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

Abstract

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. To validate this, we expressed the NDV M-protein in its native form in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and in inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli. Proper refolding of the recombinant protein produced in E. coli was verified using circular dichroism and infrared spectroscopies and electron microscopy. Immunization of chickens with the NDV M-protein elicited significant serum antibody titers. However, the antibodies conferred little protection against the ND following lethal viral challenges. We conclude that the M-protein is not exposed on the surface of the host cell or the virus at any stage during its life cycle. We discuss how the conserved M-protein can further be exploited as an antiviral drug target.

Over-expression and characterization of NS3 and NS5A of Hepatitis C virus genotype 3a

“…A small amount (~ 15 μl) of sample was dried on platinum ATR platform (diamond crystal) to form a hydrated film and then spectra obtained using Bruker FT-IR spectrometer as described [57]. Briefly FT-IR spectra from 4000 to 500 cm -1 were collected in absorbance mode at 1 nm resolution, 256 scans coaddition and Blackman-Harris-3-term apodization.…”

Isolation, Identification and Molecular Characterization of Highly Pathogenic Newcastle Disease Virus From Field Outbreaks

“…Newcastle disease (ND) is an important viral disease of poultry and other bird species disregarding of sex and age [1][2][3][4]. ND is a major cause of huge economic losses in various parts of the world [5][6].…”

Identification of Two Distinct Linear B Cell Epitopes of the Matrix Protein of the Newcastle Disease Virus Vaccine Strain LaSota

“…M protein elicits considerable serum antibody titers after the immunization of chickens with NDV (17), and anti-NDV chicken serum can recognize M protein in virus-like particles (29). These reports indicate that viral M protein is able to induce strong humoral immunity during NDV infection in animals, even though the M protein-specific antibody has no neutralization activity against NDV (30).…”