Effect of tick salivary gland extract on the cytokine production by mouse epidermal cells

Previous studies have demonstrated that both tick saliva and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato antigens modulate the cytokine response of the host. In this paper, the effect of salivary gland extract (SGE) from Ixodes ricinus (L., 1758) ticks on cytokine production by primary cultures of mouse epidermal cells stimulated with Borrelia afzelii Canica, Nato, du Merle, Mazie, Baranton et Postic, 1993 spirochetes was analysed. Epidermal cells were derived from C3H/HeN mice, susceptible to Lyme disease, and BALB/c mice, which are resistant. In cultures from C3H/HeN mice, SGE down regulated production of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and up regulated Th2 cytokine, interleukin 4 (IL-4). Cultures from BALB/c mice produced higher basal levels of monitored cytokines, but their production was affected by SGE a different way. While Th2 cytokines IL-6 and IL-10 were down regulated, the effect on TNF-alpha and IL-4 was ambiguous. These results indicate that the effect of tick saliva on the epidermal cells of Lyme disease-susceptible C3H/HeN mice mirrors its effect on other cells of the immune system.     

Experimental infection of immunocompetent and immunodeficient mice with Encephalitozoon cuniculi

An experimental infection with the microsporidian Encephalitozoon cuniculi Levaditi, Nicolau et Schoen, 1923 was studied using a model of immunocompetent BALB/c mice and immunodeficient SCID mice. The course of infection after intraperitoneal inoculation of E. cuniculi spores was evaluated using the presence of spores in peritoneal macrophages as a criterion. First significant decrease in the proportion of infected cells was recorded on day 9 post infection (p.i.) in BALB/c mice. From day 14 p.i. no spores were observed in macrophages from BALB/c mice, while the number of infected macrophages from SCID mice increased until the death of the mice. The natural killer (NK) cell activity of mouse splenocytes was compared with the production of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) by these cells. While in BALB/c mice NK activity peaked on days 9 and 14 p.i., in SCID mice the marked increase of NK activity was recorded close before death of mice, on day 21 p.i. in correlation with the production of IFN-gamma. Production of specific antibodies was demonstrated from day 9 p.i. in sera from BALB/c mice. It is concluded that intraperitoneal infection of SCID mice with spores of E. cuniculi results in the marked increase in the number of peritoneal exudate cells and in the percentage of infected cells close before death of mice. Neither high activity of NK cells nor increased production of IFN-gamma are sufficient for the recovery of SCID mice from an E. cuniculi infection.     

Susceptibility of IFN-gamma or IL-12 knock-out and SCID mice to infection with two microsporidian species, Encephalitozoon cuniculi and E. intestinalis

Susceptibility of three strains of immunodeficient mice to two related microsporidian species Encephalitozoon cuniculi Levaditi, Nicolau et Schoen, 1923 and Encephalitozoon intestinalis (Cali, Kotler et Orenstein, 1993) was compared. While both, severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) and interferon-gamma knock-out (IFN-gamma KO) mice, succumbed to either intraperitoneal (i.p.) or peroral (p.o.) (natural) infection with both parasites, only i.p. infection with E. cuniculi killed interleukin-12 knock-out (IL-12 KO) mice. IFN-gamma KO mice died earlier than SCID mice. Adoptive transfer of naive splenocytes from IFN-gamma KO mice did not protect the SCID mice from a lethal infection with either of the Encephalitozoon species. However, reconstituted mice survived significantly longer (P<0.05), thus indicating the role of IFN-gamma produced by host NK cells in the development of mechanisms of anti-microsporidial protective immunity. Non-lethal outcome of the infection always correlated with the increase in CD8+ T lymphocyte subpopulation. Both E. intestinalis-infected IFN-gamma KO and IL-12 KO mice produced comparable levels of specific antibodies, suggesting that antibodies did not protect IFN-gamma KO mice from lethal infection.     

Humoral intestinal immunity against Encephalitozoon cuniculi (Microsporidia) infection in mice

Three strains of mice, BALB/c, IL-12 knock-out (KO) and INF-gamma knock-out, were chosen as an experimental model for the study of intestinal immunity induction against Encephalitozoon cuniculi Levaditi, Nicolau et Schoen, 1923 infection. Mice were infected perorally with 10(7) spores and re-infected with the same dose 70 days after the first infection. The anti-E. cuniculi IgA, IgG and IgM responses in sera and extracts of stool samples were determined by ELISA. Results have shown specific antibody production in the sera and intestinal secretions of all three strains of mice induced orally by E. ciniculi spores. BALB/c mice developed a stronger humoral immune response than IL-12 KO mice. The lowest antibody response developed in INF-gamma KO mice that succumbed to the infection within 28 days post infection.     

