Therapeutic and prophylactic immunization against Streptococcus iniae infection in hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops×Morone saxatilis)

Vaccination strategies have traditionally been used as preventative or prophylactic measures against disease (prophylactic immunization) in uninfected fish. Alternatively, therapeutic or remedial measures, such as antibiotic administration, are commonly employed to treat disease in infected fish. Vaccination as a therapeutic measure (therapeutic immunization), however, has not been adequately explored in sub‐clinically infected fish. Therapeutic and prophylactic immunization with three Streptococcus iniae vaccines, formalin‐killed whole S. iniae cells (FKC vaccine), concentrated S. iniae extracellular products (greater than 2 kDa) (ECP vaccine) and a combination of killed cells and extracellular products (FKC+ECP vaccine), were tested in hybrid striped bass, Morone chrysops×Morone saxatilis, previously naturally infected with S. iniae. Fish (mean weight 10.0 g) were injected intraperitoneally (IP) or intramuscularly (IM) with one of each of the vaccines, tryptic soy broth (TSB‐control) or non‐injected (non‐injected control) to evaluate therapeutic effects (Trial 1). Survivors of the natural infection and ECP and FKC+ECP vaccine immunization and another lot of non‐injected control fish were immersion challenged with 1.47 × 10⁶ CFU of S. iniae mL^?1 at 44 days post‐immunization to evaluate vaccine efficacy (Trial 2). Hybrid striped bass (1.0 g) were also IM injected with S. iniae ECP vaccine at an aquaculture facility and immersion challenged with 1.47 × 10⁶ CFU of S. iniae mL^?1 12 weeks post‐immunization (Trial 3). The ECP and FKC+ECP vaccines, regardless of injection route, significantly (P<0.001) increased survival in asymptomatic, sub‐clinically infected fish thereby providing therapeutic merit. Hybrid bass immunized IP or IM had mean per cent survival values ranging from 78 to 96 at 44 days post‐immunization (Trial 1) and 69–97 post challenge (Trial 2). Survival of fish injected with TSB or immunized with FKC vaccine was significantly lowered and ranged from 12 to 13 by IP injection and 40 to 50 by IM injection and thus, the FKC vaccine had no therapeutic effect. The survival of hybrid striped bass IM immunized with S. iniae ECP vaccine in field Trial 3 was 91 and the RPS was 83. These results demonstrate that therapeutic immunization using S. iniae ECP and FKC+ECP vaccines can control a natural S. iniae infection. Furthermore, S. iniae ECP or FKC+ECP vaccines can also be used prophylacticly to protect hybrid striped bass against subsequent pathogen challenge.     

无乳链球菌LIP蛋白的截短表达及免疫保护性研究

为评价罗非鱼源无乳链球菌(Streptococcus agalactiae)BX2012株脂蛋白(lipoprotein)的免疫原性及其对奥利亚罗非鱼(Oreochromis aureus)和大菱鲆(Scophthalmus maximus)的保护效果,以无乳链球菌脂蛋白基因序列(GenBank序列号:CP000114.1,SAK_0321)的B细胞线性抗原表位区设计特异性引物进行扩增,构建重组表达载体,将截短表达的脂蛋白制备成亚单位疫苗,同时制备灭活疫苗进行免疫比对。结果显示:重组表达载体p ET-32a-LIP342在BL21(DE3)中获得了良好的可溶性表达,分子质量约为30 kDa,纯化使LIP342纯度由41.75%提至87.23%;Western blotting分析显示,LIP342可被兔抗无乳链球菌高免血清特异性识别;LIP342在目前已知不同种属来源或不同血清型的无乳链球菌分离株中同源性为90.35%~100%,在罗非鱼源分离株中同源性为100%;无乳链球菌LIP342蛋白和灭活疫苗均可显著提升奥利亚罗非鱼和大菱鲆血清抗体水平,而LIP342诱导的血清抗体水平均显著高于灭活疫苗;经0.1 mL 1×10~9cfu/mL的无乳链球菌攻毒后,LIP342蛋白和灭活疫苗对供试鱼的累积存活率均显著高于PBS对照组。结果表明,高度保守的LIP342具有较好的免疫原性,可作为无乳链球菌亚单位疫苗候选因子。     

Subcellular components of Vibrio harveyi and probiotics induce immune responses in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), against V. harveyi

