Inhibition of Eimeria tenella replication after recombinant IFN-gamma activation in chicken macrophages, fibroblasts and epithelial cells

We have previously shown that activation of primary cultures of chicken bone-marrow macrophages and embryo fibroblasts with supernatants of concanavaline A-stimulated or reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV)-transformed chicken spleen cells as source of IFN-gamma significantly decreases Eimeria tenella growth in vitro. In the present study, we used various chicken cell lines, HD11 macrophages and DU24 fibroblasts, both virally transformed, CHCC-OU2 fibroblasts and LMH hepatic epithelial cells, both chemically transformed, to replicate E. tenella in vitro. We confirmed the previous results by showing that HD11 macrophages pre-treated for 24h with recombinant chicken IFN-gamma (either produced in E. coli or by transfected COS cells), at doses ranging from 1000 to 10U/ml, drastically inhibited E. tenella replication as measured by [3H] uracil uptake after a further 70h of culture, as when treated with REV supernatant. Likewise the fibroblast and epithelial cell lines exhibited significant inhibitory activity on E. tenella replication after pre-treatment with recombinant chicken IFN-gamma, but were less sensitive (1000-100U/ml) than when treated with REV supernatant. Recombinant chicken IFN-alpha pre-treatment of all cell lines had no inhibitory effect on parasite development.     

Mechanisms of the Eimeria tenella growth inhibitory activity induced by concanavalin A and reticuloendotheliosis virus supernatants with interferon gamma activity in chicken macrophages and fibroblasts

Pretreatment of chicken bone marrow macrophages and embryo fibroblasts with supernatants containing chicken interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) for 24 hr prior to inoculation inhibited intracellular Eimeria tenella replication, measured by [3H] uracil incorporation. The supernatants (Sns) were obtained from culture of lymphoblastoid cells transformed by a reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) and chicken splenocytes stimulated with concanavalin A (Con A). The mechanisms of the E. tenella growth inhibitory activity induced by Sn REV and Sn Con A in chicken macrophages and fibroblasts were studied. Addition of oxygen scavengers (superoxide dismutase, D-mannitol, DABCO, benzoic acid, L-histidine hydrochloride) was able to overcome the inhibition of E. tenella replication after pretreatment with Sn REV or Sn Con A in macrophage cultures but not in fibroblast cultures. Nitric oxide (NO) synthesis was induced in macrophage culture treated with Sn REV or Sn Con A but not in fibroblast culture. Addition of NG monomethyl-L-arginine, an NO synthase inhibitor together with the supernatants was also able to overcome inhibition of E. tenella replication in macrophage culture. On the other hand, addition of L-tryptophan to Sn REV- or Sn Con A-treated fibroblasts was able to reverse the inhibitory effect on E. tenella replication. In conclusion, production of inorganic NO or toxic oxygen intermediates may be involved in the E. tenella growth inhibitory activity of chicken macrophages pretreated with supernatants containing an IFN-gamma activity, and cellular tryptophan depletion may be involved for chicken fibroblasts, thus matching the mechanisms of the IFN-gamma-induced growth inhibitory activity for protozoans in mammals.     

鸡小肠上皮细胞的分离培养与鉴定

选择组织块法分离培养鸡小肠上皮细胞(intestinal epithelial cells,IEC),采用机械刮除法和相差消化－相差贴壁法纯化细胞,0.05%的Trypsin-EDTA对获得的IEC进行消化传代,免疫细胞化学法鉴定IEC。结果表明,组织块培养法可分离出活性较强的IEC,并获得纯化的上皮细胞;形态学和免疫细胞化学法检测显示获得的细胞表面抗原呈阳性,鉴定为IEC;纯化的IEC可在体外稳定传代。     

Production of a functional chicken single-chain variable fragment antibody derived from caecal tonsils B lymphocytes against macrogamonts of Eimeria tenella