南芥菜花叶病毒单克隆抗体的研制及检测应用

将纯化的南芥菜花叶病毒(Arabis mosaic virus,ArMV)制剂免疫Balb/c小鼠,末次免疫后第3天取其脾细胞与SP2/0细胞融合,采用选择性培养基、有限稀释法克隆和间接ELISA方法进行筛选,成功获得了2株稳定分泌ArMV单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株并分别命名为3F7,4G10。用间接ELISA方法对所获得的2个杂交瘤细胞株进行亚型鉴定分别为IgA(3F7)、IgG1(4G10)。间接ELISA效价测定结果:3F7为1:106,4G10为1:108。以单克隆抗体为包被抗体、多克隆抗体为检测抗体的TAS-ELISA检测试剂盒能检测感染ArMV的昆诺藜病汁液的灵敏度为1:1600。     

马铃薯环腐病棒杆菌单克隆抗体的制备

 用马铃薯环腐病棒杆菌的细胞壁蛋白粗提物作为抗原,应用杂交瘤技术,成功地建立了六株分泌抗马铃薯环腐病棒杆菌单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株CH₁、CH₂、CH₃、CH₄、CH₅和cH₆。对这些杂交瘤细胞株所分泌的相应六种单抗McAb₁、McAb₂、McAb₃、McAb₄、McAb₅和McAb₆进行专化性测定的结果表明,McAb₄对环腐病菌具有亚种特异性,其它5种单抗除与环腐病菌呈阳性反应外,还与其它亚种的棒杆菌有不同程度的交叉反应。细胞株CH₄经体外培养传代30余代和液氮冻存5个月,其分泌抗体的滴度无明显改变。McAb₄属于IgG2a亚类,其诱发的小鼠腹水抗体效价达1:2×10⁵,CH₄的染色体数为95-102条。应用ELISA夹心法,McAb₄所能检测环腐病菌的最低浓度为10³个细菌/毫升。检测感染环染环腐病的马铃薯汁液,稀释1000倍仍呈阳性反应。     

Tick salivary gland extract-activated transmission of Borrelia afzelii spirochaetes

Saliva-activated transmission of Borrelia afzelii Canica, Nato, du Merle, Mazie, Baranton et Postic, 1993 was demonstrated using salivary gland extract (SGE) from Ixodes ricinus (L., 1758) ticks and C3H mice. Injection of Borrelia spirochaetes together with SGE increased the level of bacteraemia and accelerated the appearance of bacteria in the urinary bladder, compared with the injection of spirochaetes alone. More I. ricinus nymphs became infected when feeding on mice inoculated with B. afzelii plus SGE. Analysis of cytokines produced by cells of draining lymph nodes from SGE-treated mice showed a suppression of proinflammatory cytokines IFN-gamma, IL-6 and GM-CSF following a transient upregulation in comparison with the control mice infected without SGE.     

Growth of Trachipleistophora hominis (Microsporidia: Pleistophoridae) in C2,C12 mouse myoblast cells and response to treatment with albendazole.

The microsporidium Trachipleistophora hominis Hollister, Canning, Weidner, Field, Kench et Marriott, 1996, originally isolated from human skeletal muscle cells, inhibited myotube formation from myoblasts when grown in a mouse myoblast cell line C2,C12. Uninfected cultures readily converted to myotubes. Albendazole, a drug with known antimicrosporidial activity, was tested against T. hominis in C2,C12 cells. The drug was added when infection had reached 75% of C2,C12 cells, a level comparable to that obtained in heavily infected muscle in vivo. Doses of 1 ng/ml and 10 ng/ml had no effect on merogony or sporogony. In cultures exposed to 100 ng/ml albendazole, the C2,C12 cells remained in good condition while infection levels dropped to 25% over 7 weeks. Drug doses of 500 ng/ml and 1,000 ng/ml were deleterious to the host cells but some spores retained viability and were able to establish new infections once albendazole pressure was removed. T. hominis meronts exposed to 100 ng/ml albendazole mostly lacked the normally thick surface coat and its reticulate extensions. Meronts were not seen in cultures exposed to higher drug doses. Albendazole at a concentration of 100 ng/ml and higher had a profound effect on spore morphogenesis. There was erratic coiling of the polar tube, often involving the formation of double tubes, and chaotic disposition of membranes which could have been those of polaroplast. The in vitro susceptibility of T. hominis to albendazole was low in comparison with in vitro susceptibility of other microsporidia of human origin.     