Bacterial subcellular components and probiotics were successful for the stimulation of immunity and the prevention of Vibrio harveyi infections in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum). Rainbow trout were immunized with whole inactivated cells of V. harveyi to obtain polyclonal antibodies against specific antigens. Western blotting showed a unique reactive band (∼93 kDa) between serum and bacterial proteins from outer membrane proteins (OMP) and extracellular products (ECP). Probiotics were selected according to their capability to inhibit V. harveyi . Two of these bacteria, i.e. A3-47 and A3-51, showed cross-reactivity with V. harveyi antiserum. Their OMPs and ECPs were reactive with V. harveyi antiserum in bands of ∼93 kDa for A3-51 and higher for A3-47. In vivo tests determined that fish fed with A3-51 produced cross-reactive antibodies against V. harveyi and also, the survival of these fish infected with V. harveyi was high, being similar to the level achieved with vaccinated fish. Thus, the probiotics, when administered as live preparations, were capable of producing cross-reactive antibody against specific bacterial pathogens.     

Humoral immune response in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., to cellular and extracellular antigens of Aeromonas salmonicida

Abstract. The putative virulence factors of Aeromonas salmonicida , the aetiological agent of furunculosis in salmonids, are candidates for protective antigens in effective vaeeines against furunculosis. In this report, the authors have compared the immunogenieily of eell-associated and extracellular antigens of A. salmonicida in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., to that in rabbit. The animals were immunized with formalin-killed whole cells and formalin-inactivated extracellular products (ECP), either separately or in combination. The ability of the antigens to induce antibody production was studied by elisa and Western blotting techniques. These results confirm previous reports that far more structures are immunogenie in rabbit compared to the antibody responses elicited in salmon. However, in both species, some antigens were dominant, including a caseinolytic protease in addition to the A-protein and high and low MW LPS.     

Systemic and mucosal antibody response in tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), following immunization with Flavobacterium columnare

Specific antibody responses to Flavobacterium columnare (isolate ATCC 23463T) were characterized in plasma and mucus of tilapia following intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection or immersion immunization with formalin-killed sonicated or whole cell preparations. Fish (30 per treatment) received a primary immunization and were booster immunized 4 weeks later. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed for detection and quantification of specific anti-F. columnare antibody, and it was found that formalin-killed sonicated cells in Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) injected i.p. stimulated a significant systemic antibody response within 2 weeks (mean titre 11,200) which increased to 30,600 following secondary immunization. At 10 weeks post-immunization, the mean titre remained significantly elevated above the controls. Antibodies were also observed in cutaneous mucus of fish immunized i.p. with formalin-killed sonicated cells in FCA at 6 and 8 weeks post-immunization (mean titres 67 and 33, respectively). Although some individual fish responded, mean plasma and cutaneous mucus antibody titres were not significantly greater than controls in any of the other treatment groups. The results of this study demonstrate that tilapia can mount a significant humoral response in plasma and cutaneous mucus to F. columnare, but i.p. immunization with FCA is required to elicit this response.     

Immunization of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), with a low molecular mass fraction isolated from Flavobacterium psychrophilum

Flavobacterium psychrophilum, the causative agent of rainbow trout fry syndrome has become a widespread fish pathogen in freshwater aquaculture worldwide. In this study, a low molecular mass fraction (P25-33), with an approximate weight of 25-33 kDa, was identified among F. psychrophilum strains in an immunoblotting analysis with anti-F. psychrophilum sera. The immunogenic efficacy of the isolated and extracted P25-33 was investigated in two intraperitoneal immunization trials with rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum). The first trial included immunizations using P25-33 with Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) and the second trial included immunizations using P25-33, formalin-inactivated whole and sonicated F. psychrophilum cell preparations without FCA. In both trials, antibody titres against F. psychrophilum were analysed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the efficacy of the immunizations was determined by a challenge with F. psychrophilum. The P25-33 was shown to give rise to a protective immune response in rainbow trout after immunization with FCA, but not without FCA when a low concentration of P25-33 was used. Instead formalin-inactivated whole and sonicated cells of F. psychrophilum were able to protect the immunized fish more effectively when immunized without FCA. The results suggest that whole or sonicated F. psychrophilum cells could be better candidates for a cost-effective water-based injection vaccine than the immunogenic fraction.     

Modification of the hyperosmotic infiltration method of vaccination against vibriosis in cultured ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis Temminck and Schlegel

Abstract. A vaccine solution of a formalin-killed culture of Vibrio anguillarum cells was observed to be toxic to young ayu when administered by the hyperosmotic infiltration method. The toxin was present in the culture broth. After the toxin was removed from the broth by centrifugation, the fish were dipped in 5.32% NaCl solution for 2 min and then in a solution containing precipitated cells for 3 min. The immunized fish were protected against vibriosis when challenged one month after immersion. The bacterin was administered to ayu by a further two methods, both using lyophilized whole cells of formalin-killed V. anguillarum. In one method, the fish were placed in a 5.32% NaCl solution for 2 min and then in a solution containing lyophilized cells at 2 g/l of well water for 3 min (two-step immersion). In the other method, the fish were placed in a 5.32% NaCl solution containing lyophilized cells also at 2 g/l for 3 min (one-step immersion). A high level of protection against artificial challenge was achieved with either method. No agglutinating antibodies to V. anguillarum were detected in either the serum or mucus of fish dipped in a vaccine solution, a supernatant, or a precipitated solution, one month after immersion. On the other hand, serum titres were detected in fish vaccinated by injection, although no titres were detected in mucus. LD₅₀ values are presented for the virulence of the V. anguillarum strain. Compared to the original strain, virulence increased after the third passage in ayu, but decreased after the thirteenth passage in medium.     

Production of the lethal acetylcholinesterase toxin by different Aeromonas hydrophila strains

Abstract. Seven fish pathogenic isolates of Aeromonas hydrophila , one A. sobria and one A. caviae were investigated for production of the fish lethal acetylcholinesterase toxin (AcChE-toxin). Western blotting was used for screening the ECP of these strains with a rabbit antiserum prepared against the purified toxin of strain B₃₂ and all the isolates (except A. sobria ) gave positive results with different patterns of bands. The AcChE-toxin appears to be secreted as a protein of high molecular weight which is stable at −20°C, and in 90% of the strains tested, it appears to be split into lower molecular weight fragments by the action of other components present in the ECP. The smallest, stable and highly active fragment has a MW of 15kDa.     

罗非鱼源无乳链球菌溶血素基因体外表达及其免疫原性

为研究罗非鱼源无乳链球菌溶血素(Hemolysin,Hly)对鱼体的免疫保护作用,根据已获得的无乳链球菌ZQ0910全基因组序列设计引物扩增hly基因,定向克隆于原核表达载体p ET-28a中,构建原核重组质粒p ET-28a-hly,经IPTG诱导表达后,制成亚单位疫苗免疫吉富罗非鱼,并分析疫苗的免疫保护力。结果显示,hly基因产物大小1335 bp,编码444个氨基酸,经测序与Gen Bank报道的链球菌属Hly氨基酸序列同源性可达99%。经IPTG诱导表达后,SDS-PAGE分析可见一条51.7 k D的特异条带;Western blotting分析结果说明表达的Hly蛋白能与His-Tag单抗特异性结合;制备的亚单位疫苗免疫鱼体后第14天即可检测到抗体产生,并在第28天达到峰值,抗体效价为1∶4096,免疫保护率为70%。由此证实,该亚单位疫苗有望成为预防由无乳链球菌引起的罗非鱼链球菌病的基因工程类疫苗。     

Vaccination trials on gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) against Pasteurella piscicida

A comparative study of the efficacy of two vaccine formulations, a whole-cell bacterin (WCB) and a toxoid-enriched whole-cell vaccine (WCEB), against Pasteurella piscicida was conducted by bath immersion in gilthead seabream in order to evaluate the role of the extracellular products (ECP) as protective antigens against this pathogen. With this aim, two strains showing differences in their ECP composition were used to prepare both vaccines. Only the toxoid-enriched vaccine conferred protection against P. piscicida within a 4-week period. The relative percent survival (RPS) acheived with this type of vaccine ranged between 37 and 41 depending on the bacterial strain and dose used in the challenge. Although this protection level is not very high, we consider that it is valuable considering the economic importance of the fish susceptible to pasteurellosis throughout the world. The booster immunization with the WCEB P. piscicida formulation did not increase the protection levels of gilthead seabream. The antibody response in the sera of both immunized fish groups was very low with no correlation between the level of agglutinating antibodies and the protection. In addition, this vaccine did not confer cross-protection against serotypes 01 and 02 of Vibrio anguillarum.     

