沙门氏菌鞭毛蛋白共同抗原模拟表位的免疫生物学特性

为了探究沙门氏菌鞭毛蛋白共同抗原模拟表位阳性克隆生物学特性。用从噬菌体线性肽库及限制性库中筛选出的阳性克隆1和62分别免疫BALB／c小鼠，其高免血清对单抗de7的竞争－ELISA郊价达10^6以上，而其他血清则无抑制作用。在间接免疫荧光试验中，免疫血清均能与11株不同血清型的沙门氏菌反应，而不与大肠杆菌反应。以上结果表明，筛选获得的沙门氏菌鞭毛蛋白共同抗原模拟表位，不仅很好地模拟了天然表位，而且具有很好的抗原性。这为该表位分子基础及模拟表位疫苗的研究奠定了基础。     

日本血吸虫保护性单克隆抗体SSj14识别模拟表位的筛选及其免疫原性分析

为分析日本血吸虫保护性单抗SSj14的模拟表位,观察其免疫保护作用,利用SSj14单抗筛选富集噬菌体的随机六肽库,应用免疫印迹法确定阳性克隆并分析其核苷酸序列,采用竞争ELISA法分析阳性克隆的抗原性,用筛选的阳性噬菌体克隆免疫小鼠进行日本血吸虫病免疫保护试验,计算减虫效果,并用ELISA法检测小鼠免疫前后的特异性抗体水平。结果显示,经3轮富集筛选后,免疫印迹法鉴定到4个阳性克隆,它们对SSj14单抗的抑制率分别为20.0%、40.8%、58.6%、61.5%,并分别在小鼠中诱导了7.42%、9.43%、11.74%、22.30%的减虫率。用噬菌体克隆免疫的小鼠均产生了较高水平的特异性抗体。结果表明,筛选到的阳性噬菌体克隆和SSj14单抗有较高的亲和力,并诱导了抗小鼠日本血吸虫的部分保护效果。     

应用噬菌体展示技术筛选兔出血症病毒抗原模拟表位

以抗兔出血症病毒(RHDV)的单克隆抗体A3c作为靶物质,应用噬菌体展示技术筛选RHDV抗原表位。将纯化的单抗A3c包被固相载体,经3轮亲和筛选后,挑取25株噬菌体单克隆并扩增,用ELISA测定后,提取阳性克隆单链DNA并测序,用阳性噬菌体克隆免疫小鼠制备高免血清,检测筛选抗原表位的免疫原性。结果表明:3轮亲和筛选后,特异性噬菌体克隆得到了有效富集,25株噬菌体单克隆中有19株为阳性克隆;测序结果表明,获得了与抗原高度同源的序列GTDDMDPGTTAA,即抗原的模拟表位,其中,氨基酸基序DXXDP为表位中的核心氨基酸;制备的小鼠高免血清与抗原具有较好的反应性,阳性噬菌体克隆与兔RHDV高免血清也具有较好的反应性。因此,该表位具有良好的免疫原性和反应原性。该研究为RHDV抗原表位的研究和新型疫苗的探索积累了资料。     

利用随机肽库鉴定猪瘟病毒E2蛋白抗原表位

利用噬菌体随机12肽库对抗猪瘟病毒（classical swine fever virus CSFV）糖蛋白E2特异的单抗A11进行表位鉴定，经过4轮筛选后，随机挑取10个噬菌体克隆作竞争ELISA检测。结果表明，10个克隆中除4号克隆外，其余9个均能抑制原核表达的E2蛋白和A1l单抗之间的抗原抗体反应，抑制率在35％～64％；DNA测序表明，所有产生竞争抑制作用的8个噬菌体克隆的12肽序列均舍有XXWRXXXL核心序列，而没有抑制作用的克隆则不含该核心序列；Western-blot试验证明，所挑阳性克隆均能被单抗A11识别。多序列比较发现，该核心序列与猪瘟病毒E蛋白的28～35位氨基酸TTWKEYSH有一定的同源性，人工合成的含有部分核心序列氨基酸的多肽可以与单抗A11反应，表明单抗A11所针对的抗原表位位于CSFVE2蛋白的28～35位氨基酸。     

