African Swine Fever Virus MGF-110-9L-deficient Mutant Has Attenuated Virulence in Pigs

African swine fever virus(ASFV) is the etiological agent of African swine fever(ASF), an often lethal disease in domestic and wild pigs. ASF represents a major threat to the swine industry worldwide. Currently, no commercial vaccine is available because of the complexity of ASFV or biosecurity concerns. Live attenuated viruses that are naturally isolated or genetically manipulated have demonstrated reliable protection against homologous ASFV strain challenge. In the present study, a mutant ASFV strain with the deletion of ASFV MGF-110-9 L(ASFV-D9 L) was generated from a highly virulent ASFV CN/GS/2018 parental strain, a genotype II ASFV. Relative to the parental ASFV isolate, deletion of the MGF-110-9 L gene significantly decreased the ability of ASFV-D9 L to replicate in vitro in primary swine macrophage cell cultures. The majority of animals inoculated intramuscularly with a low dose of ASFV-D9 L(10 HAD50) remained clinically normal during the 21-day observational period. Three of five ASFV-D9 L-infected animals displayed low viremia titers and low virus shedding and developed a strong virus-specific antibody response, indicating partial attenuation of the ASFV-D9 L strain in pigs. The findings imply the potential usefulness of the ASFV-D9 L strain for further development of ASF control measures.     

Predictive markers of safety and immunogenicity of adjuvanted vaccines

Vaccination represents one of the greatest public health triumphs; in part due to the effect of adjuvants that have been included in vaccine preparations to boost the immune responses through different mechanisms. Although a variety of novel adjuvants have been under development, only a limited number have been approved by regulatory authorities for human vaccines. This report reflects the conclusions of a group of scientists from academia, regulatory agencies and industry who attended a conference on the current state of the art in the adjuvant field. Held at the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) in Rockville, Maryland, USA, from 18 to 19 April 2013 and organized by the International Association for Biologicals (IABS), the conference focused particularly on the future development of effective adjuvants and adjuvanted vaccines and on overcoming major hurdles, such as safety and immunogenicity assessment, as well as regulatory scrutiny. More information on the conference output can be found on the IABS website, http://www.iabs.org/.     

A single dose of recombinant Salmonella typhimurium induces specific humoral immune responses against heterologous Eimeria tenella antigens in chicken

Salmonella typhimurium vaccine strains were used as antigen delivery system for oral immunisation of chickens against two antigens of the coccidian parasite Eimeria tenella. The cDNAs of the known E. tenella proteins, SO7 and TA4, were isolated from total RNA and subcloned into the expression vectors pQE30 and pTECH2. Subcutaneous immunisation of chickens with Escherichia coli-expressed SO7 and TA4 revealed that both proteins were immunogenic. Both cDNAs were subcloned into plasmids of the pTECH2 vector system, which allows them to be expressed as fusion proteins with the highly immunogenic fragment C of the tetanus toxin under control of the anaerobically inducible nirB promoter. Plasmids were introduced into the S. typhimurium vaccine strains SL3261, C5aroD and C5htrA. SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis revealed expression of both fusion proteins in all strains under anaerobic culture conditions. Three-week-old white leghorn chickens were orally immunised with 10(9) CFU per animal. The stability of the recombinant bacteria was revealed by recovery of viable Salmonella containing the respective plasmids from the liver of the immunised chickens at day 3 after inoculation. Specific serum IgG antibodies against the SO7-or TA4-antigens were detectable by ELISA 2 weeks after oral immunisation and remained for at least 6 weeks, while specific IgA antibodies were restricted to the bile of the birds. All chickens produced serum IgG and IgA to S. typhimurium lipopolysaccharides. Our data show that a single oral inoculation with recombinant S. typhimurium SL3261, C5aroD and C5htrA can induce specific antibody responses to heterologous Eimeria antigens in chickens, suggesting that recombinant Salmonella are a suitable delivery system for vaccines against Eimeria infections.     

