Seroepidemiological study on Coxiella burnetii and associated risk factors in ruminants at Kurdistan Province,west of Iran

Q fever is zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii. Ruminants are the main reservoir of this pathogen, which is often asymptomatic but lead to abortion. This study aims to survey the seroprevalence and risk factors of this zoonose among ruminants in Kurdistan province, the west of Iran. 480 blood samples were collected from ruminants including sheep, goats and cows, each 160 samples, in the age groups of <1, ≥1−3, >3−5 year with and without the history of abortion in two groups border and non-border cities in Kurdistan province. Serums were tested by use of indirect ELISA to determine specific antibodies against C. burnetii. The results indicate the seroprevalence of 46.6 % for Q fever. Seroprevalence in sheep, goats and cows were 28.58 % (n = 64), 45.53 % (n = 102) and 25.89 % (n = 58), respectively. Seroprevalence is significantly higher in animals with abortion than in those without such history (P < 0.05). The seroprevalence in the border cities has been significantly higher than other geographical areas (P < 0.05). Seroprevalence had no significant correlation with animal age (P> 0.05). This study is the first seroepidemiological study done on Q fever in ruminants of Kurdistan province, Iran. The results indicate the high seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii in the area under the study. Therefore, doing an epidemiologically study aimed at isolating C. brunetii in the human population of Kurdistan province is recommended, so that the epidemiological aspect of this pathogen in the people of Kurdistan province be clarified and subsequently disease control and prevention programs be applied.     

Comparison of flagellin and an oil-emulsion adjuvant in inactivated Newcastle disease vaccine in stimulation of immunogenic parameters

The present study was designed to investigate the potential application of native (N) and recombinant (truncated modified [tmFliC] and full-length [flFliC]) flagellin proteins along with inactivated Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Fifty six SPF chickens were immunized twice with PBS (control), inactivated NDV (Ag), inactivated NDV/flFliC (AgF), inactivated NDV/tmFliC (AgT), inactivated NDV/N (AgN), commercial vaccine containing Montanide (Vac) and Vac/N (VacN), with a two-week interval. Blood was collected weekly and spleens were harvested after chickens were sacrificed. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrotic factor-α (TNF-α) gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed by Real-Time PCR. Antibody response was assessed by haemagglutination inhibition (HI). Cellular activity was quantified by MTT assay. Results showed that the most IL-6 and TNF-α gene expression was observed in AgF group (P < 0.01). The lowest gene expression among vaccinated groups was observed in Ag group for IL-6 and Ag and Vac group for TNF-α. The highest HI titer was observed in Vac, VacN, AgF and AgT groups. The AgF group showed the highest cellular activity (P < 0.01). In conclusion, flagellin-adjuvanted groups showed a pro-inflammatory effect and acted similarly to or better than the Vac group. Hence, flagellin can be proposed as a potential adjuvant for ND vaccine.     

商品化猪丹毒疫苗分类及特点

文章介绍了5种商品化猪丹毒疫苗的种类、毒株组成、抗原含量及相应免疫程序,为了解各种类型的猪丹毒商品化疫苗提供参考。     

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.     

1株H1N1亚型猪流感病毒的全基因组特征及其对小鼠的致病性

旨在了解河南省猪流感病毒的流行情况及其遗传进化和基因组特征。2018年4月，从河南省某一出现疑似流感症状猪群中采集鼻拭子样品150份用于分离病毒，对分离病毒的全基因组进行序列测定和分析。同时感染6周龄BALB/c小鼠，研究其对小鼠的致病性。结果显示，获得1株H1N1亚型病毒[命名为A/swine/Henan/NY20/2018（H1N1）]。遗传进化表明，其HA和NA基因属于欧亚类禽H1N1分支，PB2、PB1、PA、NP和M基因属于2009甲型H1N1分支，NS基因属于经典H1N1分支。HA蛋白的裂解位点序列为PSIQSR↓GL，具有低致病性流感病毒的分子特征，在小鼠肺和鼻甲有效复制并能引起肺组织病理学变化。本研究分离到1株3源重排H1N1亚型病毒，对小鼠呈现一定致病力，提示应进一步加强对SIV的监测。     

