Expression of Chicken NK-Lysin and Its Role in Chicken Coccidiosis Induced by Eimeria necatrix

Coccidiosis in chickens is an intestinal parasitic disease caused by protozoan parasites named Eimeria spp. In some Eimeria infections, intestinal lymphocytes are known to highly express chicken NK-lysin (cNK-lysin), an antimicrobial peptide with anticoccidial activity. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the expression of cNK-lysin in E. necatrix-infected chickens and its role in E. necatrix infection. The expression of cNK-lysin transcript was significantly increased in E. necatrix sporozoites-treated lymphocytes. In E. necatrix infection, cNK-lysin transcript was induced in intestinal lymphocytes but not in the spleen. The recombinant cNK-lysin exhibited anticoccidial activity against E. necatrix sporozoites as well as immunomodulatory activity on macrophages by inducing proinflammatory cytokines. These results indicated that E. necatrix infection induces high local expression of cNK-lysin and the secreted cNK-lysin helps protect coccidiosis.

[1]  M. Adeleke,et al.  A review of Eimeria antigen identification for the development of novel anticoccidial vaccines , 2019, Parasitology Research.

[2]  R. Hancock,et al.  Reassessing the Host Defense Peptide Landscape , 2019, Front. Chem..

[3]  M. Nolan,et al.  Recombinant anticoccidial vaccines - a cup half full? , 2017, Infection, genetics and evolution : journal of molecular epidemiology and evolutionary genetics in infectious diseases.

[4]  H. Lillehoj,et al.  Evaluation of the Immunomodulatory Activity of the Chicken NK-Lysin-Derived Peptide cNK-2 , 2017, Scientific Reports.

[5]  H. Lillehoj,et al.  Using genomics to identify novel antimicrobials. , 2016, Revue scientifique et technique.

[6]  W. Kim,et al.  Downregulation of Chicken Interleukin-17 Receptor A during Eimeria Infection , 2014, Infection and Immunity.

[7]  Robert E W Hancock,et al.  Peptide design for antimicrobial and immunomodulatory applications. , 2013, Biopolymers.

[8]  Y. Hong,et al.  Parasiticidal activity of a novel synthetic peptide from the core α-helical region of NK-lysin. , 2013, Veterinary parasitology.

[9]  H. Lillehoj,et al.  The long view: a selective review of 40 years of coccidiosis research , 2012, Avian pathology : journal of the W.V.P.A.

[10]  Y. Hong,et al.  Antimicrobial Activity of Chicken NK-Lysin Against Eimeria Sporozoites , 2008, Avian diseases.

[11]  J. Mattsson,et al.  Coccidial infections in commercial broilers: epidemiological aspects and comparison of Eimeria species identification by morphometric and polymerase chain reaction techniques , 2008, Avian pathology : journal of the W.V.P.A.

[12]  Y. Hong,et al.  Molecular cloning and characterization of chicken NK-lysin. , 2006, Veterinary immunology and immunopathology.

[13]  L. Matukumalli,et al.  Expressed sequence tag analysis of Eimeria-stimulated intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes in chickens , 2005, Molecular biotechnology.

[14]  H. Lillehoj,et al.  Avian coccidiosis. A review of acquired intestinal immunity and vaccination strategies. , 2000, Avian diseases.

[15]  H. Lillehoj,et al.  Intestinal immune responses to coccidiosis. , 2000, Developmental and comparative immunology.

[16]  K. Choi,et al.  Eimeria tenella Infection Induces Local Gamma Interferon Production and Intestinal Lymphocyte Subpopulation Changes , 2000, Infection and Immunity.

[17]  H. Lillehoj,et al.  Avian gut-associated lymphoid tissues and intestinal immune responses to Eimeria parasites , 1996, Clinical microbiology reviews.

[18]  H. Lillehoj,et al.  Eimeria acervulina infection: evidence for the involvement of CD8+ T lymphocytes in sporozoite transport and host protection. , 1995, Poultry science.

[19]  J. Trout,et al.  Evidence of a role for intestinal CD8+ lymphocytes and macrophages in transport of Eimeria acervulina sporozoites. , 1993, The Journal of parasitology.

[20]  M. A. Fernando,et al.  Transport of Eimeria necatrix sporozoites in the chicken: effects of irritants injected intraperitoneally. , 1987, The Journal of parasitology.

[21]  M. A. Fernando,et al.  Eimeria spp. of domestic fowl: the migration of sporozoites intra- and extra-enterically. , 1987, The Journal of parasitology.

[22]  A. Lawn,et al.  Mucosal transport of Eimeria tenella in the cecum of the chicken. , 1982, The Journal of parasitology.