Medical management of biological warfare and bioterrorism: place of the immunoprevention and the immunotherapy

Biological weapons are considered as mass destruction and terror weapons. Terrorism including bioterrorism is the major threat in the future conflicts for our nations. The aim of bioterrorism is more related to the potential disorganisation of the society than to the lethal effects of the agents used. The dramatic consequences cannot be discarded, especially if contagious agents such viral are used. The preparation of specific defence measures is a major challenge for our countries.

The knowledge acquired from the struggle against natural infectious diseases and recent events are essential to improve behaviours to face the biological weapon threats. The defence attitude is based on the anticipation of the threat, the management of the victims, and the restoration of the operational capabilities. This global defence attitude implies six important functions: (i) alert, (ii) detection and diagnosis, (iii) availability of pharmaceutical countermeasures such as vaccine, sera and anti-infectious medicine and products, (iv) medical management of victims, (v) training and information, (vi) research and development.

Passive and active immunoprevention and immuntherapy belong to the approaches discussed in the context of bioterrorism countermeasures. Further researches might be focused on these topics.     

Utilization of the filter feeder polychaete Sabella

The filter feeder sabellid Sabella spallanzanii Gmelin (Polychaeta, Sabellidae) was proposed as biofilter in the treatment of wastes from intensive aquaculture. The species was previously studied concerning reproductive traits and ecological requirements; moreover, previous laboratory experiments indicated a positive action of its feeding activity on solid removal from water column coupled with an interesting microbiological activity. In the present paper data on settlement and growth rate from a natural population, together with data on the bioremediation activity of an adult population, relative to an experiment conducted in a small fish farm are reported. Results seem to encourage further studies on S. spallanzanii for a future utilization in bioremediation of fish farms with recycled water. Data from natural annual settlement indicated, however, the unreliability in obtaining settlers from natural populations, so that the artificial reproduction of the target species will be one of the main points of further investigations.     

The fine structure of the male genital organs of Allacma fusca (L.) (Collembola, Symphypleona)

The fine structure of the male reproductive system of Allacma fusca (L.) is described. The system consists of testes, deferent ducts, seminal vesicles, ejaculatory duct and accessory glands. The nature of each part is established. Secretions from the seminal vesicles are stored in the lumen of these organs, then flow into the ejaculatory duct and are used to produce spermatophores. The epithelium of this tract has secretory activity and osmoregulatory function. Secretions and spermatozoa are stored into two distinct parts of the ejaculatory duct, divided by a transverse cuticular septum.     

Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan-4: a biomarker and a potential immunotherapeutic target for canine malignant melanoma

Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan-4 (CSPG4), also known as high molecular weight-melanoma associated antigen (HMW-MAA), is a membrane-bound chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan highly expressed by human melanoma cells. This phylogenetically conserved tumour antigen plays an important biological role in human melanoma, where it is used as a marker to diagnose forms with unusual characteristics, such as desmoplastic melanoma, and to detect melanoma cells in lymph nodes and peripheral blood, and as a target for immunotherapy because of its restricted distribution in normal tissues. To identify suitable targets to develop novel approaches of treating canine melanoma, CSPG4 was studies to see whether it is expressed in canine malignant melanomas. Immunohistochemical staining of 65 canine malignant melanomas with an anti-human CSPG4-specific antibody detected CSPG4 in 37 cases (56.9%). Positive staining was more frequent, albeit not significantly, in amelanotic compared to melanotic tumours and was statistically associated with tumours having both melanin and the epithelioid histotype. The frequency of CSPG4 expression was similar to that of other melanoma antigens used as diagnostic markers for canine malignant melanoma, such as Melan A and the protein recognized by the PNL2 monoclonal antibody. The results suggest that CSPG4 constitutes a new potential immunohistochemical marker of canine malignant melanoma and may represent an immunotherapeutic target as in humans.     

Influence of estuary conditions on the recovery rate of coded‐wire‐tagged Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in an ocean fishery

Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tschawytscha) populations within the highly modified San Francisco Estuary, California, have seen precipitous declines in recent years. To better understand this decline, a decade of coded‐wire tag release and recovery data for juvenile salmon was combined with physicochemical data to construct models that represented alternative hypotheses of estuarine conditions that influence tag recovery rate in the ocean. An information theoretic approach was used to evaluate the weight of evidence for each hypothesis and model averaging was performed to determine the level of support for variables that represented individual hypotheses. A single best model was identified for salmon released into the Sacramento River side of the estuary, whereas two competitive models were selected for salmon released into the San Joaquin River side of the estuary. Model averaging found that recovery rates were greatest for San Joaquin River releases when estuary water temperatures were lower, and salmon were released at larger sizes. Recovery rate of Sacramento releases was greatest during years with better water quality. There was little evidence that large‐scale water exports or inflows influenced recovery rates in the ocean during this time period. These results suggest that conceptual models of salmon ecology in estuaries should be quantitatively evaluated prior to implementation of recovery actions to maximise the effectiveness of management and facilitate the recovery of depressed Chinook populations.     