沙门氏菌鞭毛蛋白属共同抗原表位及其免疫生物学特性

本研究在研制出针对沙门菌鞭毛蛋白的蛋特异性单抗基础上，应用该单抗在免疫荧光、免疫胶体金试验、ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ和免疫转印分析中，证实鞭毛蛋白携带该菌属共同抗原表位，并定位于Ｆ２７片段上。     

日本乙型脑炎病毒E抗原表位的筛选与鉴定

筛选日本乙型脑炎病毒（JEV）的E抗原表位,为开展用JEV模拟表位探索JEV的防治研究创造了条件,为多肽疫苗研制、药物筛选以及特异血清学诊断方法的建立提供重要的线索和依据。以抗JEvE蛋白的单克隆抗体作为固相筛选分子,应用噬菌体表面展示技术,按消减、结合、洗脱、扩增的顺序筛选噬菌体7肽库,挑取噬菌体单克隆培养并ELISA鉴定,对阳性克隆测序分析,确定JEVE抗原模拟表位的氨基酸序列。设计合成包含该表位的E抗原15肽（GGADSMSMAGMAVSY）cDNA序列,与pGEX-KG构建重组表达载体,诱导表达重组多肽并west-ernblot验证。经过4轮筛选后,噬菌体得到高度富集,挑取单克隆ELISA鉴定,有22个克隆呈阳性。对重组多肽进行Western blot验证,结果表明该重组多肽能够特异结合兔抗JEV多抗。应用上述方法成功筛选出JEV结构蛋白E的特异性噬菌体模拟表位,为下一步研究奠定了基础。     

日本乙型脑炎病毒E抗原表位的筛选

为筛选日本乙型脑炎病毒(JEV)的E抗原表位,本实验以抗JEV E蛋白的单克隆抗体(MAb)作为固相筛选分子,应用噬菌体表面展示技术,按消减、结合、洗脱、扩增的顺序筛选噬菌体七肽库,挑取噬菌体单克隆培养并采用MAb包被的ELISA鉴定,对阳性克隆测序分析,确定JEV E抗原模拟表位的氨基酸序列.设计合成包含该表位的E抗原15肽(E-365GGADSMSMAGMAVSYE-379)cDNA序列,与pGEX-KG构建重组表达质粒,诱导表达重组多肽并进行western blot验证.经过4轮筛选后,噬菌体得到高度富集,挑取单克隆采用MAb包被进行ELISA鉴定,有22个克隆呈阳性.对重组多肽进行western blot验证,结果表明该重组多肽能够特异结合兔抗JEV多克隆抗体.本实验成功筛选出JEV结构蛋白E的特异性噬菌体模拟表位,为开展用JEV抗原表位探索JEV的防制研究创造了条件,为多肽疫苗研制、药物筛选以及特异血清学诊断方法的建立提供重要依据.     

H1N1猪流感病毒血凝素蛋白抗原表位的筛选及其抗原性分析

本研究旨在对H1N1猪流感病毒血凝素蛋白抗原分子的模拟表位进行分离鉴定并分析其抗原性。用抗H1N1猪流感病毒血凝素蛋白小鼠血清IgG对噬菌体随机12肽库进行筛选,3轮亲和筛选后,特异性噬菌体得到了有效富集;对随机挑选的47个噬菌体克隆用ELISA进行鉴定,其中40个为阳性;对40个阳性克隆测序得到3种不同氨基酸序列;用Western blotting对获得的3个不同序列的噬菌体克隆进行抗原性分析,显示这3种噬菌体插入短肽能和H1N1猪流感病毒感染小鼠血清特异性结合。结果表明,本试验获得了3种H1N1猪流感病毒血凝素蛋白模拟抗原表位,它们都具有明显的抗原性,为H1N1猪流感病毒的疫苗研究和诊断奠定了基础。     

应用CSFV-E2基因噬菌体肽库筛选猪瘟病毒抗原表位

采用猪瘟单抗对猪瘟病毒石门株E2基因噬菌体随机肽库(SM-E2库)进行淘洗以研究猪瘟病毒E2抗原表位.运用猪瘟单克隆抗体WH303、WH211和M56对SM-E2库进行4轮生物淘洗,对阳性克隆再经噬菌体原位杂交、特异PCR测序分析,然后人工合成阳性多肽进行ELISA反应.经鉴定分析发现单抗WH303从SM-E2库中筛选得到一段CSFV特异的抗原多肽IECTAVSPTTLRTEVVKT,并且该段多肽与已知CSFV表位TAVSPTTLR极为相似;单抗WH211和M56未能筛选到包含CSFV序列的克隆.结果表明,利用靶基因噬菌体随机多肽库筛选抗原表位能够得到更接近于真实表位的抗原表位.     

从噬菌体随机十二肽库中筛选新城疫病毒血凝素-神经氨酸酶模拟表位

以生物素标记的抗新城疫病毒(NDV)血凝素-神经氨酸酶(HN)的单抗M22为分子探针,从噬菌体随机12肽库中筛选鉴定该抗体所识别的抗原模拟表位.经过三轮亲和筛选,得到了四个能与单抗M22反应的阳性噬菌体单克隆,分别为CLONE 11、17、18、20.竞争ELISA试验表明,CLONE 20与M22的结合能被新城疫弱毒株La Sota特异性抑制,抑制率达67.3%.经测序,获得CLONE 20的插入序列为SWFHHHQARAPM,同源性分析认为WF和QAR在HN的抗原性中起重要作用.动物试验结果表明,CLONE 20能诱导SPF鸡产生一定水平的具有血凝抑制活性的特异抗体.以上结果显示SWFHHHQARAPM是具有免疫原性的HN抗原模拟表位.     

白术、微米白术和白术多糖对断奶仔猪生长性能和肠道形态及微生态区系的影响

试验选用96头平均体重14.82 kg左右的杜×长×大断奶仔猪,随机分成4组,每组3栏,每栏8头(公母各半)。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验1、2、3组分别添加1%80目白术、0.2%白术多糖和1%微米白术。试验期30 d。结果表明:在生长性能方面,与对照组相比,1%微米白术添加组可显著提高日增重(P0.05)、降低饲料增重比和腹泻率,而且效果优于1%80目白术组和0.2%白术多糖组,在肠道形态和肠道微生态区系方面,与对照组相比,日粮添加1%80目白术、0.2%白术多糖、1%微米白术均可不同程度的提高十二指肠和空肠的绒毛高度,加深十二指肠和空肠的隐窝深度,并且增加肠道微生态区系的多样性,其中以1%微米白术添加组的效果最佳。     

Prevalence and seasonal incidence of nematode parasites and fluke infections of sheep and goats in eastern Ethiopia

Sissay, M.M., Uggla, A. and Waller, P.J., XXXX. Prevalence and seasonal incidence of nematode parasites and fluke infections of sheep and goats in eastern Ethiopia. Tropical Animal Health and Production, XXXX. A 2-year abattoir survey was carried out to determine the prevalence, abundance and seasonal incidence of gastro-intestinal (GI) nematodes and trematodes (flukes) of sheep and goats in the semi-arid zone of eastern Ethiopia. During May 2003 to April 2005, viscera including liver, lungs and GI tracts were collected from 655 sheep and 632 goats slaughtered at 4 abattoirs located in the towns of Haramaya, Harar, Dire Dawa and Jijiga in eastern Ethiopia. All animals were raised in the farming areas located within the community boundaries for each town. Collected materials were transported within 24 h to the parasitology laboratory of Haramaya University for immediate processing. Thirteen species belonging to 9 genera of GI nematodes (Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus axei, T. colubriformis, T. vitrinus, Nematodirus filicollis, N. spathiger, Oesophagostomum columbianum, O. venulosum, Strongyloides papillosus, Bunostomum trigonocephalum, Trichuris ovis, Cooperia curticei and Chabertia ovina), and 4 species belonging to 3 genera of trematodes (Fasciola hepatica, F. gigantica, Paramphistomum {Calicohoron} microbothrium and Dicrocoelium dendriticum) were recorded in both sheep and goats. All animals in this investigation were infected with multiple species to varying degrees. The mean burdens of adult nematodes were generally moderate in both sheep and goats and showed patterns of seasonal abundance that corresponded with the bi-modal annual rainfall pattern, with highest burdens around the middle of the rainy season. In both sheep and goats there were significant differences in the mean worm burdens and abundance of the different nematode species between the four geographic locations, with worm burdens in the Haramaya and Harar areas greater than those observed in the Dire Dawa and Jijiga locations. Similar seasonal variations were also observed in the prevalence of flukes. But there were no significant differences in the prevalence of each fluke species between the four locations. Overall, the results showed that Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Nematodirus, Oesophagostomum, Fasciola and Paramphistomum species were the most abundant helminth parasites of sheep and goats in eastern Ethiopia.     

Y‐chromosomal variation of local goat breeds of Turkey close to the domestication centre

Genetic variations in chromosome Y are enabling researchers to identify paternal lineages, which are informative for introgressions and migrations. In this study, the male‐specific region markers, sex‐determining region‐Y (SRY), amelogenin (AMELY) and zinc finger (ZFY) were analysed in seven Turkish native goat breeds, Angora, Kilis, Hair, Honaml?, Norduz, Gürcü and Abaza. A SNP in the ZFY gene defined a new haplotype Y2C. All domestic haplogroups originate from Capra aegagrus, while the finding of Y1A, Y1B, Y2A and Y2C in 32, 4, 126 and 2 Turkish domestic goats, respectively, appears to indicate a predomestic origin of the major haplotypes. The occurrence of four haplotypes in the Hair goat and, in contrast, a frequency of 96% of Y1A in the Kilis breed illustrate that Y‐chromosomal variants have a more breed‐dependent distribution than mitochondrial or autosomal DNA. This probably reflects male founder effects, but a role in adaptation cannot be excluded.     

A brief history of the prevention of infectious diseases by immunisations

Infectious diseases have always been a terrible scourge for humans. The appearance of these plagues, as they were called without distinction, was generally connected to various conditions: asters, climatic changes or religious reasons. The concept of contagious, and then infectious, diseases came slowly. Variolation, i.e. transmission of ‘virulent’ matter to induce a natural disease and the immunity against it, was brought from Constantinople to England by Lady Montague, in 1721. This ‘variolation’ technique was also often performed in veterinary medicine against diseases like sheep-pox or pleuropneumonia. As ‘vaccination’ is the term generally accepted for ‘immunisation’, variolation can be the word designating such a technique. The second period of the history of immunisation began, in 1880, with the studies of Pasteur and his collaborators. A great number of bacterial vaccines were developed: dead, live but attenuated or only parts of pathogens. The viruses were produced in animals, then in eggs and at last, in tissue cultures. Second generation vaccines appeared with genetic engineering: recombinant vaccines, vector vaccines, nucleic acids vaccines, and markers vaccines, among others. These novel technologies can permit the development of new ones and improve the quality of the vaccines already existing.     

Micronutrient Content of Certain Tropical Conventional and Unconventional Feed Resources of Southern India

The ash, silica and certain important micronutrients were estimated in conventional and unconventional feed and fodder resources available in Southern India. Commonly used dry roughages, such as paddy straw, ragi straw, maize kadbi/stalk, jowar kadbi/stalk, bajra stalk and wheat straw, were high in ash (9.9% +/- 0.77%) and silica (6.4% +/- 0.65%) and low in most of the other micronutrients, except iron, with paddy straw containing most silica (>9%). Cultivated non-leguminous (maize, jowar) and improved green crops (hybrid napier, guinea, green panic, NB-21, CO-1) were also high in ash (10.5% +/- 0.60% and 12.5% +/- 0.51%) but were moderate sources of P, Mg and Cu and good sources of Zn (98 +/- 13.8 ppm and 55 +/- 6.7 ppm). Leguminous green fodders (stylosanthus, lucerne, cow pea, soyabean) were excellent sources of Ca (1.9% +/- 0.16%), Mg (0.40% +/- 0.05%), Cu (30 +/- 5.2 ppm), Zn (121 +/- 14.7 ppm) and Fe (1234 +/- 166 ppm) and moderate sources of P. Mixed local grasses and weeds were high in silica (6.9% +/- 1.00%) but were good sources of Cu, Zn and Fe. Cereal grains (maize, wheat, rice, ragi) were low in ash (2.9% +/- 0.33%) and were relatively poor sources of Ca (0.22% +/- 0.03%), Mg (0.19% +/- 0.03%) and Cu (13 +/- 3.1 ppm). Pulses were low to medium sources of most minerals and good sources of Fe (1230 +/- 293 ppm). Oil seed cake/extractions (groundnut cake, cotton seed cake, soyabean meal, sunflower cake, safflower cake) and cereal by-products (rice polish, rice bran, wheat bran) were excellent sources of P (1.1% +/- 0.47% and 2.3% +/- 0.19%) and good sources of Zn (65 +/- 3.9 ppm and 66 +/- 10.7 ppm) and Fe (938 +/- 130 ppm and 662 +/- 126 ppm). Among the unconventional feeds screened, orange peel, sunflower heads, meat meal, rubber seed cake, spirulina algae and sea weeds contained plentiful Ca, Zn and Fe: tree leaves/top feeds (mulberry, erythrina, glyricidia, banana, subabul, groundnut haulms) were excellent sources of Ca (1.5% +/- 0.13%), Zn (120 +/- 22.9 ppm) and Fe (1033 +/- 133 ppm) but relatively poor sources of P. Soyabean husk, cocoa seed husk, rubber seed cake and meat meal were moderate to good sources of P (1.0% and 0.33%). The high Zn and Fe values of most feeds/fodders were probably due to soil contamination. This account of the micronutrient content of feed/fodder resources should help in strategic supplementation intended to alleviate local deficiencies.     

Bovine Mastitis in Selected Areas of Southern Ethiopia

A study on bovine mastitis, designed to determine the causal agents, prevalence of infection and impact of risk factors in three cattle breeds, was conducted in selected areas of southern Ethiopia. A total of 307 lactating and non-lactating cows, of which 162 were indigenous Zebu, 85 Jersey and 60 Holstein-Friesian, were examined by clinical examination and the California mastitis (CMT) test. Of these, 40.4% were positive by CMT and bacteriology for clinical or subclinical mastitis, with prevalence rates of 37.1% and 62.9%, respectively. Out of 1133 quarters examined, 212 (18.7%) were found to be infected, 83 (39.2%) clinically and 129 (60.8%) subclinically. The prevalence of mastitis was significantly higher in Holstein-Friesian than in indigenous Zebu, in non-lactating cows than in lactating cows, in the early lactation stage than in the mid-lactation stage, in cows with lesions and/or tick infestation on skin of udder and/or teats than in cows without this factor, and in the wet season than in the dry season. Mastitis increased with parity number (R = 0.9). Of 248 CMT and clinically positive udder quarter samples analysed microbiologically, 212 were culturally positive for known mastitis pathogens and 36 were negative. Of the 199 positive samples, Staphylococcus accounted for 39.2%, Streptococcus for 23.6%, coliforms for 14.1%, Micrococcus and Bacillus species for 8.0% each and Actinomyces or Arcanobacterium (Corynebacterium) for 7.0%. It was concluded that there was a high prevalence of clinical and subclinical mastitis, mainly caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae and Escherichia coli, in this study area.     

不同日粮氮水平对山羊氮代谢和微生物蛋白质合成的影响

本试验旨在探讨不同日粮氮水平对内蒙古白绒山羊氮代谢和微生物蛋白质合成(MCP)的影响,以达到提高氮利用率,减少环境污染和饲料资源的浪费。试验选用9只体况良好、体重为(43.83±2.95)kg,装有瘤胃瘘管的内蒙古白绒山羊,按体重随机分为3组,每组3只。日粮分为低氮7.5%、中氮10.5%、高氮13.5%3个氮水平。试验使用常规试验方法分析测定粪尿血液等生化指标,通过全收尿法和尿嘌呤衍生物法估测MCP。结果表明:随着氮水平增加,氨氮(NH3-N)浓度、氮摄入量、尿氮排出、尿中尿素氮(UUN)和MCP显著增加(P0.05),干物质采食量(DMI)显著降低(P0.01);沉积氮占总摄入氮的比例在中氮组最高,MCP在高氮组最高。综上所述,适当降低日粮氮水平可减少粪尿氮排放,提高反刍动物氮利用率。     

Microsporidial keratopathy in two dogs

A microsporidial keratopathy is described in two dogs. Both dogs presented with a unilateral stromal keratopathy characterized by multifocal coalescing opacities, and the diagnosis was made on histopathologic examination of keratectomy specimens. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) on formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded corneal tissue was performed in one dog, and the morphologic features were consistent with Nosema species infection. Both dogs were initially diagnosed and treated by superficial keratectomy. One dog received additional antifungal medication and underwent a penetrating keratoplasty following local recurrence two years later. No other systemic lesions attributable to the microsporidial infection were identified clinically. The clinical and diagnostic pathology findings, treatment, and follow‐up are discussed.     

优质肉鸡S3系体重与体尺性状指标的主成分分析

为研究地方优质肉鸡S3系体重和体尺性状之间的内在相关性,12周龄时选取同一饲养条件下的150只鸡(公母各半)进行体重和体尺性状等7个指标的测定。结果表明:S3系公鸡的体重、体斜长、龙骨长、胸角均显著高于母鸡(P0.05);公母鸡体重、体斜长、胸宽、胫围这4项指标变异系数较大,有较大选育空间;体重与体斜长、龙骨长、胸宽、胸角、胫围呈极显著正相关(P0.01),相关系数分别为0.57、0.52、0.51、0.49和0.47,与胸深、胫长呈显著相关(P0.05),相关系数分别为0.44和0.39;其他各体尺指标间也存在不同程度的正负相关性(P0.05或P0.01);体重和7个体尺性能指标综合成5个复合指标,累计贡献率达92.6355%,其中第l、2、3、4、5主成分分别解释总变异的36.5353%、22.8642%、13.3115%、10.4535%和8.4710%;各主成分的特征根分布较广,经统计计算入选的5个主成分所包含信息的侧重点各有相同,分别都在一定程度上反映了S3鸡的体型特征和生长发育规律,为今后选育出更加符合市场需求的屠宰加工优质型肉鸡指明了的方向。     

Efficacy of tropicamide,homatropine, cyclopentolate,atropine and hyoscine as mydriatics in Angora goats

Abstract

AIM: To document the efficacy of five commercially available mydriatics for their potential for diagnostic and therapeutic use in Angora goats.

METHODS: Over 8 weeks, the mydriatic effects of 1% tropicamide, 2% homatropine, 1% cyclopentolate, 1% atropine and 0.25% hyoscine were evaluated. Given as block treatments, drugs were applied randomly to one eye of 10 Angora goats, and the contralateral eye served as a control. Vertical and horizontal pupil diameters were measured to document onset ofeffect, time to reach a difference of 5 mm in the vertical/horizontal pupil diameter between eyes, time to maximum pupillary dilation, and duration of mydriatic action.

RESULTS: Onset of mydriasis for all drugs occurred within 15 minutes. Time to reach a difference of 5 mm in the vertical pupil diameter between eyes was shortest for 1% tropicamide and 0.25% hyoscine (0.5 h), then 2% homatropine and 1% atropine (0.75 h), and longest for 1% cyclopentolate (1.5 h). The maximum vertical pupillary dilation occurred earliest with 1% tropicamide and 1% atropine (2 h), followed by 0.25% hyoscine (3 h), 2% homatropine (4 h), and latest with 1% cyclopentolate (8 h). The duration of vertical dilation of the pupil was shortest with 1% tropicamide (6 h), then 2% homatropine (12 h), 1% cyclopentolate (12 h), 1% atropine (24 h), and longest for 0.25% hyoscine (96 h).

The time to reach maximum horizontal dilation of the pupil in treated eyes was shortest with 1% cyclopentolate (1 h), followed by 1% tropicamide (1.5 h), 0.25% hyoscine (3 h), 2% homatropine (3.5 h), and 1% atropine (4 h). The duration of horizontal pupil dilation was shortest with 1% tropicamide (4.5 h), and longest with 0.25% hyoscine (48 h).

CONCLUSION: All five mydriatics induced clinical dilation. Tropicamide (1%) had the shortest duration of effect, but gave incomplete dilation. Good dilation was achieved with 1% cyclopentolate and 2% homatropine, but took too long to reach maximum dilation for routine mydriasis. The largest vertical dilation of the pupil was achieved with 1% atropine and 0.25% hyoscine, but pupils remained dilated for more than 24 h.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: For routine mydriasis in goats, it is recommended that 1% tropicamide be used, though there may be incomplete dilation. For a longer duration of mydriasis, such as in the treatment of anterior uveitis, 1% atropine or 0.25% hyoscine would be the drugs of choice.