Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus cDNA and Antigen

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) is a virus that infects wild and domestic ruminants, such as deer, cattle, and sheep, causing a disease known as epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD). EHD is characterized by fever, lethargy, swelling of the head, neck, and tongue, as well as hemorrhages in various tissues, including the lymph nodes, spleen, and lung. EHD outbreaks can cause significant morbidity and mortality in
affected animals and can have major economic impacts on the livestock and wildlife industries.

EHDV is a member of the family Bunyaviridae and is transmitted by midges of the genus Culicoides. The virus is distributed throughout much of the world and has been responsible for periodic outbreaks of EHD in North America, Europe, and Asia. The emergence and spread of EHDV is influenced by various factors, including environmental conditions, host population dynamics, and vector populations.

The genome of the Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (EHDV) is a segmented, single-stranded RNA genome that consists of three segments: large (L), medium (M), and small (S). The L segment encodes the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, which is responsible for replicating the viral genome. The M segment encodes the glycoprotein precursor, which is processed into two surface glycoproteins (Gn and Gc), while the S segment encodes the nucleocapsid protein.

Antigens are substances that stimulate an immune response and can be recognized by the body’s immune system. In the case of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (EHDV), antigens are typically found on the surface of the virus and are used to trigger the production of antibodies, which are proteins that help to neutralize or remove the virus from the body. The virus genome encodes several structural and non-structural proteins, including:

EHDV is composed of several proteins that play different roles in the virus’s lifecycle and pathogenesis. Among these are NS3 and NS1, which are non-structural proteins that are involved in viral replication and assembly. VP1, VP2, VP3, VP4, VP5, VP6, and VP7 are structural proteins that form the viral capsid and are important for host cell recognition and immune response.

NS3 is a multifunctional protein that possesses protease, helicase, and nucleoside triphosphatase activities. It is essential for viral replication and assembly. NS1 is another non-structural protein that is involved in viral replication and immune evasion.

VP1, VP2, VP3, VP4, VP5, VP6, and VP7 are structural proteins that make up the viral capsid. VP1 and VP2 are involved in host cell recognition and entry, while VP3, VP4, VP5, VP6, and VP7 are responsible for capsid assembly and stability.

Understanding the functions and interactions of these proteins is crucial for developing effective treatments and prevention strategies for EHDV. Ongoing research is focused on uncovering more about the virus and its proteins, with the goal of ultimately finding a way to control and eradicate the disease.

The use of recombinant proteins/cDNA in academic research and therapeutic applications has skyrocketed. However, in heterologous expression systems, successful recombinant protein expression is dependent on a variety of factors, including codon preference, RNA secondary structure, and GC content. When compared to pre-optimization, more and more experimental results demonstrated that the expression level was dramatically increased, ranging from two to hundred times depending on the gene. Bioclone has created a proprietary technology platform that has resulted in the creation of over 6,000 artificially synthesized codon-optimized cDNA clones (cloned in E. coli expression Vector), which are ready for production of the recombinant proteins.