Die Welpensterblichkeit wird auf 10-20 % der lebend geborenen Welpen geschätzt. Zwei Virusinfektionen scheinen bei Welpensterblichkeit und Fruchtbarkeitsstörungen des Hundes eine wesentliche Rolle zu spielen: das canine Herpesvirus Typ 1 (CHV-1) und das Canine Minute Virus (CnMV, synonym Minute Virus of Canines). Ziel der Arbeit war es, die Verbreitung dieser beiden Viren unter Zuchthunden in Deutschland zu untersuchen. Das klinische Erkrankungsbild ist bei beiden Viren ähnlich. Bei erwachsenen Tieren verläuft die Infektion meist unauffällig. Infektionen während der Trächtigkeit können zu Fruchtresorption, Aborten, Missbildungen und Welpensterblichkeit führen. Infizierte Welpen erkranken meist in den ersten drei Lebenswochen und sind apathisch, zeigen Saugunlust, haben Atemwegsprobleme, Erbrechen und leiden oft auch unter Durchfall. Die Mortalität ist hoch. Zwischen Juli 2004 und Oktober 2005 wurden 429 Serumproben gesammelt. Die Bestimmung der Seroprävalenz von CHV-1 erfolgt im Serumneutralisationstest (SNT) mit Madin Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK)-Zellen ohne den Zusatz von Komplement. CnMV-spezifische Antikörper wurden mittels indirekter Immunofluoreszenz (IFT) auf zuvor mit CnMV infizierten Walter Reed Canine Zellen (WRCC) nachgewiesen. Des Weiteren wurden 37 Abstriche, 34 Spermaproben, 16 Kotproben und 37 verstorbene Welpen aus 14 Würfen mittels PCR und Virusisolierung auf CHV-1 und CnMV direkt untersucht. 27,7 % (119/429) aller Serumproben hatten neutralisierende Antikörper gegen CHV-1. Die Seroprävalenz für CnMV beträgt 5,6 % (24/429). Die statistische Auswertung ergab nur für das Geschlecht einen signifikanten Einfluss auf den Serostatus von CHV-1. Alter, Zwingergröße, Anzahl Ausstellungsbesuche und Rasse spielten keine Rolle für die Seroprävalenz von CHV-1. Bei den klinischen Vorberichten Welpensterblichkeit (n = 24) und Fruchtresorptionen (n = 5) ist die Seroprävalenz von CHV-1 mit 37,5 % und 40 % bedeutend höher als die ermittelte Gesamtprävalenz von 27,7 %. Die Untersuchung der Abstriche, Sperma-, Kot- und Organproben von verstorbenen Welpen mittels PCR und zum Teil Virusisolierung auf CnMV und CHV-1 verlief in allen Fällen mit negativem Ergebnis. Der Nachweis von CnMV ist bis heute nur in wenigen Speziallabors möglich. Um die Nachweismöglichkeiten von CnMV zu verbessern und zu vereinfachen, wurde das Virusprotein-2-(VP2)-Gen von CnMV in den Vektor pET22b(+) kloniert. Das am C-terminalen Ende mit einem 6x His-Tag markierte Protein wurde im E.coli-Stamm BL21CodonPlus(DE3)RIL exprimiert, aufgereinigt und als Antigen im ELISA getestet. Die prokaryotische Genexpression des VP2 von CnMV ist für die Etablierung eines diagnostischen ELISA nicht geeignet. Während der Expression aggregierte das Protein zu unlöslichen Inclusion Bodies. Nach Aufreinigung ist das Protein immer noch mit E.coli-Proteinen kontaminiert. Im ELISA zeigte sich das rekombinante Antigen wenig spezifisch. In Fällen von Welpensterblichkeit (n = 14), waren diese in weit weniger Fällen als vermutet CHV-1 oder CnMV bedingt. Insgesamt scheint CnMV in Deutschland weit weniger verbreitet zu sein als in anderen Ländern der Welt.

