Name: rescue and characterization of recombinant virus from a new world zika virus infectious clone
Uploaded: 2017-06-07T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Rescue and Characterization of Recombinant Virus from a New World Zika Virus Infectious Clone at JoVE.com

The authors would like to thank Kristen Bullard-Feibelman, Milena Veselinovic and Claudia R&#252;ckert for their assistance in characterizing the clone-derived virus. This work was supported in part by grants from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH under grants AI114675 (BJG) and AI067380 (GDE).

1. Transform and Recovery of Infectious Clone Plasmids
<ol>
	<li>Transform both plasmids (separately) using a commercial transformation protocol (e.g., NEB 5 Minute Transformation Protocol) with some modifications. Both plasmids contain a gene encoding for ampicillin resistance, therefore use ampicillin or carbenicillin for selection. Carbenicillin is preferred, as it is more stable.
	<ol>
		<li>Remove cells (See Materials Table) from -80 &#176;C freezer and thaw on ice for 5-10 min. Prewarm l...

<ol>
	<li>Kindhauser, M. K., Allen, T., Frank, V., Santhana, R. S., Dye, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Zika:+the+origin+and+spread+of+a+mosquito-borne+virus.">Zika: the origin and spread of a mosquito-borne virus.</a> Bull World Health Organ. 94 (9), 675C-686C (2016).</li><li>Oehler, E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Zika+virus+infection+complicated+by+Guillain-Barre+syndrome--case+report,+French+Polynesia,+December+2013.">Zika virus infection complicated by Guillain-Barre syndrome--case report, French Polynesia, December 2013.</a> Euro Surveill. 19 (9), (2014).</li><li>Li, D., Aaskov, J., Lott, W. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Identification+of+a+cryptic+prokaryotic+promoter+within+the+cDNA+encoding+the+5'+end+of+dengue+virus+RNA+genome.">Identification of a cryptic prokaryotic promoter within the cDNA encoding the 5' end of dengue virus RNA genome.</a> PLoS One. 6 (3), e18197 (2011).</li><li>Pu, S. Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+novel+approach+to+propagate+flavivirus+infectious+cDNA+clones+in+bacteria+by+introducing+tandem+repeat+sequences+upstream+of+virus+genome.">A novel approach to propagate flavivirus infectious cDNA clones in bacteria by introducing tandem repeat sequences upstream of virus genome.</a> J Gen Virol. 95 (Pt 7), 1493-1503 (2014).</li><li>Pu, S. Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Successful+propagation+of+flavivirus+infectious+cDNAs+by+a+novel+method+to+reduce+the+cryptic+bacterial+promoter+activity+of+virus+genomes.">Successful propagation of flavivirus infectious cDNAs by a novel method to reduce the cryptic bacterial promoter activity of virus genomes.</a> J Virol. 85 (6), 2927-2941 (2011).</li><li>Rice, C. M., Grakoui, A., Galler, R., Chambers, T. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transcription+of+infectious+yellow+fever+RNA+from+full-length+cDNA+templates+produced+by+in+vitro+ligation.">Transcription of infectious yellow fever RNA from full-length cDNA templates produced by in vitro ligation.</a> New Biol. 1 (3), 285-296 (1989).</li><li>Yun, S. I., Kim, S. Y., Rice, C. M., Lee, Y. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Development+and+application+of+a+reverse+genetics+system+for+Japanese+encephalitis+virus.">Development and application of a reverse genetics system for Japanese encephalitis virus.</a> J Virol. 77 (11), 6450-6465 (2003).</li><li>Gualano, R. C., Pryor, M. J., Cauchi, M. R., Wright, P. J., Davidson, A. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Identification+of+a+major+determinant+of+mouse+neurovirulence+of+dengue+virus+type+2+using+stably+cloned+genomic-length+cDNA.">Identification of a major determinant of mouse neurovirulence of dengue virus type 2 using stably cloned genomic-length cDNA.</a> J Gen Virol. 79 (Pt 3), 437-446 (1998).</li><li>Johansen, I. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intron+insertion+facilitates+amplification+of+cloned+virus+cDNA+in+Escherichia+coli+while+biological+activity+is+reestablished+after+transcription+in+vivo.">Intron insertion facilitates amplification of cloned virus cDNA in Escherichia coli while biological activity is reestablished after transcription in vivo.</a> Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 93 (22), 12400-12405 (1996).</li><li>Shan, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+Infectious+cDNA+Clone+of+Zika+Virus+to+Study+Viral+Virulence,+Mosquito+Transmission,+and+Antiviral+Inhibitors.">An Infectious cDNA Clone of Zika Virus to Study Viral Virulence, Mosquito Transmission, and Antiviral Inhibitors.