Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infects the reproductive system of male piglets and impairs development of the blood-testis barrier.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) causes a highly contagious disease that threatens the global swine industry. Recent studies have focused on the damage that PRRSV causes to the reproductive system of male pigs, although pathological research is lacking. Therefore, we examined the pathogenic mechanisms in male piglets infected with PRRSV. Gross and histopathological changes indicated that PRRSV affected the entire reproductive system, as confirmed via immunohistochemical analysis. PRRSV infected Sertoli cells and spermatogonia. To test the new hypothesis that PRRSV infection in piglets impairs blood - testis barrier (BTB) development, we investigated the pathology of PRRSV damage in the BTB. PRRSV infection significantly decreased the quantity and proliferative capacity of Sertoli cells constituting the BTB. Zonula occludens-1 and ß-catenin were downregulated in cell - cell junctions. Transcriptome analysis revealed that several crucial genes and signalling pathways involved in the growth and development of Leydig cells, Sertoli cells, and tight junctions in the testes were downregulated. Apoptosis, necroptosis, inflammatory, and oxidative stress-related pathways were activated, whereas hormone secretion-related pathways were inhibited. Many Sertoli cells and spermatogonia underwent apoptosis during early differentiation. Infected piglets exhibited disrupted androgen secretion, leading to significantly reduced testosterone and anti-Müllerian hormone levels. A cytokine storm occurred, notably upregulating cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6. Markers of oxidative-stress damage (i.e. H2O2, malondialdehyde, and glutathione) were upregulated, whereas antioxidant-enzyme activities (i.e. superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant capacity, and catalase) were downregulated. Our results demonstrated that PRRSV infected multiple organs in the male reproductive system, which impaired growth in the BTB.

Macrophage Polarization: An Important Candidate Regulator for Lung Diseases.

Macrophages are crucial components of the immune system and play a critical role in the initial defense against pathogens. They are highly heterogeneous and plastic and can be polarized into classically activated macrophages (M1) or selectively activated macrophages (M2) in response to local microenvironments. Macrophage polarization involves the regulation of multiple signaling pathways and transcription factors. Here, we focused on the origin of macrophages, the phenotype and polarization of macrophages, as well as the signaling pathways associated with macrophage polarization. We also highlighted the role of macrophage polarization in lung diseases. We intend to enhance the understanding of the functions and immunomodulatory features of macrophages. Based on our review, we believe that targeting macrophage phenotypes is a viable and promising strategy for treating lung diseases.

Autophagy induced by largemouth bass virus inhibits virus replication and apoptosis in epithelioma papulosum cyprini cells.

Autophagy and apoptosis play important roles in the occurrence and development of diseases. Largemouth bass virus (LMBV) is a primary agent that causes infectious skin ulcerative syndrome in largemouth bass and threatens the aquaculture of the species. We investigated the relationship between LMBV and autophagy, as well as the effect of autophagy on apoptosis induced by LMBV. Results showed that LMBV could induce autophagy in epithelioma papulosum cyprinid (EPC) cells. There was also an increase in LC3-II protein and decrease in p62 protein, along with autophagosome-like membranous vesicles and punctate autophagosomes fluorescent spots being observed in EPC cells. Enhancing autophagy inhibited the replication of LMBV and apoptosis in EPC cells while inhibiting autophagy produced the opposite effect. These results offer new insights into the pathogenesis of LMBV and anti-LMBV strategies.

CMTV-like ranavirus infection associated with high mortality in captive catfish-like loach, Triplophysa siluorides, in China.

Ranaviruses are important emerging pathogens of ectothermic vertebrates that threaten aquaculture and wildlife worldwide. A mortality event occurred in a cultured population of catfish-like loach (Triplophysa siluorides) in Sichuan Province, China. Gross clinical signs of the affected fish included skin lesions and haemorrhagic ulcers, which are often associated with ranaviruses. Inoculation of liver, kidney and spleen tissue homogenates in epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cells at 25°C resulted in cytopathic effect within 24 hr. Transmission electron microscopy of infected EPC cells revealed hexagonal viral arrays in the cytoplasm and icosahedral geometry of the virions. Following exposure of T. siluroides to the isolated virus, similar clinical signs were observed and the fish experienced 40% and 90% mortality after 21 days at 103.58 and 107.8 TCID50 /0.1 ml doses, respectively, providing evidence the isolated virus was the main causative agent of the mortality event. Diagnostic PCR of the major capsid protein gene of ranavirus showed that all samples of diseased fish and isolated virus were positive. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the isolated virus, designated as FYLl40220, was associated with the Common Midwife Toad Virus (CMTV)-like ranavirus clade. To our knowledge, this case represents the first report of CMTV-associated mortality in a fish species. Collectively, these results suggest that the host range of CMTV-like ranaviruses is greater than previously thought, and this clade of ranaviruses could have significant economic and biodiversity impacts.

[Determination of thermodynamic parameters for ionic liquid 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethansulfonate by inverse gas chromatography].

The thermodynamic parameters of ionic liquid 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethansulfonate ([HMIM] OTF) were investigated by inverse gas chromatography in the temperature range of 343.15-373.15 K. Eighteen probe solvents were used to calculate the molar enthalpy of sorption, molar enthalpy of mixing at infinite dilution, molar enthalpy of vaporization and the mass fraction activity coefficients. Furthermore, Flory-Huggins interaction parameters, the solubility parameter of the ionic liquid were calculated to judge the interactions between [HMIM] OTF and the 18 probes solvents. The results showed that among the selected solvents, n-C6-9, tetrahydrofuran, diethyl ether, cyclohexane and benzene are the poor solvents for [HMIM] OTF, while dichloromethane, acetone, chloroform, ethyl acetate, carbon tetrachloride, methyl acetate, toluene and methanol are the favorite solvents for [HMIM] OTF. In addition, the solubility parameter of [HMIM] OTF at room temperature (298.15 K), which was obtained by linear extrapolation method, was 20.74 (J/cm3)0.5. This study could be used as a reference to the application and research of the ionic liquids.

[Characterization of surface properties of 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquid by inverse gas chromatography].

The determination of the dispersive component of surface free energies (gamma(s)d) at different temperatures and Lewis acid-base parameters of 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquid ([AMIM]Cl) were investigated by means of inverse gas chromatography (IGC). Four n-alkanes, including n-hexane (C6), n-heptane (C7), n-octane (C8) and n-nonane (C9), were chosen as the apolar probes to characterize the dispersive component of the surface free energies at 343.15, 353.15, 363.15 and 373.15 K, respectively; and dichloromethane (DCM), trichloromethane (TCM), tetrahydrofuran (THF), ethyl acetate (EtAc), acetone (Acet) as the polar probes to estimate the Lewis acid-base parameters to judge the interactions between [AMIM] Cl and the solvents. The IGC characterizations encompassed the adsorption thermodynamic parameters to acid-base surface interactions, including the standard enthalpy (deltaHa(s)) and the free energy change of adsorption (deltaGa(s)) at different temperatures. The results showed that the Lewis acid parameter Ka of [AMIM] Cl was 0.34, and the base parameter Kb was 1.68, which indicated it was Lewis amphoteric with predominantly basic character. Furthermore, the free energy of adsorption deltaGa(s) was also figured out. It was found that the gamma(s)d of the [AMIM] Cl were 52.26, 50.82, 46.08 and 42.05 mJ/m2 at 343.15, 353.15, 363.15 and 373.15 K, respectively. The results are of great importance to the study of the surface properties and the application of ionic liquid.