Orientadores: Clarice Weis Arns, Isabela Cristina Simoni / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-16T00:22:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fernandes_MariaJuditeBittencourt_D.pdf: 1711625 bytes, checksum: d2876be51222b1ba7526b13ab7a72795 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: A doença infecciosa da bursa (IBD), denominada também doença de Gumboro, é uma doença aguda, imunossupressora, altamente contagiosa de aves jovens e de grande importância econômica para a avicultura. O vírus da doença infecciosa da bursa (IBDV), sorotipo 1, pode ser classificado de acordo com sua antigenicidade e patogenicidade em amostras clássicas virulentas (cv), atenuadas, variantes antigênicas ou muito virulentas (vv). Estas diferenças antigênicas são encontradas na região hipervariável do gene VP2, que é responsável pela indução de anticorpos neutralizantes e também dos possíveis marcadores de virulência que ainda não estão bem estabelecidos. O gene VP1 parece também apresentar um papel na virulência do vírus. Primeiramente, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi a identificação e caracterização molecular de 66 amostras brasileiras de IBDV através da RT-PCR de um fragmento do gene VP2 seguida pela digestão por enzimas de restrição (RE) e posterior confirmação pelo sequenciamento. A análise da RT-PCR/RE classificou 25 isolados como cepas vv e 16 como cepas cv além da classificação de 6 grupo moleculares. O sequenciamento também confirmou esta classificação com a presnça dos aminoácidos (aa) típicos das amostras vv (222A, 242I, 256I e 294I). Em 3 destes amostras vv também se observou mutações únicas que mostram pequenas, mas contínuas alterações dos vvIBDV circulantes nas granjas brasileiras. A arvore filogenética confirmou a origem comum das nossas amostras vv com os isolados de outros países assim como a origem monofilética destas amostras. Posteriormente foi feito a RT-PCR de um fragmento representativo do gene VP1 das amostras positivas para IBDV e a análise das sequências e filogenética. Quatorze amostras vv e três cv tiveram êxito nas sequências analisadas. Treze amostras vv apresentaram as substituições de aa comuns para as amostras vv (145T, 146D, 147N e 242E), exceto um que apresentou a sequência das amostras cv e na filogenia agrupou-se com estas amostras. A árvore a partir da VP1 pressupõe um rearranjo genético deste gene. Esta amostra com perfil do segmento A de amostra vv e do segmento B de cv seria o primeiro relato no Brasil de um rearranjo genético natural. Estes rearranjos de segmentos que também foram observados em amostras de outros países ou que podem ser produzidos em laboratório (quimeras) mostram que o segmento B pode estar contribuindo para a patogênese deste vírus. A origem destes rearranjos pode ser de troca genética com o uso de vacinas vivas ou se aceita a hipótese de que o segmento VP1 dos vvIBDV se originaram de um rearranjo genético de fonte desconhecida, estes rearranjos com segmento vvVP2 e cvVP1, seriam descendentes dos ancentrais dos vvVP1. Apenas um seqüenciamento completo das duas sequências e estudos in vivo poderão caracterizar o papel da VP1 na virulência desta amostra. Assim, o monitoramento contínuo das amostras de IBDV através da caracterização molecular pela análise das sequências dos genes e a detecção de alterações genéticas que possam influenciar a patogenicidade do vírus são de extrema importância, pois geram informações fundamentais que possibilitam e subsidiam o controle desta doença no Brasil / Abstract: Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) causes a disease among young chickens of great economic importance to the poultry industry worldwide both for the both mortality as the immunosuppression. Two distinct serotypes, 1 and 2, of IBDV are recognized. Only the serotype 1 is pathogenic for chickens and classified according to the antigenicity and/or pathogenicity in classical virulent (cv) strains, very virulent (vv) strains, antigenic variant strains, and attenuated strains. This classification has been based mainly on the VP2 gene sequence, more specifically on the hypervariable region corresponding to the induction of neutralizing antibodies and the serotype specificity. However, the fundamental molecular basis for pathogenicity is not yet clear. Studies with the VP1 gene have also shown its possible role in this virulence and pathogenicity. Firstly, the aim of the present paper was the molecular characterization of sixty-six Brazilian IBDV isolates from broiler and layers flocks during the period from 1997 to 2005 by RT-PCR followed by restriction enzyme analysis of a fragment from VP2 gene variable region. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the positive isolates were also carried out. Twenty-five of the isolates were identified as very virulent (vv) and sixteen as classic virulent (cv). All of vv isolates had the typical amino acid (aa) residues and clustered in a phylogenetic tree with the vvIBDV strains. Three vv isolates presented four common aa substitutions and differed from other vv strains indicating that the vvIBDVs circulating on Brazilian farms are undergoing slight but continuous exchanges. Furthermore, the Brazilian IBDV isolates characterized by the VP2 sequence in cv and vv strains were analyzed by the sequence and phylogeny of the VP1 gene fragment. Our vv isolates maintained clustered with the other vvIBDVs in phylogenetic tree obtained from the VP1 gene and presented the common aa too. The same occurred with the cv isolates. However, one isolate vv showed both characters, cv and vv into VP1 sequence and clustered with the ours and other cv isolates in the tree. This isolate has similar type of a reassortment / Doutorado / Microbiologia / Doutor em Genetica e Biologia Molecular

