Non-specific Immune Response Research Articles

PEMBERIAN EKSTRAK DAUN KETAPANG UNTUK MENINGKATKAN IMUN – NON SPESIFIK PADA IKAN (ARTIKEL REVIEW)

This review article focuses on the administration of ketapang leaf extract to enhance non-specific immunity in fish. Ketapang leaves have been of interest as a potential immunostimulant in aquaculture to boost the non-specific immune response in fish. In this review, various studies exploring the effects of ketapang leaf extract on the non-specific immune response of fish have been examined. The findings suggest that the administration of ketapang leaf extract can lead to an increase in non-specific immune parameters, such as phagocytosis activity, lysozyme activity, and total protein content. The potential use of ketapang leaf extract as an immunostimulant in aquaculture shows promising results in enhancing the non-specific immune response of fish. Strengthening the non-specific immune system can help fish combat various pathogens and diseases, thereby improving their overall health and survival in aquaculture settings. However, further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms of action and optimal dosage of ketapang leaf extract as an immunostimulant. Additionally, considering its potential positive impact on fish health, the use of ketapang leaf extract in aquaculture warrants comprehensive studies to ensure its safe and effective implementation.

Preliminary study of immunomodulatory effects of fermented garlic honey on non-specific immune responses

Introduction: Honey and Garlic is recognized to offer several health advantages due to its numerous constituents, one of which being flavonoids. Flavonoids’ pharmacological activity includes antibacterial, antioxidant, antifungal, antiviral, and immunomodulatory properties. Honey's immunomodulatory action plays a vital role in immune system boosting. The purpose of this study is to determine the immunomodulatory effect of fermented garlic honey, which is considered to have a synergistic effect, using two alternative techniques. Methods: Macrophage phagocytic activity is the first approach, while the delayed type hypersensitivity is the second. Each method used 30 male rats (Rattus norvegicus) divided into 5 groups, where each group consisted of 6 rats. Group I negative (Placebo 0,005 g/kg BW), group II positive (Stimuno 0,005 g/kg BW), group III FGH dose I (1,5 g/kg BW), group IV FGH dose II (3 g/kg BW), group V FGH dose III (4,5 g/kg BW). The dosage form was orally given for 21 days. The Macrophage phagocytic activity method measured %activity of macrophage phagocytosis using a microscope. The rats were injected with an antigen which is Staphylococcus aureus by intraperitoneal route. Results: The Delayed Type Hypersensitivity was measured volume change of the rat’s feet at the 4, 24, and 48 hours using a plethysmometer. Based on the results, fermented garlic honey had an immunomodulatory effect. The dose 2 (3 g/kg BW) has the highest effectiveness as an immunomodulator. Fermented Garlic Honey may be concluded to be efficient as an immunomodulator by enhancing the macrophage phagocytic activity indicator and lowering the edema volume of the rat. Conclusion: Fermented garlic honey can increase the immune system and can be used as an immunostimulant. The most effective dose of fermented garlic honey as immunomodulator is dose 2 was 3 g/kg BW.

Effects of hydroxy methionine zinc on growth performance, immune response, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal microbiota of red claw crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of varying zinc (Zn) levels on the growth performance, non-specific immune response, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal microbiota of red claw crayfish (Procambarus clarkii (P. clarkii)). Adopting hydroxy methionine zinc (Zn-MHA) as the Zn source, 180 healthy crayfish with an initial body mass of 6.50 ± 0.05 g were randomly divided into the following five groups: X1 (control group) and groups X2, X3, X4, and X5, which were fed the basal feed supplemented with Zn-MHA with 0, 15, 30, 60, and 90 mg kg−1, respectively. The results indicated that following the addition of various concentrations of Zn-MHA to the diet, the following was observed: Specific growth rate (SGR), weight gain rate (WGR), total protein (TP), total cholesterol (TC), the activities of alkaline phosphatase (AKP), phenoloxidase (PO), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and catalase (CAT), the expression of CTL, GPX, and CuZn-SOD genes demonstrated a trend of rising and then declining—with a maximum value in group X4—which was significantly higher than that in group X1 (P < 0.05). Zn deposition in the intestine and hepatopancreas, the activity of GSH-PX, and the expression of GSH-PX were increased, exhibiting the highest value in group X5. The malonaldehyde (MDA) content was significantly reduced, with the lowest value in group X4, and the MDA content of the Zn-MHA addition groups were significantly lower than the control group (P < 0.05). In the analysis of the intestinal microbiota of P. clarkii, the number of operational taxonomic units in group X4 was the highest, and the richness and diversity indexes of groups X3 and X4 were significantly higher than those in group X1 (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the dietary addition of Zn-MHA decreased and increased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Tenericutes, respectively. These findings indicate that supplementation of dietary Zn-MHA at an optimum dose of 60 mg kg−1 may effectively improve growth performance, immune response, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal microbiota richness and species diversity in crayfish.

