Pathogenesis of type 1 (European genotype) porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in male gonads of infected boar

The objective of this study was to determine the pathogenesis of experimental infection with a type 1 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) by defining the sites of viral replication and apoptosis in male gonads from infected boars for a period of 21 days after intranasal inoculation. Microscopically, hypospermatogenesis and abundant germ cell depletion and death were observed in the testes. Such germ cell death occurs by apoptosis, as determined by a characteristic histological patterns and evidence of massive DNA fragment detected in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) reaction. PRRSV was detected in the testicular tissue of infected boars only. Viral nucleic acid was localized in spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids but not in the vesicular and bulbourethral gland. In serial sections, PRRSV-positive cells did not co-localized with apoptotic cells. TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells were more numerous than PRRSV-positive cells in testicular sections. The present study demonstrated that type 1 PRRSV infects the spermatogonia and their progeny, and induces apoptosis in these germ cells.     

粪肠球菌感染小鼠的脑组织病理学观察及转录组学差异分析

旨在通过构建小鼠感染粪肠球菌后的脑部损伤模型，对不同感染时期脑组织的病理学观察及转录组学差异分析，探索粪肠球菌引起脑组织损伤的机制。本试验选择1株致脑膜炎粪肠球菌，以小鼠为感染动物，感染粪肠球菌后，分别在2、4、6、12、24、36、60和72 h采集小鼠脑组织，观察脑组织的损伤程度，挑选早期、明显期和转归期3个时间点，通过转录组学测序，对差异表达基因进行分析，使用荧光定量PCR对转录组学数据进行验证。结果显示：小鼠感染粪肠球菌12 h后，脑组织开始出现病变，通过病理组织学观察发现小鼠脑组织先后出现了脑膜及脑组织血管充血，血管周围间隙增宽，脑组织因水肿有网格状间隙，微血栓形成及炎性细胞浸润。对转录组学差异基因分析，GO富集结果显示主要富集到对β干扰素的反应、细胞对β干扰素的反应、对其他生物的防御反应、对γ干扰素的反应、对细菌的反应、外在凋亡信号通路、调节外在凋亡信号通路、神经元凋亡过程、内皮细胞迁移等生物进程中。KEGG富集结果显示差异信号通路主要富集在过氧物酶体、NOD样受体信号通路、氧化磷酸化、钙代谢信号传导途径、PI3K-Akt信号传导途径、Wnt信号通路、MAPK信号通路、GnRH分泌、VEGF信号通路、紧密连接等一些与脑组织损伤相关的通路上。粪肠球菌感染小鼠后，影响脑组织过氧物酶体、NOD样受体信号通路、氧化磷酸化、钙代谢信号传导途径、PI3K-Akt信号传导途径等通路改变，这些通路与蛋白磷酸化、炎症的发生及血脑屏障通透性的改变有关，为进一步研究粪肠球菌引起脑组织损伤机制提供研究方向和理论基础。     

自噬调节剂对感染日本脑炎病毒小鼠脑部细胞凋亡的影响

旨在研究自噬调控药物对感染日本脑炎病毒（Japanese encephalitis virus，JEV）小鼠脑部细胞凋亡的影响，本试验建立自噬调控药物处理的感染日本脑炎病毒小鼠的动物模型，其中，雷帕霉素为自噬诱导剂，渥漫青霉素及氯喹为自噬抑制剂。实验动物分成8组：DMEM对照组（Control）；JEV感染组（JEV）；JEV+雷帕霉素（Rapamycin）组（JEV+Rapa）；JEV+渥漫青霉素（Wortmannin）组（JEV+Wort）；JEV+氯喹（Chloroquine）组（JEV+CQ）；雷帕霉素组（Rapa）；渥漫青霉素组（Wort）；氯喹组（CQ）。观察不同处理组小鼠的临床症状；透射电镜观察小鼠脑部神经元及胶质细胞的线粒体损伤程度；Tunel染色观察统计小鼠脑部凋亡细胞分布；检测小鼠脑部凋亡因子及凋亡蛋白的表达量。与JEV+Rapa及JEV组相比较，JEV+Wort及JEV+CQ组小鼠出现轻微的神经症状，脑部神经元及胶质细胞线粒体轻度损伤，脑组织较少细胞发生凋亡。不同处理组小鼠脑部凋亡因子及凋亡蛋白的表达量变化差异不显著。综上表明，自噬抑制剂渥漫青霉素和氯喹可以在一定程度上抑制感染日本脑炎病毒小鼠脑组织中细胞凋亡的发生。     

