Identification of Trichoderma SKT-1, a biological control agent against seedborne pathogens of rice

Trichoderma SKT-1 was previously reported as a powerful biological control agent against seedborne pathogens of rice, but the taxonomic disposition of the fungal isolate was not clear. Trichoderma SKT-1 produced irregular pyramidal warts on conidia and had an optimum growth temperature of 30°C. Morphological characteristics and colony growth were identical to those of known species of Trichoderma, including the newly recognized species T. asperellum. The 5.8S rDNA with the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ca. 514 bp) of the fungus was compared with those of known species to determine the phylogenetic placement of the fungus. The length and sequence of the regions from Trichoderma SKT-1 were completely identical to those of an isolate of T. asperellum NRRL 5242 (AJ230669). On the basis of these results, we concluded that Trichoderma SKT-1 was T. asperellum.     

O型口蹄疫病毒VP1 T细胞与B细胞表位基因双拷贝串联表达产物的免疫应答

以一株O型口蹄疫病毒(FMDV)外壳蛋白VP1基因为模板,合成与细胞免疫及体液免疫相关抗原表位肽基因:21-40肽(20AA)和141-160肽(20AA)基因序列,运用基因工程技术构建了含有串联结构21-40(20AA)～141-160(20AA)～21-40(20AA)～141-160(20AA)的2020-2020VP1融合基因表达载体r2020-2020,转化宿主菌BL21(DE3)RIL后诱导表达,表达产物经SDS-PAGE及Western Blot分析显示重组融合蛋白的分子量约为18Ku.动物实验表明,较小剂量的融合蛋白就能诱导豚鼠产生特异性T淋巴细胞增殖反应及抗FMDV中和抗体,证明该融合蛋白可同时激活细胞免疫及体液免疫反应,具有开发成为抗FMDV疫苗的应用价值.     

中草药免疫增强剂对鸡小肠T淋巴细胞免疫组化研究

为了探讨中草药免疫增强剂的作用机理,采用组织学常规切片技术和免疫组织化学染色的方法对鸡小肠黏膜淋巴组织中T淋巴细胞的数量分布进行了动态观察.将1日龄60只健康公鸡随机分成2组,一组为对照组,另一组为试验组,试验组按1%浓度的中草药免疫增强剂饮水,连续21 d.在第14天、第21天分别取各组鸡小肠,制成组织切片,进行组织学观察.结果显示,试验组鸡小肠的T淋巴细胞数显著高于对照组(P<0.05),表明中草药免疫增强剂对鸡小肠免疫有显著的增强作用.     

Effects of N-methyl-D, L-aspartate on secretion of growth hormone-releasing hormone from the boar hypothalamic-preoptic area and median eminence in vitro

N-methyl-D, L-aspartate (NMA) elicited secretion of growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone from both the hypothalamic-preoptic area and the median eminence that were collected from boars. We suggest that the previously described increase in GH secretion that follows peripheral treatment of swine with NMA is attributable, at least in part, to NMA-stimulated secretion of GH-releasing hormone from the central nervous system.     

伊氏锥虫弱毒株免疫家兔的T细胞应答反应

以ANAE染色法和~3H-TdR掺入的淋巴细胞转化试验,测定了伊氏锥虫弱毒株免疫家兔的T细胞动态变化.结果,免疫兔外周血T细胞增殖反应在免疫后第24d达到高峰,ANAE阳性细胞百分率这72.65%,对照组仅为41.2%;约1周后,出现抑制性T细胞,其增殖反应也明显减弱,最后完全被抑制.而外源性白细胞介素2的加入,可解除这种免疫抑制.攻虫后,特异性T细胞应答反应未再出现强烈的回忆反应,但伊氏锥虫弱毒株免疫家兔获得9/12的保护.因此,T细胞在这种抗锥虫免疫中,没有起到主导作用.     

Purification and analyses of the specificity of two putative diagnostic antigens for larval cyathostomin infection in horses

Cyathostomins are important equine gastrointestinal parasites. Mass emergence of mucosal stage larvae causes a potentially fatal colitis. Mucosal stages are undetectable non-invasively. An assay that would estimate mucosal larval stage infection would greatly assist in treatment, control and prognosis. Previously, we identified two putative diagnostic antigens (20 and 25 kDa) in somatic larval preparations. Here, we describe their purification and antigen-specific IgG(T) responses to them. Western blots confirmed the purity of the antigens and showed that epitopes in the 20 kDa complex were specific to larval cyathostomins. No cross-reactive antigens appeared to be present in Parascaris equorum or Strongyloides westeri species. Low levels of cross-reactivity were observed in Strongylus edentatus and Strongylus vulgaris species. Use of purified antigens greatly reduced background binding in equine sera. These results indicate that both antigen complexes may be of use in a diagnostic assay.     

