黄玛草蛉幼虫对埃及吹绵蚧若虫的捕食功能和数值反应

本文研究了黄玛草蛉Mallada basalis (Walker)捕食埃及吹绵蚧Icerya aegyptiaca(Douglas)若虫的功能反应和数值反应。功能反应研究结果表明,黄玛草蛉2龄和3龄幼虫对埃及吹绵蚧若虫的捕食反应均属HollingⅡ型,拟合方程分别为Na=0.6885×No/1+0.6885×0.0433No和Na=1.2085×No/1+1.2085×0.0200No,相关系数R2分别为0.9867和0.9858,理论日最大捕食量分别为23.09和50.00。数值反应研究结果表明,不同埃及吹绵蚧若虫密度对黄玛草蛉的生长、发育、繁殖有着显著影响。随着猎物密度增大,黄玛草蛉幼虫发育速率、雌虫产卵量、孵化率及雌性比增大,成虫寿命增加,最后趋于稳定。埃及吹绵蚧若虫密度5、10、15、20、30头分别是黄玛草蛉幼虫存活、幼虫化蛹、成虫羽化、后代卵孵化及世代延续的临界值。猎物密度为30、40、50头时,黄玛草蛉能正常生长发育和繁殖,种群的性比、成虫寿命、产卵量及孵化率有一定的差异,但差异不显著。      

黄玛草蛉幼虫对草地贪夜蛾卵和低龄幼虫的捕食能力

【目的】明确本地优势天敌黄玛草蛉Mallada basalis对入侵我国的重大农业害虫草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda卵及低龄幼虫的捕食能力和生防潜力。【方法】在实验室条件下采用功能反应模型评价了黄玛草蛉2和3龄幼虫对草地贪夜蛾卵及1和2龄幼虫的捕食能力。【结果】黄玛草蛉幼虫对草地贪夜蛾卵和低龄幼虫的捕食量均随猎物密度的升高而增加,最后趋于捕食饱和状态,而其捕食率随猎物密度的升高而逐步下降,对不同发育阶段的草地贪夜蛾均表现为Ⅱ型功能反应。黄玛草蛉2龄幼虫对草地贪夜蛾卵及1和2龄幼虫的瞬时攻击率a分别为0.150, 0.084和0.094,处理时间Th分别为0.282, 0.333和0.519 h,理论日最大捕食量T/Th分别为85106粒、72072头和46.242头;黄玛草蛉3龄幼虫对草地贪夜蛾卵及1和2龄幼虫的瞬时攻击率分别为2.018, 0.288和0.259,处理时间分别为0.102, 0.311和0.375 h,理论日最大捕食量分别为235294粒、77170头和64000头。【结论】黄玛草蛉2和3龄幼虫对草地贪夜蛾卵和低龄幼虫均具较强的捕食能力,其中黄玛草蛉3龄幼虫比2龄幼虫具有更强的捕食效率。     

黄玛草蛉对木瓜粉蚧的捕食作用评价

为明确黄玛草蛉Mallada basalis(Walker)对木瓜粉蚧Paracoccus marginatus Williams and Granara de Willink的捕食作用,在实验室条件下观察了黄玛草蛉2龄、3龄幼虫对木瓜粉蚧2龄、3龄若虫及成虫的捕食选择偏好,同时采用捕食功能反应方法评价了黄玛草蛉2龄、3龄幼虫对木瓜粉蚧各虫态的捕食效能.结果表明,黄玛草蛉2龄、3龄幼虫偏好捕食木瓜粉蚧若虫,对木瓜粉蚧各虫态的捕食量均随着猎物密度的增加而增加符合HollingⅡ模型.其中,黄玛草蛉3龄幼虫具有较高的捕食能力,其对木瓜粉蚧2龄、3龄若虫及成虫的日最大捕食量分别为116头、81头和19头,a/Th值(a为瞬时攻击率,Th为处置单头猎物时间)分别为284.76、134.26和28.38.黄玛草蛉幼虫对猎物的寻找效应随猎物密度的增加而呈线性下降,且在相同猎物密度条件下,黄玛草蛉3龄幼虫对猎物的搜寻效应明显高于2龄幼虫.研究结果表明,黄玛草蛉对木瓜粉蚧具有较好的捕食能力.     

