• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.995-1000
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• 2014

The studies of marine viruses in terms of viral isolation and detection have been limited due to the high mutation rate and genetic diversity of marine viruses. Of the modern methods currently used to detect marine viruses, serological methods based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) are the most common. They depend largely on the quality of the antibodies and on highly purified suitable antigens. Recently, a new experimental system for using viral capsid protein as an antigen has been developed using the yeast surface display (YSD) technique. In the present study, the capsid protein gene of the red-spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV) was expressed and purified via YSD and HA-tagging systems, respectively. Two regions of the RGNNV capsid protein gene, RGNNV1 and RGNNV2, were individually synthesized and subcloned into a yeast expression vector, pCTCON. The expressions of each RGNNV capsid protein in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain EBY100 were indirectly detected by flow cytometry with fluorescently labeled antibodies, while recognizing the C-terminal c-myc tags encoded by the display vector. The expressed RGNNV capsid proteins were isolated from the yeast surface through the cleavage of the disulfide bond between the Aga1 and Aga2 proteins after ${\beta}$-mercaptoethanol treatment, and they were directly detected by Western blot using anti-HA antibody. These results indicated that YSD and HA-tagging systems could be applicable to the expressions and purification of recombinant RGNNV capsid proteins.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.328-331
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• 2018

We developed and subsequently characterized mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against nervous necrosis virus (NNV, RGNNV genotype). We established six hybridoma clones secreting MAbs against NNV antigen: 2B1, 2B11, 2C12, 13C1-1, 13C1-2 and 14D11. All six MAbs belonged to the IgG2a isotype with a kappa light chain and their reactivity recognized against the 41 kDa coat protein of NNV by Western blot analysis. The affinity constants of the six MAbs were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All six MAbs reacted with two NNV isolates (SgNag05 and Gemunodo06), while no reactivity was observed with five know fish viruses, namely marine birnavirus, infectious pancreatic necrosis virus, viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus, hirame rhabdovirus, and infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus. Moreover, high ELISA optical density (OD) values (0.87-1.42) were observed in the brain tissues of NNV-infected sevenband grouper, while low OD values (less than 0.12) were recorded in the brain tissues of uninfected fish. These results suggest that these six MAbs are highly competent and useful for the detection of NNV with the RGNNV genotype.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.111-116
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• 2012

Prevalence of viral nervous necrosis (VNN) in sevenband grouper Epinephelus septemfasciatus farms was investigated during the period of 2006-2008. The outbreak of the VNN was observed from August (water temperature: $24-26^{\circ}C$) to September or October ($20-25^{\circ}C$). The viral infection resulted in acute or chronic mortality of the host, where the mortality rate of juvenile fish was higher than that of the adult fish. Phylogenetic analysis based on partial RNA2 coat protein gene nucleotide sequences revealed that all the isolates from sevenband grouper were classified into the genotype redspotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV). In conclusion, VNN of juvenile and adult sevenband groupers during the summer season (July to October, water temperature: about $24^{\circ}C$) was caused by virus belonging to the genotype RGNNV.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.133-140
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• 2021

With the recent isolation of a new betanodavirus in shellfish, Korean Shellfish Nervous Necrosis Virus (KSNNV), it has also been identified the reassortant KSNNV of two RNA segments, in which one segment is KSNNV genotype but the other one is known genotype. In this study, we confirmed that the ressortant KSNNVs obtained in previous screening study of our laboratory for betanodaviruses in shellfish were KS/RGNNV and RG/KSNNV type by performing two consecutive multiplex RT-PCR on each RNA1 and RNA2 segment (R1- and R2-discriminative multiplex two-step RT-PCR, respectively) to determine the genotype of each segment based on the size of amplicon. In the pathogenicity analysis, none of the reassortants induced specific external symptoms or mortality of VNN, but viruses of 2 × 10⁴~10⁵ copies/mg or more were detected at 14 days after injection (10⁷ copies/fish) in brain tissues of 4 species except for crucian carp and common carp among the 6 species of juvenile fish used. In addition, the histopathological features of weak but distinct vacuole formation were also found in the brain of these infected fish, but no difference was found between the two reassortants KS/RGNNV-KG and RG/KSNNV-CM.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.71-79
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• 2018