Avian coccidiosis is due to a protozoan intracellular parasite belonging to the genus Eimeria which multiplies in the intestine of the host. In order to identify Eimeria antigens which reflect the natural avian humoral immune response, chicken hybridomas were produced by fusion of myeloma MuH1 with B lymphocytes from Eimeria tenella infected chicken. B lymphocytes used for fusions were isolated from tonsils at the basis of caeca where the parasite develops. One of the clones (G1F5) recognised oocyst antigens and the macrogamont stage of the parasite in ELISA and immunofluorescence assay. A single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody was cloned from the light chain variant region (VL) and heavy chain variant region (VH) genes of the hybridoma. This recombinant antibody (scFv G1F5) exhibited antigen binding specificity to oocysts and macrogamonts of E. tenella equivalent to the mAb produced by the clone G1F5. Nucleotide sequence analysis of VL genes from scFv G1F5 compared to the germ-line revealed vestiges of gene conversion. scFv derived from chicken B lymphocytes isolated from the gut-associated lymphoid tissue following experimental infection can reveal specific antigens recognised by the avian immune response.     

鸡小肠上皮细胞的分离及体外培养研究进展

小肠是食物消化吸收的主要场所,而小肠上皮细胞(intestinal epithelial cells,IEC)在营养物质的消化吸收及转运、消化酶分泌及肠道免疫方面发挥着重要作用。利用体外培养方法分离培养IEC为研究其分化增殖、凋亡等生物学功能提供了重要手段。作者综述了培养组织样的选择、分离IEC的常用方法、影响IEC培养的因素及IEC的鉴定方法等鸡IEC体外分离培养过程中的相关研究进展。     

Kinetics of interleukin-2 production in chickens infected with Eimeria tenella

Interleukin (IL)-2 is a major cytokine of cell-mediated immunity (CMI). Because chickens infected with Eimeria, the causative agent of coccidiosis, develop a robust cell-mediated response against the parasite, we measured IL-2 concentrations in vivo and in vitro during the course of primary and secondary experimental Eimeria tenella infections. IL-2 levels in serum and culture supernatants of spleen lymphocytes stimulated with mitogen or E. tenella sporozoites were significantly increased on day 7 post-primary infection compared with control group. This peak in IL-2 coincided with the time of maximum intestinal lesions as measured by cecum lesion scores. By contrast, during secondary infection highest IL-2 concentrations preceded intestinal lesions by 5 days (day 2 versus day 7, respectively). These results confirmed that IL-2 production is augmented during experimental coccidiosis and suggested that cellular immunity elicited during an anamnestic response to parasite reinfection is mediated, at least in part, by IL-2.     

鸡贮精腺上皮细胞的分离及原代培养

试验旨在探讨稳定可靠的贮精腺上皮细胞分离及原代培养方法,为研究鸡贮精机理提供细胞模型。以鸡输卵管的子宫阴道交接部组织样为材料,采用酶消化法和组织块培养法分离培养母鸡贮精腺上皮细胞,观察母鸡贮精腺上皮细胞的培养情况,比较不同细胞培养方法获得贮精腺上皮细胞的生长情况。结果表明,用胶原酶或胰酶单独消化母鸡子宫阴道交接部组织,经100目过滤后获得的贮精腺上皮细胞24 h后可贴壁,但48～72 h后细胞死亡;用胶原酶Ⅺ(0.01 g/mL)与胰酶(0.25%)先后消化母鸡子宫阴道交接部组织后再经100目过滤获得的贮精腺上皮细胞贴壁性良好,24～48 h细胞出现明显增殖,72 h后细胞增殖速度减慢,开始死亡;用组织块培养法7 d可获得鸡贮精腺上皮原代细胞,该细胞可传2～3代;用组织块培养法获得的细胞进行免疫组化试验,发现细胞表达贮精腺差异表达基因编码的NXPH1蛋白,该蛋白在培养细胞内的表达符合其分泌蛋白特性,表明组织块培养法所获细胞可用于后续研究。综上,用组织块培养法获得的鸡贮精腺上皮细胞可为研究母鸡贮精腺机制提供细胞模型。     

In vitro destruction of Eimeria oocysts by essential oils

This study aims to assess the ability of essential oils (EOs) to destroy Eimeria oocyst in vitro using microscopic counting and 273 nm absorbing material release. A screening for the ability of ten EOs to destroy Eimeria oocyst was carried out in liquid medium. Out of these ten, artemisia, tea tree, thyme and clove EOs were identified as being the most effective. The treatment of Eimeria oocyst with these EOs leads to their lysis as shown by the release of substances absorbing at 273 nm. These results were obtained after approximately three hours contact. Four EOs were proven to destroy Eimeria oocysts in a few hours at low concentration. This destructive effect is a consequence of their lysis. This work is a preliminary contribution aiming to develop a new generation of natural efficient agents for destroying Eimeria oocyst to fight coccidiosis in broiler chicken.     

