Characterization and functional analysis of a tandem-repeat galectin-9 in large yellow croaker Larimichthys crocea.

Galectins are a family of endogenous lectins with ß-galactosides affinity, playing significant roles in the innate immunity of vertebrates and invertebrates. In this report, a new galectin-9 cDNA was identified and characterized in large yellow croaker Larimichthys crocea (designated as LcGal-9). The complete cDNA sequence of LcGal-9 was 1795 bp, with an open reading frame (ORF) of 1032 bp encoding 343 amino acids. The putative LcGal-9 protein contained two carbohydrate recognition domains (CRDs) connected by a linker peptide, with each carrying two conserved ß-galactoside binding motifs H-NPR and WG-EE-, and it possessed neither a signal peptide nor a transmembrane domain. LcGal-9 protein shared 43-74% identity with galectin-9 sequences from other species. The qRT-PCR analysis revealed that LcGal-9 mRNA was constitutively expressed in all tissues examined, predominately expressed in liver, spleen, gill, kidney, head-kidney and intestine. Western blot analysis showed that LcGal-9 protein was highly expressed in liver, spleen, intestine, kidney, head-kidney, skin, gill, and heart, but not detected in muscle and plasma. LcGal-9 mRNA transcripts were induced by poly I:C in the liver (from 6 h to 48 h), spleen (at 12 h) and head-kidney (at 12 h and 24 h). In contrast, Vibrio parahaemolyticus caused a significant down-regulation in these three tissues, except for in spleen of 48 h and head-kidney of 3 h. Post-infection with Cryptocaryon irritans, the transcripts were dramatically up-regulated in gill, skin, spleen and head-kidney during initial infection period, while significant down-regulation afterward was also observed both in spleen and head-kidney. The recombinant LcGal-9 (named as rLcGal-9) purified from Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) demonstrated hemagglutination against human, rabbit and L. crocea in a Ca(2+)-independent manner, which was inhibited by α-Lactose and LPS. The results of bacterial agglutination assays showed that rLcGal-9 was able to agglutinate Gram-negative bacteria V. alginolyticus and Aeromonas hydrophila in a Ca(2+)-independent manner. By immunohistochemistry assay, significant increases of LcGal-9 protein appeared in the spleen stimulated with poly I:C (for 12 h) and V. parahaemolyticus (for 48 h) compared with the control. Based on the collective data, LcGal-9 might play an important role in innate immune responses, especially defense against Gram-negative bacteria in L. crocea.

White syndrome in Acropora muricata: nonspecific bacterial infection and ciliate histophagy.

Selective antibiotic treatment of white syndrome (WS)-affected corals (Acropora muricata) from Fiji was used to identify 3 potential bacterial pathogens of the disease. Interestingly, the suite of bacterial associates of the disease was different to that recently identified using identical primer sets for WS on the GBR and in the Solomon Islands. In addition to the three bacterial pathogenic candidates and as previously shown for WS and more recently for white band disease (WBD) in the Caribbean, all samples of the disease were specifically associated with the histophagous ciliate Philaster lucinda. From the pattern of disease progression and histopathology in relation to the selective elimination of microbial groups, we conclude that these 'white' diseases are a result of a nonspecific bacterial infection and a 'secondary' infection by the P. lucinda ciliate. Although we have not observed the initiation of infection, a nonspecific, multispecies bacterial infection appears to be a corequirement for WS lesion progression and we hypothesize that the bacterial infection occurs initially, weakening the defences of the host to predation by the ciliates. Such ciliate histophagy gives rise to the characteristic white band of denuded coral skeleton that gives these diseases their names. The characteristics of the microbial communities of WBD and WS appear identical, and since the bacterial associates of WS vary geographically (and/or temporally), there appears to be no logical distinction between WS in the Indo-Pacific and WBD in the Caribbean.

ADF/cofilin is not essential but is critically important for actin activities during phagocytosis in Tetrahymena thermophila.

