The Toxoplasma protein phosphatase 6 catalytic subunit (TgPP6C) is essential for cell cycle progression and virulence.

Protein phosphatases are post-translational regulators of Toxoplasma gondii proliferation, tachyzoite-bradyzoite differentiation and pathogenesis. Here, we identify the putative protein phosphatase 6 (TgPP6) subunits of T. gondii and elucidate their role in the parasite lytic cycle. The putative catalytic subunit TgPP6C and regulatory subunit TgPP6R likely form a complex whereas the predicted structural subunit TgPP6S, with low homology to the human PP6 structural subunit, does not coassemble with TgPP6C and TgPP6R. Functional studies showed that TgPP6C and TgPP6R are essential for parasite growth and replication. The ablation of TgPP6C significantly reduced the synchronous division of the parasite's daughter cells during endodyogeny, resulting in disordered rosettes. Moreover, the six conserved motifs of TgPP6C were required for efficient endodyogeny. Phosphoproteomic analysis revealed that ablation of TgPP6C predominately altered the phosphorylation status of proteins involved in the regulation of the parasite cell cycle. Deletion of TgPP6C significantly attenuated the parasite virulence in mice. Immunization of mice with TgPP6C-deficient type I RH strain induced protective immunity against challenge with a lethal dose of RH or PYS tachyzoites and Pru cysts. Taken together, the results show that TgPP6C contributes to the cell division, replication and pathogenicity in T. gondii.

Parasite-derived microRNA let-7-5p detection for metacestodiasis based on rolling circular amplification-assisted CRISPR/Cas9.

Metacestodiasis is an infectious disease caused by the larval stage of cestode parasites. This disease poses a serious health hazard to wildlife, livestock, and humans, and it incurs substantial economic losses by impacting the safety of the livestock industry, the quality of meat production, and public health security. Unfortunately, there is currently no available molecular diagnostic method capable of distinguishing cysticercus- and Echinococcus-derived microRNAs (miRNAs) from other helminthes and hosts in the plasma of metacestode-infected animals. This study aims to develop a specific, sensitive, and cost-efficient molecular diagnostic method for cysticercosis and echinococcosis, particularly for early detection. The study developed a rolling circular amplification (RCA)-assisted CRISPR/Cas9 detection method based on parasite-derived miRNA let-7-5p. Using a series of dilutions of the let-7 standard, the limit of detection (LOD) of the qPCR, RCA, and RCA-assisted CRISPR/Cas9 methods was compared. The specificity of qPCR and CRISPR/Cas9 was evaluated using four artificially synthesized let-7 standards from different species. A total of 151 plasma samples were used to evaluate the diagnostic performance. Additionally, the study also assessed the correlation between plasma levels of let-7-5p, the number of Taenia pisiformis cysticerci, and the weight of Echinococcus multilocularis cysts. The results demonstrated that the RCA-assisted CRISPR/Cas9 assay could significantly distinguish let-7 from cestodes and other species, achieving a LOD of 10 aM; the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for rabbit cysticercosis and mouse E. multilocularis were 100% and 97.67%, and 100% and 100%, respectively. Notably, let-7-5p gradually increased in the plasma of T. pisiformis-infected rabbits from 15 days post infection (dpi), peaked at 60 dpi, and persisted until 120 dpi. In E. multilocularis-infected mice, let-7-5p gradually increased from 15 dpi and persisted until 90 dpi. Furthermore, the expression of let-7-5p positively correlated with the number of cysticerci and cyst weight. These results indicated that the let-7-5p-based RCA-assisted CRISPR/Cas9 assay is a sensitive and specific detection method that can be used as a universal diagnostic method for metacestodiasis, particularly for early diagnosis (15 dpi).

Development of a competitive ELISA based on the LSDV A33 antigen.

