结核分枝杆菌感染动物模型的研究进展

人类结核病位居单一病原引起死亡的严重传染病之首,结核分枝杆菌是其主要病原.尽管结核分枝杆菌可引起许多种动物感染并患病,但人类是其主要宿主.动物模型作为研究人类疾病的标准化工具,虽然不能完全模拟人类结核病的整个过程,但可成为研究结核病的有用工具,有助于研究其发病机制、治疗过程及宿主对病原的免疫病理学反应.由于不同种类动物...     

结核分枝杆菌感染实验模型

结核分枝杆菌是引起人结核病的主要病原,全世界约有1/3人口感染结核分枝杆菌。尽管该病原可感染并引起许多动物疾病,但人类是其中心宿主。为研究结核分枝杆菌的致病机理及宿主对本病原的保护性和免疫病理学反应,选择合适的动物模型非常必要。本文阐述了结核病研究中常用的实验模型及各种模型的优缺点。实验模型的合理应用将促进我们对结核病的认识,从中获取的资料将有助于我们发现更好的预防和治疗方案。     

中性粒细胞在抗结核免疫中的作用

结核病是世界范围内的重要传染性疾病之一,严重威胁人类健康。免疫细胞在抗结核免疫过程中起重要作用,各细胞亚群通过不同作用机制影响结核病的病程及转归。中性粒细胞为机体应对结核分枝杆菌感染的第一道防线,在宿主免疫应答过程中是一把双刃剑。一方面,机体感染结核分枝杆菌后,中性粒细胞于第一时间向感染部位聚集,通过多种方式对抗感染：中性粒细胞吞噬结核分枝杆菌后,通过自身凋亡而杀菌;参与形成肉芽肿,形成胞外陷阱来限制结核分枝杆菌的生长和传播;产生功能性细胞因子,调控宿主的抗结核免疫反应。另一方面,中性粒细胞还参与机体的病理损伤过程,甚至促进体内结核分枝杆菌的生长。本文综述了中性粒细胞在抗结核免疫中作用的最新研究进展。     

结核分枝杆菌免疫相关蛋白脯氨酸-谷氨酸家族的研究进展

脯氨酸-谷酸家族蛋白是一个在结核分枝杆菌中新发现高度保守的富含甘氨酸、丙氨酸的酸性蛋白质家族。目前认为该家族与结核分枝杆菌抗原变异相关,有利于细菌逃避宿主免疫系统,并通过抑制宿主免疫细胞对其抗原的呈递过程影响机体的免疫应答,干扰宿主对结核感染的保护性。该家族蛋白作为结核感染的免疫学标志,在结核诊断和新药物靶向以及抗结核DNA疫苗的研制开发方面具有重要意义和广阔的应用前景。     

结核分枝杆菌持续感染相关基因及其调控网络分析

结核分枝杆菌是结核病的致病菌, 也是迄今最成功的人类致病菌之一. 结核分枝杆菌能逃避宿主免疫攻击, 在人体内持续感染或呈休眠状态. 当人体免疫功能低下时, 持续感染或休眠的致病菌可能被重新激活. 结核分枝杆菌的持续感染是制约结核病控制计划成功的主要障碍之一. 揭示结核分枝杆菌持续感染的分子机制、寻找其中薄弱环节、发现适当的药物靶标并开发全新药物及免疫干预措施, 被认为是遏制结核病蔓延的关键. 结核分枝杆菌持续感染和再激活是众多基因协同的系统适应过程. 本文在全面分析全球结核分枝杆菌持续感染相关基因研究文献的基础上, 通过文本挖掘, 综合本实验室前期研究结果, 提出了结核分枝杆菌持续感染相关基因的调控网络, 为揭示结核分枝杆菌持续感染的机制, 筛选控制结核病的新靶标和免疫干预节点提供研究基础.     

结核分枝杆菌酸抗性基因及其调控网络

病原菌在宿主细胞内的持留分子机理是目前研究的热点和难点。病原菌的抗酸能力与此密切相关。结核分枝杆菌感染导致的结核病仍然是全球公共卫生的重大威胁,这与结核分枝杆菌抗酸并在宿主巨噬细胞内持留有关。结核分枝杆菌抗酸主要通过调控质子进出、代谢调控胞内酸碱平衡和双组份信号系统调控。本文综述了结核分枝杆菌在酸胁迫下的整体调控网络,阐述了在酸性环境中结核分枝杆菌的具体调控机理,旨在为持留结核分枝杆菌的治疗提供新的全局性思路,寻找新的结核病防控靶标。     