ADF/cofilin is a highly conserved actin-modulating protein. Reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton in vivo through severing and depolymerizing of F-actin by this protein is essential for various cellular events, such as endocytosis, phagocytosis, cytokinesis, and cell migration. We show that in the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila, the ADF/cofilin homologue Adf73p associates with actin on nascent food vacuoles. Overexpression of Adf73p disrupted the proper localization of actin and inhibited the formation of food vacuoles. In vitro, recombinant Adf73p promoted the depolymerization of filaments made of T. thermophila actin (Act1p). Knockout cells lacking the ADF73 gene are viable but grow extremely slowly and have a severely decreased rate of food vacuole formation. Knockout cells have abnormal aggregates of actin in the cytoplasm. Surprisingly, unlike the case in animals and yeasts, in Tetrahymena, ADF/cofilin is not required for cytokinesis. Thus, the Tetrahymena model shows promise for future studies of the role of ADF/cofilin in vivo.

Enhanced susceptibility of channel catfish to the bacterium Edwardsiella ictaluri after parasitism by Ichthyophthirius multifiliis.

Bacterium Edwardsiella ictaluri and parasite Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich) are two common pathogens of cultured fish. The objective of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus to E. ictaluri and determine bacterial loads in different fish organs after parasitism by Ich. Fish received the following treatments: (1) infected by I. multifiliis at 5000 theronts/fish and exposed to E. ictaluri; (2) infected by I. multifiliis alone; (3) exposed to E. ictaluri alone; and (4) non-infected control. E. ictaluri in fish organs were quantified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and reported as genome equivalents per mg of tissue (GEs/mg). The results demonstrated that the Ich-parasitized catfish showed significantly (P<0.05) higher mortality (91.7%) when exposed to E. ictaluri than non-parasitized fish (10%). The bacterial loads in fish infected by 5000 theronts/fish ranged from 6497 to 163,898 GEs/mg which was between 40 and 2000 fold higher than non-parasitized fish (49-141 GEs/mg). Ich infection enhanced the susceptibility of channel catfish to bacterial invasion and increased fish mortality.

Ichthyophthirius multifiliis as a potential vector of Edwardsiella ictaluri in channel catfish.

There is limited information on whether parasites act as vectors to transmit bacteria in fish. In this trial, we used Ichthyophthirius multifiliis and fluorescent Edwardsiella ictaluri as a model to study the interaction between parasite, bacterium, and fish. The percentage (23-39%) of theronts fluorescing after exposure to E. ictaluri was significantly higher than control theronts (~ 6%) using flow cytometry. Theronts exposed to E. ictaluri at 4 × 10(7)  CFU mL(-1) showed a higher percentage (~ 60%) of fluorescent theronts compared to those (42%) exposed to 4 × 10(3)  CFU mL(-1) at 4 h. All tomonts (100%) carried the bacterium after exposure to E. ictaluri. Edwardsiella ictaluri survived and replicated during tomont division. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that E. ictaluri was associated with the tomont surface. Among theronts released from tomonts exposed to E. ictaluri, 31-66% were observed with attached E. ictaluri. Sixty percent of fish exposed to theronts treated with 5 × 10(7) E. ictaluri mL(-1) were positive for E. ictaluri at 4 h as determined by qPCR or fluorescent microscopy. Fluorescent E. ictaluri were observed on trophonts in skin and gill wet mounts of dead fish. This study demonstrated that Ich could vector E. ictaluri to channel catfish.

Parasitism by protozoan Ichthyophthirius multifiliis enhanced invasion of Aeromonas hydrophila in tissues of channel catfish.