Goatpoxvirus (GTPV), sheeppoxvius (SPPV), and the Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) is a Capripoxvirus belonging to the family poxviridae. They can cause significant economic losses in countries where this disease are endemic. However, effective and convenient diagnostic tools against sera antibody are not readily available until now. Toward this goal, a polyclonal antibody competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA) of detecting serogroup-specific antibody is established based on major LSDV antigen A33. Serum samples (n = 605) were collected to optimize the c-ELISA from different areas. The cut-off value for the c-ELISA was estimate using percent inhibition (PI) values. The diagnostic performance of test including sensitivity (sn) and specificity (sp) were obtained by receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis. Among these analysis, > 57.61% PI value was accepted as cut-off of the c-ELISA, the diagnostic sn an diagnostic sp were reached to 96.4% and 98.5%, at > 95% confidence interval. These results show that the developed competitive ELISA is sensitive, specific, and reliable, which make it appropriate for serological investigation.

Global profiling of protein S-palmitoylation in the second-generation merozoites of Eimeria tenella.

The intracellular protozoan Eimeria tenella is responsible for avian coccidiosis which is characterized by host intestinal damage. During developmental cycle, E. tenella undergoes versatile transitional stages such as oocyst, sporozoites, merozoites, and gametocytes. These developmental transitions involve changes in cell shape and cell size requiring cytoskeletal remodeling and changes in membrane proteins, which may require transcriptional and translational regulations as well as post-translational modification of proteins. Palmitoylation is a post-translational modification (PTM) of protein that orchestrates protein targeting, folding, stability, regulated enzymatic activity and even epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Previous research revealed that protein palmitoylation play essential role in Toxoplasma gondii, Trypanosoma cruzi, Trichomonas vaginalis, and several Plasmodium parasites. Until now, there is little information on the enzymes related to palmitoylation and role of protein acylation or palmitoylation in E. tenella. Therefore, palmitome of the second-generation merozoite of E. tenella was investigated. We identified a total of 2569 palmitoyl-sites that were assigned to 2145 palmitoyl-peptides belonging to 1561 protein-groups that participated in biological processes including parasite morphology, motility and host cell invasion. In addition, RNA biosynthesis, protein biosynthesis, folding, proteasome-ubiquitin degradation, and enzymes involved in PTMs, carbohydrate metabolism, glycan biosynthesis, and mitochondrial respiratory chain as well as vesicle trafficking were identified. The study allowed us to decipher the broad influence of palmitoylation in E. tenella biology, and its potential roles in the pathobiology of E. tenella infection. Raw data are publicly available at iProX with the dataset identifier PXD045061.

Establishment of a secondary infection laboratory model of Echinococcus shiquicus metacestode using BALB/c mice and Mongolian jirds (Meriones unguiculatus).

Echinococcus shiquicus is peculiar to the Qinghai­Tibet plateau of China. Research on this parasite has mainly focused on epidemiological surveys and life cycle studies. So far, limited laboratory studies have been reported. Here, experimental infection of E. shiquicus metacestode in BALB/c mice and Mongolian jirds (Meriones unguiculatus) was carried out to establish alternative laboratory animal models. Intraperitoneal inoculation of metacestode material containing protoscoleces (PSCs) obtained from infected plateau pikas were conducted on BALB/c mice. Furthermore, metacestode material without PSCs deriving from infected BALB/c mice was intraperitoneally inoculated to Mongolian jirds. Experimental animals were dissected for macroscopic and histopathological examination. The growth of cysts in BALB/c mice was infiltrative, and they invaded the murine entire body. Most of the metacestode cysts were multicystic, but a few were unilocular. The cysts contained sterile vesicles, which had no PSCs. The metacestode materials were able to successfully infect new mice. In the jirds model, E. shiquicus cysts were typically formed freely in the peritoneal cavity; the majority of these cysts were free while a small portion adhered loosely to nearby organs. The proportion of fertile cysts was high, and contained many PSCs. The PSCs produced in Mongolian jirds also successfully infected new ones, which confirms that jirds can serve as an alternative experimental intermediate host. In conclusion, a laboratory animal infection was successfully established for E. shiquicus using BALB/c mice and Mongolian jirds. These results provide new models for the in-depth study of Echinococcus metacestode survival strategy, host interactions and immune escape mechanism.