黄玛草蛉对两种蚜虫的捕食效能

实验室条件下研究了黄玛草蛉2龄与3龄幼虫对甘蓝蚜以及玉米蚜成虫的捕食功能反应。结果表明:黄玛草蛉2龄与3龄幼虫对2种蚜虫的捕食量均随着猎物密度的增加而增加,寻找效应随着猎物密度的增加而减小。不同龄期幼虫对2种蚜虫的捕食功能反应均符合HollingⅡ模型,黄玛草蛉2龄与3龄幼虫对玉米蚜最大理论日捕食量分别为120.48头、185.18头;黄玛草蛉2龄与3龄幼虫对甘蓝蚜最大理论日捕食量分别为60.60头、86.95头。在相同猎物种类下,黄玛草蛉3龄幼虫对2种蚜虫的捕食量均高于黄玛草蛉2龄幼虫;在相同猎物密度下,黄玛草蛉2龄幼虫与3龄幼虫对玉米蚜的捕食量均高于甘蓝蚜。     

黑肩绿盲蝽捕食褐飞虱卵的功能与数值反应

褐飞虱作为水稻的重要迁飞性害虫,至今未见有效的生物防治技术报道。黑肩绿盲蝽对褐飞虱卵及低龄若虫有较强的捕食能力,为评价黑肩绿盲蝽对褐飞虱的控害能力,研究了黑肩绿盲蝽若虫各虫期和雌雄成虫对褐飞虱卵的捕食功能反应与数值反应。功能反应研究结果表明,黑肩绿盲蝽对褐飞虱卵的捕食功能反应符合HollingⅡ型方程,捕食量在一定范围内随着猎物密度的增加而增加,若虫的捕食能力大于成虫;四龄若虫理论捕食量最大,为104.2粒卵/d。数值反应研究结果表明,不同褐飞虱卵密度对黑肩绿盲蝽的生长、发育、繁殖有着显著影响。随着猎物密度增大,黑肩绿盲蝽若虫发育速率、雌虫产卵量、孵化率及雌性比增大,成虫寿命减小,最后趋于稳定。猎物密度1、3、5卵/d分别是黑肩绿盲蝽若虫存活、成虫羽化及维持种群最低繁殖力的临界值。在天敌控害潜能的研究过程中,数值反应的研究目的在于探讨捕食者对猎物密度的依赖程度,探明能引起捕食者种群衰退的猎物密度临界值,为大田释放捕食者时增补替代寄主,增强捕食者持续控害能力提供理论依据。     

中华草蛉、龟纹瓢虫和异色瓢虫对B型烟粉虱的捕食功能反应

室内研究了中华草蛉Chrysopa sinicaTjeder、龟纹瓢虫Propylaea japonica(Thunberg)和异色瓢虫Leis axyridis(Pallas)对B型烟粉虱Bemisiatabaci(Gennadius)若虫的捕食功能反应和寻找效应。结果表明,3种天敌成虫和幼虫的捕食量均随着猎物密度的增加而上升,当猎物增加到一定水平,捕食量趋向稳定,捕食功能反应曲线符合HollingⅡ型方程。异色瓢虫、中华草蛉和龟纹瓢虫成虫和幼虫对烟粉虱若虫的捕食量差异显著,理论最大日捕食量分别为417,263,156头和625,238,108头。3种天敌对烟粉虱若虫的寻找效应随着天敌密度的增加而下降,干扰作用逐渐增强,其寻找效应表现为龟纹瓢虫(0.5656)>异色瓢虫(0.4371)>中华草蛉(0.4029),对烟粉虱的控制能力表现为异色瓢虫>龟纹瓢虫>中华草蛉。     

不同龄期的大草蛉对桃蚜的捕食作用

大草蛉Chrysopa pallens(Rambur)是我国分布较广、捕食能力较强的天敌昆虫。为明确大草蛉对桃蚜Myzus percicae潜在的控制能力,在室内研究了大草蛉不同龄期幼虫和成虫对桃蚜的捕食作用,以及种内干扰对大草蛉捕食的影响。结果表明：25℃恒温条件下,大草蛉成虫和幼虫对桃蚜的捕食功能反应可拟合HollingⅡ圆盘方程,在24 h内大草蛉成虫、1龄幼虫、2龄幼虫和3龄幼虫对桃蚜理论最大捕食量分别为370.4头、21.5头、112.4头和217.4头。大草蛉成虫和幼虫对桃蚜的捕食量均随着猎物密度的增加而增加,当桃蚜数量增加到150头后,大草蛉成虫和幼虫捕食量的增加速度明显减缓。成虫及幼虫对桃蚜的搜寻效应随着猎物密度的增加而降低,内干扰作用随着大草蛉虫龄的增加而增强。试验结果表明大草蛉对桃蚜具有较强的控害能力,对研究桃蚜生物防治技术有重要参考价值。     

