The Immune System and the Antiviral Responses in Chinese Giant Salamander, Andrias davidianus

The Chinese giant salamander, belonging to an ancient amphibian lineage, is the largest amphibian existing in the world, and is also an important animal for artificial cultivation in China. However, some aspects of the innate and adaptive immune system of the Chinese giant salamander are still unknown. The Chinese giant salamander iridovirus (GSIV), a member of the Ranavirus genus (family Iridoviridae), is a prominent pathogen causing high mortality and severe economic losses in Chinese giant salamander aquaculture. As a serious threat to amphibians worldwide, the etiology of ranaviruses has been mainly studied in model organisms, such as the Ambystoma tigrinum and Xenopus. Nevertheless, the immunity to ranavirus in Chinese giant salamander is distinct from other amphibians and less known. We review the unique immune system and antiviral responses of the Chinese giant salamander, in order to establish effective management of virus disease in Chinese giant salamander artificial cultivation.

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Chinese Giant Salamander (Andrias davidianus) Iridovirus Infection Leads to Apoptotic Cell Death through Mitochondrial Damage, Caspases Activation, and Expression of Apoptotic-Related Genes

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms20246149 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (24) ◽

pp. 6149 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yiqun Li ◽

Nan Jiang ◽

Yuding Fan ◽

Yong Zhou ◽

Wenzhi Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Death ◽

Apoptotic Cell ◽

Mitochondrial Damage ◽

Apoptotic Cell Death ◽

Economic Losses ◽

P53 Expression ◽

Andrias Davidianus ◽

Chinese Giant Salamander ◽

Infected Cells ◽

Apoptotic Genes

Chinese giant salamander iridovirus (GSIV) is the causative pathogen of Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) iridovirosis, leading to severe infectious disease and huge economic losses. However, the infection mechanism by GSIV is far from clear. In this study, a Chinese giant salamander muscle (GSM) cell line is used to investigate the mechanism of cell death during GSIV infection. Microscopy observation and DNA ladder analysis revealed that DNA fragmentation happens during GSIV infection. Flow cytometry analysis showed that apoptotic cells in GSIV-infected cells were significantly higher than that in control cells. Caspase 8, 9, and 3 were activated in GSIV-infected cells compared with the uninfected cells. Consistently, mitochondria membrane potential (MMP) was significantly reduced, and cytochrome c was released into cytosol during GSIV infection. p53 expression increased at an early stage of GSIV infection and then slightly decreased late in infection. Furthermore, mRNA expression levels of pro-apoptotic genes participating in the extrinsic and intrinsic pathway were significantly up-regulated during GSIV infection, while those of anti-apoptotic genes were restrained in early infection and then rose in late infection. These results collectively indicate that GSIV induces GSM apoptotic cell death involving mitochondrial damage, caspases activation, p53 expression, and pro-apoptotic molecules up-regulation.

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Immunological response of the respiratory tract in the SARS-CoV-2 infection

Coronaviruses ◽

10.2174/2666796702666210216143545 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 02 ◽

Author(s):

Sanjiv Singh ◽

Punita Aggarwal ◽

Velayutham Ravichandiran

Keyword(s):

Immune System ◽

Respiratory Tract ◽

Viral Infections ◽

Inflammatory Responses ◽

Virus Disease ◽

Adaptive Immune System ◽

Immunological Response ◽

Immunological Responses ◽

Corona Virus ◽

Maximum Protection

: Severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a contagious pathogen responsible for the ongoing corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The pathogenesis and immunological response of SARS-CoV-2 infection is poorly understood until now. After a person is infected by SARS-COV-2 immunity is compromised as both innate and adaptive immunity is playing a major role in the same. The host innate immune system forms the first layer of defense for protection from viral infections and initiates activation of the adaptive immune system in order to give maximum protection. In order to protect from tissue damage and diseases, the respiratory tract maintains the balance of T cell, B cell pro- and anti-inflammatory responses. In this review, we discuss the current update in our understanding of the involvement of the immune system in the antiviral defense against SARS-CoV-2. These novel insights at the respiratory tract immunological responses may support the future development of vaccines and immunoregulatory therapy for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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Functional differences in the products of two TRAF3 genes in antiviral responses in the Chinese giant salamander, Andrias davidianus

Developmental & Comparative Immunology ◽

10.1016/j.dci.2021.104015 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 119 ◽

pp. 104015

Author(s):

Ya-Ping Xu ◽

Yi-Lian Zhou ◽

Yi Xiao ◽

Wen-Bin Gu ◽

Bo Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Andrias Davidianus ◽

Antiviral Responses ◽

Functional Differences ◽

Chinese Giant Salamander

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Nutritional and medicinal characteristics of Chinese giant salamander ( Andrias davidianus ) for applications in healthcare industry by artificial cultivation: A review

Food Science and Human Wellness ◽

10.1016/j.fshw.2018.03.001 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Dong He ◽

Wenming Zhu ◽

Wen Zeng ◽

Jun Lin ◽

Yang Ji ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Industry ◽

Andrias Davidianus ◽

Chinese Giant Salamander ◽

Artificial Cultivation

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Characterization, Expression Pattern and Antiviral Activities of Mx Gene in Chinese Giant Salamander, Andrias davidianus

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms21062246 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (6) ◽

pp. 2246 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yanan Liu ◽

Yiqun Li ◽

Yongze Zhou ◽

Nan Jiang ◽

Yuding Fan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pcr Analysis ◽

Binding Motif ◽

Andrias Davidianus ◽

Reading Frame ◽

Antiviral Responses ◽

Gene Copies ◽

Antiviral Activities ◽

Chinese Giant Salamander ◽

Antiviral Role

Mx, Myxovirus resistance is an important interferon-stimulated protein that mediates antiviral responses. In this study, the expression and activities of Chinese giant salamander, Andrias davidianus Mx gene, AdMx, were investigated. The AdMx cDNA sequence contains an open reading frame (ORF) of 2112 nucleotides, encoding a putative protein of 703 aa. Meanwhile, AdMx possesses the conserved tripartite GTP binding motif and a dynamin family signature. qRT-PCR analysis revealed a broad expression of AdMx in vivo, with the highest expression levels in brain, kidney and spleen. The AdMx expression level in kidney, spleen and muscle significantly increased at 6 h after Chinese giant salamander iridovirus (GSIV) infection and peaked at 48 h, while that in muscle cell line (GSM) was not noticeably up-regulated until 72 h post infection. Additionally, a plasmid expressing AdMx was constructed and transfected into the Chinese giant salamander GSM cells. The virus load and gene copies in AdMx over-expressed cells were significantly reduced compared with those in the control cells. Moreover, compared to the control cells, a lower level of virus major capsid protein (MCP) synthesis in AdMx over-expressed cells was confirmed by Western blot. These results collectively suggest that Mx plays an important antiviral role in the immune responses against GSIV in Chinese giant salamander.

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