Adaptive immune response to a wild boar-derived recombinant hepatitis e virus capsid protein challenge in pigs.

Hepatitis E virus genotype 3 (HEV-3) is a zoonotic pathogen capable of infecting human, porcine, and other animal hosts. Despite a broad host range and abundance of species that act as reservoirs for human infections, no commercially available animal vaccines against HEV-3 are currently available. In the present study, we tested the capacity of recombinant aa 112-608 wild boar-derived HEV-3 capsid protein (rORF2p) to induce an immune response in immunized pigs.

Yeast-based system for in vivo evaluation of alleles of the anthocyanin production pathway.

Plants produce anthocyanins to incite the pollination and seed dispersion performed by pigment-attracted animals. These natural blue-to-red-coloured pigments can be used as food colourants and antioxidants. For this purpose, microbial bioproduction of anthocyanins has become of industrial interest in recent years.

A broadly cross-reactive monoclonal antibody against hepatitis E virus capsid antigen.

To generate a hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype 3 (HEV-3)-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb), the Escherichia coli-expressed carboxy-terminal part of its capsid protein was used to immunise BALB/c mice. The immunisation resulted in the induction of HEV-specific antibodies of high titre. The mAb G117-AA4 of IgG1 isotype was obtained showing a strong reactivity with the homologous E.

Antigenicity study of the yeast-generated human parvovirus 4 (PARV4) virus-like particles.

Human parvovirus 4 (PARV4) is a novel tetraparvovirus that was isolated from intravenous drug users in 2005. Recombinant PARV4 capsid protein VP2 can form stable virus-like particles (VLPs) in yeast. These VLPs could act as antigen carriers during vaccine development.

Human Parvoviruses May Affect the Development and Clinical Course of Meningitis and Meningoencephalitis.

Meningitis and meningoencephalitis are neurological inflammatory diseases, and although routine diagnostics include testing of a wide range of pathogens, still in many cases, no causative agent is detected. Human parvovirus B19 (B19V), human bocaviruses 1-4 (HBoV1-4), and human parvovirus 4 (hPARV4) are members of the family and are associated with a wide range of clinical manifestations including neurological disorders. The main aim of this study was to determine whether human parvoviruses infection markers are present among patients with meningitis/meningoencephalitis in Latvia as well as to clarify the role of these viruses on the clinical course of the mentioned diseases.

Detection of rat hepatitis E virus, but not human pathogenic hepatitis E virus genotype 1-4 infections in wild rats from Lithuania.

Rat hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an orthohepevirus which is related to other HEV found in humans and other mammals. It was first identified in Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) from Germany in 2010, and later it has been detected in Black rats (Rattus rattus) and Norway rats from USA, China, Indonesia, Vietnam and many European countries. In this study, we describe molecular and serological investigations of Black and Norway rats trapped in Lithuania, Eastern Europe, for infections with rat HEV and human HEV genotypes 1-4.

Generation in yeast and antigenic characterization of hepatitis E virus capsid protein virus-like particles.

Hepatitis E is a globally distributed human disease caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV). In Europe, it spreads through undercooked pork meat or other products and with blood components through transfusions. There are no approved or golden standard serologic systems for HEV diagnostics.

Synthesis of human parainfluenza virus 4 nucleocapsid-like particles in yeast and their use for detection of virus-specific antibodies in human serum.

The aim of this study was to produce human parainfluenza virus type 4 (HPIV4) nucleocapsid (N) protein in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae expression system, to explore its structural and antigenic properties and to evaluate its applicability in serology. The use of an optimized gene encoding HPIV4 N protein amino acid (aa) sequence GenBank AGU90031.1 allowed high yield of recombinant N protein forming nucleocapsid-like particles (NLPs) in yeast.

Yeast-generated virus-like particles as antigens for detection of human bocavirus 1-4 specific antibodies in human serum.

Human bocaviruses (HBoV) are non-enveloped, single-stranded DNA viruses, classified into the genus Bocavirus in the family Parvoviridae. Self-assembled virus-like particles (VLPs) composed of the major capsid protein VP2 of HBoV1-4 and mosaic VLPs composed of both VP2 and VP1 capsid proteins of HBoV1 were generated in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and used to detect HBoV-specific IgG in human serum. Recombinant HBoV VLPs were similar to native HBoV particles in size and morphology.

Generation of recombinant porcine parvovirus virus-like particles in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and development of virus-specific monoclonal antibodies.

Porcine parvovirus (PPV) is a widespread infectious virus that causes serious reproductive diseases of swine and death of piglets. The gene coding for the major capsid protein VP2 of PPV was amplified using viral nucleic acid extract from swine serum and inserted into yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae expression plasmid. Recombinant PPV VP2 protein was efficiently expressed in yeast and purified using density gradient centrifugation.

Generation of Tioman virus nucleocapsid-like particles in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Tioman virus (TioV) was isolated from a number of pooled urine samples of Tioman Island flying foxes (Pteropus hypomelanus) during the search for the reservoir host of Nipah virus. Studies have established TioV as a new virus in the family Paramyxoviridae. This novel paramyxovirus is antigenically related to Menangle virus that was isolated in Australia in 1997 during disease outbreak in pigs.