广重粉蛉对烟粉虱的捕食作用研究

【目的】广重粉蛉Semidalis aleyrodiformis(Stephens)是烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci(Gennadius)的重要天敌昆虫之一,为了明确其控制潜能,本文研究了广重粉蛉对烟粉虱的捕食作用。【方法】在室内温度(26±1)℃,相对湿度75%±5%,光照周期L∶D=14∶10条件下,对广重粉蛉幼虫捕食烟粉虱各个虫态的捕食作用进行研究。并且评估了广重粉蛉幼虫对烟粉虱卵、广重粉蛉成虫对烟粉虱若虫和伪蛹的捕食功能反应模型,同时,对广重粉蛉成虫捕食烟粉虱卵的干扰反应方程进行了拟合。【结果】广重粉蛉幼虫对烟粉虱的捕食量随着广重粉蛉龄期的增大而增大。广重粉蛉幼虫对烟粉虱卵的功能反应和广重粉蛉成虫对烟粉虱各个虫态的捕食功能反应都呈HollingⅡ型。随着广重粉蛉龄期的增加,广重粉蛉对烟粉虱卵的寻找效率(a)逐渐增加,处置时间(Th)依次缩短;而广重粉蛉成虫对不同龄期烟粉虱的功能反应是随着猎物龄期的增加,寻找效率逐渐降低,处置时间(Th)依次延长。广重粉蛉自身密度方程为E=0.127 9×P-0.317 3,干扰系数为0.317 3。【结论】研究表明,广重粉蛉4龄幼虫和雌成虫对烟粉虱有较好的捕食作用,控害潜力最大。     

大草蛉对草地贪夜蛾捕食潜能研究

草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda JE Smith于2018年底至2019年初入侵我国后,迅速扩散,并在半年内对西南地区的玉米生产造成为害。田间调查和观测研究表明,田间虽然可见该害虫的天敌,但由于天敌种群数量低,无法形成有效控害的模式。为研究大草蛉对草地贪夜蛾的控害潜能,本研究进行了捕食功能反应试验。结果表明,大草蛉成虫对草地贪夜蛾卵以及大草蛉3龄幼虫对草地贪夜蛾1龄幼虫的捕食效应均能够很好的拟合HollingⅡ功能反应模型。其中,大草蛉成虫对贪夜蛾卵的理论日最大捕食量、瞬时攻击率和处理时间分别为1115.56头、1.004和0.0009 d。大草蛉幼虫对贪夜蛾低龄幼虫的理论日最大捕食量、瞬时攻击率和处理时间分别为358头、1.074和0.003 d。结果表明大草蛉具备对草地贪夜蛾卵和低龄幼虫进行有效控害的潜力,为应用天敌昆虫防治草地贪夜蛾提供了理论依据。     

普通草蛉幼虫对麦二叉蚜和麦长管蚜的捕食功能反应与搜寻效应

[目的]为评价普通草蛉Chrysoperla carnea幼虫对麦二叉蚜Schizaphis graminum和麦长管蚜Sitobion avenae的捕食反应和选择偏好,以明确普通草蛉幼虫对这2种蚜虫的控害能力.[方法]室内设置不同密度的麦二叉蚜和麦长管蚜,统计普通草蛉2龄和3龄幼虫对2种猎物的捕食量,研究普通草蛉幼虫对麦二叉蚜和麦长管蚜的捕食功能反应和搜寻效应.[结果]相同猎物密度下,普通草蛉2龄、3龄幼虫对麦二叉蚜的捕食量均低于麦长管蚜且存在显著性差异,对2种小麦蚜虫的捕食功能反应均拟合Holling Ⅱ功能反应模型和Holling Ⅲ功能反应新模型.3龄幼虫对麦二叉蚜和麦长管蚜的瞬时攻击率分别为1.089和1.106,大于2龄幼虫对猎物的瞬时攻击率,同一龄期草蛉幼虫对麦长管蚜的瞬时攻击率及日最大捕食量大于麦二叉蚜,2龄和3龄幼虫对麦长管蚜的处理时间为0.005 d和0.004 d,均小于对麦二叉蚜的处理时间.普通草蛉幼虫对麦长管蚜的最佳寻找密度高于麦二叉蚜,其中2龄普通草蛉幼虫捕食麦长管蚜的最佳寻找密度最高,为39.200.普通草蛉幼虫对小麦蚜虫的搜寻效应随猎物密度增加而降低,对麦长管蚜的搜寻效应高于麦二叉蚜,麦长管蚜搜寻效应的下降趋势大于麦二叉蚜.[结论]普通草蛉幼虫对麦二叉蚜和麦长管蚜有较大的控害潜能,对于麦长管蚜的取食及控制能力高于麦二叉蚜.     