小鼠感染猪圆环病毒2型的超微结构病变观察

为探讨猪圆环病毒2型（PCV2）对小鼠超微结构的病理损伤及其病毒在细胞内的复制,20只6周龄的昆明小鼠随机平均分成2组（即A组和B组）,A组小鼠经腹腔注射PCV2细胞培养物0.1mL/只（含病毒1 000TCID50）,B组以同样的方式和剂量注射无菌细胞培养液作为对照。于PCV2感染后14d,处死所有小鼠,取其组织做电镜观察和PCV2PCR检测。结果显示,在电镜下,所有PCV2感染鼠的超微结构病变基本一致,主要表现为淋巴器官、心脏、肝脏、肺脏、肾脏、脑、肠等脏器实质细胞凋亡或坏死,细胞内线粒体水肿、内质网扩张,间质毛细血管淤血、炎症细胞浸润,并在脾脏、胸腺、淋巴结的淋巴细、巨噬细胞,以及肝细胞,肾足细胞,脑神经细胞的胞浆或胞核内发现病毒包涵体。同时通过PCR检测,所有PCV2感染鼠的组织均可检出PCV2DNA。B组（对照组）小鼠除在淋巴结可见极少数淋巴细胞凋亡外,其他组织均无任何超微结构病变;同时,所有组织也未检出PCV2DNA。由此说明PCV2可在昆明小鼠多脏器实质细胞内复制,并诱导细胞凋亡。     

Pathogenesis of experimental vesicular stomatitis virus (New Jersey serotype) infection in the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus)

The pathogenesis of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection has not been investigated previously in native New World rodents that may have a role in the epidemiology of the disease. In the present study, 45 juvenile and 80 adult deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) were inoculated intranasally with VSV New Jersey serotype (VSV-NJ) and examined sequentially over a 7-day period. Virus was detected by means of immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization in all tissues containing histologic lesions. Viral antigen and mRNA were observed initially in olfactory epithelium neurons, followed by olfactory bulbs and more caudal olfactory pathways in the brain. Virus also was detected throughout the ventricular system in the brain and central canal of the spinal cord. These results support both viral retrograde transneuronal transport and viral spread within the ventricular system. Other tissues containing viral antigen included airway epithelium and macrophages in the lungs, cardiac myocytes, and macrophages in cervical lymph nodes. In a second experiment, 15 adult, 20 juvenile, and 16 nestling deer mice were inoculated intradermally with VSV-NJ. Adults were refractory to infection by this route; however, nestlings and juveniles developed disseminated central nervous system infections. Viral antigen also was detected in cardiac myocytes and lymph node macrophages in these animals. Viremia was detected by virus isolation in 35/72 (49%) intranasally inoculated juvenile and adult mice and in 17/36 (47%) intradermally inoculated nestlings and juveniles from day 1 to day 3 postinoculation. The documentation of viremia in these animals suggests that they may have a role in the epidemiology of vector-borne vesicular stomatitis.     

Tissue distribution and genetic typing of porcine circoviruses in pigs with naturally occurring congenital tremors.