</a> Cell Host Microbe. 19 (6), 891-900 (2016).</li><li>Schwarz, M. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Rescue+of+the+1947+Zika+Virus+Prototype+Strain+with+a+Cytomegalovirus+Promoter-Driven+cDNA+Clone.">Rescue of the 1947 Zika Virus Prototype Strain with a Cytomegalovirus Promoter-Driven cDNA Clone.</a> mSphere. 1 (5), (2016).</li><li>Tsetsarkin, K. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+Full-Length+Infectious+cDNA+Clone+of+Zika+Virus+from+the+2015+Epidemic+in+Brazil+as+a+Genetic+Platform+for+Studies+of+Virus-Host+Interactions+and+Vaccine+Development.">A Full-Length Infectious cDNA Clone of Zika Virus from the 2015 Epidemic in Brazil as a Genetic Platform for Studies of Virus-Host Interactions and Vaccine Development.</a> MBio. 7 (4), (2016).</li><li>Gadea, G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+robust+method+for+the+rapid+generation+of+recombinant+Zika+virus+expressing+the+GFP+reporter+gene.">A robust method for the rapid generation of recombinant Zika virus expressing the GFP reporter gene.</a> Virology. 497, 157-162 (2016).</li><li>Kapoor, M., Zhang, L., Mohan, P. M., Padmanabhan, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Synthesis+and+characterization+of+an+infectious+dengue+virus+type-2+RNA+genome+(New+Guinea+C+strain).">Synthesis and characterization of an infectious dengue virus type-2 RNA genome (New Guinea C strain).</a> Gene. 162 (2), 175-180 (1995).</li><li>Messer, W. B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Development+and+characterization+of+a+reverse+genetic+system+for+studying+dengue+virus+serotype+3+strain+variation+and+neutralization.">Development and characterization of a reverse genetic system for studying dengue virus serotype 3 strain variation and neutralization.</a> PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 6 (2), e1486 (2012).</li><li>Kinney, R. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Avian+virulence+and+thermostable+replication+of+the+North+American+strain+of+West+Nile+virus.">Avian virulence and thermostable replication of the North American strain of West Nile virus.</a> J Gen Virol. 87 (Pt 12), 3611-3622 (2006).</li><li>Chang, A. C., Cohen, S. N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Construction+and+characterization+of+amplifiable+multicopy+DNA+cloning+vehicles+derived+from+the+P15A+cryptic+miniplasmid.">Construction and characterization of amplifiable multicopy DNA cloning vehicles derived from the P15A cryptic miniplasmid.</a> J Bacteriol. 134 (3), 1141-1156 (1978).</li><li>Weger-Lucarelli, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Development+and+Characterization+of+Recombinant+Virus+Generated+from+a+New+World+Zika+Virus+Infectious+Clone.">Development and Characterization of Recombinant Virus Generated from a New World Zika Virus Infectious Clone.</a> J Virol. 91 (1), (2017).</li><li>Roberts, P. L., Lloyd, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Virus+inactivation+by+protein+denaturants+used+in+affinity+chromatography.">Virus inactivation by protein denaturants used in affinity chromatography.</a> Biologicals. 35 (4), 343-347 (2007).</li><li>Baer, A., Kehn-Hall, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Viral+concentration+determination+through+plaque+assays:+using+traditional+and+novel+overlay+systems.">Viral concentration determination through plaque assays: using traditional and novel overlay systems.</a> J Vis Exp. (93), e52065 (2014).</li><li>Weger-Lucarelli, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Development+and+Characterization+of+Recombinant+Virus+Generated+from+a+New+World+Zika+Virus+Infectious+Clone.">Development and Characterization of Recombinant Virus Generated from a New World Zika Virus Infectious Clone.</a> J Virol. , (2016).</li><li>Grubaugh, N. D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Genetic+Drift+during+Systemic+Arbovirus+Infection+of+Mosquito+Vectors+Leads+to+Decreased+Relative+Fitness+during+Host+Switching.">Genetic Drift during Systemic Arbovirus Infection of Mosquito Vectors Leads to Decreased Relative Fitness during Host Switching.</a> Cell Host Microbe. 19 (4), 481-492 (2016).</li></ol>

Here we describe a method for the recovery of a bipartite infectious cDNA clone system for ZIKV. Previously described clones for ZIKV suffer from either attenuation or require the addition of introns, making plasmids larger and preventing rescue in insect cells. Infectious virus can be recovered using the two-plasmid clone system in either mammalian or insect cells (data not shown). In addition, virus recovered from this system behaves similarly to wild-type virus in several cell lines, in an immunocompromised mouse mode...

