines could induce immunity against multiple viral epitopes including the conservative type common ones, which do not undergo antigenic drifts. Within the immunised host, they mimic the effect of live attenuated viral vaccines when continuously expressing the polypeptide in question. For this reason they directly stimulate the antigen-presenting cells, especially dendritic cells. The antigen encoded by plasmid elicits T helper cell activity (Th1 and Th2 type responses), primes the cytotoxic T cell memory and may induce a satisfactory humoral response. The efficacy of DNA vaccines can be improved by adding plasmids encoding immunomodulatory cytokines and/or their co-receptors.

Molecular epidemiology of rabies virus isolates from South Korea

A molecular epidemiological study was performed on 13 Korean virus isolates, which were collected from wild and domestic animals diagnosed as rabid between 1998 and 2004. Seven samples were from domestic animals such as dogs and cattle infected by rabid raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis), and the rest of the six samples were from raccoon dogs in the wild. The study was carried out based on the comparison of nucleotide and amino acid sequences of nucleoprotein (N) and glycoprotein (G) coding regions and nucleotide sequence of the G-L intergenic (Psi) non-coding region of the isolates. The similarities of nucleotide and amino acid sequence were at least 97.8 and 98.5%, respectively, between all Korean isolates. Phylogenetic analyses of the isolate showed that they formed a monophyletic group closely related to the Arctic strains but distant from other Asian strains, including Chinese strains. The fact that the raccoon dog is the main epidemic carrier of rabies in Korea and the results of these studies supported the conclusion of previous studies (Kuzmin et al.) that the raccoon dogs take part in the circulation of rabies virus within their natural territories in the Far East. The Korean isolates can be divided into two subgroups. All the topology of the most likelihood tree of Korean isolates using nucleotide and amino acid sequences of N, G and G-L region reflected not the species but the year of isolation and geographical location of the virus isolates. This study presents the detailed description of the molecular epidemiology of rabies virus in Korea.

Immunogenic and antigenic properties of recombinant soluble glycoprotein of rabies virus

Rabies virus glycoprotein is a type I transmembrane protein exposed on the surface on the mature virus particle that induces virus neutralizing antibodies. In the present study, 60 amino acid C-terminal hydrophobic anchor (transmembrane) and cytoplasmic domains of glycoprotein were deleted from full-length glycoprotein and fused with polyhistidine tag. The N-terminal viral signal peptide was also replaced with CD33 signal peptide for efficient secretion in mammalian cells. Following transfection of Madin Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells with plasmid encoding this soluble form of glycoprotein, polyclonal populations of stably transfected resistant cells were obtained after G418 selection. The protein was expressed as a glycosylated protein and secreted outside the cells utilizing N-terminal CD33 signal peptide. The secreted soluble glycoprotein was purified from cell culture supernatant by Ni--agarose affinity chromatography utilizing C-terminal polyhistidine tag. Like full-length glycoprotein, the expressed recombinant soluble glycoprotein was found to be immunogenic when injected in rabbits. In this study, we have assessed the potential of recombinant soluble glycoprotein as diagnostic antigen in ELISA and found that this recombinant protein can be used as diagnostic antigen in ELISA for detecting anti-glycoprotein antibodies in immunized host.

Further characterization of the rabies virus glycoproteins produced by virus-infected and G cDNA-transfected cells using a monoclonal antibody, #1-30-44, which recognizes an acid-sensitive epitope

Expression of rabies virus glycoprotein (G) by G cDNA-transfected mammalian cells resulted in the production of only a fusion-negative form. Low pH-dependent fusion activity, however, was seen when the expression was done under control of the T7 promoter with the help of recombinant vaccinia virus (RVV-T7) that provided T7 RNA polymerase. Fusion-inactive G proteins were transported to the cell surface as being detected by a conformational epitope-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb; #1-46-12). The fusion-inactive G proteins were recognized by most of our 13 conformation-specific mAbs, except for one mAb, #1-30-44, that recognized the low pH-sensitive conformational epitope. When the G gene expression was done with the help of RVV-T7, although most G proteins remained in the epitope-negative form, a small fraction of G gene products were 1-30-44 epitope-positive, and cell fusion activity could be seen when cells were exposed to low pH conditions. From these results, we conclude that acquisition of low pH-dependent fusion activity is closely related to structural maturation of the G protein to form the low pH-sensitive 1-30-44 epitope. Such maturation seems to be dependent on certain rabies virus-induced cellular conditions or functions, which might also be provided in part by the vaccinia virus infection. We further assume that expression of G cDNA alone mostly results in the production of mis-folded and/or differently folded forms of G protein, and only a small fraction is correctly folded even under RVV-T7-mediated expression conditions.

