Effects of whey protein hydrolysate on growth promotion and immunomodulation in mouse pups in artificial rearing system

This study aimed to investigate the effects of whey protein hydrolysate (WPH) on the growth and immunity of mouse pups in artificial rearing (AR) system. Mouse pups were reared in the AR system with artificial milk including 5% WPH (AR with WPH) or not (AR without WPH), and the remaining pups were reared by their mother (dam) for 14 days after birth. The body weight change and body weight gain rates in the AR with WPH group were significantly higher than those observed in the AR without WPH group and similar to those in the dam group. Moreover the feed and protein efficiencies in the AR with WPH group were significantly higher than those of the AR without WPH group. In addition, the supplement of WPH in the AR system was shown to significantly elevate the number of CD3⁺CD8⁺, B220⁺CD19⁺, IA/IE⁺CD11c⁺, and CD11b⁺ in the thymocyte and/or splenocyte, and the thymus weight. Furthermore, MALDI‐TOF/MS analysis identified the amino acid sequences corresponding to some peptides, and indicated that VRTPEVDDE had the highest relative intensity among the peptides from tested WPH. Therefore, WPH would be required to not only promote growth, but also exert immunomodulatory activities in mouse pups in AR system.     

Interleukin 1, a mediator of immunoadjuvant peptidoglycans

Bacterial peptidoglycans and the synthetic analog muramyl dipeptide possess various immunomodulating properties (adjuvant effect, increase of resistance to infectious agents and to tumor growth). They are able to induce B cell activation and to stimulate macrophages to produce monokines such as Interleukin 1 (IL 1). IL 1 plays an essential role in immune response. It promotes thymocytes maturation and Interleukin 2 secretion by antigen sensitive T cells, which in turn triggers regulatory T cells. Moreover, it is involved in the proliferation and differentiation of B cells.

There is a correlation between the immunoenhancing effect of PG of a definite structure and their ability to induce IL 1 secretion. Non-adjuvant PG were inactive. This suggests that one of the major mechanisms of action of adjuvant PG could be the stimulation of IL 1 synthesis.     

Immunomodulation of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fry by bath exposure to a β‐glucan from Euglena gracilis

Early developmental stages of fish mostly depend on innate immune factors for their protection. Augmenting these factors by application of different immunostimulatory substances may be beneficial for rearing and survival of the early life stages of fish. Bath administration of stimulants leads to a uniform exposure of fish independent of feed intake and reduces the individual handling. The present study demonstrates the immunostimulatory effect of β‐glucan (bath exposure) in rainbow trout fry at different dosages and exposure time. Rainbow trout fry (avg. wt. 770 mg; 87 days post hatch) were exposed to three different concentrations of β‐glucan (10, 100 and 1000 μg mL^?1) by bath exposure for 1 and 24 h. Expression of immune related genes from pooled internal organ samples of individual fish were analysed using a real time qPCR assay. Expression of complement factors (C3 and factor B) and acute phase proteins (hepcidin, precerebellin and transferrin) was significantly up‐regulated after 24 h bath stimulation with β‐glucan (100 μg mL^?1). These innate immune factors may play a vital role in clearance of pathogens. The expression of most of genes showed both a dose‐ and time‐dependent response. A medium dose (100 μg mL^?1) induced a significant increase in expression of complement factors and acute phase proteins mainly at 24 h exposure, whereas the highest dose of β‐glucan (1000 μg mL^?1) down‐regulated the expression of most of the studied genes. The result from the present study indicates that β‐glucan bath exposure could be applied for enhancing the innate immune factors even in fry.     

Influence of sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (Imuthiol) on lymphocyte function and growth in weanling pigs

Mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation, delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions, interleukin-2 (IL-2) production, and growth performance were evaluated in 3-week-old pigs treated with imuthiol. Lymphocyte proliferative responses to Con A and PWM were reduced (P < 0.05) in pigs treated with imuthiol at 25 mg/kg; PHA proliferative responses were not influenced by imuthiol treatment. Imuthiol at 2.5 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg lowered IL-2 production when compared to saline-treated controls. Delayed-type hypersensitivity responses to PHA were higher in 25 mg/kg imuthiol-treated pigs; however, 2.5 mg/kg imuthiol-treated pigs had lower DHT reactions. Imuthiol at 2.5 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg reduced (P < 0.05) average daily feed intake. These data suggest that in vivo imuthiol treatment in pigs lowers lymphocyte proliferative responses, IL-2 production, and growth performance.     