结核分枝杆菌诱导IFN-β产生在免疫调控中的作用

结核分枝杆菌是导致结核病的病原体,也是影响全球数百万人健康的病原体之一。机体中多种模式识别受体(pattern recognition receptor,PRR)可识别入侵的结核分枝杆菌,如DNA和RNA传感器,从而激活天然免疫系统并诱导干扰素-β(interferon-β, IFN-β)产生。虽然IFN-β是先天抗病毒应答的主要效应因子,但其在结核分枝杆菌感染中的作用仍具有争议。结核分枝杆菌感染诱导的IFN-β产生可以促进细菌生长,并增强细菌在宿主中的存活率,但用IFN-β处理细胞后再感染结核分枝杆菌,则可增强抗菌作用,保护宿主。因此,本综述将重点关注可识别结核分枝杆菌并诱导的IFN-β产生的PRR及其下游信号通路,并着重探讨IFN-β在介导结核分枝杆菌调控免疫功能中的作用,尤其是IFN-β与IL-1β之间的相互抑制性调节,旨在为进一步揭示结核分枝杆菌致病机制及结核病治疗药物研发提供新思路。     

海分枝杆菌-斑马鱼模型的抗结核研究进展

斑马鱼(Danio rerio,Zebrafish)模型是研究宿主-病原体相互作用的有力平台。因为其光学透明特性,斑马鱼幼虫感染模型有利于探索在活脊椎动物体内实时观察海洋分枝杆菌(Mycobacterium marinum, M. marinum)感染的早期阶段的发病机制。此外,斑马鱼幼虫免疫系统提供了探索海洋分枝杆菌与宿主免疫作用机制的条件。还因斑马鱼发育周期短、繁殖产量高、饲养条件低而备受欢迎,而海分枝杆菌因其实验环境要求低,基因相似性与结核分枝杆菌高而作为研究结核的备选细菌。因此,斑马鱼-海分枝杆菌感染模型的使用成为揭示结核病发病机制并研发药物的有效途径之一。     

结核病动物模型研究进展

结核病是由结核分枝杆菌感染引起的传染病,是危害人类健康的主要传染病之一。动物模型已经成为研究人类传染病的标准化工具。虽然对于结核分枝杆菌而言并没有真正意义的动物资源,但由于不同种类的动物,对分枝杆菌的敏感性不一样,因此可以成为结核病研究的有利工具。结核病最常用的实验动物模型包括小鼠、兔和豚鼠。每种动物有其自身特点,但并不能完全模拟人类疾病。通过建立结核病的动物模型,可以大大增加我们对疾病的病因、毒力和发病机制的理解。除了这三种模型外,非人灵长类也常被用于结核病的研究。本文总结了这几种结核病模型的研究状况。     

结核分枝杆菌与巨噬细胞相互作用的研究进展

结核分枝杆菌（Mycobacterium tuberculosis,MTB）是一种典型的胞内致病菌,巨噬细胞是MTB在体内的主要宿主细胞。巨噬细胞具有强大的吞噬功能,在机体固有免疫和适应性免疫中均发挥着重要作用,可有效保护宿主免受结核分枝杆菌的感染。MTB在与宿主巨噬细胞的长期相互作用过程中,逐渐形成多种逃避杀灭的有效策略,得以在宿主体内存活并增殖。该文从巨噬细胞抗MTB感染及MTB逃避巨噬细胞杀灭两个方面综述国内外的研究进展。     

Maintenance of pulmonary Th1 effector function in chronic tuberculosis requires persistent IL-12 production

The mechanisms that prevent reactivation of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in asymptomatic individuals are poorly understood. Although IL-12 is critical for the induction of IFN-gamma-dependent host control of M. tuberculosis, the requirement for the cytokine in the maintenance of host resistance and pulmonary Th1 effector function has not yet been formally examined. In this study, we reconstituted IL-12p40-deficient mice with IL-12 during the first 4 wk of infection and then assessed the effects of cytokine withdrawal. Although IL-12 administration initially resulted in restricted mycobacterial growth and prolonged survival, the reconstituted animals eventually succumbed to infection. This breakdown in bacterial control was accompanied by a marked reduction in the numbers of IFN-gamma-producing CD4(+) T cells in lungs. Moreover, whereas CD4(+) T cells isolated from chronically infected wild-type mice expanded and transferred long-term protection to M. tuberculosis-challenged RAG(-/-) mice, they failed to do so in IL-12p40-deficient RAG(-/-) recipients and were clearly reduced in frequency within pulmonary granulomas in the latter animals. These studies establish that continuous IL-12 production is necessary for maintenance of the pulmonary Th1 cells required for host control of persistent M. tuberculosis infection and suggest that breakdown of this mechanism could be a contributing factor in reactivated disease.     

