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G Entrican

Publications and source records attributed to G Entrican.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Synthesis of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interferons by mononuclear cells from Theileria annulata-infected cattle.

Bovine macrophage-derived tumour necrosis factor-alpha/cachectin (TNF-alpha) was synthesized when peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and purified adherent PBMC from naive and Theileria annulata-infected cattle were incubated in vitro with concanavalin A (Con-A) or bovine recombinant interferon gamma (Bo rIFN-gamma). TNF-alpha production was also induced when adherent PBMC were cultured with T. annulata macroschizont-infected cells. In contrast, non-adherent PBMC from sublethally infected cattle produced interferon (IFN) when incubated with Hu rIL-2, Con-A, phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) or T. annulata macroschizont-infected cells growing as cell lines in vitro. Whilst PBMC from lethally infected cattle spontaneously produced IFN-gamma during advanced stages of infection, the sera of such animals contained type 1 IFN (alpha/beta). IFN was also produced by T. annulata macroschizont-infected cell lines maintained in vitro. This work suggests that cytokines serve as crucial links between proliferating Theileira-infected cells and the characteristic clinical symptoms of tropical theileriosis.

Animals↗

The inhibitory effect of ovine recombinant interferon-gamma on intracellular replication of Toxoplasma gondii.

A model for the in vitro infection of ovine cells with Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites has been developed and used to investigate the effect of treatment with ovine recombinant interferon-gamma (ov.rIFN gamma) on parasite replication. Treatment of both alveolar macrophages and fibroblast cells either 24 h pre-infection or 2 h post-infection with ov.rIFN gamma inhibited replication of T. gondii and was quantified by suppression of 3H uracil uptake by the parasite. Replication of T. gondii in the fibroblast cells was significantly inhibited by treatment with 200-300 U/ml ov.rIFN gamma, whereas concentrations as low as 1 U/ml suppressed parasite replication in the alveolar macrophages.

Animals↗

Kinetics of ovine interferon-gamma production: detection of mRNA and characterisation of biological activity.

The kinetics of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production were studied in sheep mesenteric lymph node (MLN) cells at the molecular level using an ovine IFN-gamma cDNA probe and by bioassay which was verified by blocking antiviral activity with a monoclonal antibody (Mab) against recombinant bovine IFN-gamma IFN-gamma mRNA appeared in MLN cells within 4 h of stimulation with phorbol ester and Concanavalin A and was not detectable by 72 h after stimulation. Biologically active IFN-gamma appeared in the culture supernatants 8 h after stimulation and was still present 96 h later when de novo synthesis had terminated. Acid dialysis and Mab neutralisation demonstrated conclusively that native ovine IFN-gamma is a pH 2 labile cytokine.

Animals↗

Cell phenotypes in the efferent lymph of sheep persistently infected with Border disease virus.

The prefemoral efferent lymphatics of sheep persistently infected (PI) with Border disease virus (BDV) were cannulated in order to study the effects of the virus on cells of the immune system. Efferent lymphocytes recovered from PI sheep were phenotyped using a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) specific for ovine cell-surface markers and compared to lymphocytes recovered from normal, healthy controls. PI sheep had an increased percentage of cells expressing the T cell-associated molecules CD5, CD4, CD8 and T19, also an increase in cells expressing CD1 and a population of cells expressing low levels of the T19 molecule which was not present in control sheep. The lymphocytes were examined for the presence of BDV using virus-specific MoAb. On average 8.5% of the efferent lymphocytes from PI sheep carried virus antigen. BDV antigen was also found in the mononuclear cells and connective tissue of lymph nodes indicating widespread virus dissemination within the lymphoid system of PI sheep.

Animals↗

A monoclonal antibody capture ELISA to detect antibody to border disease virus in sheep serum.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been developed to detect antibody to border disease virus (BDV) in sheep serum. A monoclonal antibody bound to 96-well microplates was used to capture antigen from detergent-solubilised BDV-infected cells. Single dilutions of test sera were then added to wells containing bound BDV antigen and control wells containing uninfected cell lysates. Specific antibody to BDV was detected by an anti-ovine IgG antiserum conjugated with horseradish peroxidase and the results expressed as ELISA units with reference to a standard curve. Sequential sera from 16 experimentally infected sheep and single sera from 103 sheep involved in a field outbreak were tested in the ELISA and for neutralising antibody. There was good qualitative correlation between the two tests.

Animals↗

Identification of cattle infected with bovine virus diarrhoea virus using a monoclonal antibody capture ELISA.

