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Liu Q, Liu Z, Wang H, Yao X. Different species of Chiroptera: Immune cells and molecules. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29772. [PMID: 38949201 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
The distinct composition and immune response characteristics of bats' innate and adaptive immune systems, which enable them to serve as host of numerous serious zoonotic viruses without falling ill, differ substantially from those of other mammals, it have garnered significant attention. In this article, we offer a systematic review of the names, attributes, and functions of innate and adaptive immune cells & molecules across different bat species. This includes descriptions of the differences shown by research between 71 bat species in 10 families, as well as comparisons between bats and other mammals. Studies of the immune cells & molecules of different bat species are necessary to understand the unique antiviral immunity of bats. By providing comprehensive information on these unique immune responses, it is hoped that new insights will be provided for the study of co-evolutionary dynamics between viruses and the bat immune system, as well as human antiviral immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinlu Liu
- Department of Immunology, Center of Immuno-molecular Engineering, Innovation & Practice Base for Graduate Students Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Zegang Liu
- Department of Immunology, Center of Immuno-molecular Engineering, Innovation & Practice Base for Graduate Students Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Huifang Wang
- Department of Immunology, Center of Immuno-molecular Engineering, Innovation & Practice Base for Graduate Students Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Xinsheng Yao
- Department of Immunology, Center of Immuno-molecular Engineering, Innovation & Practice Base for Graduate Students Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
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Viola MF, Herrera M. LG, Cruz-Neto AP. Combined effects of ambient temperature and food availability on induced innate immune response of a fruit-eating bat (Carollia perspicillata). PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301083. [PMID: 38787875 PMCID: PMC11125493 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Resilience of mammals to anthropogenic climate and land-use changes is associated with the maintenance of adequate responses of several fitness-related traits such as those related to immune functions. Isolated and combined effects of decreased food availability and increased ambient temperature can lead to immunosuppression and greater susceptibility to disease. Our study tested the general hypothesis that decreased food availability, increased ambient temperature and the combined effect of both factors would affect selected physiological and behavioral components associated with the innate immune system of fruit-eating bats (Carollia perspicillata). Physiological (fever, leukocytosis and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio) and behavioral (food intake) components of the acute phase response, as well as bacterial killing ability of the plasma were assessed after immune challenge with lipopolysaccharide (LPS: 10 mg/kg) in experimental groups kept at different short-term conditions of food availability (ad libitum diet or 50% food-deprived) and ambient temperature (27 and 33°C). Our results indicate that magnitude of increase in body temperature was not affected by food availability, ambient temperature or the interaction of both factors, but the time to reach the highest increase took longer in LPS-injected bats that were kept under food restriction. The magnitude of increased neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio was affected by the interaction between food availability and ambient temperature, but food intake, total white blood cell count and bacterial killing ability were not affected by any factor or interaction. Overall, our results suggest that bacterial killing ability and most components of acute phase response examined are not affected by short-term changes in food availability and ambient temperature within the range evaluated in this study, and that the increase of the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio when bats are exposed to low food availability and high ambient temperature might represent an enhancement of cellular response to deal with infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus F. Viola
- Laboratório de Fisiologia Animal (LaFA), Departamento de Biodiversidade, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - L. Gerardo Herrera M.
- Estación de Biología Chamela, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, San Patricio, Jalisco, México
| | - Ariovaldo P. Cruz-Neto
- Laboratório de Fisiologia Animal (LaFA), Departamento de Biodiversidade, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
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Viola MF, Gerardo Herrera M L, da Cruz-Neto AP. The acute phase response in bats (Carollia perspicillata) varies with time and dose of the immune challenge. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:286160. [PMID: 36448935 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.244583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
The acute phase response (APR) is a core component of the innate immune response and represents the first line of immune defense used in response to infections. Although several studies with vertebrates reported fever, a decrease in food intake and body mass, and an increase in neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and total white blood cell count after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inoculation, there was great variability in the magnitude of these responses. Some of these differences might reflect, to some extent, differences in the time of endotoxin inoculation (during active or rest periods) and dose. Therefore, our study tested the interplay between LPS dose and time of injection on selected physiological (fever and increase in total white blood cell count and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio) and behavioral (food intake) components of the APR using a Neotropical fruit-eating bat (Carollia perspicillata) as a model organism. We predicted that LPS would trigger a dose- and time-dependent response in APR components. APR components were assessed in rest and active periods after injection of three doses of LPS (5, 10 and 15 mg kg-1 LPS). The results indicate a more robust decrease in food intake at higher doses during the active period, while increased neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio was more robust during the active period regardless of dose. Furthermore, the skin temperature increase lasted longer at higher doses regardless of the timing of injections. Our study offers important insights into the dependence of time as well as the LPS dosage effect in the APR of bats, and how they deal with the magnitude of infections at different times of day.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus F Viola