Congenital tremors (CT) type A2 is associated with porcine circovirus (PCV) and deficient and abnormal myelin. The aim of this study was to determine the tissue distribution and genetic type of PCV in 1-2-day-old pigs with naturally occurring CT type A2 using in situ hybridization, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and indirect fluorescent antibody tests on frozen tissue sections. CT-affected and clinically normal pigs were selected from 4 farms in the midwestern USA that were undergoing outbreaks of CT type A2. All CT and most normal pigs were infected with PCV. PCV was widely distributed in tissues of infected pigs and was most common in tissues of the central nervous system and liver. In all infected pigs, there were more PCV-infected cells in brain and spinal cord than in nonneural tissues. CT pigs had many more PCV-infected cells in the brain and spinal cord than did clinically normal pigs because of a more diffuse distribution and a larger proportion of infected cells. The cells most commonly infected with PCV in brain and spinal cord were large neurons. In nonneural tissues, macrophages were the most frequent cell type infected. PCR analysis demonstrated only PCV type 2 and not PCV type 1 in all PCV-infected pigs on all 4 farms.     

Temporary inhibition of neuronal apoptosis in Aujeszky's disease virus-infected swine

Previous studies have shown that during acute infection of the porcine trigeminal ganglia (TG), Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV)-infected neurons are protected from apoptosis induced by the virus itself and by cells of the immune system. However, TG neurons productively infected by ADV finally die and are phagocytosed by adjacent cells, a fact that leads us to speculate that the inhibition of neuronal apoptosis by ADV may be temporary rather than absolute. To address this issue we used TG and brain stem from pigs during acute infection by ADV. Infected cells were detected by immunohistochemical staining of viral antigens, whereas apoptotic cells were identified with an anti-active caspase-3 antibody, the TUNEL assay and by transmission electron microscopy. The results obtained in this study support the contention that the inhibition of neuronal apoptosis by ADV is temporary, since activation of caspase-3 could be detected in infected neurons at late stages in infection and because foci of advanced neuronophagia contained neurons exhibiting typical ultrastructural features of apoptosis.     

Apoptosis in feline panleukopenia and canine parvovirus enteritis

Tissue samples of cats and dogs with panleukopenia and parvovirus enteritis, respectively, were examined for the presence of viral antigen-positive cells and apoptotic cells by immunohistochemistry and by TUNEL assay (Terminal Transferase-Mediated dUTP Nick End Labelling). Compared to control animals, infected cats and dogs generally had more TUNEL-positive cells. Cell types positive for parvovirus antigen, for example digestive tract epithelial and mesenchymal cells, and lymphocytes and macrophages in lymphoid tissues were also positive for TUNEL signals. Occasionally, TUNEL signal and viral antigen were present in the same tissue areas, suggesting a direct viral trigger of apoptosis. More frequently, however, there was no complete overlap of antigen and TUNEL-positive areas. The results of this study indicate that apoptotic cell death contributes significantly to the widespread tissue damage of parvovirus infection in cats and dogs.     

Distribution and cellular heterogeneity of bovine viral diarrhea viral antigen expression in the brain of persistently infected calves: a new perspective

Persistent infection following in utero exposure to bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) early in gestation is a serious cause of morbidity and mortality in cattle industries worldwide. The brain is a primary target of persistent infection. In the current study, the types of cells infected and topography of viral antigen expression were examined in brain sections from 9 BVDV persistently infected crossbred calves, all less than 1 year of age, by immunohistochemical staining using the 15C5 primary monoclonal antibody. BVDV antigen was detected in the brains of all persistently infected calves. A variety of cell types was infected, including neurons, astrocytes, oligodendroglia, blood vessel-associated cells (pericytes, perivascular macrophages, smooth muscle cells), and cells in the leptomeninges (blood vessel-associated cells). Conclusive demonstration of viral antigen in vascular endothelial cells was elusive. The intensity and distribution of viral antigen staining in neurons were highly variable. Viral antigen staining was most consistent and intense in thalamic nuclei, most notably in dorsal and medial nuclear groups, followed by the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, basal nuclei, and piriform cortex. Staining in other brain areas was often less intense and inconsistent. The variability in the intensity and topography of viral antigen in the brain may explain the heterogeneity in the clinical manifestations of BVDV-induced disease. Additionally, infection of the brain in persistently infected calves may underlie or at least contribute to endocrine disturbances and immunologic deficits that are protean manifestations of BVDV-induced disease.     