Genetic variation and population structure of Fasciola hepatica: an in silico analysis.

Fasciola hepatica is a trematode leading to heavy economic setbacks to the livestock sector globally. The population's genetic information and intimate kinship level are frequently assessed using analysis of mitochondrial DNA. In this analysis, we retrieved cox1 (n = 247) and nad1 (n = 357) sequences of F. hepatica from the NCBI GenBank database and aligned the sequences with the respective reference sequences using MEGA software. The median joining network was drawn using PopArt software while neutrality and diversity indices were estimated with the help of DnaSp software. Neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree was constructed using the MEGA software package. A total of 46 and 98 distinctive haplotypes were observed for cox1 and nad1 genes, respectively. Diversity indices indicated high haplotype and nucleotide diversities in both genes. Positive Tajima's D and Fu's Fs values were found for the entire population of both the genes under study. The cox1 and nad1 gene segments in this study showed high Tajima's D values, suggesting a low likelihood of future population growth. The Tajima's D value of the nad1 gene sequence is lower (2.14910) than that of the cox1 gene sequence (3.40314), which suggests that the former is growing at a slower rate. However, the region-wise analysis revealed that both the cox1 and nad1 genes showed deviation from neutrality suggesting a recent population expansion as a result of an excess of low-frequency polymorphism. Furthermore, the overall host-wise analysis showed positive and significant Tajima's D values for the cox1 and nad1 gene sequences. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to provide insights into genetic variations and population structure of F. hepatica at a global scale using cox1 and nad1 genes. Our findings suggest the existence of specific variants of F. hepatica in different parts of the world and provide information on the molecular ecology of F. hepatica. The results of this study also mark a critical development in upcoming epidemiological investigations on F. hepatica and will also contribute to understanding the global molecular epidemiology and population structure of F. hepatica.

Update on the genetic diversity and population structure of Echinococcus granulosus in Gansu Province, Tibet Autonomous Region, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Western China, inferred from mitochondrial cox1, nad1, and nad5 sequences.

The identification of additional Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.) complex species/genotypes in recent years raises the possibility that there might be more variation among this species in China than is currently understood. The aim of this study was to explore intra- and inter-species variation and population structure of Echinococcus species isolated from sheep in three areas of Western China. Of the isolates, 317, 322, and 326 were successfully amplified and sequenced for cox1, nad1, and nad5 genes, respectively. BLAST analysis revealed that the majority of the isolates were E. granulosus s.s., and using the cox1, nad1, and nad5 genes, respectively, 17, 14, and 11 isolates corresponded to Elodea canadensis (genotype G6/G7). In the three study areas, G1 genotypes were the most prevalent. There were 233 mutation sites along with 129 parsimony informative sites. A transition/transversion ratio of 7.5, 8, and 3.25, respectively, for cox1, nad1, and nad5 genes was obtained. Every mitochondrial gene had intraspecific variations, which were represented in a star-like network with a major haplotype with observable mutations from other distant and minor haplotypes. The Tajima's D value was significantly negative in all populations, indicating a substantial divergence from neutrality and supporting the demographic expansion of E. granulosus s.s. in the study areas. The phylogeny inferred by the maximum likelihood (ML) method using nucleotide sequences of cox1-nad1-nad5 further confirmed their identity. The nodes assigned to the G1, G3, and G6 clades as well as the reference sequences utilized had maximal posterior probability values (1.00). In conclusion, our study confirms the existence of a significant major haplotype of E. granulosus s.s. where G1 is the predominant genotype causing of CE in both livestock and humans in China.

A Strainer-Based Platform for the Collection and Immunolabeling of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus-Infected Porcine Intestinal Organoid.