- Laboratório de Fisiologia Animal (LaFA), Departamento de Biodiversidade, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, 13506-900 Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - L Gerardo Herrera M
- Estación de Biología Chamela, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional, Autónoma de México, 48980 San Patricio, Jalisco, México
| | - Ariovaldo P da Cruz-Neto
- Laboratório de Fisiologia Animal (LaFA), Departamento de Biodiversidade, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, 13506-900 Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
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Weinberg M, Yovel Y. Revising the paradigm: Are bats really pathogen reservoirs or do they possess an efficient immune system? iScience 2022; 25:104782. [PMID: 35982789 PMCID: PMC9379578 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
While bats are often referred to as reservoirs of viral pathogens, a meta-analysis of the literature reveals many cases in which there is not enough evidence to claim so. In many cases, bats are able to confront viruses, recover, and remain immune by developing a potent titer of antibodies, often without becoming a reservoir. In other cases, bats might have carried an ancestral virus that at some time point might have mutated into a human pathogen. Moreover, bats exhibit a balanced immune response against viruses that have evolved over millions of years. Using genomic tools, it is now possible to obtain a deeper understanding of that unique immune system and its variability across the order Chiroptera. We conclude, that with the exception of a few viruses, bats pose little zoonotic danger to humans and that they operate a highly efficient anti-inflammatory response that we should strive to understand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Weinberg
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Corresponding author
| | - Yossi Yovel
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
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Population density mediates induced immune response, but not physiological condition in a well-adapted urban bird. Sci Rep 2022; 12:9150. [PMID: 35650222 PMCID: PMC9160275 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12910-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Thriving under high population density is considered a major feature of urban exploiter species. Nevertheless, population density appears to be a surprisingly overlooked factor in urban ecology studies. High population numbers observed in urban species might promote pathogen transmission and negatively affect health or condition, thus requiring investments in immunocompetence. The feral pigeon Columba livia domestica is an example of a successful city-dweller, found in great abundance in large cities across the globe. We investigated the effects of population density on induced immune response (phytohaemagglutinin skin test) and body condition (blood haemoglobin concentration and size-corrected body mass) in 120 feral pigeons, captured along population density gradient in Łódź (central Poland). We found that stronger immune response was associated with higher population density, but was not related to physiological condition and physiological stress (heterophil/lymphocyte ratio). Moreover, condition indices were not associated with population density. However, since pigeon population density was highly correlated with the level of habitat urbanization, we cannot exclude that any density-dependent effects may be mediated by habitat variation. Our results indicate that urban environment, via population density, might exert different selective pressures on immunocompetence and body condition in this successful urban exploiter.
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Lawrence P, Escudero-Pérez B. Henipavirus Immune Evasion and Pathogenesis Mechanisms: Lessons Learnt from Natural Infection and Animal Models. Viruses 2022; 14:v14050936. [PMID: 35632678 PMCID: PMC9146692 DOI: 10.3390/v14050936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Nipah henipavirus (NiV) and Hendra henipavirus (HeV) are zoonotic emerging paramyxoviruses causing severe disease outbreaks in humans and livestock, mostly in Australia, India, Malaysia, Singapore and Bangladesh. Both are bat-borne viruses and in humans, their mortality rates can reach 60% in the case of HeV and 92% for NiV, thus being two of the deadliest viruses known for humans. Several factors, including a large cellular tropism and a wide zoonotic potential, con-tribute to their high pathogenicity. This review provides an overview of HeV and NiV pathogenicity mechanisms and provides a summary of their interactions with the immune systems of their different host species, including their natural hosts bats, spillover-hosts pigs, horses, and humans, as well as in experimental animal models. A better understanding of the interactions between henipaviruses and their hosts could facilitate the development of new therapeutic strategies and vaccine measures against these re-emerging viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Lawrence
- Science and Humanities Confluence Research Centre (EA 1598), Catholic University of Lyon (UCLy), 69002 Lyon, France
- Correspondence: (P.L.); (B.E.-P.)
| | - Beatriz Escudero-Pérez
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Luebeck-Borstel, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
- Correspondence: (P.L.); (B.E.-P.)
