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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
1

Changes in some biophysical characteristics of African horsesickness virus (no. 3922) during attenuation

Russell, B.W 16 April 2020 (has links)
African horsesickness virus (No.3922, Type 7), attenuated for the horse by serial passage in suckling mouse brain, was studied at various passage levels to determine whether any change in the biophysical characters of the infectious particles had occurred. during the process of attenuation. Such changes were indeed observed. Propagation of the virus in tissue culture was accomplished only after the modification of standard culture media by the addition of egg white, a complex substance containing a number of proteins including the enzyme lysozyme. Some evidence is presented to show that the presence of egg white materially assisted in the successful cultivation of horsesickness virus; as well as in the formation of plaques in monolayers ·of cultured cells. Electron micrographs of horsesickness virus obtained from these cultured cells, and the results of a study of the fine structure of infected mouse nervous tissue, are presented. A remarkable change in the buoyant density of the infectious particles of this horsesickness virus was found to occur during attenuation. The 'wild' or virulent strain was found to consist mainly of particles of density 1.26 gm/ml. The attenuated strain however proved to be composed of particles with deneities quite different from that of the wild strain, predominantly 1.21 and 1.34 gm/ml. This alteration of the buoyant appeared to be directly related to the degree of attenuation. Studies in electrophoresis using a newly designed apparatus showed that the wild strain of horsesickness virus is homogeneous in its migration in an electric field. The attenuated strain showed a changed electrophoretic pattern· indicating the presence of particles of different mobilities. As in density gradient analysis, electrophoresis showed a fundamental difference between the wild and attenuated strains of this virus. It was possible also to show a correlation between the slowly migrating component of the attenuated strain and the fraction of higher density. The sedimentation coefficient of the infectious particles of the No.3922 strain of horsesickness virus was studied at various stages of attenuation ·and the particle size at three passage levels were calculated. The particle size and other characteristics determined in this way were compared with the results of measurements obtained from ultrafiltration of the virus through collodion membranes. It was found that the diameter of the infectious particles of the attenuated strain is greater than that of the wild strain. This study shows that physical measurements may be used to give
2

An investigation into the subcellular localisation of non-structural protein NS3 of African horsesickness virus

Hatherell, Tracey-Leigh 14 July 2008 (has links)
African horsesickness virus (AHSV) is a double-stranded RNA virus belonging to the Orbivirus genus in the Reoviridae family (Bremer et al., 1990; Calisher and Mertens, 1998). The virus is highly pathogenic and its mortality rate in horses, the most susceptible species, may be as high as 95% (House, 1993). S10, the smallest genome segment of AHSV, codes for two proteins (NS3 and NS3A) from in-phase overlapping reading frames. The C-terminal sequences of these proteins are identical, but NS3A lacks the first 10 amino acids present on the N-terminal of NS3 (Van Staden and Huismans, 1991). Nonstructural protein NS3 is a membrane protein, associated with both smooth intracellular membranes and the plasma membrane. NS3 has pleiotropic roles in the viral life cycle including the transport and release of mature virions and viroporin-like alteration of cell membrane permeability. NS3 is cytotoxic when expressed in bacterial or insect cells, and is speculated to play a vital role in viral virulence and disease pathogenesis (Stoltz et al., 1996; Van Staden et al., 1995). A number of different domains that could mediate the membrane interaction or intracellular trafficking of NS3 have been identified. The relative contributions of these domains in insect and mammalian cells are not known, but could differ, as there are distinct differences in NS3 expression levels, cytopathic effects and virus release mechanisms in these two cell types. In order to investigate the subcellular localisation of NS3, a number of full-length, truncated or mutant versions of AHSV-3 NS3 were constructed as C-terminal eGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) fusion proteins. These proteins were used to generate recombinant baculoviruses for expression in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) insect cells and were compared in terms of their subcellular localisation by conventional fluorescence microscopy. Confocal laser microscopy was used to investigate co-localisation with the nucleus, the Golgi apparatus and the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER). Subcellular fractionations and membrane flotation analyses were used to confirm membrane interactions and to identify detergent-resistant membrane fractions. NS3 as well as a C-terminal deletion of NS3 targeting a putative dileucine motif both localised to cellular/nuclear membrane components. In contrast, site-specific mutations to either of the transmembrane domains abolished membrane association and resulted in cytoplasmic localisation. NS3A showed mixed results, displaying both membrane localisation and a cytoplasmic distribution. The 11 amino acid region unique to NS3 and absent from NS3A, which has been shown to bind to cellular exocytosis proteins in bluetongue virus (Beaton et al., 2002), did not display membrane interaction. These results indicate that both of the hydrophobic domains as well as the N11 region are required to be present for NS3 to be properly targeted to the plasma/nuclear membrane. In addition, NS3 was shown to be present in detergent-resistant membrane fractions, indicative of a possible localisation within lipid rafts. The above results indicate that the NS3 protein contains specific signals involved in membrane targeting, confirming a potential role for NS3 in viral localisation and release in the AHSV replication cycle. / Dissertation (MSc (Genetics))--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Genetics / unrestricted
3