Zika virus (ZIKV; Family Flaviviridae: Genus Flavivirus) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that arrived in Brazil in 2013-14 and was subsequently associated with a massive outbreak of febrile illness that spread throughout the Americas1. In addition, ZIKV has been linked with severe disease outcomes, such as Guillain-Barr&#233; syndrome in adults and microcephaly in fetuses and neonates2. Little was known about ZIKV before its rapid spread in the western hemisphere. This included a lack of molecular tools, thus hindering mechanistic research. Molecular tools for viruses, such as infectious cDNA clones, facilitate vaccine and antiviral therapeutic development, and allow for the assessment of viral genetic factors related to differential viral pathogenesis, immune response and viral evolution.
Flavivirus infectious clones are known to be highly unstable in bacteria due to cryptic prokaryotic promoters present in their genomes3. Several approaches have been used to ameliorate this problem; including insertion of tandem repeats upstream of viral sequences4, mutation of putative prokaryotic promoter sequences5, splitting the genome into multiple plasmids6, low-copy number vectors (including bacterial artificial chromosomes)7,8 and insertion of introns in the viral genome9. One full-length system without modifications has been described for ZIKV; however, this clone appeared to be attenuated in cell culture and in mice10. Other groups have engineered introns into the ZIKV genome, allowing for disruption of unstable sequences in bacteria that can be spliced out in mammalian cells in vitro for the production of infectious virus11,12. Additionally, a PCR-based system entitled Infectious-Subgenomic-Amplicons has been used successfully to rescue the prototype MR766 strain of ZIKV13. The approach described here requires no foreign sequences, but rather disrupts the genome at the region of high instability by using multiple plasmids, which has previously been used successfully with yellow fever6, dengue14,15 and West Nile viruses16. Furthermore, the addition of the hepatitis D ribozyme sequence at the viral genomic termini facilitates the creation of an authentic 3&#39; end without the need for the addition of a linearization site. Additionally, both plasmids are constructed in a low-copy number vector (pACYC177, ~15 copies per cell) to mitigate any residual toxicity17. The virus recovered displays a growth profile comparable to parental virus in in vitro growth curves in 8 cell lines comprising a variety of cell-types derived from both mammals and insects, and has exhibited identical pathogenic profiles in mice and infection, dissemination and transmission rates in mosquitoes18.
Herein, we detail a protocol describing how to grow the infectious clone plasmids, generate full-length viral RNA (the viral genome) in vitro, and recover infectious virus in cell culture. First, we describe the propagation of plasmids in bacteria or bacteria-free amplification using rolling circle amplification (RCA). Next, we show how the two plasmids are digested and then subsequently ligated together to generate full-length virus. Finally, we describe the production of transcribed RNA and its subsequent electroporation into Vero cells, followed by titration of recovered virus (Figure 1). The approach described is rapid, allowing for recovery of infectious virus stocks in 1-2 weeks.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>NEB Stable CompetentE. coli</td>
			<td>New England BioLabs</td>
			<td>C3040H</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Carbenicillin, Disodium Salt</td>
			<td>various</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Zyppy Plasmid Miniprep Kit</td>
			<td>Zymo Research</td>
			<td>D4036</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ZymoPURE Plasmid Maxiprep Kit</td>
			<td>Zymo Research</td>
			<td>D4202</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SalI-HF</td>
			<td>New England BioLabs</td>
			<td>R3138S</td>
			<td>20,000 units/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NheI-HF</td>
			<td>New England BioLabs</td>
			<td>R3131S</td>
			<td>20,000 units/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ApaLI</td>
			<td>New England BioLabs</td>
			<td>R0507S</td>
			<td>10,000 units/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>EcoRI-HF</td>
			<td>New England BioLabs</td>
			<td>R3101S</td>
			<td>20,000 units/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BamHI-HF</td>
			<td>New England BioLabs</td>
			<td>R3136S</td>
			<td>20,000 units/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HindIII-HF</td>
			<td>New England BioLabs</td>
			<td>R3104S</td>
			<td>20,000 units/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>illustra TempliPhi 100 Amplification Kit</td>
			<td>GE Healthcare Life Sciences</td>
			<td>25640010</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NucleoSpin Gel and PCR Clean-up</td>
			<td>Macherey-Nagel</td>
			<td>740609.5</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Shrimp Alkaline Phosphatase (rSAP)</td>
			<td>New England BioLabs</td>
			<td>M0371S</td>
			<td>1,000 units/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alkaline Phosphatase, Calf Intestinal (CIP)</td>
			<td>New England BioLabs</td>
			<td>M0290S</td>
			<td>10,000 units/ml</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>T4 DNA Ligase</td>
			<td>New England BioLabs</td>
			<td>M0202S</td>
			<td>400,000units/mL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HiScribe T7 ARCA mRNA Kit</td>
			<td>New England BioLabs</td>
			<td>E2065S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vero cells</td>
			<td>ATCC</td>
			<td>CCL-81</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ECM 630 High Throughput Electroporation System</td>
			<td>BTX</td>
			<td>45-0423</td>
			<td>Other machines are acceptable.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LB Broth with agar (Miller)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>L3147</td>
			<td>Can be homemade as well.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Terrific Broth</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>T0918</td>
			<td>Can be homemade as well.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Petri Dish</td>
			<td>Celltreat</td>
			<td>229693</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Culture Tubes</td>
			<td>VWR International</td>
			<td>60818-576</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>T75 flasks</td>
			<td>Celltreat</td>
			<td>229340</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>T182 flasks</td>
			<td>Celltreat</td>
			<td>229350</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1x PBS</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>21-040-CV</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RPMI 1640 with L-glutamine</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>10-040-CV</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DMEM with L-glutamine and 4.5 g/L glucose</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>10-017-CV</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS)</td>
			<td>Atlas Biologicals</td>
			<td>FP-0500-A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tragacanth Powder</td>
			<td>MP Bio</td>
			<td>MP 104792</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Crystal Violet</td>
			<td>Amresco</td>
			<td>0528-1006</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ethanol Denatured</td>
			<td>VWR International</td>
			<td>BDH1156-1LP</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>6 well plate</td>
			<td>Celltreat</td>
			<td>229106</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>12 well plate</td>
			<td>Celltreat</td>
			<td>229111</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sequencing Oligos</td>
			<td>IDT</td>
			<td>see table 1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Qubit 3.0</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>Qubit 3.0</td>
			<td>other methods are acceptable.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Qubit dsDNA BR Assay Kit</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>Q32850</td>
			<td>other methods are acceptable.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Qubit RNA HS Assay Kit</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher</td>
			<td>Q32852</td>
			<td>other methods are acceptable.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Class II Biosafety Cabinet</td>
			<td>Varies</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>This is necessary for live-virus work.</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

