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Abstract Background shRNA targeting the integrin αv subunit, which is the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) receptor, plays a key role in virus attachment to susceptible cells. We constructed a RNAi lentiviral vector, iαv pLenti6/BLOCK -iT™, which expressed siRNA targeting the FMDV receptor, the porcine integrin αv subunit, on PK-15 cells. We also produced a lentiviral stock, established an iαv-PK-15 cell line, evaluated the gene silencing efficiency of mRNA using real-time qRT-PCR, integrand αv expression by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIF) and cell enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (cell ELISA), and investigated the in vivo inhibitory effect of shRNA on FMDV replication in PK-15 cells. Results Our results indicated successful establishment of the iαv U6 RNAi entry vector and the iαv pLenti6/BLOCK -iT expression vector. The functional titer of obtained virus was 1.0 × 106 TU/mL. To compare with the control and mock group, the iαv-PK-15 group αv mRNA expression rate in group was reduced by 89.5%, whilst IIF and cell ELISA clearly indicated suppression in the experimental group. Thus, iαv-PK-15 cells could reduce virus growth by more than three-fold and there was a > 99% reduction in virus titer when cells were challenged with 102 TCID50 of FMDV. Conclusions Iαv-PK-15 cells were demonstrated as a cell model for anti-FMDV potency testing, and this study suggests that shRNA could be a viable therapeutic approach for controlling the severity of FMD infection and spread.

Abstract Background Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) causes an economically important and highly contagious disease of cloven-hoofed animals. RNAi triggered by small RNA molecules, including siRNAs and miRNAs, offers a new approach for controlling viral infections. There is no report available for FMDV inhibition by vector-delivered miRNA, although miRNA is believed to have more potential than siRNA. In this study, the inhibitory effects of vector-delivered miRNAs targeting the 3D gene on FMDV replication were examined. Results Four pairs of oligonucleotides encoding 3D-specific miRNA of FMDV were designed and selected for construction of miRNA expression plasmids. In the reporter assays, two of four miRNA expression plasmids were able to significantly silence the expression of 3D-GFP fusion proteins from the reporter plasmid, p3D-GFP, which was cotransfected with each miRNA expression plasmid. After detecting the silencing effects of the reporter genes, the inhibitory effects of FMDV replication were determined in the miRNA expression plasmid-transfected and FMDV-infected cells. Virus titration and real-time RT-PCR assays showed that the p3D715-miR and p3D983-miR plasmids were able to potently inhibit the replication of FMDV when BHK-21 cells were infected with FMDV. Conclusion Our results indicated that vector-delivered miRNAs targeting the 3D gene efficiently inhibits FMDV replication in vitro. This finding provides evidence that miRNAs could be used as a potential tool against FMDV infection.

To develop a sensitive and specific ELISA for detection of antibodies to the nonstructural protein of FMDV. We cloned and expressed FMDV nonstructural protein 3AB in Escherichia coli expression system. The recombinant protein 3AB was purified with Ni-NTA HisBind Resins and characterized by Western blotting. An indirect ELISA based on purified protein 3AB as a coating antigen was established. The specificity and sensitivity of this assay were evaluated by comparison with a commercial 3ABC-ELISA kit in detecion of serum samples. The results showed that the recombinant protein 3AB was expressed as a formation of inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli. The purified protein could specificially react with FMDV infection antibodies in Western blotting assay, but no reaction with the immune antibodies induced with vaccine. Two assays were no significant differences in specificity and sensitivity for detection of field samples (P>0.05). Therefore, we speculated that the recombinant protein 3AB is a promising molecular marker, which may effectively differentiate FMD-infected from vaccinated animals in a herd.

VP1 is a major antigenic protein of foot-and-mouth disease virus(FMDV), which induces the immune response against FMDV infection, and contains several epitopes of the virus. We designed and chemically synthesized a DNA fragment which encoding a tandem repeat protein of 136-160aa and 198-211aa of a strain of type Asia I FMDV, and cloned the gene of heavy chain constant region of sheep IgG. By using the BamH I, EcoR I and Xho I sites, both genes were cloned into pPROExHTb vector in turn to form a recombinant plasmid pPRO-FshIgG A chimeric protein, named FshIgG, was obtained after transforming the pPRO-FshIgG into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) host cell and induced by IPTG. Inoculation with 100 microg FsIgG induced strong neutralizing antibody response in guinea pigs, and FshIgG inoculated guinea pigs were also protected against 200 ID50 FMDV challenge. Our study indicated that the heavy chain constant region of sheep IgG can act as the carrier protein for FMDV peptide epitopes, and FshIgG is a potential multiepitope peptide vaccine candidate to prevent FMDV infection.