New gene-based approaches for an AIDS vaccine

Vaccine approaches against AIDS have focused on inducing cellular immune responses, since many studies revealed the role of T cell responses in the control of human immunodeficiency virus or simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infections. The experimental infection of rhesus macaques with SIV or chimeric SHIV is routinely used as a model for AIDS. In such models, DNA immunization is a tool to elicit specific T cell responses and to study their protective efficacy. DNA immunogenicity in primates depends on parameters such as level of antigen expression, choice of the antigen among SIV proteins, use of fusion proteins, route of immunization, and addition of adjuvants. Recent results suggest that priming with DNA and boosting with attenuated recombinant viral vectors, each expressing corresponding SIV antigens, leads to improved specific immunity and, in some cases, affords protection against pathogenic challenge. After preclinical evaluations, DNA has entered clinical trials for a therapeutic or prophylactic gene-based AIDS vaccine.     

Fundamentals of host immune response against Brucella abortus: what the mouse model has revealed about control of infection

The studies reviewed here evaluated the role cellular immune system components play in control of brucellosis by conducting comparative studies with brucella-resistant C57BL/10 or C57BL/6 mice and susceptible BALB/c mice. We have shown by both in vitro and in vivo studies that activation of macrophages with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) is an important factor for control of infection with B. abortus in the mouse model and that the mechanism of anti-brucella activity largely involved reactive oxygen intermediates. Differences in control of the organism by resistant and susceptible mice was not related to inherent differences in the ability of their macrophages to control infection either with or without IFN-γ activation nor was it attributable to NK cells since we found no role for them in control of brucellosis in either mouse strain. However, relative resistance to brucellosis did correlate with increased production of IFN-γ by CD4 T cells during the first weeks after infection while IL-10 contributed to susceptibility in BALB/c mice. Moreover, by 3 weeks post-infection splenocytes from the susceptible BALB/c mice failed to produce IFN-γ and relied on TNF- as well as CD8 T cells to control infection until the end of the plateau phase around 6 weeks post-infection when IFN-γ production resumed and clearance began. In contrast, IFN-γ was crucial for control throughout the infection in the more resistant C57BL/6 mice and the mice died in its absence by 6 weeks post-infection compared to 12 weeks for the more susceptible mice that relied on additional mechanisms of control. In contrast to the IFN-γ knock-out mice, both β2 microglobulin knock-out C57BL/6 mice, which do not express conventional MHC class I molecules and thus cannot present antigen to CD8 T cells, or perforin knock-out C57BL/6 mice, which have no T cell cytotoxic activity, controlled and cleared the infection as well as normal C57BL/6 mice. The hiatus of IFN-γ production in BALB/c mice correlated with very high levels of total IL-12 and it was postulated that the lack of IFN-γ was a consequence of p40 homodimer blocking activity. However, reduction of p40 IL-12 in vivo through administration of indomethacin reduced the infection without a concomitant measurable increase in IFN-γ. Current studies are aimed at elucidating the mechanism of the IFN-γ hiatus.     

Organic Seed-treatment as a Substitute for Chemical Seed-treatment to Control Common Bunt of Wheat

Common bunt of wheat, caused by Tilletia laevis and T. tritici, is a major seed and soil-borne disease in West Asia and North Africa. The use of resistant cultivars and chemical seed-treatments are the current control measures used to combat this disease. The aim of this study was to investigate alternative control measures to chemical seed-treatments that are environmentally friendly to support cultivar resistance. Several organic nutrients [skimmed milk powder, hucket (local skimmed milk) and wheat flour] at a concentration of 160g per kg of seeds were used as seed-treatments on two susceptible bread and durum wheat cultivars (Bau and Sebou, respectively) to examine their effectiveness in controlling the disease. Field trials over four years showed that skimmed milk powder, hucket, and wheat flour reduced common bunt infection levels by 96%, 93% and 62%, respectively. In most cases, the effectiveness of the skimmed milk powder and hucket was equal to the chemical seed-treatment; thus, these organic nutrients offer an effective and environmentally safe alternative to chemical treatments. However, a study of their economic value as well as of their effect on seed germination, and field emergence is needed.     

鸡缩胆囊素(CCK)在T4噬菌体表面的展示及免疫原性研究

采用T4噬菌体表面展示系统，将CCK-33肽四多串联体及八多串联体展示在T4噬菌体表面，并研究其免疫原性。将CCK四串联体和八串联体与SOC基因缺失的、依赖溶菌酶的噬菌体ФT4-Z1重组，获得重组噬菌体CT-4CCK和西T-8CCK。SDS-PAGE和Western Blot检测结果表明，CCK多串联体蛋白已经成功展示在T4噬菌体表面，其融合蛋白分子量约30ku和41ku，能够与CCK标准阳性血清发生特异性反应。以重组噬菌体为免疫原制备油佐剂疫苗主动免疫胡须肉鸡后，抗体浓度显著升高，肉鸡的体重、采食量都有所提高，而料肉比有所下降。结果说明，鸡CCK蛋白展示在T4噬菌体表面具有良好的免疫原性。