Dietary Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG) Improves Nonspecific Immune Response of Chinese Rice Field Eel (Monopterus albus).

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has been recognized as a potential additive for aquafeeds due to its beneficial biological functions. In order to evaluate the potential application of EGCG in Chinese rice field eel (Monopterus albus), six isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets containing 0, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg EGCG were formulated and were fed to Monopterus albus (M. albus) for 9 weeks. The results showed that M. albus fed diets containing 0 and 100 mg/kg EGCG presented higher weight again and specific growth rate than the other groups. Fish fed with 25, 50, and 400 mg/kg EGCG displayed lower whole-body lipid content. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) concentration significantly decreased in EGCG treated groups with the exception of 100 mg/kg group. Hepatic catalase (CAT) activity and glutathione (GSH) concentration decreased as EGCG level increased while malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration showed an opposite trend. EGCG supplementation resulted in a promoted lysozyme (LZM) activity and immunoglobulin M (IgM) level in the liver of M. albus. Furthermore, transcription of three immune related genes including major histocompatibility complex (mhc-2α), hepcidin, and interleukin-8 (il-8) mRNAs was upregulated by EGCG treatment; while transcription of interleukin-6 (il-6) and nuclear factor kappa-B (nf-kb) genes was downregulated. Results also showed a linear relation between EGCG inclusion level and parameters of AST, CAT, GSH, MDA, LZM, IgM, and immune-related genes transcriptions. In summary, it could be suggested that EGCG supplementation enhanced the nonspecific immune response of the Chinese rice field eel. Based on the broken-line regression analysis of IgM, the optimal dietary EGCG supplementation for M. albus was estimated to be 109.81 mg/kg.

Isolation of a novel pentasaccharide Ebaliose from immunostimulant fraction of buffalo milk oligosaccharide

Buffalo milk processed by method of Kobata and Ginsburg for isolation of its oligosaccharide contents showed significant stimulation of anti-body, delayed type hypersensitivity response to sheep red blood cells in BALB/c mice. This oligosaccharide mixture also stimulated non-specific immune response in terms of MMI. In continuation to our previous studies of oligosaccharide contents of buffalo milk another novel pentasaccharide Ebaliose was isolated from immunostimulant oligosaccharide fraction of buffalo milk. Ebaliose was procured in its purest form, by combining the different chromatographic techniques like Gel filtration, Silica Gel column chromatography, and HPLC. The structure of novel oligosaccharide was determined by 1H,13C, HSQC, TOCSY, COSY, HMBC, ESI-MS, chemical transformation, and chemical degradation. The stereoscopic structure of this novel pentasaccharide was established as under.

Effects of dietary commercial phytobiotic “Sanacore® GM” on Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) growth, immune response, redux status, intestinal health, and disease resistance against Fusarium solani

