Gene cloning, prokaryotic expression and antiviral activities of interferon-αω from Chinese Bama miniature pigs

Porcine interferon (PoIFN) complex represents an ideal model for studying IFN evolution that resulted from viral pressure during domestication. IFN-αω is an emergent subtype of type I IFNs which has been primarily characterized in domestic pigs. In this study, the PoIFN-αω cDNA was cloned from Chinese Bama miniature pigs by RT-PCR, and its tissue expression profile was analyzed by real-time RT-PCR. The cDNA was expressed in Escherichia coli as a His-tagged protein and purified by nickel affinity chromatography. The antiviral activities of recombinant PoIFN-αω (rPoIFN-αω) against four different pig viruses were measured using cytopathic effect (CPE) inhibition assay. Although the PoIFN-αω sequence of Bama miniature pigs was identical to that of domestic pigs, the tissue expression profiles differed significantly between the two pig species. The rPoIFN-αω showed dose-dependent pre-infection antiviral activities against porcine pseudorabies virus, vesicular stomatitis virus and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, but not against porcine circovirus type 2. When used as treatment post infection with the three viruses, rPoIFN-αω showed the efficacy in decreasing CPE in the infected cells in a time-dependent manner. Therefore, the expressed rPoIFN-αω could be used as an antiviral agent against pig virus infections.