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Haley PJ. From bats to pangolins: new insights into species differences in the structure and function of the immune system. Innate Immun 2022; 28:107-121. [PMID: 35506564 PMCID: PMC9136466 DOI: 10.1177/17534259221093120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Species differences in the structure and function of the immune system of laboratory animals are known to exist and have been reviewed extensively. However, the number and diversity of wild and exotic species, along with their associated viruses, that come into contact with humans has increased worldwide sometimes with lethal consequences. Far less is known about the immunobiology of these exotic and wild species. Data suggest that species differences of the mechanisms of inflammation, innate immunity and adaptive immunity are all involved in the establishment and maintenance of viral infections across reservoir hosts. The current review attempts to collect relevant data concerning the basics of innate and adaptive immune functions of exotic and wild species followed by identification of those differences that may play a role in the maintenance of viral infections in reservoir hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick J. Haley
- Haley Tox/Path Consulting LLC, 104 Cypress Springs Way, 78633, Georgetown Texas, United States
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Kamiński M, Janiszewski T, Indykiewicz P, Nowakowski JJ, Kowalski J, Dulisz B, Minias P. Density-dependence of nestling immune function and physiological condition in semi-precocial colonial bird: a cross-fostering experiment. Front Zool 2021; 18:7. [PMID: 33514396 PMCID: PMC7847143 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-021-00388-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nesting in large aggregations provides several important advantages for colonially breeding birds. However, it also imposes certain costs, associated with facilitated pathogen transmission and social stress. The cost-benefit ratio is not similar for all the birds in a colony and it might be mediated by nest density. To investigate the influence of nest density on cell-mediated immune function and on physiological condition of nestlings, we arranged a cross-fostering experiment in three breeding colonies of black-headed gulls Chroicocephalus ridibundus. First, we exchanged eggs between plots of high and low nest density. Afterwards, we performed phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) skin test and we measured blood haemoglobin concentration in nearly 350 nestlings from experimental (exchanged) and control (non-exchanged) groups. RESULTS We found that PHA response was lowest in high nest density control group, indicating that depressed immune function of offspring, likely caused by social stress, can be considered as a cost of colonial breeding. Contrastingly, body condition of nestlings was the poorest in low density control group. CONCLUSION Nestlings hatched and raised in high nest density plots did not have higher blood haemoglobin concentration in comparison to other study groups. Furthermore, they were affected with depressed cell mediated immune function, which is possibly driven by combined maternal (corticosteroid hormones deposited in yolk) and environmental (elevated social stress) effects. These results indicate that breeders from high nest densities do not benefit by rising offspring in better quality, in terms of immune function and body condition, although, in the light of previous studies, high nest densities are occupied by birds of higher individual quality, than low density areas. Our study provides a novel insight into the mechanisms of density-dependence that govern fitness of colonially nesting birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Kamiński
- Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Banacha 1/3, 90-237, Lodz, Poland.
| | - Tomasz Janiszewski
- Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Banacha 1/3, 90-237, Lodz, Poland
| | - Piotr Indykiewicz
- Department of Biology and Animal Environment, Faculty of Animal Breeding and Biology, UTP University of Science and Technology, Mazowiecka 28, 85-084, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Jacek J Nowakowski
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Plac Lodzki 3, 10-727, Olsztyn, Poland
| | | | - Beata Dulisz
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Plac Lodzki 3, 10-727, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Piotr Minias
- Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Banacha 1/3, 90-237, Lodz, Poland
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Hernández-Arciga U, Herrera M LG, Königsberg M, Valdez RA, Flores-Martínez JJ, Romano MC. Synergetic effects of immune challenge and stress depress cortisol, inflammatory response and antioxidant activity in fish-eating Myotis. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb234914. [PMID: 33161382 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.234914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
One of the most common tools in conservation physiology is the assessment of environmental stress via glucocorticoid measurement. However, little is known of its relationship with other stress-related biomarkers, and how the incidence of an immune challenge during long-term stress could affect an individual's overall stress response. We investigated here the relationship between basal and post-acute stress fecal cortisol metabolite (FC) with different antioxidant enzymes, oxidative damage and immune parameters in the fish-eating bat, Myotis vivesi We found that in both basal and post-stress conditions, FC was highly related with a number of antioxidant enzymes and immune parameters, but not to oxidative damage. We also assessed changes of FC through the seasons. Basal FC samples and stress reactivity after short-duration stress displayed similar levels during summer, autumn and early winter, but lower concentrations in late winter. Stress reactivity after long-duration stress was greater in summer and early winter. Finally, we tested the effect of a simultaneous exposure to a long, strong stress stimulus with an immune response stimulation by administrating adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) after 42 h. Results showed that when both stimuli were administrated, FC concentrations, inflammation and some antioxidant activity were lowered in comparison with the control and individual administration of the challenges. Our findings support the idea that animals maintain constant basal glucocorticoid levels when living in challenging environments, but response to acute stress differs seasonally and immune defense mechanisms and stress responses might be compromised when confronted with multiple challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulalume Hernández-Arciga
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-153, Ciudad de México, 04510 Mexico
- Laboratorio de Bioenergética y Envejecimiento Celular, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México, 09340 Mexico
| | - L Gerardo Herrera M
- Estación de Biología Chamela, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 21, San Patricio, JAL, 48980 Mexico
| | - Mina Königsberg
- Laboratorio de Bioenergética y Envejecimiento Celular, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México, 09340 Mexico
| | - Ricardo A Valdez
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados, Ciudad de México, 07360 Mexico
| | - José Juan Flores-Martínez
- Laboratorio de Sistemas de Información Geográfica, Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, 04510 Mexico
| | - Marta C Romano
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados, Ciudad de México, 07360 Mexico
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Regional differences in the skin of the desert hedgehog (Paraechinus aethiopicus) with special reference to hair polymorphism. ZOOL ANZ 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2020.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Are aggressive vocalizations the honest signals of body size and quality in female Asian particoloured bats? Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-018-2510-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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Abstract
Bats are a large and diverse group comprising approximately 20% of all living mammalian species. They are the only mammals capable of powered flight and have many unique characteristics, including long lifespans, echolocation, and hibernation, and play key roles in insect control, pollination, and seed dispersal. The role of bats as natural reservoirs of a variety of high-profile viruses that are highly pathogenic in other susceptible species yet cause no clinical disease in bats has led to a resurgence of interest in their immune systems. Equally compelling is the urgency to understand the immune mechanisms responsible for the susceptibility of bats to the fungus responsible for white syndrome, which threatens to wipe out a number of species of North American bats. In this chapter we review the current knowledge in the field of bat immunology, focusing on recent highlights and the need for further investigations in this area.
