Biomedical subjects

H R Juul-Madsen

Publications and source records attributed to H R Juul-Madsen.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Gastrointestinal helminths in indigenous and exotic chickens in Vietnam: association of the intensity of infection with the Major Histocompatibility Complex.

This study compared the prevalence and intensity of infections of helminths in 2 chicken breeds in Vietnam, the indigenous Ri and the exotic Luong Phuong. Also, possible correlations with the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) were tested. The most prevalent helminths were Ascaridia galli, Heterakis beramporia, Tetrameres mothedai, Capillaria obsignata, Raillietina echinobothrida and Raillietina tetragona. Differences in prevalence and intensity of infection were found between the 2 breeds. Comparing the 2 groups of adult birds, Ri chickens were observed to have higher prevalence and infection intensities of several species of helminths, as well as a higher mean number of helminth species. In contrast, A. galli and C. obsignata were shown to be more prevalent in Luong Phuong chickens. Furthermore, an age-dependent difference was indicated in the group of Ri chickens in which the prevalence and the intensity of infection was higher for the adult than the young chickens for most helminths. The most notable exception was the significantly lower prevalence and intensities of A. galli in the group of adult chickens. In contrast, the prevalence and intensity were very similar in both age groups of Luong Phuong chickens. Using a genetic marker located in the MHC, a statistically significant correlation between several MHC haplotypes and the infection intensity of different helminth species was inferred. This is the first report of an association of MHC haplotype with the intensity of parasite infections in chickens.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Transcriptional profiles of chicken embryo cell cultures following infection with infectious bursal disease virus.

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) is the causative agent of infectious bursal disease in chickens and causes a significant economic loss for the poultry industry. Little is understood about the mechanism involved in the host responses to IBDV infection. For better understanding the IBDV-host interaction, we measured steady-state levels of transcripts from 28 cellular genes of chicken embryo (CE) cell cultures infected with IBDV vaccine stain Bursine-2 during a 7-day infection course by use of the quantitative real-time RT-PCR SYBR green method. Of the genes tested, 21 genes (IRF-1, IFN 1-2 promoter, IFNAR-1, IRF-10, IFN-gamma, 2',5'-OAS, IAP-1, caspase 8, TRAIL-like, STAT-3, IL-6, IL-8, MIP-3 alpha, MHC-I, MHC-II, TVB, GLVR-1, OTF, IL-13R alpha, ST3GAL-VI and PGK) showed an increased expression. The remaining seven genes (IFNAR-2, IFN-alpha, NF-kappaB subunit p65, BLRcp38, DDX1, G6PDH and UB) showed a constant expression or only slight alteration. Apparently, the host genes involved in pro-inflammatory response and apoptosis, interferon-regulated proteins, and the cellular immune response were affected by IBDV infection, indicating involvement in the complex signaling pathways of host responses to the infection. This study thus contributes to the understanding of the pathogenesis of IBD and provides an insight into the virus-host interaction.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Altered circulating levels of serotonin and immunological changes in laying hens divergently selected for feather pecking behavior.

The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in immunological parameters as well as changes with respect to plasma levels of serotonin and tryptophan in lines selected for and against feather pecking (FP) behavior [high FP (HP) line and low FP (LP) line] for 5 generations. The hens from the HP line had a higher plasma serotonin level than those from the LP line (0.059 vs. 0.037 micromol/L, F(2,27) = 0.031, P < 0.05). The plasma level of tryptophan was, on average, 67.30 micromol/L and did not differ between the lines (68.3 vs. 66.3 micromol/L, F(2,28) = 0.36, P < 0.05). The HP line had a higher response to infectious bursal disease virus vaccination after 1 wk post-vaccination compared with the control and LP lines. The number of white blood cells (P < 0.0001) and the expression of MHC class I molecules on CD4 (P < 0.02), CD8beta (P < 0.006) and on B cells (P < 0.03) were highest in the LP line compared with the control and HP lines. Selection for or against FP, therefore, changes the number of white blood cells and the expression of MHC class I molecules on T and B cells, which may influence the health status of the birds.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Immune response to a killed infectious bursal disease virus vaccine in inbred chicken lines with different major histocompatibility complex haplotypes.

