A Lymphoid Organ Specific Anti-Lipopolysaccharide Factor from Litopenaeus vannamei Exhibits Strong Antimicrobial Activities

Different shrimp species are known to possess apparent distinct resistance to different pathogens in aquaculture. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this finding still remains unknown. One kind of important antimicrobial peptides, anti-lipopolysaccharide factors (ALF), exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities. Here, we reported a newly identified ALF from the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei and compared the immune function with its counterpart in the shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis. The ALF, designated as LvALF8, was specifically expressed in the lymphoid organ of L. vannamei. The expression level of LvALF8 was apparently changed after white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) or Vibrio parahaemolyticus challenges. The synthetic LBD peptide of LvALF8 (LvALF8-LBD) showed strong antibacterial activities against most tested Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. LvALF8-LBD could also inhibit the in vivo propagation of WSSV similar as FcALF8-LBD, the LBD of LvALF8 counterpart in F. chinensis. However, LvALF8-LBD and FcALF8-LBD exhibited apparently different antibacterial activity against V. parahaemolyticus, the main pathogen causing acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) of affected shrimp. A structural analysis showed that the positive net charge and amphipathicity characteristics of LvALF8-LBD peptide were speculated as two important components for its enhanced antimicrobial activity compared to those of FcALF8-LBD. These new findings may not only provide some evidence to explain the distinct disease resistance among different shrimp species, but also lay out new research ground for the testing and development of LBD-originated antimicrobial peptides to control of shrimp diseases.     

Lymphoid neoplasia in the koala

Objective Correlation of immunophenotype with history, anatomical and morphological features of lymphoid neoplasia in the koala.
Methods Routine necropsies were performed on 51 koalas with suspected lymphoid neoplasia between 1986 and 1997 in New South Wales and Queensland. Immuno-phenotyping was by an immunoperoxidase method utilising species cross-reactive antibodies raised against human lymphocytes and an antibody raised against koala IgG. Cases were classified according to organs and tissues affected and the morphological features of neoplastic cells.
Results Twenty-six (51%) of the cases were of the T cell immunophenotype, 12 (24%) were of B cell immunopheno-type and 13 (25%) did not stain. The age and sex of koalas did not correlate with immunophenotype (P = 0.686 and P = 1.000, respectively). Thirty-two cases were leukaemic and 36 had multiple organ involvement, probably reflecting presenta tion of koalas at advanced stages of disease. Abdominal tissue involvement was most common (44 cases), followed by nodal (32), atypical (21) and cervicomediastinal (14). The T cell immunophenotype was over-represented among the leukaemic cases (P = 0.013). Generally, the T cell immunophenotype predominated except for many affected atypical tissues. Neoplastic cells were mostly of medium nuclear size with round to oval nuclei. No correlations were found for cell morphology, mitotic index and immunopheno-type.
Conclusion The prognostic value of an immunopheno-typic, anatomical and morphological basis for the classifica tion of lymphoid neoplasia in the koala currently is limited by the need to detect these neoplasms at an early age, the requirement for freshly fixed tissues and the restricted range of available cross-reacting antibodies.     

新城疫疫苗点眼对雏鸡结膜结合淋巴组织的影响

用鸡新城疫Ⅱ（ＮＤⅡ）系弱毒疫苗点眼免疫１日龄雏鸡。定期收集免疫组和对照组雏鸡泪液、血清做微量血细胞凝集抑制（ＨＩ）试验。同时，采取雏鸡下眼睑做宏观美兰和ＨＥ染色。疫苗点眼后，经眼观和组织学观察，免疫组雏鸡比对照组雏鸡的结膜结合淋巴组织（Ｃｏｎｊｕｎｃｔｉｖａ－ａｓｓｏｃｉａｔｅｄｌｙｍｐｈｏｉｄｔｉｓｓｕｅ．ＣＡＬＴ）发生早、生长快、淋巴细胞数量多，此结果证明抗原刺激能促进ＣＡＬＴ的发育成熟。通过对免疫组雏鸡泪痕、血清和对照组泪液、血清ＨＩ效价的分析，雏鸡眼区局部免疫反应比全身免疫反应发生早，抗体效价高。     

半番鸭肠道相关淋巴组织的M细胞来源

应用组织学技术对半番鸭肠道相关淋巴组织(GALT)M细胞的来源进行了研究;应用台盼蓝、辣根过氧化物酶(HRP)作为示踪物对GALT上皮细胞的功能进行了研究.结果表明:半番鸭GALT黏膜上皮最初为柱状上皮,柱状上皮逐渐脱离基底膜,基底膜部位的成纤维细胞转变为扁平上皮;鸭灌服台盼蓝后,在淋巴组织表面的扁平上皮细胞和肝脏的枯否氏细胞均出现了台盼蓝颗粒;肠腔内注入HRP后,HRP的阳性产物出现在扁平上皮和淋巴组织中;在柱状上皮内2种示踪物均未出现.可见,半番鸭GALT表面的M细胞来源于成纤维细胞.     