结缕草对重金属镉的生理响应

采用水培的方法研究了不同浓度的Cd²⁺对结缕草叶片枯黄程度的影响,结果表明5mg/L、10mg/L和30mg/L Cd²⁺处理对结缕草叶片的枯黄比例无显著影响;以10mg/L 的Cd²⁺处理结缕草植株,研究了结缕草对镉的生理响应。与对照相比,Cd²⁺处理30d时结缕草叶片的超氧阴离子自由基(O^-₂·)含量、丙二醛(MDA)含量和相对电导率(RC)显著升高,升高幅度分别为58.69%、38.52%和68.69%,表明Cd²⁺对结缕草叶片产生了氧化胁迫。与对照相比,Cd²⁺处理30d时最大量子产量(F_v/F_m)和实际量子产量(F_v'/F_m')分别显著下降3.90%和11.36%;处理20d时实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ)和相对电子传递速率(rETR)分别显著下降22.22%、22.66%,处理30d时分别显著上升12.5%、18.12%;处理20d时光化学猝灭系数(q^p)显著下降14.29%,非光化学猝灭系数(NPQ)则显著上升38.54%,表明结缕草叶片的光反应机构受到了伤害,而光保护能力得到了提高。与对照相比,Cd²⁺处理下超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性先升高后降低,而过氧化物酶(POD)活性先降低后升高;脯氨酸、可溶性糖含量升高,处理30d时可溶性糖含量显著上升63.35%;处理前20d时可溶性蛋白的含量高于对照,处理30d时却低于对照。随着Cd²⁺处理时间的增加,结缕草地下部Cd含量逐渐升高;地上部Cd含量先升高后降低,差异显著;处理20d时地上部镉含量最高,转运系数最高,达到45.84%;处理10d时镉在结缕草地上部的分布比例小于地下部,而处理20d、30d时地上部镉的分布比例占优势,表明结缕草具备修复植物的潜质。镉在结缕草地下部水溶态所占比例最大,其次是氯化钠和醋酸提取态;与地下部不同,结缕草地上部醋酸提取态镉的含量要高于氯化钠提取态。综上,结缕草对Cd²⁺具有一定的耐受性。     

Giardia duodenalis: Kinetics of cyst elimination and the systemic humoral and intestinal secretory immune responses in gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) experimentally infected

This study aimed to determine the pre-patent period and to evaluate the kinetics of cyst elimination and the systemic humoral (IgA, IgG₁, IgG_2a, IgM, IgE) and intestinal secretory (IgA) immune responses in gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) experimentally innoculated with different doses of Giardia duodenalis trophozoites. Forty-eight animals aged 6-8 weeks were used, equally distributed among six groups, five groups innoculated with different doses of trophozoites (10¹, 10², 10³, 10⁴, 10⁵) and one control (non-infected) group. Coproparasitological examinations were carried out daily up to 91 days after inoculation (d.a.i.) to determine the pre-patent period and the kinetics of cyst elimination. Blood and stool samples were weekly collected for antibody assays. The pre-patent period was observed from the 9 d.a.i. onwards, with intermittent elimination of variable quantities of cysts up to 27 d.a.i.. All infected gerbils, irrespective of the dose received, were able to mount systemic humoral immune responses as evidenced by specific IgM titers from 7 to 28 d.a.i., corresponding to the peak of cyst elimination, followed by high and persistent IgG1 titers. Intestinal secretory responses were also seen with two peaks of fecal IgA titers, corresponding to IgM and IgG1response peaks, respectively. In conclusion, systemic and intestinal humoral immune responses were related to the control of giardiasis in this experimental model.     

