J Bacteriol Virol.  2018 Jun;48(2):37-48. 10.4167/jbv.2018.48.2.37.

Production and Storage of Virus Simulants

• Shin IS
• Kim D
• Yang SJ
• Lim BC
• Cha Y
• Kim S
• Cho TJ

• KMID: 2414854
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4167/jbv.2018.48.2.37

Abstract

We have examined isolation and identification protocols for three virus simulant candidates to biological warfare agents. MS2 phage, a simulant for yellow fever virus and Hantaan virus, was propagated using as a host an E. coli strain with F pilus. MS2 phage genome was examined by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Coat protein of the phage preparation was examined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and mass spectrometric analysis. Cydia pomonella granulosis virus (CpGV) is a virus simulant candidate to smallpox virus. CpGV was isolated from a commercialized CpGV pellet. In this study, we developed new isolation and identification protocols for CpGV. One disadvantage of using CpGV is that it is not easy to determine viability of the virus. Here, we have included T4 phage as an alternative. We established a high titer production protocol and developed an easy genome identification protocol that does not require purified phage DNA. Stability of these virus preparations was also examined under various storage conditions. When the virus preparations were not subjected to freeze drying, MS2 phage was most stable when it was stored in liquid nitrogen but unstable at 4℃. In contrast, T4 phage was most stable when it was stored at 4℃. CpGV was stable at −20℃ but not at 4℃. Stability during or after freeze drying was also investigated. The result showed that 70~80% MS2 survived the freeze drying process. In contrast, only about 15% of T4 phage survived during the freeze drying. CpGV was found to be degraded during freeze drying.

Keyword

Virus simulant; MS2 phage; CpGV; T4 phage; Stability

MeSH Terms

Bacteriophage T4
Bacteriophages
Biological Warfare Agents
DNA
Electrophoresis
Freeze Drying
Genome
Granulovirus
Hantaan virus
Levivirus
Nitrogen
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Reverse Transcription
Variola virus
Yellow fever virus
Biological Warfare Agents
DNA
Nitrogen

Figure

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  Figure 1 Verification of MS2 phage. (A) Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR analysis. RNA was isolated from the purified MS2 sample and used to amplify the phage genome by RT-PCR (lane 2). Lane 1 shows the result of RT-PCR without phage RNA. (B) SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis of phage proteins. 18% polyacrylamide gel was used to examine the plate lysate and purified MS2 sample. After electrophoresis, the proteins in the gel were visualized by staining with Coomassie blue. (C) Protein database search after LC-MS/MS. The band indicated by double asterisks in panel B was excised and digested with trypsin. The resulting tryptic peptides were analyzed by LC-MS/MS and protein databases were searched to identify the proteins that matched with the LC-MS/MS result. The panel shown here represents the search result, and the matched peptides are underlined. (D) Electron microscopic examination. Virus sample was mounted on a copper grid and examined under a transmission electron microscope. The virus sample was negatively stained with phosphotungstate.

• 

  Figure 2 Purification and identification of CpGV. (A) Purification of CpGV occlusion body by ultracentrifugation. CpGV sample was layered onto discontinuous layers of 60% and 30% sucrose solutions prepared in a swing-out tube and centrifuged at 72,000 g at 4℃ for 1 hr 30 min. Three bands formed after centrifugation were labeled #1, #2, and #3. (B) SDS-PAGE analysis. 12.5% SDS-polyacrylamide gel was used to examine the protein in the band shown in panel A. (C) Protein database search after LC-MS/MS. The major band after Coomassie staining was excised and analyzed as described in Fig. 1C. The result of the protein database search was summarized.

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  Figure 3 Analysis of CpGV DNA. (A) Agarose gel electrophoresis of purified CpGV DNA. CpGV DNA was electrophoresed in a 0.8% agarose gel and stained with EtBr. (B) Restriction enzyme digestion pattern of CpGV DNA. Virus genomic DNA was digested with either ApaLI or MfeI and the restriction fragments were separated by agarose gel electrophoresis.

• 

  Figure 4 Verification of T4 phage. (A) PCR analysis. DNA was isolated from purified T4 phage sample and used to amplify the phage genome by PCR. (B) Plaque PCR. Purified T4 phage sample was plated with host bacteria and the resulting plaques were randomly taken by poking each plaque with a micropipette tip. The agar plug in the tip was resuspended in distilled water and boiled for 5 min. After centrifugation, 1 µl of the supernatant was directly used in PCR. (C) Electron microscopic examination. Virus sample was examined as described in Fig. 1D.

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