Mapping of the cytotoxic domains of protein VP5 of African horsesickness virus

Heinbockel, Britta Natassja 15 July 2008 (has links)
African horsesickness virus (AHSV) is a member of the Orbivirus genus of the Reoviridae family, being a double-layered capsid virus with a genome of ten double-stranded RNA segments. The outer capsid consists of two proteins, VP2 and VP5, which play essential roles in respectively host cell entry and viral release from the endosome into the host cytoplasm for replication. These proteins have best been characterized in the prototype virus Bluetongue virus (BTV), especially with regards to structural and functional characteristics. A cytotoxic effect for BTV VP5 was observed in insect cells and the approximate region conferring this nature identified. For AHSV VP5, a cytotoxic nature has also been observed in bacterial cells in preliminary studies but no region has thus far been mapped for mediating this activity. The main aim of this investigation was thus to map this region of AHSV VP5 using a bacterial expression system. A further aim was to investigate the localization of VP5 within infected cells using the BAC-TO-BACexpression system and the eGFP marker protein fused to VP5. In this way, protein expression could easily be detected and a possible association with cell membranes investigated. Initial cytotoxicity studies in these insect cells were also done to determine if the cytotoxic effect was also present in different host cells. To determine the region conferring the cytotoxic effect, genes encoding full-length VP5 and four truncation mutants of VP5 were cloned into the inducible pET system for expression as GSTfusion proteins within bacterial cells. After confirming protein expression, kinetic studies on the various VP5-fusion proteins were performed. Each protein increased in concentration with time post induction, except for the full-length VP5. Results from the cytotoxicity assay correlated with the expression patterns observed from the kinetic studies. Only GST-VP5 was cytotoxic. The VP5 truncation mutants lacking various N-terminal domains were all non-cytotoxic. Seeing that the only difference between GST-VP5 and GST-VP5Δ1-20 was the presence of amphipathic helix one, the results indicated that it is amphipathic helix one that plays a major role in conferring cytotoxicity. Amphipathic helix two, that is situated directly downstream of amphipathic helix one, seem to still be involved but require the presence of the amphipathic helix one and be expressed in the correct conformation. The role of amphipathic helix two in cytotoxicity could therefore not be inferred from this investigation. To determine its role, further studies involving more truncation mutants would be required. Solubility studies on all bacterial expressed proteins were performed to investigate whether the observed non-cytotoxicity of the truncated mutants might have been influenced by protein aggregation and hence not give a true reflection of the functional properties. Results indicated that a substantial portion of each mutant protein was. However, present in a soluble form and hence expected to be in a functional form. To study protein localization in insect cells using the BAC-TO-BACsystem, genes encoding VP5 and VP5 1-39 were cloned into pFB-eGFP and expressed as eGFP-fusion proteins. The recombinant baculoviruses Bac-VP5-eGFP and Bac-VP5 1-39-eGFP were used to infect insect cells at a high MOI and the green fluorescence signal of the marker monitored using confocal or fluorescent microscopy. No localization to particular cell structures was observed for either proteins and thus no specific association with membranes identified. Initial studies of cytotoxicity within insect cells were performed and the preliminary results indicate that the first two amphipathic helices are responsible for the cytotoxic effect in these cells, correlating with the results obtained in the bacterial system. This study provides the first evidence for the mapping of regions conferring a cytotoxic nature to AHSV VP5. Further characterization of this protein is necessary to obtain a better understanding of its’ role in the viral life cycle and the pathogenesis of AHS. / Dissertation (MSc (Genetics))--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Genetics / unrestricted
4

Heterologous expression of African horsesickness virus VP2 and the development of a potential diagnostic assay

Mareledwane, Vuyokazi Epipodia 14 July 2011 (has links)
No abstract available. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Veterinary Tropical Diseases / Unrestricted
5

