|
|
Preparation of expression vectors and virus mutants for studies of the minor structural proteins of polyomaviruses.
Cibulka, Jakub ; Forstová, Jitka (advisor) ; Šroller, Vojtěch (referee)
Polyomaviruses are small non-enveloped DNA viruses infecting birds and mammals, including human. Their capsid consists of the major capsid protein, VP1, and two minor capsid proteins, VP2 and VP3. The VP2 and VP3 proteins are supposed to have an important function in the transport of viral genome into the cell nucleus, which is a key step to facilitate viral replication. VP2 and VP3 proteins of mouse polyomavirus and SV40 have an ability to bind and disrupt cellular membranes. This feature is believed to be involved in the transport of viral genome into the nucleus. Plasmids carrying genes of the minor capsid proteins of Merkel cell polyomavirus were prepared in order to produce and visualize these proteins in mammalian cells. These proteins are known to have very unusual sequences compared to other human polyomaviruses or related mouse polyomavirus. When produced alone, the minor capsid proteins of Merkel cell polyomavirus did not significantly interact with cellular membranes, unlike the minor proteins of the mouse polyomavirus. The second goal of this work was to prepare mouse polyomavirus mutants with deletion in hydrophobic domains of VP2 and VP3 proteins. These domains are likely responsible for the mentioned membrane interactions. Prepared mutants were non-infectious. The loss of infectivity was not...
|
|
|
Preparation of expression vectors and virus mutants for studies of the minor structural proteins of polyomaviruses.
Cibulka, Jakub ; Forstová, Jitka (advisor) ; Šroller, Vojtěch (referee)
Polyomaviruses are small non-enveloped DNA viruses infecting birds and mammals, including human. Their capsid consists of the major capsid protein, VP1, and two minor capsid proteins, VP2 and VP3. The VP2 and VP3 proteins are supposed to have an important function in the transport of viral genome into the cell nucleus, which is a key step to facilitate viral replication. VP2 and VP3 proteins of mouse polyomavirus and SV40 have an ability to bind and disrupt cellular membranes. This feature is believed to be involved in the transport of viral genome into the nucleus. Plasmids carrying genes of the minor capsid proteins of Merkel cell polyomavirus were prepared in order to produce and visualize these proteins in mammalian cells. These proteins are known to have very unusual sequences compared to other human polyomaviruses or related mouse polyomavirus. When produced alone, the minor capsid proteins of Merkel cell polyomavirus did not significantly interact with cellular membranes, unlike the minor proteins of the mouse polyomavirus. The second goal of this work was to prepare mouse polyomavirus mutants with deletion in hydrophobic domains of VP2 and VP3 proteins. These domains are likely responsible for the mentioned membrane interactions. Prepared mutants were non-infectious. The loss of infectivity was not...
|
|
|
Preparation of Monoclonal Antibodies Against VP2 Protein of Human Polyomaviruses
Vochyánová, Klára ; Drda Morávková, Alena (advisor) ; Růžičková, Šárka (referee)
Aim of this diploma thesis was to prepare two protein antigens and two monoclonal antibodies, all based on VP2 minor protein of human polyomaviruses BK virus and Merkel Cell Polyomavirus. One monoclonal antibody was being prepared against unique part of VP2 protein (N-terminal epitope, not present in VP3 protein). A cell line producing such monoclonal antibody has never been established before due to low immunogenicity of the epitope. Our approach was successful in terms of mouse immunization, however, serious problems with hybridoma line stability appeared later during the preparation process. Preparation of antibody targeted to the sequence of VP2 protein of Merkel Cell Polyomavirus was another aim of this thesis. Mouse immunization and hybridoma fusion were performed successfully. After four rounds of cloning in order to purify an established clone, nine clones were cultivated in larger scale. This cultivation probably led to diminished antibody specificity and loss of production ability in most of the hybridoma cells. One more cloning should give rise to an established clone with sufficient production. Two preparations of protein antigens were performed in two expression systems. DNA encoding C-terminally truncated protein VP2 of BK virus fused with His-tag was cloned into a vector suitable for...
|
guest ::