The use of phytobiotic as functional feed additives is a promising inducer for growth performance and immune response in the Pacific whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). It can be also commercially applied in combination with chemotherapeutic agents and vaccines. This study was carried out to evaluate the use of a commercial phytobiotic feed additive, Sanacore® GM, containing vegetable fatty acids and inactivated Saccharomyces cerevisiae with herbal extracts, on growth, body composition, non-specific immune response, antioxidant index, intestinal microflora count, and fungal resistance to Fusarium solani challenge in Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. Shrimp juveniles (5.00 ± 0.1 g) were randomly distributed into 12 hapas (1 m3) in triplicates at a stocking density of 20 shrimp per hapa and fed increasing levels of Sanacore® (0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3%) for 63 days. At the end of the feeding trial, the experimental shrimp were infected with F. solani, and mortality was recorded for 15 days. Results revealed that growth performance, feed utilization, and whole-body protein deposition were improved with increasing dietary sanacore levels. A significant improvement was reported in cellular (hemocyte counts, phagocytosis, phagocytic index, respiratory burst activity) and humoral (lysozyme and phenoloxidase) immune responses with higher dietary sanacore levels. Superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase were notably improved in shrimp-fed sanacore-supplemented diets. Meanwhile, malondialdehyde level was significantly decreased in all sanacore-supplemented shrimp. Furthermore, the dietary sanacore consistently increased probiotic bacterial counts and decreased enteric and Clostridium sp. counts in the intestine. Juveniles fed with Sanacore exhibited significantly lower mortality rates when challenged with F. solani. In conclusion, dietary sanacore could exhibit a profitable effect on the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immunity, intestinal microbial, and the health condition of L. vannamei. Thus, sanacore can be used as an attractive feed supplement in the L. vannamei diet (0.2–0.3%), providing more insights into its application in aquaculture as a functional immunostimulant feed additive.

Improvement of non-specific immunity, intestinal health and microbiota of crucian carp (Carassius auratus) juvenile with dietary supplementation of Bacillus coagulans BC1

Establishing beneficial intestinal microbiota using autochthonous probiotics is a promising approach for disease control and growth regulation during fish rearing. Therefore, it is crucial to identify indigenous probiotics with high application potential in aquaculture. In this study, we screened Bacillus coagulans BC1, a strain with strong application potential. After a comprehensive safety assessment, diets containing varying doses of BC1 were formulated and administered to crucian carp. Subsequently, a feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate non-specific immune response, intestinal structure, microbiota, and challenge protection rate. The results demonstrate that oral supplementation of BC1 can lead to tissue-dependent upregulation of various serum immune enzymes and IgM levels, while significantly enhancing the expression of IL-1β, IL-10, TNF-α, and TGF-β in various organs of crucian carp (p < 0.05). The BC1 diet effectively promoted intestinal morphology in crucian carp and improved resistance to Aeromonas veronii TH0426 infection. Intestinal microbiota analysis revealed that the oral addition of BC1 significantly changed the intestinal microbial community structure of crucian carp but did not clearly affect intestinal microbial diversity. Oral administration of BC1 significantly improved the relative abundance of Cetobacterium in the intestines of crucian carp; reduced the abundance of opportunistic pathogens such as Bacteroides, Vibrio and Aeromonas and effectively regulating the nutrient metabolism in intestinal microbiota. These results indicate that BC1 could regulate immune function, effectively improving the intestinal morphology and intestinal flora structure and function of crucian carp, and therefore is a potential candidate strain for aquatic feed additives.

Potential of Pseudomonas putida probiotic feed mixture for improving growth, immune response, and disease resistance in Nile Tilapia compared to Saccharomyces cerevisiae probiotic

AbstractObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the effects of a potential probiotic feed mixture containing Pseudomonas putida, in comparison to a yeast product (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), on the growth, immune response, and protection against Aeromonas hydrophila infection in Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus.MethodsNile Tilapia were divided into three groups and subjected to a 60‐day feeding regimen: the first group served as a control, receiving a commercial diet; the second group received a basal diet mixed with 1 × 107 CFU/g diet of P. putida; and the third group was fed a basal diet mixed with 1 g/kg diet of dried S. cerevisiae, resulting in a final concentration of 107 CFU/g of feeds. After 2 months of supplementation, various parameters including survival rate, body weight gain, feed conversion rate, specific growth rate, serum lysozyme activity, phagocytic activity, nitroblue tetrazolium activity, and disease resistance against A. hydrophila were evaluated.ResultBoth probiotic‐treated groups exhibited significant improvements compared to the control group. Specifically, enhanced survival rates, body weight gains, feed conversion rates, and specific growth rates were observed in the probiotic‐treated groups. Moreover, these groups demonstrated increased serum lysozyme, phagocytic, and nitroblue tetrazolium activities, indicative of an improved immune response. Notably, the probiotic‐treated groups displayed enhanced resistance against A. hydrophila infection. Histopathological examination revealed that P. putida significantly augmented the nonspecific immune response in Nile Tilapia.ConclusionThis preliminary study underscores the potential benefits of P. putida supplementation in Nile Tilapia diets. The inclusion of P. putida resulted in enhanced growth performance, improved immune status, and effective control of A. hydrophila infection. These findings suggest that P. putida holds promise as a valuable component in feed mixtures for promoting the growth and health of Nile Tilapia.

