Expression of Anti-Lipopolysaccharide Factor Isoform 3 in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Showing High Antimicrobial Activity

Antimicrobial peptides are a class of proteins with antibacterial functions. In this study, the anti-lipopolysaccharide factor isoform 3 gene (ALFPm3), encoding an antimicrobial peptide from Penaeus monodon with a super activity was expressed in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, which would develop a microalga strain that can be used for the antimicrobial peptide production. To construct the expression cluster, namely pH2A-Pm3, the codon optimized ALFPm3 gene was fused with the ble reporter by 2A peptide and inserted into pH124 vector. The glass-bead method was performed to transform pH2A-Pm3 into C. reinhardtii CC-849. In addition to 8 μg/mL zeocin resistance selection, the C. reinhardtii transformants were further confirmed by genomic PCR and RT-PCR. Western blot analysis showed that the C. reinhardtii-derived ALFPm3 (cALFPm3) was successfully expressed in C. reinhardtii transformants and accounted for 0.35% of the total soluble protein (TSP). Furthermore, the results of antibacterial assay revealed that the cALFPm3 could significantly inhibit the growth of a variety of bacteria, including both Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria at a concentration of 0.77 μM. Especially, the inhibition could last longer than 24 h, which performed better than ampicillin. Hence, this study successfully developed a transgenic C. reinhardtii strain, which can produce the active ALFPm3 driven from P. monodon, providing a potential strategy to use C. reinhardtii as the cell factory to produce antimicrobial peptides.     

农业生防昆虫黄猄蚁对3种农药的药剂敏感性研究

黄猄蚁(Oecophylla smaragdina)是最早用于农业生防的昆虫,目前已被证明能防治20多种农业害虫,对农林生产具有重要作用,但目前黄猄蚁对常见农药的药剂敏感性尚不清楚。本研究采集云南西双版纳地区的黄猄蚁,使用3种常见农药噻虫嗪、吡虫啉、呋虫胺对其进行了毒力测定,并在培养皿放置毒饵和蚂蚁之后的8 h、16 h、24 h、32 h、40 h、48 h分别记录了黄猄蚁的死亡情况。结果表明: 黄猄蚁对不同药剂的敏感性存在差异,黄猄蚁对呋虫胺,噻虫嗪以及吡虫啉的16h半数致死浓度(LC50)分别为0.130 g/l,0.290 g/l和0.382 g/l,差异显著。连续观察两天后,发现不同农药对黄猄蚁的致死时间也存在差异,该研究可为黄猄蚁生防的利用和保护提供科学参考。     

Identifying and Characterizing a Novel Peritrophic Matrix Protein (MdPM-17) Associated With Antibacterial Response From the Housefly,Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae)

Peritrophic matrix/membrane (PM) critically prevents the midgut of insects from external invasion by microbes. The proteins in the peritrophic membrane are its major structural components. Additionally, they determine the formation and function of this membrane. However, the role of PM proteins in immune regulation is unclear. Herein, we isolated a novel PM protein (MdPM-17) from Musca domestica larvae. Further, the function of MdPM-17 in regulating host innate immunity was identified. Results showed that the cDNA of MdPM-17 full is 635 bp in length. Moreover, it consists of a 477-bp open reading frame encoding 158 amino acid residues. These amino acid residues are composed of two Chitin-binding type-2 domain (ChtBD2) and 19 amino acids as a signal peptide. Moreover, tissue distribution analysis indicates that MdPM-17 was enriched expressed in midgut, and moderate levels in the fat body, foregut, and malpighian tubule. Notably, MdPM-17 recombinant protein showed high chitin-binding capacity, thus belongs to the Class III PM protein group. MdPM-17 protein silencing via RNA interference resulted in the expression of antimicrobial peptide (defensin, cecropins, and diptericin) genes, and this occurred after oral inoculation with exogenous microbes Escherichia coli (Enterobacteriales:Enterobacteriaceae), Staphylococcus aureus (Bacillales:Staphylococcaceae), and Candida albicans (Endomycetales:Saccharomycetaceae)). Therefore, all the antimicrobial peptide (AMP) gene expression levels are high in MdPM-17-depleted larvae during microbial infection compared to controls. Consequently, these findings indicate that MdPM-17 protein is associated with the antibacterial response from the housefly.     

