The Immune System of Marine Organisms as Source for Drugs against Infectious Diseases.

The high proliferation of microorganisms in aquatic environments has allowed their coevolution for billions of years with other living beings that also inhabit these niches. Among the different existing types of interaction, the eternal competition for supremacy between the susceptible species and their pathogens has selected, as part of the effector division of the immune system of the former ones, a vast and varied arsenal of efficient antimicrobial molecules, which is highly amplified by the broad biodiversity radiated, above any others, at the marine habitats. At present, the great recent scientific and technological advances already allow the massive discovery and exploitation of these defense compounds for therapeutic purposes against infectious diseases of our interest.

Effect of β-1/3,1/6-glucan upon immune responses and bacteria in the gut of healthy common carp (Cyprinus carpio).

β-glucans are frequently included in the diet of healthy common carp Cyprinus carpio as a pre-emptive measure for combatting disease. In order to study the effect this has on the relationship between the gut bacteria and host immune response, carp were maintained on either a β-glucan free diet or feed containing 0.1% MacroGard®, a β-1/3, 1/6-glucan, for up to 7 weeks and analysis of innate immune gene expression and molecular analysis of the gut bacteria was performed.

In vitro investigations on the effects of semi-synthetic, sulphated carbohydrates on the immune status of cultured common carp (Cyprinus carpio) leucocytes.

The rapid emergence of drug resistance, unfavourable immunosuppression and mounting evidence to suggest the deleterious accumulation of drug breakdown residues within animal tissues has driven a strong desire to move away from these current methods of disease control. Some natural products such as β-glucan, which are extracted from, for example, plants and fungi, are able to modulate the immune system and increase protection against diseases. However, these products are heterogeneous and their effects can be variable thus limiting their applicability and reliability.

Differential effects of alloherpesvirus CyHV-3 and rhabdovirus SVCV on apoptosis in fish cells.

Whilst Herpesviridae, which infect higher vertebrates, actively influence host immune responses to ensure viral replication, it is mostly unknown if Alloherpesviridae, which infect lower vertebrates, possess similar abilities. An important antiviral response is clearance of infected cells via apoptosis, which in mammals influences the outcome of infection. Here, we utilise common carp infected with CyHV-3 to determine the effect on the expression of genes encoding apoptosis-related proteins (p53, Caspase 9, Apaf-1, IAP, iNOS) in the pronephros, spleen and gills.

Time and concentration dependency of MacroGard® induced apoptosis.

In previous studies an effect of β-glucan on apoptosis in fish was noted and in this investigation we determine the time and concentration dependency of this effect. Primary cell cultures of pronephric carp cells were incubated for 6, 24, 48 h with various concentrations ranging from 0 to 1000 μg/ml of MacroGard(®) β-glucan. Apoptosis was monitored via acridine orange staining.

C-reactive protein and complement as acute phase reactants in common carp Cyprinus carpio during CyHV-3 infection.

Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3) is the aetiological agent of a highly virulent and lethal disease of common carp Cyprinus carpio and its ornamental koi varieties. However, specific knowledge about immune mechanisms behind the infection process is very limited. We aimed to evaluate the effect of the CyHV-3 infection on the profile of 2 major components of the common carp immune acute phase response: the C-reactive protein (CRP) and the complement system.

β-Glucan-supplemented diets increase poly(I:C)-induced gene expression of Mx, possibly via Tlr3-mediated recognition mechanism in common carp (Cyprinus carpio).

We have previously observed that in common carp (Cyprinus carpio), administration of β-glucan (MacroGard®) as feed additive leads to a lower expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines suggesting that this immunostimulant may be preventing an acute and potentially dangerous response to infection, particularly in the gut. However, in general, mechanisms to detect and eliminate pathogens must also be induced in order to achieve an efficient clearance of the infection. Protection against viral diseases acquired through β-glucan-supplemented feed has been extensively reported for several experimental models in fish but the underlining mechanisms are still unknown.

Oxidative burst and nitric oxide responses in carp macrophages induced by zymosan, MacroGard(®) and selective dectin-1 agonists suggest recognition by multiple pattern recognition receptors.