Mutations conferring resistance to neutralization by a soluble form of the neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) map outside of the known antigenic sites of the rabies virus glycoprotein

The neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) serves as a receptor for rabies virus (RV). We expressed and purified a soluble chimera consisting of the p75NTR ectodomain fused to the human immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) Fc fragment (p75-Fc). Although p75-Fc interacts with RV, the infectivity of RV did not decrease significantly when it was incubated in the presence of the soluble receptor alone. However, when it was subsequently incubated with an antihuman IgG directed against the Fc fragment of p75-Fc, the infectivity of RV was significantly lowered (>90%), whereas incubation with antihuman IgG alone had no effect. We then selected eight independent RV mutants that were not neutralized by p75-Fc and antihuman IgG (srr [soluble receptor resistant] mutants). Each mutant carried a single mutation in the glycoprotein gene leading to one amino acid substitution in the protein. A total of four different substitutions were found. Two of the mutations were located at position 318 (phenylalanine replaced by a serine or a valine residue), and two were located at position 352 (histidine replaced by a tyrosine or an arginine residue). All of the mutations prevented the interaction with p75NTR as either a soluble or a membrane-anchored form. Two mutants (F318S) and (H352R) resulted in the formation of small plaques on BSR cells, probably due to the slower maturation of the glycoprotein. Immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, and neutralization assays showed that the four mutated glycoproteins still interacted with representative anti-RV glycoprotein monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), indicating that p75NTR binds outside of the known RV glycoprotein antigenic sites.

A recombinant rabies virus expressing vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein fails to protect against rabies virus infection

To investigate the importance of the rabies virus (RV) glycoprotein (G) in protection against rabies, we constructed a recombinant RV (rRV) in which the RV G ecto- and transmembrane domains were replaced with the corresponding regions of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) glycoprotein (rRV-VSV-G). We were able to recover rRV-VSV-G and found that particle production was equal to rRV. However, the budding of the chimeric virus was delayed and infectious titers were reduced 10-fold compared with the parental rRV strain containing RV G. Biochemical analysis showed equal replication rates of both viruses, and similar amounts of wild-type and chimeric G were present in the respective viral particles. Additional studies were performed to determine whether the immune response against rRV-VSV-G was sufficient to protect against rabies. Mice were primed with rRV or rRV-VSV-G and challenged with a pathogenic strain of RV 12 days later. Similar immune responses against the internal viral proteins of both viruses indicated successful infection. All mice receiving the rRV vaccine survived the challenge, whereas immunization with rRV-VSV-G did not induce protection. The results confirm the crucial role of RV G in an RV vaccine.

Purification of the glycoprotein G from viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus, a fish rhabdovirus, by lectin affinity chromatography

A new method for the isolation of glycoprotein G from viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV), a fish rhabdovirus, was developed by using affinity chromatography with immobilized Concanavalin A (ConA). The glycoprotein G was isolated from detergent solubilized concentrated virions and from large-volume virion-free supernatants from VHSV infected cells (soluble form). The purity achieved was higher than 85%. The estimated recovery of the initial glycoprotein G present in the virions was between 20 and 50%. These glycoprotein G preparations showed the presence of about 30% of trimers by ultracentrifugation, reacted with antibodies to the phosphatidylserine binding domain (p2) in a pH-dependent manner by ELISA and bound phosphatidylserine in a pH-dependent manner by solid-phase binding assays. These data suggest that ConA purified glycoprotein G conserved most of its native properties and conformation.

Interferon-inducible Mx proteins in fish

Mx proteins are members of a family of interferon-inducible genes expressed when cells are treated with double-stranded RNA or virus infection. These proteins are important components of the antiviral response and form the first line of the body's defense against virus infections. The exact mechanism of action for these proteins has not been discovered, but mice missing the Mx genes are extremely sensitive to influenza virus infection. Mammals have between two and three Mx genes whose functions may vary with regard to the inhibition of a specific virus, cellular localization, and activity. The cDNA of three rainbow trout Mx proteins has been cloned and a comparison of their sequences with that of avian and mammalian species reveals striking conservation of domains. They all maintain the tripartite ATP/GTP binding domain and the dynamin family signature in the amino terminal half of the protein. In the carboxyl terminal half of the Mx proteins are the localization signals and the leucine zipper motifs which account for the trimerization of Mx in the cell. Like the rat and human Mx proteins, the different trout Mx proteins exhibit distinctly different immunohistochemical staining patterns in cells transfected with plasmids expressing RBTMx1, RBTMx2, or RBTMx3. To date, the antiviral function of the trout Mx proteins has not been satisfactorily established.