甘露糖修饰的壳聚糖聚乳酸-羟基乙酸共聚物纳米微球作为口蹄疫病毒核酸疫苗递送载体的特性评价

旨在对制备的甘露糖修饰的壳聚糖聚乳酸-羟基乙酸共聚物[poly （D，L-lactide-co-glycolide），PLGA]纳米微球作为口蹄疫病毒（foot-and-mouth disease virus，FMDV）核酸疫苗递送载体进行评价。采用西佛碱反应和元素分析制备具有一定取代度的甘露糖修饰的壳聚糖衍生物（mannose modified chitosan，MCS），然后，经双重乳化挥发法制备得到甘露糖修饰的壳聚糖PLGA纳米微球（MCS-PLGA-NPs）。采用纳米粒径仪检测MCS-PLGA-NPs粒径分布和表面电势（zeta）、扫描电镜考察其形态、琼脂糖凝胶电泳观察其对质粒的吸附和吸附质粒后抵抗核酸酶降解能力、CCK-8法检测MCS-PLGA-NPs的细胞毒性、激光共聚焦观察巨噬细胞对MCS-PLGA-NPs-质粒DNA复合物的摄取、荧光显微镜和Western blot验证MCS-PLGA-NPs加载质粒DNA在细胞中的表达。元素分析结果表明，成功制备了取代度为5%~10%的MCS。纳米粒径测定和扫描电镜结果表明，MCS-PLGA-NPs的zeta为正值、粒径分布均匀且形态规则呈球形。琼脂糖凝胶电泳结果显示，MCS-PLGA-NPs吸附质粒的能力随着其质量的增加而增强并且可以在一定程度上抵抗核酸酶降解质粒DNA。在细胞毒性试验中，不同浓度的MCS-PLGA-NPs与RAW264.7细胞共孵育24 h后，细胞存活率仍在85%以上。在细胞摄取试验中，用激光共聚焦显微镜可以明显观察到质粒DNA结合到纳米微球表面被RAW264.7细胞摄取。荧光显微镜和Western blot试验证明MCS-PLGA-NPs加载质粒DNA可以在细胞中进行表达。综上表明，本研究成功制备了MCS以及具有递送核酸疫苗能力的MCS-PLGA-NPs，为FMDV核酸疫苗的递送研究提供了新的方向和见解，也为该递送载体携带特定抗原靶向抗原递呈细胞表面甘露糖受体以及应用于动物免疫的研究奠定基础。     

牛源荚膜A型多杀性巴氏杆菌疫苗候选株的筛选及鉴定

为了筛选生长快、毒力强、免疫原性好、副反应小的牛源荚膜A型多杀性巴氏杆菌（Pasteurella multocida，Pm）灭活疫苗菌株，本试验选取6株来自不同地区致犊牛肺炎死亡的牛源荚膜A型多杀性巴氏杆菌分离株，测定了培养基生长曲线、小鼠毒力、菌体脂多糖（LPS）含量及各菌株灭活菌苗免疫小鼠和家兔后的抗体效价，并进行了攻毒保护试验。结果显示，分离株Pm2、Pm3、Pm5生长速度较快、毒力较强、LPS含量较多，均含有与毒力和免疫相关的ptfA和fimA基因；免疫小鼠及家兔未发现明显不良反应，在二免后14 d血清抗体达1：64~1：128，强毒攻毒后全部存活，而PBS对照组全部死亡。本试验结果表明，Pm2、Pm3、Pm5均可作为多杀性巴氏杆菌灭活菌苗的候选菌株，其中Pm3作为首选株。     