Protozoan Ichthyophthirius multifiliis Fouquet (Ich) and bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila are two common pathogens of cultured fish, which cause high fish mortality. Currently there is no information available for the effect of parasitism by Ich on survival of channel catfish and invasion of A. hydrophila in fish tissues following exposure to A. hydrophila. A trial was conducted in this study to: (1) determine whether A. hydrophila increased fish mortality in Ich-parasitized channel catfish; and (2) compare the bacterial quantity in different tissues between non-parasitized and Ich-parasitized catfish by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The results demonstrated that the Ich-parasitized catfish showed significantly (P<0.05) higher mortality (80%) when exposed to A. hydrophila by immersion than non-parasitized fish (22%). Low mortality was observed in catfish exposed to Ich alone (35%) or A. hydrophila alone (22%). A. hydrophila in fish tissues were quantified by qPCR using a pair of gene-specific primers and reported as genome equivalents per mg of tissue (GEs/mg). Skin, gill, kidney, liver and spleen in Ich-parasitized fish showed significantly higher load of A. hydrophila (9400-188,300 GEs/mg) than non-parasitized fish (4700-42,100 GEs/mg) after exposure to A. hydrophila. This study provides evidence that parasite infections enhance bacterial invasion and cause high fish mortality.

Listeria monocytogenes virulence factor Listeriolysin O favors bacterial growth in co-culture with the ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis, causes protozoan encystment and promotes bacterial survival inside cysts.

BACKGROUND: The gram-positive pathogenic bacterium Listeria monocytogenes is widely spread in the nature. L. monocytogenes was reported to be isolated from soil, water, sewage and sludge. Listeriolysin O (LLO) is a L. monocytogenes major virulence factor. In the course of infection in mammals, LLO is required for intracellular survival and apoptosis induction in lymphocytes. In this study, we explored the potential of LLO to promote interactions between L. monocytogenes and the ubiquitous inhabitant of natural ecosystems bacteriovorous free-living ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis. RESULTS: Wild type L. monocytogenes reduced T. pyriformis trophozoite counts and stimulated encystment. The effects were observed starting from 48 h of co-incubation. On the day 14, trophozoites were eliminated from the co-culture while about 5 x 104 cells/ml remained in the axenic T. pyriformis culture. The deficient in the LLO-encoding hly gene L. monocytogenes strain failed to cause mortality among protozoa and to trigger protozoan encystment. Replenishment of the hly gene in the mutant strain restored toxicity towards protozoa and induction of protozoan encystment. The saprophytic non-haemolytic species L. innocua transformed with the LLO-expressing plasmid caused extensive mortality and encystment in ciliates. During the first week of co-incubation, LLO-producing L. monocytogenes demonstrated higher growth rates in association with T. pyriformis than the LLO-deficient isogenic strain. At latter stages of co-incubation bacterial counts were similar for both strains. T. pyriformis cysts infected with wild type L. monocytogenes caused listerial infection in guinea pigs upon ocular and oral inoculation. The infection was proved by bacterial plating from the internal organs. CONCLUSIONS: The L. monocytogenes virulence factor LLO promotes bacterial survival and growth in the presence of bacteriovorous ciliate T. pyriformis. LLO is responsible for L. monocytogenes toxicity for protozoa and induction of protozoan encystment. L. monocytogenes entrapped in cysts remained viable and virulent. In whole, LLO activity seems to support bacterial survival in the natural habitat outside of a host.

Field and laboratory studies of Ophryoglena sp. (Ciliata: Ophryoglenidae) infection in zebra mussels, Dreissena polymorpha (Bivalvia: Dreissenidae).

This study, conducted in the Dnieper-Bug Canal in Belarus, is the first to monitor the seasonal (June-November) dynamics of infection with the parasitic ciliate Ophryoglena sp. in a zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) population. Mean population prevalence and intensity of infection varied, respectively, from 11 to 62% and from 0.9 to 24.1 ciliates/mussel. Mean prevalence was highly correlated with mussel length in mussels <20 mm (R(2)=0.97) and was lower in larger mussels. Mean infection intensity in mussels 1-25 mm long was similarly correlated with their size (R=0.98), reached a maximum in the 20-25 mm size-class, and then sharply decreased, thus providing evidence, albeit limited, that high intensity of infection might be lethal. Transinfection of zebra mussels by Ophryoglena sp. was achieved in the laboratory-a first for a protozoan parasite of D. polymorpha; from an initial complete lack of infection, mean prevalence and intensity rose, respectively, to 86.7% and 8.3 ciliates/mussel.