The potential of bitter melon extract on cellular non-specific immunity of koi fish (Cyprinus carpio) after Aeromonas salmonicida infection

Abstract. Andayani S, Fadjar M, Suprastyani H, Rahmawati A, Nurhalisa, Nadiro VN. 2023. The potential of bitter melon extract on cellular non-specific immunity of koi fish (Cyprinus carpio) after Aeromonas salmonicida infection. Biodiversitas 24: 5215-5222. Indonesia has rich and potential fisheries resources both in freshwater (inland), coastal, and ocean. Potential fishery resources in freshwater include the diversity of fish species (germplasm) and fishery land. Utilization of freshwater fisheries potential can be realized by conducting fish farming, especially for economically valuable fish commodities, such as koi fish (Cyprinus carpio). Improving koi fish farming can be done by using bitter melon extract as an immunity enhancer. This study was conducted with the aim to determine the effect of bitter melon extract on cellular non-specific immune response. This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) method, with 4 treatments and 3 replicates, consisting of treatment K = not given bitter melon extract and not infected, A = dose of bitter melon extract 100 ppm, B = bitter melon extract 150 ppm, C = bitter melon extract 200 ppm. Before being given the treatment, the test fish were acclimatized with the aim of ensuring that the fish were healthy, not stressed and did not experience death. In addition, the dose of extract treatment and soaking time have been through the LD50 test as well as the density of bacterial infection and the length of time of infection have been through the LC50 test so that it has been confirmed that it does not cause stress and death in fish, with results SR 100%. A total of 10 fish were immersed into each treatment container (15 liters of water mixed with the extract) for 60 hours. Infection of Aeromonas salmonicida bacteria by immersion was carried out 5 days after immersion in bitter melon extract with a bacterial density of 107 cells.mL-1 for 1 hour. The results showed that lymphocytes increased after being given bitter melon extract and infected with A. salmonicida bacteria with a value of 63-83%. Monocytes increased from 3% to 8%, and Neutrophils increased from 4% to 9%. Phagocytosis activity increased from 18.4% to 28.9%, indicating that bitter melon extract can enhance non-specific immunity.

A single-cell atlas of immunocytes in the spleen of a mouse model of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is a disorder characterized by rare X-linked genetic immune deficiency with mutations in the Was gene, which is specifically expressed in hematopoietic cells. The spleen plays a major role in hematopoiesis and red blood cell clearance. However, to date, comprehensive analyses of the spleen in wild-type (WT) and WASp-deficient (WAS-KO) mice, especially at the transcriptome level, have not been reported. In this study, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was adopted to identify various types of immune cells and investigate the mechanisms underlying immune deficiency. We identified 30 clusters and 10 major cell subtypes among 11,269 cells; these cell types included B cells, T cells, dendritic cells (DCs), natural killer (NK) cells, monocytes, macrophages, granulocytes, stem cells and erythrocytes. Moreover, we evaluated gene expression differences among cell subtypes, identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and performed enrichment analyses to identify the reasons for the dysfunction in these different cell populations in WAS. Furthermore, some key genes were identified based on a comparison of the DEGs in each cell type involved in specific and nonspecific immune responses, and further analysis showed that these key genes were previously undiscovered pathology-related genes in WAS-KO mice. In summary, we present a landscape of immune cells in the spleen of WAS-KO mice based on detailed data obtained at single-cell resolution. These unprecedented data revealed the transcriptional characteristics of specific and nonspecific immune cells, and the key genes were identified, laying a foundation for future studies of WAS, especially studies into novel and underexplored mechanisms that may improve gene therapies for WAS.

