Transmission of neozoic Anguillicoloides crassus and established Camallanus lacustris in ruffe Gymnocephalus cernuus

In the present study, groups of ruffe Gymnocephalus cernuus, reared singly, were exposed to defined numbers of Anguillicoloides crassus or Camallanus lacustris under controlled laboratory conditions. Infection took place orally through feeding G. cernuus with axenically cultured and laboratory infected copepods, in which the parasites had developed to the infective third stage (L3). Mean prevalence (94·3%) and infection probability (38·5%) for the established C. lacustris were significantly higher than for the neozoic A. crassus (14·3 and 1·0%, respectively). Peripheral blood leukocytes were significantly increased in infected fish, apparently independent of exposure level, parasite species or intensity of infection compared to the controls. In infected fish, the gonado‐somatic index (I_G) was significantly reduced by c. 50%, and the spleen‐somatic index (I_S) was significantly increased compared to controls. Both parasites raised similar physiological and immunological responses in G. cernuus, which was able to effectively reject the neozoic A. crassus.     

Structural and functional evidence that Nck interaction with CD3epsilon regulates T-cell receptor activity

Recruitment of signaling molecules to the cytoplasmic domains of the CD3 subunits of the T-cell receptor (TCR) is crucial for early T-cell activation. These transient associations either do or do not require tyrosine phosphorylation of CD3 immune tyrosine activation motifs (ITAMs). Here we show that the non-ITAM-requiring adaptor protein Nck forms a complex with an atypical PxxDY motif of the CD3ε tail, which encompasses Tyr166 within the ITAM and a TCR endocytosis signal. As suggested by the structure of the complex, we find that Nck binding inhibits phosphorylation of the CD3ε ITAM by Fyn and Lck kinases in vitro. Moreover, the CD3ε-Nck interaction downregulates TCR surface expression upon physiological stimulation in mouse primary lymph node cells. This indicates that Nck performs an important regulatory function in T lymphocytes by inhibiting ITAM phosphorylation and/or removing cell surface TCR via CD3ε interaction.     

Iscom is an efficient mucosal delivery system for Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides (MmmSC) antigens inducing high mucosal and systemic antibody responses

The purpose of this study was to explore the iscom as a mucosal delivery system for Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides small colony (MmmSC) antigens. BALB/c female mice were immunised intranasally (i.n.) twice, 8 weeks apart with three different doses (3, 10 and 20 μg) or subcutaneously (s.c.) with 3 μg of M. mycoides antigens incorporated into iscoms. Mycoplasma cells were administered s.c. twice, 8 weeks apart at a dose of 3 μg or i.n. at 10 μg as for iscoms. Both i.n. and s.c. modes of immunisation with iscoms induced prominent primary serum antibody responses in a dose-dependent manner, which were efficiently boosted. Compared to whole mycoplasma cells, iscoms enhanced the total Ig and IgG subclass (IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b) responses in serum and in lungs greatly, and this enhancement was more prominent after i.n. than after s.c. immunisation. By the i.n. mode of immunisation iscoms containing mycoplasma antigens induced a 60-fold higher IgA response in lungs than the whole cell antigen. Iscoms also induced substantially higher total Ig and IgG subclass responses in the lungs. By Western blot a reduced number of bands (7) were detected in lung secretion after both i.n. and s.c. immunisations with iscoms compared to a high number of bands (more than 30) detected by serum antibodies. Interestingly i.n. immunisation with iscoms induced antibodies in lungs as well as in serum to mycoplasma cell antigens which differed from those induced by s.c. immunisation as revealed by the Western blot patterns.     

Considerations for non-invasive in-flight monitoring of astronaut immune status with potential use of MEMS and NEMS devices

The dynamics of how astronauts' immune systems respond to space flight have been studied extensively, but the complex process has not to date been thoroughly characterized, nor have the underlying principles of what causes the immune system to change in microgravity been fully determined. Statistically significant results regarding overall immunological effects in space have not yet been established due to the relatively limited amount of experimental data available, and are further complicated by the findings not showing systematically reproducible trends. Collecting in vivo data during flight without affecting the system being measured would increase understanding of the immune response process.The aims of this paper are to briefly review the current knowledge regarding how the immune system is altered in space flight; to present a group of candidate biomarkers that could be useful for in-flight monitoring and give an overview of the current methods used to measure these markers; and finally, to further establish the need and usefulness of incorporating real-time analytical techniques for in-flight assessment of astronaut health, emphasizing the potential application of MEMS/NEMS devices.     

斜带石斑鱼黏膜免疫系统结构的研究

对斜带石斑鱼皮肤、眼角膜、鳃、前肠及后肠等黏膜相关免疫组织结构进行了研究。通过组织切片的H E染色及透射电镜的观察 ,描述了黏膜组织的显微结构、主要免疫相关细胞在黏膜组织中的分布情况及各免疫细胞的超微结构。结果表明黏膜组织中存在杯状细胞、淋巴细胞、巨嗜细胞、单核细胞、嗜曙红细胞、嗜中性粒细胞等免疫相关细胞 ,具有在黏膜局部独立完成免疫应答的细胞基础。另外 ,还观察到了皮肤表皮对异物的吞噬过程。本文还就黏膜免疫组织的非特异和特异性免疫应答 ,以及黏膜免疫是否独立于系统免疫等问题进行了讨论。     

敲除pckA基因的结核杆菌引起的免疫反应的研究

研究结核杆菌pckA基因编码的磷酸烯醇型丙酮酸羧激酶(PEPCK)诱导机体产生的保护性免疫反应。用敲除pckA基因的牛结核杆菌BCG和野生型BCG分别感染小鼠,取肝、肺、脾进行病理分析,并进行脾细胞培养,检测CD4 、CD4 /CD8 、细胞因子IFNI-γI、L-12和TNF等。用敲除pckA基因的BCG感染的小鼠比野生型BCG感染的小鼠体内产生的结核结节少且不典型,炎性程度低。野生型BCG感染的小鼠脾脏内的CD4 T细胞和CD4 /CD8 、细胞因子IFN-γ、IL-12、TNF均明显高于敲除pckA基因BCG感染的小鼠。pckA基因为结核杆菌生长所必需,其编码产物PEPCK能够刺激机体产生免疫反应,是一种很好的疫苗候选分子。