Successful vaccination of BALB/c mice against human hookworm (Necator americanus): the immunological phenotype of the protective response

In this murine (BALB/c) model of necatoriasis, high levels of protection against challenge infection by Necator americanus larvae (n=300) were afforded by successive vaccinations at 14-day intervals, either subcutaneously or percutaneously, with gamma-irradiated N. americanus larvae (n=300). Percutaneous vaccination was significantly more effective than the subcutaneous route, with pulmonary larval burdens at 3 days post-infection being reduced by 97.8 vs. 89.3%, respectively, after three immunisations (P<0.05). No worms were recovered from the intestines of thrice vaccinated mice. Two percutaneous vaccinations also reduced worm burdens, by 57% in the lungs and 98% in the intestines; P<0.05. In vaccinated animals, lung pathology (mainly haemorrhage) following infection was greatly reduced compared with non-vaccinated animals. In vaccinated mice (but not in non-vaccinated mice) mast cells accumulated in the skin and were degranulated. RT-PCR analyses of mRNAs in the skin of vaccinated animals indicated increased expression of interleukin (IL)-4 relative to gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN). Lymphocytes from the axillary (skin-draining) lymph nodes of vaccinated mice, stimulated in vitro with concanavalin A, exhibited enhanced secretion of IL-4 protein and a higher IL-4/gamma-IFN protein ratio than lymphocytes from non-vaccinated animals. In vaccinated mice, levels of IgG1 and IgG3 (directed against larval excretory/secretory products) were elevated for the most part compared with those in non-vaccinated animals. These data demonstrate the successful vaccination of BALB/c mice against human hookworm infection and suggest that a localised Th2 response may be important for conferring protection against necatoriasis.     

Efficacy of a DNA vaccine delivered in attenuated Salmonella typhimurium against Eimeria tenella infection in chickens

The efficacy of an oral DNA vaccine carrying the Eimeria tenella 5401 antigen gene delivered by attenuated Salmonella typhimurium was examined in an experimental challenge study. The DNA vaccine preparation was made by transforming the recombinant plasmid pcDNA3-5401 into the attenuated S. typhimurium strain (Dam(-) and PhoP(-)) (designated hereafter as ZJ111/pcDNA3-5401). The chickens were randomly divided into six groups, 50 per group. Group A were given PBS as control. Chickens in group B were fed with 10(8) colony forming units (CFU) of attenuated S. typhimurium carrying pcDNA3. Group C were immunised with 100 microg of the recombinant 5401 protein via intramuscular injection. Groups D to F orally received ZJ111/pcDNA3-5401 at doses of 10(7), 10(8) and 10(9)CFU per chicken, respectively. All immunisations were boosted 2 weeks later. The immunised chickens were challenged with 6x10(4) homologous sporulated oocysts 14 days after the second immunisation. No significant differences in body weight were detected between the groups before immunisation and at week 4 after the booster immunisation. The ZJ111/pcDNA3-5401 was eventually eliminated from the spleen and liver on week 6 post-immunisation. The plasmid pcDNA3-5401 was stably maintained in over 80% of the attenuated S. typhimurium population after 100 generations of growth in antibiotic-free media. Oral immunisation of chickens with ZJ111/pcDNA3-5401 elicited specific humoral responses and stimulated proliferation of peripheral blood lymphocytes. The lymphocyte proliferation response was significantly higher in all vaccinated groups than in the control chickens. Antibody response was significantly lower in group C than in groups immunised with strain ZJ111/pcDNA3-5401. Vaccination with the strain ZJ111/pcDNA3-5401 at 10(8) (group E) and 10(9) (group F) CFU per chicken provided 55.0 and 57.5% protection against E. tenella challenge, respectively. These results have important implications for the development of DNA vaccines against avian coccidiosis by bacteria-vectored oral delivery system.     

'Click chemistry' on polysaccharides: a convenient, general, and monitorable approach to develop (1-->3)-beta-D-glucans with various functional appendages

(1-->3)-beta-D-Glucans having various functional appendages (lactoside, ferrocene, pyrene, and porphyrin) can be prepared in an convenient, quantitative, and regioselective manner through regioselective bromination-azidation of curdlan to afford 6-azido-6-deoxycurdlan followed by chemoselective [3+2]-cycloadditions with various functional modules bearing a terminal alkyne group. The ability to monitor reaction conversions is an additional advantage of this synthetic approach over the conventional direct modifications on polysaccharides; the reaction can be readily monitored based on the intensity of azido peaks in the in situ attenuated total reflection infrared spectra.     

