病原微生物荚膜多糖的生物学功能

荚膜多糖（capsular polysaccharide，CPS）是一种广泛存在于细菌、支原体、部分真菌等菌体表面的碳水化合物。同时，荚膜多糖有助于菌体抵抗干燥和低温等不利环境，并通过在菌体表面形成物理屏障阻碍宿主补体的杀伤与吞噬作用。在长期多种应激-压力环境下，病原菌已进化出多种免疫逃避机制并促进宿主感染；在非病原微生物中，荚膜多糖可正向调节宿主免疫作用，并拮抗机体免疫因子，保护宿主免受病原菌引起的炎症性疾病。本文将结合本团队的相关研究工作，对荚膜多糖的结构、合成调控机制、生物学功能、免疫逃避机制和致病机制，特别是荚膜多糖正向调节宿主免疫系统及其应用潜力等方面作一综述，为病原菌致病机制的研究和疫病的有效防控提供参考依据。     

基于‘罗氏沼虾’养殖尾水灌溉条件下稻田养分利用效能提升技术研究

为了实现稻田消纳罗氏沼虾养殖尾水过程中水稻稳产及养分利用效率最大化,设置CK（空白对照）、BC（添加生物炭）、TG（添加土壤改良液）、BT（生物炭及土壤改良液分别减半）4个处理,依据养分运移状况及水稻生长指标的比较,筛选适宜材料类型。结果表明,BC、TG及BT的添加对表层土壤(0~10cm)TN累积、土壤(0~25cm)TP累积及养分损失,BC、TG对土壤(0~25cm)TN累积及养分损失均存在正面效应;TG显著促进表层土壤(0~10 cm)NO₃ ^-累积(P<0.05);除BC外,其他材料的养分表聚作用均促使TN、TP向根部运移(P<0.05);BT处理中灌浆期叶绿素含量显著高于TG和CK(P<0.05),材料处理组在第一节间长度均显著低于CK(P<0.05),其余处理间的差异性均未达到显著水平(P>0.05)。各处理的理论和实际产量间的差异性均未达到显著水平(P>0.05)。综上所述,相较于其他材料,有效截留NO₃ ^-为主氮素养分,提高养殖尾水养分利用率,降低淋洗污染风险;显著控制水稻底部节间生长,降低倒伏风险;且其对水稻生长及产量性状并无显著抑制作用,因而将其作为水稻消纳罗氏沼虾养殖尾水中养分利用效率提升材料具有一定应用潜力。     

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.     

鱼类组蛋白核苷酸的多态性及其在杀鱼爱德华氏菌感染中的作用

组蛋白是染色体核小体的重要组分,在调控染色质结构、基因转录、个体发育等不同生物学过程中起着重要作用。为了研究鱼类组蛋白基因是否存在核苷酸的多态性以及组蛋白核苷酸多态性是否会影响鱼类的抗病力,本实验以斑马鱼和草鱼为研究对象,通过PCR扩增克隆了组蛋白H2A的全长开放阅读框;利用过表达技术、菌落平板计数、感染存活分析以及荧光定量PCR技术,研究了斑马鱼和草鱼组蛋白H2A核苷酸多态性不同变异体在杀鱼爱德华氏菌感染中的作用。在本研究中,实验发现鱼类组蛋白H2A存在着丰富的核苷酸多态性。序列分析结果显示斑马鱼和草鱼组蛋白H2A核苷酸多态性的变异体核苷酸序列相似性为90%～100%;而两两H2A核苷酸多态性变异体氨基酸序列之间最多只有3个位点存在差异。通过体内和体外抗菌实验可知,斑马鱼和草鱼组蛋白H2A核苷酸的多态性显著影响H2A的抗菌活性。此外,筛选出的抗菌组蛋白H2A核苷酸多态性的变异体在斑马鱼体内的过表达,不仅具有免疫增强的作用,还能显著增强斑马鱼对杀鱼爱德华氏菌感染的抗病力。本研究为筛选具有抗病作用的组蛋白H2A免疫保护原奠定了重要基础。     

巨菌草对七彩山鸡生长性能、免疫器官以及肠绒毛形态的影响

试验旨在探究日粮中添加巨菌草(Pennisetum giganteum)对七彩山鸡(Phasianus colchicus)生长性能、免疫器官以及肠绒毛形态的影响。试验选取1周龄健康的七彩山鸡(母)210只,随机分为1个对照组(0%组)和4个饲料处理组,每组3个平行。4个饲料处理组配制时,分别添加4%、8%、12%、16%的巨菌草添加剂于基础饲料中。结果表明,与0%组相比,12%组七彩山鸡的平均体重和平均日采食量显著增加(P<0.05);4%、8%、12%组平均日增重显著大于16%组(P<0.05);8%组料重比显著降低(P<0.05);饲料处理组免疫器官指数中肝脏、脾脏指数均在0%组的基础上有所增加,但差异不显著(P>0.05);8%的巨菌草添加剂可显著增加七彩山鸡肠道的绒毛长度(P<0.05),隐窝深度显著降低(P<0.05),扩大肠道黏膜吸收面积。说明日粮中添加巨菌草可以提高七彩山鸡肠道对营养的吸收能力,一定程度上改善七彩山鸡生长性能和免疫性能。     

