Construction of recombinant capripoxviruses as vaccine vectors for delivering foreign antigens: Methodology and application

Goatpox (GTP), sheeppox (SPP) and lumpy skin disease (LSD) are three severe diseases of goat, sheep and cattle. Their typical clinical symptoms are characterized by vesicles, papules, nodules, pustules and scabs on animal skins. The GTP, SPP and LSD are caused by goatpox virus (GTPV), sheeppox virus (SPPV) and lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), respectively, all of which belong to the genus Capripoxvirus in the family Poxviridae. Several capripoxvirus (CaPV) isolates have been virulently attenuated through serial passaging in vitro for production of live vaccines. CaPV-based vector systems have been broadly used to construct recombinant vaccines for delivering foreign antigens, many of which have been demonstrated to induce effective immune protections. Homologous recombination is the most commonly used method for constructing recombinant CaPVs. Here, we described a methodology for generation of recombinant CaPVs by the homologous recombination, and further reviewed CaPV-vectored vaccines for delivering foreign antigens.     

Effect of forsythiaside A on immune function in rats with ulcerative colitis

AIM To investigate the effect of forsythiaside A (FA) on immune function in rats with ulcerative colitis and its related mechanism. METHODS Healthy SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: control group (no treatment, normal feeding), model group (establishment of rat ulcerative colitis model), and low, medium and high doses of FA groups (treatment of the model rats with FA at 5 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg, respectively). The malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in rat colon tissues were measured by colorimetry, and the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-4 were detected by ELISA. The spleen index and thymus index, the percentages of CD3⁺, CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells （PBMC）, the serum IgA and IgG levels, and the serum complement C3 and C4 levels were also determined. RESULTS The colon tissues of the rats in model group showed obvious inflammation and ulceration, indicating that the animal model was successfully established. Compared with model group, the colonic inflammation and ulceration were significantly attenuated in FA groups, among which the high dose had the best effect. Compared with control group, the spleen index and thymus index of the rars in model group were decreased (P<0.05), MDA content in colon tissues was increased (P<0.05), and SOD activity in colon tissues was decreased (P<0.05). The levels of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes in PBMC, and the serum levels of C3, C4 and IL-4 were decreased (P<0.05), while the serum levels of IgA, IgG, TNF-α, and IL-2 were increased in model group as compared with control group. Furthermore, the spleen index and thymus index of the rats in FA groups were increased (P<0.05), the MDA content in the colon tissues was decreased (P<0.05), and the SOD activity in the colon tissues was increased (P<0.05). The levels of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T-lymphocytes in PBMC, and the serum levels of C3, C4 and IL-4 were increased (P<0.05), while serum IgA, IgG, TNF-α and IL-2 levels were decreased in FA groups as compared with model group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Forsythiaside A effectively attenuates the colonic lesions in rats with ulcerative colitis, and its mechanism may be related to reinforcement of oxygen free radical scavenging power, alleviation of inflammatory response, and enhancement of immune function.     

肺气虚证小鼠模型造模方法及其对小鼠免疫功能的影响

为筛选肺气虚证小鼠模型最佳造模方法并验证其免疫功能变化，分别选用SO2法、SO2＋寒冷因素刺激法、香烟烟熏法和香烟烟熏＋寒冷因素刺激法重建肺气虚证小鼠模型，检测其体重、肺脏剖检及病理组织变化等指标，筛选最佳造模方法，并测定其腹腔巨噬细胞活性、体外B细胞抗体分泌能力、血清NO含量、淋巴细胞增殖能力及细胞因子IL-2、IL-4、IL-6、IL-10、IFN-γ、TNF-α含量、肺匀浆中sIgA、sIgM水平。结果显示，香烟烟熏＋寒冷因素刺激法小鼠造模完成后出现严重的肺出血、肺组织坏死及炎性细胞浸润等病变，且与对照组小鼠相比，其体重、脾脏指数、胸腺指数分别显著下降18．35％，37．12％，19．69％，肺脏指数显著升高12．73％；小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞活性（P＜0．01）、血清NO水平下降（P＜0．05）；T、B淋巴细胞增殖能力显著升高；细胞因子IL-2（P＜0．01）、IFN-γ、IL-4含量升高（P＜0．05），IL-6含量下降（P＜0．05）；sIgA、sIgM水平均极显著升高。表明，香烟烟熏＋寒冷因素刺激法是肺气虚小鼠模型最佳造模方法，且其免疫功能受损。     

