Development of a biological control method against postharvest diseases of citrus fruits

Candida oleophila strain O was previously selected for its high and reliable antagonistic activity against Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium expansum, two important wound pathogens on post-harvest apples. The application of these antagonistic strains on wound pathogens of Citrus was more recently undertaken. The efficacy of yeast (applied at several concentrations from 10(5) to 10(8) CFU/ml) was assessed against P. digitatum and P. italicum inoculated after one hours (at a concentration of 10(5), 106 and 10(7) spores/ml) on 'Clementine' and 'Valencia late' varieties. The protective levels were positively correlated with high concentration of antagonist and low concentration of pathogen. The antagonistic activity of this strain was also dependent on the incubation time before pathogen inoculation. The protective level increased with time between application of the antagonist and inoculation of fungal spores. Finally, the efficacy of biomass of C. oleophila strain O (produced at an industrial scale), and two different formulations of that biomass was assessed in comparison with fungicidal treatment (Thiabendazole) under semi-practical conditions against P. digitatum. This efficacy of strain O (whatever its formulation) was statistically comparable to that for TBZ at commercial dose, indicating that both formulations could be used as an alternative for conventional fungicide in postharvest treatments.     

Therapeutic vaccines against infectious diseases

Therapeutic vaccines against chronic infectious diseases aim at eliciting broad humoral and cellular immune responses against multiple target antigens. Importantly, the development of such vaccines will help to establish surrogate markers of protection in humans and thus will augment the subsequent development of efficient prophylactic vaccines. A combination of synthetic small-molecule drugs and immunotherapeutics is likely to represent a powerful means of controlling chronic infections in the future. Challenges faced in developing therapeutic vaccines include the following: first, overcoming the potential impairment of immune responses due to established infection; second, optimizing schedules of vaccine administration in combination with standard of care chemotherapy; and third, defining what biological and immunological read-outs should be used to infer vaccine efficacy.     

DNA vaccination strategies against infectious diseases

DNA immunisation represents a novel approach to vaccine and immunotherapeutic development. Injection of plasmid DNA encoding a foreign gene of interest can result in the subsequent expression of the foreign gene products and the induction of an immune response within a host. This is relevant to prophylactic and therapeutic vaccination strategies when the foreign gene represents a protective epitope from a pathogen. The recent demonstration by a number of laboratories that these immune responses evoke protective immunity against some infectious diseases and cancers provides support for the use of this approach. In this article, we attempt to present an informative and unbiased representation of the field of DNA immunisation. The focus is on studies that impart information on the development of vaccination strategies against a number of human and animal pathogens. Investigations that describe the mechanism(s) of protective immunity induced by DNA immunisation highlight the advantages and disadvantages of this approach to developing vaccines within a given system. A variety of systems in which DNA vaccination has resulted in the induction of protective immunity, as well as the correlates associated with these protective immune responses, will be described. Particular attention will focus on systems involving parasitic diseases. Finally, the potential of DNA immunisation is discussed as it relates to veterinary medicine and its role as a possible vaccine strategy against animal coccidioses.     

Vaccination against the major infectious diseases

The reputation of vaccination rests on a 200-year-old history of success against major infectious diseases. That success has led to the doctrine of 'for each disease, a vaccine'. Although some diseases have proved frustrating, this doctrine carries considerable truth. However, when one reviews the vaccines now available it is apparent that most successes have been obtained when the microbe has a bacteremic or viremic phase during which it is susceptible to the action of neutralizing antibodies, and before replication in the particular organ to which it is tropic. Poliomyelitis and infections by capsulated bacteria are examples where vaccination has worked efficiently. However, some success has also been achieved against agents replicating on respiratory or gastrointestinal mucosae. Influenza, pertussis and rotavirus vaccines are examples of such agents, against which it has been possible to induce immune responses acting locally as well as systemically. In addition, when bacteria produce disease through exotoxins, purification and chemical or genetic inactivation of those toxins has yielded highly efficacious vaccines. Control of intracellular pathogens has not been achieved, except partly with the BCG vaccine against tuberculosis, and modern efforts are directed towards pathogens against which cellular immune responses are critical. In general, two achievements have been crucial to the success of vaccines: the induction of long-lasting immunological memory in individuals and the stimulation of a herd immunity that enhances control of infectious diseases in populations.     

Rhizobia as a biological control agent against soil borne plant pathogenic fungi

Rhizobia promote the growth of plants either directly through N2 fixation, supply of nutrients, synthesis of phytohormones and solubilization of minerals, or indirectly as a biocontrol agent by inhibiting the growth of pathogens. The biocontrol effect of rhizobia is due to the secretion of secondary metabolites such as antibiotics and HCN. Siderophore production in iron stress conditions provides rhizobia an added advantage, resulting in exclusion of pathogens due to iron starvation.     