The nature and consequences of co-infections in tilapia: A review

Co-infections commonly arise when two or multiple different pathogens infect the same host, either as simultaneous or as secondary concurrent infection. This potentiates their pathogenic effects and leads to serious negative consequences on the exposed host. Numerous studies on the occurrence of the bacterial, parasitic, fungal and viral co-infections were conducted in various tilapia species. Co-infections have been associated with serious negative impacts on susceptible fish because they increase the fish susceptibility to diseases and the likelihood of outbreaks in the affected fish. Co-infections can alter the disease course and increase the severity of disease through synergistic and, more rarely, antagonistic interactions. In this review, reports on the synergistic co-infections and their impacts on the affected tilapia species are highlighted. Additionally, their pathogenic mechanisms are briefly discussed. Tilapia producers should be aware of the possible occurrence of co-infections and their effects on the affected tilapia species and in particular of the clinical signs and course of the disease. To date, there is still limited information regarding the pathogenicity mechanisms and pathogen interactions during these co-infections. This is generally due to low awareness regarding co-infections, and in many cases, a dominant pathogen is perceived to be of vital importance and hence becomes the target of treatment while the treatment of the co-infectious agents is neglected. This review article aimed at raising awareness regarding co-infections and helping researchers and fish health specialists pay greater attention to these natural cases, leading to increased research and more consistent diagnosis of co-infectious outbreaks in order to improve control strategies to protect tilapia when infected with multiple pathogens.     

稻曲病菌Six1类效应蛋白UvSix1-1的功能研究

 稻曲病菌在侵染过程中会分泌大量的效应蛋白来帮助其侵染。本研究鉴定到一个稻曲病菌效应蛋白UvSix1-1,同源序列比对及系统发育分析发现其具有Six1蛋白保守的氨基酸位点,并与多个病原菌中的Six1蛋白具有同源性。进一步研究发现UvSix1-1可以抑制Bax、XEG1和INF1引起的烟草叶片细胞坏死,并且其预测的信号肽区域具有分泌功能,在烟草上瞬时表达UvSix1-1可以促进辣椒疫霉的定殖。对不同稻曲菌株中的序列进行分析,没有发现序列多态性,说明该基因非常保守。以上研究结果表明,UvSix1-1在病原菌侵染过程中发挥作用,研究结果为稻曲病菌效应蛋白的研究提供参考。     

一种安全有效提高虹鳟苗种成活率的技术

为安全有效地提高虹鳟苗种成活率,应用1种生物制剂——抗菌肽对虹鳟苗种进行浸泡处理。通过比较苗种成活率,检测SOD、ALP、CAT、IL、IFN、TNF等6种免疫相关酶表达量,采用扫描电镜检测苗种体表细菌情况,确定抗菌肽浸泡对虹鳟成活率的影响。试验结果显示,自破膜期开始,用40%抗菌肽浸泡10次,试验组6种免疫相关酶表达量明显高于对照组,试验组苗种的成活率高达95%以上,对照组苗种的成活率则低于30%。电镜观察结果显示,试验组仔鱼体表细菌数量显著减少。试验结果表明,用抗菌肽浸泡法能显著提高虹鳟苗种成活率。     

Cloning and expression analysis of innate immune genes from red sea bream to assess different susceptibility to megalocytivirus infection

As suggested by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), fishes belonging to the genus Oplegnathus are more sensitive to megalocytivirus infection than other fish species including red sea bream (Pagrus major). To assess the roles of the innate immune response to these different susceptibilities, we cloned the genes encoding inflammatory factors including IL‐8 and COX‐2, and the antiviral factor like Mx from red sea bream for the first time and performed phylogenetic and structural analysis. Analysed expression levels of IL‐1β, IL‐8 and COX‐2 and the antiviral factor like Mx genes performed with in vivo challenge experiment showed no difference in inflammatory gene expression or respiratory burst activity between red sea bream and rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus). However, the Mx gene expression levels in red sea bream were markedly higher than those in rock bream, suggesting the importance of type I interferon (IFN)‐induced proteins, particularly Mx, during megalocytivirus infection, rather than inflammation‐related genes. The in vitro challenge experiments using embryonic primary cultures derived from both fish species showed no difference in cytopathic effects (CPE), viral replication profiles, and inflammatory and Mx gene expression pattern between the two fish species.     

