Infection routes of Aeromonas salmonicida in rainbow trout monitored in vivo by real‐time bioluminescence imaging

Recent development of imaging tools has facilitated studies of pathogen infections in vivo in real time. This trend can be exemplified by advances in bioluminescence imaging (BLI), an approach that helps to visualize dissemination of pathogens within the same animal over several time points. Here, we employ bacterial BLI for examining routes of entry and spread of Aeromonas salmonicida susbp. salmonicida in rainbow trout. A virulent Danish A. salmonicida strain was tagged with pAKgfplux1, a dual‐labelled plasmid vector containing the mutated gfpmut3a gene from Aequorea victoria and the luxCDABE genes from the bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens. The resulting A. salmonicida transformant exhibited growth properties and virulence identical to the wild‐type A. salmonicida, which made it suitable for an experimental infection, mimicking natural conditions. Fish were infected with pAKgfplux1 tagged A. salmonicida via immersion bath. Colonization and subsequent tissue dissemination was followed over a 24‐h period using the IVIS spectrum imaging workstation. Results suggest the pathogen's colonization sites are the dorsal and pectoral fin and the gills, followed by a progression through the internal organs and an ensuing exit via the anal opening. This study provides a tool for visualizing colonization of A. salmonicida and other bacterial pathogens in fish.     

Probiotic efficiency of Bacillus sp. in Labeo rohita challenged by Aeromonas hydrophila: assessment of stress profile,haemato‐biochemical parameters and immune responses

Fish are always susceptible to a wide variety of deadly pathogens which cause a huge loss in aquaculture industries. In this investigation, we have demonstrated the in vivo probiotic efficiency of Bacillus sp. MVF1 (GenBank Acc. No. KP256503) in Labeo rohita challenged with pathogenic strain of Aeromonas hydrophila (MTCC 1739). To check the probiotic potential of the selected bacterial strain, fish were divided into four groups: control, D1, D2 and D3. A total of 100 days (70 days probiotic feeding + 71th day sampling and 28 days challenged test + 29th day sampling) of feeding trial was conducted. To establish the probiotic potential of Bacillus sp. MVF1, certain haematological parameters (haemoglobin, total erythrocyte and leucocyte count), serum biochemical parameters (total protein, albumin and globulin), immune parameters (serum lysozyme and total IgM levels) and hepatic stress profile (malondialdehyde production, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity) have been measured. Our results demonstrated that red blood cell number, white blood cell number and haemoglobin content were much higher in D2 group fish compared to other groups and control fish. Similarly, total protein contents, albumin concentration, globulin concentration, lysozyme activity and IgM production were also recorded to be highest in D2 group fish. This finding clearly indicated the probiotic potential of Bacillus sp. MVF1 in L. rohita. Furthermore, our results also demonstrated that 1 × 10⁷ CFU g^?1 feed (D2) provides better immunity compared to 1 × 10⁵ (D1) and 1 × 10⁹ (D3). Due to beneficial effects, the bacterium Bacillus sp. MVF1 might be useful in aquaculture industries to reduce the disease susceptibility.     

单壁碳纳米管载嗜水气单胞菌外膜蛋白亚单位疫苗的研制及免疫效果评价

为了筛选细菌的疫苗候选蛋白,本实验根据课题组前期的研究,挑选了2个嗜水气单胞菌外膜蛋白(A0KLQ6和A0KH89),以A0KHR9(OmpAII)为对照,通过比较外膜蛋白与碳纳米管载外膜蛋白通过腹腔注射与浸泡免疫模式,比较和评价斑马鱼的免疫反应与免疫保护效果。结果显示,腹腔注射组和浸泡组与普通蛋白组对比,碳纳米管载蛋白能够显著提高斑马鱼免疫相关基因表达量。腹腔注射组在5μg剂量下免疫A0KHR9、A0KLQ6和A0KH89蛋白分别获得61.60%、 65.39%和84.96%相对免疫保护率(relative immune protection rate,RPS),在5μg剂量下免疫碳纳米管载蛋白SWCNTs-A0KHR9、SWCNTsA0KLQ6和SWCNTs-A0KH89分别获得68.10%、77.50%和90.43%的RPSs。浸泡组在40 mg/L剂量下免疫A0KHR9、A0KLQ6和A0KH89蛋白分别获得30.80%、25.85%和37.80%的RPSs,在40 mg/L最高剂量下免疫碳纳米管载蛋白疫苗SWCNTs-A0KHR9、SWCNTsA0KLQ6和SWCNTs-A0KH89分别获得63.60%、73.74%和68.49%的RPSs。研究表明,铁离子限制下嗜水气单胞菌外膜蛋白A0KLQ6和A0KH89等能够作为抗嗜水气单胞菌的亚单位疫苗候选蛋白,而单壁碳纳米管载蛋白通过注射免疫与浸泡免疫均能显著提升免疫疗效,是一种疫苗的适宜纳米载体。以上研究为寻找高效的嗜水气单胞菌亚单位疫苗候选蛋白及佐剂提供了理论依据。     