In order to explore the morphological changes of Bovine Kidney (MDBK) cells induced by foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) L protease, we induced the expression of FMDV L protease in bovine kidney cells (MDBK) artificially. All work is carried out on the basis of a stable MDBK cell line inducibly expresses the Lab gene under the control of tetracycline. We use cell morphology, Hoechst 33258 staining, AO-EB staining, and DNA Ladder abstraction to research the morphological changes of MDBK cells. 24 hours after FMDV L protease were induced and expressed in MDBK cells, cells shown the diminish of cell size, nuclear enrichment and the appearance of transparency circle under the light microscope. Apoptosis characteristics of nuclear condensation, fragmentation, accompanied by apoptotic bodies formation (Hoechst 33258 staining). 36 hours after the expression, nuclear staining of early lesions showed bright green plaque or debris-like dense, and advanced lesions showed Orange and dense plaques (AO-EB staining). 48 hours after the expression, DNA gel electrophoresis showed visible DNA ladder. Results indicate that FMDV L protease can induce apoptosis of MDBK and apoptosis plays an important role in the cytopathogenicity effect of FMDV.

To establish a sensitive, rapid and simple gold immunochromatography assay (GICA) for detecting Asia1 type of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) from the field samples. The purified anti-FMDV type Asia1 monoclonal antibody labeled with colloidal gold and the goat anti-Guinea pig IgG were wrapped onto nitrocellulose membrane as the test line (T line) and the control line (C line), respectively. The strip was then further optimized. A total of 87 field samples were detected. The results indicated a correct rate of 98.8% for detecting FMDV Asia1 type. No cross reaction was found with swine vesicular disease (SVD) and FMDV O, A and C type antigen. The sensitivity of the strip can reach to 10(-4) (TCID50 6.25). It had the same results for positive and negative specimens tested in three times. This strip could be stored at 4 degrees C for three months. In this study, the established gold immunochromatographic strip test kit is simple, rapid, sensitive and specific for detecting FMDV type Asial, and is potentially useful for the for pen-side diagnosis.

Objective: The aim of the study is to establish in vitro cell line with stable and effective 3Dpol gene expression, so as to study the biological function of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV ) 3Dpol and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) gene engineering vaccine., Methods: FMDV 3D gene was amplified from pMD18-T-3D and inserted into pGEM-Teasy vector. By NotI/BamHI digestion, 3D gene with Not I/BamH I site was inserted into Not I/BamH I cloning site of the pBPSTR1 retroviral vector in order to obtain recombinant retroviral vector pBPSTR1-3D. The artifical retroviral viruses were obtained by both pBPSTR1-3D and pVSV-G envelope vector into the Gp2-293 package cells using Lipofectamine 2000. The BHK-21 cells were infected by artificial retroviral particles with 8 microg/mL Polybrene. The positive cell clones which genomes contained the 3Dpol gene were continually selected using puromycine and was regulated by tetracycline for 12 days .The single clone highly effective expressing 3D fusion protein was obtained by seeding the cells into 96-well plates with one cell per well., Results: By using retroviral gene transfer technology, the 3Dpol gene was integrated into the chromosome of BHK-21 cells, then under selection pressure, the cell lines stably expressing 3D were established. Finally, a cell line stably expressing the 3D fusion protein was established. The fusion protein was confirmed to be expressed correctly by Western-blot. The transfected genes in the cell line were consistently expressed during 35 passages of the host cells., Conclusion: Transgene cell strain stably carrying exogenous gene in subsequent passaging was successfully constructed. It provide a good experimental tool for the biological function of FMDV 3Dpol and FMD gene engineering vaccine research.

In this study, foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) strain OA/58 RNAs were used as templates for RT-PCR. By the molecular cloning, the Lab gene encoding leader protease called Lpro were cloned in retroviral vector pBPSTR1 to obtain reconstruction retroviral vector termed pBPSTR1-Lab. At different concentrations of puromycin and tetracycline respectively in the cell culture mediums, the growth of bovine kidney cells (MDBK) showed that the optimal puromycin resistant selection concentration was 3 microg/mL and tetracycline regulatory concentration was 1 microg/mL. Pseudotyped retroviral virus particles were produced by transiently co-tansfecting GP2-293 cells with a retroviral vector DNA and VSV-G plasmid. Then MDBK cells were infected by pseudotyped retroviral virus and were continually seeded in the medium at the optimal tetracycline regulatory concentration and puromycin selection concentration for 12 days to obtain puromycin resistant colonies whose genomes contained the Lab gene. After tetracycline removal, synthesis of Lpro induced severe morphological changes in the puromycin resistant MDBK cells. PCR and Western blotting proved that a stable MDBK cell line inducibly expressing the Lab gene under the control of tetracycline was obtained. The experiment might provide a basis for studying that Lpro of FMDV plays an important role in MDBK cell pathogenesis.