Fungal pathogens as classical biological control agents against arthropods

Fungal entomopathogens have been used more frequently than other types of pathogens for classical biological control. Among 136 programs using different groups of arthropod pathogens, 49.3% have introduced fungal pathogens (including both the traditional fungi and microsporidia). The most commonly introduced species was Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin, with 13 introductions, followed by Entomophaga maimaiga Humber, Shimazu & Soper, which was released seven times. The majority of introduction programs have focused on controlling invasive species of insects or mites (70.7%) rather than on native hosts (29.4%). Almost half of the introductions of traditional fungi targeted species of Hemiptera and 75% of the microsporidia introduced have been introduced against lepidopteran species. The United States was the country where most introductions of fungi took place (n = 24). From 1993 to 2007, no arthropod pathogens were released in the US due to the rigorous regulatory structure, but in 2008 two species of microsporidia were introduced against the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.). Establishment of entomopathogenic fungi in programs introducing traditional fungi was 32.1% and establishment was 50.0% for programs introducing microsporidia. In some programs, releases have resulted in permanent successful establishment with no non-target effects. In summary, classical biological control using fungal entomopathogens can provide a successful and environmentally friendly avenue for controlling arthropod pests, including the increasing numbers of invasive non-native species.     

Passive antibody therapy for infectious diseases

Antibody-based therapies are currently undergoing a renaissance. After being developed and then largely abandoned in the twentieth century, many antibody preparations are now in clinical use. However, most of the reagents that are available target non-infectious diseases. Interest in using antibodies to treat infectious diseases is now being fuelled by the wide dissemination of drug-resistant microorganisms, the emergence of new microorganisms, the relative inefficacy of antimicrobial drugs in immunocompromised hosts and the fact that antibody-based therapies are the only means to provide immediate immunity against biological weapons. Given the need for new antimicrobial therapies and many recent technological advances in the field of immunoglobulin research, there is considerable optimism regarding renewed applications of antibody-based therapy for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.     

一株沙门氏菌裂解性噬菌体的分离鉴定及生物学特性

【目的】从贝类样品中分离到一株沙门氏菌裂解性噬菌体SLMP1,对其进行鉴定及生物学特性分析。【方法】采用双层平板法从贝类样品中分离沙门氏菌噬菌体SLMP1,观察噬菌斑特征,分析SLMP1的宿主范围;利用聚乙二醇8000沉淀浓缩SLMP1颗粒,用氯化铯等密度梯度离心纯化;采用透射电子显微镜观察纯化的SLMP1颗粒;采用酚-氯仿法提取SLMP1核酸,通过核酸酶处理分析核酸类型;分析SLMP1的热稳定性、pH稳定性、最佳感染复数、一步生长曲线及裂菌效果。【结果】SLMP1噬菌斑直径约2–3 mm,圆形透明、边缘清晰;SLMP1能裂解肠沙门氏菌肠亚种和鼠伤寒沙门氏菌;SLMP1头部呈二十面体,直径约62 nm,含非收缩性尾部,尾长约110 nm,属于长尾病毒科;SLMP1核酸为双链DNA;SLMP1在30–60 °C稳定,在pH 4.0–11.0稳定,最佳感染复数为0.001,感染宿主菌潜伏期为10 min、裂解期为120 min、裂解量为51;SLMP1在液体环境中具有良好的裂菌效果。【结论】SLMP1属dsDNA长尾科裂解性噬菌体,具有沙门氏菌生物抑菌剂的应用潜力。     

Immunizations against infectious diseases and childhood cancers

Summary A study based upon an unusually large series of childhood cancers and matched controls found a significant deficit of case/control pairs in which the cancer case had fewer immunizations against infectious diseases than the matched control. All types of immunizations and cancers were affected but the case/control differences were more pronounced for older cases with late immunizations than for younger cases with early immunizations, and more pronounced for solid tumours than leukaemia. Therefore there may be immune system responses to immunizations (or simulated infections) which make it difficult for small clones of cancer cells to enlarge and are more successful in preventing localised tumours in adolescents than childhood leukaemias.     

International infrastructure to control infectious diseases

Remarkable gains in the control of infectious diseases have occurred during the twentieth century. These have permitted life expectancles to approach 80 years for one fifth of the world's population. To effect reductions in child mortality to the rest, structured changes such as economic improvement, basic sanitation, education, reduced population growth and improvements in agriculture and nutrition are needed. Nearly US$40 billion in development investment supports these fundamental changes. For the near term, vertical programmes such as the Expanded Program on Immunization afford critical reductions in child mortality at relatively low cost. A network of multinational and bilateral agencies support structural and programmatic changes. Research holds the promise of improving still further the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of infectious disease control programmes. Leading causes of child mortality and their social and economic correlates are reviewed.This paper was presented at the IUMS Symposium on New Developments in Diagnosis and Control of Infectious Diseases held in conjunction with the Eighth International Congress of Virology, Berlin, Germany, 24–31 August 1990.     