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Hernández-Arciga U, Herrera M. LG, Ibáñez-Contreras A, Miranda-Labra RU, Flores-Martínez JJ, Königsberg M. Baseline and post-stress seasonal changes in immunocompetence and redox state maintenance in the fishing bat Myotis vivesi. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0190047. [PMID: 29293551 PMCID: PMC5749750 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Little is known of how the stress response varies when animals confront seasonal life-history processes. Antioxidant defenses and damage caused by oxidative stress and their link with immunocompetence are powerful biomarkers to assess animal´s physiological stress response. The aim of this study was A) to determine redox state and variation in basal (pre-acute stress) immune function during summer, autumn and winter (spring was not assessed due to restrictions in collecting permit) in the fish-eating Myotis (Myotis vivesi; Chiroptera), and B) to determine the effect of acute stress on immunocompetence and redox state during each season. Acute stress was stimulated by restricting animal movement for 6 and 12 h. The magnitude of the cellular immune response was higher during winter whilst that of the humoral response was at its highest during summer. Humoral response increased after 6 h of movement restriction stress and returned to baseline levels after 12 h. Basal redox state was maintained throughout the year, with no significant changes in protein damage, and antioxidant activity was modulated mainly in relation to variation to environment cues, increasing during high temperatures and decreasing during windy nights. Antioxidant activity increased after the 6 h of stressful stimuli especially during summer and autumn, and to a lesser extent in early winter, but redox state did not vary. However, protein damage increased after 12 h of stress during summer. Prolonged stress when the bat is engaged in activities of high energy demand overcame its capacity to maintain homeostasis resulting in oxidative damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulalume Hernández-Arciga
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
- Laboratorio de Bioenergética y Envejecimiento Celular, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Unidad Iztapalapa, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Ciudad de México, México
| | - L. Gerardo Herrera M.
- Estación de Biología Chamela, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, San Patricio, Jalisco, México
| | - Alejandra Ibáñez-Contreras
- Laboratorio de Neurofisiología, Applied Research in Experimental Biomedicine S.A. de C.V. (APREXBIO), Ciudad de México, México
- Unidad de Experimentación Animal, Biología Integral para Vertebrados (BIOINVERT®), Estado de México, México
| | - Roxana U. Miranda-Labra
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Celular, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Unidad Iztapalapa, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Ciudad de México, México
| | - José Juan Flores-Martínez
- Laboratorio de Sistemas de Información Geográfica, Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Mina Königsberg
- Laboratorio de Bioenergética y Envejecimiento Celular, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Unidad Iztapalapa, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Ciudad de México, México
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Weise P, Czirják GA, Lindecke O, Bumrungsri S, Voigt CC. Simulated bacterial infection disrupts the circadian fluctuation of immune cells in wrinkle-lipped bats ( Chaerephon plicatus). PeerJ 2017; 5:e3570. [PMID: 28791196 PMCID: PMC5545106 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Leukocyte concentrations follow a circadian pattern in mammals, with elevated values at times of potential contact with pathogens and parasites. We hypothesized that this pattern is disturbed after an immune challenge. Methods In Thailand, we captured wrinkle-lipped bats (Chaerephon plicatus), when they returned to their colony at dawn. We challenged half of the animals (experimental group) with bacterial lipopolysaccharides and treated the others only with the carrier liquid (control group). We then compared body mass changes and differences in circulating immune cell counts at 8 h post-treatment. Results In experimental animals, we observed an increase in total leukocyte and neutrophil numbers of 17% and 95%, respectively. In control animals, concentrations of leukocytes decreased by 44% and those of neutrophils remained constant. Experimental treatment had no effect on lymphocytes, yet changes in eosinophil numbers were explained by sex. Eosinophils decreased by 66% in females and by 62% in males. Basophils and monocytes were rarest among all observed cell types and analysis was either impossible because of low numbers or yielded no significant effects, respectively. Discussion Our findings show that a simulated bacterial infection triggered a neutrophil-associated immune response in wrinkle-lipped bats, indicating a disruption of the diurnal fluctuation of immune cells. Our study suggests that bats exhibit circadian rhythms in immune cell counts. The magnitude of these fluctuations may vary across species according to specific-specific infection risks associated with colony sizes or specific roosting habits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Weise
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Biology, Humboldt Universität, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gábor A Czirják
- Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Oliver Lindecke
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Animal Behaviour, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sara Bumrungsri
- Department of Biology, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand
| | - Christian C Voigt
