Yun-Shiang Chang

A 3D Model of the Membrane Protein Complex Formed by the White Spot Syndrome Virus Structural Proteins

Background Outbreaks of white spot disease have had a large negative economic impact on cultured shrimp worldwide. However, the pathogenesis of the causative virus, WSSV (whit spot syndrome virus), is not yet well understood. WSSV is a large enveloped virus. The WSSV virion has three structural layers surrounding its core DNA: an outer envelope, a tegument and a nucleocapsid. In this study, we investigated the protein-protein interactions of the major WSSV structural proteins, including several envelope and tegument proteins that are known to be involved in the infection process. Principal Findings In the present report, we used coimmunoprecipitation and yeast two-hybrid assays to elucidate and/or confirm all the interactions that occur among the WSSV structural (envelope and tegument) proteins VP51A, VP19, VP24, VP26 and VP28. We found that VP51A interacted directly not only with VP26 but also with VP19 and VP24. VP51A, VP19 and VP24 were also shown to have an affinity for self-interaction. Chemical cross-linking assays showed that these three self-interacting proteins could occur as dimers. Conclusions From our present results in conjunction with other previously established interactions we construct a 3D model in which VP24 acts as a core protein that directly associates with VP26, VP28, VP38A, VP51A and WSV010 to form a membrane-associated protein complex. VP19 and VP37 are attached to this complex via association with VP51A and VP28, respectively. Through the VP26-VP51C interaction this envelope complex is anchored to the nucleocapsid, which is made of layers of rings formed by VP664. A 3D model of the nucleocapsid and the surrounding outer membrane is presented.

Major Viral Diseases of Penaeus Monodon in Taiwan

Preliminary results are reported on an automatic manipulation system for the masspropagation and chromosome manipulation of the small abalone,Haliotis diversicolor.The system was designed based on the optimum conditions obtained from tests simulatingthe possible conditions during automatic manipulation.Small abalone eggs couldwithstand seawater and air exposure for up to 210 min and 80 min,respectively,beforefertilization.Fertilized eggs could accumulate up to 0.8 cm thick for 60 min withoutdamage.Transfer of the fertilized eggs through outlet pipes up to 4 m in length did notresult in visible damage or decline in hatching rate.Fertilized eggs were not resistant tocontinuous rotation at 150,200,or 250 rpm for 20 min.The rotating drum speed of theautomatic manipulation system within 40 rpm and the pump flow at 30±3 liter/min wererecommended.Effect of aeration and stirring of the rotating drum on the fertilized eggswithin the concentration tank improved hatching rates.The final design of the automaticmanipulation system incorporated these features.The automatic control box of thesystem ensures that specific treatments,such as those for chromosome manipulation,canbe precisely carried out.As a whole,the system has been found highly applicable forregular mass propagation and chromosome manipulation procedures of the small abaloneand is the first one of its kind.

Sequencing and Amplified Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis of Ribonucleotide Reductase Large Subunit Gene of the White Spot Syndrome Virus in Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus) from American Coastal Waters

Abstract: In the present study, the existence of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) collected from 3 different American coastal waters (New York, New Jersey, and Texas) was confirmed by 2-step diagnostic polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization analysis. When geographic isolates were also compared using a gene that encodes the WSSV ribonucleotide reductase large subunit RR1 (WSSV rr1), a C1661-to-T point mutation was found in the New Jersey WSSV isolated. This point mutation, which resulted in the creation of an additional RsaI endonuclease recognition site, was not found in the WSSV from the New York and Texas blue crab samples, or in the WSSV Taiwan isolate, or in any of the other WSSV geographical isolates for which data are available. WSSV rr1-specific RsaI amplified restriction fragment length polymorphism of an amplified 1156-bp fragment thus distinguished the New Jersey blue crab samples from the other WSSV isolates.

Penaeus monodon TATA Box-Binding Protein Interacts with the White Spot Syndrome Virus Transactivator IE1 and Promotes Its Transcriptional Activity

ABSTRACT We show here that the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) immediate-early protein IE1 interacts with the Penaeus monodon TATA box-binding protein (PmTBP) and that this protein-protein interaction occurs in the absence of any other viral or cellular proteins or nucleic acids, both in vitro and in vivo. Mapping studies using enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) fusion proteins containing truncations of IE1 and PmTBP delimited the interacting regions to amino acids (aa) 81 to 180 in IE1 and, except for aa 171 to 230, to aa 111 to 300 in PmTBP. A WSSV IE1 transactivation assay showed that large quantities (>800 ng) of the GAL4-IE1 plasmid caused “squelching” of the GAL4-IE1 activity and that this squelching effect was alleviated by the overexpression of PmTBP. Gene silencing of WSSV ie1 and PmTBP by pretreatment with double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) prior to WSSV challenge showed that the expression of these two target genes was specifically inhibited by their corresponding dsRNAs 72 and 96 h after dsRNA treatment. dsRNA silencing of ie1 and PmTBP expression also significantly reduced WSSV replication and the expression of the viral early gene dnapol (DNA polymerase gene). These results suggest that WSSV IE1 and PmTBP work cooperatively with each other during transcription initiation and, furthermore, that PmTBP is an important target for WSSV IE1s transactivation activity that can enhance viral gene expression and help in virus replication.