Effects of chicken intestinal antimicrobial peptides on humoral immunity of chickens and antibody titres after vaccination with infectious bursal disease virus vaccine in chicken

Sixty chickens were randomly divided into two groups (30 chickens in each group) to determine the effect of oral administration of chicken intestinal antimicrobial peptides (CIAMP) on the humoral immune response. Chickens of both groups were fed the same diet. In the treatment group chickens received drinking water supplemented with CIAMP (1 microg/ml) right after hatching. Samples of blood, bursa of Fabricus, spleen and intestine were taken at day 1, 4, 7, 10 and 17 of experiment. CIAMP supplementation enhanced the content of IgG and IgM in serum from day 4-10 and day 10-17, respectively, (p < 0.05), IgM-forming cells in bursa of Fabricus and spleen at the age of 7 days (p < 0.05) and IgG-forming cells in bursa of Fabricus at the age of 4 days (p < 0.05). In addition, CIAMP enhanced the IgA-forming cells in caecal tonsils diffuse area at day 4 (p < 0.05). Furthermore, CIAMP enhanced the antibody response to infectious bursal disease virus vaccine (IBDV) in chickens 21 days following IBDV vaccine administration (p < 0.05). These results suggested that CIAMP could modulate the humoral immune response of chickens and increased the antibody titres of infectious bursal disease virus vaccine.     

Modulation of macrophages by infectious bursal disease virus

Infectious bursal disease is one of the most important naturally occurring viral diseases of chickens worldwide. The causative agent, infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), belongs to the family Birnaviridae. This virus causes an acute, highly contagious and immunosuppressive disease in chickens. The virus infects and destroys actively dividing IgM-bearing B cells. Although B cells are the principal targets for IBDV, recent data show that the virus also infects macrophages. IBDV-infected macrophages produce various cytokines and chemokines which may play an important role in the protection and/or pathogenesis of IBDV. In this review, the modulatory effects of IBDV on macrophages will be discussed.     

Effects of chicken intestinal antimicrobial peptides on humoral immunity of chickens and antibody titres after vaccination with infectious bursal disease virus vaccine in chicken

Abstract

Sixty chickens were randomly divided into two groups (30 chickens in each group) to determine the effect of oral administration of chicken intestinal antimicrobial peptides (CIAMP) on the humoral immune response. Chickens of both groups were fed the same diet. In the treatment group chickens received drinking water supplemented with CIAMP (1 µg/ml) right after hatching. Samples of blood, bursa of Fabricus, spleen and intestine were taken at day 1, 4, 7, 10 and 17 of experiment. CIAMP supplementation enhanced the content of IgG and IgM in serum from day 4 – 10 and day 10 – 17, respectively, (p < 0.05), IgM-forming cells in bursa of Fabricus and spleen at the age of 7 days (p < 0.05) and IgG-forming cells in bursa of Fabricus at the age of 4 days (p < 0.05). In addition, CIAMP enhanced the IgA-forming cells in caecal tonsils diffuse area at day 4 (p < 0.05). Furthermore, CIAMP enhanced the antibody response to infectious bursal disease virus vaccine (IBDV) in chickens 21 days following IBDV vaccine administration (p < 0.05). These results suggested that CIAMP could modulate the humoral immune response of chickens and increased the antibody titres of infectious bursal disease virus vaccine.     

Complete, long-lasting protection against lethal infectious bursal disease virus challenge by a single vaccination with an avian herpesvirus vector expressing VP2 antigens

Marek's disease herpesvirus is a vaccine vector of great promise for chickens; however, complete protection against foreign infectious diseases has not been achieved. In this study, two herpesvirus of turkey recombinants (rHVTs) expressing large amounts of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) VP2 antigen under the control of a human cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter or CMV/beta-actin chimera promoter (Pec promoter) (rHVT-cmvVP2 and rHVT-pecVP2) were constructed. rHVT-pecVP2, which expressed the VP2 antigen approximately four times more than did rHVT-cmvVP2 in vitro, induced complete protection against a lethal IBDV challenge in chickens, whereas rHVT-cmvVP2 induced 58% protection. All of the chickens vaccinated with rHVT-pecVP2 had a protective level of antibodies to the VP2 antigen at the time of challenge, whereas only 42 and 67% of chickens vaccinated with rHVT-cmvVP2 or the conventional live IBDV vaccine, respectively, had the antibodies. The antibody level of chickens vaccinated with rHVT-pecVP2 increased for 16 weeks, and the peak antibody level persisted throughout the experiment. The serum antibody titer at 30 weeks of age was about 20 or 65 times higher than that of chickens vaccinated with rHVT-cmvVP2 or the conventional live vaccine, respectively. rHVT-pecVP2, isolated consistently for 30 weeks from the vaccinated chickens, expressed the VP2 antigen after cultivation, and neither nucleotide mutations nor deletion in the VP2 gene was found. These results demonstrate that the amount of VP2 antigen expressed in the HVT vector was correlated with the vaccine efficacy against lethal IBDV challenge, and complete protective immunity that is likely to persist for the life of the chickens was induced.     