Construction of a new peptide insertion site in the top domain of major core protein VP7 of African horsesickness virus

Riley, Joanne Elizabeth 30 June 2005 (has links)
Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Dissertation (MSc (Agric))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Genetics / unrestricted
6

Interaction of nonstructural protein NS3 of African horsesickness virus with viral and cellular proteins

Beyleveld, Mia 13 December 2007 (has links)
African horsesickness virus (AHSV) is a dsRNA virus that belongs to the Orbivirus genus within the Reoviridae family. Each of the ten viral dsRNA segments encodes one virus-specific protein. During its life cycle AHSV replicates both in an insect vector and in a mammalian host, but while it has no detrimental effect on insect cells the virus is highly pathogenic to mammalian cells. It is postulated that this relates to different viral release mechanisms. Currently the main candidate for mediating viral release in both insects and mammals is the viral nonstructural protein NS3. In bluetongue virus (BTV), the prototype virus of the Orbivirus genus, it has been shown that NS3 interacts with both the viral outer capsid protein VP2 and a cellular exocytosis protein. For AHSV, we investigated whether the same mechanism was involved in viral release. This study aimed to identify and map possible protein-protein interaction between AHSV NS3 and VP2, and AHSV NS3 and unknown insect cellular proteins. For investigating the NS3-VP2 interactions a eukaryotic expression system (yeast twohybrid), a column binding assay utilising bacterially expressed NS3 and recombinant baculovirus expressed VP2 as well as a membrane flotation assay utilising recombinant baculovirus expressed VP2 and NS3-GFP, were used. A number of problems were encountered and no conclusive results were obtained. For investigating viral-cellular protein interactions the yeast two-hybrid system was also used, utilising NS3 as bait to screen proteins expressed from a Drosophila cDNA library. Results showed an interaction between the N-terminal region of AHSV NS3 and ubiquitin, an essential protein for the trafficking and degradation of membrane proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum. It also acts as a sorting signal in both the secretory pathway and in endosomes, where it targets proteins into multivesicular bodies in the lumen of vacuoles/lysosomes. It has been shown that ubiquitin could play a role in the pinching off of budding vesicles. An AHSV infected cell could therefore potentially use ubiquitin in its vesicular budding pathway, therefore giving the opportunity for viruses to use this to release them from the cell. The Hsp70 was another protein identified that interacts with AHSV NS3. This protein plays a role in folding reactions, protein translocation across membranes of organelles and protein assembly. It has been reported in other studies done that both ubiquitin and Hsp70 play roles in regulating the bioavailability of viral proteins, which could explain the different levels of NS3, high in insect cells and low in mammalian cells, which indirectly control the viral exit pathway used, budding versus lytic release. These results lay the foundation for explaining the potential role of NS3 in the AHSV life cycle in insect cells. / Dissertation (MS)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Genetics / unrestricted
7

Solubility, particle formation and immune display of trimers of major capsid protein 7 of African horsesickness virus fused with enhanced green fluorescent protein

Mizrachi, Eshchar 08 June 2009 (has links)
Modified Viral Protein 7 (VP7) of African horsesickness virus (AHSV) is being investigated as a peptide display protein. The protein represents a good candidate for recombinant peptide display due to its tertiary structure, which contains flexible hydrophilic loops on the top domain of the protein where small peptides can potentially be inserted. In addition, wild type (WT) AHSV VP7 tends to form hexagonal crystals of predictable shape and size when expressed in a recombinant expression system. Previous research has resulted in a number of AHSV VP7 genes containing modified cloning sites where DNA representing immunologically relevant peptides can be inserted. When these chimeric proteins are expressed the peptides should be displayed on the surface of the VP7 platform. Several studies have tested the ability to insert peptides of varying lengths into these sites and successfully express the chimeric protein. In these past cases, successful expression of a recombinant chimeric protein was gauged by the observation of particles formed by multimers of VP7 proteins that resemble the one formed by WT-VP7. However, little is known about the ability of these chimeric proteins to act as successful peptide presentations vectors. Specifically, it is not known whether the fusion peptides would retain their correct tertiary structure, or indeed be displayed to the surrounding environment in order to generate a specific immune response. Furthermore, there has been no investigation to track these chimeric proteins’ expression in a heterologous expression system. This dissertation attempts to answer several of these questions through the use of a fluorescent protein, enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP), as a model peptide. The use of eGFP as a model peptide can prove correct tertiary structure of the fusion peptide via function of the protein (fluorescence), as well as act as a means of monitoring expression of chimeric VP7-eGFP proteins. Chapter 1 of this dissertation reviews literature that is relevant to AHSV VP7 and the use of fluorescent proteins as fluorescent markers. In addition, the recombinant expression of proteins is discussed, with a focus on solubility and expression levels of expressed proteins. Next, a brief overview is given with regards to vaccination strategies that can be undertaken, with a focus on subunit vaccines and their viability as successful alternatives to live-attenuated vaccines. Finally, the progress with regards to using modified AHSV VP7 as a peptide presentation vector is discussed. Chapter 2 investigates the chimeric protein VP7-177-eGFP, including its construction via a recombinant DNA cloning strategy, its expression in Insect cells using a recombinant Baculovirus expression system, and the ability of eGFP to act as a model fusion peptide on the top domain of a modified VP7 protein. Several experiments investigate whether the chimeric protein maintains its tertiary structure under a series of purification steps, and investigate the solubility of the chimeric protein throughout the expression cycle. Finally, purified forms of the chimeric protein are examined for their ability to generate an immune response specific to the fusion protein, eGFP.<p / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Genetics / unrestricted
8