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Animal Behaviour, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Zhang Z, Jin C, Qu K, Caviedes-Vidal E. Immune responsiveness to phytohemagglutinin displays species but not sex differences in three anuran species. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3181. [PMID: 28480133 PMCID: PMC5419208 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced skin swelling response is widely used as a rough surrogate of integrative cell-mediated and innate immunity across multiple vertebrate taxa due to its simplification and feasibility. However, little is known whether there are sex and interspecific differences of immune responsiveness to PHA in ectotherms, especially for anurans. Therefore, we studied sex and species differences of PHA response in three anurans, Asiatic toads (Bufo gargarizans), Dark-spotted frogs (Pelophylax nigromaculatus) and Mongolian toads (Pseudepidalea raddei), captured in northern regions of Anhui Province (China). Footpad thickness was measured prior to (0 h) and after (6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h) a PHA injection and normalized against saline injection in the opposite footpad. Body mass was recorded at the beginning (0 h) and end of each assay (72 h). Results showed effects of PHA assay, sex and taxa on body mass. Relative maximum swelling response (PHAmax) ranged from 18.58–29.75%, 9.77 to 20.56% and 21.97 to 31.78% and its occurrence over time was apparent 10.6–19.72 h , 7.74–14.01 h and 17.39–23.94 h postinjection for Asiatic toads, Dark-spotted frogs and Mongolian toads, respectively. Finally, the magnitude or timing of PHAmax in Dark-spotted frogs was significantly thinner and faster than in Mongolian toads, and Asiatic toads had an in-between value, not different from the other two species. The magnitude of PHAmax was significantly positively correlated with the timing of PHAmax considering individuals altogether, but not when analyzed within species. Our results indicate that male and female anuran species respond similarly to PHA antigen stimulation, but the magnitude and timing of PHAmax is species-specific. Briefly, we provide new evidence for the suitability of PHA assay in non-model anuran species with different body sizes, and exhort the need to further investigate the nature of PHA assay at the hematological and histological levels in order to extend its application in ecoimmunological studies of amphibians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, People's Republic of China
| | - Chenchen Jin
- College of Life Science, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, People's Republic of China
| | - Kangshan Qu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, People's Republic of China
| | - Enrique Caviedes-Vidal
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, and Departamento de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, San Luis, Argentina.,Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States
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16
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Jiang T, Huang X, Wu H, Feng J. Size and quality information in acoustic signals of Rhinolophus ferrumequinum in distress situations. Physiol Behav 2017; 173:252-257. [PMID: 28238774 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2016] [Revised: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Many animals produce alarm or distress calls when they encounter predators. Previous studies have shown that the distress calls of some birds can also signal the quality of the bird as prey to predators. In this case, both predator and prey may benefit from sharing information about prey's ability to escape. However, little is known about whether echolocation pulses and distress calls in bats convey size and quality information in distress situations. This study investigates the relationship between echolocation, distress calls, and the health of the callers to determine whether these signals are reliable indicators of sender's attributes and quality. The spectro-temporal structure of echolocation pulses and distress calls from captured greater horseshoe bats, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, were found to be correlated to their body size, body condition, and T-cell-mediated immunocompetence. The peak frequency of echolocation pulses was found to be positively correlated with the bats' forearm length. However, regression analysis has shown that no significant relationship exists between distress calls and overall body size, or between distress calls and overall health. These results suggest that the peak frequency of echolocation pulses may be a reliable index signal to attract conspecifics, but distress calls of bats may not convey information about their size or overall quality as conspecifics or prey. These results indicate that distress calls in bats may only convey their emotional state, to attract conspecifics and facilitate estimation of predation risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tinglei Jiang
- Jilin Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Jingyue St 2555, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Xiaobin Huang
- Jilin Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Jingyue St 2555, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Hui Wu
- Jilin Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Jingyue St 2555, Changchun 130024, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Xincheng ST 2888, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Jiang Feng
- Jilin Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Jingyue St 2555, Changchun 130024, China.