The influence of MHC on antibody responses to killed infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) vaccine was investigated in several MHC inbred chicken lines. We found a notable MHC haplotype effect on the specific antibody response against IBDV as measured by ELISA. Some MHC haplotypes were high responders (B201, B4, and BR5), whereas other MHC haplotypes were low responders (B19, B12 and BW3). The humoral response of 1 pair of recombinants isolated from a Red Jungle Fowl (BW3 and BW4) being identical on BF and BG, but different on BL, indicated that part of the primary vaccine response was an MHC II restricted T-cell dependent response. The humoral response in another pair of recombinant haplotypes originating in 2 different White Leghorn chickens being BF21, BL21, BG15 (BR4) and BF15, BL15, BG21 (BR5) on the MHC locus indicated that the BG locus may perform an adjuvant effect on the antibody response as well. Vaccination of chickens at different ages and in lines with different origin indicated that age and background genes also influence the specific antibody response against inactivated IBDV vaccine.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Molecular characterization of major histocompatibility complex class I (B-F) mRNA variants from chickens differing in resistance to Marek's disease.

In this study, the relative distributions of two alternatively polyadenylated chicken major histocompatibility complex (MHC) mRNA isoforms of approximately 1.5 and 1.9 kb were analysed in spleen cells from chickens homozygous for the MHC haplotypes B21 and B19v1 as well as in heterozygous B19v1/B21 birds. Both isoforms are likely to encode classical MHC class I (B-F) alpha chains. The B19v1 and B21 MHC haplotypes confer different levels of protection against Marek's disease (MD), which is caused by infection with MD virus (MDV). In spleen cells, MD-resistant B21 birds were shown to have the highest percentage of the 1.5 kb variant relative to the total MHC class I expression, MD-susceptible B19v1 birds the lowest and B19v1/B21 birds an intermediate percentage. Infection of 4-week-old chickens with the GA strain of MDV was shown to cause a significant increase in the relative amount of 1.5 kb transcripts in B21 birds 32 days postinfection (dpi). Alternatively polyadenylated mRNA isoforms may encode identical proteins, but differences in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) can influence polyadenylation, mRNA stability, intracellular localization and translation efficiency. It was shown that the increased 1.5 kb percentage in B21 birds 32 days postinfection may be a result of a change in the choice of poly(A) site rather than a locus-specific upregulated transcription of the BF1 gene that preferentially expresses the 1.5 kb variant. Furthermore, the 3' end of the 1.5 kb mRNA variants deriving from B19v1 and B21 chickens was characterized by Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (RACE) and sequencing. No potentially functional elements were identified in the 3' UTR of the RACE products corresponding to this short isoform. However, variation in polyadenylation site was observed between the BF1 and BF2 mRNA transcripts and alternative splicing-out of the sequence (exon 7) encoding the second segment of the cytoplasmic part of the mature BF2*19 molecules. This alternative exon 7 splice variant was also detected in other MD-susceptible haplotypes, but not in the MD-resistant B21 and B21-like haplotypes, suggesting a potential role of exon 7 in MHC-related MD resistance.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

PubMed2004

Influence of early or late start of first feeding on growth and immune phenotype of broilers.

1. The changes in body weight (BW) gain, immune phenotype and viability of commercial broilers, either given feed and water immediately after hatch or food-deprived for 24 or 48 h, were analysed in order to study the effect of early or late start of first feeding. 2. Chickens fed immediately had a 6.1% higher BW at slaughter age than those food-deprived for 48 h, while those chickens food-deprived for 24 h only had a 1.4% higher weight than those deprived for 48 h. 3. Those fed immediately and those food-deprived for 24 h did not differ significantly in BW. 4. Humoral immune status was measured as specific IgG antibody production and concentration of IgM and IgG in serum. Cellular immunological variables were the proportion of circulating leukocyte subpopulations and the relative expression of leukocyte surface markers, including the relative expression of Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) antigens. 5. Differences were found between the three feeding treatments in the relative expression of MHC class II molecules, the relative expression of BU-1 molecules, and the ratio of CD4:CD8 single positive cells. 6. For the MHC class II molecules, a lower expression was found on the surface of mainly B-cells in chickens fed immediately compared with the two other feeding regimes. 7. These results suggest that food deprivation for 48 h may be unfavourable to the growth, viability, and the immune performance of broilers, whereas deprivation for 24 h appears to be acceptable for growth and normal immunological performance.

Aging↗

PubMed2003

Differences in chicken major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class Ialpha gene expression between Marek's disease-resistant and -susceptible MHC haplotypes.