Lymphoid leukosis viruses,their recognition as ‘persistent’ viruses and comparisons with certain other retroviruses of veterinary importance

Diseases caused by lymphoid leukosis virus (LLV), a retrovirus, take a long time after infection to develop and have a wide variety of pathological manifestations. This long latent period is characteristic of persistent virus infections. Disease produced by LLV infection and its underlying mechanisms is compared with persistent infections caused by other retroviruses in birds and mammals of veterinary importance. The diseases considered for comparison are those caused by reticuloendotheliosis, feline leukaemia, bovine leukosis and equine infectious anaemia viruses. There are significant changes in the immunological status in all diseases caused by these viruses. LLV infections follow this trend with, in manifestations of neoplastic disease, a perturbation of the normal switch that occurs from IgM to IgG synthesis. There are also indications of other immunological disturbances.Factors other than immunological disturbances may contribute to the length of time after infection required for the many forms of LLV infection to appear. Such additional factors may include the operation of biological clocks, such as the arrival of sexual maturity, and also the very nature of retroviruses. These factors, like the immunological changes, play major roles in the maintenance and progression of persistent retrovirus infections.Abbreviations ACTH adrenocorticotropic hormone - AEV avian erythroblastosis virus - AMV avian myeloblastosis virus - BLV bovine leukaemia virus - CAV chicken anaemia virus - EBL enzootic bovine leukaemia - EIAV equine infectious anaemia virus - env envelope gene - FeLV feline leukaemia virus - FeSV feline sarcoma virus - FOCMA feline oncovirus membrane-associated antigen; gag, group antigen gene - HTLV human T-cell leukaemia virus - LLV lymphoid leukosis virus - L/S leukosis/sarcoma - LTR long terminal repeat - MAV myeloblastosis-associated virus - MDV Marek disease virus - MuLV mouse leukaemia virus - ORF open reading frame; pol, polymerase gene - REV reticuloendotheliosis virus - RIF resistance-inducing factor - RSV Rous sarcoma virus     

Role of type II innate lymphoid cells in browning of white adipose tissue

Type II innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are widely distributed in the blood, intestines, trachea, lung, spleen, liver, animal fat and skin, and involved in the innate immune responses. ILC2s have attracted much attention for its important roles in the conversion of white adipose to beige adipose. Studies have shown that ILC2s are essential for the proliferation and differentiation of adipocyte precursor cells, and they also play a vital role in anti-parasitic infection and allergic inflammation. This review discusses the discovery, differentiation, development, distribution and function of ILC2s, and their relationships with the browning of white adipose tissue for providing valuable references on understanding the pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of obesity and fat metabolism disorders.     

Equine conjunctival pseudotumors

Five horses presented with unilateral pink, smooth, nonulcerated conjunctival masses with histologic features characteristic of inflammatory pseudotumors, i.e. proliferative inflammatory lesions clinically resembling true neoplasia. Although causes for the inflammatory lesions were not determined, based on the presence histologically of mononuclear (predominantly lymphocytic) inflammatory cell infiltrates and the absence of infectious agents, parasites or foreign bodies, an immune-mediated pathogenesis was suspected. Affected horses ranged from 5 to 8 years of age with no apparent breed or sex predilection. Conjunctival lesions were nodular in two cases and relatively flat and more diffuse in three cases. Third eyelid lesions were present in three cases and two affected eyes had corneal involvement. Based on findings from these five cases, the prognosis for equine conjunctival pseudotumors appears to be good when lesions are treated by partial or complete surgical excision, local administration of anti-inflammatory agents, or a combination of surgery and anti-inflammatory therapy.     

副猪嗜血杆菌血清5型岳阳株对昆明小鼠淋巴器官损伤的研究

为探讨副猪嗜血杆菌(HPS)对免疫器官的损伤,本实验将HPS血清5型岳阳株及其茵体裂解物分别接种昆明小鼠,结果显示:HPS血清5型岳阳株及其菌体裂解物,均能够引起昆明小鼠颈淋巴结细胞凋亡和坏死.组织病理学检测可见脾脏红髓扩张、白髓萎缩、淋巴细胞衰减;胸腺病变较轻,皮质部局灶性淋巴细胞坏死和散在性细胞凋亡.此外,免疫器官损伤与剂量相关,随菌量的增大病变更为明显.HPS血清5型岳阳株及其菌体裂解物对昆明小鼠淋巴器官有明显的损伤作用.     

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma of the third eyelid conjunctiva in a dog

A 4-year-old, neutered female Cocker Spaniel was presented to the veterinary clinic for protrusion of the left third eyelid. When the third eyelids from both eyes were everted, lobulated masses were present on the bulbar surface. The left third eyelid had a larger protrusion. There was no apparent associated ocular or systemic involvement. The tumor of left third eyelid was removed and referred for histological examination. Histologically, there were proliferations of lymphoid follicles surrounded by lymphoid cells forming a marginal zone. Those lymphoid cells occasionally infiltrated into conjunctival epithelium. A few apoptotic bodies with karyopyknotic and karyorrhexic nuclei were observed in the germinal center of lymphoid follicles. Mitotic figures were rare. On immunohistochemistry, tumor cells expressed CD79a but not CD3. A diagnosis of extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) of the third eyelid was established based on the histological and immunophenotypical features. At the 1-year follow-up, there was no evidence of recurrence of the mass at the area of excision of the left third eyelid and the remaining tumor of the right third eyelid was still a similar size. The dog still showed no significant findings, except those of the tumor, and no evidence of systemic involvement. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of MALT lymphoma of the third eyelid in a dog.