Local immune response against larvae of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in Bos taurus indicus and Bos taurus taurus cattle

Bos taurus indicus cattle are less susceptible to infestation with Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus than Bos taurus taurus cattle but the immunological basis of this difference is not understood. We compared the dynamics of leukocyte infiltrations (T cell subsets, B cells, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-expressing cells, granulocytes) in the skin near the mouthparts of larvae of R. microplus in B. t. indicus and B. t. taurus cattle. Previously naïve cattle were infested with 50,000 larvae (B. t. indicus) or 10,000 larvae (B. t. taurus) weekly for 6 weeks. One week after the last infestation all of the animals were infested with 20,000 larvae of R. microplus. Skin punch biopsies were taken from all animals on the day before the primary infestation and from sites of larval attachment on the day after the first, second, fourth and final infestations. Infiltrations with CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and γδ T cells followed the same pattern in both breeds, showing relatively little change during the first four weekly infestations, followed by substantial increases at 7 weeks post-primary infestation. There was a tendency for more of all cell types except granulocytes to be observed in the skin of B. t. indicus cattle but the differences between the two breeds were consistently significant only for γδ T cells. Granulocyte infiltrations increased more rapidly from the day after infestation and were higher in B. t. taurus cattle than in B. t. indicus. Granulocytes and MHC class II-expressing cells infiltrated the areas closest to the mouthparts of larvae. A large volume of granulocyte antigens was seen in the gut of attached, feeding larvae.     

Partial protective responses induced by a recombinant cysteine proteinase from Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis in a murine model of cutaneous leishmaniasis

A 500 bp fragment encoding an isoform of cysteine proteinase from Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis was subcloned and expressed in the pHis vector, resulting in a recombinant protein of 24 kDa, rLacys24. In Western blots of L. (L.) amazonensis extracts, antibodies directed to rLacys24 recognized a cysteine proteinase isoform of 30 kDa. Analysis by fluorescence-activated cell sorter showed a significantly higher expression of CD8⁺ lymphocytes in animals immunized with rLacys24 plus CFA, whereas a low expression of CD4⁺ lymphocytes was observed in these animals. The cytotoxicity of lymphocytes isolated from mice immunized with rLacys24 plus CFA on L. (L.) amazonensis-infected macrophages was significantly higher than that observed in the presence of lymphocytes from control animals. Immunization of BALB/c mice with rLacys24 plus CFA resulted in a low but significant decrease of foot lesions after challenge with L. (L.) amazonensis compared to those exhibited by control mice.     

Predator-prey dynamics between recently established stone crabs (Menippe spp.) and oyster prey (Crassostrea virginica)

Range expansion and population establishment of individual species can have significant impacts on previously established food webs and predator-prey dynamics. The stone crab (Menippe spp.) is found throughout southwestern North Atlantic waters, from North Carolina through the Gulf of Mexico and the Central American Caribbean, including the Greater Antilles. Recent observations suggest that stone crabs have become better established on certain oyster reefs in North Carolina than in the early 1900s when they we first observed in NC. To assess the predatory impact of stone crabs on oysters, we (1) quantified stone crab densities on subtidal oyster reefs in Pamlico Sound, NC using scuba surveys, and (2) conducted laboratory predation experiments to assess the functional response of stone crabs to varying densities of oysters. We then (3) analyzed previously unpublished functional response data on another important oyster predator, the mud crab Panopeus herbstii. Finally, we (4) compared and contrasted potential predatory impacts of stone, mud and blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus). The functional response data and analyses for both stone crabs and mud crabs were consistent with a type II functional response. Mud crabs, on a m² basis, inflicted the highest proportional mortality on oysters over a 24 hour period, followed by stone and then blue crabs. Proportional mortality did not vary significantly with oyster size; however, relatively small and large oysters were consumed disproportionately less than medium-sized oysters, likely due to the mechanical inability of stone crabs to handle small oysters, and the inability to crush large oysters. Although stone crabs appear to be established in Pamlico Sound at densities equivalent to densities in other systems such as the U.S. Florida Panhandle, their predatory activities on oysters are not expected to have as significant a negative impact on oyster populations compared to other resident predators such as mud crabs.     

Thymineless death is inhibited by CsrA in Escherichia coli lacking the SOS response

Thymineless death (TLD) is the rapid loss of colony-forming ability in bacterial, yeast and human cells starved for thymine, and is the mechanism of action of common chemotherapeutic drugs. In Escherichia coli, significant loss of viability during TLD requires the SOS replication-stress/DNA-damage response, specifically its role in inducing the inhibitor of cell division, SulA. An independent RecQ- and RecJ-dependent TLD pathway accounts for a similarly large additional component of TLD, and a third SOS- and RecQ/J-independent TLD pathway has also been observed. Although two groups have implicated the SOS-response in TLD, an SOS-deficient mutant strain from an earlier study was found to be sensitive to thymine deprivation. We performed whole-genome resequencing on that SOS-deficient strain and find that, compared with the SOS-proficient control strain, it contains five mutations in addition to the SOS-blocking lexA(Ind⁻) mutation. One of the additional mutations, csrA, confers TLD sensitivity specifically in SOS-defective strains. We find that CsrA, a carbon storage regulator, reduces TLD in SOS- or SulA-defective cells, and that the increased TLD that occurs in csrA⁻ SOS-defective cells is dependent on RecQ. We consider a hypothesis in which the modulation of nucleotide pools by CsrA might inhibit TLD specifically in SOS-deficient (SulA-deficient) cells.     

