Jiaqiang Wu

Genetic variation and pathogenicity of highly virulent porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus emerging in China.

A highly pathogenic swine disease designated as ‘porcine high fever disease (PHFD)’ appeared recently in China. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) was identified as an agent associated with PHFD, and two discontiguous sequence deletions were identified as a genetic marker in the Nsp2 region of the viral genome. To examine PHFD in Shandong province, a total of 10 PRRSV isolates were recovered from pig herds that had never been vaccinated for PRRS. Sequence analysis of open reading frame 5 (ORF5) showed that the level of identity among the 10 isolates ranged between 88.2 and 99.2%. For the non-structural protein 2 (Nsp2) gene, three isolates shared high sequence identity with VR-2332, the prototype virus of the North American genotype, while the remaining seven isolates exhibited two discontiguous sequence deletions that were identical to those of PHFD: a one-amino-acid (phenylalanine) deletion at position 482 and a 29-amino-acid deletion at positions 533–561 of Nsp2. Experimental infection of pigs with SD-JN, which was one of the seven isolates containing such deletions, resulted in severe clinical symptoms characterized by red discoloration on the body and hemorrhages in the lungs, kidneys, and inguinal lymph nodes, accompanied by higher mortality and longer duration of viremia. These symptoms were similar to those of PHFD observed in the field. Our results show that VR2332-like PRRSV coexists with PHFD-associated atypical PRRSV in pig herds in the Shandong area, and different PRRSV isolates differ greatly in their pathogenesis and virulence in pigs.

3Cpro of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Antagonizes the Interferon Signaling Pathway by Blocking STAT1/STAT2 Nuclear Translocation

ABSTRACT Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) causes a highly contagious, debilitating disease in cloven-hoofed animals with devastating economic consequences. To survive in the host, FMDV has evolved to antagonize the host type I interferon (IFN) response. Previous studies have reported that the leader proteinase (Lpro) and 3Cpro of FMDV are involved in the inhibition of type I IFN production. However, whether the proteins of FMDV can inhibit type I IFN signaling is less well understood. In this study, we first found that 3Cpro of FMDV functioned to interfere with the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Expression of 3Cpro significantly reduced the transcript levels of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) and IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE) promoter activity. The protein level, tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT2, and their heterodimerization were not affected. However, the nuclear translocation of STAT1/STAT2 was blocked by the 3Cpro protein. Further mechanistic studies demonstrated that 3Cpro induced proteasome- and caspase-independent protein degradation of karyopherin α1 (KPNA1), the nuclear localization signal receptor for tyrosine-phosphorylated STAT1, but not karyopherin α2, α3, or α4. Finally, we showed that the protease activity of 3Cpro contributed to the degradation of KPNA1 and thus blocked STAT1/STAT2 nuclear translocation. Taken together, results of our experiments describe for the first time a novel mechanism by which FMDV evolves to inhibit IFN signaling and counteract host innate antiviral responses. IMPORTANCE We show that 3Cpro of FMDV antagonizes the JAK-STAT signaling pathway by blocking STAT1/STAT2 nuclear translocation. Furthermore, 3Cpro induces KPNA1 degradation, which is independent of proteasome and caspase pathways. The protease activity of 3Cpro contributes to the degradation of KPNA1 and governs the ability of 3Cpro to inhibit the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. This study uncovers a novel mechanism evolved by FMDV to antagonize host innate immune responses.

Synergy of TLR3 and 7 ligands significantly enhances function of DCs to present inactivated PRRSV antigen through TRIF/MyD88-NF-κB signaling pathway.

PRRS is one of the most important diseases in swine industry. Current PRRS inactivated vaccine provides only a limited protection and cannot induce sufficient cell-mediated immune responses. In this study, we first found that the mRNA and protein levels of Th1-type cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-12) and Th2-type cytokines (IL-6, IL-10) were significantly increased through TRIF/MyD88-NF-κB signaling pathway when porcine peripheral blood monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDCs) were treated with poly (I: C) of TLR3 ligand and imiquimod of TLR7 ligand, along with inactivated PRRSV antigen. Meanwhile, the ability of catching PRRSV antigen was also significantly enhanced. In mice experiment, it was found that the PRRSV-specific T lymphocyte proliferation, the percentages of CD4+, CD8+ T lymphocytes and PRRSV-specific CD3+ T cells producing IFN-γ and IL-4, the levels of Th1- and Th2-type cytokines and the titers of neutralization antibody were significantly enhanced in poly (I: C), imiquimod along with inactivated PRRSV group. Taken together, results of our experiments described for the first time that synergy of TLR3 and 7 ligands could significantly enhance the function of DCs to present inactivated PRRSV antigen through TRIF/MyD88-NF-κB signaling pathway and be used as adjuvant candidate for the development of novel PRRS inactivated vaccine.

Evaluation of a DNA vaccine candidate co-expressing GP3 and GP5 of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) with interferon α/γ in immediate and long-lasting protection against HP-PRRSV challenge

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has become one of the most economically important diseases to the global pork industry. Current vaccination strategies only provide a limited protective efficacy. In this study, a DNA vaccine, pVAX1©-α-γ-GP35, co-expressing GP3 and GP5 of PRRSV with interferon α/γ was constructed, and its immediate and long-lasting protection against highly pathogenic PRRSV (HP-PRRSV) challenge were examined in pigs. For immediate protection, the results showed that pVAX1©-α-γ-GP35 could provide partially protective efficacy, which was similar to the pVAX1©-α-γ (expressing interferon α/γ). For long-lasting protection, pigs inoculated with pVAX1©-α-γ-GP35 developed significantly higher PRRSV-specific antibody response, T cell proliferation, IFN-γ, and IL-4, than those vaccinated with pVAX1©-GP35 (expressing GP3 and GP5 of PRRSV). Following homologous challenge with HP-PRRSV strain SD-JN, pigs inoculated with pVAX1©-α-γ-GP35 showed almost no clinical signs, no lung lesions, and significantly lower viremia, as compared to those in pVAX1©-GP35 group. It indicated that pVAX1©-α-γ-GP35 could induce enhanced immune responses and provide both immediate and long-lasting protection against HP-PRRSV challenge in pigs. The DNA vaccine pVAX1©-α-γ-GP35 might be an attractive candidate vaccine for the prevention and control of HP-PRRSV infections.