rescue and characterization of recombinant virus from a new world zika virus infectious clone

Infectious cDNA clones allow for genetic manipulation of a virus, thus facilitating work on vaccines, pathogenesis, replication, transmission and viral evolution. Here we describe the construction of an infectious clone for Zika virus (ZIKV), which is currently causing an explosive outbreak in the Americas. To prevent toxicity to bacteria that is commonly observed with flavivirus-derived plasmids, we generated a two-plasmid system which separates the genome at the NS1 gene and is more stable than full-length constructs that could not be successfully recovered without mutations. After digestion and ligation to join the two fragments, full-length viral RNA can be generated by in vitro transcription with T7 RNA polymerase. Following electroporation of transcribed RNA into cells, virus was recovered that exhibited similar in vitro growth kinetics and in vivo virulence and infection phenotypes in mice and mosquitoes, respectively.

The protocol described here allows for the recovery of infectious clone-derived Zika virus. Manipulating the two-plasmid infectious clone system is straightforward when performed with care, as compared to full-length versions which are highly unstable (data not shown). After digestion and ligation of the two distinct pieces, capped RNA is produced using in vitro transcription with T7 polymerase which is then electroporated into Vero cells (Figure 1)....

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Rescue and Characterization of Recombinant Virus from a New World Zika Virus Infectious Clone at JoVE.com

Rescue and Characterization of Recombinant Virus from a New World Zika Virus Infectious Clone

This protocol describes the recovery of infectious Zika virus from a two-plasmid infectious cDNA clone.

Infectious cDNA clones allow for genetic manipulation of a virus, thus facilitating work on vaccines, pathogenesis, replication, transmission and viral ...

