Bar-structure in bovine erythrocytes infected with Theileria sergenti

The purpose of this study is to elucidate some morphological characteristics of the bar-structure in bovine erythrocytes infected with Theileria sergenti. The bar-structure, the veil or the both were observed in infected erythrocytes. Infected bovine erythrocytes were classified into four types according to the included structures. Infected cells containing bar-structures increased with the progress of parasitemia. In Giemsa-stained blood preparations, bar-structures appeared purplish-red and measured a mean of 1.6 micron in length and up to 0.1 micron in width. Bar-structures were usually straight, sometimes S-shaped, and located in the periphery of infected erythrocytes. In the direct fluorescent antibody test with T. sergenti-positive bovine serum both piroplasms and bar-structures exhibited fluorescence. However, in the indirect fluorescent antibody test with monoclonal antibodies against piroplasms only piroplasms showed a highly specific fluorescence. Electron microscopy revealed that bar-structures were vesicular in structure, surrounded by a double membrane connected to the host cell membrane.     

Abnormality of osmotic fragility and morphological disorder of bovine erythrocytes infected with Theileria sergenti

The osmotic fragility and the surface structure of erythrocytes obtained from 3 calves infected with Theileria sergenti and from 3 phlebotomized ones were compared. As the parasitemia progressed, the osmotic fragility of the erythrocytes significantly increased in the infected calves. Particularly the hemolysis ratio in the isotonic area (21.5-94.1%) obviously increased. On the other hand, the percentage of parasitized cells in the erythrocytes did not show so much high values (16.1-21.3%). Similar phenomenon was found in each different percentage of erythrocytes suspension which was separated from density gradient centrifugation. No significant difference in the serum osmotic pressure between the infected calves and the phlebotomized calves was found. By scanning microscopy, the erythrocytes of infected calves, which were collected at the crisis period of parasitemia, were almost completely deformed and showed echinocyte form. Moreover, the appearance ratio of echinocyte form in the erythrocytes population was superior to the percentage of parasitized erythrocytes. Similar membranous alterations were also observed in the erythrocytes of grazing cattle in the crisis period of the theileriosis. It was proven that abnormality of osmotic fragility and morphological disorders of erythrocytes occurred not only in parasitized erythrocytes but also in non-parasitized ones in T. sergenti parasitemia.     

牛瑟氏泰勒虫MPSP双表位基因的克隆及原核表达

为了探究表位疫苗是否可以应用于预防牛瑟氏泰勒虫(Theileria sergenti),根据MPSP (Major piroplasm surface protein)基因序列(FJ515689.1)设计合成了2对引物,以T.sergenti基因组DNA为模板,通过SOE-PCR扩增出长约361 bp的双表位基因融合片段,2个表位基因通过linker (Gly4Ser)3相连.将该片段连接pGEX-4T-2,构建pGEX-4T-E1-2重组表达载体,转化BL21,IPTG诱导表达,经SDS-PAGE电泳显示表达了约39 ku的融合蛋白.Westem blot分析表明该双表位重组蛋白可与T.sergenti阳性血清发生特异性反应,表明融合蛋白具有反应原性.     

牛瑟氏泰勒虫HSP70基因的克隆及原核表达

根据GenBank(D12692.1)上发表的牛瑟氏泰勒虫HSP70基因序列设计、合成1对特异性的引物,采用PCR方法扩增牛瑟氏泰勒虫HSP70基因片段,将扩增产物与pMD18-Tsimple载体连接,重组质粒经PCR、酶切鉴定后测序;用pGEX-4T-1表达载体构建重组质粒pGEX-HSP70,经IPTG诱导表达后进行SDS-PAGE、Western-blot分析。结果表明:扩增的HSP70基因与D12692.1序列同源性为99.3%;表达的融合蛋白分子质量约为68ku,而且可与牛瑟氏泰勒虫阳性血清发生特异性反应。     

Intraerythrocytic schizogony of Theileria sergenti in cattle

The characteristics of developing intraerythrocytic stages of T. sergenti were studied by light and transmission electron microscopy. The parasites with many ribosomes, acristate mitochondria, cytostome, and food vacuoles were morphologically regarded as the trophozoite stage. Although this type of parasites was frequently detected, intraerythrocytic merozoite stage with electron dense cisternae, rhoptries and small electron dense bodies was rarely observed in high parasitaemia. The intraerythrocytic stages of T. sergenti were divided mainly into four daughters by schizogony, and alternatively into two by binary fission. The daughter parasites in each division had the same ultrastructural features as of merozoites. As a result, it was suggested that T. sergenti trophozoites multiplied by schizogony to four organisms or by binary fission in the peripheral erythrocyte, and differentiated to the merozoites which acquired penetrating ability into the erythrocytes.     

