Effects of Trichophyton mentagrophytes infection on the immune response of rabbits

Background Rabbit breeding has developed into a large-scale industry, and as such, the incidence of dermatophytosis in rabbits has become increasingly common. A rabbit model with Trichophyton mentagrophytes infection was established to study the changes within the immune responses after fungal infection. Methods After the T. mentagrophytes challenge on skin, pathogens on the skin were isolated from the rabbits in the fungal infection (FI) groups 20 days. Fungal observation under microscope were carried out. Identification of strains was achieved by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the CDR1 gene. The collected anticoagulant blood samples were analyzed for various blood cell parameters. The levels of antibodies, including IgM and IgA, cytokines, including IL-2, IL-6, and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), and soluble CD4 and CD8 in the serum of the FI group vs. the control group were determined independently. RNA isolation from blood samples and fluorescence-based quantitative PCR were carried out for the mRNA level of M-csf 20 days after fungal challenge. Results Our model resulted in typical symptoms of dermatophytosis on rabbit skin after challenged with fungus. Pathogens isolated from the infected rabbit skin were confirmed to be T. mentagrophytes by microscopic examination and PCR. The number of lymphocytes in the blood of the FI group was significantly decreased in comparison to the control group 2 days after the fungal challenge, but was significantly increased in comparison the control group 10 days after the fungal challenge (P < 0.01). Platelet counts of the FI group were significantly higher than in the control group at 2 (P < 0.05), 10 (P < 0.05), and 20 (P < 0.01) days after fungal challenge. The red blood cell distribution width of the FI group was significantly increased in comparison to that of the control group at 2, 10, and 20 days after fungal challenge (P < 0.01 for all days). The levels of antibodies (immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgA (P < 0.01)), cytokines (interleukin (IL)-6 (P < 0.01), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) (P < 0.05)), and soluble CD4 (P < 0.01) and CD8 (P < 0.01) in the serum were significantly different between the FI and control groups. Serum M-csf mRNA level of the FI group was significantly higher than the control group 20 days after fungal challenge (P < 0.01). Conclusions This study demonstrates how the immune system responds to infection with T. mentagrophytes and provides potential targets for the prevention and treatment of dermatophytosis

Solexa-Sequencing Based Transcriptome Study of Plaice Skin Phenotype in Rex Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Fur is an important genetically-determined characteristic of domestic rabbits; rabbit furs are of great economic value. We used the Solexa sequencing technology to assess gene expression in skin tissues from full-sib Rex rabbits of different phenotypes in order to explore the molecular mechanisms associated with fur determination.Transcriptome analysis included de novo assembly, gene function identification, and gene function classification and enrichment. We obtained 74,032,912 and 71,126,891 short reads of 100 nt, which were assembled into 377,618 unique sequences by Trinity strategy (N50=680 nt). Based on BLAST results with known proteins, 50,228 sequences were identified at a cut-off E-value ≥ 10-5. Using Blast to Gene Ontology (GO), Clusters of Orthologous Groups (KOG) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), we obtained several genes with important protein functions. A total of 308 differentially expressed genes were obtained by transcriptome analysis of plaice and un-plaice phenotype animals; 209 additional differentially expressed genes were not found in any database. These genes included 49 that were only expressed in plaice skin rabbits. The novel genes may play important roles during skin growth and development. In addition, 99 known differentially expressed genes were assigned to PI3K-Akt signaling, focal adhesion, and ECM-receptor interactin, among others. Growth factors play a role in skin growth and development by regulating these signaling pathways. We confirmed the altered expression levels of seven target genes by qRT-PCR. And chosen a key gene for SNP to found the differentially between plaice and un-plaice phenotypes rabbit.The rabbit transcriptome profiling data provide new insights in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying rabbit skin growth and development

Efficacy of Rg1-Oil Adjuvant on Inducing Immune Responses against Bordetella bronchiseptica in Rabbits

Bordetella bronchiseptica (B. bronchiseptica) is an obligately aerobic, oxidase- and catalase-positive, nonfermentative Gram-negative coccobacillus. This study is aimed at examining the immune effects of Rg1, Rg1 plus oil, and other common adjuvants on inactivated B. bronchiseptica vaccine in rabbits. The mechanism underlying the adjuvant effect of Rg1 plus oil on the vaccine was also explored. Rg1 (100 μg) plus oil significantly improved the immune effect of B. bronchiseptica vaccine at both the humoral and cellular levels. Rg1-oil adjuvant increased the levels of IL-2 and IL-4 in rabbits after immunization. Rg1 (100 μg) plus oil also significantly increased TLR2 expression and downregulated NF-κB in splenocytes. Rg1-oil adjuvant may increase the levels of IL-2 and IL-4 via upregulating TLR2, thereby enhancing the immune effect of B. bronchiseptica vaccine. In conclusion, Rg1 plus oil could be used as a potential vaccine adjuvant for rabbit B. bronchiseptica vaccine

Isolation, Identification and Drug Resistance Rates of Bacteria from Pigs in Zhejiang and Surrounding Areas during 2019–2021

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of bacterial diseases in pig farms in various regions of Zhejiang Province and surrounding areas. A total of 526 samples were collected from 85 pig farms in Zhejiang Province and surrounding areas. In this study, samples were analyzed using bacterial isolation and purification, Gram staining, PCR amplification, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. A total of 36 Pasteurella multocida (Pm) isolates were detected, with an isolation rate of 6.84%; 37 Bordetella bronchiseptica (Bb) isolates were detected, with an isolation rate of 7.03%; 60 Glasserella parasuis (G. parasuis) isolates were detected, with an isolation rate of 11.41%; 170 Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolates were detected, with an isolation rate of 32.32%; 67 Streptococcus suis (SS) isolates were detected, with an isolation rate of 12.74%; 44 Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP) isolates were detected, with an isolation rate of 8.37%; and 7 Salmonella enteritis (SE) isolates were detected, with an isolation rate of 1.33%. Antimicrobial drug susceptibility testing against 21 types of antibiotics was carried out on the isolated strains, and the results showed that 228 strains had varying degrees of resistance to 21 antibiotics, including Pm, Bb, E. coli, and APP, with the highest resistance to lincomycin, at 100%. Pm and APP were the most sensitive to cephalothin, with resistance rates of 0. In terms of strains, Pm had the highest overall sensitivity to 21 antibiotics, and E. coli had the highest resistance. In short, bacterial diseases in Zhejiang and the surrounding areas were harmful, and the drug resistance situation was severe. This study provides scientific guidance for the clinical treatment of bacterial diseases

Reads before and after quality control and data validation.

<p>Reads before and after quality control and data validation.</p

Genetic diversity of eighth exon of <i>lamb3</i> in white Rex Rabbit.

<p>Genetic diversity of eighth exon of <i>lamb3</i> in white Rex Rabbit.</p

Histogram presentation of Gene Ontology classification.

<p>The results are summarized in three main categories: biological process, cellular component and molecular function. The y-axis on the right indicates the number of genes in a category. The y-axis on the left indicates the percentage of a specific category of genes in that main category.</p

KEGG map of differentially expressed genes by the Cytoscape software.

<p>The size of circle indicates the number of unigenes, the line thickness indicates the number of overlapping unigenes.</p