The overall goal of this procedure is to recover infectious virus from a two part Zika virus Z-DNA clone. This method can answer key questions in the field of flavivirology, such as vaccine strategies, pathogenesis, transmission, and virus evolution. The main advantage of this technique is that the two-part system is more stable than full length approaches.Though this method can provide insight into Zika virus, it can also be applied to other viral systems that have proven difficult to clone due to plasmid instability. Demonstrating the procedure will be James Weger, a post-doc from my laboratory. Begin by setting up digestion reactions for both plasmids encoding the Zika virus genome, P1 and P2.Digest 3.3 micrograms of P1 with ApaL1 and BamH1 High Fidelity in the presence of a competent phosphatase in a final volume of 100 microliters.For P2, digest 13.3 micrograms of P2 DNA with ApaL1 and EcoR1 High Fidelity in a final volume of 100 microliters. Incubate both reactions at 37 degrees celsius for 1.2 hours. After purifying the digested plasmids using a commercial gel and PCR cleanup kit, add 30 microliters of elution buffer preheated to 70 degrees celsius to the column and incubate for five minutes.After spinning down the purified digested plasmids, prepare the ligation reaction by combining 29 microliters of purified P1 and 29 microliters of purified P2 with T4 DNA ligation reaction buffer and T4 DNA ligase in double distilled water to a final volume of 100 microliters. Incubate the ligation reaction at room temperature for two hours. After incubation, purify the ligated plasmid as before.This time use 10 microliters of preheated elution buffer. Next, run the undigested plasmids, digested plasmids, and ligation on an agarose gel. A successful ligation should give rise to a ligation product of around 11Kb.After confirming that the plasmids run at the correct molecular weight, set up a T7 in vitro transcription reaction using eight microliters of purified ligation reaction and incubate for four hours at 37 degrees celsius. After the incubation, measure the RNA concentration via a UV spectrophotometer. One or two days prior to electroporation, prepare one T182 flask of Vero cells per construct to be recovered.Include a T182 flask to be used as a mock electroporation control. When cells are at 70 to 80%confluency, warm DMEM containing 15%FBS and 10 millimolar heaps in a water bath heated to 37 degrees celsius. Detach the cells by trypsinization according to standard methods and collect the cells and medium containing 10%FBS to inactivate the trypsin.Then centrifuge the cells at 150 times G for five minutes at four degrees celsius. After washing the cells three times with PBS, we suspend each cell pellet in RPMI 1640 plus 10 millimolar heaps to a concentration of around 0.5 times 10 to the seven cells per milliliter. Transfer 200 microliters of the cell suspension to a sterile tube.Next, add 20 microliters of water as the mock control or 20 microliters of RNA to each set of cells. Mix the cells gently by flicking the tube, and then transfer the contents of the tube to a two millimeter gap electroporation cuvette. Set the electroporator to 170 volts, zero Omega resistance, and 950 microfarads.Pulse the cells once and immediately add 600 microliters of the pre-warmed medium. Add the cells to a T75 tissue culture flask containing 10 milliliters of the pre-warmed medium. Remove any remaining medium from the cuvette by using the dropper that is included with the cuvette.Swirl the flask to mix the medium and cells, and then place it in the 37 degree celsius incubator. The next day and each day thereafter, check the cells for viability until 50 to 75%cell death is observed relative to the mock electroporated control. When 50 to 75%cell death is seen, harvest the supernatant in a conical tube, and then centrifuge at greater than 3, 000 times G for 10 minutes at four degrees celsius to remove cellular debris.Following centrifugation, transfer the clarified supernatant to a new tube and add FBS to a final concentration of 20%Additionally, add sterile heaps to a final concentration of 10 millimolar as a buffering agent to preserve virus infectivity while frozen. Finally, mix the virus by vortexing and aliquot into screw cap files. Store the virus at minus 80 degrees celsius for future use.This image shows the similar effect of wild-type PRVABC59 and infectious clone-derived Zika virus on the growth kinetics of the non-human primate Vero cell line. This image shows the effect of both viruses on human placental cells. Similar growth kinetics are seen in a mosquito-derived C6/36 line.This survival curve shows data obtained from four week old interferon alpha, beta, and gamma receptor knockout mice that were inoculated with 1, 000 PFU of PRVABC59 or the infectious clone-derived virus. Aedes aegypti were dissected 14 days after a blood meal containing Zika virus. Plaque assay were used to assess infection in mosquito bodies in legs to measure dissemination, or in salivary secretions to measure transmission of infectious virus.Rates are presented as the percent of the total mosquitoes that were tested. While attempting this procedure, it's important to remember to sequence the entire virus. It's also important to remember to harvest the virus at 50 to 75%CPE to minimize viral replication cycles.This technique is important for researches in the field of flavivirology to explore vaccines, pathogenesis, and virus evolution in Zika virus.

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Research

JoVE Journal

Immunology and Infection

Generation of Recombinant Influenza Virus from Plasmid DNA

Efforts by a number of influenza research groups have been pivotal in the development and improvement of influenza A virus reverse genetics. Originally established in 1999 1,2 plasmid-based reverse genetic techniques to generate recombinant viruses have revolutionized the influenza research field because specific questions have been answered by genetically engineered, infectious, recombinant influenza viruses. Such studies include virus replication, function of viral proteins, the contribution of specific mutations in viral proteins in viral replication and/or pathogenesis and, also, viral vectors using recombinant influenza viruses expressing foreign proteins 3.

Rescue of influenza A viruses from plasmid DNA is a basic and essential experimental technique that allows influenza researchers to generate recombinant viruses to study multiple aspects in the biology of influenza virus, and to be used as potential vectors or vaccines.

Efforts by a number of influenza research groups have been pivotal in the development and improvement of influenza A virus reverse genetics. Originally ...

