Generation of recombinant virus-like particles of human and non-human polyomaviruses in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Objectives: Non-viral methods of gene transfer have been preferred in gene therapy approaches for several reasons, particularly for their safety, simplicity and convenience in introducing heterologous DNA into cells. Polyomavirus virus-like particles (VLPs) represent a promising carrier for encapsidation of foreign nucleic acids for gene therapy. For the development of such gene delivery systems as well as for providing reagents for improving virus diagnostics, an efficient yeast expression system for the generation of different polyomavirus VLPs was established.

Yeast-expressed Puumala hantavirus nucleocapsid protein induces protection in a bank vole model.

Hantaviruses are rodent-borne agents that cause severe human diseases. The coding sequences for the authentic and a His-tagged Puumala hantavirus (PUUV) nucleocapsid (N) protein were expressed in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). N-specific monoclonal antibodies demonstrated native antigenicity of the two proteins.

Expression and antigenic characterization of the major capsid proteins of human polyomaviruses BK and JC in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

BK and JC viruses are ubiquitous human polyomaviruses that are associated with post-transplant interstitial nephritis (BK virus) and progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy (JC virus). The use of a yeast system to express the major capsid protein (VP1) of two antigenic variants of BKV (strains SB and AS) and JCV is described. VP1s of AS and JCV expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae produced proteins of expected molecular weight as determined by gel electrophoresis whereas that of SB appeared to be lower than anticipated.

Molecular cloning and expression of the early auxin-responsive Aux/IAA gene family in Nicotiana tabacum.

Early auxin-regulated tobacco cDNAs, belonging to the Aux/IAA gene family have been isolated by screening of a cDNA library prepared from auxin-treated suspension-grown etiolated seedlings of Nicotiana tabacum. The probes used were either RT-PCR fragments or an insert resulting from mRNA differential display selection. All of them possessed the structural features which characterize the Aux/IAA gene products.

First Report of Sharka Disease Caused by Plum Pox Virus in Lithuania.

Plum pox (sharka) disease caused by plum pox potyvirus (PPV) is considered the most important virus disease of stone fruit trees in Europe and the Mediterranean region. Nearly all those countries that produce stone fruits are affected (3). The causal virus of the disease is a European Plant Protection Organization A2 quarantine pathogen.