Infection of human enterovirus 71 in immunosuppressed rhesus monkeys

AIM: To investigate the infection process of human enterovirus 71 (EV71) in a rhesus monkey model of immunosuppression.METHODS: The monkey immunosuppression model was established by oral administration of cyclosporin A at a daily dose of 15 mg/kg for 7 days. Fourteen days after inoculation of EV71 FY23 strain via respiratory and digestive tracts, the infectious monkeys were sacrificed, and then the pathological changes of systemic organs were observed and the viral analysis in different tissues was performed.RESULTS: Compared with the experimental group without cyclosporin A, more positive results were observed in the immunosuppressed monkeys, such as more severe clinical symptoms, higher viral load/antigen expression and more pathological changes in the organs.CONCLUSION: The findings of the viral multiplication in the host provide evidence for evaluation of EV71 vaccine, and also indicate the delimitation for the population using EV71 vaccine in future.     

持续、低剂量金霉素对肉仔鸡免疫机能的抑制作用研究

270只Abore Acre商品代肉用公鸡随机分成3组，金霉素在饲料中添加水平分别为0、50只和150mg/kg，研究饲用金霉素对肉仔鸡法氏囊、脾脏和胸腺等免疫器官发育、以及免疫反应的影响。结果表明50mg/kg的金霉素对肉仔鸡脾脏和21日龄的胸腺无明显抑制作用，对T、B淋巴细胞转化率也无明显抑制作用（P＜0.05），而且显著促进法氏囊的萎缩（P＜0.05）。金霉素对T淋巴细胞转化率有明显的直接抑制作用；50mg/kg和150mg/kg的金素对BAS特异性抗体的产生均有显著的抑制作用（P＜0.01）。研究结果表明，持续、低剂量和金霉素对肉 鸡免疫器官发育和免疫应答具有显著的抑制作用，抑制作用随剂量增加而加强，150mg/kg的金霉素对肉仔鸡具有显著促生长作用。     

雄激素通过Fas途径诱导小鼠骨髓巨噬细胞凋亡

通过雄激素诱导小鼠骨髓巨噬细胞凋亡以及对Fas信号传导通路的研究来探讨雄激素对免疫系统抑制作用的机制。采用不同浓度（1～10 nmol／L）的雄激素处理小鼠骨髓巨噬细胞24h后,先用DNA片段电泳法和Annexin—V／PI双染后流式细胞仪检测不同处理组的细胞凋亡的情况;再用RT—PCR半定量法观察雄激素对Fas途径中一些基因表达的影响。发现10nmol／L雄激素处理的巨噬细胞凋亡率31．7％比对照组7．4％显著升高,并伴随Fas途径中相关基因（Fas,FasL,FADD,caspase-8和caspase．3）转录水平的升高。雄激素可能是通过Fas途径来诱导小鼠骨髓巨噬细胞发生凋亡,从而发挥其免疫抑制作用。     

Immunolocalization and pathological alterations following Strongyloides venezuelensis infection in the lungs and the intestine of MHC class I or II deficient mice

The present study, investigated the mechanisms involved in the immune responses of Major Histocompatibility Complex class I or class II knockout mice, following Strongyloides venezuelensis infection. Wild-type C57BL/6 (WT), MHC II(-/-) and MHC I(-/-) mice were individually inoculated with 3000 larvae (L3) of S. venezuelensis and sacrificed on days 1, 3, 5, 8, 13 and 21 post-infection (p.i.). Samples of blood, lungs and small intestines were collected. The tissue samples were stained with hematoxylin-eosin for the pathological analysis. The presence of the parasite was demonstrated by immunoperoxidase analysis. MHC II(-/-) mice presented a significantly higher number of adult worms recovered from the small intestine on day 5p.i. and presented elevated numbers of eggs in the feces. The infection by S. venezuelensis was completely eliminated 13 days after infection in WT as well as in MHC I(-/-) mice. In MHC II(-/-) mice, eggs and adult worms were still found on day 21 p.i., however, there was a significant reduction in their numbers. In the lung, the parasite was observed in MHC I(-/-) on day 1 p.i. and in MHC II(-/-) mice on days 1 and 5 p.i. In the small intestine of WT mice, a larger number of parasites were observed on day 8 p.i. and their absence was observed after day 13 p.i. Through immunohistochemistry analysis, the parasite was detected in the duodenum of WT on days 5 and 8 p.i., and in knockout mice on days 5, 8 and 13 p.i.; as well as in posterior portions of the small intestine in MHC I(-/-) and MHC II(-/-) on day 13 p.i., a finding which was not observed in WT mice. We concluded that immunohistochemistry analysis contributed to a more adequate understanding of the parasite localization in immunodeficient hosts and that the findings aid in the interpretation of immunopathogenesis in Strongyloides infection.     

