Avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) causes considerable economic losses in the poultry industry worldwide, including Taiwan. IBV is among the most important pathogens in chickens, and it spreads rapidly among flocks. In addition to dozens of known serotypes, new viral variants have emerged due to the viral evolution and antigenic variation in IBVs. Therefore, the development of a sensitive, specific, and easily performed assay is crucial for the rapid detection and surveillance of IBV infections. A rapid and simple immunochromatographic strip (ICS) was developed in this study by employing monoclonal antibodies against spike and nucleocapsid proteins of IBV as the tracer and the capture antibody. The ICS showed high specificity in detecting IBV antigens, including several IBV genotypes and novel variants, as opposed to three other common avian respiratory viruses. The detection limit of the strip reached 104.4 50% embryo-infective dose. Moreover, in the experimental chicken model, the strip test demonstrated consistency in detecting IBV with RT-PCR gene detection. Taken together, this antigen detection strip has the potential to serve as an on-farm rapid test for IBV; therefore, it may facilitate surveillance and control of the disease.

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BackgroundIn endemic area, nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tumor cells harbor EBV latent infection and expresses viral antigens such as EBNA1, LMP1 and LMP2. In this study, we established a NPC-mimicry animal model and assessed the therapeutic potential of LMP1 vaccine.MethodsAnimal models were established by injection of LMP1-expressing TC-1 cells in C57BL6/J mice subcutaneously or through tail veins. pcDNA3.1 empty vector or LMP1/pcDNA3.1 vaccine was delivered by a helium-driven gene gun. Effectiveness of vaccine was evaluated by measuring the tumor size and numbers of metastatic lung nodules. Circulating cytokines were evaluated by ELISArray. Populations of activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and LMP1-specific T lymphocytes were evaluated by flow cytometry with CD8/CD107a double staining and interferon-γ ELISPOT assay, respectively.ResultsLMP1 vaccine significantly suppressed tumor growth (n = 3) and metastasis (n = 4) in vivo. When vaccinated before tumor challenge, all mice in vaccine group were tumor-free, whereas all mice in the control group developed tumors within 2 weeks after tumor challenge (n = 10). Cytokine ELISArray revealed elevation of a panel of proinflammatory cytokines in mice receiving LMP1 vaccine. Flow cytometry and interferon-γ ELISPOT assay revealed that LMP1 vaccine induced larger populations of activated CTLs and LMP1-specific T lymphocytes.ConclusionsThis pre-clinical study provides a promising result that LMP1 vaccine suppresses LMP1-expressing tumor growth and metastasis in vivo.

The effects of FIR irradiation on promoting neurite outgrowth and neural regeneration of NGF-treated neuron-like PC12 cells are dose dependent and through activation of AKT1 phosphorylation. This study provided important information for understanding the cellular mechanism of FIR in promoting neurite outgrowth and possible neural regeneration for further clinical applications.