Pathobiology of cryptosporidiosis (C. baileyi) in broiler chickens.

Pathologic and clinicopathologic changes were examined in broiler chickens inoculated with Cryptosporidium baileyi (Cb) alone or in combination with infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) or Escherichia coli (Ec). Concurrent infections with Cb and either IBV or Ec resulted in a greater respiratory inflammatory response than either agent given alone. Concurrent Cb, IBV or Ec infections resulted in a decreased density of respiratory cryptosporidial stages. No interactions between Cb and IBDV were observed. Clinicopathologic results in broiler chicks exhibiting signs of respiratory cryptosporidiosis indicated that pO2 decreased, pCO2 increased, HCO3 increased and CO2 increased. Changes in blood gases and serum electrolyte values correlated with signs of acute respiratory disease. Blood gases and serum electrolyte values were unchanged in birds with bursal and cloacal infections only. Results of these studies clarified pathogenetic events associated with avian respiratory cryptosporidiosis, and demonstrated that cryptosporidiosis may enhance the severity of respiratory disease caused by other avian pathogens.     

鸡传染性法氏囊病病毒超强毒株GX8/99株的致病性

鸡传染性法氏囊病病毒(IBDV)超强毒株GX8/99,系1999年从广西一自然发病鸡群采集到.用原始病鸡法氏囊悬液连续3次人工感染SPF鸡后,再取其法氏囊制备悬液,分装,在-70℃保存.以此悬液经卵黄囊接种10日龄SPF鸡胚,测定鸡胚的半数致死量(ELD50).随着鸡的日龄和接种剂量的不同,其致死率有很大差异.对28～30日龄SPF鸡,病毒接种量为200个ELD50时,感染后7日内死亡率最高可达73%～90.5%(11/15和19/21);感染量为20个ELD50时,死亡率亦可达53%～92%(8/15和23/25).以500个ELD50感染28～104日龄的SPF鸡,死亡率均在55.1%～67.2%;甚至113～120日龄的SPF鸡,感染后仍有10%～15%致死率.但128日龄的SPF鸡感染后既不引起死亡也不表现任何症状,但抗体全部转阳.人工接种发病死亡的鸡,其法氏囊的出血程度也随感染量和年龄而异.50日龄鸡接种2000个ELD50后,死亡的鸡100%(12/12)法氏囊严重出血;而40日龄鸡感染200个ELD50后,死亡鸡中仅17%(3/18)发生出血.在2、3、4周龄带有母源抗体的商品代蛋鸡,以2000个ELD50病毒接种后,只引起10%(2/20)、35%(7/20)和35%(7/20)的死亡率.但在5周龄商品代蛋鸡,仅接触感染的致死率可达61.3%(98/160).另一批商品代蛋鸡,在4周龄和5周龄人工接种200个ELD50病毒后,死亡率分别是81.6%～94.3%(62/76～33/35)和93.9%～94%(31/33～47/50).通过总共1200多羽鸡的试验表明,GX-8/99株是一个超强毒IBDV毒株,表现为高死亡率(最高可达94%),易感年龄延长至4月龄,中枢性免疫器官法氏囊出血严重和胸腺明显萎缩.     