Infection of ovine fetal brain cell cultures with cytopathogenic and non-cytopathogenic bovine viral diarrhoea virus.

The in vitro cell tropism of non-cytopathogenic (ncp) and cytopathogenic (cp) bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) was studied in primary dissociated brain cell cultures derived from ovine fetuses of different gestational ages. The cell types infected were identified by double immunofluorescence using antibodies against BVDV and cell type-specific markers. In cultures infected with ncp BVDV viral antigen was present in neurofilament (NF 200 kDa)-positive neurons, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive astrocytes and fibronectin-expressing cells. Estimation of the percentages of individual cell types infected with ncp BVDV indicated a tropism for NF 200-positive neurons. In cultures infected with cp BVD virus cytopathic changes were observed beginning at 40 hours post infection. Viral antigen was present in vacuolated NF 200-, GFAP- and fibronectin-positive cells. In comparison with non-infected control cultures a considerable reduction of the number of the different cell types was seen.     

Role of apoptosis in the pathogenesis of Asian and South American foot-and-mouth disease viruses in swine

In this study, we performed experiments to evaluate the extend of the process of apoptotic cell death by foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). Apoptosis can also occur in some virus-infected cells, and ability of viruses to either inhibit or promote apoptosis may influence the pathologic outcome of infection. In this study, to determine if apoptosis plays a role in the outcome of FMDV infection in swine, we evaluated apoptosis in diseased tissues collected from pigs inoculated with two different stains of FMDV (O1 Campos and O Taiwan). And host cell DNA fragmentation in diseased tissue from animals which were infected with either virus was evaluated by occurrence of a laddering pattern characteristic of apoptosis. Infection of cultured keratinocytes from swine tongue failed to demonstrate apoptosis in the first few hours of infection, suggesting that cell-to-cell correlation between viral antigen and apoptotic changes, e.g. cytokine secretions by immune system cells, could be critical to initiating apoptosis. Consistent with this finding, we were able to detect the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha in diseased tissues. A clear difference in the pathogenicity of the two different FMDV isolates to pigs was not demonstrated in our study.     

Recombinant rabies virus vaccine strain SAD-L16 inoculated intracerebrally in young mice produces a severe encephalitis with extensive neuronal apoptosis

Seven-day-old ICR mice were infected by intracerebral inoculation with recombinant rabies virus vaccine strain SAD-L16. Infected mice developed severe and fatal encephalitis with rabies virus-infected neurons in widespread regions of the brain. There was extensive neuronal death with predominant features of apoptosis, as assessed by light and electron microscopy, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, and immunohistochemical staining for activated caspase-3. Although SAD-L16 is a neuroattenuated rabies virus, it is fully capable of spreading efficiently and inducing widespread neuronal apoptosis in the immature mouse brain.     

Pathogenesis of chicken-passaged Newcastle disease viruses isolated from chickens and wild and exotic birds

The pathogenesis of six Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolates recovered from chickens (Ckn-LBM and Ckn-Australia) and wild (Anhinga) and exotic (YN parrot, pheasant, and dove) birds was examined after the isolates had been passaged four times in domestic chickens. Groups of 10 4-wk-old specific-pathogen-free white leghorn chickens were inoculated intraconjunctivally with each one of the isolates. The infected birds were observed for clinical disease and were euthanatized and sampled at selected times from 12 hr to 14 days postinoculation or at death. Tissues were examined by histopathology, by immunohistochemistry (IHC) to detect viral nucleoprotein (IHC/NP), and by in situ hybridization to detect viral mRNA and were double labeled for apoptosis (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling ([TUNEL] or IHC/caspase-3) and viral nucleoprorein (IHC/NP). Birds infected with the three low virulence viruses (Ckn-LBM, YN parrot, and Ckn-Australia) did not develop clinical disease. Microscopic lesions were observed only at the inoculation site and in organs of the respiratory system. The detection of viral nucleoprotein (N) was restricted to the inoculation site. The pheasant and dove isolates were highly virulent for chickens with marked tropism for lymphoid tissues, confirmed by the presence of large numbers of cells positive for viral N protein and viral mRNA. Viral N protein was detected early in the cytoplasm of cells in the center of the splenic ellipsoids. The apoptosis assays (TUNEL and IHC/caspase-3) showed increased apoptosis in the splenic ellipsoids as well. Apparently, apoptosis is an important mechanism in lymphoid depletion during NDV infection.     