A monoclonal antibody capture enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been developed to detect pestivirus-specific antigen in the leucocytes of cattle infected with bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV). A blind trial was conducted to compare the specificity of the ELISA with conventional tissue culture virus isolation on 215 blood samples submitted for BVDV diagnosis from cattle throughout Scotland. One hundred and sixty seven samples were negative by both ELISA and virus isolation and 47 samples were positive by both tests. One blood was negative by ELISA and positive by virus isolation.

Animals↗

Detection of border disease virus in sheep efferent lymphocytes by immunocytochemical and in situ hybridisation techniques.

The prefemoral efferent lymphatics of four sheep persistently infected with a non cytopathic (NCP) isolate of border disease virus (BDV) were cannulated. Recovered lymphocytes were examined for the presence of virus by an immunocytochemical technique employing a pool of monoclonal antibodies which recognise the 120K non-structural polypeptide of NCP BDV. The results revealed that 9.5% of the lymphocytes carried virus antigen. Lymphocytes from two of the sheep were studied by in situ hybridisation using a viral antisense RNA probe complementary to the region of the BDV genome coding for the 120K polypeptide. This showed that 70-80% of the cells were infected, confirming the greater sensitivity of the in situ hybridisation technique.

Animals↗

Response of efferent lymph and popliteal lymph node to epidermal infection of sheep with orf virus.

Functional and phenotypic changes in the cell populations were monitored in the popliteal efferent lymph of sheep following experimental epidermal infection with orf virus. In another group of sheep, cells from the popliteal lymph node draining the site of infection were similarly monitored and compared with the cells from contralateral popliteal and mesenteric lymph nodes. All sheep showed serological evidence of previous exposure to orf virus. Following infection, anti-orf antibody titres rose and efferent lymphocyte and blast cell output increased. Interferon-like activity was detected in efferent lymph early after orf virus but not mock infection. Lymphocytes from the draining popliteal lymph node showed antigen-specific lymphoproliferation on Days 3-7 while cells in the efferent lymph demonstrated proliferative activity on Days 4-6. The requirement for exogenous antigen-presenting cells in the culture of efferent lymphocytes varied between individual sheep. The culture supernatant from proliferating lymph node cells contained interferon-like activity but no anti-orf antibodies, the reverse of that from cultured efferent lymphocytes, perhaps indicating a different reactive T cell population. During the course of the experiment there was an increase in the percentage of efferent lymphocytes expressing MHC Class II antigens and surface immunoglobulins, the latter being recorded as a double peak. The short-term nature of the local T cell response may in part explain the incompleteness of immunity to orf virus in sheep.

Animals↗

Production of interferons by bovine and ovine cell lines infected with Theileria annulata or Theileria parva.

Three bovine cell lines and four ovine cell lines infected with Theileria parva or Theileria annulata were examined for the production of interferon (IFN). Biologically active IFN was detected in the tissue culture supernatants of four of the cell lines. Only one, a bovine cell line infected with T. parva, produced IFN-gamma as measured by specific neutralization with a monoclonal antibody to bovine IFN-gamma. This observation was confirmed by analysing RNA from the cell lines on Northern blots using an IFN-gamma cDNA probe. The other three cell lines which produced IFN were infected with T. annulata. The IFN produced by those lines was not IFN-gamma.

Animals↗

An ELISA for detecting pestivirus antigen in the blood of sheep persistently infected with border disease virus.

A monoclonal antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been developed to detect a pestivirus-specific antigen in leucocytes of sheep persistently infected with border disease virus. A blind trial was conducted to compare the specificity of the ELISA with conventional tissue culture virus isolation on blood samples from 58 sheep, aged 3 to 48 months. There was total agreement between the two tests; 27 sheep were shown to be BDV-infected. The ELISA OD values of the positive samples ranged from 0.12 to 0.86 and were not related to age, strain of virus with which they were infected or presence of serum neutralising antibody. Negative samples had OD values between 0 and 0.02.

Animals↗

Cytopathic and non-cytopathic biotypes of border disease virus induce polypeptides of different molecular weight with common antigenic determinants.

Ten monoclonal antibodies have been raised against lysates of cells infected with cytopathic border disease virus (BDV). These antibodies all recognize non-cytopathic BDV and react with a number of different strains of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV). Studies with radiolabelled cell lysates show that all the antibodies precipitate two polypeptides of apparent Mr 80,000 and 130,000 from cells infected with cytopathic virus and a single polypeptide of apparent Mr 120,000 from cells infected with non-cytopathic virus. Two of the monoclonal antibodies react on immunoblots and show the same pattern of reactivity indicating that these three polypeptides are antigenically related.

Animals↗

Identification of ovine interferons: differential activities derived from fibroblast and lymphoid cells.