Assessment of the Antibacterial Effect of Chitosan Coated with Heracleum persicum Oil on Rainbow Trout Quality

Today, due to the rapid spoilage of fish, the use of natural preservatives is a priority over those of synthetic varieties. Also, the natural antimicrobial effects of essential oils can help to increase shelf life. There are very few studies concerning the use of essential oils in this regard. In the present study, the antibacterial effect of chitosan coated with Heracleum persicum oil was investigated on the quality of rainbow trout. The control and the coated fish samples were analyzed periodically by generalized estimating equation (GEE) for total viable count (TVC), psychrophilic bacteria, total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), texture, taste, odor, and overall acceptance parameters. The results showed that by increasing the amount of chitosan, TVC, psychrophilic bacteria, and TVB-N decreased while PUFA, texture, taste, odor, and overall acceptance parameters increased.     

Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 as a potential biological control agent for carp (Cyprinus carpio) in Australia: susceptibility of non‐target species

Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) is a pest species in Australian waterways, and cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV‐3) is being considered as a potential biological control (biocontrol) agent. An important consideration for any such agent is its target specificity. In this study, the susceptibility to CyHV‐3 of a range of non‐target species (NTS) was tested. The NTS were as follows: 13 native Australian, and one introduced, fish species; a lamprey species; a crustacean; two native amphibian species (tadpole and mature stages); two native reptilian species; chickens; and laboratory mice. Animals were exposed to 100–1000 times the approximate minimum amount of CyHV‐3 required to cause disease in carp by intraperitoneal and/or bath challenge, and then examined clinically each day over the course of 28 days post‐challenge. There were no clinical signs, mortalities or histological evidence consistent with a viral infection in a wide taxonomic range of NTS. Furthermore, there was no molecular evidence of infection with CyHV‐3, and, in particular, all RT‐PCRs for viral mRNA were negative. As a consequence, the results encourage further investigation of CyHV‐3 as a potential biocontrol agent that is specific for carp.     

马铃薯晚疫病菌效应子PITG_16427.2的基因序列分析及功能验证

 马铃薯晚疫病的病原是致病疫霉菌(Phytophthora infestans),该病原菌在侵染马铃薯过程中分泌大量RxLR型效应子,但目前绝大多数RxLR效应子的功能和作用机制尚不明确。本研究成功克隆了致病疫霉菌的一个RxLR效应子PITG_16427.2,在本氏烟中瞬时表达PITG_16427.2,发现该效应子能够抑制6种激发子(INF1、PsojNIP、BAX、SIF2、Avh238、Avh241)激发的植物免疫反应。进一步研究发现,效应子PITG_16427.2在晚疫病菌侵染马铃薯早期上调表达。在15个致病疫霉菌株和3个同属菌株中克隆该基因,克隆到氨基酸序列一致性超过93%的同源基因,这些同源基因均能在本氏烟中抑制INF1和Avh241引起的HR,揭示了该效应子在病原卵菌中序列和功能的高度保守性。在本氏烟和马铃薯感病品种Désirée中瞬时表达PITG_16427.2,发现该效应子能够显著促进晚疫病菌的侵染。通过qRT-PCR方法检测发现,乙烯信号的相关基因ERF1显著上调,而水杨酸信号相关基因PR1b显著下调,表明PITG_16427.2在晚疫病菌侵染过程中可抑制寄主的SA信号途径,促进晚疫病菌侵染。因此,RxLR型效应子PITG_16427.2是致病疫霉菌中一个重要的侵染致病因子。