The innate immune response to Aspergillus fumigatus

Despite the development of new treatments, the mortality due to invasive pulmonary aspergillosis remains above 50%, reaching 95% in certain situations. The battle against Aspergillus fumigatus involves several components of the pulmonary innate immune system: cells, mediators, and natural antifungal molecules involved in the recognition and elimination of the fungus, thereby preventing colonization of the respiratory system.With the 10,000–15,000 l of air we inhale each day, the lungs are constantly exposed to a wide range of microorganisms, such as A. fumigatus. This fungus is ubiquitous in the environment and can release large numbers of spores able, due to their small size, to penetrate the respiratory tract. The spores of A. fumigatus, like any other pathogen, are then confronted with the innate immune system, a constitutive defense system that is permanently active and tightly regulated. The various elements of the pulmonary innate immune system—physical and cellular barriers and soluble mediators—are involved in the recognition and elimination of pathogens, thereby preventing colonization of the respiratory system. Consequently, the presence of spores in immunocompetent hosts is completely innocuous, because these spores are normally eliminated. However, changes in one of the components of the defense system may lead to the development of pulmonary infections. Thus, in immunocompromised individuals, the spores are able to develop and cause pulmonary mycoses. These mycoses, known as aspergillosis, are highly variable, with the range of presentations extending from an allergy-type illness, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergilloses, to a very serious generalized and frequently fatal infection: invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA).     

禽沙门菌诱导宿主免疫应答的特性

沙门菌病(Salmonellosis)是全世界最普遍的食源性疾病之一,不仅对养殖业造成经济损失,还对人类安全构成威胁。禽沙门菌感染肠道后,可诱导肠上皮细胞表达多种TLRs和炎症反应的发生,在分泌的趋化因子作用下免疫效应细胞迁移到感染部位。细菌通过肠上皮细胞屏障后被巨噬细胞或树突状细胞吞噬,其中巨噬细胞是沙门菌的主要定殖场所。天然免疫系统将抗原递呈给淋巴细胞后,机体能够在2–3周内通过以Th1为主的免疫应答清除在肠道和深层组织中的沙门菌。而宿主特异性血清型鸡白痢沙门菌从肠道侵入后,在肝脾和其他器官中定殖,进而引发全身感染。早期感染阶段不会引起肠道炎症反应,主要诱导以Th2为主的免疫应答,而Th1型应答相对较弱,有利于鸡白痢沙门菌在机体内的持续存在和感染。本文围绕禽沙门菌的致病机理和免疫应答特性进行阐述,尤其对鸡白痢沙门菌免疫逃逸和持续载菌的特性进行深入分析,为禽沙门菌病的防控提供新靶标和新见解。     

猪肺炎支原体感染诱导的固有免疫应答研究进展

猪肺炎支原体是引起猪支原体肺炎的病原。由于缺乏成熟的猪肺炎支原体感染动物模型,使得猪肺炎支原体相关的抗感染免疫研究进展较为缓慢。本文从猪肺炎支原体感染后的炎症反应、固有免疫系统对猪肺炎支原体的识别、固有免疫细胞的作用、补体系统、抗菌肽、自噬以及细胞凋亡7个方面进行综述,旨在阐明固有免疫系统各组分在猪肺炎支原体感染中发挥的作用的研究进展,并对今后猪肺炎支原体感染的固有免疫应答研究的重点方向进行展望。     

Role of lipopolysaccharide susceptibility in the innate immune response to Salmonella typhimurium infection: LPS, a primary target for recognition of Gram-negative bacteria

Lipopolysaccharide is an important recognition marker by virtue of which the innate immune system senses and reacts against Gram-negative bacteria invading the LPS susceptible host. This review deals with the factors affecting LPS susceptibility and with the role of the latter in the course and outcome of Salmonella typhimurium infection.     

High efficiency transformation of Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella typhi by electroporation

Summary Salmonella typhimurium and S. typhi were transformd with high efficiency by electroporation. Transformation efficiencies of up to 10¹⁰ transformants per g of pBR322 were obtained. In contrast to chemical transformation methods, neither the smooth lipopolysaccharide of S. typhimurium nor the Vi capsular polysaccharide of S. typhi greatly affected transformation efficiency. The introduction of a galE mutation slightly improved transformation efficiency in S. typhimurium (< tenfold) while the Vi antigen of S. typhi had no detectable effect. The transformation efficiency of S. typhimurium with DNA derived from Escherichia coli was increased greatly by the removal of the hsd restriction system (100-fold). Under these conditions electroporation can be used for the routine and direct transformation of Salmonella strains with partially purified (alkaline lysis) plasmid DNA from E. coli.     

