Vaccination of chickens with DNA vaccine expressing Eimeria tenella MZ5-7 against coccidiosis

A chimeric DNA vaccine co-expressing Eimeria tenella MZ5-7 and chicken IL-17 gene was constructed and its efficacy against E. tenella challenge was evaluated. The ORF of MZ5-7 from E. tenella's second generation merozoite and the mature interleukin 17 gene of chicken were cloned into the expression vector of pcDNA4.0 to construct DNA vaccine pcDNA4.0-MZ and pcDNA4.0-MZ-IL17. The expression of aim gene products in vivo was detected by western blotting. The expression of IL-2 and IFN-γ in chicken splenocytes was detected by RT-PCR 7 days post-immunization. The expression levels of the two cytokines in the pcDNA4.0-MZ-IL17 DNA vaccine immunized group were significantly higher than that in the pcDNA4.0-MZ immunized group (p<0.05). Either pcDNA4.0-MZ or pcDNA4.0-MZ-IL17 DNA vaccine could obviously alleviate cecal lesions, body weight loss and increase oocyst decrease ratio. The ACI of pcDNA4.0-MZ-IL17 group was 190, which is higher than that of pcDNA4.0-MZ group and all the three control groups. In short, MZ5-7 was an effective candidate antigen for vaccine and co-expression of cytokine with antigen was an alternative method to enhance the immunity DNA vaccine.     

柔嫩艾美耳球虫TA4重组抗原的免疫试验

构建了能表达柔嫩艾美耳球虫TA4抗原的重组质粒,使其在乳球菌中表达。用刚出壳的健康雏鸡为实验对象,对乳球菌表达的TA4重组抗原进行免疫效果的研究。用表达球虫TA4抗原的工程乳球菌以5×108个/(只·d)的剂量给雏鸡口服10d,同时设置乳球菌组、未免疫未攻毒组和未免疫攻毒组作对照,于11日龄用5×104个强毒卵囊进行攻毒。结果表明TA4重组抗原组抗球虫指数为160.12,实验鸡可获得一定免疫保护力。     

E.tenella河北株重组IL-2-EtMIC-2 DNA疫苗的构建及保护力分析

为了构建E.tenella河北株重组IL-2-EtMIC-2DNA疫苗,并确定其抗球虫效力。采用RT-PCR方法分别克隆出鸡IL-2和E.tenella河北株EtMIC-2基因,并连接到pMD18-T载体上进行测序;将目的基因克隆到pcDNA3.0载体,构建重组质粒pcDNA3.0-IL-2-EtMIC-2,并转染293T细胞,用Western blot方法验证表达。将构建的重组IL-2-EtMIC-2DNA疫苗以50,100,150μg/只的剂量分别在14,21日龄胸肌注射免疫试验鸡,除阴性对照组外,28日龄时经口灌服孢子化E.tenella卵囊4×10~4个,研究其对E.tenella感染后的免疫保护效果。结果表明:成功构建了重组质粒pcDNA3.0-IL-2-EtMIC-2,且能在293T细胞中表达出融合蛋白;3个免疫组的ACI比阳性对照组分别提高了97.63%,127.02%和129.81%,其中免疫剂量为100,150μg时,ACI均达160以上,具有良好的免疫保护效果。     

Protective immunity enhanced by chimeric DNA prime-protein booster strategy against Eimeria tenella challenge

In an attempt to investigate the immune efficacy ofa DNA prime-protein booster strategy against avian coccidiosis with a chimeric construct, the Eimeria tenella antigen gene (3-1E) and chicken interferon gamma gene (ChIFN-gamma) were subcloned into the mammalian expression vector proVAX forming the plasmids proE and prol, and then linked by splicing overlap extension by polymerase chain reaction to construct the chimeric plasmid prolE; the chimeric protein (rlE) was expressed in Escherichia coli harboring the constructed plasmid pGEX/IE. Broilers were administered two intramuscular injections with the constructed DNA vaccines (50 microg); in the protein booster groups 100 microg of the rlE were given following the proIE prime. After challenge the proIE-vaccinated chickens showed the protective immunity as demonstrated by significantly reduced oocyst shedding compared with chickens immunized with proE, but the prolE vaccine did not have an additive effect of increasing antibody titer and body weight gain. The chickens in the rlE booster groups had significantly higher specific antibody responses than those immunized with prolE, and displayed further decreased oocyst shedding and increased body weight gain. Taken together, these results indicate that ChIFN-gamma exerts an adjuvant effect coexpressed with 3-1E and provide the first evidence that the DNA prime-protein booster strategy is able to augment the protective efficacy of chimeric DNA vaccine against challenge with Eimeria tenella.     

