Factors influencing mansonone induction in elm callus by culture filtrate elicitors of Qphiostoma ulmi

Mansonone F (phytoalexin) production in elm callus induced by elicitors of Ophiostoma ulmi is affLited by cultural and experimental conditions. These factors include different fun gal isolates, fungal culture age, elicitor concentration, the time of elicitor treatment, the callus cu Ytured with or without light and the callus subculturing frequency.     

Binding characteristics of the Zn-binding membrane protein from common carp

ABSTRACT:    This study incorporated the 43 kDa Zn-binding membrane protein isolated from common carp into liposome. The specificity and strength of the binding of ⁶⁵Zn to the 43 kDa protein-liposomes, and the binding of the ⁶⁵Zn-labeled 43 kDa protein-liposomes to laminin were studied. It was found that ⁶⁵Zn was bound to the external side of the 43 kDa protein-liposomes. Specific binding of ⁶⁵Zn to the protein-liposomes was detected. The binding parameter of Zn to the protein was found to be: maximum binding site (N_max), 76.7 pmole/µg protein (approx. 3 mole of Zn²⁺/mole); and equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd), 0.19 µM. Of the cations introduced (Ca²⁺, Cd²⁺,Co²⁺, Cr²⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe²⁺, Hg²⁺, Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺), only Co²⁺ competed significantly with Zn. The protein-liposomes were also found to bind specifically to laminin with a N_max of 1.1 pmole/µg laminin, and Kd of 4.79 µM. No significant protein-liposome binding occurred to other extracellular matrix proteins (fibronectin, fibrinogen or vitronectin). Furthermore, the binding was specifically inhibited by the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide or GRGDSPG, while two other analogs (GRGESPG and GRADSPG) were without effect.     

Porcine circovirus type 2 decreases the infection and replication of attenuated classical swine fever virus in porcine alveolar macrophages

Recently, it has been noted that porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection adversely affects the protective efficacy of Lapinized Philippines Coronel (LPC) vaccine, an attenuated strain of classical swine fever virus (CSFV), in pigs. In order to investigate the possible mechanisms of the PCV2-derived interference, an in vitro model was established to study the interaction of LPC virus (LPCV) and PCV2 in porcine alveolar macrophages (AMs). The results showed that PCV2 reduced the LPCV infection in AMs and the levels of PCV2-derived interference were dose-dependent. The PCV2-derived interference also reduced the replication level of LPCV in AMs. The full-length PCV2 DNA and its fragment DNA C9 CpG-ODN were involved in the reduction of LPCV infection in AMs, whereas UV-inactivated PCV2 was not. In addition, a moderate negative correlation between the LPCV antigen-containing rate and IFN-γ production was observed, and had a dose-dependent trend with the level of PCV2-inoculation. The results of the present study may partially explain how PCV2 infection interferes with the efficacy of LPC vaccine.     

Characterization of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection in swine lymphocytes using mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy PCV2-carrier pigs

Information regarding the susceptibility of swine lymphocytes to PCV2 is rather limited. To further explore and characterize the PCV2 infection in swine lymphocytes, an in vitro model using concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) obtained from clinically healthy PCV2-carrier pigs was introduced. It was found that the PCV2 antigen-containing rate was below 2% in PBLs from healthy PCV2-free pigs following treated simultaneously with Con A and PCV2. However, significantly higher PCV2 antigen- and nucleic acid-containing rates could be seen in Con A-stimulated PBLs from clinically healthy PCV2-carrier pigs. Prior to Con A treatment, both of the PCV2 antigen- and nucleic acid-containing rates in PBLs from healthy PCV2-carrier pigs were less than 1%; however, they reached 22.1+/-5.7% by flow cytometry and 27.1+/-6.5% by in situ hybridization, respectively, at 4-day post-incubation with Con A. Phenotyping of PCV2 antigen-containing cells revealed that PCV2-positive cells could be detected in both T and B lymphocyte populations within which IgM-positive B lymphocytes appeared to have a relatively higher positive rate. The Con A-stimulated PBLs also displayed a significantly higher viral load by the measurement of either PCV2 DNA copy number or viral titer when compared with the non-treated PBLs from healthy PCV2-carrier pigs. The results indicate that PBLs, especially IgM-bearing B lymphocytes, are indeed susceptible to PCV2 infection and PCV2 is capable of replicating in dividing lymphocytes. This activation-induced replication may explain in part the pathogenesis of lymphoid depletion in PMWS-affected pigs.     

Effects of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (isolate tw91) on porcine alveolar macrophages in vitro

To verify the role of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection on pulmonary defense mechanisms, alterations in the viability, morphology, and various functions of porcine alveolar macrophages (AMs) were evaluated in vitro for 2-72 h after exposure to a Taiwan isolate, tw91, at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.1. A low but constant rate of infection, around 5%, was seen in AMs from the PRRSV-infected group throughout the study. When compared with a mock-infected group, AMs from the PRRSV-infected group had a significantly lower viability at 18-72 h post-infection (HPI) as determined by trypan blue dye exclusion. Also during this time period, the cells showed morphological changes, including rounding, bleb formation, and rupture. The phagocytic and microbicidal capacity of AMs against Candida albicans was significantly inhibited after 6 HPI. Although the total amount of superoxide anion (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) produced by the AMs was reduced after 18 and 12 HPI, respectively, the amount of production was enhanced in both reactive oxygen species on a per viable cell basis after 12 HPI. In contrast, the level of bioactive tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) secretion, either total or on a per viable cell basis, was markedly reduced soon after PRRSV infection, up to 36 HPI, followed by a rebound thereafter. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production was enhanced, both in total and on a per viable cell basis, in the first 6 h of infection, especially at 2 HPI. However, it became lower than that of the control after 36 HPI. The results indicated that PRRSV infection could cause, directly and/or indirectly, not only death of AMs but also adverse alterations in their morphology and function, although some of the effects seemed to be reversible. Because AMs are crucial to the host against airborne pathogens, PRRSV infection may potentially predispose pigs to secondary pulmonary infections.     

Nutritional Composition and Thermal Properties of Goldstripe Sardinella (Sardinella gibbosa) Fillets and By-Products

Fish is a nutritious food for the whole family and a good source of protein and n-3 fatty acids. The fish-processing industry produces tonnes of fish-processing waste and by-products annually. Disposal of untreated by-products of the fish-processing industry may cause environmental pollution. Sardinella gibbosa or goldstripe sardinella is commonly used in surimi and fish cracker productions in Malaysia. However, data on the nutritional composition of goldstripe sardinella fillets (GSF) and by-products (GSB) remain limited. The objectives of this study are to determine the nutritional composition and thermal properties of fillets and by-products of S. gibbosa. Results showed that the protein and moisture contents of GSF were higher than GSB. Conversely, the ash and fat levels of GSF were lower than GSB. Levels of saturated fatty acids (SFA) in GSF and GSB were higher than monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Palmitic acid and oleic acid were the major SFA and MUFA found in GSF and GSB. Both GSF and GSB contain higher percentages of DHA and EPA. Melting and crystallization profiles of the oil from S. gibbosa fillets were similar to by-product oil, which was related to their fatty acid content.     

Effects of Silver on the Photocatalytic Degradation of Gaseous Isopropanol

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution - The decomposition of gaseous isopropanol (IPA) by UV/TiO2 process in an annular photoreactor was studied under various conditions such as UV light intensity and...     

Rapid differentiation of Ophiostoma ulmi and Ophiostoma novo‐ulmi isolates by matrix‐assisted‐laser‐desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight/time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

The intact yeast phase spores of Ophiostoma ulmi and O. novo‐ulmi isolates were analysed by matrix‐assisted‐laser‐desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight/time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. The results clearly showed that isolates of O. ulmi and O. novo‐ulmi have different mass peak profiles. The specific mass in m/z may vary slightly. One of the peaks from m/z 7623 to 7630 dominated (in high intensity) mass spectra for all isolates of O. novo‐ulmi tested in this study. This specific peak is believed to be CU (cerato‐ulmi) protein. However, no specific m/z peak can be found to distinguish between the isolates of ssp. novo‐ulmi and ssp. americana. On the contrary, all isolates of O. ulmi tested possessed one of a dominate peak at m/z 7337 to 7342, but none around m/z 7626 as shown in O. novo‐ulmi isolates.     

Alpha-chaconine-reduced metastasis involves a PI3K/Akt signaling pathway with downregulation of NF-kappaB in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells

Alpha-chaconine, isolated from Solanum tuberosum Linn., is a naturally occurring steroidal glycoalkaloid in potato sprouts. Some reports demonstrated that alpha-chaconine had various anticarcinogenic properties. The aim of this study is to investigate the inhibitory effect of alpha-chaconine on lung adenocarcinoma cell metastasis in vitro. We chose the highly metastatic A549 cells, which were treated with various concentrations of alpha-chaconine to clarify the potential of inhibiting A549 cells invasion and migration. Data showed that alpha-chaconine inhibited A549 cell invasion/migration according to wound healing assay and Boyden chamber assay. Our results also showed that alpha-chaconine could inhibit phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and Akt, whereas it did not affected phosphorylation of extracellular signal regulating kinase (ERK) and p38. In addition, alpha-chaconine significantly decreased the nuclear level of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) and the binding ability of NF-kappaB. These results suggested that alpha-chaconine inhibited A549 cell metastasis by a reduction of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activities involving suppression of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt/NF-kappaB (PI3K/Akt/NF-kappaB) signaling pathway. Inhibiting metastasis by alpha-chaconine might offer a pivotal mechanism for its effective chemotherapeutic action.