The development of organoid research has raised new requirements for this methodology. In a previous study, we demonstrated that an emerging protocol achieved the collection, loading, and programmed immunolabeling of mouse intestinal organoids based on a strainer platform. To uncover the applied potential of this novel methodology on organoids from other species, the strainer platform was utilized to characterize the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV)-infected porcine intestinal organoid model. Based on a previous study, some steps were changed to improve the efficiency of the assay by simplifying the reagent addition procedure. In addition, we redefined the range of strainer sizes on porcine intestinal organoids, showing that strainers with pore sizes of 40 and 70 µm matched the above protocol well. Notably, the strainer platform was successfully used to label viral proteins, laying the foundation for its application in the visualization of viral infection models. In summary, the potential of the strainer platform for organoid technology was explored further. More extensive exploration of this platform will contribute to the development of organoid technology.

A Strainer-Based Platform for the Collection and Immunolabeling of Mouse Intestinal Organoids.

Intestinal organoids have emerged as powerful model systems for studying the complex structure and function of the intestine. However, there is a lack of widely applicable methods for the collection, labeling, and imaging of intestinal organoids. In this study, we developed a novel method for loading and labeling intestinal organoids, a method that efficiently collects the organoids and facilitates imaging of their three-dimensional (3D) structure. Based on this strainer platform, mouse intestinal organoids were adequately collected and immobilized, facilitating the immunolabeling workflow to target proteins of the organoids. After evaluation, the strainer size of 40 µm was considered to be more conducive to the collection and labeling of mouse intestinal organoids. More extensive research on organoids of multiple types and species origins will contribute to broadening the applicability of the methodology. Overall, our study proposes an innovative workflow for loading and analyzing intestinal organoids. The combination of a strainer-based collection method, fluorescent labeling, and 3D reconstruction provides valuable insights into the organization and complexity of these tissue models, thereby offering new avenues for investigating intestinal development, disease modeling, and drug discovery.

Comparison of mitochondrial genetic variation of Taenia hydatigena cysticerci from China and Mongolia.

Parasitic infection is one of the many challenges facing livestock production globally. Cysticercosis tenuicollis is a common parasitic disease in domestic and wild ruminants (intermediate host) caused by the larval stage of Taenia hydatigena that primarily infects dogs (definitive host). Although genetic studies on this parasite exist, only a few describe the genetic variation of this parasite in Mongolia. Our aim was thus, to identify the mitochondrial differences in ovine isolates of Cysticercus tenuicollis entering China from Mongolia and comparison with existing Chinese isolates from sheep and goats based on the recently described PCR-RFLP method and mitochondrial genes of NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 (nad4) and the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (nad5). Sixty-nine isolates were collected during routine veterinary meat inspections from sheep that originated from Mongolia, at the modern slaughterhouses in Erenhot City, Inner Mongolia. Additional 114 cysticerci were also retrieved from sheep and goats from northern (Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and Gansu Province), western (Tibet Autonomous Region), and southern (Jiangxi Province and Guangxi Province) China. The PCR-RFLP approach of the nad5 showed nine mitochondrial subclusters A1, A2, A3, A5, A8, A9, A10, A11, and B of T. hydatigena isolates from sheep and goats from Mongolia and China. Meanwhile, haplogroup A1 RFLP profile was more widespread than other variants. These data supplements existing information on the molecular epidemiology of T. hydatigena in China and Mongolia and demonstrate the occurrence of similar genetic population structures in both countries.

A new molecular nomenclature for Taenia hydatigena: mitochondrial DNA sequences reveal sufficient diversity suggesting the assignment of major haplotype divisions.

Cysticercosis caused by the metacestode larval stage of Taenia hydatigena formerly referred to as Cysticercus tenuicollis is a disease of veterinary importance that constitutes a significant threat to livestock production worldwide, especially in endemic regions due to condemnation of visceral organs and mortality rate of infected young animals. While the genetic diversity among parasites is found to be potentially useful in many areas of research including molecular diagnostics, epidemiology and control, that of T. hydatigena across the globe remains poorly understood. In this study, analysis of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of adult worms and larval stages of T. hydatigena isolated from dogs, sheep and a wild boar in China showed that the population structure consists of two major haplogroups with very high nucleotide substitutions involving synonymous and non-synonymous changes. Compared with other cestodes such as Echinococcus spp., the genetic variation observed between the haplogroups is sufficient for the assignment of major haplotype or genotype division as both groups showed a total of 166 point-mutation differences between the 12 mitochondrial protein-coding gene sequences. Preliminary analysis of a nuclear protein-coding gene (pepck) did not reveal any peculiar changes between both groups which suggests that these variants may only differ in their mitochondrial makeup.

