树突状细胞受曲霉菌抗原冲击后的变化

目的探讨树突状细胞(DCs)在曲霉菌免疫中的作用以及曲霉菌抗原冲击对DCs功能的影响。方法小鼠骨髓制备DCs,于小鼠尾静脉接种,以3H-TdR掺入法检测DCs刺激小鼠脾脏T细胞分化能力,ELISA方法检测IFN-γ和IL-12的浓度,电镜观察DCs的形态,同时进行DCs的表型测定。结果电镜下可见DCs细胞形态不规则,表面伸展出大量树突,与曲霉菌共同培养后胞内含有大量的烟曲霉孢子,部分孢子的膜被破坏;与烟曲霉孢子共培养24h后,DCs细胞表形CD40、CD80、CD86的表达明显增高,产生IL-12p70约(700.40±93.75)pg/ml,明显高于对照组(141.96±52.06)pg/ml;烟曲霉抗原冲击DCs回输小鼠的脾脏T细胞增殖能力明显增强,体外接受烟曲霉抗原24h产生IFN-γ(1084.33±238.04)pg/ml,明显高于单纯DCs接种小鼠的脾脏T细胞(345.98±32.75)pg/ml(p<0.01)。结论DCs能吞噬并破坏加热灭活的烟曲霉孢子,并趋于成熟,抗原呈递能力增加。     

NF-κB启动的炎症反应在小鼠侵袭性肺曲霉病肺损伤中的作用

为了探讨NF-κB启动的炎症反应在小鼠侵袭性肺曲霉病肺损伤中的作用,将小鼠分3组:正常组、正常 烟曲霉菌接种组、IPA模型组,小鼠鼻吸入烟曲霉菌第4天处死,取肺组织,肺组织切片经HE染色观察病理损伤;比色法测定肺组织MPO活性;免疫组化法评价肺组织NF-κBp65蛋白的活化:RT-PCR法检测肺组织TNF-α、IFN-γ和β-tublin mRNA的表达. 结果显示,正常健康组小鼠肺组织结构正常,未见炎症发生;正常 烟曲霉菌接种组小鼠肺组织有炎症细胞浸润,未见孢子萌芽;IPA模型组小鼠的肺组织病理损伤严重,可见炎症细胞浸润,孢子萌芽生成菌丝.正常 烟曲霉菌接种组和IPA模型组小鼠肺组织的TNF-α和IFN-γ mRNA的相对表达水平、NF-κB p65免疫组化评分和MPO活性均高于正常组小鼠(P<0.05):并且IPA模型组小鼠肺组织NF-κB p65免疫组化评分值和MPO活性均高于正常 烟曲霉菌接种组(P<0.05).结果提示,烟曲霉菌感染可激活小鼠肺组织NF-κB介导的炎症信号通路,诱导下游TNF-α和IFN-γ的表达,募集大量的中性粒细胞于感染组织,是导致IPA小鼠肺组织严重病理损伤的因素之一.     

体外制备和增殖烟曲霉特异性T细胞的研究

目的体外制备和增殖烟曲霉特异性T淋巴细胞。方法从健康志愿者外周抗凝血中分离并体外扩增DC,利用加热灭活的烟曲霉孢子作为抗原,体外共孵育制备烟曲霉孢子负载的DC,进一步将此成熟DC与源自同一个体的去除了DC细胞的外周血细胞共培养,体外诱导并扩增烟曲霉特异性T淋巴细胞。应用ELISPOT(酶联免疫斑点)技术检测活化T细胞IFN-γ的分泌情况,流式细胞仪检测细胞因子胞内合成情况,并分析功能细胞的类型和比例。结果 ELISPOT分析显示:PBMC+DC+Conidia实验组IFN-γ分泌(87.33±1.33/4.0×105)高于其他对照组,具有统计学意义(P0.05)。细胞因子流式细胞仪分析显示:PBMC+DC+Conidia组中,2.76%的细胞分泌IFN-γ,其中1.61%为CD4+T细胞,与各对照组相比具有统计学意义(P0.05)。获得的烟曲霉特异性T细胞可以在体外可进行大量增殖。结论本文结果显示烟曲霉孢子在体外可以作为变应原诱导产生烟曲霉特异性CD4+T细胞介导的Th1型免疫反应,为未来制备和扩增烟曲霉特异性T细胞及过继免疫治疗侵袭性曲霉病提供实验基础。     