O,O,S-Trimethyl phosphorothioate effects on immunocompetence

O,O,S-Trimethyl phosphorothioate (OOS), a contaminant of technical formulations of some organophosphorus pesticides, was found to be immunotoxic at subtoxic doses in female C57Bl/6 mice. Mice treated orally with acute doses of 10 mg/kg OOS show no overt toxic signs such as weight loss or malaise. In addition, the levels of serum cholinesterase was not decreased. Histopathologic investigation demonstrated no alterations in liver, lung, kidney, heart, skin, brain, spleen, or gut. The LD₅₀ for delayed toxicity was approximately 35 mg/kg. Despite the lack of general toxic changes at doses of 5–10 mg/kg OOS, specific immunotoxic changes were found. The humoral or cell-mediated immune response of splenocytes from mice treated with 10 mg/kg OOS to in vivo immunization was diminished with respect to control animals. Responses were measured in ex vivo assays. Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses were assessed by alloimmunization with the tumor P815 followed by a ⁵¹Cr release assay done ex vivo with splenic lymphocytes. Humoral responses were assessed by immunization with sheep red blood cells followed by a Jerne plaque assay to determine anti-sheep red blood cell antibody. Both cellular and humoral responses could be stimulated in vitro using cells from OOS-pretreated, primed animals, thus indicating that no permanent cellular elterations had occurred.     

Rheumatoid factor-like IgM in Plasmodium berghei (Apicomplexa: Haemosporida) infections of BALB/c mice

Groups of female BALB/c mice infected by intravenous injection with 50 erythrocytes containing Plasmodium berghei Vincke et Lips, 1948 were sacrificed on days 3 through 12 after infection. Rheumatoid factor-like IgM (RF-IgM) and parasite-specific IgG levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in serum specimens and in culture medium removed from spleen cell cultures established at sacrifice. All four mouse IgG subisotypes were recognized by RF-IgM molecules induced by Plasmodium berghei infection, and in this regard, the parasite-induced RF-IgM response resembled that induced by lipopolysaccharide polyclonal activation. Plasmodium berghei infection resulted in a biphasic RF-IgM response, with infected animals demonstrating significantly increased levels of RF-IgM early in the infection and significantly decreased levels late in the infection, compared to uninfected control mice. The decreased levels of RF-IgM observed late in infection correlated with increasing parasitaemia levels, and were primarily due to a decrease in RF-IgM specific for mouse IgG2a. Late infection levels of RF-IgM specific for IgGI, IgG2b, and IgG3 were not significantly different from those of control animals.     

An experimental transmission of porcine strains of Blastocystis sp. in the laboratory mice and gerbils.

Outbred laboratory mice were successfully infected with porcine strains of Blastocystis sp. using faecal stages as well as stages from fresh or passaged cultures. In contrast, inbred BALB/c mice and gerbils were only rarely infected and the intensity of their infection was mostly negligible. Blastocystis sp. was never observed inside the host cells. These results indicate a low host specificity of Blastocystis sp. as well as different sensitivity of investigated hosts to Blastocystis sp. infection.     

Response of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vitis vinifera</Emphasis> cell cultures to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaeomoniella chlamydospora</Emphasis>: changes in phenolic production,oxidative state and expression of defence-related genes

Cell suspension cultures of Vitis vinifera cv. Vinhão (Vv) were used to study the putative response of V. vinifera to Phaeomoniella chlamydospora (Pc), a fungus frequently associated with esca and grapevine decline. Cells were elicited with a Pc autoclaved biomass extract and methyl jasmonate (MeJ). Phenolic production was evaluated by HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS/MS. Phenolic production of Vv cells significantly changes after elicitation. Compared to control, Vv cells elicited by Pc extract increase their stilbene production 20-fold and those elicited by MeJ increase stilbenic production 9-fold. In both cases, there is de novo production of viniferin type compounds. We also analyzed the oxidative burst of Vv cells after elicitation with Pc extract and MeJ, using the probe 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate. Adding Pc extract induces an oxidative burst that shows a biphasic pattern in Vv cells. Moreover, the induction of 7 defence-related genes expression in Vv cell cultures upon Pc extract elicitation was investigated employing semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Elicitation increases the expression of class 6 and class 10 pathogenesis-related proteins, β-1,3-glucanase, class III chitinase, lipoxygenase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase and stilbene synthase. Therefore, Vv in vitro cell cultures could be an important tool to study esca disease, since they offer a simple, rapid and selective way to evaluate plant/fungus interactions.     

