Eimeria-induced chicken cNK-2 is an anti-infective host defense peptide and an immunomodulator of host innate immunity

Authors: KIM, WOOHYUN - Gyeongsang National University; Lillehoj, Hyun

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/6/2017
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Avian coccidiosis is one of the most widespread infectious diseases of chickens. The etiologic agent of avian coccidiosis is Eimeria, a genus of eukaryotic obligate intracellular parasites belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa. Clinical manifestations of infection include damage to the intestinal epithelium, decreased nutrient absorption, inefficient feed utilization, and impaired growth rate, which, in severe cases, may lead to mortality. Infection with Eimeria elicits wide spectrum of innate and adaptive, as well as humoral and cell-mediated, arms of immunity. Our previous studies showed that intestinal CD8+ cells are involved in sporozoite transport and host protection. Furthermore, selective depletion CD8+ cells led to reduced disease resistance following infection with E. tenella or E. acervulina and CD8+ cells produced chicken NK-lysin (cNK lysin), the chicken homologue of human granulysin. We recently designed a cNK-2, a synthetic peptide incorporating core a-helical region of cNK-lysin and demonstrated its anti-parasitic activity against Eimeria spp. through its membrane disruptive property. Besides its anti-parasitic activity of cNK-2, we report in this presentation that chicken cationic peptide cNK-2 has ability to modulate innate immune response in macrophages and monocytes through several MAPK signaling pathways. Based on these findings, cNK-2 is a good candidate as an antibiotic alternative to prevent or treat avian coccidiosis and other infections.