Expression of recombinant small hydrophobic protein for serospecific detection of avian pneumovirus subgroup C

Baculovirus expression and antigenic characterization of classical swine fever virus E2 proteins

Genes encoding a major structural glycoprotein, E2, of classical swine fever viruses (CSFV) Brescia (subgroup 1.2), Paderborn (subgroup 2.1) and Kanagawa (subgroup 3.4) were constructed by removing the transmembrane domain and adding a C-terminal 6 histidine (His) tag. All the E2 constructs were efficiently expressed in a baculovirus system as 53-kDa glycosylated proteins that were identified in Western blots by their reaction with anti-His and CSFV-specific antibodies. These proteins were used as ELISA antigens to confirm the existence of an antigenic relationship between the viruses using group-specific polyclonal antisera. Antigenic differences were identified by Western blot and ELISA reactivity of the E2 proteins with a panel of monoclonal antibodies. Specifically, one monoclonal antibody (WH303) reacted with all three proteins, two monoclonal antibodies (M1660 and M1665) reacted with only the Brescia E2 protein, and three monoclonal antibodies (M1654, M1664 and M1669) reacted equally well with only Brescia and Kanagawa E2 proteins. Therefore, antibody reactivity profiles, established using recombinant E2 proteins, could be used to quickly identify novel CSFV strains as illustrated in this report with only a limited number of monoclonal antibodies. These proteins could also have added utility in the production of monoclonal antibodies and as critical reagents in diagnostic assays.

Recombinant protein-based viral disease diagnostics in veterinary medicine

Identification of pathogens or antibody response to pathogens in human and animals modulates the treatment strategies for naive population and subsequent infections. Diseases can be controlled and even eradicated based on the epidemiology and effective prophylaxis, which often depends on development of efficient diagnostics. In addition, combating newly emerging diseases in human as well as animal healthcare is challenging and is dependent on developing safe and efficient diagnostics. Detection of antibodies directed against specific antigens has been the method of choice for documenting prior infection. Other than zoonosis, development of inexpensive vaccines and diagnostics is a unique problem in animal healthcare. The advent of recombinant DNA technology and its application in the biotechnology industry has revolutionized animal healthcare. The use of recombinant DNA technology in animal disease diagnosis has improved the rapidity, specificity and sensitivity of various diagnostic assays. This is because of the absence of host cellular proteins in the recombinant derived antigen preparations that dramatically decrease the rate of false-positive reactions. Various recombinant products are used for disease diagnosis in veterinary medicine and this article discusses recombinant-based viral disease diagnostics currently used for detection of pathogens in livestock and poultry.

Characterization of the biosynthesis and cell surface expression of avian metapneumovirus attachment glycoprotein

Biosynthesis, glycosylation and cell surface expression of the AMPV/C G protein were examined in eukaryotic cell lines (LLC-MK2, CHO-K1, CHO-1d1D). Immature G gene products with a molecular mass of 42, 45 and 58-90 kilodaltons (kDa) were identified by SDS-PAGE and represented glycosylated intermediates. Tunicamycin treatment of transfected cells confirmed the presence of N-linked carbohydrate moieties on these intermediate species and identified a 38 kDa unglycosylated precursor. A fully processed, mature form of the protein migrated around 110 kDa. The presence of O-linked sugars on the mature G protein was confirmed by using the O-glycosylation deficient CHO-ldlD cell line supplemented with exogenous Gal and GalNAc. Binding of the lectin Arachis hypogaea (peanut agglutinin) confirmed the presence of O-linked sugars on the mature protein and its intracellular transport to the cell surface was demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescent staining.

Seroprevalence of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan analyzed by a recombinant nucleocapsid protein-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a newly identified respiratory virus associated with respiratory tract infection in both adults and children. Previous reports showed that infection of hMPV appeared to be ubiquitous. To determine the seroprevalence of hMPV, a total of 576 human sera from patients in Saskatchewan, Canada, were screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on expression of the nucleocapsid (N) protein of hMPV in recombinant baculovirus. The recombinant N protein with a molecular mass of 43.5 kDa was abundantly produced in insect cells. Moreover, the recombinant N proteins of the prototype viruses for the two major groups of hMPV have cross-antigenicity. The seropositive rate for each age group was 13.5% (13/96) (0-5 years), 26.1% (25/96) (6-10 years), 32.3% (31/96) (11-15 years), 99.0% (95/96) (16-30 years), 91.7% (88/96) (31-60 years), and 93.8% (90/96) (61+ years), respectively. The data indicated that exposure to hMPV is a common phenomenon. The ELISA based on recombinant baculovirus produced N protein of hMPV provides a useful tool for seroepidemiological study of this virus.

Production of a recombinant major inner capsid protein for serological detection of epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus

Constructs of the major core protein, designated VP7, from epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) type 1 were made by amino- or carboxyl-terminal fusion of a six-histidine residue tag to the VP7-1 gene. The resulting fusion proteins were produced in a baculovirus expression system and purified by a rapid, one-step procedure using nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid technology. A high level of VP7-1 protein expression was detected with the N-terminal six-histidine tag fusion construct and was comparable to the level of expression observed with an untagged VP7-1 Bam construct. In contrast, the inclusion of a six-histidine tag at the C terminus adversely affected protein expression. The antigenicity of the N-terminal six-histidine tag EHDV VP7-1 product was identical to that observed with the native virus antigen and untagged EHDV VP7-1 recombinant protein, as determined by reactivity with EHDV specific antibodies in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot. The high production and purity levels that can be attained for the N-terminal six-histidine tag VP7-1 protein and its reactivity with EHDV-specific sera in a competitive ELISA make it a suitable assay reagent.