The Plasmodium parasite—a ‘new’ challenge for insect innate immunity

Though lacking adaptive immunity, insects possess a powerful innate immune system, a genome-encoded defence machinery used to confront infections. Studies in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster revealed a remarkable capacity of the innate immune system to differentiate between and subsequently respond to different bacteria and fungi. However, hematophagous compared to non-hematophagous insects encounter additional blood-borne infectious agents, such as parasites and viruses, during their lifetime. Anopheles mosquitoes become infected with the malaria parasite Plasmodium during feeding on infected human hosts and may then transmit the parasite to new hosts during subsequent bites. Whether Anopheles has developed mechanisms to confront these infections is the subject of this review. Initially, we review our current understanding of innate immune reactions and give an overview of the Anopheles immune system as revealed through comparative genomic analyses. Then, we examine and discuss the capacity of mosquitoes to recognize and respond to infections, especially to Plasmodium, and finally, we explore approaches to investigate and potentially utilize the vector immune competence to prevent pathogen transmission. Such approaches constitute a new challenge for insect immunity research, a challenge for global health.     

丛枝菌根真菌响应桉树茄科雷尔氏菌侵染进程基因的筛选与鉴定

【背景】桉树(Eucalyptus)青枯病危害严重,丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)与桉树共生影响桉树对青枯病的抗性,而AMF响应桉树青枯菌侵染的机制仍不清楚。【目的】探索AMF响应桉树茄科雷尔氏菌(Ralstonia solanacearum)的侵染机制。【方法】以非菌根化和异形根孢囊霉(Rhizophagus irregularis)菌根化巨桉(Eucalyptus grandis)分别受茄科雷尔氏菌侵染0、24、48和96 h接种后(hour post-inoculated, hpi)的根系组织为研究对象,基于转录组测序筛选和鉴定菌根化巨桉根系中异形根孢囊霉响应茄科雷尔氏菌侵染的基因信息。【结果】与对应非菌根化桉树受茄科雷尔氏菌侵染的时间点相比,菌根化桉树中异形根孢囊霉响应青枯菌侵染显著差异表达基因为3 382–5 989个,随青枯侵染时间进程的增加,异形根孢囊霉特异性响应茄科雷尔氏菌侵染差异表达基因数量逐渐增多。茄科雷尔氏菌侵染24 hpi时,异形根孢囊霉显著富集共生体生长、孢子形成和凋亡信号通路、铁载体等相关基因;茄科雷尔氏菌侵...     

鼠伤寒沙门氏菌baeR过表达株的构建及其耐药性

[背景]鼠伤寒沙门氏菌（Salmonella typhimurium）是一种重要的人兽共患病原菌,其多重耐药性问题日益严重,双组分系统可调控鼠伤寒沙门氏菌的耐药性。[目的]通过构建鼠伤寒沙门氏菌baeR过表达株及回补株探究BaeSR双组分系统对鼠伤寒沙门氏菌耐药性的影响。[方法]在BaeSR双组分系统和AcrB外排泵双缺失株（CRΔbaeSRΔacrB）的基础上构建baeR过表达株（CRpbaeRΔbaeSRΔacrB）及baeR回补株（CRcbaeRΔbaeSRΔacrB）,测定双缺失株、回补株和过表达株的最小抑菌浓度（minimum inhibitory concentration,MIC）,并对其生长特性、生物膜形成能力及运动性进行分析。采用转录组学技术筛选与耐药相关的差异表达基因,RT-qPCR验证耐药相关基因。[结果]构建了鼠伤寒沙门氏菌baeR过表达株和baeR回补株。与双缺失株相比,过表达株对氧氟沙星、恩诺沙星、氟苯尼考、乙酰甲喹、头孢他啶、头孢噻呋、阿莫西林和氨苄西林的MIC分别升高2-256倍,对大观霉素、安普霉素的MIC下降了50%;与双缺失株相比,回补株对头孢他啶...     