结核分枝杆菌L型致病性的实验研究

以结核分枝杆菌稳定Ｌ型感染豚鼠,证明结核分枝杆菌变为Ｌ型后致病性减弱,发病时间延长,ＯＴ试验阴性,引起的病理变化主要表现为组织的间质性炎症,有干酪样坏死,而无典型结核结节形成。原因在于细菌变为Ｌ型后细胞壁缺损,磷脂减少,不足以刺激巨噬细胞转变为上皮样组胞与郎罕氏巨细胞,而形成结核结节。在诊断上容易造成误诊或漏诊。     

Lessons from experimental Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the cause of enormous human morbidity and mortality each year. Although this bacterium can infect and cause disease in many animals, humans are the natural host. For the purposes of studying the pathogenesis of M. tuberculosis, as well as the protective and immunopathologic host responses against this pathogen, suitable animal models must be used. However, modeling the human infection and disease in animals can be difficult, and interpreting the data from animal models must be done carefully. In this paper, the animal models of tuberculosis are discussed, as well as the limitations and advantages of various models. In particular, the lessons we have learned about tuberculosis from the mouse models are highlighted. The careful and thoughtful use of animal models is essential to furthering our understanding of M. tuberculosis, and this knowledge will enhance the discovery of improved treatment and prevention strategies.     

Passive serum therapy with polyclonal antibodies against Mycobacterium tuberculosis protects against post-chemotherapy relapse of tuberculosis infection in SCID mice

We investigated the protective role of immune-sera against reactivation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in SCID mice and found that passive immunization with sera obtained from mice treated with detoxified M. tuberculosis extracts (delivered in liposomes in a composition known as RUTI) exerted significant protection. Our SCID mouse model consisted of aerosol infection by M. tuberculosis, followed by 3 to 8weeks of chemotherapy with isoniazid+rifampicin (INH+RIF) (25 and 10mg/kg, respectively). After infection and antibiotic administration, two groups of mice were treated for up to 10weeks with intraperitoneal passive immunization using hyperimmune serum (HS) obtained from mice infected with M. tuberculosis, treated with chemotherapy (INH+RIF) for 8weeks and inoculated with RUTI (HS group) or with normal serum (CT group). Significant differences were found between HS and CT groups in the number of bacilli in the lungs (3.68+/-2.02 vs. 5.72+/-1.41log(10) c.f.u.), extent of pulmonary granulomatomous infiltration (10.33+/-0.67 vs. 31.2+/-1.77%), and percentage of animals without pulmonary abscesses (16.7% vs. 45.5%). These data strongly suggest a protective role of specific antibodies against lung dissemination of M. tuberculosis infection.     

Prevalence of Latent and Active Tuberculosis among Dairy Farm Workers Exposed to Cattle Infected by Mycobacterium bovis

Background

Human tuberculosis caused by M. bovis is a zoonosis presently considered sporadic in developed countries, but remains a poorly studied problem in low and middle resource countries. The disease in humans is mainly attributed to unpasteurized dairy products consumption. However, transmission due to exposure of humans to infected animals has been also recognized. The prevalence of tuberculosis infection and associated risk factors have been insufficiently characterized among dairy farm workers (DFW) exposed in settings with poor control of bovine tuberculosis.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Tuberculin skin test (TST) and Interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) were administered to 311 dairy farm and abattoir workers and their household contacts linked to a dairy production and livestock facility in Mexico. Sputa of individuals with respiratory symptoms and samples from routine cattle necropsies were cultured for M. bovis and resulting spoligotypes were compared. The overall prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) was 76.2% (95% CI, 71.4–80.9%) by TST and 58.5% (95% CI, 53.0–64.0%) by IGRA. Occupational exposure was associated to TST (OR 2.72; 95% CI, 1.31–5.64) and IGRA (OR 2.38; 95% CI, 1.31–4.30) adjusting for relevant variables. Two subjects were diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis, both caused by M. bovis. In one case, the spoligotype was identical to a strain isolated from bovines.

Conclusions

We documented a high prevalence of latent and pulmonary TB among workers exposed to cattle infected with M. bovis, and increased risk among those occupationally exposed in non-ventilated spaces. Interspecies transmission is frequent and represents an occupational hazard in this setting.     

Nymphs of the Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis) as passive vectors of causal agents of avian tuberculosis and paratuberculosis

The potential transmission of the causal agent of paratuberculosis Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis and avian tuberculosis Mycobacterium avium ssp. avium (Actinomycetales: Mycobacteriaceae) by nymphs of the Oriental cockroach Blatta orientalis L. (Blattodea: Blattidae) was investigated by oral infection with mycobacterial suspensions and examination of their droppings and bodies. Both the subspecies of M. avium were isolated from droppings at 3 days post-infection and M. a. avium was found in homogenized bodies at 10 days post-infection. The identity of M. a. avium and M. a. paratuberculosis isolates was demonstrated by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. The M. a. avium isolate used as the inoculum and the isolates from the bodies and droppings of the nymphs were shown to be virulent in chickens. The results show that orally infected nymphs of B. orientalis can harbour and shed viable and virulent mycobacteria. This hazard should be considered in the implementation of control measures against mycobacterial infections of animals and humans, which should include destruction of all developmental stages of cockroaches and prevention of their access to materials that can be contaminated by mycobacteria.     