人工感染堆型艾美耳球虫的雏鸡小肠病理学观察

本试验利用常规病理学方法,对人工感染5×104个堆型艾美耳球虫卵囊的雏鸡,在感染该球虫后7 d,即在堆型艾美耳球虫的一个生理周期内,对雏鸡的病理变化进行观察。眼观所见主要病理变化为小肠前段充血,肠壁变薄,苍白色,内容物含浆液量增多。病理组织学变化主要为小肠前段黏膜层有脱落,绒毛上皮细胞有变性、坏死、脱落,不同时期细胞内含有多量不同发育阶段的虫体。     

Antimicrobial activity of chicken NK-lysin against Eimeria sporozoites

NK-lysin is an antimicrobial and antitumor polypeptide that is considered to play an important role in innate immunity. Chicken NK-lysin is a member of the saposin-like protein family and exhibits potent antitumor cell activity. To evaluate the antimicrobial properties of chicken NK-lysin, we examined its ability to reduce the viability of various bacterial strains and two species of Eimeria parasites. Culture supernatants from COS7 cells transfected with a chicken NK-lysin cDNA and His-tagged purified NK-lysin from the transfected cells both showed high cytotoxic activity against Eimeria acervulina and Eimeria maxima sporozoites. In contrast, no bactericidal activity was observed. Further studies using synthetic peptides derived from NK-lysin may be useful for pharmaceutical and agricultural uses in the food animal industry.     

鸡球虫入侵相关分子的研究进展

鸡球虫病是由艾美耳球虫寄生于肠道所引起的一种危害极其严重的寄生虫病,给养鸡业造成巨大的经济损失.艾美耳球虫属于顶复器门原虫,在入侵宿主细胞过程中需要通过入侵虫体顶端的顶复器分泌蛋白发挥作用.目前已报道与鸡球虫入侵相关的重要蛋白,包括微线蛋白、蛋白激酶、热激蛋白以及糖酵解酶等.这些蛋白主要参与了鸡球虫入侵宿主细胞以及在宿主细胞内的生长发育、参与了虫体的细胞周期活动以及参与了糖酵解提供虫体入侵需要的能量等,进一步对这些分子进行研究,对了解鸡球虫入侵宿主细胞的相关机理及发展抗球虫病疫苗和治疗药物将有积极的意义.     

Changes in intestinal villi, cell area and intracellular autophagic vacuoles related to intestinal function in chickens

1. Morphological changes in the intestinal villi, cell area and cell mitosis number in the duodenal epithelial cells were compared in cockerels fasted for 1, 2 and 3 d, and also when refed for 1 and 2 d after 3 d of fasting, to demonstrate whether these morphological changes are related to intestinal function. Alterations in the fine structure of vacuoles in epithelial cells were also examined in each group to investigate whether the vacuolar changes are associated with these morphological changes, and to obtain an index for judging the nutritional condition of the chicken intestine. 2. Fasting induced decreases in villus height, cell area and cell mitosis number, which recovered rapidly after refeeding, suggesting that these parameters are related to changes in intestinal function and may be useful for assessing intestinal function. 3. At 1 d of fasting, small electron-dense bodies appeared in the absorptive epithelial cells, some of them fusing with each other. As the fasting period increased, these small bodies developed to moderate-sized nascent autophagic vacuoles containing various kinds of electron-dense contents and finally became large autophagic vacuoles with electron-lucent contents. Some vacuoles showed positive acid phosphatase reactions, which indicated that they were lysosomal autophagic vacuoles containing hydrolytic enzymes. 4. After 1 d of refeeding the large autophagic vacuoles seen after 3 d fasting rapidly decreased to the small electron-dense bodies seen after 1 d of fasting. 5. These findings suggest that intestinal epithelial cells have the ability to digest their own cell components to supply nutrients during fasting by means of lysosomal active autophagic transport mechanisms: after refeeding, the epithelial cells return to the absorption of nutrients. 6.The present results demonstrate that the autophagic vacuolar changes are correlated with changes in intestinal villus height, cell area and cell mitosis number induced by fasting and refeeding; this indicates that autophagic vacuoles are a useful index of the nutritional condition of chicken intestine. The greater the number of electron-lucent vacuoles there are in the duodenal absorptive cells, the lower the nutritional condition of the chicken intestine.     