Galleria Mellonella Larvae as an In vitro Model for Testing Microbial Pathogenicity

Abstract The larvae of the insect Galleria mellonella have gained wide acceptance as an in vivo model for the study of virulence in Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and fungi. Importantly, G. mellonella offers an alternative, low-cost, and ethically acceptable method of assessing pathogens. These insects have a number of advantages, including ease of breeding, a rapid developmental cycle, low maintenance costs, and ease of experimental manipulation. Most importantly, G. mellonella larvae have a complete immune system and a nonspecific immune response similar to that of humans, making them a valuable model for studying pathogen-host interactions. Furthermore, using this model, it is possible to test the efficacy of various chemical compounds or natural substances that show antimicrobial activity. In this literature review, we provide a comprehensive overview of recent studies of the use of G. mellonella in virulence analyses and as a platform for testing the efficacy of new drugs.

Dietary Sodium Alginate Effect on Growth, Digestion, Body Composition, Antioxidant Capacity, and Mucous Immune Response in Yellowfin Sea Bream, Acanthopagrus latus

Abstract In the present study, the effects of dietary supplementation of low molecular weight sodium alginate on growth, body composition, anti-oxidant enzymes, digestive enzymes, and immune response in yellowfin sea bream juvenile (Acanthopagrus latus) were investigated. Fish (n=180) were divided into 3 groups with 3 replicates and received dietary treatments including basal diet without sodium alginate (control treatment), basal diet containing 5 g sodium alginate per kg diet (0.5% treatment), and 10 g sodium alginate per kg diet (1% treatment) for 8 weeks. The results showed that the final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, condition factor, feed conversion, and protein efficiency ratios did not reveal a significant improvement compared to the control treatment (P&gt;0.05). The obtained results indicated that dietary sodium alginate did not affect body composition (P&gt;0.05). The activity of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the groups fed on 0.5 and 1% sodium alginate showed a significant increase (P&lt;0.05) compared to the control group. But, the activity of lipid peroxidation (MDA) in the groups fed on 0.5 and 1% sodium alginate showed a significant decrease (P&lt;0.05) compared to the control group. The digestive enzymes increased significantly (P&lt;0.05) by supplementation of sodium alginate, compared to the control group. Mucus lysozyme and complement activity were not significantly different (P&gt;0.05). Overall, it can be concluded that feeding of yellowfin sea bream on the diet supplemented with 0.5 and 1 percent sodium alginate for a period of 8 weeks does not enhance the non-specific immune response and growth. Nonetheless, sodium alginate improved the activity of the antioxidant and digestive enzymes, indicating the positive effects of sodium alginate on enzymatic responses.

Effects of dietary arachidonic acid supplementation in low fishmeal and fish oil-free diets on growth performance, inflammatory response, gut histology, and non-specific immunity in sub-adult rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

Arachidonic acid (ARA) is becoming increasingly important due to significant reductions in fishmeal (FM) and fish oil (FO), the primary sources of ARA, in aquafeeds. ARA is an essential omega-6 fatty acid in some fish species and plays a wide range of physiological roles. However, studies reported to date have demonstrated contrasting findings concerning the effects of ARA in fish growth and health, regardless of the fish's trophic level. Additionally, limited research has addressed energy allocation during reproduction and growth in sub-adult rainbow trout as they approach reproductive maturity. Therefore, a study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of ARA on growth performance, the fatty acid composition of whole-body and ovary, intestinal inflammatory gene expression, gut histology, antioxidant activity, and non-specific immunity in sub-adult rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Four isonitrogenous (51% crude protein), isolipidic (15% crude lipid), and isocaloric (23 MJ/kg) diets were formulated and supplemented with ARA-enriched oil (40%), resulting in analyzed ARA levels of 0.10 (ARA0.10), 3.95 (ARA3.95), 7.67 ARA(7.67), and 14.8% (ARA14.8) of total fatty acid, respectively. Rainbow trout (307 ± 3.64 g) were fed to apparent satiation three times a day for 12 weeks to assess growth performance, feed utilization, and intestinal inflammatory response. The fish were then exposed to acute stress to evaluate circulating cortisol, prostaglandin E2, antioxidant activity, and non-specific immune response. The 12-week growth trial demonstrated that dietary ARA did not affect rainbow trout growth performance and feed utilization during the final grow-out. Whole-body fatty acid profiles reflected those of the diets except for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) content being significantly lower in the ARA14.8 group than in the ARA0.10 and ARA3.95 groups. EPA and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) contents in the ovary were less affected by dietary ARA supplementation, likely reflecting the selective deposition of those fatty acids in embryonic development. The expression of tnf-α was significantly downregulated in ARA7.67 and ARA14.8 groups relative to other treatment groups, and only distal intestinal villus height was significantly increased in the ARA3.95 group, suggesting that dietary ARA supported intestinal health. Plasma superoxide dismutase, catalase, and lysozyme activity significantly increased in both pre- and post-stress groups due to incremental increases in dietary ARA. These results suggest that a moderate level of dietary ARA in low FM and FO-free enhances innate immune function and antioxidant responses while supporting intestinal health in sub-adult rainbow trout.

