Evaluation of host and bacterial gene modulation during Lawsonia intracellularis infection in immunocompetent C57BL/6 mouse model

BackgroundProliferative enteritis caused by Lawsonia intracellularis undermines the economic stability of the swine industry worldwide. The development of cost-effective animal models to study the pathophysiology of the disease will help develop strategies to counter this bacterium.ObjectivesThis study focused on establishing a model of gastrointestinal (GI) infection of L. intracellularis in C57BL/6 mice to evaluate the disease progression and lesions of proliferative enteropathy (PE) in murine GI tissue.MethodsWe assessed the murine mucosal and cell-mediated immune responses generated in response to inoculation with L. intracellularis.ResultsThe mice developed characteristic lesions of the disease and shed L. intracellularis in the feces following oral inoculation with 5 × l0⁷ bacteria. An increase in L. intracellularis 16s rRNA and groEL copies in the intestine of infected mice indicated intestinal dissemination of the bacteria. The C57BL/6 mice appeared capable of modulating humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to L. intracellularis infection. Notably, the expression of genes for the vitamin B12 receptor and for secreted and membrane-bound mucins were downregulated in L. intracellularis -infected mice. Furthermore, L. intracellularis colonization of the mouse intestine was confirmed by the immunohistochemistry and western blot analyses.ConclusionsThis is the first study demonstrating the contributions of bacterial chaperonin and host nutrient genes to PE using an immunocompetent mouse model. This mouse infection model may serve as a platform from which to study L. intracellularis infection and develop potential vaccination and therapeutic strategies to treat PE.     

抗菌肽的研究与应用

抗菌肽具有分子量小、热稳定性好、无免疫原性、抗菌谱广等特点;并且,抗菌肽对畜禽具有促生长、保健和治疗疾病等功效;具有无毒副作用、无残留、无致细菌的耐药性等特性;在动物养殖和提高畜产品品质方面,抗菌肽也具有重要的潜在应用价值。文章结合当今抗菌肽的研究现状和发展前景,对抗菌肽的分类、抗菌机理、应用状况等进行了综述。     

微生物菌剂处理富营养化景观水体的室内试验研究

利用含有光合细菌、放线菌、乳酸菌、酵母菌的复合微生物菌剂,在室内采用投菌法对富营养化人工景观湖水进行净化试验。结果表明,采用不同投加量的菌剂对水体进行处理,水体中的总氮（TN）、总磷（TP）、COD队浊度显著降低。投加量为0．01％的处理效果最好,经过处理后。水体中TN浓度为1．31mg·L^-1,TP为0．03mg·L^-1;CODCr为19．38mg·L^-1综合多种水质指标,均能达到地面水环境质量Ⅳ类标准,满足非人体接触游乐区的水质要求,符合GB12941—91景观娱乐用水C类标准,藻类基本得到控制。     

Antihypertensive Effects of IGTGIPGIW Peptide Purified from Hippocampus abdominalis: p-eNOS and p-AKT Stimulation in EA.hy926 Cells and Lowering of Blood Pressure in SHR Model

The aim of this study was to assess the potential hypertensive effects of the IGTGIPGIW peptide purified from Hippocampus abdominalis alcalase hydrolysate (HA) for application in the functional food industry. We investigated the antihypertensive effects of IGTGIPGIW in vitro by assessing nitric oxide production in EA.hy926 endothelial cells, which is a major factor affecting vasorelaxation. The potential vasorelaxation effect was evaluated using 4-amino-5-methylamino-2′,7′-difluorofluorescein diacetate, a fluorescent stain. IGTGIPGIW significantly increased the expression of endothelial-derived relaxing factors, including endothelial nitric oxide synthase and protein kinase B, in EA.hy926 cells. Furthermore, oral administration of IGTGIPGIW significantly lowered the systolic blood pressure (183.60 ± 1.34 mmHg) and rapidly recovered the diastolic blood pressure (143.50 ± 5.55 mmHg) in the spontaneously hypertensive rat model in vivo. Our results demonstrate the antihypertensive activity of the IGTGIPGIW peptide purified from H. abdominalis and indicate its suitability for application in the functional food industry.     

猪接种PRRSV Nsp2Δ1882-2241弱毒株后血清细胞因子的变化特征

为了解Nsp2Δ1882-2241缺失后弱化的高致病性PRRSV（TJM株）对宿主免疫学应答的刺激机理,本研究分析了免疫猪血清中的细胞因子及变化规律。将14头4周龄易感仔猪随机分为3组：第1组接种PRRSV TJM-F92株,为免疫组;第2组接种高致病性PRRSV TJ-F5毒株,为攻毒组;第3组不接种疫苗及病毒,为对照组。接种后28d,用TJ-F5毒株攻击试验猪,于不同时间点采集血样,用ELISA法测定血清中的PRRSV抗体、IL-2、IL-10、IL-12p40、TNF-α、IFN-α和IFN-β水平。结果显示：（1）与对照组和攻毒组相比,免疫组猪IL-12p40水平持续上调,于免疫后28d受PRRSV强毒攻击后,其水平开始缓慢降低,但仍高于攻毒后的对照组。（2）免疫组IL-2水平在接种疫苗后的前21d内无明显升高且低于攻毒组,在受到强毒攻击后其IL-2水平却有明显升高。（3）免疫组IL-10水平与对照组无明显差别,并在免疫14d后一直显著低于攻毒组（P〈0.01）。（4）免疫组接种疫苗后的前21d内,TNF-α水平保持稳定,28d明显上调。攻毒组TNF-α水平0～28d一直低于对照组,且在21d达到最低（P〈0.01）。免疫组在28d受强毒攻击后,其TNF-α水平下降且在攻毒7d时最为明显（P〈0.01）,此后恢复到正常水平。（5）免疫组免疫后28d时IFN-α水平升高,在受到强毒攻击后再次显著降低（P〈0.01）。免疫组IFN-β水平一直低于对照组和攻毒组,不因强毒攻击而变化。以上结果提示,IL-12上调在PRRSV免疫保护中起明显作用;另外,上调TNF-α及下调IL-10都是基因缺失疫苗发挥效力的潜在机制。     

Application of non-structural protein ELISA kits in nationwide FMD surveillance in pigs to demonstrate virus circulation in Taiwan

Large scale surveillance of FMD non-structural protein (NSP) antibody in pigs was conducted to monitor for FMD virus circulation in Taiwan using Ceditest and UBI NSP ELISA kits after recurrence of FMD in 2009. A total of 53,759 serum samples were collected from pigs in the auction markets in 2009. There were 43 farms with positive FMD NSP reactors to both NSP ELISA tests in the nationwide surveillance. After tracing back, clinical examination and the NSP ELISA testing using both Ceditest and UBI on 14 follow-up serum samples from all the herds with confirmed NSP reactors in 2009, there were 4 farms classified as positive on follow-up testing criteria. In this surveillance, we have demonstrated that the NSP ELISA tests of outbreak farms followed by clinical and serological investigation could be used to detect FMD circulation in the pig population in Taiwan even while the national compulsory vaccination program is ongoing.