Postentry neutralization of adenovirus type 5 by an antihexon antibody

Antibodies against hexon, the major coat protein of adenovirus (Ad), are an important component of the neutralizing activity in serum from naturally infected humans and experimentally infected animals. The mechanisms by which antihexon antibodies neutralize the virus have not been defined. As a model system, murine monoclonal antibodies raised against Ad type 5 (Ad5) were screened for antihexon binding and neutralization activity; one monoclonal antibody, designated 9C12, was selected for further characterization. The minimum ratio of 9C12 to Ad5 required for neutralization was 240 antibody molecules per virus particle, or 1 antibody per hexon trimer. Analysis of antibody-virus complexes by dynamic light scattering and negative-stain electron microscopy (EM) showed that the virus particles were coated with electron-dense material but not aggregated at neutralizing ratios. Cryo-EM image reconstruction of the antibody-virus complex showed that the surface of the virus particle was covered by a meshwork of 9C12 antibody density, consistent with bivalent binding at multiple sites. Confocal analysis revealed that viral attachment, cell entry, and intracellular transport to the nuclear periphery still occur in the presence of neutralizing levels of 9C12. A model is presented for neutralization of Ad by an antihexon antibody in which the hexon capsid is cross-linked by antibodies, thus preventing virus uncoating and nuclear entry of viral DNA.     

Performance of 3 successive generations of specified-pathogenfree chickens maintained as a closed flock

No antibodies against Salmonella pullorum, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Mycoplasma synoviae, Haemophilus gallinarum, fowl pox virus, Marek's disease virus, herpes virus of turkey, infectious laryngotracheitis virus, avian adenovirus, avian reovirus, infectious bursal disease virus, reticuloendotheliosis virus, avian leukosis virus, avian encephalomyelitis virus and Newcastle disease virus were detectable in the sera obtained from these chickens in 3 generations at various ages. Antibodies against infectious bronchitis virus were detected in the sera of the 3rd generations at 66, 74 and 108 weeks of age. The performances of these chickens was nearly the same as that of conventional healthy chickens in the poultry industry, with no tendency to decline.     

Structure of Infectious Bursal Disease Virus

Infectious bursal disease virus of chickens was purified, and its structure was examined by the negative-staining technique in the electron microscope. The buoyant density of infectious bursal disease virus in CsCl was found to be 1.34 g/cm(3). The morphological details suggest that the capsid of the virion consists of a single layer of 32 capsomeres arranged in 5:3:2 symmetry. The virion measured about 55 nm in diameter and had no envelope.     

抗IBDV独特型抗体杂交瘤细胞株的建立及其产物生物学特性测定

用纯化的抗IBDV IgG免疫Balb/c小鼠,取其脾细胞与SP2/0细胞在聚乙二醇（PEG）作用下融合,ELISA法检测筛选,经有限稀释法克隆3次,获得2株（5F₄株,2B₆株）分泌抗IBDV独特型抗体的杂交瘤细胞株,其能诱生Balb/c小鼠产生ELISA抗体效价分别为1∶12 800和1∶25 600的含抗IBDV独特型抗体的腹水。用此独特型抗体与福氏完全佐剂和福氏不完全佐剂乳化制备成抗IBDV独特型抗体疫苗,免疫接种SPF鸡和普通京白公鸡,然后用IBDV强毒株(SD株)2000 ELD50攻毒,SPF鸡免疫组50只,有5只发病、2只死亡;对照组10只全部发病,8只死亡。普通京白鸡免疫组30只,有7只发病, 1只死亡;对照组10只全部发病,6只死亡。经X²检验,SPF鸡X²＝34.15,普通鸡X²＝16.68,查X²值表得X²_(1)0.01＝6.63, SPF鸡X²和普通鸡X2均大于X²_{(1) 0.01}（P＜0.01）,由此表明抗IBDV独特型抗体疫苗具有很好的免疫原性,对易感日龄的SPF鸡和普通鸡均具有极其明显的保护作用。从而证实了抗IBDV独特型抗体疫苗有潜在的研究和应用价值。     

scFv antibodies against infectious bursal disease virus isolated from a combinatorial antibody library by flow cytometry

Infectious bursal disease is an economically important disease that affects chickens worldwide. Here, a recombinant single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody library derived from chickens immunized with VP2 protein of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) was constructed. The library was subjected to three rounds of screening by flow cytometry against VP2 protein through a bacteria display technology, resulting in the enrichment of scFv. Three scFv clones with different fluorescence intensity were obtained by random colony pick up. The isolated scFv antibodies were expressed and purified. Relative affinity assay showed the three clones had different sensitivity to VP2, in accordance with fluorescence activity cell sorting analysis. The potential use of the selected IBDV-specific scFv antibodies was demonstrated by the successful application of the isolated antibodies in western blotting assay and ELISA.     