Routing Innate and Adaptive Immune response against M. tuberculosis and boosting Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette Güerin (BCG) vaccine immunity through prime boost protocols

Tuberculosis (Tb) is still a global health problem, especially in developing countries. Several factors contribute to this, among them the increasing multidrug resistance strains, the dangerous liaisons with other intracellular pathogens, such as HIV, and more recently, SARS-CoV2 pandemics. There are many aspects that remain to understand the bacterial molecular mechanism of pathogenicity and the immune response induced by the interaction of M. tuberculosis (MTb) with the host. The official and current vaccine based on the attenuated Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) is protective against several forms of Tb meningitis and Miliary TB or disseminated disease in young children. However, it fails to protect young and adult individuals. There are several new promising candidates for vaccines to replace or boost BCG-induced immunity. Several evidences exist from humans and mice on the role of the trained innate memory of monocytes and NK cells, on the second encounter with the same mycobacterial pathogen or other respiratory pathogens. This type of immune response is nonspecific and independent of the T and B cells. Thus, BCG vaccination is a double immunogen that activate specific immune responses and is also able to stimulate nonspecific immune responses. Here, it is outlined the host immunity against MTb, the potential of BCG vaccination and prime boost protocols for routing innate and adaptive immune responses in TB.

Metrics Profiles of Melanomacrophages Centre on the Spleen of Carp (Cyprinus carpio) Exposed to Mercury Chloride

Increasing the number of heavy metals in the aquatic environment results in the accumulation of contaminants in fish body tissue, making fish an ideal bio-indicator of environmental pollution. The spleen included in the hematopoietic tissue contains macrophages. Macrophages form aggregates that contain pigments referred to melanomacrophage centres (MMCs). This research aims to analyse the metric profiles of MMCs on the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) spleen as a non-specific cellular immune response against mercury chloride exposure. This study used a Completely Randomized Design method with four treatments at different concentrations of mercury chloride (HgCl2) of 0 mg.l-1 , 0.01 mg.l-1 , 0.05 mg.l-1 , and 0.1 mg.l-1 . Each treatment was replicated five times. Data on the number and size of MMCs were analyzed by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and continued by using Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT) to determine the differences between treatments. The result showed that the concentration of mercury chloride in water affects the metrics profile of spleen MMCs of carp. The number and size of MMCs of carp spleen increased at the concentration of 0.01 mg.l-1 and 0.05 mg.l-1 but decreased at the level of 0.1 mg.l-1 . The results suggest that the profile of MMCs as a non-specific cellular immune response can function as bio-indicators of environmental pollution.

21 Intentionally Induced Barrier Dysfunction Causes Inflammation, Decreases Growth, and Alters Carcass Characteristics of Feedlot Cattle