CpG ODN对呼吸道合胞病毒诱导的哮喘小鼠动物模型的免疫治疗作用

目的　探讨Cp G ODN对呼吸道合胞病毒诱导的哮喘小鼠动物模型的免疫治疗作用。方法　用紫外线灭活的呼吸道合胞病毒致敏30只BAL B/ c小鼠后,分别注射生理盐水、地塞米松和Cp G ODN,流式细胞仪检测小鼠的外周血T淋巴细胞亚群,EL ISA法检测小鼠的外周血IL - 4、IFN-γ和总Ig E的含量,并观察肺组织病理变化。结果　Cp G组CD4 +T细胞所占百分比为( 6 9.35±6 .15 ) % ,CD4 +/ CD8+的比值为2 .92±0 .35 ,与哮喘模型组相比显著降低( P<0 .0 5 )。Cp G组IL- 4的含量为( 88.96±9.89) pg/ ml,与哮喘模型组相比明显降低( P<0 .0 5 ) ;IFN-γ的含量为( 4 6 .83±8.84 ) pg/ ml,与哮喘模型组相比显著上升( P<0 .0 5 ) ;总Ig E的含量为( 3.72±0 .6 7) IU/ml,与哮喘模型组相比明显降低( P<0 .0 5 )。肺组织炎症反应明显减轻。结论　Cp G ODN对用紫外线灭活的呼吸道合胞病毒诱导的哮喘小鼠动物模型具有较好的免疫治疗作用     

烟曲霉硫氧还蛋白还原酶对侵袭性曲霉病小鼠的免疫保护作用

目的探讨烟曲霉硫氧还蛋白还原酶(thioredoxin reductase,TR)对侵袭性曲霉病(invasive aspergillosis,IA)的免疫保护作用。方法 C57BL/6小鼠随机分为免疫组和对照组,免疫组小鼠用重组TR免疫2次。感染烟曲霉前用环磷酰胺和地塞米松对全部小鼠进行免疫抑制处理,通过气道穿刺法向气管内注入烟曲霉孢子悬液,建立IA疾病模型。观察两组小鼠的存活率、局部器官真菌载量、肺组织病理变化、肺泡灌洗液细胞分类计数,评估TR蛋白的免疫保护作用。结果存活率:免疫组小鼠7d存活率为64.7%,对照组为0。肺组织匀浆烟曲霉CFU中位数:存活小鼠为0,死亡小鼠为44(P25,P75为21,70)(P0.01)。组织病理学检观察:死亡小鼠肺肿胀出血、肺泡间隔增宽、大量炎症细胞聚集、组织灶状坏死,并有大量烟曲霉菌丝存在,而存活小鼠肺组织损伤程度轻,且组织间无菌丝。肺泡灌洗液涂片染色细胞计数显示:存活小鼠单个核细胞约占84.2%,中性粒细胞仅占15.8%;死亡小鼠单个核细胞占33.6%,中性粒细胞约占66.4%。结论烟曲霉重组蛋白TR能诱导小鼠产生抵抗IA的免疫保护力,是一个有潜力的保护性抗原。     

胞浆识别受体NODs及其信号通路在侵袭性肺曲霉病中的作用

【目的】研究天然免疫系统中胞浆识别受体NODs及其信号通路在小鼠侵袭性肺曲霉病(IPA)中的作用。【方法】小鼠随机分为正常对照组、正常+接种烟曲霉菌组(正常感染组)和免疫抑制+接种烟曲霉菌组(IPA组),经鼻吸入烟曲霉孢子后在不同时相点处死小鼠,无菌取肺组织分别进行病理切片,烟曲霉菌落计数,RT-PCR法、Western blot法动态检测小鼠感染烟曲霉菌过程中肺组织NOD1、NOD2、RIP2 mRNA表达,促炎细胞因子TNF-α含量的变化规律。【结果】鼻吸入烟曲霉菌后72 h时,IPA组肺组织出现严重炎症反应,并有大量的菌丝生成,同时各时相点的烟曲霉菌负荷均高于正常感染组;与正常感染组比较,IPA组NOD1、RIP2 mRNA持续低表达,而NOD2 mRNA则在感染最早期(24 h)异常高表达,而在随后的感染过程中一直处于低表达状态;正常小鼠感染烟曲霉菌后,肺组织中促炎细胞因子TNF-α在感染前期皆呈高表达,且最高表达量均出现在48 h或72 h,之后下降并恢复至正常水平。而IPA小鼠促炎症细胞因子TNF-α缓慢且低水平释放。【结论】NOD1、RIP2的表达受到长期抑制,NOD2在感染最早期的过度激活以及随后的抑制表达,引起促炎细胞因子低表达,可能导致了侵袭性肺曲霉的发生发展。     

