Establishing a zebrafish transgenic line expressing tilapia lysozyme with enhanced antibacterial activity

In recent years, infectious disease caused by Streptococcus agalactiae has increased in aquaculture, threatening the healthy development of tilapia and resulting in substantial economic losses. Cultivating disease‐resistant tilapia by transgenic technology is one strategy that has been developed to address this issue. Here, we used a transposon system to investigate gene expression and tissue lytic activity in transgenic zebrafish expressing the tilapia lysozyme. The transpose vector contained the Tgf2 transposon skeleton, tilapia heat shock protein 70 promoter (Hsp70) and two target genes (tilapia C‐type lysozyme 3 [lysozyme‐C3] and green fluorescent protein [GFP]). The transgenic zebrafish F₀ generation was obtained by microinjecting the donor vector and transposase mRNA into fertilized zebrafish eggs. There was 45% green fluorescence in the zebrafish F₀ generation, which was spread over the entire body based on microscope observation. The F₀ generation was reared to sexual maturity, at which point individuals were mated with wild‐type zebrafish to produce the F₁ generation. Tilapia lysozyme‐C3 expression was detected in the liver of F₁ generation by RT‐PCR and western blotting, but was not detected in the skin, intestine, or muscle. Significantly higher liver bacteriolysis activity was detected in transgenic zebrafish compared with wild‐type zebrafish. Therefore, transgenic zebrafish may have an increased potential for bacterial resistance.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptococcus agalactiae</Emphasis> from tilapia (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreochromis</Emphasis> sp.) transmitted to a new host,bighead carp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Aristichthys nobilis</Emphasis>), in China

Several outbreaks of Streptococcus agalactiae infection of bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) were observed in China. The molecular epidemiology and pathogenicity of S. agalactiae in bighead carp and tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) is poorly understood. In the present study, we identified S. agalactiae strains isolated from diseased bighead carp using the API 20 Strep kit and 16S rDNA sequencing and determined whether these strains came from tilapia. Of the 46 identified S. agalactiae strains, 24 strains were successfully isolated from diseased bighead carps, 20 S. agalactiae strains were isolated from tilapia, and two S. agalactiae strains were isolated from tiger frog (Hoplobatrachus chinensis). The results of molecular typing, including multilocus sequence typing, molecular serotyping, surface protein gene detection, and virulence-related gene detection showed that the 44 strains from bighead carp and tilapia were highly similar, whereas different from tiger frog GBS strains. Remarkably, the bighead carp strain Hn1404 showed high virulence in bighead carp and zebrafish. Moreover, this strain was pathogenic to Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). In addition, comparative genomic analysis showed that isolate Hn1404 had a close relationship with the bighead carp and tilapia S. agalactiae strains. All the analyses of the genetic characteristics of bighead carp and tilapia strains showed that tilapia S. agalactiae strains could be transmitted to other fish species such as bighead carp.     

吉富罗非鱼感染无乳链球菌后肝脏组织在不同时期蛋白质组的表达差异

为研究罗非鱼感染无乳链球菌前后肝脏组织蛋白质的表达变化。本研究以吉富罗非鱼为材料,采用双向电泳技术分析其在无乳链球菌感染胁迫下24 h、48-144 h、12 d与对照组（未感染）肝脏组织蛋白质组的变化,对差异表达蛋白进行质谱分析鉴定。结果显示：吉富罗非鱼在无乳链球菌胁迫下,3个实验组的蛋白质图谱与对照组相比存在显著差异,共有30个蛋白点发生显著改变,其中13个表达上调,17个下调,2个下调蛋白点在感染12 d组消失。通过MALDI-TOF-MS MS/MS质谱分析和数据库检索对这些蛋白质进行了功能分类,发现它们涉及到能量代谢、细胞防御与应激、消化免疫、抗氧化与排毒等许多方面。推测这些蛋白可能在吉富罗非鱼对无乳链球菌胁迫的抗性反应中发挥了重要作用。研究结果为无乳链球菌疫苗的研制及吉富罗非鱼抗病品种选育奠定了基础。     

