Use of a substrate/alliinase combination to generate antifungal activity in situ

Allicin, an active ingredient of garlic, possesses a range of antimicrobial properties. Unfortunately, certain properties of the compound, such as chemical instability and low miscibility with water, have hampered its practical use in the past. Here, we show that it is possible to use a binary system consisting of the plant enzyme alliinase and its substrate alliin to generate allicin, and hence antifungal activity, in situ. During application, the two inactive components generate compounds that inhibit growth and infection-related development of the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe grisea. It is therefore possible to "trigger" biological activity in a controlled, yet effective manner. Apart from circumventing many of the drawbacks of allicin, this binary system has additional important advantages, such as low toxicity of its individual components and selective activation. Importantly, alliinase is also able to use different substrates, therefore paving the way to a range of novel, binary antimicrobial systems with custom-made chemical and biochemical properties.     

7500 years of prehistoric footwear from arnold research cave, missouri

Accelerator mass spectrometer dating of an assemblage of fibrous and leather footwear from Arnold Research Cave in central Missouri documents a long sequence of shoe construction by prehistoric Midwestern peoples, beginning perhaps as early as 8300 calendar years before the present (cal years B.P.). An earlier fibrous sandal form dates from 8325 to 7675 cal years B.P., and later fibrous or leather slip-ons span the period from 5575 to 1070 cal years B.P. The assemblage adds to a growing picture of the highly varied nature of prehistoric footwear production in the United States throughout the Holocene.     

Liver biopsy techniques for adult horses and neonatal foals to assess copper status

Objective To evaluate standing, percutaneous, ultrasound-guided, transthoracic liver biopsy in mares, and transabdominal, laparoscopically-guided, liver biopsy under general anaesthesia in foals, as techniques for obtaining tissue for assessment of copper status. The techniques were evaluated with respect to ease of use and effect on the animal.
Procedure Twenty of 24 Thoroughbred mares and 21 of their foals were biopsied. The animals were part of a larger study of the effect of copper supplementation on copper status and the prevalence of developmental orthopaedic disease. Livers were also collected from unrelated horses and sampled to investigate the variability in the distribution of copper in liver tissue.
Result The biopsy technique caused no lasting effect on the mares, but there was an increased risk of viscus penetration associated with taking multiple biopsy cores. The use of ultrasonography to scan the target area for the liver identified four cases that were not appropriate candidates for liver biopsy, because of large intestine being located in the biopsy area. In the foals there were no serious postoperative adverse effects, nor was there any evidence of problems caused by the procedure when the abdomen was examined post-mortem at 5 months of age. In livers collected to investigate the variability of copper concentration, copper appeared to be relatively evenly distributed through the liver.
Conclusion Standing, percutaneous, ultrasound-guided, transthoracic liver biopsy in mares, and transabdominal, laparoscopically-guided, liver biopsy under general anaesthesia in foals are convenient procedures for obtaining liver tissue for assessing copper status in horses. The use of ultrasound to identify liver tissue is recommended, especially in older mares.     

Incidence and distribution of helminth and arthropod parasites of indigenous owned pigs in Papua Mew Guinea

Summary Twenty-five species of helminth and arthropod parasites were recorded from village reared pigs in Papua New Guinea during a survey carried out during1966–69. Infection with the lungwormMetastrongylus sp. is considered to be a major contributing cause of mortality in highland areas. Other helminths of economic importance under village management systems are the kidney worm (Stephanurus dentatus), Gnathostoma sp.,Ascaris suum, Oesophagostomum sp. andMacrocanthorhynchus hirudinaceus. The possible role of the New Guinea village pig in transmission of parasitic zoonoses is briefly discussed.

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Sumario Se han reportado veinticuatro especies de parásitos helmintos y artr’opodos de cerdos criados en caceríos en Papua, Nueva Guinea, durante una encuesta llevada a cabo durante 1966–1969. La infección con el parásito pulmonarMetastrongilus spp. es considerada ser una causa de importancia de la mortalidad observada en areas elevadas. Otros parásitos helmintos de importancia económica bajo sistemas de manejo en caceríos son: el parásito del ri?ónStephanurus dentatus, Gnathostoma sp.,Ascaris suum, Oesophagostomun sp.,y. Macrocanthorhynchus hirudinaceus. Se discute el posible rol del cerdo do cacerío de Nueva Guinea en la transmisión de zoonosis parasíticas.

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Résumé Vingt quatre espèces d’helminthes et d’arthropodes parasites sont rapportées chez les porcs élevés dans les villages en Papouasie et Nouvelle-Guinée pendant une enquête menée de 1966 à 1969. L’infection pulmonaire àMetastrongylus est considérée comme la cause majeure de mortalité dans les zones d’altitude. D’autres helminthes d’importance économique dans le système d’organisation villageois sont le strongle des reins (Stephanurus dentatus), Gnathostoma sp.,Ascaris suum., Oesophagostomum sp. etMacrocanthorhynchus hirudinaceus. Le r?le possible du porc de village en Nouvelle-Guinée dans la transmission de zoonoses parasitatires est brièvement discuté.

     

HELMINTH AND ARTHROPOD PARASITES OF THE DOMESTIC CAT IN PAPUA AND NEW GUINEA

A survey of the parasites found in 117 cats from the Port Moresby area of Papua and New Guinea is reported. The helminth species not previously recorded on the Australian mainland included Joyeuxiella pasquelei, Ancylostoma tubaeformae and Euparadistomum sp. The heart-worm, Dirofilaria immitis, is a relatively common parasite of aged cats in the Territory. Arthropods decorded included two indigenous tick species lxodes confusus and Haemaphysalis noveguineae.