Echinococcus shiquicus in Qinghai-Tibet plateau: population structure and confirmation of additional endemic areas.

Echinococcus shiquicus is currently limited to the Qinghai­Tibet plateau, a large mountainous region in China. Although the zoonotic potential remains unknown, progress is being made on the distribution and intermediate host range. In this study, we report E. shiquicus within Gansu and Qinghai provinces in regions located not only around the central areas but also the southeast edge of the plateau and describe their genetic relationship with previous isolates from the plateau. From 1879 plateau pikas examined, 2.39% (95% CI 1.79­3.18) were infected with E. shiquicus. The highest prevalence of 10.26% (4.06­23.58) was recorded in Makehe town, Qinghai province. Overall the prevalence was marginally higher in Qinghai (2.5%, CI 1.82­3.43) than in Gansu (2%, CI 1.02­3.89). The cox1 and nad1 genes demonstrated high and low haplotype and nucleotide diversities, respectively. The median-joining network constructed by the cox1­nad1 gene sequences demonstrated a star-like configuration with a median vector (unsampled haplotype) occupying the centre of the network. No peculiar distinction or common haplotype was observed in isolates originating from the different provinces. The presence of E. shiquicus in regions of the southeast and northeast edges of the Qinghai­Tibet plateau and high genetic variation warrants more investigation into the haplotype distribution and genetic polymorphism by exploring more informative DNA regions of the mitochondrial genome to provide epidemiologically useful insight into the population structure of E. shiquicus across the plateau and its axis.

NLRP3 played a role in Trichinella spiralis-triggered Th2 and regulatory T cells response.

Trichinella spiralis maintains chronic infections within its host. Muscle larvae excretory-secretory products (MLES) typically induce parasite-specific immune responses such as the Th2 response and regulatory T cells (Tregs) by modulating dendritic cell (DC) phenotype via the recognition of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), such as Nod-like receptors (NLRs). We aimed to investigate the role of NLRP3 in T. spiralis-triggered immune response. We found that larvae burden was increased in NLRP3-/- mice compared to wild type (WT) mice. Administration of MLES induced higher levels of IL-4, IL-10, TGF-ß and population of Tregs in WT mice than in NLRP3-/- mice. In vitro, we showed that increased expression of CD40 on the surface of MLES-treated DCs was inhibited after NLRP3 knockout. Increased production of IL-1ß, IL-18, IL-10 and TGF-ß, but not IL-12p70, was significantly diminished in the absence of NLRP3. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that MLES-treated DCs induced higher levels of IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-ß and populations of Tregs in vitro. These inductions were abolished by NLRP3 deficiency in DCs, suggesting that NLRP3 in MLES-treated DCs plays a role in promoting the Th2 and Treg response. Taken together, we identified for the first time the involvement of NLRP3 in host defences against T. spiralis.

Molecular Identification of Taenia hydatigena from Sheep in Khartoum, Sudan.

The cestode Taenia hydatigena uses canids, primarily dogs, as definitive hosts, while the metacestode larval stage cysticercus infects a range of intermediate hosts, including domestic animals such as goats, sheep, and pigs. Cysticercosis due to T. hydatigena has large veterinary and economic drawbacks. Like other taeniids, e.g., Echinococcus, intraspecific variation is found among the members of the genus Taenia. In Africa, few studies are available on the epidemiology and distribution of T. hydatigena, and even fewer studies are available on its genetic variation. In this study, we molecularly identified 11 cysticerci from sheep in Sudan and demonstrated the genetic variation based on the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) mitochondrial genes. The isolates were correctly identified as T. hydatigena with more than 99% similarity to those in the GenBank database. Low diversity indices and insignificant neutrality indices were observed, with 3 and 2 haplotypes for the nad1 and cox1 genes, respectively. The results suggest the presence of unique T. hydatigena haplotypes in Sudan, as haplotypes with 100% similarity were not found in the GenBank database. With few available studies on the genetic variation of T. hydatigena in Africa, this report represents the first insights into the genetic variation of T. hydatigena in Sudan and constitutes useful data.