不同免疫抑制剂对小鼠罹患侵袭性肺曲霉病的影响

目的比较两种免疫抑制状态造成侵袭性曲霉感染(IPA)后天然免疫反应的异同。方法清洁级雄性BALB/c小鼠,分别使用地塞米松(A组)及环磷酰胺(B组)预处理后气道接种烟曲霉孢子建立IPA模型。观察小鼠存活率,肺病理检查,评估肺部及肺外脏器真菌负荷;支气管肺泡灌洗液(BALF)检测促炎、抗炎细胞因子浓度。结果 A组小鼠平均生存期与B组比较有显著差异。病理提示A组小鼠肺组织有大量炎症细胞聚集;B组可见到典型的曲霉菌丝浸润性生长。B组小鼠肺部烟曲霉CFU、烟曲霉18srRNA较A组升高;B组肺外各脏器与A组比较均具有统计学差异。检测BALF中炎症因子:A组TNF-α未检测到,IL-10峰值在72h出现,IL-1α自第一天起即升高,第3天达峰值;B组TNF-α及IL-10在24h后均明显升高,于48h达峰值;IL-1α一直在低水平维持;B组与各组间比较,TNF-α、IL-1α及IL-10均有显著差异。A、B两组IL-1β表达在接种烟曲霉后均迅速升高,并一直在高水平维持,两组间无差异。结论不同预处理造成小鼠免疫抑制后建立IPA模型,激素组肺部出现明显的炎症反应;环磷酰胺组可出现显著的全身真菌播散。     

磷脂酶D缺失对小鼠抗烟曲霉感染过程的影响研究

目的揭示宿主磷脂酶D(phospholipase D,PLD)应对烟曲霉感染过程中的重要作用和可能机制。方法应用滴鼻方式使野生小鼠和磷脂酶D双基因敲除小鼠(pld1~(-/-)pld2~(-/-))感染烟曲霉孢子后,取小鼠肺组织、抽取支气管肺泡灌洗液,应用组织匀桨与菌落计数的方法检测小鼠肺组织中烟曲霉负荷,采用eBioscience公司的多因子检测试剂盒检测肺泡灌洗液中炎症因子分泌情况;分离两种小鼠的骨髓细胞并诱导分化为成熟巨噬细胞(BMDM),制霉菌素法检测其吞噬和杀死烟曲霉孢子的能力。结果感染烟曲霉孢子6 h后,pld1~(-/-)pld2~(-/-)小鼠肺部真菌负荷显著高于野生小鼠,其肺泡灌洗液和肺泡巨噬细胞中均存在大量孢子,肺泡灌洗液中炎症因子浓度显著升高;体外实验证明pld1~(-/-)pld2~(-/-)小鼠的BMDM细胞吞噬和杀死烟曲霉孢子的能力显著减弱。结论小鼠pld1基因和pld2基因同时敲除导致其巨噬细胞的吞噬和杀死烟曲霉孢子的能力显著减弱,进而可能降低小鼠抗烟曲霉感染的能力。同时机体可能通过分泌大量的炎症因子以招募其他免疫细胞杀灭烟曲霉孢子。     

哮喘豚鼠IFN-γ／IL-4失衡与IgE水平相关性研究

采用ELISA法、放免法和化学发光法分别观察哮喘豚鼠血清及肺组织匀浆中IFN-γ,IL-4,IgE的含量变化,以及IFN-γ/IL-4与IgE的相关性在哮喘发病机制中的关系和作用。结果表明:哮喘组血清及肺组织一浆中IL-4,IgE含量明显高于对照组(P<0.01),IFN-γ水平明显低于对照组(血清P<0.01;肺组织 P<0.05)。直线相关分析结果表明:IFN-γ,IL-4和IFN-γ/IL-4与IgE呈显著相关性,其中IFN-γ/IL-4与IgE呈显著负相关(血清中 P<0.05;肺组织匀浆中 P<0.01),提示IFN-γ/IL-4的失衡及IgE水平升高在哮喘发病中可能发挥重要作用。     