The expression of chicken major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class Ialpha genes was investigated in spleen cells from a panel of chickens with well-defined MHC haplotypes, and two class Ialpha transcripts of 1.9 and 1.5 kb were detected in various amounts. In BW1, B130 and B21, the two transcripts were almost equally expressed. In B2, B6, B12 and B19, the ratio between the two transcripts was 4 : 1, with the 1.9 kb transcript having the strongest expression. In B14 and B15, the 1.5 kb transcript was undetectable and the 1.9 kb transcript appeared to be exclusively expressed. Thus, haplotypes considered to have an MHC-determined resistance to Marek's disease (MD) had the highest relative amount of the 1.5 kb transcript, whereas haplotypes considered to be MD-susceptible had the lowest. In order to address a possible correlation between MHC-Ialpha transcriptional patterns and MD resistance, a larger animal material experimentally infected with MD virus (MDV) was examined. The expression of MHC class Ialpha genes was investigated in spleens as well as in other organs, 9 weeks post-infection (p.i.), from animals of the two MD-resistant haplotypes B21 and BW1 as well as from the MD-susceptible haplotype B19. In the spleen cells of infected animals, the relative amount of the 1.5 kb transcript in the haplotypes BW1 and B21 was shown to be significantly higher than that in B19. Interestingly, in infected BW1 and B21 animals, the relative amount of the 1.5 kb transcript was also significantly higher than that in healthy MHC-matched controls. In B19, no differences were detected between uninfected and infected animals. Furthermore, it was shown in BW1 and B21 that the two classical MHC-Ialpha genes located in the MHC region were both able to produce both mRNA transcripts. Hybridization experiments, using specific probes upstream and downstream of the polyadenylation signals in the 3' end of the MHC-Ialpha genes, demonstrated that alternate use of these signals is probably involved in the production of the two mRNA transcripts.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Serum levels of mannan-binding lectin in chickens prior to and during experimental infection with avian infectious bronchitis virus.

Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) is a glycoprotein and a member of the C-type lectin super family, the collectin family, and the acute phase protein family. The MBL exerts its function by directly binding to microbial surfaces through its carbohydrate recognition domains, followed by direct opsonization or complement activation via MBL-associated serine proteases (MASP)-1 and -2. Thus, MBL plays a major role in the first-line innate defense against pathogens. We investigated the MBL concentrations in serum during experimental infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) infections in chickens. The results showed that the acute phase MBL response to infection with IBV was, to a degree (P < 0.0068), dependent on whether the chickens were inoculated after 12 h of rest (dark) or after 12 h of activity (light). The acute phase response in chickens challenged after 12 h of activity peaked after 4.6 d with an increase of 24%, whereas the acute phase response in chickens challenged after 12 h of rest peaked after 3.1 d with an increase of 51%. The specific antibody titer against IBV was also tested, and a difference (P < 0.0091) between the two experimental groups was found with peak titer values of 6,816 and 4,349. However, the highest value was found in chickens inoculated after 12 h of activity. Thus, an inverse relation exists between the MBL response and the IBV specific antibody response. The ability of MBL to activate the complement cascade was tested in a heterologous system by deposition of human C4 on the chicken MBL/MASP complex. The complement activation was directly associated with the concentration of MBL in serum, indicating neutralization of the virus before the humoral antibody response took over.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗

PubMed2002

Major histocompatibility complex-linked immune response of young chickens vaccinated with an attenuated live infectious bursal disease virus vaccine followed by an infection.

The influence of the MHC on infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) vaccine response in chickens was investigated in three different chicken lines containing four different MHC haplotypes. Two MHC haplotypes were present in all three lines with one haplotype (B19) shared between the lines. Line 1 further contains the BW1 haplotype isolated from a Red Jungle Fowl. Line 131 further contains the B131 haplotype isolated from a meat-type chicken. Finally, Line 21 further contains the international B21 haplotype. The chickens were vaccinated with live attenuated commercial IBDV vaccine at 3 wk of age, followed by a challenge with virulent IBDV at 6 wk of age. In this study, we found a notable MHC haplotype effect on the specific antibody response against IBDV, as measured by ELISA. The BW1 haplotype was found to have a significantly higher serum antibody titer against IBDV (7,872) than haplotypes B19 (mean 5,243), B21 (5,570), and B131 (5,333) at 8 d postinfection. However, a virus-neutralizing antibody test did not reflect this result. Nevertheless, the MHC haplotype-associated protective immunity was further supported by the bursa of Fabricius (bursa) recovery from the disease, as measured by histological scorings of the bursa. Chickens carrying the BW1 haplotype had a significantly lower bursa lesion score (1.7) than the haplotypes B19 (mean 3.8), B21 (3.6), and B131 (4.3) 8 d postinfection. Furthermore, multiple line effects were found in other variables when comparing Day 6 with Day 8. Body weight, relative weights of the bursa and the spleen, percentage and relative number of MHC II molecules on MHC II-positive lymphocytes, percentage and relative number of CD4 molecules on CD4-positive lymphocytes, and the specific antibody response all differed significantly among lines. Line 1, with Red Jungle Fowl genes, was clearly differentiated from the other two investigated lines. These results suggest an MHC II restricted T-cell dependent secondary antibody response against IBDV.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Rainbow trout offspring with different resistance to viral haemorrhagic septicaemia.