水泡性口炎病毒诱导BHK-21细胞的凋亡

采用HE、Giemsa染色、透射电镜以及DNA琼脂糖凝胶电泳等研究了水泡性口炎病毒（VSV）诱导BHK-21细胞凋亡的过程。结果显示：VSV感染BHK-21细胞后,光镜下可见细胞圆缩,细胞器固缩、核仁消失、染色质凝聚和核碎裂、凋亡小体出现;电镜下观察到染色质聚集形成典型的新月形,胞浆中充满大量空泡,细胞核因染色质凝聚也发生了空泡化;1％的琼脂糖凝胶电泳出现180-200bp整倍数的DNA梯形条带。结果表明,VSV诱导BHK-21细胞凋亡是其致细胞病变的主要表现形式之一。     

Isolation and Identification of Variant HeNZK-2014 of Pseudorabies Virus and Sequence Analysis of gE Gene

In order to learn the situation of pig pseudorabies virus (PRV) variant in this study, tissue samples such as lymph nodes which were collected from clinical pigs with suspected PRV infection were identified by PCR. PRV positive sample were inoculated on PK-15 cells after grinding and degerming, with further experiment including virus isolation, plague purification, PCR and IFA identification, TCID₅₀ confirmed by Reed-Muench method, inoculation test and observation of clinical symptoms in mice. The gE gene of purified PRV and brain tissue samples of dead mice were identified by sequencing analysis. The results showed that the virus grown on PK-15 cells could produce typical cytopathic effect (CPE) after 24 h; After three rounds of plaque purification,the isolate was PRV positive identified by PCR and IFA, and nominated as HeNZK-2014; The TCID₅₀ of the isolate was 10^-9.77/0.1 mL; The virus in 1×10⁸ TCID₅₀ inoculation was able to cause itching, tearing, death in infected mice, and PRV could be detected in tissues of dead mice; The molecular genetic variation analysis of gE gene by PCR amplification and clone sequencing indicated that the gE gene from brain tissue of infected mice shared 100.0% homology with HeNZK-2014, and located in a relatively independent branch with newly pandemic isolates in recent years after 2011, but was far from the classical strains before 2011, and both had two insertion of aspartic acid (D) at sites of 48 and 496 amino acids, which were considered to be the typical characteristics of PRV variants. This study successfully isolated a PRV variant, which laid a foundation for further research on vaccine development, prevention and control against PRV variants.     

Experimental vesicular stomatitis virus infection of swine: Extent of infection and immunological response

Swine, a natural host species for infection by vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), were infected with VSV-New Jersey (VSV-NJ) serotype virus obtained from a recent field isolate. Tissues collected from the infected pigs were examined for the presence of infective virus, for viral antigens, and/or for viral nucleic acid. Infective virus could be recovered from tissues near the site of infection for as long as 6 days after the primary infection with VSV. However, no infective virus was recovered following hypothermia induced 11 weeks after infection, or following a secondary challenge with virus 22 weeks after initial infection. Immunofluorescence tests for viral antigens and nucleic acid hybridization assays failed to detect viral antigens or nucleic acids in tissues from which no infective virus could be recovered. Titers of serum-neutralizing antibody peaked 3–5 weeks after infection and then fell slightly until the secondary infection which caused a rapid anamnestic response. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) tested 3, 5, 8 or 18 weeks after primary infection all produced readily detectable antigen-specific proliferative responses when cultured with VSV. Thus, although direct tests failed to demonstrate persistence of virus after infection, the humoral and cellular immune response remained elevated for months. Infective VSV was not required to stimulate the proliferative response since UV-inactivated VSV was immunogenic in these in vitro tests. Following primary infection, antigen-specific proliferative responses could be stimulated by several strains of VSV-NJ, but not by VSV-Indiana (VSV-Ind) serotype virus. Secondary infection had relatively little effect on the proliferative response to VSV-NJ strains, but it did cause the PBM to gain responsiveness to VSV-Ind.     