传染性法氏囊病不同代次细胞毒免疫效果的研究

将从山东省东营分离到的1株传染性法氏囊病病毒(IBDV)野毒(暂命名 IBDV SDDY株,经鉴定该株与 IB DV STC株具有较高的同源性)经 SPF 鸡胚传代,然后转为细胞培养,取第 20 代、21 代、25 代毒,以 1 倍剂量(3000TCID50/0.2mL )和5倍剂量不同的免疫剂量,分别在7日龄、14日龄对商品代海蓝褐蛋鸡进行免疫,并于免疫前用 IBD ELISA试剂盒检测 IBDV母源抗体水平,于 35 日龄用传染性法氏囊病病毒超强毒 (very virulent In fectious Bursal Disease Virus, vvIBDV )GX 8/99攻毒,在攻毒前再次检测IBDV的抗体水平,攻毒后观察记录各分组鸡的致病率和死亡率,并计算免疫器官体重指数,观察免疫器官的组织损伤情况。试验结果表明:3 代毒都具有较高免疫原性,但是20代毒仍具有较大的毒性,7 日龄接种会引起法氏囊的萎缩,造成持续的组织损伤;21 代毒、25代毒保护率高,无免疫抑制,是比较理想的疫苗来源;7日龄免疫较14日龄免疫更易造成组织损伤和免疫抑制,14日龄免疫较为合适。     

禽呼肠孤病毒感染对鸡法氏囊及免疫应答的影响

研究LY株禽呼肠孤病毒(ARV)感染1日龄SPF鸡后对法氏囊发育影响,对传染性法氏囊病毒(IBDV)、禽流感病毒(AIV)、新城疫病毒(NDV)疫苗免疫诱发的抗体的影响,及对强毒株IBDV致病作用的影响。结果表明,LY株ARV感染1日龄SPF鸡可引起法氏囊萎缩和部分淋巴细胞减少,但对增重及AIV和NDV疫苗免疫后抗体滴度却没有显著影响。ARV感染可降低弱毒IBDV疫苗免疫后的抗体反应,但对随后IBDV强毒株攻毒的抵抗力却与对照鸡无显著差异。经IBDV弱毒疫苗免疫后,再接种强毒株IBDV,不会引起死亡,但却仍能显著抑制对AIV、NDV疫苗免疫后的抗体滴度。然而,对于1~7日龄经ARV感染的鸡,IBDV强毒的这种免疫抑制作用又显著低于未经ARV感染的对照鸡。     

Retrovirus-expressed hemagglutinin protects against lethal influenza virus infections.

An influenza virus hemagglutinin gene, H7, has been expressed in a replication-competent Schmidt-Ruppin Rous sarcoma virus-derived vector. This virus, P1/H7, expressed a glycosylated precursor of the H7 protein which was processed to a mature form and transported to the cell surface. The expressed H7 glycoprotein could not be detected in P1/H7 virus particles. A P1/H7 stock which expressed 5 to 10% of the level of H7 observed in influenza virus-infected chicken embryo fibroblasts was used to immunize 1-month-old chickens. This immunization resulted in low or undetectable levels of hemagglutination-inhibiting and neutralizing antibody. Despite the low serum response, challenge with a highly pathogenic H7N7 virus revealed complete protection against lethal infection.     

Vaccination with Recombinant RNA Replicon Particles Protects Chickens from H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus

Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) of subtype H5N1 not only cause a devastating disease in domestic chickens and turkeys but also pose a continuous threat to public health. In some countries, H5N1 viruses continue to circulate and evolve into new clades and subclades. The rapid evolution of these viruses represents a problem for virus diagnosis and control. In this work, recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) vectors expressing HA of subtype H5 were generated. To comply with biosafety issues the G gene was deleted from the VSV genome. The resulting vaccine vector VSV*ΔG(HA) was propagated on helper cells providing the VSV G protein in trans. Vaccination of chickens with a single intramuscular dose of 2×10⁸ infectious replicon particles without adjuvant conferred complete protection from lethal H5N1 infection. Subsequent application of the same vaccine strongly boosted the humoral immune response and completely prevented shedding of challenge virus and transmission to sentinel birds. The vaccine allowed serological differentiation of infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA) by employing a commercially available ELISA. Immunized chickens produced antibodies with neutralizing activity against multiple H5 viruses representing clades 1, 2.2, 2.5, and low-pathogenic avian influenza viruses (classical clade). Studies using chimeric H1/H5 hemagglutinins showed that the neutralizing activity was predominantly directed against the globular head domain. In summary, these results suggest that VSV replicon particles are safe and potent DIVA vaccines that may help to control avian influenza viruses in domestic poultry.     