Abstract There are a variety of acute and chronic psychological and physical stressors associated with management practices used in beef production systems. Primary challenges in feedlot cattle include heat stress, acute and subacute acidosis, weaning, transportation, feed deprivation/restriction, and social mixing/crowding. These stressors disturb the homeostatic state of the host and microbiome and cause acute or chronic inflammation resulting in damage to the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) epithelial barrier that leaves the animal vulnerable to enteric pathogens and toxins. A breach of the small intestinal barrier (leaky gut) allows unwanted pathogens and toxins to infiltrate into blood, causing infection, depressed feed intake, and diverts nutritional resources away from anabolic processes. We have demonstrated that intentionally inducing GIT inflammation in feedlot cattle with aspirin, which is known to cause mucosal injury and increase GIT barrier dysfunction, provides a model system to better understand the metabolic cost of leaky gut in grain-fed feedlot cattle. Indeed, aspirin increased leakage of chromium-EDTA into urine, raised serum concentrations of lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP), decreased growth by 4.5 to 8.5%, and re-partitioned carcass components from lean tissue (rib-eye area) into fat. Thus, the chronic inflammatory effects of leaky gut have the potential to create a significant economic loss. Our work also shows that in-feed administration of monensin and tylosin have offered a solution to the non-specific immune response observed in grain-fed cattle by increasing jejunal villus height to crypt depth ratio, diminishing leaky gut, and decreasing serum LBP. Finally, we have observed that molasses based liquid supplements increase ruminal butyrate concentration, resulting in improved gut barrier function, decreased serum inflammatory markers, and greater DMI and ADG in newly received feedlot cattle fed a 30% roughage diet.

The efficacy of some probiotics and prebiotics on the prevalence of E. coli and the immune response of chickens

The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy of probiotics and prebiotics in controlling Escherichia coli (E. coli) spp. isolated from chicken. A total of 230 birds representing 19 different commercial breeds were taken from various points. Birds were monitored for postmortem and clinical investigation. Aseptically collected liver samples, lungs, kidneys, hearts, and yolk sacs were then subjected to bacterial isolation and identification. E. coli were observed in 9 pooled samples from 120 examined with an incidence of 7.5%. Nine farms were E. coli-positive, with an incidence of farm infection of 47.3%. The 9 suspected isolates of E. coli were profiled by morphological and microbiological identification of the colony, motility, and gram reaction. The serogroup analysis showed 9 different E. coli for which 3 other groups were identified: 2 E. coli O78, 3 E. coli O111, and 4 untyped groups. Nine isolates of E. coli were subjected to PCR. Molecular detection of 9 strains was conducted to find the virulence genes of E. coli strains (8 STX1, 4 STX2, and 9 EAE). Probiotics and prebiotics significantly increased the total erythrocytic and leukocytic counts throughout the experiment. The phagocytic percentage's main values at 14 d were 47 and 30%, respectively. An increase in the humoral immunity against Newcastle disease (ND) was noticed after ND vaccination. The geometric mean (HI) was 5.9 and 4.2 for probiotic and prebiotic, respectively. It could be concluded that probiotics and prebiotics could stimulate a nonspecific immune response against experimental infection with a virulent strain of E. coli spp.

The Effect of Water Spinach on the Water Quality, Antioxidant System, Non-Specific Immune Response, Growth Performance, and Carbon Balance in Red Tilapia Production

In this study, the compound aquaculture model of red tilapia (O. mossambicus albina × O. urolepis hornorum) and water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) was used to investigate the effect of water spinach rafts on the water quality, antioxidant system, non-specific immune response, and growth performance of red tilapia and the carbon balance of payments. Red tilapia is characterized by its high adaptability to different production environments and food sources, as one of the most productive fish in aquaculture, and is well accepted in the market due to its nutritional and organoleptic characteristics. The experiment lasted for nine weeks and included two systems: the red tilapia-water spinach raft aquaponics (AP) system with 10% cover ratio with water spinach floating beds, and the aquatic monoculture (AM) system with only red tilapia. The total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), and nitrate nitrogen (NO−3-N) in the AM were higher than those in AP from the fifth to ninth week. On the second, third, fifth, and sixth weeks, the ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N), in the AM was higher than those in the AP. From the seventh week, the pH of the AM was significantly lower than the AP, while the nitrite nitrogen (NO−2-N) was significantly higher than the AP. The water quality index of the AP was better than that of the AM, indicating that water spinach can remove the nutrients from aquaculture water bodies. The average daily gain and specific growth rate (SGR) of fish in AP were higher than those in the AM. The acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), and catalase (CAT) activities in the hepatopancreas of red tilapia in the AP were also significantly higher than those in the AM, while the malondialdehyde (MDA) in the AP was lower than the AM. The serum ACP and CAT of red tilapia in the AP were also higher than those in the AM, while the MDA of fish in the AP was lower than the AM. The results showed that both the experimental group and the control group were carbon sources and released greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, but the total carbon emissions of the red tilapia and the water spinach symbiotic system in the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group (p &lt; 0.05). These results demonstrated that the application of water spinach rafts in aquaponics can not only improve the water quality, but also improve the growth performance, antioxidant system and non-specific immune responses of red tilapia, while promoting the utilization of organic matter in the aquaculture system, improving the ecological benefits in terms of the carbon income and expenditure.