CD40 induces an antimicrobial response against the intracellular pathogen Streptococcus agalactiae in Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus

Streptococcus agalactiae is a Gram‐positive facultative intracellular bacterium that leads to severe economic loss of tilapia worldwide. Previous studies demonstrated that CD40 contributes to host protection against intracellular injection. In this study, CD40 was characterized from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), named OnCD40. Sequence analysis showed that open reading frame of OnCD40 was 933 bp, containing a single peptide, a transmembrane domain and four cysteine‐rich domains. The qRT‐PCR revealed that OnCD40 was expressed in all examined tissues with the most abundant ones in spleen and thymus. After S. agalactiae stimulation, the expression of OnCD40 was significantly induced in most of the detected organs. Moreover, OnCD40‐overexpressing fish elicited significant protection against subsequent S. agalactiae challenge; approximately 10000‐fold fewer bacteria were detected in spleen of OnCD40‐overexpressing fish in comparison with control fish. Thus, CD40 had protecting function in Nile tilapia against intracellular pathogens.     

Comprehensive Investigation of Streptococcosis Outbreaks in Cultured Nile Tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus,and Red Tilapia,Oreochromis sp., of Thailand

Streptococcosis causes economic losses due to mass mortality at all culturing stages in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, and red tilapia, Oreochromis sp., farming throughout Thailand. Diseased tilapia collected from outbreak areas during 2003–2012 were examined using histopathological, biochemical, and molecular tools. Infected fish showed clinical signs of septicemia, and bacteria were found in visceral organs. All gram‐positive cocci isolates were negative to catalase and oxidase, and exhibited β‐hemolysis; however, they possessed various biochemical profiles. PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene was used for 165 samples, and resulted in identification of 143 (86.67%) with Streptococcus agalactiae and 14 (8.48%) with Streptococcus iniae, and 8 (4.85%) with mixed infection. High similarity (≥98%) of 16S rRNA gene sequences to the reference strain S. agalactiae (accession no. EF092913) and S. iniae ATCC29178 type strain was observed in the typing of S. agalactiae and S. iniae from Thai farmed tilapia. This investigation documented that at least two species of streptococcal bacteria, S. agalactiae and S. iniae, were involved in tilapia streptococcal infection in Thailand. The molecular recognition of the etiologic agents showed that S. agalactiae was the dominant species that cause disease in all culture areas, whereas S. iniae were discovered only in cases from the northeastern and central regions.     

Dietary Oil Sources on the Innate Immunity and Resistance of Nile Tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus,to Streptococcus agalactiae Challenge

The effect of different dietary oil sources on the innate immunity and resistance of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, to Streptococcus agalactiae infection were evaluated. Fish were fed with diets containing different lipid sources (soybean oil [SO], corn oil, linseed oil [LO], fish oil [FO], and olive oil [OO]). Fish fed SO presented the highest (P < 0.05) hematocrit and serum protein. LO and FO diets increased (P < 0.05) the erythrocyte resistance to osmotic lysis in comparison with other treatments. Fish fed OO showed the highest (P < 0.05) iron‐binding capacity and the lowest serum lysozyme and bactericidal activities (P < 0.05). No difference (P > 0.05) was found between diets in alternative complement activity. Fish fed the SO diet had the highest (P < 0.05) survival rate against S. agalactiae challenge. In conclusion, diets with LO oil and FO, rich in ω‐3 fatty acids, and OO, rich in ω‐9 fatty acids, have an immunomodulatory effect in Nile tilapia juveniles. The use of SO in the Nile tilapia diet improved immune function and resistance against S. agalactiae.     

