Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies detecting chicken interleukin-2 and the development of an antigen capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Eleven monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) which are specific for chicken interleukin-2 (chIL-2) were produced and characterized by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blotting and neutralizing assays. These mAbs were used to develop a mAb-based antigen capture ELISA specific for chicken IL-2 detection. Anti-IL-2 mAbs bound specifically to E. coli-derived rchIL-2 in ELISA and identified a 16 kDa IL-2 polypeptide band in Western blot. Several mAbs were shown to neutralize the biological activities of both rchIL-2 and native chicken IL-2 as measured by concanavalin A (ConA)-induced lymphocyte proliferation assay, IL-2 bioassay, and natural killer cell assay. Among the neutralizing mAbs, the mAb chIL-2/11 was most potent in neutralizing IL-2 activity. To develop a sensitive ELISA for the detection of chicken IL-2, an antigen capture ELISA was developed using the mAb chIL-2/16 as the antigen capture antibody and rabbit anti-IL-2 peptide antibody as the detection antibody. Using the mAb-based antigen capture ELISA, significant correlation between the level of IL-2 detected in bioassays and in ELISA was observed. These results showed that the mAb-based antigen capture ELISA is less time-consuming and more reliable compared to a conventional IL-2 bioassay for chicken IL-2. These neutralizing mAbs will facilitate basic immunobiological studies of the role of IL-2 in normal and disease states in chickens.     

Effects of live attenuated and killed Salmonella vaccine on T-lymphocyte mediated immunity in laying hens

The impact of live and killed Salmonella vaccines on cell-mediated immunity (CMI) was investigated in 18- and 32-week-old White Leghorn chickens, by assessing splenic lymphocyte proliferation, expression of IL-2 mRNA in concanavalin A (Con A) stimulated cells and flow cytometric analysis of cell subpopulations. Con A and Salmonella enteritidis (SE) flagella induced proliferation of splenocytes were enhanced in the 18- and 32-week-old chickens treated with live vaccine, compared to the corresponding control chickens. Among the killed vaccine treated birds, Con A-mediated response was higher in the 18-week-old chickens compared to the corresponding control birds. Increased proliferation was accompanied by increased CD4 and reduced CD8 and gammadelta T-lymphocytes in the 18-week-old live vaccine treated chickens. Relative expression of IL-2 mRNA in Con A-stimulated splenocytes from 18-week-old birds was not affected by vaccine treatment. Overall, live vaccine was more effective in increasing the lymphocyte proliferation to Con A as well as SE antigen. This enhanced CMI may prove beneficial in protecting chickens against SE infection.     

Avian CD154 enhances humoral and cellular immune responses induced by an adenovirus vector-based vaccine in chickens

Recombinant adenoviral vectors have emerged as an attractive system for veterinary vaccines development. However, for poultry vaccination a very important criterion for an ideal vaccine is its low cost. The objective of this study was to test the ability of chicken CD154 to enhance the immunogenicity of an adenoviral vector-based vaccine against avian influenza virus in order to reduce the amount of antigen required to induce an effective immune response in avian. Chickens were vaccinated with three different doses of adenoviral vectors encoding either HA (AdHA), or HA fused to extracellular domain chicken's CD154 (AdHACD). Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay and relative quantification of IFN-γ showed that the adenoviral vector encoding for the chimeric antigen is able to elicit an improved humoral and cellular immune response, which demonstrated that CD154 can be used as a molecular adjuvant allowing to reduce in about 50-fold the amount of adenoviral vector vaccine required to induce an effective immune response.     