Dietary levamisole modulates the immune response and disease resistance of Asian catfish Clarias batrachus (Linnaeus)

In order to determine the immunomodulatory effect of dietary levamisole in Asian catfish (Clarias batrachus), fish were fed four different diets for 10 days: a formulated diet as control and the same diet supplemented with 50, 150 or 450 mg levamisole kg^?1 feed. The serum bacterial agglutination titre against Aeromonas hydrophila as a measure of specific immunity, serum haemagglutination titre, natural haemolytic complement activity (ACH₅₀), myeloperoxidase and lysozyme activities, total protein level and oxidative radical production by neutrophils as a measure of non‐specific immunity as well as disease resistance against A. hydrophila challenge to separate vaccinated and non‐vaccinated groups were evaluated at 0, 1, 2 and 3 weeks after last administration of levamisole. Levamisole supplement at the lowest level (50 mg kg^?1) significantly enhanced oxidative radical production and serum myeloperoxidase (MPO) content immediately after 10 days of feeding, which reached peak values after 3 and 2 weeks of feeding respectively. Haemolytic complement and haemagglutination titre were significantly enhanced after 3 and 1 weeks respectively. Haemolytic complement activity and MPO activities were significantly raised to 150 mg kg^?1 after 3 and 2 weeks, respectively. At the highest level of levamisole feeding (450 mg kg^?1) significant decreases in superoxide production and complement activity were measured immediately after levamisole feeding, which returned to the normal level after 1 week post‐ feeding. Fish were challenged with a virulent strain of A. hydrophila at 0, 1, 2 and 3 weeks after levamisole feeding, and the cumulative per cent survival was recorded over 10 days. Feeding levamisole at 50, 150 or 450 mg kg^?1 increased per cent survival in vaccinated fish immediately after levamisole feeding, and survival was significantly higher at 450 mg kg^?1. There was no difference in mortality patterns in non‐vaccinated fish. The results support the use of levamisole at 50 mg kg^?1 feed for 10 days as an immunostimulant in Asian catfish farming.     

"胚宝"抗疲劳及免疫调节功能研究

以小鼠为实验动物,探讨了"胚宝"的抗疲劳和免疫调节功能。结果表明:"胚宝"高、中、低剂量组均可明显增强小鼠体力,延长小鼠负重游泳时间,与生理盐水组比差异显著。"胚宝"能明显提高小鼠廓清指数K值和校正廓清指数α,说明"胚宝"对网状内皮系统吞噬功能具有明显的激活和增强作用。     

七彩神仙鱼 BTN1A1 基因克隆及其在嗜水气单胞菌胁迫下的表达分析

【目的】克隆七彩神仙鱼（Symphysodon aequifasciatus）嗜乳脂蛋白 1A1（Butyrophilin 1A1, BTN1A1）基因,分析其在病原刺激下的表达模式,为了解七彩神仙鱼 BTN1A1 基因功能提供依据。【方法】利用生物信息学对七彩神仙鱼 2 个 BTN1A1 基因（BTN1A1-1 和 BTN1A1-2）进行结构和进化分析。根据前期获得的七彩神仙鱼皮肤转录组数据,选取 BTN1A1-1 和 BTN1A1-2 基因的 CDS 区设计引物进行克隆。采用 qRT-PCR 分析 BTN1A1 在各组织中的表达及嗜水气单胞菌刺激下的表达模式。【结果】BTN1A1-1 和 BTN1A1-2 的 ORF 序列长度为 894、1 275 bp,分别编码 298、424 个氨基酸。BTN1A1-1 和 BTN1A1-2 蛋白均具有 1 个信号肽、1 个 Ig 结构域、1 个 lg_like 结构域和 1个跨膜结构域的经典结构,BTN1A1-2 还具有 1 个胞质结构域。七彩神仙鱼 BTN1A1-1 与慈鲷科其他鱼类相似性较高,与尼加拉瓜湖始丽鱼（Archocentrus centrarchus）BTNIAI 对应氨基酸序列同源性最高、为 94.14%。但 BTN1A1-2 与其他鱼类发生分离,形成独特分支。BTN1A1-1 和 BTN1A1-2 在七彩神仙鱼各组织中均有表达,但在鳃、肠道、皮肤等与免疫相关的组织中表达量相对较高。七彩神仙鱼 BTN1A1-1 在嗜水气单胞菌胁迫后表达量先显著下降后上升,而 BTN1A1-2 表达量则先显著上升后下降。【结论】七彩神仙鱼 BTN1A1-1 基因相对保守,而 BTN1A1-2 基因在进化上较为特殊。二者在免疫刺激下的差异表达暗示其可能在七彩神仙鱼免疫防御中发生功能分化。     