Detection of Infectious Virus from Field-collected Mosquitoes by Vero Cell Culture Assay

Mosquitoes transmit a number of distinct viruses including important human pathogens such as West Nile virus, dengue virus, and chickungunya virus. Many of these viruses have intensified in their endemic ranges and expanded to new territories, necessitating effective surveillance and control programs to respond to these threats. One strategy to monitor virus activity involves collecting large numbers of mosquitoes from endemic sites and testing them for viral infection. In this article, we describe how to handle, process, and screen field-collected mosquitoes for infectious virus by Vero cell culture assay. Mosquitoes are sorted by trap location and species, and grouped into pools containing &le;50 individuals. Pooled specimens are homogenized in buffered saline using a mixer-mill and the aqueous phase is inoculated onto confluent Vero cell cultures (Clone E6). Cell cultures are monitored for cytopathic effect from days 3-7 post-inoculation and any viruses grown in cell culture are identified by the appropriate diagnostic assays. By utilizing this approach, we have isolated 9 different viruses from mosquitoes collected in Connecticut, USA, and among these, 5 are known to cause human disease. Three of these viruses (West Nile virus, Potosi virus, and La Crosse virus) represent new records for North America or the New England region since 1999. The ability to detect a wide diversity of viruses is critical to monitoring both established and newly emerging viruses in the mosquito population.

We describe a method to process and screen field-collected mosquitoes for a diversity of viruses by Vero cell culture assay. By employing this technique, we have detected 9 different viruses from 4 taxonomic families in mosquitoes collected in Connecticut.

Mosquitoes transmit a number of distinct viruses including important human pathogens such as West Nile virus, dengue virus, and chickungunya virus. Many ...

Propagating and Detecting an Infectious Molecular Clone of Maedi-visna Virus that Expresses Green Fluorescent Protein

Maedi-visna virus (MVV) is a lentivirus of sheep, causing slowly progressive interstitial pneumonia and encephalitis1. The primary target cells of MVV in vivo are considered to be of the monocyte lineage2. Certain strains of MVV can replicate in other cell types, however3,4. The green fluorescent protein is a commonly used marker for studying lentiviruses in living cells. We have inserted the egfp gene into the gene for dUTPase of MVV. The dUTPase gene is well conserved in most lentivirus strains of sheep and goats and has been shown to be important in replication of CAEV5. However, dUTPase has been shown to be dispensable for replication of the molecular clone of MVV used in this study both in vitro and in vivo6. MVV replication is strictly confined to cells of sheep or goat origin. We use a primary cell line from the choroid plexus of sheep (SCP cells) for transfection and propagation of the virus7. The fluorescent MVV is fully infectious and EGFP expression is stable over at least 6 passages8. There is good correlation between measurements of TCID50 and EGFP. This virus should therefore be useful for rapid detection of infected cells in studies of cell tropism and pathogenicity in vitro and in vivo8.

We describe a molecular clone of maedi-visna virus that expresses GFP and is fully infectious. Replication of this virus can be detected by using fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry.

Maedi-visna virus (MVV) is a lentivirus of sheep, causing slowly progressive interstitial pneumonia and encephalitis1. The primary target cells of MVV in ...

Rescue of Recombinant Newcastle Disease Virus from cDNA

Newcastle disease virus (NDV), the prototype member of the Avulavirus genus of the family Paramyxoviridae1, is a non-segmented, negative-sense, single-stranded, enveloped RNA virus (Figure 1) with potential applications as a vector for vaccination and treatment of human diseases. In-depth exploration of these applications has only become possible after the establishment of reverse genetics techniques to rescue recombinant viruses from plasmids encoding their complete genomes as cDNA2-5. Viral cDNA can be conveniently modified in vitro by using standard cloning procedures to alter the genotype of the virus and/or to include new transcriptional units. Rescue of such genetically modified viruses provides a valuable tool to understand factors affecting multiple stages of infection, as well as allows for the development and improvement of vectors for the expression and delivery of antigens for vaccination and therapy. Here we describe a protocol for the rescue of recombinant NDVs.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) has been extensively studied in the last few years in order to develop new vectors for vaccination and therapy, among others. These studies have been possible due to techniques to rescue recombinant virus from cDNA, such as those we describe here.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV), the prototype member of  the Avulavirus genus of the family Paramyxoviridae1, is a non-segmented,  negative-sense, ...