An avirulent mutant of rabies virus is unable to infect motoneurons in vivo and in vitro

An antigenic double mutant of rabies virus (challenge virus standard [CVS] strain) was selected by successive use of two neutralizing antiglycoprotein monoclonal antibodies, both specific for antigenic site III. This mutant differed from the original virus strain by two amino acid substitutions in the ectodomain of the glycoprotein. The lysine in position 330 and the arginine in position 333 were replaced by asparagine and methionine, respectively. This double mutant was not pathogenic for adult mice. When injected intramuscularly into the forelimbs of adult mice, this virus could not penetrate the nervous system, either by the motor or by the sensory route, while respective single mutants infected motoneurons in the spinal cord and sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia. In vitro experiments showed that the double mutant was able to infect BHK cells, neuroblastoma cells, and freshly prepared embryonic motoneurons, albeit with a lower efficiency than the CVS strain. Upon further incubation at 37 degrees C, the motoneurons became resistant to infection by the mutant while remaining permissive to CVS infection. These results suggest that rabies virus uses different types of receptors: a molecule which is ubiquitously expressed at the surface of continuous cell lines and which is recognized by both CVS and the double mutant and a neuron-specific molecule which is not recognized by the double mutant.

A virus-neutralizing epitope on the glycoprotein of rabies virus that contains Trp251 is a linear epitope

We have established a hybridoma producing monoclonal antibody (MAb) against a linear epitope of glycoprotein (G protein) of the RC-HL strain of rabies virus. This MAb15-13 showed almost the same neutralizing activity to all of five rabies fixed strains, including RC-HL, and reacted to the denatured G protein in western blot analysis. To characterize and map this linear epitope, an antigenic variant NR15-13 was selected from RC-HL strain in the presence of neutralizing MAb15-13. The variant reacted with MAb15-13 in an immunofluorescent antibody test but was not neutralized by the antibody and the antibody did not bind to the variant G protein in a Western blot analysis. The variant NR15-13 had an amino acid substitution at position 251 of the G protein, where tryptophan of the parental RC-HL strain was replaced by arginine. Site-directed mutagenesis analysis using the expression system in simian COS7 cells revealed that a single amino acid substitution at 251-tryptophan by arginine on the G protein of the parental RC-HL strain abolished the antigenicity of the epitope for MAb15-13 in western blot analysis, and the replacement of 251-arginine by tryptophan recovered the activity. These results strongly suggest that tryptophan at position 251 on the G protein is essential for construction of the linear epitope against MAb15-13.

Raccoon poxvirus live recombinant feline panleukopenia virus VP2 and rabies virus glycoprotein bivalent vaccine

A raccoon poxvirus (RCNV) recombinant for immunizing against feline panleukopenia and rabies was developed by homologous recombination with a chimeric plasmid for insertional inactivation of the RCNV thymidine kinase gene. The recombinant, RCN-FPV/VP2-rabG, coexpressed the feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) VP2 protein and the rabies virus spike glycoprotein (rabG) under oppositely oriented vaccinia virus P11 promoters. Cats vaccinated subcutaneously with the recombinant showed relatively high neutralizing antibody responses against rabies virus and FPV, and protection against an otherwise virulent FPV challenge with no drop in white blood cell count. Because of containment constraints, no rabies virus challenges were done, but the high concentrations (> 8 IU) of rabies neutralizing antibodies were consistent with levels that usually indicate an ability to counter the infection.

Folding of rabies virus glycoprotein: epitope acquisition and interaction with endoplasmic reticulum chaperones

Four well-characterized monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against rabies virus glycoprotein (G) were used to study G folding in vivo. Two of the MAbs were able to immunoprecipitate incompletely oxidized folding intermediates. The two others recognized G only after folding was completed. By using these MAbs, the ability of G to undergo low-pH-induced conformational changes during folding was also investigated. It appeared that some domains acquire this ability before folding is completed. In addition, interactions between unfolded G and some of the molecular chaperones were analyzed. Unfolded G was associated with BiP and calnexin. Association with BiP was maximal immediately after the pulse, whereas association with calnexin was maximal after 5 to 10 min of chase. The effects of tunicamycin and castanospermine on chaperone binding and folding were also studied. In the presence of both drugs, calnexin binding was reduced, consistent with the view that calnexin specifically recognizes monoglucosylated oligosaccharides, but some residual binding was still observed, indicating that calnexin also recognizes the polypeptide chain. In the presence of both drugs, association with BiP was increased and prolonged and folding was impaired. However, the global effects of the drugs were different, since folding was much more efficient in the presence of castanospermine than in the presence of tunicamycin. Taken together, these results provide the basis to draw a schematic view of rabies virus glycoprotein folding.