牛瑟氏泰勒虫不同靶基因PCR检测方法的比较

为筛选出检测牛瑟氏泰勒虫更为特异、敏感的PCR方法,本试验以牛瑟氏泰勒虫p23和p33基因、HSP70基因及18S rRNA基因为靶基因进行PCR检测,并从其敏感性、特异性和临床样本检出率等方面进行了比较。结果显示,4种靶基因引物对牛瑟氏泰勒虫的检测均有较高的特异性,当牛瑟氏泰勒虫基因组DNA浓度为127 ng/μL时,p23、p33、HSP70及18S rRNA4种基因的最小检测量分别为1×105、1×105、1×104和1×106copies/μL;检测临床样本阳性检出率分别为30.19%(16/53)、39.62%(21/53)、47.17%(25/53)和54.72%(29/53)。表明以18SrRNA基因为靶基因的PCR方法从敏感性和临床检出率上明显优于其他3种基因。     

Isolation of Theileria sergenti piroplasms from infected erythrocytes and development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for serodiagnosis of T sergenti infections

A method of obtaining a pure suspension of Theileria sergenti piroplasms from infected bovine erythrocytes was developed and the resulting parasites used as antigen in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Piroplasms were freed from infected erythrocytes using the nitrogen cavitation technique and then separated from unbroken erythrocytes by centrifugation at 670 gmax. The parasites in the supernatant were then sedimented by centrifugation at 2700 gmax and the purified fraction examined by electron microscopy. This examination showed that the isolated piroplasms were morphologically intact and that there were few contaminants. SDS-PAGE and spectrophotometric analysis showed that this fraction contained little erythrocyte component. The piroplasms thus obtained were sonicated and treated with Triton X-100 then used for ELISA antigen. The ELISA values had a high correlation with titres obtained using the indirect fluorescent antibody test on sera from cattle infected with T sergenti.     

牛瑟氏泰勒虫P23和P33表面蛋白双基因融合表达载体的构建及原核表达

为探索牛瑟氏泰勒虫的表面蛋白基因融合产物作为双价疫苗的可行性,以牛瑟氏泰勒虫基因组DNA为模板,通过重叠延伸拼接聚合酶链式反应（SOE-PCR）把P23和P33表面蛋白基因连接一起,2个基因之间插入一个linker（Gly4Ser）3,经EcoRⅠ和XhoⅠ双酶切,获得1151bp的双基因融合片段,克隆于表达质粒pGEX-4T-1中,构建了双基因重组表达载体pGEX-4T-P23-P33,转化大肠杆菌BL21,经IPTG诱导,表达出预期大小70．0ku的融合蛋白。Western blot检测结果显示,该蛋白与牛瑟氏泰勒虫抗血清呈阳性反应,表明融合蛋白具有反应原性,为进一步研究此融合蛋白作为疫苗候选成分提供了理论依据。     

瑟氏泰勒虫p33基因与牛IL-18基因的串联表达

为研究牛IL-18基因对瑟氏泰勒虫p33疫苗的免疫佐剂效应,根据GenBank上已经发表的p33基因序列和牛IL-18基因序列(IL-18)设计2对特异性引物,以瑟氏泰勒虫基因组DNA和pMD-19-T-IL-18质粒DNA为模板,采用SOE-PCR技术将2个基因连接在一起,经BamHⅠ、XhoⅠ双酶切,获得1 416bp的目的基因IL-18-p33,克隆于原核表达载体pGEX-4T-1中,构建了双基因重组表达载体pGEX-4T-1-IL-18-p33,转化大肠杆菌BL21,经IPTG诱导,表达出预期大小为79 000的融合蛋白。Western blotting检测结果显示,该蛋白与瑟氏泰勒虫抗血清呈阳性反应,表明融合蛋白具有反应原性,为进一步研究IL-18对瑟氏泰勒虫p33基因疫苗的免疫佐剂效应奠定了基础。