Neutrophil Isolation and Analysis to Determine their Role in Lymphoma Cell Sensitivity to Therapeutic Agents

Neutrophils are the most abundant (40% to 75%) type of white blood cells and among the first inflammatory cells to migrate towards the site of inflammation. They are key players in the innate immune system and play major roles in cancer biology. Neutrophils have been proposed as key mediators of malignant transformation, tumor progression, angiogenesis and in the modulation of the antitumor immunity; through their release of soluble factors or their interaction with tumor cells. To characterize the specific functions of neutrophils, a fast and reliable method is coveted for in vitro isolation of neutrophils from human blood. Here, a density gradient separation method is demonstrated to isolate neutrophils as well as mononuclear cells from the blood. The procedure consists of layering the density gradient solution such as Ficoll carefully above the diluted blood obtained from patients diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), followed by centrifugation, isolation of mononuclear layer, separation of neutrophils from RBCsby dextran then lysis of residual erythrocytes. This method has been shown to isolate neutrophils &#8805; 90 % pure. To mimic the tumor microenvironment, 3-dimensional (3D) experiments were performed using basement membrane matrix such as Matrigel. Given the short half-life of neutrophils in vitro, 3D experiments with fresh human neutrophils cannot be performed. For this reason promyelocytic HL60 cells are differentiated along the granulocytic pathway using the differentiation inducers dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and retinoic acid (RA). The aim of our experiments is to study the role of neutrophils on the sensitivity of lymphoma cells to anti-lymphoma agents. However these methods can be generalized to study the interactions of neutrophils or neutrophil-like cells with a large range of cell types in different situations.

Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cells. The isolation of neutrophils from human blood by density gradient separation method and the differentiation of human promyelocytic (HL60) cells along the granulocytic pathway are described here; to test their role on sensitivity of lymphoma cells to anti-lymphoma agents.

Neutrophils are the most abundant (40% to 75%) type of white blood cells and among the first inflammatory cells to migrate towards the site of ...

Zika Virus Infectious Cell Culture System and the In Vitro Prophylactic Effect of Interferons

Zika Virus (ZIKV) is an emerging pathogen that is linked to fetal developmental abnormalities such as microcephaly, eye defects, and impaired growth. ZIKV is an RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family. ZIKV is mainly transmitted by mosquitoes, but can also be spread by maternal to fetal vertical transmission as well as sexual contact. To date, there are no reliable treatment or vaccine options available to protect those infected by the virus. The development of a reproducible, effective Zika virus infectious cell culture system is critical for studying the molecular mechanisms of ZIKV replication as well as drug and vaccine development. In this regard, a protocol describing a mammalian cell-based in vitro Zika virus culture system for viral production and growth analysis is reported here. Details on the formation of plaques by Zika virus on a cell monolayer and plaque assay for measuring viral titer are presented. Viral genome replication kinetics and double-stranded RNA genome replicatory intermediates are determined. This culture platform was utilized to screen against a library of a small set of cytokines resulting in the identification of interferon-&#945; (IFN-&#945;), IFN-&#946; and IFN-&#947; as potent inhibitors of Zika viral growth. In summary, an in vitro infectious Zika viral culture system and various virological assays are demonstrated in this study, which has the potential to greatly benefit the research community in elucidating further the mechanisms of viral pathogenesis and the evolution of viral virulence. Antiviral IFN-alpha can further be evaluated as a prophylactic, post-exposure prophylactic, and treatment option for Zika virus infections in high-risk populations, including infected pregnant women.

Zika Virus Infectious Cell Culture System and the In Vitro Prophylactic Effect of Interferons

Zika Virus (ZIKV), an emerging pathogen, is linked to fetal developmental abnormalities and microcephaly. The establishment of an effective infectious cell culture system is crucial for studies of ZIKV replication as well as vaccine and drug development. In this study, various virological assays pertaining to ZIKV are illustrated and discussed.

Zika Virus (ZIKV) is an emerging pathogen that is linked to fetal developmental abnormalities such as microcephaly, eye defects, and impaired growth. ZIKV ...

Zika Virus Specific Diagnostic Epitope Discovery

High-density peptide microarrays allow screening of more than six thousand peptides on a single standard microscopy slide. This method can be applied for drug discovery, therapeutic target identification, and developing of diagnostics. Here, we present a protocol to discover specific Zika virus (ZIKV) diagnostic peptides using a high-density peptide microarray. A human serum sample validated for ZIKV infection was incubated with a high-density peptide microarray containing the entire ZIKV protein translated into 3,423 unique 15 linear amino acid (aa) residues with a 14-aa residue overlap printed in duplicate. Staining with different secondary antibodies within the same array, we detected peptides that bind to Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies present in serum. These peptides were selected for further validation experiments. In this protocol, we describe the strategy followed to design, process, and analyze a high-density peptide microarray.

In this protocol, we describe a technique to discover Zika virus specific diagnostic peptides using a high-density peptide microarray. This protocol can readly be adapted for other emerging infectious diseases.