Establishment of a recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) assay for the detection of Brucella spp. Infection.

Brucellosis is a worldwide re-emerging zoonosis. It has an economic impact due to abortion and loss of fertility in livestock. In this study, Real-time recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA-BP26) targeting Brucella spp. bp26 gene and Lateral flow dipstick (LFD-RPA-IS711) combined with SYBR- Green recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) targeting insertion sequence IS711 region of Brucella spp. bp26 gene, was developed to detect Brucella spp. from different sample types in domestic animals. The sensitivity and specificity of the two developed RPAs were compared with real-time PCR, PCR, and Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT). The analytical sensitivity and detection limit of Real-time RPA and LFD RPA were four and six copies per reaction respectively. The detection of six colony forming units (CFU) of the bacteria-bearing construct with the target sequence was within 20 min at 40 °C for Real-time RPA and 37 °C for LFD RPA. The LFD RPA could work at temperatures between 30 and 35 °C and could be completed within 10-30 min. No significant differences were observed when comparing the results from Real-time RPA and LFD RPA to Real-time PCR and PCR. Both methods showed no cross reactivity with Chlamydia abortus, Toxoplasma gondii, Salmonella typhimurium, and Escherichia coli. In conclusion, RPA is a useful and convenient field and point of care test for brucellosis.

A multiplex PCR assay for the simultaneous detection of Taenia hydatigena, T. multiceps, T. pisiformis, and Dipylidium caninum infections.

BACKGROUND: Taenia hydatigena, T. multiceps, T. pisiformis, and Dipylidium caninum are four common large and medium-sized tapeworms parasitizing the small intestine of dogs and other canids. These parasites cause serious impact on the health and development of livestock. However, there are, so far, no commercially available molecular diagnostic kits capable of simultaneously detecting all four parasites in dogs. The aim of the study was therefore to develop a multiplex PCR assay that will accurately detect all four cestode infections in one reaction. METHODS: Specific primers for a multiplex PCR were designed based on corresponding mitochondrial genome sequences, and its detection limit was assessed by serial dilutions of the genomic DNAs of tapeworms examined. Furthermore, field samples of dog feces were tested using the developed assay. RESULTS: A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed based on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) that accurately and simultaneously identify four cestode species in one reaction using specific fragment sizes of 592, 385, 283, and 190 bp for T. hydatigena, T. multiceps, T. pisiformis, and D. caninum, respectively. The lowest DNA concentration detected was 1 ng for T. hydatigena, T. multiceps and T. pisiformis, and 0.1 ng for D. caninum in a 25 µl reaction system. This assay offers high potential for the rapid detection of these four tapeworms in host feces simultaneously. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides an efficient tool for the simultaneous detection of T. hydatigena, T. multiceps, T. pisiformis, and D. caninum. The assay will be potentially useful in epidemiological studies, diagnosis, and treatment of these four cestodes infections during prevention and control program.

Host Prdx6 contributing to the intracellular survival of Brucella suis S2 strain.