Streptococcosis,Lactococcosis and Enterococcosis are potential threats facing cultured Nile tilapia (Oreochomis niloticus) production

Streptococcosis, lactococcosis and enterococcosis are among the most important bacterial diseases affecting tilapia farms in Kafr Elsheikh governorate, Egypt. A number of clinically diseased fish were collected and submitted to our laboratory during disease outbreak in 2018. They were characterized by nervous swimming behaviour, skin darkness, exophthalmia, ocular opacity and haemorrhages. Necropsy findings were splenomegaly, congestive hepatomegaly, liquefied brain and enteritis. The phenotypic and molecular characterizations of the bacterial strains isolated from naturally infected fish identified three genera of Gram‐positive cocci: Streptococcus agalactiae, Enterococcus faecalis and Lactococcus garvieae. Infectivity trials were conducted in four groups of Nile tilapia inoculated with S. agalactiae Egy‐1, E. faecalis Egy‐1 and L. garvieae Egy‐1 strains and saline. Mortalities, clinical signs and pathological findings were recorded daily 14 days post infection. Experimentally infected tilapia showed similar clinical signs, postmortem lesions, but varied in the severity and experienced high mortalities up to 70% in case of S. agalactiae and L. garvieae infections and 30% in case of E. faecalis infection. Pathological examination of infected tissue sections stained with modified Brown–Brenn and immunohistochemistry revealed an important direct correlation between the distribution of each bacterial isolate and the lesions developed in different organs. Furthermore, the isolates were subjected to profiling against 11 antibiotics, and they showed resistance against several types of antibiotics, which implicate potential risk to human health and emphasize the urgent need for alternate bio‐control strategies to prevent the diseases and the problem of multidrug resistance in aquatic environment.     

无乳链球菌感染尼罗罗非鱼的脑膜炎模型

目的：脑膜炎是罗非鱼无乳链球菌病的特征性临床症状,建立罗非鱼无乳链球菌脑膜炎模型,并制定相应的临床症状及组织病理学评分系统,对研究罗非鱼无乳链球菌病的致病机制具有十分重要的意义。方法：将健康罗非鱼43尾,随机分为4组：对照组(n=10)和试验组(n=33)。3组试验组根据不同感染剂量分为：10₆cfu组(n=11)、10₇cfu组(n=11)、10₈cfu组(n=11)。试验组分别将10₆、10₇、10₈CFU的无乳链球菌菌液腹腔注射罗非鱼复制脑膜炎模型。对感染罗非鱼的临床症状、剖检病变、脑组织(端脑、中脑、小脑、延脑)病理学进行判定,并结合细菌学检测,按照拟定的评分系统评价各组脑膜炎的造模效果,确定最佳造模方案。结果：各试验攻毒组罗非鱼感染后2天均出现不同程度死亡,未见明显神经症状。感染3天后鱼体开始出现异常活动的神经症状及突眼、角膜混浊等病理变化。病理组织学观察可见：蛛网膜下腔和脑软膜上有大量炎性渗出和染成蓝紫色微细颗粒的细菌团块,脑膜充血、水肿、疏松、增厚,有大量的中性白细胞等炎性细胞浸润;脑实质基质疏松水肿,呈海绵状;脑组织炎性细胞浸润,胶质细胞增生等软脑膜炎、脑膜脑炎症状。比较各组得分发现,10₇CFU组的无乳链球菌攻毒罗非鱼造模效果最好：临床症状显著而组内罗非鱼差异性最小,组织病理学观察患病罗非鱼病情和缓适中、利于观察研究。结论：使用10₇CFU无乳链球菌腹腔攻毒罗非鱼可在第3天成功构建脑膜炎模型,造模率为100%。     

海豚链球菌感染对不同品系罗非鱼血液生化指标和肝脏HSP70 mRNA表达的影响

以吉富罗非鱼、新吉富罗非鱼、埃及尼罗罗非鱼和红罗非鱼为研究对象,饲养100d后,进行海豚链球菌(2.95×108CFU/mL)感染试验,分析攻毒前后各品系罗非鱼的血液生化指标和肝脏HSP70 mRNA表达量的变化规律。另从各桶中取20尾鱼进行同样的攻毒试验,统计攻毒后各时间点的累积死亡率。结果表明,感染海豚链球菌96h后,吉富罗非鱼和新吉富罗非鱼对病原较为敏感,累积死亡率分别达到36.67%和38.33%;埃及尼罗罗非鱼对病原敏感性较差,试验期间未见死亡。吉富罗非鱼、新吉富罗非鱼和红罗非鱼血清皮质醇和葡萄糖水平以及肝脏HSP70 mRNA的表达量在攻毒后明显提高,血清谷丙转氨酶、谷草转氨酶与溶菌酶活力也呈上升趋势,碱性磷酸酶活力与甘油三酯和胆固醇水平低于攻毒前。埃及尼罗罗非鱼可以利用糖原和脂类产生的能量,提高了HSPS与一些特定免疫蛋白(溶菌酶、球蛋白等)的合成,增强了鱼体的非特异性免疫力。罗非鱼选育过程中,需要将抗病力与生长性能进行有效的结合,在注重生长速度的同时也要增强其抗应激能力,从而为罗非鱼产业的可持续发展提供保证。     