β-Glucans are glucose polymers that are found in the cell walls of plants, bacteria, certain fungi, mushrooms and the cell wall of baker's yeast. In mammals, myeloid cells express several receptors capable of recognizing β-glucans, with the C-type lectin receptor dectin-1 in conjunction with Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), considered key receptors for recognition of β-glucan. In our studies to determine the possible involvement of these receptors on carp macrophages a range of sources of β-glucans were utilized including particulate β-glucan preparations of baker's yeast such as zymosan, which is composed of insoluble β-glucan and mannan, and MacroGard(®), a β-glucan-based feed ingredient for farmed animals including several fish species.

Dietary β-glucan stimulate complement and C-reactive protein acute phase responses in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) during an Aeromonas salmonicida infection.

The effect of β-glucans as feed additive on the profile of C-reactive protein (CRP) and complement acute phase responses was studied in common carp Cyprinus carpio after exposition to a bacterial infection with Aeromonas salmonicida. Carp were orally administered with β-glucan (MacroGard®) for 14 days with a daily β-glucan intake of 6 mg per kg body weight. Fish were then intraperitoneally injected with either PBS or 1 × 10⁸ bacteria per fish and sampled at time 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h post-injection (p.

Towards virtual knowledge broker services for semantic integration of life science literature and data sources.

Research in the life sciences requires ready access to primary data, derived information and relevant knowledge from a multitude of sources. Integration and interoperability of such resources are crucial for sharing content across research domains relevant to the life sciences. In this article we present a perspective review of data integration with emphasis on a semantics driven approach to data integration that pushes content into a shared infrastructure, reduces data redundancy and clarifies any inconsistencies.

The influence of dietary β-glucan, PAMP exposure and Aeromonas salmonicida on apoptosis modulation in common carp (Cyprinus carpio).

The association between β-glucan (MacroGard®) supplemented feed and apoptosis in immune-related organs of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) was studied using fluorescence microscopy and real-time PCR. In addition the effect of Aeromonas salmonicida, LPS and Poly(I:C) injections on this relationship was evaluated. Whilst acridine orange staining revealed that apoptosis levels were independent of MacroGard® and LPS/Poly(I:C) administration or their combination, it was shown that injection with A.

Identification of apoptosis-related genes and transcription variations in response to microcystin-LR in zebrafish liver.

There is growing evidence that the effects of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) are closely related to apoptosis. This study utilized microarray to identify the apoptosis-related genes induced by MC-LR in zebrafish liver. The messenger RNA abundance of some apoptosis-related genes was found to be increased, including five tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related members (apoptosis regulatory protein siva, tumor necrosis factor-α (tnfa) TNF (ligand) superfamily member 10 (tnfsf10), TNF-inducible protein 6 (tnfaip6) and TNF receptor associated factor 2 binding protein (traf2bp)), three p53-related genes (tumor protein p53 inducible nuclear protein 1 (tp53inp1), p53-induced protein phosphatase 1 (ppm1d) and a novel apoptosis stimulating protein of p53 (aspp2)), bcl 2 family members (proapoptosis gene bax and antiapoptosis gene mcl 1), caspases (caspase y (caspy) and a PYD and CARD domain-containing protein (pycard)) and the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) induced apoptosis protein 2 (taip2).

Reduced inflammatory response to Aeromonas salmonicida infection in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) fed with β-glucan supplements.

The objective of the present study was to determine the action of β-glucans as feed additives on the gene expression profile of some inflammatory-related cytokines from common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) during the early stages of a non-lethal bacterial infection with Aeromonas salmonicida. β-glucan (MacroGard(®)), was administered daily to carp (6 mg per kg body weight) in the form of supplemented commercial food pellets for 14 days prior to infection.

Molecular characterization and expression analysis of two new C-reactive protein genes from common carp (Cyprinus carpio).

C-Reactive protein (CRP) plays an important role in the acute phase response. Transcripts encoding two new CRP-like molecules (ccCRP1 and ccCRP2) from European common carp have been characterized which has enabled seven CRP-like genes to be identified in zebrafish. 79.

Ligula intestinalis (Cestoda: Pseudophyllidea): an ideal fish-metazoan parasite model?

Since its use as a model to study metazoan parasite culture and in vitro development, the plerocercoid of the tapeworm, Ligula intestinalis, has served as a useful scientific tool to study a range of biological factors, particularly within its fish intermediate host. From the extensive long-term ecological studies on the interactions between the parasite and cyprinid hosts, to the recent advances made using molecular technology on parasite diversity and speciation, studies on the parasite have, over the last 60 years, led to significant advances in knowledge on host-parasite interactions. The parasite has served as a useful model to study pollution, immunology and parasite ecology and genetics, as well has being the archetypal endocrine disruptor.