Protective Vaccination against Infectious Bursal Disease Virus with Whole Recombinant Kluyveromyces lactis Yeast Expressing the Viral VP2 Subunit

Here we report on vaccination approaches against infectious bursal disease (IBD) of poultry that were performed with complete yeast of the species Kluyveromyces lactis (K. lactis). Employing a genetic system that enables the rapid production of stably transfected recombinant K. lactis, we generated yeast strains that expressed defined quantities of the virus capsid forming protein VP2 of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). Both, subcutaneous as well as oral vaccination regiments with the heat-inactivated but otherwise untreated yeast induced IBDV-neutralizing antibodies in mice and chickens. A full protection against a subsequent IBDV infection was achieved by subcutaneous inoculation of only milligram amounts of yeast per chicken. Oral vaccination also generated protection: while mortality was observed in control animals after virus challenge, none of the vaccinees died and ca. one-tenth were protected as indicated by the absence of lesions in the bursa of Fabricius. Recombinant K. lactis was thus indicated as a potent tool for the induction of a protective immune response by different applications. Subcutaneously applied K. lactis that expresses the IBDV VP2 was shown to function as an efficacious anti-IBD subunit vaccine.     

Immunosuppressive Effect of the Infectious Bursal Agent in the Chicken

IT is well established that in the chicken humoral antibody formation depends on the bursa of Fabricius, whereas delayed hypersensitivity and other manifestations of cellular immunity depend on the thymus for their development^1,2. Surgical bursectomy^3,4 and the administration of testosterone^5–7, cortisone acetate⁸ or cyclophosphamide^9–11 have been found to limit the bursa-dependent antibody system. Infectious bursal disease (IBD), formerly known as Gumboro disease, is a naturally occurring virus disease of young chickens¹², characterized by the destruction of the lymphoid tissue in the bursa without repopulation¹³. The disease has been reported from many countries in Europe and in North America. The effect of IBD on the course of other infections in the chicken is therefore of interest. We report here that the primary and secondary serological responses to Newcastle disease vaccine were reduced significantly in chickens which were experimentally inoculated with the infectious bursal agent (IBA) at one day of age.     

Porcine lactoferrin as feedstuff additive elevates avian immunity and potentiates vaccination

In this study, recombinant porcine lactoferrin (PLF) was used as feedstuff additive to investigate the effects of peripheral lymphocyte proliferation and serum antibody titers in chickens vaccinated against the infectious bursal disease (IBD) virus. Treatment groups were fed three doses of PLF powder in their diet (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0% w/w), and the IBD vaccine was administrated at 1 and 3 weeks of age. At 8, 12, and 16 weeks after vaccination, serum IBD antibody titers were measured via the micro-method and T cell proliferation rates were evaluated. The results revealed that a high dose of PLF led to significant increases in serum IgA, IgG and IBD-specific antibody titers (P < 0.05). PLF administration, at either low or high doses, enhanced the expression of IFN-γ and IL-12 in chicken T lymphocytes. These results suggest that PLF enhances cell-mediated immunity and augment the ability of IBD vaccination to strengthen subsequent anti-viral responses.     

A new recombinant hybrid polypeptide and its immunologic adjuvant activity for inactivated infectious bursal disease vaccine

Both bursin (Lys–His–Gly–NH₂) and Gagnon’s peptides (Lys–Asn–Pro–Tyr) can induce B-cell differentiation. However, it is unclear whether a recombinant hybrid polypeptide consisting of a tandem array of 14 copies of bursin and two copies of Gagnon’s peptide can induce the proliferative activity of lymphocytes. Here, this recombinant hybrid polypeptide was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by SDS-PAGE. Various assays showed that it not only promoted B-lymphocyte proliferation in vitro but also increased the titers of antibodies directed against infectious bursal disease virus fourfold in the sera of chickens vaccinated with the inactivated infectious bursal disease virus vaccine. The recombinant hybrid polypeptide also reduced the pathological lesions in the bursa of Fabricius caused by infectious bursal disease virus BC6/85. Our results show that this recombinant hybrid polypeptide may be a promising immune adjuvant.