The glycoprotein genes and gene junctions of the fish rhabdoviruses spring viremia of carp virus and hirame rhabdovirus: analysis of relationships with other rhabdoviruses

The nucleotide sequences of the glycoprotein genes and all of the internal gene junctions of the fish pathogenic rhabdoviruses spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV) and hirame rhabdovirus (HIRRV) have been determined from cDNA clones generated from viral genomic RNA. The SVCV glycoprotein gene sequence is 1588 nucleotides (nt) long and encodes a 509 amino acid (aa) protein. The HIRRV glycoprotein gene sequence comprises 1612 nt, coding for a 508 aa protein. In sequence comparisons of 15 rhabdovirus glycoproteins, the SVCV glycoprotein gene showed the highest amino acid sequence identity (31.2-33.2%) with vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus (VSNJV), Chandipura virus (CHPV) and vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus (VSIV). The HIRRV glycoprotein gene showed a very high amino acid sequence identity (74.3%) with the glycoprotein gene of another fish pathogenic rhabdovirus, infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV), but no significant similarity with glycoproteins of VSIV or rabies virus (RABV). In phylogenetic analyses SVCV was grouped consistently with VSIV, VSNJV and CHPV in the Vesiculovirus genus of Rhabdoviridae. The fish rhabdoviruses HIRRV, IHNV and viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) showed close relationships with each other, but only very distant relationships with mammalian rhabdoviruses. The gene junctions are highly conserved between SVCV and VSIV, well conserved between IHNV and HIRRV, but not conserved between HIRRV/IHNV and RABV. Based on the combined results we suggest that the fish lyssa-type rhabdoviruses HIRRV, IHNV and VHSV may be grouped in their own genus within the family Rhabdoviridae. Aquarhabdovirus has been proposed for the name of this new genus.

The hydroxy amino acid in an Asn-X-Ser/Thr sequon can influence N-linked core glycosylation efficiency and the level of expression of a cell surface glycoprotein

N-Linked glycosylation usually occurs at the sequon, Asn-X-Ser/Thr. In this sequon, the side chain of the hydroxy amino acid (Ser or Thr) may play a direct catalytic role in the enzymatic transfer of core oligosaccharides to the Asn residue. Using recombinant variants of rabies virus glycoprotein (RGP), we examined the influence of the hydroxy amino acid on core glycosylation efficiency. A variant of RGP containing a single Asn-X-Ser sequon at Asn37 was modified by site-directed mutagenesis to change the sequon to either Asn-X-Cys or Asn-X-Thr. The impact of these changes on core glycosylation efficiency was assessed by expressing the variants in a cell-free transcription/translation/glycosylation system and in transfected tissue culture cells. Substitution of Cys at position 39 blocks glycosylation, whereas substitution of Thr dramatically increases core glycosylation efficiency of Asn37 in both membrane-anchored and secreted forms of RGP. The substitution of Thr for Ser also dramatically enhances the level of expression and cell surface delivery of RGP when the sequon at Asn37 is the only sequon in the protein. Novel forms of membrane-anchored and secreted RGP which are fully glycosylated at all three sequons were also generated by substitution of Thr at position 39.

Comparison of the effects of amino acid substitutions and beta-N- vs. alpha-O-glycosylation on the T-cell stimulatory activity and conformation of an epitope on the rabies virus glycoprotein

The first potential N-glycosylation site of the rabies virus glycoprotein, the antigen that carries epitopes for glycoprotein-specific T-cells and virus neutralizing antibodies, is glycosylated inefficiently. Recently, we showed that addition of a beta-N-acetyl-glucosamine moiety to the asparagine residue in the corresponding synthetic fragment V V E D E G C T N L S G F (amino acids 29-41), significantly diminished the T-cell stimulatory activity and reduced the characteristic alpha-helicity of the peptide. The amino acid sequence of the glycoprotein in this region exhibits some degree of variability among different rabies virus and rabies virus related strains, including the replacement of the asparagine residue with aspartic acid or threonine. In the current study, stimulation of a specific T-cell clone by various viral strains and appropriate tridecapeptide sequences and their analogs was investigated. The T-cell recognition pattern of the rabies and rabies-related viruses was identical to that of the synthetic peptides representing the respective epitope sequences. While the asparagine could be replaced without complete loss of T-cell stimulatory activity, amino acid modifications at the C-terminus of the peptide were not tolerated. In contrast to glycosylation of the asparagine, coupling of an N-acetyl-galactosamine moiety at the serine, or galactosyl-N-acetyl-galactosamine moieties at the threonines preceding or replacing the asparagine (all O-linked sugars in the natural alpha-anomeric configuration) resulted in epitopes that lowered rather than abolished the T-cell stimulatory activity. All non-glycosylated peptides assumed a low-to-medium helicity in trifluoroethanol. O-glycosylation was more efficient than N-glycosylation in breaking the helical conformation of the peptides to result in the formation of reverse-turns or unordered structure.