Characterization and expression analysis of the transferrin gene in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and its upregulation in response to Streptococcus agalactiae infection

In this study, full-length tilapia transferrin (OnTF) isolated from liver cDNA of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) was found to have an open reading frame of 2,091-bp encoding 696 amino acid residues. Two additional amino acids: Gly³⁶⁹ and Gly³⁷⁰ were observed compared with the reported Nile tilapia transferrin protein sequence. Pre-mature protein has a predicted molecular weight of 78.2 kDa, while mature protein is 73.28 kDa in size. Comparative sequence analysis with transferrin from other species revealed two major putative iron-binding domains designated as the N-lobe and the C-lobe in accordance with the transferrin protein characteristics. The predicted tertiary structure of tilapia transferrin confirmed the presence of iron and anion-binding sites on both lobes that are conserved among transferrins from other species. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed significantly higher expression of tilapia transferrin gene in liver than in other tissues (p < 0.05). Transferrin expression in tilapia experimentally infected with 10⁶ and 10⁸ colony-forming units mL^?1 of Streptococcus agalactiae was significantly upregulated at 24 and 12 h post-infection (hpi), respectively, and decreased afterward. Iron-deficiency in serum of bacterially infected fish was detected at 48 and 24 hpi, respectively. The expression pattern of the transferrin gene and the iron levels of infected tilapia in this study were consistent with the function of transferrin in innate immunity.     

3种品系尼罗罗非鱼生长及高密度胁迫后生理响应变化的比较

以‘吉富’、‘新吉富’、‘埃及尼罗’3种不同品系尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)为研究对象, 通过不同品系之间生长与高密度胁迫反应的比较, 探讨3种尼罗罗非鱼的生长特点与应激后生理响应的变化规律。将初始规格基本一致的3种品系尼罗罗非鱼饲养100 d后, 吉富罗非鱼特定生长率最高, 新吉富其次, 两者间无显著差异(P>0.05), 埃及尼罗罗非鱼特定生长率显著低于吉富罗非鱼(P<0.05)。吉富与新吉富罗非鱼的内脏比显著高于埃及尼罗(P<0.05); 3种尼罗罗非鱼的肥满度之间无显著差异(P>0.05)。养殖实验结束后, 进行48 h的急性高密度(100 g/L)应激实验。应激48 h内, 吉富与新吉富罗非鱼血清总蛋白、葡萄糖、谷草转氨酶、胆固醇与溶菌酶活力/水平以及肝HSP70mRNA水平呈先上升后下降的变化。应激48 h后, 埃及尼罗罗非鱼血清皮质醇水平与应激前相比无显著差异(P>0.05), 吉富与新吉富罗非鱼的皮质醇水平显著高于应激前(P<0.05); 埃及尼罗罗非鱼血清溶菌酶活力与肝HSP70 mRNA水平在应激后48 h内始终高于应激前(P<0.05)。研究结果表明, 短期高密度胁迫可提高3种尼罗罗非鱼血清葡萄糖与甘油三酯的利用, 并诱发肝损伤。埃及尼罗罗非鱼的抗高密度应激能力高于吉富和新吉富罗非鱼。

     

Heat Shock Protein Regulation in Rainbow Trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss,is Altered by Dietary Soybean Meal Inclusion and Anti‐Phopholipase A2 Antibody