金属硫蛋白对海马CA1区锥体细胞凋亡的抑制作用

采用股动脉放血并双侧颈总动脉夹闭制作全脑缺血再灌注模型 ,于术后 1d处死动物 ,取脑 ,制作石腊切片 ,通过 HE染色、Tunel检测 ,对海马 CA1 区锥体细胞形态进行了观察。结果表明 :在短暂性全脑缺血中 ,海马锥体细胞存在着凋亡和坏死 2种死亡形式 ;与对照组相比 ,缺血再灌注后 1d,海马 CA1 区损伤较重 ,出现了较多的凋亡细胞 ,而MT- 1可明显抑制锥体细胞的凋亡。本试验证明 :在脑缺血再灌注损伤中 ,细胞凋亡是神经元死亡的一种重要形式 ;MT- 1对脑缺血再灌注有明显神经保护作用     

猪伪狂犬病病毒变异毒株HeNZK-2014的分离鉴定及gE基因序列分析

为了解猪伪狂犬病病毒（PRV）变异毒株的特点,本研究采集临床疑似PRV感染发病猪的淋巴结等组织样品进行PCR鉴定,选取仅PRV阳性的组织样品经研磨除菌后取上清接种于PK-15细胞进行病毒分离培养、蚀斑纯化、PCR和间接免疫荧光法（IFA）鉴定,采用Reed-Muench法测定PRV的TCID₅₀,接种小鼠并观察临床症状,对纯化的PRV和死亡小鼠脑组织样品进行gE基因PCR扩增及测序分析。结果显示,PRV阳性病料接种于PK-15细胞24 h后出现典型细胞病变（CPE）,经3轮蚀斑纯化后PCR和IFA鉴定结果均为阳性,分离株命名为HeNZK-2014,其TCID₅₀为10^-9.77/0.1 mL;以1×10⁸个TCID₅₀病毒悬液接种小鼠22 h后可引起小鼠出现奇痒、撕咬、死亡等典型猪伪狂犬病症状,死亡小鼠脑组织样品PRV PCR检测结果为阳性;纯化病毒和死亡小鼠脑组织样品gE基因核苷酸序列同源性为100.0%,与GenBank中2011年以前登录的经典毒株位于不同分支,与2011年之后中国流行毒株位于同一分支,在第48和496位各有1个天冬氨酸（D）的插入,具有变异毒株的典型特征。本研究成功分离了1株PRV变异毒株,为进一步开展针对PRV变异毒株的疫苗及其防控研究奠定了基础。     

Localization of classical swine fever virus from chronically infected pigs by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry

Classical swine fever (CSF) virus (CSFV) nucleic acid and antigen were detected in 15 pigs with naturally occurring chronic CSF by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. The most consistent and prominent microscopic lesions were perivascular mononuclear cell infiltration and gliosis in the central nervous system of pigs with chronic CSF. Positive cells typically exhibited a dark brown (in situ hybridization) or red (immunohistochemistry) reaction product in the cytoplasm without background staining. A positive signal for both in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry was detected in mononuclear cells and lymphocytes of lymphoid tissues. Viral nucleic acid was detected in some tissue sections in the absence of viral antigen. The in situ hybridization technique developed in this study was useful for the detection of CSFV RNA in tissues taken from chronically infected pigs and may be a valuable technique for studying the pathogenesis of chronic CSFV infection.