Amaryllidaceae alkaloids inhibit nuclear-to-cytoplasmic export of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1.

Background: Few drugs are currently licensed to treat influenza A infection, and new therapies are needed, especially for highly pathogenic strains. Traditional medicinal plants, such as Lycoris radiata, are a potential source of new antiviral agents.

Objective: To test 15 Amaryllidaceae alkaloids isolated from the bulbs of L.

Genetic diversity analysis of the ORF5 gene in porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus samples from South China.

To understand the genetic diversity of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in South China, we collected 231 clinical samples from pigs with suspected PRRSV infection in Guangdong between 2007 and 2009. We found that 74 of 231 samples were positive by RT-PCR. The PCR products of the ORF5 gene of 35 isolates from different farms were sequenced and their DNA sequences were compared to 23 other PRRSV isolates in the GenBank.

Genetic characterization of H1N2 influenza a virus isolated from sick pigs in Southern China in 2010.

In China H3N2 and H1N1 swine influenza viruses have been circulating for many years. In January 2010, before swine were infected with foot and mouth disease in Guangdong, some pigs have shown flu-like symptoms: cough, sneeze, runny nose and fever. We collected the nasopharyngeal swab of all sick pigs as much as possible.

Selection of reference genes for gene expression studies in PBMC from Bama miniature pig under heat stress.

Heat stress decreases immune function and increases disease susceptibility in stressed animals, which are important factors for industry and public health. We investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying heat stress by profiling the expression of target genes involved in the cellular response in the blood of Bama miniature pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) over 21 days with the use of quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). Reliable standards were established for the normalization of qRT-PCR.

Isolation and Phylogenetic Analysis of H1N1 Swine Influenza Virus from Sick Pigs in Southern China.

Two swine influenza (SI) H1N1 virus was isolated from a pig during a severe outbreak of respiratory disease in south China. The two H1N1 influenza viruses were classical SI virus. A/swine/Guangdong/L6/09 is classical SI virus of recent years, which is of the main SI virus in China.

Effect of compounds on the purification and antibody preparation of the extracellular domain fragment of the receptor CD163.

Background: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has been acknowledged as one of the most important agents affecting swine. The scavenger receptor CD163 is one of the important entry mediators for PRRSV.

Results: The tD4 and tD5 CD163 genes were amplified, and the PCR products were cloned into pET-28a(+) (designated pET-28a-tD4 and pET-28a-tD5, respectively).

Development and strategies of cell-culture technology for influenza vaccine.

Influenza is a pandemic contagious disease and causes human deaths and huge economic destruction of poultry in the world. In order to control and prevent influenza, mainly type A, influenza vaccine for human and poultry were available since the 1940s and 1920s, respectively. In the development of vaccine production, influenza viruses were cultured originally from chicken embryos to anchorage-dependent cell lines, such as MDCK and Vero.

[Molecular analysis of an avian influenza virus isolate of H5N2 subtype from parrot].

In 2005, an avian influenza virus stain was isolated from Parrot in Guangdong, which was then genotyped as H5N2 subtype and designated as A/Parrot/Guangdong/268/2005. According to the current OIE definition on the low-pathogenicity of avian influenza virus, the strain was recognized as a low pathogenic avian influenza virus due to the presence of one basic amino acid residue at the HA cleavage site. Some molecular characteristics of the virus, such as potential glycosylation sites in HA and NA, receptor binding sites of HA, and drug resistance site of NA, showed no variations.

[Cloning and analysis of full-length genes of a H9N2 subtype avian influenza virus isolated from Guangdong].

Eight full-length genes of an avian influenza virus Chinese isolate of H9N2 subtype, A/Chicken/Guangdong/HL/2006 (H9N2) (abbreviated as Ck/GD/HL/06), were amplified by RT-PCR, including the 5' and 3' non-coding region. All the genes were cloned and sequenced. The phylogenetic analysis results showed the HA gene of Ck/GD/HL/06 was located in the same phylogenetic clade as Dk/HK/Y280/97 (H9N2), while the Dk/HK/Y280/97-like viruses had been predominately isolated from chickens in mainland China.