Changes in peripheral blood leukocyte subpopulations in piglets co-infected experimentally with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and porcine circovirus type 2

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) are pathogens, which can significantly affect the swine industry worldwide. Field surveys suggest that simultaneous PRRSV and PCV2 infection is common in pigs. The objective of this study was to measure the changes in peripheral blood leukocyte subpopulations in piglets co-infected experimentally with PRRSV and PCV2, in order to analyze the synergistic influence of co-infection on the immune system. Changes in peripheral blood leukocyte subpopulations were systematically measured by flow cytometry (FCM). The levels of antibodies to PRRSV and PCV2 were detected by indirect Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) and the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFA), respectively. Serum viral loads were measured using real-time PCR. The results showed that piglets co-infected with PRRSV and PCV2 exhibited slower generation and lower levels of antibodies to PRRSV and PCV2, and increased amounts and a prolonged presence of both PRRSV and PCV2 in serum, in comparison to the piglets infected with either virus alone. The major finding in our study was that the total and differential leukocyte counts, including white blood cells (WBCs), monocytes, granulocytes and lymphocytes (T, B and NK cells, as well as T-cell subpopulations), dramatically decreased early during co-infection with PRRSV and PCV2 for about two weeks, in contrast with animals singly infected with either PRRSV or PCV2. These results suggest that PRRSV and PCV2 co-infection results in a synergistic decrease in immune cells in the peripheral blood of piglets. These data contribute to the understanding of the immunosuppressive effects resulting from PRRSV and PCV2 co-infection in pigs.     

Chemically and genetically immunocompromised mice are not more susceptible than immunocompetent mice to infection with Cryptosporidium muris

The prevailing paradigm is that immunosuppressed individuals are more susceptible to infection and are at higher risk of infection from Cryptosporidium oocysts if present in drinking water. To test this hypothesis, three immune conditions were examined: genetically immunocompromised T cell deficient CD-1 nude mice, B and T cell deficient Fox Chase CB-17/IcrClB SCID mice, and chemically immunosuppressed C57Bl/6 mice. Chemical immunosuppression was induced with a single subcutaneous injection of methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) at 600 mg/kg. The MPA immunosuppressed C57Bl/6 mice were characterized by a sustained decrease in circulating CD3, CD4 and CD8 T-lymphocytes of greater than 80% and a similar decrease in B-lymphocytes. A sharp rise in circulating mature segmented neutrophils followed MPA injection, dropping sharply after 10-14 days, mirroring the decrease in lymphocytes. The cessation of oocyst production after MPA was not accompanied by a radical rise in circulating CD3 or CD4 T-lymphocytes, but rather a rise in CD8 T-lymphocytes. The ID50 for the MPA immunosuppressed C57Bl/6 mice was 122 oocysts, whereas the ID50 for the C57Bl/6 immunocompetent group was 44. The genetically immunocompromised mice showed similar differences. The ID50 for CD-1 nude mice was 166 oocysts compared to 64 in CD-1 immunocompetent mice. For Fox Chase CB-17/IcrClB SCID and the immunocompetent CB-17 mice, the ID50's were 83 and 60 oocysts, respectively. These results suggest that the lack of an immune response does not increase the ability of C. muris to establish a productive infection and produce oocysts.     

一种小鸡体液免疫应答能力指示系统的建立

本研究用兔、山羊、绵羊、黄牛、猪、鹅、鸭的红细胞(RBC)作为抗原,分别免疫小鸡,并用直接微量血球凝集(HA)试验测定鸡所产生的体液免疫应答。选用能刺激产生较高抗体水平的鹅红细胞(GRBC)作为指示系统,在7、14天龄分别接种试验鸡,检测(1)传染性囊病(IBD)病毒及疫苗,(2)马立克氏病(MD)病毒;(3)火鸡疱疹病毒(HVT)疫苗等接种1天龄小鸡后,对鸡体液免疫应答能力的影响。 结果表明,IBD—PBG_(98)毒株无免疫抑制作用;IBD—野毒株引起严重的免疫抑制效应;HVT疫苗和MD病毒对7天龄接种了GRBC的小鸡抗体产生有明显影响。同时对鸡的法氏囊进行组织学检查,取得相应的结果。然而,IBD中和抗体滴度并没有显出这种与法氏囊组织破坏呈正相关的关系。 试验证明本指示系统简便有效,易于推广应用。