Fluorescent differential display analysis of Lactobacillus sakei strains under stress conditions

Lactobacillus (Lb.) sakei is widely used as starter in the production process of Italian fermented sausages and its growth and survival are affected by various factors such as temperature, pH and salt concentration. We studied the behaviour of Lb. sakei strains under various growth conditions relative to acid, osmotic and heat stress treatments by a novel fluorescent differential display (FDD) technique. This study obtained the development and the optimization of a technique that allows the identification of genome expression changes, associated with differential microbial behaviour under different stress conditions with a better stress response definition and a better discrimination of starter cultures. DNA sequence information from the FDD products provided an important tool to assess and observe the response to a variety of environmental stimuli and the adaptation to bacterial stress.Our work provided an innovative FDD method, with a high level of reproducibility and quality for studying and probing the knowledge of the relation between differential genome expression and different stresses tolerance.     

The strepsipteran endoparasite Xenos vesparum alters the immunocompetence of its host, the paper wasp Polistes dominulus

It is unexplained how strepsipteran insects manipulate the physiology of their hosts in order to undergo endoparasitic development without being entrapped by the innate immune defences of the host. Here we present pioneering work that aimed to explore for the first time several components of the cellular and humoral immune response among immature stages of the paper wasp Polistes dominulus, in both unparasitized insects and after infection by the strepsipteran endoparasite Xenos vesparum. We carried out hemocyte counts, phagocytosis assays in vitro and antibacterial response in vivo. On the whole, hemocyte load does not seem to be drastically affected by parasitization: a non-significant increase in hemocyte numbers was observed in parasitized wasps as respect to control, while the two dominant hemocyte types were present with similar proportions in both groups. On the other hand, phagocytosis was significantly reduced in hemocytes from parasitized wasps while the antibacterial response seemed to be less effective in control. These somewhat unexpected results are discussed, along with the implications of a multiple approach in immune response studies.     

Neospora caninum: Cloning and expression of a gene coding for cytokine-inducing profilin

Profilins are actin-binding proteins that in Toxoplasma gondii stimulate innate immunity in mice by binding Toll-like receptors (TLR) on dendritic cells (DC) leading to release of inflammatory cytokines, primarily IL-12 and IFN-γ. The purpose of the present study was to characterize Neospora caninum profilin, termed NcProfilin. Recombinant NcProfilin was purified by affinity chromatography, and used to prepare specific antisera to allow characterization of native NcProfilin antigen in N. caninum tachyzoites. By immunoblotting, recombinant NcProfilin is 22 kDa, and is similar in size to the respective 22 kDa native protein. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy localized native NcProfilin to the apical end of N. caninum tachyzoites. Incubation of recombinant NcProfilin with spleen cells from BALB/c mice induced release of IFN-γ. Also, injection of BALB/c mice with purified rNcProfilin elicited a strong IFN-γ and IL-12 responses at 6 and 24 h after injection indicating that NcProfilin may be an important protein in regulation of cytokine responses to N. caninum.     

Neospora caninum: Early immune response of rat mixed glial cultures after tachyzoites infection

Neospora caninum causes neurologic disease in dogs and abortion in cattle. Little is known about the immune response of the CNS against this protozoan. The aim of this study was to evaluate production of IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and NO in rat mixed glial cell cultures infected by N. caninum. IFN-γ was not observed. The mean cytokine released after 24 and 72 h of infection were 3.8 ± 0.6 and 3.7 ± 0.6 pg TNF-α/mg protein and 2.7 ± 0.69 and 4.1 ± 0.64 pg IL-10/mg protein, respectively, and more than 8.0 pg IL-6/mg protein for both time points. NO levels increased 24 h post-infection (2.3 ± 0.8 pg/mg protein) until 72 h (4.2 ± 1.1 pg/mg protein) and the number of tachyzoites reduced with the time. Our results show high levels of regulatory cytokines that may suppress the harmful effects of IFN-γ; high levels of TNF-α and NO may represent an effective response by infected glial cells against N. caninum.