鸡球虫病四价活疫苗对毒害艾美耳球虫和柔嫩艾美耳球虫的免疫效果观察

为评价一种商品化鸡球虫病四价活疫苗[柔嫩艾美耳球虫(E.tenella)、毒害艾美耳球虫(E.necatrix)、巨型艾美耳球虫和堆型艾美耳球虫]对E.necatrix和E.tenella的免疫保护效果,本研究基于试验鸡血便记分、存活率、相对增重率、病变值、卵囊值及抗球虫指数(ACI)等指标对其免疫效果进行检测.结果表明,免疫攻虫组抗E.necatrix和E.tenella的ACI分别为157.3和135.6,均低于160,表明该球虫疫苗抗两种球虫的效果均为低效.然而,免疫攻虫组鸡血便数量、血便记分、增重、卵囊产量和病变记分等指标均优于阳性对照组.综合指标显示,该疫苗对E.necatrix和E.tenella具有一定的免疫保护力,但单纯采用疫苗并不能够达到防控鸡球虫病的目的.     

柔嫩艾美尔球虫SAG_2基因重组卡介苗的抗球虫保护效果

本研究旨在通过动物试验,按设计以滴鼻、口服和颈部皮下注射的方式,将已构建的含有柔嫩艾美尔球虫SAG_2基因的卡介苗pMV361-SAG_2免疫雏鸡,通过检测鸡体液及细胞免疫水平、卵囊数、相对增重率、抗球虫指数等指标,对所构建的重组卡介苗的保护效果进行综合评价。结果显示,在实验室条件下重组卡介苗pMV361-SAG_2具有增强鸡抵抗柔嫩艾美尔球虫的免疫保护功效,且以滴鼻的方式进行免疫时效果最佳。本研究为抗球虫疫苗的研究提供试验依据。     

重组鸡IL-2的抗球虫作用

鸡白细胞介素2(Ch IL-2)是一种重要的细胞因子,对Ch IL-2的抗球虫作用做了初步研究,分别在14日龄和21日龄给实验雏鸡胸部肌肉注射不同剂量的重组Ch IL-2蛋白,28日龄口服接种1×105个活球虫卵囊,结果表明,重组Ch IL-2蛋白能降低相对卵囊产量、减少盲肠病变、提高相对增重。其中以注射250μg重组Ch IL-2蛋白的试验组抗球虫效果最好,相对卵囊产量为23.26%,盲肠病变记分分别为0.4,相对增重率为97.80%,综合抗球虫指数(AC I)达到192.8。抗球虫效果良好,明显的优于其他试验组。     

Co-expression of EtMic2 protein and chicken interleukin-18 for DNA vaccine against chicken coccidiosis

In the present study, a naked EtMIC2 DNA vaccine, a ChIL-18 expression vector and a EtMIC2 and ChIL-18 co-expression DNA vaccine were constructed and their protective efficacies against homologous challenge were compared and evaluated by examining the body weight gain, oocyst shedding, cecal lesion, ACI as well as specific anti-EtMic2 antibody level, the proliferation ability and percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ of splenocytes. The results showed the naked EtMIC2 DNA vaccine could increase the weight gain and decrease the oocyst shedding, but could not alleviate the cecal lesion of immunized chickens compared to unimmunized chickens. Chickens immunized with the co-expression vector pVAX1-MIC2-IL-18 exhibited much improved immune protection against challenge compared to chickens immunized with naked EtMIC2 DNA vaccine, or with naked EtMIC2 DNA vaccine and ChIL-18 expression vector applied separately. These results suggest that the co-expression of ChIL-18 with EtMic2 together could significantly improve the immune protection of the EtMic2 protein.     