Recombinant surface display vaccine enhances the immersion immune effect against grass carp reovirus in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) is subject to a hemorrhagic disease caused by grass carp reovirus (GCRV), which can lead to mass mortality in grass carp culture, causing significant economic loss. Vaccination is the most promising strategy for the prevention of infectious diseases. Immersion vaccination is considered the most effective disease prevention method for juvenile fish because it can be implemented on many fish at once and administered without causing stress. However, immune responses by immersion vaccination are markedly less robust due to the skin barrier and insufficient antigen uptake. The display of heterologous proteins on the cell surface has been explored as a delivery system for viral antigens in veterinary and human vaccine studies. To improve the efficacy of the immersion vaccine, the major capsid protein (VP7) of GCRV was co-displayed with Aeromonas hydrophila outer membrane protein a (OmpA) and major adhesion protein (Mah) on the outer membrane surface of nonpathogenic Escherichia coli BL21 using the anchoring motif of ice-nucleation protein (Inp). The immune responses and protection efficiency against GCRV infection via both the injection and immersion routes were evaluated. The results indicated that the activities of anti-oxidant enzymes (ACP, AKP, SOD and T-AOC), as well as the expression of immune-related genes (TNF-α, IL-1β, MHCI and IgM) and specific VP7 antibody levels, were strongly increased in the grass carp from 7 to 21 days post-injection inoculation in a dose dependent manner. The cumulative mortality rates of injection-vaccinated groups were much lower than those of the control group after the GCRV challenge, and the relative percent survival (RPS) was greater than 80 %. Vitally, the surface co-display of vp7-Mah protein conferred marked protection to grass carp against GCRV infection after immersion administration (RPS >50 %); this was consistent with the production of high level of specific serum antibodies, non-specific immune responses, and the expression of immune-related genes. Moreover, the invasion analysis further showed that surface co-display of the vp7-Mah protein indeed significantly improved the invasion of E. coli BL21 (DE3) in vitro. Altogether, this study demonstrated that surface display GCRV core antigen vaccine system accompanied by invasion component from aquatic pathogenic microorganism is an effective prophylactic against GCRV viral diseases via the immersion administration approach.

Effects of replacing fish meal with a blend of corn gluten meal and meat meal on the growth, biochemical profile, digestive enzyme activity, antioxidant status, and innate immunity of juvenile black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii)

This study assessed the impact of replacing fish meal (FM) with a blend of corn gluten meal and meat meal (BCM) at a ratio of 1:2 on the growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, and nonspecific immune response of juvenile black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii). Seven experimental diets were formulated. The control (BCM0) diet contained 65% FM. Subsequently, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60% FM in BCM0 diet were replaced with BCM, referred to as the BCM10, BCM20, BCM30, BCM40, BCM50 and BCM60, respectively. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 30 rockfish (initial body weight: 3.6 ± 0.01 g) for 8 weeks. The BCM0–BCM50 diets resulted in no significant differences in final body weight (FBW), weight gain (WG), and specific growth rate (SGR), whereas the BCM60 diet led to the lowest FBW, WG, and SGR. The feed consumption and feed efficiency of rockfish fed BCM10–BCM50 diets did not differ significantly from those of rockfish fed the BCM0 diet. Intestinal trypsin and lipase activities showed a linear decrease with increasing substitution levels of BCM in the experimental diets. Moisture levels increased with elevated BCM replacement in diets, whereas crude protein and lipid levels decreased with increased BCM replacement. Whole-body amino acid profiles of rockfish, except for glycine and proline content, were not significantly affected by diet. However, lysozyme and catalase activities exhibited quadratic responses to increasing dietary BCM levels, and superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione content showed a negative linear response. Overall, these results show that a blend of corn gluten meal and meat meal can replace up to 50% of dietary FM without adversely affecting the growth performance of juvenile rockfish.