Local pulmonary immune responses in domestic cats naturally infected with Cytauxzoon felis

Cytauxzoonosis is a hemoprotozoal disease of cats and wild felids in the South and Southeastern United States caused by Cytauxzoon felis. Although the causative agent has been recognized since the seventies, no study has examined the local immune response in affected organs, such as the lung, and compared them to the lungs of uninfected domestic cats. Previous studies have suggested that the histopathologic findings in the lungs of C. felis-infected cats are caused by the release of pro-inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines and increased production of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), by the infected macrophages. Our laboratory had previously found an upregulation of the adhesion molecule CD18, which can stimulate the release of these pro-inflammatory mediators. The objective of this study was to characterize local pulmonary immune responses in cats naturally infected with C. felis. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, iNOS, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II in 19 lungs from affected cats that died between 2005 and 2013. Results showed increased expression of all of these molecules when compared to lungs from uninfected, healthy cats. Furthermore, MHC II is expressed in the endothelium of C. felis naturally infected cats. These results support that there is a marked, local, pro-inflammatory immune response that can contribute to the pathogenesis of cytauxzoonosis in the lungs.     

益生菌防治畜禽细菌性肠炎作用机制的研究进展

益生菌是一类对宿主机体有益、安全无害的活微生物,代替抗生素和疫苗广泛用于畜禽细菌性肠炎的防治。益生菌主要通过与病原菌竞争黏附位点、分泌抑菌物质、加固肠道黏膜屏障、调节肠道免疫应答等抑制病原菌增殖,缓解肠道炎症,防治细菌性肠炎的发生。本文对益生菌的作用机制进行了详细阐述,为益生菌的研究和应用提供参考。     

Dysbiotic gut microbiome: A key element of Crohn's disease

Since the first publication on “regional ileitis”, the relevance of this chronic inflammatory disease condition termed finally as Crohn's disease is continuously increasing. Although we are beginning to comprehend certain aspects of its pathogenesis, many facets remain unexplored. Host's gut microbiota is involved in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes including immune system development, and pathogen regulation. Further, the microbiome is thought to play a key role in Crohn's disease. The presence of Crohn's-associated variants of NOD2 and ATG16L genes appears to be associated not only with alterations of mucosal barrier functions, and bacterial killing, but the gut microbiota, as well, reflecting a potential relationship between the host's genotype and intestinal dysbiosis, involved in disease etiology. This review aims to characterize some exciting new aspect of Crohn's disease pathology, focusing mainly on the role of intestinal microbes, and their interplay with the immune system of the host.     

中药“增免散”对免疫抑制鸡免疫功能的影响

将300只1日龄雏鸡随机分成正常对照组、中药“增免散”组、环磷酰胺组、环磷酰胺组 左旋咪唑组、环磷酰胺 “增免散”组,6日龄用鸡新城疫LaSota疫苗免疫点眼滴鼻,14、21、28、35日龄测定鸡血液ND抗体效价、免疫器官指数、细胞免疫功能、红细胞免疫粘附功能等,探索中药“增免散”的免疫增强机理。结果表明:中药“增免散”不但能显著提高Lasota活苗接种雏鸡的特异性HI抗体水平,延长其持续时间,能促进雏鸡免疫器官的生长发育,能显著增高雏鸡外周血T淋巴细胞ANAE阳性率,并对雏鸡红细胞免疫粘附功能具有显著促进作用,而且对环磷酰胺的免疫抑制有部分拮抗作用。