青蒿素与柳氮磺吡啶对柔嫩艾美尔球虫感染的疗效观察

为了探讨青蒿素（artemisinin,ART）和柳氮磺吡啶（sulfasalazine,SASP）单独给药与联合给药对鸡球虫病的防治效果。试验选用50只1日龄黄羽肉鸡,正常饲养至1周龄时分为5组,2周龄时除空白组外,ART组、SASP组、ART＋SASP组和感染对照组分别以105个/羽的剂量接种柔嫩艾美尔球虫（Eimeria tenella,E.tenella）孢子化卵囊,各给药组于攻虫前3d开始给药至试验结束。试验结束后对各组的抗球虫指数（anticoccidial index,ACI）、卵囊的孢子化率、血清NO含量、脏器指数及血清生化指标等数据进行统计。结果表明,ART、SASP以及两者联合用药均能显著提高鸡群的ACI,并使卵囊的孢子化率降低,缓解了球虫感染所致的NO水平升高,且联合用药效果更明显。这提示ART与SASP联合应用在E.tenella感染的防治中具有增效作用。各组鸡群之间血清生化参数无显著性差异,说明该2种药物均无明显毒副作用。     

Effects of DDA, CpG-ODN, and plasmid-encoded chicken IFN-�� on protective immunity by a DNA vaccine against IBDV in chickens

This study examined the adjuvant effects of dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium bromide (DDA), CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODN), and chicken interferon-γ (ChIFN-γ) on a DNA vaccine (pcDNA-VP243) against the infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). A plasmid encoding chicken IFN-ã was constructed. Twice at 2-week intervals, two-week-old chickens were injected intramuscularly and intraperitoneally with either a DNA vaccine alone or a DNA vaccine together with the respective adjuvants. On week 2 after the second immunization, the chickens were orally challenged with the highly virulent IBDV. The groups that received the DNA vaccines plus either DDA or CpG-ODN showed significantly lower survival rates than the group that received the DNA vaccine alone. However, the survival rates for the DNA vaccine alone and for the DNA vaccine plus ChIFN-γ were similar. The chickens had no detectable antibodies to the IBDV before the challenge but all the surviving chickens in all groups except for the normal control group showed the induction of antibodies to the IBDV at day 10 after the challenge. As judged by the lymphocyte proliferation assays using the a WST-8 solution performed on the peripheral blood and splenic lymphocytes, the stimulation indices (SI) of the peripheral blood lymphocytes in all groups except for the normal control group were similar immediately before the challenge. At 10 days post-challenge, the SI for DNA vaccine plus either CpG-ODN or ChIFN-γ was similar to that of the DNA vaccine control group. For splenic lymphocytes, the SI in the DNA vaccine plus CpG-ODN and DNA vaccine plus ChIFN-γ groups were higher than for the DNA vaccine control. These results suggest that DDA actually compromises the protection against the IBDV by DNA vaccine, and CpG-ODN and IFN-γ had no significant effect.     

Potential of a recombinant antigen as a prophylactic vaccine for day-old broiler chickens against Eimeria acervulina and Eimeria tenella infections.

A genetically engineered Eimeria tenella antigen (GX3262), produced as a fusion protein with beta-galactosidase and identified with a monoclonal antibody, induced partial but significant protection in young broiler chickens against experimental E. tenella and Eimeria acervulina infections. The antigen appears to share a T-helper cell epitope with the parasite as evidenced by (a) booster inoculation with either the recombinant antigen or with a small number of live oocysts enhanced the protective immunity in GX3262 primed chickens, and (b) ability of the antigen to induce in vitro stimulation of T-cells from chickens immunized with antigen or parasite. These observations suggest the feasibility of a single vaccination of 1 or 2-day-old broilers with GX3262 to induce an acceptable degree of protective immunity. The implications of the observations reported here are far reaching in terms of a practical coccidiosis vaccine for poultry, and show for the first time that 1-day-old broiler chickens can be efficiently vaccinated with a recombinant antigen against one or more species of Eimeria.     