High-density peptide microarrays allow screening of more than six thousand peptides on a single standard microscopy slide. This method can be applied for ...

A Simple Flow Cytometry Based Assay to Determine In Vitro Antibody Dependent Enhancement of Dengue Virus Using Zika Virus Convalescent Serum

Antibody dependent enhancement of infection has been shown to play a major role in Dengue viral pathogenesis. Traditional assays that measure the capacity of antibodies or serum to enhance infection in impermissible cell lines have relied on using viral output in the media followed by plaque assays to quantify infection. More recently, these assays have examined Dengue virus (DENV) infection in the cell lines using fluorescently labeled antibodies. Both these approaches have limitations that restrict the widespread use of these techniques. Here, we describe a simple in vitro assay using Dengue virus reporter viral particles (RVPs) that express green fluorescent protein and K562 cells to examine antibody dependent enhancement (ADE) of DENV infection using serum that was obtained from rhesus macaques 16 weeks after infection with Zika virus (ZIKV). This technique is reliable, involves minimal manipulation of cells, does not involve the use of live replication competent virus, and can be performed in a high throughput format to get a quantitative readout using flow cytometry. Additionally, this assay can be easily adapted to examine antibody dependent enhancement (ADE) of other flavivirus infections such as Yellow Fever virus (YFV), Japanese Equine Encephalitis virus (JEEV), West Nile virus (WNV) etc. where RVPs are available. The ease of setting up the assay, analyzing the data, and interpreting results makes it highly amenable to most laboratory settings.

A Simple Flow Cytometry Based Assay to Determine In Vitro Antibody Dependent Enhancement of Dengue Virus Using Zika Virus Convalescent Serum

We describe a simple and easy protocol for measuring antibody dependent enhancement of infection by Zika virus convalescent serum using Dengue virus Reporter Viral Particles.

Antibody dependent enhancement of infection has been shown to play a major role in Dengue viral pathogenesis. Traditional assays that measure the capacity ...

Rapid, Safe, and Simple Manual Bedside Nucleic Acid Extraction for the Detection of Virus in Whole Blood Samples

The rapid diagnosis of an infection is essential for the outbreak management, risk containment, and patient care. We have previously shown a method for the rapid bedside inactivation of the Ebola virus during blood sampling for safe nucleic acid (NA) tests by adding a commercial lysis/binding buffer directly into the vacuum blood collection tubes. Using this bedside inactivation approach, we have developed a safe, rapid, and simplified bedside NA extraction method for the subsequent detection of a virus in lysis/binding buffer-inactivated whole blood. The NA extraction is directly performed in the blood collection tubes and requires no equipment or electricity. 
After the blood is collected into the lysis/binding buffer, the contents are mixed by flipping the tube by hand, and the mixture is incubated for 20 min at room temperature. Magnetic glass particles (MGPs) are added to the tube, and the contents are mixed by flipping the collection tube by hand. The MGPs are then collected on the side of the blood collection tube using a magnetic holder or a magnet and a rubber band. The MGPs are washed three times, and after the addition of elution buffer directly into the collection tube, the NAs are ready for NA tests, such as qPCR or isothermal loop amplification (LAMP), without the removal of the MGPs from the reaction. The NA extraction method is not dependent on any laboratory facilities and can easily be used anywhere (e.g., in field hospitals and hospital isolation wards). When this NA extraction method is combined with LAMP and a portable instrument, a diagnosis can be obtained within 40 min of the blood collection.

Here, we present a protocol for the rapid virus nucleic acid extraction from the virus-inactivated whole blood. The extraction is performed directly in the blood collection tubes and requires no equipment or electricity. The method is not dependent on laboratory facilities and can be used anywhere (e.g., in field hospitals).

The rapid diagnosis of an infection is essential for the outbreak management, risk containment, and patient care. We have previously shown a method for ...

Quantification of Antibody-dependent Enhancement of the Zika Virus in Primary Human Cells

The recent emergence of the flavivirus Zika and neurological complications, such as Guillain-Barr&#233; syndrome and microcephaly in infants, has brought serious public safety concerns. Among the risk factors, antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) poses the most significant threat, as the recent re-emergence of the Zika virus (ZIKV) is primarily in areas where the population has been exposed and is in a state of pre-immunity to other closely related flaviviruses, especially dengue virus (DENV). Here, we describe a protocol for quantifying the effect of human serum antibodies against DENV on ZIKV infection in primary human cells or cell lines.

We describe a method to evaluate the effect of pre-existing immunity against dengue virus on the Zika virus infection by using human serum, primary human cells, and infection quantification by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

The recent emergence of the flavivirus Zika and neurological complications, such as Guillain-Barr&#233; syndrome and microcephaly in infants, has brought ...