Styrax japonica supplementation diet enhances the innate immune response in Epinephelus bruneus against bacterial and protozoan infections

Kelp grouper, Epinephelus bruneus, fed for 30 days with 0% (control), 0.1%, 1.0%, and 2.0% of Styrax japonica supplementation diets, led to reductions in mortality after being challenged with a bacterium (Vibrio harveyi) and a ciliate protozoan (Uronema marinum). The enriched diets significantly increased the survival rate as compared to the controls. The phagocytic and respiratory activities were significantly increased in kelp groupers given 1.0% and 2.0% enriched diets. The complement activity, lysozyme activity, serum bactericidal activity, and total protein level significantly increased with any enriched diet against the pathogens; however antiprotease activity and myeloperoxidase levels significantly increased only with 1.0% and 2.0% enriched diets while the α2-macroglobulin level was significantly enhanced with 1.0% enriched diet. The study suggests that incorporation of S. japonica at 1.0% and 2.0% level in the diet significantly enhances the immune responses in the kelp grouper E. bruneus against V. harveyi and U. marinum.     

沙门菌毒力岛引发持续性感染机制的研究进展

沙门菌是一种重要的人兽共患食源性病原菌。其感染宿主后可以凭借独特的免疫逃逸机制逃避宿主免疫系统的清除,潜伏在宿主体内1年至终身不等,从而建立持续性感染。沙门菌持续性感染与毒力岛密切相关,尤其是沙门菌毒力岛（Salmonella pathogenicity islands,SPIs） SPI-1和SPI-2。SPI-1效应蛋白SipB和SipC等以不同的途径影响细菌入侵,诱导细胞自噬或者凋亡;而SPI-2效应蛋白SseI和SseL等可以通过调控不同的信号通路协助沙门菌的胞内存活,为沙门菌持续性感染的发生和发展提供条件。本文主要阐述SipB和SseI等毒力岛效应蛋白在沙门菌持续性感染过程中的作用,同时总结了SPI-6、SPI-7和SPI-19等毒力岛的作用,以期为研究沙门菌持续性感染提供新思路。     

The immunobiology of the innate response to Toxoplasma gondii

Toxoplasma gondii is a unique intracellular parasite. It can infect a variety of cells in virtually all warm-blooded animals. It has a worldwide distribution and, overall, around one-third of people are seropositive for the parasite, with essentially the entire human population being at risk of infection. For most people, T. gondii causes asymptomatic infection but the parasite can cause serious disease in the immunocompromised and, if contracted for the first time during pregnancy, can cause spontaneous abortion or congenital defects, which have a substantial emotional, social and economic impact. Toxoplasma gondii provokes one of the most potent innate, pro-inflammatory responses of all infectious disease agents. It is also a supreme manipulator of the immune response so that innate immunity to T. gondii is a delicate balance between the parasite and its host involving a coordinated series of cellular interactions involving enterocytes, neutrophils, dendritic cells, macrophages and natural killer cells. Underpinning these interactions is the regulation of complex molecular reactions involving Toll-like receptors, activation of signalling pathways, cytokine production and activation of anti-microbial effector mechanisms including generation of reactive nitrogen and oxygen intermediates.     

Expression of Zkrml2, a homologue of the Krml1/val segmentation gene, during embryonic patterning of the zebrafish (Danio rerio)

We have identified Zkrml2, a novel homologue of the segmentation gene Krml/val in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Zkrml2 shows 72% and 92% identity in its basic leucine zipper domain with mouse Krml1 and zebrafish val, respectively. Zkrml2 is expressed coincident with MyoD throughout the somites starting at the three somite stage, becomes restricted to the dermomyotome, and subsequently disappears. Transient expression is also detected in the reticulospinal and oculomotor neurons. Zkrml2 maps to the Oregon linkage group 11 (Boston Linkage group 14) with no mapped zebrafish mutations nearby.     