青虾源维氏气单胞菌双重PCR检测方法的建立

根据NCBI已发表的维氏气单胞菌(Aeromonas veronii)促旋酶B亚单位基因gyrB和编码细菌RNA聚合酶σ70因子基因rpoD的保守序列设计引物,建立了一种快速检测青虾源维氏气单胞菌的双重PCR检测方法。结果显示:青虾源维氏气单胞菌gyrB和rpoD基因PCR扩增产物大小分别为815 bp、554 bp,而对嗜水气单胞菌(Aeromonas hydrophila)、弗氏柠檬酸杆菌(Citrobacter freundii)、哈维弧菌(Vibrio harveyi)、副溶血性弧菌(Vibrio parahemolyticus)、需钠弧菌(Vibrio natriegens)、非O1霍乱弧菌(non-O1 Vibrio cholerae)、阴沟肠杆菌(Enterobacter cloacae)、产气肠杆菌(Enterobacter aerogenes)扩增结果皆为阴性;灵敏性试验结果显示该方法检测到的最低菌体DNA量为1.8×10-2 ng/μL,且10份送检样本检测结果与传统细菌分离鉴定结果相一致。结果表明,双重PCR检测方法特异性好、灵敏性高,适用于青虾源维氏气单胞菌的快速检测。     

温和气单胞菌毒力基因的检测及其对鲫鱼致病性试验

为探究温和气单胞菌菌株A.S1的致病性,采用PCR方法扩增溶血素基因(hly)、细胞兴奋性肠毒素基因(alt)、黏附素基因(aha1)和气溶素基因(aerA)4种毒力基因,并运用动物回归试验探究菌株A.S1对鲫鱼的致病性。结果表明,菌株A.S1可扩增出hly、aha1和alt 3种毒力基因,未扩增出aerA基因。动物回归试验显示,试验组鲫鱼在腹腔注射温和气单胞菌0.3mL(浓度为1.5×108 CFU/mL)后,5d内死亡率达100%。表明毒力基因型为hly+、aha1+、alt+和aerA-的菌株A.S1为高毒力菌株,且菌株的毒力基因型与致病性呈正相关。     

Maltoporin (LamB protein) contributes to the virulence and adhesion of Aeromonas veronii TH0426

Aeromonas veronii is one of the main pathogens causing freshwater fish sepsis and ulcer syndrome. More and more cases have shown that it has become an important zoonotic and aquatic agent. In this study, a A. veronii TH0426 mutant strain (ΔlamB) with an in‐frame deletion removed nucleotides 10–1,296 of the lamB gene was firstly constructed to investigate its functions. The results showed that the LD₅₀ value of the mutant ΔlamB to zebrafish and mice was 13.7‐fold and 5.6‐fold higher than those of the wild‐type strain, respectively. The toxicity of wild‐type strain to EPC cells was 2.1‐fold and threefold higher than those of ?lamB when infected for 1 and 2 hr. Furthermore, the ability of biofilm formation and the adhesion and invasion to EPC cells of ?lamB significantly decreased for 5.6‐fold and 1.8‐fold separately. In addition, motility detection result indicated that ?lamB lost the swimming ability. The results of flagellar staining and TEM demonstrated that the flagella of ?lamB were shed. In general, the deletion of lamB gene caused a significant decrease in the virulence and adhesion of A. veronii TH0426, and it can be known that the lamB gene of A. veronii plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis.     