Monoclonal antibodies for detection, serological characterization and immunopurification of grapevine fleck virus

Ten stable hybridoma cell lines secreting monoclonal antibodies to grapevine fleck virus (GFkV) were selected after fusing spleen cells of immunized Balb/C mice with mouse myeloma cells (SP2/0-Ag 14). All MAbs reacted positively in ELISA with leaf extracts from fifty GFkV-infected grapevines from various geographical origins. MAb 2B5 was used for routine detection of GFkV and appeared to be more sensitive than polyclonal antibodies. The first attempt to purify GFkV by immunoaffinity chromatography using MAb 2B5 led to highly purified coat protein. This procedure encompassed fewer steps and allowed the use of tissues other than rootlets for satisfactory purification.     

Generation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to Flavescence dorée phytoplasma: Serological relationships and differences in electroblot immunoassay profiles of Flavescence dorée and elm yellows phytoplasmas

Eleven stable hybridoma cell lines secreting monoclonal antibodies specific for FD-phytoplasma, the pathogenic agent of grapevine Flavescence dorée, were produced by fusing a non-secreting myeloma cell line with spleen cells from Balb/c mice immunized with Flavescence dorée phytoplasma purified by immunoaffinity. These monoclonal antibodies were characterized for their recognition of phytoplasma proteins by western blot. Six of eleven reacted specifically in ELISA and immunoblotting with Elm-yellows phytoplasma. These antibodies did not react either in ELISA or in western blot with preparations from periwinkles infected with phytoplasmas that cause GYU (Grapevine Yellows from Udine), AP (Apple Proliferation), EAY (European Aster Yellows) and StolC (Stolbur from France). Two of these hybridoma lines were used routinely for the immunodiagnosis of Flavescence dorée phytoplasma in diseased grapevines.Abbreviations ELISA Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay - FD Flavescence dorée - MLO Mycoplasmalike organism - EY Elm yellows     

黄瓜绿斑驳花叶病毒单克隆抗体的研制

将纯化的黄瓜绿斑驳花叶病毒(Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus, CGMMV)制剂免疫BALB/c小鼠,最后一次免疫后第3天取其脾细胞与SP2/0细胞融合,经采用选择性培养基、有限稀释法克隆和间接ELISA方法进行筛选,成功获得了3株分泌CGMMV特异性单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株并分别命名为3C9,3F7,2G10。用ELISA方法对所获得的3个杂交瘤细胞株进行亚型鉴定均为IgG2a,kappa链。 间接ELISA效价测定结果分别为3C9：1.024×107,3F7：2.56×106,2G10：1.28×106。此3株杂交瘤细胞所分泌的单克隆抗体均能与本研究室保存的其他3种不同的CGMMV分离物发生特异性反应,而不与其他3种同属成员病毒 烟草花叶病毒(Tobacco mosaic virus, TMV)、辣椒轻斑驳病毒(Pepper mild mottle virus, PMMoV)、齿瓣兰环斑病毒(Odontoglossum ringspot virus,ORSV) 发生反应。     

Biochemical and molecular characterization of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, B. subtilis and B. pumilus isolates with distinct antagonistic potential against Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris

Fifty-one Bacillus isolates were characterized by fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis; universal primer polymerase chain reaction (UP-PCR) fingerprinting; production of secondary metabolites and antagonistic activity against Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (causal agent of black rot in cabbage) in vitro and in vivo . Based on FAME analysis and/or PCR fingerprinting, the isolates were clustered into three different groups, named as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens , B . subtilis and B . pumilus . Seed treatment with Bacillus spp. generally reduced germination of seeds and incidence of black rot, but no relationship was found between the results of in vitro and in vivo experiments. The B .  amyloliquefaciens group contained isolates that were generally the most effective at reducing attack of black rot in vivo . The metabolic profiles of these isolates suggested that they produced surfactin, iturin, bacillomycine and/or azalomycin F. Isolates belonging to the B . subtilis group were mostly able to synthesize surfactin and arthrobactin. Surfactin, amphomycin, arthrobactin and valinomycin were generally found in culture extracts of isolates belonging to the B . pumilus group. No effect on growth of the pathogen was detected when the activity of filtered culture extracts and selected metabolites produced by the three different Bacillus species was tested in vitro against X . c . pv. campestris . However, inhibition was seen when bacterial liquid cultures were used. When the ability to colonize cabbage endophytically was examined for seven selected isolates with different antagonistic potential against black rot, it was found that the ability was related to the species and not to the antagonistic activity of the isolates.     

Immune response of the long-tailed field mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) to tick-borne encephalitis virus infection.