Floridoside Extracted from the Red Alga Mastocarpus stellatus Is a Potent Activator of the Classical Complement Pathway

Many biological properties of algae have been found to have useful applications in human health, particularly in the fields of oncology and immunology. Floridoside, extracted from the red alga Mastocarpus stellatus, has a structure similar to the xenoantigen Gal alpha 1–3 Gal. This xenoantigen has been described to induce a high immune response in human xenografts and is mediated by natural anti-gal antibodies that activate the classical complement pathway. Based on this property, we analyzed the potential activities of floridoside on the immune system. We demonstrated that floridoside activates a complement cascade via the classical complement pathway, through the recruitment and activation of natural IgM. This algal molecule could represent an important step in the development of a potent new anticomplementary agent for use in therapeutic complement depletion.     

Effects of Polyether Ionophores on the Protective Immune Responses of Broiler Chickens against Angara Disease and Newcastle Disease Viruses

Immunization against Angara disease virus (ADV), a serotype 4 avian adenovirus, and Newcastle disease virus (NDV), an avian paramyxovirus serotype 1, is the mainstay of a broiler vaccination programme, while polyether ionophores usually form an essential component of a broiler medication programme in most parts of India and Pakistan. The role of polyether ionophores in the protective immune responses of broiler chickens vaccinated and challenged with ADV and NDV was investigated. A total of 1600 birds were divided into eight groups of 200 birds each. First four groups were vaccinated against NDV and ADV, while the remaining four served as unvaccinated controls. The first 3 groups of birds were administered salinomycin, monensin and cyclophosphamide (CYP), respectively. The last group served as an untreated control. The same treatment schedule was also followed for the next four unvaccinated groups. The post-vaccination and post-challenge serological responses to NDV and ADV, body and lymphoid organ weight gains, post-challenge survival rate and detection of NDV and ADV in the tissues of infected birds were evaluated. Birds administered salinomycin showed a significant stimulation of protective immune responses against both NDV and ADV as compared to the untreated and CYP-treated birds. Monensin also enhanced the protective immune responses against both viruses but the effect was not statistically significant. Thus, it is concluded that monensin and salinomycin augment the anti-NDV and anti-ADV immune responses in broiler chickens, which supports their use in poultry flocks.     

Functional Feeds to Tackle Meagre (Argyrosomus regius) Stress: Physiological Responses under Acute Stressful Handling Conditions

Marine algae are recognised sources of bioactive compounds that have attracted great interest as nutritional supplements for aquaculture fish. Intensive rearing conditions often expose fish to husbandry-related stressors, rendering fish more susceptible to disease and reducing production yields. The present work evaluated the potential of two marine algae extracts (Fucus vesiculosus and Nannochloropsis gaditana) as nutritional supplements to mitigate stress effects in meagre (Argyrosomus regius) exposed to an acute handling stress (AS). A plant-based diet was used as a control, and three other diets were prepared, which were similar to the control diet but supplemented with 1% of each algal extract or a combination of the two extracts (0.5% each). The effects of supplemented diets on stress biomarkers, antioxidant enzyme activities, and immune response were analysed in fish exposed to AS after 4 weeks of feeding. Supplemented diets did not affect growth performance but the inclusion of F. vesiculosus promoted higher feed efficiency, as compared to the control group. Dietary algal extracts supplementation reduced plasma glucose levels, increased white blood cell counts, and reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory genes when compared with the control. N. gaditana supplementation led to a reduction in hepatic antioxidant enzyme activity and glutathione levels, while F. vesiculosus supplementation increased muscle glutathione reductase activity and reduced lipid peroxidation. These findings support the potential of algal extracts as nutraceuticals in aquafeeds to enhance the ability of fish to cope with husbandry-related stressful conditions and ultimately improve fish health and welfare.