Humoral immune response of turbot, Scophthalmus maximus (L.), to antigens from Tetramicra brevifilum Matthews & Matthews, 1980 (Microspora)

Abstract. The humoral immune response of turbot, Scophthalmus maximus (L.), to antigens from the microsporean parasite Tetramicra brevifilum Matthews & Matthews, 1980, was studied. Thirty days after intraperitoneal immunization with whole T. brevifilum spores in Freund's complete adjuvant, double indirect ELISA indicated that initial production of antibodies to parasite surface antigens was considerably higher than production of antibodies to the antigens contained in a crude extract (CE) of spores. Following re-immunization without adjuvant on day 30, levels of antibodies to surface antigens gradually declined, whilst levels of antibodies to CE antigens increased. The antibody response of intraperitoneally immunized fish was characterized by Western blotting of total soluble antigens obtained by heating and reduction of T. brevifilum spores at 95–100°C in Tris-HCl buffer containing SDS and dithiothreitol: a series of bands with molecular weights between 20 and 53 kDa was recognized by immunized turbot sera. Four additional bands (with molecular weights between 15 and 18kdA) were recognized by serum from re-immunized fish. ELISA studies of sera from naturally infected fish revealed a surprisingly low incidence of strong T. brevifilum seropositivity (61% individuals); antibodies to surface antigens predominated in seropositive individuals. The low background response levels and high sensitivity of the ELISA used in this study indicate that the assay is of value for the monitoring of serum antibody levels in turbot. However, given the relatively low seropositivities observed in naturally infected turbot, particularly to CE antigens, the use of anti- T. brevifilum serum antibody levels for the diagnosis of infection by this parasite may lead to false negative results.     

Passive immunization of tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), with anti-Streptococcus iniae whole sera

Passive immunization of tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, was conducted to determine whether anti- Streptococcus iniae whole sera (ASI), heat inactivated anti- S . iniae whole sera (HIASI) and normal whole sera (NWS) were protective when intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected into tilapia. The ASI was produced in tilapia actively immunized (challenged) with virulent S. iniae by i.p. injection. An antibody response against S. iniae was demonstrated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and 18% of the immunized fish died because of the S. iniae infection. The actively immunized tilapia demonstrated a secondary antibody response and immunity to S. iniae after challenge with S. iniae by i.p. injection. Survival was 100% in the actively immunized fish. The NWS was obtained from tilapia free of ASI antibody and susceptible to S. iniae infection (40% mortality). In two separate experiments, significantly higher mortality was noted in tilapia passively immunized with NWS (33 and 53%) and phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (30 and 60%), in comparison with mortalities of 0 and 10% or 3.3 and 6.7% in the fish passively immunized with ASI or HIASI 14 days after S . iniae infection by i.p. injection ( P  = 0.0003 and 0.0023). Results suggest that immunity provided by ASI and HIASI was because of antibody against S. iniae . Inactivation of complement in the HIASI treatment further suggests that ASI antibody plays a primary role in immunity against S. iniae infection.     

Development of an ELISA to measure the humoral immune response of hybrid striped bass Morone chrysops×M. saxatilis to Streptococcus iniae

A previously developed monoclonal antibody (mAb) specific for the heavy chain of hybrid striped bass (HSB) Morone chrysops×M. saxatilis immunoglobulin was used in an assay to detect the humoral response to antigens of Streptococcus iniae. In order to validate this assay, an anti‐S. iniae antibody was produced in HSB by immunization with formalin‐killed cells of S. iniae mixed with Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA). After boosting with cells mixed with Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FIA), fish were challenged with live S. iniae by i.p. injection. This resulted in mortalities of 100%, 13% and 7% for non‐immunized, immunized and non‐challenged fish respectively. Live S. iniae were recovered only from moribund non‐immunized challenged fish, indicating that the immunization conferred protection against S. iniae. Sera were taken at 28 and 42 days post challenge and anti‐S. iniae antibody was measured by both agglutination and indirect ELISA. Titres of anti‐S. iniae antibody increased only in the immunized group as measured by agglutination and ELISA. Serum complement measured in the final bleeding was significantly higher in the immunized group. Western blotting using immune HSB serum indicated that the predominant antigen in this case was the high molecular weight polysaccharide of S. iniae.     