鸡IL-18对禽多杀性巴氏杆菌DNA疫苗的免疫佐剂作用

为了探索鸡IL-18在禽多杀性巴氏杆菌H基因DNA疫苗中的免疫佐剂作用，分别用共表达鸡IL-18基因和禽多杀性巴氏杆菌C48-1H基因的DNA疫苗、鸡IL-18真核表达质粒pcDNA3／cIL-18与禽多杀性巴氏杆菌C48-1H基因的DNA疫苗混合物、禽多杀性巴氏杆菌C48-1H基因的DNA疫苗肌肉注射5周龄鸡，首免后每周采取外周血及外周抗凝血，应用ELISA和MTT法分别检测免疫鸡的体液免疫及细胞免疫水平。二免后第2周用10 LD50禽多杀性巴氏杆菌强毒菌株C48-1进行攻击。结果鸡IL-18能够明显增强禽多杀性巴氏杆菌H基因DNA疫苗的免疫原性，显著提高免疫鸡的体液免疫和细胞免疫水平，并且鸡IL-18与禽多杀性巴氏杆菌H基因共表达时的免疫佐剂作用最强，能强有力地抵抗强毒菌株C48-1的致死性攻击。结果表明，鸡IL-18可作为DNA疫苗的一种理想的免疫佐剂。     

Molecular cloning and characterization of Duck CD25

The IL-2Ralpha chain (CD25, Tac) is an essential component of high affinity IL-2Rs, playing critical role for the immune specificity of antigen-activated T-cell clonal expansion. Up to now, no duck cytokine receptor has been described. Here, the cDNA segment of a duck cytokine receptor (duCD25), encoding a 226 aa precursor protein with a 20 aa signal peptide, was isolated. Then a novel mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb) was generated using the prokaryotically expressed duCD25 protein as immunogen. Using this mAb, the endogenous duCD25 molecule was localized on the surface of duck lymphocytes, and the duck IL-2-induced lymphocyte proliferation was further inhibited. Furthermore, flow cytometry analysis showed that duCD25 positive cells were upregulated in ducks infected with avian influenza virus (H9N2). Our findings confirm that duCD25 is a receptor of duck interleukin-2, and duCD25 positive cells play a potential role in H9N2 virus infection.     

Monoclonal antibodies against chicken interleukin-6

Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) were produced against a recombinant (r) chicken interleukin-6 (IL-6). Eight mAbs produced were tested for isotype; ability to inhibit recombinant forms of chicken (ch), human (h) and murine (m) IL-6; and recognition of rchIL-6 by Western immunoblotting. The mAb isotypes were represented by IgG1 (one), IgG2a (six) and IgG2b (one). In a mouse B9 hybridoma cell bioassay with rmIL-6, four mAbs effectively inhibited activity of rmIL-6. Further bioassays with the four mAbs at varying concentrations showed that two of these mAbs (1.20.7 and 1.26.4) were quite effective at inhibiting rmIL-6. Recombinant forms of ch, h and mIL-6 were all tested in a bioassay with the most potent inhibiting mAb (1.26.4), and this mAb was effective in inhibiting all three recombinant IL-6 proteins. Western immunoblotting revealed identification of the original IL-6 immunogen used for mAb production. Based upon inhibition of IL-6 activity in a standard bioassay and IL-6 recognition by Western immunoblotting, mAb 1.26.4 was judged the most useful antibody for future studies and applications.     

麻鸭白细胞介素17的原核表达及鉴定

为表达麻鸭白介素17(duIL-17),本研究提取ConA刺激的麻鸭脾脏淋巴细胞总RNA,RT-PCR扩增duIL-17基因片段,将该片段插入克隆载体pCR2.1中构建重组质粒pCR2.1-duIL17.将duIL-17基因片段亚克隆到原核表达载体pGEX-6P-1中,构建重组质粒pGEX-duIL17,将其转化到大肠杆菌BL21中,IPTG诱导表达.测序结果显示,duIL-17与参考序列(EU366165.1)相比较第174位碱基由C突变为T,并且为沉默突变.SDS-PAGE和western blot分析显示,诱导表达的重组蛋白GST-duIL17主要以包涵体形式存在,分子量大小约为45 ku,duIL-17与抗鸡IL-17抗体具有良好反应性.本研究为制备duIL-17单克隆抗体提供了实验依据.     