To study immunological and immunogenetical parameters related to resistance against viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS), attempts to make gynogenetic strains of rainbow trout selected for high and low resistance to VHS were initiated in 1988. The first gynogenetic generation of inbreeding resulted in the more resistant offspring E8 and the low resistance offspring K3; the K3 offspring having the same high mortality as the susceptible reference strain of outbred trout in infection trials. A second gynogenetic generation derived from the E8 strain resulted in some low resistance offspring, and two gynogenetic families in which all, or nearly all, fish survived challenge with VHS virus. In this study, an attempt to associate the distribution of different MHC class II genotypes with low and high resistance gynogenetic offspring was performed. Two different MHC haplotypes could be distinguished, and in both low and high resistance families all three genotypes were found, which could be explained by the fact that the mother fish carried the heterozygous genotype. Although no significant differences in MHC II genotypes were found between the high and low resistance offspring, a significantly different distribution of haplotypes in the low resistance offspring was observed, that could not be explained by a one- or two-locus model.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Phenotypes including immunocompetence in scavenging local chicken ecotypes in Tanzania.

A study was conducted to determine the variations in physical characters and immunocompetence among scavenging local chicken ecotypes in Tanzania. Eighty-four adult scavenging local chickens from four eco-climatic regions of Tanzania were studied. Measurements of adult body weight, body length, shank length and egg weight and observations of plumage colour and pattern, earlobe colour, skin colour and the shape of the comb were conducted. The antibody response to sheep red blood cells, serum haemolytic complement and the cutaneous response to phytohaemagglutinin-P were assessed. Five ecotypes were identified and named Mbeya, Morogoro-medium, Ching'wekwe, Kuchi and Singamagazi. Singamagazi and Kuchi were significantly heavier, with longer shanks and heavier eggs than the other ecotypes. The average adult body weight for males ranged from 1621 g (Mbeya) to 2915 g (Singamagazi). Average female weights ranged from 1108 g (Morogoro-medium) to 2020 g (Singamagazi). Mean egg weights ranged from 37.65 g (Ching'wekwe) to 45.61 (Singamagazi). The Kuchi had mostly rose and walnut combs, while the other ecotypes were mostly single combed. In each ecotype there were chickens with a high or low antibody response to red blood cells, but there was a significant difference between the ecotypes.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Molecular characterization of major and minor MHC class I and II genes in B21-like haplotypes in chickens.

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) sequences of three B21-like haplotypes deriving from very different origins including the Red Jungle Fowl Gallus Gallus gallus were compared with the MHC sequences of the standard B21 haplotype from Scandinavian White Leghorn Gallus domesticus. The present analysis reveals two cDNA sequences for B-F and two cDNA sequences for B-LB for every B21-like haplotype, including B21 itself. Contrary to expectation, no sequence polymorphism in the antigen-binding domains of the MHC genes, between the investigated haplotypes, was found. The relative level of MHC class I molecules on the surface of leukocytes measured by flow cytometry was also analysed and found to be low in Marek's Disease (MD)-resistant B haplotypes (B21 and B21-like) and high in MD-susceptible B haplotypes (B15 and B19). However, in heterozygous (resistant/susceptible) animals, the relative level was almost as high as in susceptible haplotypes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2000

A polymorphic major histocompatibility complex class II-like locus maps outside of both the chicken B-system and Rfp-Y-system.

Chickens have two major regions encoding major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class Ialpha genes and MHC class IIss genes, the serological and functional B-system and the Rfp-Y-system. Recently, they have been shown to assort in a genetically independent way although still located on the same microchromosome. Moreover, the monomorphic MHC class IIalpha gene maps at a third locus located 5 cM from the nearest class IIss genes, located in the B-system (Kaufman et al., 1995). A pedigree family was studied in three generations in order to assign MHC class IIss restriction fragments observed in Southern blot analyses to either the B-system, the Rfp-Y-system or the B-Lalpha locus. In this study, we demonstrate by classical genetic testing of chickens within this fully pedigreed family the existence of an MHC class II-like polymorphic restriction fragment that segregates independently of the B-system, the Rfp-Y-system and of the B-Lalpha locus.