The immune response following infection with a virulent strain of Central European encephalitis (CEE) virus in a natural host, long-tailed field mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus L.) and white laboratory-bread ICR mouse, was compared. Viraemia was demonstrated in ICR mice after intraperitoneal infection with a dose of 10(5) LD50/0.5 ml. The virus titres were high in the spleen and, particularly, in the brain. In A. sylvaticus the virus was detected in the blood and spleen, but not in the brain. CEE virus multiplied in peritoneal macrophages from ICR mice, but not from A. sylvaticus. The infection induced a strong interferon response in both hosts. The natural killer (NK) cell activity increase was twice as high in A. sylvaticus compared to ICR mice. The neutralization antibodies appeared sooner in A. sylvaticus and reached higher titres in the early phases of infection.     

Detection of Xanthomonas campestris pv. pelargonii in geranium and greenhouse nutrient solution by serological and PCR techniques

Specificity of a new monoclonal antibody, 2H5, to Xanthomonas campestris pv. pelargonii, causal agent of geranium bacterial blight, was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence tests on 14 strains of X. c. pelargonii, 12 strains of other X. campestris pathovars, 3 strains of other Xanthomonas spp., 3 strains of other plant pathogens, and 43 saprophytic bacteria isolated from geranium. X. c. pelargonii was detected in tissue from symptomatic and asymptomatic geraniums sampled from commercial growers, and artificially inoculated plants, by monoclonal antibody-based tests. The intensity of response in ELISA was only moderately correlated (r = 0.56) with symptom severity, while symptom severity was not correlated (r = 0.16) with the number of fluorescing cells in immunofluorescence. The bimodal frequency distribution of ELISA and immunofluorescence results served to validate arbitrarily chosen positive/negative threshold values. Most positive ELISA and immunofluorescence test results were confirmed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using published primers (Manulis et al., 1994. Appl. Environ. Microbiol 60, 4094-4099). In contrast to plant tissue, the bacterium was detected in greenhouse nutrient solution with greater sensitivity by immunofluorescence and PCR than by ELISA. Sensitivity of detection was enhanced 100-fold by concentration of the bacteria by centrifugation.     

Differences in cerato-ulmin production between the EAN, NAN and non-aggressive subgroups of Ophiostoma ulmi

A test of comparative in vitro cerato-ulmin wilt toxin production in the aggressive and non-aggressive subgroups of the Dutch elm disease pathogen Ophiostoma ulmi was carried out by turbidity and ELISA methods. Ten non-aggressive, ten EAN aggressive and ten NAN aggressive isolates were tested from a range of geographical sources. In liquid shake cultures the non-aggressive isolates produced the greatest and the NAN aggressives the least mean biomass. Despite considerable variation in cerato-ulmin production by individual isolates in three separate experiments, both the turbidity and ELISA methods showed a clear separation of the non-aggressive and aggressive subgroups. Non-aggressive isolates produced little or no cerato-ulmin (ELISA range of means 0–56.0 ng/ml) and EAN and NAN aggressive isolates moderate to high levels (EAN 1.6–89.0 × 10⁴ ng/ml and NAN 0.2–300 × 10⁴ ng/ml). In the aggressive isolates no correlation was detected between cerato-ulmin production and either biomass or pathogenicity to clonal Commelin elm. The role of cerato-ulmin in the pathogenicity of O. ulmi is discussed.     

Phytoalexin Production in an Apple Cultivar Resistant to Venturia inaequalis

ABSTRACT Cell suspension cultures of the scab-resistant apple (Malus x domestica) cultivar Liberty were challenged with yeast extract to mimic the effect of biological stress such as fungal invasion. The cells responded to the challenge by production of novel compounds. Suspension cultures of the scab-susceptible cultivar McIntosh, when similarly challenged, showed no detectable response. The major compound produced by scab-resistant cells in response to the challenge has been identified as the 2,4-methoxy-3-hydroxy-9-O-beta-D-glucosyloxydibenzofuran by UV, mass spectrometry, (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and (13)C-NMR spectroscopy. We suggest the trivial name malusfuran for the compound. Malusfuran production was initiated approximately 24 h after being challenged. Malusfuran inhibited spore germination and growth of Venturia inaequalis at millimolar concentrations, indicating its role as a possible phytoalexin. The aglycone of malusfuran, 2,4-methoxy-3,9-hydroxy-dibenzofuran, showed higher toxicity to V. inaequalis than to the parent malusfuran. In vitro cultures of V. inaequalis produced a beta-glucosidase that hydrolyzed ortho- and para-substituted nitrophenyl-beta-glucosides, suggesting that the aglycone may act as the actual phytoalexin.