Aim of this diploma thesis was to prepare two protein antigens and two monoclonal antibodies, all based on VP2 minor protein of human polyomaviruses BK virus and Merkel Cell Polyomavirus. One monoclonal antibody was being prepared against unique part of VP2 protein (N-terminal epitope, not present in VP3 protein). A cell line producing such monoclonal antibody has never been established before due to low immunogenicity of the epitope. Our approach was successful in terms of mouse immunization, however, serious problems with hybridoma line stability appeared later during the preparation process. Preparation of antibody targeted to the sequence of VP2 protein of Merkel Cell Polyomavirus was another aim of this thesis. Mouse immunization and hybridoma fusion were performed successfully. After four rounds of cloning in order to purify an established clone, nine clones were cultivated in larger scale. This cultivation probably led to diminished antibody specificity and loss of production ability in most of the hybridoma cells. One more cloning should give rise to an established clone with sufficient production. Two preparations of protein antigens were performed in two expression systems. DNA encoding C-terminally truncated protein VP2 of BK virus fused with His-tag was cloned into a vector suitable for...

Polyomaviruses are small non-enveloped DNA viruses infecting birds and mammals, including human. Their capsid consists of the major capsid protein, VP1, and two minor capsid proteins, VP2 and VP3. The VP2 and VP3 proteins are supposed to have an important function in the transport of viral genome into the cell nucleus, which is a key step to facilitate viral replication. VP2 and VP3 proteins of mouse polyomavirus and SV40 have an ability to bind and disrupt cellular membranes. This feature is believed to be involved in the transport of viral genome into the nucleus. Plasmids carrying genes of the minor capsid proteins of Merkel cell polyomavirus were prepared in order to produce and visualize these proteins in mammalian cells. These proteins are known to have very unusual sequences compared to other human polyomaviruses or related mouse polyomavirus. When produced alone, the minor capsid proteins of Merkel cell polyomavirus did not significantly interact with cellular membranes, unlike the minor proteins of the mouse polyomavirus. The second goal of this work was to prepare mouse polyomavirus mutants with deletion in hydrophobic domains of VP2 and VP3 proteins. These domains are likely responsible for the mentioned membrane interactions. Prepared mutants were non-infectious. The loss of infectivity was not...

Interaction of polyomaviruses with proteasomal system of host cells Abstract: Viral family Polyomaviridae includes besides model organisms - mouse polyomavirus and SV40 virus, also human pathogens, for example, BK virus. Polyomaviruses are small non- enveloped viruses with double-stranded DNA. Understanding of their life cycle is important for their use in gene therapy and immunotherapy as well as for prevention and treatment of complications caused by these viruses. This thesis is focused on early phases of MPyV and SV40 infection studying, mainly on delivery of viral genome to nucleus and role of proteasomal system in this stage of infection. It was found out that inhibition of proteasomes by specific inhibitor leads to increase of early non-structural protein LT expression, which was chosen as marker for viral entry to the nucleus and successful viral expression. Relative localization of proteasomes and VP1 protein of MPyV and SV40 was monitored and it showed 10% colocalization of mentioned structures. Further, it was found out that proteasomal inhibitor MG-132 negatively influences the replication of both viral and cellular DNA. Next aim of this diploma thesis was to prepare antigen - unique part of VP2 protein of BKV - for producing antibody. Expression vector with inserted fragment of unique part of...