BACKGROUND: Brucellosis is a worldwide zoonotic infectious disease that is transmitted in various ways and causes great harm to humans and animals. The brucellosis pathogen is Brucella, which mainly resides in macrophage cells and survives and replicates in host cells. However, the mechanisms underlying Brucella survival in macrophage cells have not been thoroughly elucidated to date. Peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6) is a bifunctional protein that shows not only GSH peroxidase activity but also phospholipase A2 activity and plays important roles in combating oxidative damage and regulating apoptosis. RESULTS: Recombinant mouse (Mus musculus) Prdx6 (MmPrdx6) was expressed and purified, and monoclonal antibodies against MmPrdx6 were prepared. Using the Brucella suis S2 strain to infect RAW264.7 murine macrophages, the level of intracellular Prdx6 expression first decreased and later increased following infection. Overexpressing Prdx6 in macrophages resulted in an increase in B. suis S2 strain levels in RAW264.7 cells, while knocking down Prdx6 reduced the S2 levels in cells. CONCLUSIONS: Host Prdx6 can increase the intracellular survival of B. suis S2 strain and plays a role in Brucella infection.

Molecular characterization and differential expression analysis of interleukin 1ß from Ovis aries.

The interleukin-1 family is an important component of the innate immune system and plays an important role in regulating immune responses on the invasion of intracellular parasites in the acquired immune system. Interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß) is one of the members of the IL-1 family that predominantly activates downstream signaling pathways to play immunological functions of stimulating T and B lymphocyte activation and promoting the various syntheses of inflammatory substances in conjunction with other cytokines. Here, a full-length IL-1ß cDNA (OaIL-1ß) of sheep (Ovis aries) was cloned using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), which consists of 1494 bp and contains a 5'-UTR region with a length of 83 bp, a complete ORF of 801 bp in length, and a 3'-UTR region with a length of 642 bp. Recombinant protein OaIL-1ß was expressed and purified, and the monoclonal antibody against IL-1ß of sheep is prepared. Western blotting results showed that the sheep IL-1ß protein was detected in the heart, liver, lung, kidney, stomach, intestine, muscle, lymph nodes and leukocytes with the highest expression in the muscle and the lowest expression in the lung. Different bacteria treating sheep white blood cells induced differential expression of OaIL-1ß. Compared with the normal sheep, OaIL-1ß in the buffy coat was differentially expressed in the Brucella melitensis-challenged group and the B. suis S2 strain-inoculated group. However, whether IL-1ß may be considered as a molecular biomarker for differing Brucella-infected animals from brucellosis-vaccinated animals or not need to be further studied.

Characterization of a highly virulent and antimicrobial-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii strain isolated from diseased chicks in China.

Poultry husbandry is a very important aspect of the agricultural economy in China. However, chicks are often susceptible to infectious disease microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses and parasites, causing large economic losses in recent years. In the present study, we isolated an Acinetobacter baumannii strain, CCGGD201101, from diseased chicks in the Jilin Province of China. Regression analyses of virulence and LD50 tests conducted using healthy chicks confirmed that A. baumannii CCGGD201101, with an LD50 of 1.81 (±0.11) × 10(4) CFU, was more virulent than A. baumannii ATCC17978, with an LD50 of 1.73 (±0.13) × 10(7) CFU. Moreover, TEM examination showed that the pili of A. baumannii CCGGD201101 were different from those of ATCC17978. Antibiotic sensitivity analyses showed that A. baumannii CCGGD201101 was sensitive to rifampicin but resistant to most other antibiotics. These results imply that A. baumannii strain CCGGD201101 had both virulence enhancement and antibiotic resistance characteristics, which are beneficial for A. baumannii survival under adverse conditions and enhance fitness and invasiveness in the host. A. baumannii CCGGD20101, with its high virulence and antimicrobial resistance, may be one of the pathogens causing death of diseased chicks.

[Major host-protective antigens of Taeniidae cestode and their molecular biological characteristics].

Taeniidae cestodes are the pathogens of cysticercosis and hydatid disease, these diseases lead to substantial economic losses in animal husbandry and cause morbidity and mortality in human population. In recent years, many host-protective antigens of Taeniidae cestodes has been found, and their recombinant protein vaccines have been developed against several species, such as Taenia ovis, T. saginata, T. solium, Echinococcus granulosus, and E. multilocularis. This paper focuses on the major host-protective antigens of Taeniidae cestodes and their molecular biological characteristics.