Parameters of production and partial characterization of feline interleukin 2

The conditions for the production of feline interleukin 2 (IL-2) from peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) and splenocytes by concanavalin A (Con A) stimulation are described. Feline IL-2 was quantitated by measuring DNA synthesis in the murine IL-2-dependent cell line, CTLL-20. In addition, feline IL-2 was generated for the maintenance of long-term cultures of Con A-stimulated feline PBL and for biochemical characterization. Finally, IL-2 production was evaluated from the PBL of feline leukemia virus (FeLV)-infected cats. Con A at 9.6 micrograms/ml produced a plateau of peak IL-2 activity from 24 to 48 h following stimulation. The tumor promoter, phorbol myristic acetate, stimulated feline IL-2 production and enhanced Con A-stimulated feline IL-2 production. Fetal calf serum (FCS) was not required for IL-2 production; however, FCS at 5% (v/v) allowed for maximal Con A-stimulated IL-2 production. Feline IL-2 generated from Con A-stimulated splenocytes migrated with an apparent molecular size of 13.7 to 23 kD by gel filtration chromatography and supported the proliferation of Con A-activated feline PBL at a final concentration of 0.3 to 0.9 units/ml.     

Development and characterization of mouse monoclonal antibodies reactive with chicken interleukin-2 receptor αlpha chain (CD25)

This study was carried out to develop and characterize mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against chicken CD25 (chCD25), the alpha chain of the interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor. A recombinant chimeric chCD25/IgG4 fusion protein was expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and isolated from spent cell culture medium by protein G affinity chromatography. Purified chCD25 protein was used to immunize mice, from which 54 stable hybridomas secreting chCD25 mAbs were produced. Two mAbs, chCD25-32 and chCD25-54, with high binding affinity for chCD25-expressing CHO cells were selected for further characterization. By flow cytometry, both mAbs detected cells in the spleen, bursa of Fabricius, intestinal duodenum, and immunostained established chicken T cell, B cell, and macrophage cell lines. Both mAbs reacted with a 55 kDa protein on Western blots of lysates from concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated spleen mononuclear cells. Intraperitoneal injection of chickens with bacterial lipopolysaccharide increased the percentage of chCD25(+) spleen cells by approximately 4-fold compared with untreated animals. In vitro stimulation of spleen cells with Con A increased the percentage of chCD25(+) cells by up to 50-fold compared with cells treated with medium alone. Finally, the chCD25-32 mAb suppressed IL-2-driven spleen cell proliferation and reduced IL-2-induced nitric oxide production. These mAbs may be useful for future investigation of chicken regulatory T cells.     

O型口蹄疫病毒结构蛋白VP1的原核表达与抗原性分析

研究分析了O型口蹄疫病毒(FMDV)结构蛋白VP1与当前猪FMDV疫苗血清的免疫反应性.将VP1基因克隆至原核表达载体pET32c,并在大肠埃希菌BL21中得到了表达,Western blot分析表明该重组蛋白与豚鼠O型FMDV标准阳性血清具有良好免疫反应性.目的蛋白经纯化后用ELISA分析其与猪疫苗血清的免疫反应性,结果显示该重组VP1蛋白(rVP1)只能与部分O型FMDV疫苗血清反应.推测当前使用的不同O型FMDV疫苗毒株在VP1重要中和抗原位点G-H环(134 aa～158 aa)与C末端(200 aa～213 aa)存在较大差异.     