异源反应性NK细胞对骨髓移植小鼠脾脏Th1/Th2细胞亚群的影响

目的:观察异源反应性自然杀伤细胞(NK细胞)对骨髓移植小鼠脾脏辅助性T细胞Th1/Th2亚群的影响。方法:以BALB/c和CB6F1小鼠为受体,在γ射线照射后通过尾静脉输入C57BL/6J小鼠的骨髓细胞和脾脏单个核细胞,建立移植物抗宿主病模型;然后输入供体的NK细胞,检测受体小鼠脾脏中Th1/Th2淋巴细胞亚群和外周血中γ干扰素(IFN-γ)、白细胞介素10(IL-10)的变化。结果:与单纯输入骨髓细胞和单个核细胞组小鼠相比,输入异源反应性NK细胞后,BALB/c和CB6F1小鼠脾脏中Th1细胞比例均下降,Th2细胞比例均上升,CB6F1小鼠脾脏中Th2虽有升高但没有统计学意义;外周血中IL-10水平显著升高,IFN-γ的水平显著下降。结论:异源反应性NK细胞可能通过降低脾脏中Th1细胞亚群比例和升高Th2细胞亚群比例减轻移植物抗宿主病。     

Aspergillus nomius,a new aflatoxin-producing species related to Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus tamarii

Aspergillus nomius is described and represents a new aflatoxigenic species phenotypically similar to A. flavus. Strains examined were isolated from insects and agricultural commodities. Separation from A. flavus is based on the presence of indeterminate sclerotia and a lower growth temperature. Comparisons of DNA relatedness show A. nomius to have only relatively recently evolved from A. flavus and A. tamarii.     

Yellow Pigments of Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus awamori

Alkaline degradation of Aurasperone A, C₃₂H₂₆O₁₀, gave a binaphthyl (IIa), m.p. 255°C and acetone. (IIa) afforded a tetraacetate (IIb), C₃₂H₃₀O₁₂ m.p. 219°C and a tetramethyl ether (IId), C₂₈H₃₀O₈, m.p. 188°C. These facts along with the NMR spectra of aurasperone A and (IIb) confirm that aurasperone A is a dimeric 2-methyl-5-hydroxy-6,8-dimethoxy-4H-naphtho[2,3-b]pyran-4-one with asymmetric C-C linkage (7-10′ or 9-10′). The ether (IId) is not identical with 1,1′ ,3,3′ ?6,6′ ,8,8′-octamethoxy-4,4′-binaphthyl. Thus, it follows that (IId) is a 2,4′-binaphthyl and hence aurasperone A is 2,2′-dimethyl-5,5′- dihydroxy-6,6′,8,8′-tetrahydroxy-7,10′-bi[4H-naphtho[2,3-b]pyran-4-one] (I).     

Intracellular hydrolases of Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus flavus

When the distribution profile of hydrolases in mycelial homogenates and culture filtrates of A. parasiticus and A. flavus was examined, six hydrolytic enzymes viz. N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, aryl sulfatase, alkaline proteinase, cathepsin B, cathepsin D and aminopeptidase were detected in homogenate. The culture filtrates were devoid of any activity of these enzymes. The enzyme levels varied with the stage of incubation. The most abundant fungal exopeptidase showing preference for basic amino acid naphthylamides seems to be an aminopeptidase B. Incorporation of CEPA, an ethylene generating compound, stimulated the amino peptidase activity in the mycelium but inhibited the enzyme in vitro. The enzyme was also inhibited by different aflatoxins to varying degree. While aminopeptidase B was located intracellularly, a non-dialysable, heat-stable inhibitor of the enzyme was found to be secreted in the culture filtrate. This peptide inhibitor was however ineffective on the other enzymes.     