Development of protective immunity against Eimeria tenella and E. acervulina in White Leghorn chickens inoculated repeatedly with high doses of turkey coccidia

Repeated inoculation (immunization) of 2-week-old white leghorn chickens with 10(6) oocysts of the turkey coccidia Eimeria adenoeides or E. meleagrimitis partially protected chickens against moderate challenge with E. tenella or E. acervulina oocysts, but not with E. necatrix oocysts. After challenge, mean weight gains of the immunized chickens and the unchallenged controls did not differ significantly, but weight gains of unimmunized chickens were significantly lower. The mean feed-conversion ratio of the immunized challenged chickens was 3.14, as compared with 4.42 for unimmunized challenged control chickens. In general, immunization did not markedly reduce intestinal lesions. Repeated inoculation of chickens with the turkey coccidium E. gallopavonis failed to produce statistically significant protection against challenge with E. tenella, E. acervulina, or E. necatrix, as determined by weight gain, feed-conversion efficiency, and lesion scores. Antibody profiles of individual chickens did not correlate with protection.     

Effects of a herbal complex against Eimeria tenella infection in chickens

A liquid and a powder made from a herbal complex consisting of Uncariae Ramulus cum Uncis, Agrimoniae Herba, Sanguisorbae Radix, Eclipta Prostrate Herba, Pulsatillae Radix, Sophorae Flavescentis Radix, Rehmanniae Radix and Glycyrrhizae Radix were studied for their anticoccidial activities in chickens. Chickens were administered with herbal liquid, powder, diclazuril or without medication during the study and challenged with oocysts of Eimeria tenella. Results indicated that the birds medicated showed less bloody faeces than those without medication. The intestinal lesion was mild in the chicks medicated with herbal liquid without significantly different lesion score when compared with uninfected chicks. The birds with medication had significantly higher body weight gains than birds without medication. Therefore, the herbal complex used in this study was effective against E. tenella infection in chickens.     

中药防治人工感染鸡柔嫩艾美尔球虫病药效试验

鸡球虫病是对养鸡业危害最大的疾病之一。暴发球虫病的雏鸡群病死率过40%-80%，甚至更高。目前鸡球虫病仍以药物防治为主，但药物防治鸡球虫病的高昂费用、球虫对抗球虫药的抗药性、对食品安全的空前关注而日益凸显的药物残留等问题，严重制约着养鸡业发展。中草药作为天然药物，在抗鸡球虫病方面有其独特的优点，为了探讨中药不同组方对人工感染鸡球虫病的防治效果，我们进行了本试验。     

Vaccination with Newcastle disease vaccine and CpG oligodeoxynucleotides induces specific immunity and protection against Newcastle disease virus in SPF chicken

Oligodeoxynucleotides containing unmethylated CpG motifs (CpG ODN) have been proven to be immunoprotective in mouse models. However, little work has been conducted on in vivo immune responses in chicken with CpG ODN. The objective of this study was to investigate the immunoadjuvant effects of CpG ODN to Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine and its protective effects against ND virus in SPF chicken. In this report, the titre of serum IgG to ND vaccine and the proliferation of lymphocytes were monitored in SPF chickens. The results demonstrated that the above-mentioned immune responses were significantly stronger in chickens that received CpG ODN than in the birds that received only ND vaccine. Furthermore, ND vaccine plus CpG ODN protected SPF chicken from challenge with an otherwise lethal dose of ND virus. These data suggest that CpG ODN holds considerable promise as an adjuvant for future vaccines against ND virus.     