Alleles↗

PubMed1998

Cloning and sequencing of a cDNA encoding chicken mannan-binding lectin (MBL) and comparison with mammalian analogues.

The serum lectin, mannan-binding lectin (MBL) (also denoted mannan-binding protein or mannose-binding protein, MBP) has been identified in mammals (humans, monkey, cow, rabbit, mouse and rat). Upon binding to carbohydrates on the surface of microorganisms, MBL mediates activation of the complement system, leading to killing of the microorganism. MBL thus exerts a role in the innate immune defence. We have described the isolation and partial characterization of an analogous protein in chicken serum. Oligonucleotides based on the N-terminal sequence of this protein were used in a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with chicken liver RNA as template. The PCR product was sequenced and found to encode part of the NH2 terminus of chicken MBL. A perfect match probe was synthesized and used to screen a chicken liver cDNA library. The isolated clones carried a cDNA insert of 1692 bp with an open reading frame of 714 bp encoding a mature protein of 238 amino acids including a signal peptide of five amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence agrees with those determined by conventional amino acid sequence analysis of the peptides except for four residues. We have compared the deduced primary structure of chicken MBL with the mammalian analogues. The phylogenetic analysis indicates that the gene duplication leading to two different MBL forms in mammals occurred after the split from birds and reptiles. This concurs with the finding of only one form of MBL in chickens.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1997

New chicken Rfp-Y haplotypes on the basis of MHC class II RFLP and MLC analyses.

New chicken Rfp-Y haplotypes were determined by the use of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) in four different chicken haplotypes, B15, B19, B21, B201. The RFLP polymorphism was mapped to the Rfp-Y system by the use of a subclone (18.1) which maps near a polymorphic lectin gene located in the Rfp-Y system and DNA from families with known segregation of the implicated RFLP polymorphism. For the first time it is shown that major histocompatibility complex class II genes in the Rfp-Y system have functional implications. Sequence information of the B1 domain of the proposed Rfp-Y haplotypes was obtained which supported the functional data.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the chicken B-F and B-L genes and their association with serologically defined B haplotypes.

Seven serologically defined chicken haplotypes have been analysed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) with chicken cDNA probes specific for MHC class I and II. The results demonstrate an excellent correlation between the observed RFLP banding patterns in the investigated haplotypes and the serological B-typing. In future, RFLP analysis in addition to serological B-typing may sharpen the tools in the search for recombinant chromosomes separating B-F and B-L.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

MHC class II beta-chain expression in the rainbow trout.

A cDNA clone corresponding to the MHC class II beta-chain of the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) has been isolated and used in restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) studies in a family of full siblings of rainbow trout. A very simple RFLP pattern was detected, suggesting segregation of a homozygote AA genotype and a heterozygote AB genotype. The MHC class II beta-chain of the rainbow trout seems to be transcribed in the same type of cells as class II genes of higher vertebrates even though the cDNA clone recognizes atypical messenger sizes of 2.2 kb and 3.6 kb in the analysed family. Surprisingly the transcripts seem to be allele-specific for the assigned genotypes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1990

Discrepancy between transcriptional products and cell surface expression of MHC class I antigens in metastatic and non-metastatic Lewis lung tumor cells.

Major histocompatibility complex class I transcriptional products and cell surface expression of their corresponding proteins were measured in tumorigenic Lewis lung carcinoma cells with either high metastatic activity (G4 cells) or with no metastatic activity (G2 cells). The transcriptional products were measured by hybridization to gene-specific oligonucleotide probes for H-2Kb and H-2Db respectively. The cell surface density of the corresponding H-2 glycoproteins was determined by FACS cell sorter analysis and by radioimmunoassay using anti-H-2Kb and anti-H-2Db specific monoclonal antibodies. The analyses revealed that the cell surface density of both Kb and Db was reduced 4-9 fold in G4 cells compared to G2 cells. However, this reduction of G4 cell surface expression of MHC class I molecules was not reflected at the mRNA level since both subclones had similar low levels of detectable Kb and Db specific mRNA. beta 2-microglobulin was analysed at the mRNA and protein level and found not to be the rate-limiting factor in the MHC class I expression of the metastatic G4 cells. Thus, the cell surface expression of H-2Kb and H-2Db by the two Lewis lung carcinoma subclones did not correlate with the amount of specific mRNA. Other regulatory mechanisms of gene expression acting at the levels between transcription and the appearance of the gene product at the cell surface must therefore account for the observed difference in the cell surface expression of MHC class I molecules of the two Lewis lung carcinoma cells. The potential importance of MHC class I expression in the metastatic capacity of the tumor cells is discussed.

Animals↗