Das canine Parvovirus (CPV-2)wurde erstmals bei Hunden im Jahr 1978 beschrieben. Dieses Virus verbreitete sich innerhalb weniger Monate weltweit in einer schweren Pandemie. Retrospektiv wird angegnommen, dass es sich aud dem Felinen Panleukopenie-Virus oder einem nah verwandten Virus entwickelt hat. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, durch Untersuchungen von archivierten paraffineingebetteten Gewebeproben von Hunden und Katzen aus den frühen 1970iger Jahren einen möglichen Anzestor des caninen Parvovirus zu identifizieren und die Hypothese zu überprüfen, dass CPV-2 schon vor 1978 in den Hundepopulationen zirkulierte.

Murine polyomavirus (MPyV) is a member of the Polyomaviridae family. Its capsid is composed of the major capsid protein, VP1, and the minor proteins, VP2 and VP3. The minor capsid proteins probably assure delivery of the viral genome through the endoplasmic reticulum membrane to the nucleus during early phase of infection. However, precise mechanism is not known. Expression plasmids encoding mutated VP2 or VP3 fused with EGFP have been constructed to study the interaction of VP2 and VP3 with membranes. The mutated proteins have deletions in the predicted hydrophobic domains. In this thesis, cell localisation of mutated proteins was followed. The study revealed that the hydrophobic domain 2 is the most important for association of VP2 and VP3 with membranes, while domains 1 and 3 are rather expendable. Further, nature of VP2 and VP3 isoforms has been studied. Isoforms with different electrophoretic mobility were separated on SDS-PAGE. Consequent mass spectrometry analysis showed that they differ in deamidation of asparagine, present at both minor proteins (position 253 of VP2 and 137 of VP3). Previously, acetylation of VP3 N-terminal alanine has been identified. To elucidate the function of these modifications, mutated viruses were constructed with substitution of these amino acids. Pilot...

Mouse polyomavirus (MPyV) capsid is composed of the main capsid protein VP1 and minor capsid proteins VP2 and VP3. Minor proteins are not essential capsid assembly, but they are key for efficient viral infection. The first part of this thesis studies the modifications of VP2 and VP3, the deamidation of Asn at 253 of VP2 (137 of VP3) and N-terminal acetylation of Ala of VP3, which could be the cause of double bands for VP2 and VP3 on SDS-PAGE. Mutated genomes of MPyV N253D (Asn to Asp) and N253E (Asn to Glu) simulating deamidation and A117V (Ala to Val) with reduced acetylation were prepared previously. We prepared three isolations of the mutant viruses and we confirmed that the deamidation is the cause of the double bands. Mutant viruses were compared to the wild type in terms of efficiency of infection, but the role of deamidation could not be proven. Virus A117V is noninfectious either due to lowered acetylation or the substitution of amino acid at this position. This thesis also studies the role of -tubulin acetylation in the infection of MPyV. The role of -tubulin acetylation in viral infection is being investigated to find new antiviral strategies. Acetylation rises after MPyV infection, but this is not due to a change in mRNA expression of tubulin acetylating (TAT1) or deacetylating enzyme...

Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is a recently discovered human virus, having it's genome often integrated in a genome of Merkel carcinoma cells. Although this type of carcinoma is not so usual, it is very aggressive and it's incidence has been rising in last few years. It is not surprising that this virus is nowadays in the centre of scientific interest, as well as other pathogens and mechanisms affecting human life. Because the virus was discovered not so long ago, its research has been at the whole beginning. This diploma thesisaims to contribute to the study of this virus from the molecular-virology point of view. A neutralizing monoclonal antibody, type IgG2a, targeted against the main capsid protein of MCPyV, VP1, and recognizing its conformational epitote was prepared. This antibody was then used for a pilot study of VP1 VLPs MCPyV movement in mammalian cells. Results showed that the studied virus, at least particularly, utilizes caveolin-1-carrying vesicles for its movement in cells (colocalisation of VP1 VLPs and caveolin-1 was observedColocalisation with EEA1 marker of early endosomes, LamP2 marker of endolysosomal compartments or with BiP marker of endoplasmic reticulum was sporadic but significant. These preliminary results suggest that MCPyV might utilise an endocytic pathway leading...