Non-specific immune response of Nile tilapia,Oreochromis nilotica,to the extracellular products of Mycobacterium spp. and to various adjuvants

Nile tilapia were immunized by injecting extracellular products (ECP) of Mycobacterium spp. (strain TB40, TB267 or the type strain Mycobacterium marinum) into their swim bladders. A variety of adjuvants – Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA), Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FIA) and Titremax – were similarly injected into additional groups of tilapia. Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was used as a control. The number of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT)-positive cells observed in the swim bladder of the immunized fish had significantly increased by the fourth day post-immunization. By day 8, the number of NBT-positive cells in fish immunized with ECP from mycobacteria strains TB40 or TB267 were fewer than in fish immunized with ECP from M. marinum or fish injected with FCA or FIA. The level of lysozyme activity detected in the serum of fish 4 days after being immunized with ECP from various Mycobacterium spp. was also significantly higher than that found in the serum of the control fish. Head kidney macrophages showed an enhanced reduction of NBT when cultured in vitro with 1 μg ml^–1 of ECP. Concentrations greater than this (10 or 100 μg ml^–1) were found to suppress the reduction of NBT by the macrophages.     

Efficacy of a formalin-inactivated Lactococcus garvieae vaccine in farmed grey mullet (Mugil cephalus)

Lactococcosis [Lactococcus garvieae (LG)] is one of the most prevalent bacterial diseases affecting grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) aquaculture. Therefore, the present research evaluated the efficacy of formalin-killed LG vaccine with an oil-based adjuvant in grey mullet under laboratory and field trials. The laboratory evaluation for LG vaccine and its cross-protection upon challenge in grey mullet found that single-dose immunization of formalin-killed LG with adjuvant resulted in 91.4% and 100% relative per cent survival (RPS) when challenged with homologous and heterologous strains. The levels of specific antibody titre and lysozyme activity increased significantly in the vaccinated group. Immune gene expression at 24 hr after challenge showed an increase in levels of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. A parallel field trial experiment was conducted to investigate the long-term effectiveness of the LG vaccine. Results demonstrated that at one month and three months post-immunization with heterologous strain, 100% RPS was recorded in the vaccinated group. The findings suggested that the formalin-inactivated LG vaccine strain (S3) protected grey mullet against LG infection for a period of three months.     

嗜水气单胞菌灭活疫苗免疫施氏鲟后的免疫应答反应与保护效果

为了研究嗜水气单胞菌灭活疫苗免疫施氏鲟(Acipenser schrenckii Brandt,1869)后的免疫应答反应与保护效果,本研究采用福尔马林灭活法制备嗜水气单胞菌灭活疫苗。通过腹腔注射途径免疫健康施氏鲟,对施氏鲟外周血的红细胞和白细胞数量、白细胞组成、吞噬活性、吞噬指数、血清酸性磷酸酶活性、血清溶菌酶活性、血清中和抗体效价等免疫指标及疫苗保护效果进行测定。结果显示,免疫组红、白细胞数量迅速上升,于免疫后第4天达峰值,分别为(8.50±0.17)×10~8个/mL和(8.96±0.44)×10~6个/mL;单核细胞和嗜中性粒细胞分类百分比于第7天达峰值,分别为10.50%和15.53%,极显著高于对照组(P0.01),淋巴细胞分类百分比在第21天才达峰值73.51%;吞噬指数和吞噬百分比均于第4天达到最高值,分别为4.53和30%;血清中溶菌酶活性和酸性磷酸酶活性分别在免疫后第7天和第14天达到峰值,极显著高于对照组(P0.01);血清抗体效价于免疫后第21天达到峰值1:203,极显著高于对照组(P0.01)。攻毒感染实验结果表明,免疫组的相对免疫保护率为76.84%。由此可见,嗜水气单胞菌灭活疫苗免疫施氏鲟后,能够显著诱导施氏鲟体内的免疫应答反应,增强鱼体的免疫保护能力。本研究为养殖鲟因嗜水气单胞菌感染引起疾病的免疫预防技术研究奠定了前期基础。     