Effects of immunization against a DNA vaccine encoding somatostatin gene (pGM-CSF/SS) by attenuated Salmonella typhimurium on growth, reproduction and lactation in female mice

A novel somatostatin (SS) DNA vaccine (pGM-CSF/SS), delivered orally by attenuated Salmonella typhimurium (CSO22), was used to immunize female mice at 5, 7, and 11 wk of age; the objective was to investigate the humoral immune response and effects of this vaccine on growth, reproduction and lactation. The pGM-CSF/SS induced SS-specific antibodies, which peaked (3.69 ± 0.89; mean ± S.D) 4 wk after the first booster immunization. Compared with a saline-treated control group, body weight gain of a pGM-CSF/SS immunized group increased 30.3% (23.88 vs. 18.32 g, P < 0.05) during the growth period (from 2 wk after primary immunization to 4 wk after the first booster immunization). Immunized mice had higher plasma estradiol concentrations (84.10 ± 2.16 vs. 81.45 ± 2.12 pg/ml, P < 0.05) and a shorter estrous cycle (4.06 ± 0.75 vs. 5.33 ± 0.49 d, P < 0.05), but serum progesterone concentrations were not significantly affected. Since offspring produced by immunized mice gained weight faster (P < 0.05) in the first 2 wk of life (4.27 ± 0.62 and 7.81 ± 1.30 g in Weeks 1 and 2, respectively vs. 3.70 ± 0.23 and 7.14 ± 0.48 g), we inferred that pGM-CSF/SS could have a direct or indirect role in regulating lactation in mice. In conclusion, GM-CSF and CSO22 served as adjuvant and attenuated live vector, respectively, with efficient oral delivery of an SS DNA vaccine which successfully induced a humoral immune response and enhanced rate of weight gain. Furthermore, the DNA vaccine pGM-CSF/SS affected plasma estradiol concentrations and the estrous cycle, and seemed to enhance lactation performance of female mice.     

减毒沙门氏菌介导的血小板第四因子活性片段的放射保护作用研究

目的:观察减毒沙门氏菌携带的血小板第四因子活性片段PF417 70 的放射保护作用。方法:通过口服途经喂饲小鼠携带PF4活性片段的减毒沙门氏菌,在第 2次喂饲后小鼠接受 70 0cGy全身照射,然后观察PIRES2 EGFP PF417 70 在小鼠体内的表达,并观察小鼠的造血恢复情况。结果:在小鼠的肝脏、脾脏、肾脏、小肠、外周血及骨髓均能检测到GFP的表达和转基因的整合。与对照组比较,实验组小鼠的生存期明显延长,照射后第 7d和 1 4d骨髓有核细胞数、骨髓培养的CFU GM和HPP CFC数量明显增加 (P <0 0 5 )。结论:首次应用减毒沙门氏菌SL32 61为载体来介导PF4活性片段的生物学作用,并证实通过口服途径可以保护小鼠免受放射损伤,并促进放射损伤后小鼠的造血恢复。     

口服携带人PF4基因的减毒沙门氏菌对大剂量化疗小鼠的促造血重建作用

目的:探索口服携带人PF4基因的减毒沙门氏菌对大剂量化疗小鼠造血重建作用。方法:通过在大剂量化疗前／后喂服携带PIRES2-EGFP／PF4减毒沙门氏菌,检测化疗后小鼠的生存率,小鼠在不同时间外周血血常规、骨髓细胞数、骨髓中Sca-1和C-kit细胞含量、不同时间骨髓生成各系细胞的集落数等。结果:在大剂量化疗前、后均口服携带PIRES2-EGFP／PF4减毒沙门氏菌组小鼠生存率高于只在化疗前口服携带PIRES2-EGFP／PF4减毒沙门氏菌组;两组口服携带PIRES2-EGFP／PF4减毒沙门氏菌组小鼠存活率明显高于PBS对照组及携带空载体的减毒沙门氏菌组;口服携带PIRES2-EGFP／PF4减毒沙门氏菌组小鼠在化疗后第9~12天的外周血血小板数、骨髓细胞中Sca-1和C-kit阳性细胞含量明显比对照组高,第5天、9天、12天的骨髓细胞总数、骨髓细胞形成Mix集落数明显增加。结论:口服减毒沙门氏菌SL3261为载体的PF4基因可以保护小鼠免受损伤,并促进化疗损伤小鼠的造血恢复。     

流行性乙型脑炎活疫苗细胞免疫检测方法的探索

本文建立了流行性乙型脑炎活疫苗细胞免疫检测方法。采用纯系Ｂａｌｂ／ｃ（Ｈ－２ｄ）小鼠制备效应细胞,以同一品系Ｂａｌｂ／ｃ（Ｈ－２ｄ）小鼠原代肾细胞为靶细胞。当效靶细胞比例为２０∶１,杀伤时间为４小时,ＭＴＴ反应时间为４小时,细胞毒性Ｔ淋巴细胞（ＣＴＬ）杀伤作用最强。利用该法对乙脑活苗和死苗免疫小鼠进行了ＣＴＬ活性测定,结果表明该法重复性好,活苗诱导ＣＴＬ杀伤作用强于死苗