Characterization of the antibody response in birds following infection with wild-type and attenuated strains of Eimeria tenella and Eimeria necatrix

Live vaccines containing attenuated parasite strains are increasingly used to control chicken coccidiosis. In this paper antibody responses elicited by infections with wild-type and attenuated strains of Eimeria tenella and Eimeria necatrix were characterized by immunoblotting and ELISA with homologous and heterologous antisera. Few differences between antisera from birds infected with wild and attenuated strains of E. tenella were evident in immunoblots conducted with merozoite antigen preparations from both E. tenella strains, however the reactivity of sera raised in birds infected with the wild-type strain was noticeably more intense. In ELISAs conducted with merozoite antigen preparations, antisera from birds infected with the wild-type strains of E. tenella and E. necatrix consistently produced a significantly higher (P<0.05) antibody response than antisera from birds infected with the attenuated strains. Likewise, avidity ELISAs conducted with the E. tenella strains demonstrated that antibodies in birds infected with the wild-type strain were of significantly higher avidity (P<0.05) than antibodies in birds infected with the attenuated strain. The differences in the antibody responses are probably due to changes in the attenuated strain as a result of selection for precocious development and the less severe tissue damage and inflammation of the intestine resulting from infection with the attenuated strain.     

鸡胚盲肠上皮细胞原代培养与鉴定

为研究鸡E.tenella的宿主细胞--盲肠上皮细胞体外培养技术,为E.tenella损伤机制及抗球虫药的研究提供体外模型,分别用胰蛋白酶法、胶原酶Ⅰ法、嗜热菌蛋白酶法、嗜热菌蛋白酶+胶原酶Ⅰ法和中性蛋白酶Ⅰ+胶原酶Ⅺ法分离纯化原代鸡胚盲肠上皮细胞,通过测定细胞活力、细胞团块比例、总细胞产量和细胞团块产量,筛选出鸡胚盲肠上皮细胞最佳分离方法,并进行了纯化和培养,对培养细胞进行了鉴定.结果表明:嗜热菌蛋白酶消化、低速离心去除单细胞、差速贴壁除去成纤维细胞,为最佳分离和纯化盲肠上皮细胞的方法;分离纯化的细胞接种后分别于第3-5天、第10-11天进入对数生长期,可存活14 d以上;经形态学观察、碱性磷酸酶染色、扫描电镜鉴定为盲肠上皮细胞,所分离的细胞培养至第4、7、11天时上皮细胞比例分别为81.67%、84.33%和72.00%.用该法可获得纯度较高的原代鸡胚盲肠上皮细胞.     

Interleukin-6 is produced during both murine and avian Eimeria infections

The production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) during Eimeria infection was investigated in an attempt to gain a better understanding of the role of this multi-functional cytokine in resistance to this parasite. IL-6 production was measured in both chickens, in which the disease is of economic importance, and the better-characterised murine model system.Systemic and local IL-6 production in mice during E. vermiformis infection was investigated, in the relatively resistant BALB/c strain, and the relatively susceptible C57 BL/6 strain, using a murine IL-6 ELISA and the 7TD1 assay. Enhanced systemic production of IL-6 in serum was seen in infected BALB/c mice when compared to C57 BL/6 mice. This difference was also reflected in the draining lymph node of the site of infection, assessed by testing supernatants from stimulated mesenteric lymph node cells taken from infected mice at different times post-infection.Production of chicken IL-6-like factor activity was investigated using a murine IL-6 7TD1 bioassay. The presence of substantial quantities of IL-6-like factor activity was detected in serum taken from some chickens infected with E. tenella during the course of primary infection and, in a separate experiment, during the first few hours post-infection, a time when the pro-inflammatory capacity of IL-6 would influence the developing immune response. These results suggest that IL-6 is also important in the induction of immune effector responses to Eimeria infections in the chicken.     

