Characterization of Exopolysaccharides Having Potential Antiviral Properties from Priestia Aryabattai Strain MK1 and Bacillus sp. Strain MK2.

Viral diseases are a serious threat to humans while the most antiviral drugs have low efficiency and side effects on human health. Therefore, using microbial biopolymers as the drugs alternate to treat viral infections seems cost-effective and human friendly option. In the present study, thirty-four exopolysaccharides (EPSs) producing bacteria were isolated, and EPSs production capacity of five salt-tolerant isolates was determined under 0, 100 and 150 mM NaCl.

Development of an ELISA for the detection of fowl adenovirus serotype -4 utilizing fiber protein.

Hydropericardium syndrome (HPS), caused by the Fowl adenovirus 4 (FAdV-4) has led to significant financial losses for the poultry industry globally, including Pakistan over the past few years. Conventional serological methods are time consuming, laborious and less sensitive therefore, a rapid and sensitive ELISA kit is required for the reliable detection of FAdV-4 infection. In the current research, fiber proteins (1 &2) of FAdV-4 were successfully expressed in Escherichia coli and purified using metal affinity chromatography.

Highly soluble and stable 'insertion domain' of the capsid penton base protein provides complete protection against infections caused by fowl adenoviruses.

In the current study, we have evaluated the protective efficacy of the 'insertion domain' which is commonly found in the capsid penton base protein of many adenoviruses. Using the 'insertion domain' of the penton base protein of a representative fowl adenovirus, fowl adenovirus serotype 4 (FAdV-4), we find that the 'insertion domain' can readily be expressed in a soluble form in the bacterial system, and can be purified in sufficient quantities through simple chromatographic methods. We demonstrate that the 'insertion domain', when employed as a subunit vaccine candidate, provides complete protection against hydropericardium syndrome, caused by FAdV-4, in chickens.

Development of an ELISA to distinguish between foot-and-mouth disease virus infected and vaccinated animals utilising the viral non-structural protein 3ABC.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious and economically devastating viral disease of livestock and is endemic in much of Asia, including Pakistan. Vaccination is used to control disease outbreaks and sensitive diagnostic methods which can differentiate infected animals from vaccinated animals (DIVA) are essential for monitoring the effectiveness of disease control programmes. Tests based on the detection of the non-structural protein (NSP) 3ABC are reliable indicators of virus replication in infected and vaccinated populations.

High level expression and purification of recombinant 3ABC non-structural protein of foot-and-mouth disease virus using SUMO fusion system.

The detection of antibody to non-structural protein (NSP) of Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is the reliable diagnostic method for differentiating infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA). For this purpose, the detection of antibodies to non-structural 3ABC protein is suitable for identification of virus activity in the animals exposed to FMDV infection. However, large-scale production of recombinant 3ABC protein is challenging due to the formation of inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli and low yield due to protein aggregation during in vitro refolding.

Identification of potent epitopes on hexon capsid protein and their evaluation as vaccine candidates against infections caused by members of Adenoviridae family.

Adenoviruses cause economically important diseases in vertebrates. Effective vaccines against adenoviral diseases are currently lacking. Here, we report a highly conserved epitopic region on hexon proteins of adenoviruses that generate a strong immune response when used as a virus-like-particle (VLP) vaccine, produced by inserting the epitopic region into the core protein of hepatitis B virus.

Characterization of the highly immunogenic VP2 protrusion domain as a diagnostic antigen for members of Birnaviridae family.

Birnaviridae is a family of viruses (birnaviruses) which consists of four genera, members of which cause diseases in fish, birds, mollusks, and insects. The genome of birnaviruses encodes the highly immunogenic VP2 capsid protein. In order to demonstrate that the VP2 protein can be exploited as a diagnostic antigen for birnaviruses, we developed a lateral flow assay based on the surface-exposed VP2 protrusion domain of a representative birnavirus, infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) of serotype 1 which causes the highly devastating infectious bursal disease in chickens.

In silico epitope prediction and immunogenic analysis for penton base epitope-focused vaccine against hydropericardium syndrome in chicken.

Certain strains of fowl adenovirus serotype 4 (FAdV-4) of the family Adenoviridae are recognized to be the causative agents of Hydropericardium Syndrome (HPS) in broiler chicken. Despite the significantly spiking mortality in broilers due to HPS, not much effort has been made to design an effective vaccine against FAdV-4. The combination of immuno- and bioinformatics tools for immunogenic epitope prediction is the most recent concept of vaccine design.

Phylogenetic analysis of Infectious Bursal Disease viruses according to newly proposed model of classification into geno-groups.

Background: Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) is the causative agent of Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD), the disease causes immunosuppression which leads to secondary infections among rearing poultry flocks. Characterization of the virus is important for its control and eradication. The circulating IBDVs are classified on the basis of their antigenic and pathogenic properties.

Molecular investigation of foot-and-mouth disease virus circulating in Pakistan during 2014-17.

This study reports the molecular characterization of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) in the provinces of Punjab and Sindh, Pakistan during 2014-17. FMDV genome was detected in 42 and 41 out of 46 samples (epithelial tissue and saliva) by reverse transcriptase loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. Sequences of the complete VP1 coding region of the samples (n = 33) was achieved showing that 10, 4 and 19 samples belonged to serotype O, A and Asia1 respectively.

Overexpression and characterization of the 100K protein of Fowl adenovirus-4 as an antiviral target.

100K is an important scaffolding protein of adenoviruses including fowl adenovirus serotype 4 (FAdV-4) that causes inclusion body hepatitis-hydropericardium syndrome (IBH-HPS) in poultry. 100K carries out the trimerization of the major capsid hexon protein of the virus for the generation of new virions inside the target host cells. Despite its critical role for FAdV-4, no structural study, in particular, has been conducted so far.

History of Gumboro (infectious bursal disease) in Pakistan.

Infectious Bursal Disease is the second important viral disease of poultry which affects the young growing pullets. The end fate appears in huge economic losses to poultry industry. Throughout the world, cheapest source of animal protein is chicken meat.

Heterologous expression, characterization and evaluation of the matrix protein from Newcastle disease virus as a target for antiviral therapies.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is an infectious agent of a large variety of birds, including chicken, which poses a real threat to the agriculture industry. Matrix (M) proteins of NDV and many other viruses perform critical functions during viral assembly and budding from the host cell. M-proteins are well conserved and therefore are potential targets for antiviral therapies.

Rabies out-break in mules at Mansehra, Pakistan.

An unusual sickness in mules at Batrasi camp, District Mansehra, Pakistan, was reported. Twelve animals died with in 2-3 days after showing the clinical symptoms confusing with colic and nervous disorders. Animals did not respond to any treatment.

Detection of PCV2 DNA by SYBR Green I-based quantitative PCR.

We developed an assay for the detection and quantitation of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) with the SYBR Green I-based real-time PCR. The real-time PCR provides a broad dynamic range, detecting from 10(3) to 10(11) copies of DNA per reaction. No cross-reactions were found in specimens containing PCV1.

Immunogenicity of formaldehyde and binary ethylenimine inactivated infectious bursal disease virus in broiler chicks.

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) was inactivated by two different chemicals--formaldehyde and binary ethylenimine (BEI). Formaldehyde was used at 0.1% and 0.