羊白细胞介素-18成熟蛋白的酵母表达和生物学活性研究

为了研究重组羊白细胞介素(gIL)-18在酵母系统中的高效表达,进一步阐明该重组蛋白的生物学活性,以含有gIL-18基因的重组质粒为模板进行PCR扩增,构建重组表达质粒pPICZ-gIL-18,转化于毕赤酵母GSll5,以甲醇诱导表达,经sDS-PAGE和western blot分析证实了重组蛋白的表达,分泌的重组gIL-18表达量为100 mg/L.经纯化后用MTT法和MDBK-VSV法检测表达的重组IL-18体外生物活性,利用免疫试验检测了重组蛋白对羊痘疫苗的免疫增强作用.实验结果表明,该蛋白具有诱导MDBK细胞分泌IFN-γ和刺激PBMC增殖的生物学活性,比活性为1.5×105 u/mg.体外具有增强羊痘疫苗的活性.毕赤酵母分泌表达的重组gIL-18具有良好的生物学活性,为gIL-18作为免疫佐剂和免疫治疗剂的大规模应用奠定了基础.     

Evaluation of Virulence and Immune Effect of a Duck Paramyxovirus Type Ⅰ Strain

In this study,the biological and genetic characterization of a paramyxovirus type Ⅰ strain (GSFY strain) which was obtained from Muscovy duck were determined. Afterward,GSFY strain was developed as an inactivated oil emulsion vaccine. The protective evaluation of this new vaccine candidate was conducted on the Muscovy duck. The results showed that the mean death time (MDT) of chicken embryo,the intracerebral pathogenicity index (ICPI) of 1-day-old chicken and the intravenous pathogenicity index (IVPI) in 6-week-old chicken were 71 h,1.75 and 2.49, respectively. Homologous comparison of F gene nucleotide sequence showed that the GSFY strain shared 97.1% with Chicken/China/Guangxi 9/2003,which was the highest homology,and they all belonged to type Ⅶ. The results suggested that this newly isolated strain was the type Ⅶ high virulent paramyxovirus. The immunize protective evaluation results suggested that the mean antibody titer of 7 and 21 days after the third immunization were 6log2 and 8log2,respectively. When the immunized duck were attacked with GSFY strain,100% protective rate could be expected when the mean antibody titer was above 5log2. This study provided the basic data for vaccine development of avian type Ⅰ paramyxovirus.     

Protection of chicken against very virulent IBDV provided by in ovo priming with DNA vaccine and boosting with killed vaccine and the adjuvant effects of plasmid-encoded chicken interleukin-2 and interferon-��

The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of in ovo prime-boost vaccination against infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) using a DNA vaccine to prime in ovo followed by a killed-vaccine boost post hatching. In addition, the adjuvant effects of plasmid-encoded chicken interleukin-2 and chicken interferon-γ were tested in conjunction with the vaccine. A plasmid DNA vaccine (pcDNA-VP243) encoding the VP2, VP4, and VP3 proteins of the very virulent IBDV (vvIBDV) SH/92 strain was injected into the amniotic sac alone or in combination with a plasmid encoding chicken IL-2 (ChIL-2) or chicken IFN-γ (ChIFN-γ) at embryonation day 18, followed by an intramuscular injection of a commercial killed IBD vaccine at 1 week of age. The chickens were orally challenged with the vvIBDV SH/92 strain at 3 weeks of age and observed for 10 days. In ovo DNA immunization followed by a killed-vaccine boost provided significantly better immunity than the other options. No mortality was observed in this group after a challenge with the vvIBDV. The prime-boost strategy was moderately effective against bursal damage, which was measured by the bursa weight/body weight ratio, the presence of IBDV RNA, and the bursal lesion score. In ovo DNA vaccination with no boost did not provide sufficient immunity, and the addition of ChIL-2 or ChIFN-γ did not enhance protective immunity. In the ConA-induced lymphocyte proliferation assay of peripheral blood lymphocyte collected 10 days post-challenge, there was greater proliferation responses in the DNA vaccine plus boost and DNA vaccine with ChIL-2 plus boost groups compared to the other groups. These findings suggest that priming with DNA vaccine and boosting with killed vaccine is an effective strategy for protecting chickens against vvIBDV.     

