Cloning, sequence analysis and expression of the major outer capsid protein gene of an aquareovirus

The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of genome segment 10 of aquareovirus strain SBR, encoding the major outer capsid protein (VP7), have been determined. Genome segment 10 of SBR virus is 986 nucleotides long and encodes a polypeptide of 298 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 32,430 Da. There are 26 non-translated nucleotides at the 5' end and 66 non-translated nucleotides at the 3' end. Using a recombinant baculovirus system, the VP7 protein of SBR virus was expressed to a high level. The baculovirus-produced VP7 protein was similar both in its size and antigenic properties to the authentic aquareovirus VP7 protein. Antiserum from a rabbit immunized with the baculovirus-produced VP7 protein failed to neutralize the homologous aquareovirus strain. As determined by Western blotting, this antiserum reacted with aquareovirus strains belonging to the same genogroup as SBR virus, but did not react with aquareovirus strains belonging to the other genogroups.