Characterization and sequence variation of the virulence-associated proteins of different tissue culture isolates of African Horsesickness virus serotype 4

Korsman, Jeanne Nicola 16 July 2008 (has links)
African horsesickness, a disease of equines caused by African horsesickness virus (AHSV), is often fatal, although the pathogenic effect in different animals is variable. Current AHSV vaccines are live attenuated viruses generated by serial passage in cell culture. This process affects virus plaque size, which has been considered an indicator of AHSV virulence (Erasmus, 1966; Coetzer and Guthrie, 2004). The most likely AHSV proteins to be involved in viral virulence and attenuation are the outer capsid proteins, VP2 and VP5, due to their role in attachment of viral particles to cells and early stages of viral replication. Nonstructural protein NS3 may play an equally important role due to its function in release of viral particles from cells. Two viruses were obtained for this study, AHSV-4(1) and AHSV-4(13). The thirteenth passage virus, AHSV-4(13), originated from the primary isolate AHSV-4(1). The three most variable AHSV proteins are VP2, VP5 and NS3. The question of sequence variation of these proteins between AHSV-4(1) and AHSV-4(13) arising during the attenuation process was addressed. The subject of plaque size variation between these viruses was also investigated. Some of the sequence variation observed in NS3, VP2 and VP5, between AHSV-4(1) and AHSV-4(13), occurred in protein regions that may be involved in virus entry into and exit from cells. The sequence information also indicated that AHSV-4(1) and AHSV-4(13) consist of genetically heterogeneous viral pools. The plaque size of AHSV-4(1) was variable, with small to relatively large plaques, whereas the plaques of AHSV-4(13) were mostly large. During serial plaque purification of AHSV-4(1) plaque size increased and became homogenous in size. No sequence variation in NS3 or VP5 of any of the plaque variants could be linked to variation or change in plaque size. NS3 and VP5 have a possible role in the AHSV virulence phenotype, and exhibit cytotoxic properties in bacterial and insect cells. As these proteins have not been studied in mammalian cells, an aim of this study was to express them in Vero cells and investigate their cytotoxic and membrane permeabilization properties within these cells. The NS3 and VP5 genes of AHSV-4(1) and AHSV-4(13) were successfully inserted into a mammalian expression vector and transiently expressed in Vero cells. The transfection procedure was optimized using eGFP, but expression levels were still low. When NS3 and VP5 were expressed, no obvious signs of cytotoxicity were observed. Cell viability and membrane integrity assays were performed and expression of NS3 and VP5 in Vero cells had no detectable effect on cell viability or membrane integrity. Low expression levels may have resulted in protein levels too low to cause membrane damage or affect cell viability. As Vero cells support AHSV replication, low levels of NS3 and VP5 may not be cytotoxic in these cells. NS3 was further investigated by expressing an NS3-eGFP fusion protein in Vero cells. Putative localization with membranous components and possible perinuclear localization of the fusion protein was observed. These observations may be confirmed with more sensitive microscopic techniques for a better assessment of the localization. / Dissertation (MSc (Genetics))--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Genetics / unrestricted
9

Identification and expression of proteases C. sonorensis and C. imicola important for African horsesickness virus replication / Lihandra Jansen van Vuuren