Complete Genome Sequence of a Moderately Pathogenic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Variant Strain

ABSTRACT Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) has become one of the most economically important diseases to the global pork industry. The etiological agent is the PRRS virus (PRRSV). In the spring of 2006, a highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (HP-PRRSV) appeared in China and caused heavy economic losses. Here we report the complete genomic sequence of a novel PRRSV variant with 174 amino acid deletions in the nonstructural protein 2 (nsp2) gene.

Nuclear export signal of PRRSV NSP1α is necessary for type I IFN inhibition

The nonstructural protein 1α (NSP1α) of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a nucleo-cytoplasmic protein that suppresses the production of type I interferon (IFN). In this study, we investigated the relationship between the subcellular distribution of NSP1α and its inhibition of type I IFN. NSP1α was found to contain the classical nuclear export signal (NES) and NSP1α nuclear export was CRM-1-mediated. NSP1α was shuttling between the nucleus and cytoplasm. We also showed that the nuclear export of NSP1α was necessary for its ability for type I IFN inhibition. NSP1α was also found to interact with CBP, which implies a possible mechanism of CBP degradation by NSP1α. Taken together, our results describe a novel mechanism of PRRSV NSP1α for type I IFN inhibition and suppression of the host innate antiviral response.

Highly Efficient Expression of Interleukin-2 under the Control of Rabbit β-Globin Intron II Gene Enhances Protective Immune Responses of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) DNA Vaccine in Pigs

Highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (HP-PRRSV) had caused catastrophic losses in swine industry in China. The current inactivated vaccine provided only limited protection, and the attenuated live vaccine could protect piglets against the HP-PRRSV but there was a possibility that the attenuated virus returned to high virulence. In this study, the eukaryotic expression vector pVAX1© was modified under the control of rabbit β-globin intron II gene and the modified vector pMVAX1© was constructed. Porcine interleukin-2 (IL-2) and GP3-GP5 fusion protein of HP-PRRSV strain SD-JN were highly expressed by pMVAX1©. Mice inoculated with pMVAX1©-GP35 developed significantly higher PRRSV-specific antibody responses and T cell proliferation than those vaccinated with pVAX1©-GP35. pMVAX1©-GP35 was selected as PRRS DNA vaccine candidate and co-administrated with pVAX1©-IL-2 or pMVAX1©-IL-2 in pigs. pMVAX1©-IL-2+pMVAX1©-GP35 could provide enhanced PRRSV-specific antibody responses, T cell proliferation, Th1-type and Th2-type cytokine responses and CTL responses than pMVAX1©-GP35 and pVAX1©-IL-2+pMVAX1©-GP35. Following homologous challenge with HP-PRRSV strain SD-JN, similar with attenuated PRRS vaccine group, pigs inoculated with pMVAX1©-IL-2+pMVAX1©-GP35 showed no clinical signs, almost no lung lesions and no viremia, as compared to those in pMVAX1©-GP35 and pVAX1©-IL-2+pMVAX1©-GP35 groups. It indicated that pMVAX1©-IL-2 effectively increases humoral and cell mediated immune responses of pMVAX1©-GP35. Co-administration of pMVAX1©-IL-2 and pMVAX1©-GP35 might be attractive candidate vaccines for preventing HP-PRRSV infections.

Direct frequency comb optical frequency standard based on two-photon transitions of thermal atoms.

Optical clocks have been the focus of science and technology research areas due to their capability to provide highest frequency accuracy and stability to date. Their superior frequency performance promises significant advances in the fields of fundamental research as well as practical applications including satellite-based navigation and ranging. In traditional optical clocks, ultrastable optical cavities, laser cooling and particle (atoms or a single ion) trapping techniques are employed to guarantee high stability and accuracy. However, on the other hand, they make optical clocks an entire optical tableful of equipment, and cannot work continuously for a long time; as a result, they restrict optical clocks used as very convenient and compact time-keeping clocks. In this article, we proposed, and experimentally demonstrated, a novel scheme of optical frequency standard based on comb-directly-excited atomic two-photon transitions. By taking advantage of the natural properties of the comb and two-photon transitions, this frequency standard achieves a simplified structure, high robustness as well as decent frequency stability, which promise widespread applications in various scenarios.

Complete Genome Sequence of Porcine Circovirus 2b Strain Shandong

ABSTRACT Shandong is a porcine circovirus 2b (PCV2b) strain that was isolated and purified from tissue samples from pigs with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in the Shandong Province of China. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of strain Shandong, which may aid in understanding the molecular characteristics of this strain.

Complete Genome Sequence of Recombinant Porcine Circovirus Type 2 Strain SD-3

ABSTRACT We report here the genome sequence of a recombinant porcine circovirus type 2 strain SD-3, isolated from a commercial swine farm with an outbreak of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in pigs in Shandong Province of China. The complete circular genome of this isolate is 1,767 nucleotides in length. This recombinant isolate has the ORF1 regions from PCV2a viruses and ORF2 regions from PCV2b. The findings will help us to understand the molecular evolution of porcine circovirus type 2 and the relationship between porcine circovirus type 2 and disease.