柔嫩艾美耳球虫卵囊免疫后鸡盲肠扁桃体IL-2基因表达的动态变化

为检测和评价鸡白细胞介素2(ChIL-2)在抗球虫免疫过程中的作用,以RT-PCR技术从鸡盲肠扁桃体中克隆获得了长度为391 bp的ChIL-2.将实验鸡随机分为对照组和试验组,试验组于12日龄和22日龄时用E.tenella孢子化卵囊进行免疫,分别于设定时间每组取5只鸡的盲肠扁桃体,以鸡β-Actin为参照建立半定量RT-PCR方法检测ChIL-2的表达动态变化.结果表明,试验组在第一次免疫后的第几天和第二次免疫后的第七天ChIL-2的表达量明显升高,提示ChIL-2参与了鸡体的抗球虫感染过程,为进一步探讨ChIL-2的生物学活性及作为鸡球虫病基因工程疫苗佐剂的研究奠定基础.     

鸡球虫苗(LCV-2号)安全性和免疫效果研究

在实验条件下,研究了鸡球虫苗LCV-2号对笼养鸡的安全性和免疫保护效果。试验设空白对照组、攻虫对照组、免疫1组(1个免疫剂量)、免疫2组(2个免疫剂量)和免疫3组(0.5个免疫剂量),共5个试验组,每组10只鸡。试验结果表明:①空白对照组、攻虫对照组和三个免疫组的相对增重率依次为100%、84.0%、96.9%、91.0%和91.0%;②攻虫后第8 d,每组剖检2只鸡,肠道病变记分5个组依次为0、4、1、3和4分。③免疫期间,免疫1、2和3组的每克粪便卵囊数(OPG)平均值依次为4.2×10~3个、9.2×10~3个和5.4×10~3个;攻虫期间,攻虫对照组5.117×10~5个、免疫1、2和3组依次为0.797×10~5个、0.522×10~5个和1.171×10~5个。④攻虫后各组死亡率依次为0、75%、25%、25%和50%。⑤抗球虫指数(ACI),5个组依次为200.0、88.0、166.9、148.5和120.0。总的来看,免疫鸡群对大剂量卵囊攻击有较强的抵抗力,其中免疫1组结果良好,免疫2组和3组结果尚不理想,因此,LCV-2免疫1组的剂量(1头份卵囊/只)为优选剂量。     

Genetics of resistance to coccidiosis: response of inbred chicken lines to infection by Eimeria tenella and Eimeria maxima

1. Experiments have been carried out to compare weight gain, mortality and oocyst production in 7 inbred and partially inbred lines of chickens after challenge with the coccidial parasites Eimeria tenella and E. maxima. 2. There were large differences between lines in the effects of challenge on weight gain and mortality for both species of parasite. However, the lines suffering the greatest mortality were not those showing the greatest effects on weight gain, indicating that mortality alone is not an adequate criterion in selection for resistance. 3. Although oocyst production differed between lines there was no correlation with mortality or with weight loss, implying that the variation observed in these traits was not due to a restriction of the parasite but to an accommodation of its effects. 4. Mortality and weight loss resulting from challenge with E. tenella in the different lines did not correlate with that caused by E. maxima. 5. There was evidence of an association of genes of the major histocompatibility complex genes with mortality, but not with weight loss or oocyst production: there was no indication of association of resistance to coccidiosis with resistance to Marek's disease.     

柔嫩艾美耳球虫(Eimeria tenella)BJ株SO7重组抗原的免疫试验

将柔嫩艾美耳球虫（Ｅｉｍｅｒｉａ ｔｅｎｅｌｌａ）ＢＪ株Ｓ０７基因插入ｐＴｈｉｏＨｉｓＢ载体中,构建了１个表达载体,命名为ｐＴｈｉｏＨｉｓＳ０７。将此表达载体转入大肠杆菌ＤＨ５ａ,经ＴＰＴＧ诱导表达后,用ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ检测表达产物。结果表明,含ｐＴｈｉｏＨｉｓＳ０７质粒原工程菌具有明显的表达产物,表达效率为１７．１％。用超声波粉碎仪裂解含重组抗原的工程菌,加入钾加矾作佐剂,用２个剂量（１０、１０