感染性疾病单克隆抗体的研究进展

近年来,感染性疾病(infectious disease)已成为一种严重威胁人类健康的疾病。有研究显示,预计感染性疾病引起的死亡人数在2050年将达到1 000万。由于超级细菌及新型病毒的出现,推动了现有感染性疾病治疗方法的发展。其中,单克隆抗体(monoclonal antibody, McAb)以其具有特异性强、副作用小、灵敏性高等优势,成为对抗各种感染源持续攻击的治疗方法之一。随着抗体技术的发展,有很多针对感染性疾病的McAb进入研发或临床试验阶段,希望用于预防与治疗感染性疾病。目前,抗生素价格低廉,McAb治疗成本高、诊断学并行发展的需求是其主要的发展障碍。因此,McAb在治疗感染性疾病中找到较合适的定位非常重要,很多国内外公司通过分子工程设计等方式改善抗体的治疗潜力,成为McAb药物的发展策略。现就McAb治疗感染性疾病的研究现状与药物研发策略作一综述。     

The role of infectious diseases in biological conservation

Recent increases in the magnitude and rate of environmental change, including habitat loss, climate change and overexploitation, have been directly linked to the global loss of biodiversity. Wildlife extinction rates are estimated to be 100–1000 times greater than the historical norm, and up to 50% of higher taxonomic groups are critically endangered. While many types of environmental changes threaten the survival of species all over the planet, infectious disease has rarely been cited as the primary cause of global species extinctions. There is substantial evidence, however, that diseases can greatly impact local species populations by causing temporary or permanent declines in abundance. More importantly, pathogens can interact with other driving factors, such as habitat loss, climate change, overexploitation, invasive species and environmental pollution to contribute to local and global extinctions. Regrettably, our current lack of knowledge about the diversity and abundance of pathogens in natural systems has made it difficult to establish the relative importance of disease as a significant driver of species extinction, and the context when this is most likely to occur. Here, we review the role of infectious diseases in biological conservation. We summarize existing knowledge of disease-induced extinction at global and local scales and review the ecological and evolutionary forces that may facilitate disease-mediated extinction risk. We suggest that while disease alone may currently threaten few species, pathogens may be a significant threat to already-endangered species, especially when disease interacts with other drivers. We identify control strategies that may help reduce the negative effects of disease on wildlife and discuss the most critical challenges and future directions for the study of infectious diseases in the conservation sciences.     

噬菌体疗法在疾病中的应用进展

随着耐药菌在世界范围内不断传播,应用噬菌体作为有效的抗生素替代疗法重新受到研究者的关注。另一方面,人体微生物群与宿主健康的相互作用研究不断深入,靶向调控微生物群来影响人体健康成为多项研究的关注焦点,利用噬菌体靶向降低与疾病发展正相关的特征性细菌的丰度,成为肿瘤、酒精性肝病及糖尿病等非感染性疾病更精准的预防或辅助治疗策略。本文对噬菌体疗法在感染性和非感染性疾病中的应用进展进行了综述。     

Development of paratransgenic Artemia as a platform for control of infectious diseases in shrimp mariculture

Aim: To study the accumulation and retention of recombinant proteins in Artemia gut for optimizing paratransgenic disease control in shrimp aquaculture. Methods and Results: Transgenic Escherichia coli expressing fluorescent marker proteins and the transgenic cyanobacterium Synechococcus bacillarus expressing a functional murine single chain antibody, DB3, were fed to Artemia franciscana. Stable expression and retention of several marker molecules (e.g. GFP, DS Red and DB3) up to 10 h after of feeding with E. coli were evident within the gut of Artemia. Engineered strains of S. bacillarus expressing DB3 accumulated within the gut of Artemia with detectable antibody activity for 8–10 h of feeding via ELISA, coincident with the time period of the highest density of transgenic S. bacillarus in the Artemia gut. Conclusions: Artemia fed transgenic bacteria or algae accumulated recombinant proteins for up to 10 h that retained biological activity. Co‐delivery of multiple recombinant proteins simultaneously in the gut of Artemia was also demonstrated. Significance and Impact of the Study: Expression of molecules that target infectious agents of mariculture in shrimp via commonly deployed feed organisms such as Artemia could potentially offer powerful new tools in the ongoing global effort to increase food supply.     

Recombinant viruses as tools to induce protective cellular immunity against infectious diseases.

Infections by intracellular pathogens such as viruses, some bacteria and many parasites, are cleared in most cases after activation of specific T cellular immune responses that recognize foreign antigens and eliminate infected cells. Vaccines against those infectious organisms have been traditionally developed by administration of whole live attenuated or inactivated microorganisms. Nowadays, research is focused on the development of subunit vaccines, containing the most immunogenic antigens from the particular pathogen. However, when purified subunit vaccines are administered using traditional immunization protocols, the levels of cellular immunity induced are mostly low and not capable of eliciting complete protection against diseases caused by intracellular microbes. In this review, we present a promising alternative to those traditional protocols, which is the use of recombinant viruses encoding subunit vaccines as immunization tools. Recombinant viruses have several interesting features that make them extremely efficient at inducing immune responses mediated by T-lymphocytes. This cellular immunity has recently been demonstrated to be of key importance for protection against malaria and AIDS, both of which are major targets of the World Health Organization for vaccine development. Thus, this review will focus in particular on the development of new vaccination protocols against these diseases.