A bioassay has been developed to detect interferon (IFN) activity in supernatant fluids of cultured sheep cells by measuring their ability to inhibit the cytopathic effect of Semliki Forest Virus on an immortalised ovine fibroblastic cell line. IFN produced by spleen or lymph node cells stimulated with mitogen was labile at pH 2 as was a similar activity produced by CD4 lymphocytes stimulated with mitogen or specific antigen. In contrast, the IFN produced by fibroblasts stimulated with synthetic double-stranded RNA was stable at that pH. These results demonstrate the existence of an ovine IFN with properties similar to those described for IFN-gamma in mouse and man.

Animals↗

Ruminant pestiviruses.

The ruminant pestiviruses, bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV) and border disease virus (BDV) are highly successful and important pathogens which infect ruminant species worldwide. Although the serological relationships among ruminant pestiviruses require further clarification, there is growing evidence for two antigenic groups, one of which predominates in cattle and one in sheep. The success of pestiviruses stems from the ability of the non-cytopathic (NCP) biotype of the virus to cross the placenta and establish a persistent infection (PI) in the developing foetus. This biotype should be regarded as the 'normal' biotype with the cytopathic (CP) biotype being an abnormal virus that is usually isolated only from PI animals dying from mucosal disease. Recent molecular evidence points to CP viruses arising from their NCP counterparts by recombination events that include the insertion of host RNA and/or the duplication of viral RNA sequences. However, the biological mechanism through which CP viruses kill cells remains unknown. Virtually all CP and NCP viruses cause only mild, transient clinical symptoms in healthy adult animals and stimulate a protective immune response. Despite the urgent requirement for a safe, effective vaccine, there is still no commercial vaccine that has been shown to immunize dams so that foetal infection is prevented. In the absence of an effective vaccine, reliable diagnostic techniques are essential to implement effective control measures. There is now a range of monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for identifying PI or convalescent animals. These tests are specific, rapid, sensitive and reliable but may themselves become redundant as they are superceded by ever-increasing molecular biology-based techniques.

Animals↗

Immune regulation during pregnancy and host-pathogen interactions in infectious abortion.

The immunological mechanisms that govern the success of pregnancy in outbred mammals are complex. During placental formation the invasion of fetal cells into maternal tissue must be controlled to prevent damage to the mother. Equally, maternal recognition of pregnancy must be such that allorejection of the fetus does not occur. Despite the complexity of this phenomenon, it is clear that cytokines play a crucial role at the maternofetal interface and in the periphery to ensure that pregnancy proceeds successfully. Inflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) can exert detrimental effects in the placenta and tend to be present at low concentrations, whereas the regulatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-10 and tranforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) are beneficial and tend to predominate. This means that infection with pathogens that target the placenta and that elicit inflammatory responses may cause abortion by giving rise to a detrimental combination of cytokines that causes damage but does not control the disease. Infectious abortion is discussed in the context of the modulation of host immune responses during pregnancy, taking into account the different placental structures present in human beings, rodents and ruminants.

Abortion, Septic↗

Ovine chlamydial abortion: characterization of the inflammatory immune response in placental tissues.

Ovine chlamydial abortion is a serious cause of fetal mortality in several sheep-rearing countries. The causal agent, Chlamydophila abortus (Chlamydia psittaci), does not generally induce clinical signs in the ewe other than abortion; this is associated with macroscopically visible damage in the placenta, which may be inflamed and thickened. To investigate the nature of the placental inflammation, seven pregnant sheep were inoculated subcutaneously at 70 days' gestation with C. abortus (strain S 26/3). A further five pregnant sheep received control inoculum by the same route at the same stage of pregnancy. Three of the infected ewes produced stillborn lambs and four produced live lambs. Lesions characteristic of chlamydial infection were present in all placentas except for two from one ewe that gave birth to twins. Histopathological examination of placental tissues from aborted fetuses showed a mixed inflammatory cell infiltrate with vasculitis and thrombosis in the mesenchyme of the intercotyledonary membranes. Cells expressing the macrophage-associated molecule CD 14 were found to be numerous, as were cells expressing major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) molecules. Many cells expressing messenger RNA (mRNA) encoding for tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were demonstrated, but few cells expressing interferon gamma mRNA and none expressing interleukin-4 mRNA were detected. The fetal immune response included small numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ cells, gamma delta T cells and B cells. It is concluded that abortion is the result of several factors, including destruction of tissue by C. abortus, vascular thrombosis, and an inflammatory response by the fetus. Production of TNF-alpha by fetal macrophages expressing MHC II molecules may be of considerable significance in the pathogenesis of abortion.

Abortion, Veterinary↗