Aeromonas salmonicida infects Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) erythrocytes

Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida (hereafter A. salmonicida) is the aetiological agent of furunculosis in marine and freshwater fish. Once A. salmonicida invade the fish host through skin, gut or gills, it spreads and colonizes the head kidney, liver, spleen and brain. A. salmonicida infects leucocytes and exhibits an extracellular phase in the blood of the host; however, it is unknown whether A. salmonicida have an intraerythrocytic phase. Here, we evaluate whether A. salmonicida infects Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) erythrocytes in vitro and in vivo. A. salmonicida did not kill primary S. salar erythrocytes, even in the presence of high bacterial loads, but A. salmonicida invaded the S. salar erythrocytes in the absence of evident haemolysis. Naïve Atlantic salmon smolts intraperitoneally infected with A. salmonicida showed bacteraemia 5 days post‐infection and the presence of intraerythrocytic A. salmonicida. Our results reveal a novel intraerythrocytic phase during A. salmonicida infection.     

Dietary supplementation with low molecular weight sodium alginate improves growth,haematology, immune reactions and resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila in Clarias gariepinus

A few studies have illustrated the effects of sodium salt derived from alginic acid on different fish species. However, little is known about the effect of sodium alginate on catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Therefore, this study was performed to assess the use of low molecular weight sodium alginate ( LMWSA) in C. gariepinus. A total of 180 apparently healthy C. gariepinus with a mean body weight of 45 g were randomly divided into three equal groups (D1, D2 and D3). D1 the control group received a control diet, while D2 and D3 received 1% and 3% LMWSA, respectively, for 8 weeks. A challenge test against Aeromonas hydrophila was performed on 15 randomly selected catfish for 15 days. At the end of the experiment, catfish in D3 that received a diet of 3% LMWSA showed significant increases in the final body weight, weight gain and thermal‐unit growth coefficient compared with those in D2 and D1. There was a significant decrease in the erythrogram in D1 after the 4‐day pathogen challenge. A leucogram revealed leucocytosis, heterophilia and lymphocytosis in catfish in D2 and D3 compared with those in D1. After the 4‐day challenge, the following changes took place: lysozyme, nitric oxide, phagocytic activity and the respiratory burst were significantly elevated in catfish that received LMWSA and were more pronounced in D3 than in D1. The mortalities of catfish have been stopped after pathogen challenge from 8‐day in D1 and D2 where at 6‐day in D3. Thus, administration of 1% and 3% LMWSA enhances the growth, immune response and resistance of C. gariepinus against A. hydrophila.     

Protective immune responses of recombinant outer membrane proteins OmpF and OmpK of Aeromonas hydrophila in European eel (Anguilla anguilla)

Outer membrane proteins (Omps) of Gram‐negative bacteria have been proven to be efficient subunit vaccines against bacteriosis. In this study, OmpF and OmpK of Aeromonas hydrophila were expressed, and their immune protective effects in European eel (Anguilla anguilla) were evaluated. The genomic DNA of A. hydrophila 322A was used as a template, and two kinds of prokaryotic expression plasmids, pET‐32a‐OmpF and pET‐32a‐OmpK, were constructed. Recombinant OmpF protein (r‐OmpF) and r‐OmpK were purified and were proven to have antigenicity by Western‐blot analysis. r‐OmpF and r‐OmpK were used as immunogens to immunize European eel by intraperitoneal injection. The mRNA expression of 6 immune‐related genes (IgM, IL‐10, IRF3, IRF7, LysG4 and HexB) in the liver tissues of eels at 1 hr, 3 hr, 6 hr, 12 hr, 24 hr, 72 hr and 10 days postimmunization was analysed by real‐time PCR. At 30 dpi, the serum antibody response was measured by ELISA. Fish were attacked at 15 dpi by live 322A to assess the protective immunity of r‐OmpF and r‐OmpK. All the six tested genes responded to r‐OmpF or r‐OmpK vaccination at varying degrees. The serum antibody titre of r‐OmpF‐ and r‐OmpK‐immunized groups was 1:1,600 and 1:3,200 respectively. In addition, r‐OmpF gave 35.5% of the relative immune protection rate to European eels, while r‐OmpK gave 70.0%. By analysing the protective immunity and the regulatory role in the immune‐related gene expression of the two recombinant proteins that were studied, it was found that r‐OmpK was a potential vaccine candidate against A. hydrophila.