Wild walleye pollock were caught from Goseong, The East Sea of Korea and examined for the existence of several fish pathogenic viruses; viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV), nervous necrosis virus (NNV) and marine birnavirus (MABV). We collected 1,253 wild walleye pollock in total during February 2015 and August 2018. 324 spleen sample sets and 259 brain sample sets were made, and examined for the existence of the viruses mentioned above by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). None of the target viruses were detected by one-step PCR. When some of these samples were further examined by two-step PCR, 19.7% (36/183) of spleen sample sets were positive for VHSV, and 4.4% (8/183) of spleen sample sets and 1.2% (3/259) of brain sample sets were positive for NNV. The target sequences of these viruses were clustered with those previously reported in Korea (Genotype IVa of VHSV, RGNNV genotype of NNV) by phylogenetic analysis. The activity of these viruses are not clear because virus isolation was not attempted, but probably very low because all the positive samples were detected by two-step PCR.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2020

In order to use nervous necrosis virus (NNV) virus-like particles (VLPs) as a delivery tool for heterologous antigens or plasmids, we attempted to produce red-spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV) VLPs displaying a partial region of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) glycoprotein at the surface and VLPs that are harboring DNA vaccine plasmids within the VLP. A peptide encoding 105 amino acids of VHSV glycoprotein was genetically inserted in the loop region of NNV capsid gene, and VLPs expressing the partial part of VHSV glycoprotein were successfully produced. However, in the transmission electron microscope analysis, the shape and size of the partial VHSV glycoprotein-expressing NNV VLPs were irregular and variable, respectively, indicating that the normal assembly of capsid proteins was inhibited by the relatively long foreign peptide (105 aa) on the loop region. To encapsulate by simultaneous transformation with both NNV capsid gene expressing plasmids and DNA vaccine plasmids (having an eGFP expressing cassette under the CMV promoter), NNV VLPs containing plasmids were produced. The encapsulation of plasmids in the NNV VLPs was demonstrated by PCR and cells exposed to the VLPs encapsulating DNA vaccine plasmids showed fluorescence. These results suggest that the encapsulation of plasmids in NNV VLPs can be done with a simple one-step process, excluding the process of disassembly-reassembly of VLPs, and NNV VLPs can be used as a delivery tool for DNA vaccine vectors.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.1021-1028
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• 2012

In this study, a reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay was developed for the rapid, sensitive, and inexpensive detection of nervous necrosis virus (NNV) in olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, in Korea. A set of six specific primers was designed to target the RNA 2 gene encoding the coat protein of Korean NNV strains. The RT-LAMP reaction successfully detected NNV after 30 min at $65^{\circ}C$. When the sensitivities among RT-LAMP, RT-PCR, and nested RTPCR were compared, the RT-LAMP was shown to be able to detect the RNA template at $2.58{\times}10^{-2}\;TCID_{50}/ml$, whereas the RT-PCR and nested RT-PCR were only able to detect the RNA template at $2.58{\times}10^2\;TCID_{50}/ml$ and $2.58TCID_{50}/ml$, respectively. Thus, the sensitivity of the RT-LAMP assay was higher than those of the RT-PCR assays. In the specificity test of the RT-LAMP, 2 genotypes of NNVs (SJNNV and RGNNV) were positive; however, no other fish viruses were positive with the primers, indicating that the RT-LAMP assay is only specific to NNV. A total of 102 olive flounder were collected from hatcheries between 2009 and 2011. The occurrence of NNV in olive flounder was determined to be 53.9% (55/102) by the RT-LAMP. On the other hand, the prevalence based on the nested RT-PCR and RT-PCR results was 33.8% (34/102) and 20.6% (21/102), respectively. This result indicates that the RT-LAMP assay developed in this study is suitable for early field diagnosis of NNV with high sensitivity.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.157-164
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• 2017

In 2015, a nervous necrosis virus (NNV) was isolated from sevenband grouper, Epinephelus septemfasciatus, maintained in land-based aquaculture system at below $12^{\circ}C$ in winter. Mortality was up to 30% in brood fish, over 4 kg of body weight. Moribund fish showed clinical sings typical of viral encephalopathy and retinopathy (VER), also called viral nervous necrosis (VNN), such as uncoordinated, corkscrew-like swimming behavior, belly-up at rest, darkening of body, cloudy eyeball and hyperinflation of the swim bladder. Aetiology of the disease was confirmed by gross observation of clinical signs, histopathology and molecular diagnosis. Histological studies revealed severe vacuolation and necrosis in the brain. Molecular diagnosis by revere transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) specific to batanodavirus yielded a positive result. The nucleotide sequences of the PCR-amplified fragment were 99.48~100% similar to barfin flounder nervous necrosis virus (BFNNV) genotype and most closely aligned with Pacific cod betanodavirus (PCNNV). This is the first report of natural batanodavirus, NNV infection in sevenband grouper reared in low water temperature during winter (below $12^{\circ}C$) in Korea.