结核分枝杆菌毒素-抗毒素系统与生物膜

结核分枝杆菌(Mycobacterium tuberculosis)是引起结核病的病原菌。其处于持续生存的休眠状态时,可导致长期无症状感染,称为结核潜伏感染。研究显示,结核分枝杆菌染色体中存在大量 “毒素-抗毒素系统”(toxin-antitoxin system,TAS),某些TAS在潜伏感染中发挥作用,可调节细菌生长和诱导细菌进入休眠状态;某些TAS参与生物膜形成和应激反应,但其影响生物膜形成的机制尚未阐明。生物膜中的结核分枝杆菌对多种抗结核药物耐药,且能抵抗宿主免疫系统防御;休眠状态的结核分枝杆菌对抗结核药物通常也是耐受的,给结核病治疗带来了巨大挑战。本文就近年来结核分枝杆菌TAS与生物膜的研究及抗结核药物对生物膜形成的影响进行综述。     

On human tuberculosis due to M. bovis. A review

The present survey of literature is devoted to the problem of tuberculosis due to M. bovis in man. On the basis of an analysis of literary data the author summarizes materials characterizing the state of the problem in the USSR in recent years. It has been shown that in spite of general low incidence rate of M. bovis infections in human population there are regions with high level of cattle raising (Kazakh SSR, Novosibirsk Region of the RSFSR) where both the infection rate and morbidity rate due to this agent are much higher. The role of consumption of milk infected with M. bovis in causing the disease especially among children is demonstrated. The author underlines the fact that transmission of M. bovis from man to man is practically very rare and therefore this type of tuberculosis in human population is not autonomous and disappears as soon as the tuberculosis of cattle is irradicated. Data on sources and chains of infection of man with M. bovis as well as some clinical aspects of the infection are presented.     

Nude rat (F344/N-rnu) tuberculosis

As many mononuclear cells from Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected lung tissues are not available for fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis and the tuberculin test is not feasible in a mouse tuberculosis model, we attempted to develop a rat tuberculosis model. We have previously reported that rat tuberculosis is associated with granulomas that lack central necrosis. In order to develop a better animal model of tuberculosis in immunocompromised humans (tuberculosis associated with HIV infection or tuberculosis of the elderly), we infected F344/N-rnu nude rats with M. tuberculosis via the airborne route. The animals developed pulmonary granulomas with central necrosis encapsulated by dense collagen fibres, closely resembling those of human tuberculosis. The nude rats died of disseminated tuberculosis by the 85th day after aerosol infection, while F344 wild-type rats did not. Interestingly, T-cells that were reactive with anti-CD4 antibody and anti-CD8 antibody, indicating the presence of remnant thymus, were observed in the infected lung tissues of the nude rats. Therefore, T-cell precursors may be present in nude rats. The nude rat tuberculosis model mimics tuberculosis in immunocompromised humans and may provide a suitable model for immunological studies in vivo.     

NK cell-derived IFN-gamma differentially regulates innate resistance and neutrophil response in T cell-deficient hosts infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Although it is known that IFN-gamma-secreting T cells are critical for control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, the contribution of IFN-gamma produced by NK cells to host resistance to the pathogen is less well understood. By using T cell-deficient RAG(-/-) mice, we showed that M. tuberculosis stimulates NK cell-dependent IFN-gamma production in naive splenic cultures and in lungs of infected animals. More importantly, common cytokine receptor gamma-chain(-/-)RAG(-/-) animals deficient in NK cells, p40(-/-)RAG(-/-), or anti-IFN-gamma mAb-treated RAG(-/-) mice displayed significantly increased susceptibility to M. tuberculosis infection compared with untreated NK-sufficient RAG(-/-) controls. Studies comparing IL-12 p40- and p35-deficient RAG(-/-) mice indicated that IL-12 plays a more critical role in the induction of IFN-gamma-mediated antimycobacterial effector functions than IL-23 or other p40-containing IL-12 family members. The increased susceptibility of IL-12-deficient or anti-IFN-gamma mAb-treated RAG(-/-) mice was associated not only with elevated bacterial loads, but also with the development of granulocyte-enriched foci in lungs. This tissue response correlated with increased expression of the granulocyte chemotactic chemokines KC and MIP-2 in NK as well as other leukocyte populations. Interestingly, depletion of granulocytes further increased bacterial burdens and exacerbated pulmonary pathology in these animals, revealing a compensatory function for neutrophils in the absence of IFN-gamma. The above observations indicate that NK cell-derived IFN-gamma differentially regulates T-independent resistance and granulocyte function in M. tuberculosis infection and suggest that this response could serve as an important barrier in AIDS patients or other individuals with compromised CD4+ T cell function.