鼠伤寒沙门菌VI型分泌系统效应因子Rhs生物学特性分析

【背景】细菌的Ⅵ型分泌系统作为杀死真核捕食者或原核竞争对手的“武器”,其杀伤作用是通过释放有毒物质即效应因子来实现。尽管已发现一些效应因子,但大多数效应因子的功能仍然未知。【目的】研究rhs基因编码的效应因子Rhs对鼠伤寒沙门菌生物学特性的影响。【方法】利用Red同源重组的方法构建鼠伤寒沙门菌rhs基因缺失株及相应的基因回补株。通过试验分析比较亲本株与缺失株、回补株在生化特性、生物被膜形成、耐药性、细菌间竞争、抗血清补体杀菌能力、组织载菌量及感染小鼠后炎症因子IL-18、IL-1β释放量上的差异。【结果】效应因子Rhs不影响鼠伤寒沙门菌的生化代谢、生物被膜形成、耐药性及抗血清补体杀菌能力。细菌种间竞争试验中,基因缺失株CVCC541Δrhs1、CVCC541Δrhs2和CVCC541Δrhs1-2的竞争指数(competition index,CI)值分别为0.85、0.77和0.87,毒力均被轻度致弱。体内组织载菌量试验中,CVCC541Δrhs1、CVCC541Δrhs2和CVCC541Δrhs1-2基因缺失株在小鼠肝脏和脾脏中的细菌数均较亲本株明显下降(P<0.05);机体...     

LncRNA13164通过ace-miR-4968-y调节中华蜜蜂幼虫对蜜蜂球囊菌侵染的免疫应答

【目的】长链非编码RNA (long non-coding RNA,lncRNA)可通过竞争性内源RNA(competing endogenous RNA,ce RNA)等多种方式发挥重要的调控作用,但蜜蜂lncRNA的功能研究至今依然缺失,lncRNA在蜜蜂免疫应答中的作用尚不清楚。本研究旨在揭示中华蜜蜂(Apis cerana cerana,简称中蜂)幼虫响应蜜蜂球囊菌(Ascosphaera apis)侵染的免疫应答中lncRNA的调控功能及作用机制。笔者团队前期通过深度测序和生物信息学分析发现,lncRNA13164与ace-miR-4968存在靶向关系且潜在参与在中蜂幼虫对蜜蜂球囊菌侵染的应答。【方法】利用实时荧光定量PCR (real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction,RT-qPCR)检测蜜蜂球囊菌接种后中蜂幼虫肠道内lncRNA13164的表达谱。采用ILoc-Lnc RNA软件预测lncRNA13164的亚细胞定位。联用RNAhybrid、Miranda和Target Scan软件预测lnc...     

Antigen adsorbed calcium phosphate nanoparticles stimulate both innate and adaptive immune response in fish, Labeo rohita H

Calcium phosphate nanoparticles as an antigen/protein delivery was explored in a fish model Labeo rohita H. S-layer protein (of Aeromonas hydrophila) adsorbed on nano sized calcium phosphate particles elicited both innate and adaptive immune parameters which persisted up to 63 days of post immunization through parenteral immunization and gave cross protections.     

全基因组测序技术对沙门氏菌血清型和耐药性的预测能力分析

【目的】评价全基因组测序技术在沙门氏菌血清型和耐药性检测方面的应用能力。【方法】对我国1950–2015年分离的290株鸡源沙门氏菌用常规检测方法进行了血清分型和药敏试验;提取全基因组进行测序,应用SeqSero和ResFinder数据库分析沙门氏菌的血清型和耐药性;对用常规检测方法和全基因组测序分析方法得到的血清型和耐药性结果进行比较,分析两种方法所得结果的符合性情况。【结果】沙门氏菌的主要血清型为肠炎和鸡白痢(≥84.5%),常规检测方法和全基因组测序分析方法在沙门氏菌血清分型方面的总体符合率为97.6%。对11种抗菌药物的最小抑菌浓度(MIC)检测结果显示,沙门氏菌对磺胺异噁唑(39.3%)、氨苄西林(39.0%)和粘菌素(39.0%)的耐药率较高,对其他抗菌药物的耐药率较低。全基因组测序分析能够100%预测美罗培南、氟苯尼考、阿奇霉素和阿莫西林/克拉维酸的耐药性,而且对恩诺沙星、四环素、复方新诺明、氨苄西林、头孢噻呋、磺胺异噁唑的预测符合率均超过95.0%。【结论】本研究结果表明,全基因组测序技术对沙门氏菌的血清分型和耐药性的预测具有较高的准确性和敏感性,是分析沙门氏菌血清型和...