海豚链球菌simA和pgmA真核表达质粒对尼罗罗非鱼免疫保护的研究

尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)是世界水产养殖业中的重要经济鱼类,但在养殖生产中易受海豚链球菌(Streptococcus iniae)感染而致病致死,使用疫苗是一种相对理想的防感染措施。该研究采用海豚链球菌simA、pgmA基因构建的真核表达载体作为DNA疫苗,肌肉注射罗非鱼评估疫苗保护效果。免疫后在DNA和RNA水平上,在注射鱼体内检测到2个目的基因。首次免疫后第7至第28天,鳃、肝、肾脏、头肾中疫苗组的白介素1 (Interleukin,IL-1β)与肿瘤坏死因子(Tumor Necrosis Factor,TNF-α)表达量高于PBS对照组;疫苗组的抗体滴度、血清抗菌活性显著(P<0.05)高于PBS对照组。攻毒后,注射pcDNA3.1-pgmA、pcDNA3.1-simA、pcDNA3.1-pgmA与pcDNA3.1-simA等比例混合疫苗的相对保护率(Relative percent survival,RPS)分别为60.7%、49.9%和75.0%。结果表明所制备的疫苗具有免疫保护效果,可作为候选疫苗。     

The production of a lymphokine (macrophage activating factor) by rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), leucocytes stimulated with the extracellular products of Mycobacterium sp.

The production of macrophage activation factor (MAF) by rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) , head kidney leucocytes was examined after culturing in vitro with extracellular products (ECP) collected from Mycobacterium sp. Cultures of leucocytes were prepared from naive fish, or fish previously vaccinated with either the ECP or with formalin killed whole cell preparations (WC) of the bacterium. The cells were then incubated with the ECP in vitro and the ability of their supernatants to activate macrophages assessed. Macrophages from control fish were incubated with the supernatants, and their ability to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) measured as an indicator of macrophage activation. Incubation of head kidney macrophages from naive fish directly with 1, 10 or 100 μg mL^–1 of ECP for 48 h significantly enhanced macrophage activation compared with control macrophages. Vaccination of fish with either ECP or WC had no significant effect on the respiratory burst of control macrophages 4 weeks post-vaccination. By the eighth week, however, absorbance levels of respiratory burst reflecting both the primary (cells from vaccinated fish cultured in vitro with PBS) and the secondary (cells cultured in vitro with ECP) MAF responses of fish vaccinated with ECP and WC, had peaked and these were significantly different from the non-vaccinated controls. This activity had fallen to levels similar to control fish by week 12 for fish vaccinated with WC.     

中国南方地区罗非鱼无乳链球菌的分子流行病学研究

从广东省以及海南省等地区养殖的患病罗非鱼体内分离、收集到多株致病菌,经生化分析和分子生物学鉴定,均为无乳链球菌。对这些菌株分别进行了耐药谱测定、分子分型试验以及分子血清型分析。药敏试验结果表明,2007—2010年分离到的无乳链球菌耐药谱基本相似;多位点可变数目串联重复序列分析(MLVA)试验中,选择5个高变异指数的可变数目重复位点(VNTR)进行分子分型,结果表明,所有鱼源无乳链球菌菌株为同一MLVA型,而作为对照的牛源无乳链球菌则明显不同;为了对这些菌株进一步分型,分别进行了分子血清型和表面蛋白抗原基因的检测,结果表明,鱼源无乳链球菌的分子血清型均为Ⅰa型,表面蛋白抗原均为alpha-C蛋白。这进一步说明了不同年份和不同地区的鱼源无乳链球菌在基因水平上为同一分子类型,具有相同的起源或传染源。同时也说明,我国南方地区罗非鱼无乳链球菌在这几年中未发生明显的遗传变异。这些结果为罗非鱼无乳链球菌病疫苗研制,疫病监测及药物防治的研究提供理论依据。     

Adjuvant effect of mushroom glucan and bovine lactoferrin upon Aeromonas hydrophila vaccination in catla, Catla catla (Hamilton)

Mushroom glucan and bovine lactoferrin (Lf), known for their immunostimulatory potential, were used as adjuvant in conjunction with a formalin-killed Aeromonas hydrophila vaccine in catla, Catla catla. In vitro antigen-specific responsiveness of catla leucocytes and protective responses against experimental challenge with homologous antigen were monitored following immunization. Antigen-specific proliferation, 'macrophage activating factor' (MAF) production and antibody production were significantly higher in fish injected with glucan adjuvanted vaccine. Lf adjuvanted preparations showed a weak proliferative response and MAF production, although the antibody production was significantly higher than the controls. A good degree of protection was achieved with the glucan adjuvanted vaccine. However, in spite of producing significant anti-A. hydrophila antibody, Lf adjuvanted vaccine did not confer any protection following challenge with A. hydrophila. The potential of adjuvanticity of mushroom glucan and bovine Lf in intraperitoneal vaccination is discussed.