Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
expression system in
E. coli
will be used for structural comparison to
elucidate the correlation between the size/shape and the RNA content.
These mutant VLPs will be employed to study their structure variation
by using electron cryomicroscopy and X-ray diffraction. High similarity
in structure implies that the VLPs could induce a strong immune
response against virus. In addition to their structural and immunologi-
cal properties, DGNNV VLPs with no virus genome are not infectious,
therefore qualifying as a safe and efficient vaccine (Conner et al., 1996;
Roy, 1996). Future experiments on VLPs with a variety of mutant
RNA1 and RNA2 species will help further understanding of the recog-
nition and binding between the RNAs and capsid protein.
Acknowledgments
The grants were partially supported by the National Science Council,
Taiwan (NSC92—2313-B-110-005) and by the University Integration
Program from the Ministry of Education (93RA04602).
References
1
.
Mori KI, Nakai T, Muroga K,
et al
. (1992) Properties of a new virus
belonging to Nodaviridae found in larval striped jack (
Pseudocaranx
dentex
) with nervous necrosis.
Virology
187
: 368-371.
2.
Munday BL, Kwang J, Moody N. (2002) Betanodavirus infections of
teleost fish: a review.
J Fish Dis
25
: 127-142.
3.
Lin CS, Lu MW, Tang L,
et al
. (2001) Characterization of virus-like-
particles assembled in a recombinant baculovirus system expressing the
capsid protein of a fish nodavirus.
Virology
290
: 50-58.
4.
Lu MW, Lin CS. (2003) Involvement of the terminus of grouper
betanodavirus capsid protein in virus-like particle assembly.
Arch Virol
148
: 345-355.
5.
Tang L, Lin CS, Krishna NK,
et al
. (2002) Virus-like particles of a fish
nodavirus display a capsid subunit domain organization different from
insect nodavirus.
J Virol
76
: 6370-6375.
6.
Lu MW, Liu W, Lin CS. (2003) Infection competition against grouper
nervous necrosis virus by virus-like particles produced in
Escherichia
coli
.
J Gen Virol
84
: 1577-1582.