The glycoprotein G of rhabdoviruses

Rhabdoviruses show an RNA-containing helically-wound nucleocapsid either enclosed by or enclosing a membrane M protein, surrounded by a lipid bilayer through which dynamic protein trimers made up of non-covalently associated monomers of glycoprotein G (G) project outside. Mature monomeric rhabdoviral G has more than 500 amino acids, 2-6 potential glycosylation sites, 12-16 highly conserved cysteine residues, 2-3 stretches of a-d hydrophobic heptad-repeats, a removed amino terminal hydrophobic signal peptide, a close to the carboxy terminal hydrophobic transmembrane sequence and a carboxy terminal short hydrophylic cytoplasmic domain. Association-dissociation between monomers-trimers and displacement of the trimers along the plane of the lipid membrane, are induced by changes in the external conditions (pH, temperature, detergents, etc.). Throughout conformational changes the G trimers are responsible for the virus attachment to cell receptors, for low-pH membrane fusion and for reacting with host neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Antigenic differences could exist between monomers and trimers, which may have implications for future vaccine developments. The family Rhabdoviridae is made up of the Lyssavirus (rabies), the Vesiculovirus (vesicular stomatitis virus, VSV) and many rhabdoviruses infecting fish, plants, and arthropod insects. All these reasons make the G of rhabdoviruses an ideal subject to study comparative virology and to investigate new vaccine technologies.

Heptad-repeat sequences in the glycoprotein of rhabdoviruses

Two or three regions containing three or more successive newly defined heptads of a-d hydrophobic amino acid repeats have been located in the cDNA-derived amino acid sequences of glycoprotein G of all rhabdoviruses examined (rabies, vesicular stomatitis, fish, and plant rhabdoviruses) by computer search. These new heptad-repeats differ from those previously reported in other viruses because of the presence of all the hydrophobic amino acids in positions a or d, and because they are not predicted to form coiled coils by current methods and thus they have not been detected previously in any rhabdoviruses. The two or three heptad-repeat regions were the only parts of the glycoprotein with at least three successive heptad-repeats in all the rhabdoviral sequences studied and had low sequence variability among the members of each of the rhabdoviral genius but show no sequence similarity among the different genus. All these newly detected heptad repeats were in the vicinity of some of the higher hydrophobic regions in each of the rhabdovirus genera studied and were found mostly, but not always, outside the extra amino acid sequences that occur in the longer insect or plant rhabdovirus glycoprotein G. The correspondence of position and structure of these heptad-repeats among all the rhabdoviruses suggests its participation in common function(s), most probably related to viral fusion with cellular membranes.

Neutralization-resistant variants of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus have altered virulence and tissue tropism

Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) is a rhabdovirus that causes an acute disease in salmon and trout. In this study, a correlation between changes in tissue tropism and specific changes in the virus genome appeared to be made by examining four IHNV neutralization-resistant variants (RB-1, RB-2, RB-3, and RB-4) that had been selected with the glycoprotein (G)-specific monoclonal antibody RB/B5. These variants were compared with the parental strain (RB-76) for their virulence and pathogenicity in rainbow trout after waterborne challenge. Variants RB-2, RB-3, and RB-4 were only slightly attenuated and showed distributions of viral antigen in the livers and hematopoietic tissues of infected fish similar to those of the parental strain. Variant RB-1, however, was highly attenuated and the tissue distribution of viral antigen in RB-1-infected fish was markedly different, with more viral antigen in brain tissue. The sequences of the G genes of all four variants and RB-76 were determined. No significant changes were found for the slightly attenuated variants, but RB-1 G had two changes at amino acids 78 and 218 that dramatically altered its predicted secondary structure. These changes are thought to be responsible for the altered tissue tropism of the virus. Thus, IHNV G, like that of rabies virus and vesicular stomatitis virus, plays an integral part in the pathogenesis of viral infection.

Nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the glycoprotein gene of rabies virus vaccine strain Vnukovo-32

The glycoprotein gene of the rabies virus vaccine strain Vnukovo-32 was sequenced and the deduced protein sequence was analyzed and compared with that of various laboratory and street strains. The amino acid sequence homologies of strain Vnukovo-32 were compared with fixed strains ERA, SAD B19, PV, HEP-Flury, CVS and two street strains, canine and CXX89-1, were 98.9% (6 replacements), 98.3% (9), 96.2% (20), 91.4% (45), 87.0% (68), 93.5% (34) and 91.4% (45), respectively. Sequence alignments of the proteins revealed that the most conserved region is the ectodomain, whereas the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains showed significant divergence.

Efficiency of N-linked core glycosylation at asparagine-319 of rabies virus glycoprotein is altered by deletions C-terminal to the glycosylation sequon

In N-linked core glycosylation, the oligosaccharide Glc3Man9GlcNAc2 is transferred to the tripeptide sequon Asn-X-Ser/Thr. However, this process must be regulated by additional protein signals, since many sequons are either poorly glycosylated or not glycosylated at all. Since N-linked glycosylation can influence protein structure and function, understanding these signals is essential for the design and expression of recombinant glycoproteins. Core glycosylation usually occurs cotranslationally in the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) during translocation of nascent proteins. Since only regions of a protein immediately near to a sequon or N-terminal to it are thought to be in the RER when core glycosylation occurs, most models predict that regions C-terminal to the sequon do not influence this process. We tested whether regions C-terminal to a sequon can influence its core glycosylation. Full-length (505 amino acid) rabies virus glycoprotein (RGP) mutants, each containing only one of the three sequons normally present in RGP, were used for these studies. Using a cell-free system, the core glycosylation efficiency at each sequon was determined. Termination codons were then introduced into these mutants at defined sites to produce C-terminal truncations, and the effect of each of these truncations on the core glycosylation efficiency at each sequon was assessed. While deletion of the C-terminal transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains did not affect core glycosylation, more extensive C-terminal deletions did result in altered core glycosylation in a site-specific fashion. Specifically, C-terminal truncations resulting in proteins containing 386 or 344 amino acids decreased the efficiency of core glycosylation at Asn319. This demonstrates that core glycosylation efficiency can be influenced by the presence or absence of regions in a protein more than 68 amino acids C-terminal to a specific glycosylation site.

Protective activity of a murine monoclonal antibody against European bat lyssavirus 1 (EBL1) infection in mice

A mouse model was designed to test in vivo the efficacy of rabies immune globulins and specific neutralizing monoclonal antibodies to prevent European bat lyssavirus 1 infection. Human or equine rabies immune globulins previously found to contain variable amounts of neutralizing bat lyssavirus crossreactive antibodies were passively transferred to mice receiving intramuscularly a lethal dose of bat lyssavirus type 1. Immune globulins did not protect mice well against bat lyssavirus 1 whereas they reduced the mortality caused by rabies virus. In contrast, mice inoculated with bat lyssavirus 1 or rabies virus survived when passively immunized with bat lyssavirus 1 specific monoclonal antibody (mAb 8-2). This monoclonal antibody, an IgG2 alpha, recognized an epitope located in the antigenic site IIa of rabies glycoprotein. A mutation replacing the lysine 198 by glutamate in a rabies variant abrogated sensitivity to this neutralizing antibody. Because of its broad neutralizing spectrum against wild virus isolates, including European bat lyssaviruses, this monoclonal antibody should be a good candidate for rabies immune globulin replacement. It could improve efficacy of rabies vaccination, used either alone or in conjunction with human rabies immune globulins or monoclonal antibody cocktail to supplement their lack of crossreactivity to European bat lyssavirus 1.

Rabies virus glycoprotein is a trimer

The oligomerization state of the rabies virus envelope glycoprotein (G protein) was determined using electron microscopy and sedimentation analysis of detergent solubilized G. Most of the detergents used in this study solubilized G in a 4 S monomeric form. However, when CHAPS was used, G had a sedimentation coefficient of 9 S. This high sedimentation coefficient allowed its further separation from M1 and M2. Using electron microscopy of negatively stained samples, we studied the morphology of G on virus and after detergent extraction. End-on views of G on virus clearly showed triangles consisting of three dots indicating the trimeric nature of native G. End-on views of CHAPS-isolated G showed very similar triangles confirming that, using this detergent, G was solubilized in its native trimeric structure. Electron microscopy also showed that G had a "head" and a "stalk" and provided the basis for a low-resolution model of the glycoprotein structure.