Bidirectional gene transfer between Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus nidulans

Abstract The rpmF-plsX-fabH gene cluster of Rhodobacter capsulatus homologous to that of Escherichia coli was identified. rpmF encodes ribosomal protein L32, plsX plays an undefined role in membrane lipid synthesis, and fabH encodes β-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthase III. The R. capsulatus plsX gene complemented a defect in an E. coli strain with the plsX50 mutation. Overproduction of the fabH gene product of R. capsulatus in E. coli resulted in dramatically increased β-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthase III activity. These results indicate that plsX and fabH apparently function the same in R. capsulatus as in E. coli .     

New taxa of Neosartorya and Aspergillus in Aspergillus section Fumigati

Three new species of Neosartorya and one new Aspergillus of section Fumigati are proposed using a polyphasic approach based on morphology, extrolite production and partial β-tubulin, calmodulin, and actin gene sequences. The phylogenetic analyses using the three genes clearly show that the taxa grouped separately from the known species and confirmed the phenotypic differences. Neosartorya denticulata is characterized by its unique denticulate ascospores with a prominent equatorial furrow; N. assulata by well developed flaps on the convex surface of the ascospores which in addition have two distinct equatorial crests and N. galapagensis by a funiculose colony morphology, short and narrow conidiophores and ascospores with two wide equatorial crests with a microtuberculate convex surface. Aspergillus turcosus can be distinguished by velvety, gray turquoise colonies and short, loosely columnar conidial heads. The four new taxa also have unique extrolite profiles, which contain the mycotoxins gliotoxin and viriditoxin in N. denticulate; apolar compounds provisionally named NEPS in N. assulata and gregatins in N. galapagensis. A. turcosus produced kotanins. N. denticulata sp. nov., N. assulata sp. nov., N. galapagensis sp. nov., and A. turcosus sp. nov. are described and illustrated. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Ochratoxin Production by the Aspergillus ochraceus Group and Aspergillus alliaceus

Ochratoxin A is a toxic and carcinogenic fungal secondary metabolite; its presence in foods is increasingly regulated. Various fungi are known to produce ochratoxins, but it is not known which species produce ochratoxins consistently and which species cause ochratoxin contamination of various crops. We isolated fungi in the Aspergillus ochraceus group (section Circumdati) and Aspergillus alliaceus from tree nut orchards, nuts, and figs in California. A total of 72 isolates were grown in potato dextrose broth and yeast extract-sucrose broth for 10 days at 30°C and tested for production of ochratoxin A in vitro by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Among isolates from California figs, tree nuts, and orchards, A. ochraceus and Aspergillus melleus were the most common species. No field isolates of A. ochraceus or A. melleus produced ochratoxin A above the level of detection (0.01 μg/ml). All A. alliaceus isolates produced ochratoxin A, up to 30 μg/ml. We examined 50,000 figs for fungal infections and measured ochratoxin content in figs with visible fungal colonies. Pooled figs infected with A. alliaceus contained ochratoxin A, figs infected with the A. ochraceus group had little or none, and figs infected with Penicillium had none. These results suggest that the little-known species A. alliaceus is an important ochratoxin-producing fungus in California and that it may be responsible for the ochratoxin contamination occasionally observed in figs.     

Ochratoxin production by the Aspergillus ochraceus group and Aspergillus alliaceus

Ochratoxin A is a toxic and carcinogenic fungal secondary metabolite; its presence in foods is increasingly regulated. Various fungi are known to produce ochratoxins, but it is not known which species produce ochratoxins consistently and which species cause ochratoxin contamination of various crops. We isolated fungi in the Aspergillus ochraceus group (section Circumdati) and Aspergillus alliaceus from tree nut orchards, nuts, and figs in California. A total of 72 isolates were grown in potato dextrose broth and yeast extract-sucrose broth for 10 days at 30 degrees C and tested for production of ochratoxin A in vitro by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Among isolates from California figs, tree nuts, and orchards, A. ochraceus and Aspergillus melleus were the most common species. No field isolates of A. ochraceus or A. melleus produced ochratoxin A above the level of detection (0.01 microg/ml). All A. alliaceus isolates produced ochratoxin A, up to 30 microg/ml. We examined 50,000 figs for fungal infections and measured ochratoxin content in figs with visible fungal colonies. Pooled figs infected with A. alliaceus contained ochratoxin A, figs infected with the A. ochraceus group had little or none, and figs infected with Penicillium had none. These results suggest that the little-known species A. alliaceus is an important ochratoxin-producing fungus in California and that it may be responsible for the ochratoxin contamination occasionally observed in figs.