title: Immunological adjuvant effect of the peptide fraction from the larvae of Musca domestica.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The larvae of Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) have been used traditionally for malnutritional stagnation, decubital necrosis, osteomyelitis, ecthyma and lip scald and also to treat coma and gastric cancer in the traditional Chinese medicine. Its immunomodulatory effects in naïve mice in relation to the traditional uses were also reported. However, the immunological adjuvant potentials of this insect have not yet been studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  The peptide fraction from the larvae of Musca domestica L. (MDPF) was evaluated for its adjuvant potentials on the immune responses to ovalbumin (OVA) and avian influenza vaccine (rL-H5) by determining antigen-specific antibody titers, splenocyte proliferation, activity of natural killer (NK) cell, the secretion of cytokines from splenocytes in the immunized mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MDPF significantly enhanced not only the concanavalin A (Con A)-, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and antigen-stimulated splenocyte proliferation, but serum antigen-specific IgG, IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b antibody titers in the mice immunized with OVA and rL-H5. MDPF also remarkably promoted the killing activities of NK cells in splenocytes from the mice immunized with rL-H5. Furthermore, MDPF significantly promoted the production of Th1 (IL-2 and IFN-γ) and Th2 (IL-10) cytokines from splenocytes in the immunized mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicated that MDPF had a potential to increase both cellular and humoral immune responses and elicit a balanced Th1/Th2 response, and that MDPF may be a safe and efficacious vaccine adjuvant candidate.
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China. chenjin52611@163.com.
authors.forename: Liqing
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China. zjatzju@126.com.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China. sunhx@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Hongxiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006793:Houseflies; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D020014:K562 Cells; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007814:Larva / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016207:Cytokines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D010455:Peptides; D014020:Tissue Extracts; D010047:Ovalbumin