新型锌制剂对虹鳟生长及免疫功能的影响

为研究纳米锌及纳米锌多糖复合体对虹鳟生长及免疫功能的影响,选取平均体质量(120.0±3.0) g的虹鳟300尾,随机分成5组,每组3个平行,每个平行20尾,按1μL/g进行尾部肌肉注射纳米锌及纳米锌多糖复合体溶液,含量分别为1000、3000 mg/kg,试验周期为10 d。试验结果显示,纳米锌及纳米锌多糖复合体可不同程度提高虹鳟特定生长率(P>0.05)。1000 mg/kg纳米锌多糖复合体组虹鳟血液NBT阳性细胞数量百分比在第3 d最高,达22.3%(P<0.05);3000 mg/kg纳米锌多糖复合体组白细胞吞噬能力在第6 d最强(P<0.05)。3000 mg/kg纳米锌组虹鳟血清杀菌能力第3 d最高(19.4%),而3000 mg/kg纳米锌多糖复合体组血清杀菌能力第6 d最高,达32.43%(P<0.05)。第3 d,1000 mg/kg纳米锌多糖复合体组过氧化氢酶活性、一氧化氮合成酶活性分别为26.39、43.38 U/mL (P<0.05);第6 d,超氧化物歧化酶、酸性磷酸酶活性最高,分别为29.91 U/mL、201.4 U/L(P<0.05),微量丙二醛浓度最低,为3.19 nmol/mL。试验结束后通过杀鲑气单胞菌攻毒感染,7 d内观察虹鳟累积死亡率,1000 mg/kg纳米锌多糖复合体组累积死亡率仅30%。由试验结果可知,纳米锌和纳米锌多糖复合体均能对虹鳟免疫功能产生促进作用,以1000 mg/kg纳米锌多糖复合体效果最佳。     

氨氮胁迫对凡纳滨对虾肠道免疫相关指标的影响

为研究急性氨氮胁迫对凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)肠道免疫功能的影响,将对虾暴露于氨氮浓度为20 mg·L^-1的海水中72 h,测定了不同时间点肠道中抗病原感染指标如酸性磷酸酶(ACP)、碱性磷酸酶(ALP)、溶菌酶(Lys)、酚氧化酶原(proPO)以及抗氧化功能指标如总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、热休克蛋白70(HSP70)、热休克蛋白90(HSP90)等变化。结果显示,与对照组相比,氨氮胁迫后:1)ACP和ALP活性均于6 h显著升高(P<0.05),随后于48~72 h显著低于对照组(P<0.05);Lys活性于24 h显著升高至最大值(P<0.05),随后于72 h显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。2)T-AOC和SOD活性均于6 h和12 h显著高于对照组(P<0.05),随后于48 h和72 h显著降低(P<0.05)。3)HSP70基因表达水平于24 h显著升高至最大值,随后虽有降低,但仍显著高于对照组(P<0.05);HSP90和proPO基因表达水平均于12 h显著升高至最大值(P<0.05),随后于72 h降低至对照组水平(P>0.05)。研究表明,急性氨氮胁迫对凡纳滨对虾肠道免疫功能相关指标影响显著,对其肠道免疫防御系统有明显的损伤作用。     

Delayed-type hypersensitivity skin test against Neospora caninum in heifers with undetectable specific antibodies

Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) has been used in human and veterinary medicine as a skin testing for evaluating in vivo cell-mediated immune responses (CMIR). Whereas CMIR is a key process to control intracellular pathogens, its value at identifying cattle exposed to the abortigenic intracellular coccidian parasite Neospora caninum is unknown. In this work, we have evaluated a DTH skin testing in cattle exposed to N. caninum and still seronegative. Female calves were experimentally sensitized by subcutaneous (SC) inoculation with live tachyzoites of N. caninum (NC-Argentina LP1) in sterile phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (group A; n: 8) whereas other calveswere mock-sensitized with PBS (group B; n: 6). Two DTH skin tests were performed by intradermal inoculation with a soluble lysate of N. caninum tachyzoites (NC-Argentina LP1) in the neck region at 60d and 960 d after sensitization. Skinfold thickness at the intradermal inoculation site was measured at 0, 24, 48 h post each DTH skin test and skin biopsies taken for microscopic evaluation. Specific N. caninum antibodies kinetics was evaluated all throughthe experiment. We found that whereas N. caninum specific antibodies remained below the ELISA cut-off, a distinctive skinfold thickness increase was detected in sensitized animals (group A) at the DTH skin test site, showing induration, swelling and inflammatory infiltration. Mock sensitized animals (group B) showed no skinfold thickness growth and lacked specific antibody response. Thus, N. caninum DTH skin testing could be a useful diagnostic tool for the detection of CMIR during N. caninum infection in non-humoral responders.     

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.