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) can promote integrity of damaged intestinal epithelial tissues. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a commercially available anti‐phospholipase A₂ antibody on growth, feed efficiency, Hsp expression, and intestinal health of rainbow trout fed diets containing high levels of soybean meal (SBM). Six practical‐type diets (45% protein; 15% fat) were formulated to contain 0, 17.5, or 35% SBM with and without antibody. Each diet was fed to three replicate tanks of fish (20 fish/tank; initial weight 21 g) for 9 wk. RNA was isolated from liver and intestinal tissues (n = 3/tank) to detect alterations in Hsp 27, Hsp 70, and Hsp 90 expression. Fish fed a diet containing 35% SBM had decreased growth and intestinal damage. Hsp 27 and Hsp 90 mRNA was elevated in fish fed 35% SBM. Fish fed 35% SBM with antibody had lower Hsp 90 mRNA expression than fish without antibody. These data indicate that feeding rainbow trout high levels of SBM alters the expression of some Hsps and anti‐phospholipase A₂ antibody supplementation does not normalize growth or prevent distal enteritis in fish fed 35% SBM.     

Heat-shock protein70 gene expression in four hatchery Pacific Abalone Haliotis discus hannai Ino populations using for marker-assisted selection

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are molecular chaperones that help organisms cope with stressful conditions. Here, we report on the growth rates and Hsp70 expressions in inbred and hybrid populations of abalone Haliotis discus hannai Ino. In abalone, inbred populations expressed more Hsp70 than hybrid populations at all temperatures, except at very high temperatures close to the physiological limit. At benign temperatures, there was a clear trend towards higher Hsp70 expression in inbred than hybrid populations, whereas at higher temperatures, a trend in the opposite direction was observed. The temperature of maximal Hsp70 expression (T_peak) varied with the population type. The T_peak of inbred populations (26°C) was lower than that of the hybrid populations (28°C). The maximal inducible Hsp70 of inbred populations was higher than that of hybrid populations. The results showed a trend towards higher expression in inbred population at a lower temperature. These results provide direct experimental evidence that hybrids can cope with the intrinsic stress even at non‐stressful temperatures. The constitutive Hsp70 may therefore be used for marker‐assisted selection in a breeding programme.     

Isolation and molecular characterization of streptococcal species recovered from clinical infections in farmed Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in the Philippines

Streptococcosis cause severe losses for global tilapia farming, especially in developing countries. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize streptococci recovered from Nile tilapia farmed in the Philippines. Moribund and apparently healthy fish were sampled from grow-out cages, ponds and hatcheries. Clinical signs observed included exophthalmia, eye opacity, ascites, lethargy, erratic swimming and haemorrhages. Results showed that both Streptococcus iniae and Streptococcus agalactiae were associated with disease in these sites. Consistent with global reports, including those from South-East Asia, S. agalactiae was more widespread than S. iniae. Molecular serotyping of the S. agalactiae isolates identified the serotype Ia and serotype Ib. Histopathological findings were meningitis, meningoencephalitis and septicaemia. Identical virulence profiles were found for all strains of S. iniae, while S. agalactiae strains were separated into virulence profile I and profile II. All strains were susceptible to the tested antibiotics and resistant to oxolinic acid. Only S. agalactiae serotype Ib showed resistance to sulphamethoxazole–trimethoprim. This is the first study from the Philippines to characterize the streptococci involved in disease outbreaks in tilapia aquaculture. Outputs from this study will promote the development of efficacious disease control strategies in tilapia farming for the Philippines and South-East Asia.     