Van Vuuren, Lihandra Jansen January 2014 (has links)
African horsesickness (AHS) is one of the most deadly diseases of horses, with a mortality rate of over 90% in horses that have not been exposed to any African horsesickness virus (AHSV) serotype previously (Howell, 1960; Darpel et al., 2011). The Orbiviruses, African horsesickness virus (AHSV) and Bluetongue virus (BTV), are primarily transmitted to their mammalian hosts through certain haematophagous midge vectors (Culicoides spp.) (Erasmus, 1973). The selective cleavage of BTV and AHSV VP2 by trypsin-like serine proteases (Marchi et al., 1995) resulted in the generation of subsequent infectious sub-viral particles (ISVP) (Marchi et al., 1995; van Dijk & Huismans, 1982). It is believed that this cleavage affects the ability of the virus to infect cells of the mammalian and vector host (Darpel et al., 2011). Darpel et al (2011) identified a trypsinlike serine protease in the saliva of Culicoides sonorensis (C. sonorensis), which also cleaves the serotype determinant viral protein 2 (VP2) of BTV. And, a similar cleavage pattern was also observed by van Dijk & Huismans (1982) and Marchi et al (1995) with the use of trypsin and chymotrypsin. Manole et al (2012) recently determined the structure of a naturally occurring African horsesickness virus serotype 7 (AHSV7) strain with a truncated VP2. Upon further investigation, this strain was also shown to be more infective than the AHSV4 HS32/62 strain, since it outgrew AHSV4 in culture (Manole et al., 2012). Therefore, through proteolytic cleavage of these viral particles, the ability of the adult Culicoides to transmit the virus might be significantly increased (Dimmock, 1982; Darpel et al., 2011). Based on these findings, it is important to investigate the factors that influence the capability of arthropod-borne viruses to infect their insect vectors, mammalian hosts and their known reservoirs. In this study, we postulated that one of the vectors for AHSV, Culicoides imicola (C. imicola), has a protease similar to the 29 kDa C. sonorensis trypsin-like serine protease identified by Darpel et al (2011). Proteins in the total homogenate of C. imicola were separated on SDS-PAGE and yielded several protein bands, one of which also had a molecular mass of around 29 kDa. Furthermore, proteolytic activity was observed on a gelatin-based sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacryamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) gel. The activity of the protein of interest was also confirmed to be a trypsin-like serine protease with the use of class-specific protease inhibitors. A recombinant trypsin-like serine protease of C. sonorensis was generated using the pColdIII bacterial expression vector. The expressed protein was partially purified with nickel ion affinity chromatography. Zymography also confirmed proteolytic activity. With the use of the protease substrates containing fluorescent tags and class specific protease inhibitors, the expressed protein was classified as a serine protease. It was also proposed that incubation of purified AHSV4 with the recombinant protease would result in the cleavage of AHSV4 VP2, resulting in similar VP2 digestion patterns as observed in BTV by Darpel et al (2011) or the truncated VP2 of AHSV7 by Manole et al (2012). BHK-21 cell cultured AHSV4 was partially purified through Caesium chloride gradient ultracentrifugation after which the virus was incubated with the recombinant protease. Since not enough virus sample was obtained, the outcome of VP2 digestion was undetermined. In the last part of this study, it was postulated that C. imicola and C. sonorensis have the same trypsin-like serine protease responsible for the cleavage of VP2 based on the protease activity visualised in the whole midge homogenate. Since the genome of C. imicola is not yet sequenced, the sequence of this likely protease is still unknown. Therefore, we attempted to identify this C. imicola protease through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Total isolated ribonucleic acid (RNA) of C. imicola was used to synthesize complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA). The cDNA was subjected to PCR using C. sonorensis trypsin-like serine protease-based primers. An 830 bp DNA fragment was amplified. However, sequence alignment and the basic local alignment software tool (BLAST), revealed that DNA did not encode with any other known proteins or proteases. From the literature it seems that there is a correlation between the proteases in the vector and the mammalian species that succumb to AHS (Darpel et al., 2011, Wilson et al., 2009, Marchi et al., 1995). Based on the work performed in the study, a proteolytically active protein similar to the 29 kDa protein of C. sonorensis is present in C. imicola. The 29 kDa protease of C. sonorensis can also be expressed in bacteria which could aid in future investigations on how proteolytic viral modifications affect infectivity between different host species. / MSc (Biochemistry), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014
10

Identification and expression of proteases C. sonorensis and C. imicola important for African horsesickness virus replication / Lihandra Jansen van Vuuren