禽痘病毒感染对禽流感重组禽痘病毒疫苗免疫效力的影响

表达禽流感病毒 (AIV)HA和NA基因的重组禽痘病毒rFPV_HA_NA能够诱导鸡体产生 10 0 %抵抗高致病性禽流感病毒 (HPAIV)H5N1的攻击。而当鸡群已进行禽痘疫苗免疫或者感染了禽痘病毒的情况下 ,此重组疫苗的免疫效力如何 ?首先用禽痘病毒S_FPV_0 17人工感染SPF试验鸡 ,既而在感染后的不同间隔时间接种重组疫苗 ,免疫后检测鸡群的HI抗体水平 ,同时用 10 0LD50 的HPAIVH5N1进行攻击。结果重组疫苗免疫与禽痘病毒人工感染时间间隔在 4周 (或以上 )时 ,预先感染禽痘病毒对重组疫苗的免疫效力不构成影响 ,对禽流感的保护力为 10 0 % ,而间隔时间在 1、2、3周时 ,重组疫苗的免疫保护效力则受到不同程度的影响。     

固始鸭白细胞介素-18全基因克隆与分子进化分析

根据GenBank发表的鸭IL-18cDNA基因序列设计、合成一对引物,应用RT-PCR技术,无需用非特异性免疫原如PHA等刺激脾淋巴细胞,直接提取脾淋巴细胞总RNA,扩增固始鸭IL-18基因,并克隆、测序。测序结果表明固始鸭IL-18基因全序列为610bp,包含1个完整阅读框,编码1条由200个氨基酸残基组成的多肽。序列分析发现,固始鸭IL-18基因与GenBank中两条鸭IL-18基因(AF336122和DQ490137)核苷酸同源性分别为98.8%、99.8%,与AF336122有5个碱基发生非同义变异,2个碱基为同义变异,氨基酸同源性为97.5%,与DQ490137有一个碱基发生非同义变异,氨基酸同源性为99.5%。固始鸭IL-18前体蛋白第30位谷氨酸处有一个IL-1β转换酶的caspase-1切割位点及在人和其他动物中已证实的IL-1标签序列,推测鸭IL-18成熟蛋白由170个氨基酸组成。固始鸭与人和其他动物的IL-18基因进化分析表明,IL-18基因存在着种的多样性,且亲缘关系越近,同源性越高。     

Development and characterization of mouse monoclonal antibodies reactive with chicken CD83

This study was carried out to develop and characterize mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against chicken CD83 (chCD83), a membrane-bound glycoprotein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily that is primarily expressed on mature dendritic cells (DCs). A recombinant chCD83/IgG4 fusion protein containing the extracellular region of chCD83 was expressed in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells and isolated from the spent cell culture medium by protein G affinity chromatography. The extracellular region of the chCD83 protein was purified and used to immunize mice. A cell fusion was performed, from which 342 hybridomas were screened for mAbs to chCD83. Two mAbs, chCD83-159 and chCD83-227, stained the greatest percentage of chCD83-transfected CHO cells and were selected for further characterization. By flow cytometry, both mAbs reacted with a chicken macrophage cell line, HD11. Both mAbs also recognized a single 53 kDa protein on Western blots of lysates from lipopolysaccharide-stimulated spleen mononuclear cells or unstimulated HD11 cells. Immunostaining of chicken secondary lymphoid organs identified chCD83(+) cells with morphologic and subtissue localization properties comparable to mammalian DCs. In vitro stimulation of spleen mononuclear cells with concanavalin A (Con A) decreased the percentage of chCD83(+) cells compared with cells treated with medium alone. Interestingly, spleen cells treated with Con A in the presence of chCD83-227 mAb exhibited decreased percentage of MHCII(+) cells compared with cells treated with an isotype-matched negative control mAb. These chCD83 mAbs may be useful for future investigations of chicken immune cell maturation and mechanisms of action.     

