RESUMO
A foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) DNA-launched reporter replicon containing a luciferase gene was used to assess the impact of non-structural (NS) protein 3A on viral replication. Independent deletions within the N-terminal region (amino acid [aa] residues 6 to 24) and the central hydrophobic region (HR, aa 59 to 76) of FMDV NS protein 3A were engineered, and luciferase activity in lysates of control and mutated replicon-transfected cells was measured. Triple alanine replacements of the N-terminal triplet Arg 18- His 19 -Glu 20 and a single alanine substitution of the highly charged Glu 20 residue both resulted in a 70-80% reduction in luciferase activity when compared with wild-type controls. Alanine substitution of the 17 aa present in the central HR, on the other hand, resulted in complete inhibition of luciferase activity and in the accumulation of the mutated 3A within the cell nucleus according to immunofluorescence analysis. Our results suggest that both the aa sequence around the putatively exposed hydrophilic E20 residue at the N-terminus of the protein and the hydrophobic tract located between aa 59 and 76 are of major relevance for maintaining the functionality of the 3A protein and preventing its mislocalization into the cell nucleus.
Assuntos
Vírus da Febre Aftosa/genética , Replicon , Proteínas não Estruturais Virais/química , Replicação Viral/genética , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Aminoácidos/química , Aminoácidos/metabolismo , Animais , Linhagem Celular , Núcleo Celular/virologia , Cricetinae , Replicação do DNA , Febre Aftosa/virologia , Vírus da Febre Aftosa/química , Vírus da Febre Aftosa/fisiologia , Expressão Gênica , Interações Hidrofóbicas e Hidrofílicas , Luciferases , Mutação , Domínios Proteicos , Deleção de Sequência , Proteínas não Estruturais Virais/genéticaRESUMO
In many countries, foot and mouth disease (FMD) is controlled by vaccination and surveillance against non-capsid proteins (NCP); therefore vaccines are required not to induce antibodies against NCP. Vaccine purity is evaluated by repeated inoculation of naïve cattle, an expensive and time consuming protocol that raises several animal welfare concerns. We have developed an in process control filtration-assisted chemiluminometric immunoassay (FAL-ELISA), to detect and quantify NCP in vaccine-antigen batches regardless of its volume and composition. Samples are filtered through PVDF-filter microplates pre-coated with a monoclonal antibody against NCP. Filtration removes all unbound components in the sample and captured NCP are detected by anti-NCP conjugate followed by incubation with the substrate, luminol/peroxide. Analytical detection limit was 2 ng for purified NCP and 4 ng for vaccine-antigen batches spiked with NCP, which makes this assay sensitive enough to be applied to purity control of FMD vaccines. Vaccine components did not interfere with the antibody and substrate reactions in the assay. FAL-ELISA is an alternative for the in vivo tests, observing the objective to Replace, Reduce and Refine the use of animals for quality control of immunobiologicals.