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Bílková B, Albrecht T, Chudíčková M, Holáň V, Piálek J, Vinkler M. Application of Concanavalin A during immune responsiveness skin-swelling tests facilitates measurement interpretation in mammalian ecology. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:4551-64. [PMID: 27386096 PMCID: PMC4931001 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Revised: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 05/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The skin‐swelling test is a simple and widespread method used in field ecological research to estimate cellular immune responsiveness in animals. This immunoecological test is based on measuring the magnitude of tissue swelling response at specific times following subcutaneous application of an experimental pro‐inflammatory stimulant. In the vast majority of studies across vertebrate taxa, phytohemagglutinin (PHA) is used as a universal stimulant. Given the complexity of immune response activation pathways of PHA, however, interpretation of test results can be ambiguous. Goal of this study was to improve methodology of the skin‐swelling test to decrease this ambiguity. Here, we present an alternative protocol aimed at facilitating interpretation of skin‐swelling data for mammals. Based on previous evidence suggesting that mammalian T cells are readily activated by Concanavalin A (ConA) in vitro, we compared cellular immune responses in vivo to PHA and ConA as an alternative pro‐inflammatory stimulant in mice. We measured magnitude of tissue swelling and compared it with intensity of blood cell infiltration into tissue over a 72‐hour interval. Our results corroborate that PHA and ConA show important differences in both dynamics and response amplitude in rodents. ConA induces stronger swelling with a distinct leukocyte activity pattern and higher pro‐inflammatory cytokine (interleukin 6 [IL‐6] and interferon gamma[IFN‐γ]) expression than PHA during peak response (24‐h post‐treatment). Furthermore, unlike PHA, magnitude of swelling was positively associated with cellular activity (number of neutrophils infiltrating tissue) following ConA injection. We conclude that ConA is the more suitable stimulant for skin‐swelling tests in mammals. This is because of the molecular binding specificity in the two lectins, that is, ConA specifically activates T cells while PHA also triggers erythroagglutination. We propose that ConA be used in all future ecological testing in mammals as it exhibits better performance and its application facilitates immunological interpretation of skin‐swelling test results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Bílková
- Department of Zoology Faculty of Science Charles University in Prague Viničná 7 128 44 Praha Czech Republic, EU
| | - Tomáš Albrecht
- Department of Zoology Faculty of Science Charles University in Prague Viničná 7128 44 Praha Czech Republic, EU; Research Facility Studenec Institute of Vertebrate Biology Czech Academy of Sciences Květná 8603 65 Brno Czech Republic, EU
| | - Milada Chudíčková
- Institute of Experimental Medicine Czech Academy of Sciences Vídeňská 1083 142 20 Praha 4 Czech Republic, EU
| | - Vladimír Holáň
- Institute of Experimental Medicine Czech Academy of Sciences Vídeňská 1083 142 20 Praha 4 Czech Republic, EU
| | - Jaroslav Piálek
- Research Facility Studenec Institute of Vertebrate Biology Czech Academy of Sciences Květná 8 603 65 Brno Czech Republic, EU
| | - Michal Vinkler
- Department of Zoology Faculty of Science Charles University in Prague Viničná 7 128 44 Praha Czech Republic, EU
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Bílková B, Vinklerová J, Vinkler M. The relationship between health and cell-mediated immunity measured in ecology: Phytohaemagglutinin skin-swelling test mirrors blood cellular composition. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 323:767-777. [DOI: 10.1002/jez.1990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2015] [Revised: 09/03/2015] [Accepted: 09/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Bílková
- Department of Zoology; Faculty of Science; Charles University in Prague; Viničná 7 Czech Republic
| | - Jitka Vinklerová
- Department of Zoology; Faculty of Science; Charles University in Prague; Viničná 7 Czech Republic
| | - Michal Vinkler
- Department of Zoology; Faculty of Science; Charles University in Prague; Viničná 7 Czech Republic
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19
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Mugabo M, Perret S, Decencière B, Meylan S, Le Galliard JF. Density-dependent immunity and parasitism risk in experimental populations of lizards naturally infested by ixodid ticks. Ecology 2015; 96:450-60. [PMID: 26240866 DOI: 10.1890/14-0524.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
When effective immune defenses against parasites are costly and resources limited, individuals are expected to alter their investment in immunity in response to the risk of infection. As an ecological factor that can affect both food abundance and parasite exposure, host density can play an important role in host immunity and host-parasite interactions. High levels of intraspecific competition for food and social stress at high host density may diminish immune defenses and increase host susceptibility to parasites. At the same time, for contagious and environmentally transmitted parasites, parasite exposure often increases with host density, whereas in mobile parasites that actively search for hosts, parasite exposure can decrease with host density due to the "encounter-dilution effect." To unravel these multiple and potentially opposing effects of host density on immunity, we manipulated density of the common lizard Zootoca vivipara and measured local inflammation in response to PHA injection and levels of infestation by the tick Ixodes ricinus, a mobile ectoparasite for which we expected an encounter-dilution effect to occur. Local inflammation strongly decreased with lizard density in adults, but not in yearlings. Tick infestation (abundance and prevalence) was negatively correlated with lizard density in both age classes. Using path analyses, we found independent, direct negative density feedbacks on immunity and parasite exposure in adults, supporting the hypothesis of energy constraints and/or physiological stress acting on immunity at high density. In contrast, for yearlings, the best path model showed that density diluted exposure to parasites, which themselves down-regulated immune defenses in lizards. These results highlight the importance of investigating the pathways among host density, host immunity, and parasite infestation, while accounting for relevant individual traits such as age.