Yeast-derived sigma C protein-induced immunity against avian reovirus

Avian reoviruses (ARVs) can result in disease and economic losses in the poultry industry. Vaccines against ARV may not provide full protection and can cause adverse reactions. The coding sequence of the sigma C protein from strain S1133 of avian reovirus was expressed in Schizasaccharomyces pombe. Sigma C protein expression was demonstrated by Western blotting, and the protein was evaluated for its ability to protect specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens against challenge with the virulent S1133 strain. Serologic and challenge-infection data showed the efficacy of the recombinant vaccine administered orally each week for 3 consecutive wk. Sigma C protein induced antibody, as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Percentage (%) protection induced by the low dose (125 microg purified yeast-expressed sigma C protein/chicken) or the high dose (250 microg purified yeast-expressed sigma C protein/chicken) was 64 and 91, respectively. The commercial vaccine administered once or twice provided 82% protection. Results supported the feasibility of a plant-derived vaccine for use in poultry immunization schemes.     

Cross-reactivities with Cryptosporidium spp. by chicken monoclonal antibodies that recognize avian Eimeria spp

In a previous study, we have developed several chicken monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against Eimeria acervulina (EA) in order to identify potential ligand molecules of Eimeria. One of these mAbs, 6D-12-G10, was found to recognize a conoid antigen of EA sporozoites and significantly inhibited the sporozoite invasions of host T lymphocytes in vitro. Furthermore, some of these chicken mAbs showed cross-reactivities with several different avian Eimeria spp. and the mAb 6D-12-G10 also demonstrated cross-reactivities with the tachyzoites of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii. Cryptosporidium spp. are coccidian parasites closely related to Eimeria spp., and especially C. parvum is an important cause of diarrhea in human and mammals. In the present study, to assess that the epitopes recognized by these chicken mAbs could exist on Cryptosporidium parasites, we examined the cross-reactivity of these mAbs with Cryptosporidium spp. using an indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA) and Western blotting analyses. In IFA by chicken mAbs, the mAb 6D-12-G10 only showed a immunofluorescence staining at the apical end of sporozoites of C. parvum and C. muris, and merozoites of C. parvum. Western blotting analyses revealed that the mAb 6D-12-G10 reacted with the 48-kDa molecular weight band of C. parvum and C. muris oocyst antigens, 5D-11 reacted the 155 kDa of C. muris. Furthermore, these epitopes appeared to be periodate insensitive. These results indicate that the target antigen recognized by these chicken mAbs might have a shared epitope, which is present on the apical complex of apicomplexan parasites.     

Use of a Japanese quail fibrosarcoma cell line (QT-35) in serologic assays to determine the antigenic relationship of avian metapneumoviruses.

The ability of a Japanese quail fibrosarcoma cell line (QT-35) to support the replication of avian metapneumoviruses belonging to the 3 subgroups A (14/1 virus), B (Colorado virus), and C (Hungary virus) enabled the development of assays for the detection and evaluation of virus-specific antibodies. On the basis of the results of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), plaque reduction neutralization assay (PRNA), immunofluorescent assay (IFA), and Western blot analysis, some degree of antigenic cross-reactivity was observed between prototype viruses belonging to each of the 3 subgroups A, B, and C. The antigen produced in QT-35 cells was found to be superior with respect to its reactivity with virus-specific antibodies, as determined when used in ELISA and IFA. Standardization of both the input virus and the virus-specific antibodies in PRNA enabled a more detailed analysis of the antigenic relationship between these viruses. Specifically, it was observed that 14/1 virus shared more neutralizing regions with Hungary and Colorado viruses than did either of these viruses with 14/1 virus. In addition, Hungary virus shared comparatively fewer neutralizing epitopes with the Colorado virus than did 14/1 virus. Western blot analysis of the reactivity patterns of virus antigen, produced in QT-35 cells, with subgroup-specific antibodies identified a cross-reactive protein migrating at approximately 18 kD. These assays and the information from the Western blot will enable further analysis of avian metapneumovirus isolates to determine antigenic relationships.