Publications by authors named "Zheng-Wei Cui"

Teleost IgM+ B cells can phagocytose, like mammalian B1 cells, and secrete Ag-specific IgM, like mammalian B2 cells. Therefore, teleost IgM+ B cells may have the functions of both mammalian B1 and B2 cells. To support this view, we initially found that grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) IgM+ plasma cells (PCs) exhibit robust phagocytic ability, akin to IgM+ naive B cells.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

As a proinflammatory cytokine of the interleukin-1 (IL-1) family, IL-18 plays important roles in host protection against bacterial, viral, and fungal infection. We cloned the open reading frame of snakehead (Channa argus) IL-18 (shIL-18) and found that it contained 609 base pairs and encoded 202 amino acid residues. The shIL-18 included a conserved IL-1-like family signature and two potential IL-1β-converting enzyme cutting sites; one was conserved in all analyzed IL-18s, but the other was unique to shIL-18.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

IL-35 plays a key role in regulatory T (Treg) and regulatory B (Breg) cell functions in mammals. CD25 has been demonstrated as one of the markers of Treg cells, and CD19CD25CD71 cells have been verified as a type of Breg cells in humans. These results indicate that there is a close relationship between IL-35 and CD25 cells.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a pluripotent mediator of pro-inflammatory and antimicrobial defense mechanisms and a regulator of lymphoid organ development. Although two types of TNF-α have been identified in several teleost species, their functions in pathogen infection remain largely unexplored, especially in pathogen clearance. Herein, we cloned and characterized two types of TNF-α, termed shTNF-α1 and shTNF-α2, and their receptors, shTNFR1 and shTNFR2, from snakehead (Channa argus).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • This study identifies three splicing variants of interleukin 21 (IL-21) in grass carp, named gcIL-21sv1, gcIL-21sv2, and gcIL-21sv3.
  • The first two variants have similar structures with slight differences in their C-terminal regions, while gcIL-21sv3 lacks this region entirely.
  • Expression analysis shows all variants are present in various tissues and can be upregulated by specific stimuli, but only gcIL-21sv1 and gcIL-21sv2 promote B cell activity and IgM secretion, highlighting the functional importance of the C-terminal region.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

As a central pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) plays critical roles in the inflammatory response, pathogen infection, and immunological challenges in mammals. Although fish IL-1β has been confirmed to participate in inflammatory response to pathogen infection, few studies have been performed to characterize the antibacterial and bactericidal functions of fish IL-1β. In this study, snakehead (Channa argus) IL-1β (shIL-1β) and its receptors, shIL-1R1 and shIL-1R2, were cloned and functionally characterized.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A 14-day experiment was conducted to explore the pathological process and immune response of soybean meal (SBM) induced enteritis (SBMIE) in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus). The complete replacement of dietary fish meal (FM) with SBM resulted in a remarkable reduction in final body weight, weight gain ratio, and feed conversion efficiency (p < 0.05).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Teleost fish are the most primitive bony vertebrates that contain B cells; thus, comparative analysis of teleost naïve/mature B cells and plasma cells can provide helpful evidence for understanding the evolution paradigms of these two B-cell subpopulations in vertebrates. In this study, we developed monoclonal antibody against grass carp IgM and identified two different IgM cell subsets: IgM lymphocytes (Lym), resembling naïve/mature B cells, and IgM myeloid cells (Mye), resembling plasma cells. Like plasma cells in mammals, the size of IgM Mye is significantly larger than that of IgM Lym, as revealed by flow cytometric analysis and transmission electron microscopy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Petasites japonicus is an edible and medicinal plant with a good flavor, and it is a rich source of bioactive compounds. S-Petasin has been isolated from Petasites hybridus (L.), Petasites officinalis (L.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is a kind of dioxygenase that can catalyze the degradation of levo-tryptophan (L-Trp) and plays key roles in immune tolerance. In this study, the IDO gene was cloned and functionally characterized from grass carp (gcIDO). The results showed that gcIDO overexpressed in GCO cells could catalyze the degradation of L-Trp through the L-Trp - kynurenine pathway, and this activity could be promoted by δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) while inhibited by levo-1-methyl tryptophan (L-1MT).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Streptococcus agalactiae infections in tilapia aquaculture pose a significant threat, causing high rates of illness and death, which hampers healthy fish farming.
  • Researchers developed and tested a Bacillus subtilis GC5 vaccine administered orally to tilapia, showing that it effectively colonized the fish's intestines and triggered an immune response.
  • The study found that fish vaccinated with GC5-Sip had a 41.7% survival rate against S. agalactiae, proving the vaccine's efficacy and safety, and suggesting potential for new prevention methods in aquaculture.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Interleukin-35 (IL-35) is a member of the IL-12 cytokine family and a heterodimeric protein formed by Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 3 (EBI3) and IL-12p35. Emerging evidence showed that IL-35 is a key player in the regulation of cellular communication, differentiation, and inflammation. To date, no studies on fish IL-35 have been documented.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Immunoglobulin M (IgM) is the major antibody in teleost fish and plays an important role in humoral adaptive immunity. The N-linked carbohydrates presenting on IgM have been well documented in higher vertebrates, but little is known regarding site-specific N-glycan characteristics in teleost IgM. In order to characterize these site-specific N-glycans, we conducted the first study of the N-glycans of each glycosylation site of the grass carp serum IgM.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In aquafeeds, fish-meal has been commonly replaced with plant protein, which often causes enteritis. Currently, foodborne enteritis has few solutions in regards to prevention or cures. The recovery mechanism from enteritis in herbivorous fish may further help understand prevention or therapy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on the roles of two key costimulatory molecules, CD40 and CD154, in immune responses in grass carp, particularly in their ability to produce antibodies against infections.
  • Researchers identified and analyzed the cDNAs of CD40 and CD154, finding that their expression levels increase in immune organs after exposure to grass carp reovirus (GCRV), specifically peaking at 72 hours post-infection.
  • The study also discovered several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CD40 gene that are significantly associated with grass carp's resistance to GCRV, suggesting that these SNP markers could aid in breeding disease-resistant fish.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Grass carp reovirus II (GCRV II) causes severe hemorrhagic disease with high mortality in grass carp, Cyenopharyngodon idellus. DNA vaccination has been proven to be a very effective method in conferring protection against fish viruses. However, DNA vaccines for GCRV II have not yet been conducted on grass carp.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of high hydrostatic pressure and thermal processing on microbiological quality, bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, and volatile profile of mulberry juice. High hydrostatic pressure processing at 500 MPa for 10 min reduced the total viable count from 4.38 log cfu/ml to nondetectable level and completely inactivated yeasts and molds in raw mulberry juice, ensuring the microbiological safety as thermal processing at 85 ℃ for 15 min.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Bacillus subtilis is widely used as probiotic species in aquaculture for water quality control, growth promoting, or immunity enhancing. The aim of this study is to find novel B. subtilis strains from fish as potential probiotics for aquaculture.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study examines how the rs7903146 polymorphism of the TCF7L2 gene is linked to metabolic syndrome, plasma lipoproteins, and adiponectin levels in Chinese Korean and Han populations.
  • Methods included DNA sequencing to identify genotypes in 310 Chinese Koreans and 344 Chinese Han individuals, while insulin and adiponectin levels were measured using ELIAS.
  • Findings suggest that the T allele is more common in Han individuals than in Koreans but less prevalent than in Europeans and Africans; it appears to be a risk factor for essential hypertension in Koreans and affects adiponectin levels, indicating lower levels could contribute to metabolic syndrome.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF