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Background: The Bursa of Fabricius (BF) is acknowledged as the central humoral immune organ unique to birds. Bursal Hexapeptide (BHP, AGCCNG) is a recently reported bursal-derived bioactive peptide. However, there are few reports of the molecular basis of the mechanism on immune induction and potential antitumor activity of BHP. Method: In this paper, Gene microarray analyses demonstrated that BHP regulated expression of 1347 genes, of which 832 were up-regulated and 515 were down-regulated. Differentially expressed genes involved in various pathways were identified, of which 16 pathways were associated with immune responses and tumorigenic processes. Result: Specifically, we found that BHP selectively inhibited tumor cell proliferation. Furthermore, BHP enhanced antitumor factor p53 luciferase activity and stimulated expression of p53, p21, and p130 protein. Moreover, we observed that the inhibitory effect of BHP on cell proliferation and premature senescence in a p53-dependent manner. Conclusion: Taken together, we uncovered that BHP may be involved in antitumor suppressor via p53 signaling pathway.

Background: Conventional therapeutic strategies for tumors have had limited success, and innovative and more effective approaches to treatment are urgently required. The ancient idea that various biological, bacterial, yeast, viral, and parasitic agents can be used as cancer therapeutics has gradually attracted considerable interest. Certain parasites have been widely discussed in association with human and animal tumors. The purpose of this review was to examine previous literatures which investigates the relations between Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis) and tumors. Methods: Using PubMed, articles published before 2018 in the whole world have been searched and comprehensively reviewed. Results: Many researches have provided proofs that T. spiralis possesses antitumor activities. The antitumor effect of T. spiralis was first described in the 1970s. However, its research has been inconsistent, and little progress has been made in this field. Therefore, the mechanisms underlying these inhibitory effects are still unclear, and convincing evidence of the links between T. spiralis and the prevention or treatment of tumors from clinical trials is absent. Meanwhile, some other researches also suggested that T. spiralis may cause or contribute to coinfection with a tumors. Conclusion: The review has highlighted the scientific literature focussing on evidence for T. spiralis to act as a pro- or antitumorigenic agent is summarized and discussed, in hope of contributing to a better understanding of the relations between T. spiralis and tumors.

Background Bursal Pentapeptide (BPP)-(III-V) are peptides isolated from the Bursa of Fabricius (BF). Method The peptides' adjuvant activities were evaluated in mice immunized with the H9N2 avian influenza vaccine. Results The results showed that BPP-IV did not promote humoral or cellular immune responses. BPP-III had no effect on antibody production, but increased populations of CD3+ and CD8+ T cells, CTL levels and proliferation activities of splenic T-lymphocytes. BPP-V increased the level of antibodies (HI, IgG and its subtype IgG1) and the cytokine IL-4, as well as the ratio of CD3+ T cells and its subsets CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, BPP-V also increased CTL level and promoted the proliferation activity of T- and B-lymphocyte. Furthermore, in animal challenge experiment, BPP-III and BPP-V reduced viral RNA copies and viral titers, and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration. Conclusion In summary, BPP-IV did not have an effect on specific immune responses, therefore it could not reduce pathological damage in mice lungs; BPP-III provided resistance to the antigen through the cell-mediated immune response; BPP-V enhanced both humoral and cellular immune responses, therefore provided protections against the H9N2 Avian Influenza Virus (AIV). Altogether, BPP-III and BPP-V could be adjuvant candidates for the H9N2 avian influenza vaccine.