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20
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ZHANG Z, ZHAO Z. Correlations between phytohemagglutinin response and leukocyte profile, and bactericidal capacity in a wild rodent. Integr Zool 2015; 10:302-10. [DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang ZHANG
- College of Animal Science and Technology; Anhui Agricultural University; Hefei China
| | - Zhijun ZHAO
- College of Life and Environmental Science; Wenzhou University; Wenzhou China
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21
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Vera-Massieu C, Brock PM, Godínez-Reyes C, Acevedo-Whitehouse K. Activation of an inflammatory response is context-dependent during early development of the California sea lion. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2015; 2:150108. [PMID: 26064646 PMCID: PMC4448862 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.150108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Accepted: 04/01/2015] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Variations in immune function can arise owing to trade-offs, that is, the allocation of limited resources among costly competing physiological functions. Nevertheless, there is little information regarding the ontogeny of the immune system within an ecological context, and it is still unknown whether development affects the way in which resources are allocated to different immune effectors. We investigated changes in the inflammatory response during early development of the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) and examined its association with body condition, as a proxy for the availability of energetic resources. We found that the relationship between inflammation and body condition varied according to developmental stage and circulating levels of leucocyte populations, a proxy for current infection. Body condition was related to the magnitude of the inflammatory response during two of the three developmental periods assessed, allowing for the possibility that the availability of pup energetic reserves can limit immune function. For older pups, the ability to mount an inflammatory response was related to their circulating levels of neutrophils and the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, implying that the infection status of an individual will influence its ability to respond to a new challenge. Our results suggest that trade-offs may occur within the immune system and highlight the importance of taking into account ontogeny in ecoimmunological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Vera-Massieu
- Unit for Basic and Applied Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Avenida de las Ciencias S/N, Queretaro 76230, México
| | - Patrick M. Brock
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Carlos Godínez-Reyes
- Cabo Pulmo National Park, Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas, SEMARNAT, La Ribera, BCS, Mexico
| | - Karina Acevedo-Whitehouse
- Unit for Basic and Applied Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Avenida de las Ciencias S/N, Queretaro 76230, México
- The Marine Mammal Center, 2000 Bunker Road, Sausalito, CA 94965, USA
- Author for correspondence: Karina Acevedo-Whitehouse e-mail:
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22
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Merlo J, Cutrera A, Zenuto R. Inflammation in response to phytohemagglutinin injection in the Talas tuco-tuco (Ctenomys talarum): implications for the estimation of immunocompetence in natural populations of wild rodents. CAN J ZOOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2013-0306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The immunological variation in wild populations and its relation to life-history traits has recently become a central topic in the field of evolutionary biology, considering the critical contribution of immunity to an individual’s fitness. A common technique used by ecologists to estimate immunocompetence in wild populations is the phytohemagglutinin (PHA) – skin test. In this test, the degree of local swelling triggered by PHA is usually considered an estimate of T-lymphocyte activity, although there is an ongoing debate regarding this interpretation. Here, we coupled the PHA–skin test with a histological analysis to examine the temporal development of the cell-mediated response in the subterranean rodent Talas tuco-tuco (Ctenomys talarum Thomas, 1898). The inflammation response involved lymphocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and macrophages at the site of injection, achieving an increase of total leukocytes from 12 to 48 h after injection. However, the abundance of any of the leukocytes observed did not correlate with the degree of swelling at any time studied, suggesting that caution should be taken when interpreting the results of the PHA-induced swelling response. Particularly, the magnitude of macroscopic swelling should not be considered a priori as indicative of T-lymphocyte activity in wild-caught rodents. Our results highlight the importance of avoiding oversimplified approaches to measuring immunocompetence.
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Affiliation(s)
- J.L. Merlo
- Laboratorio de Ecofisiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, CONICET – Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Comisión de investigaciones científicas (CIC)
| | - A.P. Cutrera
- Laboratorio de Ecofisiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, CONICET – Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - R.R. Zenuto
- Laboratorio de Ecofisiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, CONICET – Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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23
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Brock PM, Murdock CC, Martin LB. The history of ecoimmunology and its integration with disease ecology. Integr Comp Biol 2014; 54:353-62. [PMID: 24838746 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icu046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecoimmunology is an example of how fruitful integrative approaches to biology can be. Since its emergence, ecoimmunology has sparked constructive debate on a wide range of topics, from the molecular mechanics of immune responses to the role of immunity in shaping the evolution of life histories. To complement the symposium Methods and Mechanisms in Ecoimmunology and commemorate the inception of the Division of Ecoimmunology and Disease Ecology within the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, we appraise the origins of ecoimmunology, with a focus on its continuing and valuable integration with disease ecology. Arguably, the greatest contribution of ecoimmunology to wider biology has been the establishment of immunity as an integral part of organismal biology, one that may be regulated to maximize fitness in the context of costs, constraints, and complex interactions. We discuss historical impediments and ongoing progress in ecoimmunology, in particular the thorny issue of what ecoimmunologists should, should not, or cannot measure, and what novel contributions ecoimmunologists have made to the understanding of host-parasite interactions. Finally, we highlight some areas to which ecoimmunology is likely to contribute in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick M Brock
- *Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, UK; Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Penn State University, PA, USA; Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Courtney C Murdock
- *Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, UK; Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Penn State University, PA, USA; Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Lynn B Martin
- *Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, UK; Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Penn State University, PA, USA; Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
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Hibernating little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) show variable immunological responses to white-nose syndrome. PLoS One 2013; 8:e58976. [PMID: 23527062 PMCID: PMC3604015 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2012] [Accepted: 02/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
White-nose syndrome (WNS) is an emerging infectious disease devastating hibernating North American bat populations that is caused by the psychrophilic fungus Geomyces destructans. Previous histopathological analysis demonstrated little evidence of inflammatory responses in infected bats, however few studies have compared other aspects of immune function between WNS-affected and unaffected bats. We collected bats from confirmed WNS-affected and unaffected sites during the winter of 2008–2009 and compared estimates of their circulating levels of total leukocytes, total immunoglobulins, cytokines and total antioxidants. Bats from affected and unaffected sites did not differ in their total circulating immunoglobulin levels, but significantly higher leukocyte counts were observed in bats from affected sites and particularly in affected bats with elevated body temperatures (above 20°C). Bats from WNS-affected sites exhibited significantly lower antioxidant activity and levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4), a cytokine that induces T cell differentiation. Within affected sites only, bats exhibiting visible fungal infections had significantly lower antioxidant activity and levels of IL-4 compared to bats without visible fungal infections. Overall, bats hibernating in WNS-affected sites showed immunological changes that may be evident of attempted defense against G. destructans. Observed changes, specifically elevated circulating leukocytes, may also be related to the documented changes in thermoregulatory behaviors of affected bats (i.e. increased frequencies in arousal from torpor). Alterations in immune function may reflect expensive energetic costs associated with these processes and intrinsic qualities of the immunocapability of hibernating bats to clear fungal infections. Additionally, lowered antioxidant activity indicates a possible imbalance in the pro- versus antioxidant system, may reflect oxidative tissue damage, and should be investigated as a contributor to WNS-associated morbidity and mortality.