Van Vuuren, Lihandra Jansen January 2014 (has links)
African horsesickness (AHS) is one of the most deadly diseases of horses, with a mortality rate of over 90% in horses that have not been exposed to any African horsesickness virus (AHSV) serotype previously (Howell, 1960; Darpel et al., 2011). The Orbiviruses, African horsesickness virus (AHSV) and Bluetongue virus (BTV), are primarily transmitted to their mammalian hosts through certain haematophagous midge vectors (Culicoides spp.) (Erasmus, 1973). The selective cleavage of BTV and AHSV VP2 by trypsin-like serine proteases (Marchi et al., 1995) resulted in the generation of subsequent infectious sub-viral particles (ISVP) (Marchi et al., 1995; van Dijk & Huismans, 1982). It is believed that this cleavage affects the ability of the virus to infect cells of the mammalian and vector host (Darpel et al., 2011). Darpel et al (2011) identified a trypsinlike serine protease in the saliva of Culicoides sonorensis (C. sonorensis), which also cleaves the serotype determinant viral protein 2 (VP2) of BTV. And, a similar cleavage pattern was also observed by van Dijk & Huismans (1982) and Marchi et al (1995) with the use of trypsin and chymotrypsin. Manole et al (2012) recently determined the structure of a naturally occurring African horsesickness virus serotype 7 (AHSV7) strain with a truncated VP2. Upon further investigation, this strain was also shown to be more infective than the AHSV4 HS32/62 strain, since it outgrew AHSV4 in culture (Manole et al., 2012). Therefore, through proteolytic cleavage of these viral particles, the ability of the adult Culicoides to transmit the virus might be significantly increased (Dimmock, 1982; Darpel et al., 2011). Based on these findings, it is important to investigate the factors that influence the capability of arthropod-borne viruses to infect their insect vectors, mammalian hosts and their known reservoirs. In this study, we postulated that one of the vectors for AHSV, Culicoides imicola (C. imicola), has a protease similar to the 29 kDa C. sonorensis trypsin-like serine protease identified by Darpel et al (2011). Proteins in the total homogenate of C. imicola were separated on SDS-PAGE and yielded several protein bands, one of which also had a molecular mass of around 29 kDa. Furthermore, proteolytic activity was observed on a gelatin-based sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacryamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) gel. The activity of the protein of interest was also confirmed to be a trypsin-like serine protease with the use of class-specific protease inhibitors. A recombinant trypsin-like serine protease of C. sonorensis was generated using the pColdIII bacterial expression vector. The expressed protein was partially purified with nickel ion affinity chromatography. Zymography also confirmed proteolytic activity. With the use of the protease substrates containing fluorescent tags and class specific protease inhibitors, the expressed protein was classified as a serine protease. It was also proposed that incubation of purified AHSV4 with the recombinant protease would result in the cleavage of AHSV4 VP2, resulting in similar VP2 digestion patterns as observed in BTV by Darpel et al (2011) or the truncated VP2 of AHSV7 by Manole et al (2012). BHK-21 cell cultured AHSV4 was partially purified through Caesium chloride gradient ultracentrifugation after which the virus was incubated with the recombinant protease. Since not enough virus sample was obtained, the outcome of VP2 digestion was undetermined. In the last part of this study, it was postulated that C. imicola and C. sonorensis have the same trypsin-like serine protease responsible for the cleavage of VP2 based on the protease activity visualised in the whole midge homogenate. Since the genome of C. imicola is not yet sequenced, the sequence of this likely protease is still unknown. Therefore, we attempted to identify this C. imicola protease through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Total isolated ribonucleic acid (RNA) of C. imicola was used to synthesize complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA). The cDNA was subjected to PCR using C. sonorensis trypsin-like serine protease-based primers. An 830 bp DNA fragment was amplified. However, sequence alignment and the basic local alignment software tool (BLAST), revealed that DNA did not encode with any other known proteins or proteases. From the literature it seems that there is a correlation between the proteases in the vector and the mammalian species that succumb to AHS (Darpel et al., 2011, Wilson et al., 2009, Marchi et al., 1995). Based on the work performed in the study, a proteolytically active protein similar to the 29 kDa protein of C. sonorensis is present in C. imicola. The 29 kDa protease of C. sonorensis can also be expressed in bacteria which could aid in future investigations on how proteolytic viral modifications affect infectivity between different host species. / MSc (Biochemistry), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

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