猪链球菌2型灭活疫苗对小鼠的免疫效果评价

在前期筛选出2株毒力强、抗原性好、遗传稳定的猪链球菌2型(SS2)疫苗菌株(HF2、HF3株)并分别制成灭活疫苗(采用ISA 201 VG矿物油佐剂)的基础上,进一步与SS2商品化灭活疫苗(HA9801株,铝胶佐剂)同步免疫小鼠,利用间接ELISA、流式细胞术、免疫攻毒试验、细菌定植试验和病理组织学观察等方法测定小鼠血清中IgG抗体效价,细胞因子含量(IL-4、IL-10、IFN-γ、TNF-β、MCP-1),外周血中CD4⁺/CD3⁺、CD8⁺/CD3⁺ T细胞亚群含量,攻毒保护率,组织荷菌数和病理组织变化等指标。结果显示,二免7 d后,HF2、HF3灭活疫苗组和HA9801商品化灭活疫苗组的血清IgG抗体效价分别为1:25 600、1:12 800、1:25 600;HF2灭活疫苗组的IL-4、IL-10含量显著高于HF3灭活疫苗组和HA9801商品化灭活疫苗组,IFN-γ、TNF-β含量显著高于HF3灭活疫苗组,但MCP-1含量显著低于HF3灭活疫苗组;HF2和HF3灭活疫苗组的CD4⁺/CD3⁺ T细胞比率均显著低于HA9801商品化灭活疫苗组,但CD8⁺/CD3⁺ T细胞比率差异不显著;HF2、HF3灭活疫苗和HA9801商品化灭活疫苗对小鼠的攻毒保护率均为100%;HF2灭活疫苗组小鼠的肺、脾脏组织荷菌数显著低于HF3灭活疫苗组;HF2灭活疫苗组小鼠的肺、肾、脾脏病理变化较HF3灭活疫苗组和HA9801商品化灭活疫苗组轻微。综合结果表明,由SS2(HF2株)制备的ISA 201 VG佐剂灭活疫苗免疫小鼠后不仅可产生较强的免疫应答,还可完全抵抗强毒株的攻击。     

2018年中国部分地区猪瘟病毒2.1d亚型新流行株的基因组特征分析

为了解中国猪瘟病毒（classical swine fever virus，CSFV）的分子流行病学及遗传变异情况，本研究应用RT-PCR方法对2018年采集自河南、河北、山东、黑龙江和辽宁5个省份的350份疑似CSFV感染的病料进行E2和NS5B基因扩增，并对PCR产物进行测序和序列分析。结果显示，350份样品中21份为CSFV阳性，共获得14株CSFV的E2基因序列和7株CSFV的部分NS5B基因序列。E2全基因、NS5B部分基因序列分析表明，21份阳性样品均属于近年来在中国流行的CSFV 2.1d亚型，且新发现的2.1d亚型CSFV与中国较早2.1d亚型CSFV毒株间同源性差异不大，新发现的2.1d亚型CSFV分离株在E2基因的6个氨基酸（R³¹、S³⁴、W¹⁸²、K²⁰⁵、K³⁰³、A³³¹）上具有相同的分子特征，E2蛋白中15个位点上的半胱氨酸均未发生变异。韩国2.1d亚型CSFV在E2蛋白上具有3个独特的氨基酸（N⁹⁷、K¹⁵⁹、R²⁰⁵）特征，并且发现了韩国毒株YC11WB可能作为2.1b和2.1d亚型CSFV过渡毒株的证据，流行于中国和韩国的2.1d亚型CSFV可能分别来自于本国早期2.1b亚型CSFV的衍化。本研究证实，2018年中国及周边国家CSFV较为活跃，且流行毒株依然以2.1d亚型为主，为中国科学防控CSFV提供了依据。     

A simplified roller bottle platform for the production of a new generation VLPs rabies vaccine for veterinary applications

Rabies is a neglected disease with an estimated annual mortality of 55,000 human deaths, affecting mainly low-income countries. Over 95% of these cases result from virus transmission through the bite of infected dogs and for this reason there is a real need for a cheap and effective rabies veterinary vaccine to be used in mass vaccination campaigns. In this work, we describe the establishment of a simple platform for the production of a virus-like particles based rabies vaccine using mammalian cells and roller bottles as culture system. Adherent cells were cultured during more than 15 days and VLPs were continuously produced and secreted to the culture supernatant. Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of VLPs were tested through rabies virus neutralizing antibody test and NIH potency test. These viral particles induced high titer of long lasting neutralizing antibodies and protected mice against active virus challenge. Therefore, this development represents a promising platform for the production of a new generation and virus-free rabies vaccine candidate for veterinary applications.