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Abstract
Despite being the second most species-rich and abundant group of mammals, bats are also among the least studied, with a particular paucity of information in the area of bat immunology. Although bats have a long history of association with rabies, the emergence and re-emergence of a number of viruses from bats that impact human and animal health has resulted in a resurgence of interest in bat immunology. Understanding how bats coexist with viruses in the absence of disease is essential if we are to begin to develop therapeutics to target viruses in humans and susceptible livestock and companion animals. Here, we review the current status of knowledge in the field of bat antiviral immunology including both adaptive and innate mechanisms of immune defence and highlight the need for further investigations in this area. Because data in this field are so limited, our discussion is based on both scientific discoveries and theoretical predictions. It is hoped that by provoking original, speculative or even controversial ideas or theories, this review may stimulate further research in this important field. Efforts to understand the immune systems of bats have been greatly facilitated in recent years by the availability of partial genome sequences from two species of bats, a megabat, Pteropus vampyrus, and a microbat, Myotis lucifugus, allowing the rapid identification of immune genes. Although bats appear to share most features of the immune system with other mammals, several studies have reported qualitative and quantitative differences in the immune responses of bats. These observations warrant further investigation to determine whether such differences are associated with the asymptomatic nature of viral infections in bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Baker
- CSIRO Livestock Industries, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Vic., Australia.
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26
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Finger Jr JW, Adams AL, Thomson PC, Shilton CM, Brown GP, Moran C, Miles LG, Glenn TC, Isberg SR. Using phytohaemagglutinin to determine immune responsiveness in saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus). AUST J ZOOL 2013. [DOI: 10.1071/zo13041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Immune responsiveness, the ability of an organism to effectively respond immunologically following antigenic exposure, is an essential component of life history, as organisms require effective immune functionality in order to grow, survive and reproduce. However, immune status is also associated with concomitant trade-offs in these physiological functions. Herein we demonstrate the validation of phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) injection in saltwater crocodiles, Crocodylus porosus, to assess cellular immune responsiveness. Following injection of 2 mg mL–1 PHA into the hind toe webbing, we observed a peak swelling response 12 h after injection, with PHA inducing increased thickness compared with webs injected with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (F5,518 = 145.13, P < 0.001). Subsequent injections increased responsiveness relative to the primary injection response (F5,290 = 2.92, P = 0.029), suggesting that PHA exposure induced immunological memory, a tenet of acquired immunity. Histological examination revealed that PHA-injected toe webs displayed increased numbers of leukocytes (granulocytes, macrophages, and lymphocytes) relative to PBS-injected webs, with peak leukocytic infiltrate observed 12 h after injection. We suggest the use of PHA injection in crocodilians as a measure of cellular immune responsiveness in agricultural (production and animal welfare), ecological, and toxicological contexts.
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27
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Brock PM, Hall AJ, Goodman SJ, Cruz M, Acevedo-Whitehouse K. Applying the tools of ecological immunology to conservation: a test case in the Galapagos sea lion. Anim Conserv 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-1795.2012.00567.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - A. J. Hall
- Sea Mammal Research Unit; Scottish Ocean Institute; University of St. Andrews; Fife; UK
| | - S. J. Goodman
- Institute of Integrative and Comparative Biology; University of Leeds; Leeds; UK
| | - M. Cruz
- Galapagos Genetics; Epidemiology and Pathology Laboratory; Galapagos National Park & University of Guayaquil; Puerto Ayora; Galapagos Islands; Ecuador
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28
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Kuzmin IV, Bozick B, Guagliardo SA, Kunkel R, Shak JR, Tong S, Rupprecht CE. Bats, emerging infectious diseases, and the rabies paradigm revisited. EMERGING HEALTH THREATS JOURNAL 2011; 4:7159. [PMID: 24149032 PMCID: PMC3168224 DOI: 10.3402/ehtj.v4i0.7159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2011] [Revised: 05/31/2011] [Accepted: 05/31/2011] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The significance of bats as sources of emerging infectious diseases has been increasingly appreciated, and new data have been accumulated rapidly during recent years. For some emerging pathogens the bat origin has been confirmed (such as lyssaviruses, henipaviruses, coronaviruses), for other it has been suggested (filoviruses). Several recently identified viruses remain to be ‘orphan’ but have a potential for further emergence (such as Tioman, Menangle, and Pulau viruses). In the present review we summarize information on major bat-associated emerging infections and discuss specific characteristics of bats as carriers of pathogens (from evolutionary, ecological, and immunological positions). We also discuss drivers and forces of an infectious disease emergence and describe various existing and potential approaches for control and prevention of such infections at individual, populational, and societal levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan V Kuzmin
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA;
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