Primary culture of chicken bursal plical epithelium

Plical epithelial cells were obtained by trypsin-EDTA treatment of chicken bursa of Fabricius and cultured in the presence of type IV collagen. The culture became confluent six to seven days after seeding. The grown cells showed a positive reaction for cytokeratin by immunostaining and had ultrastructural characteristics of the epithelial cells in vivo. The cell culture will be useful for parasitological and virological studies.     

In vitro inhibition of Eimeria tenella invasion by indigenous chicken Lactobacillus species

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of indigenous chicken Lactobacillus species isolates from different parts of the gastrointestinal tract on Eimeria tenella invasion in vitro and to characterise the nature of inhibition, if any. The effects of competitive exclusion, steric interference and bacterial extracellular factors on E. tenella invasion were examined in an MDBK cell model. Several Lactobacillus species were initially isolated from chickens and identified by biochemical characteristics and 16S-rRNA. All Lactobacillus species isolates tested, significantly inhibited E. tenella invasion. Steric interference did not affect parasite invasion. Extracellular metabolic factors secreted by Lactobacillus species isolates into the surrounding media were shown to inhibit parasite invasion and these factors appeared to be heat stable. These results show that the natural microflora of poultry can provide a source of E. tenella-inhibiting Lactobacillus species in vitro, and thus may contribute to the control of Eimeria infection.     

新生山羊小肠上皮细胞株的建立和鉴定

进行肠上皮细胞的分离培养是研究小肠功能、营养物质吸收机制及其调控的主要手段之一。本试验利用组织块培养法成功的建立了山羊小肠上皮细胞株。获得的上皮细胞具有较强的增殖能力,24h内贴壁并发生分裂。纯化后按照0.8～0.9×104个/cm2的密度种植时,3～4d连成一片。倒置显微镜下观察培养细胞为多角状或卵圆形,单层生长不重叠,呈铺路石状排列,细胞角蛋白鉴定为阳性。采用组织块培养法可以获得具有增殖能力的山羊小肠上皮细胞,为研究IEC的生理病理等提供有用的实验模型。     

Characterisation and histopathological observations of a selected Brazilian precocious line of Eimeria acervulina

Precocious lines of Eimeria acervulina "Cu" and "I" strains were obtained after 25 passages of oocysts in chickens that showed a shortening of the prepatent period for first oocyst output from 96 h to 81 and 82 h, respectively. Both precocious lines were evaluated for pathogenicity using as criteria weight gain, lesion score and total oocyst production. Infection of the "Cu" precocious line in chickens showed a high weight gain, low lesion score and low oocyst production, when compared to parent strain infected chickens. However, the results did not show a significant difference in relation to the criteria used above for the E. acervulina "I" precocious line when compared to its parent strain. This suggests a low degree of attenuation for the "I" strain but good attenuation for the precocious "Cu" line. The histopathological observations of chickens infected with the E. acervulina "Cu" parent strain and precocious line, comparing life cycle and intestinal lesions, showed: (1) parasite stages only in the border cells of infected chicken intestinal villi, for the precocious line; (2) parasite stages in the border cells of the intestinal villi and submucosa cells near the Lieberkühn glands of the intestine; and (3) high degree of inflammatory cells around the parasites in chickens infected with the parent strain. The "Cu" strain was also characterized for sensitivity against eight anticoccidial drugs. Sensitivity was observed for four anticoccidial drugs and partial resistance for four other drugs, although the strain had never had previous contact with anticoccidial drugs, suggesting the presence of a natural resistance factor. This Brazilian E. acervulina "Cu" precocious line showed attenuation for pathogenicity in chickens, suggesting that it could be a suitable strain for use as a live vaccine in Brazil.