Membrane fusion activity, oligomerization, and assembly of the rabies virus glycoprotein

The spike glycoprotein (G protein) of rabies virus (CVS strain) expressed in HeLa cells from cloned cDNA mediated membrane fusion after exposure to pHs of 6.1 or below. Chemical crosslinking showed that the rabies G protein, like the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) G protein, could be crosslinked to dimers and trimers, indicating that rabies G protein is a trimer. However, unlike the VSV G protein, rabies G protein trimers were not stable to sedimentation in sucrose gradients, even at a mildly acidic pH which stabilizes the VSV G protein trimers. In addition, we report that the expressed rabies virus G protein was functional because it could assemble into VSV particles (tsO45) lacking VSV G protein and rescue infectivity. These VSV (rabies) pseudotypes were neutralized only by an antibody to the rabies G protein. We also examined the properties of a hybrid protein containing the extracellular domain of the rabies virus glycoprotein and the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of the VSV G protein. This protein was transported to the cell surface and could be crosslinked to form dimers and trimers, but had little or no detectable membrane fusion activity. The lack of fusion activity was paradoxical because the hybrid protein could rescue VSV infectivity, although the titers were lower than those obtained with the wild-type rabies G protein.

Fatty acylation of rabies virus proteins

The fatty acylation of rabies virus (CVS strain) proteins was investigated. [3H]palmitic acid was found to be incorporated into the glycoprotein G and to a lesser extent into the membrane-associated protein M2. The fatty acid linkage on G was sensitive to sodium borohydride, mercaptoethanol, and hydroxylamine, indicating that the linkage was of the thiolester type. Bromelain digestion indicated that the palmitoylation site on G was located in the intracytoplasmic domain or in the transmembrane domain in which there is only one cysteine in position 461. Therefore, palmitoylation is likely to occur at this position. In the case of M2, the linkage was also sensitive to hydroxylamine and sodium borohydride and to a lesser extent to mercaptoethanol, suggesting that the linkage also occurred on a cysteine.

Antigenicity of rabies virus glycoprotein

Although the number of antigenic sites on the rabies virus glycoprotein that have been described regularly increases with time, no attempt has been made to carefully evaluate the relative importance of each of these sites. Here we provide a more precise description of the antigenicity of the protein in mice of the H-2d haplotype; we developed this description by using 264 newly isolated monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and a collection of neutralization-resistant (MAR) mutants. Most of the MAbs (97%) recognized antigenic sites previously described as II and III. One minor antigenic site separated from site III by three amino acids, including a proline, was identified (minor site a). Despite their proximity, there is no overlap between site III and minor site a; i.e., site III-specific MAR mutants were neutralized by the six MAbs defining minor site a, and vice versa. One of our MAbs, 1D1, reacted with sodium dodecyl sulfate-treated glycoprotein in Western blots (immunoblots) under reducing conditions and was therefore probably directed against a linear epitope, A MAR mutant selected with this MAb was still neutralized by MAbs of other specificities. This linear epitope was called G1 (G, Gif). As a general rule, we propose to reserve the term "antigenic site" (either major or minor) for regions of the protein which are defined by several MAbs originating from different fusions and to describe regions of the protein which are defined by a single MAb as epitopes. It would be interesting to test whether the same regions of the rabies virus glycoprotein are antigenic in mice of different haplotypes or in other species.

Structural and immunological characterization of a linear virus-neutralizing epitope of the rabies virus glycoprotein and its possible use in a synthetic vaccine

We have mapped a linear epitope recognized by the virus-neutralizing monoclonal antibody 6-15C4 within the primary sequence of the G protein from the Evelyn-Rokitnicki-Abelseth strain of rabies virus. This was accomplished by using fragments of the rabies virus G protein and deduced amino acid sequences of neutralization-resistant variant rabies viruses. The monoclonal antibody 6-15C4 specifically recognized a synthetic peptide (peptide G5-24) which resembles the 6-15C4 epitope in structure. In addition, a tandem peptide constructed from the G5-24 peptide and a dominant TH cell epitope of the rabies virus N protein induced protective immunity against lethal rabies virus challenge infection in mice.

Vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus glycoprotein gene sequence and neutralizing epitope stability in an enzootic focus

Vesicular stomatitis New Jersey (VS NJ) virus is capable of undergoing rapid evolution in nature and therefore has the potential for antigenic variation. We selected an area of Costa Rica where VS NJ virus is enzootic to study whether this virus used the mechanism of antigenic variation to persist in nature. Three sentinel herds and three nonsentinel herds were observed from 1986 to 1988. Eleven VS NJ virus isolates were collected from naturally infected cattle. Remarkably, nine animals that were bled prior to reinfection with VS NJ virus had neutralizing antibody titers up to 1: 102,400 yet virus was isolated from, and disease was observed in, these animals. Sequence analysis of the portion of the glycoprotein gene coding for the neutralizing epitopes demonstrated that all virus isolates were 98-100% similar with no indication of specific genetic variation. The 3' end of the glycoprotein gene also remained stable in that all isolates were again 98-100% similar in nucleotide sequence. Each isolate was neutralized to equivalent titers with monoclonal antibodies directed against four neutralizing epitopes on the glycoprotein. Additionally, preisolation sera from each animal were able to neutralize the virus that caused the subsequent disease. These results provide evidence that antigenic variation is not a mechanism used by VS NJ virus to persist in an enzootic focus of Costa Rica.

Molecular cloning and complete nucleotide sequence of the attenuated rabies virus SAD B19

Complementary DNA spanning the entire genome of the attenuated rabies virus strain SAD B19 which is used for oral immunization of foxes in Europe was cloned and sequenced. The viral genome comprises 11,928 nucleotides and encodes the five viral proteins N, NS, M, G, and L. Deduced protein sequences are highly similar to those of the pathogenic PV strain, homologies ranging from 90.6% for the M to 98.6% for the L protein. The five cistrons are separated by intergenic regions of 2, 5, 5, and 24 nucleotides, respectively. The G transcription stop/polyadenylation consensus signal in SAD B19 is destroyed by a deletion of three A residues. The strong conservation of both noncoding and coding nucleotide sequences indicates a high selective pressure on the primary structure of rabies virus genomic RNA.

Mature, cell-associated HN protein of Newcastle disease virus exists in two forms differentiated by posttranslational modifications

Characterization of the posttranslational modifications of the mature, cell-associated hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) revealed that the HN protein exists in two forms differentiated by disulfide bonds and glycosylation. One form, HNa, contains intermolecular disulfide bonds and is endoglycosidase H partially resistant. The other form, HNb, is not linked by disulfide bonds and is endoglycosidase H sensitive. Both forms of the protein are modified with fucose indicating transport to the Golgi membranes. Both forms are detected at the cell surface by monoclonal antibody. Furthermore, both forms are transported to the cell surface with identical kinetics. HNa is incorporated into virions. HNb is not incorporated into virions and is presumably degraded. The cDNA derived from the HN gene was expressed from a retrovirus vector. The majority of the protein expressed was in the nonvirion-associated form b. Evidence is presented that the level of gene expression determines the ratio of the two forms of HN protein. At high levels of expression, the virion-associated form is favored while at low levels of expression the nonvirion-associated form is favored. The results presented have implications for persistent infections as well as expression of viral genes from different vectors.

Immunogenic and protective properties of rabies virus glycoprotein expressed by baculovirus vectors

The gene encoding the glycoprotein of rabies virus (G protein, CVS strain) has been cloned and inserted into the baculovirus transfer vector pAcYM1 derived from the nuclear polyhedrosis virus of Autographa californica (AcNPV). The gene was placed under the control of the AcNPV polyhedrin promoter and expressed to high levels by the derived recombinant virus using a Spodoptera frugiperda cell line. It has been established that the antigenic characteristics of the protein were conserved by comparison with those of the native glycoprotein of rabies virions. The immunogenicity of the expressed product was also demonstrated. Intraperitoneal or intramuscular injection of G antigen conferred protection to mice and was associated with the induction of high titers of neutralizing antibodies. The availability of large quantities of antigenically and immunogenically reactive rabies G protein may make feasible crystallographic studies and the safe preparation of a low cost subunit vaccine for the disease.

The 3'terminus of lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus genome RNA does not contain togavirus or flavivirus conserved sequences

Lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus (LDV) is currently considered to be an unclassified togavirus. The 3' terminus of the genome RNA of the C-strain of LDV was cloned and sequenced. A synthetic DNA oligomer complementary to the 3' portion of this cloned sequence was then used to prime dideoxy sequencing from the LDV-C genome RNA as well as from the genome RNAs of three additional LDV isolates. A high degree of sequence conservation was observed in the 3' terminal region among the four LDV isolates analyzed. Comparison of the LDV 3' sequence with those of the alpha togaviruses, rubella virus, and the flaviviruses showed that the LDV genome does not contain conserved 3' sequences characteristic of these viruses.