Regionally acquired intestinal failure data suggest an underestimate in national service requirements.

Unlabelled: OBJECTIVES, SETTING AND PATIENTS: With complete case referral for prolonged parenteral nutrition (PN) beyond term equivalent, serving a stable population of 1.25 million people, we describe the long-term outcome and survival of patients referred to an intestinal failure (IF) nutrition support team over the first 8 years of existence at a regional paediatric centre, and extrapolate to potential numbers of national home parenteral nutrition (HPN) cases and intestinal transplantation data.

Design And Outcome Measures: Retrospective analysis detailing patient demographics, interventions, use of HPN, occurrence of intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD), and outcomes of enteral adaptation, survival, and referral for and receipt of organ transplantation.

Characterisation of a carp cell line for analysis of apoptosis.

Teleost fish in general, and common carp in particular, are excellent genetic models for bridging the gap in knowledge between invertebrate models such as C. elegans and D. melanogaster, on one hand, and higher vertebrates on the other hand, although, until now, there have been few well characterised fish cell lines shown to be suitable for studies on apoptosis.

X-ray microanalysis (EDXMA) of cadmium-exposed eggs of Bothriocephalus acheilognathi (Cestoda: Bothriocephalidea) and the influence of this heavy metal on coracidial hatching and activity.

Over recent years it has been established that pollutants can have a significant impact on host-parasite systems in the aquatic environment, so much so that it has been proposed that parasite fauna may be a useful parameter to monitor water quality. Surprisingly, with perhaps the exception of trematodes and bioaccumulation in adult acanthocephalans, detailed observations on the interaction between helminths, particularly cestodes, and pollutants such as heavy metals, are lacking. In this study, eggs of the carp tapeworm, Bothriocephalus acheilognathi were exposed to a range of cadmium concentrations (0.

Characterisation of cDNAs of key genes involved in apoptosis in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.).

Apoptosis is a morphologically and biochemically distinct form of eukaryotic cell death that occurs under a variety of physiological and pathological conditions. Many of the cell deaths that occur during normal embryological development and during normal tissue turnover display the morphological hallmarks of apoptosis. In the last 20 or so years a better biochemical picture of how the process occurs has been produced, at least in higher vertebrates.

Serum CRP-like protein profile in common carp Cyprinus carpio challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila and Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide.

The potential of C-reactive protein (CRP)-like proteins to be used as a biomarker of health status in cultured carp obtained from various European fish lines has been assessed. Varying CRP-like protein levels in the serum of carp were monitored using an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. CRP-like protein basal levels in normal fish varied between carp lines, ranging on average from 2.

Pollutant-induced effects on immunological and physiological interactions in aquatic host-trematode systems: implications for parasite transmission.

Under conditions of pollution both host and parasite are susceptible to the pathogenic effects of toxicants, which in turn may result in detrimental changes to their immunological and physiological processes. Digenetic trematodes, which encompass species of both medical and economic importance, possess complex life cycles and are common parasites of both vertebrates and molluscs. The combined stress induced by pollution and parasitism influences the physiology of the host which can have implications not only on host survival but also on the functional biology of resident parasite populations.

The tapeworm Ligula intestinalis (Cestoda: Pseudophyllidea) inhibits LH expression and puberty in its teleost host, Rutilus rutilus.

The tapeworm Ligula intestinalis occurs in the body cavity of its cyprinid second intermediate host, in this study the roach Rutilus rutilus, and inhibits host gonadal development. The mechanism by which infected fish are prevented from reproducing is unknown. Comparison of parameters, such as body length and weight, and condition factor and age, between infected and uninfected individuals, indicated only minor effects of parasitism on growth and condition.

Interaction between the blood fluke, Sanguinicola inermis and humoral components of the immune response of carp, Cyprinus carpio.

The effect of Sanguinicola inermis on serum antibody and complement activity in Cyprinus carpio was assessed using an ELISA and haemolytic assays. Possible immune evasion strategies were assessed using immunodetection of host proteins on the surface of the parasite. Carp acclimatized to 20 or 25 degrees C were infected by exposure to 500 cercariae or injected intraperitoneally with 150 cercariae, and serum monitored over a 63-day period.