BALB/c小鼠用于评价尼罗罗非鱼无乳链球菌毒力的研究

实验采用BALB/c小鼠作为实验动物,旨在建立尼罗罗非鱼无乳链球菌毒力测定的BALB/c小鼠模型。BALB/c小鼠经腹腔注射尼罗罗非鱼源无乳链球菌建立感染模型,比较了尼罗罗非鱼源无乳链球菌分别感染尼罗罗非鱼和小鼠的LD_(50)差异,分别测定了不同毒力尼罗罗非鱼无乳链球菌对尼罗罗非鱼和小鼠的毒力。结果显示,小鼠经腹腔注射无乳链球菌,在24 h内出现死亡现象,且对小鼠脑、肝脏、脾脏、肾脏等组织造成损伤。3次测定尼罗罗非鱼无乳链球菌TFJ0901对尼罗罗非鱼和小鼠LD_(50)分别为7.7×10~7、2.2×10~8、3.5×10~9 CFU/mL和405、361、419 CFU/只。将无乳链球菌TFJ0901和THN0901感染尼罗罗非鱼(1.0×10~7 CFU/mL)和小鼠(100 CFU/只),尼罗罗非鱼和小鼠存活率分别为100%、6.7%±5.8%和100%、0,其存活率都具有显著性差异。将无乳链球菌TFJ0901和TFJ-F感染尼罗罗非鱼(3.0×10~8 CFU/mL)和小鼠(2 500 CFU/只),尼罗罗非鱼的存活率分别为73.3%±11.5%和80.0%±10.0%,存活率差异不显著,小鼠存活率分别为13.3%±11.5%和100.0%,存活率具有显著性差异。研究表明,本实验成功建立了BALB/c小鼠作为尼罗罗非鱼源无乳链球菌毒力测定的稳定模型,测定不同毒力的尼罗罗非鱼源无乳链球菌对小鼠毒力与对尼罗罗非鱼毒力一致,且该模型能够区分尼罗罗非鱼模型难以区分的毒力相近的无乳链球菌。     

Efficacy of an experimentally inactivated Streptococcus agalactiae vaccine in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared in Brazil

Tilapia aquaculture is one of the fastest‐growing segments of fish production in Brazil. Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is largely cultivated in the state of Parana, where Streptococcus agalactiae is the cause of severe disease outbreaks. The objective of this paper was to evaluate an inactivated S. agalactiae vaccine in tilapia for the control of streptococcal disease outbreaks. Tilapia, weighing approximately 20 g each, were intraperitoneally (i.p.) inoculated with 0.1 mL of the vaccine at a dose of 2.0 × 10⁸ colony‐forming unit (CFU) mL^?1. One group of tilapia (treatment 1) received one vaccine dose, and the other group of tilapia (treatment 2) received two doses, with an interval of 21 days. The control group was i.p. inoculated with 0.1 mL tryptic soy broth fish^?1. Immunized and control tilapia were i.p. challenged with 0.1 mL of 3.0 × 10⁷ CFU mL^?1 at 30 days post vaccination. The fish were monitored daily for disease signs and for mortality for 16 days post challenge. A statistically significant difference (P=0.0045) was found between the mortality of treatments 1 and 2. The value of relative per cent of survival of 83.6% and 96.4%, respectively, indicate that this vaccine was efficient in Nile tilapia.     

Development of attenuated erythromycin‐resistant Streptococcus agalactiae vaccine for tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) culture

Streptococcus agalactiae is an important pathogen in fish, causing great losses of intensive tilapia farming. To develop a potential live attenuated vaccine, a re‐attenuated S. agalactiae (named TFJ‐ery) was developed from a natural low‐virulence S. agalactiae strain TFJ0901 through selection of resistance to erythromycin. The biological characteristics, virulence, stability and the immunization protective efficacy to tilapia of TFJ‐ery were determined. The results indicated that TFJ‐ery grew at a slower rate than TFJ0901. The capsule thickness of TFJ‐ery was significantly less (p < 0.05) than TFJ0901. When Nile tilapia were intraperitoneally (IP) injected with TFJ‐ery, the mortality of fish was decreased than that injected with TFJ0901. The RPS of fish immunized with TFJ‐ery at a dose of 5.0 × 10⁷ CFU was 95.00%, 93.02% and 100.00% at 4, 8 and 16 weeks post‐vaccination, respectively. ELISA results showed that the vaccinated fish produced significantly higher (p < 0.05) antibody titres compared to those of control at 2 or 4 weeks post‐vaccination. Taken together, our results suggest that erythromycin could be used to attenuate S. agalactiae, and TFJ‐ery is a potent attenuated vaccine candidate to protect tilapia against S. agalactiae infections.