Reproductive Performance of Macrobrachium rosenbergii Females in Captivity

Abstract.— The breeding frequency, fecundity, egg hatchability, larval output and viability of pond-reared, mature Macrobrachium rosenbergii females were individually followed up during 180 d. Sexually mature prawns were maintained under controlled laboratory conditions (28.7 C and 12-h light/d) in a 190-L freshwater recirculation system and fed a formulated diet. Ovarian development, moulting and spawning events were checked daily. At least six consecutive moults were recorded for each of the 18 females. The duration of the intermoult period averaged 27.5 d and was not affected by ovarian development or spawning, but intermoult periods followed by spawning had significantly lower growth rates. From a total of 126 moulting events recorded, egg laying successfully followed 76 (60.3%) of them. The number of eggs per spawn (NES) varied from 26,587 to 74,775 for females weighing 20.0 to 55.8 g. The relationship between NES and female size (W; in g) was found to be NES = 484 + 1454W ( r ²= 0.74). Results suggest that the number of viable larvae produced per egg clutch may be increased by in vitro incubation, as the losses of eggs, which usually occur under in vivo incubation, are prevented. The present study illustrates that under adequate and stable rearing conditions, M. rosenbergii females are able to spawn up to five times during 180 d, in comparison to three to five times per year as reported for wild prawn populations.     

Potential Biomedical Applications of Collagen Filaments derived from the Marine Demosponges Ircinia oros (Schmidt, 1864) and Sarcotragus foetidus (Schmidt, 1862)

Collagen filaments derived from the two marine demosponges Ircinia oros and Sarcotragus foetidus were for the first time isolated, biochemically characterised and tested for their potential use in regenerative medicine. SDS-PAGE of isolated filaments revealed a main collagen subunit band of 130 kDa in both of the samples under study. DSC analysis on 2D membranes produced with collagenous sponge filaments showed higher thermal stability than commercial mammalian-derived collagen membranes. Dynamic mechanical and thermal analysis attested that the membranes obtained from filaments of S. foetidus were more resistant and stable at the rising temperature, compared to the ones derived from filaments of I. oros. Moreover, the former has higher stability in saline and in collagenase solutions and evident antioxidant activity. Conversely, their water binding capacity results were lower than that of membranes obtained from I. oros. Adhesion and proliferation tests using L929 fibroblasts and HaCaT keratinocytes resulted in a remarkable biocompatibility of both developed membrane models, and gene expression analysis showed an evident up-regulation of ECM-related genes. Finally, membranes from I. oros significantly increased type I collagen gene expression and its release in the culture medium. The findings here reported strongly suggest the biotechnological potential of these collagenous structures of poriferan origin as scaffolds for wound healing.     

Prolongation of survival of dogs with oral malignant melanoma treated by en bloc surgical resection and adjuvant CSPG4‐antigen electrovaccination

Reported post‐surgery 1‐year survival rate for oral canine malignant melanoma (cMM) is around 30%; novel treatments are needed as the role of adjuvant chemotherapy is unclear. This prospective study regards adjuvant electrovaccination with human chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan‐4 (hCSPG4)‐encoded plasmid in 23 dogs with resected II/III‐staged CSPG4‐positive oral cMM compared with 19 dogs with resected only II/III‐staged CSPG4‐positive oral cMM. Vaccination resulted in 6‐, 12‐, 18‐ and 24‐month survival rate of 95.6, 73.9, 47.8 and 30.4%, respectively [median survival time (MST) 684 days, range 78–1694, 8 of 23 dogs alive] and 6‐, 12‐, 18‐ and 24‐month disease‐free interval (DFI) rate of 82.6, 47.8, 26.1 and 17.4%, respectively (DFI 477 days, range 50–1694). Non‐vaccinated dogs showed 6‐, 12‐, 18‐ and 24‐month survival rate of 63.2, 26.3, 15.8 and 5.3%, respectively (MST 200 days, range 75–1507, 1 of 19 dogs alive) and 6‐, 12‐, 18‐ and 24‐month DFI rate of 52.6, 26.3, 10.5 and 5.3%, respectively (DFI 180 days, range 38–1250). Overall survival and DFI of vaccinated dogs was longer in those <20 kg. In vaccinated and non‐vaccinated dogs local recurrence rate was 34.8 and 42%, respectively while lung metastatic rate was 39 and 79%, respectively.     

Inhibition of interferon-gamma may suppress allograft reactivity by T lymphocytes in vitro and in vivo

The addition to mixed-leukocyte reactions of monoclonal antibodies to interferon-gamma abrogated alloantigen recognition and induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes by inducing early and highly effective suppressor T lymphocytes. This inhibitory activity was not confined to in vitro models, since daily injection of the antibodies into CBA/J mice blocked the usual rejection of allogenic tumor cells.